Vega Rillius: 144, 80
Loman's Moon Base
Jova Lounge

Boz Grabow sat in his favorite booth. Though nobody would've known what the word meant anymore, the lounge had a very Polynesian feel to it. Even the beer came with small umbrellas leaning on the sides of frosted mugs. The only exception to the motif was the gigantic window that afforded a magnificent view of the swirling gas clouds of the planet around which Loman's Moon orbited. Across from him sat a light green Elowan. Grabow reached into his trench coat and pulled out a plain envelope. He handed it to the Elowan. "I came across this little news at Vell Bralis Nova. I'm pretty sure your bosses will want to know."

Elan
Teshbulr City
Coreward Plowshares Suite

The report had come in early that morning. The contact on Loman's Moon had sent it through the courier channels. Halura, Ufthush and the rest of the group sat on the squat pedestals in the conference room. The late afternoon sun poured in through the glass walls. They were discussing the implications of the troubling news. "There is simply too much evidence to ignore. I fear we've underestimated the crafty Thrynn," Hrshl said.

"My concern is that our entire premise is wrong," said Ufthush. It was a typically honest thought from the professor. The premise of which he spoke was largely his own. "If they are this bold, then Coreward Plowshares is an empty cause. We might as well shift our focus to the Cloud." He knew that idea was hollow. A few sectors and a continuum flux would not deter the Thrynn. That would take something unique, a local commodity.

"Rest easy, Ufthush. They're not so bold as you think. But it was them. You can be sure of that," said Halura. The distress call from Vell Bralis Nova had been clear enough to get a picture. The voice had been shouting something about the "bastard squids," a reference to the Gazurtoid. It hadn't been a Gazurtoid attack. "They didn't do very much damage. The Gazurtoid would've 'cleansed' the entire site, or at least done more work on the shipyards. The only sections that were totally destroyed were a storage module and New Scotland Commerce and Transport. If not a court of law, as they say." It was only a question of where the Gazurtoid vessels had come from.

"So we have to go on the assumption that they know." Hrshl was not comfortable with risks of this magnitude. "And if they know, they'll be watching the Ifsh Plains for a launch. We can't take the chance of losing four hundred planted young on Ifsh'Dfrill." It was an especially grave risk considering that ISS Belfast Windfall hadn't found a suitable planet yet. In fact there hadn't been a communication from Biggs Hilsfar since the Vell Bralis Nova Incident. It was then that Halura proposed a radical idea.

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Next: "A Balance"

"Play the music, Mr. Williams!" -- Every generation has a legend... "Hooo-prrrr"...Every saga has a beginning...If you really must go to the movies this summer, just see Star Wars. If you're thinking about watching another one--don't. Stay at home, call Pizza Hut and read "H & C" at the Nebula Lounge.

"Hilsfar & Company: Because Now Biggs, Arella and Mack are Feeling Really...Far Out, Man..."