Deep Space
Hossmr Nebula
Thrynn Frigate Kryssthoggr

Captain Ssh'Tk had watched with exceptional pleasure as the Thosskriegen battle group sprinted deep into Elowan Space, fired a salvo and then faded back across the border. He had almost tasted the fear. SshT'k turned to his executive officer "What isss our current posssition?" Ssh'Tk asked the executive officer. It was important to make sure the crew, especially the young officers, knew who ran Kryssthoggr. Captain Hthssbr was playing the game, too. She paused for an extra instant before inquiring with the navigator.

"Kryssthoggr isss in a holding pattern about an axiss at meridian one-hundred eighty-five and downssspin thirty four, asss ordered, sssir," came the answer. SshT'k nodded and then turned back to his tactical display. The diversion had worked magnificently. Ssh'Tk, Hthssbr and a few other key officers had watched the assault on the holovid table. The battle group had rushed into Elowan space, sending a shock through the Elowan defense net. The two ships monitoring the downspin end of Elowan space near the Thrynn border had rushed away to join in fending off the attack, only to watch the Thrynn reverse course at the moment of contact. This left an open passage for Kryssthoggr all the way to the Hossmr Nebula. Captain Ssh'Tk had slipped into open space unnoticed. The navigator wanted a few more hours to be certain nobody had detected Kryssthoggr's departure and attempted to follow.

Captain Ssh'Tk was pleased. He exited into the main passage, walking toward his quarters. "You have the bridge, Captain Hthssbr."

The Dead Zone
Unnamed System: DZ206,145
Aboard ISS Belfast Windfall

The light from the dying giant was an exceptionally rare beauty. The crimson rays of the star bathed three frigid planets following slow, lumbering orbits. ISS Belfast Windfall was in low orbit over the second planet. The purple rings floated only a few kilometers above the ship. Arella Newark sat alone in the observation lounge looking out the half-dome window, sipping at an exotic blend of alcohol and juices from the indigenous fruits grown on the Heaven Colony. It was still a relatively new taste to the Arthenean palate.

Arella had been going over the information for nearly an hour. Where is this booster relay? Is it an orbital platform or a planetside type of installation? Mack and Alowala had been bouncing signals and probes around the solar system for days. A few twitches had put them in orbit around this particular ball of ice, but nothing had developed. It would take some time, she was sure. Lieutenant Arella Morse Newark took a sip from her drink and stood up to stretch. She walked to the window and leaned her forehead against it, looking down at the light blue cumulus clouds above the planet surface.

The Nomad Band was used by the Empire until the very last delaying actions against the Uhlek and Gazurtoid, or so it was surmised in the still rather skimpy Interstel literature on the topic. Toward the end, the military probably took over every piece of space-worthy equipment, including the Nomad Band relays. Hell, maybe they coordinated defense over the Nomad Band because nothing else was left. The desperation certainly matched what they knew about the fall of the Old Empire. Rag tag fleets had been shattered defending the final Noah launches. She frowned. How does that find the relay for us, though? There's got to be another angle. The VBN City distress call had come from New Scotland in the Staff Constellation and ISS Belfast Windfall had copied it outward of the Dead Zone's only notable nebula. That didn't match up. Why would a Nomad Booster be transmitting on that kind of a vector if they were using them to coordinate the last Noah missions leaving from Earth? She thought for a moment, watching the clouds pass onto the night side of the planet. A jump-off point? She supposed it was possible that one or two Noah missions had departed from somewhere other than Earth. Tactical situations might have demanded it. Maybe they hid a relay booster at an alternate Noah departure point. That compounded the problem. Just lovely, Arella. The lingering question was still in front of her. Where do you hide a relay booster?

Deep Space, The Dead Zone
Unnamed System, DZ206,145
Aboard ISS Belfast Windfall

Biggs was in his lounge chair in the corner of his unkempt quarters. He looked at the message again. They were just far enough outward to receive messages about half the time. This one was from Boz. "Just a heads up, man. I've got an idea of what you're doing for the Elowan out there. I think this is bigger than it seems. Keep your eyes open. Endtrans." Biggs doused the light and climbed into his bunk. He would sleep for only three hours.

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Next: "Jumpstart"

At the Nebula Lounge the beer is cold, the clouds are green and the company is, well, shady. But if you're going to the Nebula Lounge, you'd better bring your Greasa, because at the Nebula Lounge, they don't take Arthenean Express. Greasa: It's everywhere your mom told you not to be.

"Hilsfar & Company: Because Starflight Rules"