Maybe ten minutes after that, Viktor nodded at Amara and said "Now" - after which all nine of them disappeared from their position outside the field camp and reappeared inside the large communications tent.

Viktor signalled each member of his squad to start photographing any material of interest, nodding with relieved satisfaction when they started doing exactly that.

~Fyodor...~ Amara called ~You should photograph every part of that large map on the table. It has interesting markings on it which I do not know the meaning of, but which may prove to be important to your superiors~

Fyodor didn't say anything, but did do as Amara asked.

~Can we remain hidden while examining the entire camp ((confirm/deny)) ?~ Viktor asked.

~For a short while, certainly~ Amara replied ~I am skilled in many areas… but not very experienced in some. The further away from each other and from me you all become, the harder it will be to hide you all from the soldiers around us – I have one fail-safe option available should we be discovered, but I would prefer not to have to use that~

~Vladimir, disable their satellite uplink – but try to make it look like bad maintenance instead of sabotage~ Viktor ordered ~Fyodor, continue toward the east side of the camp – Ivan, do the same on the west. One of you orange-skinned people should be with each of mine. Whatever else you do, stay quiet~

Amara heard and felt everyone on the link acknowledge the orders, after which she whispered "I will stay beside you, Fyodor – Commander Kaisan will need to stay with Senior Sergeant Viktor".

"As long as you can keep up and stay quiet, that's fine" Fyodor replied, after which he crawled under the tent on his assigned side of the camp.

Amara waited until he had done that, after which she checked his surroundings to make sure no one was watching – after which she translocated herself outside to stand beside Fyodor.

Concentrating on hiding nine people in a camp from armed and wary soldiers is harder than I thought it would be Amara decided Not impossible, but a serious challenge. Even now I have to obscure the minds of fifteen enemy soldiers to make sure they do not find us and raise the alarmand the one named Vladimir seems to think there are still a few more soldiers we have not found.

~Guard patrol with one of the dogs ((caution))~ Viktor called – and nodded when Amara reached into the mind of the dog and made it think it should head away from his position. The dog did growl a bit, which got its handler looking around – but by then Viktor and Kaisan had moved on.

A tense half-hour of dodging Chinese soldiers followed as the Russians and Kalish crept around the camp as best they could and photograped everything the felt they could do without revealing themselves.

~Back the way we came~ Viktor decided ~We've definitely overstayed our welcome now – those dogs nearly found us twice and only luck stopped Vladimir having to shoot a sergeant and blow the entire mission! As long as we get past the heavy machine gun by the northern entry point without anyone making too much noise we should all get out of here alive~

~You Russians should proceed first~ Kaisan decided ~We will follow once all of you are safely outside the range of those semi-portable weapons~

"Someone's suspicious, sergeant..." Ivan whispered "even though no one's raised an alarm yet. If we stay here more than a few more minutes, they might just make a security sweep and find us by accident!"

Viktor's expression hardened before he turned to Ivan and stiffly pointed toward the north and safety, after which his expression only relaxed a little as his squad passed the machine gun and its two crew, who as far as Viktor could tell were spending a quarter of their time doing their job and the rest of the time complaining about it.

All the Russians but Viktor are safely outside the camp she decided but while not all of those present think someone is here who should not be, a small number do – and their suspicions are only growing with time.

Just as Viktor was walking past the machine gun, someone elsewhere in the camp cursed loudly – and the gun crew and one other soldier actually turned and saw the Spetsnaz emblem on Viktor's uniform and Amara's own presence before she could wipe the information from their minds!

I do not like doing things like this Amara decided as she reached more forcibly into the three soldiers' minds while Viktor watched in surprise but for my own safety and those we are contracted to assist I must put that aside in order that we succeed and remain undetected.

Viktor kept his rifle in a wary ready position as he watched Amara's eyes glow slightly more brightly as she dominated the minds of the three Chinese soldiers, walking them back towards the south side of the camp.

~This tent had alcohol in it~ Amara said, doing her best to speak clearly while she concentrated on her work ~I do not know why a field camp like this one would have alcohol in it, none of ours would do – but there is some in this tent. If I ensure these soldiers drink a considerable amount of it, then the likelihood of their report being believed shrinks drastically. If the alcohol belonged to anyone in authority, our enemy here will ensure any news of our presence remains unheard on our behalf~

~The camp's commander might have some for all I know~ Viktor replied ~Any of this lot get caught drinking his booze and they'll likely end up on patrol through the minefield for a month~

Amara's ears twitched briefly, after which she whispered "I hear a noise… it sounds mechanical… airborne? That direction, beyond the camp".

"Just when I thought this mission might go well..." Viktor grumbled "Helicopter. I fucking hate helicopters" before he turned to Amara and added "My soldiers and yours may well be safely out of that thing's range… but we aren't! Can you hide us from that machine's thermal imaging scanners and night vision equipment as well as the crew's eyes?"

"It will be much easier to do this for just you and I" Amara replied, nodding "Those soldiers we encountered earlier have their minds set on drinking alcohol, so I can hide us from that vehicle and anyone inside it much more easily".

"I'd feel better if you could do that and run at the same time..." Viktor asked "The sooner we meet up with my soldiers the better I like it".

Viktor was at least a little surprised when Amara set a pace fast enough that he had to work at keeping up, but he did smile briefly.

Good he decided with relief I may not like the fact Moscow sent reinforcements when I didn't ask for any… but at least in this case those we received know the difference between infiltration and assault, more so that they did what was needed and kept my men and I alive.

"Good, you are here" Kaisan told Amara when everyone met up at Fyodor's initial observation point "That airborne vehicle arriving at the last microt was a serious problem! It is good to know that you were able to prevent that vehicle from finding you or from finding Viktor".

Amara bowed briefly in thanks before telling everyone "We cannot stop here. We must proceed at our fastest pace back to the initial deployment zone, where we will be retrieved".

Viktor immediately hissed "Run! Get on with it! No, you can't leave any gear here – we'll blow our cover! Move!"

~Accelerate to the pace required of your commandos or the Force~ Amara told Kaisan ~The Sub-Commander and the War Commander expressed interest at extending the offer of recruitment to soldiers of this type – should the War Commander wish these soldiers to have the opportunity to join us, their capabilities should be measured against ours in as many areas as possible~

~((agreement))~ Kaisan replied ~These Russians have proved promising so far… but we will see if they can manage to run all the way to our retrieval point without stopping, more so since much of the route in this direction is uphill~

Amara caught a few smug feelings of amusement from Viktor when Kaisan ordered everyone to run faster, which made her smile a little. While all the Russians could keep pace, Ivan could not do so easily but did so without complaining – unlike Vladimir, who received a number of angry glares from Viktor as everyone ran.

"We are within 500 metras of the retrieval zone, Commander!" Terish called to Kaisan, some time later.

"Good" he replied "You should call ...our retrieval force… for extraction – or special support should do so".

"No excuses!" Viktor barked in Vladimir's direction as soon as that man started to open his mouth "Pick your fat ass up off the ground and get moving!"

"Commander Kaisan to Kraken..." Kaisan called over his PDA's comm "Requesting a vehicle be sent to retrieve our forces. Additional forces we were sent to assist are to be transported elsewhere in accordance with contract conditions".

"Copy request for extraction, Commander" another of Kaisan's commandos replied "I will bring a Reaper myself to collect you all at the deployment zone designated in our orders unless you order otherwise".

"We still have short distance to go" Kaisan replied "but we should be there when you land. Since our current allies still have one meal in rations with them, I expect they will eat while we wait for your arrival".

"Faster!" Kaisan ordered "We hardly have any distance at all to go until we reach our designated retrieval point… and if we get there ahead of schedule I am sure you humans will want to eat your remaining rations while you wait as well...".

"Meal break at extraction point, copy that" Fyodor replied, which got a laugh from Viktor and happy agreement from the other two soldiers.

"A little room for improvement..." Kaisan whispered to Amara as they ran "but more promising than I expected. They will need to adjust to being around other species… but none of the humans we have recruited so far have found it particularly easy to do that anyway".

"But they have done so" Amara replied "The young boy James Westmore has done so most easily, so I have been told – the male human named Higgins has adjusted most easily among the adults of that species".

"I have not met that man" Kaisan admitted "but there will be time for me to meet all the new recruits later".

Kaisan got Fyodor to scout out the landing zone for potential problems, and nodded with approval when he said "Nothing to report, we're good".

"For any of you who still have rations available..." Amara said "this would be a good time to eat. An aircraft with my unit has been sent to collect us, after which we will give any basic medical care needed and proceed according to our orders concerning you".

Amara nodded with approval as she watched the Russians eat.

They are fatigued as I expected them to be she decided but they are also pleased they have rations to eat while they wait for retrieval. I am just as pleased none of those opposed to us have managed to follow us even a short way from the camp – I must report the control issues I had with my mentalism to General Tareg, and later to Deress and to Shaddak. Perhaps they may be able to provide further instruction in those areas so I can help others more.

When Viktor actually saw the Reaper coming into land, his instincts made him order everyone into position to fight until Amara said "This is the craft sent to retrieve us. We should board it via the rear ramp now".

"Get up..." Viktor ordered Vladimir "Right now you've got yourself extra training once we get back, mister – you may have made the grade, but I'm betting you only just managed it. We have to toughen you up a bit more".

This Viktor is sounding even more promising Kaisan decided He expects nothing less than the very best from those under his command, not just the minimum required standard. From the standard he has shown so far, his chances of gaining admittance to the Force are as good as anyone's and better than most.

"All OK!" Kaisan called, sealing the rear ramp again and sitting down.

The Reaper immediately gained height and increased speed, its pilot calling ahead to the Kraken that the Russians and the commandos had been retrieved.

"I will be there to meet you all when you land" Caseya told the pilot "Do those humans require medical attention? Do they require food?"

"They do not require medical attention or food, captain" the pilot replied "I am sure Commander Kaisan would tell you directly should they require any such thing. When I retrieved them, I was told they had just eaten their last rations from those we gave them before the mission started".

"We are about to land aboard a larger vehicle" Kaisan told the Russians "You are permitted aboard it for the purposes of this mission and that only. Should you require medical attention or food, it will be provided. Do any of you have any questions?"

"We have to make a brief stop at our current base of operations" Viktor replied "I don't know what rules you operate by, but if it's going to be easier and more secure going there in this smaller aircraft we should do that".

Kaisan nodded before passing that news to Caseya aboard the Kraken, receiving the location of that base in return.


"So you're all still alive, then?!" Viktor's commanding officer called when Viktor's call from Ivan's battlefield comms got through "That's a start. Anything I need to know? Moscow didn't same total idiots to reinforce you, did they?"

"Our reinforcements were competent and professional" Viktor replied "They can't speak a word of Russian, but I knew enough English for us to be able to understand each other".

Viktor's CO snorted before telling him "I'll be in the comm tower, Senior Sergeant. I know you can't tell me everything about what's been happening, orders from Moscow being what they are – but maybe you can at least tell me any impressions you have of what's out there unless Moscow classified your thoughts as well".

"Come out to meet us when we land, sir" Viktor replied "To be honest we could use a brief stop to get clean uniforms, ours smell like shit right now – but after that we're heading west. I expect you know where, sir".

"I'm not supposed to, senior sergeant..." he replied, grumbling "but I'm not stupid. Get clean uniforms, leave your packs with the quartermaster or in your barracks, then get off to wherever you have to go next that I'm not cleared to hear about".

"I hear you" Kaisan said "You will come with me to the bridge and we will direct our pilot where to land".


The weather had got even worse since Viktor's mission had started, which put Viktor's commander in an even worse mood when he had to go outside to meet the Reaper.

"You made some interesting friends" he told Viktor as he looked at the Reaper "Did you actually get Americans sent out to reinforce you?"

"Not Americans, no sir" Viktor replied, shaking his head as his squad headed to barracks "To be honest I don't know where they're from – and none of them volunteered that information either. Whether that's just because they don't want to tell me or because they've been ordered not to, I'm not sure".

"Get yourselves cleaned up" Viktor's commander ordered "and out of here – before I decide to ask you more questions".

Hot water's out again Viktor groused after bellowing in surprise and anger after turning the water on If I didn't have orders to be somewhere else I'd find someone's ass to kick HARD until that got fixed.

"Nothing I can do about it right now" Viktor said when Ivan opened his mouth to speak "Make the best of it, we have to make one more stop before we come back here – I don't know if our new friends will get us there or we're being sent by other means, though".

It took longer than Viktor would like, but eventually all three of his soldiers were standing in front of him.

"Back to that… whatever we came here in" he told them "I have to find out if they're taking us where we need to go or not. Their officer will know even if none of the others do".

"Taking you to your next location was included in our contract, you are correct" Kaisan confirmed when Viktor asked "Accomodation has been set aside for you – we will not be aboard for long, our flight will be quicker than it would in your own aircraft, but you may wish to rest".

"Do you have hot showers we can use?" Fyodor asked before Viktor could draw breath "Base plumbing probably froze up again, ours doesn't work right now".

"Even aboard this particular craft..." Kaisan told them, smiling just a little "we have good amenities. It is a smaller craft, not a dreadnaught, so the facilities you wish for are shared among a number of crew – but for this flight, facilities can be assigned for your soldiers' use only without restricting the crew's needs beyond acceptable levels. You will be shown where these are, though I expect they will be next to your temporary quarters".

The Charrid security officer was waiting on the Kraken's small flight deck when they landed.

"I am the security officer for this ship" he told them all once they were all on the flight deck "No, I am not human. I'm here to take you to your quarters – and expalin shipboard rules for ...guests".

"Apart from sleep" Viktor told him as they walked "we could all use hot showers if this aircraft has any such thing".

"It does" the Charrid confirmed "As long as you don't mind recycled water, anyway. This ship may look fancy, but it isn't large".

"As long as you have hot showers that work" Fyodor replied "I don't care".


"We will shortly be arriving at the location identified in our records as 'Kremlin' " Caseya told the Russians, some hours later "Commander Kaisan will go with you, along with those of our troopers who assisted you in your mission, to debrief your nation's leader. After that, we will return you to your operating base or to another location if your nation's leader requires it".

"Follow me" the Charrid security officer added "Time to get you to the flight deck again".

We've been treated politely but very carefully Viktor decided Not one time have any of my men been allowed to roam the corridors here unescorted – we have been allowed food any time we want it, which was nice, but we were always escorted to the galley or our food was brought to our quarters. Our escorts were always either that odd green security officer or those large scaly ones the security officer called 'Scarrans' ".

The Irregulars and Russians were met on landing and escorted inside – Kremlin security were even less pleased that the US Secret Service that the Irregulars were armed, but after Viktor screamed at them and after a more measured but no less important phone call they moved on.

"Greetings" a man dressed in a business suit called "Senior Sergeant Viktor, I see all of your squad are still alive and thankfully uninjured...".

"We are, President Putin" Viktor replied, after saluting.

"These are the soldiers who were sent to help you?" President Putin asked, nodding towards Kaisan and his commandos.

"They are" Viktor confirmed.

The gathering moved elsewhere in the Kremlin where the briefing was conducted.

An officer from the GRU was called in when the presence of a field camp was revealed, and he wasn't at all happy at what he was told about it.

"At least you and these mercenaries didn't get yourselves killed, senior sergeant" that officer replied "Since I'm here, let's see what you have...".

It took quite a while more to spread out all the photos from the various Spetsnaz soldiers, more so to explain what each one showed.

"I still can't quite figure out what the camp looks like" the GRU officer grumbled "A pity no one made an overflight and took pictures from the air...".

If he doesn't know our orders prohibited that Viktor thought that's his problem before he passed over the codebook Amara took early in the mission.

"Looks like I have work to do" he grumbled, after which he left.

"We may have pictures..." Viktor revealed when President Putin asked about it "but one of the mercenaries you sent to reinforce us got those by means even I can't understand".

"I don't have to understand it, I just have to see it" President Putin snapped, then held his hand out.

Viktor only then noticed Amara was there, though he did smile when his President stepped back in surprise and shock when she projected the same overhead view of the camp he saw some time earlier on the table for his President to see.

"I do have a printed copy of this for you to see, should you require it" Amara told President Putin in English "This is as detailed an image of the camp as I could make with the capabilities available at the time".

"Better than I expected" he replied "You could have given the major from GRU that while he was here, though".

"I preferred to leave that decision to you" Amara replied "since you commissioned this contract, and the disposition of mission intelligence materials was not written into the contract" before passing over a roll of what Scarrans used for printing, unrolling it so President Putin could see it matched the projected view he could see already.

"Your contract payment" President Putin told Kaisan, once a crate was brought in "Check it all before you leave the room, please".

Kaisan and Viktor forced the lid up, after which Kaisan and Amara examined everything inside twice – when Amara nodded, the lid went back on and Kaisan held out his hand.

President Putin shook it, nodded, then said "I'll have to pass that map and the other intelligence you collected over to a few others now it comfirmed what we only suspected until now".

"You should pass it to whoever you feel needs to know, President Putin" Viktor replied, trying his best to show respect for his President as well as the desire to inflict painful retribution on people he knew would probably be involved "I know that. Whether I happen to like them or not".

"You said a bit more than that about them before..." President Putin reminded Viktor with a slight smile.

"I still would prefer to cut their balls off with a teaspoon, President Putin" Viktor replied "They deserve that and more – say the word and I'll make sure it happens without leading back to you. Guaranteed!"

"Unfortunately they are needed more alive than dead, Viktor" President Putin replied firmly and a little wearily "At least until after the next election. They asked for your immediate discharge, Viktor – though I persuaded them to accept your transfer. You have two options there… I can bring you into my personal guard here, or a ...long term diplomatic posting… of a sort".

"I would go wherever you send me, sir" Viktor replied back, clearly still angry "What angers me is that they want to separate me from my men! The new one, he has the same name as you as it happens, might be lacking in experience but even he's worth more than those scum giving me trouble the past few years!"

"You're not going to cut their heads off, Viktor!" Putin ordered, running out of patience "Or anything else, since we're on that topic! I've given you options, which is more than most people get – which do you want?!"

"What is this 'diplomatic posting' all about, President Putin..." Viktor asked, making sure he didn't upset his President any further – Putin just waved in Kaisan's general direction, though it was Amara who answered.

"Our own leader came to an arrangement with yours, senior sergeant Viktor" Amara explained "An arrangement that brings some status to you as far as your home sector and your unit is concerned. It has been explained to me that, should you wish to, you would be permanently seconded to our own forces. Your leader feels that your presence among offworld nations and powers would show that his sector is a strong sector that deserves respect as a military and trade and diplomatic power".

"I have seen a little of the craft they brought us here in, sir" Viktor said next, realising he would not get what he wanted but trying to make the best of things anyway "Their soldiers are clearly well supported. The food is good. The facilities are good".

"You prefer the diplomatic posting, then?" President Putin prompted Viktor.

"I don't know if I like it, but I'm prepared to accept it" Viktor replied "I would prefer that the agreement be extended so I can bring at least some of my men, should you allow it".

"You can take three" President Putin decided "They can be the three you have with you right now, or they can be three others – but that's all you're getting, I need the others where they are".

Viktor turned to look at Ivan, Fyodor, and Vladimir.

"If it gets me away from those fu-" Fyodor started to say, until Viktor raised a hand to stop him – after which he remembered his President was there and added "I need to get my wife and children before ...others… get any ideas".

"We can help you" Kaisan replied "If you have political enemies in this sector, we should move fast".

"You're free to go" President Putin reminded Viktor, before telling Kaisan "Try not so work them too hard, they're no help to me or to you spending all their time in hospital as training tools for your doctors".

Once the Kremlin guard escorted them out, Fyodor almost pushed everyone aboard the Reaper before striding forward to the pilot's chair on the small bridge.

"People to be found" he said in wobbly English "Family to be retrieved".

"In Moscow, if Fyodor's address hasn't changed" Viktor explained in his clearer English.

"Amara" the copilot called "We need your special skills to retrieve the family of this human named 'Fyodor' before his enemies and the enemies of this other human named Viktor find them".

"They do not know me like these Russian humans know me" Amara reminded the copilot "I must guide you in with my skills, after which Fyodor and his human friends will retrieve them and bring them to us".

Amara sat in one of the rear bridge seats and called Fyodor forward by mentalism. Once he was seated properly, the Reaper took off and Amara guided him carefully through what she needed him to do.

She smiled when she sensed his happy thoughts of his wife and son and daughter, displaying live video in his mind for him to see once she had located them.

~I am guiding our pilot to their location ((assurance))~ Amara told Fyodor ~I do not believe we have attracted the attention of hostile forces, but we should still move as fast as we can while ensuring their safety and our own~

"Out front, in the street" Fyodor said, pointing past the pilot to the ground "My friends will retrieve my family. If you could make sure we have a clear line of retreat, though...".

"We will do that" Kaisan replied, before calling "The ramp. This craft will stay airborne until we come back out and protect us should hostile forces arrive".

Once Viktor's squad made their way to Fyodor's apartment door, Fyodor opened the door himself. His wife proved easier to convince than he had thought, especially once she recognised Viktor as well.

"Viktor, Viktor!" Fyodor's young son called.

"You will be coming with us, young man" Viktor replied "To a new place, with new friends. You mother and father are coming too".

Fyodor's son saluted as best he could before running off to his room, which made Fyodor both smile a little and bow his head a little sadly.

"He idolises you, Viktor" Fyodor reminded his superior "He told his teacher he wanted to join the Spetsnaz like his uncle Viktor when he grows up. His uncle Viktor".

Viktor just nodded.

"Just a few clothes!" Fyodor told his wife "We don't have time for anything else!"

They got back outside in time to see the Reaper fire a couple of bursts from its blastguns at an APC further down the street before settling to the ground again – the pilot opened the hammond hatch remotely for them, taking off and heading for high altitude and returning to the Kraken as soon as Kaisan called forward that it was safe to do so.

Caseya met them on the flight deck.

"I welcome you to this ship" she told them "A more official welcome will have to wait until we dock at our home ship, where our leader will welcome you officially to that ship, after which you will be assigned living quarters and your skills assessed for crew placement training. Until then, we have a short period during which we will be at the location in America named Nome AFB – then we will return to our home ship and see you settled in".


"Copy that, Amara!" Harrigan called when she commed in to report "Good to hear you could bring 'em on board with you – especially that you got the family out before it all backfired on them! Beam your Dad in to the Kraken, then tell your momma to get here at flank speed!"

"You have been permitted admission to a special event alongside us" Amara told the Russians "You will be able to see American humans and a small number of nonhuman people from our unit. This will soon be your unit and your home. Good food and drink has been provided" before she turned to Viktor and added "You may keep your weapons… for now. It would be preferred that you leave your automatic rifles in your quarters here – but you may bring your pistols with you should you wish to, and on the provision that you realise that your conduct reflects on your new home and its leader".

Viktor thought for a momen or two, then nodded.

"We'll keep our current uniforms until we're officially … hmm, 'welcomed'… and assigned to an officer and their command" he decided "Unless it would make things easier if we wore uniforms like the orange ones over there".

"They are Kalish people" Amara explained "There are three major species among our unit, Kalish people are one of these, in addition to representatives from others as opportunity and good fortune brings to us. Basic uniforms as they wear can be provided for those of you who are soldiers – Fyodor, you should instruct your family how to use the clothes refresher machine near your quarters unless you wish them to be given clothing suitable to identify them as general crew for our home ship".

"Fyodor, get your family ready" Viktor decided "Looks like the rest of us get new uniforms right away – keep your Russian ones clean and close by, they might come in useful again some day. We've been allowed to keep our pistols with us for now, but have to leave our AKs here – just put them in your quarters, bring your Makarovs or revolvers like mine with you once you get a uniform that can fit".

Kaisan smiled just a little once the Russians came back in their new uniforms.

"It is a good start..." he said, examining them "You have basic equipment...good… though it is from your old life and not your new one, we have not had time to show you our equipment and train you in its use yet" before asking Viktor "You have pistols, spare ammunition, a water canteen and… a small shovel?"

"Correct, Mister Kaisan" Viktor confirmed, nodding before grinning a bit and explaining about that.

"We are depending on you, mister Viktor" Kaisan told him "to ensure your friends follow protocol – should you have questions about things and people you see, ask myself or our special support representative, Amara".

Viktor and Fyodor turned to face Amara at the same time as Trannak appeared next to her.

"Stand down..." Viktor ordered "Whoever this is, they were brought in by our special support representative – so they're likely important in our new home".

Trannak nodded and introduced himself by name and rank, which got salutes from Viktor's squad and Fyodor's young son.

"Well done, young man" Trannak told him in English, rumbling softly.

"I not speaking much of English" came the strongly-accented but fairly steady reply "Am still learning".

"Address the General by rank, Andrei..." Fyodor urged his son "or 'sir' - until he tells you not to. That's what people like your father and uncle Viktor do".

Trannak examined everyone's uniform, nodding when he was told about their Russian pistols.

"Don't lose those, we'll look at them later" Trannak told Viktor "With you having one of those human revolving pistols, we may have a special job for you to get you started… but not just yet" before he explained what would be happening in Alaska. Viktor was surprised that they would get to talk to Americans, but pleased they would be admitted as guests with the others in the unit.


"Stand up, get ready!" one of the Kalish on the crew of the Kraken called to the Russians "We are on final approach to Nome AFB in Alaska! I understand a little of your language, our special support representative taught a small number of us, but English is the human language most of our crew know".

"The woman Amara is our special support representative" Viktor told the Kalish, who nodded "We know her. She assisted us in our recent mission".

"She will be your point of contact with us until General Trannak or our leader say otherwise" the Kalish replied "She can speak your language, the English human language, and many others".

"She has spoken right into our heads" Fyodor told the young woman "Is that a common thing? Have many people heard her speak to them that way? Can many others do that?"

"Very few people can do that" they were told "Amara likes to practice with as many people that permit her to do so. I do not know how many others in our unit can do that – and, as far as I know, would not be permitted to tell you even if I knew unless our leader or one of his Generals say otherwise".

"Coming around..." Caseya called over the PA "Pads down...", and after a comparatively slight thump, she added "We have landed. For you new people… this means we are in the American sector, and it may be the first time you have been here. Should Commander Kaisan or General Trannak not have explained the reason for us being here, I will come to your location and do so. I expect our leader will do so as well, he will be outside to meet us before too much time has passed".

The Kalish from the crew waved for them to follow, and once she saw them do so she led the way down to the drop deck – where Viktor nodded to Commander Kaisan and saluted General Trannak and Caseya.

"In accordance with our War Commander's directives" Caseya told the crew leaders also present "either the first officer or the primary security officer command while I am off the ship. I can be contacted by comm should this be needed, but it would be preferred by all if you only did this in an emergency".


A loud banging on the drop ramp was followed by a faint but recognisable voice calling "Anyone in there?"

"I was just addressing the crew and our new guests, Commander" Caseya replied over comm "If you could stand clear of the ship, I will lower the ramp fully".

"All OK!" Harrigan shouted once he did that, and soon afterwards the Russians saw his still-enormous bulk before them for the first time.

"Fyodor and I can speak English well enough, sir" Viktor said "You don't have to speak Russian unless you really want to. Ivan and Vladimir can understand English most of the time, but can barely put a coherent sentence together so far".

"Surprised any of you speak English, to be honest" Harrigan replied "That's why I told Amara to stay close – you know her, right?"

"We do, sir" Viktor replied.

"Your guys know why we're here?" Harrigan asked next, before turning and asking Amara "Have you brought Tal down here yet? Make sure big man L knows he's got command while Tal and I are here".

Fyodor was still surprised when Talannah was translocated from orbit to stand right next to Harrigan, though Viktor just snorted briefly and nodded.

"I expect that is just one thing we consider odd now, but which will become normal before no more than a few months have passed, Fyodor..." Viktor told his friend.

"Get the Kraken back home" Harrigan told its first officer "Either we'll get back the quick way or we'll call for retrieval once we're done here".

"Copy that, sir" the Kraken's first officer replied, after which anyone not staying in Alaska boarded the ship.


Vladimir passed on the increased number of people looking in their direction to Viktor.

"Don't be too concerned" Viktor decded after he took a quick look around "We're less of a novelty than these ...new friends… of ours. I'm sure a few people think our presence here is odd, but how many of those can tell we're Russian without hearing us speak I don't know".

Trannak nodded when Viktor asked about that.

"The presence of nonhumans here will attract the most attention, yes" Trannak told them "at least to start with. In the event anyone does ask about your presence, I will simply say that you are invited guests for the wedding – as far as that goes, your decision to wear our uniforms now is a good one and will confirm my explanation for your presence. To the less curious, at any rate".

"If anyone more curious asks…" Viktor replied, knowing Trannak meant intelligence staff when he mentioned curiosity "I'll simply tell them the reason for our presence is need to know information which they don't need to know".

"Good" Trannak decided, nodding "Be careful if you speak to American humans – from what I do know about them, they can be good at picking up on nonverbal cues like the tone of your voice and your body language. Some may be able to deduce where you're from and what you did for a living, but it's best if we don't make it easy for them to find out".

Viktor laughed a bit before passing the orders to the others.

"Yeah, copy that" Fyodor replied, nodding "I've already told my wife and children to stay with us – if we all move around together as much as we can, it may invite curiosity but fewer people will come over to try and question us".

"Martha!" Harrigan called "How's the setting up comin' along?"

"Proceeding as required, uncle Commander" Martha replied, nodding "Uncle Rekketh is overseeing that work – he has made sure I know where my own position will be, and makes sure to enlist American humans to do work in preparing the hall assigned to the post-wedding celebration".

Harrigan laughed at that before asking "Is the alcohol under guard?"

"It is, uncle Commander" Martha assured him "Uncle Rekketh is guarding that himself. Our galley staff here with us are pleased humans are doing the preparation work on their behalf, and those humans doing that work are relieved they are being spoken to in their own language even if they do not like being … volunteered? … for that work".

"That's the word, yep" Harrigan confirmed for her "If you're not busy helping the galley staff set up in there, help your uncle Rekketh supervise".

Once Martha nodded and returned inside, Chaplain Larris walked over.

"Are the bride and groom both here?" he asked, after which both Harek and Amara rumbled softly.

"Your parents as well?" he added – nodding when Harek's parents as well as Amara's revealed themselves.

"I'll need to talk to you for a while" Larris replied "I need to make sure both you and the two getting married understand this as we conduct such things on Earth… but it's cold out here, so if we could return to my office...".

"Viktor, bring your guys along" Harrigan decided "I want you on outer security, mister – we won't need anyone shot, but it'd be helpful if you'd discourage the curious while we're busy. If anyone says they got an appointment to see the chaplain, bang on the door and call it in".

Viktor told the other Russians, so they all followed Harrigan and the rest of the small gathering. Andrei was pleased when he got the job of relaying messages between his father and Harrigan, though he was also pleased to get out of the cold.

"Anything to report?" Harrigan asked Viktor once the marriage counselling session was over.

"People looking at those of us stationed outside, sir" Viktor replied "No real surprise there. Perhaps three or four who know we aren't American, though I don't know how many of them know we're Russian".

"If any of them are posted with base G-2 they do, at least if any of you talked while they were close" Harrigan decided "Russian accents tend to be a bit obvious.. well, I always thought so at any rate".

Viktor nodded, after which they all headed inside the hall to see how the setting up for the reception was proceeding.

"I don't even have to shout at the humans here at all, sir" Rekketh said in mild surprise "Well, just once… but news of that made its way around, and people either do what they're told or stay well clear".

"Yeah, not really any surprises there, mister" Harrigan replied "Either no one cares if you're not human… or they've watched too many bad movies and think they'll be killed, eaten, probed, or all three – and are doing their best to make sure you don't notice them".


Once news that the marriage service was about to start was broadcast circulated over the base PA, a large number of soldiers and civilian personnel not required for duty headed toward the chapel – since Viktor's Russians were still on outer security, everyone's military ID was checked on entry.

A number of Irregulars, in this case arctic-world Charrids in full combat gear, were standing down both sides of the chapel while Viktor's Russians covered the door. That caused a little wary chatter, though most of those doing so decided this was simply due to the 'odd people' being foreigners.

"Better than I'd thought, to be honest" Harrigan whispered, when Ivan told him about it "At least no one in here seems to be bothered by you lot being Russians, assuming they know at all. Best thing so far is there's no sign of anyone official sent from the White House".

Of course, that was when Chaplain Larris' phone started bleeping – when he answered it, he talked for maybe ten minutes before coming over to Harrigan.

"Oh, it's you" Harrigan said when he heard Jack Crichton's voice "You've been told to get here as the official US representative? OK, at least we know you..." before he called to Amara and asked her to get both Jack and the Moyans there by mentalism.

"Shit, it's cold out there!" Crichton hissed after he ran inside "Spanky's pleased you let him come… he'll be even more pleased when he sees the food afterwards, of course. Aeryn and Big D are mostly just watching your guys on guard at the moment… and I think Sputnik's actually taking notes about all the different kinds of human in the building and discussing her thoughts on them with Jool. Chi… well, she's listening to Sikozu's conversation but considering Nebari people being the way they are she's likely checking out prospects for post-reception fun just in case she gets a chance".

"They all look a bit gonza, old man..." Chiana told Crichton "I've seen soldiers before… frelled soldiers before… these guys look so much like Sebaceans I doubt there's anything available here I haven't seen before".

Crichton was surprised at Chiana's lack of obvious interest, but nodded and said "Just keep looking around when you're not watching the main event, then – seems to me that everyone's getting used to you looking around most of the time anyway. If you see anything that don't fit in, call the big man or Amara – I think they're the only two here that speak English, if the others here with big man H do I haven't heard yet".

"Yeah, his guys are nice enough..." Chiana replied "but we ain't survived this long by letting others watch out for us, have we? I'll get on that".


Amara, from her position at the front of the chapel, found the service tremendously interesting.

This is not being done as Deress would do it she decided but I do not even know if such ceremonies as these are done by common regulation among the Delvian priesthood, by the preferences of individual Pa'u, or at the word of the head of a sanctuary. I will remember how this priest performs the marriage ceremony and relay this new knowledge to Deress, since I am sure he will find it interesting.

She smiled and looked across the chapel at Harek, who was wearing a Justicar's blastcoat custom-made for his enormous body – he smiled and rumbled back very softly.

Chaplain Larris called Amara and Harek forward – there were more than a few gasps of surprise when Harek stepped right over the altar rail without jumping, but Harrigan just raised one hand and snapped his fingers to quieten everyone down again.

Trannak and Caseya followed Harrigan and Talannah to the altar, where they both stood behind Amara – Caseya smiled at Amara and also at wearing her official helm officer's uniform with rank and ratings in public.

"We are here today..." Chaplain Larris announced "to celebrate the marriage of Harek Paul Harrigan and Amara Moratha Duleno. I know it will seem odd to many that neither one of them are human, but love covers not only every ethnic background but every intelligent species as well".

The chaplain went through the preamble in the human way he knew, seeing Harrigan and Talannah nod and smile as they remembered their own marriage ceremony so many cycles ago. The base personnel present started to relax and enjoy the service the more the saw the nonhuman people respecting human ways and methods – it did occasionally cause a whisper or two when the Charrid guards rotated their soldiers, though one of them told Viktor it seemed to cause more interest when the Russians came forward from the door to guard positions nearer the altar.

"The rings, please?" Chaplain Larris asked "I hope one has been found that's large enough to fit this enormous young man here...", which got an amused rumble and a grin from Harek, while Kaisan came forward and presented the rings, telling the chaplain "Here, mister chaplain. This one for mister Harek and this one for miss Amara" very quietly.

The ring for Harek looks almost as big as a hula-hoop Chaplain Larris thought briefly.

Harek rumbled quite loudly as he came forward to give Amara her ring, which he did with surprising ease for someone with such big hands. Everyone there was pleased Harek could speak English well enough for the marriage ceremony, even though he did so with a mild Scarran accent and even if he rumbled loudly enough after putting the ring on her finger to be heard outside the chapel.

"I present you with this ring, Harek Paul Harrigan..." Amara said, her voice full of both love and excitement "to show I will love and support you in our family and in our work, before our families and the crew and any others we meet. For richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, till death parts us".

Since no one spoke up when the chaplain asked if anyone objected, he smiled briefly before announcing "I pronounce you, Harek and Amara, to be man and wife. You may k-" - until Harek and Amara pre-empted the last part of his speech and kissed long and happily. The humans grinned at each other and cheered, with those who wore hats or caps throwing them up in the air before catching them again.

Amara smiled as she held her new husband tightly, rumbling softly as she felt his huge arms wrapping around her and lifting her slightly off the ground.

"I cannot read their thoughts or feelings, no" she whispered to Harek "Not inside this building, since it is a spiritual sanctuary with active protection. I can tell from their faces and their loud voices that they are happy and that they are pleased to be here with us now, though".

"They are" Harek agreed softly, after which he put her down again.

Many humans came forward to congratulate them after Harek's parents and Amara's did so, which both Harek and Amara made sure to thank them for.

After the service ended, Caseya and Trannak slipped out ahead of the rush and headed to the hall – as soon as Amara and Harek left the chapel, she heard her mother's thoughts and translocated herself and Harek inside the hall, which surprised all the humans who had got there ahead of them but also made them laugh as well.

"Most of the food and drink available here..." Harek called, his voice booming off the walls "will be food you know, made by the base galley staff here – but some is the food of the species on our ship. You can be assured that it's safe for human people to eat – all our humans do this often! Alcohol from our ship has been brought for you to enjoy as well...".

"About that..." Harrigan added once his son stopped talking "Feel free to enjoy all that, but if anyone starts getting drunk and disorderly then those two big ones behind the serving counters there will heave you out the door right quick. Now that's out of the way...".

"Galley staff are ready to serve" Martha announced "Other foods and drink are distributed among tables close by for you to serve yourself".

"We are allowed to eat now as well?" Fyodor's wife asked.

"Sure you are" Harrigan replied "I'll leave it up to you to watch your son, just make sure he doesn't go running off – the quickest way I'd have to get him back here is getting Amara to bring him special delivery, which might freak him out since he doesn't know what that's like".

Viktor whispered to Fyodor's wife what Harrigan meant about that, and while she understood, she also said "One thing at a time – it's enough to do getting used to being outside Russia and meeting Americans. Becoming accustomed to these new people and their ways and methods can wait for a while".

"I won't give any of you orders…" Viktor told the Russians "but while we might be starting to know these, as Fyodor's wife called them, 'new people'… we don't know these Americans. I'm sure now the rest of the off-duty base personnel start coming in we'll get intelligence officers wandering around… so when you know you can do so, speak English. Don't give them cause to think there are Russians here".

"We tell you if we see one, uncle Viktor" Andrei said, nodding seriously "Father tells me most Americans don't speak our language – if one does and I hear, I call for you and you talk to them, uncle Viktor".

Viktor nodded back, adding "You can talk to the big one there and the woman beside him too, Andrei – they lead where we now live, mister. I expect you can talk safely to the two younger ones who got married just now as well".

Viktor wandered around the room, his hands hardly twitching at all in the unfamiliar surroundings full of Americans, for a few minutes and watched and listened to the people.

~They are pleased to be here for my marriage ceremony~ Amara told him by mentalism ~They are pleased this reception meal and celebration are open to all. I expect they will be pleased that alcohol made by nonhumans is available for them to enjoy as well – the humans we have met before now have felt this way, I do know that~

~((laughter, agreement))~ Viktor replied ~To be honest I have not seen so much rich food in one place before, even less so have I been in a position to enjoy any of it personally. There looks to be so much for us Russians to get used to… but most of it looks to be good and to be things we will appreciate~

~((confirmation)) It will be~ Amara told him ~There will be many things for the adults with you to learn and for the children as well. There will be people available to assist you in learning these things as well – be assured you are not alone among us, you will be assisted and supported~

~We will train hard ((insistence))~ Viktor replied ~We will prove our skills and our worth and we will show all in our new home that we have EARNED our places there. Fyodor's son will do so as well, but it will take longer~

Amara was pleased Viktor mentioned that and told Talannah about it when she saw she was outside Harrigan's deadlock range.

~Good~ Talannah told Amara ~We should not have trouble integrating the soldiers, at least – it may take a while for Fyodor's wife and son to assimilate socially and culturally, but from what my John tells me it will probably take less time than if they settled here in his home sector. Especially since many Kalish, both adult and child, will be eager to teach them things and socialise with them – even more so than with the Charrids and the Scarrans among us~

~((laughter, excitement, agreement))~ Amara replied before going, with Harek, to one of the food tables.


Sholah didn't quite come into full view, but was watching Nrakal with some interest as he typed his notes in the main sick bay.

"This is a high security zone..." Nrakal whispered warily, his head turning from side to side "No one is permitted entry here while I am conducting classified work! Whoever you are, retreat outside the sick bay now and nothing more will be said...".


Sholah returned to where the Five usually considered home, after which she turned to face the rest of the five.

"I was exploring, trying to find out more about these odd friends of Crichton" she told Kurth "I had hoped that I might find out how they managed to make their extra-large personnel the way they are – after some time I managed to find what I think is the sick bay under the command of their chief medical officer. I don't think that man is even a featherweight mentalist… but he could sense, if only faintly, that someone was there and ordered me to leave".

"Could he identify you?" Nashikk asked.

"He could not" Sholah replied, shaking her head "Since there is at least one mentalist aboard their ship, perhaps he may have monitoring instruments that advise him when any such people are close by?"

"Possibly" Kasan Rybak replied, thinking aloud "But those instruments shouldn't be able to find you unless you're at least 50% present in their realm. I would think that the chief medical officer might be at least slightly sensitive to mentalism instead, since we do know that people of several species can detect us or others when we are barely present at their location in their realm".

Kurth thought about it, then decided "If you want to, my love… return there and try to find out more. We do not need the knowledge for our own use, but perhaps Crichton may do. Perhaps you might be able to learn more, or even see that information being applied to enhance one of their crew. Contact us here if you are found".

Sholah faded into the sick bay barely enough that she could maintain a presence close by Nrakal, then attempted to call her husband.

~He may be sensitive to mentalism~ Kurth advised ~even if he has no active skills. Watch with caution, Sholah… I doubt these people would harm you, or even have the capability to do so when you are not fully present in their realm, but they may not be pleased if you are watching events they consider classified material. Should you be detected for certain, make yourself present in their realm first and call us second. We will come if needed~


Again? Nrakal decided.

"I warned you before..." he said, growling softly "The presence of uncleared personnel while I am preparing for or conducting classified events is not permitted! Further infractions will result in me activating security measures and calling the ship's Law Command!"

~He is sensitive to mentalism~ Sholah told Kurth, before a loud and painful shrieking hurt her mind and Nrakal threw a small device in the direction of her very faint presence. The combination of the two caused Sholah to lose just enough control to be force-dumped into the Havoc's main sick bay, where Sturk had now arrived.

Sholah was still able to stand and look around, even though she was feeling very disoriented.

"No deadlock, Sturk… not for now" Nrakal told Sturk, before turning to Sholah and asking "Who are you? Why are you here?" while one hand rested on a pistol.

Sholah gave her name while simultaneously contacting Kurth and the others, adding "I am one of the First Five, allies of your friend Crichton and founders of Black Omega. I expect you have been told about us".

"Troll said he'd seen one of you" Sturk replied "A big stonewalker. None of the information available through normal channels mentions one of the Five being a stonewalker".

"That would have been Kasan Rybak" Sholah replied, nodding "He is the first leader of the storm lords, whose current leader is head of Black Omega as well".

"One of our officers has met him" Nrakal replied "He is not aboard at this time, he is working – or I would call him here to talk to you on this matter".

Sholah nodded before turning to look at Sturk.

"This man has the new body enhancement technology others of the Five told me about" she said "I was told that at one time the Five helped you and helped Crichton, and at the time several personnel with this technology applied to them were present".

Nrakal turned toward his terminal at about the same time as a loud banging on the door revealed the presence of General Lazarus.

"We have an uninvited guest in a secure area, Doc?" Lazarus asked.

"She seems to be part of a group known to leadership, General" Nrakal replied "if not to me personally".

Sholah told Lazarus about the incident where the rest of the Five had helped remove Einstein and his helper from the ship.

"I was there" Lazarus replied "So… you're with them? Most of the speaking last time was done by some big guy in brown robes with an axe, d'you know him?"

"He is my mate" Sholah replied with a smile "His name is Kurth and he is one of the first cloudwalkers".

"Someone was talking about me?" Kurth asked with a slight smile, after which he walked over to Sholah and hugged her.

"I am well, my love" she whispered "Do not worry".

Sholah explained why she was present over some momens, while the others of the Five also arrived.

"It is interesting to hear that you're a doc, miss" Lazarus told Sholah "but main sick bay – that's where we are now, by the way – is off-limits to anyone not cleared for entry by leadership here. In this case that means the War Commander, the Generals, and either the Chief Surgeon here or his first officer".

"Like the ...other technology… we found out about" Kurth replied "We do not need this for ourselves. We wish to know simply because it is interesting, because it is technology of the Scarran people, and because it may be useful to protect our mutual ally Crichton and his friends".

"Next time something like that happens, just send someone and ask" Lazarus replied "Since you've been here before, I'd say it's a safe bet that Harrigan's given you lot permission to board whenever you need to – we'd appreciate a short heads-up if you want to come over, but anyone you met before knows mentalism and can pass on anything you feel like telling us to leadership here".

"Several of your leadership personnel were present when we were here before" Nashikk added "I don't remember this big one, but I remember the smaller General and another big one who seemed to be a personal friend of Crichton for many cycles".

"He's our War Commander" Sturk explained "This ship is his. He commands all personnel aboard".


~The new humans, these Russians, are doing well~ Amara told Harrigan at the wedding reception ~The boy seems to be continually amazed at the variety of food available and pleased he is allowed to eat whatever he likes. Ivan has drunk a little too much alcohol, but not enough to be reprimanded. Fyodor and Vladimir are also enjoying the food and the drink, but only Viktor seems to be paying as much attention to the Americans around him as he does to his food~

~What about Fyodor's wife?~ Harrigan asked.

~She does well~ Amara replied ~She does like the new food, but she spends more time watching her son than she does any of the other people. She may be concerned Americans will try to talk to him without her or Fyodor present~

"Everyone doin' good?" Harrigan asked, walking over to the Russians.

"We are" Fyodor's wife replied after looking at her husband "This food is not like what we ate at home, there is so much variety here! Is there this much variety… where we will now be living?"

"Not quite" Harrigan replied "but there's food from the three major kinds of people in the Kingdom, plus a few generic dishes, plus one or two Nebari foods as well – though that's usually just on seventh-day, that's Sunday to you"

"Not hitting the booze?" Harrigan asked.

Once Fyodor's wife figured out what Harrigan meant, she shook her head and replied "Not here, surrounded by people we don't know – Americans, at that. Even at home I drank rarely – usually only when my husband was at home" before she smiled briefly and added "It seems that my husband's new work location will be where we live, which both Andrei and I thank you for".

"For now, yeah" Harrigan replied, nodding "All the new recruits gotta go through training – your lot get a slight break due to what they did before we got them, but you'll all be tested an' drilled once we got settled again back home".

"Yes, I like the strong coffee" Fyodor's wife told Harrigan with a smile when the pair of them walked over to get some "We had tea where we lived before… but not coffee, especially like this".

"We don't get it on board either" Harrigan replied "We got some, picked it up before you got here – but that's a seventh-day treat since nowhere we've been so far has coffee yet. There is something close, but it takes a little getting used to. We do have a kind of tea, though".

"Sir..." Andrei announced as seriously as he could manage, adding a salute "I must report I saw two people who were looking at us a lot. The one time mother spoke our language, one recognised it and told the other one".

"Are they still here?" Harrigan asked "Don't look and point… look around, use mirrors and reflections, describe where they are in relation to things around them".

"One, sir" Andrei replied eventually – he couldn't give a clear description, but Harrigan found him after a few minutes and said "That man is an officer, probably the intelligence officer for this base. Since Nome is very close to Russia, he will be able to speak and read your language. Well done for spotting him, mister. Carry on".

Andrei smiled, saluted again, then at his mother's urging went to get himself more food.

"Thank you for taking time to make sure my son feels welcome as well, sir" Fyodor's wife said "Occasionally his father or Viktor will teach him things when they are not working, so I expect he likes it that you are trying to do so as well".

"There's other kids on board as well" Harrigan replied "Human ones, I mean – not just nonhuman ones. You'll get to see them an' make friends among them as well".

Many of the soldiers were happy to eat the nonhuman food available and said so when Harrigan walked around the room – the alcohol as well, though the fellip was proving more popular than he'd thought and the grolsahk and grangacha less so.

Rygel was very pleased at the variety of food available as well as that many human people came over to look at him and talk to him.

"Even my three stomachs are nearly full, Crichton!" he said happily, a chicken leg in one hand and a large mug of fellip in the other "It was certainly one of your better ideas to come here when that other human Harrigan asked us to!"

"Yeah, feeling a bit full myself, Sparky" Crichton replied with a grin "Sputnik's mostly trying to catalogue all the different variety of humans she can see and talking to Jool about them… Chi's enjoying the booze but not the company, which is a bit unusual for her… Aeryn's actin' more like that man over there, the one by that ginormous guy Harrigan brought down with him – more concerned with the people around than the food".

"That big one is a Scarran called Rekketh" Rygel replied "He told me cooking is one of his jobs aboard that big ship Harrigan has! It's always good to meet someone who can cook a good meal".

About an hour and a half later, Harrigan got on the comm to the Havoc again – and maybe a few minutes later called "Looks like we got places to be, people – so if any of you want more booze, now's the time! You got until my guys pack up all our stuff!"

Predictably, that got Rekketh and Martha ran off their feet keeping up with orders – by the time the Black Flag had landed outside there was no fellip left and little enough of anything else as well.

"WE'RE READY!" one of the Black Flag's crew yelled from the lowered aft drop ramp "Any people or cargo should get aboard now!"

"Is this the same aircraft we came here in, uncle Viktor?" Andrei asked.

"I doubt it, mister" Viktor replied "But it may well be one like it. We won't be able to tell until we get inside. When we are shown to our quarters, I might be able to tell then".

Altur was waiting for the Russians when they reached the drop ramp.

"Ah yes, you must be the new people I was told would be here" Altur told Viktor "You are the most senior among them, mister? I was told that you were".

"I am, whoever you are" Viktor replied "Will we be in quarters for the trip to wherever we're going next, or down here on those seats against the wall?"

"I am an officer" Altur replied, showing his rank badges to Viktor, and to Andrei when asked as well "Commander First Rank, fourth on the scale of officer rankings. I am a ...special support representative – among other things".

"We have been told what that means" Viktor replied "It means you can do things like speak right into a person's head. Your leader sent someone like that to help us during our work recently".

"He did" Altur replied, leading the Russians over to the more basic seating for soldiers waiting to be dropped for combat "That was Amara. Some of her skills are like mine and some are not. If you are cleared to know about those things, others will tell you if you complete your training".

"You can speak into someone's head?" Andrei asked "How do you do that? Has father heard you do that? Can you do that with me and mother?"

~Greetings, young man~ Altur told Andrei in his head ~Greetings to your mother also~ before telling his mother ~I don't know if your mate has told you about people speaking in his head like this, but it will not hurt you – although it may feel odd for a while until you become used to it~

"He did" Fyodor's wife replied "It makes me feel a little dizzy, to be honest".

Altur waited until all the Russians had been strapped into drop seating and all the Irregulars and cargo had come aboard.

~All OK!~ Altur called, letting the Russians hear as well.

~Copy that, Altur~ the ship's captain replied ~Ah, I see we have new people coming aboard – in the event Altur is linking you in, greetings to you all as well. Right now I have work to do, I need to fly this ship – I may be able to talk to you later~

"It makes me feel dizzy like your mother does" Fyodor told his son as the Black Flag took off "It actually made me vomit a few times when Amara did that while your uncle Viktor and I were working, Andrei. I am starting to adjust, Andrei – and so will you".