"Are there just running qualification events scheduled for today?" Reanaree asked "A number of them are interesting, especially for species I do not know... but it would be good to see other events as well".
"I think most, if not all, of the running qualifications are finished" Juroch replied "Only the short and middle distance qualification events are being run today. I hear the longest distance events with be at the end of the games".
"Says that right 'ere" one man close by said, who had come to terms with Scarrans sitting close by, before pointing to the relevant place on a printed sheet "We got gymnee...nurs... lots of people doin' twists an' turns on stuff at a coupla the inside courts...summa the jumpin' out here".
"Those Charrids performed surprisingly well..." one of the Nebari athletes said "Though I would have thought they would perform more efficiently in these shorter events than their Scarran masters... I would also have thought Kalish would have the necessary acceleration to achieve among Hierarchy athletes".
"Some did" their coach replied "Whoever they are, that does not absolve you from the need to do your very best".
"Sebaceans from both carriers did better" a female athlete added "They will be the main problem in the short-distance running events".
"We will be able to make contact with several allies..." one Kalish whispered "All those whose idents were suggested to us".
"Two solid contacts have been made already" another assured her "Deals have been made. Others of our movement will take care of payment where they are".
"I like the idea of these flexibility and agility events" one of the younger Kalish said with interest "I will do my very best for that. I placed fifth in my fitness classes for acrobatic training".
"They are events our people will excel at, given time" agreed the first speaker "For now, our task is to present our people as best we may in physical achievements - any wider goals are to be left to others better able and better placed to see them achieved than we are".
"Some of those are starting in the stadium now" one of the men said, nodding "Qualifications for distance jumped from running starts or standing starts. Something simple that we can do well at".
"Coach Gaphak is coming..." another female Kalish hissed "Best we keep discussion of long-term goals quiet for now, we have qualification sporting events to win!"
"What thing do you like best so far, Feltano?" Trannak asked his son, smiling and rumbling softly "What event or kind of people that you have seen?"
"What kind of people are the ones we saw that were blue?!" Feltano asked in amazement "I have not see them before! There were ones like them that were other colours too!"
"They are Delvian, Feltano" Amara replied, pleased to be able to tell her brother something new "I have seen blue Delvians before. A blue Delvian taught me some of the special things I know".
"There was one that looked a bit like uncle whisper Scarran" Feltano said, looking up at his sister "and one that was pink... and a blue one... one with yellow and orange bits... one that looks a bit like camouflage...".
Amara smiled and nodded, saying "I saw them too, little brother... it was amazing to see Delvians in all those different colours!"
The Marshal smiled indulgently at the two children before turning to Kiya and asking "How do we do? Have the Hierarchy's athletes done well so far? Do all three species do well or only our own?"
"Current results suggest the Charrids are doing well at the shorter-distance running events" Kiya replied, checking her PDA "Interestingly enough, the Kalish seem to be performing better given a little distance to build up speed, much as our Scarran athletes do" before looking up and saying "Acrobatic performance qualification events are starting within a quarter-arn, Marshal... and although it will be expected that representatives of the Hierarchy will be there, you do not have to be that representative unless you wish to".
"Perhaps our... new friends" the Marshal replied, nodding briefly toward Trannak and his family "...might wish to go to the acrobatic qualification events. I could tell the children liked these events... but I think, with two of them being Kalish, that the acrobatic events will appeal more".
"New things to see?!" Feltano asked, his voice rising higher in excitement "Where are they? When do we go? Who goes first?"
"I think your two new friends with black skin know where we should go, my son" Trannak explained "They will go first. Your uncle whisper Scarran and uncle smiley Scarran will go next. Everyone else will stay with me and your mother".
"We stay with you too, papa" Feltano decided, nodding "Uncle whisper Scarran or uncle smiley Scarran tell us new good stuff if it happen"
"Running stuff is fun!" Harek told the other children, clapping "I am big but I can run fast!"
"Tabitha does short running best" Martha decided "She does lots of running around home quarters and in galley to the food queue".
"Tabitha is good at running" Anton agreed, nodding - before pointing when Tabitha smiled and rumbled loudly in thanks for the praise of her friends.
"I like running around home quarters" she replied happily "and to the queue in the galley! If I get to the front of the queue it means sisters join me and mama and papa join me and we all get food first".
"Amara and Feltano see" Sherenka reminded them all "They are there with their mama and papa and uncle smiley Scarran and uncle whisper Scarran" before asking Talannah "They call us soon, auntie Talannah? They tell us what they have seen?"
"They might do" Talannah replied "After you all eat at least one serving of savoury food, I will comm and ask".
"We eat" Sherenka said, pleased with this course of action "Then we call Feltano and Amara on comm. Good".
Once the adults had finished their meat and vegetable rolls and drank the last of their fellip, everyone got to their feet - there was a minor commotion after they had moved on as people jostled for more favourable seating, which Amara told Trannak about.
"Do not worry about that, Amara" he told her "As long as there is no fighting, we can safely ignore it and not pass it on to Security for action. Well done for noticing, though".
"Charrid people..." Feltano called softly, pointing "I see them and smell them, papa. All big people. No small people".
"Most likely from Chena'ia" Skroloth suggested "That's the planet where a lot of Charrid people live near here, children" before grinning - Amara saw his grin and asked about it, and once he whispered in her ear for a few microts Amara jumped up and down before shrieking and clapping in excitement before hugging Trannak.
"So your uncle smiley Scarran told you an interesting story, did he...?" Trannak asked, smiling - Amara just nodded and said "I will ask him to tell us all of it later, papa, when we are back on our home ship again!"
"We hear, papa" Feltano added "We hear smiley uncle tell story and then we know".
"More Scarrans, papa" Feltano said a little while later, surprising everyone "I smell them but not see them".
"Show us where" Kiya replied immediately, forgetting for a microt that she was talking to a child "Point in the right direction if you can't see them. Tell us why you think Scarrans are there. Report".
Feltano rumbled softly and happily before describing their respective scents - both the Marshal and Kiya were surprised he was familiar enough with the smell of changed people that he could identify them at range, but the Marshal simply smiled and said "Well done, young man. My nose is not as good as yours... so direct us closer, bring us to where I can see if I recognise their scent. I know only a few of the members of Black Omega by their scent, but I will say if we find one of them. I will not tell you which one, though...".
"I would not know who they are, anyway" Trannak replied "I never encountered your group during my terms of service - I don't know if any of my friends here have done so, since they have not spoken about any such meetings to me".
A stocky male Scarran of mixed-caste descent grinned and drank an entire large plastic mug of fellip without stopping before rumbling and throwing the mug up in the air - where he incinerated it, drawing applause from the younger members of the audience around him and cautious glares from the older ones. Several of the Charrid and Sebacean younger men challenged each other to see if they could drink one of the large mugfuls of fellip without stopping just like the Scarran did - the food stand operator said "Line up nice in the queue, then - an' you pay in advance, just like you did for the food, too...".
By the time four young men of each species had drank, the Scarran sniffed, then looked around briefly before rumbling softly and calling "Have fun, you lot - don't drink so much you can't cheer the Scarran athletes when we win, though...".
"I think..." the Marshal decided, sniffing slightly "...I know who it might be. I don't know if you will know him, I somehow doubt it - but he is friendly, though he spends little enough time around Kalish people".
Amara looked up at Serila, asking her "You come with me, auntie Serila? We go out front, I see if I smell new person?"
"I will come as well" the Marshal, curious about just what Amara might be able to do - Feltano made a few hand signals to Juroch, who smiled back and nodded before signalling Skroloth as well.
"On our level, young girl" the Marshal told Amara, nodding "At a food stand, I think. He is a bit low-caste and a bit high-caste, so he might smell a bit unusual to you".
"I know the smell of both kinds of Scarran" Amara boasted "I find your friend, you watch and see".
"Smell five Scarran" Amara reported, surprising everyone as she pointed to where she though each of them were - before her eyes went wide and she squeaked in delight and called "One is a special person! I smell him! He is eating and drinking lots of a stinky drink called fellip! He got black jacket and trousers on! He got sneaky person hat on like papa wear sometimes!"
"What else can you tell about him?" the Marshal prompted "There is more that you might find out, young girl! Find out and tell us!"
"Test for me..." Amara rumbled, clapping "Good. I like test stuff".
It took less than five microts before Amara tapped her treblin temple three times. The Marshal immediately figured out what the signal meant, rumbling and telling her "Yes, young girl... he is a mentalist. He does different things to me, he is in a different part of the group I lead to me".
"He is safe for mama and little brother and little sister?" Amara asked worriedly "He will not hurt them or make them cry?"
"He will not" the Marshal replied "He might ask a few questions about you, young girl".
"We listen and we see" Amara decided, nodding "If he is nice, I talk to him and ask him stuff. If I like him, I tell him stuff that is not secret. If I don't know things he asks about then papa will tell him".
"We not tell him lots" Feltano cautioned her, shaking his head "He is not one of the people who live with us and our friends. We should be nice but not talk lots".
"True, Feltano" Trannak told his son "We should be careful what we say... but like Amara says, we should be nice as well. If we are nice to him, he will be more likely to be nice to us". Feltano just looked up at his father and nodded before rumbling softly.
Four Peacekeepers were within sight if not too close by and called in the sighting of the Marshal and Kiya.
"They came in on that Vorlek" came the reply "or in its battlegroup, anyway. We got names we think go with those faces... but we know little else about them. Keep your eyes an' ears open, but don't go close".
The squad leader passed that on to her patrol group and several others.
"We watch..." she told them "...an' we listen. I got the impression from higher up that these ones we seen are well known and very dangerous. They might look neatly-dressed and might even speak our language for all I know... but stay well clear and don't draw their attention. We got our duties in our stadium sector, let's stick with that - if we do see these ones, just call it back to me an' I'll pass it on back up the chain of command".
The mixed-caste Scarran got off his stool and walked slowly towards the Marshal, grinning a bit as he put his cap back on.
"Can't say I know this lot, Marshal..." he announced surprisingly quietly "Don't think any of them are with us - Grand Protectors or Cloudwalkers didn't send a few along by other routes, did they?"
"Not that I'm aware of" the Marshal replied, shaking his head "These are ...local Scarrans. They work with Security here".
"They know the ones in charge of these games, then" the new man decided "Or they're in charge and want to come and see how it's all going for themselves".
"I am not in charge of the games" Trannak replied "The governor leads there, as he does elsewhere on this world - the unit I am a part of is in charge of security and law enforcement for these games, so we coordinate with the various major and minor powers competing".
The new man rumbled a little before nodding and saying "At least the governor knows who keeps order best and put one of us in charge - oh, I expect you're not government any more, but you're still Scarran. Which means you think the right way about important things".
"This man is a mentalist, papa" Amara said, a half-metra or so outside Trannak's deadlock zone "He is very strong, papa. His mind feels all warm, papa - I do not know why".
"This is General Kruzek" the Marshal told Trannak "He leads the Flaming Skulls subsection of Black Omega" before turning to face Amara and adding "It is interesting you mentioned his mind feeling warm, young girl - the General is very good at what he does, and he is a pyrokinetic. He makes and moulds fire".
Kruzek bent down and rumbled as he examined Amara - who stepped back a step or two, her hands moving to a ready position. Juroch whispered in Kalish to her, after which her facial expression stayed wary but her hands came back down to her sides again.
"The narl knows fighting stuff, then" Kruzek decided, then smiled before adding "That's good, that is. She looks old enough to start learning that. It's good for her to know how to take care of herself" before looking down to see himself floating several denches off the ground.
Kruzek laughed and clapped before saying "She's good if she can do that without me noticing! Odd that she can do that when she's still quite a young narl... but she's been trained, I can tell. That's both good and absolutely necessary" to Trannak, then adding "You can put me down now, narl" politely but firmly to Amara.
Amara did that, the very slight glow in her eyes fading out completely as she did so. Caseya immediately called her over to her, checking she was well and asking if she was hurting in her head from lifting an active mentalist with her power.
"I am well, mama" Amara assured her, hugging her and rumbling "The new man did not mind me doing that, mama - I think he liked it, mama. He seems happy".
"I think I might stay around" Kruzek decided "You two look like you found some fun, Marshal".
"There are lots of fun things here" Feltano said softly, nodding "We seen some already. We are going to see more new fun things. Are you coming too?"
"If there's a food stand I will" Kruzek replied "I only had a few drinks and one roll at that one back there. I'm feeling hungry".
"That is because you are Scarran" Feltano replied, nodding "Your face has bits from both kinds of Scarran in it. You got special stuff that secret too. Big sister says that you are a mentalist like her".
"Not quite like her, mister" Kruzek replied, leaning over to look at Feltano more closely "I don't think she does the same stuff as me - not all of it, anyway".
"Big sister is sneaky" Feltano replied "She keeps best mental stuff secret. If she does not want you to know then you will not know" before reaching up to test his skin and stroke his ridges.
"I see..." he murmured "I see and I touch and I smell and now I know".
When Talannah's comm bleeped all the children started chattering and clapping very excitedly - Harrigan laughed with them before saying "Let your auntie Tal answer the comm, kiddies - or we'll never find out who's calling, will we?"
"It is me" Amara confirmed, giggling when she heard the other children shriek and laugh.
"I am here, friends!" Amara called happily "There have been a lot of interesting things happening! Mama and papa and Feltano and Maranno and I have seen new people and new things! Do you want to hear about them?"
"WE HEAR, WE HEAR!" Tabitha shouted, after which she giggled at her sisters "You tell us, Amara!"
"Hear..." Garakk called "Hear 'Mara friend. Hear good stuff".
"Good stuff... " Alphak added, nodding "New good stuff. We hear it".
Amara took some time to tell them all what she and the rest of the group had seen, including what kinds of people - Talannah rumbled warily and asked for pictures of the Marshal and General Kruzek, which Amara promptly provided, projecting them into the air for everyone to see once Harrigan had moved off a little.
"Magnify their brows, Amara" Talannah asked "Right over their eyes. There are two small pictures on their skin, one on each side of their heads... you told us what they said they were, let's see if I can confirm that for us...".
Amara smugly did just as she was asked, and Talannah nodded and replied "Black Omega sighting confirmed - these two are exactly who they say they are. I saw the Marshal once, some cycles ago, but have never seen General Kruzek".
"Auntie Talannah say she seen you before" Feltano told the Marshal, looking him in the eye "Big sister show her pictures on your head and then she see and then she know".
The Marshal smiled briefly, trying to recognise her name - but eventually said "I don't have Kalish memory like I think you two do - if I've seen your auntie before, it was some cycles ago".
Kiya pointed to one sign, and the Marshal nodded - Amara looked as well, asking Caseya about it.
"Wait and see, Amara..." Caseya replied, smiling "You will like it, I know that".
"New fun stuff" Amara decided, clapping "New people to see fun stuff with, too!"
Both Amara and Feltano stared at the unusual gymnastic apparatus in the centre of the gym floor and asked lots of questions about it all - Kiya just rumbled briefly before telling them "It's easier for you to just wait and see for yourselves, narls, rather than for the Marshal and I to tell you about it".
Amara and Feltano both listened intently as the events were described over the PA, turning to see where the judges were sitting when the speaker directed them to do so.
"They will show numbers on the screens on the front of their desks, children" Caseya explained "The higher the number, the better they think the person did" before whispering "If you do not like the score given, Amara... do not change what people see or make them change the score".
"I not do that, mama" Amara confirmed, nodding before hugging Caseya and stroking her baby sister's ridges - Maranno woke up and burbled a bit at her sister before sniffing and turning to face Kiya, then giggling a bit.
Amara just stared when the various athletes performed their routines for the judges and audience, cooing very softly and pointing each time she saw something particularly interesting - Feltano watched as well, moving his hands to mimic how the athlete moved, which drew a few interested comments from both the Marshal and a few of the nearby spectators. Caseya smiled and boasted a little of some of the achievements of her two older children, which got Maranno opening her eyes and making inquisitive noises again.
"Our newest child" Trannak explained proudly, rumbling softly to make Maranno clap "She does very well. She is strong and healthy, and she is quick and clever as well".
One or two parents did come to look at her, which Maranno loved and rewarded with happy claps and giggles - one mother asked about the children being hybrid and if they were healthy.
"They are" Caseya replied "Very much so. I know some people do not think hybrid children can be healthy, but all three of my children are healthy in their minds and bodies".
"We are strong and clever and sneaky" Feltano told them, nodding "We learn from mama and papa and friends. We know lots of good stuff".
The Interion athletes were clearly the highlight of these qualification events and knew it - the four competing, both male and female, did exceptionally well, and the larger male showed off by doing repeated somersaults right around the edge of the competition area of the floor for people to see.
Amara and Feltano both laughed out loud and clapped, as did many of the children and more than a few of the adults.
The Marshal whispered to both Kruzek and Kiya before heading out to get food, which Feltano took as a sign he could look at Kruzek and talk to him. Kruzek grinned and rumbled and tickled him a bit, which Feltano loved - and raised a brow in surprise when Feltano described his face to Trannak with almost milimetric precision, right down to the style and placement of his two tiny facial tattoos.
"Is a good thing" a voice announced, its owner stepping forward and revealing them to be a Vorcarian female of middle to late cycles in age "Boy knows how to describe friends, to describe prey, and how to find both again when needed. He is a clever boy, I think".
Caseya told her children a little about Vorcarian people, which got the older woman a lot of attention - she clearly did not like being close to Scarrans, but leaned forward to sniff at both Amara and Feltano.
"You do good smells" Feltano said, nodding "Big sister and I do good too, but you do bestbest smells for big people. Friends teach us about you".
The Vorcarian woman smiled at that, clearly pleased her people were of interest to small children, before sitting down beside Caseya - and seeing Maranno for the first time. She smiled and remarked with approval on Caseya's warm and strong child harness, telling her how she carried her own children through many lands on her home planet and elsewhere when they were small, and smiled when Amara reached up to test her face and memorise her scent.
She barked once and briefly when she smelled the food the Marshal brought back - and was surprised when Amara insisted on sharing her own meat roll with her.
"You are my new friend" Amara said in passable Vorcarian "I share my food with you", then rumbling when the woman rested her furry head briefly against her own. Caseya watched as Amara talked to her and shared her food with her, telling Trannak about it.
"Amara has made another friend, I think" he replied "I don't know anything about Vorcarian tribal welcoming protocol, but I expect sharing food shows some degree of trust - which might be part of why Amara is being received well". The whole group watched Amara talk to the Vorcarian woman for some time and watched the remaining qualifications for that particular kind of acrobatic event.
"Back to your grandma and grandpa's dwelling, I think" Trannak told Amara after that "I will need to call your big funny friend to see if there are other things for me to do, and your grandma and grandpa will want to see all three of you children...".
"We go..." Feltano replied happily "We see..." before hugging both the Marshal and Kiya, and after a little encouraging Kruzek as well.
"Your jacket is a bit like the one uncle smiley Scarran wears sometimes" Feltano decided, looking at Kruzek "He has one like that. It has lots of pockets in".
"Don't put this in official logs, General..." the Marshal decided softly once he was sure Amara and the rest of the group were outside hearing range "I think any association we might cultivate with these people, if we do at all, would be much better for everyone if it's kept strictly unofficial".
"Fine with me, sir..." Kruzek replied, thinking about Amara's power and how easily she had managed to lift him "Always nice to have a few off-the-books friends" before he sniffed, then pointed, before saying "Don't know about you, sir... but I'm hungry again and that stand smells like it's got good stuff..."
"The broadcast box is on..." Skroloth whispered as everyone came closer to the shop "I can barely hear it, but it's on. Probably games stuff".
There were quite a few customers in the shop when Trannak and his family entered - of several species as well, which both Amara and Feltano loved - so Caseya got her two older children to watch her father bargain and deal with each of them.
"Ah, you have decided to come and see us today..." Caseya's father called happily when he found a free microt or two "All of your children and several friends as well! Go through to the dwelling, please... go on, go on...".
Amara and Feltano giggled and hugged their grandfather, after which they watched as he fussed over Maranno - who cooed and smiled for him gladly - before making their way behind the counter and into the family dwelling.
Juroch greeted Caseya's mother in the Kalish way, which made her smile as she thanked him for it.
"Uncle Trannak!" Devin called excitedly, throwing his arms around him "I am the highest achiever in my group on the study network now! I help father with more things in the shop and on repair commissions, too! Mother is starting to cook a few things to sell to customers, so they can eat while their weapons or other things are fixed!"
Trannak rumbled happily before asking him if he had made any friends as well - Devin nodded and promptly told him about several of them, and Trannak praised him for making friends outside his own species.
"That is difficult for both our peoples, Devin" Trannak explained "People can think Kalish are too clever and Scarrans are too nasty - so it's good to show them that while you are clever you are friendly and helpful as well".
"Eprain is a good friend!' Devin replied, nodding "We play here and I teach him things I have learned! Drallan is Kalish and has twin sisters who are younger than him, and one brother who is younger than them! I met them at the swimming place in the North!"
"You brought your two old friends, Trannak" Caseya's mother said, looking at both Skroloth and Serila "As well as your other friend, Master Juroch".
"I have" Trannak confirmed "We spent a while at the main stadium, both making contact with security personnel for the games and watching a few of the qualification events".
"Those were on the broadcast" Devin told him, nodding "Just running ones so far. A lot of Sebaceans qualified, a few Charrids, and two Kalish. I did not see any Scarrans qualify".
"I think Scarrans will do better at other events" Juroch told him "and at longer-distance running. We should watch and see as the week progresses to see how well they do, yes?"
Devin nodded before asking if they saw the Delvians - Amara immediately shrieked in excitement before telling him about each one she saw, asking which as his favourite.
"All of them were interesting" Devin replied "but I think I liked the pink one... pale pink, with tiny veins like a flower..." - after which Amara promptly explained why that Delvian was that way and how she knew Delvians were a kind of plant.
"Enough study talk, you two..." Caseya's mother said with a laugh "Sit back, watch the broadcast... I can get you something to eat and drink if any of you are hungry or thirsty...".
Skroloth showed off his own knowledge of the Kalish language by asking for a few basic Kalish snacks and grangacha - Juroch nodded and smiled as well, though he did add "I will make sure our smiling friend here does not drink too much...".
"Fruit juice for me please, mother" Caseya added "and for our children" before lifting up Maranno to show her - Caseya's mother smiled and soothed her small granddaughter, who rumbled and then giggled before snuggling up to her, though she did smile when Caseya took her back again.
"You can help me in the kitchen, Amara" Caseya's mother said with a smile "You can help me prepare food and drink for you and your friends here. I do not know if you know where things usually go in a Kalish family kitchen, but I will tell you where to find things when I ask for them".
"We do that" Amara agreed readily, nodding "We make food for friends and family".
Caseya leaned against her husband, smiling as she listened to Amara and her mother making snacks and finding drinks for everyone - especially when Feltano asked to help carry things to the lounge table.
"Come, Feltano" Caseya's mother replied, encouraging her grandson "There are things you can carry as well. Be very careful, we must not drop any of it...".
Feltano walked across the room with as much concentration as he could muster, looking between what he was carrying and the route ahead until he had placed the tray with glasses on it on the table - after which he checked each glass for damage and called "All OK..." when he didn't find any.
"Good, good..." Trannak told him before rumbling softly and telling him what was in the bottle.
"Special Kalish drink for big people..." Feltano said, looking at the bottle and sniffing when Trannak opened it.
"It has fruit in" Feltano said when both Trannak and Caseya's mother turned towards him "Not sure about other stuff. It smells quite strong, but I do not know why".
Juroch told him a little about grangacha, and although Feltano seemed pleased his change would let him avoid alcohol poisoning or intoxication he said "I have that when I am a big person like papa or uncle whisper Scarran. I have juice now".
Juroch opened the small meal with the traditional Kalish words, which everyone was clearly pleased to hear, even though Serila was a little mystified and Skroloth admitted readily enough he only knew less than half of what he saw and heard.
Maranno sniffed the bottle she was given, knowing it did not smell like milk formula - but clapped when she had drunk a little bit, after which she drank the rest non-stop. She shrieked happily when Amara let her taste the sauce on her treel, which everyone loved to hear - Amara told her sister about treel and about why the fish and other things in it was good for her, after which Maranno just burbled a little and hugged her sister.
"That is uncle Troll man" Feltano said, pointing to the broadcast screen "He is our friend. He has five small people" before naming each of Troll's children in order of age and describing them in detail.
"I may have seen one of them..." Caseya's mother said "The younger girl does sound familiar...".
"We did bring Tabitha here once, yes" Trannak said, nodding "She climbed on Skroloth a bit. She was very happy to meet everyone, I know that".
Juroch smiled as he slowly ate his food, then rumbled softly when he had finished before drinking his glass of grangacha.
"You should have competed in the acrobatic events" Caseya told him, grinning a bit "I think you would have made it very hard indeed for those Interion - oh, they would have qualified, but certainly not in first place, I think".
Juroch smiled and laughed just a little, replying "I challenge myself physically because it is interesting, because Master Odass was willing to teach me, and because I like a challenge - but not the kind that involves winning medals. I can certainly excel in acrobatic events, anyone who has seen me train knows that... but doing so now would show to anyone that I am not a normal Scarran any more. It is in everyone's best interests, especially my friends, that there is no public knowledge of... how I came to be as I am now".
"Special stuff is secret" Feltano confirmed, nodding "That is right, uncle whisper Scarran. That is why we do not tell anyone about it except friends".
Juroch lifted Feltano up and hugged him, nodding and rumbling, before setting him back on the floor again and saying "Look, there are still some meat snacks in the bowl - perhaps you could pass me the bowl, and then carry it around so everyone can have some".
Feltano did just that, after which he examined the treel bowl in detail before taking a fork and scraping every last bit of treel and sauce out of it and eating it.
"Good..." he whispered, then rumbled before adding "I sit with whisper Scarran now, mama and papa, if you do not mind".
"Sit with whisper Scarran" Trannak confirmed "He is our friend, isn't he?".
"Whisper Scarran is our friend" Feltano confirmed, climbing up on the sofa beside him "He teaches me lots of fun and interesting things, papa".
"Sit, mother" Caseya urged her mother with a smile "I will pour grangacha for you" before asking Amara "Your auntie Serila looks a little tense, Amara - why not go and give her a hug or get her more tea or things to eat? If she wants grangacha, tell your papa".
"Ask your papa to pour me this grangacha your uncle was drinking" Serila decided "I have not had that before. You can get me some snacks if your brother has not eaten them all".
A relaxed two or three arns was spent watching the broadcast of the remaining qualification events that day - halted when the broadcast switched to a interstellar news program and Trannak's comm started bleeping.
"Yes?" Trannak asked.
"Got a job for you, mister" Harrigan told him "Don't think it's a good idea to bring the kids along, but you might want to bring Caseya. Tal would be happy to look after Maranno, I know that".
Harrigan spent a little while explaining what was needed - and Trannak seemed quite wary as he asked the occasional question and listened to what Harrigan told him.
"I can do that, certainly..." he decided eventually "but you are right in thinking I will not take the children there. We will return to the Havoc briefly to get what I need and to return the children and our friends to their home, after which I will return to do what you need me to do. Is anyone else coming?"
"We're allowed to bring four, maybe five" Harrigan replied "It's a condition that I got to come along, but since none of Tactical Command can show their faces there I have to find a Bloodstar or two".
Trannak whispered to Caseya for almost a momen, after which she hugged him and said "If I am with you there, then I am safe".
"Your mama and I have a job to do for your friend the big funny man, children" Trannak told Amara and Feltano "Your auntie Talannah will look after all of you, including Maranno - you help your auntie Talannah with your youngest sibling, yes?"
"We do that, papa" Amara replied, nodding "When does this mission start, papa?"
"After we return to our home" Trannak explained "Skroloth and Serila will stay with you, while a small number of our friends will come with me. I will not tell you who".
"That is secret, papa?" Amara asked, and Trannak nodded and replied "It is, Amara - but I don't know everyone who is coming yet, either".
As soon as everyone got back to the Havoc and met Harrigan again, Amara started repeatedly asking Harrigan who would be going on the mission with Trannak.
Harrigan just lifted her up, grinning as she and Feltano shrieked and laughed, before putting her down a few microts later and saying "Don't know yet, you two... your papa an' I are gonna decide that right now".
"We stay and hear?" Feltano asked with interest "We see? We see?!"
"You can stay if you're quiet and stand still" Harrigan decided "Stay beside me or beside your momma or Dad".
"Mama say auntie Talannah will look after little sister while mama and papa go on the mission" Feltano said "Mama say we help auntie Talannah, big funny man".
"That's right" Harrigan confirmed, which the two children loved to hear.
Trannak spent maybe a quarter-arn sorting out the details with Harrigan - after which Harrigan said "So... let me get this right... your wife flies you all down there. You get a Scimitar or Scorpion with you crewed by Tactical Command - which'll be fine since they don't ever have to come out of it and they can stay at a nice safe distance from the embassy. The bodyguard delegation picks up the governor from admin HQ and goes straight to the embassy from there - after which whatever vehicle you bring goes back to the Dulenos shop and waits in the pit 'round the back until we call for it".
"Yes, Commander " Trannak replied, nodding "Since it will be expected we provide some of our best troops for this bodyguard delegation, I suggest that - in addition to yourself - there should be myself, Skroloth, and Juroch in addition to my wife representing Skulker Command. Tactical Command will be providing transport. We need two, maybe three, Bloodstars who can be relied upon to keep a cool head - they don't have to be officers, they just have to think the right way and realise there's bigger issues at hand than nullifying Hierarchy personnel or pillaging the armoury or computer cores".
"Karroch's got the skills..." Harrigan replied "but he looks enough like his Dad that he'd be recognised instantly by any Law Command or intel people".
"Rustuk or Dern?" Caseya suggested "Both seem to have well-adjusted personalities and the ability to see, as you humans put it, 'the bigger picture' ?"
"Dern's even older than Lirak" Harrigan replied "and while he's calm and rational enough, I think he likes not doing anything too far away or too stressful these days. He's a great guy and a good soldier, but for now at least he's staying on street patrol and counter-insurgency locally when he's not teaching the kiddies".
"...and Rustuk?" Trannak prompted.
"He's good" Harrigan said "We can bring him here and ask. If he wants to and he understands the nature of the mission, he can come".
"How about Captain Tareg?" Skroloth suggested "Comin' from where Juroch does, he knows how to keep his mouth shut and think straight... and being a stonewalker means we get heavy support if we need it".
Harrigan commed both Captain Tareg and Rustuk - once they both arrived he explained the unusual nature of the current mission and what they would be needed for.
"I must say, sir..." Rustuk said "It's going to be hard going in there and not looting and killing... but the way I see it, that's more than balanced out by the opportunity to eat and drink as much as I like. With the Hierarchy paying the bill".
"Don't get yourself smashed, mister" Harrigan warned "We need you mobile and ready at a microt's notice - but feel free to stuff your face with whatever food takes your fancy".
"This is interesting..." Captain Tareg replied, smiling a little "Invited or not, Commander, I suggest we leave our coloured shoulderboards here - wearing them may cause more problems than it solves".
"I expect it may do" Trannak replied "It will be expected that we wear any and all medals we have been awarded - which is partly why Skroloth is coming. He was awarded the Gold Star before coming here" before smiling and adding "I have the Scarran Medal of Honour".
Tareg rumbled softly when he heard that.
"Well done..." he told Captain Trannak in praise "I myself have a small number of medals... but I do not have that one".
"You will wear them all, Captain Tareg" Trannak replied "It doesn't matter if you earned them in the Hand, since no one will tell anyone else how you earned them even if we knew... but protocol says we should wear dress uniforms and medals. Since the Hand doesn't have dress uniforms, we wear clean Special Forces camouflage fatigues, Special Forces headgear, and personal sidearms that suggest our membership of Force Strangler A-team units - and yes, that includes the shortswords".
"OK then" Harrigan decided aloud "Delegation consists of myself, Captains Trannak and Tareg, Caseya, Juroch, Skroloth, and Rustuk. Tactical Command support will be whoever Cap'n L and Rulok decide needs to come. As far as the vehicle goes... we can put a Scimitar on a standard assault lander... but we'd need a bulk lander or the Switchblade to handle a Scorpion".
"Can we take the Switchblade, please?" Caseya asked with eager anticipation "I would like to fly that again, even only for the short flight down to my family's shop! I think it will be a tight fit in the family blast pit... but I also know Devin will be pleased to see it there".
"Tactical Command can crew it, then" Harrigan replied "With you being pilot in command and either Rulok or Lirak leading the other Tactical Command troops".
When Lazarus was told, he asked Rulok about it - to his surprise, both Rulok and Lirak offered him the chance to lead their part of the mission, saying "Our teams trust you, Captain... and I think both Lirak and I would prefer to actually get a few arns of sleep extra if we aren't needed for emergency intervention drop again".
"Koronna can come as well" Lazarus decided "and I think it's safe enough to bring my son on the ship as well, once I tell him that's where he's staying unless Caseya's momma lets us in the house. I'll put my family in one of the staterooms near the bow so they're out of the troops' way".
"Since Troll's not broadcasting at night" Tareg said "I'll assign him to night patrol with a few of Captain Haresh's Kalish. They'll get security duty at the stadium for the field events tomorrow as well, but a night patrol's a good warm-up for them, I think".
After that, Harrigan commed the governor and told him who had been selected for bodyguard duty.
"A little on the large size, I think" the governor replied "for a bodyguard unit... but the idea of having highly decorated veterans with us is a good one, I think. I don't know what Hierarchy protocol would be for when a recipient of that Medal of Honour walks in, but it will increase my standing for having found such a person and bringing them with me" before discomming.
"Grab your gear, get properly dressed..." Harrigan ordered everyone "Get back here in twenty or I send Cap'n L to come find you" before passing on the orders to Captain Lazarus as well.
It was a momen or two past the twenty momens allowed before everyone had arrived and was properly equipped. Every Scarran looked at Trannak's Scarran Medal of Honour that he wore around his neck with pride, and Trannak rumbled softly at that while Caseya stood a little straighter.
"Children..." Caseya said when Talannah came to collect them "Remember you need to help your auntie Talannah to look after your younger sister. Help her out with other things if you can... but your part of this mission is mostly helping your auntie look after Maranno, yes?"
"We do that, mama" Amara promised "We will do that and we will do fun stuff and we will tell you all about it when you come back".
"Which ship are you taking, mama?" Feltano asked "Will you be flying it, mama?"
"We are taking the big grey one, Feltano" Caseya told her son with a smile "and yes, I will be flying. I think Captain Lazarus will be in the copilot's seat".
"I will be" Trannak said, correcting her "Your mama has helped me learn the basics as well... it would be good for me to learn from your mama, would it not?"
"Yes, papa" Feltano replied "Mama is good at flying big ships, papa. You see and you listen and then you know too. Then you and mama teach Amara and teach me and teach Maranno when we are older".
Maranno smiled when Talannah lifted her from Caseya's arms, burbling and cooing a bit before settling against her shoulder and going straight to sleep.
"Harek will like to see you all, children" Talannah reminded them "He will be especially pleased that you have all come to our family quarters as well".
Once Lazarus arrived with all the members of Tactical Command required to crew the Switchblade, Caseya smiled and lowered the drop ramp remotely.
"Inside, everyone" she encouraged "Go to your usual crew positions. Either my Trannak or the War Commander should accompany me to the bridge for copilot duties".
"Come on, son..." Lazarus told young Anton softly "You get to come an' help your mother and I this time. You can stay with your mother in the quarters near the bow or you can come with me to the bridge. Since Novia's not needed for astronavigation, I can sit there".
"Will uncle Shellek be on the bridge, papa?" Anton asked, looking up at his father.
"No" Shellek decided "I can watch the diagnostic displays from my quarters nearer the engines and flight deck. Koronna knows enough about what she sees on the console to understand what's happening - that way I can rest and still be ready for anything that happens".
"Papa going to the bridge" Anton said happily "Mama going to the bridge. I go to the bridge. Uncle Trannak going to the bridge and auntie Caseya going to the bridge. She does the flying. I am too small".
As soon as the bridge crew were settled, Lazarus polled all other ship stations. Everyone called "All OK" once they had confirmed everything they used was in full working order without even a momentary orange warning light blinking - when Caseya commed the bridge for takeoff clearance, Garakk's grinning face filled the screen and he laughed before Urana moved him away and called "Clearance granted... containment field is on and deck doors are opening now..."
With Lazarus' help, young Anton called ahead for landing clearance from port control at the Duleno private pit.
"That ship you have is gonna be a tight fit in that pit..." the controller warned "You call if you can't fit it in there first time 'round, yeah? I can get you a bigger one not too far off, no problem".
"My wife can do it" Trannak boasted, smiling "She is very good at flying. Watch and see".
Lazarus encouraged his son to watch every detail of the landing while staying quiet - he did whisper to his father about things he saw on the instruments or heard from the others on the bridge, most of which Lazarus told him about, but Caseya made a safe if slow landing inside the Duleno blast pit before powering down the ship to standby levels.
Anton clapped when the bridge door opened and he saw Harrigan standing there - he grumbled a bit when he was told that he and his family would be staying on the ship, but nodded and said "We go in if Devin or big orange people come and get us, uncle big funny man" when he was told why.
"Awriight..." Harrigan called once everyone had gathered on the drop deck "We'll stop for a microt to say hi to the Dulenos... but then we'll grab a Scorpion and head to administration HQ to pick up the governor. Everyone make sure your medals are on right and all your personal gear is properly secured before we leave...".
Trannak and Juroch made sure everyone was properly attired and medals were correctly displayed, after which Juroch nodded and told Harrigan "All OK, War Commander... we are ready to proceed" before turning and nodding to Lazarus and adding "Captain Lazarus... if you could ask Tactical Command to prepare a Scorpion for the delegation, this would be much appreciated. We will spend just a few momens at the Duleno dwelling, after which we will return here to the drop deck".
Lazarus just called "OK, you lot... it's not like we can't do that with our eyes closed, so I want whichever Scorp's in best condition run through the pre-battle checks now" as Caseya lowered the drop ramp before giggling a little bit.
Amara and Feltano clapped and giggled as well when Caseya explained how none of them would even have been permitted to be close to a Switchblade inside Hierarchy-controlled space, though Amara said "We are lucky again, mama. We get to see new and interesting ships and people here, mama. Some Scarrans and some Kalish and some others".
"Lots of people and things" Feltano added in agreement, before talking softly about the Vorcarian woman and the Delvians of all the kinds he saw earlier in the day.
"Ah, you have returned" Caseya's mother said when she opened the rear dwelling door, though she got no further before Devin shrieked and ran out to hug Trannak and ask questions about the Switchblade.
"When we brought you all here, Devin..." Trannak replied with a grin "... you all came in that ship! I see you have lost none of your interest in it, Devin".
"I have not, uncle Trannak!" Devin replied happily "There is so much to like about it, even in the nice quarters in the bow!"
Devin listened while Harrigan told Caseya's parents why the Switchblade was there, after which they told Devin "Some of your friends will be here for a few arns, Devin... but they will working. They are here until your other friends call for them to come and collect them. You can talk to them and ask them questions... but when they need to work, you should step aside and not get in their way".
"I will, papa" Devin promised, then grinned and added "Who is the Sebacean woman, papa? I do not remember having seen her before...".
"She is Jane, Devin" Lirak explained, rumbling very softly "She is a human, you know - not Sebacean. She is from the same world Captain Lazarus and the Commander and the other humans are from".
Caseya grinned as she watched Devin take hold of Jane's hammond hand and half-drag her inside, chattering about the dwelling and the food their mother could cook and every other interesting thing that crossed his mind.
"Good" Caseya told everyone with a smile "My brother is making a new friend and my parents do not mind hosting most of our Tactical Command detachment for a few arns - though I expect father will have most of them on duties helping him in the shop all the way up until lockdown".
"Good" Harrigan replied "I don't mind if they relax... but if any of them can help out around the shop then that's good too".
Krynak was waiting for them when they returned to the Switchblade's drop deck - in front of a vehicle bunker with the door raised to the open position.
"This one's one of the new ones Captain Trannak brought back with him" he told everyone, nodding toward the Scorpion behind him "I checked it all over, Shellek did too - and it looks like everything's still in good order. I powered it up to standby - so all you gotta do is engage drive an' off you go".
"Who do we have for crew?" Trannak asked, and Krynak replied "I'm driving... Darrek volunteered to stay in the turret... Darrek said he'd grab two extra to stay with us in the Scorpion wherever it goes. Don't know who he's going to get just yet, we'll see when they get here".
Rulok came as well, though he just gave the Scorpion's crew a few precautionary orders before saying "We'll be on standby here, Commander... Lirak's in there with Jane right now, but both of them can be back in position here in less than three momens".
"I'll leave the fine details to you, mister" Harrigan replied "You know this ship better 'n me anyway, so as long as you got it ready to go it's up to you how you get it there".
Rulok nodded before calling "We're on precautionary standby alert now, crew - so that means armour and weapons to be worn at all times unless you're in the refreshers" over the ship's PA via his comm.
"Get in, get in..." Trannak urged everyone "Commander, since this vehicle was designed to carry large powered-armour, you don't need to sit in the middle on the floor as you do in a Scimitar... Juroch, I want you nearest the front assault ramp. Make sure you have a clear field of fire should the ramp be lowered".
"Should be one of the big rifles in the locker by the turret controls" Krynak added "along with the more common larger pulse rifles. You want that right now?"
"No" Juroch replied with a slight smile "It is good to hear that one is available in case of emergencies. I have the smaller regulation one in my loadout bag, but I shall leave that under the seat here" before checking everyone was strapped in properly, after which he closed and sealed the assault ramp and called "All OK".
"Administration headquarters" Trannak told Krynak "Float us over the wall before proceeding as you think best the rest of the way. We will most likely collect the governor at ground level... but be prepared to float up to the landing pads at roof level if required".
"I'll keep us in the air, I think" Krynak replied, engaging the flight drive and lifting the Scorpion carefully over the pit wall "These things are heavy and the vibration caused by a Scorpion moving at any decent speed can be felt some distance away on this kind of surface. The flight drive makes an odd humming noise, but only soldiers will know what we really are - until they actually see us, of course".
"Understood, War Commander...' the governor said over his comm, smiling and nodding before discomming.
"The large man with the carapace is coming?" his aide asked "The delegation you require him to provide is also coming?"
"They are all coming" the governor confirmed, easing his aide's state of mind "Only a few momens until they arrive. He is bringing one of those large, effective, but very expensive Scorpion battle transports".
"One of his largest and most well-protected vehicles, then" the aide thought aloud "I have not seen those before. The Hierarchy will know them well, of course, and think well of you for securing even the temporary use of one for your transportation this evening".
"I expect this has been accounted for" the governor replied "The War Commander may look large and be comparatively unschooled in protocol - but he is also surprisingly clever, and he has well-trained people advising him".
"We're about a momen from your front door, governor..." Harrigan said when the governor's personal comm started bleeping "You want us to come get you at the front door or on the top?"
"Front door, please" the governor replied "I leave the other option for emergencies" - and less than forty microts later the governor's usual bodyguards reported the Scorpion's arrival.
"Stay cautious and ready here" he told them "I may have the Irregulars to take care of me for now... but if unrest occurs, I will need you to coordinate with the rest of Security from here".
"Yes, sir" the bodyguards replied, pleased that they weren't being completely cut out of events "We'll be ready".
"I see you have brought your largest as well as most experienced friends for my bodyguard delegation tonight, War Commander..." the governor said as he looked around at the people inside the Scorpion during the trip "I know who some of them are but not all of them...".
"I think the only one you've not seen before is Captain Tareg" Harrigan replied "That's cause he's our newest officer. He's been out and about working most of the time".
"We are... flying?" the governor asked, and Darrek replied "We are, governor. Don't want to give our presence away with the vibrations of a big vehicle on a hard surface. We'll likely land just before we come into sight of the embassy and go the rest of the way on the tracks".
"Contact!" Darrek called, a little later "Three cars! Heat patterns tell me there's a bunch of Sebaceanoids inside".
"Most likely Vice-Chancellor Voss and his delegation" the governor replied "Perhaps Captain Kammel will be there as well. I studied alongside him some cycles ago, so we will see him quite early on in tonight's proceedings once he finds out I am there".
"Scorpion hammond side!" the car's driver called "Airborne as well!"
"It's Irregulars" Vice-Chancellor Voss replied "No official Hierarchy insignia. The local governor must be counting on his status with the Hierarchy improving if he arrives in a large and powerful vehicle made by them".
"Quite likely so" Commandant Grayza replied, nodding as she looked at the Scorpion in more detail "It should be able to show we are inside this car... but I doubt the crew can discern our facial features, our gender, our age, or anything else useful beyond our species. I have never seen one fly, though I was aware they could do so...".
"Stay on course for the Scarran embassy" Voss told the driver "We don't want to be late. However interesting that vehicle may be, our work is inside the embassy tonight, not outside it".
I wonder if that Kalish the insurgents failed to apprehend will be present? Grayza thought.
The Nebari delegation came to a smooth halt outside the Scarran embassy, where their ambassador led the way in announcing their presence to the embassy guard on sentry duty.
"You're on our records, ambassador" the guard told him "Are the others some of those who came with your ship?"
"They are" the Nebari ambassador confirmed "In proper uniform with all medals awarded present for all to see".
One of Captain Shursith's A-team troopers was inside when the Nebari arrived, and she called "That one is Marshal Fen, a senior officer in the Establishment's Night Watch! He should be politely but definitely hand-searched and scanned!" before pointing to the Marshal.
Six more embassy guards appeared and did just that, telling the A-team trooper "Personal comms, trooper - without a software scan I can't tell if that's all that PDA does or not. The expected pistol and two knives. Nothing much else".
"They may proceed, then - once everyone has been hand-searched for things beyond the allowable" the trooper replied "I'll pass this news on to our own proconsul".
"You are taking security seriously..." Marshal Fen said as he watched the rest of the delegation submit warily and with some fear "Good!" before smiling thinly and adding "I don't think some of the delegation have been searched this thoroughly for some cycles, to be honest...".
Emperor Staleek laughed quietly when he was told.
"Their Night Watch officer finds it all vastly amusing and the others..." Staleek told Proconsul Tolchen "... have had their previous opinions of Scarrans confirmed - and all while remaining within the protocol guidelines suggested by Secretary Graffak".
"If I see that Marshal anywhere beyond the celebration..." Proconsul Tolchen replied, growling softly "I'll make sure people follow him everywhere outside his own consulate. If he wants to keep his daily business private he's going to have to work at it".
A Kalish escorted the Nebari delegation to their table and greeted them in their own language - none of them ordered drinks or snacks right away, preferring to sit and examine their surroundings and talk among themselves.
"Everyone out" Voss told his delegation over the comm "Stay together and move together. They'll likely search and scan us from hair down to feet several times, but the invitation said they'll expect to see a few basic things in keeping with our posts".
Rear doors on all three cars opened simultaneously, after which a number of Peacekeepers of various service branches emerged and formed up behind Vice-Chancellor Voss and the local ambassador - after which the cars left again.
"Stay close and keep calm" Voss warned everyone again "None of us like Scarrans much, but let's show them we can be diplomatic and respectful when needed - whatever our personal opinions might be, yes?"
Grayza stared at one embassy guard when they were searched - and he promptly called a female to replace him, though he did move on to search someone else.
A small victory Grayza decided but large enterprises do depend on small details, after all - though as she was concentrating on the rest of her own delegation, she missed seeing the brow tattoos on the trooper searching her.
~I hear you ((confirmation))~ Kiya said, before passing the news on to Marshal Vallo bin Hafak and the Emperor.
"She is the most senior member of the Sebacean intelligence services, their Disruptors" the Emperor replied "War Minister Ahkna told me about her before on a number of occasions. Did she appear to know your operative was watching her?"
"Not as far as I'm aware, Emperor" Kiya replied, shaking her head "I was told she was watching her own delegation with more care than she watched us. She makes the embassy guards unsettled, but I expect she intended to do that anyway".
"She has a habit of doing that" Staleek said "I have seen her personally a number of times and she acted as you describe every time. She likes to keep people unsettled around her - especially Scarrans, I think".
"Has there been any sign of the local governor?" Staleek asked Graffak - who, after checking with the door guards, replied "Not yet, Emperor - although I doubt he will be too many more momens in arriving".
"Then we have the Luxans..." Staleek guessed aloud "..those Zenetans - since their clan asked to send representatives, and the local governor still to arrive".
"We do" Graffak confirmed "The Zenetans are arriving as we speak, Emperor".
The governor asked Krynak to hold off on his approach until all the other major delegations had arrived - as soon as Trannak nodded, he brought the Scorpion back down to ground level and drove right up to a point only a few metras from the embassy front doors.
"A Scorpion just arrived... " one of the perimeter guards reported "... that's not one of ours. It's got a small insignia on it, but I'd guess I won't be able to see it too well unless I walk right up to it".
"This world's planetary governor..." Proconsul Tolchen replied "...keeps on good terms with those kinglovers in orbit - so the Scorpion's one of theirs. If an Irregulars' vehicle is here, I'm thinking the governor will have brought some of their troopers along as bodyguards - don't bother them much, just give them a perfunctory search, enough to make sure the other guests don't think they're getting preferential treatment, before letting them in. I'll see if I recognise whoever comes, as will Secretary Graffak - so leave the intelligence gathering to us".
"Skroloth..." Trannak whispered "Up here beside me, on my treblin. Caseya, on my hammond. Commander Harrigan and Juroch, either side of the governor after them. Captain Tareg and Rustuk, rear guard".
"Don't worry..." Trannak added to Caseya, after which he rumbled softly and briefly "I am here, the Commander is here, and our friends are here. You will be safe". Caseya just smiled and squeezed her husband's hand briefly - after which Trannak nodded.
The Scorpion turned and retreated to the Duleno's shop and its place in the Switchblade as soon as Krynak saw Trannak getting close to the embassy door guards.
"Here is the governor of this world" Trannak told them, after which the group parted so the guards could see "He has asked me and my comrades to accompany him here tonight. Perhaps we might be admitted?"
~Go forward with the guards caution~ Kiya told the member of Black Omega covered as an A-team trooper ~Look at these newcomers with the governor. Transmit their faces to us for identification~.
~confirmation~ the trooper replied, catching up to several embassy guards as they headed to the door.
"You have former Force members with you, governor" their Specialist Trooper stated "or at least people who can make the facade look convincing and not dishonour our defence forces doing so. Veteran bodyguards or not, I'm required to scan you all before entry".
"I have told my friends in uniform this" the governor replied "It is expected".
None of the Irregulars liked it, though only Rustuk growled when the guards tried to scan him.
The Specialist Trooper held out one hand to his treblin, and small amounts of currency were passed to him from three of the others.
"So I proved to be right" he said "You brought some of those ...unconventional... Scarrans from the Fortress-class ship we saw in orbit".
Harrigan just grinned at him, saying "We're here, yep. Even better lookin' in person than on our wanted beacons".
The Specialist Trooper looked up and growled as soon as he saw Harrigan's face.
"Confirmed sighting of the one suspected of being the exiles' War Commander..." he growled into his comm "Orders?!"
"I have been instructed to let you pass" he said eventually, clearly not happy about it "Officially, governor... the Scarran government stands by its earlier decision to let you bring any bodyguards or advisors that you choose, but does not either agree with nor understand your choices".
"I have been assured that there will be no unrest" the governor replied "At least... not any caused by my bodyguards and advisors at any rate. I was advised that they would be permitted to enter with equipment as befits their purpose and station as my bodyguards, however".
"They're properly turned out for what they look like, that's good enough for me" the Specialist Trooper replied "The others had sidearms, so I'm letting your people in with what they have" before waving irritably at the rest of the embassy guards, who stepped back from protective positions to their usual places that showed them to be uneasy at letting non-Scarrans in their embassy.
"That went quite well..." Harrigan whispered, to which Trannak replied "I was a little unsure about how we would be received if any of us were identified as members of the Hand... but at least so far we have been allowed inside. I expect only the presence of the Nebari will meet with more suspicion than our own among embassy personnel".
Unable to reach you by mental communication Marshal Vallo bin Hafak read on his PDA screen a momen or so later Governor of Talzenadar IV has arrived. Delegation suspected as containing active-duty members of the Blood Hand.
Both of them turned to watch the doors into the banqueting chamber, as did a number of other people who heard Harrigan's big feet make contact with the floor.
What the soldier on door duty never expected was seeing Skroloth's gold star and Trannak's Scarran Medal of Honour - the gold star got a second look, but Trannak's Medal got a stare, after which the door guard straightened to attention and shouted "A Medal of Honour winner enters... stand to show the respect due!" before barking into his comm for the Scarran national anthem to be played.
"A priviledge to meet a Medal of Honour winner, sir..." the soldier said with both respect and surprise - it was clear to Trannak that the trooper wanted to ask why he wasn't still serving in the military but couldn't do so, so Trannak thanked him and replied "We are priviliged to be here in our people's embassy for this Founders' Day also, trooper".
Everyone watched as Emperor Staleek turned his head at the high table to see who was coming in, and followed suit in standing as the anthem was played and Trannak led the delegation inside.
"So..." Staleek told Proconsul Tolchen "The governor of this world has secured the services of one of our most highly decorated veterans. There have been few enough times that Medal has been awarded in recent cycles - I will go to see which of those people enters now".
"Should I accompany you, Emperor?" Proconsul Tolchen asked "Do you wish embassy guards, Captain Shursith's A-teams, or the Sholphaurans to accompany you?"
Staleek thought about that, then decided "If you want to go and see for yourself, Proconsul, then do so after I've finished" after which he called "Secretary Graffak, come with me. If I can't identify this Medal winner maybe you can. Besides, the governor has finally got here - and since you're in charge of protocol here then you should be right beside me".
The Scarran national anthem played for a momen or so until the Emperor and Graffak reached the delegation - Trannak rumbled briefly, after which he introduced the governor by both name and position but did not name the Irregulars alongside him.
"Captain now, is it?" Staleek asked Trannak.
"It is, Emperor" Trannak replied, nodding "I was watched and my skills examined over time - so when an officer of that level was needed I was chosen to be that officer".
"Your Kalish is frightened" Staleek added "Why should she be? She is part of a delegation that has been permitted entry and conditional immunity. It is not in my interest nor your own for her to be arrested for anything".
"Not all the dealings my wife has had with our people have been ones she wishes to remember, Emperor" Trannak replied "I am lucky indeed that she trusts me and loves me as much as she does. Examine her ribbons and commendations, Emperor - you will see she has earned her place in this delegation, just as the others have".
Caseya did cringe briefly as Staleek leaned down a little to examine her uniform.
"A trained pilot" he said "Large and small craft. Captain Shursith of the Vorlek has those same badges. Unusual for a Kalish to have them - but if she's been trusted to learn those skills then so be it. I've not seen a Kalish with helm qualifications before".
"I..." Caseya replied "...I am the first, Emperor. The first I have heard about, in any case. Perhaps there may be others you might find out about elsewhere".
"The Scarran government welcomes you to this embassy" Staleek told the governor "Where you found a Medal winner I don't know, especially this Captain - but you've got one of the best there that our Hierarchy has ever had in its service at any point in history. He'll be well worth whatever's in his contract".
Staleek talked briefly to Skroloth as well, but paid little attention to the rest of the group until he found Harrigan.
"If you are..." Staleek said "...who I think you are... then I am very surprised indeed that you'd dare come in here at all. But rules are rules, and since my protocol secretary allowed for bodyguards, and the governor chose you as one of his, then you get to come in".
"You're the big man in Scarran politics I hear about then, Emperor" Harrigan replied "Well, well, well then. I am actually meeting real movers and shakers here today and not just lackeys", after which he grinned a bit at those close by.
Staleek whispered to Graffak, after which he said "If my protocol secretary explained your odd speech correctly... then yes, you are. Leaders from my people, namely me, and leaders from other peoples are here. People of position and status from those powers of state that matter".
"I can see this evening's gonna be fun, then" Harrigan replied "Lots to do. People to see, food to eat, compromising photos of the Night Watch over there to post on the internet...".
While the Emperor tried to make sense of Harrigan's words, Graffak greeted everyone more formally before looking at Trannak and rumbling softly.
"It is you, my son?" Graffak asked hopefully.
"It is, father" Trannak replied, before hugging his father gently and gesturing to Caseya and adding "This, father, is my wife of many cycles and much happiness", introducing her with her full Kalish name.
Caseya bowed her head a little.
This is Trannak's father?! she thought to herself in surprise He has a position of this much importance? What does he think of his son taking a Kalish wife? What does he think of me? Am I embarrassing Trannak being associated with him this closely in public - or embarrasing his father?
"Look at me..." Graffak urged softly, stepping aside so the rest of the delegation could proceed to their table - when Caseya did so, he smiled and said "While it is a great surprised that my son is married, even more so that he chose a wife not of our people... he must love you very much indeed to name you as his here, even more so in front of our Emperor".
"He does, sir" Caseya replied quietly "Sometimes I do wonder why... he is a Scarran of rank, of high status, who I would have expected in my old life not to associate with my people readily unless work required him to. But he loves me and cares for me and tells me this often. Strange and frightening though I may have considered such closeness before, now I could not imagine it being any other way".
"I will talk to you both later, Trannak" Graffak said "The Emperor requires my presence for much of the rest of the evening" before returning to the high table.
"Well, well..." Harrigan said with another grin when Trannak and Caseya returned "Not only do we see Mr big man of the Hierarchy his own scaly self... your very own Dad's here, Captain!"
Trannak knew well Harrigan didn't mean his remark about scaling offensively, so he nodded and said "Yes, my father is here. He wishes to talk to Caseya and I later... perhaps he will want to talk to the governor or to you as well. If the Hierarchy as a whole wishes to discuss issues of concern with the governor, then father will be present then, I do know that".
"I see..." Tareg added "... maybe four other Sholphaurans around the room. Uniform badges show them to be from Commander Rasmanak's A-team".
"Confirmed" Juroch whispered "I do not know any of these ones, but I too see their badges".
Staleek opened the evening with a speech (which everyone expected) that ran for almost half an arn (which they expected but didn't like) before telling everyone "We have food from the three major species that live in Scarran space - each of them has a representative sitting at a table over there to advise you on what foods of their people you may find most interesting. Stewards are here to serve all kinds of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, from the three major species and a few more from outside Scarran space as well. Eat, relax, enjoy the evening everyone!"
"Good, I'm going to see if the Charrid kitchens have my favourites..." Skroloth said hungrily, rumbling a little and making Caseya giggle "Anyone that wants to join me, feel free - you won't regret it...".
"I'll come" Harrigan replied "Dunno what the rest of you want, but I'd suggest going around a place like this in pairs, at least".
"I will be eating Kalish food" Juroch stated, rumbling briefly "Should Caseya and the Captain wish to do so as well, we could proceed to that steward together".
"We will do that" Trannak decided "I don't know I'll eat Kalish food all evening.. but it's a good place to start".
"It is, my Trannak" Caseya confirmed, smiling up at him "Very nutritious, fine to taste, and easy on the stomach. I do not know if you will want grangacha, but the bar steward will undoubtedly have it if you do".
To Caseya's surprise, the Kalish food steward was far more surprised to see Juroch than he was to see her and Trannak together. Juroch smiled anyway, bowed slightly, then ordered a wide assortment of Kalish food for both himself as well as Caseya and Trannak in the Kalish language.
That got every Kalish head in a fifty fench radius turning to look at him in astonishment - Juroch smiled and rumbled very softly before raising his hammond hand to indicate the ribbon on his jacket showing his rank in the Kalish art, and that got the Kalish closer to him giving brief but respectful bows.
"I will have a number of our people bring your food to your table, Master" the steward told him "Our people being who they are, they may wish to talk to you if duties permit...".
"If it does not interrupt their work..." Trannak replied, indicating his Captain's rank badge "...then they may talk to us - neither Master Juroch, nor myself or my wife mind that".
Once the steward noted their seating at the governor's table, Juroch picked up grangacha and glasses from an equally surprised Kalish bar steward before returning to the table. Quite a few embassy staff, along with more than a few diplomats of other species and their assistants, came to look at this novelty of a mixed-species couple - one Nebari who Trannak was sure was Night Watch actually asked if Trannak and Caseya would defect, saying "In our Establishment, Captain, we do not have either legal or social rules preventing people from choosing whatever temporary or permanent partner they wish to. Should you find life here becoming tense and uncertain for you and your wife, contact any of our people on this world and arrangements can be made".
"I thank you for the offer" Trannak replied in Nebari "but I find the variety of both people and things to do here suits me and my wife well. Since the services of those I serve with are available to any who can pay, perhaps you personally or others you know may wish to make contact with us if things happen which we can help you with".
"I will remember that, Captain" the Nebari man replied, nodding "and make contact should interesting opportunities for you to assist arise" before returning to his own table.
Rustuk growled, saying "I seriously felt like kicking the plok out of him, Commander... the cheek of it, asking an officer of rank if he wanted to sell out his friends and people right here where anyone can hear and see?!"
"I expect he was testing us" Trannak suggested "Whatever answer I gave might tell him and those he serves interesting things about me and possibly about some of you. I think events as they happened gave a favourable enough impression while reinforcing our desire to stay where we are".
A small group of Kalish, each pushing a trolley, arrived at the table before laying out Kalish food in front of Trannak, Caseya, and Juroch with care and speed. Juroch thanked them for their service before raising his voice just a little and opening his meal with the traditional eating time words - a number of the older Kalish serving as stewards came over to thank him for that, while the younger ones stopped to ask either Juroch, Caseya, or Trannak a question or two whenever they had a chance.
"You are popular" the governor said, smiling "Both with the Kalish here and with people from the major and minor powers. More of the latter than I would have thought, actually".
"You took the opportunity to schedule appointments with a number of them" Trannak replied, smiling just a little "as I expected you to. Formal banquet or not, the business of this world goes on".
"It does" the governor confirmed, nodding "It does. People to see, money to make, more and more every solar day..."
Later in the evening Master Odass came over to see them as well - Juroch made sure a seat was made available for him, after which Master Odass smiled and said "It is good to see you, my friend..." before turning to the governor and adding "It is good to see you also, governor - my arrival here did not go entirely according to plan, but no one holds you responsible for that. Some of your friends here helped make sure I got to where I needed to go, in fact. The others who helped are doing well, I hope?"
"Either they got other duties" Harrigan told him "or they're doing training or resting up on the ship".
"We have one other Master of our art" Juroch told him "I am sure if you have a spare momen or two then both of us will be available to spend time with you and hear any advice you may wish to give us".
"Cultural exhibitions will be going on for much of the weeken" Master Odass replied "Among these are exhibitions of the fighting arts. I and a number of other Masters will demonstrate our art - what is not so widely known is that a number of students who performed well both at our art and at their studies came with us, and they will be graded here. You, Master Juroch, and your other Master are welcome to attend this grading - though I cannot say if you would be permitted to officiate since I am not the highest ranking Master present on this world at this time".
"If these other Masters know about me and my achievements thus far" Juroch replied "perhaps they might offer me some advice on how I may improve my skills".
Juroch noted the time and place of the exhibition when Master Odass told him, bowed respectfully, then smiled and got back to his meal.
Outside, a number of guard patrols were patrolling the port.
"Shouldn't be anything too tough" Troll told the Kalish with him and Sturk "But keep your eyes an' ears open anyway - if you see anything interestin' feel free to call me, OK?"
"We will!" one of the younger Kalish replied happily, nodding "There is so much to see here, I know that - even at night. Ships of many kinds, mostly. I will be applying for extended aerospace pilot training when I return to homeworld".
"We'll go look around the edge of the Scarran gov'ment section of the port" Troll added, grinning "I know you guys an' gals like our stuff... it'd be fun to see if the embassy's got any good stuff to look at, yes?"
Even the older Kalish nodded then, after which Troll grinned and clapped before waving everyone into position and heading off across the port.
"They know their stuff..." Sturk whispered as they headed in the direction of the Hierarchy secured section of the port "They moved well and quietly and stay in formation. They don't talk... much, anyway... and even then it's telling us about things they don't know about. We gonna see if there's something to test 'em on?"
"Something's bound to turn up, Ol' Sturky" Troll replied "Even if we gotta help it along some...".
"I see signs..." the squad NCO whispered "Signs in the Scarran language and our own and Sebacean. I see a razor-wire fence which I believe is electrified".
"No force-shield fence or sector-wide defensive screening" another Kalish added "A number of guards - but for some reason they are facing in towards their own compound rather than outward towards the fence. Placement suggests they consider their own troops just as much of a concern as outside interference".
"Keep moving..." Sturk encouraged, scanning the compound.
I think the troops I can see are Interior Guard he thought as he watched but since it's so plokking dark I can't really tell so he asked Troll.
"You got that stage 2 change, mister" he said "Look in there, tell me what those troops are wearing. Find any badges or patches".
"Seen 'em ten momens ago" Troll replied "Think it's them Interior Guard you told me about before. Ministry, yep?"
"That's right..." Sturk replied "Would love to get in there and say hello... but that's probably too much to ask, even no-What the pleebin' hell's that?!" before pointing to a spacecraft.
"It looks real nice" Troll replied "It looks pretty fekking amazing. It looks so amazingly amazing I think I want to steal it".
"So we do get some fun..." Sturk replied, grinning before calling the Kalish up to him and explaining the updated mission to them.
"We are happy to assist" one trooper, Raffos by name, replied "How will we get past this electrified fence?"
"Gonna have to improvise there..." Troll replied "Dunno if it can even be done... the special stuff I got is designed for wholesale carnage, not covert ops... but let's see if I can temporarily recalibrate 'em for cutting torches, shall we... ".
Sturk deployed the Kalish in protective overwatch while Troll tried to cut through the fence without alerting every Hierarchy trooper on patrol - after a few false starts and twenty momens, Troll held the beam steady enough to cut a hole in the fence big enough for him, and thus everyone else as well, to get through if they went one at a time.
When Raffos came through, a Scarran with a rifle came right towards him - so he drew his blades and shoved the treblin one right up through his throat and into his brain, while another Kalish guided the body as it fell so it wouldn't make too much noise.
"Leave it out of sight..." Troll hissed "We came here to find new homes for these 'ere ships, there's not enough time to kill every guard before we do that. Not this time, anyway".
"Will our people be permitted to examine these new craft?" Raffos asked "They look quite interesting".
"Sure you can" Troll replied "You're our friends. We like to help our friends when we can".
"There are four of these craft in this section of the port" one of the Kalish announced "There are more further in, towards the centre of this section identified as controlled by the Scarran government - those have an emblem we do not know on them, and are far more heavily secured. Drones and soldiers".
"Leave them alone" Sturk replied "We got a nice easy prize here - we might even be able to spread out an' get all four...".
"Don't let your eyes be bigger than your stomach, Sturky..." Troll warned "I know vehicle thievin', I do - we can manage two, no probs, but if we spread ourselves too thin we'll all get a one-way ticket to a penal colony".
Half the Kalish stayed with Troll while the other half went with Sturk.
Troll got his Kalish to climb up the smooth hull while he continued at ground level with his cloaking shield on.
~Four!~ one Kalish signalled, pointing to Troll's side and signalling that the enemy soldiers weren't moving, after which they added ~Four~ and pointed to the side nearer the other two craft and signalled that they were moving.
Sturk listened to the guards protecting his own chosen prize, then designated targets for each Kalish along with orders for quiet kills. Sturk threw all his weight behind a blow that would have gone almost right through the body of anyone weaker than a Scarran, but still killed this particular target anyway - after which he stole the man's security pass and opened the entry hatch on that side of the hull.
"Inside...' Sturk commed, after which Troll said "Wondered how long you'd take. Put the guards' bodies in the back, we can't leave any mess nor any sign we were here. This has to be as deniable as we can make it".
Happy Kalish chatter followed for a few microts as several remarked with interest about the inside of the craft, though Troll said "It ain't over yet, you lot. Someone pull off the panels under the pilot's consoles - that's usually hammond side - and under the copilot's consoles treblin side. If I remember what Shellek told me before, and if these things have particularly paranoid levels of security, there's gonna be boxes under each panel. Blue, I think".
"I'm seein' those" Sturk called "My Kalish found 'em here. Can we just pull them out?"
"No, for fekk's sake..." Troll hissed, before giving Sturk a long list of complicated instructions and comming Shellek aboard the Havoc.
"I hear you..." Shellek said when he picked up, then groaned when Troll told him what they were doing.
"No one's taking chances, not with what I'm thinking are Ministry small craft" Shellek said "I'm sending you an emergency package - unpack and execute in the main computers as soon as you get it. It'll purge the existing computer personality and install a standard blank one - it'll take a few momens to assimilate the hardware, so keep a careful look-out for hostiles. Did you at least get those boxes out properly?"
"Sturk didn't get blown up, so he must have done it right" Troll replied, grinning "and while I'm no electronics wizard, I've stolen enough cars to know what I'm looking at. We're good - for now, anyway".
Both teams watched carefully as the software Shellek gave them scoured the flight control and surveillance computers clean - though Troll's one let out a piercing bleep, and after a pause of about five microts a number of Ministry troops ran out of a small blockhouse and started shooting.
"Keep on it, you lot" Troll told them "I got this".
Troll fired several long bursts, targeting both troops and anything he thought looked explosive or flammable.
"We have restarted the computers, mister Troll" Raffos called "This is a small craft type designated Reaper, and these appear to be a variant of that design optimised for surveillance and reconnaisance. That must be why there is an additional console behind the copilot's chair".
"You're sitting in that seat then, mister" Troll hissed "The clock's ticking!"
"Systems picked up people inside the blockhouse trying to call the main base or embassy for reinforcements" Sturk called "Ideas?"
"Put their lights out" Troll decided "No talk going in or coming out. We'll head to the outlands, nap-of-the-earth, before heading straight up to orbit and home".
Each Kalish strapped themselves in to the nearest available seat, with the two who selected themselves as copilots looking particularly smug.
"What in the frelling plok's going on?!" one of the few Ministry officers barked when he was woken up - he bellowed "SEND FOR REINFORCEMENTS, THEN!" the microt he learned someone was trying to snurch their Reapers, and screamed even louder when someone else told him all frequencies were being jammed.
"They've got skills and they've got gear" he growled "We're being jammed by OUR OWN SHIPS, you bunch of brain-deficient treznots! Send a runner to the main section of the port and get them on full alert! I don't know if those Sholphaurans will help us, but even if they don't we have enough troops once our close-in defense systems come online as long as we're quick".
"Strykers, yes" his first officer replied "Not these - Reapers are high-level stealth vessels. If they get out of visual range and we can't aim manually, they're gone".
"Look, Sturk..." Sturk's own temporary copilot called, pointing out of the forward window "Someone running very fast! Are they running for help? Can they not use comms?"
"That's exactly what they're doing" Sturk replied, rapidly bringing the fire control online and sending rapid bursts from all four guns the system reported as present and functional at the running Scarran until hits were reported.
When Troll saw Sturk fire, he said "Oh well, here goes nothing..." and fired a few bursts of his own into the blockhouse along with enough extra shots into the two remaining craft to disable but not destroy them.
"Stay low, follow me, keep going till we can't see the port or anything else on sensors" Troll called once Raffos stopped the jamming "I want us well over the horizon before we make a run for it..."
"Today, children..." Trannak told Feltano and Amara, two days later "we will be going to the planet to see a friend of your uncle the whisper Scarran. We will watch him and some of his other friends show off their skills. If you are quiet, they may let you watch".
"We watch and we listen and then we know, papa" Feltano replied, nodding.
"We will see friends of uncle whisper Scarran, papa?!" Amara asked in curious excitement "What are they like? What species are they? What will they be showing us?"
"We will not be the only people there" Juroch replied, rumbling a little in amusement "Other people will be there. My friend will show off some of his skills along with a few other people, and after that - when the other people have moved on - we might be fortunate enough to talk to my friend and his other friends for a while".
"They will come over and see us?!" Feltano asked excitedly "Big sister and little sister and me?!"
"I do not know" Juroch admitted, before adding "It will be an interesting surprise, yes?"
Feltano just nodded before pointing and saying "Auntie Keyah is here, uncle Juroch".
"Your auntie Keyah is coming as well" Juroch replied.
"Will we be going in papa's ship, uncle Juroch?" Feltano asked "Will we go in yours? Will we take a different one?"
"We will take a Stryker, children" Caseya told them, smiling "I do not have my own ship like your papa... but there is one I usually use and we will take that one if it is not decertified for maintenance".
"There will be a sticker and tape on the hatches if that happens" Amara told Feltano "Black and yellow striped tape with words in Scarran and Kalish on it saying no one except techs can go inside".
"You have shown me the tape before" Feltano replied, looking up slightly at Amara and smiling "Krynak was there. He showed us the tape and I asked what it was for. After I asked him about it, he told us about it".
"Into the Stryker, children..." Trannak reminded them with a smile once the hatch was opened - both of them scuttled up the walls, then ran up to sit on the wall by the door to the bridge, one either side of it. Caseya used her PDA to record a picture of it, which the children loved, before they all went inside and prepared to take off.
"All OK, mama..." Feltano said eventually when Trannak whispered to him "Papa call for clearance now, mama. He is doing it, see?"
"Containment field is on and deck doors are opening..." Captain Lazarus replied when Trannak commed in "I got stuff to do, or I'd bring my son and wife down as well".
The children chattered to each other from their places with Keyah and Juroch as Caseya flew down to the surface of Tal IV, which made Juroch rumble softly.
"Uncle whisper Scarran is happy, big sister" Feltano said immediately "That was a special sneaky soft rumble" before rumbling up at his uncle.
"It was!" Amara agreed happily "What kind of person will we see first when we go outside after landing, Feltano? What species do you think they will be? What colour will their hair and skin be?"
That discussion kept the children occupied until Caseya made a safe landing in her family's private pit behind the shop. Feltano shifted up the hull of the Stryker a short way, then pointed and called "Security person, big sister! I see them and hear them and smell them! Sebacean, big sister, with darker skin and black hair!"
The guard waved, which the children both loved, after which Devin came out - Feltano leapt into his arms and almost knocked him down, but Feltano just shrieked with laughter before urging "We go in now, uncle Devin? We go in? We see grandma and grandpa, uncle Devin?!"
Devin laughed at his nephew, which only made Feltano laugh as well, before urging "Come in, come in! I know you may not be staying for long... but we will all love to see you all for even a short time, and my friend Eprain is here today as well!"
Eprain actually shrieked in fear when he first saw Scarrans in the house, but Devin said "Calm down, Ep... these are friends!" before pointing out where Caseya and Trannak were and identifying Trannak as Caseya's husband.
Eprain came over to look a momen or two later, clearly not totally convinced either Devin was safe or that he would not be hurt - Feltano looked up at him and called "Come and see, come and see! My mama and papa are here! My sisters are here! Some of my big friends are here! Come and see!" before taking hold of one of his hands in both of his and trying to drag him over.
That got Eprain laughing a little, which Feltano loved and rewarded by steering him to Trannak.
"This is my papa" Feltano told him happily "Papa is a high-caste Scarran. That is why big sister and little sister and I have ridges on our faces, why we rumble, and why we are big".
"Is that..." Eprain guessed hesitantly "why you have more scales on your faces too? Your mother does not have many".
"That's right!" Feltano replied, clapping "You look and you see and then you know, just like me!"
With Devin close by, Eprain looked at each child and adult - and was amazed he was allowed to see Maranno at all.
"I don't have brothers or sisters" he said when Amara asked him about that "I'm the first in my family".
Maranno looked up at him, rumbled briefly, then reached up and started poking and testing Eprain's face and hands.
"Kalish children all do that..." Juroch told him, scaring him briefly "They are inquisitive. They examine their world in detail and at length. Maranno does not mean to hurt you, she is simply curious and wants to find out about you".
"I've only seen basic things about Scarrans in study" Eprain replied "You are a low-caste Scarran, I think. I can't tell so easily because your skin's green. Is Scarran skin often green?"
Juroch rumbled briefly when Eprain asked him something, after which he said "It is not" and explained a little about how to recognise each caste of Scarran.
"What do you think, Eprain?" Caseya's mother asked from the kitchen "You have seen real Scarrans now. They have not hurt you like some books and broadcasts say they would, have they?"
"No, Mrs Duleno" Eprain replied "They've talked to me and let me ask questions. The boy there tried to pull me across the room to see his parents and sisters".
Once Caseya's mother greeted the children, she asked "Might we help you with something, dear daughter? Even during Founders' Day business is brisk and we are opening the shop soon".
"We are just stopping here to see you all briefly, mother" Caseya replied, hugging her "before we go to a Kalish cultural exhibition. Masters of the art of our people will be there demonstrating their skills, and we might even get to see students train".
"Then I will not offer snacks or drinks this time" Caseya's mother decided "since I expect that exhibition will start before too many more momens pass. Perhaps you might stop by and tell us about the exhibitions and other interesting things you see and hear when you return?"
"We do that, grandma" Amara promised "Mama and papa and brother and I tell you lots of good stuff".
"See?" Amara told her younger sister happily, once everyone got out of the public transport crawler and went inside "We are at the sporting stadium! We will not be going to the track for running or the big room where people jump and turn and do all kinds of things like that... we are going to a new place in another room. Papa and mama will tell us where that is".
The stadium had a lot of people moving about inside, since quite a few games events still had qualification events at one level or another in progress - continually-updated reports of which species or group had qualified for which events were displayed on screens, and betting agents were taking bets on what the final totals might be, who would win what medals, who would win the most, and many other things as well.
"We will not be betting" Juroch told Feltano, before explaining what that was "We will go and see and listen and then we will know, yes?"
"We see and listen and then we know" Feltano confirmed, nodding and taking hold of Juroch's treblin hand.
A number of Kalish people, in the uniform of the Vorlek and of the diplomatic corps and of the Organisation, walked around the stadium as the group progressed - Keyah asked one where the fighting arts demonstrations were to be held, indicating her own ribbon of rank.
She smiled and thanked the student when she bowed briefly in respect for rank, after which the student said "The demonstrations start within ten momens, Master... I do not know if your Scarran colleagues will be able to take time to escort you there, but in case they can you may wish to go now".
Juroch stepped forward and indicated his own ribbon of rank before rumbling very softly and adding "We are all one group, young lady. We will proceed together".
"I..." she stuttered "...I was not... was not aware a Scarran had achieved rank in our art, Master. I do not mean any disrespect, Master... but I have not seen any of your people who have shown as much interest in our ways as you have. It is a great surprise".
Juroch nodded and replied "It undoubtedly is, yes. As far as I know, I am the only Scarran to have done so. I expect I am the first even if I am not the only one" before Trannak called for everyone to move on.
Keyah led the way, finding a room two levels up with a number of Kalish standing by the entry doors and greeting both passers-by and those entering - they were all extremely surprised that there were masters of their art locally, more so that one of them was Juroch.
"I am coming" Master Odass decided, when one student called their presence in "I know them. I know it is unusual that one of the two Masters is Scarran and that his skin is green... I doubt Master Juroch will mind if you ask respectful questions before I arrive".
"You look and you see..." Feltano told the Kalish woman on door duty "...and now you know that uncle Juroch is a Master of the Kalish art. There is a ribbon on his jacket. He has shown me it before".
"I have seen that, young boy" she replied "I saw that, and then I asked him as well to make sure".
Master Odass greeted the woman on door duty politely but briefly before ushering Caseya's family and friends inside - and stopped to look at Amara when she asked "Are you uncle Juroch's friend, new Kalish man? Do you know where there are seats for us?"
"I am your uncle's friend" Master Odass confirmed, before smiling and giving Amara his full name - she clapped and recited it back to him perfectly, getting a smile before he added "He lived in my family dwelling on our home planet, did you know that? Around where I live, little girl, there are lots of trees and plants and living things - and a few kilometras away is one of two... special buildings, underground places where people live and work".
Amara actually shrieked in excitement then, which got Feltano doing the same, after which she hugged Master Odass and rumbled quite loudly.
"Come with me, all of you" he urged "The exhibition begins in less than five momens now, so I will show you to your seats - and then I need to return to the preparation rooms, since I am helping students".
Juroch smiled when Amara took hold of Master Odass' treblin hand before telling him "All OK now, Master Odass".
Once the seating was found, both Feltano and Amara bombarded Juroch with questions about Master Odass and his dwelling as well as about where he lived - Juroch didn't tell them everything, but did tell them enough to keep them both interested.
There were people of many species that passed through Talzenadar IV sitting around them, if not too many of any particular one - Juroch did identify one person with a Sholphauran crest on their sleeve, and told the children why it was on a small band that could be removed as well if the need arose.
"Special and sneaky..." Feltano decided, nodding "I look and I see and I hear you tell me, uncle Juroch, and now I know".
"You do" Juroch confirmed "Amara does as well. I am sure your younger sister finds this all interesting in her way".
While there was some quiet chatter around them during the exhibition, all three Duleno children just watched and stared while barely making any noise - Feltano mimiced some of the movements when he could do so and found them interesting, Amara as well, and Keyah smiled when she saw them do that.
"You will not be learning those movements properly for some time yet, Feltano" Keyah told him one time "Amara will already know them. When you progress, we will teach them to you as well".
Amara was particularly interested to see the more advanced students show some of the more complicated form and movements, even more so when they paired off for sparring so people could see how such techniques would be used.
One of the Masters closed the main exhibition, calling "The main exhibition is over, everyone - there will be other examples of Kalish culture in the stadium for you to experience as well as many other interesting things concerning other species. More sporting events as well, of course".
Once the public gallery emptied, a small number of Kalish couples came to sit around Caseya's own family and friends - who, it turned out, were parents of students awarded passage to the games for study achievements.
Word of Caseya's children being hybrid spread fast, so every couple soon came over to see - the children, of course, loved every microt of it, and even Maranno woke to look around at all the new faces.
"You are all safe" Juroch reminded Caseya when she looked around a little anxiously "I am here, Master Kamara is here, and of course your husband is here. Talk to others of your people, show off your children to them - your husband and I will watch for unwelcome attention as well as announcements that other things are happening". Most of the parents were interested in how the children had characteristics of both Scarran and Kalish people in them, and Amara happily explained in as much detail as she knew about why this was the case and how they could tell which things in them came from what species.
"Grading times are starting" Juroch called a little later, telling Amara and Feltano "Some students have done well and been allowed to come here for Founders Day, children - these are the ones who will be tested in the art. Amara, Feltano - do not call out to them and do not try and mimic what you see. These are advanced grading times beyond both of your capabilities at this point".
Several parents smiled and pointed and talked among themselves when Amara and Feltano shifted up the windows to see better.
"They are quiet and respectful and well-trained" one mother said "I have seen more than I prefer to, of several species, who were not. I admit to finding it unsettling that they are hybrids... but they are respectful of their parents and of their elders. Have either of them been marked out for accelerated study programs or training in our art as my son has?"
"Both do well at study" Caseya replied proudly "Both do well at the art of our people as well, with my daughter achieving more at this point as you might expect the elder child to do - even then, my son does very well also".
"Good, good" the mother replied with approval "Your children do well. They treat adults with respect. We will see how my son performs in his grading now".
Much to the mother's approval, he performed well - she pointed him out to Keyah when she identified herself as a Master, and sat a little straighter and more proudly when her son was commended in public. Caseya smiled as others asked Keyah's opinion on their own childrens' performance when they were graded, with a small number of the more adventurous asking Juroch as well. He gladly gave his opinions to anyone who asked for them, both surprised and pleased that any of the Kalish asked for them at all.
"A short break for rest and recuperation follows" one of the training Masters announced over the PA "Since I have been told there are non-Kalish spectators for these gradings, perhaps you might wish to find food at this point".
"So you lost..." Emperor Staleek said, more than a little ironically, to a very irate Ministry official "...two of the Reaper craft assigned to your care... two days ago?!"
"Two days ago, Emperor" the woman confirmed, nodding "We took two days to try and find information on where our missing craft might have been taken. We found traces of where they have been... but no concrete evidence of where they are now".
"I understand your desire to recapture those ships" Staleek replied "I want them back as well. I want copies of everything you've found out about this whole sorry episode - and if you lose anything else, tell me about it first and start your investigations afterwards".
Once the Ministry representative left the room, Staleek waved at one part of the room - and one of Captain Shursith's A-team officers stepped from the shadows.
"Emperor?" he asked, ready for orders.
"Look around" Staleek replied "Check recordings that we do have from monitor cameras, both in Ministry territory and the rest of the port. Talk to local Security here on the ground - not those Irregulars! Not only are they friends with, or part of, those royalist rebels - I have a nagging suspicion they might be behind the Ministry's Reapers disappearing without much of a trace!"
"Whoever's actually responsible, Emperor..." the officer grumbled "they got in, got what they came for, and left quickly. With your permission, Emperor... I'll get a few people looking around right away, and get anyone on security patrol for the games listening to open-channel chatter in case someone says something they shouldn't".
"Do it" Staleek replied "Get it done" - once the officer was out of the room, he told Graffak "While I'd rather have kept those Reapers under strict Hierarchy control... I might now how the excuse I need for a few transfers and replacements in the Ministry, and this time I'll make sure I get it done without War Minister Ahkna finding out..."
"Sir...Captain Tokk..." a Sholphauran Kalish called quietly.
"Yes?" Captain Tokk asked "Come forward. What do you have to tell me?"
"Surveillance report on the Nebari Host Vessel Showlon, Captain" the Kalish replied, passing over a memory card "Reports from our recon pilots confirm once more the intelligence material obtained from Captain Kurlun's A-team, suggesting that there are internal divisions on board among the crew and their political intelligence personnel, and that these tensions are growing. Several pilots believe that this might turn to armed insurrection within the time allotted to Founders' Day celebrations".
Captain Fennen Tokk rumbled softly, read the report, then nodded.
"Contact Commander Rasmanak" he called to the duty comm officer "I need to know if he is capable of mounting an operation to capture the Host Vessel so we can examine it at our leisure".
"In progress" one of the Scarrans on the bridge replied.
"Rasmanak..." Commander Rasmanak called when he answered the comm - he listened for several momens as Captain Tokk explained the situation to him, after which he said "I can't bring everyone I need from down here, we still need to put a few athletes in for the aquatic events if nothing else - but I can bring maybe half of those I need with me and pick up another two squads from your dreadnaught".
"Be cautious coming past the Host Vessel" Captain Tokk warned "Should there be commercial traffic coming by when you come, fly close to it and match speed - do not test its detection abilities with your Reaper. We can do that back at Sholphaur where it is safe".
"I'll leave my number one in charge here and be up in a few momens, then" Commander Rasmanak replied.
"See?" one of the other Kalish parents boasted "My daughter performed well also! I believe she will pass her grading!"
"She did well" Keyah agreed, nodding "Whether she will pass her grading is not for me nor Master Juroch to say, since we are not officiating".
A number of gradings were done over the afternoon arns, all of which both Amara and Feltano were glad to be able to see - they greeted the children who came up to see their parents after their gradings with much enthusiasm and happy laughter, with the children being amazed to see Scarrans at close quarters without being hurt or punished in some other way.
"It is good to see Kalish..." Juroch said when one of the parents asked him about why he was happy and rumbling "... being the happy and curious people I know them to be. Many of your children have asked me questions about my own arts training - I have not told them everything, of course, but enough to encourage their interest in progressing further. At least I hope so".
Several of the younger teenage women looked at Maranno with some interest and talked in rapid Kalish for some momens about her - Maranno, of course, was simply glad of the extra attention and gladly called out to them and tested their skin when they came close enough for her to reach.
The younger ones like Maranno she decided with relief as well as Feltano and Amara. Good... I was worried that they would be fearful or disapproving in public, but so far they have not been. All three of my children are happy.
"It has come to our attention..." a voice from the speakers announced "...that there are Masters of our art living on this world, and that they are here in this building now. Master Odass will come with two of us to see you".
Amara and Feltano climbed off the window and ran back to their parents, asking what the Masters would be like and if they would see them and talk to them.
"They might" Juroch told them both "They are coming mostly to see your auntie Keyah and to see me, children. If I have time, I will tell them about you".
Master Odass and two other Masters came up the stairs to the public gallery - every Kalish adult bowed slightly in respect and he did the same in return.
"All your children did well" he announced "but I am not here to announce results or present achievement certificates and new ranking belts or ribbons. I revealed the presence of local Masters to those who came here with all of us aboard the support ships in the Vorlek battlegroup - and they wish to see these Masters" before turning to face Keyah and announcing "Among you now are Masters of our art resident on this world - Master Keyah Kamara and Master Juroch".
Juroch bowed his head and rumbled softly, before replying "I thank you for the greeting and for public acknowledgement of my rank and skills, Master Odass. Might Master Kamara or myself be of service?"
"The other Masters wish to see you" Master Odass replied "Partly because that is the general protocol... but also they have not heard that there are any Masters here before".
"We will be back, children" Juroch told Amara and Feltano "Some new friends want to talk to us. Perhaps they might want us to help them with something".
"We will stay here with mama and papa" Feltano decided, nodding "Will you tell us about these new people when you come back?"
"I will" Juroch told him, after which he and Keyah followed Master Odass and the other two Masters down the stairs and out of sight.
A short while later, a previously-unheard voice called "All students should present themselves on the training floor for awards and commendations. Two local Masters will be presenting awards with us".
Every Kalish that could see the training floor was amazed that Juroch was both a master of their art and a Scarran - he just nodded and smiled before calling "If the other Masters permit it, there might be time to answer a few question after grading presentations. Not now, though".
"Everyone present for grading did well" Master Odass announced "Every student passed their grading - only just so in some cases, but they passed nonetheless. Each of you will be called to receive your new belt of rank and a commendation certificate by one of the local Masters".
Each student, of all ages, came forward when called - they were clearly pleased to have succeeded, and those called forward by Juroch seemed especially pleased and curious.
"Uncle Juroch is happy" Amara whispered to Caseya "Look, mama. I cannot hear him, but I expect he is rumbling now and again".
"I expect he is" Caseya agreed, nodding "He is glad that important Kalish people approve of him and of his skills, Amara".
After the presentations, the children ran back to the gallery to show their certificates and new belts to their parents - and since Caseya and Trannak were close by, they approached them as well, if more warily.
Several conferred briefly, after which one young man said "Few of my fellow students have seen a high-caste Scarran at close range before, sir. Most of us have never seen a low-caste Scarran like the unusually-coloured Master before at close range either. Absolutely none of us have ever seen mixed-species children".
"There is a special word for it" Amara explained for them "Hybrid. My brother and sister and I are hybrids. That means we have things from papa's people and from mama's people in us. Papa is a Scarran. Mama is Kalish like you. Come and see, new friends - come and see".
A smaller number of students did just that, with Feltano giggling a bit when several boys tested his skin.
"Heeheehee!" Feltano laughed "New people like us, papa!"
"They do" Trannak replied "Several have come over to see your sister as well. She is looking at them and testing them and is very happy, I think".
A new Master climbed the stairs - once everyone saw her, she called "We are all pleased at how well each of you has performed.. but the Masters have things to say to the two local Masters, private business. You are permitted to explore this world in the zones noted as safe for our people, or you may return to the embassy where your safety is totally assured".
"Blue, papa..." Feltano whispered in Trannak's ear "Blue jacket, papa. Blue clothes. Auntie Keyah said that means Organisation".
"It does" Trannak confirmed "They are a Master, they have the rank ribbon on their jacket... but they are Organisation, so we should not talk to them, should we?"
"We will not, papa" Feltano agreed "I will tell Amara and mama, papa".
"I see, Feltano" Caseya replied when Feltano told her "That is why I am not talking to them or going closer. I think your papa being the kind of Scarran he is is stopping them from coming close as well".
Feltano stared at the Organisation Master until they left, growling softly and briefly once they had gone out of sight.
"Calm yourself, my son" Trannak urged him "I know she is Organisation, but if we are hostile to them here it will only encourage them in their ways. We should watch and listen, Feltano. I know you can do that".
"I do that, papa" Feltano agreed "You have taught me about that and so has uncle Juroch, papa. I will see and hear and then I will know, and I will tell you or other officers or uncle big funny man what I know when we go home".
It took twenty more momens, but Master Odass came back to the gallery and said "A consensus has been reached regarding Master Keyah Kamara and Master Juroch. It has been agreed that Master Keyah Kamara will be graded here. I will ask about Master Juroch being graded as well... but since he is not as he was before, I will ask for that grading to be sealed to all except the five highest-ranked Masters present in this auditorium today. Your family too, of course".
Feltano looked up at Master Odass briefly before telling him about the Organisation Master coming up to speak - Master Odass nodded, tested Feltano's recall, before saying "She is returning to the embassy. She came to do her part in these gradings and other cultural events but does not like being away from Kalian or other planets where large numbers of our people live".
Trannak, Caseya, and their children were escorted down to the training floor where Master Odass directed them to benches against the wall.
Other Masters came down stairs from what Caseya assumed was an observation room set aside for teachers and trainers - Keyah moved to the centre of the mat, where she was led through a number of examinations for form and technique. Sparring examinations followed as well, which both Amara and Feltano found even more interesting - by the time these were finished, considerable time had passed and Keyah was sitting down, leaning against the wall, and drinking sports drinks designed for athletes.
"We see you talking with Master Keyah Kamara, Master Juroch" another Master called "I had not even heard that a Scarran had achieved a rank of standing in our art... yet you are here and wear the rank ribbon of a Master Rank One. Since you are not like us, I doubt you can be graded further... but I should like to see you practice your form and your sparring skills anyway".
Juroch bowed, which they expected, then rumbled, which they did not, before saying "I am pleased you wish to see my skills, Masters... I am sure I will do credit to Master Odass as you watch me".
Master Odass was not entirely pleased, Caseya saw - but was surprised, when she asked him about it, that he said "I am more than pleased with Master Juroch... I am not so pleased with the scepticism or caution of the other Masters. Master Juroch has nothing to be ashamed of in how he has learned and studied our ways and our art, yet our other Masters are less understanding of this than they might be".
Juroch demonstrated every form and technique he was asked to over the next arn and a half - after which the Masters on the floor nodded and praised his skills.
What surprised everyone was when another, older, voice called "Stop! I have heard the rumours of a Scarran Master of our art before, all of us have... but it now seems these rumours are true! Master Odass, you will remain... all others but Master Tachiel should return to the embassy or to whatever personal business they might have here".
Once the others had left, two much older people walked down from the observation box.
"Before you now..." Master Odass announced proudly "stand the two Masters Gurrin. Master Rann Elek Gurrin holds the rank of Master Rank Nine, and Master Yelena Olamman Gurrin holds the Rank of Master Rank Eight".
Trannak stood and walked forward, saying "Greetings to you, Masters. For reasons of secrecy and safety, I must ask that what you might be about to see is not reported to anyone outside of this gathering. Should that happen, I believe it will endanger both Master Juroch, our friends, and my family".
"This is Master Juroch's commanding officer, Masters" Master Odass explained "He is justifiably concerned for the safety of those under his command. I believe we should agree to his conditions".
"Are you aware of why he might ask for them, Master Odass?" Master Rann Gurrin asked, his voice clearly that of a man of many cycles but also a man of both personal and mental strength "My wife and I will accept your word... though we wish to examine Master Juroch ourselves".
They accept my rank Juroch decided, relieved though I will still be examined for my right to keep it. They seem to accept Master Odass' decision to train me and grade me... but Captain Trannak is clearly and justifiably concerned that if my ability to shift is shown that it might be reported to those who do not need to know about it and may endanger all our lives.
"I am aware of it" Master Odass replied, nodding "I have seen that which Captain Trannak is concerned about, and I believe his concerns are justified. Should we get to see that which concerns him, we should keep it to ourselves - you will know why when you see it just as much as I already do".
The two Masters Gurrin looked at each other for a few microts, nodded, then Master Yelena Gurrin said "We will examine Master Juroch's skills and fitness to hold his current rank. If we like what we see, we will push him further... if he demonstrates things which his commanding officer expressed his concern about then we will abide by Master Odass' recommendation".
"Master Tachiel will test you first" Master Rann Gurrin said "He is Master Odass' grandson, which is the only reason why he is here after your request for secrecy over and above that which would normally be given to a grading".
The examinations for form and technique proceeded just as Keyah expected them to. The examination for sparring skills brought out Juroch's exceptional speed and reaction times, which got hushed and rapid chatter between both Masters Gurrin as well as both Master Odass and Keyah.
"Now we will see just how good your student is, Master Odass" Master Rann Gurrin said, with some relish "His knowledge of form and technique is excellent... but I do not know if he is able to adapt to the ability to move on all surfaces as Mastery Rank Two and above requires. Even now he has shown some knowledge of techniques taught only to those above Master Rank Four... but we will talk about that later".
"Cage!" called Master Tachiel, and the perspex walls normally raised for wallball matches were raised around the sparring mat.
Master Odass smiled and actually grinned as he watched Juroch employ the adapted techniques he already knew about, and his smile widened when he saw his grandson stare in total surprise when Juroch shifted and crawled along one wall briefly before launching another attack.
"See, grandson?" Master Odass called happily "You remember seeing Master Juroch briefly when you were very young - now you get to test his full skills without restriction! This will be a test for you as well as him, I think!" before calling out a little advice to Juroch.
Juroch started his examination by launching a number of attacks at extreme speed off both walls and the floor - Master Tachiel was not ruled defeated, but Caseya got the feeling that Juroch was not trying to defeat him, just test him.
"I wondered if you would see this as I did" Keyah whispered when Caseya aired her opinion "I think this is true as well".
Both Masters Gurrin nodded with approval and interest, Master Rann Gurrin calling "Faster! Harder! Use all your skills and speed - I think you are holding back. Do not!"
Even Master Odass was surprised when Juroch started bounding around all the walls and the ceiling, attacking from every surface and forcing Master Tachiel to use every technique he knew just to avoid being knocked down.
"He spars as you spar, Master Odass" Master Yelena Gurrin said, nodding "and to a lesser degree how my husband spars as well. He does not use the grapples and throws often, as I do - why is this? His physical nature would give him a marked advantage using them".
"He does" Master Odass agreed, nodding proudly "I am glad to see he still follows the training methods we used back on Sholphaur".
"He knows he will win..." Master Rann Gurrin said "the longer he stretches this match. He knows his superior physical endurance will ensure Master Tachiel makes a critical mistake before he does".
"Even then..." Master Odass replied, speaking of Juroch's life on Sholphaur "Master Juroch was a member of the elite Force Strangler. I think he is testing my grandson just as much as Master Tachiel is testing him".
Master Odass signalled his exhausted grandson to leave the cage - and stepped in himself after changing into his robes.
"We will see now, old friend..." Master Odass said "... how you fare against me. I know we have sparred before... but this time I will not hold back with you", after which he leaped straight up to the wall behind him - and barely a microt afterward, he launched his first attack. Juroch was clearly being pushed hard, with Keyah giving occasional whispered commentaries as the sparring continued.
Maybe twenty momens later Juroch was ruled defeated.
"Well done, my friend" Master Odass told Juroch happily and gladly "You have improved so much. I believe you have earned the right to rank increase... but the Masters Gurrin must decide, since they are senior here".
After the technique and form examination, Juroch stood in the centre of the mat again - and Master Rann Gurrin stepped forward as well!
"Do not worry about me being Kalish..." he insisted as the cage walls went up again "...nor about my advanced age. I may well be 138 cycles now but I am far from being dead, or even infirm - as you will now see".
Master Rann Gurrin was clearly pushing Juroch as hard as he could, over and above that required for a grading increase examination. He was testing technique, situational awareness, and ability to shift for extended periods in high-stress environments - Juroch lasted a little less than ten momens before Master Rann Gurrin swapped places with his wife and the testing continued.
"He does well, I think" Master Gurrin thought aloud "My wife uses different techniques to me for some things, so we will see how he counters her skills - if he can".
"Do not worry about me being old or female or even Kalish, Master Juroch!" Master Yelena Gurrin insisted "I am here to test you, and you will respond as you did with my husband and with Master Odass!"
Juroch lasted a few momens longer before being ruled defeated, after which Amara took the drink from Keyah's hands and ran across the floor to give it to him.
"Here is a drink for you, uncle" Amara told him with concern, putting the bottle in his hands "You will feel much better when you have had a drink. Auntie Keyah told me it is special drink to put good things back in your body again".
Juroch rumbled briefly before drinking the entire contents of the bottle, after which he went through his warm-down exercises slowly and carefully.
When he got up, Amara immediately held his hand - both Masters Gurrin watched as she talked to him as the pair of them returned to the benches, walking along behind them with Master Odass and Master Tachiel.
"New Kalish people, mama and papa" Feltano called, pointing to them "I see them and smell them, mama and papa. Who are they? Do they like us? Are they friends? Are they safe?"
Juroch introduced each Master in the Kalish way, which both Masters Gurrin were surprised to hear and see, before telling Feltano "They are friends and they are safe, Feltano. You and Amara should come and see".
"These are my children, Masters" Caseya said softly but proudly before showing them Maranno as well "This is my youngest child, Maranno Talannah... she is barely six monen old now, but she is clever and eager and curious as she should be. All my children have many friends where we live".
All four Masters looked at each child for several momens, which all of them loved, before Master Rann Gurrin said "Your rank increase has been earned, Master Rank Four Keyah Kamara... you have done well, and you have demonstrated all you need to know to advance further".
"Your rank increase..." he added with much more surprise "...has also been earned, Master Rank Two Juroch. I do say that seeing you move in the manner of my people makes me uneasy - and were it anyone other than you such evidence as I saw would scare me and make me worry for the future of my people greatly. Are you the only one with such abilities?"
"There are two" Juroch replied "Both of whom are in this room with you now. Myself and my commanding officer".
"You as well, Captain..." Master Yelena Gurrin said, looking at Trannak "If you do not mind... I should like to see how well you manoevre on the cage. I will not test you for rank... I doubt you have trained in our art... but you should be confident in moving as we do between multiple surfaces".
"Good enough" she decided after a few momens "Since you have a Kalish wife, I assume you have this ability to have a common reference between you and her and your children".
When Trannak nodded, she did as well before asking about how he came to get it - Trannak didn't explain about Nrakal or the change to any great degree, but did explain the approval process required.
"Good!" Master Rann Gurrin replied, relieved "The approval and understanding of our people is required to receive it! Our people are important and valued for this - and, I think, for other things too".
Caseya smiled and whispered to Trannak briefly, who nodded and whispered to Juroch, who smiled and rumbled before extending an invitation to see the Duleno shop and spend time in the dwelling to the rear.
"I will call and see if there is a vehicle available on Security patrol that can take us there" Trannak decided "There will be Scarrans in it, of course - but do not worry about them, they are with our unit".
"I am testing another of the recent acquisitions, Captain Trannak..." Captain Tareg said when he received the call "Rekketh is with me and Karroch is with me. Where are we needed?"
Trannak gave directions, adding that Kalish of good standing would be passengers in the vehicle - Tareg rumbled and said "I will practice my Kalish language speaking, then - I only have the chance to practice with Keyah and your family, Captain. We will see if these Kalish can understand me".
Captain Tareg came out of the Scorpion to greet everyone, which made the Masters smile when they heard him speak their language. He also stoneshifted right in front of them, which they definitely did not expect - though the Masters watched and laughed when all three of Caseya's children climbed up to sit on his shoulders or back or chest and talk to him and test his stone form with their fingers.
"I have not seen a stonewalker ever..." Master Yelena Gurrin said with interest, looking at him closely "... and I am nearly as old as my husband! You look to be a curious and interesting kind of person, that I can tell...".
"Stonewalkers are classified officially as Divergents" Tareg explained "We are not common, but taken as a single group stonewalkers are the most common physical Divergent group among the Scarran people. On my homeworld, we have a number of stonewalkers that I am aware of... and that world is Sholphaur, as is Master Juroch's".
"I thought I heard a familiar accent..." Master Odass replied happily - Tareg greeted him in the Sholphauran way of his part of that world, after which he turned, nodded, and pointed to the Scorpion before suggesting "We should get inside, we are blocking the parking zone with our large vehicle" and returning to Scarran form before leading the way inside the Scorpion.
Caseya's parents were extremely surprised when they opened the door and saw both Masters Gurrin there as well as Master Odass and his grandson.
"Come in, come in!" Caseya urged them all, grinning a bit at the look on her mother's face "My parents and my brother live here! Come in and sit and see!"
"I think..." Caseya's father said, looking at Tareg "...that I have seen you before. You showed us your special capability then, and it took some momens to persuade the children to climb off you".
"It did" Tareg confirmed, rumbling very softly and briefly before Devin was brought in. Juroch then introduced all the Masters in the Kalish way, by order of rank and age - Mrs Gurrin asked Devin about his studies, and Devin was so surprised that she would talk to him he stuttered for a few microts before answering.
"Devin does well, Masters" Caseya's mother told them happily as she poured tea for them and sent Devin to the cooler for snacks "He is in the top three of his study group always, first achiever when he finds something really interesting, and does well here in the shop and out on repair commissions with his father".
Juroch conducted a full ceremony of welcome, which made every Master smile and Master Tachiel look extremely surprised for a few microts.
"You taught Master Juroch much of our old culture, then" Master Rann Gurrin said to Master Odass, who replied "We still adhere to much of that on Sholphaur, Master Gurrin... with one or two variances due to where we are and the kind of world we have, but recognisable easily".
"The games themselves went surprisingly well, I think. While the Scarrans did win... it certainly wasn't by as many medals as they'd have liked. Cap'n T got three different ones for diving, and the Sholphaurans got a few more for longer-distance swimming - the look on the faces of the Hynerians was priceless when they got beaten in the 5000 metras, even though they weren't beaten by much at all.
The Nebari trouble stayed simmering until almost sixthday evening - when the lid blew right off in a very interesting way indeed...".
- extract from War Commander Harrigan's personal log, HMS Cry Havoc.
