6200 - Book 1 - Beginnings - Chapter 2

Chapter 2 -

As stated previously it is believed that most humanoid races in this spiral arm of the Milky Way Galaxy are thought to have their roots in those of a now extinct race called the Progenitors who at their height excelled in art, mathematics, philosophy, medicine, and technology. Several of their discoveries are still being figured out such as their fourth dimensional computer programming language that to this day no human has been able to decipher easily without causing massive headaches and generally causes most computers and AI’s to shut down without notice.

Some medical experts believe that the Progenitors were able to alter the way their brains worked so that they could work with this code and some evidence does show that this is possible, and a few recovered Progenitor AI’s such as the AI Ehvelyhn who is the master control computer for the Progenitor Space Station Coronet located at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy have key components that are purely biological in origin.

Dr. Stanislaw Medloe - Professor of Galactic & Xeno-History Cambridge College

A History of the Milky Way Galaxy and its Inhabitants - Vol. XIX 5928

Somewhere In Hyperspace between Barnhardt And Bolivia

Privately Registered Vessel - Forlorn Hope - Mess Hall

February 8th, 6200 C.E. - 21:33 CST

The snap of cards being shuffled short wise penetrated the gloom of the dimmed mess hall as the stagnant pall of cigar and cigarette smoke swirled around the six occupants of the round table.

It had been thirty days since the Forlorn Hope had left the Barnhardt system on its way to Neo-Bolivia and the crew was currently in the mess hall playing poker, which was pretty much all they seemed to do of late. Hyperspace was boring and with nearest wormhole gate being over a month away they’d found themselves being rather on the board side. Frigates were small ships and generally held had a crew of twenty-five and marine complement of ten but in a civilian owned ex-military vessel probably the only reason they hadn’t started choking one another was that they were able to have their own cabins, that and the gym and recreation room kept them entertained to a degree.

Barr Robards the captain of the ship looked at his own hand and discarded a pair of cards and drawing two fresh ones. From his disgusted expression he didn’t look any happier with his new cards than he had with the old ones, his lit cigar bobbed up and down in his mouth as he masticated the end of it the smoke trail from the Cohibo making curlicues in the air.

“One,” Jason said tapping ash from his cigarette into the tray situated near the center of the table nudging against the pile of silver-black, metallic-blue, and silver-green 1, 5, and 10 cred coins.

Joe slid another card to Jason and smiled serenely at his own cards, the cigarette in the left corner of his mouth tipping down as it drooped in his mouth and ashed onto the table.

Jon held up two fingers and was passed the cards his own cigarette was currently balanced precariously over the edge of an empty beer can so that the ash would fall in it instead of on the table.

Aehgr flopped down four cards and got new ones which he wiped down with a disinfectant towelette he then lit an air freshening candle and used a small hand fan to blow the cigar and cigarette smoke away from him.

“Dammit Aehgr get that thing out of my face,” Joe griped batting the fan aside.

“Oy, this is just so bad for my lungs,” Aehgr whined.

“What are you griping about you won the last six hands,” Jon said picking up his cigarette, taking a pull from it, and then ashing in the empty beer can.

“It’s just all this smoke is just so unsanitary,” Aehgr continued in the same vein. “It’ll leave a yellowish brown residue that’s just impossible to get out of anything, especially white,” Aehgr said the last while fingering his brilliant white mono-film duty suit.

“Well then don’t wear white,” Joe said scowling at his cards.

Barr folded his cards in his hand and looked at the group of friends, “Okay, I’ve been meaning to ask you this, how in the hell did you guys meet?”

Jason folded his own cards and set them down on the table, “at a bar called Tequila Dreams on Barnhardt III’s Alpha Ring, they always give veterans a 15% discount.”

“So you’re all veterans?” Barr asked. “Even you?” He was pointedly looking at Aehgr.

“Yeah I was a Corporal in the Theban Cluster Fleet Marine Corps,” Aehgr said pulling out a can of aerosol spray and pushing the button.

Jon got a spurt of it in his face and started coughing, “Son of a bitch Aehgr, would you stop that.”

“What in the world did you do in the marines?” Barr asked looking confused.

“Oh, I was the head custodian for the base although I did most of the cleaning myself. It was very relaxing cleaning up all that grime and dirt and making sure everything was spotless, I enjoyed it,” Aehgr said with a happy nostalgic look on his face.

“So why didn’t you stay in the Corps?” Barr asked the cleaning obsessed man.

“Oh well you see I cleaned the General’s staff car a little too well,” Aehgr said fidgeting.

“And what happened after that?” Jason prompted.

“Well you see there was some grease on the axle…” Aehgr trailed off.

“I think I can see where this is going,” Barr said shaking his head.

“Well it was greasy so I cleaned the axle off but some kept leaking from the bearings so I pulled them out and cleaned all the grease out and put it back together,” Aehgr said. “Unfortunately the General was to be in a parade that day and the bearings seized up with the car completely stopping and causing the parade to be delayed for over three hours,” Aehgr said looking everywhere except at his table occupants.

“Oh I love parades,” Ernie said.

“You seriously have to get a handle on your OCD Aehgr,” Jon told him crushing out the butt of his cigarette before dropping it into the beer can.

“What I just like things neat and clean,” Aehgr whined defensively.

The others just shook their heads, shortly after that the game was interrupted by the ship’s AI Damocles, “The ship will be reaching its normal space exit point in five minutes. All hands brace for normal space entry; Bridge crew to your stations please.”

“Well we were losing to Aehgr anyway,” Barr said flicking the ash from his cigar and putting it out.

“Is four aces a good thing,” Ernie asked.

“Shit,” Jon said tossing his cards violently down on the table.

“Tell me about it,” Joe said tossing his cards on the table and the six of them made their way to the bridge.

Generally there were no hazards to entering normal space but the fluctuations between hyperspace and normal space entry and exit were best handled by a human hand as they had a tendency to leave an AI slightly loopy for a few seconds during the crossing.

Tantalus Hive Mind - Sector 001 - ACS-001 - ACW-001

Privately Registered Vessel - King Midas

February 12th, 6200 C.E. - 12:00 CST

Hunnicut Morau nervously fingered the front of his skinsuit as the technician went over the telltales on the small tech-monitor attached to a plug on the suit’s wrist diagnostic console.

“Is all of this really necessary?” Hunnicut asked in a whining annoying tone that he cringed at mentally. “And why does it have to be so tight?” He asked pulling at the crotch of the suit and wincing as the edges of the plumbing connections bit into his thigh and pulled a his privates.

“Yes sir, it is very much a necessity. Interstellar law and corporate policy states that all personnel traveling from ship to surface aboard any small craft must wear a skinsuit so that in case of an emergency situation such as violent decompression,” the tech explained tapping at his E-PADD with a light stylus. “As for why it is so tight, the constriction is to help keep the blood flowing properly through your body if you are in a zero-gravity situation in case of said emergency,” the tech explained tapping some more diagnostic sub-routines on the E-PADD.

“So sir please stop messing with your plumbing connections or you may damage yourself if you don’t,” the Tech admonished him in a bored tone as he finished the diagnostics scan.

Probably is bored, Hunnicut thought to himself and felt a little embarrassed at his whiny questions.

The tech unplugged the cable from the wrist board and stowed it away, “You are good to go sir. Now remember if there is a hull breach just flip your helmet forward and turn the ring counterclockwise, it’ll lock into place and the air flow will begin immediately.”

“Thank you,” Hunnicut said nodding and boarded the small shuttle that was in the hangar bay of the King Midas.

Hunnicut sat down in one of the shuttle’s comfortable crash chairs and tried to relax but his nerves were guitar string tight; he thought they might snap at any time. It didn’t have anything to do with his job really; well not directly anyway; he was just nervous about being in an area he wasn’t supposed to be.

The former capitol world of the Neo-Prussian Empire was deep in the Quisling Quarantine Zone and between evading Galactic Patrol ships, the various picketing ships of numerous governments, pirates, Quisling ships, and even Gnosis who had seemed to move more heavily into the area. He was now going to a meeting with no one at his company had met face to face. Things like that were just not done, or at least not with someone as high up the chain as he was.

Hunnicut Morau was the newest partner of Deneb, Cantine, and Morau Financial Services. Although Hunnicut hadn’t been a partner for more than a week when he had been sent out on this mission, he was sure he’d be able to pull off the job. He’d been sent to meet a mysterious client that demanded absolute secrecy and an out of the way meeting location. Of course with a bribe of five billion galactic standard credits the company was ready to jump on the opportunity with all three legs.

As the shuttle entered the atmosphere and blazed downward Hunnicut wondered if his great-, great-, great-grandfather a founding member of the company had had to deal with situations like this.

“Probably not,” he muttered, as the newest partner he was the most expendable, but he couldn’t help but take pride in his own track record. He had landed the company at least ten new multi-trillion dollar accounts over the last three years and that had been what finally landed him the partnership.

It took about an hour to reach the landing pad inside the former Imperial Palace and as the shuttle spiraled downward he noticed that the planet was almost empty, it was filled with greenery as far as the eye could see, he’d never been to the Neo-Prussian Empire capitol world himself but he had seen pictures that had shown the planet dotted with humongous cities and smaller villages; now there was nothing.

“Or almost nothing,” he said quietly to himself as the Imperial Palace came into view and his breath caught in his throat as he took in the tall pyramids, cylinders, cubes, and domes that ringed it in azure glass and bright bronze.

“We’ll be landing in just five minutes,” the pilot told him over the intercom.

Not paying much attention to the pilot’s announcement Hunnicut was absorbed in his view of the scenery below and he stared in fascination, the city also had a huge retaining wall made out of the same burnished bronze material as the rest of the city and there was a clear delineation between the city proper and the trackless forests that spread from it.

As they came in for a landing the pilot shut off the hydrogen fueled thrusters and engaged the counter gravity systems easing the shuttle down on the landing pad that had been clearly marked with a beacon.

After landing the pilot exited the cockpit and read the telltales next to the door. “Looks clear sir,” he said and un-dogged the hatch extending the folding steps. “Do you want me to go with you sir?” the pilot said fingering the flap of a holster on his hip.

“No stay here, the instructions said for me to come alone and to follow the marked path; and I guess that is probably it,” Hunnicut said.

A red metallic substance seemed to extrude from the stones of the courtyard and create a path leading from the steps of the shuttle into the huge palace.

“If you are certain sir,” The pilot said nervously.

“Yes, just stay with the shuttle and have it ready to take off at a moments notice,” Hunnicut ordered.

The pilot nodded before closing and dogging the hatch back down. Hunnicut had only walked a short distance down the “red carpet” when he heard the clang of the heavy hatch; he wasn’t sure what the carpet was made of, possibly some sort of nannites. Whatever it was made of the carpet it was very comfortable to walk on, pausing at one point to take in some architecture he found himself still moving.

The nannites of the carpet undulated slightly and were still moving him along at the same pace he had been moving and he soon found himself deposited in front of two huge iron bound wooden doors, although he was sure that it was just a façade for whatever armor plating was actually inside of it.

Steeling himself Hunnicut made to reach for the door, whether he was going to try the knob or just knock he hadn’t figured out yet but that decision was taken from his hands as the doors swung inwards.

What greeted him was an odd sight, there were hundreds of people in the room all wearing nanno-sheaths of varying metallic colors; gold, blue, orange, black, purple, green, and tan. At the other end of the room sat a huge dais with a pair of thrones on it and in these sat two golden figures; one male, one female. Even from this distance he could make out the voluptuous curves of the woman and the toned musculature that both figures showed through the nanno-sheaths.

Gulping slightly Hunnicut wasn’t sure what to do next when a resonating, buzzing voice spoke from the dais.

“Please approach the dais Hunnicut Morau,” the voice ordered him.

Gulping once again with beads of sweat popping up on his skin he walked slowly towards the dais.

Having covered part of the distance to the throne he looked around him and focused on one of the blue nanno-sheathed people he noticed that the man’s chest was not rising or falling in a breathing rhythm. He shivered as he also realized that the room was dead silent and that none of the figures were so much a moving from foot to foot restlessly and that their glowing multi-colored eyes followed him silently as he approached the dais.

Unsure of what to do when he reached the foot of the dais Hunnicut started to bow but almost fell over from the unaccustomed weight of the Skinsuit’s enviro pack and his helmet latched to it.

“No need for that,” the resonating voice commanded and the male golden figure stood from his throne walking down the dais to greet Hunnicut.

As the figure approached Hunnicut could see his own distorted reflection in the golden nanno-skin that covered the man, he shivered once again at the realization that neither the man nor the woman were breathing.

“Mr. Hunnicut Morau,” the golden figure greet holding out a hand.

“Ye…, yes,” Hunnicut replied nervously and took the hand; he thought it would be like touching metal, but it felt almost glassy and cool. The two of them stood their second exchanging handshakes and then the figure withdrew its hand.

“I’m sure you are wondering why your company sent you here Mr. Morau.” The golden figure inquired.

“Yes, I am Mr.…., Uhm, I’m not really sure what to call you, Sir,” Hunnicut said trailing off.

“You may refer to this unit as Emperor or you may address the entire Hive Mind as Tantalus,” The Golden figure informed him.

Hunnicut swallowed and clutched his briefcase more tightly, “Certainly Emperor. What exactly did you need from my company?”

“We need financial advice, follow,” the golden figure ordered and walked towards the crowd of silent unmoving figures and they parted as if they were the red sea and the golden figure were Moses.

Hunnicut followed close behind getting creepy vibes from the once again unmoving and un-breathing crowd around him.

The Golden figure strode down several hallways until it stopped at a door and entered the room beyond. Hunnicut followed him in with the Empress close on his heels and shut the door behind her.

“Sit, make yourself comfortable,” the Emperor ordered gesturing at the chairs surrounding the large conference table in the somewhat sterile but still cozy room after the creepiness of the throne room.

“Do you require sustenance,” the Empress queried gesturing at a long buffet table laden with all sorts of foods, both using the same echoing buzzing tone.

“Uhm, no thanks I had a light lunch before leaving the ship,” Hunnicut told him, of course that lunch now felt like a load of lead ingots in his stomach after the weirdness he was seeing and experiencing, so he distracted himself by examining the room he was in while he settled into one of the offered seats.

Looking around he took in the room’s décor it was paneled in a light gray wood of some sort and had slightly darker gray carpeting and the furniture was all highly polished chrome and black glass. It wasn’t exactly the type of room Hunnicut would have preferred but beggars couldn’t be choosers.

“Once again if you don’t mind my asking what exactly can my company help your firm with,” Hunnicut asked opening his briefcase.

“The Hive Mind requires capitol, we have hired your company to help us build more, and while we have some large stocks of Galactic Standard Credit coins this will diminish quickly as this system has no remaining natural mineral resources to sustain the production that the hive mind requires,” the gold figure told him succinctly.

“Okay,” Hunnicut said and pulled out an E-PADD connecting it to some ports on the conference table. He also didn’t comment on the fact that the Emperor referred to the Hive Mind rather than using the terms I and we. Fiddling with his E-PADD for a minute he typed in some commands and let the stored algorithms run.

It took several minutes for the program to finally activate, and when it did a holographic chart popped into existence above the large conference table. By the time the hologram was collating data Hunnicut was drenched in sweat or at least his face and head was since the capillaries in the Skinsuit sucked away any moisture it sensed and recycled it.

“Okay, so you want least time high profit income potential,” Hunnicut said not even receiving a nod from the Emperor as he tapped a few more keys and some of the things listed on the chart disappeared leaving three lines. “And you say you don’t have any natural mineral resources to exploit,” Hunnicut added and another line disappeared from the chart.

“Well that leaves,” Hunnicut said rather nervously, “Only two options, basically illegal activities or the sex/fetish market which has exploded over the last T-millennia especially with most major governments legalizing prostitution.”

“Criminal activity is not an option, the Hive Mind shall investigate this sex/fetish market that you speak of, please have a brief ready for us within twenty-four hours,” the Emperor said and he and the Empress left the room and Hunnicut heard the dull thud of a bolt being pushed into place outside the conference room door.

Center of the Milky Way Galaxy - Hyperspace Terminus

Coronet Station - Coalition Main Conference Room

February 15th, 6200 C.E. - 12:00 CST

A month and a half to the date the Galactic Coalition council had been reformed and this time every race had their representative present and so far it hadn’t been a pleasant experience.

The council meeting room designed to hold hundreds felt cramped and crowded with barely fifty representatives, after the massacre even the New Nibiru Kingdom had sent all five of its representatives. Everyone it seemed was accusing someone of something; even the usually docile Oracle’s from the Malkenet Nebula were vehemently denying some things and accusing others of the same. Most of the accusations and fingers were pointing straight at the human and demi-human races of the coalition.

The Minister of Affairs who was the somewhat ruling head of the Coalition had tried to defuse things but the fact that she was Shadovaran and technically human didn’t seem to be helping matters any.

In the main control facility of the Coronet the three people responsible for its running and maintenance sat and watched as the representatives continued to fight and stab each other in the back.

“Give ’em some poo and prehensile tails and they’d look just like a buncha monkeys at the zoo,” Samantha Masters observed from her seat at the main holo-tanks console in El Paso drawl.

“They are frightened,” Master Khol observed from his own chair, “they’re representatives are either dead or missing and those among the missing are all human or Elharnian, so they figure it was the fault of the humans that this happened.”

“I’m truly distressed at the way they are acting, even the Draganar representative is losing control of himself,” the third member of the group Elistra said her tinkling voice and silver hair both showing her distress.

“Any word as too how someone waltzed in, took out several dozen guards, kidnapped and killed over three dozen people and then got back out Ehvlyn?” Samantha asked of the AI that ran the huge space station known as the Coronet.

“None that I can find, somehow someone was able to blind my sensors in such a way that I didn’t realize that they were blind,” Ehvlyn replied a bit of annoyance in her voice as her current avatar of a winged human with a shield in one hand and flaming sword in the other replaced the representation of the Coalition Meeting room, the avatar’s wings were flapping agitatedly.

“How is that possible?” Master Khol asked quietly.

“It’s not possible, it’s highly impossible,” the rather agitated AI replied.

“Calmly, calmly,” the aged Rahtahlan said making a placating gesture with his hands.

“How can you be so calm?” Amanda asked. “We’ve got the brewing of a galactic wide civil war percolating in that room like cheap coffee,” her El Paso accent thickening.

“Colloquialisms aside I must agree with Amanda,” Elistra said quietly and picked her daughter up from the floor where she had been playing.

“What is that one expressions that you humans use,” Khol said thinking for a moment. “However unlikely once you have disproved the possible the most likely out come is the impossible,” Khol said concentrating to enunciate the words properly.

“Close enough,” Amanda said, “that would be Occam’s razor.”

“Well using Mr. Occam’s theory maybe we should start an investigation of our own into the events that transpired,” Khol suggested.

“And how would we do that,” Amanda asked, “We can’t even leave the station if our trail leads elsewhere.”

“Well let me think about that I may have someone in mind that can help us with that task,” Khol told her.

UNSF - South Andara Sector - Bolivia System - Neo-Bolivia [Bolivia V] Orbit

Privately Registered Vessel - Forlorn Hope - Main Cargo Hold

February 15th, 6200 C.E. - 18:06 CST

It had taken nearly a week to reach Neo-Bolivia from the systems Yushima Limit but now they were in orbit around the planet and getting ready to set the ship down and unload the Chupa’s cargo.

Ernie, Aehgr, and Jason were on the bridge while Joe and Jon were with Barr to get the load ready.

“Alright guys,” Barr said tying down the last crate of cargo to the center of the cargo holds loading cradle. “Remember I just need you to look menacing but don’t shoot anyone unless absolutely necessary.”

The two of them just nodded and held onto whatever they could as the ship settled down through the atmosphere and finally hit clear air.

“We’ll be hitting the LZ in about twenty-five minutes,” Jason said over the comm system.

“Roger that,” Barr said double checking the straps holding the cargo down.

“You are expecting trouble down there?” Jon asked.

“Possibly, Chupas aren’t the most trustworthy bunch around, so just look mean and competent while we are down there,” Barr told them.

“No problem,” Jon said hefting the SPAS-95 shotgun that Barr had loaned him from the ship’s armory.

“Tough I can do, maybe I’ll even through in a little psychotic for free,” Joe said and smacked the bolt release on the MP5KA62 chambering a round, a lit cigarette dangling from his lips.

The ship finally set down in the clearing where the Chupas were waiting for the delivery, the ship creaked and groaned as the hull cooled from the air in the lower atmosphere the landing gear sinking several inches into the soft loam as it settled down.

Inside the cargo bay Barr checked the chamber of his assault rifle one more time then slung it over his shoulder. Clamping his half smoked cigar between his teeth he slapped the button to lower the cargo cradle.

After several days in space and the ship’s low level lighting the three of them were slightly dazzled by the huge orange orb that served as the Bolivia system’s sun, thankfully it didn’t last long and they were finally able to see the short squat figures standing around a pair of what looked like Earth World War II era Deuce-and-a-half.

“You’ve got to be shitting me,” Jon huffed out under his breath.

“I warned you, just because they look silly doesn’t mean they aren’t dangerous,” Barr warned again.

The Chupas did in fact look rather ridiculous; they wore olive green fatigues with tan colored outdated web gear over it and red berets with gold flashes on them.

Joe sucked in a lung full of tobacco and started coughing into his hand quietly, although Barr couldn’t really tell if it was coughing or laughing at the sight of the two dozen children sized Chupas in outdated Cuban battle gear and armed with M1 Thompson submachine guns.

While the guns were outdated a .45 caliber bullet or thirty could make you just as dead as the latest armor piercing gyro round, the so-called Chicago Typewriter had a fierce reputation in its day.

Joe finished his coughing trying to look grim and foreboding but it was somewhat ruined by the slight curve to his lips.

“You are Captain Barr Robards?” one of the Chupas with more gold braid than a high school marching band asked as it stepped forward.

“Yes, that would be me,” Robards replied.

“I am General Miguel Fidel Espinoza Castro,” the Chupa said puffing out its rather pathetic medal laden chest with an affected Spanish accent. “Do you have the agreed upon equipment?”

“Yes right here in these crates,” Barr pulled a manifest out of his pocket and handed to the Chupa.

General Castro took the piece of paper unfolding it he seemed to peruse it but Barr doubted he could understand a single word of the Modern Theban it was printed in.

“Excellent,” the General said and snapped his clawed fingers, another Chupa wearing the rank of a sergeant; an American sergeant’s rank at that; stepped forward with a battered leather briefcase and opened it towards Barr and the General. “As you requested 250 Blazing Firenewt Rubies, and 150 Azure Sky Sapphires none of which are under 2 karats,” the general said motioning to the glittering stones.

“Looks like what we agreed upon, I’m sure I don’t have to worry about counting it,” Barr said purposely baring his teeth in the smile he gave General Castro.

Castro stepped back nervously motioning for the Chupa Sergeant to hand Barr the briefcase then waved more Chupas forward to unload the crates from the cargo lift.

The crates themselves were three times the size of a single Chupa and probably weighed five times their own weight but the Chupas worked in teams of six and they had the dozen crates unloaded in no time putting them on the two trucks.

“Well if you need more gear General, you know how to get ahold of me,” Barr said.

“I certainly shall,” the Chupa General said baring oversized hollow canines that were meant to suck the blood from warm-blooded creatures. “Good day gentlemen,” the small Chupa said rotating on his heels and marching off to a staff car that had been hidden by one of the trucks, as he did so he pulled a swagger stick out of his boot and used it to prod the driver into motion as he climbed in.

“A swagger stick,” Joe mouthed to Jon and Barr.

“It takes all kinds,” Barr whispered back.

The three of them just shook their heads Barr activating the lifts controls and they were swallowed up by the ships steel hull.

Jon and Joe had slung their weapons and were about to leave the cargo bay. “Hold up guys. I may need help with this,” Barr said setting the briefcase down on a counter built into the wall. Barr pulled a small knife from his shirt pocket opening it he slid it between the leather hinges of the briefcase, there appeared to be resistance for a second and then the blade slid through the crack.

“What did you do that for?” Jon asked.

“Hold on,” Barr said holding a finger up and pressed the intercom stud. “Jason go ahead and put us in orbit,” he ordered.

“Roger,” Jason replied they all felt the rumble as the landing gear retracted the counter-gravity system lifting the ship into the sky then into space where the reaction-less drive kicked in carrying them clear of the planet.

“So, what’s with the knife?” Jon asked again.

“Never trust a Chupa,” Barr said opening the briefcase and lifting the inner lining clear showing the two of them a row of six brownish red sticks with wires leading from it and dripping something clear and somewhat sticky.

“Oh, god,” Joe said, “that’s now what I think it is.”

“Who the hell uses dynamite in this day and age,” Jon asked in wonder.

“Old ass nitro leaking dynamite at that,” Barr said. “This stuff is probably left over from a stash on board the old Cuban vessel that crashed here.”

“What are you going to do with it,” Joe asked.

Without a word Barr carefully snapped the briefcase closed and went over to the airlock opening the inner door, setting the briefcase down, he walked back out sealed the hatch cycling the airlock the dynamite laden briefcase was expelled into space.

“Have they done this before?” Jon asked.

“No, but it’s not the first time they’ve shorted me on payment either,” Barr said going back over to the lining of the briefcase and holding up one of the gems. “Glass,” Barr explained.

“Are any of them real,” Joe asked.

“Yeah, about a third of them and they’ll more than cover the cost of the supplies, your guys’ paychecks, maintenance and other whatnots, as well as a hefty chunk for myself and the cost of the explosives.

“Explosives, why would you ever put explosives in the crates?” Jon asked quizzically.

“Yeah, you see I knew that the Chupas were looking at different suppliers, which I really don’t mind, they just have a bad habit of terminally finalizing any deals that they make, so I put about a kilo of composition 30 in the bottom of each crate.” Barr explained as he pulled his comm out and keyed in a sequence of numbers.

“30 Kilos, that’s going to level quite a large area,” Joe said.

“I know that’s why I’m waiting till they get back to their main base camp,” Barr glanced at the time on his comm, “Which should be right about now.” Barr’s finger pressed one of the hard holography keys. “Well that is done and over with; time to move on to our next job,” Barr said heading back into the main part of the ship and to the well stocked bar in the galley.

Theban Cluster - Caruthers Sector - Caruthers System - Caruthers World

Theban Cluster Fleet Headquarters - Office of Fleet Intelligence

February 20th, 6200 C.E. - 09:00 CST

Commander Windsor Conroy’s stomach was rebelling against the stout black coffee he had been drinking as he sat at his desk on the 115th floor of the Theban Cluster Fleet Headquarters Building located on the portion of Caruthers City’s main spaceport that was reserved for military use.

Oh it wasn’t the coffee’s fault, rather it was the report that was on the moly-chip he had just plugged into his E-PADD.

Various moles in friendly and unfriendly governments were indicating that the militaries were gearing up for some large offensive, maybe it was just maneuvers but Windsor didn’t think so, this much material being moved around by so many people didn’t bode well for someone and Windsor had the feeling that the someone was the Humans and Elharnians. After the mysterious deaths of all the non-human Coalition Ministers and the disappearance of the Human and Elharnian ministers the pointed fingers had quickly turned into pointed cannons.

“God, I should have become a banker like mother wanted,” Windsor grumbled rubbing his eyes tiredly.

“Excuse me sir?” His secretary said with a puzzled look on her face.

Windsor looked up at her as she refreshed his coffee and set a breakfast sandwich on his desk, “Nothing CPO Fallwell, nothing at all.”

The CPO just nodded and left his office with the carafe.

Now he was talking to himself just great. Windsor still had one ace up his sleeve but wasn’t willing to show it yet so he plowed methodically through all the moly-chips on his desk most of them showing the crimson and blue bands of priority reports.

Tantalus Hive Mind - Sector 001 - ACS-001 - ACW-001

Tantalan Imperial Palace

February 13th, 6200 C.E. - 08:00 CST

Hunnicut labored over the document he was preparing for the leaders of the Hive Mind, or the Hive Mind’s puppets, or the Hive Mind itself. He really wasn’t sure what term to use regarding the Tantalan Emperor and Empress. Mentally shrugging he went back to his figures and charts determining the best way for the Tantalan whatever to break into the Sex/Fetish Market.

Food and drink were brought to him about every couple of hours; even when he dozed off for four or five hours he found fresh food and a carafe of cool water sitting on the table near him when he awoke.

His meals and drinks were brought to him by a Tantalan of course, he didn’t know what its designation was and it was covered in a metallic tan nanno-sheath but had a very shapely body, its eyes also shown a warm tan color. The only thing that put him off as he stared at the Female Tantalan was the fact that she was absolutely silent even when padding across the hard wood floors of the conference room plus the fact that her chest didn’t rise and fall in a breathing rhythm.

Hunnicut had stripped down to his mono-film duty suit and he rolled his neck trying to relieve some tension from those missiles.

“Does the unit require a massage?” the female drone asked as she deposited his latest meal on the table next to him.

“No, that’s alright,” Hunnicut said and then a nerve twitched in his neck. “Actually yes, do you know how to perform massages?” Hunnicut asked.

“Yes this unit has access to all memories of all units,” the drone answered stepping up behind him an laid her hands on his shoulders and started massaging them and his neck quickly relieving the tension in those muscles.

Hunnicut had expected her touch to be coldly metallic but the touch was actually rather soft, and glass like as she massaged his tension away. Unknown to Hunnicut nannites from the drone’s nanno-sheath sloughed off and made their way through his duty suit and sank into his body.

Hunnicut finished the report with about six hours to spare and napped for four of them taking the drone unit with him to bed her arms wrapped around him comfortingly. Upon waking up he used the small bathroom off the conference room taking a quick shower and cleaned as best he could and then climbed back into his Skinsuit; thankfully with the advanced technology put into Skinsuit design it didn’t stink to high heaven.

Hunnicut while not bright eyed and bushy tailed when the door opened to admit the Tantalan Emperor and Empress he was awake and cogent enough for the purposes.

“You have the report ready?” The Emperor queried.

“Yes and I’ve got it in hard copy, moly-chip and presentation forms,” Hunnicut said patting his briefcase that now lay open showing a Holo-Vid screen and hardcopy generator.

“Good while you show us this presentation, we shall digest the contents of the hard-copy and Moly-chip reports,” The Emperor said.

Hunnicut took it as an order and tapped a couple of keys on the Hard Holography panel of his briefcase computer and several charts floated above the conference table.

“I’m no sure how much in the way of financial math you understand,” Hunnicut began.

“The Hive Mind has all the mass knowledge of its units,” The Empress said simply.

“I’ll take that as a yes then,” he cleared his throat and started. Basically Hunnicut’s presentation consisted of how to first either start a new company or purchase one already in the area of Sex/Fetish products, his presentation then went into several long term goals and financial plans that they could use to increase profits and expand their market.

“Basically in conclusion,” Hunnicut said, “It would probably be easier to purchase a company that is already manufacturing products than to start a new one, the only other thing you may want to take a look at his whether or not you want to reveal your own presence, but that would mainly deal with a really good PR strategy.”

“We shall purchase this company,” the Emperor said touching a portion of one of the floating holograms indicating a company close to bankruptcy.

“As for PR what would you suggest Hunnicut Morgan Unit,” the Empress Queried.

“Well I did notice that of the small group of, uh…,” Hunnicut groped for the correct word but it kept slipping past him.

“Units would be the proper term you are looking for,” The Emperor supplied.

“Yes, units,” Hunnicut agreed shaking himself.

“What about the children,” the Empress queried.

“Well I didn’t see any children at all,” Hunnicut finished.

Although the Hive Mind did not allow its units any type of physical expression Hunnicut could tell that the Emperor and Empress were genuinely puzzled as they glanced at one another as if exchanging communications internally. That Hunnicut could decipher this even with the lack of facial features made him realize he had been here for too long.

“The Tantalan do have children, they are kept in an Assimilation Crèche until they reach the age of 15 Earth Years,” The Emperor finally answered.

Hunnicut wasn’t sure what an Assimilation Crèche was but he forged on anyway, “Well most races view a race that has children as less of a threat. If say you were to allow these children to roam about like any other races children the galaxy may see you as more open and human-like,” Hunnicut said.

“Query, why is this so?” the Emperor asked.

“Well, children are considered innocents and any race that openly cares for and loves their children is considered,” Hunnicut paused. “I’m not really sure what term to use but if you did have children it you would definitely seem less threatening, that and possibly having openly pregnant individuals,” Hunnicut was starting to feel out of his depth.

The Emperor and Empress communed with the Hive Mind for several more minutes, “The Hive Mind concurs with you and a program for Child and Breeder units are being implemented as we speak.”

Hunnicut wasn’t sure what that meant but he just nodded and smiled weakly. “Now do you know what a blow up doll is,” Hunnicut asked as he continued his briefing on the area of sex/fetish toy and accessory marketability.

Independent Systems League - Sonnenberg Sector - Sonnet System - Sonnet II

September 10th, 6200 C.E. - 14:32 CST

In the end it wasn’t even a Galactic Coalition that started the brush fire that would turn into an almost galaxy wide explosion of warfare and death.

Bajara Nakoma was only 23 earth years old and had lived her whole life on the small planet of Sonnet II in the Sonnet system on the edge of the Independent Systems League.

The Sonnet systems didn’t used to be on the edge of the Independent Systems League but with the loss of so many planets during the Quisling War it was now only three empty systems away from the area known as the Quisling Quarantine Zone and one of its other edges just barely butted up against that of the Evaran Empire.

Currently Bajara wasn’t thinking about either Quislings or Evarans, she was enjoying a vanilla ice cream cone with her little sister Cetalla as the two walked down the small boardwalk in their coastal town of Trimbo.

Sonnet II had only been settled for about four centuries and its population was an odd mix of Indian, Vietnamese, and Serbian with a smattering of South Africans, Japanese, and Koreans.

Cetalla was the first to spot the objects as they hurtled through the air and smacked into the ground leaving a decent sized impact crater where they landed.

“What’s that?” the ten year old asked indicating the small oval container that was about the size of a two-liter bottle.

“I’m not real sure,” Bajara said and looked around, other people were paused on the boardwalk and beach examining similar containers. Seeing movement from the corner of her eye she looked back at the container just as it re-opened, laying inside the container was a round dark red disc with a pink glowing stone in it’s center, reaching in she touched it with her hand. The crystal felt solid and was giving off a pulsing warmth however the red outer disc was soft and when she poked it a divot was left behind that soon disappeared.

“Should we go get the Galactic Patrol?” Cetalla asked.

Bajara turned towards her sister and was about to reply when she saw swift movement from the container and a lancing pain in her chest just below her breasts, she screamed and fell onto her back. “Run Cetalla, run,” She managed to gasp out through the pain.

It felt like liquid fire was racing through her veins and she saw that the other people on the beach examining the objects had also hit the ground. As she watched in horror she saw under her skin as something dark red raced through now raised veins, and arteries. The red outer disc of the strange device quickly spread over her body and ate away clothes, it covered her entire body save for a v-shaped portion along her upper chest and left her head and face completely free.

The last thing Bajara saw was little Cetalla being struck in the back by one of the discs and then it oozed around her front.

After a few more minutes the Evaran Symbiote that had taken over Bajara Nakoma’s body stood up it’s eyes glowing a brilliant pink, the pink crystal disc was now firmly imbedded in the chest below the breasts and similar crystalline objects jutted sharply from the hips, and it looked at it’s hands and feet and watched as they turned form standard five digits into pink crystalline three digit claws and back again.

Orbiting above the planet several small freighters under various registries finished their planned drop points and as they watched their sensors the 250 million normal life signs were replaced by those of Evaran Symbiotes.

“Well done,” Imperial General Thankar Baffela congratulated the crews of the various freighters spinning in orbit. “The first test of our planetary delivery system has been a complete success,” he told the ship captains over the Symbiotes telepathic communications network.

The Imperial General proceeded to debrief the ship crews on their mission.

“There is one question Imperial General,” One of the symbiotic ship captains said.

“What is it Imperial Captain Delfna?” Baffela asked.

“I realize that the first test of the delivery system was a success but Sonnet had a minor population barely pushing 250 million.”

“And what are your qualms about it?” The Imperial General prompted.

“Well Imperial General, I was thinking that it may not be quite as effective against a population in excess of one billion,” the captain said.

The Imperial General thought it over for several minutes and then replied over the telepathic link, “You may be correct Imperial Captain, which is why when we start liberating planets with larger populations the delivery system will be used in conjunction with ground troops and dropships carrying even more Symbiote discs.”

“Ah, you have laid my concerns at rest Imperial General; thank you.”

There were no more questions from the other ship’s captains as one by one they dropped off the telepathic link.

Soon small shuttles and transport ships were headed to the surface carrying building materials down to the new Evaran Empire Colony.

The building materials consisted of organic/ceramic blocks with hardwired nannos built into them and once activated depending on their size would automatically start constructing a building.

The most basic brick was about the size of a large duffel bag and when activated would create a structure about the size of a small house. The material itself was a glazed red with a glowing pink crystalline mineral running through it and when finished the windows of the building would consist of the same pink crystal.

Independent Systems League - Festus System - Festus II

Festus Alpha Ring - Shady Side Cantina

September 15th, 6200 C.E. - 22:11 CST

Between transit times and running some less than spectacular cargos for small time clients the crew of the Forlorn Hope finally made planet fall or at least ring fall. Deciding on some R&R after seven boring months they headed for what was probably Festus Alpha Rings most seedy and dirty bar.

“Oh, do we really have to go in there,” Aehgr whined.

“Yes we do,” Barr said and gave Aehgr a straight arm shove towards the saloon style doors at the front of the building.

Aehgr as his usual luck would have it collided with someone coming through the door and almost got into a fight but when the man realized that the short wispy figure was with five other rather large and obviously armed men he dropped the subject quickly.

The others quickly caught up to Aehgr as he pushed the swing doors open with a disposable wet nap.

The group quickly found a table after a few minutes a less than enthusiastic waitress came over to their table. “What can I get you?” she asked in a scratchy booze damaged voice.

“I’ll take a Dwuervan Black Ale,” Barr said. “In an unopened bottle,” he added quickly.

The rest of the party save Ernie followed suit making sure to order unopened bottles, Ernie as usual just ordered some lemonade.

The waitress less than quickly returned with their beers and took the money from Barr.

“Why is it shady deals are always made in grungy, filthy bars?” Jason asked as he sipped the stout Black Ale.

“What you don’t like the ambience,” Jon asked sarcastically waving a hand through the haze of legal and not so legal smoke that wafted through the bar.

“Yeah, and the Roaches, I’m sure they have roaches here, and other nasty creepy crawlies.” Aehgr interrupted.

“Sure Aehgr,” Joe told the little man and then gulped as something crawled over his boot.

“What you were expecting the Copa Cabana or something?” Barr growled.

“No I just don’t like places where my feet stick to the floor when I walk,” Jason replied.

“Nancy boy,” Jon grunted.

“Oy now what is that nasty looking thing,” Aehgr asked pointing at a rather plump figure not wearing enough clothes.

“That bud is a prostitute and it looks like she’s interested in you,” Jon said slapping him on the back.

“She is,” Aehgr said with a wide eyed look of horror on his face.

“Yeah definitely looks like it,” Joe commented looking over his shoulder to see the plump lady of the night wave at Aehgr who cringed down in his seat even more.

“Why don’t we ask her over,” Ernie said cheerfully oblivious as usual to things around him.

“You know what Ernie, that is the best idea you’ve had in awhile,” Jon said.

“Oh, dear god,” Jason said putting his hands in his face and trying to stifle a laugh.

“But, but she’s so nasty and dirty,” Aehgr said.

“Most of them are, especially in a dive like this,” Barr commented.

Ernie stood up and waved the prostitute over.

“I’ll pay if you want to have some fun,” Joe said evilly.

“Oh that’s alright…” Aehgr started to say when two flabby arms came down on his shoulders.

“Hello big boy,” The prostitute said bending over to waggle her eyebrows at Aehgr.

“You’ve got something on your breast there,” Aehgr said pulling out a cleaning cloth and wiping it across her breasts trying to blot away what he thought was a piece of dried food with hairs sticking out of it.

“Oh that is not a stain, little man,” the large woman roared with laughter, “That is Theresa’s beauty mark.”

“Wow it has a name?” Barr said unable to help himself.

“No silly man, I am Theresa and this is my beauty mark,” the woman said running a tender finger over the huge mole on her breast.

Jason made a quiet retching sound and Aehgr seemed to sink further into his chair with each passing second.

Aehgr’s hand dipped into his jacket pocket and Joe saw the glint of light off of lavender colored metal. “I don’t think so Aehgr,” Joe whispered and grabbed the man’s gun from his hand and jammed it in his coat pocket.

“Here Miss, our friend could use a little fun,” Joe said handing two 100 cred coins to the woman.

“I will show him a very good time for this much, let’s go back to my place little man,” with that Theresa the overweight prostitute with the hairy mole, er I mean beauty mark grabbed Aehgr by his arms almost physically carrying him up a stairway at the back of he bar.

“You know it’s been awhile since I had my pipes cleaned maybe I’ll find myself a nice young lady and get in some extracurricular activity,” Jon said musingly.

“Go for it,” Barr said waving his bottle of Black Ale at him.

Nodding Jon stood up and left the bar in search of a pretty little thing to spend some time and money with.

“I need to go do something,” Joe said draining off the last of his beer and leaving.

Jason and Barr looked at one another and then at the final occupant of the table, they nodded at each other.

“Hey Ernie, there’s a grocery store down the block why don’t you stock us up on some stuff while Jason and I handle this meeting,” Barr said handing Ernie a stick of cred coins.

“Okay, anything in particular you were wanting me to pick up?” Ernie asked as he grabbed the stick and stood up.

“No, just get what you think is best and you can use whatever funds you like, you can even have what is left over,” Barr told him.

“I shall not fail you in this endeavor my captain,” Ernie said with a jaunty salute as he walked away from the table.

“Wow that was actually kind of easier than I thought it would be,” Jason said looking at Barr after the others had left.

Barr snorted, “That was the easy part actually, now all we have to do is wait for our contact to show up.”

“I don’t think we’ll have to wait long,” Jason said tipping his almost empty beer bottle towards a figure that had just entered the bar.

Barr turned slightly to take the figure in, the tall rather emaciated looking man standing in the doorway was dressed in a dark gray suit and had a white button up shirt buttoned all the way up and he clutched a book in one hand his lips moving in a silent murmur as he looked around.

When the man’s gaze paused over Barr and Jason the two of them just nodded to the man and motioned him over.

“Are you Captain Barr Robards and Jason Rite?” the man asked running overly long skinny fingers through thinning ash gray hair.

“That would be us,” Jason quipped.

“Good, I need you to deliver a cargo for me,” the man stated matter of factly.

“That would be the business we are in,” Barr said sipping his Black Ale.

“Yes I know but this cargo requires a bit of discretion,” the man said his watery blue eyes burning with an inner light.

“Discretion costs extra and the extra cost depends on the degree of discretion.” Barr said flatly.

“By the way we didn’t catch your name Mr.?” Jason said leadingly.

“You may call me Mr. Gabriel,” the man said.

Warning bells started to go off in Barr’s head.

“Exactly how much discretion is required Mr. Gabriel?” Jason asked.

“About one million galactic standard credits worth,” Gabriel said matter of factly the light in his eyes glowing even more fiercely.

“That’ll buy you a lot of discretion Mr. Gabriel,” Barr said. “For that much I might even shoot my own mother if she found out,” he joked.

“Then you are dedicated men, I can understand that,” Gabriel said and slid a moly-chip across the table to them. “Meet me at the time and place on this with several large trucks to haul the cargo,” Without another word Gabriel stood up and left the bar.

“Why do I have a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach about this one,” Jason said fingering the moly-chip.

“Because you worry too much,” Barr told him and snatched the chip up. “Now let’s go back to the ship and see what this little baby has to say,” Barr wasn’t willing to admit that his own stomach was doing flip flops as well.

The two of them left the bar and went back to the Forlorn Hope.

Independent Systems League - Festus System - Festus II

Festus Alpha Ring - Shady Side Cantina - A Room above The Bar

September 15th, 6200 C.E. - 23:00 CST

Having drug Aehgr physically to her room Theresa deposited him on her bed.

Unable to escape the large woman’s grasp he’d wanted to run screaming the entire time he’d been in her clutches.

“You know this really isn’t necessary.” Aehgr whined. “My friends were just kidding,” he added.

“That is okay little man.” The large woman said, “Theresa won’t even charge you tonight, she like pointy ear little man.”

“Oy, my ears are not pointy, they are delicately sophisticated,” Aehgr said grumpily. Taking in the room around him Aehgr wanted to cringe back on the bed but he decided that was a bad idea as he took in the rumpled and soiled sheets that might have been white at one time.

“Tell you what Theresa, why don’t you take a shower and freshen up, while a straighten things up a bit in here,” Aehgr told her.

“Oh you want Theresa to be fresh as field flower, Theresa understand that, but you don’t have to worry about cleaning place, is very comfortable this way,” the woman told him.

“Well cleaning sexually arouses me,” Aehgr said thinking of the first excuse he could come up with. “Now be sure to take a nice long, hot, soapy, shampooy shower, at least an hour.”

“Alright little man, but hour long shower will cost extra,” Theresa told him and winking she went into the bathroom shutting the door, at the wink Aehgr shrunk back on the bed.

Out in the bedroom/living area Aehgr opened up both sides of the jacket he was wearing and started pulling cleaning supplies out, he’d have to restock after this. “Oh, how do I get into these situations,” he moaned and went to work.

When Theresa came out of the shower she found her living quarters sparkling clean, with fresh sheets on the bed and the rug shampooed, even her movie and music collection was organized.

Stepping over to the table she found a small note pad with a note written on it in Aehgr‘s hand writing.

“I cleaned your room for you, and only charged half my usual rate,” Aehgr had written on the notepad and the money that Theresa had left on the table was only half that of what Joe had given her.

Independent Systems League - Festus System - Festus II

Festus Alpha Ring - Alpha Ring Red Light District - 24/7 Royale Motel; Rooms by the Hour

September 15th, 6200 C.E. - 23:45 CST

Jon was able to find a pretty good looking, decently clean girl to spend his time and money on and they went back to the room she rented at the 24/7 Royale Motel.

Jon never much for foreplay dove right in; literally; the squeaking of the bed and moaning of the occupants could be heard several rooms away and by several passersby on the street.

When Jon was done he zipped his pants back up and tossed a pair of 20 cred coins on the bedspread.

“What you don’t want to spend some time talking handsome?” the raven haired girl with dark skin asked jokingly.

“Oh, and how much would that cost me?” Jon asked.

“Another ten Creds,” She told him with a smile.

“I can call up the psychic hotline for cheaper than that,” Jon grunted slipping into his shirt and settling his shoulder holster in place and then covering it with his jacket.

“Oh come on sweetie, don’t you want to spend some more time with Angelita?” the girl said running blood red painted nails down his pant leg.

“Sorry sweetie but I’ve got things to do,” he said as he cupped his hand to light a cigarette.

“You’re no fun,” the girl pouted as he left the room.

As he left the room Jon zipped his jacket up partway and took a drag from his cigarette and turning to the side he thought he saw someone he recognized but when he had turned all the way around no one was there. Shrugging he headed back to the ship.

Independent Systems League - Festus System - Festus II

Festus Alpha Ring - Alpha Ring Ship Dock - Privately Registered Vessel Forlorn Hope

September 16th, 6200 C.E. - 09:00 CST

The six of them were eating breakfast in the mess hall rather quietly.

“So, Aehgr did you have fun last night?” Joe asked with a malicious grin.

“Oh, yeah, lot’s and lot’s of fun, haven’t had more fun since I was in the Marines,” Aehgr evaded quite adeptly.

Jon looked at the little man askance. “Huh, maybe there is more of a man under that whiny exterior after all,” He said punching Aehgr in the shoulder.

Barr tapped a button on his comm and the Holo-Vid against one wall warmed up showing the local news channel, in the background were several GP cars and lines of police tape around a motel with a sign reading 24/7 Royale Motel, By The Hour.

“…And authorities are still unsure of the exact time of death but it is estimated to be later last night or early this morning,” the anchor was already part way through her report when the holo came on. “Currently the Galactic Patrol has only a single suspect,” a rather badly drawn picture of Jon popped up in place of the crime scene exterior. “This man is wanted for questioning in connection with the strangling death of 23 year old prostitute Angelita Carmen,” the girl’s picture popped up in place of the suspects.

Everyone in the mess hall turned to look at Jon.

“What the hell guys, she was still alive when I left,” he said holding his hands up defensively.

“Maybe you should just stay on the ship for now,” Barr said and tossed sets of keys to Jason, Joe, Ernie, and Aehgr.

“We’ve got some cargo to pick up and bring back here, since we’ll only be able to use five of the trucks I rented it’s probably going to take three trips instead of two,” Barr stood up and left the mess hall making his way to the docking gantry and driving off in one of the medium sized rental trucks that he had gotten earlier that morning, the others soon followed in convoy.

The lambent eyed Mr. Gabriel was waiting for them when they arrived at the rather run down warehouse he had given them the address for.

“Good, you gentlemen are right on time, I like punctuality and I like dedication,” he said with a creepy grin.

“Yeah and I like money,” Barr said with a grimace. “Now we’ll get these loaded in the trucks, but it’ll take us a little bit longer than we thought, one of the crew came down with something rather nasty and is sleeping it off on the ship.”

Gabriel gave Barr a look of disgust, “Yes you’ll get your thirty pieces of silver, and you shouldn’t worry about that.”

Once again alarm bells rang in Barr’s head at the odd euphemism but he ignored it in favor of the sound of Cred coins dropping into his piggy bank.

Thankfully Gabriel had the foresight to have a forklift available and it took less time than Barr and Jason thought it would, although probably longer than it really should have since Aehgr refused to leave his truck saying the neighborhood was all dirty and nasty.

Back aboard the Forlorn Hope the crates filled the cargo bay completely and a couple had to be stored in one of the machine shops.

“Alright Mr. Gabriel we’ll have your cargo delivered to your destination in six weeks time,” Barr said shaking the man’s hand.

“Wow you guys must be starting up a pretty big agricultural plant with this many spare farm equipment parts,” Ernie said rapping one of the boxes.

Gabriel just looked at him blandly and left the ship.

Jon sniggered and looked at the big crates with the words Farm Implements stamped on the sides. Farm implements my ass, he thought.

Theban Cluster - Caruthers Sector - Caruthers System

Caruthers World, Caruthers City

Unknown Date & Time

Ethan had taken one of his cars from the estate’s multi-level underground garage and raced for the city. As he drove everything was illuminated in the eerie golden light that he had seen from his bedroom window, the light left everything in sharp contrast with no shadows, but more disturbing than that was the lack of traffic on the road to Caruthers City, I1 was the busiest road on the planet and it’s ten huge lanes generally accommodated tons of traffic as did the ten air lanes above it, but now it was absolutely empty and deathly quiet.

Reaching the city proper itself he saw that the streets were just more of the same and the golden light had not changed a bit, it didn’t act like it was getting closer or further away from noon and when Ethan checked his watch he saw that the hands had stopped at exactly either noon or midnight.

Ethan paused at a bus station inside the city, the huge airbuses were still there pieces of luggage and other things lay scattered about but there were no people. Dropping his car back into gear he decided to check out his girlfriend’s apartment.

Marine Captain Raven Sikorsky didn’t live on the compound with the rest of her family but rented a huge studio apartment in what had once been a warehouse district.

It took almost half an hour of maneuvering through the streets, cars weren’t so much abandoned in the lanes, but more along the lines of parked.

The streets of the city were just as quiet as the country side had been with not even the wind sighing through the plots of trees along the street edges and medians.

Not bothering to park his car properly Ethan jumped out and raced into the lobby of the warehouse turned apartment building pulling out the passcard that Raven had given him; sliding it through the reader slot on the elevators control panel he waited impatiently as the too accurately retro cargo elevator slowly made it’s way to the lobby of the building.

With a quiet ping announcing its arrival the steel doors slid into the floor and ceiling and Ethan pushed the wooden slatted inner doors upwards and downwards as he jumped into the elevator and closed them again.

With another swipe of his card the main doors clanked shut and an interminable period of time passed as the slow elevator made it to the fifth floor where Raven’s apartment was.

Getting out of the elevator Ethan saw that the apartment was in the same cluttered mess that Raven usually left it in. The center piece of the main room being half dozen partly finished canvas paintings on easels, some almost complete others just barely having the first strokes of oil paints. Glancing around he didn’t see her sleeping on any of the future in the main area, where she usually slept while working on a project, so that only left the slightly raised area above the kitchen that she used as a bedroom.

Walking up the short set of brick stairs he saw her arm hanging over the edge of the bed side and hurried up, he let out a slow exhalation of breath as he saw her lying asleep on top of the sheets in an oversized T-shirt and panties.

Standing for a second to recover his cool Ethan leaned over and tried to shake her shoulder, but just as his hand was about to make contact with her skin the same golden shade of light flickered and she was gone.