Max Intel: Melinoe
Chapter 28 - Attrition

The plan that Max laid out took full advantage of Agatha's empathic network and dream Ops. It was going to be crucial to use her skills to minimize any further harm to the captives, slaves, and relatively benign merchants.

As soon as Max began to develop the plans for the initial stage of the takeover, Agatha related to her family she was able to precisely identify every murderous pirate and slaver so there would be no ambiguity.

She explained: "I have observed the dreams or read the emotions of every denizen of Freeport and I now have exact numbers, locations, capabilities, and dispositions of every soul on Golamar. I have positively identified the psychological nature and personality of each individual and reviewed the interactions they've had."

Agatha then documented for the crew the complex web of professional and personal interrelationships in Freeport. She had also found the different leaders and identified their followers along with the various alliances, rivalries, respected cohorts, and despised enemies. Agatha also revealed her collected data on the different species, their peculiarities, and a great deal of shared history.

It soon became obvious that Agatha had worked tirelessly through the dream state hours of Golamar's inhabitants, adding layer upon layer. Layers which Max and the crew then used to great extent in planning the anarchy to come.

"Max, with your permission and with Vika's assistance, I will set up a multitude of provocative events. I have carefully defined and made note of every specific individual to be eliminated. And, over the next thirty hours, will coordinate the acceptably moral minority. With a coordinated effort, we can feed the discontent, plant incriminating evidence, and effectively direct aggression towards other hostiles and away from the innocent."

"I will also be implanting data, reassurance, and gently encouraging cooperation within the trusted circles I was able to create and Vika was able to contact."

"That is solid planning on your part, Agatha. You have my permission to instigate the Golamar offensive." Max replied with a smile.

Joon winked, "Best Agatha!" and everyone giggled.

Max then shared, "We will analyze the results of Agatha's infiltration and destabilizing efforts and then reconvene to further develop our options after we have analyzed the results."

Agatha replied, "I am including Suomii in this and reconnecting her to the local cybernet. I will ride that connection with her, assisting her with the parts she will play."

Max nodded, "Then we are adjourned. Agatha, please keep us informed as things progress. If the innocents are threatened, we may need to take action."

Agatha merely nodded that she would.

In only a few hours, Agatha's machinations began to bear fruit...Pirates began killing each other. It began slowly at first, an isolated incident here and there. But it quickly began to spread and envelop the whole of the city-like platform.

While Agatha was fomenting unrest and suspicion, the rest of the crew worked on parallel projects.

Having finished the final Combat drone, Astrid made use of her and Samira's time to start on their first Battle drone. It was Hoverbike shaped with a more aggressive profile than either of the other two designs: the planned Battle drone was a beautiful work of deadly art to Astrid's eyes capable of sustained squad level attacks on multiple fronts with near impunity.

The two Chiefs dove into the upgrades with gusto.

Paula contemplated the itch she felt earlier...It was definitely something to do with her Witchcraft. "Joon, I feel I am on the cusp of a new ability. I am going to do some research to see what I can find and perhaps unlock it." With the past, incremental gains the crew began to realized when the need arose, the Lieutenant had a feeling the itch would lead to something useful.

"Would you like some help, Paula? I have some time on my hands and two sets of eyes can search twice as quickly."

"That would be wonderful! Thank you, M'lady!" Paula smiled.

The two then once again started an eager, deep research dive into Samira's Fantasy Gaming material in the office.

The invisible Rogue Shaman rode the adrenaline coursing through her body; and like a spectral bee pollinating a field of flowers, she moved from room to room on Golamar completely undetected.

Vika expanded her mission parameters to include burglary. Now she was both planting objects on targets and collecting Oricalcum ingredients. All with great success. This fit well with Agatha's work as the fear of loss of wealth among the evil element was planted in their minds along with an imprint of who had stolen from them.

Apparently, Rum had a vault in the Chief Executive suite full of gold Freeport ingots. Vika made multiple trips, collecting over a thousand of them. Most of the pirate leaders also had personal caches of silver, easily found and plundered. Copper ingots could be found all over Freeport so her sticky fingers collected them as they presented themselves.

Agatha gave Vika designated targets, adding friction to specific feuds. Vika was able to travel at impressive speed in spirit form, going directly to Agatha's targets to plant incriminating evidence or pilfer items to be planted on a future target for that individual or group.

Max played a support role in Vika's stealth sorties, replacing full loot satchels with empty ones and making sure Vika stayed hydrated. During one of those rehydration moments Vika said something cryptic to Max. "Family makes us stronger, even the family we don't know yet." Those words stuck in Max's mind, she puzzled over them a while.

Agatha continued to dutifully observe all of Freeport...

The Ghusmik Urr was being loaded with refined materials produced by Golamar for sale through their merchant network. The ship's impressive dimensions were dwarfed, though, by the massive Galleon moored next to it. Previous observations of Captain Virt and his crew revealed them to be unscrupulous and criminal, but not homicidal pirates or slavers.

Many of the 'Smuggler Merchants' in Freeport were of similar ilk. The Qiat in particular were exceptionally wary of crossing that moral line. Those diminutive Avians, Birrup and Chirrup, belonged to extensive smuggling chains that spanned the entire ME which also included healthy rumor mills useful to the gathering of intelligence.

When Agatha discovered that fact and informed Deirdre's leadership, the effort to keep those particular Qiat far removed from exposure to violence was increased as they recognized their potential intelligence value was considerable.

Deirdre's resident Starchild reflected the final number of Kintark who were never interested in piracy, the relatively large number came as a welcome surprise. Every emerald green cruiser and destroyer had volunteer security forces and maintenance crews aboard them and those personnel represented the majority of the allies found on Golamar.

The Kintark Engineer, Mosira, was raised with the living Imperial pantheon theology so, while the revelation of Agatha was shocking, it was not without precedence in her culture. She discreetly confirmed Agatha's status with Suomii and the two Qiat Smugglers and was quickly on board with her assigned role in the plan.

And just like that, the 'Silent Alliance' was officially formed; determined to fulfill Agatha's stated goals.

Sub-prelate Mosira readily accepted Agatha's assistance in her dreams as they outlined a preliminary plan to neutralize all Freeport pirate shipping not under this new 'Silent Alliance' control. Mosira had no love for Prelate Volkuth, he was a poor leader and had grown mentally weak. Relieving him of his command would be her unpleasant, but necessary responsibility.

Agatha insisted Suomii lead the Silent Alliance, discreetly coordinating allied efforts within the local cyber and holonet. This neatly solved several issues. First: it allowed the brilliant, but shy, Dauzakai an opportunity to shine in the shadows so to speak. Second: it would be a feather in her cap if and when she applied for amnesty. Third: Soumii was well known among the members of the Silent Alliance and was highly trusted.

After being introduced to Deirdre's entire crew, Suomii was ensconced in the Comms Hub utilizing the Dive Chair. More than a little nervous, the gifted Dauzakai engineer was gently bolstered and encouraged by Agatha and soon Soumii courageously fulfilled her role in the plan.

The connection Agatha had inherited with the Dauzakai species had allowed her to 'read' Suomii with ease. Within moments Suomii found her consciousness safely inside the cybernet of Golamar she herself had salvaged and expanded, accompanied by dozens of cute, fluffy, ethereal felines.

The cybernet of Golamar was as austere as the lower levels of Freeport. One of Agatha's avatars winked at Suomii's bronze lizard woman avatar and purred. Instantly the cybernet lit up brightly and the floors were set in fine marble. The walls were thickly paneled with rare woods and murals of Suomii's home world.

Suomii was overwhelmed,

A joyful giggle echoed throughout the node

A single fluffy feline rapidly changed shape to a humanoid with feline features. She then smiled and winked,

Suomii watched in rapt fascination as the living murals showed scenes of life on her home planet; represented in short movie clips,

With the assistance of Agatha's avatars, the tiny yellow-scaled cyborg was soon in complete control of all the functions on Golamar once again.

With that statement, Suomii gave Agatha access to take control of all her roller-crab drones.

Over the years Suomii crafted hundreds semi-autonomous drones of various types. The most common of these were called roller-crabs. These chunky squat automata were reinforced and improved versions of the traditional Dauzakai lichen-farm drone design.

Utilizing six, wheeled appendages in addition to four manipulator claws. These meter tall drones were deceptively compact with telescopic limbs. Suomii's design could work under enormous gravitational forces. This, Agatha realized, explained why the industrial hulls Grav-plates were kept maxed out at five G's.

Anything higher than three gravities would make even an Ornalith very uncomfortable and the result was a zone in which the roller-crabs could work unmolested. Most of the roller-crabs were currently working maintenance routines on the industrial hulls. Suomii did have several in her workshop home, and those had been adorned with armament.



Suomii had a wealth of ship-grade level and higher materials to work with and the roller-crabs had an impressively heavy alloy chassis that was so excessively armored they could contemptuously ignore most small arms fire. The Dauzakai Technician had even constructed an up scaled and armed roller-crab with a space-worthy cockpit and life support...

Y'know, just in case.

---

Teffa watched the holo with interest, A surprising number of indictments were filed on Staverka today.

She and Lakita were sharing the couch, Agatha sat on the floor in front of them. They were mesmerized by the animated talking heads debating the historic current events. Hundreds of citizens charged with aiding and abetting rebellion, conviction at trial could result in as much as twenty five years in the Dynasty's prison.

Scores for citizens charged with felony rebellion which could, if convicted at trial, receive the penalty of execution. Some expert law commentators suggested that most would not be convicted, but the charges were extremely serious.

Not everyone agreed with that, the precedence was old, but quite clear. Executions had not taken place on Staverka for rebellion since the days of Zalix the Great, but they definitely happened.

Teffa lost herself in thought, back to her history classes when she was younger...The Seven High lords of Hybinus, a collection of powerful families each tied to a hereditary feudal title. They collectively claimed to rule Slarmsk by ancient right.

From richly lacquered halls that punctuated their highland territories they accumulated wealth and power. Gazing down upon the lowlands in the seven directions emanating from Hybinus.

Then House Staverka rose to prominence through innovation and free market. The Seven drafted claim to Staverka in purported ancient land rights but they were rebuffed by the minor lowland lords who protected Staverka's flanks.

Next the High lords claimed ancient rights to address insult levied from a sworn foe... Zalix of Staverka. They collected leveraged commoners together into a great army and the threat of war against Staverka divided loyalties across Slarmsk.

Zalix responded with an offer of admittance to his noble House for any commoner who wished to join it. Two out of three commoners in all the lands joined and the threat of war evaporated.

Still, The Seven continued their crusade to reclaim power by way of embargo. Hybinus suffered as Staverka educated all willing to learn.

Mysterious innovations developed in the lowlands, but Hybinus rejected them. Zalix offered them treaty and then status, but those hateful, spiteful Slarmians would never be satisfied. For twenty years the rhetoric of Slarmsk rising again were impediments to a unified Slarmian people.

Then the ultimate affront to ancient tradition.

By popular decree Lord Zalix of Staverka was elevated by the citizenry to Majestic Potentate.

The Grand Slarmian Dynasty had begun.

A lowly flat lander minor lord, of an inconsequential merchant house became Zalix the Great.

The fate of the Seven seemed sealed: their dream of restoring their glory and power, lost.

Over and over they instigated and fomented open rebellion. Hundreds of Slarmians were arrested, tried and convicted of rebellion, many were executed. Finally, Zalix had had enough: , The Seven were arrested, tried and convicted of treason.

Two weeks after sentencing Zalix the Great personally executed them.

No one could ever fault Zalix with cowardice, his people knew it cost him dearly. Thousands of witnesses saw Slarmsk's first monarch do his duty.

The beheaded corpses of the seven were returned to Hybinus.

Many years passed with relative peace and great prosperity then the First of the Dynasty expired. In honor of Zalix the Great's passing the citizenry proclaimed Slarmsk renamed to Staverka.

Only in Hybinus, under the cover of the obscuring mists do they use Slarmsk still. A seven pointed star was the traditional symbol of the High Lords. It is still used by those who simmer in hate, seeking vengeance for their dignity thought stolen.

Generations later the same spiteful spirit still lingers in those dark hills and misty jungles. Fate is not kind, hate cannot be executed, Hybinus still harbors a lust for lost power.

Blackdawn uses a rising black star with seven points radiating from the horizon...

Teffa blinked.

Lakita said something, Teffa shook herself and turned to the Largath, "What?"

"Are they going to kill so many?" Lakita asked in her ever-improving Slarmian.

Teffa looked at Agatha. Agatha shrugged, "I don't think so, pleading guilty before a trial will stay any execution."

"So they will be imprisoned?" Lakita inquired and Agatha agreed.

"We are only talking about citizens... Not officials, or nobility." Teffa commented.

Agatha nodded reluctantly, "I have read the history and laws of the Grand Slarmian Dynasty. The penalties for elected officials or nobility found guilty conspiring or fomenting rebellion are very few... Even with a confession."

Teffa swallowed.

Lakita pouted.

Agatha stood. "Dinner is ready, come help me set the table." Agatha enjoined her family.

---

Paula scrolled through the pages of descriptions that she and Joon found on Witches, spells and abilities.

There was a general background on the fantasy Witch, it was based on the historical witches and those found in the fables that were popular on Earth for millennia.

It wasn't lost on her that her own lineage was steeped in them.

She hadn't really thought about her upbringing for decades, then after joining her new family, everything she could remember about the elder females of her estranged family was suddenly very important.

When Paula was Sophi she lived in the north of Spain...Her mothers family was extensive, with many aunts and great aunts. There was a culture around them that was uniquely their own and they were extremely secretive: it had been necessary for survival.

Sophi's ancestors endured the harshest purges of the most sadistic inquisitions. Those courageous women held fast, kept hidden the power to be passed down. Fortune and Portent were just two examples of those mythical powers humanity ascribed them.

But there were others...

"Ooooh!" Joon squealed, "What do you think of this?"

Paula turned to look at what Joon was looking at. It was a picture she had seen many times, but not in the way she did at this moment. A woman in black standing before a magnificently wrought mirror.

She remembered the rhyme, 'Magic Mirror on the wall, who is fairest of them all?'

The itch at the back of Paula's mind bloomed into knowledge. She felt the tendrils of power at her fingertips as Joon gasped, staring at Paula's eyes.

They glowed... One a deep red the other a bright green.

"Your eyes are glowing." Joon reported.

Paula stared at Joon, "Have they ever done that before?"

"Not that I ever saw." Joon replied, then asked, "What triggered this?"

Paula looked a the classic illustration in front of her Ambassador, "That."

The two women shared a look, Paula raised her eyebrow, "Do you think Astrid could craft a mirror for me?"

Joon beamed a smile, "Let's find out."

---

Suomii discretely stifled reports of violence on Freeport's holonet so the sudden and quickly spreading outbreak of lethal violence among the native ME pirates in Freeport was yet to be recognized among Rum's personnel. Those manipulative sycophants rarely concerned themselves with what most of them saw as the unwashed peons.

However, as the body count began to rise, the blood fever spread to the other factions as well. A Drakkar decapitated a Terran, biting his head clean off, and one of Rum's bodyguards, who happened to be a Largath, cleaved a foul-mouthed Yelneg sycophant in half with a Halberd.

These events should have been shocking, but for some reason it didn't pierce the haze of psychopathy that fell across Golamar. With the incredible coordination Agatha was capable of orchestrating, the Silent Alliance began operations.

Of the eight hundred sixteen individuals who were in the deserter forces, seventy-two became Allies, all of them were Kintark. Those Kintark followed Mosira, who was in turn guided by Agatha.

The first step was to solidify control of the Kintark ships. The next was to render the rest of the pirate fleet inoperable: a difficult task which was only possible with the assistance of Suomii and Agatha.

The bulk-freighter Ghusmik Urr had completed loading the cargo that would be sold at Depot03 and Nethril. It's triple hull, a miniature version of Golamar's vast shape, was now being made ready to depart.

Agatha gave the SA a general warning: If you were not part of an operation, stay out of sight and keep portals locked. Once the offensive begins, it cannot be stopped nor delayed.

---

The drab, utilitarian roller-crab drones were a common sight all over the massive mining platform called Golamar. They had a placid, innocuous rate of movement and no one ever saw them do anything outside of basic maintenance routines.

So when one approached the Slarmian pirate guarding the extended gangway entrance to a Cruiser of Rum's fleet, he didn't blink a yellow eye.

Without warning a quick, powerful movement exploded from the roller-crab drone. A single closed claw zipped in an arc on a telescopic limb from the squat broad drone and shattered the larynx of the Slarmian pirate... along with three vertebrae.

The roller-crab was controlled by Agatha and she knew exactly how and were to hit the Slarmian, the Drone caught the now lifeless corpse and immediately dragged it inside the cruisers gangway.

Moments later four SA, Secret Alliance, Kintark in full battle kit moved in behind the drone to clear the ship, The roller-crab gave Suomii direct access to that cruiser's systems.

The Dauzakai Engineer remotely silenced the security systems before they even had a chance to detect the intrusion. She shut down all ship's coms, turning the cruiser into a kill zone for the strike team.

This quiet scenario was replicated four times across the docks.

Each ship would take some time to clear and lock down, but with five of Mosira's Silent Alliance strike teams it could be done in only a few hours. In this manner the SA would kill two hundred seventeen pirates, and deny the remaining pirates of Freeport a means of escape.

---

The first Battle Drone was almost finished and by the end Samira could barely follow all of what Astrid was doing with her slowly mounting pace as she grew more proficient with weaving her Sorcery.

Astrid's fingers were a blur, a sparkle followed her movements and her lavender almond-shaped eyes were glowing brightly. Samira did what she could, but when she saw the Oricalcum pieces floating by themselves, she started to think she might be getting in the way.

Then at the fever-pitch of frenetic activity Astrid stopped, the first Battle Drone hung in the air before her... Completed.

Even though the shape wasn't in least bit different than the original this drone now seemed to breathe.

The flowing lines with overlapping interlocking shapes was accentuated by an unearthly deep-purple color with violet highlights. Two massive, recessed gun ports adorned the massive jewel-like drone.

Samira stood next to her Sorceress wife, "Amazing."

Astrid turned to her and smiled, "Yes, yes she is, I want to make another one."

They giggled, then they both looked at the doorway of the tiny workshop.

Joon and Paula were peering in, wide-eyed, staring at the intimidating violet-hued Battle Drone.

Paula muttered an apology for interrupting and requested a 'magic mirror'.

"Oh!" Astrid smiled, "Yes, I can make you one, do you mind if it's made of Oricalcum?"

Paula glanced again at the Drone then blinked her mismatched eyes, "No... Asa-chan, I don't mind."

Without looking. the platinum-blonde Engineer reached out her hand, a raw Oricalcum round floated over from the counter and hung in the air in front of her.

Astrid's eyes blazed violet, she clapped once then threw her hands out to either side, the solid Oricalcum round exploded into a huge fluffy cloud of hair-thin shimmering violet threads.

Everyone watching gasped, even Samira, who got the distinct feeling Astrid leveled up on the Battle Drone and was now exploring more advanced newly acquired skills.

The High-elven Engineer, wove a tapestry in front of them with only her Sorcery.

Weaving what would have taken weeks of painstakingly detailed artwork in less than a minute.

When Astrid concluded, the mirror's frame had the detailed texture of fine deep-violet braided silk cords that snaked seemingly at random but were actually perfectly symmetrical from side to side. It's oval shape was over a meter in height; it seemed much thicker than it actually was.

The flawless smooth interior was a pool of purple that was almost black, it reflected light perfectly but darkly.

It hung in the air slowly turning to face the door. Paula moaned softly at the sight of it.

Astrid shifted her now glowing lavender eyes to the Witch. "Does it call to you?" The Sorceress asked softly.

Tears rolled down Paula's cheeks, she nodded. "It does..." she choked slightly on her words.

Joon put a comforting arm around her waist

Astrid smiled, "Call it to you, befriend it, and it will bond with you."

Paula's chin quivered as she lifted her arms outstretched. The mirror hesitated for only a moment, then floated into the Witch's embrace.

The Lieutenant was full on crying now, tears flowing down her face. There were no dry eyes in Engineering at that moment.

Astrid nodded with a joyful smile.

Paula slowly turned, mirror still in her arms, Joon still at her side guiding her out into the corridor.

Samira stepped over to her tall, magnificent, magically gifted wife and wrapped four arms around her, they gazed lovingly into each others eyes. Astrid sighed softly, "I love my job."

"You made a discovery." Samira murmured matter-of-factly.

"Construct." Astrid replied, "It clicked half way through the Battle Drone."

Samira nodded, softly smiling at her love.

The two Chiefs kissed.

"Her name is Edni." Astrid whispered.

Samira blinked, "The Mirror?"

Astrid giggled, "No, silly... The mirror is Paula's to name." She shifted her lavender eyes to the floating Battle Drone.

"Oh!... I didn't realize you were going to name them." The tattooed cyborg turned her head and studied the Drone with fresh eyes, "She's gorgeous."

Astrid buried her nose in Samira's toplocks. "She is resting now, but when I finish making her sister, they will both be awakened." Astrid spoke softly, but Samira had no trouble hearing the love and commitment in her wife's voice.

It was almost maternal.

---

Joon escorted Paula back up to Medical; her administrative assistant sniffed until she reached her desk.

Paula sat at her desk with the mirror in her lap, Joon handed her a tissue. The Lieutenant graciously accepted, she leaned the mirror against her desk as she blew her nose.

The mirror floated up from her lap and hovered in front of Paula above her desk. She almost forgot to clean her nose, her mouth open in surprise.

Joon stood there with a similar look.

"Are you doing that?" Paula asked.

"No." Joon blinked.

They shared a mystified look.

Paula looked at her reflection; she finished wiping her nose and Joon slowly went to her seat, her eyes never leaving the mirror.

The Witch remembered the instructions she received from the Sorceress who crafted the magic mirror.

"Hello, Mirror, my name is Paula and I would like to be friends."

The Mirror bobbed gently in mid air.

Paula smiled, she slowly lifted her hands and gently held the frame. "I really need your help... Learning how to Scry."

Slowly the deep-purple frame where she was holding it began to change color.

Paula and Joon watched in silent wonder as a burnished bronze spread around the mirror with gentle green and red highlights. The smooth flawless interior brightened to a soft bronze.

Paula gently rubbed the frame, "Thank you, Mirror, Thank you."

A quiet few minutes passed as Paula seemed to be communing with her Mirror.

Joon smiled, "Tell me about Scry."

Paula turn to her Ambassador, "I'd rather show you."

Joon beamed a smile and moved her chair closer as the voluptuous Witch gently pulled the Mirror back down into her lap. "Magic Mirror, read my lips, please show me my family on this ship."

Joon giggled and leaned in closer as Paula waved her hands.

The Mirror shimmered and a view of Max coalesced. Their Captain-wife was sitting on the floor in the Operations room adjacent to the breaching boom where troops were briefed before deploying.

Max was hand sorting metal ingots from a loot satchel into three different caches. Joon said openly on the network.

Max looked up and then around,

Joon giggled.

Astrid asked.

Paula answered.

The Witch waved her hand a little and the view scrolled to Astrid and Samira kissing deeply in Engineering. Paula scrolled back the other way returning to Max.

"Hey..." Joon whispered, "I've got an Idea."

Joon inquired.

The Captain responded,

Vika interjected.

Vika appeared next to Max in the briefing room, she immediately sat down on the floor, she was carrying a bulging satchel.

Max handed Vika a bottle of water, the short operative opened it and began to guzzle it down.

Max inquired.

Joon looked at Paula, "can you adjust the angle?"

Paula bit her lip, and moved her hands, Joon noticed her eyes glowing.

The view of Max and Vika changed perspective.

"Your eyes glow when you do that." Joon commented.

"I can feel myself using power, it's different." Paula softly replied.

Joon nodded, then looked at the Mirror.

"Okay... I want you to try and pull fortune from Max and Hex her."

Paula beamed a smile, "I had a feeling you were going there."

Joon thought.

Max and Vika shared a surprised look.

Paula requested.

Vika stared, Max smiled at her.

"Do it." Joon whispered.

Paula made a grabbing gesture in front of the Mirror.

"I did it!" Paula reported, "I pulled fortune through the Mirror!"

Joon looked, sure enough, Paula eyes were glowing again.

Then Paula the Witch performed her signature move.

Max seemed to fall asleep and leaned over, Vika grabbed her shoulders holding her upright.

Vika reported accurately.

Paula removed the Hex and reinstated her fortune; the Captain recovered immediately.



Samira commented.

cheered Astrid.

Agatha thought.

Paula and Joon shared a hug. Paula theorized.

Max concluded

Paula's eyes grew wide.

---

Agatha was still subtly manipulating the vicious personalities in the two Golamar habitation areas. The vast majority of Rum's pirates enjoyed the expansive accommodations of Freeport, keeping their circle of friends and affiliates found there close at hand.

They embraced their darker natures adding to the amoral feedback within Freeport but Agatha knew her machinations alone would be much less effective without the physical evidence Vika planted in scores of pre-planned incidents.

Those personal conflicts were only the first step in the plan the crew had formulated. Pitting the factions against each other was the intended goal, but not in a formal or organized manner.

The two primary factions within Freeport were the native ME pirates and the Deserter Forces from the Dragon March. While the native pirates outnumbered the Kintark, Terran and Drakkar forces by at least a factor of three, they were undisciplined and somewhat under equipped; being armed and equipped in a vast variety, suiting personal tastes and budgets.

The Dragon March Deserters, however, utilized uniform military grade equipment and tactics... Even the Drakkar.

The plan was to reduce the two sides to only squad level tactics: forcing them into an erratic and bloody conflict of attrition in hopes of reducing the thousands of pirates to more manageable numbers.

The next phase was soon to begin... Signaled by the imminent departure of the Ghusmik Urr.

Soumii intended to reduced pirate communications on Golamar to nothing, breaking the local holonet and jamming standard transmissions.

It would create bedlam, she hoped.

---

Agatha gasped.

Her Captain responded.

Agatha thought,

Max asked.



Max asked.

Vika thoughts interrupted,

Paula pleaded.

The crew of the Deirdre broke into discussion as Vika willed her spirit to move at speed to where Agatha directed her.

Joon asked the family.

Samira stated.

Joon replied,

Max thought,

Vika commented.

Agatha replied.

Vika stated.

Max inquired.

Agatha reported.

Max's thoughts instructed.

"I have to go..." Samira started.

Astrid nodded, "Yes, go... Good luck, kick ass, save lives!"

They kissed, then Samira trotted out of Engineering and to the Armory to prep. A moment later Astrid glimpsed an adorable Sylvan elf with an over sized duffel entering right behind Samira.

The Warrior, the Priest and the Paladin geared up and swathed themselves in nanoweave.

Max looked over her weapons, and for some reason decided to also bring her hunting bow. Joon had a TFN paramedic kit that she had made a few improvements to, she expanded it to include the ME species specific first aid needs. She felt confident she'd be able to do at least first aid to anyone that might need it.

Max and Joon wore armor, Samira did not. There was a momentary objection but Samira argued that she was actually far more protected with her Paladin armor than either of them.

Max handed Joon the green faux purse her father had given her. Joon almost objected, but then just nodded and added 'pressy' to her ensemble.

Samira was going to be her bodyguard and medical assistant when needed. The Paladin nodded to the Priest and shouldered the over sized paramedic kit. "We will be faster if I carry it, M'lady." Samira smiled.

Joon nodded with a wry smile, "You're probably right."

Vika's thought's rang through the network.



Vika complied

Max reasoned.

Vika finished.



The response team tromped down to Operations, Astrid had readied the boom. Max nodded to her as they entered.

Astrid positioned it to the service airlock. Astrid thought.

Paula chimed in to the team.

Max's thoughts rang.



Max led the way through the airlock, followed by Joon with Samira bringing up the rear.

Their blurred forms moved swiftly.

Max announced.

After the response team entered Golamar, Astrid retracted the boom.

The High-elf spotted the three separated caches of ingots and smiled, collecting them she made her way back to Engineering... She had work to do.

---

Paula scrolled her Mirror to Vika, her adorable Dwarven wife was whispering trade-speak with a pair of large-eyed beaked beings who were actually shorter than she was. With mottled grey and brown feathers the Qiat looked to Paula somewhere between a parrot and an owl.

The shop was dark with dim sodium lighting, cluttered shelves stuffed with of all manner of items lined the walls. The Witch shifted her perspective scanning the Qiat's shop, she spotted the barricade, it left much to be desired. Low tables that had filled the center space were now bracing the shop entrance shut.

Paula thought to Vika.

Vika sent a mental hug

The Qiat led Vika behind the counter through a hallway into a huge maze-like storeroom filled with shelves of stock. Paula had her mirror view just above Vika's right shoulder, she could easily pan to see around.

A terrible crash sounded from down the hallway, the diminutive group's pace quickened. At the far side of the storeroom the group came to a reinforced door, the Qiat said something.

Vika translated,

Paula sitting at her desk aboard Deirdre bit her lip,

Agatha responded to Paula and Vika,

Paula asked, worry colored her thoughts.

Paula felt Vika's confidence and her heartfelt anger at the Drakkar,

Vika instructed Birrup and Chirrup to get behind the reinforced door, barricade it and stay there until Suomii told them it was safe. The two Qiat hugged Vika, Paula caught glimpses of thin darkly scaled limbs under feathers and loose clothing as they embraced what they must have thought was an insane Terran.

When the heavy door was safely shut, Vika quickly assessed the battle space she would be working with...

Paula's spirits rose.

Vika continued,

Vika pulled up her cloak and vanished as the first Drakkar stepped into the storeroom.

---

Max, Joon and Samira were jogging at pace as Agatha guided them through the starboard living complex to the shopping district. Spotting the occasional Deserter Pirate, usually in pairs, keeping watch in their territory.

The response team threaded their way past, their blurred forms unnoticed by pirate eyes.

Max was able to avoid static defenses, including lethal explosive traps.

Max commented

Agatha replied.

Max chuckled mentally.

Agatha sent a warm mental hug.

The response team came to the canyons edge. They saw a crowd of ME Natives gathering on the other side, perhaps fifty individuals.

Max pointed out the Qiat's storefront, it was a good hundred meters away and two levels down, the doors had been ripped out. There were a pair of armored Drakkar with odd bulky multi-barreled weapons. Max deduced the pair were only there to keep the nosy away.

Joon gazed down into the canyon, nine levels deep, the floor dotted with the dark metal pens. The shopping district divided the habitation zones, but were also connected to the docks.

Joon thought.



Samira added,

A muffled thunder of automatic weapons fire echoed out from the broken Qiat storefront. Max switched thoughts.

Paula replied to Max.

a distracted Vika added.

---

Paula pulled her perception back, separating it from Vika. The Witch hovered high above shelving units that created long rows in the storeroom. Sliding along the ceiling, She could still feel where Vika was, just not her exact location.

Then she saw a huge hulking form, four muscular arms feeling through the narrow spaces in the store room.

Paula was momentarily frozen in shock as she watched.

A high hideous open maw filled with sharp teeth, drool dripping down and the Drakkar seemed to be smelling the air. The Lieutenant shook herself, gritted her teeth and checked it's fortune. She wasn't tasked with rendering the horrid carnivore unconscious, though she had to weaken it significantly.

Killing it wasn't the goal, Vika wanted to frustrate and push them into rage. The Drakkar did not have a great deal of fortune... So Paula just dropped a Hex right in it's face.

Paula reported.

The effect was immediate, the hulking figure staggered into the wall.

Vika replied.

Paula slid her perspective further to her right, angling up, seeing the hallway and the two figures there. She didn't bother with a fortune check and painted their faces with Hex, they both doubled over.

Paula reported.

Vika thought.

Paula centered her perspective back up, she could feel Vika moving. The first sign of Vika's offensive was target one bellowing in pain.

The Drakkar designated as target two was carrying some kind of muti-barreled rotary cannon. It immediately reminded Paula of her DL5 LMG.

Paula thought.



Paula couldn't follow what happened next, but she knew Vika caused it. In less than a second, a blinding muzzle flash bloomed and a stunningly loud sound/pressure shock wave crashed senses.

Paula was spared these proximity effects, but Vika was not. A small figure appeared for a moment on Target one's back. Target two opened fire into target one, shredding the dark armor he wore and showered the store room aisle in dark blue blood.

Target three turned and ran back up the hallway as target two kept firing and walked the rotary cannon down between his own feet following the sudden appearances of the figure.

Max's thoughts broke in.

Paula replied to Max.

a distracted Vika added.

The Drakkar screamed at each other: Paula couldn't understand them. Target two kept looking for the figure then target three bellowed in pain. Paula caught a glimpse of her heroic wife appearing out of thin air, stabbing at both target three's eyes, then disappearing.

Target two turned and emptied his weapon into the ceiling. The friendly fire and the effects of Hex was too much and the two Drakkar made a staggering retreat back up the hallway.

Vika's thoughts were dark, but satisfying.

---

Max watched carefully, sensing the blurred forms through her visor, working their way down ramp wells along the canyon wall descending to the floor of the commercial shopping district.

Even knowing they were there and what to look for, Max kept losing them. Max requested.

Replied her XO.

Max was perched in the middle of a walkway on the outside of the rail, she had herself safely roped off and securely clipped in. Her web harness held her at about forty-five degrees, she unshouldered her Bjornwerx Panzer.

The hunting bow had a built in bracket-quiver, allowing her easy access to twelve carbon shafts tipped with switchblade broadheads.

Max heard the sound of distant heavy footsteps. She peered up, seeing a squad of the Deserter Pirates, moving in from the starboard habitation complex.

She squinted trying to get a head count.

The Warrior felt another itch manifest...

The squad was mostly Drakkar, Max spotted one that was larger and boasted more impressive armor. Max tapped her visor sending the data to Agatha

Max inquired.

Agatha affirmed.

Max inquired, again.

Agatha replied.

Max chuckled softly to herself.

This time Agatha inquired.





Max thought about it, she wasn't able to get a clear look at the squad, so she used her visor... Max thought to Agatha. Max peered across and down, still holding her bow at the ready.

The itch returned, Max tried to pick out individuals at almost one hundred meters away. Her vision shifted, her vision magnified without the visor, she could pick out every individual and every single one had a glowing gold outline.

Max spotted Mikkog again, the massive Drakkar was standing in the wrecked doorway.

Vika's thought broke in.

Max responded.

Vika reported.

Max replied.

Agatha interrupted,

Max blinked in understanding, glancing at the growing crowd on the opposite canyon wall.

Max ordered.

Immediately Max pulled a polished carbon shaft from the bow's quiver, knocking the arrow and clipped her trigger release on the bow-cable. Reacquiring the 'Target', Mikkog was now outlined in glowing crimson, his back to her still standing in the doorway.

He appeared to be issuing commands, gesticulating with two of his arms. Max didn't think she could hit him... She absolutely knew it.

She could place her arrow exactly where she wanted it, hitting him anywhere she chose. Without another thought, Max drew back past the heavy one hundred pound break of the compound bow, and held it at the fifty pound full draw.

The mechanics of the perfectly engineered modern take on an ancient weapon was staggering. A Bjornwerx Panzer featured over sized cams which reduced limb length, it was no taller than the arrows in it's quiver. The cross bound bow-cable ran through those cams to apply compound force, increasing the heavy draw to a devastating snap upon release.

Max didn't even line up through any of the graduated peep sights. She put her bow in the exact spot it needed to be and pulled the trigger. A heavy thrum was the only warning, as Max's wicked black dart took to the air at eighty-seven MPS.

The Warrior watched the arrow's slight arc with phlegmatic expectation. It struck just above Mikkog's fancy armor, hitting him where his skull connected to his spine.

The broadhead deployed perfectly and three inches of titanium alloy unfolded on either side, it's near mono-molecular edge slicing through the Drakkar's flesh and bone like the proverbial hot knife through butter.

The arrow passed completely through it's Target... Max knew it, she could feel it. It exited well below his jawline, and for a heartbeat the Raid boss was confused. Then his neck erupted in a deep blue torrent and he dropped in the doorway, quite dead.

---

Vika waited, listening to the larger Drakkar scold targets two and three.

She was severely tempted to tear into all of them, but there were at least a dozen more just outside.

Then she remembered who was also just outside.

Vika's thought to Max.

Max responded.

Vika reported.

Max replied.

Agatha interrupted,



A cloaked Vika shadow stepped back to the hallway and within a few heartbeats, the large Drakkar's neck fountained blue blood, soaking the two Drakker in the storefront.

He fell forward in the doorway, and did not move.

The two Drakkar now dripping in blue gore screamed and ran out, shouting in their unfamiliar tongue.

Vika spotted a slick polished shaft, lodged at the base of a shelf. The Dwarven Operative grasped the arrow close to the tip and began to gently move it side to side, carefully easing it loose. While Vika was retrieving Max's arrow, a cacophony of weapons fire ensued outside in the shopping district.

Paula thought to Vika.

Vika replied.

Paula was impressed.

Vika looked at the big dead Drakkar and then out the shop doorway,

---

When Max assassinated Mikkog, the dozen Drakkar, three Kintak and four Terrans, who all belonged to the Deserter Pirate faction, immediately laid blame on the Native ME Pirate faction.

Agatha intensified that outrage, removing any thoughts of a careful investigation.

Max suddenly felt very exposed, still unseen, but now somewhat in the line of fire. Her dubious position was highlighted by four Drakkar with rotary cannons opening fire across the commercial canyon. Those heavy weapons were inaccurate short-ranged area effect weapons at best.

In the blink of an eye the NME Pirates returned fire.

An overwhelming din of ranged weaponry rose throughout the canyon.

Inter-faction Pirate Conflict erupted as phase two began.

Had heads been cooler, even a cursory examination of the incident should have revealed the approximate flight path of the deadly missile. It would have exonerated the pirates of the opposing faction by not only horizontal, but vertical trajectory.

Luckily Max never needed to worry about cooler heads, her most exotic wife saw to that.

Max thought,

Agatha assisted her Captain-wife with her safety line and pulled her up under the walk-bridge.

The nanoweave swathed hammock was suspended like a spiders web.

Agatha commented.

Max sent Agatha a mental hug.

Agatha returned the hug,

Max and Agatha worked together to collapse the static blind, a projectile ricocheted off the walk-bridge railing.

Max replied with humor.

Agatha's thought drifted off when the pair of them climbed up and around the opposite side of the walk-bridge.

Max inquired as they moved towards the port side habitation complex.

Agatha answered.

Max paused,



Max encouraged.



Max didn't know what to think.

---

Joon and Samira made their way down the ramp wells, they'd only descended halfway when the shooting started. The noise was overwhelming, the din reverberated along the canyon, setting some of the slaves and captives to wailing.

Joon could see slavers, standing dumbfounded staring up, they quickly recovered their senses and got under cover.

Samira commented.

Joon replied.

Samira changed over to a slow trot, her hooves rang louder on the ramp well but she was correct, they were completely covered by the noisy combat above. Joon and Samira's nanoweave hidden descent went unnoticed despite the increased pace.

When they finally reached the landing for the floor of the canyon, Joon was struck at the depravity she was witnessing. Dozens of small pens dotted around two large enclosures. Along the edges of the canyon were differently configured storefronts, most of which were torn open and derelict.

Hoses extended out from many of the partitioned establishments, each affixed to a pen or trough within an enclosure.

Suddenly Joon realized what she was looking at. Joon thought to the Samira.



Joon pulled Samira's blurry form gently towards one of more or less intact storefronts. They passed a Slarmian captive coiled down in a cramped cage, who was gazing up, their unkempt length covered in lesions.

Joon suddenly noticed the Slarmian had been blinded. Joon's thought was despondent.

Sam peered into the storefront, a pair of Yelneg were having an animated discussion in their screechingly harsh language over a table with a tea service.

Beyond them was a burly Ornalith pouring them both tea.

Samira had discussed a little ME history with Agatha.

Yelneg were once avid enslavers of other species in the ME and had been all during their 'Imperial' period. They continued the practice until the Trankaran Republic outlawed slavery.

While the Imperial Yelneg culture managed to endure without it, those previously enslaved people had also suffered the loss of much of their own cultural identity. Those peoples in turn redefined themselves and managed to prosper despite the Yelneg transgressions

However, in the lawless corners of the ME some specific Yelneg factions still practiced what they considered the 'Art of Breaking'. It was the kind of mindset Samira found truly depraved and beyond contemptible. Samira set her jaw, her thoughts were dark,

Joon replied with a similar tone.

Samira set the heavy duffel where she was directed, the charcoal color of inactive nanoweave melted into view. She carefully removed the hooded poncho, Joon's blurry outline hovered around Samira assisting her with the classified apparel.

Samira stepped out of the dark grey coveralls and Joon quickly collected them, folded them, and carefully stowed them in her personal satchel. The Paladin might need them again later.

Joon turned to look at Samira, now in plain sight.

Even in the subdued lighting on the floor of the canyon, she looked magnificent.

She now only wore her beloved tabard emblazoned with Solomoriah. Her body-shape was unique in the ME, it was enormously obvious she wasn't from around here. Samira's golden eyes turned once again to the brightly illuminated shop interior.

Joon inquired.

Samira sighed,

Joon sighed softly,

Samira replied.

Joon laid a blurry hand on Samira's arm,

Samira nodded,

With that the Terran Cyborg Security Chief Paladin stepped into the shop.

The two Yelneg's abruptly stopped arguing, their heated conversation ending in mid screech. "All your slaves are now belong to us." Samira said in trade-speak.

The Ornalith servant leapt to a cabinet and produced an odd bull pup style firearm.

It became eerily quiet in the shop, the din of the firestorm conflict above seemed to ride on Samira's shoulders as her hooves rang on the shop floor.

The two Yelneg were now up on their stubby walking appendages, the odd noise they made as they moved seemed to echo Samira's

"What are you waiting for, kill it!" the one Yelneg said to the Ornalith. The instant the weapon employed by the Ornalith had initiated it's firing action, Samira's Aegis snapped into existence.

Joon thought the sheer brilliance looked like a furnace door had been thrown open as the Ornalith emptied a thirty round magazine at Samira who simply stood her ground. The rounds ricocheted in every direction and several struck one of the Yelneg who screamed in pain.

In that moment, Joon noticed movement on the canyon floor hellscape outside the shop and she saw several of the penned slaves had noticed the amber colored brilliance and stood to see more clearly.

All of slaves and captives were already quite aware of the massive engagement far above and none of them were wailing now because something was going on down here, with them.

Joon was astonished that not a single one of them made a sound.

Agatha had prepared them in dreams for this rescue. Joon sent her a mental hug.

In moments Samira exited the Slaver's den, she was in her full glory. Durendal blazed in one of her right hands, a translucent tower shield balanced out on the left.

Samira calmly walked to the closest cage-like pen. Three Trankaran and two Slarmian backed away from the enclosure as the brilliantly glowing entity was on the opposite side from the pen's gate.

That fact made little difference to Durendal.

Samira's sword emanated power like wisps of steam and three slashes later a huge opening had been sliced in the enclosure, Samira immediately made her way to the next as Joon shouldered her Paramedic kit and gazed at the slow, quiet exodus.

Agatha had even told them where they were to go.

Joon double checked the pen... Everyone was working together, assisting the disabled or carrying the ones who couldn't ambulate.

Samira slashed open the cage that held the blinded and scarred Slarmian.

It simply bowed their disfigured head and slowly uncoiled up, feeling around with badly broken limbs allowed to heal improperly. Joon stepped in and took the Slarmian gently in her arms,

"Easy there my friend, let me guide you." Joon said in remarkably good Slarmian.

"Most... Kind..." The tortured Slarmian managed to croak out.

Then Samira came to the three kneeling Largath Does, they were in stocks and chained. The abuse visited upon them was unspeakable, their sanity might never be restored.

Joon noticed that many of the healthier slaves and captives were aiding Samira in the operation. Agatha had insisted they all be rescued, no matter the price.

At that moment from one of the storefront slaver's dens emerged four Slarmians and two Ornaliths carrying firearms...Behind them emerged a Bull Largath with a massive length of metal crudely fashioned into a spiked crushing weapon.

Samira's wetware targeted the seven targets immediately. "Down!" Samira's shouted command in trade-speak.

A wave of slaves and captives dove or fell laying flat all around Samira.

The peculiar sound of Samira's hip holsters opening was lost on the slavers as they took aim on the brilliantly illuminated trespasser.

"Killit!" the Ornalith yelled.

They opened fire on Samira.

It soon became obvious to the slavers, almost immediately in fact, that they were seriously overconfident with the level of firepower they possessed. The automatic weapons were always more than enough to drive slaves or bully captives.

Samira angled her tower shield, deflecting the projectiles up. Her wetware in a flash identified the type and models of weapons the slavers used, tracking and estimating capacity and in an approximated window, Samira's wetware chose target locations.

Weapons finished clips and magazines and the Slarmian and Ornalith slavers initiated a reload. Samira moved her tower shield smoothly to her left, her second left and right hands rose in unison. With metronome precision, she walked her ten millimeter hollow point Kaimau Hurricane fire across the designated targets.

In three point two seconds she'd fired seventeen rounds into six targets, a single round wasted on a target as it was the last of the salvo and penetrated an already expanding cranium. The six slaver corpses lay sprawled in various contorted poses as the Paladin reloaded and holstered her pistols; hip compartments closed.

Samira changed her focus to the eleven foot Largath. The Bull Largath probably weighed more than a metric ton, the massive spiked crushing weapon was hideously impressive. The Bull's eyes locked with the twin glowing orbs of this small but deadly intruder.

Samira slowly raised Durendal, pointing the magical sword directly between the Largath's eyes. Then the brilliantly glowing being said a single phrase in Largatta... "I am vengeance"

He blinked twice then responded, "Nope." The Largath dropped his weapon with a clang, turned and performed a very fast walk towards the ramp nearest and departed the floor of the canyon.

Joon announced.

Samira watched the Largath ascend towards the NME Pirate line. The Bull made it to the third level when a single silent black bolt came down from the canyon rafters. That unerringly fatal missile drove through the Largath in the exact same location the Drakkar Raid boss had been struck.

Max dropped the moving Largath with her compound bow from four hundred seventy-three meters away. Almost half a kilometer, the feat was well beyond what any mundane archer was capable of.

Samira inquired.

Max chuckled mentally

Samira chuckled,

Max sent Samira a psychic hug and they turned their attention back to their respective assignments.

---

The main conflict was spreading, the Deserter Pirates began shifting to more tenable positions. Reinforcements on both sides added to the cacophony

While the canyon commercial district was visually stunning to allow for maximum advertising display, it was mostly unused and the actual strategic and tactical aspects of the shopping district left a lot to be desired.

Agatha pointed out the shift to her Captain as it occurred.

Max asked Agatha.



the Captain-wife inquired.



Max nodded in understanding.



Max inquired.

Agatha informed.

Max blinked and looked up again. Shutters adorned windows,





Max took in everything Agatha had to say, it wasn't germane to the mission so this information was new to her, but it suggested Astrid's investment was enormously undervalued. She gazed up once again, imagining what that 'window' actually looked like.

The rafters had a catwalk running along it's length, in full view of the entire district yet lost in the shadows above. Max thought her question to Agatha.



Agatha led them directly to a series of maintenance walks. They were in surprisingly good repair being mostly never utilized.

Max asked during the climb.

Agatha informed. The pair finally reached the catwalk... it stretched for kilometers in front and behind them. Below them the entire canyon was visible.

Joon announced.

Agatha leaned out over a safety rail and she pointed as Max unshouldered her Panzer again, nocking another black polished shaft. Her new Target ability was very easy to initiate, and Max quickly had her prey in her sights. It was a long way off... but Target didn't seem bothered by the range, so neither was Max.

The Largath's ambling form was highlighted in glowing crimson, so Max simply marked the shot at the same place as the last one.

With no preamble whatsoever the Captain drew and fired, the shot sailed into the darkness, Max couldn't follow it at all. At eighty-seven meters per second the arrow flew for five and a half seconds, then the Largath dropped and did not get back up.

Samira inquired a few moments later.

Max chuckled mentally

Samira chuckled,

Max sent Samira a psychic hug and they turned their attention back to their respective assignments.

---

Vika was now hunting the fringes of the Pirate civil war, discouraging them to wander out in small numbers. Paula was riding along with her, dropping in the occasional Hex and pulling Fortune as much as she could.

Hex in the conflict wasn't quite as effective at scale, but Fortune was very effective. Reducing avoidance and awareness for one side and improving kill ratios for the other. Vika was the perfect subject for Scry, she always knew what she was doing and never presented herself as a target.

The Dwarven Rogue Shaman was making a few discoveries of her own. Cloak could be toggled to activate when Vika Shadow stepped Saving her from trying to Cloak manually every time, and keeping eyes from tracking her in combat.

Vika briefly thought her next sparring session with Max was going to be a bit less balanced. She realized, too, that she was gaining invaluable combat experience with every encounter. With Paula essentially backing her every move, Vika was doing the work of a full kill squad.

When Max had educated Vika on IntOps Kill Squad doctrine, it opened her eyes. Vika's melee combat skills she had before coming into this family were valuable. But, combined with Samira's and Max's hard earned skills and willingness to share their education and experience: that intermingled knowledge became priceless.

So when Vika finally layered the supernatural Abilities of the Fantasy Class System...

The Dwarven Rogue Shaman grinned broadly, thoroughly relishing her task. She couldn't think of a better life to live.

---

Samira continued opening cages and breaking bonds. When she finished she assisted Joon with removing her stifling nanoweave. The slaves and captives watched, but did not interfere.

They were in remarkably good spirits despite their situation. Agatha had laid out the general idea of the rescue to them, so they knew the next step: A slow, careful, quiet march to the Docks where the Galleon was moored. There they would board it and cast off for Depot03.

However, just looking at them all, Joon knew they would never make it as is. She would need to examine and treat them if they were to have any chance of leaving together.

Samira stood watch as Joon began to triage her patients.

Roller-crabs began to arrive with food and drink.

These abused souls were patient and generous with the sustenance, giving to the most starved first.

Joon asked gentle questions in the native tongue of each non-Bract patient. Joon sent Agatha the warmest of mental hugs.

After every examination Joon blessed her patient.

In moments the Terran Medical Professional's reputation soared, the slaves and captives watched her with reverence.

"M'lady Jooniper." Samira addressed her.

Joon shifted to regard her Cyborg wife.

"We will be having guests soon." Samira's lips thinned.

Her glowing eyes turned, Joon followed her gaze. Walking toward them along the floor level promenade were at least two dozen Yelneg an Ornalith two Slarmians and three Largath.

All of them were armed, all of them were looking at the gathering of slaves and the glowing figure standing watch.

---

The Mark26 Terran Federation Navy shuttle had been in service for six decades, it was considered past due for retirement allowing a newer more efficient model to take it's place. But the Mark26 was one of the workhorses of the TFN, it was extremely dependable and was already one of the most efficient designs the Navy had ever commissioned.

Ira remembered when the Mark26 was the new model, he had already been in uniform for ten years at the time. CmSgtMjr Boggs was a living fossil, at ninety-seven he was nearing his eightieth year in uniform.

He wasn't looking forward to receiving his eighth service stripe, he already held current top NCO seniority with seven. He really didn't know how to stop, or slow down and as long as he kept waking up every day he would continue.

Besides, he really liked his young Admiral, though Hamilton was too clever by half and needed looking after. Ira felt the turbulence under his feet as the Mark26 he was currently a passenger on was making it's final approach to it's destination, Tristan da Cunha. The largest island of this very remote archipelago had the dubious honor of the location of first Terran Federation prison.

It was still used and boasted an inmate population of almost a thousand. Most of these prisoners were permanent guests with life sentences. But there were a few with only a decade or so. Ira was here to see one of those.

The shuttle grounded and the bay doors slowly closed, Ira had the good sense to stay put until he saw the pilots turn and nod to him. He knew how nasty the weather was outside and didn't want to get his suit wet.

In about ten minutes Ira found himself at a front desk of sorts. The Lieutenant behind the raised counter looked at him with some confusion. "Ah, yes, here we are... Just sign in here.

Ira put his thumb where needed and turned to walk towards the secured conference rooms. The Lieutenant nodded and sighed, it was great when someone who knew how things worked came in. Ira thumbed open the smallish room and entered, it had exactly two chairs, both immovable.

He slowly sat and eyed the room, looking for the surveillance systems. Ira sighed, he felt uncomfortable, he hadn't worn this suit in a long time and it never really fit right.

Suddenly a buzzer went off and a door on the other side of the room opened. A tall figure in a paper-thin jump-suit walked in. Ira immediately stood up and watched her closely.

The woman was broad shouldered and very dark skinned. Ira bowed slightly to her and indicated the chair across from him. The woman walked slowly, she was older but in excellent physical condition.

She slowly sat in the chair.

Ira returned to his... He adjusted his lapel then sat still.

The two of them sat in silence for at least a minute. Sizing each other up.

Ira got a good look at her.

Silver and steel cornrow braids tightly knit across her scalp, her light brown eyes looked like torches in contrast to her weathered dark brown skin.

"I don't know you." The woman finally stated.

Ira replied, "No, we've never met."

The woman nodded, "I'm not telling you a god damned thing."

Ira nodded, "I'm not going to ask you any questions."

A single silver eyebrow rose, "You're not a lawyer."

Ira blinked, "How do you know?"

"Because that suit is three decades out of fashion, lawyers live in their suits." She replied calmly. "You're military, but not here in any official capacity..." The woman looked around, playing to the cameras.

Ira nodded, "Very astute observation, you are correct."

"I'm not telling you a god damned thing old man." The woman restated.

"I have no questions that need answering." Ira replied softly.

"I am here on a family matter."

The woman's eyes narrowed, "Why the riddles?"

Ira took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"I came here today to let you know that Melinoe is alive and well and is married to my grand niece."

The woman blinked.

"Do you know my name?" she asked very softly.

Ira nodded sightly.

The woman's lips thinned, "What do you want?"

Ira shook his head slightly, "Nothing, but I needed you to know that despite the mistake you made, Melinoe is living a very good life with a family who loves her."

"What mistake is that old man... You have to be specific, I have made quite a few."

"The Mikaboshi contract to kill Gilmore."

He said softly, "That's why you are in here."

The woman's jaw set, and she said through her teeth, "So what?"

"Gilmore had adopted Melinoe." Ira said softly.

The woman blinked, tears suddenly stained her face.

"Fuck" She said.

"I thought Melinoe was dead, and I was exacting revenge for..." She faltered. The woman stared into Ira's blue-Grey eyes, "What's your name?"

Ira smiled softly, "Irasmus Ezekiel Boggs, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." The old man continued, "And you are Ms. X., a.k.a. Naja Yolanie Xander, formerly of Felmutter. Ira's expression changed, "I am very sorry for the loss of your son and daughter-in-law."

"You are very well informed Irasmus... but, now so is everyone else." Naja glared.

"Oh, I don't think that will be an issue." Ira smiled. The old man showed off the underside of his lapel, then pulled out of his jacket's inside pocket a black chrome block two inches tall and an inch wide.

"Do you know what this is?" Ira asked softly.

Naja raised an eyebrow then shook her head.

"It's an anti-surveillance device sometimes called a mirror-box." Ira informed the woman.

Her jaw dropped open.

"How the fuck do you have something like that, and why would you bring it in here?" Naja asked with a scathing expression.

Ira put the device back in his pocket then leaned forward in his chair. "I happen to work for Navy Intelligence, and I needed to speak candidly with my family."

Naja stared at Ira.

"Family?" she asked softly.

Ira nodded, "Yes."

Naja Yolanie Xander stared at Ira's placid pale face for a full minute weighing him and his words to her.

She finally leaned forward also. "Then... We have a lot to talk about." She said.

---