Craig swept down a hallway and turned into a small corridor that had a pair of double doors closed at the end of it. Larry drew deeply into the Force and, with his hands extended, threw the doors open to check for traps. In the same motion, he pushed Craig into the room. Craig either expected it or sensed it. Larry's use of the Force, because he constructed some sort of...shield...and blocked Larry's Force shove from touching him.
"Do you really expect me to have used a trap in here, master Jedi? How would that help our situation any? If I wanted you dead, I would have just used you for target practice."
"Fine, but you go in first."
He did, and Larry walked in and sat down at a large table that looked like it belonged in a conference room.
"I'll start then," Craig said, waving his hand. When he did, a pitcher of punch flew over from where it was on a shelf and landed with some glasses on the table, "My Clan and I discovered this ring after purchasing the information from a crime lord in Vice City, where we all originated. After gathering the Stargate address, we sent scouts through to determine if it was uninhabited. It was, mostly. We like this base, and would prefer if you allow us to remain here, and in return you will receive a non-aggression pact from our part. Think of it as a mutual defense of the Ring."
He gave the away team to discuss the offer. This is how the conversation kind of went:
"Y'all think he's just bull shitting us" said Fox
"I don't know... he might be truthful. What do you guys think?" said Tex looking to Larry and Assim.
"I don't know..." Assim replied with narrowed eyes at Craig. "I trust him about as far as fox could get with Tex." Assim. Tex snorted back a laugh.
"Yep that's pretty untrusting then," said Fox trying to keep a strait face.
"I sense no dishonesty in him." Larry was glaring at Craig though. As if he was trying to find something that wasn't there…
"Yes, but he was able to block your force push. Could he also block your not-so-secret Jedi mind tricks?" asked Assim.
"I am not using a Jedi mind trick. I just do not sense any ill intention from him. It is possible to trick it, but that would take extreme will power. I still think we can trust this guy..."
"Sure why not?" Fox asked.
"Like I said he seems truthful, lets get back to base and talk it over with Ben and some other people... well get back to the Core in a sort of 'don't call us well call you' way." Said Tex.
Larry moved forward to where the lone Clan Leader was standing, Larry opened his mouth, but Craig beat him to it.
"Of course," said Craig very casually "you need time to talk it over with your own Clan Leader. When can I expect to hear from you?"
Larry thought for a moment, "In about three hours, unless the High Command takes longer to decide then I expect." Craig nodded and gave a gesture that told them that the conversation was over. Everyone began to leave the room, and walked out of the base without incident.
They reached the humveewith out any problems. "Don't forget to disarm the bomb, FOX," Larry whispered speaking of the booby trap they left on their warthog, "It's a very long walk home, and I want to radio Marquis for evac."
"Gotcha," said Fox as he hit a few buttons on the Bomb.
"Man I thought we'd never get out of there." Said Tex more at ease, "Not seriously but I certainly felt like it. Especially with her there" she said under her breath. Immediately after the bomb was defused she got on the Radio and called for transportation to the CH HQ.
bzt "recon team to HQ awaiting evac over" bzt "is everyone ready?" She received nods from everyone "let's see… weapons, car.. 1-2-3-4 personnel. yup were set. unless anyone needs to go to the bathroom before we leave..."
"Well now that u mention it," said Fox with a grin, "Nah I'm just kidding, let's go."
"Ok!!! Beam us up Scotty..." Tex cleared her throat "I mean Maquis!"
"O man this is gonna be so cool!"
"Commencing transport," came Maquis' voice over the radio.
Blue lights surrounded the party and their equipment. But there was one problem, according to the charts on Maquis' computer. There were only 3 patterns. Fox, Assim, and Larry all came off the Pad but no Tex.
"Sir it looks like Tex's Pattern got diverted to another Pad. When transportation gets diverted like this, the person gets sent to the closest functioning transporter pad. My guess would be in that building you just came from."
"Hi!! EV…er…y...one? ... Damn, I'm gonna kill him!! you where am i?"
the
Guard in the transportation room was still surprised. But slightly
amused at Tex's sudden change of attitude "You're in the
CORE command transporter room," the guard said, and then he
radioed for some "assistance."
without
a radio to reach Maquis or the knowledge of how to use the controls
she couldn't "turn around" and get back to the Clan
Hunters... she was stuck...for now.