NationStates Jolt Archive

(OOC - This is a coninuation for some of us. It can stand alone for others who might want to join. Here are some stipulations:

1)The story begins with the previous characters going to the Pride of Albion, a medical space station about the size of a small city, in Central Worlds. The real action will take place on Vega station where the characters will go for some R&R. (So much for rest)

2)I don't want a major space battle going on. The point is to fight for survival on the station, at least until the cavalry comes. One of the previous characters ships is a massive combat ship but has already agreed to be disabled in the beginning and then get themselves repaired and fight at the end. Another reason for no major battleships is the fact that it is Central Worlds space. (Would you let a battleship wander around in your territory?)

3)Fantasy characters are fine. I, however, reserve all judgement on how spells might affect the futuristic armor and weapons. I'm not above hearing counter opinions to mine and might even change my mind, but my word is final. (I'm really very reasonable)

4)Powerful characters are okay but not invincible ones. The point is that there is a threat here.

Thank you.

Space seemed to explode and out of the newly formed singularity a ship emerged. The ship is six hundred meters in length. Any Central Worlds commissioned ship tended to be of larger size. Being a nation who focused on prolonging and preserving life, any ship is required to assist with emergencies be it a rescue mission or a planetary emergency that might require vast medical supplies or evacuation of planets or stations. Aside from low powered meteorite deflectors and point defense lasers for larger space rubble she is unarmed. The titanium skin was often enough to ward off most smaller bits and even take some punishment, but it was obvious that this is no war vessel.

Helva activated the beacon that would identify her to any other Central Worlds vessel. She also opened a tight beam to the medical station Pride of Albion.

Well, well, hello Helva", came Lars reply, the manager of the Albion. "I got your messages, so your brawned again?"

"Yes, interestiingly enough", and she sent Foster's information.

"Thirty years? What's that about?"

"I don't know", she replied, "I've been wanting to look into it."

"Want me to beam Simeon? He's grown a nose on his shell, I think."

Helva giggled at the image, "If you think he would be interested. I intend to get everyone to Vega Base for some rest after this last incident."

"Everyone?"

Helva sent the information on the injuries that Cam and Foster had sustained. "There is also the Faded Fortunes crew and the crew of the Runner. I'm not fully up on how many or what injuries they sustained. By the way, could you forward this information to CenSec?" she asked and sent what information she had on the shadows.

Lars looked it over, "Well they sound unpleasant."

"They made my shell crawl. Put any charges on my account", Helva told him, "they shouldn't have to pay for the actions they performed. They did all of us a favor."

"No, I'll just slide it into the charity side, let Central cover it. Like you said, it shouldn't be paid for, by ANY of those involved."

"Thanks", she said.

"Oh and by the way, there are two members of Royalty at Vega. Some King and Queen from a backwater nation, but if you get there quick you should at least be there to see them."

"Thanks for the tip. Could you ask Dr. Kenny to look at Cam personally?"

"Sure thing, but he may charge you for it."

"Just hit my account."

"No, no. He likes the Reticulan Croons and no one in Central but you can sing them. A feat in itself."

"Well", Helva replied, a smile in her tone, "tell him he's on."

Like most Krowemoh manafactured ships, the Blockcade Runner ship featured a SlipStream drive, sometimes known as a Ring Drive due to the ring shape it takes on.

Just outside of the Pride of Albion, a SlipStream bubble forms, and the Blockcade Runner materializes. Of course, at first, it appeared as if someone just hyperjumped a piece of space junk into system. Until the space junk broadcasted a message to both the station and Helva.

"This is B. Queen of the Blockcade Runners. Requesting permission to dock, refuel, and undergo some minor first aid. Also, we request to know if this station features an Intergalatic Communications Array? We need to send some messages back home. Over." Is the message sent to the station.

The next one goes directly to Helva. "Thanks for the invite. We think we'll take you up on that offer. After we get Anya some medical attention, we'll meet up with you and the others at Vega Station. B. Queen, out."

B. Queen sits back, sighing. "Hmphm. I do hope these humans aren't the self consciouss kind. My attire always seems to put those types at disease."

Lone chuckles, Well. ~I~ like what you wear just fine, sugar. Heh heh heh...

"This is B. Queen of the Blockcade Runners. Requesting permission to dock, refuel, and undergo some minor first aid. Also, we request to know if this station features an Intergalatic Communications Array? We need to send some messages back home. Over."

The station before the the ship is the size of a small city. It's basically disclike though there are protrusions both above and below. Traffic can be seen both entering and leaving the station as well as smaller personal craft that move from one area of the station to another.

"Attention Blockcade Runners, this is station manager Lars. We were told you would be arriving by Helva," came a soothing male voice that sounds like it could have been patented for the purpose of calming people. "Please slave over ship controls to the automatic station dock control and we'll guide you into the nearest minor medical section. Indicate fuel requirements and we will accomodate you with you enough to reach Vega Base once your treament is complete where you can fully refuel. InGal comms are available in the visitor areas of the station, any of our staff can guide you to the appropriate sections.

And welcome to the Pride of Albion."

In an almost exactly opposite effect to the arrival of the Central Worlds vessel, space collapsed in on itself, rupturing as it connected with a point in another system, a flash of blue-white light preceeding the rupture.

The INV Faded Fortunes coasted serenely out of the wormhole, which crashed back around itself, restoring space to its former unaltered state. The Indoan war vessel scanned the nearby volume and altered course, heading towards the large station.

~ My first visit to another civilisation, the Mind thought. Should be interesting.

After recognising the presence of Helva, the vessel the Faded Fortunes had followed here, the corvette slowed and hailed the station.

[Voice Transmission]
{Station Pride of Albion, this is the INV Faded Fortunes, Indoan 3rd Explorer Fleet. Request vector to orbit point, and location of nearest docking point or hangar bay for shuttle transit.}

As it waited for a reply, the Mind went about the process of finding the relevent personnel and calling them to the hangar bay. This included rousing a patient from deep slumber in the medical bay, moving an effective prisoner around and finding someone who's intention was to remain hidden.

As an afterthought, the Mind also decided to grant some of its personnel some leave, since the station was big enough to offer a significant change from life aboard the corvette.

OOC: DragonsReach, check TGs.

"Attention IVN Faded Fortunes, this is station manager Lars. We were told you would be arriving by Helva," came the same soothing male voice that had addressed the Runners. "Please switch to the following frequency."

Once switched over to the secure channel Lars continued. "Please prepare to switch ship navigation to station systems. We'll be brining you into an isolation bay given the nature of girl you carry. Your people will be tended to and checked for any influence. The bay and surrounding facilities are designed to be completely seperate from the station. Even the computer system is isolated. I assure you that your people will get the same care as any of the others, we simply want to make sure that no shadow infestation exists. I'm sure you can understand."

((OOC: Umh... Wait a minute. Zero Point Energy Reactors don't require fuel, do they? Umh... I'm not sure... I don't THINK they do... Maybe just some minor repairs to the reactor then... I dunno...))


B. Queen nodded. "Lone, let 'em have it."

Lone Ghunman did as instructed, slaving control over to the station and letting it guide them in. "Lone, I want you and Jet to stay on the ship. I'm taking Vex and Anya with me onto the station. You know the types to keep an eye out for."

Flashing her a thumbs up, the human male leans back into his chair, monitoring the systems as the ship finally landed in the bay.

To any in the bay as the ship landed and the side hatch swung open, they'd be treated to quite a sight.

Three female Krowemohians(Neko/catgirls), one wearing naught but six black leather straps on her body, both her hair and the fur on her ears and tail jet black, suporting another who wore what looks like a cmbat armor top, and bikini bottom. It seemed she had cut her leg, and a bloodied bandage was tied about the wound. Both these two appeared unarmed, with the exception of B. Queen's ever present leather whip.

However, the third, a silver haired, white furred Neko in a form fitting white bodysuit with slits along the sides and thigh, sported a Krowemohian Rail Driver, a sling of five spare 'spikes' for the Railgun slung from one arm, and holstered to her thigh was a Plasma pistol...

Three female Krowemohians(Neko/catgirls), one wearing naught but six black leather straps on her body, both her hair and the fur on her ears and tail jet black, suporting another who wore what looks like a cmbat armor top, and bikini bottom. It seemed she had cut her leg, and a bloodied bandage was tied about the wound. Both these two appeared unarmed, with the exception of B. Queen's ever present leather whip.

However, the third, a silver haired, white furred Neko in a form fitting white bodysuit with slits along the sides and thigh, sported a Krowemohian Rail Driver, a sling of five spare 'spikes' for the Railgun slung from one arm, and holstered to her thigh was a Plasma pistol...

The only ones to meet that sight were two legionairres. The legions cyborgs were mechs into which human brains were plugged. The brains were the remains of convicted criminals sentanced to death or the rare case of the terminally ill. The brains were mind wiped and programmed to run the borg bodies.

They ignored the B. Queens whip because it wasn't recognized as a known weapon but both lowered thier arms, the laser sights making almost a single point on the chest of the third woman with the weapons. Each contained on the left arm a heavy pulse laser and on the right a mini-gun with explosive rounds fed from the internal, armor protected rounds chamber. Also evident, though not brought to bear were a grenade launcher on the left shoulders and a mini-missile launcher on the right shoulders.

"No weapons are permitted within the pride of Albion", the one said.

On the other side of the door could be seen medical personal, presently unable to enter since the borg guards were overriding the mechanism for the protection of the station personel.

OOC: Why does everybody get it wrong? It's INV- Indoan Naval Vessel- Not IVN.

IC:
The Mind nearly refused the suggestion point blank, but decided that would not go down to well.

~ Hah! I'd be court martialled if I acceeded to that request. Hopefully a polite rebuttal will be sufficiant.

[Voice Transmission]
{Negative, the Faded Fortunes will not be docking. This is a military vessel, and regulations prohibit that. Actually, I can't give control to you anyway, the system prevents it. However, you can have control of the shuttle so you can guide that in. Although my pilot really is very good. I understand and accept the use of an isolation bay. They will be allowed into the rest of the station after they are clear, right?}

The same shuttle used for the previous mission was ready to launch, and the crew was virtually the same too. All seven of the original team were on board the shuttle, although Riesco was half asleep and had her arm in a sling. The girl was also on board, as were four extra Rangers, that the Mind had decided warranted some leave.

Lt. Jann Ferrante piloted the shuttle out of the hangar bay, then aimed it at the station and reluctantly slaved the controls to the navigation beacon.
The avatar Anderaleigh was talking to the injured Nav.Sgt. Kate Riesco,
"Now, you should avoid using your left arm as much as possible. Medically, it's perfectly healthy and as it was before, but you say it seems weak. We'll get the medtechs on Albion to have a look, but just rest it, okay?"
Riesco grunted an acknowledgement through the drowsiness left by the sedative she had been given.

Negative, the Faded Fortunes will not be docking. This is a military vessel, and regulations prohibit that. Actually, I can't give control to you anyway, the system prevents it. However, you can have control of the shuttle so you can guide that in. Although my pilot really is very good. I understand and accept the use of an isolation bay. They will be allowed into the rest of the station after they are clear, right?

"Understood Fortunes. Please proceed to the following coordinates for off station standby. I'm sure that I have no need to tell you but I'm required to even of Central Worlds vessels. Your required to keep your weapons systems powered down. In the event of attack, of course, you may take whatever action you need to. As I said, It's a required statement.

Your people will be allowed full access to the station as soon as they're cleared. I fear we don't have much in the way of R&R facilities, but the food is pretty good. Once your shuttle lands there'll be a short delay, as we're still getting the sensors in place in the locks to detect shadow influence and are preparing a high ultraviolet range systemt in case massive contamination is detected.

In all honesty, the only problem may be the child, I don't forsee major problems in yours except maybe the injured. They will be taken to the med facilities and treated. I am permitted to allow you access to the cams in the rooms where they will be treated if you so wish."

Cam stood wearily at the pilots console, and made the last entry.

"Okay Way, lets see if this thing works for real. Though why you insisted on a new hull and drive system is beyond me."

"Because with this I won't have to have you or another biological doing the piloting. Useing DeSitter space is logical, elegant and costs us nothing in fuel. It's also much faster. With the Kttkkk'Kkktk' having worked out the bugs it's perfectly safe."

The tall powerfully built avatar turned to his partner and once again ran worried optics over her. Her fur was noticibly duller. Whe could only lay down on her belly and that she hated, being unable to curl up in her bowl bed and fall into restorative sleep.

However she had refused treatment, angering him to the point that he'd almost drugged her. He'd had too much else to oversee, from certifying the hull he'd had been in, to double checking the move to a new shipself - and a few other things as well. He'd done it in less than seventy two hours, driving the University's engineers to distraction with his demands

"Cam, go lay down. I know you don't like it but you are falling on your face. I'll take it from here."

He reached over as he spoke and keyed the jump sequence.

"Or maybe not...We're here"

He opened a frequency

*"Pride of Albion, this is the WayFarer. I believe we are expected"*

He made sure that the IFF was broadcasting the old code. The massive fifteen hundred meter long ship was the same design as his old one but much larger and far more heavily armed...or it would be in a few months when they rendevoused once again with the University....He'd rushed things a bit, wanting to get Cam where she wanted to be

*********************************************

Yep Way is all but completely unarmed at the moment, he rushed things...

*"Pride of Albion, this is the WayFarer. I believe we are expected"*

"Ahh, yes, this is station manager Lars. We were told you would be arriving by Helva and her brawn is about ready to call out the navy," came the same soothing male voice, "welcome to the Pride of Albion. Hmm ... I'm not sure we can fit your ship into a dock slip, especially not the emergency area. If you could send a shuttle I'll guide it in. Helva has already docked, at her insistance and had Foster looked at .. again .. at HER insistance. He's rather stubborn it seems, he wanted to wait for Cam, though I don't say any good reason why. Yes, by the way, I am a shell person. One moment, let put Helva on before she overloads my boards ...."

"Way? Cam? It's Helva, I hope everything okay. The Runner and the Fortunes are here already and I've had Foster tended to. Foster is cracking his shell trying to get word of you, I've sent it by the way. Well Lars wants his com channel back, see you soon ...."

"Now then, if you would send Cam over on a shuttle we're preparing a way of detecting any taint. If there is then we should be able to get rid of it. Doctor Kennet Uhua-Sorg is standing by at the lock in the bay. You'll never guess who's with him. Once again, welcome to the Pride of Albion."

In the instellar gases of the dying system near Vega station a small fleet of ships moved into position and then hung in space, silent and motionless. The clan leader's ship, "The Dreadful Bride" held a position just ahead of the rest.

Belazir stode onto the bridge of the Dreadful Bride. "Launch the pods, heavy cloak, passive scan, I don't want them detected." He stood just over six feet in height and had ink blank skin (*picture drow*) and silvery white hair like the rest of his kind. Like the rest of the Kolnari his eyes were yellow and they had perfectly sculpted bodies and beautiful faces. 'Elves from hell', as the Shellperson station master of Vega base had called them. They had occupied the base once before but Simeon's tactics, and their belief that their control worm program had taken over the station's A.I., had kept them delayed long enough for the navy to arrive.

'Not this time', Belazir thought, 'this time I will take your from your column and destroy your precious station. This time, abomination, you WILL call me Master and God.'

"Pods away, Great Lord, moving into position. No detection."

"We will observe, then we will TAKE them in our FIST", he told them, his fist closing tightly.

The kolnari were stronger then humans and faster. Reflexes born on a world where volcanos shifted the land and the very plants could kill men. They were also highly resistant to disease. It was their practice to release any new disease among their people and then breed. 'They breed like rabbits', was the saying among those in Central Worlds and it was as close to the truth as one could get. Pregnancies lasted only four months and every birth was twins or triplets and children were considered to reach adulthood by the age of eight, another result of the dangerous world they had left behind. They were also highly resistant to radiation and immune to gamma radiation. Their planet wasn't as protective of it's people as others were and nuclear warfare was commonplace before the final war that forced them from it. They could also see in darkness as well as any great cat.

They did have faults, they not as many as most in Central would like. Their hearing was far inferior to most races and they lived only thirty-five to forty years before old age, for them, began it's spectacular destruction of thier bodies. Their atmosphere was heavy laden with toxins that would eventually kill others and mercury was part of thier diets.

Belazir was old for his kind, already in his early thirties. Though he could feel himself getting slower and weaker he was still more than a match for all but the strongest and fastest of the humans of Central Worlds. His skin was getting tight over the thick muscle of his body and his eyes held a tangable madness. 'Ten years abomination. Ten years have worked for this day', he thought, 'Soon you will feel my wrath and oh so soon shall the delectable Channa beg for me.'

ooc: do you mind if i rp
a pirate?

[Voice Transmission]
{Understood. Moving to standby location, offensive weapons systems will remain powered down. Shields will remain operational, as will defensive weapons. These cannot damage anything larger than a fighter and are very short range weapons. If you insist, I will put them in standby, but that only puts them four seconds away from operation.}

The small vessel, resplendent in a matt black paint scheme, which was for aesthetic reasons only, powered towards the designated coordinates and took up station.

The scanners continued running gently around the system, and the Mind quickly worked out that, despite it being almost the smallest ship in the system, it could defeat all of them together in a fight. Obviously, this area was a peaceful one, as it could see no security.
***

The shuttle was guided into a docking bay, and Jann had to flip the landing systems online before the remote dropped them straight on to the deck, the confused nature of the control systems preventing easy understanding.

When control had been returned to them, Jann activated the auto shut down sequence, and opened the hatch. The passengers left the shuttle and waited for someone, the still sleeping child cradled in the avatar's arms. Most were wearing a sidearm, but the larger weapons and battlesuits were still on the shuttle.

As they waited, Kane blinked. "Huh?" he said. A number of the others glanced at him.
"What d'you see?" asked Jann.
"Not sure. It was just a fleeting glimpse. A firefight, I think," the Ranger replied.
Jann activated his comm.
"Fortunes, Kane just blinked. He thinks he saw a firefight, anything suspicious out there?" he asked the Mind.
"No, Lieutenant. It's very quiet here," responded the Mind. "But I will keep an eye out for you."

ooc: do you mind if i rp a pirate? - I don't mind at all, contact me and we'll discuss it.

Understood. Moving to standby location, offensive weapons systems will remain powered down. Shields will remain operational, as will defensive weapons. These cannot damage anything larger than a fighter and are very short range weapons. If you insist, I will put them in standby, but that only puts them four seconds away from operation.

"We don't want you defenseless, we just don't want misconceptions turning into bloody massacre. No offense to you or yours, but it's happened. Would like to have access to the room cameras in which your people will be taken care of? It can be arranged.

Two legionairres, heavily armed and armored cyborg mechs stood to either side of the airlock. They lower thier weapons, pulse lasers and mini guns each taking up a different target, the laser sight resting on the chest. "Weapons are not permitted on Albion."

In the glass beyond a med team could be seen awaiting entrance to the bay area, unable to enter while the borgs overrode the door controls to protect the station personnel against the perceived threat.

Way chucked at Helva's eager welcome and replied in a much deeper voice than Helva could remember.

"I've missed you too, and Cam has just spent the last four days" His voice carried an unspoken overtone of don't ask about that "shedding fur right left and sideways. and is now heading for the shuttle bay at the fastest pace she can manage. I'll see you soon"

He 'turned back' to Lars

"Lars I'm.. we're not in the same shipself as before and Cam went through decontam before she was allowed off the old one. She can't take lieing down, not on her back. One thing we didn't mention was that there is a node of neural ganglia at the spine/ tail interface and that took some damage too. She's not a happy camper- just to let you know that she's not her usual self."

Way watched apprehensively as a shuttle bounded out of his forward docking bay at speed even he considered hazardous. He was much happier when station control took over and hiw sensors watched it enter a bay in a much more sedate fashion

Lars I'm.. we're not in the same shipself as before and Cam went through decontam before she was allowed off the old one. She can't take lieing down, not on her back. One thing we didn't mention was that there is a node of neural ganglia at the spine/ tail interface and that took some damage too. She's not a happy camper- just to let you know that she's not her usual self.

Lars went silent a moment, when he came back a young man was on the line. He was surprisingly young for those who know that he was the director of this massive medical city facility and Central Worlds most reknown neurosurgeon. The fact that his legs and the lower half of his body was encased in a metal sheath and what he needed to get around surprised many as well. It was because of this, however, an accident from his more daring youth, that he had been so driven and made so many advances so quickly. All that kept him in it now was the severe atrophy from years of disuse, one of his present projects.

"Hello Mr. Finder my name is Dr. Uhua-Sorg. The neural ganglia, can you give me any information on it's function?"

Cam was met by the same sight, two legionairres who, like the others all throughout the city station's locks, forbade anyone from entering with weapons.

"Hey, don't you point that thing at me. Nobody points a gun at Corporal Nikolai Dimitri Kane and gets away with it," the big Ranger announced.

Despite the comment, Kane willingly surrendered his weapon to the avatar, who collected the sidearms from all ten of the Indoans and placed them in the shuttle. Reid and one of the other Rangers gave Kane funny looks, surprised at how easily he gave up his pistol. He noticed the looks and winked at them. Reid and Ed Jace, the other Ranger, glanced at each other knowingly, Kane had a reputation for never being unarmed, and for getting past security systems.

Having left their weapons, they were allowed through to see the medical team, where they promptly separated themselves. Those who had not been on the derelict were moved to one place, those who had to another. The avatar holding the sleeping girl was further separated itself.
***

{That won't be necessary. I can see everything they can through their PHUDs and communicate through their neural links. I leave them in your capable hands.}

"Certainly, Dr. Uhua-Sorg. The Xa' have a number of psionic like functions, though I have had 'true' psionics tell me that there are differences enough for them to notice, and label the abilities as 'similar but not quite. The Xa'Cz'nni' were a created race, created for combat and conquest. Cam has only two activated yet, she is still to young for the others to appear. The first is the ability to understand, to translate any form of biological sentient communication. The second is 'No Time' , an ability to step out of this universe and through another to either a location that they can see, or a location they have 'marked' mentally. Kits can only return to their mothers location, a safety feature, adolescents can data point only a limited number of locations. Cam, though just barely an adult by her races biology, can marker unlimited points."

******************************************8

Cam looked at the borgs and barely repressed a snarl

"Then we have a problem, some of my weaponry is built in and unremoveable. Let Foster, Helva or some one in charge know I'm here, or I will take the time to dismember both of you"

"I've missed you too, and Cam has just spent the last four days" His voice carried an unspoken overtone of don't ask about that "shedding fur right left and sideways. and is now heading for the shuttle bay at the fastest pace she can manage. I'll see you soon"

"Sooo? What was this gift?" Helva had never actually received a gift, except different song derivations that Simeon managed to scrounge up. Unfortunetly it was usually the scrug rock sound that the miners prefered, but Helva didn't have the heart to tell him how much she disliked it.

Having left their weapons, they were allowed through to see the medical team, where they promptly separated themselves. Those who had not been on the derelict were moved to one place, those who had to another. The avatar holding the sleeping girl was further separated itself.

The medical teams were polite, quick and efficient. They had already been briefed on who had been on the ship that had been destroyed. Those that hadn't were offered a meal in the closest cafeteria. They were assured that the food was good. They were also offered the use of the 'facilities', which were real water showers, saunas, hot tubs and workout rooms. There were no shops or other amenities on the Albion as it was a research and medical facility.

Those who were on the ship but uninjured were quickly checked for any lingering influence and released.

The injured were treated, though only Riesco required surgery. The surgery took just under two hours. There had been shadow influence left in the wound which the doctors had assumed was what made it bleed. It was burned away by the U.V. and then they performed neural reconstruction and regeneration.

"That will leave your arm and hand tingling as the regeneration progresses", the grey haired woman told her, "but don't worry, it should pass in three or four days. Try not to use it to much in the meantime." She smiled and laid a gentle hand on Riesco's shoulder. "Do you have any questions for me?"

"Certainly, Dr. Uhua-Sorg. The Xa' have a number of psionic like functions, though I have had 'true' psionics tell me that there are differences enough for them to notice, and label the abilities as 'similar but not quite. The Xa'Cz'nni' were a created race, created for combat and conquest. Cam has only two activated yet, she is still to young for the others to appear. The first is the ability to understand, to translate any form of biological sentient communication. The second is 'No Time' , an ability to step out of this universe and through another to either a location that they can see, or a location they have 'marked' mentally. Kits can only return to their mothers location, a safety feature, adolescents can data point only a limited number of locations. Cam, though just barely an adult by her races biology, can marker unlimited points."

Dr. Uhua-Sorg was making notes as Way explained the ganglia's function with quiet comments during Way's explanation such as, 'really, interesting, amazing, prudent'. Once Way was finished it looked like he had about a million more questions but the shuttle had already landed and he nodded toward the vid pickup, "Thank you, that will be...."

Cam looked at the borgs and barely repressed a snarl

"Then we have a problem, some of my weaponry is built in and unremoveable. Let Foster, Helva or some one in charge know I'm here, or I will take the time to dismember both of you"

Foster punched something into the nearby security panel.

"What, who overrode..." Lars began but the borgs had already lowered their weapons and Foster was moving through the door quickly toward Cam. The doctor moved forward as well, guiding her toward the nearest emergency room.

"I will have an explanation Mr. Amontillado y Medoc, just as soon as my patient is out of danger."

Foster only nodded, not caring how much trouble he just got into.

As soon as she was in the room and on the table Dr. Uhua-Sorg 'scrubbed' using a sonic cleaning unit and had the visual feeds in record time. He pulled dna and extrapolated the coding for the proper makeup and began the surgery. It took him 15 hours to repair the damage but she would recover perfectly. Once he was done he constructed a tail sheath to keep it straight.

"Mr. Amontillado y Medoc", came Lars voice over the speaker in the nearest wall to where he was pacing after they got him out of the room. "You'll report to the brig on your own I assume?"

Foster sighed and nodded then checked the wall vid for the location and turned himself over to station security.

"You'll be fine young lady", he told her as soon as reawakened her. You'll have some tingling for awhile, don't worry about that. You can remove the sheath in twenty-four hours. Your tail and ... posterior, will be sensative for a few days, that will pass. It won't be painful, don't worry. Now ... have you any questions for me?"

"Number one. Where is Foster? I had no chance to say hello before you swept me away. Number two. What did you finally find to put me under? Xa physiology usually makes it near impossible to 'gas' one of us. Thats why we use the slower regentubes, we are suseceptable to suspend sleep. And number four. I request, require and demand that all tissue samples be returned to me or destroyed in my presence. The Xa will never again be used for what we were created to be and as a people have made that an absolute edict."

The that was absolutely nonnegotiable. The Xa had banded together in the past to erradicate thoe who would not recognise a ultimatum when it was given. And while now thousands years after their creation they were explorers, they were still also the warriors they had been designed to be..well had turned out to be. Their designers had wanted slave puppets. They got far more than they expected, reaping a bitter and ultimately fatal harvest

************************************************

"Well if you will invite me over , I'll bring it with me"

Way replied as he setteled his shipself into a holding point near where Helva hung bright against the midnight indigo of deep space.

"Number one. Where is Foster? I had no chance to say hello before you swept me away. Number two. What did you finally find to put me under? Xa physiology usually makes it near impossible to 'gas' one of us. Thats why we use the slower regentubes, we are suseceptable to suspend sleep. And number four. I request, require and demand that all tissue samples be returned to me or destroyed in my presence. The Xa will never again be used for what we were created to be and as a people have made that an absolute edict."

"You aren't kidding", he said pleasantly, "I was about ready to use a crowbar. I had to use cold sleep drugs to finally get you under. Now don't worry, they're all out of your system, though you may be a little groggy yet. You said number one, two and four." He held up his hands as he said, "I'm not being smart, I just want to answer any questions you have, so if there's a number three I would like you to ask it. As for number one, well, I've been in here for fifteen hours", he said and looked up. "Lars? Could you locate Foster, please?"

"Easily", Lars said, "he's in the brig."

Doctor Uhua-Sorg went silent a moment and then said, "Oh. I see. Yes", he said looking at Cam. "When you arrived, I don't know if you remember or not, but you were rather ... pensive. Foster Overrode the security net..."

"Which I still haven't figured out how", came Lars voice.

"And then let you in with weapons. This is against station regulations. As the station director I can have him released, I honestly didn't know he had been arrested. But I would like to find out how he did it. We have a state of the art system here and if there's a way around it then we need to know. As for the last", he said, gathering all the samples he had taken, "I can destroy them right here", he said gesturing toward a slot in the wall, "or I would be more than happy to turn them over to you directly to dispose of as you will. It's my understanding that your vessel was able to monitor the proceedure so I'm sure that they can vouch for me that all is here."

************************************************

"Well if you will invite me over , I'll bring it with me"

Way replied as he setteled his shipself into a holding point near where Helva hung bright against the midnight indigo of deep space.

Helva sent a message to Lars, who hadn't informed her yet of Foster's arrest, for clearance for ship to ship transport. He cleared it pleasantly.

"Your all clear Way. I'm sure you know where my cargo bay is, the one I was sure that Cam was going to destroy", she said in a light and pleasant voice.

Pensive

That brought a purl of laughter from Cam, that quickly ended when it ws mentioned that Foster was in the brig

"Well as for letting me in with weapon, as I said then, some are built in and unremoveable. Fangs! Every living being has one built in ...their brain. Going to declare them unacceptable on to this station?"

The snort of unamusement was clear in her voice

"Yes please destroy them here"

She firmly turned her attention to the physician, watching closely as he fed the samples into the destruction chamber, still clearly distruntled

As he fed them into the moleculer disruption chamber he spoke, "I must admit that I'm a bit befuddled by your attitude towards me miss. I was bit put off by the lack of alarms as we brought you through but I didn't exactly have time to ponder it. The guards only acted because the other ships people had weapons." He put in the last sample and turned, "I'll be going now, remember, 24 hours." With that, he turned and headed toward the door.

"Yeah, did you have to reopen the wound? Fortunes sealed it with a laser, it wasn't bleeding anymore," asked Riesco, returning her arm to the sling she had been given by the Fortunes. "And you don't know anything about our physiology, how could you know what you were doing? Is that why it took so long? Fortunes fixed it in a few minutes."

She pulled an autojet from her kit. "Nuts to three or four days. I want three or four hours." She poked the muzzle into her skin and injected the nanobots, which would fix her injury far more rapidly.

Kane had refused any further medical treatment, since his wound was not caused by shadows, and had been fixed by the Fortunes medical systems. Instead, he sat and grumped about having to leave his weapon behind.
"I'm a Hsudamn soldier. I'm supposed to carry a gun. Taking away my gun is like taking away a musicians instrument," he grumbled.

The grumbling struck Reid as rather pointless, especially since she rather thought that he had avoided losing his gun. The two Douran were just happy no-one had tried to make them remove their claws, since that would have been extremely painful and would probably require surgery.

****

In the past two hours, the sedative had worn off and the girl had woken up. The avatar had stayed with the girl, and had tried talking to her, but she had stubbornly remained silent. She recoiled from any attempt at physical contact, and ignored anything said to her. Although that could be because she can't understand us, thought the avatar.

****

Jace and the other three Rangers not involved with the derelict had accepted the offer of a meal, which as promised turned out fairly good, if different to what they were used to.

Since there didn't seem to be anything to do, they settled for playing a game. Tony Senkov, as usual, had a pack of playing cards, so they wasted an hour and a half gambling away their salaries for the month, which were of no use to them since they would not be back home for another seven weeks.

"Yeah, did you have to reopen the wound? Fortunes sealed it with a laser, it wasn't bleeding anymore," asked Riesco, returning her arm to the sling she had been given by the Fortunes. "And you don't know anything about our physiology, how could you know what you were doing? Is that why it took so long? Fortunes fixed it in a few minutes."

She pulled an autojet from her kit. "Nuts to three or four days. I want three or four hours." She poked the muzzle into her skin and injected the nanobots, which would fix her injury far more rapidly.

"Well", the doctor began, 'your an ungrateful bitch', she thought, 'next time I'll leave the nerve damage' but out loud said, "I didn't have to 'open' the wound. I used micro monofiliment surgical scopes and implements as well as imaging to do the work. At no point was the wound opened any more than a micron or two at most, and yes we needed the imaging result before we could proceed because we weren't familiar with your physiology. I don't like digging around in my patients blind.

As for three or four hours instead of three or four days, all I can do is tell you whats best after this surgery. And you won't need that sling, you just need to keep yourself from overexerting it is all.

It was then that the Light Cruiser 'Trak'ula' translocated into the quadrant on it's mission of diplomatic exploration from it's home base in the Draconis Federation. The crew consisted of the captain being one Admiral Dur'uc, two Avatar SI's (Synthetic Intelligences) Alexial and Tyria, as well as the ships full complement of operators, staff, and pilots, as well as a unit of the Draconis Federations finest Advanvced Recon Marines, in addition to one very grumpy General Micaya. As the ship neared the Medical Base, Dur'uc gave the command to announce their arrival.

"This is the Light Cruiser Trak'ula on it's diplomatic mission from Draconis Federation, we request boarding as instructed in the agreement between Central Worlds and the Dominion of Draconis Federation. We await your reply." The ension said over the broad range comm.
_
"Admiral we're awaiting their response, it should only be a few seconds." The ension reported to reassure his commander of the likely hood that all would go as planned.

"Good, Ension, follow their instructions and do as the command. Those are your orders." Dur'uc replied becoming very nervous about being so far from home, but he knew that if their discussions were to take place, he'd have to leave Dominion space. And even more to the point if he was to keep his promise to Tia he'd have to make the discussions go well.

"Admiral we have a response." The ension reported, "I'll patch it to you comm."

"Patch it through." Dur'uc commanded and waited to hear the voice on the other end of the transmission.

"Dr. Uhua-Sorg, I apologise for being so...'catty'. and you don't know our history so it was doubly so. Now as far as weapons, since I seriously doubt the vest, wrap skirt and modest amount of jewelry I wore counted as weapons, I could only guess they were refering to my fangs and claws. And I refuse to let any one declaw me like some uncivilised people do to terrestrial domesticated cats. No matter how evolved feline I look, I am no way such. I'm almost certain that Way mentioned that I am of an created species, and the Xa were used to do some horrible things. The Xa have a racial memory, and those memories burn still, and while the vengence we took on our creators may have been well earned, that too was a ....horror."

She didn't flinch at her look back into her races memmory, but her voice was somber.

"In our history others have tried to breed their own Xa, from our tissue, or ...other. And that we refuse to allow."

Her voice lightened and she turned to the other things he had said "Number three...you are right, so I did. I am still groggish, and I can't remember what I wanted to ask"

"But how long is Foster going to be in the brig?" She finally asked plaintively.

"Oh. I'm sorry, you must think me terribly inconsiderate. Thank you for what you done. I'm one of the Fortunes medics, so I know how ungrateful some patients can be," apologised Riesco. She smiled at the medtech as she tapped the sling. "And I do need this, for some reason my arm is really weak since the injury. So this protects it, and it can't hurt. The nanos will return my physiology to a medically perfect condition, much faster than anything else."

A figure appeared in the doorway.
"Kate, can we leave now?" inquired Kane. "Your arm's fixed, let's go already. I want to explore, let's go find something interesting to do. Hell, we should go and see the others that got off the derelict."

A number of other figures materialised behind Kane. "Yeah, Roxy already won all my salary off me. We want something to do," declared Holly Khonsari, another of the Rangers.

****

"Come on, I won't hurt you. You can talk to me," said the avatar soothingly. The girl remained silent, staring warily at the avatar. "Oh well," the avatar shrugged, "I'll just sit here and talk to myself. I'm an artificial ship's avatar of the Indoan Explorer vessel Faded Fortunes. My purpose is to befriend the crew, and provide an interface between them and the ship, and I travel the galaxy with them looking for new and interesting things."

I thought that Albion's medics wanted to look at her. Why hasn't anyone been in here yet? it thought.

"If you're interested, my name is Anderaleigh, but you can call me Andie. You're a very pretty girl, you know. And I reckon you're pretty intelligent too. I wonder what your name is?"

There was a subdued mumble. The avatar looked at the girl. "Sorry, did you say something?" it asked gently.

"Sophie," mumbled the girl. Well that's a bit of a breakthrough. I've got her talking, at least, thought the avatar.

Ceranuth Looked around the small room as the Kolnari Leader walked in.
He thought they were arrogant fools but money is money.

"Now regarding my payment Belazir..."

"This is the Light Cruiser Trak'ula on it's diplomatic mission from Draconis Federation, we request boarding as instructed in the agreement between Central Worlds and the Dominion of Draconis Federation. We await your reply." The ension said over the broad range comm.

"Welcome to the Pride of Albion. We have indeed been expecting you. Your actual meeting is to take place on the Vega station. If you'd like you could take a moment before moving on. The King of Highport and Queen of Dragonsreach are at Vega now awaiting the President, I believe you've met them. The President is enroute and should be arriving at Vega base shortly."

Space seemed to explode as another central worlds vessel arrived. If a ship could bounce through space happily it was, or it was one DRUNK pilot. To those who could see the BB insignia they were well aware that the second couldn't be the case, though the first was odd as well. The ship sent out it's call sign, AH-1033.

"Tia", Lars said opening a channel to her while awaiting the response from the Draconis vessel, "check your nutrient flows."

"My nutrient flows are fine", she said, doing an amazingly graceful spiral for such a large ship, "is Doctor Kenny around?"

"He's on his way to the brig", came Lars reply.

Tia momentarily lost her attitude adjustment and was forced to correct, "WHAT?!"

"HEY, easy on the decibel level. I meant he's on his way to see someone there, not HE'S going to the brig", Lars sent the co-ordinates for off station position, "Your in a good mood."

"You don't know the HALF of it", she told him, "I need to check something, zen hugs", and she opened a tight beam to her accountant while moving into position near Helva and the other ship and then recognized Helva. "Helva?"

"Yes?"

"THE Helva?"

A slight chuckle from Helva, "I suppose by THE you refer to me being the ship who sings, yes I am."

"Wow, this is great", she said moving into postion near the older brainship and checked her accounts while talking to Lars and Helva.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Dr. Uhua-Sorg, I apologise for being so...'catty'. and you don't know our history so it was doubly so. Now as far as weapons, since I seriously doubt the vest, wrap skirt and modest amount of jewelry I wore counted as weapons, I could only guess they were refering to my fangs and claws. And I refuse to let any one declaw me like some uncivilised people do to terrestrial domesticated cats. No matter how evolved feline I look, I am no way such. I'm almost certain that Way mentioned that I am of an created species, and the Xa were used to do some horrible things. The Xa have a racial memory, and those memories burn still, and while the vengence we took on our creators may have been well earned, that too was a ....horror."

"In our history others have tried to breed their own Xa, from our tissue, or ...other. And that we refuse to allow."

Her voice lightened and she turned to the other things he had said "Number three...you are right, so I did. I am still groggish, and I can't remember what I wanted to ask"

"But how long is Foster going to be in the brig?" She finally asked plaintively.

"Well I apologize for your plight, Miss, but neither central nor myself had anything to do with it. As for Helva's brawn I'll have to see to that as soon as I get some sleep. I've been in here for the past fifteen hours, as I said, trying to patch you up", and with that he headed out, nodding to a nurse who entered the room.

He had no intention on making Foster wait that long but he would let Cam worry for a bit. Besides which he had to find out how the man overrode the security.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Oh. I'm sorry, you must think me terribly inconsiderate. Thank you for what you done. I'm one of the Fortunes medics, so I know how ungrateful some patients can be," apologised Riesco. She smiled at the medtech as she tapped the sling. "And I do need this, for some reason my arm is really weak since the injury. So this protects it, and it can't hurt. The nanos will return my physiology to a medically perfect condition, much faster than anything else."

A figure appeared in the doorway.
"Kate, can we leave now?" inquired Kane. "Your arm's fixed, let's go already. I want to explore, let's go find something interesting to do. Hell, we should go and see the others that got off the derelict."

A number of other figures materialised behind Kane. "Yeah, Roxy already won all my salary off me. We want something to do," declared Holly Khonsari, another of the Rangers.

"Well there's no reason you can't go", the older woman said, "just try to keep that arm to minimal use for a few days and everything should be fine." She turned to Kane, "I'm afraid there isn't a great deal to do on Albion, it's strictly for research and medical care. You might want to make your way to Vega base. It's a shame you lost your salary", she said looking over at Holly, "there are alot of things to do and alot of shops on Vega Base."

She smiled and excused herself. When she walked out she was handed another data pad and she began reading it as she made her way to the next patient.

"Come on, I won't hurt you. You can talk to me," said the avatar soothingly. The girl remained silent, staring warily at the avatar. "Oh well," the avatar shrugged, "I'll just sit here and talk to myself. I'm an artificial ship's avatar of the Indoan Explorer vessel Faded Fortunes. My purpose is to befriend the crew, and provide an interface between them and the ship, and I travel the galaxy with them looking for new and interesting things."

I thought that Albion's medics wanted to look at her. Why hasn't anyone been in here yet? it thought.

"If you're interested, my name is Anderaleigh, but you can call me Andie. You're a very pretty girl, you know. And I reckon you're pretty intelligent too. I wonder what your name is?"

There was a subdued mumble. The avatar looked at the girl. "Sorry, did you say something?" it asked gently.

"Sophie," mumbled the girl. Well that's a bit of a breakthrough. I've got her talking, at least, thought the avatar.

Anna came into the room and smiled at them both.

"Hello, my name is Doctor Annette Uhua-Sorg. I'm afraid", she continued as she took a seat nearby, "that some information was left out. I'll have to see about a reprimand for the one who took the information." She looked at the little girl, her eyes giving a meaningful glance as they slid past Anderaleigh, conveying only that she was trying to get the little girls attention by what she was saying, no one would really get in trouble. "Your name doesn't appear to be here", she told the little girl and poised her fingers, ready to enter the information.

Ceranuth Looked around the small room as the Kolnari Leader walked in.
He thought they were arrogant fools but money is money.

"Now regarding my payment Belazir..."

A heavy armored hand came down painfully on Ceranuth's shoulder as Belazir turned to face the man. He couldn't believe that one of the scumvermin mercenaries was even on the bridge of the Dreadful Bride, let alone addressing him in this manner.

"Your payment is forthcoming", he said and looked up at the Kolnari warrior in the battle armor then turned away. The warrior began dragging him toward the nearest airlock.....

"Welcome to the Pride of Albion. We have indeed been expecting you. Your actual meeting is to take place on the Vega station. If you'd like you could take a moment before moving on. The King of Highport and Queen of Dragonsreach are at Vega now awaiting the President, I believe you've met them. The President is enroute and should be arriving at Vega base shortly."

"Roger that, so then this is our first stop in Central territory, on our way to the meeting is that it? Over." The ension questioned whle patching the line throught to Dur'uc's personal comm.

"Ah crap." groaned Holly half-heartedly. "Roxy, can I borrow some of my money back?"

Roxanne Tyler's voice floated across from behind the cluster of Indoans. "You wish. Last time I let you borrow money from me it took you four months to pay it back."

The Indoans began making their way back to the docking bay where their shuttle was. The cyborgs allowed them through without any hesitation, and they boarded the shuttle.

Jann settled into the pilot's seat, glanced at the empty seat next to him and bellowed, "Senkov, get your ass up here. I need a co-, and you're it." The Ranger complied, climbing into the co-pilot's seat.

"You do realise I've only had six hours training, don't you?" he asked.

"Yep, but regs say I can't fly without somebody who knows the controls in that seat. You're the only other who knows the controls, so it's gotta be you," the pilot explained. "Andie's staying with the kid, who is apparently talking now, according the Fortunes. Her name is Sophie. Anyway, we'll pick them up later."

He flipped on the comm unit.
"Albion Station, this is Indoan shuttle Salequin. Request transit to Vega Base. And can you get a message to Foster and Cam that we'll see them on Vega?"

****

The avatar groaned inwardly. You could have picked a better time. Even chance that she'll clam up again now. I was so close! it thought. Then it was surprised by the girl- Sophie, it corrected itself- standing up and announcing clearly,
"My name's Sophie, Doctor."

What?! Now she's as open as a book? Wait a minute... What information? thought the avatar. "Excuse me, what information? The way you said that implied that you already have all our names, but I happen to know that you were never given them."

Sophie was looking at the doctor intently, examining her closely, then began looking around the room distractedly.

"Roger that, so then this is our first stop in Central territory, on our way to the meeting is that it? Over." The ension questioned whle patching the line throught to Dur'uc's personal comm.

"Technically", Lars said, "any meeting with Central Worlds president or presidential staff by other than a central world member or even a central world member that's been outside the system, is preceded by a full physical to check for any possible signs of foreign infections or organisms. Tia sent me a log of what happened and everything she knows and I don't see any reason for it. I'm sure Doctor Uhua-Sorg would agree. If you wish to submit to physical just as a matter of proper procedure that would be fine as well. I don't see any reason, personally."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Albion Station, this is Indoan shuttle Salequin. Request transit to Vega Base. And can you get a message to Foster and Cam that we'll see them on Vega?"

"Indoan shuttle, I'm transmitting co-ordinates for Vega Station now. I'll be sure to pass along your message, enjoy yourselves. Shuttle control will be released at station space perimeter."

The shuttle lifted and cleared the station, manuevering through the traffic. At the edge of station space the board showed green for manual control.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

"My name's Sophie, Doctor."

Anna smiled and typed her name into the data padd.

"Excuse me, what information? The way you said that implied that you already have all our names, but I happen to know that you were never given them."

"As I said, it seems that the information is NOT in my padd. That's why I need it."

She looked back at Sophie, "Alright Sophie, now, have you ever had any injuries or have any allergies that your aware of?" It didn't matter, a med scan would tell her that, but she wanted the girl to speak to her, to get comfortable with her. That had to be the first step in her recovery, and not any physical one she might have. Anna had gotten a double-doc, one in medicine and one in phsycology.

Cam lay back, finding herself dozing in and out of light, troubled sleep. She was worried about Foster and found herself very uncomfortable here, but it seemed that there was little she could do. Her fur kept fluffing on its own and her whiskers itched intollerably.

***********************************************

Way loaded the heavy casque in the runabouts tiny cargo compartment. It took careful maneuvering to get it fitted in but he had desinged it properly and it had just enough clearance. Once it was secured he settled into the pilots seat and took the runabout after getting clearance for traffic control.

"Helva, sorry to be so long, but I decided to give it one last check and found the last initialization- diagnostic check had never been done. That finished just a bit ago."

Way hoped Helva would forgive him for being quiet for so long, but he'd spent most of the time on the comm, argueing with the Universities engineers over the variables for the initialization and final diagnostic check. If it had been posssible to thump some one over FTL commo channels he most certainly would have. The fact that the University's engineers had never quite dealth with what he'd designed and ordered before had no beating on the matter.

"This is Admiral Dur'uc, I see not harm in going through your regulations, as long as all samples are destroyed, we would be more then happy to go through a full physical." Dur'uc said complying to their regulations.

"Now if you will be so kind, can you give us our heading so that we may dock, platform number, and designation, please?" Dur'uc asked requesting the docking platform number and designation.

Cam lay back, finding herself dozing in and out of light, troubled sleep. She was worried about Foster and found herself very uncomfortable here, but it seemed that there was little she could do. Her fur kept fluffing on its own and her whiskers itched intollerably.

Doctor Uhua-Sorg was tired but no longer confused and in fact he felt a bit sorry for Forrester, 'Foster', he corrected himself. He released him from the brig after Lars got confirmation from Simeon as to his identity. He then led him to the room where Cam lay sleeping fitfully.

Foster quietly thanked Kennet and entered the room, gently reaching out to scratch her ear.

"Helva, sorry to be so long, but I decided to give it one last check and found the last initialization- diagnostic check had never been done. That finished just a bit ago."

"WAY! Oh that's alright, come on in. Way, I'd like you to meet Hypatia Cade of the AH-1033. Her brawn, Alex is stationside getting his nose fixed. Tia, this is Way from the Way Finder."

"Hello", Tia said in a bubbling voice that was distinctly younger than Helva's own, "it's a pleasure to meet you. Helva has told me alot about your adventure. I've just finished one myself. I heard you might be heading to Vega station. We'll be heading there ourselves."

"This is Admiral Dur'uc, I see not harm in going through your regulations, as long as all samples are destroyed, we would be more then happy to go through a full physical." Dur'uc said complying to their regulations.

"Now if you will be so kind, can you give us our heading so that we may dock, platform number, and designation, please?" Dur'uc asked requesting the docking platform number and designation.

Lars acknowledged and sent the instructions and his need to take control of the vessel for docking then he contacted Doctor Uhua-Sorg.

Kennet was standing in the doorway as Foster reached out to scratch Cam behind the ear when Lars cut in, "Kenny, the Admiral and his people are coming aboard for thier physical exams."

Kenny moaned, "I thought we agreed they could pass on thier way?"

"Yes, but then I think they were wondering why they had to stop here to start with. I told them the typical procedures and that I figured it wasn't necessary but they're agreeing to it anyway."

Kennet sighed but nodded, high ranking officials were his personal responsibility and he took responsibility seriously. "I'm on my way."

"Copy that, though you may hear some foul muttering in the back ground, the ships SI doesn't like to relenquish command so readily, turning control over to Station, over." Dur'uc then for the first time in his entire life was no longer in command of the Trak'ula, his own personal Light Cruiser.

When they docked Dur'uc and the group that would be present at the assembly exited the Cruiser with two Gaurds in van. The Gaurds where suddenly stopped by two legionaires asking them to relenquish any weapons they might still be carrying. Dur'uc knew exactly what the problem was, "Gentlemen, relenquish all your blades."

The two Marines then asked, "Sir?" and looked at each other, they then began the arduas task of removing all the built in weaponary of their personal armor. When they were finished the two cyborgs must have had more then fifty blades and other small weapons in their posession.

That was when Foster showed up.

(I'll be posting under central worlds for a little while. I tried to update my e-mail addey for the forums and then it told me I didn't have the authority to do replies. Thankfully Dragonsreach was the only one I had changed at that point.

Actually it wouldn't be Foster it would be Doctor Kennet (or Kenny to Tia and others who know him well) Uhua-Sorg.)

Micaya exited the cruiser with Admiral Dur'uc and the others. When the borg looked at her she held up her arms and turned around. She was armed of course, but the hidden needler inside her cybornetic leg prosthesis wouldn't show up on a scan.

On the other side of the lock they were greeted by a young man in a hover chair setup whos legs were encased as well as the lower half of his body. He looked tired but his smile was warm and pleasant.

"Hello Ken", Micaya said.

"General Quester-Benn, you dont' need a physical for another three months", he told her, "unless you need me to check your prothesis's again. You really should take better care of them."

"No I'm fine, I'm with the Admiral and his people."

"I see, I see", he said and turned to Admiral Dur'uc.

"Admiral", he said gliding forward and extending his hand, "Welcome aboard. I'm Doctor Kennet Uhua-Sorg and I'll be seeing to your examinations. It's a standard policy, really, check for viruses, organisms, that sort of thing. If you want I could do a full physical. That's not required but since some people have an aversion to doctors", at that point his eyes flicked over to Micaya who suddenly seemed to find something extremely interesting to look at on the ceiling, then back to the admiral, "and since you and your people are here, I'd be happy to accomodate you."

"Finally. Now I get to fly this thing," declared Jann, taking the controls and directing the shuttle towards Vega Base. He accelerated the shuttle and put it through three complete lateral revolutions before leveling off again and settling into a conventional flight pattern.

"Jann, did you have to do that?" asked Kane angrily. "I just got a face full of Jace. The fat lump fell on me when we turned upside down."

There was a muffled comment, and Jann laughed. "You know, you could stand to lose a few, Ed," he called out.

"What, and Kane couldn't?" came the indignant reply. There was a thump as Kane threw his battlesuit helmet at Jace, catching the Ranger on his shoulder then bouncing to the deck.

Jann returned his full attention to the flight. "Vega Base, shuttle Salequin requests approach vector," he told the comm unit.

****

"What, ever? I can't remember everything I've done." stated Sophie. "I hurt my arm once, and I had to have a cast on it for ages, but I don't know when that was. What's an allergy?"

She looked at the avatar. "Andie, why is the Doctor asking me all these questions? Is something wrong with me?"

"I don't know. Why do you need to know these things? You didn't for any of our people, even Riesco," the avatar asked bluntly.

"I don't know. Why do you need to know these things? You didn't for any of our people, even Riesco," the avatar asked bluntly.

Anna spoke pleasantly to the avatar but her eyes told him that she was anything but in a pleasant mood about being questioned. "Would you, please, step out in the hallway with me while the autoscanners take readings", and she stepped out into the hallway.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jann returned his full attention to the flight. "Vega Base, shuttle Salequin requests approach vector," he told the comm unit.

The trip took just over 12 hours in normal space. When they made the request the voice that answered them was a male voice that was pleasant. It was firm but polite.

"This is Simeon, manager for the SSS-900-C. Welcome to Vega Base. If you would be kind enough to slave over the controls we'll guide you in."

"umm hey, came the voice again. Your the ones that had been with Helva right?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bill Booley stepped off of the troop transport, the legionairres tramping out behind him. He hated baby sitting asignments, presidential or not. He didn't care if he was escorting god, a shit job was a shit job. The squad filed out and lined up in formation as Booley eyed the woman who approached him.

Channa has dark curly hair to her shoulders and had a trim athletic body. She strode forward and eyed the infamous General Booley of the Legion. He looked almost human, except the slitted catlike eyes, slightly pointed ears and the fine pelt of fur that covered his body. It was rumored that his father had married a feline female, though no such race was known in central worlds and his father had died before Booley had been brought into the light.

"Welcome to the Simeon Space Station-900-Channa", she told him, making it clear who was in charge here, "it's my understanding that you need to check all the ships and personel for any possible threats."

"Ye..", he began.

"It's also your job to be sure that no inbound ships are permitted without proper verification."

"Ye..", he tried again.

"ONE thing that is NOT in your pervue is this stations operations. Simeon is in charge and I'm his brawn. You can do your checks but you WILL NOT harass our people here, is that clear?"

Booley waited a minute to see if she was actually going to let him answer. "That's crystal clear, Ma'am. I'll try not to step on anyones toes."

"Good" she said, "then proceed", and she strode away a short distance before she stopped and turned back. "Oh, and welcome to Vega base", then proceeded out of the dock area.

'She needs to get laid', he muttered and then began detailing the honor guard before he had to start going through files.

'Jeeze happy', came Simeon's voice through her mastoid implant, 'you could have left a little flesh.'

'Don't call me happy, and you wouldn't understand.'

'Yeah I would', Simeon thought, agreeing with General Booley's assessment.

OOC: 12 hours? In a shuttle? You must be kidding, they'd have wormed it.

IC:
"One moment, Simeon," transmitted Jann. He tapped a few symbols on the control displays. "Why do they insist on remote control?" he asked Jace, "They're lucky our ships even have the capability, it's not exactly something you'd expect on military vessel."

Senkov shrugged, watching the diagnostic readouts carefully, alert for any sign of a problem.

"Simeon, control is yours." Jann tapped the final symbol, completing the transfer. "And yes, we are the ones who were with Helva. Well, most of us," he corrected, "We have a few who missed that one."

Jann sat back in his seat, reluctantly allowing the Central Worlds computers to guide the shuttle in.
"Nearly there, people. Just need to dock," he told the passengers. There was a muted half-cheer from the passenger compartment.

****

"Don't worry Sophie, I'll just be a minute," the avatar said in an equally pleasant voice. It stood, smiling and nodding reassuringly to Sophie, and stepped through the door. Once the door was closed, the avatar took on a completely different demeanour.

"Do you have a problem with my inquiries?" it asked coldly, the dark eyes glinting slightly. "They are perfectly legitimate questions. If your aim is just to get her to talk, talk about something she cares about and understands, not something that may unduly worry her. If not, I have a right to know what you are after."

It stared at Anna with a curious intensity, its infinitely deep eyes revealing nothing of its thoughts.

OOC: 12 hours? In a shuttle? You must be kidding, they'd have wormed it.

OOC: When you said shuttle I assumed you were going sublight. I certainly didn't think a shuttle would be able to do a worm. But 12 hours can be done. I've driven that two consecutive days to visit family in minnesota, so it's easily doable.

IC:
"One moment, Simeon," transmitted Jann. He tapped a few symbols on the control displays. "Why do they insist on remote control?" he asked Jace, "They're lucky our ships even have the capability, it's not exactly something you'd expect on military vessel."

Jace shrugged, watching the diagnostic readouts carefully, alert for any sign of a problem.

"Simeon, control is yours." Jann tapped the final symbol, completing the transfer. "And yes, we are the ones who were with Helva. Well, most of us," he corrected, "We have a few who missed that one."

Jann sat back in his seat, reluctantly allowing the Central Worlds computers to guide the shuttle in.
"Nearly there, people. Just need to dock," he told the passengers. There was a muted half-cheer from the passenger compartment.

"Okay, Helva already made arrangements for quarters and I was told to extend a five hundred credit bank to each of you that she'll cover. If you'd like to tell me what your poison is I can direct you to spots youd like, unless you just want to wander, which is fine." Just then the shuttle landed softly and Simon switched the controls back to the pilot but left the comm open to await thier decision.

****

"Don't worry Sophie, I'll just be a minute," the avatar said in an equally pleasant voice. It stood, smiling and nodding reassuringly to Sophie, and stepped through the door. Once the door was closed, the avatar took on a completely different demeanour.

"Do you have a problem with my inquiries?" it asked coldly, the dark eyes glinting slightly. "They are perfectly legitimate questions. If your aim is just to get her to talk, talk about something she cares about and understands, not something that may unduly worry her. If not, I have a right to know what you are after."

It stared at Anna with a curious intensity, its infinitely deep eyes revealing nothing of its thoughts.

"A right?" Anna asked, "You have a right? Tell me, Ma'am, just what RIGHTS do you think you have? From what I was told the little girl was found on that ship. That doesn't make you her mother, it doesn't make you kin in any way and you certainly didn't have enough time to file and get cleared for adoption. So I want to know exactly what right you think you have to QUESTION me, let alone to do so in front of a PATIENT."

"Admiral", he said gliding forward and extending his hand, "Welcome aboard. I'm Doctor Kennet Uhua-Sorg and I'll be seeing to your examinations. It's a standard policy, really, check for viruses, organisms, that sort of thing. If you want I could do a full physical. That's not required but since some people have an aversion to doctors", at that point his eyes flicked over to Micaya who suddenly seemed to find something extremely interesting to look at on the ceiling, then back to the admiral, "and since you and your people are here, I'd be happy to accomodate you."
"We would hate for our first diplomatic meetings to go arry because of a spore or other contaminate infected another delegate. I and my crew have no problem with a full physical, though I must tell you from the start, Alexial and Tamara, are not your normal patients."

Upon hearing their names the two SI bowed the heads in salute.

"Now that we've introduced ourselves, shall we get underway?" Dur'uc asked with a slight grin on his face.

Kenny smiled and nodded, "Of course, please, follow me." He led them to a large cross corridor and pointed to where there were several platforms. "Faster transport than walking", he told them, "because of the size of the station. Where we're going is relatively close."

Micaya took down four, handing them out and keeping one for herself then went over how they worked. They were simple, all one had to do was punch in the proper section number and room number and it would taking you to the closest axial corridor. She provided the section and room number and Kennet grinned. "Well at least you've been here often enough to remember."

"To often", she told him.

Once they arrived and entered the room he said, "Mic, and two of you can wait in there", and he nodded to a side room, "this won't take long, about ten minutes each, assuming your clean."

Cam woke as Foster's hand gently stroked her ears, and she blinked up at him muzzily, then her eyes cleared and her whiskers arced forward

"Foster!"

She moved to sit up, but carefully, more of a rising up on one elbow while staying on her side

*********************************************

Way had not trouble piloting the runabout into Helvas small hanger, and leapt from the runabout.The University had some small data on the Central Worlds and he knew enough to turn to where the central column would be. He bowed deeply.

"Thank you for allowing me to visit you Helva"

Cam woke as Foster's hand gently stroked her ears, and she blinked up at him muzzily, then her eyes cleared and her whiskers arced forward

"Foster!"

She moved to sit up, but carefully, more of a rising up on one elbow while staying on her side

"Easy Lady", he said, gently slipping an arm under her while still keeping her on her side. "How are you feeling?"

*********************************************

Way had not trouble piloting the runabout into Helvas small hanger, and leapt from the runabout.The University had some small data on the Central Worlds and he knew enough to turn to where the central column would be. He bowed deeply.

"Thank you for allowing me to visit you Helva"

Helva was surprised and pleased at Way's actions. Even some of the newer brawns didn't accede to the older ways. "How very Gallant", she told him, "thank you. Please", she said, "I've shut down the lights except for external and the way to the main cabin. Come on up."

((OOC: UGH! I'm so behind... Hmm... Okay, Just, assume, up to this point in time, that B. Queen and her small group has remained in the medlab, after Vex returned her weapons to the ship. Anya's injury is bad but not life threatening. She cut herself on the leg when she tried to draw her Ripper Chainknife.))


B. Queen sighed, leaning back against a chair in the medbays. Anya was busy getting her leg stitched. Vex sat next to her, fiddling with the flayed end of B. Queen's whip.

"So, I wonder what the others are up to..." Vex stated.

To which, B. Queen just shrugs. "Don't know, don't really care. But, we do need to get in contact with our 'friend.'"

"Of course. He's probably worried sick about us." Vex turns to the nearest aide looking person, standing and waving one hand to catch his/her attenation. "Excuse us... But I'd like to use your InGal Communication set, if you'd be so kind as to guide me to it, I'd be very much appriciative!" She flashed the man(Or woman, your choice. ;P) a wide grin, her tail wagging pleasently behind her.

"Excuse us... But I'd like to use your InGal Communication set, if you'd be so kind as to guide me to it, I'd be very much appriciative!" She flashed the man(Or woman, your choice. ;P) a wide grin, her tail wagging pleasently behind her.

"Of course", follow me. He led her to what looked like a waiting room and gestured toward one of the comms. "Right there, if you need help just ask the terminal and it'll patch you through." He smiled at her and then turned, heading off to pick up some items for one of the surgical suites.


B. Queen sighed, leaning back against a chair in the medbays. Anya was busy getting her leg stitched. Vex sat next to her, fiddling with the flayed end of B. Queen's whip.

The doctor finally came out and apologized for the long delay. "She'll be fine. I've knitted the skin, she won't even have a scar and I've repaired the nerve damage. She won't even notice anything except some hypersensitivity in that particular area for a few days. She's free to go, however, unless you have some questions for me?" He stood, waiting to see if there was any questions forthcoming.

"I'll be just fine very soon. A couple of more hours and nothing will be hurting...but Foster I have something I have to tell you."

Very quietly she passed on some very important information to him

*****************************************

"Let me get the gift I have for you out, and I'll be right there."

He removed the casque and activated it's antigravs. Towing it behind him he headed up following Helva's light path. once there he turned to the central column.

"I grabbed the first avatar of mine at hand" He looked and sounded nothing female now

Way (http://www.atddm.com/Way1.jpg)

B. Queen thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Yes, I have one question. There were another two, I believe their names were Cam and... Faster? Something like that. Do you know as to their status, and if we may get into contact with them..." She inquired of the other two whom she had met eariler on the ghost ship.


Vex, blew a kiss tot he aide as he left, "Thanks, sug-ah! Let's do dinner sometime, s'yeah?" Smirking, she turned to the comm unit, taking a few seconds to famillarize herself with it.

Finally set in her mastery of the machine, she sets about using it to connect to the Blockcade Runners' private secured communication network, routing her message through several dummy servers designed to add more levels of encryption then convientional logic would deem needed. Better overly safe then overly sorry. ;P

She then typed out the message in a native language of one of the Krowemohian colony worlds...

To: Encoded Recipent
From: Encoded Sender
Subject: [none]

Sadckan, ed'c Jaq uv dra Pmulglyta Nihhanc. Fa kud cusa edasc vnus yh ypyhtuhat creb fa haat du uvv muyt. Fa yna linnahdmo tulgat yd y cdydeuh lymmat Ympeuh'c Bneta. Drec ec zicd y cdub ujan, druikr. E'mm luhdyld oui ykyeh fedr dra vehym tacdehydeuh, yht frana fa'mm saad vun dra tnub-uvv.


This finished, she hits the send button, and reverses her steps, taking care to make sure the one-time use dummy servers stopped functioning as each one in turn was unrouted.

Satisified in her skills in making tracking of the message nearly impossible, Vex turns away, and glances around to see if that aide stuck around or at least came back...

"I'll be just fine very soon. A couple of more hours and nothing will be hurting...but Foster I have something I have to tell you."

Very quietly she passed on some very important information to him

Stunned Foster sat down. His mind raced, a delicate balance between what he knew and what he learned, between what SHE knew and what she didn't.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but we need to talk. There's something you need to know about me. Please", he said, lightly touching her cheek, "don't be alarmed. What say we discuss this over dinner at the perimeter on Vega Base?" he asked and smiled.

*****************************************

"Let me get the gift I have for you out, and I'll be right there."

He removed the casque and activated it's antigravs. Towing it behind him he headed up following Helva's light path. once there he turned to the central column.

"I grabbed the first avatar of mine at hand" He looked and sounded nothing female now

"Oh that's quite alright", she told him, still pleased that he had the curtesey to address her, or rather where her body was, despited the fact that she could hear him anywhere on the ship. "By mythological definition I can determine what an avatar is, though I'm not sure how yours might work. But I'm happy for the company. Do you require any sustenance? The protein vats are capable of producing practically anything."

Satisified in her skills in making tracking of the message nearly impossible, Vex turns away, and glances around to see if that aide stuck around or at least came back...

Tracking the message was. Lars had to admit that, though apparently she wasn't aware that she was dealing with a shell person and not an A.I. Lars had been in the station since it was built, and in fact the station had literally grown around him. Because it catered to many he had learned every known language and was rather good at translating even unkown ones. He had even built an algorithm program to assist him. Therefore Vex was probably rather surprised when he spoke to her from the comm....

"Vex, had you asked for a private channel and even a scrambled signal I would have abliged. However, being as your rather circutious route caught my attention I was forced to look into it. Salvage isn't against the law here, you know. And it's the Pride of Albion, not Albion's Pride. subtle difference, I know, but as I am essentially this station I consider it a rather large difference. If you wish I could provide you with several places for the final destination for your drop off."

OOC: I didn't say it wasn't doable, but since the option is there they would have taken the quick route. Given the choice, wouldn't you spend ten minutes in your car, not 12 hours?

And the avatar is female, so you might want to correct that.

IC:
Jann smiled as he shut down the shuttle again. "Hear that, back there?" he asked.

"Ha ha! At least I'm not completely broke, although I have absolutely no idea how much that is in our terms," called Holly triumphantly.

"What do we want to do anyway?" the pilot inquired. A number of replies came back. The general consensus seemed to be that they would 'wander', as Simeon had put it.

As a final thought before they entered the Station proper, Jann asked a question of Simeon.
"We'll just wander at the moment, Simeon. I assume we can contact you through our comms if we need to? Also, couple of things. How much will that amount of money buy, since we have no viable means for comparision? And I assume we have to leave our weapons on the shuttle again?"

****

The avatar's eyes blazed coldly.
"You are right, she was found on the derelict. However, she was found by an Indoan detachment, and was brought here aboard an Indoan vessel. Since there is no clear evidence as to who her guardians were, and they are probably dead anyway, it is the responsibility of the Indoan Navy to look after her wellbeing until we deem otherwise."
It paused, more for intimidation than anything else.

"So, no. Under your law, and ours as well, I have no legal right over her. What I do have is a moral obligation, as well as my hardwired programming dictating that I express concern and ensure that whatever happens to her is in her best interests. If it comes to that, you have no right to do anything at all. We are not obliged to submit her for examination here, we have done so because it is in her best interests." Left unspoken was the fact that they could leave at any time, taking the girl with them.

The avatar stopped, visibly serenely calm, the angry outburst delivered entirely in a pleasant, calming tone, which somehow made it worse. It wiped an invisible speck of dust from its arm.

"Dinner sounds wonderful! But can I get a shower first? Way kept me going at full speed, and I feel grubby. This cast can take a little wet, can't it?"

She was a touch wobbly at first, but a few deep breaths as she stood sent that effect away. Cam stretched, an elaborate twisting stretch ( with a hidden smile ), and looked about for her clothes.

***************************************************

Way smiled and answered the question negatively

"No this body, this avatar is completely self suffecient for about a thousand years, before the micronized core needs to be replaced. It looks and even to most medical scanners reads perfectly human, but I'm pure non biological. It's useful for moving around where a ship can't. It houses a complete duplicate of my 'self' but if I stay in this avatar long enough , well we tend to find ourselves growing into seperate people, sister/brother selves, integral, interwined, but independant, espcially of perspective and opinion."

He stopped for a moment and realized that he was babbleing, something he never did. 'There must be something that needs a diagnostic run' he thought to himself

OOC: I didn't say it wasn't doable, but since the option is there they would have taken the quick route. Given the choice, wouldn't you spend ten minutes in your car, not 12 hours?

And the avatar is female, so you might want to correct that.

OOC - Oh absolutely, if you have FTL you can use it. I simply wasn't expecting a shuttle to have it. And I edited the post to reflect the proper gender of the avatar.

**********************************************************

IC:
Jann smiled as he shut down the shuttle again. "Hear that, back there?" he asked.

"Ha ha! At least I'm not completely broke, although I have absolutely no idea how much that is in our terms," called Holly triumphantly.

"What do we want to do anyway?" the pilot inquired. A number of replies came back. The general consensus seemed to be that they would 'wander', as Simeon had put it.

As a final thought before they entered the Station proper, Jann asked a question of Simeon.
"We'll just wander at the moment, Simeon. I assume we can contact you through our comms if we need to? Also, couple of things. How much will that amount of money buy, since we have no viable means for comparision? And I assume we have to leave our weapons on the shuttle again?"

"Your permitted side arms, no heavy weaponry. That regulation changed on border stations like this one after the Kolnari occupied Vega station ten years ago. Before that no weapons were permitted. That's also when the docks saw the advent of the legionarres.

You can contact me via your own equipement or just say my name and I'll answer from the nearest audio. There might be a delay as I control all the traffic here as well as station functions, but I try to answer as quickly as I can.

As for how much the credits will buy, well, that depends on how expensive your tastes are. That amount could go a long way in some cases or one meal in the Perimeter Restaurante, though I hear it's worth it.

You can start with the bazaar, it's to your right once your through the airlock."

**********************************************************

The avatar's eyes blazed coldly.
"You are right, she was found on the derelict. However, she was found by an Indoan detachment, and was brought here aboard an Indoan vessel. Since there is no clear evidence as to who her guardians were, and they are probably dead anyway, it is the responsibility of the Indoan Navy to look after her wellbeing until we deem otherwise."
It paused, more for intimidation than anything else.

"So, no. Under your law, and ours as well, I have no legal right over her. What I do have is a moral obligation, as well as my hardwired programming dictating that I express concern and ensure that whatever happens to her is in her best interests. If it comes to that, you have no right to do anything at all. We are not obliged to submit her for examination here, we have done so because it is in her best interests." Left unspoken was the fact that they could leave at any time, taking the girl with them.

The avatar stopped, visibly serenely calm, the angry outburst delivered entirely in a pleasant, calming tone, which somehow made it worse. It wiped an invisible speck of dust from its arm.

Anna wasn't the least bit intimidated and she read the unspoken threat. "Well if your obligation dictates that I can't proceed the way I think is best then feel free to take her. But you take her from that room to your ship so the shadow infestation doesn't get loose on this station. I was trying to test her memory to see if it was affecting her mind or just waiting for an opportunity to get out. THAT was why I didn't barge in and just blurt out what I was looking for. If I can find a way to coax it out we can hit the U.V. in that room. So you either get her off the station or let me do my job."

"Dinner sounds wonderful! But can I get a shower first? Way kept me going at full speed, and I feel grubby. This cast can take a little wet, can't it?"

She was a touch wobbly at first, but a few deep breaths as she stood sent that effect away. Cam stretched, an elaborate twisting stretch ( with a hidden smile ), and looked about for her clothes.

Foster was about to answer when Cam began stretching and completely forgot about the question as he watched her. After a moment he realized he was staring and looking a bit embarrassed pointed toward the sonic shower of the surgical room.

"The uhh", he said becoming more tongue tied, "there", he managed, still pointing at the shower.

***************************************************

Way smiled and answered the question negatively

"No this body, this avatar is completely self suffecient for about a thousand years, before the micronized core needs to be replaced. It looks and even to most medical scanners reads perfectly human, but I'm pure non biological. It's useful for moving around where a ship can't. It houses a complete duplicate of my 'self' but if I stay in this avatar long enough , well we tend to find ourselves growing into seperate people, sister/brother selves, integral, interwined, but independant, espcially of perspective and opinion."

He stopped for a moment and realized that he was babbleing, something he never did. 'There must be something that needs a diagnostic run' he thought to himself

"That's very interesting", Helva said, "so your ship self and your avatar self become two different entities? Essentially anyway."

OOC: Hell, even my fighters have a wormhole drive. Not that it's used often, but it's there if it's needed.

IC:
"Thanks, Simeon." Jann shut off the comm unit and left the cockpit.

"Okay, people. Listen up," he shouted above the chatter. They went quiet, allowing the pilot to speak, knowing that he had useful information. "Okay, the credits sound like a reasonable amount, according to Simeon, they could go a long way or buy one meal in a top restaurant. Probably approximately three or four hundred Cretals." He stopped to let that sink in.

Roxy Tyler smiled slyly. "Hey Holly, you've got money now. Fancy trying to win your salary back?"
Khonsari responded with a rather rude gesture. "Screw you, Rox. I'd just lose this too."

Jann smiled at the banter, Tyler was always winning vast quantities of money from the crew of the Faded Fortunes. He looked at Kane as he made his next statement. "Okay, we are allowed to carry sidearms, but no heavy weaponry. Battlesuits are also a no-no, and although you probably would get away with it, I'd advise against light torso armour."

Kane grinned happily, and reached for his sidearm, checked it and slid it into his hip holster. A true soldier, Kane was never happy unless he had a weapon within five seconds of his grasp. He had a reputation for never being unarmed, even in places where everybody was supposed to be unarmed.

"Happy? Right, let's go." They filed out of the shuttle, and proceeded into the station. Jann took the advice of Simeon and led them into the bazaar.

****

"In that case, I think you could have chosen your questions more carefully. Instead of asking about her medical health, why not have asked about when her birthday was or something? I realise that choice is limited because you don't wish to bring up parents, but I'm sure you could have found something."

It was as close as the avatar would come to actually apologising to the doctor, since it felt that it had been right.
"You may continue to treat her, since I still believe it is in her best interests. However, has it occured to you that she may not be infected at all? It may sound strange to you, since you seem to know more about these organisms than I do, but it is possible, is it not?"
The avatar had returned to a far more reasonable attitude, now that the problem had been cleared up.

Kenny smiled and nodded, "Of course, please, follow me." He led them to a large cross corridor and pointed to where there were several platforms. "Faster transport than walking", he told them, "because of the size of the station. Where we're going is relatively close."

Micaya took down four, handing them out and keeping one for herself then went over how they worked. They were simple, all one had to do was punch in the proper section number and room number and it would taking you to the closest axial corridor. She provided the section and room number and Kennet grinned. "Well at least you've been here often enough to remember."

"To often", she told him.

Once they arrived and entered the room he said, "Mic, and two of you can wait in there", and he nodded to a side room, "this won't take long, about ten minutes each, assuming your clean."
"Alexial, Ta'mara, wait here, I'll go first." Dur'uc said authoritively.

In response Alexial and Ta'mara snapped to attention and saluted, then returned to their previous stance and giggled.

"Girls, don't be smart. Lead the way doctor." Dur'uc said after they had their little joke.

"Happy? Right, let's go." They filed out of the shuttle, and proceeded into the station. Jann took the advice of Simeon and led them into the bazaar.

The bazaar was a multitude of indigineous life from the systems of Central Worlds where reptilion, insectoid and basically humanoid individuals moved about talking in thier various tongues. A number of different shops were evident as well as a number of restaurantes, cafes, taverns and bars.

**********************************************************

"In that case, I think you could have chosen your questions more carefully. Instead of asking about her medical health, why not have asked about when her birthday was or something? I realise that choice is limited because you don't wish to bring up parents, but I'm sure you could have found something."

It was as close as the avatar would come to actually apologising to the doctor, since it felt that it had been right.
"You may continue to treat her, since I still believe it is in her best interests. However, has it occured to you that she may not be infected at all? It may sound strange to you, since you seem to know more about these organisms than I do, but it is possible, is it not?"
The avatar had returned to a far more reasonable attitude, now that the problem had been cleared up.

"Oh, I may continue. Well how GRACIOUS of you. And as for if that has occured to me or not, how stupid do you think we are? Apparently you forgot we scanned each of you IN THE AIR LOCK which we had informed you about and the reason for your original delay. I'm not just going of a HUNCH here."

"Girls, don't be smart. Lead the way doctor." Dur'uc said after they had their little joke.

Kenny chuckled, "Well at least you have women that will listen. My wife tends to be very independant." As he spoke he started his scans. The whole process took less than ten minutes, "All clean." He smiled and nodded toward the door, "you can send in one of the other two."

Cam looked at the sonic shower and winced

"Foster, I really loathe sonic showers. Why don't I back to the Way Farer and get ready there. I'm absolutely sure that this old skirt and vest won't do for a dinner at any place really nice" She swirled the short kilt like skirt about her and slipped on the vest as she spoke

******************************************

"Yes and no. We are in constant contact unless we chose not to be, and experience every thing the other does, so it would seem logical that we remain completely alike, as one, but it just works differently than the logic suggests"

Way keyed the casque to start the wake up process.

"The University's engineers were able to come up with one that you can use. The University has had some contact with the Central Worlds in the past and knows somewhat about shell persons. You would have complete range of sensitivities, senses, and ambulation. The range is only about one hundred miles with out a repeater enhancement though. You will need to choose your appearance as well. This sarcophagus has only ten thousand preprogrammed, for you to chose from, but if you have a look that you like a lot we could get the programming changed at will."

Kenny chuckled, "Well at least you have women that will listen. My wife tends to be very independant." As he spoke he started his scans. The whole process took less than ten minutes, "All clean." He smiled and nodded toward the door, "you can send in one of the other two."
"They're not women, they're subordinates, there's a big difference, one listens to you because they have to, the other listens to you when they want to. Don't forget that Doctor. And my wife is much the same way, very independent, but that's why I fell for her, that and she's more beautiful then Gaia herself." Dur'uc said chatting with him.

But before Dur'uc left he left the doctor with instructions for the examinations of his two subordinates, "Doctor do you think you can put both of my subordinates Alexial and Ta'mara, through a full examination, I understand it's not necassary, but I think they deserve it. Oh and Doctor, do be gental with them, they are trained killers after all." Dur'uc then smiled and walked out.

Outside he called out Ta'mara's name and said, "Ta'mara, your up, full examination, don't hurt the man he's only doing his job." Dur'uc ordered Ta'mara.

In response to his orders Ta'mara bowed her head and answered, "Yes sir, I'll not hurt a hair on the doctors head." Ta'mara said with a sarcastic but truthfull answer.

Cam looked at the sonic shower and winced

"Foster, I really loathe sonic showers. Why don't I back to the Way Farer and get ready there. I'm absolutely sure that this old skirt and vest won't do for a dinner at any place really nice" She swirled the short kilt like skirt about her and slipped on the vest as she spoke

Foster watched, unable to help himself and when he finally was able to respond he nodded, "Yeah, yeah, dinner. Probably a good idea. Vega base has a nice restaurante, I think we should go there to eat."

**********************************************************

"Yes and no. We are in constant contact unless we chose not to be, and experience every thing the other does, so it would seem logical that we remain completely alike, as one, but it just works differently than the logic suggests"

Way keyed the casque to start the wake up process.

"The University's engineers were able to come up with one that you can use. The University has had some contact with the Central Worlds in the past and knows somewhat about shell persons. You would have complete range of sensitivities, senses, and ambulation. The range is only about one hundred miles with out a repeater enhancement though. You will need to choose your appearance as well. This sarcophagus has only ten thousand preprogrammed, for you to chose from, but if you have a look that you like a lot we could get the programming changed at will."

Helva got very quiet then. She had been born with the genetic deficiency that got her shelled and had never been outside of it. The thought of leaving it made her think of having her shell broken open and the twisted, deformed body inside spilled out. The thought so frightened her that the power on the ship surged with her adrenalin and then almost died out as she tried to repress her terror. The life support systems could be heard to go 'KACHUNG' as her breath hitched in terror.

But before Dur'uc left he left the doctor with instructions for the examinations of his two subordinates, "Doctor do you think you can put both of my subordinates Alexial and Ta'mara, through a full examination, I understand it's not necassary, but I think they deserve it. Oh and Doctor, do be gental with them, they are trained killers after all." Dur'uc then smiled and walked out.

When Ta'mara entered Kennet told her to get on the table. He had pulled out several more scanners and attachments and waited.

"This will take a bit longer than I had originally told you, I was requested to give you a full exam." So began the process that would last a half hour, assuming all went well. But once completed he would have a report for the Admiral down to the last molecule.

((OOC: Wow. Good one. Very nicely done. I hadn't expect anyone to get what language I was using. :D))

Vex sighed, turning around to face the comms again. "Perhaps. Thankful for the offer I am, but I'm afraid I'd have to turn it down." She flashed it a thumbs up. "So, I doubt you're human, you must be an A.I. Matrix. I'm quite impressed. Self-aware?" She posed the question, leaning against the wall near the comm unit.

"I understand, this is one way of our dear sweet lovable Admiral's way of getting back at his smartallick ship's SI, the Admiral did explain what an SI is, right? If not, then you're in for a ... quite pleasant suprise." Ta'mara laid down, closed her eyes, and smiled.

As she waited for the examination to begin she let her mind wander, and as she did that she found herself in the stations security system looking at her own body through a camera in the medical bay.

Cam almost let the internal laughter flooding her spill out, but managed to confine it to an all to innocent grin.

"Yes I thought you'd mentioned such. Why don't you pick me up at Way Farer in say two hours? I should be ready by then"

****************************************

"Helva? Are you all right? Did something i say distress you?"

Way could tell that something had happened but he wasn't certain what

((OOC: Wow. Good one. Very nicely done. I hadn't expect anyone to get what language I was using. ))

OOC - Yeah well I love anagrams, logic problems, anything that needs thinking and logic.

Vex sighed, turning around to face the comms again. "Perhaps. Thankful for the offer I am, but I'm afraid I'd have to turn it down." She flashed it a thumbs up. "So, I doubt you're human, you must be an A.I. Matrix. I'm quite impressed. Self-aware?" She posed the question, leaning against the wall near the comm unit.

"Yes", Lars replied, "I am self aware, though I'm not an A.I. You've seen our medical technology. We believe in the preservation and prolongation of life. We've defeated disease, except those that mutate and previously unknown ones from new worlds we explore. The average lifespan a few centuries ago was about sixty years, now it's about one hundred and twenty on the average with one hundred and eighty being more and more frequent. We can repair most damage, except extensive damage that causes death before we can get to it, or replace the parts we can't fix with cybernetic enhancements. What we haven't been able to fix yet is congenital birth defects.

I was born missing a particular strand of DNA that would have killed me before long as it made me age at about eight years to every one. When an infant shows birth defects that will cause it's death, the brain is tested, the one thing we can't really fix yet, and if it's normal then the infant is put into the shell program. We, our whole body, is encapsulated and put on the proper life support systems. We then begin training. We learn to use manipulators and other tools like soft shells learn to use hands and arms. We use wheels and treads like hands or feet. We learn to talk and see and hear just like any infant. We're also given intense education year round, UNLIKE soft shells, or at least most of them.

When we begin to show an aptitude for something we begin more intense training in that area and later, when we show an interest in something, our training becomes even more intense in an area that will match our aptitude and interest. I showed an aptitude for management and an interest in caring for others, therefore I became station manager of Albion. Once training is complete we're put into our new role.

There's a great deal of expense in this of course. The shells that supply our nutreint feeds. The neuro connects to the fiber threads that connect us to our assignment, in my case this station. The education. All very expensive. So we start out contracted to Central but SPRiM and MM see to it that we get fair compensation so that eventually we can by out our contracts. For instance I'm a free shell person, though I arranged a contract extension, so is Helva and Hypatia Cade, the oldest ever to have been encapsulated at the age of seven when an unknown virus made her a quadropolegic and she needed life support because her diaphragm could no longer move. Many others as well.

Central worlds haven't been able to build actually intelligent, by that I mean self aware, A.I.s. Well, except for Joat's. This is partially do to a lack of knowledge and expertise in that area, but also because most of our research and funding goes into our medical programs."

"I understand, this is one way of our dear sweet lovable Admiral's way of getting back at his smartallick ship's SI, the Admiral did explain what an SI is, right? If not, then you're in for a ... quite pleasant suprise." Ta'mara laid down, closed her eyes, and smiled.

"He told me WHAT you are but he didn't explain", he replied as he began the complete physical. Due to some differences it took longer than normal but he finally finished. Alexial, at least, would take less time now that he knew what he was dealing with.

As she waited for the examination to begin she let her mind wander, and as she did that she found herself in the stations security system looking at her own body through a camera in the medical bay.

Lars continued his convesation with Vex as he detected something odd in the med facility security. He investigated, finding nothing particularly wrong, just something akin to an itch he couldn't scratch.

**********************************************************

Once he finished Kennet said, "There, done. Sorry it took longer than normal but I ran into some differences that I had anticipated. Your fine though. Once I'm done with your partner I'll present everything to your Admiral. Your free to go though, and please send in .... Alexial? Was it?"

Cam almost let the internal laughter flooding her spill out, but managed to confine it to an all to innocent grin.

"Yes I thought you'd mentioned such. Why don't you pick me up at Way Farer in say two hours? I should be ready by then"

Foster smiled and couldn't resist leaning in for a light kiss. "I can't wait", he told her softly, "I'll see you in two hours."

With that he headed toward the door with Cam, "Helva, I'm heading back, we'll be picking up Cam in two hours to go to Vega base." When the reached the door he stopped, frowning, "Helva? .... HELVA?! .... LARS! I can't contact Helva!"

Lars studied the external sensors on the city station, "Foster", he said over the nearest audio unit, "her power signatures are fluxing, life support is rather ragged.

**********************************************************

"Helva? Are you all right? Did something i say distress you?"

Way could tell that something had happened but he wasn't certain what

"I .... I can't. I can't leave my shell, I'll die", she said in a voice that she couldn't modulate as she struggled to balance her nutrient feeds.

**********************************************************

Tia had also registered the variance in her power flows and opened a com to Admiral Dur'uc and Alex, "Something's wrong with Helva, her power regulation doesn't seem to be functioning properly.

"Great Lord", the kolnari at the monitoring station said as he turned toward Belazir.

"Speak."

"A troop carrier arrived at the station."

"It's of no consequence", Belazir told him. "We have face the scumvermin marines before."

"Yes Great Lord."

Belazir wondered about the transport though. Could they know that he watched and waited? Could they be preparing an offensive? He didn't see how since none of thier spies had been detected. No .... one transport wasn't enough to pull him away from his revenge. The abomanation would be taken in his fist and he would let it watch it's station die.

**********************************************************

Lauralin stood five feet, five inches in height. She has an hourglass figure with a rather ample bosom and her skin is very pale. What catches the eyes of most, however, is her bright, emerald green eyes and her flame red hair that cascades down her back ending only an inch above the ground. She has a beauty that surpasses most in the room, though to those who are familiar with elves, her slightly pointed ears would give away her half elven heritage and explain the beauty that she carries.

Presently she is walking in the bazaar. Her father had declined her invitation to look around and Marcus had stayed with him. Constantly near her was a man that stood about five feet, eight inches with black hair and red eyes. He is a powerfully built man, all muscle. His eyes constantly shift about, searching the crowd as they walk and he tugs at the silk shirt and pants that Laura had him wear to make him look presentable. The only odd features to him were the upthrusting canine teeth, though other than that he was a rather handsome man, and the longsword on his left hip.

Where Lauralin glided through the crowd with unconscious, graceful elegance, Baghtru plowed through like a rhino on the charge, though oddly enough they kept pace with each other. Each time Laura stopped to examine something, Baghtru sighed, as though in long sufference.

"What do you think of this?" she asked him, examining a rigellien dress.

"It looks nice."

"You always say that."

"Okay, it sucks."

She looked at him, "It does not."

"Laur, I'm the Captain of your mansion guard and presently your personal bodyguard, not a fashion critic."

"Your and insufferable, pig-headed lout", she told him.

"Yeah", he said non-chalantly, "but you still like me."

She chuckled and nodded, placing a hand lightly on his arm and gently squeezing, "You are my best friend."

"Yeah, so the dress sucks."

She sighed and smacked him lightly on the arm, "Impossible."

"Hey, heres a nice one", he said grinning as he held a dress up against her that went from above her mid thigh to just barely high enough to cover half of her breasts.

She pushed it away, "You like what it WON'T cover, not the dress itself."

He nodded vigouresly.

"No", she said and began moving through the crowd again.

"Hey, it's pretty noisy in here," Reid said. "And look at the variety in life, we've never seen anything like this before."

"Yeah, well. Try not to stare, and don't get into trouble. Go do what you want, I'll call on the comm when I need you," declared Jann.

They split up, two groups going different directions. The two diminuative Douran found themselves being kicked around and stepped on, since at only two and a half feet tall, nobody really saw them. They solved the problem by scampering up Reid's legs and perching on her shoulders.
"Hey! You two are heavy, y'know," she complained, although only half-heartedly, since she liked the Douran.

"Hey, look at her," stated Jann, nodding at Lauralin. "Looks kind of out of place here, she's so hot."
"Out of place she may be, but she ain't your normal broad," Kane replied. Jann looked confused, so the Ranger elaborated. "The guy two steps behind her, bodyguard." At that, Jann began wondering, who was she.

Kane was equally noticable to somebody who knew what to look for. He moved with the fluid grace of a soldier, his six foot six height and the deathly white skin common to his species made him stand out from the crowd, and the sidearm was clearly visible.

****

Without so much as blinking, the avatar snapped back into its previous disposition.
"I don't know what your ethics codes are like, but I'm sure you are supposed to be a touch more professional," it said frostily. "I was well aware of the scan, but such things can be wrong, or misinterpreted. I suggest, given your attitude towards me, that you do whatever it is you need to do quickly, so that we can get out of your way."

****

The Faded Fortunes was monitoring all its crew, especially the avatar.
~ It's only trying to help, but it seems to be making things worse. And that stubborn doctor isn't helping things, thought the Mind.

It was also, like any ship, monitoring its sensors.
~ New vessel over there. Wait a minute, what was it Kane said he saw? He just said a firefight, so why doesn't this new contact feel right.
The corvette did not move, in case it attracted attention to itself, its black hull blending in with the darkness of space behind it. However, the VLPI sensors did focus on the other vessel. They were not the most powerful of sensors, but they were hard to detect.

OOC: Troop Carrier? I assume that's not the corvette.

"He told me WHAT you are but he didn't explain", he replied as he began the complete physical. Due to some differences it took longer than normal but he finally finished. Alexial, at least, would take less time now that he knew what he was dealing with.

Lars continued his convesation with Vex as he detected something odd in the med facility security. He investigated, finding nothing particularly wrong, just something akin to an itch he couldn't scratch.

**********************************************************

Once he finished Kennet said, "There, done. Sorry it took longer than normal but I ran into some differences that I had anticipated. Your fine though. Once I'm done with your partner I'll present everything to your Admiral. Your free to go though, and please send in .... Alexial? Was it?"
As Ta'mara walked out she turned around bowed her head and smiled saying, "Thank you for your patience, and I apologize for the Admiral's twisted sense of humor." She then put her right hand behind her head, bowed slightly, closed her eyes and stuck out her tounge in a humorous fashion.

After exiting Ta'mara walked over to Alexial and tapped her on the shoulder saying, "Your turn big sis, oh and as a favor, can you explain what a SI is to the doctor? Thanks." Ta'mara said falling into postion behind Dur'uc.

Dur'uc then looked over his shoulder and said, "See, I made the time efficent Ta'mara wait because she had to be smart and disobey orders, next time I won't be so lenient." Dur'uc said with a sly smile.

Ta'mara return the smile, and answered, "Yes sir, I understand, sir."

It was Alexial's turn and as she walked in and laid down she asked, "So where would like me to begin telling you what an SI is?" Alexial asked the doctor directly.
_

Dur'uc heard Tia over his personal earpeice and answered, "I'll send a crew out there to see what the problem is, just tell her so she won't be suprised when two marines jump onto her accompanied by a drone." Dur'uc then sent a signal to the Trac'ula with orders to aid the shell ship known as Helva.
_

Back at the ship two marines in armor and one drone left the ship through special means and launched themselves toward Helva. When they landed, they announced they were there to help and needed to enter.

Waiting for Alexial to finish must have made Dur'uc reconsider a few things, first, he needed to find better punishments, ones that wouldn't affect him. And second, that the crew was most certainly getting bored, so he made an order declaring, "Crew this is your Admiral talking, do to certain changes, I have decided to let all non-essential crew member have a thirty minute leave in which to accompany yourselves with the station, that is all." After Dur'uc's proposal, half of the ship must have been cheering and with that he turned off the ear peice and waited for a responce from the team he sent to investigate Helva.

They split up, two groups going different directions. The two diminuative Douran found themselves being kicked around and stepped on, since at only two and a half feet tall, nobody really saw them. They solved the problem by scampering up Reid's legs and perching on her shoulders.
"Hey! You two are heavy, y'know," she complained, although only half-heartedly, since she liked the Douran.

Kane was equally noticable to somebody who knew what to look for. He moved with the fluid grace of a soldier, his six foot six height and the deathly white skin common to his species made him stand out from the crowd, and the sidearm was clearly visible.

Baghtru caught sight of the woman with the Douran on her shoulders and looked at them curiously, until the trained killer came into view. His eyes shifted to the big man and he made a fast evaluation.

"Nine o'clock", he muttered.

"Already?" Laura asked.

He looked at her and sighed, "Northwest."

She realized what he was trying to say and she looked over. The vampiress' eyeteeth were retracted into her gumsheaths, giving her a normal appearance. Her mesmerizing, emerald colored eyes met his and she automatically scanned his surface thoughts for a threat.

****

Without so much as blinking, the avatar snapped back into its previous disposition.
"I don't know what your ethics codes are like, but I'm sure you are supposed to be a touch more professional," it said frostily. "I was well aware of the scan, but such things can be wrong, or misinterpreted. I suggest, given your attitude towards me, that you do whatever it is you need to do quickly, so that we can get out of your way."

"My ethics codes are just fine, THANK you very much and I'm being as professional as I can under the circumstances. I'm not accustomed to risking my life like you and your people. I need to coax that shadow out, which means I have to be in there and I'm aware of what kind of damage they can cause. So you'll EXCUSE me if I'm just a bit FRIGHTENED out my WITS here, but I'm not a MACHINE."

She ran trembling fingers through her hair, trying to compose herself for the job she knew she had to do.

****

OOC: Troop Carrier? I assume that's not the corvette.

(OOC - I'm sorry for causing any confusion here. I was posting for the pirates in general. The troop carrier was the one that General Bill Booley and the legion squad got off of at Vega Base as posted earlier. They aren't at the Albion station.)

It was Alexial's turn and as she walked in and laid down she asked, "So where would like me to begin telling you what an SI is?" Alexial asked the doctor directly.

Kennet was still chuckling at the women's bow on her way out and smiled tiredly at Alexial. He began the exam as he answered her question. "Well what does SI mean and what, exactly, are you? Your biology is most interesting. I would love to study it but the Admiral requested that I destroy all samples and I'm, therefore, duty bound to do so."
_

Dur'uc heard Tia over his personal earpeice and answered, "I'll send a crew out there to see what the problem is, just tell her so she won't be suprised when two marines jump onto her accompanied by a drone." Dur'uc then sent a signal to the Trac'ula with orders to aid the shell ship known as Helva.

"Thank you", she sent to Dur'uc, her voice filled with fear for her sister ship. There was no greater fear to any shell person than to lose contact with the outside sensors as it left the shell person in a state of sensory depravation.

"Helva, if you can hear me, my friend is sending over some help. You'll be fine, we're all here." She sent a message to Lars as well.

"Yes I noticed the same thing."

"Tia? I'm alright, really. Just a bit of shock came up is all."
_

Back at the ship two marines in armor and one drone left the ship through special means and launched themselves toward Helva. When they landed, they announced they were there to help and needed to enter.

Helva hadn't responded fast enough and wouldn't leave the gallant crew outside. She opened the outer airlock and then cycled them through. Inside she said, "I'm alright. Your still welcome to come to the main bridge if you like. I just had a bit of a shock is all, but I am fine, really."

Waiting for Alexial to finish must have made Dur'uc reconsider a few things, first, he needed to find better punishments, ones that wouldn't affect him. And second, that the crew was most certainly getting bored, so he made an order declaring, "Crew this is your Admiral talking, do to certain changes, I have decided to let all non-essential crew member have a thirty minute leave in which to accompany yourselves with the station, that is all." After Dur'uc's proposal, half of the ship must have been cheering and with that he turned off the ear peice and waited for a responce from the team he sent to investigate Helva.

Lars saw the people coming into the station. A reasonable, and wise, choice on the admirals part, to give his crew a chance to get off the ship for a little while. He began to shift traffic patterns to allow the incoming crew easy access to the station.

He also allowed Alex emergency egress, as well as Foster, in order for the brawns to get to Helva as quickly as possible.

"Leave your shell?" Way asked bewhildered for the first nanosecond, then his face cleared. He spoke soothingly, his sensors making him aware of the ragged energy flows about him

"No dear not at all...just think, reach out and it's like accessing one of your sensors, deliberately think about, oh say breathing."

The airlock cycling could be heard and Way turned about to see who was arriving

"Helva, leaving your shell would take you actuall going to the University, getting permission to have a full clone grown, then one grown and a Valthusian entechly matrix implant. It's not something lightly done, I assure you...Thought not that this was either"

As his eyes met Lauralin's, a strange feeling ran along Kane's spine, and a number of images flashed into his head. Teeth? What the...? he thought. He shivered and shook his head violently.

The other Indoans noticed, and looked at him.
"I don't care what you say, Jann. We are not going near that woman. I just blinked and something about her gives me the creeps," he declared. Riv jumped from Reid's shoulder to Kane's, a flying bundle of orange fur.

"What's up, tough guy?" asked the Douran. He looked at Lauralin and for the briefest of moments, their eyes met. Riv's head jerked back as if in surprise. "I think the man's right, people. I ain't all seeing like you, but something don't feel right with that broad."

"Pity," said Jann. "She looks like good fun." He laughed at Kane's obvious discomfort.

Reid moved round to look at Kane's eyes, with half the weight lifted from her shoulder, she too revealed the grace and poise of a soldier. "Can't see anything wrong. You look a little rattled though."

****

The avatar's jaw tightened, and its hands clenched into fists, then opened again. If the crew could avoid getting into fights with this woman, then it wouldn't either. The insult, while the worst she could possibly have made, was probably unintended.
"I am not, as you so bluntly put it, a machine. A machine does not think. I am an AI avatar. I have emotions and feelings just like anyone else," it shot back, failing to disguise the anger and pain in its voice.
"If it is your life you are worried about, I will assist in any way I can. If you give me a surgical laser, I can neutralise the shadow when it appears."

OOC: Gotcha. The corvette will still be able to detect it though, even at that range.

"Leave your shell?" Way asked bewhildered for the first nanosecond, then his face cleared. He spoke soothingly, his sensors making him aware of the ragged energy flows about him

"No dear not at all...just think, reach out and it's like accessing one of your sensors, deliberately think about, oh say breathing."

The airlock cycling could be heard and Way turned about to see who was arriving

"Helva, leaving your shell would take you actuall going to the University, getting permission to have a full clone grown, then one grown and a Valthusian entechly matrix implant. It's not something lightly done, I assure you...Thought not that this was either"

Hearing that she wouldn't have to leave her shell or even think about leaving her shell calmed her down and the ships systems began to stabalize.

"Tia, I'm alright, really. Just a misunderstanding that upset me."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm fine now, honestly."

"Okay." Tia then contacted Admiral Dur'uc and Alex again. "umm, I'm very, very sorry. Helva is okay, some sort of misunderstanding that had upset her, but she's okay now. Her systems are leveling off. I'm so sorry for alarming eveyone like that."

Alex slowed to a walk but continued on his way. "Well, I'll just stop by and visit her anyway. Who's her brawn?"

"I am", came Fosters voice from a side corridor to the bay. "I'm going to head back myself, need a lift over?"

"Sure", Alex said, and joined Foster and Cam on thier way to the bay.

Helva actually thought about breathing, which seemed odd. All the functions of her body that didn't require thought were also part of the neural connections to the ship. But she did as Way told her to do."

As his eyes met Lauralin's, a strange feeling ran along Kane's spine, and a number of images flashed into his head. Teeth? What the...? he thought. He shivered and shook his head violently.

The other Indoans noticed, and looked at him.
"I don't care what you say, Jann. We are not going near that woman. I just blinked and something about her gives me the creeps," he declared. Riv jumped from Reid's shoulder to Kane's, a flying bundle of orange fur.

"What's up, tough guy?" asked the Douran. He looked at Lauralin and for the briefest of moments, their eyes met. Riv's head jerked back as if in surprise. "I think the man's right, people. I ain't all seeing like you, but something don't feel right with that broad."

"Pity," said Jann. "She looks like good fun." He laughed at Kane's obvious discomfort.

Reid moved round to look at Kane's eyes, with half the weight lifted from her shoulder, she too revealed the grace and poise of a soldier. "Can't see anything wrong. You look a little rattled though."

Lauralin noticed the reaction and got his surface thoughts. "They will not bother us", she told Baghtru.

"Alright." Baghtru had learned long ago not to question Laura, she was usually right.

She sighed and continued on, looking at the different shop, though no longer seeing what was within.

"What's wrong?" Baghtru asked.

"They are afraid of me."

"Good, one less problem."

"They are afraid of me for what I am, not for anything I have done", she told him.

"Come on Laur, you should be used to it by now."

**********************************************************

The avatar's jaw tightened, and its hands clenched into fists, then opened again. If the crew could avoid getting into fights with this woman, then it wouldn't either. The insult, while the worst she could possibly have made, was probably unintended.
"I am not, as you so bluntly put it, a machine. A machine does not think. I am an AI avatar. I have emotions and feelings just like anyone else," it shot back, failing to disguise the anger and pain in its voice.
"If it is your life you are worried about, I will assist in any way I can. If you give me a surgical laser, I can neutralise the shadow when it appears."

Anna looked at her shocked. "I wasn't aware of that. Central doesn't have sentient A.I.s. Well since your sentient, then I should ask if you'll accompany me. If you refuse I understand."

OOC: Gotcha. The corvette will still be able to detect it though, even at that range.

(OOC - Okay. Registers the troop transport heading into Vega Base. It also registers quite a bit of traffic. A system nearby with a sun already dead is mined, so theres alot of mining tugs going in and out. The station processes ore so there are a number of transports. It's also a border station and gets inbound and outbound traffic in and out of Central Worlds.)

Kennet was still chuckling at the women's bow on her way out and smiled tiredly at Alexial. He began the exam as he answered her question. "Well what does SI mean and what, exactly, are you? Your biology is most interesting. I would love to study it but the Admiral requested that I destroy all samples and I'm, therefore, duty bound to do so."
_

"Thank you", she sent to Dur'uc, her voice filled with fear for her sister ship. There was no greater fear to any shell person than to lose contact with the outside sensors as it left the shell person in a state of sensory depravation.

"Helva, if you can hear me, my friend is sending over some help. You'll be fine, we're all here." She sent a message to Lars as well.

"Yes I noticed the same thing."

"Tia? I'm alright, really. Just a bit of shock came up is all."
_

Helva hadn't responded fast enough and wouldn't leave the gallant crew outside. She opened the outer airlock and then cycled them through. Inside she said, "I'm alright. Your still welcome to come to the main bridge if you like. I just had a bit of a shock is all, but I am fine, really."

Lars saw the people coming into the station. A reasonable, and wise, choice on the admirals part, to give his crew a chance to get off the ship for a little while. He began to shift traffic patterns to allow the incoming crew easy access to the station.

He also allowed Alex emergency egress, as well as Foster, in order for the brawns to get to Helva as quickly as possible.
"Yes well, as part of our alliances we normally require an exchange of medical knowledge ... among other things, so you'll be able to examine our biology. Though I must regretably say, it's doubtfull that the data you will be looking over will be mine." Alexial said with a playful smile.

"But as for the definition of an SI, that's easy, an SI is a Sythetic Intelligence Bio-Mechanical Avatar. Not to be counfused with your AI's, we SI's have sencied thought and emotions, and it would make me cry if you were to call me an AI. So what other questions do you have for me?" Alexial said with a playfull tone.
_

Dur'uc responded politely and reasurringly, "Don't worry, the team I sent specializes in repair and modification, but don't worry we won't modify anything against your will." Dur'uc said reasurringly.
_

(Gonna take some leeway since you allready said she'd agree in a later post, ok?"

The team went inside and stood at attention before Helva's shell, it was then that the leader of the team spoke up, "We are glad that you are well but we are dissapointed to the fact that we can not be of service to you, that is if you don't want modifications and some minor repairs done that the drone picked up. So can we be of service to you in this fashion?"

Helva agreed almost instantaniously and allowed the team sent by Admiral Dur'uc to begin repairs and modification to her shell ship. They went to work easily restoring minor damages and making modifications as they saw that they were needed. All while the drone kept up pace with the electronic repairs. "There you are, we've increased your visual sensors with a slight modification, your audio sensors, your communications network, and finally a few slight modification to your shell ship. Give us three minutes to finish up and we'll have you as good as the day they built you." The technical marine said while checking the wiring for problems.

"Reconstructing bridge, rerouting intake manafold, modifying and adjusting ouput flow, correcting, correcting." The drone vocalized as it did it's work tirelessly.
_

As the crew exited they remained in a loose formation until they passed the gates and then they dispersed into seperate directions all at one. Very millitaristic one would say if they were to see them walking in such a formation.

Hearing that she wouldn't have to leave her shell or even think about leaving her shell calmed her down and the ships systems began to stabalize.

"Tia, I'm alright, really. Just a misunderstanding that upset me."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm fine now, honestly."

"Okay." Tia then contacted Admiral Dur'uc and Alex again. "umm, I'm very, very sorry. Helva is okay, some sort of misunderstanding that had upset her, but she's okay now. Her systems are leveling off. I'm so sorry for alarming eveyone like that."

Dur'uc replied a little too late, the team allready entered and redid half her systems, they found nothing as to the cause, so instead of leaving and feeling like they didn't accomplish anything they decided to make some minor repairs and electronic work, as well as some upgrades to her sensors. In other words, she's had a make over." Dur'uc said calmly.

(Was I talkin to you TR no, I was talkin to CW, if you got a prob about how advanced the Dracon are, then fine, but don't doubt me. And after all it has nothin to do with you.)

No DF you were not speaking to me, but you did thing in a setting where I am involved, or didn't you bother to read this:

I have a character aboard that ship/person and would have objected vehemently if your npc's had boarded and done that - not to mention that the ship herself did not give you permission to do this - and are your average marines capable of doing this in a few seconds flat - short enough time as to not give the primary character - Helva herself a chance to say yeah or nay?-

Want a word for that post? - GODMODDING
(No they were specialists, and yes I did recieve permission, or did you not read? Helva hadn't responded fast enough and wouldn't leave the gallant crew outside. She opened the outer airlock and then cycled them through. Inside she said, "I'm alright. Your still welcome to come to the main bridge if you like. I just had a bit of a shock is all, but I am fine, really.")

(Okay, I need to address this. I don't want any arguing on this thread. I'll address things in order (or the closest to it I can get) and I won't take sides. The I.C. response to Alexial will be handled in my next post.

I'm addressing the last two posts here, since the others are related to these issues, in the order they appeared.

I have a character aboard that ship/person and would have objected vehemently if your npc's had boarded and done that - not to mention that the ship herself did not give you permission to do this - and are your average marines capable of doing this in a few seconds flat - short enough time as to not give the primary character - Helva herself a chance to say yeah or nay?-

Way's objection will be handled below as well as Helva's permission as they would both be related to the issue below.

As for the marine capability and the speed:

1) As a former tacitical specialist in the military I'm forced to agree that your standard marine wouldn't have those capabilities. If thier a special unit within a division they would have and it would make sense that they could, especially given the fact that they know Tia and Central ships don't change drastically from generation to generation. But,

2) I do have to agree that the speed in which it was done was a bit to much. I'm aware of the advanced tech of DF but even they have to abide by the physical laws of the universe in dealing with ship repair. Access panels to be removed, hardware and software to be replaced, crawlways that have to be worked in. Even the most advanced need time.

(No they were specialists, and yes I did recieve permission, or did you not read? Helva hadn't responded fast enough and wouldn't leave the gallant crew outside. She opened the outer airlock and then cycled them through. Inside she said, "I'm alright. Your still welcome to come to the main bridge if you like. I just had a bit of a shock is all, but I am fine, really.")

Concerning Way's objection and Helva's permission:

Yes she permitted you on board because to leave you out in the vacuum of space would have been utterly and completely rude and Helva is too kind for that. But as it states above she granted access to the main bridge and then told you she was fine. The reference to not responding fast enough was to letting people know she was okay before they made the trip over.

A better way to handle this would have been to ask the problem, get the answer and then offered to check the relavent systems. Helva would have agreed since she was aware that Tia had requested them to come. Tia being a brainship and trusting of Draconis would have been enough. If upgrades were suggested at that point then Helva would have most likely agreed since she is a 700 series and the tech is a bit outdated even by central standards.

The manner in which is was done would have been equivalent to a doctor operating on a patient without permission. The ship is Helva's body after all. Think of her as a living person, which in a very real way she is. The brainships have sensor's that are equivalent to nerves that feel pain in a living person (thus the reason Tia was stuck on the disk instead of blowing the whole hold, it would have been like ripping off a part of her own body). Or think of it as one of the avatars you have just being ripped into without permission (lets forget the fact that anyone who tries would be dead in about point two seconds for the moment).

As for Way's objection, if handled in the way I suggest, there would be no need for one.

Please, I've RP'd with you both and enjoy it, let's resolve this in the manner I suggest and continue peacefully.

I think this is a problem that's easily fixed and I trust that it will be, therefore I'll go ahead and post the reply to Alexial at least.

"Yes well, as part of our alliances we normally require an exchange of medical knowledge ... among other things, so you'll be able to examine our biology. Though I must regretably say, it's doubtfull that the data you will be looking over will be mine." Alexial said with a playful smile.

"But as for the definition of an SI, that's easy, an SI is a Sythetic Intelligence Bio-Mechanical Avatar. Not to be counfused with your AI's, we SI's have sencied thought and emotions, and it would make me cry if you were to call me an AI. So what other questions do you have for me?" Alexial said with a playfull tone.

"Well, if your an SI then I would call you an SI. But to say that you have emotions sounds like your assuming that AIs don't. Now we're behind in that technology with Joat making the only known AI in Central but I can tell you that when she almost lost the WYAL, her ship, the AI was ready to commit suicide rather than just work with the new owner. You see, Joat, unfortunitely, built the AI into the ship with no way of removing him.

As for questions for you, probably a thousand or so, but I'll wait until we trade med tech since many of them would be answered by the exchange. Not to mention the fact that I've been up for over twenty-four hours now and I really need sleep.

As for you, your finished", he said smiling, "if you would send the Admiral in I can go over what I have and he can witness the destruction of the samples."

(Yeah some but then it wouldn't sound good, but yeah. I'll modify my post if it suites you, K? And I'm the type to rush, I really don't like to make short choppy posts, so :sniper: :p )

"Well, if your an SI then I would call you an SI. But to say that you have emotions sounds like your assuming that AIs don't. Now we're behind in that technology with Joat making the only known AI in Central but I can tell you that when she almost lost the WYAL, her ship, the AI was ready to commit suicide rather than just work with the new owner. You see, Joat, unfortunitely, built the AI into the ship with no way of removing him.

As for questions for you, probably a thousand or so, but I'll wait until we trade med tech since many of them would be answered by the exchange. Not to mention the fact that I've been up for over twenty-four hours now and I really need sleep.

As for you, your finished", he said smiling, "if you would send the Admiral in I can go over what I have and he can witness the destruction of the samples."
Alexial sat up and bowed her head, she then looked up at the doctor and said, "It's a traditional sign of thanks or respect." Alexial repeated the head bow and walked out. As she neared the Admiral she nodded and said, "The doctor would like to see you now." She said with a smile.

The Admiral then walked into the room where the Doctor was and greated him, "Nice to see you again after so short a time, so are we ready to continue with the final leg of our buisness here?" Dur'uc asked moving his arm to motion the doctor to lead the way.

(Yeah some but then it wouldn't sound good, but yeah. I'll modify my post if it suites you, K? And I'm the type to rush, I really don't like to make short choppy posts, so )

If you would I would appreciate it. I know shorter posts irritate some people but I would rather a short post, especially where others are involved, than a long one that might upset people. Especially cases where another persons characters are involved. Destiny was a prime example for me, where my people were made to look like complete idiots because two other posters decided how the scene would go and it happened more than once. So, please, short post if other characters are around who might be able to respond to the action. I prefer the RP over the constant action anyway.

Alexial sat up and bowed her head, she then looked up at the doctor and said, "It's a traditional sign of thanks or respect." Alexial repeated the head bow and walked out. As she neared the Admiral she nodded and said, "The doctor would like to see you now." She said with a smile.

The Admiral then walked into the room where the Doctor was and greated him, "Nice to see you again after so short a time, so are we ready to continue with the final leg of our buisness here?" Dur'uc asked moving his arm to motion the doctor to lead the way.

Kennet nodded and looked up in a general direction. "Lars? If you would play back the entire scene so the Admiral can see that I'm destroying all samples please."

"Of course", Lars responded. The exam played out at a speed that Lars figured the Admiral could keep up with based on what Kennet had been able to discover. At each point where samples were taken and carefully labeld Kennet took the appropriate one and destroyed it. Once finished he turned to the Admiral, "That's it, except for this." He handed the Admiral a padd with his complete report. "You can keep that of course. But to my knowledge they check out as perfectly fine." He smiled and waited to see if the Admiral considered everything in order.

"By the way", Lars put in, "Admiral? I'm feeding you alternate co-ordinates. Pirate activity has been detected near this area and the Presidents vessel is being rerouted. Legion members have already been sent to Vega." With that Lars sent the alternate co-ordinates to Dur'uc. "The location is deeper inside Central Worlds, Tia will still be escorting you of course."

Kennet nodded and looked up in a general direction. "Lars? If you would play back the entire scene so the Admiral can see that I'm destroying all samples please."

"Of course", Lars responded. The exam played out at a speed that Lars figured the Admiral could keep up with based on what Kennet had been able to discover. At each point where samples were taken and carefully labeld Kennet took the appropriate one and destroyed it. Once finished he turned to the Admiral, "That's it, except for this." He handed the Admiral a padd with his complete report. "You can keep that of course. But to my knowledge they check out as perfectly fine." He smiled and waited to see if the Admiral considered everything in order.

"By the way", Lars put in, "Admiral? I'm feeding you alternate co-ordinates. Pirate activity has been detected near this area and the Presidents vessel is being rerouted. Legion members have already been sent to Vega." With that Lars sent the alternate co-ordinates to Dur'uc. "The location is deeper inside Central Worlds, Tia will still be escorting you of course."
The Admiral watched as each of the samples were taken in a suprisingly quick and efficent manor. One would say that the Admiral was impressed with the doctors work, ecspecially since he had never seen Dracon biology before and only knew a limited amount from the initial tests. "Exceptional work doctor, very proficent." The Admiral commented while watching the events repeat before his eyes.

The Admiral took the papers and looked them over, skimming over the paper work he found no errors what so ever, and was thus thougherly pleased, "If you would mind I'd like to keep these files here, on one condition, I will leave these files in your protection as long as you don't use them for research until we have signed a proper alliance, do we have an agreement?" The Admiral asked holding the papers vertical before the doctor.

"And pirates do not scare a ship were it's fleet might follow, if we are attacked by pirates, there is no chance to assure their survival. So you have no need to worry about us, or Tia for that matter, in the first sign of danger we will send Tia away to saftey. But we understand Central Worlds concern, they also want this alliance to get under way without any problems as well." The Admiral said in a slightly arrogant but truthful voice.

"Now doctor if we have finished all our buisness here, I have a crew to round up and take to a conference, if you'll excuse me." The Admiral said placing the files in Kennet's hands and left.

(Don't let me down, I know that you'd agree so I took Leeway, sorry hehe)

Jann continued to watch Lauralin even after Kane's warning. Something about her fascinated him, drawing his attention and not letting it go.
"I don't care what you say Kane. Back in a minute," he told them, ducking off through the crowd after Lauralin.

Riesco made to go after him, but Kane put an arm out across in front of her.
"I'm telling you, something ain't right. If you're gonna go after Jann, be careful, okay?"
She nodded, tapped her holster, and manoeuvred around Kane's arm. She made her way after Jann with some difficulty, the sling preventing her from using both arms to fend off other people.

Jann stopped a few steps behind Lauralin, who was facing away from him.
"Excuse me, who are you? You really spooked my friend, and I was wondering why."
Riesco caught up and stood a step behind Jann, as if he would form some form of barrier between them if necessary.

****

The avatar bowed its head in acceptance of what it took as the apology for the unintentional insult.
"That's alright. My kind can get quite upset if we are refered to as 'machines', but you weren't to know. I will accompany you, and, as I said just now, I will assist in any way I can," it told Anna. "If possible, I could perform any tasks that you do not wish to do due to danger, since my mindstate is constantly recorded by my ship."

****

The sheer number of contact tracks was amazing to the Mind, which having never been to Sol, had never seen anything like it before.

~ There's so many of them. That one is a troop ship, maybe. It would take minutes* to categorise all these vessels. So why has that one there caught my attention so much?

OOC: * It's an AI Mind, it thinks at a ridiculously fast rate.

"And pirates do not scare a ship were it's fleet might follow, if we are attacked by pirates, there is no chance to assure their survival. So you have no need to worry about us, or Tia for that matter, in the first sign of danger we will send Tia away to saftey. But we understand Central Worlds concern, they also want this alliance to get under way without any problems as well." The Admiral said in a slightly arrogant but truthful voice.

"Now doctor if we have finished all our buisness here, I have a crew to round up and take to a conference, if you'll excuse me." The Admiral said placing the files in Kennet's hands and left.

Kennet held up the padd (Like a data padd by the way, not paper, but no need to change anything). "No one will get these, Admiral. You're doing alot for Tia, and she's like a daughter to me. I can't wait to see her once she's all done." Now his smile, though still tired was warm and affectionate as he thought about Tia. The seven year old child who would have wasted away in a home somewhere had he not interceded, a bit unprofessionally, perhaps, to get her into the shell program.

He placed the padd down, "Lars, scan the information, please, then store it under strict security, to which only you will have the access codes. Keep it there until the summit is finished and everything is signed. No one gets access, not even me. And wipe the padd once you've got it."

"Certainly Doctor", Lars responded and did as he was requested.

"As for me", Kennet said, "I'm going to bed."

(Don't let me down, I know that you'd agree so I took Leeway, sorry hehe)

(OOC - Something like that I don't mind. You know how Kennet is from Tia's explanation of him in the other thread and you know that Central wants this. I've TG'd you with the new thread for the discussions and will be posting it very soon.)

Jann stopped a few steps behind Lauralin, who was facing away from him.
"Excuse me, who are you? You really spooked my friend, and I was wondering why."
Riesco caught up and stood a step behind Jann, as if he would form some form of barrier between them if necessary.

Baghtru started to come around Lauralin but she laid a hand lightly on his arm. Nothing was said, no force was used. He stopped, but continued to eye the two cautiously.

Lauralin's eyes locked with both for a moment. There was no attempt to dominate them, just measuring threat based on surface thoughts. She could feel the difficulties with the woman's arm and cocked an eyebrow as she moved, looking out toward Kane, as though trying to ascertain who it was that Jann was speaking of. Then she reached out, uttering something and touched Riesco.

For Riesco it was extremely disorienting. Her mind suddenly flashed back several hours. She was on the shuttle, she was on the pride of Albion, the shuttle again, her ship, then the Mournhold, the shadow attack that injured her, then before the attack. Then suddenly she was coming forward again. The attack, her ship, the shuttle, the Pride of Albion, the shuttle and then now. After a moment of disorientation, however, she would realize that her arm didn't bother her, as though the injury never happened. Any scan would indicate that no injury ever did occur......

Only after Laura was sure that Riesco was no longer injured did she turn to Jann. "I am Lauralin Silverlief", she told him. Her voice seemed as mesmerizing as her eyes. It had a thick, odd, though pleasant accent (elven, obviously, though they may never have run into elves before) and a musical quility to it. Laura was an accomplished singer at home, though it embarrassed to sing for anyone but her friends and then reluctently. "As for the other", she said, cocking her head slightly in confusion, "what does it mean? Spooked?" She certainly hadn't summoned Nightclaw and wraith was wouldn't come unless she did.

**********************************************************

The avatar bowed its head in acceptance of what it took as the apology for the unintentional insult.
"That's alright. My kind can get quite upset if we are refered to as 'machines', but you weren't to know. I will accompany you, and, as I said just now, I will assist in any way I can," it told Anna. "If possible, I could perform any tasks that you do not wish to do due to danger, since my mindstate is constantly recorded by my ship."

She nodded but didn't move yet, instead handing the data padd over to her. "You can clearly see the shadow influence on your crewmember's arm. The readings are quite clear. The readings we get inside the child are similar. Not the same, true, but stronger and only slightly different. I've had several different specialists look them over, that's why I was so long in coming in, and the consensus is that it could very well be a shadow entity in a dormant state."

****

The sheer number of contact tracks was amazing to the Mind, which having never been to Sol, had never seen anything like it before.

~ There's so many of them. That one is a troop ship, maybe. It would take minutes* to categorise all these vessels. So why has that one there caught my attention so much?

OOC: * It's an AI Mind, it thinks at a ridiculously fast rate.

(OOC - Yeah I know how fast they can be. Shell people are ALMOST as fast since thier taught multi tasking from newborns, but AIs are faster. Catagories would be merchant ships, ore freighters, personal craft, tugs, interstellar passenger ships, cargo ships, anything along those lines with non-standard (personaly modified) ships thrown in. The troop transport ship is easily identified as different. It's similar to the freighters but with heavy life support systems, and redundant life support systems. The borgs don't really need that but the same ship that transports human marines transports borgs.)

Riesco jumped back in surprise, her other arm coming up to touch the arm in the sling.
"What the fuck?" she exclaimed. She shook her head to clear the images, staggering slightly after being so completely disoriented. As she fell, her left arm automatically came out of the sling and extended to push against Jann, preventing her from falling into him. Once stable again, she stared at her left arm. The strange weakness was gone, the laser scar which should still just about been visible was also gone.
"What did you just do?" she asked incredulously.

Jann had watched the whole thing with amazement.
"Uh, yeah. What just happened?" he said with awe. "Um, sorry. Lieutenant Jann Ferrante, Indoan Navy. Pleased to meet you. She's Naval Sergeant Kate Riesco."
He stopped, his brain trying to work out what had just happened, as well as remember what was said. The brief moment when their eyes had locked had thrown him even more.
"Spooked? Uh, alarmed, startled, worried, that sort of thing. My guess is he saw something when you looked at him, and it concerned him."
Her voice was distracting, preventing him from concentrating and thinking clearly.

In the moments where he could think clearly, he began to wonder what Lauralin was. The pointed ears, the mesmerising eyes, the melodious voice and there weren't many things that could set Kane off. And why did she need a bodyguard?

****

The avatar took the datapad and looked over the display. "So, the shadow is hiding here," It tapped the screen at the appropriate place with a long, slender finger. "I assume that it can multiply on its own, otherwise it wouldn't be much of a threat. Is she in danger? What can I do to help?"
The avatar quickly linked with the Faded Fortunes and went through the data they had been sent on the shadows, all in less than a second.

****

The Faded Fortunes was still mulling over the unknown ship. It continued scanning it with the VLPI sensors, and flashed a short message to the Pride of Albion.

{A friendly inquiry. What do you have on this ship here [position data attached]? It interests me for some reason. Thanks.}

A reminder clicked, so it quickly sent a sitrep update, very highly incrypted, to the Indoan Naval Command.

Then the Mind ran a small amount of power to the engines, and began creeping very slowly in the direction of the unknown vessel. It activated most of its anti-detection measures, trying to hide the movement.

Riesco jumped back in surprise, her other arm coming up to touch the arm in the sling.
"What the fuck?" she exclaimed. She shook her head to clear the images, staggering slightly after being so completely disoriented. As she fell, her left arm automatically came out of the sling and extended to push against Jann, preventing her from falling into him. Once stable again, she stared at her left arm. The strange weakness was gone, the laser scar which should still just about been visible was also gone.
"What did you just do?" she asked incredulously.

Jann had watched the whole thing with amazement.
"Uh, yeah. What just happened?" he said with awe. "Um, sorry. Lieutenant Jann Ferrante, Indoan Navy. Pleased to meet you. She's Naval Sergeant Kate Riesco."
He stopped, his brain trying to work out what had just happened, as well as remember what was said. The brief moment when their eyes had locked had thrown him even more.
"Spooked? Uh, alarmed, startled, worried, that sort of thing. My guess is he saw something when you looked at him, and it concerned him."
Her voice was distracting, preventing him from concentrating and thinking clearly.

In the moments where he could think clearly, he began to wonder what Lauralin was. The pointed ears, the mesmerising eyes, the melodious voice and there weren't many things that could set Kane off. And why did she need a bodyguard?

"Well, I am afraid that I cannot answer your question as to what startled him without finding out his thoughts. Then, perhaps, I could tell you what may have triggered his reaction."

She then smiled at Kate, "As for what just happened", she said, returning her gaze to Jann, "it is called Time Heal. I take the body back in time to a point before it was injured and then bring it forward again, this time without the injury taking place. I hope I have not caused offense by my action, I sought only to aid."

Baghtru, feeling that there was no immediate threat, began to relax. At least as far as a bodyguard could, which was to say that his attention shifted from the two in front of them to scanning the cavernous bazaar again.

****

The avatar took the datapad and looked over the display. "So, the shadow is hiding here," It tapped the screen at the appropriate place with a long, slender finger. "I assume that it can multiply on its own, otherwise it wouldn't be much of a threat. Is she in danger? What can I do to help?"
The avatar quickly linked with the Faded Fortunes and went through the data they had been sent on the shadows, all in less than a second.

"Well, to be honest I'm not sure. We've never encountered this before. We designed the scans based on what Helva sent us and, thankfully, they worked. The girl seems open to you, I don't think she will be with me now. You've questioned me in front of her, therefore she'll view me with suspicion now." She held up her hands in a placating manner, "I'm not trying to start the argument over, it's simply a matter of phsycological fact." She lowered her hands and continued, "We need to awaken it and get it out. Once that's done we can hit the U.V. in the room and destroy it. The U.V. won't do more than give us a tan, so there's no need to worry about that, but it will kill the entity. Any suggestions would be welcomed."

****

{A friendly inquiry. What do you have on this ship here [position data attached]? It interests me for some reason. Thanks.}

Lars looked it over and responded immedietly, "It's a troop carrier, either marine or legion. It's ours, don't worry. There was a going to be a meeting on Vega Station but it's been changed. The men on board will either be leaving shortly or be given some leave."

The truth was that it was a diversion. Central wanted everyone to believe that the meeting was to be on Vega and then changed at the last minute. That would give anyone who wanted to attempt and assassination precious little time to redeploy.

Kennet held up the padd (Like a data padd by the way, not paper, but no need to change anything). "No one will get these, Admiral. You're doing alot for Tia, and she's like a daughter to me. I can't wait to see her once she's all done." Now his smile, though still tired was warm and affectionate as he thought about Tia. The seven year old child who would have wasted away in a home somewhere had he not interceded, a bit unprofessionally, perhaps, to get her into the shell program.

He placed the padd down, "Lars, scan the information, please, then store it under strict security, to which only you will have the access codes. Keep it there until the summit is finished and everything is signed. No one gets access, not even me. And wipe the padd once you've got it."

"Certainly Doctor", Lars responded and did as he was requested.

"As for me", Kennet said, "I'm going to bed."
Dur'uc watched as the doctor told the shell person Lars to store the information under strict security, even out of his own access and knew Tia was right, Kennet could be trustes with anything. "I hope that it won't be too long until you can study that data and begin a theisis on our biology. It's also nice to know that there are such people as you within Central Worlds, it makes this alliance all the better." Dur'uc said with a head bow.

"Then I say good night and good dreams, and the next time you will see Tia she will be as good as new, though she may be older then you remembered." Duruc said with a cheerfull smile.

Kennet nodded and smiled, "Yes, but no less the willful young women I met." He shook hands and headed out to the nearest doctors room. By the time he got out of the apperatise he had to be strapped into and hit the pillow he was sound asleep.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tia brought her engines online when Lars told her that the examinations were done. She couldn't wait to get this meeting over with and on her way to Draconis. Alex had just returned and sat on the couch.

"Ready to go I see", he said smiling.

She let the ship lurch slightly with a quick attitude adjustment thrust, "YEP!"

Alex chuckled and nodded, 'Me to', he said in a low voice, 'me to'. He stood up and entered the pilots cabin, sat down and went over the preflight checklist.

(OOC - Thank you DF, yes, as I said she would have most likely agreed, so that's fine.)

Dur'uc paused only to look around something was out of place but he couldn't place it. So instead of worrying his crew he kept up and made his way back to the ship and readied for launch. "Tell Lars we are ready to leave and to guide us out slowly, I don't want to risk anything."

"Understood sir." "This is Light Cruiser Tra'kula requesting permission to leacve, waiting for confirmation. Over." The ension reported to Lars.

"Understood sir." "This is Light Cruiser Tra'kula requesting permission to leacve, waiting for confirmation. Over." The ension reported to Lars.

"Taking you out. Good thing too, Tia is bouncing around out there like a bee at a pollen factory."

He guided the Tra'kula to the edge of station controled space and then released the controls. "It's all yours, good luck."

Tia pulled ahead of them, leading the way to a point where they could jump. Once there she sent a message, "See you on the other side Admiral."

Then space seemed to explode in front of her and she dove into the singularity which then crashed closed behind her.

Cam followed Foster on to Helva's bridge. She had half thought she'd find Way there, and his gift. Winking at him she turned to Foster, with a small smile.

Why don't we give Way and Helva some privacy. You can take me back over to Albion so I can take my shuttle back. Then you can pick me up two hours after that"

She was certain that two hours would be just enough to have Foster in the proper state...then a long leisurely dinner, some dancing, and then...She couldn't help the smug look or arched whiskers. Her tail, if it hadn't been in the cast would have been looping with the laughter she was otherwise managing to hide

*****************************************

Way looked around as Foster and Cam came in. When Cam suggested that she and Foster leave again he shot her a grateful look. He had been discussing with Helva what she would like to look like and she was seemingly becoming comfortable with the idea of having an avatar.

There were ten thousand appearances for her to chose from already programed in. If she found none of these to her liking he could easily add more. Once she chose it would take the casque only minutes to give the avatar the chosen appearance, then it would unseal and allow Helva to step into the larger world.

Why don't we give Way and Helva some privacy. You can take me back over to Albion so I can take my shuttle back. Then you can pick me up two hours after that"

Way looked around as Foster and Cam came in. When Cam suggested that she and Foster leave again he shot her a grateful look.

Foster nodded and smiled at Cam as he went to follow her out. Before stepping off the bridge he turned back to Way, "Just you be gentle with that young Lady, or you'll answer to me." Then he winked and followed Cam back toward the bay, intentionally taking his time to admire the view.

Once back on the station he walked over to her ship with her. "Two hours", he said, making a point to set the timer on his wrist chrono and pushed the button with a flourish, "and the clock is ticking, my Lady."

(OOC - Foster --> http://www.atddm.com/fhmale1001.gif

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Way looked around as Foster and Cam came in. When Cam suggested that she and Foster leave again he shot her a grateful look. He had been discussing with Helva what she would like to look like and she was seemingly becoming comfortable with the idea of having an avatar.

There were ten thousand appearances for her to chose from already programed in. If she found none of these to her liking he could easily add more. Once she chose it would take the casque only minutes to give the avatar the chosen appearance, then it would unseal and allow Helva to step into the larger world.

One of Helva's previous brawns had done a genetic extrapolation of her and showed her. She found an image that was close enough to what she would have looked like, had she been born normal and gave the request.

"This is actually a close representation of my genetic makeup", she told Way. Then she waited to see what needed to be done next.

(OOC - Helva (Avatar form) --> http://www.atddm.com/aa9.gif

Way watched as the casque's cover slid aside with a slight hiss.

"Okay Helva, just reach out like you do to make contact with one of your remote sensors. It may be a little disorienting at first, but you're trained to multitask this sort of thing. The best thing to do is not to try too hard."

He remembered his first time with an avatar. He'd fallen on his face repeatedly.

Helva reached out with her sensors, detecting the connection and establishing contact. Her first job was to make it move and she bent her will to that task....

The small shuttle barely veered out of the way as the FH-725 leaped forward and fired it's retros.

"Oops", Helva said to Way through her speakers, which also came out through the avatar.

"Helva?", came Lars voice over the comm, "are you alright."

"umm, yeah I'm fine. umm the Draconis engineers did some upgrades and I was just checking the engines."

"Okay, well, could you check them OUTside station space next time?"

"Yes of course, I'm sorry", she replied. 'At least I HOPE I can check them outside station space next time', she thought.

"Okay, what did I do wrong?" came Helva's voice from the cabin speakers and the Avatar again.

Way had to catch himself as Helva's ship body did a gavotte

"I think you thought 'at' your ship body. Hmmmmm before you were a ship, didn't you undergo training while in a less mobile form?..perhaps if you remember that."

"Taking you out. Good thing too, Tia is bouncing around out there like a bee at a pollen factory."

He guided the Tra'kula to the edge of station controled space and then released the controls. "It's all yours, good luck."

Tia pulled ahead of them, leading the way to a point where they could jump. Once there she sent a message, "See you on the other side Admiral."

Then space seemed to explode in front of her and she dove into the singularity which then crashed closed behind her.
"That sounds bad, then it is a good thing we're leaving while we are." Admiral Dur'uc answered with a joke.

The ension responded and returned control to Ta'mara and she thanked Lars enthusiastically, "Thank you Lars, from the deepest depth of my soul, I am greatfull for the time on your station, and maybe if I aske Admiral nicely, he'd let me come back, hehe." Ta'mara said overjoyed to have spent some time out of the ship.

"See you there first." Ta'mara said first.

"See you there in one peice." Admiral Dur'uc said cautiously.

Helva thought back to her days in the school when she had learned to use the tracks and wheels instead of the little clubbed feet and how to use various manipulaters instead of the little clubbed hands. With that in mind she went back to her avatar form and instead of trying to walk she began going through each system one at a time. Fingers then toes, wrists then ankles, elbows then knees and so forth. Once she had isolated each one she put it into a subroutine so that once she needed it she could easily access the necessary channels.

Once that was done she began to focus on the various sensors. Input audio, check, Output audio, check, Visual input, negative. She pondered that a moment switching from one input to another inside and outside her ship self and then the contact buttons on Cam and Foster, then finally Fosters implants. Every visual checked out, but for some reason when she went back to the avatar form visual input was still negative.

"Way? I think theres a problem with the visual input on the avatar, I'm not getting anything." Then again, it hadn't occured to Helva to raise her avatar's eyelids.

The ension responded and returned control to Ta'mara and she thanked Lars enthusiastically, "Thank you Lars, from the deepest depth of my soul, I am greatfull for the time on your station, and maybe if I aske Admiral nicely, he'd let me come back, hehe." Ta'mara said overjoyed to have spent some time out of the ship.

"Well", Lars said, "if everything goes well then you'll be welcome anytime and anywhere within Central." He watched as the two left and then shifted more of his attention to the situation with Doctor Anna Uhua-Sorg.

(Okay, next post can be on the new thread. I've already started it. I TGd you with the name.)

"Helva dear, open your eyes" Way laughed softly. He was very happy at the way Helva was picking things up so quickly. Then he realized something he hadn't thought of.


"Hmmmm helva. I'll be back in a little bit. I just thought of somethig very important. Try sitting up but I'dsuggest not trying to do more than that untill I get back"

Quickly he headed back down to the run about, and made contact with Lars, letting him know that he needed to return to WayFarer quickly and would be coming back equally quickly, or so he hoped

Lars hadn't directed any traffic near the two ships since they were in close proximity. "Your clear, and you'll be fine for the return trip." After a second he asked, "IS Helva okay? She's sort of a legend around here, and she's grabbed the hearts of many. She just seems to be acting a bit strange lately."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

'Open my eyes?' she thought. She began to ponder that when it hit her, 'OF COURSE', she thought, 'raising the eyelids, opening your eyes.' She found the necessary channel and 'opened her eyes', then she accessed the visual channel.

'Ahh, there we are.'

Now came the hard part. She made several attempts before she got the hand right. 'Three joints on the fingers EXCEPT the thumb, but then one at the wrist, one at the elbow and one at the shoulder', she thought, 'AND a port and starboard side to deal with. Flying is ALOT easier.'

Suddenly her port attitude adjustment thruster fired and she had to correct with the starboard.

'Okay', she thought, 'no thinking about flying. Yeah right.'

Finally, after a few false starts she got the hands to grip the edges of the sarcophagus and pull it 'ME', she corrected herself, into a sitting position. 'I just hope this doesn't bruise easily', she thought. Since Way had told her to just get that part down she accessed the necessary channels and laid back down. Once down she sat back up, then down, up, down. She continued with this until Way's return.

Suddenly Lars remembered something.

"Foster", he said out of the nearest audio unit.

"Yeah?"

"B Queen wanted to speak with you, she's at the following co-ordintates", and Lars downloaded them to the nearest hover pad.

"Alright, thanks." Foster had a couple of hours so he headed over to see what the woman needed. 'Besides', he thought, 'I didn't have a chance to thank her and her crew.'

[QUOTE=Central Worlds"Well", Lars said, "if everything goes well then you'll be welcome anytime and anywhere within Central." He watched as the two left and then shifted more of his attention to the situation with Doctor Anna Uhua-Sorg.[/QUOTE]
Ta'mara thanked Lars and again before translocating to the next meeting. "Thank you Lars, I'll come back with Tia once the operation is finished." Ta'mara said slightly below an enthusiastic yelp and a hyper sqeuk.

Jann forced his thoughts away from the distractions Lauralin was causing, and slipped into his neural thread, his face adopting the slightly blank look that people had when using their neural implants.

~ Jann for Kane, he sent.
~Jann? What do you want? the Ranger sent back.
~ What exactly did you see that spooked you about this woman? asked Jann.
~ It was a very quick flash, but I think it was teeth. Long teeth, Kane told him.
~ Thanks. [Break]

"Kane says it had something to do with teeth, what spooked him. Does that mean anything to you?" Jann said to Lauralin.

"No, no. No offence. It just confused me. A lot. Thanks," said Riesco gratefully. She was still glancing at her arm every few seconds, as is trying to make sure she was not imagining what had happened.

****

"Oh, I had the impression you had dealt with this entity before. Well, all we can do is try." The avatar smiled. "Don't be so certain about her suspecting you, she seems very friendly. Besides, I'll tell her about the scan, and make up something minor wrong with her, and tell her we're going to fix it. That'll explain the questioning away, since you saw her scan." The smile turned sly, cunning. Indoan AIs loved to plot things.

****

OOC: The inquiry wasn't about the troop transport, it was about the pirate vessel, sorry for any confusion caused.

"Kane says it had something to do with teeth, what spooked him. Does that mean anything to you?" Jann said to Lauralin.

"Teeth", Lauralin said, thinking. She never lied, but she would tell the truth all around the truth they wanted and not correct them if their assumptions were wrong.

She looked at Baghtru, who smiled, his upthrusting canine teeth a heritage of the orc blood that ran in his veins.

"Baghtru has rather long teeth", she said, "I assume you do not mean normal teeth, that would not spook anyone. In my adventuring days, before I became Queen, I dealt with a number of creatures with long teeth. Dragons, Wyverns, Worgs, Vulture lions, a number of them. If he had something more specific then perhaps I could be more clear."

****

"Oh, I had the impression you had dealt with this entity before. Well, all we can do is try." The avatar smiled. "Don't be so certain about her suspecting you, she seems very friendly. Besides, I'll tell her about the scan, and make up something minor wrong with her, and tell her we're going to fix it. That'll explain the questioning away, since you saw her scan." The smile turned sly, cunning. Indoan AIs loved to plot things.

Anna smiled, "Well, then, let's head back in. I'll let you lead as she's closer to you."

****

OOC: The inquiry wasn't about the troop transport, it was about the pirate vessel, sorry for any confusion caused.

(OOC - Ohhh, you wouldn't see that. It's on the far side of Vega, opposite from the Pride of Albion. They're hidden in the gaseous clusters and barely in range of thier cloaked sensors. Basically, I don't want them noticed, I want the attack to be a surprise. I don't want to limit you, truley, but detecting them ahead of time would ruin the thread. At most I'll allow odd readings from the the heavily cloaked detecters they launched.)

Jann decided to push Kane for more information before proceeding, slipping back into his neural thread.

~ Jann for Kane, he sent again.
~ What do you want now? replied Kane.
~ What kind of teeth? Human? And are you sure it was her, not the bodyguard? asked Jann.
~ You just don't give up, do you? It was definitely the woman, and the teeth looked human, just long. Just two though, not the whole lot.
~ Thanks Kane. [Break]

Jann shook his head. "No, he definitely said that it was you, not your bodyguard here. Long teeth, yes, but it was you that caused it. Human-esque teeth apparently, and just a few, not all of them," he clarified.

As Riesco listened to the conversation, she removed the now pointless sling from around her neck and discarded it. She continued to move her arm, never letting it be still for a moment.

She too was beginning to wonder what Lauralin was. Neither of them had ever seen anything like the healing ability Lauralin had shown. And it seemed to Riesco as though the other woman had deliberately side-stepped the truth when answering.

****

The avatar nodded and re-entered the room. Sophie looked at her accusingly.
"That was longer than a minute! I counted," she declared.
The avatar bowed her head in faked shame.
"You're right, I'm sorry. I was talking with the doctor about you and we think there may be a small problem with you," it said softly.
"What sort of problem?" asked Sophie, looking worried.
"Nothing serious, in fact it's really nothing to worry about. We just think it would be better to fix it now, rather than later," the avatar soothed. "Just here," it said, resting a finger on Sophie's throat, as far away from where they believed the shadow to be as possible.
"What do I need to do?" asked Sophie.
"Nothing. You just sit there, and listen to what the doctor has to say. It'll be done before you know it."
Sophie nodded agreement and looked expectantly at Anna.

****

OOC: Okay, scratch that. Just pick a random vessel (not a unique one like the troop transport), and it can decide there's nothing wrong with it. It also won't move now.

Jann shook his head. "No, he definitely said that it was you, not your bodyguard here. Long teeth, yes, but it was you that caused it. Human-esque teeth apparently, and just a few, not all of them," he clarified.

Well it wasn't the first that Laura hadn't gotten away with it. "He is psi I take it. I suppose he must be referring to my retractible eye teeth then. I do not know why this should appear to him, however.

Sophie nodded agreement and looked expectantly at Anna.

Anna sat down nearby and looked at Sophie. "I'm sorry about the delay. As was pointed out, something came up on your scan. Now your alright, let me assure you of that. But I need to see how your memory is. Where is it that you came from?"

OOC: Okay, scratch that. Just pick a random vessel (not a unique one like the troop transport), and it can decide there's nothing wrong with it. It also won't move now.

The suspect ship turned out to be nothing. It's irratic behavior, that had caught the attention of the crew, turned out to be nothing more than engine trouble. As they continued to scan they could see the ship shut down it's engines and tugs move out to the ship and tow it back toward the base.

(Sound feasable enough?)

"Psychic? No, Kane's not psychic. He's a precognitive, that's future sight, all our species are." Jann stopped, a flaw occuring to him. "Except that it generally only shows at most half an hour ahead. Perhaps when you looked at him, which we all felt odd after, he picked up the image through you." He shrugged, grinning at Lauralin. "I don't claim to be an expert in it, I just know what I need to."

"Kane does seem to be slightly more sensitive to seeing things, we call it blinking, than the rest of us. He saw something else earlier, something about a firefight, wasn't it?" chipped in Riesco.

"Yeah," replied Jann slowly. "And that was as we were landing, which was over two hours ago. You think we've found a record?"

Riesco shrugged, "Doubt it. It's not as if it's impossible to see things further in the future, it's just less likely." She looked back at Lauralin. "Anyway, why do you have retractible teeth? Must be pretty unusual, isn't it?"

****

The Faded Fortunes killed the engines almost before it started moving, remaining roughly in place. The suspect ship had stopped, clearly with engine problems, and numerous small vessels were rushing to its aid.

~ Nothing wrong there. So why does something still not feel right?

The Mind pushed the thought aside, while still monitoring every contact it could see. Now getting bored, it pulled up its maintenance logs. The weapon systems were due for a downtime examination in a few days, might as well do it now.

(OOC: Perfect. For the next bit, I'm just going to guess randomly, since it wasn't my ship)
****

The child part of Sophie's brain automatically blocked out the painful bits, and she gave a response more typical of a younger child.
"Home," she said playfully. After catching the disapproving look on the avatar's face in the corner of her eye, she elaborated. "Deimos, Mars."

The avatar looked blank. Indoans did not know the names of any of the planets in Sol except for Terra, the explorer ships had not picked up that information yet.

"Psychic? No, Kane's not psychic. He's a precognitive, that's future sight, all our species are." Jann stopped, a flaw occuring to him. "Except that it generally only shows at most half an hour ahead. Perhaps when you looked at him, which we all felt odd after, he picked up the image through you." He shrugged, grinning at Lauralin. "I don't claim to be an expert in it, I just know what I need to."

Riesco shrugged, "Doubt it. It's not as if it's impossible to see things further in the future, it's just less likely." She looked back at Lauralin. "Anyway, why do you have retractible teeth? Must be pretty unusual, isn't it?"

"No", Lauralin replied, smiling at Jann, "not psychic, psi, as in psionic. There are many different psionic disciplines. Precognition is but one. The Deryn, for instance, are a race of psions, though ther are not limited to precognition."

Lauralin's mood had lifted as the discussion moved away from the flash of insight this Kane had. At least until Riesco came back to it again, then Laura's face fell, the smile disappearing.

"Unusual, yes. They are not prevalent for most races, certainly not those races who's blood ran through my veins when I was born. The eyeteeth did not appear until I was born into the darkness. I think that is what your friend saw. That side of the nature of what I am."

**********************************************************

The Faded Fortunes killed the engines almost before it started moving, remaining roughly in place. The suspect ship had stopped, clearly with engine problems, and numerous small vessels were rushing to its aid.

~ Nothing wrong there. So why does something still not feel right?

The Mind pushed the thought aside, while still monitoring every contact it could see. Now getting bored, it pulled up its maintenance logs. The weapon systems were due for a downtime examination in a few days, might as well do it now.

(OOC: Perfect. For the next bit, I'm just going to guess randomly, since it wasn't my ship)

**********************************************************

The child part of Sophie's brain automatically blocked out the painful bits, and she gave a response more typical of a younger child.
"Home," she said playfully. After catching the disapproving look on the avatar's face in the corner of her eye, she elaborated. "Deimos, Mars."

The avatar looked blank. Indoans did not know the names of any of the planets in Sol except for Terra, the explorer ships had not picked up that information yet.

Anna had no idea what the Sophie was talking about, not that it matter. "Well, where you headed? You were a long way from home." Of course she didn't know if that was the truth, but again, it didn't really matter. What mattered was to get her to open up about the shadow, to see if she knew it was inside her. Once it felt that it might be revealed it should try to defend itself, then she would have where she wanted it and she could save this girl. That was her only concern.

Cam had just stepped out from a 'real' steamy hot shower when Way burst in without announcement, distress almost palpable.

"Cam, you have to help me. I forgot all about clothes, and you know what a 'thing' humans made out of them"

Cam looked at him for a long moment then burst out laughing. With a quick flip she wrapped the towel about her hair and put her hands on her hips.

"Calm down and take a look at what I'm having the replicator make up....Consult yourself!"

Way calmed and rather shamefacedly did so, confering with his shipself's files on assorted current fashion. Who was soon giggling as he changed his mind repeatedly.

"Make up your so called mind and stick to it. She's so tall, so broad, and blonde and with this skin tone..." If a starcraft could have sighed Way's shipsself certainly would have done so. "Look, here's a selection of easy to wear caftans and slippers" He manufactured and materialized a small selection, slippers neatly stacked atop, in the recieving unit of the replicator. 'It's a good thing to have a larger body and energy to spare' Way thought. The replicator was a power hog and the storage space needed for rew compnents made it ineffecient for smaller ships, but for this new body, it was an absolute must.

Cam went about finishing up her dressing for the evening, wearing a finely woven silk egyptain kilt, hand painted with pictures of the Hourus hawk, Shekmet, Baast, and the sacred Ibis against a vista of the Nile, all in the royal shades of lapis, turquoise, cinbarr, jade, ebon and ochre. Across her shoulders fell a broad pectoral collar of gold set with gemstones to match the hues of the skirt

"Way I'm going to leave you to your delima. I have dinner, dancing and a wonderful night ahead of me"

(OOC - Krowemoh - when you post we can do the discussion with B. Queen, for now I'm just going to say it happened and have Foster continue.)

Foster finished with B. Queen and then hurried back to Helva. He didn't have much time and he would have to pick up Cam and bring her over soon so they could get to Vega station. When he entered the hold he looked in Helva's bodies general direction.

"I'm going to change and pick up Cam and bring her back. You can take us to Vega I hope."

"Of course I can and I would be more than happy to. Simeon should have those pictures I wanted by now, I believe Carrialle and Keff came through."

He smiled and headed straight for his cabin. "I hope you don't mind if I don't stop up to say hi."

"You can say hi from anywhere inside me, Foster, you know that."

"I know but I don't like doing that."

"I'm well aware of that, which is why on the rare occasion you don't it doesn't bother me."

"Your wonderful, my dear."

He jumped into the sonic, wishing it was a real water shower and then stepped out to get dressed.

'Casual or dress', he wondered. He couldn't even remember the last time he had a date.

"Dress."

"Okay ahh sho..."

"Civilian, sanite I think. It looks nice, breaths and shows you off well. Uniform wouldn't be good for this."

He nodded and looked in the mirror, "Do you ....."

"I don't think you should shave, trim maybe, but the beard and mustache is part of your personality."

He nodded again and started trimming then stopped. "How is it you know what I'm going to ask?"

"Because I know you. Foster?"

"Yeah."

"What would you say if I had a body, I mean a real one, not a ship body."

"I would say we need to run now before the authorities catch us, body snatching and illegal mind wipe have steep penalties."

He stopped and looked toward her, "Helva, you didn't..."

"Don't be silly. I mean barring illegal ways, what would you think?"

"Well", he replied, "if it's what you want I'd be happy for you. I'll miss you of course."

"Miss me?"

"Well yeah, I mean we've been together for three years. I enjoy your wit, your charm, your singing of course. If you have a body I'll lose a friend, at least this ship friend. I mean I could always visit I hope."

"What if I can have a body and still be the ship?"

He had finished trimming and began dressing.

"Is this hypothetical?"

"No."

He looked up and then started moving toward the door.

"Please don't come up, not yet."

He stopped. "What exactly are you asking me?"

"Don't worry, I don't think of you in sexual terms at all."

"Damn, Helva. Why don't you kick me again, I think I still have a little part of my ego that hasn't been bruised."

"You think of me that way."

"I think your wonderful, your my best friend and I'd give my life for you. It's just that there are gentler ways to tell a man your not interested in him."

"I'm sorry Foster, I didn't mean it that way."

He chuckled, "Don't be sorry, my dear, it's alright. I know what you meant, there are just certain ways to say things to men. I mean I'm your brawn, I understand. Others might not."

"I'll have to remember that."

He smiled and then, heeding her wishes, returned to dressing. "Well if you have a body, and I don't lose my partner, then we both make out. Assuming you still want me as a partner."

"I would like to know the truth. Especially given what Cam told you."

His smile broadened. "Yeah", he said softly, "Well, you'll find out, I'm telling her at dinner."

"So you really wouldn't mind that I had a body."

"I wouldn't mind anything that made you happy, my dear."

He had finished dressing and knew he was pressed for time but looked toward the general direction of her column, "Do you need me stay, to talk to?"

"No, you go ahead and get Cam, bring her back. I'll take you to the station and get my paintings."

"Can I see them?"

"Of course you can, I would like you to display them in the main cabin."

He smiled, "I'll see to it", he said as he headed for the bay.

"Foster, hold on a minute."

Foster stopped, no questions asked.

"Way?", Helva sent out across the Comm, "Can I dock with you? rather than have them get into that small skiff?"

"Oh right," said Jann, smiling slightly. "Then, yeah, I guess we are psionic. We only have precognitive abilities, though. Nothing else like that."

"Born into the darkness?" asked Riesco, "That sounds weird. What does it mean?" She was beginning to suspect the answer, but she wanted to know.

Jann watched Lauralin's face, and noticed the change of expression. "You don't really want to talk about it, do you? If you want us to stop asking, we will. It's just we've never really met any species other than our own before. I mean, as a civilisation we have, but not us personally. So we like to find out things about people we meet."

****

"We were headed everywhere," Sophie said unhelpfully. "We were finding things out about all the other stars in space." She placed a large amount of emphasis on the word 'all', as if she was trying to indicate how many there were.

"I had three pet squirrels on the ship," she declared randomly. "They were called Skittles, Fluffy and Scamp. Do you like squirrels, Andie?"

"Yes, Sophie. They're very nice, aren't they?" the avatar replied, deflecting the question. It was unsure what Sophie meant, since squirrels were not kept as pets.

*"Helva, of course you can. My main hanger is certainly large enough to hold you, or if you prefer just to dock, we can do that too....and Way would be able to bring his other gifts aboard easier that way as well. You ought to see him! Completely unable to make the most simple of decissions."*

The main AI chuckled as the Avatar glared at him. Cam just twitched her lavishly long whiskers and made sure that she dabbed on a touch of the perfume that had been designed for her by a friend. She loved the scent of it, it made her remember forest depths and sunlit glades filled with wild flowers

"Oh right," said Jann, smiling slightly. "Then, yeah, I guess we are psionic. We only have precognitive abilities, though. Nothing else like that."

"Born into the darkness?" asked Riesco, "That sounds weird. What does it mean?" She was beginning to suspect the answer, but she wanted to know.

Jann watched Lauralin's face, and noticed the change of expression. "You don't really want to talk about it, do you? If you want us to stop asking, we will. It's just we've never really met any species other than our own before. I mean, as a civilisation we have, but not us personally. So we like to find out things about people we meet."

Lauralin smiled somewhat and nodded. "I understand. It is a matter of thier reaction to what I am rather than who I am that bothers me.

She looked at Riesco, since Lauralin suspected that she had an idea. "Yes", she said to Riesco as though the woman had flat out asked, "I am a vampiress. That is precisely what I mean by born into darkness."

She looked back at Jann, "The conversation normally ends at that point and they walk away."

"We were headed everywhere," Sophie said unhelpfully. "We were finding things out about all the other stars in space." She placed a large amount of emphasis on the word 'all', as if she was trying to indicate how many there were.

"I had three pet squirrels on the ship," she declared randomly. "They were called Skittles, Fluffy and Scamp. Do you like squirrels, Andie?"

"Yes, Sophie. They're very nice, aren't they?" the avatar replied, deflecting the question. It was unsure what Sophie meant, since squirrels were not kept as pets.

Anna tapped her lip and then stood up, "Just a moment", she said and walked over to a desk. Typing something in she covertly tapped the comm, 'Lars', she said in a low voice, 'she's trying to tell me something, what readings are you getting from her? Heartrate, pupil dilations, anything. And what about the shadow entity?'

*"Helva, of course you can. My main hanger is certainly large enough to hold you, or if you prefer just to dock, we can do that too....and Way would be able to bring his other gifts aboard easier that way as well. You ought to see him! Completely unable to make the most simple of decissions."*

The main AI chuckled as the Avatar glared at him. Cam just twitched her lavishly long whiskers and made sure that she dabbed on a touch of the perfume that had been designed for her by a friend. She loved the scent of it, it made her remember forest depths and sunlit glades filled with wild flowers

"We're going to Way's landing bay, that way you two don't have to ride that small skiff", she told him.

He smiled, "Most thoughtful my dear", he said and moved toward the landing ramp instead.

Helva giggled somewhat at the AIs actions, "What seems to be wrong with him?" she asked. "Is there some sort of malfunction?"

Gracefully she slipped into the bay of the Wayfinder and she lowered her ramp.

Both of them looked surprised, partly at the blunt answer and partly at the fact itself. Jann recovered first.
"Really? Wow, vampires are something of a myth back home, no-one's ever proved that they exist," he said. "But you don't seem like those myths. You just appear to a normal person. Well, not exactly normal, I mean, you're more beautiful than most, the ears, the psionics, you know what I mean," he finished, after stumbling uneasily through the sentence.

Neither Indoan showed particular fear at the statement, and neither really felt any either. Their encounter with the shadows had put them past fearing unknowns unless they had a real reason to.

"I guess maybe what Kane saw just alarmed him," Riesco thought aloud, "If he was here talking to you, I'm sure he'd be fine." The truth was not exactly what Riesco had suspected, but then she was unsure exactly what she had suspected anyway.

She found herself admiring Lauralin's courage for not deliberately trying harder to hide the truth after the casual brushoff was seen through. Her calm persona was also admirable, since it could not be easy admitting to being something that, from what she knew of the myths, was an object of revulsion. She immediately resolved never to apply stereotypes, ever, and to greet every, well most, new experience with an open mind.

****

"I wish my squirrels were here," griped Sophie. Her thoughts were gradually being dragged back towards the ship, and she began trembling slightly.
"Andie," she looked up at the avatar's face, her eyes wide, "What happened on the ship? I remember things happening, then I can't remember for a while, then you found me."
The truth was that she did not want to remember, the childish 'safety protocols' blanking out the unpleasant parts of the memory. She was shivering now, despite the warm temperature in the room.

"Really? Wow, vampires are something of a myth back home, no-one's ever proved that they exist," he said. "But you don't seem like those myths. You just appear to a normal person. Well, not exactly normal, I mean, you're more beautiful than most, the ears, the psionics, you know what I mean," he finished, after stumbling uneasily through the sentence.

"I guess maybe what Kane saw just alarmed him," Riesco thought aloud, "If he was here talking to you, I'm sure he'd be fine." The truth was not exactly what Riesco had suspected, but then she was unsure exactly what she had suspected anyway.

Lauralin could on stand for a moment looking at Jann. Although she knew what others saw it still came as a surprise to her. Wheneve she looked in the mirror all she saw the was the abomination that she had become, regardless of what looked back at her from the mirror.

"The ears, are my elven heritage. I am half elven, or was. My own psi talent is a combination of that which awakened when I was created and the Princess Ariel's working with me to hone those talents. But make no mistake, most vampires are not to be trusted. Very few are like myself. I ...."

Suddenly she shuddered and turned to look across the promenade.

The man moving through the crowd didn't walk across the open bazaar so much as prowl through it like a stalking lion. He was not overly tall at about five feet nine inches but people moved out of his way. His iron grey hair frames a frightening looking face. The flesh of his face, upper arms and upper chest looks as though it had melted at some point an run. Two deep scars are on the left side of his face, one that goes from behind his temple to his chin and another that goes from behind his ear to his chin forming a rough V. As he gets closer many scars can be seen on his exposed flesh, most minor with a few deeper ones. He wears a course wool shirt, split down the front to a point in the middle of his chest, worn leather pants and boots. On his right hip hangs a sword scabbard, the hilt protruding from it being well worn. His skin is bronzed from much time in the sun and the eyes are glaciel blue and fierce looking. What makes people move, however, are thick corded muscle that covers his body, the thighs and calves bulging with each step.

Following behind him is a figure in a dark grey cloak wearing dark grey pants and boots. The cowl is raised and moves in the bigger mans wake like a shadow.

**********************************************************

"I wish my squirrels were here," griped Sophie. Her thoughts were gradually being dragged back towards the ship, and she began trembling slightly.
"Andie," she looked up at the avatar's face, her eyes wide, "What happened on the ship? I remember things happening, then I can't remember for a while, then you found me."
The truth was that she did not want to remember, the childish 'safety protocols' blanking out the unpleasant parts of the memory. She was shivering now, despite the warm temperature in the room.

"You remember things happening. What can you remember??

Jann had no idea what Lauralin meant when she said 'elven'. Aren't elves those little pixie things with long noses and pointed hats? he thought to himself.

They also heard the indication that most vampires were what the myths said, and that Lauralin was unique among them.

Jann had opened his mouth to say something, when Lauralin trailed off.

"What is it?" he asked, turning his head to see what she was looking at. Both Jann and Riesco clocked it immediately, the man just looked so out of place, and the way he was moving was guaranteed to attract attention.

Jann glanced past the figure, spotting Kane, Reid and the Douran on the far side of the bazaar. They too had noticed the figure, and were heading over towards the two Indoans standing with Lauralin.

****

"I remember people getting excited about something, and the ship stopped to pick something up," Sophie told Anna. "Then there was nobody around for ages, they were all in the resarch rooms." The avatar noticed the mispronounciation of 'research', but dismissed it as a simple error. "Then the alarms went off and all the lights went red. I remember somebody I din't know coming and telling me to go to my room and stay there."

She stopped, trembling more now. She looked at the avatar for reassurance, and the avatar smiled gently and nodded for her to continue.
"As I was going to my room," Her voice was shaky now, "all the lights went out, and something started screaming. I found somewhere to hide and stayed there. Then I don't remember anything else until Andie's robot friend found me."

The avatar smiled again at the misconception. "He wasn't a robot, Sophie," it corrected her. "He was a person inside a suit. His name is Mr. Kane."

Jann glanced past the figure, spotting Kane, Reid and the Douran on the far side of the bazaar. They too had noticed the figure, and were heading over towards the two Indoans standing with Lauralin.

Lauralin turned to face the man as he approached, but the darkly clad figure veered off into an area that wasn't well lit and simply vanished, as though he had never been there.

When the man reached the three Lauralin smiled and reached out at the same time he did to him embrace him.

"Hello, Father", she said to him.

The man finally smiled and returned the embrace then kissed her lightly on the forhead, "Hello, Princess", he returned. His voice was deep and rumblind as though more accustomed to shouting orders on the battlefield rather than having a normal conversation. Princess was meant as an endearment, since Laura is a Queen.

"Father, may I introduce Lieutenant Jann Ferrante and Sergeant Kate Riesco
of the Indoan Navy."

The man looked at the two critically at first, like one soldier judging another, and then smiled. He took Jann's hand in an incredibly strong, though warm, grip and shook it. "It's an honor to meet you", he told him. Then he released Jann's hand and took Kate's in an amazingly gentle way for a man of his size and brought it to his lips in a soft kiss on the back of her hand. "A pleasure to meet you, Lady", he told her and released her hand again.

"Lieutenant, Sergeant, this is my father, the King of Highport, Turquine Buccannah. He's a holy knight." The reason for her unexplained shuddering earlier and further source of sorrow, as the power from him railed against her dark gift even though she loved him.

"As I was going to my room," Her voice was shaky now, "all the lights went out, and something started screaming. I found somewhere to hide and stayed there. Then I don't remember anything else until Andie's robot friend found me."

Anna's eyes narrowed. 'The lights went out', she thought and, "Some ... thing, not someone?" It was odd for her to put it just that way, especially a child who would associate anything they see or hear to what's typically around them.

The console beeped and she glanced over at it. Two beeps, which meant that the shadow entity was beginning to stir. She glanced at Andie, her eyes showing her fear.

Cam waited as Way bustled up Helva's ramp his arms laden with a large pile of caftans and slippers. She couldn't help but laugh softly at the Avatars uncharacteristic worry. She did think that humans made too much of clothes though. She brushed a hand down her kilt and the smile was for herself. She'd found hereself wanting this time with Foster more than she'd ever thougth possible.

****************************************

"Helva dear, I'm sorry. What had happened is that I forgot clothes for you. I 'know' how important clothes are for humans, but it never occured to me...Oh I'll shut up...here are a variety of caftans. They are easy to wear, and very flattering"

Way laid out the various caftans so that Helva could see and chose which one she'd like to try on first.

Cam waited as Way bustled up Helva's ramp his arms laden with a large pile of caftans and slippers. She couldn't help but laugh softly at the Avatars uncharacteristic worry. She did think that humans made too much of clothes though. She brushed a hand down her kilt and the smile was for herself. She'd found hereself wanting this time with Foster more than she'd ever thougth possible.

Foster made his way to the ramp and looked down at himself before he went down. The shirt, pants and shoes where a light beige, the jacket white and the tie was an off white as though it were blending from the tie to the rest of the outfit.

He strode to the ramp and began down, stopping about halfway and just staring at Cam. After a moment he realized what he was doing and smiled, then continued down more slowly.

"You know", he said as he walked down, "when I was young I grew up planetside. I used to lie in the grass at night looking up at the stars and dreaming."

He took her hand, lifting it slowly. "I thought, once I actually reached space, that they were nothing but childhood fantasies."

He kissed her hand, lingeringly and softly and then looked up into her eyes, "But I was wrong, there ARE angels out here."

**********************************************************

"Helva dear, I'm sorry. What had happened is that I forgot clothes for you. I 'know' how important clothes are for humans, but it never occured to me...Oh I'll shut up...here are a variety of caftans. They are easy to wear, and very flattering"

Way laid out the various caftans so that Helva could see and chose which one she'd like to try on first.

"Thank you Way, your a sweetheart." She went over the clothes with her cabins cameras and then had the avatar sit up. "I didn't try to do more than sit up as you told me too. But I've got sitting up and laying down pretty well handled now. Should I try to stand?"

Cam chuffed softly, pleased at his compliments

"However I have not a single pair of wings, and I think I lean more towards horns that halos"

One of the researchers she had worked with in the past had a fascination with angels so she had seen many representations of them.

"Shall we take a skiff over to Vega Base, it's large enough to be comfortable and fast enought to get us there in less than an half an hour with a micro jump"

************************************

"Since you have been practising, certainly, let me help you out."

Way lowered the right side so Helva could pivot and sit up, then stand as she chose

Cam chuffed softly, pleased at his compliments

"However I have not a single pair of wings, and I think I lean more towards horns that halos"

One of the researchers she had worked with in the past had a fascination with angels so she had seen many representations of them.

"Shall we take a skiff over to Vega Base, it's large enough to be comfortable and fast enought to get us there in less than an half an hour with a micro jump"

"I don't know", he said smiling, "you think we can leave the kids alone that long?" he asked, nodding toward Helva and grinning.

"Helva? Cam and I will take the skiff if that's okay, you can meet us there when you two are done. I promise not to peak at the pictures until you get to see them first."

"Alright, I'll see you there. If you see Channa, tell her I said hi and tell Simeon hello for me."

"Will do, my dear, don't do anything I wouldn't do. Or half things I would, come to think of it", he said grinning as he gently took Cam's arm.

"I'm all yours, My Lady."

************************************

"Since you have been practising, certainly, let me help you out."

Way lowered the right side so Helva could pivot and sit up, then stand as she chose.

Helva reached up, forgetting that she didn't have two sides to hold now and having to redistribute weight and angle to get into a sitting position. Then she shifted herself around and sat for a moment, looking over her legs and feet before lowering them and slowly rose to a standing position.

Smiling at her accomplishment she then proceeded forward, lifting her left out in a military style locked knee step, brought back as she tried to bring the other one forward and then fell flat on her face.

"Well", she said, "that could have gone better." She started to get up the same way she had before and then realized that she was now facing down and not up. This presented a whole different set of variables that she now had to set her mind to.

Way was down on his knees next to Helva in nothing flat.

"Here let me move your limbs for you and you just feel what was moved"

Careful to make sure that each movement was slightly exagerated he bent her arms and moved them into position so she could push herself up

******************************************

"I don't think they heard us, a little too busy. I know that Way can be trusted."

Cam tucked her arm into his and once inside the skiff she turned piloting over to it's rudimentary AI. Foster was much more interesting and the seats were wide enough for two, if they didn't mind being cozy.

"I'm sorry I rather broadsided you with the information earlier but I wanted you to know as soon as possible"

Way was down on his knees next to Helva in nothing flat.

"Here let me move your limbs for you and you just feel what was moved"

Careful to make sure that each movement was slightly exagerated he bent her arms and moved them into position so she could push herself up

With Way's help she got back up to her feet. Switching to the vocal units on the avatar and shutting down the cabin speakers she spoke through the unit, "You know, I don't I've given soft shells nearly the credit they deserve. This is far more difficult than I would have imagined."

She squinted at Way and then opened her eyes to look at him normally. "Interesting how they get around though, binocular vision without telescopic augmentation must be extremely difficult for them. Just a moment."

She accessed her memory storage and played Foster walking through her at various angles and different enhancements and speeds.

"Okay", she said, focusing once again on the avatar form. She bent her left knee, bringing her leg forward and up. Then she swung it outward and placed her weight on it while bringing her right leg forward while bending the knee then placed it forward, careful to watch her steps and the weight distribution of her body. Left, right, left, right, left, CLUNK.

Watching her feet she walked straight into the wall banging her head. Reaching up to gain her balance she hit the wall, pushing herself away and competely tipping herself over, falling backward.

******************************************

"I don't think they heard us, a little too busy. I know that Way can be trusted."

Cam tucked her arm into his and once inside the skiff she turned piloting over to it's rudimentary AI. Foster was much more interesting and the seats were wide enough for two, if they didn't mind being cozy.

"I'm sorry I rather broadsided you with the information earlier but I wanted you to know as soon as possible"

"No I don't think they caught the last part", he agreed.

As the skiff lifted off and he sat with Cam he placed an arm around her, taking great comfort and pleasure in her being against him.

He placed a hand on her cheek as she spoke, "Don't be sorry", he told her. "I can hardly wait. I have to tell you that in just this short time, you have become very special to me." His thumb ran along her cheekbone as he held his hand against her cheek. "I'm overjoyed that we'll have this time alone."

As Lauralin embraced the man, Jann relaxed. Nobody embraces threats, well not that he knew of anyway. The greeting surprised him, for it put further doubt in her initial reaction.

Father? he thought, Who the hell is scared of their father?

He greeted Lauralin's father with his own firm grip, and Reisco inclined her head respectfully as he took her hand.

Lauralin's explanation took a few seconds for the meaning to become clear to Jann, her father had holy powers, and vampires were about as unholy as you could get. So the shudder was just an instinctive reaction to his aura, decided Jann.

"Sir, as representatives of the Indoan Alliance, we are honoured to meet you," Jann told him.

Kane had halted his approach when Jann had shaken hands with Lauralin's father, and looked questioningly at Jann, who noticed the Ranger behind Lauralin and moved his head a tiny amount from side to side, almost imperceptibly, waving Kane off. The Ranger disappeared into the crowd and returned to where Reid, Riv and Dex were waiting. They moved off into the bazaar, rapidly lost amid the throng of people.

****

The avatar winked reassuringly at Anna as it took a subtle step sideways, resting its hand on the manual control for the UV lights.
It spoke softly, "Why something, Sophie? Not someone?"

The girl momentarily forgot the fear, indignant at the questioning of her recall. She shook her head vehemently.
"No! I couldn't see, but it didn't sound like a person screaming. It was different, like louder, but quieter at the same time, and it was sort of bigger," she explained. The avatar interpreted 'bigger' as 'deeper'. "Where's Mister Kane? Can I see him without his suit?" she asked.

"Just as soon as we're finished here, Sophie. Mister Kane is resting right now, you can see him later," the avatar assured her.

"Sir, as representatives of the Indoan Alliance, we are honoured to meet you," Jann told him.

After saying this both father and daughter self consciously ran hands over thier casual attire, neither on expecting to meet or be talking to representatives.

"Well", Lauralin said, "I hope you forgive our attire. We were not expecting to meet representatives, we were just examining the culture here. By the way, this", she said gesturing toward her bodyguard, "is Baghtru Uth-Matar, my self appointed body guard and the Captain of my Mansion guard."

"That", she said, gesturing behind Jann and Kate, "is Count Marcus Cole of the Deryn."

Standing behind them was the man in the dark cloak and that had followed the King across the bazaar.

"Where is Brook", she asked her father.

"I though she was headed this way."

"I have not seen her", she said and looked at Baghtru, "you told her where we were, yes?"

"Yeah, I told her north", Baghtru replied.

"North, I thought were south", she said.

"Beats me, I can't tell north from south here, I thought we were north."

Lauralin looked around until she was a sign that said 'To dock, southern bulb, slips eleven to fifteen.'

Baghtru looked at the sign she was looking at. "Uh oh", he mumbled.

"Yes", Lauralin agreed.

Jann grinned in a way completely unsuited for use when representing his world. "Hey, we weren't planning on acting as them. We're just here on leave, so we're not even in uniform."

He glanced down at his clothing, a dark blue baggy full-body flightsuit, positively covered in pockets of various shapes and sizes. Above the left breast pocket, the word 'Ferrante' was printed on the name bar. Riesco was clad in loose black combat trousers and a lightweight black jacket, with a pale blue T-shirt visible underneath.

They both nodded greetings at the bodyguard, then spun around to see the man behind them.
"Well, we just failed our alertness test," joked Jann, who had completely lost track of second figure when Lauralin's father had approached.

"Our friends, who have just disappeared," Riesco sighed. "Are Corporals Nikolai Kane and Evelyn Reid, of the Indoan Rangers, and Ensign Riv Lassai and Naval Officer Dex Achevarria also of the Indoan Navy. I can call them over if you want to meet them," she offered.

The two Indoans glanced at each other as the conversation about the apparently missing person went on around them. They would probably have similar trouble finding all the other Indoans later, especially Jace's group.

"No", Lauralin said as the man lowered the cowl on his cloak, "you have not. Marcus is Deryn, the psionic race I mentioned. He has an affinity for blending into darkness and shadow and then moving from one to another even if they are not connected."

He is a handsome man with aristocratic features, black hair, dark eyes and a close trimmed beard and mustache. After lowering his cowl he places one hand over his heart and the other he extends outward toward the two, "Heart to heart I greet you."

"As for meeting your people, I would like to but there is not need to. Let them enjoy themselves while they can. In the meantime I better find Brook before she goes off on someone."

She looked back over her shoulder, "Baghtru."

He turned to follow her, then she stopped and looked back. "If your people with, however, all of you could join Father and I for dinner, we would be more than happy to have the company." Then she turned and headed off, searching for her missing person.

General Booley slammed his palm over the comm disconnect. He looked at the Colonel and the Major. "Well there you have it", he muttered and stood up. "Let's give the troops the sitrep."

"Sitrep, Sir?", Major Tom Feltoris asked.

"Yeah", replied Booley and left his office. He made his way to the airlock and then out of the ship to the dock where his troops were lined up.

"Alright, LISTEN UP, people. Here's the situation. Command, in thier infinite wisdom, had seen it appropriate to deply thier BEST squad to babysit the President upon her arrival. Said squad, having arrived at the co-ordinates specified, then stood around with thier asses hanging in the air awaiting the little bundle of joy. It has now been brought to this officer's attention that said deployment was a ruse. In order to make people THINK the President was coming here we were to be sent, highly visibly, to these co-ordinates and now, said squad, is to stand by and await further orders."

Mumbling went through the assembled men, women and borgs as this information was passed on. Booley gave them a minute before he continued.

"Now, let's review the ops plan...."

This statement started some more mumbling, since thier orders were to sit around on thier collective asses waiting for the brass to tell them what to do.

"Settle down people", he told them, and immedietly the mumbling stopped. "The LZ, also known as Simeon Space Station - 900 - Channa, or the SSS-900-C, is located at the very edge of Central Worlds space. There will be three teams in rotation. The teams will establish a defensive perimeter and prepare to receive the enemy."

Again the mumbling started as they wondered what enemy he was referring to.

"SILENCE", he thundered, and again the mumbling stopped and now he began pacing back and forth in front of them. "This enemy .... Merchants, Civilians and yes .... females", then he glanced at Colonel Samantha Klantin, "and males, will attack from all directions." Now he held up his fist, "HOLD your ground, try NOT to say anything STUPID, and WAIT for extraction."

Laughter now rebounded from the walls of the docking bay as they realized that the whole sitrep was a joke and General Booley grinned good heartedly.

"ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS", he bellowed.

"SIR, NO SIR!!!", came the instant respond.

"CAMERONE", he shouted.

"CAMERONE", they repeated.

He turned to Colonel Klantin and Major Feltoris, "If the brass wants us sitting around then I don't intend to collect dust and DO intend to get some leave in for my people. I'll take one third of them into the station for eight hours. Sam, you take ops and set a watch with the second shift, and Tom, you and the third shift hit the bunks. In eight hours I'll come back with my shift and we'll hit the bunks then Sam will take her people in and Tom, you'll take ops and watch. Then we'll rotate eight hours later when Sam returns. Clear?"

"Sir, YES Sir", they both replied.

Booley nodded and turned back to the troops. "ALPHA team, with me." One third of the squad fell in behind him and he made his way out of the northern bulb docking area toward the bazaar at the southern end of the station.

(OOC - Krowemoh - when you post we can do the discussion with B. Queen, for now I'm just going to say it happened and have Foster continue.)
<SNIP>

((OOC: lol Sorry guys, but after this convo, I'm afraid I'll have to drop from the RP. You all seem to be doing great without me, and a smuggler team really isn't the greatest group to role-play as. >_> Sigh.))

Moments Ago...

Foster came to the hangarbay where B. Queen was overseeing the basic refueling of her ship. The leather clad Neko turned to the male as he neared. "Hey. How's it going?" She started off friendly, in a bid to make him feel comfortable. Of course, she did present him with ample view of her cleavage...

"Look, we just want to give you our thanks, for giving us a chance without having first prejudged us based on our looks. Despite what you might think, a lot of people take one look at my group, and automatically assume we're pirates, scum of the universe. But, I'm wondering... Why did you do as you did, on the Mournhold?"

~~~~~~~~

Even Longer Ago...

Vex nods at the comm unit. "Sounds great. Look, I'm sure you got better places to focus your attention then me and my private conversations. I'll be heading off now. Nice talking with you. See ya later."

With that, Vex turns tail and heads for the docking bay where the Blockcade Runner is...

((OOC: lol Sorry guys, but after this convo, I'm afraid I'll have to drop from the RP. You all seem to be doing great without me, and a smuggler team really isn't the greatest group to role-play as. >_> Sigh.))

(OOC - Well if your busy then we can just say the conversation occured and leave it at that. No need to go through the whole thing. Up to you.)

"Your abilities are very impressive, sir," Riesco told the Count. "It is a honour to make your acquaintance."

"We will remember your invitation, and may well take it up. If not I offer apologies in advance, perhaps we might return at a later date. I assume I can contact you through Simeon? So that I can inform you slightly in advance of our decision," said Jann, trying to be as diplomatic as possible.

When Lauralin had left, Jann looked at Riesco.
"Well, that was interesting. I suppose we'd better try and find Kane and the others," he suggested.

"Yeah, a most enlightening use of our time. And yes, we should find them. Hold on," she replied.

~ Riesco for Kane, she sent, activating the neural thread communicator.
~ What's up, Kate? he asked.
~ Where are you? We're coming over, she asked.
~ Oh, Hsu, now you're asking. I haven't got a clue. Keep going the way we were before we stopped, and I'll send Riv to look for you.
~ Gotcha. [Break]


(OOC: What about Sophie, Anna and the shadow?)

"Your abilities are very impressive, sir," Riesco told the Count. "It is a honour to make your acquaintance."

"We will remember your invitation, and may well take it up. If not I offer apologies in advance, perhaps we might return at a later date. I assume I can contact you through Simeon? So that I can inform you slightly in advance of our decision," said Jann, trying to be as diplomatic as possible.

"Well", Marcus replied, his accent clipped but not unpleasant, "I try my best. It is indeed a pleasure to meet you both."

Turquine looked at the retreating form of his daughter. "Simeon", he rumbled, then looked back at Jann. "I don't know who Simeon is. I'm afraid that my daughter handles all diplomatic contact for both our kingdoms. I handle the defense of them both."

(OOC: What about Sophie, Anna and the shadow?)

(OOC - Lost track of it somehow, thanks for reminding me.)

The avatar winked reassuringly at Anna as it took a subtle step sideways, resting its hand on the manual control for the UV lights.
It spoke softly, "Why something, Sophie? Not someone?"

The girl momentarily forgot the fear, indignant at the questioning of her recall. She shook her head vehemently.
"No! I couldn't see, but it didn't sound like a person screaming. It was different, like louder, but quieter at the same time, and it was sort of bigger," she explained. The avatar interpreted 'bigger' as 'deeper'. "Where's Mister Kane? Can I see him without his suit?" she asked.

"Just as soon as we're finished here, Sophie. Mister Kane is resting right now, you can see him later," the avatar assured her.

"Bigger", Anna replied to her, "did it seem to surround you? As though it enveloped you? Was is screaming out loud? Or in your mind?"

Lars was definitely reading a reaction, as though the questioning was hitting to close to home for it's liking. Out of the corner of her eye she caught the blinking on the console again, three this time. It was definitely getting riled in there. 'Come ON you bastard', she thought.

Channa had made her way from the northern bulb of the station to the southern and was just entering the bazaar area on her way to the docks for a meeting. She had been talking to Simeon, subvocalizing while he spoke to her through her mastoid implant.

'I said I was sorry Simeon, you just don't understand.'

'The hell I don't', he thought but didn't say. 'Channa, watch out', he warned her.

'Yeah I know, I'm sorry, I'm just...', she began.

'No I mean watch out!'

She looked up to late and walked full force into Kane, catching on to him to keep her balance.

"I'm SORRY", she told him, "I wasn't watching where I was going."

Cam enjoyed the quiet time she and Foster were spending together as the skiff headed to Vega Base. It was ever so pleasant to find some one she could just sit quietly with. So many people had the need to constantly chatter, as if they would fade away if silent. The fact that Foster's shoulder was perfect for resting her head on had absolutely nothing to do with how comfortable she felt. Eventually she did turn her curiosity towards a matter she felt she needed to know about

"Foster, had you heard anything on the child that was found on the Mournhold?"

She was concerned for the young girls future. The information they had managed to down load from the Captains private journal might yield some information on the childs identity, but she didn't know if that data had been reviewed yet

"Foster, had you heard anything on the child that was found on the Mournhold?"

It took a moment for the words to register as Cam's warmth and the smell of her perfume acted on his senses. Even after the words soaked into his mind it took a moment to understand what they meant. The look of utter peace that had come over him suddenly shattered to be replaced by the familiar look of worry and duty.

"Great Ghu, how could I have forgotten?" He leaned forward, not that his position really mattered, "Helva, Foster, How is the girl that was brought back from the Mournhold?"

Helva, not anticipating Foster to contact her so soon, had shut down her comm except for one link to Lars for possible shift of position. She was focusing on the Avatar body and controlling it.

"Helva?" he asked, frowning. She was in a safe port and he was in Central Space so shutting down comm was acceptable, though it was unlike her. He looked around the skiff, "Do you have a comm?"

It was a stupid question and he knew it the second it was out but he couldn't help it.

Cam placed a gentle but firm hand on Foster's shoulder

"Yes, but no we are not going to use it. I am so sorry. I've spoiled everything."

She nuzzled his neck with the pad of her nose, making sure that her whiskers tickled his ears. She did not want to see that look on his face for many hours. And she was certain that if those watching over the girl had felt that Foster needed to know they would have let him.

Cam placed a gentle but firm hand on Foster's shoulder

"Yes, but no we are not going to use it. I am so sorry. I've spoiled everything."

She nuzzled his neck with the pad of her nose, making sure that her whiskers tickled his ears. She did not want to see that look on his face for many hours. And she was certain that if those watching over the girl had felt that Foster needed to know they would have let him.

Much to the surprise of anyone who knew Forrister, including himself, he allowed himself to slip away into the world where only Cam's scent and her soft, warm body existed. He placed his arm around her and tilted his head away, allowing her access to his neck, then he reached up with his other hand and took hers, holding it.

Time stood still for Foster, even as it flew by outside in the real world from which he had escaped. Though he desired so much more, he allowed anticipation to quicken him and enjoyed the impossibly serene moment in his otherwise turbulent life. Though it has slowed a great deal in the last three years he couldn't remember a better time than now.

Suddenly the serene moment was broken as Simeon's voice penetrated his thoughts.

"This is the SSS-900-C to inbound shuttle, prepare to slave over controls station management on my mark."

The moment passed, yet it didn't as he looked down into Cam's eyes and found himself lost again. Without thinking he uttered a line from an old song.

"Healin' as the colors in the sunshine and the shadows of her eyes."

Then another portion of the same song came to mind and he smiled as he thought about the lyrics,

'I don't know the answer to the easy way she opened every door in my mind.
But dreamin' is as easy as believin' that it's never gonna end.'

"And loving her is easier than anything I'll ever do again", he whispered, still gazing into her eyes.

Cam smiled as Foster relaxed once again, the harried look fading away.

"But sorry I don't read minds without permission, or extraordinary need"

She teased him as she gazed back into his eyes. Then she snuggled into his arms and nestled her head on his shoulder.. Yes, a perfect fit she decided happily

Simeon brought the shuttle into the southern bay, and set it down in one of the holding areas then let the automated system pressurize the bay. He was curious about this one. An A.I. answered the hail, not a person. He wondered who was inside. He went through the known ships in his memory banks and came up blank. He waited for someone to come out, as did the technicians who would check over the shuttle and refuel it if need be.

Foster just sat, not even aware the shuttle had landed, enjoying the soft fur, warmth and smell of Cam.

Eventually Cam noticed that the skiff had come to rest and she sat up

"Mmmmmm Foster, I think that we've arrived."

She peered at the controls, noteing with a grin that the AI had definitely shut the small craft down

"Yes I do think so. And you did promise me dinner"

The twitch of her whiskers had a definitely teasing quality about them, as did the oh so innocent look in her big amber gold eyes

"Mmmmmm Foster, I think that we've arrived."

He had been lost in her and looked around confused for a moment.

"Yes I do think so. And you did promise me dinner"

The twitch of her whiskers had a definitely teasing quality about them, as did the oh so innocent look in her big amber gold eyes

He stood up, smiling at her, "Yes I did", he said as he reached down a hand to help her up. "I hope that you'll be providing dessert", he told her as he leaned in to give her a light kiss.

He led them out of the shuttle and looked at the techs. "Follow the instructions of the A.I.", he told them, and headed for the door to the station proper.

'Uh oh', Simeon thought. He checked his logs and didn't find anything there then ran a check on the female beside Foster. Nothing. Perplexed Simeon waited until they were through the door and then following them as they walked he addressed them from the nearest audio unit.

"Colonel, I wasn't aware that you were supposed to be here."

Foster - Forrister's heart thumped down to a point somewhere in his stomach and he glanced over at Cam but continued walking.

"That's because I'm not here in an official capacity."

"Your not?"

"No. I'm on leave."

A snorting sound issued from the audio units, "In thirty years of service you know how much leave time you've taken?"

"No", Forrister answered, "but I have a feeling your gong to tell me."

"Let me add this up .... None."

"Then it's about time don't you think?"

"Alright", Simeon said as he began to wonder if perhaps the man was serious, "so lets see. Thats about three years accumulated leave time, should I reserve a room?"

"Yes, actually, the suite on the northen bulb. You know, the one that looks out over the nebula cluster."

"For THREE years?"

Forrister grinned at Cam, "Sure, why not. First, however, I'll be taking the Lady to the Perimeter for dinner. And Simeon?"

"Yeah?"

"It's just Foster, got it?"

'AH HA', Simeon thought, 'he's undercover.' At least Simeon understood the mystery now, or thought he did. "Foster, riiiiiight, got it. So who's the dame?"

Foster shook his head, "Simeon this is Cam, she's Tanaran. Cam, this is Simeon. He's a lech disguised as a shell person."

Foster then took the lift to the north bulb and led her to the Perimeter.

The restaurante had clear plassteel windows all the way around and it rotated in the opposite direction from the station, thereby giving it a stationary appearance. The tables were made of real wood, a rare and expensive commodity in Central Worlds. Beeswax candles burned on the table, obviously meaning that the restaurante paid a fortune in air bills. It even had real waiters and the food was actually cooked instead of it being served from the table from protein vats. The whole scene was one big picture of expensive and pleasant views and scents.

Cam gleefully made mental notes of the various slips that had been made. There was a mystery here , all wrapped around Foster. 'If that's even his real name' she cocked a whisker, as well as an eyebrow at the series of exchanges. Her tailed curled questioningly but she said nothing...yet.

She took in the restraunts extravagance with an appreciative eye. She deserved no less, nor did the Colonel. And that mental giggle decided her on her first avenue of attack

Once the waiter had seated her and Foster slid into the chair across from her, she batted her lashes and made a conversational opening

"So was your last promotion on time, or did it come early?"

Foster chuckled looking somewhat embarrassed.

"It's that which I wanted to talk to you about. One moment." He held up a finger and one of the waiters hustled over. "Would you ask Mart'an to come over, please."

"But of course, Sir."

The waiter bustled away and another man returned. He spread his hands smiling, "Ahhhhhh co.."

"Mister Foster Amontillado y Medoc."

"But of course. How might I be of service?"

"Your suggestion for dinner. You are, after all the best."

"Ahhhh yes. The grumawns, first, in a fiery sauce and cleardrop soup served with the Mon'rach 97, a half bottle.

"Then, Grilled rack of jumbuk, fresh from Mother Hutton's World served with baby carrots and a salad with a Hosborg estate bottled 85. I'll open it now of course", he said, raising his finger tips to his nose and spreading them out as he inhaled, "to breath first.

"For desert, I suggest a spun pastry bluet confection with Port Royal coffee."

"With a shot of Castiliari brandy", Foster told him.

Mart'an place a hand on his chest feigning offense, "but of COURSE. WHAT else?"

Foster looked at Cam, "Mart'an has an affinity for reading a persons tastes as they walk in the door. Care to go with his suggestions?"

"The station Mind, I assumed you were aware of him," explained Jann. He knew it was not a Mind, but he did not know what to call Simeon. "If not, how can I contact you, sir?"


The two Indoans weaved their way through the crowd in the general direction of their comrades. It did not take them long to spot the orange flash of fur above the crowd, Riv was evidently on Kane's shoulder again, their combined height about seven and a half feet. As they headed towards it, the orange vanished.

Somebody walked into Kane, dislodging Riv and sending him falling to the floor, crashing into Reid as he fell. Kane automatically shifted his balence to avoid falling over, then realised that the person was hanging on to him. She apologised for walking into him.

"That's alright. No harm done," he replied.

"No harm to you maybe. What about me?" complained Riv, picking himself up from the floor.

****

"I think she means deeper, as in pitch, not actually bigger," the avatar said helpfully. "Like this?" it asked Sophie, altering its voice to a much lower pitch. The girl nodded.

"I din't say in my head, and I din't mean in my head. It was coming from the corridor outside the resarch room," she said to Anna.

She mispronounced 'research' again, thought the avatar. Have to correct that soon.

Sophie was trembling a lot now, her eyes glistening with tears of fear.
"The screaming came closer though, right into the room I was hiding in. I could hear it waiting there, then it went away, and I don't remember anything.

"The station Mind, I assumed you were aware of him," explained Jann. He knew it was not a Mind, but he did not know what to call Simeon. "If not, how can I contact you, sir?"

"The walls that speak", he said in his rumbling voice. "Forgive me, but I try not to speak to walls. Usually only on court days when the such a conversation holds more reason than some of the accused." He looked up at Marcus who shrugged.

"Magic isn't my forte, sorry. The Queen is the sorceress", he said.

Just then Lauralin came back around a corner with Baghtru and the woman she had called Brook, who was railing at Baghtru at the moment.

"...lked all over hells half acre looking for you two."

"Brook", the Queen said calmly, "it is difficult to tell directions here."

"Laura", Turquine rumbled, "they would like to know how they can get a hold of us."

"Through the shell person manager here", she told Jann, "his name is Simeon."

"The talking wall", the King replied.

Lauralin sighed, "I've told you, father, Simeon is a living being."

"I know", he said, cutting her short and placing a hand on her shoulder, "I know, I simply cannot get my mind around what your trying to tell me."

Brook eyed Jann and Kate critically, her gaze fierce. She is six and half feet tall with orange red hair and blue eyes. To say she's dressed is stretching the definition. She wears a leather halter top, leather shorts, a mantle cloak and a bastard sword and presently nothing else but lather strap sandals.

(Turquine --> http://www.atddm.com/TTFANM0151.gif )

(Baghtru --> http://www.atddm.com/maleamerindoo1.gif )

(Brook --> http://www.atddm.com/BORIS54.GIF )


(Have to get to work, will post reply for kand and andie as soon as I can.)

"The meal sounds perfect, save for the fact that I will have to forego the wines and brandy. Xa' senses don't take to what humans consider 'spiritous beverages'. However if you will bring me a cup of cat mint tea with cream when you bring Foster his coffee, I would be most pleased"

Mart'an was too good and too experienced a maitre d' to look agahst, and he quickly left to see that the chef knew what was wished. Cam looked back at Foster, and the light glinting in her eyes was not all that amused.

"Or is that a knowing of just what you like for dinner? Now are you going to tell me or keep having to warn off most of the station?"


****************************************************

Way stayed close to Helva. She was getting used to being mobile very fast, though he had had to catch her no few number of times.

"Well have you skipping and chewing bubble gum, what ever that is, in no time at all and then we'll go dancing together"

"That's alright. No harm done," he replied.

"No harm to you maybe. What about me?" complained Riv, picking himself up from the floor.
Channa looked down at Riv, "I'm sorry", she told him, "I'm on my way to meeting and I'm late, I wasn't watching where I was going. I'm Channa Happ, assistant station manager."

It was at that moment that Booley walked in the bazaar. He wasn't hard to miss since aside from himself there were fourteen bio bods and six 2.5 meter 2 1/2 ton fully armed borgs, including a shoulder launched micro missile launcher on the right shoulder, a mini grenade launcher on the left shoulder, a .50 caliber mini gun attached to the right arm and a heave laser mounted on the left arm. Booley hated having to have the borg come in in thier combat forms but he wasn't expecting leave time and didn't stow any free forms for the borgs, but wanted them to have some down time while he had the chance.

"In fact", Channa said, "there's the man I'm supposed to be meeting."

Booley turned to his people, "Alright, eight hours leave. Anyone not back at the ship in eight hours, thier asses are mine. CLEAR?!"

"SIR, YES SIR!"

"Dismissed."

Once they were free to go they looked at each other and Booley. The Legion never had much down time and now that they had they looked at each other and then around not quite sure what to do with it.

**********************************************************

"I think she means deeper, as in pitch, not actually bigger," the avatar said helpfully. "Like this?" it asked Sophie, altering its voice to a much lower pitch. The girl nodded.

"I din't say in my head, and I din't mean in my head. It was coming from the corridor outside the resarch room," she said to Anna.

She mispronounced 'research' again, thought the avatar. Have to correct that soon.

Sophie was trembling a lot now, her eyes glistening with tears of fear.
"The screaming came closer though, right into the room I was hiding in. I could hear it waiting there, then it went away, and I don't remember anything.

"It came closer, into the room", Anna said. "Are you sure it went away? Are you sure that you didn't feel anything? Sense anything?"

The console light blinked four times now. The shadow entity was now getting agitated. 'Soon', she thought, as she glanced at Andie again, a sheen of sweat having formed on her forehead as she tried to suppress her own fear.

"The meal sounds perfect, save for the fact that I will have to forego the wines and brandy. Xa' senses don't take to what humans consider 'spiritous beverages'. However if you will bring me a cup of cat mint tea with cream when you bring Foster his coffee, I would be most pleased"

Mart'an was too good and too experienced a maitre d' to look agahst, and he quickly left to see that the chef knew what was wished. Cam looked back at Foster, and the light glinting in her eyes was not all that amused.

"Or is that a knowing of just what you like for dinner? Now are you going to tell me or keep having to warn off most of the station?"

Foster was a bit ruffled about the hint that he had lied to her, but he didn’t blame her at all.

“Privacy”, he said out loud, and sonics surrounded the table, preventing anyone else from hearing.

“I’ve not told you everything about myself, I know that. But Mart’an really is that good. Not that I haven’t eaten here but he can read people and he’s right most of the time. I may not tell you something, Cam, but I would never flat out lie to you is the point I’m trying to make.

“As for the other, well, it’s just key personnel that I need to warn off and that’s NOT to keep it from you. It’s to protect me. My last name is Amontillado y Medoc, my first name is Forrester. Among high families names often pass down from generation to generation or at least variants of them, so having a Forrester and a Foster in the same family wouldn’t be unusual.

“I’m a Colonel in CenSec, Central Worlds Security on the military side, intelligence division. I had served under General Micaya Quester-Benn, until three years ago….”

He stopped long enough for the waiter to bring the first courses and leave.

“Three years ago”, Foster continued, “Mic and I completed an investigation that resulted in the arrest and conviction of five young high family members. Their families weren’t happy about the fact that Mic and I pushed the issue and they had a royal snit about the fact that she and I couldn’t be bought. Three months later CenSec learned that a certain criminal family outside of Centrals purview had been contracted to remove Mic and I, permanently. We were given deep space assignments, brawn assignments, in order to keep us away from possible areas for assassination. CenSec is trying to find concrete evidence that one or more of the high families whose young people went to prison are involved in the contract. We’re pretty certain they are, but we can’t prove it yet. My first name was changed and my past records as well. The crime family in question won’t stop until they achieve their goal or can’t be paid.”

He stopped there, looking at Cam, waiting to see what her reaction would be.


*******************************************************************

Way stayed close to Helva. She was getting used to being mobile very fast, though he had had to catch her no few number of times.

"Well have you skipping and chewing bubble gum, what ever that is, in no time at all and then we'll go dancing together"

Helva was getting used to the avatar at the same fast rate that had earned her the praise of her teachers in shell classes in relation to other functions. When way mentioned the last she stopped on another stroll around the main cabin.

“Dancing”, she said. The avatars eyes got a glazed look as she accessed her data banks and then became alert as she ‘came back’. “I don’t have any information on dancing.” She looked at way, “Can I eat in this form? Drink things? Can I smell? All my brawns have fawned over how wonderful coffee smells, can I process the scent with this form without have any reference in my data banks?”

Jann nodded. "I thought so. Simeon seems to control everything here, so it seemed logical."

Something that had been said was bothering Riesco. After thinking hard, she pinned it down. "Excuse me, are you royalty? I'm sure you've said it a couple of times, but I'm not sure."

Jann was looking at Brook. A typical pilot, he was under six feet tall, and consequently had to look up at her face. He was just examining the face, trying to work out what she was amidst this group of people with strange abilities.

His eyes fell to the weapon. "Why do all of you carry blades?" he asked. "Isn't a gun more useful?" He tapped the butt of his pistol with a finger.

****

"Well..." began Riv. He was about to bluntly state that Channa had eyes for a reason, so she should use them, but he stopped when the troops came in.

He stared open mouthed at the borgs. "Hey Kane, bet you've never carried that much firepower in one go."

The Ranger grinned as he hoisted Riv back up his shoulder. "Not quite," he agreed. "But the SK-4s do... Well, almost. They carry slightly less so that they can move amazingly fast."

"What are they? Are they the same things that stopped us carrying weapons on the medical station?" asked Reid. "Look, they have normal troops too." She indicated the other, more normal troops.

****

The first tear ran down Sophie's cheek.
"It was dark, I couldn't see anything. I never felt nothing. There was a funny smell, like a fire but not, but I could hear something... There was still screaming... but I could hear breathing... it went away... it did..."
The tears were rolling down her cheeks now and her voice was wavering.

The avatar caught the fearful glance from Anna, and it smiled reassuringly. Its hand was on the manual switch for the UV, ready to activate them with a fraction of a second's notice.

"You don't have any data on dancing? Oh my then you've never seen a ballroom dance demonstration...Oh I think you will love dancing. And yes you can taste and smell, though we AI's have never been quite sure that what we taste and smell is quite the same as what a human does."

He went on to explain about the four basic tastes, and then on to the deeper subject of scent.

"Thats where the dificulty comes in. Scent is memory. The humans part of the brain that deals with scent is one of the larger parts of the brain, and it's all but buried in the primary memory area, and interwoven." The Avatar shrugged "I smell things but as it took me a while, and I know a few avatars who never could, despite the fact that olfactory sensors are built in. Cam might have some tips, as a Jcubed, she's spent some time in an avatar body."

********************************************


Cam had listened quietly, then nodded once. Her whiskers twitched - it wasn't as if she didn't know what it was like to be hunted, or to have a price on her head. Given all that she was it was fairly unusual that she didn't have a price on her own head by now.

"My apologies Foster. I did not mean to make you think that I thought you lied. If there is anything I can do to help, please do not hesitate to ask. I certainly don't wish to jeopardise your safety...it's become rather important to me."

She paused for a second, considered, and spoke further "Outside of your govenments pervue you say?"

The gin on her lips was not a smile at all but a predators show of fang

Jann nodded. "I thought so. Simeon seems to control everything here, so it seemed logical."

Something that had been said was bothering Riesco. After thinking hard, she pinned it down. "Excuse me, are you royalty? I'm sure you've said it a couple of times, but I'm not sure."

Lauralin smiled and nodded, "Yes I am. Father is King of Highport. I am Queen of Dragonsreach."

"And a ROYAL pain in the ass", Baghtru muttered. "Running off without escort all the time."

Lauralin grinned at him and patted his cheek, "Just keeping you on your toes old friend."

Jann was looking at Brook. A typical pilot, he was under six feet tall, and consequently had to look up at her face. He was just examining the face, trying to work out what she was amidst this group of people with strange abilities.

His eyes fell to the weapon. "Why do all of you carry blades?" he asked. "Isn't a gun more useful?" He tapped the butt of his pistol with a finger.

Brook stepped forward, fury in the barbarian woman's eyes. "You think so?" she asked in a dangerous voice, "then try me."

Turquine put is arm between them as Lauralin stepped in between, "Brook NO."

"You DARE call me a coward?" Brook asked Jann.

"No man who faces an enemy is a coward, Brook", Turquine put in, "STAND .... DOWN."

Brook looked at Laura and Turquine then glared at Jann and turned away.

"I'll follow her", Marcus said and disappeared into the shadows again as she stormed off.

Lauralin turned to Jann, "I am sorry. Brook if from a barbarian tribe north of Dragonsreach. They consider it a cowardly act to not face thier enemy in personal combat or for anyone to suggest that they would or should. As for the blades, we only just opened our borders. We have horseless carriages now and father's chief of security has a few star vessels, small ones. We came here after meeting Central worlds. They are kind enough to have a shell person run ship act as a diplomatic courier for us. We are awaiting her arrival."

**********************************************************

"Well..." began Riv. He was about to bluntly state that Channa had eyes for a reason, so she should use them, but he stopped when the troops came in.

He stared open mouthed at the borgs. "Hey Kane, bet you've never carried that much firepower in one go."

The Ranger grinned as he hoisted Riv back up his shoulder. "Not quite," he agreed. "But the SK-4s do... Well, almost. They carry slightly less so that they can move amazingly fast."

"What are they? Are they the same things that stopped us carrying weapons on the medical station?" asked Reid. "Look, they have normal troops too." She indicated the other, more normal troops.

"The Legion", Channa answered, "call the Legion of the Damned. And their armed to the teeth on OUR station." She walked across the bazaar, this time avoiding people and approached Booley. "Just what in the name of Candanides left BREAST do you think your doing?" she asked looking at the troops had yet to figure out just what they were to do with thier leave time.

Booley faced Channa, and even though he didn't have too it wasn't against protocol to salute her since she was second command of the space station. "Ma'am, I've been informed that our presence here was a diversion. We are now on standby awaiting further orders. I wanted to get my people some leave time. I'm sorry about the T-2's Ma'am but we weren't expecting downtime and I therefore didn't bring any free forms for my borgs, Ma'am."

Channa eyed Booley, it would be easy enough to verify that story so there wasn't much point. She nodded, "Just try not to shoot anyone", she told him, "other than that enjoy the station. If I might suggest, we have some cyber suites that the borgs might enjoy. The connections are class A and checked once a month.

Booley nodded, "Ma'am, thank you, Ma'am."

Booley turned to his people, "You heard the Lady. Borgs fry in cyberspace, the rest of us fry in pubs. Just remember the countdown and be at the ship on time for the next team to go. Dismissed." 'Again', he muttered.

**********************************************************

The first tear ran down Sophie's cheek.
"It was dark, I couldn't see anything. I never felt nothing. There was a funny smell, like a fire but not, but I could hear something... There was still screaming... but I could hear breathing... it went away... it did..."
The tears were rolling down her cheeks now and her voice was wavering.

The avatar caught the fearful glance from Anna, and it smiled reassuringly. Its hand was on the manual switch for the UV, ready to activate them with a fraction of a second's notice.

Now the shadow had felt that it had been revealed. Suddenly it poured out, from her mouth, her ears, her eyes, even the pores of her skin. Anna didn't throw herself out of the way, though she was afraid she would. She didn't what she had HOPED she would do. She grabbed Sophie and twisted, dropping to the deck so Sophie landed on her and rolled over her, protecting her with her own body. She was going to say now, but she had thrown herself to the floor and knocked the wind out of herself. It was up to Andie now, and somehow she felt releived by that.

"You don't have any data on dancing? Oh my then you've never seen a ballroom dance demonstration...Oh I think you will love dancing. And yes you can taste and smell, though we AI's have never been quite sure that what we taste and smell is quite the same as what a human does."

He went on to explain about the four basic tastes, and then on to the deeper subject of scent.

"Thats where the dificulty comes in. Scent is memory. The humans part of the brain that deals with scent is one of the larger parts of the brain, and it's all but buried in the primary memory area, and interwoven." The Avatar shrugged "I smell things but as it took me a while, and I know a few avatars who never could, despite the fact that olfactory sensors are built in. Cam might have some tips, as a Jcubed, she's spent some time in an avatar body."

Helva had sat down on the couch listening intently, trying to process everything Way told her. Once he was finished she started to ask something but stopped. She cocked her head in imitation of Foster when he was inquisitive about something and then asked her question, "What do you mean as a Jcubed?" she asked him. It wasn't until then that she remembered the clothes and stood up to put them on, struggling with them as Way explained, though it seemed that the clothing itself was trying to thwart her efforts.

**********************************************************


Cam had listened quietly, then nodded once. Her whiskers twitched - it wasn't as if she didn't know what it was like to be hunted, or to have a price on her head. Given all that she was it was fairly unusual that she didn't have a price on her own head by now.

"My apologies Foster. I did not mean to make you think that I thought you lied. If there is anything I can do to help, please do not hesitate to ask. I certainly don't wish to jeopardise your safety...it's become rather important to me."

She paused for a second, considered, and spoke further "Outside of your govenments pervue you say?"

The gin on her lips was not a smile at all but a predators show of fang.

Foster reached across the table, taking her hand, "And you have become important to me", he told her, his eyes never leaving hers.

The next course was brought, water refilled, Foster's fresh bottle of wine brought, dirty napkins and utensils replaced and then, like a well oiled machine the bustling waiters were gone and Foster pointed at the main dish, "I think you'll like this. Really."

"Yes, just out of our reach. An underground fortified base in a moon around a fifth planet of a quasar. Pretty damn smart of them since the pulses from the star fouls most all of our stealth technology. Or I should say it DOES foul all of the governments. An enteprising young lady by the name of Joat Simeon-Happ has developed a cloak that would work, but to date it only works on people, rather it takes too much energy to cloak a ship."

He looked up at from his plate, "Ideas?" he asked, grinning.

"Jcubed? Oh. Cam is a fully accredited." Way made a series of sounds definitely beyond the ability of a human throat to form "ah, in standard English that generally translastes out as 'judge, jury, and executioner. One of the youngest ever, but then again she's a Xa' and rare even among them, the ability to handle multiple Valthusian entechly matrix implants. She's lived several 'lifetimes' as different people is I guess the best way to put it"

Way stood and helped Helva slide the caftans on then helped her fit her fee into the slippers.

"There, that color does suite your skin tone beautifully"

*******************************************

Cam was practically purring, falling into Fosters eyes, and absently took a bite of the main entree.

"Oh, yes it is delicious." She applied her self to her meal for a few minutes while she ran over what he had told her.

"System barren of life? What are we looking at in the way of innocent bystanders, slaves, and 'family but not really involved' ?"

"Jcubed? Oh. Cam is a fully accredited." Way made a series of sounds definitely beyond the ability of a human throat to form "ah, in standard English that generally translastes out as 'judge, jury, and executioner. One of the youngest ever, but then again she's a Xa' and rare even among them, the ability to handle multiple Valthusian entechly matrix implants. She's lived several 'lifetimes' as different people is I guess the best way to put it"

Way stood and helped Helva slide the caftans on then helped her fit her fee into the slippers.

"There, that color does suite your skin tone beautifully"

Helva flashed a way a smile that given her chosen face and form, so close to her own, could melt hearts.

"Thank you", she told him. "So your saying that Cam, barring extreme physical destruction, could live, essentially forever."

*******************************************

Cam was practically purring, falling into Fosters eyes, and absently took a bite of the main entree.

"Oh, yes it is delicious." She applied her self to her meal for a few minutes while she ran over what he had told her.

"System barren of life? What are we looking at in the way of innocent bystanders, slaves, and 'family but not really involved' ?"

"Other than the moon there's no other habitable bodies. Neither is the moon for that sake, thats' why it was made underground. Innocents can vary. It's an unofficial way point. I would say somewhere between three and seven thousand, fluctuating from day to day. Slaves I'm not real sure, based on recon I would say no more than about one or two hundred. As for number of family involved, I would all of them, it's been handed down from one generation to the next.

"Well, any one who has the ability to handle a Valthusian entechly matrix implant could theoretically 'live forever'. There are very few who could be Jcubed, and the accreditation, given the power that they wield is enormous, is very slow and exacting, it's not given out lightly."

Way returned the smile, and offered Helva his arm. "Perhaps you'd like to take a look at my shipself"

*******************************************

"Then some one needs to go in, get out the bystanders, and once thats done, put a Nova bomb into that pulsar and let the fire cleanse things...unless the bystanders aren't innocents but criminals in their own right."

Cam finished off the last of her Jumbuk with an appreciative sigh

"Excellent, and we must make sure the chef knows that."

"Well, any one who has the ability to handle a Valthusian entechly matrix implant could theoretically 'live forever'. There are very few who could be Jcubed, and the accreditation, given the power that they wield is enormous, is very slow and exacting, it's not given out lightly."

Way returned the smile, and offered Helva his arm. "Perhaps you'd like to take a look at my shipself"

Helva looked up at Way, "I would love to, it would be nice to see something for myself rather than through Foster, no offense to him of course, he's been wonderful to me. It would also nice to be able to see something other than Cam's posterior, no offense to her", she said giggling.

The thought having occured to her she let go of Way's arm and spun around two or three times trying to see her own. Finally she settled for activating the nearest visual ship input and zoomed in as she walked. "Is it supposed to do that?" she asked referring to the way her hips swayed while she walked as she tried to co-ordinate two sets of three joints and a rotating pelvis.

Helva smiled, laughed and joked as she watched herself walk through the ships corridors. Then when she reached the ramp she stopped before walking down. Fear twisted at her for the first time. The ship was something familiar. It was easy to deal with walking through she was still seeing herself. But once she went down the ramp she would be leaving herself. 'But you aren't', she argued with herself, yet she was still afraid.

"Way", she said in a small scared voice, "I'm frightened."

*******************************************

"Then some one needs to go in, get out the bystanders, and once thats done, put a Nova bomb into that pulsar and let the fire cleanse things...unless the bystanders aren't innocents but criminals in their own right."

Cam finished off the last of her Jumbuk with an appreciative sigh

"Excellent, and we must make sure the chef knows that."

"Oh don't worry about that", I give Mart'an thier tips, including the chef and tell him to pass on that message every time I eat hear. They all get thier tips and the chef gets his compliment. The waiters, here, are also exemplory as is, of course, Mart'an."

As soon as they were finished the waiters returned, cleared away everything that was dirty, replaced it with clean, filled the water glasses and brought dessert, including Cam's drink. Once finished they bustled off again to care for another table.

"As for clearing the innocent out, well, anyone who stops there is typicaly guilty of something. There are a few exceptions. People who didn't have any place closer for repairs or refuel or those returning who need a few more supplies just to reach home base, that sort of thing.

As Brook stalked off the two Indoans relaxed again. The outburst had caught them completely by surprise, and the challenge had put them both on edge. Riesco's right hand had immediately moved to her own sidearm, ready to defend the pilot if necessary. She let it drop away now that the danger had passed.

"No harm done. I understand they must put a lot into their honour code, but ranged weapons are a lot safer. It's not as if we shoot people in the back. Besides, don't you have longbows? The principle's the same isn't it?" said Jann.

"I'm sorry if we haven't shown proper respect," broke in Riesco, "We've never met royalty before, and we didn't know that you were." She thought that if Lauralin and her father had felt it important, they would have said so, but it needed saying anyway.

****

Kane and Riv looked at each other.

"Legion of the Damned, huh?" said Riv.

"They look pretty damned. Pretty damned mean, and pretty damned lost actually. They look like they've never been on leave in their life," the Ranger replied.

"I wonder how good they are?" mused Reid. "You think they're better than a Ranger/SK-4 team?"

Kane shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe we'll find out sometime." He stopped and looked around. "Where are Jann and Kate? They said they were coming over."

****

The avatar realised the instant the shadow appeared, but it knew that it had to hold off until the entire thing was out. Sophie screamed as it appeared all over her, then Anna pulled her to the floor once it was away from her.

"Eyes closed," bellowed the avatar. It did not want to damage the organic eyes with the UV light. It hit the switch and the lights flashed brightly, flaring blue-white on the walls.

There was an inhuman screech as the intense UV light burned away the shadow presence, which dissipated and vanished.

The lights returned to normal. The shadow was gone, Anna was lying on the deck, Sophie in her arms. Sophie was whimpering and trembling violently, most of her energy gone in that first scream.

"No harm done. I understand they must put a lot into their honour code, but ranged weapons are a lot safer. It's not as if we shoot people in the back. Besides, don't you have longbows? The principle's the same isn't it?" said Jann.

"We in Dragonsreach have bows. Her people do not use them. I am aware that there is a use for them, as does father and our people but her own consider personal combat paramount. For instance, if a man desires a woman then he has to beat her in combat. Of course if THAT challenge is made and he wins then it means they're married. If he loses then he dies. Brook has never been beaten."

"That's her problem", Baghtru stated, "sexual frustration."

Lauralin's hand shot up to her mouth as she tried not to laugh and glanced at her father, who didn't seem the least bit amused by Baghtru's statement. Baghtru, only then remembering that the Holy Knight was present, suddenly found something very interesting on floor to look at.

"I'm sorry if we haven't shown proper respect," broke in Riesco, "We've never met royalty before, and we didn't know that you were." She thought that if Lauralin and her father had felt it important, they would have said so, but it needed saying anyway.

Lauralin, after a moment to compose herself after Baghtru's comment, waved a hand. "Neither father nor I wanted the responsibility. We serve because our people need us. We do not thrive on the positions and do not care for fan fare.

****

"Legion of the Damned, huh?" said Riv.

"They look pretty damned. Pretty damned mean, and pretty damned lost actually. They look like they've never been on leave in their life," the Ranger replied.

Kane shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe we'll find out sometime." He stopped and looked around. "Where are Jann and Kate? They said they were coming over."

Simeon's voice came from seeming thin air. "Legion of the damned refers to the fact that the Legion consists of convicted criminals who were killed for thier crimes or terminally ill who agreed to join it's ranks. The bio bods are people who joined willingly, though most of them are criminals trying to hide from justice. Therefore once someone joins the Legion they don't, typically, leave. Their damned to move from one battle to the next. They're also the first ones sent into any combat zone, so few live long enough to make retirement. The borgs are only death sentanced criminals or terminally ill who to continue.

"For that reason they tend to be superior. They are, for all intents and purposes, dead already. They fight to accomplish thier mission, unlike most other soldiers who fight as much to save thier lives as to accomplish thier goal. I'm sure you know how much of a difference that can make. As for your companions they seem quite intrigued with the Queen still."

****

The lights returned to normal. The shadow was gone, Anna was lying on the deck, Sophie in her arms. Sophie was whimpering and trembling violently, most of her energy gone in that first scream.

Anna rolled and released Sophie so she could go to Andie, "Got ...?" she asked still trying to catch her breath.

Riesco struggled to hide her smile at the comment, and Jann smirked, a tiny snort of laughter accompanying it.

"That's a, uh, rather unique way of doing things, I'll admit. I think I prefer our way. S'a lot safer. As for personal combat, they may have to change that if you're opening your borders. Most people see it the same way we do- the further away you are, the safer you are," said Jann.

"Phew. I'd feel terrible if we'd insulted you by being impolite," said Riesco thankfully.

****

"Oh, right. Thanks, Simeon," Kane replied. "Wait. Queen? That woman they went to talk to was a queen? Oh dear, we're in trouble."

"I suppose that's one way of dealing with criminals," declared Riv, referring to the Legion. "Our forces don't accept criminals, although crime's fairly low at home. Harsh penalties and all that."

"The Raishuv-Sab do pretty much the same job, Riv. We just designed them for the job," Reid told him.

"Oh yeah. I suppose we did, don't we?" agreed the Douran.

****

The avatar helped Anna to her feet, then crouched down and held Sophie.

"Yes, I got it," it told Anna. Once it was sure she was okay, the avatar placed is free hand on the back of Sophie's neck, the fingertips resting on certain points, and it whispered quietly in her ear.

The process was remarkable, as Sophie stopped trembling and settled down almost immediately. It moved its hand and wiped away the tears from Sophie's face.

"Can I have a mild tranquilizer?" it asked Anna softly, "Not strong enough to put her to sleep, just to relax her and calm her down."

"That's a, uh, rather unique way of doing things, I'll admit. I think I prefer our way. S'a lot safer. As for personal combat, they may have to change that if you're opening your borders. Most people see it the same way we do- the further away you are, the safer you are," said Jann.

"I've tried", Turquine rumbled, "to get them to alter their thinking. Being out of both our jurisdictions I can order them to do so. I've commanded the forces of Highport for over two-hundred and fifty years, but they still refuse. It seems to be some fort of stigma to use a ranged weapon, though I've yet to determine exactly what."

"Phew. I'd feel terrible if we'd insulted you by being impolite," said Riesco thankfully.

Lauralin reached up one hand and rested her fingers on Riesco's cheek, smiling. Her touch lingered for a moment and then she allowed her hand to fall. "Had we been insulted", she said softly, "we would have told you so. We may be backward, as many think, but we still have honor and pride."

**********************************************************

"Oh, right. Thanks, Simeon," Kane replied. "Wait. Queen? That woman they went to talk to was a queen? Oh dear, we're in trouble."

"I've been monitoring them", Simeon told him, "they seem to be doing just fine. I do have one question though", as he witnessed the soft touch to Riesco's cheek, "what sexual orientation is the Sergeant? The Queen seems a bit enraptured with her and I'm sure that the woman misses her wife, who had to remain behind to rule thier nation. You might want to warn Riesco, the Queen seems to have a certain allure that I can't put a subprogram on."

"I suppose that's one way of dealing with criminals," declared Riv, referring to the Legion. "Our forces don't accept criminals, although crime's fairly low at home. Harsh penalties and all that."

"The Raishuv-Sab do pretty much the same job, Riv. We just designed them for the job," Reid told him.

"Oh yeah. I suppose we did, don't we?" agreed the Douran.

"Well Central doesn't like wasting lives if it can be avoided. They believe in preserving them. This was way to punish and still preserve life. It's rather effective really."

**********************************************************

The avatar helped Anna to her feet, then crouched down and held Sophie.

"Yes, I got it," it told Anna. Once it was sure she was okay, the avatar placed is free hand on the back of Sophie's neck, the fingertips resting on certain points, and it whispered quietly in her ear.

The process was remarkable, as Sophie stopped trembling and settled down almost immediately. It moved its hand and wiped away the tears from Sophie's face.

"Can I have a mild tranquilizer?" it asked Anna softly, "Not strong enough to put her to sleep, just to relax her and calm her down."

"Of course", Anna said as she moved over to a cabinet and prepared a pad. She walked back and placed the pad on Sophies arm. "Slow release, it'll last for several hours. She stood up, and looked at Andie, "Thank you", she said, I'm, ah .... I'm sorry about earlier."

Kane and Reid looked at each other and grinned at the comment. Both started laughing.

"Simeon, are you trying to tell us that Kate's being hit on by royalty?" asked Kane, struggling to speak through laughter. "Didn't she punch the last woman who tried to chat her up?" he asked Reid.

Reid started laughing even harder. "Hsu, yeah, I'd forgotten that. Gave the poor woman a concussion. Oh, I wish we were there. And it means Jann's completely out of luck."

"Poor Jann. I wish I could see his face when he realises. I suppose I'd better warn Kate," sighed Kane, still laughing.

~ Kane for Riesco, he sent.

****

Jann nodded at Turquine's comments, then listened to what Lauralin was saying.
"Backward technology wise usually means even greater pride and honour," he said. "At least, that's what our history shows."

Riesco had gone silent when Lauralin touched her, a strange feeling running through her. Before she could react, she heard Kane's voice in her ear. Her face went blank as she moved her attention.

~ We got held up, we'll... she started.

~ Not that, interrupted Kane, ~ Simeon thinks the Queen might be hitting on you. Try to ignore it, or politely deflect it or something.

~ What? I'm not a lesbian, stated Riesco.

~ No, but apparently she is. I dunno, kiss Jann or something. That ought to get her off your back. Or front.

~ [Break] Riesco didn't bother dignifying Kane's joke with a response.

****

"Andie, what...?" began Sophie.

"Ssh," the avatar interrupted softly. "I'll explain later." It looked at Anna. "Thank you. And don't worry about earlier, it was as much my fault as yours."

Sophie was perfectly calm, the tranquilizer beginning to take effect. "Can we go see Mister Kane now?" she asked.

Belazir had watched for some time, monitoring the incoming and outgoing traffic. Though he was aware that some was random he had noted the basic everday traffic flow and prepared his strike accordingly. He had waited until it was near the end of the day cycle for the station, knowing that most would be tired by then.

"Initiate", he told his bridge crew and the signal went out. Of the one hundred ships he had assembled only twenty were fighting craft. The rest were support ships, repair ships and family ships including two large birthing ships. The twenty ships jumped in, all under his command and ten under the sub command of Pol T'Veng.

The small jump was almost instantaneous and the ships fluxed thier drives as soon as they emerged, creating what appeared to be a naturally occuring neutrino flux to any who might scan the area from the outside. However it also served to block most scans and disrupt communication out of the station. As soon as they fluxed they locked on thier targets. Scanners, any weapons, even simple meteorite deflection lasers and communication arrays. Tactical missiles were launched since Belazir didn't want to destroy the station. Not yet anyway.

**********************************************************

Simeon was paying attention to a number of things, including his conversation with Kane when the suddenly warnings started go off all over the place in his mind. Well actually the slaved A.I.s that help him monitor and control things on the station. He jerked his attention to warnings and gave a mental groan.

Suddenly flashing red lights and warning bells went off all over the station. "THIS IS NOT A DRILL. ALL PERSONEL TO EMERGENCY STATIONS. NON-ESSENTIAL PERSON TO SUITS AND INTERIOR CORE. I REPEAT, THIS IS NOT A DRILL."

Simeon, after issuing his warning opened up the channel to Channa's mastoid implant. "Kolnari, happy, they've launched missiles. I'm frying what I can but I think they're intent on taking out comm and what could laughingly be refered to as weapons."

Channa went pale but she remained in control. Still standing near the Legion General she looked up at him and in a low voice, so as not to alert the guests on the station just yet, said, "Kolnari attack, I think we could use you General."

Booley nodded briskly and turned to his people. "ALRIGHT YOU MAGGOTS. PLAYTIME IS OVER. TIME TO EARN THE DEATHS YOUR LOOKING FOR!"

'Subtle', Channa thought to herself and began to run toward her quarters where Simeons pillar, and her space suit, were kept.

"Colonel, Sitrep", Booley stated into his headset. After a moment he nodded, "Confirm SitRep, tell the sergeant enough bunk time and send me some weapons for the bio bods." Several lights flashed on on the borgs as more systems went online. Scanners, infrared and motion detectors along with night vision prepared to be used should needed. The .50 calibers rotated as ammo loaded into place and the lasers warmed up.

"Negative missile and grenade", Booley told, "except on my express orders." He reached down to check his own sidearm as did all of his bio bods, forgetting, as they did, that he didn't have it with him and then did the one thing that he most hated to do. He waited.

**********************************************************

Lauralin winced at the terrible shrill screaming as it assaulted her preternatural hearing. After Simeon made his announcement Laura looked around. "We have to find Brook and Marcus", she said and moved off quickly, her lithe form dancing among the moving people with a strange graceful enticement that caught the eye despite the situation. Her father and Baghtru, less given to the flowing form of Laura plowed after her like bulls.

**********************************************************

Foster was all motion as soon as the alarms went off, moving toward the doorway and somehow knowing that Cam would follow. Not that he could have gotten her to stay if he tried, but because of that knowledge, he didn't bother attempting it. "SitRep, Simeon." Simeon ran down what was going on outside and Foster glanced back to see if Cam had heard.

**********************************************************

Simeon's voice came back to Kane again, "Remember when I said no weapons?" he asked, "I've changed my mind." Knowing that Kane and his people were military somewhere he ran down the situation of what was happening outside. "Not that the Kolnari will give you much choice in the matter but I would, for one, would like to ask for your help."

(OOC - So it begins.)

(Don't forget to put out a emergency broadcast, I want a Marine fire fight too, hehe.)

(No I'll just activate my infiltrators, you remeber those rangers, well lets just say they didn't get to far. They're in a transport a couple clicks from the station, when they notice something is worng the'll come running, but don't expect much, they're only ten guys.)

(Ah I see, but I still don't understand exactly, If you move the the action to another thread tell me, and I think people lauching missles at a station would be a dead give away that something is up, so they'll be there one way or another, but I'll play along your trail, as long as you don't god mode and kill off all my rangers.)

(So in other words no Rangers on this threadm how sad, I truly wanted to rp tearing a Kalnori soldier apart and discribe the sight of his organ splayed on the floor as the ranger looked like a blood soaked ghoul in his optical camolflauged armor, À bas hoo À bas hoo (crying in French) why am I crying in french!)

(You mean Marines and Rangers, as well as Mobile Armors and the light crusier, don't you? But it would work best as a seperate thread, because the Council states that all disscussions take priority. So you start it and I'll be there, so have you ever heard of a Mobile Armor? *Grin* Trust me you love it.)

(Yes I mean something else.)

Across Vega base the three groups of Indoans jumped as the sirens went off, looking around for any hint of reason.

Kane grinned with pleasure at Simeon's request. "You got it. Just guide us all back to our shuttle, then point us at the bad guys."

Without waiting for a response, he started running towards the docking bay where the Salequin sat waiting, the other three with him chasing in his wake. He pulled his PCU from a pocket and jammed it in his ear, where it automatically activated.

"Fortunes, Kane here. I need a comm-to-neural link with all the Indoans on this station," he asked the ship Mind. Only silence greeted the transmission. Without stopping to wonder why, he sighed. Looks like I'll have to do it the hard way, he thought.

~ Kane to Jann, Riesco, Jace, Senkov, Tyler and Khonsari, he sent as he ran. After receiving acknowledgements, he continued, ~ At Simeon's request, we've just been drafted. Get to the shuttle and tool up, full suits and gear for everyone.
After another series of acknowledgements, he broke the link.

They reached the docking bay at virtually the same time, Kane's group arriving first with Jann and Riesco right behind them, and Jace's group twenty seconds behind them. They immediately grabbed armour and weapons, splitting the meagre supplies between them. They made a motley group, six Rangers, a pilot, two medics and a engineer, although they all wore the same armour.

****

The Faded Fortunes noticed the disruption immediatly, since the visual feeds from the individual PHUDs all went blank. A quick scan revealed the disruption. Since no other ships were rushing to investigate, it flashed a comm message at the Pride of Albion station.

{Lars, Faded Fortunes here. All comm and sensor feeds from the Vega station are being disrupted. Is this normal?}

Simeon helped to guide them back and just as they reached the shuttle the missiles hit. A scream came through thier earpieces and then silence for a moment. Simeon's voice came back then, sounding a bit embarrassed and groggy, "Sorry for ear shattering, I forgot to disable my pain simulation sensors that help warn me if there's something wrong." He switched to all coms in order to communicate with the Indoans, Legion, Foster and Cam. "Tracking incoming ships, two teams, ten ships each, moving toward the northern and southern bulbs of the station."

That was when Foster's voice came over the coms, "I NEED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, CAM IS DOWN."

The comm on the surface exploded and slagged, the missle tearing down into the station. Very little air was lost, the missile specifically design for great heat since that was how the Kolnari attained thier vessels. The resulting Debris, however, came down on Cam, not harming her greatly but knocking her out.

"Sending assistance", Simeon said, "but it'll take some time to get to you."

"Simeon, Booley, I'm sending half my squad to the north bulb. The colonel and half the squad will remain in the southern bulb."

"Acknowledged", came Simeons voice.

"Ships altering course .... uh oh, they're splitting again. Five ship heading toward north dock, five moving below northern bulb, five just below southern bulb and five to south dock. So much for holding them from the central shaft."

Booley began to move toward the central shaft below the southern bulb, "Booley here, moving to force below southern bulb, someones in the southern dock along with my second team, right?" he asked.

"Confirmed, Kane can you help the legion handle the landing force there?"

"Who's in the northern bulb Simeon?" came Channa's voice, breathing heavily as she made her way way toward the quarters she and Simeon shared.

"Me and thee?" came his response.

"I'm here", came Foster's voice, "Cam too if you can get someone over here."

"I'm WORKING on it", came Simeon's reply. "I'm closing decompression doors as soon as the General's team is through to try and delay thier advance."

"HEY, A'm hea", came a women's voice with a southern drawl.

"Patsy?"

"Ayup, A'm at ya doe Samin, le me in swate thang."

Simeon open the door to the quarters where he resided and Patsy stepped through, the old, ugly, but powerful, not to mention highly illegal, arc pistol in her hand.

**********************************************************

Lars scanned the system nears vega and attempted a tightbeam contact. What he got back was interference typical to the neutrino interference that sometimes occured in that sector of space.

"I wouldn't worry about it", Lars replied, "it's neutrino interference, breaks down the wave guide for transmissions and fouls scanners up. It's a system that died not so long ago and it's still in it's death throws. That happens all to frequently, with irritating frequency as a matter of fact."

Cam was hard on Fosters heels, listening intently to Simeons stream of data. Then there was a sudden sharp pain and then for a time nothingness

****************************************
*"Lars you say it's nutrino flux? Cam's comm link is down and a flux has never affected it before"* Way's shipself worried. BUt he was somewhat more concerned with Helva, her avatar pasued at the top of the ramp, Way's avatar at her side.

"Well", comes Lars reply to Way, "I can't speak for your comms, but it always happens to ours. Maybe it's something more that's beyond our ability to detect, but I doubt it. It breaks down our wave guides and scatters our signals. It happen's every time one of them pops up."

~ Hmm. Neutrinos don't usually affect the D3Ls that we use for all our comms. Maybe I should check it out. It was still thinking about the foresight flash Kane had gotten several hours earlier.

The Faded Fortunes prepared a small recon probe and spaced it, ready to accelerate it through an independent wormhole.

{Lars, Way Farer, I'm sending a probe over to have a look.}

The corvette's wormhole actuator opened a small wormhole and accelerated the probe through the maw, dropping it back into realspace at the same point the shuttle had reappeared when it had passed through the area.

****

"Kane, you tell Fortunes what's happening?" asked Jann. They were aboard the shuttle, grabbing as much equipment as possible.

"I tried, sir. No reply. Something must be jamming the signal," the Ranger replied, his voice sounding over the PCU comm net.

"What about neurally?" the pilot returned.

"Uh, no. I didn't try contacting Fortunes neurally," he answered.

As Jann tried to raise the corvette with the shuttle's more powerful comm units, Kane attempted a neural link.

~ Kane for Fortunes, he sent.

~ Kan... Wha.. ..ing o.. ..ver ..re? came the broken reply. Silence interspersed the coherent parts, not static.

~ The station is under attack, repeat, the station is under attack. Under attack. Do you understand? he told the Mind.

~ At...k ..at? ..ane, yo.. ..t comi.. ..roug.. ..operly.

~ We're under attack, we're under attack, we are under attack,[Break] he said it three times in the hope that the Mind could put the pieces together, since it seemed to be having as much trouble understanding him as he was it.

"No joy," said Jann. "You?"

"Sort of. I got through, but something was disrupting it. Fortunes was coming through garbled, and I don't think it could understand me either," explained Kane. "Hopefully it'll come over to investigate."

They were just leaving the shuttle, now fully armed and armoured, when Simeon's request came through.

"Simeon, Jann. Will do," confirmed Jann, asserting his command over the Indoans.

They left the docking bay to find the Legion troops, weapons up and ready in case.

(OOC - Hmm, okay. Since Tanara also brought up the neural link then I'll address it here and then give you (Free Eagle) a chance to edit your post. Central Worlds has had no experience with long range neural links, only direct links that shell people us to link to thier facility, station or ship bodies. Therefore I doubt that what the Kolnari did would affect those transmissions. Technically, as Tanara pointed out to me, Neutrino emmissions, even high ones, wouldn't affect comm transmissions. I'm being stubborn there and saying they are because then Simeon could contact Central Worlds Navy and the whole thread would be pointless. So I ask you both just to bear with me there and explain it however you like. But I can't deny neural links, that's less feasable than wave guide breakdown and I have to allow it, and will.

Also, Tanara has a devised a way to eliminate most of the Kolnar fleet, thereby forcing the pirates to remain on station. Since a station fight is my goal then it's a good work in. I only mention this due to the fact that if Fortunes arrives to early he/she might get caught in the resulting explosion, so you might want to co-ordinate Fortunes arrival with Way's dealing with the fleet or watch the thread to see when you should arrive.

I would like this to be the last OOC, barring anything that might have to go to everyone involved, in which case writing two TG's instead of one is just time consuming. There are too many OOC posts here already, more than I like, and I have to accept the fault for that and do so willingly AND apologize for it.

One last note here, Could you (Free Eagle and Tanara) give me your specs on your combat capabilities (people and ship) so I have some idea what I'm up against? Then I can try to work it so it's at least interesting instead of just turning into a turkey shoot. Please TG me with it so we don't have to deal with more ooc posts.

I'll be doing another post as soon as Free Eagle has a chance to edit. I apologise for any confusion and thank you for bearing with me on my first attempt to run an RP here. I do enjoy RPing with both of you.

Thank you again,
Dragonsreach/Central worlds

Helva took a step forward onto the ramp. She checked her systems and those of the avatar she controled. Nothing had gone horribly awry and emboldened, she took another step. She smiled at Way and then, moving quickly as though something might try to stop her, she went to the bottom of the ramp. There she hesitated again and then stepped off. She turned slowly to look at herself and then began to walk around herself, admiring her sleek lines. She wondered, suddenly, if the people she helped had referred to what a beautiful sight she was because they knew they were being helped or because of how beautiful she looked.

Way stood at the bottom of the ramp watching Helva with a small smile on his lips. She moved very gracefully for being so newly avatared and that boded well for such things as dancing, and dancing.

"See nothing is going to happen to your avatar. "

She smiles at him and points at her ship self. "I never realized how graceful I looked or how beautiful", she says, not realizing how arrogant it sounds but still wondering at the way her ship form looks. Then she moves over toward way, "Can we dance now? Can I sing in this form? Will it sound the same?" She gasps and steps forward, placing a slim hand on Way's chest, "Can I feel the rain against my face?"

(LZ1 = Southern docking area; LZ2 = Southern central shaft; LZ3 = Northern central shaft; LZ4 = Northern docking area)

LZ1 - Kane soon found out that the Legion wasn't hard to find as the borg, capable of speeds up to 50 MPH at a dead run, came pounding in, the almost 3 ton weight of each one crashing down with each step. Booley had taken four with him to what was being designated LZ2 while the five that remained pounded into the southern dock area, designated as LZ1. The Kolnari ships were already slipping into berths as the Legion and the Indoans arrived. Though all were a similar purpose, each one was slightly different, since all the ships were ones that had been captured and refitted.

The borgs set up a perimeter, moving to a position forward of the indoans, awaiting the arrival of the Colonel and the bio bods, who had lost ground to the faster moving borgs. The first ship docked opened it's airlock and a Kolnari, in battle armor very similar to that which the Indoan's wore, jumped out. He was eager, and not unfamiliar with the lighter armor of the Central worlds navy. He had heard of the legion and thier borgs but had never seen any of them, until now. Snyder, a veteran borg, was closest to his position and the borg was already prepared to repel the attackers. That's why the Kolnari's eager smile quickly disappeared as he looked at the 2 1/2 meter tall and over 1 meter wide mech of armor and weaponry. The surprise was what made him hesitate, and the hesitation is what killed him.

Snyder let out a burst from her heavy laser, weakening the shielding of the battle armor and then opened up with the .50. The explosive tipped rounds tore down the rest of the shield and ripped through the armor, cutting the kolnari in two.

"Red 2 to red 1", came snyder's voice, even as she killed the man in front of her.

"Red 1, go", Came Booley's voice.

"Green window, permission to use missiles."

"Granted."

Snyder fired a shoulder launch micro missile into the open hatchway followed by a second after a three second delay.

Talmir G'korin saw the missile flying toward and to his credit, and that of Kolnari reflexes, managed to dive to the side. The missile impacted into the group behind him, killing 9 of them instantly. The impact threw Talmir forward and he tucked and rolled, regaining his feet with shocking quickness. He turned, this time to late to avoid the second missile as it smashed into his faceplate and detonated and killing 5 others who had been thrown close to the second blast by the first. The remaining 4 didn't have any chance but to charge forward and hope to get onto the dock where the scumvermin wouldn't use such heavy ordinance.

**********************************************************

LZ2 - Booley made his way to the closest area where the 'World slayer' had force docked and set the borgs up to make a killing zone where they had cut through. The bio bods took up positions behind the more heavily armored borgs and raised thier assault rifles. What followed was what could only be called a bloody massacre as all twenty Kolnari dropped down into the station only to be cut to pieces by the explosive tipped rounds of the assault rifles and heavier ordinance of the borgs. Booley would have been happy were it not for the fact that he knew the Kolnari had cut through elsewhere.

**********************************************************

LZ3 - Belazir had dropped into the station along with 19 other Kolnari at his entry point and opened up the comm on all known freqs. "SCUMVERMIN, THIS IS BELAZIR T'MADRID, MASTER AND GOD. I HAVE COME FOR THE ABOMONATION KNOWN AS SIMEON AND IT'S SECOND KNOWN AS CHANNAHAP. RESIST AND DIE."

Elsewhere near LZ3 Lauralin had finally caught up with Marcus and Brook.

"What the hell?" Brook asked.

"They are under attack", Lauralin replied, as a group of 5 Kolnari entered a nearby intersection. As he raised the duoterium pellet rifle and grinned he heard the woman say something in a language the made the hairs on his neck stand on end. Ignoring it he fired.

Lauralin saw them, and knowing that her people were ill equiped to deal with the invading force she cast the wall of force, enveloping the group of Kolnari. The result was spectacular, and devistating.

Artik Z'Lorin had a dead on shot and the explosive radioactive pellet sprung from the muzzle of the heavy weapon. But to his dismay, or would have been had he had time enough to realize what happened, the pellet smashed into the magical barrier and detonated. The resulting explosion had nowhere to go as the wall had hemmed them in and it completely incinirated everyone inside.

**********************************************************

LZ4 - Captain Pol T'Veng was one of very few women to have ever held a position as Captain and she had done so through skill, intellect, ruthlessness and cunning. Not one to give herself over to chance she had ordered the Northern docking area to be secured. Her people unloaded and began setting up the heavy hover gun platforms after sweeping what little resistance there was from the scumvermin aside. She was already getting reports of fighting at the southern dock and southern central shaft area and didn't like the heavy resistance.

**********************************************************

As soon as the ships that had force docked at LZ2 and LZ3 had disgorged thier troops they lifted from the station to move into off station defensive position in order to fend off any possible incoming attack ships.

After Belazir made his announcement Simeon came accross the comms channel with his reply. "Eat shit and die, master and god."

{Lars, Way Farer, I'm sending a probe over to have a look.}

"Alright", came Lars reply, "But I don't know how long it'll last, there's a major Ion storm coming in. No ships will be able to enter or leave the area of the station. The station, itself, will be able to tolerate the storm, it was built for that."

"Yes Helva, if it rains on you, you will be able to feel it, and yes you can dance and sing. I made sure that the acoustical system was the best available." Gently he took her hand in his and kissed her palm.

*Trouble* Came Cam's mind voice hseitant and weak, vanishing after that one word. She'd come conscious but the concussion she had left her weak and dry heaving after that effort.

*" Lars, I think Cam's injured. She just made a partial contact with me. And a Force 8 Ion Storm's not going to help sensors at all. That much space sand is going to blanket everything."* Way grumbled, unhappy with the amount of static already making the frequencies unstable.

Way considered various options. The best would be for him to make a mico jump and station himself close to Vega base. That way he would be there if Cam needed him

*" Lars..."* He broke off as Cam contacted him once more, a short sequence of hazy pictures of the station under attack.

"Helva dear" Way scooped her up and sprinted up the ramp with her new form "Button up and drop back into space. I think there is a serious problm, or Cam is halluceniating. You may need to go for help"

Helva's Avatar form went slack as she began preparing to lift. She opened the connections to the avatar again, but it was jerky as her all to familiar thoughts of the ship were sent into the avatar. Finally she shut down and 'entered' the avatar again. She moved it to the pilots position in the cockpit and strapped it in, waiting for Way to clear the ramp before closing it.

"Set", she told way as she powered up her systems and waited for him to give her clearance.

Helva looked in the pilots cabin at the now lifeless avatar and zoomed in on the hand for a second. Seeing nothing she zoomed out again and prepared to slip out from Way Finder, the strange but pleasant sensation of his lips on her palm still lingering in her mind.

Over the very short distance between the two Central Worlds stations, the wormhole transition took less than a second. The probe dropped out of the tiny wormhole opening and started scanning. It immediately picked up the cluster of ships making forced dockings with the station and the hostile manoeuvres. The Faded Fortunes had chosen it's probe with care, it was a long-range deep space recon probe, equipped with its own tiny wormhole actuator. It quickly flashed the sensor readings back through the microscopic wormhole.

****

The Faded Fortunes recieved the comm transmission and reacted immediately. The down-time exam on the main weapon systems was pulled, and they were rushed back to operational status. The fighters sitting in the hangar bay began undergoing start-up sequences and the remaining Rangers aboard the vessel suited up and boarded the two transports.

The corvette flashed two messages to various targets, vanishing into a wormhole as soon as the messages were gone.

{Lars, Way Farer, Helva. Trouble at Vega Base. Multiple ships converging on station.} The sensor data from the probe was attached to the message.

{Anderaleigh, trouble with the others. Stay there and stay with the girl. We'll be back later to pick you up.} This was sent directly to the avatar.

****

The light corvette emerged near the Vega station and the weapon systems went to work. Only they didn't. About half the weapons managed a single shot, then every single the offensive weapon systems went offline.
~ Oh no. I didn't properly finish the downtime exam. The main power linkages must have fused. No!

As the six dart-shaped fighters emerged from the hangar bay and whirled towards the hostile ships, the Mind was frantically directing repair drones to the source of the problem- the main power couplings between the reactors and the weapon splitters.

****

The Indoan 'squad' joined in with the borgs firing at the raiders, their assorted fire, consisting of hyper-velocity full calibre bullets, sapphire-tinted laser bolts and mini-rockets, flying between their weapon muzzles and their targets.

Cam finished a second set of dry heaves and looked blearily about. One pupil was definitely dilated, and the throbbing in her head was monsterous. The blow she'd taken from the collapsing ceiling hadn't broken skin but the concussion was severe. Her nanos were working on the problem, but they were slow and it would take time. Time they might not have Cam knew as she unsteadily sat up

"I think I got through to Way."

*****************************************

*"Got it Fortunes"* Way replied as he recieved the sensor readings. His docking tractors grabbed Helva and flung her gently but quickly out of his hanger

*" Helva, go get help. This is your backyard, and you're not a fighter"* Way didn't bother to mention that currently his formal weapons compliment consisted of point defense lasers and shields. He hadn't waited around for the rest to be installed.

"And to you recognise those ships?" He asked as he moved away from her prepatory for an insystem mirco jump much like the one Faded Fortunes had just done.

{Lars, Way Farer, Helva. Trouble at Vega Base. Multiple ships converging on station.} The sensor data from the probe was attached to the message.

Lars immedietly sent a message to the nearest military ships in the area, though he knew they wouldn't be coming, being the Presidents own escort. But he figured that at least his message would get passed on to the nearest ships that could render assistance.

**********************************************************

The light corvette emerged near the Vega station and the weapon systems went to work. Only they didn't. About half the weapons managed a single shot, then every single the offensive weapon systems went offline.

As the six dart-shaped fighters emerged from the hangar bay and whirled towards the hostile ships,

The ten ships that had broken away from the station after dropping of thier charges powered away from the corvette and began to swing around, taking up a tight formation in order to focus thier weapons on the ship and began to drop what fighters they had in order to deal with the incoming fighters. Only twenty fighters in all, two per ship, were dropped and they stayed close to thier parent ships, preparing to defend them against the more mobile vessels.

**********************************************************

The Indoan 'squad' joined in with the borgs firing at the raiders, their assorted fire, consisting of hyper-velocity full calibre bullets, sapphire-tinted laser bolts and mini-rockets, flying between their weapon muzzles and their targets.

The last four were finished quickly and the Colonel arrived as the other four ships disgorged thier boarding parties.

"Snyder", the colonel rapt out after quickly accessing the situation, "take the borgs and form a defensive line, don't let them into the station, and keep those ships here." The colonel was a shapely attractive women who didn't seem to look right in her form hugging personalized armor and carrying a heavy assault rifle. But the way she handled the weapon left no doubt as to her training and skill.

"Sergeant, back up the borgs, if things go wrong, pull the boxes, NO ONE gets left behind if we have to pull out. IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?!"

"Sir, yes sir!", and the sergeant trotted forward, following the borgs.

Snyder and her borgs opened up with the heavy lasers, fusing the ships to the docking plates so that even if they pulled away, they wouldn't be space worthy then settled in to give minimal aspect and hit with maximum effect.

The colonel then turned to the indoans, "We're mopping up after each advance, there still be a crew aboard, easy with those rockets on the dock too." As testimony to her statement an energy beam cut between her and the indoan group. She turned looking more perturbed that she had been interrupted than upset about the fact that she had almost lost her head. She raised the heavy rifle, firing from the level of her hip and the kolnari crewmans head exploded. "Asshole", she muttered, and looked back at the indoan group, "got it?" she asked as though nothing had happened.

**********************************************************

Cam finished a second set of dry heaves and looked blearily about. One pupil was definitely dilated, and the throbbing in her head was monsterous. The blow she'd taken from the collapsing ceiling hadn't broken skin but the concussion was severe. Her nanos were working on the problem, but they were slow and it would take time. Time they might not have Cam knew as she unsteadily sat up

"I think I got through to Way."

"That's good news", Foster said, slipping an arm around her. A figure came around the corner, her white suit bloody.

The med tech came forward, "I'm sorry for the delay, Simeon had to guide me around breached areas." She proceeded to examine Cam, easily noting the problem and scanned her skull. "I'll fuse the fracture, but only a surgical suite with proper equipement can take care of any injury to the brain. I'll give you something to stem any possible brain swell as well." That said she went to work.

"When you two can move I need you to assist me with something. The King and Queen on board are cut off and near an entry point."

"Great", Foster mumbled.

**********************************************************

*"Got it Fortunes"* Way replied as he recieved the sensor readings. His docking tractors grabbed Helva and flung her gently but quickly out of his hanger

*" Helva, go get help. This is your backyard, and you're not a fighter"* Way didn't bother to mention that currently his formal weapons compliment consisted of point defense lasers and shields. He hadn't waited around for the rest to be installed.

"And to you recognise those ships?" He asked as he moved away from her prepatory for an insystem mirco jump much like the one Faded Fortunes had just done.

Helva scanned the information from Fortunes, "Oh no. Kolnari. A group from our parent system who crashed on a world outside Centrals area. They adapted to the harsh conditions and became pirates. They believe they carry the 'devine seed' and seek domination. Way, they're probably after Simeon. They had tried to strip and destroy the station before but he tricked them and kept them thier long enough for the navy to arrive. They consider softshells scumvermin and thier opinions of shell people are worse. They consider me and my kind abomonations. Help Simeon, please, Way, I'll return with help as quickly as I can."

Once she sent the microsecond transmission she opened a singularity and dove in.

Lars cleared the record of her dangerously close jump and consoled the captains of a few vessels who's systems overloaded. He didn't want to alarm anyone else if he could avoid it.

**********************************************************

Booley moved toward the next entry point, this time being more cautious, knowing they had a chance to prepare.

"General, point 3 and 4 in your LZ have joined. Point 5 is moving toward you and your closing on Point 2."

"Roger that, Simeon. Hexley, set up a defense line, we have incoming, I'll take the borgs forward and we'll meet back here."

Hexley nodded setting up positions for the rear guard as Booley moved forword to deal with the second group.

**********************************************************

Lauralin reached out with her senses and began moving through the station, turning down different corriders if she sensed an enemy presence and seeking someone friendly, her father and other companions following.

**********************************************************

"Channa, see if you can get to Foster, he'll be on the move but I'll guide you", Simeon told her.

"Hell no, I'm your last defense", she told him, facing the titanium column.

"If they get through the legion and the indoans then your not going to be doing anything", he told her.

She sighed and pulled a high powered ppg out of her desk drawer and looked at Patsy. "Want to go play soldier?"

"An I git ta kill them rat baastards, ah sher will."

They left the quarters and began moving, under Simeon's direction toward Foster and Cam.

Way exited the micro jump far closer to the station than any regulations would ever permit, but at the moment regulations really didn't matter. His avatar pelted for Cam's quarters to aquire some items he knew she'd miss. They'd discusssed what was needed in mere micro seconds. Their weaponry was functionally non extant, and the sensor readings showed that the Faded Fortunes was under massive, and unreturned attack

*"Fortunes? Whats wrong with yoru weapons systems?"* Way sent as he accelerated toward the station. He was close but in order to drop the Avatar off he wanted to be closer still.

*********************************************

"I can shamble" Cam replied as the medic finished what she could do "Lets go get the royality out of harms way,"

OOC: May not be able to post over the next few days, since my computer is having major problems.

IC:
Jann nodded. "Got it. No rocket fire unless absolutely necessary. People, use your main weapons only."

The Indoans had as many rockets than they had people, so they would have been sparing anyway, but since only four of the rifles could fire them, it limited their use.

The assorted weapons remained trained on the exit from the raider vessel, ready to shred any enemy to pieces.

Kane pulled the slide forward on his rocket launcher and ejected the unused rocket, returning it to his ammo pouch. Two of the other Rangers did the same, while Jace kept his launcher loaded, to provide heavy backup if the need arose.

****

The Faded Fortunes was manoeuvreing around the cluster of hostile ships, the half-squad of fighters causing havoc with their speed and agility. The shields held strong under the barrage, a testiment to the designers skill, but the only weapons firing were the point-defence laser cannons, which could only really damage missiles and fighters.

The Mind was trying to make the best of a bad situation, by using its tractor beams, effectors and Displacers to cause trouble, but it was a desperate measure.

The Mind sent a reply to Way Farer's inquiry,
{It's the power linkages to the weapons, they fused and I only have defensive systems. I'm working on restoring it, but it'll take time.}

OOC: May not be able to post over the next few days, since my computer is having major problems.

(OOC - I hope everything goes well. If I have too I'll slow the action, maybe do some RP with Tanara. I enjoy RP anyway, assuming it's okay with Tanara.)

**********************************************************

The assorted weapons remained trained on the exit from the raider vessel, ready to shred any enemy to pieces.

Colonel Klantin looked around at her people. "Alright, we mop up the swabbies and move forward while the borgs hold." With that she, and her people moved toward the Kolnari ship. Weapons fire came from the opening and was returned as the legion moved in to sweep the ship.

**********************************************************

"I can shamble" Cam replied as the medic finished what she could do "Lets go get the royality out of harms way,"

Foster kept close to Cam, the medic sticking with them. They were guided by Simeon as they made thier way toward the location of the others. Finally they emerged in an open room. Coming toward them were the Queen and her people. Behind them, from an entrance to the room on the opposite side, a Kolnari warrior seemed to be banging on nothing but air like a mime. Between the oncoming group and Cam's group was a Kolnari who had just risen from his hiding place and had levelled his heavy weapon at the oncoming group.

Just as they cleared the door, the Queen raised her hand, and what looked like lightning shot out from her palm, striking the Kolnari. The electrical discharge shorted out the heavy armor and he fell.

Just as the lightning struck he fired, his aim being thrown off. The heavy pellet still ripped through the Queen's side, leaving a gaping wound and throwing her back. The force of the impact made her black out and the power that held the other Kolnari disappeared....

**********************************************************

Way exited the micro jump far closer to the station than any regulations would ever permit, but at the moment regulations really didn't matter. His avatar pelted for Cam's quarters to aquire some items he knew she'd miss. They'd discusssed what was needed in mere micro seconds. Their weaponry was functionally non extant, and the sensor readings showed that the Faded Fortunes was under massive, and unreturned attack

The Faded Fortunes was manoeuvreing around the cluster of hostile ships, the half-squad of fighters causing havoc with their speed and agility. The shields held strong under the barrage, a testiment to the designers skill, but the only weapons firing were the point-defence laser cannons, which could only really damage missiles and fighters.

The Mind was trying to make the best of a bad situation, by using its tractor beams, effectors and Displacers to cause trouble, but it was a desperate measure.

The Kolnari ships were having a hard time firing on Fortunes as they kept correcting thier course because of Fortunes tactics. When they saw Way Finder they decided to move away from the lithe dancing cruiser and try for, what they figured, was an easier target.

**********************************************************

Booley found the narrow passages difficult for the large borgs and began a fighting retreat to his defensive team. Suddenly a voice came over the open com. "Sir we're coming under fire."

"Damn", he mumbled.

"Booley here, were pinned down, I repeat, we're pinned down."

**********************************************************

Captain Pol T'Veng listened to the reports as she prepared her own assault team after securing the northern dock. Two ships had appeared outside the station, but they had ten Kolnari ships to deal with. The south dock was having issues but the second team had isolated the other combat team. Belazir was on his way to Simeon's quarters. Things weren't going as well as she would have liked but they could be worse.

Cam reacted instantly, and in the blink of an eye, she disappeared, then reappeared next to the Kolnari warrior that had been trapped by the wall of force that the Queen had obviously errected. Wrapping her arms about him she disappeared into 'No Time' - along with him, then returned with Way's avatar in the Kolnari's place.

"Better than even exchange" She gasped as she went to her knees dry heaving again.

*********************************************

*"Faded Fortunes, get clear and get out of here, go get help. I have a way to take care of these, but it would get you too"* [i]Way Farer sent as he used internal antipersonell tractor grids to lock the exchanged Kolnari inplace.

He knew that his avatar and Cam had arrived safely, and that his shields were currently holding against the Kolnari ships. How long that would last he was cetain down to the tenth decimal place, not that he was going to bother any one with that information. It wasn't necessary

Colonel Klantin returned from the first ship dragging a legionnaire who had taken a hit and set him aside where he couldn't be hit again. The wound was bad, terminal most likely since they couldn't get help or get him to help anytime soon. Blood bubbled from his lips and he rose on his elbows, as though desperate to get something out.

"Legio Patria Nostra", he forced out, holding onto Samantha as though holding on for life. But life seemed to have forsaken him as the light died out in his eyes.

"Legio Patria Nostra", Samantha returned the age old dedication, "The legion is our country", and then laid him down. She stood up again, "weapons and ammo, we move forward", she said as one of her people took the items the man would no longer need but that the living would.

She answered Booley, "We read you sir, hold the fort and we'll get there when we can." Then they moved forward, inching toward the next ship. Once they had the hatchway clear her team entered to clear out that ship as well.

**********************************************************

Booley swore as he and his men tried to broke through the lines. One of the borgs had gone down and the brain box was pulled as the intense fire in the corridors made it difficult to miss the huge bodies. Already the fourth landing squad had reinforced the third that had come up on his flank and the fifith was close to the second that had been his next target. Something had to be done and fast or they would eventually be minced.

**********************************************************

Cam reacted instantly, and in the blink of an eye, she disappeared, then reappeared next to the Kolnari warrior that had been trapped by the wall of force that the Queen had obviously errected. Wrapping her arms about him she disappeared into 'No Time' - along with him, then returned with Way's avatar in the Kolnari's place.

"Better than even exchange" She gasped as she went to her knees dry heaving again.

Foster places his arms around Cam, holding her gently. "Now do I know how to show a girl a memorable time or what?" he said, trying anything to keep her spirits up.

The medic had begun to move as soon as the Queen had taken the hit, while the people with the Queen had drawn swords to prepare to defend her. The medic dropped to her knees and opened the kit, grabbing a scanner and passing it over the body. The look on her face was one of consternation. She adjusted the scanner and tried again. 'That's impossible', she muttered. The blood cells had broken down and the body temperature dropped far to fast. And given the condition and temperature she found it difficult to believe that the heart could maintain the body. Not mention the fact the bleeding had already stopped. She set the scanner aside as she examined the wound when something caught her eyes. A movement. Her jaw dropped in shock as she realized that it was the flesh, muscle and bone regenerating. Then she screamed and began scrabbling away, her eyes not leaving the pale Queen, as the woman open her eyes suddenly and her mouth hung open looking about in confusion, the long vampiric fangs plainly evident.

**********************************************************

Captain Pol T'Veng had assemled her assault teams and given them thier instructions. She would assist the teams who had the men pinned down along with two teams, the other three would move to the southern dock and strike the defensive force there from behind. The northern dock was already secured and there was no major resistance agains Belazir's forces. Seven had been lost from landing team three, but considering the casualties in the southern sections of the station that didn't amount to a great deal.

**********************************************************

*"Faded Fortunes, get clear and get out of here, go get help. I have a way to take care of these, but it would get you too"* [i]Way Farer sent as he used internal antipersonell tractor grids to lock the exchanged Kolnari inplace.

He knew that his avatar and Cam had arrived safely, and that his shields were currently holding against the Kolnari ships. How long that would last he was cetain down to the tenth decimal place, not that he was going to bother any one with that information. It wasn't necessary

(OOC - Tanara, go ahead with the Way Fareres strike. I've already discussed how this part would go with Free Eagles. Basically Fortunes will back off but won't leave. For now we'll say that it's because Indoan assistance would be too far out. Fortunes will be dealing with something else for me per my discussion with them, so you can proceed with our plan that was worked out for this part.)

**********************************************************

Helva dove out of the singularity. She had been talking to Pol and Chria not so long ago and knew that the military team would be here. The problem was that it was a big sector and they were rigged for silent running. She didn't dare alert others that a military presence was in the area, so she extended her sensors and began a systematic sweep of this area of space.

Way watched, doing what he could with point defense, as the Faded Fortunes managed to weave her way out of the loose Kolnari net. Most of the warships had turned their attentions to him, given his greater size and perceived 'dangerousness'. He let them gather, let them think his engines had taken hits to disable them - and ignored the demands for the scum vermin to surrender. The Kolnari would be delighted to have a ship of his size.

Just as he was delighted to destroy them. What they thought was merely powerful ecm and com system jamming was the cover for his penetration of their pitiful excuse of a cyber system. He was in, and out in minutes, with ever scrap of information the Kolnari had. Between what information Helva had given him and what he had from the Kolnari themselves decided him.

Pushing his sensor systems to the max, despite the interference of the ion storm, which was scouring the system with a thorough 'sanding', he managed to see that there were more ships lying 'doggo' at the far edge of the system. That boded very poorly for Central Worlds if those were fighting craft. He couldn't tell though. He sent the information on to his avatar, though the connection was spotty.

He managed to work the fray further from Vega base, which pleased him, as he was not exactly sure how big the bang was going to be. He'd not had much practice with the new engines, and here he was about to overload the exotic matter lens, rip a hole open in the fabric of space and time, and let the physics of De Sitter space interact with 'normal space'. He was sure the bang was going to be impressive, and he maneuvered carefully so as to direct, to channel the energies away from the base.

"Simeon" Way's avatar called "Close you external eyes, and batten down the hatches. Every one here -I'd suggest hitting the proverbial deck" He found himself a structural support and put the large carry all that he'd been clutching between him and the support, and held on with all his avatars strength.

Meanwhile, a few feet away...

"Oh shut up" Cam growled at the hysterical medic "She's just a vampire. Get over it"

She looked up at Foster, glad of his arms about her. "What? I spent the first sixty years of life slinging swords and arrows of outrageous misfortune. Raised by a mage was I, thought I was a lost familiar....of course for the first twenty five years a Xa does rather resemble soft pettable and dumb! "

She looked over at Way and commented LOUDLY "If Way says down I'd rather suggest it!" Pulled Foster down and wrapped herself about him. She had the feeling that she bounced better than he did, despite her current bumps bruises.

In space, Way's shipself started the count down at five, ten he felt was just excessive. He didn't know whether he'd survive but some things were worth it and the University had his last update. He'd lose some very important recent memories but that was the risks of the job.

*"Faded Fortunes, close your eyes and set for a big tumble!" Way Farer sent as the last thing before the countdown began

"Five" Blue fire began to crackle about his power core and the exotic lens that focused the massive energies.


"Four" Now the fire, heatless sheets of energy coronaed the outside of his fifteen hundred meter hull

"Three" The streams of energy tried to lance out to pierce the reality of one universe and another, but with the lens unphased they could not intersect.

"Oh this is gonna hurt - Two"

And in a localized area the universe blew apart as an uncontrolled breach resulted, the infinite heat and density of the DeSitter universe ravening forth to consume everything with in its boundaries.

Normally in space, except when the gravity well of a stellar body is close at hand, an explosion is a perfect sphere. However this was a rent between universes, not a true explosion and Way managed to funnel the interacting energies away from the base, mostly.

He and the Kolnari ships vanished in the expanding orb of hellish light, then with a nauseating ripple the orb collapsed in upon itself. The shock wave tumbled Faded Fortunes like a leaf on a millrace and did the same for Vega base. As it raced outward, it would sweep over Albion medical station and the Kolnari ships lurking at the fringes of the system. Those would get the greatest effect of the wave as the rift had been opened to direct the energies their direction.

The Kolnari would be delighted to have a ship of his size.

Nezrith V'Zanick was almost drooling as he looked at the massive vessel. "Forget the cruiser, I want THAT ship." If he could bring that prize to the clan he would be well on his way to replace the Clan Lord when the time of succession was at hand, which meant when he could kill Belazir with enough support to rally the rest of the clan.

What they thought was merely powerful ecm and com system jamming was the cover for his penetration of their pitiful excuse of a cyber system.

"LORD, We've lost com", his communications officer informed him.

"They have thier orders, ignore it, we'll have the ship soon enough."

"I humble myself before you great Lord", he replied, which was only one word in Kolnari.

He managed to work the fray further from Vega base,

Nezrith eyed the ship, "This is taking to long, the cruiser?"

"Backing away great Lord."

"Excellent, then continue the pursuit. Should the cruiser turn on us before we have this vessel in our fist then we will destroy it."

"Oh shut up" Cam growled at the hysterical medic "She's just a vampire. Get over it"

The nurse looked at her stunned. Vampires were creatures in bed time stories. But as she looked back and saw that the wound was closing before her eyes, she realized that this wasn't a bedtime story after all.

Foster raised an eyebrow and looked down at Cam, about to ask her how she could know that.

She looked up at Foster, glad of his arms about her. "What? I spent the first sixty years of life slinging swords and arrows of outrageous misfortune. Raised by a mage was I, thought I was a lost familiar....of course for the first twenty five years a Xa does rather resemble soft pettable and dumb! "

"Dumb", he said smiling, "somehow I doubt that, but...."

"Simeon" Way's avatar called "Close you external eyes, and batten down the hatches. Every one here -I'd suggest hitting the proverbial deck"

She looked over at Way and commented LOUDLY "If Way says down I'd rather suggest it!" Pulled Foster down and wrapped herself about him.

Foster couldn't resist the urge, "You know, the saying is someone falls for you, not that they drag you to the deck. Not that I'm complaining", and he wrapped his arms around, reveling in the feel of her against his body, regardless of the danger they faced.

Simeon shut down his external sensors, not that he liked it, but he had a feeling something bad was going to happen. He just hoped that it was more bad for the Kolnari then for them.

Channa and Patsy dropped to the deck where they stood, not sure what was going to happen, but figuring it was better to listen than not.

Brook dropped to the floor as the warning was shouted, not unused to pitched battles and incoming catapult fire.

Marcus stepped into the shadows, fazing in with them where he would be secure.

Turquine dropped down on top of his daughter to protect her in case of falling debris, forgetting the fact that she would fare better than he should that occur.

Baghtru threw himself on top of the medic .... because she was cute, and busty.

*"Faded Fortunes, close your eyes and set for a big tumble!" Way Farer sent as the last thing before the countdown began

Having observed what Way Farer had been doing the mind had a good idea what was about to occur. The engines flared to life and it turns, making a dead run for the far side of the station and dropped down behind it, hoping to avoid some of the impact.

"Four" Now the fire, heatless sheets of energy coronaed the outside of his fifteen hundred meter hull

"Lord, they are almost ours", the officer on the watch cried.

"Three" The streams of energy tried to lance out to pierce the reality of one universe and another, but with the lens unphased they could not intersect.

Nezrith looked at the readings, "What is this?"

"Oh this is gonna hurt - Two"

"GIVE OFF, GIVE OFFFFF!!!!", Nezrith cried.

He and the Kolnari ships vanished in the expanding orb of hellish light, then with a nauseating ripple the orb collapsed in upon itself. The shock wave tumbled Faded Fortunes like a leaf on a millrace and did the same for Vega base.

Even protected by the station the Faded Fortunes was tumbled about. The mind scrambled as it sought to control the vessel.

The impact shocked Simeon as the incredible force slammed into the station. For a moment he was lost as systems went offline, then the backups came on, but it still played hell on everything.

As it raced outward, it would sweep over Albion medical station and the Kolnari ships lurking at the fringes of the system. Those would get the greatest effect of the wave as the rift had been opened to direct the energies their direction.

The supply, support and birthing ships saw the explosion and began to turn away and run. But since the engines had been reduced to a minimum they only managed to begin thier turns when the wave hit. Almost all were destroyed except the ships that had fighters and then only a handful of the manned fighters survived, protected by the parent ship. But even these, though the ran for deep space, didn't have enough supplies to get home.

Warnings flashed on the Pride of Albion as the shockwave hit. The station was spared the brunt of the force, but the indication was clear to Lars. Simeon was gone. He contacted Doctor Uhua-Sorg and informed him of what had happened and the fact that, though sensors couldn't penetrate the ion storm he doubted that Vega station could have withstood the explosion. Kennet sat down at his desk and he wept. Not so much because Simeon was HIS close friend but because Simeon had known Lars for a long time, and Lars couldn't weep.

Simeon began frantically working on the systems. Sirens screamed through the station as it warned of the terrible abuse. Gravity went offline and the station itself shift position. Systems overloaded and the impact buckled sections of the hull.

LZ1 - The Colonel cursed a streak that would have made a sailor blush as she was first thrown down to the deck then began floating and trying to get her bearings. The Kolnari were in much the same state as the legionnairres, looking about and trying to find what was happening, only to find out that they were dying at an alarming rate. The borgs stumbled but didn't fall and then used the magnetic clamps in thier legs to secure themselves. Set and with no other impediments they opened fire on the hapless Kolnari.

LZ2 - Booley and his people were thrown down and then found themselves floating as the stations sirens screamed thier protests. The Kolnari, being equally hampered gave him his idea. He righted himself on the wall and kicked off, propelling himself toward the confused Kolnar pirate. "CAMERONNNNNE!!!!" The ancient cry of the legion stirred the others who followed the Generals lead and the borgs began pounding toward one of the two forces that opposed them.

LZ3 - Belazir and his people were suddenly thrown about, though thier lightning fast reflexes kept most of them from falling. Not even thier well tuned bodies could help against null gravity, however, as they left the floor. Belazir began cursing as his voice came across all comms. "I shall have you, abomination. I will take you in my fist, and I will crush you." Simeon, however, was too busy to answer.

Channa righted herself as the gravity went out, having space walked practically longer than she had walked in gravity and Patsy, also a long time spacer, easily corrected herself.

Foster held onto Cam. He had been a member of the marines, mainly used to fighting on worlds, on land. But his face held concern. Typically if a shell run facility lost basic functions it meant the shell person was dead or disconnect.

Turquine and Brook floundered in the zero grav, thier skills in combat never having them leave the ground, except for on horseback in the Kings case.

Marcus watched from the shadows, trying to determine where he would be needed.

Lauralin clutched her staff, activated the magic within it and was able to move easily with the fly spell, figuring that if everything returned to normal, they would plummet.

Baghtru held on to the nurse .... just because.

LZ4 - Pol T'Vang let her body go until she had equalibrium and then righted herself and listened to the incoming reports, waiting to see what happened. She gave orders for her troops to hold position and prepare for the return of gravity.

*"Simeon, Simeon, this is Way, WayFarers avatar, let me take the sub system off your hands. I'm an AI, created to do this. Helva down loaded to me what happened last time. I can help if you let me."*

************************************

"To heck with old sayings..ouch...ooofff!" Then they were floating 'Oh much better, untill the grav returns!"

*"Simeon, Simeon, this is Way, WayFarers avatar, let me take the sub system off your hands. I'm an AI, created to do this. Helva down loaded to me what happened last time. I can help if you let me."*

Simeon didn't like the idea, especially since this was his body, but since he had so many things screaming for attention, "Plug into the nearest access, or however you work it. I'll take half the problems and you take the rest." He waited for Way to get in as he started to fire correction jets to get the station stable before it tore itself apart.

~ Hmpph. Help? Help is half the galaxy away. I don't think I'll be doing that, especially since I can fix the problem in a few minutes, grumbled the Faded Fortunes's Mind.

The small corvette was using the time old aerial tactic of diving straight into the middle of the enemy formation, to fully disrupt and confuse the enemy, as well as put them in danger of collision. The six fighters continued to whirl around the black hull, laser cannons flickering lethal blue beams towards the enemy, be they fighters or larger ships.

At Way Farer's request the corvette ducked out of the fight and accelerated away, fighters in tow. It provided a lull that the Mind used to hasten the repairs and take stock of the fight.

The blast wave caused the Faded Fortunes to shudder violently, through the resilient shields continued to hold, partially because all the power normally allocated to the main weapons was being shunted to the shields until the weapons came back on line.

It shot away from the blast, which, according to the sensors, just consumed the vessels in a subspace rift. The Vega station passed underneath it, and the sensors recognised a small number of vessels which were transmitting the same IFF codes as the recently destroyed pirate vessels.

The energy blast seemed to have been channelled somehow, since the Vega station was still there, with very little damage in comparison to what it should have suffered.

****

The Indoan personnel were thrown around by the blast, falling to the floor and landing on top of each other. A number of curses

"Son of a bitch! What the fuck was that?" swore Kane as he tried to extricate himself from beneath Tyler and Reid.

"I don't know. The Fortunes is out there somewhere, I hope it's alright," replied Jann, who was lying across Jace and Khonsari.

The artificial gravity must have switched off, because they floated up off the floor and hung in the air. They used the sudden lack of gravity to separate themselves from the tangle of bodies, then activated the AG unit in their suits, settling back to the floor again, operating under four-fifths standard gravity. Senkov and Riv retrieved the weapons that they had accidentally let go of in the blast, and they fired some sporadic shots in the direction of the raiders.

****

The avatar aboard the Pride of Albion felt the station shudder in the residual blast effects, and immediately contacted the station manager.

"Lars, what's going on? Is our ship safe?" it asked.

Sophie was looking around with a look of great puzzlement on her face, wondering what had just happened, but said nothing.

"Lars, what's going on? Is our ship safe?" it asked.

Lars voice filtered into the room again. "I can't get get an exact reading because of the Ion storm, but I doubt either your vessel or our sta", his voice caught and Anna paled, reaching out a trembling hand she tried to sit back but missed the chair completely and landed on the floor. "I doubt either could have survived", came his voice, heavy with saddness. Anna sat on the floor just staring in numbed silence.

**********************************************************

"Helva?" came the voice of Chria Chance.

"Chria, Chria we need you at Vega Station."

Suddenly the wraith materialized next to Helva, so close that it made her jump a bit. "Slow down, Helva, we can't just go galavanting off like that."

"The KOLNARI and ATTACKING the station!!"

"Get back here Chria", came Pols voice as the shellpersion in charge of the heavily armed military vessel powered up and began moving toward Helva and Chria. "Piracy gives us the right to do what necessary to stop thier actions.

Helva was releaved and began moving again, opening a sigularity while Chria's small fighter headed back to the warship. "I'll try to tightbeam them that helps on the way", and before she could get an answer, dove into the singularity.

The avatar just stood there in numbed silence. The Fortunes gone? It wasn't possible. It knew every single member of the crew, was friends with them all. To have them all just wiped out like that, was just too much to cope with.

It sank to its knees, it's face registering complete shock. It bowed its head in sorrow, mourning the loss of its friends. A single tear ran down its left cheek, quickly followed by more.

Sophie watched the reactions of Anna and the avatar wondered what was going on. "Andie, what's wrong? Why are you upset?" she asked.

The avatar could not bring itself to respond.

****

The Faded Fortunes ran a rapid systematic check and discovered that, apart from the problem with the weapons, it was in full working order, with no damage incurred. The fighters had similarly suffered no damage, being both faster and shielded by the hull of the corvette.

It headed towards what it suspected were the remaining pirate raider vessels and slowed as it approached. Only as it was about to hail the vessels, ordering them to power down all systems, did it remember the reason that only a few enemy vessels were left.

{Way Farer? Are you alright? Respond please.}

Its scanners revealed that the larger ship had vanished with the pirate ships. Then it signalled the station.

{Vega Station, this is the INV Faded Fortunes. Report your status.}

It also sent a similar message to its personnel aboard the station.

(OOC - Okay, waiting for Tanra to give a post so I know what Way is doing on the station, then I'll give a full update on all areas.)

Way didn't need to 'plug in' but it did make things appreciably faster ( going from hundredths of a micro second to thousandths of a mircrosecond). He slid into the dumb AI's with ease, saw what Simeon was working on and turned his attention to other areas that needed his attention. He'd lost all contact with his shipself, but he had known he would. There would be time to go into shock ( even thought he knew it was to be ) and mourn later.

*"Albion, Faded Fortunes. This is WayFarers Avatar assissting Simeion. We're still here if a bit battered, and there are still these damned Kolnari infesting the place. Prepare for casualities once we get this settled"*

His mental smile was evil as he caught a Kolnari attempting to 'swim' through a hatch and closed the hatch on him. Resulting in to pieces of Kolnari

LZ1 – Samantha felt the gravity go back on and flipped in mid air as she fell, amazingly landing on her feet. She took the impact on bent knees and leaped forward. “CAMEROOOONNNNNNE”, came the ancient battle cry of the legion. The men around had landed harder, but the cry mustered them all into action as the charged forward with her. Even Nataniel Valendros, who’s broken arm from the fall was evident, pulled his sidearm, unable to hold the heavy assault rifle and charged forward with them. The borg released their magnetic grips and advanced toward the enemy.

The Kolnari, who had been thankful to have the heavy battle armor suddenly found themselves at an advantage as they ponderously started to get to their feet, turning their weapons on their attackers as they did.

LZ2 – Booley had lost three bio bods by the time the gravity returned, but the Kolnari had lost two more groups. Once the gravity returned those that were left faced the same problem getting to their feet and were quickly finished off. By then the last two groups who had assembled north of the southern bulb. Now, Booley knew, came the real struggle. His men were tired, ammo was running low and losses were taken. Forty more were prepared to face him now and he needed a plan. “Simeon? Can you feed me the schematics on this area?” he asked as he sat down wearily, taking what respite he could.

LZ3 - His mental smile was evil as he caught a Kolnari attempting to 'swim' through a hatch and closed the hatch on him. Resulting in to pieces of Kolnari

Belazir watched the hatch close on the Kolnari trooper. “Blow the hatch”, he said and stepped back. He switched freqs and spoke to the Simeon on more private channel, “Abomination, I will destroy ALL your kind. Your withered bodies will writhe to may hands”, except that Way received the transmission.

The door exploded and he pressed forward. Realizing that the abomination would not allow him to use the lifts he took the emergency access ways. Shreaks were heard from one of the accessways and sparks and smoke could be seen. As Way observed the area where Belazir and his men were advancing he could pick up another figure as she muttered, “You think that’s fardlin grudly just wait”, and crawled through and then up the air duct that would lead to the point where Belazir would come out of the accessway.

LZ4 – Captain Pol T’Veng listened to the reports as they came in. The southern dock was under heavy assault and taking a lot of casualties. The southern central position had lost three fifths of its force, though the last two fifths were in good order. Belazir was almost to his position and once he had what he wanted he would be ready to head off. Pol needed to make sure the way was clear and there was still a warship out there.

“My Lord, I’m taking my ships out. We have none standing off station now.”

“Confirmed, contact almost made. We’ll return to your position with the abomination.”

“I’ll leave hardpoints in the bay.”

“Out.”
She gave the orders and returned to her ship, the rest of her teams returning to theirs. She left the five hardpoints along with five man crews in order to hold the bay for Belazir. They began systems checks to pull away.

Lauralin remained in the air, lowering herself gently to the ground as the others fell. She still had a hole in her side though it seemed to be healing far more quickly than could be humanly possible.

Baghtru slammed to the ground, obsorbing as much of the impact as possible for both him and the nurse.

Turquine crashed to the floor, stunned for the moment and having the wind knocked out of him.

Brook landed like a cat on her feet and rose, her eyes going around the room, searching for an enemy.

Marcus slipped from the shadows, taking a position near the king while he got his breath back.

Foster tried his best to flip himself around, so that he would take the impact rather than Cam, hoping that she would either let him or be caught by surprise by his action.

OUTSIDE THE STATION - The Faded Fortunes ran a rapid systematic check and discovered that, apart from the problem with the weapons, it was in full working order, with no damage incurred. The fighters had similarly suffered no damage, being both faster and shielded by the hull of the corvette.

It headed towards what it suspected were the remaining pirate raider vessels and slowed as it approached. Only as it was about to hail the vessels, ordering them to power down all systems, did it remember the reason that only a few enemy vessels were left.

{Way Farer? Are you alright? Respond please.}

Its scanners revealed that the larger ship had vanished with the pirate ships. Then it signalled the station.

{Vega Station, this is the INV Faded Fortunes. Report your status.}

It also sent a similar message to its personnel aboard the station.

*"Albion, Faded Fortunes. This is WayFarers Avatar assissting Simeion. We're still here if a bit battered, and there are still these damned Kolnari infesting the place. Prepare for casualities once we get this settled"*

From the northen dock Fortunes could detect five pirate ships power cycling and knew they would soon be launching, leaving himself little time to prepare for the ships and get his systems online. He detected Wayfarers transmission and was beginning to pick up the comm chatter from the fighters onboard.

The avatar just stood there in numbed silence. The Fortunes gone? It wasn't possible. It knew every single member of the crew, was friends with them all. To have them all just wiped out like that, was just too much to cope with.

It sank to its knees, it's face registering complete shock. It bowed its head in sorrow, mourning the loss of its friends. A single tear ran down its left cheek, quickly followed by more.

Sophie watched the reactions of Anna and the avatar wondered what was going on. "Andie, what's wrong? Why are you upset?" she asked.

The avatar could not bring itself to respond.

Alb…, …ed Fort….. ..is is Wa……s Avata. ……sting S……. We're st… …e if a bi. …..red, and ….. .re stil. ….. damned ……i infes…. ..e place. P…… for cas……es once .. … .his set…..

“Wait”, came Lars voice as the two sat there, “I think there’s survivors. I’m getting something from that area. Someone survived, the Ion storm is still interfering. I’m preparing The Arm of Albion” he said, referring to the new medical ship.

Anna stood up, “Kenny? I’m going to board the Albion.”

“You and me both”, came the reply, “I’ll meet you there.”

Anna was still concerned, there were anywhere from eight to fifteen thousand people on the station at any given time and she was dreading how many would survive. She looked at Andie, “Why don’t you come along?”, she offered.

The avatar suddenly felt a glimmer of hope as Lars reported possible survivors. It nodded at Anna, "Yes, thank you. I would like to come."

With the news that some had survived, it accessed the neural link and interrogated the system for other transceivers. The result made it practically jump for joy. The system was suffering light disruption, but over sixty threads were responding. That meant most of the crew was still alive.

~ Fortunes, what's going on? it asked the Mind.

~ Av.tar And.ral.igh, pir.te raid .. ..ation. Ar. .ightin. .hem of.. Sh.p W.. .arer sel.-des..ucted t. .liminat. host..e ve..els.[Break]

The avatar was positively beaming with happiness as it spoke next. "I think they are all okay. Our ship is alive, as is most of the crew. Including those on the station, I think it's still in one piece."

****

After communicating with the avatar aboard the Pride of Albion, the Faded Fortunes detected the power surges on board the five vessels, signifying an imminent launch.

~ Come on, come on. I need those systems now, it grumbled.

As the corvette approached the pirate vessels, it happened. What on a normal ship would be a bank of red lights suddenly went green as the repair drones restored the power linkages to the weapons. The Mind shunted the appropriate power back to the weapons and brought them on line, having fixed the problem which caused the fusing originally.

It locked the targeting systems onto the pirate vessels, and floated in space, the six fighters hanging around it with their own weapons locked on.

{Pirate vessels, this is the INV Faded Fortunes of the Indoan Navy, acting on behalf of the Central Worlds. If you shut down all systems and surrender, you will not be fired upon. If you not comply, you will be destroyed.}

****

As the gravity returned to the station, the AG cells in the Indoan suits automatically powered down, leaving the Indoans exactly where they were. As the other forces were returning to their feet, the group charged the pirates, bellowing traditional Indoan warcries.
"SHOLORAKI!" "Vengeance or glory!" "AIT'CHAK!"

Their gun barrels blazed, one Ranger emptied half a magazine of DU shells into the belly of a pirate. The small shock grenades came flying through the air, detonating with an enormous flash, a thunderous bang and a sonic blast wave. They did no damage to the station, but the shock waves sent raiders flying, as they were supposed to.

The visors on the Rangers helmets protected them from the flash and the explosion was filtered out by the suit. The shock wave was too limited to affect them or the Legionnaires.

The sharp craack-craack-craack of the pulse rifles split the air, backed up by the muted humming-whine of the laser weapons, as the Rangers fired remorselessly into the pirates.

The initial charge slowed as Samantha and her people, along with the Indoans began meeting heavier and heavier resistance. Trancer had sustained heavy damage and finally the borg wasn't able to move or fire. The sergeant and three men rushed forward and he opened a panel on the back of the borg. They were taking heavy fire even as the rest of the legionarres attempted to cover them. Two fell as he pressed a button, waited for a green light and then twisted a release valve. The third man fell as he pulled a heavy black box from the borg and moved back, firing toward the newly formed legion/indoan line. He just sighed in relief as a heavy barrage from two point hit him the head simultaneously. His body, now headless staggered the last few feet and fell, but the box was retrieved.

As they were forming the barricades and digging in shindel took heavy fire, her legs getting cut from under her and the borg crashing to the deck. "You and you", Samantha said, the Colonel pointing to two legionarres. The three of them moved toward the fallen borg, one falling before they even reached her. Samantha hit the button as the other lay down, firing from a prone position while waiting for the green. His assault rifle began a heavy rattling as it let loose it full auto and the colonel looked around to see the headless man's finger clamped down on the trigger. Samantha twisted the release valve as Snyder and the other two borgs came pounding forward, guns and lasers blazing, then began a steady covering retreat as the colonel dragged the heavy black box back behind the defensive line.

Just as she got back she took two hits, her armor beginning to weaken at the constant punishment it was being asked to indure and one round punched through her arm. The firing didn't come from the thirty or so Kolnari that remained in the bay though, it had come from one of the two kolnari ships that now lay behind them. Snyder hunkered down near the rest of the bio bods protectively as the other two borgs moved toward the two ships to deal death to the Kolnari inside.

Samantha opened the pouch on her wounded arm and took out a pack of largely destroyed cigarettes. What wasn't destroyed was blood soaked and useless by now. 'Assholes', she muttered, and tossed the pack aside, giving it a longing look for one more moment, then looked at the two black boxes and smiled.

**********************************************************

Pol T'Veng heard the challenge as 'The Shark' and the other ships were decoupling. She opened the channel, "This is Captain Pol T'Veng", she said as her ships moved away from the station, "I want to discuss the terms of our surrender." The bridge crew looked at her shocked but she ignored them and awaited the unknown navy ships reply.

The Faded Fortunes had never been in a circumstance necessitating negotiations before, but could not care less. In keeping with the typical Indoan style of harsh punishments for even the most petty of crimes (which did wonders for keeping the crime rate down), it kept the terms simple.

{Your surrender will be total and immediate. You will hold position to await capture, then stand trial for all crimes you have commited according to Central Worlds law. This is not negotiable}

The powerful sensors on the corvette were scanning every millimetre of the pirate vessels, searching for any trace of a weapon powering up, or a surge in the engines signifying that they were going to make a break for freedom.

****

Two of the Indoans suddenly dropped down to the deck, ducking out of the fight for no apparent reason. The others knew exactly what had happened, the power cells on their battle armour were running low and they were replacing them.

Tyler fired four rounds at a pirate, then smoothly ejected the magazine and pulled a new one from her pouch. She slapped it it to the housing and pulled the charging handle to chamber a round, before opening up again with a succession of short bursts.

"I'm down to my last mag," she said over the comm net. Considering each magazine held eighty rounds this was impressive over such a short time, but worrying nonetheless.

"Riesco," said Jann, "Scarper back to the Salequin and grab as much ammo as you can. We need more grenades too."

The medic acknowledged and left, dashing back towards the docking bay as fast as possible.

Kane had taken a hit through his armour, but he had barely noticed it. It was not a bad wound, the armour having taken away most of the momentum of the shot, and would pose no danger to him. Their armour was rated for up to 30mm shells, so it would have taken a lucky shot to penetrate it, unless it had caught him while he was replaced the power cell.

LZ1 - Samantha looked around at the Indoans and Legionarres. She had 3 borgs left and 4 bio bods. She knew that was coming next as they were outnumbered almost 3 to 1. Suddenly one of the Indoans took off and Snyder stood opening up as the woman ran, giving her cover fire then dropped down again. Samantha opened her comm to the general channel, "This is Colonel Klantin. General Booley, Rush 2, repeat, Rush 2, permission for 2 micros. Over."

Booley heard heard the news and knew what Sam was asking for. Rush 2 meant that they had minimal protection and overwhelming numbers and she expecting a major offensive to be launched. She was asking for to micro missile launches to help alleviate some of the onrush. 'Sorry Simeon', he muttered, "Permission granted."

Now Samantha waited, hoping that the Indoans got thier ammo before the attack occured.

LZ2 - Booley looked over the plans and came up with an idead. "Okay, here's what we do. You three", he said, pointing to the borgs, "stay here, hold thier attention. Major, take 3 bios and get to this corridor here", he said pointing, "I'll take the other four and get in behind them. Three attack positions, got it?"

They all nodded as the Colonels voice came over the comm.

"This is Colonel Klantin. General Booley, Rush 2, repeat, Rush 2, permission for 2 micros. Over."

Booleys eyes closed a moment, knowing that she was pretty much describing her death, 'Sorry Simeon', he muttered, "Permission granted." Then he made a fist and jerked it down and all the bio bods moved out, running through the corridors as the borg opened up with sporadic fire to keep the attention of the Kolnari moving toward them.

OUTSIDE - Pol T'Veng's ship power fluttered slightly and at her signal the Kolnari ships opened up thier engines charging the Indoan vessel as thier weapons powered up. Pol retreated behind the station, powering her own weapons in relative safety and opened her comm, "Lord, I suggest you make for the southern dock while thier forces are weak. We have one ship still out here."

"Negative, destroy the ship and join the fighting on the south dock."

'FOOL', she thought to herself and waited until her weapons were completely powered, and her shields prepared, staying close to the station so that any who launched against her would run the risk of hulling the station itself.

Way had been listening in on the various communications going on about him and realized that the leader, one Belazir was NOT doing the sensible thing and leaving.

*"Simeon, I think we have a problem. That idiot Marid is not leaving, and in fact seems to be heading for you. I some how think he's a little obcessed with you. Want some company to help hold the little grunion off?"*

Without waiting for a reply, Way set part of himself to taking care of the station while his body set about heading for Simeons core as fast as possible. The doors and hatche ways would open for him

********************************************
Elsewhere near LZ 3

Cam blinked hard and her eyesight stopped wavering. Foster had taken the majority of the impact when the gravity had been restored, but he seemed to have taken no injury. There was no time to enjoy being in his arms, as they rolled apart to avoid incoming fire.

"Okay Foster, what now? This is so not my idea of dinner and a dance" Cams ears were flat as she garbbed one of the force lances that Way had had with him when she 'no timed' and brought him to the station.

The slender rod was preset she noticed and fired off three effector rounds at the Kolnari that had tried to target her and Foster. The plasma bursts seared through the Kolnari's armour and deep into it's torso killing it.

Simeon knew that Belazir was coming for him, he expected it. "Yeah well, the last he stopped by for tea and krimpets I fooled him into thinking that he ran the station and kept him here long enough for the navy to arrive", Simeon responded to Way.

Lauralin saw the man take off but turned to face the oncoming Kolnari. Lightning flash, overloading the suits systems and they began to drop, trapped in the very armor they wore to protect themselves. Brook and Baghtru took every opportunity to kill them as they were dropped.

Turquine ran after Way, unable, or rather unwilling to kill even an enemy once he was down. Marcus followed him, knowing that the Queen could handle herself.

Foster rose to his feet, "I don't know, we had dinner, now we're danc...". He was stopped suddenly as he drew his pistol out of reflex and fired. But the only weapon he had was the needler and it was completely useless against their armor. He was thrown back as the shot from the assault rifle slammed into him.

"Well, how about we fool him again. If I can get there ahead of him..." Way outlined a rough plan. "I know it's no fun for you to be without input for any time, pretty much the same with me, but if I can get you to the medical supply area I can put you on nutrient feeds, so thats taken care of and I can let you have this body, that gives the imput problem to rest and I can take over running the station. He can't get me out with out destroying the entire station. I was playing mind games with bright lives before your people left the surface of their home planet, this piece of dren won't know what he's dealing with"

Simeon said "No", just as a woman's voice said "yeah".

"JOAT?" came Simeon and Channa's voice at once, even as Channa watched Foster take a hit and she and Patsy took out the Kolnari who shot him.

"Hey, mom, hey, pops", she replied, "Ole Belly's pissin vinager over you, pops. Better do as he says. Don't worry, I can hook ya back up. Uh oh, he's in for some more grudly."

Belazir's men reached the top of the accessway, not far from Simeon's and Channa's quarters even as Channa and Patsy looked around, saw no more Kolnari in the area and bolted for the same room. The first several through seemed to fall appart as the monofiliment wire stretched across the egress area sliced through there bodies with ease. The ones following stopped long enough to locate the wire and cut them, giving way time to reach Simeon's quarters.

"Ohhh man, I'm glad I ain't the clean up crew", came the voice of the woman named, oddly enough, Joat.

"Okay Simeon, don't be a ass, we need to get you out of there fast, and I can carry you so don't worry about that part"

Way headed for the column, hopeing that the stations master wouldn't get fatally stubborn. They didn't have much time

********************************************

"Did I mention that I hate hospitals" Cam kept her voice conversational, not wanting to alarm Foster, as she made it to his side and inspecting the damage. She didn't like the looks of it at all

"Well we have a slight problem anyway", Simeon replied, "I don't have both access codes to open the panel to get to me. Oh well, guess I have to stay."

Turquine and Marcus entered behind Way and took up positions on either side of the door.

"Hey", Joat said over the comm, having stopped to plug in to an access panel. "Who's the muscle bound freak show?" she asked.

"That would be KING Buccannah", came Simeons reply, "I suggest you show a little more respect."

A light snort came from the woman in answer, but she didn't say anything else as Way could feel her slipping into the A.I. subsystems. She did it with ease as she directly connected the Access panel to her jack with had a processor and memory chip hardwired directly to her brain. A setup that Simeon never failed to point out was both dangerous and illegal.

**********************************************************

Lauralin approached the fallen man and the odd woman. "I can time heal him. A spell that takes the body back in time to a point when it was not damaged and then brings it forward in it's undamaged state." It was a healing that she could do as it didn't call for any priestly powers, but rather a very strong manipulation of time, space and physical body.

**********************************************************

Foster had turned and seen the Kolnari. Reflexes honed by years in combat had made him draw his sidearm and fire. Nothing happened. He realized suddenly that he still only had a needler, which was completely ineffective against even the lightest armor. The Kolnari's shot ripped into his abdomen, throwing him back. His back was a mess, a rather large hole where the shot had ripped out most of his back and piece of his spinal column.

*you may not but the security systems have to* Way said absently, directly into Simeons mind, as the ancient alien sentience wove past the various security procedures and extraced them, then applied. Simeon's access panels swung open soundlessly. Way stepped forward and began disconnecting Simeons connections. A panel opened in Ways side and universal jacks put Simeon in direct contact with Ways senses

*It's going to be wierd and I don't have time to teach you how to use the Avatar completely, so I'm leaving the tinies part of myself to operate the bosy. It may be like an occassional blured vision* Way advised Simeon, then used the avatars voice to advise JOAT if she would hold the systems stable for the next few moments he would complete the transfer, taking Simeon's place as the controller of Vega Base.

"JOAT, you are going to have to be my guide, while I carry Simeon"

*****************************************

"Do it" Cam said hoarsely. She knew that if she moved Foster he'd die. He was dieing before her eyes from shock and blood loss as she watched as it was. The minor spells of healing that she knew would not counter such a dire wounding

Joat tapped into the systems sensors and reeled a moment as hundreds of visions came into her mind. She focused, one by one on those she needed and said, "I've plotted the path, you won't run into any problems. The systems will run largely on lower AI, I've bolstered the rest. But make it quick, I can't keep this up for long."

Simeon complained bitterly at the whole process, but couldn't do much about it. Turquine watched as the shell was removed, and wondered to himself why anyone would want such imprisonment.

**********************************************************

Lauralin knelt down and issued the spidery words of magic as she cast the spell. It was more difficult than her flame magic, which came to her naturally. Fosters wound seemed to heal rapidly and he jerked immedietly after the healing, replaying the scene in his mind in reverse. Then the scene he saw rushed forward and he jerked again at the impact, but this time it didn't affect him, since it was only a memory.

The impact jerked him into wakefulness and he tried to stand upright, which he found that he could do somehow. His head turned as he saw someone slump to the floor and then looked around in confusion before looking back at the crumpled form on the floor with concern, "What happened? I was hit", he said looking down at the now non-existant wound.

The spell complete, the awful power of casting it, the power she had spent thus far and her own blood loss, she crumples to the ground. She's awake, alert but so very tired mentally and so very thirsty. She begins to push herself away from Cam and Foster as she fears the thirst might overwhelm her.

The corvette detected the weapon and engine power increases as soon as they occured. The Mind sighed mentally.
~ Why must they always be so bloody-minded? Being alive is better than being dead, even if you are in prison.

It flashed a warning to the station about its imminent assault.
{Whoever's currently in charge of Vega, this is the Faded Fortunes. Engaging remaining pirate vessels, watch out for possible damage to station from near misses.}

The fighters loosed off two missiles each, all of which were aimed at a single pirate vessel, then fired their laser cannons at the same target. They immediately accelerated to maximum thrust, sweeping around the same ship in repeated strafing runs.

The corvette split it's firepower equally between the ships it felt it could safely target, then retasked a single laser battery to target the ship hugging the hull of the station.

The missile launchers were the first to fire, rippling off a massive salvo of missiles at the pirate vessels. Then the laser batteries opened up, bathing the corvette's hull in a strangely beautiful backwash of azure light. Finally, the plasma cannons and particle cannons joined in, adding more blue and some white to the porcupine-like barrage of weapons fire emanating from the Faded Fortunes.

The single laser battery tasked to the ship near the station hull fired highly accurate aimed shots at the target. The chances of missing were slim, and although the damage from each shot was fairly limited, but it would soon add up.

Amidst the battle, an MV-13 Assegai battlefield transport rocketed out of the corvette's docking bay and angled towards the station.

{Vega Station, this is Shrike Two, Indoan Army. We have fourteen battle ready Rangers aboard, where do you need them?} transmitted the co-pilot, since the pilot was fully occupied with flying the Assegai and keeping them all alive.

****

"Colonel," called out Jann, having just heard the request to Booley. "Do you want us to use our rockets? They're capable of taking out a LAV, but they shouldn't do too much damage to the station provided no-one shoots at a wall."

All four of the Indoans holding pulse weapons were firing extremely conservatively, since they were all down to one or two magazines left by now. Those with laser weapons were making up for it though, taking full advantage of their weapons' superior ammunition capacity.

The five laser weapons spat azure fire towards the enemy, each shot packing enough force to burn through light armour. It was at that point that Khonsari took a hit to her chest and flew backwards, landing on her back. She screamed in pain over the comm net, but anyone not on the same net heard nothing. Riv immediately turned away to help her, since he was the only medic there, and the number of weapons firing was reduced by two.

****

At the precise time that Khonsari got shot, Riesco was exiting the Indoan shuttle carrying as much ammunition as her powered exoskeleton could cope with. Rather than attempt to walk back to the fight, she activated her AG cell and floated above the deck, moving much faster than she could have done on foot, even with the powered exoskeleton.

OUTSIDE - Pol T'Veng had taken over piloting 'The Shark', and though the beams were hard to avoid she expertly kept the shots from hitting the same area more than once. Her manuevers were cleary that of an ace as she hugging the hull, pitched and roll and all in a cruiser sized vessel. As soon as she cleared the the stations horizon and moved beyond the the threat range she set her jump engines and vanished into the singularity it formed.

'The Hated Foe' tried desperetly to avoid the full scale barrage as they seemed to throw everything at it. It unloaded it's readied missile, but it never cleared as the ship blew up.

'The Fang', 'The Fist of Kolnar' and 'The Hand of God' lashed out with thier secondary weapons as thier primaries continued to power up. They pushed closer to 'The Faded Fortunes', trying to bring thier secondaries into more effective range.

{Vega Station, this is Shrike Two, Indoan Army. We have fourteen battle ready Rangers aboard, where do you need them?}

"Force dock at these co-ordinates", came a woman's voice as Joat fed them a position very close to Belazir and between the fury twisted Kolnari and her fathers quarters. "Be ready for deep fardlin grudly soon as you tap the deck."

**********************************************************

LZ1 - Samantha saw the woman go down but didn't have time to think about it. She looked at Jann, "Do it", then raised her assault rifle and prepared for the rush. She didn't have to wait long as the Kolnari, figuring the one who ran was going for backup and seeing two effectively removed from action, rushed forward.

Samantha held up a hand behind her. "Get ready Leiutenent. Everyone fire as soon as the missles are away. Wait for it ... Wait for it ... NOW!!!"

As soon as the missles were loosed the legionarres stood up and opened fire, the borgs dealing death as they opened with what they had left, while the bio bods tried to focus thier attacks for greater power.

The Faded Fortunes saw the 'Shark' escape the system, momentarily regretted allowing it to do so, then retasked the laser battery appropriately. Now that it was coming under fire, it powered up the last remaining weapon in its arsenal, its manoeuvrability. The fusion engines burst into life and the corvette jumped forwards. Its own weapons fire retained its accuracy, but by moving it could dodge some of the incoming fire.

Three-on-one odds did not faze the Mind, since it was near enough standard practice. A one-on-one engagement was a rare opportunity, and one to be savoured. The port-rear quarter shield collapsed momentarily, but popped up again after only a few hits scored the surface of the hull. Seconds later the incident repeated itself, only with the starboard-rear shield, followed by the main rear shield, which failed to come back, allowing weapons to hit the rear of the corvette, chewing into the hull.

Having destroyed their target, the fighters whirled around and hared off in support of their parent corvette, using their meagre supply of missiles to aid the corvette. As they flashed past the corvette, the auto-defence guns came online, their six barrels spraying a stream of laser bolts at any missiles targeted on the covette.

****

What did she say? I didn't get a word of that, thought the co-pilot.
{Shrike Two copies. ITA twenty seconds.} he transmitted, then called out over the intercom.
"Twenty seconds to docking."

The Rangers in the back checked their weapons again and activated the various systems they would want from their battlesuits. Knowing that they were coming into a fight, these Rangers were fully equipped for in-ship fighting, with emphasis on hard-hitting weapons that were unlikely to penetrate the hull. They carried heavier rifles than their counterparts already on the station, and were all equipped with rocket tubes. Their ammo pouches were full of magazines, rockets, shock grenades and even some AP mines.

The Assegai executed a perfect combat docking, coming in at full power and only reducing speed at the last possible moment, crash-stopping in exactly the right place.

The Rangers immediately deployed, weapons ready and tapped into the station's comm net.
"Vega, Sergeant Crowe here. We've docked, where do we go now?"

The Assegai, since there was no way for its weaponry to be brought to bear on the pirates inside the station, swiftly undocked and blasted back towards the corvette, ready to unload its considerable firepower at a target.

****

Reid, who was closest to Khonsari, picked up her fallen carbine, raised it in her left hand, while retaining her own laser rifle in the other. She opened up with the weapons, the powered exoskeleton allowing her to keep both weapons steady as she laid down a dual stream of fire into the enemy.

The four Rangers with rocket tubes swiftly loaded them and fired, the tiny missile covering the distance in under a second, a trail of off-white smoke hanging in the air behind them. As fast as possible, they reloaded and fired their last rockets at the pirates.

The eight explosions sent shockwaves across the room, and knocked out the lights, leaving them in the gloom. The Night-Vision on their battlesuit HUDs automatically switched on, allowing the Indoans to continue putting fire in the right place.

At that point Riesco floated back into the room. She dropped to the deck and rapidly started dishing out the ammunition to those who needed it, her own weapon forgotten at her side as she fulfilled a more important function.

OUTSIDE - 'The Fang' saw the Assegai returning and, eager for a kill, turned to attack it. This proved to be a fatal mistake as it turned it's weaker shields toward the corvette and was destroyed.

'The Fist of Kolnar' and 'The Hand of God' detected the weakening in the shields. With thier primaries back on line they began to pound the weaker section. Both ships continued to fire missiles, even though they were intercepted. But it kept the fighters occupied as the two ships tried to penetrate the hull of the corvette, both of them taking a pounding as the Kolnari ships were designed for multi ship support.

**********************************************************

LZ3 - Turquine, seeing there was nothing he could do decided to head back to his daughter. He saw the men dropping in and realized that the armor wasn't that worn by his enemy. The man wore clothing with a sword at his side and looked old, though badly scarred and nodded politely to the Indoans.

"Ummm", came the reply to the Sergeant, "well your kind of between two where they split to take the accessways and they're close." Obviously whoever was presently on the comm wasn't military.

At the end of the corridor one group came around the corner. "Have a present", the woman's voice muttered and suddenly sparks flew as she opened up the power to the cables that she had rerouted to the deck plating in that area. The powered armor overloaded and shorted out, leaving ten of the Kolnari helpless in the heavy suits that now became a prison rather than protection and temporarily blocked the corner while the Kolnari behind them had to clear the way. "That was my last trick for them guys", she told the Sergeant and his men.

To the older mans left a door opened and a heavy gun muzzle poked through. His reaction was for swifter than one might have thought as he grabbed the barrel and then reached out and grabbed the stock. Thick corded muscle snapped taut like steel cable and as the Kolnari tried to bring the weapon back down to bear the power assisted armor whined as, inch by slow inch, the modern technology, amazingly, began to lose against the old king as he forced the weapon back and up. For now the doorway was blocked by the struggling figures.

**********************************************************

LZ1 - The rockets impacts were devistating to the closely packed Kolnari and under the weight of the weapons fire from the others the reduction of the protective shield from the residual blast was telling. The borgs had emptied thier fifties and were beginning to run low on the lasers. Snyder was the last one standing and pounded at the Kolnari near her and the Colonel. Samantha had lost all but one of her people under the onslaught and emptied her assault rifle. As snyder continued her unrelented attack Samantha saw the one Kolnari's shields flicker and die. She drew her sidearm, leaped the barricade and put the muzzle right against his face plate, pulling the trigger.

Riesco's assault took the final Kolnari in the heavy dual weapon assault. The Kolnari staggered but kept advancing, not realizing he was the last one standing. A final step was taken before he realized that he was dead.

The legionarre, the Colonel and Snyder looked about them as they surveyed the carnage.

Many of the missiles aimed at the corvette were intercepted by the ships auto-defence guns, but some got through, as did the other weapons fire. The numerous impacts scarred the rear hull and a secondary explosion rocked the Faded Fortunes, followed by a spray of air as two compartments were opened to the vacuum.

The corvette curved around in a tight turn, presenting its fully shielded bows to the remaining two pirate vessels, allowing the rear shields to return to normal so that an attempt to bring them back up could be made. The missile launchers rippled off another salvo at the targets, as the other weapons continued to fire.

Two of the fighters vanished in balls of fire as they got in the way of weapon blasts from the pirate ships, while the remaining four continued to strafe the ships with laser cannons. The Assegai joined the fray in style, the enormous gatling gun mounted in the port side opening up with a huge muzzle flash, its own missiles, designed to blow apart bunkered in ground positions, firing as well.

****

Great, we got a civvy in charge. Doesn't this station have a defence co-ordinator? grumbled Crowe to himself.

The two Sergeants in charge of the Indoan Rangers saw the old man's gesture and saluted perfectly in return.

"Sir, we're here to help," declared Crowe. There was no visible differences between the fourteen Indoans, other than the weapons they carried, since their battlearmour bore no insignia and concealed their faces. The weaponry differed vastly though, as two were carrying huge chainguns, two carried what appeared to be small tank cannons, and the rest carried two types of large rifle, five of each type.

As the two groups of pirates appeared, Sgt. Crowe started giving orders.
"Sharpe, take your squad and take those. We'll deal with these. First squad on me. Put a hold on the heavy explosives."

The other Sergeant nodded. "Second squad, this way."

Both units opened up on the pirate groups, taking full advantage of the hold-ups on both sides to get the killing blows in early. They laid down streams of fire, temporarily holding off using the explosives as ordered, while still using their shock and AP grenades.

****

"Good work, Kate, even if you were just too late," said Jann, surveying what was left. "Sing out with any injuries. Ferrante, okay."

"Khonsari's lungshot. I'm doing my best," replied Riv. The Douran medic had opened up Khonsari's torso armour and was using his medical equipment to attempt to seal the wound as the nanomites cleared her lung of blood before she effectively drowned in it.

"Kane. Three holes, none bad," the big Ranger reported. He'd been wounded enough times to know how bad they were, so the medics would know whether his wounds could wait while they treated more critical patients.

"Jace, a minor scratch, it can wait."

"Reid, okay." "Achevarria, okay."

"Tyler, hole in my arm, not that bad."

It took them several seconds to realise that one voice had not responded. As one, they looked to Tony Senkov. He appeared fine, kneeling down behind some cover, his rifle pointed in the direction of the enemy. However, closer inspection revealed that the unfortunate Ranger had taken a round directly between the eyes, killing him instantly.

They all closed their eyes and muttered a prayer for their fallen comrade, then went back to their duties. Riesco started helping Riv with Khonsari, while the wounded Rangers took nanomite injectors from the medikits and jabbed them into their arms.

"Colonel, any of your people hurt?" asked Jann.

OUTSIDE - 'The Fist of Kolnar' exploded under the new onslaught from the Assegai. 'The Hand of God' unleashed everything it had as it tried to pull away from the swarming vessels to attempt to run. It began to form the singularity point and enter when the singularity drive failed. The closing point destroyed the ship, ripping it apart as the ship was scattered among the various possibilities of the multiverse.

**********************************************************

LZ1 - "Colonel, any of your people hurt?" asked Jann.

Samantha went about what remained of her people and shook her head as she took the opportunity to step out of her armor in order to put a medpatch over the injury she took. Outside of the armor she had a nice figure to add to the pretty face, "Dead", she replied in a saddened voice, but she didn't have time to grieve.

"Roberts, pull the boxes. Leiutenant?", she asked, turning to Jann, "would you have one or two of your people go with Snyder to clear out the sailors from the remaining two ships? They don't have armor and there are about ten per ship." She activated her personal comm, "General? LZ1 is cleared, cleanup underway."

"Confirmed, get your team to LZ2, were still working on things here."

She looked at her 'team', consisting of Roberts and Snyder, but nodded, "Sir, yes Sir. I'll stop by the store for some candy."

"I read you, Colonel, but bring enough for everyone."

"Understood Sir."

She didn't get back into her armor right away, but rather took a break while the other two ships were cleared out.

**********************************************************

LZ2 - Booley and his people got into place and began firing into the remaining force. The initial attack almost halved the force arrayed against him but then they began to move back, away from the more heavily armed borgs. The Kolnari will still trapped, only 5 remaining, but the borgs had run out of the fifty ammo and the two remaining legion members on Booley's other team had switched to sidearms and been forced to retreat. Booley and the two men with him were in a similar situation and the Kolnari were beginning to retreat past thier trap as the borgs pressed thier attacks. But the General knew that they wouldn't be able to press to much longer once the heavy lasers gave out.

**********************************************************

LZ3 - Baghtru lifted Laura up, placing her head against his neck, "Come on", he told her, "bite me baby."

Lauralin hesitated, hating to feed this way, especially around people she didn't even know.

"Come on", Baghtru said, "we need you and we don't have all day."

Brook had taken up a position near them and eyed Cam and Foster cautiously to gauge thier reaction as Lauralin sunk her teeth into Baghtru's neck and began drinking. His faced took on a look of sexual bliss as she drank as the link of the blood fed him the sheer enjoyment of the fresh blood. She didn't take much, not enough to affect the warrior, but the results were astounding to Foster, who had never seen her kind before. The hole in her side began to heal even more quickly, almost completely sealed already and she took a step away.

Channa and Patsy rounded the corner and Channa came to a dead stop as she saw the Kolnari in front of her that were held up by the freshly arrived Indoan forces. Patsy tried to stop, but the bigger woman didn't have Channa's agility and slammed into her, grabbing hold of her to her from falling and then dragging her back toward the corner.

"You need brakes for that chest", Channa told her in an attempt to be lighthearted, referring to the woman's rather ample size.

"Ah'll requasition it", she said, pulling Channa around the corner just as the Kolnari opened fire.

Marcus stood near the others as the Queen replenished herself, knowing that he couldn't do much in the well lit corridors, but also know that the Queen would move the moment she was able to.

Turquine felt the Kolnari release the assault rifle and threw it aside as his opponent drew his side arm. The King grabbed his sword and drew in a slashing arc. The blade looked to be made of crystal but it glowed with an inner light. The blade cut through the Kolnari's armor easily, removing the pirates head in one stroke but turned quickly away, knowing that he couldn't close the distance to the other Kolnari without being hit.

"Way?", came Joat's voice, and it sounded strained, "I need you, my brain is frying."

*Got it dear* Way took over the station with a crisp 'snap', releasing the JOAT's mind from the burden

*You did good. And if you want we can see about up grading that chip later.*

Briskly Way set about doing what ever harm he could to the Kolnari, while the Avatar with Simeon's tank held firmly turned and headed for the secret hatchway that let to one of the multitude of maintence spaces. From there he'd follow JOAT's map to the medical storage area.

*******************************************
Cam just looked back at Brook with an unconcerned expression, then turned her attention back to Foster, taking a moment to kiss him on the forehead. Then she addressed Way, her demeanor grim

"Way, let every one know that I need one alive." She stated as she set about checking though all that Way had gathered. She gave a half smile at the sight of some of the things he'd chosen as important to her

Joat gave a sigh of relief as Way took over. Her head hurt as the chip and her own brain worked overtime without the training of shell people. "Yeah, an upgrade sounds great", she replied, keeping the avatar that carried Simeon on a back way course until he arrived at medical. She contact the doctor there and he had Simeon hooked up within minutes after his arrival.

**********************************************************

Booley and his men had run out of ammunition and the Kolnari were in full retreat from the borgs. The pressure doors in the area dropped as Way found the opportunity to cut them off and keep the remaining legionarres safe. Then based on the readings of the what was left in suits reserves that the Kolnari wore, if he bled off the atmosphere in that section.....

**********************************************************

As soon as Laura was able to move she followed her father's footsteps heading toward the area she could sense him in. Brook and Baghtru followed as did Marcus, determined to do whatever they could to help.

Foster watched them leave and then moved over to Cam as she gathered her things. "Trying to keep one alive is going to be difficult, they tend to prefer death or retreat over surrender." He reached out, gently touching her cheek, "I'm sorry", he told her, "I truly wanted some time with you."

**********************************************************

Patsy and Channa kept ducking out to fire at the Kolnari from behind. They didn't do much damage but the continual harrassment would at least wear on the Kolnari's nerves and, hopefully, drive them to make mistakes.

"Nothing to be sorry for Dear" Cam rubbed her cheek against his hand, her eyes closed as she took a moment to savor his touch "This is just a minor course change, and will be corrected soon enough"

She twitched her whiskers and her lips curved in a little cat smile

"Way, you heard Foster, so find a way to gas one of them"

Her grin went wicked "And if it could be the leader of these fewments so much the better"

"Will do" Way replied, then broadcast to all concerned "Okay all, Simeon's safe, so we can let Belazir in now. The fighting has damaged a large number of the stations sensors, so if you need medical assistance sing out, and I'll route medics to you"

Booley piped up right away, "I have two injured. We've stopped the bleeding but they're pretty bad." He didn't mention the hit he took. Once his people were seen by the meds then he would allow them to look after him.

"How are the stationers?", came Simeons voice, which caused Channa to whimper in heartfelt relief. "I'm okay Happy, don't worry."

"Pops? There have been a number of fatalities and injuries among the crew with the Kolnar traipse through the station."

"How many fatalities?" Simeon and Channa both asked at the same time.

"Three hundred forty-seven", Joat replied with uncharacteristic solemnity.

The comm was silent for almost a minute, an eternity for an AI or a shell person. "They tried to resist in the northern dock area knowing that no one was there."

"They'll be honored, along with those soldiers who died here."

"What about injuries?" Simeon asked listlessly.

"About half that number, they're still coming in. Some were from north dock, others were from the Kolnari moving through the station."

Foster just stood, looking at Cam as though seeing her for the first time, noting every aspect of her face and every line of her form. Finally he smiled and said, "Well, if we're to get any time we better end this soon", then leaned in and gave her a brief kiss.

As Way went through the station defenses one thing jumped out. Sleepygas could be injected anywhere in the station and there was a full supply, enough to gas the entire station if need be. All he needed to do was figure out how to get Belazir to remove his helm. One fact on record was that the Kolnari couldn't refuse a direct challenge to combat, especially a leader since it would make them look bad in the eyes of thier followers. As it happened it was also on record that the King was a veteran of over two centuries of melee combat in close quarters.....

"Scuse me your Majesty...Could I ask a small favor of you? Though what I am about to ask of you would be considered by some highly dishonourable"

Way's voice came from the speaker closest to Turquine

******************************************

Cam returned the kiss and asked, with a questioning tilt to her head "Oh? Are we on a time limit?"

Foster smiled at Cam. "Yes, we are. I have, on about about another 60 to 70 years. Optomistacally I have about 120 to 130. Either way, it's far to short a time to spend with you, and I would prefer to get to it."

**********************************************************

Turquine turned and looked around him, not so intuative as his daughter, "Would you ask?".

Way projected a small hologram image of Belazir in his armor, and then out, so Turquine could see his face.

"I seriously need to capture this...being." Way explained his plan "Many would consider it dishonourable to challenge some one to a duel, then gas them, but I think it's the only way to take him alive."

******************************************

"You're right, thats far to short a time" Cam used her tail to pull him to her for a long kiss

Foster returned Cam's kiss with passion, holding onto her as though afraid to let go. He had faced many situations in the past, knowing that he might well die. But he came to realize that this time he had something to lose. Something that meant far to him than anything else in his life, and for the first time, he felt fear.

**********************************************************

Turquine considered the request and was about to refuse when Joat cut in. "Hey King? umm, listen, they've hurt alot of people. Innocent people, you know? More'll get hurt if they fight thier way out, and way more if the manage to blow the station."

Turquine stood for a long moment as Joat held her breath.

"PIRATE COMMANDER", came Turquines deep, booming voice. "YOU HAVE PROVEN YOUR COWARDICE BY KILLING PEOPLE WHO CAN'T WIN. PROVE TO YOUR PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE SOME MODICOME OF COURAGE AND FACE ME."

Belazir was furious and about to refuse when he caught the eyes of his men on him. If he refused then they would refuse to follow him. "VERY WELL, SCUMVERMIN, COME AND MEET ME."

The firing on the pirates side stopped and Belazir stepped forward as Turquine turned to enter the corridor through which the combat had been taking place. He entered the corridor and waited while Belazir removed his armor and drew a knife. The King reached back, accepting a knife from one of the Indoans and stepped forward, leaving the doorway on his side clear as Belazir moved into the area, leaving his clear.

The Faded Fortunes continued firing at some of the wreckage for a short period of time to ensure that all the enemies were dead, then ceased firing and hove to.

The Mind ran a damage check, and revealed that two weapon emplacements had been put out of commission, three compartments had been opened to vacuum and they was some minor damage to the engines and rear shields. It turned out that five people had died when the compartments had been vented, and the corvette launched a shuttle to go and recover the bodies.

The three remaining fighters, the fourth had been caught in the explosion of 'The Fist Of Kolnar', slowed to cruising speed and returned to the corvette, as the Assegai turned back in the direction of the station, so that it was there to recover the troops when needed.

{Vega Station, Faded Fortunes. All remaining pirate vessels have been destroyed, however, the lead vessel escaped at the start of the fight.}

****

"Sure, Sir*. Reid, take Jace and Tyler, and go with Snyder," ordered Jann.

The three Rangers grabbed some extra ammo from the supplies Riesco had brought and followed the borg. Kane started to follow them, but Jann stopped him.

"Not so fast, Corporal. You've got more holes in you than the three of them put together. Stay there and heal up. Kate, how's Khonsari?"

The medic looked up from the Ranger, her hands covered with blood. When she spoke, her voice sounded hollow. "Bad, Jann. If we don't get her to a proper medical facility soon, she's not gonna make it."

The pilot cursed softly and closed his eyes.
"Whoever that is, do you have any decent medical facilities near us? We've got a critically wounded Ranger here, and a medic ain't gonna cut it."

"Colonel, if you want, we can accompany you to the other location," he offered, knowing that they could probably use all the help they could get.

* - Standard Indoan military practice is to refer to all officers as 'Sir', regardless of gender or species.

****

The Indoans had stopped firing at the challenge from the King, and held their weapons at port arms, ready to resume firing at any time, but holding off for the moment.

As the pirate leader responded to the challenge and removed his armour, the Rangers moved together, ready to watch the 'duel'. Some of them smiled inside their helmets at the challenge at the way the pirate had been goaded into the duel.

Private Paul Dietrich, who was closest to the King, withdrew his combat knife from its sheath at the base of his spine, artfully reversed it in his hand and offered it, grip first, to the King, who took it.

Sergeant Sharpe, who thought there had to be an easier way than to use gas, covertly drew his pistol. It was a rare weapon, custom made and able to fire a variety of ammunition types. Carefully, without anyone seeing, he ejected the magazine and retreived a special magazine from his ammo pouch. He carefully inserted it into the pistol, and pulled back the slide.

He looked up again, and found Sgt. Crowe looked oddly at him. Sharpe winked reassuringly, then took a step forward. His right hand held the pistol, now loaded with crystalline nerve darts, which would knock out anyone they hit, ready to fire at the first opportunity.

"Station CO, Sergeant Sharpe here. I have an alternate plan to gas, which may be easier. My sidearm is loaded with knock-out nerve darts, they'll bring the target down in a couple of seconds," he said over the comm, making sure that his external speaker was switched off.

OUTSIDE - The singularity exploded outward as it opened and Helva dove out, opening her comm as soon as she could send a clear transmission.

"Simeon? Help is on...", then let out involuntary scream as she poured everything she had into the correctional jets. Shields crackled as they came in contact and she missed Faded Fortunes by inches. "I'm SORRY! Help is coming, I repeat, help is coming. Fortunes move away from that area, the battleship coming is less maneuverable than I am."

**********************************************************

The Colonel grabbed the nearest servicable grav sled as Snyder and the other Indoan rangers went to clear the ships. She programmed it with the coordinates for the med bay and moved it over to the wounded ranger. "Lets get him up, then just go with the sled, it'll take you to the med facility. She reached down to help move him and looked up at Jann, smiling, "We would appreciate all the help we can get. I'm sure they're in as bad or worse shape than we're in right now."

* - Standard Indoan military practice is to refer to all officers as 'Sir', regardless of gender or species.

(The legion doesn't have any official stand on this, it's up to the officer in question. Samantha doesn't care one way or the other. Just do as she tells you in the end. If your one of hers of course.)

It took a very short time to clear the remaining two ships. Those left to run the ships had only side arms and no armor. But in both cases they refused any opportunity to surrender, not that Snyder particularly offered any.

(As far as Turquine goes, I'm waiting to see if Way closes the doors or leaves them open.)

~ Son of a... The Faded Fortunes launched into an extremely long string of curses, obscenities and insults as the larger Central Worlds vessel narrowly avoided collision with the corvette. It slammed the engines back on and the corvette jumped backwards, swiftly putting considerable distance between the two ships.

After it had stopped cursing, which took almost half a minute, an eternity for a Mind, it collected itself enough to reply to the tranmission, although it was still angry.

{Kotar! Don't you have safety systems to prevent that happening? Don't you get taught to check your exit point before you make the transition? And help isn't exactly needed any more. Way Farer and I got rid of all the pirate vessels. They're just clearing up the pirates remaining on the station now.}

****

(The wounded Ranger is Holly Khonsari. Female.)

Jann nodded in agreement with the Colonel's plan. "Kate, is it safe to move her?" he asked the medic.

There was a long pause before he got a response. "Maybe. I don't know for sure."

"Well, either way, we're gonna have to try. Kane, give us a hand will you?" The remaining Ranger stood and moved to Khonsari's feet, while Jann got ready to lift her arms. As they moved her on to the improvised grav-sled stretcher, she tried to cry out in pain, but it came out a sort of gurgle.

As they moved, Jann felt Holly's hand touch his, and he looked down at her face. Her lips moved, so he moved closer so that he could hear her. Her voice was nearly uninterpretable, but the words could just about be understood.

"Tell... Kate... I love her... Promise me," she managed to say.

"I promise, but you can tell her yourself, Holly. You're gonna be fine, just keep fighting, okay?" he told her. She nodded once, a barely perceptable movement.

After that, Jann switched his comm channel.
"Fortunes, Jann here. We have a critically wounded Ranger, and we may want emergency medevac if the station personnel can't manage."

"Understood, Lieutenant. How are you doing?" replied the Mind.

"We got caught up in the fighting with the pirates. Three of us have minor wounds, and... Private Senkov is dead."

There was a moment of silence before the Mind spoke again. "I'm sorry, Lieutenant. We have been in combat as well, and have suffered five casualties. The remaining Rangers have also been deployed to the station to assist in the defence."

"Understood. Ferrante out." He switched back the comm channel and spoke through the speaker. "Colonel, it seems that the rest of our Rangers are aboard the station."

"Well I'm not a combat vessel", Helva said defensively and bit angrily, "I'm not used to this". She altered course heading toward north dock, "Foster? Way? Cam? SOMEONE ANSWER ME!"

"Easy my siren of space, we're all okay", came Simeon's voice as he forced himself to be calm in order to calm her. "But stay away from north dock, it's still occupied. You and Fortunes can dock at south dock now, the Indoan's and the Legion have it cleared."

She quickly altered course, careful to stay away from the angry corvette and pulled into the dock as close to the station entrance as she could get. Once docked she shut down her systems aside from essentials and let the onboard A.I. take over. Once everything was set she 'inhabited' the avatar again and moved it out into the station. In her concern she didn't hesitate at the airlock and was into the ship without even realizing that she had moved away from herself.

The Colonel nodded, letting a bit of her fatigue show, "We'll back up the fresh troops", she said as Snyder returned with the Indoans. "I still want to stop at....HEY! HEY!!" she shouted as a blonde haired woman ran past and into the station. "Damned civilians", she muttered, "General? We have a civy loose and headed into the bazaar. Simeon? Way? Can you track that civy?"

"Joat here, she's breaking the light barrier toward central. She'll bust a snotmaker if she don't stop at that.....OH FARDLIN A! SHE JUST RIPPED THROUGH THE AIR TIGHT, HEADING NORTH!!"

"Snyder, track that bitch and bring her down. Non-lethal. Roberts, with me. Leiutenant, the doctor here is pretty damn good. Could you give me a hand? My people need resupply."

Outside another singularity formed as a huge ship came through. "Vega station this is the Albion. We are preparing to dock. Our ship has full operating rooms and emergency rooms. Our medical staff will move to locations, establish priorities for care and do all we can."

"Albion, Simeon, South dock, follow Fortunes in and they have a badly injured ranger on the dock."

"This is Dr. Uhua-Sorg, Simeon, we'll take care of it. Please prepare the bazaar for triage and the worst injured will be brought aboard for full care."

"Acknowledged Doctor. Channa? Could you and Patsy move to the bazaar and assist?"

"On our way", came the women's voices almost in unison. As she turned to take a way to the bazaar without passing the assembled pirates she saw the Queen and her people. "We could use a hand setting up for injured in the bazaar", she told her in a voice that ended in a questioning tone, remembering she was talking to Royalty.

Lauralin nodded and moved to follow the two women. It certainly wasn't the first time she had to deal with injured people and figured that at least with this she could be alot more help than she could against these men who had such advanced weapons.

The Faded Fortunes had been listening in to the comm chatter, but steadfastly refused to move anywhere, least of all dock with the station. It continued to sit where it was, conducting repairs to the damaged engines and putting 'hard' composite repair plates over the holes in the hull, replacing the 'soft' magnetic seal.

As the Mind directed the repair drones, the shuttle charged with recovering the bodies of the dead crew returned from its morbid task, sliding into the hangar bay.

As it worked on the myriad of tasks, the Mind continued to grumble about Helva.
~ That's nothing to do with combat, that's general safety precautions. A near collision constitutes an offence under Article 31A-528, Section 64-R, and requires that the offender undergo retraining on how to fly. I wish we were in Indoan space.

****

"Sorry, Colonel, I didn't understand that. Are you asking me if we can resupply you? If you are, I doubt it," replied Jann. "If you were asking for our help to move stuff, you got it."

Kane was retreiving the weapons and ammunition from Khonsari and Senkov.
"Sir, I suppose two of you could take these if you're short on ammo. They're not hard to use, and don't let you down," he suggested to the Colonel.

"Kate, can you spare us Riv? We may need him," put Jann to the medic. Riesco nodded.

"Sure," she replied. "There's nothing more he can do to help her, neither can I. I'll stay with her though."

Jann nodded, and the Douran medic picked up his carbine and dug around in the supplies Riesco had brought for some spare power packs.

Something the Fortunes had said suddenly clicked in Jann's mind, and he flipped his PCU to another channel.

"Tim, its Jann. If you're on this thing, where are you?" he asked.

"Jann? So you're still alive. I'll be damned," replied Sgt. Tim Sharpe. "I dunno where we are, Shrike just dropped us in where the station commander wanted us. We're standing around waiting for a duel to start."

"A duel? What like, swords? Never mind. Tim, I've got some bad news for you."

"What?" The Ranger knew it was serious from the change in the pilot's voice.

"Tony Senkov's dead and Holly Khonsari is critical. Lung shot."

"Shit. Is she gonna be alright?"

"I don't know. We're trying to get her proper medical treatment now. I'll tell you as soon as I know anything. Later, Tim." He returned the comm to its normal channel.

"Rangers, let's go!" he called out.

Snyder followed the blonde haired woman as Helva made her way northward. "YOU ARE ABOUT TO ENTER A COMBAT ZONE. I AM AUTHORIZED TO STOP YOU", Snyder said, cranking up the volume.

Helva stopped and turned. "I need to find someone, please."

"I'm sure we'll find them, for now, until the danger is over, I must ask you to return to the south dock."

Helva hesitated but recognized the borgs authority in the situation and headed back with snyder.

Samantha looked over the weapons even though she said, "What I meant, Leiutenant, is could you give us a hand grabbing some equipement from our ship, it's right over in the next bay. I appreciate it." She handed the weapons back to Kane, "Nice weapon." She headed toward the other bay as she heard Snyder approaching.

"Snyder you got the civ?"

"Affirmative, she's returning with me."

"Meet me at home, I want you fully stocked."

"Yes, Sir."

As they gathered all the equipement they could get thier hands on the Albion pulled in. Dr. Uhua-Sorg came out in his half shell with Anna following as well as thier own army. The army wasn't one designed or trained to take lives but to save them. They moved into the bazaar as Anna and Kenny moved over to Kate. It was easy to recognize a healer no matter the uniform. "What have we got here?" he asked as he began directing his people through the comm on his shell. "Can she be moved? Do we have a choice in the matter?" If someone already did the diagnosis then it would make it faster to begin care.

The Colonel grabbed everything and they headed toward Booley's position. It included four power generators that Snyder carried that could be used to resupply the battle armor's power supply. Snyder was fully loaded, including swapping the grenade and micromissile launchers for two portable shoulder lasers for extra firepower.

"Kane, if the Colonel doesn't want those guns, shoulder 'em and let's move. Colonel, you got it. What do we move and where?" asked Jann as he followed her, the Indoans following behind them.

"Roger, Ell-tee," acknowledged Kane, slinging one of the carbines over his back and throwing the other to Reid, who did the same.

"Make sure you've got plenty of ammo. I don't know how much we'll want, but we're not running out again. So stock up, it's not as if the weight matters with these suits," ordered Jann.

The Rangers complied, then began moving stuff on the request of the Colonel, their AG units and powered exoskeletons making them almost as strong as the borg.

****

Reisco looked up at the voice, started to say something, then caught sight of the woman with the person that had spoken.

"Hey, you're the one that fixed my arm, aren't you?" she said to Anna. Suddenly remembering what was going on, she looked at the other and quickly detailed Khonsari's status.
"She's got a round through her left lung, which has partially filled with blood. Her system's got three shots worth of nanos in her working on it, and we temporarily sealed the hole to allow her to breath, but it's not good enough. She needs proper medical care now."
She paused for breath, checking her medical scanner's display for readings on Khonsari's heart rate, blood pressure and other vitals, which was recieving the data from the nanomites.
"I'm fairly sure it's safe to move her, but we've got to anyway. We got her on this AG sled, so it won't be that hard."

As she looked at the two doctors, she caught sight of a familiar figure in the corner of her eye. The avatar was walking towards her, having recognised the distinctive dark blue battlesuit, even without the helmet, which was lying at Reisco's feet, along with her weapon.

"Kate? It's good to see you're okay. We thought you were all dead, seeing you alive brings warm feelings to my processor," the avatar told her. "And the others, are they okay?"

"Andie? What are you doing here? Where's the girl?" asked Riesco.

"Safe on that ship. The others?" pressed the avatar.

"Oh, yeah. Khonsari's in serious trouble as you can see, Kane's got three new holes in him, Roxy took one in her arm and Jace got scratched by a near-miss. They others are okay, but... Andie, Tony's dead." She nodded at the armour-clad body now lying on it's back a few metres away. "He took one between the eyes."

The avatar bowed its head and closed it's eyes in remembrance as Kate brought the stretcher up and began to move it.

OOC:Sorry to be so long
****************************************

Station CO, Sergeant Sharpe here. I have an alternate plan to gas, which may be easier. My sidearm is loaded with knock-out nerve darts, they'll bring the target down in a couple of seconds," he said over the comm, making sure that his external speaker was switched off.

*"Excellent"* Way replied absentmindedly. He was busy scripting a program to take over the Kolnar battle suits. He thought he had their radio frequency down, and needed just..there he double checked and in cyberspce he chuckled grimly. *"Wait until Turquine engages him and has his attention."*

Way made sure the next went to all the allied forces

*"Okay every one I've cobbled a worm thats going to override the Kolnar suit protocols. I'll be 'injecting' it via their commo's so its going to take about a minute to two minutes to propogate past their ice" Way's voice went sarcastic there, the'd gotten a look at the records of Kolnar programing and it was brute force all the way, not an ounce of finess or subtlety *"Then every suit is going to freeze in place. They'll be trapped in their armor."*

Way fell silent for a second *"There phage away."*

over their private frequency *Helva, you shouldn't have gone hareing off like that, there are still Kolnar loose on the station...and yes I am...mostly...okay*

LZ1 - Helva had returned to her ship self and stood by. When she heard Way she was overjoyed. "What do you mean mostly? Are Cam and Foster alright? I'm sorry I got so carried away, but I was worried." She then performed a nervous reaction which one of her former brawns used to do, she chewed on her lower lip, "and would you please tell Simon I'm sorry for breaking the door?" She said it as though, with all the damage he had to worry about, it was the most important problem.

Kennet nodded as he received the report and looked at Anna, "Would you handle this?" He turned back to Reisco, "She'll be fine, it's easily fixed. We'll have her up and around within two hours."

**********************************************************

LZ2 - Booley sat near the door as the Kolnari began trying to pound through. He knew they would in time, if they had enough time. A med tech from the station hospital had shown up and taken care of his two wounded legionairres, he also ordered all his people back to him, what were left anyway. When Samantha arrived with Jann and the others he shot up smiling. It was a smile that faded quickly as he looked at the three that remained from the force that had fought at LZ1. He closed his eyes and suddenly felt very tired. Samantha stopped, saluted and had everyone set down the amunition. Snyder set down the ports and Booley had four of his people plug in.

"We have five Kolnari beyond those doors, if what Way says works then we shouldn't have to fight them", he said as he began restocking his ammo.

Samantha raised an eyebrow as he began stocking up.

"Well I'll be Fardlin dead if it doesn't work", he mumbled.

She grinned and waited, having stocked up herself. They then waited to see what would happen.

**********************************************************

OUTSIDE - A singularity opened as the battleship moved out of the singularity dive and into normal space. It was half the size of the space station and sported enough firepower to take on a fleet of Kolnari warships. As she came through, Simeon briefed her on the situation.

"Alright", Chria replied, "I'll stand off station near the north dock in case it doesn't work."

"Alright, Chria, thank you", Simeon replied.

**********************************************************

LZ3 - The old king faced off against Belazir and the two shifted around for a moment, trying to find an obvious opening. Finally Belazir struck. The Kolnari was all power and brute force, while the king, regardless of size and age relied on speed and movement. The knives flashed, faster than the eye could follow and steel rang on steel repeatedly. The deadly dance ended as the two stepped away to reaccess thier opponent. Belazir had a telling cut across the abdomen and another that narrowly missed his carotid, cutting his jaw instead. The king had two wounds on his right arm, that he used for defense, and a gash in his thigh. Both men had already begun clotting, the kings favor showing in his rapid healing while the Kolnari enjoyed the hyper clotting ability of his race. They began circling, preparing to begin the lethal dance again.

Riesco nodded, allowing the medical team to take Khonsari away for treatment. She hoped that Khonsari would be fine, since not only was she a well liked member of the crew, they had suffered too many casualties already today.

Suddenly she remembered the others, and grabbed her helmet. She fitted it onto the suit and picked up her weapon. After finding some power packs in the supplies, she spoke to the avatar.

"Andie, come on. The others may need our help. Kane's got a weapon you can use. Just grab some ammo."

The avatar nodded and complied, following after the medic.

****

"Sir, if there's only five, we outnumber them three-to-one. We've got explosives we can use that won't damage the station, so if we do fight, we can take 'em easily," Jann informed the General.

Kane was sitting idly checking on the holes in his arms, when they heard footsteps behind them. He brought his rifle up ready, then lowered it when he recognised Kate and the avatar.

"Thought you might be glad of our help, Jann," put Riesco.

"Well, we're certainly not going to turn you away. How's Khonsari?" asked Jann.

"Med team have got her, they say she'll be fine. Andie needs a weapon."

At that, Kane unslung the spare carbine from across his back and threw it to the avatar, who caught it and primed it. It moved the selector to single shot, since it's advanced AI made it an excellent sharpshooter.

****

The Rangers watched the duel with interest, an entirely new spectacle to them. Knife fighting was not something that really got taught at the training camps. Sgt. Crowe knew what was coming and was watching carefully for the opening that would allow Sgt. Sharpe to make his shot.

Sharpe suddenly spotted his opening and brought the pistol up, squeezing the trigger twice in rapid succession. The pistol made two muted pffts and the tiny crystalline darts impacted Belazir on the arm and shoulder. Chances were he probably would not feel the impact of the tens of needles, and normally the nerve agent would bring the target down in less than a second. It took several seconds this time on account of the differing physiologies, but the pirate went down nonetheless.

LZ2 - "And thankful I am", Booley said to Jann, "but if we can avoid further conflict then so much the better." He looked at Snyder, "Still in one piece I see."

Snyder let out an odd rattle that was her idea of a snort, "Ain't I always?"

Booley grinned and nodded, "Yep, that's why I give you the worst assignments, then I'm sure they'll get done", he said and winked.

"So that's why I get the shit jobs .... Sir."

Booley nodded again, "The better you are the worse it is. It's the legion's way of keeping your ego in check." He slapped Snyder on the arm, smiling and then plugged in as the other's finished charging.

"What have got?" he asked no one in particular, "combat ready Kolnari or ham in a can?"

LZ3 - As Belazir fell the Kolnari roared in fury and began raising thier weapons. Turquine drew his sword and prepared to launch himself into thier midst, to give them less of an opportunity to fire the assault weapons. The glow of the crystalline blade was brighter than the lighting and the knife was held in his right, off hand. The muzzles moved barely at all before the armor locked up and they couldn't get it to respond.

Turquine waited a moment more before relaxing his guard and finally sheathing his blade. He flipped the knife around and offered it hilt first to Private Paul Dietrich, "Thank you sir", he mumbled politely, though not at all happy about the dishonorable way he had to capture the Kolnari leader and shouldered past assembled men, heading back to where he had left Laura and the others. He, of course, couldn't know that they had headed to the docks to do what they could to assist with the wounded.

*"Their suits have locked up."* Way reported to every one

Then he directed the next to Turquine as he finally slowed to look for the others of his party

"Your Majesty, they've gone to the docks to assist with the injured. Sir, I know you are displeased, it's easy enough to see on your face. But could you speak to Camlokewen before you seek your companions?"