"Pilottt!" Crichton bellowed, running toward the bow of the leviathan Moya, and Command, as fast as he could "Pedal fasterrr!"
"We are proceeding at flank speed, Crichton" Pilot replied, as calmly as he could, while continuing to check for signs of pursuit "Registering signs of pursuit from four Vigilante-class warships assigned to the PKCC Thodd battlegroup".
"Time until firing range?" Aeryn called with more calm, already in Command.
"At current speed relative to our own..." Pilot replied "Perhaps an arn".
"ETA high orbit, Tal IV?" Crichton asked hopefully.
"Assuming Moya does not suffer damage..." Pilot guessed aloud "and we continue to proceed at current speed..."
"PILOT?!" Crichton shrieked, clearly rattled.
"...and we continue to proceed at current speed..." Pilot repeated, clearly used to Crichton's moods by now "Fifty eight momens".
"That's a very narrow window we have..." Dargo said warily, his big Luxan hands flying over another console.
"Talk to me, Big D..." Crichton called.
"Are the Vigilantes Pantak-class?" Aeryn asked, wondering if the intention was to board or simply destroy.
"Too far away to say for certain" Dargo replied "I'd send a Pantak to disable everything and only then send boarding parties. Whether that's what they intend depends on if their orders dictate Moya remain alive as well - if they do, one of those will be a Pantak and the others are just there to make sure it's protected".
"You're full of good news..." Crichton grumbled, bringing up a holodisplay of nearby space - Talzenadar IV system space was a faint yellow, with the high orbit zone marked in a brighter shade and the pursuing Vigilantes were marked as blue triangular counters.
"Will you get us to Talzenadar IV alive then, human?" Rygel called, flying in on his throne-sled "I will admit your plan to flee here is working better than most of them do - we haven't been boarded or shot at yet, after all".
"Yeah, Crichton" Chiana called, running very close behind the sled, slowing barely in time to avoid colliding with it when Rygel came to a halt "We gonna live or die?"
"Providing Moya and Pilot don't run out of gas..." Crichton replied "we get there just before the bad guys. Unless Aeryn has any better ideas I say we continue to burn hard for high orbit around Tal IV once we get insystem - unless Big H's watch officer's asleep we'll not be a thin smear across every planet and moon in the area ten microts later".
"It's the best option we have" Aeryn replied, checking the sensor display Crichton brought up "For now, the faster we go the longer we live. Continued survival hinges on the provision of covering fire from that enormous ship that other human Harrigan has...". It was obvious to everyone that despite Aeryn and Crichton being married for quite some cycles, it still caused her no small amount of stress remembering that Crichton wasn't the only human in the Uncharted Territories any more.
"OK, if that dreadnaught comes in at full burn..." Lazarus told his son "it should be here...when?"
"D-176653071 and battlegroup..." Anton replied "should arrive at midsystem markers perhaps two arns from now, Dad".
"Pretty much it, yeah" he replied "That's the official delegation for the Games this cycle, son... bit bigger than usual, to be honest".
"The official report lists only four Reavers" Anton replied, listing the support vessels along with the dreadnaught "but fourteen older craft of a faster design that are not stealth vessels".
"Keep a lookout for Decimators, son" Lazarus told his son "You know what they are, your aunt Talannah told you about them".
"I will" Anton assured his father, nodding.
Just as Garakk was about to leave the comm desk to get himself some rations, the board lit up and Garakk called "Incoming transmission, uncle Captain!"
"On screen, mister!" Lazarus barked, sitting back down in the command chair.
"Is Big H there?!" Crichton called, looking around at the others in Command "We got the big bad Peacekeepers behind us ready to huff, puff and blow the hull down! A nice big 40 kilometra long blanket to hide under would be real nice right about now...".
"Get in here..." Lazarus replied "I'll call Harrigan in a microt... you picked a good time to get here, didn't you? Got the kids up here for a bit of basic bridge orientation training. Now I gotta call some of the other officers".
"Leviathan approaching, uncle Captain" Tabitha called, at the navigation desk "Is it carrying friends? Should I comm uncle Commander and tell him about this?"
"Do that, Tabitha" Lazarus told the young woman "I want him up here ASAP".
"On the way, miss" Harrigan called when the call went through "We get a distress call?"
"Yeah, we got one" Lazarus added, from the command chair "It's Crichton - so whether his current pursuers are his only current enemies is debateable".
"Sound General Quarters, Cap" Harrigan ordered, as he ran onto the bridge "All hands to combat stations! Had to happen on Founders' Day weeken, too...".
Rulok and Lirak got to the bridge first, closely followed by Keyah - Keyah didn't move Garakk off the comm desk, but stood behind the chair so she could advise him.
"Lirak, gun desk" Rulok told his friend "I'll do helm".
Each desk checked in, with Lazarus getting out of the command chair so Harrigan could officially take over.
"I got the conn!" Harrigan called as soon as he sat down "Tab, what've we got?"
"Leviathan ident received, uncle Commander!" she replied "Positive ident confirmation...Moya. This is the one you told us about which your friend is on".
"I'm here, mister C..." Harrigan called over the comm "What you got on your tail this time?"
"That we can see, War Commander..." Aeryn replied for him "Four Vigilante-class light cruisers. Variant unknown".
"Anyone we know sent 'em?" Harrigan asked in return.
"Vessels originate with the PKCC Thodd battlegroup" Aeryn explained.
"We got no clue where those guys usually call home" Harrigan replied "Where have you been camping out recently?"
"We only picked these jokers up a few days ago" Crichton grumbled "Didn't even see a carrier... but these four just popped out an' said boo as soon as we passed midsystem markers".
"Get in here, then" Harrigan decided "We'll drive 'em off. The Thodd isn't listed as being in the PK delegation this cycle, so they get shown the door".
"What delegation?" Aeryn asked - Harrigan explained about the Games, and while no one on Moya was particularly happy about all the warships turning up, the general consensus seemed to be that they'd be too busy watching each other to worry about Moya and anyone on board.
"Oi, you!" Harrigan called over open comm as soon as the Vigilantes appeared on sensors "Turn round and get out right now! You ain't on the guest list for the Games, you four - so leave in peace or stay in pieces!"
"This is Lieutenant Commander Tola" replied a female Sebacean voice "We are in pursuit of fugitives. The leviathan Moya and its crew are escaped prisoners. Move aside".
"Ain't gonna happen" Harrigan replied "We got a legal distress call, local law says we're in the right on this one - so if your boys an' girls start getting angry we get angry back again".
"Hostile sensor emissions!" Tola's duty gunner called "Targeting all four Vigilantes!"
"What's out there?" Tola asked "Find out! They're foolish if they think they can destroy all four Vigilantes at once".
"You got ten microts to TURN AROUND..." Harrigan warned "I'm sure you know I'm targeting you all right now, there's big guns pointing your way...".
"Dispersed formation " Tola ordered "If this lunatic is targeting us with high-yield missiles from this world's space defence system, we should be more spaced out than this. Comm, send a message to the Thodd the microt any missiles launch requesting reinforcements".
"They're continuing to pursue Moya" Rulok called "Within maximum firing range... now" .
"Right..." Harrigan decided "Lirak, splash 'em. No quarter".
"Dren!" Tola's gunner officer called, shocked "Two gone in an eyeblink - and he's-AARGH!" - after which the main guns on the Havoc destroyed the other two ships as well.
"No response" the duty comm officer on the PKCC Thodd told his own Captain "Not from any of them".
"Lieutenant Commander Tola would not make foolish mistakes on a pursuit" the first officer added "If she won't answer any of the four hails then she's unable to".
"The Vigilantes are crippled or destroyed, then" Captain Davrin Bly said "If it was up to me I'd move the rest of the group forward to investigate and recover casualties - but our orders dictate we remain here and support a classified special op. Once that time has passed, I'll send a Harbringer in to scout and find out what in all hezmana went wrong. Note suspected destruction of four Vigilantes by forces as yet unknown in the log, add time and date".
"How long until we reach Talzenadar IV?" Councillor Shuljek asked Captain Zarithak.
"As long as your ship can stay at full flank speed..." he replied, tapping buttons "Less than an arn until we arrive insystem. If we broadcast Kingdom idents, even if only momentarily, the War Commander will see us and call us forward to safe positions".
"My ship is still in good condition, Councillor" Captain Vincha replied, her age and medical condition making her voice hoarse "even if it is old. We will guard the rear of the evacuation fleet as we have been doing until now".
"Several of the fleet have reported mechanical failures" Councillor Shuljek replied "Nothing critical, at least not right now, but those ships aren't military ships and few of them have been on a journey this long for many cycles - and it's starting to show".
"Only after we passed our last safe port..." grumbled Captain Karath "Three are only running on one engine, two with partial sensor coverage, two more on backup life-support - though that's holding up well, and five more report varying degrees of structural failure. They have to go as fast as they can for sanctuary - all we can do is protect them as best we can".
"OK, mister C" Harrigan called once Moya was safely at geo-stationary orbit , close to the Havoc "Catch your breath, make sure everyone's still got all their arms an' legs... then we'll see about you coming over. Bit busy here right now, what with the Games an' all... but I'll send one of my guys over to come get you in a bit".
Rulok interrupted Harrigan's train of thought barely twenty momens later with "Multiple ships broadcasting Kingdom ident at maximum sensor range... just inside the perimeter system markers"
"Incoming transmission from Kingdom ship" Keyah called "Call lists the ship of origin as Sunbuster".
"When it rains, it pours..." Harrigan muttered briefly, before calling "On screen, let's have it..."
"War Commander..." Captain Zarithak called, recognising Harrigan's face on his own screens "We are escorting a Kingdom evacuation fleet and request sanctuary - even if only temporarily".
"Get your eemas to geo-stationary orbit then" Harrigan ordered "Everyone OK so far?"
"Some of the fleet are damaged" Zarithak replied "The nonmilitary ships carrying Kingdom citizens were in good repair when we left, but are very old - extended running at high speed has made that more clear than we'd like".
"Just get them here" Harrigan replied "Doesn't matter if we have to junk the ships afterwards as long as we get all the people off them first".
"The warships will guard the rear, then" Zarithak added "Enemy forces are in pursuit, but so far have either not caught up or are-what?!"
"Hierarchy dreadnaught under Praetorian command has just hailed us and ordered us to heave-to!" Captain Vincha interrupted "My gunnery officer reports Strykers have been launched - several dreadnaughts have appeared at extreme sensor range and a number of frigates are approaching at high speed behind the Strykers".
"Crap!" Harrigan replied.
Every captain in the evacuation fleet heard the call to proceed to geo-stationary orbit at best speed. There was a clear sense of relief that their situation had improved, even if not as much as they would like, and that their refugees would soon be safe - though many calls came back wishing them well in stopping the Hierarchy battlegroup coming after them.
"The War Commander is here" Captain Zarithak told the other captains "His Fortress-class ship will ensure your safety and assist us as well. You will be met at geo-stationary orbit".
The evacuation fleet received the destination coordinates from Captain Zarithak and wrung every drop of speed they had left from their engines.
"Proceed insystem!" Captain Korop told the other dreadnaught captains, the General standing beside him "I know this world is hosting sporting Games to honour our Founders' Day, but we have more firepower available than any planetary defence fleet they will have - to avoid any further military hostilities and diplomatic repercussions they will have no choice but to let us seize the kinglovers and their ships".
"Incoming transmission, no ident" Korop's comm officer called - Mister Terek nodded and plugged in a headset, and after the call ended he put it away and told Korop "Intelligence report from a Pathal precognitive, captain. A ship matching the description of that mark-1 pattern dreadnaught was foreseen arriving here less than seven arns ago... and it has a priority-1 target aboard. One of the Councillors. We need them alive".
The General sent the other five dreadnaughts and most of the support vessels ahead.
"We'll see how long their defiance lasts now, then..." he called over their comm "That old dreadnaught has a target of interest aboard. My superiors want to question them, which means we need them alive. Cripple that ship and send in boarding parties. The target in question is a Councillor Shuljek - he is one of their kinglovers' Bloodstars, he'll have a retinue with him, so prepare for a hard fight".
"I see them..." Captain Vincha replied when her navigation officer saw the redeployment "They are coming for the Councillor. They intend to board. All crew should draw heavy armour and weapons. Advise Councillor Shuljek that we are under attack and that he should evacuate his family to the War Commander's ship".
"Our odds aren't good" Captain Vincha's first officer said unhappily "Refitted or not, our close-defence system has dangerous gaps in coverage under the hull, and all our heavy weapons are on the upper hull".
"We'll do the best we can with what we have" came her reply "Our Strykers should stand by to evacuate the crew if our position becomes untenable... but for now we will fight, we will give the evacuation fleet the extra time they will need to reach the War Commander, and if we have any good fortune at all then we will get to see the War Commander ourselves after all of this is over".
"The fleet is ahead of us" Captain Karath told her when he commed in a momen later "They will reach the War Commander even if many of those ships never fly again. All we need to do is give them enough time to do that, and give the War Commander enough time to join us".
"Enemy dreadnaughts and support vessels..." Captain Korop's navigation officer announced "positioning themselves between us and the other kinglovers' ships".
"A hyperwave call went further insystem before we could jam it" the comm officer added "If that was for reinforcements, we best move fast - they might not stop us, but it will make it more inconvenient and increase casualties".
"Nothing we can do about that" the General replied "Our Strykers are launched, the frigates follow behind, and we pick up the pieces - that's how this is going to go".
"Rulok, bring us around, put us on an intercept course with that mark-1 dread ASAP" Harrigan ordered "Lirak, call Devin at the Dulenos and tell him he's got traffic control duty, until I say otherwise, from the backup command centre under the shop".
"I will do that" Devin replied "Lerren is worried... but I have asked her to help in the shop while I do my work for you, Commander".
Devin's parents were both surprised when Devin ran over and pulled on a seemingly-normal wall fitting and twisted it. A narrow staircase was revealed, and Devin descended rapidly and shut the door behind him before his parents could call out to him and ask what he was doing.
"Backup traffic control is online" Keyah called after giving Garakk the necessary orders "Devin reports that everything is in working order. He confirms the presence of hostile Hierarchy ships, but has just received word that another group whose idents match the official invitation will arrive insystem shortly as well".
"We're gonna have to really haul eema on this, then..." Harrigan grumbled "Kids, off to home quarters for all of you - gonna need our vets on call for this one".
Anton led the remaining younger people off the bridge - Harrigan listened to their chatter until their transit car left, after which he turned back to the insystem map again, calling "Light us up. Full ship ident, full Kingdom ident. Get the refugees behind us where they'll be safe and won't catch a stray shot".
Captain Karath rumbled softly when both idents became visible and the Havoc appeared at maximum sensor range.
"He is coming" he told the other Captains "I don't know if Captain Vincha will make contact with the enemy before he arrives - but even if you do, Captain, you will be supported before too many momens pass".
"Incoming small craft!" called the gunnery officer from the mark-1 dreadnaught "Turrets tracking and firing on multiple Strykers!"
"My frigates report contact with the enemy as well" Captain Karath added "No Reavers, at least not yet - but their predecessor design. So far we've not taken losses, but the enemy strength will show before long unless the War Commander gets closer".
Captain Zarithak gave orders for his own escorts to join with Captain Karath's, after which he ordered Strykers from all three dreadnaughts launched.
"That mark-1 garbage scow..." the pilot on an as-yet undetected smaller craft called derisively "is swatting our Strykers down like flies and the Shovek-class frigates with it aren't helping our situation either".
"They weren't meant to succeed on their own" his copilot replied "Just distract them for long enough so that at as many of our stealth landers as possible make contact with the ship and deploy boarders. So far it seems to be working".
"Enemy dreadnaughts have launched Strykers of their own" the pilot told his fellows over short-range comm "Be on your guard. That old ship might not be able to see us but if one Shovek-class is in the wrong place at the wrong time they might just see what we don't want them to see".
"Enemy frigates, Ravager-class, coming in behind the Strykers" Lirak called "Orders?"
"Target Ravagers with secondary defence net as soon as they come in range" Harrigan ordered "Save the primary net for the dreadnaughts. Fire whenever you get a clear shot".
Four Ravagers of the sixteen present were either wrecked or completely blown to pieces in the opening salvo. The Sunbuster and Hierarch's Bane both came about and stationed themselves on the Havoc's hammond and treblin flanks to protect it, with their remaining escorts doing likewise.
"Fortress-class!" called Captain Korop's helm officer "Ident shows the ship as the HMS Cry Havoc and lists it as bearing the kinglovers' War Commander. They obviously have no need to hide who they are here".
"What's left of the frigates will last momens at best" the General admitted sourly "It's quite clear now that at some point in recent history those kinglovers got intelligence warning them of our intentions and called ahead to this 'War Commander' and had him prepare for their arrival. If we board that mark-1 ship and seize the Councillor fast we'll get what we wanted, even if the price is far too high - if we don't, the Fortress-class ship will turn its larger guns on our dreadnaughts and all anyone will find of our fleet will be wrecks and corpses".
The Praetorian stealth landers increased speed as much as they could and started bobbing and weaving around the ongoing combat. Luck ran out for a little over half of them, with stray shots or collisions destroying them - but those remaining got closer fast.
"Enemy stealth craft!" Rulok called, before opening comm himself and calling "To the mark-1 dreadnaught... Praetorian stealth landers in close underneath you, prepare to be boarded!"
"Thank you, Cry Havoc" replied Captain Vincha's navigation officer - after which Rulok heard a loud siren on that ship in the background.
Helmets slammed on and locked all over the ship as crew and soldiers prepared to fight. Councillor Shuljek adamantly refused to be evacuated unless the ship was about to fall to pieces under him.
"I know they have found out I am here!" he shouted "Now they will die knowing I am here! My retinue and I will fight until assistance from the War Commander can reach us and Captain Vincha and other crew have been evacuated - Councillors can be replaced, valuable crew cannot!"
When the stealth landers were almost on top of Captain Vincha's ship, the close-in defences finally found them and opened fire - two of them were destroyed in time, but the remaining four, while critically damaged, crashed into the ship's hull close enough to maintenance airlocks for their troops to board.
"Two dreadnaughts of mark-2 pattern in range of primary defence net" Lirak called, after which he fired - to their credit, the helm officers were good enough to turn just enough so their ships were crippled by the opening volley but not completely destroyed, but the crew of D-5882762 were not so lucky and that ship took four shots amidships before blowing apart in thousands of pieces.
"Their main guns vastly outrange our own" Mister Terek told Captain Korop "I don't know whether a Fortress-class ship is supposed to have this level of firepower or not, I have never seen the original plans - but intended or not, this one closed to secondary gun range to attack the frigates and kept its biggest guns to target our biggest ships. Have we at least landed boarding parties?"
Captain Korop magnified a small area of the lower-after section on Captain Vincha's mark-1 dreadnaught, showing the wrecked landers embedded in the hull.
"Well, then..." Mister Terek responded "As soon as we get positive confirmation of capture, we'll have to launch a Reaper or two to retrieve the prisoners and anyone apprehending them who's still alive..." before growling for a few microts.
The evacuation fleet managed to achieve stable orbital positions without any suffering further damage.
"You will be safe" Devin assured them "I know the War Commander, you can trust him, he will not forget you - but first he must see to nullifying the hostile ships and I must see to general traffic control on his behalf".
The ships' captains were relieved to hear that news, more so when emergency workers from one of the orbital spacedocks flew over to conduct enough emergency repairs so that the people aboard would be safe until the Havoc returned.
"Enemy troops have boarded the ship" the comm announced on Captain Vincha's ship "Boarding repulsion plans are now in effect. Patients in sick bay are to be moved to the flight deck and sent ahead to the evacuation fleet. All nonessential sections of the ship are to be evacuated and sealed".
The warning was transmitted to the Havoc as well, along with Councillor Shuljek's presence - despite his objections.
"Cap'n Tareg!" Harrigan commed "We got a code red, in more ways than one - Councillor Shuljek's on board that old dreadnaught guarding the rear! We gotta get people in there to help get him out!"
"I'm barely in range" he replied "but Captain Karroch's got the Bloodstars prepared already - all we need to do is decide who goes".
"The first twenty who're ready!" Harrigan replied immediately "Less talking and more translocation, mister!"
Less than a momen later, Karroch blinked his eyes and waited a microt or two for the ringing in his ears to clear before comming back to the Havoc to ask "Captain Tareg... if you can, direct us to the Councillor's location. Once we have him and those with him, we'll either fall back to the flight deck or you will need to retrieve the Councillor's forces and then us by the same method you put us here".
~I'll find Amara~ Tareg told Karroch ~If the Councillor has a larger group with him, she will retrieve them and I will retrieve you - and everyone will be safe sooner~
"The main generator plant is hit..." the ship's security officer announced after the ship shook for several momens "The main generator plant is hit. That sector of the ship is sealed" before activating the backup systems and jettisoning the main reactor towards the nearest sun.
"This does not go well, even I can tell..." Captain Vincha said aloud "Anyone who can do so should see that essential crew... are evacuated to the Cry Havoc or to the evacuation fleet. Only minimal personnel necesssary to combat operation of the ship should remain".
"We are sad to see our ship's end as well, Captain" the helm officer replied "But better it and us perish this way, seeing Kingdom citizens reach safety and a Councillor as well".
"Evacuate whoever you can" she reminded them sharply "Our crew are Kingdom citizens as well! So far the Hierarchy attack has concentrated on the aft section of the ship where the bridge is - our flight deck is nearer the bow, so providing you can reach the front half of the ship you should easily make it the rest of the way even if you have to use service transport platforms!"
When Captain Vincha smiled, her security officer asked why.
"A mentalist with the War Commander has contacted me" she replied "Forces have been deployed aboard this ship by mentalism to retrieve Councillor Shuljek - soldiers from Bloodstar command, led by the son of Captain Kran".
Mister Terek felt the effect of the translocation event and told Captain Korop and the General.
"This War Commander has a strong mentalist with him" Terek told them "Strong enough to deploy troops by translocation to the mark-1 dreadnaught our own forces boarded more conventionally. If this mentalist has even fragmentary divinatory ability, then they will find his location before us".
"Then they find him and we seize him, no more problem" the security officer interrupted, overhearing the conversation "The presence of their elite will make it harder, but by no means impossible".
Just messy Terek decided But well worth it.
Tareg didn't have even a trace of divinatory mentalism, but he was clever and called ahead on known Kingdom tactical channels that weren't being jammed.
"Good!" Councillor Shuljek replied when they made contact "More Kingdom forces have come - and even better, the War Commander sends his own troops! Captain Karroch, we still have to ensure the evacuation of crewmembers - but as soon as we hear they have passed the half-way point toward the bow then you or your mentalist friend can extract us. Only then".
"Security monitors picked up Praetorian two decks above us!" Councillor Shuljek's daughter Shakka called "We can't reach the Captain! We'll have to keep heading forward!"
"I hear you with my own ears" Karroch replied "You're only one deck above me, and not far off either! There's a stairway close by - we'll head up it and seal it behind us!"
"We're shutting blast doors between you and the Praetorian" Captain Vincha told them "It won't hold them for long, but hopefully for long enough for the War Commander to extract you or for you to reach the flight deck. The crew are starting to leave now... should I be alive long enough to leave, I can use my own ship above the bridge".
The Praetorian were being slowed down by having to cut open the blast doors with explosives, but they were persistent and were catching up.
"ENEMY CLOSE ABOARD!" Councillor Shuljek's wife Hallith called, firing a burst into the first trooper she saw "BACK, FALL BACK!"
"Right here, woman..." her husband replied, rumbling softly and proudly "I am here and our daughter is here - our son is leading the way toward the bow with the others".
Karroch called out when he reached the next deck up - Councillor Shuljek called back and the two groups joined together and continued toward the bow.
"Forces from the kinglovers' War Commander have linked up with Councillor Shuljek" Mister Terek announced sourly, before contacting the Praetorian aboard that ship and telling them as well before doing his best to give an approximate location.
"Divinatory mentalism gives me headaches" he growled "We had better succeed, or neither I or my superiors will be pleased".
Under Mister Terek's constant direction, Praetorian forces split into several groups and made contact with Councillor Shuljek and the Irregulars before Captain Vincha could shut enough blast doors to stop them.
"We hear you, mister" Harrigan told one of the troopers who had enough of a break from combat to report in "Amara was asleep when all this started, it was her eating time earlier - but she said she's good to go in a little while once her food's settled a bit more and she can focus properly".
"Six dead Praetorian" came the reply "Four dead from the crew, all of ours are wounded but no deaths so far. Maybe fifteen Praetorian remain".
"Two more dreadnaughts dead in space or destroyed!" the General growled in front of Captain Korop and Mister Terek "Only ours and one other remain at least mostly intact - and the two enemy dreadnaughts of mark-2 pattern are still mobile and fighting if not completely unharmed. Only our four Reavers and two Ravagers remain among our support vessels! That Fortress-class skews the whole correlation of forces decidedly in the enemy's favour!"
"You had better make sure no one else hears you say that..." Mister Terek warned him quietly "I am here, I know why you say such things - but my own superiors as well as your own might not be so forgiving".
Captain Korop heard that but ignored it, just in time to hear the comm officer call "One of our Reavers reports it has been boarded, General. Kingdom troopers in powered armour with black emblems".
Captain Korop quickly brought up a map, then snorted and told his General "It strayed a little too far outside cover from the rest of the fleet... but even then, the kinglovers must have a few stealth landers or Reapers of their own to be able to get enough powered armour units to that location unharmed".
Councillor Shuljek's retinue had lost several more troopers by that point, but those remaining joined with the Irregulars in accounting for a third of their Praetorian attackers.
"This is slowing us down!" Councillor Shuljek told Karroch "which is exactly what the enemy wants! We have just received news that the crew have sealed themselves inside the flight deck and are evacuating as fast as they can, the Captain and bridge officers have their own way to leave - and that just leaves us!"
"Special support will retrieve us, Councillor" Karroch assured him, nodding before cutting a Praetorian almost in half with his sword - and almost breaking it in half when Shakka called out in pain.
Karroch stepped in front of the next blow without hesitation, even though it penetrated his own armour and drew blood - he put one arm around Shakka and swung his sword with the other hand, and while none of those blows injured or killled the enemy it did push them back for long enough for Karroch to shoot two more.
~I am here~ Amara called eventually ~I can tell you are hurt, uncle Karroch - should I retrieve you first? I can heal you here if I do~
~No~ Karroch replied as clearly as he could over Amara's two-way link ~Councillor Shuljek and his family are here, they must be retrieved first. His soldiers must be retrieved next. The Irregulars will be retrieved last~
"I think..." Terek called, startling the bridge officers "... a mentalist is talking to either our target or those with him... but I cannot intercept their thoughts nor narrow down their location. It is damnably difficult to even decide they are there at all -plok, they detected me and masked their own presence and that of who they talk to".
Captain Korop passed on orders for the remaining Praetorian troopers aboard Captain Vincha's ship to make another attempt to seize the Councillor.
"One more attack" he told them "If you can't make that work, any of us that are still alive will have to retreat, recover, and make our excuses to Mister Terek's superiors as well as our own - and hope they believe us".
Their own ship shook briefly barely a microt after the Captain had stopped talking.
"We barely got hit..." came the security officer's answer when his Captain asked what was going on "but hit we were, nonetheless. If I had to guess, I'd say we're barely in range of the biggest guns on the Fortress -class ship".
"Damage report!' Captain Korop barked, and was both angry but relieved when his security officer replied "Fire control is down for the bow guns. Main flight deck entry is closed - if there's anyone left to be retrieved we'll have to get them via the retrieval doors on either flank".
~I had to evade a hostile mentalist ((mental image of Amara hiding behind a bush while a Scarran in Praetorian uniform walked past))~ Amara told Karroch ~They cannot find me or hear me now. They are good, but your friend Amara is better ((mild smugness))~
~Retrieve the Councillor at your earliest opportunity ((pain, fragmentary mental images of personal injuries))~ Karroch told Amara while trying to fight at the same time ~Then his family. Then his retinue. Then our own soldiers. Only then retrieve me~
~((sorrow, concern for Karroch's health))~ Amara replied ~I do not know the Councillor, Karroch - I need you to turn and face him and the others as I need to retrieve them, only then can I lock onto their mental signature and bring them back to our home ship and safety~
Karroch told Councillor Shuljek the plan.
"If your mentalist is good enough to retrieve us while we're in combat then they can start right away" he replied "just as long as they understand my soldiers leave before I do".
One by one, the soldiers of Councillor Shuljek's retinue that were still alive disappeared from the combat and reappeared aboard the Havoc in the main sick bay.
This was communicated back to the Praetorian General and Mister Terek.
"Their mentalist is better than I suspected if they can account for the emotional stress of translocating a soldier while they're in combat" Terek told him "But what we see so far shows they're not as powerful as my superiors, since they seem to be retrieving one trooper at a time - or that their troopers' injuries complicate matters even further and the mentalist is showing an unfortunate level of empathy. It is more important to retrieve the trooper in question and worry about healing them afterwards".
~No! ((insistence))~ Shakka told Amara in no uncertain terms ~I will stay beside Karroch and fight, and you will retrieve father and mother before us!~
Unwilling to retrieve a hostile trooper, especially without orders from Harrigan, Amara did as she was asked.
Both Karroch and Shakka were badly injured at this point, though Karroch was doing his best to shield her from harm. He smiled when he felt her disappear from behind him, even though he was barely able to move let alone fight - and blacked out as soon as he reappeared in the sick bay aboard the Havoc.
"Find an outer hull exit" came the eventual and reluctant order "If we can't seize the Councillor, best we retrieve as many of you that aren't dead and return to a more defensible position where that Fortress-class can't pound us all to plok".
It took fifteen momens to get a Reaper in to collect them all, and it barely managed to flee before Captain Vincha's ship exploded behind them.
The Havoc's hammond side flight deck had people very tightly packed indeed - though the recently retrieved Kingdom medical personnel volunteered without hesitation to assist Doctor Nrakal and the other Irregulars' medical staff. Every one of them were needed, with doctors running back and forth trying to make sure as many people survived as they could - despite being tired, Amara volunteered as well, both with medical mentalism and conventional medical skills, until Nrakal ordered her to drink restorative drink and eat at least a few food cubes before returning to quarters.
Eventually everyone who was going to survive had received emergency care - a great number of additional sick bays had been unsealed to deal with the vast influx of casualties - and once Rulok had sent word from the bridge that the remaining Hierarchy ships were retreating outsystem, however reluctantly, then Harrigan called together his senior officers and said "We gotta see exactly who and what we have here, you lot. Come up with a plan to find out for me. Once we're sure how many people we have, we'll retrieve and catalogue any salvage before distributing it".
"OK, everyone..." Harrigan called over the PA a little later, since even a portable megaphone wouldn't be loud enough to cover the whole flight deck "This here's a census, we're gonna find out just how many of you are here. Military personnel will form queues by unit in front of my force commanders - that's General Tareg for Bloodstar Command, General Lazarus for Tactical Command, and General Trannak for Skulker Command.
Medical personnel - that's those doctors who aren't primarily combat medics - line up in front of Doctors Nrakal and Moratha. General ship crew of any rank, line up before Sub-Commander Talannah. Technical specialists of any kind, line up before Chief Engineer Tovak. That will be all".
"Chief Engineer, sir?!" Tovak asked in stunned disbelief "I'm good at keeping this place running, yes - and I've become better since I started - but you want me in overall charge of technical staff while this lot are here? I'm not even an officer, I'm a special-ops tech-grunt even if I am a good one!"
"You're an officer now, mister" Harrigan replied, clearly not accepting excuses even though the effect was marginally spoiled by the occasional grin he couldn't hold in "Chief Engineer means you're technically a Captain even though you don't command the ship - for now you'll stay Captain First Rank unless you get so many techs you can't see the engines any more".
"Fekkit..." Tovak muttered "Well, then...I'd better get started or we'll never find out what I have to work with...".
"General ?!" Lazarus whispered, standing beside Harrigan.
"Third Rank, yeah" Harrigan replied "Partly 'cause you've all earned it, partly to avoid any conflicts with the newbies over command authority. Eventually one of you'll likely get pushed up one, but whoever that ends up being you'll still be CAG of the ship".
"At least I get a job I like" Lazarus snorted "Oh, Tovak will grow into his position but it might take a while. Trannak will be the same calm but definite guy he's always been... does this mean my K will still be Senior Command Specialist of the ship?"
"Sure does" Harrigan replied "She'll have to give the orientation and protocol talk over the PA, even she can't shout loud enough and see to your little girl at the same time".
"I will get Command Specialist Juroch to assist me" Koronna decided, little Charlotte Maloka in a baby harness across her chest "He has authority by time in rank over the other senior NCOs, in addition to which he is Force Strangler - he and I will decide on general training to see what the standards of these newcomers are".
It took almost two days of constant queues, even after terminals had been set up, to properly number and identify every Kingdom citizen of every age - though the mood eased when hot rations were brought from stores and given to those who had registered themselves and their families.
"We have food and we have safety!" one of the Kalish replied happily when Harrigan turned up beside them "I would ask more about this ship and what it is like, War Commander - but it is almost impossible to move around and I have not been given clearance to move off this flight deck nor been taken outside it to a sick bay, so I cannot see any of it in person".
"Not your eating time right now?" Harrigan asked the man.
"Not for me or my family!" he replied, shaking his head "Two days away, War Commander, for myself and my wife and our two growing children!"
"How come almost all you lot are that strange white colour?!" Harrigan asked eventually, looking around "I've never seen Scarrans like that before, let alone Kalish - an' there's even a few Charrid in here if my nose isn't lying to me!"
The Kalish man laughed happily before explaining about the arctic-world adaptions almost everyone there had - a Kalish girl, with the same arctic-world adaption, ran over when she saw him talking to a man of her people and asked who he was and why he was so large.
She bowed in the manner of the Kalish people when she was told, after which she gave a credible Kingdom salute and said "I am Caelen, War Commander! I was there when my friend mister Altur saw the alphanumeric codes I now know to be hull markings by mentalism! I wrote them down for him and helped him tell the leader of our facility and his military commander!"
Harrigan's treblin hand went up and he signalled for either Amara or Tareg to come - eventually Tareg detached himself from his duties and came over, asking "Something is happening? What am I needed for?"
"Caelen..." Harrigan prompted "This is Tareg... yes, General Tareg, you heard me mention his name two days ago... tell him what you told me about this mister Altur".
"Someone find mister Altur!" Tareg called to the nearest Bloodstar once she had finished speaking "Since he's listed as Tactical Command right now, ask General Lazarus or Captains Rulok or Lirak if you can't find him yourself!"
"He has the rank of Commander Second Rank, General Tareg" Caelen explained, nodding "I have seen his rank emblem on his coat. I heard our leader address him as such once when I was there".
Eventually young Anton ran off, coming back ten momens later with a stocky low-caste Scarran beside him. Altur had kept his distinctive wide black mohawk haircut, the stripe of hair down the centre of his head making him easy to pick out among the crowd once you knew what to look for.
"Here he is, uncle Commander" Anton said, pointing to the man beside him "This is Altur. The Kalish girl Caelen said he is a Commander Second Rank, uncle Commander".
"I should have made it clear right at the get-go" Harrigan said "I usually like to know if we get a mentalist in person. But since Caelen here's been singing your praises since she came over to me I'd say we can forget about that for now".
Altur nodded and rumbled before listing his mentalism skills by order of proficiency and rarity - Harrigan was very surprised to hear Altur was a precog and said so, to which Altur replied "People generally are... War Commander?... yes, sir. Stable precognitives are exceptionally rare. My talent tends to be more accurate the closer any precognitive event is to the current time and my own location - at least it's been that way so far".
"We got two mentalists so far, mister" Harrigan replied "One's on enforced leave due to overextending herself helping you lot when you got here - the other one's the big General that brought you here alongside young Anton".
"He is a stonewalker" Altur said, before describing how he could tell "That in iteself will garner much interest from the young ones - especially the Kalish. I hope he does not mind the smallest climbing on him, they don't mean any harm when they do that".
"I have had Kalish children climb on me before..." Tareg laughed "I am a man of Sholphaur as well as a stonewalker - providing Kalish children ask first, they can shift to me as long as they avoid any weapons I am carrying at the time".
Caelen explained again about the events leading up to the evacuation as well as how Altur was respected by the community authority figures - Altur thought she was exaggerating a little, but didn't object when Harrigan said "So you've made yourself at home and made a few new friends, then? Sounds like you're getting to be a big man around the place when you came here".
It took several momens for Altur to translate Harrigan's odd speech in his head, and that was with young Anton's help, and that resulted in all the other young adults from the Irregulars coming over to see him as well.
Altur was very surprised he could not use mentalism outside his own body when most of them were close by, but Feltano just nodded and said "That is me, new Altur Commander - that is us. All of those you see before you now except Amara do that. If you stay here, uncle Commander or uncle Doctor Nrakal might tell you about it".
"We appear to have the following numbers of additional Kingdom personnel present in addition to our own personnel" Talannah told Harrigan "Almost forty five thousand permanent soldiers spread across each of the three commands; fifty thousand specialist engineering staff; thirty thousand, approximately, medical and other general support crew. Captain Vincha wishes to speak with you personally, husband - she was the captain of the mark-1 deadnaught destroyed insystem recently".
Captain Vincha stood up slowly as Harrigan came to see her.
"I... am sorry I cannot bring my ship to serve with you also, War Commander" she said "But... my remaining crew need purpose and need safety and need quarters, and will serve you well".
"You OK, Captain?" Harrigan asked, though he hastily apologised when Amara explained the Captain's debilitating medical condition.
"That is why" she said, pausing briefly for breath "I have the bioloid implants your medical staff detected in me. They are not combat augmentations... they are to counter the more severe effects of my condition. They do not do so completely... but I have survived to my current age of 193, which for someone in my state of health is rare indeed. Your chief surgeon said that the stress and trauma of combat recently has hastened my end - but that is not so bad, I have served the Kingdom for 193 cycles and I have seen we have a War Commander again in my lifetime. Despite my ship being destroyed, I have also seen my crew safely to a new ship and a new home here as well".
"We got spacedock guys grabbing all the bits an' pieces of your ship an' the other wrecks to see what we can salvage" Harrigan said "Anything we can use as-is or recycle, we'll use or pass to Captains Zarithak or Karath or one of the remaining frigates. Dunno where those tactical command guys put that Reaver they bagged, they haven't stuck their heads up to say hi yet"
Eventually that ship was persuaded to reveal itself.
"We will approach and keep station beside the Sunbuster" its prize captain decided "You say crew remain from Captain Vincha's ship, War Commander - should any wish to join us aboard this Reaver, they will be welcomed".
"I will ask them..." Captain Vincha replied "Any who wish to go to your ship are free to do so unless the War Commander wishes them to stay here".
Eventually enough to return the Reaver to three-quarters of standard crew complement were found and transported across to their new home.
"Devin..." Harrigan called "How's things your end? Everyone doing what you tell 'em?"
"Everyone proceeded as directed, War Commander" Devin confirmed "The Scarran dreadnaught leading their delegation this cycle does not have the bombardment weapons you noted as being present on the Vorlek, War Commander, so I permitted it to approach to geostationary orbit - you do not mind? Only the Nebari Establishment's Host Vessel was required to wait at midsystem markers, as they have been before - but its Captain accepted this without contest. I think she likes being singled out this way, due to her ship being different than others. All traffic until this time has been rerouted around the portion of the system identified as a combat zone - may I lower the alert level and return traffic to the normal shipping lanes yet, War Commander?"
"Yep, just issue a caution due to wreckage" Harrigan replied "Tell everyone who looks at it that there's no snurching - I've had enough of shooting stuff for now, but I'll start again if anyone tries to take our salvage".
Less than an arn later, almost a dozen large civilian ships were detected heading insystem and Crichton commed in from Moya to ask what was happening.
"We'll probably make landfall for a while towards the end of the weeken, then" he decided once Harrigan reminded him about the Games "We'll watch all the sport on TV, though - Big D said he'd seen bits and pieces on free-to-air broadcast".
"We always do that" Harrigan replied "Pay-per-view gets to choose their own cameras to watch from, gets expert commentaries over and above whoever's on duty for public channels, gets freedom from ad breaks as well - you know, all the usual stuff like back on Earth".
"Sputnik wants to come over an' eat at your place, almost forgot" Crichton added absent-mindedly "She seems to think you got the best of everything in your dining room an' kitchen these days".
"We also have several thousand more Kalish around right now" Harrigan laughed "She'll probably like that, though. Dunno how long it's been since she's been around more than two at once".
Sikozu's eyes opened wide in disbelief before she asked so many questions to Harrigan that he just said "Come over and find out for yourself! Try to make sure you give Buckwheat the slip before you take off, though".
Moya's transport pod arrived just as the last of the refugees were being escorted to their new quarters - since some were Kalish, a few of them stayed to see who the new people might be once they found out the incoming craft was not a Scarran military one.
Juroch was in one of the auxiliary galleys where the general population was almost exclusively Kalish when the call came in requesting his presence.
"Who are these new people, Master Juroch?" one of the younger Kalish asked with interest "Might some of us be permitted to come and see them?"
Juroch rumbled softly and smiled at how Kalish always addressed him by his rank in their art rather than his military rank before saying "Four adults and four children" before raising his voice a little more and adding "Four Scarrans may come also if you wish to. You have two momens to decide who will come".
The four younger people came within ten microts, but it took one more momen before three adults were selected.
"Two members of skulker command, Command Specialist" the two high-caste Scarrans told him "One technician. Others did wish to come but had essential duties to attend to".
"Transit system" Juroch told them, waving for them to go first - the Kalish stayed either side of Juroch and climbed aboard the transit car with him, after which he called "Hammond side flight deck" to one of the skulkers.
Several Charrids from tactical command were there alongside Harrigan, along with Lazarus - plus four Bloodstars beside Troll.
"We got Charrids outside?" Crichton asked in surprise when Sikozu came to him from the transport pod's small bridge "Didn't think Big H had any of those! We gonna be OK?"
"Stay together" Aeryn replied, nodding "Since the War Commander knows us all and we are abiding by his order not to bring Rygel with us, these Charrids should not be a problem".
"Shouldn't" Crichton replied sceptically, before adding "Oh well, let's go - even if Charrids are there, Big H treats us well. If these Charrids are with him, we'll not get shot".
"There you are!" Harrigan called happily when he saw him "Thought I was gonna have to send a search party in there for you! Everyone well? Got all your arms and legs on? Not leaking all over my nice clean flight deck, I hope?"
"We are all uninjured, War Commander" Aeryn replied "Sikozu passed on your request that Rygel remain aboard Moya. Since we're low on essential supplies, and Rygel won't eat food cubes unless it's that or dying, leaving him behind was tricky - but not impossible".
Sikozu immediately saw that the Kalish with Juroch were not of standard colouration as she was and walked over to them and asked them questions about it.
"We are environmentally adapted to the most cold of livable worlds, Sikozu" one of the adults explained once Sikozu introduced herself "as are the both the Charrids here and the Scarrans standing beside us. This is a natural adaption, not an artifical one like the change which some of our new friends have".
Sikozu nodded, then smiled when she saw the younger Kalish - the young man elected as speaker for them said "Greetings and salutations, Sikozu Shanu" before naming both the adults and children and adding "With us now stands the only Scarran at this stage known to have achieved a senior rank in our art" before finishing with Juroch's full name and rank.
"I have worked with him once before" Sikozu replied a little smugly "though I had not heard that he had advanced as far in the art of our people as you say he has done".
Juroch directed her to where his ribbon of rank was on his jacket, before telling her "Should people of my homeworld be here for the sporting games, I may be graded again this cycle - for now I am Master Rank Four as my ribbon shows".
It was obvious that Sikozu had questions to ask about that as well, but Crichton waved her to silence before asking Harrigan "You said we'd be able to sort out Sputnik's eating time while we're here - when's dinner?"
" 'Bout half an arn away, mister C" Troll called "Most galleys just have the basics on for today, we gotta stretch the food budget over a lot more people these days. Sing out if you wanna stay with the big man in the main galley - otherwise we'll send you to one of the others".
"If we are permitted to do so..." Sikozu asked, thinking quickly "may we eat at a galley where large numbers of my people are? It has been many cycles since I have enjoyed eating time around other Kalish... since you clearly have more now, I would like to eat and relax around them".
"Come with us, come with us!" the most excitable of the younger Kalish asked "All of you will eat in our galley! Not all of those permitted to go there will be at eating time, but it is a social gathering place as well as where we eat so you will be well received. Both Kalish food and other foods are available there - though it is as the loud and funny human says, the menu is more restricted over most of the weeken, which includes today".
"I saw Charrids!" Sikozu asked with astonishment once they were taken to a transit car "Are you safe among them? Do they treat you well and respect your skills?"
"The Charrids are part of the Kingdom" that child's father explained "They did take a while to fully assimilate, as you might expect... but they are now as much a part of it as we are".
"It is good to hear they treat our people well" Sikozu replied, even though she wondered how true that was "More so to hear there is at least basic Kalish food available on a day with a restricted food quota. It is my eating time today".
Sikozu looked around with total amazement when they entered the galley and saw the large number of Kalish there.
"So many of our people..." she said softly and with awe "Kalish in the technician's uniform I expected to see - but also some in different kinds of military uniforms as well! I am surprised though pleased to see that your leaders here permit our people to apply for those positions".
"People here..." Juroch told her in her own language "may apply for any position suited to them according to their skills. People are encouraged to learn whatever new skills they can, whether they are combat skills or not".
"I remember you having two other Kalish here" Sikozu said "Two women of my people who are not arctic-adapted as these Kalish are. Do Master Kamara and Caseya eat here?"
"They do not" Juroch replied "Master Kamara moves between galleys where Kalish are assigned each eating time unless the War Commander requires her to be in the main galley which you may have seen before. Caseya eats with her family in one of the galleys where personnel of all stations are assigned unless the War Commander requires them to be in the main galley".
Once the youngest Kalish heard new people were there, a large number of them converged on the table where Crichton and the others sat and bombarded them all with questions about themselves and their ship - they giggled when Crichton laughed and encouraged them to come closer. The older ones watched carefully while the youngest climbed the walls to reach him and climb on him and the others.
"Lots of little Sputniks!" Crichton laughed, tickling one or two of the more adventurous young Kalish children "I've not seen any Kalish kiddies except Amara before!"
"We know of Amara" one of the older Kalish children told Crichton "She is the daughter of Caseya and of the commanding General of skulker command. She studies to be a doctor. She is half-Scarran and half-Kalish".
The youngest Kalish continued climbing over Crichton and Juroch until their parents called them all back to their tables.
"The ones who climbed on you, Master Juroch" Sikozu said "seem particularly proud of this".
"They know I am a Master" Juroch replied, smiling and rumbling softly "even if I am not a Kalish. All of your people that I have met seem to be pleased if they meet a Master at some point. The novelty of me being both a Scarran and a Master does not seem to be wearing off for any aboard at this point"
"You have found out what I need to know?" the Scarran gang leader asked - though every one of the few people present understood it was not a question.
"Yes boss" came the reply from one Charrid.
"And...?" the Scarran prompted.
"Big man you don't like's been seen talkin' to a few o' the others" the Charrid replied "I sent out the few Sebaceans I got that I trust for serious work... they got back in maybe three arns ago. Debriefed 'em and came in to tell you when I got it all written down".
The Scarran held out his hand - his Charrid underling passed over the tablet without hesitation, watching while his boss read the information.
"Get your scouts in here now" came the reply, surprising everyone in the room "You've proven yourself, mister... but for something this serious I want to hear it from the people who found out. I want to hear the information from the source itself".
The Sebacean woman at the head of that group was clearly uneasy at being in the presence of an obvious Scarran, despite having been under this one's authority for some cycles now - but made a credible attempt to stay calm and respond to his questions in the brief, factual, and un-embellished way she knew he insisted upon.
He rumbled briefly before waving his hammond hand to dismiss her - once she left, he called his lieutenant over and told him "Get to one of the more tolerable comm shops... and contact Mister Farakk on Rogkyun now. I think this is worth acting on... but you and I know he will be very unhappy if he doesn't hear about this from us first. I'll tolerate the expense of a scrambled hyperwave transmission this once - but you're going to do this personally, since Mister Farakk will only deal with you and with me".
"He'll only even look at me because he knows I'm your hammond-hand man, boss" the lieutenant replied carefully "He does good stuff for us, boss - I wonder why he sets all them rules he does, though" before seeing the look on his boss's face and adding hastily " 'Spect I don't need to know why that is, boss".
"That's right, you don't" came the expected reply "Just do what you're told".
"How's the Games going?" Harrigan asked his wife when he walked onto the bridge "We got medal counts?"
Talannah brought up the current overall medal count - Harrigan grumbled a bit, after which he asked "Everyone bein' good little citizens down there?"
"Most of the time" Talannah replied uneasily "There's been more than the usual amount of unrest, especially down South, even for a Founders' Day weeken - but so far, at least, local units have been able to handle it. We only had to deploy our own troops twice, both times close to the port/South unofficial border line".
"We haven't even had to do that before" Harrigan said just as uneasily "Not twice within a few days. Sounds like something's gonna blow - only question is when, and if someone's giving it some help".
"Bit of chatter on local Securirty comms" Talannah added, putting it on speakers for Harrigan to hear.
"I got this feelin', love..." Harrigan added, a few momens' listening later "...that someone's proddin' here, proddin' there... and sooner rather than later will make a really big prod just to see what happens. Any of the security detatchments from the majors or minors said anything yet? For that matter... a certain you-know-who's supposed to be coming... has anyone heard from him yet?"
Talannah growled very briefly before saying "From what little I know he will wait for someone he knows to contact him - which likely means Rulok or Lirak will need to make the call, since they both went on that courier run".
"But he's here?" Harrigan asked.
"Most likely he arrived with the official delegation" Talannah decided "I don't know if he brought his first officer with him... but he'll have an aide, and may even have brought a few of his Team to compete".
At an eating house on a planet barely a few days travel from Talzenadar IV, a high-caste Scarran sat enjoying his favourite meal alongside a number of henchmen - or at least that's what most locals would have called them. A more knowledgeable outsider would be able to tell they were all former soldiers, with two still dressing in the way identifying themselves as Force Strangler.
"Message for you, sir..." an underling announced, running right up to the table and holding out his hand - which had a memory card on it "Priority transmission from an associate of yours on Talzenadar IV".
The Scarran turned to look up at his underling with surprise for a few microts - to the man's surprise, he was permitted to stay while his boss watched the message.
"This is from our ...ambassador... on Talzenadar IV" he told the man sitting next to him "He sends warning that undesirable events will happen within a few days - and considered this of sufficient importance to risk a direct if scrambled transmission here to me".
"We have done business with a number of people there, I believe" the only Kalish, a man with a compact tablet and a number of books, said "One particular group of status and influence contracted with you to refit one of their large spacecraft for them - or so it says in my records here, sir".
"That group..." the Scarran replied, turning to face the Kalish man "...has the influence there you suggest and more besides. They are the Irregulars, and it was one of their warships we refitted. The one they sent to settle a deal with us was surprisingly understanding of us and the necessities of our way of doing business, even though we did not make as much money as I would have liked or learned as much about that ship as I would have liked, either. On top of this, he was accompanied by a man from my homeworld - whose reputation even I have heard of at length".
"You want me to send a reply letting our boys an' girls on Tal IV help these Irregulars, sir?" the messenger asked "They're gonna have to be careful about that - oh, I 'spect those Irregulars will hold up their end of any association, but if any of your ...rivals... find out, you may have problems better avoided".
"You will stay and do your usual job here" the Scarran decided after a few momens' consultation with some of the others "One of my special associates will send the message, both to our friends on Talzenadar IV and to these Irregulars. I would hope they understand that in return for our help a little favourable consideration of our business ventures is worth their time... but I think that in this case the Irregulars and us have the same problem".
"On my way, Mister Farakk" one of the ex-Force men whispered "At your word I will use a remote station kept for emergency use only to make a live transmission to our friends and then to these Irregulars".
"Do it" Mister Farakk decided, nodding very slightly "I must stay here, at least right now... but these Irregulars are part of a larger group who do a great deal of business with us, and who rely on us. Us, mister. Not a business concern of greater ...accessibility".
"The Irregulars have Stalker" added Farakk's soldier "I did not know him but have heard of him. One of the very best our world has trained in recent history, though even for our world his assimilation of Kalish culture is high".
"Not just Stalker" Mister Farakk replied "Other sources close to home revealed the presence of a stonewalker from our world among them, an officer - though they don't know their name or how they serve. The Irregulars clearly consider their association with our homeworld and its people to be of great value - while we may not be officially associated with Sholphaur now, this still bears careful consideration".
The Scarran gang leader on Tal IV had to be woken up when the return transmission came through.
"Get me stimjuice and get me whatever's fresh in the kitchen" he told the first of his staff that dared enter "I can't risk grolsahk or fellip, not for this call - and especially not for a live transmission. Now get to it".
"You are ready, then" the voice of Mister Farakk's soldier asked calmly and clearly once food and drink were brought.
"Ready" he said, nodding "That stuff I sent on must be important if you're risking a real-time transmission as well".
"It is important" the soldier confirmed "You have been granted conditional approval by your superior and mine to assist the Irregulars in whatever capacity you can without jeopardising our business interests. Your superior and mine has decided he and the Irregulars share a common enemy at this time".
The transmission immediately ceased - so after the hasty meal was over, the Scarran got out of bed and made himself ready to meet his own street-level leaders.
He grinned as he heard their faint chattering coming from the corridor.
I am surprised that, even for this place he decided that the volume of my voice calling for their presence is such a matter of interest. Still, if it gets them all arriving on time I don't much care - but it may prove to be something I can exploit at a later stage.
"I've talked to my friends" he told them bluntly once they were all seated "They agree it's regrettably necessary to assist the Irregulars in keeping the others in their place - but whatever the Irregulars might prefer, we do that our way. Risking our necks on their behalf has to benefit us as well".
"We can get 'em to solve a few problems for us, boss?" one man asked, grinning a bit "I could provide locations, no problem at all - just say the word".
Their leader grinned and rumbled, saying "We will certainly see to it that, should the Irregulars need to conduct ground or air operations in the South, that this will make a number of inconveniences disappear into thin air - carefully if possible, in messy chunks if not".
He listened to the happy talk that resulted for several momens, after which he said "Now I have to deal with the Irregulars... and you need to find out where any large gatherings of our enemies are which pose a threat to them and us".
"Our contact has not made... contact" Kurlun told Kamiel, after summoning him to his quarters after the meal.
"They have not" Kamiel agreed as he swept the room again for bugging devices "I have examined the local security alerts and also carefully questioned some of the guards, Captain - it appears there is an increase in unrest, more so the further south - or towards the port - someone travels. Perhaps your contact has been given orders to assist in dealing with it".
"Possibly, Kamiel" Kurlun replied "I'm going to talk to the usual suspects for intelligence staff with legal cover. Something outside is not as it should be, even you should have figured that out by now - and we need to find out whatever it might be. Even if only to protect ourselves or this embassy".
"Might I assist you in some way, Captain?" Kamiel asked "Might it be of use to you if I questioned those Kalish permitted to spend leave time outside the embassy? Perhaps some of them may have seen useful things".
"Do it" Kurlun decided, nodding "You're starting to think straight more often, mister - good, I'm glad to see my decision to bring you with me was worth the effort".
"Cry Havoc, bridge" Skroloth answered, picking up a hail "Can I help you?"
"I remember you" came the voice of a Charrid Skroloth knew "Heard that voice down stadium way. Boss says bad stuff's happenin' down south an' not just 'is current enemies either - whole buncha nasties movin'. We can get started dealin' with it - but we can't do this alone. Boss says we can 'elp you out if you's gonna be gettin' your boys an' girls ready".
"I'm sure he wants something in return..." Skroloth replied, grinning just a little "...but even the fragmentary report you just gave me now confirms what we've already heard from elsewhere. I'll bring a friend down to the stadium and talk to your boss - I'm sure I can find a little something for you as well if I look hard enough...".
"He's coming, boss" the Charrid told his leader in a clearer tone than Skroloth had just heard over the comm "Said he was bringin' a friend, but he said he was coming down to the stadium - not all the way down here, though. 'Spose he's got business of 'is own to do an' can't spare that much time".
"Some of those Irregulars come to the stadium to spend their money eating and drinking and watching the fights" the Scarran replied, rumbling very slightly with amusement "Since the call was accepted and they're sending a ...speaker... to the stadium, I'm fairly sure who's coming".
"Pretty much comes down to one... two... " the Charrid lieutenant replied, counting on his fingers "Err... maybe four options at most, boss. One of 'em's a huge 'onkin lump of meat an' no mistake, boss - likes the fights an' loves 'is drink tho, so all our bar staff's glad to see 'im when he comes".
The Scarran laughed at his underling's description of Troll before saying "Watch for him - he's likely just the number two of any pair that comes, but don't mistake his manner for stupidity. That other one, the one that acts grey even if he doesn't wear it, will likely be doing the talking - assuming it's him that comes, of course".
"I seen that one too, boss" the Charrid confirmed, nodding "He don't drink so much, but he does bet more on the fights - he's got quite a good eye for who's good an' who's just meat, too".
A heavily-muscled Scarran with very dark skin and almost no apparent neck stood beside the governor in his box at the stadium as the longer-distance running events progressed - the governor turned with surprise when his hand went to his temple, a signal the governor knew meant he was receiving a call by mentalism, after which he turned and said "Unrest is growing Southward, governor. My best scouts have reported large groups moving to several strategic locations inside the South End close to Market Street and the port".
"Close to my headquarters, Captain Sobbok?" the governor asked.
"Not yet, governor" Sobbok replied, shaking his head "Four Storm Lords watching the south think there's a very intense territory dispute about to take place - the two Cloudwalkers backing them up watching the port think we'll be lucky if it just goes that far. They think it's gone too far for that, they think we'll have a full-scale insurgency on our hands".
"Your Flaming Skulls are here with me" the governor added, nodding "Providing you leave at least a token force here to assist my bodyguards, you should assist my security troopers in putting down any insurrection with your skills. Should we see war in our streets, I hope you have Grand Protectors on call to heal the wounded".
Sobbok grinned, saying "You know about the Black Omega then, governor - maybe you have even met our members before!"
"I have met your Marshal one time" the governor replied "General Kruzek also".
Sobbok could tell there was more the governor wasn't telling him, but didn't press things further.
~Situation report! urgency~ Sobbok commanded the other members of Black Omega watching the South.
He listened to all their reports, taking note that one particular Cloudwalker remained silent - once their mental voices were quiet again, he called ~Do you have anything special to add?~ to that particularly special operative.
~Captain ((deference, respect))~ came the quiet but firm response ~My hypersense picked up large groups of Sebaceanoids gathering and taking up arms. The gatherings appear to be made of smaller groups with conflicting loyalties - and in some cases outright hostilities to other groups with them. So far they've been kept under control - by five other Sebaceanoids of considerable influence and status. Likely gang leaders of the more influential groups~
~Any signs of soldiers?~ Sobbok asked.
~Not yet~ came the reply ~Captain Kurlun sent several soldiers over the South End border at ground level - and while all of them came back again it doesn't appear any of them managed to get close enough to find out anything useful. With your permission I will shapechange and see if I might find out what they could not~ before she added with more hope ~Perhaps I might be permitted to feed if it does not endanger your plan as well?~
~Find out what you can~ Sobbok decided ~If you can feed without being discovered, do so - but hide the evidence well. We'll have enough problems with a full-scale gang war here without the hysteria you know will come from the Sebaceanoids if they find out a bloodhunter's here - especially an airborne shapechanger like yourself~
"Not good" Kurlun told Kamiel "My A-Team troopers can't get close enough to find out what's going on".
"That in itself tells us something, Captain" Kamiel replied, thinking "Did any of them report signs of trained personnel? Guard patrols? Perhaps fortifications? Purpose-made or improvised combat vehicles?"
Kurlun looked over at Kamiel with surprise before calling his troopers and asking them - and growled when they did add positive signs of these kinds.
"That grinning stonewalker from the Flaming Skulls is with the governor at the running events" Kurlun told Kamiel "Test your range, contact him - and for plok's sake keep the call tight and focussed. None of us know if any of the other major or minor powers have even featherweight mentalists here that might pick up signs of communication telepathy even if they can't read it".
~Yes...~ Sobbok said when Kamiel contacted him.
~Mister Sobbok~ Kamiel replied ~I have news from my Captain for you. He judged it of sufficient importance for me to reveal myself and contact you directly while he gathers additional information~ before passing on everything Kurlun told him to reveal.
~Plok~ Sobbok replied, before giving the governor a brief overview of the approaching threat.
"I must call the Irregulars" he told Sobbok "Since you are the head of the Hierarchy delegation, and these games commemorate your Founders Day, I request you place your forces on full combat alert. You will command all forces at the stadium, Captain Sobbok - see to it we remain secure here and that the people remain safe".
~BATTLE ALERT!~ every Scarran trooper heard in their heads ~Secure the stadium! We have been given responsibility for the safety of the stadium and everyone in it! Coordinate with the forces of the other major and minor powers and LOCK THIS PLACE DOWN!~
