Karl and Alpha unit had arrived back and were made aware that Kern required their help. There was something that needed to be done so he had asked to meet with Karl and Reen first, alone.
"So how was the patrolling?" he asked.
"It was fine. Just routine really."
"I guess that there is not much to do on this planet."
"I understand that you need our help with something," said Karl.
"Let me guess," said Reen. "You need someone to watch your back."
"Of course, but first I would like you both to meet someone."
He went to the door and asked Shepa'lai and Ully'anni to come in.
"This is an old friend Shepa'lai. She and Ully'anni are both Mirrial."
Karl and Reen both said hello. Kern held out his hand to Ully'anni to come over and stand with him. She stood in front of him. He paused for a moment.
"This is Ully'anni, my daughter, your sister."
Both Karl and Reen were both a little taken back. Ully'anni turned her head and looked up at Kern.
"What is sister?"
"Sister is female kin to a brother. Karl and Reen are your brothers."
"So, they are kin?" she asked.
"Yes," replied Kern.
"I have more kin."
Without hesitation she went up to each one and hugged them.
"I have brothers," she said.
"Well when you are ready meet in the command centre."
Kern left with the others and headed out. He thought it best to give them a moment. It would be a shock considering that Kern had only found out a short while back himself.
"We have a couple of options of how we can achieve this. Either we go in guns blazing and take down any resistance and attempt to apprehend an Ictaran. Or we persuade one of them to tell us what we want to know."
"Nothing wrong in shooting a few Ictarans," said Travis.
Kern raised his head and looked at him.
"I guess you forgot how resilient they are. We had several injuries I understand when we took back Cendarla. It was probably because there were four carriers and air support. They were considerably outnumbered."
"So, how do you propose to get close to them?" asked Karl. "You can't exactly walk up to them and say hi can you help me!"
Kern looked at Shepa'lai.
"I can."
"But won't they see you as hostile."
Shepa'lai transformed into an Ictaran.
"But would they suspect someone who looked like their own."
"That is freaky," said Travis.
"Didn't I mention? Mirrials are changelings."
"So, if you have this planned out. What are we there for?"
"Well if things go bad then they will need to cover them while they escape. If we can do this without drawing our weapons, all the better. The chances are that we won't alert anyone of our actions and intentions."
"So, you do need us to watch your back again," said Reen.
"Hey, you did alright from watching my back last time. You got a new sniper rifle," said Kern.
Reen gave him a look.
"Do you want to get off this rock for a while or not," said Kern.
"We need to use an Ictaran ship to be able to land on the planet and not have them be suspicious," said Shepa'lai.
"So now we have to steal a ship first. That will be harder," said Gabrielle.
Kern had already explained to Shepa'lai who each member of Alpha was related to. Ully'anni had not met Omega yet so it had not meant a lot to her.
"No. I already have one."
Now Kern looked surprise.
"I didn't see one on Gattis."
"I live there when not doing other things. There is an old Threxis bunker on the moon that orbits the planet Rexin in the Mua system. It is near to where we need to go. The planet is effectively a dead planet no life lives there. So, no one ever visits that part of the system.
"How did you learn of this?"
"I knew a Threxis sometime ago. She was killed, but showed me the bunker it used to be where she lived after her people became almost extinct from a plague that attacked them. They had no cure. I have no idea if there are any Threxis left. We should head there and get what we need. Then move on the target."
"I suggest that we leave at first light. I'll let Major Raynes know," said Kern.
They arrived at the bunker. It wasn't as they had expected. Over the years Shepa'lai had acquired a mass of weapons and other things that she thought one day might come in use. There were also a lot of things that she had collected that she had no idea what they were. Also, at the bunker was a hanger. It was linked by an underground tunnel that they had to walk through to get to it. The hanger doors would open outwards to the surface. It was a reasonable size and housed more than the one ship. She had collected several from different races. Some carried more than one passenger. At the far end was one single seater ship that was covered up.
"Please don't disturb the ship at the end. I've been trying to get it to work."
"Perhaps you should talk to Connors our chief engineer. She wasn't at Cendarla. I took her to Dy'lun for a project that she chose to work on. I'm sure that she would be more than happy to look over anything else that you might have if your interested. She does love to tinker with things."
"Maybe one day. For now, though we have a job to do it's the grey ship at the end on the left all beaten up."
"Looks like its been in a few fights," said Travis.
"Not with me and I don't intend to repair it the more battle damage it shows the more honour I will be shown. Let's get going."
The Ictaran ship was reasonable on the inside and would probably hold a considerable number of warriors inside. Shepa'lai took them to orbit. Ully'anni had wanted to be apart of what they were doing, but had been given strict instructions that she was not to leave the ship under any circumstance. She was not a warrior and would not survive any encounter.
The arrived at the planet Nar'ra'meem. It was a large planet and would have a lot of Ictarans there. Especially at the large settlements. On the southern hemisphere the area was mostly to small settlements for hunting and growing. The main settlements were more in land where the land was higher and the weather was colder. Some of the non-Ichaks chose to provide for the warriors and would gather the resources necessary. Shepa'lai in her preparation had already scouted the area. She was intending to pose as an Ictaran who was there for possible trade. The cargo holds of the ship had several garments for trade that she had acquired.
"I have already scouted this area whilst you were travelling and visiting Mirrial. I know that you have been looking for your friends for sometime and knew that if you were aware, I was still alive and had my message you would eventually seek me out so I had planned ahead."
"How long have you been planning this?"
"Since I saw you on Dyh. I learned why you were there. A fool plan. Shame I had not known what you had intended in the first place. You may have been closer to your goal and not be hurt."
"Well we can't change things now."
Shepa'lai pulled out a map whilst they orbited the planet below them. It was not uncommon to see ships in the air. So, no one would give them a second glance.
"This is a rough area of the village I am proposing to go it for trade. It will give Reen and Travis a good field of view from this point here to look straight down the main street." She was pointing to a spot on the map. "I will be in this drinking house. A lot of business is usually conducted this way amongst Ictarans.
"What will the rest of us do?" asked Kern.
"Cover them and be ready to provide support if I get in trouble."
"What trouble do you expect?" asked Karl.
"A bad deal at the least, but do not intervene unless I am to die. I can handle a scuffle if necessary."
"What's the worst case?" asked Kern.
"That those I'm talking to are the ones we are looking for and then they will probably take offence. May even try to kill me."
"I will take you in when its night and then you will walk in from there, the area is dense and has a lot of cover. If you get caught its, because you've been stupid. I will wait where I drop you off. Then I will fly to the village port and land. It will not be wise to walk in from where I camp. If things go bad then rendezvous where I drop you off."
Shepa'lai landed at the port. She had flown in over the position that she had suggested for cover and had seen them there using her sensors.
"Stay here," said Shepa'lai.
Ully'anni gave her a hug and held her tight. She had already turned into an Ictaran.
"Be careful," she said, just before Shepa'lai left the ship.
She walked into the village. It was large for a village. If it became large then you would have to call it a town. Considering that the Ictarans had waged war on several planets. They seemed reasonably civilised. The village had been constructed from stone and wood. It wasn't as lavish as she had seen on Tralor with tall buildings lights and lots of people, nonetheless it was a busy village. Obviously, a lot of Ictarans came here for trade. She had never seen any other races here so the others would have to be very careful. If the were caught they would be killed as would she if they found out who she was.
She made her way to the drinking house and entered. There was no turning back now and she couldn't let the others down. Kern had been to Mirrial and reunited her with her Kin. Even though her sister was gone she had Ully'anni.
"What will you have?"
She ordered the local ale. The translator was unable to interpret it. Fortunately, Shepa'lai knew how to say it.
"Blekon."
It was local drink and had a local dialect for the name of the ale. She drank it and then asked the bartender whom she could see about trading garments from Ni'na'loon. This had been thought through she had to learn which other tribes came here so that she would not seem out of place. In the past she had only come here and passed through stopping briefly to listen to conversations and work out who came from where. Then she had made the plans necessary to be ready for when Kern had done what she had asked. She was directed to an Ictaran sitting in the corner alone at a table. If you were sat with certain people you were considered to be making a deal. She walked over. Her disguise was male. Female Ictarans did not conduct business.
"I understand you are the on to speak to regarding garment trade."
"Where you do hail from?" the merchant asked.
"Ni'na'loon."
"Its cold there I understand."
"Only if you are in the North. The South catches the sun."
The merchant beckoned for her to sit. Shepa'lai had been to Ni'na'loon too. No point trying to do this if she hadn't done her homework. She started to negotiate. This wasn't the part where she was going to ask questions. It was to establish her in the community as a trader then she would mingle with the other patrons and have a few more drinks. Hopefully then someone's tongue would loosen.
Rather than ask outright about humans she started by saying that if she could get hold of some slaves then there were a few places back on Ni'na'loon that would be interested. She eventually found one very drunk Ictaran sat at the back of the tavern, on their own. They had made a good profit and it seemed was drinking most of it. She sat down at the table and dropped another ale in front of them.
"So, who has the best slaves for sale? I only want to trade with Ictarans. Will not go to Dyh like some have suggested."
The Ictaran thanked her for the ale and started to drink.
"Only one who has a lot of slaves, but doesn't usually sell. They are to work the mines at Is'nul. Heard he's into rare species too."
"What do you mean by rare species?" she asked.
"Sentians he pays good money too."
"For slaves."
"No. Rumoured he's possessed about an old tale. Been looking for an old staff. Most say it doesn't even exist. He's been destroying planets trying to find the pieces."
"Does he have any?"
"No idea."
"He has all his slaves on Is'nul. Perhaps I should see what he wants in return for trade."
"You can try, but I doubt he would be interested."
Shepa'lai had not realised that there were others in the drinking house that had been listening in to the conversation that she was having. After she had spent a little while longer with the drunk Ictaran she excused herself and got ready to leave.
Outside on the street she headed back to the ship.
"I see her," said Reen.
"How do you know?" asked Travis.
"She's the one with the satchel across her left shoulder. You forget what she said."
"Well I'm glad one of you paid attention. Now focus. If anything goes bad it will be now."
Ully'anni had been very patient, bored, but patient. She was able to hide and peak out of the front view window to see what was happening. It had been hours waiting for Shepa'lai to reappear. Now she could see her walking back up the main street.
From across the street an Ictaran stepped into the street. He was walking towards Shepa'lai. He pushed her hard in the chest making her step back.
"What's your game?" said asked, holding her ground.
Two more had appeared from behind. Reen and Travis had them both targeted.
"Want us to take the shot," asked Travis.
"No. She said only if life threatening. Let's watch, but keep your sights on the ones behind. I'm sure she can handle the one in front," said Kern. "Gabrielle, Kayla, watch our rear. Karl be ready if we have to move in."
They all acknowledged. Now they had to wait.
"You've been asking about slaves."
"Nothing wrong with that. Its all about trade."
He pushed again, but she held her ground. Her hands were ready, but not near a weapon. She took a step towards him.
"You don't like traders. Or you don't like slaves," she said aggressively at him.
"Why are you wanting to know about the Ra'lu'sah."
"What is that?" she asked.
"The staff you were talking about."
"I didn't talk about it or ask about it. The drunk was talking about it," she took another step closer to him. "You should take it up with him not me."
The lead Ictaran looked over her shoulder at the two behind. Reen and the others had noticed that they were moving in, but still they waited. Then they all heard shouting and saw an Ictaran running down the street.
"Unai, unai."
They could hear. Shepa'lai looked up the road. "Unai" was the Ictaran word for parent. It was unilateral to both parents. It took a moment for her to realise, but it was meant for her. Ully'anni had seen the confrontation and had gotten worried. She had heard movement in the cargo hold as the cargo was removed and had transformed into a young female Ictaran. Seeing the situation starting to get worried she had ventured from the ship. Running down the street she was calling to Shepa'lai as if she was her parent. The aggressors had stopped and were looking up the street too. The lead one looked back at Shepa'lai.
"You know that one."
"My daughter," she said, quickly.
Ully'anni stood in front of them and quickly related a message.
"Mother needs you. We have to return urgently."
The aggressor was still looking not sure now how to deal with this unexpected situation.
"My wife is expecting another. It would seem she has just gone into labour. I will need to return."
Shepa'lai didn't even wait she started to walk with Ully'anni back to the ship.
"Don't look back," she whispered, "and you and I will be having words."
"There safe," said Kern, "let's get back. Right now, I would not like to be Ully'anni.