<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Providence....<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->





Tyscio's feet touched the grayish dirt and the dust that was kicked up felt vaguely familiar and as his mind mulled over it, Leia asked him a question.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Think?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


He felt his face flush and he struggled to focus on the "now". His eyes surveyed the spartan landscape knowing that soon the ground would harden under the Providence night. Already the soldiers were having difficulty as they began to dig in setting up defense postions around the shuttle drop point. Korban's hand went to a button on his battlegear and and he turned the temperature up a notch to compensate. He shifted his rifle blaster as it hung from his shoulder while glancing at the colony structures in the background


"There is no way that they'd miss our shuttle landing so we won't be surprising them much." Tyscio observed glancing back at Leia.


"Providence was not settled for any particular reason except to found a colony. People wanted to live here..." his voiced trailed off when he saw Leia's eyes narrow.


"I mean, they were not settled to increase the natural resources of Capricia. Unlike Minos."


"Ma'am?" came a Second Lieutenant. "Scouts have picked up several vehicles heading this way...all armed."


Colonel Vestashi, Leia's military advisor and second in command of their military force of 10,000, turned to the soldier and asked, "Size?"


The soldier smartly straightened, "20=50 Sir! There is also an outdated cargo craft. It's hard to tell how many are inside."


Tyscio watched in fascination knowing that the approaching vehicles had been tracked by a number of soldier's weapons and yet the newcomers seemed unafraid.


He kept to the background as an older man and woman stepped out of the lead craft. The other's remained, not that they would be able to provide any sort of backup should things go ugly.


The old man simply cast his eyes over the soldiers unloading the transports, others building makeshift barracks while others seemed to spread outward. Korban followed the elder man's gaze trying to gauge if anything had caught his interest.


The old woman spoke glancing at Tyscio. Seeing his markings she commented. "Tyscio Clan."


That drew Korban's eyes back to her but the woman had already seemed to dismiss hin, her focus resting with Leia.


"You bear no markings." she said matter of factly. "..and yet you lead Clan soldiers."


The old man murmured. "Then the Clans lost the Civil War."



The woman walked up closer to the Jedi Master, her gaze piercing.


Tyscio felt the wind get a bit chillier and suddenly his mind clicked as he focused on the old couples clothing...and suddenly he felt numb.




<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...flash...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->



<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Endor...several months ago...



....Suddenly he looked at her dressed in some sort of battlegear, her saber glowing in the fine dust of a planet, standing in the midst of dead bodies... with a look of horror on her face..


...there were tears in her eyes..


..She looked like she would scream..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->





"What is your house?" the old woman asked Leia pointedly, adding "..and what are you doing here?"

Leia's chin automatically lifted in initial response to the inquiries, she looked haughtier all of the sudden. Tyscio hadn't seen this from Leia before. But then again, he had never really seen her when she had to slip on her political skin, the one she actually lived in the most.

"I do not come from Capricia. I come from Alderaan, my birthright name being Skywalker, my adopted and legal name being Organa.

I am Leia Organa Solo, Jedi Master of the faction of Jedi known as the Jedi Council to most, and Chief of State of the New Republic. I am here to aid Capricia in it's battle. My duties as a Jedi and Republic leader dictate that. But moreso, I am here to aid a friend, Tyscio here, in the defense of his home planet. I was appointed by the Regency to command these troops here and stave off any attack that may befall this planet"

Leia's expression hardened and she looked the man and woman up and down. She noticed through subtle Force hints that Tyscio seemed to have spaced out, she would reap no guidance from him this time around. She wondered what was bothering him. The wind on the barren land blew down the collar of her shirt. She suppressed a shiver, reminding herself of the icy tundras of Hoth.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Now that was cold. This is nothing, Leia. Suck it up<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

Leia took a deep breath, her eyes narrowing.

"But I don't think who I am is the question here, you are the ones who just walked freely into our landing zone. For all we know you are the enemy and you are about to blow my head off. Who are <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> you<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->, and what are <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> you<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> doing here?"

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Providence<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->



The old woman barked a laugh at the impertinence of the young Jedi and the old man came forward slightly putting his hands on the older woman's shoulder's from behind.


..as if to support her.

The old woman's voice took on an ironic quality to match Leia's hardness.


"Tell me Leia Organa Solo, birthname Skywalker, Jedi of Alderaan, if thousands of armed warriors invaded your world, would you not be curious about them? Would you not take precautions? Would you not want to find out, 'who <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> they<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> were?'"


The question hung into the air for a brief moment and then the old man spoke up. "You spoke of an attack upon our world? From who?"


"..and what gives you the right..." the old woman's ironic expression turning to stone..


****

Tyscio snapped back watching the display and Leia's haughty look.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Why must there be masks? That is the first step to mistrust is it not?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


..and as the old woman was about to start off in a tirade (as older one's habitually do) Korban quickly mouthed three words in ancient Caprician.


"<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Invictus Clannus Martiallus<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->"


Three words that would inevitably help Leia. Hopefully. The man and woman turned to him as if he had slapped a child but said no more.

The old woman seemed to want to speak but the man's hands tightened on her shoulders effectively halting any word she might say.

The older man bowed slightly and asked softly. "What is required of us?"

Then he turned and with a gesture that emphasized the command, "stand down."

The motly band of people who accompanied the older couple waited a few minutes before they were surrounded by Caprician soldiers under Leia's command.


Tyscio walked over to Leia, to answer her questioning look.

"I told them in effect that our leader, who holds the Clannus Prime's powers, is backing you... Capricia is backing you...and Martial Law is executable by your word."

He smiled grimly.

"The phrase isn't used that much anymore but older one's who still cling to the old system haven't forgotten it," turning to the old couple, " it seems."

"My father was good with old system phrases and spoke them often trying to instill a sense of honor in his children."

Then he grew serious.

"Take heed, Leia. The invoking of that command, if followed correctly, gives you nearly godlike powers with this colony. No wish, however small, will be denied and no one will question....yet. They know you have arrived in force and they fear your military might. They know that you can decimate their colony if you want too...but they also know that you come under the shield of Capricia also tells them that there will be no reprieve for them if they hinder your actions. Remember, though, these people have been out of contact with Capricia for nearly five years. There is alot they won't take on faith. Use your time well."

Still on Providence...


Leia breathed a sigh of relief as Tyscio rescued her from her fumbling words with the old woman. She had been caught completely off guard, and had almost paid for it.

However, the sigh hadn't even expended itself when it turned into a dropped jaw as Tyscio told her the translation of what he had just said.

"I don't want to know whether what you did was good or bad... so gee, thanks... I think"

The sarcasm lay thick in her last words, but she was already setting that aside for now. She gestured to the old couple and their surrounding entourage and shook her head.

"I almost blew that one, I keep forgetting your world differs from mine. I can't do that. I need to build trust, not kill any foundations for it."

She grimaced inwardly.

"Who were they anyways, and how would they have aquired the eye to pick me out so quickly?"

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Providence<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->



Tyscio smiled slightly at her sarcasm.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The things I do for expedience.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"If I didn't think you could handle it, I wouldn't have mentioned the words. You aren't going to start Leia's Dynasty now are you?"


Then his smile widened a bit.

"Yes, on your world you are used to saying all sorts of impertinent things and getting away with it because you are the Head of State or what not."

Then he grew serious for a bit.

"But I don't think, even then, that it is always received well."


"..as for who they are? Perhaps you should ask them." looking over at the couple waiting for orders to be issued, watching intently as Leia and Tyscio whispered back and forth.


Then Tyscio's took a step back as if to give the impression that Leia had somehow moved closer to the couple, flicking her greyish sleeve.

"You are the only one without battlearmer Leia. That makes you either a very dumb soldier or perhaps the one in command, whom the soldiers are to protect."

Leia heard the grin in his whisper.

"It was a 50-50 chance and they banked well."


His focus started to take in the rest of the people as he noticed the Clan Soldiers remaining tense, perhaps wondering what the outcome of this little native entourage would be.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Well... someone had to let the spirit out of the holocron so it might as well have been me..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

Providence...


Leia stood still and silent for a very tense minute, chewing on her lower lip, brow furrowed in deep thought. She abruptly turned away from Tyscio, and a few quick strides covered the distance to the waiting couple. She stopped within two armlengths of the woman. She looked them up and down, slowly and deliberately. Just about right, she decided.

She unclipped her lightsaber from her belt and ignited it, the bright green blade flashing into a harsh existence between Leia and the couple. The Caprician soldiers backed up a few steps, tensing, unsure of what their leader intended to do. The couple jumped involuntarily, but only slightly, to their credit. Leia twirled the saber in front of her, it hummed loudly with power as it traced bright green arcs through the air.

"I am not a Caprician. It is a setback that hinders my decisions somewhat, as I have to learn the Caprician ways as I go. Furthermore I, nor actually, many of my troops know this planet very well at all..."

Leia carefully flicked the saber again so the tip pointed towards the ground, and turned it off.

"We cannot hope to defend this planet, nor would I wish to, if we did not hold the trust and aid of the people whom live here."

She held her saber out, presenting the hilt to the woman to take, the closer of the two. She nodded her head once, slowly.

"I thus ask you, dwellers of Providence, if you condone our presence here, and if so, if you would take this weapon of the Jedi in your hand, therefore declaring that trust in me and these men and women around me who wish to stave off the evil force which threatens to overtake this system. To give the honor of the benefit of your aid, that we might stand a chance against the enemy"

Leia seemed to have an afterthought, and added uncannily

"And a name and function would be nice, if you chose to humor me so."

Leia was chancing it, as she still didn't even know who she was talking to in this couple, and was most likely underplaying her 'Godlike powers' role. But she had a gut feeling that she had deemed best to follow, and so she decided that the loss of her saber was more than compensated, even if these people could do nothing for them, or chose to do nothing.

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> ...The Outmarches...<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->


*...Vinda watched grimly as the wall of energy released by the Hapan Battle Dragons seemed to dissipate across the surface of the slowly lunging cruisers, and the swarming Coral skippers...*

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ..No effect!?...what are these things made of?...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

*..Turning to the intelligence commander on the bridge, Vinda gave his instructions...*

"..Record all data about these vessels I want to know what they are made of, how they are powered, and how to damage them,send out droids to recover wrecks if you have to!, I want samples, anaylysis, everything!.."

*..The officer, nodded decisively and hurried off to his duties...
Vinda, sunk back into his chair, this was not good, how could you defend against an enemy which is immune to your weaponary...chewing on his new ,unlit cigarra, Vinda around to Omar...*

"..Get those cruisers to use their Tractor beams, pull the fighters into each other, if we can't shoot them down , we'll have to force them to take each other out..."

*..No sooner had Vinda given the orders, the Ship rocked as a few enemy fighters crashed into it trying to overcome the tractor beams...Vinda held onto the his Chair's armrest for support...

Then came the power loss...

...Lights, comms, screens, all blacked out for split second, followed by a tirade of alarms, and the ship shook more,
Vinda glanced up at Omar expectedly whose face appeared to have lost its colour...*

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ...Now what!?...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Providence...<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> "We cannot hope to defend this planet, nor would I wish to, if we did not hold the trust and aid of the people whom live here."<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


That was the phrase that the older couple focused on before they glanced at her outstretched lightsaber.


An ironic smile played on the old woman's lips. "My dear Jedi. I do hope that you <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> would<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> wish to protect even those you do not trust...for it is the only real collateral that is worth something.

Otherwise, what are you fighting for?"

She walked out of from under the grasp of the older man and she reached out for the saber.

As she grasped it, her eyes played across it's metallic body with appreciation.

"Ideals turn to ash if one does not have the confidence in self to take the task at hand by the throat and conquer it. It is our self reliance that has allowed us to survive as a colony when the support ships from Capricia stopped... when the signals stopped."

She handed the saber to the old man, who inspected it with much interest.

"This one is skilled." was all he said.

"Leia Skywalker, of Alderaan. We are your humble servants and no more. We are Capricians and you have invoked the Clannus Prime's Martial Powers. I am known as Mirriam and my husband is Klaus. Our family name is Berrial. We are leaders of Providence Colony..such as it is."

Klaus handed Leia back her weapon and sensing that she had nothing to fear from the older couple..(strange devotion to duty) she allowed them to show the colony off to her and her soldiers.

It was obvious that they prided themselves on their self sufficiently.

Children were seen playing in the fields outside the city and there were many people walking about, albeit wrapped in warm attire...going to market, building additions to buildintgs...and some drilling of their local militia.

They were greeted by another gray haired individual who was introduced as Mathias, leader of Providence's militia.

Tyscio noted that the man was arrayed in an old Caprician uniform..as were the militia. It seemed the only thing that was missing was the medals on the chest.

A sudden wind cut into Tyscio's face and he saw that dusk was coming.

The main colony was built in a circular fashion so the tall buildings, errected at strategic points might provide some shelter against the harsher Providence winds. Branching out, forming a perimeter of sorts were the residence areas, each circular, each north, south, east and west of the main body.

"It was too costly for Capricia to build domes for the colony, but the weather is actually quite mild during the summer. Reminds us of the Ferendi Province on Capricia." Mirriam had informed.

People were coming up to the soldiers in excitement especially since they were the first people to have landed on the colony in years.

But, old Mathias brought a bit of sobriety to the meeting.

"What of these enemies you speak of? What are your orders?"

Tyscio stepped up and told the people, knowing that his words were being relayed to every home on Providence as this was an historic, if tragic occassion for them, about the invasion of Capricia. The events that transpired 5 years ago and the events that transpired since.

Many faces fell at the tale of destruction wrought to the homeworld..and even more at the Civil War.

"..and as we were reclaiming our place.. the invaders ..the Yuuzhan Vong, returned." he finished.

"Ma'am, what are your orders?" Mathias asked of Leia.

She instantly felt a warmth of affection for her, especially in light of Tyscio's tales of the visciousness of the Yuuzhan Vong. She didn't have to come, they were thinking. She wasn't even Caprician...

..and she came.

If the Martial Powers of her position didn't guarantee compliance, her actions as a free thinking, Jedi woman did.

She deserved to be listened too.

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> 5 months ago....<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->


Herridian Wye moved across the Garden of Memories taking brisk strides. He often took walks here in the mornings, as the early mist began to rise. It was peaceful here, the silent onyx monolith listing those that had been lost during the invasion and the subsequent short civil war. The monolith was large and long, casting it’s shadow over the streams and pathways through the park like area. On this day, though, he paid no heed to his surroundings.

Entering on open area, he started for two men dressed in the uniform of their clan. The man in the dark blue uniform, Tyscio Zier, looked at the approaching figure with interst. Gomorran Kay, in his black and grey uniform, the Regent, was glancing at the trees.

He was saying..

“If I didn’t know better, I would say you are pulling my leg, Zier.”

Tyscio turned to look at his Regent, “I told you, we underestimated Leantre’s cunning mind. I think he likes his job too much.”

“Ah, Wye, take a look over there. Tell me, can you see where Leantre’s put the anti attack battery?” Gomorran said, as the other rather round Clan leader met them.

“No, my Lord, he is very clever, that one.” Herridian responded immediately without even looking at the trees.

Tyscio laughed and clapped Herridian on the back. “Thank you good friend. I had yet to see the Regent patronized and was wondering when one of us would get around to it.”

Herridian composed himself against Tyscio’s exuberance, his excitement, and a walk that was causing him to sweat. He plunged ahead, “My Lord, I believe we may have found Clan Ferendi!” He blurted out.

Gomorran’s eyes widened, “Ferendi? Are you sure?”

Herridian nodded most excitedly, “A restoration dig in Ferendi Province found bits and pieces of a journal from a minor member of the clan.”

“And, this journal gives you their coordinates?” Tyscio asked, at once skeptical.

“No..no.. not as such. But it does give their intended destination, Mandalore.”

“Mandalore? Do we even know where that is?” Gomorran asked.

“I have taken the liberty of checking our old Imperial Charter maps, and it does give a location. As to the map’s accuracy though...” Herridian’s voice trailed.

“So you want a ship.” Tyscio concluded.

“Of course I want a ship!” Herridian snapped back. “Another clan could be out there, suffering who knows what...Perhaps they are awaiting word.”

“Perhaps they are dead.” Tyscio said.

Herridian looked at him in shock, his stocky body almost trembling. Tyscio raised a concillatory hand, “Peace Wye. I am just being practical.”

Gomorran sighed. “IF there are clans on Mandalore, then we should find them. They are Capricians and no longer outcasts.”

“After two years, they may wish to remain. IF they are there.” Tyscio pointed out.

“The choice is theirs, but they should have the option of knowing that their home remembers them with pride and honor once more.”

Tyscio turned to Herridian. “Take the Avatar. It will be under your personal command though operated by my clan. I will sign the order this afternoon.”

Herridian beamed with excitement. “Imagine: a lost planet, a forgotten clan, unkown territory and a Caprician crew on a quest for knowledge..”

Gomorran laughed and turned to Tyscio, “We’d better get him indoors before he startes to romanticize further.”

Tyscio made a wry grin, “before we know it, he will soon be talking of having a beautiful woman adjutant too.”

Gomorran turned to Tyscio, raised an eyebrow but let the comment pass.


*

The Loronar Strike Cruiser <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Avatar<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> was ready for launch and all exiting members were taking their leave. Tyscio, after instructing the crew of their commander and responsibilities, he turned to Herridian.

“Remember, Wye, once you leave the system, Capricia Prime’s coordinates and scorpion access codes will be purged. Head straight for Onderon. Scipio Arien will do the final physical check to your systems to confirm the purge and make sure your systems are operational. We don’t want you losing power out there. Remember, if you try and enter the Caprician system, the scorpions will tear this ship apart and blow it to bits before you could even get a communication transmission off to us. So, if you get into a jam, do not play heroics, get to the Onderon system as fast as you can and Scipio will direct things from there.”

Tyscio leaned forward and whispered, “I have a Tie Defender packed in the cargo hold if needed. I do not know how handy it will be, but as Gomorran says, we just keep our options open.”

Herridian smiled, “Hold down the fort.”

“Good hunting, Captain.”

*

Three days out of the Onderon System, the Avatar has been slowly and systematically moving in a slip of space known only in old texts as the Quelii Sector, deep in the Outer Rim. Scanners at full, the ship was looking for artifacts or floating debris that might shed light as to the final fate of the old Caprician Clan of Ferendi. Confirming the location of Madalore was only the first step, but he wanted to know all he could before taking it.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Academics<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->..Herridian, thought. <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Most military types dislike academics such as myself, but these young people are actually excited.. I wonder what Tyscio told them?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

“Captain!” came a voice from a young officer.

“Yes, Leto, what is it?”

“Sensors have picked up a free floating object off to port. It’s a derelict sir, classification unkown.”

Herridian sat straightened in his chair and began to issue orders.

Nothing like the unkown to bring excitement into one’s life.

“Helm, bring us closer. Defense, activate shields, All sensors probe the object for any identifiable markings or registration.”

The crew began to work as the <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Avatar<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> moved slowly closer. Lights from the Caprician vessel revealed that the object was indeed a pitted and scarred vessel of some kind, but origins unkown.

“There is no power signature coming from the ship sir. Not even from onboard computers.” an ensign called out.

“..if they even have onboard computers...” murmered Herridian.


...but one could only speculate so much.

Tractor beams shot forth from the <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Avatar<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> to stop the slowly rotating derelict. The crew was bent on concentrating the beams on the areas that would put the least resistance on the superstructure of the unknown vessel.

The <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Avatar<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> took position right above the now stationary relic.

"Good work, people." Herridian called out as grapples were shot out and connected to the ship under them.

Regulations demanded the first team over be a security sweep but Herridian was determined to send a scientist over as well. Who knew what might be missed by the military mind?

"There is no perceptible breach in the hull. No blast marks from weapons fire... only the scarring from debris floating into it." observed a young deck officer.

"Not picking up any...wait... wait.. there! That looks like an opening; an airlock of somekind."

Herridian didn't wait for the rest as he spoke to the group checking their gear before heading for the EVA platform. "There's no power over there, so you will have to get this 'airlock' open the old fashioned way. Chances are, there will be no decompression so keep your suits on, no matter how breathable the instruments say it is. Keep your communications open. You will be following the grapples down to the ship."

As they started to leave in a flurry of stress, anticipation and excitement, he called out, "good luck."

Seven figures emerged from the <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Avatar<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, the thrusts from their EVA suits bringing them closer to the alien ship. The <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Avatar<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> had trained it's lights on key areas of the vessel.

The shadows played tricks on the eyes of those moving slowly towards it as it appeared to be smiling from under the bow.

"No markings detected, Sir." called the scanning officer.

"What the hell is it?" Herridian asked to the walls in general.

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> 5 months ago...<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->


"Contact!" echoed a voice from over the communications system. Herridian watched the monitors from his "Captain's chair" wishing he was out there with them. It was during times like these that he wished he had slimmed down his stout form.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> I really should get more into shape when I get home, he thought mournfully.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


A few meters outside....


Constance impatiently waited, listening to her own breathing within her EVA suit. She felt so restricted despite the EVA's boast of maximum mobility and flexibility.

"...proceeding with the cutting," droned the Tyscio military group leader.

She was surrounded by six male soldiers who were content to continue carefully and "by the book".

Constance was from a minor house in a rural province, left destitute by the previous militia government. Her thirst for the new frontiers of knowledge made her one of the first candidates in Herridian's reeducation projects and had, in fact, garnished special notice from Herridian Wye himself. Her scientific curiousity was only countered by her young age.

She wanted to push the leader aside and "up the power" to the cutting torch and get into the vessel that much quicker.

What secrets do you possess? What are you hiding within your silent hulls?, she thought excitedly.

"Watch your heart rate, Constance." warned Herridian's voice through the speakers in her helmet, next to her ear.

She was so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she nearly jumped at the sound of his voice.

Strange he can sound so close and yet be so far.

Upon confirming that noone had seen her flinch, she switched the comm system knob on.

"These soldier boys are taking their damned, sweet time!! The galaxy could collapse and be reborn in the time it's taking....", she started.

"Constance!", came Wye's sharp reply (sharper than she had expected). "You are on an open channel! Switch to private if you wish to complain!" he snapped.

The woman of the space group was turning all shades of red inside her helmet. She looked around and noted no movement of recognition outside the those related to cutting the "airlock" open.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Perhaps they didn't hear..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"Request permission to uncouple the scientist, Sir?" came a voice from her right.

"Negative, soldier!" replied the leader, engrossed in his cutting torch. "We may need her as bait for any hostiles inside the craft."

There was a slight chuckle from some of the others.

"She might nag it to death, Sir." same another voice.

"Then she's our greatest weapon..." finished the leader.

Now the group outright laughed.

Before her bristling at their comments could generate a reply, an opening formed as the hatch was pushed inward.

The laughter stopped and everybody was back to their usual businesslike manner.

Herridian watched from his screen as the seven figures disappeared into the unknown vessel.


An hour passed.

"They have not been responding on any communications channel for quite a while, Captain." voiced the officer of the watch.

Herridian turned to his second in command whose eyes had narrowed. "I don't like surprises, Sir."

Wye had to agree, but before he could issue and order someone shouted, "They're coming out!"

The bridge crew watched the monitors as the comm officer tried to reestablish a link.

"They are not responding."

"Sir, this is most peculiar.." started an officer.

Herridian pointed to the screen, interrupting him. "They are carrying somebody! Get the medical bay ready for patients and errect a quarantine around the airlock just to be safe!"

The figures floated quickly as people scrambled aboard the <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Avatar<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> to meet them.


..and then all hell broke loose.


The EVA team had reached the ship when the cables from the <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Avatar<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> were suddenly no longer floating aimlessly but became taut..

The <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Avatar<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> was rocked to one side as the silent ship under them became suddenly active.

Herridian was almost knocked from his chair, everything happening fast.

"....Shields!" he mananged to croak out as an cable broke from the cruiser.

"Alien vessel is attempting to power up..." yelled a comm officer.

"Great Clannus Prime!.. the power readings are off the scale!"

"Where's the team?" Wye snapped, confidence returning as he forced himself to get control.

"Team is... is.. .. where the hell are they?" a junior officer at the scanning consol.

Another shake blew out some minor computer monitors and Wye had had enough of this.

"Target their engines and fire!" his voice rising.

A shot lanced out.

A shot that would have missed, given the panicky nature of the new recruit on the weapons consol.

Herridian would chide himself over allowing a green recruit station himself at a vital position.

It was just a relic..and excellent training for the lad.., he would justify...


In any event, the piercing beam of light did strike something invisible...

"What ... is .. that?" the Clan leader gaped.

Tiny sparkles of light became visible after being struck by the energy weapon. They danced about the relic and seemed to fade as the weapon's power dissipated.

"Find the team.." Wye suddenly ordered. "It's time to put some distance between us and..."

He never completed his sentence as the relic's powering up reached a critical point and the vessel exploded..

The <!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Avatar<!--EZCODE BOLD END--> was pumelled with debris and lost, temporarily, it's dampeners. With nothing counteracting the resulting inertia, the Caprician ship floated aimlessly, damaged.

"..Zier is going to kill me *cough* *cough*, when he finds out what I did with his ship." Wye rasped in the smoke.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> What had happened? What did the team do when they were in the ship??<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

Questions, though, were all Herridian had at the moment.