Black velvet.odt

Galactic Chronicles



Space Pirate Black Velvet



Volume VII in the Eric Olafson Cycle

© 2014 Vanessa Ravencroft



Note to readers: This is a rewrite of the previous posted story GC IX: “Eric Olafson, Space Pirate”. Most of the story is the same. I have closed plot holes, erased dead ends and re directed the plot where I wanted it to go. I have added some content and deleted other passages.

Many of my friends wanted me finally get done with it and tell more and new stories. So I jumped ahead a few thousand pages and several volumes and completed the re write on this volume.

It is in this original story where I went the wrong direction and made me decide to rewrite the saga in the first place.

Now the events that lead up to this point in Eric's career remain pretty much the same. However instead of three years, of Academy and training he now completed another, a fourth year.

The Union/Kermac conflict during Roy Master's time is now correctly placed 100 years before Eric's time. There are a few other changes in the past but none that affect this story.

Thank you for reading my stories



This volume is dedicated to: Knight Ranger, Gnume, Silvak and Samuelmichaels who have through their incredible dedication helped me to shape this author's playground into an Universe with true dimensionality filled with living, breathing beings.

To them I owe a great deal. Thanks guys.

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

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

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<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The year is 5022 (OTT)

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<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Freespace was not a natural region, it existed only on maps, in Nav-Tanks and Computronic files.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Its boundaries had been defined by diplomats and delegates after the big war during the first Armistice Conference on the planet of Intergalactic peace.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">After anyone agreed to stop fighting and talk, delegates of the four biggest, most advanced civilizations commonly referred to as the Big Four and about seventy smaller space faring civilizations met on Poho, the Planet of Galactic Peace.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Smaller independent societies in that region lamented the fact that many violent and bloody battles were fought literally on their door steps, with foreign fleets and troops on their planets and within their space.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">After many weeks of pointless arguing about territories and who did what to whom. The idea of a buffer zone developed.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Freespace treaty was signed in 3599 by the Shiss, the Nul, the Galactic Council and the Union. Along with seventy eight independent civilizations.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">A region of space was now by common consent a demilitarized zone to act as a buffer zone between the four galactic super powers.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">None of the big four were allowed to colonize planets, establish bases or stations. No official ship was permitted to violate the treaty by operating within the zone.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Kermac insisted that this would include any government sponsored science missions, survey operations or expeditions. They argued the Union had a reputation of masking clandestine operations with the cloak of peaceful exploration.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">It was agreed upon that no ships or parties of any of the Big Four were allowed to enter Freespace. That meant Military ships, law enforcement or even science expeditions

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The treaty guaranteed the smaller civilizations that existed within this zone complete autonomy without interference.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Freespace was also meant to be a free trade zone zone for commerce and traffic. Free trade and civilian contact was seen as the best way to create understanding and a base to ensure lasting peace.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Since it had been signed, each of the Big Four watched with Eagle eyes that none of the others broke that treaty, but they all did, not openly of course.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Freespace did not turn out to be the region of peace where free commerce and civil exchange of culture was to erode the differences and ring in a new age of universal peace; instead it became a breeding ground of pirates and a destination of the lawless from every corner of the Galaxy.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Planets like Sin 4, Alvor's Cove, Kalimant ,Drogs and N'ger were just a few places that gained notoriety as lawless hell holes

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Most of the smaller independent societies that signed the Treaty regretted their decision as their worlds became the target of pirate attacks and Slave raids.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">And of course without the danger running into battle ships and fleets of the Big Four, some of the more aggressive independent species saw this as a perfect opportunity to increase their own influence and rarely by peaceful means.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">To all this came the Karthanians who hated the Togar and the Togar disliked everyone, except for dinner.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The former ancient Oghr Empire, shattered into Nine Kingdoms not part of the Freespace treaty existing at the other end of the demilitarized zone. Where Freespace boundaries were only vaguely defined and tapered out were constantly fighting among each other, didn't get along with the Togar and considered the Karthanians hostile competition and agitators.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">When speaking about Freespace one must of course also mention the many Dai Than Clans roaming the region. .

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">This explosive and violent mix was agitated by the countless schemes and covered actions of the Kermac. Not to mention the not always legal dealings of private corporations who saw Freespace as a perfect region to conduct the less legal aspects of their businesses. And if truth to be told, the Union was also involved with its secret fleet and agents.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Private Shiss raiders, denounced by the Shiss government to be common pirates over which they had no control added their brand of terror to the region.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">It seemed only the Nul actually kept their part of the treaty and showed little interest in Freespace affairs.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">In other words, Freespace was dangerous, completely lawless and far from peaceful.

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<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Chapter 1 – Freespace

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<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Tigershark had its Janus masking system active. This unique device conceived by Narth Engineers and Mothermachine. manipulated materials, energies and conditions in such a way that it allowed the USS Tigershark to appear as something else.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">This was no mere projection but a physical change that withstood the probing of any known sensor and scanning method, including of course sight and touch. The most advanced ship of the Union appeared to the outside world as a heavy modified old Karthanian armed trader.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">An old ship with crudely added ISAH pods and Nul weaponry. The simulated hull featured a sloppy paint job, had welded armor plates patching battle damage. Some of that apparent repair patch work was added in a seemingly uncaring and hasty way. Some of the hull damage patches even showed signs of genuine rust. The sides of this simulated ship were decorated with a stylized silver lighting bolt and the name Silver Streak was painted by hand across its bow. The Silver Streak was known to be the pirate ship of the notorious and mysterious render captain Black Velvet.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Behind this disguise was the USS Tigershark. It was the pinnacle of Union Technology and had been in the works under the Codename "Project Fish" for centuries.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Since no Union Ship was allowed to operate in Freespace my ship was masked as Pirate ship and my crew posed as pirates, commanded by me Captain Black Velvet, a mysterious female Pirate of obscure origin.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Our mission was to hunt pirates, gather Intelligence on Union Mil Tech trade, find pirate hide outs and suppress the Slave and Drug trade. Specifically we were to find out more about the Sinister Alliance and eliminate a pirate captain called Red Dragon.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Our first foray into Freespace brought us in contact with a living mountain, living rocks and a ship full of human body parts and slaves bound to the meat markets of Togar. Now we headed deeper into Freespace to a region called the Devil's Playground.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The region was close to what the Dai called the Thalim Nebula, where five Suns simultaneous went Supernova.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Cateria our Chief Medical Officer rarely spend time on the bridge. Today however she stood with her arms crossed next to the Nav Tank and stared with a brooding gaze at the main viewer, currently showing a spectacular image of the Thalim Nebula.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">She was the only Seenian alive, as far as we knew. The last surviving member of a technological far advanced galaxy spanning civilization that existed over a million years ago.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I didn’t know much about her and she always appeared cold and not interested in social interaction. Har-Hi sitting in his seat next to me, had a very similar, dark and brooding expression on his face, also with crossed arms and an even more serious look in his eyes than usual starting at the image of the Nebula.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I asked. “I know it is exceptionally beautiful with all the purples and yellows but I would think that you two have seen such sites before. What is it that make you stare at it like that?”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi gestured towards the display and said. “Just a little over four standard years ago, my Clan and many others fought a terrible battle on the other side of that nebula. Dai fighting Dai with great anger; all while a Union fleet under Stahl taking a terrible toll.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">It was also my first deployment in a real battle. Not a raid but a full scale war against my own kind. Looking at that nebula I was reminded of that and I wondered just how many Dai Spirits have been added to these colorful swirls that day.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea swiveled her seat. “The probability that five Suns go supernova at more or less the same time and so close together is…”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Cateria interrupted her with a coarse voice. “It was not a natural event. These were five vibrant Seenian Star Systems, with many billions in population. “

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">She pointed at the screen. “That is where Ataci was, a world as beautiful as Para Para, my mother was born there. Over there used to be Aeta and Palingoi was the third planet of that sun. It was my home world.” She sighed.” If there are such things as spirits then the Dai spirits of that battle joined billions of my kind.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">While she talked and told us about the Seenian worlds, I touched my ring and once more I wondered why kept forgetting about it. While I rubbed my ring I could almost see the planet sized War World obliterating planets and snuffing out suns. Swarms of battle ships that looked like the Devi, reduced to specks. Advanced as they were, what could not...

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Captain!" I heard Har-Hi's voice.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I turned to him saying. "Yes ?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He had a strange look on his face and said. "Are you alright?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Yes of course, I am fine. I was just listening to Cateria and I was thinking about…" I could not really remember what I was just thinking about other than listening to Cateria. "I was more or less daydreaming about what Cateria was telling and tried to imagine how these Dark Ones looked and what it would take to snuff five suns just like that."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“The War world ships of the Dark Ones.” Cateria answered my question.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Mao turned and said. “I don’t think we, as in Union Technology I mean are all too far away from that. After all we do have Wurgus Solar Bombs, they are huge and need to be towed into place, but a hundred of them or so can turn a Main sequence star into a Supernova.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">As Mao said that, I wondered if a Translocator canon could be built large enough to transmit Solar Bombs or if the Bombs could be made smaller.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth, shrouded as usual turned and said. “Considering our Captain's train of thought, it is good we Narth decided to be part of the Union. “

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">His response made everyone turn and despite his shrouded appearance I felt he was amused.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea asked. “What made you say that?”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Our Captain thinking like a real Terran and contemplating quite frightening realistic ways of accomplishing the feat of killing suns. The decision of Narth to join the Union and thus be allies instead of potential opponents is therefore a good decision. I am certain they would find a way to obliterate Narth Prime.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi had his arms still crossed high before his chest as he usually did, gave me a glance from the corner of his eyes. “From everything I know about you Narth, there should be nothing that could harm or threaten you but then knowing our Captain, I tend to agree with you. There is no race or civilization more warlike than those Terran Humans.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I sighed. “Not you too. I heard that accusation several times before. I don't think it is true. Terrans love peace. Besides I am not a Terran. I am a Norse from Nilfeheim.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Cateria leaned forward so I could see her and for the first time I actually saw her grin. “Yes, a model society of peace and non violence. “

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">She then looked to the ceiling and said. “SHIP wasn't it you who told me about Nilfeheim? What is considered their favorite past time?”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Even SHIPS voice had an amused tone as she said. “Skull bashing if I heard the Captain,right.” Now it was me crossing my arms and pretending to be offended and said. “What a fine crew have, ganging up on me, not even my own SHIP is on my side.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shaka's raised his Virtu Helmsman helmet and said looking over his shoulder. “They always pick on us poor, defenseless Terrans, but they are sure glad to have us when they picked a fight with someone they can't beat alone.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth spread his arms. “Our Helmsman reinforced my earlier statement.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I wasn’t really sure if I should have been proud or ashamed of my heritage and its reputation. This wasn't the first time I heard non Terrans say this in a similar way.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">My musings were interrupted by SHIP. “We are reaching the last way point before we drop out of Quasi Space and reach our destination.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I cleared my throat and said. “Well back to business guys.” I sat up straight and the Intui-Controls were sliding under my hands. SHIP our AI was getting more and more in tune with me and she was able to read my body language, before I even consciously thinking what I wanted to do.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Shaka drop us out of Quasi, reduce to drift and keep emissions low. Shea, SHIP and Narth scan the area and get me a tactical on Battle view. Mao please launch two KELPIE drones and park them on apex and nadir position above that brown dwarf.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">My bridge crews voices resonated in my audio relay as I raised the seat into the Battle dome position. Even though there were no indications of any hostile contacts. I liked using the battle view to make myself an overall picture of the situation ahead.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Battle dome gave me an unobstructed view of space. I could turn and see into any direction with a mere move of my eyes. The displayed images were simulated and computronic enhanced my limited natural senses so I could see what otherwise would be to fast, to far or to dim for me to see on my own. Our sensors picked up several energy sources right away and the system associated a cluster of symbols to each, giving me the analytical results from science and tactical. The KELPIE drones were another part of our special NAVINT equipment, football sized drones, cloaked with special diffuser fields scrambling their already minute engine trails and loaded with the most advanced scanner and sensor technology our society could engineer. It was the first time I used them, after getting a Neural Upload briefing o their capabilities just a few weeks ago.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Having three scan points we were able to detect every object and energy source. Hiding behind another object was impossible, and by triangulating every energy source or transmission could be three dimensionally located accurate to the centimeter.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The KELPIE drones started to transmit and my battle view displayed many new objects each with a gaze focus point that gave me all collected data, as neural direct input.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I did not need to read the data, I simply knew.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth reported first as it was his job as the OPS Officer. “Scan synopsis as follows: 57 artificial energy sources, 38 belong to fixed installations, consistent with Asteroid mining bases of Tech Level 6. Fifteen energy sources are consistent with the emissions of small space craft with very limited FTL capabilities. Three belong to larger space ships and the main energy source belongs a central construct consistent with the reported position of Brahma Port.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Now Mao delivered his report. “Hans has one of the energy signatures on file. It belongs to a known pirate ship, the Bloody Mary of Captain Crimson Curse, a heavily modified Kartanian War Cruiser. The ship appears to be on standby. The others appear powered down and do not emit distinguishable energy signatures.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea said. “It appears this is simply a failed star system, preliminary data suggests natural causes for the collapsed star. There is enough asteroid and planetary matter for about 12 planets .”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Even though he was not a real officer and had no official function aboard, I still blinked at Sobody's symbol and he immediately responded. “The System is locally known as Bennett's Field referring to the large family enterprise running the local operations.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Hans was next.”There is very sparse intel on the Bennett family. No local intel contact on file.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“The Asteroid does not seem to have shield emitters and no active weapon signatures. Visual scans identified six Togar anti ship missile batteries.” Mao added.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Finally Elfi said.” Lots of radio wave local chatter, there are Myon and TLFax communications. SHIP and I are working on a SIGINT analysis right now.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I thanked them and lowered the seat. “I think I like to check things out, low profile before we officially make our entrance.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har Hi suggested. “We could use the Tullerman Scull that came with the Mighty Nine.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Tullerman Dinghies are very common around these parts, often used by Scavengers. Most likely a small crew of unlucky scavengers crossed the path of the Mighty Nine.”Sobody added.

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<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Chapter 2; Disguises

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<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Tavern was called the Mother Lode and had been chiseled and burned directly into the rock of the Asteroid. The floor was made of metal grating placed in metal frames over more rough rock, Something small skittered between the pieces of waste and garbage that had fallen through the slots in the floor. The bar of the tavern occupied much of the left side of the establishment while a viewport with a good view at one of the Asteroid bases' mooring arms was on the other side. The shabby looking Tullerman brand 25 meter Dinghy we had used to come here was moored there next to two much bigger ships and two ugly banged up looking miner tugs.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The tavern was filled about to half its capacity with the roughest looking bunch of humans and non humans I had ever seen. The air was putrid not just because of the alien drinks served but also of rancid body odors of unwashed and unkempt individuals of a dozen species or more.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">As per Har-Hi's suggestion we had taken the Tullerman ahead of the disguised Tigershark to get a feel of the situation.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">This would be the first official appearance of Black Velvet and her crew after all. I wanted to see and feel how other Pirate captains talked and acted.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">For this Har-Hi and I had disguised ourselves as Freespace Scavengers, a disguise suggested by Sobody. Scavengers were mostly ignored and at the bottom of the feeding order of the galactic space faring community.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">So it came no one paid any particular interest in us.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">We had settled down on a quiet table in a corner and nursed our drinks while keeping our eyes and ears open. Har-Hi was for the first time in a true disguise, Shea and Elfi had done a great job as he looked now like a Jooltar, a canine species believed to be distantly related to the Attikans. Unlike the Attikans however they did not live in the Large Magellan Cloud, but were a small independent species that made their home somewhere in a small sphere of influence beyond the Kartanian Conglomerate. The Jooltar were only briefly mentioned in Xeno Class but as I understood it was generally accepted knowledge that they have stolen most of their technology instead of inventing it.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">To complete is fur covered full body bio-flex costume, he wore an outfit that was diced together from several sources and didn't look new or in good repair. That his fur had a coppery red shade was something he insisted upon.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I was made up to look like a black Nogoll. Since Nogoll space was not far from, here, and the black Nogoll didn't fare to well in the still very recent Union Nogoll conflict, Sobody said it was a good choice for a costume, as encountering a black Nogoll in Freespace wasn't unusual.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi had dropped a few small Polo coins into a slot next to the table and selected a simple battle strategy game that was now displayed on the table surface. We played it and apparently paid no attention to the surroundings, but we both carried Nano fiber periscope optics and directional microphones. My Nogoll horns carried the optics and the large Nogoll ears the directional audio sensors. and that allowed us to focus in on any conversation and watch without appearing to watch at all. The barkeeper was a three armed Pertharian. Either his business was not very good or he had other problems saving money for a cybernetic replacement or a re-grow but he tried his best to keep at least the glasses and the bar counter reasonably clean, as he kept polishing glasses whenever he did not serve drinks.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">At a larger central table sat a large Oghr wearing a dark red leather vest over a similar colored space suit of some kind. It had golden trim and looked new and clean. His brutish face was dominated by an enormous chin and wide maw. Two sizable tusk stuck pointed to his small yellow eyes on each side of his big nose with flaring nostrils. Both teeth were gold capped and jewelencrusted.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Despite his wild looks he appeared to be clean and well groomed. Hans voice whispered into my ear, identifying the Oghr. “This is the Captain of the Bloody Mary, Crimson Curse. Reports claim him to be one of the most successful pirates with a solid reputation and four decades of experience.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The man drinking with him, Hans did not need to identify. I recognized him as Curtis Swift. The murdering and raping monster I had seen on the security cam footage of the Danny Houston.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">His outfit was called a Multi Suit, worn by many civilian spacers all across the Union. His was powder blue. Combined with a brown cargo vest. Since he was sitting to the side, I could see he was armed with a large Shiss Chem-gun. This rare and unique weapon released a very fast accelerated thin stream of super heated corrosive liquid. Shiss slurry ate even compacted Ultronit and sliced through lesser material like a hot knife through butter.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The stuff was also very sticky and could slow most battle suits.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">It created nasty globs in Zero grav. I knew Har-Hi could spray that stuff from his left Dai armor finger.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Two more Pertharians came in and sat down at the other end of the taverns guest room. Seeing one Pertharian outside of Union space was already unusual. To see three at the same location was more then odd.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I was around those giants long enough to notice the Barkeep was not too pleased to see them and he didn't speak to them.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The atmosphere of the taverns was not very cheerful or very lively there was no music, no one laughed or even argued, everyone kept to their business and while there was a constant din of voices no conversation was held loud enough to carry far.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">On a table next to us sat a group Oghr of various sub species playing a game with dice. They appeared to be local Roid miners.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I just focused my directional acoustic sensor on the two captains when a man with distinctive Dai features appeared at the tavern entrance. He wore Dai armor, however his was not red but black and adorned with purple panels. His harness did not carry a clan glyph.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He looked around and went straight to the table of the Pertharians. More out of curiosity than any other reason I zoomed in on that table using a sub dermal sensor track on the side of my index finger and rubbing my thumb over it.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The other Horn of my bio flex mask contained the latest in NAVINT communication technology, a picto-burst GalCom transmitter and with it I was connected to the Tigershark.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Via the same connection Har Hi whispered in my ear piece and said without moving the jaws of his fierce canine predator mask. "That is a ancient Assassins armor suit, the long extinct Mar-Do tribe was famous for those, he wears it in a way that I am certain he knows how to use it, but he is no pure blood Dai from the looks of it."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Through the crisp optics I saw him placing a complicated folded small piece of paper on the table and one of the Pertharians produced one that matched it.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The half Dai spoke and I could hear every word. "It is quite foolish to dress up like Pertharians There is hardly a more loyal species to the Union and only a handful ever went astray.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">There is already one tending the bar and he carries the price of his betrayal openly. His family most likely ripped out that arm and he has enough honor left not to replace it, seeing you with all four is not sitting well with him I can tell."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">So we weren't the only ones pretending to be someone else. I mused and wondered if there were even more like us and them. Who would dress up as Pertharians?

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">One of the giants spoke to the man: "We are aware of this but our size restricts us to just a few species we can portray. It is, however, pleasant to meet you once again, Damon Honsu. We would not agree to meet anyone else."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">So the Half Dai had a name. Shea flashed a message over my display and it read: "Intel report on Damon Honsu is very sparse, but biometric analysis confirms he is half Dai and half Asian Human. Ship is certain to 99.99 percent that the voice is created and not natural. Chances are he is not what he appears either. Analysis on the false Pertharians is more revealing and we are certain these are Nul Agents."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I acknowledged her report with a blink to her symbol hovering at the edge of my field of view and focused on the dialog on that table that turned out to be much more than a chance meeting of Pirates or Freelancers.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The man called Honsu said: "This is Brhama Port, Guys. You could be all yourself and talk all day long and as loud as we want. There are no Union Spies aboard this base, I am certain.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Nul are not prohibited traveling Free Pace.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Nul ships however are and everyone knows we neither have civilian nor private owned vessels.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The half Dai had to agree with that but said. “The mighty Union probably does not know this place even exists.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Do not underestimate the Union or think of them as fools. We are enemies but we do not take them lightly.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Daimon Honshu shrugged and changed the subject.”I am here to see what the chances are for you to meet with my Kermac contacts."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The same disguised Nul answered: "We are not interested in meeting the Kermac. For it disgusts us to deal with these squealing, self important, meddling dwarfs. We don't like the Union but we much prefer them over the Kermac and if the Union ever decides to move against them, we won't stop them or get involved.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Now the second disguised Nul spoke saying: "However. two recent events concern us greatly and we believe you can help us with the first and we might consider information exchange with the Kermac regarding the second."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I had to remind myself to move my game pieces and keep pretending to play as the conversation went on.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Honsu said: "Can you be more specific?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The second Nul answered: "The first Gray born in centuries has disappeared. Grays are of tremendous importance to us. This Gray was born to our longest reigning ruler.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">It is seen as an omen of unparalleled importance, that a Gray was born to our monarch.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">All Nul agree this is a sign of impeding chances and events affecting our very species. The Gray Born was chosen to be our next leader. He had been trained in all manners of combat and knowledge and exceeded all expectations. All that is Nul was united in the agreement that this was to be our next leader."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The other disguised Nul joined the conversation and explained further. “We are a very violent race and made ourselves almost extinct in seven great wars. Seven wars that reduced our civilization to ashes. Only the rise of great leaders we all agreed on prevented us from doing that again..Since only one out of about ten million Nul is born a gray Nul it is them who lead us.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The other disguised Nul grunted in agreement. “The path to Nul leadership has many stations and elements. The most important one is the Purification Bath in the Holy Ashes of Narl Gatu, the ashes of our first Civilization. To do so, the Gray entered the purification sleep and was sent aboard the Narl Tompe Barge on his way. The prince never arrived at Narl Gatu."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The half Dai nodded and signaled that he was listening.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The disguised Nul continued. "The Nul Realm left no trace unchecked and we came to the conclusion he had been abducted, captured by Pirates or Freelancers daring to infiltrate deep into Nul space. We believe he is still alive and somewhere in Freespace and we will pay you to find the Prince. If your quest is successful your reward will be whatever you ask and it shall be yours. You have six months to find him. After that we will search for him and no planet and no asteroid will be spared in our search.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Of course that will mean the end of the Freespace Treaty, and war."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I held my breath under the warm fur mask and for a moment forgot to play the game. There was the potential of galactic war discussed on a shabby table inside a low class tavern only 30 meters away from us.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The man in the dark Dai armor said: "I will do my best of course. If he is alive and in Freespace I should find him, captured Nul are rare and usually create detectable buzz. I somehow doubt he is alive. Could he not been taken by the Shiss or the Union?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"The possibility that it was the Shiss is still considered and, if we find evidence it is so, then we will resume our efforts to annihilate all that is Shiss. While it is not completely impossible that it has been done by the Union, it is very unlikely as they much rather test our resolve with entire fleets and test our strength by provoking large scale skirmishes as they frequently do.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I will keep my eyes and ears open. If there is a Nul warrior kept prisoner or sold in Freespace I should be able to hear about it. Can I ask how you even know he is still alive and in Freespace?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"It must be so. The Seer of Narl Gatu said we have six month before our Prince, who according to the Seer is in a strange land, will transform forever. The seer was brought to the last position we knew the prince was and he pointed towards Freespace."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Now the first Nul spoke again and added to the conversation by saying: "Our leader believes it means that the Prince is transformed from being alive to being dead."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Half-Dai snorted and made an amused facial expression as he said: "I thought your investigation was done with sensors and tracing perhaps engine trails. You place too much trust in a Seer. I know a thing or two about Psionics and no Psionic gift can predict the future. Maybe he simply went off course and burnt up exiting Quasi Space too close to a sun?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The first Nul in his disguise said raising his voice: "He is no Psionic user. We Nul have no talent or use for it. But the Seer has always been correct, always!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Honsu waved to the Barkeeper and ordered Thil (I knew Thil was a watery, weak beer and a traditional Dai drink.) and then leaned close over the table and said to the disguised Nul agents: "Let us talk about the second event then. The one you mentioned could make you consider a meeting with the Kermac."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">It was the second one who answered: "We like to make it clear that we might only agree to some information exchange, no more."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Honsu shrugged and said: "I am only the enabler, I make the connection. What you then discuss or agree upon concerns me not."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The first Nul said: "The Golden Ones are no longer Neutral. As small as this Civilization might be, they have considerable technology, immense knowledge and contacts to species none of us have heard about. Their resources easily equal those of any of the Big Four."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Honsu put down the mug he had just received and waved his hand. "Are you sure this is correct information? The Golden are synonymous with neutrality and have been so for eons. Have they decided to join and side with the Kermac?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We are surprised you have not heard of it, Damon Honsu. The Golden Ones have applied for Union membership and it was granted days ago. They are now full members of the Union.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The other Nul added. “We just received message from our Diplomat at Pluribus. The Message traveled per GalNet to Bokta World, a Union Outpost where we maintain a trading post and was then transmitted via Myon Corresponder to Natu Toth, our Throne world. Since we do not have the benefit of instantaneous messaging as the cursed Union does, all this happened about 3 weeks ago."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The voice of the Half-Dai no longer sounded as certain as before as he said: "Could it be a trick, propaganda or false information? Sobody the First Merchant would never agree to something like that."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Would we be here and considering a meeting with the Kermac if it was a trick? Sobody the First Merchant has retired. A delegation of Golden Elders is still on Pluribus. We are still trying to gather more details, but the entire Golden Fleet has been turned over to Union Fleet control and we know from reliable sources that the first Golden Spheres have been seen on their way to Arsenal, to be fitted with Translocator Cannon, no doubt."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Honsu cursed. "Violent gravitons, Gantoor's ghost be damned, Golden Spheres are almost equal to their Battle ships already and their sensors are second to none."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The second Nul spread his upper arm pair: "Not to mention that we have information that the Narth begin to share some of their technology. Once the Golden fleet is integrated, they might listen to their Warrior Admiral and attack and be done with all Kermac and perhaps all Nul.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The first Nul sounded just as concerned as his partner as he added: "With the Union that strong, and getting stronger by the day, all it takes is a spark or an incident and their Assembly will call for war. I have been a diplomatic guest during the last Union Week and I have seen their parade. Dai Mothers in Union Gray are a very unsettling image and Dai pilots in Wolfcrafts is a nightmare come true.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">So we agree to meet the Kermac and discuss what options we might have to address these developments."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Half Dai got up and said: "I will make the arrangement and contact you with the details of where and when this meeting can be held, but first I will search for your prince."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I wanted to follow him and find out, but something else happened and prevented me to follow up on my spontaneous plan. The Barkeep stomped from behind his bar to the table of the two disguised Nul and pointed all three of his arms at them and said with a loud voice: "I don't like anyone mocking my species. You are not Pertharian; you are something else in disguise. Now why would anyone come to this station pretending to be Pertharians? Maybe you are Union spies!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Now everyone in the Tavern was paying attention and almost everyone was pulling weapons.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Both disguised Nul got up, toppling the table doing it and the first raised his hands. "We are not Union!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Barkeeper growled with anger saying: "You are also not Pertharian. No Pertharian would ever say that!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We are Nul. We had no intention to insult you, but we will not be threatened."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Before the situation could escalate, three men in Kermac Battle suits stomped in, they looked exactly how I imagined Half Kermac half humans would look and their leader said: "We are Bassetts and we welcome everyone on our Rock, except spies of any kind, be it Nul, Union, Kermac or from wherever else. We also don't allow fights with power weapons, so we want you to leave now.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I had the strong feeling that this was a staged show, prearranged in case the Nul would be discovered. The Barkeep however was satisfied and so were the patrons.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">This commotion however also served the Half Dai to slip away.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I gave Narth the signal to move the Tigershark and announce ourselves.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">It didn't take long and one of the station's owners a man with distinctive Kermac features in his human face walked over to a big table where Captain Swift and Crimson Curse drank and talked. My audio pick up now focused on them heard the Half Kermac say: "It might be of interest to you but we just received the docking request of the Silver Streak, commanded by Black Velvet and she is towing in the Mighty Nine as a prize to sell.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Captain Swift, I recognized even before Hans had confirmed his identity from the security images we had seen taken during the brutal raid on the Danny Houston. said with surprise in his voice: "Are you sure it is the ship of that cut throat Volting?" He was human no doubt, but I believed he also had some non-human genetics in his DNA as he appeared unusually tall and his skin had a yellow hue.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Oghar captain with elaborate decorated lower jaw tusks and rough scaled skin touched one of his gold and jewel encrusted teeth and said: "I have heard much about this Velvet, but nothing really substantial. No one I know has seen her, no one knows if she is the same one that was supposed to be active 500 years ago, or if she is someone using the same name."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Swift shrugged: "I haven't seen her either, but I know she is on the top ten wanted list of the Union and that takes some serious crime and they don't put ghosts on that list.”

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Just a few moments later my disguised ship became visible in the bright flood lights of the mooring arm and slowly attached itself to a mooring arm. Despite the crudely added ISAH pods and the welded armor plates, the Silver Streak looked quite dangerous.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea was disguised as Black Velvet and had made our docking request. Hans and Krabbel had taken command of the Mighty Nine and docked it right beside it.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Everyone in the Tavern was looking and the Oghar said: "It is the Mighty Nine alright, looks like she's missing one drive pod and someone clipped her claws real good, two turrets gone and the third damaged. It appears the Silver Streak has an excellent gunner."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Captain of the Swift Profit pointed at my ship and said: "That old Kartanian has some serious fire power. Nul Froth Casters aren't easy to come by and even harder to install. Those ISAH pods look old but I bet my eyeteeth they are Type XI, and with four of those, I bet she makes 350 to 400 klicks to the second."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi and I used the distraction to silently leave our table and enter the ghastly washroom of the Tavern.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi covered the false muzzle of his mask with both hands and said. "By the lords, this stinks worse than the Enviro Tanks we had to clean."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">We watched a burly Oghr leave one of the open stalls, trailing a gagging cloud of stench and said while trying to keep it down. "Can you imagine the Enviro Tank on an Oghr ship?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth popped out of thin air after we were certain we were alone, touched us both and teleportet us back to the ship.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea in my usual Black Velvet outfit greeted us and said."There were no problems at all, they granted us mooring permit, but requested that we pay a mooring fee of 500 Polo full weights for each ship."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I pulled the Nogoll mask and she waved her hand before her nose. "Say was the costume not enough, did you have to adapt the smell too?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Instead of responding I only gave her a hurtful look. I headed for the IST but turned halfway and said. “After Har-Hi and I took a long shower and changed, we will pay them a visit and stay until the Swift Profit leaves. That ship will be our next target.

<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 Half Kermac sitting behind his desk eyed us suspiciously as I placed a plastic bag with the 1000 Polo Coins before him.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He had the same paper white skin and the characteristic small nose and mouth of a Kermac, but unlike them, he did have black hair and eyebrows. His eyes, I noticed, were neither Kermac nor Human and looked more like the reptilian eyes of a Shiss.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He took the coins without counting and placed them in a drawer behind him, and then he said: "You have never been here, Captain Velvet, but you have a reputation that precedes you. The rules here are simple. We like the business your kind brings, but not the trouble. Fighting is allowed but not with any energy weapons or similar destructive devices. I don't think you are interested in mining, but I tell this to all first time visitors: Don't raid mining camps or ships around here and don't start rouge mining on your own.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Should you want to mine after all, you can purchase a claim and a permit from us.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">If you need fuel we sell that for 140 Polo Full weights per standard 1023 Nogto Bulb. That is about 500 Nul Roos or 992 Union Kilos." He spread his arms."That is about all there is, welcome to the Shattered Star System of the Bennett family."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har Hi, Shea and Narth were with me, and all three stood behind me with crossed arms. Narth actually wore a black leather and steel armor over his shroud and even carried a Nul Gravitor rifle over his back. His face and head hidden, behind a black helmet with mirrored face plate, he had borrowed from Three Four. Har-Hi wore his red Dai Leather with all the knives, weapons and swords in place. He had covered the Glyph of his Clan.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea wore a shoulder free bodice of white leather, matching over knee boots and a fur cape that looked much like Elena's Nubhir coat. She had her hair tied into a pony tail and wore a white half mask up to her nose. Besides an elegant weapon in a low riding holster she carried her mysterious sword. In my opinion she looked very dangerous and very sexy at the same time.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">That there was plenty of human DNA left in the Half Kermac was evident as he had a hard time making eye contact with me and shifted his eyes to my chest while I talked to him: "Indeed I am not interested in mining but I have a spare ship I would like to sell and was told it could be done here."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He nodded. "To be truthful, you will not get the same price as you would get at Kaliment or Sin 4, but I am sending my brother Kooornt, and he will check the ship. I will contact you later today with the price we are willing to pay."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I agreed that this would be acceptable and we left his office.

<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 Corridors of this Asteroid base were cut out of the rock. Supply lines and hardware directly bolted to the stone and light came from Lumi-Plates shining with a cold bluish light.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Living quarters, stores selling ship supplies, space suits and battle armors, weapons and pretty much what pirates and freelancers would need to keep their ships space worthy and their crews fed and entertained.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">A tall Jooltan praised his collection of blasters and weapons. He offered a staggering sum to buy Shea's silvery weapon that looked more like a fragile piece of art than a useful weapon. She refused the offer and as we went on and out of earshot she explained.”It's a gift from Sobody, Seenian from the First Age of Knowledge and creates a psionic bolt. I had no time to analyze or test it. It looks nice.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Whatever it does it sounds nasty. I still don't like Psionics one bit.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Psionic bolts are able to inflict considerable damage to an unshielded Narth.” Narth said..”Thankfully the Saresii were never able to create one powerful enough to cause us more than discomfort.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I didn't like that at all and said.”Are there bigger ones?”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“I was refering to their largest weapon not this hand held device. Some Leedei are able to create Psi Bolts we can feel. It is was also used by Narth to harm or incapacitate others, however micro manipulation of a targets molecules is much more effective.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">An orange being I could not identify interrupted us. It looked as if it was made out of bread dough and shaped by a very unskilled baker in some sort of semi humanoid shape stared at us out of two black eyes and said. "Ship provisions, I sell ship provisions. I got Shroom Paste and Food Stuff..."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Passing by a few other dealers and merchants we reached the main cavern and went to the same Tavern we had been before.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Pertharian barkeeper eyed us interested for about five seconds, took our orders and after we paid him lost interest.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">We found ourselves a table and sat down.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I had no clear plan what we should do next and at this point I decided to just stir the pot a little and wait what would happen.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">However I could not do it as Black Velvet. There was no weapon in a pirates arsenal that was strong enough to destroy an entire asteroid. We did carry a few P Bombs and one of them would do the trick, but not fast and instantaneous and using a P Bomb was like leaving a Union Calling Card.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea leaned forward given me a very nice view down her cleavage and she said in a quiet tone. "I can smell that Washroom even out here."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi pointed with his chin to a handful of miners sitting not far from us. "It's not the bathroom, it's them."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">She said. "Next time I select a filter mask, don't they bathe?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi shook his head. "Water is very expensive out here and even more a premium at these mining camps. Washing isn't a big priority to them."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth enjoyed himself greatly, to him it was all a part of his corporal experience outside the Narth Collective. His voice came into my mind. "That you do begin to understand us, pleases me.” After a short pause he added.”I too contemplate how the destruction of this base could be accomplished without revealing our true origin. A few timed charges in their life support systems appears a possibility."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Oghar Pirate and the Captain of the Swift Profit were still here and it was not hard to tell that I was the subject of their conversation.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Captain Swift got up and walked over, made a theatrical bow and gesture by tipping his forehead. "I am Curtis Swift, Captain of the Swift Profit and I assume you are the famous Black Velvet. Since I assume we might be in a similar line of business, I thought I introduce myself."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I eyed him up and down and said. "And what line of business would that be?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Doing what we please and taking advantage of opportunities that might present themselves, a little of this and that and not particularly caring about anyone else or their rules."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He pointed at the big table. "This is called the Captain's table and I am sure Crimson Curse would like to get to know you,as much as I. He is the ugly Oghar over there."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Before I could respond, everyone turned to the sudden locomotion and noise at the taverns entrance. A rowdy looking crew entered, led by a flashy dressed human with blue skin. He was without a doubt a Thauran.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I cursed silently and wondered How far did I have go, so I would not meet any of those blue skinned bastards. I always had been tolerant blind to another beings form, shape or color but those blue skinned Thaurans started to get to me.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He was accompanied by two muscular Oghr and according to the information I received from Narth those were Orkh-Oghr, the strongest and biggest sub species of the Oghr race.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth instantly corrected my thoughts. "No, the Orkh-Oghr are the physically strongest sub species belonging to the remaining Nine Kingdoms. The Ogr who are nearly three times as big and strong are a Union member and no longer a kingdom."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I raised my hands. "Could they not come up with less confusing names. I mean Oghr, Ogar, Ogr it appears the only difference is a vowel here and there."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"After the Oghar Empire fell apart into nine Kingdoms they fought each other with bitter wars over many decades about such naming issues."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">While Narth educated me about the Oghr, I observed the new comers who were still standing at the open entrance area that separated the Tavern from the rest of the Asteroids main Cavern.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Trailing the group were three, mangy looking Jooltar warriors.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The new arrived group was joined by four more Thaurans, one of them female and all gaudily and colorfully dressed. If it weren't for the fact that the group was armed to the teeth one could have mistaken them for a traveling circus troupe.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">It was the five Thaurans that to me explained the noise and the air of self importance they displayed.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I wondered why the Thauran did not join the Kermac, they could hold competitions of self importance and arrogance and my money wasn't on the Kermac as who would win such a contest.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth said in my mind. "I doubt the Kermac would want a thrall species that was equally as good as they in the only field the Kermac really excel."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I formed an answer and expressed my surprise."Never did I think you would say something like this. Not that I mind, but sarcasm wasn't something I associate with a Narth."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">His thoughts felt slightly amused as he said. "One might point out that we shared the Hugavh and that means I also adapt to your way of thinking characteristics." His thoughts paused for a moment and then he continued."This arrogant self-importance is of course not completely alien to humans, especially those who consider themselves of Noble origin. Now this is a concept I have spent much time analyzing and have yet to come to a satisfactory conclusion."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I said to Narth silently and on our shared mental level. "I don't completely understand it, yet it is in a way also part of my heritage, being of an Old Clan on Nilfeheim is something very similar. My clan is considered very important only due to the fact that we carry an old name. I also don't think all nobility is bad. Look at our Princess, she can switch it on and off just like that, and then there is Shaka. He never makes a big deal out of it but I met his father, the Zulu King at the Diamond Ball and he radiates authority in a way I can only describe as noble."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth didn't respond but I knew he was contemplating what I just had said and put it through his incomprehensible way of analyzing things.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Now he responded saying."My way of analyzing things is not completely incomprehensible, Shea understands it well."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I wanted to tell him, that not everyone had an IQ of 400.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Captain Swift, still standing next to me had also watched the newcomers and rolled his eyes and then said to me. "That is Captain Dentar Bloom of the Roughnir. Even among our colorful society of space-faring professionals he is not the most pleasant individual."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Thauran pointed out to me as Dentar Bloom yelled to the barkeeper. "Bottles of Solik, Big bowls of Tambark Broth and for me your finest Brohmir Sweat and bring plenty you three armed cretin!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">They sat down at a table not far from us and the red and yellow dressed captain looked around with a disapproving expression in his face and then waved at Crimson. "Of all the ugly sights in the Galaxy, you my dear Crimson are the ugliest. Be so kind and switch chairs so I don't have to look at you!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Oghr Captain spat an incomprehensible curse like response into Blooms direction. Even though I did not understand it, I was sure it wasn't a compliment.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Barkeeper came to our table to serve us the drinks we had ordered and the loudmouth complained. "I ordered and expect to be served first. Don't waste time with the riff raff over there."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Barkeeper turned and said: "First pay the tab you left from the last time, eighty Full weights!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Bloom put his hand on a nasty looking boarding saber. "The Solar winds and the Blessed Blue Virgin were not with us the past few months as usual. None of the loot we gathered is cash, but I have a hold full of valuable merchandise. We will make good profit at the market on Sin 4, but I needed to stop here for fuel. So bring the drinks, I pay you when we come back. I think you better extend our credit now!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Barkeep pointed with one of his arms to the ceiling and to a set of remote controlled Neuro Rippers. "You don't scare me Captain Bloom, I may only have three arms but I assure you it isn't wise to agitate a Pertharian. Now pay up or leave. This establishment is for paying customers."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">This obviously didn't sit too well with the flashy dressed Thauran. He talked to one of his officers and the Oghar left.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He then said loud an into the room: "I guess I need to liquidate some of my assets now. I will hold a little auction.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">It looks like well heeled Captain Swift is here and so is the famous Crimson Curse. One likes to eat and the other likes to rape. What I have to offer will satisfy both your appetites."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">It did not take long and the Oghar came back dragging a beautiful white Togar female behind him. She wore a metal collar and both her hands were attached to it with short chains, making her choke at every move. The cruel metal band had rubbed her raw and there was crusted blood all around the collar. Her legs were kept apart by a steel rod that had cuffs on each end, allowing her to move only with small circular steps.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I didn't like Togar and only a short time ago I wanted to kill them all, but seeing this poor female treated like that made me wish I could twist the head of that blue skinned bastard with my bare hands.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Her eyes were big and green, and she had a pink nose, that reminded me of the little Holdian Commander. This female could not talk as she was muzzled with several layers of tape around her short snout.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The three armed bar keeper protested: "Are you insane, Bloom? The Togar aren't too far from here and they send war ships if they think we allow Togar females to be sold."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">With a dismissive gesture, Bloom said: "She is an outcast. She is a wanted criminal and I could get good money for her from any Togar male. She might be good in the Arenas but you all know how nice a Togar female can be to human males, if she is properly restrained of course. Now I know you, Captain Swift, and that's why I brought her in. The opening bid is one hundred Polos."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">As disgusting as the sale was, the lusting gaze in Swifts face and the dirty jokes and unveiled shouted fantasies of the miners was even worse. It was one of the miners who said. "I give you the one hundred Polos."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Swift immediately countered with a bid of one hundred fifty.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I had forgotten my own drink and my hand was reaching for the butt of my gun, when Har-Hi put his hand on my arm and shook his head almost unnoticeable. He was right of course and I would not jeopardize our mission by starting a fight underneath looming Neuro Rippers. Not for a Togar, I didn't like in the first place.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The bidding was at six hundred Polos now and it looked like a burly looking human miner had the deeper pockets, as Swift was not raising his hand again.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"One thousand Polos" I surprised myself, but I simply couldn't let her be sold into a fate so cruel. Maybe I could keep her in stasis and later let her go somewhere safe.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">My bid put all eyes on me and the Thauran Captain noticed me, saying: "Who are you? I sell to anyone but you have to have the cash."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I got the Polo's anything else is unimportant."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Swift introduced me with a gesture. "She's the famous and mysterious Black Velvet."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Thauran made a mocking bow and said: "A Thousand Polos, Full-weight, have been bid for this wild, soft furred promise of pleasure. Do I hear any other bids?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth whispered: "Hans and the Golden are on their way with the money. What do you want done with the Togar female?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Have Cateria check her out and then I guess put her in Stasis till we can let her go somewhere safe. Maybe we can find out where she belongs and see if we can get her as close as possible."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"This might prove difficult, as she isn't what the Thauran claimed she is."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"She isn't Togar?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"She is, but I think we might have purchased what you would call big trouble."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I didn't like that and silently responded: "Can you be more specific than that?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I shall accompany her to the ship and probe deeper and then let you know."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Hans stomped in, and his massive appearance silenced the crowd.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The huge Saturnian looked absolutely frightening in his version of a pirate costume. He wore a crisscrossing harness similar to the one Har-Hi had, across his enormous chest, but his was made out of flat links of Ultronit plates riveted onto thick leather. A full sized Nul Gravitor Cannon across his back. His knee high boots, also reinforced with armor plates and thick soles, had the appearance that he could kick a battle robot to scrap. The knuckles of his gauntlet style gloves sported metal spikes, On his head he wore a skull tight leather mask that left the chin and mouth open, with a crest of needle sharp looking metal spikes. He looked like a demonic nightmare version of a dungeon torturer right out of the horror Visuals that Mao loved to watch.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sobody who accompanied my security chief was almost unnoticed. He looked the same as always, but his bald head sported a ghastly cross shaped scar. From my adventure on Alvor's cove I knew it signified him to be an outcast of the Golden society.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The metal grating of the floor vibrated and made the glasses on the tables dance as Hans stomped across the room and to my table and placed a heavy steel reinforced chest before me.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sobody unlocked it with an electronic key he wore around his neck and bowed before me. "Captain, your purse, as requested,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I said: "Pay that Thauran one thousand Polos."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Captain Swift whistled through his teeth as Sobody opened the chest filled to the brim with Polo coins packed in clear plastic bags and handed the speechless Thauran two of them. "Two bags of 500 each."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth got up and whispered to Hans, who took the struggling and terrified looking Togar cat like a toy doll across his shoulder, and left the place.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Until now it had been quiet. Bloom, looking at the two bags of money he held, said: "By the blessed Blue Virgin, that I call no-nonsense business. You seem to run a tight ship and have gathered a capable crew, respect, respect!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The three armed Pertharian held out two of his hands. "Now that you have money, you need to pay your tab."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Since the Barkeeper held the remote control of the Neuro Ripper in his third hand and the projector heads moved with an audible hum, targeting the Thauran, the blue skinned Captain obliged, but he didn't like it one bit as was evident by his facial expression.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">After he had paid the Pertharian he came to our table with his crew right behind him. He eyed the heavy chest still sitting there before me and said. "You would not be in the market for 800 tons of fine Togar merchandise?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I sipped at my Dai Beer and said: "No, I am not."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"You see, I have a hold full of that stuff, and it will sell on Sin 4 or Kaliment for good money. The trouble is, I am a tad short on fuel and these tight Bassett Bastards don't give credit."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I raised my head and looked at him: "And why are you boring me with your problems? I am sure the miners here always have need for cheap laborers and after a year or two you'll have enough money to buy fuel, I suppose."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He sucked in air and said pointing his finger at me: "I don't think you understand, female. I eat the likes of you for breakfast. I am going to take that chest now, and if you try to stop us, my men will do the same to you what we did to the Togar female."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har Hi said."Touch that chest and you touch nothing ever again again with your own hands."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">His men drew weapons and he said. "Do the math, Dai, ten against three." The Barkeep yelled: "I don't care what business you have among each other, but no Energy weapons. If you want to brawl

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">with swords and knifes be my guest, but you pay for any damages."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Now Crimson Curse got up, smashing his fist onto the metal table so hard it left a sizeable dent. "Enough of this! Freespace is shrinking by the day and the places our kind can rest and trade are not as common as they used to be. It is you trouble makers that spoil it for the rest of us. If you have quarrels duke it out Captain versus Captain as it is our custom."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Almost everyone in the tavern got up, except for a few miners. It appeared Crimson was here with most of his crew. Bloom raised his arms. "Well, so be it then. I fight the female and get the Polos, what a splendid suggestion ugly Crimson!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi shook his head. "That is a bad idea, reconsider. Fight me instead, I let you live/"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Bloom laughed. "If she wants to play pirate and fly with the big boys then she needs to fight herself. I have no problem spanking her into submission."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I got up so fast my chair flew and crashed into something behind me. I flanked over the table and raked both of my boot heels across his face.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">My reaction was fueled by the old familiar Olafson rage and my growing dislike of Thaurans. Still in motion I hit the floor and spin kicked the Oghar right next to Bloom for good measure. The Ultronit heels of my boots were terrible weapons at close quarter.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Bloom staggered backward his hands trying to stop the blood spraying from his throat wound. I pulled my old Colt and the 45 roared twice and the heavy lead slugs tore into the head of the recovering Oghr, Bloom had dropped to his knees, there was an expression of pain and the certain knowledge of impending death on his face as he reached out with his other hand towards me. There was no mercy in my heart and no feeling of remorse as pointed the hot muzzle of the antique colt at his forehead and ended his misery with a gory explosion of blood and brain.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har Hi had been right behind me, both swords drawn. He had torn through three of Blooms crew with lightning speed and beautiful almost dance like moves. His face was relaxed as ever as Bloom's men litteraly fell to pieces into a gruesome heap of severed body parts. A fourth stared at his arm stumps, his hands lying on the floor still clutching a blaster

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Our constant cross training showed that Shea was no longer just a science geek but a force to be reckoned with as she had her strange sword at the throat of the second Oghar, cutting pieces out of his armor with little flicks of her wrist.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Even our Golden turned out to be much more than just an old man of a dwarf like species. He moved his hand and arm in a strange motion almost as if he threw something, and then pulled at an imaginary string; the effect was deadly and gruesome. One of the Thauran crew members fell to the floor cut in half!

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sobody glared at the remaining men and said to his dead victim: "No one pulls a dagger on my Captain!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I looked around and said: "Anyone else thinking I can't play with the big boys? Step on up!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">All this had happened so fast that Crimson was still standing.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Swift whistled again. "Holy shit!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi carefully cleaned his blades with a piece of silk he always carried and said as he put them away. "I did warn him, I might have just clipped an ear of his head. "

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Crimson sat back down and said: "Good riddance to Bloom, maybe we can drink in peace now. You Captain Velvet, of course, are welcome to join us here at the Captain's table."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The last surviving crew member of Bloom's group said: "What of me and the rest of the crew? Are we to report to your ship?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I nodded. " That's right. Go get everyone and report to the Silver Streak."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi said: "I'll make sure they are properly accommodated." He took the heavy chest giving evidence of his formidable strength and left the tavern.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I took a seat at the Captain's table as a representative of the Bassett family approached and said: "I am Koomt Bassett and I can make you an offer for both ships."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I pointed to the Golden and said: "My Quartermaster will take care of that."

<p style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sobody grinned from ear to ear and went to a different table immideatly starting to haggle with the Bassett man.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Swift looked at me with an expression of respect and a hint of fear: "You certainly live up to your legend and then some."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Crimson quaffed another tankard of Oghar brew and ordered a plate of Lum-Lum Chews. Then he said with his deep growling voice."It is a good thing you dealt with that Thauran. Otherwise I would have, he is the kind just like that cursed Red Dragon and his Sinister Alliance stirring things up too much." He looked around and leaned forward. "He keeps poking the Union like he did recently with his stunt attacking a Union Outpost and they might start listening to the Eternal Warrior and roll in, and then our days will be counted,"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Swift said. "Well the Shiss, the Kermac and the Nul will have a word in that as well, I doubt the Union will risk a war over pirates."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Crimson made a wiping gesture with his big hands. "Even together they can't stop the Union. I tell you Red Dragon and his Sinister Alliance is bad news.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Swift shrugged. "I was considering flying to Itheamh and finding out where their secret meeting place is and joining the Sinister Alliance. There are rumors they plan for something big."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Crimson took one of the Lum-Lums that had just been served, but did not eat instead he said. "What use do we have for alliances? Is it not the very reason we do what we do to be free of other mens rules and laws? What good did his last big raid do him?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I shrugged and played the uninformed. "I played in another region of the Galaxy and haven't been in touch with the news lately. Did they really attack a Union outpost?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Crimson chewed with his massive jaws and gave Swift a side look from his small yellow eyes and said after he swallowed. "Aye he did, Outpost 96. Huge Pirate fleet, and a decoy fleet full of ground troops to boot, filled with every gun wielding scum he could hire on Sin 4 and Itheamh. Barley defended he claimed it would be and yet he got his arse kicked, by a bunch of Wolfcraft fighters. He was the only one escaping with nothing in his holds but air. If he has some personal vendetta against the Union, let him do it on his own. I rather be dead than fly with his Sinister Alliance." He grabbed another Lum-Lum and bit in it with resolve.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Swift drank a greenish thickly liquid that smelled strongly of fermented fruits and said."Maybe you are right, you're in this business longer than most."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Bassett Brother came to me and sighed, pointing at Sobody who looked as pleased as a Nubhir wolf that got the big bone, ad said. "Smart move, Captain Velvet to have a Golden do business for you. If we had continued haggling I would have been lucky walking out of here with my pants still mine."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sobody got up and came over as well. "I am going with my new friend Kooornt and make sure we get paid."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I smiled at him and said. "We did well, I assume?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Considering the location and the small market, yes Captain."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">After they left Crimson finished a sixth Lum-Lum and said. "Well I am off and go back to business and I suggest you both do the same." He leaned forward once again and lowered his voice as much as he could. "This region isn't going to be safe much longer."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Swift made a surprised face. "Why are you saying this? This is still Free Space!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Crimson touched his jeweled encrusted gold encased tusk. "I have it on good authority that the Dai Lord Cam Elf-Na united over 2000 clans under his leadership into one massive mega clan. It is said he is out for revenge. Anyone guilty of dealing with Dai artifacts will feel their wraith. The Bassetts made a killing on Dai scrap, as you know. The big fight between Union and Dai happened not far from here.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Cam Elf Na will also need lots of raw materials for the Dai factory ships when he attacks the Union, which I am certain is his next move."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Swift waved his hand."I actually heard the same rumor on Itheamh, but the Bassetts have a defense alliance with the Togar and they aren't far from here and the Togar do keep their contracts, their queen is known for it."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Crimson placed a few coins on the table and said."I care not what you believe, but it would need more than one quarter of the Togar fleet, to defeat 2000 Dai Clans and I doubt the Queen will make such an effort to defend such an unimportant partner as the Bassetts. I think Cam Elf-Na has the power to take on almost anyone in Free Space now. No one is really safe. Not Sin 4, not Itheamh, not the Kartanians. It would take the reunification of all Oghar Kingdoms to stop him and that won't happen even if the Galaxy turns its spin; and if he moves across into Union Space he will cut a swath of destruction before the Union can stop him. In any case this area of space is soon to hot for any individual space ship."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">With those words the Oghar Captain left.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Swift said: "I am heading for Sin 4. I got a hold full of loot and the pirate market there,is the best place to sell it. If you're heading that direction, Velvet, we could fly together."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I nodded in agreement. "As a matter of fact, I am going that way too. So yes, it might be a good idea."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">That suited me just fine and if everything went according to plan, he would arrive on Sin 4 inside my Cargo bay and inside a Zero Stasis Box if he was lucky.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Pertharian cleaned the table of empty mugs and plates and pointed at the dead pirates. "Do you want them or can I clean up?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No I have no need for bodies, what do I owe you for the clean up."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I sell their gear and whatever change and money they have on them will do for payment."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Swift stretched his arms. "Well I am hungry too, but the stench of death soured my apetite, This asteroid has a few decent restaurants in the upper tier. This is where I am headed."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He gestured towards the Pertharian who loaded the dead onto a sturdy hover cart. "Besides the next batch of Lum-Lums might be ala Thauran. Care to join me for dinner?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Maybe some other time. I have a ship to attend to, and I prefer the fair served in my galley anyway,"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He laughed. "You are lucky then. We take turns preparing meals on the Swift Profit and none of us is a gifted chef. This is the main reason I come here, to eat something that isn't raw or burned. What would I give for a decent food printer, an automated galley or a robo chef." He got up. "Well if you change your mind, I will be in the Harpir's Lion top tier. If not we will talk tomorrow when we leave for Sin 4."

<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">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-H intercepted me right at the Air lock after returning to the ship and said. "We got the crew of the Roughnir squared away, all fourty one are now peacefully frozen in Null time. "

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I took my mask of and said. "Anything else I should know about?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">We walked to the IST and he said. "No not really but I listened to your audio feed from the Captain's table and I heard what Crimson said about Cam Elf Na, and that kept me thinking and I don't even know what to think. It's just that I don't like it. Cam Elf Na is an agitator and if he really has 2000 Clans united under one command that is bad.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I put my hand on his shoulder. "We are still within GalNet Range. Call your father, tell him about it, and I will tell the Admiral the same."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He smiled and said. "I' do that as soon as possible."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"You do that now, the earlier the better."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He gave one of his rare smiles.”Aye,Captain.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Together we took the IST to the command deck. While he turned to his quarters,I went on the bridge and found Mao holding the Conn. He acknowledged me.”Nothing to report, Captain. Other than Sobody just arrived with a ton of Polo and Iridium coins. Circuit and Shea scanned it of course to make sure it's coins only we take aboard.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Good job. No one saw the inside, right?”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“No, Hans carried the container with the coins. The only one not impressed was TheOther,”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I smiled and then asked Elfi to make me a secure connection to Richter base and pipe it to my ready room.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Inside I slipped out of my boots and sat behind my desk, just in time as the field screen established itself with the Fleet Command logo.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Elfi's voice said.”Richter base asked me to direct your call to the Admiral of the Fleet. He is standing by.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Alright, establish.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">McElligott appeared also sitting behind his desk and leaned back in his chair. In doing so allowed the visual sensors of his GalNet terminal to pick up more of his office. It was just another office, nothing elaborate or something one would expect the office of the Admiral of the Fleet to look like. There were a few shelves with books. A strange triangular brass object on his desk and a few PDD's strewn around. Direct ebehind him a framed painting of a submarine ploughing through rough sea. It reminded me of my very first ship and command, the Poseidon,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He noticed me looking and said. "This, Captain is the original, the HMS Tigershark. It was my boat and my last command and that is a Sextant, a nautical instrument I had to learn to use while I was a Midshipman in his majesties Navy, King George VII.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“You commanded a submarine, Sir?”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Very long ago and you are probably the only one in this day and age even knowing what it is.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“I am pretty sure, everyone on Nilfeheim would.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He smiled.”Well you didn't call for small talk. I asked Cherubim to forward your calls when she's busy. So go ahead deliver your report.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I told him about Brhama Port, Bloom and the Volting. Send him a copy of the Nul conversation and the news on the Dai.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“We suspecting something like this, ever since Tar-Ka-Hi led a portion of the Dai Tribes across into Union space to join us. We received similar intel reports from other sources an Har-Hi's father is advising us and we are working on a few scenarios.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“I am sure, Har;Hi will be glad you are consulting his father.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Tar-Ka-Hi holds the rank of Rear Admiral upper half and s in charge of the the new regional strategic command of Upward Core Side. He is a valued asset and becoming a friend. We are moving assets in the area to respond quickly if necessary. The advice of our other friend I am sure you can guess."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I would not be able to guess the tactical and strategic decisions, Admiral Stahl might make, Sir."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Tell me what you would do if you were me and faced with a possible Dai Incursion?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I shrugged. "I am barely getting used to be in command of a ship, Sir."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Well I would issue a sector alert, move ten or fifteen Battle groups in the area and hide them in nearby star systems. Then I triple Gazelle and Specter patrols all along the border. Maybe have the Corps of Engineers beef up our outposts and every floating rock with Exo Load Cannons and as much Loki Batteries as possible and I make sure the Devi and the first fleet is in the region as well. Certainly a group of Attikan Fast Battle ships to run first response would be a good choice.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Then I'd let them come, close the back door and make sure there won't be any left to have similar ideas in the future."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The old man actually giggled and said."Well other than the fact that he is a few thousand years older than you and that you now look so much nicer than him there isn't all that much difference in you two when it comes to such things. What you just said with just a few details missing exactly what he wants to do."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I was certain I had grown a few centimeters in my seat with the deep pride that filled my chest."Sir this is a great compliment indeed. I would not dream or dare to compare myself with Admiral Stahl, but if you see similarities then I am on the right track."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The eternal Soldier walked into the visual pick up. "You certainly are, Captain. Tell us again how exactly did you deal with Bloom?”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“Uh, well. I sort of shot him.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Stahl grinned at me and said to Elligott. “Hasn't changed one bit if you ask me.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">McElligott poured himself a glass of whiskey and snorted. "No not really."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Stahl helped himself to a glass as well and said. "The Intel you gathered on the Nul situation is more serious and we are still analyzing it. Cooperation between Nul and Kermac would not be a good thing, but knowing about it is half the battle. We keep you posted if we get any additional information on that and of course do the same if you run across anything as usual."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Stahl put the whiskey down. "Do not destroy Brhama Port just yet. It is of great interest for us to find out why the Togar are so committed to defend this place.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Several intelligence reports strongly support what Bloom said. Tar-Ka-Hi speaks of a standing warning of the Togar and several intense space battles with Dai Clans. We believe there is another reason for this.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He took another sip of his drink and smiled.”I know we putting a lot on your plate, but you have shown you can handle it. The Brhama question of course is not a priority.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">McElligott seamlessly continued giving evidence to the fact how long these men worked together. He said: ” If you can, find out what it is that the Red Dragon and the Sinister Alliance are planning and if you can, find out the location of their secret meeting place. After that I think we can give you guys a break and you can come home to Richter Base and take that vacation we promised."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“I try my best, but Bloom is leaving soon. I doubt I have enough time to find out more about Brhama port.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">McElligott nodded. “We don't expect you to solve problem after problem. Especially not in any particular order. Your not alone out there, there are other assets at work as well. We just want you to keep that in mind.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">“I will, Sir.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Stahl put his glass down.” We are sending the USS Sadowrunner your way. You should be able to make contact with her in a few days on your way to Sin 4. She will bring you phys mail, more equipment and more crew. In return taking those sleeping beauties of your hand and whatever else you want to send our way.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">McElligott had talked to someone I could not see and then said to me.”Before we let you go, Cherubim asks if you could capture the Swift Profit and send it our way as well.”

<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">

<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 USS Shadowrunner was just like the Chimera, a disguised ship. On the outside, an old Mega-Poodle operated by a privateer and on the inside, a state of the art Union ship. Just like a regular poodle, only three times as big and better armed, this Poodle had also bigger cargo holds. We transferred the pirate crews and much of the loot of the Swift Profit, as we hoped it could be returned to the families of the victims. In return we received our first Wolfcraft fighter. It was equipped with a smaller version of the Janus Device. Along with the Wolfcraft came a few crates of fresh food supplies. Not that we were anywhere near running out and we did have Molecular reconstitution systems that recycled 99.99% of our waste, but it was nice to have fresh things and a larger variety. I stood in the Cargo hold and talked to the Captain of the Shadowrunner who was from Holstein Planet. Holstein was close to Nilfeheim and it was nice to exchange some non-important local gossip. He had send over a crate of Holstein Pilsner, my favorite beer, and to the delight of our chef, a supply of Holstein butter. While I was standing there a large Battle Robot, bigger than a Fenris and more massive than a Cerberus, came over the freight tunnel that connected our ships and stomped towards me. The entire machine saluted and then remained in that position. Then a hatch on the at least three and a half meter tall machine opened and three hand sized men appeared, and they saluted again. I noticed they wore Union Black but I recognized them as Mini Terrans.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">A magnifying field screen established between us and the man said. "Lieutenant Charles Bergdorf and two specialist of the New World Commonwealth reporting for Duty, Ma'am." Admiral Rutherford personally sends this Terror Mech. He thinks you might be able to use it and us."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Welcome aboard then. I am delighted to have you aboard. Your machine looks impressive."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Yes Ma'am it is the pinnacle of NWC technology and rivals one of our Battle ships fire power. It was conceived to answer possible invasions by large enemies and the Terror-Machine-Suit series is the latest. We have been briefed about the Tigershark's true mission and volunteered."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi walked around the towering machine and said."If this thing equals the fire power of one of these spheres, then it exceeds a Fenris for sure."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Lt. Bergdorf said."It is also a full functioning space ship, capable of reaching destinations of over 500 light years. It maneuvers almost as good as a Wolfcraft and can operate in full robotic mode, but when I am connected to it, it can move like a human, picking up feathers, or crush steel."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I said. "I think this is a nice addition to our Marine detachment and Lt. Pure will get you situated."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Pure came and I filled him in and the three Mini Terrans returned inside their machine and followed the Attikan Marine.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I watched Sobody talking to Har-Hi and he repeated that strange move with his hand and' from Har-Hi's face, I could tell my Dai friend was deeply impressed.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I asked."How did you actually cut that Thauran?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sobody pushed the sleeve of his robe back and revealed a metal wrist band with a little hump and said. "This is a Monofilament whip. It shoots a strand of molecular thick Nonochronium metal wire. The thing is highly flexible and there is a little weight ball at the end. It is so thin it cuts through nearly everything and it can be electrified or heated to 4000 degrees if the cutting alone doesn't do the trick. It isn't useful against a fully armored person in a Union Battle suit, or against shields, but in close quarter or hand to hand situations it is deadly. It takes quite a bit of practice as it can be very dangerous to the user. It's a very old Golden weapon but I have thad his one now for a very long time and it turned out I am still good with it, I haven't used it in anger in almost 500 years, you know."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi said."I need one of those. I think I could fit one above my dart launcher and below the bomb pellet dispenser."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sobody smiled proudly. "This is a great compliment coming from a Dai. I have a spare one for sure and I'll show you how to use it, too." I said: "Above the dart launcher and below the bomb pellet dispenser. Are we talking about the arsenal you carry on one arm?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi shook his head. "No, only what I carry between wrist and elbow, I've got a bigger list if we talk about the whole arm."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I rolled my eyes and said: "Thor's Hammer, I had to ask!"

<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">

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I just stepped of the IST and onto the bridge as the Battle Station Signal was given. Mao who held the Con said. "The Dai, they are here!"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">We switched seats. "Shaka get us away from that base right away." I raised my seat into Battle View and Mao gave me a situation report. "At least 5 Clans, the KELPIES have reported 1500 Dai Signatures dropping out of Quasi. There are Six hundred Be-Tha-Ra Dai Battle Ships but no Dai Mothers, strangely enough. Scans Show weapons charged and there are more dropping by the moment. Wait those aren't Dai Signatures, those are Togar Units, big Ones!

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">About 30 light minutes behind the Dai a massive Togar Fleet had appeared and from the Quasi Space tremors picked up by our sensors more were on the way.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">On the standard channels was pure chaos.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Mao said calmly. "The Dai will reach the system in less than 30 minutes. They are launching fighters."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shaka had maneuvered us free of the Base and both the Crimson Curse and the Swift Profit also moved away from the mooring structure.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Shaka get us out of here, Narth coordinate with Krabbel. I don't want to lose the Swift Profit in all of this."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Both the Swift Profit and the Crimson Curse were aiming for open space and strained their engines to the max.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">As I turned to look back and focused on the Asteroid base, I saw hundreds of gun turrets appear from hidden shafts and Karthanian Gnorr Fighters launched by the dozen from tunnel like openings.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"SHIP, Tactical Assessment."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">SHIP responded. "The Dai and the Togar are technically almost en par, with a slight lead by the Dai especially in fighter technology. However it appears the Togar committed an enormous fleet, outnumbering the Dai 60 to one. Conclusion by tactical numbers is a win for the Togar but with heavy losses on both sides."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth responded. "We have a Togar Battle Cruiser I pursuit. We will be in his weapon range before we can traverse into Quasi Space. He accelerates faster than our simulated Karthanian even with old Isah pods could possibly go."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Mao, load the Sniper Cannon with a micro load and prepare to target their engine room. Shaka increase acceleration by three percent.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The first Togar Units were engaged by the Dai Rear Guard and our energy sensors detected heavy weapon fire.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi said. "Captain if we were a real Karthanian even with Old Isah Pods we could maintain such a burst of speed maybe 10 seconds with all engines way past red line. The Togar is still gaining.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Two minutes to Threshold speed and 1 minute before they are in weapon range." Eli said. "The Togar are hailing everyone on all of their frequencies."

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

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

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"This is Princess Legrha, First Daughter of the Queen of Togr. High Commandrix of all Togar forces. The Shattered System is under Togar protection and we will fight to the last ship and Warrior. Be advised that the entire Togar Force is alerted and on its way. Dai Than have been tolerated by us and we did not seek conflict with you. However engage in any hostility against any target inside that system and Togar will not rest until all Dai are eliminated. Disengage and leave and we will ignore the first exchanges and let you pass. Disregard and there will be no quarter given. We furthermore demand to search all Vessels leaving that system."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Tigershark was hit by the first volley of FTL beams, obliterating our simulated Karthanian Aft shields. Turning on our real shields would give away our real origin.

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

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

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">100 Grams of zero stasis stabilized Anti Matter contained in a one kilo bomb sphere was trans-dimensionally transported into the engine room of the pursuing Togar Vessel at the point of annihilation.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Karthanian aft exploded and simultaneously lost its ISAH field, the entire vessel was utterly and instantly destroyed.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Before us the Swift Profit slipped into Quasi Space and we were right behind.

<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 wondered what outcome the space battle behind us would take and why the Togar were willing to commit such assets to defend a seemingly unimportant star system used only by a handful of miners and pirates. The same held true for the massive commitment of the Dai. One single Clan would have been more than enough to raid such a small star system without any planets. I was looking over the detail scans of our Kelpies but could not find anything out of the ordinary that would explain such efforts. I sighed and was about to ask Elfi to get me in contact with Admiral McElligott when she said. "Captain, the Swift Profit has dropped out of Quasi and is hailing us."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea tossed me my mask and Har-Hi helped me close it behind my head. He said. "I imagine he taxed his engines past red line to get out of there and now has some sort of malfunction."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I tugged on my mask to straighten it and said. "I actually expected that call of his, just not so soon."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi first gave me a questioning look and then smiled and nodded. "Of course..."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Let's find out what he wants from us."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Elfi signaled me that the Bridge image was adjusted and put the Pirate on screen. He said. "That is what I call a close call indeed and thankfully that Togar lost containment before he could reach us,"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Why are we stopping here? Ten light years away from a space battle is still a tad too close for my taste."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I agree with you, Velvet, I would love to be halfway to Sin 4 by now, but my Intermixer was taxed beyond its specifications due to our hasty departure and I don't want to lose containment while going Trans light. You would not be able to spare shield material and a few Magno Coils so I can repair mine? Spare parts are really hard to find in deep space."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Yes as a matter of fact, I do. Come along side and I extend a flexi tunnel so we can get the thing fixed. Spare parts aren't cheap however and I take 20,000 Polos now or half of your next haul." He grinned all over his face. "We have a deal, Velvet."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">After he disconnected I said. "Hans prepare your marines for Boarding action, Mao as soon as he drops shields and comes along side, full Tech stop and Paralysator and if you detect any energy sources after that, you are authorized to engage with Picto Loads."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth said. "Does it come to a surprise to you when I tell you that he has very similar plans and that he is planing to raid us?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No, not at all, I expect to find his engine in good working order too."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi explained further. "He is a pirate and he has seen the chest of Polos. I am certain he was planning something the second he suggested to fly together."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea said. "It looks you two already think like real pirates and I suppose you two will lead the raid again, right?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi and I were almost at the IST and he said. "You know she does have a point. Technically and by Fleet rules you should stay aboard. I am so sorry Captain but you got to stay this time."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea said. "Technically and by fleet rules that holds true for the XO as well, but it looks like Tech Stop and Paralysators worked this time. Our sensors confirm that eighty five percent of all detected life forms show severely reduced electro neuro activity and 88 percent of all active energy producing sources are inactive."

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

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

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am on it Captain."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I gestured to the XO seat. "After you, my faithful companion. I think we elected the wrong positions for ourselves."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi made his best suffering facial expression and said with a deep sigh. "Yes indeed my Captain, yes indeed."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">We watched as Hans performed a Boarding raid by the book. After they had breached the Pirate ship they found a bunch of heavy armed pirates unconscious right behind their main airlock. They all wore tough looking but inadequate Karthanian Battle Armor Space Suits, good enough to raid a civilian craft or a similar Tech Level but not the most advanced Union Shi. There was severe damage in where Mao's Nano loads had destroyed someone in a better shielded suit.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I got up, it, I could not sit still, I could not sit down at the moment and I said, "Hans, what are those strange green looking Containers next to the Air lock?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">It was Sobody who said. "Better leave them alone Captain, those are Bethler Plague Eggs. A sinister Bio agent. I am sure this is how he planned to subdue us."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"A biological weapon against sealed bulkheads?" I asked

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">It eats most metals; it eats it fast and is very hard to kill and to get rid of unless you got the Anti-Agent. It also kills most life forms by attacking every trace of metal including the iron in your blood."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I shuddered involuntary and said. "Shea are our guys in danger?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"They are wearing our latest battle suits and are shielded and I doubt any microbic life form could eat molecular compacted Ultronit or pass through ParaDim Shields, but I have no data to strengthen my hypothesis into a theory or even a statement. I think I should go over there and do more detailed scans and then secure at least one of these Eggs for further analysis. I am a good science officer and will take all necessary precautions."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sobody got up. "I volunteer to go along. I remember the Bethler well."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I knew she was right. She was the best choice to make sure the Bio Agent hasn't leaked and find a way to secure a sample. "Alright, Shea go and do your thing and take our Golden along."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">To Sobody I said. "Tell her everything you know about that stuff and then let us find out why a third grade Pirate has something like that and knows how to use it."

<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">Hans and his marines had secured the Pirate Ship, but so far they had not found Swift himself. Shea and Sobody working with a bunch of scanners and Laboratory equipment on the greenish bulb shaped, man sized containers.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Circuit was also aboard and trying to overwrite the lock out codes of Swifts computronics.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sobody explained that the Bethler were an advanced civilization somewhere in the Downward sector, famous for their bio weapons and in a civil war or perhaps an industrial accident one of their weapons escaped and wiped the Bethler out. That happened, according to Sobody about 6,000 years ago. He also said that others scavenged the ruins of the Bethler society and took whatever they could and that Bethler Bio agents were rare but not unknown traded items on his Bazaars and that he did not find it strange that a Pirate would have a load of these.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea was in her element and quite excited.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I said to Hans. "Are you sure Swift is not aboard?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We scanned the vessel, and I am doing a second sweep right now, Mao killed four men with his Micro loads, there isn't much left of them. Maybe he was one of those."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth said. "No Captain he is still alive, I can sense him." His voice changed and he said with concern. "Captain, a Togar Womptar Battle Cruiser has just dropped out of Quasi and they are under shields and weapons charged.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Elfi said. "They are hailing us."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Alright, SHIP sound Battle stations. Mao, stand by on shields but don't raise them yet. Elfi put them on."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">A magnificent strong looking Cat Warrior became visible and he growled. "Pirate you are identified as one of the ships that left Brhama Port. We demand that you stand down and hand over the Togar criminal fugitive we know is in your possession. Do that and we will consider to let you live. Do it not and we will have no mercy."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I have no Togar Criminals aboard; I sold that Cat to Crimson Curse."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We will search your vessel now."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I don't let just anyone come aboard."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"You have no choice; your little Freighter has sharp claws but not enough to prevent your doom. Your Froth Casters do not have the range."

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

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

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Narth turn on our real sensors and check if he is alone, Mao full Giga Load as soon as I give the signal"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Our real sensors reached light years beyond the ones a Karthanian Freighter would have and also showed Quasi Space traffic. There were quite a few signals both Karthanian and Dai but only one Dai Signal was coming this way as well.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth said. "He is about to call for back up and tell his Superiors about us." "Mao, fire!"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Giga Load Translocator bomb detonated right in the Command Center of the Karthanian Ship engulfing it in a sun like sphere of bright expanding energies. I was well aware that this explosion would show on every sensor in the region and that we had not much time.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Narth did he send his message?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No, he just started sending his ID sequence and their communication systems are much slower than ours and it will take a few hours before it is received., but two long range Dai Scanner contacts and three Togar have changed course and they will be here in less than 20 minutes." "Shea, quick give me summary." "We can safely contain the Eggs and we can decontaminate against them. No organism has been set free."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Alright bring one aboard and lock it away as fast as possible. Hans bring the Prisoners aboard and hurry."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">To Narth I said. "Swift, are you still sensing him?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth did not respond for a moment and I thought he was probing for Swift. Narth then said. "I am sorry captain I got distracted, It should never happen to a Narth but the Togar and the..."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth, no worries it happens to the best of us. You are running Ops. You did find him, right?" "Yes but not much longer. He escaped in a small pod like device and is almost out of my psionic range. He is heading for that Star System."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I didn't want to blame Narth, but I wondered how Swift could escape even in a space suit without using energy and being detected." Narth said. "He used a chemical propulsion device."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I got up and walked over and put my hand on his shoulder. "Narth, that you are my friend you know, as your Captain I tell you I could not have a better OPS officer and besides you shared your Hugavh with me remember and you told me that you also start to adopt traits of mine, you do know that I am human and have a whole load of imperfect traits."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He raised his head and I felt his mood improve. "Indeed, that is a quite logical explanation why I possibly could have missed something."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Now go and help Shea. We need every hand to get out of here. If we keep using Translocators they get wise to the fact that we are not Pirates."

<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 not willing to let Swift escape, while Narth had missed the initial launch of the little one man capsule, our sensors did not. The Capsule went trans-light but Narth and Shea went over the scanner reports and compared them with a similar escape device still found aboard the pirate ship. It had a maximum range of about 12 light years. There was only one system within range.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">We managed to stow away seventy two surviving Pirates of the Swift Profit in stasis containers and were about to transfer the last pirates and the loot Sobody insisted on when a Dai ship dropped out of Quasi Space, followed moments later by two Togar units.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Togar immediately fired upon the Dai Joth-Yi destroyer, only to receive a salvo of the Dai destroyer raking their shields with nuclear plasma

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I felt as if there were needles in the upholstering of my command seat and I sat on its utmost edge, "Guys it is about time we take our leave. Shea, Narth how we are doing?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea responded. "We are about to transfer the last four Disease Eggs."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi got up and I nodded. "Yes go down there and make them move."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">While he left I said to Shaka. "The second SHIP tells you were buttoned up, you hit that accelerator."

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

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

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sobody came to the bridge. "Captain there is lots more loot, could we not..." "I am sorry, but I can't risk our ship and mission for a hold of pirate plunder."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Of course I was sweating blood and water as we had to keep the shields partially down. The simple Karthanian shields we had could not be extended over the pirate ship where crew still struggled to get the last things out.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The battle between the two Togar and the Dai was about to reach its climax. The Dai ship maneuvered better than the two Togar, and the Dai weapons did more damage, but the Togar had stronger shields and had more energy reserves. If the Togar would have worked together and coordinated their efforts the fight would have been over already.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">SHIP said. "Everyone is back." Mao's fist hammered on the Shield control and said, "Simulated Shields up."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">It was not a second to early as a sudden bolt of energy peppered our now raised shields. The Togar had not forgotten us, and all three were now within weapon range.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Even though we had to show the world that we had only Karthanian shields, they were fed and simulated by the Narth designed Janus projectors of our disguise and it would take a lot more than that to make our simulated shields buckle. I decided to let them worry why their blasts did not drain our shields as they should have.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi came back and he frowned at the main viewer while Shaka was taking us to the maximum acceleration our disguise permitted.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The second Togar fired at us again and that gave the battered Dai an opening it did not waste and it hit the other Togar with a concentrated volley of all its main weapons, breaking the already strained shields of that Togar Destroyer. A secondary onslaught of Dai weapon fire sliced through the tough Togar mineral foamed composite armor and sun bright beams of destruction perforated the Togar's Engineering section. That ship was one for!

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Greenish plasma fire leaked a heartbeat later out of the still bright glowing holes the Dai weapons had left behind.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har- Hi had his fist clenched and slammed it on his knee. "She'll go any second now."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">We watched as s handful of escape pods detached from the doomed Togar ship, the rest of its crew didn't make it, the ship exploded violently.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The remaining Togar changed course and fired three Vagroorr Missile. Now these weren't Loki Torpedoes but the Togar were almost at par with the Kermac and out Tactical systems instructor aboard the Devi once said that 100 of these hitting simultaneously could ruin the day of a Union Battle ship.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">One was intercepted by the Dai Gunners; one exploded with force in the Joth-Yi's shields and tore them down. The third was on our tail .We were committed to Threshold speed, Mao fired the Nul Froth caster and destroyed it before it could reach our aft but to escape the graviton shock wave, Shaka had to maneuver and change course and that meant he had to interrupt threshold acceleration and commit the ship to a new run. In all this I realized what a gigantic difference just two Tech levels made. The Tigershark easily maneuvered at twenty times the speed and it would have taken us seconds and not minutes to threshold speed.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Shaka stop acceleration and go to zero thrust, take us around as soon as they are past us. Mao target the Swift Profits and fire when in range."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Mao fired our simulated Nul Froth Casters and chaotic oscillating graviton waves pulled and pushed the matter of the Swift Profit in every conceivable direction, developing gravitational whirlpools and pulverizing the Swift Profits engineering and thus antimatter containment. The Swift Profit exploded.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Dai was damaged and without shields but it still fired at the Togar. With its shields nearly gone the Togar finished of the Dai Than Destroyer, with another missile,

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Shea back on her console said. "The Togar won't go far either. Their old fashioned reactors are overheating and whoever isn't killed by the radiation will suffocate as their life support is no longer active."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I rubbed my hands. "Good news then, Krabbel plot a course to that star system Swift escaped."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Elfi reported. "Captain, the Togar hailing us!"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I signaled her to put them on.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">A singed Togar Commander appeared, his bridge was damaged and I could see the distinctive flicker of open fire in the smoke filled background. The Togar coughed. "Pirate, I am Roghor, commanding the Vighrr, I should command you know to stop your engines and tell you I will board you, but we are about to lose life support and my engineers are dead so I don't know if we are to loose containment.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I appeal to you from Ship commander to ship commander to give me the honor of death and to take my surviving crew to Kaliment, don't sell them as slaves; my Lead Cats will make sure you receive a reward on Kaliment."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea said. "Circuit thinks they have about 12 minutes before Containment goes."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">They were Togar, I didn't like Togar. The less of these human eating cats the better, but he was a Captain knowing his doom was imminent and he asked me to help his crew.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Commander Roghor, you have about ten minutes before your containment fails. Tell your crew to suit up and evacuate. I give you my word I will not sell you as slaves, but treat your wounded and take you to Kaliment. You have my word on that. You too must leave, Commander!"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I will give the order Pirate."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Any tricks or subterfuge and you will wish we were slavers!"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No tricks Pirate." Narth said. "There are survivors aboard the Dai wreck as well, four have survived but are injured." I threw my hands in the air. " Har-Hi, take a few marines and see if you can get them. Hans take a team and collect the cats and make sure they are unarmed and kept in one of the empty hangars."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi gave me a thankful look before he left.

<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">We spend much longer drifting in space than I hoped. We ended up collecting the few Escape pods of the first Togar as well. The hangar across our Pirate Den was the last room we had left and it was now filled with 200 tech stripped Togar cats. Not all of them, so Narth told me were happy about the Commander's decision to accept help, but Hans and his marines had stripped them one by one and even the formidable warrior cats were quite terrified as they saw Hans and TheOther.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi had no problems evacuating the Dai, they were more dead than alive and in no shape to fight or resist.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I went down to see if the Togar Commander made it and stepped through the force field curtain that was transparent for crew of my ship only and also projected the image of an old Karthanian ship corridor as I stepped onto the Togar filled Starboard Hangar B. Most of them sat on the floor and one of my Pertharian marines in pirate costume of course, was serving soup or something similar in plastic cups while a Takkian pushed a hover cart with the bowl and more cups behind him.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Pertharian despite his Pirate Costume could not switch of being a Marine and as he saw me went into attention. "Captain Black Velvet on deck." I cringed and wondered just how thin our disguise was at that point and I was certain it would take little to convince even the densest Togar that we weren't really pirates.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">TheOther immediately moved from his spot next to the door like tremendous shadow behind me.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">It was a reassuring feeling to have a real Y'All warrior watching my back. Not that I felt threatened but I hated Togar and now I was in a closed room with a lot of them. While they weren't armed, they still had claws and Fangsnapper like jaws filled with dagger like teeth.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">One of them got up and even though he had nothing on but his own fur, he wore his rank like an invisible aura and I knew he was Roghor the Commander, that he had singed fur was not a distinguishing feature as it appeared many of them had burn injuries. He was at least two heads taller than me and covered with short deep golden fur, except around his muscular neck and all the way to his round ears where it was dark brown and longer, surrounding his wild looking face almost like a halo. He had a broad triangular nose and the sided of his muzzle were grey. His eyes were bright yellow and his tail was thick and whisked the air in a somewhat nervous and almost independent fashion. It reminded me of my costume I wore as was with Deepa.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He crossed his broad paw like hands before his muzzle and bowed slightly then he took his long tail with one hand and held it like that. "It is not common for my kind to ask for help and now that I live I will face death by the hands of my superiors once we reach Kaliment, but it is a price we pay when we take command, is that something a pirate can understand?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I had to admit he kept surprising me and why would such a Commander only command a Destroyer and not a battle ship. Instead of answering his question I said, "I have seen a ship full of human body parts not so long ago, Togar. I haven't forgotten this and I most likely won't ever forget that horror. I know some of your warriors right now don't feel very thankful or cooperative, so there won't be a zero tolerance on my side, If one of your cats even so much as twitched a wrong muscle and makes some sort of trouble, I space the lot of you."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I was unable to read his face or sense his emotions out of his voice as it sounded like an angry growl no matter what he said. "You will be rewarded for your decision on Kaliment; you will receive Polonium which will make this a profitable venue."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I came to find out why half the Togar fleet came to defend an Asteroid base, what is so valuable in that system?" I looked him straight in to the eyes even if I had to look up to do so. "You wouldn't know anything about that?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He said very loud. "No pirate I am not in the habit of sharing any Togar reasons with you!" He really tried to whisper as he growled silently." My life is over no matter what happens, but I am not a traitor. However I am willing to share with you whatever I know that is not classified, but I cannot do so right here, there are those who have ears and eyes for others than the fleet."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I said as loud as him, well almost as loud. "Then I have no use for you!"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I turned and said to TheOther. "Paralyze the whole bunch, stack them in Stasis boxes if we have enough left, but keep them asleep until we know what to do with them. Then bring that Commander into the Den, but have Cateria and Shea check him out for any real or artificial bugs or any other surprises." TheOther declined his entire upper body as he had no neck to mimic the human nod. "Aye Captain!"

<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 in my ready room and had a secure connection to Admiral McElligott and I finished my report saying. "We ran out of Stasis boxes as I got a crew of Togar warriors and even a few Dai. I have the crews of the Mighty Nine and most of Swift's crew all in security stasis and we are on our way to a system called Ya in the catalogs. No Survey data other than some old telemetric data. We are certain Swift went that way as his escape pod could not have made it much further."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">McElligott leaned back in his chair and in doing so allowed the visual sensors of his GalNet terminal pick up more of his office.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">It was just another office, nothing elaborate or special as I somehow expected the office of the Admiral of the Fleet to look like.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">There were a few shelves with books, the old kind. There was a strange triangular brass object on his desk and a few PDD's strewn around and a painting of surfacing submarine, in a stormy sea behind him, with a gilded elaborate frame around it.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He noticed me looking and said. "That is a painting of the Agamemnon, Captain Eric. It was my first command and a long time ago."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He got up and brushed over the frame. "She was a hunter killer and I wasn't always a desk jockey you know." He then pointed to the brass object and explained. "This is a Sextant; it is a nautical instrument I had to learn to use when I was a Midshipman in his majesties Navy. King William that is; May he rest in Peace."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He clasped his hands to his back and slowly paced a few steps to the right and left. He was clearly contemplating things and then he said. "As for the business at hand, I commend you to lend a hand to others in distress. It is a Union thing to do, and to adhere to higher morals and standards is something we always try to do. I comment you for the way you did it too."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He then tabbed one of his PDD's that he had on his desk. "Your information on Cam Elf-Na confirms other Intel reports and we are moving assets in the area to respond quickly if he decides to cross into Union Space. "

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He kept looking at the PDD. "We are as puzzled as you are what the deal is with that shattered system. If you can find out and add that mystery to your tasks, then we would be grateful. Why two nations commit to such efforts is indeed a paramount question to answer."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Aye Sir, I am going to interview the Togar Commander later on and let him point out the intelligence officers in his crew for me. Maybe Narth or Cateria can find what they know."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He looked up. "If your Narth can't then no one can. So keep me posted on that and do question the Dai as well. No sense of waiting the opportunity."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">A multi legged Centipede being in black uniform and Commander rank came into the view pick up and McElligott said. "Go right ahead Commander Kiqul."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"The thirteenth, the seventh and the sixth fleet report fully operational and Battle Ready Alert Mode. We moved assets of the nineteenth to bring up the Yellow and Blue Battle Clusters up to full operational strength."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">McElligott thanked the Kilonian Commander and continued to talk to me. "Our Bellebee Analysts just got on your long ranger scanner and KELPIE logs and we will go over them with a fine tooth comb.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">As of now we don't even have working theories as why the Togar and the Dai committed such massive forces over a seemingly unimportant Pirate nest. As you just witnessed we are moving assets in the region to be able to react fast if the need arises.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">That Cam Elf Na has so many clans united is cause for concern and we all agree that he will do something with his new found power, but I am talking to Har-Hi's father right and see what he recommends what to expect."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am sure Har-Hi will be glad to hear his father is consulted by you."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">McElligott smiled. "Kar-Hi is more than an advisor, he became a good friend and his advice is sound and tempered with wisdom and experience. "

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The old admiral grinned and said. "What our mutual other friend, you know who recommends, I am sure you can guess."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"If you talk about Admiral Stahl, Sir, I would not be able to guess on his tactical and strategic decisions."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Elligott frowned. "Why is it, everyone worships that prickly old Marine? " He sighed and then asked. "Tell me what you would do if you were me and faced with a possible Dai Incursion?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I shrugged. "I am barely getting used to be in command of a ship, Sir."

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

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

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Well I would issue a sector alert, move ten or fifteen Battle groups in the area and hide them in nearby star systems. Then I triple Gazelle and Specter patrols all along the border. Maybe have the Corps of Engineers beef up our outposts and every floating rock with Exo Load Cannons and as much Loki Batteries as possible.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I make sure the Devi and the first fleet is in the region as well and she is seen by as many civilian border crossers as possible. Oh and certainly a Battle group of Attikan Fast Battle ships to run patrol patterns between the Outposts response would be a good choice." I pulled up a sector map and said. "Then I let them come, close the back door and make sure there won't be any left to have similar ideas in the future."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The old man put his hand before his mouth and giggled then wiped a tear out of his eyes and said. "Well other than the fact that he is a few thousand years older than you and that you now look quite delectable and are much easier on the eye than his chisel face there isn't all that much difference in your and his suggestions. What you just said was, in essence what he just told me."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I was certain I had grown a few centimeters in my seat, as deep pride filled my chest. "Sir, there is no greater praise you could have given. I would not dare to compare myself with Admiral Stahl, but if you see some similarities between him and me, Sir. Then I think I might be on the right track to become a real Captain."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The eternal Solider walked into the visual pick up, most likely being there the entire time and he said. "You certainly are, Son."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He surrounded McElligott's desk and opened a drawer unasked, retrieving a glass bottle with a golden liquid and two glasses. "I don't like him much, that Kilt wearing turn coat but I do love his Whiskey."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">McElligott grunted something about rude marines and whiskey thieves and said to me. "Go and get Swift if you can., and stay in that System until the USS Shadowrunner can catch up with you. She will bring you more supplies and take the prisoners. Do you want us to take the Togar of your hands or do you want to swing by Kaliment before you head for Sin 4"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I think I take them there myself, I still need to add to my reputation and need to be seen, besides maybe we hear something about that abducted Nul Prince there."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">McElligott poured himself a glass of whiskey as well and snorted. "The Intel you gathered on the Nul situation are the most serious news .Cooperation between Nul and Kermac would not be a good thing.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">We had no idea how close we are to an all-out war. We had no other Intel on this so far."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Stahl put the whiskey down. "You sure have your plate full son but if there is a break in events we I think we can give you guys a break and you come home to Richter Base and take that vacation we promised."

<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">Chapter 6: Planet Yo

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Chapter 4: Planet Yo

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Togar Commander sat across me on our big table in our Den. He looked clean and his singed fur was gone, replaced by patches of almost white fur. Cateria looked at a PDD in clipboard mode and said. "Our feline guest has been treated and is as healthy as I can make him. I fixed his burns and treated him for a nasty worm infestation of his stomach and intestines. I guess to much raw meat from an unclean source. He had nothing in terms of bugs or spy ware, neither biological, psionic or technological." She tapped the PDD with a resolute move and said to the Togar commander directly. "You need to have a blood panel done when you get home, I think you might have a higher than normal Cholesterol level, but I am not sure about Togar Physiology to know for certain."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He looked smaller now, sitting down and across the massive table; he blinked by closing his black lined eyelids and I assume that was how acknowledged something. He kept looking around at all our treasure Sobody, Mr. Warner and my crew had piled up and the colorful decoration with bits and pieces from perhaps every corner of the course he also noticed Hans and TheOther flanking him.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Cateria moved her head leaned closer to me and whispered in Seenian. "He is also under a lot of stress and while we don't have much Data on Medical Central on Togar Psych conditions, I think he is close to a nervous breakdown."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Togar Commander wrought his hands nervously and then said. "You have an amazing ship and a truly formidable crew."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Yes Commander, I think I do. I gave you my word and you are not a prisoner. I will take you and your crew to Kaliment, but I don't have the resources to deal with a potential Togar riot so I think they are better off sleeping."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I understand Captain Black Velvet. The ship must always come first. It makes no difference if I arrive at Kaliment, but I thank you for my crew."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Tell me Commander, this is an unusual move calling us for help, could you not have waited for Togar aid. You had a big fleet just a few light years away. There isn't perhaps someone important in your crew that needed saving?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Yes your conclusions are quite correct Captain, normally we were just an Attack Cruiser with no concerns about our own safety, but both of my children, my son and my daughter are among the crew.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">As a Togar am proud they have chosen to become space warriors and follow my lead. As a Commander I was worried to have my own off spring among my crew and as a father I broke any tradition and lost my honor, forfeit my life to save their lives."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Alright Commander let us believe that for the moment and pretend I buy your story, and tell me what do you know about Brahma Port and why the Togar and the Dai think it is so important. I have other things to do than to sit here and talk to a human trading, man eating Togar commander." When I saw him; and I had to admit he was a magnificent looking member of his kind; I saw the ship full of stacked human body parts and whimpering slaves and wondered just how many humans had to witness other humans being butchered and eaten, knowing they were next. I wondered how many times he had sunk his formidable teeth into a human thigh or laughed as they tortured a human. Ever since we had found that ship of horrors, I had collected other reports of GalNet and knew they loved to play with their victims before they did the actual kill. I also remembered the Slave pens of Alvor's Cove and knew Togar Buyer picked human slaves like groceries for their meat pots.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Captain Velvet, I am guilty of being Togar, I have been demoted from Section Commander to command a simple Cruiser because I am male and dared to question the queen and I have been guilty of thinking too much. I am thankful for what you did and I know I have no honor left but I won't sell you the last shards of whatever dignity I have left."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I said, while getting up, "I tried to be civil. You haven't told me what I wanted to know..."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Cateria still standing close said. "Maybe we should simply drag him over glowing steel rakes and then have TheOther beat a confession out of him before we do a Brain dump and just to make sure he knows you hate Togar we then have him skinned alive."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I snapped at her. "Have you seen…", but I stopped myself in mid sentence. She was right and truth to be told I didn't want anyone to judge Neo Vikings on the actions of my father or the things we did during the Pirate years. The Y'All did much worse things and on an entire different scale than the Togar and I never blamed TheOther because I was not alive when they had invaded. I didn't trust that Togar Commander but I was not even giving him a chance.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I had come to find an excuse to torture and mind dump him just as Cateria said. I wanted to kill him best with my own hands and that was a dangerous slippery road my own emotions were leading me.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I still hated unfair situations and he certainly was in an unfair situation right now. He was a big cat and a strong individual, yet cared more for his crew and his offspring than a Togar supposed to do He had lost his ship and was on his way to be prosecuted and executed by his own kind for accepting help.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I gave Cateria a long look, our CMO was not afraid to speak her mind and for that she rose quite a few notches in my personal oppinion about her. After all I had treated her quite similar when I encountered her the first time. I gave her a thankful nod and then said. "Thank you for reminding me, who I am, who we are."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Seenian woman who had become my CMO had also disguised herself in civilian clothing and what she thought a Pirate would look like. Her always stern and cold face did no chance expression but her voice lost the usual edge. "You're welcome Captain.."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I returned my attention to the Togar. "Maybe we need to start over and before I ask you what I want to know, I would like to know what I can do for you. Maybe you can remain aboard and not leave on Kaliment. We will be on Sin 4 later on and maybe you can find a new live and a new career away from the Togar Empire."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He looked down on his big paws and they were shaking, so I got up walked around the table and took a seat next to him and without really thinking and following an impulse I put my hand on his arm. "Commander Roghor, some humans drink a hot cup of tea to calm their nerves, others like a shot of alcohol. I personally prefer coffee and a cigarette. Is there anything you Togar consume while collecting thoughts? I doubt one of my human crew-members will volunteer so you can have a snack but is there anything else?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He made a deep rasping sound that appeared to be the Togar equivalent of a sigh and he said looking at me and again I was taken aback by the intelligence and the humanity in those yellow non human eyes. "We don't just eat humans, and most male Togar don't ever have the chance to even try. There are 600 Billion Togar and I doubt there are more than 5000 to 6000 humans reaching our markets during a standard year." He spread his fur covered arms and. "I am not defending our ways, I just wanted to illustrate how rare and how expensive human flesh on Togr markets is. Since it is so rare, it is reserved for the very rich and very important females."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I actually believed him. "So what is it you want?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He returned to stare art his paw like hands. "I don't know Pirate. When my ship was about to explode it seemed to be a good idea to ask and accept help. Now I am not sure if I doomed my son to live with his father's shame."

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

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

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"She is female; her father's deeds mean nothing in our society."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"So if it isn't humans what do you eat?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We eat any kind of meat and we usually drink only water. Alcohol is dangerous to us; even a little makes us very drunk." He added ."We Togar don't share much of our culture with others and what others know about is only a shadow of the truth. There is a human, his name is Alex Enroe and he managed to become friends with the queen herself. He sells us bacon and pork meat, but he is from the Union and not Free Space."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Cateria said. "I check the galley and see what we got in terms of bacon."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Commander rattled his Togar sigh again. "You are an enigma, Captain Velvet, you hide your face behind a mask and even we Togar have heard rumors of you. Your ship is an old Karthanian, yet it sports the finest Nul weapons and genuine Union Isah Pods, your crew includes a Y'All. They say you are a ruthless pirate and we did see you raid and destroy another known pirate vessel, yet your Crew acts like professionals not like the throat cutting dreg usually to be found on pirate ships."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I shrugged. "We all have our own styles I guess. I prefer professionals running my ship over the dreg kind you mentioned."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He returned to answer my original question saying. "Maybe I can make my way into the Union region somehow. There is a rumor Alex Enroe helps Togar."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I think it is more than a rumor."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Suddenly changing the subject he said. "The reason why our Queen protects the Bennetts and the Dai want control over the system is the Backdoor."

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

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

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He blinked his eyes again by squezzing them. "There is a stable worm hole that leads deep into Union Space and is used by the Bennetts to smuggle Union Mil Tech, Slaves and other prohibited Tech out, and drugs and other illegal things in. The old Bennett owns an ancient alien device that controls that worm hole."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I could not contain myself, cursed and said. "So any fleet built up at the border won't do any good. How big is that worm hole?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He made a wide gesture and said. "Big enough for the largest Dai Mother, and perhaps even for that tremendous Demon ship the Union has."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Do you know where it terminates?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I never went through and its existence is supposed to be a tight guarded secret, I don't know why the Dai committed so many ships but it would not surprise me if that Wormhole is the reason."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"And now the Dai fight the Togar over it?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No the Dai retreated, but then it is said that the Dai leader united 5000 clans and what we have seen there was only part of his entire force. The Queen is certain that the Dai will return and we are to hunt any Dai around the Shattered System. We are also to find the White Fur Demon. The Queen herself has decreed that we search any pirate ships, slave traders and slave markets for a White furred Togar Female. She is to be destroyed on sight."

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

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

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am a male that means we don't get to know the reasons for any orders."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">His triangular nose started twitching quite violently and his tongue became visible as it licked his chaps.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Cateria had returned with a big plate full of crisp bacon strips and placed it before the Togar. "The Galley didn't know what kind of bacon you prefer so they gave you a sample of all the kinds we had."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He really tried to be dignified and polite restraining himself but his nose and tongue had a mind of their own and I said to him. "Go right ahead Commander, I leave you to it and I will have some suitable quarters arranged. Under guard and confined of course until we reach Kaliment." "Thank you."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I got up and he put the first piece of bacon in his mouth and his non-human beast like face clearly showed bliss as he chewed. "This is the real treasure of your ship!"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">At the door I said to Cateria. "Blindfold him or something and find him a room that has no Union Tech and a sturdy door that can be locked"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">She nodded. "I talk to Mr. Warner; he is always full of ideas."

<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 star system we were approaching was only nine light years from where we destroyed the Swift Profit and where Narth was certain Curtis went.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I had us drop out of Quasi just a light hour outside the system and turned to Sobody. "Do you know anything about this System? According to Union Catalogs it has only a number and was of course never surveyed as it is in Free Space."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sobody rubbed his bald head that no longer sported the ugly fake scar and said. "I wish I could tell you more but we Golden are not explorers as you Terrans, what we know is from others telling us, it does not appear I ever heard anyone trading out of this System. I wish I could access Golden Archives."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Elfi said. "I think you could access them. We left a GalNet terminal in your Bazaar and we are not that far away, maybe one of those mirror faces can assist you."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He smacked his head. "Of course, we are Union now I forgot we have access to the most marvelous invention of the Union." He rushed over to her as she made the connection and he said. "Those Golden Faces are a formidable race and I tell you all about them at some other time. Now get me that bumbling Chamberlain."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea smiled at the scene and then looked over her scanner results and said. "It's a binary star system, with an old red star and a younger GIII type. There are two Rock Core planets, one Jovian and a few moons and planetoids. The second rock core planet appears to be a Type 3 E Garden world."

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

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

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">She shook her head. "Nothing with Karthanian Sensors, do you want me to light up our real ones?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No not yet, I was told the Kermac don't have the same quality sensors we do, but they can detect Union Sensors used."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Keep your eyes open and glued to our instruments. Shaka get us to that 3E world. I have a feeling that is where he went."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sobody turned. "Sorry Captain there isn't much in our Archives either, it is marked as uninhabited and we have no other information."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No worries, we just have to do it the old fashioned way. We will be here a few days anyway until the Shadowrunner can catch up with us.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">As we closed on the second planet, Shea said. There are 49 artificial satellites in orbit around that world. Metal and very weak energy readings. Looks like nuclear decay batteries."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Shaka get us closer so Shea can take a better look, SHIP sound battle stations."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea was glued to her scanners and then she said. "48 of these Satellites are Space mirrors, meant to collect sunlight and heat to make that freeze looker planet more livable, but none of the mirrors reflect anything and appear to have only minimal power sources. The material scans and the design point to Tech Level 3." She paused. "One of the satellites appears to be some sort of command center. Materials and Energy source match the mirrors, and it too has all appearance of Tech Level 3 but just from looking at it."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"You do not sound very convinced." I said looking at the now enhanced images of large square constructs with thousands of hexagonal patterned plates. According to the data displayed each of those square things measured 2000 square meters, but where only a few meters thick with a parabolic shaped construct on the underside, aiming at the planet below.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">She said. "That command structure looks like a giant cannon of sorts. It is over 3000 meters long and it is aimed more or less at the Union Core region. I can't deduct what it is supposed to be."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I smiled. "It's alien and maybe we can find out what it is."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth said. "I detected Swift's mind for a moment. He is down on that planet, and he is afraid, but now he slipped past my range again. "He sounded apologetic as he added. "It is still quite a distance."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Any other life or thoughts?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He concentrated for a few moments and then said. "I am not certain. I had the impression of some very faint, very distant thoughts. Like a murmur without real substance or meaning."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Shaka put us in a geostationary orbit roughly over the spot where Narth felt Swift's mind and Shea light up our science and life sensors. They don't have trans light emissions right?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No, Life science sensors have a very limited range."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi said. "You know all this pirate business should be my favorite mission, but I must admit this is why I really wanted to be a Union Officer. Exploring a new star system, finding something unusual and unexpected." He pointed his gloved finger at me. "Please don't ever tell that to my father or any other Dai for that matter."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I laughed. "If you don't tell any Nilfeheim Viking that I dressed up like a Pirate Chick."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He grinned. "It's a deal, Captain."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Krabbel said. "Please let me be part of an away mission this time. I know there won't be many chances for me to pretend to be a Pirate as there aren't any Archas outside the Union."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We are here to catch Curtis Swift, and as soon as the Shadowrunner met with us we head back to Brahma. Fining that Back Door is more important than anything else."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi agreed. "Angry Dai Clans out for revenge deep in Union Space and them having an escape route would be very bad indeed."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I got up, and put my hand on Krabbel's hairy back. "But we did stumble upon a mystery and you are on the next Away mission. I never planned to keep you on the sidelines. We're Pirates and who says there aren't any other Spider like beings out there?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Meanwhile Har-Hi had increased the magnification of our main viewer and gestured to the floating mirrors. "Looks like they are crusted over with dust or something and that is why they don't work."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea also looked at it and said. "For structures like this to attract that much dust in deep space means they must be very old. How are we going to do this Captain?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We stay in Orbit, await the Shadowrunner. Krabbel will lead a team over to that main structure and check it out. He will put the team together and I will go down there with a team of my own and take Swift back alive or make sure he's dead and in that case he may stay."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Krabbel got all excited and chirped. "Mission lead, I am going to be Mission lead. Can I get Shea and Lorenz and I…"

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

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

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Oh and I need a Robot or two and…"

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

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

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Take a deep breath and calm down. Go plan your mission just as we did on the Devi during training, request the personnel you think you need and the request the hardware and Har-Hi will check it and okay it. You are in charge and you can request whatever and whomever you want and then you have to do with what you actually get."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He actually snapped in attention. "Yes Captain."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Krabbel relax you will do fine and don't snap in attention on the bridge." "I know Captain but that's how I tried to calm down. Part of me wants to explode with pride to get a real mission and part of me is terribly afraid and I wish I hadn't asked."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"We are on real missions more or less since Quagmire and you did fine in the diciest situations. The only difference is you are a Lieutenant now and not a Midshipman."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I know and I know I can do it. I am a Union Officer." He said with a resolute voice and then he said more quietly. "But you have been in charge and told us what to do. You always know what to do, no matter what."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am not taking this away from you. I want you to take your team over there and find out what these things are and come back. I trust you with Shea and anyone else you request."

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

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

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi also reinforced Krabbel with a collegial pad on the torso. "Go get your lists; we are in a bit of a hurry!"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">To me he said. "Who goes down with you?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I stay if you object of course."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"It's against regulations, it's against common sense to let the Captain leave the ship all the time, but it is how we do things on the Tigershark. So who goes?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"You and TheOther and squad marines and we drop in so they don't see us coming."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Weren't you terrified of those?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am but they were right to teach them, Orbital drops are useful."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth said. "I qualified for Orbital assault."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I smiled at him. "You are taking a nap and then pick us up or join us if we can't find the bugger on our own."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi perfectly happy now as I could tell because he could go along asked. "Who has the Conn?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I said." Since we are kicking regulations in the wind, SHIP how about it, want to try command for a chance?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">SHIP didn't respond right away as she usually did, then she said. "Yes Captain."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Is there something wrong?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No Captain but your suggestion and consideration caused a Neuro Pathway over stack reaction in my main processing neuronics."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"And that means you are damaged somehow and we need to get Shea to take a look?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea said. "No Captain, SHIP just basically invented a new way to express pride and I never seen such a Loyalty Logarithm, in AI terms she really loves you."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I knew that long before that, she's my SHIP 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">Krabbel, Shea, Hans, Mao, two of the Science staff of Shea's department and two all marines; all equipped with the brand new Atlas Type Quasimodos had left the Tigershark via Airlock membrane moments ago.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Hans looked just bigger in his suit but Krabbel truly looked like an alien monster from another galaxy in his version of the Suit. He set a line of way points to the dark alien construct floating in a stable and distant geostationary orbit around the whitish brown planet below and engaged the auto pilot.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">These Suits were way more than a space suit; fully functional minis space ships, capable of Trans light jumps. Heavily armed, well protected and shielded. There was not much that could hurt a Union Soldier in one of these.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Krabbel had forgotten his fears and doubts. He was not only a Union Fleet Academy graduate and received the finest training. He was part of the Olafson Gang.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">They all decided to visit the canon or gun like construct first, before they checked out one of the mirrors. Shea right next to him used her scanners of course and was speaking with one of the scientists over the general channel. "It might just be an ancient telescope and not a weapon at all. The metallurgy scan is a bit unusual but nothing unexpected."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Another male voice came back. "I don't think the metal composition is all that strange and the Yttrium spikes we are seeing come from laser cathodes or LEDs attached to the metal."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">They kept on chattering as they approached the thing it was getting bigger and now visible by the naked eye. It was 3000 meters long and had a cylindrical gun barrel like pipe that was encased by a round metal lattice cage. To one end it appeared open like a muzzle and at the other end was a somewhat cubical construct with round tanks and extensions attached to it.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">One of the Marines said. "I wonder where it is pointing at."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Ships voice bugged in, "One Second Corporal Basing, I was listening in and by projecting a trajectory line through the objects center, correlating its position I can answer that question. It is pointing almost exactly at the Terran Sol System."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Krabbel said. "I don't like anything artificial weapon canon looking pointing at Union Stars."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Mao butted in. "Could be a coincident, especially since SHIP use the words 'almost exactly'. Hey what kind of AI are you anyway. Narth and Shea can do a better computronic impression than that."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Today I am not just the Ships AI I am a Bridge Watch Officer and if I may say so the very first Union Ship Computronic in this role, besides even less capable Computronics than me can use human expressions with ease. When I said almost exact, I meant within an error margin of point four percent. At a distance of 9,233 Light Years an acceptable margin"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Krabbel acknowledged and reached the cubical aft section ahead of the others. Everything was encrusted by a thick layer of dust. Shea said. "The thing has enough mass gravitation to attract micro debris." She wiped a wide swath of with her glove hand and placed the material so gathered in plastic bag, while she was busy doing so. Mao stared at the meter wide swath of cleared metal and said. "Shea keep wiping, upwards."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">She had stowed away the sample bag and paid more attention. She had uncovered a red and white paint and now Krabbel and the others started wiping the dust of while Mao was at a distance and looked at the strange red white and black symbol. It is some sort of alien glyph."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea gave herself and then compensated with her thrusters to stop next to Mao and look at the symbol. "SHIP cross-reference visuals with GalNet and identify. I think we will find a match in Terran pre astro history files."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Confirmed, the symbol corresponds with the national symbol of a pre astro Earth Nation called Germany…"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Hans became pale underneath his helmet and said even before SHIP. "It is called Swastika." Mao said. "This can't be from Pre Astro Earth, it's a coincidence besides it is rather pretty, what does it supposed to mean?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Hans whispered. "Great Evil!"

<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 not under any fear intensifying drugs or beams and yet my heart missed a few beats as I pushed myself of and through the force field membrane. I was in a state of the art suit and this time it had been checked by me and double checked by Circuit. I knew what to do and had a clear goal. In my short career I had already spend more time in space suits than most Fleet officers did in a life time and yet I had this totally unfounded fear of space, almost like a forgotten memory of an ambush on me while I was sleeping and in space. What utter nonsense my own mind conjured up trying to explain this ridiculous phobia of mine to myself. I shook my head and took a sip of cold water from sip supplier and said. "Alright guys, lets drop in on Mr. Swift and be back for dinner." I checked my own scanner and the weak energy signature consistent with a survival suit and the neuro electric pulse activity of a human heart and nervous system was clearly shown.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The suit was pretty much doing everything for me. Orbital drops were a technique Terrans had perfected since the ascent and their expertise translated into Union tactics and today everything was refined and safe. The Suit created a force field shaped like a an arrow tip penetrating the atmosphere at high speed but with a low profile shape, the Field could extend to nearly a kilometer in the upper atmosphere layers and the computronic controlled how many air molecules to let through and how many to deflect and create updraft, but that was for Orbital Infantry Noobs on their first jump. Marines dropped with the field shaped like a lens as fast and frictionless as possible with as little signature as possible.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Well technically this was only my second jump as I never reached the ground during my last attempt and I was of course not a marine, Now that I could see a ground and up and down had meaning all fear was gone and the old Eric surfaced, wild, reckless and enjoying the ride. I called myself a fool for having kept my eyes close the entire time during my first jump.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">At 20,000 meters my optics gave me a clear view of every surface detail. There were only exposed rocks, ice and snow and there at the bottom of a steep mountain was the escape capsule. It was clearly damaged and a human figure was leaning against it, wearing a simple space suit.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The man was alive but didn't move as we dropped all around him.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I could see his face behind the face plate, it wasn't Swift.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">At first I cursed thinking the pirate had eluded us somehow and this was only a crew member of the Swift Profit, then I noticed the tracks in the snow and the fact that the escape module had two seats.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi knelt next to the man and said. "Someone took his energy packs; the energy reading comes from a PDD."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Is he still alive?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Yes, he just fell asleep, lack of oxygen I guess."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"What a fool." I opened my own helmet. "The atmosphere is wonderful fresh and perfectly breathable."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har Hi cracked open the man's helmet. "I don't think they had any way of testing the atmosphere. Neither that escape pod nor his suit has any sort of sensors."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The man stirred, he looked human and had distinctive features identifying his origin. Then he blinked and opened his eyes. He looked old or maybe was just sick or weak but he stretched out his hand towards me and smiled. "Take me home Angel, I am ready,"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Who are you calling angel? I want to know where Swift is."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He regained more of his senses and frowned. "For a moment I thought this gorgeous blonde was an Angel. Now I see she's a Union Soldier." He shivered. "That bastard took my Energy packs and left me here. I have no idea where he is but he must still be here on this frozen Popsicle planet."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">As expected one of the Marines was Fectiv and I said. "Lieutenant, have him send to the Tigershark, and stick him into Stasis."

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

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

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I now paid attention to the Tracks and Har-Hi said. "Are you not cold, with your face exposed like that, not even wearing your usual mask?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">While I followed the tracks I said. "It's a bit fresh but I love it."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I had taken the whole mission too lightly, felt save and invincible in my Battle Suit, with Har-Hi, TheOther and Marines with me. I longed for cold fresh air and this is why I opened my helmet, this was the most foolish thing. I had still time to curse my own arrogance as all hell broke loose.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Chapter 7: PID-Mark 12

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Something had exploded right between us.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I could taste my own blood and all I had was a strong whistling sound. Even though I was certain my eyes were open I could see nothing."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Then everything stopped and I sank into oblivion.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">That was the last thing I remembered and now I regained consciousness, a gentle voice said into my ear. "Suit integrity restored, third degree burns, concussion and eye injuries treated, Med-Evac recommended.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I opened my eyes and looked around. "I was at the bottom of a new crater."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"More projectiles inbound." the voice said.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Shield?" "Shields at 100%. System Damage from initial.."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">A tremendous second explosion hit me and while the shields held, the kinetic energies of the blast threw me, dirt and pulverized rock in a cloud of fire far into the air.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Full Battle Mode!" While the Suit went battle active I switched to hover mode. More explosions shattered the ground all around us.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Battle Mode active. Threat analysis : Buried explosive proximity mines and chemically propelled artillery fire."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Roll Call!" My command called up a retina overlay with the location and status of my away team. "Fective reporting"

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

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

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"TheOther, no injuries."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I saw Har-Hi's symbol but he did not report. His suit reported no damage to the suit, but his Auto Doc reported serious Injuries, serious enough for the suit to put him in stasis.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Suit evacuate to the ship!" The barrage of artillery fire kept coming and whatever it was taxed our shields. The fire came from three locations in the mountains surrounding us. My suit reported. "Stage accelerated Plutonium Mass projectiles and Nuclear war heads, shields at 40 percent."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">We were able to evade direct hits easily now and we could retreat of course but retreat to me was like admitting defeat. My optics magnified at least a dozen heavy fortified gray bunker like constructs in the side of the mountains with big cannon barrels. We could of course assault them and use our Nano Load TL Cannons of our suits, but I had about enough and was worried and angry. "Captain to Tactical, target the coordinates my Suit sends you, lay a full kilo load in each of those bunkers." "Aye Captain." "Captain to landing detail re-group."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I transmitted coordinates I had selected via dedicated glance and eye blink confirmation on a tactical map overlay while our suits accelerated as fast as our systems permitted. A dozen Anti Matter bombs detonated a few heart beats later in the local mountain range and changed the skyline of that range forever. The sun like heat melted rock, artillery positions and whatever else was there and turned it into molecular plasma gas and torrents of molten magma. Even though we had retreated almost 100 kilometers, the shock reached us and made our pulse engines whine in protest as they tried to keep station. Our primary shields dropped to 10 percent after ash, radiation and a hail storm of rocks and dirt pelted us and everything else in side.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Then there was silence.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"SHIP did Har-Hi arrive?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Cateria here, we retrieved the XO and he will be fine. The initial shock,of an explosion broke his neck, but the suit kept him alive. He is in the ReGen tank and angry that I won't let him out."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"That was a close call." To close to my taste and completely my fault. Neither him nor I would have been injured if I had kept my helmet close and paid more attention.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">While I was angry at myself for overconfidence and landing on an unexplored world without more caution and almost loosing Har-Hi, despite the state of the art hardware,I had to put that into the back of my mind and take care of the current situation. "SHIP dispatch ten marines full Surface Assault gear and five Cerberus to my location."

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

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

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Lt. Fective, check our sensor logs and see why our sensors did not pick up whatever and whoever attacked us." "Already on it Captain. The technology used is Tech Level Two at best, the charges were triggered by wired cables, not transmitted signals. The Cannons firing at us worked on the same principle as that antique firearm of yours, projectiles accelerated by rapid oxidization." "Alright, reset Shields and be on guard. We are going to get at the bottom of this."

<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">Krabbel and it's team had entered the alien orbital construct through a mechanical door they had found at its bottom end and now found themselves in a small chamber like room, its function quite clear. It was a two door airlock.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea was looking at a sign posted to a set of control devices and said. "It is no coincidence, Mao. This is German writing and it gives instructions as how to operate this Air lock."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Hans walked past them and started to push a lever and crank on a wheel like control. Dials flickered and started to light up in a weak yellowish light. Several light elements at the ceiling became active.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Krabbel asked. "Are you certain you know what you are doing?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Hans responded with an excited voice. "Yes the instructions are perhaps the clearest and most detailed instructions I have read since I left my home. This is our native language after all. It not only tells you what to do but also what not to do."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea said. "Whoever these Germans were they sure like the word 'verboten'."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Mao glanced over Shea's shoulder. "My suit computronic has downloaded the language and I now get retina overlays with the translation of all these words. Those dials and gauges are analog, The last time I saw such dials was aboard the White Puff."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea said looking at her scanner. "Energy output of the Atomic pile has increased by 80 percent and the atmosphere pumped in here is of the exact air composition from Earth." She turned to Mao. "What ship of the Union uses such dials?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Steam powered ships on my home planet,, one of them is called the White Puff."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">One of the scientists gasped behind his helmet. "Steam powered ships on a Union World?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Krabbel intervened. "Maybe we can discuss that later and find out why there is something from Earth around a planet in Freespace."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea added. "Something that appears Pre Astro and should not be here at all."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Mao had kept an eye on the dials and then checked his suit sensor read out and pulled on a red painted lever.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The inner door swung open, allowing them access to the rest of the construct."Why don't we go and find out?"

<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 hovered over the rubble and debris our Translocator barrage had created and reduced the height of several mountain peaks by a substantial margin. TheOther, a Cerberus robot and two marines were below me removing a house sized boulder and in doing so revealing a concrete tunnel leading deeper into the mountain.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"SHIP, we are going into the mountain. We maintain contact. If we fail to report tell Har-Hi to inform the Admiral first before he does anything else." "Aye Captain." TheOther and Fective stepped into my way as I was about to enter the tunnel and Fective said. "Captain, we should go first and take point."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"If there is anything down there that is able to overwhelm an Atlas suit under full shields, it makes no difference who's wearing it, Attikan, human or a Y'All."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"The difference is, you are the Captain."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I won't be taking things lightly, I learned my lesson. Now let's go!" The concrete corridor was about 20 meters in diameters and it was leading at a 15 degree angle into the mountain. We passed several massive blast doors that had been crushed to rubble by the TL loads but the further we we went the less damage was apparent. After about six kilometers we reached a junction leading to the left and right and a closed blast door before us prevented us from going further. I split the Marines in two groups and sent them into each direction while I made the rest wait before the blast door.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">As I suspected the the Marines came back telling me that the corridors branching of lead back up to different artillery positions and all were destroyed.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The blast door on front of us was made of steel and concrete and from the looks of it several meters thick.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No sense of delaying it, whatever answers we seek are further down. Fective set charges .I doubt they will open the door to a friendly knock."

<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">Shea said. "No artificial gravitation but some sort of life support system has kicked in. The temperate is rising."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">They went down a narrow corridor single file and then reached the bottom region where the barrel type extension was attached to the square section of this space station. There were twelve pipes bundled in a cluster filling the larger pipe.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The side was a crane arm and a capsule like contraption hung at its lower end. The Capsule was clearly designed to be fit into one of the pipes.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">At first it did have the appearance of a projectile but as Shea examined the capsule closer. She noticed a transparent view port. Inside the capsule, on a stretcher like bed lay a mummified human body.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">She recoiled and looked around in the large chamber looking at the exposed equipment, noticed stacks of the same capsules and she said. "I know what this is, it is a Space train receiver station."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Krabbel, examining another capsule said. "But space trains are much bigger and there isn't anything like that in the Orbit around Earth, or is there?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">One of the scientists said. "I am from the Sol System, and no there isn't anything like this now..." He stopped in the middle of his sentence and looked at something and said. "but it appears there was something like that around the orbit of Mars in 1944. He pointed at a soft glowing read out ."Schwarz Licht Transport von Mars erhalten October 12th translates into Black Light transport received and the date on this readout suggests that happened 3076 years ago."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Krabbel floated through the open door of an attached control room and looked over a dizzying array of control elements said. "But that was long before the Ascent and Space train technology is a recent development."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea said, "No other space faring society has ever developed anything comparable and Space Train technology is controlled by SII." She paused. "the man who adopted me, Rex Schwartz is from Earth and like Stahl and the others he is an immortal."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Mao wiped over the view port of another capsule and said. "Schwarz licht, Mr. Schwartz sounds pretty much alike to me,"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Krabbel, still in the Control chamber turned to leave the control booth, one of his legs brushed over a lever, and the controls lit up, red and green lights started flashing.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea's suit reacted fast and reported with urgency."Rapid built up of trans spatial energies. Zero Point Gravitation.."

<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">SHIP was as proud as a AI could be, Her Captain trusted the machine with the Conn. It was a Command function and no AI (except of course X101's ) had ever been allowed in such a position. But then then Lt. Har-Hi was right, things were done a little different on the Tigershark.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">She had no problem monitoring all sensors, the communication and regulation ten thousand functions and adjustments all across the ship, every second and still only use twenty percent of her resources. Yet things changed very fast. Her sensors picked up a rapid built up of tremendous energies from the ancient device. Energies of trans dimensional character, energies akin to the well regulated and tuned TransDim shields but in a truly chaotic state. While she raised alarms, Circuit called up from engineering. "What is going on? Something is interfering with our TransDim tab."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Unable to answer your question with certainty. Do you want to take Command?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No SHIP . I stay down here, inform the Captain. Where is Narth?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Lt. Narth disappeared. I assume he went over to help the others."

<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 demolition charges placed by my Marines blew the massive door with surgical precision out of it s frame and reduced it to rubble. We were just about to enter as SHIP called, "Captain, we lost all contact to Krabbel's team. The alien contraption is active now and under a shield I can only describe as both primitive and highly advanced at the same time. Trans dimensional in character and opaque to sensors and communications. Lt. Narth disappeared right afterward."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Alright, SHIP you stay in command. Have Circuit take Ops and analyze it. I want a threat analysis from him in 10 minutes. Have the rest of the Marines and all Robots stand by for an assault. As soon as Har-Hi is fit for duty let me know. We will remain here, this all connects somehow and I think we might find the answer down here,"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Aye Captain." I was dead worried, and I knew I made a few bad decisions,the entire situation escalated way beyond anything I expected. Shea, Krabbel, Hans and the others were in danger or perhaps even dead, my XO had a broken neck and I was dirt side instead on my bridge, but this was not the time for self reflection. "Listen up, we need to speed things up." I waved to one of my marines." Deploy a drone to map the corridor ahead of us, and launch two Harbringer, right after it."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Aye Captain. Mapper and Harbringers deployed." Harbringers were highly intelligent personal missiles that could linger for hours and attack with needle focused fusion explosions.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Let's go!"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I keyed my suit flight controls to the Mapper drone and we flew fast down the shaft of concrete.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">All weapon systems armed, I was ready to blast the planet apart.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The drone ahead of us was smaller than a pin head and cloaked. It reported movement.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The last time I barreled down a shaft like this I found an army of stone golem and a living mountain. What would we find this time?

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">My battle tronic snarled. "Threat analysis. Opponents detected, twelve humanoids in battle armor consistent with Tech Level 8 or higher. Drone detected and neutralized." "Harbringers engage. Marines use the last data of the drone and engage the targets with Miro Loads!"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The corridor deep down was painted with the sun bright flashes of Antimatter micro loads. I too slaved my TL on the Battle Tronic."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I didn't stop, I accelerated." "Incoming TKU fire. Primary shields down to 80 percent."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I had reached a large Cavern defended by men in black battle armor, while the units looked nothing like any suit I knew. I was almost certain it was Union tech. The TKUs they held were without question Union.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Their suits had no logos other than Union standard numbers. At this moment I did not care, I placed Micro loads as fast as I could. Their suits surrounded by purple shimmering shields, the signature of ParaDim. They were good and equipped like us, but I had Marines with me and a Y'All. My shields were down to the last layer and according to my Battle System I had about 20% left. Terran TKUs were a terrible weapon even against the fine shields we had, but right now I didn't care. I was furious and I felt a grim satisfaction as my Chain sword whined in a high pitch as it tore through the helmet material of the opponent I had just engaged in hand to hand combat.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">TheOther was on my right and ripped battle suited man apart. Fective fought like a demon to my left. Right over my shoulder one of my marines fired precision shots.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Then out of thin air Hans appeared holding his TKU Gatling pouring devastating fire against the black Armors. Four of the enemies started to float and their suits exploded off their bodies. Narth was there as well.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I plunged the chain sword through the face plate of another, while my shield collapsed and a bolt melted parts of my left shoulder armor."Narth I want one alive. I want to question these bastards!"

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

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

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">TheOther kicked and stomped at a man who was on the ground. whatever his suit armor was made off,it was not enough.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I screamed on the top of my lungs. "You pieces of Nubhir dung, who's next?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I whirled around ,while checking my threat sensor read out, almost disappointed to see no red dots.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Deploy more sensor drones.,Secure the exits and lets do a roll call."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth mental presence in me was as serious as he has ever been and he said. "I must bear sorrowful news, Captain. Shea,Mao and Krabbel are no longer with us." I pushed the implications as far as I could into the back of my mind. "We will deal with that later. Now we must secure this place and find out what it is all about. Who are these men, these are humans and the equipment is certainly not alien."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">To Narth I said."The one you caught are still alive,right?" "I am afraid not, they were killed by a remote signal, before I could probe them deeper, but.." Fective saluted. "Captain, the drones have mapped the complex and there is something like a main chamber."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">My throat felt constricted and I had to concentrate not to start crying. "Life signs?"

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

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

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Of all things, my personal PDD beeped with an urgent, message coming over a civilian channel. At first I wanted to ignore it, but SHIPs voice came in via my helmet pick up."You might want to take that Captain."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I activated it and I heard Shea. "Captain, Lt. Schwartz, Krabbel, Mao and the rest except Hans are reporting in." How I managed to restrain myself I could not say but I said. "I am glad you called, Hans is alright. Narth can no longer feel you and why the civilian channel?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Captain we are drifting in orbit near planet Mars. I wanted to go over civilian channels to talk to you before we make our findings public."

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

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

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Yes we are." "Alright, can you call a System Taxi or something and go to Earth and give me time to figure all this out before we make a report, because I still don't know what we are up against, do you?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Not exactly, but I have a suspicion and will let you know as soon as I can substantiate more. We are heading for Earth and wait for your call." Before I could follow Fective I got another call, this time from Har-Hi."I am back, Captain."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am doing this by luck and by the seat of my pants and I want answers now. Har-Hi call Shea on her private PDD and make sure we got indeed everyone. If anything out there moves or builts up energies or whatever, destroy it." "Aye Captain."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Fective and TheOther took point while Narth was next to me and Hans and the rest brought up the rear.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">We reached the main cavern, several metal columns, about one hundred meters tall, with greenish glowing oval windows, all heavily condensed from the inside with the vague shapes of human bodies darkening the greenish glow. Many of the windows were dark, many were lit and on the bottom of one column I estimated about sixty or seventy open columns. Just about the number of enemy combatants we had fought. On a central examining table like object struggled a naked man. He was tied down and I recognized Curtis Swift.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">In the corner of the room I noticed modern shipping containers with TKUs and more battle suits. And I saw movement, a robotic machine on wheels rolled into the cavern from a door across the cavern and was hit by a dozen blaster beams, turning it to slack.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Narth what are you making of this?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Part of the equipment is ancient looking cloning and Cryo stasis equipment and part looks like recently repaired and combined with Union equipment. Over there is a SII Gene Splicer Apparatus and the device it is attached to appears to be a specimen selector.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Hans said. "The old writing over there is the same old German we found at the Black Light transport cannon in orbit. I recognize the modern Union labels on that machine right here, but I am looking at something like a clip board with writing on it, I never seen before."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth turned to look and said, "Vrill, it is old Vrill writing."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">One of my marines found a control room with panel controls for sensors,mountain artillery and the devices in space. Again there was this odd mix of old and new technology.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">There were hundreds pieces of information to a strange puzzle and I desperately wanted to t see the whole picture.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I went over to Swift, who was guarded by Hans. "What do you know about all this? Don't even try to lie!"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth stepped next to me, wit glowing eyes. Swift looking miserable cursed. "You are not a pirate, this is a Narth."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I am glad you noticed and if you know anything about the Narth then you better start talking or I let him turn you inside out, trust me he can do it"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Screw you, Black Velvet or whoever you are. You are Union there is no doubt, probably even fleet. You have rules, they don't. Your Narth does not scare me."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth said with a gentle voice. "Please let me demonstrate to you that I am capable of scaring you."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Something utterly terrifying and disgusting happened next. Curtis Swift the pirate begun to scream like I never heard anyone scream. His right hand's skin started to peel away, and so did muscles and sinew!

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I gasped. "What are you doing?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I begun to turn him inside out and I have not yet entirely envisioned how to do that, so I begun with his hand to..."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Curtis screamed and whimpered. "I don't know who they are for sure, but I think they are some sort of Union Mega Corporation. I was to deliver twenty Bethler Plaque Eggs to them."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">His hand returned to normal and he panted tried to catch his breath. He glistened with sweat and Narth leaned forward. "Mr. Swift, may I ask if I was successful in scaring you?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Curtis flinched back as Narth leaned forward, his eyes flickered, spittle drooled out of his mouth while he begged me. "Please keep him away from me, I tell you all I know."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I turned to Narth. "I think you succeeded, he's pretty scared."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth pointed his gloved hand at the man. "He has not answered my question and his last statement about me was quite clear that he was not..."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Curtis groaned. "Oh my God are you for real? Yes I am scared! Captain Velvet, dear Captain Velvet , mighty Captain Velvet, please hold this hooded monster away. I do anything."

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<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth nodded. "Indeed Mr. Curtis I am for real and against unreal. I.."

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<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I interrupted."We can discuss that later. Swift who are they and where are they? Why are you strapped to that table?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I don't know who they are. They identified themselves as the Tenebrous Society, and I think they fled, after you blew half the mountain range away."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Where did they go? We did not detect any ship leaving."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"No ship, there is some sort of device below this chamber that allows them to travel vast distances very fast and without a ship. That is why I steered my escape capsule to this place, I wanted to use it to get away from here."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Leaving your First Mate behind. You are a piece of work."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Curtis pulled at his straps. "They are very secretive and warned me not to bring anyone else here. They strapped me to this table to punish me, leading you here. They were very upset to loose this place." Narth said with an urgent voice. "Captain I think there is some sort of self destruct device."

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

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

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Hans said. "There are many energy sources around us, Captain. Hard to tell which one is a bomb.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth pointed to the floor. "Below us. If I interpreted those signal intervals correctly it, we have an estimated 12 minutes."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I said ."Hans evacuate everyone back to the ship and take this piece of garbage with you."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Captain, there is an active unknown device of destruction and we don't know when it will go off."

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<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"You have your orders, Mr. Neugruber. If this is destroyed we never get real answers."

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<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">To Narth I said,. "Can you get me there?"

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">As it always was,the world changed as if someone changed a Virtu program and we stood in a cavern that was just as big as the one we had left.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The device that was resting on a metal arm in the middle of the room was not alien at all. It was a Union P Bomb, complete with Union Fleet markings!

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I approached the bomb. It was in secure mode and on a timer.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Weapon System engage verbal command interface."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"United Stars Weapon System PID-Mark 12, Verbal Command Interface online. Naval Personnel detected. This is an unsafe area as I initiating Core ignition in 6.6 minutes."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Abort activation and go to standby. United Stars Navy Captain Olafson. Verify."

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Abort verified going to Standby!" A blaster shot of tremendous strength hit the bomb command panel inches away from my face. I owed my life to the fact that my suit was still sealed and closed.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth however was not wearing a battle suit and was showered with molten metal and plastic. His black shroud caught fire.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">My suit had localized the source of the blast and returned fire,obliterating an automated weapon dome that had lowered from the ceiling.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The bomb said. "Abort command overwrite accepted. Ignition imminent

<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">

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I agreed that this would be acceptable and left the Asteroid Managers office.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">This time we openly went once more to the Tavern. The barkeeper eyed us with interest for about five seconds, took our orders and lost interest after we paid him. We found ourselves a table and sat down.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I had no clear plan what we should do next and at this point I decided to just stir the pot a little and wait what would happen. One point on my agenda was to put the Bennett family out of business permanently. If I could manage to somehow destroy this Asteroid base it would take away a Pirate base and hideaway. The less bases and posts they had to hide the better.

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">However I could not do it as Black Velvet. There was no weapon in a pirates arsenal that was strong enough to destroy an entire asteroid. We did carry a few P Bombs and one of them would do the trick, but not fast and instantaneous and using a P Bomb was like leaving a Union Calling Card. Perhaps a few well placed timed charges going off a day or two after we left would do the trick.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Shea leaned forward given me a very nice view down her cleavage and she said in a quiet tone. "I can smell that Washroom even out here."

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

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

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I had no clear plan what we should do next and at this point I decided to just stir the pot a little and wait to see what would happen. One point on my agenda was to put the Bennett Family out of business permanently. If I could manage to somehow destroy this Asteroid Base it would take away a Pirate Base and Hideaway. The fewer bases and posts they had to hide at the better, and these so called 'miners' aided and enabled these crooks by providing these services.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">However I could not do it openly as Black Velvet,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Oghar Pirate and the Captain of the Swift Profit were still here and it looked like as if they contemplated talking with us.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Captain Swift got up and walked over, made a theatrical bow and gesture, tipping his forehead: "I am Curtis Swift, Captain of the Swift Profit and I assume you are the famous Black Velvet. Since I assume we might be in a similar line of business, I thought I'd introduce myself."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I eyed him up and down and said: "And what line of business would that be?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Doing what we please and taking advantage of opportunities that might present themselves. A little of this and little of that and not particularly caring about anyone else or their rules."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He pointed at the big table: "This is called the Captain's Table and I am sure Crimson Curse would like to get to know you. He is the ugly Oghar over there."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Before I could respond, everyone turned to the sudden noise at the tavern's entrance. A rowdy looking crew entered, led by a flashy dressed humanoid with blue skin. It was without a doubt a Thauran. How far must I go to not meet any of those blue skinned bastards was the question I was asking myself? He was accompanied by two Oghar males and three most likely real, mangy looking Jooltar warriors. His group contained three men and a woman; all with blue skin. That explained the noise and the air of self importance they displayed.”

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I wondered why the Thauran did not join the Kermac, they could hold competitions of self importance and arrogance and my money wasn't on the Kermac as to who would win.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth said in my mind: "That is exactly the reason I doubt the Kermac would want a thrall species that was equally as good as they in the only field the Kermac really excel."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I formed an answer and expressed my surprise:"Never did I think you would say something like this. Not that I mind, but sarcasm wasn't something I associate with a Narth."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">His thoughts felt slightly amused as he said: "One might point out that we shared the Hugavh and that means I slowly adapt some of your characteristics too. This superciliousness, self-important behavior is of course not completely alien to humans, especially those who consider themselves of Noble origin. Now this is a concept I have spent much time analyzing and have yet to come to a satisfactory conclusion."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I watched the new group and so did everyone else, including Captain Swift. I said to Narth silently and on our shared mental level: "I don't completely understand it, yet it is in a way also part of my heritage, being of an Old Clan on Nilfeheim is something similar. I also don't think all nobility is bad. Look at our Princess, she can switch it on and off just like that, and then there is Shaka. He never makes a big deal out of it but I met his father, the Zulu King at the Diamond Ball and he radiates authority in a way I can only describe as noble."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth didn't respond but I knew he was contemplating what I just had said and put it through his incomprehensible way of analyzing things.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Now he responded saying: "My way of analyzing things is not completely incomprehensible, Shea understands it well."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I wanted to tell him, that not everyone had an IQ of 400 but Captain Swift rolled his eyes and said to me: "That is Captain Dentar Bloom of the Roughnir. Even among our colorful and free society of space-faring professionals he is not well liked. Rather an unpleasant individual."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Dentar Bloom yelled to the barkeeper: "Solik, Tambark and Brohmir Sweat to my table and bring plenty, you three armed cretin!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">They sat down at a table not far from us and the red and yellow dressed captain looked around with a disapproving expression in his face and then waved at Crimson: "Of all the ugly sights in the Galaxy, you my dear Crimson are the ugliest. Be so kind and switch chairs so I don't have to look at you!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Barkeep came to our table to serve us the drinks we had ordered and the loudmouth complained: "I ordered and expect to be served first. Don't waste time with the riff raff!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Barkeeper turned and said: "First pay the tab you left from the last time, eighty Full weights!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Bloom put his hand on his boarding saber, but not pulling it, said: "The Solar winds and the Blessed Blue Virgin were not with us the past few months, but I have a hold full of nice things this time. We will make good profit on the market on Sin 4, but I needed to stop here for fuel."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I pay you when we come back. So I think you will extend our credit now!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Barkeep pointed with one of his arms to the ceiling and to a set of remote controlled Neuro Rippers and said: "You don't scare me Captain Bloom, pay up or leave. This establishment is for paying customers."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">This obviously didn't sit too well with the flashy dressed Thauran. He talked to one of his officers and the Oghar left.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He then said: "I guess I have to do a little auction. It looks like well heeled Captain Swift is here and so is the famous Crimson Curse. One likes to eat and the other likes to rape. So I am thinking I hold a little auction right here and now."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Oghar came back and dragged a beautiful white Togar female behind him. She wore a metal collar and both her hands were attached to it with short chains, making her choke at every move. The cruel metal band had rubbed her raw and there was crusted blood all around the collar. Her legs were kept apart by a steel rod that had cuffs on each end, allowing her to move only with small steps.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I didn't like Togar and only a short time ago I wanted to kill them all, but seeing this poor female treated like that made me wish I could twist the head of that blue skinned bastard.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Her eyes were big and green, and she had a pink nose, that reminded me of the little Holdian Commander. This female could not talk as she was muzzled with several layers of tape around her short snout.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The three armed Pertharian protested saying: "Are you insane, Bloom? The Togar aren't too far from here and they can send war ships just fine if they think we allow Togar females to be sold."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">With a dismissive gesture, Bloom said: "She is an outcast, she said so herself. She is a wanted criminal and I could get good money for her from any Togar male. She might be good in the Arenas but you all know how nice a Togar female can be to human males, if she is properly restrained of course. Now I know you, Captain Swift, and that's why I brought her in. The opening bid is 100 Polos."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">As disgusting as the sale was the lusting gaze in Swifts face and the dirty jokes and unveiled fantasies of the miners present was even worse. It was one of them who said. "I give you the 100 Polos."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Swift immediately countered with a bid of 150. I had forgotten my own drink and my hand was reaching for the butt of my gun, when Har-Hi put his hand on my arm and shook his head almost unnoticeable. He was right of course and I would not jeopardize our mission by starting a fight underneath looming Neuro Rippers. Not for a Togar, I didn't like in the first place.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The price was at 600 Polos now and it looked like the burly looking miner had the deeper pockets, as Swift was not raising his hand again.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I said: "1000 Polos" and almost surprised myself, but I couldn't let her be sold into a fate so cruel. Maybe I could keep her in stasis and later let her go somewhere safe.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">My bid put all eyes on me and the Thauran Captain noticed me, saying: "Who are you? I sell to anyone but you have to have the cash."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I got the Polo's anything else is unimportant."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Swift said. "She's the famous and mysterious Black Velvet."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Thauran made a mocking bow and said: "A Thousand Polos, Full-weight, have been bid for this wild, soft furred promise of pleasure. Do I hear any other bids?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth whispered: "Hans and the Golden are on their way with the money. What do you want done with the Togar female?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Have Cateria check her out and then I guess put her in Stasis till we can let her go somewhere safe. Maybe we can find out where she belongs and see if we can get her as close as possible."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"This might prove difficult, as she isn't what the Thauran claimed she is."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"She isn't Togar?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"She is, but I think we might have purchased what you would call big trouble."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I didn't like what I was hearing and silently responded: "Can you be more specific than that?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"I shall accompany her to the ship and probe deeper and then let you know."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Hans stomped in, and his massive appearance silenced the crowd for a moment. He looked frightening indeed in his version of a pirate costume. He wore a crisscrossing harness similar to the one Har-Hi had, across his enormous chest, but his was made out of flat links of Ultronit steel riveted on thick leather, with a full sized Nul Gravitor Cannon across his back. His knee high boots, also reinforced with armor plates, had the appearance that he could kick a battle robot to scrap. The knuckles of his gauntlet style gloves sported metal spikes and he wore a skull tight leather mask that left the chin and mouth open, with a crest of needle sharp looking metal spikes. He looked like a nightmare version of a dungeon Torturer right out of the horror Visuals that Mao loved to watch.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sobody was almost unnoticed. He looked the same as always, but his bald head sported a ghastly cross shaped scar. From my adventure on Alvor's cove I knew it meant he was an outcast of the Golden society.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The metal grating of the floor was vibrating and made the glasses on the tables dance as Hans came to my table and placed a small heavy chest before me.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sobody unlocked it with an electronic key he wore around his neck and bowed before me. "Captain, your purse, as requested,

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I said: "Pay that Thauran 1000 Polos."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Captain Swift whistled through his teeth as Sobody opened the chest that was filled to the brim with Polo coins packed in clear plastic bags and handed the speechless Thauran two of them saying: "Two bags of 500 each."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Narth got up and whispered to Hans, who took the struggling and terrified looking Togar cat like a toy doll, and left the place.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Until now it had been quiet but now Bloom, looking at the two bags of money he held, said: "By the blessed Blue Virgin, that I call no-nonsense business. You seem to run a tight ship and have gathered a capable crew, respect, respect!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The three armed Pertharian held out two of his hands. "Now that you have money, I think you need to pay your tab."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Since the Barkeeper held the remote control of the Neuro Ripper in his third hand and the projector heads moved with an audible hum, targeting the Thauran, the blue skinned Captain obliged, but he didn't like it one bit as was evident by his facial expression.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Then he came closer to our table with his crew right behind him. He eyed the heavy chest and said to me: "You would not be in the market for 800 tons of fine Togar merchandise?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I sipped at my Dai Beer and said: "No, I am not."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"You see, I have a hold full of that stuff, and it will sell on Sin 4 or at Kaliment for good money. The trouble is, I am a tad short on fuel and these tight Bassett Bastards don't give credit."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I raised my head and looked at him: "And why are you boring me with that. I am sure the miners here always have a need for cheap laborers and after a year or two you'll have enough money to buy fuel, I suppose."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">He sucked in air and said pointing his finger at me: "I don't think you understand, female. I eat the likes of you for breakfast. I am going to take that chest now, and if you try to stop us, my men will do the same to you what we did to the Togar female."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har Hi said."Touch that chest and you touch nothing again with your own hands."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">His men drew weapons and he said. "Do the math, Dai, ten against three." The Barkeep yelled: "I don't care what business you have among each other, but no Energy weapons. If you want to brawl with swords and knifes be my guest, but you pay for any damages."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Now Crimson Curse got up, smashing his fist onto the metal table so hard it left a sizable dent. "Enough of this! Freespace is shrinking by the day and the places our kind can rest and trade are not as common as they used to be. It is you trouble makers that spoil it for the rest of us. If you have quarrels duke it out Captain versus Captain as it is our custom."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Almost everyone in the Tavern got up, except for a few miners. It appeared Crimson was here with most of his crew. Bloom raised his arms. "Well, so be it then. I fight the female and get the Polos, what a splendid suggestion Ugly Crimson!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi shook his head. "That is a bad idea. Reconsider. Fight me instead!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Bloom laughed. "If she wants to play pirate and fly with the big boys then she needs to fight herself. I have no problem spanking her into submission."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I got up so fast my chair flew and crashed somewhere in the back, flipped myself over the table and raked both of my boot heels across his face. My training, both at the academy with Master Alamea and the instructions and mental uploads I received from the Sojonit Sisters, merged into an instinctive style all my own, and I could almost act faster than I could think.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Still in motion I hit the floor and spin kicked the Oghar right next to Bloom for good measure.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Bloom had both his hands before his torn bleeding face, as I grabbed him with my right hand. I was now wearing the Saran Gloves. Elfi had taught me their secrets. It was an ancient and horrible weapon developed by the Sarans many thousand of years ago, based on an alien technology the Sarans had found and kept secret. Touching the side of the glove with the thumb activated it and as soon as it made contact with a living being it released a biochemical gas that interrupted all nerve impulses. Bloom withered away like a cut flower in fast forward.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har Hi was right behind me, both swords drawn cutting three of Bloom's men down and a fourth stared at his arm stumps, his hands lying on the floor still clutching a blaster.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Our constant cross training showed that Shea was no longer just a science geek but a force to be reckoned with as she had her strange sword at the throat of the second Oghar, cutting pieces out of his armor with little flicks of her wrist.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Even our Golden turned out to be much more than just an old man of a dwarf like species. He moved his hand and arm in a strange motion almost as if he threw something, and then pulled at an imaginary string; the effect was deadly and gruesome. One of the Thauran crew members fell to the floor cut in half!

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sobody glared at the remaining men and said to his dead victim: "No one pulls a dagger on my Captain!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I looked around and said: "Anyone else thinking I can't play with the big boys? Step on up!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">All this had happened so fast that Crimson was still standing. Swift whistled again. "Holy shit!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi carefully cleaned his blades with a piece of silk he always carried and said as he put them away. "I did warn him, I might have just clipped an ear off him."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Crimson sat back down and said: "Good riddance to Bloom, maybe we can drink in peace now. You Captain Velvet, of course, are welcome to join us here at the Captain's table."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">One of the surviving crew members of Bloom's group said: "What of us now, are we to report to your ship?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I nodded. " That's right. Go get everyone and report to the Silver Streak."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Har-Hi said: "I'll make sure they are properly accommodated."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I was sitting at the Captain's table as a representative of the Bassett family approached and said: "I am Kooornt Bassett and I can make you an offer for both ships."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I pointed to the Golden and said: "My Quartermaster will take care of that."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sobody grinned from ear to ear and went to a different table.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Swift said: "You certainly live up to your legend and then some."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Crimson quaffed another tankard of Oghar brew and ordered a plate of Lum-Lum Chews and then he said with his deep growling voice: "It is a good thing you dealt with that Thauran. Otherwise I would have. He was just like that cursed Red Dragon and his Sinister Alliance, stirring things up too much." He looked around and leaned forward. "He keeps poking the Union like he did, and they might simply roll in. and then all our days are counted."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Swift shrugged. "I was considering flying to Itheamh, finding out where their secret meeting place is and then joining the Sinister Alliance. There are rumors they plan for something big."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Crimson took one of the Lum-Lum but did not eat, instead he said: "What need do we have for alliances? Is it not the very reason that we do what we do to be free of other man's rules? What good did his last big raid do him?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I shrugged and played the uninformed. "I took a long tour and haven't been in touch with the news lately. Did they attack a Union outpost or something like that?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Crimson chewed with his massive jaws and gave Swift a side look from his small yellow eyes and said after he swallowed:L "Aye he did, Outpost 96. Huge Pirate fleet, and a decoy fleet full of ground troops to boot, filled with every gun wielding scum he could hire on Sin 4 and Itheamh. Barely defended he claimed it would be, and yet he got his arse kicked, by a bunch of Wolfcraft Fighters. He was the only one escaping with nothing in his holds but air. If he has some personal vendetta against the Union, let him do it on his own. I'd rather be dead than fly with his Sinister Alliance." He grabbed another Lum-Lum and bit into it with resolve.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Swift drank a greenish thick liquid that smelled strongly of fermented fruits and said: "Maybe you are right, you're in this business longer than most and you're right from what I heard, and all he got was serious damage to his wonder ship and nothing in terms of profit. Well, he did thin the competition."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The Bassett Brother came to me and sighed, pointing at Sobody who looked as pleased as a Nubhir wolf that got the big bone, ad said: "Smart move, Captain Velvet to have a Golden do business for you. If we had continued haggling I would have been lucky walking out of here with my pants still mine."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Sobody got up and came over as well. "I am going with my friend Kooornt and make sure we get paid."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I smiled at him and said: "You did well, I assume?"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">"Considering the location and the small market, yes Captain."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">After they left Crimson finished a sixth Lum-Lum and said: "Well I am off to go back to business and I suggest you both do the same." He leaned forward once again and lowered his voice as much as he could: "This region isn't going to be safe much longer."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Swift made a surprised face. "Why are you saying this? This is still Freespace!"

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Crimson touched his jeweled encrusted gold encased tusk. "I have it on good authority that the Dai Lord Cam Elf-Na united over 2000 clans under his leadership into one massive mega clan. It is said he is out for revenge. Anyone guilty of dealing with Dai artifacts will feel their wrath. The Bassetts made a killing on Dai scrap, as you know, and he will need lots of raw materials for the Dai Factory Ships when he attacks the Union, which I am certain is his next move."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Swift waved his hand."I actually heard the same rumor on Itheamh, the Bassetts have a defense alliance with the Togar and they aren't far from here and the Togar do keep their contracts, their Queen is known for it."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Crimson placed a few coins on the table and said: "I care not what you believe, but it would need more than two thirds of the Togar fleet to defeat 2000 Dai Clans and I doubt the Queen will make such an effort to defend such an unimportant partner as the Bassetts. I think Cam Elf-Na has the power to take on almost anyone in Freespace now. No one is really safe. Not Sin 4, not Itheamh, not the Kartanians. It would take the reunification of all Oghar Kingdoms to stop him and that won't happen even if the Galaxy turns its spin; and if he moves across into Union Space he will cut a swath of destruction before the Union can stop him. In any case this area of space is soon to be too hot for any individual space ship."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">With those words the Oghar Captain left.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Swift said: "I am heading for Sin 4 and two ships are safer than one, if you're heading that direction, Velvet, we could fly together."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">I nodded. "As a matter of fact, I am going that way too. So yes, it might be a good idea. I am leaving within the hour as well."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">That suited me just fine and if everything went according to plan, he would arrive on Sin 4 inside my Cargo bay and inside a Zero Stasis Box.

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