<<Envoi>>
System GC 31771-H - 20:11 hrs, EST - Dec 11th, 2267.
It is a system catalogued by humans over a hundred years before during the first outward push towards the Rim, a system of undistuinguished worlds and little mineral value - a system briefly surveyed and then forgotten... one ignored and belittled by all and any who profess to be authorities on such matters. This system has seen no Shadow attacks, no great confrontations... has played no role in history up until this point.
That is about to change.
The first portent of change is a distinct blue twist in space over a million kilometres above the fourth world of the system, a twist that seconds thereafter expands outwards into a jump point. Out of this jump point spring close to a dozen White Stars and over half a dozen smaller scout vessels, their crews alert and searching for the presence of the enemy, be it human or otherwise. Less than a minute after that batttlefield perimeter is established, two more jump points open. Out of the first come three Ranger strike cruisers, suspended between them on beams of gravitational force the much larger and still partially disabled battlecruiser named Shard of Night. While out of the second...
* * *
"Damnit, Galen, I want - no, I deserve some answers." Matthew Gideon snapped, as his transport left the hangar bay of the Excalibur and moved off to port, heading almost directly towards the ship they'd rescued shortly before, a vessel which, according to the best intelligence Gideon possessed, didn't even exist. "How is it that the instant my first officer makes contact with the serving telepath on that ship - which is, I will note, another thing not listed in our intel reports - I suddenly find two complete Ranger squadrons at my disposal? What's so important about this ship to warrant that much attention?"
"It is not the ship you should be overly concerned about, Matthew," the mage replied, "But perhaps rather the crew. They have made many enemies in the performance of their duties, enemies who very nearly destroyed them in the here and now."
"So that's why we found them disabled in hyperspace." Matheson mused. "By 'very nearly', you're implying that those enemies didn't succeed in their attempt."
"Not this time, no - but do not make the mistake of thinking that those enemies have forgotten you... nor that you are finished with them."
"That's not terribly likely at this point, with their ships terrorizing half of known space." Gideon said. "But let's get one thing straight here at the very least - are you implying that we and the crew of this ship should join forces, or something?"
The mage laughed. "Let there be witnesses - you said it, Matthew... not I."
"Captain, we're approaching the stern of the Ranger vessel." the pilot reported. "Except, well, I can't see any obvious hangar bay..." Which was, of course, when the hull of their target pulled cleanly away in four directions to reveal the entrance in question. "Okay... forget I said anything."
"A semi-organic hull?" Matheson asked. Galen nodded. "Like in the White Stars, only more advanced. What else can this ship do?"
"Its commander will tell you and the Captain everything else you need to know, Lieutenant. She is, I believe, awaiting your arrival."
"She?" Gideon barked.
"Uh-oh." Matheson said, as the transport set down on the floor of the hangar bay. "This is liable to be an interesting encounter."
"Prepare yourself, Lieutenant." Galen replied, as air returned to the hangar bay around them. "In a moment, you are about to find out exactly how interesting."
Which was when the three stepped out of the transport, to find two human Rangers, both women, waiting for them... both of whom appeared to be younger than Matheson. One of them the Excalibur's first officer instantly recognized as the telepath that had guided him and the Captain to this place. While it only took him a moment longer to realize she'd changed, dramatically and completely, from the woman he'd seen standing beside Bester only three years before. "Anla'shok Keynes, we meet at last."
"As do we, Captain." the other, darker haired and from Matheson's point of view far more nervous of the two women said. "It is my pleasure to welcome you onboard the battlecruiser Shard of Night at this time. We've been having a few technical problems of late..."
"Yeah, so I've noticed."
"...But thanks to your assistance and the hard work of our engineers, we should be back in fighting shape shortly."
"So, ladies - am I to assume that your captain was too busy to come meet me in person? I'm rather looking forward to meeting the commander that managed to pull two complete Ranger squadrons away from the front lines to look for her ship in the middle of a shooting war."
The two Rangers exchanged a quick and almost guilty glance and both sighed, while Matheson caught the expression on Galen's face and almost did the same. Here it came! "I'm afraid, sir, that you already have."
It took the captain of the Excalibur a moment to process that piece of information. "You've got to be kidding me."
"She is not." Galen said, as the mage came to Gideon's side. "Now is the time for all veils to be pulled back, and as such, you and Lieutenant Matheson owe this young woman a great debt, Captain."
"A great debt." Gideon frowned as he turned back to face the commander of the Shard. "Who did you say you were, again?"
"Who is she, Captain?" Galen parried.
"Why, only your guardian angel."
* * *
TO BE CONTINUED...
* * *
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