"Gray, would you mind picking up the medical briefing folder?" Mara asked as they made their way through the crowd. "I need a word with Doctor Basil before the meeting starts."
Gray nodded and began to make his way to the back of the Great Hall where the files were waiting, labeled by team leader. Soldiers in military dress representing the Conservancy and various planets milled around, broadly greeting their comrades, and catching up with the news since their last encounter. Civilian support personnel clustered in small groups. Most had met before at one conference or another and were deep in conversation about the latest trends in their fields of expertise. Young Conservancy interns in their dark blue uniforms scurried around the edges directing the participants to their seats. Diplomats from five star systems attired in the long formal dress of their cultures were ushered into a private area where they greeted each other and waited to be summoned to the long black tables set on the stage.
Jack and Ajit searched for their assigned area. An intern directed them to the left side towards the back of the room. As they made their way through the crowd Ajit noticed heads turning to watch the handsome Captain in his long coat gracefully weave his way through the crowd. Jack noticed that the military units were arranged in squads of eight and assumed their spacecraft would be level five fighters—light, fast, and deadly. Most of the soldiers were humanoid, but a few squads were made up of other species. Judoon fighters moving in the opposite direction accompanied the ambassador from the Shadow Proclamation, tall albino woman regally dressed in beaded black velvet. They escorted her to the private waiting room, and then returned to their seats in the front. Armed Conservancy guards stood at every entrance, carefully watching the crowd.
The Captain spotted Jens leaning against a pillar near the front, watching the interactions of the administrators closely. He waved his arms and caught the Time Lord's attention, and grinned as Jens began to make his way to their seats. Ajit pulled the hood of his black jacket over his head trying to block out the deafening noise in the hall. Jack noticed his discomfort, and gave the boy a brief hug drawing a grateful smile.
Mara soon settled next to Ajit, then leaned towards Jack whispering, "I want to talk to you after the meeting. I spoke with Doctor Basil. He is the foremost authority on trauma in this quadrant." Jack could barely hear her through the din, but nodded. Jens finally made his way to their section and took his seat between Mara and Jack.
As Gray arrived at the back of the room, he went from table to table searching for the medical file. When he found his way blocked by the arriving dignitaries, he waited for the crowd to thin before making his way to his team's seats. He leaned against a pillar and casually opened the folder. One of the photographs fell out. As he picked it up, he froze, then slowly straightened. His eyes were riveted to the sight of victims sprawled in a pile near the entrance of a cave. His hand automatically moved to his neck as he continued to stare.
Chimes sounded to announce the meeting would start in ten minutes. Gray looked around and slipped the photo in his pocket before making his way to their section. After he handed the file to Mara, he sat down next to his brother. The sound of a gavel from the stage spilt the air, and soon the crowd quieted.
Colonel Scott McGrath stood and introduced the dignitaries on the stage, starting with the guests from the Shadow Proclamation who would oversee the legal issues of their operation. Next came the introductions of the military arm of the Interstellar Nature Conservancy, the support staff of the Conservancy, and finally the representative of the affect planetary systems. Finally he turned the meeting over to the head of the Interstellar Nature Conservancy, Doctor Matthew T'sorti.
"We are gathered here to determine how to fight those who have ravaged settlements on the edges of our star systems," T'sorti began. "These raiders have destroyed families, driven away settlers, and decimated native populations where ever they have gone. Their methods display a savagery that is beyond cruelty." The tall Silurian moved towards the large screen as he triggered the projection. "Please refer to the map of the Cygnus planetary system in your packet."
Jens could see the Captain was getting restless as he paged through the printed maps in the folder he picked up at the navigation tables. Meetings and diplomacy were not Jack's strengths, and he was hoping the immortal could stay awake for the entire meeting. He looked over the rest of his team. He knew Mara was acquainted with some of the dignitaries on stage, but Ajit was uncomfortable. He would relax once they broke up in small groups. Gray was rigid, his eyes focused downward. Jens wondered if the crowded conditions stressed him, but like Ajit, this would pass once they broke into small groups.
Jack pulled out his copy of the map and studied it. Raided areas were marked in red noting the place, number of killed and number of survivors. There were eighteen areas marked, the number of dead varied, but the number of survivors did not. There were no survivors. The raiders suspected location was circled.
T'Sorti triggered in blue lines on the projection indicating the interplanetary shipping lanes, and finally symbols indicating mining resources found on the planets. "Notice the pattern along the interstellar shipping lanes," he continued. "One thing is certain. These are not random acts."
T'Sorti introduced the diplomats from the affected to give their reports detailing the devastation in each area.o noting the native populations or colonists in those areas fled shortly after the raids, leaving the areas open to illegal mining practices that harmed the ecosystems of the planets. While many metals and minerals were plundered, the most prized were the crystals used for interstellar travel. Since the Aurora Cartel was the criminal organization best equipped to benefit from the situation so it was suspected they financed the attackers.
As the meeting dragged on, Jens noticed that Gray was becoming increasingly agitated. The crowded conditions could be affecting him, and Jens did not want to deal with regression issues, especially before an important mission. He whispered his concern to Jack who turned, observed his brother, and nodded in agreement.
Jack leaned over to the Time Lord and whispered, "I'll take him back to the TARDIS and input the navigation data they gave us today. You can catch us up on the rest of the meeting when you return."
Jack turned and whispered his intention to leave the meeting to Gray, joking he was getting bored. Gray's eyes lingered on Jack a moment before he agreed to go with him. As the brothers quietly rose to leave, the Colonel noticed the motion in the audience, recognized them, and scowled as he watched them make their way to the back of the room. He settled back continued to watch the presentation.
Gray said nothing as the brothers walked the four blocks to the TARDIS as Jack continued to share stories about the soldiers he knew at the meeting.
"You look stressed," noted Jack. "There's some aspirin in sickbay if those headaches are back."
Gray nodded grimly, and continued to listen to Jack's tales without comment.
Once they entered the TARDIS Gray went back to sickbay, while Jack spread out the maps carefully on conference table, and then walked to the navigation panel to insert the memory stick to upload the new data.
Jack returned to the conference table, took off his coat, and threw it on the back of a chair. He leaned over the maps as he continued to study them.
"Gray," he called out, "I need you to take a look at this."
Gray began to walk back to the conference room.
"I get claustrophobic at those meetings too," Jack said as he continued to review the star maps. "You'd think they would come up with a quicker way to deliver the information, but bureaucrats need their time in the sun."
Jack briefly looked up as Gray came up and stood silently beside him. He returned his attention to the map and pointed to the red circle. "There are the coordinates of where the Conservancy thinks raiders are still active. On this second geological map, it looks like a natural system of limestone caves…"
Jack's eyes widened as he felt the scalpel slip between his ribs, gasping in pain as Gray twisted it. He stumbled against the table as blood from a severed artery spurted over the maps. Gray's face was impassive as he plunged it in again. Jack knees weakened, and he gripped the sleeve of Gray's jacket to trying to keep his balance, as he slid slowly to the floor.
"Why?" Jack cried as his face twisted in anguish, his strength fading.
Gray knelt down and plunged the blade in a third time. "Because it's your turn, Jack."
He grimly watched the sparkle slowly drained from his brother's eyes. Picking up the still arm, he carefully took off the Vortex Manipulator and placed it on his own wrist. Gray noted the coordinates on the map, and typed them into the wrist strap. He then knelt down and pulled his brothers lifeless body up in his arms, whispering in his ear, "Because it's your turn." He triggered the transport and the two brothers disappeared in a blinding light.