July - Year 5
	#2

�In combat, movement is life,� Grieve barks out to the line of young soldiers. �A moving target is harder to kill than a still target. Major Inc-Pla will demonstrate. Major.�

Nodding to Grieve, Inc-Pla draws his blaster. On one side of the room, a featureless figure appears, a hologram of hard light. With one shot, Inc-Pla blasts it in the chest. After the figure vanishes, another appears.

Once again, Inc-Pla aims and fires. This time, however, the hologram moves aside just before the blast hits. Inc-Pla fires again, and again. The hologram continues to dodge until, at last, Inc-Pla managed to catch it between two quick shots.

As Inc-Pla holsters his weapon, Grieve again addresses the soldiers. �War is not all �point and shoot�. Killing your enemy does you no good if you die in the process. Therefore, every man here must learn to be quick on his feet, and to while doing so, shoot the scales off a Skrull at a hundred yards.�

Inc-Pla steps forward, clapping his hands. �Everyone break into pairs and practice with the markers. In one hour, the ones with the least marks will be allowed leave. The rest will stay behind for two hours. You may begin.�

As the soldiers pair up, Inc-Pla approaches Grieve. �I appreciate you coming for the lecture, but that Skrull comment was uncalled for. With the state of the empire as it is, the last thing we need to do is stir up old prejudices.�

�I know that, Major,� Grieve states, with just a touch of weariness. He presses a hand against his temple. �Sometimes, these memories in my head get the better of me. A phrase here, a reflex there, half the time it�s hard to tell where I end and the rest of the Kree begi-Hey! Yeah, I�m talking to you!�

Grieve�s saddened expression transforms to rage in a moment. Stalking into the pairs of practicing soldiers, he grabs one by the front of his uniform. �Tell me, do you have any idea how you got shot just then? Do you have any clue!�

Confused, and more than a little scared, the young soldier quickly stammers out a response. �I-it was a l-luckily shot. I w-was moving j-just as you said-�

�You performed the same maneuver four times!� Grieve explodes, throwing the soldier to the ground. �By then, a blind mining teacher could have figured you out! In combat, a movement pattern is the same as not moving at all!�

His voice carrying throughout the room, Grieve raises it higher still, addressing all the soldiers. �Are any of you robots! Well! Any of you!� Nobody dares to respond. �Then don�t act like a programmed machine! Later today, surveillance tapes will be scanned, and any soldier caught moving in a pattern will get triple shifts! Is that clear!�

A unison cry of �Yes sir!� is the response. Satisfied, Grieve stalks away from the bullied soldier, back towards Inc-Pla. Around him, the soldiers go through their exercises again, though this time with a notable lack of rhythm and predictability.

�There aren�t any recorders in this chamber,� Inc-Pla mutters to Grieve.

�You know that,� Grieve replies, �and I know that, but they don�t know that. Even if you did have recorders, it�d be difficult to spot anything. I would have missed what that kid did if the other hadn�t marked him. What�s his name?�

Inc-Pla brushes a lock of hair blown out of place by a light breeze. �I suppose you mean the marker. Haw-Ki is the best marksman I�ve seen, and I�ve seen most of the best.�

Grieve nods offhandedly, pressing a stud on his belt. He began to...shimmer. �I�m prepared to agree with you. Now, if you�ll excuse me, Var-Dann just tapped me on the shoulder three times. I�m needed to the south.�

Inc-Pla blinks, somewhat confused. �Um, sure. Any chance of bringing you in for another lec-� Hair whipping in his face, Inc-Pla looks around, no sign of Grieve anywhere. One moment, he was there. The next, gone.

Rome may not have been built in a day, perhaps no city was, but Kree-Lar surely comes as close as possible.

Scarce days after being crowned, Emperor Mas-Kedd sought out every engineer he could find. When there weren�t enough to suit his needs, Mas-Kedd gathered those that wanted to learn, and gave the engineers one week to teach their apprentices. After that week, the engineers began planning every aspect of the city they would rebuild.

The next day, the engineers were ready for construction.

What they accomplished was a Kreevian masterpiece, though other races might not agree. Stark and cold, rife with right corners and straight edges, Kree-Lar is the very model of order. Call it boring and sterile, but as the Kree say, �comfort is for the dead�.

The end result was but a blur to Grieve�s eyes as Var-Dann speeds him to their destination. Not that Grieve needed more than a blur. He knows the location of every compound, and what guild it serves. He can follow each foot of railway, and is aware of how long it takes from stop to stop. A lot of men have died from exhaustion and construction accidents.

An instant after his departure, Grieve finds himself in devastated laboratory. Dead geneticists, identified by their lab coats and badges, litter the floor along with pieces of shattered equipment. Also in the room are Jaxur the Accuser, Korath the Pursuer, and Captain At-Las.

At-Las looks at the new arrivals with a sneer. �It�s about time you got here. No doubt you thought we�d handle all the work.�

Grieve either ignores the comments or he doesn�t hear. He stands amidst the wreckage and the dead, more than a little surprised. �What happened here?� He demands. �Why didn�t I feel these men die?�

At-Las gives a contemptuous smile, obviously pleased. Jaxur responded however. �Half an hour ago, a terrorist faction calling themselves the Cult of Kee-Ree attacked this lab. Fortunately, this is most damage they dealt before soldiers arrived. Several were even captured.� Jaxur looks grim. �Several terrorists used magic. That�s why we�ve been called in.�

Grieve nods. Magic. That must explain why he hasn�t felt the memories of these men yet. �Where is Su-Ree?�

At-Las snorts. �At the Corps Compound, of course. You placed her under house arrest as punishment for her mistake against the Dire Wraiths. If you don�t remembe-�

�I know what I did,� Grieve states bluntly. �Jaxur, why didn�t you release her? She�s on the team specifically for situations like this.�

Jaxur just shrugs uncomfortably. �You gave orders. It�d have been unprofessional to-�

�What rank are you in the Corps?�

�Field commander, same as you, but I don�t see-�

�Same as me,� Grieve cuts in, as though he�s addressing a child. �Does that not give you the authority to countermand my orders as you see fit and vice-versa?�

�Yes but-�

�Then I will ask you again. Why is Su-Ree at the Compound when she could be so useful here? You are aware that if those terrorists had laid a magical trap before retreating, you wouldn�t have found it until it was too late.�

Jaxur just stands there in his armor, unsure of what to say. He�s been so used to following protocol, following orders blindly, that it had obviously never occurred to him at the time. �I-I�m sorry Grieve. It won�t happen again.�

Disgusted, Grieve dismisses the apology. He knows for a fact that something similar will happen again. The Kree have obeyed blindly for too long to allow otherwise. �Never mind. You said something about captive?�

Korath steps forward. �When the first soldiers arrived, the Cult were smart enough to run off. The magicians among them teleported most of the attackers away. Fortunately, three were left behind. I was just getting ready to interrogate them.� Interrogating prisoners was a specialty of the Pursuers.

Grieve starts off in the directing Korath indicated, motioning for the others to follow. �There�s no need for that Korath. I can handle them myself.� Though At-Las snorts in doubt, Korath nods in understanding. There are dead Pursuers that have forgotten more than he knows. That�s not what Grieve meant, however.

The four Corpsmen pick their way through the wreckage. Var-Dann is already there, quietly observing the three prisoners. The woman and two men glared back at the Kree speedster, separated from him by a small force field. The three were pink-skinned, clothed in tattered old military uniforms, and despite their situation, all three had a look of cold defiance. Grieve silently sighed at what he would have to do in the name of the empire.

Placing himself across from the prisoners, Grieve tells Korath to lower the forcefield. Immediately, the three leap forward to attack. They must escape, or die trying.

At-Las reaches for his blaster, as Jaxur grips his Cosmi-Rod. �I�ll handle them,� Grieve cries out. He kicks his foot out to the right, striking one of the men on his chest. As the prisoner drops to the floor, Grieve blocks the woman�s jab and elbows her in the temple. Tossing her to the floor, Grieve delivers a kick to the other man�s midsection. Before he can drop, however, Grieve grasps the man�s head, keeping him up on his knees.

Holding the dazed traitor before him, Grieve glared at the woman lying nearby. �I�m only going to ask twice. You will tell me everything about the Cult of Kee-Ree and their plans, or I will kill this traitor.�

The woman straightens herself and glares at Grieve defiantly. �You�ll only kill us anyway.�

Grieve sighs sadly. �You didn�t answer my question.� Before her horrified eyes, Grieve twists his hands, snapping the man�s neck. The traitor slumps to the ground. Dead.

Grieve stands over the body, watching it with his head cocked to the side. Then he shifts his gaze to the woman, boring into her very soul with those cold, almost dead, ever-knowing eyes. �His name was Dec-Orl. Before the Nega Bomb, the two of you were lovers in the military. During the Shi�ar occupation, Ki-Ree found the two of you and took you in. You served him without fail up until the Battle for Hala, in which Ki-Ree vanished in the aftermath. Not trusting Mas-Kedd, the two of you tried to return to your old life...�

He continued in that fashion, reciting Dec-Orl�s life in that lifeless, emotionless voice. �Finally, I should tell you that your efforts to hide the pregnancy was fruitless. He knew, and he was quite happy.� Now, Grieve took in the other man, who had managed to reach his feet. �Unfortunately, Dec-Orl did not know why the Cult struck here, nor did he know their future plans. If you don�t know either, you had better try your hardest to convince me.�

Fortunately, the man did know something. Nearly weeping at Grieve�s feet, he told what he knew of the raid on the lab which, to his grave disadvantage, wasn�t very much. About the Cult�s future plans, however, he did have one jewel of information.

�The planned site for the vibranium mine,� Jaxur muttered in disbelief. �The Emperor must be told of this at once.�

�I agree,� Grieve stated, kicking the begging traitor away. �Korath, radio Stargate to transport the entire Corps to the Heart Hall.�

At-Las jerked his head at the pair of whimpering pair of Cultists. �What�ll we do with them?� Behind him, Stargate was just materializing.

Grieve looked at them as though he�d forgotten. �Oh yeah. Var-Dann, transport Marl-Yun to the nursery. Once the fetus is safely extracted, she can be killed for treason. The other you can kill now. Then meet the rest of us at the Heart Hall.

�Yes sir,� Captain Var-Dann stated eagerly. As Stargate transported the four Corspmen, the last they heard were the sounds of flesh tearing and a woman begging for mercy.

Mas-Kedd. The next step in Kree evolution. The man that united the Kree factions after the Civil War. The emperor driven to see the Kree returned to their proper place in the universe.

The most powerful man in Hala has only one thing to say in response to the Corps� news.

�This is disturbing news.�

Standing from his small throne, Mas-Kedd steps down so that he is level with Grieve, Jaxur, At-Las, Korath, and Var-Dann (who arrived seconds after the others). �The attack on the genetics lab was bad enough. The research that went on there shall be set back for weeks. The vibranium mines, however, are far too important to be delayed for even another hour.�

Grieve nods. �The Cult is aware of this, eminence. Such an action against one of your personal projects would undermine your leadership. Your previous victories against the Ancients would be for nothing.�

�That is easier than you would think,� Mas-Kedd agrees. �Just the other day the Council complained about the production of the farms and hydroponics plants. Oh, it�s more than enough to feed the populace of Hala twice over,� Mas-Kedd snorts. �Even so, they complain about how the food is, or the variety of flavors, or if there will be enough food fifty years from now.�

At-Las snarls. �Traitorous dogs! They swear to serve you, yet instead they hinder your actions at every turn. The Supreme One never stood for it, and neither should-�

At-Las found himself sprawled on the ground, dazed from Mas-Kedd�s blow.

�The Supreme Intelligence,� Mas-Kedd stated coldly. �almost destroyed our people. Perhaps if there was a Council to hinder his actions, he would have failed. If not for the Council, I would have been overwhelmed long ago by the responsibilities of my title. You are a soldier, At-Las; stay silent on matters of politics.�

At-Las rose to his feet, hand pressed to his stinging cheek. He glared daggers at his emperor, yet he remained silent. Jaxur takes the moment to speak out. �Eminence, how do you propose we deal with the Cult�s plans?�

Lowering himself back onto his throne, Mas-Kedd addresses the question. �The miners located within the asteroid field will be notified and evacuated until the matter is dealt with. A small force of perhaps two dozen soldiers should be adequate to deal with whatever the Cult plans.�

Jaxur wrinkles his brow, thinking. �No ships, eminence?�

Mas-Kedd shakes his head. �The asteroid belt is too dangerous for a ship to safely navigate. Also, we cannot risk destroying any vibranium with a stray blast. A few soldiers, equipped for the environment, should be more than enough.�

Grieve steps forward. �If I may, eminence, wouldn�t it be wise to send the Corps as well? The Cult made use of magic at the genetics lab, and it stands to reason that they�ll do so again.�

�What you say makes sense. However, have any of you wondered why three soldiers were left behind? I can�t dismiss the notion that this may be a trap.� Mas-Kedd considers for a moment, then continues. �Three of the Corps will be left behind. Skreel, Su-Ree, and you, Grieve. The remainder will accompany the soldiers on the transport.�

Grieve bows, followed by the others. �As you command, eminence.� At Grieve�s signal, the Corpsmen turn and begin to leave. Var-Dann is long gone by the time Grieve hesitates and turns around. �If I may, eminence, I have a question. What will become of the traitor�s child?�

�The traitor never had a child,� Mas-Kedd states as a fact. �The Kree have gained a daughter, and her contributions will be her own.�

Grieve bows again, pleased that the child will be treated as any other. �I have only the greatest of joy for our gain, eminence. Until I may serve again.� With that final farewell, Grieve goes to leave the chamber. Outside, Stargate awaits him.

�The others are at the barracks. Shall I take you to the Compound?�

Grieve shakes his head at the silver-skinned Kree. �No. It�d be best if I remained in Kree-Lar during this crisis.� As an afterthought, he adds, �However, I need to return to the attacked genetics lab immediately. There is still the question as to why the Cult struck there.�

In the depths of outer space, there is no gravity. Thus, the many, many asteroids clustered in the field float freely of their own violation. Occasionally, several asteroids will slam into each other, triggering the destruction of the smaller. The shattered debris scatter throughout the asteroid field, slamming into numerous other asteroids.

Sometimes, an asteroid or two gets knocked out of the asteroid field, to eventually crash into a planet. Most of the time, however, the asteroid just collides into another, continuing the cycle. Eventually, worn away by a millennia of collisions, the asteroids become nothing except space pebbles.

Not this asteroid field. Instead of breaking upon impact, these asteroids simply absorb the impact and bump off of one another. These are asteroids laced with the substance known on earth as vibranium.

Amidst the colliding chaos of these wandering asteroids there is a small, almost insignificant figure. Unlike the erratic, jumbled motions of the asteroids, this object flits about in precise motions, as though in true control over it�s environment. That�s because it isn�t a mere object. It is a man, and men have always found a way to take control.

The diminutive little man-pink Kree really-leaps between the asteroids as though he�s not in space at all. Oh, it�s obvious that he is-the spacesuit he�s wearing is proof of that-but the way that he is moving simply can�t be done without gravity.

Out of nowhere, in the middle of a leap, an enormous arm reaches out from above and grasps the short Kree. Surprised, the little man looks up past the wandering asteroids, and spots his captor. A middle-aged woman in a spacesuit. A very large middle-aged woman in a spacesuit.

�I�m sorry to cut your search short Mid-Jet,� the giantess booms through their commlink. �A transmission just came from Hala to pull out. Something about a potential terrorist attack.�

Shaking out of his friend�s grasp, Mid-Jet back-flips onto a nearby asteroid to more properly face her. �Now, you look here, Ver-Gull, I don�t care if the entire Shi�ar armada is on it�s way, I�m not going anywhere until I�ve finished scouting the area. You just go on and say you couldn�t find me. If I need to, I can kept hidden from any terrorists.�

Shaking her head, Ver-Gull shrinks in stature and jumps from her position. Unlike her little friend, her leap is clumsy and more erratic. It�s clear that she�s in a no-gravity environment, and not very used to it. �There you go with your thrill-seeking nature again. You can tell me Mid-Jet, what are you running from that only the risk of death can hide.� Seeing that she�s getting nowhere near him, she desperately tries to swim, but to no avail. �Uh, could you help me out here?�

Mid-Jet sighs and leaps from the asteroid. �You�d better grow a bit so I can stand on your shoulder. It�ll be easier to affect your gravity that way.� Grabbing a hold of Ver-Gull, he adds, �And for the last time, I�m not running or hiding from anything! I�m a guy with a job to do, and I mean to do it.�

Ver-Gull complies on both counts, growing at a rapid pace and dropping the subject. It�s clear she won�t get through to him in the few moments they have before evacuation. Immediately she feels the effects of Mid-Jet�s power. Instead of swimming through an airless nothingness, it feels more like swimming through water. �Thanks. Look, there�s no way we can make use of your information if your dead. I�m sure you�ve scouted out enough for the mining to start smoothly.�

Taking a seat on his female friend�s shoulder, Mid-Jet taps her on the temple. �You may know a lot about minds, but yours is empty when it comes to mining. I need to look over the entire asteroid field and figure out the movements of the asteroid before we can safely start. I still need to look over a third, and if I�m stopped now, I�ll have to start all over again.� Mid-Jet then points down and to the left. �Also, I need to identify any potential dangers. Before you grabbed me, I saw a glow down over there.�

Nodding her huge melon of a head, Ver-Gull slowly falls into a descent. �Okay, after we find whatever it is that�s here, we hide until the all clear is given. Okay? Otherwise I�ll put you in my pocket and keep you there until we get back to the dropship.�

Mid-Jet smiles. �You could do that. And I could leave you stranded out here, weightless.�

Ver-Gull laughs. �Right now I�ll settle for about ten pounds. All right, we�ll keep up surveying, but let�s keep an eye out, okay? Maybe you can strand them in the path of some colliding asteroids.�

Mid-Jet nods, peering ahead. �Hell, a stunt like that�d probably put me in line for Ancient. Combat experience is always a plus, no matter the field you�re in.� He points ahead, where the glow is now evident.

�There it is. Let�s check this out and get to wor-oh lord.�

Ver-Gull�s mouth drops open. �By Kee-Ree, the poor man!�

In the center of the glow, indeed the very source, rests a massive block of ice. Locked within the ice, so bright that it�s hard to miss, rests the unmistakable outline of a man.

Jumping off Ver-Gull�s shoulder, Mid-Jet floats closer to the iceberg. Shielding his eyes from the glare, he removes a small gadget from his belt and flips it on. Mid-Jet immediately shuts it off. �Damn I hate that squeal,� he mutters. �Well, we know this guy�s full of radiation, so whoever he is, he�s a danger.�

�We�ll have to call in some scientists from Hala to get him,� Ver-Gull states. �Geez, who do you think he was?�

Someone answers her from behind. �His name was Mac-Yoy. Now he shall be the harbinger of the Eternal One�s return.�

Pain lanced into Ver-Gull�s back, and blackness enfolded around her.

Next Issue: Grieve investigates the scene of the crime, and what he uncovers will be far more shocking that anything he could have imagined! Plus, will the Corps arrive in time to stop the Cult of Ki-Ree�s plan? And if they do, will it be too late for Ver-Gull and Mid-Jet? Even if they do, something happens at home that may tear the Corps apart forever!