[03.27: What Makes a Merchant, Man of Trade?]

[Corporate Commander, leading the charge into the frozen wastes…]

I didn't particularly like this 'Spectre' named Commander Shepard, nor the entirety of the situation we were now in. But that wasn't any reason not to try work the angles…hells below it was very much a reason to try minimising the cost of this debacle. That started by making ourselves of use to the crooked corporate owners of this not-so-legal colony world, in this the hologram of the senior member of it Board of Director that winked out as I sat in our transport. Now we were helping clean up this mess, with scapegoats not them or us…. certainly an improvement from threatening us with the goon squad. Who were now our brave and glorious allies now of course…

"And now we've semi-legal coverage…and this vehicle now belongs to us as well. Assuming we can keep in one piece"

"Did you get the driver too?" Deborah queried in amusement from within her own suit of power armour. This 'Mako' could fight about eight people normally, or, in our case, three suits of T-45 armour and two more local security forces…who were watching us warily as I negotiated with their boss via hologram. This was a terrible idea, but there was something bad happening, and there weren't many better ideas beyond running away…which wasn't an easy option with a crew of superheroes, marines, and murderhobos in my employee. So I'd made the best of bad situation as we followed this 'Council Spectre' into a rescue operation to 'Peak 15' as the storm howled outside around the convoy.

"No, that we'll have to sort ourselves" I answered as the vehicle shuddered, bumping the strapped in local soldiers but our three suits handled it much more easily. The Fortune's Chance was airborne providing real-time sensor support despite the ferocious storm, and the two Chieftain Main Battle Tanks and Sentrybots as well; so the Geth attempts at roadblocks weren't proving much of a delay. Not for us anyway, but we'd passed three burned out wrecks of vehicles that the robots had destroyed before we'd arrived to show the dangers for the unwary.

Then it was back into silence as myself, Deborah, and Tirdelk the goblin watched the advance on our HUD as the guns boomed and roared…and one of the Fortune's Chance's cruise missiles eliminated a Geth entrenched position overlooking a ridge ahead of our convoy at the research lab. It was strange how the machines were spread out in penny-packets rather than concentrating, but it was to our advantage as the two, admittedly ancient by this Earth's standards, Chieftains could hammer their positions at range with our ship feed. A drone as well, but that was Monitor-tech, and we weren't telling anyone about it's presence in this storm; targeting data filling my HUD as the Chieftains barked and the last blocking giant mech ahead of us went down in flames thanks to alchemically enhanced rounds.

"Prepare to disembark" the woman driving the vehicle shouted out as it bounced around at high speed, wheels digging into frozen earth as the gun above spoke as a machinegun to spray some part of the building. I merely voiced my agreement, weapon flowing easily into one hand as the rear doors opened and we were rushing out of them, careful not to squish the two local infantry. My heavy assault rifle came up as I gripped it now with two hands, targeting, and destroying, a Geth Trooper according to my HUD as I stepped forward. To my right, jetpack igniting in the white shrieking blizzard in a crimson-orange blast of flame, our goblin in T-45 went soaring up into the air. Then landing on an upper gantry of the facility in front of us, flaming sword…a shishkebob or something…smashing into the Geth he'd landed near, before his other hand raised an assault rifle and blasted away into another, a sniper, to his left.

'Knew there was a reason to bring the adventurer' I though as the others, Kara leading them in her fake power armour, came out of the other vehicles, the big hump-shaped alien, the Krogan brain supplied, charged forward, shotgunning machines at the door. It was stragglers now, and two pulse grenades quickly put paid to their larger Trooper variant as it charged at us. Lucky us probably as our 'allied' three groups formed up separately, the 'corporate security' lingering back unsurprisingly. Garrison troops mixed with rent-a-cops…I was surprised they'd even come with us, but that was thinking on later I knew, calling our orders.

"Okay everybody, we are going into a potential bio-hazard situation, worse, one with hostages and killer robots involved. Suit integrity checks now! And if you need grenades or ammo, now is the time to get it done!" I stated loudly through the comms "Sky-Eye, do you have us?"

"Got you loud and clear Boss" Barbara's voice came back from the Bridge of the Fortune's Chance as my forces formed up on the right, and the smaller band under the Spectre on the left "Want me to start coordinating a defensive perimeter while you all go off and play soldier?"

"Go right ahead Babs, we'll start breaching operations momentarily…" I replied checking my own suit and weapons as I replaced my used pulse grenade from the ammo pack on Kara's back, then clicked my comms again "…if that's acceptable to your team Commander Shepard?"

"Copy that Captain Outis" came back the unhappy voice again, growling at me but agreeing as he marshalled his minions, from the big Krogan to the alien girl in a sealed, but oddly form fitting, spacesuit. No matter, I formed up my team, Sentrybots staying with the tanks and APC-like vehicles as they formed a defensive perimeter with the corporate guys, and I allowed the other team to lead the breech as they seemingly wanted to do. Instead my six active T-45 wearers, and two fake in Kara and the demon-goblin, formed up with the four Assaultrons we'd brought with us…

--

{Into the Hot Labs, sometime later…}

'And now we're in a horror movie. Just…excellent' Nathan Anderson, formerly United States Marine Corps, and now Chief of Security for a wandering inter-dimensional spaceship though in dark amusement as…things…came out of the vents. Luckily he'd been assigned to post-Justice League clean-up operations, and this time he was in actual power armour, and his response was a simple burst of gunfire to obliterate the…whatever it was, and give orders "Oscar, Heavy Flamer front and centre! Send a jet into that vent! Movement detected"

"Copy that Sir" the Irishman replied, his armoured boots thudding over the metal floors of the complex they were having to fight their way through. Moments later a stream of liquid flame was pouring to the vents, smoke and burnt flesh, mixed with a short series of shrieks, coming out through the upper vent "Purging the problem with fiery death"

"I think we've found the bio-hazard breach…" their Captain muttered over the tac-net coming over and looking down at the ugly alien horror a moment as the others maintained firing positions so they could keep pressing forward "…anyone any idea what they are?"

Nathan continued to watch for further threats "Other than this being someone's black site, black ops, supervillain army…"

"No idea/Never seen the like/Don't know' seemed to be the general theme from the locals, which was worrying, but Nathan and the others did suit checks in case there was anything in the air as well. Gas was always a supervillain favourite after all, with mad scientists love of horrible, nightmarish, mutagens and bio-horrors just behind that category with their lairs. Worse this reeked of secret government research that this 'Saren' had known about and was now hijacking…for whatever his evil scheme was.

Still, Nathan agreed with the need to deal with whatever it was as reputation mattered and running from a fight here would likely mean leaving this dimension for good with attention on them. Sure it was a risk, but they'd all signed up for that, and Nathan needed to access the varying threats that could be out there and bring back threat assessments back home. Between that and non-Justice League and non-alien space technology they'd picked up…it was certainly showing positive results…

'Assuming the dangers don't do us in first' he thought as he raised his weapon into ready position at a series of hand gestures from his young wizard Captain. The Assaultrons…oh they needed more of those…led the way as more of the monsters began to emerge from within the structure, though they seemed more like feral animals than thinking enemies and with warning they were ruthlessly, and quickly, dealt with. But there was no time to ease off, fighting with Supergirl or power magic-users or not, as that led to mistakes…and mistakes led to death or serious injury. Thankfully everyone was professional….enough…considering the mixed nature of this combat team.

"We're lucky we evacuated those scientists and guards on the upper levels…" Supergirl…Kara…stated as they saw the bodies of those that hadn't made it out shortly after another firefight to clear out more of skittering alien monstrosities "…this place….actually we're lucky its not overrun yet"

"Yeah…there were either a lot of these things made…" Captain Callum muttered over the comms kicking at a melted alien corpse "…or, worse…"

"Or they reproduce very fast" the other Commander interjected and Nathan would have nodded save the suits made that a little awkward "We aren't far from the primary lab. You heard the VI, we can do a neutron purge of the hot labs from there"

"Understood" Nathan's Captain agreed, but hand gesturing at him and Oscar "…motion trackers first, here, here, and there, deploy the last mobile turret"

"Copy Captain, on it" Nathan answered calling over the Irishman and beginning to unpack the large box from his back, then allowing the man to move forward to deploy the sensors to the walls in the corridor while the fire-team pushed forward and secure the area ahead of them. Working quickly, and activating the 'Mass Effect' barrier separate to the turret, Nathan quickly took up the rear with Oscar, guns at the ready as they advanced, hopefully, into the control centre of this giant clusterfuck…

--

[03.28: What Makes a Merchant, Man of Trade?]

[….God, save, the, Queen…]

"We have a psionic presence not too far up ahead…" I heard Tirdelk, our techno-goblin, state over our internal comm line so that our 'allies' didn't overhear "…nor sure of strength, possibly shielded, but it's there. Marking on tactical display"

Carefully I touched my own comm-link to that channel, silencing any feed to anyone outside ourselves "Copy that, be on guard…that's the main lab. Watch our allies for mental influences. Be on guard everybody"

'Well isn't that just great' I thought darkly as I tried to avoid showing any signs that might be…misconstrued…by our temporary, super-space-cop, allies after all. They might not be effected by a mild field after all, and I couldn't sense anything as yet…but one was best be sure to be wary if they suddenly got mind-whammed. What's worse simply warning them wasn't likely help since psionics appeared to be unknown here…and for a moment I warred with myself, filled with indecision…

Then pressing it aside. Good people they might be, but they'd still insist on following us in the actual destination in the control lab. Suddenly raving about mind-control…wasn't going to go down all that well, and look very suspicious, as we came to the primary objective. Things had quietened down as we'd blasted out way through the majority of the horrors, though our three deployed gun-turrets had already gotten stragglers, but were thankfully still functional I saw as I rechecked my tac-display. The good news was these Geth had been eliminated as best I could tell, and the outer perimeter had been quiet since we'd entered…beyond the corporate guards 'rescuing' the scientists and retreating back to the colony.

Not that I blamed them for it, as this was clearly above their intended paygrades. But it still left us with 'Commander Shepard' and his team; agents of the full-blown alien Council that ran this particular galaxy…and wasn't that going to be an issue. Still, we were getting through this horror show of failed bio-horrors and if we could purge the labs – then mission accomplished and off we went on our merry way. Very likely out of this dimension after a few more 'backwater' planets now that Illium seemed out with Liara T'soni now in the care of this Spectre by payment of our employer. If we could minimise the damage, well, then we could return in a few months or years and slip beneath the radar once more…

"Clear" the two people at the forward end of our fire-team announced as we came to another corridor split with signs indicating it was out desire target "Doors locked. Tali your front and centre"

Commander Shepard was a gung-ho sort of person, Alliance Marines apparently from I'd picked up from the brief talks between everyone on the fight here, and taking point along with my security chief, Nathan Anderson. I stated quiet as the lightly armoured girl in the full body suit came forward, squatting down and starting to fiddle with the door control access. It'd save us blowing the doors after all, and so I covered the door as I knelt one knee in a firing position while everyone else spread out and ensured every angle was watched, as well as any possible vents.

'And this you don't put small alien sized vents in your facility…' I grumbled at the bad design that seemed to persist across the multiverse. SHIELD's ventilation systems were small, thin, piping with various 'kill-systems' for biological organisms and nano-tech in case of an outbreak so that such thins didn't happen. But here? 'Just make a vent everywhere! We have the technology….but are too cheap and lazy to make use of it!'

"Ready to open!" the alien girl called out over the tac-net, and I rose up to stand, gesturing with my hand for myself, Kara, and the turian to breach through as the girl, Tali, counted down for us. As the doors hissed opened I pressed forward, heavy assault rifle lowered and moving as I looked for potential targets as I charged through the now open doorway. There was nothing but an empty, large, laboratory I found, heavy metal boots thudding loudly as they stomped over the metal floors as I saw, and began to ascend, the stairways to some sort of viewing plat…form…

'Found the Psionic signature' I thought lowering my weapon ever so slightly as I saw the large, bug-like, alien trapped within some sort of giant-ass test-tube '…and probably the bio-hazard as well'

Something brushed my outermost wards, the creature's very large, horror-movie, head turned…

Magic sang softly within me, hammering down on those thoughts, making me focused, ready to deal with the task at hand as my wards were brushed again in a desire to communicate. Or at least it seemed to be such, and I decided to test it out as the turian, Garrus, lowered his weapon and looked wide-eyed at the creature "Shepard, I think we've just found something out of history holo-vid…"

I for the moment ignored him, instead using my hand to 'adjust' my arm controls on the suit with I summoned an illusion of a sphere as I spoke across the open tac-net "Tirdelk. I've getting energy readings that I believe are communication attempts from the creature. Can you monitor?"

"Yes" was the simple response and I nodded ever so slightly, the suits didn't allow much expression that way, and I silently cast my spell while faking using some technology as the turian nearest me startled, asking what did I mean by that. Something I ignored as I allowed simple 'outside' telepathic messages to translate while my words would, hopefully, translate over to the creature. Psionic creatures tended to be intelligent, but also monstrous at times….but best not judge yet I reminded myself as I spoke through my helmet…

"Greetings. I do believe you wish to talk?" I stated, voice modulating through the helmet and then the magic shimmering invisibly in the air "Or am I misreading that?"

{You do not sing, but we hear your cold song} came the curious reply though it came out as a "Skreeeeeee" like sound as the creature focused on me as I looked back, Kara coming to my side at the ready should trouble break out {A construct, strange and shivering in the air of colours unknown to us}

"Well, yes, never been much of a bard I'll admit, but, eh, gets me by. Can I ask if your responsible for the murderous creatures running about the facility?"

--

{Meanwhile, one confused Quarian a distance away…}

Tali'zorah nar Rayya leaned in towards Garrus starting at the creature in its barrier cage as the odd Power Armour clad human….

"Is he talking to the Rachni?"

"…well, sorry to hear that about your children. What the fuck is wrong with people? Stealing people's children and turning them into killers!"

"Skreeeee!"

"I know, right! That is messed up and I sorry for your loss Ma'am!"

Garrus was shaking his head as the black armour-clad human….talked?...to the monstrosity "Ah….ah….Yes?"

Then turned towards their Commander "Shepard?"

…who was studying the situation with serious eyes, weapon already magnetically stowed on his back, arms folded across his chest as the beast made that odd noise again and 'Captain Outis' talked through the strange holo-orb in his armoured hand. Tali really wanted to start talking that suit apart, strip it down to bare parts and see what made it tick…

"So you didn't intend for this to happen?"

"Skrreeeee!"

"Yes…yes, secret research lab, breeding super secret special army that goes horribly wrong. Again. Fuck sake. Humanity, the more it advances the more mad science it tries. Right, you seem to be truthful on that. Now, what is your name?"

"Skreeeeeeeee!"

"Oh, that's a mouthful, sorry….hmmm….how about Mary?"

Shepard looked….oddly…at the exchange "Either he is…or he's lost his mind. I'm not sure which right now"

"Skrreeeeeee!"

"Queen Mary it is then, long may she reign. Now, can you explain how you ended up here as I've been told your species was extinct?"

"Skreeeeee!"

"Hmm, hmmm, okay, you were just an egg and they found your ship, okay…."

"Skreeeeee!"

"Are just doing that to sound impressive, since you are communicating with your mind?"

"Skreeeeeeeeeee!"

"Okay, okay, we all need our bit of enjoyment your majesty. And no we're not going to kill you. We rescue damsels and all that sort of thing"

"What are you doing?" Shepard demanded with a loud, irritated sigh as Tali watched him pinch the bridge of his nose "Are ypu communicating with the creature?"

"Hmmm…." Captain Outis replied, armoured head-turning as his free hand gestured "…oh, of course, yes. Commander Shepard this is Mary, Queen of the Rachni. Your Majesty, this is Commander Shepard, Council Spectre"

"Skreeeeee!"

The armoured human gave a faint nod of his armoured suit. Oh how Tali wanted one of those "She says a pleasure to meet you Commander Shepard. Also she asks you if you've come to murder her. Which I'm sure your not, because that'd be terrible"

"Your talking to the Rachni" Wrex suddenly interjected "Why aren't we killing this….thing? And how are you talking to it! No one could talk to it"

"Oh, well….trade secret. It's called Psionics, mind to mind interface via various energy transfers. She's a hivemind…sort of I think…."

"Skreeeeee"

"Okay, or pretty close to it anyway. Anyway, it's like those weird pillar things at the dig site. The translator does the hard work and No, it's not for sale. Colony secret after all. Anyway, what happened here was the imbeciles who found this lab found Mary here as an egg, brought her back, then tried to breed up an army that they could control. I'd recommend a full investigation. We've kidnapping, rape, torture, then child enslavement…"

"They're rachni…" Wrex growled back…

"And she's a living, thinking, being that's done no wrong till proven otherwise" the female human….Karta? Karba?...stated forcefully "Innocent until proven guilty!"

Commander Shepard sighed, sounding very tired "Okay, Before we decide to release the ancient enemy of all the original Council races off into the galaxy. Please explain what's going on, in detail…"

--

[03.29: What Makes a Merchant, Man of Trade?]

[Sometimes other people are jealous, angry, and occasionally horrified, by your trade deals…]

Tevos just….oh Goddess, this job sometimes…

"Let me understand this; you investigated the laboratory breach that Matriarch Benezia was funding, and moving to secure before her capture. During which you discovered a live Rachni, a Queen at that, and then just…let the creature go?"

The holographic image gave a shrug…a Goddess damned shrug…in response "It was more than that Councillors, as we were surrounded, and outnumbered, by mercenaries that would have very much objected to genocide being committed on the species. Something I was inclined to agree with, especially once some means of dialogue was established with the creature…"

"Yes, this…psionics…" Valern interjected surprisingly calmly "…much was speculated in the records of the war against the Rachni of such possibilities…"

Trust the Salarian to immediately review ancient records in the few minutes during which the human Spectre was laying out his report Tevos found as her colleague continued speaking "…and the implication of it carrying over to the Protheans. Why a Terminus colony who are refusing to even offer their name has such technology is…concerning…but it does open numerous paths for research, as well as potential security breaches"

"Essentially did such research end up breaking Benezia's mind…" Sparatus stated, blunt and ignorant, as ever for a Turian when discussing a notable of the Republics. This was a disaster, one already starting to blow up on the Extranet throughout the Republics as someone…that Bitch on Illium or the one on Omega…data-dumped mercenary findings and combat reports on the incident prior to this Rachni disaster "…as they also had chemicals that temporarily stabilised whatever…happened to the Matriarch?"

"They refused to clarify to us further Councillors, and I was in no position to force them to. All omni-tool readings and video footage will be supplied to you, and searches will take place for the Rachni Queen…uh, Mary…according to Noverian Security Forces"

'Who'll do a grand total of little or nothing' she reminded herself as the various corporations on the planet were already throwing credits and influence at ascribing all blame on Benezia, Saren, and Council interference for what had happened so far. That included 'Rachni, what Rachni?' statements to the Spectre here and complete denial by everyone involved of knowledge of the subject. So unless they were willing to dump footage on the extranet, and cause a mass panic in the process, this matter would need to remain very, very, secret. Also sending in more Spectres and resources into cleaning up the mess here…and the one back on Therrum…

She sighed "And where are they now?"

"Took their payment and immediately left Councillor. There was little we could to stop them, and they appear to have enhanced engines, at the cost of not possessing a spinal mass driver. Optimised for support operations and blockade running I estimate"

'Of course they did' Tevos wanted to growl out but instead maintained a calm, serene, posture as she formulated her next moves "No matter, an investigation will be begun into the events on Peak 15, and hopefully medical treatment of the Matriarach will…" shut her up for good "…reveal more on her current condition"

"Yes, indeed, an STG Medical Support vessel shall arrive shortly…" Valern stated calmly as Tevos resisted an glance, and glare, at the Salarian "…and deliver her to the nearest military medical facility to better understand this unknown mental influence and energy"

"Which is being prepared as we speak" Sparatus added indicting that this was a Turian military facility and Tevos bit back any nasty words that wanted to spill out. Benezia being dead would bring this mess to an end, now her colleagues were causing nothing but problems over this 'Reaper' nonsense, and now attempting to exploit a member of the Circle for information. There were things Benezia knew that could not be allowed get out, and with her clearly mentally compromised, then the Temple on Thessia…

Tevos smiled and filled mental note that she'd rather rapidly have to try get organised as soon as she escaped this room "As you can see Spectre, the matter is well in hand. Continue your pursuit of the traitor Saren…"

--

{Fleeing from the scene of a not-crime…}

Doctor Chen was pinching the bridge of her nose "You just love to give me impossible tasks don't you Captain?"

"Now, now, Lucy, this was hardly intended" I defended myself spreading my hands in a helpless gesture "…and I could hardly leave her behind to be killed"

"Callum…" she replied sitting back in her chair rubbing at her temples "…there is only one of me, even with me not working in the canteen kitchen as I'd intended. First it is traumatised heroes, then it is women from alien rape camps…and now it is a tortured psychic alien Queen bigger than a tank. I wanted some help, and this is certainly not it"

I sighed "My apologies, it wasn't intended, and I'll offer my own help as much as I can. Or ensure I'll have the goblin psionist there to ensure no funny business. She seems genuine, and I intend to make good on finding an empty world to her suitability to setup as a new home"

"I understand that Captain, I'm merely venting frustrations…" she admitted with a shake of her head "…and now, I assume our adventures here are at an end?"

"Not quite yet" I replied resting my head back tiredly "We'll be heading a number of fringe colonies first, making our way back to this Terminus before we pull a disappearing act. Agricultural produce, machinery, and other useful things need to be purchased before we think of returning to Home Base. Such resources are badly needed in addition to the technical knowledge we have acquired, and we still have to plot our next move before departure"

"Ah, so not at an end quite yet?" she chuckled "It would be a somewhat premature ending to the voyage"

"Hmm…yes, barely at two months…" I admitted "…and voyages are costly things, and best to explore in the allotted time limited as once we return it will goodbye for many amongst us"

Doctor Chen nodded "Not myself of course, as much hardship as you have thrown at me my Captain I do think another tour of duty appeals to see the various realms that exist in the beyond. The history of this humanity for instance has been a fascinating read"

"I'm glad to hear, I've hardly looked at it I'll admit since we've been focused on gaining technical data and agricultural knowledge…" I admitted thinking on the subject "…but I imagine so. And I'm rather glad to hear you are intending to stay with us Doctor"

"Just make sure to help me hire extra staff"

I chuckled "I will indeed. One more recruitment task to add to the list I'm sorry to say, but it will get done I can assure you. Seeing to the mental health of the crew is just as important as seeing to their physical well-being I know"

"I'm glad to hear that, though it does not help with the situation at hand sadly. Have you made her comfortable….though I am unsure how one would go about that"

"Hmm, well she's in one of the starboard bays and making herself at home as best we can help. We got her dietary requirements so that's not an issue either. So we'll do our best to treat her as any member of the crew despite her differences in size and physiology. We'll be encountering stranger out there in the future, so this is a useful learning experience for everyone, myself included"

"Good, you are not pretending to be totally worldly-wise when it comes to these travels in private"

I shrugged "One has to show confidence to command I know, but best not to buy my own bullshit either. I know some things, but not everything obviously, so we all have to things to learn. Honestly, something I've not been getting enough off with my magic…after everything"

"But your healing is going well"

"My spiritual healing yes, my physical…well, that's good enough for the next few years, and I've sketched out a plan for that. Though that's not what I meant, more-so that I've had no time to take part in the little study-group our ship has going. Something I'll try rectify in the next few days as we travel, I hope"

--

{Medicine and Meditation…}

"She's fascinating to talk to actually…" Zatanna Zatara told Callum as she raised her glowing hands over his bare, green-skinned, shoulders. Supergirl had calmed at last towards her, something of a truce between the two of them, though the bitchy blonde lay into the chair nearby just lazing about as Zatanna went about her task "…if somewhat scary in appearance I'll admit"

Supergirl gave an amused snort at that "Yes, and Callum here called her a damsel in distress"

"Technically she was, with the whole trapped in a tank with an acid trap"

Zatanna swatted him on the shoulder "Hush you, you're supposed to be lying still so I can reinforce your soul bindings. Focus on controlling your flow of energy"

"I'd like a massage too" Supergirl joked "But she was in danger, true, but that Spectre guy and his team were willing to listen to reason"

"We still have to leave earlier than planned" Zatanna replied pushing the larger man resting on the bed down so his chin rested on his arms, as she focused on allowing her charge to siphon off some of her power "Ygrene, troppus, poleved"

"Yes, but we still did well I think…" the other girl muttered "…and we helped….we just have to leave and come back at a much later date"

Zatanna snorted at that "Once the heat dies down? Like we're the villain in some sort of old cop movie?"

"Space cop mo…owww"

"What did I say about talking you! Just be silent for five minutes now while I work" she huffed in irritation at Callum, then hopped up onto his back after smacking the idiot as she then pressed both palms onto his back, drawing forth power and strengthening the bonds Doctor Fate and Callum had created. It wasn't strictly necessary anymore, but it would help continue his growth and strengthening of his blood as a sorcerer…except without demons and horrors like John Constantine's had. So Zatanna worked diligently as the two of them fell silent, carrying murmuring the words as her charge deliberately lowered his, rather paranoid, mystical defences…but still insisted on controlling her input.

"See, now you can talk…" she stated with a tired groan, switching to just massaging the knots in his muscles and gently ensuring the flow of energy was correct "…just had to be patient. Now, what is the plan oh noble Captain of the Fortune's Chance?"

"Watch out for pursuers…"

Zatanna chuckled "You mean the law?"

"Hmm…more the local spies as there's nothing official about us beyond we're elite mercenaries…"

Supergirl laughed from her seat "Heh, I've seen the extra-net reviews…even if Commander Shepard, the Spectre guy, is more famous and gets more talked about! And we did all the work!"

"I am not going to complain about that…" Callum muttered "…we've a few backwards and edge of nowhere worlds to hit, and then we're out of here. That Saren guy they were chasing seems to have died or killed himself on some world called Virmire, and that means they might have more time to look after loose ends….like us. So, let's not wait around. The next dimension awaits…"

--

[03.30: What Makes a Merchant, Man of Trade?]

[Republic versus Empire, it is an endless cycle…]

--

[Trader's Journal: Day 632]

[Current Dimension]

Exiting* Mass Effect Universe

[Current Location]

Cloaked, Asari Republic territory apparently

[Current Cash Reserves]

2,420 Septims [Low Quality gold-mix]

15,234 Californian Dollars [Earth-04, Chain-2091, Disunited America]

2,621 Dollars [US Provisional Government[Earth-01, Chain-2091, German-ruled America]

26,522 Dollars [United States of America[Buffy-verse]

19,667 US Dollars [Earth-JA01 on Account [Bank of New England]

14,210 US Dollars [Earth-JL02] on Account [Bank of Metropolis]

10, 264 US Dollars [Buffy-verse] on Account [Bank of America, Sunnydale]

3,400,330 Punts [Quinn's Alt-Earth] on Account [Bank of Ireland]

21,450,224 Francs [Quinn's Alt-Earth] on Account [Banque du Bordeux]

24,622,500 D-Marks [Quinn's Alt-Earth] on Account [Banque du Bordeux]

500,250 Credits [Mass Effect Universe[E-Banking Volus Banks, Backed by Citadel Council]

[Trading Report – Dimensional Exit Point]

We've acquired two landing vehicles;- what's called an M-29 Grizzly and a more 'modern' M-35 Mako, and I think we'll keep the Mako and trade the larger, but less powerful, Grizzly to our allies on Home Base. Working examples combined with technical data and manuals should make it better for them to make functional models from.

Secondly we've purchased a decent amount of second hand, even obsolete, colony development equipment, even if much of it is long past 'useful' dates. The real treasure is the data-core filled with technical data we've filled, even if it's still incomplete as we've had to cut short our trip here, and also excluding any eezo related technical development. Between the info and old working models one hopes for dealing with the problems back on Home Base.

Finally, we've filled several of our holds with agricultural produce intended for Earth or Arcturus Base, paid above and beyond really, but weapons were in demand so we got a good price for them. Nothing too serious, since we can't get access to military grade stuff, but we've sold everything bar two Ymir Mechs for our own analysis. Also parts to fix up the damaged caused – than the Shrouded Lord for the 3D printers on board the ship.

[Diary Entry]

Right, I badly need to expand and upgrade the security teams. Maybe even create our own small military force to handle the, seemingly inevitable, clashes were bound to get into. It's too ad-hoc at the moment as this situation proved, and violence is proving a sad factor when trade is essentially Age of Sail thanks to dimensional travel. Being on your own does cause problems and this dimension just reinforced that need. So, yay, another thing to add to the ever-growing list of things the business needs to develop – from mages, to scientists, to education, to soldiers. All atop the need to base-build back on Home Base when I'm out sailing the inter-dimension seas.

Right, well, first leg of our voyage is still came out ahead, even if we're leaving and hiding for a few months, maybe a year or two, till the head dies down and we can plan our moves a bit better for here. Right now there's too much interest on us, and we've had to head up to the Terminus systems as they call it, then double back under cloak to our original entry point. Yes there are other exit points, somewhere, but just cause there are doesn't mean it'll be as easy pick up our null-void coordinates. So, for now, we're charging our drives and preparing for the next dimensional breach while avoiding detection as we do so.

Oh, yes, and we've a powerful psionic alien now as a member of our crew. She's very intelligent, and powerful, and the deal is for us to help her find a new home to settle down on. Right this minute its for mutual protection on the ship, as well as providing her a home while we travel – and she's agreed not to try breed up an army of her kind and betray us. That's perfectly agreeable to her and she's actually content enough so far with people that can actually talk to her psionically. Her species don't really communicate verbally, and that, and potential corruption from another, outside, source according to the psionic blue goblin, didn't make for good relations between her people and the Citedal's. So an empty world where she won't be attacked on sight seems the best bet we all agree.

Now, onto business. Energy expenditure has been high, and we're badly unarmed in my opinion. Excellent in the close range support range, and sensors, but having to rely on twentieth-century cruise missiles and nukes, mixed in Monitor-tech and JL-tech, doesn't suit for potential ranged agreements in my opinion. I blame this Monarch person, and then crews that stripped down the Hunter-Killer. So, once this is all over and we've headed to Home Base to resupply, we'll have to head to a major spell-jammer port and get a refit, along with getting a repair yard built on Home Base. And that means getting to the Monitor space-station with a large, hazmat equipped, special weapon armed, salvage team. But that's for the future, drives are up, and we're ready to rumble it seems. Slán.

--

[Trader's Journal: Day 637]

[Current Dimension]

Void between Dimensions

[Current Location]

Nowhere, Nowhen, Anywhere, Anytime

[Current Cash Reserves]

2,420 Septims [Low Quality gold-mix]

15,234 Californian Dollars [Earth-04, Chain-2091, Disunited America]

2,621 Dollars [US Provisional Government[Earth-01, Chain-2091, German-ruled America]

26,522 Dollars [United States of America[Buffy-verse]

19,667 US Dollars [Earth-JA01 on Account [Bank of New England]

14,210 US Dollars [Earth-JL02] on Account [Bank of Metropolis]

10, 264 US Dollars [Buffy-verse] on Account [Bank of America, Sunnydale]

3,400,330 Punts [Quinn's Alt-Earth] on Account [Bank of Ireland]

21,450,224 Francs [Quinn's Alt-Earth] on Account [Banque du Bordeux]

24,622,500 D-Marks [Quinn's Alt-Earth] on Account [Banque du Bordeux]

500,250 Credits [Mass Effect Universe[E-Banking Volus Banks, Backed by Citadel Council]

[Trading Report]

None obviously, dimensional void or whatever you want to call it

[Diary Entry]

I've taken three days, after the initial busy period, to simply study my magic and others with the groups from Winterhold and Sunnydale, plus the two Deborahs. Oh, and Zee too of course, but she's basically my magical training partner nowadays. One thing I've noted is; Dawn Summers isn't truly human, and is probably a natural planar door opener. Or lock either, hard to say. Still she's having the time of her life, and these trips are usually time to study and reflect despite the dangers that lurk within the void-between-realms. Hard to know what exactly as the Bleed in DC-verse as the Monitors call it is very, very, different to the Bleed here between these dimensions. Even if there's 'Nothing' out there – that 'Nothing' can be dangerous and be filled with Predators and 'wildlife' so to speak.

So, Kara and Barbara are running the bridge right now, with Faralda and Jonathan on 'night shift' and I'm just playing reserve for now. Down time basically, though I am doing useful things, outside the study sessions and healing, like replacing our stocks of alchemical munitions, and starting to fit up two more of missiles with a temporary ethereal effect. Not going to replace our usage of heavy weapons in the past few weeks, but it's always useful to expand our small stock of enchanted and enhanced weapons.

Another thing I want to do is work more on the basic purity seals on the power armour, and get proper long term enchantments done. That though falls back on the need to expand our support services, so I'm even more certain of the need to create an Arcane Academy of some sort when we return. I hope we can expand our services request from Sigil as it is not just the arcane component of the Dimensional Barrier System that needs to be worked on. Winterhold would be a potential back-up source, in exchange for various things obviously, and I've broached it with Faralda, though there are the issues of the Thalmor and trying to hide our whole secret portal thing from people.

I've been sketching out ideas, discussing it Zee and Faralda, and I've got a basic outline drawn up to expand upon in coming weeks. Technical skills need to be expanded too, hence the technical knowledge we just downloaded to help Home Base develop, and apparently our security forces as well. Thankfully the technical and security training side can be handled on Home Base, limited and crippled as that Earth is, but the arcane and divine side, psionics too, need outside subcontractors. Yes I've a decent sized team aboard the Fortune's Chance, but that's temporary, prone to change in coming years, and I can't just take the lead on everything once that happens. Oh, and I need such supports so I can focus on my physical well-being as well.

Beyond that our Rachni guest is setting in well, interesting conversations to be had though her knowledge of her species history beyond 'sour notes' and 'yellow colours' seems fairly limited. On the bright side it's an extra psion to add to our defence, and training regime as well since it's a useful skill to teach my crew in case we don't have mages on hand in a situation with power psionists on the enemy side. Even slight delays thanks to resistance can help in a fight after all. That and I really want to know is what happened to Mary's species related to those strange pillars we encountered, and Doctor T'soni's theories. It's important to know if it's a Masquerade world, well, galaxy, as the place is going to be a useful branch office in the future to help develop Home Base Earths. Something for later research, as it's time to rest now.

--

[03.31: What Makes a Merchant, Man of Trade?]

[To dock at a distant harbour in the calm before the storm…]

"Were in Star Wars!" I found Jonathan's tone far to happy and excitable for my liking "Oh! Oh! Let's go find Luke and train him…"

I rubbed my temples "We aren't anywhere near that time period lads and lassies. If you haven't noticed we're….sometime way, way, before that…"

"The Old Republic" Barbara supplied helpful and she shrugged as I looked at her "Hey, I play games we've picked too you know"

"Yeah…" Brewster agreed elbowing Jonathan in the side "…but I'm not sure when exactly, just that their fighting Mandalorians, or were recently, and the Republic exists. We're near a planet called Bastion, and a 'contact spaceport' warning from outer markers to follow in and other such mundane things. Just year, date, wait times and assign berths to what look to be two freighters. Using the computers to match dates I think we're near the end of the Mandalorian Wars when a Jedi named Revan turns into a Sith named Darth Revan and stars a Jedi Civil War"

"Soooo….what are we gonna do?" Quinn asked curiously as we all clustered on the bridge as the probes transmitted data to us "Head through? It seems the kind of place we want to go"

"To fight the Sith?"

I sighed "No Jonathan, We, as you may know, are a merchant vessel, so we stay quiet and avoid trouble…as we seem incapable of doing of late I'll admit…if we can. This dimension is technologically advanced, has a high magical resonance, even if the physics seems wonky according to the probes. Think it's the FTL they use"

Kara glanced at me and I shrugged as I read the barebones system report after hours of the probes feeding us information from the other side "What you see is not what you get when it comes to the stars according to the fancy Monitor computer. Like a mirage with the actual systems not being where you see them relative to your starting point. Maybe, at least that's how I'm reading it"

"I'll look at it later at the data" my more technically minded krytonian girlfriend murmured looking out at the starfield beyond the portal "But, do we have any reason not to go through? At least we have an idea how to behave on the other side, and the technology is maybe stuff that'll really help?"

"Uh-huh, I agree with Kara" the red-haired Batgirl stated cheerfully "It's Star Wars, sort of, and its…"

"Got Jedi and Sith and general craziness" I pointed out, then let out a weary sigh at the general looks of disagreement I got from Nerds who knew it was, and disinterest from those that didn't "But, yeah, I do agree this is a potential profitable market to tap, but also a potentially risky one"

Barbara smirked "It's also an advanced, space-travelling, civilization whose records aren't great right now, where there's a lot of ships under new owners, or with general confusion over what's going on…so voila! Easy for us to slip in and out without trouble"

She paused a moment before continuing "Compared to the last place anyway"

"That is true" I admitted, placing my hands on the arcane crystal control orb "So, unless there's any serious objections we're heading through in about an hour"

There wasn't any objections unsurprisingly, and I began to get everyone back to being professional as we did the last minute breech procedures, down to making sure there wasn't tracking on the other side. Slowly but surely the Fortune's Chance approached the dimensional 'soft-point' as my magic team helped adjust our ships 'bubble reality' to the one of the dimension we were entering. It was an active magic field, a very active one, and quasi-alive too, so it was both easier, and harder, to navigate through as we negotiated the natural barriers to our entry…

--

{Always nice to have a beach episode...}

Dubrillion was a beautiful, if rather authoritarian, world as I sat on the beach chair, looking up at the stars on this world's night sky as I held a colourful looking alcoholic cocktail in my right hand "Ah, this is the life now isn't it?"

There were other systems we could have gone to, but several days of careful probing and we'd decided here was the ideal place to start our journey. Firstly, because this place was out on the edge of civilization…while also being neutral in the fighting in the Republic and something of resort world right now. Secondly there was a market for 'unique' items, like certain 'slug-throwers' as the locals called them, as well as for 'exotic' spices and ingredients from the Mass Effect dimension. At least once they passed health and safety, but the down payment was enough to allow us some indulgence for shore leave.

"Well it's more romantic than the frozen rock or the ancient alien tomb filled with zombies…" Kara replied with amusement as she sat back down in the chair beside me as I admired her form in that bikini for a moment, or two "…so you get points for renting the private beach while we stay here. Money well spent"

"Hopefully…" I mused watching the barbeque being lit up by Barbara and that mad techo-goblin Tirdelk as we started our rotation's little party. This was a world that most of the crew, Rachni Mary aside, could relax and unwind, albeit while the rest stayed on alert and guarded us in the event things went wrong. Something we all needed, even if it took some effort with magical protection to ensure we all didn't get ill, or spread any illnesses ourselves "…and we just have to make it back down the line"

Night's were warm here, almost a summers day back on earth in Ireland, and the moon and stars were bright on the black tapestry of the sky. I smiled; I was getting whimsical it seemed after a few drinks, that and enjoying the view as some of us swam, or in the case of two our number played some sort of beach rugby or maybe volleyball that'd turned violent. At least everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves I thought sipping my bittersweet drink, amused faintly at the two Deborahs dressed in radically different swimsuits; one very conservative, and the other one's leaving little to the imagination.

'Much like Zee's' I noted as said magician wandered over towards myself and Kara, drink in hand, and, for some reason, still wearing a top hat. Drunk dare maybe?

"Done with your party tricks already?" Kara asked politely of Zee as the older woman came in front of us "Just remember not to swim while drunk"

"Oh, it was just a bit of fun, just sleight of hand and no magic like was ordered" she replied with a bow, winking at us, before plopping into the chair on the other side of me with a sigh "And I'm hardly drunk yet my dear Kara! Even if I do, why, I've you two brave heroes to rescue me from my youthful foolishness!"

"You are just a grown-up child at times, you know that?" I chuckled back, then glanced at her "But, seriously, Kara's right, just be wary of the magic here with Force users about. It's not even Jedi sniffing about, but if customers get wind they can get a bit defensive that we might be screwing with their minds. Or, at least that's what our think-tanks believes"

Kara snorted at that "Barbara's Team Star Wars Nerds you mean"

"Ah, they're not that bad…" I replied "…mostly because we're not in the originals, cuz then they probably would be"

"So, what's the plan oh glorious captain?"

"Plan?" I mused in response to Zee's question "Same as in the last place, look about for some useful technology, that isn't too advanced or needs some rare resource, and avoiding anywhere too dangerous"

"And maybe investigate some…magical places?"

I gave her a glare "Oh don't give me that look, this place and ruins? No thank you"

--

[Trader's Journal: Day 641]

[Current Dimension]

Star Wars, Time of the Old Republic

[Current Location]

Planet Dubrillon, Outer Rim

[Current Cash Reserves]

2,420 Septims [Low Quality gold-mix]

15,234 Californian Dollars [Earth-04, Chain-2091, Disunited America]

2,621 Dollars [US Provisional Government[Earth-01, Chain-2091, German-ruled America]

26,522 Dollars [United States of America[Buffy-verse]

19,667 US Dollars [Earth-JA01 on Account [Bank of New England]

14,210 US Dollars [Earth-JL02] on Account [Bank of Metropolis]

10, 264 US Dollars [Buffy-verse] on Account [Bank of America, Sunnydale]

3,400,330 Punts [Quinn's Alt-Earth] on Account [Bank of Ireland]

21,450,224 Francs [Quinn's Alt-Earth] on Account [Banque du Bordeux]

24,622,500 D-Marks [Quinn's Alt-Earth] on Account [Banque du Bordeux]

500,250 Credits [Mass Effect Universe[E-Banking Volus Banks, Backed by Citadel Council]

24,247 Republic Credits [Star Wars, Old Republic[Stored on a physical Credit Chit]

[Trading Report]

Sold 11 'Slug-throwers' – 2 X Miniguns with ammunition, 4 X AK-47's with ammunition, and 5 X Anti-Tank Rifles with ammunition. We also sold some of the agri-produce we purchased to raise credits, along with a few 'antique' equipment from 'pre-Colonial days' that we, in-theory, salvaged from non-Republic world. Since Mass Effect Earth isn't in the Republic everything we said is technical true, and there was a bit of a market for it. We'll make back what we purchased given time, but one needs a setup fund and those plus our last remain gold and silver is how we raised said find.

[Diary Entry]

What to do, what to buy, that describes our current position having arrived in the land of Stars and Wars, and crazy magic-users. Still it's amazingly advanced, in chaos due to war, and another war on the horizon, so there are opportunities in such a scenario. Blasters I'm unsure of, dimension-wise, but they'll be a useful thing to pick up along with armour suits and personal shielding. Yes I've got my own magical defences, but it might be worth investigating if we can power them, or work them onto the power armour. Or it could turn out to be like the Omni-tool purchases;- brilliant things, but we've no idea how to make them ourselves, or modify them outside of factory parameters.

Bright side; I'm at full power, and so is Kara, and the psionists, and our mages. Yes using the local Weave is, tricky and tiring let's say, and not suited for long-term stays I imagine for 'outsiders' like ourselves. But – we can fight if forced too, even if ship-wise we're not exactly top-of-the-line. On that note acquiring a shuttlecraft or two seems a plan, even if the FTL has drawbacks it looks like. Something that could fit into the upper bays where we had the choppers and serve us for landings on planets within dimensions where they are fully functional. Thinking on the matter I believe we can pick up the tools here that we'll need to mount an expedition to the Monarch's Inter-dimensional base so we can salvage and reclaim what we need from there.

For the moment we're having a little stop over here on Dubrillon, but we're leaving 'tomorrow' with a convoy down the Braxant Run. Piracy is a problem apparently, and it's taken a few days for our 'Mimic Drive' to emulate the local FTL by studying incoming and outgoing ships. So it'll be much easier to simply 'jump' with a local 'lead' ship, along with an armed destroyer as we head for Bandomeer and the Hydian Way as that hyperlane is called. We're still getting info on where to go, but we are narrowing it down somewhat, and once we do – boom, we'll move fast, about a month to two months is the time-frame, then homeward bound.

--

[03.32: What Make's a Merchant, Man of Trade?]

[Buy Low, Sell High, at least that's the theory…]

"I sort of imagined it'd be…I don't know…more exciting"

I sighed "Quinn, are you really complaining about us hauling ore?"

Quinn nodded "Yes, actually yes, I am. We're in sci-fi movie and we're lugging rocks from place to another when there is so much technology to be studied!"

I rolled my eyes "Well we can't do that unless we have money, and money comes from us lugging this valuable cargo, very quickly, from point A to point B. I know it takes some of the wonder out of the space travel in a fantasy universe for many…but we've bills to pay to allow us time and tech, and magic, to study. So shiny space rocks being hauled it is"

"And what about the Taris situation?"

That…was a problem having spent a few hours paying the relevant game, and comparing dates as best we could, and quick guesstimate when the, still existing, planet would be blasted to ruins…in a while. Maybe weeks, maybe months, but, probably, in two or three years. Sadly, there was little I could do about that, and let out a weary breath "I've no idea Quinn, honestly I don't. What can we do? Turn and up say, 'hey, your planet's about to get Sith-nuked at…sometime in the future, maybe' – all with a big maybe on if, and when, it'll happen. And we ain't got the firepower to take on the ship that'll do it"

'Not unless I somehow empower Kara to max power since the local star ain't yellow, and somehow also allow her to survive space with air…oh, and the turbolasers don't kill her. Because they might' I thought as we sat in the 'Ready Room' adjacent to the Bridge. Kara would volunteer, but we'd all sat around already…and come to the conclusion that we couldn't exactly win, and even then that'd involve staying, something we couldn't do for an extended period. A hard admission for a spaceship full of superheroes and murder-hobos, but we couldn't win every battle either…so all could one could do was pray butterfly wings would flap, somehow.

Quinn nodded, arms folded across his chest "Glad to see you're seeing reason at least"

I nodded "More acceptance, sometimes you don't have power…sometimes you do. It's like saving Alderaan, but that's thousands of years from now…and reality isn't always as our visions of games bring. Revan might remember who he is straight away, or was never betrayed…or a host of things. We can't get fixated on such things, as we've seen with all the alternate Earths"

"Kara and Barbara aren't happy"

I gave him a blank stare "Yes…I noticed that, but they understand at least. This isn't a game, and we've our crew to protect as well. So, hauling shiny space rocks, buying blasters, and staying the hells away from Taris despite the hyperlane we're on"

The issue was…dating things weren't exactly easy as not everyone seemed to use the same calendar, and it was common to 'fudge' numbers to make production or delivery dates. All that we knew was that Revan and Malak had returned and that the Sith were recruiting, a host of other spaceport canteena rumours that contradicted each other…

And that was basically the sum knowledge of the systems we'd arrived in so far. There was no galaxy-wide extra-net here to fall back on, with big, big, delays in communications between systems off the major hyperlanes, and even further delays to farther systems. That suited us from the point of view as inter-dimensional merchants, even if it made things awkward for other sides of our personalities.

So, right now, we were moving fast along the Hydian Way, with hold full of ores, and heading towards the Togruta homeworld of Shili. That brought us away from the Sith ruled Outer Rim, but also not too close to the Republic's Core worlds; at least for the moment…

--

[Trader's Journal: Day 647]

[Current Dimension]

Star Wars, Time of the Old Republic

[Current Location]

Leaving Orbit Planet Shilli, Expansion Region, Galactic Republic Territory

[Current Cash Reserves]

2,420 Septims [Low-Quality gold-mix]

15,234 Californian Dollars [Earth-04, Chain-2091, Disunited America]

2,621 Dollars [US Provisional Government[Earth-01, Chain-2091, German-ruled America]

26,522 Dollars [United States of America[Buffy-verse]

19,667 US Dollars [Earth-JA01 on Account [Bank of New England]

14,210 US Dollars [Earth-JL02] on Account [Bank of Metropolis]

10, 264 US Dollars [Buffy-verse] on Account [Bank of America, Sunnydale]

3,400,330 Punts [Quinn's Alt-Earth] on Account [Bank of Ireland]

21,450,224 Francs [Quinn's Alt-Earth] on Account [Banque du Bordeux]

24,622,500 D-Marks [Quinn's Alt-Earth] on Account [Banque du Bordeux]

500,250 Credits [Mass Effect Universe[E-Banking Volus Banks, Backed by Citadel Council]

47,251 Republic Credits [Star Wars, Old Republic[Stored on a physical Credit Chit]

[Trading Report]

We've got a job, proving just how badly off the Republic is when fake records guys get a contract to run supplies and other equipment to some out of the way colony. Like, really, we could be anybody, including Sith, and there's was only the barest of 'background checks' if that's what you call it. Well, no matter, we've delivered our stores of ore and crystals, got paid, and bought a decent number of crates filled with blasters and other technical goodies. Oh, yeah, and we've got six passengers, two armed, who are serving as distributors of the supplies on the other end. Yeah, this isn't suspicious at all. BUT. We are being well paid, so fast and the furious time.

[Diary Entry]

So,Shilli's a nice place?

At least the Togruta seem to be, if also very primitive outside the major cities. It makes me confused seeing urban spaceports, and then primitive hunter-gather tribes with blasters and various environmentally unfriendly technologies. Also native murder-beasts, the goblins went and hunted one down in our three day stay there, they are insane, what can I say?

So, yeah, that happened along with us picking up a somewhat odd transport contract from some, technically official, members of the Republic. Charity my ass, but yay the Republic, corrupt and shite as it is, versus the power of Dark Edgelord and Dark Edgelord Jnr. That is unfair though, there is so much to learn from Revan, but, yeah, staying well clear of all that let us say. Even if the galaxy is aflame with Mandalorians running about still, pirates everywhere, and the sith returned. So we've a Miss Valences installed in our recently refitted guest rooms, and her team's cargo in the armoured hold. Fun times.

Now all we've got to do is blitz all the way to the planet of Taanab, on the Permelian Trade Route, with payment on safe delivery from the keycode Miss Valences has plus the one on planet. Course we're suspicious, but the credits get us enough to go shopping for shuttles, decent ones, and it is backed by the sector authorities according to the Shilli law enforcement. I know, I know, considering our situation in Council Space it's a risk, but that's the nature of the job in the end now isn't it?

There has been some tension amongst my crew about the situation at hand, by that I mean media versions of this universe, and the fact of trying to do something. Kara has been amongst them, and we had a row, that's ended today thank the Boss, but it's been an issue that's only slowly calming. Do Something! That's the battlecry, even if we've no idea what to do. The galaxy is at war, things are completely confused, and hyperlanes are not as fast and convenient as advertised. Also, I don't like the Weave here; the Force is semi-sentient, or quasi-sentient, and you have to fight it for your magic, while also encouraging overuse. So, fuck the Force, it's not your friend.

Other than that Mary is fitting in with the crew fairly well, current debate aside, and Doctor Chen has met with her to try help with me serving as guardian. Very good learning experience I found. Psionics isn't really my thing, even if the Boss has some study and use for it. Fascinating talk, and it distracted from the time spent ensuring our passengers are cared for, while also firmly locked out of the rest of the ship;- without giving the idea we're Force users. Or have a alien hive-mind psionist aboard, and are actually inter-dimensional travellers in disguise. Again, fun times.

Amusingly enough recruiting here might be an option, though skill levels, like tech levels, are really bloody schizo for whatever reason. Shilli just being a microcosm of the larger galactic situation according to all reports and guides we've bought. Funnily enough nobody sees that as strange, the Force maybe?, and that's so odd to me considering some of the technologies available to them, or have been lost whatever insane reason. Yeah there's been cyclical apocalypses, but much of the tech is there, just, not used. Also black-boxed by manufacturers making copying stuff really bloody hard, which is another reason that tech stagnate here. Feckers. Can't just grab stuff and leave to use even stuff obsolete for thousands of years.

--

{Sometimes it's best just to say nothing and walk away…}

"There's another Hammerhead emerging into orbit…" Jonathan helpfully supplied as the Fortune's Chance rose up from the surface and accelerated hard to break orbit "…not squawking anything at us though Captain"

"Just keep up the speed and FTL the moment we hit what the locals thing of as the hyper-limit" I instructed frowning at the tactical display that was…odd…shortly after we'd arrived and unloaded our supply run and passengers. Kara stood beside as the bridge was a hive of activity as we moved back up into space, job completed. All we had to do now was avoid a stab in the back, and the sudden bursts of activity that was making me nervous.

"They're aren't making for us at least…" she said and I nodded slowly in agreement as the two Republic cruisers linked up with a fighter escort as another ship descended towards the planet "…or shouting at us to stop in the…"

"Boss their charging their weapons! Firing on us now!!"

"Fuck it" I hissed as Brewster shouted out the warning, my hand slamming energy into arcane control crystal and mystical barriers rose up around the ship. Beyond us the two Republic cruisers that had been moving towards each other opened fire on us from 'either side' though the situation was a three dimensional battlefield as starfighters suddenly diverted at full burn towards us "Power to engines and ECM, blind'em and let's get out of this trap"

'And this is why we took only two hours rather than the promised day to unload supplies' my mind supplied helpfully. Everything had been so helpful and peaceful….and far too helpful and friendly for a customer representing the government on a weird ass mission like this. A bonus and offering paid night's stay?

Yeah, that ranked as too good to be true and we'd taken the money, unloaded the goods ten times faster than we'd promised, and detected that first cruiser about twenty minutes before it arrived. So it was almost a relief when the inevitable backstab came, and I watched as the prepared nuke took flight, accelerating fast….before detonating ahead and too our upper right just outside the planet's atmosphere. That was our signal to cloak, a flash of arcane might, and then the ship did a short FTL blast to the outermost planet of the system as the…

"I think they were trying to stop us jumping out Captain?"

"Hmm?" I asked glancing at Jonathan "What do you mean?"

"These satellites there…they've some odd energy readings and the computer analysis…" the Sunnydale boy that seem to see this ship as his version of the Enterprise replied bringing up a holo-image "…look, it's the same as their hyperdrives…except not"

"Well, great" I muttered with a sigh, shaking my head as we hid behind the planet now in front of us "If it's too good to be true…"

"Then it's too good to be true…" Barbara agreed pointing at the tactical display with a glare "…and aren't the Republic supposed to be the good guys?"

"Yes, and they seemed so nice too" I stated manipulating the arcane energy barrier and toggling the shipwide communication "All crew, prepare for emergency FTL jumps, and I need the reserve duty shift ready immediately"

Switching it off I glanced back at Batgirl "Well, looks like we were a deniable asset that needed da killins' as they say, now that our work is done. Right, we're making for Lantillies, it's neutral, we have our credits, we buy our shuttles and then we cut short this trip"

"To boldly flee, yet again" Kara teased me, hand squeezing my shoulder "We're okay Callum, the ships okay, so relax, some of us thought this all far too suspicious"

"Yes, you said so" I agreed with a sigh, gesturing at the star-map "Right then, let's make for Lantillies and get this over with…"

--

[03.33: What Make's a Merchant, Man of Trade?]

[The Will of the Force is out to get us I think…]

--

[Trader's Journal: Day 652]

[Current Dimension]

Star Wars, Time of the Old Republic

[Current Location]

Spaceport, Lantillies

[Current Cash Reserves]

2,420 Septims [Low Quality gold-mix]

15,234 Californian Dollars [Earth-04, Chain-2091, Disunited America]

2,621 Dollars [US Provisional Government[Earth-01, Chain-2091, German-ruled America]

26,522 Dollars [United States of America[Buffy-verse]

19,667 US Dollars [Earth-JA01 on Account [Bank of New England]

14,210 US Dollars [Earth-JL02] on Account [Bank of Metropolis]

10, 264 US Dollars [Buffy-verse] on Account [Bank of America, Sunnydale]

3,400,330 Punts [Quinn's Alt-Earth] on Account [Bank of Ireland]

21,450,224 Francs [Quinn's Alt-Earth] on Account [Banque du Bordeux]

24,622,500 D-Marks [Quinn's Alt-Earth] on Account [Banque du Bordeux]

500,250 Credits [Mass Effect Universe[E-Banking Volus Banks, Backed by Citadel Council]

[Trading Report]

Troubles aside we've purchased two shuttles, though without hyperdrives as their more in-system taxis in my opinion. We got user manuals and spare parts too, for the remainder of our credits, so that's all good. It's been a bad trip, but we still have a decent quantity of agri-food stored, the Systems Alliance Data-drives, and parts from last dimension so even with our failure here we're up in total. We've also purchased a supply of blasters, extreme-conditions exploration suits, and some medical supplies, here, but I don't think it's worth the effort and sales gone into them. Beyond the shuttles anyway, they should be a big help.

[Diary Entry]

Heavens this place hates us. Or the Force does love it's little coincidences like the ships that tried to ambush us after we did their stupid job, and then patrol that just happened to blunder upon us after we rested, followed by other minor nonsense that may or may not be just coincidence. Of course with a quasi-chaos God running the show I doubt that possibility, so get the hell out of dodge before more problems crop up. This trip has been a dud, albeit with some useful additions I'll admit in the shuttles we just bought and brought aboard. Certainly put an end to my plans to try recruit technical expertise here now didn't it?

Not even two whole weeks here and we're departing for greener pastures that aren't causing me headaches at every opportunity. The sooner we're gone the happier I'll be, even it'll take another two days to get everything loaded and sorted for the shuttles. I think we're all of that mind as this place is just frustrating, and the warfare is threatening to drag us in since we're essentially barred from Republic space for now. Not with that trap indicating we're on a wanted list of some sort now, and we blundered into a black-op for the Republic where we get to die. Thankfully information flow is sluggish as the communication networks are breaking down due to conflict and we cheat a little by slipping through blockades on the hyperlanes with the arcane cloak. Though I've concerns of that with the Force.

Yeah, we've all been talking, we magic-users of the crew, and we all feel it's faint touch and impact of our spells on the environment. Really we need to shield ourselves with anti-scry wards, and probably soul concealing spells – something I do, but we've been leaking signs I fear and that's why we've had our issues so far. It's just not worth the effort, and even now I've concerns even a short lingering will cause problems for us in some way. The Force is like a trickster God, or a bored gamer, and just loves to cause conflict for conflicts sake – even if Zee and Willow think I'm being overly dramatic about it. I'd call it being properly prepared, or properly paranoid is we must use the P-word to describe my planning for problem scenarios. Mostly because we are currently in one in my opinion.

Other than that the crew are well, we're recharging batteries and doing all the usual pre-departure tests and preparation. No shore-leave sadly as I don't trust our current circumstances, nor any of these locals despite high pay and ensuring all our paperwork is in order. Well, we've still some time on our voyage, if we choose to, but that'll be decided upon once we get out of this place. Or if we should just head back to Home Base and call and end to this expedition. Ultimately it's mine, Kara's and Quinn's choice, with Kara thinking we should head back, while Quinn wants to try another exploration before we do – me being the tie-breaker, and I'm sure yet which way to jump to be honest. Anyway, back to work, we've some more stores to get aboard according to alert from the bridge.

--

{Doing a thankless job…}

Captain Talia Everett sighed as she sat down on the seat of her command vehicle "Could this day get any worse?"

"Captain?"

She glanced at Private Cahvad "Don't be deliberately dim Private. We've Sith and Jedi planet-side, and now we're going to have make sure there isn't any chaos with their presence"

Talia rubbed at tired eyes before putting back on the communications headset and bringing up the spaceport security display "Spaceport Control, this is Secure One, do you read?"

"Copy Secure One, this is Spaceport Control. Four Minutes, twenty-seven seconds to implementation of lockdown. Defence Forces are escorting diplomatic teams down under Coda Protocols"

"Copy that Control…" Talia answered as her squad moved into position outside the vehicle. The whole situation was nonsense in her opinion….cursed Jedi, cursed Sith, they were all mad and would suck her world into their insane feud. Bringing them down together, under guard, to try play one off against the other might seem a good idea, but it made her life a massive headache as their arrival was all hush-hush "…we are in position. Ready to implement on command"

"Goin' be lots of unhappy ship captains at this delay…" she muttered to no-one in particular as she sat back in her seat after clicking off her outgoing comm and took her kaff into hand "…so thank the ancestors I don't have to deal with that"

"And who will Captain?"

"Well Private Cahvad, that'd be the Spaceport Administrators Union, who are supposed to be keeping everyone happy. So, good for them" she replied as she began to reconfirm positions as the seconds ticked by to the actual implementation of the hours long mission. Simply getting the two delegations to the agreed upon negotiations in the Assembly….through Droids hopefully, the mind messing parast….

"Mark. Ten Seconds"

"Copy Control. Gong Active" she answered clicking up her section of the facility and sending the 'GO' signal to her squads as the system lockdown alerts were sent to the various sections and ships in port. Or, temporary delay warnings as the primary landing bay remained clear. Talia would see the sudden flurry of communications from the land ships, but that wasn't any of her concern as she directed her squads to control the flow of civilian traffic and ensuring restricted areas remained just that….restricted and secure.

It was fairly routine as security teams deployed with her soldiery under the guise of one of the, increasingly common, security drills. The Mandalorian barbarians had been kept away, but now the Republic and Jedi had fallen into Civil War as the heroes Revan and Malak rose up against the corrupt and incompetent government on Coruscant. Talia had hoped the great defeat of the savages would bring peace…but no such luck, so it seemed they'd have no break from the constant security drills any time soon. The bright side was everything was going smoothly, on her side at least as a few ships seemed really angry judging from the traffic she was monitoring on her systems.

"VIPs descending, all units be on alert"

She thumbed the comm "Roger that Control. Secure One, Phase Two implementing…now"

--

{Mistakes were made…}

Padawan Alact Duvair followed his Master, Knight Kuvinya Dal, down the ramp of their shuttle "I cannot believe they are making us arrive at the same time as these….monsters"

His Master glanced at him, shaking her head "It is an attempt at a powerplay my Padawan. We must show patience and restraint. This world is not leaning the way it should, so simply denying it to our foes is the task at hand"

Four Republic soldiers who served as their escort followed them and Alact watched warily as the….traitors shuttled landed a distance away. Steeling himself Alact walked with Master Dal and their guards "Are they trying to cause us to clash Master?"

"Perhaps my Padawan, but we shall not make such a mistake unless attached" his Twilek Master murmured softly as he felt uncomfortable in the Force at this scenario. Yes they had been guided by the Force, but these traitors to the Temple…

"Kuvinya…" the black robed, with red trim, figure of the so-called Sith greeted them in oily voice as they were forced to wait under the watchful eyes of Lantillian soldiers "…it has been some time"

"Yestin…." Master murmured stoically "…it has, so far that you have fallen"

"It is Darth Xad now, remember that, for I have risen…" the robed Togruta stated coldly as a human girl in equally black robes stood behind what was clearly her Master, sneering at Alact as their four soldiers stood in those faceless black masks the wore "…and now let us proceed so that you can fa…"

[Whhopppppp Whoopppppp Whhoopppppp]

Alact blinked, turning to his side as alarms suddenly started to blare as he heard engine sounds suddenly roar to life. And there, in the Force was a powerful…now several powerful Force signatures as Lantillian soldiers shifted uneasily or a few moving off towards the engine sounds. Metal creaked loudly as…

"What is the meaning of this?" the Sith monster demanded…

"FUCK YOU TEAM GLOWSTICK!" a voice boomed out as suddenly a blast of Force and condensed air slammed into Alact and the others, flinging soldiers into machinery and back into shuttles. Alact back barely managed to stop himself as he staggered under the assault, falling backwards and gripping a support coming out of the duracrete landing bay "WE ARE LEAVING AND YOU AREN'T STOPPING US!"

'What is going on?' was the primary thought in his mind as a white clothed human came into view, hovering off the ground a short distance away as a blast of dust came from behind the figure. Alact watching as a ship began to rise up into the air, machinery loudly creaking or breaking coming to his ears and…

[͍̠̣̣̟H̗O̝̦̜̱̕R̹̘̗R̠̬̪O̞͘R̶̤̤]̝

Dread and terror assaulted Alact's mind as soldiers screamed and ran, where they weren't knocked unconscious as the hovering figure was joined by two more humans, both strangely dressed. Sith Lightning erupted from the white clothed human's hand, destroying the tracking sensor dishes on the side of the building. Alact wasn't noticing as he found himself being hugged…or was he hugging desperately?...the black robed human girl as both of them stared as a fog filled the air around them from nowhere…

"FUCK THE FORCE AND IT'S BULLSHIT! DAMNED STUPID WHINY JEDI AND EMO PUPPY-KICKING SITH! YOU AIN'T GETTING MY SHIP! FECK YOU! AND YOU! AND YOU! CAN'T AN HONEST MERCHANT JUST….."

….and blessed darkness enveloped Alact and his temporary companion. When he awoke the shuttles were on fire and strange humans, and their ship, was gone…

"What in the Force just happened?" he whispered to nobody in particular…largely as everyone else was still bloody and unconscious…

--

[03.34: What Makes a Merchant, Man of Trade?]

[To boldly flee….]

--

[Trader's Journal: Day 655]

[Current Dimension]

Void between Realms

[Current Location]

Fortune's Chance

[Current Cash Reserves]

2,420 Septims [Low Quality gold-mix]

15,234 Californian Dollars [Earth-04, Chain-2091, Disunited America]

2,621 Dollars [US Provisional Government[Earth-01, Chain-2091, German-ruled America]

26,522 Dollars [United States of America[Buffy-verse]

19,667 US Dollars [Earth-JA01 on Account [Bank of New England]

14,210 US Dollars [Earth-JL02] on Account [Bank of Metropolis]

10, 264 US Dollars [Buffy-verse] on Account [Bank of America, Sunnydale]

3,400,330 Punts [Quinn's Alt-Earth] on Account [Bank of Ireland]

21,450,224 Francs [Quinn's Alt-Earth] on Account [Banque du Bordeux]

24,622,500 D-Marks [Quinn's Alt-Earth] on Account [Banque du Bordeux]

500,250 Credits [Mass Effect Universe[E-Banking Volus Banks, Backed by Citadel Council]

[Trading Report]

Nothing from last report, beyond some minor damage to the ship that'll need repairing when we return.

[Diary Entry]

Right, off the bat;- that was cathartic. Dangerous too, but we were being trapped by the Jedi, or the Sith, and that couldn't be allowed. Strike hard, strike fast, and then break for orbit. It was the only way to be sure we'd get out safe and sound in my opinion. I was willing to endure the lockdown, but when the space wizards showed up with their glowsticks on the sensors that was the sign the trap was being sprung on us. So, me, Kara, and Zee went out there and blasted out way free along with the ship's weapons. Our quick decisive action routed the ambushers before they could get organised, so damage was minimal. To us anyway, we did sort of wreck the spaceport, but also didn't kill anyone as best we can tell. Yay!

Also; we're now wanted by the Republic and the Sith, but since we've left that dimension and we ain't going back – well that's just fine and dandy now isn't it?

All a big dud in my opinion, and we're engaging drives and entered the nowhere and everywhere already, so I'm relaxing in the aftermath of the fight. Tired basically, but it's a weight off my shoulders to be out of that damned dimension. General opinion is to try for one more exploration on the voyage, since we're on day 85/86, so we're well within the four-month initial plan, let alone the six-month outlier limit. More of a crew decision, and I can agree as that is our role. After the failure of the expedition here it's not a bad idea, as it gives my engineering team time to work on the equipment we did manage to get, and for our crew several will be back to their lives so they won't get the opportunity again unless they sign back on.

Yeah, that ball of stress is over, Faralda and Barbara are running the bridge, and I get to spend some time with Kara to unwind. Because boy do I need a few days to relax and unwind after the past few weeks of Force backed nonsense. That and the more heroic versus pragmatic clash between members of the crew, me included, can be ended over certain Star Wars possibilities such as Sith massacres. Thankfully we discovered the Republic are terrible people as well, and we're not there anymore – though better management and clearer rules on my part is also necessary. Sometimes I think unless Kara or Zee of late, or, heavens forbid, Quinn, rein me in I'm inclined to go off on tangents or get indecisive at times. Need to work out some better organisation if I'm to be a more efficient and effective Captain.

Other than that I've passed Zee's little check-up, post-battle, with flying colours so my 'soul' and 'magic' are finally getting to a healthy level considering the level and quantity of spells I used in that fight. That is a positive, good circulation and chakra-points, or whatever you want to call it. Not too efficient obviously, that's a big weakness against corruption effects so best to have more organic blocks within you I find. Dangerous to try sacrifice such barriers in exchange for 'efficiency' and focused strength of certain types. So that's good news, though I am also told, firmly, that my soul is like a child's in some ways and still open to development as I use my powers. Or 'don't turn evil Callum' I suspect. No matter, I feel better after letting out so stress relieving aggression on deserving foes.

--

{Out into the dark beyond, through shadows and nightmares…}

"Multiple dimensional breaches, well that's good and horrible at the same time" I mused as I sat on the bridge while the Fortune's Chance floated in a darkening void after….about week's non-travel. Looking out at the sparkling not-stars…

And importantly at the not-void shadows circling about the not lands as our shields and cloak burned at maximum levels. Along with info-filters too I noted as dimensions moved in flux between higher and lower realms to avoid…whatever that/those/ not-things on the upper pings of the sensors were. Wildlife in the dimensional voids was…concerning, but we were well away from it, and it was easier to 'go with the flow' than try fighting it and drawing their attention.

Barbara nodded "That's what the computers are saying….there are a lot basically"

"Yeah…" I replied as the extent of the situation flashed up on a three dimensional holo-sphere "…there are, looks like…some sort of dimensional travel?"

"That I cannot say Boss" Batgirl said as our ship moved with the 'tide' that was 'pushing' us along "You know more than I"

I sighed, closing my eyes and plunging back into the systems "Yeah, guess so. All arcane-casters to your stations, keep drives at silent running and we'll flow along the river we're on"

This area of space was very strange, easy to enter and move through, with an actual 'in/out' flow of some sort and against my better judgement I was following the systems as we hardly had to use our various dimensional drives. No, everything was going into hiding us from whatever might be out there in the vastness that was…well, I didn't think on it too much. Mortals minds and all as I used my magic to shelter in the voidless warp, staying within the 'higher material' reality settings. Time was strange here as I guided us forward with arcane energies, while Monitor systems handled the material element, super-advance sensors tracking passively as we slid towards one of the many, many, natural breaches in the reality ahead of us.

There were multiple 'layers' here, all 'within' the one 'reality' as best the systems could guestimate – the locals using dimensional travel to pass from lower to higher then back again to travel faster than light. At least that was a 72.4567% guestimate by the computers, fluctuating up and down as we had to rein in the sensor readings to a focused area around the ship. If it was through air I'd call it turbulence as we fought to guide the vessel and our bubble of reality through the flow to what I felt was the optimal course. There were…things…out there now, low threat rating, but I'd rather not have any dangers risk damaging the ship by tangling with anything at all if I could avoid it.

"Approaching the event horizon…" it was Zatanna telling me this, the bridge alive with activity as avoided the whispers in the nothingness, the portal exit flowing towards us naturally….where something beyond easy comprehension had poke holes in 'reality' as best I could tell "…in. 5….4….3….2…"

I let out a breath, opening my eyes as the emptiness changed to a black canvass filled with stars before us, with a gas giant vaguely visible to my right "And we're out. Engage our sub-lights and start sensor scans. Deploy a drone at the breach to monitor conditions"

"Where do you want us to go?"

I glanced at Barbara "The gas giant for the minute, we'll do sensor sweeps and figure out local conditions and what FTL we can use"

"Then you're going to love this…" the red-haired girl replied fingers moving over the controls, a holographic display of the system we'd come into starting to flicker into life "…we've got a dead world over, a heavily industrialised dead world looks like…Kara?"

Kara was at another station "Give me a moment, systems are studying stars…it looks life supporting guys, and yeah, I don't see life…but there's more breaches in the dimension there too Callum. Few automated beacons….in English, think their markers of some sort. Calling out strings of numbers and Eta Vulpeculae Two, so…directions maybe?"

"Hmmm…that is interesting" I murmured, then nodded "Okay, bring us into orbit. Keep up the cloak and wards, and we'll spend as long as we need scanning it…"

--

[03.35: What Makes a Merchant, Man of Trade?]

[Only *campers* can go to the *playground]

"Looks like someone wrecked this place" I noted looking at the pictures and video of the planet below, bringing up the most relevant ones "But, least they've a spaceport, and it's not a complete ruin"

"Still no signs of people though…" Barbara muttered unhappily "…like, look there's still a few active satellites in orbit, and energy sources here and there…but this place was hammered"

"By ground fighting only I'd guess" my security chief, Nathan, stated over the video-comm "…as there's no signs of orbital impacts that I can see. But the area around our landing site seems to be the largest city, and there's still energy sources….just no sign of life. We can't assume that though, so I'd recommend being on guard in case we've angry survivors or some sort of weapons system down there that we can't see"

I nodded, largely to myself "But no objections to the landing spot?"

"No, not from me. This missions will always be dangerous, but it's not as if exploring nearby systems won't be the exact same" the marine from the Justice League's Earth answered and I thanked him as most of the crew voiced agreed to the landing plane. We had a dead planet, or at least a live planet with no sign of any more organised civilization, with English as a common language judging from what was in space…so this was bread and butter for scavenging. It was also very active, magically, dimensional, and a host of other system indications that hinted at unfortunate things happening here not too many years ago.

Despite that, or perhaps because of it, it was also a treasure trove as this was clearly an advanced human, or humanoid, world…had been…and hopefully going to yield answers about this dimension. After all there was activity in nearby systems, and best to figure out if we were in a genocidal war or something before started trying to meet the locals. If we tried at all as dig and scavenging site were likely to consume out time, even with the security issues, and I wasn't overly interested in another debacle like Star Wars so soon. Or, at all really, but there was nothing I could do about such dangers beyond try minimise them as best I could.

"Right, we're on approach…cloak looks good. Drones?"

"Deploying drones in thirty seconds" Barbara answered as she and Kara handled that side of the mission, two dozen small, twenty-first century drones taking flight once that time counted down. The spaceport looked to be part of a large, heavily damaged, military base…or maybe a really well-built civilian yard, just on the outskirts of the ruined metropolis our invisibility cloaked descended on. Drone footage began to flow in, showing the battered streets, fighting vehicles scattered about amongst the rubble of the great city…and no people, or even bodies either…

More importantly there wasn't anything visibly threatening near our intended landing spot, via visuals, head-sensors, or magic;- not beyond some wild dogs and other wildlife it looked like. Still we sent the drones around as we descended to a landing position between dead or abandoned ships on the massive complex just to watch in case we missed something. Yet nothing rose up to challenge us as our landing went smoothly on the concrete-like surface, defensive systems locking in as we moved to the next stage of scouting. Deploying another dozen drones, along with the Monitor drone in orbit, and the other at the entry point we'd used, and building up a detailed view of the structures immediately around us.

"This must have been some battle"

Kara agreed with me as we studied the inside of one of the ruined starships "Yeah…that's bloodstains"

"Yes, signs of heavy fighting…" Nathan interjected bringing up the images of dried blood, sensor indicating close match to humanity we knew "…but I find odd is there's fighting within the ship. A civil war perhaps? But then, where are the bodies? Why abandon the planet afterward?"

"All good questions…" I admitted sitting back in the chair as time passed and we began preparing for a ground scouting expedition "…and these buildings marked off look to be our best bet to find out"

--

{I, myself pushed the *fingers* into the *new town* and there are so many *campers*}

"There more comfortable that I'd expected" Quinn said to me as our small convoy moved through silent streets, two modified Humvees and the Mako with drones in the air. I glanced at him.

"Hmmm?"

"The suits" he answered simply, gesturing at our suits, and I nodded after a moment.

"Yeah, that is true…" I agreed touching the 'encounter suits' we purchased in Star Wars "…solid enough armour too. They work well in conjunction with the rings and their wards I think. Till we know more I like the extra layer of protection"

"Then why not wear the power armour?"

I shrugged as the Humvee moved around a broken tank as we approached what should be a major military-research base according to the signs still around and our aerial testing "Because it's too heavy to be deploying all the time, power as well…and anyway, we've two with us for support so don't start this again. You can test your new toys out when we aren't on a dead planet with really fucked up arcane and dimensional readings"

He gave an irritated huff at that "Fine, better be interesting research here"

"Hopefully, along with answers" I muttered looking our as our vehicle came through the main gate of the large facility ahead of us as my eyes watched the drone footage showing the area ahead of us "Turn right in fifty metres, I want to investigate this building here first"

"Copy that Captain" Eoin, our special forces driver replied as the small convoy began to weave through the rumble and cold wreckage. Sealed suits weren't usual the way to go, but the absence of bodies…or bones…was strange for one, and this place…this world was very active in terms of outside dimensional energies. With everything the way it was I was leaning towards something like the Fey or Demons invade, but even that didn't make sense. Mind-flayers were another, worrying, concern, but hopefully the military base here held records to explain that…while also having intact stores of useful technology too.

"Okay everybody…" I stated touching the unit-comms as I stepped out of stopped Humvee in front of a solidly build fortress-like building "…four teams. Two exploratory, one overwatch, one reserve, we've been over this before we left. Any issues let me know now"

There was a chorus of 'ready to go' as the teams formed up as I brought my assault rifle into hand and my team formed up around me "Right then we have energy signs indicating there's power in the lower levels of the building in front of us. Team Alpha is going to do a sweep, room by room of the office complex, and Team Bravo will enter what looks like an engineering or vehicle bay through the shattered blast doors. Overwatch, levitate or jetpack up to that building there as the roof seems…"

--

[Trader's Journal: Day 664]

[Current Dimension]

Unknown. Calling it XR-242/689/R according to a random number generation

[Current Location]

My Quarters, Fortune's Chance

[Current Cash Reserves]

2,420 Septims [Low Quality gold-mix]

15,234 Californian Dollars [Earth-04, Chain-2091, Disunited America]

2,621 Dollars [US Provisional Government[Earth-01, Chain-2091, German-ruled America]

26,522 Dollars [United States of America[Buffy-verse]

19,667 US Dollars [Earth-JA01 on Account [Bank of New England]

14,210 US Dollars [Earth-JL02] on Account [Bank of Metropolis]

10, 264 US Dollars [Buffy-verse] on Account [Bank of America, Sunnydale]

3,400,330 Punts [Quinn's Alt-Earth] on Account [Bank of Ireland]

21,450,224 Francs [Quinn's Alt-Earth] on Account [Banque du Bordeux]

24,622,500 D-Marks [Quinn's Alt-Earth] on Account [Banque du Bordeux]

500,250 Credits [Mass Effect Universe[E-Banking Volus Banks, Backed by Citadel Council]

[Trading Report – Salvage Operations in progress]

Technically nothing, but we've got a salvage operation started here at the spaceport we've landed at, and we'll take what we need aboard once we're sure it's safe. Overall there is a lot of useful, if heavily damaged, equipment around here. Munitions too, since military base and desperate last stand in the city nearby. So, goldmine to work with, but less beneficial than one would think.

[Diary Entry]

Worrying discoveries. This world was owned by a group of human clones who called themselves they Androsynth. Their now dead. At least we're pretty sure they are. Even worse going the basic details we've seen so far on their last military orders speak of 'Reality Aberrations' and something they called a 'Mosquito Mange' in effect. By that they mean spiritual entities like ghosts, mostly poltergeist, and what might be eldritch things it sounds like. They did something, discovered something, in relation to dimensional travel – and then opened a door they couldn't close. At least that's what it seems like, it's hard to tell with so little information, but we've a dead world and concerning last orders showing up the last visible military orders.

So far we haven't noticed any such creatures, but it matches what I've felt and what our sensors have indicated about this system. Thankfully we'd already out up defensive wards as per standard precautions, but we've had a crew meeting and set a schedule for defensive wards against such entities. That's one thing they didn't have here, a hard science people it seems judging by the weapons, and even then it took a full blown planetary war to overthrow them. Tidelk, Quinn, and the others science-y types are going over some salvaged weapons, Laser Gatlings look like, and they are theorising they might have some impact on spiritual entities. Maybe, and that makes me nervous.

That puts me in the position of taking the risk on a dangerously exposed dimensional world, but one with lots of very useful things on it. Things that can be used to upgrade this ship such Laster Gatlings on a ship level, and various types of barriers looks like. These people were advanced according to my Science team, but they'd no arcane protections of any kind as far as me and the magic-users aboard can tell. Psionics too from Mary, so that's another level of work we have to add to exploration. Zee and me have spent a few hours figuring out how to do that what we can do for that type of warding – the ship is well protected, but I'm more concerned about salvage operations.

It also puts paid to any long-term plans of setting up operations here without something like the ship around to offer protection or rapid escape options. Despite that we're going to continue operations here, at least till the going gets too tough anyway, then we'll boldly flee with whatever we've got in hand. But, for now, we're going to investigate, under info-hazard and spiritual protections up to the max, because whatever it/they was/were killed a world already. One we're looting because they've better tech than us. It's the whole hiding in the shadows of dead giants thing. For now though I need to meditate.

--

[03.36: What Makes a Merchant, Man of Trade?]

[If you are *campers* you will enjoy *the change, but maybe not yet…]

"So, this is what they were calling a Reality Aberration?" Anna Sanchez, formerly US Army Corps of Engineers, now Chief Engineer of the dimension travelling starship Fortune's Chance noted with unease as she watched the video from the drones "Freaky to say the least, though nightmarish might be another good word to use as a descriptor"

And it certainly was in Anna's opinion as the watched the feed from the drones directed to send data under info-hazard filters…

'Info-hazards, that such exists' she thought unhappily as the hills and outskirts of the dead city was covered in an eerie purple-pink fog, with buildings and hills seeming to flicker. It was as if there was two videos imposed on each other; one that of the dead city and countryside….while the other was a strangeness mixed with spires and coiling, unnatural….trees?...flashing in and out of existence. More concerning were the chitinous horrors, that glowed an eerie greed-blue light, stalking amidst the strange fog that rolled into existence out of the blue an hour ago. It was still a long ways from her salvage teams, but it was a firm reminder of what had happened to this earth-like world.

"Indeed, nightmarish does describe these images well…" the elf wizard Faralda murmured back to her as they stood "…like Oblivion overflowing unto Mundus. I can feel its…it is hard to describe. A nasty smell distant in the air perhaps?"

Anna frowned "Would it be best to withdraw for the day?"

The elf shook her head "No, we are distant yet to safe distances, and there is no guarantee it would not simply reappear on the morn. Best we continue to monitor it and retreat should it begin to encroach upon our territory, but for now best to focus upon our tasks at hand"

"Understood. Let me know if there's any change Faralda. Safety is our first concern. Now I need to get out there and get this work done"

"Of course, if there is any matters that require your attention I shall seek you out Artificer Sanchez" the elf replied with a smile as Anna moved out of the Mako in her spacesuit like gear, looking up at the ruined buildings around her as the large flatbed-like truck they'd managed to salvage neared her position. Thankfully the former inhabitants of this terrible dead world had spoken English and left reasonably understandable manuals to go with what was in their bunkers. The surviving ones anyway, as they'd died hard to whatever horrors had come in out of the darkness.

'Makes you glad for the Justice League, don't it?' Anna thought taking out two glow sticks and moving to direct the truck's driver to turn and move to park outside the large building the new 'Mako' transport was parked in front of. That and the two Humvees a bit further up as her engineering 'team' went about surveying and salvaging, hopefully, the equipment from within the factory they were at. The simple truth was there was too much to look at here, any of it potentially dangerous, but she wanted to get the 'Three Dimensional Modularization Former' out – a civilian industry 3D printer was more valuable than some broken down weapons in her view.

The cloning stuff…wasn't her area of expertise, and everything she'd seen with Supervillains….so not ideal to invest in. Weapons systems were useful too, especially with the dangers they'd encountered out there, such as these vile Kromaggs, but manufacture and ability to fabricate parts on a larger scale was the most important salvage to get. Most importantly;- the machinery, while large and bulky, was capable of being broke up into more easily transportable parts. All under the protection of the security team, and mages, who were badly needed considering the risks in involved. With the truck parked, and the team of women hoping off the back in their own sealed environmental suits, Anna turned and walked inside the ruined building.

"Ichika, how are we looking?" she asked the petite Japanese woman who'd been giving directions amidst the dust and rubble covered machinery of what had once been a factory. Like herself Ichika had been military, and had experience with the madness that was the Justice League, so was somewhat better able to handle the new insanity, and opportunities, that was their lives now. But they were keeping Earth safe, from people-eating cavemen in inter-dimensional spaceships….and Anna could admit she'd never had much of a life outside her career anyway.

The Japanese woman in her equally space-age, yet somehow medieval, environment suit turn, tapping her communicator within the bubble hem "Chief, we've the fixtures securing Machine One removed, so can start dismantling and loading over the next hour"

Anna nodded her head inside the clear not-glass bubble helm "Good, good, we'll try and get it done quickly as well as safely"

"Difficulties?"

"Nothing at the moment Ichika, but we're seeing one of those reality-dangers on the edge our drone range. I'd rather get back to the ship before it grows into a difficulty"

Her subordinate pulled out a data-pad…ah to have had those at home…doing a calculation, then glancing back at Anna "The hour is likely more time that we shall need for this unit, but we have only started the disconnection process on Machine B….perhaps we could have Supergirl or Zardyc carry B's main processing unit once we've disconnect the fixtures and secondary supports? It'll be tomorrow though…"

Anna thought about it, nodding as much as the suit allowed "Sounds good. I'll contact Batgirl and see about coordinate to get it done. Let's get the first one done then, never now when the Captain might pull us away to try recover some of those shipborne weapons systems down in the vaults…"

--

{Now that you are *campers* you will have more *parties* and no more *sad* *lonely* *bubbles*.}

"Academician…" Anna grinned at the scientist as she arrived to their table "…come to lose another round of poker?"

"No, to recoup one's losses Chief Engineer" the other woman replied adjusting her glasses and giving a look of mild reproach "…and, perhaps, to rest one's mind. The spirits stalk the lands yet again"

Anna gave a snort at that, taking up her glass of bourbon and taking a swig "Yeah. This place is freaky. Don't go out at night or you'll have to fight ghosts and ghoulies! Life has gotten strange indeed"

"Better, it has gotten…better" the other woman replied as she took her seat at the canteen table and Anna nodded as the ice rattled about in her tumbler. Many of the crew had been pulled out of that horrifying rape and torture camp, and that the madness that was the ship was ironically proving the best way to help them heal by giving them purpose. Anna smiled at that, seeing the next of their poker night.

"Well, it was till our resident card shark arrived"

"J'zargo is no shark, J'zargo is Khajit, and Khaji are having fun gambling, yes"

"Heh…" Anna chuckled as the cat-man sat across from her "…love bluffing and taking our coin is what J'zargo likes. Also blowing up things with careless explosion"

The cat-man held up his hands as of to ward her off "J'zargo was sorries for such accident he says, yes. Not practice in that room again J'zargo promises"

"Well he damned well better not do it again…" she retorted pointing at him with her glass "…or we'll see how you like a flamer to the ass"

Zyanya glanced at the cat-man as he gave a 'warding' gesture to Anna "And are Onmund or Breylna joining us tonight?"

"J'zargo says no, Onmund is…"

Anna chuckled at that, finishing it for him "Terrible at gambling"

J'zargo smiled that weird cat-man smile "Onmund good friend Jarzgo says, yes, good for playing cards with too, yes. Breylna study ghosts with little Dawn and Witch-lovers, J'zargo not in mood see deaths of great city. No, J'zargo relax when time. Then great mind studying more and more when awakens again"

Zyanya nodded, her accent odd as usual despite the ships 'translation suite' doing its job "A good attitude to have J'zargo. Always best to see to one's studies with a refreshed and energetic mind"

"What's this about energetic minds?" a male voice asked, and Anna saw Bill Dunbar wandering towards them, tray of food in hands "…oh, I see the serious gamblers are out tonight"

"It is poker night Bill" she answered him and he sighed, sitting to the right of Zyanya.

"Is it already? Dang, I forgot, been busy changing the power couplings down on E-deck and then all the creepy stuff outside…"

"J'zargo just glad not to be chased by angry wizards in spaceflyers like in last place. J'zargo prefer place with funny blue not-men females"

Bill nodded as poured some sort of sauce over his steak "Yeah, me too"

Anna rolled her eyes at both of the men "Of course you miss the place with the blue alien strippers"

"Hey!" the man protested "It was a site nicer than deathworld out there, or the fact we got run out of Star Wars of all places!"

"Jedi are jerks apparently" Anna muttered "At least according to the bridge crew"

Bill nodded "Oh, yeah, I saw Jonathan and Brewster moping about for a few days because of that. Anyway, who are we waiting on?"

"Bogomilla and Debrorah"

Bill sighed "No one would believe me back home that I play cards with the Crimson Crow"

"Few would believe what we see out here…" Zyanya agreed, then gave a weak smile "…and it is less playing cards than….taking her to the cin-mas?"

"Taking her to the cleaners I think you mean…" Anna clarified the phrase for her friend as she pulled out her pack of cards "…now, eat up, we've only got a few hours before some of us have to get to bed. Operations starting at dawn again tomorrow…longer days here or not"

--