The Galactic War: Rogue Element ~The Beginning

[Chad32]

"I am already in Human form. How am I supposed to actually do what I came here for if I get rid of my weapon?" Claxter asked. "If they insist on shooting on site just because I have a weapon on my person, we can begin the proper discussion after I shoot them all and revive one of them. Either I keep my weapon, or I demorph. One or the other."


"Understood, Farrah." Xevec said, holstering the dracon, and keeping his hand from being two millimeters away from it.

[Terenia]

Keslin's eyebrows shoot up at Claxter's response. "These are my people, Andalite," he says quietly. "They will not shoot unless you give them a reason to, and your human morph was supposed to mitigate that possibility. Bringing a weapon along with you will make the entire point moot."

He glances at Ossanlin, unsure whether the Captain will take offense to his words, directed towards one of his lieutenants. He continues regardless. "For the time being, I am in charge of this vessel," he says quietly. "If you want me to work with you and your people then you need to extend some trust. If you cannot do that, then I will gladly call Farrah and tell her that the rendezvous is off."

[Chad32]

"Some trust has been given, I assure you. Just not all." Claxter said. He wasn't sure what Keslin expected him to do if something went bad, though there was a good chance he just didn't care. "This protocol about stashing all weapons would have been a nice thing to bring up before we left the Tyrennian. Not right before we meet with your allies."

He doubted Keslin would call the rendezvous off, because Chris needed Farrah to help with his wife and child. Claxter would just have to call his bluff.

[Terenia]

Keslin nods. "I understand your concern, Claxter," he says, trying to remain as diplomatic as possible. It is difficult, though, and some of his disdain for Andalites is reflected in his tone. "Unfortunately, we rebels have spent a lot of time learning how to be properly paranoid. I assure you that we will not board that Skimmer consciously if we have our weapons out. And if they shoot us, I cannot guarantee that you will be rendered conscious before your time limit in morph is reached."

His lip twitches a little. "I apologize if I presumed that you would expect such a procedure. I forget that Andalites are accustomed to carrying their weapons around on their ass."

[Chad32]

<<What now, my Prince?>> He said privately as he looked at the floor thoughtfully. He didn't want to be defenseless, just hoping the Yeerks wouldn't decide to do something bad. The decision was up to Ossanlin, of course, but he didn't like this.

There was Keslin, and at least two controllers on the Skimmer. Maybe other ships nearby with other controllers. <<I don't know what's worse. Being in a firefight with these rebels, or being compeltely at their mercy.>>

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin doesn't grimace, his face remains impassive.  He sends a private thought-speech message to his shielded but open comm.  The bridge of the Tyrennian as well as Eleric could hear everything going on around Ossanlin.  <<Stand ready, Eleric.  But do not appear to.  Things are going to become somewhat tense.>>

Ossanlin stands slowly and draws his Shredders, handing them to Keslin.  <Just be aware that I have countermeasures in place as well.  Do not forget what is at stake here...for all of us.>

<<Do as he says, Command Warrior.  We have his mate and young aboard the Tyrennian...if his distress over the death of one of those children was feigned, it was done so better than I thought possible.  If it was genuine, as I suspect, the life of his other child is enough to protect us.>>  Ossanlin's face doesn't show his discomfort, but he feels it strongly.  Holding something like that over a person's head...that sort of ruthlessness he'd never been comfortable with.  But one used the tools one had at hand when needed.

[Chad32]

<<Yes my Prince.>> Claxter said. He took his shredder out and put it in the compartment. There is was. His last line of defense. No tail. No shredder. Nothing left but his untrained morph with no natural weapons or superior strength or durability. Eleric was up there somewhere, but he was not at their side.

"I do not mean to be rude or offensive, Keslin. I am just....a little frightened." He had no idea why he was telling them this, but he hoped it would dissolve some tension that the Yeerk may have. He wanted this to work. They all did, hopefully.

[Shenmue654]

"That's impressive," Keshin says, glancing about the medical consoles with some interest. So this was the famed Andalite medical technology. From what he'd heard you could get more...unique drugs in the Empire, but if what you sought was healing the Andalite ships were the place to go. "Considering that in most cases, someone who'd suffered an attack to their nervous system in this way would be braindead."

Keshin notes Aetheas' comment and raises an eyebrow, meeting the gaze of the Andalite's main eyes. "And you...not fond of the very military you serve, Andalite? Interesting--- I wasn't either. Similar reasons."

Similar enough to start conversation, anyway. It was more that the Yeerk saw the potential abuses ahead before they happened than after.

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Varekil raises his eyebrows at Keshin.  <Yes, well...too many of our people rely upon morphing as a catch-all.  Some things cannot be repaired by morphing, and other things keep people from being able to morph.  Our medicine was quite developed before the advent of morphing.  The development of medical technology has slowed since then, but there are still those who see the value in true medicine.>  Varekil finishes completely with Enorryma's pod, breathing deeply as his own adrenaline spike levels off.  He wasn't qualified to run this medbay...he's just a field medic after all.  Yet he has the most andalite medical knowledge aboard the Tyrennian.  He sighs...this wasn't what he'd signed on for.

[Aluminator (Kit)]

Aetheas frowns and turns his stalk eyes pointedly back towards Enorryma when Varekil speaks of the recent trend towards the morphing technology as medicine. He addresses Keshin instead. Either he didn't notice Varekil's frown, or he doesn't care.

<The military as a whole wouldn't be so bad if it weren't run by a bunch of second-rate bureaucrats attempting to accomplish goals that they don't fully understand.> He speaks quietly, distractedly, as though there's something else on his mind. He slowly makes his way towards the door-- he wants to leave here, immediately, but has no idea where he wants to go.

[Terenia]

Keslin does calm a little when Claxter admits that he is frightened, nodding slowly. "I understand," he says, sighing a little as their ship reaches its intended destination and the computer automatically begins shutting down all of the systems except for life support. "I assure you, you have nothing to fear from my people."

He turns his attention to the viewscreen, which is displaying empty space. <<Probably cloaked,>> he murmurs to Chris. Sure enough, a moment later one of the auxilary systems indicates that their ship is being scanned by an invisible vessel. Despite himself, Keslin's own borrowed heart skips in nervousness.


"Three humans and one Yeerk," Farrah says, reading off the results of their scan. "As Keslin said. Computer, engage towing beams." She moves to the controls, manually directing the tractor beams until they come in contact with the decrepit Bug Fighter. Once there is a solid lock on them, she pulls the two ships together, following the directions of the Yeerk in her head.

Finally, with a soft scraping sound, the two ships are hugging one another, side to side. The living metal of the ships swells and joins together, creating a seamless bridge between the two vessels, uniting their hatches into one.

"On my command the hatch will open," Farrah says to Xevec and Nefitt. "Please be prepared, but not hostile."

She takes her place in front of the wall that will become the open hatch, watching as Nefitt moves to the side, out of any direct line of sight, his Dracon drawn and ready.

[Chad32]

Claxter rises slowly from his seated position. Not much to do besides stand between his Prince and the Yeerks, and hope he didn't have to test out combat as an unarmed Human.


Xevec stood at attention, trying not to let his own doubts distract him. He tried not to just to any paranoid conclusions about this.

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin nods grimly, smiling a bit at Claxter...putting himself between Ossanlin and the possibly-hostile Yeerks.  Of course, Claxter isn't quite nude, and Ossanlin himself has no pants...hopefully that wouldn't be too off-putting for those on the other ship.  He keeps his footing steady despite the lack of a tail during the docking sequence.  He places a firm hand on Claxter's shoulder briefly to convey both reassurance and approval.  Claxter has come far from the scared runaway he was back when he'd first arrived at the bar.

<<Remember, Claxter, bravery is not a lack of fear, it is control in spite of fear.  You are displaying true bravery admirably, Command Warrior.>>

"Let us all hope that is true, Keslin."  He stands slightly back and to the left of Claxter, folding his human arms over his chest, putting on his mantle of confidence.  It was remarkable what a display of confidence could do in many situations.

[Terenia]

Keslin nods grimly, but before he can respond the hatch slides open, revealing Farrah, who has her weapon out, but pointed at the ground. What she raises towards Keslin instead is bioscanner, which confirms the identity of the Yeerk within Chris' head.

"Stay still," Keslin murmurs tersely, waiting while the scan runs through him. It is only after the scanner beeps a confirmation of his identity that his shoulders relax.

"Oh thank God," Farrah breathes, and she clips the scanner back to her holster, crossing the small cabin and throwing her arms around Keslin. "You're actually alive," she breathes, a small sob choking the words.

Keslin looks a little surprised at first, but his arms go around her obediantly, giving her a hug in return. "Barely," he says. "But, yes, we're alive." He pulls back a little, smiling faintly. "As are you."

"Some of us," Farrah says, her gaze shifting beyond Keslin's shoulder to the two human men behind him. The relief in her eyes shifts slowly to suspicion and confusion. "Keslin. Why is your companion not wearing any pants?"

"I'll explain everything," Keslin promises. "Do you have any to spare in the meantime? May we board?"

"Oh--yes. Yes, of course." Farrah steps back into her own ship, glancing at Nefitt. "Can you go find a pair of scrubs bottoms for our, er...guest?"

Nefitt presses his lips together, eyes scrutinizing Keslin as he steps onto the ship. "Only if Xevec keeps his weapon out," he says, his own Dracon still leveled at the open hatch. "Just because Keslin is who he says he is, that does not mean this is not a trap."

[Chad32]

<<Thank you, my Prince. I feel we are about to need some true bravery shortly.>>

The hatch opened, and Claxter stood still as Keslin and farrah spoke. He walked forward a bit as he was invited in.



"Oh, my weapon will stay out." Xevec said with a smile. "Welcome aboard the Skimmer. Who are you?" He asked Claxter, since he was in front.

"Um..." Claxter said. He couldn't really blurt out his name, and wasn't sure if he should make up one. "You may call me what you want. I wish to let Keslin and my friend do most of the talking."

"Do you now?" He said, glancing at the other guy.