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A/N: Hey, Peeps! Please read this post. I’m afraid it’s a begging post but please take a look.

I could really use your help.

—

“What’s that human saying?” Umi said when they arrived back on the station. “Cat among the pigeons? Yes, this news about our enemies has really put the cat among the pigeons with the council. They are still arguing about the best response.”

“But we do have an initial response,” Midori said. “They want to initiate contact before they reach us but given the time we have due to them being limited to sublight speeds they want to try and come up with a treatment for their issues first as an olive branch.”

“That might work,” Prima said. “Or it might just make them more dangerous. Immortal and as resilient as you are – that would be scary.”

“Yes, that would be an issue,” Midori said. “And a bigger one is that they’d need a modern sample of their DNA because we don’t know how much they’ve managed to fix themselves. So they are going to try and insert a ship to capture one of them.”

“Dangerous!” Prima made a whirring sound that was clearly alarm. “How would anyone manage that?”

“I agree,” Midori said. “But I also think they are right. Anyway they say they will discuss this with you further when you bring Prima and the Coronans to Aletheia – which I really don’t like the sound of. I know we’ve said it before but don’t let them talk you into anything. If they are going to try this it’s a job for a military vessel.”

“I already promised Prima I wouldn’t,” Amanpreet said. “Though I still can’t see why…”

“You and Kayla are two of the best navigators available,” Umi said. “That’s why.”

“I hate navigating,” Amanpreet muttered.

“For someone who hates it you do it often enough,” Midori said.

Amanpreet chuckled. “True enough, but I definitely prefer hiring people to do it for me when I can.” She hesitated and frowned. “But meeting Promise and finding out the music is real has made it more tolerable.”

“Anyway the other half of the message is that the battle is over and they want you to bring our guests to Aletheia as soon as possible.”

“I thought it would be,” Amanpreet said. “When can you be ready to leave, Prima?”

“Tomorrow!” Prima said. “Well I’m ready now but I imagine you need to rest first.”

“Not so much rest as check the Whisper over and check its flight ready,” Amanpreet said. “But yes, tomorrow is about the earliest we can leave.” She looked over at Midori again. “Do we still have an escort?”

“Of course,” she said. “Even without everything else, the Vaians are still out there and probably still after Kayla.”

“Thanks!” Amanpreet said. “The current situation is very unnerving. We’ll do our checks and leave tomorrow then.”

***

“Everything seems fine,” Vanna said when Amanpreet checked with her later. “All systems are nominal and she won’t need ground time again for a couple of months.” She stared at the panel she was looking at. Something was clearly bothering her.

“What’s wrong,” Amanpreet asked.

Vanna sighed. “Do you really think the Council will try and send us on this mission into the enemy’s territory?”

“Possibly,” Amanpreet said. “I don’t know. I hope not – Midori and Prima are right that it’s too dangerous but it’s hard to say no to the Council when they are persistent and they are right about Kayla and I being excellent navigators.”

“I have a bad feeling about it,” Vanna said. “You and Kayla could navigate us there, no doubt, but we don’t have the expertise to perform an extraction like that. They have to know that.”

“That’ll be my main argument against it if they do try it,” Amanpreet said. “But I really hope it doesn’t come to that.”

Vanna nodded. “Well, I’m happy that the Whisper is fit for the trip to Aletheia and I’ve requisitioned some extra stores, including food for Prima, for the trip. I’m not sure how to prepare it though and I’m not really comfortable cooking the meat type things even if it is tank grown.”

“That’s a point,” Amanpreet said. “Let’s go and ask her and her companion.” They headed to the cabin that Amanpreet had assigned to the two Talisians and explained the problem.

“Hmm… we should have bought a worker as well,” the diplomat said.

“Ignore him,” Prima said. “He’s being silly. We can prepare our own food if you have the ingredients – it’s not difficult. We will need access to the galley, however.”

“Of course,” Vanna said. “I’ll show you where it is.”

“Thank you,” Prima said. “”When we travel tomorrow, would it be okay for me to spend a jump in the dome? I’m curious about hyperspace.”

Hmm?” Amanpreet stared at her. “I’ll need to clear it with the authorities and check your physical data to ensure you’re resilient but I don’t see why not.”

 

 

—

A/N: Hey, Peeps! Please read this post. I’m afraid it’s a begging post but please take a look.

I could really use your help.

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