Thanks for your review. In answer to your questions, the story starts at pretty much the same time as WC3 does. Right now the Victory would have just left for the Lucanda system. I wasn't planning to put the Hermes in the Blackmane battle simply because it wasn't there in the game. Torrent was the one they'd fished out of the escape pod. I'll elaborate more on this in later chapters. She comes across as a hate machine because she's been captured and tortured by the Kilrathi. Her character should take on other traits in later chapters. I'd prefer not to answer your fourth question because I don't want to give too much of the plot away. The same is true of question five. Deathfang was meant to be an in game ace, he's mentioned in 'Victory Streak'. For whatever reason though he wasn't in the game. I'm not planning to include any of the aces we did see simply because they were all killed by Colonel Blair and were, to the best of my knowledge, nowhere near the Hermes. To answer question seven, I'm undecided about the Bloodfang. As for naming a ship after you, I don't see why not, but I won't be able to make it a Confederation class dreadnought. Also it may take a while for it to show itself.

Whoo, long authors note. Thanks again for the review and sorry for the wait.

Chapter 25: Innocence

Adish's perspective

It took us a further four days to reach the Tomayo system. As it turns out we arrived shortly after the system had its own Kilrathi assault to worry about. I'm not too clear on the details but apparently with the aid of the TCS Victory, many a hairy bastard was sent to the grave.

This was all good news, but I can't say it really felt that way. I'd been shaking pretty much constantly ever since they pulled my ejection pod back to the Hermes. This was broken only by the occasional moment of disbelief and queasiness. A ghost ship can have that effect.

Not long after we'd gotten to the system, Captain Moran arrived onboard and called all of the pilots to the briefing room, all 17 of us.

Normally I complain when the briefing room is crowded, I always seem to get seated next to someone with overpowering bodily odour, or failing that, the aptly names Captain Larry, 'farter' Mills. Today, I'd have gladly sat through that for a solid week rather then sit in that room with its many empty chairs, trying not to look for missing faces. So instead I focused on Moran as best as I could.

"Ok," She was trying to sound triumphant, but she realised as well as any of us the price of that victory. "First of all, I wish to congratulate you all once again for your actions in the Brimstone system. Holding that system, and taking out a H'varkann class dreadnought is of almost immeasurable value to the Confederation."

There was a brief murmur of agreement. It was something o be pleased about, for everyone else at least.

"Alright, now listen carefully people, because I have good news and a lot of it."

I looked up and wondered briefly if I was cracking up. Wartime good news was almost an oxymoron.

"First of all, with the total annihilation of all Kilrathi forces in Brimstone, and specifically with the destruction of their dreadnought, it seems the cats are getting a little worried about what kind of forces we might have in Vega. Prowler corvettes have already discovered Kilrathi ships withdrawing from several systems around Brimstone, including Chang Cu."

We almost cheered, but there was just enough sick numbness in us to quell the urge and it came out as a quiet, low itched hoot from three or four people.

"The second piece of good news is that the Retros which survived their assault on Oasis station have provided us with some worthwhile information. It seems that the Retros had had operatives on Oasis for a long time, and also several other Confederation bases throughout Vega sector." This caused some uneasy murmuring. "The co-operation with the Kilrathi is only a recent development which they believed would be expedient. Their original plan was simply to gather their forces, capture the bases and outposts on which they were stationed and try and take Vega sector. Idiots

"Anyway, with the information they have provided us, we know the names and locations of a lot of Retro operatives and I have been told that a number of arrests have already been made. They won't be a problem here for much longer."

There was a moment of silence as we absorbed this information. The thought that even now, with news of Kilrathi attacks obliterating Confederation colonies become more and more frequent, and with news of retreats, losses and casualty lists as long as Blackmane station, we still had morons trying to destroy us from within.

And the worst part is that it was pure luck we'd been able to thwart them. The morons had eluded us. Then again, that might not be fair, we did have the Kilrathi to worry about after all, and who would have expected to find Retros in Vega?

Anyway, the point was that they had failed.

"My last piece of good news concerns you more closely. As I'm sure you've guessed, the Hermes will take a few months to heal. Until it has, you'll all be given temporary assignments, most of which in this system. Before that however," She paused, probably for dramatic effect, "You've all been granted three weeks of shore leave. God knows you've earned it."

This time we did cheer. It had been a very long time since any of us had been home; far too long. Shore leave, like news of victories, seemed to be getting rarer and rarer. Shore leave which lasted more then three or four days was virtually a myth.

I forced myself not to think about it too hard, worried that over thinking would take it away.

"Shuttles will be departing from Tomayo 2's hanger deck in four hours, these will take you to Cadiz depot, from there you can make your way to wherever you homelands may lie."

Some much needed grins broke out among the assembled pilots, myself included.

"Dismissed."

Four and a half days later

Let it be said now that I hate shuttles, I hate them all. They are crowded, overheated coffins.

Then again, I guess that it helped in making my first step into sunlight all the more enjoyable. Well at least it would if it wasn't raining. Adger 4 was almost renowned for its warm weather and incessant sunshine. Today however, in keeping with Murphy's Law, it was wetter then Planet hurricane.

Nevertheless, looking around me at the tightly packed, towering buildings and the swarms of sub orbitals, I knew I was home, and for one brief moment the war seemed like a bad dream.

The last time I'd stood at this shuttle port was almost a year and a half ago. I took in the view for a few more moments before the uncomfortable effects of standing in the rain overcame my sudden joy at setting foot upon my home once again and I made my way to a cluster of taxis.

Three hours later

"Uncle Adish!"

I looked down into the excited looking face of my five year old nephew and couldn't help but grin. When you spend half your life fighting to make sure kids like him and their families don't end up as cat food, or worse, it's always nice to see someone like him living happy and carefree. It was one of the few times when I could feel like I was doing my job properly.

"Hey Jason," I replied, "How's it going?"

"All's well sir." He quoted, probably from 'Eagle's prey', a long running cartoon series which basically showed Kilrathi getting shot to pieces left right and centre by one larger then life Confederation pilot and a handful of sidekicks.

Scattered about the floor I noticed three model Hellcats and a Longbow. I'd almost stepped on an arrow on my way in.

I summoned the gold star from my pocket, these we had been awarded about three days after the battle with the H'varkann. Whenever I got medals, (twice), I passed them on to Jason, they meant more to him then they ever would to me.

Remembering a magic trick that my father had taught me, I seemed to make the medal appear from behind Jason's ear. After I put it in his hand, his mouth opened in a huge grin.

"Don't be putting medals behind my boy's ears again." Imani Haajanen, my sister commanded from behind me, she was trying for lightness in her voice but it didn't hide what was underneath, "The last time you did that he was searching behind his ears for the damn things for weeks."

"No I wasn't." Jason protested, clearly embarrassed, then his eyes returned to the medal in his hand, How'd you get this uncle Adish?"

"Um, I…"

"I bet you killed lots of furballs."

I felt a sudden, unwelcome twinge of surprise. That was not a pleasant thing to hear from a five year old.

"Jason honey," Imani interrupted before I degenerated into more stuttering, "Why don't you go watch some more of that holovid you've got on the player, me and your uncle have to talk about grown up things."

"Ok," he said with a disappointed voice, "Thanks for the medal uncle Adish."

He walked off with the medal held tightly in one hand, he kept an eye on it as if he was afraid it would slither away if he let it out of his sight.

Imani walked towards the kitchen, I followed. For a few moments she didn't say anything, she just stared at me. She looked like she wasn't actually sure whether or not I was really standing there.

"I saw the newscasts." She said finally, "They're not talking about much else on the news. This was something big wasn't it? Something really important?"

"I hope so." I replied. "We saved a lot of lives, and the less Kilrathi dreadnoughts there are, the better it is for the rest of us."

Another silence followed, we both knew what we wanted to avoid, we just weren't sure how best to avoid it.

"How did you get that medal exactly."

Exactly? I didn't know. They'd given one to everyone and the sum total of my achievements involve hitting, although not destroying a Kilrathi carrier, (almost killing one of my closest friends in the process I was later to learn), and getting shot down by a Kilrathi ace.

"Killing furballs." I replied with more anger in my voice then I intended.

"Killing furballs." Imani replied savagely, "He's five years old and he's talking about killing like it's a fucking game." She kept her voice deliberately low to keep Jason from hearing it. I suddenly felt a sudden, familiar sense of shame.

"He doesn't understand, when he gets older he'll learn the truth."

"No," she snapped, and then inhaled heavily, "No, he won't. You've seen how he idolises you. His uncle the war hero. He wants to be just like you. You've seen that right."

I nodded, we'd had this conversation before but I guess starting it from scratch was somehow easier for her.

"I don't want that kind of life for my son. I won't have him whisked away by navy recruitment vultures to fight this damn war. He deserves better then that."

"We all deserve better then that." I responded, "But the universe doesn't hand things out based on what you deserve."

"Don't give me that shit! I'm not going to have my son die out there! I don't care if that's selfish. We've lost too much family already."

That last point was as much about me as it was about Jason.

"Dad knew what he was doing. He knew what he had to do."

"He wanted revenge." She said simply, he anger had vanished from her voice with a startling abruptness, "And the Cats got him too. That's why you went too isn't it?"

"That's why a lot of us are there."

"Revenge." She fell silent as if she was considering the word, whatever conclusions she drew; she didn't continue the topic, "You didn't help by giving him that medal."

"I'm sorry. I just figured that…"

"You're encouraging him. You're making this war look like a game. I've been trying to get him to focus on something, anything else. You're not making life easier."

I thought of the toy fighters on the floor and wondered why she allowed them. It was probably Edward, his father, who'd given them to him.

"Look," I said as softly as I could manage, "He's only five. It'll be a long time before he's old enough to enlist, and who knows what will happen before then? Maybe he'll loose interest in flying, maybe the war will be over by then."

"For God sake Adish, this war's never going to end. We can't stop those, those things out there. We can't beat them and we can't make peace with them." She shuddered, maybe remembering what happened when 'peace' was made with the Kilrathi, "we can only hold them off."

"You're wrong." I said simply. Not sure whether or not I believed myself.

Once again, silence broke out. I seated myself on one of the stools.

"We've lost enough people Adish." She said eventually, she sounded tired now, "Dad, Uncle Harry, Aunt Hetty. How long's it gonna be before…"

I swallowed, and wished I had a reassuring answer that she wouldn't see instantly as a lie.

"I'll be careful."

"That's never enough."

"No it isn't. But it's the best I can do. Look at the news Imani, things are looking up. Brimstone and Tomayo were saved; the Confederation will be on the offensive before too long, mark my words."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

"Just trying to calm the mood enough so that I can steal a biscuit or two from that tray behind you."

Relief flooded through me when she laughed at this. The aura of depression that had entered the room seemed to retreat somewhat. Imani took the trey in one hand and held it out to me. Then snatched it away as I tried to steal a biscuit from it.

"These are for after dinner."

"Typical."

We both laughed this time. And now, with the grim conversation about life and death, war and loss less then a minute behind us, I still felt the warm, welcoming feeling that came with returning to your home world and seeing the family again that you'd gone through hell to make sure stayed alive.

"So what time's mum getting here?"

To be continued