Everyone makes their way back to the Warbird and they quickly lift off. Connor had to sit with Suran in the co-pilot seat as a good portion of the Warbird's crew was still missing. Denise was also put to use as the weapons officer. The rest were also given duties on a place to stay and wait until something happened.

The ship slowly rose up out of the atmosphere and into orbit around Dioscuri. Once they were out of the atmosphere all sensors went to maximum in order to find the ship the cyborgs had come from. After about five minutes Denise said,

"There is nothing moving away from the planet. The ship must still be on the surface."

Huntly looked at her.

"Well, we will have to wait until they show themselves."

Denise replied,

"I recommend we start our search around Ice Walker and move out from there. After all these things did not walk half way around the world."

Ok. Suran, put us in orbit over Ice Walker."

Suran turned to her and said,

"Devriele will not like it. You will basically be putting a sign up saying`look, I am right here'". Huntly looked at him as if to say `think about it dummy' and said,

"They attacked us. They know where we are."

Suran went back to his consul and programmed the orbit.

They moved into orbit and started to scan the surface. They had been at it for about 6 hours and had finished scanning about half the planet when Denise got a reading off on the dark side. She double checked it and concluded it was an engine charging for lift off. She said,

"We have activity on the surface. It looks like an engine powering up."

Suran and Connor looked at Huntly to see what her orders were. She was silent for only a moment before giving them some co-ordinates. Denise was not totally sure, but it looked like Huntly was trying to keep as much of Dioscuri between the two ships while still following it with sensors. It seemed to work. The ship, a large one, lifted off and headed out on it's course as if nothing were wrong. The Warbird stayed where it was until the other ship was almost out of sensor range, then began to follow. Huntly did not like the course the other ship had set. It was heading for Penates. That was the third planet in the Lucullus system. It had been settled by the Union of Sol before the war as a penal colony. Now it was one of the most unreputable places in the whole Verge. Huntly was hoping it would turn and go any place else, but it just kept going.

"Suran, do we know whose it is yet?"

Suran turned to her,

"No. It could belong to any of them so far, but you know who it probably belongs to."

"I am hoping that I am wrong" Denise said.

"Could someone fill me in on what's going on?" Huntly swivelled her chair around to face Denise and said,

"Penates is a domed planet. Each dome is controlled by a different group. These groups are all criminal organizations. Up until now, they have not had the resources to get off the planet. If those cyborgs were from there the whole system could be in big trouble, and after that the surrounding systems."

"Oh, great!" Denise said. "So what you are saying is we have walked into the middle of a tyrant trying to take over."

Huntly just smiled and replied,

"Welcome to the Verge."

The Birmingham had arrived at Telemachus and dropped of the passengers and crew into the protective hands of the Union of Sol Commander. From there they could make arrangements to get home. Christine had stayed on board with Captain Beighur. They finally had their sensors on line and were looking for the Warbird. After about 3 hours the sensor operator signaled he had found it.

"Sir, it does not make any sense. They seem to be following another ship that is heading for Penates and away from Dioscuri."

Captain Beighur said,

"It makes sense to me. Navigation, lay in an intercept course and go to maximum speed."

Christine looked at him and said,

"What is going on?"

"It looks like my gut was right again. I think Huntly is taking Ms. Isopetet to Penates and sell her to the highest bidder. You see, her father is a very rich man who would pay a great deal to get her back."

"Denise would never let that happen."

"If she knew."

Christine then watched all three ships on a tactical display.

After about two hours the first ship had landed on Penates and the other two were in communication range. Captain Beighur opened a channel to the Warbird.

"Warbird, this is the Birmingham. Stand down and be prepared to be boarded."

"Beighur, what are you up to?"

"I should be the one to ask that Huntly. I always knew you were a pirate but I at least thought you to be honorable."

"Beighur, what are you talking about?"

"You are going to sell Ms. Isopetet to one of the Barons."

"What?? She is not even here."

Denise then told him about what had happened at Ice Walker and why they were following that other ship.

Beighur said,

"Super human soldiers with high tech weapons. That would upset the balance on Penates. Do you know who it is?

Huntly paused for a second then replied,

"The Jamaican Syndicate."