Pax

Pappy and his ugly friend stepped out of the ruckus that had embroiled the bar. I smiled, and tapped them on the shoulders, "Tried to calm it down. Didn't seem like it worked. Now I've got no money neither, ah well, Wolf forwarded us a new meeting spot, check ur PDA's."

I waved mine in front of them, "You lead the way. I'll follow."

 

If Trin had drawn her pistols during the bar room fight, someone would have been dead. It was a fact of life. Her slender fingers would find their ways automatically to the hair triggers, and bullets would fly. That bitch at the bar would have lost her head. It would have been nothing more than a viscous red coating on the bottles behind the bar. But Trin didn’t pull the trigger; instead she sat hunched in her chair flinging out every conceivable obscenity, shaking her head in the process. The woman attacker slipped out of the bar, not knowing how close she came to being splattered.

If there was anything Trin had seen in garbage sectors and port-bars she’d stopped by, it was bar-fights. Struggles over nothing that ended in huge messes, wastes of good (and bad) alcohol, and maybe someone dead. And it always ended with the local police ruining in like they were starting an new war, slamming everyone face first into the floor.

What she really couldn’t believe was how Gunthar, of all people, blew any chance of cover we had, and probably scared of the informant. It was beyond anything she really thought would happen. The scene dropped her respect for him considerably, and she just continued to let it go. Then the soldier she had finally come to realize was Wolf, made a slight gesture and began moving off as someone else slipped out the door. She just about got up to follow him when Carter ran in the crowd with a pistol drawn. He fired into the ceiling, but nobody really ducked or noticed, it wasn’t a new event or anything for them. Half of them were near deaf from mining anyways. Some did turn their heads though, some of the rougher and poorer looking ones, comparatively. Then Carter did something Trin would never forgive him for.

I can’t believe he through money on the ground. I can’t believe it. He treats these people who haven’t known, or couldn’t obtain, any better life like dogs. Dogs. Throwing money at their feet like scraps, instead of handing it to them like a human. Trin was disgusted beyond anything she’d seen in a long while. It was David Carter who became the next person on the edge of losing their head. Trin’s hand brushed across one of her holstered weapons. She flinched as she touched it, but didn’t pull. If he wasn’t their pilot, she probably would have shot him in the bar. He doesn’t know the mentality of a spacer laborer. I don’t think he cares to know. But I do, and I’ll make him learn. These people have gone through more garbage than he can ever imagine. It’s not until you’ve worked fourty hours straight, and then found yourself scraping a dumpster for food because some guy mugged you on the way back to sleeping quarters, then you know a hard life. The last thing they want is ungrateful charity. Even though she knew that wasn’t what it was from Carter, it was how those people would interpret it. She also knew that if he didn’t start moving like he did, he would have prayed she shot him than left him to them.

Pappy, followed by Dog, moved quickly out of the bar, seemingly in pursuit of Wolf. It was time for Trin to follow. As she moved quickly to follow him, some larger and drunken man punched her in the right side of her back. In one, fluid motion, Trin moved her left arm and turned in order to make it look like she was going for a backhand slap. The man put his arm up to block it. Simultaneously she grabbed the head of a chair with her right hand and used the twisting of her body to swing it powerfully at a low level. The man never saw it coming. The force of the chair and the fact that it was unexpected knocked him flat on the ground. He lay there dumbfounded and in pain, and everyone who saw this woman, who was a third of his size, take him down in one quick motion instantly stopped. She glared at the man and at them, and they understood that she was no one to be messed with today. That’s how you quiet a bar Carter. Decisive action and understanding. Being genuinely pissed off had to have helped as well.

Trin let the bent chair go from her hand, turned, and moved in silence out of the bar. If there had been any cover to be had in that mess, it was long since gone. The best thing that could be done now was to shut up and get work done quickly. There was no time for any more of these games, nor would Trin tolerate any more of them.

 

Chairs lay broken across the ground, tables overturned. Around him, Nathan could spot at least twenty men on the ground, bottles covering them. The remaining people had all stopped after Trin had beaten up the big fella. Nathan spun around looking for anyone from his team. No one else was in the bar, but he had seen Trin leave through the back door so he hurried out. Upon reaching the street, he found nobody. Where the hell were they? Nathan checked his PDD but found the screen had cracked and was now flickering with the words welcome. He pushed all the buttons dread filling him. The PDD continued to flicker, he was lost.
Nathan ran through the dark streets for at least an hour looking for clues of the team but eventually ended back at the bar where police had begun to pour in. Drunks surrounded him, everywhere he went, aggressive men were found. He patted his pocket and was relieved to find Pappy's gun which he had, again, forgotten to give to him. A big muscly fella came up to him and whipped out a small gun. "Show me your wallet," he whispered. Crap. It was getting late and Nathan was tired... hand to hand combat was not an option. Nathan reached into his pocket and pretended to search for his wallet. He felt the cold touch of the gun. It was a tiny one, small enough to fit into his wallet, which is it exactly what it did. He pulled his wallet out and slid his hand into it before pulling the gun out with a swift movement. He ducked and shot instantly, the big guy fumbling with his weapon. The bullet tore through his knee and Nathan ran to him, taking his gun. He started jogging away when the thought hit him. This place was full of weirdos at this time of night, and this guy, as much of an asshole as he was, didn't deserve to be killed by them. He wasn't the same as the terrorists, he just needed some money. Nathan called an ambulance and ran off. The man hadn't seen his face, so he was safe for now, but he still couldn't find the team...

 

A few moments into the fighting and JJ nearly lost his patience. He had let the guards threaten his Master Chief, allowed the brawling bitch to slip by him without so much as a boot in the ass and only watched amused as David attempted to lull the crowd with promises of booze. He was disgusted with himself, refusing the enter the brawl. But it was a tactical decision; someone needed to keep an eye out, keep the team from getting too hurt.

Already he had aimed the hidden SMG at two of the drunks, one that had almost dropped a table on Nathan from behind before losing his balance and falling backwards, another had gone berserk and had nearly gutted David before he drew his own gun and fired into the ceiling, sending the other man back for a moment. Most of them seemed oblivious, even Trin. JJ spotted her pushing through the mess of bodies for the exit, all the others had already gone. He abandoned his bottle of cheap battery acid, I'll be damned if I'm the last one in here.

Shoving a couple fighters aside, JJ reached out to her, "Trin!" He called. Suddenly, from behind him another man was thrown, pushing JJ into his fellow midshipman. She reacted in a whirlwind, throwing one arm back to strike JJ who instinctively raised his arms before his face. But the blow didn't connect.

Instead, a chair broke over his hip, sending him sprawling, yelling out in surprise. He hit his head and was dizzy for a moment, unsure of which way was up. When his vision stabilized, if only a little, JJ saw Trin's back, stomping out of the bar through the suddenly motionless crowd. His legs were wobbly, unable to pick himself up. He wanted to call out to her, but knew it would be foolhardy; she was mad as hell and doing so would probably put whatever operational security was left in jeopardy.

A hand grasped him under the shoulder, pulling him up onto his feet. Another placed JJ's groundpounder hat back on his head. Some of the paused brawlers recognized the outfit, and fell for it. "You alright soldier?" One of them asked.

JJ mumbled something in reply, could've been a word of thanks, or dismissal, the hard working men who helped him up never knew. Just another one of the Fleet that had been left behind, like dregs in the gutter.

But the boys in blue were approaching through the main entrance, though there wasn't much of a mob for them to put down anymore. Still, JJ didn't care to be caught hauling heat, especially the kind that might be banned on this rock. Then again, it was a rock. The thoughts were irrelevant as JJ pushed through the back door and made for the main street through one of several disgusting alleys, limping a little from the strong blow to the leg. Thats the last time I approach her from behind, he thought.

 

Arc sat bored in his chair at the bar. Nothing decisive to do.

Suddenly, a woman slammed a hand at Gunther. Arc was shocked. What was happening? Gunther easily managed to defend himself but in the process ended up commencing a bar brawl. The woman slipped away and ran off. Meanwhile, everyone at the bar got excited. David played the cop firing guns like a cowboy while Russel acting as a millionaire throwing money.

Funny how things are going.

Meanwhile, Star Wolf slipped away with Pappy and someone else on his tail. Arc decided to follow them. They ran quickly while Arc managed to keep up with them.

After a little running Gunther was visible.

"Look there they are," Arc told himself.

 

Wolf thought that he was alone, but could hear footsteps trailing him, he turned to see a couple of the boots.

"You there, keep quiet," he said and peered down at his PDD as he was given coordinates from his contact.

Wolf stared at the area his personal device indicated, but it appeared to be a dead end, he frowned. It wasn't much to look at, a poorly lit alley, the type of place perfect for ambushes and trap---

Wolf seemed to fall through a hidden floor trap. Not too far behind Pappy, Dogface, and a few of the boots were watching as the bar erupted into more fights and security arrived to squash it.

"Did you see that? Wolf just...disappeared. We better go check it out, something about this looks fishy." Pappy whispered.

"And this time, let's all go, all of us."

 

OOC: Due to the mistake with Nikhil's post (Arc finding Nathan), I will continue as though Nathan is still lost and hopefully Nikhil will edit the post.

Nathan continued searching for hours on end but found nobody. It was late and after the long day, Nathan was in need of rest. He found the nearest bench and sat down. Trying his hardest to keep his eyes open, Nathan pulled out the bigger of his two guns to try and scare away petty thieves. Eventually, his eyes refused to stay open and Nathan was in a deep sleep.

When he woke, it was still dark. Nathan didn't know how time worked here, so he had no clue as to how long he was asleep. What he did notice, was that his wallet was gone as were his two guns He continued his trek, completely lost, and finally was close to breaking down from hunger and the fact that the different gravity levels he had experienced recently shook his energy. He had no money and no choice. Nathan slowly moved up to the market. Strange items lay everywhere, but his target was the food. Two men stood behind a large table of overpriced food. There was apples, bread and other things Nathan had never heard of before. He approached the crowded table looking and quickly put out his hand to grab two loafs of bread and a basket of berries. He pulled back and ran as fast as his legs would move. One of the men took chase after him, swearing. Nathan ran down a crowded road and tried to lose the other man. He took a turn down a small road and found that he had escaped. Nathan sat down in the corner of the street and ate the food, the bread being gone within seconds. He was just about to start on the berries when he heard the voice. "There he is," it was the man from the food stall, "The bugger stole quite a bit!" Next to him, a policeman stood, his shadow lurking over Nathan.
"S**t."

 

"So, I'm gonna blow your cover, huh?" Relieved of alcoholics to punish, Dogface was able to focus his anger on the person who really deserved it. "What the **** was that all about, Greg? Did you really think you could pull off such a dumbass stunt?" Dog paused to take a breath, and compose himself. I'm really sounding like a hypocrite... No, this is different. "Care to explain how that was supposed to make him..."

"Did you see that?" Pappy cut Dog off in the middle of his interrogation. Of course I'm not gonna get any answers.

"Wolf just...disappeared. We better go check it out, something about this looks fishy." Pappy whispered.

Why didn't I just stay outta this?

 

Officer MaCurdy was hoping for a quiet night of duty, there wasn't much happening on Ceres except for the usual rotation of mining ships and freighters, most of them small and commercial. There was word about a large UEAF cruiser coming to port, but Ceres was often a common detination for the big ships. And then there was word about a small riot breaking out in a seedy bar where alot of angry miners liked to hang out. Emergency teams got sent, and even MaCurdy got sent out by the desk supervisor.

"I don't care how many nights it's been since you've seen your wife, you head downtown, you pick up those mooks, and you drag them here to sober up until a holding cell until morning. Now scram," the super said. Swell.

MaCurdy was circling the area a few times to look for stragglers and curfew violators as the riot teams broke up the remaining brawlers, it was a big catch for one night, even on Ceres. MaCurdy was about to rejoin the team when a street vendor ran up to him, yelling something about a thief.

"Alright alright, just calm down. Tell me where you saw him heading last sir."

The vendor lead him through the streets, tracking the thief like a bloohound.

"There he is, the bugger stole quite a bit!"

The perp wasn't exactly what MaCurdy figured, he wasn't some devious loking creep, he was a clean cut looking kid, barely twenty by the looks. The poor guy was holding onto a bread roll, probably starving. He would play it safe and tough just to be on the safe side, but seeing him reduced to stealing to eat floored him and woke up a tinge of compassion in him.

"Alright kid, don't move. Put your hands up, I hope you have some ID on you, cos' it's late and we got a curfew in session."

 

Coming onto the road, JJ caught sight of some of the others, hurrying through the crowded streets. He limped as fast as he could after them, dodging prowling cops, until he finally caught up with them. Trin was in the back of the group.

"Hey Trin! Watch who you're beating the snot out of next time!" he said, keeping a healthy distance from her, his free hand prepared to deflect a blow. Damn crazy bitch.

Ahead of the group, Star Wolf seemingly fell into the ground. "Did you see that? Wolf just...disappeared. We better go check it out, something about this looks fishy." Pappy whispered.

"Ah, damn it, just what we need." JJ limped through the gawking crew and bent with a little difficulty where their contact had fallen into the ground. He removed the SMG from under his jacket, half of the garment hanging freely, and turned on the weapon mounted light, revealing a small seam in the grime covered metal deck. He withdrew a fighting knife from his jacket and dug the tip into the groove, putting a little pressure down to test if it would pry open.

It did. "Well, we need to go get him."

"And this time, let's all go, all of us."

"Hooah," JJ replied. "Weapons check, anyone unarmed?" He withdrew his pistol and offered it up to any of the midshipmen that wanted it.

 

At that exact moment in time, nearing Pappy and Wolf to wherever the Hell they were going, God have mercy on any poor soul that got in Trin’s way towards them. She was fully prepared to knock Pappy’s ass back out for inciting the bar-fight. I liked him better that way anyways. Her thoughts weren’t true, but it’s what she felt at the moment. Then she heard a voice yell out her name harshly. She nearly snapped, moving her hand towards her hidden jacket holster, stopped in the middle of the alley, and turn her head enough to see who it was. It was JJ, limping and yelling out at her.

“Hey Trin! Watch who you're beating the snot out of next time!”

She cracked a smirk at that statement. So he was the one who weakly hit me. Woops…

She turned more towards him as he moved closer. Trin took her hat off and adjusted her hair a little so it was more comfortable and looked a little better, less bar-fight-esque. “Ah, ya probably deserved it.” Who knows, maybe he did. The thought amused her enough though. Then he stopped as the voice of Pappy was to be heard.

“Did you see that? Wolf just...disappeared. We better go check it out, something about this looks fishy.”

Trin turned her head up to the sky and sighed. Then she looked back at JJ.

“Ah, damn it, just what we need.”

She turned back to JJ as he said this and moved near her to pass by, with a clear look of discontent on her face, and she shook her head. Why?

"And this time, let's all go, all of us."

Trin thought for a second and then looked around. Where the Hell is the kid? She turned over to Pappy, “Hey, where the **** is Nathan?” I can’t believe Midshipmen need to be babysat.

 

The others gathered around the opening JJ had made, I pointed my gun down. It was impossible to pierce the gloom, I had no idea who or what lurked down there, and a part of me had no wish to find out. I turned back to the group to find Nathan missing. The looks on the others faces told me that they had no idea where the man had gotten off to neither.

"Alright, what are we gunna do? All get down this hole, or some of us go off and look for Nate? I don't think its a good idea to have that kid on the streets by himself, but I hate splitting up."

I lowered my gun and glanced around, "Star Wolf could be in trouble to though," took another glance down the dark hole "Probably is in trouble. But I'll go after Nate if it's all the same with you guys. What do you say, Huah?"

 

"Alright kid, don't move. Put your hands up, I hope you have some ID on you, cos' it's late and we got a curfew in session."

"Yep." Nathan searched his pockets for a moment before remembering his missing wallet. He let out a sigh. "OK, I got nothin'." Nathan was worried about his punishment, but more so about the team and the problems he would cause for them for this.

 

Jesca groaned, and rolled over to stare at the ceiling. She had a nasty hangover, but the side of her hace ached more than the rest. She frowned, and tried to remember. There was a bar brawl - was that last night?

Oh yeah. She remembered now. That nosy mil spec meathead had smacked her. Gotta hand him that, the sucker was quicker than most. She splurged on a double shower allowance, and sloughed away most of the ache along with the grime from her last mining trip. Feeling better, she somersaulted from the shower chamber to the data teminal, landing neatly in the chair.

She spent the better part of an hour catching up on personal messages and miners' chatter feeds. Getting dressed, her brow was knitted in a frown.

It wasn't obvious, but there was a pattern emerging from all she had read. Security was being strengthened, especially around the shipyard, and they were trying to be discrete about it in their heavyhanded way.

The security increase wasn't a problem in itself. She obeyed the regs (mostly), so wasn't overly worried about searches or scans. But something was up, and she didn't want any splatter from whatever sh!storm was brewing.

She wondered if the grunts in the bar were part of it.

 

“Hey, where the **** is Nathan?” Trin asked.

"Alright, what are we gunna do? All get down this hole, or some of us go off and look for Nate? I don't think its a good idea to have that kid on the streets by himself, but I hate splitting up." David said.

Damn it, Nathan! Pappy hated the idea of splitting up too, but he couldn't leave anyone behind, neither Wolf nor Nathan. Wolf was their lead and Nathan was fleet, no way was he gonna lose a team member on his watch and have to explain to a wailing mother about how he got left behind on some street corner on a bad neighborhood.

"Alright; Trin you're in charge until I get back. Investigate this trap door, find Wolf, that's an order. I'll go find Nathan. Dog I could use your help, since you're a local you know the place better than I do. Page me on my PDD when you have something. When I come back with Nathan, which I shall, I want a brief. Now carry out your orders."

***

Nathan fumbled for some ID but came up short.

"Yep...okay, I got nothin'."

MaCurdy hated to admit it, but being arrested might have been a good thing for the kid. He would have to rub elbows with some brutes for a while, but at least he would get a warm meal and a bunk for the night; a hot and a cot.

"Alright kid, turn around. You're under arrest; you have the right to remain silent, you have the right to be represented. Do you understand these rights?"

***

Wolf took a tumble, but it wasn't too bad of a landing. He slid down a ramp and landed with a slight thud on a hard floor. It was dark, there wasn't much lighting. He stood up and turned around a few times to get his bearings, there was no one in the room that he could see, but he almost sensed a presence in the room. Must have been his contact, they didn't call her "specter" Simmons for nothing.

"Specter, is that you?"

"Took you long enough to show up, I thought that there would be more of you."

"There are, I got some boots and an old man with me, you know how fleet are. Travel in packs."

"Where are they?"

"Taking their time I guess. Where am I?"

"This is one of my safehouses, I store equipment here and gather intel. We have to move quickly, our little spy is on the move, and now that the Athena is in port, he's going to want to board her soon. He's not working alone either, he has help this time."

As Specter spoke, she moved slightly, barely showing up as a slight distoirtion in an otherwise empty looking room, even her voice was hard to discern, he only knew she was a woman because of outside information, but otherwise even her sex would have been a mystery.

"Great."

"But you'll have help too."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"I believe you've already met Akinlabi." Specter said just as a double door slid open. A tall, lithe, African man with the graceful movements of a feline hoverd in. He was dressed simply, but couldn't help but notice that part of his face was now cybernetic. Wolf had indeed met Akinlabi before.

 

"Alright kid, turn around. You're under arrest; you have the right to remain silent, you have the right to be represented. Do you understand these rights?"

Nathan turned around and replied, "Yeah, I got it. Take me away," he replied miserably. He was extremely tired and hungry and on top of that, Nathan felt terrible from something in the bread. The cop walked over to him and Nathan's legs gave way. He fell to the ground and vomited before passing out in the cops arms.

 

"Alright; Trin you're in charge until I get back. Investigate this trap door, find Wolf, that's an order. I'll go find Nathan. Dog I could use your help, since you're a local you know the place better than I do. Page me on my PDD when you have something. When I come back with Nathan, which I shall, I want a brief. Now carry out your orders."

“Yessir,” said Trin who promptly turned to the rest of the group present. JJ and Carter already seemed to be investigating the door on the ground. He must have gone through there. Then something else came to her mind. Gunthar chose me to lead the group. Her loathing for him at the moment immediate shut down. She took command of the group.

JJ was already popping open the door with his knife. “JJ, take point. Carter, pick up the rear. Arc and Russell, fall in right behind me. Keep your weapons up, but hold fire unless someone fires first.” Trin unzipped the old flight jacket and pulled out both pistols. She cracked her neck and look down into dark hole where the trap-door led to.

Trin turned to group and whispered. “Looks like low-level lighting, so don’t worry about pulling out any lights. I also think it’s just a short slide down to the floor, nothing to worry about.” Then she turned specifically to JJ, “Alright, we’re right behind ya. Keep your weapon out and clear.”

I wonder if anything’s waiting for us just down there. I don’t want to lose JJ on my first time leading the group. Then a small smirk formed on her face as JJ was about to go. I haven’t hit him enough times yet.

 

Akinlabi was standing in the dark room long enough. He knew a long time had passed because his one eye already adjusted to the darkness, and he was able to discern the shape of the double door before him. He could have seen perfectly in the room, if he had activated his cybernetic peripheral; but it was something he still refused doing.

Shady dealers and their sly craft, he thought. Why did Specter insist on having him hidden before she made certain the man was Wolf was oversuspicious to him. But it was her turf, and he respected her method.

"What the hell does that mean?" came a voice from beyond the door. It was a familiar voice -- the voice of the man he had a blood debt to.

Sliding open the door, Akinlabi gracefully slid into the adjacent room. "I believe you've already met Akinlabi." came the voice, introducing him. Wolf was standing opposing him, but the one called Specter was hidden from sight. In the darkness, Star Wolf was nothing more than a human silhouette, but Akinlabi would recognize the man he was indebted to anywhere, anytime.

"A Wolf should not travel without his pack, old friend," rumbled Akinlabi's deep voice. Then, a rare smile struck his lips.

But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, as a loud noise was heard overhead, higher up the shaft.

 

JJ nodded, "Alright, lets go, quietly."

He illuminated the shaft below, revealing a ten foot drop and what looked like a slide at the bottom. Well this looks... fun... JJ turned off his weapon light and let it hang from it's sling, bending down to ease himself into the shaft. He shimmied his way down, keeping his back and feet planted against opposite walls. The others imitated him coming down, not quietly but not loud either.

Once JJ reached the bottom of the shaft, he planted his feet on the sides of the slidea few feet down to allow the others to steady themselves, readying his weapon. Trin came in behind and settled herself similarly. JJ was nearly set to start inching down the slide carefully, when a bang came from up the shaft.

"Crap. Trin, stay on me." He let go of the sides and slid down the steep incline, rushing to meet whatever force was now painfully aware of the team's presence. The slide suddenly ended and JJ rolled to the side on a hard floor, turning on his weapon light at the same time. Caught in it's beam was Star Wolf and a tall black man.

"Freeze!" JJ yelled, centering on the unknown man.

 

Seeing Akinlabi again brought a flood of memories and emotions to Wolf.

"Akinlabi? Buddy; what the hell are you doing here?" He said and approached him. Wolf never knew who to trust anymore but Akinlabi was anything but a devious person.

"I really wasn't expecting to find you here, what---"

Wolf could hear the sound of someone clumsy tumbling down the shaft of the trap door, out popped one of the boots with a submachine gun. He waved it at Akinlabi and yelled at him.

"Whoa, whoa! Easy groundpounder, this is a friend." Wolf said, standing in front of Akinlabi and waving his arms.

"And just to let you know, you won't need that weapon here, this is a safehouse. Where are the others?"

 

"Star Wolf could be in trouble to though," took another glance down the dark hole "Probably is in trouble. But I'll go after Nate if it's all the same with you guys. What do you say, Huah?"

It had been years since Dogface had heard that word. "Hooah." If his present company wasn't preoccupied with the disappearance of their friends, they would have noticed a hint of nostalgia in his voice. It was familiar, and yet strange. The word may as well have been Norwegian; it felt so foreign passing through Dog's lips. Has it really been eleven years since I've said that?

"I'll go find Nathan. Dog I could use your help, since you're a local you know the place better than I do."

Dog sighed, "What the hell is wrong with your kids, Pappy? Your boy should've stayed put." Dogface shook his head at the thought. "I'll help ya, but there are so many twists and turns on this f***ing rock; we'll probably never find im'."

If Dog wasn't mistaken, S.O.P was to return to the area were you last saw your squad. What the hell was the kid thinking? "Do ya'll even have a contingency plan?"

 

Trin's pistols were held out sharp to the dark skinned man in the back of the room, and the other woman. She was hidden directly behind JJ. When he yelled out orders to them, she had them both zeroed in. There wouldn't be time for them to pull out their weapons if they wanted to, but apparently they didn't.

"Whoa, whoa! Easy groundpounder, this is a friend."

Wolf yelled for him to stand down, but Trin kept her weapons raised in the darkness, just in case. She watched JJ lower his weapon, and saw that the ones she was aiming at had no intention on attacking.

"And just to let you know, you won't need that weapon here, this is a safehouse. Where are the others?"

Trin stepped out of the darkness slowly, behind JJ, and then lower her weapons. "They're going to be late, sir. Midshipman Brown, somehow became lost out of the bar. Gunthar has gone to find him and bring him here. The rest are with me, sir." She then swung her arm back, pistol in hand, and motioned for the others to move up. Who are these two characters? They looked like they might something of a struggle to handle.

 

"Yeah, I got it. Take me away," the young looking perp said. He didn't seem like he was about to put up a fight or run. Good kid.

All of a sudden the kid turned pale as a ghost and collapsed before MaCurdy could catch him.

"Jesus, this kid is sick." He got on his radio.

"Control; this is Corporal MaCurdy, we've got a---wounded civilian here, send a medical team, quick."

***

"What the hell is wrong with your kids, Pappy? Your boy should've stayed put. I'll help ya, but there are so many twists and turns on this f***ing rock; we'll probably never find im'. Do ya'll even have a contingency plan?"

"Yes, this is it Dog, now quit yer bitchin,'" Pappy growled. The only time an old space dog is happy is when they're complaining about something.

"And we are going to find him, I don't care how many rat holes there are on this asteroid, if I have to turn over every lump of dirt myself I'll find him." Pappy said.

"You had a good idea though, we should go back to the bar and see if he's straggling there. Just keep your eyes open for those security details, those guys looked kinda froggy to me."

***

"They're going to be late, sir. Midshipman Brown, somehow became lost out of the bar. Gunthar has gone to find him and bring him here. The rest are with me, sir."

"No way, did Pappy put you in charge?" Wolf asked.

"This is the team that the Aerospace Force sent?" Specter asked, she was only barely visible now, her stealth field was changing modulation on itself to stay ahead of countermeasures, possibly.

"Yeah Specter."

"But it's not the full team?"

"Apparently not."

She remained quiet for a while.

"Very well, while I'm not pleased with this we should move on with our next step. This Martian spy is clearly ten times more professional and moves quickly. I have something to show you, all of you. And please pay attention because I hate to repeat myself and will only say this once." Specter said as she moved to an inner chamber of the safe house, she could only be tracked by the sound that she made.

There was some kind of planning room, with detailed maps, dossiers, and sophisticated looking equipment. There were also enough chairs for enough of the group to sit in. Apparently, she was prepared to give a briefing...

 

"Whoa, whoa! Easy groundpounder, this is a friend."

JJ was still suspicious, but lowered his weapon after a beat. If Star Wolf wasn't hurt, then the previous episode was just an excercise. A failed one considering someone had compromised our element of surprise with their clumsiness. JJ sent a questioning glare at the others who had assembled by the mouth of the shaft, but followed the voice of a near corporeal woman, joined by some of the others into a large, dimly lit room. It was filled with files, maps and equipment, some of which JJ recognized, but most of the technology here was foreign to him.

Must be electronic warfare and monitoring stuff, he concluded.

Star Wolf was near him walking into the room. "Hey Wolf, who are these guys? Who do they work for?" he asked quietly. The two took seats at the large table next to eachother along with the other Midshipmen.

 

Jesca decided it would be best to defer her vacation. Her banked credits were more than enough for a couple weeks of debauchery with plenty left over for an airless day. But she had a feeling something big was about to break, and that the backlash wouldn't leave room for her kind of ass-kicking, boy-licking fun.

Ten hours later, her newly-restocked ship was accelerating out from Ceres toward a newly plotted cluster of dark, dense asteroid fragments, her provisional claim secured.

With any luck, her hunch would pay off, and these would be rich in high yield metal ores.