Paul's POV

From the basement airlock a high pitched hissing sound cuts the silence of the hall followed by a suppressed pop as the pressurized air began escaping into the vacuum of space.

As each rooms atmosphere dropped into negative pressures the next door would open and evacuate the rooms not unlike a giant vacuum cleaner sucking out objects indiscriminately with the force of a small tornado until finally the  maintenance door opened abruptly, violently hitting the wall from which it hung by its hinges.

From the monitors I could see  Ace and Marcel jerk backward into their seats headrest as the precious air left the room. Instruments and hand tools went flying past them and getting tossed like leaves into the  dark void of space.

Outside there is an expanding field of Man made objects . Amongst the debris of metal and plastic I could see the floating bodies of Androsian Warriors struggling to breath. Opening their mouth and finding nothing to inhale. Then surprisingly I saw one of them explode expelling all its innards and jerking it's limbs as its blood boiled and they burned flew off  in different directions. This repeated with each body that emerged and I turned away in disgust as it occurred. It was a horrific way to die. Some lasted a little longer but after five minutes it was all over. And the macabre scene floated away and I felt the operation was a success.

I brought a microphone up to the throat of my space suit to be heard and said,"Exelon, cease purge operations. Seal exterior doors and return the ship to normal operations. Let me know when the air is breatheable again."

"Yes Sir."

"Oh and give me the status of Ace and Marcel."

"They are in Maintenance Bay 1 Sir. Their vital signs are within acceptable parameters. But Marcel's heartbeat and blood pressure are highly elevated. It is recommended that he  see a medical professional. Ace is tense but his heartbeat is within an acceptable range."

"Ah! OK they're not in any immediate danger?"

"No Sir."

We brought Marcel to the bridge and had him monitor the ship as it continued along  a fixed orbit.

"Paul, you and I need to do a security sweep make sure we got rid of all the intruders." Ace said after a while.

"After what we just did? I purged the entire ship."

"Just a precaution. We don't know how tough these Androsians are."

"Well from my perspective they looked just as fragile as humans but I guess we can. We'll have to leave Marcel up here."

So we began our sweep on the the bottom floor and slowly made our way room by room to the top level. There wasn't much to see. Unless it was in a locked closet or drawer it was swept away. Luckily most Germinators travelled light. The greatest loss being personal pictures that they had hanging on their walls. Spare clothes were gone. The kitchen shelves were bare but the walk in freezer was spared.

As we got to the labs we found a trail of blood leading to the old incinerator. It was meant to eliminate debris and occasionally the bodies of crew members who died. It was rarely used.

"Do you think something's inside there?" I asked.

"It's obvious isn't it?"

"Yes. But is it alive?"

"I'm tempted to just turn it on and eliminate that possibility but I guess we should take a look." Ace replied.

Inside we found a weak and bleeding Androsian curled up and barely moving. It's hand fell to the ground and it slumped down and on to the floor. He was wearing a red flowing tunic with a brown belt.

"This one was the leader. It was ordering the others around . I remember him." Ace said.

It's eye's opened slightly. They were deep green with black pupils. Then it spoke,"Kistoki, kistoki yo moma linherr." It said.

"What do you think it said?" I asked.

"I don't know but I'm pretty sure it insulted both our mothers."

With that Ace smacked him violently in the face then tied the aliens hands and legs. The Androsians flesh had a hard rough feel to it like dried jerky which gave me the creeps as I helped secure the ropes on him.

We found a serving cart and tossed him on top to drag him along as we finished searching the remaining rooms of this floor.

We threw our now unconscious guest into the ships 10 x 10 small prison cell when we got to it along our route and locked it.

We returned to the bridge where I received an urgent message for Capt. Ziko.

"Must be the response from Redlands. Ziko wanted to get this as soon as it arrived. Didn't expect to get it while we are in orbit though."

"We need to update him about what's happened anyway. Why don't you just call him on the Comm. we need to know where to meet up with the convoy anyway." Ace suggested.

Calling from orbit presented a few problems. There was a delay in transmission and there was a great deal of static interference from the atmosphere but it is possible.

Sitting down I picked up the Comm mic and made fine adjustments trying to get a clean signal. It wasn't possible.

"Capta...Ziko this is Pa-..........letting you know that we... zyk*...reply from Redlands about .....•zkkk* ......and its marked confidential for your e-......only......."

"Sorry Paul your breaking up. Repeat your breaking up on........."

"Redlands transmission. Sending now.......your eyes only." I said trying to speak in short sentences.

"Paul why is this transmission so f.......ing bad anyhow? .... *zck*...."

"We're transmitting from low orbit Sir we ran into some........."

"What? Repeat!"

"We had problems with the Androsians Sir they...............and we figured ...."

"Your breaking up Exelon. Clarify."

"Need new rendezvous point. Marcel in urgent need of medical ....."

"Did you say medical assistance is needed?"

"Yes!"

"OK then land at Crystal Lake we should arri-... ....... in a day. Copy?"

"Crystal Lake. Confirmed. See you there in a day."

"You can explain wh-.......,..later. Ziko out."

I listened a little longer before concluding the message was truly complete.

"OK you guys heard the boss. Think you can hold out till tomorrow Marcel?" I asked.

"I'll need some painkillers but I guess I don't really have a choice."

"Your can put up with the pain?" Ace suggested.

Marcel gave him a dirty look. We all knew the pain was getting unbearable.

Well I know where the doc's injectable painkillers are stored.

"Follow me." I said.

I rummaged through the medics office until I found it. I only knew of it because it had been administered to me a few times. I pulled out the large syringe and began reading the instructions.

Marcel sat down in the patients seat as I began looking for the rubbing alcohol and cotton balls. I searched four drawers before Marcel pointed them out on the counter.

"Uh..... no offense Paul but you have done this before right?"

"Just roll up your sleeve."

Marcel complied. I handed him a band aid and asked him to hold it while I cleaned off a spot on his shoulder.

"This won't hurt." I said with a smile.

"Oooow!"

"I pressed the plunger quickly trying not to move too much."

"That hurt !" he complained clenching his hand tightly.

"No." I said.

"No what?"

"No, I never did it before now. Uh...Band-aid?"

He handed it to me as I applied it to his arm.

"You could've told me up front y'know."

"Too risky. You might've said no. You'll thank me later."

_______________________________

When the message arrived Captain Ziko found a solitary compartment where he could hear the transmission from HQ privately. He played it back and read the written transcript to be sure he wasn't mistaken. It was a time limited message with an expiration date measured in hours from first receipt- meaning the message would automatically be deleted from existence 6 hours after it was first opened.

This was a red flag. But it made sense. It wasn't what he'd expected at all and he needed to consider the ramifications of these orders.
There was a knock on the door. Anna wanted her medical cubicle back. It was the only one that provided complete privacy.

"C'mon in Anna I'm all done with the cubicle."

"Anything interesting?" she asked.

"Yes but I need to digest it a bit."

"Let me know if I can help." she offered.

The Captain mumbled and went off down the corridor his mind deep in thought.

________________________________

In the Desotti village of Venasu a war weary group of warriors stands in fear as the Kings guards pulls out one out of every five of their number and violently throws them over the cliffs to their deaths hundreds of feet below.

King Ota approaches Osen the ranking warrior who is on his knees prone and shaking in fear.

"Stand up Osen!" the King commands.

Osen stands but keeps his eyes lowered. It is an offense to look directly into the eyes of the King.

"Osen tell me again what happened to my son."

"Oh great King we went to face the Outsiders as they came. Their fortress was strong and made of a material we had never seen before. For five days we tried to gain entrance but could not. Then one of our scouts found an opening to the fortress. As night fell the Prince led a raiding party inside. He ordered us to wait for his signal but it never came."

"So Osen why did you not go with my son? You know I entrusted you with his protection. Were you afraid? Have you lost your courage in your old age?"

"He seeks to do things without my approval my King. He grows as a warrior and wanted to claim this victory himself and please you O King. He rebels against my guidance. I cannot deny his commands he is your son."

"I see. I have taken a fifth of your warriors as a warning that this can not happen again. You will tell their families why they died."

"Yes my King."

Osen was relieved to know his life was to be spared and thought the King was done with him. But he was sadly mistaken.

"Osen, Tell me what you saw with your own eyes. Tell me more of this fortress."

"The fortress came to life and rose into the sky. It arose with the sound of thunder, a flash of fire and a great whirlwind. We were unable to follow. Your son was inside the chambers of the fortress as it left."

"You expect me to believe this ?"

"By the sacred pillars of Gustar I swear it is so."

"Hmm.... I know how seriously you take your faith. You wouldn't swear upon Gustar to save your mortal life."

"I would not. Nor would I lie to you my King."

"So my son was taken prisoner?"

"I cannot say but I know he was inside."

It was the same story he had heard from Teson one of his older warriors who now lay at the bottom of the stony cliffs. But whereas he did not believe Teson he now had to believe Osen. It was the same story he was hearing for the fourth time. It must be true after all. The other three dead warriors were testimony to it.

Turning to his top chief he called out. Send my bravest warriors. Search for this fortress that flies. Surely it cannot remain hidden. Gather the Riders of Gakoor for this."

Before dismissing Osen he grabbed him by his neck threateningly and pulled him close.

"Osen tomorrow you will travel with my best warriors in search of the Prince. I spare you only because my son considered you his friend and mentor. But if you fail I will take your life and the lives of your entire clan down to the youngest newborn. Your names will be blotted out of existence if you cannot deliver Prince Kadeem to me. Remember my words."

"Yes my King." Osen replied meekly.

In the darkening skies Osen could see a small blazing star falling from the sky. It was headed into the open lands of the free traders. He felt that the gods were giving him a sign. That is where the search would begin.

Osen walked home. He knew the battle was a lost cause. Who can fight an enemy that can fly into the sky?

Osen's brother Ozay was one of the spared warriors and joined him on his long trek home.

"What did the King say brother?"

"He told me to search for the Outsiders fortress and find the Prince."

"Did you not explain it was impossible?"

"We are lucky to be alive Ozay. I could not tell him the Outsiders are demons. He would not accept that. He was too angry to listen."

"Then I fear we are doomed to die."

"Yes, but perhaps he will spare our families if we die fighting."

"Perhaps but -"

"Don't argue brother. We do what we can and perhaps our family will live. Perhaps Gustar will favor us in battle. It is a small hope. It is our only hope."

"Yes. It is."