<snip>

“We are fighting a two war front: The Volians and the Gorn. Our magnetic storms keep the Gorn at bay for the most part. Our orbital platforms with the holo technology tend to stop direct assaults because the Gorn can not locate them. They do however tend to take parasitic advantage of our population when it is sequestered behind household walls. We are able to contain the Gorn attacks,” Lago’s voice held the strain of those in charge when they had to make tough decisions. “However, between the two groups, the yearly attacks on our population remains stagnant and without significant growth.”

The Gorn? Dagen glanced over at the XO. Was this new to him too? What happened to their ship? That transmission earlier only seemed to infer they were looking for them, not fending off Gorn. Development looked to be happening though, if not population, Dagen thought. Was that why they wanted Federation membership? To deter at least one of their ‘issues’?

Lago paused and took a deep breath. He was tired of King Artemis, but he was not a traitor. He was a military commander, and it was time to give some tactical information. “Not all our people die when the Volian’s attack. Some are taken and put into stasis. We are going to see if we can rescue them. We could use some help.”

GM Kate

‘Yup, definitely having nightmares after this,’ Thomas thought to himself. ‘Which means more time with the counselor, joy.’

Again he glanced toward the XO. He was the ranking person here, not Dagen, to decide such ‘help’. Of course he wanted to keep anyone from being in such ‘stasis’ whatever that meant when speaking of overenthusiastic rodents.

Reia hadn’t bothered to take an actual seat. She wedged her small frame somewhere near Dagen and stared at the flask Lago held as she listened to him intently. She wanted whatever the hell was in it. Reaching up she gingerly touched the knot that was beginning to form at the back of her skull and decided that might not be a good idea at the moment. This was sheer insanity. Leave it to a monarchy and military to truly frack things up.

• Reia, CIO/Comms

Dagen leaned over so that there was contact with Reia but still remaining somewhat professional. The adrenaline was subsiding of being a possible meal and a general weariness was overtaking him. They had met for the state dinner and then went on this tour. It was late and he was starting to feel it so a sit down as welcome. He let out an inadvertent yawn. He felt the day was going to just go on a little longer and hey, that was part of the ‘service’ no matter how used to regular shifts that one got. Maybe he was getting old or just out of practice on long days. Getting soft old man! he thought to himself.
- Dagen, CE

Rail looked down at dagging inside. She knew what he was thinking because, either from concussion or sure fatigue, she was getting a little exhausted herself. Stimulants? Sign again she tightened her lips and narrowed her eyes of it. Being tired right now was absolutely out of the question.

“I could sure use a cup of whatever passes for coffee around here. And something for the back of my head.”

• Reia, CIO/Comms

The medic finished up with Dagen and moved to Reia. Running the Tricorder over her, she responded, “mild concussion. No wonder your head hurt.” Pulling hypo out of the bag, the medic injected her creating instant relief or at least the medic hoped so. They needed to all be on their game when the time came.

COS

Dagen’s hand rose with a finger in the air. “Here too. Double shot.” The Gorn. Now that was a name that rarely came up in polite conversation. Mostly keeping to themselves the Gorn were quite off his sensor suite. It was in the mission briefing but mostly as a footnote as a reason for these people wanting to join the Federation. There was no reason at all for expecting them there. Dagen glanced over it but little more. This was a state dinner and negotiation and tour. Rodent swarms and Gorn were not on the docket.
- Dagen, CE

Moving to a small overhead compartment, the medic pulled out a bottle that old-timers would call a medicinal remedy. “This will perk you up and is way stronger than the crap they serve at the palace.” Passing the bottle over to Reia, was a far more relaxed gesture than all the pomp and circumstance they had at the reception.

Ray took the bottle she was handed it. She hide it for several seconds, then took several large drinks. Smiling up at the man who had handed it to her she relaxed visibly.

“My savior.” She whispered.

• Sheleah, CIO/Comms

  “We are coming up on the Volian den,” Lago stated. “Until now we have only conjecture and theories about what we are going to find.” There was a long pause as Lago debated his next words. “Is your captain still on the broadcast? Can he hear this conversation?”

  =/\=He has an open connection=/\= Dean commented through a comm badge.

  Lago

Thomas tightened his grip on his weapon. He told himself the swarm was still miles away, but there was always the chance they’d left some behind to guard their food supply.

COS