Everyone at the table was in shocked silence.
Max was the first to process the data. "What do you mean missing?"
Zess, with her jaw set, abruptly stood. She moved out to the living room in a quick jog. "I am calling Nomissa, I need to get ssome proper fucking ansswerss." Zess yelled, she was obviously upset.
Joon stood and went after her and almost everyone else followed her example. Agatha stayed so that she could clear the table, her two Hands being efficient and quiet. She looked across the table and sighed, "Well, at least they liked the pizza."
The Ambassador slipped down into the pit and hurriedly sat at the com-table where she immediately tapped up a com request. A holo-screen coalesced and Zess immediately began, "Viss!" She hissed at a Dauzakai, "What the hell iss going on!"
The Intendant burst into tears, "I don't know Ambassador Zess! I sswear! Miku wass on her way to the sshuttle..."
Zess demanded, "And?"
Viss was bawling, "A-a-and Miku never sshowed up at the dock!"
Zess glared, "Sso between your office and the dock sshe dissappeared?"
Intendant Viss nodded.
"When did thiss happen?" Zess looked furious.
Viss blinked, "Ssixty-three minutess ago..."
"Miku has been misssing for over an hour!... And NOW you whissper me!?" Zess barked.
Viss sobbed... "M-my ssecurity is invesstigating...We will find Miku... We have to..." Viss's eyes looked pleading.
"Yess... WE will!" Zess nodded and, with hateful, narrowed eyes, she cut the connection. The dinner party slowly and quietly filtered down into the couch pit, the sisters looked dazed.
Zess's sisters sat with her, but out of respect they didn't say a word. Joon saw the look on Zess's face and just sat next to Max.
A new Dauzakai hurriedly jogged in from the foyer.
"Nomissa!" Zess exclaimed.
The Caretaker glanced around, taking note who was there. Nomissa immediately knelt before Zess, "What hass happened, your Excellency?"
"I got a direct whissper messsage from Intendant Viss on Yelenth sstation, Miku went misssing over an hour ago!" The Ambassador's voice cracked as her emotions were starting to fray.
Nomissa nodded, "Pleasse allow me to make ssome inquiriess, your Excellency?"
"Of course Nomissa! Pleasse, anything you can do!" Zess replied, her eyes welling.
The crew of the Deirdre and her sisters started comforting Zess as caretaker Nomissa lay next to the com-table and slipped into cyberspace
Samira got a good look at Nomissa, she was physically smaller than Zess or her sisters, however, the Caretaker obviously had even more cybernetics than the Ambassador...and some were obviously meant for martial applications.
Samira made careful note of the many possible cybernetic weapons systems on display and developed a preliminary assessment of her capabilities.
The emotions in the room were turbulent...
Agatha walked out to the doorway of the living room and gently pushed calm across the couches and Tizzi immediately began crooning softly, her triangular head locked on Agatha. Less stared at her Chazi companion and, following its gaze, she quickly got up and went to Agatha.
"Sshe's never done that before, I didn't even know Chazi could make noisse like that."
Agatha smiled at Less, "That was my fault, I was trying to calm everyone a little."
Tizzi crooned softer as Agatha held her two fingers in a "V" in greeting as was discussed over dinner and Agatha smiled as the Chazi gently 'tasted' her fingers with antennae. However, the Chazi didn't settle down, but instead reached out with two, normally retracted, sharp spiky forelimbs.
"Tizzi, no..." Less's voice sounded fearful.
Agatha calmly held out her arm for Tizzy, sending soft gentle greetings to the Chazi. Tizzi accepted the offer and carefully climbed along Agatha's arm, softy vibrating her body as she did so.
.
"I don't know why sshe is doing thiss!" Less exclaimed, "I am sso ssorry!"
Agatha shifted her cat-like eyes to Less, sending deliberate calm to the Dauzakai.
"Oh..." Less immediately relaxed, blinking in sudden realization, "...you're not human."
"No... I'm not." Agatha winked at her, then smiled at the Chazi.
Less looked at Agatha in wonder, then looked at her own companion interacting with her. "The Chazi have their own wayss, I don't alwayss undersstand why they do thingss." Less commented softly.
Agatha reassured Less, "It is quite alright, Tizzi and I have been properly and fully introduced now."
The Chazi crawled back over to Less's shoulder and settled down immediately. While quite unique, the quiet exchange was missed by the rest of the living room as they were occupied comforting Zess and discussing Miku.
Zess and Joon were discussing the surprising lack of security surrounding Miku, as everything was monitored digitally. "I never thought ssomeone could 'Go' misssing, it'ss unthinkable." Vess pouted.
Max and Joon exchanged glances, Max nodded to her. Joon nodded, she looked Zess in the eyes "We can be very capable in these matters and we are able and willing to help with anything you need. You understand our role, but that is on hold until we can deal with and move beyond this crisis. Our cards are on the table and we will hold nothing back if you choose to honor our request to be of assistance."
Zess's eyes widened, "Thank you, dear friendss."
Astrid and Samira were talking with Vess and Ness about the standards of security surrounding the Ambassador.
"No one jusst disssappearss on Dau." Vess commented.
Ness nodded, "We can be tracked from orbit."
Zess heard that and turned around, "What did you ssay?"
Ness blinked at her sister, "I ssaid 'We can be tracked from orbit', we are all chipped."
Zess gasped, and covered her mouth with a long fingered hand.
Max understood immediately... Miku had no cybernetics at all... Not a single chip.
Zess explained how even the small risk of cybernetic enhancement was unacceptable to the project. "It wass deemed too dangerouss to allow her any augmentation," Zess cringed. Tears rolled down the Ambassadors snout, She leaned into her sisters arms.
At that moment, Nomissa sat up next to the couch, blinking rapidly as her data jacks began snaking back into her arm. Nomissa took a moment to reorient herself and Samira knelt down next to Nomissa, offering her a glass of water.
Nomissa nodded in thanks as she accepted the water, she also got a good look at the human cyborg. She noticed the very inhuman-like hooves and Slarmian-like arm arrangement. Nomissa drained the glass and cleared her throat. "Your Excellency, I have information..."
Zess was seated with her sisters next to the Caretaker.
"I'm afraid it'ss not very encouraging: there iss no ssign of Miku on Yelenth." The Caretaker addressed the Ambassador softly but clearly. "Ssurveillance showss Miku moving in and around Intendant Viss's officess sseveral timess, then she just vanisshed..."
Zess nodded, her face showing grave concern.
"We have a time sstamp on her last recorded vissual ssighting." Concluded Nomissa.
Samira shared a pained look with Astrid. Joon noticed the exchange, "What is it?"
Zess looked at Joon, then looked at Samira with questions in her eyes.
"Visual media can be manipulated," Samira commented, "When was the last time flesh and blood eyes saw Miku?"
Nomissa shook her head, "I don't know."
Zess clenched her jaw, then looked at the Caretaker. "Nomissa... On my authority, I charge you to open an invesstigation, immediately."
The Caretaker bowed her head, "Yess, your Excellency.
The Ambassador turned to Joon, "I cannot be ssure of anything beyond Nomissa's professionalissm, But I trusst your family."
Joon looked at every one of her wives in turn, each nodded without a word. "We are at your service... Your Excellency." Joon replied to Zess solemnly.
Joon and Agatha stayed with Zess and her sisters while Vika and Astrid returned to The Deirdre to use the advanced cyber hardware in the Dierdra, modifying programs in anticipation of a deep cyber dive: Astrid was intent on adapting her filtering programs to find digital manipulations in any security footage.
Nomissa departed with Max, Samira, and Agatha to Yelenth Station in the Ambassador's shuttle craft.
The Dauzakai Ambassadorial shuttle was small but of exceptional design, just large enough to transport four with a little room for luggage.
While the Ambassador's Shuttle was docking Max leaned over to Agatha. "I want you to stick with Nomissa, guard her like you would Joon." Max whispered quietly.
Agatha nodded and whispered, "Copy that, Captain."
Agatha was in her iconic, deadly schoolgirl uniform. Her normally forgotten purse dangled at her hip, it's strap across her chest, ready for quick deployment.
Nomissa wore a deep blue armored jacket.
Upon it's left breast was a beautifully embroidered bronze sigil stitched into the fabric signifying her station and commission.
The shuttle craft docked, Nomissa eyed the landing seeing there were seven Dauzakai security at the docks. Nomissa glanced at Max, "Officially, you are under my authority, pleasse don't initiate any violence."
Max nodded, "Of course... this is your investigation, we're here to back you up. We will only return fire if fired upon, and even then we will inflict as few casualties as possible to ensure your safety."
"Thank you, Dame Max." Nomissa nodded then thumbed the airlock open.
As they gathered on the gantry, the Dauzakai on the docks came together and approached them.
"Caretaker Nomissa?" The lead Dauzakai asked.
Nomissa turned to the speaker, "I am."
"I am Caretaker Duri, Intendant Viss's ssecurity advissor." The leading Dauzakai nodded.
Nomissa drew closer as she nodded in respect, "We met briefly in cyber."
They bumped fists in greeting.
"By directive of Ambassador Zess, I have been given authority to invesstigate, your asssistance would be appreciated, but it issn't neccisssary." Nomissa announced softly.
Caretaker Duri bowed, "You will have the full cooperation of the Intendant'ss office. We have been advised of your authority in this matter and any assistance you require from my department will be met." Caretaker Duri leaned closer, "Privately, Intendant Viss is beside herself with worry and embarrassment. If this investigation could be kept need to know it would be much appreciated."
Nomissa nodded and whispered, "We would also prefer this situation stay contained."
Duri smiled her appreciation and eyed the Terrans, "I wassn't aware the Ambasssador had humanss on her ssecurity detail."
"Their participation is officially ssanctioned as impartial investigatorss. They are to be resspected and trussted as if they sspeak for me." Nomissa replied and she started walking through the small group, Agatha stayed with her. Her role immediately made clear to all who were present.
Max and Samira exchanged looks, then followed behind Nomissa. Several Dauzakai gawked openly at Samira as they traveled through the station. She didn't mind as her exotic limbs and elegant ecru blouse and skirt made her feel confident and she moved with the grace of an experienced hunter.
Agatha noticed Caretaker Duri's group walking closely with them but she felt their emotions were those of attendant security and not hostile.
Nomissa glanced at Agatha and, seeing her evaluating the detail, said, "There won't be any political pussh-back from your pressence here."
"This is good, yes?" Agatha asked softly.
The Dauzakai Ambassador's security advisor peered into Agatha's eyes. Nomissa nodded her head, "Thiss iss ssetting precidence... I ssee it as a possitive."
Agatha smiled at the compliment and bowed slightly.
They arrived at the security offices for Intendant Viss and Duri's group went in various directions, resuming their normal duties.
Duri nodded to Nomissa, "I have already shown you the ssurveillance, what else can I do to assist in your invesstigation, Caretaker Nomissa?"
Nomissa glanced at Samira, "My associate, Ssam and I will need comss with full accesss."
Duri immediately led them to her own office, "Thiss com-dessk hass full holo and cyber access."
Nomissa locked eyes with Duri, "Thank you, your professionalissm and asssisstance will be well remembered in my report.
Duri bowed with respect, "Anything I can do, Caretaker."
Max watched Duri leave her own office and close the door.
Nomissa faced Max and Agatha, "Pleasse keep uss ssafe, while we work."
Samira, lifted the hem of her fashionable ecru skirt with one of her left hands. Her thigh plate cycled open softly. With her other left hand she pulled a Kaimau Hurricane, handing it butt first to Max. Max smiled, accepting the heavy pistol. The exchange was not missed by Nomissa, she nodded in approval.
Nomissa and Samira sat on either side of the com desk, their data jacks snaking out as Samira winked at Max, "Showtime."
Max quietly said, "Protocol Level One-Alpha."
Samiria nodded acknowledgement as they immediately fell unconscious, the sign of a full dive into cyberspace.
Max peered at Agatha, "Can you join them?"
"Yes, Captain... I already have." Agatha smiled softly.
Sami-Faun coalesced in front of what looked like a fountain. There was an interesting digital effervescence, bits of data frozen in mid-fall in and around the construct.
Nomissa's Avatar coalesced next to Sami-Faun. The tall golden Dauzakai surveyed her surroundings before stepping up to the fountain where Nomissa's Avatar laid both hands on the edge. The fountain flowed, hundreds of small frames of surveillance rolled by.
"I fear thiss iss going to take hourss." Nomissa stated.
Sami-Faun looked at the rest of the surroundings. The fountain was at the center of a beautifully ornate and manicured garden. Tall hedgerows lined the area, Sami-Faun looked up and saw layers of duplicate gardens stretched out above her.
Samira's current perception couldn't quite penetrate far enough to see an end to them. "What are we looking for?" Samira asked, as Sami-Faun completed the turn.
Sami-Faun faced Nomissa's Avatar.
Nomissa responded, "I'm collecting ssome of the imagess we have here to be analyzed further."
Samira thought about that, "What about collecting all of them?"
Nomissa's Avatar shook its head negative, "We don't have the bandwidth, it'ss far too much data."
"Well, If you can keep a secret... I think I know someone who can help." Samira responded.
The Caretaker's Avatar nodded, "Her Excellency trusstss you, then sso do I."
"Agatha?" Samira asked.
*Yes, Samira?*
"Do you have some bandwidth to spare?" Samira knew the answer.
A dozen ethereal felines shimmered into existence and jumped up onto the rim of the fountain.
Samira swayed mentally at the wave crashing through her.
"Remarkable." Nomissa reacted, awe tinged her voice, "When I saw Agatha'ss eyess, I had my ssusspicionss."
Samira felt a swell of power through Sami-Faun...
"Where do we want this data?" Samira asked.
Nomissa responded, "Your engineer ssaid sshe would have a filter casscade for it."
Sami-Faun nodded, "To Astrid then..."
Samira sent the huge data stream to her platinum-blonde wife on the Deirdre.
*Samira?*
"Yes, Ag's?" Samira responded.
*I would like to suggest we upload all the surveillance of the station for the time-frame in question.*
"I am not ssure I can get authorization for that." Nomissa stated.
*I don't believe that will be an issue... Caretaker.*
Nomissa's Avatar turned it's golden head and looked at Sami-Faun.
Sami-Faun shrugged, Samira responded, "Agatha is very talented."
Caretaker Nomissa quietly said, "Mythically sso."
More shimmers appeared and an additional dozen ghostly cats started running full-tilt all over the multiple garden nodes of Yelenth station.
Samira felt another powerful increase as additional streams of data flowed through Sami-Faun.
The pinprick tingles from the power coursing through her neural network was nice. It felt different than anything she had ever experienced. It was stimulating, intoxicating even.
Nomissa had stopped parsing the small screens, her golden avatar turned to observe Sami-Faun. The Maliri User Construct Samira called Sami-Faun was covered in a nimbus of opalescent energy.
Nomissa would only ever report this to the Ambassador; she was witnessing events she could not explain or even fully define...things that should not be able to happen.
Astrid had converted a copy of the four layered HD filtering program she had written into something very different.
Instead of blending and softening, it was now used to enhance and refine.
Agatha had helped her convert the program, and gave her a warning when the massive download hit the Deirdre.
"Holy shit!" Astrid muttered, watching the shear volume come in.
Astrid, again with Agatha's help, started sifting through the various streams.
"I think this is going to end up being mostly you." Astrid said after finishing her first stream while Agatha was sifting through her ninth.
"What we have here is a giant loaf of bread, and we are slicing it up a little at a time looking for raisins." Astrid explained.
Agatha giggled, "Should I bake you some cinnamon raisin bread?"
Astrid beamed a smile, "That does sound pretty good."
"Ah!" Agatha blinked, she turned to Astrid, "I think I found a raisin!"
Max listened to Agatha explaining the "Raisin Bread" analogy Astrid had coined.
"So you found a raisin?" Max smiled crookedly.
Agatha beamed, "I sure did, stray pixels left from 'Quick and Dirty' manipulated digital media."
Max smirked, "I'm going to guess Astrid called it that?
"Yes... She said 'Most people do everything that way.'" Agatha responded.
Max agreed, "Astrid is a perfectionist, and I couldn't be happier."
Agatha giggled, "A good quality for an engineer."
Max nodded, "So... now you're looking to find another raisin?"
Max glanced over at the two unconscious members of the team.
"Not looking for... found!" Agatha smiled again.
Samira and Nomissa were also getting an explanation of "Raisin hunting"
Samira laughed, "Sounds like Tracing to me, well done!"
Nomissa asked if Cinnamon Raisin Bread was sweet or savory.
"Sweet, definitely sweet." Samira responded.
"I would like to try it, if there iss going to be ssome made." Nomissa requested.
Agatha giggled,
*I will definitely make some.*
The giggle from Agatha was haunting.
Sami-Faun looked at the ghostly felines... they shimmered in opalescence.
Astrid's eyes grew large... her fingers were a blur. "Oh, yea!" Astrid said excitedly, "I am following a faint trail of pixels, they are leading to the 'other' docks."
Agatha nodded, "According to Nomissa, those are the trade docks."
"Okay, looking up ship's in and out of the trade docks during the time frame." Astrid blinked.
"None?" Astrid's lips thinned... "Fuckmuffins"
Agatha narrowed her eyes looking at the data.
"Expand your search to 'Freight' or 'Transport' Drones." Suggested Agatha.
Astrid updated her search.
"Three possibles..." Astrid nodded, "All of them went down to the surface of Dau."
"Freight Droness?" Nomissa said with shock, "Ssequestering a ssubdued Miku into a sshipping crate? What a callouss act!"
Samira agreed, "At least we know she is still alive."
"How are you sso ssure?" Nomissa asked.
"If they just wanted her dead, they would have left a corpse." Samira postulated further, "This was a complicated operation, if it wasn't so rushed we wouldn't have found any trace."
"Can we tap into shipping data?" Samira asked.
Nomissa responded, "I will assk for accesss..."
*Done...*
Agatha interrupted her, *I do not believe we have the luxury of time.*
Nomissa marveled, "It iss mosst fortunate her Excellency hass befriended one sso talented."
Samira laughed, "Yea... Agatha made a very similar impression on me."
Agatha updated Joon and Zess of the progress of the investigation.
"Haeguss Enclave." The Ambassador repeated one of the freight destinations. "They have ssuffered a rassh of unfortunate breeding sscoress. Sso dire the fate of late, they might loosse repressentation." The Ambassador turned to Joon, "I must report thiss to the council..."
Joon blinked, glancing briefly at Agatha then back to Zess, "Should we leave?"
Zess shook her head, "They are aware of your pressence here, though, I did not update them of your recent involvement... Ass of yet."
Joon smirked, "I leave it to your discretion, your Excellency, we are not seeking recognition."
Zess smiled fondly at Joon, "I am aware... In that casse, if you and Agatha would ssit on the other sside of the pit." Zess glanced at her sisters tilting her head suggesting they join her guests on the other couches. They quickly moved as Zess sat alone in front of her low com-table.
Zess took a deep breath and tapped in a holocom request.
Agatha's dozens of ethereal felines dissipated one by one, Nomissa watched the shimmering opalescence leave Sami-Faun.
"I musst update her Excellency of our progress," Nomissa stated.
*I have been giving Ambassador Zess a play-by-play, Nomissa, she is requesting a council meeting as we speak.*
The golden avatar nodded, as Nomissa responded, "Let uss then Recall back to RL..."
Joon watched and listened wide eyed. Agatha was translating through Joon's earbud... The Dauzakai language was amazing. To human ears it sounded like music.
The quiet hisses punctuated with clicks and chirps reinforced Joon's opinion of the Dauzakai. They added Terran standard to their language education along with half a dozen others.
The Ambassador greeted each member of the Council. Zess gave an overview of the events from her understanding concerning Miku during the last ninety minutes. The Council consisted of five Superintendents and a Justice who along with the Ambassador were the seven members of the Dauzakai Planetary Government.
As Zess finished her overture, the first round of questions started. After a dozen questions one of the Superintendents barked at another. Two of the Superintendents began a heated debate, but the Justice interrupted.
The Justice was the highest ranking Caretaker on Dau. As such, she kept order as was the duty of her High Office. Zess answered a question from the Justice after which the Justice then proposed a continuation of the investigation and expeditious pursuit of actions based upon the discovery.
The proposal did not include expanding knowledge of the incident to regional authorities, the idea that keeping the circle as small as possible was expedient as Miku's life might hang in the balance.
The Justice called for discussion...
There were three questions, which Zess answered. Zess made a long impassioned statement then called for the question...The Justice called for a vote on the question... Five voted in favor and Zess thanked the Council for their valuable time.
The holo-screen dissipated and the Dauzakai Ambassador Zess turned to look at Joon. "Exquisite Lady Jooniper, On behalf of the Dauzakai I would petition employment of your sservicess to Locate and Resscue Miku."
Joon and Zess locked eyes. "Will you pleasse help uss?" Zess impassioned softly.
Agatha whispered through Joon's earbud the level of emotion she was feeling from the Ambassador.
Joon slowly stood and walked around the table to Zess... She then knelt next to her. "My family will do everything in our power to Find and Save Miku, you have my word."
Zess gasped and embraced Joon. With Zess's sisters now crowding in with her on the couch Agatha updated all members of the investigation as to the newly expanded mission parameters.
Max handed the borrowed Kaimau Hurricane back to Samira after she had recovered from her dive. And several empty water glasses now adorned Duri's com-desk.
Nomissa was updated by Zess on a direct link. The investigation team now worked out protocols for what needed to happen to ensure a successful conclusion.
Nomissa summoned Duri. The Intendant's security Caretaker was given Council orders to lock down the offices and maintain a complete information blackout until further notice.
Duri nodded in acceptance, realizing just how dire the situation had become.
Nomissa led the investigative team back to the Ambassadors shuttle. While walking to the docks Max rolled a number of scenarios through her mind and by the time they had buttoned up the shuttle, Max knew what she would be asking. Nomissa eased the shuttle from the Service dock.
"How difficult is a remote holo and cyber media blackout of an area to orchestrate?" Max glanced at Nomissa.
Nomissa nodded understanding where Max was going with her thoughts.
"It can happen with little difficulty, conssent from the high council iss all that iss required."
Max pursed her lips then nodded, she then looked at Agatha. The emotions from Max caused Agatha's eyes to widen.
"You got a dry run with the pizza party. You're Miku's best chance of survival, Agatha... I am giving you operational authority."
"All Hands to Action stations!" Max ordered her newly minted Tactical Officer.
Agatha nodded once, "Aye-Aye, Captain."
Agatha apprised Joon and Zess of Max's orders.
Joon smirked, "Your Excellency, Agatha and I offer to stay at your side to liaise for this operation. My lovely spouse here will be able to keep us fully informed as events unfold."
To emphasize her declaration she put her arm around Agatha's waist. Vess and Ness glanced at each other with confusion. Less already knew Agatha was far more than she appeared.
Zess smiled, "Thank you, Exquissite Lady, You and Agatha are more than welcome."
Vika had been sitting on the pilot's couch for about ten minutes, then glanced at Agatha. Agatha nodded at Vika as Max gave her new orders.
"Conatini, Agatah" The freckled woman smiled.
Agatha grinned, "Tanku Vika, des watta gud gerl, ayam luf yoo."
A few minutes later the platinum-blonde engineer stepped onto the bridge as Agatha got up from navigation. Agatha slid onto the command couch and noted the Ambassador's shuttle was just over five minutes out.
With Samira's guidance one of her Hands was also prepping the Cyborg's combat set, armor, and weapons.
Astrid took her seat at navigation, "Do we have a target battle-space?"
"Incoming now..." Agatha nodded as she sent the Haeguss Enclave notated topographic projection map.
Astrid studied it... "How far out are they?"
Vika glanced at Agatha.
"Two minutes out... go ahead and warm her up, Vika." Agatha nodded to her red-headed spouse.
Vika brought ship control online and the military-grade Trankaran sub-light engines were coming up to temp as the Ambassador's shuttle touched down.
Nomissa was going through her shut down procedures as Agatha and Samira exited the shuttle, but Dame Max waited with the Caretaker.
Nomissa glanced at the Terran, "What are you waiting for, Dame Max?"
"You... I want you there for this... It's your Investigation after all." Max smiled.
Nomissa blinked, then faced Max, "I really appreciate that... Thank you."
After the shuttle was locked down, Max and Nomissa trotted to the Deirdre's open cargo bay door. Agatha was at the door and as Max and Nomissa crossed the threshold she thumbed the DNA lock and the heavy door began to close.
Max nodded to Agatha as she led Nomissa deeper into the tiny warship.
Nomissa followed the tall Terran Captain, Dame Max. The moment her Ambassador had informed Nomissa that she was going to invite the Terran holo-celebrity Jooniper Smith...Nomissa had done a deep dive security background search on her. Ms. Smith's information was mostly straight forward. A Marine instructor and a Doctor for parents.
It appeared though Jooniper's wife was somewhat of an enigma. No public acknowledgment, only that Joon wasn't single. Information for Captain Max Anders was oddly thin. Only notable mention was Jericho Olympic Archery and time in the TFMC. No place of birth... No family information...
Nomissa had been a Caretaker for far too long not to be suspicious.
Then the Staverka Ambassadorial Event Massacre happened.
Nomissa had cursed the decision to leave security to the Slarmians... Zess's faith in Ambassador Crinx's arrangements should not have kept Nomissa from her side. Captain Max had saved the two Ambassadors... and almost a hundred Slarmian nobility. Nomissa's clearance had allowed her to see some of the media not released for public consumption.
Jooniper Smith's wife was much more than she appeared.
Nomissa knew the Terran Marine was missing limbs after the massacre. Yet Max Anders did not display any serious injuries...Then Zess gave Nomissa information that changed everything.
Starchild.
Her Excellency brought Nomissa inside on everything she knew about her guests.
Nomissa was rarely surprised, her cynicism as a lifelong Caretaker had left her numb to them. But a mythical creature straight out of Bolon ancient history definitely got her attention...and then some. Not only was a legendary Starchild a member of the Deirdre's crew, but a spouse of Jooniper and Max.
Nomissa was now looking forward to the next revelation to a seemingly endless string of witnessing the impossible.
Dame Max walked up an interior ramp and stopped at a heavy open door. Inside, Nomissa could see other crew members gearing up in combat armor.
The tall Captain turned to Nomissa, "Let's see if we can get you kitted out, Caretaker."
Vika brought up the power levels on the corvette she was piloting and the Deirdre eased out of the huge hanger shaped grotto above Sakima-sadi-misimi.
The Terran corvette then descended fifteen hundred meters and moved out over the dark waters of the massive Dau ocean. Agatha had Vika fly low above the water and when the ship was only meters above the waves the Deirdre slipped into it's stealth suite.
Activating the matrix of sensor-baffles, the corvette was now invisible to passive electronic sensors and all but invisible to the naked eye.
Vika changed course, now flying parallel to the coast and maintaining eleven kilometers from the shore.
Agatha altered the display on the PCCFX 'digital paint' to copy the horizon's colors and shading on the shore side.
"How close do we need to get to get a link?" Vika asked no one in particular.
Astrid answered, "About a kilometer, the closer the better of course..."
Vika nodded, she glanced at her airspeed, "About twenty minutes..."
Agatha nodded, "I'll have Samira at the ready."
Samira glanced at Nomissa and wiggled fingers hello... with one of her six hands.
Nomissa blinked, "Hello Ssam... Thosse limbss look very...intimidating."
Max and Agatha were trying to size pieces of armor for Nomissa's small frame.
"Yea... This is my combat set, so intimidation is an added bonus." Samira smirked at the yellow scaled Dauzakai. Samira girded on her heavy armor breastplate then Agatha turned to her.
"I'm ready for you in the Com-hub, Hon." Agatha smiled.
Samira nodded, "Alright... let's do this."
She grabbed her helmet and thumped out, her broad hooves sounding new to Nomissa. Nomissa was fitted in the Terran anti-ballistic armor, with heavy plates covering her vitals.
Max and Agatha helped Nomissa into a nanoweave coverall and poncho. Agatha helped Max with her armor next.
Max glanced at her, "Are you suiting up too?"
Agatha smiled, "I already have five prepped and checked in the briefing area."
Max nodded, "Any Idea how long it will take in cyber?"
"I am not exactly sure, but I have much more confidence after the Yelenth station foray."
Agatha glanced at Nomissa and winked. Nomissa smiled weakly.
Max was swathed in nanoweave, "You'll be able to get Sam kitted out in good time?"
Agatha nodded, "Absolutely, her armor is tougher than ours, and the nanoweave is easy."
Max tilted her head, "What is she going with?"
Agatha smiled, "You'll see..."
The expression on Max's face was priceless, "You are quite playful today, command must agree with you."
Agatha beamed a smile, "It is nice to weave things together."
Max smiled, "You seem to have a handle on it."
"I will of course follow my Captain's orders..." Agatha smooched Max's cheek.
Max nodded, "I know, that's why I put you in charge of this operation."
Nomissa blinked
Max turned to Nomissa, "Do you need a weapon, Caretaker?"
The Dauzakai gave a short bow, "I have sseveral... Thank you, Dame Max."
Max nodded, "Let's head down to the briefing area."
Samira thumped into the Com-hub.
Agatha was at two of the double com stations, one Hand looked to Samira and smiled.
She pulled out a pillow, "Until we have your diving chair made, I can only suggest a spot between com-stations."
Samira nodded, "That works."
The sandle-wood skinned woman put her helm on the deck and laid down next to the com station.
Agatha tucked the pillow under Samira's head, "We are about five minutes out... All I need you to do is get in there... nice and quiet."
Samira nodded, "I will do my best."
"I know you will." Agatha laid down and cuddled up next to her.
The exotic pale-skinned woman gently kissed Samira for a while until... "Thirty seconds."
Data jacks snaked out of one of Samira's hands, but she held her dive until it was time.
Vika dropped velocity, allowing the wash to dissipate, she kept altitude to fifteen meters and Astrid watched the signal display while Agatha altered the PCCFX 'digital paint' to reproduce an image of the water behind the Deirdre in real time.
It wasn't as effective as a nanoweave, but it helped.
Astrid suddenly announced, "We have a signal..."
Max went through her checks, finding the routine was calming her pre-action Adrenalin rush. She carried her customized assault rifle, the compact bullpup design with a tactical sling.
Nomissa was quiet in the briefing area, glancing occasionally at Agatha, and all of her hardware. The five Hands were in full kit, two carried XR-75's... Three carried XLR-120's.
Agatha had a specific plan in mind... She just needed the intel to fill in the details. Max had Agatha run this operation for a very unique reason. The Captain knew coordination and information were key factors in these kinds of missions.
Agatha's ability to be an active participant in all facets of a mission was a level of advantage that Max couldn't even begin to fathom. Max didn't know how long it would take Agatha to get the intel she required, but after the Yelenth Station experience, Max knew Agatha would get it and get it quickly.
The trick was... Could she get it without setting off alarms. The safe liberation and extraction of Miku was the only priority of this mission and Max knew Agatha would do everything she could to succeed in that.
"Go..." Agatha said simply to the woman who cuddled next to her. Samira dove... the immediate swirl of color swarmed as she coalesced into the local cyber-node. She didn't move, or adjust her facing, she did a passive scan of where she was.
There were only two constructs... but they did not appear to be active. One looked like a twisting tree, very pretty, so it might only be decorative. The other was a kind of raised roadway...She noticed she was at the very edge of the node.
"I'm in... and it's quiet... all on you, Ag's."
Samira staggered as thirty avatars shimmered into the node at a full run, moving many times faster than she had ever seen anything move in cyber.
*Sit tight, I will be as fast as I can.*
With that... Agatha's ethereal ghost cats disappeared into the distance.
Astrid stared unblinking at the display...The powerful passive sensors installed on the Deirdre were exceptional. A certain platinum-blonde rating nine engineer had never heard of Terran sensors so sensitive.
Astrid suspected they were NTT 'Not Terran Tech' or at least a Terran copy of NTT. Her previous job was all about NTT, Astrid had personally worked on dozens of Terran ships upgrading them with NTT.
Astrid was comfortable with the idea of NTT and loved new and exciting possibilities. Considering the pile of spy tech that she knew was NTT Astrid was confident of her view of the magpie nature of humanity and the TFN in particular.
Terrans happily stole anything that wasn't nailed down and guarded with murderous intent.
Something flew along the rocky coast... it was large, about three times the size of a hover car "Contact... " Astrid said out loud, knowing full well Agatha had already seen it.
Agatha stood behind Astrid, "It's a Heavy Battle Drone." She sent the information she had on it to Astrid's com. The schematic appeared, updating with sensor data.
The drone was armed with two 15mm tri-barreled HMG's and a 40mm Gauss cannon. It's armor was heavy enough to shrug off any small arms fire, if you could get through it's shielding. It also carried four Light Battle Drones which were hover bike sized and lightly armored but ridiculously fast and maneuverable. Those were armed with a 10mm LMG and a 20mm Gauss rifle and the ability to self-detonate with an abbreviated torpedo-like warhead.
"Fuckmuffins... Dauzakai don't mess about." Astrid said, staring at the technical data.
Agatha nodded, "Their entire Warfare doctrine is based on various types of Drones."
Astrid blinked, "Why is it deployed?"
"It's on a training exercise, or at least that is how it was authorized." Agatha pursed her lips, "It's not very subtle, but Mulsi Holdship has a number of..." The pale-skinned exotic woman gasped softly and looked at nothing in particular.
Vika glanced over at the mission leader and Astrid looked up at Agatha as well.
Samira felt innumerable surges of power go through her...Sami-Faun managed to hold steady through the deluge. "If you can hear me... I hope you find something soon." Samira said out loud.
She heard the haunting sound of Agatha giggling in cyberspace
*I am finding what is required, Samira... and I can always hear you... I am still in your arms after all.*
Samira's anxiety fell, "You've been out there for a while."
*I am doing as much as I can to make Miku's extraction as efficient as possible.*
"Oh, so you've found her?" Samira asked.
*I have, but we are running low on time... You can Recall now, Samira.*
Cat-eyes... Steel grey gilded with silver greeted Samira when she opened hers. "Let's get you kitted out, you need to attend the briefing in operations."
Agatha helped Samira to her feet, gave her a bottle of water to chug and dressed her in nanoweave.
Before Samira made it to the briefing she was locked into her helmet with her visor up.
Agatha gave her briefing to the bridge and operations simultaneously, Vika was already following a flight path. While the Deirdre was looping back out, away from the rocky shore Agatha explained the layouts that she had set on holo-screens on the bridge and in the briefing area.
Samira, Max and Nomissa would be primary recovery. It was up to Agatha to keep everyone alive, guide the mission, troubleshooting... Literally. Agatha lifted the large anti ballistic riot shield, It had a nanoweave sleeve, Samira accepted it and she was able to hold it behind her back with two of her six arms, changing her appearance from spider to beetle in an instant.
Agatha had brought Samira's two XR-73's. Then, when Agatha showed Samira the short whip-like item... She smiled broadly. Samira opened the aperture in her armor and the corresponding aperture between her dimples of Venus. Agatha eased the blunt object into the offered synthetic orifice and Samira moaned very softly.
Samira cycled through the locks with her wetware as the limb was accepted into her isolated system and she proceeded to log all the capabilities of the new appendage.
As Agatha continued with her briefing, she told them what they needed to know, and would not elaborate due to time constraints or possible changing mission parameters. She felt Max's pride and Nomissa's professional approval...Samira was still recovering from her dive, but the emotions from her were appreciative.
"We will deploy through the boom, fully extended and lowered to the shore line. The less exposure the Deirdre receives the more likely our insertion will remain covert." Agatha explained.
The breaching boom airlock could be canted at thirty degrees port or starboard and down at a forty-five degree angle, allowing for deployment three meters below the ship.
Agatha nodded to her team and, with all checks completed, they cycled through the boom to the armored breaching lock.
"Helmets, and hoods." Agatha declared.
Agatha did a H.U.D. team check... eight green...
"Engage nanoweave."
They were ready to drop.
The corvette came in low, it's powerful Trankaran maneuvering thrusters held station with ease. The breaching boom extended and gave the Deirdre an appearance of having a proboscis.
Vika feathered the thrusters and held, within a meter of the soft grey sand of the beach. The Ambassador's operatives dropped within seconds...In two separate places. Agatha said, "Go!" at the same time.
As Deirdre's digital camouflage made the tiny warship less noticeable on the deserted stretch of beachhead, Vika feathered back with a soft touch as the ship deftly rotated. Agatha aligned and retracted the breaching boom... it had performed exactly as she had expected.
The optical camouflage the nanoweave coverings afforded was superior in concealing the team of commandos. Agatha led the way across the sands to a rough-cut terrace. The terrace gave access to an extensive natural cave system wherein was a sacred place the Mulsi Holdship traditionally held their breeding rituals.
Agatha knew exactly where Miku was... but worse, she knew what was planned for her.
"We are entering the caves," Agatha faithfully reported. Ambassador Zess held her sister's hand... listening to the continuous updates from the rescue operation.
As Joon listened she watched the personal mannerisms, noting the Ambassador relied greatly on her family in this moment. Agatha mentioned the caves were partially engineered, carved rooms and there was some leveling the natural inclines. She also mentioned sentries, what few encountered were drones. Agatha asked the Ambassador to consider an area media blackout.
"What do you need, and when you need it." The Ambassador asked with a steely resolve. Agatha outlined her layered contingency planning. The Ambassador nodded in understanding, "I can make that happen."
Agatha slowly moved her head around the corner of the corridor. The nanoweave hood bent the light spectrum around her, but it did nothing for sound or movement.
The repulsor drone was moving at a steady sedate pace. It might be in autonomous mode, but Agatha was sure there was a Dauzakai somewhere on it's monitoring tree.
Agatha was able to relay the situation to Max with touch signals from her hand much further back in the tunnels they were traveling. As the drone turned the next corner, Agatha advanced with quiet steps. Agatha's priorities allowed for no compromises to the mission's covert nature.
There was a time constraint, but discovery would only hasten undesirable outcomes.
Agatha repeated the slow corner check, seeing the drone ascend a carved stone incline. Her other Hand led the Rescue Team through the twisting passages. Threading a silent path through the maze, their route couldn't be diverted. Agatha quietly backtracked to rejoin the team, having done so several times now.
The minutes oozed by as they moved deeper into the caves in silent infiltration.
Astrid was monitoring the Mulsi Holdship's activity. Agatha's briefing outlined their production numbers and Astrid noticed that this Holdship was one of the few who hadn't taken any initiative on diversifying their capabilities. They seemed stuck in the status quo, for a decade.
Astrid had also noticed that Mulsi rarely fostered clutches from other Holdships, a common practice from the more productive communities. "They seem to disdain other holdships..." Astrid said quietly.
Agatha nodded, then combined these thoughts with what she knew of planned events. "This Holdship has developed a number of... Questionable practices. They don't just 'revere' some obscure tradition... they actively encourage elitist behavior across the Enclave." She concluded.
Astrid peered at Agatha, "Just what have we got here, Ag's?"
Agatha shook her head, "Not now... we will have time later for discussion." Astrid blinked not having heard Agatha's command voice, but she immediately understood. They really couldn't get distracted, not in the middle of a mission.
Agatha surveyed the massive chamber... It looked like some kind of amphitheater. Two long banners hung from the ceiling emblazoned with a stylized fishing spear. It gave the impression of having seen better times, it was unkempt and dirty. I was indirectly lit by three powerful flood-lights, but there was a darker section, where one fixture was no longer functioning.
She saw two security drones...
In the center of the cavern was a huge pool of water. Agatha knew it was connected by an underwater tunnel... allowing a dominant Daubukai access to the chamber. The two security drones slowly circled the edge of the pool...
The Team advanced quietly, taking up positions next to her at the entrance. Agatha studied the timing, and as the drones reached the optimal range the Rescue Team quietly moved to the shadowy patch in the gallery.
The three Hands of Agatha armed with XLR-120's climbed even higher into the auditorium. Her Hands quietly and carefully set up the heavy sniper rifles which were shrouded by nanoweave sleeves with only the very tips of their long barrels peeking out.
Max, Samira and Nomissa were lying low in the shadowy section of the carved stone seats of the amphitheater gallery. Agatha's two remaining Hands took up flanking positions on her team.
Then she felt it...A toxic, loathing, overpowering hate entered the bubble of her empathic senses.
Agatha glanced at Joon, an unusual expression on her face.
Joon raised an eyebrow, "What is it?"
Agatha pursed her lips, "Something new..."
Zess peered curiously, "New?"
Agatha turned to the Ambassador, "My apologies, your Excellency..."I was under the impression that there would only be Dauzakai in the Mulsi Holdship. There is a presence there that is decidedly not Dauzakai."
Zess stared blankly, "What does that mean, Is this becoming more than a rescue operation?"
Agatha's lips thinned... "I would rather not speculate at this time."
Joon bit her lip, and nodded, "You're juggling right now, I am sure the after action report will be enlightening."
"If this becomes more than I can handle, I will request assistance." Agatha stated soberly. Zess and Joon's eyes met... Agatha could sense worry adding to the stress in the room.
Agatha had to concentrate on the mission.
Agatha could now sense Miku... She was confused and upset. A long line of Dauzakai in pale robes marked with the fishing spear made their way down the far tunnel into the amphitheater. The emotions from them were an odd mix of fear and fervor.
Agatha watched the progression noting possible combatants. Within their numbers a large maintenance drone half carried, half dragged, a naked and dazed Miku. She was bound at the wrists with polymer shackles held by the manipulator arm of the drone. Miku's staggering gait suggested she was still under a debilitating drug's influence.
At the rear of the procession Agatha finally saw the source of the overwhelming hate. A smallish, sickly-looking Dauzakai, it's scales pale and dull. She walked with a long barbed fishing spear, with sharp, wicked looking edges.
She was holding it before her like it was an icon, a symbol, of this new world order. The closer the hateful leader got the more confusing the emotions became. An interwoven duality... Two distinct feelings of hate... impossible to separate
A sibilant hiss sounded across the chamber and the forty-seven Dauzakai in robes moved to line the large pool. The two security drones deployed illuminating torches and HD-holo recorders.
Agatha suspected the hateful leader was making every effort to use this opportunity to orchestrate an emotional spectacle. This was now obviously a single play in a much larger game. Agatha asked the Ambassador to ready a media blackout and stand by.
The hateful Dauzakai directed the large drone handling Miku to move to the edge of the pool. All of the Dauzakai lining the pool disrobed at the hateful leaders command. Her instructions in the Dau language were jagged and halting.
They turned their backs to the pool and crouched down and they began the holdship's breeding ritual, engaging in a sing-song chant of their native tongue and punctuating each stanza with a tail slap upon the surface of the pool.
During this ritual, Miku seemed to become more aware of her surroundings. The hateful leader stood behind Miku who was still held upright by the large drone.
Agatha studied the diminutive hateful Dauzakai. She was wearing a faded robe, her arms, legs and tail seemed thin and frail. Yet her back was hunched and bulky, like she wore a large duffle under her apparel. Agatha could taste the two different colors of hate, one was far more dominant.
The tail slapping ritual began slowly increasing it's tempo. Miku's unfocused eyes gazed briefly at the pool just as a huge dark form rose from the depths. Agatha had been expecting him... She asked the Ambassador to engage the blackout.
Five meters in length with black polished scales, the Daubukai was a large specimen. His head alone was a meter long, with a maw full of sharp curved teeth. The ritual ended and the Dauzakai turned around and knelt all around the edge of the pool.
A deep reverberating growl filled the ritual chamber. Miku became fully awake, she managed to stand on her legs, her eyes wide with fear. The hateful leader raised her thin arms holding the spear aloft proclaiming loudly in the Dauzakai tongue.
Daubukai would cleanse this world of the unclean... His rival was nothing but prey. The Dauzakai lining the pool raised their arms, mimicking their leader.
A massive black scaled snout drew close to Miku. Intelligent green eyes focused on her as two nostrils on the end of the snout opened and snuffed at Miku's belly.
Miku stood stone still, gazing at the massive male.
Their eyes locked. The Daubukai snuffed Miku again, a long slow inhale then drew back. He then rolled over on his back, presenting seven engorged penises.
The hateful leader screamed in rage. Yelling how stupid the Daubukai was as she felt the moment slipping away. The tiny hateful Dauzakai charged Miku with the wicked looking fishing spear poised to strike.
A sudden massive crescendo of weapons fire shattered the ritual.
Every weapon fired in that very precise volley had a specific desired effect.
With the XLR-120's Agatha placed the 50g 15mm tungsten projectiles at the CPU of the large maintenance drone, the weakest joint of it's manipulator arm, and the thickest part of the bulky object that was hidden under the hateful leaders robe.
Agatha suspected that it wasn't a back-pack.
She also neatly shredded the two security drones with her XR-75's in controlled bursts. Agatha felt the hate instantly disappear, a weak sense of relief emerged. A curtain of sparks showered down from the large repulsor drone and screams and waves of fear from the dozens of Dauzakai followed with the chaos of them fleeing for their lives back up the tunnel.
The Daubukai must have felt this situation was too noisy for him, even for sex, and left the chamber through the underwater tunnel.
The drone arm that was holding Miku was shattered , she dropped and rolled to the side as the large drone, which was perforated through it's CPU, effectively lobotomizing it, slid harmlessly away at a sedate and declining trajectory.
Max and Samira leapt into action... running down the steps. "Miku, it's Max... We got you." Max rattled off as her blurry form huddled next to Miku. The Terran Captain disengaged the nanoweave shroud and Miku's eyes went wide, a tentative smile appeared on her face.
Samira, Nomissa and two of Agatha's Hands also disengaged their light bending apparel, showing Miku she had rescuers.
Nomissa looked at the crumpled form of the sickly thin Dauzakai; Her faded robes now soaked black.
"We need to recover this one also..." Agatha glanced at Nomissa.
The Caretaker nodded.
Agatha's XR-75 wielding Hands went into their packs. Max received a nanoweave poncho with a hood for Miku. She showed the now trembling Miku the push button to activate the light bending material.
Miku was obviously suffering from shock, but there was no time to recover here.
Agatha had stuffed the rest of the contents of one pack into the other after redistribution. The pack was then expanded as large as it could go and Nomissa and Samira eased the small pale Dauzakai into the pack, she was barely conscious.
With her body securely in the pack, only her snout and face were protruding. Agatha felt a gentle serenity flowing from the frail figure. Max switched packs with Agatha and carried the sickly thin Dauzakai. Nomissa guided Miku, holding her hand and whispering encouragement.
Samira would be at Miku's back ready to provide cover should she need it.
Agatha's Hands, who were high in the auditorium, had collapsed their bi-pods and moved down to the pool's edge, arriving just as the team re-activated their nanoweave and returned to the tunnels they had used to get to the chamber.
That is when more repulsor drones came in through the other entrance: two Security drones and a Combat drone. Their bronze insect-like Dauzakai designs gave a sinister appearance in silhouette.
The security drones were designed to be light and fast and were equipped with an efficient surveillance package and satellite tracking; excellent as a first responder or reconnaissance role. They carried the equivalent of small caliber SMG with three hundred rounds of ammunition.
The larger combat drone was armed with a pair of assault rifle equivalent weapons and utilized armor plating and almost a thousand rounds of ammunition. Designed for threat elimination, it relied on more specialized drones for target acquisition
Nomissa was intimately familiar with them; she was an expert drone pilot among her other qualifications Agatha had briefed everyone, but Nomissa could have elaborated... They could still encounter much nastier drones.
The team advanced to the exit while three Hands stopped, turned, took aim and fired the 15mm caliber rifles.
The three drones dropped as one... their CPU's cored through.
"We have successfully liberated Miku from her captors." Agatha reported.
An exuberant cheer arose in the living room of the residence and Agatha felt the anxiety dissipate
"We are proceeding to extraction." Agatha continued. "However, we have a complication..."
The Ambassador nodded, "Iss it concerning what you couldn't posstulate about earlier?"
Joon glanced at Agatha.
Agatha looked somewhat chagrined, "My apologies, your Excellency."
Zess smiled, "I completely undersstand, you are working very hard right now, you have nothing to apologize for. Now what sseems to be difficulty?" The Ambassador leveled her gaze.
Agatha nodded, "According to my intelligence, in addition to Miku, we are also extracting Vizier Telkiss of the Mulsi Holdship, Haeguss Enclave.
"I cannot be certain, but I believe she was influenced by a parasite, and it's corpse may still be in play." Agatha continued. "What priority would you place her, and where should we deliver her?"
Agatha waited patiently letting the Ambassador mull that over.
Zess refocused on Agatha, "Bring them both here... I will call medical assistance to Ssakima-ssadi-missimi."
Agatha trotted down the dim tunnel, her footsteps were less stealthy than she would have wished.
A Combat drone suddenly rounded the corner and Agatha threw herself down and to the side. Brrrrrrrrt... The muzzle flashes, like twin suns lit up the passage, over Agatha's head. The drone pilots had figured out some manner of camouflage was masking the positions of these intruders.
With amply armed and trained citizens, even a highly trained strike team will get worn down eventually. Worse... the pilots were obviously learning, passing on knowledge in a shared interface.
Agatha's second Hand cored through the Combat drone as the first had lured the ambusher out.
A Security Drone peeked around the corner attempting to Identify the shooter of the Combat Drone. The prone Hand shredded it with her XR-75.
Agatha knew this little skirmish would draw drones to it... as they attempted to saturate this area. This had the benefit, though, of drawing them away from the tunnels the rest of the Rescue Team were now using to reach the beach...and subsequent extraction.
She was confident her Hands could catch up with them... after this little distraction did it's work.
Max slowed and stopped... Nomissa and Miku made slower progress but, as they made their way, Samira covered them from behind. She employed her new tail to keep constant watch behind them.
The tactic had already proven invaluable, as the fast little Security Drones had already come up behind them. Samira was able to shred them efficiently, dual wielding her XR-73's, using her tail and smart-links in targeting...Downing both of them, without stopping, without turning, and behind her own back. The large anti-ballistic riot shield stopping the small caliber rounds fired as the Drones were finished off.
Agatha sent two Hands to divert attention away from the Rescue Team's exit strategy, but Max was worried about losing any part of Agatha, she was precious. Then felt the little something in her mind.
*Thank you.*
Max blinked in shock.
They embraced briefly...
*We have both grown stronger*
Max thought it sounded like Agatha's voice in the communal dreams.
*Tell me...*
Agatha thought to Max.
Max looked at the blurry outline that she knew was Agatha.
*Your voice is lovely...*
Max thought to her alien wife.
Agatha hugged her again.
*Thank you, honey... we can practice together now.*
Agatha thought to Max.
Nomissa and Miku caught up to them so they both continued moving, it was slow and steady... as quiet as they could travel.
Max and Agatha started chatting together without making a sound.
Agatha frowned at the sensors...Vika glanced at her.
"This might be unfortunate..." Agatha muttered.
Astrid's eyes went wide, "Fuckmuffins!"
The Heavy Battle Drone was now flying back up the coast, and according to tracking data, at flank speed. Agatha glanced at Vika. Vika didn't make a sound, but nodded.
"I know it's a little late to ask... Is there a way to stand down Enclave forces?" Agatha asked the Ambassador softly.
Zess nodded, "I can make a requesst, but every Enclave has an amount of independence on defending itsself." Zess shrugged, "If I am very lucky, Intendant Naoli will be willing to take me at face value if I ask her to stand down."
Joon pursed her lips, "What kind of political backlash will that carry?"
Zess bit her lip, "Mosst likely... Quite a lot.
Agatha nodded, "I am sure the Council would not hesitate to disavow us if they were asked why such a request was made."
The Ambassador frowned.
Joon rubbed her shoulder, "It's okay, Zess... We understand how it works.
Agatha leveled her silver eyes on Zess's iridescent-green ones, "In that case... We might need to break some toys."
Zess swallowed and nodded, "That'ss fine... Toyss are replaceable, Miku isn't."
Agatha nodded, "Thank you, your Excellency, That is exactly what I needed to know."
Agatha glanced at Vika... Their eyes met and Agatha nodded. Vika slowly reached over and unlocked fire control. Astrid was still staring at the sensors... The Heavy Battle Drone was closing in on the extraction point. It wasn't slowing and it would be there in less than five minutes.
Vika reviewed the flight path and began changing course to rendezvous at the LZ. Agatha absorbed every tiny fraction of data... Looking for every advantage she could get.
Max and Agatha emerged onto the carved terrace. Agatha took point, holding her XR-75 aloft, looking up at the cliff face.
*Clear...*
Max looked east,
*ETA on that Bogey?*
*Three minutes...*
Two more hands filtered out onto the terrace. Followed by Nomissa and Miku. Samiria held the foyer, her tail hugging the corner monitoring the tunnel behind them.
*Is this going to get messy?*
Max thought.
Agatha responded,
*We should wait inside.*
Having only a foyer, the terrace overlooked the stretch of sand they had crossed earlier. Agatha checked on the now unconscious Dauzakai secured on Max's back while Nomissa and Miku found a quiet corner out of the line of sight.
*How far away are your two errant Hands?*
*At least ten minutes... I can't go any faster without dragging drones along with me*
*Well... this should be fun then.*
Max peered east again, a distant bronze object came around the point at great speed.
*Incoming*
The bronze Battle Drone adjusted into a low altitude drifting strafe. It's pair of Tri-barreled Heavy Machine guns spooled up and opened fire. The Drone walked two lines of fire across the sands, peppering the open space.
Max realized the information sharing network was ruthless. Any information discovered in an encounter was immediately known to all. It was obvious the strafing tactic was meant to defeat the Rescue Team's light-bending optical camouflage. Max had to admit... it didn't encourage her to go out on the sand to the LZ.
However, unknown to the drone pilots, the Deirdre was fast approaching, The Terran corvette design made it fairly nimble in atmosphere.
Vika didn't look away from her objective. "Requesting weapons free."
"Granted, " Agatha responded smoothly.
Astrid blinked in surprise, but kept her eyes on the sensors. Vika bit her lip, flicking off the safeties... she was waiting for just the right moment, she knew it was soon.
Max saw a bright orange beam of light appear out of the twilight across the water. In a wave of sparks it bisected the Heavy Battle Drone in two. The downward diagonal slash had started at the top of the shielding burning through it by the time it reached the Drone. It then continued through the moving drone, it's angled strafe assisting in it's destruction. The angle and downward slash of the shot managed to also render the four Light Battle Drones ineffective before they could be deployed.
With the Deirdre's stealth matrix useless now after the shot, Agatha immediately deployed the Breaching Boom. Like a coordinated ballet, Vika had just enough time to shed her airspeed, bring up the retro-thrusters and maneuver to the LZ as Agatha activated the bow Gatling lasers which spooled up, ready to give covering fire.
"Go!" Agatha shouted.
The Team sprang up... Max helped Miku and Nomissa across the terrace to the sands.
Samira trotted to the entrance, "We still have two Hands out!"
"Almost here." Agatha responded, patting Samira's shoulder and ushering her on to the terrace. Samira took her place guarding Nomissa and Miku's back as they made their way across the open beach which was less than fifty meters across the soft sand to the tiny warship now holding station at the shoreline. The green glow of the Dau moon Wunai was directly above them.
Max reached the Boom, the small breach cabin had armor plating but only at the doors. Then Miku and Nomissa got to the open doors. Miku curled up behind the opposite door from Max. Samira stopped just outside, pulling her shield around in front just as Max saw a mix of several Security and Combat drones appear at the terrace entrance.
Before Max could react, the Deirdre's bow Gatling lasers sent streams of orange bursts at the terrace entrance. The Drones were quickly reduced to smoking wrecks. Moments later two sets of kicking sand trails traced across the beach.
Samira backed up into the Boom... Max reached out and pulled her in. They watched the blurry forms of the last two Hands leap through the open breach. Max closed the breach as Agatha retracted the Boom. Vika flared the retro-thrusters and the Deirdre did a pirouette and surged back across the waves.
Astrid's eyes were glued to sensors, "Clear." She announced, "Weapon systems retracted, breaching boom secured."
Agatha reactivated the sensor-baffle matrix. Combined with the PCCFX digital camouflage, the Deidre practically vanished.
Still in the operations area, Agatha carefully helped Max remove her pack heavy with the unconscious Dauzakai. "That was so clean..." Max smiled at Agatha, "You're amazing."
"Even though we had additional circumstances?" Agatha peered at her Captain.
Max glanced at Agatha, "You want to tell me why you didn't kill this one?"
"She wasn't to blame, she was being controlled." Agatha examined the oddly pale scales of the Vizier of Ritual.
Max nodded, "Ah... Okay, that makes sense.
Agatha smiled, "Thank you for backing my play."
"Well... it would be churlish to put you in command, only to contradict you."
"Your faith is appreciated." Agatha smiled softly.
Max winked, "Best... Agatha..."
The Deirdre remained in stealth while it traveled back to the Ambassador's Enclave. During the flight Agatha helped the Rescue Team dress down. Miku and Nomissa were literally coddled by Agatha.
The two Dauzakai found themselves in the galley. Agatha gave Miku a quick medical once over, swaddling her in a soft blanket. Both Nomissa and Miku were given a hot beverage to sip. Miku peered at Nomissa when she thought Agatha was beyond earshot.
"How many ssissterss does sshe have?" Miku asked quietly.
Nomissa smiled, "Jusst enough, my dear Miku, jusst enough."
Ambassador Zess listened to Agatha's update and felt a massive weight lift off her shoulders. Zess plopped down on her familiar spot and proceeded to order immediate mobilization of medical services in the Hyzeki Enclave to her residence.
Joon smiled at Agatha, she whispered to her, "I am so proud of you, and I'll bet Max is too."
Agatha glanced at Joon, and bit her lip. "She already said so... " The feelings she felt from her family and Zess and her sisters were exceptional. Zess looked up and watched Lady Joon with Agatha, they were in each other's arms.
The Ambassador got up and made herself a stiff drink.
Agatha disengaged the baffles and reconfigured the digital skin back to 'Tramp Debris' ten clicks out.
The Deirdre ascended fifteen hundred meters and Vika received clearance from Sakima-sadi-misimi before she even reported in for permission to land. Vika's piloting was exceptional and the Deirdre touched down like she was a dancer.
The bridge crew went through shut down in a smooth, professional, and methodical process.
"Well done..." Agatha smiled, "I am so proud of you both."
The tall platinum-blonde and the tiny red-head wrapped Agatha in embrace.
"You were magnificent." Astrid smiled.
"Without a doubt." Vika agreed.
Agatha squeezed her bridge-crew, "I love you both so much." Agatha looked at them in turn, Lavender and Cobalt-blue.
"We need to be mindful of our mission, but still assist our allies." Agatha spoke softly. "Right now, supporting our own leadership is important."
Both of her wives nodded in consensus.
Samira slipped the deer-like tail into the aperture at the small of her back. She would need to do serious maintenance on her combat set, maybe Astrid would help. It would take an hour just to get the sand out of her combat hooves.
Agatha had assisted Samira in divesting herself of armor and weapons in the armory. She tromped down to engineering where she kept her cybernetic limbs. Samira knew Deirdre was a really small ship so the luxury of having her weapons and cybernetics in the same compartment was unrealistic.
Weapons 'had' to be kept in the armory, and there was very little extra room with her own weapons there.
It was a small price to pay, tromping to engineering. The upside was engineering was the perfect place to maintain her cybernetics. Samira smiled, she felt so incredibly lucky... This mission was an immense eye opener: it was of noble purpose and she had never felt so fulfilled skip-tracing fugitives. Her new life made her feel good and honest; despite the mission's appearance. Samira beamed a smile, slipping into the ecru blouse and skirt. She trotted down the corridor, her dainty hooves made her feel cute and sexy.
Max had stripped off her armor and weapons but stayed in her body sleeve. Agatha helped Max keep the unconscious sickly Vizier Telkiss stable.
Max initially wanted to take the Vizier to medical, Agatha argued against it. "If we were left to our own devices and Jooniper was with us, I would support that decision." Agatha continued, "However, there is a rather impressive coterie of Dauzakai medical personnel en route. Besides, the Ambassador needs to have 'her' people on this, not just us." Agatha nodded in conclusion.
Max pursed her lips, then nodded, "You mentioned that she had a parasite."
Agatha nodded, "Yes, I am quite sure it is deceased, however I do not believe it is our place to even triage the Vizier"
"Will she die?" Max peered at Agatha.
Agatha shrugged, "I have only a fraction of the experience Joon does, but I can tell you she is not in excessive stress and she is currently stable."
Max nodded, "Okay... I want to do this the right way."
Agatha informed the crew of the Deirdre that a large emergency vehicle was now on approach. Ambassador Zess had ordered the equivalent of a small field hospital.
Agatha thumbed the DNA lock on the Deirdre's rear cargo door and Nomissa and Miku waited by the door as well. The vehicle was quite impressive though purely atmospheric, the aircraft resembled a massive drone.
It was shorter in length and height than the Deirdre, but it was twice as wide. The mobile medical facility was only 'technically' an aircraft, it had the flight characteristics of a sofa. If the hanger-grotto above the Ambassador's residence had been any smaller, there would have been no room for the Deirdre.
Max carried the pack containing the unconscious Dauzakai Vizier down the ramp, walking around to the medical facility. Nomissa and Miku walked with Max: Agatha followed behind them. A large primary double door opened and two Dauzakai medics emerged moving quickly and pulling a repulsor gurney behind them.
One asked something in the Dauzakai tongue.
"Sspeak in Terran," Nomissa responded, "I am Caretaker Nomissa. This Terran is Dame Max, you will resspect her ass you would me."
The Medic blinked, but nodded immediately. She held the gurney as Max gently laid the pack down.
"Thiss iss alsso a ssecurity isssue, ssome quesstionss will not be ansswered." Nomissa made eye contact with the two medics.
They both nodded, then one who seemed the senior said, "I am Doctor Joni and this is Doctor Nuss. We need to triage, let uss take the patient to a ssterile cabin insside."
Nomissa nodded, "How many medicss are in this facility?"
"Ssix Doctorss, eight technicianss, two pilotss." Doctor Joni responded as they went inside.
The layout inside was surprisingly open, the center of the facility was like a huge hub to a spoked wheel.
Max glanced at Agatha,
*Stay with the Visier, keep us informed.*
Agatha nodded and followed the two Doctors through a short corridor to a sterile cabin. Nomissa flagged down a new medic and had them give Miku a full check up. Max stood in the center of the facility, it looked like some kind of Med-Tech laboratory.
This facility looked exceptionally well equipped... The Dauzakai did nothing in half measures.
Nomissa was with Miku in one of the rooms, Max knew Zess had told Nomissa that Miku must never be left unguarded ever again. Max hoped Miku's life would be less stressful someday, but it wouldn't happen for quite a while.
*Max... Joon wants you to get cleaned up, things are now in hand, I will keep everyone informed*
*Okay... That's fair...*
Max smiled, and left the Innovative Dauzakai Mobile Medical facility.
Max and Samira were joined in the showers with the five Hands of Agatha that were on the Rescue Team. Agatha washed her two wives slowly and very thoroughly...Samira raised an eyebrow when she gazed into Max's eyes. Max didn't say anything, but she smiled.
Samira knelt down and gently took Max's penis into her mouth. Max let her cock stiffen and a very happy Samira slowly worked it up and down. Samira pulled her lips off of Max's cock and looked up...
"I don't know what time it is... but I bet most of us could use some sleep after all the stress." Samira remarked.
Max smiled softly, "What would you like, Sam?"
"I want a nightcap, a creamy sweet snack before sleep." Samira smiled.
Max nodded, "My pleasure, beautiful."
Samira wrapped her full lips around her wife's cock. She reveled in sucking it as It throbbed in her mouth.
Max filled Samira's mouth over and over. Every pulse causing her eyes to dilate, every swallow increased her connection to Agatha.
Agatha's five Hands embraced her two wives, feeling the lustful pulses and basking in the love. With the long, slow, and gentle attention concluded, Max stepped out of the bathroom and noted Joon was already in bed with Astrid and Vika.
With all three quietly sleeping, Max smiled at Samira and Agatha. The seven latecomers crawled into bed, kissing each other gently. The long day coming to a close, Agatha gathered her wives together in the dream scape they all enjoyed.