"Well, there is… " a voice announced "both good news and less than good news".
"There always is" a more senior voice replied "Speak".
"The bad news first, then" the first voice replied "We have not been able to make contact with the large mixed-species unit known to our operative Sikozu Shanu as the 1st Irregulars for some cycles now – we know which world they base out of, but every time we send someone to talk, either they are busy with work or simply not present".
"I had not heard that this unit is mixed-species" a different voice said "I had heard that the unit is a majority Scarran unit if not entirely composed of that species".
"Sikozu Shanu says that they have Kalish and Scarrans and even Charrids among them" the earlier voice explained "She says that they have access to secret and special things to strengthen their soldiers and that even soldiers of our people are permitted access to these things".
"I know about this program the Hierarchy calls the change" an older and less patient voice said "I would not have thoughtb a private group would have access to it – unless they are not really a private group, unless they are actually an official Hierarchy group or sponsored privateers".
"Both Sikozu Shanu and others say that this group are not aligned with the Hierarchy" yet another voice added "Our initial reports, so many cycles ago now, are correct in that matter".
"Is there other news concerning this issue?" the most senior voice asked.
"There is" the first voice added "Very interesting news, I feel. While we may not have been able to make contact with the 1st Irregulars, there are reports of a group calling itself the 2nd Irregulars arriving in a sector of Scarran space some distance away from both the main border zones and the capital world. It bears similarities to the 1st Irregulars, though it does not have an enormous ship like the one some reports say the 1st Irregulars have – it has a number of more conventionally-sized ships which all of us are more familiar with".
"Have you attempted to make contact with this group?" the more senior voice asked "Have you or the operatives under your authority seen any of its members or its leaders? Is it either independent or actively opposed to the Hierarchy?"
"We believe it is opposed to the Hierarchy" the same voice as before explained "I have personally seen its personnel two times – one of those times I saw a Scarran who, by the medical augmentations he had clearly had added to him, was known to the 1st Irregulars or had even been in close contact with their leadership".
"These 1st Irregulars have the change, then" the less patient voice from before decided "They have shared at least some of that knowledge with this other group. I say that the possibility exists that they are working together".
After other business was concluded a vote was taken.
"Very well..." the leader of those present announced "It is something of a risk, reaching out to outsiders like this… but try, carefully, to make contact with these 2nd Irregulars if you cannot contact the 1st Irregulars. Try to find out if the 1st Irregulars are known to them. Try to find out if they might assist us if we need them to".
"If Sikozu Shanu is correct..." a voice said "then while the 1st Irregulars may share at least some goals with us, they would require payment of some kind before they conducted any tasks on our behalf. They have our people among them, perhaps the 2nd Irregulars does as well… I say we should persist in trying to contact both groups and even attempt to persuade them to assist us with our goals – or at least find out how much such assistance would cost".
The Kalish present moved out carefully from the meeting place. While a number of both police and Law Command patrols passed by above them, their caution paid off and none of them were found.
I should try and contact Sikozu Shanu again the woman who mentioned her name before decided Her previous reports concerning the 1st Irregulars have proven to be very interesting. Even if they cannot assist us directly, perhaps they might see to procuring supplies for us through their own sources or verifying the status of these 2nd Irregulars we now hear about.
Approximately a monen later, two outsiders requested admittance to the resistance meeting.
"I vouch for the one on the treblin side" Sikozu told them, a little irritably "and they vouch for the other one. Might we enter? There is a toxic weather alert outside!"
"It is interesting to meet new people..." one woman said once the door was closed "but I wonder who you are and why you are here, despite someone we know escorting you to us".
"We were told by Sikozu Shanu..." the man on Sikozu's treblin side answered "that you expressed interest in making contact with personnel of authority in both the 1st and 2nd Irregulars. People with the authority to negotiate from those groups are now here".
"While it would have been interesting to see one of our own people in authority from these groups..." an older man added "it is good to see that each group considers us worth enough respect to send somebody. Who might each of you be? Are you officers?"
Councillor Shuljek's representative identified themselves by rank and name, and despite their cautious opinions a number of the Kalish present came forward to see this novelty of a high-caste Scarran female willing to be in their company.
"Greetings to you" the main speaker said, bowing slightly in her direction "Who might your… comrade… be?"
"I represent the 1st Irregulars and the War Commander" came the reply "I am… Feltano. Just Feltano. How might we help you?"
Everyone was surprised when Feltano lowered his hood and revealed his hybrid ancestry. He rumbled softly and happily when a few asked him questions about that, adding "Yes, there are interesting personnel of many kinds in both the 1st Irregulars and the 2nd Irregulars. I myself have many skills which I may be permitted to use to assist you, one of which being that I am a Master in the art of the Kalish people" - then bowing slightly when they bowed traditionally to him.
"Police advancing in this sector" an out of breath Kalish told them all "One female Scarran in civilian clothing wearing a badge with which I am not familiar".
Feltano had him describe it in detail, after which he said "Pathal. The most senior political leadership of the Hierarchy. Most likely a mentalist".
"Can you assist us in leaving this place undetected?" one of the Kalish asked.
"I can" Feltano replied "The most senior of you who know important things should stay close to me, within ten metras for greater safety, so enemy mentalism will not be able to penetrate your minds. Others among you will lead the way and take us all through your usual escape and evasion plans".
There was considerable concern when Feltano disappeared after they had been at the safe house for barely a few momens, but Councillor Shuljek's representative just smiled and said "Don't worry about him, he'll be back shortly".
Feltano came back after almost half an arn, with most of those present being concerned over the length of his absence and two being concerned over the bag in his hand.
Feltano opened it, revealing a Scarran head and a small metallic badge.
"I do not think they were specifically hunting for us..." Feltano said when the rapid and wary questions ceased "but there was indeed a Pathal member who was a mentalist among them. I made sure they ceased being a problem without being detected, and brought proof of their presence here to you now".
"We thank you for solving this problem for us, Mr Feltano" an older woman said "Iut is good to see that representatives of the 1st and 2nd Irregulars are willingg to assist the Kalish struggle for freedom… although I am sure you will want something from us in return at some point...".
"I have been authorised to reveal that the War Commander is prepared to offer our services at preferential rates" Feltano replied, which met with relieved approval by all present "I have been told that leadership of the 2nd Irregulars are prepared to do the same. What they consider preferential rates might differ from what the 1st Irregulars would use, so you may wish to negotiate carefully if you require their assistance for a task instead of ours".
The Kalish went into a hurried huddle around Sikozu, which they incorrectly assumed Feltano and Councillor Shuljek's representative couldn't hear.
"I do not believe they have a task for either of us at this microt..." Feltano whispered extremely softly "but they are discussing options which may require the help of either your unit or my own. We will wait and we will listen and we will see and then we will know if such a thing will happen".
