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"Okay, here we go."

The waypoint sensors had set in Ranger 2 was coming up fast.

"Strap it in everyone, this is gonna...yeah."

The helmsman pushed the controls hard, to the limits of what most beings could tolerate. Just as they came out of the turn, the helmsman pulled warp to an all stop.

"Aggh, that sucked."

"Secondary Beams activating pattern Exemplar 1!"

The tractor/pressor beams lashed out of the Ranger, sending geysers of debris hurtling at the third missile.

The first two missles hit each other, as Exemplar had planned, but had substantially more punch than expected. The blast bathed Ranger 3 in energy for a moment, but passed in time to catch sight of the third missile detonating in a cloud of debris.

"Shields down to 23%, but gaining. I won't be able to restore shields while we're at warp in this debris cloud.

"Sensor here, I've got a bead on Ranger 2 now. It's not moving."

"Comms here, I've got an automated distress signal from Ranger 2 cutting in and out. If it isn't damaged, then what is happening is it has intermittent life signs and movement inside the vessel.

"I have primary beams locked onto Ranger 2. Standing by."

"I have a missile lock on Ranger 2."

"Ranger 3 didn't like that turn, maneuverability is damaged. Maneuver is at 61%. We won't be doing another turn like that unless we stop for repairs or return to hangar."

"Ma'am, the profile on Ranger 2 is incorrect. I mean, I've got a silhouette here that doesn't match any possible configuration of a Ranger craft. The only possible reasons for this are extensive damage, or a collision with something that is remaining in contact with the Ranger. It is extremely improbable that an inert object could behave in this fashion."

The sensors operator turned to face Exemplar with his realization.

"Ma'am, it is entirely possible that Ranger 2 has been boarded."

**********

"Captain, I detect two...no three...antimatter explosions consistent with Federation 'Capital Buster' ordnance. We only armed Ranger 3 with two such weapons. We can easily deduce that this indicates at the least an exchange of fire with Ranger 2. At this range I cannot distinguish one Ranger from another, but I do detect motion in the debris cloud consistent with combat maneuvers."

The realization that rogue Martians had armed themselves with the heaviest ordnance in the Federation fleet and were apparently freely using it swept through the bridge like a plague. With the shields and warp down, the only thing that seemed to stand between the Endeavor and catastrophic antimatter warheads was...Exemplar.

Having reached the extent of her expertise, Exemplar moved to the next logical course of action. "Comms, get me a connection to the Endeavor. Helm, full stop to recharge shields, but be prepared to move if anything comes up on sensors. And... whoever, get someone started on any repairs that can be worked on, might as well use the time."

After a deep breath, Exemplar reported Ranger 3's status and a summary of their findings. "...and there may be another ship that's boarded Ranger 2. So uh, what would like us to do sir?"

Starcrusher, run diagnostics on spacejump systems.

Rebreather: O2 levels at 100%
Nanocarapace: Operational
Bio-Armor: Fully-attuned
Spacejump capabilities operational, cleared for 30 minutes without atmosphere or atmospheric systems.


"Ensign Exemplar, if you deem it prudent I can join the marines in a boarding manuever as soon as we get a little closer to Ranger 2. I have enough oxygen to withstand 30 minutes without atmo on my own, I don't know what the capabilities of the marine's boarding/counterboarding suits are. Until that time, I might be able to work on some of the repairs of Ranger 3, but my maintenence training never went much further than the basic training that all cadets receive."

The Matriarch was quickly tiring of all the synthetic ‘help’ it continued to encounter. Such machines were just ‘smart’ enough to be an inconvenience, since they were unable to receive even the simplest telepathic signals. Voracity found itself missing the fully integrated bio-technology of its species’ homeworlds. Ignoring the drone the doctor quickly looked over the interior of the cantina before fiddling the medical scanner in its hand.

The three nurses, and two security officers stood looking about the place with an air of puzzlement, curiosity, and longing. No doubt emotional byproducts of their deep space mission, and the realization that they hadn’t expected to see anything like this for a very long time, if ever again.

Voracity alerted its cohort with a psychic nudge, unaware, or perhaps unsympathetic to their idol musings, “Wait by the door and make sure no one enters or leaves until we are finished.” It directed the security team.

Then to the med-techs, “David, start setting up the mobile med lab near the bar. Prion, tell that machine why we are here and instruct it to help us quarantine the establishment or in anyway you think it might otherwise be useful.. Korsen, assist us in rounding up the patrons so we can begin examinations.”

As the team fell into place, the security crewmen taking up position by the door, David setting up the med lab, Prion coaxing ‘Pete’ to the side and trying to make the mechanical bartender understand their mission, and Korsen following her doctor’s lead, Voracity addressed the crewmen in the bar.

Most of them flinched at least a little as unexpected mental impulses reached into their minds and the alien voice spoke, “We are Chief Medical Officer Voracity. We are here on official business for the safety and well being of the ship and its crew. Some of you are sick, and contagions must be quarantined and neutralized as quickly as possible. We require order and full cooperation while we conduct this business. Examinations will begin shortly starting with blood and tissue samples from each of you. We expect with cooperation we will be able to wrap this up quickly.”

With that the Matriarch activated its medical scanner, and approached the person whose cough had so informally portend their arrival.

Slowly unifying what she could see to the output of the observation console was tedious, but would be useful in the end as she could better share information with the crew. Point locations out through the walls wasn't going to cut it.

She'd been trying to find the ship she had sensed while resting on Sign, but the limited capabilities of the ship and her powers had not been fruitful so far.

Taking some time to focus on the communications between the ship and Ranger 3, Jezial focused her attention on Ranger 2. She should be able to tell if there was another vessel attached to it, even if she couldn't feel any life signs on the ship.

"Captain, I'll try and get some more information on Ranger 2."

Stirling flicked the comm as Exemplar and Levy left the bridge. "Bridge to Colonel Adar, could you spare a team to escort our doctor? The doctor's team is headed toward the civilian areas to track down a possible disease outbreak. Have them suit up accordingly."

He watched as Ranger 3 shot into the chaotic distance and listened to reports coming in from their exchange. "Capital busters? What the hell did they plan to do?" The question was largely rhetorical - there was only one known capital ship in the region.

He nodded at Jeziel. "Sensors can't resolve them at this range - I'd like to know if there's something else out there."

"Cargo, get what we need right now and then get your people out. Let Ignak know when they're out, we're going to shut down the cargo bay and other unoccupied areas to conserve power."

The logistical miracle that Colonel Adar had just finished performing, in redesigning the tables of organization and chain of command for the 1st Endeavor Battalion, Space Infantry, Federal Marines, was one that would likely go unseen, unsung, and unobserved by most. Suy Adar moved on with his life.

The enlistment activity in the airlock was nothing short of conscription, and Adar was aware of this. Mixing the new units in with the old was challenging, as the old units were stoutly outnumbered by the new. He was confident that those voices of cowardice still in his ranks would soon be silenced by those of valor and honor.

Adar was annoyed that the security elements had seen all the action so far, while he was dicking around with reservists. From the sounds of things, Levay was about to see some action on Ranger 3, with only a handful of marines behind her.

Now, a sweep of the Endeavor with Mars and his goons still at large was exactly the kind of thing that he needed to run in his men.

"Pierce, with the Major deployed, you are in command of Ghost Platoon. Suit up. I want you to deploy with the security teams and roving patrols and provide fire support if Mars' hideout is discovered. Based on his tactical behavior, we can assume that he had a fallback point and route planned from the very beginning. His hideout is likely to be in a discreet area of the ship. I'm concerned about this area here, which is large enough, and does not have a clear purpose. As per command orders, do not engage directly if you observe them. Rules of engagement are: return fire if fired upon."

Raith Pierce snapped a peppy salute and, once it was returned, sped off to suit up with the rest of the battlesuit platoon.

"James, Uro, and Grolus, divide the troops into three groups and begin a deck by deck sweep of the entire ship. Liaise with security elements to control the civilian and crew populations. I want the men outfitted in B2 (body armor, vac-suits ready, rainbow pistols, batons,) in case further sections of the ship get shut down. Find them. Also, shut down any VIP sections in use, and document all VIP sections for later observation. Move out."

The barracks quickly vacated in a torrent of noise and activity, as the battalion outfitted in B2 and deployed. The chaos was amplified by the recency with which the battalion's equipment had been deposited on large palettes in the center of the room.

Adar removed himself and his aides to the tactical center. This small chamber was designed to facilitate the control and communications of the battalion, in perspective of the orders from the bridge, without crowding the operations of the bridge. All of it's functions could be relayed back to the bridge, and CnC could be conducted from there if desired. It was, however, ideally suited for situations in which the captain gave an order like "sweep the ship for...X," which did not seem that hard, but coordinating over the titanic vessel and sweeping in such a fashion as to avoid the targets either becoming aware of the sweep or circumventing it required logistics and planning, often on the spot, and certain infrastructure could make that easy.

Adar absentmindedly accepted the Rainbow pistol handed him by an aide, checked the reactor, and holstered it. If HE needed it, things will have gotten quite sour. His attention was focused on the rotating three dimensional hologram of the Endeavor, complete with illuminated symbols of his units as they deployed out of the barracks. His aides set the hologram to show which decks had been swept and which had not. He hoped that local power lasted long enough for him to complete the mission. These things could be done in other ways, but would take much longer. He opened a commlink to the bridge.

"Captain Stirling, this is Colonel Suy Adar, Federal Marines. The battalion is deployed in search of Martians and VIPs. We will report back to you if we find anything. Adar out."

***************

It was awkward for Ignak, attempting to communicate with inanimate machinery, but he could in a way, and it guided his analysis and led him to the current dilemma.

"Chief, the cargo bay is vacant, for now."

"Very well. Shut it down."

Ignak did not shift his gaze from the readouts. Slowly, more power was retained. He waited for the change to stabilize, and began calculations based on estimates, education, and electrokinesis. He shook his upper body in sorrow: this would not be enough. Before this reduction in power usage would charge the turnover cells, all would be lost.

Ignak relaxed, or attempted to do so. His crew watched him skeptically. Their skepticism was an issue for another time, today, now, he needed to focus. His focus was broken by the clatter of a ventilation duct breaking open, followed by shouting and rainbow beam blasts. The security team assigned to engineering whooped in victory, further interrupting his concentration.

"Whoop! We got one! Stupid Martian."

With the ruckus caused by a rogue martian breaking into engineering, and his subsequent stunning, capture and associated celebrations, Ignak could only envision two courses of action that would have any chance of turning over the reactor in time. Perhaps in concert they would work, but he could not do them on his own.

********

Jezial focused in on the data displayed before her, using it to home in her clairvoyant powers.

The swirling chaos surrounding the vessel stretched before her mind's eye, and then whisked away as her questing senses sought out the two gunships poised in battle. THERE, in the rapidly changing dust cloud. The annihilation caused by the tremendous antimatter reaction was still having strong effects on the negamatter cloud, causing part of it to swirl into the gap left and other parts to react to the force exerted.

Jezial spotted Ranger 3, damaged but under repair, poised to strike. Her mind passed through Ranger 3, catching glimpses of Marines hurriedly donning space armor, Cha'llx standing by to deploy, Levay approvingly watching Exemplar shine, and then out the other side, following the trajectory of the ship to find Ranger 2.

Ranger 2 was in trouble. Jezial found her reach failing as she got 'closer' to the stolen ship.

Malice.

Hunger.

Rage.

Pain.

Death.

Just before her clairvoyant glance ended, she caught a glimpse of Ranger 2, with a terrifying boarding pod attached to the dorsal space-lock. Though she saw it for but moment, it's appearance would remain forever transfixed in her mind. Great thorn-like spines extended from it, the whole of the pod build for speed and maneuver, but of some strange material whose nature she could not grasp but the contemplation of which stirred her guts with cold wet fear. The harsh, bloody image Jezial retained of the boarding pod was one she wouldn't likely forget, and was intensely and disturbingly gothic.

*********

In spite of the mechanical nature of the intelli-drone, it proved quite helpful to Doctor Voracity and his team. Those individuals finding reasons to drink merely hours after their release from cryosleep and in the midst of an ever-worsening series of crises were unsuprisingly reluctant to stop drinking once started. However, Pete was helpful in this regard.

"Conform to the requests of the medical team, or be banned from the premises for life."

Pete's synth-metal faceplate had no anatomy of importance and no structures allowing emotive responses. In spite of this, he seemed to look to Voracity for approval.

The individual who had been caughing was in fact sick, and he appeared to have the disease that was spreading through the ship.

Crewman 3rd class Varian Brugge submitted to the medical scanner only reluctantly, but even without a scan his illness was clear. Red around the bloodshot eyes, productive caugh, yellowing of the teeth, difficulty breathing. He had one of the trans-species flu strains, a nasty one at that, and it appeared to be just this side of hemorrhagic. The medical scanner showed decreasing H-waves and W-waves; the disease was sapping not only his physical health but his resolve and will as well. Very low level P-waves corresponded to trans-species viruses, and were detected as well. A second glance revealed to Voracity that Brugge's species was not natively psychic, as P-waves would normally indicate, but that the virus itself was.

With several dozen varieties of trans-species psi-flu well known to medical science, Doctor Voracity was familiar with the threat that they represented. As with most viral adaptations, the psi-flu was one that gained an accidental benefit and then promptly outcompeted other flu viruses in short order. After the virions reached certain numbers, the modifications they made to their host cells created a sort of psychic antenna, allowing it to pick up and project certain psychic wavelengths. Though very low level, it was sufficient to pick up what the virus needed and direct it's change, that is, the specific genetics and host defenses of those species around it. The most sinister aspect of these viruses was the way they gained this information

When an infected host caughed, the instinctive response of those around it is usually first to protect themselves in some way, even subtly, but then to consider the differences, if any, between themselves and the infected host. For example, a human caughing near a human produces the response of cutting their breath short and possibly covering their mouth, and then they think "I hope I don't get sick." But an Aolan in the same circumstance would do the same, and then think "My immunity is stronger than humans, so I don't have to really worry about anything." And this thought is linked to the knowledge the Aolan had about the differences in their anatomy and that of humans. In less educated societies this wouldn't be so problematic, but in the Galactic Federation, members of most species knew the details of their anatomy, physiology, and immunity, and these viruses preyed on this knowledge more than anything else. First they elicit a protective response, then a defensive thought, which they trace to the foundational knowledge, and then use this knowledge to begin attempting to adapt to the new target organism.

Voracity could narrow down the strain of trans-species psi-virus to two most likely strains, based on how sick Varian appeared. Both the Darter and Ripper viruses had such an effect. These were newer, more sinister strains. Earlier psi-viruses were giving way to these life threatening strains. The sicker the carriers appeared, the stronger the defense response and knowledge access, and these two strains were lethal if untreated, though in very different ways.

Most doctors would have a great deal of difficulty in treating advanced psi-viruses, as the virus could, in serious cases, attempt to adapt to the treatment being administered before it's even given, by harvesting the knowledge from the treating physician. Voracity, on the other hand, was a superior psychic predator, and was adequately shielded from the psychic virus.

The Darter and Ripper strains were incredibly different and the treatment and containment plans entirely depended on a correct diagnosis. They were also mutually exclusive: one could not treat one and the other.

[Need a diagnosis roll. Use Int+Medicine]

*********
The door opened to reveal a butler intelli-drone, which is honestly what Nurse Voyin should have expected. The smell of fresh food being cooked wafted out, nearly interrupting Voyin's train of thought.

"I am Nurse Voyin, I'm here on behalf of Doctor Voracity. We need to examine anyone living at this residence. There may be a medical emergency taking place you see..."

The butler led the group into the drawing room, where the lady of the house, an aged Nerbian still clinging to beauty, reclined on an elegant fainting couch while being fanned by a scantily clad younger male of her species. The butler announced them.

"Madam, guests from the clinic."

"Oh wonderful! I have need of an appointment."

The woman sat up. A part of Voyin's mind calculated the net worth of her apparent cosmetic treatments and reeled at the total.

"I need....I think I need a lift you see."

She adjusted her bosom.

"Yes, time takes it's toll after all. A lift would do nicely. And some things could be tightened as well. Can the clinic fit me in soon? I have plans to meet Stirling you see, and well, a lady of my stature shouldn't remain single for too long at a time, don't you know?"

Voyin struggled to find a response appropriate, and so the first thing that came to mind just rolled out of her mouth.

"We're here about the pregnancy."

A dark rage crossed the woman's face, which was quickly erased with carefully trained composure. What had her daughter, Jioll, done this time?

"What pregnancy?"

*************

Moments after the report from Colonel Adar finished, a channel from Engineering crackled on, and appeared on the viewscreen.

"Captain, this is Ignak. I'm afraid I have a solution to the problem. The reduction in power from shutting down life support to the cargo hold is good, but is not enough to recharge the turn-over cells and get the reactor started, and it does nothing to correct the problem in the bio-fiber main conduit lines."

He paused before continuing, seemingly to steel himself to the task ahead.

"There are two courses of action that might have a chance at giving us the power we need."

He paused again, this time for dramatic effect.

"Option one: We shut down life support to the entire ship, and route as much power as we can from the spacecraft complement and emergency systems to the reactor. This might take an hour or so to see if it is going to work. If it does, great, if not, we all die."

He paused yet again, before continuing.

"The other option is to attempt to jump start the turnover cells. The same fuel we use, antimatter, is available in weaponized form. If we detonate a sufficient warhead directly on the Transmat Array, and backloop the resulting input into the bio-fiber main conduits, two things may happen. The intensity of the current will force the non-aligned fiberoids into alignment, preventing further fires, and sufficient energy will pour into the turnover cells to get the reactor started."

"The second option is in some ways the best choice. It requires, however, some very dangerous aspects. I would have to remain here in engineering and use most of my team to set up the transmat suite to receive power, and only I have the abilities needed to overload the bio-fiber grid in this way. I am electrokinetic you see. Graklor, my second in command, would be capable of assisting in the extra-vehicular activity necessary to prepare the transmat array. The EVA has two goals. Alpha - override the safeties on the array so that it may absorb sufficient power to prevent damage to the ship, while focusing shields over the array to contain the explosion and focus it right into the array, and Beta - to manually arm and remote detonate a sufficient warhead, placing it in the right place and fixing it there. Graklor would only need minor assistance to prepare the array. However, only the Captain and the First Officer have the necessary authorities to arm a warhead of sufficient size in this way...and the authorities have to be programmed in manually. Unfortunately, once armed, the warhead is unstable and cannot be transported safely. Either yourself or Commander Keen would have to assist Graklor in the EVA."

Ignak paused again, this time to take a breath.

"It is possible that even performing the second option will not be enough, and so it is my conservative recommendation that we perform both plans, sir."

Ignak had finished his report, but due to his habit of taking pauses it wasn't clear at first. Everyone on the bridge waited with baited breath for Stirling's response, mindful of the current countdown to power failure, and the consequences it would bring.

22:27:13

Captain Stirling was probably waiting for more information. That was the smart thing to do after all, and he was a smart man. But people were likely dying on Ranger 2, and she could not just let them die without a fight, even if they were criminal scum. And the Endeavor needed the ship of course.

Finally deciding that she couldn't risk waiting any longer, Ensign Exemplar gave the order to advance on Ranger 2's location and began planning the boarding mission. "Uh, Officer Cha'llx? You're some sort of buggy general, right? I think you're probably a better choice for this sort of planning. You plan the mission, we'll do what you think is best. Just remember that there are 2 conditions: 1) we have to leave a strong group here in case of counterboarding, and 2) I'm going with you."

With that, Exemplar waits impatiently for the ship to dock with Ranger 2 as she listens to the security officer's plans. Her unstable molecule suit subtly altered itself as she waited, growing spikes from its austere white surface, turning her already dangerous extremities into lethal weapons should the need for force arrive.

[small spikes on fists/feet/knees/elbows, just shaping the eufiber to do Lethal instead of Bashing]

Ranger 3 came upon Ranger 2 slowly, weapons bared, missiles ready, everything on a hair-trigger. Ranger 2 appeared to have no response, and continued to drift, it's obscene boarding pod a constant visual reminder that something horrible and wrong had happened. Here, out here, in the nothing and the never, a small pod that might be capable of holding up to four or five people had attacked, out maneuvered, and boarded a modern federation gunship. The uneasiness at the inactivity from Ranger 2 was palpable. The crew of Ranger 3 seemed likely to have been happier with missiles flying at them, as long as the terms of the engagement and the enemy were known. This was unknown.

"Shields are...paste. Ma'am, Ranger 2 has no effective shields at all. Their hull looks intact, but their shields are zero-zero, and not restoring. Hull is at 97%. Usually, we would see some more damage than that if there had been an exchange of fire sufficient to reduce shields all the way. It's just...weird."

"Comms here, I keep getting that intermittent distress signal. We have the same setup on our ship of course. What happens is if there is a sudden crew casualty, the ship's automation will emit a pre-recorded distress signal, but if it detects either movement or life-signs inside, it'll stop. That's what's happening, is there's movement or life-signs interrupting the distress signal. Or....or someone blasted the comm's console. That could cause the same thing."

"My sensors aren't penetrating the hull. Normally they would do so. Gah, we should have brought that GypZ, I heard they are clairsentient. What I can see is at the interface between the boarding pod and Ranger 2, what looks like a mesh of some sort entering the hull. I believe it is a sensors and transmat countermeasure. Though our Transmat suite hasn't been put in yet, we would not be able to 'port into the ship with that mesh in place."

"Weird...do you think there's any hazard of it spreading onto our ship if we dock?"

"I wouldn't know."

The major interrupted, rising and resting a hand on her weapon.

"We'll rig the boarding gantry to blow. If there's any evidence of tampering with it, we'll blast it right away. It's a relatively trivial part to replace, and the boarding party can space-walk back if they have to. What's the plan with the boarding action, Challx? The Marines brought two battlesuits, one for me, and another. Our battlesuits are not as sophisticated as yours, but they have heavy armor, zero-g maneuverability, and carry light rainbow cannon, rainbow blades, and a small number of rockets. Mine is also set up with a heavy primary beam. We also brought along some support weapons, combat armor, and the usual. We're ready when you are, general."

As Ranger 3 glided closer, the long range cameras could see a few parts moving, at first this brought hope, but it appeared to be automated rocket pods and flak cannon, merely tracking any object moving within a certain range.

The boarding pod was horrific in it's appearance. Sensors came back negative on reads of it's structure, and the large spines appeared to have ichor of some kind on them. It was clearly built for speed and maneuver, and didn't seem all that armed.

The helmsman of Ranger 3, a pilot 1st class named Gloire, eased up on the throttle and engaged retros, bringing the ship into a drift stationary with Ranger 2. She gave a few short bursts from the dorsal maneuver, and then countered with the ventral, giving a view of the ventral side of Ranger 2. There was no damage on this side of the ship, and the ventral space-lock was visible. Ranger 2's boarding gantry was stowed, as usual, and didn't appear damaged. A sidelong view of the port side missile launcher showed that it was empty, though it normally would hold six missiles. Careful spectral analysis of it showed launch burns, and a little creative programming allowed confirmation that the far side missile launcher was in similar condition. The major commented to Exemplar, standing to her left and a bit behind.

"We only encountered three missiles from Ranger 2, the others may have been detonated, but in this debris cloud we would have detected antimatter explosions if they were close. Those other missiles might still be out there. If they are in Hunter/Killer mode like the last three, they'll be radio silent and in stealth mode as well. If we get aboard Ranger 2, we could access the gunnery controls and transmit an abort signal, causing the missiles to destroy themselves in the way we choose, or possibly disarm and return. All antimatter warhead missiles can do that, as there isn't a safe way for them to self destruct."

With Ranger 3 poised to board the stolen gunship, the small crew awaited further instructions. Major Rahbi Levay cast her glowing red eyes towards Cha'llx, awaiting his plan.

Gloire had control of the helm, and the spinal primary beams. She had already retracted the safety covers of the triggers on her flight controls, and had acquired a targeting lock on Ranger 2. Sweat beaded on her brow. While she had seen some action over the course of her career, mostly versus pirates and the like, this entire situation was ultimately frightening to her. She held the trigger like a safety blanket, self assured that should things turn even a mote weirder, she could blast the shield-less Ranger 2 into so much space dust.

The wash of emotion and images of the boarding pod on ranger 2 had Jezial jerking away from the observation console hard enough to topple over.

"It's...Captain, Ranger 3 needs to get away from that thing." She shook her head, trying to clear it. Normally she would just focus on something calming to steady herself, but there was only damage, panic, and the stink of fear to focus on in nearly any direction. The steady presence of a Captain that knew how to handle emergencies with speed and experience was all that kept Jezial from panicking herself.

"There is something, dark...horrible...there, and it is likely killing anyone aboard. As capable as the Ranger 3 team is, I think this is worse than anything they are prepared for. They probably need more people...lots more people."

In retrospect, sharing that Ranger 2's crew was in dire peril was likely NOT the best way to get Stirling to call off Ranger 3...Humans.

She began to let her consciousness swirl among the non-cosmos, like a child clutching a blanket. Wrapping the emptiness around her like a shield. She didn't want to look at Ranger 2 anymore. She certainly didn't want to look deeper, but...the stars had chosen this mission for her. It was her calling. She couldn't just sit at a comm station all day. It would disappoint not only her ancestors, but all of her past and future incarnations.

"Captain...my ship should have been stowed somewhere. If I could get closer...I could probably determine more about what Ranger 3 will be dealing with."

Cha'llx looked at the people surrounding him his gaze settling on the anxious pilot lastly. He needed to be able to convey to the poeple going on the boarding mission that they were going into uncharted territory with an unknown people with unknown technology, without setting the Gloire's nerves off even further.

"Let's blow the gantry, and then spit up into 3 teams, one for each deck. Exemplar your team will take the top deck, Major Levay your team will take the bottom deck, and mine will take the middle. This is just a standard board and sweep, set all weapons to stun initially, and offer people a chance to surrender before attacking them. If anyone escalates beyond reds, neutralize the threat any way necessary. I want prisoners, and I want to find out who our new guests are. Once my deck is complete I will call back the missilles and we can fly or tow Ranger 2 back. Each team will consist of one officer and one marine, everyone else stays back for counterboarding measures. Boarding team program this algorithim [blah blah blah math and shit] into your communications arrays, this will automatically switch the channel that is being used every second seemingly at random, also set communicators to subvocal. I don't want any eavesdroppers. As soon as everyone suits up, we move out."

With that his armor seemed to "stretch" it's muscles creating a ripple effect of sharp spines rising and falling, it closed over Cha'llx's face, and released Stinger into his outstretched left hand.

With physical hesitation, Gloire replaced the trigger covers and gave thrust towards Ranger 2. Major Levay suited up in her battlesuit according to her training and reflexes, while the marines finished their own preparations.

The boarding gantry of Ranger 3 extended towards Ranger 2, a silent finger reaching out in the darkness. The boarding teams stood ready at the gantry door, waiting for a good lock. Defensive position Alpha, the heavy rainbow cannon at the mouth of the gantry, also now controlled the demolitions placed in key places in the gantry, allowing it to be blown if compromised.

"Boarding teams Echo, Charlie, and Romeo, stand by."

Gloire had found some courage and her voice demonstrated it. The gantry mated with the ventral airlock of Ranger 2 audibly, following by a series of clanks and a quiet hiss.

"Airlock clear, begin your reconnoiter."

Corporal Danagher and Exemplar, boarding team Echo, were in rear, as they were taking the top deck and would have to ascend either the autolift or the hatch. Cardinal Cha'llx and Corporal Jylal, boarding team Charlie, were in the middle, for similar reasons, and Major Levay with Corporal Kuglom, boarding team Romeo, had point.

Major Levay covered the entrance to the airlock as it slid open, revealing that emergency lighting was active in Ranger 2, but flickering on and off. With a gesture, she led her team and the others into the dark, poorly lit gunship. Danagher closed the airlock behind them.

"I've got a good seal, standing by to blow the gantry on your command."

The airlock led into the center of the lower deck, adjacent to the stair/hatch, and the autolift. The autolift was visibly broken.

Levay and Kuglom covered the other two teams as they entered the vertical access hatch, giving them a moment to adjust to the scene. The few functioning emergency lights cast long shadows through the cluttered habitat deck, which was in a state of catastrophic disarray. Kuglom could be heard to breathe heavily in his helmet. The Major was more calm than her companion, but maintained a razor's edge of alertness. Once the other two teams were on their way up, group Romeo began a careful sweep of the habitat deck.

This deck was designed as the living quarters for the crew and passengers of the gunship, as well as the cargo hold, aid station, repair shop, and communications center. The events of the theft of the Ranger, it's flight, and subsequent boarding by parties unknown had thrown the deck around quite a bit; chairs, tables, gurneys, and the like were upended and trashed.

"Major, I've got a contact over here!"

Kuglom could be heard to power up his light beam cannon to Blue.

"Easy, take it back down to red. Show me."

Kuglom lowered the setting, and shined his light towards what appeared to be a body.

"I've got you covered corporal, move in."

The major paced Kuglom as they pushed up closer to the body, which was partially obscured by an upended table.

"Female, humanoid. She's breathing, but slowly Ma'am. She's in cryowear, I think this is one of the hostages."

Kuglom switched on his helmet's external speaker.

"Ma'am, federal marines, we're here to get you out!"

He had relaxed quite a bit already. The major's sensors picked up some movement.

"Corporal, what's going on over there?"

"I've got one female survivor. She looks badly mauled, but she's conscious. Hey there, it's allright!"

Kuglom started removing his helmet.

"Stand down corporal!"

With a hiss, his helmet came off. Major Levay caught sight of a bloodied, partly mangled hand reaching towards his face from behind the table.

"Yeah, it's ok. You're safe now."

A clatter rang out from the next chamber.

"Get your helmet on and STAND TO, corporal!"

Kuglom jumped to his feet, his helmet dropping from his grip and scattering away as it hit his boot. He brought his weapon to ready and backed away from the table, taking shelter by the battlesuit clad Levay.

"What was that!"

"Corporal, stop shouting. Secure your helmet."

Slow, deliberate movement could be heard from the next chamber, a kitchen of some kind. Pots and pans clattered again.

The orange of federation prison fatigues came into view, bloodied and torn. The prisoner, presumably one of the martians, crouched behind the doorway, peeking out slowly. His face was a bloody mess, and a large wound bled slowly from his neck. Despite his injuries, he seemed physically capable, and his gaze was frightening in its intensity.

The bloodied hand of the female hostage reappeared as she reached over the table and helped herself up. Her injuries were similar to those the martian had sustained, and she too seemed quite physically capable despite her injuries. She arched her back and shifted her gaze between Kuglom and Levay, as though ready to pounce.

"Major..."

"Corporal, slowly move behind me. Do not run."

A third body lumbered into view, rising above an overturned couch at the flank, this one another hostage, an obese male, with similar injuries to the other two.

Kuglom attempted to do as he was told, but as he shifted his weight, the three others snapped their gazes to him and hissed. He startled, tripped, and fell. They charged.

**********

The middle deck carried the weapons and weapons supply of the ranger, the future site of the transmat center, and access to the engineering functions of the vessel. Cha'llx and Jylal left Exemplar's team and exited the hatch on this deck.

The deck consisted of six separate chambers, with five of them surrounding the central, lengthwise one. The missiles could be controlled from the arming bay, which was to the fore of the ship. The engineering section in rear had motion within it.

"Sir, I've got movement. I've got two points of movement."

Jylal readied her weapon. From the weapons bay, now devoid of missiles, a bloodied and mangled escapee slowly emerged, crouching, poised as though to strike. His neck was partly torn open, and bled slowly, but he seemed physically capable nonetheless.

From engineering, a clatter echoed out, and a shadowed figure darted across the doorway.

"Sir, I've got a third point of movement."

Behind them, in the 'fore' section of the ship, another figure emerged, this one another hostage, similarly wounded.

Jylal popped her neck twice and released the safety of her weapon, training it on the nearer figure, the escapee.

"Orders sir?"

********

Exemplar and Danagher exited the hatch into the preparation areas behind the bridge. The dorsal airlock was in this area, and it was to the dorsal airlock that the myterious craft was attached. Danagher swept his weapon across the deck and, seeing no immediate movement, slung his cannon across his back, and popped out his hand scanner.

"Ensign, this thing is broken."

He shook the scanner and tapped it. He walked a half dozen paces towards the port side and looked up the airlock hatch.

"Wild."

He looked back at his scanner.

Exemplar's motion detectors started to show three points of movement, two in the bridge, and one in the staging area to the aft of the deck. An escapee and a hostage emerged from the bridge, necks torn, faces bloodied, bodies partly mangled, but clearly physically ready. Another figure appeared, silhouetted against the staging area emergency lighting. It was a lean, shapely, female silhouette with long hair and...claws. Exemplar noted from the tactical link that there were now nine contacts on board the ship. Three escapees, plus four hostages...and two others?

Danagher seemed unconcerned by the motion contacts.

"Ensign, my sensor must be broken. Its picking up Zulu waves all over the place, originating from this pod and nine other places on board the ship. I mean, Z waves? Really? That's....Z waves indicate...ZORIANS!"

Voracity marveled at the sample it was examining via the mobile medical lab. It wasn’t sure what it had expected when it had first heard of the disease aboard, but this was clearly a superior strain of virus, something to be admired. If it wasn’t so virulent it might have even been useful. The matriarch had been contemplating several ways to help thin out the blatantly useless masses, which were currently using up the ships resources. That was unfortunately a decision that would have to be made by the captain however, and Voracity had made promises after all.

[Medical+Intellect: (5 successes) to analyze and isolate the viral strain/type]
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/search/1271543

Hopefully with the help of the medical lab, and the nurses a cure, and inoculation could be developed then synthesized, and added to the scheduled checkups of the crew. Those that had already been processed could be rescheduled. Once more a priority would need to be placed in the actual crew of the vessel. The civilians would simply have to wait.

Exemplar knew this was coming. Her destiny was out in the void, defending the galaxy from the foes it didn't even know still existed. It all made perfect sense. Her voice was calm when she spoke to the troops over the shared comm channel, quiet and serene. "Everyone, weapons to violet, retreat immediately, watch your backs and avoid anyone that might have been turned. We're fighting Zorians. Cha'llx, get our people out." Exemplar strode forward, eyes focused on the Zorian ahead. "Danagher," she said without turning, "Take out the injured crew if you can, they've turned. But get to the airlock no matter what." Another few steps, followed by an order to Ranger 3. "If we're not off this ship in 5 minutes, destroy it. Blow the airlock if anything with a Z-wave reading attempts to cross it."

She paused. Made eye contact with the the creature down the corridor. An unmistakable challenge. Then she charged.

<spend>

Danagher was slapped in the face by Exemplar's orders, his instincts as a marine overtaking his interests in the weird readings like a storm. With trained precision he wheeled to his flank, kicked over a table to take cover behind, readied his weapon and, steadying it against the table, lay down a storm of violet beams to suppress the area of the bridge access. He had ten paces between himself and the stairs; covering them would be a challenge.

[http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4129279/]
[cover fire: 3 sux]

The two "turned" attempted to force their way through the wildly changing spray of deadly violet beams.

[http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4129284/]

One dove for cover, the other pushed through the spray to smack wildly at Danagher's weapon, to no effect.

[http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4129286/]

*********

With a shrill keening, the mysterious figure rushed to meet Exemplar mid charge, far faster than expected, moving with a frightening supernatural speed.

[claw attack: http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4129287/ 4 sux]

*********


With Exemplar's transmission, Major Levay cursed.

"Zorians? NO...not them...anybody but them..."

She bared her fangs and shouted a challenge in old Aolan, one the Turned heard and snarled at, buying her the moment she needed.

"Demoinus heur Noctis solaris!"

Flipping her weapon to automatic. Major Levay advanced mechanically as she lay down suppressing fire, attempting to get to her downed comrade before it was too late. She pushed them back, as their gazes fixed upon hers, all fangs bares, all eyes alight. She braced one armor clad foot on Kuglom's breastplate, and shoved him behind her, towards the airlock.

"This one is mine. Demense traditio thrall dominas."

Kuglom, confused and frightened, struggled to his feet, and fumbled with the airlock controls.


*************

The Darter virus, aboard the ship, in the flesh.

"How bad is it, doc?"

The readout was clear, it was Darter, and it had changed since it had last been studied. In a matter of days the man before Voracity would be in critical condition, within a couple weeks he would be dead without medical attention. The virus was actually capable of wiping out the population of the ship, though worse strains could be present. It occurred to Voracity that given the range of times that people were frozen, and the variety of places they came from, this might not be the only virus working its way through the population.

An antidote could be synthesized, but the sick would need intense medical monitoring and those already this far along would need life support and isolation to see them through the cure. Some would die. Voracity would also need to see to deception of his medical staff. Only Voracity could know which virus it was or what kind of cure was being used. Others administering the vaccine would have be kept ignorant, or else the virus would adapt to the cure.

Containment would be problematic as well. Voracity's encounter suit would protect it's host from the virus, but other staff would likely be taken ill once the virus realized they didn't know anything real about the cure. The virus was already airborne, and it would continue to live longer in air and on surfaces if doing so could get it out of containment.