Chapter 12 : Off to see the king
Eight and a half arns later, and Talannah still couldn't shake Harrigan awake. She'd tried shaking him several times, and even kicking him once – all she'd got from that was a small bruise on her foot. Harrigan had muttered "...not now Mum, just a couple more minutes..." under his breath, and turned over on his other side. Talannah growled a little in impatience and resolved to ask some of Moya's crew for ideas in getting her lover awake.
When she walked into the dining room, Chiana, Aeryn, and Crichton were waiting for her. "Where's Harrigan?" Chiana asked. "Still asleep" Talannah replied irritably "I tried everything I could think of – he just mutters a little, turns over , and goes back to sleep. If any of you have any ideas..." Chiana looked up, grinned, and walked over to Talannah,.and whispered frantically in her ear for seveal microts. After she'd gone back to her seat, Talannah looked over at her, saying "While that idea was MOST eye-opening, Chiana, I don't think it's too suitable for the current situation." After seeing Chiana's dejected look, she added "But it'll definitely come in useful later, though" and smiled to herself, thinking just how useful it would be. Then she turned to Crichton. "How about you? He's your species, after all" Talannah enquired.
"Not a clue" Crichton replied, out of ideas "Neither me or my sister ever had that problem. We were all light sleepers in my family". Aeryn sat at the table, head in her hands, mulling over ideas. Then a wicked grin came over her face as a particularly nasty idea occurred to her. Getting up, she gestured at the others to follow her. "Talannah" she asked "Perhaps you could show us where he is...". A few hundred microts later, they arrived at the Harbringer's hatch, where Talannah turned towards them. "I'm not sure John would really want anyone else in his ship yet, but we'll have to take the chance" she decided "Chiana, you stay here. Aeryn, Crichton, come with me". Chiana pouted a little, but one look at Talannah's face convinced her not to push her luck. "Besides..." Talannah added "If the rest of your friends wonder where we are, you can tell them"
The three of them scampered up through the hatch and into the Harbringer. Aeryn's eyes almost popped out of her head when she saw the interior. "This is a Harbringer, isn't it?" Aeryn said in surprise, turning to Talannah "I've heard a lot of wild gossip and rumour about them, but my superiors always hotly denied them. Looks like the rumours were right" And First Command wrong, again, she didn't add. Talannah had heard a little about them herself but hadn't connected the gossip with this ship. "You'll have to ask John that later" she said, cutting off speculation "If we manage to wake him".
They tiptoed down to the bunkroom. Talannah opened the door, letting Aeryn and Crichton see Harrigan fast asleep on the bunk against the far wall. Aeryn held her finger up to her mouth for silence, snuck up behind Harrigan's bunk, drew a deep breath, and yelled "GET UP SOLDIER, THAT'S AN ORDER!!" in full drill-instructor mode.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- The sight of about seven and a half feet and 1100 pounds of Harrigan leaping to attention and yelling "Yes, sir! Right, sir! Absolutely, sir!" sent all three of them into wild paroxysms of laughter. Talannah just leaned against the wall, laughing softly; but Aeryn and Crichton collapsed into each other's arms, laughing their heads off. It took several microts before Harrigan's brain kicked in and realised what they had done. After washing his face in the sink nearby, he turned grumpily to them. "That was nasty" Harrigan grumbled "I really need my sleep! How long before we get there anyway?"
"We've 'been there' for the last ¾ of an arn, my slumbering giant" Talannah told him, tapping his carapace. "All we needed to do was get you up, and we could start finalising landing preparations". Harrigan rubbed the sleep from his eyes and said blearily "I don't suppose there's a hot shower somewhere on Moya, is there?" "There is, actually" Crichton replied "One tier down, about half way back, portside". "I'll just get my stuff" Harrigan replied. He retrieved a spare pair of uniform trousers and his loadout bag, and followed the rest of them back out of the Harbringer. Aeryn resolved to ask Harrigan about his ship at the earliest possible opportunity.
After they reached the shower facility, Aeryn and Crichton headed off to Command to wait for them. Harrigan immediately removed his trousers, dropped his loadout bag on a bench, and bolted for the nearest shower. After he'd closed the curtain, a "Aaah..." of relaxation was heard as the steaming water washed over him. Talannah clamped down ruthlessly on the thoughts running across her mind, and relieved herself of her own uniform and stepped into another shower.
A thousand or so microts later, Harrigan emerged from his cubicle and towelled himself off. Swinging his shoulders from side to side to work out the kinks, he hissed slightly at the twinges of pain. "Damn shoulders...lower back...oooh!" he moaned. Talannah slipped out of her cubicle and walked softly over to his bench. She started kneading his shoulder muscles softly, but insistently, with her fingers. "Oooh, yes..." Harrigan said in response to Talannah's ministrations. "Just right, love...bit lower..." he urged. Then Talannah must have hit the perfect spot just the right way, because Harrigan let off a piercing screech that echoed over most of Moya. Talannah shook her head slowly to get rid of the ringing in her ears, then looked down at Harrigan with a pleased smile on her face. He slowly turned around to look at her, surprised to see that she hadn't put her uniform back on. "Tal, my love..." he stuttered, just because the sight of her completely naked was rapidly turning him into a slobbering thickwit, then continued with "You appear to be..." before she interrupted, adding softly "Out of uniform? Yes, my dear, my wonderful love, I suppose I am".
She swung one leg over the bench and sat astride his lap. Then her fingers started wandering through what remained of his hair. Harrigan's own arms wrapped around her and drew her closer, delighting in the feel of her unexpectedly smooth Scarran skin under his fingers. Talannah wriggled in her own delight at the way Harrigan's carapace seemed to soften and bend at her touch. "Mmmm...good, so good..." she moaned, as she stroked his chest carapace. When Harrigan's questing touch reached her own chest, the strength of her desire drove a screech of her own from her throat.
It just happened that Chiana and Jool were walking down to the armoury on that level to find Aeryn when Harrigan's first screech ripped through the air. Jool looked back and forth, slightly scared, saying "What the frell's that?!" Chiana, being a little more experienced in these matters, already had a slight idea. Grinning to herself, she urged Jool to follow her. "Come on!" she encouraged Jool "Let's see what's going on!" They'd made it to the end of the relevant corridor when Talannah's own softer, but no less ardent, screech echoed though the hallway. By now Jool was beginning to catch on. "I...I think I'll stay here" she decided, stopping a few metras from the shower facility. "Piker!" Chiana taunted, sticking her tongue out, before looking round the doorway. She immediately drew her head back, eyes wide in surprise.
"Well?" Jool prompted. Chiana didn't say anything, just grinned and shook her head from side to side. Then Aeryn, Crichton, Dargo, and even Sikozu turned up, slightly out of breath. "What's going on?" asked Sikozu crossly "We're going to be late!" Then another screech from Harrigan, plus another from Talannah shortly afterwards, came out through the door at almost ear- splitting volume. Crichton turned, stunned, towards the showers; then looking at Chiana, who moved her hands in vague, but thoroughly descriptive motions that left no doubt at all in anyone's mind as to what was going on in there.
"Well, then" muttered Sikozu, walking off to the shuttle bay. Crichton and Aeryn just leaned against the wall, hugging each other. Chiana got on the comm. "Pilot?" she asked "Could you put a call thorugh to the shower facility on tier 2? Harrigan and Talannah are in there...together. Perhaps you could remind them we have to be going?" There was a break of a few microts while Pilot digested Chiana's little revelations, then Pilot activated the wall comm closest to Harrigan and apprised him of the situation.
Harrigan and Talannah reluctantly separated, looking at each other lovingly. "Come on" he urged Talannah, extending his hand towards her. "I've pushed my luck too far as it is" he added under his breath. "What do you mean?" Talannah replied, slightly upset. Harrigan kissed her softly on the mouth, adding "Just me, love. I was brought up in a very traditional family. My parents taught me not to...well, you know..." Talannah nodded. Harrigan continued with "Unless it's with a lady I'm married to". When he saw the look on Talannah's face, he lifted her chin up gently, explaining "But don't worry about that, my..." , he used an untranslatable word in Old Scarran that means 'matchless one', "I've got a plan to take care of that. Oh, yes!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- Oh please, please, please! Talannah exulted. Say it! She knew the Old Scarran word he used, and it pleased her greatly that Harrigan applied it to her, but the last few words almost caused another screech of delight when they sunk in. He loves me, he needs me, he really does! This revelation did cause a slight squeal, but both of them calmed down and quickly put their clothes, and their weapons, back on. "Ready?" Talannah asked, looking over at Harrigan. He smiled back at her, patting the G8C he'd retrieved from his loadout bag. "Always" he replied. Talannah tightened his scabbard-straps for him, then she said "Let's go".
They stepped out of the shower facility side by side, to the sound of Chiana's appreciative cheers. "Button it, Chi" ordered Crichton. Then he turned to Harrigan. "We'd better get down to the shuttle bay. Ground Control's been expecting us for the last quarter-arn now". As they made to leave, Harrigan interrupted with "No, no! Why don't we take mine?" Harrigan looked towards Aeryn "I'm pretty sure you've got a few questions about my ship. Perhaps once you've seen it in more detail, you can answer some of mine about it as well". Crichton looked over at Aeryn, who nodded. She activated her comm, saying "Sikozu? Rygel?" Both answered. "Get youselves along to the dorsal forward inspection hatch on tier one. We're taking Harrigan's ship".
Harrigan called ahead, getting the computer to lock down all internal doors except the bunkroom. He didn't want to take any chances that either Rygel's or Chiana's inquisitive natures might get the better of them. Aeryn scratched her chin, then issued a few more orders over her comm. When Harrigan looked over, she explained "I told Dargo, Chiana, and Sikozu to stay on board with Noranti in case of emergencies. Dargo wasn't too happy, but he knows he'll be needed to keep the two girls under control if nothing else". Harrigan nodded, adding "So we'll have you, Commander Crichton, Jool, Rygel, Talannah, and myself then. Not a problem". They reached the hatch, which Harrigan opened. "Please don't touch anything" Harrigan asked "Even I don't know what some of the odder buttons do, and I own this ship, so let's not cause any problems by inadvertantly firing a weapon or soemthing, hmm?" Everyone responded in the affirmative, then followed Harrigan in.
"Tal, next to me" Harrigan directed, pointing to the copilot's chair. "Aeryn, over there" he added, pointing to the nav console. "Crichton, there" he said pointing to the flight engineer's seat. "Sorry about the stink. My old corporal puked over there, and I just can't get rid of the smell. Must be in the aircon or something. Rygel" Harrigan ordered, pointing at the floating Hynerian "Stay by Crichton and DON'T MOVE". Then he turned to Jool. "I'm sorry, but I'll have to stash you in the tail gunner's turret" he explained, pressing a button to unlock it. "There's nowhere for you to sit here. You can talk over the interphone to us; and the aft sensors are on, so you can see anything coming from behind. The gun itself is disarmed for now. Go straight down the corridor. It's right at the end". Jool ran off down the corridor, strapped herself in the turret seat, and shut the door remotely.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- Harrigan stuffed his G8C back in his loadout bag, which got stuffed under the console. Then he strapped himself in and pressed a few buttons "Initial preflight check, all good. Aeryn?" he enquired. She pressed half a dozen buttons rapidly, then reported "All system go. EW, in the green. Surveillance systems, check. Nav systems, check. Threat receivers, check. Autosystems backup, check". "Crichton?" Harrigan added next. Crichton pressed a further three buttons, then reported "All three engines in the green. Fuel tanks filled, no leaks. Power systems at full capacity. Forward, top, and tail guns fully operational". Harrigan checked his own readouts to verify this information, as did Talannah. He raised one hand, saying "All check?" Talannah slapped his hand in reply adding an "All check" of her own.
Harrigan activated the interphone. "I am Lieutenant Harrigan, your pilot for this flight. Please ensure that any carry-on luggage is stowed in the appropriate compartments. Federal regulations require this to be a non- smoking stealth aircraft" he added, grinning "and remember that, if required, the barf bags are on the seat back in front of you!" Crichton laughed at that, remembering the airline flights he'd been on back on Earth. "Crichton?" Harrigan asked "Please signal Pilot that we're about to separate". Crichton signalled Pilot, whose return call got shunted to the interphone by Aeryn. When Harrigan looked over in surprise, she just winked at him. "Myself and Moya copy your separation" Pilot responded "Have a safe planet leave, everyone".
"Grab your gizzards, people!" Harrigan said excitedly, flipping the clamp switches. Several clunking noises followed. Harrigan gave a short burst of power, shoving the Harbringer clear of Moya's hull. "Aeryn" Harrigan ordered "Contact ground control and request a landing pit for us. We're about five times longer than a Marauder-ER, if they ask". A swift "Aye, Lieutenant" was the only reply. A few microts later, Ground Control cam on the comm. "Sensors show no trace of your ship. Our landing systems can't lock on and guide you in. Please explain" came the rather surprised and aggrieved voice from below. Harrigan waved a finger to and fro, shushing Aeryn and Talannah, then responded himself. "This is Lieutenant Harrigan. I am master, pilot, and owner of this ship. I'd be very surprised if you could pick us up. Just ready a landing pit for a craft approximately five times longer than a Marauder-ER and activate it's homing beacon. I'll follow that in"
The flight controller turned to his superior. "Squire" he asked "Where shall I send them?". The squire thought a while and responded "Bay three. It's big enough, and it's also closest to a security station. Our lord will have been notified of the arrival of this unusual vessel; He will want to question it's owner, I'm sure". The controller replied "As you say, squire", then relayed the necessary information back to Harrigan on board the Harbringer.
"On the way" Harrigan replied. But before he moved off, he looked over at Aeryn questioningly. She caught on at once. "Since they can't detect us, someone down below will probably want to question us a little" she explained for the others "There may be a small reception committee waiting for us"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- Harrigan nodded. "That's right, people" he added "Before we leave, eveyone will stop off at the armoury to pick up their weapon of choice. I'd recommend something big, but that's just me"
Down on the surface, Lord Rajan, governor of the city, had just been advised of their arrival. "Why aren't the sensors registering their ship?" he asked the senior air control squire pointedly"I've had some of the best sensors installed here at my spaceport and not so much as a half-blip of this newcomer. Perhaps someone can explain why?" On the Harbringer, Aeryn had hacked the internal monitors in the tower. She gave a thumbs up to Harrigan, who pressed the transmit button on the control stick. "I'll tell you all that you need to know when we're down. Hold your horses!" Harrigan urged happily "Rewards come to those who wait!" Then he cut the comm.
"How the frell did they penetrate comm security?!" Lord Rahjan screamed. The now browbeaten senior squire responded "While we do have countersurveillance equipment installed, it's not quite state of the art. Plus our operators don't have the Peacekeeper, Nebari, or even Scarran, training that would be needed to make the most of what we do have. Well- trained operators with superior equipment could bypass the safeguards". Lord Rahjan turned to his personal squire, saying "Get six armoured men-at- arms over to their blast pit, and come yourself as well. I intend asking them a few questions".
The Harbringer was coming up to landing time. "Talannah, you have the conn" Harrigan said quickly "Take us down. Aeryn, Crichton, Rygel – with me. Jool" he added over the comm "To the armoury!" A few microts later, they were all outside the armoury door. Harrigan tapped out a code, and let them all in. "Get hot!" he ordered "I got pulse rifles large and small, pistols, tarvek grenades, commando armour, everything we need. Don't be stingy" he added "Take lots! That means you too, Jool. Get that armour on you, grab a rifle! Let's move!" Jool reluctantly put a suit of commando armour on, and took a rifle from the rack. Aeryn and Crichton had quickly suited up in armour, grabbed heavy rifles and half a dozen tarvek grenades each, and stood outside the door. "Aeryn" Harrigan said "There's a couple of palm pistols in that drawer over there, I think. Fix 'em on Rygel's chair. Can't leave him out, can we?" he finished nastily.
Harrigan led them to the drophatch "Troops!" Harrigan barked excitedly "Prepare for combat drop! Talannah!" he yelled down to the bridge. "Aye?" she replied. "Take us in low and hard. Troop drop profile. We'll secure the LZ, then you land and come to meet us". A swift "Sir!" and she changed course as instructed. Harrigan rubbed his hands together with glee, glad to be getting even a little action. Aeryn tapped Crichton on the shoulder and pointed this out. They both laughed lightly as they waited.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- A tower observer pointed up at the sky, yelling out over the comm at the same time. "Sirs, I see it!" the young man exclaimed "Like nothing else I've seen! Coming in low and fast, straight for us!" Lord Rahjan ran out to see for himself. "Where?!" he said. The observer guided his lord to the correct place. "There, my lord" he prompted "A flattish black craft, sir." The lord took a few microts to study it's flight pattern, then yelled "Troop insertion! Call out the guard!"
The siren startled the duty squad out of an animated discussion on the merits of a certain female celebrity on the local TV channels. "Grrr..." the squad sergeant growled. Then he grabbed his rifle, and yelled and booted his squad into action. "Rifles ready! Boots on! Move, frell you, move!" The squad whined and stumbled their way out to the edge of the blast pit, and raised their rifles in the direction of the Harbringer.
In the Harbringer's drop bay, the red light lit up. "Stand up!" ordered Harrigan. The little group spread themselves around the edge of the drophatch. A couple of microts later, the hatch irised open. "Stand ready!" Harrigan added. They all checked their weapons were ready. Talannah then flared the nose and activated the green light, which lit up in the drop bay. "Go, go, go!" Harrigan urged gleefully, grinning. Aeryn and Crichton were first through the hatch, then Rygel shot through, followed by Jool and Harrigan. They hit the ground with a rough SMACK! on the edge of the blast pit. Aeryn chivvied them into a defensive pattern, in anticipation of the Harbringer's landing, or a possible attack. Talannah expertly brought the Harbringer in for a perfect landing; then she shut the ship down, grabbed her own weapons and joined Harrigan on the ground. "Good drop, Officer Sun" Harrigan praised her, tapping her on the shoulder in passing. "Thank you, sir she responded, straightening up. Then Talannah came up to him. He hugged her close, giving her a quick kiss, and whispered "Good landing, love" in her ear. She nipped him playfully on the ear in reply, and followed him over to Lord Rahjan, who was fuming by the control tower.
"Fall in!" whispered Talannah, as they passed the others. They quickly formed up behind Harrigan, following him to the tower. Lord Rahjan looked up at the leader of this bunch of visitors. Clearly a military background, he mused. He's definitely in charge here – even if only by default. When he got closer, his true size became apparent. Lord Rahjan looked up, then further up. He was not a small man himself, being about half a henta taller than the second male in the group. But the leader was about five hentae taller than him again, and projected an image of clear authority as he moved. The fact that the whole group were heavily armed was an almost unnecessary additonal detail. The hands on this titan in front of me, he thought, are as big as my head!
Harrigan came to a halt smartly in front of him. "Are you perhaps in charge here?" he asked solicitously. The senior squire stepped in front of Lord Rahjan, fearing hostility on the part of the newcomer towards his lord.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- "You will address him as Lord Rahjan, or 'my lord' !" the Lord Rahjan's personal squire stated with as much courage and authority as he could muster. Harrigan ignored the squire, turning directly to Lord Rahjan. "Who's this flunky?" he asked. Then he remembered his courtesy and added "Lord Rahjan?"
Lord Rahjan turned towards him, squaring his shoulders. "This 'flunky' as you call him" he explained crossly "is my personal squire. He is my right hand man, ready at all times to do my will". Harrigan picked up on the word 'squire', and added "My own home planet had people like that several hundred cycles ago. While my home nation hadn't been discovered then, many of the major powers were like you. Then various knights, dukes, and other nobles, ruling the peasant underclasses. Not this sophisticated technologically though".
Lord Rahjan looked surprised. "So you are familiar with our form of government, then?" he asked. "Not exactly" Harrigan replied "I know the basics from history, but I don't know how you implement them here. Perhaps someone could explain the details?" Lord Rahjan snapped his fingers, summoning a junior squire. Harrigan beckoned him over, leading him and the rest of his group over to the nearest spaceport lunch bar. "What'll it be?" he asked the squire. The squire looked stunned that this giant visitor was offering to buy him food. "Go on, get something nice you can't usually have!" he urged. He got Talannah to order a Scarran delicacy for the two of them, and Crichton ordered for the rest of them.
Crichton guided the squire over to their table. "Well, go on" he prompted "Enlighten us". The squire composed himself, and started. "This is a feudal commerce planet" he explained "Fairly sparsely settled, it's controlled by a number of lords. Each rules their own independent city- state, plus its dependent fiefdoms" "Which power rules here?" asked Talannah. "If you mean Peacekeepers, Scarrans or Nebari – none of them. We're neutral. Our economy, and those of the other city-states is based on trade – and we'll take anyone's money. It's all the same to us. Some of the other cities do support one particular culture over the others, which has caused wars in the past. We're currently in a bit of a wrangle with Rathlaas, whose ruler favours the Charrids at this time. His agents have been stirring unrest in our peasant population, and encouraging our own small Charrid population to revolt. Can't prove it of course – but we KNOW it's them. The king is based in our city, and seems inclined to lend his royal guard to the effort – but won't do it without more substantial proof".
Harrigan perked up, grinning. He drew into a huddle with Talannah and the rest of his little group. "We can do this!" he urged happily "It's just the sort of thing I trained for! A good intelligence gathering mission!" The others, particularly Jool, looked doubtful. Harrigan added, slyly "The king will probably pay well. I'll make sure of it. We'll need you for that, Sluggo" he told Rygel "It'll add weight to our arguments if we've got a Dominar with us". Rygel straightened up, tidying up his robe. "I am indeed a Dominar, despite my scheming cousin usurping my rightful authority" Rygel spat "with Peacekeeper help. I'll get us a good price" he added, with a slight trace of Hynerian avarice "but...". Harrigan interrupted with "Moya's crew get half the fee to share between yourselves. How you do that is up to you".
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- "Are you sure that's entirely wise?" whispered Talannah, after Rygel turned away to discuss the financial arrangements with Aeryn. "Whethetr it's 'wise' or not doesn't matter" Harrigan replied abruptly "Crichton is a friend and ally. These people are his friends, and therefore ours as well". "Since our own money supply will last for a while yet, if managed carefully" he continued more softly "I'll help them where I can. Moya seemed somewhat frugally appointed. A little fiscal assistance to a friend won't hurt us, Tal. But I definitely won't cover any of that Hynerian's gambling troubles, though".
"I supppose you're right, love" Talannah sighed, still slightly sceptical "Though I'm a little wary of that Hynerian...". "He's a little greedy, true" Harrigan agreed "But his assistance with the king could clinch the deal for us. A recon mission will be just the thing to freshen up our skills. We'll help out the local authorities, and give a little money to our friends. So everyone wins except Rathlaas – and who cares about them, anyway?" Talannah laughed, and finished with "...and I really don't trust that Kalish at all. She looks like a resistance agent to me. I've encountered Kalish resistance agents before. Sneaky, devious, and highly untrustworthy. They don't keep their end of a deal often – even if doing so benefits them. They just care about killing Scarrans. Any Scarrans". Harrigan squeezed her shoulder softly, replying "Scarran High Command DID virtually annihilate her race, and enslave all survivors. Her grudge does have some merits. But if she moves against you, dear" Harrigan's tone turned nasty, and he added "I'll rip her into tiny pieces and throw them out the drophatch into space. Anyway, I've got almost as much Scarran in me as you do now".
The squire went down on one knee in Harrigan's peripheral vision. He tapped Talannah and Aeryn on the shoulder, and turned to see what the commotion was. "And who might you be, sir?" asked Harrigan politely, noting the deferential attitude shown by the other customers, and that Lord Rahjan had assumed a junior position behind the new arrival. A functionary stepped forward. "The correct form of address is 'Your Majesty' or 'Your Highness'" he explained. "You are?" asked Talannah. The functionary looked down his nose at Talannah, and added "I am the Lord Chamberlain, and this" he added proudly, gesturing to the richly-dressed Sebacean man beside him "is our king, His Majesty King Torthal IV."
Harrigan turned to his companions "Bow to his majesty!" he ordered quietly. They did so, though Talannah, Aeryn, and Harrigan kept their eyes on the king and his entourage at all times. The king noticed this and laughed. "You act as my soldiers do when I inspect them!" he guffawed "Military people yourselves, I think. Which power do you serve?"
"None, Your Majesty" Harrigan immediately replied "I do have military training, as does Talannah" he gestured toward her, "and Aeryn" and toward Aeryn as well. Then he continued, adding "but I came out to this region to find my friends. Now I've found them, I'll spend a little time with them, catching up; then Talannah and I will finish that mission and report back to my home briefly before returning here. Perhaps we may obtain gainful employment here during our stay?" Harrigan asked.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- "Mercenaries!" said the Lord Chamberlain disdainfully "They'll turn to whoever pays them the most. Leave them be, Your Majesty". Talannah's G8C snapped up under the Lord Chamberlain's chin instantly. He started sweating with fear, thinking that Talannah was about to blow his head off, when Harrigan gently pushed the barrel away. "While that method of employment will undoubtedly be my primary one, if you pay for our services we will stay loyal to you for as long as you pay our fees. Plus we all have our own grievances with the major authorities, one way or the other. You are safe with us, Highness" Harrigan reassured the king.
The king turned to Rygel. "This one does not show proper deference. Why is this?" he asked. "Your Majesty" Rygel replied "I too am royalty. I am the Dominar-in-exile of Hyneria. Dominar Rygel XVI at your service". Aeryn turned to the king, adding "He speaks truth, Your Majesty. He travels with us for protection, until preparations can be made for his return to Hyneria". Rygel added his own explanation. "My filthy, rotten, devious cousin usurped my rightful authority with the help of those frelling Peacekeepers" he spat "When I return home, he will receive an especially painful punishment for his treason, once I resume my throne!"
The king then turned to confer with his advisors. The voice of the Lord Chamberlain rose above the collective hubbub on occasion, with sayings like "...untrustworthy..." and "...they serve only money, my king..." and "...no true chivalric tradition., master...". The king turned to his errant chief advisor. "You have given good advice to me in times past, but you do not have experience with either military people or offworlders. I do. My other advisors concur that they should be given the chance to prove themselves". He turned to Harrigan. "Bring your people to the palace tomorrow at 9am, local time. We may have some business for you". The king and his entourage tuned and swept out towards his waiting hover-limo, entered, and the royal motorcade left for the rest of the public inspection tour.
"Not bad, Harrigan" Rygel decided "You hardly need my counsel at all! Nevertheless, I shall be there to advise you for tomorrow's royal audience". "I'm looking forwards to it already, Ryg" Harrigan replied. "It's getting late" he added, turning to the others "We'd better turn in. There's a few hostels round here, or you can use the Harbringer's bunkroom if you prefer". Aeryn pounced on that remark. "So it IS a Harbringer!" she whispered excitedly "I thought it might be!" "Keep it to yourself, though" Harrigan replied "I don't want any outside attention. Anonymity must be our watchword". "We'll use your bunkroom, Lieutenant" decided Crichton "We have supplies to buy, and our funds are limited. Accomodation will stretch our finances past breaking point."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------
Aeryn and Crichton woke first the following morning to the sound of driving rain on the Harbringer's hull. Crichton peered out of the bunkroom viewslit to gauge the strength of the storm, which was an almost constant vertical downpour. "I'm just glad this armour comes with a helmet" he groused to Aeryn "Otherwise I'd be tempted to stay in bed, king or no king". Aeryn leaned over and ruffled his hair. "Don't worry about it" she replied in stoic Peacekeeper fashion "Besides, if the the mission starts today, the rain will mask our tracks, deaden the noise of our footsteps, and shorten the range at which an enemy could smell us. It's actually better this way" she explained, finishing on a high note.
Jool awoke a few microts later. She also went over to the viewslit to check out the weather. "Eeeew!" she squealed "Revolting! That's going to be really bad for my hair!" "Worse than getting your head blown off on a nice, sunny day?" asked Rygel, who'd been woken by Jool's protestations. "Because the weather'll work in our favour in a fight. The enemy won't be able to find us as well as usual. Where's Harrigan?" Rygel groused "He should be up by now!"
They found Harrigan and Talannah curled up in each other's arms in the pilot's chair. Rygel flitted over to them and shouted "Oi! You two! It's almost 8.30am. Time to go!" They immediately got up off the chair, a little bleary-eyed. After giving Harrigan a quick kiss, Talannah put her armour back on over her uniform, put her swords back on, and grabbed her G8C from under the console. She still hadn't rid herself of the habit of sleeping with a weapon, as her Viper was still in its holster. Harrigan rubbed his eyes, standing up and looking around at his friends. "Is it that time already?" he asked tiredly "Oh well, here goes", and slipped his pack and G8C onto his shoulders over his swords. "Let's move" urged Crichton "Don't want to be late for a royal summons, do we?"
After leaving the Harbringer, Harrigan locked the ship down and commandeered a luggage handling truck, as it was the only local vehicle capable of handling his weight. "Aeryn, drive" Harrigan decided "Crichton, you join her up front with Rygel. Myself, Talannah and Jool will wait in the back". Once Harrigan and the ladies had secured themselves in the truck's cargo area, Aeryn put the truck in gear and drove briskly through the centre of town, heading for the palace. This did not go completely without incident – they were almost apprehended by police for speeding at one stage. But Harrrigan stuck his head out of the back of the truck and grinned at the police, which soon caused them to bear off.
They arrived at the palace courtyard with three minutes to spare. "Leave the truck here!" Harrigan ordered "Get your weapons and follow me!" The group leapt out of the truck, formed up behind Harrigan, and marched straight in through the front doors. Several palace guards attempted to stop them – but after one got too close to Talannah's boots, which then impacted his groin at high speed – all others stayed clear. They didn't want to become eunuchs, however temporarily. Five followed at a safe distance, their leader calling ahead to the king, advising him of Harrigan's approach.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- The king was going over his plan of events for the day, when a signals officer burst in. "A giant approaches!" he stuttered "With four comrades of various races. Two Sebaceans, one Scarran, one probable Interon, and a Hynerian on a hover-chair! You should move to a place of safety, Your Majesty!" The king smiled indulgently at the signals officer. "I am in a place of safety. These people mean no harm to me. I met them yesterday, and offered them employment. They are here to discuss terms, that's all".
The chief of staff, a Luxan, spoke up. "I would recommend a bodyguard detachment be present at all times, sire" he stated "With the current unrest, we cannot tell what the enemies of this city may do, or who they may send to do it. If nothing else, they can sacrifice themselves to ensure your safe escape". The king turned to the Luxan, replying "Very well. Ten men. But they'll not be needed, I think. I have a good feeling about their leader. Besides that, he has secured the loyalty of a Scarran, which is no small thing. If the Scarran trusts him, so shall I. For now". "Very well, sire" responded the Luxan, bowing. Then he straightened up and rattled off some orders. A squad of infantry, with rifles, entered quickly and stationed themselves evenly aroundd the room. The king waved away his advisors, who left reluctantly. But the king bade his chief of staff stay in the room. "They would expect to see someone of your position with me at this time" he explained.
Not more than five microts later, Harrigan pushed open the doors to the king's office. The Luxan moved to place himself between the newcomers and the king, but the king ordered him back to his side. "Ease off, my friend" he ordered easily "These people are not hostile to us". The Luxan nodded, and stepped back as he was bidden.
"Your Majesty" Harrigan said "We are here, as you requested we be. Sorry we're late – some dumb flatfoot tried to book us for speeding, but we lost him eventually. Who's this?" he finished, pointing at the Luxan. "My chief of staff" the king replied "He commands my royal guard and the city's armies in time of war as well. He will brief you on the mission I have for you. I suggest we adjourn to the War Room downstairs". The king stood up and moved off to a staircase, which he and the chief of staff went down. Harrigan motioned to the others to follow him, as he followed the king. The bodyguard unit followed their group down as well, taking no chances with the life of their king.
The chief of staff opened a large set of double doors wide, leading his king and Harrigan's group inside. The bodyguards barely made it in before the doors shut. Harrigan looked out onto an advanced battle-management suite. Aides and clerks of various races scuttled to and fro, passing information and updating the position of forces in the field on the main screen. Signals officers dispatched orders and received reports. Harrigan turned to Talannah and Aeryn for their opinions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- "Not bad at all" replied Aeryn to Harrigan's unspoken question "Everything appears to be in order. The equipment is modern, and apparently well maintained". Talannah added "The state of the personnel is good as well. They appear to be well skilled and well motivated in their work. The last is hard to instill. Their loyalty to their king must be strong indeed". The king overheard this remark, and clarified the situation. "These are the most loyal of those in this realm" he explained "I had them selected from those territories directly under my family's rule, to further ensure their loyalty, over and above the usual tests that all here undergo".
The chief of staff had cleared a large holotable, and brought up a 3D representation of an area of terrain for them to see. "This is your mission" the Luxan briefed. Harrigan and his friends leaned forward to see. "This area shown is approximately fifty kilometras outside the city. Somewhere in this sector is what we suspect to be a forward staging base, probably for Rathlaas. That city has always had a majority Charrid population, but hasn't made much of a nuisance of itself until recently. Several weeken ago, raids against our merchant convoys increased; lootings and burnings of outlying settlements as well". "Sounds like Rathlaas is sending out probes, testing your defences" decided Talannah. "That's what I think as well" agreed the chief of staff "Unfortunately the other court advisors do not. They have muddied the waters sufficiently that no clear consensus has been reached. All the men-at-arms we sent to reconnoitre have never been seen again. That's why you're here".
This time Rygel spoke up. "What kind of monetary recompense were you offering for us to solve this problem?" he enquired. "One thousand krepna, each. With additional bonuses if you bring back proof" responded the Luxan. "I had something a little higher in mind..." replied Rygel, and the bargaining begun in earnest. Half an arn later, the Luxan finally gave in. "Done" he said wearily "You drive a hard bargain, Hynerian. I hope you are all worth it". Aeryn turned to Rygel "So what did you get us for a fee?" she asked. "Two and a half thousand krepna each - half in advance, half after the job is done. Additional bounties paid to the team as a whole if we bring back documents or other hard evidence of what's out there"
The king turned back to them. Placing his hands flat on the table, he stated "You have your mission. Go out there, find out what's going on, and report back with proof to me here. A crawler will be assigned to you for the duration of this mission. It will be waiting for you in the guard's motor pool. Now go."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------
Eight and a half arns later, and Talannah still couldn't shake Harrigan awake. She'd tried shaking him several times, and even kicking him once – all she'd got from that was a small bruise on her foot. Harrigan had muttered "...not now Mum, just a couple more minutes..." under his breath, and turned over on his other side. Talannah growled a little in impatience and resolved to ask some of Moya's crew for ideas in getting her lover awake.
When she walked into the dining room, Chiana, Aeryn, and Crichton were waiting for her. "Where's Harrigan?" Chiana asked. "Still asleep" Talannah replied irritably "I tried everything I could think of – he just mutters a little, turns over , and goes back to sleep. If any of you have any ideas..." Chiana looked up, grinned, and walked over to Talannah,.and whispered frantically in her ear for seveal microts. After she'd gone back to her seat, Talannah looked over at her, saying "While that idea was MOST eye-opening, Chiana, I don't think it's too suitable for the current situation." After seeing Chiana's dejected look, she added "But it'll definitely come in useful later, though" and smiled to herself, thinking just how useful it would be. Then she turned to Crichton. "How about you? He's your species, after all" Talannah enquired.
"Not a clue" Crichton replied, out of ideas "Neither me or my sister ever had that problem. We were all light sleepers in my family". Aeryn sat at the table, head in her hands, mulling over ideas. Then a wicked grin came over her face as a particularly nasty idea occurred to her. Getting up, she gestured at the others to follow her. "Talannah" she asked "Perhaps you could show us where he is...". A few hundred microts later, they arrived at the Harbringer's hatch, where Talannah turned towards them. "I'm not sure John would really want anyone else in his ship yet, but we'll have to take the chance" she decided "Chiana, you stay here. Aeryn, Crichton, come with me". Chiana pouted a little, but one look at Talannah's face convinced her not to push her luck. "Besides..." Talannah added "If the rest of your friends wonder where we are, you can tell them"
The three of them scampered up through the hatch and into the Harbringer. Aeryn's eyes almost popped out of her head when she saw the interior. "This is a Harbringer, isn't it?" Aeryn said in surprise, turning to Talannah "I've heard a lot of wild gossip and rumour about them, but my superiors always hotly denied them. Looks like the rumours were right" And First Command wrong, again, she didn't add. Talannah had heard a little about them herself but hadn't connected the gossip with this ship. "You'll have to ask John that later" she said, cutting off speculation "If we manage to wake him".
They tiptoed down to the bunkroom. Talannah opened the door, letting Aeryn and Crichton see Harrigan fast asleep on the bunk against the far wall. Aeryn held her finger up to her mouth for silence, snuck up behind Harrigan's bunk, drew a deep breath, and yelled "GET UP SOLDIER, THAT'S AN ORDER!!" in full drill-instructor mode.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- The sight of about seven and a half feet and 1100 pounds of Harrigan leaping to attention and yelling "Yes, sir! Right, sir! Absolutely, sir!" sent all three of them into wild paroxysms of laughter. Talannah just leaned against the wall, laughing softly; but Aeryn and Crichton collapsed into each other's arms, laughing their heads off. It took several microts before Harrigan's brain kicked in and realised what they had done. After washing his face in the sink nearby, he turned grumpily to them. "That was nasty" Harrigan grumbled "I really need my sleep! How long before we get there anyway?"
"We've 'been there' for the last ¾ of an arn, my slumbering giant" Talannah told him, tapping his carapace. "All we needed to do was get you up, and we could start finalising landing preparations". Harrigan rubbed the sleep from his eyes and said blearily "I don't suppose there's a hot shower somewhere on Moya, is there?" "There is, actually" Crichton replied "One tier down, about half way back, portside". "I'll just get my stuff" Harrigan replied. He retrieved a spare pair of uniform trousers and his loadout bag, and followed the rest of them back out of the Harbringer. Aeryn resolved to ask Harrigan about his ship at the earliest possible opportunity.
After they reached the shower facility, Aeryn and Crichton headed off to Command to wait for them. Harrigan immediately removed his trousers, dropped his loadout bag on a bench, and bolted for the nearest shower. After he'd closed the curtain, a "Aaah..." of relaxation was heard as the steaming water washed over him. Talannah clamped down ruthlessly on the thoughts running across her mind, and relieved herself of her own uniform and stepped into another shower.
A thousand or so microts later, Harrigan emerged from his cubicle and towelled himself off. Swinging his shoulders from side to side to work out the kinks, he hissed slightly at the twinges of pain. "Damn shoulders...lower back...oooh!" he moaned. Talannah slipped out of her cubicle and walked softly over to his bench. She started kneading his shoulder muscles softly, but insistently, with her fingers. "Oooh, yes..." Harrigan said in response to Talannah's ministrations. "Just right, love...bit lower..." he urged. Then Talannah must have hit the perfect spot just the right way, because Harrigan let off a piercing screech that echoed over most of Moya. Talannah shook her head slowly to get rid of the ringing in her ears, then looked down at Harrigan with a pleased smile on her face. He slowly turned around to look at her, surprised to see that she hadn't put her uniform back on. "Tal, my love..." he stuttered, just because the sight of her completely naked was rapidly turning him into a slobbering thickwit, then continued with "You appear to be..." before she interrupted, adding softly "Out of uniform? Yes, my dear, my wonderful love, I suppose I am".
She swung one leg over the bench and sat astride his lap. Then her fingers started wandering through what remained of his hair. Harrigan's own arms wrapped around her and drew her closer, delighting in the feel of her unexpectedly smooth Scarran skin under his fingers. Talannah wriggled in her own delight at the way Harrigan's carapace seemed to soften and bend at her touch. "Mmmm...good, so good..." she moaned, as she stroked his chest carapace. When Harrigan's questing touch reached her own chest, the strength of her desire drove a screech of her own from her throat.
It just happened that Chiana and Jool were walking down to the armoury on that level to find Aeryn when Harrigan's first screech ripped through the air. Jool looked back and forth, slightly scared, saying "What the frell's that?!" Chiana, being a little more experienced in these matters, already had a slight idea. Grinning to herself, she urged Jool to follow her. "Come on!" she encouraged Jool "Let's see what's going on!" They'd made it to the end of the relevant corridor when Talannah's own softer, but no less ardent, screech echoed though the hallway. By now Jool was beginning to catch on. "I...I think I'll stay here" she decided, stopping a few metras from the shower facility. "Piker!" Chiana taunted, sticking her tongue out, before looking round the doorway. She immediately drew her head back, eyes wide in surprise.
"Well?" Jool prompted. Chiana didn't say anything, just grinned and shook her head from side to side. Then Aeryn, Crichton, Dargo, and even Sikozu turned up, slightly out of breath. "What's going on?" asked Sikozu crossly "We're going to be late!" Then another screech from Harrigan, plus another from Talannah shortly afterwards, came out through the door at almost ear- splitting volume. Crichton turned, stunned, towards the showers; then looking at Chiana, who moved her hands in vague, but thoroughly descriptive motions that left no doubt at all in anyone's mind as to what was going on in there.
"Well, then" muttered Sikozu, walking off to the shuttle bay. Crichton and Aeryn just leaned against the wall, hugging each other. Chiana got on the comm. "Pilot?" she asked "Could you put a call thorugh to the shower facility on tier 2? Harrigan and Talannah are in there...together. Perhaps you could remind them we have to be going?" There was a break of a few microts while Pilot digested Chiana's little revelations, then Pilot activated the wall comm closest to Harrigan and apprised him of the situation.
Harrigan and Talannah reluctantly separated, looking at each other lovingly. "Come on" he urged Talannah, extending his hand towards her. "I've pushed my luck too far as it is" he added under his breath. "What do you mean?" Talannah replied, slightly upset. Harrigan kissed her softly on the mouth, adding "Just me, love. I was brought up in a very traditional family. My parents taught me not to...well, you know..." Talannah nodded. Harrigan continued with "Unless it's with a lady I'm married to". When he saw the look on Talannah's face, he lifted her chin up gently, explaining "But don't worry about that, my..." , he used an untranslatable word in Old Scarran that means 'matchless one', "I've got a plan to take care of that. Oh, yes!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- Oh please, please, please! Talannah exulted. Say it! She knew the Old Scarran word he used, and it pleased her greatly that Harrigan applied it to her, but the last few words almost caused another screech of delight when they sunk in. He loves me, he needs me, he really does! This revelation did cause a slight squeal, but both of them calmed down and quickly put their clothes, and their weapons, back on. "Ready?" Talannah asked, looking over at Harrigan. He smiled back at her, patting the G8C he'd retrieved from his loadout bag. "Always" he replied. Talannah tightened his scabbard-straps for him, then she said "Let's go".
They stepped out of the shower facility side by side, to the sound of Chiana's appreciative cheers. "Button it, Chi" ordered Crichton. Then he turned to Harrigan. "We'd better get down to the shuttle bay. Ground Control's been expecting us for the last quarter-arn now". As they made to leave, Harrigan interrupted with "No, no! Why don't we take mine?" Harrigan looked towards Aeryn "I'm pretty sure you've got a few questions about my ship. Perhaps once you've seen it in more detail, you can answer some of mine about it as well". Crichton looked over at Aeryn, who nodded. She activated her comm, saying "Sikozu? Rygel?" Both answered. "Get youselves along to the dorsal forward inspection hatch on tier one. We're taking Harrigan's ship".
Harrigan called ahead, getting the computer to lock down all internal doors except the bunkroom. He didn't want to take any chances that either Rygel's or Chiana's inquisitive natures might get the better of them. Aeryn scratched her chin, then issued a few more orders over her comm. When Harrigan looked over, she explained "I told Dargo, Chiana, and Sikozu to stay on board with Noranti in case of emergencies. Dargo wasn't too happy, but he knows he'll be needed to keep the two girls under control if nothing else". Harrigan nodded, adding "So we'll have you, Commander Crichton, Jool, Rygel, Talannah, and myself then. Not a problem". They reached the hatch, which Harrigan opened. "Please don't touch anything" Harrigan asked "Even I don't know what some of the odder buttons do, and I own this ship, so let's not cause any problems by inadvertantly firing a weapon or soemthing, hmm?" Everyone responded in the affirmative, then followed Harrigan in.
"Tal, next to me" Harrigan directed, pointing to the copilot's chair. "Aeryn, over there" he added, pointing to the nav console. "Crichton, there" he said pointing to the flight engineer's seat. "Sorry about the stink. My old corporal puked over there, and I just can't get rid of the smell. Must be in the aircon or something. Rygel" Harrigan ordered, pointing at the floating Hynerian "Stay by Crichton and DON'T MOVE". Then he turned to Jool. "I'm sorry, but I'll have to stash you in the tail gunner's turret" he explained, pressing a button to unlock it. "There's nowhere for you to sit here. You can talk over the interphone to us; and the aft sensors are on, so you can see anything coming from behind. The gun itself is disarmed for now. Go straight down the corridor. It's right at the end". Jool ran off down the corridor, strapped herself in the turret seat, and shut the door remotely.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- Harrigan stuffed his G8C back in his loadout bag, which got stuffed under the console. Then he strapped himself in and pressed a few buttons "Initial preflight check, all good. Aeryn?" he enquired. She pressed half a dozen buttons rapidly, then reported "All system go. EW, in the green. Surveillance systems, check. Nav systems, check. Threat receivers, check. Autosystems backup, check". "Crichton?" Harrigan added next. Crichton pressed a further three buttons, then reported "All three engines in the green. Fuel tanks filled, no leaks. Power systems at full capacity. Forward, top, and tail guns fully operational". Harrigan checked his own readouts to verify this information, as did Talannah. He raised one hand, saying "All check?" Talannah slapped his hand in reply adding an "All check" of her own.
Harrigan activated the interphone. "I am Lieutenant Harrigan, your pilot for this flight. Please ensure that any carry-on luggage is stowed in the appropriate compartments. Federal regulations require this to be a non- smoking stealth aircraft" he added, grinning "and remember that, if required, the barf bags are on the seat back in front of you!" Crichton laughed at that, remembering the airline flights he'd been on back on Earth. "Crichton?" Harrigan asked "Please signal Pilot that we're about to separate". Crichton signalled Pilot, whose return call got shunted to the interphone by Aeryn. When Harrigan looked over in surprise, she just winked at him. "Myself and Moya copy your separation" Pilot responded "Have a safe planet leave, everyone".
"Grab your gizzards, people!" Harrigan said excitedly, flipping the clamp switches. Several clunking noises followed. Harrigan gave a short burst of power, shoving the Harbringer clear of Moya's hull. "Aeryn" Harrigan ordered "Contact ground control and request a landing pit for us. We're about five times longer than a Marauder-ER, if they ask". A swift "Aye, Lieutenant" was the only reply. A few microts later, Ground Control cam on the comm. "Sensors show no trace of your ship. Our landing systems can't lock on and guide you in. Please explain" came the rather surprised and aggrieved voice from below. Harrigan waved a finger to and fro, shushing Aeryn and Talannah, then responded himself. "This is Lieutenant Harrigan. I am master, pilot, and owner of this ship. I'd be very surprised if you could pick us up. Just ready a landing pit for a craft approximately five times longer than a Marauder-ER and activate it's homing beacon. I'll follow that in"
The flight controller turned to his superior. "Squire" he asked "Where shall I send them?". The squire thought a while and responded "Bay three. It's big enough, and it's also closest to a security station. Our lord will have been notified of the arrival of this unusual vessel; He will want to question it's owner, I'm sure". The controller replied "As you say, squire", then relayed the necessary information back to Harrigan on board the Harbringer.
"On the way" Harrigan replied. But before he moved off, he looked over at Aeryn questioningly. She caught on at once. "Since they can't detect us, someone down below will probably want to question us a little" she explained for the others "There may be a small reception committee waiting for us"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- Harrigan nodded. "That's right, people" he added "Before we leave, eveyone will stop off at the armoury to pick up their weapon of choice. I'd recommend something big, but that's just me"
Down on the surface, Lord Rajan, governor of the city, had just been advised of their arrival. "Why aren't the sensors registering their ship?" he asked the senior air control squire pointedly"I've had some of the best sensors installed here at my spaceport and not so much as a half-blip of this newcomer. Perhaps someone can explain why?" On the Harbringer, Aeryn had hacked the internal monitors in the tower. She gave a thumbs up to Harrigan, who pressed the transmit button on the control stick. "I'll tell you all that you need to know when we're down. Hold your horses!" Harrigan urged happily "Rewards come to those who wait!" Then he cut the comm.
"How the frell did they penetrate comm security?!" Lord Rahjan screamed. The now browbeaten senior squire responded "While we do have countersurveillance equipment installed, it's not quite state of the art. Plus our operators don't have the Peacekeeper, Nebari, or even Scarran, training that would be needed to make the most of what we do have. Well- trained operators with superior equipment could bypass the safeguards". Lord Rahjan turned to his personal squire, saying "Get six armoured men-at- arms over to their blast pit, and come yourself as well. I intend asking them a few questions".
The Harbringer was coming up to landing time. "Talannah, you have the conn" Harrigan said quickly "Take us down. Aeryn, Crichton, Rygel – with me. Jool" he added over the comm "To the armoury!" A few microts later, they were all outside the armoury door. Harrigan tapped out a code, and let them all in. "Get hot!" he ordered "I got pulse rifles large and small, pistols, tarvek grenades, commando armour, everything we need. Don't be stingy" he added "Take lots! That means you too, Jool. Get that armour on you, grab a rifle! Let's move!" Jool reluctantly put a suit of commando armour on, and took a rifle from the rack. Aeryn and Crichton had quickly suited up in armour, grabbed heavy rifles and half a dozen tarvek grenades each, and stood outside the door. "Aeryn" Harrigan said "There's a couple of palm pistols in that drawer over there, I think. Fix 'em on Rygel's chair. Can't leave him out, can we?" he finished nastily.
Harrigan led them to the drophatch "Troops!" Harrigan barked excitedly "Prepare for combat drop! Talannah!" he yelled down to the bridge. "Aye?" she replied. "Take us in low and hard. Troop drop profile. We'll secure the LZ, then you land and come to meet us". A swift "Sir!" and she changed course as instructed. Harrigan rubbed his hands together with glee, glad to be getting even a little action. Aeryn tapped Crichton on the shoulder and pointed this out. They both laughed lightly as they waited.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- A tower observer pointed up at the sky, yelling out over the comm at the same time. "Sirs, I see it!" the young man exclaimed "Like nothing else I've seen! Coming in low and fast, straight for us!" Lord Rahjan ran out to see for himself. "Where?!" he said. The observer guided his lord to the correct place. "There, my lord" he prompted "A flattish black craft, sir." The lord took a few microts to study it's flight pattern, then yelled "Troop insertion! Call out the guard!"
The siren startled the duty squad out of an animated discussion on the merits of a certain female celebrity on the local TV channels. "Grrr..." the squad sergeant growled. Then he grabbed his rifle, and yelled and booted his squad into action. "Rifles ready! Boots on! Move, frell you, move!" The squad whined and stumbled their way out to the edge of the blast pit, and raised their rifles in the direction of the Harbringer.
In the Harbringer's drop bay, the red light lit up. "Stand up!" ordered Harrigan. The little group spread themselves around the edge of the drophatch. A couple of microts later, the hatch irised open. "Stand ready!" Harrigan added. They all checked their weapons were ready. Talannah then flared the nose and activated the green light, which lit up in the drop bay. "Go, go, go!" Harrigan urged gleefully, grinning. Aeryn and Crichton were first through the hatch, then Rygel shot through, followed by Jool and Harrigan. They hit the ground with a rough SMACK! on the edge of the blast pit. Aeryn chivvied them into a defensive pattern, in anticipation of the Harbringer's landing, or a possible attack. Talannah expertly brought the Harbringer in for a perfect landing; then she shut the ship down, grabbed her own weapons and joined Harrigan on the ground. "Good drop, Officer Sun" Harrigan praised her, tapping her on the shoulder in passing. "Thank you, sir she responded, straightening up. Then Talannah came up to him. He hugged her close, giving her a quick kiss, and whispered "Good landing, love" in her ear. She nipped him playfully on the ear in reply, and followed him over to Lord Rahjan, who was fuming by the control tower.
"Fall in!" whispered Talannah, as they passed the others. They quickly formed up behind Harrigan, following him to the tower. Lord Rahjan looked up at the leader of this bunch of visitors. Clearly a military background, he mused. He's definitely in charge here – even if only by default. When he got closer, his true size became apparent. Lord Rahjan looked up, then further up. He was not a small man himself, being about half a henta taller than the second male in the group. But the leader was about five hentae taller than him again, and projected an image of clear authority as he moved. The fact that the whole group were heavily armed was an almost unnecessary additonal detail. The hands on this titan in front of me, he thought, are as big as my head!
Harrigan came to a halt smartly in front of him. "Are you perhaps in charge here?" he asked solicitously. The senior squire stepped in front of Lord Rahjan, fearing hostility on the part of the newcomer towards his lord.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- "You will address him as Lord Rahjan, or 'my lord' !" the Lord Rahjan's personal squire stated with as much courage and authority as he could muster. Harrigan ignored the squire, turning directly to Lord Rahjan. "Who's this flunky?" he asked. Then he remembered his courtesy and added "Lord Rahjan?"
Lord Rahjan turned towards him, squaring his shoulders. "This 'flunky' as you call him" he explained crossly "is my personal squire. He is my right hand man, ready at all times to do my will". Harrigan picked up on the word 'squire', and added "My own home planet had people like that several hundred cycles ago. While my home nation hadn't been discovered then, many of the major powers were like you. Then various knights, dukes, and other nobles, ruling the peasant underclasses. Not this sophisticated technologically though".
Lord Rahjan looked surprised. "So you are familiar with our form of government, then?" he asked. "Not exactly" Harrigan replied "I know the basics from history, but I don't know how you implement them here. Perhaps someone could explain the details?" Lord Rahjan snapped his fingers, summoning a junior squire. Harrigan beckoned him over, leading him and the rest of his group over to the nearest spaceport lunch bar. "What'll it be?" he asked the squire. The squire looked stunned that this giant visitor was offering to buy him food. "Go on, get something nice you can't usually have!" he urged. He got Talannah to order a Scarran delicacy for the two of them, and Crichton ordered for the rest of them.
Crichton guided the squire over to their table. "Well, go on" he prompted "Enlighten us". The squire composed himself, and started. "This is a feudal commerce planet" he explained "Fairly sparsely settled, it's controlled by a number of lords. Each rules their own independent city- state, plus its dependent fiefdoms" "Which power rules here?" asked Talannah. "If you mean Peacekeepers, Scarrans or Nebari – none of them. We're neutral. Our economy, and those of the other city-states is based on trade – and we'll take anyone's money. It's all the same to us. Some of the other cities do support one particular culture over the others, which has caused wars in the past. We're currently in a bit of a wrangle with Rathlaas, whose ruler favours the Charrids at this time. His agents have been stirring unrest in our peasant population, and encouraging our own small Charrid population to revolt. Can't prove it of course – but we KNOW it's them. The king is based in our city, and seems inclined to lend his royal guard to the effort – but won't do it without more substantial proof".
Harrigan perked up, grinning. He drew into a huddle with Talannah and the rest of his little group. "We can do this!" he urged happily "It's just the sort of thing I trained for! A good intelligence gathering mission!" The others, particularly Jool, looked doubtful. Harrigan added, slyly "The king will probably pay well. I'll make sure of it. We'll need you for that, Sluggo" he told Rygel "It'll add weight to our arguments if we've got a Dominar with us". Rygel straightened up, tidying up his robe. "I am indeed a Dominar, despite my scheming cousin usurping my rightful authority" Rygel spat "with Peacekeeper help. I'll get us a good price" he added, with a slight trace of Hynerian avarice "but...". Harrigan interrupted with "Moya's crew get half the fee to share between yourselves. How you do that is up to you".
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- "Are you sure that's entirely wise?" whispered Talannah, after Rygel turned away to discuss the financial arrangements with Aeryn. "Whethetr it's 'wise' or not doesn't matter" Harrigan replied abruptly "Crichton is a friend and ally. These people are his friends, and therefore ours as well". "Since our own money supply will last for a while yet, if managed carefully" he continued more softly "I'll help them where I can. Moya seemed somewhat frugally appointed. A little fiscal assistance to a friend won't hurt us, Tal. But I definitely won't cover any of that Hynerian's gambling troubles, though".
"I supppose you're right, love" Talannah sighed, still slightly sceptical "Though I'm a little wary of that Hynerian...". "He's a little greedy, true" Harrigan agreed "But his assistance with the king could clinch the deal for us. A recon mission will be just the thing to freshen up our skills. We'll help out the local authorities, and give a little money to our friends. So everyone wins except Rathlaas – and who cares about them, anyway?" Talannah laughed, and finished with "...and I really don't trust that Kalish at all. She looks like a resistance agent to me. I've encountered Kalish resistance agents before. Sneaky, devious, and highly untrustworthy. They don't keep their end of a deal often – even if doing so benefits them. They just care about killing Scarrans. Any Scarrans". Harrigan squeezed her shoulder softly, replying "Scarran High Command DID virtually annihilate her race, and enslave all survivors. Her grudge does have some merits. But if she moves against you, dear" Harrigan's tone turned nasty, and he added "I'll rip her into tiny pieces and throw them out the drophatch into space. Anyway, I've got almost as much Scarran in me as you do now".
The squire went down on one knee in Harrigan's peripheral vision. He tapped Talannah and Aeryn on the shoulder, and turned to see what the commotion was. "And who might you be, sir?" asked Harrigan politely, noting the deferential attitude shown by the other customers, and that Lord Rahjan had assumed a junior position behind the new arrival. A functionary stepped forward. "The correct form of address is 'Your Majesty' or 'Your Highness'" he explained. "You are?" asked Talannah. The functionary looked down his nose at Talannah, and added "I am the Lord Chamberlain, and this" he added proudly, gesturing to the richly-dressed Sebacean man beside him "is our king, His Majesty King Torthal IV."
Harrigan turned to his companions "Bow to his majesty!" he ordered quietly. They did so, though Talannah, Aeryn, and Harrigan kept their eyes on the king and his entourage at all times. The king noticed this and laughed. "You act as my soldiers do when I inspect them!" he guffawed "Military people yourselves, I think. Which power do you serve?"
"None, Your Majesty" Harrigan immediately replied "I do have military training, as does Talannah" he gestured toward her, "and Aeryn" and toward Aeryn as well. Then he continued, adding "but I came out to this region to find my friends. Now I've found them, I'll spend a little time with them, catching up; then Talannah and I will finish that mission and report back to my home briefly before returning here. Perhaps we may obtain gainful employment here during our stay?" Harrigan asked.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- "Mercenaries!" said the Lord Chamberlain disdainfully "They'll turn to whoever pays them the most. Leave them be, Your Majesty". Talannah's G8C snapped up under the Lord Chamberlain's chin instantly. He started sweating with fear, thinking that Talannah was about to blow his head off, when Harrigan gently pushed the barrel away. "While that method of employment will undoubtedly be my primary one, if you pay for our services we will stay loyal to you for as long as you pay our fees. Plus we all have our own grievances with the major authorities, one way or the other. You are safe with us, Highness" Harrigan reassured the king.
The king turned to Rygel. "This one does not show proper deference. Why is this?" he asked. "Your Majesty" Rygel replied "I too am royalty. I am the Dominar-in-exile of Hyneria. Dominar Rygel XVI at your service". Aeryn turned to the king, adding "He speaks truth, Your Majesty. He travels with us for protection, until preparations can be made for his return to Hyneria". Rygel added his own explanation. "My filthy, rotten, devious cousin usurped my rightful authority with the help of those frelling Peacekeepers" he spat "When I return home, he will receive an especially painful punishment for his treason, once I resume my throne!"
The king then turned to confer with his advisors. The voice of the Lord Chamberlain rose above the collective hubbub on occasion, with sayings like "...untrustworthy..." and "...they serve only money, my king..." and "...no true chivalric tradition., master...". The king turned to his errant chief advisor. "You have given good advice to me in times past, but you do not have experience with either military people or offworlders. I do. My other advisors concur that they should be given the chance to prove themselves". He turned to Harrigan. "Bring your people to the palace tomorrow at 9am, local time. We may have some business for you". The king and his entourage tuned and swept out towards his waiting hover-limo, entered, and the royal motorcade left for the rest of the public inspection tour.
"Not bad, Harrigan" Rygel decided "You hardly need my counsel at all! Nevertheless, I shall be there to advise you for tomorrow's royal audience". "I'm looking forwards to it already, Ryg" Harrigan replied. "It's getting late" he added, turning to the others "We'd better turn in. There's a few hostels round here, or you can use the Harbringer's bunkroom if you prefer". Aeryn pounced on that remark. "So it IS a Harbringer!" she whispered excitedly "I thought it might be!" "Keep it to yourself, though" Harrigan replied "I don't want any outside attention. Anonymity must be our watchword". "We'll use your bunkroom, Lieutenant" decided Crichton "We have supplies to buy, and our funds are limited. Accomodation will stretch our finances past breaking point."
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Aeryn and Crichton woke first the following morning to the sound of driving rain on the Harbringer's hull. Crichton peered out of the bunkroom viewslit to gauge the strength of the storm, which was an almost constant vertical downpour. "I'm just glad this armour comes with a helmet" he groused to Aeryn "Otherwise I'd be tempted to stay in bed, king or no king". Aeryn leaned over and ruffled his hair. "Don't worry about it" she replied in stoic Peacekeeper fashion "Besides, if the the mission starts today, the rain will mask our tracks, deaden the noise of our footsteps, and shorten the range at which an enemy could smell us. It's actually better this way" she explained, finishing on a high note.
Jool awoke a few microts later. She also went over to the viewslit to check out the weather. "Eeeew!" she squealed "Revolting! That's going to be really bad for my hair!" "Worse than getting your head blown off on a nice, sunny day?" asked Rygel, who'd been woken by Jool's protestations. "Because the weather'll work in our favour in a fight. The enemy won't be able to find us as well as usual. Where's Harrigan?" Rygel groused "He should be up by now!"
They found Harrigan and Talannah curled up in each other's arms in the pilot's chair. Rygel flitted over to them and shouted "Oi! You two! It's almost 8.30am. Time to go!" They immediately got up off the chair, a little bleary-eyed. After giving Harrigan a quick kiss, Talannah put her armour back on over her uniform, put her swords back on, and grabbed her G8C from under the console. She still hadn't rid herself of the habit of sleeping with a weapon, as her Viper was still in its holster. Harrigan rubbed his eyes, standing up and looking around at his friends. "Is it that time already?" he asked tiredly "Oh well, here goes", and slipped his pack and G8C onto his shoulders over his swords. "Let's move" urged Crichton "Don't want to be late for a royal summons, do we?"
After leaving the Harbringer, Harrigan locked the ship down and commandeered a luggage handling truck, as it was the only local vehicle capable of handling his weight. "Aeryn, drive" Harrigan decided "Crichton, you join her up front with Rygel. Myself, Talannah and Jool will wait in the back". Once Harrigan and the ladies had secured themselves in the truck's cargo area, Aeryn put the truck in gear and drove briskly through the centre of town, heading for the palace. This did not go completely without incident – they were almost apprehended by police for speeding at one stage. But Harrrigan stuck his head out of the back of the truck and grinned at the police, which soon caused them to bear off.
They arrived at the palace courtyard with three minutes to spare. "Leave the truck here!" Harrigan ordered "Get your weapons and follow me!" The group leapt out of the truck, formed up behind Harrigan, and marched straight in through the front doors. Several palace guards attempted to stop them – but after one got too close to Talannah's boots, which then impacted his groin at high speed – all others stayed clear. They didn't want to become eunuchs, however temporarily. Five followed at a safe distance, their leader calling ahead to the king, advising him of Harrigan's approach.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- The king was going over his plan of events for the day, when a signals officer burst in. "A giant approaches!" he stuttered "With four comrades of various races. Two Sebaceans, one Scarran, one probable Interon, and a Hynerian on a hover-chair! You should move to a place of safety, Your Majesty!" The king smiled indulgently at the signals officer. "I am in a place of safety. These people mean no harm to me. I met them yesterday, and offered them employment. They are here to discuss terms, that's all".
The chief of staff, a Luxan, spoke up. "I would recommend a bodyguard detachment be present at all times, sire" he stated "With the current unrest, we cannot tell what the enemies of this city may do, or who they may send to do it. If nothing else, they can sacrifice themselves to ensure your safe escape". The king turned to the Luxan, replying "Very well. Ten men. But they'll not be needed, I think. I have a good feeling about their leader. Besides that, he has secured the loyalty of a Scarran, which is no small thing. If the Scarran trusts him, so shall I. For now". "Very well, sire" responded the Luxan, bowing. Then he straightened up and rattled off some orders. A squad of infantry, with rifles, entered quickly and stationed themselves evenly aroundd the room. The king waved away his advisors, who left reluctantly. But the king bade his chief of staff stay in the room. "They would expect to see someone of your position with me at this time" he explained.
Not more than five microts later, Harrigan pushed open the doors to the king's office. The Luxan moved to place himself between the newcomers and the king, but the king ordered him back to his side. "Ease off, my friend" he ordered easily "These people are not hostile to us". The Luxan nodded, and stepped back as he was bidden.
"Your Majesty" Harrigan said "We are here, as you requested we be. Sorry we're late – some dumb flatfoot tried to book us for speeding, but we lost him eventually. Who's this?" he finished, pointing at the Luxan. "My chief of staff" the king replied "He commands my royal guard and the city's armies in time of war as well. He will brief you on the mission I have for you. I suggest we adjourn to the War Room downstairs". The king stood up and moved off to a staircase, which he and the chief of staff went down. Harrigan motioned to the others to follow him, as he followed the king. The bodyguard unit followed their group down as well, taking no chances with the life of their king.
The chief of staff opened a large set of double doors wide, leading his king and Harrigan's group inside. The bodyguards barely made it in before the doors shut. Harrigan looked out onto an advanced battle-management suite. Aides and clerks of various races scuttled to and fro, passing information and updating the position of forces in the field on the main screen. Signals officers dispatched orders and received reports. Harrigan turned to Talannah and Aeryn for their opinions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- "Not bad at all" replied Aeryn to Harrigan's unspoken question "Everything appears to be in order. The equipment is modern, and apparently well maintained". Talannah added "The state of the personnel is good as well. They appear to be well skilled and well motivated in their work. The last is hard to instill. Their loyalty to their king must be strong indeed". The king overheard this remark, and clarified the situation. "These are the most loyal of those in this realm" he explained "I had them selected from those territories directly under my family's rule, to further ensure their loyalty, over and above the usual tests that all here undergo".
The chief of staff had cleared a large holotable, and brought up a 3D representation of an area of terrain for them to see. "This is your mission" the Luxan briefed. Harrigan and his friends leaned forward to see. "This area shown is approximately fifty kilometras outside the city. Somewhere in this sector is what we suspect to be a forward staging base, probably for Rathlaas. That city has always had a majority Charrid population, but hasn't made much of a nuisance of itself until recently. Several weeken ago, raids against our merchant convoys increased; lootings and burnings of outlying settlements as well". "Sounds like Rathlaas is sending out probes, testing your defences" decided Talannah. "That's what I think as well" agreed the chief of staff "Unfortunately the other court advisors do not. They have muddied the waters sufficiently that no clear consensus has been reached. All the men-at-arms we sent to reconnoitre have never been seen again. That's why you're here".
This time Rygel spoke up. "What kind of monetary recompense were you offering for us to solve this problem?" he enquired. "One thousand krepna, each. With additional bonuses if you bring back proof" responded the Luxan. "I had something a little higher in mind..." replied Rygel, and the bargaining begun in earnest. Half an arn later, the Luxan finally gave in. "Done" he said wearily "You drive a hard bargain, Hynerian. I hope you are all worth it". Aeryn turned to Rygel "So what did you get us for a fee?" she asked. "Two and a half thousand krepna each - half in advance, half after the job is done. Additional bounties paid to the team as a whole if we bring back documents or other hard evidence of what's out there"
The king turned back to them. Placing his hands flat on the table, he stated "You have your mission. Go out there, find out what's going on, and report back with proof to me here. A crawler will be assigned to you for the duration of this mission. It will be waiting for you in the guard's motor pool. Now go."
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