Harrigan's Heroes

by Warlord-Shirt

A trio of unlikely comrades are dispatched to find Crichton. But things don't go quite as planned. WARNING! Some chapters have higher ratings! Check chapter headings! NOW A FINISHED WORK.

25. Chapter 24 : Here comes the bride

Chapter 24 : Here comes the bride...

(wedding consultants – lobsteronmyhead & CrichtonCrazy. Rated R - sex)

The next morning, Koronna was looking at herself critically in the mirror. "I can hardly recognise myself in this fine clothing" she said, fidgeting a bit, to Talannah "It feels...odd...unusual...to be wearing anything other than my field uniform". Talannah smiled back, replying with "Just imagine how it feels being trussed up in this", before pointing to the wedding dress she was wearing "Highly impractical, no space to hide even the smallest weapon in – at least the jacket that goes with your dress lets you hide a Viper under it!".

"I'm sure Commander Harrigan will have something on hand for you if it's needed" Koronna reassured her. Talannah smiled, adding "Yes, I expect he will. He's good like that – always thinking of me first...". Mrs Franklin bustled up to Talannah with the veil for the dress and a small, unidentified can of something. "What's that for?" Keyah asked, pointing at the can. "It's a special kind of glue" Mrs Franklin replied "Using this is the only way we can get Talannah's veil to stay on her head – it was designed for a human, not one of you". "Can we get it off again?" Koronna asked, leaning in close to look at the can. "Yes." Mrs Franklin replied, still a little anxious around Koronna "The glue doesn't last forever. Your sweat will probably neutralise it more quickly as well – so let's hope the chapel's air conditioning is working". A few seconds later, the glue was applied and the veil's headpiece stuck in place.

Talannah squirmed and fidgeted a bit until she'd got used to it – which thankfully didn't make the veil fall off. Keyah was walking back and forth, seeing how she moved and looked in the dress – even going up the walls at one stage. After a few rather girlish giggles, she expressed rather excited approval. "I rather like this" she told them all, running her hands down the sides of the dress "Do you think the dress company will mind if I keep this after the wedding?"

Harrigan, having been booted out of the house by Mrs Franklin in the early hours before Talannah woke up, was walking up and down Captain Lazarus' barracks floor nervously. Kran was watching his pre-nuptial nervousness with indulgent amusement – he still remembered his own wedding to Moratha, over 30 cycles ago, with crystal clear clarity. "Wha...how...maybe.." Harrigan stuttered nervously, before sitting down hard on the nearest chair. Since the chair was light wood, Harrigan didn't stop when he sat on it – he went straight through it to land on the floor in a massive bundle of nervous almost-husband.

This didn't help his anxiety – Harrigan hurled the pieces of the chair out through the open window. "Before you destroy the rest of our furniture, Harrigan..." asked Dante from behind the office door "Perhaps you'd better get a decent meal inside you. The Captain said that's what you always did before when you were feeling nervous or uptight". Harrigan looked up, tension clearly written all over his face. "Not a bad idea, actually" he said in thanks to Dante "Any of you guys want to come?" All replied in the affirmative.

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Harrigan was so deep in thought that he didn't notice that he walked straight through the cafeteria doors without opening them first, leaving a huge Harrigan-sized hole in the doors (and, Harrigan being as tall as he is, though part of the wall over the door as well). Captain Lazarus shook his head wearily and opened what was left so the rest of them could get in without causing any more damage.

Since it was half-way through the breakfast shift, the hall was quite full with IASA workers and some military personnel. Most of them had heard of the new arrivals – but none had seen them before now. A few of the more fragile-minded women tried to leave – but those that had children with them had a hard time convincing them to leave, as they thought Harrigan's arrival was the best thing that had happened all month. The few families present were often engaged in a multi-way tug of war between mother, father, and children as parents tried to prevent their children from running over to take a closer look.

This wasn't entirely successful – one particularly persistent young boy broke free and ran over to where Harrigan was sitting. Trannak stopped him before he got there, saying "I think you should slow down, little boy. You could hurt yourself running like that in here". The boy looked up at Trannak, examining this strange-looking man closely. "Hey, cool!" he said, reaching out to touch Trannak's unfamiliar skin. Harrigan stopped eating to see how Trannak dealt with this unexpected turn of events. Trannak laughed softly, saying "That actually tickles a bit, you know". "Where are you from?" he asked next. "A long way – a very long way – from here" Trannak told him, hoping to avoid a more truthful answer.

But the little boy wouldn't be diverted so easily. "Where?" he went on "Washington? Texas? Alaska?" While his parents were fighting their way through the mass of tables and other people, Trannak said resignedly "A lot further than that, little boy. Out there" and pointed to the sky. "You're from SPACE?!" he said in happy surprise "You're an al—". Trannak laid one finger across the boy's mouth, shushing him and shaking his head.

"Don't use that word" Trannak said politely but firmly "It isn't nice. Good boys shouldn't talk that way about people just because they look different". His parents were now close enough to hear Trannak talking and telling their son off for trying to say 'alien'. " 'Spose so" the boy said under his breath "Sorry, sir". "There's no need for the 'sir'" Trannak said with a laugh "You're not a soldier!" "You are, aren't you?" he asked next, to which Trannak nodded. "Dad said I should always treat soldiers with repse..resep..." he said, trying to think of an unfamiliar word. "Respect, little boy" Trannak corrected him "Yes, you should - your Dad is right. Now you'd better get back to your parents – they look quite anxious to get you back".

"Sorry about that" the boy's father said nervously, seeing that Trannak was so obviously unlike anyone he knew. "Don't be" Trannak reassured him "He's a wonderful child – bright and curious as he should be". His father nodded and led his son back to their table fast.

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"You defused that one very cleverly, Trannak" Harrigan congratulated him after the boy had been hauled off, protesting the whole way back to his family's table. Harrigan himself was rather pleased to have something else to concentrate on besides the upcoming wedding, which showed on his face. "It wasn't a real problem, Commander" Trannak told him "That child was really quite engaging to talk to. I would have been happy to talk to him further, but his parents obviously wanted him back with them – they seemed to think I'm some kind of criminal or something".

Harrigan went back to get as big a serve as possible of whatever came closest to hand. The kitchen staff were being run off their feet by his nervous hunger, stretching them to their limits. "What's up with you, sir?" one server asked jokingly "Getting married or something?" He got quite a shock when Harrigan looked at him and replied "Yes, actually. Morning service in the base chapel today. Can't seem to stay calm unless I eat, eat, eat". "It's YOUR wedding on the service schedule for today?" he asked with surprise, looking up at Harrigan's extremely outsized and unusual body. Harrigan just nodded. "Who's the lucky lady?" he asked next. Harrigan laughed, replying "No one you know! She's not from round here!" Not by a long shot, Harrigan thought to himself. "Not long until service, sir" he reminded Harrigan "You'd better go and get ready. You don't want to turn up at your own wedding with tomato sauce on your chin and smelling of breakfast sausage, do you?"

Harrigan wiped one hand roughly over his chin, coming away with a long streak of familiar-looking and smelling sauce. Following this up with a quick sniff, he said "Oops – I don't exactly look my best right now, do I? Wouldn't want Talannah to chase me out of the chapel, Viper in hand, because I didn't wipe my chin after eating, would I?" The server shook his head with a grin – though he didn't know the lady in question, or what kind of weapon (for a weapon it had to be) a Viper was – at the prospect of this gigantic behemoth being chased out of the chapel and around the base by his extremely irate new wife.

"We've got maybe an arn an a half" Kran reminded him "To get you smartened up before the service starts. Since I expect we will have to be there early – at least half an arn or so – I suggest we get going". The mixed group of Scarrans and humans ran out of the remains of the entrance doors and off to Captain Lazarus' barracks.

When they arrived, Troll opened the door before Harrigan ran right through it. Disappearing straight into the shower block, he slammed the door shut, divested himself of his fatigue trousers (which went straight into the washing machine) and weapons and headed straight into the steaming water. Three-quarters of an hour later, he finally emerged – clean of clothing and body for once. Captain Kran had retrieved his ceremonial robes and armour from his own room, and was standing there in all his Scarran finery.

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At about this time, Talannah and her bridal party were going over her entrance procedure – for about the eighth time. Though she could see the merit in practicing, this incessant repetition was driving her nuts – despite Koronna's slightly greater patience, she too was becoming more uptight.

"Very good" remarked Chaplain Larris "Harrigan will probably be along shortly, so if we could..." "NO!' barked Talannah, Koronna, and Keyah all at once. Then Talannah continued, adding "We've got it as close to perfect now, Chaplain – one more time will not make it any better. We are all military women as well – used to memorising far more complicated plans than this. Don't worry – we won't embarrass you by mucking this up". When Chaplain Larris' ears had recovered from the verbal blasting, he raised his hands in supplication and replied "Yes, I suppose that's true. Anyway, you'd embarrass your future husband more than you would me if you stuff up". The ladies shared a slightly embarrassed laugh at the thought of that.

"Come on, sir!" urged Captain Kran "We've got just enough time to get over to the chapel and get the final arrangements taken care of – no time to dawdle or fret!" Harrigan looked over sheepishly, then eventually nodded, waving the composite team of humans and Scarrans out of the door. At about that time, Keyah had put in a call for Shor and his car – so him and Ryalla had headed over to the chapel ahead of time. The others walked over to the chapel fairly sedately, though Harrigan could barely stop fidgeting.

Since most of the men (and Jane as well) had never been married, they all found this rather amusing – though Kran took some pity on him. "Don't worry about the service itself" Kran advised "Just think of the married life you'll have afterwards". "Gives more meaning to the term 'first officer' than there's been before!" laughed Hellbolt. Harrigan replied with a laugh of his own, and an only slightly nervous "I suppose you're right".

Ryalla came running in through the chapel doors, calling "He's on the way! Barely a few momens and he'll be here! Let's move!" A barely-controlled hustle and bustle followed – with Talannah only narrowly avoiding tripping over the hem of her dress on several occasions. Shor's car shot away behind a nearby building just as Harrigan, Kran, and the others were arriving.

Captain Lazarus laughed at the look on Harrigan's face. "It's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding!" he teased Harrigan happily "Didn't you remember that?" Harrigan shook his head, replying "No, actually. But a few words with Talannah beforehand would have eased my tense mood wonderfully. It's amazing how much better and more relaxed I feel when I'm with her, Captain". "I'll take your word for that, Harrigan" Lazarus replied, a flicker of stress rippling across his already tense features "My relationship with my ex has been on the rocks for quite some time".

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"Don't you worry, Captain!" Harrigan consoled him cheerfully "I'm sure you'll find someone if you look – or perhaps they will find you! It was a complete surprise to me when I realised how much I loved Talannah, and just as much a surprise when I found out she felt the same way about me. The best and most welcome surprise I could ever have wanted".

Captain Lazarus' mind wandered back over the past few months that Harrigan had been away. His home life had indeed been tense and stressful – going all the way to flaming rows on several occasions. Usually when their adopted daughter had been pestering the troops enough to teach her some interesting military task – which she then proceeded to regale her stepmother with. She totally blew her top when Troll taught our daughter to detail-strip his G8 – it didn't matter that it kept her off the street, or even that she was good at it. "Never mind my personal problems" Captain Lazarus replied quietly "This is your special day Harrigan – I won't spoil it for you".

Chaplain Larris greeted them at the door of the chapel. "Ah, Harrigan. You're here at last" the chaplain said thankfully "If you'll follow me, I'll just show you where you'll be sitting...". He pointed out the aisle seat on the front row to Harrigan, then asked "Who's giving the bride away?" "I am" Captain Kran replied, stepping forward. The sight of Captain Kran in full ceremonial robes and armour, sword over his shoulder and Viper and under his armpit, shook the chaplain a little more than usual – but he didn't let on much. "You sit here, behind Harrigan" the chaplain told him. The rest of the Scarrans promptly filled the rest of that row, and the row behind it – Harrigan remembering at the last moment to post Hellbolt on sentry duty at the back of the chapel to watch the door. Hellbolt didn't mind – at least he still got to be there, and could even see straight down the aisle to where the vows would be taken. He picked a spot which faced the chapel door and the centre of the aisle, so he could see everything.

Chaplain Larris spent the last half hour walking Harrigan and Kran through their respective parts in the ceremony. They accepted the repetition with a little more grace than Talannah did – probably because Kran remembered his own wedding preparations, and Harrigan because he didn't want to screw it up. "Who has the rings?" Chaplain Larris asked.

Captain Lazarus frantically patted his pockets for the two small jeweller's boxes that he'd sent Lieutenant Dante out to get. It took him a while to get those, Captain Lazarus thought anxiously, I'd better not have lost them! Then it came to him – they were still on his office desk! "Jane!" he called out. "I was starting to wonder when you'd remember!" she replied with a slight laugh "I'm on the way – I remember you putting them in your desk drawer". She ran out of the chapel and off to the barracks to get them, waving a finger at the Captain in passing.

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"Yes, yes..." Captain Lazarus said wearily, waving her away "I know..."

Jane ran into the office and started rummaging through the piles of papers and other assorted detritus shoved haphazardly in the drawer. "Ammo requisitions...fitreps – wonder what mine's like..." she muttered "...memo from the General...ah!" She lifted up the corner of a magazine to see the two small felt-covered boxes she was after. Jane just shook her head at the sight of all the stuff her Captain had to deal with – for once, she was glad she wasn't an officer.

Walking more slowly out of the office, she saw Jack Crichton coming the other way, with Olivia and Bobby following close behind. "Mr Crichton?" Jane asked "Why are you here? Can I help you with anything?" Jack smiled over at Jane, saying "As the President's spokesman for extra-terrestrial life, I should be at the wedding. After all, this is the first time there's been a wedding between a human and a non-human".

Inside the chapel, Chaplain Larris was going over the final preparations for the service. To make sure Talannah didn't feel left out, he'd persuaded Captain Lazarus to sit his squad over on the right side of the aisle. Other residents of the base were starting to trickle in as well now – though Hellbolt wasn't much of a shock to them, the sight of the Scarrans caused one or two panic attacks until Captain Lazarus got the people in question calmed down.

Jack Crichton's sharp rap on the door was answered by Hellbolt and one of his Vipers. "It's just us, Hellbolt!" Jane said with a laugh "Come on, let us in!" He opened the door, ushering Jack, Livvy, and Bobby over to the third row on Talannah's side of the chapel. Bobby tried to get some video footage of the Scarrans, but Harrigan took the camera off him, pulling the battery out, and gave Bobby a polite but firm "No" before handing the camera back to Jack. "Don't give it back to him until after the reception" Harrigan told him "I don't want any records here of my wedding at all. Tovak's setting up a camera there at the back so we've got our own record of the event. But no others – not one".

In Shor's car, Talannah was getting very impatient. "When's this going to get underway?!" she growled at least half a dozen times. "A bit anxious, aren't you?" Ryalla teased her "Looking forward to the wedding night that much, are you?" Talannah smiled and blushed, her face lighting up as that thought ran across her mind. "Well, yes..." she said "But mostly it's just that I don't like being cooped up in this car!". Her voice took on a more plaintive tone, as she finished with "I want to move about...I want to be with John..." Koronna, on Talannah's right in the back seat, gave her a friendly squeeze, saying "Don't worry, Talannah. You don't have long to wait". "I know" Talannah replied softly, leaning against Koronna's shoulder "But that doesn't stop me worrying".

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Tovak had just finished setting up the video gear. "Self-test reports no defects" he reported to Hellbolt "May as well comm Shor and tell him – see if they can pick up the remote feed in his car".

Shor's head turned at the sound of his car comm twittering at him. "Yes, what's up?" he asked. "Check your video screen" Hellbolt told him "Tovak says everything's in the green". Shor switched on the dashboard screen – and the seat-back ones as well so the ladies should see it as well – and the inside of the chapel was clearly visible to them all. Talannah smiled when she saw Harrigan on one side, his enormous body and twin swords unmistakeable amongst the humans already there. "We've got perhaps five momens remaining until start time" Hellbolt told them "So get your eema in gear, Shor – we'll need you shortly".

Shor, making a quick check of the instruments, called out "Stand by! Five momens left!" This almost sent Talannah into a fit of bewildered panic until Keyah and Koronna calmed her down. When a burst of music came over the A/V feed as the singing started, Hellbolt whispered "That's your signal, Shor! Move out!"

He slipped the car into gear, and drive slowly out toward the church. The troops and MPs not going to church that morning were a little surprised to see a car without wheels, but soon got out of the way – Ryalla had her window down and her Viper out. "Calm down, love" Shor said, trying to soothe her "Put it away" – but Ryalla was having none of it. A couple more minutes later, Shor slid the car to a halt outside the chapel, in line with the stairs going up to the entrance.

Inside, Harrigan was starting to fidget excitedly as the singing went on. Much to everyone's surprise, the Scarrans proved to be fair (if rather loud) singers , though they had to learn the words by hearing them. They didn't join in with all of the songs – not feeling that it was right to sing lyrics they didn't know the real meaning of – but joined in with some, nonetheless.

After the usual church announcements, and those for the regular base as well, Chaplain Larris got down to the main purpose of the service. "As you've probably noticed, we have a few visitors with us" he explained, which drew a few laughs from the pews. "They're here to witness the wedding of their commander and his love – Harrigan and Talannah. Now, many of you will at least of heard of Harrigan, even if you don't know him..." A few officers chuckled at that – they were well acquainted with Harrigan's old antics. "...but today he invites us all to share in his day of happiness". Mrs Franklin, sitting nearer the back, looked over at her husband, smiled lovingly at him – clearly remembering her own wedding, even though it was quite a number of years ago. General Franklin replied with a squeeze of her hand, saying "I know, hon – I know".

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Outside, in Shor's car, the final signal came through – a slightly tinny "Now!" Koronna got out first, then Keyah – instinctively moving to guard positions. Talannah extricated herself with a little more decorum, but was soon up and on her way. "Remember, you two" she said "This isn't a scout patrol – you're supposed to be behind me. Fall in".

The chapel doors creaked open. Tovak looked over at the keyboard player and flicked his hand down, giving the signal to go – the strains of "Here comes the bride..." started floating though the chapel. It was slightly unsteady at first – after all, the keyboard player was sitting no more than a few metres from several big Scarrans – but this soon got sorted out.

Harrigan's excitement was getting quite hard to control. "She's coming, she's coming..." Harrigan burbled, to Captain Kran's amusement. Captain Lazarus saw Harrigan's right leg start jiggling under the pews – a sign known to him of how nervous he was – and smiled, in spite of his own slightly less happy situation. "Calm down, Commander" whispered Captain Kran "She'll be here soon enough". "I know, I know" Harrigan replied, occasional short and nervous crackles flickering over his lower arms.

Talannah and her bridal party came to the top of the aisle. Hellbolt gave them a wink of encouragement, and even Tovak managed to tear himself away from his gear long enough for a wave. As the small group made their way down the aisle, a few murmurs started circulating amongst the congregation – a few about Talannah, but some about Koronna as well. Since there were one or two compliments in there, Koronna was quite pleased – she wasn't quite sure how well she'd be able to carry this off.

Harrigan turned to see what all the commotion was about – only to look straight into the eyes of his intended coming the other way. Tears of happiness and joy started streaming down his face, all he could say was "...oh, Tal...my Talannah...my love..." as his legs gave out and he slowly sank to his knees (which would still have put his head at shoulder level for most people there). Seeing her prospective husband so overcome brought a wonderful smile to her own face, even more so when Kran helped him back onto his feet. "Good..." Chaplain Larris whispered under his breath "Everyone's here, and standing up as well..." before turning back to the congregation and starting the ceremony properly.

"Dearly beloved" Chaplain Larris announced "We are gathered together here in the sign of God – and in the face of this company – to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is commended to be honourable among all men...". A subvocal "...and every other race as well..." came from one of the Scarrans, before he shut up and let the Chaplain go on. Larris sighed, and continued "...and therefore – is not by any – to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly – but reverently, discreetly, advisedly and solemnly. Into this holy estate these two persons present now come to be joined. If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together – let them speak now or forever hold their peace".

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Captain Kran growled, looking around the chapel to see if anyone was actually going to say anything. "...forever ripped to pieces if I hear anyone so much as squeak..." he muttered nastily, taking time to direct a special glare at some of the officers.

Resuming his speech, the chaplain continued with "Through marriage, War Commander John Harrigan and Infiltrator First Class Talannah make a commitment together to face their disappointments – embrace their dreams – realize their hopes – and accept each other's failures. War Commander John Harrigan and Infiltrator First Class Talannah will promise one another to aspire to these ideals throughout their lives together – through mutual understanding – openness – and sensitivity to each other". There were a few snickers amongst some of the enlisted troops at that – the officers had the good sense to keep their mouths shut – but after Tovak slapped one offender around the back of the head (quite lightly, only knocking out a tooth or two) all the others quietened down very quickly indeed.

"We are here today..." Chaplain Larris went on, shaking his head at the Scarran propensity for channelled violence "...before God – because marriage is one of His most sacred wishes – to witness the joining in marriage of War Commander John Harrigan and Infiltrator First Class Talannah. This occasion marks the celebration of love and commitment with which this man and this woman begin their life together. And now – through me – He joins you together in one of the holiest bonds".

"Who gives this woman in marriage to this man?" Chaplain Larris asked a little uneasily, despite the fact he knew Captain Kran wasn't going to eat anyone. Kran stood up, announcing in his loud Scarran voice "I, Captain Kran, do – along with all of the 1st Deep Space Irregulars present here today". The sight of a huge seven foot two inch tall Scarran in full ceremonial regalia standing amongst them caused a few exclamations of surprise from some of the wives, and one or two of the senior MPs didn't look too happy that he was there either.

"By gathering together all the wishes" Chaplain Larris went on "of happiness and our fondest hopes for War Commander John Harrigan and Infiltrator First Class Talannah from all present here, we assure them that our hearts are in tune with theirs. These moments are so meaningful to all of us, for what greater thing is there for two people's souls than to feel that they are joined together – to strengthen each other in all labour – to minister to each other in all sorrow – to share with each other in all gladness. Marriage is an act of faith and a personal commitment as well as a moral and physical union between two people. Marriage has been described as the best and most important relationship that can exist between them. It is the construction of their love and trust into a single growing entity. It is a moral commitment that requires and deserves daily attention. Marriage is a life long consecration of the ideal of loving kindness – backed with the will to make it last".

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Harrigan looked over at Talannah, happiness and awe at his good fortune covering his face, and mouthed Love you over at her silently. His hand twitched slightly, so wanting to reach out to hold her hand, but knowing he'd spoil the ceremony if he did that now. A soft Love you too floated back, just loud enough for his enhanced ears to pick up.

Chaplain Larris turned to Harrigan, a soft "...hmmm?" enough to get him to concentrate on the job at hand. "Do you, War Commander John Harrigan "he called out "take Infiltrator First Class Talannah to be your wife – to live together after God's ordinance – in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honour and keep her, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon her your heart's deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her as long as you both shall live?"

Talannah looked over at this human who'd become such a major part of her life – to her amazement, he was choking up, barely able to form coherent speech. "I-I-I w-w-w-wi-will" came his eventual tongue-tied reply. Chaplain Larris nodded, glad that Harrigan managed to get that out at last, before turning to Talannah.

"Do you, Infiltrator First Class Talannah" Larris asked her "take War Commander John Harrigan to be your husband – to live together after God's ordinance – in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honour and keep him, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon him your heart's deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him as long as you both shall live?" Talannah, face glowing with love and affection for the man barely a couple of metras away, replied softly (and more steadily) with "I will".

OK, rings...the chaplain thought. To get one around this giant's fingers, it'll be as high as a hula-hoop...let's find out. "What token of your love do you offer?" he called out "Would you place the rings in my hand?" Captain Lazarus patted his pockets, trying to remember which one they were in. Dante, shaking his head wearily, reached over to tap the two boxes in the Captain's jacket pocket. "Ah, yes" Captain Lazarus said, slightly embarrassed. Pulling them out, he walked up between the couple and passed them over to Chaplain Larris.

Up in orbit, Moratha and her two daughters, along with Dr Nrakal, were on the bridge, watching the wedding on the forward viewscreen. "I'm so happy for them..." Moratha whispered, keenly remembering her own wedding - different though it was from this one. Just as Captain Lazarus was handing over the rings, Nrakal noticed something flashing on the nav console. "What the frell..." he muttered, then he called "BANDITS! Three rotorcraft on an intercept course with the base!"

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"Leasa!" Moratha called "Get on the comm to Shor's car NOW – they need to know!" While her younger daughter ran over to the comm desk, Moratha called "How long?" She didn't need to say until what event had happened. "They've just landed!" Nrakal said "A few VIPs, can't tell what kind – and a bunch of grey-suited men with light small arms. Half are staying with the rotorcraft, half with the VIPs".

Shor and Ryalla were laughing, tickling each other, and generally rolling about on the front seats when the comm went off. "Sorry, dear" Shor apologised to Ryalla, as she tidied up her clothes again. Ryalla gave him a quick kiss to apologise, then said "Better answer it, Shor". "Hello! What's up?" Shor asked whoever was on the other end. "Leasa here, Shor" the young Scarran replied "We've just tracked three rotorcraft to your location. They've just landed, and dropped armed personnel – who are on the way to where you are". "Copy that!" Shor replied "Shor out!"

"What was that all about?" Ryalla asked enquiringly. "Attack warning!" Shor responded. When Ryalla went for her Viper, Shor laid one hand on hers to stop her. "Not on our own, dear" he cautioned her "Don't comm the commander. Tovak or Hellbolt should be free, though – let them know". "On the way!" she replied, giving Shor a light squeeze with one hand as the other used the comm.

Hellbolt was not pleased when the sound of his comm beeping distracted him from the proceedings in front of him. "It had better be good!" he snapped. "Not good at all, Hellbolt!" Ryalla replied "We've just received an attack warning from the Cry Havoc – three rotorcraft just dropped what we assume to be troops on base. Frell...", she muttered, as a group of ten or so marched past, surrounding one more smartly dressed man in a black suit. "They're just outside the door! One seems to be TR Holt – didn't he learn before? The others are arguing with him a bit, trying to get him to wait, but he doesn't want to listen...".

In the chapel, Chaplain Larris was just about to pronounce his blessing on the rings when Hellbolt drew both his Vipers and yelled "ATTACK WARNING!" just as TR Holt, flanked by one important-looking man and eight Secret Service agents pushed his way through the doors and into the church.

Harrigan, absolutely incensed that anyone would dare interrupt his wedding, let loose a bone-ripping "SKKKRRRREEEEEEEE!!" which caused quite a few children to soil their pants and a few of those with more delicate constitutions to either faint or slump to their seats. "GET THEM!" screamed Harrigan in Scarran. Talannah was looking frantically around for a weapon, getting angrier when she didn't find one. Harrigan unholstered his own Viper and passed it over, saying "Try not to kill anyone, please? For me?" "Just for you" she replied, not entirely pleased at the prohibition, but equally determined not to displease her John. Koronna and Keyah had retrieved their own Vipers from under their jackets and raced towards the intruders.

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Keyah won the race – leaping off the ground and planting her left boot right between the eyes of the man accompanying TR Holt. Koronna, not being one for such acrobatic options, simply drew back her left fist and threw it full-force into Holt's stomach, before kicking him in the right knee, dropping him to the ground. Talannah raced up, planting one foot on TR Holt's very battered chest; Koronna did likewise. Keyah, with Jane's assistance, had the other VIP under guard. The Secret Service agents tried to go for their weapons; but faced with several very angry, and very armoured, Scarrans – including Captain Kran – saw that they'd be quickly and messily annihilated if they tried that.

"By rights..." Talannah hissed, almost ramming the Viper under Holt's broken, bleeding nose "I should kill you here and now for interrupting my wedding! But I won't...I'll do something much worse...". Talannah flipped her Viper to semi-auto and pointed it at his groin, saying "Say goodbye to your mivonks!"

"No, love" Harrigan interrupted, laying one hand gently but firmly on her shoulder when he caught up "Much as he deserves it, killing the president's special representative would get us into too much hot water right now. Koronna?" "Yes?" she said, beside Harrigan. "Throw this bum out – like I did with that one at Ithlin". "Gladly!" she replied with a grin, dragging a protesting TR Holt over to the door. Though she needed to use both hands, it was still quite spectacular to watch – Koronna lifted Holt over her head and hurled him out through the door, without opening it first.

Outside, the rest of the party – a number of high-ranking officers from several armed services – stood watching the door. The Army representative on the Joint Chiefs said "I'll bet you fifty that Holt gets sent back out within seconds". The CNO, a man who'd heard of Captain Lazarus' reputation – even though he wasn't in the same service, chuckled and shook his head, saying "No bet, General!" The chief of the Air Force added "For once, I'm agreeing with the squids. These guys aren't regular grunts, they're snake-eaters! What makes you think they'll stick by the rules? They do their job by breaking them in creative ways. Just you wa....Ohhh yeah!" as Koronna chose just that moment to throw TR Holt out onto the tarmac.

"So nice to have the agreement of my learned Airedale colleague!" he laughed, after Holt had bounced a couple of times and eventually stopped. The generals walked over to have a look at the President's man, cringing when they saw how badly beaten he was. "Ooohh...NOT good!" said the Army general "What happened? They run you over with a tank, Mr Holt?"

TR Holt tried to get up, but the pain shooting up through his right knee (where Koronna had kicked him) dropped him back to the ground. One of the aides called the base hospital to come and get him, as he wasn't going anywhere except on a stretcher. "I wonder what's happened to the Senator..." asked one of the other aides.

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"Tape him!" bawled Lazarus, catching up "Hands and feet!" Troll called for more tape, saying "I'm out!" – Jane threw a reel across from where she stood by the back pew. Once he was trussed up so thoroughly he couldn't even wriggle, let alone walk, Lazarus said "Hellbolt – keep an eye on him. Make sure he doesn't go anywhere". "Right on, Cap" Hellbolt replied.

Talannah passed the Viper back to Harrigan, who safed and holstered it. "Now that you've finished hitting people" Chaplain Larris said sharply "Perhaps we can get on with the wedding?" "Suits me, Chaplain" Harrigan said, turning to Talannah "How about you, dear?" Talannah took a few seconds to smooth her rather ruffled wedding dress and check that her headpiece hadn't come off, before replying "Yes, John. I've had enough of that".

"Hmph!" muttered Chaplain Larris, then continued from where he'd left off. "May these rings be blessed as the symbol of their unity. These two lives are now joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever they go – may they always return to one another. May these two find in each other the love for which all men and women yearn" the chaplain announced. Koronna couldn't help but glance at Captain Lazarus when he said that, before bowing her head slightly, wondering when she'd get her chance.

"May they grow in understanding and in compassion" continued the chaplain "May the home", he raised his left eyebrow at that, "which they establish together be such a place that many will find sanctuary in. May these rings on their fingers symbolise the touch of the spirit of love in their hearts"

Chaplain Larris turned to Harrigan next. "War Commander Harrigan, in placing this ring on Talannah's finger, repeat after me..."

"Talannah" prompts the chaplain, to which Harrigan replies in kind.

"You are now consecrated to me as my wife from this day forward...". Harrigan repeated, eyes shining with love, "You are now consecrated to me as my wife from this day forward...".

"I give you this ring as the pledge of my love and as the symbol of our unity, and with this ring, I thee wed" finished Chaplain Larris, which Harrigan repeated gladly after him before sliding the ring slowly onto Talannah's finger. General Franklin, several rows back on Talannah's side of the chapel looked back in his mind to the day of his own marriage all those years before. "I know" his wife whispered, squeezing his hand gently "I just hope this will be as good for them as it is for us". General Franklin hoped it would temper Harrigan's old practical joking as well, though he didn't say so out loud.

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Chaplain Larris then tuned to Talannah. "Infiltrator First Class Talannah" he announced "In placing this ring on War Commander Harrigan's finger, repeat after me..."

"John Harrigan, you are now consecrated to me as my husband from this day forward" he prompted.

"John Harrigan, you are now consecrated to me as my husband from this day forward" Talannah repeated after him, not taking her eyes of Harrigan's.

"I give you this ring as the pledge of my love and as the symbol of our unity, and with this ring, I thee wed" the chaplain finished.

"I give you this ring as the pledge of my love and as the symbol of our unity, and with this ring, I thee wed" Talannah repeated, sliding the somewhat larger ring over Harrigan's finger, taking a second to stroke his hand as she did so.

"In as much as War Commander Harrigan and Infiltrator First Class Talannah have consented together in marriage" Chaplain Larris proclaimed, turning towards the rest of the church "before this company of friends and family and have pledged their faith – and declared their unity by giving and receiving a ring – they are now joined. What, therefore, God has joined together, let no man put asunder". A subvocal muttering that sounded suspiciously like Captain Kran said "...they'll have me to argue with if they try...", which made both Talannah and Harrigan laugh.

"And so..." Chaplain Larris announced to the church "By the power vested in me by the Almighty God and the State of Florida, I now pronounce you man and wife!" "And may God have mercy on your souls..." he whispered as all those present clapped loudly. "I'll take all the help I can get, Chaplain" Harrigan whispered back "Can't hurt to go straight to the top, can it?" Once the chaplain recovered from the shock of Harrigan's over-sensitive ears, he took a deep breath, and said "You may now kiss the bride".

Talannah, by now thoroughly fed up with the irritating headpiece, ripped it right off all at once, hurling it over the front three rows, rushing into the welcoming arms of her new husband. Harrigan wrapped his arms fiercely around her, lifting her up off the floor and spinning the pair of them around, kissing her thoroughly the whole time – with Talannah giving back as good as she got. "Oh, my love..." Harrigan said excitedly as he led Talannah out of the chapel "...my beauty, my wife! Oh yes, my wife!" Talannah responded more quietly, but no less intensely, with "My rock, my strength, my love – my husband!"

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The rest of the church followed the two newly-weds out to Shor's car. As soon as Harrigan had enough room, he picked up Talannah and threw her high into the air – to the delight of everyone watching and her surprise – catching her at the last moment and depositing her gently back on the ground.

"Base auditorium, Shor" Captain Lazarus told him through the driver's side window of the car "Harrigan can tell you how to get th – HARRIGAN!" The Captain's shouting startled Harrigan, who was busy kissing and tickling his new wife, giggles and squeals coming from both of them. "Yes, Captain?" Harrigan asked with a grin, turning to look at him. Captain Lazarus shook his head in exasperation at his former XO and said "Make sure Shor gets you to the base auditorium. There's a reception laid on for you". Harrigan grinned, pointed his right hand down the proper road, and called "Shor – for-WARD!"

"Don't worry about him" Captain Kran assured Lazarus, as the car drove slowly towards the auditorium "He may be a little odd, but he rises to the challenge when he knows he needs to". "Yeah, I know" Lazarus replied, wringing his hands "We'd better get over there too, or all the food and drink will be gone". The rest of Harrigan's people joined up with Captain Lazarus' squad, and jogged over to the auditorium as well.

Contrary to Captain Lazarus' expectations, the food wasn't gone when they got there - they hadn't even started yet. Harrigan waved Captain Lazarus to sit at the head table with them – after a moment's hesitation, he did sit there, with Koronna freeing up a seat beside her. On the whole, the reception got off to a great start – though the Scarrans (with the exception of Ryalla – who had Shor to egg her on) were sufficiently wary of the surroundings not to drink any alcohol.

General Franklin got up to deliver the usual embarrassing speech about the groom. Harrigan didn't think he had such a long memory – either that, he thought, or as soon as I told him about my wedding plans, he went through my personnel file for all the juicy bits. This made Talannah growl a little at first, but once Harrigan calmed her down, he explained that all of this was true – if a little exaggerated in parts.

"You actually DID flush several litres of fluorescent green paint through the emergency fire control system in the middle of a major function?!" she laughed. "Yes, love" Harrigan replied, almost wishing the earth would open up and swallow him "I did. Didn't get caught for three days, either". Talannah seemed quite curious about how he'd done that, so he eventually promised to show her.

As soon as General Franklin's speech had finished, the buffet was opened. Harrigan yelled "SCRAMBLE!" at his people and pointed to the food – the sight of six huge Scarrans, plus several other non-humans bearing down on the buffet table made a few officers laugh and several wives almost scream – which wasn't helped when Keyah flipped onto the wall to get around Koronna. "Cheat!" jeered Captain Lazarus good-naturedly, walking up a little more slowly behind Koronna.

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Keyah just sniggered to herself quietly and dropped to the floor again when she'd reached the plates.

Koronna directed Captain Lazarus to one of the other tables. "She'll eat that whole table bare" Koronna advised the Captain "We'd better use another". Captain Lazarus looked surprised that a comparatively small woman would eat so much – which must have shown on his face, because Koronna said "Kalish only need to eat every four to six weeks, Captain. If she's hungry, even the War Commander won't match her appetite". Captain Lazarus pointed out Keyah to the cooking staff, and ordered one to keep taking her whatever she needed until she told them not to. Kran found Earth meats very pleasing, though he did complain (though not too loudly – his mouth was full) that the salami wasn't spicy enough.

Once everyone had been through one helping (except for Keyah, who'd had three by now and showed no sign of stopping), General Franklin ordered the band to start playing and declared the dance floor open. Talannah, despite Harrigan's protestations that he couldn't dance, led him out onto the floor for a Scarran dance – which looked rather unusual to the other guests, but they just continued with their more pedestrian Earth dancing. The food must have been having a good effect on Captain Lazarus (or he was just in a more susceptible mood) because he held out one hand to Koronna and gestured towards the dance floor, saying "May I have the honour of this dance?"

Koronna went about as red as a Scarran's face can go. "Me?" she asked "I don't know any of your Earth dances, and there's still some of your human women around, and...". "Number one" Lazarus replied with a smile "Most of the women here are married, or are too young or old. Number two, I'm not that good at dancing either – we can learn together. Three – who's really that stupid to make any remarks about your dancing anyway – you're easily twice as strong as any regular human!" He is right there, Koronna thought to herself. It's nice of him to help me feel a part of all this too. So she took his hand in one of hers, replied "Yes, Captain – you may have this dance", and smiled a little. Very few others understood her reply, of course – she'd spoken in Scarran – but it brought a smile to the faces of those who did.

Harrigan and Talannah slipped out in the middle of the festivities. "All this" Talannah said, gesturing at the hall which they'd just left "Is very nice – but I just want to spend some time alone with my husband". Harrigan, very pleased with his wife's words, wrapped his arms around her loosely and held her close. "I want that too, Tal" he replied softly "But since we're out here, I'll show you how I did that paint trick". Talannah nodded, and the two of them headed over to the sprinkler controls.

Two maintenance engineers were already there. "Hah!" one said to his friend "Let's see how Harrigan likes being on the other end of it this time!" "Are you sure you want to do this?" the other one replied more cautiously "Those leather-skinned guys he's got with him don't look as though they've got much of a sense of humour. Plus there's Captain Lazarus out there as well".

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Talannah held one finger up for quiet. Harrigan, barely able to stop himself laughing, snuck up beside his wife, the two of them barely a couple of metres behind the two unsuspecting techs. "Can you give them just enough of a blast to knock them down, but not out?" she whispered. Harrigan nodded, and zapped the pair of them as his wife had asked. The two unfortunate engineers looked up to see Harrigan and Talannah standing over them, shaking their heads over how silly they were.

"This is not your day, you two" Harrigan told them, grabbing each by their necks "Talannah, dear – could you go and get Ghost or Jane and get them to come out here, please? Make sure they bring plenty of tape". Thirty seconds later, both Jane and Ghost emerged from the hall with Talannah running after them, urging them to go faster. "We caught these two sorry twats trying to do the same trick I tried before I left" Harrigan explained, looking at the two victims with a nasty grin "Since they want to try my tricks, we'll give them my punishment for being stupid enough to get caught – follow me, you two".

Once outside, they were swiftly deprived of everything except their underwear – then taped and gagged to the lamp post, one on each side. "Let me tell you" Ghost told them "I am not pleased about being dragged away from the buffet by you two. So I think I'll find your CO if he's in there and tell him about this". "Right on!" Jane replied, slapping him on the shoulder as the two of them went back inside "I do believe I saw the MG commander over by the punch...let's find out if he's still there..."

Koronna, though a little self-conscious, didn't tread on the Captain's feet during their dance, and in fact picked up the basics quicker than she'd thought. "Thank you, Captain" she said, a slight smile on her face – before putting both arms around Captain Lazarus for a brief hug. "Um, ah, well..." Captain Lazarus replied, surprised (though pleased) by Koronna's response "...thank you, Koronna. That was the most...unique...and amazing time I've had for quite a while. We should get back to...". He looked around, not seeing Harrigan or Talannah anywhere. "Damn!" Lazarus explained "I should have told them that there were spare rooms at the VIP quarters for them!". Koronna tapped her earpiece, saying "Both should have their comms with them, Captain – I will tell them for you".

The happy couple were just sneaking past the MP's barracks when Talannah's comm went off. "Can't a lady spend some time alone with her husband after she's married?!" she growled. "Sorry, Sub-Commander" Koronna's voice came back at her "But Captain Lazarus wanted to tell you that there is a room set aside for you in the VIP quarters". Talannah and Harrigan shared a brief look of mutual embarrassment before she replied with "Thank you, Koronna. That is very welcome news – I thought for a moment our wedding night would be spent in the Harbringer's bunkroom".

A laugh from Koronna came back down the line. "We would have arranged something better for you" Koronna replied "Even if it meant throwing someone else out of their quarters".

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Once the reception finally wound down, Trannak, Tovak and Karroch (with Dante roped in to negotiate) got the assault lander going again to start getting the rest of their supplies going. This did not go as well as they'd hoped, at least to start with – the sight of three six-and-a-half-foot tall Scarrans seemed to induce a considerable reluctance to come out from behind the counter for some reason – but once the wholesaler's manager was made aware by Dante that they actually had money to pay him with, the wheels of commerce turned a lot more smoothly. By early evening, they'd completely emptied three wholesale markets of every last edible item they possessed – Tovak decided to leave the other one until tomorrow.

Once Captain Kran had switched back to his more utilarian combat armour, he finished the day by taking out Captain Lazarus' company and running them into the ground. They barely managed to go the whole distance – when they got back to the barracks, almost the entire unit collapsed onto the grass and stayed there for at least a quarter-arn. Captain Lazarus and (to many of the men's surprise) Jane were the first to recover enough to stand, about twelve minutes later. "Well, well..." Kran muttered "It looks like we might be able to make something of you lot after all", before they all staggered off to the barrack shower rooms.

By then, it was obvious that neither Talannah nor Harrigan were going to be able to restrain themselves much longer. Harrigan took Talannah into the VIP quarters by the back door and up the stairs, the pair of them sneaking past several suites without detection before arriving at the one he'd read was theirs from the accommodation ledgers downstairs. How that clerk had failed to miss a seven and a half foot altered human rifling through his books, Harrigan didn't know – but he'd make sure to tell General Franklin about it before they left.

"We don't need to hold back now, John" Talannah whispered excitedly, kicking the door shut so she wouldn't have to take her eyes off Harrigan. Running the tip of her tongue around her lips, her smile brought the temperature on Harrigan's personal planet up by quite a way – and they'd barely started yet. Harrigan fumbled with the buckles for his sword scabbards, letting them fall with a clatter beside the bed – his Viper following shortly afterwards. Talannah, deliberately drawing it out, slowly removed her wedding dress, dropping it in a heap by the bedstead and beckoning Harrigan to finish the job for her.

For several seconds, Harrigan just couldn't stop staring at the delightful vision standing before him. Then, slowly, he came closer – trembling with both excitement and apprehension – reaching out to his new wife, who came gladly to meet him. Talannah immediately undid Harrigan's web-belt and relieved him of his trousers before winding her arms around his neck and pulling his head down to meet hers in the first real kiss of their married life together, to which Harrigan replied by sliding her brief Scarran undertop over her arms and head (briefly kissing each breast on the way) before flicking the top, and after it Talannah's shorts as well, onto the pile of personal weaponry at the foot of the bed.

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Bending down just a little, Harrigan picked his wife up off the carpet – one arm under her behind and the other laying across her back and up to her right shoulder – and laid her gently on the bed. Talannah's arms moved up around her husband's neck to his head and pulled him down close enough to kiss properly, while her legs wrapped around his waist to ensure he couldn't back away even if he wanted to. Harrigan took advantage of this to prise her lips apart with his tongue and probe deeply and greedily – Talannah responding with equal or even greater need.

Pulling back just a few inches, Harrigan ran one finger delightfully over Talannah's facial ridges, which made her giggle a bit. "Laugh at me would you, woman?" Harrigan teased, a smile spreading across his own face – then bent down and laid a chain of kisses down her throat and between her breasts, tongue flicking out to tease and taste as he went, which drew a short gasp of pleasure from Talannah before she knew what was happening. His grip tightened from the light touch of support to the firm grasp of arousal, squeezing and massaging whichever part of her took his fancy – working down from shoulders to thighs.

Talannah knew easily where Harrigan's course was leading, and hissed "...just a bit further, my sweet...not long now...". The powerful longing in Talannah's voice caused Harrigan's grip on her eema to tighten reflexively for a few seconds, before his tongue flicked out to tantalise that spot she had been guiding him to all along. A loud howl of Scarran passion filled the room (and the corridor outside), Talannah gasping her pleasure and need for more, as Harrigan continued to kiss and lick.

The fires of passion and lust were racing through Harrigan's gigantic body as well with equal fervour by now as well. Tongue delving between her legs, running over the sensitive skin of her groin, he felt Talannah's body convulse briefly in passion, a soft and needful "...ohhhhh!..." escaping from her lips. As Harrigan started to work his way slowly back up over Talannah's stomach and chest, she pulled him in closer and rolled the two off them over so she was now on top.

"Miiinnne..." Talannah growled lustfully, each hand planted firmly on a shoulder, holding him down "...all mine...". "Always, Tal" Harrigan confirmed in response, smiling back up at her from the bed "Always, and totally, yours – forever". Talannah leaned forward, dragging one breast over Harrigan's mouth for his attention (which he gave gladly) – only to be greeted by a slightly odd stretchy-creaky noise. What's that? Talannah mused to herself, looking around the room. It's not the windows – they're shut! Not the door either! "Look down, Tal" Harrigan told her, voice tight with barely-contained desire. She did so, smiling even more as she saw what was now revealed. "Groin carapace retracting – so that's what the noise was..." she mused, reaching down to stroke and squeeze Harrigan's cock.

"Oh yes...oh, please...plleeeeaaassse!" Harrigan begged and pleaded. His feelings of passion were by now far too great for him to even hope to control, which manifested in his hands repeatedly thumping the mattress and his legs thrashing around, kicking out at the foot of the bed. Since the bed clearly wasn't designed to take that kind of punishment, it only took a few seconds before the foot of the bed parted company from the frame, accompanied by a pair of flailing fists smashing through the wooden bed frame at waist level as well.

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Talannah laughed as the collapsing bed spilled the two of them onto the bedroom floor, where Harrigan rolled the two of them clear before coming to rest with her on top again. "Don't stop, Tal" he pleaded again "Please don't stop now... more...please?"

"Why would I ever stop?" Talannah replied, leaning down close to Harrigan's face. Then she smiled wickedly and moved down to kiss the tip of his cock and run her tongue up and down the length of it, ensuring almost concrete hardness (at least it felt that way to Harrigan) in a very short time indeed. Naturally, this resulted in another ear-splitting "SSKKKRREEEEEEE!" of ecstasy, soon followed by Harrigan's fists madly pounding at the floor again. A few slight cracking noises came back, but neither Harrigan nor Talannah was in any mood to listen to them.

"Don't torture me like this, Tal!" Harrigan urged her, thumping the floor with increasing frequency. Talannah's only reply was to take him as fully into her mouth as she could, sucking needfully for a few seconds before letting him go and moving back up his chest. She continued to delight in the way Harrigan's carapace softened and bent under her touch, before finally reaching his mouth again. "Ready now, John?" she whispered huskily, passion in every word. "Can't you tell?" Harrigan replied tightly, barely holding himself together enough to speak. "Of course I can" Talannah said, smiling down at her husband while giving his cock one hard squeeze "I just want to hear you say it as well".

Can't....hold...back...much...longer! Harrigan gibbered. "I'm...ohhh, YES!...always ready for you" he told Talannah "Never more ready than now". Talannah briefly nuzzled his nose with hers before sitting upright over his groin and taking the tip of him inside her, just to test how it felt – she felt slightly stretched out, but ignored this slightly painful inconvenience in the wake of her own readiness. "Rrrrrhhh..." she growled, closing her eyes and just feeling him for a few seconds – then she let gravity do its work and slid down, taking him all the way inside her before rocking back and forth and squeezing softly but insistently, accompanied by soft moans and growls.

Harrigan couldn't take it any more. Another wild "SKKKRRREEEE!" of extreme passion followed and his fists slammed into the floor heavily and with increasing frequency as Talannah rocked back and forth. The cracking noises started again, increasing in volume and frequency – before the whole section of floor under them gave way just before Talannah reached her climax.

Down below, a visiting Major and his wife were on the way back to their quarters, directly under Harrigan's (though they didn't know that). When they opened the door to their suite and went in, their ceiling chose that moment to let go – dropping Harrigan, Talannah, and the floor under them straight onto the unfortunate Major's floor, right in front of him.

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Talannah was not pleased at what she saw as a hostile intrusion. "MIIIINNNE!" she howled in both lust and rage "OUUTTT!! NOWWW!!!". The sight of an obvious non-human, purple-blue skin included, screaming at them was more than the Major's wife could stand. She didn't even pause – just turning and dragging her husband back out of the suite.

"Much betterrrrr..." Talannah growled, while Harrigan's hands moved around her hips and thrust hard and repeatedly. Talannah howled in delight as Harrigan's efforts finally tipped her over the edge, clamping down as hard as she could on him. Harrigan let off yet another screech, unloading himself again and again. Once the frenzied passion had wound down, Harrigan sat up slowly so as not to dislodge her, just holding Talannah close, murmuring "...thank you, my love...thank you so much..." with the few breaths he was able to muster. Talannah didn't say a word, just leaning on his right shoulder, eyes closed, and smiling contentedly to herself.

A short time later, Harrigan nodded over at the bed in this room, asking "Since the occupants of this room graciously decided to donate this room to us...". Her husband's ironical streak drew a few giggles from Talannah before he finished with "...perhaps we should put it to good use. Starting with the bed...". "Why not?" replied Talannah "Sounds just fine to me...".

The next morning, Harrigan slipped out to get Talannah's gear from Shor's car where she'd left it. When he got back, she was sitting up in bed looking out for him. "Ah, there you are" she said, then saw what he was holding. "Pass it over! Pass it over!" she urged eagerly, reaching for her uniform "Finally, I get my uniform back! I may have looked good in that wedding dress, John, but I can't run in it, I had to watch every step I made so I wouldn't trip on the hem – grrr!" Talannah quickly put her familiar clothing back on, then her weapons as well. Twisting back and forth to settle the load (with Harrigan watching all the time), she said "Much better" with relief. Harrigan quickly got himself ready as well, then the two of them walked outside so they could go over to thee barracks and pick up the rest of their people and finish the remainder of their business.

A roar of engines drew their attention - it was the assault lander taking off. "Trannak, Tovak and Karroch getting an early start are they?" he asked rhetorically. "The sooner they get finished" Talannah replied "the sooner we can be back in the Territories again". "I know this is your home planet, John..." she apologised "But at least out in Territories people know about Scarrans, know they can treat us like, well, people – down here, we get such looks of hostility or outright fear that I'm surprised it hasn't come to blows. Your old comrades are probably the only real exception here".

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"They've seen us in combat" Harrigan replied "Our people saved their lives when their own threw them to the wolves – you know that means something to soldiers". Talannah was very surprised at the way Harrigan worded that. "You actually consider us - Captain Kran, Keyah, Hellbolt, the other Scarrans – to be your people more than the other humans here?" she asked with a happy smile. Sighing, Harrigan replied "If you've noticed, love – and I'm sure you have – I've been getting the same looks you Scarrans have. Apart from General Franklin and Captain Lazarus' unit – both of who knew me before I left – people round here don't consider me human any more". Talannah hugged her husband close again. "Whatever species you are is not important, my dear" she reassured him emphatically, holding him tight "All that matters is that you are mine and I am yours".

Captain Lazarus met the couple just outside the barracks. "I was wondering when you two would be along" he asked bluntly "We've still got that Senator trussed up in here – perhaps he might know who gave me such excreable intel for that NK mission". "Not a bad idea, Captain" Harrigan replied "I've been wondering about that myself. Got an idea that may help if the senator's not being a good boy for us".

The three of them walked in to the ready room, where there was an informal game of poker going on for pocket change. Hellbolt had caught on to the rules a lot faster than the humans had thought, and had a fairly large pile of small change in front of him already. "Having fun yet, sir?" Hellbolt asked chirpily, checking his cards "I know I am". "Don't take too much off them, Hellbolt" Harrigan warned him. "That wouldn't exactly be good PR, would it?" Hellbolt replied "I'd give them the money back later, anyway – we can't spend your American dollars and cents out there".

"Come on, you lot" Harrigan called out. His team and the humans both stopped what they were doing and looked round "We've got an interrogation to do". The senator, still taped up, was wriggling and muttering savagely under the tape. Harrigan leaned over and lifted the edge of the tape covering his mouth a little way, then ripped it off as quickly as he could. "OW!" howled the senator "Lazarus – your people are in really deep shit now! The whole sorry lot of you can be charged with assault and deprivation of liberty". Next, he turned his ire to Harrigan. "Harrigan – if that's who you really are..." he whined "There's still those court-martial charges that you haven't stood trial on from before you left, plus the hijacking and subsequent destruction – since you didn't bring it back – of that shuttle, and the fact that one of your...people...assaulted me and threw me bodily out on to the tarmac...".

"Let's stop all this crap right now" Harrigan said, cutting the senator off mid-rant "I'm in charge here – I do the talking. Number one, my service in the US Air Force stopped the day I left atmosphere – so the court-martial charges can't be applied. Number two, I pulled your fat out of the fire when I rescued Captain Lazarus' troops from North Korea – which the Navy was seemingly unable to do. Number three, if you do try to move against my people or Captain Lazarus' people, remember this – my ship can bombard Earth-based targets from orbit".

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"You'd turn the firepower of that spacecraft against you own people?" the senator replied, going very pale indeed. "My PEOPLE, senator..." Harrigan growled angrily "Are those I fight beside – these Scarrans and other non-humans, and Captain Lazarus' troops. Not those people who sit back in air-conditioned offices and send others to do their dirty work for them". "Huh!" the senator replied, doing his best to look down his nose at someone over a foot taller than he was "You have still not faced justice for assaulting my son, and Captain Lazarus is an embarrassment to many right-thinking military officers".

Before Captain Lazarus could start laying into him, Harrigan held him back, saying "Well, well, aren't we lucky – it's Senator Beasely. Now all becomes clear to me...". "What do you mean, Harrigan?!" Captain Lazarus replied, not quite sure what was going on "It's as clear as mud to me!"

After a few minutes to think, Harrigan said "This is just off the top of my head, Captain, but here goes...remember that party where I bopped one Major Beasely and borrowed his uniform?" "Ah..." Captain Lazarus replied, a little more enlightened "He's the son of our involuntary guest here, yes?" "Got it in one, Captain" Harrigan replied "I'll need to get some hard evidence, but I'm fairly sure he's responsible for your intel problem. He's getting back at you because I was out of his reach – he'd wouldn't care if he got the entire unit killed, as long as his personal sense of justice was satisfied over his son".

Captain Lazarus blew his top. After turning the air blue with an extensive library of swearwords, he shouted "YOU MISERABLE LITTLE RUNT! That's going too far – say goodbye to 'em!" as he reached for his Ka-Bar. "Better not, Captain" Harrigan cautioned him "My people may be beyond his reach, but yours aren't. He can wreck your military careers with a few words in the right ears". "Yeah, I know" Captain Lazarus replied, taking his hand off his knife "But he almost got my people – your old squad – killed out there with his negligence! Oh, well – cut him loose, somebody". Another Ka-Bar was produced and the senator's bonds were cut – none too gently either, as the troops now had a target for their hostility. "You haven't heard the last of this!" Senator Beasely threatened, shaking his fist as he left. "Get a bigger fist, Senator!" Harrigan laughed "Yours is positively microscopic – it's about the size of my little finger!" The senator retreated out of the barracks, chased out by the laughs of the troops.

"Can we get this hard evidence?" Captain Lazarus whispered as the troops got back to their game and chores. "We can link to the Cry Havoc's mainframe from the Harbringer" Harrigan pondered aloud "and should be able to get that to smash through any firewalls and such in SOC HQ". "Then what are we waiting for?" he asked, pointing at the door "Let's get started!" "You're thinking like a Scarran already, Captain!" laughed Talannah as they headed towards the Harbringer.

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"That's probably what got me into all this trouble in the first place..." Captain Lazarus muttered to himself.

Five momens later, when they arrived outside the Harbringer, Lazarus said "So I finally get to see inside your new toy, Harrigan". "You'll just love it, Captain!" Harrigan replied with a laugh "It's got everything – guns, speed, and some really hot sensors that could tell what you had for breakfast even if you're on the other side of a thick concrete wall". Nor was Harrigan wrong when he said that the Captain would love it – Lazarus just stared at the Harbringer's bridge in awe. "It took me that way a bit at first too" Harrigan replied, gesturing to the flight engineer's console "If you could sit there, Captain – Talannah can work her magic at the surveillance and comm console and we can get started".

"Link to Cry Havoc...established" Talannah reported from the surveillance console "Captain Lazarus – could you come here and enter the comm codes to access the target system?" It took him a few seconds to figure out what he was looking at, but the Cry Havoc was soon connected to SOCOM HQ. Pressing the button for voice command, she ordered "Gain access to SOCOM network" to the Cry Havoc's mainframe. "Covert or brute-force entry, Sub-Commander?" the computer replied. Looking at her husband, she saw him – and the Captain - smack their fists into their palms. "Brute-force" Talannah replied "Override all opposing systems. We won't be in for long, but must not be hindered!"

With Lazarus directing her, Talannah made it through several tiers of security before she had to trip an alarm and force her way in. "Almost there!" Lazarus half-shouted in excitement. "Is there anything we can do to keep network security off our backs?" Harrigan asked his wife, who nodded. "Don't know how well it'll work, but I'll loose a couple of screamers in their system – should give us the time we need". Screamers were small autonomous programs that made a lot of noise but did very little actual damage – used when you needed to get into a system quick, grab something, and leave – just like Talannah was trying to do now.

"Should be in that folder..." Lazarus urged. When Talannah explored that folder and brought up its contents, Captain Lazarus pointed out one particular document. "That one..." he said hopefully. Talannah displayed the document on the holo-screen, and Captain Lazarus pulled out a small scrap of paper with twelve-digit alphanumeric code on it. "Check for that code" Captain Lazarus asked "We need any documents that reference it. Once we've got them, we should have the evidence I need to bury that 'orrible little...grrr...". While the screamers led network security astray, Talannah managed to grab at least seven documents and call transcripts – which she dumped to a small datachip before pulling out of the SOC HQ mainframe.

"Not easy, Captain" Talannah told him "Despite those screamers, network security there was better than I'd expected". "Never mind about that!" Lazarus snapped "Let's see what we've got!".

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There was much enlightening information to see. A call transcript between SOC HQ's commanding officer and Senator Beasely's Washington office was the clincher, though – it turned out that the Senator had greased a few wheels to get the CO his current post and had called in a few favours. Another document showed the orders sent to the Captain on the Carl Vinson (though how SOC HQ got it, no one knew) – specifically forbidding any extraction attempt, and authorising a temporary replacement for the existing comm officer – a man known to be, as Captain Lazarus described him 'a ticket-punching, rule-bound, numb-nutted fool who couldn't find his butt with a map'. Once Talannah had printed out copies of these documents, Captain Lazarus marched almost stiff-legged out of the Harbringer (a sure sign of a bad temper), muttering "Let's see what General Franklin thinks of this...".

Harrigan locked down the Harbringer again, and he and Talannah followed the fuming Captain over past the barracks and towards General Franklin's office. Talannah stopped Ghost outside the barracks, warning him of what they'd found and to be prepared for anything. Ghost nodded, tightening his grip on his rifle briefly, before running in to tell Troll, Jane, and the others. After Talannah had left, there was a furious hive of activity as the unit got their predeployment bags ready and checked – so they could bolt as soon as they were given the word. To ensure a safe exit, Dante checked that the humvee Harrigan had purloined over a year previously (and which had proven invaluable in the intervening time was ready to go – since over half the team had been killed in North Korea, a humvee would be sufficient to carry those of the company stationed at Canaveral now.

Talannah didn't intend to leave it up to the humans to defend the barracks – flicking one finger at Shor and Ryalla, she directed them to overwatch positions on the barracks roof. After a few clunks (Dante came out to have a look – Shor just waved him off, saying nothing was wrong), they were settled – while the position wasn't perfect, they could see down to a guard hut at the nearest gate in one direction and most of the way to the base motor pool in another. Troll stationed himself in the humvee's driver's seat, radio by his side and a considerable portion of a case of chocolate bars on the passenger seat beside him.

Outside General Franklin's office, storm clouds were gathering, Captain Lazarus' voice was getting louder and angrier, and the General's current aide was too green to recognise the signs of an imminent eruption of Mt Lazarus right in front of him. Lazarus finally blew his top, bouncing the aide's head off his desk and knocking him out – just as Harrigan and Talannah caught up with him on one side, and General Franklin came out of his office to investigate. "Captain..." the General warned, none too gently "There had better be a VERY good reason why you just cold-cocked my aide – get into my office the lot of you!"

Harrigan and Talannah joined the very irate Captain Lazarus in the General's office. Once the doors were shut, the General commanded "Spill it, Lazarus!"

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Captain Lazarus didn't need any encouragement. Barely managing to keep his simmering temper under control, he gradually explained his reasoning behind their recent FUBAR at North Korea – and why it turned out that way. "What's that?" General Franklin asked, when he saw Talannah laying out several stapled-together documents and individual sheets of paper on his desk. "That's my evidence, sir" Captain Lazarus told him "Look for yourself, General – Captain's orders to the Carl Vinson, and exhibit one – a transcript of a call between SOC HQ and one Senator Beasely's office! How about that, sir?"

General Franklin leafed through the papers before him, before asking "Just how did you get this? Some of these have classification levels you aren't cleared for". Harrigan put his hand up, adding (with some embarrassment) "My fault, General – we hooked up to the Cry Havoc's computer in orbit, then smashed our way past SOC HQ's network security. Those guys are probably changing their underwear on ten second intervals just thinking about how easily we got in".

"Oh no, not again..." General Franklin moaned "I get a year or so of relative tranquillity – not so much as one MP gaffer-taped to a lamp-post, or security Bradley hijacked, or any other of your innumerable party tricks. Then Harrigan comes back, pulls your fat out of the fire, and it all starts again...". But before the General could get going again, Captain Lazarus' mobile phone rang.

"Yes?!" he growled "Oh, it's you. What's up now?" Turning to the others, he said "It's my ex – shouldn't be long". It certainly wasn't – but it was loud. Lazarus' voice rose in both tone and volume as the argument between him and his ex escalated into a blazing row, and finally caused another eruption of Mt Lazarus. "OVER MY DEAD BODY WILL YOU, WOMAN!" he screamed in almost apoplectic rage "I'LL HAVE SOMEONE GET HER OUT OF THERE BEFORE YOUR COPS AND LAWYERS GET CLOSE!"

Hurling the phone against the wall, he answered Harrigan and Talannah's mystified looks with "That ex-wife of mine's apparently got some kind of court order, and managed to get some cops and a lawyer or two to remove her from school and take her half way across the effing COUNTRY!" "How long have we got before they get there?" Harrigan asked. "Half an hour or so, Harrigan" the Captain replied "There's not enough time to get there in a humvee and there's no space to put down in that Harbringer of yours".

Harrigan grinned, flicking his comm on and calling Shor – who was getting rather bored on sentry duty. "Why can't we go with the commander?" he groused to Ryalla. "I'm not a great fan of sentry duty, but someone has to do it – right now it's us" she replied. When the comm went off, Shor picked up eagerly, asking "PLEASE tell me there's a mission in the offing, sir..."

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"Get Ryalla, Koronna, yourself, and your car over to the General's office NOW" Harrigan ordered him "Got a job for you – an important job. Se get over here and don't screw it up".

"Let's move, Ryalla!" Shor yelled happily, grabbing his plasma gun and jumping off the roof onto the concrete. Apart form mildly bruising his ankles (which he ignored), he banged on the barracks door until Troll opened it. Before Troll could ask anything, Shor yelled out "Koronna – we got a mission! Let's go!" The huge female Scarran - now thankfully back in her Deadhead greys – grabbed her backpack and ran out of the barracks after Shor and Ryalla, her footsteps shaking the floor as she went.

Barely fifteen seconds later, Shor pulled up outside the office – where Captain Lazarus was waiting for them. "Don't bother getting out, any of you" Lazarus told him "Just open the back door and let me in". Koronna reached over and unlocked the door – as soon as he'd sat down, he slammed the door shut and barked "Go!" Shor's car sped off out of the base and out onto the nearby roads. "Punch it!" the Captain ordered once they reached open road. "The Commander doesn't like me breaking the speed limit" Shor groused, to which Captain Lazarus replied with "Harrigan's given you this mission, I'm the senior officer on the scene, and I'm ORDERING you to go faster. Stuff the speed limits – there are more important things at stake!"

Captain Lazarus marked a route out on a map he'd take from his own pack and passed it over to Ryalla. "I'll make sure we don't get lost, Captain" she replied, before slapping Shor on the shoulder. Flicking a couple of concealed switches under his dashboard, two rotating green lights popped out of the bodywork and a screaming siren started – different from the local police one, but most people didn't notice the difference as Shor slammed his foot to the floor, weaving in and out of the various trucks and cars currently about their driver's business. "Just one of the little toys I managed to con the Royal Engineers at Ithlin to fit for me" he grinned at Ryalla, who just said "Watch the road!" Koronna turned over to Captain Lazarus, raised her eyebrows as if to say 'Young people today...', then lay back against the seat to get whatever rest she could.

Ten minutes (and several gobsmacked police radar trap operators) later, Shor's car screamed in through the gates of the school – to see a green sedan driving away. "STOP THAT CAR!" Captain Lazarus screamed "She's in there – that ex of mine lied!" Koronna lowered her side of the back seat and pulled a plasma gun from the trunk, then leaned out of the window and took aim.

Elizabeth Lazarus saw her adoptive father's face in the mirror and smiled. He's coming for me, she thought, I won't have to stay with his whiny, petty, whinging ex for much longer. But how is he going to stop this car? She didn't remain mystified for long – Koronna and her gun soon came into view as well as Shor's car pulled into the outside lane. She just had time to grab hold of something, before Koronna fired and blew most of the engine block to melted goo and useless shards of metal.

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Thankfully, the seatbelts worked – the car rolled a couple of times and came to rest against the embankment at the side of the road – upside down. While her stepmother was still in the land of the slightly concussed, Elizabeth wriggled out of her seatbelt and out of the wreck – running down the grass to the unusual car with her stepfather in it.

Koronna got out of the car, waving her into the middle seat. The other occupants of the car came round a few seconds later, and slithered out to give chase. One still didn't feel up to it, folding up on the grass – but Lazarus' ex-wife and another man gained ground steadily. "Don't let them catch her!" Captain Lazarus told Koronna, anguish creeping into his voice. I will not disappoint you, Koronna told herself - the young lady will come with us. Drawing her huge mace, she swung hard at the man, pulverising his ribcage and dropping his extremely mangled body to the ground, where he proceeded to bleed copiously on the grass.

"There's no need to brutalise Harry like that!" Lazarus' ex howled, leaning down to try and give first aid. "I said I wouldn't let you get away with taking Liz away from me..." Lazarus called back from the car "These fine people decided to help me out – Harrigan sent them. You DO remember him, don't you?" "You hooked up with that lunatic again?" she said disparagingly "I shouldn't have expected anything else from you". "Let's move!" Ryalla called in Scarran "We've got some landcrawlers with flashing lights on heading this way!"

Once Captain Lazarus jumped in, next to his stepdaughter, he shut the door again and kicked the back of Shor's seat, shouting "Go!" Shor spun his car round, almost on its axis, then called "Big red button time – hang on!" and directed Ryalla to a prominent red button in the centre dash, under a small LCD display. Everyone was thrown back in their seats as Shor's car took off like a scalded cat, five-foot long tongues of flame erupting from the back, under the bumper.

One policeman in a car coming to the accident, looked at the display on his radar gun, in total disbelief. "This thing working?" he asked his colleague, tapping the case. "Sure is..." the other officer replied, watching as the ambulance pulled up beside the badly mangled Harry and loaded him onto the stretcher. "...that guy's going to be in a body bag before the end of the day, if I'm any judge..." he murmured, before his partner shook him and pointed to the radar gun, where the display read 250mph. "You're joking, right?" he asked, but the other one shook his head. "This wasn't an accident either" he added "That car got take out by some serious firepower. When the attacker beat feet so quick, it headed back that way", and pointed back the way Shor's car had headed.

When his questioning of the woman revealed a "...Captain..." he turned back to his partner, ignoring the rest of her ranting. "Canaveral AFB" he said flatly, flipping his siren on. "Call for a SWAT unit, get the department negotiator on the way as well" he barked, his partner doing as ordered while he shot down the opposite carriageway.

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A little les than eight minutes later, with Elizabeth feeling rather rattled by spending the whole trip at over 200mph while sitting next to a giant female Scarran, Shor announced his return to base by smashing straight through the checkpoint gate on the way in.

A huge shadow overhead marked the assault lander coming back down to land again. "Tovak!" he commed up to the lander "Don't worry about finesse – just put down wherever you'll fit. Don't worry about knocking a tree or two down or igniting the grass with the landing jets – I've got the feeling we may need you soon, and the launch site is too far away". Tovak turned to their recon specialist, who shrugged. "Suits me fine" he whispered, and dropped down right on the street and children's play area outside the married officer's housing area, smashing the trees and play equipment flat. As soon as the shadow of the assault lander covered the area, everyone ran as fast as they could away from the area – not wanting to be squashed or to meet whoever may be on board. "Well, we're down" the recon specialist told everyone "It's not pretty, but we're here".

Another call came through. "Can you drop the aft hatch?" Ryalla asked "We need to secure the car for immediate lift-off". Captain Lazarus was busy reassuring his stepdaughter that she was safe with these people – the sight of Koronna was rather unnerving for her. "Don't worry about Koronna" he told her "She's really very sociable – as well as being even better than me at blowing stuff up". Koronna smiled and laughed, replying "I'm not so sure about that, Captain! But I am very good, yes". Elizabeth stared at Koronna, saying "She? Koronna's a woman?! She's bigger than two Bulgarian weightlifters put together! Two MALE Bulgarian weightlifters!" Koronna smiled a little, ignoring Elizabeth's surprise that she was a woman . She's never even seen a Scarran before, Koronna knew. But at least she's not screaming in terror, there's that to be thankful for...

Harrigan heard the almighty crash of smashed metal and flattened trees as the assault lander touched down and dropped the ramp. As soon as the Hellbolt, in the barracks, saw and heard the commotion, he got the rest or Harrigan's people into gear – they all headed for the landing site, most of the humans following as well out of curiosity.

"What's going on, Captain?" Harrigan asked "And why, I'd like to know, is the assault lander here instead of over by the launch site?" Captain Lazarus gestured towards his stepdaughter, saying "This is Elizabeth, Harrigan. Liz, this is Harrigan". She didn't come any closer, looking a little scared by Harrigan's odd appearance and extreme size. Captain Lazarus reassured her, explaining "Yes, it is him. Things aren't exactly as I expected them to be with him, I do know that". "You said life in the military gets like that a lot" she said, speaking for the first time since her return. "It does, yes" her stepfather replied. I'm glad she's loosening up a little. What she thinks of the Scarrans and other non-humans is anyone's guess right now, but at least she's starting to accept that Harrigan's who I say he is.

Turning to Harrigan, she told him about her escape. Harrigan smiled as she related the tale of how Shor had pulled up alongside while Koronna blew the front off the car. "Are you injured, Liz?" Harrigan asked gently "Do we need to call a doctor for you?"

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She shook her head, saying "No thank you, sir. I'm a little bruised and woozy, but that's all – nothing damaged". Harrigan smiled at her use of the 'sir', before she added "Oh, yes – something else you may want to know. We've got police after us. The young man in that car tapped into the police radio, though how he did that with a scrambled net I don't know – my stepmother must have convinced them I'm a hostage or something. There's a SWAT team on its way, negotiator, the whole works".

"Into the lander!" Harrigan ordered the whole team "Prep for immediate dust-off, Tovak – it's time we got back to the Territories, we appear to have overstayed our welcome here. Tal, my love – you coordinate here, I'll get the Harbringer ready to go". But before Harrigan could move away, Kran pointed over to where a large group of people were heading their way – from the direction of the MP's barracks. Ghost brought up his binoculars, scanning the group as they approached. "Report!" Captain Lazarus ordered. "MPs" Ghost replied "Loaded up to the eyeballs. What looks like...yes...OSI officer, maybe a couple of Secret Service agents as well – Major at least, can't tell from here...leading them, holding some kind of papers".

Keyah, slipping an ocular headset on, zoomed in for her own look. "They're carrying rifles of a kind like Jane's" she reported "A few are carrying larger guns as well – large drums, probably ammo, on the underneath". "Like this one?" Troll asked showing her his G8. "No" she replied "Different sight, thicker fore-end, a few other things as well I can't ID". "Probably 240B's" Lazarus replied "Not too bad – army units like 'em. I think the G8's better, though".

"Tal" Harrigan ordered her "Get our people off the ground NOW. I don't trust those Secret Service agents and the OSI officer not to have some sneaky trick up their sleeve. If we're off the ground, they can't touch us – no F-15 pilot has anything that'll get through the assault lander's armour". Harrigan's team bolted into the lander – Kran calling "All in!" and slapping the button to raise the ramp as soon as the last boot hit the main deck. Immediately afterwards, the lander lifted off and headed straight up for orbit.

"That's my cue, guys!" Harrigan announced, and ran for the base parking lot where the Harbringer was parked. Lazarus sighed, knowing that whether they did nothing or helped out, that OSI officer will probably find something to court-martial us for – and waved the other three survivors of the North Korea debacle in behind Harrigan.

The OSI officer saw what they were doing and picked up his pace as well – his MPs reached the outer edge of the parking lot just as Harrigan was opening the Harbringer's hatch. "By order of the President of the United States of America" the Secret Service agent also present announced "I'm invoking the Defence Procurement Act and impounding this aircraft for study. Step away from the vehicle, Lieutenant".

Harrigan just ignored him and finished opening the hatch. "I'm no longer a Lieutenant, you pompous frelnik" he replied "nor am I a member of any armed force of the USA any longer, not since I accepted payment to liberate a planet from invasion – and succeeded".

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"We'll be taking you into custody, whoever you are" the OSI officer said stubbornly "WHATever you are. A creature like you could easily be considered a clear and present danger to the security of the United States. Since you're hardly human, the human rights laws don't apply to you – we can and will hold you for as long as we wish".

"You'll have to make it past my gun first!" Troll taunted him belligerently, cocking his G8 and aiming it square between the OSI officer's eyes. "You would take the side of this dangerous hybrid against you own people – you own species?" the Secret Service agent sneered at him. "Since we believe that he is who he says he is" Ghost cut in, aiming his own his own rifle at the Secret Service agent "And that our own government didn't help us in North Korea when we were getting turned to fertiliser...". "And he did come down and put his own life, and those of his people, on the line for us" Jane finished, readying her own rifle "I'd say we owe Harrigan more than we owe you".

Keeping their eyes (and guns) on their targets, they whispered amongst themselves for a minute or two. Lazarus told the Secret Service agent "You and you little buddies here can get lost. This time we've got the firepower, not you – just this small ship could waste you all". "Your squad are hereby charged with mutiny, Captain Lazarus" the OSI officer told him "And you, Captain are charged as both an accessory after the fact to this mutiny, to which I add the charge of barratry for aligning yourself with their rebellion".

"Harrigan..." Lazarus whispered "Down to you – I'm with you whatever you try". "Squad!" Harrigan announced happily "Fall back – into the Harbringer! Come on, let's move like we got a purpose!" Troll, Ghost, and Jane shared a short incredulous look before Lazarus waved them in insistently. A few bullets hit Harrigan's shoulders as he stood there to cover his old CO and squad as they ran inside – but they were only rifle rounds, so didn't harm Harrigan one bit. Turning to blow one last raspberry out at the MPs, Harrigan shut and locked down the hatch.

"This is your last chance to back out, guys" Harrigan told the humans before him "I can let you out of the drophatch just back there...". He pointed to where they could just see the droproom further back, then continued "..and you can go back out to take your chances. If you stay, there's no going back – there's every chance we'll never return to Earth again". All four of them just stood there looking back at him.

Harrigan walked over and thanked them all. "This means a lot to me, guys" he replied thankfully "I really appreciate you throwing your lot in with me and my people". Harrigan showed them to the infantry bunkroom, saying "Strap yourselves on to these beds, each of you. The ride's going to be fast and loose".

"Not you,. Captain" he told Lazarus as he went to join the other three. After shutting the bunkroom door, he escorted the Captain up to the Harbringer's bridge on the upper deck. "You're gonna be in here with me".

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"Sit there – copilot's position" Harrigan asked him, strapping into the pilot's chair beside it. Flicking his fingers over his console, the engines came online rapidly. "Engines in the green...sensors now online, good...master arm – on" he muttered. A slight hum marked the forward guns powering up.

Harrigan immediately brought the Harbringer up off the tarmac as fast as he could. The staccato bark of a large number of rifles and SAW's came from outside, the bullets ricocheting off the hull as the OSI officer made on last futile attempt to stop the Harbringer from leaving.

One thing occurred to Captain Lazarus that he hadn't checked already. "What about Liz?" he asked Harrigan "Where is she?" Harrigan just smiled and connected the Captain through to the assault lander on the comm. "Just put that headset on, Captain" Harrigan said "You can talk to Talannah on the assault lander then". Lazarus did so, then repeated the question. "I brought her on board with me" replied Talannah "I thought my husband may try something like this. Wait a microt..."

"Dad?" came a rather surprised young female voice "That you?" Captain Lazarus smiled, replying "Yes, hon – it's me. I'm with Harrigan in the other ship – we're coming up on your left wing right now. Troll, Ghost, and Jane are here as well". "These guys are really weird" Liz told her stepfather "Friendly enough, I suppose –but very weird. There's that young one who looks like a human but isn't, a grey-skinned man who just looks at me and smiles a little, an orange woman sitting on the ceiling – and of course all those leathery-skinned ones. Scarriks, I think they called themselves". "Scarrans" Harrigan cut in , correcting her "My wife is a Scarran, Liz. They're really quite nice once you get to know them. Now let's cut the chatter – we've got to get back topside and give your people a medical check".

A more leisurely twenty minutes later, they flew slowly past the International Space Station and headed for the Cry Havoc. All the humans stared out of their respective windows at it as they passed – knowing now that they would most likely never see it again. Harrigan commed ahead to the Cry Havoc's bridge, startling Moratha out of her dozing. "Hello? Anyone home?" Harrigan called. "Yes, yes, Commander" replied Moratha with a smile "Leasa's telling me the sensors show the assault lander coming past the Erp space station – we can't see the Harbringer, of course".

Can't anyone other than humans ever pronounce the name of our planet properly? Harrigan wondered, before saying "We're right beside the lander's left wingtip. Tovak – go to max speed...now" and cutting the call. The Harbringer easily kept up with the assault lander, barely using half its power, so the pair of ships finally landed in the Cry Havoc perhaps an arn or so later.

Harrigan and Lazarus walked down to the infantry bunkroom on the lower deck, where Harrigan banged on the door. "Up, up, up!" he yelled cheerfully "Weeeee're back!" The four humans grinned at Harrigan's eagerness, and followed him out.

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"Welcome to our little ocean of serenity, our home away from home" Harrigan announced "...that is the Cry Havoc! We'll get you assigned to crew quarters, but first we'll get our doctor to give you a quick check-over, booster shots, and translator microbes for those of you who don't have them".

"Why can't we walk?" asked Ghost as the five of them got into one of the ship's transit cars. "Oh..." replied Harrigan "You could, you could. But this ship is almost 40 Earth miles long – it'd take forever to get wherever you need to go if you go on foot". The car gave a brief lurch, then shot off to the sick bay – the humans looking out at the scenery (such as it was) in their new home as they went.

The sight of Dr Nrakal pottering around in the sick bay gave them a slight shock, not yet being too accustomed to non-humans. "So you've brought you old comrades here to be with us, Commander?" Nrakal asked, to which Harrigan nodded. "Just give them each a quick once-over, doc" Harrigan asked him "Booster shots, translator microbes, you know what I mean. The Captain already has translator microbes, but the other three will need them. Oops – four, there's Elizabeth as well", as Talannah brought Elizabeth into the sick bay.

"He's perfectly harmless, Liz" Lazarus told his stepdaughter "I've got those translator things and I'm not dead, so you'll be just fine". She took a deep breath to steady herself – while she did, Nrakal's hand flicked forwards and jabbed the hypo in to release the microbes into her bloodstream. One hand reached up to touch the puncture mark, then she said "What the...?" "Can you understand me?" asked Talannah carefully, a few microts later. "Of course I can" Liz replied "What did you thi...oh. It worked. Let's get the rest of this over with, then". With a doctor's timing, Nrakal quickly gave her the booster shots before she was able to back away.

Ghost didn't much like the needles, but gritted his teeth and put up with it – Troll and Jane were mildly wary but didn't really see it as that much of a problem, seeing as Captain Lazarus had been given the translator microbes before them and he was unharmed. "Can't STAND needles..." Ghost groused as the small group walked back out and headed for the transit car. "You can put a bullet through a man's eyeball at a mile" replied Jane "But don't like a doctor giving you a jab when he's right next to you? What are you, Ghost – a man or a mouse?" Ghost just muttered a little and sat down at the back, next to Troll.

Five momens later they stopped outside a row of what appeared to be accommodation units. "What are we doing here?" Troll asked, looking around. Can't see any military posts here, he thought. Is there some sort of observation lounge or similar thing here, perhaps?

Harrigan came to a halt a little way up the corridor. "This" he explained "Is where your quarters will be. Captain Lazarus – please put your hand on the doorplate". He did so – the keypad beside it lit up. "Now enter your personal access code" Harrigan added. A swift tap-tappety-tap later, and Lazarus said "Done". "That's your quarters now, Captain" Harrigan said with a grin "It's keyed to your handprint or keycode".

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"What about me?" Liz asked "I'm a bit too old to share a suite with my stepfather". "I know!" Harrigan laughed "But we'll put you next door – so you can check up on each other". Ghost and Troll were set up after that in rooms on the opposite side of the wide corridor, while Jane was quartered on the other side of Elizabeth.

"These rooms are huge!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "They are rather large" Troll added "You don't have to give us five-star rooms – two or three star would have been just fine". "All the crew quarters are like that" Talannah explained to them "Everyone else has the same quarters as you do. DRDs wander around regularly, cleaning the place up and doing routine maintenance...". One chose just that moment to come past – it beeped at Talannah, rolled into Jane's quarters for a momen or two, then rolled back out and went on its way. "As you can see" Talannah finished.

"Next stop – galley" Harrigan told them "I don't know about you, but I'm hungry. Tovak – you got the food supplies stashed in the refrigerators and freezer units yet?" "Just starting the DRDs on it now" he replied over the comm "We've got the really perishable things going in first – Trannak's helping out with one of the powerloaders, so we'll get the meat, coffee, and stuff like that squared away in no time. Tinned stuff can wait – it's not going anywhere". "Copy that" Harrigan replied "Gimme a shout when it's done – we're heading off to the galley".

Five more momens and the smell of Moratha's cooking wafted down the track, announcing that they'd arrived at the galley. When they walked in, Hellbolt, Keyah (on the floor for once, lounging beside a wall screen), Shor, and Ryalla turned to look at them – Kran, Koronna, the recon specialist, plus Kran's two daughters waved briefly before getting back to their food. "These people here" Harrigan told them all "are going to be joining us. People – meet Captain Lazarus, his stepdaughter Elizabeth, Troll, Ghost, and Jane".

Everyone said hello in their own languages. Hellbolt looked at Jane with some interest, and smiled invitingly. "Well, well..." Hellbolt whispered to Harrigan "This is a fortunate turn of events – very much so. I shall definitely look forward to getting to know her...". "I'd watch yourself, Hellbolt" Harrigan warned him "She's no wilting flower – wind her up the wrong way and she's likely to hit you where it hurts the most". "I'll be careful, sir – you can depend on that" Hellbolt said in response "But the challenge is what makes it all so much fun".

Urana and Leasa brought out an assortment of the generally available food from the Uncharted Territories. "Just call if there's anything you particularly like" Urana said to them "We'll get some more for you". "Don't get too accustomed to waitress service" Talannah explains "Normally we go and carry our own plates – you're getting a special deal because you're new".

"This is really good" Troll said in a muffled voice, mouth full of pronger sinew. "DON'T SPEAK WITH YOUR MOUTH FULL, TROLL!" Moratha barked from behind the counter. He hurriedly swallowed, then said – more clearly – "Sorry ma'am – but it's very good, if not quite what I'm used to. I don't suppose there's any curry around here, is there?"

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A low chuckle from the far side of the counter marked a grinning Captain Kran walking towards him. "We don't have curry..." he said with a slightly mischievous smile of his own "But we do have something similar – Shor, keep quiet!"

Shor stifled the warning that was about to come out of his mouth and turned back to Ryalla. "That stuff's way beyond what he's probably used to – he's going to be really irate after he's swallowed a mouthful of that". Ryalla shook her head, saying "Don't worry about it, dear – Kruldan Scorcher can't kill you, even if it feels like it does". Shor straightened proudly at Ryalla's 'dear' and smiled, which she followed up with a brief kiss before the two of them got back to their meal.

Urana deposited a steaming bowl in front of him with a knife and fork. "Whoa!" Troll exclaimed "I don't know what's in it, but it's certainly clearing the sinuses – doing me a power of good already". He'd made it through four large forkfuls before the fire hit him and he bolted for the tea urn, sticking his head under the spout and turning it on. Once he'd slugged back almost a litre, he stood up again, face bright red from the spiciness of it, and said "I LIKE IT! Can I have some more?"

Kran and the other Scarrans laughed and congratulated him, leading him over to where Kran had a giant serving bowl full of it. "Troll's making himself at home already!" Lazarus laughed, tucking into some Morlian arachnid "Is there some kind of vinegar in this?" "Sweet and sour sauce" Koronna corrected him "Good isn't it?"

Perhaps an arn later, Harrigan waved his wife and Captain Lazarus over to where Hellbolt was sitting by the counter. "We're going up to the bridge to get us underway" Harrigan explained "Captain – if you could just make sure no-one wanders off, that'll do for now. Hellbolt – with me". Hellbolt joined Talannah and Harrigan, with Keyah scuttling along the ceiling to catch up, while the humans and rest of the team stuffed themselves and chatted to the newest arrivals.

Once on the bridge, Captain Lazarus just stared in awe at the equipment before him. Keyah dropped down to sit at her commdesk, while Talannah moved over to the nav desk. "Where do I sit?" Lazarus asked "I haven't a clue what any of this does!" "Sit here next to me" Talannah told him while Harrigan stationed himself at the helm "This is the navigation desk – we also control sensor input here. Just watch me, you'll pick it up in no time – and we can always give voice commands anyway".

"If you say so – Talannah, wasn't it?" Lazarus replied. Truth be told, some of these controls do look similar to those on human aircraft, he thought as he scanned the panel before him. "Keyah!" Harrigan called "Call the others – we're heading home! Coming about 180 degrees...". The Cry Havoc turned slowly and built up speed until they were heading back towards Phobos and the wormhole still present there.

"Tovak, you done yet?" Harrigan called on the comm once they were well clear of the space station. "Not yet, sir" he replied, looking out at where the recon specialist had just joined Tovak in a spare powerloader to help get their supplies stowed "But I can spare a few momens if you need me". "Get one of the biggest nukes we stole off the North Koreans armed and on top of a missile" Harrigan told him "and get it loaded on a Stryker pronto".

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"We'll have to make a pretty big bang to close the wormhole" he added "Because we sure can't leave it open for the Scarrans, or Peacekeepers, or anyone else to find – Earth would be toast if that happened". "Earth soldiers aren't that weak, Harrigan – we'd give anyone the fight of their lives" Lazarus told him. "I know, Captain" Harrigan replied "I happen to be one – originally, at any rate. But Earth technology is way behind in almost all critical areas – which would give any invading army just the edge they need".

Down in the galley, Keyah's call went out again. "Now hear this, now hear this!" she announced "Secure loose objects and strap down for wormhole travel in...half an arn". Moratha and her daughters, assisted by Jane, quickly started the dishwashers going – loading, unloading, and putting away until they felt like their arms would fall off.

Five momens before the wormhole, Tovak ran one final self-test on the missile he'd just loaded onto a nearby Stryker, before bolting for the transit system. "Missile is ready, sir!" he announced on the comm to the bridge as the car raced at maximum speed for the galley. Once inside, he quickly strapped himself to one of the wall seats with the others – once he was ready, Kran commed "All OK!"

"Kran reports everyone's ready, sir" Keyah reported form her desk, tightening her own harness "Time to go home – oh, sorry...". "Don't be, Keyah" Harrigan replied "The Uncharted Territories have been my home for long enough that I don't consider it odd now". "We're going in!" Harrigan called happily as the Cry Havoc approached the mouth of the wormhole "All you humans – you may just get a bit motion sick on the way, it'll get more than a little turbulent".

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