Tertiary Complex
8 years 2 Months 4 days after Eridani Landing
“This had better work out better than the last one.” Grumbled Klyn as the shuttle detached from the Valiant and slowly began to drift down towards the asteroid-moon in orbit of Mars.
“Should be, Edie’s a little more level headed then Pastore,” said Allen as he looked down at the gun complex. The bore of the gun was easily distinguishable from the rest of the pockmarked and gray surface, Allen had seen it hundreds of times during the war in propaganda pieces and media broadcasts alike.
Otherwise the facility looked like it had been completely destroyed. The main above ground portions of the base had been destroyed when the aliens had attacked, they had even managed to destroy the backup nuclear reactor on the surface. The entire complex’s surface was suffused with low levels of radiation and were it not for the higher than normal doses of nano-machines the people still alive below the ground took they would have been suffering radiation effects after five years or so.
“I’m going to have to stay in my suit aren’t I?” asked Ranlin.
“Probably. To be completely honest I shouldn’t have taken the inhibitor, from a military standpoint at least. This base has some of the best scientists who were left behind though Give them a sample to synthesize and they’ll feel better taking it.”
“They’ll need it if we’re going to interact, keeping all of our females in suits is hardly a long term solution. We can’t have all of you going crazy,” growled Klyn.
“I understand that, but you can’t tell me that if a bunch of alien’s land right in front of you and demand you drink some chemical concoction for your own good would you do that?”
Klyn flapped his ears back and forth, a gesture that Allen interpreted as a Human nodding but not saying anything in agreement.
The other woman, Drienil leaned back from the cockpit of the shuttle.
“Want to tell me why we’re being pinged by some sort of targeting laser?” she asked.
Allen frowned for a moment thinking, “That’s part of the navigation docking procedure for our ships. Most of the smaller one’s don’t have the best laser range systems, and a lot of sensor packages are damaged in combat. If your systems could read the data being streamed in it would help you dock.”
“So they’re not getting ready to fire a weapon at us?”
“no, I hope not at least.”
“Well that’s good.”
“You got that laser sight lined up?” asked Peter.
Chang slowly turned to look at him.
“I don’t know why don’t you tell me?” he asked as he continued to keep the small device in his hand trained on the approaching vessel.
“Not sure why we need it in any case, at this distance you could eyeball the intercept.”
Peter held a hand up and closed one of his eyes miming the targeting procedure for the rocket launcher that the squad sequestered above them had on hand for heavy ordinance at the moment.
The two of them were only the visible part of the Phobos contingent meeting the aliens, inside one of the access shafts above them a third of the remaining military personnel were waiting. They were fitted in full combat suits, which were used on the rare occasion where fighting had taken place in space. Something that during the Earth mars war had not been that often.
The small laser sight in Chang’s hand was giving all of the men, and every weapon on the small asteroid moon the precise location of the alien shuttle. If they needed to blow it out of the sky every small weapon would fire and vaporize it in an instant. The main gun would fire at the mother ship in the same moment, eliminating the threat. Or at least that was the idea. The track record in regards to aliens and weapons was not terribly reassuring.
Looking at the small shuttle as it slowly inched towards them Chang couldn’t see these aliens being much of a threat. The shuttle like the main ship looked like it was barely holding itself together, composed of flimsy looking wields and patches.
_ “They’re requesting final clearance to land,”_ said Edie through the open communication channel.
“We’re all set down here,” said Chang.
The alien ship sped forwards, quickly growing in size. Chang held his breath watching as it approached, something seemed off at first he ten realized what it was.
The thing was venting no propellant to make fine adjustments to it’s course. Even human ships with their vacuum drives couldn’t manage that for the smaller thrusts when translating. Even stranger was the fact that the alien ship actually had a huge window on the front of it, and even without the binoculars in his helmet Chang could clearly see the alien pilot inside of the cockpit, which was evidently at the front of the ship.
Human doctrine had the control center for all but a few ships in the very center, behind the largest number of hulls to protect it with. Evidently that was not the case with the aliens however.
The ship entered the bay and reaching over to the console beside him Chang started the pressurization sequence. For a moment the ship hung in front of them. The two humans could clearly see the small alien woman in the cockpit waving her hands in the air and looking into the back section of the shuttle.
After a moment someone in a human space suit strode forwards, into view in the cockpit.
“Can you hear me?” asked a voice over the civilian channels.
Chang switched to it.
“That you Allen?”
“Yeah, they’re requesting you turn the gravity up so they can land.”
Chang shrugged.
The figure in the cockpit exaggeratedly shrugged his shoulders, “My thoughts as well. They don’t have magnetic landing systems. Nor do they fit any of the cradles.”
“Ma’am we have something of an issue here, they can’t land.” Said Chang activating his Link for a moment.
“Figure it out!”
“Want to do this the old fashioned way?” asked Peter as he drew several leads for attaching someone to a structure or ship while in weightlessness from one of the emergency stations on the floor.
Chang blinked and then looked up at the alien ship, along it’s hull were small attachment points presumably for the same purpose as the clips were intended.
“Old fashioned way it is.”
Chang switched back to the civilian band.
“Hold tight, we’re going to tie you off.”
The figure in the human space suit leaned forwards, “Really?”
“Really.”
_”Nothing like tried and true I suppose.” _
The back cargo doors opened and Allen stepped out of the shuttle first. As he crossed the threshold he had to force himself to readjust to the vastly differing gravitational fields. Phobos was almost pure weightlessness with only a vague pull towards the ground.
The two military officers didn’t move to greet him like he had expected instead remaining at the end of the ramp hands not very far from their side arms.
“Allen,” said Chang curtly.
Looking at the tow of them for a moment Allen reached up and slowly took off his helmet.
Neither man reacted beyond a small softening of their eyes. Seeing new people was a rather rare event for most of the humans left in the Sol system.
“I have to admit you’re both shorter than I imagined you being.”
Allen like everyone else on the moon base had communicated with those on Phobos at one time or another. Not that much could really be said with the variable light speed delay but they had known at least something about everyone else.
“And you’re a lot dumber then I thought you would be,” said Chang.
“Meaning?”
“Meaning you brought aliens to our front door, what if they aren’t as nice as you think they are?” asked Peter.
“Then I go mad on the moon like Pastore, or like you guys and half the other outposts I wait until I run out of food, then start running around killing my colleges and be a cannibal for a few months? I wanted off the moon, and you guys need food. They can help!” grumbled Allen.
Chang held up a hand, “This isn’t something for us to be discussing at the moment anyway, and for what it’s worth I think Edie agrees. Still utterly idiotic though.”
Allen simply shrugged and turned back around, the majority of the Vakurian were still edging their way out of the back of the shuttle, trying to figure out the gravity or lack thereof.
They looked more fitting to the image of a species that had held their own against the Empire. Klyn was even small in comparison to the two human warriors standing at the bottom of the ramp.
Feeling her ears instantly going back and glad that the suit was hiding the fact that patches of her skin were slowly fading in and out of visibility Ranlin stepped out onto the ramp after Allen. Trying to act like she was unperturbed with the tone of voice that was coming form the two humans, the translation computer that Allen was holding had only caught fragments of their speech, and both of the men seemed to have an accent the program was having some difficulty with.
“Ranlin!” hissed Klyn, and he stepped off of the ramp after her wobbling as he tried to adjust to the gravity.
The two humans remained impassive as she approached them. Glancing at Allen for a moment she stepped past him and switched on the speakers for her suit, making sure her face was completely visible she held out a hand.
“Haelo!” said Ranlin without the aid of the translator.
The larger human, Chang extended his hand and took it in hers.
“Hello.”
Ranlin nodded and glanced over at Allen. He held the translating computer up.
“We’re going to have to use their translation tech for now until we get something working.” Said Allen.
“That’s fine is it passible?”
“It is; I’ve not run across anything that caused any large problems.”
The rest of the Vakurian slowly edged down the ramp towards the Humans.
Chang spotted the man who was obviously his counterpart, he was holding himself back and both eyes and ears were flicking in every direction taking in exits, and locations for cover. Hanging from his chest on some clips was a weapon of some sort. Chang had no idea what it was but it purpose was obvious enough.
The two of them locked eyes studying one another for a moment.
“Are you the only one who’s armed?” asked Chang.
The translator Allen was holding quickly translated and spat the alien language out.
Chang kept his eyes on the man.
“I am.” He replied voice curt even through the language barrier, “I will not be relinquishing it either.”
“For the sake of friendship, you can keep it. Keep in mind though should you fire it and breach the hulls you could expose all of us to space and kill everyone in a compartment. We don’t have any of the fancy shield technology you guys use.”
Klyn frowned, “You’re not going to try and remove my weapon?” he asked.
“I’m assuming you have one hidden somewhere else, and that you lied about no one else having weapons. It’s what I would do.”
Klyn’s ears moved back and forth slightly but he said nothing.
Allen leaned over to Chang, “From what I can tell that means your right but he won’t admit it. They’ve got fantastic poker faces but the ears give them away most often.”
Chang nodded, “Good to know.”
Allen looked between the two groups suddenly unsure what to actually do now that they had been introduced to one another.
“We brought food, from what we have been told your supplies are rather limited?” said Drienil as she took off her helmet.
The two soldiers tensed slightly as she did so but didn’t say anything.
The rest of the Vakurian except Ranlin all quickly took their own helmets off as well.
“That’s true. We should have some of our analysts look it over first though to ensure it’s biologically compatible,” said Peter.
“From what we understand our biology’s are not totally dissimilar, although capsaicin is something foreign to us. From what has been described in the logs of the Lovers shuttle it is quite different.”
“Lover’s shuttle?” asked Chang.
“It’s what they call the shuttle with the human artifacts out in deep space, and the two who were in it.”
Allen still holding the Vakurian tablet quickly navigated through its menus and got it to display an image, which it projected up as a hologram over his hand.
Chang blinked at the casual display of the technology that humanity had been trying for hundreds of years to perfect being casually used. There was no absence of substance to the image, no see through properties. For all intents and purposes the holographic projection looked solid.
Reaching out he touched the image, his hand went through it but otherwise the image remained in place.
A human and a what appeared to be a Vakurian woman were sitting next to one another in the cockpit of some alien craft. They were both smiling, they looked happy but both of their faces were tinged with some small amount of sadness.
“As for their own food, well I can say it gives you some gastrointestinal distress but not anything beyond that.”
“Right, well we’ll let the analysts have a crack at it first before we all try it.”
Allen shrugged, “Alright. Uh, last point.”
He turned to look at Ranlin. The Vakurian all pointedly looked away from the woman which only caused both of the human military men to look at her more closely. Inside her helmet both of her ears went down and she muttered something under her breath.
“As I understand it the Vakurian females exude a pheromone that makes them more enticing to males, during a period of heat. It’s not extreme in it’s influence, just distracting.”
“OK, why do we need to know this now?” asked Peter.
“She’s going to remain sealed in her suit, I’m immune to the influence thanks to an inhibitor agent that the Human lover created and used almost three hundred years ago. The Vakurian synthesized it for me, but point is if we’re going to be working together all of the humans might want to consider taking it.”
Reaching into a pocket of his suit Allen pulled out a pressure sealed vial.
“I’m guessing the eggheads will want to go over it as well. I’ve got the formula as well if they want that.”
Peter slowly nodded and took the vial, “Upload that to the server here. I don’t think theirs’s a military stipulation against taking alien substances but their really should be.”
Allen guiltily smiled, “Yeah, I’ll stick with the Vakurian for now if you want me too.”
“I was going to suggest that in any case. You’ve been with them for a what a few days already and we don’t know what the effects of that will be.”
“Why’d she come down if for all intents and purposes she’s contagious?” asked Peter looking at Ranlin.
“I’m the Human expert!” said Ranlin somewhat excitedly.
“Human expert?” asked Peter smiling slightly.
“I detected the Lover’s Shuttles and I’ve been the one who’s analyzed most of the human data! I’m the best intermediary between differences of our cultures and methods at the moment!”
Chang blinked, “I’ve simply never met a human expert before.”
Ranlin’s ears went back up at that and she smiled at the man.
“How’s everything going down there?” asked Edie over the PA system in the hanger.
Klyn and the other Vakurian glanced up at the sound and then listened to the translation a moment later.
“We’ve got some stuff for analysis. Mostly chemicals and food.” asked Peter as he looked up at the PA.
Ranlin’s ears moved at that and nodding she quickly trudged back up the ramp and retrieved a small box, “Emergency rations. It has the main elements of most of our food. The largest difference is that we’re much more carnivorous than humans. I think it has something to do with our differing metabolic rates and energy reserve methods inherent to our biology’s but I’m not sure yet.”
Ranlin held the box of food samples out to him Peter took the box and hesitated for a moment.
“What?” asked Allen.
“The lab guys are going to want a DNA sample from an alien.”
“what kind of sample?” asked Klyn stepping forward towards Peter.
Chang watched the two remaining impassive like Allen.
“Just a skin cell sample or something,” said Peter.
Klyn looked at him for a moment, “Fine.”
Reaching into one of the many pockets of his own vest he drew out a small knife. Pressing it to his own neck everyone watched as it punctured the skin drawing out a small sample of blood.
“Green?” asked Chang watching.
“I didn’t know that.” Said Allen looking at him as well.
Pulling the knife away from his neck Klyn held out the sample to Peter.
“I’m putting the samples in the airlock now,” said Peter speaking loudly so the PA picked up on his voice.
“Leon’s outside the airlock. He’ll take them to the lab.”
“Roger that.”
Going over to the entrance to the hanger Peter deposited the collection of samples on the floor of the airlock and backing away closed it. A screen flickered on as it closed showing them the interior of the compartment.
After a loud whir as it cycled and the air inside of it was no doubt vented to space it repressurized and a man in a biological materials suit walked into it. After briefly waving at the diplomatic party in the landing bay he stooped down and picked up the samples before retreating away.
“We’re not getting a tour?” asked Ranlin the disappointment in her voice audible.
Chang shook his head, “Not at the moment. We want to make sure theirs nothing dangerous in your biology’s.”
“If there is an issue?” asked Klyn.
“Then we have to find a solution,” said Peter.
“Then you were prepared to kill yourself if you can’t?” asked Klyn.
Peter grinned slightly, “I wouldn’t put it in so many words, but yeah it was the risk of interacting with you. We didn’t want to stay in our suits this is a peaceful first contact, but neither are we going to risk what is left of the human population on the chance that nothing dangerous will happen.”
Klyn considered his words for a moment, “A wise if unneeded procedure I suppose. Of all the species in the empire I’ve not heard of any adverse biological reactions between species.”
“If their were any biological incompatibilities it would have happened three hundred years ago!” said Ranlin.
“I’m sure that’s true but we’d like to be sure,” said Peter.
“Ranlin, we’ve only known about aliens for eight or so years. The first aliens we met tried to kill us. I know you think it’s unneeded, but can you blame us for being a little cautious?” asked Allen.
“You weren’t!” said Ranlin almost accusingly.
Allen coughed, “Yeah well, by the time we got to this point it was either have Pastore kill me or go with you guys. I didn’t have much of a choice to be completely honest.”
Chang looked at the man, “You’re going to have to explain what did happen on the moon. We’re going to get communication back eventually.”
Allen grimaced, “I’m not military?”
“Not sure that’s going to hold up. Besides we can’t put you on trial. It’s ultimately going to be up to Edie.”
“The commander of this facility right?” asked Klyn.
“Yep.”
“A woman?”
Chang looked at the alien for a moment sizing him up, “A woman yes. That’s not a problem is it?”
Klyn’s ears went back and forth slightly, “No? I was asking because of the voice up to this moment I’ve only heard male humans.”
“Humans used to segregate their sexes, the idea a few hundred years ago was that females were less developed then males. It’s still a touchy subject I guess. Their was a lot of data in the shuttle on it. Our Vakurian predecessor found it rather curious.” said Ranlin turning back to look at him explaining the reaction.
Klyn’s eyes widened, “They thought less of their females? They treated them like we did to other nations!?”
Ranlin quickly shook her head “From what I understand they were at worse treated like children?” asked Ranlin turning to look at Allen.
“Uh, I guess so. That was about 400 years ago. I’d say the sexism is only vaguely seen in the military these days.”
“So no sexism with you guys?” asked Chang trying to figure out what was going on.
“No, our females might be generally smaller but they have never been weak. During their, uh.” Klyn hesitated and glanced at Ranlin.
Her ears moved in a circle, “Best to ignore social awkwardness for now and be truthful while we make introductions.”
“During times of heat females can even be stronger than the men,” said Klyn finishing his thought.
Chang’s eyes widened at that.
“fun.”
Allen picked up the basket and looked inside of it, the lunch that the Phobos personnel had put in the airlock consisted of a single ration packet as well as at least a dozen packets of hot sauce. It seemed they had been at least listening to their conversations. They had been in the airlock for nearly four hours now waiting for the results of the analysis.
Taking the food back over to the shuttle where the two groups were still vaguely separated but conversing Allen put the box down.
Klyn looked down at it and grimaced, “I’m going to guess that the emergency rations you have taste about as good as ours do?” he asked.
“What do yours taste like?” asked Chang.
“Like yant,” spat Klyn.
Chang frowned, “that didn’t translate.”
“I didn’t put expletives in the program.” Said Ranlin as she took a packet of the hot sauce from the box and looked at it for a moment.
“Excrement.” Said Klyn.
“That translated, and yes.” Said Peter as he picked up the ration packet and opened it.
“We got plenty of hot sauce and spices though, so at least we won’t starve to death eating bland food.”
He offered the ration to Klyn and the other Vakurian, they all shied away from it. Reaching into the box Klyn snagged a packet of hot sauce and after looking at it for a moment put it to his mouth and carefully nipped at the plastic opening it.
The rest of the Vakurian turned to look at him waiting for his reaction.
The humans did as well, curious what the alien response to the substance would be.
“That’s different.” Said Klyn after a moment. He smacked his lips and his ears went flat to his head for a moment.
“Well now you’re just being mean,” said Ranlin.
Klyn smiled and opening his mouth wider very pointedly finished the packet.
The airlock behind them opened and everyone in the room turned around to look at whomever was entering.
“Ma’am.” Said Chang as Edie drifted into the room without a space suit or biological containment suit on.
“The scientists determine we’re not going to die?” asked Peter.
“They told me it’s unlikely. For a full answer to that question they’ll need a few years.”
“So just operate on the idea that anything longer than a month is a positive then?” asked Chang.
“Exactly.”
Edie drifted forwards towards the Vakurian much more adept in the low gravity than they were.
“I’m the commander of this base, I have to say it’s a relief to know that their might be friends among the stars.” She extended her hand to Ranlin.
She took it her ears slowly moving forwards as she stared at the woman in front of her, like the two human soldiers she projected an aura of control and confidence, and despite the fact she was smaller than both of her subordinates she looked like she was more powerful for some reason. It was disconcerting, almost like she was intentionally being more threatening than the males beside her.
“I believe a tour of our facilities might be in order?” asked Edie.
“That would be great, we have more food to offer to you as well once we’ve established that you’re not going to shoot at us.” Said Ranlin.
Edie slowly nodded, “We’re powering the gun down now to standby. The scientific team has been going over the samples that you gave us, the inhibitor that blocks the pheromones was simple enough to synthesize and from what they can tell doesn’t pose a danger. Most of them have been pouring over the DNA sample to be honest, they’re not sure how but apparently we share something close to 90% of our DNA.” Said Ranlin.
“That’s most species that can be classified as B or C by the Empire.”
“Really?”
“The theories as to what created such a similar evolutionary path range from the religious to chance and scientific theory. At the moment not even the Class A species of the Empire claim to know what the actual cause for such genetic similarity is.”
Edie smiled, “well that’s not pertinent at the moment. The important thing at the moment is figuring out what you want.”
“We want to help!” said Ranlin not missing a beat.
Edie smiled, “I’m sure you do, and your Captain might even want too. You yourselves are on the brink of extinction as much as we are if I understand everything correctly. You can’t afford to take on dead weight.”
Ranlin opened her mouth to argue but Klyn beat her to it.
“You’re the first species we’ve seen that has developed a means of FTL independent of the Empire.”
Edie shook her head, “That data was destroyed when it became apparent that was what the aliens were after and the Ark had made her jump.”
“The fact remains, you still created it and managed to save almost as many people as we did during our own evacuation! If those people are somewhere in the universe taking you on to be in their good graces would be an advantage.”
Edie looked at Klyn for a moment, “Well It’s refreshing at least that militaries universally aren’t much for mincing words. You’re banking on only that eventuality?” asked Edie.
Klyn shrugged, “You’d be expected to pull your weight if you help us. For example, your weapons technology is completely different than anything the Empire utilizes. It’s a refinement over the more primitive weapons they used hundreds of years ago.”
Klyn hefted his own weapon, “We diverged in that area of technology as well. The differences in development might offer other methods to fight the Empire.”
“Like?”
Klyn turned to Ranlin, “Well?” he asked.
Ranlin blanched thinking for a moment, “You don’t have artificial gravity, right?” she asked.
“No, not unless you count centripetal structures.”
“How do your crews endure the g-forces of the accelerations your ships undergo then if you don’t compensate for it with the gravitational fields?”
Edie frowned and turned to Peter, “It’s got something to do with the Strange matter in the hull creating and absorbing inertial forces right?” she asked.
“Yeah, but only along known vectors. The computer has to know about an acceleration beforehand. It can’t compensate on the fly and its energy intensive. Some research was done into using it to simulate gravity but with the ability to only get the inertial nulling to within a few g’s of standard it wasn’t practical. Stopped people form turning into paste but it never could completely null everything out,” said Peter.
“We’ve got technical specifications on it, those systems are standard in pretty much every ship nowadays, heck even our short range shuttle has it.” Said Chang gesturing at the small craft latched to the ceiling in the corner of the hanger, it’s primary function was to retrieve anything that drifted away from the moon with it’s terribly low escape velocity.
“You use Strange matter to null forces out?” asked Drienil stepping forwards, “That would use an insane amount of strange matter!”
Ranlin’s eyes widened, “the Sern incident!”
“What?” asked Edie.
“The Sern disaster on Earth three hundred years ago! The lovers noted it saying that it looked like something they had seen in the files off of the Empire shuttle. That was strange Matter!”
“I believe she’s referencing CERN.” Said Dr. Leon as he slowly entered the compartment. He was holding several medical injectors out.
“You synthesized it already?” asked Edie.
“It’s simple enough that even three hundred years ago it could have been done in a personal lab. With my lab it took me longer to find the spare injectors than to synthesize it.”
“And it’s safe?” asked Chang reaching out for one of the injectors.
“Unless you’re allergic to hormones.”
“Don’t think I am.” Chang pressed the injector to his arm and it clicked. Peter did the same.
“So I can take my helmet off?” asked Ranlin.
“I think so.” Said Allen.
Reaching up Ranlin popped her helmet off and breathed a sigh of relief.
“Whoa!” said Leon.
Everyone looked at him, the scientist holding out the last injector pressed it to his own arm and it clicked.
“Really?” asked Edie glaring at the man.
He shrugged, “I was curious. I felt like I was fifteen again.”
Edie rolled her eyes, “the CERN incident? I remember that from school it was an explosion at a particle accelerator in 2025 or something?”
“2029, and it was the basis for all of our Strange matter generation techniques. When the accelerator went critical the scientific teams were able to record their results even as the machine tore itself apart.”
“I thought it wasn’t until 2102 that Strange matter was generated,” said Peter.
“It wasn’t contained and isolated until 2102. Nowadays even the smallest ships have an accelerator of sufficient length to generate and replenish its stores when needed. Still not very energy efficient but with fusion reactors it’s practical.” Said Leon with a shrug.
“You can cheaply generate Strange matter?” asked Ranlin.
“For all intents and purposes yes.”
Ranlin glanced back at her companions and then turned to Allen, “Why didn’t you say you could do that!”
“I didn’t know it was important!”
Ranlin shook her head ears moving back and forth, “Right, for you it’s easy to do. Why would you think it’s important.”
Klyn chuckled, “I think we’re going to have to compare technologies. Although the Strange matter generation if it’s as cheap as you say will buy you as much food as you need.”
Edie nodded, “I’ll have to think about handing over such technology to you. I can’t agree to anything at the moment.”
“Of course.”
The impromptu trade talks were cut short as an alarm went off and lights began to flash.
“Well fuck.” Growled Edie.
The comms of the Vakurian all blared as well.
“Klyn!” Maunt’s voice roared out of the communicator.
“Sir?” asked Klyn his answer immediate.
“An Imperial patrol vessel just dropped into the system.”
Klyn glanced up at the humans, “That what your alarm is for?”
“It is.” Said Edie.
“Can you go to FTL without being detected and come back later?” asked Peter, “We’ve hidden form patrols before by damping down energy emissions.”
Ranlin shook her head, “They would detect our Jump.”
“And come here looking for whatever you were so interested in.” Said Allen.
Ranlin nodded.
“Damn it.” Growled Edie.
She thought for a moment closing her eyes and drifting up off of the floor with a slight push of her feet.
“Communicator, I need to talk to your Captain.”
“You have an idea Commander?” asked Chang.
“Yes.”
“Good one?”
“Maybe.”
“Dangerous?”
“When aren’t my plans dangerous?”