"Well, that is a surprise, Moratha…" Nrakal said as the pair of them made their way out of the sick bay "I would not have thought Troll would actually have an affinity for the change of any kind… but apparently he does. His changes have proceeded at almost 1.8 standard speed at this point, which is why I have been checking him far more often…".
"I can't see anywhere that he's been harmed, Doctor" Moratha replied as the two of them got into a car "He seems to be particularly healthy, in fact…I'd suggest we could proceed with stage 2 addition in a day or two…".
"Already done" Nrakal replied, surprising her "Just for Troll, mind you. He'll be out of the tank before Rulok and his teams return at the current rate of adjustment… maybe by a day or two, maybe by a momen or two, maybe only by a few microts. None of us can tell".
"And my daughter?" Moratha asked, to which Nrakal smiled and said "Urana's change is proceeding in a calmer and steadier manner, Moratha – her own change is, so far, staying strictly according to schedule as far as I can tell".
"Good" Moratha replied "I have to clean myself up and get my kitchen staff moving or we won't have a Second Meal today".
Lirak's recovery was going very well as well, since he was able to eat in the small galley with the rest of the two teams – although Devin still insisted on pushing the mobile chair he sat in and getting his food and drink.
"I am recovering well enough…" Lirak explained quietly before taking a breath or two "I can speak much more clearly, I feel much more energetic even if I do stay in this chair, and I can safely move myself around at least this deck of the ship – even though this young man insists on pushing the chair for me".
"I do not mind" Devin replied, shaking his head "You have done so much for me already, Lirak… and for mother and father. Everyone else is well?"
"We are" Rulok told him "Lirak was the most severely injured, Devin – and even he recovers swiftly. Do you or your parents need to eat?"
"We do not, si-Rulok" Feltano explained, remembering that he had been permitted to address people by name instead of rank "It was our eating time the day before you brought us here. We have almost four weeken remaining until our next eating time".
"I like eating times!" Devin said, clapping "Shopping for all the things, all the amazing smells from the kitchen, helping mama cook… and snurching bits from the fureen bowl without being caught!"
Everyone present laughed at that, although Maranno did tell Devin off a little bit for doing that – the rest of the mealtime was much more relaxed, and Devin shrieked and clapped when Lirak stood unaided once everything was cleared away.
"Yaaayy!" Devin called "Can you just stand, or walk as well? Do you need me or papa to help you?"
"I don't need either of you to help me, young Devin" Lirak replied "Our course needs to be checked, and if I can test my health and do my job at the same time then so much the better" before pausing for thought, after which he added "Since you have been good in helping me, Devin… perhaps you might want to come and see the bridge. Rulok will be there with us, of course, and your parents can come if they want to… but only Rulok, myself, and a certain helpful young man will go onto the bridge itself".
Devin shrieked and clapped again, jumping up and down before asking his father several times in quick succession if he could go – Feltano laughed, but added "You are being allowed onto the bridge because you have done well in helping your new friend Lirak, Devin! They do not even have to let you, or anyone else, so much as look onto the bridge from the entry door if they do not want to – so be properly respectful and do what you are told".
"Are you coming, papa?" Devin asked "I know you want to see the bridge as well, papa! Are you and mama coming?"
"We will stand at the door while you go inside" Maranno told her son "You will go and see, and help your friend if asked, and after that you can come and tell us about it".
Lirak walked steadily but slowly up to the bridge, two decks up – Devin stayed beside him the whole way except going up the stairs between decks.
"Look, Devin!" Feltano told his son happily when they reached deck 1 "See how this deck is shorter than the others! See the entry hatches for lifepods! Can you see other doors?"
"I… think so, papa" Devin replied, equally excited "Back there and there, papa! I do not know what they are!"
"One is probably the Captain's quarters" Lirak explained "I think the other one is either a conference room or the battle management room. It's been some time since any of us went in either room and I've forgotten if those rooms are here or a deck or two further down".
"We are going to the bridge!" Devin said happily, clapping again and ignoring the other possibilities on deck 1 "Is that this way?" and pointing the opposite way down the deck.
"It is" Lirak replied "We should go there" before his hammond hand instinctively came down to where Devin could reach it. Devin smiled and took Lirak's huge hand in his own much smaller one before squeezing ever so lightly, smiling as Lirak rumbled a little – both his parents watched this and talked among themselves as the five of them headed along the deck to the bridge door.
"I will leave the bridge door open" Rulok told them "so you can see where your son is at all times. Ask questions about what you see if you like – but don't touch anything. The same goes for you too, Devin".
Devin nodded, a beaming smile on his face at being able to see the bridge of a ship he had never even seen from the outside so much as a monen ago.
He watched as Lirak checked the course on Novia's astronavigation console and again as he checked their progress in more detail at his own copilot's console. Devin clapped happily before praising him at length about being able to fly the ship himself, and Lirak laughed just a little before telling him "I had to do a lot of training for that, young man… as did Rulok here. He is the ship's captain, not me".
By now Devin had found Shellek's flight engineer's console and was calling out rapidly and excitedly to his father about it. Rulok sighed briefly before comming Shellek to tell him about this, and maybe two momens later Shellek arrived at the bridge as well.
"That is where I sit, Devin" Shellek told him "When I am on the bridge, I sit there and can tell if everything on the ship works well. If not, those of us who have technical skills find out where things are that need fixing and fix them".
"Did you hear that, papa?!" Devin almost shouted in amazement "We can find out where things are that need fixing here! Can we help repair the ship, papa?"
Devin's enthusiasm got Shellek's head turning to face him.
"Your family have mechanical skills, Devin? Perhaps other skills in repairing spacecraft?"
Devin nodded excitedly before explaining at length how his father repaired land vehicles and spacecraft for his living, jumping up and down on the deck when he explained how he was allowed to help if he was not studying.
"You do not need to help with anything…" Shellek reminded them both "But since several of those with technical skills were injured recently I would appreciate your help-"
"What can we fix?!" Devin asked immediately "The engines? The weapons? The climate control? Any land vehicles? The sensors? The-"
"I am going to try…" Shellek interrupted "to repair the hyperwave communication systems. If we do this soon, we can send back a progress report to our commander as well as advise him on when we might be getting back".
"Ooooo…." Devin cooed, after which he asked if they could start now.
"Intermittent link to the Switchblade!" Keyah called, waking Harrigan and Talannah in their quarters early one morning "I would think this means that the ship suffered some damage but the mission has been successful thus far!"
Harrigan grumbled, Talannah slightly more so, before Harrigan replied "Stay on it, Keyah… since the pair of us are now awake, however reluctantly, we'll drop in on an early-morning training run. Call me on my personal comm if anything else happens. Harrigan out", after which he discommed.
Harrigan grinned a bit as he watched his wife walk around and prepare some morning tea – she did grumble a little about being volunteered for early morning training, but also added "-but it's nothing I haven't done to anyone else before, John…".
Harrigan grinned again and wrapped his arms around her before squeezing a little – Talannah squeaked in surprised, but smiled and rumbled before resting her head on his shoulder and hugging her husband just as tightly.
"Good…" Harrigan whispered softly, not letting go "Morning tea is nice… but a good hug from my darling wife is a much better way to start the day…".
Talannah smiled, nodded, but stayed where she was – until the heating unit's small waterpot whistled, so she prepared the tea and left it to brew a while. It took longer than she'd thought before either of them got back to the tea – Harrigan chased her around their quarters when they weren't using the refresher, and it took quite an effort of will on both their parts not to indulge in a little morning recreation before the tea got too cold.
"You're incorrigible, John, you really are…" she told him, after which the pair of them laughed a bit before drinking some tea "How you can be so …eager… at this early arn I have no clue at all".
"Just 'cause I got you with me, love" Harrigan replied, lifting Talannah up before putting her back on his lap "Normally I'd end up waking maybe twenty momens before First Meal if I had the chance – and since you an' I both know now how likely that is when Cap'n L gets in the mood for kicking people's doors in before early morning training …".
"At least once a weeken…" Talannah replied, nodding "If you think that's bad, ask Captain Trannak some time what I made his training intake do – every day, I might add. That did them good and made them what they are today, and it will be just as good for our own troops here and now".
Harrigan promptly told her some of the stories he'd heard about what training measures some other countries on Earth used – when Harrigan told her about Spetsnaz, she turned and told him "Some people with a mind after our own! If we ever go back to Erp, we must recruit some of them!"
"If we go…" Harrigan replied, taking a deep draught of his tea "…an' if we find any we can trust", after which he commed the officers and senior NCOs to see if anyone was heading out training.
"We are, Commander" Trannak replied, after answering his own comm "The running may not be too brisk - my wife is with me, after all, and while she improves quickly she is not at Special Forces fitness levels yet – but we will run and do weight training and aerobic exercises and swimming in the PTR, which should get us to First Meal nicely".
"A bit of everything before eatin' then" Harrigan replied "Nice. Bringing the little mascot along?"
Once Trannak translated Harrigan's odd expression, he smiled and nodded before telling him "Amara loves these training times, Commander! She rides in the harness for the running section, but she does her best to mimic us in the other exercises – and she is learning so fast at swimming as well!" before giving him the station code for the transit station near his family quarters.
"Come, Amara…" Trannak urged his daughter "Time to get up… time for training with your friends in green…".
"It training time, papa?" Amara murmured, turning under her blanket to look up at him "That why I up an' it ear-ly?"
"It is" he confirmed "Time for the refresher before we dress, Amara – after I wake your mama, of course".
Caseya was not so eager to rise that morning, even less so that early – but she smiled and hugged Trannak anyway before the three of them took their turns in the shower. Caseya smiled and woke more readily as she heard Amara call out happily and sing as Trannak helped her shower, so once everyone was clean and dressed she was in a much better mood.
"Special clothes for you for training, Amara" Trannak said, laying child-size Special Forces camouflage fatigues out on the big bed "Special small clothes like mine, Amara. Everyone else will be wearing them too, Amara, so when you do so you will be a bit like all of us" before he remembered the comm call and added "Your friend the big funny man and your auntie Talannah will be coming training with us as well, Amara…".
"YAAAAAYYYY!" she shouted happily, clapping and delaying Trannak helping her put her shirt on by a half-momen or so "BIG FUNNY MAN AN' AUNTIE 'LANNAH COME!"
"Our car is coming, Captain" Juroch announced on the wall comm "We are slightly behind schedule due to waiting for Keyah Kamara to arrange relief for morning comm desk duty, but we have now left the transit stop for the bridge and will arrive at your location shortly".
"The Commander and Sub-Commander will be joining us" Trannak told Juroch, who nodded and replied "We will stop at the usual crew quarters transit platform and wait for them, then" before discomming.
A few momens later, Amara was in her harness on Caseya's back and all three of them were on the transit platform. Juroch left the car first when it arrived, looking from side to side before nodding and calling for everyone else to come out as well.
"We're all hear from what I can tell" Harrigan told Trannak "From what I heard, Liz did comm Hellbolt in advance and warn him to get himself moving – but unless you want to read 'em the riot act about that, I'd leave it be".
"It's fine" Trannak decided "Unit integrity is being built, the unit is looking out for the welfare of its members. Everyone is wearing full standard patrol kit if not battle kit?"
"Liz has that weird pack on again" Harrigan explained "Which means she an' Hellbolt are likely packing a bit less weight than the others… but everyone's got basic patrol kit at least".
Trannak led the small skulker corps in a run over several decks – it was clear both Liz and Caseya's personal fitness still had a way to go before it was close to the others, but Trannak told them both "You're doing well enough for now, I think… and going up the stairs at speed while carrying equipment takes practice anyway. The more you train, the more you improve".
"Surprised Dad's not coming, to be honest" Liz replied "Dad's usually great for these kind of things. Though I saw him an' Koronna heading some place even earlier than we did, but I was still mostly asleep then…".
Juroch glared at Liz a bit for not addressing Harrigan by rank before telling her "Increase your pace, young woman… move ahead to where Caseya and Amara are. Perhaps your motivation for training will improve if you run beside them".
Everyone dropped to the huge central sparring mat when they arrived at the training room Trannak had chosen except Juroch – who called "No one said training was over, did they? Since you are sitting, spread yourselves out and Master Kamara and I will lead you through aerobic exercise. You need flexibility and agility, not just strength and stamina".
Caseya took her harness off and lifted Amara out of it – and Amara tried her best to imitate her adult friends at exercise. Keyah saw this and came over to talk to her about it, telling her "You are still a very small person, Amara… do not strain or hurt yourself by doing too much".
"I do more, auntie Keyah" Amara insisted, nodding "I do 'nuff ben-dings, but I do push-ings an' sit-ings when it time".
"She has a Scarran's determination and willpower, Juroch" Keyah whispered when she returned to exercise beside Juroch at the head of the formation "She insists that she should exercise – insists. She does a small amount of each exercise each time – though I think she likes swimming the most. She pushes herself most there".
Juroch rumbled softly, not stopping his own routine even for a microt as he replied "Good, Master Kamara… it will be good for her to learn to like training as well as simply to do it. It will be good practice for when she is old enough to learn our Art as well".
By the time the skulkers were in the PTR and swimming in the river, Amara was clearly tired but also very excited to be swimming.
"Heeheehee!" she called "I swim too, green friends! I not good as you yet, but I learn an' I prac-tiss an' then I be good as you!"
"See?" Juroch called "Our small friend there trains, willingly too, which should be an example to all of you!" before he came up alongside Caseya and called "Liz… Caseya… your fitness is not as good as the others yet, but both of you improve steadily. Well done" before he shot off ahead of them and proceeded to swim a number of times between the two bends in the river either side of the bridge with his uniform and basic kit still on.
Amara amazed everyone by managing to swim a very short distance without Caseya holding her up. While everyone either smiled or waved to her, she loved it most when Juroch and Keyah came right up to her and congratulated her, letting out a strong burst of happiness and love everyone to in the area heard except Harrigan and Talannah.
"You're doin' good, little miss…" Harrigan told her with a grin, getting Amara to shift to his chest carapace and run up to hug him "You're gonna be a little fish in this water soon, I'm sure!"
Talannah smiled and praised her in her own way as well, getting a hug of her own as well before Amara said "You next to big funny man now, auntie 'Lannah, so I not talk in your head. I talk in your head 'nother time, auntie 'Lannah – your small friend 'Mara see if I talk in your head from extra longlong way 'way like I do with nice doc-tor friend. If I do goodgood, then we tell nice doc-tor an' it go in ar-kyve for all doc-tors" and jumped in the river from her shoulders, landing with a big splash and actually going under the surface before Harrigan lifted her out and passed her back to Caseya.
"Going un-der fun, mama!" Amara said when Caseya took hold of her "Soon your 'Mara learn to swim un-der, mama!"
Devin loved the chance to do technical work on the Switchblade, even if he only assisted his father. He was crawling back and forth in tech tunnels, checking fibre bundles for breaks and replacing sections if needed as well as carrying tools and parts to his father or Shellek.
"Some of these tunnels are tight for me" Shellek told Feltano when they stopped briefly "But I am the most skilled aboard when it comes to repairing electronic systems in particular….so here I am".
"We will go into the tight spots!" Devin insisted happily "Papa and I are good at that and it's fun!"
"I have to put my armour back on, Devin" Shellek replied "and check two things on the hull – then, I think, I will show you how to run the hyperwave comm system test. If the result is good I will call Rulok and he can make the report to our commander. If Rulok gives permission, the two of you may watch – but do not speak unless asked".
Devin watched intently while his father cycled the hatch so Shellek could go EVA – perhaps ten momens later, Shellek came back in and took his helmet off before saying "I had to make two minor repairs – but I think it's worth trying a systems test. Come with me to the bridge".
Devin was actually allowed to sit in the flight engineer's chair himself, which made him clap excitedly and his father smile indulgently – under Shellek's constant coaching, Devin ordered a systems test of the hyperwave communications. Several times yellow light appeared briefly before they turned green, but when the test was done every light was green.
"Yaaaayy!" Devin called "Everything works!"
"I think it does, yes" Shellek confirmed, before coming Rulok to tell him the news – less than five momens later, Rulok ran onto the bridge before comming the Havoc…
When the comm desk started beeping, Specialist Trooper Fourth Class Dern was on duty at the comm desk – and when he answered the call, he immediately commed Harrigan.
"The War Commander's on his way…" Dern explained, his life in the Blood Hand making him a little more proud to use Harrigan's full title "Probably the Sub-Commander as well. They won't be long…"
Dern passed the call over to the command chair as soon as Harrigan arrived – Talannah stood behind him, resting her hands on his shoulders as he debriefed Rulok. Harrigan was surprised at how close Lirak had come to death, but both relieved and pleased that he was recovering – he was curious about Reganto and his mission, but said "Nrakal can look at him when you get back – if getting that one here's the price of making sure you lot get back alive then it's a price I can live with" before grinning and adding "If he's got good stuff of his own, we'll have a look at it while the doc fixes him up, of course…".
"Of course…" Rulok replied, laughing just a little.
"Eatings!" Amara called, clapping "It not 'Mara eating time yet, but it lots fun watching friends eat!" as everyone made their way through the sweet course – Keyah's eating time was happening, so Amara watched in amazed delight as Keyah ate an entire serving tray of fureen before going back for one of the Scarran puddings.
"I would not have been permitted to eat this before coming here…" she told Caseya, grinning a bit "You, I think, would never even have seen it!"
Caseya guessed what it was anyway, and when Keyah confirmed it Caseya told her "I spent time on punishment duties in kitchens often, Keyah Kamara… I have probably even made this pudding before". Keyah nodded, well aware of those duties, before putting a small serving in Caseya's bowl for her and Amara to share.
"It is very rich, Amara…" Caseya told Amara "…but it is very nice as well. Only Scarrans ate this kind of pudding back on Kalian, and not even all of them – here, Amara, we may eat whatever we choose. We are very lucky".
"We lucky, mama" Amara agreed "It taste nice an' got lots goodgood stuff in, that what your 'Mara think".
Full or not, Amara shrieked and clapped and bounced up an down when Lazarus and Koronna came forward and their own marriage was announced – and ran over to leap into Lazarus' arms as soon as the kingdom anthem had been sung.
"That all 'mazing!" she shrieked "You an' auntie 'Ronna now like my mama an' papa too! Troll man an' auntie 'Rana in tank thing now, black hat Captain, or they tell you it all nice an' good too!"
"Troll would eat all the best food the first chance he got" Lazarus replied "Even before he went in that tank he was like that".
"Troll man friend like hothot stuff with meats in" Amara replied, nodding "Auntie 'Rana tell him 'bout it an' he try it an' then he like it lots".
"That's Scorcher" Koronna explained "A favourite of many Scarrans, though even we don't always eat it as much as Troll does. He likes to start First Meal with some every day".
Amara nodded and said "That right, auntie 'Ronna, I seen it!" before hugging her as well.
Amara shrieked even more a bit later when Koronna told her something else, after which she chattered to Captain Lazarus for some momens before he groaned a little theatrically and told her "Don't tell anyone else, Amara…it's not gonna happen till just before Third Meal anyway. You an' your mom an' dad can come if you like, but I don't want half the ship coming like it's some kinda circus…".
"I tell mama an' papa in heads then, black hat Captain" Amara replied, nodding "That bestbest way to tell per-son see-krit stuff so no one else hear. I sit on auntie 'Ronna, nice black hat captain friend, an' then I talk in mama an' papa heads".
Once Koronna had a good hold of Amara, Amara rumbled softly and called ~This your 'Mara, mama an' papa. Nice black hat captain who my friend tell me he go in tank an' auntie 'Ronna go in tank an' they have special stuff excitement! He say he not have all special stuff, he not be big like big funny man, but he say he have same special stuff like auntie 'Ronna get. Auntie 'Ronna say it not take longlong time like Troll friend an' auntie 'Rana~
~((praise, happiness))~ Caseya told her, smiling as she did so, especially when Trannak added ~Well done for such a clear message, Amara – to your mama and to me as well! I expect it is hard for you to do that to two people at the same time, especially when we are not like you in this… so have juice and come back to us, Amara praise~
Koronna rumbled softly to Amara and held her own mug of juice for her to drink from – Amara drank about half of it before hugging Koronna again and walking more slowly across the galley back to Caseya.
"I with mama 'gain…" Amara said happily once Caseya sat her on her lap again "Goodee" before naming all the other skulkers at the table and identifying them by their faces and their smell – even Liz.
"Your one easy, auntie Liz friend" Amara said when Liz asked about that "It 'cause you a hoo-man like auntie Jane an' big funny man an' Ghost friend an' your papa. Hoo-man people not smell like other people, auntie Liz friend".
"I expect I smell a lot different too, Amara" Hellbolt suggested, and Amara nodded and replied "You on-ly Ne-bar-ee friend here, that why you easy to smell. We get more later?"
"Not sure" Hellbolt replied, rocking his hand back and forth in the human gesture even Amara understood well by now "If we find some of the people I knew… maybe we can talk to one or two of them" before he grinned at Amara and added "I think some of them will be nice friends and like you, Amara…"
Amara clapped and said "Goodee. We see later".
"We've not got a lot to do locally during the day…" Harrigan announced after the meal "But I want anyone heading dirtside to keep an informal lookout anyway. That means that while you can drink an' have fun if you want… don't have too much fun, hmm? Anyone who wants to is pre-approved to grab a rifle of whatever kind seems good to you at the time, too".
"Any update from Lieutenant Rulok, sir?" came one Bloodstar's voice from a little further away from the counter.
"Just before the meal" Harrigan confirmed "They're maybe three weeken out from Tal IV. Everyone's still around but they're a bit bumped and dented, if you get my meaning…".
All the Bloodstars knew Harrigan wouldn't explain battle details while Amara was still in the room, so the one who asked just called "Good to hear, sir" before finishing their remaining pudding – and getting volunteered for kitchen duty for being one of the last to finish eating in the entire galley as well.
"Troll man an' auntie 'Rana do all goodgood in tank, black hat captain" Amara assured Captain Lazarus as she and her parents accompanied the Captain and Koronna to the sick bay "I come in an' see them every day with mama an' papa. We come in an' see you every day, so I know you doing all goodgood too".
"To be honest…" Lazarus admitted "…I never liked hospitals an' sick bays an' stuff like that. It took a while for Koronna to convince me this is actually gonna help me".
"You be all goodgood here" Amara told him, walking across the car to his seat before hugging him tightly and rumbling "We all like you lots, black hat captain. You our friend".
Amara stayed there, rumbling quite loudly while mindtalking to both Lazarus and Koronna, until the car came to a halt at the sick bay transit platform.
"We here now, black hat captain an' auntie 'Ronna" Amara told them "I not talk in your heads now 'cause it time we go in sick bay an' see tanks an' see doc-tor an' see friends".
"Hmmm…" Lazarus muttered as he looked at Troll in his tank "He's got no excuse for backing out of training now, he's bigger already. How long's he got to go?"
"Amara?" Nrakal asked, smiling – Amara clapped and replied "Troll man body like special bits lots, black hat captain, he got special bits num-ber two in now, so he be out 'gain 'fore un-cle Ru-lok come back by ti-ny bit".
"Really?" Lazarus asked Nrakal in disbelief – Nrakal nodded and said "I'm not entirely sure I know why, Captain… but he's perfectly healthy, if that's what's worrying you".
"That layabout's grinning at me even now, look" Lazarus grumbled, pointing at Troll's tank – Amara actually climbed onto the lid of the tank, put her head right against it, then looked, after which she sat upright and giggled before saying "You right, black hat captain! Troll man all happy an' do lar-fings in tank! Heeheehee!"
Nrakal checked the medical readouts before turning three different knobs a little bit – Troll's face twitched a bit at first, but he relaxed and smiled a bit before seeming to sleep more soundly.
"He needed a bit more special food, Amara" Nrakal explained as he prepared the two remaining empty tanks "along with some of the other good things all people I put in tanks have. A bit less of one of the others, too".
Moratha and Leasa arrived in another car a few momens later, along with two of the combat medics from the Bloodstars. Nrakal promptly gave everyone orders, getting them to bring certain things or help Captain Lazarus or Koronna into their respective tanks.
"Gonna miss you in there, K…" Lazarus admitted, hugging his new wife – Koronna hugged him perhaps a little more tightly than she should have, though Lazarus didn't say anything, before telling him "I will miss you too, my Anton – but we will both sleep for several weeken and emerge healthy and very much improved. We will both help each other to adapt to our new capabilities – I expect Troll will help as well if he can stop grinning long enough to do so".
"Approximately nine weeken total" Nrakal clarified for them "You are both receiving a much lower-impact variant of the stage two change than either Troll, Urana, or the Commander has done – so emergence time can be adjusted a little".
"You be hungry when you come out of tank" Amara told them both seriously, nodding her head "Nice doc-tor tell me that 'fore. If you come out when your friend 'Mara here I get you hot stuff in tins to eat till you an' auntie 'Ronna not hungry or it eatings time in galley".
"Let's get this show on the road, you lot!" Lazarus barked at the medics around him "before I change my mind!"
Each of them was tranquilised, rendering them unconscious – then Nrakal walked everyone through the procedure of making them ready for the change to be administered. Despite her fear of needles, Amara watched every microt from her position sitting on top of Nrakal's shoulders – to Caseya's surprise, she stayed totally quiet the whole time.
Trannak nodded when Caseya told him about that, but he replied "Look, Caseya… see how she is watching every move Nrakal makes. She may be concerned for her friends' health… but she also things this is a good time to learn something new, I think".
"Amara…" Nrakal commanded "Climb down to my waist level – and press the exact button I tell you to press when I tell you to press it. Normally I would not get anyone who is not a doctor to do this…. But you have been good, and I know you will only do what I tell you to do, so if you really want to you can press the buttons to get everything started for me. Do you want to do that?"
Amara immediately crawled down to Nrakal's waist (upside down as well, Caseya noted with amusement) before telling him "I here, nice doc-tor… what your friend 'Mara do for you?"
Nrakal rested her hammond index finger over identical buttons on each tank's control panel, telling her "When I say so, Amara, you will press those buttons. They do not have to be pressed at the same time, Amara… but push them in firmly. They will turn green when you have done that" before all the medical personnel checked everything twice on Captain Lazarus and Koronna before nodding.
"Now, nice doc-tor?" Amara asked – Nrakal checked for himself, then nodded and told Amara "Now".
She pressed each button, clapping when it turned green, before telling Nrakal "I done that, nice doc-tor".
"Process commenced at…" Nrakal announced for the archives, adding the time "…on limited-ability low-impact stage 2 program for subjects Captain Anton Lazarus and-" and Koronna's full name, which none of them had ever heard before, before setting half a dozen separate notes and alarms for later use.
"I been good for nice doc-tor, mama an' papa" Amara told them proudly as they left the sick bay "I help him do special stuff for friends" before she asked "What we do now?"
"Devin is still sleeping?" Lirak asked one morning in the Phobos' small galley.
"He is" Maranno confirmed, smiling a little at knowing her son was safe to sleep on a ship crewed by Scarrans "He has loved going around this ship… but I think his ordeal is slowly catching up with him. I will let him sleep as long as he wants to sleep – unless we get to wherever it is you are taking us and he is still asleep, of course".
Several of the Scarrans in the galley rumbled a bit in amusement at how Devin's exhaustion had caught up with him and kept him sleeping, which amazed Maranno no end. These Scarrans may still seem a little fearsome she thought but they like my son and treat him well – and they treat my husband and I well, too. Should we require an eating time before we reach our destination I am sure, now, that we will be fed – even if it is not Kalish food or indeed even real food. At least we will have food.
"Should be about five days travel time remaining" Lirak announced when everyone was in the galley again, some days later "Maybe two of those will be spent getting out of Scarran space by avoiding Chena'ia".
"We will be going outside Scarran space?" Devin asked in amazed delight "What kind of people live where we are going? What are they like? Do some Kalish people live there? What other kinds of people live there? Is where we are going industrial or agricultural, urban or wild or-".
"We will find out when we get there, Devin!" laughed Feltano "Your mother and I do not know either! It will be a good surprise for all three of us, yes?"
"Yes, papa!" Devin agreed, hugging his father.
"Well, then…" Harrigan told his wife "…now Cap'n L and Koronna are in the tanks while all the rest of Tactical Command except Jane, Shor, and Ryalla are away with Rulok… shows how few people we really have, to be honest".
"The quality of our personnel is…" Talannah countered "…nonetheless, very high, even if you take into account Troll whining at how training makes his muscles hurt".
Harrigan snorted, then replied "At least we'll hear a lot less of that now, even after Troll get's out of that sealed bathtub he's in right now – we got a excuse he can't counter to volunteer him for anything an' everything too. Medical evaluation".
That got Talannah to laugh as well, though she did say "I'll see if Sturk can get us an always-on connection into the Blood Hand general long range comm network – at least then we'll get most news coming right to us rather than through the Riaanond station".
"How long before Juroch's friend gets here from the land of trees an' rivers, anyway?" Harrigan asked, downing half a mug of cold tea at once.
"Unknown" Talannah sighed "I expect whoever commands such an expedition will only talk to Juroch – at least until he lets them know we are who we say we are and that we're trustworthy".
When Juroch was told of Harrigan's interest in the arrival time of the Sholphauran ship, he just nodded and replied "I am sure we will be expected to ask about that, sir – I do not know the route they are using, even less what traffic they encountered on the way. Asking how long remains until their arrival will let them know we are concerned for their welfare" before he thought for a momen or so before adding "I expect they will have the necessary software and hardware specialists to splice this ship into the general message network as well".
Juroch decided Late in the day or not, I will head directly to the bridge right away – truth be told, I had expected a progress report myself by now before getting on a transit car and heading for the bridge.
"Classified traffic to my homeworld, Jane" Juroch told Jane when he saw her at the comm desk – she just climbed out of the chair and told him "Fine by me, mister – gives me an excuse to get a tin of rations an' one of that weird pudding one as well to keep me going…" before heading off the bridge.
She is strange Juroch decided Perhaps it is as the Commander says, she is as she is because she is one of the few females from her home sector in a special force before manually coding the protocols necessary for a scrambled transmission and connecting a small device from his pocket to one of the desk's auxilliary ports.
"Good…" a Sholphauran voice answered when the call was received "I had wondered if any of you would check in as well, Stalker…but you have, this is good".
"The War Commander believes in letting people exercise personal initiative" Juroch replied "He prefers to let people fulfil their orders or keep their promises without watching them every microt. He is not from a world where just staying alive outside strong buildings requires regular checking in".
"Our ship is well on its way" the Sholphauran comm officer told Juroch "…so my logs and comm records tell me… and should be only a few days travel away-oh, look, it is contacting me right now. I will splice them in to this transmission".
"SF Tanglethorn checking in" came a Kalish voice "We are maybe four days travel time from the War Commander's specified location – but there is a Switchblade heading the same way at extreme sensor range. Should we destroy it?"
"No" Juroch told him in his own language "Get a general IFF scan… if you can do so without alerting the crew. If it lists the name as HMS Phobos then it is part of our unit and under the War Commander's authority. They may require escort to our location".
A momen or so later, the same Kalish voice reported "Confirmed ident as HMS Phobos. It is a Kingdom vessel under the War Commander's direct authority, then? I have summoned our captain, just in case you wish to deal directly with her…"
"Yes?" the Sholphauran captain, a high-caste female, asked politely but firmly "I have been told the ship ahead of us is one of the War Commander's own – can this be confirmed?"
"Yes, captain" Juroch replied "It is one of ours. We would appreciate it if you can keep formation with it and escort it here – its crew are returning from a difficult mission and may appreciate friendly company".
"It's damaged" the captain told Juroch "Nothing flight-critical, at least not right away… but passive sensors show at least two turrets are down and it's take a few hits along both sides. Hold this transmission – we'll hail them and splice you in".
Sholphaur control dropped out after that, but Shellek's face came on screen.
"New ship on our stern, mister" he told Juroch "Can't really see it, not on active or passive – but they called us an' asked if we wanted escort. Are they friendly – or should we try to outrun them?"
"It is from my home" Juroch explained, smiling a little "It bears the officer we asked for. They will keep pace with you as long as you do not try for flank speed – their ship is probably larger but slower than your Switchblade".
"It is both of those" the Sholphauran captain revealed "We are a Reaver-class frigate named Tanglethorn – and we are a stealth vessel, which is why you will not be able to see us, at least at our current range".
"Copy all that, Rulok?" Shellek asked Rulok as he ran onto the bridge and strapped in – he explained again anyway, and Rulok relaxed a little and told the Tanglethorn "Bringing speed down to hetch 7 or so, then – we don't want to be away from home for too much longer, so that's as low as I'm going. Can whatever you have catch that?"
"This is a frigate…" the Sholphauran captain chuckled "…not a dreadnaught! We will come alongside to your hammond and keep pace".
When Rulok broadcast this event over the internal comm, Devin squeaked and asked "Another ship? Is it like this one? Are its crew friendly? Can we see the outside of the ship yet? What class of craft is it and how much mass does it have? Can it land on planetary surfaces? Can i-"
"This deck has viewing portals" Lirak told Devin, cutting him off gently "When this new ship comes alongside, we can go and see if we can find it. We will not go on the bridge, not if Rulok is trying to stay in formation with this newcomer".
It wasn't too many momens longer before Rulok reported the Tanglethorn coming alongside to hammond – Lirak jogged along with Devin and his parents, glad to be able to start exercising properly again, before they reached a view portal and Lirak told him "Look outside. Tell us what you see".
"There are many window lights!" Devin replied "I think I see a flight deck door! I know I see bow cannon and turrets along the side! That ship is so much larger than this one – what kind is it?"
"It's a special kind of ship…" Rulok told him over the comm "A Reaver. It is very hard to find while still being quite large, but is not as fast or as manoevreable as this ship. You probably did see a flight deck door, Devin – Reavers can carry quite a number of small craft".
Devin stayed looking at the Tanglethorn, running between various view portals so he could see more of it, for almost an arn until his father called him away.
"The ship alongside…" the Sholphaurans heard over their own internal comm "…is under the War Commander's authority. We will escort it to its home. I do not know if any of you aboard have seen a Switchblade-class ship before… but if you have not, use the public feed from the external viewcams whenever you do not have duties to attend to".
One of the officers strode slowly over to a real window and looked out. He saw the Switchblade and thought Those are very small… but useful enough in their way. That is a mark 1 variant, one of the earliest models. It has clearly seen battle, I can see damage I believe to be pulse fire along the side – so the War Commander has likely sent his best crew with this ship before nodding with satisfaction and heading to the officers' galley.
"Nicely done" Harrigan told Juroch when he reported those events next mealtime "Your guys an' our guys all nice an' snug an' heading our way in only a few days. Only thing now we gotta worry about is if Troll wants to come out an' say hello before then or after".
"Troll's transformation process is that advanced, sir?" Juroch asked in disbelief, and Harrigan shrugged and replied "That's what the doc tells me, mister… Amara told me too, once she stopped bouncin' up an' down an' shrieking at me like she does when she's real happy 'bout something".
Juroch smiled and rumbled when he head that, nodding and telling Harrigan "Amara is very excitable, it is true… but also very concerned for those she considers her friends and unfailingly willing to help them in any way she is capable of. Troll played with her often and told her stories before he admitted himself to the change program – she will be excited when he emerges, I know it".
Across the galley, not far from the skulkers' table, Nrakal said "I'm taking the next watch… but I want at least one medical professional right beside Troll's tank every arn of every day until he emerges! Final emergence is unpredictable, even more so for someone with a change affinity like Troll – and one thing I do know is they will feel much more settled if they see someone waiting for them and able to help them".
"Troll's one of ours, too" one of the medics replied "It'll be good for him to see the red when he gets out".
Nrakal smiled and nodded before telling that man "You just volunteered for the next watch after mine, then. Each of you will be commed when it's your turn – you'd better head back to your tables, I think the counter's going to open…".
"We have had a little extra licence getting operatives or supplies through or to Talzenadar IV the past few weeken…" Captain Tayyem told the officers before him "But this won't last forever. Anything going out from now on had batter go through normal embassy traffic – if it's headed to nonofficial sources it'll need to be landed over the dark side of the world and be brought in over land. That unholy monster in orbit can and has spotted anything flying from orbit, no matter if it's hiding among rocks, boulders, or buildings – so cargo for use onworld has to be driven or man-packed over land from the dark side, which isn't going to be easy on that kind of terrain, since Talzenadar IV is shown as only partially terraformed".
"Black Ghosts 'ave done 'arder stuff than that before, Cap…" one officer drawled, clearly wishing he could smoke on the bridge "…an' we will do again. If we gotta get stuff in there ourselves for …trainees… then we just work them trainees harder to make up for it"
"Thank you for volunteering, Mister Towle" Commandant Grayza stated "Plot your route, select your troops – there's things that need doing on Talzenadar IV down in the South End and in the spaceport, and even after Irregulars heavy air pulverised the last group of volunteers there's still enough others there to work with".
"Entering Talzenadar IV system" the Sholphauran captain announced to her bridge officers "The Switchblade will take the lead and we will follow. I do not know if the War Commander is in orbit or on the ground… so we will wait in high orbit, I suspect, until told where to go".
Rulok gradually increased speed, noting when the local navigation satellites picked detected him, until he passed close range satellites – where he slowed to subhetch speed and called for the Tanglethorn to do the same. Once both ships were moving more sedately he called in their presence to the Havoc.
"We are slightly busy at the moment, Rulok…" Keyah said, smiling just a little
"That pest of a human and his new wife submitted themselves for the change program – and he's just emerging from it so far ahead of schedule even doctor Nrakal cannot say why conclusively! If you are capable of landing on the hammond flight deck unassisted then do so – I expect you know how to open the deck doors remotely. If you require assistance then you had best wait where you are".
"We're damaged but not that damaged…" Rulok replied "Some Sholphauran frigate caught up with us along the way, so the Commander had better be notified about that as well – once we're aboard safely, they'll likely send a shuttle or a Stryker with whoever they're sending".
"Tanglethorn…" Keyah called, opening the hammond flight deck doors and activating the atmospheric containment field "Please hold while the Switchblade makes its landing. Should you wish to despatch a shuttle or Stryker, please do so – the War Commander will be ready to meet you before too many momens have passed".
"Noted" came the reply "A small delegation is ready to depart from our flight deck to your own as we speak. Their craft will hold while your own large one lands" before the Sholphauran captain commed her flight deck and told them the landing situation they were in.
"Acknowledged, Captain" the Stryker pilot replied "Commander Tareg's already aboard – and sleeping on the cargo deck, as it happens".
"Then get airborne without waking him, if you can" the captain replied "The War Commander will be waiting to receive him, so if he needs rest now he has bought himself a few momens until he lands-" before looking out through her frigate's bridge windows and calling "Fortress class!"
"Hahaha…" Harrigan laughed when he called in a few microts later before answering the captain's questions about the Havoc "Yep, you got that right sure enough – it don't belong to anyone 'cept me right now, though. Your boys an' girls on that Stryker I see hearin' all this?"
"We hear, War Commander" came the Stryker pilot's reply "A commendable achievement indeed, sir, to have relieved the Hierarchy of such a craft".
"Not without its problems getting it" Harrigan replied "but it's nice, that's for sure – Rulok's just touched down, so get yourselves in here and find a spot to sit as well".
Troll had, after making a bit more of a show of it climbing out of the tank than even he would usually have done, sat on the floor and ate anything and everything he was given – Amara clapped and shrieked and encouraged him to eat more, calling "New special people eat lots, Troll man special friend! You got new special bits! You eat! There still se-ven cans left, an' they got pudding in!"
"Roll 'em over one at a time then, little friend!" Troll called in his slightly rougher but very loud new voice – Amara laughed and clapped before doing exactly that, shrieking in amazement as Troll opened them and tipped the contents right down his throat without even chewing.
"EEEEEEE!' she shrieked, clapping "That 'mazing! You still hungry, Troll friend?"
"I'll be fine for a few momens, Amara!" he laughed, grinning "This is gonna be so much fun…".
Nrakal turned all the lights out, testing his night vision and spatial awareness.
"No marksmanship tests for now, Troll – we will do that later on one of the flight decks!" Nrakal cautioned him "For now, the War Commander has requested your presence on the hammond flight deck – it seems Rulok's ship has returned and the Sholphauran officer whose presence we requested some time ago have both chosen to arrive at the same time! Since you are in Bloodstar command, you get honour guard duty".
"Not so bad" Troll decided "Prob'ly means I get to eat real food after he's squared away, too" before forgetting about his height and ducking slightly as he went to the transit platform.
"Not needed, Troll…" Nrakal told him, following "…for you, at any rate. That door is Scarran-height, and while you are Scarran height you are not the height of the tallest Scarrans"
Harrigan strode onto the hammond flight deck with Talannah and Karroch, and the three of them watched while the Sholphauran Stryker made its own landing some distance away from the Switchblade. Troll ran over as soon as he arrived, which Karroch heard – when he turned to look at him, he nodded and said "Very interesting, Troll… you must be tested soon, I think, and tested hard. Your new tolerances must be established".
"Goin' back to bed!' he called, grinning "Still tired an' hungry!"
"Get back here…" Harrigan told him, pointing to the deck beside his own feet "They're sending an officer to train Karroch an' kick your huge eema into line, mister – so you can stay an' be nice an' say hello".
Trannak and his small family arrived as well, though they did head to Harrigan and not to the Switchblade.
"Heeheehee!" Amara called "I here too, big funny man – it your friend 'Mara spee-king!"
"I did wonder where that voice was coming from…" Harrigan replied, smiling before telling her "We got some people in that Stryker from where your friend whisper Scarran comes from, little miss – Juroch should be here, I'd have thought he'd be here before us…"
~Whisper Scarran…~ Amara called mentally, after running a few metras further off ~It your friend 'Mara here! Big funny man not see you an' ask where you are! He say whisper people here! ((interest, excitement))~
~I am on my way even now, Amara~ Juroch replied, smiling at how Amara was helping him mindtalk to her ~I am in a car heading to the hammond side flight deck. That is where you are, yes?~
~((confirmation))~ Amara replied ~I here. Mama here. Captain papa here. Karroch here. Big funny man an' auntie 'Lannah here. Big grey ship here too but we not go there yet~ before she told Harrigan where Juroch was.
"Good girl!" Harrigan told her "What a help you are for your big funny friend…" before waving at the bridge window of the Sholphauran Stryker.
"Someone has waved to us" its pilot told those aboard, including a now-woken Tareg "This implies permission to leave our craft and come aboard this enormous ship. Two personnel identifed as Bloodstar command are there. Two more identified as Skulker command are there. Two more not obviously affiliated with any major Kingdom command are there. Two of those present have advanced changes of the kind only known to be available to the War Commander and trusted allies".
"Let's go out there and see for ourselves, then…" Tareg decided "I think our Stryker will be safe here… they have so many of their own…". Once the pilot had fully powered down his Stryker, all of them left via the rear hatch and walked over to Harrigan – where Juroch had just arrived as well.
"Greetings…" Juroch called in Kalish "I you will probably already know… but here is War Commander Harrigan and his wife, Sub-Commander Talannah".
The Sholphaurans took some time to come and look at him and talk to him, which made Harrigan grin a bit before he got Juroch to introduce the others.
"A number of the officers…" Tareg said "…have come out to meet me personally, then. I am particularly pleased to see my own Bloodstar command represented, just as much to see one of my own command has been given an advanced mark of the change I hear so much about but have not yet seen".
"Only just got that today, sir" Troll replied "Got out of the tank, ate a packed lunch, came out here to see your lot land. Rush rush rush".
Amara's giggle at that gave away her own position – Tareg smiled and walked over before saluting Trannak and saying "A Kalish wife, Captain? We have a number of mixed partnerships like yours on Sholphaur… but they are still not common. I heard a small voice earlier… perhaps your child, sir? I have not seen any so far here".
"That me!" Amara called, peeking over Trannak's shoulder without permission and laughing happily and loudly "I 'Mara! Who you?"
"I, little girl…" Tareg replied, looking at her closely "…am Tareg. I have been told I am here to help train this young man Karroch" before he rumbled and asked ~Can you hear me? ((interest, challenge))~
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Amara shrieked, extremely loudly "Noo red man a men-tal per-son! That ex-tra 'mazing! That mean he teach your 'Mara new stuff, papa?!"
"He might do…" Trannak replied, smiling "We should let him learn things like finding his way around the ship and settling in to new quarters first, yes?"
"We do that, papa!" Amara confirmed, nodding and clearly still very excited "We help new red men-tal person, papa! He our new friend!"
"Before Amara there starts shrieking again…" Harrigan told Tareg, grinning just a little bit "I'll get the official stuff sorted out right now. If you're inclined to accept the training position here you'll be promoted to Captain Second Rank, effective the microt you accept. Since you've just shown you're some kinda mentalist, you just volunteered to help train our little mascot there as well".
"I have comparatively few capabilities in that area, War Commander…" Tareg replied, after which he rumbled more loudly and added "But if you can handle the prospect of the child shrieking again, I might safely show you what I can do… I think the child will be very loud and happy if what I have seen so far is anything to go by".
"Do your thing" Harrigan replied, waving for him to proceed – Tareg just smiled, rumbled, then a brief rush of displaced air followed as Tareg shapeshifted into what, by all appearances, was a very large living statue.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEE!' Amara shrieked, clapping and projecting happiness and excitement so strongly everyone on the flight deck could feel it "THAT EXTRAEXTRA REE-LY 'MAZING! HOW YOU DO THAT, NEW FRIEND?! WHAT IT CALLED?!"
Tareg walked over slowly to Amara in his current form, where he told her "I was born being able to do this… Amara, yes?"
When she nodded, Tareg went on to say "Being able to do this means I am a stonewalker. When you are a stonewalker, you also have a bit of mentalism… I can mindtalk like you, I can move things and make shields, and I can strengthen four of my five senses. You, Amara, you are a mentalist – and, I think, a strong one even though you are very young. What can you do so far?"
Trannak took over and explained about that for her – Tareg nodded and said "A notable achievement, sir… especially for a child so young. You must both be very proud of her".
"We are" Trannak replied, smiling at Amara and putting his arm around Caseya's shoulder "Amara is part-Kalish and part-Scarran, as you can see… she is Kalish enough that she will want to bombard you with questions about these things she has seen you do. I hope you don't mind…".
"Sholphaur has Kalish living there" Tareg explained "They often come out to greet returning patrols and ask us where we have been and what we saw, as I am sure your Sholphauran colleague in green has told you. Kalish children have shifted to me in this form before, which they always seem to find endlessly amazing… your child can do so if she wants to as well…".
Before anyone could draw breath to give permission, Amara leaped from Caseya's shoulders to Tareg's chest and clapped as soon as she could shift to him. She stroked his stonelike face and brow-ridges, cooed in wonder, and asked him question after question about himself and about Sholphaur even though she did so softly.
"I will stay" Tareg decided "There looks to be much for me to do here even outside training Karroch as an officer".
"Very well, Captain" Harrigan replied, announcing his new rank in public for the first time "Since you're here, you can come and help us sort out the others as well – dunno if any of your Sholphauran friends are medics, but if they are don't go far, we might need you". Tareg quickly signalled for all of them to stay right behind him, after which they all walked over to the Switchblade's drop ramp where Harrigan commed "Come out, come out, wherever you are…" before jumping well clear of the ramp.
The front drop ramp lowered to the ground with a thump, revealing Rulok standing on it – and the first thing he saw was Tareg in stone form.
"One of the Sholphaurans, then?" Rulok asked, looking up at him "Hat just barely staying on your head shows you're in Bloodstar command".
"I am staying here" Tareg corrected Rulok "I will be primarily training Karroch to be an officer in our command. I am sure there will be other things for me to do as well".
"Doctor Nrakal…" Rulok called "In order to leave Kalian we needed to bring another Kalish out with us – but he's a) in a stasis coffin, and b) been modified in a way Darrek can't understand. If the stonewalker there doesn't mind a bit of heavy lifting I'll let him go up to the sick bay with you and bring the coffin out".
Nrakal looked over at Tareg himself, asking a few questions about his abilities and if he was born with it – Tareg just grinned and replied "If you talk to the young one, I expect she will tell you what you need to know… several times, from what little I have seen of her already".
"Come!" Nrakal decided "As long as you can carry the stasis coffin on your own, in stoneform, without dropping it, then you can come".
Once the two of them had headed inside the ship to the levelator, Harrigan asked "The other three?"
"Still in quarters" Rulok replied "I think the boy liked the fancy accomodations and the fruit juice in the drinks cabinet. The father did complain briefly about the alcohol being sealed away, though".
"They can have a bit in a microt or two once I talk to them a bit" Harrigan decided "As long as it stays here on the ramp. Since Amara's chattering to her ma an' pa about Tareg, I think you'll have enough time to get them here".