"Commander, sir..." a Sholphauran specialist trooper announced when Commander Rasmanak stepped off his Reaper and onto the flight deck.

"I want two squads on standby alert" Rasmanak replied immediately "We've got no indications... well, nothing solid, anyway... showing if the unrest aboard the Showlon has progressed to a mutiny against their political masters or not. If we get any such... I want people ready to move. That means the alert squads are to be right next to Reapers or a stealth lander and ready for immediate deployment".

"Not a problem, sir... " came the reply "My own team has just finished their meal... I'm sure I can find another...".

Rasmanak sighed before adding "I know we have kingdom personnel in our Teams, as do you... send word that if they'll support us in this they get what we get".

"The understanding we have on Sholphaur is to be active here as well, then" the specialist trooper replied, nodding "Not that I would expect it to be any other way, sir... but it is a relief to hear you confirm this. On our world, after all, we are Sholphaurans first. Whatever else we might be".

It didn't take too long before Captain Tokk heard what Rasmanak had said - he rumbled surprisingly softly, then nodded before whispering "Assemble two squads from either Tactical or Skulker command... I do not know if they will be needed to assist Commander Rasmanak's teams, but we should be prepared in case they are. He has promised us an equal share in the prize, and we should show we are prepared to do our part in getting it".

"Should we alert Stalker and his friends?" another voice whispered back "He and those friends were the ones who made sure Master Odass arrived at the embassy safely, after all".

Captain Tokk thought about that for a few momens, then nodded and decided "Alert Stalker. I do not know if he and those with him on the Fortress-class ship will be willing to help if called... but better to have them willing and not need help than to need help and not have any available".


"60% of the support staff are with you, Captain Paddan" the Showlon's chief engineer said, in the Captain's quarters and within easy sight of five different antisurveillance devices "If we'd have more time to prepare we might have been able to offer incentive enough to sway more... but we haven't, so we'll have to make do with those we do have".

"That's more than I thought we'd be able to count on" Cal Paddan replied "Far more than we need if we are forced to resort to the backup plan and make a hasty withdrawal aboard the two Purifiers close by and as many of the Hurricanes as we can get to".

"If the Night Watch find out..." the chief engineer replied uneasily "you know they'll fall back to their own command facility, seize environmentals and engineering by force, and then either cut off the air or gas the entire ship".

"Have any of your people found out where that is?" Cal Paddan asked

"Guessing where it is has become one of the favourite occupations of some of the officers among the Enforcers... we've got almost a hundred guesses as to where it might be but no proof of any of them!"

"No, Captain" the chief engineer was forced to admit "Every time we thought we'd found out, someone's body was found or someone simply disappeared. The Night Watch holds such information very close to their hearts indeed".

"Then it's just as well we have as many of the support staff with us as we do" Cal Paddan replied "We need to make sure our people are on duty in the environmental control and engineering facilities at all times - and able to cut off external control over those facilities if necessary. Without knowing where the Night Watch command facility on board is, we have to resort to this more dangerous and unreliable option".

A runner brought Captain Paddan a small datacard, after which they left.

"Hmm..." the Captain murmured in thought, then said "Advanced models of sneaksuits have been seen around Talzenadar IV during these sporting games, it appears - in colours that might be attributable to our people but not in the colour schemes we use. Since the images in this report clearly show they are not the model we know the Night Watch to have... the Night Watch will believe those suits are worn by our personnel, despite the fact that we have even less idea who wears them or made them than they do".

A knock on the door followed, quite loudly - Captain Paddan drew a pistol before activating his spycam and seeing who was there. When it proved to be someone he trusted, he opened the door and urged them inside.

"Captain..." the trooper said "I must report that Marshal Fen has just called Commander Lintaii into closed conference in the consulate... and that Night Watch have been stationed at the consulate's hyperwave comm controls, in suits and bearing arms".

"Initial plan five" Captain Paddan said, nodding once "...and preferably quickly".


"I can't put it down to any one item of information, Commander..." Marshal Fen told his subordinate "...but everything I see and hear tells me reactionary forces among the general crew, or simply just the Enforcers, are moving so seize control of the ship - whether as a part of some larger plan or simply to make sure Night Watch forces either here or in Establishment facilities elsewhere can't capture them before they leave".

"Captain Cal Paddan has powerful friends of his own" Commander Lintaii replied "We know that much already. Do you think they are positioning their own allies in places of importance before executing a plan of their own?"

"I don't know" the Marshal replied "and, to be honest, I don't much care. Cal Paddan's home is not on Nebari Prime, that much I do know - but when I decided to find out in detail where it was... in case of just such events as these... the information was missing".

"Missing?" Commander Lintaii asked "Or erased?"

"I sent one of my bodyguards to acquire this information, an information retrieval specialist" Marshal Fen explained "She believes someone copied it to an external device, then took some time to erase the data beyond hope of recovery. This implies backup data has been compromised as well".

"What about these advanced sneaksuits that have been seen around this world during the games so far?" Commander Lintaii asked next "Someone, whoever they are, has clearly put a lot of thought into that design - and has brought that modified design to a stage suitable for a test deployment without the Night Watch finding out. This is not comforting news. Has our ambassador been questioned about this?"

"He has..." Marshal Fen sighed "...as have his staff, the entire guard force, and anyone else in the building who has served with the Enforcers at some point in their career. While it's not certain that reactionary forces designed, manafactured, and deployed these suits - their presence here at this time, just as insurrection rears its ugly head among the crew of our largest warship insystem, seems a little too coincidental".


"Recall, recall..." came over the Enforcer's comm-net around Tal IV for maybe three microts - after which most of the Enforcers began moving discreetly towards safer positions. Occasional skirmishes broke out between them and Night Watch troops when confrontation couldn't be avoided, but it was clear that the Enforcers had planned their exit carefully and in advance because casualties were comparatively light.

"Enforcer Command..." one specialist trooper called huriedly, two drekh with him and Night Watch advancing fast "Be advised we are unable to reach the designated extraction point and... aaaargh!... the Night Watch have at least one agent with them and are advancing on our position".

"You...sssscchhh... un...move?" a static-laden reply asked.

"Our current position is untenable" the specialist trooper replied "I have lost five troopers already to the Night Watch. I would prefer not to lose any more".

Further hissing and static followed, until someone managed to keep the wavelength clear for long enough to call "Unconventional retrieval authorised".

The nine troopers still remaining at that point slammed their palms down on small green devices on their belts, after which space bent inward around them briefly before they disappeared with a slight pop of displaced air marking their departure.


"Be advised open combat between Night Watch political forces and Enforcers in progress at multiple locations around the port and Market Street" Commander Solk called to Captain Haresh over the comm "Should we intervene on behalf of one side or stay clear?"

With Harrigan now close by, Haresh replied "Stay clear - but remain watchful. Only fire if you believe yourselves to be under threat or if local residents lives are in danger. Alert standard Security forces of these events".

Ten momens later, Commander Solk called "It is done... but Security comm is down, one of the troopers on the ground had to tap a public landline".

"Looks like the Nebari are gettin' it on" Harrigan told all the Captains "So far I got no idea why. Make sure someone keeps an ear to the comm in case we get called in - and if any of you got informants dirtside you can trust for something like this, get 'em out there earnin' their keep".

"Juroch..." Trannak whispered "Whether the Emperor knows it or not, I expect your world has a ship of some size close by. If you can ask them about this situation without anyone else finding out, do so. We need more information, and we need it from reliable sources".

"I will ask" Juroch replied, nodding "I do not know if I will be told the entire truth about current events, even if someone of Sholphaur actually knows - but I will ask".


Juroch's call actually went through to one of the athletes at the stadium before someone answered his query.

"Since it's you, Stalker..." came the wary and not entirely pleased reply "...then I'll say that yes, we do have a ship moderately close by. Commander Rasmanak has asked us to make contact with you, he thinks you and your new friends may be able to help him with some matter..." before reciting a comm code twice and discomming.

Juroch passed the details onto Harrigan.

"Sounds like your rep's spread far and wide" Harrigan decided "but it also sounds like this guy you found is either particularly paranoid or just more Hierarchy-aligned than most of your lot".

"I would expect they are simply security-conscious" Juroch replied "Commander Rasmanak and Master Odass may know I am here but most of the regular troopers do not. When things like that happen it surprises us and makes us uneasy - this is why the trooper I contacted seems paranoid and suspicious to you".

"Find your big man, then" Harrigan told Juroch "I dunno yet what he wants to get you on-side about... but when he tells you, pass it on to me".

"Commander Rasmanak commands the base on Sholphaur that is at least nominally under Hierarchy authority" Juroch replied "We have an unofficial understanding between the Kingdom forces and the Hierarchy forces on Sholphaur... but it will be rare for any of the A-teams to have a mixed membership. To any great degree, anyway".


"Remaining Enforcers are either returning in good order or already here, Captain" Cal Paddan's first officer reported.

"How many of those who were planetside at the time of recall..." Cal Paddan asked "were able to make a safe retreat to the Showlon?"

"Almost all" came the reply "We did lose a few... the occasional soldier, here and there... maybe fifteen total killed in action".

"A number of the Enforcers used the recall beacons to return here" Cal Paddan said "How have they reacted to forcible mechanised translocation? Their minds did not rebel against the rapid and unfamiliar transport method? They are not overcome by translocation motion sickness? The beacon machinery is still in good order?"

"So far, Captain" the first officer said "the beacon systems are working at as close to full capacity as anyone might have guessed... and better than most of us would have thought. Putting them where they have been put might be more secure for general operation... but means it will be difficult to make a quick and orderly exit should this become necessary".

"We would need to extract the core systems" Cal Paddan replied, nodding "and make our way inside EVA suits to the flight deck and a Hurricane, yes. Not an impossible journey, even though for the less proficient it will not be easy. Perhaps five or six people will be required to transport all the components in one journey".

"Even then, Captain" the first officer added "You still have blueprints on data device and on print, I believe. Should the Night Watch force our hand and make it impossbile to leave without destroying the system itself, we can retrieve these construction plans and continue on in this research".

"We could" Cal Paddan agreed "But let's make sure we don't have to, yes?"


"I have been asked to make contact..." Juroch said softly, once his call was picked up by a real person "... with Commander Rasmanak or other military personnel in positions of authority. Are such people there with you?"

"They are not" a younger Scarran replied, shaking his head "I have been told they wish to hear from you, Stalker... though, of course, I was not told why".

Less than three momens later, Commander Rasmanak was spliced into the call from the Sholphauran flight deck.

"You're still here, then" Rasmanak said "How much do you know about what's going on right now with the Nebari?"

"If you mean, sir..." Juroch replied "...about the unrest down on Tal IV right now, I have seen all the Security reports and have talked to some of the Security staff who observed the skirmishes in Market Street and around the port. A number of unusual occurences were reported concerning the method by which a number of the Nebari Enforcers left this planet and returned to wherever they considered safe. No evidence currently exists to show technical personnel where I am how this exfiltration was made".

"I got a plan to deal with that, mister" Rasmanak replied "I have Sholphaurans from my team ready to move here... I don't know whoever you have with you, but right now I'm willing to share whatever we get with your lot as well. Don't make me regret that decision".

"You will not do so, Commander Rasmanak" Juroch promised "My Captain is here and our commanding officer is here. Would you like to speak to them?"

Rasmanak groaned, wondering how much had been overheard already, before nodding and saying "Put them on".

No Sholphaurans recognised Trannak's face when it appeared on the comm screen, but a few recognised Harrigan's dress and manner and smiled and rumbled proudly.

"Now that is one person I did not expect to see, Mister Juroch..." Rasmanak replied "Both his insignia and personal outfitting suggest he is the kingdom War Commander. I was not aware there was one at this time".

"There is, sir" Juroch replied "and he is here".

"Well then" Rasmanak replied "I'm assuming you know about the insurrection on board the Showlon. If you can deploy some soldiers to help us... I'll extend the same cooperation to you as I did to the kingdom personnel aboard our ship. You get what we get".

"I've been hearin' about some weird stuff they got" Harrigan said "Made their boys an' girls disappear into thin air and come back who knows where. I'd like to get a good look at that if we can find it, figure out what makes it work".

"That is confirmed by our own athletes and other soldiers" Rasmanak said "Some of whom actually observed the use of these new retrieval methods" before he paused for breath and to collect his thoughts before adding "So... you want this new retrieval technology. Fine. Our own goals are a little bit larger...".

Harrigan just grinned and said "You're wantin' that there ship, I think. You want to take it home, take it to bits, find out what makes it tick. What new weird Nebari stuff it has in it that no one else knows about".

"Correct" Rasamanak replied, grumbling a little "As far as that goes... we will be taking the ship with us to examine at a much safer location - but if you help us get it we're prepared to share at least some of it with you".

"I got some people who're good at what you'll be doing" Harrigan confirmed "Say the word, an' I'll get 'em on board a ship an' come over to say hello".

"Your presence on our ship is conditional on Stalker being there to vouch for you" Rasmanak replied "I don't mean any disrespect... but no one on board knows you, we've not served with you. Stalker has".

"Fine by me" Harrigan replied "We got a Nebari specialist too, they'll be coming... anyone else is up to Juroch's CO here".

"Acceptable" Rasmanak replied "Stalker knows the Sholphauran contact protocols. Once you get to outsystem markers, he can make contact - once he does, we'll send someone to escort you to our flight deck".


"Big uncle commander Harrigan..." Troll told his children, grinning a bit "...needs your dear ol' Dad for stuff again, kids. Gonna go see some people, I hear. Might even be some fun stuff for me to do".

Sherenka looked up at her father, then nodded before hugging him and saying "We wait here for you, papa. If things happen, you can tell us about them".

"If we're doing sneaky stuff I gotta wait till after, miss" Troll reminded her "But I'll tell you the fun parts when I get back, OK?"

"Hear about fun stuff..." Alphak replied "when you get back, papa. I here then. Brother Garakk here then. Sisters here then".

"You and mama do another mission, papa?" Amara asked in amazement, after which she clapped and asked "Where is it? Who else is going? Will you need me to help with special skills? Can Feltano help as well? Will so-".

Caseya just smiled and hugged Amara until she shrieked, rumbled loudly and hugged her back.

"I think your papa is talking to people and finding out who will be going" Caseya explained "From what I can hear, your Nebari friend Hellbolt and your auntie Liz are going and your uncle Troll is going".

"I will be going as well, children" Juroch added "as will Keyah Kamara" before turning to face Ghost and telling him "You will be coming as well, Ghost - I do not know if we will need two of our speciality, but best to have them and not need them than need them and not have them".

"That's true..." Ghost replied "an' while I've had stuff to do around the port, this looks a mite more ...interesting. We gonna take the big ones or those smaller ones with suppressors you used to use before you came here?"

"I think we can safely risk the suppressed rifle" Juroch decided after a few microts' thought "The need to stay covert outweighs the very slim possibility of meeting enemies wearing heavy armour. Should we find any, Captain Tareg can either help Amara translocate the larger rifles to us or do so himself".

"Juroch will be speaking on our behalf" Trannak told the group once it was complete "Our presence at the staging point was made conditional on his confirming our reliability and trustworthiness. After that is settled, we will move on to operational matters".

"There will be both Kalish and Scarrans of my home world where we are going" Juroch added "I am sure you will get the chance to work with and talk to both. It is possible that our group will be split, should operational needs require it, and some of us will go with the people of my world and some will go elsewhere" before turning to Reanaree and asking "You are not part of our unit... I cannot tell you to come... but I would like you to come".

"I will come" Reanaree confirmed with a nod "I have been permitted to keep one of those strange new sneaksuits for myself, and it has enough carrying capacity to fit at least basic things inside it for me. I will use it on this mission and report back to Captain Haresh afterward with what I have learned about the suit in combat".

"We all good to go?" Harrigan asked "We got no stealth vessels 'cept mine at this point, so we'll take that".

"Can't really take anything else, true" Ghost said "Not with that Host Vessel being there. Not really sure what that can do, so it'd be best to err on the side of caution".

"Correct, Ghost" Juroch replied, nodding "We will take the Harbringer. The Commander and Caseya will be on the bridge, though I understand Caseya will be the main pilot for this mission. I will be at the communication desk. The rest of us will remain in the bunkroom or on the drop deck".

"There is a mission?" Commander Solk asked as they passed "I did not hear what you were talking about... but the way you are moving together suggests that there is".

Juroch rumbled briefly in resignation, then said "Pick three people, Commander Solk - this assumes you will be number four yourself. Pick people who can use the new sneaksuits. Special support will be provided from the Cry Havoc... but that's all. We will be on our own, apart from that, once deployed".

Commander Solk picked people from the small gathering of his crew in the galley already, conferred briefly with Captain Haresh, then said "All OK. We are ready to deploy".

Once at the flight deck, Caseya grinned a little as she boarded the Harbringer - I am one of the few privileged to fly this small stealth vessel myself she reminded herself more than a little smugly The Commander, Talannah, and I are the only ones permitted to do so unsupervised.

Harrigan watched, only grinning a little bit, as Caseya powered up the ship from memory, muttering the necessary steps as she made them - she turned to look up at him afterwards, saying "Look, your ship reports all systems fully functional, Commander! Everything works as it should. I have not armed the weapons... but we can do that once we are outside the flight deck here if that is needed".

"It will not be" Juroch told her, entering the small bridge and sitting down at the communication desk "We will maintain a quiet and covert approach until we reach the designated point... then I will use the communication protocols I know to make contact, for the next stage, with Sholphaurans who we will be assisting. I think it is best I let you find out for yourselves what they are like".

"I am here, mama!" Amara squeaked excitedly when Caseya called for takeoff clearance "with auntie Murea! Auntie Murea says I will be allowed to help you with special stuff if you call me, mama. Nice stony whisper Captain Tareg is helping us study, mama - so he might help you too".

"Clearance is given..." Murea added, rumbling a little in laughter "Containment field is on and deck doors are opening now...".

"Be good and help your friends, Amara" Caseya reminded her daughter "Help them with study and with training. Wear your comm at all times in case we need you to help us and we are close to your uncle the big funny man, or your papa, or your uncle Juroch".

"I do that, mama" Amara replied, then smiled before rumbling softly "If you are with papa on our home ship I need my comm because papa has the same special things uncle big funny man does".

"That's right, Amara" Harrigan added, making Amara shriek and clap "We'll talk to you when we get back - right now we got stuff to do. See you later..." before he discommed.


"Our forces are split in two" Marshal Fen grumbled "The necessary detachment for these games are here in the embassy to supplement the embassy guards... and maybe three-quarters of our force is on the Showlon facing an insurrection from the Enforcers and crew".

"Our forces on the Showlon may not have their two most senior officers with them..." Commander Lintaii reminded his superior "But the officers there are not stupid, they will know what to do. They know the contingency plans".

"I'm starting to think the Captain does as well, if not the Enforcers as a whole" Marshal Fen replied a little more uneasily "If that's true, I hope our officers can improvise a little, for all that we generally don't encourage such a trait".

"All will be well for the remainder of the games?" the ambassador asked hopefully "While proper security must certainly be maintained, and enforced, aboard the Host Vessel insystem... our Establishment should continue to be a noticeable presence on the sporting field as well. Other species must be able to see we excel there as well, even at such short notice".

"The athletes, from what I can tell..." Commander Lintaii replied "are doing exactly as they should, ambassador - performing to the best of their ability in the sporting games. That, at least, has proceeded well - slightly ahead of expectation, I feel. I think we should enquire with the governor of Talzenadar IV as to whether these games will be a regular event every cycle".

"Next time..." Marshal Fen replied "Assuming there is a next time... I will suggest the Establishment split our athletes among a number of ships... one of which should be from the Night Watch".

"In case of... emergencies, Marshal Fen?" the ambassador asked, meaning In case of shipboard insurrection?

"Exactly, ambassador" confirmed Marshal Fen with a nod before turning to face him and smiling briefly "In case of emergencies".


"Sir..." a very quiet Kalish voice called over scrambled comm from a Reaper keeping station with the Showlon "I am detecting heat movements appropriate to the movement of large numbers of soldiers aboard the Showlon - in many places. I believe the heat patterns to be from Night Watch, since their special suits insulate the heat more effectively than Enforcer's uniforms".

"Continue to watch" Captain Tokk replied "Report to the bridge whenever you find out important interesting things. The others on reconnaisance duty should do that as well".

"Have Stalker and his friends made contact yet?" Captain Tokk asked the Scarran on the comm desk.

"Not yet, Captain" came the reply "I expect they have prepared a group to come and meet with us... but either they have a stealth vessel of their own which we cannot see at this time or they have not launched from their flight deck yet".

Before Captain Tokk could grumble, the comm officer's treblin hand went up and his hammond hand accepted a comm call.

"This is Stalker..." Juroch announced to all on the bridge "I know you expected us to make contact sooner... but we took a little while to decide who would come with me and my Captain".

"Have you taken off?" Captain Tokk asked immediately, and Juroch nodded before saying "We have, Captain. We are some distance now from our own ship and well clear of the Showlon. I will check in again when we reach a suitable distance to be escorted to your flight deck".

One Juroch had discommed, Captain Tokk nodded and rumbled softly before saying "Alert Commander Rasmanak of this call from Stalker. Stalker said he is bringing a group with him - this, I think, implies that his group is willing to take an active part in assisting us".


"Chief Engineer..." Captain Cal Paddan asked quietly "Have your technical staff managed to deactivate the Night Watch overrides to flight control and environmentals? Possibly security and fire control as well?"

"Flight control was easy" the Chief Engineer replied "Environmentals was tricky, and I'm still not sure if Host Vessels have a smaller secondary system installed for political reasons in case of events like these".

"If they do" Cal Paddan replied "then it will likely service only Night Watch facilities. We need to find their command and control facility fast once we move to seize control".

"I have had my support staff place a few extra links in the security monitoring systems so we can maintain at least partial coverage should the Night Watch shut down those systems or take them fully under their control from their own facility aboard" the Chief Engineer replied, which made Cal Paddan smile very briefly.

"They are moving, Captain" a security specialist trooper announced, running onto the bridge "A number of groups to several different locations. The chance is too great to dismiss that either they know what we are going to do... or they're just wary and preparing to seize control anyway to stop us from doing it".

Cal Paddan thought for just a few microts, then nodded and said "We go. Chief Engineer, keep your auxilliary security links in place as long as you can - watch our enemy, track his movements, call in what you find by whatever means necessary should the bridge controls cease to be operational. Enforcers... move out to the known Night Watch facilities. Don't engage yet, but try and get close enough to watch the entry points".

The Chief Engineer paused to take a comm call, then announced "Support staff loyal to us have just dispatched a number of opposing support staff attempting to disable key systems manually. We have to move now, whether we like it or not - it won't be long before the Night Watch try to comm Marshal Fen or Commander Lintaii for orders, or just use some pre-planned response they have for such times as these".


"Stalker has hailed us once again, Captain" the duty comm officer on the Sholphauran ship announced "He said that their ship has passed the Showlon and that they request directions to wherever we are".

"Where are they?" Captain Tokk asked, though he smiled slightly when the navigation officer said "I cannot detect them, Captain - either they are keeping tight formation with civilian traffic or they have a stealth vessel of their own".

Captain Tokk thought for a momen or two, then decided "Tell Commander Rasmanak. Have him deploy two Reapers to escort Stalker and his friends to our flight deck. When they have landed, tell me - and I will come to greet them personally".

"Yes, Captain" the comm officer replied.

"Copy that, Captain" Rasmanak said, after which he waved a hand at the nearest people he could see.

"Sir?" they asked.

"Stalker's coming" Rasmanak stated "He doesn't know exactly where we are... but the Captain says he's clear of the Showlon. We get to send a couple of our Reapers out to bring him in".

"I do not know this Stalker..." one of the small number of Kalish said "... but when people talk about him they always seem to speak well of him. Whether I am selected to escort his ship here or to stay, I should like to see him".

Rasmanak checked the Kalish's ident against the ship's archive, then nodded and said "You're Dettena's number two then, since her usual copilot's in the sick bay at the moment" before he turned to face the others, tapping out a few commands on his PDA.

"Cagg" he called "Get your own number two and get a Reaper. Keep listening to the recon reports while you're out as well... you'll have a few microts lead on us here, and you can speak their language a bit as well".

Cagg nodded before replying "Yes, Captain. On the way" in clear Nebari speech with a slight accent before rumbling a little smugly.


"Small craft are coming" Juroch told Harrigan "We will be escorted to the flight deck of the Sholphauran ship, where we will be met - I do not know if we will be met by the ship's Captain or by Commander Rasmanak".

"One problem at a time, mister" Harrigan replied "Let's get aboard first, we can sort out who's who when we get there".

Juroch just nodded before giving Caseya a few minor course corrections, based on where he thought his countrymen would have stationed their ship - and less than ten momens later, two Reapers came alongside the Harbringer.

"You have a ship of Sebacean origin" Cagg stated "Is it a stealth vessel? Is that why we could not see it from our ship - at range, anyway?"

"It is... " Juroch replied "and yes, it is also a stealth vessel. Are you here to escort us to your flight deck?"

"We are" Cagg replied "You and anyone with you will be met when you arrive, so do not go too far from your ship".

The two Reapers kept station with the Harbringer, with Cagg passing over the occasional course correction - until Dettena commed the Sholphauran ship to announce their arrival.

"I'm on the flight deck already" Rasmanak replied "Bring them in, land in your usual assigned landing spot - they can sit out in the open where everyone can see them. I'll tell Captain Tokk, he'll probably want to come and see them himself".

"The flight deck entry point seems to be on top of the hull" Caseya told Juroch "Not like ours, which are on either side of the ship".

"Nor like the Vorlek" Juroch added, nodding "Where it appears to be in the bow, under the bridge. We have a few special designs of ship, Caseya, of which we build a small number only for our own use - it appears this ship is one of those. We are priviledged to see it and go inside".

Caseya communicated her guess as to where the flight deck entry was, and Dettena replied "That is the flight deck entry, correct. We will maintain formation and make our landing now. Does your unusual craft require maintenance while you are here?"

"Shouldn't do" Harrigan replied "We do that pretty regular back at our place. If all goes well I might let a few people look at it later, though...".

One slight squeak followed, before Dettena said "My number two is Kalish... he has been asking questions about your ship as we escorted you here. I am sure he will make sure he is one of those who is considered for even a short tour in your small craft... once current business is concluded".

The deck doors opened as they flew closer, then shut behind them - after which deck lighting started coming on or brightening.

"Find a suitable spot in the centre of the deck to land" Cagg advised "It is expected that you will land out in the open, since you have no scheduled landing space on our ship. Commander Rasmanak is here... Captain Tokk will be on his way shortly as well".

"Bring the nose around" Harrigan told Caseya "...to face the deck entry - well, the one we know about. Put us down right out in the middle of the deck, too - I want as much of an unobstructed line of sight to anywhere an' everywhere as we can get".

A lot of Scarrans and Kalish crew watched as the Harbringer rotated on its axis before making a slow and careful landing. A number of pilots commented favourably on Caseya's cautious landing and how the Harbringer's nose faced the deck entry they entered by, and a senior Kalish technician called "Do not approach. We do not know who is aboard nor why they are here. Commander Rasmanak, Captain Tokk, or their appointed representative will find out about this craft and its crew - if they say it is safe for us to come closer, then we may come closer. Not before".

"It is very interesting just to look at" another Kalish whispered with interest, doing just that "It has a turret on the tail, one more on the top, and larger bow cannons in fixed forward positions from what I can tell. I do not know what other things it can do".

"Not the helm" Juroch told Liz and Hellbolt, pointing to their sneaksuits "People of my world will be cautiously welcoming... but if the evidence leads them to think you are in Nebari sneaksuits then at least some may shoot, or transport you to the cells for interrogation. Keep the helmpiece with you, just do not wear it for now".

"Fair enough..." Liz replied "These things do look a bit weird if you've not seen 'em before, that's true. Pity I ain't got target-tracker uplink, if I did I could run suit systems without the helm on".

Juroch filed that bit of interesting information away for further consideration before nodding and telling her "If you have alternative methods for targeting, Liz, then make sure they work. You will not need them here... but if anyone recognises what you are doing they will understand your caution, even though they may deploy armed personnel to watch you".

"We got laser targeters for the suit guns" Liz replied "Could prob'ly target Hellfires with 'em given time to tweak the settings... but we'll sort that out another time".

Ghost checked his rifle, tapped the magazine briefly, then called "Good to go. Want me to head out an' look around a bit?"

"You and I will leave the Harbringer first" Juroch confirmed, nodding "You will circle around to hammond, I will circle around to treblin, and we will report what we see to each other and the Captain when we return to the hatch".

Soldiers watched this happening, nodding with approval - one called out about Juroch's face being green, which got Rasmanak running over, though he just watched while the two snipers scanned their environment.

"Nothing I wouldn't expect to be there" Ghost told Juroch "People fixin' stuff... people drillin' or doin' PT... one or two officers a way over near a Reaper, watching us...".

Juroch looked in the direction Ghost indicated officers being present in, nodded, then said "I believe Commander Rasmanak is there, Ghost. He commands the A-Team I was in before. His presence is expected".

"I can call the others out, then?" Ghost asked, and Juroch nodded - Ghost whistled loudly and waved at the open hatch. Troll's large changed body was the first to emerge, which caused a number of quiet but animated discussions among both Scarrans and Kalish - Liz and Hellbolt came out after that, which got weapons raised and aimed once Hellbolt's species was seen until Rasmanak rumbled and shouted "Lower the weapons... we were told a Nebari specialist was coming, even though no one told us this would be a real Nebari...".

"Could have gone better..." Liz whispered to Hellbolt "...but you an' I are both still alive, so I'll consider that good enough for now".

Hellbolt just snorted, whispering "I'm suprised someone didn't just shoot me, to be honest - these Sholphaurans seem a bit skittish".

"We are wary of the unexpected" Juroch corrected, turning to face Hellbolt "The presence of a Nebari on this ship is unexpected - by the general crew, anyway. Commander Rasmanak has calmed matters so we can continue with our original mission to assist him".

Caseya and Trannak were watched as they emerged, but more people watched and chattered when they saw more Kalish emerge wearing the same kind of sneaksuit that Hellbolt wore - Rasmanak rumbled a little before signalling the soldiers and crew to keep their weapons lowered.

Harrigan's huge bulk caused even more rapid whispered conversations than the sneaksuits did - once he saw that was happening, he grinned and waved to anyone he could see.


"Stalker is here, Captain" a runner told Captain Tokk "A number of other soldiers came with him, including one Nebari. Two have advanced marks of the change which we do not know about. The larger of the two is attired as we expect the War Commander would be".

Captain Tokk smiled and rumbled softly, then got out of his command chair and called "Number one, you have the conn... I will go and see Stalker and these other soldiers, and see if the biggest one is the War Commander as people seem to believe".

A soft "Sir..." was the only reply he got before leaving the bridge.

"We see you, Stalker..." Rasmanak called "We know you... who are the others in your group?"

"Come and see, Commander Rasmanak" Juroch replied "One of those present is my commanding officer, whom I am sure you will wish to speak to - I expect the others will be interesting to you in their own ways as well".

"Cagg, Dettena..." Rasmanak whispered "Bring your number twos and follow me. You've all had contact with these people already... which until we're sure of who they are and how they'll react is the limit of contact I'm prepared to sanction".

"They look to have a number of Kalish with them" Dettena's current number two said "I will be the first of my species aboard this ship permitted to speak with them? Are there specific things I should ask about?"

"Captain Tokk hasn't said so if there is" Rasmanak told him "Talk to them, be naturally Kalish around them... pass on anything even remotely interesting to me or to Captain Tokk. They'll expect you to do that anyway".

"Well, well...you're back aboard a Sholphauran ship again, Stalker, even if temporarily so" Rasmanak said, looking at the gathering as he approached "Who are all of these people? Which one's your CO? How did you get hold of those sneaksuits?"

"You ask as many questions as our Kalish brethren still, Commander Rasmanak" Juroch replied, rumbling softly before nodding to Trannak and adding "There is my commanding officer, Captain Trannak - his wife is standing beside him, she is our pilot".

That got Dettena's number two to ask "You have a Kalish wife, Captain? How long have you been married? Do you have children? What are they like?" before anyone else even thought to ask anything.

Caseya smiled and Trannak rumbled softly before nodding for Caseya to answer.

"I am Captain Trannak's wife, you are correct" she said "We do have children, as you suspect. For safety's sake I will not say anything about them at this point other than that they are all happy and healthy and show good traits from both our peoples. What is your name? What do you do here?"

"I am Colaph Temmen Haim Onem Tang" he replied, bowing slightly "I am the copilot for Dettena in her Reaper, in addition to which I do much of the maintenance work for it as well. I am not as skilled as a specialist technician, but those of our crew who are specialist technicians appreciate that I wish to help them maintain the craft I fly" before he smiled and added "I find it interesting to see a mixed couple of Scarran and Kalish people. We have a number of such pairings on Sholphaur... but while I have heard of such pairings I have not seen any before". Caseya didn't miss the brief look he directed towards Dettena before he asked who the others of the group were, but decided to tell Trannak later.

Everyone was interested that Commander Solk and his Kalish were not from Kalian or anywhere else in Scarran-controlled space, and Colaph Tang was even more interested to see that Juroch and Reanaree were close as well - a number of Kalish came forward to talk to both Ghost and Liz when they were identified as a species they had not seen before, and it was at this point that Captain Tokk arrived and came closer. Since he was still in stoneform this got Troll spinning around to face him, as well as Ghost's rifle coming up before he asked "Juroch? He one of yours?"

"I am Captain Fennen Tokk" Captain Tokk replied "This ship you are on is my ship, I am its captain. Perhaps I should not have approached in stoneform... the crew are familiar enough with my being a stonewalker, and I forget sometimes that others may not be".

"We seen one before, Cap" Troll replied "We got one on our ship. He's from where you are, actually - Cap'n Tareg".

Captain Tokk smiled and rumbled, changing back to Scarran form as he did so and saying "I had heard that Tareg had been sent to the War Commander to assist him... it is good to see he is doing well and has earned promotion. He is a strong classical stonewalker - I am a stonewalker as well, as you can tell, though I am of a much rarer kind than Captain Tareg. But enough about that for now" before turning to look at Harrigan.

"You are the War Commander, sir?" he asked "The general population of Sholphaur has not heard that we have one again. Stalker would be the only one from our world to know of your existence beyond doubt - if you are who I think you are".

"You're right" Harrigan replied "I'm the War Commander - although most people don't use my full title, it takes too long. The Kalish here, apart from Caseya, are a few other friends of ours who came along to help when they found out interesting things might be happening".

Harrigan explained a little about the others as well, which made Captain Tokk curious - he smiled at the humans, examined Hellbolt a little more closely before nodding and saying "It is good to see we have a War Commander again... beyond that, it is good to see you wish to assist the people of Sholphaur and that you brought specialists to do so with you. It is interesting to see that you brought a real Nebari... I do not think any of my crew has ever seen one before. His presence will be very useful. We will not run into mistakes in translation, verbal or written, with him alongside us - and he will, I hope, know at least some of the systems on the Host vessel".

Hellbolt explained a few things about his time aboard a Host vessel. Captain Tokk and Commander Rasmanak were very interested to hear what he had to say, especially when he confirmed that he had a good idea where Night Watch facilities might be.

"Bear in mind that's a guess" Hellbolt cautioned them "It was accurate when I still served in the Enforcers... I don't know if they've changed where things are, or if there's anything else they added. Might just need to keep a sharp eye for important stuff as we go".

"We're good at that" Liz added in an attempt to include herself in the conversation "Humans are all about making stuff up as we go along. We can do good plans too... but reacting to weird stuff happening and making stuff up on the spur of the microt is what we're all about, really...".

Captain Tokk turned to look at Liz, which made her more than a little tense until he smiled a little and rumbled before saying "I hope we do not need your talent for... improvising. But it is good to know it is there. Perhaps you are like the Nebari and know that language enough to help us?"

"I'm no native-speaker, Captain" Liz replied "but I'm good. I can read it and speak it and make a credible attempt to write it".

"Very good, very good..." Captain Tokk said, nodding slightly and smiling just a little "We have specialists in the Nebari language and the Nebari culture... and we have troops ready to deploy at a microt's notice. All we need now is accurate intelligence showing the correct moment to move" before seeing Troll.

"Of course..." Captain Tokk said, nodding "As the War Commander, you have access to the best in military technologies - including genetic reconstruction. I would think, from your appearance, you received such things yourself".

"First one to get it without turning into a stinking puddle of goo, yep" Harrigan replied "As for this reprobate... you might think, just from looking at him, that we'd learned a few new things since I had my turn. You'd be right, too".


Once the initial contact situation had been settled, things went a good deal more smoothly. Not many people of any species came close to talk to or simply look at them, but Harrigan got the impression this was simply because they had orders to be other places doing their normal work.

"I expect so, Commander" Juroch confirmed when asked about it "Look over by that Reaper - Commander Rasmanak is there, he is talking to a Specialist Trooper at length. I think additional personnel from Commander Rasmanak's A-team are being mobilised".

"People getting ready, then" Harrigan replied "Good, good. We're here, we're ready - all we got to do now is wait for your lot here to bring their guys an' gals to the table. We gonna get any Kingdom people here? Or just your A-Teams?"

"Either one is trustworthy" Juroch insisted, nodding "If Kingdom personnel are coming, their own leaders will be deciding who goes. The presence of skulker command and Bloodstar command will have been passed on to them - I expect skulker command will be given the task of assisting us on this mission, but we may get specialists from other commands if required".

Commander Rasmanak walked over a little later - with two A-team combat squads.

"These troops are from my Team, you lot" Rasmanak told Harrigan and the Irregulars "I'm sending an officer with 'em, he's on his way now. We're just waiting for your Kingdom to decide who it's sending".

It took almost fifteen momens, but Ghost hissed "Heads up, guys... we got Tactical command in cammy heading our way. Maybe three squads" and pointed further down the flight deck.

"Greetings to you, War Commander" their Lieutenant called, saluting in the Kingdom manner "We have been directed to assist you on this mission. Have deployment orders been given already?"

"Not yet" Harrigan replied "A-Teams got here a few momens ago, now we got you - all we're waiting on is recon reports, I think".

"No word from the Reapers on surveillance duty yet" Rasmanak said, shaking his head "Maybe we'll just ha-" before he stopped and held his treblin hand up for silence while activating his comm with his hammond hand.

"More signs of movement in large groups, sir" a Scarran reported "Faint energy discharges consistent with pulse rifle fire. Perhaps three incidences of explosives detonations strong enough to be detected outside the hull of the Host Vessel".

"Have you plotted safe insertion points for our troops?" Captain Tokk asked "Perhaps three alternatives at most will be needed. A little extra travel time to key sites is acceptable as long as we remain undetected".

Rasmanak brought these insertion points up on his PDA and displayed them - Hellbolt shook his head and moved two, but nodded at the third point.

"We have a Nebari specialist from among Stalker's new friends" Rasmanak interrupted "Two of your suggested insertion points have been considered unsound at their current placement... but he likes the other one, and by the way he's talking to his other friends I'd say that's the one he wants us to use" before downloading both the modified secondary insertion points and the primary one.

"Good, plans are being made" came the relieved reply "Comm chatter inside the ship suggest the Night Watch have activated a precautionary plan against insurrection and are putting it into place. Time is in short supply".

Harrigan screeched as loud as he could before bellowing "Sound General Quarters! All hands to naval combat stations! Troops comin' along with me on this 'ere trek, get your eemas down to that black stealth vessel in the middle of the deck right now! Questions go to Captain Tokk!"

Captain Tokk had just sat back down in his reinforced command chair when Harrigan's call was passed on to him.

"Do as the War Commander suggests" he decided, nodding "He has the specialists, he has de facto command of the mission - but this is still my ship. We will make ready to support him, but until I receive orders to the contrary we do that my way".

"Arm close-in defences" his number one ordered the gunnery desk "Naval defences to standby. Long-range passive sensors to scan the Showlon for comm chatter and other interesting things".


"I sent a scout to check past sector 12-034 junction, but she has not returned" an Enforcer told his squad Specialist Trooper "Sending two more to find out why, with everyone else following a short way behind".

The Specialist Trooper passed that on to his officer, then nodded.

The two troopers sent were a litttle skittish, but with good reason - several times they had to stop while Night Watch units passed by in the distance, several times in combat with other Enforcers.

After a few momens, the junior of the pair held up a hand in caution before signalling for the senior to keep a look-out. She snuck closer very carefully, then nodded before picking something up and scurrying back.

"Confirmed as killed in action" she reported over the comm "Body was still warm. Knife through the temple".

"Activate their ident destruct" came the eventual decision "No evidence must be left to give the Night Watch cause to move against families. Once you have done that, hold your current position - more troops are being moved to your location".


A slight ripple in the air... and nine Night Watch troopers deactivated their cloaking shields.

"We must find out how many Enforcers are stationed at the key locations assigned to us" the senior NCO reminded his troops "Numbers are against us, but we still have the edge in individual skills".

"We are not to kill any we find?" one trooper asked.

"Not this time" the NCO replied, shaking his head "This is a reconnaisance mission... we find out what and who is here and report back. Our officers will decide when and how we should move actively".

Hand signals were given, with each group of three moving to different places around the sector.

"No one in environmental control at this time" one reported once the three groups returned to their fallback point "But I saw signs that there had been. If we are required to seize that location, best we do so with more troops".

"Every hatch down to the technical levels both below and above our current deck have either been sealed or reprogrammed" another reported sourly "That method of movement has been anticipated. We could force the hatches with explosives...but key locations may have live personnel or monitor cameras watching them, and we have no way of knowing if we have found one of those until Enforcers arrive".

The senior NCO grumbled, then turned to face the remaining trio.

"You?" he prompted "Have you good news or bad to report?"

"We activated our cloaking and entered the target location" the leader replied, nodding "We laid traps on several important locations before departing. Two cameras as well".

"Were you detected?" came the response, to which the team leader replied "I don't believe so, no".

"Good" the NCO replied "Back to barracks - officers will be waiting to hear what we know".


Elsewhere, more heavily-armoured Enforcers moved forward as carefully as they could - until their scout flattened themselves against the wall. All of them stayed stock-still, holding their breath until the scout peeked around and signalled back to them.

"Night Watch units not far off" he replied "I saw maybe three drekh - and I doubt that's all of them in this sector. A larger number of crew dressed as support staff too".

Eighteen troops their NCO thought and that's just what the scout could see! This sector must be important. Night Watch special forces number a small fraction of our own even if their training exceeds ours. We can't take all of them on ourselves - but we can't see what's going on here from where we are.

"Advance with caution" their officer decided "Two drekh advance and scout, remaining four watch them and secure your line of retreat".

"Yes sir" the unit NCO replied before passing the orders on.


"Charges detonated at three locations in the past ten momens, Captain" Cal Paddan's first officer announced "I don't know if that was us or the Night Watch - but since two were reported among support equipment I'd say Night Watch are trying to cripple the ship".

"No sign of the Night Watch command facility yet?" Cal Paddan asked.

"Not yet, Captain" came the disappointed response "We have locations for several staging points, we believe - and maybe half a dozen locations where Enforcers are in active combat".

"Move on the staging areas whenever it seems prudent to do so" Cal Paddan decided "We have a slim advantage in that neither Marshal Fen nor Commander Lintaii are aboard to direct the attack against us... which means the other officers will resort to one or more of the contingency plans I have told you about before. See to it that forces are deployed to meet the Night Watch at the critical locations listed in those plans - specific places of interest being engineering, especially around the generating plants; environmentals, that's air and water and waste recycling; medical facilities and the main armoury".


"OK, here's how it goes..." Harrigan told Caseya once everyone was aboard the Harbringer "We come around behind the Host Vessel to minimise chances of detection... entry point that looks best to Hellbolt is around the lower hammond side, so that's our primary insertion point. All three should be in the system, so if I have to call you off this one just go for whichever one you can reach quickest".

Caseya nodded and brought up a small external map of the Showlon, pointing to where the three insertion points were.

"These are the insertion points, Commander" she explained "That is the one preferred by Hellbolt and those are the two available as alternatives should the primary point prove unsuitable".

"Yep, that's it" Harrigan confirmed "Priority is staying undetected right now, not speed - I'll make sure everyone's settled downstairs, then call for takeoff clearance once I get back here".

"Everyone ready?" Harrigan asked when he reached the bunkroom on the lower deck.

"Can't fit everyone in this bunkroom" Rasmanak replied "You had to step over a few people to get here, I'm sure. I got my two squads outside along with two of your Kingdom squads out in the corridor... the other Kingdom squad's in here with those Kalish you brought with you. Your own soldiers went in that room over there" before pointing outside the bunkroom.

"Prob'ly in the armoury, then" Harrigan replied "Not a easy fit with Troll in there... but they'll make do, not like they're gonna be in there long".

Rasmanak just nodded, while the Kingdom officer said "I had one of your people distribute food cubes from this vessel's stores, War Commander... people are a little more well-fed now. I didn't want to risk hot rations before a short flight - and eating keeps everyone usefully distracted".

"Good" Harrigan decided, after which he stuck his head out into the corridor and shouted "Everyone good?"

Commander Rasmanak's A-team squads both called "All OK", after which the Kingdom ones did the same before Liz shouted "All OK - until Troll just started singing again!" before squeezing out of the armoury, shutting the door behind her.

"Not in the mood for that right now..." she told Harrigan "Most of the time I don't mind... much... but it's not helping me at the moment...".

"Your man in there OK without you?" he replied, grinning a bit - Liz blushed briefly before saying "Hellbolt's got his suit and helm on...so he can't hear too much with the external audio off. I think he's resting again".

Harrigan nodded, telling her "We'll have a talk about you two later, Liz... right now we all got work to do".

"I hear that..." Liz sighed "Sooner we get this sorted the sooner I can head dirtside for a while... might watch the games for a while, not sure yet...".

"Come up an' sit at the astronavigation seat" Harrigan decided "Being up front should help you focus. We're gonna need everybody, Liz - which includes you".

"War Commander to Captain Tokk..." Harrigan called over the comm "Requesting takeoff clearance".

"Containment field is on" Captain Tokk replied "and the deck doors are opening now. Clear to proceed. Check in when you can".

"Copy that" Harrigan replied "Unless we get jammed, I'll get your guys to keep an ear out for recon reports from those pilots you got out there, too".

Captain Tokk nodded and smiled briefly, then rumbled softly before discomming.

Caseya took off more cautiously than usual from the Sholphauran ship, though the Sholphaurans approved of that.

"Mostly because I do not know local conditions on this ship" Caseya told Harrigan "Partly because a slow and safer takeoff minimises the risk of detection".

Caseya did smile when the Harbringer was back in open space again, making careful course corrections when Harrigan whispered them to her.

"Quiet ship, people" Liz called over the comm "We're just inside visual range of the Showlon now. Coming up aft, right behind the engines".

Harrigan grinned briefly before saying "Shouldn't need to go quite that far, this is a spacecraft - not a submarine. Might stop the ol' Troll man singing, though".

"Showing two of the collars Hellbolt told me about as being occupied right now" Liz told Harrigan, grinning back "Probably the aft two. Where are the other two?"

"Down at the port" Harrigan replied "They sent 'em down with their athletes an' diplomats an' other high-up mucky-mucks. Don't worry - as long as we get the approach right, they won't be a problem".

Just as Harrigan was about to give Caseya the next course correction, Liz's eyes went wide and she rapidly accessed the feed from the surveillance console, after which she brought up live video of the aft end of the Showlon.

"What in the plok is that?!" she asked, extremely surprised - before asking Caseya to bring the Harbringer to a halt relative to the Showlon and calling "Hellbolt, get up to the bridge! You really gotta see this!" over the PA in slightly wobbly Nebari.

"It is a ship?" Caseya asked Harrigan, looking at the video feed "If so... is it connected to a clandestine docking collar, or simply mag-clamped to the hull of the Host Vessel?".

Hellbolt shook himself awake, pointedly ignoring the way Troll grinned at him as he got to his feet and ran up to the bridge.

"What did you wake me up for, Liz?" Hellbolt asked in his own language "What's got you so... well, I'd call it really plokking surprised, to be honest...".

Harrigan just pointed to the HUD, and Liz outlined the area of interest.

"I have not seen a ship like that before..." he added, this time in English "Its shape tells me it's a stealth vessel...its presence here tells me it's made by my own people...".

"Correct me if I'm wrong..." Harrigan said "But unless I'm very much mistaken that ship's not crewed by your old buddies wearin' grey, yep?"

Reasonably accustomed to Harrigan's moods by now, Hellbolt shook his head and replied "Night Watch, yes - Enforcers don't have small capital ships other than Purifiers assigned to them. Under standard Establishment procedure, at any rate".

"Can we get a look inside it?" Harrigan asked, but Hellbolt shook his head before saying "Not without alerting the Showlon to our presence, no. They're unlikely to see us now - but if we use an active scan to search that ship? We'll have more unwelcome guests than we can deal with, safely or otherwise".

Liz thought hard for a momen or so, and although she came up with an answer it wasn't one she liked.

I don't even know if she can find us this far away from the Havoc she thought Let alone see inside this odd-looking ship - and, more than that, hide her interest from any Night Watch mentalists. Hellbolt might not think there are any here, but while there might only be one or two I think they'd send that kind of talent along to keep an eye on their guys on the ground - and it'd be held close enough to the chest that only their highest-ranked Night Watch officer would know they were there. At least that's how my gut says they'd do it.

Liz aired her thoughts before both Harrigan and Hellbolt - Hellbolt just shrugged uneasily before saying "I don't even know if she can find us, let alone see inside that ship, whatever it is...".

"Oh crap..." Harrigan sighed, sadly "Something in my mind... my gut... somewhere... told me we'd end up calling on Amara to stretch her skills farther than any of us might expect her to... but this early?! She's what... barely nine?"

"About that, yes" Liz replied "I don't like it either, Harrigan... but there's no other way we can find out if there's people in there... if the Night Watch big guys are in there directing their counter-insurgency plan rather than inside whatever fortified bunker inside the ship Hellbolt thinks they usually use. If we want to save everyone's necks and keep this mission going she's the only option we have".

"I'll go down and tell the others" Harrigan decided "No fine details... but I'll tell them the train's wobbling on the rails a bit and we gotta call for special support to make sure it doesn't get derailed", after which he climbed out of the copilot's chair and went down the stairs to the lower deck.

"OK..." he called from the foot of the stairs - once everyone got up and moved to where they could all hear him, he added "Mission's still on track... but there's a minor hiccup. A hiccup we can deal with, but still a hiccup. I put the call out for special support from the Havoc - we'll see what help we can get shortly" after which he raised his voice slightly and called "Liz... about now's good...".

The call was received at the Havoc's comm desk and diverted immediately to Captain Tareg.

"Hmm..." he rumbled softly "Even I don't know if she can manage such a feat... let alone so soon. I do know, however, that while I have the control for what's needed I don't have the range... so I'll ask".

"Powerful or not..." Talannah told him, both warily and sadly "she is still a child, Captain Tareg. I must manage general crew duties... I will be in comm range, but she will be relying on you for support and guidance. You, Captain Tareg".

"That assumes she will agree in the first place" Tareg replied, after which Talannah sighed and smiled briefly before saying "You don't know Amara as well as you think if you even think that, let alone ask it - she'll insist on helping, even more so at being challenged so heavily. More so again when she realises she will be part of a real mission".

Tareg just nodded before beckoning Talannah to follow. The two of them took a transit car to the children's study room, where they listened to the sounds of children asking Dern questions and solving problems for a few microts before opening the door and striding in.

"General Alert Level 3" Talannah called, drawing Dern's attention "The War Commander has called for special support in his mission to assist the Sholphaurans... Amara, come here".

"Yes, auntie Talannah?" Amara asked, looking up with both concern and love "I am needed?"

Talannah lifted her up, hugged her tightly, and rumbled softly in her ear for several microts before putting her back on her feet, looking her in the eye, and smiling for a microt or so before telling her "Your uncle, Amara... the big funny man... needs your help for something. We do not know if anyone can do what we need to be done... but you are the strongest with special skills, Amara. That is what Captain Tareg says".

"Me, auntie Talannah?" Amara asked again, surprised "Captain Tareg is very strong with special skills, auntie Talannah! He has helped me learn lots of new and interesting things! If we cannot get Deress to come here to help, Captain Tareg can do it, I am sure!"

Tareg smiled and rumbled before telling Amara "I have the control needed, yes... but not the range, Amara. Not by a long way. You do, I know it. All you need to do now is prove it to everyone else".

Amara rumbled softly... after which the air seemed to thicken, ever so briefly, then Amara's rumbling seemed to come from everywhere in the room at once for just a microt or two, after which she smiled up at Talannah and assured her "I will do it, auntie Talannah".

"Will you help me? she asked Captain Tareg after that "I want you to help me. I do not know yet what I need to do, so I want you to be with me and help me since auntie Talannah will be busy".

"I will sit on the floor..." Tareg replied, nodding "and you will sit with me. I will support you and help you... but you will need to do most of the work yourself. Remember how I showed you how you can draw power from the ship in emergencies... do that if you need to" before he asked "What is Amara needed for?"

Talannah called Liz and got an updated situation report, which she then passed on to Tareg - when he told Amara, she smiled and rumbled loudly before levitating off Tareg's lap briefly (much to everyone's amusement) and attempting to contact Liz by mentalism.

"Do not come close, children" Talannah explained "Amara must exercise her special skills for a real mission. People you know depend on her doing this".

"Can we help, Mom?" asked Harek "I know I can't come close to Amara when she uses special skills, I'm like Dad... can we get her food or get her drink?"

"Do that" Dern decided immediately "Harek, lead your friends in supporting Amara's part in this mission. Make sure she has what she needs. Talk to Captain Tareg if you don't know what to do, and follow his orders when he gives them".

Amara concentrated as best she could, testing her knowledge of how to draw electrical power from the ship's power grid to extend her own power and range. It works she knew as she felt the power come to her I have not done this a lot... but what Captain Tareg taught me before works just as well now as it did before. I must remember what he said before about not drawing too much power... I should reach out to mindtalk to Liz with what I have now...

~Amara?! ((extreme surprise))~ Liz called when she felt her make contact, almost falling out of the Harbringer's pilot's seat.

~((confirmation, minor exhaustion))~ Amara replied, before her thoughts steadied and she added ~What did you need me to do, auntie Liz? Why do you and uncle big funny man need my special skills? ((curiosity))~

Liz tried to communicate the details about the ship, but eventually settled for ~Look through my eyes if you can, Amara - there is a smaller ship hidden on the big ship, right in front of us. We need to know if there are bad sneaky Nebari people in it~

~((picture of a Night Watch soldier))~ Amara replied ~I know them, auntie Liz ((confirmation))~

~I will help you, Amara~ Captain Tareg told Amara ~I know you have looked out through people's eyes before... but it is hard to do that at range, so I will link with you and help you~

~We do that ((image of Amara hugging Captain Tareg))~ Amara replied happily ~We do it NOW ((certainty))~

Liz felt like each eye was trying to look out through the ear on the opposite side of her head for a few microts, until she felt a powerful sense of challenge mixed with happy accomplishment of a difficult task and her vision steadied again.

~((confirmation))~ she told Amara, not entirely steadily - her nose and ears started to bleed a tiny bit as she tried to form a steady enough picture of the hidden ship for Amara to know as the target, but Amara filed her head with love and happiness before she heard her add ~I see it, auntie Liz! Strange new black sneaky ship ((excitement)) ! I look in it now, I see in it, I show you too!~

Harek ran back into the study room with a bag of food cubes and several bottles of water just in time to see the look of fierce concentration on Amara's face and the slight heat haze in the air around her, along with the dimming of the room lights.

Tareg smiled and nodded, motioning for him to lay out the things where he could see them - Harek smiled when a water bottle moved on its own and he could see Amara drinking out of it. He rumbled very briefly with relief, after which he whispered "Amara is drinking water, friends. She will be well and do these new things with her special skills. I don't know if we'll be needed to help again, but we should be ready in case she needs us".

"We see it, Harek" Sherenka agreed, nodding as she watched "Amara is drinking water and eating a food cube. Uncle Dern says it is her using the ship's power that makes the room lights dim".

"It is, children" Dern replied softly "I have never seen a mentalist do that before... but it is reasonably well known that some mentalists can do things like that. Now we see it ourselves and know it is true".

"We see..." Feltano confirmed, nodding "and we know. Big sister is doing a strange new thing. We ask her about it later".

Liz strained to hold her mind steady as Amara looked out through her eyes and other senses to scan the target ship thoroughly. She felt as if she would explode some momens later, but felt Amara send feelings of happy accomplishment and safety before she said ~No people on new black sneaky ship, auntie Liz ((relief)). You tell uncle War Commander~.

Harrigan grinned when Hellbolt ran down to pass the news on, after which he called all the officers together before telling them "We got a small turd in the water pipe of progress, Liz found a ship stuck on the back of the Host Vessel between the engines that's gotta be Night Watch - but I called for special support, an' it turns out no one's aboard!"

"Pity we can't get aboard..." Cagg replied "We have bigger issues at hand. It's good this new smaller ship is unoccupied, but we should proceed to seize control of the Host Vessel immediately".

Harrigan paused in thought for almost a half-momen before he grinned and whispered rapidly to Hellbolt, who ran up to the bridge again.

~I could certainly translocate people to combat deployment positions like that~ Tareg confirmed ~If I was close enough, at any rate. If you want it done now, however, I'll have to coach Amara and give her instructions microt-by-microt - a precision group translocation right across a star system is way beyond my capabilities~

~I DO IT! ((certainty))~ Amara's extremely loud and excitable mental voice insisted ~Captain Tareg will help me, but I will do it! I will do it and I will help my friends and friends can go inside the new ship and tell me about it later! ((excitement, anticipation of new things))~

~This is extremely difficult~ Tareg warned Amara ~Over and above the difficulty, peoples' lives depend on this being done correctly the first time. IF you want to do this...follow my instructions carefully and exactly. We can afford a short delay if it means everyone gets exactly where they need to be~

~I will do it, nice stony Captain friend~ Amara replied more calmly but with no less assurance ~We will do it. We will do it TOGETHER. Then you can test me again and again so I learn how to do it without help~.

"We got a go-mission from special support!" Liz bellowed down the stairs, forcing herself to remain steady and focussed "They're standing by to put people aboard that Night Watch ship! Just gotta know who!"

"I volunteer myself and my three troopers!" Commander Solk insisted immediately "I am sure a small number of others will go too... but my crew and our people must show we will do our very best to help our new friends!"

"I'm up for it" Ghost added "As long as it won't kill me just getting there the quick way, I'm good to go".

"We can afford to send one squad from Kingdom forces..." the Sholphauran Tactical Command officer decided "without affecting the primary objective of commandeering the Host Vessel. That's seven troops plus NCO. I don't know if you need Cagg from Commander Rasmanak's team...".

"Liz will go for translating" Harrigan decided "Dunno how all this mentalism hocus-pocus works, but I'd lay pretty good crindars that Liz prob'ly needs to see at least your leaders so our special support can find you. That means Commander Solk and ...whatever your name is... have to come upstairs where Liz can see you. Cagg can stay with the rest of us in the main mission team".

When Liz, who was sweating quite profusely as well as barely managing to stay ahead of a bad mentalism proxy-induced headache, passed this information along to Amara, it took no longer than a few microts before she heard a loud and excitable mental shriek - which Hellbolt reported to have come from her mouth as well.

"I'll hold together long enough" Liz insisted firmly "I gotta do my part too. Big H doesn't carry dead weight in the Irregulars... and that applies to humans as well. If I fall to bits after this is done, fix me up then - right now we got work to do".

"That's the spirit..." Hellbolt said, before hugging her and giving her a brief kiss "You get this half of the mission - I'll stay with the Scarrans and make sure we get what we came for and come back alive".

"That's all the incentive I need, mister" Liz replied softly, smiling and kissing him back "Let's get this started before I start thinking straight...".

"Specialist Trooper Third Class Sholn of the Kingdom" a stocky and slightly shorter than usual high-caste male Scarran announced "I have worked with mentalists before, so I can guess how we will be deployed. I will focus my mind on each of my squad members, and your mentalist will focus their mind on me. This way they should be able to sense where all of my unit are and where we should go. Deploy us first - we can secure the deployment zone, and the Kalish and this female Sebacean with the strange accent can follow".

~Did you hear that, Amara?~ Liz called.

~I did, auntie Liz ((assurance))~ Amara replied, then giggled and added ~You are right, I was eating food cubes and drinking special energy drink! My friends are helping me and getting me food and drink so I can do these new things! ((love for all her friends and Liz))~

Liz felt as she did before, as if her head itched on the inside, before her eyes started to ache and her viewpoint rushed forward. She saw the inside of the Night Watch ship, barely managing to call ~Bridge ((cautious confirmation))~ when Amara found that location and the open area outside the entry door to it.

~Focus your mind clearly and precisely, Amara~ Tareg told her mentally ~When you see where you want to place people, show me exactly - EXACTLY, down to the last milidench, Amara. I will then show you how to make sure they deploy facing the right way. You will watch every single thing I do and show you. When I am satisfied, I will tell you and you will move the people. We will move the people of Sholphaur first~.

Amara told Liz that as well, so once she turned enough to see them out of the corner of her eye Amara linked the Specialist Trooper in as well and took less than two microts to add the troops in his squad with him. She sensed his interest and approval as she showed Tareg where they would be deployed, and when Tareg called ~Done prideapproval~ a massive but precisely directed application of energy was felt before the Sholphauran squad disappeared from inside the Harbringer.

Sholn blinked his eyes and scanned his surroundings.

"Reporting successful unconventional deployment" he whispered over his comm "Securing deployment zone. No sound of hostiles or DRDs" before giving hand signals to each of his squad. He smiled and rumbled softly when each of them reported they were already in the locations given to them.

"Commander Solk!" Hellbolt called "Your turn! Ghost, come with him! All of you, make sure you can see every other person in the group!"

"All OK!" Solk called once this was done.

~Ready ((minor disorientation))~ Liz told Amara, then felt her personal sense of balance twist and turn briefly, before feeling a rush of almost bone-chilling cold for less than a tenth-microt and reappearing on the Night Watch ship's bridge in the middle of a circle made up of Commander Solk and his three Kalish - after which she vomited on the floor.

~I'm good... ((mild nausea))~ she replied when she felt Amara's concern for her health ~I gotta make sure we get this ship before we get any unwelcome guests calling. You watch the others an' help them, Amara. We'll be good for now~.

~I'm out with the Sholphaurans~ Ghost added, a little unsteadily ~That where I'm supposed to be? ((wary interest))~

~((confirmation))~ Amara replied, her own thoughts becoming clearer and steadier ~Auntie Talannah says you should help them, Ghost friend. Whisper Scarran stays with other whisper friends and Captain papa, uncle Troll, uncle Hellbolt and uncle big funny man~

Amara looked up at Tareg, sweat covering her face and several empty water canteens lying around her along with a packet of food cubes partially consumed.

"Well done, my young friend" he whispered to her "I could count the number of adults of any species that could manage what you just did so well on the fingers of one hand. You have done extremely well, Amara, in helping your adult friends with your mentalism. I am sure your papa and mama will tell you this as well when they come back from the mission".

Amara rumbled softly, exhaustion clear in her tone, after which she smiled and called out to the other children - who promptly rushed over to her, asking her questions about what she had just done and hugging her.

"I am well, friends..." she whispered "I will drink more energy drink and eat another foodcube...then I will study more...".

"Then you will go in the refresher" Tareg said, shaking his head "You are sweating and you are tired - you need to go in the refresher. If you are tired enough I will call for the Sub-Commander to come and help you".

"I call mama!" Tabitha called, nodding "Mama likes Amara a lot, she will come!"

"Do that, Tabitha" Tareg decided "If you don't know how to use a comm, come here and ask on my comm".

"I have done that before" Tabitha replied, nodding "Papa showed me how" - after which she used a small comm of her own to call Urana.

"I'm on the way, Tabitha" Urana replied "Your brothers will be coming as well, so I will be a momen or so. Amara is well?"

"She is sleeping on big stony Captain Tareg, mama" Tabitha replied "She ate foodcubes and drank water or energy drink - but now she is sleeping. Big stony Captain says she need refresher".

When Urana arrived, she immediately strode over to Amara and helped her to her feet. Despite Dern's urging, the other children listened as Urana helped her - Harek's sensitive hearing picked up Amara telling Urana "I am all good now, auntie Urana - I am still tired, but I am well and I am clean" so he rumbled, a little more loudly than he intended, before saying "Amara is well and she is happy, friends. I heard her say so".

"Good" Martha replied "Amara is a good friend, she helps me with so many things"


"We all good?" Liz called, once the disorientation had eased.

"We Kalish are well" Commander Solk replied, nodding "What should we do? Are the Scarrans well?"

"We are well" Sholn confirmed, in Kalish "What should we do to obtain this ship for the War Commander? Where do we start?"

Liz realised that, out of everyone aboard, only she knew what was needed - so she took a deep breath, then called "Political Officer's desk, engineering console, helm desk - pull off the panels, tell me what you see".

The Kalish immediately ran for the console they were nearest, pulling off the panels and debating among themselves what the components they saw were for. Liz racked her brain for essential details that Hellbolt had told her before, along with things she had learned from Shellek - then she called out a string of orders for the Kalish when they reported things they saw.

Once the panels were off, Liz made sure no one touched anything at the political officer's desk - after which she tapped out a number of commands as fast as she could, disconnecting the ship from all outside systems.


Once Sholn had managed to get an answer from Liz as to what they should do, he nodded and told Ghost and his own squad "Sweep and clear. The odd Sebacean and the Kalish are securing the bridge and deviating the ship's computer system. We will make sure no one is on this ship apart from ourselves, after which we will find any docking collar that connects us to the Host Vessel, if such a thing is present, and secure that location until we are ready to fly back to the War Commander's Fortress-class ship" before telling Ghost "You will go with my scout, he will spot for you and you will both look for interesting or dangerous things".

"Me an' your scout take point, copy that" Ghost replied, after which he suggested "Start lookin' around on this deck - or go up till there's no more decks an' start heading down from there?"

"We will go to the uppermost deck and start from there" Sholn decided "I doubt we are far from that deck... but we will search for a levelator. If we cannot read its controls, we will video-link back to the female Sebacean and she will translate their labels for us".

Ghost started feeling more at ease once he had something to do and saw the Sholphaurans responding as well. It was actually him who called a halt first and pointed to a spiral ramp beside a levelator - Sholn rumbled when he was called forward to see, telling them "Good, we can ascend without using the levelator".

"I see markings on the wall" the scout added, pointing to them "What looks like a deck map as well. If I read the map correctly, there is one more deck and the flight deck for small craft above us".

"Call the female Sebacean" Sholn told him "and confirm this. Send an image of what you can see for her as well".

"That's right" Liz replied, head still peering inside her desk "Writing was a bit small, but that's what it said - you got one more deck and the flight deck above you. Just an idea... even if there's no people aboard, can you go see what smaller craft we got with us, if any? I can prob'ly identify them if you get me video".

"On it, Liz" Ghost interrupted "Unless Sholn says otherwise, we'll go up there and work our way down to bottom deck one level at a time".


"Go right ahead" Harrigan decided over the comm, on the Harbringer, once he'd heard about this as well "Can't stay an' chat, Caseya says we're right over the primary insertion point. Work to do".

Harrigan whistled when he had descended to the lower deck, after which everyone came out from whatever rooms they were in or stood up where they were.

"Right, our pilot says we're at the drop point" he explained "Once we got a good seal I want Cagg opening the hatch and going in first. When he gives the all-clear, Troll goes next and the rest of you follow. I'll bring up the rear".

Caseya activated a small containment field built into the drophatch in the Harbringer's hull before opening the hatch and calling for landing directions - while Trannak called out to her, she manoevred slowly and carefully before landing and activating the landing clamps, after which she callled down that this had been done.

"Good to go!" Harrigan called "No time like the present! The sooner we get moving, the less time the Night Watch and the crew have to find us!"

As soon as Cagg got a good seal between the Harbringer and the Host Vessel, he opened the hatch and climbed through, with Troll following as soon as he had space to do so. Troll sniffed and looked around before he waved for the others to come through - Trannak and Juroch and Hellbolt came through first, after which the A-team troopers followed, with the Kingdom troopers bringing up in the rear.

"Find out where we are exactly" Hellbolt asked "I can't tell anyone where we need to go until I find out where we are. At junctions there should be markings, sector codes and some directions to important places - there's no coloured lines leading to galleys or armouries like we have on the Havoc. If we're lucky we'll find map screens on the wall".

"Cagg, Stalker..." Harrigan ordered "Take point. Head out front a way, see what you can find - we need a map most of all, but tell us about anything else you see, too".


"Any response from the Showlon?" Commander Lintaii asked Marshal Fen the next time he came out of the embassy's comm centre.

"Nothing" Marshal Fen, after which he looked around for any sign of regular embassy staff before he added softly "Of more concern is that our ...alternate mobile command centre... has gone offline".

"You mean it's not working?" Commander Lintaii asked hopefully "Perhaps enemies of the Establishment among the crew have noticed the clandestine docking systems or additional wiring?"

"I don't know" Marshal Fen replied "Not even an intermittent signal from the IFF".

Commander Lintaii went back inside the comm centre and tried something else - and less than a half-momen later came back out surprisingly fast before saying "I tried activating security control backups... I could not get any sign that embassy's systems were connecting to it".

Marshal Fen was worried when he heard that, knowing it narrowed down the list of possibilities - none of which he wanted to acknowledge as happening. To try and distract Commander Lintaii from thinking about the same things as himself, he said "Try and shut down individual systems manually - try not to destroy them, just shut them down".


"Looks like there's a major transport hub between decks or ship sectors ahead" Cagg told Stalker "At least that's what I think the markings on the wall say" - and was extremely surprised when Juroch looked, nodded, and replied "I think you are right... we should alert the War Commander".

"You can read Nebari?" Cagg asked in astonishment "The one you have on your ship teaches others his language?"

Juroch just smiled and tapped his changed skin briefly - Cagg shook his head in amazement before saying "I don't think any of the team's first company have the change - and I have never heard the full list of new things it can give a person before in any case" before signalling back by hand to the rest of the boarding force.

By the time Harrigan had arrived, sounds of pulse fire and the occasional grenade could be heard. Trannak leaned cautiously around the corner of the corridor and saw Night Watch advancing on several positions held by Enforcers.

"Cloaking shields are activated" he said "I doubt the Enforcers know the Night watch are there".

"We can't intervene without blowing our own mission" Harrigan said before Hellbolt could open his mouth "You got two momens to alert the Enforcers if you can do it without revealing our presence, mister Hellbolt".

"Enforcers in the vicinity of-", Hellbolt called over the frequencies he knew, adding the sector code from the wall "Be advised Night Watch units with activated cloaking shields are moving into attack positions on your rear" before passing on the positions Harrigan told him.

Hellbolt did his best to stall several Enforcers and support staff demanding to know who he was and where, which worked for long enough for an officer to call "For now it doesn't matter who he is - what matters is holding these positions. Our new friend told us Night Watch are coming and he told us things we did not know, like how to know a Night Watch trooper is there when they move and what to look for on thermal imagers".

"We should leave" the kingdom Sholphauran officer insisted "before that Nebari thinks to ask more inconvenient questions about us and who we are and how we came to be here".

"Agreed" his counterpart from Rasmanak's team replied "We should move toward the bow and the bridge with care but speed. The only acceptable detour consistent with our mission is nullifying the Night Watch command facility on board and all personnel inside it".


"How do we fare?" Cal Paddan asked his aide.

"Our forces hold engineering spaces for both engines and life support, for approximately 35% of the enlisted ranks quarters, the enlisted ranks' club and galley, and almost 85% of the tech levels and support systems. Night Watch are known to hold the flight deck, approximately 90% of officers' quarters, the officers' club and galley, along with perhaps 50% of the enlisted ranks' quarters and the remaining 15% of the tech levels".

"Who holds the major medical facilities?" a grimy and injured Enforcer asked "We may hold a notable portion of the ship, but we're taking casualties - so far the Night Watch haven't slipped up in any major way, they're moving slowly and securing any gains they make".

"We have a number of smaller sick bays" one of the support staff present replied "However, of the two major surgical and recovery facilities, one is securely held by the Night Watch and the other is in a contested zone and as yet held by neither side - and that one has an unsealed connection to the tech levels and support staff storage facilities".

"We should secure that medical facility as early as practically possible" Cal Paddan's aide told the officers and senior support staff "We need to both rehabilitate our injured soldiers in it as well as secure that entry point to the tech levels".

Cal Paddan looked around at the officers and senior support staff with him - all of them nodded their agreement to his idea.

"Good" the Captain decided "I suggest you approach via the tech levels if you wish to seize the facility quickly - it isn't impossible to reach the main entry points through the habitation levels, but you would come close enough to areas currently held by the Night Watch to endanger your mission".


Ghost peeked around the edge of the staircase, looking at anything and everything for a momen or two before whispering "Flight deck - at least it looks that way to me. Maybe twelve craft I can't identify - they're too big and the wrong shape for Cyclones, which is the only Nebari small craft I've seen so far".

Sholn called the rest of his squad up to the edge of the deck, after which they all looked at the ships Ghost had seen - less than five microts later, one of the others said "Confirmed sighting of nine Hurricane class attack craft - with launch and maintenance facilities for perhaps three more".

"Send word of this find to the Sebacean female" Sholn ordered "Officially or not, she leads this part of the mission. Once you have done this, we will briefly examine the flight deck, then work our way down this ship deck by deck until we reach the drop deck and the docking mechanisms connecting us with the Host Vessel".

"Nice..." Liz replied when the Sholphauran commed in "I've never seen those, Hellbolt's not told me anything about 'em yet either... but enough of that for now, we'd best make sure there's no nasty surprises anywhere else on this ship, yes?"

"Correct" Sholn added in agreement, after which Ghost said "Don't want anyone sayin' hello who ain't one of us, that's right. We'd better be off - see you later..." before discomming.


Harrigan and the main force had made it a little over two kilometras and several decks further down the Host Vessel, closer to the bow, before Hellbolt stopped to check wall ident markings again - but this time he callled Harrigan and the officers forward.

"If they haven't changed anything since I was in service..." Hellbolt told them "then we should be pretty close to the Night Watch control centre - it's four decks down from where we are now".

"You're sure?" Cagg asked.

"Where do you think I got the sneaksuits we used to base this design on from?" Hellbolt replied, looking him in the eye "A few of us knew where the Night Watch control centre was in a general sense - and stumbled across it purely by accident! So we had a look around... took a few things we could easily carry... and left before anyone found us. As far as I'm aware, none of us were ever found out and punished".

Cagg just smiled and rumbled softly, after which Harrigan ordered Hellbolt and Juroch down the stairs first. They had just about reached the third deck down when Juroch paused to sniff the air - after which he stepped around the corner to see a sizable contingent of Night Watch troops and support staff in a planning and strategy meeting.

"Don't you worry, ladies an' gents" Troll assured everyone, grinning "The ol' Troll man's on the case. Watch my back, this'll be done an' dusted soon" - after which he activated his own cloaking shield and moved to what he considered a good firing position, right in front of a major corridor intersection on the other side of the gathering.

Juroch grumbled, then signalled Troll's intentions back to Harrigan and the others.

"We're gonna have to stay behind cover till Troll's stopped wailing away with the big guns" Harrigan told everyone "so everyone keep your ears open for Nebari voices asking what's going on. When you hear 'em, signal back to the rest of us and we catch 'em in a crossfire - and we gotta get everyone, or this whole snatch an' grab mission's in the drenhole for good".