Mara listened carefully to the debate among the anthropologists on the stage. The consensus of opinion was that the raiders were Adyan, a telepathic race evolved from human and shape-shifter genetic lines. Adya was a distant closed planet, and few of the members attending the meeting had knowledge of its existence. It was rumored involvement with a renegade Time Lord in their distant past caused the society to shut itself off from the outside. The matriarchal society was peaceful. However, a small group rejected the leaders of their home planet. When this group first split off and left the planet, it's main goal was exploration. However it was suspected that a mutiny occurred, and the new leadership aligned themselves with the Aurora cartel acting as their henchmen. Attempts had been made in other star systems to turn members of the crew when they came to port on lawless planets, but so far these attempts yielded nothing. Mara dutifully recorded the details in her notes.
Ajit squirmed in his chair, disturbed by the images on the projection screen. The graphic images of bodies stirred memories best left buried. He wondered why Jack and Gray, and then Jens left the briefing. As he turned to scan the back of the hall, he saw Jens run back into the hall to the first checkpoint and frantically talked with the guards. An intern was sent scurrying from the checkpoint to the waiting room in the back of the stage, returning with Colonel McGrath. Ajit quietly whispered to Mara about what he saw. Both immediately left their seats and made their way to the back of the hall to join the conversation.
"I can't order a military unit to go find Jack Bloody Harkness!" argued the Colonel. "The council has not determined the legal standing for the action. You heard the Shadow Proclamation ambassador!"
"What happen?" cried Mara. "Where's Jack?"
Jens mutely handed her a tablet and triggered a replay of what happened on the TARDIS. Mara drew her hand to her mouth in horror. He then handed her the photograph he found spattered in blood. She peered at the marks on the necks of the victims and glanced at Ajit.
"He's relapsed," she said shaking her head. "Gray's in relapse."
"Look, I know you're upset," said McGrath. "But this can wait. After all, the guy can't die. We'll settle the legal matters first and then send a squad. The conference planning has first priority."
Jens turned on McGrath in fury, but Mara grabbed his arm to calm him.
"Jack is my priority!" Jens hissed. "I'm going after him. We are going after both of them now." Mara and Ajit moved to stand behind him.
The Colonel stepped back in surprise. "If you do that, there is no legal protection."
The Time Lord was too angry to reply. Motioning to his team, he turned and left the Colonel standing by the checkpoint as the presentations droned on.
"Jens, be reasonable!" called McGrath. "Wait!" He began to follow them, but stopped. Shaking his head, he turned and walked back towards the assembly
When they arrived in the TARDIS, the doctor looked sadly at the pool of dried blood near the conference table. She handed the medical folder to her assistant.
"Ajit, download the memory stick into my medical system and get the infirmary ready for casualties." She noticed the Time Lord had picked up the maps from the table, and moved them out of the blood splatter.
"I'll clean that," pointing to the blood as she touched his arm. "Just find them. Both of them."
A knock came at the TARDIS door.
Ajit left the medical bay and opened the door to find Colonel Scott McGrath standing in battle gear, the dress blues gone. Jens walked over to join them.
"I'm sorry about what I said before," McGrath said looking at the ground. "The legal discussion is still going on, but I'll be your liaison on this mission. You're right," he looked up. "We can't wait. Backup will be triggered as soon as the council comes to a decision."
Jens nodded curtly and showed him to the maps that Jack laid on the table. He then went to the tracking panel and checked to see if the wrist strap had been turned back on. There was a signal pulse. Jens copied down the coordinates, and started up the TARDIS. He showed Scott the location of the wrist strap on the map.
"We'll start here."