Chapter 8 Book 10 -Final





--””--



The Minerva made it the next evening and landed close to us. That I had a connection to the slave trader was established on Sin 4 and they took possession of the Stasis Box with the Worm and also took the simple Paper Document that made whoever held it the owner of the planet. We exchanged a little small talk and I was a little disappointed that Stahl wasn't there this time. Of course I knew he was far away and busy at the Corridor but I still would have loved to talk with the Old Warrior face to face for a little bit.



It was on the fourth day, just as I had breakfast, that the Dragon called and told us that Meateater had patched up his engines good enough to make it to Itheamh. Only twenty minutes later we lifted off and followed the Red Dragon and the Intruder while accelerating to Trans light speed. It felt almost physically good to feel the fine vibration of our engines working and seeing the endless darkness of inter stellar space on the main viewer. Circuit looked up from his console readouts and said,

"They didn't do a very good job on the Intruder's engines, she's leaking plasma and the pods are very badly aligned."

I leaned forward and asked,

"Will they make it?"

"If he doesn't accelerate any faster he should be able to reach Quasi Space. But at that rate he's leaking plasma, he will be out of fuel before we reach Itheamh and one of us will have to tow him for the rest of the way." I acknowledged and said,

"Keep an eye on them and tell me if anything changes."

I got up and walked over to Krabbel, looked at his console and asked,

"How far is it to Itheamh, anyway?"

My Arachnoid Navigator said,

"167 light years and it's no longer in the Upward Sector or in Freespace."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea said:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No more loopholes or justifications necessary. No treaties with the Union exist or limit what we can or cannot do."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I smiled at her and asked,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"What do we know about Itheamh, anyway?"`

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth answered,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Sadly we don't know very much about it, mostly because this area of space has not been surveyed by Union ships and all the information we have is from civilian merchants."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sobody sat in the Observer seat that was usually folded away next to the XO's position. He had no real bridge function but said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Lt. Narth, I believe the Golden Databanks are now accessible to Union Fleet information requests. The integration is still in Beta phase but you should be able to access it. There is no charge for us using them"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth responded by saying. "Indeed there is a fleet wide memo in the daily update regarding that." I think it was the first time he sounded embarrassed for not knowing something, but then Shea my other mega geek was busy punching her board as well.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I said to the Golden, "While they are digging through the data banks, do you know more about that place?" He said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Yes, Captain, Itheamh is an independent planet, but very close to Karthanian space. It is, if you will, a gigantic Junk yard, space ship market and repair place. It is also an outlet for Karthanian products, spare parts and so on. Remember the scrap we bought on Sin 4?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Yes I do, don't we still have some of it?" He nodded.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We do, and Itheamh is the place to sell it. It is the largest market for scrap outside of the Union. Every scavenger comes here and of course anyone who needs spare parts, repairs or a complete new ship."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I frowned and said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"So another Sin 4, basically?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No Captain, the planet is at a busy intersection of trans galactic commerce. It is not far from Karthanian space, the Togar Empire is not far and the seven Oghar Kingdoms are also more or less nearby. It may surprise you Captain, but there are many civilizations here have that never had any direct contact with the Union and are more or less unknown to you. "

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea said, "Would that not exclude the Narth? You've been around longer than anyone."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth looked up from his display and said:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We Narth have not really explored space ever since we merged with the NNNTH, and that was over four galactic revolutions ago. Then we decided to isolate ourselves and our knowledge even of what is Union space is quite limited. Narth tend to watch Stars, Quasars, Black Holes and Galaxies and have, until recently, not concerned ourselves with civilizations and societies."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">As we talked the pirate ships had reached threshold speed and we too slipped into Quasi-space. Krabbel said:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Estimated time of arrival, three days and two hours, if the Intruder makes it all the way without the need to be towed, that is."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I mused about the information Sobody had given and said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"So that world isn't as lawless as Sin 4?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No it's quite an orderly society with enclaves of the Karthanian, the Togar and a dozen other civilizations. We Golden maintain a small bazaar there as well, but as this is not as well regulated as Union space, no unified law enforcement. That means pirates have free range as soon as they are beyond the reach of local governments. You must know that most civilizations do not have the excellent long range scanner technology and none of them, as far as I know have anything in terms of instantaneous communication. Even the existing communication networks rarely extend beyond the local systems and everyone uses a slightly different technology."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Hans, who was sitting at his station grunted,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Making it easy for pirates, I sure prefer the orderly well organized Union, if you ask me."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi said:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"While the Union in general barely knows about these civilizations, they usually do know about us. While you won't see any Union fleet ships in these parts, you can run into Corporate ships of Union businesses such as SII, Enroe, Trigon Corp and Ntugul-Ult, to name a few. Those who know about the Union usually envy us and many see us as a big bully and so there isn't much love lost."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Golden agreed and added.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We are now in Karthanian space and Arkalon, their main world, is close."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"The Karthanians, are they friendly towards the Union?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea answered, "Arkalon is still in Freespace and they are signatory to the Freespace treaty and officially considered a neutral civilization."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Hans punched up a political map and said after Shea was done:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"According to our Intel reports, they are indeed neutral in terms of Shiss or Galactic Council. The Karthanians do not like the Kermac and have little use for the Shiss as they don't buy Karthanian ships, but there is no love lost towards the Union either. They are renowned space ship engineers and their entire society is based on that industry. There are fourteen Guilds that form a Council Chamber that is their government. Currently the Guild of Hull builders holds the Chairman seat which is something like a President. The position rotates every 11. 5 years to another guild. They sell their products to anyone who can pay. Itheamh is one of four worlds where outsiders can go and buy Karthanian tech. The actual Karthanian worlds are taboo for any non-Karthanians and no outsider has ever set foot on one of their core worlds as far as our Intel knows. The Golden said: "They are very good customers for Scrap, Space Ships and Components from all species and are very good at copying technology from others. They not are anywhere near Union tech standards, but they try hard to catch up. The Karthanians maintain several space docks and ship yards on and around Itheamh."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"This is supposed to be a Karthanian Ship and it doesn't look too fresh on the outside. Would they not become suspicious if we don't get any repairs done or buy supplies?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sobody grinned.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"One of the largest Dealers and Ship Yard owner is a friend of mine and we can dock at his yard. Emerge later with a nice painted hull and no one is the wiser."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I looked at him and said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"You know we are undercover, right?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Do you trust me Captain?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Yes I learned to trust you like I trust every one of my crew. I am just a bit nervous when it comes to adding strangers to the list who know about us."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The golden said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"He will never know who we are. I will talk to him while he thinks I am at the Bazaar."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I nodded and changed the subject.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"How are Union relations to the Karthanian?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea again answered:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"They are neutral as you know. Karthanian Space is not very big and they don't expand. They do not accept other species inside their social structure or to settle or live within their society. They do business with all, Piracy and any drug deals are prohibited inside their sphere of control. They do use and buy slaves, usually destined to work on one of their so called Smelter Moons, many of the slaves come from within their own society.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">They do not like the Union much as they are jealous of our better technology. In their opinion the Union is the largest and wealthiest of the great powers and should do more business with them, but Karthanian ships, Flyers and Tanks are available on union markets and they buy raw materials and ore and of course non classified technology from Union sources. Union Credits are readily accepted by the way. All in all they are a stable and solid society and there is little chance we can convince them to join the Union. They are officially rated as Contact Level plus two.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I coughed

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am not planning to invite everyone we meet to join Union."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sobody chuckled.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Well so far, every one you met either died or joined."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi laughed.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"He's got a point there."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“It's mostly my SHIP who's doing the convincing.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“What SHIP do you know that substantially contributed to galactic peace?” SHIP asked.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth said. “I think I am now able to define what a Smart Ass is.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Everyone burst into laughter at that comment and I said. “Well I have to admit I am very proud of my SHIP. She might not exactly be what I envisioned what a ship AI supposed to be,but what captain can claim to be friends with his SHIP?”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Mao said. “Stahl maybe?”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Elfi turned.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"All the regular Comm channels are abuzz with the news that the Nul and Terra are no longer enemies and the events on Sin 4"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Gray Prince, still sitting by Elfi taking notes and her instructions, said:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Since my father now has access to a GalNet terminal, I was able to talk to him a few times. He is deeply impressed by the Terrans and the efficiency of the Union. Surprisingly many Nul are excited about a trustworthy ally and partner and that I was saved by humans made big waves too. My father thinks the possibility of the Nul joining the Union is quite real and he feels it will happen long before I become King. Trade agreements and Joint Defense Pacts are already being worked on."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I sighed and glanced at my fingernails.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Well then, ruining a perfectly nice dress stopping that Stomper was not a total waste!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">That caused them all to laugh and I said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I would have never thought Nul-Nul could laugh or have a sense of humor."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He turned in his seat to better talk with me and said:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Unlike humans we actually did bomb ourselves eight times back to the Stone age before the first King was able to unite all Nul under one rule. That is why we are around as long as the Saresii but haven't been able to develop a real advanced civilization. We had to rebuilt and re-invent so many times,it took us much longer than other species to finally become a united people and remain a space faring civilization.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">That first King achieved this by killing all his rivals and prohibiting the slaughter of scientists and artists whenever a warrior felt like doing so. He also allowed Nul to laugh openly and in public." Shea said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"He allowed you to laugh?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He closed his big eye twice which was the Nul way of agreeing and he said:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"It was considered a crime punishable by death to show any form of emotion. Fathers killed their young for crying or laughing before the reign of the First King. It still does not come as easily to Nul as it comes to humans, but we are improving."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I think there is much we have to learn from each other."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He held up his big hand like appendixes.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Can you imagine how long it took us to build a Computer that wasn't the size of a house with hands like that? Our tech is still crude compared to Union tech, but what we make we managed to make very durable!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I looked at his enormous fingers and said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Now that you mention it I can only imagine."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"There is this old Nul story about an angry Purple Nul going to a Computronics merchant complaining that his new machine did not work no matter how hard he was hitting it." The image of that was actually quite funny and we laughed again. Hans said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We Saturnians have the same problem. We can't manipulate very small items."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Elfi smirked. “But they have no problem breaking things.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Circuit came to the bridge accompanied by an S 61 Multifunction Robot, wearing a black Union Uniform. I said turning in my chair,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Don't tell me he wants to be a Crew member too!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No Captain, that is just an S 61Multibot, I have completely removed his brain. This is Starman Tyron Suit. He is simulating a Uniform and actually steering the robot. So it can perform any tasks it needs to do. He's got hands, feet and a head."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Robot saluted,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Starman Tyron Suit reporting officially for duty Captain!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I agreed with a nod.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Well that isn't a bad solution actually."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Your Engineer is not only a machine like me but quite brilliant! I am no longer just a garment but can be an interactive and productive member of society instead of being a thing."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I snickered while I said, "Then all we have to do is find you a department that suits you. No pun intended!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi put his hand before his mouth and mumbled, "Now I wonder what suits the suit!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Suit said, "I was conceived as a battle suit and I feel I could be a good security officer."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am sure Hans can use you and start training you, as the security tasks of a Union officer might not be the same as Seenian requirements."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Tyron saluted. "Captain, I was a tool, a thing before. Now I am a being and your crew treats me as such, I will attempt to make you proud, Ma'am."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am glad you think that way. Since you are here let me ask you a question. According to our enemy, the man who found you owns a suit similar to you. He claims he was informed about an active and operational Seenian materials depot. You would not have similar information?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am sorry, Captain, I have no such information. Such vital information was never revealed to a suit and any logistics information has been erased from our memory so the enemy could not obtain it by capturing a suit."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He looked at the screen and said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I know of the other suit and if you wish I can contact it, it is however not a Command type like I am, just a general troop unit and its brain center is damaged and deteriorated and thus unable to affect self-repair."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Would the wearer not notice if you are communicating with his suit?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No, he is not a Seenian."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Then it might save us a lot of time if you can try and see what information his suit is storing."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Yes Captain. Communication established. Download of all stored data in progress and completed. The other Suit is, as I suspected a Drago Model issued to standard troops. It has no information about any Depot locations. It is very unlikely but of course possible such data existed at one point but the other suits AI is damaged beyond repair and has no active memory data left."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I mused while looking at the suit

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"He did find you and he does have the Seenian weapon and shields. Maybe he obtained the information elsewhere and was not truthful about its source."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am still learning about humans, not that you are very different from Seenians, but the possibility that an individual that engages in illegal activities and piracy not being truthful is quite high,"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I grunted and agreed.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"You got a point there Starman Suit."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Lt Circuit suggested I could make sure this enemy of ours will not be able to make use of even the most basic functions of the damaged suit and also disable the Seenian hardware he has installed in his ship. Do you wish me to commence?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"What would you do?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I can instruct all his Seenian equipment to self-destruct in two ways: Forceful release of all energies on atomic level or molecular decay causing it to turn to molecular dust."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"That would be a neat trick. But we need to wait with that. If he thinks Seenian things are worthless he will abandon the quest. You could not simply deactivate them?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Yes that is possible too."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Go for it, Him not having a Seenian Cannon and shields and use of the suits capabilities will make me feel better."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Deactivating command sent, Captain. All Seenian equipment aboard the enemy ship is now worthless scrap."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Thank you!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth looked over his sensors.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Indeed it worked, the Red Dragon's Seenian equipment just shut down."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">My bridge watch ended without any incidents. The forenoon watch had taken over and I was not tired or particularly hungry. Since it was a Tuesday, the pool water temperature would be kept to the liking of most of the crew, sadly not mine. So I decided to relax after I had done my log book entry and perhaps read a book. Something I hadn't done since I had left Nilfeheim. Just as I put the pen down and closed the log book, the door chime announced a visitor and it was Shea. She came in and said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Are you busy?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No, not at all, I am done with the log book entry and wasn't even sure what to do with the rest of the day."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">She sat down on the sofa and leaned back. I had kept the lights off in my quarters, except over the desk. The dim light made her beautiful hair shine in a special way that surrounded her lovely face and spilled on her shoulders. She was wearing a Saresii style velvet suit that molded her curves like a second skin and I simply could not put my eyes of her. She said

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We haven't had much time together since the last time I was sitting here. I know you are the Captain now and I am your Science Officer while we are on duty..."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I went over to her, sat down next to her, and put an arm around her shoulder. She immediately snuggled close to me. Then she said, while she had her head on my chest,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We are still lovers, right?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Her hair smelled intoxicating and it was softer than silk to the touch. I said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Nothing has changed about my feelings for you. I am just so insecure about how to express my feelings. I realize I don't want to go back to being Eric. I feel free and content the way I am right now, but will it be fair to you?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">She simply kissed me and all questions melted away. There was just us and nothing else mattered. Our bodies still tangled up and there was no place for words, I simply listened to her breath and her heartbeat, felt her warm body and discovered that love had no rules and no boundaries. This was the answer, there was a third way. I could remain Erica, embrace all that came with it and at the same time accept all that was Eric. Right here with Shea it mattered not I had been Erica and Eric at the same time and for a little while I had completely ceased to exist and there was only us. She traced my lips with her finger and whispered.,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I think that answers all our questions."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">--””--

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Circuit's prediction came true and the Intruder dropped nineteen light-years before our destination out of Quasi-space, completely out of fuel, but after Red Dragon and we transferred enough fuel he made it.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Itheamh was the fourth planet in an eleven planet system around a K spectrum star. It was just as Sobody had said. The system was busy with incoming, outgoing and interplanetary traffic. We passed a convoy of eleven heavy freighters. Seven bore the logo of SII and the rest had the Enroe E on their hulls. The convoy was escorted by a dozen frigates and four destroyers, all flying under corporate flags. Har Hi said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"This is how the big boys do it, big convoys heavily protected; only fools would try to attack them." Our destination, the fourth planet was, as it turned out, a cold almost waterless dust ball, and it turned out we did not have to land.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sobody guided us to one of the orbiting space docks and we were immediately hailed by a Karthanian.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"This is Fantlemo Brthail, proprietor and owner of the Brthail Orbital Ship yard, calling the Silver Streak."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I identified myself and the alien with the seahorse like face said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Please switch to a scrambled secure channel."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Elfi established a secure connection and the Alien said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Welcome to Itheamh, I was called by a friend from the Golden Bazaar and I am expecting you. There is a do it yourself covered repair dock at the end of the third mooring arm; you are welcome to use it. It is well equipped and shielded from prying eyes and sensors."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I thanked him and the Karthanian said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"It is always a pleasure to assist friends of my friend."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sobody said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I've known him for many years and he is trustworthy. He does not know any details and will not ask any questions, but it might be a good idea to meet with him. He knows much about what is going on around these parts."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Just then the Red Dragon called and said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I see you know your way around here, but then that isn't a big surprise, you fly a Karthanian ship after all. Meateater and I will land on the planet. He is getting new engines and will have them installed by experts. As soon as all my associates are here, I would like to invite you to a meeting at the Riff Raff Tavern where we will discuss our little expedition."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I said. "When will that be? Are we going to be here a long time?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No my impatient friend, I am as eager as you to get started. I am waiting on two more ships that are already on their way. We'll have our meeting in four days, that will give us all time to get our ships in good repair, then we will make any last purchases for equipment. I expect us to be on our way in six days, does that suit you?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I came this far. I do understand that careful planning is certainly important for a long trip like that. So I am not impatient, I just don't like to stay idle for too long without knowing if we are really going on that trip or not."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He waved with his hands.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"You would not be here and we would not be talking right now if I hadn't made up my mind already. Of course you will be part of it, see you at the meeting."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">With these words he disconnected.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I humored Sobody and we went to see the Karthanian who owned this impressive and quite big Space dock facility that could easily service fifty ships even larger than the Silver Streak. To me, every Karthanian looked exactly like Captain Sposhtrah and I wondered what method they used to recognize each other. He greeted us in a luxurious and spacious office that was located on top of his space dock, featuring large view ports, showing the planet below and the three long mooring arms. We had accessed the office via a lift platform and, besides Sobody who wore his golden robes and the attached hood pulled up and draped before his face, Har-Hi and Narth accompanied me.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Brthail, the Karthanian wore a dark red pant suit like garment, with golden seams and extended both his spidery fingers that began where humans had their elbow.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Thank you for honoring me with a visit, Captain Velvet. Please make yourself comfortable while I set the ambiance."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I wondered what he meant, but we sat down on three Vari form chairs he had grouped before his kidney shaped floating glass desk. One of his spidery fingers touched a light sensor and it changed from red to green and then he said."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I just activated a Union Tech Privacy field; it ensures that we can talk uninhibited."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth said in my mind,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Sobody is correct; he is trust worthy and does not know who we really are. As he is about to explain why he feels this is necessary, let him do that."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sobody pulled back his hood and said:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am sorry for deceiving you old friend. I am not on the Bazaar, I am right here and I would not miss the opportunity to see you in person and introduce you to very dear friends of mine."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The bony rigid head of the Karthanian somehow managed to show surprise and I had no idea how I managed to see that. He came around his desk, wrapped his long fingers around the Golden and said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"It is so good to see you; it is over nine years now since we last met in person."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Then he said to us:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Anything you need, name it and I will attempt to get it. I owe this Golden my life and I've never had the chance to do anything for him."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I said, "It would be good if you keep the fact that the Great Merchant travels with us a secret."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Karthanian said:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I spent eighteen long years on a Smelter Moon and I learned how to keep my mouth shut the hard way. I would rather die than divulge anything that is said in here to anyone."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi gestured around the room,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"If this is your place why the security field?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Karthanian went to a Serv-Matic, I noticed it too was a Union model and said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I do not know what humans drink, but this machine is of Union origin and has several refreshments stored. I am sure you might like one of them. I personally can't get enough of a liquid substance called Coke; it is better than any Karthanian Slobber and is so stimulating too."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I asked for a Coke and Har-Hi for water, Narth abstained.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">While he served the drinks he answered Har-Hi's question.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Because the guild has ears everywhere. Almost thirty years ago I openly criticized the Chamber and ended up as a slave on a smelter moon. Technically this is a free world and not Karthanian, but our main world is not far from here and they don't like that I run a ship yard that is not controlled by the Chamber."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He dipped his long black tongue into his Coke and I said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I know very little of the inner politics of the Karthanian, but I have heard of the Smelter Moons. Since I am here, I am curious how you managed to build a business like this."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Karthanian said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I will tell you, and since you have Sobody's trust, I will trust you too. What you asked of me, I would like to ask of you. What I tell you must not leave this room as not only my life but the lives of many depend on that."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I give you my word."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Owner of the ship yard gestured towards the Golden.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Eighteen years ago, he and a delegation of Golden Merchants were part of a grand tour. The Chamber, knowing of their far reaching connections and high level of technology, hoped to improve relations with the Golden. As they toured the Smelter Moon, he witnessed me being beaten for stealing an extra portion of Slobber. He talked to me in an unobserved moment and smuggled me disguised in a Golden Guard uniform into his ship. It was Sobody who financed this Space dock. The Chamber and its agents suspect that I am an escaped Slave; they do not know that Fantlemo Brthail is Grtonner Icylemh. However if they ever find out, they will try to silence me forever as I know too many secrets. They fear that I will use my knowledge to unite the opposition and sweep that corrupt Chamber clean."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">His voice had changed and gained a hard edge as he finished his explanation. Sobody sighed.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I wish I could help you more, but from what I hear, the Chamber rules the Karthanian masses with an iron fist."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Karthanian put down his glass and said:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Yes and they have to send more and more to the Smelter Moons. They have even begun to sell Karthanian citizens into slavery to other civilizations, just to silence the voices that demand changes. Right now there is not much that can be done, but there is hope. One day someone will manage to infiltrate the Chamber tower and wake the First Engineer. That is the day their spell will be broken and the Karthanian people will be free again."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He made a sweeping gesture.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Enough of me and this sad story of my people; you are pirates, so I hear and I have little interest or use for such information, but I saw you fly a Karthanian Norgat Class Armed Freighter. It is a good class and solid design, but it is old. I have a brand new Romther Class with much better armor and eight dedicated weapon turrets. It is fast, has good engines and my engineers could transfer those magnificent ISAH pods you have much more professionally than they appear to be installed right now on your current ship. Of course the ship would be a gift."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I looked to Narth and he nodded. I said:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"This is a generous offer and any pirate would be a fool to say no, but we must decline. We will, however, make substantial repairs and improvements to our ship while we can use the Dock facilities, but we are not just pirates. We are representatives of a certain association on a very secretive mission and your insight and information about the Karthanian situation is of interest to us."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He got up and opened a wooden cabinet, revealing a GalNet terminal.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"This came with the last supply ship from the Bazaar. I am technically a Union Citizen as I am a naturalized member of the Golden. I already planned to take a trip to the Bazaar and get my CITI and become a Union citizen officially. One day I am going to take a trip on these mysterious, marvelous space trains I hear you have and visit the Bridge and perhaps even the Andromeda Galaxy."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">His voice had an almost dreamy tone.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We are a race of engineers you know, and there isn't a Karthanian who doesn't openly or secretly admire that engineering feat to built a string of space stations to reach another galaxy, what an achievement."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He closed the cabinet and said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"For now I remain here to be the eyes and the ears of the Golden and an extension for the Union, but perhaps and even in my life time the Chamber of the Guilds will be cleansed and a Karthanian will take his seat among the Representatives of the Assembly."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi coughed into his fist and gave me a warning look as if to say,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">'This is not our business.'

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sobody said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Do you know anything about the Red Dragon and the Sinister Alliance? They are supposed to have a base around these parts."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Karthanian sat back down.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Officially they call themselves a Free Trader Association and they don't use the term 'pirate' of course. They want to stay on good terms with us on this world as they all need parts and ships, but I have heard they use the old ghost town on the third planet as a base of operations. The third planet used to be the home of a sentient species that bombed itself into oblivion, and most of the surface is still radioactive waste land, but there is a one city on the northern continent that is free of radiation. That Red Dragon you talk about has a personal connection to the Lord Mechanic of the Hull Builder Guild and traded some Union technology secrets for supplies, repairs and that planet. The Hull Builder Guild once had mines on that planet until they were depleted."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">--””--

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I was still thinking about that meeting with the Karthanian as I sat at the table in our Den and had dinner the next day.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi took a plate and sat next to me. He forked himself several slices of roast beef on an open bun he gave me a side look and said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"If I see you stare at your food that way I would almost suspect you are contemplating doing something about that Karthanian situation."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I pushed a pea around with my fork and said:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Of course not, there is nothing we can do anyway. We are about to go on a trip to find some long lost Seenian Depot and end the reign of the Red Dragon at the same time. Besides, even if we had the time, we know nothing about that situation or any details. If done at all, that would be a job for a Ghost Recon Marine Unit and only after month of careful planning. Not that we have any business sticking our nose into Karthanian internal politics in the first place."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He added onions to his sandwich and said:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am glad you think that way as it is exactly the point. It is not our business: it is not Union business. You heard the bone face, it will eventually happen anyway. Totalitarian governments suppressing their people with force never last forever. We should concentrate on what we are going to do about the Sinister Alliance and their base first and then finding that Seenian depot. Remember what trouble we had defeating a little one man ship?

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Imagine the Red Dragon having the use of a Devastator like ship filled with Seenian robots. It would not be good for anyone else finding that depot either."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I pushed the plate away.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I don't even like peas, I wonder why I put them on my plate."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Then I said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No worries I was just thinking, that's all. I just don't like an unfair situation. There aren't just Karthanians working those Smelters you know. I have been in those slave pens and heard that the Karthanians buy human slaves for that purpose as well.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi bit with gusto in his sandwich and said, chewing around his mouthful of food:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I don't like the Shiss sending Dai to do their dirty work and I would love to find out what those reptiles have really planned, but there isn't anything I can do either. Besides if you don't like peas then eat a Roast beef sandwich, it is delicious. I just discovered something called mayonnaise and it makes a sandwich even better."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">There was no sense in me mulling over that anymore and said with a grin,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I can tell! You've got the stuff all over your face and a big glob of it on your armor."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Mao joined us while Har-Hi used a napkin to clean himself. He too helped himself of the roast beef and started to fabricate something that looked more like a tower than a sandwich. While he added slices of cheese he said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Captain I was thinking about that Red Dragon, why don't we simply capture the guy, do a brain dump and be done with it?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth who had silently appeared, watched Mao piling up things on his sandwich.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth had a plate float to him while several slices of the meat zipped through the air and placed themselves on a bread bun that split itself in the middle.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">While he was doing all that he answered Mao's question for me.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Now that his Seenian suit interference is gone I was able to probe a little into his mind. He is or was a Union Admiral and has a good Psionic shield like they all do. All Union Officers of Captain rank and higher are conditioned against mind dumps. I also noticed he has an effective Hypnotic block, reinforced by a Kermac Psi enhancer that even prevents him from knowing the location until certain trigger events happen, so even the most effective interrogation method would yield no results. Even if I were to break and undo this block, the device would have enough time to erase that hidden knowledge before I could get to it. The Kermac are primitive about most aspects of Psionics, but they have built a society on fear and mistrust and developed very complex methods to shield and hide knowledge and thoughts, mostly to be protected from the probing minds of their Thought Police.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Mao pressed with all his strength down on the sandwich, compacting and reducing its size into a barely manageable size and sighed.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"It was just an idea."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I never was conditioned against Mind Dumps."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth turned to face me.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Captain your mind is almost like mine. No force known to Narth could make you reveal any information you do not want to reveal. Besides I think you did receive some sort of conditioning at Perry Station. You do have Red-Red-Blue clearance after all."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">As he mentioned it I remembered and said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"If I was almost like you, I could do all those neat things you can, like making a sandwich without touching anything."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He sounded amused.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am touching it, just not with my hands and you could do all these things as well, but you do not stick to the training exercises I have given you. Your abilities are dormant and not active and that is a good thing. Releasing them uneducated could be fatal to you and your surroundings. Alice is a good example for that and with all her strength she is but a spark compared to a sun once you realize your true power."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I don't think so. My PSI index is below 50 and that is just as well. I got used to that Psionic stuff somewhat, but my opinion about it hasn't really changed. I don't like it all that much and if I have it I am glad it is switched off."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The sandwich Narth made started to disappear in small segments and I could see him chewing underneath his hood.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"One agrees with Har-Hi. Mayonnaise is very good."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">To me he said in his silent mental way.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Your stubborn refusal to accept that you do have psionic abilities does not alter the fact and besides, your Heidelberg Psi Index was last measured when you entered the Academy, you have shared the Hugavh with me since then. I do not believe your HPI is still 50, but knowing you I am sure you won't go to our CMO and be retested."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He knew me better than I knew myself and deep down I was afraid of what I would release if I tried, so the longer I could keep whatever it was suppressed the better.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth returned his attention to Mao and added to his explanation saying:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"The Red Dragon, however, is absolutely convinced that the Depot exists and that this quest of ours is indeed to find it. He has no intentions however to share it with us or anyone. He needs us and the others to get there and that is when our usefulness to him ends."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Seeing my friends eat I got hungry after all and reaching for a bread bun said:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I was certain he would think that way even without Psionics."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Looks like we have to follow him half across the galaxy after all."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">--””--

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Riff Raff Tavern was located at the outskirts of a big, busy city on the surface of that cold and dry planet. The atmosphere was breathable but so dry it felt as if we were breathing invisible sandpaper. The Karthanian had gifted us with two Karthanian shuttle craft similar to a D 20. We had used one to get down to the planet.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi and I went to attend the meeting the Red Dragon had invited us to. The building consisted of one big guest room with a vaulted ceiling and several sturdy wooden tables and benches. A bar with stacked barrels on one side gave the whole place a very rustic and primitive atmosphere, and reminded me of a Nilfeheim tavern.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">In the center of the guest room was a big round table with twelve chairs and ten were occupied.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I recognized the Red Dragon, Meateater and the Puup, Captain Brathering.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I was almost certain the other Oghar at the table was Crimson Curse, we had met on Brhama Port.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The brown and black striped Togar was Carrhrh but the rest were strangers to me.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Red Dragon got up and pointed to an empty chair.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Everyone this is Captain Black Velvet."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">To me he said:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"This table is for Captains only; your First Mate can of course sit with the others of our crews if he wants."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">A human man with a rugged face, lantern jaw, long black hair and a scar from over his left eye to his right cheek got up, pulled the chair out for me and bowed. His left eye looked metallic underneath his scared eyelids.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"What a pleasure to finally meet you Captain Velvet. I have heard so much about you. I am Alsun Sandovahl, Captain of the Killerbeast."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I sat down and he helped me pull the chair in and then he sat down.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi placed himself right behind me with crossed arms and his best sinister stoic facial expression. If he was not supposed to stand there, no one dared to tell him.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The man who introduced himself as Sandovahl took his seat to my left and the big Oghar I was certain now was Crimson Curse sat to my right.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He actually gave me a brief nod of recognition. Just as I had taken my seat a yellow throat Shiss came in and took the last remaining seat.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">An Oghar waiter came around and took orders. I declined and looked around. I noticed two women other than me. One was human, and she had her hair dyed in a bright purple color and tied in a ponytail. A five pointed, star shaped golden had a black face painting or a tattoo covering her left temple and much of her cheek.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">She wore a white ruffled blouse that covered an almost flat chest.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The other woman was completely bald and had the paper white skin of a Kermac, but her sharp pointed teeth and the fine scaled texture of her skin pointed towards Shiss heritage. She appeared to embrace her lizard origin and wore a tight suit made of the scaled skin of a snake or lizard that shimmered in rainbow colors when she moved, but appeared black if she remained still. Red Dragon banged the butt of his blaster on the table surface and said:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I wished I could have convinced a few more to take part in this extraordinary opportunity, but twelve, rough as they come, experienced freelancers, cut throats and renders should be more than enough to face down any danger or opposition we might encounter on our journey.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Since not all of you know everyone in this circle let me begin with introducing everyone, beginning with Captain Meateater to my right. He is going to be the second in command of our Convoy. While I hope we all will be able to trust each other and at the end of this journey, it is he I trust the most. He is an Oghar and commands the Intruder.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Togar next to him is Captain Carrhrh and his ship is the Celestial Nightmare.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Few of you will know of the Puup, but Captain Brathering has made himself quite a reputation and his ship the Uhui might just be the most powerful ship after the Red Dragon as it is the only purpose built warship and a genuine Kermac T cruiser.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Then comes another Oghar, the famous Crimson Curse commanding the Bloody Marry, he has been longer in this business than any of us and I am glad he came around and decided to take part in this endeavor after all.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I doubt many of you have ever seen her in person, but the leather clad mysterious masked lady is Captain Black Velvet, her reputation and legend is well earned I assure you, I have seen her in action. She commands a Karthanian Armed Freighter with a treasure chamber that puts the Crown Treasury of the Togar Queen to shame.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The maimed gentleman with the piercing cyber eye is Captain Sandovahl, Union Academy graduate; former Union Officer and I can attest there is no better training in the Universe. He commands the Killerbeast a ship so heavily armed and armored one wonders how he even finds room for his crew.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">That shaggy Jooltar answers to the name Basoro, there isn't anything in this universe he hasn't stolen or tried to steal. His ship, the Hontu, is a big darn freighter with weapons bolted on it and, if you need it, chances are he has it somewhere in his freight bays."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Dragon paused to take a swig from his mug of beer and it looked eerie as his skull mask opened the jaws. After that he went on.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Having another Togar sit right next to a Jooltar is usually not a good idea and a recipe for disaster but Captain Lemakr is as cold blooded as a cat could be and kills only for one reason, if there is profit to be made, but then he considers half a credit profit. His ship is the well-kept Kalita.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Next comes Captain Lia Bassett, sister and member of the Bassett clan that runs Brhama Port, she is the oddball of the family so she says, but her ship Jammer is excellently equipped and has shields that allows her to go places others can't.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Our third female Captain is another enigma. She calls herself Nocturna and her ship, the Executor, was manufactured to her specs at SII shipyards and features real Ultronit armor and the best civilian shields SII sells.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Shiss next to her is Captain Rkkkz, he is a Yellow Throat Shiss, trained to be a Raider from when he was born. His ship the Shadoom has the latest in Shiss technology."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Red Dragon pointed at himself and said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Of course you know me. I am the Red Dragon and my Ship, the Red Dragon, could pulverize all your ships together and is filled with Union and functional Seenian technology."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He sat down and gave everyone a moment to look around or drink and then he said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We are going to embark on a long journey into regions that not one of us has ever been. You all are experienced Captains and you know, as empty and desolate space can be, there are often dangers and unexpected events. There is also the challenge of fuel and engine maintenance.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Therefore we will buy two portable refineries and I expect everyone who will need fuel to chip in on the purchase price as those things are not cheap.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">If you want to skip on that, you won't get any of the fuel later."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Crimson Curse declined and said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I've had my own refinery for years, don't need someone else's."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">And as the turn came to me I said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am also fuel independent and have my own refinery."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Red Dragon shook his head.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"What a prize your ship would have made, I wonder what other surprises you have hidden in that rust bucket."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Oh this, that and the other thing, and I am taking care of the rust right now."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">After he had collected the funds for the refineries he said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Everyone must take at least four sets of replacement parts for their engines along. Once we are there we will of course return with Seenian ships but most engines need maintenance and replacement coils after 5000 light years."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He looked at his PDD.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Make sure you take enough food and supplies along to feed your crews. So get rid of any junk you've got in your freight bays and stock up on essentials. Captain Basoro will take extra food and supplies but I bet he won't be cheap so don't say I haven't warned you."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sandovahl leaned over and said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I guess this was the official part, now comes the social one. You wouldn't show me what you got under that mask right?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I just might, but then I would have to kill you."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Crimson said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"You better listen to her. I've seen her kill Captain Bloom and she did it in a time that takes you to blink your human eyes maybe twice."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Dragon finished his beer and said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Now is the time for you to tell me if you are committed and coming along or if you want to back out. If you back out or abandon us after you agreed to come along, I will personally hunt you down and destroy you."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Crimson Curse raised his hand.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Now before I commit myself to something I am not completely convinced about. I want to hear your plan, your intentions and do you know where to go?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The canine looking Jooltar made a howling sound as he spoke.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"It is true we heard a lot of what we are to do and to comply with all that will cost us a great deal of money. I have seen your suit and I know you have shields as good as a Union Battleship. You speak of invincible Celtest technology and yet a bunch of Wolfcrafts made you flee and ripped your ships stern in the process."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Carrhrh the Togar hissed and growled at the Jooltar, but said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"It disgusts me to admit it, but the mangy Jooltar has a point."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Before the Red Dragon could respond, the Puup that really looked like a large teddy, with a maw full of inch long snake like fangs, said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We are not talking about some bits and pieces of Celtest technology, but entire ships. Do you know the secret of Translocator cannons stems from Celtest technology? Do you know that the famous Devastator is a Celtest ship? Can you even imagine what the Kermac would pay us for a single ship like that, or the secret of Translocator cannons? It will be more Polonium, more riches than we all together could earn in ten lifetimes."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Red Dragon said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am not forcing anyone to come along. I know where to go and I know the Depot is real. The path is long and not without risks, but no riskier than what we all do every day anyway. I will go there even if I have to go alone, but mark my word. I won't know you when I come back."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Meateater fumbled with his gold covered tusks and said with a rough mumbling sound.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"That cursed wench, Black Velvet, had us over a barrel just recently and demanded eight Million Polos. She took a single Celtest artifact as payment. I have seen her treasury and I know she is a sly business woman dealing with slaves and planets.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Go tell them Velvet, tell them what Celtest artifacts, even bits and pieces are worth."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I did not need to say anything. Carrhrh the Togar sat down and grunted.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I see it too; you are right, even a single piece of Celtest artifact would pay for the trip with enough profit to buy a new ship."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The human deserter and traitor next to me held up a PDD.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We are still in range for public GalNet and there is an Xchange right here as the Golden enclave is now Union."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He wiped his finger over the display and a three dimensional Holo appeared of a busted helmet like object. He said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"This is a non-working broken helmet of Celtest origin. It was offered four weeks ago at the Xchange and sold for 75 Million Credits. Nine months ago, a set of confirmed Celtest eating utensils, was sold for 4 million credits."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He said alien artifacts of long gone civilizations are the hottest commodity on the Xchange and if you can say it is Pree, UNI or Celtest, it doesn't matter if it is a scrap piece of metal, it sells for enormous amounts of money."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">This demonstration was most likely the deciding factor and everyone agreed to come along. The woman with the shrill hair color said:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am a somewhat strapped on funds. I just refurbished my ship and paid you a lot of money to go in on those refineries. I want to come along but I can't afford four complete sets of engine parts and I actually should take at least eight. How long do we have till we leave?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Red Dragon said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"While there is no set date we have to leave I would like to be ready with everything and get on our way the latest in five days. Perhaps one of us could extend you a loan or something; there are those among us quite wealthy."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He did look into my direction as he said that. The woman shook her head.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"That would be the last option, I don't like owing anyone, but all that talk about artifacts gave me an idea. Isn't there a planet full of ruins just two orbits closer to this sun and as I understand, you control it. Maybe my crew and I could go digging there for something to sell?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Dragon raised his arms.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Yes, I used to have access and control of that planet and it was the headquarters of my Sinister Alliance. The civilization that was there once was not a space faring civilization and they killed themselves with a nuclear war. I doubt you'll find anything valuable as the Karthanians mined the planet, but you are of course welcome to try. I still think you be better off if we pool some funds for you and get you the things you need."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The white skinned woman said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I may be the black sheep of the Bassetts but I am convinced this expedition will make us very wealthy and I will gladly invest 300,000 so you can get the things you need."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Crimson Curse added another 300,000 and I said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I won't make this a habit, but I will add a million Polos to the pot. That should be plenty to get you all the parts you need." D

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Dragon snickered. "Maybe there is a soft spot in that ice block she has for a heart after all. Now that these matters are settled, we all have things to do. Get ready, and keep in touch!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Just keep all this for yourselves. I don't want anyone getting ideas and following us, a Celtest depot would be a nice find for the Karthanians too, you see."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">ale Road Crimson said,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"What happened to the Sinister Alliance? Wasn't that your big project?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Dragon shook his head.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"What is left of that Alliance is right here at this table. I am tired of peddling, this opportunity fell into my lap and this is the only project I am interested in. I intend to get me a Devastator like ship and fly it right to the Assembly and pulverize the whole lot. Let us all meet again in one week and then we get under way."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The meeting had ended. I and several others immediately got up, while Meateater and a few others ordered drinks and from the looks of it intended to party and drink.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">--””--

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Five days later, the Tigershark emerged from the covered space dock with a new Janus Mask. The rust and the patched hull was gone, The four ISAH pods now looked professionally attached.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">After a final meeting in the Riff Raff Tavern eleven pirate ships followed the Red Dragon on a course due Galactic south.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">-””--

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"It is official now! Captain," Krabbel said. "We are now in unexplored space."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I was just walking on the bridge. We had left Itheam five weeks ago and kept a steady course Core Ward and would soon leave the Perseus Arm and fly across the gap to the Cygnus Arm of our Galaxy.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Almost exactly opposite of the Orion Arm were Earth and much of the Union space was.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">TheOther got up from the Conn finishing his first official duty watch on that position and gave me a short brief.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Specialist Lancaster broke his arm during a Steel Ball match in Hangar A, no other casualties. Lt. Neugruber's Team The Tremor Avalanche won 3 to 2 over Prince Gatu's Gray Stompers.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Other than that there is nothing to report, Captain."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Nul now sitting at Communications turned his turned his dome shape head 180 degrees around and said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"A rematch is planned for tomorrow night and I am certain we even that score."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Just be careful not to kick one of the Hangar doors open by accident. With you guys stomping down there, who knows what could break."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Only cosmetic damage Captain. The Ship is remarkably well build. Very durable even for Nul Standards."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Do I want to know what Cosmetic damage means?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Hans kicked the ball in one of the light elements but it is already repaired, Captain."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I wanted to add some light comment when he held up his joint less arm.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"The Red Dragon is hailing us Captain!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Make sure the visual filter is in place showing the bridge of the old Kartanian and not the Tiger Shark."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Aye Captain. Visual filter is linked to Janus device and automatically on, Sir."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Just making sure."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">TheOther handed me my mask and then I said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Alright put him on."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Captain Velvet we are about to cross the Arm gap and we are low on fuel and decided to land on the next suitable planet and set up our Refineries. My sensors picked up a K III star with three planets nearby. How is your fuel status?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I think I could have made it across the gap but restocking on fuel might not be a bad idea."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Our little armada entered the system. I said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Sensor Data? Anything artificial around?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth responded.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No Captain. Three Planets . One Super giant, two minor Planets. No artificial energy signatures, no communications. Second planet is within the life distance of its sun and is a Type D Garden world."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Captain, this is an unexplored and non surveyed system. It carries only a number in the Catalogs and it is tradition that the Captain of a Union ship names it properly. It will then so be designated in the Star Catalogs of all Union ships . Of course only after we returned home and are back in Communication range."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Alright. SHIP official log entry: On this date and time, I Captain Olafson name Star System HIP number this and that hereby to be known as ..."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I looked around. "Any Suggestions?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">SHIP chirped happily.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"New name recorded in Log entry . System now know as Any Suggestions"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"SHIP! That wasn't the name. I was asking for suggestions. You knew that!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Yes Captain I did but you said Official Log entry and sorry I can't do anything else but to go strict by the programming then."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Great now when the Admirals read our Log they say.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"What a moron can't even think of a good name for a Star system."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"It is not so bad Captain. There are much worse names other Explorers came up with."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I better think before I speak next time!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi had a dead serious face as he said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"One guy speaking to another guy. Hey mate where are you from?

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Any Suggestions.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I don't now I could not even guess, just tell me!

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I told you Any Suggestions! "

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He then grinned.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"If they ever settle that Garden world that be fun to hear."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I wasn't too amused. Official Log Entries could of course not be erased. “First he is the most serious Dai you ever going to met and then he discovers his sense of humor to make fun of the Captain. What a fine crew I have.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The other Pirate ships, except the Crimson Curse didn't even bother with an Orbit and went straight down.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Crimson Curse went into orbit first just like us. Shea operated her science scanners and said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"80 percent land and 20 Percent open water, very shallow oceans. I am reading life signs but no neural patterns associated with sentient life. Breathable Nitrogen Oxygen atmosphere.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I don't sense any sentient thoughts either, but whatever lives down there has a strong mind. It's dull like the that from a non intelligent life form but strong."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I nodded.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Shaka set her down a little distance from the others, let's say a click or so.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Mr. Har-Hi sound General Quarters. Mao shields please."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shaka put us down in a landscape of rolling smooth hills near the shores of huge lake or ocean. In the distance were the other ships.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">They already had started to unpack their Refinery.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Red Dragons Ship, the Kermac Destroyer of Brathering and the Crimson Curse had landed right in the water of the shallow lake which made sense as Water was the best source for NuGas.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I looked over to Shea.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I know you are itching to go out and survey the place and you can but don't overdo it and make sure you stay out of a direct line of sight. No extensive sample taking either. I got up and said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am going to join you. I always wanted to step on a world no one ever stepped on before."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Well Crimson Dragon and his goons were first."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Technicalities. How long do you think they need?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He shrugged.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Setting it up, making enough for eleven ships. Then packing it back up.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">If they work fast with a trained team two days perhaps.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">With Pirates and old Robots I say more like four."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"You got the Conn."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">With those words did I go down the IST and wanted to go to the next Auto Dresser when Circuit and Suit intercepted me. Circuit said

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Captain are you planning to go outside?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Yes. You too?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No Captain but Tyron I mean Suit would feel better if you did not rely on primitive Garments. This is an alien world with potential dangers."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">" Well I am not planning on putting on an Atlas. It doesn't look very dangerous out there."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Suit said: "Captain it is still an alien World and your safety is important. If you wear me, then it be much safer."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I thought you don't want to be a garment?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I would feel greatly honored to be yours."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Alright I don't mind if you don't!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Suit flowed around me skintight and then turned black and looked like my usual leather suit it just shredded again.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I can mimic any material and look; Captain. Of course I can make you invisible, move in any known environment and you have a wide array of defensive and offensive choices. "

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Good to know but hopefully not necessary out there."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea, Cateria and two other Crew members joined us at the main airlock. The two Crew members had disguised themselves as they thought Pirates would look like, but they really looked like two science geeks in costumes. I didn't say anything but hoped Shea knew how to curb their science enthusiasm. She looked at her hand held readout.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No harmful aerosols or pollen present, no traces of poisonous gases. Temperature 36 degrees."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">We cycled through the air lock at the bottom of the extended IST shaft. The ground felt spongy but did not leave tracks or cling to the boots. It had a unhealthy pinkish shade and little cracks all over. In more or less equal spaces stood black leaf less plant stalks or something like that. the Stalks were about twenty meters tall and I could not help as to think a extremely magnified beard hair would look like that.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The pinkish ground and black plants stretched as far as I could see over the rolling hills and all the way to the water. The air had a sweetly sickly odor to it. Down by the water the pinkish ground made way to a light brown rock surface. Man sized crab like animals scurried around taking no notice of our or the other pirates presence.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"What a strange world!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I said to myself. I watched the Pirates put up the NuGas refinery. Suit magnified my view just as I squinted my eyes to see better and I could see them close up.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"That is neat. Even on an Atlas you got to dial for magnification."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">" These Atlas suits are actually quite advanced for a primitive culture as yours I mean ours.."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">If you keep saying that I am going to believe it and get depressed."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I will refrain from it. Besides it is ow my culture as well"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The pirates had only few robots to help them and it looked like hard work. I saw them sweating and cursing and putting up the components. Mao walked up and said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"If that isn't the weirdest place I ever been to! I never seen a ground like that. No rocks, no dust. Just this spongy ground as of someone had covered the entire area with a padded bed sheet or something."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth floated around and I was directing my thoughts.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"What do you think?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am thinking on many levels and ponder 54 different and quite unrelated subjects, however I am certain you wanted to know my opinion on this world."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Well I am glad you clarified that to me and I was indeed wanting to know your opinion. Now I know why Narth shield their thoughts, another telepath would go crazy listening in."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"This is actually one of the reasons indeed!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He came floating over.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"While I still wait on Shea's data to make a more educated statement. I must say this surface strikes me as unusual. I just calculated the energy output of that sun and with the other data I am certain this is a very old system. There are no significant mountains anywhere on this planet. The entire surface looks like this."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Suit said." Captain, I am linked with SHIP and cross referenced my scanning data with all available library information. There is a significant level of danger here."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea called:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I think we better leave our current landing position and land in the water as well."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"All back into the ship we are changing positions. Shaka prepare for immediate lift off as soon as SHIP verifies we are all in."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Aye Captain!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"What is the nature of the danger Suit?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"There is but a single life form on this planet. The ground we stand on is that organism."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Elfi get me Red Dragon."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Aye Captain. Establishing contact. You're on."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Dragon. I think we should leave now. We are all in danger!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Now can you be more..."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I was the last one, just about to enter the IST shaft when a tremor threw me almost of my feet. Suit compensated. I Jumped in and the Tiger shark rose into the Air before the door closed.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The entire ship rocked!

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Report!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi 's voice came on.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Shields at 20 percent, no damage no casualties yet. Shields just displaced 12000 tons of matter!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I had to wait till the decontamination process was completed. No one was allowed to re enter the ship without a detailed bio hazard scan and decon procedure. the ship rocked twice more.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Simulated Shields are barely holding!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I finally made it on the bridge but did not change seats with Har-Hi who had taken the Command seat. I plunged into the XO's and SHIP switched Command level authority faster than we could have done.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The main viewer showed the entire landscape had come to life! Like a huge blanket or carpet with enormous ripples and wave like motions it extended folds and held the Tigershark.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Our Neutronium hull held better than the shields that had been collapsed by trying to displace many thousands of tons of matter.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Of course we still could switch on our real shields but that would completely destroy our disguise. "Mao you have fire permission but plasma weapons only. Try to cut us loose. As soon as you are successful Shaka get us into orbit. Full Engines. Circuit can you reset the shields as soon as we are free?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Circuit here. the shields can be reset, takes me five seconds though!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Mao you have to keep that carpet off for five seconds. I don't want to go full engines blasting through atmosphere into space Neutronium armor or not."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Aye Captain commencing fire pattern now.!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The beams cut through the folds that held us, but the carpet thing rippled even worse tried to smother us with.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Captain the more I cut the more ripples come and the load is increasing.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">We are being pulled back. ArtiGrav past Red line."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I hope the armor is as good as they say it was. Mao Translocator cannon. Lay a kilo load 500 meters into the ground directly under us. that should create a crater and suck the thing in, long enough to let us go."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"But there will be an expanding shock and dirt wave before it collapses."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I hope the material of the being is taking the brunt of it and our armor is that good. Fire!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Despite internal ArtiGrav, the some of the tremors came through a huge hole had been ripped into the creature below us and we came free.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shaka catapulted us into space!

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Damage report!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har Hi said:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Our simulated Janus hull is damaged. Needs to be completely reset and assembled. Shield Coil Modulators of the secondary Shields belonging to our Janus mask are burned out. Landing strut Aft four is bend. No other damage reported."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Casualties?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No Casualties!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Status of the other Pirates?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">This time Narth replied.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"The New Intruder and the Bloody Mary sustained damage. The other ships seem unharmed and are in Orbit and within visual range in less than 1 minute."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Shaka take us to the Magnetic Pole as fast as possible. Then Gravimetric TransDim maximum acceleration behind that Sun!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">hoped the magnetic shadow of the Planet would hide is from their sensors just long enough so we could get out of here and I hoped they had no sensors able to detect Gravimetric TransDim Propulsion. Staying as close as possible behind the Systems sun would give us a little breathing time. _

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">INTERLUDE

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Red Dragon cursed at the Situation and cursed his Sensor Operator.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"You said you detected the Silver Streak in Orbit! Where is it?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I swear to you it was there one Second and now it's gone. I think she went over the Pole . Adjusting for magnetic interference now."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"What a worthless idiot are you. Is she there or not?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No Captain I cannot detect her ship anywhere in the system. But maybe our Sensors were damaged."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Of course your sensors are damaged. She can't simply disappear. Get them fixed now!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Yes Captain."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Now let's sort things out. hail the Intruder first!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The face of the Orkh appeared.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We are buried underneath whatever this thing is, Shields are gone, The Hull is holding, but my Engineer says that thing is feeding on our Metal and it might be an hour or two and then the hull is dissolved. As soon as you help us get out of here, we might be able to jury rig her with spare parts for a limb back home. "

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I be right with you. I need to talk to the others too!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Bloody Mary was next.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am going to kill that stupid Meateater. It was him who fired on those Crabs and started the whole thing."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"How is your status?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“I am still on the Surface but I managed to get the Ship into the Ocean. The thing hasn't followed us into the Water. We lost a few Hull plates and one ISAH pot is bend out of alignment but I think we can fix that within a day or so. The Refinery is scattered all over and we are trying to gather the pieces."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Alright now get me the Puup."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No Damage here, just lost four of my crew working on the Refinery. I think I scattered it a bit as I lifted off and toasted them in the process."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">All the other ships had made it into space with no or just minor damage.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Now he commanded

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">" Get me the Silver Streak."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Sorry Captain I am unable to raise her. She might still be buried under that thing. Since our sensors are damaged who knows what that Bulfong thought he saw."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Scanner operator, a Togar extended his claws and threatened the beardless Kermac at the Comm Board.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I will rip you to pieces!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Cut it out you two! Or I kill you both! Meateater has now lots of Crew who wants to come with us! Now find that Silver Streak. If she is buried we burn he out. There is plenty of treasure in that ship that makes it worth burning the entire planet to ashes!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Circuit came on the bridge.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Shields are operational again, Janus Device is reset and we are the Kartanian once again and that Landing strut is back in shape in a few hours. Our real hull doesn't even have a scratch captain.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Suit who was still on me said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"That armor is indeed quite advanced and if we add self repair capability to it is as good as Celtest armor. Your sensors are however quite primitive and I think we should change that."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Well you two work on that. Now let us back to that planet. We need to explain our disappearance convincingly" The Suit said." I can extend my cloaking field around the ship and we return invisible to their sensors and when they are not looking we are there.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"You can do that?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Yes."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We could have simply cloaked in Orbit"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"You never asked or gave me a chance to suggest. But your solution was quite good, Captain!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am glad you approve, Starman Suit. Now go and do that cloak thing!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Aye Captain!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Robot stomped onto the bridge and the Suit separated itself from me, taking possession of the robot body again.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Starman Suit?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Yes Captain?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Please next time you separate from me, wait till while we are in private. This is the second time I am in the buff in front of everyone!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Oh, I had no idea this was a problem!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I think Circuit needs to explain why we Humans decide to wear clothing!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I glared at the others.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Go ahead. I know Har Hi is already biting his lip very hard and trying not to burst."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea brought me a jacket and I left the Bridge.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I be right back."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Cloak worked according to the Suit and we slipped back into orbit. Shea confirmed the Sensor rays of the other two ships went right through us without sensing anything.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Interesting, Suits cloak simply shifted us a quantum step to the side of base reality. What a simple solution to the cloaking problem.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The suit said. “Now I know what you mean captain. I will never use the word primitive again. This technology is the most advanced and still experimental.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Don't worry Suit, Narth makes us all feel like that.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“I attempted to comment Starman Suit on a very elegant solution to the heat signature problem in true cloaking. It is very difficult to mask the enormous thermic radiation a space ship emits to achieve true cloak. Instead and actual cloak, the whole body is simply shifted sixty point four ekta steps to the dimensional core reality and thus shift radiation to the same condition simply removes that emitting source from the core reality. It is a noteworthy simple solution.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Even trying to repeat what you said isn't simple my hooded friend and perhaps with the exception of Shea no one understood a word.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“One shall attempt to find more adequate analogies to...”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Maybe later, Narth.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Our Leedei said. “I made Dragon sensor operator believe he fixed his never broken Sensors. The Captain named Meateater, however hopes our shields are still damaged. He had witnessed our struggle and now plans to attack us. His ship sustained heavy damage, and is no longer able to go trans light. He obtained spare Shields from Red Dragon and wants to shoot and make us give up so he can take possession of the Silver Streak. The others will assist him if they think he succeeds."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“You see, now Ensign Fivcheer, made me feel inadequate. His telepathic abilities have a far greater range than mine.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Nobody is perfect, Narth.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea said. “Isn't your HPI greater than that of Mr. Fivcheer?” “Yes but Psionics establish themselves different. He can't teleport, and his telekinetics are below of little Alice, but his telepathic abilities are en par with mine and have a much greater range.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I threw my hands in the air. “The day I understand all this Psi magic, will be the day the galaxy reverses its spin.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I smiled at them and said.”Well thank you, Mr. Fivcheer that gives us a chance to take one out of the equation. Narth can you simulate battle damage on the Janus fast enough for them to think they hit something?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Yes I think so with SHIPS help I can pre program some damage and display it."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I want him to be able to shoot at us once, turn on shields and give me an excuse to retaliate. "

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">We waited for them to be out of a direct line of sight and Suit turned his marvelous Cloak off.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Elfi hail the Red Dragon for me."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Silver Streak hailing anyone. We are testing our Communications Equipment is it working again?" "Ah there you are! So you did manage it to get off the planet after all! Our Sensors didn't pick up anything. Any serious damage?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Only minor. Our shields are still down and we are fixing those."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He told me the situation and added.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We burned an area clean and secured the Intruder. But the organism seems is at closer survey as big as the continent and there is more matter than we could destroy with the energy available. We think it might attack again."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">As he spoke the damaged Intruder appeared, under shields firing on us! And he hailed:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Captain Velvet, you have no shields. My next shots will vaporize your bridge and your weapons. You can however surrender and land.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I take over your ship and guarantee your crew will have a chance to work for me. Refuse and I destroy you!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"You false bastard. I thought we were all in together. Are you in with this Red Dragon?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Not yet Velvet, this is a private matter between you and him. He is desperate I can't blame him. Whoever comes out on top comes along."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"You guarantee the safety of my crew?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I will talk to Captain Meateater and I will take some aboard."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Alright I will land!" Shaka took the Ship down closely followed by the Meateater not far behind. We landed in the Water.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The intruder was just about to land as well.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Mao, shields! Target the Meateater's weapons and shield generators and cut his remaining landing gear. Then pound him with Techstop!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Shields up. Firing now!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Elfi put me on their channel."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">She made a sign that I was on. "

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Looks like my shields are back just in time. I am going to deal with this scum now. Anyone interfering and I send you what I took of the Duke!" They knew there was nothing they could do to escape a real Loki Torpedo that close. Fivcheer put an amused tone in his voice.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"The Red Dragon just found out that his Seeinan shields don't come on!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">It was the Red Dragon who responded.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"As I said it is a private matter. Meateater is all yours!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I cut him off and said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Marines, Hans we are going to board the other ship and arrest those who surrender, then we plunder that ship in Pirate fashion.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Mao you have permission to use Lokis on all but the Crimson Spider if they interfere. Elfi have you prepared the doctored visuals?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Yes Captain, Ship and I did with lots of input from Mao, who loves gory horror shows."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"As soon as we are over there play it on our channels and use easy to hack codes keys as discussed."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"It's all ready Captain!”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">INTERLUDE

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Red Dragon watched a small Army of heavy armed beings emerged from the Silver Streak boarding the Intruder. Black Velvet's crew were professionals. There was no wasted move, no individual acting on its own. The main air lock was breached in mere moments. Even though he watched from a great distances, he relied on Union optics and saw the four armed Y'All tossing the heavy air lock aside, and unleashing withering blaster fire at the same time. The fact that there was a live Y'All causing open fear among his crew was not the most amazing fact. No it was the fact that this terror beast followed her orders. From up in the orbit he also could see the shape of a Nul and several Pertharians. Pertharian that went astray were as rare as flawless yellow diamonds He could see their black uniforms and the old symbol of the Archane Order, that legendary order that had been swept away by Union Marines and gaining the undying loyalty of these warrior monsters. He counted six, trying to steal her ship was dumb idea back on Sin 4 and now it was clear it was suicide.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">His Comm Officer the beardless Kermac said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Captain I managed to hack into Velvets Command line. She has a visual and audio feed going back to her ship!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Put it on!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He saw what one of Black Velvets Pirates Helmet Cam showed and heard their comm. traffic.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Black Velvet lead the boarding team herself, in her black outfit with a Blaster and a Boarding axe dismembering and torturing the crew of the Intruder in the most brutal and inhuman way he had ever witnessed. She showed no mercy even at those surrendering.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Meateater wasn't exactly his friend but to see him tortured for the codes of his ships Computronics and treasure locations in such a gruesome manner was disturbing even to him.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">As she finally gouged the eyes out and ripped the throat from the already bleeding and mortally wounded captain. He looked away.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Ivok called him

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We managed to get into her Comm Traffic. Do you want to see what she does?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I just did!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"And I was almost going along with Meateater's plan! I never seen anything like that! Hell has no fury like her!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I did not think she would be that vicious. But then that just confirms all the reports we heard and I've seen her fight in the arena. She is a savage beast."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I won't double cross her that is clear!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Lemakr chimed in.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I was always decent to my prey. Seeing what she does I think she is even worse than Captain Rkkkz!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Shiss was also listening in.”She might not be human.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Dragon leaned back. He had lost his Celtest shields. They simply didn't activate and his Engineer of course could not even begin to guess why and his knowledge of it was also extremely limited. Now that Velvet had a few Loki torpedoes she was a serious threat. Only Brathering had any chance to survive a direct hit in his Destroyer.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He still wanted to kill that woman and take that ship from her, but he knew that this was now more wishful thinking than ever and he had to be very smart about that near the end. He didn't want her to find the Depot with him. How to get rid of her close before the target was more of a problem than he thought. Leaving her was also no option, he really needed her now since Meateater was gone. The first fuel stop and they already lost one ship. Things weren't going all that smooth at all.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">--””--

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I cringed in my seat as I watched the video.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"By Odin that is even more gruesome than the most savage Viking! "

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Elfi said "Don't blame me . Mao added details from some of the worst and even some illegal Slasher Snuff Virtu Shows. He loves that stuff!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Mao grinned sheepishly." I just like horror Virtus! I agree maybe it was a little too much!

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Narth said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"The human psyche is perhaps the greatest enigma of this Universe. That such Virtu shows find a ready audience is really fascinating."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Then he added.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"But your plan worked . The remaining Pirates did hack into the stream and Crimson Hunter and really fear you know and are not as easily persuaded by Red Dragon to do anything against you." "That was the idea. Now Meateater and those who gave up are in Stasis?" Hans responded.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Yes 54 pirates are safely tugged away in security stasis. We can turn them over to the authorities when we return."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I looked around.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I haven't seen the Golden where is he?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"In the Lair tallying our loot we took from the Intruder. He took everything of value and is happy as can be."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The pirates relocated their fuel making procedure to the other planet in the system.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">A rocky and cold world but with plenty of frozen water. While they did that we landed back on the the world with the huge organism.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea took samples and with her team surveyed the living carpet thing. It turned out to be some sort of silicone based life form of incredible age and was dormant as it had consumed all it could from its own planet, and without food it was dormant and perhaps slowly dying, with the ships present and a new food source of metal it became more active.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Crabs were, as Shea and her team discovered in a symbiotic relationship with the carpet. The planet was named Carpet and put into the catalogs that way.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Four days later we left the system and went to cross the gap between the two spiral arms. It was not completely without stars but only a few far and between and was mostly just a void of nearly 2000 light years.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Red Dragon and the other ships dropped out of FTL about half way. The reason was a Fuel leak aboard the Bloody Mary, that needed to be fixed.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He assured us it would take only a day, but he needed to get some fuel from Red Dragon to restock what he had lost.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I just wanted to end my shift and planned to have dinner in the Pirates Den and then watch a popular chick virtu with Elfi, Cateria and of course Shea.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">As much as I got used and as much as I enjoyed my female persona I still found those virtus that focused on feelings, love relationships and more feelings nothing but booring and wondered why even a girl like Shea with an IQ of over 400 enjoyed them so much.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I was convinced if I came behind the secret what the allure was I would really be a female, however so far it had eluded me. Of course my pride did not permit me to openly admit to that, so I was forced by my own strange personality and pride to share these.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">TheOther and the officers of the Afternoon watch arrived and I got up, when SHIP raised alert.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I plunged back in my seat.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"All hands Battle stations. Report!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth spoke.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"SHIP raised alert because a drifting dust cloud of matter just changed course and accelerated towards us."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"A dust cloud?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea analyzing the sensor data said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"A concentration of cosmic dust, composed of hydrogen, frozen gases. silica, metals, minerals and other base matter. Combined mass of 14 million tons spread over a roughly spherical shaped volume with a diameter of 200 kilometers has just reduced its volume and thus density to less than 20 kilometers and changed from a drifting state to increase velocity and it changed course."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am feeling a presence. I do not understand it nor could I attempt to communicate at this state. The Conck was similar.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The only somewhat familiar emotion is a sense of intense hunger and also loneliness.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"The Cloud had already reached the Red Dragon. Streaks of lightning like energies flickered over the ship's hull. The Dragon fired but the energy beam hit mostly nothing and the shots energy dissipated as if absorbed by whatever this was.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Red Dragon accelerated and barley made it out of the energy leeching embrace.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Alerts rang and SHIP said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Sir the Cloud has just increased the gravimetric conditions and created a gravitation sinkhole. We are caught in it!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Red Dragon hailed.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Looks like I barely made it out. And so did Brathering and Crimson. The others have luckily been out of reach.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Our sensors detect an intensive Gravitation well increasing in strength. Since there is no way I am going to risk my ship to get you. It was nice meeting you Velvet. Sorry Crimson, it was your shitty repair job that got us in this mess, so deal with it!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Red Dragon still increasing velocity followed the other eight and went trans light! Not even waiting for a response.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Gravimetric pressure increasing. I am not sure if we can escape even with our TransDim Gravi Drive and it might feed the entity out there even more.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Our regular ISAH drive is only a secondary unit and if my calculations are correct no longer enough to escape fast enough." Crimson's Bloody Mary was firing out of every weapon and each shot vaporized a few molecules but its energies increased the power of the cloud.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Mao, shut down Shields and any external drives.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"If we don't emit Energies it might simply slip past us and then we can use a few graviton mines to gather it and destroy it with a TL load."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth said."It is so hard to get a hold of it telekinetic. It is as if you would try to hold water in your hands. "

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Hail the Bloody Mary and tell those idiots to stop firing!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Elfi turned."Unable to raise them. No response!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth raised his voice a little.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"The fuel supply on the other ship is leaking again. Affecting the Antimatter storage. The being lost all interest on us and is now focused on the Bloody Mary."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Circuit had come on the bridge and activated his Engineering Station.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Captain I give the other ship a maximum eight minutes before she goes!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Suit arrived moments later.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I also analyzed the Entity it clearly shows sentient behavior. I am certain I can extend my shields around the Ship to protect it."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No need Suit. We have very advanced shields as well but we can't use them without compromising our cover. The Red Dragon is still within sensor range."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I leaned forward.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Hail them again. I would like to try to save the crew if possible."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am not getting through Captain. But I am getting something from the Cloud on regular sub light electromagnetic radio."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Even in this situation I felt pride in my crew. They worked together like a well maintained machine. Elfi transferred her Data to Shea. Shea signaled with a hand sign she was working on it and SHIP's screen image blinked at her console and I knew it was helping too, without being tasked to it like a regular Computronic.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth said:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I think I can teleport 10 or 15 of them before it explodes, but not all."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Starman Suit again said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"My sensors located the ego center of the being. It is a small dense mass of Matter with synaptic neuro like activity."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Bloody Mary ejected her Reactor Core but it was too late. The Core exploded barely out the ejection port and ripped the entire aft section of the Bloody Mary to shreds."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth said." There are still survivors. I am getting as much as I can."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Suit said."I can go EVA as well and will assist if that is permitted."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I nodded and Narth vanished

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Hans and the Suit ran to the IST alerting his Marines to receive the Pirates.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har Hi informed Sickbay as well. Shea nodded to Elfi and then said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Captain I believe we can communicate now with the Dust cloud. the creature is indeed intelligent and responded to the mathematical sequence and now we understand it."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I can talk to it?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Yes!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"This is Captain Olafson calling the space born entity. Can you hear me!" At first there was only a hissing sound crackling almost like wind. Elfi said:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Sorry these are radio wave statics I am trying to compensate. It is analog and not digital."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Then a voice.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Matter concentration speaks . I is not alone now there is other voice!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Why are you attacking us?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Attacking..causing harm?...not, no. I was hungry to far from heat light . Little Metal mass came has lots of food. Little mass gives much food. Unaware you have voice!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Leedei who had taken Narth station.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Captain, I am getting more and more structure now. His thoughts become understandable!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We are many voices inside the Metal Mass . Your gravimetric alteration is keeping us and caused harm."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"When I stop mass wave increase you will leave?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We must leave. We cannot remain here!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Please not go. I am alone. So alone and now you speak. I am no longer alone."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"If you would not be so big. We could maybe tow you across the Expanse."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Big, my size variable. Much mass can be discarded is only added mass. Please I no longer alone. Will not cause harm!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth almost sounded like out of breath as he appeared on the bridge and said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"It has no concept of lie or false hood. It has no aggressive thoughts violence is unknown to it. It did not know our ships were anything else but dead matter. It never had any contact to another living being and thought it is the only sentient being in the universe. I see images now of stars and constellations from many million years ago. It is unable to travel faster than light. It feeds on energy and out here to far from stars it became weak and hungry and unable to reach the other side of the gap starving to death."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"How is the rescue operation going, Narth?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Suit and I have transferred 79 pirates. The rest is dead. We are currently transferring the prisoners into Stasis Containers and store them."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Take it easy for a while thankfully we have Ensign Fivcheer who can do some of that mind magic.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Yes Captain I will reduce my psionic activity. Ensign Fivcheer is quite equal and noteworthy talented “

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I switched the channel open.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We will remain until we find a way to help you."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I is so happy. Not alone and talk with other is much joy! I will shed much matter."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shaka said." Gravitational pull is gone. We are fully maneuverable."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">And Mao added.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"The Cloud center has separated from other matter. I can easily target it and destroy it now." He then said." Just in case of course."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Can we tow the rest mass across the rest of the gap?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea nodded

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">”Easy, the remaining cloud center has approximately two tons of mass. We could load that in a big container for all that."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har Hi kept an eye on the long range sensors.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"The Red Dragon and the other cowards have stopped at their maximum sensor range and scanning us. I bet they going to hail us in a little bit."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Alright I want to help that thing if we can. Do we want to take in. Can we contain it?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi shrugged.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I don't see why not. It is only matter and some energy and 2 tons. We could keep it in containment fields and destroy it too."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Well I guess we take this galactic orphan along."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Elfi opened the channel and I said:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We will take you along with us. A door will open and you can enter our sphere."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"One is overwhelmed!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Shea would you go and make sure the thing is correctly contained and see if we need to feed it or something."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Aye Captain!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Shaka as soon as we can get us going and follow the Red Dragon!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">As Har Hi predicted the Dragon called.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“I see you managed to get out of this gravitation trap as well. "

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I thought we formed this little Armada of yours so we can assist each other in times of trouble. So I will make this perfectly clear. The next time you are in any sort of predicament. Don't expect me to raise a finger."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I must admit If I was in your place I think the same way. We lost two ships already and not even in a real fight with anything. If that continues we never make it, none of us. Who would have thought this is going to be such a challenge!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Just lead the way Dragon. Don't expect any favors or social calls from me. It is strictly business from now on."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">--””--

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The incident with the dust cloud was now over two month ago.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Down here in complete unexplored space, it really hit home how big our galaxy really was.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Back home in the Upward sector with Hyper Highways and Space trains. With known planets and systems and of course with everyone connected to GalNet space did not feel as empty and vast.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">We had crossed the gap and now steadily went further down the Core ward sector. Our sensors picked up some space traffic now and then, but in general this area of space appeared to be much less busy than Upward and Spin Ward, the Sectors of the Union and all the others.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">We had made two more fuel stops and this time without incidents at all on uninhabited worlds.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Until today we more or less followed a straight line but today the Red Dragon had changed course as we passed a Quasar.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth explained that this Quasar was one of the triggers in Red Dragons mind and opened some information to a location where he would gain more of his memory.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Krabbel pointed at a star system on his navigation screen.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I t looks like he is heading for that KII type star. There isn't much else around."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Cateria who was sitting in for Shaka, she had little to do and had expressed her interest in Helm. For the last month she had studied with Shaka, and today was her first watch on Helm. She said:

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"There were always Quasars near Seenian worlds. I was only a medic of course but I think we made them."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We always wondered about that. I mean many of our scientist believe Quasars where artificially made."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am not sure if all Quasars are indeed of artificial nature. Since there are many in other Galaxies as well and we Seenians as far as I know never traveled to other Galaxies even though we had the technology."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Do you remember much of that enemy you were fighting, we only know as the Dark Ones?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No, I never saw one and I don't think even our military knew much, but I think It was a space faring culture for the most part.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">With space ships and troops and all that, but at a higher Tech Level as we were and on your Tech Level scale they were a 12.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">They had ships as big as planets and not just one or two but fleets of them. They did not fly somewhere.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">They had the ability of absolute movement. Their ships could be anywhere in an instant! But they enjoyed war so much they didn't simply destroy planets or solar systems as they easily could and did. They invaded raining their troops on a surface not unlike Union Space Marines.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">It was said the Dark Empire ruled over more than a thousand Galaxies with an iron fist. They had one Emperor.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">One Being on the top who ruled with absolute power. We always heard those rumors that he was not a mere being but a God. A demon perhaps. With powers beyond Psionics. Another rumor was that they were seeking this god like being and created that Empire to impress that Dark God.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">What of it is true true I do not know but it was said this Dark One had ultimate dominion of space and time. A thought of this god could move Galaxies and that his power and rule stretched over more than one reality and more than one dimension."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">She held up her hand.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I know it was most likely just the fantasies and legends of us Celtest. Knowing we would lose." Narth spoke.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Only the Narth Supreme knows if they are indeed just legends as we too had contact with the Dark Ones. It believe it was the reason we choose to abandon all contact with this Universe and remove our world from this plane.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I think we Narth met the Dark Ones even before the UNI became a Space faring civilization." Cateria gasped.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"The Uni were to us what we Seenians are to you, a long lost Civilization. Somehow I have a feeling the Age of the Narth isn't counted in Centuries but in Eons."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He nodded."Your feeling is not so wrong. We were the very first life form of this Universe that gained sentience and the first to raise to TL 11 . We were called the Nnnth and had a corporal existence. We met an entity, the Arth who existed in Hyperspace and as energy alone. We merged and became the Narth, but I must correct you, as one can divide Billions of years into centuries and count them "

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I rolled my eyes as I did so often at Narths matter of fact statements and looked at Cateria. You heard him you can count Billions just fine...just takes a little longer."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">She smiled."This is such an incredible story. I never thought I would admit it but I am very fond of this crew and this Narth."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"As this Narth is fond of you and I even know what the meaning of fondness is!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I turned to Shea.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"That brings me to a question. We do have a little time so why don't you tell me the story behind that sword of yours. You never actually told us. How come it cuts even a Seenian suit?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">She turned on her seat to face us.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Why it does it I can't tell you. It defies any method of scanning. The Material appears the same at any magnification. there is no molecular level, no surface structure, no measurable energy but it cuts through anything except its own scabbard."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Well is it a secret where you got it from?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No I just never really told it to anyone.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">She completely tuned her seat around.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“I was a young Sojonit. On my way to complete an errand for the order. When I witnessed a fight.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">A bright almost glowing human like man in what I can only describe as a very ancient looking armor fought another man in a black armor of similar design. the Man in the black armor seemed to emit black flames all around him and they fought each other with swords. they fought like I never seen anyone or anything fight,. Hurling energy beams at each other out of their eyes and nothing around them mattered, they simply crashed through concrete walls and steel as if you and I walk through air.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Their weapons cut anything in their way. then the bright glowing one noticed me and thundered something I didn't understand.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Dark one however actually caught a falling wall that would otherwise have crushed me and because he was distracted saving me was stabbed by the white glowing one.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Dark one was wounded .The white one was about to strike again, I jumped up and tried to stop it by pulling on its other arm.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The wounded Black one, took the moment and beheaded the other.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">At this the body of the white Knight exploded in a blinding light and the Dark One was looking at me and I saw no face just a mask with nothing behind the eye-holes and he picked up the remaining Sword of the white Knight and handed it to me then he too vanished."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">She finished and she sighed.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"They had leveled the entire city block, hundreds had died but no one of the survivors had seen what caused it . No one remembered the fight except me. I have spend much time researching and stumbled on only one reference to the Knights of the Light and it was on a fragmented piece of vellum in the Sojonit Library."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Maybe you could come to Narth Prime and show your sword to the Narth Supreme.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I think you have witnessed the clash between a Knight of the Order and a Warrior of the Balance. I know little more, but another Narth has spend its entire existence on the research of these and I know he had witnessed a fight similar to yours. He might be able to tell you more."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi grunted.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I must admit I don't like this idea of beings with powers and abilities like this. It would mean that there are things out there that make all our struggles and achievements appear pointless and small." He put in words what I was thinking.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I feel that way when it comes to Psionics., but It is actually natural that there are other things and powers out there, life develops even in the strangest places.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">That reminds me how is that dust thing doing?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea looked away and was suddenly busy on her console.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth was not paying any attention to me and Har Hi simply stared at the main viewer.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I was just asking a question, guys!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har Hi said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Who are you asking?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Anyone who can answer me that question. Why do I have a feeling that thing isn't in a box and contained in force fields and you all know about it!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har -Hi said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"You didn't specifically order it to be in a box. You said to make sure it is properly contained. Shea said it just could fit in a box as I recall."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I got up.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Krabbel you have the Conn. I think I am going to have a look myself. Is this some sort of conspiracy?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Dai shook his head."You know better than that. We would never conspire against you. We simply thought it might not be all that important. You being the Captain having all those other things on your mind."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Har-Hi, we are flying now for the better of two month through space with nothing happening at all. I am running out of ideas how to phrase Nothing in the Log book . Now I am not bored or anything like that but certainly we are not busy. Shea what is going on?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">She also got up.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Maybe it is better you do come and see for yourself. Dusty has learned a lot in two month." "Dusty?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"It wanted a name. Everything has a name. The concept of naming things was alien to it. You don't need names if you think you are the only living thing in the universe."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"You named the thing Dusty?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No that was Alice. She named it and Dusty liked it."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"So where is Dusty now? I have a feeling I won't find him contained in a box in our freight bay." Narth nodded.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I think you can trust your feelings on that indeed!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">While I walked to the IST I said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"You are in on it too?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am in on this ship yes."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Narth I carried your Hug thing and I think you just tried to act! I told SHIP that isn't going to work and you are certainly even a worse actor than she is!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">SHIP giggled and I looked up towards the ceiling as I always did when I addressed her.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Now that you are part of this, surprises me not one bit."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Honestly Captain we did not do anything against your will or anything that would have harmed you or the ship.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">We just thought you might order Dusty to be contained in a box. He really was terribly lonely all his existence and he is thirsty for companion ship and loves to talk. Dusty was afraid you would order him outside once we reached a suitable star system.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">So we sort of promised it not to say much as long as you didn't ask."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I didn't ask because I was under the impression the thing was contained in a box and would be released so it can feed on a sun or something. So where is it?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Playing Cards with Golden, the Holdian Specialist, TheOther, Suit and Circuit in the Pirates Den." "Dusty the Cosmic Dust cloud is playing cards in our Pirates Den. Do you know what the Admiral will say if he reads that in my report?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I went into the IST and down to the Hangar Deck. SHIP answered.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am not able to predict what the Fleet Admiral would say."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“He will most likely fall of his chair again.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I reached the Hangar deck and stepped through the door and the curtains to our Pirate Den.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">There on a smaller table to the side of the huge round one sat The Other, the robot with Suit, our Y'All, my Chief engineer, the Little Furry Specialist Warner and the Golden Merchant.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shaka was standing behind something that had the form of a humanoid. It looked somewhat as if a kid tried to form a man out of dark sand. No facial features, just eyes made from different darker colored sand.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I heard Shaka say." Looks like you got a full house, not bad but it won't beat

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Circuit's Royal Flash."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Then there was silence. They noticed me!

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The huge thing spoke with a mechanical sounding voice.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Now why is no one talking. Is this part of celebrating a Royal Flash?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Circuit got up.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Captain, meet Dusty. Dusty this is our Captain!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The thing said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Captain please do not send me out. I am no longer alone and I found the greatest treasure in the Universe, Company!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am not going to kick you out. I am just a bit surprised to find you here and not contained as I thought you were."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Captain. I am not dangerous. I did not know this sphere contains beings. I did not know there was any other thinking and talking being, except me. I cannot remember how I came to be and I never met anyone like me. All I know is I was alone."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am not a monster. You could have told me. You make me sound like some cold heart Fangsnapper. I even allowed Suit to be conscripted."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Alice the sad looking girl I only now noticed came around and stood before me.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Then could you not conscript me and Dusty too? So we can be like the others and not outsiders?" "I am sure glad McElligott gave me a big enough ship . we might have to weld on some extra room by the time we return. I can't really conscript you Alice, you are still too young."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am seventeen or at least that old because Dad found me seventeen years ago and that is old enough. Narth said so! Dad would be happy I know."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Well what can I say against that if Narth thinks so and if Cloud can play cards I am sure he can find something to do, but I want you Shea and Narth to tell me that Dusty and Alice know what that means to become a member of the fleet. Including the possibility they are being sent to the Academy after we return."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth pointed into the group.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Alice already studies for that and knows that quite well. Har-Hi is holding Basic School for Suit, the Golden, Ensign Xon and Dusty every day in his spare time."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I somehow begin to understand what the Old Admiral meant when he called us the strangest ship in the fleet. But alright I sign your Conscription documents and swear you in."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">--””--

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I sat over my log book and had just noted the conscription of Starman Dusty and Starman Alice Enigma. One was a sentient dust cloud and the other a little girl with alien DNA and the ability to lift seventy ton landing tanks with the psionic energies she was able to channel.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I looked up and said to Fenris, the little dragon. “Well at least you don't want to become a crew member.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The creature raised his head an winged over and settled on my shoulder and made a croaking sound.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I scratched his scaled throat and the thing squeeze his yellow reptile eyes.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Say is it just me or are you bigger?”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Fafnir did not answer of course., but the Intercom blinked and Elfi came on. “Captain we are approaching that orange star system and we are picking up Tachyon communications and space traffic.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“I am right there, go to Condition Yellow”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Elfi who held the Conn. got up as I came in and exchanged seats with TheOther at communications. While I had total confidence in all the ships officers, it became sort of an unwritten rule aboard the Tigershark, that the department heads came on duty and took their stations regardless of what bridge watch was on duty, when I called condition yellow or battle stations. Condition Yellow by fleet standard meant that all off duty personnel proceeds to back up stations. Recreation facilities were closed and battle or a dangerous situation was to be expected, but on the Tigershark it went a few steps further, due to the Alert condition readiness reaction plan I had worked out with Har-Hi. Side arm lockers rotated into access mode and all personnel would use battle dressers to get into their BBS (Board Battle Suits) and my Marines went into full armament mode.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">These were normally elements of Red Alert, but I felt that this extra level of paranoia was justified as we were far from any help or reinforcements.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">My senior officers and friend had found their stations. My seat rose into the battle dome and SHIP populated the 360 degree computronic assisted view of the surrounding space with the info icons exactly in the configuration I preferred. There was a contact icon for Sobody and for Cateria.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The nine pirate ships left were in a straight line behind the Red Dragon heading for the fourth planet of this eight planet system.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sensor data started to populate the info boxes next to each planet, the sun and about eighty artificial energy and mass contacts.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea, SHIP and Narth worked faster than even the sensor department of the Devi.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Elfi's symbol flashed red. Prioritized by SHIP and indicating an incoming transmission. The symbol next to the Red Dragon also flashed.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Captain,Red Dragon is hailing us.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Put him on, audio only.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Red Dragons voice said.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“This Cosporus and a local culture hub and trade world. We will land on the fourth planet for fuel, serving our engines and for restocking our ship stores.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The local civilization are the Trontigmakader. Don't ask me to repeat that, I am glad I managed to say it the first time. Polos, Iridium and Tellurium are accepted for payment.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Captain Sandovahl of the Killerbeast chimed in. “Have you been here before?”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Yes and so has Captain Brathering, as the Puup region isn't far from here.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">We will land on the Mustar space port. I have already received landing permission. As soon as we land there will be a meeting aboard the Red Dragon, before we interact with the locals.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">After the Red Dragon disconnected, I blinked at Sobody's icon that was flashing with the contribute info symbol,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“You know about this place?”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Only indirectly. I have been here about one hundred years. There is a Golden Bazaar in a nearby system. It is run by my brother Sagodi. There is also a trade enclave on Cosporus. The planet is in character a little like N'Ger. The local authority is, or at least was headed by four Trontigmakader. One is the Broodmaster, one is the Godmaster, one is called the Lifemaster and the last one is the Deathmaster. Each represents and aspect of life: birth, religion, life and death. Back when I was here last, all four have equal power and say, but is the Lifemaster who's dealing with daily life, with trade, civic and is more or less like a king, unless matters infringe on the aspects of the others.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">They are enemies to the Puup and the Yotenen who are also in this region of space. Tech level is around six and their Aggresso Level is also six. They are insectoid in character but have an endo skeleton and communicate by producing sound by rubbing their wings together. They can do it so controlled that they actually produce understandable words. They also can hear and understand. The language spoken in these regions is called the Common. I have down loaded it from Golden data banks before we left for these parts.” SHIP said.”I have created a lingu skill cerebral upload.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I acknowledged, lowered my seat and had the ship stand down from condition yellow. Then I asked.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Does your brother know the Golden are Union?”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Yes all nineteen bazaars of this galaxy know. We used Kermac Long range Telepaths for communication. I am sure the Welcome Wagon might already be on its way. As it had to take the long way around Freespace that might take a while of course.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“What exactly is underway?”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth delivered the answer.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Once a new Union member is accepted, the Assembly authorizes a so called Welcome wagon. While it is called wagon I do not know, but it is a large convoy of freighters bringing PDDs, CITI machines, materials and personnel for Union schools, Union clinics. GalNet terminals and of course deploy GalNet Extender buoys to establish GalNet coverage. The convoy may also include Wolfcrafts, or an entire Union Feet. The Convoy contains all the basic things a new member needs to become a full Union member.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Golden nodded. “It is absolutely amazing how efficient and well organized the Union is in this matter. The whole PUMA process, you know the Potential Union Member Assessment was done with a level of proficiency honed by accepting thousands of civilizations.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Many societies measure another civilization on technological achievements, but it is these social and cultural that sets the Union light years apart from anything that exists or has existed as far as I know. I mean BoCA who oversees the Welcome wagon program had a tailor made list of things ready for us Golden within a day. And since we are so spread out they send a small convoy to each Bazaar.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“If the Bazaar is not to far, do you want to visit your brother?” “There is a reason he is on a bazaar that many light years from mine and I have been here only once a hundred years ago.” “So he opposed your decision to join the Union?” “Oh no, he agrees with that and he is a loyal golden to the first merchant. Our...let's say problem has female character. Family matters nothing important.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“I had no idea you had women..” “How do you think we procreate? You might mot like it, but the Kermac, even the Uni before and we Golden belong to what is called the human mystery. We have more in common than what sets us apart.” I blushed. “I didn't mean it like that. I just didn't see a Golden Female while I was on your bazaar and there are species who get along with one gender just fine.” “Or three!” The Leedei said. “I mean three genders, captain. Sorry for uh..”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“You should know by now Mr.Fivcheer, that no one gets in trouble on this ship for speaking out, voicing an opinion or forgetting to say Sir, Ma'am or Captain.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har Hi agreed. “We are a pretty undisciplined bunch in that regard alright.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">--””--

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Red Dragon had announced us collectively and we all had landed on a fairly sized and busy spaceport.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The planet or at least the region we had landed had a very mild climate with a breathable atmosphere, that had only a few percent more oxygen than Standard. The atmosphere was also very humid.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The space port was very unusual in the fact that it was basically a wide shallow river delta and the entire landing field was about 2 meters under water and space port buildings were on stilts all around the edges. So were some of the local city buildings

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">There was a good number of space space ships. None of them even close to Union giants.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Jooltar captains Armed 900 meter armed freighter and our Silver Streak were the biggest ships.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Ships were serviced, loaded and unloaded by barges and boats.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Suit said.”Captain are you planning to accept the Dragon's invitation?”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi and I went flew over to the Red Dragon and were greeted by him at the boarding ramp. We arrived almost at the same time as the Jooltar captain, the others were already there.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“My ship won't have an impressive lair as you, Black Velvet but let us go inside, this humidity is anything but pleasant.” I had to agree with him on that one, but I was wearing Tyron, who had insisted of me wearing him.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Red Dragon's lair was just a conference room and distinctive Union in its layout.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Everyone of the remaining captains had found a seat and Har Hi once more stood behind me. Even though no one had objected him being here, this time and there were seats available.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Captain Sandovahl said. “Say what you have to say. My crew is eager to leave the ship after being perched up that long and see what this place offers in terms of entertainment.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“This is why I called you for this meeting. I have important business here tonight that is vital for our quest. Until I have done that, I don't want any of you causing any unnecessary attention. I announced us as a joint venture group of independent merchants. So get fuel, restock your ship stores and stay away from fights or similar attention getting ruckus. If I fail to do my business here the quest will be in great jeopardy. “

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">On our way back Har Hi said. “What are you making of this?” “I think this is how far he got the last time. I think here on this planet is a major piece of the puzzle. A map, a key or code or something. If he knew exactly where the Seenian depot is, he would not have come back and tried on his own. I think one or all of us might be offered as a scape goat if things go sour with the locals. “

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“We should keep a close eye on him that piece whatever it is will allow us to end this quest. I grow tired of that arrogant bastard.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“You have no idea what it will mean to me, to know he is dead or in a stasis box.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Captain you know I can cloak you. We could follow him”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">--””--

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">We just returned to the ship and watched a colorful barge with a big cylindrical object approach the Killer Beast

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har Hi said. I think it is a local fuel dealer.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The barge was crewed by tall thin beings that had elongated heads, two eye pairs and two wing pairs. They had only one arm pair and walked on two legs, there was no species or life form I knew that could really be compared.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">We also watched as the crews of the other ships climbed into boats with the obvious attempt to enjoy shore leave. I doubted these ships were as well equipped in terms of crew recreation and the last month must have been very taxing for them.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har Hi said. “You know we should participate, it would look very strange if our crew stays.” “You're right and I knew at least one crew member, named Dirk Simmons wanted to see new worlds. So I grant shore leave but never more than twenty at a time, and you go along to make sure everyone is their pirate best.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“And you going to spy on the Red Dragon right?”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Yes but not without a back up plan and besides I am wearing Tyron. I am a safe as can be.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“You do know about Chapter 15 of the Book right?” “The one about conduct of a Commanding Officer?” “Yes,”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“I know about it.” He sighed. “Just checking. I guess I pick the first twenty to check out this city. You know our Atlas suits can cloak too..”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Well let Hans watch over our first Shore leave group and we stalk the dragon together.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“You are right I better go,at least with the first group.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Don't worry I take the Minis along and we all stay in contact.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">–“”--

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">

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<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">