Heavily Armed Escort Service.
The SS Explorer prepared for lift off from the seas of Argus, after having returned over five thousand former Doom slaves to their watery home. The incident involving the lions had only recently occurred, and Sky Marshall Wade had decommissioned the Vehicle Team to little more than an escort for the former slaves on their return home. As their individual vehicles were designed with exploration in mind, the Vehicle Team hadn't been disbanded, though rumour had it that Wade was tempted. Fortunately he'd been out voted at Alliance headquarters. Ambassador Coran may not have been able to save the lions from being decommissioned, but he'd helped spare the Vehicle Team from suffering the same fate.
Wade wasn't a fool and he'd sent spies to the Explorer fleet hoping to find evidence he needed to decommission the Vehicle Team. Unfortunately he didn't contend for the two Argusians on the team to see through his plans. Cric and Cinda both had had premonitions that spies were coming and Cric had sensed them immediately once they arrived. Commander Hawkins and Captain Newly were fully aware that recent crew transfers were made to accommodate Wade's spies. Those still loyal to Voltron and everything the Defender of the Universe stood for were easily able to throw the spies off track.
Tech Sergeants Chip Stoker and Nikita Voronkova ambled into the forward lounge that the team used and took a seat near the bar. Chip opened his laptop and scanned for listening bugs. Once he found and disabled them, he alerted the others that the coast was clear. Sammy Klotz secured the lounge and left the team and several of the engineering crew to their business.
"Okay, we've finished the upgrades to the communications systems," Chip said once everyone had taken a seat nearby.
"Engineering will install them during a pre-approved night shift," Nikita added. "Here's the roster," she added, handing it over to the crew chief.
"These tie you straight into the Den and can't be picked up?" the chief asked as he studied the roster.
Chip nodded. "Pidge already has the system in place on Earth, Pollux, and Arus."
"And once we're on-line through the vehicles, our Voltron team will be able to pass messages along when we're en route somewhere," Nikita added.
"We need somewhere on the ship we can install this system too," Jeff muttered.
"How about Professor Page's office?" Lisa suggested. Chip, Cric, and Cinda all shook their heads.
"I saw Ensign May coming out of there the other day with scanning equipment," Chip stated.
"It is one of the first places they suspect," Cric added.
"The laundry," Chip piped up suddenly. "There are enough of us in the Den…"
"That none of Wade's narks would suspect a thing if one of us goes down there," Jeff finished.
"The laundry is on the internal line," the engineering chief smirked.
"But it can be easily routed through to the main one," Nikita added.
"You and your boyfriend are on that assignment," the chief grinned, pointing to Nikita and Chip.
"Who said he's my boyfriend?" the petite Russian tech smirked.
"I'm her fiancé," Chip corrected nonchalantly.
"No way!" Ginger gaped and Nikita pulled out a chain from inside her shirt. A diamond solitaire ring hung from the chain.
"Sammy locked the door right?" Jeff grinned as everyone crowded around the couple to congratulate them on their engagement. Shannon slid past him and behind the bar and fiddled with the lock on a cabinet for a moment before producing a bottle of champaign.
"Combo's way too bloody easy," the Irishman grinned as he popped the cork on the bottle.
Two months later, the couple were wed on Pollux, where the Explorer fleet was now stationed. Pidge proudly stood by his twin's side as Chip and Nikita exchanged vows on a cool autumn morning.