"Do we have anything to report today..." Captain Tayyem asked the gathering of officers before him on his Command Carrier "... that we did not already know... about these Irregulars still stationed around Talzenadar IV?"

"They've expanded their capabilities in air operations, that much we do know..." one stated "beyond Strykers... to those newer Reapers the Hierarchy's just starting to deploy in larger numbers".

"Tell me about those..." Commandant Grayza ordered "I know little about them, my interests generally lie outside of naval technology...".

"Interesting..." Grayza murmured "Larger than our own Blackguard but smaller than a Harbringer - and their own Strykers. The Hierarchy obviously has different mission parameters for its stealth vessels than we do for our own. Do we know how they are outfitted? What can their systems do? Are they more or less manoevreable than Strykers or Raiders - and our own craft?"

"No hard evidence on any of that so far, mam" another officer replied, and clearly no one in the room was pleased to hear that "We know Strykers, of both current marks, as well as their other craft in their own forces and available for export".

"Their people?" Grayza asked next "Surely they have recruited new members since we last examined this problem in detail? If so, what species are they and what skills are they known to have?"

"They been getting recruits, yeah" a clearly-injured Black Ghost replied "Not too many - and not so much out in th' Neutral Zones, either. Been bringin' 'em in from lizard worlds, most likely. Had a few Ghosts from the PKCC Dacon lookin' around - their new guys are spread across all three of their fightin' arms, too. Not just their general infantry with them black shoulderboards".

"That we did not know before, Mr Towle" Commandant Grayza replied with interest, turning to face the Ghost officer "Very interesting. These Irregulars are increasing their operating strength across the board, not in specialised areas. What species are these new recruits, Mr Towle - did your troopers find out?"

"All Scarran so far, mam" he replied "Surprises me, to be honest - I'd have expected some of those orange lot to be scurryin' around, you know how Scarrans like to keep 'em around to do grot's work".

Once Towle was given his orders and had departed, Grayza turned to another officer and said "This is getting to be more than a thorn in our side, it is becoming a serious problem. Make cautious plans for a more extensive incursion on Talzenadar IV - and do not coordinate at any point with Captain Kammel. That man is a good Captain but he studied alongside Talzenadar IV's current governor - and may feel he should pass along information he hears. We can't let their numbers grow unchecked".

"Don't worry about that, mam" the officer replied "Towle's not the most neat or well-presented officer, especially in regards to his personal grooming - but he's good at his job, and getting too close to death in that incursion he led has clearly shaken him up, cleared his mind, and helped him focus more on the problem at hand. He can handle the personnel side of this - I'll get someone else handling support and logistics, and I'll make sure their orders don't put them under Towle's command".


"Well..." Lazarus told Koronna some time later "Liz's first wedding anniversary... just saying that freaks me out a bit. Somewhere in my head she'll always be my baby girl, despite the fact that she was maybe eleven when my ex an' I got her".

Koronna rumbled softly and hugged her husband before moving his hammond hand over her belly - he smiled, then nodded and said "New little guy, then? How long have you known - for certain, I mean?"

"A weeken or so, my Anton" Koronna replied "So far I have assumed you wished not to know our child's gender, as was the case when I was pregnant with young Anton - I don't know either, in case you're wondering".

"Good enough for me, K..." he replied, smiling.


Urana's eyes went a little wider than normal, then held up a hand to signal for Troll to be quiet - before opening the door to their quarters with her other hand.

"Well..." she said when she looked inside her quarters "It's not like I should be too surprised... and it's certainly not anything your father and I didn't do before we got married... but still, it's against ship law nonetheless and not without other risks beyond administrative punishment as well".
Feltano smiled and rumbled softly before kissing Sherenka at length and helping her dress again - the pair of them rumbled back and forth a number of times as this happened, after which Sherenka did the same for him.

"I know that, mother" Sherenka replied "You and father have talked to me about that before - and so has Feltano, as it happens. We know when to restrain ourselves so I don't get pregnant - even though neither of us like doing so very much".

"You be careful with my baby girl, mister" Troll told Feltano, looking him in the eye "You treat her right, look after her. I'll cut you a bit of slack on some things... but you take care of business, mister. Her momma's gonna be watching you - I'll be watching you".

"I will" Feltano replied, looking back up at Troll and smiling "I love Sherenka and have told her this a number of times. We-".

"I don't need to know about that, mister" Troll interrupted hurriedly, shutting off Feltano from explaining every detail about how he and Sherenka ended up recreating in their family quarters "Doubt it's the first time you two have been at it, in here or elsewhere around the ship, either. Just bear in mind it can't be made official till the pair of of you hit sixteen - an' then Big H will want your momma an' daddy on-side as well as Little U an' I before he agrees to it unless you two wait two more cycles after that".

"We have a little over one cycle remaining" Feltano replied, nodding "until parental approval for a Kingdom union ceremony or a Kalish one can be sought. Harek has asked big sister to go places with him as well - dates, I believe these are called in your human language. Why you choose to name relationship advancements like these after fruit, I do not understand".

Troll laughed then, relieving the tense atmosphere noticeably, before telling him "You might have grown up around a few humans, mister - but for all that, you aren't one. If it comes to that, even humans don't always understand other humans either".

Feltano bowed slightly in the Kalish manner, then rumbled very softly in the Scarran manner, before whispering to Sherenka - she smiled and nodded before asking Urana something, and Urana asked Troll.

"Go sit with Cap'n T if you like, miss, next mealtime" Troll decided after a momen or two's thought "He's likely figured it all out already anyway, even before your momma an' I".

"I have not told papa" Feltano added "But mama and papa are clever, they might know".


"Mmm...mmaa..." Harek stuttered, standing at Caseya's family quarters' door and refusing to look up at Trannak's face "Mayy... may I take Amara on another date, Captain? To the PTR, not down on the planet. I will take camping supplies and we will stay close to tech tunnel hatches, so if we are needed on short notice you can reach us".

"Look at us, Harek" Caseya told him, smiling "We know you, we trust you. I personally remember when you were a new baby and I held you and carried you - and now you are a young adult man who wants to spend time with our Amara and form a serious attachment to her".

Harek nodded before talking to both of them at length for the next fifteen momens, after which Trannak said "Take care of Amara, look after her, keep her safe - now she is an adult, she will need to make her own decisions and make her own way in life. Her mother and I will always be there for her, but it's clear to both of us that she's the centre of your world - all we need to do is find out if she feels the same way about you, if Amara thinks you are the centre of her world as well".

Less than a momen later Amara walked down the corridor from the transit stop - and smiled and rumbled when she saw Harek waiting for her.

"I am here, Harek" she told him, leaning against his shoulder "You are well? Does your father have orders for me? Does your mother?"

Harek rumbled back before telling her his plan - Amara hugged him and asked both Caseya and Trannak several times if she had permission to go.

"Harek is taking care of the necessary supplies for you expedition, dear daughter" Caseya told Amara "He has at least a basic route planned as well. I do not think the expedition will be a long one, though".


"We have a call from a ship of the people of Sholphaur, Commander" Juroch told Harrigan, nodding "I doubt it will be concerning my grading in the art, I cannot be graded again for two more cycles - but perhaps they have interesting things to tell us or show us".

"We've had good stuff from Gen'ral Haresh an' his lot for a while, that's true" Harrigan replied "Anyway, it's not like I asked your guys to make us anything, we've not made contracts - so it's likely just a courtesy call".

Juroch wondered himself as he answered the hail.

"Greetings once more" Captain Tokk announced "While we do not have any defined contract with your Irregulars, Stalker... you do have the War Commander aboard, so we thought you might appreciate seeing some of the latest advances made in military areas by the people of your homeworld".

"We will come and see, Captain" Juroch replied, nodding "We too have new things... well, comparatively new, anyway. Since you did not command the ship that came here from Sholphaur before then you would not have seen them - so they will be new to you".

"There is much for me to do - both for Sholphaur generally and for the Kingdom in particular" Captain Tokk agreed "I have commanded my helm officer to approach to the position in geostationary orbit we know to be where your ship is. We will hail you again when we reach midsystem markers and request a safe position close to your own".

"Come right on in" Harrigan encouraged him "Come up an' find a good parking spot that means we can still park our own cars too. Don't sit right underneath us, we unlocked some of the unused loading docks there... what for you'll see when you get here. Think we know you well enough to show you that".

Juroch smiled and thanked Harrigan for his promise.

"The people of Sholphaur appreciate the trust you place in us, Commander" Juroch said "Even before you met me... you fashion the society here after our own, in a way. You care only about a person's motivation and loyalty, not about matters of no consequence like their species or even their past".

"You're our go-to man with Sholphaur anyway, mister" Harrigan told him "You're gonna be there with 'em - bring your wife as well if you like".

"Reanaree will like to be there, this is true" Juroch replied, smiling a little "With your permission, I think it will be interesting for the young people aboard to meet the people of Sholphaur as well".

"Looks like my boy's making a good impression with his intended again" Harrigan replied, grinning proudly "He an' Amara are out in the PTR for a bit. Might be some of Troll's brood around... Feltano might even be somewhere close by for all I know...".

"Sholphauran ship on final approach" one of the newer recruits, a high-caste female named Rhodaa announced "Since I only found it when it got just past max firing range, I'm assuming it's an advanced type of stealth vessel. Can't get an ident. I'd say it's at the upper end of dreadnaught range masswise".

"We have reached the designated position" a Kalish voice announced over the comm a short while later "Does the War Commander wish to come aboard this ship, or should Captain Tokk and others make ready to land aboard your own?"

"Gonna come over an' bring Juroch an' some of the young guys an' girls" Harrigan decided "If there's not too many available then you can see some new stuff now - if not, you'll have to wait till you come to my place".

"Sherenka and I will come, uncle Commander" Feltano replied when Harrigan asked if he wanted to come "Alphak is helping Shellek with something... Tabitha is helping Moratha in the sick bay... Martha is testing her cooking skills again. We have one and a half arns until Second Meal today, uncle Commander".

"Think you can dig Garakk out of wherever he's got to, you two?" Harrigan suggested.

"I know where he will be, uncle Commander" Sherenka replied, nodding "I think uncle Rekketh is teaching him about shooting again, uncle Commander. Uncle Rekketh says both my brothers are very good at it".

"Coming, Sherenka!" Garakk said excitedly, when the call went through "Uncle Rekketh's eating hot rations right now - but he says he'll be needed in the galley to help cook".

Garakk arrived on the hammond flight deck maybe two momens after Feltano and Sherenka did - he grinned when he saw his older friend and his sister, asking them what was happening.

"We are going to see some of uncle Juroch's friends, Garakk" Feltano told him "You are coming with us to see them. You might have seen some of them when you were younger".

"We'll grab a Stryker" Harrigan decided "Someone go ahead and find one".

"The one I use is not far" Juroch replied, nodding "I think Feltano might know where it is. He should lead the way".

When Harrigan waved permission to proceed, Feltano walked off down the flight deck.

"Here" he called softly "It is this one, uncle Juroch and uncle Commander".

Juroch nodded confirmation before opening a hatch and letting everyone inside - a momen or two later, Reanaree arrived as well and went immediately up to the Stryker's bridge.

"The War Commander understands" he told her with a smile "He knows someone will need to stay and watch the young ones, and likes to do that himself more often than I would have thought" before comming the bridge and calling "Bridge, this is Stalker requesting takeoff clearance. The War Commander is with me. Reanaree is with me. Feltano, Sherenka, and Garakk are with me".

"I hear you" Rhodaa replied "Atmo containment field is on and flight deck doors are opening now".

"You will make the takeoff and fly the Stryker, Reanaree" Juroch told his wife "You are good at this, I know - but you still perform better in the Reaper, despite having not flown them as often. Use this chance to increase your proficiency in Strykers".

"Good..." Juroch told her softly, rumbling a little in approval "You do well" before passing on the position of the Sholphauran ship. Reanaree thought for a few microts, then nodded and turned the Stryker until she saw a new ship and called "It is that odd one?"

"It is that one" Juroch confirmed after calling Reanaree's description through to Captain Tokk "This vessel is not one I have seen before, either - we can learn about it together. Entry points to the flight deck have beacons on these frequencies".

Once aboard, Reanaree made a cautious landing in the centre of the flight deck - and smiled when a large number of Kalish descended on the Stryker to clean it and check its systems.

"We have a number of those just out of training..." a Kalish in a senior tech's uniform told Juroch "With your permission I will get the students to do a basic maintenance inspection on this Stryker for you".

"Go on, then" Harrigan decided "New guys gotta learn somewhere".

"It is good to see you still do well, Master Juroch" Master Tachiel said in greeting once he arrived - and smiled before greeting Reanaree once Juroch told him they were married.

"You have a mark of this change I hear about" Tachiel replied "I do not know much about it at all, few do - but it is interesting to see that other Kalish apart from the wife of your skulker corps Captain have it when permitted to do so".

"I do" Reanaree replied "I was worried about it at first... but Juroch talked to me about it and Caseya did as well. Her advice and counsel was much appreciated once the procedure was completed. I cannot tell you any more about it, my Juroch says it is classified".

"We know about some of what you have..." Captain Tokk said, walking over "What the War Commander identified as 'stage 1', I believe. We do not have the knowledge of how to perform this procedure ourselves, though".

"We can talk about that later" Harrigan replied "You got another ship, then? Not like the last one you had when you came. Got some new stuff from what we helped you with last time?"

"It does" Captain Tokk confirmed "This ship is a little larger than an extended-model mark two dreadnaught... but, like the Host Vessel you helped us commandeer, it can land on planetary surfaces. We have more advanced drives on this ship as well... so far they have proven to be reliable under extended high-speed running, which means we have achieved a stable version of these kind of drives at last".

"That's some real good stuff" Harrigan told him, nodding "We got a few bits an' pieces too... not like what you got, but stuff we said we'd share with you since it came from the new stuff we got together".

Harrigan and his group got a more thorough tour than they did on the previous time aboard a Sholphauran ship - the children were pleased that the crew were allowed to come and see them and talk to them, especially Garakk.

"He is a loud and happy boy!" one Kalish said, laughing "I do not know how old he is, but he said he can carry two adult Kalish and still walk! How can he do this while not of adult age?"

They watched while Garakk promptly proved his boast was not an idle one, though he did stop to catch his breath afterwards.

"The crew like you, young man" Captain Tokk told Garakk "You are happy and make them laugh. I think you have some of these special things only the War Commander has - I was not aware it was safe to apply them to young ones, though".

Harrigan whispered for a momen or two to Captain Tokk about that, who nodded and looked at Garakk a bit more before saying "That is interesting, War Commander. Garakk is an interesting young man for his own self as well".

Some time later they returned to the flight deck, where a number of craft straining the limits of the small-craft class were situated.

"These are new, War Commander" Captain Tokk announced proudly "Only the people of Sholphaur have them at this time, though I believe other worlds under Special Forces command may get them eventually. They have three decks. They are mark-3 Strykers".

"Can I tell Dad about these?!" Garakk asked excitedly "Dad loves new small ships! He has one of our new ones for working and a Stryker for when we go places with him!"

"Not now" Captain Tokk decided "When we go back to your home ship. If you do well then your War Commander may let you tell him instead of doing so himself".

Garakk looked at it closely when Captain Tokk let them go inside and inspect it - both Captain Tokk and the craft's pilot and copilot were there, and watched Garakk as he pointed and asked questions about their craft.

"Aunt Caseya will like these" Garakk decided eventually "Aunt Caseya likes our new craft but likes big ships best. Aunt Caseya can fly big ships".

"I have met her before" Captain Tokk told Garakk, then pointed to his armbands and added "See the emblems below my Captain's rank badge? Your aunt should have them on her jacket".

"Seen those" Garakk confirmed "Uncle Commander has them. Aunt Caseya has them. Aunt Talannah has them. Uncle Rulok and uncle Lirak have them. Uncle grey Hellbolt has them".

"Ourselves and two others are all that are required to fill essential military stations" the copilot said when Captain Tokk nodded permission "The craft only requires two, my pilot and I, should the underwing turrets be replaced by missile stations or other systems not requiring additional crew. We have a small sick bay and galley aboard. Three medical personnel are required for the sick bay. One or two for the galley. We can carry a small number of troops and support equipment in addition to our attack load".

They enjoyed Second Meal on the Sholphauran ship - Garakk loved the different smells of the foods and said so often.

"Some are Kalish food" one of the Kalish explained "and some are Scarran food... and some are dishes unique to our home, invented by both Scarran people and Kalish people".

Garakk clapped and shouted approval when he tasted the uniquely Sholphauran food, which made the galley staff smile and the crew laugh - though they had to stop Garakk eating everything he could reach.

"If you stayed longer, mister" Harrigan eventually told him "they'd probably make you help clean the kitchens up an' cook for the next galley shift".

"I've eaten lots of good stuff, uncle Commander!" Garakk replied happily "The special Sholphauran food is my favourite, though!"

"You ate a boatload of scorcher as well..." he reminded Garakk "I can still smell that on your breath now, mister".

Garakk laughed for a half-momen or so, after which Harrigan said "Come on, we'd better head back to my place. Bring a few people with you if you like, as long as my Stryker doesn't burst holding you all".

Juroch talked briefly to Reanaree, and when she nodded he said "With your permission, War Commander... Reanaree and I will lead the way and fly our Stryker back to our home ship. Should you wish to, you can fly with the people of Sholphaur aboard one of these mark-3 Strykers or you can come with us".

"I'll come with your guys" Harrigan replied "You an' Reanaree take the Stryker back an' put it away - then wait for us".

"Full crew" Captain Tokk told the Stryker 3's pilot "I will call for six more Scarrans and six more Kalish. Once they have all arrived, we will take off with the War Commander and his friends and go to the Cry Havoc".

"We will get to see inside the Fortress-class, then?" the pilot replied with interest "This will be interesting".

"Sit here, War Commander" the copilot urged, standing behind his usual seat "Normally I would sit there... but since you are qualified in small craft according to your commendation markings and since you are the War Commander then you may sit here should you wish to".

Harrigan grinned and sat in the copilot's seat, after which the pilot said "The starting procedures are the same as the mark-2 Stryker you know, War Commander... so whenever you're ready...".

Harrigan went through the starting procedures and checks he knew, and the pilot nodded as he saw this being done.

"We have close-defence turrets for supporting troop landings installed at this time" the pilot explained "These are armed with these buttons here and here".

"You guys hearin' this?" Harrigan called on crew comms after arming those turrets "Everything as it should be down there?"

"No defects" came the response from both gunners "All systems operating within acceptable ranges".

The pilot, with the copilot watching cautiously from behind his usual seat, walked Harrigan through taking off in the larger craft.

"Oookay..." Harrigan replied, testing manoevreability a little once out in space "Not too skittish... the extra mass shows a bit while turning, though - at least in space. Got floaters on these guys?"

It took a little while for Harrigan to explain what he meant - but the pilot nodded afterwards and said "We have a secondary repulsorlift drive for atmospheric use, yes. Drives aboard mark-3s are also the smallest possible size of the type used on capital craft that do not require refined fuel to function".

"That's real nice to hear!" Harrigan replied, grinning a bit "Dunno what we can give you that you'll actually want in exchange for some of these... but I'll try and find something to send your way...".

Quite a number of Irregulars were present on the hammond flight deck when the Sholphauran mark-3 Stryker came to a cautious and slightly wobbly landing - including all of Garakk's family.

"You been good, mister?" Troll asked his son, hugging him "Learned some good stuff? Big H told me on comm you got to eat their food too - what's it like?"

Garakk laughed and happily explained to his entire family what the unique Sholphauran food was like and confirmed that he had eaten scorcher when Alphak said he smelled it on his breath.

Juroch introduced the Kalish crew in the traditional way of his world to everyone present - Keyah and the two new Kalish were pleased to see other Kalish there,with the two newer Kalish asking almost all of the questions about life on Sholphaur and their ship that were asked.

"It is interesting to have a Master of our art that is not Kalish, yes" one told a Sholphauran counterpart when asked "He is from your world?! Is it normally acceptable behaviour there for Scarrans to learn our art - and is it possible for us to learn theirs?"

"A small number learn" came the response "A small number of Kalish learn one of the Scarran fighting arts more suited to our people as well. The greater concern is the physical ability to perform well and preserve health - not the species of those interested. As to the question I think you are most curious about - yes, Master Juroch is from Sholphaur".

Tareg smiled as he looked at the Sholphauran craft and talked to those who came aboard with it.

"I am a stonewalker, yes" he told them all "Two of the Kalish have spotted some of the ways to tell and will explain these to you later. I am also from Sholphaur, though not from main base as Master Juroch is. I lived in one of the outlying surface settlements on another continent".

He smiled after he stoneshifted as the Kalish from Sholphaur came close and asked questions and tested his stonelike skin - once they stopped and moved back a little, Captain Tokk said "Kalish often look when they see me in stoneform too - but they also know I am their Captain, so they do not come close and ask many questions or test my skin".

Captain Tokk spent a little more time talking to the children - he did stoneshift for them when asked, and was clearly pleased when Alphak identified every way his stoneform was different to Tareg's.

"Ah yes, Captain Tokk" Nrakal said when he stepped forward "You are still the only stonewalker of your rarer subtype that I have seen" before scanning Captain Tokk's own natural deadlock zone with a small scanner and nodding with satisfaction.

"You are the one who managed to duplicate that effect for use on others?" Captain Tokk asked once the others had left and the children returned to study "A notable achievement, I must say - no one on Sholphaur has come close to getting such a thing to a point safe for trial on a living volunteer".

"It is part of these special things" Nrakal replied "Since the War Commander places some degree of trust in you... I am the one who led the small group that pioneered these things, what people know as the change. We here are the only ones who have the more advanced changes, those which are identified in our archives as 'stage 2' and 'stage 3' ".

"A number of Special Forces worlds have access to the change" Captain Tokk replied "But so far our own has not been one of them - not because we are prohibited from asking for it, but simply because we have not seen a need for it. I should like to request any such things related to this change for the people of Sholphaur, especially medical texts related to performing it on willing volunteers of both Kalish and Scarran species".

"You can get stage 1 if you want it, no problem there" Harrigan told Captain Tokk "Might see about one or two other things before you go... but I'll talk to my doc and your own before we finalise anything on that".

"A significant number of your troops are interested in this mark-3 Stryker" Captain Tokk replied "Perhaps receiving a small number of these now, plus more later, might be included in whatever incentives you might wish in order to persuade you to pass on some of what you know about the change...".

He was pleased to see Amara just a short while later as well.

"I remember when you were small enough to shift to me in this form" he told her "I think your brother did as well. I have not seen any other siblings you have".

Amara introduced Maranno to him before rumbling and smiling and calling Harek forward as well.

"You are the War Commander's son" Captain Tokk said "I can tell by the way you speak and the shape of your head. You speak both forms of Scarran? Perhaps Kalish as well?"

Harek promptly showed off his abilities in other languages for him, after which Nrakal explained about the basics for that being part of the change.


"The new smaller capital ships are very interesting" Captain Tokk said as he walked back to the hammond flight deck with Harrigan and Nrakal "Since your allies know us as well, I will ask them about these ships and if they can make some for us".

"Senior rep for the house that made 'em was around last time they came calling" Harrigan replied "That card's got ident info on it for her, their Governor, and General Haresh as well as Captain Solk".

Captain Tokk nodded and put the tiny card in one of his trouser pockets surprisingly easily for a man of his size, after which they reached the sick bay.

"Ah, this is how it is done" Captain Tokk said once he was shown the tanks "I am no medical specialist, but I am curious about this change - especially after seeing you and the father of that boy Garakk before, to be honest".

"Get one of them shielded datapods for him, doc" Harrigan decided "He gets all the stuff on stage one, all the procedures you do to make sure it all goes in right... put in a bit of video or other stuff from archives if you like" before taking Juroch aside and asking "You think they'll be good with the newer stuff too, mister? I mean really good, not just cause they're from the same place you are. You know why I'm asking...".

"Should you decide to reveal even partial information on the change beyond stage 1, Commander..." Juroch replied, looking back at him "then it will be safest to pass this directly to Captain Tokk under strict instructions that it is to be viewed only upon return to Sholphaur and while inside the medical centre of the main Kingdom base there. Stage 1 material can be passed to Commander Rasmanak, since he would have clearance to access such things via Hierarchy channels anyway".

Harrigan beckoned Captain Tokk over and told him "I'm gonna slip in a couple of extras here, Captain - they'll be hidden but not encrypted, so once you find 'em you can use 'em. It won't be the best we got, but it'll be a few interesting things no one else but us - and now you - have got".

"I thank you for the trust you place in the people of Sholphaur, War Commander" Captain Tokk replied "Unfortunately I doubt this can be safely applied to stonewalkers, or I would be highly likely to ask for such things myself. I am sure others in the Kingdom will be interested enough to volunteer for these procedures, though".

When Captain Tokk was looking elsewhere, Harrigan told Nrakal "Add the stuff on the shift in there - in a hidden folder of its own under the stage 2 stuff for a Lazarus-level change - and make sure they get the limitations we set on who gets that as well".

"I don't know the Sholphaurans, Commander" Nrakal said cautiously "Only Juroch does - but if you say they are trustworthy then I will add what you ask".


"So you have something for me, do you?" Kurlun asked with suspicion when Lirak's craft arrived at high orbit over his base's world "If that's true, come down to the port - I'll be waiting".

"I'll stay with the Reaper" Krynak replied "To be honest I'm surprised the War Commander authorised this expedition...".

"He consulted Amara..." Lirak replied, easing the Reaper away from the dreadnaught Hierarch's Bane and its flight deck "...and Captain Trannak... and Caseya. They all felt the risk was manageable if properly handled".

Kurlun strode into the base's CIC and called "There should be a courier on final approach. Where are they?"

"Unknown, Captain" came the reply "No craft, small or large, revealed on sensor coverage".

"Find it" he snapped, clearly not in a mood which involved accepting excuses "I don't much care how... just find it and show me where it is".

Kurlun watched the Scarran's surface thoughts as they tried every trick they knew with the surveillance sensors.

Hmm... Kurlun thought So they aren't lying to me, there's nothing on the screens they can see. Either someone's playing silly-fekkiks with me or this courier's more important than they first seemed and has a stealth vessel.

"OK, you've had your fun with my sensor operators..." he growled over open comm "Providing you don't have anything bigger than a Stryker and you're not completely stupid, put down right beside the base of the main comm tower - at least that way my eyes can find you even if the sensors can't".

"He figured it out" Krynak said, checking his own sensors for signs of approaching Strykers or other escort craft.

"This Kurlun..." Lirak told Krynak warily "... isn't stupid - he has the rank of Captain, he commands this base and the A-team stationed on it. He has a reputation for being callous, for using every possible way and means to fulfil his orders without reservation. He's very clever and has a long list of accomplishments and commendations - he'll be wary and suspicious and not at all pleased to have his regular routine interrupted, but he is known to have more than the average amount of respect for older soldiers. Which is why I get to come here".


Kurlun grumbled for some microts, then gave a few orders deploying troops overlooking the ground around the comm tower but carefully hidden.

"Kamiel..." he whispered when the guard commander had left "Stay inside the door... but make sure you're able to hear every word spoken - and I do mean every word spoken. So far you've proven worth the risks we've taken with you - here's where you start showing the more sceptical in spec-ops command you're worth leaving here and not sent back to Scarras Prime for interrogation and dissection".

"I will do ask you ask, Captain" a slightly unusual-looking male Kalish replied just as softly "I appreciate another opportunity to test these new capabilities I now have, and also to prove to your enemies in the military bureaucracy the risks you took with me are justified. Perhaps if I succeed here today you might be able to further strengthen your position by removing some of those enemies".

Kurlun grinned just a little bit before saying "You're starting to learn how I think, mister, if not always why I think as I do... but you have to start somewhere, and there's as good a place as any" and waving towards the door and ordering Kamiel "Use your hypersense, look through the door and into the sky. Tell me what you see".

Kamiel smiled at the prospect of using the new skills no Kalish had ever been born with, himself included - after which he focussed his will, stretched his gaze through the wall and into the sky, and looked around.

Just when Kurlun was about to draw breath and scream in his ear, Kamiel called "Reaper. Just one. Coming in on final approach and a stealth trajectory. It is my opinion it intends to land right outside the door to this tower - enough so that we might need to remove it so we have enough room to leave".

"Hah!" Kurlun laughed "Pilots do love their little games, Kamiel. Not that it will do them any good at all in this case, since you'll be able to translocate yourself, and me with you, right around their Reaper to a clear spot...".

"As you say, Captain" Kamiel replied "I still have much study to do before I am even close to your own level of skill... but perhaps if I study hard and learn from you as well I may come close...".

"Less flattery and more watching for the courier" Kurlun snapped, though he wasn't that angry "Tell me when and where they land in detail, eveything you can find out. State the facts first... and, for whatever it's worth, your opinion last".


"Give us about fifty metras between our landing site and the tower" Lirak said, passing control to Krynak "We don't have the time, and I'm not in the mood, to play silly games - even less so this far from safe territory".

"Make sure you're not carrying anything that gives you away as non-Hierarchy then, Lirak" Krynak reminded him as he extended the Reaper's landing pads "A-team gear's probably expected, but Force rig might cause suspicion - or jealousy".

"Good, we're down safely" Lirak murmured when he felt the Reaper land "Now I get to try and make the most of Captain Kurlun's respect for old soldiers - let's hope I can stretch that far enough to be useful".


"The Reaper has landed, Captain!" Kamiel called "One soldier has emerged. He wears combat fatigues much like your own. He does not bear obvious equipment suggesting membership of the Force Strangler elite".

Kurlun questioned Kamiel about Lirak's attitude and manner for a momen or two before telling him "Open the door. Do as I ordered before. Be prepared to assist me if required - or call reinforcements if that's required".

Kamiel bowed briefly, then opened the door.

"This had better be worth it, whoever you are!" Kurlun said, his voice smooth and calm but firm enough to suggest he did not like being drawn away from his usual training routine "Only the fact you said this information you have is rated as eyes-only for me makes this something I'm willing to accept".

"Call those idiots off the rooftop, Captain" Lirak replied gruffly, waving in the general direction of the commissary building "It's not funny and they're not good enough at it to get me in the mood to forgive them. I know this base is yours... but whoever's up there clearly isn't the best you have...".

"Some of the Charrids" Kurlun replied, signalling for those troopers to return to barracks "Not one of them rates as A-team material, but they won't improve if I don't push them and test them. Enough of the games, anyway - what do you have for me?"

Lirak looked around carefully, knowing Kurlun was watching - and bellowed "YOU LOT - YES, YOU! GET OUT OF HERE AND BACK TO YOUR BARRACKS!" at the first guard patrol he saw.

Kurlun grinned at the volume of Lirak's voice, after which he held out his treblin hand - Lirak looked around before saying "My orders say that you and you only are to see what's on this memory card, Captain Kurlun... not your first officer, not your friends, certainly not that guard commander. Just you".

"I'll need a reader" Kurlun replied "There's one inside".

"Call your aide, if they're close" Lirak replied immediately "They can get it on the conditions they don't ask questions about this business".

Since Kamiel was listening by hypersense up until this point, he waited an appropriate amount of time to show he had waited for orders, after which he emerged with a portable holodisplay.

Kamiel was very surprised to be greeted in his own language, but bowed slightly and thanked Lirak for his concern before returning to the tower again.

That Kalish isn't normal Lirak decided as he watched Kamiel move That he has a stage 1 change is obvious... but that's not all, someone here's been doing a few unsanctioned experiments of their own, even if that Kalish doesn't know that's what they were.

He knows Kamiel decided once he reached the tower and shut the door behind him The old low-caste Scarran knows, or least strongly suspects, how the Captain has rewarded me for my service. How he knows does not matter - I will pass this on to the Captain as soon as I have the chance. Perhaps he will know.

Kurlun took the card from Lirak and inserted it in one of the slots on top of the machine - he frowned when he read the opening paragraphs of the documents contained on it... then grumbled, after which he growled intermittently for several momens - and looked up at Lirak before snapping "Have you read this?! Have you been told? Is this actually real or nothing more than the ravings of brain-deficient treznots?!"

Lirak looked briefly at how far into the report Kurlun had got before nodding and saying "Perhaps three pages further in, Captain".

Lirak could tell Kurlun had reached the nominated spot in the report because his face went a deep dark purple and he bellowed angrily but briefly before growling while he got his temper under control again.

"Oh yes, I'd believe it was them who gave the orders, alright..." he growled, more quietly but no less angrily "Not one of them have the mivonks to do it themselves...".

"We're sure of those six" Lirak added when Kurlun looked him in the eye "From the information I've seen they knew you couldn't be convinced to take part of your own free will and your mental shields were too strong to penetrate directly. We don't know when they made their move... but I suspect they, or their representatives, waited until you returned to a debriefing exhausted after a hard mission - and when you did this, they acted".

"You've got enough here for me to know who was involved" Kurlun said, nodding "Everyone here knows I don't like Kalish, but I tolerate some because they're useful enough if I keep them where I can see them. This kind of infernal meddling...".

Kurlun read the documents in more detail until he grumbled and said "So...whether I like it or not... I have a descendant somewhere out there among the stars. Despite my feelings and opinions about the other species involved, it turns out this descendant of mine is half Kalish! I would not be surprised to learn that the child is retarded or sickly in some way... I doubt you know one way or the other, though...".

Lirak growled briefly before making a brief judgement call and replying "Your descendant is not deficient in any way, Captain - and in fact rates as a genius by the standards of both the Kalish people and our own. She may not be as physically imposing as a Scarran... but she is strong enough in every way that counts...".

"She..." Kurlun replied, looking up and smiling thinly "You said she. The gender of my descendent was not mentioned in these documents, at least not so far... but you either know from your own sources or, and this really does surprise me, you have actually seen her".

Lirak held up an antisurveillance unit and turned it on where Kurlun could see - Kurlun did the same with one of his own, before ordering "Tell me. Now".

"I know you daughter, Captain" Lirak replied, nodding "Whatever you might think hybrids turn out like, your daughter is clever and strong and, now I've seen you, I can tell she's as strong-willed as you are. She's looked up at me with that same wary and suspicious look you have on your face more than once".

Lirak twitched as he felt Kurlun briefly scan his surface thoughts, after which Kurlun grumbled and said "Not only have you seen her... you live close by. Your willpower's strong enough I can't get a clear reading from your memories without forcing my way in... which, this time, I'm not inclined to try and accomplish".

"I might well be old, Captain..." Lirak replied "...but I'm not weak. Some people have even thought I had died, that I wasn't real - I made sure my voice sounded alive, that I looked alive, and that my boot felt very much alive when I kicked their eemas hard for their attitude toward an officer. Over one hundred and ten cycles in uniform and that's what I got...at least here, from you, I'm getting some respect even if you don't like me very much".


The captain has a daughter?! Kamiel decided with both surpise and shock A child of both his people and my own?! I am surprised, considering what I know of the Captain's attitude towards the Kalish people and indeed most of his own people, that he knew a female long enough to father a child... but from the other more disturbing things my hypersense let me hear and see his own concerns were not an issue those above us both were interested in. With my Captain being the kind of man he is, I suspect he will either order a number of Hierarchy senior officials Terminated or will conduct such an operation personally - I do not know if he will want me to assist him, but I will do my best to be ready should he do so.

~How much did you hear, Kamiel...((wary suspicion))~ Kurlun asked his aide by mentalism ~I KNOW you were testing your hypersense by eavesdropping - oh, I can't detect passive listening and you know it, but I KNOW you and I think you were listening. So tell me now how much you heard or your life gets very interesting in all the wrong ways~

~I did hear, you are correct ((confirmation, mental image of Kamiel nodding))~ Kamiel replied before focussing his mind on his memories and transmitting the relevant ones to his superior. Kurlun instructed him how to tighten his mental focus and sort the information being delivered, but nodded as he worked through it all over a momen or two.

~Get up here, Kamiel~ Kurlun ordered ~I expect you can guess what I'll need to do next to make sure this stays secret... but for some reason I actually think you'l keep this to yourself. So get up here - I'm going to show you a page of a document with some names on it. You're going to remember those names, and you'll do it right the FIRST time as well, so once this courier's gone we'll get my own plans in motion~

"My aide is coming" Kurlun told Lirak - then growled briefly when Lirak took the card out and dropped a small incendiary charge on the holounit, completely destroying it, scorching the concrete and leaving a nasty smell in their air that Kamiel noticed when he arrived.

"Yes, he melted the holounit!" Kurlun barked, quickly writing a few things down on his comm "Yes, I know those kind of measures can be warranted with eyes-only material - now shut your wakket hole and read this!"

Kurlun was pleased that Kamiel ignored his voice and took just two microts before nodding and tapping out a few things on his own comm at a speed even Lirak had trouble following.

"There will be another Founders' Day Games at Talzenadar IV in a cycle's time" Kurlun said after a momen or so, quietly enough so only Lirak could hear easily "See if arrangements can be made for me to meet this daughter I've fathered, however unintended that was. I should see if she's a credit enough to her Scarran side or a complete embarassment".

"I expect something might be arranged" Lirak replied, holding his anger in check "I'll talk to my own superiors - but, since they sent me here in the first place, I doubt they'll forbid this".


Almost across the other side of Scarran space, another Scarran had also found out new information he didn't wish to know.

Again... the Scarran thought to himself and much clearer this time... I can see hull markings and ident numbers...

"Sir?" a young Kalish voice asked, clearly concerned, bringing the Scarran back to the here and now "Are you well? I heard you speak several alphanumeric codes, so in the event that these are important knowledge I wrote them down".

The Scarran turned to see who was addressing him - when he couldn't see a face at his own height he looked down, and smiled briefly when he saw the Kalish child.

"I remember seeing you..." he said "...at mealtime before. Many of the Kalish adults here treat me politely enough but prefer to stay clear of me and instruct their children to do the same. I am surprised you have not received such directives".

The Kalish girl giggled a bit before asking "Are you the one named Altur, sir? People around this relocation centre have heard a number of things about a Scarran of that name, and no one knows which are true - if any of them are at all!"

She is not afraid to speak to me and ask me questions Altur decided with relief I am taking longer to shed the trappings of my former station in some regards, especially the intimidating stride and body language - which is probably why many choose to be polite but wary around me. This child's curiosity overrides her caution.

"You are correct" he revealed, nodding and rumbling as softly and calmly as he could "I am Altur. You wrote those alphanumeric codes down, you say? If you did this on your comm or a PDA, have you saved them to internal data storage?"

"I have a paper pad, Altur!" the girl replied, holding it up for him to see "See, I have written the codes you spoke aloud on it!"

Altur checked the girl's neat Scarran writing against his memories, then nodded and smiled before telling her "Exactly as I remember it, young girl. This is good. This is important information which I must take to the commander of this facility. If you are not ordered to be elsewhere, you can come with me and I will commend you to him".

She clapped and the two of them walked at what, for her, was a fast stride but barely rated a slow walk for Altur. The girl asked a lot of questions - Altur smiled at how she either had not heard of his past or didn't care and answered many of them if not all of them.

She shrieked with excitement when he revealed he was a mentalist, asking what he could do.

"I do not have many skills..." Altur replied, rumbling softly "But I am good at the ones I know. Mostly I am good at finding people or things. I can mindtalk over a moderate range as well... as for my rarest talent, perhaps you will hear about that when we reach the commander of this facility".

The pair descended down a number of levels, heading further inside the facility and away from the bitter cold of the outside world and upper levels.

"This is the way to the command facility" Altur told the girl "Shortly we will start to see armed soldiers at fixed checkpoints. The sector of the base we will go to is restricted to senior figures in the garrison and in civilian authority - so both my ident and yours must be checked against those permitted access".

Altur was recognised at most of the checkpoints and let through.

"I am cleared for these levels" he replied when the girl asked him about this "Since I was not asked about you, I think some of the soldiers know you and have passed on your location to one or both of your parents. I don't know if you will be reprimanded for accompanying me here".

The girl just beamed up at him, clearly excited to be going somewhere new with someone she had only heard about before but never seen - Altur nodded, sighed a little at the reprimand for both him and the girl that would likely be coming whether either of them liked it or not, before nodding and telling her a little about the coloured lines they could both see on the floor and ceiling.

"I have not yet been taught about that in study, Altur!" she told him happily "I am the first of my study group to hear this interesting new knowledge!" before she paused for thought, then asked "Am I permitted to reveal the meanings of these coloured lines to the others in my study group and our tutor?"

"We will decide..." Altur replied "...after we meet the commander and pass on to him this information which you wrote down for me. I will tell him what the codes mean, and why knowing them now is important. When we meet him, you should look and listen but not speak unless he or others in authority ask you to".

The girl just smiled and reached up to hold Altur's large treblin hand in her own much smaller hammond hand.

"Soldiers, Altur" she called, two levels further down "Green shoulderboards, Altur. That means they are in skulker command".

We're close Altur knew I've only been this way a few times, and all of those times I was escorted - this will be the first time I have come this way on my own. Let's see if these skulkers know me, and if so if they will let me through.

"Advance to be recognised" a trooper third class called, calmly but firmly "Command levels are restricted access, Altur - why are you here? Why is the girl here and not in study?"

"A precognitive event occurred" Altur replied "Certain information was revealed in it. The girl is here because she was beside me when it happened and wrote it down".

The trooper looked down at the girl for a few microts, then said "Caelen... this part of the base is restricted. You must stay beside Altur at all times. You are only being permitted to come even this far because you have done useful things to help Altur and recorded sensitive information on his behalf. Your mother will be told where you are but not permitted to come to this level - Altur and others will escort you back to your family quarters after whatever business Altur has here is finished".

"Yes, trooper" Caelen replied, nodding up at him "I will do that" before asking if she had permission to tell her study group about the coloured lines she saw.

"You may not reveal where you saw them" she was told "You may ask your tutor what they mean - if your tutor asks if you have seen them before, tell them you have but are not permitted to reveal where. Do not tell others in your study group unless your tutor gives permission".

I have learned new things Caelen decided which are not generally taught to young people! This is very interesting, but I must be careful who I talk to this about.

~Correct ((confirmation))~ Altur replied, mindtalking to her ~The coloured lines and their meanings are not generally taught to young children. I expect your parents will know, but I doubt any other child your age does. Do not tell them without permission from the commander of this facility~

Once Caelen had shrieked in excitement at being mindtalked to, and the soldiers who turned to investigate the shriek had relaxed again and returned to their own business, the pair of them moved on - though their progress was held up unavoidably as they passed through more checkpoints. The further they progressed, the tighter security measures became - Caelen didn't know why security measures were tight there, but was very curious about the scans made on both her and Altur and asked if she could see them.

"Your... friend" one skulker replied, kneeling down to look her in the eye "is wearing a scanblock coat... that is why we took him aside this time, so he could remove it and so we could search him manually without the aid of machines" before he turned back to Altur and added "You certainly were not issued with that here... so I assume you brought it in with you".

"Correct" Altur replied "As you saw just now, I have my basic body armour, my uniform, plus a combat knife and a pistol with me - plus my coat. Since none of that was taken away, I assume you or others will escort us the rest of the way to the commander".

Four others, wearing the black shoulderboards of tactical command, appeared from another room - two stood behind them and two stood beside Altur.

"Proceed with caution" he was told "You're known to the commander, you're known to us as well... but you're not on the clearance list for unrestricted access to command levels, so we're going with you".

"As long as there's no more hold-ups" Altur told them "You can bring an entire platoon for all I care. The sooner the commander hears what I and Caelen bring to him, the better".

Less than five momens later Altur and Caelen stood outside a thick metal bulkhead door with a viewslit in it and six wary Bloodstars standing guard, three either side of the door. Calen squeaked a little in surprise when she saw them, but Altur rumbled back and rested one hand briefly on her shoulder before telling them "Urgent information for the commander. Caelen helped me record it. We must be admitted".

The most senior Bloodstar used the wall intercom to call in Altur's presence, and less than ten microts later a voice called "Open the door. Let him in, and this Caelen. No one else".

Caelen bowed slightly in the manner of the Kalish people when she saw the commander, who rumbled and told her "No need for that, Caelen" before asking Altur "What is it this time?"

"Another precognitive event, sir" Altur replied.

"Clearer than the last one, I hope" he grumbled, so Altur told him quickly and simply what happened and how Caelen became involved.

"You did well in assisting Altur, Caelen" the commander eventually decided "A commendation will be added to your record for this. Where are these things you wrote down for him?"

Caelen looked up at Altur for permission to give the commander her pad - when he nodded, she passed it to him.

"Hull idents?" the commander asked "Do you know any of those idents?"

"Not all of them" Altur replied, before indicating two of them and adding "Those are under the command of... my former comrades. The others are likely regular Army".

"That makes four times you've come to me with precog intel" the commander replied "Since it's clear enough now for you to read hull markings, I'll have to pass this to the civilian governor - I don't suppose you know where they're going?"

"Here" Altur replied without hesitation "Direct course to this world".

The commander gave a number of fast signals to two officers in the command centre - the lights dimmed a little and a loud siren sounded for a few momens, after which a slightly younger Scarran in a suit ran in.

"You've seen something else, Altur?" he asked "Something a bit more credible than the last sightings?"

"Not in a good way either, governor" the commander replied, after which he explained about the hull idents and Caelen's presence.

"Well done for helping Altur, Caelen" the governor told the Kalish girl, smiling "You will certainly receive a commendation in your record. Now I must talk to Altur and to the military commander about other things - do you remember the soldiers who came with you to the big door? They will take you back to your parents".

"Yes, governor" Caelen replied "I... would like to stay with Altur, but if you need him for secret things I will go with the soldiers as you direct".

"Well done" he told her one more time, before she walked back out of the command facility - Altur listened to her telling the soldiers what the governor had told her, after which one of them said "We will be returning you to your parents, yes. No one without clearance is permitted to roam the command levels unsupervised - especially children. This is not a play area".

Altur followed her progress with hypersense for a few momens - once the governor saw him nod with satisfaction, he said "So... six dreadnaughts. Probably a larger number of Reavers or other frigates. They are heading this way?"

"They are coming here" Altur replied "93% probability, I estimate, based on my previous precognitive experience. Too high to ignore".

"How long do we have?" the governor asked.

"Perhaps two monen" Altur replied "That's a fairly solid estimate... but it's still an estimate, even though it's a good one. Given what I know of this facility and its people, we have enough time for a full evacuation if we start now".

"I know Altur's not yet completed the relocation program..." the governor said when other officers were called over "but I must take what he has told us seriously, since it affects everyone under my authority. Altur has foreseen the arrival of Hierarchy dreadnaughts and support vessels... and suggests that we start a full-scale evacuation now. He says we have perhaps two monen before they arrive. Do you confirm and agree with the request for a full evacuation?".

"Captain Lezhik" the base commander announced "I agree with Altur's suggestion. Positive confirmation for full evacuation".

The governor nodded, after which the other officers were polled.

"Eight positive confirmations" he announced "Two undecided or abstaining. The entire base, all supplies, and every Kingdom citizen - newcomer or by birth - are to be evacuated. If the entry points to this facility can be sealed after we leave, they will be sealed. If not... the auto-destruct will be activated by myself or my commander as we leave on the last ship".

"If we have ways to contact others in the Kingdom..." Altur asked "then I suggest we do so. I don't know if we have any warships of our own, even less where any of them are... but an armed escort would be helpful".

"Already in progress" the commander replied, addressing Altur by his rank for the first time - which Altur knew meant his own safety was assured and his presence in the Kingdom accepted.

Every person in the base, both general residents and recent kingdom inductees, looked around in surprise when the alert sirens sounded.

"Attention all Kingdom personnel" the governor announced "The entire facility must be evacuated. Please follow the evacuation plan, gather the equipment required by your place in that plan, and proceed to your allocated ship. This is not a test... repeat, this is not a test".


The emergency action message signalling the evacuation was picked up by Captain Zarithak not much later.

"Current orders are cancelled!" he ordered "Turn the ship around and take us to this relocation centre! Call Captain Karath on the Hierarch's Bane as well, we'll need him with us if he can get here in time!"

An answering hail came almost immediately.

"I'm barely back from the Nebari border..." Captain Karath replied "... and you call me with this... still, it's important, and if a community is being evacuated we'll need all the protection we can to make sure the people can be safely relocated".

"Do you have support vessels with you?" Captain Zarithak asked.

"Six Shovek-class frigates in mostly good order" Captain Karath replied "Maybe four armed civilian vessels strong enough to be useful".

More than I'd expected Captain Zarithak decided but if that emergency action message is accurate we have six hostile dreadnaughts and support vessels heading to the relocation centre, so we need everything we can get.

"Head to the relocation centre at best possible speed" Captain Zarithak ordered "My dreadnaught and support vessels will join with you and the evacuation fleet there. I will need to consult with the governor as to their destination, since I don't know their emergency plans...".


"Start moving your people in now" Towle told the others in the room with him "Get any of them gangs down there who're goin' along with us trainin' hard. We've not got long now... maybe a few monen at best. Just don't move too much in the wrong ways too close to the port and major population centres and we might just get things goin' our way on Tal IV for once".

"My carrier..." Captain Davrin Bly told Towle "... and its battlegroup have been ordered to provide support for this mission - oh, we will not be too close, but we will be close enough to send fast craft to evacuate you and your Ghosts if required".

That means Towle translated in his mind that you ain't got the mivonks to go insystem while that giant Scarran ship's there. Fair enough, I suppose - you're not too stupid after all, but surely they can't see the entire system from that thing or shoot down everything that flies. You might at least wait just beyond perimeter marker satellites, or around the dark side...

"OK, then..." Towle told the Ghosts once he'd checked a few things in his order papers and Captain Davrin Bly had left the room "Looks like we got the PKCC Thodd for support whether we want it or not - an' I can't get rid of them, the names of whoever ordered them here are blocked out in the orders I got. So we make the best of things as they are".

"We can't use the Dacon?" one of the other motley-looking Ghosts asked in surprise "We're a lot closer to the front line there, way easier to get support when we need it - if a good pilot goes full flank in a Harb he can be there in less than a day an' a half!"

"If it was up to me that's what I'd do, mister" Towle replied, turning to face the speaker "I never met Cap'n Bazelis, but Lt Duua's not too bad for a career spacer an' the Ghosts there are solid if we need extras. I know one there, some Commander called Vantell - we call with something like this, he'd come runnin' quick. But it's not up to me, so we get the Thud waiting just outsystem to second-guess us".


Caelen was helping her family with preparing their clothing and other possessions for the evacuation.

"I was with him!" she told her family proudly "I was there when Altur told our military leader and the governor what he had seen! He showed them my pad where I had written it down for him!"

"You have told us this several times..." her mother replied, grinning a bit as they packed "Despite the fact that this ...Altur... is a strange Scarran at the best of times, and that we asked you to remain polite but stay clear of him, you have done well to assist him while the information he had was still useful".

Caelen knew that was as close to acceptance of her actions as she would get, so she smiled and continued to pack.

Altur himself was walking around a concealed hangar, just below the surface of their world.

"How does the evacuation proceed?" he asked one of the deck officers.

"As directed" came the reply "Thanks to getting timely intelligence, we can get support equipment and supplies out as well as all our people! Let's just hope we can build up a good distance from here before the Hierarchy arrives!"

"If the plan proceeds at least roughly according to schedule..." Altur replied "then we should do. I don't know if additional Kingdom forces can come to support us, I have not been told if we have received any responses to the emergency action message - but even if there aren't any, we should reach a safe location where we can resupply and recover, and where the governor can confer with Kingdom leadership and find a new permanent home for everyone here".


Councillor Shuljek was walking along the crew decks roughly amidships on a much older mark-1 dreadnaught when an officer ran over and told him about the evacuation.

"Bring us around, Captain" he ordered once he reached the bridge "We might not be the most modern vessel in the kingdom any more, but we're a force to be reckoned with nonetheless - the only question remains is if we can reach the site in time to be useful"

"We should be able to, Councillor" an old and scarred female high-caste Scarran, bearing the marks of both medical reconstruction and bioloid augmentation "We won't reach that system when they leave, but we can adjust our course to join the evacuation fleet once we get a hail saying what course they take" before she sighed and said "So... this old ship and its equally old Captain get to see if there's still life in us yet, Councillor. How well we will do remains to be seen... but we will do our best, don't doubt that for a microt".

"Never, Captain" Shuljek assured her "We might not have the most advanced drives but we have additional close-in defences, good Strykers, and we have many excellent troops in Bloodstar command and the other commands as well".


"Mister Altur..." a trooper from skulker command called "The commander says that we have received positive responses from other Kingdom forces. There will be protection for the evacuation fleet".

"How much protection?" Altur asked, wondering just what answer he'd get.

"Two dreadnaughts plus support vessels at this time, mister Altur" the trooper replied "A small number of other locations have acknowledged receipt of the message but not committed forces of their own".

"It'll do" Altur replied.


Deeper inside Scarran space, inside a supposedly high-security location, a General arrived and looked out on a scene of total chaos. A considerable number of her soldiers were dead, she decided, and of those alive far more than would usually be considered normal appeared be suffering stress disorders or other obvious mental health problems.

"Where is the Minister?!" she barked at the nearest trooper able to stand up straight "What in hezmana happened here?!"

"One soldier" an officer replied for them "From what little surveillance footage we've been able to get that's clear. One soldier... got inside the base, tracked down the Minister, and..." before passing over a memory card.

Even the General cringed a little when she watched the footage on the card, after which she said "The Minister was targeted for Termination, officially or otherwise - which we should have been able to plan for, but whoever was sent was one of the most elite and came straight through all our defences anyway. They came, nullified the target they were sent here to find extremely thoroughly, then ignored everyone else unless they got in their way - after which they left".

Four arns later a messenger came to the General.

"We've managed to find one clear facial pic of who we think was sent here" the messenger said - passing it over when the General held out her hand.

"When you care enough to send the very best..." she growled, before telling the messenger "We are very lucky indeed anyone in this facility is still alive. The mental disorders and stress reactions outside only confirm what that picture made me suspect. One of the most notorious Terminators in the entire Army came for the Minister. Kurlun was here".


"Two of the six, Kamiel" Kurlun said when he returned to his base and met his aide again "Two of the six will never fail so massively as they did again. It's going to take a while to track down the other four... and it's highly likely I'll have to send out other members of the Team, or one or two others like me who I can trust to do what's needed".

"I am prepared to assist in this venture at any time, Captain" Kamiel replied immediately, nodding "I do not know if you wish me to conduct a Termination myself, but even if you do not I am sure I am competent to conduct other tasks for you related to this matter".

"I very much doubt I'll need you for that, Kamiel" Kurlun replied, grinning a bit when he realised Kamiel thought well enough of his skills to suggest it "I've got other uses for you, anyway. You know what I'll need to do at the next Tal IV Games, you'll be right there beside me every step of the way - besides that, if you really want to break with convention enough to do as I do you still need more training, both for mentalism and in more conventional military and espionage skills".


Captain Lazarus turned in surprise when Koronna cried out.

"What, already?" he asked in surprise "Rugrat number two coming to say hi?"

Koronna growled a bit and squeezed his arm very tightly indeed for a microt or two, after which Amara rushed over and said "I am here, aunt Koronna - I am here. Doctor Nrakal has gone to his sick bay to collect medical instruments and other necessary things... but I know what needs to be done even though I am not a fully certified doctor at this point. I will help you until Doctor Nrakal or Moratha come".

Koronna took a few deep breaths and calmed herself as Amara directed.

"Good... good..." she said softly "This one will be harder than it was with Anton, I can tell... sometimes they have been more active, sometimes less, sometimes things I or Nrakal simply cannot explain happen. He and Moratha say my child is ...aaargh!... healthy, though..."

"Coming through!" Nrakal shouted a few microts later, shouldering a few people aside and putting a bag down between him and Amara.

"You will help me, Amara" Nrakal instructed "A medical practitioner of any kind needs practical experience with real sub- sorry, patients - so they know how to apply their knowledge to keep people in good health. While I had not planned to start your practical experience with a birthing, one is happening now and you are here".

Koronna's face twisted in surprise but not too much pain, after which Amara asked "It happened again, aunt Koronna?"

"It did, Amara" Koronna confirmed "Brief but noticeable weight change - it felt like my little one really pushed at me hard as well".

"You will be well, aunt Koronna" Amara assured her, smiling "Your new child will be well also. Doctor Nrakal is here and I am here".

"Clear the galley!" Captain Tareg called, loudly but clearly "You've all got duties to attend to anyway, the Meal's over - so get to it! Medical staff will remain, Captain Lazarus will remain!" before walking all the way over to the transit platform door and sitting down where the skulkers usually sat before closing his eyes.

"I asked Captain Tareg to stay in case we need things fast" he told Amara "Koronna will need Captain Lazarus to stay with her, I will need you with me to help her - so Captain Tareg will stay, since our other medical personnel are needed elsewhere".

Amara moved her hands around, trying to find out if Koronna's baby was in the correct position for birthing - she smiled and told Nrakal "He or she has a sense of humour, I think - it felt like they knew I was testing their health and moved a little to prod where my hands were at the time with their hands or feet".

Whle the birth wasn't quick, it didn't require Koronna be moved to the sick bay either - so almost four arns later a surprised bellowing announced the birth of Koronna's second child.

Amara rumbled softly as she held the baby while Nrakal helped Koronna, calling "Girl, aunt Koronna - you have a new daughter. I do not know her exact weight, of course, we will test that later, but she is a good healthy weight and is quite large as you are".

The baby girl quietened down surprisingly quickly before opening her new eyes and looking up at Amara.

"My skin tingled, Doctor!" Amara called "Why did it do that? Koronna's new daughter looked up at me and my skin tingled! Do you know why?"

Captain Tareg sat up and turned to look at them when he heard that, after which he got out of his chair and walked over.

"Let me try something..." he asked "I have done this if I was in a sick bay at the base when a birthing happened, twice in an outer settlement - if this means what I think it means, we'll soon know" before he asked Captain Lazarus "Use the techniques our commander developed with the Delvian's help, control and reduce the size of your deadlock zone until it covers yourself only or is completely offline. Reel it in like a fishing net".

"Who'd you think got volunteered to test them first, mister?" Lazarus told Captain Tareg "Me, that's who. I don't know why you want me to do that now... but OK, here goes..." before making his deadlock field gradually shrink until Amara called "I can hear Captain Lazarus' surface thoughts! They are very faint, but I can hear them!"

"Confirmed" Tareg told her "Keep a good hold on the baby, Amara... I will do things, and I expect the baby will try and mimic me".

Tareg smiled and nodded when he felt his skin tingle a little when the newborn girl looked at him - after which he stoneshifted. Amara was extremely surprised when the baby girl in her arms did the very same thing before clapping and calling out, her loud gravelly laugh making both her parents smile.

"Positive and smooth first stonechange, Doctor..." Tareg announced, after which he tested the girl a few other ways - she clapped and shrieked happily when he tested his own echolocation on her, and both Amara and Tareg reported both happiness and surprise when Amara sent faint but definite feelings to the baby herself, showing love and happiness and welcome to her.

"Now I will revert to Scarran form" Tareg told Lazarus and Koronna while they watched closely "Don't be too surprised if she doesn't do the same right away, but she should do so within... oh, ten momens or so".

She giggled and laughed and clapped when Tareg returned to Scarran form, after which she looked around and tested her new senses for a momen or two - then she returned to her own half-Scarran, half-human form again. She whimpered a bit after that, but Koronna lifted her new baby from Amara's arms and calmed and soothed her.

"Positive and smooth first return from stoneform to fleshform" Tareg announced "For Captain Lazarus' benefit... doing this so soon after birth means she is officially a stoneborn stonewalker, one whose talents are active at birth. She will need to bond with you both mentally as well as emotionally - so make sure to spend at least some time with her with your deadlock shields retracted. This will help her emerging communication telepathy".

"What is her name, aunt Koronna?" Amara asked excitedly "Does she have a human name or a Scarran name? Is she named after a family member from your family or the Captain's family? Maybe after someone famous in the Kingdom?"

"We will follow the naming convention we set in place with young Anton" Koronna replied "Two names - human name first, Scarran name second. Not as the commander did with Harek, where the Scarran name came first" before she stroked her daughter's ridges lightly and said "Here is Charlotte Maloka... and she is the only stonewalker, stoneborn or not, in my family for... well, all recent recorded history as I know it".

"Will she mindtalk to us first?" Amara asked Nrakal excitedly "or speak verbally? Will she broadcast loud feelings to us all the time or keep them instinctively muffled and shielded? Might she move things toward her by mentalism if she sees them and wants them?"

"I don't know, Amara" Nrakal replied, smiling at Amara's excitement at this turn of events "Over and above the help of her own parents... she will need your help, yours and Captain Tareg's, to control and test her new mentalism, since neither of her parents can do that for her".

"I get to teach her special skills..." Amara whispered softly and proudly "Thank you for trusting me to do this, aunt Koronna and uncle Captain Lazarus" before asking Nrakal "Am I needed because I am female and Charlotte will receive instruction in mentalism more easily from me at such a young age?"

"Partly so, Amara" Tareg decided after a few momens "There's no guarantee she'll accept teaching from you any more easily than from me... but it has happened as you say more than a few times, so you'e on standby for teaching her the basics".

Of course, she was hungry - and drank every bottle Moratha made for her before feeding with Koronna for some time after Amara translocated her right next to the new baby and her parents. Charlotte stonechanged in surprise at someone appearing where no one stood before, but she also called out happily before testing her own stoneform skin. Nrakal took the opportunity to do a number of postbirth health and reaction tests - the newborn girl proved to have a slight sense of humour in that regard, stonechanging one time just as Nrakal tried to test her reflexes with his medical instruments and changing back a few microts later before giggling at him.

"Good, she uses her stonechange freely and easily" Tareg decided happily "Some children take time to adapt to this part of their nature... she seems to adapt to it quickly, and probably considers it fun and exciting from what I can read of her feelings".

"Probably cause she's at least a bit human, mister... " Lazarus said, lifting his new daughter and holding her for the first time.

"Tryin' to tell her little brain I'm her Dad" he told Amara a little sheepishly "Dunno if I'm focussing my thoughts at all or if my brain's leaking out my ears, to be honest".

Amara watched the two of them closely, and when she smiled Lazarus decided he'd been at least mostly successful.

"As far as I can tell..." Amara confirmed "she can tell you are her father and that you love her. You focussed your thought-impression well enough for her to discern that - though I am helping you a little, she must have some sensitivity and control to do so that quickly".

Anton came as soon as he could get out of study.

"My new sibling is here, mother and father?" he asked "May I see? Do I have a brother or a sister?"

"A sister" Koronna told him "She is strong and healthy... and a little unusual, if in a good way. Perhaps you will see why. Do as your father and I have done before you come closer, my son, and reel in your deadlock shield as you have been taught".

He looked at his sister, resting in his mother's arms - after a momen or so, she opened her eyes and gurgled and cooed at him before trying to poke his hand and test his skin.

"I don't find focussing my thoughts and feelings like this easy, Amara" Anton said when Amara asked him to do that "I'm trying to keep my thoughts simple and clear... though I still don't know why"

He squeaked a little in surprise when she stonechanged while he watched - when she kept looking up at him afterwards, Amara said "She wants to know who you are and if you like her stonechanging for you, Anton. Send her clear and simple thoughts... show that you are her family, her brother, and that you love her and like her stonechanging".

Anton did his best, rumbling a little as he did so - Koronna smiled when her new daughter reached for her brother and called out to him in stoneform. Anton leaned a little closer and tested her skin - which she seemed to love, doing the same with him before pulling at his fingers and even trying to chew on them until she realised she couldn't do that yet.

"I will tell my friends!" he decided happily and proudly "They will be pleased I have a new sister and even more pleased that she is a stonewalker from birth!"

"Not today" his father decided, shaking his head "I think we all need to sleep, so it's back to quarters for all of us".


"Do we proceed as required?" Captain Korop of the Praetorian asked his first officer.

"Almost half a day ahead of schedule, Captain" that man replied "Not much ahead, I know - but every momen counts when dealing with kinglovers, I suppose".

"It does" his captain confirmed, nodding "You've done well so far in the Praetorian, mister - but this is your first high-priority intrusion mission. Against our main domestic enemy, anyway".

"You have read my personnel record, I'm sure" the first officer stated, knowing Captain Korop had done that anyway "I've been working with investigation units, assisting Law Command - plus two terms in palace guard units. Mostly conducting the public tours".

"Boring, I expect" the Captain replied, chuckling a bit "but important duty nonetheless. Low to no prospect of being attacked as well".

"One or two citizens" came the amused response "who were mildly drunk or stoned, who tried to come in anyway. I simply used my stasis pistol and called for Law Command to come and take them away".

"We are doing well?" the most senior Praetorian asked, striding onto the bridge, his rank badges identifying him as a low-rank General "We will find this cell of rebels and kinglovers before they can get out of whatever hole they're hiding in?"

"My first officer has told me we are proceeding at a pace that puts us just a few arns ahead of schedule" Captain Korop told the General "We will be where our orders direct us to be, when they direct us to be there" before he paused for thought and added "Unless these kinglovers receive intelligence that reveals our intentions, of course".

"Their skulker corps..." the General growled "It's far more effective than any of us would like and most people know. Our own intelligence has only managed to get us a partial list of who they have at this... 'relocation centre'... of theirs, so we don't know if they'll be able to see us coming, nor how soon they can do so".

Another Scarran, stocky and of a height mid-way between the ship's captain and the General, added "I and other members of the Pathal have had no insight as to whether this Kingdom cell knows we are coming. The precognitive mentalists we have have not reported anything that leads us to believe this particular cell even knows we are moving against them, let alone that we're coming for them now".

"Could a precognitive mentalist..." the captain asked, choosing his words and manner with care "have received... 'insight' as you put it... that would alert them to our arrival without any of your colleagues finding out?"

"Yes" this new Scarran replied, turning to face the captain and looking him right in the eye "No matter how many precognitive mentalists we find and whose abilities we test... we still know less than we like about their ability to perceive the possible futures they can find. Few people, especially among our political leaders, know that - which is the way we want it to stay".

"Are you..." the first officer asked hesitantly "... one of these precognitive mentalists?", adding a swift 'sir' for safety.

"I am not" came the reply, along with a slight smile "and, to be honest, I am glad this is true. I have enough to deal with in this present time without worrying about what might happen in the future as well".

"So, at least according to current intelligence information..." the General asked the newcomer "the enemy has the same level of advance warning they did when we left spacedocks at the start of this mission - that being none at all, yes?"

"As far as any of the Pathal or your comrades in the Praetorian are aware, yes" the newcomer replied, nodding "I will be checking at regular intervals to see if things stay that way. For now, I am hungry - so I will go to the officers' lounge and eat".

"Who is he?" the ship's captain asked the Praetorian general "He doesn't look any more impressive than you or I, nor does he carry himself with any particular level of authority or personal superiority as many ranking personnel in the Hierarchy do".

"Technically..." the general replied, once the sound of the newcomer's footsteps had died away "...he's a Praetorian. That's what his personnel file says, anyway. In reality... he is a member of a senior group in the Hierarchy that draws its membership from any and all services and stations in life, which is called the Pathal. The current Emperor is usually a member as well, though this has not always been the case. They serve our people by ensuring our system of government remains inviolate and secure at all times - by any and every means available. If he is who I think he is, and to be honest I'd rather not find out for certain, his actual name is Terek Olam Teng - but he's usually known simply as 'Black Ice' ".

The man newly identified as Black Ice smiled as he followed the discussion on the bridge by hypersense.

This particular general knows a lot about me he decided with mild amusement and about the Pathal generally. He knows less about me personally than he thinks, I'm sure enough about that - but, since there's little enough to do until we arrive at this relocation centre, I will examine the uncensored copy of the General's personnel file, along with that of the ship's captain and bridge officers.


"Three arns remain... three arns remain..." Captain Lezhik's first officer called over the public address system "Final evacuation call! All Kingdom citizens remaining, proceed to your evacuation craft and prepare to leave!" before running to the largest concealed hangar and his own Stryker.

"Good" Altur said when he saw the first officer arrive "You have a small number of military personnel in your Stryker. I will join you... and you will activate the charges that will seal the base as we leave".

"We are the last craft to leave, then" Captain Lezhik's first officer asked Altur, who nodded and replied "We are. Others are assembled in orbit right now, more have reached midsystem markers - and one of the two dreadnaughts that promised to join us has arrived with its support vessels. The other, according to its last message, is less than four arns away".

Barely ten momens after the Stryker took off, a call came from Captain Zarithak in orbit.

"One of our helpers arrived notably ahead of schedule" the governor told Captain Lezhik's first officer "I am aboard that ship now. You and those with you should land aboard our flight deck here - as soon as you do, Captain Lezhik will give the order to head outsystem".

"All has gone well, then" Altur said.

"So far, mister" the governor replied "Despite being forced to leave our home on this world, everyone living there and almost all supplies and equipment have been evacuated. Your pilot should detonate the charges to seal all entrances now".

"Link is down!" Captain Lezhik's first officer replied "I had to detonate the

mid-level charges by the secondary link to seal the facility more fully - so the upper five levels, at a minimum, are wrecked until Kingdom engineers can return here and excavate our former home more thoroughly".

"Seal the flight deck!" Altur barked as loudly as he could as soon as his feet touched the flight deck floor aboard the Sunbuster "Alert the governor and the ship's captain that we are ready to leave when you have done so! Everyone should go to their flight positions now!"


Captain Karath and the Hierarch's Bane arrived just as the evacuation fleet reached perimeter system markers, which made the governor a little edgy until Captain Zarithak explained the situation fully to him.

"We are all pleased you could get here so swiftly, Captain" the governor told Captain Karath "More so that you bring support vessels with you. Captain Zarithak is the fleet commander for this armada, so confer with him for your orders".

"I am glad we arrived while you were still here" Karath told his friend "I have good news, as well - another older ship also comes, and it bears Councillor Shuljek and his retinue in addition to its normal crew and its support vessels".

"While I am grateful for the extra help..." Captain Zarithak replied "I am not sure the Councillor should have jeopardised his own safety to join us. Though every Kingdom citizen is important... he is more important than most".

"He gave his ship's captain the order to join us" Captain Karath replied "Councillor Shuljek is a Bloodstar as well as a Councillor - he would not turn away when his Kingdom's people need him. He was very definite about that when I attempted to convince him to remain at a safer location. His ship is slower than our own, though - so he needs our course so he can meet with us outsystem".


"We have received your intended course" the captain on Councillor Shuljek's ship replied when Captain Zarithak commed in "We will be able to meet with you at the second resupply point you listed in time to make ourselves useful - we will need to resupply ourselves by that point, of course. I hope there are enough supplies for us as well".

"It's a major resupply base for military shipping" Captain Zarithak told her "but its leadership are prepared to slip us in among the normal routine and supply us with whatever we need. Once we resupply there and make any necessary repairs, we head outsystem again and decide which of the pre-prepared escape and evasion routes we should use".


"Docks 4 through 35 have been set aside for you!" the dockmaster said easily when the fleet arrived and the governor hailed him "I know we are ...not among your usual friends... but we don't mind helping you in the slightest. Feel free to repair your ships and obtain whatever supplies you need - as long as you don't drain us dry in critical areas, no one will care!"

"We have an excess of hot tinned rations, I am told" a Kalish told the dockmaster, in range of the comm microphone "If we send these to your new friends they will cease restricting mobility for personnel in several key areas for us while remaining safely edible for them".

"We will take all you can spare" the governor replied "Food for our people is the most critical item short of medical supplies that we need".

The dockmaster barely had time to open his mouth when Councillor Shuljek interrupted the call with his own hail.

"We have just arrived at midsystem markers" he told Captain Zarithak "While our general supply situation is good, a few more things in certain areas would be useful to increase our stocks if they are available".

"Come to us" Captain Zarithak replied, giving him the dock station codes set aside for their use "Repair and resupply here. Once we have what we need, we decide where we should go next".


"A message sent from my superiors" the General told Captain Korop "that was sent to them from military intelligence. A number of ships running with blank or masked idents were seen heading to a location that would put them not far from our target".

"Does anyone know..." Captain Korop replied, grumbling at the incomplete report as he read it "...or even suspect... what these ships are and where they are going?"

The General moved the report forward a page or so and pointed, and the Captain's brow furrowed and he said "A sizable force, even if it's not as large as our own. Two dreadnaughts of the mark-2 pattern. A number of frigate-sized vessels in support which the fool who sent this report refused to get close enough to identify clearly".

"One more older mark-1 pattern dreadnaught was further away, Captain" the general added "We don't know if that's attached to a nearby planet's defence force, a number of the surplus mark-1 pattern craft did go to fleets like that instead of being salvaged - but it's close enough to worry me at least".

"Should we tell the Pathal representative?" Captain Korop replied, wondering who he'd send to do so.

"No" the General replied, much to the Captain's relief "For one thing... we don't have any confirmed ident on these ships or their business yet".

"...and another" Captain Korop added "The less we have to deal with Mister Terek the better".


"Loaded!" Councillor Shuljek told Captain Zarithak "The captain reports we are, in fact, a little overloaded - but I say that's a good problem to have as long as it doesn't slow us down".

"Agreed, Councillor" Captain Zarithak replied, nodding "The Sunbuster will be loaded in one arn. Hierarch's Bane is already fully loaded. No one requires repairs at this time".

The communications officer on board the Hierarch's Bane turned and called "Incoming mesage from skulker command! Perimeter drone at the relocation centre reported the presence of a number of vessels in the dreadnaught mass range, along with support vessels - but shortly afterwards one of those vessels shot it".


"Target nullified" the gunnery officer aboard the Praetorian command dreadnaught reported.

"It got off a message before you hit it" the comm officer added "I don't know if that drone was one of ours or one of theirs... but-".

"Then it's one of... theirs" Captain Korop replied drily, staring at the comm officer "A Kingdom automated signalling device. That's none of your concern in any case - we proceed to the fourth planet insystem and deploy advance units to scout out the target location we were given".

"It's there" the navigation officer reported after he scanned the planetary surface "Upper levels look to have collapsed, though. Can't really see too deep inside".

"Likely shielded" the security officer suggested "Well enough to make the upper levels we can see look like any other deep-cover resupply site or smaller military facility".

"Land the advance units" Captain Korop told the flight deck duty officer.

Once the numerous complaints about the bitter cold on the surface were silenced, the Lieutenant in command of the scout platoon commed Captain Korop and said "We've found where one of the surface entry points should be - but the tunnel's collapsed. To me that says they knew we were coming and sealed this place shut after they left".

"Check the other possible entry points" Captain Korop replied, the General and Terek watching and listening "Find out if they are sealed as well. Pay particular attention to any entry points big enough to admit spacecraft".

"On the way, sir" came the reply.

Half the platoon had to be sent back to their dreadnaught with varying degrees of cold intolerance before another arn had passed, but one of those tougher than most looked around one larger-than-usual pile of rubble before comming back to report "I can't be completely sure... but I think I found a hangar entrance".

"Can we get in?" the Praetorian General asked.

"Fekk no" the Lieutenant replied "Hangar doors are buried under gigaunits of rubble. Even if you descend into atmosphere and use the main guns, I'd say you'll cause more problems than you solve. If we need to excavate this place, we'll have to do it the slow and hard way - and that means we need personnel from arctic worlds. I've barely managed to keep moving this long".

"Get back up here, then" Captain Korop decided, grumbling "You're no use to anyone frozen solid. Return to the ship".

Both the General and Terek questioned the scout officer extensively when he'd returned to the ship and eaten a can of hot rations. Once a doctor and orderly had carried him off to the sick bay, Terek said "They knew we were coming".

"Possible, yes" the General replied "Probable, no - at least not right now. Before we do anything else I'll have our support vessels hunt down any navigation marker satellites - if we find any, we should be able to get a trace, even if it's not too clear, to help us find where these kinglovers went".


"Just got a burst from one markersat" Captain Zarithak's communication officer called "Only a partial transmission... but it told me enough to suggest the enemy can get at least a close approximation of our course".

"Councillor..." Captain Zarithak asked Councillor Shuljek "What do you suggest we do? I could decide on behalf of our military forces on my own... but you have both military and political authority as a Councillor - so what do you suggest?"

"Plot good courses to known places of refuge" Shuljek decided "When you've done that, I'll come and see what options you've given me" before asking "How do the people fare?"

"No deaths" came the eventual reply "All our base personnel are arctic-world, though not indigenous to the world we were on. Few of the new citizens ever ventured into the top four levels where it's coldest - and none, bar Altur, ventured into the surface level and the main hangar before evacuation".

"Captain Lezhik told me about him" Councillor Shuljek replied "He is a precognitive mentalist, it seems. He was the one who alerted the governor to the enemy force?"

"He was" Captain Zarithak replied, nodding "He doesn't talk about his past unless I order him to - but his body language suggests he came from a Praetorian action unit, no matter how much he tries to hide it. Which he does".

Two arns later, all the captains met aboard the Sunbuster.

"We've got maybe fifteen possible options for further evasion and relocation" Captain Karath announced "I'll go through them one at a time in order of likelihood of success, stating any reasons I know of why that route is good - or not so good".

Councillor Shuljek watched as the three captains debated the routes presented to them, coming forward when all the routes were displayed on a large holomap.

"Do you have a suggestion of your own, Councillor?" the Sunbuster's navigation officer asked "Perhaps as a Councillor you know things we don't about where it's safe to travel. It'd be nice, if you know any such thing, if you could pass it along to us".

Shuljek looked at the routes again, then looked more closely at a particular region of space before rumbling and actually grinning a bit.

"There" he decided, pointing to one particular world.

"Outside Scarran space" Captain Zarithak replied "Safer in some ways - notably that it'll be harder to move a large force there undetected. Not so safe in other ways - especially since no one in the neutral zone will be able to stop a large battle force like the one that comes after us on their own".

"Normally I'd agree" Councillor Shuljek replied, rumbling for a microt or two before adding "But this particular world has more to recommend it that might first be obvious".

"Oh?" Captain Karath replied, curious if also more than a little wary "It's a commerce planet. It's true we can resupply our stores and repair our ships there - but it won't be cheap and there's likely an official Hierarchy presence there".

"An embassy, yes" Shuljek replied "But here, on this world, our forces outclass their own by a large margin. The War Commander's Irregulars are there - and they have a Fortress-class ship. I know the War Commander and have met him before - a small number of my retinue now serve with him, in fact. He will help us".

"Then we make best speed for Talzenadar IV" Captain Zarithak decided after a few momens thought, after which they decided how to deploy the fleet.

"I will get to see..." the captain of Captain Shuljek's ship said a little hoarsely "...our new War Commander. It is good to know we have one again. I had not previously heard any information to suggest one had been appointed. Why did the king choose to appoint one now?"

"The Council appointed this one" Councillor Shuljek replied "We consulted the standard protocols for appointing War Commanders from the First Kingdom days and we consulted the records of the Lord Chamberlain's precognitive events that have survived to this time. He is most definitely unusual, but he is definitely the one we should have chosen - the Council vote was a clear majority but not unanimous in favour of him assuming his position".

"It will do" the captain decided eventually "We will escort the Kingdom evacuation fleet to his location as you direct, Councillor. I hope my old ship will be able to help... but I suppose we will be more help here than we might be elsewhere".


"OK, next Games in is a little over a monen or so..." Harrigan told the governor and senior Security officers "No Emperor this cycle... he's got to decide where to show his face that'll look good, and while I hear he's not on Scarras Prime this Founders' Day he won't be coming here and nor will Captain Shursith. Looks like we get one of their ...special people... heading the official delegation this cycle".

"A representative of one of their special forces?" the governor guessed "You have told me before that there are a number of these and you have named a number of them for me and told me a little about the ones you have named. I think, from how you spoke, that there are perhaps one or two more that you know of but have not revealed to me... and yout voice just now suggests that the leader of their delegation might be from one of those groups".

Harrigan turned and raised one eyebrow briefly in the governor's direction before saying "The gov's right on that one - at least if the info I got is good. We met the big man from that group at the first Games - I doubt it's gonna be him or the other guy that was with him, wording suggests it's someone known to them but a few rungs further down the ladder".

"As long as it's someone who understands diplomacy and tact" the governor replied "and realises that behaviour and protocol acceptable inside Scarran space is not always acceptable outside it... if it's someone like that, I may meet with them. Whether officially or unofficially, I won't decide until they arrive and contact me".

"Good idea" Harrigan replied "Let them make the first move, let them come to us - we can learn a lot about who they send just by watchin' 'em land".


"Preparation's going well" Towle told his temporary subordinate in a threadbare but currently-secure bunker quite a distance clear of even the South End, around the dark side "We got them Southers trained up nice. We got a better lot than the last bunch that got chewed up an' spat out in bits last time I was 'ere".

"Most of them have been practicing their skills by expanding their territories locally and killing their opposition" that woman grumbled, but Towle chuckled and replied "Tolerable hazard - an' it lets 'em work off any nervous aggression as well. We lost a few from that, true - but after I shouted at a few they even been bringin' back battle reports for me so I can see how well they's been doin' ".

"Perhaps something we can rely on in the longer term for other things, then" she suggested.

"Maybe, yep" Towle replied "Them boys from the Thud we got with us are a bit too pole-up-the-eema for my liking, not quite unconventional enough - our chances of success woulda been better if we'd brought some nasty boys an' girls from the Dacon".

"Orders don't allow it" she reminded him, and Towle grumbled, spat something he apparently liked chewing but which stank into a refuse chute before saying "Yep, that's right - so we do the best we can with the plok we got. Games ain't far away - I suggest we move then, these Irregulars and' their lizards gonna be stretched just dealin' with that".


"What's been happening this time?" a particularly ugly and nasty-looking gang leader in the South asked one of his leading henchmen "Who's been getting frisky now? That is why you're here now, isn't it?"

"Yes boss" came the prompt reply "Nothing goin' hot too close to us... but I sent a few of the best boys over to help out one of our allies maybe twice in the last monen. Against that one who's a... dunno what you called it, you said it in your lingo an' I got dud translators and didn't catch it".

The gang leader growled for a microt or two before saying "Him? He has been training his street enforcers in combat tactics? I wasn't aware he even had anyone who'd served in a planetary defence force before, let alone a regular army of a major or minor power".

"Them paid snitches you sent" came the reply "They been tellin' us all sorts of stuff. Told us a buncha guys an' gals been comin' an takin' people off way outside the South an' trainin' 'em up, then bringing 'em back before takin' more an' getting those who went trainin' others".

"The proper term..." the leader replied, staring at his underling "is assets... or possibly operatives. Intelligence assets or intelligence operatives. If they are ours".

"If they's anyone else's" the henchman replied "then they's targets an' snitches".

"Then they are spies" the leader replied in correction "But yes, they're also targets. Send word to my military leaders. I need to speak with them".

"On it, boss" came the reply, and before he heard any answer given he ran out of his boss's sanctum.

"This is a problem" he told a number of very nasty-looking Scarrans and Charrids some time later "I want the best scouts we have watching the comings and goings that man spoke of. Find out who goes. Find out how many come back - and find out what they do when they return. I'll decide what move we make once you find that out for me".


"You have something interesting and useful for me?" Skroloth asked, sitting at his usual table at his favourite drinking hole in the SubTerranea stadium and watching the fighting pits.

"Int'restin, yep" came the man's barely-audible reply "Dunno if it's useful to ya, but hopefully it's worth a bit of extra coin anyway...".

Skroloth prompted him to speak up, so he did - and it took almost twenty momens, spread around the man's noisy and messy eating and drinking, before Skroloth nodded and passed over the man's usual fee plus a little extra.

"Much obliged, mister" came the reply once the man finished his current mouthful, after which he left at what he probably thought was a normal speed but Skroloth thought was an amusingly stupid attempt at staying un-noticed.

Understood came the message from Trannak after Skroloth passed the new information on Matches the information we've been able to glean from other sources Southwards as well. One or two of those sources were a bit stupid and look to have been discovered - but for all this one's slovenly manners he looks to be being careful enough. That or he sells his information to several potential buyers to make sure he's too useful to everyone to kill.


"So the Games are ready?" the governor asked one of his underlings.

"As ready as they can be" came the reply "Competitors from all three major powers and their allies are present and training well. The Irregulars have not reported any major infractions of the safety precautions you ordered relating to large capital craft and what they might be armed with - nor of any other rule, at least so far".

"A number of minor powers are here as well" the governor replied "The Consortium of Trow have not returned since their first appearance at a Games, from which they were expelled. The addition of this ...laser tag, I think that hoo-man Troll called it... last Games has proven to be very popular indeed, and the long-distance running race through the outland sectors the very same hoo-man called a 'ultra-marathon' has been surprisingly popular as well - if more so among the major powers than anyone else".

"It would probably have been more popular..." the governor added after a few microts' thought, smiling a little "if the Hierarchy special operations athletes hadn't won that race for the past three Games running - even though they only won all three top placings that one time their running team was made up of several athletes from a Force Strangler A-Team detatchment".

"That cycle's Games was the only one" the governor's aide replied "where even the winning team did not need to evacuate at least one member of their team for medical treatment".

"The training regime required even under normal circumstances by Force Strangler units was noted by the quiet green Scarran in the Irregulars as being what we would describe as almost intolerably brutal and often lethal to the less well-prepared" the governor replied "For all I know, and I know more than most will, that running race is below average difficulty for a member of Force Strangler".

"Well, then.. the aide replied "If previous Games are anything to go by, we will make almost as much money as we do the entire rest of the cycle - even accounting for having to pay extra for the more reputable larger mercenary units to assist us in security operations around the events".