Somewhere deep in the Kona sector:

"So what you are trying to tell me is that you have been found out." Long, claw tipped fingers drummed on the desktop. Glittering red eyes narrowed at the image of the saiyan male on the holo before them.

The male sputtered and backpedaled visibly.

"No Lord, all they know is someone has been sending transmissions. They don't know who."

One clawed finger rose and motioned at the holo.

"I spared your life. Do not make me regret that choice. I expect a more detailed report latter when you know more."

The man paled.

"Of course, Sire. I will not fail." The holo went dark.

The fingers resumed their drumming.

Vegetasei, Southern Base, time 20:00:

"The basic ends and out of this are that I have to try and find where these commutations are going and to whom." Tarma took a long pull off her ale. The table was full of empty plates. Dinner for four saiyans required a large amount of food. She prided herself on the fact she could cook well. Not many saiyans could. Point for living on my own when I was young, she thought.

Pantor let out a blench and leaned back in his chair.

"I don't like it. I agree with Bardock, don't go alone. Kona is not a cake walk."

Bardock grunted and crossed his arms over his chest.

"The question is who should go with her. I can't I have my own part play in this little investigation."

There was silent for a long stretch. Both Pantor and Bardock looked at Horic and the younger saiyan narrowed his eyes.

"What?"

Tarma chuffed and rolled her eyes.

"You want me to take him?"

She found herself speared by the gazes of Bardock and Pantor. It was her old crew commander that spoke.

"And just what is wrong with taking him. He proved himself on Gerrin."

Tarma wanted to argue, wanted to find some reason. She couldn't put her finger on the reason but she didn't feel right taking Horic. Something was eating in the back of her mind about him. True he had done nothing out of the way or to show himself untrustworthy. Ever since they had come back from Gerrin he had been stand offish. Not that saiyans where a huggy friendly bunch but the once nervous and unsure rookie was now rock solid in his nerve and talked less than Tarma at times. She had tried to shrug it off as being from facing what they had. He had been the lest wounded of all of them as well. That bothered her. He was a rookie, yet Geamie had been killed and Horic made it out with only a few cracked ribs. I'm jumping at shadows, she thought.

Maybe. Bardock's voice echoed him her head. But maybe not. Thinking like that will keep you alive.

Tarma fought the urge to roll her eyes, settling for turning in her chair slightly to glance at him.

So you think I should take him even if he is acting funny. Well geeze Bardock and here I thought you wanted me to take someone so I had back up, not to ferret out a lackey.

Pantor cleared his throat and they both turned to look at him.

"Whatever it is you two do when you look at each other like that, we don't have time for it." He tapped his forefinger on the table. "Lets deal with the matter at hand not the strange thing that goes on with you two, alright." He turned to Horic. "Do you have any objections?"

Horic narrowed his eyes and looked at them all for a long time. It was clear to see he was turning something over in his head. What that was Tarma would have loved to know. Finally he nodded sharply.

"It's fine by me." He picked up his ale and centered his attention on it.

Pantor looked satisfied with this and turned back to Tarma.

"Well?"

She groaned inwardly and heard Bardock's mental chuckle. She ground her teeth, she would make him pay for that latter.

"Whatever, I seem to be out voted." She got to her feet and started clearing dishes.

Castle of the royal House of Vegeta, 23:00:

A knock sounded at the heavy wooden doors to the Prince's suite. The very first thought thru Prince Vegeta's mind was that this had better be important or someone was going to get a one-way ticket to the next demission. He had been up for over 36 hours without sleep and was just about to give into his weariness. In two weeks he would be taking over the kingship. Add those preparations to the other troubles and the normal workload for keeping an empire running and he was finding he didn't get enough hours in a day. Lets not even talk about time to train or Gods forbid, relax. He levered himself out of the chair he was sitting in and strode to the door. Opening the door reveled the bury form of Napa, head of the royal guard.

"This better be good, Napa." Vegeta made no motion to invite the male inside. He wanted this over with and to go to bed.

Napa glanced around the hallway.

"Sire, I do not think it would be a good idea for me to give you this information out here."

The Prince's lips peeled back in a snarl and moved to the side, allowing the taller man in.

"This damn well better be good or your not going to have to worry about anything else." He kicked the door shut with a resounding boom. Napa nodded and went to stand in the middle of the main room, slipping a data pad out from inside his cloak.

"You made it clear that if we got a chance to tape one of the transmissions to alert you right away." He held the pad out to the Prince. "Its only audio, the visual was coded tighter."

Vegeta's anger faded and he took the pad from guard captain. He returned to the chair he had been in and sat down. A few quick strokes on the keypad brought the pad to life. The voice that filtered up was some how familiar to him.

"I am sending this at 22:30 Vegetasei time. I will be going off world and while I know this is not in the plans I believe that you will agree, Lord, that it will be worthwhile. There was no way for me to refuse and keep my cover. I will be accompanying one of the crew commanders to investigate these transmissions. I will send more information when we reach the Kona sector. This is all I will say for now, I am sure all out going messages are now being recorded."

The recording stopped and Vegeta frowned at the data pad.

"Where did it come from?"

"Western Base."

Something was nagging at him.

"Check out who drew the duty to chase down the transmission hubs. I want that information two hours from now and not a moment longer. I know most of those that got it will not wait the two days before leaving. They have been stuck planet side for too long." He looked up. "Your still here Napa."

The captain of the royal guard took the hint and left as quickly as he could without running. That voice, Vegeta thought, I have heard it before. His mind was slowed from lack of sleep.

"Damn." He swore out loud. He would nap for the two hours. While it wouldn't completely recharge him it would just have to be enough. The rat was about to jump ship and he didn't want to lose him.