"Mama..." Amara asked, again "Why do I look different to Feltano and Maranno? Why do I look different to papa?"
"I..." Caseya replied, her breath coming in fits and starts "I... Amara, my dear daughter...we love you, Amara. We love you. We do not mind nor care...we do not... that you look different to us. We love you. You are our daughter. You are Feltano's and Maranno's big sister... you are ours and we are yours. We are yours, my love".
"It is like your mama says" Trannak added softly, head slightly bowed "You are our daughter and a much loved big sister for Feltano and Maranno. That your looks are not quite like our own does not matter. What matters is that you are safe and healthy and happy and here. What matters is that we love you and you love us".
Caseya burst into tears when she saw the mystified and slightly scared look on Amara's face as she turned to face her - Amara watched for less than three microts before rushing over and throwing her arms around the only mother she had ever known, calling "Mama, mama! Do not cry, mama - not because of me! I love you, mama! I am sorry, mama - please do not cry, mama! Not because of me or what I have said or what I have asked!" and hugging her tightly enough to make her gasp for breath.
"Your..." Caseya wheezed "your...papa... is here...too. He...would like...would like hugs and cuddles... too, I am sure".
Trannak smiled, lifting Amara up as she reached out and leapt towards him, rumbling softly and not letting her see the few tears that rolled down his face.
"I am here, Amara, my daughter" he whispered softly "I am here. Your papa is here".
"Papa..." Amara whispered, shaking just a little "Mama...".
"We love you, dear daughter" Caseya and Trannak reminded her gladly "We love you very much, our Amara".
"Your Amara..." Amara replied, not letting go of Trannak "...loves you too, mama and papa..."
Amara saw a number of other adults she knew sitting with her parents when she came into the galley.
"Mother?" she asked "Father? Auntie Murea? What is happening? Is something wrong that I can help you with?"
"Remember some cycles ago, Amara?" Trannak replied "When you were seven cycles? You asked about how you looked different to your siblings and to us?"
Amara immediately held her hands up, pleading "You do not need to talk about that, father! I remember talking about that made mother cry and made you sad! I do not like making mama cry and you sad!"
Both Trannak and Caseya hugged Amara until she calmed down and looked up at them.
"When you first asked, Amara..." Murea explained "Your mama and papa talked to Doctor Nrakal and one or two of the rest of the medical personnel. Back then, we knew you were not old enough to understand. We think that right now, since you are thirteen cycles, that you might be".
"No matter what you think of what you hear, Amara" Trannak urged her "Know this - everyone loves you very much here on the Cry Havoc, but none more so than us" before putting his treblin arm around Caseya.
"I remember times..." Amara said softly, smiling in remembrance "when I have come back to quarters... and I have seen you and mama on the lounge. Just sitting there, looking at each other and talking quietly with your arms around each other. I could not read your emotions or surface thoughts, just like I cannot do that now - but I could tell by your faces that you were both happy, and I can tell the same thing now".
"There are, nonetheless..." Trannak said a half-momen or so later "...important things that you should know. You will find out at some point in any case... and because we love you, we think we should be the ones who tell you. We want you to hear it from us".
"Why are the others here, then?" Amara asked "Are my brother and sister here? Are my other friends?"
Trannak thought hard and tried to come up with a way to impart the information in a way Amara would understand, eventually saying "Think of this as a mission of sorts, Amara. Sometimes people do not understand information about a mission or do not need to know it - before now, you would not have understoood it. Now, both the doctors and us believe that you would both understand it and need to know it".
"A mission about me, father?" Amara asked, curious if also a little frightened "A mission with me in it? I am permitted to know about it? It is not classified?"
"It's a mission with you in it" Krynak told her "It is classified on a need-to-know level - but you do need to know, and like your father said it's better you hear about this from us. Here, in a place you know is safe, surrounded by people you know are friends and are safe".
"Krynak is right" Trannak told Amara "It is secret, it is classified... but you do need to know. You know everyone here well, Amara... so if you could find a seat, we can begin. You can sit with one of your adult friends, on your own, or with us...".
Amara immediately chose to sit between Trannak and Caseya, which they both loved and were tremendously relieved about.
No matter what else happens Caseya decided, safely inside Trannak's deadlock field Amara still trusts us to know what is best for her and what is good for her.
"It all started..." Harrigan said, looking at Amara "when we decided to look for places the Hierarchy might be performing the change... what you call adding special things to people, Amara..." before starting to explain in simple terms over the next arn or so how the mission to infiltrate Miclatze proceeded. Amara turned to face different people in the room as they spoke, adding their own accounts of the mission and their experiences in it, occasionally murmuring things she had been taught or had heard others talk about.
"We had to be clever and careful" Caseya told Amara "Your auntie Keyah and I actually went inside two of those special medical boxes, Amara, so that we would have a reason to go to this hidden place. I do not like small cramped places like that, as you know".
"It was a place bad Scarrans put special things in people?" Amara asked.
"That was one of the things done there" Murea replied "Tests and experiments of many kinds were done there... but the less said about those, the better".
"We went there" Rulok added, taking over "to see if we could find out how much the Hierarchy, people you know as 'bad Scarrans', knew about adding the change, the special things, to people. To see if they might even be able to add things like your friend the big funny man has".
"Could they do that?" Amara asked, now immersed in the account of past events "Could they make new special people like uncle big funny man?"
"No" Murea replied "They couldn't - but they had a lab, they had machines and medical things there to test if they could".
"We assembled a bomb from things in our packs" Krynak added "I oversaw this, and others helped".
"A small special bomb" Shellek said "We call them ADMs. Perhaps Sturk has told you about them before".
"Not in detail, uncle Shellek" Amara replied "He said they were powerful but dangerous. He said we need to be very careful handling whole bombs or just parts".
After confirming that, Trannak took over again and added "While your friend Krynak and the others were doing that, your uncle Shellek was finding interesting things in the computers. We went into the senior doctor's office there... on the desk was a covered box. This box turned out to be a small incubator... with you in it".
"I was there?!" Amara said in stunned amazement "When I was a new tiny person?"
"I saw you there in your special box, Amara" Caseya confirmed, nodding and smiling "I loved you even then, the first time I saw you, and knew I wanted to take you back here with me so I could be your mother. I was a bit scared, of course - but I knew I needed to bring you with us and save you and help you and love you and teach you new and interesting things".
"I will move away" Trannak told her, smiling "You should look at Caseya's memories with your mentalism, Amara - and match them against what you remember from your earliest cycles".
Caseya smiled as she felt the now-familiar sensation of Amara's mind making contact with hers.
~((love, thanks))~ Amara told her briefly, before delving deeper into her memories - brief flashes came across her vision, memories of how she experienced Amara's earlier cycles of life. Amara's feelings of wonder and amazement were clearly felt by Caseya as well.
"After we found you" Keyah explained "and after Shellek had copied all the important things from the computers, we needed to find a way out before the bomb Krynak had assembled detonated. We found tunnels connecting where we were to another part of the complex... and on our way up through the levels there we found a bad Scarran trying to take your friend Palikka with her".
Amara turned to look around the room, seeing Palikka after a few more microts.
"I was there too, Amara" Palikka explained "Bad people took me away and kept me there. They did... bad things... to me, made me become pregnant".
"That was Talian?!" Amara asked, her quick mind connecting Palikka's presence there to what she had already been told about the complex "You were about to give birth to my friend Talian?!"
"I was" Palikka replied, smiling "Your friends decided to rescue me, to bring me out with them and with you to this ship. I brought my son out into this world here in the main sick bay. This ship was the first thing Talian saw in our world, Amara - and he experienced so many happy things and happy times here in his first few monen until your friends found Harkino and Ellia and brought them here as well".
Talian smiled and rumbled, saying "Mama told me this a monen or so ago, Amara. I am so glad mama was safe, that mama loves me and can bear to look at me - I know I must remind her of those bad times every microt she sees my face, but she loves me anyway. I am even more surprised and pleased that I have a second papa, someone new to love me and teach me new things" before standing to his feet and walking softly over to Amara.
His huge body made him almost equal in size to the full-blood Scarrans in the room even at his current age, with only Harrigan being noticeably taller than him.
"I remember you too, Amara" he told Amara, smiling and briefly hugging her "You are my first friend, the first person I knew when I was small. I remember you and your second mama teaching me how to shift my gravity centre and walk on walls. I remember your uncle Juroch teaching me how to tell what things were by what they smelled like - and bringing people from all the different species aboard this ship before us so we could test their scents and memorise them" before he rumbled softly and happily for two to three microts.
The two of them shared a few happy memories of their earlier childhood cycles.
Talian has a second new father she realised and loves to name Harkino as such! I am so lucky, I have a second father and a second mother who love me and rescued me and brought me here where I could have a new brother and a new sister to love and teach new things to! Where I could make friends and learn from them! Where there are lots of people I can help with my mentalism and my other skills!
~((Confirmation, agreement, love))~ Caseya's thoughts said, coming across their mindlink - Caseya smiled as she felt the rush of love and thanks and happy memories of their lives together from Amara filling her own conscious mind as Amara threw her arms around her to hug her, rumbling loudly and happily.
"My friend Amara is happy, mama" Talian told Palikka, nodding "Look and see. She knows she is like me, she knows people love her and rescued her and brought her here. She knows she has a second papa like me, and a second mama as well".
"It is amazing, is it not?" Palikka asked her son, who smiled and nodded.
"It is, mama" Talian agreed, rumbling softly "It is amazing that Amara and I are safe with people who love us. It is amazing that Amara has a new grandfather and grandmother and uncle that came here and have a big shop where people can buy nice things and where we can go and see them".
Alphak concentrated hard at his task for a momen or two before nodding and telling Feltano "Sealed, Feltano friend. Sealed well".
Feltano nodded and headed further into the tech levels - Amara was called this way he decided I tracked her car some way before the small beacon was silenced, and from when that happened I think I know where she is.
He ran without stopping along the tech tunnel walkways, avoiding the service transit system, until he saw techsign indicating the galley was close.
Up he decided, climbing up an air duct The galley is this way. I will find a vent grille and then I will hear and then I will know.
"Where are the kids?" Troll asked when he came to collect his own family "Where'd they go?"
"I heard them talking when Amara was called away, Troll" Dern replied "Feltano wanted to track her and follow her, despite being ordered not to do so. Harek, Alphak, and Anton tried to persuade him to stay here, while Garakk and his sisters agreed with his plan to follow and watch Amara. From the lack of noise outside, I think Feltano managed to bring all of his friends around to his way of thinking, however initially reluctant they were".
"We find them" Troll decided, nodding "We find those little rogues and we find out where they went and then we tan their hides for disobeying orders".
"They're a little old for a smack on the eema..." Dern reminded Troll, grinning a bit "But if need be they can certainly be placed on junior administrative punishment. We have to find them first, though".
"Alphak's even more like his buddy Feltano now than he was when he was tiny" Troll groused "Both those two like hiding and skulking around and making fools out of any adults who try to find them - which they've done even more with me than with any of the rest of the crew put together, no matter how much I try to stop them".
Dern rumbled softly and happily, telling Troll "They have grown up in a Kingdom community surrounded by soldiers, Troll - instead of doing child's things as you told me about from your world, they grew up thinking fire and movement drill and marksmanship and tracking and PT were good and interesting ways to spend their time. It's natural enough that when they feel they want to learn about things being kept from them by adults that they use the skills that they learned from us to do it".
"Doesn't make me any happier when they do that" Troll grumbled "I worry about them - Garakk an' Alphak are my boys, Sherenka an' Martha an' Tab are my girls. Mine an' Little U's, anyway".
Feltano climbed and sniffed for scents he knew and smiled when he found his mother's scent - after which his head turned fast and he saw Sherenka climbing up the maintenance ladder a short distance below him.
"I am here, Feltano" she whispered, nodding "Have you found Amara? Have you found your mama and papa?"
After signalling for her to be quiet, he whispered "I think I have found mother, yes. I can smell aunt Murea and uncle Rulok and uncle Lirak. I cannot tell if uncle big funny man is there".
Sherenka looked down and signalled rapidly - when Feltano turned his head to see what she saw, he couldn't help but smile when he saw his other friends below him and smiled more when Maranno shifted up the duct wall as he did and crawled up beside him.
"Here I am, big brother" she whispered even more softly than Sherenka did "Should I stay here with you, big brother? Should I go to the tech level below and guard our friends, big brother? I have brought food cubes in case big friends Harek and Anton and the others are hungry, big brother".
"Go and help them and guard them, Maranno" Feltano urged his sister with a smile "Give them things to eat. Help them and make tea for them to drink if you can. If I learn new things I will come and tell them to all of you".
Feltano listened as she did just that.
Good he decided Harek and Anton are particularly happy there is tea to drink and food cubes to eat. Alphak eats and drinks what is given to him... but he wants me to be pleased with him most of all so he guards our rear more intently.
"Copy that, Troll" Harrigan said over the comm before cutting the call.
"Troll an' Dern are gonna try an' find the kids, Tal" Harrigan explained "Should we send a few DRDs out as well? You an' I both know Harek heard Troll grousing an' griping an' grumbling the last time he went to look for them almost three hundred metras away down a different tunnel branch - an' then he told the others, after which they all ran off an' made Troll start looking all over again".
"We send DRDs" Talannah agreed "Harek's going to get an administrative thrashing for this - what the other parents decide to do is up to them unless you, as their overall Commander and ship's captain, order otherwise".
CRACK-CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!
Four single targeted shots, fired by Alphak, impacted four DRDs.
"DRDs, sent to find us" Alphak told Tabitha when she ran to investigate "Disabled but not destroyed. Tell Feltano, Tabitha".
Tabitha immediately climbed up the ladder until she found her older sister - Sherenka passed on to Feltano what Tabitha told her, after which Tabitha returned to the rest of their gathering.
"I think I hear talking" Feltano told Sherenka "I am going to open the vent and crawl closer to see if I can find out more".
"I come too" Sherenka decided - and remained stubbornly convinced to follow him, no matter how much he tried to convince her otherwise.
"Stay quiet" he told her eventually "Do what I do. Then we can see if we can get closer and find out new things".
"We see if we find out new things" Sherenka agreed, nodding "We will see if we can find Amara and our big friends. We make sure they do not see us".
Feltano rumbled softly, which made Sherenka smile just a little bit - Sherenka told their friend nearest to the vent, who turned out to be Anton at that time, and he then passed on the plan to the others.
"Found a tech hatch" one of the Bloodstars told Troll "But someone's welded it shut".
"One of my boys" Troll replied "I'd lay more crindars on it being Alphak than Garakk, my young'un's always had more control that way. Unseal the hatch and try to track their comms if you can".
"Tried that already" Harrigan messaged back once he heard about it "Feltano must have told them to leave their comms behind, 'cause there's a small pile of gear in Cap'n T's quarters. I sent him a silent message to tell him about all this, so it won't alert Amara and interrupt current goings-on here in the galley".
Amara watched everyone as they explained their own part in the Miclatze mission to her - and her head turned when Harrigan moved off a little to answer his comm.
I will enhance my senses she decided and then I will hear uncle big funny man on his comm and then I will know what is happening before doing exactly that. She forced herself not to giggle when she learned Feltano and the others had evaded Troll and Dern to escape from Troll's home quarters and try to find her.
That must be what uncle big funny man stopped the transit car to deal with Amara decided Feltano must have escaped almost immediately on his own to place a tracking device on the transit car - and uncle big funny man only found it when we were almost at the galley. Now Feltano suspects where we are and wants to know what is happening here.
~To my treblin~ Feltano signalled to Sherenka ~Through the kitchens. Then we wait~.
~Agreed~ Sherenka replied, after which the two of them crept closer - they were close enough for Feltano to just hear Amara's origins be revealed, which made Feltano listen with awe and amazed surprise as he listened for more details.
"Mama and papa rescued big sister!" Feltano told Sherenka in amazed delight "They rescued big sister and brought her here to be your friend and a big sister for Maranno and I!" before thinking for a few microts and deciding "Call our friends, Sherenka - we should all go and sneak closer and give Amara hugs before our parents can find us and stop us".
"We do that" Sherenka confirmed, scurrying across the kitchen floor and signalling out into the service transit tunnel - not many microts later, every one of the young children crawled out of the tunnel and across the floor behind Sherenka to Feltano, where they reacted with varying degees of amazement and enthusiasm to what Feltano revealed about Amara.
"That's amazing!" Harek squeaked, barely managing to keep himself under enough control not to shout happily "Amara is even luckier than us - we have our first mom and dad. Amara didn't, but uncle Captain Trannak and aunt Caseya found her and made her theirs and brought her here to be our friend!" before turning to Feltano and asking "We go over and give her hugs and tell her how glad we are she's here and our friend?!"
"We will, Harek" Feltano replied, rumbling just a little bit "We will be sneaky and use the kitchen and the galley tables and chairs as cover... and when we are close and our parents cannot stop us, we will run to Amara and give her hugs and tell her we love her lots".
Harrigan couldn't hear Feltano's faint rumbling, not with a number of talking adults to complicate things - but Amara did, smiling just a little as she identified Feltano's rumbling from among the other sounds.
Feltano has found me she decided happily I am glad he has found me. That means he is happy and he still likes me and probably still wants me to be his sister.
She listened more, and smiled briefly as she barely managed to find Harek as well.
Harek is there she decided If he is there... I think all of my friends are there. Maranno is there as well, I think. My friends like me still, they are glad to be my friends, and have come to tell me this.
She watched Harrigan as she picked out faint sounds of her friends and siblings creeping closer - and turned to face them as Harek decided staying quiet was something that happened to other people, after which he rose to his feet and charged across the galley before hugging Amara.
"Amara!" he shouted happily "We heard all about you! We heard how your new mom and dad rescued you and brought you here to be our friend and Feltano and Maranno's big sister! We all like you lots and are glad you're here with us!" before he turned his head to one side and bellowed "COME HERE, FRIENDS! AMARA'S HERE AND SHE'S HAPPY!"
Every child clustered around Amara, taking turns to hug her and tell her how much she was loved and appreciated - Amara hugged each of them, thanking them with kind words and the occasional happy tear. She was especially happy that Feltano and Maranno were there, spending more time hugging them and thanking them for coming than she did with anyone else.
"Good" Sherenka decided when things had barely quietened down "You are happy, Amara. You are happy and we are all here - papa will not be happy we evaded him again, but we teach him stuff about that and then he learn".
"We will teach your papa, Sherenka" Feltano agreed, smiling just a tiny bit.
"You do realise, you lot..." Harrigan interrupted, glaring at his own son for a microt or two "...that you prob'ly drove your uncle Troll nuts trying to find you. He's gonna be real worried about all of you".
"We give papa hugs too, uncle big funny man" Garakk assured Harrigan "We wait till he comes here and we ambush him. We knock papa down and jump on him and hug him lots till he laugh".
Less than ten momens later Troll came running in through the service door - and was promptly set upon be a number of large but very happy young children, who did just as Garakk said. Troll landed with a loud thump on the floor, after which all three of his daughters jumped on him, followed by his two sons - Harek took that as permission to join in, which got Anton following along with Feltano.
"Kids...!" Troll wheezed "That was fun when you were smaller,... but now you're all real big an' real heavy an' you're crushing my lungs flat as a pancake! Climb off an' let your uncle Troll breathe for a few microts, won't you?!"
Troll laughed when they all climbed off him and promptly dragged him over to a chair close to Harrigan.
"Papa's here, uncle big funny man" Alphak announced "Look and see. He is here. He will sit on the chair when he doesn't make those funny noises again".
"That just means your Dad can't handle nearly a dozen big changed boys an' girls jumping on him now you're all eleven or twelve cycles!" Harrigan laughed "Not sure I'd be any different either!" - then shouting in surprise as Garakk pulsed his chair legs off and all the children laughed and jumped on him as well.
"YAAAY!" Garakk shouted with delight "WE JUMP ON UNCLE BIG FUNNY MAN AND AMBUSH HIM, TOO!"
Harrigan let them do that for a few microts before he pulled them off one by one - he took Harek off to one side and lectured him at length about making unannounced evasion tests, telling him "If you want tests an' training, son - tell me first! I'll ask Rulok or Cap'n L or Cap'n T or someone to sort it all out for you so you can do that! We worry about all of you - and I worry about you most of all!"
After Harrigan had sorted out the few other offences, mostly drunken excesses down on Tal IV, he called "Bring 'em up, all of 'em"
All the young children, except Amara, came forward, escorted by Rulok and Lirak.
"I've talked to all the officers" Harrigan told them "and your parents. Since normal kids' punishments don't work with you lot, and since you like all the military stuff 'round here anyway... you're being dealt with as soldiers".
"The charge, for all concerned - disobeying orders of a superior" Talannah announced "Sentence - one weeken of extended punishment training, food restricted to one meal of rations and water per day for non-Kalish, the equivalent for Feltano or Maranno should their eating times come within the duration of the sentence".
"I do it too, uncle bi-" Maranno asked, before changing what she said to "-uncle commander?"
"You too, yep" Harrigan told her "You won't get quite as much really hard stuff, Maranno...just like Garakk and Alphak... but you were there, so you'll get some. Stuff that's hard for you, but stuff you can do".
"I do it, uncle commander" Maranno decided, nodding "I will do hard stuff and be like my friends".
"So?" Harrigan asked, four days later "How're the kiddies holding up to their first real taste of adult punishment?"
"To be honest..." Rekketh said "I've seen adults who handle less than the big boys an' Troll's girls. We run 'em into the ground sixteen arns a day... short break for rations in the middle...rest for sleep. Harek just takes everything we give him and grins, while Anton gets a look much like I've seen on a lot of Scarrans and throws himself into it all with brute willpower. Neither one's willing to lose face by backing down or even admitting it might hurt them".
"My girls?" Troll asked.
"Sherenka's like Anton" Koronna replied "She throws herself at any and every task we gave her so far, forcing herself to succeed. Tabitha and Martha don't complain, but they're also not as intense as the boys or their elder sister - they just do what they're told".
Troll sighed at how his children tested his patience, after which he asked "My boys? Neither Garakk or Alphak can handle what Harek or Anton does, they're barely six".
"Alphak's careful with training, like he seems to be with pretty much everything" Dern explained "Garakk takes it as a challenge to get as close as possible to what his older friends can do. Last long run with heavy packs we made them do... Garakk stayed beside Anton the whole way, even though he was exhausted afterwards and complained about cramps in his legs once all of us assured him he wouldn't get made to do it again because he hurt himself".
"How do Feltano and Maranno fare?" Trannak asked "and Amara? Both Caseya and I told her repeatedly that she does not have to go on the punishment training, but she insists she should be with her friends - and growled at us the one time we suggested getting you to order her off it, Commander".
Dern spoke up again, saying "Feltano seems to stay beside Alphak most of the time, unless we order him somewhere else or give him something different to do. While he trains, he encourages the two younger boys and Maranno".
"Your children, Captain..." Juroch told Trannak "do well at the art of the Kalish people, too. Since both are on punishment training, they start and finish their day with that training, conducted by myself and Master Kamara. Since your wife does come to watch them do that, we are giving her basic training as well - often all three of them will come to encourage her do that, with Amara even giving advice when permitted to do so".
"Caseya has told me about that" Trannak replied, smiling and rumbling softly "She is pleased with her own progress... but more so with all three of our children, especially when you let Amara help her train as well. Amara tells me she feels happy thoughts from Caseya that she progresses far enough to help advise her". Keyah smiled at that, while Juroch just nodded with satisfaction.
"Harek did what?!" Harrigan asked in surprise, once the punishment training was officially over.
"We finished with the longest run we've made them do" Dern replied "and we made them keep a fast pace as well as increasing their pack weight. When Maranno complained a little and even Garakk and Alphak started slowing a bit, Harek put one of the boys over each shoulder and told Maranno to shift to his pack - after which he ran the rest of the way carrying all three of them and their gear. He fell over afterwards, Amara had to rub his legs a bit to get him able to get up again - but he still did it".
Harek wouldn't look up at his father for a while, murmuring "I didn't do well, Dad - I cried out 'cause it hurt a lot once we stopped..." - but he rumbled a little bit when Harrigan hugged him and told him "Changed or not, mister, I'm surprised you're able to move while carrying three of your friends an' all their gear for more than ten metras without falling over at your age".
"I told you before, Dad" Harek replied, looking his father in the eye "I'm going to train hard and be able to carry four fully-loaded big Scarrans and still run fast when I'm grown up and big like you".
Every child Juroch decided has a Scarran's willpower and determination - even though none of them are fully Scarran. Each one, in their own ways, completed the training they were given - and in Harek's and Amara's case even excelled.
He turned to look at the children, who had found a table for themselves in the galley, and smiled as he watched them talk and laugh.
Good he thought as he watched them Not only are they not hostile or aggressive to their parents or their superiors for making them do punishment training, but they seem to be forming stronger bonds with each other through being together in it, too.
"So..." Captain Lazarus announced at another senior staff meeting, some cycles later "What d'you all think of the latest progress reports from Captain Haresh an' governor Temmin? They've been out of touch for a while... only sent two trade missions our way in the last eight cycles, none of them that large... but this looks interesting...".
"Research and development doesn't happen when..." Talannah reminded him "...where... or even at the pace we want simply because we want it a certain way with a certain result".
"True enough" he grumbled back "They said they had good stuff about those fighters we got for them a while back... I suppose they wanted to bring everything back to us in one package rather than two".
"I would expect so" Keyah added, nodding "I would think they considered reconstructing and improving all the craft and data they were given to be one project, instead of several separate ones. Thus it should be brought to us for testing and approval at one time".
"We have received a message" Alphak announced, comming in from the bridge "Captain Solk advised us that General Haresh is not on this expedition... but that he has overall command and that he brings interesting things for us and wares to trade with aunt Caseya's family as well".
Harrigan got Alphak to add him into the call, after which he called "Congrats to you and the General on your promotions! All going well with your families an' kids?"
Once Solk has interpreted Harrigan's odd speech , he smiled and nodded before saying "The General's children all do well. Basir should be completing naval officer training before too many monen have passed. Sethunya and Jaspar do well in their studies also. I have two children of my own now, but they are still very young - or I would have brought them and my wife to see you all".
"Sorted out what you got from those Reapers, have you?" Captain Lazarus asked "Find out anything good from the Nebari stuff we sent you all back with, I hope?"
"Yes on both counts" Solk confirmed, nodding "We have tested and built a modified design of this Reaper... it contains both technology of Nebari origin and that of Scarran origin. Though we like the Strykers you sold us, we will be keeping those for the most intense missions and using these smaller Reapers for general work".
"Come on up, then" Harrigan urged "I expect you remember the way here. Find a parking spot close by us an' bring a few people over for a chat".
"Proceed insystem" Captain Solk instructed the other captains "The updated maps of this region have the major shipping lanes marked, along with the more efficient courses in these lanes. When the KV-3 moves off the main shipping lane, it will be because we are within close range of the War Commander's ship - everyone will move in formation with the KV-3, unless the War Commander or his representative directs us to specific positions".
Once all the captains had acknowledged his orders, Solk ordered the KV-3 to head insystem at best safe speed.
"Ships are here, uncle Commander" Alphak announced, once Harrigan had sat in the command chair "Kalish ships, uncle Commander. Captain Solk leads the expedition. Other captains have come as well".
"How many ships and of what types?" Harrigan asked.
"Four frigates" Alphak replied "The current type of KV class, uncle Commander. Twen...yes, twenty mid-sized bulk freighters. A smaller number of ships massing in the lower end of the capital range which I cannot identify".
"I will direct them to orbital placements close by, Alphak" Keyah added, sitting down once Alphak got out of her chair at the comm desk "You should return to study, young man, or to training".
"I will return to study, aunt Keyah" Alphak confirmed - Harrigan grinned as he told Keyah that Alphak had descended to the tech levels rather than use crew transit.
"He likes learning techsign and navigating the tunnels" Keyah replied "He knows how to find any location he is permitted to visit if he stays on regular crew levels - so he likes to test himself and see if he can navigate purely by techsign in the tunnels and tech levels".
"Maranno..." Caseya asked her youngest child, since the other two were busy at advanced study "Would you like to come with me to greet the visiting Kalish? We will be going flying in a Stryker".
"I will come with you, mama" Maranno replied "I like study... but I will come with you if uncle Rustuk lets me come".
"Off you go, Maranno" Rustuk said when Caseya turned to look at him "You can finish your study when you come back".
Maranno happily helped her mother preflight the Stryker, clapping when she was allowed to call for takeoff clearance.
Only a few momens later, Maranno smiled and said "Kalish people are calling on the comm, mother! Captain Solk, mother!"
"We welcome you to Talzenadar IV once again, Captain Solk" Caseya said in greeting "I thank you on behalf of my parents for any trade goods you bring with you, too! Should you wish to follow previously-established protocol, I can collect the captains or their appointed representatives and return with you all in my Stryker".
"A number of civilian representatives from major trading houses are here" Captain Solk explained "I will be coming and two of the freighter captains will come... other representatives will be from our world's trading houses. Not those ranked most highly there... but people of status trusted to make decisions, nonetheless".
"We welcome them all" Caseya replied "I will comm my parents at the earliest convenient time and advise them that people of importance wish to see them in addition to there being cargo available for their shop. The grounds are still a little messy, expansion to the blast pit and extensions to the main buildings are finishing as you arrive - but we can most certainly land cargo should the landers you use not be too large".
"Madam Yutain, House Calan" a woman announced, a new inset picture appearing "I am the most highly ranked of the corporate representatives here on this expedition, being the CEO of my house at this time. My house conducted much of the military research with the new things you donated to us - we thank you greatly for these. In accordance with the terms of the agreement reached between your War Commander, his senior officers, and our own Governor Temmin, we have brought numbers of the new craft we built as a result of our research for you to examine and test" before smiling briefly and adding "We look forward to any military contracts your War Commander might decide to make for more craft, of course".
"We are all glad to receive you, Madam Yutain" Caseya replied, bowing slightly "Should you wish to be collected on your own ship and not the KV-3, I will come to you... once you send me the ident for your ship so I can find you".
"I am on the KV-3" she replied, smiling a little at the traditional respectful bow from Caseya "All but three of the trading respresentatives are here. Those who are not have just been sent for, their KT-3 will not be long in arriving. By the time your Stryker lands on our flight deck, everyone will be here".
"We will be seeing important Kalish people, Maranno" Caseya told her daughter as two fighters came alongside her and the KT-3 "Look around as much as you like - but do not speak to the adults unless asked, and be at your most polite at all times".
"I will, mother" Maranno replied, nodding "It is exciting to meet these new people first, mother. Even Amara has not seen them yet".
"You will be able to introduce them all when we get back to our home ship" Caseya told her, smiling as Maranno clapped.
"Those are Reapers, mother" Maranno said, pointing to their escorts "Feltano told me about them. He said they are circular and he told me where the gun ports are and he told me they are stealth vessels".
"Those are not quite like the ones your brother told you about" Caseya revealed, grinning as Maranno looked up in surprise "These are special ones made by Kalish people, Maranno - they have been improved and have new and interesting things in them".
Maranno stared at the flight deck when she and Caseya stepped out onto it - she pointed out the spacecraft as Caseya expected, but seemed more interested in the people.
"Those are important people, young girl" Captain Solk explained "Who are in charge of lots of currency and the machines and people to make many interesting things", after which he introduced both the trade representatives and the ship's captains present. To Caseya's surprise but also approval, Maranno gave a brief traditional welcome speech - and surprised all the Kalish before her by rumbling when they thanked her.
Captain Solk showed Caseya the new craft on his flight deck - Maranno was particularly pleased to see Strykers there and said so, and was more pleased to hear that these were not the design she knew and had been modified by Kalish techs on Captain Solk's homeworld.
"I like those" Caseya replied when asked about this "but I am curious to see what changes you have made to the Reaper design, though we can talk about that later. Your trade representatives and ship's captains must be introduced to the War Commander and our senior officers" before gesturing towards her Stryker.
Several of the trade representatives questioned both Caseya and Madam Yutain about the Stryker when they boarded - Madam Yutain explained a number of things about them (a little smugly, Caseya thought - but justifiably so, since her house won the contract to develope their own versions of Strykers like these) on the short flight to the Havoc.
Harrigan and all of the Captains were there when the Stryker returned. Caseya introduced them in the traditional Kalish manner which Keyah and Juroch had taught her, which pleased the older Kalish in particular.
Harrigan named all the Captains and their wives present, with Caseya bowing slightly and blushing just a little when she was named as Trannak's wife - a representative from what Caseya learned was a house that had considerable resources invested in medical technology asked a number of questions about them and if hybrid children were possible, which Caseya answered by describing but not naming her own children and praising the virtues of each one before them.
"When you sent people before, Cap'n Solk..." Harrigan said "you did a lottery for who got to come over from your crews. Gonna do the same this time?"
"Aboard the KV-3, KV-5, KV-8, and KV-10, yes" Captain Solk confirmed "I do not know if you wish to permit nonmilitary personnel from the freighters aboard... but should you wish to do so, the freighter captains here can pass the news onto their fellows along with their own crews".
"As long as they stick to the same rules your guys know about" Harrigan replied "then a few can come. Just let us know in advance if any are on eating time... we picked up a small number of new guys, so I've had to readjust the galley budget a bit".
"My eating time..." the oldest of the freighter captains explained "...is tomorrow. If I am permitted to do so... I should like to sample Scarran foods here. While you may have at least some Kalish food... I can eat that any time on my own ship and at my own home. I do not know what Scarrans eat and what they like most... I should like to find out while I am here".
All of the captains and trade representatives were surprised when Juroch came forward to explain at least a few things about Scarran food to their oldest comrade gently in their own language.
"It will be interesting" he decided "I will test this Scarran food first, after which I shall conduct a lottery of the interested among both general crew and officers for as many visitors' positions as the War Commander permits for my ship" before comming his first officer and passing the news on.
Rosters were organised for visiting Kalish, and news for which ship had rights to send visitors for what times and days were swiftly passed back to those ships and their crews. Captain Solk reported that the general crew aboard the freighters were pleased that visiting was not restricted to military personnel, though a small number were not so pleased that they would not be able to sample Scarran alcohol while aboard.
"This ship's dry" he replied when questioned about that "an' staying that way. What people do on their own time planetside's one thing, but I'm not having drunken fights or industrial accidents up here".
"Study is stopping for Third Meal, mother" Amara said when she commed in "Alphak told us that our Kalish friends have come back, but that Captain Haresh is not there. Are there new people to see?"
After explaining about Captain Haresh's promotion, Caseya told her about the other Kalish currently aboard.
"Can we come and see them, mother?" Amara asked excitedly "Uncle Shellek and Aunt Murea are here now, mother - I am sure they will bring us to see you!"
"Ask them" Caseya reminded her "If they agree, you and your friends can come. Remember that these new people are important Kalish, Amara - do not try dragging them off to see things. Be polite and speak clearly in the Kalish language".
When Talannah heard the children out at the transit platform, she passed their arrival onto the Kalish - all of whom found this interesting, the representative of the medical supply trading house most of all. Amara did not like it when that representative started poking and testing her skin with medical instruments, so she lifted them by mentalism and moved them back a bit before saying "That is not nice. Special things like my skin are secret, they are classified. If you want to know about them, then you need to ask big uncle Commander".
Far from being frightened, the medical representative asked a lot of questions about how she had been moved and why she was floating almost two fenches above the deck - Amara, once Harrigan gave permission, smiled and clapped before answering all of them, only remembering to put her back on the ground after Captain Solk prompted her.
"I do not mind!" came the happy response when Captain Solk questioned her "I have learned new things and experienced them first hand in a practical setting! I have learned that these things are strong in Scarran bloodlines more than those of other peoples and can even manifest in hybrid children! Perhaps I might be permitted access to general medical texts on Scarrans and even on mentalism while I am here?!"
"I expect you may" Madam Yutain replied "but our purpose here is first to deliver the new military craft to the War Commander for testing and evaluation and second to deliver trade goods to the business identified as 'Dulenos' for retail or trade sale there".
"We'll get you squared away with your general cargo first" Harrigan decided "Caseya, get your kids ready to head dirtside and show these company guys an' girls your family's shop. If Cap'n Solk wants to send one or two down as well, he can... but first trip is primarily trade-related".
"I am here, dear daughter..." Caseya's mother announced with a smile when the call went through - she smiled more warmly when Caseya told her a number of important Kalish trade respresentatives were coming to see them and the shop, saying "I look forward to seeing all of those who come. Percentages have been set aside by house of origin for sales from the last expedition. A number of customers have requested to be notified if Kalish-made spacecraft parts for engines or engine management are delivered - these are high-priority items here, all you can provide will sell. Generally quite briskly, too".
"I am here as well, big sister" Devin added, nodding "I have interesting news for you, big sister, when you come. Perhaps Master Juroch or Master Kamara may come as well?"
"I will ask" Caseya replied, wondering what this news might be "If one or both do not have important duties to attend to, and if there is room in the ship I am allocated, then they will come".
The houses whose representatives had sales commissions waiting for them smiled when this news was revealed, with those coming to represent their houses for the first time at Tal IV asking about how business was conducted generally.
"One of the new ships for which you received data only is on our other flight deck" Caseya told them all "If the War Commander permits, we can go aboard it for the short flight to my family's shop - the pit is easily large enough to accomodate it even while the construction work is finishing".
"We will go to this other flight deck" Captain Solk decided "and see this craft before going to see the Dulenos business premises in it. I do not know if you need to call for more crew than yourself, Caseya... but now is a good time in case you do".
It took the entire length of the transit car journey to the treblin flight deck, plus ten more momens, for Rulok's teams to arrive.
"Rulok will be on helm with you this time, Caseya" Lirak explained "I will take the navigation station, and the others will go to their usual positions" before adding, more softly "We know you can fly this ship well yourself... but take the chance to improve your command skills. Give orders, advise your bridge crew... Rulok knows you know more about flight manoevreability on this ship, he will not mind you advising and directing him as long as you show due respect for his rank".
When they all arrived at the treblin side flight deck, Caseya smiled when she saw Urana standing there with Alphak.
"The children had a lottery of their own" Urana explained, grinning "to see which of them could ask to come on this flight to see your family and these new Kalish. My youngest son was ecstatic when his name was drawn".
"I am here, aunt Caseya" Alphak announced, looking up at Caseya "Mother says that while I am not with her I stay with you or uncle Captain Trannak".
"You can stay beside the command chair, next to me" Caseya suggested "if you like - and if you are quiet".
Alphak just nodded and reached up to take hold of Caseya's hand, promising Urana he would remember the trip and tell his friends when he came back.
"This is your newest acquisition!" madam Yutain said, looking at the Nebari-made Tempest-class vessel "It is quite imposing in its way, and undoubtedly powerful. I viewed the schematics briefly but know comparatively little about its details".
"We had to replace the main computer core" Shellek explained "The naval guns as well. You should have the tech specs for the originals... but for now we're running pulse cannons and not the original blastguns".
"We have replacement weapons of the Nebari type" Madam Yutain revealed "aboard one of the freighters. Blastguns for the bow cannon, smaller blastguns and immobiliser pulse cannon for the dorsal turrets. We will organise techs to come and fit them later".
Darrek led the Kalish to the rest area by the officer's quarters, while everyone else went to their usual positions.
"This ship is nice" Alphak decided "but I like Scarran ships better. Perhaps I will like this ship more when I am older and can fly it".
"Perhaps you might" Caseya agreed, smiling at him "You are a clever boy, by both human and Scarran standards - there is no reason why you should not be able to learn how to fly large spacecraft if you study and train well".
Captain Solk stood one one side of the command chair and Alphak on the other - though he made sure he stood a little further forward where Caseya could easily see him.
"All crew, prepare for takeoff...:" Caseya called "To our passengers... room is tight on this flight deck for such a large spacecraft, so if you could remain seated during the takeoff then the journey will be more comfortable and safer for you" before calling the Havoc's bridge for takeoff clearance.
Alphak was pleased to see his brother on screen, alongside Sturk - Garakk was very loud and excitable about his younger brother getting to see Caseya's family before he did until Sturk quietened him down enough to say "Clearance granted, Caseya... atmo containment is on and flight deck doors are opening now".
"Whenever you are ready, Lieutenant Rulok" Caseya called, only smiling a little at how she commanded the Tempest for even a short flight "Remember all you have learned in flight training for this ship and also taking off in the Switchblade. We do not need to move fast, but we should ensure a smooth takeoff and flight for our important passengers".
Rulok's vision flicked between his controls, the screens, and the view outside until Caseya smiled and said "Well done... we are safely outside the Havoc's treblin flight deck. Lieutenant Lirak... the position of my family's shop is pre-programmed into the navigation computers. When you have found it, pass the course to Lieutenant Rulok".
"Course set for Duleno's blast pit, aye" Lirak replied a momen or so later, grinning a little indulgently at Caseya's excited mood at being able to give orders to Scarrans again.
"Take us there" Caseya ordered "The landing should be done manually... you may set the autopilot for the intervening journey should you wish to".
"I'll fly manually, captain" Rulok replied "As our commander says, 'practice makes perfect' - and rarely is it more true than learning to fly new spacecraft".
Alphak watched both Caseya's displays and everyone else on the bridge as they fulfilled their duties on the short flight down to Tal IV - Rulok made the landing close enough to the rear pit wall that the Tempest's tail surfaces missed it by less than six fenches, but the landing itself was smooth.
"Good" Caseya told everyone "While we do have more room in the pit, Lieutenant Rulok's decision to bring us as close as he could safely manage to the wall is a good one and leaves more room for the remaining construction workers. I will power down the ship to standby levels and those who wish to come with Alphak and I, after collecting our passengers on the way, may do so. In accordance with the War Commander's general directives, Lieutenants Rulok or Lirak have command while I am not aboard".
"We'll stay here" Lirak told the crew over their private comm "Caseya's family's dwelling doesn't have a lot of room in it when more than four Scarrans are there. With all these Kalish as well, there wouldn't be room to breathe".
"Uncle Juroch and Aunt Keyah are here" Alphak said in his usual quiet voice "They are there. The new Kalish are there. I only know Captain Solk, aunt Caseya".
"You will see my brother and my parents when we go inside, Alphak" Caseya reminded him "Your sister Tabitha saw them first and told you about them. Remember what she told you and match your memories of what she told you against what you hear and see and smell when you go in today".
Caseya's parents were pleased to see the trade representatives when they arrived, showing them around the expanded shop as well as the workshop.
"We thank all of you for the cargo you sent to us before" Feltano Duleno told them all happily "as well as eveything you brought with you this time. We have an arrangement with another Kalish-owned wholesale business, so anything we cannot fit in our own shop and storerooms will be sold on to them".
"Good, good..." Madam Yutain said, looking around "You are expanding your business, I see - are you simply adding to this shop, or adding additional business premises of other kinds to this property under your control?"
"The blast pit has been expanded" Feltano Duleno explained "for use both by supply flights or our friends in orbit. Mechanical workshops have been added - I have master's ratings in vehicle and spacecraft repair and there is now a dedicated area where I can exercise my skills and keep a customer's vehicle safe and secure".
The trade respresentatives asked a lot of questions both about the shop and about Tal IV generally, only interrupted when customers came in.
"Good, you's here" one man, a few technical stains on his jacket, called "Ship's back for a bit, we's needin' some parts - and I'd appreciate a little help gettin' some fitted, too".
"Welcome once more" Feltano Duleno replied, smiling "These Kalish you see are trade representatives from their world - if you would tell us all exactly what you need, then arrangements can be made to bring what you require down from orbit on priority scheduling...".
A list was passed over - the trade representatives gathered around, and both Madam Yutain and one other representative revealed that they had the parts required on their ships.
"We are finding those parts and loading them aboard a bulk lander now" Madam Yutain told the man after discomming from one of her freighters, after which she raised her voice and explained to everyone in earshot what products could be brought down by each representative present - news travelled fast, and soon men and women of a number of different species were piling into the shop and calling out their orders.
"Good, good!" Tirel's father said after discomming at his own business.
Turning to his wife, he added "The Dulenos have just called to tell us that another expedition from those other Kalish they have contacts with has arrived - thankfully larger than the last two, as well - and it bears industry representatives from their world of origin!"
His wife smiled at him, nodded, and asked "Should we send a representative of our own to the Dulenos business - or wait for them to arrive here?"
"Send Tirel" he decided "She is old enough to start taking a more important part in the day to day operations here - now is a good time for her to start".
"The Dulenos have received more cargo from their Kalish suppliers" Tirel told a number of other employees "Father has told me to lead a small number of trucks and take them to the Dulenos' business. Trade representatives are there and cargo is being landed - father is sure they will pass on our business as one they know and trust to resell their products for them".
"Get 'em started" the senior truck driver called to the others "Miss Tirel here's comin' with me up front, you lot all come in behind. If the first six trucks ain't enough I'll call the rest of you".
The sight of the Tempest, over the blast pit wall, caused more than a little speculative gossip - Tirel ignored it and climbed down from her truck and walked right in. Feltano Duleno introduced her, and Tirel smiled a little as they asked her about her family's business and when they could start making arrangements to transport cargo.
"Father sent a small number of trucks with me" Tirel explained "Anything the Dulenos cannot fit in their own stores can be safely transported to our own".
A steady procession of bulk landers came in, and it didn't take long before the stores at the Dulenos were as full as they could get.
"Good, Tirel" her father replied happily when she commed in to tell him about it "There is plenty for us as well! We can move out some of our older products at discounted prices to make more room available - tell these Kalish that I am sending every truck I have to collect everything they have to send us!"
"We are pleased prompt arrangements have been made" Madam Yutain replied when she was told "Our landers are still bringing cargo in from our freighters in orbit - priority items have been landed already, but there is much still to come".
"Father wishes to know if there is more Kalish alcohol" Tirel replied "Last time you brought your grangacha and fellip it sold out in less than a monen".
With cargo landing taken care of, Caseya, Keyah, and Juroch returned to the dwelling with Alphak - where her mother was waiting.
"It is good to see you again, Caseya" she said happily "I see you brought another of the children from your home ship - who is this boy? I have not seen him before".
"I am Alphak" Alphak replied softly in steady if not fast Kalish "You have seen my sister Tabitha before. I do not think my mother and father have been here before".
"Not for a long time, no" Maranno Duleno told him "I see you have the special carapace like the large man in charge on your ship and like your father".
"I have that" Alphak confirmed "Brother Garakk has it too" before he sniffed and said "New Kalish. One boy Kalish and one girl Kalish. I smell them".
Devin stepped forward and smiled.
"Hello again, big sister" he called, still smiling "I see this new boy you brought with you - his face looks a bit like the girl you brought before".
Alphak clapped when he learned Devin was Caseya's brother, after which he told Devin about himself and rumbled when Devin bent down to see in detail.
"This..." he said, bowing briefly and slightly in the direction of the door "...is Lerren, big sister. She is one of my friend Drallan's twin sisters, big sister" before introducing Lerren to Juroch and Keyah. Lerren was extremely suprised to see a Master of the Kalish art who was not Kalish, but Juroch didn't mind and encouraged her to come over and see his ribbon of rank - she did that, and although she stared at the strange sight of a Scarran Master she also welcomed both him and Keyah and thanked them for coming.
Caseya looked between Devin and Lerren... then smiled and asked "Is there something you want to tell me, little brother?"
"Lerren and I..." Devin announced "... announce our intention to be permanently mated, big sister. I am glad both you and the two Masters could come to hear this".
"Congratulations, brother" Caseya replied, smiling and hugging him.
"Welcome to you also, Lerren" she added "I remember when we first met you and your siblings at the swimming centre in the North. It is a happy day indeed to hear that you intend to make a home with Devin here".
Alphak looked at Lerren, sniffed, then nodded before saying "Lerren... I see and I smell and I hear your name and now I know. I will tell my brothers and sisters about you when I go back to our home ship".
Alphak watched as Caseya's mother and father made brief stops to congratulate the couple - while they were there, Keyah asked if a traditional Kalish ceremony would be required or a more contemporary modern one.
"I think my own parents would like a traditional Kalish ceremony" Lerren replied before smiling at Devin "I do not know if either of the two Masters present know what that would require, or if they would be able to conduct such a ceremony themselves...".
"I believe Master Juroch knows" Keyah replied "While I know a little, I do not know enough to set a full traditional ceremony in place".
Juroch confirmed that with a nod and soft rumble, asking Lerren and Devin to decide if they wanted the ceremony to be held at the Dulenos dwelling, the Cry Havoc, or somewhere else.
Tirel's father turned up a few momens later with a long list on a tablet - he conferred with Feltano and Madam Yutain, after which a large bag of currency was passed over. Feltano quickly put that in the small vault in the dwelling.
"There is your commission for this trading run, Feltano Duleno..." Tirel's father said happily "Now I must follow my employees back to our warehouses and see all these Kalish products properly put away!"
The older Kalish captain smiled as he got himself ready at the beginning of the day, making sure his trading house's freighter captain's uniform was properly presented.
"We are going to this enormous Scarran ship now, Captain?" his first officer asked "Who will be going with you, Captain? Who will have command during your absence?"
"You will command the ship in my absence, First Officer" the man replied "There will be time for you to see that large and odd ship yourself... but not today, I think. I will go first, I will see what this ship and its crew are like... and I will tell you and others what I experienced when I come back. You will lead the first delegation from our crew, and I will resume command here and manage any further business between our world and these Scarrans that involves this ship".
The first officer was relieved that he would get to come aboard the Cry Havoc himself, if not right away.
"Will these Scarrans send a small craft to collect you, Captain?" he asked next "Should I have one of ours prepared to take you there?"
"One of our shuttles should take me" the captain decided "We do not have Reapers or those huge Strykers on board - but we have shuttles, and almost none of those are being used since cargo was landed with the bulk landers. The shuttle will take me to their ship and then return here - when I return, one of their craft will bring me back".
Six shuttles from freighters landed aboard the Cry Havoc's hammond side flight deck, and crew representatives from four to five freighters climbed out of each one to be met by Captain Solk, Juroch, and Keyah.
"We welcome you to the Cry Havoc" Keyah told them all "The Second Meal sitting is about to start... we understand that your most senior captain is at his eating time, but how many others of you are like him?"
Almost half of those present raised their hands to identify themselves as being at eating time, so Juroch nodded and added "Personnel at your table will be happy to explain the various foods available to you - there is Kalish food, so if you prefer to eat foods you know then advise someone at your table and they will pass your interest on to our servers".
"I will be eating Scarran food!" the oldest captain announced with relish "We can eat the foods of our people any time we wish to aboard our own ships and on our own world - we do not have Scarran food or many other foods there! I encourage as many of you as possible to do as I do!"
He smiled when Juroch directed him to the skulkers' table in the galley.
"I and those with me sit here" Juroch explained "We have almost all the non-Scarran personnel that live aboard this ship as part of our unit, and you will be able to see them all. Both Master Kamara and I sit here".
"It is strange and interesting" the captain decided "I see those I assume by their manner are teenaged children over there. One is the boy I think is named Alphak".
Talannah opened the mealtime.
"We have eight Kalish at eating time here from our visitors" she announced "They will go for their food first - one person from each table where visitors sit will go with them to advise them on what foods they may find interesting if they decide not to eat Kalish food. Everyone else will follow when the indicator on your table is lit for your first servings".
"A much better idea, my John..." Talannah said once she sat down "... than the rush for the counters we had before. This way no one goes hungry and the children are not testing their unarmed combat training on each other to secure the best places for themselves and their families".
"Yeah, that was fun for a while" Harrigan replied "but they're gettin' too big for that now an' need to realise the same rules the adults have will apply to them as well".
Juroch smiled when he saw Reanaree come to the skulkers table and asked who came with her.
"These are my parents and my siblings, Master Juroch" she replied, introducing them "I have told them about you at length before - about how you love and respect our people and care greatly about me as well".
"Your appearance is unusual" Reanaree's mother said "but I think that the skin of your people is not normally that colour. My daughter tells me it is to help you camouflage yourself".
"It is" Juroch replied softly in Kalish, bowing slightly "I cannot tell you the more interesting details of how I came to be as I am or what this lets me do, such things are classified... but it is interesting and it helps me protect my crewmates and fulfil my orders".
"Our daughter..." Reanaree's father added "...tells me you are both a Master of our people's art and also something of an expert on our traditional culture".
Juroch smiled and rumbled and told them a little of how he learned about Kalish culture and people, which made both Reanaree and her parents smile.
The older Kalish captain seemed to be very happy with his first contact with Scarran food and said so at length - whenever his mouth wasn't full eating it. He even ate scorcher, although he also drank a considerable quantity of juice afterwards.
"My favourite pick-me-up in the mornings, that is!" Troll called happily from his own table nearby "My boys an' my girls like it too - though only Garakk eats it as much as I do!"
Garakk came over to see the older captain, even helping him get more food without asking - the captain smiled more and laughed a little as Garakk happily explained what foods he liked best and why, though it took a reminder from his father to make him do so in the Kalish language.
Reanaree's father tested Juroch's knowledge of Kalish culture as he knew it at length.
"Good" he decided "Someone here knows about our people's traditions. Master Kamara knows? Others know? Do any of those loud young people know? Some of them look a little like our people".
Caseya proudly pointed out her children to them, naming each one, adding "Master Juroch and Master Kamara teach my children the art of our people and our culture. I think Master Juroch teaches some of the other children as well... but he makes sure my own children know it best of all".
"Good" came the reply once more "All are welcome here, it seems - but Scarrans lead, most of the time. I had thought their culture may dominate as well".
When her parents weren't looking, Reanaree whispered in Juroch's ear - he smiled and slipped away, returning with his bag of ceremonial items once much of the galley was clear.
Many of the visiting Kalish were about to leave, but when Keyah saw what was happening she suggested they may like to stay.
Juroch first conducted a welcome ceremony for Reanaree's family, which they all were glad to be a part of - but were amazed when Juroch started a more important ceremony to announce his intention to make Reanaree his mate for life.
"Good..." the older captain whispered softly to Keyah "I am glad that our culture here is respected... and it is interesting to see this large and oddly-coloured Scarran choosing to announce his intention to marry in the way of our people as well, Master or not".
"Master Juroch may not have been born Kalish" Keyah replied "but he respects and honours our people and considers our respect for him and his achievements to be worth a great deal".
Reanaree gasped in surprise when she realised they had reached the part of the ceremony where she was meant to respond - and gladly did so while her parents, the visiting Kalish, and the few remaining Irregulars watched.
"Your mother and I are pleased you find love and companionship with Master Juroch" Reanaree's father told his daughter "even though we were, for a while, surprised that your choice of mate was not of our own people. We are both pleased and relieved that your mate respects our people and our culture and has even achieved rank of note in our art" before he paused to confer with his wife for almost half an arn.
"I have talked to my wife" he told Harrigan "But since you command this vessel and all aboard it I should talk to you as well. Is a waiting period compulsory between the announcement and the ceremony? I do not know if my wife and our other children may be permitted to come here again and we would all prefer to be present at our eldest child's marriage ceremony".
"Talk to them" Harrigan replied "If you all want it done while you're here we can do that - previously we've done that at a meal sitting, done cake an' drink an' stuff. Might even order some alcohol out of secure storage for the speeches an' toasts" - though he then had to explain about that part of the ceremony as practiced aboard the Havoc for them.
"That is interesting" Reanaree's father replied "I do not entirely understand how your culture named the most trusted members of the wedding group... but if since the ceremony itself will be conducted in the Kalish way then this will be less of an issue until these speeches you told me about. Of Reanaree's family am only I required to make a speech or my wife and others also?"
"If your wife wants to..." Harrigan replied "then she can - the way we do this here, the father of the bride speaks for that family unless his wife wants to say something extra as well. Since Juroch doesn't have family here, his CO will speak".
It took about half an arn for the Kalish techs from the KV-8 to decide that the replacement weapons for the Tempest should be fitted in orbit and not aboard the Havoc.
"Not enough room" their spokesperson said when asked "The civilian techs from the freighters say they can move the new weapons to where they need to be more easily in orbit, where we military techs will oversee that work. An officer from your crew will be inside the ship and oversee the work from that end as well".
"While you're doin' that" Lazarus added "We'll get the new Reapers an' spare parts stowed away too - and now we got room after selling off our surplus stealth capsules and our small number of Intruders, we got space to put everything".
"Others were speculating when this would be done" Captain Solk said "It is good to hear we can start soon".
"You can start right now if you like" Harrigan replied "Doesn't bother me. Talk to Cap'n L here or Rulok about getting this bad boy outside where you can get started".
The Kalish techs, aboard the freighters and the warships, were pleased to hear they could start work.
"Those assigned to transferral of the Reapers..." Captain Solk's first officer announced "will require landing clearances to the hammond side flight deck of the Cry Havoc, the enormous warship slightly above us. Those assigned to refitting the smaller warship ... that ship will be flown to a position not far from this one, and once those aboard comm us we can get started".
"They got a lot for us" Troll said, watching the ferry flights come in, along with a few bulk landers carrying parts "This is gonna be good, I know it. Wonder if they made any like I asked about?"
"You've been putting ideas in their orange heads, haven't you...?" Harrigan asked "You know what Keyah an' Caseya can be like with just a little encouragement... we'll go and see once we get the call everything's got here that needs to get here".
"Interesting..." Proconsul Tolchen told his senior intelligence officer, when she brought his daily reports "Those kinglovers are receiving new military hardware... and even though it's pure speculation, it looks like they either knew who stole our Reapers some cycles back or did so themselves".
"We can't see those ships on sensors, of course" the intelligence officer replied "A diplomatic transport for transferral of embassy staff arrived today, and several staff submitted contact reports when they saw what look like Reapers going aboard that Fortress-class ship".
"We will keep watch on who enters and leaves that ship" Proconsul Tolchen reminded her "as we do already. We just have more things to watch for now".
"We have been cleared to approach" Lieutenant Commander Domin told his helm officer aboard the Corsair-class frigate passing Tal IV perimeter system markers "An area around geostationary orbit, not directly over the port but close to such a position, has been declared prohibited space to all vessels - but we can easily avoid that and make our landing and resupply both port sector units and our embassy" before telling his security officer "Maybe now you'll realise why losing a weapon for those early-warning sensors in the dorsal turret was worth the risk".
The security officer clearly disagreed with his superior, but suggested "I suggest deploying the new Blackguard fighters or a smaller number of Harbringers as well, sir. If that ship we were told about before still controls system space here they might stop looking when they find us and ignore the fighters".
Domin thought this unlikely, but ordered the fighters deployed anyway.
Hellbolt was aboard the Tempest when the threat receiver picked up the edge of the Corsair's early-warning scan.
"I hear you, mister" Harrigan replied when Hellbolt commed in "If you can jam it, do that... if not, wait until we can do that from here".
"Contact!" Hellbolt interrupted "Six fighters, type unknown... and two Harbringers. About a hundred ahead of that frigate".
"We have Peacekeepers, then" Talannah decided "One frigate... it's unlikely they'll do anything obviously hostile, but we'll jam them enough to stop them seeing what's going on with the Tempest's refit and the new Reapers arriving".
"Greetings to you as well" Domin replied politely but briefly "I am here to do the business of my people. We are here to transfer staff and to resupply our embassy and sector guards at the port".
"Then you have permission to proceed" Talannah told him "We are, as you probably suspect, jamming sensor scans directed at the prohibited zone - and we can see the smaller craft you have deployed as well. Keep both them and you on course to your sector of the port and all will be well".
"That ship in orbit picked us up well outsystem" Domin told the Peacekeepers' military attache when he was met at the port "Our Blackguards and Harbringers too - and they clearly knew Harbringers from both visuals and sensor scan profiles".
"A little disturbing" came the response "I don't know where they might have seen a Harbringer before, I'll pass that back up my own chain of command and see if I can find out. As for our current business... the staff returning to our worlds for retraining or new postings are now here".
"Their replacements should be leaving my ship now" Domin replied, before calling for those staff to come to him.
"Follow the Military Attache" he told them "He will lead you to transport to our embassy... and you will be questioned about what you saw when we skirted the edge of the orbital exclusion zone on the way".
Ramps on the Corsair-class frigate were lowered, after which cargo was hauled out and sent to both the embassy and other places in the Peacekeeper-controlled sector of the port.
"Well, what've we got?" Lazarus asked the first Kalish he found, a weeken later - he promptly turned and called for the senior corporate representative, who turned out to be one of Madam Yutain's underlings.
"Ah yes..." he said smoothly "You wish a full status report on the transferral of craft from our ships to your own, I take it...".
"That's right" Lazarus replied "How's it going? Are we done yet or you still got stuff to bring over?"
"Full status report..." he asked his own underling, gesturing for Lazarus to watch and listen.
"Status report as follows" came the announcment from the other end of the call "Transferral of two thousand craft derived from Scarran craft design designated 'Reaper'... complete as of the last landing. Parts and technical information...98% complete".
"That's good, that's real good!" Troll cut in, looking over Lazarus' shoulder at the screen "You just bring the standard flavour, or you actually managed to bring a few of the new improved versions with extra garlic an' chillies added?"
After screaming in Troll's ear about how Kalish had trouble interpreting his odd speech, Lazarus translated for the confused Kalish.
"Ah yes..." he replied, smiling just a little "A number of those were included in the consignment. Enough changes needed to be made to force redesign and enlargement of the hull... so not all parts will be interchangeable... but the result is good. You should test one and decide for yourself".
A number of Kalish in both tech's coveralls and pilot's uniforms were there when Lazarus and Troll arrived.
"Only parts remain to be landed" the senior tech told Lazarus "and not a large amount, either. Almost everything requested is aboard already" before another tech jabbered on in excitable Kalish for a few microts before jumping aboard a shuttle.
"It appears the last of the parts have been landed" the senior tech replied "We thank you for bringing this technology to us and for hosting us aboard this ship and this world. I have a small amount of leave owed to me, so I will go with the next group heading down to the planet".
"The standard variant of this new craft" one of the pilots added, taking over "is not much different from the original. The weapons are the improved Nebari-pattern blastguns with full-automatic capability, and each craft has four of these as they did with the original pulse cannon. The extended sensor capabilities have been integrated with the existing systems, so the additional crewmember needed on the original craft is no longer required".
"Have you flown 'em?" Lazarus asked "What are they like to fly? We know they're powerful - but are they manoevreable and fast?"
"We were not permitted to install our most advanced drives" the pilot replied "Nor our most advanced defensive systems... but the drives installed are nonetheless very good, and can run for extended periods at full speed. We applied the secondary propulsion system, which the blueprints for the biggest Nebari vessel also show as being present on the smaller capital craft, as well - not so much because it is actually required, but because it means you can make covert flights on planetary surfaces without depleting main fuel reserves beyond standby levels. Nor will landings damage structures or people when this drive is used".
"Well, well..." Lazarus said, smiling a little "New toys to play with. New things to test".
The pilots all smiled at hearing that, with one of the younger ones urging "Come this way! I was the first test pilot for the enlarged version of this craft! Twenty nine separate test prototypes were required before an acceptable version was achieved for the standard model... a combat-ready version of the larger model was achieved on the first attempt after prototype twenty seven! Come and see, come and see!"
"It does look a teeny bit bigger..." Troll replied as he looked at it, grinning "Looks like six gunports out front, too... not just four! What we got there?"
"Come aboard!" the test pilot encouraged them both, opening the hatch "The systems currently respond to voice command in the Scarran and Kalish languages... I do not know if other languages are spoken here, but it will not be hard to add them in whenever you wish to".
Troll sat in one of the two pilot's chairs, bouncing a little to test them - he grinned at the Kalish test pilot before calling "Flash-start!" in Scarran towards the main consoles.
The systems all started powering up at a good speed, Lazarus decided as he stood behind Troll's seat and watched.
"Weapons check!" Troll added once the initial system start had finished.
"Charged particle blastguns, one through four... online" replied the computer in slightly flat-sounding Kalish "Plasma cannon, one and two... online. Cloaking shield... on standby".
"I'm likin' this already, Cap'n L" Troll told Lazarus, before asking "Couldn't do the railcannon? Why not?"
"Not so much power drain..." the test pilot explained "but there simply wasn't enough space. We have added that capability for the new Strykers - your War Commander has everything he needs to know about manafacturing those systems and adding them to his own craft. Included were blueprints of the modified versions of the multibarrel slugweapons you supplied - we are not using those as standard weapons on our own Strykers, but they are interesting enough that some will be kept for those who like them. Suggestions for how and where to fit them aboard Strykers are supplied as well" before he called "Activate repulsorlift drive" in his own language.
Troll was surprised as he felt the craft lift a short way off the deck, but grinned anyway and tested manoevreability as much as he could.
"I like it" he told both Lazarus and the Kalish test pilot - then grinned again before saying "Unless you two wanna stay aboard while I take this out and work the kinks out of it a bit, now's the time to get off".
"Harrigan's sent me over to see how the weapon refit's going aboard that Tempest" Lazarus replied "So you're going to take me there in this - I'm CAG here, Troll, so these things pass muster when I say they do".
"I will return to my fellows" the test pilot said, nodding "You will be able to reach me on comms if required" before opening a side entry hatch and leaping out.
After strapping his crash webbing on, Lazarus scanned the controls before nodding and comming the Havoc's bridge.
"Lazarus here" he said "Needing takeoff clearance. Troll's gonna test one of the stretched versions of the Reapers we just got".
"We hear you, Captain" Rulok called "Atmo containment is on and flight deck doors are opening now. Would be nice to go aboard the Tempest with you for the final checkover, but I'm up-urrk..." before disappearing from the bridge and reappearing aboard Troll's craft in its cargo bay.
Amara's smiling face appeared on the Havoc's end.
"I read your surface thoughts, uncle Rulok" she said "I could tell you wanted to be aboard the Tempest when the final systems integration tests were performed - so I translocated you aboard their craft when I heard uncle Troll and uncle Captain Lazarus were going".
Rulok rumbled a little before nodding to Amara and strapping in to one of the auxiliary seats on the bridge's rear wall.
"OK, I see it..." Troll murmured after a few momens, then brought the nose around before slamming the throttles forward. He grinned and laughed as he flew the new craft around in both Tal IV atmosphere and space for some momens until Lazarus started bellowing at him to get aboard the Tempest.
"Cleared for approach" Hellbolt called "Remember, Troll... flight deck's on top with this ship. Entry point's supposed to be the rear one, though you'd fit coming either way".
Troll commed the Kalish test pilot for a momen or two - then grinned and brought his craft into the Tempest's flight deck fast before transferring to repulsorlift drive and making his landing.
"I really do like it" Troll decided happily "I'm gonna keep this one, I think".
Rulok grumbled a bit at Troll's manner, while Lazarus shouted at him (if not for so long this time) before the two of them walked off the flight deck and toward the bow and the bridge.
A number of techs were still aboard, and Lazarus stopped briefly to talk with some of them.
"Good" he told Rulok "Looks like the refit's going well. No real issues anyone's come across. Looks like the chief engineer on this part of the project's mostly relieved that what he saw on the blueprints matches what we actually have on the real thing".
It took five more arns before a tech showing rank of a senior engineer came onto the bridge - Captain Lazarus and Rulok got salutes, after which the man asked "If you could order a full system restart, please... this is not one of the ships of my people, I cannot do that task myself".
Helbolt did that from the engineering console, with Lazarus only noticing Liz was in the captain's chair when she asked him what was happening.
"We have to perform a full system restart" the Kalish engineer explained, nodding "The ship's computer, according to previous instruction from the Scarran named Shellek, will not properly integrate the new weapons until this is done".
A little over twenty momens later lighting came back on, after which other systems followed.
"We got all bow cannon online, Dad!" Liz called "We got both dorsal turrets online - we got immobilisers there?! As well as real guns?"
"Two" Lazarus replied "One in each turret, if I read these monitors right. One immobiliser, one blastgun. The latter has semi and full-auto modes. Former has maybe twenty K range... so you gotta get in close".
"Close in defences are online" Hellbolt added from his console "All three engines and environmentals... everything else too".
A Kalish officer in captain's uniform entered the bridge - after nodding towards the command chair, he said "I am glad to see the refitting here proceeded as planned . I am Captain Kahfrel of the KV-10... and I am here to take the two officers to examine the last of your new ships".
"We got all the Reapers" Lazarus replied "We're sorted here as well. What else was there?"
Captain Kahfrel smiled and said "Ah yes, I do forget you do not have the memory of a Kalish. Since you gave us your - at the time - sole small capital craft, we decided to provide six of the new mark of small capital craft we made from examining its design. I will take you aboard one of them now".
Loud noise came across open comm, making the Kalish captain cringe and ask "What is that infernal racket?"
"Troll's singing again..." Lazarus grumbled "He got his grubby little hands on one of those bigger-model Reapers and is taking it out for a test flight".
"I was told these new craft are designated 'Banshee' " Captain Kahfrel replied, slightly confused "with the more heavily-armed version designated 'Howling Banshee'. I was not told why this name was considered suitable".
"The source of your confusion..." Rulok replied, growling a little "... is the same as the source of that foul screeching just now! He decided that he should set the name for this new kind of craft... why 'Reaper' was not good enough, I don't know...".
"I was told..." Captain Kahfrel replied "...that the new names revealed to me was the one used for general purposes outside Scarran space, with the original name staying in place for the standard type of the craft and the larger one adding the prefix 'Grim' when inside Scarran space - and perhaps for record-keeping as well".
Captain Kahfrel escorted Rulok and Captain Lazarus to a shuttle at the rearmost end of the Tempest's flight deck.
"Come aboard:" he encouraged them "The flight is not long - these new ships are inside the zone your leader declared as prohibited, among our larger freighters".
Lazarus screamed at Troll again over the comm when he brought his craft alongside the captain's shuttle close enough to make fingertip formation.
"You have stopped that... singing" Captain Kahfrel said with relief "Good. From the aerobatic manoevreing reported through my own chain of command, it appears you feel very much at ease with these new craft - which I suppose you should since your name was the one identified as the originator of the idea for the expanded model of the new Reaper. If you wish to join us, you may... on condition you do not sing. At any time".
"Getting to come aboard another new ship..." Troll replied ...in exchange for not singing. It'll do, Cap'n. Just show me where to stash this when we get to the parking garage".
"Right beside my own shuttle" Captain Kahfrel replied "The flight decks on these new ships are smaller than their originator... and currently unoccupied. Your leaders will decide whether to berth Reapers of either mark, or Strykers, on board".
"Nice open parking lot, copy that" Troll replied "Lead the way".
Lazarus and Rulok took a few momens to look around the small flight deck after both craft had landed. Troll murmured and muttered a bit as he picked out where certain things were - Captain Kahfrel muttered a bit himself until he realised Troll was pointing out maintenance fixtures and refuelling points, and confirmed they were what Troll thought they were.
"We did not use the standard bridge arrangement of the Switchblade original" he explained "A small bridge much like a Stryker's is in the bow on deck two, with additional controls present in the combat information centre about half way down the ship on deck four. These ships have six decks, plus the small flight deck".
"Thoughts?" Lazarus asked Rulok.
"Good" Rulok replied "from what little we've seen so far. I don't know if this design leans towards speed and manoevreability as the Switchblade did or if it sacrifices some of both for a low-observable design".
"As before..." Captain Kahfrel explained "we did not fit our most advanced drives or defensive systems - but the ones we did fit are very good. Like the Reapers, you have fast primary engines as well as secondary repulsorlift drive for use inside planetary atmosphere".
Troll was surprised, though pleased, to see the small bridge.
"Just like a Stryker, really" he said "Good, means I can get started on this bad boy too once I get a handle on what little guy back on the flight deck does".
"You have toys to play with already, mister" Lazarus told him "Don't take everyone else's too. Currently rated large-craft pilots, plus surface attack specialists, get to try these first"
