"The President was wondering if you had forgotten about the enquiry and left" Jack told Harrigan when the Havoc had arrived in geostationary orbit over Washington DC "We've kept it going for a few days more than it would usually have done, but since a number of your soldiers have critical information we would appreciate them being present to testify before Congress".
"I'll bring Anton, his Dad, and Westmore" Harrigan decided "along with Harek. That should cover everything".
"Be careful when you're called" Harrigan told Anton and Harek "This bunch are career politicians, they can twist words however they like until what gets heard bears little resemblance to what you started with – or what actually happened, if they feel like it. Speak carefully and exactly, don't give them anything they can use against you – I'm sure some of the Senators here are from states we embargoed, or who Beasely has connections with".
It took four days before the Senators chairing the enquiry decided they had learned everything they could from the Irregulars involved.
"You did good, son" Lazarus told his son after the last session "Even I wanted to fry at least two of them after session two, mister".
"I expect their manner is simply the way all political figures end up after spending extended time in such a position" Anton decided after a few microts thought "I doubt too many Kingdom representatives, at any level from planetary to Council level, are much different in their own ways".
"At least we got Councillor Shuljek on our side" Harrigan said, which got nods from everyone except Westmore.
"You'll meet him once we get back, mister" Harrigan told him "Prob'ly not for long, depends where he's gotta go once we get home again".
Harrigan had barely stopped talking when Amara called his comm, saying General Franklin was on the phone with the CO of Nellis AFB.
"No, we're not going to give you a dressing-down for poaching some of our pilots, mister" Nellis' CO said immediately when Harrigan took the call "Your guys bugged out before we did Bomb Comp scoring, Blazer and Priest took it out by two points".
"I'll find out where they are at my place and bring 'em over special delivery, you won't have to wait long" Harrigan replied.
"Holy crap!" Blazer groaned, trying his best to fight his mentalism-induced dizziness once he reappeared at Nellis "What the he- no, don't tell me, we'll deal with that later, now where the hell am I now and why am I here?!"
Since Priest was taking deep breaths to reorient himself and calm his own nerves, Harrigan said "That's what we call special delivery, mister – you'll get used to it eventually. It's just you, me, and Priest here – number one mucky-muck here at Nellis says you two took out Bomb Comp by two points".
"Hell yeah!" Blazer called happily, forgetting his mild disorientation "Priest, we got it! Last time we'll do it in anything made by humans – but maybe we'll get to try in one of them enormous things packin' out the flight decks where we base out of now one day".
Everyone was relieved when Blazer and Priest revealed their presence, though that number dropped notably if not massively when they claimed the trophy as 1st Irregulars and not 8th Air Force – their former support staff from 8th Air Force clapped anyway, and that got Blazer encouraging them, and that brought on a loud screech and a grin from Harrigan – which also blew out the microphone and half the speakers.
"Whoops..." Harrigan whispered before grinning again "I'd say that's our cue to leave. Bye, everyone – special support, get us back topside!" - after which Blazer, Priest, Harrigan, and Amara disappeared right in front of hundreds of gobsmacked pilots before reappearing outside recruit training quarters on the Havoc.
While Blazer and Priest were showing off their trophy to the other human recruits and anyone else who'd listen, Amara called ~Olak? ((curiosity, interest)) Are you busy? Are you well?~
~Ah, it's you~ Olak replied ~It has been a lot to get used to… Amara, yes?… but Kasan Rybak and Kurth tell me I am doing well enough. Kasan Rybak says it's better that I learn more control first and the ability to more efficiently use my available power second~
~They are both correct ((image of Amara nodding seriously))~ Amara replied ~My own teachers when I was younger thought this way as well. General Tareg, the stonewalker who helped you recently in combat, also thinks that way~
Kasan Rybak linked himself into the conversation and showed Amara video of Olak's weather control testing and some of his other testing.
~You are doing well, as far as I can tell~ Amara assured Olak happily ~Learn as much as you can from each of the Five. I am needed elsewhere, or I would teach you things as well. Each of the Five have useful things which you can learn, and you should do your very best to learn everything they can teach you – if you do well, they may even teach you more things which they had not thought you might be able to manage when they first met you. But it is most important to practice the things you already know, practice repeatedly – when you know a new skill in mentalism beyond doubt, you can then move on and learn another~
~Kurth tells me you have a very long range indeed in communications telepathy~ Olak replied ~I should like to extend my capabilities as you did in that area – as far as you have done, assuming I can do that without my brain exploding~
~An excellent aim ((agreement))~ Amara replied, pleased that another mentalist thought following her own example was a good thing ~I can make contact with people on other planets this way, did you know that? Even if you cannot manage that, you may well be able to contact anyone on this world or even anyone in this star system should you need to~
~Hah!~ Olak replied happily ~I'll never need to pay another phone bill ever again! relief~
"Got enough juice to get TR Holt up here for a quick pow-wow?" Harrigan asked Amara "The President as well if you can. I did promise them a bit of an overview of all the big political movers and shakers out there before we left".
Amara briefly linked with Harrigan to read his thought-impressions of the two men, and seemed pleased that both were in the White House when she scanned for them.
~We won't take you away from the White House for long, either of you~ Harrigan told them both over the link ~But I did say I'd give you guys a bit of a lesson in how politics works and who the big players are out where we call home… which'll be easier if you're both up here. Hopefully neither of you are too susceptible to motion-sickness… just take a deep breath and say when you're ready… Mr President, if you could stand up and not sit at your desk, it'd make this a bit easier...~
"Just take a few deep breaths, Mr President..." TR Holt advised, doing the same thing himself once he reappeared outside recruit training quarters in the Havoc "That's right… slow deep breaths… the air's perfectly breathable here without a mask..." before he looked around and added "It looks like we've even been met by humans, as it happens".
"We're new here, Mr President" Higgins explained "There's ...two, I think… of us in sick bay recovering from training accidents right now… but you're seeing the more recent human recruits up here".
"The only one I know by name is Mr Westmore there" President Diesel replied "He did ...useful classified work… with a number of others".
"Done a few missions like that myself, Mr President" Higgins replied "Never with Westmore, though".
Westmore nodded in Higgins' direction before saying "This way Mr President, Mr Holt… the War Commander's waiting for you on the bridge, and since I've been here a little longer than everyone else I know how to get there without a helper".
"Training Sergeant..." Westmore asked Molsey "If you and your officer could get everyone else started with their next training schedule, please… I'll catch up once I'm done with the War Commander".
"Very good, Trooper" Molsey told Westmore "Get the ...most recent… recruits on your way back, assuming they're not still on orientation training".
"They didn't puke their guts up when they got here, did they?" Harrigan asked when Westmore asked permission to bring the President and TR Holt onto the bridge.
"Not that I'm aware of, sir" Westmore replied "Higgins is down there making sure they don't wander off, everyone else is back on training as far as I know" before whistling down the entry corridor.
Higgins brought the President and TR Holt up to the bridge. If I'm any judge of things Harrigan decided the Pres is trying to decide which movie set he's on, while Holt is trying to decide what everything does just by looking at it.
"Over here, both of you" Harrigan called, and once both the President and Holt turned to face the front of the bridge, Harrigan got the presentation started on the biggest overhead screen.
"Do you support any of the major or minor powers over the others, Mr Harrigan?" the President asked once the presentation was over.
"Nah" Harrigan replied, shaking his head "We don't do governments' dirty work for them, but we don't mind doing other stuff like hostage rescues, the occasional jailbreak, setting up training cadres, maybe a bit of recon … one or two more exciting things if the Generals and I think it's worth the effort".
Liz came over with a couple of small plastic lumps in her hand, which Holt soon decided were slightly oversized thumb drives.
"Yeah, we worked out how to get the comp here to code video into stuff humans can use" she told Holt, passing the datapods to him "You got all the presentation you just went through, a few other bits of stuff Harrigan thought might help explain things to you as well".
"As far as security goes..." Harrigan added, raising an eyebrow at Liz for addressing him by name and not rank on the bridge "you're cleared, Mr President, Jack Crichton's cleared, and TR Holt's cleared. I'd prefer it if only a few select people in the intel community even knew you have that – it's need to know information and Congressmen and Senators don't need to know, especially since none of my guys can vote for them in American elections".
The President laughed at that but nodded agreement as well.
"I'll sit on it for a while" Holt told Harrigan "The President and I will decide who, if anyone, needs to see it".
"The fewer the better, mister" Harrigan replied "This is one of those special things I'm doing for you guys since we like Americans a little bit more than everyone else. It's in your best interests as well as ours that that information doesn't get spread too far".
President Diesel thanked Harrigan for that, while Holt just smiled a bit – and mid-smile, Amara translocated them both back to the White House.
"Just in time for swimming training, mister Westmore" Molsey said when he called in "Mr Higgins' rating here is good enough for now already, your own is above average… but I feel we should push everyone's tolerances as far as we can. I know roughly how good you American humans are, but the Russians' tolerances definitely need to be established".
"Those Russkies should be good" Higgins added, speaking over Westmore's shoulder "But yeah, it's time everyone got run into the ground – well, the water. I'll bring my kids along, they like watching me in the water anyway and my older two are getting good in the water these days themselves".
"You or your mate are responsible for their conduct, Mr Higgins" Molsey reminded him "I and the other instructors have enough to do with you human adults. Basic water proficiency is optional, Mr Higgins, for those not requiring special-ops or medical proficiencies".
"My kids all get to learn basic first aid and lifesaving stuff, Training Sergeant" Higgins insisted "Dunno about anyone else, but we been going to swimming pools and beaches for ever – an' I've been in the SEALs, too".
"Good" Molsey decided "Get yourself and Mr Westmore to the PTR main entry transit platform now, Mr Higgins".
Harrigan headed to the main stores facility as soon as he could, grabbing Crichton and the rest of his crew still on the Havoc on the way.
"We're gonna get your stuff sorted now, you lot" Harrigan explained "Some food, some clothing – a few other things to help keep you going on Moya for a bit" before looking around and asking "Sluggo's back on Moya?"
"He found his time aboard satisfactory" Sikozu explained "until one of your crew explained to him that he was not permitted unlimited access to your food stores. I believe some of your Charrids had him eat self-heating ration tins closest to their safety thresholds – when Rygel realised this, he stopped and returned to Moya".
"We usually do that with the recruits as well, though the current lot don't know that" Harrigan replied "But since I did say I'd include a bit of special stuff for Spanky, I'll do that as long as no one tells him which box it's in. Mr C, you an' Aeryn will get access through the biometric locks on that box".
It took about an arn for Harrigan, Crichton, Aeryn, and Sikozu to decide what supplies would be most useful for them on Moya.
"There's a bit of Kalish food in there, Sikozu" Harrigan revealed, grinning when Sikozu smiled and bowed slightly in thanks "Since I assume you know how to do that stuff right, stick your hand on the lockplate an' I'll give you sole access to that".
As it should be Sikozu decided approvingly There should be enough preserved foodstuffs to cover one entire eating time for me in this box – certainly not premium eating time dishes, but far better than I must usually put up with.
"Jool, you get a few extra medical things" Harrigan added next "The state of Moya's medical room is, to be quite blunt, absolutely shocking right now – it won't be up to snuff for a military field hospital now, but it's far better than it used to be".
"Pilot, where are you right now?" Crichton asked on his comm-badge.
"Moya and I are on our way to your location" Pilot replied "We will not be long. Moya wanted to fly among the tallest mountains on this world for a while – we resupplied some climbers' campsites and one village while we did this. The pay for that was not exceptional, but every bit counts – our temporary employers were more pleased when we expressed our preference to be paid in useful goods and not currency, even though it took a little longer to – as you say - 'iron out the details' ".
"Looks like big man H is getting ready to head back" Crichton replied, both he and Pilot knowing that meant to the Territories "I expect you'll be the last to get back to your rooms".
Harek joined in with his father in getting the Moyans moving faster as they carried their supplies from the service transport to Moya's loading dock.
"Requesting permission to dock once more, Mr Harrigan" Pilot asked over comm.
"Get yourselves in here" Harrigan called "Containment field is on an' there's stuff to get put away before Spanky thinks it's food and tries eating the boxes".
By the time Moya had settled into her loading dock, Amara had arrived as well – and even though she had no orders to do so, she helped carry things and put them away while asking all kinds of questions about Moya. Sikozu smiled when she did that and answered most of them herself, while Pilot answered the rest.
"Crichton, you're with me!" Harrigan ordered once everything was put away "We're getting out of here! Everyone else, find somewhere safe to sit, the ride's gonna be a bit wild!"
Once the recruits found out, Molsey and Aden along with the others rushed everyone into getting back to recruit quarters and properly cleaned before the transport alarm was given.
"ALL OK!" Westmore shouted "Looks like that's all of it! Can't stay, gotta reach family quarters!" before running for the nearest transit platform. Higgins' family followed behind as fast as they could – Westmore waited and urged all of them inside his own car before he sent it on its way.
"Crew, this is the War Commander..." Harrigan announced as soon as he sat down in the command chair "We got everything done here that we came for, including a bit of resupply… so we're heading home! Usual drill… make sure stuff's not gonna fly around the room, comp here will let me know once everyone's signed off. Sonner it gets done, the sooner we get going, people!"
"All OK!" Tovak called from the engineering desk "I've got the screens up, War Commander, even though I doubt we'll need them".
"Sensors, good" Dolgan called from navigation "Wormhole, all good. Still stable".
"Helm confirms engines and controls are good" Caseya added "Ready to transfer controls to command chair at your command, War Commander"
"Controls to command chair..." Harrigan ordered "now!" before bringing the Havoc around in a fairly gentle turn until he saw the wormhole directly in front of him.
"Everyone will stay sitting safely during wormhole travel" Molsey told the recruits in training quarters and family quarters "The War Commander or helm officer will announce when we have safely emerged at our basing world, after which you may resume your usual daily training events. Should any of you be required for special duties elsewhere at that point, someone will come and collect you".
"Understood" Viktor replied on the Russians' behalf "All of my people are here in my quarters. Everyone is sitting down and using the emergency restraints we were shown. Fyodor's son did well and used his own without help".
"Good" Molsey replied "It is good to see Andrei is learning even simple things like this without being ordered to. He will have study placement tests to do once we return to our basing world".
"System space scan" Captain Zarithak ordered.
His navigation officer reported all the commerical traffic that had already been logged, plus one more which Zarithak had to warn against approaching the wormhole.
"The crew being who they are..." Zarithak asked his first officer "there will be a book on when the 1st Irregulars and the War Commander will return. What are the current best odds and best time?"
"That passed two days ago, sir" the first officer replied "Next best odds are for ten days from now. One crew cadet has bet on their return being within the arn – should this happen, she'll have earned enough currency and priviliges to keep her family off emergency duty rosters, and on priority galley schedules, for a weeken".
Less that two momens from the end of that time, navigation sounded an alarm and called "Dead ahead! Something coming out of the wormhole!"
"General quarters, general quarters!" Zarithak ordered over 2nd Irregulars' PA "All hands to battle stations! This is not a drill!"
The time for the cadet's bet had almost expired when Captain Zarithak's bridge crew saw the Havoc emerge from the wormhole and come to a halt about half way between it and them.
"It looks like this cadet has won the book..." Zarithak decided "See to it that people don't try and get out of paying what they owe, in things or duties, just because a cadet won the book and not an adult crewmember" before telling his duty comm officer "Call the War Commander, tell him we will launch a nuclear weapon to close the wormhole in accordance with his previous orders as soon as the Cry Havoc reaches a safe distance from the wormhole"..
"Copy that, Captain!" Harrigan called happily "It's good to be back! Helm, get us back to our usual parking spot in high orbit – as soon as we're a good distance away, you're good to fire!"
One of the Sunbuster's Strykers was already in space and standing by – once the pilot saw the Havoc's enormous engines pass them by, he flipped his craft around and headed back, making an over-the-shoulder launch as soon as he could.
"Positive wormhole closure, people" Crichton called, with Dolgan confirming it "Unless the big man needs you all out here, you might as well follow us back to high orbit".
"We will follow the Cry Havoc back to high orbit, you are correct" Zarithak told Crichton.
"How long were we gone – by Tal IV time, anyway?" Harrigan asked Captain Zarithak.
"A little over a cycle, sir" Zarithak replied "To be honest, I didn't think you'd be away this long – but we're grateful for you getting us paid at your contract rates for covering your absence anyway...".
"I'm relieving you of that position… now" Harrigan called.
"2nd Irregulars are relieved" Zarithak replied, though Harrigan added "Might just upgrade what you guys got before, if you know what I mean… so I want Councillor Shuljek and whoever's first officer over here soonish".
"That is actually me" Captain Zarithak replied, only a little smugly "Captain Karath was offered that position but preferred to remain in command of his dreadnaught only".
"We'll be waiting, mister..." Harrigan laughed.
Down in the bowels of a ship very much the worse for wear, in a blast pit on Talzenadar IV, Devin and his father were doing their best to provide enough temporary repairs so that replacement parts could be safely fitted. The ship's few technically-qualified crew helped out when ordered to but otherwise stayed well out of their way.
"If I open emergency venting here and here and here, papa..." Devin said "then the engine spaces can be safely purged of all toxic substances… well, enough to give us time to safely get heavier tools from the workshop".
"I will do that, Devin" Feltano insisted "I am in charge, Devin. You should evacuate the remaining crew and return to the shop".
"You will not fit into the space around venting site two, papa" Devin replied "If you wish to successfully see to venting sites one and three, you could do so – but only I can fit through the damaged and confined spaces around venting site two".
Only I will be able to reach all three sites in time Devin decided Father could certainly provide the temporary repairs to sites one and three we need...but I think that doing so to one site may rupture emergency venting elsewhere if at least site two and site three are not sealed within momens. Father is on the wrong side of the ship to do that, and too large to fit under the collapsed piping in time.
"You sure?" one of the crew asked with concern.
Devin replied "Only I can do what must be done. My father must be taken to a safe position with your other crewmembers".
"OK, mister..." the tech replied "I'm outta here, then...".
Devin watched on his PDA to make sure everyone else had retreated far enough – after which he slammed one hand on a button that sealed off the engine spaces before moving as fast as he could to perform the necessary repairs. Feltano knew what Devin had done and why, though he couldn't help calling out to his son before sitting down against the wall of his shop.
Devin couldn't spare the time to check tech manuals, instead following what he knew from study and from learning with his father. Scampering from place to place, he patched welds and replaced smaller parts as fast as he could while also keeping an eye on the diagnostic panel displayed on his PDA.
Soon, he headed for the most confined passage between the two engines, the part he knew his father couldn't fit in.
The emergency venting and other systems are not good here he could tell but they will hold for long enough before running for the next place he was needed, which his memory told him was not far.
He worked fast, but his instincts told him criticial parts were failing faster than he could make temporary repairs. If I activate emergency venting now he decided the ship may be heavily damaged but can be fixed – though I may be injured by debris or affected by fumes or liquids. I must hope that either I or father can call Captain Zarithak or the War Commander, should be have returned while I am here. I should be like my friends and like the War Commander, I should do the right thing even if it hurts me in some way.
His treblin hand slammed down on the nearest emergency venting button. Damage alarms did sound on the ship, but large venting hatches also popped and huge clouds of dangerous gasses and toxic liquids gushed out of every available vent and more than a few holes in the hull.
"Clear the pit, clear the street!" Feltano ordered as loudly as he could "Hazmat containment failure!"
Security troopers nearby did as much as they could to keep everyone away from the ship, with more coming in as they heard the call.
Feltano ordered the ship's crew that were useful enough to help into hazmat suits. The gasses were rising into upper atmosphere, but the crew and others took some time to carefully contain and dispose of spilled liquids.
Devin cried out in pain, but nonetheless crawled for the nearest vent grille large enough to admit him. Not quite enough he decided when he saw it, before trying to reach his damaged PDA and activate his trouble alarm. His treblin arm could barely move without making him cry out, but he barely managed to activate his trouble alarm before dropping to the deck and blacking out.
"We have received a kingdom-pattern trouble alarm noted as belonging to the Kalish named Devin on the planet below!" a Kalish doctor told Captain Zarithak "He has suffered considerable injuries, according to the feed from his PDA. May we launch a craft to retrieve him and bring him to our sick bay?"
"The War Commander is back" Zarithak replied "Do as you suggested but tell him as well – that family are close friends of a number of his crew".
"Plok!" Harrigan replied when he heard, before ordering Amara "Amara, get yourself and medical orderlies down to Devin's location and make sure 1) that he won't die, and 2) that he gets fixed up! If you gotta bring him up here, call in a medevac, I'll send someone to get you!"
~Mister Westmore! urgency~ Amara almost shouted in his head ~You are required to assist with a medical emergency on the planet below! Should you be in a sick bay now, get yourself emergency medic's kit!~
Westmore was outside recruit's quarters, so he found the nearest transit car and called in a medical emergency since he didn't know any other way to get to the main sick bay fast.
"Needing a doc's emergency bag right now!" he barked "Needing two more orderlies! Get your asses here to me, Amara can grab us all for the trip much more easily if you're close!"
Two Kalish, plus Sherenka, made sense of his accent and his English speech, grabbing medical equipment for him and themselves before calling "We are here!"
The crew of the wrecked ship were extremely surprised when Amara, Westmore and other medical staff translocated to the ground barely a few metras in front of them.
"Environmental anaysis!" Amara ordered "I need to know if Sherenka can safely cut through the hull!"
"Ship's all beat to plok" its chief engineer called "You should be good to go in that way" before muttering about how he didn't think the ship would have lasted as long as it had – which Amara decided to ignore, no matter how angry it made her.
"Sherenka, burn through the hull!" Amara ordered her friend "I can help a little, I can channel at least some power to your weapon systems, bu-"
"I can do it" Sherenka replied immediately "You should use your mentalism to move any pieces aside so we can reach Devin".
It took longer than either of them would like, but – after generating a containment field around them for safety – Amara and Sherenka proceeded inside.
"Uncle Devin is badly injured" Amara called to Moratha in the main sick bay, a few tears rolling down her cheek "He extended himself past safe limits trying to repair a ship for customers… but now he needs us to help him. I have stabilised his injuries with mentalism, and the human Westmore has helped with conventional medical skills, but I would like to bring him to our ship for better medical care than we can provide here".
"Preferably quick!" Westmore added "I dunno enough about Kalish to make any judgements – but if you can get sick bay up an' running to deal with it, that'd be nice".
"Keep him alive for another fifteen momens and we can get an assault lander to you" Moratha decided, before barking orders of her own to duty medical staff on the hammond flight deck "I won't risk Amara bringing him up here by mentalism, not if he's critically injured".
"I am here, uncle Devin..." Amara called softly to her uncle "We had just got back to high orbit, did you know that? Friends are flying down here, we will take you back to our ship and a sick bay on board – then we will see to it that you will be well".
~((pain, fatigue))~ Amara heard from his faint surface thoughts.
The assault lander with other medical staff made a quick but rough landing, after which its pilot dropped the ramp with a loud clang.
"We must move you now, uncle" Amara told him softly "I will lift you onto a stretcher by mentalism, then others here will carry you on board and see to it you are properly secured for travel".
Westmore took one end of the stretcher as soon as Amara nodded permission, calling "One...two...three – now!"
The group boarded the assault lander, with both Lerren and Feltano running aboard briefly to check he was alive.
"He is alive" Amara confirmed for them "We must transport him to main sick bay as soon as possible. I will update you on his condition – but one of you may come with us if you prefer, should you not be needed in the shop".
Lerren immediately laid a hand on his stretcher, and Feltano nodded and smiled before getting off the lander and returning to his wife to update her about Devin's health.
Harrigan listened to every detail as it happened, opening the deck doors himself from the command chair when the lander got close.
"We're gonna have to lift you again, mister!" Westmore told Devin "Dunno if it's safe to give you any meds yet, specially since docs will be ready to start fixing you up as soon as we turn up at main sick bay… if anyone here could take care of that if it's safe to do so, that'd be nice...".
"Amara is helping divert or nullify my pain as much as she can" Devin whispered "Please, take me to the sick bay before she hurts herself helping me...".
"Continue to let Westmore assume he leads the medevac" Moratha told the Kalish medical staff with the human "You will report to me or to Chief Surgeon Nrakal on his conduct as soon as it is safe to do so. Then we will see if there are further opportunities for medical or other training for him".
"We will do this" one Kalish orderly replied softly as another got their transit car moving "The human Westmore seems to be checking regularly on the patient's health and administering pain relief creams – I do not know if they are actually working well, but the patient seems to be at least a little relieved that this is happening".
"Now!" Westmore barked again, and Devin's stretcher was carried quickly but safely into the larger operating theatre.
Westmore wasn't quite sure what should happen next, but called "If there's any way to sanitise this whole area and us without hurting the dude on the table, do that!"
"The sterilisation field is on, Mister Westmore" Moratha called "Amara, I need internal scans of Devin's body, as detailed as your hypersense can make them. What happened to him?"
"Couldn't understand half the technical mumbo-jumbo the ship's chief eng was saying" Westmore replied "But if I had to guess from the smell, I'd say the coolant system shit itself and took some of the lubrication pipes and wiring with it".
Amara tried to gently scan Devin's surface thoughts, and while Devin was still in a lot of pain he held himself together for long enough that Amara read his recent memories and displayed video – and then one of the orderlies confirmed Westmore's guess as to what had gone wrong.
"Come, Lerren" another Kalish urged "The doctors must do their work. I will escort you to a galley where large numbers of our people congregate, we will support you and help you relax".
"You will be updated regularly about Devin's medical status" Amara replied – she didn't turn from the operating table and the other doctors, but a spectral image of her head appeared in front of the orderly and Lerren and appeared to speak to them.
"Mister Westmore is assisting with a medical emergency" Molsey told the other recruits "That is all any of us need to know. For now, I think it would be good to continue basic ship orientation – have any of you studied public archives and learned how to find new places from the maps? In theory, anyway".
Andrei gave a code, though Molsey replied with surprising tact and said "That is the location code for the bridge, young man. We cannot go there unless invited by the current watch officer, the Sub-Commander, or the War Commander".
"We may not be able to go there now" Fyodor told his son "but thanks to you we now know useful information about how we might be able to get there later".
James Westmore nodded and gave another code.
"That code is for a stores office at the aft end of the ship" Molsey revealed after checking the code on her PDA "Since none of you have even the basic model PDA we expect all crew to know how to use and maintain, we will go to this stores office and see to it that you are issued with them. Mister Higgins, your youngest child may not yet be able to have a PDA adjusted to fit her, but we will try to adapt one anyway".
The gathering of humans proceeded to the nearest transit platform – where one of the Charrids urged James Westmore to type in the code he knew on the small panel at the front of the car. The young boy nodded, Higgins' own children watching him, and did exactly that – after which the same Charrid as before pointed to a larger button below the keypad. James Westmore pressed that as well, after which the car started moving.
"James Westmore is learning basic ship orientation well" Molsey stated, making James himself smile at being praised in public in his new home "We will test each of you, narls and adults, the same way as James Westmore is being tested. After you understand the location reference system and how to use transit cars to find places and go to them, you will have passed basic orientation training".
"What are those coloured lines for?" Higgins' only son asked, pointing to the coloured lines that he could see on the ceiling and the deck close to the transit platform exit door "Are those part of our training too?"
"Mister Mooney will explain about that to you" Molsey replied, nodding "That was the thing he learned about first. He will explain about the coloured lines to you all, and you will be tested later to make sure that you remember".
Mooney gave a brief but clear explanation before asking one of them to pick out the line that would lead them to the stores office they needed.
Higgins' oldest daughter pointed to a grey line with black trim, saying "That one".
"Correct" Molsey said "What would happen if several stores offices are close by?"
"Code number on floor and roof" Ivan replied "Each stores office have grey and black line with number to new place".
"Correct" Molsey replied. These humans are picking up the skills they need to find their way around the ship at a slightly above average rate, at least by Charrid standards she decided.
"Our newest recruits?" a Scarran in the uniform of support services asked "They've advanced far enough to need some of our other equipment. I don't see PDAs on their wrists – have any of them earned ratings for other equipment?"
"James Westmore has been awarded basic weapons proficiency" Molsey told the Scarran "This is why he is still permitted to carry his small rifle. Should he be qualified to do so, and if his parents permit it, he should be issued with other weapons appropriate for personal defence and shipboard security. Everyone here should be issued with basic PDAs".
"My son is being given a work posting?" Ellen Westmore asked with great surprise "He's seven – not seventeen!"
"He is not being given a work posting" the Scarran told her, scaring her a little when she came closer "But his personnel file lists his basic ratings, and since one is basic weapons proficiency he is permitted to carry weapons appropriate to his skills aboard ship. He has probationary certification with three of our weapons… but I think those human hands are only big enough to handle one particular one on an extended basis until he gets to be a bit bigger" before she told James "Step forward, please. Place your hammond hand on the plate on this terminal".
Once James remembered which hand that was, he did so.
"Yes, he is competent on some weapons but the training officer recommends that full competency in two be held back until his hands grow large enough to handle them safely" the Scarran explained "James, you must be fitted for a shoulder holster. The weapon you are about to be issued has a clip so you can put it on your belt as well, but you should learn how to carry and draw from a shoulder holster as well".
This was done a little roughly but quickly. The Scarran took the holster back off him and ran James through putting it on and adjusting it properly, after which she paid much closer attention at getting him to load, unload, and holster the pistol.
"Good" Viktor told him "Your father has taught you well, I think. It was good to see you remembered to take the proper precations and direct us out of the way of the muzzle of your weapon".
James still wasn't sure how to react around Viktor or the other Russians, so he just nodded.
Everyone, but Andrei in particular, watched as the Scarran passed James Westmore three power packs and showed him how to properly store them in the pouches on his holster.
"Dad told me power packs are one-use-only" James said "Should I just throw the used ones away, or bring them back for recycling?"
"You're asking good questions, boy" the Scarran woman told him "Yes, bring them back for recycling. It's not essential, they're fairly cheap, but everything we can re-use we should re-use".
Andrei nodded when he saw James Westmore salute, and giggled a bit when the Scarran rumbled at him.
Molsey made sure each of them set up their PDA correctly.
"The basic screen shows current ship time and your current location on a moving map" she told them "You can read messages sent to you, or in the case of married couples ones sent to your families. PDAs have a number of other functions as well, but yours only have the functions I have described, plus communications. You can connect to a person you are cleared to contact by voice command or comm ident code on the touch screen. PDAs respond to commands in any language known by personnel aboard".
"Mother, father..." Caseya told her worried parents over comm "I have learned that Devin's injuries are being healed even as we speak. Amara is helping, as you probably expected, but Moratha is in charge – the human named Westmore is assisting as well in many ways, did you know that?"
"We will thank him later" her mother decided "For now it is enough to know your brother will live".
"He will, mother" Caseya assured her "Moratha has told me this. I am sure there is a lot of work to do, but Devin has been given strong anaesthetic and is sleeping while the doctors do their work".
Westmore came out and slumped down on the bench beside Lerren.
"We're doin' good" he called in the general direction of Caseya's comm "He's gonna need a crapload of cosmetic surgery to hide the scars, but the chief surgeon tells me they got good ways to do that in a lot less time than we could have managed back on Earth".
"You are not needed to assist with more medical work with my son?" Maranno asked.
"Chief doc told me to go sleep" Westmore replied "They're rotating docs right now, getting a new group to keep going while the rest of us get food and get sleep".
"That was the human Westmore, mother" Caseya explained "Master Juroch tells me he was a combat medic on Erp – but even in this short time he has learned basic things about Kalish people which he used to help Devin, mother".
"You should probably get some sleep too, dear daughter" Maranno urged Caseya with a smile.
"Ship time for my usual work shift gives me two more arns before mandatory sleep time" Caseya replied "I will find my Trannak and see if the War Commander has other orders for me until then".
"How's Devin doing?" Harrigan asked Moratha at First Meal the following day.
"Stable and improving" Moratha replied "He's still sleeping right now, but he'll be ablt to talk to you when he wakes up".
"The young man Devin does well?" Captain Karath's chief medical officer asked, walking over "Everything I saw yesterday led me to believe that's the case".
"Stable and improving" Moratha replied "He'll need cosmetic surgery to hide the scars, though I am wondering if some are too extensive to hide that way".
"I'll go talk to him later" Harrigan decided "Have a bit of a chat. See how he's feeling".
"Devin has always liked you" Moratha replied, smiling "Even when he and his parents first arrived here, he found you fascinating".
"Yeah, Devin's got good people skills" Harrigan replied, laughing a bit "He'll do good down at the shop. He'd do good up here too, but his Dad needs him more – we can't take all the talent we find".
Lerren's hand went to her comm, answering a call – then she smiled and walked over to Harrigan before telling him "Devin has just woken up – and apparently has asked to see you, sir".
"He told you who I am?" Harrigan asked.
"He described you clearly and in detail before naming you, sir" Lerren clarified "His injuries have not affected his memory or his vision or his voice – he could see me and talk to me and hear me, even if he cannot speak very loudly yet. The doctors say the fumes from that ship may have damaged his throat".
"I'm gonna go see him after the Meal" Harrigan decided "I'll be having a bit of a private talk with him an' the docs for a bit, Lerren – but I'll call you back in once we're done".
"We'll come down for a chat with you once we're done with the docs here, governor" Harrigan told the governor of Talzenadar IV "One of our friends here had something extremely industrial happen to him, there's probably still hazmat crew clearing the plok away now for all I know".
His aide whispered to him for a few microts, after which the governor asked "The incident at the blast pit nearest the Duleno's premises? Those Kalish have a good reputation for reliability, if not always for the cheapest prices".
"You want quality, you gotta pay" Harrigan said "All of the Dulenos have helped us out before, we got a good relationship with them – one's actually one of my helm officers up here".
"Ah yes" the governor said with a nod "I remember Caseya – and, of course, Amara. Well then… since you're busy right now, I'll leave you to it. My aide will be alerted to expect you when you have some free time".
Get down here for a meeting once Devin's sorted Harrigan translated in his head, after which he said "I'll be down with the other Captains, maybe the Councillor as well, once we're settled in the sick bay".
Devin smiled when he was told Harrigan had arrived, though the medical orderly told him not to try sitting up.
"There you are, mister!" Harrigan said, grinning, once he'd been led to Devin's bed in sick bay "Doin' better now?"
"The doctors tell me my health improves and that I will not die, sir" Devin replied "They also tell me I may require reconstructive surgery to hide the evidence of injury".
"Yeah, they might need to tidy a few things up a bit once you're sorted, mister" Harrigan replied, nodding – then grinned and whispered in his ear when he saw one of the doctors leading Lerren to one side.
Devin almost shrieked with excitement, though he also hissed in pain as well.
"Sorry about that" Harrigan apologised "Kinda forgot how interested you are in all that stuff".
"You would consider giving these special things to me, sir?" Devin asked in surprised excitement "I am not a member of your unit – or even of your Kingdom, if it comes to that!"
"You're a good friend who's helped us out whenever we asked, Devin" Harrigan reminded him "Think of it as a commendation you have with you all the time".
"Would I be permitted some of the extra things that unusual human named Troll has?" Devin asked, though he wasn't upset when Harrigan shook his head and replied "I'd let you have the same stuff General Lazarus, Liz, Hellbolt, and Koronna have – that's still real good stuff, you're not missing out on anything".
"Could I ask my friend Lirak about it?" Devin asked – Harrigan grinned, nodded, then called Lirak on the comm.
"So you're improving, then" Lirak decided when Moratha gave him a brief overview of Devin's condition "Good. Do what the doctors tell you, mister Devin – they're good at what they do, that's why they're here. You'll be safe and well and back on your feet before long".
"I will" Devin assured him "The War Commander has said that he is considering rewarding me for previous service to your unit, Lirak – I had not thought I would have earned additional rewards, I was given commendation certificates for the wall of our family dwelling and praised in front of both my family and your crewmembers".
"Oh?" Lirak asked with a smile "I had not heard you were being considered for other commendation or reward – has the War Commander told you what you might be receiving?"
Devin started to whisper to Lirak, only noticing that Jane was there right beside him with a hand on his treblin shoulder – he looked at that, giggled a bit, then raised his voice just a little and explained more fully so both of them could hear.
"I remember you showing a lot of interest in those things, mister Devin" Lirak replied, looking Devin right in the eye "I know you find them interesting and exciting… but remember that only the most trusted receive such things or are even considered for them. Your conduct would reflect on not only your family but on this unit as well".
"I know it, Lirak" Devin replied "I did my very best to rescue the customer's crew and repair their ship because I want to be like my friends here and especially like you, Lirak".
Lirak rumbled softly and smiled, with Jane hugging him and whispering in his ear – Devin giggled when Lirak kissed her once she stopped, but just smiled when he held her in his arms for a half-momen or so.
"Lirak says I can tell you something almost no one knows, mister" Jane said, sitting down in another chair beside Devin's bed "He says it is safe to tell you because you are his good friend and a friend to other people here".
Devin nodded, then asked "What restricted information might you tell me? Why might I be permitted to know it?"
Jane just smiled and spoke very quietly as she explained that situation – Devin did shriek a little bit in excitement, before asking a number of questions very fast indeed.
"Yes, Devin, it is new" Jane explained "No, Devin, I don't know how we found out it could be done – I just thought it sounded both useful, effective, and good for my work. Besides that, humans don't age like you guys here – I want to stay active for a lot longer at my work and can't do that for too much longer without help".
"Does Amara know about it?" Devin asked.
"Not yet, I think" Jane replied "But she is one of a very few people who know how to do what needs to be done, Devin – so I expect she will be told very soon".
"Might I be permitted to be there when… well, you and…?" Devin asked, looking between Jane and Lirak.
It was Lirak's turn to laugh then.
"You can be present, yes" he told Devin "We will not be having a large gathering – just a few people from each species on board whom we know. You will be the Duleno family representative".
"Can Devin walk yet?" Jane asked the nearest doctor "Not run, just walk. Enough to get himself around the ship a bit".
"We will test him" that doctor replied, checking Devin's medical report "...at several points through the day. I see no reason why he should not be able to walk by tomorrow morning – though he will not be running at any point, of course. He will need to take his time and not rush".
Devin clapped when food was brought to him, raising his bed to he could sit in a more upright position and enjoy the food.
"Kalish food!" he called happily when the covers were taken off the plates "It is not really my eating time for another two days, but the food here is always very good!"
"Some has been brought for you also, Lerren" a Kalish cook said "Sit and eat beside your mate. You will both be alerted should Devin need immediate medical help or if other crew need to speak to you".
"Molsey, I want you an' your human to pick out one or two you think might be good to head down to the governor here – he's been on at me about coming down ASAP once the Kalish we know in sick bay's stable" Harrigan ordered.
"I like Aden, yes sir" Molsey replied "but he's not my human in any manner at a-"
"He is and and quite a few people know it" Harrigan replied, though he did grin as well "It's not against ship law to have a mate of a different species, I'd hope you knew that by now. I'll give the go-ahead for a formal ceremony once he passes basic for officers".
Molsey grumbled a bit for show, but nodded and smiled.
The War Commander is not upset that I have made my move early she decided or that I have pre-empted any attempts by other women aboard this ship to secure the human officer Aden Powell as my mate. Only Scarrans and that Nebari have secured humans for their mates, this will show my own people and the Kalish that they can do the same if they want to.
"That odd one named Viktor might be suitable" Molsey decided "I do not know for certain if any of those who came with in that group would be able to behave properly in a diplomatic setting. As for the Americans we have… Higgins would probably be suitable, and perhaps the former criminal known to Troll who insists we call him 'Robber' might appreciate the trust placed in him by being included as well".
"What about Belle or Savage?" Harrigan asked "You don't think the two girls are up to it yet?"
Molsey snorted with amusement, then said "Both of them have good military skills, sir… but I wouldn't send Belle, if she's the younger one who seems to be just as concerned about how many of the men like her as she is about passing basic training, just yet. The other one, the one you named Savage… maybe, it'd be worth the risk, at least if senior leadership briefed her first".
"I have been chosen to be a representative to the leader of this world" Viktor told the Russians "If anything useful or interesting happens I'll tell you all about it once we all get back".
"Who else is going, uncle Viktor?" Andrei asked "Is mother or father?"
"No more of us, no" Viktor replied, referring to the Russians "Two of the Americans, I think. I don't know which ones".
Fyodor held up a hand as the rest of the recruits came out of their own quarters and started talking about that.
Viktor nodded and signalled Andrei to go first and lead the way, calling "Yes, the Russians are coming!" and laughing as his group came closer.
"I've been told you're coming too, mister Viktor" Higgins replied "I know we've all been told a bunch of times, but I'd better say it again – we might have been Americans or Russians, but we aren't any more".
"That's right" Westmore added "I ain't going with you on this one, docs want me on standby in case stuff happens with our latest case in sick bay. I've been told you're going to meet the head honcho dirtside, so be nice".
"I have received orders from the President before, mister Higgins and mister Westmore" Viktor reminded the two men "The Russian one, anyway. I know how to behave around diplomats".
"That's good" Westmore replied "Intel from the War Commander says the governor here can understand English but not Russian – once he figures out your accent, anyway".
"Frances..." Higgins told his wife softly "Take care of the kids while I'm dirtside, help them and the others train – mostly what they need to know is about finding stuff, so get 'em using those new doohickeys to find out where stuff is on the ship. Not the bridge though, that's off-limits unless we're invited – that's what Andrei told us before, anyway".
"It is" Andrei confirmed, nodding "The green one told us that before. She has an American with her everywhere she goes".
"Right, everyone" Higgins called, getting all the humans to turn and face him "My wife's gonna get everyone doing orientation drills, Westmore's on standby to help her out unless the docs here call him in – it's in everyone's best interest to learn how to get around here ASAP, so don't slack off. If you go anywhere new, someone can tell me when I get back – and show me how to get there, too".
"I'm here, sir" Robber called "Sorry I been late, Savage took the first car and didn't wait".
"Hah!" Savage laughed "Yeah, I shoulda remembered a few of us were going, sorry 'bout that".
"Things happen" Viktor told Robber "That's why we train. So they don't happen again. In future, we will all remember to call in case others need transport in our transit car before we send it on its way".
"Get on board, everyone" Harrigan ordered, smiling a little as the tell-tale whine from Karl's flight nodes letting him know he had arrived as well "Good, the newest big man's arrived as well".
Everyone turned in surprise when they felt the impact of Karl's feet making contact on the deck.
"You can hear my story later" he decided "It is an interesting one. But it can wait until after today's training regimen for you is over".
Karl strode over and sat in the rough centre of the lander's troop deck, against the wall, calling "OK!" one he'd sat down.
He watched everyone else closely, telling them to strap in and call out once they had done so – and when Harrigan called "OK" and nodded, Karl turned his head slightly and called "ALL OK!" only slightly louder than he'd meant to.
"No one's motion-sick" Karl told Harrigan with approval as he watched the humans during the flight "The Russian named Viktor is even resting".
"Daddy says I been in the car once when I was a kid" Robber replied "when he got called to get some of our guys outta sight before the cops caught up. Once you been in a high-speed run with Daddy or with Troll, you don't get motion-sick no more".
"This bunch, mister" Harrigan told Karl "were all Air Force, either guys an' gals who'd served with Baron and I or kids of those who did. The Russians weren't, of course, but they're a special brand of crazy just like we were".
"I've dealt with Russians before, sir" Karl replied "Our Kingdom outpost did some business with people in that part of the world fairly regularly, though I don't know if this one can understand me speak his language, I'm a little out of practice".
"STAND UP!" Karl bellowed "STAND READY! FIVE MOMENS TILL DROP!"
Viktor was awake, if only just so, so Karl told him "Get up, mister Viktor – we're nearly on the ground!" in strongly-accented Russian.
Viktor muttered back in the same language until he got to his feet and remembered where he was.
"So you can speak my language as well" he told Karl in Russian "With a Lithuanian accent if I'm any judge of it, but at least I know what you're saying...".
Karl nodded, and was about to say something else when his changed ears picked up chatter between their pilot and copilot, so he looked around and called "You new ones, grab the nearest railing – we've got a flight crew just out of training, this might be a tiny bit rough".
It was – but no one got knocked off their feet. Karl strode out of the lander, only banging his head once and lightly when he forgot to duck. He looked around briefly, nodded with approval, then waved for the others to follow.
"No one go running off" Harrigan told them when he saw everyone looking around "This place stinks a bit round here, it's a landing port for small to medium ships and landing craft – but that'll go away for the most part once we get where we're going. Normally we'd get a crawler to get us where we're going – but since you're all new, and since Karl there would probably break an axle on one if he climbed on board, we'll walk".
A few people who had seen Harrigan before called out when they saw him, and a lot of them asked about the rest of the group as well since it was obvious they were new to Tal IV.
"Picked up a few new guys an' gals while we were away, yeah" Harrigan told one stall owner near the embassy district "Governor called and told me to come, so I came and here I am".
The stall owner saw an opportunity, so he pointed out a few kinds of fellip on his shelves – Harrigan laughed, nodded, and said "Just a six-pack of my favourite – as long as this lot get through the meeting, they can unwind a bit then".
Devin felt much better once he started eating.
~I can tell ((amusement))~ Amara told him ~You are close to your usual eating time and you are injured, so you do not react adversely to eating ahead of schedule. I hear our War Commander has permitted medical staff to give you some of our most secret special things – it is well-known that it is good for a new subject to eat before those procedures get started~
"The War Commander told me personally that I had been awarded those special things" Devin replied happily and proudly "They are very interesting, and I am glad I have proven to be an acceptable subject to that program".
Amara talked to Devin for some time about the change and what it would let him do, though she also made sure he didn't strain himself from overexcitement as well.
"Just follow me" Harrigan said once one of the staff at admin HQ appeared to lead Harrigan to the governor's office "Look around, but try not to stare – everyone here's got jobs to do. Once news of you lot being here gets to the governor, we'll probably get a couple of his bodyguards come down to escort us".
Viktor watched everyone like a hawk as the group proceeded up through the levels to the governor's office. I can't read anything on the walls he decided but this place looks like every other political office I ever went to – I doubt too much will be different.
Two of the governor's bodyguards did come down to meet them eventually, which made Viktor twitch a bit – his treblin hand nearly went for his small shovel, but Harrigan held up a hand and told him "Easy there, mister… they're supposed to be here".
The older of the two guards chuckled a bit when his younger comrade stepped back a bit, though he also added "That man moves a lot like a Ghost, though it's clear he's new around here. Since he's with Harrigan, he's probably just signed on".
"Come in!" the governor called when Harrigan was announced.
"It's good to see you back again, War Commander" he told Harrigan in greeting "Your friends proved to be very useful in covering your absence – it was interesting to meet one of your Kingdom's political leaders as well, especially since there's been no sign the Hierarchy have found out that's who he is".
"No, Karl..." Harrigan called when he saw Karl move to shut the office doors "Call one of the staff to do that, since you're new you might just end up ripping those doors right out of the wall".
Karl called out for someone to do that before he'd thought to ask if anyone understood Scarran, though he nodded when the governor told him that his staff had updated translators that could handle the dialect he knew.
"These are humans?" the governor asked when Savage and Robber were introduced.
"Yeah, all the guys with me are new guys we just picked up" Harrigan replied "There's a few more topside, but I didn't think you'd want me overloading your office with humans who'd never been offworld before so I left them on the ship doing training".
The governor took some time to update Harrigan on the current political and commerical situation.
"So one of the movers an' shakers down South called in his own big boss?" Harrigan asked with surprise "I know who that Scarran southwards is, we had a few of our other guys working with him recently – I don't know his boss, though".
"He came in a few days ago" the governor explained "Should you wish to meet him, I expect he will be staying on his underling's territory".
"Amara..." Harrigan called over comm "Can you get us back to recruit quarters, or have the docs got you doing stuff?"
A spectral image of Amara's face appeared, smiled and bowed to the governor – then disappeared, along with all of Harrigan's group.
"Devin was very pleased to see me and my family, War Commander" Shuljek said once Harrigan went over to the sick bay to check with the doctors about Devin's health "Injured or not, he asked my wife and my son lots of questions about the Kingdom and about Scarrans and about places we have been".
"He's doing good, then" Harrigan laughed.
"I am well, the doctors say" Devin confirmed when Harrigan asked him about that "I cannot walk with speed, nor can I speak particularly loudly at this time – but I am healthy enough and improving steadily".
Devin eased himself out of his bed and walked around at Harrigan's prompting, and Amara and the other medical staff took notes and conferred in whispers concerning their opinions on Devin's recovery.
About an arn later, Lazarus called to say that the PTR was ready for Lirak and Jane's marriage ceremony.
"If Devin's good to go outside the sick bay for a bit, make it now" he called.
"I am here, General Lazarus" Devin called happily "Both Amara and the other doctors tell me I am well enough to come to the PTR – I have not been there for several cycles, did you know that?"
"It's been a while, yeah" Lazarus replied, grinning a little "Docs will probably send someone with you in case something medical happens, mister – and I think Amara's coming, too".
"He's on his way, Captain" Lazarus told Lirak "Dunno if you want other humans, or anyone else, here – but now's the time to say so if you do".
"If you want to establish a remote link or record the event for the archive, General..." Lirak replied "then do that – we both prefer to keep the number of guests here in person down. An entry for the archive can be made once we're done".
Devin was pleased to see the PTR once more, and looked around at everything he could see as everyone proceeded slowly to the bridge. At both Lirak's and Jane's order, the ceremony was kept brief – Devin hugged each of them once it was over, and Amara congratulated them as well, though Lirak held Jane close and rumbled softly for some momens.
"Yeah, me too mister..." Jane whispered, leaning against Lirak's shoulder "but here we are. Let's get the next thing for me sorted out now, or we might end up with the next generation a bit too early...".
Lirak helped Devin back into his sick bay bed carefully, after which he and Jane followed Nrakal into the secured area where the four standard-size tanks were.
"Subject Jane present..." Nrakal called for the archive "...human female… first application on this ship of the medical procedures collectively known as 'Kamielisation'. Unlike with Patient Zero, the procedure will be conducted with additional updated information… archive entry 'Stage 3 semi-compact'...mandatory pre-change briefing has been given...mandatory post-change briefing and training will be given by General Tareg and Mr Dolgan" before he turned to Jane and called "Over here, please...I must anaesthetise you before even the first parts of this program and conducted on you, so if you could lie down on the examination table here...".
Nrakal had Kurlun's and Kamiel's notes on the procedure on display and referred to them frequently as he and Moratha prepared the tank. Once Moratha called that the tank was ready, Nrakal injected Jane through her treblin eye with the treated donor sample as the notes required while Moratha saw to Jane's nutrient feed and waste removal equipment and Amara lowered her gently and carefully into the tank by mentalism.
Once the final checks had been made, Lirak sealed the tank and Nrakal activated its systems.
"First application of the Kamielisation procedures started at-" he announced, adding in ship time "Section one should be fully assimilated by-", and adding target time "- I will be present approximately one arn ahead of target time to ensure a smooth transition between section one and section two for the subject. Kamielisation procedures to be classified at the highest level on a need-to-know basis, only myself and First Medical Officer Moratha and Doctor Amara – plus, in this case, Captain Lirak – in addition to the War Commander and Sub-Commander, may be permitted access, with non-medical personnel to be supervised by medical staff with clearance at all times".
After that, most of the people present left – though Nrakal remained, along with Amara and Lirak.
"Devin, your turn" Nrakal called.
Once Devin walked in slowly, Nrakal told him "Amara will be surpervising your change procedures, Mr Devin – this is both a reward for you and a medical study test for her. Amara has been present while others have been put in tanks, but has not supervised any such procedures herself. I will be present but not intervene unless required".
Devin smiled as Amara talked to him, doing as he was told without contest.
~Devin is doing well~ Amara told Nrakal as she went through the procedures to prepare Devin for his tank ~Not just because he is getting something he wants, but he is clearly proud to be receiving the change and becoming more like people he knows aboard this ship~
"Stage 2 sub-compact change commencing on subject Devin at-" Amara called, adding ship time and pressing the appropriate buttons, then setting the half-dozen alarms she remembered Nrakal doing with the previous subjects.
"Everything required has been done, Doctor" Amara told Nrakal after that "Should you wish to make sure this has been done properly, you may do so now".
Nrakal did that, though even Amara could tell it was mostly for show.
"Positive confirmation of successful start of stage 2 sub-compact change on subject Devin" he told Amara and Moratha, before turning to Amara and adding "A good first point of progress on your stated intention of becoming a specialist in administering and upgrading the change process, Amara – your progress on Devin's case will, of course, be added to the classified medical logs".
"Nah, my part with that's done" Westmore told the other humans "Chief Medical Officer hurried me out right quick before whatever was gonna happen started happening. Probably means something classified was going on".
"Could just be his mom an' dad wanted to keep people from smothering him as well" Belle suggested.
"That too, yeah" Westmore replied, keeping Lirak's presence to himself.
"More training!" Viktor called "You Americans still have room to improve – so far only Westmore has been given full active duty status and only Higgins is getting close! You must all be pushed to your limits individually, then all of our training intake can proceed to the group testing!"
I'm glad this Viktor isn't in charge of training Aden thought with relief Molsey's a hard taskmaster, but Viktor looks to be satisfied with nothing less than everyone going forward at one short pace from being dead.
Nine and a half weeken later, all of the human recruits were improving at a good if not great pace – at least to hear Viktor do the telling.
"As I hear it, mister" Harrigan told him with a laugh "Only the Brits, Australians, and maybe some New Zealanders train with your methods and … fervour. Right now we don't have any of them, we just get you an' yours".
"It'll do for now, sir" Viktor replied, grinning a bit "I hear promising things about General Trannak and Command Specialist Juroch, though – should there be an opportunity for my squad to train with them, I agree to any such thing on their behalf right now".
"One thing at a time!" Harrigan laughed "I'll certainly communicate your interest to the General, though".
"That officer, Aden Powell..." Viktor added "He's not perfect… but he's certainly improved. I've had enough to do making sure my Russians prove we've earned our places, Westmore's been watching the Americans… so far I think we're doing well enough, but we've only done basic individual training so far".
Harrigan's comm bleeped at him.
"Whoops, looks like I gotta go!" Harrigan told Viktor "Dunno what Molsey's got you guys doing right now, but it might just be a good idea to pick a galley at random next mealtime and make a few new friends".
Hmmm… my eyelids are sticky, opening my eyes is not easy…
Outside...loud… impact noises from...feet? Whose feet?
Devin carefully moved his hands and feet, then decided Tank… yes, I am still in my tank...but my change should be nearly done. All that Amara told me suggests this is the case.
Devin smiled when he saw someone pass close to his tank. It was, as he had hoped, Amara – so he reached up and tried to tap the lid of his tank.
Amara smiled and nodded, then tapped a number of commands into a nearby terminal before calling for help – Moratha arrived, and Devin tried his best to hear what she was saying to Amara.
Yuck...air in here smells bad Devin thought Something tastes bad too, I hope I have not swallowed tank water!
Amara turned toward his tank as soon as she heard those surface thoughts, after which he saw her reach for something – when he felt the liquid in his tank start draining away, he smiled and decided The tank is being drained! I will be able to test these amazing new things and talk to others who have them!
Devin squinted a little bit, trying to test his new vision himself – and squeaked with excitement when he saw body heat patterns.
The very faint one is Amara he knew since only she has the change out of all the doctors here I have met. The slightly brighter one is either Moratha or Nrakal.
Devin tried to focus well enough to see if there were body heat patterns further away in the sick bay, but gave himself a brief headache.
"Do not rush" Amara urged him, making him smile as he heard both her voice and the opening of the tank's shell "Your surface thoughts revealed you have been trying to test your new abilities, if without experienced help – this is a good thing, though".
Devin moved his hands to cover his eyes, which got Amara to dim the lights to their lowest general setting.
"You are there, Amara!" Devin called happily, propping himself up on an elbow and pointing at her "I think I can even smell you! I know other people are here… I think they are Scarran… but I cannot say with certainty".
"In accordance with general directives concerning the newly changed, Devin" Moratha added "food has been set aside for you – it is self-heating rations, but it is still food. All the newly changed, whatever their species, require food".
"If someone could help me sit upright..." Devin asked "I am still a little unsteady. I should probably sit on the floor and lean against the tank".
Tech's coveralls and other clothing for Devin's new changed body were brought first, and after Devin was properly clothed Amara tested his bioelectric power levels. He blew out four fuses and one techscanner before Amara had taught him the basics of restraining his electrical projection – and while she was a little annoyed, she watched and took notes while Moratha tested his ability to hold his power generation at specific levels for technical purposes.
"Sturk has done this as well" she told him once he stopped "Your test data will be kept for when other Kalish people have the change".
Devin endured the other tests and scans although he didn't like all of them. He was pleased when Lirak came in, and clapped when he proved to be only slightly shorter than him after his change.
"You are very large for a Kalish, yes" Lirak told Devin, nodding afterward "You will do basic fitness training before you leave, so you accustom yourself to your new strength and speed".
"Have other Kalish asked about me?" Devin asked "Is my wife close by? Does the War Commander know I have emerged from my tank? Do my parents?"
Nrakal took notes on how Devin asked almost continual questions about himself and others he knew and nodded with satisfaction.
"Your wife will be in the main galley, since it is First Meal within a few momens" he told Devin "You should come with me and we will go there. This way you can meet those you know and test your new senses in a group environment".
"The Kalish in the tank has safely emerged, then" Shuljek said when Harrigan told him why Nrakal hadn't arrived yet.
"Yeah, he's up and about" Harrigan replied "He's been fed a bit already, so I doubt he'll need any more – Kalish don't adjust quite like Scarrans do to the change, at least that's what Caseya and Reanaree tell me".
"Captain Zarithak's chief medical officer told me that as well" Shuljek replied "We thank you for this upgraded knowledge – there was interest in the original version of the project which you supplied, but I think there will be at least a little more now".
"People don't get it because it sounds fun..." Harrigan reminded him "or because their friends get it… or to be the first where they are… they get it because they earn it. Over here that means their CO needs to sign off on it, the chief medical officer or doctor in charge of all this sort of stuff – and in the case of the shift, at least one Kalish of good standing needs to sign off, a Master if you got one. If their superior won't sign off on it but the docs say they can handle it, you can overrule their decision if you want – but I'd not recommend doing that all the time".
"All goes surprisingly well, then" Farakk told his underling "Certainly better than I had thought, anyway. You are to be commended for securing protection contracts for the construction work parties, even though I do think that the fee the governor is paying you to do this should be at least a little higher and some of the terms and conditions amended".
"I told him that when the others were arguing, Mr Farakk" the local Scarran gang leader explained "though, of course, I did not mention any names. The governor doesn't favour any one person Southward specifically, just like north of the border – but he does listen a little more to Sobin Tho than he does to any of the rest of us".
"That Interion is very clever" Farakk replied "I doubt he's as clever as he thinks he is, but he certainly bears watching".
"We could go to the stadium sector I control on your behalf..." the local Scarran suggested "and watch him and his staff personally, Mr Farakk – should you wish to. Our own staff there could do with a reminder of who's in charge as well".
Farakk nodded and smiled a little before a messenger ran up and called "Mr Farakk?" - before holding out his hand.
Hmm, I wonder what's happening now Farakk wondered especially since it's come to me and not to my local representative.
He took the message before giving the messenger their small fee, before unfolding the piece of paper and reading.
Ah, those Irregulars are back he realised The ones who have Stalker, not this lot who my representative has watched for the past few monen while I've cleared up the latest round of mess on Rogkyun. Since this message came to me, the governor may have told them I am here with my representative, even if he doesn't know my name.
Farakk whispered to the one helper he'd brought with him, one of his special soldiers – the man growled a little warily before whispering "I don't know what opinions Stalker may hold regarding you and regarding our business dealings, Mr Farakk – but in the unlikely event that he is hostile, I may not be able to protect you fully. I am very skilled, yes… but Stalker, at least if the rumours are true, is better".
"Those Irregulars aren't stupid" Farakk replied "Stalker may not approve of our current situation, but he and his superiors know we have been helpful and seen to it that their movement has obtained what they needed from us when no one else was able or willing to help them. That counts for something with their Kingdom".
Another messenger came up, one of the local henchmen, and talked to both his own leader and Farakk briefly before running off again.
"Irregulars are coming down to make contact with us" Farakk told his underling "One I recognise, he was their official speaker when we refitted a spacecraft for them. Another is an officer, one of their Generals – so we should be at least a little more careful than we might otherwise be" before taking a sharp breath in surprise.
"Sir?" his underling asked, feeling uneasy "The next one?"
"The next is Stalker" Farakk replied "That I had not expected. I don't know if he'll recognise me – but he may have heard of my reputation and record, so there's a slim chance he may know my face".
"His name was on that message?" the local Scarran leader asked.
"No" Farakk replied "but the brief description was clear enough that I recognised who it referred to. Why his skin is green I don't know, maybe whatever source sent the original message is a colour-blind fool and can't tell what colour Scarran skin is supposed to be".
"We will see, Mr Farakk..." Farakk's special soldier said "and we will hear… then we will make a decision… and then we will know".
"We will" Farakk replied, nodding before smiling just a little and briefly before adding "These Irregulars consider us important enough to send a small delegation to make contact with us and perhaps to discuss matters of mutual interest".
"Perhaps they have more work for us, Mr Farakk" suggested his special soldier "I don't know if it's likely to be as lucrative as refitting a large spacecraft… but it might be worth our time and yours".
"Possibly" Farakk replied "More interesting would be if they consider us an organisation of influence and power in this region – they may simply think it's good manners to come and see us when they got back from wherever they've been this past cycle or so".
"My husband..." Lerren said with surprise and pleased interest when she saw him in the galley "You look even better than you did before, Devin… if a little unusual as well".
"I am glad you think so" Devin replied, smiling before he lifted his wife off the ground with ease before carrying her back to her table and putting her back in her chair as gently as he could manage "I am also told that my initial adjustment to these new things goes well. I am doing physical training with troopers from uncle-General Trannak's command – Amara says this will help my body settle and help me become more accustomed to my new self".
Several of the Kalish bowed briefly – when Devin turned to investigate, he saw Keyah looking at him and did the same as his tablemates.
"You do well, Devin" she said, bowing back just a little "You have been doing the training the doctors recommended to help you adjust? Both physical training and fine motor skills?"
"I am needed to help fix things here?" Devin asked with more interest "How might I help? Do Strykers need fixing? Those odd circular craft? The strange black ship big sister flew before? Something else?"
"I doubt that ship needs maintenance at this time, Devin" Keyah replied, smiling a little at Devin's eagerness "But perhaps you can help Shellek and Krynak do required maintenance on our Scorpions, Scimitars, and the few Wraiths and Hurricanes that we have".
"Wraiths and Hurricanes?" Devin asked, surprised "Those are not Scarran, unless I have forgotten about them...".
"They are not" Keyah confirmed "Those are of Nebari origin, and they are aboard the larger vessel your sister commands when required. Mister Hellbolt will be there when technical staff board to conduct required maintenance, and perhaps Liz may be as well"
"I will do it!" Devin insisted happily "I will learn new and interesting things and help my friends!"
"The South doesn't look too uppity today, that's nice" Troll said as the three of them passed the temporary checkpoint, the sounds of construction easily heard if not too close "At least not this far north. We'll do fine, though – people know me this close to the checkpoint".
"Further South?" Trannak asked.
"I try not to go too far down unless I'm being paid" Troll admitted "It starts looking an' sounding too much like the bad parts of Detroit if you go more than a half-kilometra or so past the stadium. When I got work down that way it means safe passage has been sorted out – as long as I stick to the agreed-upon route and times, anyway".
Juroch's head turned slowly from side to side as they walked, assessing the passers-by as potential threats.
These kinds of places are why I prefer non-urban worlds he reminded himself While even those are not perfect, people tend to watch out for each other a little more. When even a former gang member like Troll is uneasy going too far South then I should listen to his opinions.
"That's where we're going" Troll said a bit later, pointing to a large domed building "Dunno if you ever came here, but that's the Stadium. One of the movers 'n shakers down here, an Interion named Sobin Tho, owns it – but some of the others rent space there. As long as we don't do anything too stupid and show a little respect – to any of the local big guys an' gals, anyway – no one should give us any grief inside".
The stadium even has secured parking for personal vehicles Trannak decided when they were in sight of the nearest stadium entrance The design of the building suggests some of that is hidden below ground and some is out here – in Scarran space, the hidden below-ground parking would be for higher-status patrons, while everyone else would have to do their best to find a space for their vehicle here. Even here it looks like the parking area is patrolled – the guards I see are well-equipped, though I can't tell if their training is of the same grade as their gear.
"Mister Troll, you's back" a rough-looking Sebacean called from the door "Those two are with you?"
"Yeah, they're where I'm from, pretty sure you know where that is" Troll replied "Any news?"
"Spot you usually go got a new cook on hand" the man said "People said she likes brewin' up something that got a bit of a gonza smell – tastes a bit nasty till you had it a few times too, but you's never been scared of eatin' anything when I seen you there".
"Could be any of half a dozen things I eat" Troll replied "Might just drop in once we're done, though" before passing over a few coins and urging everyone inside.
Service here is proceeding with a good mix of skill, speed, respect for me, and both respect and fear of Mr Farakk the local Scarran decided once he reached his sector of the stadium - Farakk preferred to sit among the usual customers, if not in the middle of the room, which surprised the newer staff if not the management.
"Good" Farakk decided "Business here is good, it seems. No sport at the moment?"
"Not until a few more arns have passed, Mr Farakk" the local Scarran leader replied "We usually don't get started until after lockdown – with the more popular stuff, anyway. Might be a bit of amateur stuff before then, but we got the usual entertainment up here every arn of the day".
"I can tell..." Farakk replied with amusement.
"I got a few of the more intelligent servicers lookin' out for people, too" the local leader added "Usually they let me know if a VIP turns up – anything louder than a whisper from a messenger an' I know to get a little help ready".
"Looks like someone's just turned up" the local leader whispered, as Farakk was about to open his mouth "Doubt it's anyone hostile, the servicers usually scatter if it is".
None of them actually turned to face the entrance, but the local leader sent a few signals at his bar staff and a couple of the bouncers – when the two bouncers shook their heads slightly, he wondered who it might be, but when the bartender grinned and encouraged them to come over he judged it work the risk to turn and see for himself.
"It's that Irregular who helped us during the recent disturbances, Mr Farakk" he told Farakk "He's odd, and he certainly has more than a bit of an attitude problem – but he shows enough respect that I haven't ordered him kept out, and since he pays what he owes on time without the staff needing to encourage him I consider his irritating personality worth putting up with".
He watched as Troll talked to the bartender – he was surprised when Troll didn't want to go in the VIP area, but when the bartender whispered a bit and pointed toward him he nodded agreement before telling Farakk "He's coming to see us, Mr Farakk – there's two Scarrans with him, one of each caste and neither of them are small. I don't know if the lighting in here's interfering with my eyes, but one looks like his skin's a bit green".
"Mr big man..." Troll called when he got closer, and thankfully not too loudly "Always good to see you come 'round to my favourite spot...got a couple of big men here from where I work, the really big man topside said they should come meet you an' get to know you a bit".
"Mr… Troll, I believe..." he replied "There's enough space for you and your friends at this table… but for my other friends' peace of mind, the green one should sit where they can see him".
"I have not seen you before" Juroch said in his Sholphauran dialect "But I know of you by reputation. I believe you are Mr Farakk".
"I might say the same about you, Stalker" Farakk replied, smoothly but firmly.
"Be cool" Troll urged Juroch "We're good here. We helped each other out with stuff before".
"You have told me about that" Juroch told Troll "His ...staff… helped us with an important task some time ago, one I believe you helped negotiate for. You and others helped his local friend more recently with other matters".
"Yeah, that's right" Troll replied, nodding "Can you please just sit, you're upsetting the locals".
Juroch nodded to both Farakk and his soldier before sitting between Troll and Trannak.
"Looks like they got the very best laid on for you this time, big man" Troll told the local Scarran "Mind if we join you? I'll cover their expenses...".
The Scarran growled a little and turned to Farakk for advice – when he nodded, Troll was told "You can stay – since you know Mr Farakk, you can stay. That's all that's getting you permission to stay, too".
Troll sniffed, then grinned once he smelled what was happening in the kitchen behind the bar before bellowing something loudly in the Charrid language. Almost immediately a female voice shouted back in the same language, after which Troll grinned more widely and told the rest of the table "Yeah, the new cook can make one of my favourites! Not sure if you guys like it like I do – feel free to join me, you won't regret it...".
Farakk asked Troll what his favourite was, and smiled faintly before nodding when he was told.
Once everyone else agreed, Troll raised his hand and bellowed something else before holding up several fingers for a microt or two.
"My… associate… has explained to me how you assisted him recently" Farakk told Troll "For that I thank you, since it helped him do what I needed him to do on my behalf. You asked a lot for agreeing to help, but my associate tells me the help of your ...friends… was worth it".
"That's what we do, we help people" Troll replied "If people need serious help, we get serious fees. Just a fact of life".
"Looks like you brought a serious helper there" Troll said when Farakk's special soldier snorted "Looks like a man of the Force if I'm any judge of these things".
Farakk's soldier turned his head and started briefly at Troll before nodding even more briefly.
"We brought one, too" Troll added "Two of our most serious people got permission to come down here with me. Not sure if you know both of them, but you might have heard of one of them if you're from where I think you're from...".
"Why do you think we are from… there?" Farakk asked, dangerously calm – Troll had heard Juroch speak the same way before, if only a few times, so he replied "How you dress an' how you just spoke, Mr Farakk – after last time, Mr green man here figured out who you were. He's decided to be nice, since our other serious helper here explained what you do to help out some of our friends".
Talk stopped while everyone was served. The cook herself came out with the food, watching while Troll tested it – and laughed while Troll tasted it and shouted loud appreciation in her language.
"It's good and authentic, then" the local Scarran decided before nodding and pointing to everyone else's plates.
Once everyone had eaten well, Farakk said "We do not have anything we need you to assist us with just yet, not here or where I live… perhaps you might need our help with something…?"
"Not just yet, Mr Farakk" Trannak said "A number of promising discussions are in progress among our leadership, and since we know from our previous dealings with you that we can trust each other enough to do what's needed… your name will be first on the list if we need things done we can't do ourselves".
"Likewise, Mr… what did you say your name was...?" Farakk replied.
"I didn't" Trannak told him "I'm not...how did Troll say it… not a 'mover and shaker' like he says you are, but I do know people who can help in interesting ways when required. We will listen in case you need help of the kinds we can provide. Thank you for your company during the meal, but we should go – there is work to do".
"Not bad" Troll said when everyone was safely out of earshot "You did good, Mr J – I was pretty sure you an' Mr Farakk didn't get on well, but in this game you gotta know your ABCs. Always Be Cool".
"So that was Stalker" the local Scarran said to Farakk once he could no longer see Juroch "He's a decent size for a Scarran, though I don't know why he's green".
"That's the same colouration as a plant from our world" Farakk's special soldier explained "While even I would not have picked Stalker to favour cosmetic adjustment like that, it shows he is from our world to the knowledgable".
"All three of them are changed" Farakk said, surprising his underling and his special soldier "and not in any manner the Hierarchy knows, or I'd have heard about it before. That is a concern… but not as much as it would be if the Hierarchy could do the same thing. These Irregulars are… helpful… doing what they do".
When the local Scarran opened his mouth to ask a question, Farakk shook his head before saying "I'll ask a few others I know closer to home".
