"A few living quarters blocks…" Liz told Captain Lazarus "…a large galley or two… one sick bay …nothing too interesting yet, Dad".
"Still good to know it's all here, Liz" he reminded her "This particular part of the ship hasn't had people in it since it was made. That's why we've had to stop and call in those gate codes – then whoever's on the security officer's desk up at the bridge can open them for us".
" 'Least now I know why the air smells a bit weird here" Liz replied, sniffing a bit – she sneezed once before adding "No one been through here for ages. Scrubbers prob'ly ain't online in this sector. Tovak's really gonna love us, that's for sure…".
Koronna waited a microt or two until she translated Liz's speech before she nodded and said "Correct, Liz. It is highly likely the only people to have seen this sector of the ship would have been the construction crews that built it – and just as likely that the air filtration is not online here, at least not at standard habitation levels".
"Can we try an' find some sort of tech place an' turn it all back on, then?" Liz asked, thinking fast "It really smells down here an' it wouldn't hurt to get DRDs running around cleaning the place up as well…".
"Next order of the day's hunting for hatches to the tech tunnels then" Lazarus decided, nodding "From what you, Koronna, and Tovak tell me, engineering controls like that are kept out of sight belowdecks where the crew don't see 'em".
Koronna nodded before adding "Tech tunnels are designed around the size and mobility of Kalish people – while you two humans shouldn't have problems, I will find space a little tighter in some spots than I do up here. Regardless of that, we should find environmental controls for this sector" and describing what the service hatches looked like and how they were labelled.
Instead of a floor hatch, an actual service levelator was found.
"Liz, help Koronna get this thing moving" Lazarus ordered "It should be fine but I want to be sure".
Koronna pointed to a hatch in the roof, and Liz opened it before sticking her head through the hole.
"Damn, it smells…" she muttered, before telling Lazarus "Cables I see look fine, Dad – but I think they're there just in case whatever this thing usually uses to move around lets go. Bit over my pay grade, Dad, to be honest…".
Lazarus chuckled a bit at Liz's speech, then nodded before telling her "Get back down here and lock that hatch, then. Since computer access down here's on standby mode, we have to check each deck out one at a time until we get it to active mode".
It took four decks before Koronna called "Possibly a larger open area ahead, Anton… the air smells a little different. I can't read the tech-sign on the walls or I'd know for sure. Pity both Keyah and Caseya are busy, they would be more likely to know".
"Liz, take point and go up there to see what we got" Lazarus ordered "Koronna and I will follow".
Liz smiled and hugged her adoptive father briefly before running off ahead, after which Lazarus muttered a bit and sat down before reaching for his nearest water canteen.
"Liz is right… " he told Koronna "This place don't smell nice at all – on top of which I'm feeling hungry. Let's hope we find the controls for the aircon soon before I gotta eat – or it'll likely come right back up again…"
A loud whistle came from up ahead – so Lazarus stashed his canteen again, after which he and Koronna walked up to where Liz was standing by an open door.
"Looks like sector storage for something, Dad…" Liz said "Dunno what for just yet… but it's seems quite big an' for one reason or another the air seems a little fresher. Not much, though".
"This corridor leads to the levelator we arrived on" Koronna reminded them "which means it is likely a major thoroughfare for technical staff with equipment. Whatever is here is important for running the ship in this sector if not as a whole. Let's find some lighting switches".
Ten momens later Koronna found them. Lighting on walls and the ceiling came up gradually and did indeed reveal their location to be a stores house for that part of the ship.
"Item number one…" Lazarus said "…being able to see where we're going… check. Now to find a computer terminal".
"Think I got one here, Dad!" Liz called "Not a real fancy one like on the bridge or our quarters, but I think it works" before pressing a switch on the side. A slight whine marked the system coming out of hibernation – and while it didn't have all the conveniences of those in the crew quarters, it did have a good quality flat panel screen and a slightly lesser quality holodisplay.
The system announced its sector and purpose before Koronna asked for a full detailed diagnostic – Liz just said "Already on it! All that stuff Shellek's been telling me is starting to pay off…".
Lazarus looked over at Koronna and raised an eyebrow – Koronna smiled and rumbled softly before replying "Shellek examined Liz's portable computer some time ago and assisted her in making sure the Havoc's main system could read her files and transfer them into her own archives in her quarters if not the ship-wide ones. He seemed to think she has some talent with information devices and retrieval so I scheduled her for additional training in that area. You do not mind, Anton?"
Lazarus smiled and squeezed Koronna's shoulder lightly and briefly before shaking his head and replying "Not at all, K…to be honest it's better she learn that sorta stuff and not whatever kind of Nebari horizontal friendship skills Hellbolt might feel like trying to teach her. If she's too tired after training for monkeying around then so much the better".
He only abbreviates my name like that when he is happy and relaxed Koronna knew He is trusting me more before thinking about what he said and laughing a little before adding "Hellbolt may be typical of his people in a number of ways, Anton – but I'm sure he knows you're watching his every move like a hungry pterodon whenever you and Liz are around him. I think he has been teaching her some useful skills when they train with the other skulkers – you notice that she's wearing one of those cyberlinked combat packs? He must have a spare one and trust her with it out of his sight".
"Didn't see that before, to be honest" Lazarus replied, looking again as Liz worked at the keyboard and virtual HUD controls "If he's teaching her useful stuff then I don't mind. Not everyone can handle those things – if Liz can and Hellbolt can teach her how without his hands wandering then that's fine by me".
"Come, we should see what Liz has found out" Koronna suggested, taking Lazarus' mind off the subject of possible Human-Nebari recreational exploits "I hope for everyone's sakes she has found where the controls for climate adjustment in here are. The air is stale".
"Even better if she can get DRDs in here" Lazarus replied, nodding "This place looks like dren. Storehouse or not, it needs cleaning up so we can tell what we got here without using that infernal contraption Liz is using".
"Hah!" Liz called "Got it! Air that doesn't smell worse than Troll after combat training coming right up!" before pressing half a dozen buttons.
"Sector 200-19 storehouse activated" a synthesised voice announced "Interfacing with main ship systems… now. Climate control activated to Scarras Prime levels… now".
"Get me a general idea of what's here, Liz" Lazarus ordered "I don't know crate markings much beyond small arms".
"General inventory listing coming up, Dad…" Liz replied, tapping away…
"Major facility activation!" called Rustuk, on the bridge "Not sure where yet, computer isn't telling me much yet beyond the fact it's equipment stores of some kind".
"I'll get Karroch up here" Rekketh replied "That sort of thing's his job when he's not doing officer training. He'll need to know" before reaching for the comm desk controls. After muttering a bit, he managed to find Karroch and tell him about the new stores area coming online – Karroch nodded and smiled before telling him "I'm on my way. I'm sure it'll take a while before the computer tells us everything we need to know, Rekketh – but since this is, as you said, my secondary responsibility, I should be there if whoever found the facility comms in with questions. I think I will bring a few tins of hot rations with me as well. Karroch out".
"Karroch's coming" Rekketh told Rustuk "an' he's bringing hot ration tins with him".
"Good!" Rustuk grinned "I could use some food, even if it is rations…at least it's hot". Both men nodded and sat back in their chairs to wait.
When Karroch arrived, he nodded and smiled briefly before calling "Report".
"Started with the usual status announcement as you might expect, Captain" Rustuk replied "Sector 200-19 storage facility. Not sure yet what's being stored there. Probably general parts to keep the ship running".
"Still useful to know" Karroch replied "Who found the facility and brought its systems out of standby?"
"Captain Lazarus, Senior Command Specialist Koronna…" Rustuk revealed "…oh, and Liz is down there as well. I hear Shellek's been teaching her stuff about our computers an' that kinda stuff".
"He has" Karroch replied, nodding confirmation of Rustuk's guess "It is likely that Liz is the one activating the systems right now, I think – both Captain Lazarus and Koronna would use this as an opportunity for Liz to show what she has learned in a practical setting" before he asked "Are shipwide comms operational there yet?"
"Just came online!" Rekketh called from the comm desk "If that's the case, we should have full remote access by now!"
Rekketh connected Karroch to the storehouse comm by the main computer terminal – Liz answered as she worked, telling him "Still running a comp inventory report, Cap'n Karroch – you'll have it as soon as we do" before looking around and squeaking in surprise, after which she added "Good… DRDs just started turning up. Should have this place clean enough to see the ground before long, sir".
"Well done" Karroch told her, rumbling slightly "Put your father on the comm, please…".
"Doin' well, Karroch" Lazarus said once that happened "I got my daughter running here an' there doing stuff and making herself useful. I'll tell Shellek about this later since he's the one that taught her how to use the systems here. Right now the three of us are gonna eat, even though it is rations, before we do anything else".
"Us too, sir" Rekketh replied, grinning "Nearly Second Meal time too, of course, but more food's always welcome…" before discomming.
"Just got the preliminary report, Dad!" Liz called, while Lazarus was half way through his meal "Looks like wiring, electronics, and some stuff the computer says might be medical equipment!"
"You can pass that along to Nrakal right now" he replied "after which you can get over here and get some hot rations – you haven't eaten yet!"
Caseya smiled as she watched Amara look around at the passenger terminal facility – Amara found so much to interest her that she barely let ten microts go by in some areas without pointing out some interesting thing to either Caseya or Trannak. She did see a number of uniformed security personnel, but didn't call out to greet them – instead, she asked Trannak what they did, and he smiled before telling her a more child-friendly version of their duties as he saw them.
"Here" Trannak told Amara "This is what we need. It is a terminal that has a map on it. Here we can search for interesting places to go and see – I think there might be someone close by to ask about things the computer does not tell us".
Amara climbed up Trannak's back, much to the interest of the security staff, before sitting on his shoulders and letting her hands hang down either side of his head – and rumbling when he took hold of them briefly before bringing up the map on the terminal.
"There stuff there, papa?" Amara asked, looking over Trannak's head "You found good stuff to see for you an' mama an' your 'Mara?"
"The things I expected so far, Amara" Trannak replied, pointing to each one on the screen as he listed them "Shops, mostly. Certain places we should avoid as well. I have not checked all of Market Street yet, Amara – only the south and central sectors".
"We see if there more good stuff then, papa" Amara replied, nodding "You find it an' then you tell mama an' your 'Mara an' then we go an' see".
Trannak and Caseya talked at length about a number of places along Market Street, but decided to ask a security officer about others since the terminal didn't have much detailed information about anything much further north than the spaceport road junction and public transport departure point there.
"Main part of the street does go a bit further up, that's true" the officer replied after checking Trannak's rank and ident "But the further north you go, the less likely it is for security to get called in – or your lot either, I think. Once you're past the North End checkpoint they pretty much keep themselves under control – the richest stores got private contractors in to keep things on the level, and that's about all I know since I can't afford to go there. Not sure if your lot are paid well enough to handle expenses that way, though".
"We might just go and see" Trannak replied "On many worlds where I have been, military uniforms – as long as they are neat and clean – denote status, and that implies riches. We might just see what doors that opens for us".
"There stuff for me there?" Amara asked hopefully "There stuff for 'Mara there?"
Once the security officer got over the shock of hearing such a small child talking, he shrugged and replied "Might be something… big place right up close to the checkpoint, got stuff for narls of all ages in it. North End atmosphere to it but it's just south of the checkpoint" after which he told Trannak in more detail how to identify it.
"Goodee" Amara said "Noo stuff for 'Mara. Nice stuff to see" before clapping once and adding "Thank you lots, nice man" and waving as they left.
Amara shrieked and clapped when a landing announcement came over the public address system, asking at least five times what kind of people might be coming and if she could see or talk to them.
"We can go and look, I think" Caseya told her "People on ships like these stop at planets to buy interesting things and look around – but not for very long. If they want to talk to us, we can do that – but not until then, I think".
"It good to look an' see, mama" Amara agreed "See people, see stuff, it all good…"
Trannak set Amara down on the ground to walk around for a while. She didn't stray far, but loved to be on her feet and able to move around under her own power and happily called out the presence of all kinds of things like brightly coloured advertising for planets or services offered on Talzenadar IV – she noticed more than a few convenience food sellers as well, but just waved and clapped when Trannak told her it wasn't time to eat yet.
"Walk and look and see first" he reminded Amara "Then eat. Otherwise we would be too full to walk around and see things and people, yes?"
"That right, papa" Amara replied, nodding "You tell me that 'fore. Cap-tin Laz-rus tell me that too. They find stuff 'sploring yet, papa?"
"We will find out when we go back home, Amara" Trannak replied with a smile "Then there will be a nice surprise waiting for you, yes?"
"Sur-pry-sees for 'Mara at home!" she called loudly, clapping "Yaaaayyy!"
Amara loved the fact that all the people from the ship in orbit would be landing at the one place, where she could see them all. She shrieked loudly and clapped when Caseya and Trannak pointed to where a number of shuttles were landing, more so when she saw the first passengers making their way through security inspection points and emerging into the arrivals lounge itself.
"Lots Se-bay-shuns, mama an' papa" she said, nodding "Look an' see… there ones with hair that red an' bright, papa… man with hair all black hold small person, mama… small person big as your 'Mara? We go an' see?"
"That man, the child, and the child's mama…" Caseya explained "are Interion, Amara. That is why the child's mama has bright red hair, Amara, and the child's papa has black hair. Almost all Interion have hair like that. If they come this way we can watch, Amara – but not all people like Scarrans, and might not like it if your papa comes too close".
"We stay with papa then, mama" Amara replied immediately, nodding "Then papa all happy 'cause we there with him, mama".
"Your papa will like that, yes?" Caseya replied, smiling "I think the Interion child and their mama and papa might feel better if they see us all together like that as well".
"You right, mama" Amara said.
Amara found much to interest her about the new arrivals, murmuring softly and calling out things about most of them to Trannak and Amara – the security staff started listening to her as well, though only twice did people need to be separated from the main gathering for questioning, luggage searches, or body searches. Amara worried a little about that, but one female security officer told her "It's good you noticed and called out about it, narl… I seen people like…. This your father, yes?…with the same badge as 'im an' your mother… seen 'em walkin' about or helpin' friends o' mine with stuff".
Amara took a few microts to process that, then nodded and said "This my mama an' papa, you right. It goodgood mama an' papa help people".
The security officer looked at Amara a bit more, which Amara rewarded with soft rumbling, before walking back to her duty post.
"Goodee…" she said, climbing back up to sit on Trannak's shoulders "See new person. Talk to new person. They like your 'Mara too…".
"One other matter…." a voice announced.
"Yes?" someone else replied "About what business is this?"
"The location of certain individuals present at the nullification of site fifteen".
"Yes?" came the reply again, though with more interest this time – which attracted the attention of others in the room.
"One operative covered as crew on a ship stopping at Talzenadar IV believes they saw the same two individuals noted as being present by another operative some time ago on their own ship when it stopped at that planet".
"…and these were…?" a calmer and more composed voice asked.
"Neither I nor the operative knows their names" the original speaker replied "All the operative knows is that one is a high-caste Scarran male and the other is a younger and shorter Kalish female – who appear, from what the operative said, to be mates, or at least partnered. A child was present as well".
A female Kalish turned at that, asking "What kind of child? Was it Kalish or some other species? Was it a hybrid? A child of unknown provenance was noted as present in Dr Crassich's office at the time of the nullification of site fifteen".
"Our operative did not say – to be honest, I think they only included the information about the child out of the desire to give a totally complete and accurate report".
"The female of our people incarcerated at site fifteen at the time of the nullification has not been found as well?"
"Not at this time. With the council's permission I will ask any operatives passing through Talzenadar IV to look for her and for the others. It is good to have at least SOME good news this meeting…"
"So it is…"
A vote was called. The votes were counted.
"So noted" a voice announced "The council gives authority for a cautious and careful watch for the individuals present at, or associated with, the nullification of site fifteen"
"That was good, wasn't it?" Trannak asked Amara once the three of them had left the terminal building "Lots of things and people to see – and you, Amara, even helped some people by noticing interesting things and telling them about them".
Amara nodded and clapped before saying "I did that, papa, you right. I tell people in you-nee... u-na... all same stuff they wear... I tell them stuff 'bout people I see an' if they not see it 'fore then they go talk to people 'bout it". Not an entirely truthful account Trannak knew but if it helps Amara feel a part of things and teaches her proper civic responsibilities, even at her very young age, then I don't mind.
"We will go and try and find that special shop with things for small people in it, I think" Caseya told Amara, Trannak nodding alongside her "I do not know if we can buy things there today, Amara... but it will be good just to see what they have, and when we have more spare time we will know where to go" before she smiled and stroked Amara's brow-ridges and added "But since I did say I would try and find you something... your papa and I will see if we can find something good for you since you have been such a good girl for us".
Amara clapped again before nodding and replying "We go an' we see, mama an' papa... I look an' I see on way an' I tell you goodgood stuff I see...", after which she rumbled softly and happily.
The microt they stepped off the public crawler and onto the main part of Market Street, Amara woke up – when she noticed all the new sights and smells she shrieked and clapped excitedly and pointed to where she thought the stronger and/or more unusual ones were. Most of the stall owners or shop staff found this all tremendously amusing, much as Amara did, with more than a few finding it amazing that Amara could separate the smells of their products from the surrounding smells of Market Street.
"I not good at that yet" she told an older-looking Delvian sitting outside a shop selling books of all kinds "I prac-tiss lots each day an' then I good at it" before she realised the man was not Sebacean and smelled very unusual to her and asked him about it.
"Do not worry" he said, before smiling a little and turning to face Amara.
"I am a Delvian, young...girl?" he said, getting a nod of confirmation from Trannak for the correct guess of Amara's gender "My name is Jah-Raas. I sell things for people to read... adults, anyway. I do not have things for young children to read. There is a large shop further north that may do, though".
"You blue..." Amara cooed in amazement "You blue an' you got white hair... I not seen person like that 'fore...".
Jah-Raas smiled again and gave a very simple explanation about the varieties of Delvian people – Amara shrieked and clapped before actually climbing up the surprised older man's body to hug him, then telling him "You tell me lots goodgood new stuff, nice Del-vian! I go tell my friends when mama an' papa take me home an' see if they know stuff 'bout Del-vian people too!"
Jah-Raas smiled and looked at Amara a bit before lifting her gently and setting her back on the walkway beside the road, then saying "I think one of my regular customers is coming, little girl. I know a number of people who stop at my shop whenever they come this way and one of them is, I think, not far away".
Amara's excitement at seeing a Delvian didn't even start to dissipate until the three of them had made it quite some metras further north up Market Street. Trannak smiled as he watched Amara and Caseya talk about Delvians and what Caseya had learned about them in her studies when she was younger.
"That all 'mazing, mama" Amara decided "You know lots an' you tell all goodgood stuff to your 'Mara".
Perhaps fifteen more momens later, Trannak nodded to a large shop with huge windows and glass doors at the front – Caseya looked as well and grinned, after which she pointed it out to Amara. Amara shrieked very loudly with excitement as both of them knew she would – which only got louder when Talian called "LOUD 'MARA! I HEAR YOU, 'MARA! I SMELL YOU AN' YOUR MAMA AN' YOUR PAPA!" from closer to the doors...
After Karroch and a couple of other Bloodstars had arrived at the storage facility and talked to Liz, Captain Lazarus, and Koronna about what they had found, the three of them headed out of the tech-levels and back to regular crewspace again – a turn of events about which all three of them were pleased.
"The tech levels have lower ceilings than I'm used to" Koronna told Liz "I know I am shorter than the Sub-Commander...but some of those tunnels didn't have much space in them".
"You might be shorter..." Liz reminded Koronna with a slight smile "... but you're a lot more solid, which would make it harder for you to move about without getting your shoulders stuck than skinny humans like Dad and I".
"Your father is not a small man" Koronna corrected Liz, smiling just a little and rumbling softly "for a human, at least – but he is not much bigger than a Kalish man of similar age, I think".
"Less talkin' about me an' more exploring, I think" Lazarus interrupted, though he was clearly not angry "I can't tell where the hell we are, so try an' make sure we all get lost somewhere interesting if we gotta call for help, hmm?"
Before Liz could say anything, her comm beeped and Amara's loud voice called "Hello auntie Liz! It your friend 'Mara here! You find new stuff? Mama an' papa find new stuff on pla-nit, an' some new stuff is small person new stuff! There bigbig place that sell stuff for small people! We see Talian friend an' Ellia friend an' their mama an' papa too!"
Liz laughed and replied "Dad and Koronna and I have found one big new place so far... but it's not particularly fun, and it smelled bad until we found where the switch was for the machine that cleans the air".
"Stin-kee new place" Amara replied, nodding "What it for?"
"It's a stores house, Amara" Lazarus said, leaning over to speak into Liz's comm "Means it's a place where we keep stuff till we need it. Sorta like a very big cupboard. Your friend Karroch's sorting out what we found here right now" before he turned to one side and added "I think Koronna's found something else, Amara – gotta go, if it's anything fun we'll call and tell you about it".
"Goodee" Amara decided once Lazarus had discommed "Captain Laz-rus an' auntie 'Ronna an' auntie Liz find new stuff too, mama an' papa. It a goodgood new stuff day".
It got even better. After Third Meal, when Amara was mostly asleep, Lazarus called in a sighting of a room or other facility with some quite large doors on it – Amara, once she stopped complaining about being woken up, shrieked and clapped again and called "You go in an' see, Captain Laz-rus! You go in an' look an' see! Then you got lots new stuff to tell your friends 'Mara an' big funny man!"
"We're going to" Lazarus confirmed "Once Koronna figures out how to get those doors open. Looks like her an' Liz are pulling the lockplates apart an' trying a bypass" before he remembered he was speaking to a child and repeated himself much more simply.
"Auntie Liz an' Auntie 'Ronna do sneaky stuff on door, papa" Amara told Trannak, looking up at him and smiling "Door not open for them so they do stuff an' make it open. They not say but your 'Mara not think they use un-cle Stu-rrk stuff that go bang".
"Koronna could do that, Amara" Trannak replied, smiling "It is one of Koronna's jobs to use stuff that goes bang, and Captain Lazarus' as well. I think they are teaching your auntie Liz new things, Amara – how to open doors in a sneaky way". Amara found this all tremendously interesting and wasn't even upset when she was told she would have to wait until she was older before learning that kind of thing.
"Doors are open!" Liz called as Amara was nodding off again, which brought a loud shriek of excitement once she realised what was happening "Actually smells quite fresh in there... though I really don't know why...".
"You go in an' you see!' Amara told her immediately, bouncing and clapping "You go an' you see an' you tell auntie 'Ronna an' your papa an' your friend 'Mara an' big funny man! Yaaaayyy!
"Light's a bit dim in here..." Lazarus grumbled – but he didn't have to take more than a few more steps before lights came on – and he looked around, totally amazed.
"What is this place, Dad?" Liz asked, just as amazed "Looks like it's got actual grass an' trees in it!"
"It appears we have a functioning, and very large..." Koronna explained, growling a little as she tried to find controls somewhere close to the door "...planetary terrain reconstruction chamber. They're usually used for troop training, but I think this one... since we have humans aboard... will be used just as much to relax in".
"EEEEEEEEE!" Amara shrieked, even louder than usual, when Liz commed in to tell her about it "YOU AN' YOUR PAPA AN' AUNTIE 'RONNA FIND EXTRAEXTRA GOODGOOD STUFF! I TELL BIG FUNNY MAN 'BOUT IT RIGHT NOW!" before running over to Harrigan's galley table as fast as she could, hauling herself up onto his lap, and telling him everything Liz told her – accompanied by much excitable bouncing and waving arms and legs.
"Go tell your Dad there I got orders for him, little miss" Harrigan said, grinning a bit just to make Amara more excitable "That means I want him to do stuff for me. I think you and your Mum might be able to help too".
Not even a momen later, Amara had hold of Trannak's treblin hand and Caseya's hammond hand and was trying to pull them both over to Harrigan's table.
"Come on, mama an' papa!" Amara called happily as she tried to drag her adoptive parents across the room and around the tables "Big funny man got or-das for us! They special or-das 'cause he not tell his small friend 'Mara 'bout them! He say mama an' 'Mara help you!"
Once Amara had calmed down a little, Harrigan grinned and told Trannak "Since your skulkers do the intelligence-gathering for the Kingdom, mister... you're on standby if Cap'n L calls for anything. You don't all have to go, but I want you to help him get that place going if it's not already running – to be honest I dunno what a planetary terrain reconstruction's actually supposed to be. If you know, you can start off by telling me".
Trannak took a quarter-arn or so to explain in detail what a planetary terrain reconstruction was and what they were used for, finishing with "...usually people just call them PTRs, Commander, to save time".
"Can we grow fruit an' veggies in 'em?" Harrigan asked.
"Probably, sir..." Trannak replied "...although we'd not get premium pricing for it since a PTR still classifies as an artificial environment no matter how good it is. Since they are, however, often separated into separate environmental sections for training purposes, we may find a section we could use for certain plants that don't grow well in more conventional arrangements. But there's no way to know until we explore inside".
"We'll have a bit of a look around tonight..." Lazarus decided "... before I get one of my guys to bring a few tents along. Too late to check things out even a bit and still make a run for quarters afterwards".
"What happening, mama an' dada?" Amara asked excitedly, clapping "What Captain Laz-rus do? What he say?"
"He is going to stay in this new place he has found, Amara" Caseya replied, tickling Amara a bit and making her laugh "overnight, so he and Koronna and your auntie Liz can explore more".
"There bed there?" Amara asked, a little confused "Where they sleep?"
Trannak explained about tents for Amara, who loved the idea of portable accomodation that could be packed away into a bag – Amara, of course, shrieked and clapped and bounced on Harrigan's lap when Harrigan suggested Trannak take his small family along to bring Lazarus' group their tents.
"We bring them food too, big funny man" Amara added, nodding "Special food in tin that hot when it open. I not know if there water in new place – we bring that too?"
"Only if they ask for some" Talannah decided "PTRs often have a river going through them. Water in a PTR is safe to wash in or drink, as long as you boil it before drinking it".
"Looks like we got tents coming" Lazarus told Koronna and Liz "K, find us a good campsite now you've kicked the environmental controls into line – Liz, go with her an' help".
Koronna smiled and rumbled, knowing Lazarus' moods quite well by now, before calling Liz over beside her – the two of them walked around, talking as they walked (though not loudly enough for Lazarus to hear them) , before Liz called him over.
"Probably the best spot we can find on short notice, Dad" Liz explained "We can see the big doors from here. Koronna says there might be a bridge further in, as well – but since no one brought a telescope or those ocular things we can't say for sure".
"Good enough for now" Lazarus decided "I'll call in for more water, since Harrigan said someone's bringing tents for us".
Trannak and Amara made a game of filling a number of water bottles to bring along with the tents and ration tins, and Amara counted them all as Trannak packed them in packs – one each for him and Caseya.
"You will need to walk beside us, Amara" Caseya told her "I am carrying a large and heavy pack and cannot carry that and you at the same time".
"Walking all good, mama" Amara replied, clapping "It lots of fun. Your 'Mara walk an' look an' see new stuff an' tell you 'bout it".
When they stepped inside the PTR, Amara just cooed softly in amazement before looking around.
"It like tiny bit of pla-nit, mama an' papa..." she said quietly "It all 'mazing. We come here an' go 'sploring soon?"
"We still have some special rest time left, Amara" Trannak replied "One day. I think we can explore a little, perhaps tomorrow – but we will need to bring our own tents and food and water".
"Juroch is better at this than me..." Trannak told Caseya "... but you should learn to follow tracks in the ground, Caseya. These ones are quite easy to see, since no one went to the effort necessary to hide them..." before he called to Amara and asked "Whose foot prints are these Amara? Whose feet made these impressions in the ground?" and explained what he meant in detail for her.
" 'Mara not know, papa" Amara replied, shaking her head "I not know who made feets prin-tings. You tell your 'Mara, papa? You tell me an' show me?"
"We will learn together, Amara" Trannak replied "These footprints are big, Amara – which means, I think, that they belong to either Koronna or Captain Lazarus. Whose do you think they are?"
" 'Mara think it auntie 'Ronna, papa" Amara replied after a few microts' thought "Auntie 'Ronna feets bigger than Captain Laz-rus feets".
"Follow the feet, Amara" Trannak encouraged her "You go first. Your mama and I will be right behind you".
Amara did, however, turn around every few metras to check Trannak and Caseya were there – each time one or both of them would smile and wave to her, after which she would start walking again. Eventually she stopped and pointed, and Caseya told her "Well done – that is where Captain Lazarus and Koronna and your auntie Liz are. They are waiting for the things we have with us, Amara".
Amara immediately started running to Captain Lazarus, calling out loudly as she ran – her excitement got the better of her after a while and she tripped, landing face first on the dirt and grass. Though she did cry a bit, she also poked and the grass and dirt, testing it and telling Caseya what it was like while Caseya made sure she didn't hurt herself badly – Amara took that as permission to climb up and sit on Caseya's shoulders, and although Caseya found carrying Amara and her pack a bit of a strain she didn't tell Amara to climb down.
Once Amara had stopped hugging everyone and questioning them about the PTR and what they had seen in it so far, Trannak got her helping Lazarus set up camp by passing him the parts of the tents from their various bags, while Caseya tested her memory by getting her to recite in full how a tent was assembled and from which bag each piece came.
"Goodee!" Amara called after that "I see bigbig new PTR room and have new test from mama an' papa!" before yawning and deciding "I tired, mama. We go to quarters for slee-pings now?"
"Sleep in our quarters, Amara" Caseya confirmed, nodding and smiling "I think your papa and I are tired as well. Since your friends here need the bags the tents and food and water came in, you can climb up for your papa or I to carry you".
"Papa carry his 'Mara, mama" Amara decided eventually "I sit under papa jacket where it all warm, and there I have nap till we back in home quarters".
About a monen later, Amara did her usual morning trick and was trying to drag both her adoptive parents out of the transit car and into the galley simultaneously.
"Heeheehee!" she laughed "We at door now! Your 'Mara get you here, mama an' papa!" before she jumped up and down impatiently while Trannak opened the door.
"Nice doc-tor here?" Amara asked, looking around the room "He not been to galley for longlong time, mama an' papa. Where he been? He all good? He eat?"
"Your friend Talannah..." Caseya replied, holding Amara up so she could look her in the eye, even though she was too heavy to do that for long "... said the doctor was finding out special doctor things from something he found a long time ago".
Amara looked up with much interest as Caseya continued with "Someone has made it hard to read those things, Amara, and your friend the nice doctor has been trying to undo what those people did so he can find out lots of new things".
"He tell his friend 'Mara 'bout them, mama?" Amara asked with much interest "He tell you an' papa?"
"He might tell your papa" Caseya replied, pleased Amara was relaxing and feeling safe enough to name Doctor Nrakal as a friend "I am not sure. First he will tell your friend the big funny man, and he will decide if anyone else needs to know these new things".
"None of us can even guess what they might be" Trannak told her, getting a clap "It will be a good surprise for the doctor if the new things are interesting and helpful, yes?"
"He like goodgood surprise just as much as your 'Mara, I sure" Amara replied, nodding "Your 'Mara like nice surprise lots, papa".
Amara has grown rapidly and strong Trannak thought happily, looking at her Not quite as much or as fast as a Scarran, but surprisingly close to what I would expect of a Scarran child. Has Nrakal found out anything about why Amara knew Caseya and I were injured after the bounty hunt a monen or two ago? Or has he finally cracked the encryption around Harnak's datapod? That man had a number of interesting alterations which Nrakal would be very interested in studying and possibly replicating.
Nrakal was the last one to arrive for First Meal, and he smiled a little absent-mindedly before coming over to sit at Trannak and Caseya's table – where Amara promptly climbed on his lap and pulled his hands around her stomach to hold her steady.
"Goodee" she told him, smiling up at him "I with nice doctor friend now. You all good, nice doctor? You hungry? You find out new stuff yet?"
"If you mean..." Nrakal replied, smiling just a little "...what I think you mean... then no, I have not. Not yet, anyway. But I have found out some interesting things about you, Amara – about the new things you are starting to do".
"Ree-ly?!" Amara asked in excitement, bouncing a little on the doctor's lap and not noticing Trannak and Caseya's concern "You know new stuff 'bout 'Mara?! You tell me an' mama an' papa now, nice doctor?! Please?!"
"I will tell you" he replied "and your mother and father here. Then we will decide who else needs to know, or if it should be our special secret".
Nrakal explained in detail and at length about the tests and the results – Caseya had never heard of them before Amara had participated and still knew almost nothing about them, and while Trannak did know about them he didn't know that much more than his wife.
"To be honest, doctor..." Caseya said, when Nrakal stopped for breath "... as long as Amara is healthy and happy and continues to remain so I do not really care about anything else".
"I be extra happy if I learn new special stuff, mama!" Amara replied immediately, clapping "I learn an' I prac-tiss an' then I do goodgood an' help people with new special stuff!"
"Good!" Nrakal said, smiling "I had hoped you would want to do that, Amara" before explaining in much more simple terms so she could understand as well.
"What you can do, Amara..." Nrakal explained softly, with Trannak and Caseya listening to all of it very carefully "...is called mentalism. There are lots of different kinds of mentalism. Some people can do only one or two of them and some can do more. Some people are very strong at one or more of these things while some can only do them a little bit. The one you used when you heard your mother and father were hurt even before you could see them was called empathy, Amara – it means you can read other people's feelings".
"EEEEEE!" Amara shrieked, clapping and bouncing and broadcasting a weak burst of happiness and amazement to everyone at the table "I do goodgood 'mazing new stuff! I see in heads if mama an' papa feel all good an' happy! That 'mazing!" before she thought for a few microts, scratching her chin a little, before asking "Mama do that or papa do that, nice doctor? That a Ka-lish thing or a Scarran thing? Your friend 'Mara not know".
"Mentalism comes from Scarrans, Amara" Trannak continued, getting a nod of approval for explaining for him "I don't think any Kalish has ever been able to do even one kind of mentalism before. It is very rare for anyone to be able to do even one kind of mentalism. It is more common for Scarrans to be able to do it, though. Because you are a bit Scarran, Amara, you can do it – I don't know why you can do it while you are still very young, though".
Nrakal shrugged to indicate he didn't know either, though Amara said "It 'cause I all clever like mama, that what your 'Mara think. Mama a Ka-lish an' Ka-lish people all clever an' I bit Kalish like mama an' I clever too an' that why I do new special men-tal stuff when I a small person, I sure" before pausing for breath, after which she snurched a short gulp of juice from Nrakal's mug.
Nrakal made sure he got some before Amara finished it off, after which he replied "That might be true for all I know. Kalish often are clever in a number of ways, and Amara is partly Kalish... mentalism can manifest in Scarrans, and she is partly Scarran... I don't think there is any way of being able to tell whether there is a synergistic effect when Scarran genes and Kalish genes are present in the one subject...of knowing beyond doubt if a hybrid child would be mentally active in this way while still very young...".
Amara was pleased to hear there was a special word for having traits from two kinds of people in her body and repeated it again and again until Nrakal told her "You pronounced it clearly enough for us to understand, Amara... I think now it is time for small clever people who know new things to either rest a bit or join the queue with their mama or papa, yes?"
"I hungry" Amara replied, nodding "It eating time for your friend 'Mara. Think it eating time for mama too".
"Did you use your new special mentalism to find out, Amara?" Trannak asked with a smile "Can you tell if I feel hungry as well? The more you practice something, the better you become, after all...".
Amara turned and looked at both her adoptive parents before she beamed at them and nodded, telling Trannak "I did that, papa! I look an' I see an' then I know you an' mama hungry! That all 'mazing!"
"I will get food for you and your mama along with my own, then" Trannak decided, standing up "You can sit on my shoulders while I do that, Amara, or you can stay at the table with your mama and the nice doctor and talk and wait".
" 'Mara think I stay here, papa" she decided after a few microts, nodding "I talk 'bout new special men-tal stuff with nice doctor an' with mama. If doctor tell me goodgood new stuff I tell you when you come back".
"Trannak and I thank you for introducing this new thing to Amara in a way she is not afraid of" Caseya told Nrakal once Amara was usefully distracted with seeing what the other skulkers were eating "More so for making it a challenge and a test for her, which will appeal to both her Kalish and Scarran sides from what I can see. She will be much less likely to be afraid of these new things... and providing we find someone trustworthy to help us train her, she will not use them to either hurt people or try to dominate them".
"The Kingdom will have mentalists capable of teaching young ones" Nrakal assured her, nodding "We can send out a call for any such people that can either safely come to us... or those who it would be safe for us to go and see, assuming there are any close to Tal IV".
Amara had, by now, crawled across to sit on Keyah's lap and was asking her what she thought of her mentalism.
"I have never met anyone who was a mentalist before, Amara" Keyah replied, much to Amara's delight "You are the first one. Do you like it?"
"It a good thing if it mean I help mama an' papa an' friends" Amara decided after a few momens "When I goodgood at it I help more, auntie Keyah. I tell you 'bout it when I lean more an' if I learn new stuff after I tell mama an' papa".
"I will send this special message after our meal" Keyah replied "I will be sneaky and not mention any names. If we get any replies I will call your mama and your papa – and if you are not asleep they will bring you and you can ready the message with them".
"If I slee-ping, auntie Keyah" Amara said immediately "You make comm extraextra loud so I all 'wake 'gain an' I come an' see" before turning to face Caseya and adding "If your 'Mara slee-ping when auntie Keyah get message, mama, you wake me up so I come an' see too. Your 'Mara want to go an' see, mama".
"If we are all sleeping, Amara" Caseya replied "We can read the message when we wake up. If we are awake, however, I will make sure you are with us when we go to read it".
Further conversation was stopped by Trannak coming back with a trolley will a lot of dishes on it – Amara watched as Trannak laid each one out where its owner could easily reach it, identifying each food by its smell.
"Good..." Juroch told her in Kalish "You are practising and you are improving and you are doing so regularly. Well done".
"You like it that I a small men-tal person, whisper Scarran?" Amara asked "You let me do men-tal stuff with you?"
Juroch smiled and rumbled while he thought for a few microts, eventually saying "Because you are my friend, Amara, and because your papa is my Captain... then yes, you can. Always ask first... but I do not mind, if that is what worries you".
"That is why it is important to be nice to people, Amara" Trannak said, making the most of the chance to teach Amara something important "It makes them happy, it makes you happy... and friends help each other with things when needed".
Juroch smiled and rumbled again when Amara broadcast a weak burst of happiness and thanks – so far she cannot seem to narrow her broadcasts down to just one recipient Trannak decided Doing that should probably be the first thing I ask a potential tutor to teach her.
"I hungry now, nice whisper Scarran" Amara told Juroch "I go sit with papa an' I eat lots now".
"You could sit here and I could help you eat" Juroch offered "We can eat and I might tell you a little story about when I was small. I lived on a very special planet, Amara, called Sholphaur – there are so many kinds of living and growing things there, Amara. It is dangerous as well, but that is why I learned to move quietly and why I speak very quietly – many people of Sholphaur are like this, and we are like this so dangerous animals will not hear us".
"Special sneaky stories..." Amara cooed "Goodee. I stay here an' eat with you, whisper Scarran".
Much to Caseya's interest, Juroch helped Amara set her meal dishes out in a certain arrangement.
"This is how I was taught to arrange the dishes of a Kalish eating time when I was small, Amara" Juroch explained, smiling at the memory "I lived with a Kalish family, Amara, and their family leader was a very important man who had learned much about important Kalish things... and because I was good when I was in his house he taught me these things just as he taught his Kalish children".
Keyah's curiosity got the better of her, and she asked who this man was – she almost brought her tea back up in surprise when Juroch replied "I was privileged to live with Master Odass for all my younger cycles, Keyah Kamara... he is responsible for me being able to learn even a little of the art of your people, more so for having the patience to train me long enough to see me advance to Master's rank myself. To the best of my knowledge I am the only Scarran to have done that at this time" before he smiled and bowed his head slightly and briefly before feeding Amara more bouhl.
A student of Master Odass... Keyah thought with awe No wonder Juroch has both the proficiency in our art and the respect for our culture and people that he does! I would not have thought any Scarran, Sholphauran or not, would have the interest in learning about Kalish people and things – but Juroch does, and does honour to his people and my own by doing as well as he has.
"It your turn now, whisper Scarran friend" Amara called, interrupting her thoughts "You have bool vegibles from your big plate now".
Juroch smiled and whispered to her, after which Amara hugged him and rumbled before telling him "We do that" – after which he combined both meals so he and Amara could share from the one plate. He told her about preparing each of the three main dishes they could both see in front of them, about their ingredients, and about interesting eating times he had experienced in Master Odass' dwelling.
"People on Sholphaur, Amara..." Juroch explained as he fed her "...can live either on the big military base, underground, or in one of the smaller surface settlements. There are all kinds of plants and animals to eat on Sholphaur, Amara, and even the ones we cannot eat we can make useful things from. Bouhl or treel or vrine would not taste quite like it does here, Amara, because the vegetables and fish and meat we have on Sholphaur are different".
"That all 'mazing..." Amara replied, cooing softly, before deciding "You hungry, whisper Scarran. You eat nice bouhl now, whisper Scarran, while 'Mara have small nap".
Juroch smiled and nodded, telling her "If you rest like that between foods, Amara, then your digestion pains will not be as strong. I saw this to be true at Master Odass' dwelling when I lived there".
The two of them had almost finished their food altogether when Nrakal's comm beeped in a very non-regulation way – he immediately stopped eating and started tapping keys very fast, before getting up and striding over to Harrigan and whispering rapidly.
"Nice doctor tell big funny man friend goodgood stuff" Amara decided "I not hear it, but big funny man lots happy".
"Can you tell with your mentalism if he is happy?' Caseya asked, but Amara replied "No, mama – I try an' see doing that, mama, but head hurt lots then so I not try more".
"Ask the doctor about that when he comes back" Caseya replied "He might be able to tell you why".
Amara watched and waited until Nrakal had finished his savoury course before asking – he smiled and turned to face Amara before saying "His change, Amara – the special things he has in his body – is supposed to make that happen. I designed them that way, Amara, to protect him from mentalists who are not nice like you are nice – but doing that means you cannot use your mentalism on him either".
"I not mind, nice doctor" Amara decided, much to everyone's relief "I give big funny man lots of hugs an' cudd-lees so he know I his friend"
Amara shrieked very loudly in excited amazement when she realised the meaning of the rest of what Nrakal said, and she started asking many loud and excitable questions about Harrigan's change, her own, and that of Rulok and his teams. She was very excited to hear that she had the same kind of change as them, more so when he told her Caseya did as well – she watched as Nrakal noted her excitement over all the new information on his PDA and sent it to the medical archives.
"It goodgood if stuff 'bout 'Mara go in ar-kyves" she said when Trannak asked her about that "Then when new people who doc-tors come, papa, there stuff in ar-kyve 'bout me they read. When they read it they want to come an' see me an' tell me goodgood stuff, I sure".
A loud but clearly happy rumbling came from the communication console of a small outpost not far from Talzenadar IV when Keyah's message enquiring about mentalist training for the young arrived, after which the Scarran who rumbled walked out to find the outpost's commander.
"Deaken..." he announced "An unusual but interesting message just arrived. Here it is".
Deaken took the printed message and read it, asking a number of things about it and where it came from.
"We can risk a direct transmission at that range" he decided "since the point of origin was a ship in orbit around a planet close by. Perhaps we might be lucky enough to have some of our supplies replenished if these people come here".
Four other Scarrans came from other parts of the small outpost, who were interested to hear the message but also curious about where it came from.
"I'm confirming that as soon as Sorfil gets back on the hyperwave comm controls" Deaken said "The transmission didn't carry the name of the one sending it, just a ship's ident which I would so far assume means the message's point of origin".
"Comm desk, Cry Havoc" Keyah announced when Sorfil's transmission connected – Deaken then took over and explained about the transmission, asking "Training for a new mentalist was needed – we have one here who can do that and know others who are trustworthy close by, but I would like a little more information about who you are since the name of your ship is not familiar".
Keyah gave a short explanation about the Cry Havoc and who owned it and lived aboard it – to her surprise none of those at the outpost had heard there was a War Commander again, though all of them were pleased that there was.
"Does the War Commander have a newly active child?" Sorfil asked "I don't know that any War Commander for quite a few millenia has ever had a child with mentalism... does this new one?"
"He does not" Keyah confirmed "One of our officers does. The commander of our small skulker corps detachment".
"We are also of that corps" Deaken replied "We would be interested to receive him and his family at our outpost, including this young mentalist... but we are also notably if not critically short on a number of things, so if he could bring even some of these with him...".
Keyah smiled briefly before noting all of the needed things down, along with the close-area contact protocol Deaken required for admittance to the outpost and discomming.
"That is interesting to hear, Keyah" Trannak said when the message was passed on "Especially so since Riaanond is barely two days travel in only a moderately fast ship. I can teach my wife about Strykers on a trip like that, since my own Raider is a little bit small with both Caseya and Amara on board as well as me".
"Caseya has been doing well, according to Captain Lazarus..." Keyah replied, tapping keys to access the ship's main archives "... in simulator training... for both basic flight procedures and protocol as well as small craft handling. Records show she has spent time in simulators mostly for Raiders, but also for Strykers".
"My wife likes the idea of being able to control a small craft and fly wherever she wishes to go" Trannak replied "She was never able to do this before – even less so in mark-2 Strykers like ours. Where is she now?"
"Still in the galley" Keyah replied "I think Rulok, Lirak, and most of their teams are having an informal strategy and planning meeting. Caseya is, so far, observing. Amara is asleep on Lirak's lap".
Trannak smiled at how Amara always found people willing to take care of her and fuss over her, then nodded and said "I will go there, Keyah. Tell the War Commander of this latest developement – I will see what our stores have and confer with Karroch about what I can take, from where, and in what kind of craft".
Caseya watched with interest as Rulok talked to the others of the two teams, giving both orders and advice at various times. A large holoprojector was in the middle of the table, showing a map of some unnamed world, while Rulok was leading them through a mission exercise all the way from landing the ship to leaving after the mission. Caseya found it fascinating to watch how each person had their tasks to do to ensure a successful mission result and said so when Rulok looked over at her.
"Missions are harder than they might seem" he replied "Especially when you are the one doing the planning".
"I am sure Captain Trannak would agree" Caseya agreed, nodding "I was, to be honest, thinking just as much about where my family might be at this point just as much about your planning and strategy exercise".
Rulok's hammond hand signalled for Shellek to clear the table for a new exercise where Caseya couldn't see while he asked "Where would they be? Where are you from?"
"We lived on Kalian, as you might expect" Caseya replied "Not on the lower grounds, residences there were far above our means as well as our status... but in a good place in the capital city nonetheless. A large open zone was there for all to enjoy only a short distance from our dwelling, some of which was surfaced and some of which was natural and had trees and plants on it. A short public transport ride was needed to reach the Organisation compound but not for father to reach his workplace. Shopping of all kinds authorised for our clearances was on the opposite side of the open zone from our dwelling".
"High-density dwellings?" Shellek asked – Caseya nodded, but asked "Why might you need to know?"
"I'm trying to find the maps for your area in our archives for Kalian" Shellek replied "Standard civil maps of inhabited planets aren't classified either, so I can go to Scarran general networks and find anything we don't have".
Caseya, wondering where this might end up, answered the rest of Shellek's questions about where her family lived on Kalian – so it was only twenty momens or so after the last question was asked that a map was found.
"There..." Caseya said softly, pointing "That is where I learned to walk... that is where mother would take my brother and I to shop for eating times...that is the public transport rail link station entryway...".
"Where is your family dwelling?" Annik asked – it took a little while for Caseya to locate it from the map, but eventually she smiled and nodded and said "There. Sixth floor. Number 14584".
Caseya watched as they all debated various things about the terrain – where people moved around, where public fixtures were, the more immediate issues like where suitable cover would be if a firefight broke out and where certain kinds of craft could be landed.
"This is an exercise planned to retrieve my family?!" Caseya asked in surprise "Why would this be done? Are there other critical things to be done on Kalian, or important items or personnel to be brought to safety?"
"Retrieving your family isn't important enough?" Rulok asked, rumbling only a little "There might be other things on Kalian to do, but I've not heard of them if there are – we'd have to get the Commander, or maybe one of the others born into the Hand, to call ahead to see if there's people or things to be brought out or taken in. We'd certainly need to call ahead to get people watching the police and Army garrisons, along with any of our former brethren stationed close by".
"There are a small number of Praetorian only" Caseya replied "and they are stationed at the Organisation compound. There are Scarran and local police garrisons where law and protocol require them to be. I do not recall ever seeing an Army base close by... though I would assume there would be one closer to any of the major spaceports" before looking over to Lirak, where Amara was still sound asleep – and even snoring a little, to Caseya's amazement and Lirak's amusement.
"It has been quite some time since I have held a child... " Lirak told her quietly "but Amara clearly thinks I remember enough for her to be happy and want to stay here" before he asked a few more questions about the open zone.
"Good, a landing can be made with the Switchblade right there!" Rulok said when Lirak passed that information on "Everyone to your consoles, plug in your HUD controls, let's run this through! Caseya, you stay beside me and direct the markers for your parents and your brother when they appear".
Over two or three arns, the exercise was run through several times with different plans and with a number of possible problems factored into the situation – all three of Caseya's family were retrieved each time, but when Army or police units had been alerted a number of the extraction force ended up injured though not killed.
Any further questions Caseya had on her mind were halted by Amara waking up and looking up at her before smiling and rumbling.
"Yayyy, I all 'wake now..." Amara called "an' mama here with her 'Mara too...goodee..." before sending a weak burst of happiness and love.
Caseya was amazed Amara did that and lifted her up gently, listening to her rumbling and stroking her ridges – Amara sent another weak burst of happiness before saying "Goodee... mama hold her 'Mara. Bye bye un-cle Lirak... I with mama now..."
"I bring interesting news!"
"Worth risking a meeting outside our regular time? With not even all of us here?"
"Those in black present at the nullification of site 15 have been sighted".
"Where?! More to the point, what were they doing and why?"
"They were noted as present at a neutral commerce planet named Talzenadar IV. By the familiarity they had with the terrain and many of the shop and stall owners, the operative believes they are based there. Perhaps they are part of a mercenary unit that likes that world, since a number of such units do pass through commerce worlds often".
"Possibly. How useful this might be remains to be seen – but it is an interesting developement nonetheless, especially since they considered it worth their while to rescue prisoners of our people from that site. Set up a full meeting, the rest of the council should know...and if they are mercenaries sympathetic to Kalish people, they might be persuaded to assist us at some point in the future...".
