"I do not think we will stay for the full duration of the Founders' Day celebrations…" Haresh told the few crewmembers of his ship that were with him "… but our association with the Irregulars has allowed us to obtain more supplies here, so I think we might safely stay for the first day of the celebration weeken, which I am told is the actual Founders' Day itself".
"We might be able to see the ships of other peoples if we stay that long" one woman suggested "Even though I doubt we would be permitted inside them, it would still be good to see them from orbit anyway".
"The unusual hybrid child says she can see inside places and find people" another added "If she can see inside ships then we can find out what they are like without going aboard".
"That is Amara" Haresh reminded them "I am sure she will want to try to do what you suggest – she does love to be challenged and tested".
"We will need to send a status report to homeworld" Haresh's comm officer said "Our governor must be told where we are. I am sure he will appreciate a report from you, Captain Haresh, detailing what we have seen here and the presence of this Kalish-owned wholesale business as well as the shop".
"Greetings and salutations, Captain Haresh…" a male voice announced when the long-distance call eventually got through "I had been wondering where you were. Most of the expeditionary fleet we sent to Talzenadar IV has made its first scheduled check-in for their return journey. Only you had not".
"Governor Temmin…" Haresh replied, bowing slightly before telling him about meeting the Nebari at the cargo landing and about other things he had talked about with Harrigan – governor Temmin nodded and recorded all of it, saying "I might contact Lord Lorshul on Ithlin and ask him about that man, if you can send me a picture…".
Haresh commed Harrigan to ask about that, and Harrigan replied "Sure, why not – the more people looking, the sooner we find out who he is an' what he does" before transmitting all the images saved from Amara's memory with Nrakal's machine.
Haresh transmitted all of these to his governor as soon as he had received them, after which the governor smiled and nodded before asking "I am glad that you confirm the sales went well and swiftly, Captain… the expeditionary fleet told me that, but since you were given the position of first Captain among the fleet, I feel relieved that you are telling me as well. Do these new friends have any military technology they might be prepared to sell or barter for?"
"Several pilots have shown interest in their attack craft" Haresh explained "These are called Strykers".
"I have seen some at Ithlin" Temmin replied "They are interesting but not, at least now, so unusual".
"The ones present here are enhanced mark-2 models, governor" Haresh replied, smiling a little at the governor's surprise "Redesigned outer hull for more speed and better manoevreability, plus two more main guns for a total of four. A tail turret as well, I believe".
"Secure a small number, if you can" Temmin replied "or blueprints. I suspect that we will be able to get them at a more affordable price from these Irregulars than from the Hierarchy… even assuming they would sell us any. Try not to give them too many of our own secrets in exchange… but I am not opposed to a cautious exchange of technology as long as it is as beneficial to us as it is to them".
"They have another larger grey ship" Haresh added "Approximately destroyer-class in mass. It is very interesting. I have been inside it once" before he described the Switchblade in precise detail, both inside and out.
"That I am curious about…" a different voice close to the governor said "I doubt these new friends would sell it to us… but just in case I am wrong about that I would suggest we try and buy or barter for it. Captain Haresh says it has both quarters for dignitaries and for bodyguards or troops, storage for a small number of vehicles, plus a small flight deck! We have the KV frigates, of course… but they are much larger than this new ship you tell us about and I, for one, would like to see its blueprints if not the ship itself".
"Ma'am Yutain" Haresh said "Greetings and salutations to you also. I will communicate your interest in that ship to the War Commander… but I think he will be cautious about the temporary drop in his operational capabilities while we examine that ship at our factories".
"Understandable" Yutain replied, nodding "Blueprints and schematics will be useful in their own way as well. Video footage of the craft in action as well if any exists – not Hierarchy promotional footage for sales purposes either!"
"That class of ship is not available for export, ma'am" Haresh replied "War Commander Harrigan was clear on that matter. He grinned a bit when he told us he was the only known non-Hierarchy owner of such a craft".
Both governor Temmin and madam Yutain smiled at that, after which Haresh told them both about the Irregulars' powered-armour units as well as their standard heavy plate EVA suits – little interest was shown in the heavy plate, but governor Temmin said "Maybe you might obtain blueprints for the medium-weight powered-armour, Captain… I do not know that either the smaller one or the larger one would be useful to us, but that medium-weight one might be".
Once madam Yutain left the room, Haresh explained about Founders' Day and the celebrations.
"You have approval to stay for that, Captain" governor Temmin replied almost immediately "Anyone who spends time around the other species present for such a celebration … the dignitaries, anyway… is encouraged to document their findings and opinions. Should anyone especially important be present, find out about them and their history and their current responsibilities and bring that information back to us for our security archives".
"I will, governor" Haresh promised, after which he discommed.
"A very interesting proposal, mister Troll…" Tal IV's governor said, looking over his desk at the changed human and Captain Trannak "…and one I think Proconsul Tolchen will like! One which all peoples will be encouraged to participate in, I hope?"
"Military of any an' every major or minor power" Troll clarified "That's the original rule, anyway. They don't have to do every event if they don't want to… but the top five winnin' powers get named on public broadcasts. Notable achievers in specific events too, at least if it's particularly amazing" after which he explained what events he wanted to include and where they might be held.
"We have a sporting stadium at the edge of the port" the governor explained "These …track and field, yes?… events can be held there, I think. The swimming centre in North End can host the aquatic events. There are no combat events in these celebrations?"
"Not this time" Troll replied "Mostly due to the fact we can't settle on any that won't give one side or other an unfair advantage".
"Would mercenary units of note be permitted to compete?" the governor asked "I don't know if any of your friends will compete… but some other large units like to base their operations here and may wish to do so".
"I doubt our Commander will have any problem with the rules being adjusted that much" Trannak replied "If we get news out within a few days, along with rules for the events, any who wish to prepare can do so".
"I like it!" Proconsul Tolchen replied, laughing "This will be good indeed! Huge piles of currency to be made by your world and its businesses and much favourable publicity for us! We will, I think, put an official government delegation at the mercenary camp for the duration of the event as well – so at least some of the money comes our way as well!"
"How long will it take before your Emperor makes a decision on where he will celebrate?" the governor asked – Proconsul Tolchen grumbled a bit and replied "I don't know, to be honest – but this might be enough to get him to decide in your favour. Get me full details of these events and any equipment needed and I'll put a call back to Scarras Prime within the arn!"
"So glad you asked…" Troll said, grinning a little bit at the Proconsul before passing him a small memory card "Should be everything you need right there. Gonna be getting on to all the other movers an' shakers about it… but you got to find out first…".
"Interesting…" Vice-chancellor Voss decided when the information made its way as far as him "I don't know if we can get the contract for additional security that I know is going to be needed… but since Talzenadar IV is Sebacean-governed if not Sebacean-controlled then I want regular units on standby along with SSD guards".
"If every major or minor power is being invited, as I suspect they will be…" Commandant Grayza added "…I will send a few more discreet operatives to watch over the celebrations. We are being given free reign over who we decide to submit as competitors?"
"Serving military personnel only" Vice-Chancellor Voss replied "So no intelligence operatives. We can send a few Black Ghosts, I'll certainly be doing that – but no one else unless you have anyone who can make military fitness levels".
Grayza nodded reluctant acceptance of that, after which she sent out a number of messages to people she thought had the necessary skills or commanded those who did.
"Our Establishment has been invited to take part as well… very interesting…" the Nebari First Premier told his advisors "I suggest we pass this information on to all military commands on Nebari Prime and any who have vessels capable of reaching Talzenadar IV by the time of the Hierarchy's Founders' Day, since this information says that will be the first day of celebrations".
A man in a neat black suit asked for clarification on admittance rules for competitors, and smiled when he read them.
"I will be able to send a number of the Night Watch as competitors…good…" he told them when one of the advisors asked about his interest "We are both intelligence operatives and military personnel. We are the only major power who have personnel of this nature and it will give us a definite advantage".
"I'm sending this on to all Enforcer commands as well" another advisor, wearing a military uniform, said "I don't know that we'll compete in some of the more strength-biased events… but our people will do well in the running and should do well with the swimming".
A vote was taken.
"Unanimous…" the First Premier announced when he tallied the votes "It is decided that the Establishment will send a delegation of our finest military personnel to compete in these sporting events".
"Will we send anyone to the more …official… celebrations?" the head of the Night Watch asked, looking around the room.
"A small number, certainly" the First Premier replied "The honour of our people must be upheld both on and off the sporting fields, I think. Besides, some of the minor powers are known to favour our people on occasion …if we are present, perhaps it might turn out to be the right occasion…"
"Emperor Staleek…" a functionary whispered, after entering during the middle of a meeting of War Ministers.
"This had better be good" War Minister Ahkna told him "The only thing that's spared your life so far is that no one in here was talking when you came in!"
The functionary passed over a copy of Troll's memory card along with hard-copy printouts of the general details of the events planned to celebrate Founders' Day at Tal IV – Emperor Staleek read the print-outs, then passed them around the War Ministers.
"This is odd but interesting" War Minister Lanak decided "Certainly a very good opportunity for us to show traditional Scarran skills in almost every event, I feel. There are enough events that we might bring a few of the more trustworthy Kalish as well".
Emperor Staleek watched and listened to the War Ministers debate this proposal and weigh it against the others from worlds closer to home.
I think this is both interesting and inventive he decided Opportunities exist to demonstrate our superiority in sporting roles outside our own space. Greater than usual opportunities exist for trading with minor powers and mercenary units. Besides, I have not been outside our own space before – and since I'm Emperor then my opinion is the one that counts.
"I like it" he announced "Contact our proconsul at Talzenadar IV and tell him to prepare for my presence on Founders' Day. War Minister Kon will officiate at the celebrations and military parade here on Scarras Prime. Communication is to be made to all military commands so they can put forward their finest as competitors".
"Contact Captain Shursith" the Emperor ordered the functionary, turning to face them and rumbling slightly "The Vorlek will be taking me to Tal IV for Founders' Day. He is to select whatever vessels he feels necessary to properly show others the capabilities of the Hierarchy".
Tal IV's governor was very surprised when his aide reported that Proconsul Tolchen was at the door to his administration headquarters requesting admittance – and before First Meal as well.
"Admit him" the governor decided "If he's coming before First Meal either something important has happened… or it's about to".
When the proconsul arrived, he strode right up to the door to the governor's office and knocked hard three times – as soon as he heard a clear "Come in, proconsul…" from the governor, he growled at the governor's aide and walked inside more sedately, closing the doors after him and placing an operating antisurveillance unit on the desk.
"The proposal has been accepted!" he announced with a grin "The Emperor liked the proposal enough not only to submit competitors… but also to come here personally to officiate at the Founders' Day celebrations!"
"My world and I thank him for his imminent presence, proconsul" the governor replied, smiling "Only the Peacekeepers have managed to return my message with a notice agreeing to compete before you did. I have not received an official communique from the Nebari consulate yet… though I was told they had submitted the proposal to their own leaders".
A short knock on the door followed, after which a staffer from the outer office stepped in and said "The Nebari's Establishment have sent somebody to speak to you in person, governor… about a proposal you sent to them recently…"
Proconsul Tolchen stepped with surprising stealth over to a corner of the room where he couldn't be seen from the door and only marginally more easily from the desk, after which the governor nodded and called "Send them in".
"My ambassador wishes to advise you, governor…" the Enforcer in dress uniform announced "…that word from Nebari Prime has just been received, and that the Establishment will be submitting a team for the sporting events. I do not know for certain, but I expect a smaller diplomatic delegation may arrive to discuss other matters with you as well".
Proconsul Tolchen rumbled a little, then grinned as the Nebari turned on his heels and his hands went for pistols that weren't on his dress uniform.
"A commendable turn of speed there…" he decided, rumbling a little more with amusement "Perhaps your competitors will provide a similar turn of speed in the running events and give our own athletes a serious challenge…".
"Our Establishment will be competing in many events" the Enforcer replied, consciously relaxing his hands so he didn't look too much of a fool "We will see how many events your athletes really do win. You may well have an advantage with some of them, but your top-heavy build will prove a liability in others".
"We'll see…" Proconsul Tolchen chuckled, grinning again "We'll see" before the Nebari officer walked out of the office. After a quarter-arn or so he did as well.
"A communication from them?" Lord Lorshul asked in surprise "I don't think any city on Ithlin, even less the King, has heard from War Commander Harrigan and his Irregulars in quite some time! What does he want?"
"He knows our city favours the Nebari in a number of things" his military minister replied "He wants us to check our sources to see if we can identify someone his people have seen – or at least point him in the right direction".
Once the minister passed over a printed image of the Nebari in question, Lord Lorshul said "Plain clothes. Hmm… Night Watch?"
"I would think so" the minister replied "I doubt we'll get a full account of the man's rank and responsibilities, but if I ask my source in their consulate I might be able to get a name or callsign – and then the Irregulars' own sources may be able to find out more".
"Try, then" Lord Lorshul decided "I don't think this is a priority request, so they won't need it within the weeken… but try not to take too long. I'll pass on the contact to the King, he does like to hear what these Irregulars are doing in case he needs them again some time".
"We are here, young ones…" Trannak told the group of children of the Irregulars "…for an exercise, a co-operative test of sorts. We will learn how to move quietly, read tracks, make camp, and respond to unplanned situations.
The main objective will be to reach a campsite where Troll and Urana are, along with Garakk and Alphak – I will give you other tests along the way, of course. You three girls, since your changes include ranged weapons, will be tested on marksmanship both standing still and when moving".
"Good" replied Sherenka "I like doing that with mama and papa. It is lots of fun and very useful too".
While the girls were discussing that with each other and the two older boys, Trannak told his own son "There will be a stealth test for you, Feltano… I know you can do it. When we reach the forest across from the bridge, you will break off from our group and find a good spot where you can watch us – when you see that the others have noticed your absence, you should try and return to us without being detected".
Feltano rumbled softly, smiling and nodding, before saying "I will do that, papa… I have my special suit on, like uncle Ghost has. It will help me hide without using one of those unusual Nebari suits that make you disappear".
"It will" Trannak agreed, hugging his son and smiling at the answering rumble "It is up to you when you decide to sneak off, Feltano… that in itself will be part of the test".
As the children stopped chattering and moved off ahead of Trannak, he answered an incoming comm call.
"Thought you'd never answer for a microt there, Cap'n T" Harrigan said "Just getting word that anyone an' everyone's coming for the sport – an' the Scarran big man down below says the Emperor's coming his own self!"
"That I didn't expect, to be honest…" Trannak replied "We'll need to get the local Security troops trained for counter-insurgency basic tactics… and test what they already know about detecting contraband and weapons. If we can't call up mercenary units to bolster planetary security during the games due to cost then the governor will probably need to call in Peacekeepers, since no one will trust the Hierarchy – Founders' Day or not".
"If that happens I'll try to get him asking for Luxans instead of regular Peacekeepers" Harrigan decided, cringing a bit "Those two got treaties, so it's not like I'm asking their enemies. The Hierarchy respects Luxans a bit even if they don't like them – at least I think so".
Trannak nodded, adding "If each embassy provides security for its competitors, we'll end up with some PKs on security anyway – whether that's embassy security or SSD guards. As long as the governor makes it clear to all of them that the Irregulars have command for security purposes we should be fine".
"How's the kiddies' military manoevres going?" Harrigan asked, and once Trannak stopped laughing he smiled and said "They're just starting! A little basic navigation for now – but I'm getting my son a little covert operations practice as well. Whether the other children are changed or not, I think my Feltano will succeed – the only question is by how much".
Harrigan grinned, saying "I think Harek might surprise you… but we'll just have to see. I'll call Troll to see how his end's going later" before discomming.
"We go there, then there, then there" Tabitha suggested, pointing to terrain features she could see as the children discussed what route to take to the forest "That way we reach a nice wide gap in the trees!"
"Flatter ground, easier to walk on, going here and here, then there and there" Harek countered, showing his own suggestion for the route "But if you want more places to hide I think Tabitha's route is good" before looking to see if Anton agreed. Anton frowned slightly, thought for a few microts, then nodded before asking Sherenka and Martha – Sherenka nodded back, saying "Tabitha has a good route" while Martha smiled before looking at the grass and surrounding landscape again.
"Do you have an idea, Martha?" Amara asked, trying to encourage her friend "We will hear it if you do".
Martha turned to look at Amara and smiled and rumbled, after which she said "It would be easier on our feet if we used Harek's route, that is true… but if we are testing our ability to hide from bad people we should use Tabitha's route" in her slightly Scarran-accented Kalish, which got a happy shriek from Amara before she called "We use Tabitha's route! Tabitha or Anton take point?"
"Anton take point!" Harek countered "Tabitha next! If Anton gets lost, Tabitha can find him and tell him the right way to go!"
Feltano, walking beside his father, rumbled softly as he heard his sister talk and give orders – and smiled when Harek made decisions as well.
"Harek is happy, papa…" Feltano told Trannak "…even though the route he suggested is not being used. See, papa? Harek is running up the smaller hillocks and hiding at the top, then watching in case he sees anyone – after we have gone past, he moves to the next one".
"He is watching the treblin flank, Feltano" Trannak explained "See how Sherenka does the same in her own way on the hammond side".
"They have formed a protective formation, papa" Feltano decided, looking around "with them on the sides, Amara and Martha in the centre, and us on rear guard".
"Very clever, Feltano!" Trannak said in praise before rumbling softly "Well done for seeing that! Do you think they know that is what they are doing?"
"Not sure, papa" Feltano replied, before deciding "It is good they want to keep big sister safe, papa".
Maybe two momens after they reached the forest, Feltano slipped away from the group and shifted up the side of a tree until he was a considerable number of metras above the ground, after which he sent a silent message to Trannak's comm.
Well done Trannak sent back Do not stay in the trees for too long, Feltano – this is only a basic class, not advanced fieldcraft. Give them things to look for on the ground as well, but make them work for it.
I will, papa Feltano's answering message stated I want to practice some of the things uncle Juroch told me about how he moves in the trees. I will not stay up here, though.
Trannak did reprimand the children for talking too loudly as they walked, but did not tell them about Feltano separating from them. It was almost fifteen momens later before Sherenka stopped, looked around carefully, then growled and said "Feltano is not here. Why is he not here, friends? Did anyone see where he went? Why did we not see he was gone?"
Trannak smiled and said "I gave him a special test, children – and you are part of that as well. You should try and find and follow him from his tracks, and he will try to evade you and catch you before you catch him. You girls… Feltano is wearing a training system to record any hits against him, so remember only to fire your weapons at training levels. I know your mother has made sure you know how to do that" before kneeling and looking both boys in the eye and telling them "Harek and Anton… you need to be extra careful. Your electrical projection is more of a danger to Feltano's health at close range than the girls' guns are. Very tiny jolts only, boys – enough to trip him up or knock him down only".
Harek hugged Trannak and rumbled, promising "I will not hurt my friend Feltano, uncle Trannak!" before grinning and adding "I will run fast and tackle him and catch him!"
"We run and catch him" Anton agreed, nodding "We are fast, uncle Trannak".
"You will have to see him first, both of you…" Trannak replied, pleased that his son's two large friends would not deliberately hurt him "My son moves well. Your uncle Juroch and the rest of the skulkers have helped him do that".
Feltano watched them, smiling as Harek and Anton promised not to hurt him.
I must be careful he decided I must remember all the things uncle Juroch and papa and the other skulkers have taught me. Now I know what this harness added to my hiding suit is for, it is to record any successful hits Sherenka and her sisters make against me with the weapons of their change before climbing down from the tree he was in and leaving faint but noticeable tracks for them to follow at ground level.
Martha found the tracks first.
"What is this, uncle Trannak?" she called, pointing to the ground "It looks like a small boot print! None of us have made it!"
"Well done, Martha" Trannak told her in praise, before telling all of them "Martha has found tracks, children. She will go first, take point, and we will follow behind her in proper patrol formation".
Sherenka and Tabitha argued a bit about which of them was the squad heavy for a momen or so, since they both thought that person should be next – but Harek suggested "You take turns. One do that for ten momens then it next one's turn".
"We stay with uncle Trannak" Anton added "We keep him safe. It might be Feltano's test to see if he can attack our officer without being caught".
Trannak was surprised, though pleased, that Anton had actually thought of that possibility and said so. Once Anton had stopped rumbling with pride, they all moved out again.
"I start here" Tabitha told Trannak as she moved behind him "Sherenka go behind Martha first, then she come here and I go there".
"All three of you have heavy weapons capability" Trannak agreed "When you are grown, anyway. It is important to have the rear position as well, Tabitha – do you know why?"
"Feltano ambush us" she replied "He will try and be sneaky and find us. If he does that while I am here, I must try and shoot him at training power".
"That's right" Trannak confirmed "Training power. On the body, arms, or legs. Not the face".
"Not face" Tabitha confirmed before hugging Trannak and looking around behind her briefly.
Feltano filmed his father talking to Tabitha with a modified ocular rig, smiling as he saw Trannak teach Tabitha something. She will do well he decided I think Tabitha would be better at scouting than Sherenka or Martha. Should I be discovered, Sherenka will be more of a problem - when she has an obvious problem to focus on. I do not know what skills Martha will be best at.
He moved cautiously closer until he could just see Anton checking the ground on his side – although when he brushed a leaf and made a faint noise, Tabitha's treblin hand shot out and she called "There, friends!"
Not quite where I am now Feltano knew but it is where I was just five microts ago. I will wait and see what my friends decide, I think.
"Feltano will not have stayed there, Tabitha" Sherenka told her youngest sister "He will move. He stopped there, watched us a bit, then moved".
"He moved" Tabitha agreed "Where did he go?"
Feltano watched with interest as Harek's face wrinkled a little as he thought, after which Feltano smiled as he saw Harek give hand signals to deploy the rest of his friends in a search pattern.
Harek is clever Feltano decided He takes more time to learn than Anton does, but he is clever and is the first of the boys to find things to do with what he has learned before climbing a tree again.
Anton stopped a quarter-arn later, listened, sniffed, then redeployed everyone with rapid signals.
"Heard Feltano" he told Trannak very softly "I don't know where he is, but he is close. He is watching us".
"He is" Trannnak confirmed, smiling "That is part of his test too, Anton. He may record us moving about so I can use that footage to show you what you all do well and where you can improve".
Anton told this to Harek and the girls, after which the search pattern changed.
Anton suspects where I am Feltano decided as he watched his friends move but I do not think he has seen me. He may have heard me, but he has not seen me. I cannot sit here and watch any more, though – or my friends will find me up this tree.
He smiled when he felt a very slight push against his deadlock zone, and immediately knew Amara had found him. He wondered if she would tell the others, or even if she could localise where he was at all – he smiled when he watched her tell Trannak, but Trannak didn't tell the other children and just hugged Amara and praised her.
Big sister used her special skills to find me he knew That is not part of the exercise… but I will note the time and place in my PDA so I can tell Amara and papa later. Once he did this, he climbed down from his current tree and moved across a path – he smiled when he saw his friends' footprints - and a little further towards where Troll's campsite was supposed to be.
"We, boys…" Troll was telling Alphak and Garakk "…we will try and find your friends when they come here. Your mother an' I might try and catch them. You boys need to tell us where they are".
"Find…" Alphak whispered, looking around "Find Fel-tano. Find sis-ters".
"Find Ha-rek friend!" Garakk added happily "Find An-ton friend! Find un-cle Trannak!"
"I doubt that, little man…" Troll told his older son "If your uncle Trannak wants to stay hidden, he'll stay hidden – and we'd only find him if he wants us to! Doesn't mean we shouldn't try an' catch him anyway".
"We will try and catch your friends, boys…" Urana told her sons "…and if we can we will try and catch your uncle" before cautioning them by adding "Do not shoot at any of them, boys – I know you know what training power means now, but do not shoot at any of them. They do not have the black stuff like you do. You would hurt them".
"Ha-rek got black stuff" Garakk replied stubbornly "Shoot Ha-rek? Training power?"
"We'll see" Troll replied while Urana listened "Not sure if you two are ready to pick targets like that… but if your momma or I call a target and you can see it too, then you can shoot. Only then".
"Only then, boys" Urana added "Did you hear what your father said, boys?"
"Only if we see…" Alphak said, nodding "See Ha-rek. See black stuff".
"If we see…" Garakk added, only a little grumpy "…then we tell you. Then when you see too we shoot lots".
"No long bursts!" Troll insisted, looking each son firmly in the eye "One or two shots at a time, short bursts if you can't manage that – don't spray the trees and hope! What did I tell you before? Hmm?"
"Spray an' pray bad, papa" Garakk replied, nodding "You tell us that lots once we see we got guns like you an' mama, papa".
Alphak nodded and said "One and two, papa. Not lots, papa. Hit Ha-rek only".
Troll commed Trannak for a brief report, after which he told his sons "Feltano is wearing a training harness, boys – so if we can all see him and know it is him then you can shoot at him as well. Your uncle Trannak says from the neck down only".
"That here" Garakk said, holding his treblin hand horizontally at neck level "That this high".
"Bro-ther right" Alphak decided after a few microts, nodding "That neck" – then surprising everyone by saying "Sis-ters with 'Tano, papa – sis-ters shoot us? You got har-ness for me an' for bro-ther?"
"Let's have a look in your momma's bag, shall we…" Troll suggested "Go ask your momma to bring her bag here so we can look in it, Alphak…".
"Papa ask you to bring bag, mama" Alphak asked, looking up at his mother "Papa want to see if there har-ness in it for me an' for bro-ther. Papa think sis-ters shoot us".
Alphak was allowed to search Urana's bag under careful supervision, and eventually he did find two training harnesses – Garakk shrieked happily, knowing this meant he could join in with the weapons of his change, while Alphak just smiled and rumbled.
"Call Cap'n T, little U" Troll said "Tell him our family's uppin' their game some…".
"Amara!" Trannak called, after Urana discommed "Troll is preparing the boys for combat testing – where is the nearest tech tunnel access point that you know about? Take point and lead us to it!"
Interesting… Feltano decided as he watched and listened I will stay close and watch them, and I will comm papa and ask for a training rifle for myself. I am the only one in our group with a harness on… so I expect papa will call for harnesses for my friends.
Trannak smiled when he read the silent message Feltano sent him, then commed Skroloth with the request for more equipment.
"Not a problem" came the immediate reply "I won't hang around, but I'll bring the stuff with me – including what Feltano wants. Doin' well, is he?"
"Feltano does well" Trannak confirmed, rumbling softly in pride "Every so often I comm him and he reports to me. I use what he tells me to help teach the others".
Amara took over from Martha, who told her things she recognised about where they were so they could pick up the tracks again.
"You are doing well, Martha" Amara told her quiet friend in praise "I see the things you are telling me about. When we find the tech tunnel, I will show you how to unlock it and we can see if Harek can lift the hatch up".
"Sisters watch when we do that?" Martha asked, to which Amara nodded and said "Your sisters watch. Anton will watch. Papa asked for more things, so Harek will open the hatch and pass the things to papa from whoever brings them".
Martha walked over to her sisters and told them the plan – Sherenka nodded and hugged her sister, after which Tabitha did the same.
"I do that" Anton decided "I watch…Sherenka watch… you watch. Martha unlock the hatch. Harek open the hatch and get stuff".
It took five momens to find the tech tunnel hatch, but fifteen more until they heard a tapping from under it.
"You open hatch, Martha" Harek said, coming alongside her "Friend Amara said that's your job. You know how? You ask uncle Trannak?"
"I think I know" Martha replied, and started tapping out codes she knew. It took a number of tries before she found the right one, and although she was upset she didn't get the right one the first time Trannak hugged her and told her "You did well to keep testing with codes you knew, Martha – some people would simply find tools and wreck the hatch to open it. It's always best not to make a mess".
"That mean we're being sneaky, uncle Trannak" Martha replied, happier now she had been told she did well even without succeeding straight away "We aren't sneaky if we make a mess".
"That's right!" Tabitha replied happily "If we're sneaky enough we can find Feltano!"
Harek walked around, looking at the hatch – then grabbed the handle and lifted it, opening the hatch all the way in one go until it made a clanging noise when it was all the way up..
"New smiley uncle friend!" Harek called happily, clapping "You got stuff for uncle Trannak? I give him it, you know".
Skroloth grinned back before passing out the training harnesses, after which he stayed and watched the children put them on before the group continued back to where they had left the tracks.
"Got stuff for you too, Feltano…" Skroloth called after a few momens, and smiled when Feltano appeared only a few metras away before walking over to him.
"You're doin' all that stuff Juroch an' I told you, mister?" he asked, after which Feltano nodded before adding "I like to go up in the trees, like uncle Juroch does… but papa says I should not do that a lot today. Papa says I should practice on the ground first".
"Your papa's right on that…" Skroloth replied "You're not always gonna be able to go above ground an' climb stuff, too".
"You told me that before" Feltano replied, rumbling very softly "I remember".
"Oh yes, got your training rifle here too" Skroloth added, passing it over – he made Feltano load and unload it several times, as well as demonstrate that he knew how to use the safety catch and carry it properly in both slung and ready positions, after which he passed him three power packs and said "Good huntin', mister…" before retreating back down the tunnel and sealing the hatch after him.
The rifle is only for the last part of the exercise, Feltano Trannak told him in a comm message You are not to use it to take the others out of action – not this time. Your friends Alphak and Garakk wanted to join in our exercise and their parents brought training harnesses – support the girls from the best vantage point you can find. If Troll or Urana wear training harnesses too, they are your first targets.
Understood, papa Feltano sent back I will practice approaching the girls and Anton and Harek at ground level, and support the camp attack from above ground level unless I see an opportunity that the girls and the two boys do not before discomming.
It was Harek's turn on point when he stopped, stayed still for several microts – then turned around in a full circle, looking carefully and sniffing.
"Feltano is behind us, Anton… " he told his best friend when he came to ask what he was doing "I thought I heard leaves move a long way away!"
"Was he close when we got the training harnesses, Harek?" Anton asked, interested enough now to look around as well.
"I think he was" Harek decided "Feltano is extra clever at being sneaky, just like his papa".
Anton shared this possibility with the girls, each of whom nodded when they heard it.
"We find him" Sherenka decided firmly, nodding "We find him. I shoot. Sisters shoot. Then we win".
"Win this bit, yes" Tabitha corrected "We have to win at papa's camp as well. Brothers have black stuff an' hiding shield. Papa have that too".
"I like the training, especially like this…" Martha told Trannak "But I like cooking with mother and grandma more, and I like helping people like Amara does best".
"I know, Martha… " Trannak told the worried girl, lifting her up for a hug "But it is good for us to do training exercises as a group like this – and your sisters and the boys would miss you if you weren't here, too".
"It is" Martha agreed, nodding "I know I do not always think of a lot of useful things for them… but all my friends listen to me anyway, and they smile and they help me. I will ask mama if I can cook something for them to eat soon".
"If your parents have food in their bags…" Trannak suggested "…we can ask them to teach you to make it for us and cook it. I think you would like that. I know your friends will".
Martha giggled and hugged Trannak one more time, after which she headed forward to swap with Sherenka at second position.
Sherenka is on rear guard! Feltano saw with interest, smiling but not rumbling I will approach… I will do so as quietly as I can… and I will try to get close enough to tap her on the shoulder. That will be fun. Papa will be pleased. I know Sherenka will be annoyed if she does not find me before I do that, but she will be pleased, I think, that I did well and chose her to approach and test myself with.
Trannak heard the very faintest of rustling leaves and bootsteps as Feltano moved and he rumbled very softly before whispering to Amara "…your brother is coming closer, Amara. Do not tell the others. Try and find him with your special skills if you can, but do not stop him from coming closer. He will want to get close enough to tap at least one of your friends on their bodies to take them out of action…".
Amara smiled and projected a brief display of the forest with Feltano's position on it, though she also shielded it from the others for the few microts it was displayed – his position was marked as a circle, showing an estimated position, rather than a dot, marking a known position, but neither Trannak or Amara minded that.
Big sister knows where I am Feltano knew when he saw Amara and Trannak talk and felt the faint press on his deadlock field Big sister and papa like to see me do well. I will do my best for them and for my friends, and then I can help teach my friends as well.
Anton stopped and turned fast, causing Feltano to drop and roll behind a bush and hold his breath for some time so he wouldn't be heard – when Anton growled and turned back around, he got to his feet again and crept closer.
Tabitha started looking around as well.
"Feltano is close" she told the others "I cannot smell him like I cannot smell you… but I hear things I know are not us ever so quietly".
"You know where, Tabitha?" Sherenka asked, looking at her youngest sister, though Tabitha shook her head and replied "I don't know, big sister – he is quiet enough that I can hear but not tell where he is even a little bit".
"We don't know either" Harek said when Sherenka asked the boys "I hear things like Tabitha does, but Feltano's being very careful so we can't see him. Because he has special things like we do, thermals don't help at all – I could see uncle Skroloth before he opened the hatch since he doesn't have the special things".
Feltano used the sounds of their talking to creep closer. He moved as carefully as he knew how once he got within a few metras – Sherenka may just turn by luck and see me he knew I must watch and see if she turns, then leap aside to the best cover close by – before reaching out to her treblin shoulder and resting his hammond hand on it, rumbling softly and happily as he did so.
"IT'S FELTANO!" Sherenka bellowed in surprise – she tried to grab him and hold him still, but Feltano flipped her over his shoulder instinctively before realising what he had done and running over, calling out to her and asking if she was hurting.
"I am not hurting, Feltano" Sherenka replied, grumbling and rumbling as she got up "I was surprised that you managed to get close to me, and I was surprised that you could throw me over your shoulder like that. Did uncle Juroch or auntie Keyah teach you that?"
"They did, Sherenka" Feltano confirmed, smiling as he helped her to her feet "Big sister did as well. That was the first time I have done it with anyone apart from big sister. I did not know if it would work with you since you are so much bigger than I am".
"It's clever sneaky fighting" Sherenka decided "I learn it too. Uncle Juroch teach me and auntie Keyah teach me and Amara teach me and you teach me. You all teach sisters and brothers too. Then we all good at it like you".
Trannak hugged his son and praised his efforts, though he also got everyone to help him check to see if Sherenka was hurt as well. Martha was pleased she did well in that part of training, rumbling softly and smiling before telling them "We can't give Sherenka stuff to make pain go, friends. She has special stuff like you, so it doesn't work".
"I'm not hurting like that, Martha" Sherenka reminded her "Not even a tiny bit of blood. That's because we have special skin like mama and papa".
"Feltano turn for point, uncle Trannak" Harek said "He hasn't done that yet. He go first. He tell us when he see good stuff. Does he know where uncle Troll is?"
"He is like Amara in that, Harek" Trannak said happily "He heard Troll say where he was going to be and he knows the PTR well, so he knows the landmarks around where Troll said he will be. We will be extra sneaky and check he has not moved and tried to ambush us, of course".
"Not seen, papa…" Alphak replied when Troll asked if he'd seen any of his sisters or his other friends "No Fel-tano. No Ha-rek. No An-ton. No sis-ters. No 'Mara. No sneaky un-cle".
"Not seen, bro-ther" Garakk agreed "Not hear".
"Keep tryin', boys" Troll encouraged his sons, grinning "Your momma an' I will be lookin' too. Call if you see or hear stuff".
Garakk clapped and Alphak just smiled and rumbled softly.
"This'll be interesting, little U…" Troll said as he watched the boys move off a little and look from side to side "The boys ain't been tested on any soldier stuff yet – to be honest I dunno if they can handle it this soon".
"I don't suggest we give them an accelerated training program, Troll" Urana replied cautiously "But I do agree with your suggestion of giving them basic training with the weapons of their change as soon as possible. They must learn weapon safety – whether they want to or not, unfortunately. They have weapons with them all the time".
Troll looked at his sons a little sadly – when Urana saw that, she hugged him tightly and rumbled, telling him "Your reaction just then shows me I made the right choice in one more way when I chose to marry you, Troll… you worry about our sons and you worry about our girls and you worry about me and you love all of us".
"The boys are gonna have the harder time, at least at first…" Troll thought aloud "…since they got the cloak as well".
"If they are even a little bit like you, my husband…" Urana replied, smiling a little more "…then they will not think of that as a work tool, they will think of it as a fun toy…".
"It is fun, that's why!" Troll told her with a grin "I ain't as good at all that real quiet stuff as Trannak an' Feltano, I needed something to even the odds!" before laughing a little.
Feltano stopped, looked around, checked the ground, then nodded before signalling to his friends and father – Trannak smiled and whistled back briefly, after which Feltano moved off ahead again.
"Papa gave orders with whistling, friends" Amara told the others "I do not know if that one just meant to keep going or if it was a new order only Feltano knows".
"It meant to keep going, children" Trannak explained, smiling as several young faces looked up at him "There are, as Amara thinks, other whistles I might use instead of hand signals – your uncle smiley Scarran and I know those, your uncle whisper Scarran knows them too. I think Karroch might know them as well. I don't know who else does".
"Uncle Rulok knows" Amara decided, nodding, after which Trannak smiled and said "Oh yes, Amara – he might know too. Thank you for reminding me…".
"Feltano is sending signals again!" Sherenka called, quite loudly "He has found something! He is calling for an officer to come and see!"
"He usually means one of his parents when he does that, Sherenka…" Trannak explained after walking over to Troll's eldest daughter "…but in this case I am both the training officer and his father… so I will go anyway" after which he smiled and told her "I have a job for you, Sherenka… if you want to help…?"
"Orders for me?" Sherenka asked, interested "What are my orders? What do I do?"
"Signal the others to move up in protective overwatch around Amara and I, Sherenka" Trannak told her "I think your papa has taught you the signals, yes? Perhaps Dern has?"
"Dern teach us" Sherenka confirmed, nodding "He teach all of us. He not show us all of them, uncle captain, but he show us ones for moving and ones to call officer to come and ones to say we found stuff".
Sherenka thought for a half-momen, then nodded and turned to face her friends and giving them a number of quite complicated signals.
"Interesting, Sherenka…" Trannak told her "Why did you deploy your friends that way?"
Sherenka thought again, then took a momen or two to explain to Trannak why she gave the signals she did.
"OK…" he said, nodding "That deployment, Sherenka, gives us more ability to see, to find what's up ahead, but doesn't protect our flanks quite so well".
"I want to find brothers and mama and papa" she replied firmly "We find them, uncle Trannak. We see and we find and then we shoot at training power".
Trannak smiled and nodded, asking her "Where is your position, Sherenka? Is it beside me?"
"I go with Feltano" she replied, looking up at Trannak "He all sneaky, but he doesn't have guns like me. I watch him. I keep him safe" before running ahead.
"I here, Feltano" Sherenka said when she found her friend.
Feltano rumbled, smiled, then signalled for her to look around the tree he was sitting behind – she did so, nodded, then told him "No more trees. Open ground" after which she paused to think – after a few microts, she growled and told Feltano "I saw tents! That's where mama and papa and brothers are!"
"Well done" Feltano told her, rumbling softly "You saw what I saw. Signal back to papa, ask him to bring everyone here".
"I don't know how…" Sherenka admitted a little mournfully, so Feltano showed her how to do that, moving her hands for her in the right patterns several times before getting her to repeat the signals unassisted.
"Good, Sherenka…" he told her, smiling and rumbling "Now do those signals to papa".
Feltano likes me Sherenka decided He likes to teach me things. I like it when he teaches me new things. I will learn them and do well, then he will teach me more things and his papa will praise me and tell mama and papa I do well.
Trannak called the others back to him, after which they all headed to Feltano's tree. Sherenka was looking carefully around the side of the tree when he got there, so he walked over and asked her what she could see.
"Seen tents" Sherenka replied "Not seen mama or papa. Not seen brothers".
"We're close enough to see the camp, then" he told her "but not close enough to see if anyone is there" before turning to Feltano "Go and see if you can find out if people are there, Feltano. Move slowly and carefully like I do and your sneaky friends do".
"I will, papa" Feltano replied, smiling up at his father before hugging him.
"You do well, Feltano" Trannak assured his son happily "Scout ahead for us. Do not signal back with whistles, my son – signal back with hand signals. Alphak and Garakk might hear whistles".
Feltano, following his father's cautious orders, moved from cover to cover as carefully as he knew how – until he saw a faint ripple in the air up ahead and saw Troll reappear. He dropped to the ground and remained as still as he could, looking ahead and zooming his oculars in by several orders of magnification – he panned briefly from side to side, eventually finding Urana but not the two boys.
Alphak smiled as he tested his cloaking shield, fading from his father's sight. His own vision became a little less colour-saturated and the detail he saw dropped a little more than that – but he saw his father smile and clap.
Papa is pleased Alphak decided Papa thinks I do well. I have not done this for a long time until today. Must see how long I keep cloaking on. Must hide from Feltano and friends and sisters.
"Where brother gone, papa?" Garakk asked worriedly "I can't see him!"
"He used his hiding shield, Garakk" Troll told him "He's gonna be sneaky. If your sisters and Feltano can't see you, they can't shoot you. He's gonna look around a bit further out. You wanna do that too?"
"I do it too, papa" Garakk replied "I help younger brother" before similarly fading from sight.
"Brother does this better…" came Garakk's complaint from apparently-empty air – though he forced himself to cloak properly anyway before walking off in a different direction.
Feltano smiled when he saw another very faint ripple. The boys are cloaked he decided with a smile This will be difficult and fun – after which he risked sitting up and sending a number of fast signals with his hands.
"Forward!" Trannak told the others when he saw them "Feltano has found a good spot – but he has also seen Alphak and Garakk and Troll using their cloaking shields. He was lucky to find them at all, I think".
Sherenka took off as fast as she could go, moving between cover but not slowing down even a little until she arrived beside Feltano again.
"I here again" she told him "Your papa come too and he brings sisters and friends".
"Good" Feltano whispered, before pointing to two places – Sherenka's eyes followed where he pointed, and she rumbled before nodding and saying "Not sure if that Alphak or Garakk, Feltano. Not seen papa yet".
"We wait…" he whispered back "We wait and we see. Papa will look too, Sherenka, maybe he will see".
"Your papa might see" Sherenka agreed, nodding – after which Trannak did indeed arrive, with all the other children not far behind him.
"Have you found them?" Harek asked, grinning in anticipation.
"I think so, Harek friend" Feltano whispered "They are ahead of us-" and described where he saw them before adding "-but the two boys are using their hiding shield, their cloaking. Uncle Troll was as well for a while, he is not cloaked now. Look and see".
Harek's big head poked over the small hillock they were hiding behind – for maybe five microts, after which a ripple in the air became a person, and pulse fire stitched the landscape maybe ten metras to their treblin.
"CONTACT, PAPA!" Garakk shouted, decloaking and firing at the same time "IT HAREK! I SEEN HIM!"
"Not so loud, son…" Troll told his eldest son "The louder you are, the more easily they can find you and shoot at you. Your harness has been tweaked a bit, you can take a few hits before it shows you as out of action – but don't make it too easy for your friends, yes?" before looking around and asking "Seen Alphak anywhere?"
"He still use hiding shield, papa" Garakk replied after a half-momen or so "I not seen him. Not seen funny stuff in air. Alphak be extra sneaky, papa".
"You be careful too, Garakk" Urana told her son "I cannot hide like you can, my son, so I need you and your brother and your papa to make sure they do not shoot me and I am not ruled out of action".
"I do that, mama" Garakk replied, smiling and rumbling.
"They know we are here" Trannak told the children "but not exactly where. Feltano… take Sherenka and move around to hammond. Martha, go with Anton to treblin. Tabitha, go with Harek straight ahead. Amara…this part is unrestricted… and I want you to test your skills as well. Scan the area, find Troll and Urana and the boys".
Amara rumbled happily in anticipation and challenge, before moving a few metras ahead and scanning the landscape – after which a small picture appeared a short distance ahead of Trannak with several circles marked on it, each of which had names under them.
"You can tell who each of them is?" Trannak asked, surprised.
"I can, papa" Amara replied happily "It is hard with Garakk and Alphak, but I can do it".
"Comm your friends and tell them what you found, Amara" Trannak replied "They have small comms like you do".
Alphak stayed still and looked around at the scenery in amazed wonder.
It still looks the same he could tell but I cannot see well unless I become visible again to others. Why is that? I ask papa later…
He turned around to make sure he could still see the camp, then walked over to a small bush and stood in the middle of it.
"Seen mama…" Sherenka told Feltano softly "Not seen Alphak. Think I seen Garakk. Not seen papa".
"Where is your older brother…" he whispered back, unslinging his training rifle.
Sherenka looked carefully, then pointed – Feltano lifted his rifle, looked through the scope briefly, then squeezed the trigger…
Garakk squeaked in surprise when his training harness registered two hits despite him being cloaked.
"I been seen, papa!" Garakk shouted "Not know how!" before running for the nearest tent – he tried looking around as he ran, and by sheer chance he saw grass move so he let off half a dozen short bursts from all four guns before diving behind the tent.
"That was Garakk" Sherenka told Feltano as the pair of them ducked behind cover again, fast "He is not quiet, he is not sneaky like us, but he likes shooting and is good at it for someone who has not done it lots".
"We will go around the back of the camp" Feltano replied, smiling "and we will sneak in… and then we will see if we can find your mama and your brother Garakk".
"Dispersed formation" Trannak ordered "We all move up together. Girls, be ready to fire as soon as you see either of your brothers or your parents. Boys, scout for the girls and tell them where you see people trying to hide".
Both Anton and Harek are used to taking the lead Trannak knew It'll be interesting to see how they do when they have to support others.
Troll came out of his tent, calling out to see if anyone had scored – and promptly took almost two dozen hits from two directions as both Martha and Tabitha opened fire with short rapid bursts from their guns.
"Plok, I'm out!" Troll called in surprise, as his harness squawked and ruled him dead "The girls got their dear ol' Dad!"
"You came out of the tent uncloaked, husband…" Urana laughed – after which Feltano hit her on the back twice with his rifle before she turned and fired, sending him diving for cover along with Sherenka.
They are coming after ME Urana realised, smiling I will have to see how good my dear girls are – and how clever Feltano really is. The two shots to my back must have been from him, I know neither my girls or my boys can move that well yet.
"Mother almost hit you" Sherenka whispered to Feltano "She is very good with her guns. Mother has one in each arm, Feltano. She is not like papa, he has one in each shoulder".
Feltano thought for a few microts as they moved behind the other tent, then decided "We must attack from both sides at the same time, Sherenka – one of us on your mother's hammond side and one on her treblin side. Your mother is good, but if we move fast she can only hit one of us enough times to rule us dead as long as we stay moving".
Alphak looked around again, and proved to be just able to see where his siblings were.
There Tabitha Alphak decided Harek there, too. Tabitha before Harek. I shoot Tabitha before decloaking and firing only a single shot from each gun, then moving and recloaking.
"I'm hit!" Tabitha complained, dropping to the ground.
"Out?" Harek asked, running back to her.
"Two hits remaining!" Tabitha decided "That right, Harek?"
Harek looked at her harness, finding the tiny display and reading it before nodding and saying "That was Alphak! He is trying to be sneaky. I think he has been talking to uncle whisper Scarran as well".
Alphak decloaked and fired again – but this time Harek was just close enough to run hard and use his own weapon. Alphak's harness registered five hits, and Alphak shrieked in surprise as well as a little pain – but Harek took ten hits across his chest before Alphak ran fast enough to escape and recloak.
"Out?' Trannak asked him, but Harek rumbled with the challenge and said "Not out, uncle Trannak! Only ten hits! Lots still left!"
Hurt! Alphak decided, trying not to cry out I go back, I see mama… if mama say I all good, I come back – before he ran back to the camp as fast as he could and leapt into his mother's arms.
"I am here, Alphak…" she told him soothingly "What happened?"
"Harek get me, mama" he replied "It hurt, mama. It not hurt lots, but it hurt".
"Harek knows not to use his weapon above training power, Alphak" Urana reminded her youngest son "just like you do. He does not mean to hurt you, my son – but his weapon is not like yours, he cannot turn off the part that hurts all the way".
"Harek my friend" Alphak agreed "He not catch me, mama – I run fast and he not catch me. Why that?"
"One of your sisters might be with him" Urana replied "Your uncle Trannak may have given Harek orders to stay with her and keep her safe".
"Harek do good if he keep sister safe" Alphak decided – before his ears twitched, his eyes went wide, and he fired to their treblin.
Feltano used Urana's transferral of attention to her son and Sherenka to make his own move, peeking around the edge of the tent before firing at Urana's back.
One…two…three… should do it… Feltano decided before retreating.
Sherenka fired back at her mother – Urana's fire would have ruled Sherenka out of action, but Feltano intervened in time for Urana to grouse and grumble a bit before telling her daughter "Your harness may say you're out for this time, Sherenka… but your friend Feltano got me first, so technically that doesn't count. But only your uncle Trannak can reset your harness".
"Garakk in, mama?" Sherenka asked, leaning against her mother and rumbling.
"Only just, I think" Urana replied, stroking her daughter's ridges "He has been hit a number of times, but not enough to rule him out of action. Alphak is still in the exercise too".
"He been sneaky and gone, mama" Sherenka said, nodding "I not know when".
Alphak smiled when he heard Sherenka tell Urana that.
I doing well he decided I find Tabitha again. I find Martha. I find Anton. Not seen him yet.
He saw Garakk uncloak briefly to check his surroundings – and fire at Harek, who charged in regardless, grinning as he did so and reaching Garakk just in time to tackle him and knock him down.
Garakk did not cry out, but laughed and rolled Harek over, play-fighting with his older friend and trying to avoid having Harek disable his harness – he didn't succeed, since Harek's massive strength and greater age won out before long, but Harek grinned and lifted him up above his head briefly before laughing and carrying him back to Urana's tent.
"Garakk out now" Harek told her "He did good but he's out. Only Alphak in. Not seen him for a long time".
I last one! Alphak decided Big brother out now. Mama out. Papa out. I in.
He moved out behind Tabitha again and fired two short bursts – but Harek saw him and stepped in front of her. Harek's harness registered six more hits but still didn't rule him out of action, so Alphak recloaked and moved around, firing on the move, until eventually Harek's harness ruled him out of action.
"Alphak's out here" Trannak told Anton, Martha, and Tabitha "You three are the last ones still in! Alphak does not like, I think, to go too far from his parents' campsite – so I think we will be fine here for now".
"We go in two bits" Anton suggested "Alphak see one but other one find camp. He not get both".
"We do that" Martha decided, and Tabitha added "I go with sister, Anton. Martha not like going on her own" before hugging Martha, who rumbled softly in return.
"I go down hammond" Anton replied, nodding agreement to Tabitha's plan "I run fastest of you and Martha and me".
Alphak cloaked again before lying on the grass right out in the open.
Uncle smiley Scarran tell me about this he remembered He say it hard but it fun and it good if I do it right.
He forced himself not to rumble as the girls ran on his hammond side and Anton ran on his treblin side. When they came closer, Alphak raised himself to knee level and did his best to fire at all of them – and actually succeeded, though only Tabitha and Anton were ruled out of action, giving Martha enough time to reach the campsite.
"THAT ALL AMAZING!" Garakk bellowed excitedly, hugging his brother "I WATCH AND SEE! YOU GOODGOOD AT SNEAKY SHOOTING, AL-PHAK BRO-THER!"
Everyone laughed and took turns praising Alphak's ambush, making him smile and rumble very loudly as Amara and Trannak came up to the camp as well.
"I tired" Harek decided "I hungry too".
Martha asked Urana if they had food and if she could cook it for everyone, and Urana smiled and said "We do not have much, Martha… but I know you like cooking, so you can help me do that. We have a little bit of fresh meat we can barbecue for your friends, although I don't know if Feltano or Amara need to eat".
"We eat tiny bit if Martha make it" Feltano replied before Amara could open her mouth "It will be good if she makes it, I am sure".
Urana watched very carefully as her middle daughter helped barbecue the meat on the heating unit's plate.
"All done" Martha said softly after a few momens "There meat here if you hungry now. You come and have some?"
"We come!' Harek replied immediately "I hungry again! Think Anton is hungry again, too!"
"We are both hungry" Anton confirmed "Garakk hungry. Alphak hungry. We hungry. Your papa hungry, Martha".
Feltano leaned against Trannak and rumbled softly, closing his eyes and smiling as Trannak stroked his ridges.
"That was fun, papa…" he whispered as he rested "Hard, but fun. I felt it when Amara found me each time, papa…" before telling him each time that had happened.
"Did you like it when I found you, Feltano?" Amara asked, and Feltano opened his eyes and smiled at her before nodding and telling her "I liked it, Amara. I like knowing that you and mama and papa know where I am".
Martha watched as her friends and family ate, and smiled when they praised her for her part in the cooking – she giggled when Harek, Anton, and Garakk came back for second helpings, although Alphak seemed content with just the one and nodded off to sleep on Troll's lap, his soft rumbling snore heard by everyone.
"Everyone liked the meat, mama" Martha told Urana happily as they packed camp "Big friends came back for more, mama!"
"Your big friends, Martha…" Urana told her daughter with a smile "… both have the extra special things from their own fathers – and I think Harek would like to eat a lot even if he didn't have special things like that".
"Feltano was very good, papa" Sherenka told Troll as she helped put the tents back in their bags "He helped me and showed me how to do new things. I helped him too, papa".
Troll smiled and tickled his eldest daughter until she shrieked with laughter – once everyone had done their part in packing camp, Trannak called "Take point, Feltano – show us the way out. Back to the PTR transit platform".
By the time the car was moving, every child except Amara was asleep – the constant exercise had even caught up with Harek, who was stretched out across Trannak's lap, while Anton slept on the rest of that row of seats to hammond and Amara sat on his treblin side and watched her friends with happy amazement.
"Back to bed for us as well, Amara" Trannak told her once her friends had been dropped off at the crew quarters main platform "I think your mama will be waiting for us, yes?"
"Mama wait…" Amara agreed tiredly.
Caseya was about to get into bed when the door chime sounded and Trannak and her children entered.
"Children!" she called happily "Amara, Feltano! My Trannak! The exercise went well?"
"It was a lot of fun, mama" Feltano replied, nodding – after which he and Amara explained in detail about every part of the exercise from start to finish.
"You all did very well" Caseya told her two older children "I think your friends did well too, yes?"
"Especially Alphak" Feltano replied "Alphak is very young, like Garakk, but he did very well and so did Garakk".
Maranno burbled and complained briefly at the noise, turning her head to try and see where her siblings were – both Amara and Feltano rushed over to her cot, where they smiled at her and rumbled for her until she smiled and rumbled sweetly back at them. Amara's smile got a little wider and she rumbled very softly indeed as she pulled the small blanket over her sister, a little more so when Maranno giggled a bit in her sleep when Amara laid the edge of the blanket over her shoulders.
"Little sister is sleeping again, Feltano…" Amara told her brother quietly as Feltano peeked over the edge of the cot as well "See?"
"I see…" he replied, barely audible "I see. I am tired too…" after which he walked over to his own bed and climbed in. Amara giggled a bit and helped tuck him in, giggling a bit more when Feltano shrieked in surprise and turned over, pulling his blanket almost over his head.
"Three weeken to go…" the governor told Trannak, Harrigan, and Troll "…and all the major powers along with a good number of minor ones and larger independent bands have already entered teams for your sporting games. Yo-err… the Scarran Hierarchy has sent word that the dreadnaught Vorlek and its escorts are picking up competitors from quite a number of military units and garrisons as they make their way here – and are training hard as they go".
"The presence of that ship alone…" Trannak told the governor "…is proof enough that the Emperor himself is coming. The Vorlek's sole purpose is to defend the capital world – so if it goes out of our first system someone important sent it. The one I last knew to be its captain is Captain Shursith, a man known for being a skilled professional officer and notoriously intolerant of politicians of any species – especially his own, to be honest. Only the word of the Emperor himself could get his ship going anywhere outside its home system".
The governor paused to enter that into his personal log, after which he nodded and added "The Peacekeepers have sent word that Vice-Chancellor Voss will lead their contingent aboard a ship whose type they did not divulge, but named as the Judicator – under the command of an old friend, Captain Kammel. I don't know what escorts ships he will bring with him, but I expect you all know what a Peacekeeper battlegroup should have in it – under standard organisational doctrine, anyway".
"Actually, no" Harrigan replied, grinning sheepishly "It'll be in the Havoc's archives somewhere, though. That or one of my officers will be able to tell me".
The governor rolled his eyes a bit when Harrigan turned to ask Trannak about that, after which he added "The Luxans, despite being allied with the Peacekeepers, have announced they are sending a small battlegroup of their own, headed by the assault carrier Ka'Hakk. Smaller delegations are coming from Delvia, Interii, and a number of other worlds – either aboard the Luxan ships or private liners, I expect".
"And the Nebari?" Trannak asked.
"We know they're coming…" the governor replied "But at least so far they have not named the ship coming, or leading their battlegroup. To be honest, I would not know what one of their ships would look like anyway".
"Wait three weeken and you'll find out, governor!" Harrigan replied with a grin "If you like, I'll ask Amara to send you pictures when she sees it in real time".
"If Amara wants to do that…" the governor replied with a smile "…perhaps she could project the images in the air over my desk, so any of my advisors present at the time can see as well".
A knock at the door preceeded the arrival of a Nebari female in a neat black suit – she looked with a little hostility and more than a little fear at Trannak, though most of that turned to irritation when Troll grinned at her.
"Good day to you, governor" she announced "Good day to your …friends… as well. The Establishment of the Nebari people sends word that a Host Vessel named Showlon will head a small group of ships bringing our sporting personnel to uphold the honour of our people. If my superiors have things to discuss with you also, governor, someone with the authority to negotiate will be present as well".
"I do not know… these people" the female Nebari said, looking at Trannak, Harrigan, and Troll in more detail – Harrigan grinned and replied "We don't know you either, so that makes us even! You gonna be competin' ?"
The woman smiled briefly, nodded, then said "I may compete in the barrier leaping event and the one for throwing the short pointed pole. Others will join me, of course – and more will replace me in other events" before looking at everyone in detail and asking "Do you have any requests for our ambassador, governor? Might there be something our Establishment can assist you with in some way?"
The governor nodded to Trannak, who smiled and said "Since you are here… within a weeken all embassies will be put on high alert" in clear Nebari, before adding "Each embassy or consulate will be required to patrol its immediate environment and have forces on standby to see to the needs of any of its people should they require help or protection".
"I and my ambassador thank you for the advance notice" the Nebari woman said, nodding slightly in Trannak's direction "and for your clear command of our language as well. Usually the shape of your throats, Scarran, makes my language sound almost unidentifiable".
"Like your …comrades… in the Night Watch…" Trannak replied, rumbling very softly "We also are more than we might seem to the casual eye. We all look forward to seeing you compete, May we help you with something else?"
"That is all, I think…" she replied in Scarran, a little smugly "…at least for now. My ambassador will send word should this change" before turning and heading out of the governor's office and administration headquarters.
Everyone laughed a little once the Nebari woman was outside the building, though the governor also asked how Trannak knew she was Night Watch – Trannak explained how he knew, detailing how they could tell the difference between a diplomat's suit and a Night Watch dress uniform before he, Harrigan, and Troll left the building.
"Things went well?" Captain Haresh asked, smiling a little.
"You saw the Nebari enter" Trannak replied "She was a member of their political intelligence and special warfare force, their Night Watch. In this case she was speaking on behalf of their political leaders – be wary should you see anyone dressed in that uniform at other times".
"Perhaps some of those on Ithlin may see them" Haresh replied as they left the headquarters grounds and headed outside "Though I have been to Ithlin, I have not seen Nebari dressed like that. I have seen a few of their people, in one city in particular, but this is the first time I have seen them dressed the way that female of their species was dressed".
"Welcome aboard the Vorlek, Emperor" Captain Shursith said almost two more weeken later "Quarters in accordance with your station have been made ready for you. Quarters for your staff as well. My own crew and infantry are professional soldiers of our empire and will be enough protection for you – I chose each of them personally".
"Those who sent us do not believe that" the slightly rough voice of a Praetorian said as its owner took his helmet off, but Captain Shursith growled and waved a hand to silence him before bellowing "The Emperor trusts my word when I give it, fekkik, and therefore so will you! Over and above all that, you are standing aboard my ship – AND ON MY SHIP MY WORD IS LAW UNLESS THE EMPEROR SAYS OTHERWISE!", then turning to two A-team squads that seemed to appear from nowhere, telling them "If these Praetorian don't get back to their ships and leave within fifteen momens… nullify each and every one of them and dump their remains out of the nearest waste port".
The Praetorian commander looked ready to explode, but his second in command looked to Emperor Staleek for orders – when the Emperor nodded and waved back toward their Strykers, he told his commander "The Emperor has ordered us back to our Strykers, sir – he feels he is adequately protected by Captain Shursith and his crew, even if the War Minister did not".
"Very well…" the officer replied "We'll be reprimanded when we get back anyway… but the Emperor does lead our people, which includes us. So we leave, and we make our report".
"Back to the Strykers" his second called "and in good order. Show these spacers how it's done…", after which the Praetorian troops returned to their craft and from there to their garrison on Scarras Prime.
"Hah…" Staleek told Captain Shursith "For the most part the Praetorian are useful… but that officer looks to have risen a little too far up the ranks for his own good. Certainly too far for my good. I won't order him nullified, but he's just lost one rank and gained three monen in a medium-security military prison".
"A good deal more merciful than I'd have been, Emperor…" Captain Shursith growled as he signalled his bridge crew to make ready to head outsystem "but that's one of the reasons why you're Emperor and I'm here commanding the Vorlek. I'm not good at strategic diplomacy as you are, sir – I command my ship and my crew and am satisfied with that".
Staleek rumbled a little before telling him "It's good to find a Scarran satisfied with his post, Captain, and prepared to fulfil its responsibilities to the best of their ability. That's why I had you placed in command of the Vorlek, and why you're on my strategic defence advisory board – despite what some of the War Ministers would prefer".
"Secretary Graffak…" Captain Shursith said, turning to face a new Scarran in a plain but well-tailored suit "Of all the diplomatic staff I have seen, you at least have some understanding of the pressures of military life… your sons are both in the armed services, I believe?"
"My eldest son has not been seen for some time" Graffak admitted "He is officially listed as missing in action. My younger son is in the final stages of training for the action teams in military intelligence. My daughter looks to be following me into the diplomatic service".
Captain Shursith rumbled softly for some microts, then nodded before saying "I leave the security and other needs of the Emperor in your hands while you are both aboard the Vorlek, mister. The Emperor seems to trust you, so for now so will I" before turning to face the bridge windows and calling "All ahead one quarter! Navigation, set course for Talzenadar IV! Helm, get us outsystem so we can make the transition to full hetch!"
Graffak watched the captain give his orders, then nodded and called "This way, Emperor – I have directions to the quarters assigned to you, and I think after hearing the captain scream at the Praetorian like that we might all use a good rest".
"Count yourself fortunate you were not in the council of ministers, Graffak" Staleek replied as the pair of them headed aft, accompanied by the Emperor's aides and a smaller number of bodyguards from among the Vorlek's infantry complement "Only the realisation that at least most of those treznots are more useful alive than dead prevented me from nullifying at least one by my own hand".
"Better to have any enemies among them where you can see them also, Emperor" Graffak replied "I don't know who you listen to among them, which for my own peace of mind is the way it should stay – but despite nullification bringing some temporary satisfaction, Emperor, their replacement might prove to be more of a problem".
