Disclaimer: All characters, names, settings etc belong to their respective copyright holders, only much of the convoluted plot, Night Wolf and a few other things are of my own creation (but inspired from many things under copyright, which aren't mine).

Chapter 41

As the ASCS Flinders powered its way towards an unnamed star system another Australian Space Core Ship flew its way towards a better known and used planet which held Research Outpost 2 a planet with a barely habitable atmosphere, however it held many useful hydrocarbons used in the construction of the UNIT vessels.

Currently the ASCS Hattah was travelling using its hyperspace window generator engines, the blue and white colours of the edges of hyperspace streaking past the ship.

"Captain we're getting a signal." Captain Chris Rogers looked up at his Secondary Systems Coordinator.

"Linguistics?"

"They're running it through, it's a video and audio transmission, the video's up…audio…no…but they're patching through a basic translation."

"Lets hear it and prepare to disengage engines close enough to the source of the transmission."

"Sir."

One of the three screens changed to show what appeared to be a large…slug.

"Translation is coming through now…"

"Umm…Transmission to all…unidentified word, deepest…request for…assistance or fighting, unidentified word, unidentified pronoun, unknown noun, attack…Linguistics say they should be able to come up with a translation system if we get more of the alphabet."

"Good, that's why I like Daleks…easy to translate, no negotiations, simple, have we got a lock on the signal?"

"Sensor analysis has got a vague area Captain."

Captain Rogers nodded to himself.

"Battle Alert, drop us outside projected battle space."

Around the ship all areas locked down and prepared for battle, pilots rushed to be ready in their Thylacines, weapons ran through safety checks defensives systems were prepped.

Then the ASCS Hattah dropped out of the edges of hyperspace that it had been skimming in a bright flash of blue and white like a cloud blooming in space.

"Battle Space is up, we're getting preliminary readings…multiple weapons contacts…"

"How many…"

"3 vessels…sensor and battle analysis is coming through…"

Two of the screens in front of the captain and the main focus of the command deck changed from their data to the battle space display and a detailed silhouette of the three ships, Rogers frowned and stared at the images with a worry, he hit the button from the drop down 'periscope' beside him.

"Tell me that those ships aren't what I think they are."

"80 percent match to Arcturan ships encountered previously Captain."

"What about the other ship?"

"Conflicted readings, there's too much weapons fire and defence fire going on." Replied the man on in the sensor analysis area at the rear of the ship.

"Deploy Thylacines, defence perimeter around the ship, interceptors ready, cannons on standby. Linguistics I want a broad channel transmission use what we've got on the Arcturans use everything."

"5 minutes to weapons range, 3 minutes to communication range." Williams stated.

"Arcturan vessels this is the UNIT vessel ASCS Hattah, leave this area of space…"

"No response captain, diplomacy is requesting to attempt to open a dialogue with the unknown vessel."

"Let them do it, but I want them and linguistics to have their main focus on anything that's communicated by the Arcturans."

"Ships have stopped firing on unknown vessel, they're rotating on their axis."

"To leave the system…" The captain asked hopefully.

"Missile launch detected!"

The four missiles lit up a flashing red on the battle space projection.

"Interceptors." From the top and base of the ship the interceptors fired out hot flashes of power to stop the large missile shaped weapons on approach, only shrapnel remained a moment later but the ship was already moving toward one of the two vessels.

"Port side cannons open fire on second vessel, Thylacines to provide defence to unknown vessel, prepare main weapons to fire."

"Blasting or cutting curses sir?"

"What does battle analysis suggest?"

"Uh…" Roberta quickly read over her the screens before her, "Given the close in battle and possible shrapnel, cutting is suggested as the best."

"Swap it over."

In the forward areas of the ship the main crystal and technological interface which provided the mix of the magical with the technological were carefully swapped by personnel wearing specially designed micro-gravity suits.

The main weapons were a larger, more powerful construction but were basically the same technology as the Stun/Kill side arms…however these weapons were immensely more powerful, and did a lot more than just stun.

"Weapons ready captain."

"Fire." The weapons officer nodded and inputted the coordinates obtained by the battle and sensor analysis department.

Two deep purple beams of energy spewed outwards from the ASCS Hattah's main weapons at the Artcuran vessel impacting against an energy field and began cutting through it.

"Second vessel turning to fire against us…missles launched from both vessels incoming fire."

The main weapons stopped at this point, charms and spells laid along the length of the main weapons activated cooling the systems down before it would fire once more, this brief drop in energy requirement was a benefit to the rest of the ship given the amount of energy weapons and physical weapons being fired at the ASCS Hattah.

"Ready forcefields…wait for it…wait for it…" Captain Rogers watched the readout as the interceptors fired off attempting to stop the mass of missiles approaching the ship.

"Activate." Energy in the form of massive forcefield sprung up around the ship, halting all the energy weapons and physical shunting the ship through the concussive force of the missile's impact.

"Sensor analysis of the missile's impact…potentially destructive should they impact with the ship's outer shell captain."

"Fire main weapons again." Rogers said.

"Alert from sensor analysis, enemy ships launching fighter craft."

Rogers stared at the battle space display for a moment as the craft spread out away from the two main craft.

"Battle analysis suggest they're trying to box us in…weapons fire coming in on all sides." SSC Roberta Williams said carefully bracing herself.

There was a noise along the ship of energy weapons impacting against the ship's outer hull, a hull that had like all UNIT space craft been treated with a vast array of magics born from the sorcery and apothecary department at Night Wolf together with the various researches of Night Wolf Command, the Gibson Desert Research and Construction facility and the Norther Highlands Construction and Research facility to make a battle ready craft, the net result was that most of the damaging portions of an energy weapon was spread out and deflected leaving only the physical imact, which was also lessened…however it didn't make the ship indestructible, just hardy.

"Status?"

"No breaches, interceptors are retargeting for incoming fighter craft fire…at 80 percent and holding…main craft one is disabled…second craft is…shit…" Roberta said as she switched concentration for a moment listening to the information being said at speed to her as well as the information pouring through.

Outside the ship the attack craft were still moving inwards towards the ASCS Hattah, the Thylacines were beginning to loose their edge against their craft as the manoeuvrable space decreased, the damaged unknown vessel was attempting to add it's firepower to the Thylacines' attacks but had lost propulsion and through it all fire reined down on the ASCS Hattah, dull green impact marks beginning to form on its hull.

"We're loosing our manoeuvrability sir…"

"And with it our ability to target properly…"

"Battle strategy suggest extreme movement to out manoeuvre attacking fighters…if the attacks continue the interceptors will loose effectiveness in 10 minutes, hull breaches in 15, the second ship has moved outside minimum range."

"Receiving coded signal from Thylacine squad, 'unable to continue assault, taking heavy ancillary fire'." Rogers nodded to the communications officer.

"Get them to pluck off any fighter crafts, the other ship will have to manage on its own for a second."

"Battle strategy come up with a firing pattern, get ready to implement it Lucas. Felix…one of the extreme manoeuvres." Captain Rogers said with a grim smile as he grabbed at his harness and clicked it all into place pulling the straps hard.

Roberta Williams hit the button warning all personnel for extreme manoeuvres and gravity field decrease, even through the captain hadn't ordered it, it was most likely…

"Roberta, power status?"

"Gravity field's hampering us, we've still got force fields…but we can only create a full ship wide field maybe twice more…everything else is at full."

"Stretch back gravity field, standby to disengage interceptors."

"Roberta…when I shout now activate the forcefields, I'm going to try something to...eliminate our problems." Lt Felix Stroud

"Very well Fellix, do it Roberta. Let's do it."

The ASCS Hattah without any warning leapt forward, its main engine firing up to half power propelling it at what would appear to be within the definition of 'ramming speed' towards the disabled craft they had initially come to rescue.

"Stand by rear stern force fields Roberta." Felix shouted as he gripped the controls used for tight manoeuvring.

"Lt Stroud…"

The ASCS Hattah's top side manoeuvring thrusters kicked in at one hundred and ten percent pivoting the up, the top of the ship or rather the force field protecting the ship crashed into several craft sending shrapnel, atmosphere and some sort of support fluid into space. The thrusters continued to push the ship over until the bow of the ship was facing the second ship.

"Order thylacines safe distance all power to forward weapons, all weapons open fire!"

The red of a blasting curse shot out at amazing speed towards the second craft, cannons along the sides of the ship swivelled and shot continuous fire out at the ship as the ASCS Hattah continue to move along the length of the ship, momentum carrying it along.

"Move us around, I don't want that second ship getting away."

"Sir."

"Remaining fighters attempting to form up."

"Rear cannons focus on fighters in range, Thylacines take out…" Rogers glanced at the battle space display. "Take out remain fighters outside our predicted range for cannons."

"Adjusting for ship to ship attack."

"Any signals?" Rogers said stopping for a moment. To ask that vital question, was the enemy ready to surrender?

"Linguistics say no sir, nothing directed at us or our craft."

"Open fire."

Less than an hour after the battle had begun there was only shrapnel and two craft hanging in the blackness of space.

Captain Chris Rogers waved a hand in front of him waving away the smoke which had resulted in a short out of something in the final moments of their battle.

"Damage?"

"Nothing structural, a few shorts and small fire in cargo 2, it's under control, we've got some small cracks along the out hull…and some residue from the force field impacts with the fighter crafts."

"Get linguistics and diplomacy to send off our language and number codes…"

"Captain they can send it now…they've been preparing it…"

"Yes, yes…friendly contact it's better than 'we want to exterminate you' any day, tell them to send it off and let's wait for a reply."

Rogers leaned into his chair.

"How long until we've got a grav-field back?"

"Engine and power systems say they're easing it back now sir, fire is under control, but they want to leave it at extreme minimum to assess for any structural damage."

Rogers nodded unbuckling his 6 point harness, rubbing his shoulders where he'd pulled the straps that little bit too tight.

"Have the thylacine squad break in half and do a detailed sweep of the area of space, keep relative distance from the craft we just saved, just in case." Rogers said as he rose to look at the constantly updated battle space display, and then looked to the other, there was a lot of debris around here.

"What have found out so far on the unknown ship?"

"Sensor analysis say it reads as a partially organic ship."

"Like Potter's craft?"

"No…they're still going through their sensor readings…" Roberta said frowning.

There was relative quiet as his crew worked before Roberta exclaimed around 5 minutes later.

"Sir, linguistics say we've got a signal coming through, it's on our receivable frequency…and they say it's in English!"

"Well…lets see it."

The screen fizzed for a few moments before clarifying into an image of the…thing/person/alien that they'd seen before, it was…a large slug/snail like creature with rudimentary shell covering some of its back it/thing/alien even had long-ish eyes on stalks.

"We praise you for your timely intervention, I am Searcher of Triumphs Worker of Skills…"

Captain Chris Rogers bit his lip and wondered whether diplomacy was going to step in or if he was going to…."I am Captain Chris Rogers…can we be of assistance with your craft?"

There was a slight pause and the picture fizzed again.

"That is most…generous of you Captain, however we do not know of a safe planet close to our current location."

Rogers smiled, they close enough to Research Outpost 5 and with the recent work there, there was plenty of room to land two ships.

"We can assist you Searcher of Triumphs Worker of Skills…my diplomacy department can send you coordinates relative to our location of a planet where we might land and assist you with repairs…a safe planet…"

"We are most grateful to you…what is your species so that we might know you…"

"Human…and you if I might ask Searcher of Triumphs Worker of Skills?"

"We are the Hith, thank you…" The video link fuzzed out. Captain Rogers turned to Roberta.

"We've still got audio, diplomacy and linguistics are sending the coordinates and explaining…they say you did well." She smiled.

"So friend or foe?" He wondered out loud to his command crew.

"Well they didn't try to exterminate us, that's always a plus." Felix said turning around from his controls. "Do I point us towards Outpost 5?"

"Yes, but wait until we're confirmed with diplomacy, we'll let them leave first."

--//

Lethbridge Stewart shoved his hands in the long coat he was wearing as he walked down the path alongside the Thames towards the agreed meeting place.

The Previous afternoon…

Lethbridge Stewart turned the piece of paper over in his hand, it was a copy of the original which while it had no detectable magic on it was deemed close proximity unsafe by Leidel a sorcerer who had not accompanied Birmingham, but had been left in charge of his department while he was 'out' for close on a month.

The parchment had been delivered via owl to a former safe house of Night Wolf, despite their best efforts the bird had flown too far outside the CCTV network to accurately track its destination or starting point.

It was a request for a meeting, a procedure Jules Winter had used during his time recruiting for Night Wolf and assisting werewolves during his time 'around'.

"General Lethbridge Stewart, more prisoners for us to sort through?"

"Something quite different Professor Winter. I'm sending you a message we received at 1300 today through one of your old safe houses."

"Which one Alistair?"

"St Mawes on the Roseland Peninsular."

Jules Winter nodded smiling fondly.

"One of my favorites, the people there now weren't worried when the owl came?"

"No Winter, they were briefed on the basics part of their 'out' deal with 6."

"So let me see…" Winter switched his gaze from the screen and camera to the image that was coming through.

Odin has cast his sights and we have fallen into displeasure, the seasons we seek to view, I seek a communion with the coldest and fairest.

We need to talk, Thames bankside 0300 tomorrow.

Romeo

Winter nodded as he read it.

"I know who might have sent it, they're a couple, they ran off together to run a retreat on the Isle of Man the last I knew."

"Is it genuine?"

"He said he'd never contact us again, he did a lot of work during the first war, nearly got him and his love killed…Alistair he'd do anything to keep his family safe…after he was tortured helping his wife escape Voldemort during the first war he vowed never to get mixed up in any of it again, if someone's found them they've gone to a great length…"

"But?"

"But everyone who resettled knows how to get in contact with me…"

Lethbridge Stewart nodded to himself, it didn't feel right.

"I think I will need to meet these people, especially if they've decided to resort to terrorizing these people, just to get information from us."

"I trust you'll be careful Alistair."

"I always am Winter."

"Very well, I will endeavor to contact Romeo."

"No chance I can?"

"No, not if the ministry's thugs have already."

"I will message you back with the results."

--//

"Any sign?" Lethbridge Stewart imperceptivity murmured to himself.

"Negative sir, there is something there…however there's a distortion field in operation no luck of a shot until you're close and can negate." Lt Cameron Rayner's voice came through in his ear via the tiny ear piece. He was a recent transfer from the Royal Marines, an excellent marksman, especially with the sniper rifle.

With Jones and his much of his team currently testifying in Geneva Lethbridge Stewart had assembled a small team to back him up on this operation, it was argued that someone else might go in his place, but the message was clearly directed at Winter, someone high in authority at Night Wolf at the time and Lethbridge Stewart was beginning to get annoyed with the multiple wand user 'incursions' into various facilities, locations…even Buckingham Palace, however the Royals had been at Checkers for an official visit.

Lethbridge Stewart wanted to meet and 'discuss' their questions…and he had all the tools of discussion with him.

The coat he was wearing had been specially altered to hold a compact, though still quite heavy jamming device, it had a minimum range of around 70cm radiating outwards, he had holstered a S/K-1, a hand gun and a smaller pistol on his ankle.

There was also in the way of close by backup in the form of Sorcerer Jackie Williams, she was currently stalking around at distance out of sight for him.

"Williams?"

"Rayner's right a distortion field, you'll feel something when you sit down sir…but if it was something extreme it'd be warping the outline of the bench, I can feel…something, they're working some wards even now…nothing extreme…but there are more than one of them."

"Standby approaching last checkpoint."

The checkpoint was a CCTV camera the feed of which had been rerouted to a UNIT control van manned by a Lt Oliver Hays for any inconstancies or possible threats.

Lethbridge Stewart counted silently to himself as he walked toward the bench and pushed a hidden button within his coat and withdrew his gloved hands into the cool London air while gripping a white rose, this was supposedly the meeting signal.

He took his seat on the bench well aware the jamming field had eliminated whatever occlusion field, revealing a man sitting next to him, and another two people one on each side of the bench, however he continue to stare outward across the Thames holding the rose in one hand.

"Line of sight on man to you right sir, awaiting signal." Came the quiet voice in his ear drum.

Then he felt the rose being taken out of his hand.

"Finite Incantium."

"You're Winter?" Asked a woman to Lethbridge Stewart's left as she pulled off a hood.

"Why did you request a meeting Ms…?"

"We're asking the questions muggle." The man beside him jabbed him in the side with a wand.

"Dawlish is that really how we should addressing him?" Asked a man to the other side of the bench, he pulled off his hood as well revealing a man with bright red hair.

"Arthur Weasley…I work assisting muggles…"

"Arthur…" The woman trailed off but motioned Arthur Weasley to move back from trying to shake his hand, Lethbridge Stewart raised an eyebrow…Weasley…that was the same name as Harry's friend at Hogwarts…

"So Ms…why did your people find the need to…extract information to request my presence."

"Extract…we did nothing of the sort…I mean…I was not directly responsible for how the information was obtained…Minister Scrigemour's staff…"

"Bones…we should stick to the topic." The man growled beside him.

"Mr Winter…"

"Do we know that's his name Ameilia?"

"Are Winter?" Sighed Bones as she acknowledged Weasley's request.

"No. What do you want Ameilia Bones?"

"Then who…"

"I am an associate of his, what do you want?" He asked again slowly and carefully.

"I represent a department of law enforcement…we want to know what happened to Voldemort…we know that muggles were involved."

"I know." Lethbridge Stewart said simply. "I also know you've been harassing every government department in the United Kingdom looking for answers."

"How did you know that we...you're just…" The man spluttered jabbing him with the wand again.

"Dawlish go to the perimeter, I thought I saw something." Bones ordered, the man rose disgruntled and started walking around cautiously in what appeared to be nothing more than a random walk.

Bones took his place.

"Mr…" Lethbridge Stewart raised an eyebrow but said nothing. "My government needs some information to assist in our…duties…especially the location of certain…combatants from the battle with Voldemort."

"What battle would that be Ms Bones."

"The battle between Harry Potter and he-who-must-not-be-named…we were there we saw…" Weasley said quickly and anxiously. "We just need to know…"

"And barging into every establishment demanding and waving those around is your method of working it out?" Lethbridge Stewart asked again calmly.

"Mr …whoever you are…we know you you have knowledge connected to the attack and somehow you've warded all your…government buildings…we ask for the safety of everyone that you explain what happened to Voldemort, where Harry Potter is and why we cannot cast any magic within certain buildings." Bones's tone changed to a colder tone as she withdrew her wand, nodding to the man behind him.

"Amelia you said…."

"The minister gave me instructions Weasley…we've still got problems out there…"

"Mr Winter please…we don't need to do this…I'm very fond of muggles…that whole eklektricity thing brilliant…we just need to know…he-wh-must-not-be-named was a large…"

"Terrorist?" Lethbridge Stewart offered as Weasley stepped over from the side of the bench to next to Bones.

"What's a terry-wrist? He was a dark wizard…a problem in our world we just need…"

"What we need is answers Weasley. Bones I have the Veritaserum ready."

"Good. I am sorry Mr Winter or whoever you are but if we don't get the information…"

"Disable rear target."

"Sir."

There thud of someone's shoulder exploding as a large calibre bullet ripped through the tissues making Dawlish drop his wand in pain.

"What's happening, what…Lumos." Weasley said his wand in his hand instantly, Bones who had jumped up into a fighting stance and was looking around with careful eyes. "Arthur check on Dawlish."

"It's not fatal." Lethbridge Stewart said from his still sitting position. "But as demonstrated we will not sit here and let you…wipe our memories, interrogate us, or think of us as fond…things…Ms Bones." Lethbridge Stewart said gazing over to the middle aged woman.

"I was merely going to…"

"Interrogate me Ms Bones, don't think me a fool to not know what Vertaserum is. Veritas Ms Bones…truth. Now for some truth to you, we are not going to idly by and let you and your government continue to burst in and start demanding information of our politicians, our facilities, our citizens of the United Kingdom. You might have enjoyed some…pressure in the past, but we were forced to fight back when you wand users didn't and people started dying." Lethbridge Stewart rose from the seat coming to stand close to Bones face to face. "Your minister acknowledged that Voldemort has been eliminated, those who have committed crimes will be justly punished. If you're looking for control of us 'muggles' Ms Bones, if you thought you were ever entitles to it you're as bad as Voldemort, if you're demanding it of us with a smile on your face you're just like Dumbledore and since you were so ready to tie me up and question me under Veritaserum then you must have been part of Fudge's regime. Good day Ms Bones." Lethbridge Stewart turned and walked away along the Thames. Leaving Ameliea Bones and Arthur Weasley staring at him as he walked away.

--//

The first half of this chapter has been in my head for a while needing to be written, it sets up a few things for future chapters.

Namely first contact with a a friendly race the Hith they're from (Doctor Who New Adventure) Original Sin By Andy Lane. It's another of my obscure Doctor Who references…which doesn't really matter, I mainly wanted a alien species which was really alien, and big slug/snail like people with long descriptive names are more interesting than bipedal people (there'll most likely be more on the Hith later).

The second half of the chapter was written earlier today before posting and is a response to some people who asked for a little bit more on the Ministry's actions from last chapter. This gives the Brigadier a face to face, lets him vent a little bit plus another wizard gets shot (not fatally though).

Harry will definitely appear next chapter.

Thanks for reading.