Arth
Near Restoration City

Biggs was standing at the foot of ISS Belfast Windfall’s main loading ramp checking a few things on his data pad. Two droids were bringing crates of food and equipment up into the cargo area. Biggs stopped them. “Nickel, Dime—wait a minute, you two—is that Arella’s new chemistry set?” Nickel beeped that it was indeed Lieutenant Newark’s top of the line analysis equipment. “Well don’t drop it, I shelled out heavy green for that thing and I don’t want it damaged.” The two droids continued up the ramp, stopping as Mack Hereford made his own way down with a tricorder in his hand and an incredulous look on his face.

“Bargain Biggs does it again,” said the lieutenant, shaking his head. “I can’t believe you named them ‘nickel and dime,’ where’d you get them—Shady Dave’s?” He handed Commander Hilsfar his calibration report.

“Keep your wise mouth running—see what happens,” said Biggs, looking down to sign off on the calibration. “Have you talked to Grix and Biss yet? Grix is giving me ‘the silent cockroach,’ he’s in a huff about the short notice...”

“Yeah, the translator’s still off in the nav equipment room—he’s buzzing up a storm about something, but it’s all noise to me,” said Mack. “Doc Biss is freaking out, too—every time we go to the DZ she thinks we’re never going to have enough med supps.”

“Sounds normal. Look, I want us to set the mail sail early tomorrow morning, so get the droids and start buttoning down the topside ventilation hatches. Make sure the seals are kosher on the cargo pods, too—I don’t want any of that drama we had back at Rellio.” Mack nodded.

“Aye, aye, El Capitain,” he said. Biggs shot him a hairy eyeball. Damned kids.

Thoss World
The Deciduous Forests

In full body armor, carrying thirty-pound light infanty packs and rifles, the Royal Thrynn Marine squad shuffled up the hill at a steady jog. The twelve lizards were generating a deep murmuring that built into a weirdly harmonious sound known to vibrate the teeth of the handful of Humans who had stolen a glimpse of Thrynn Marines. In the damp summer heat, steam rose up from the powerful killers as their song carried through the dense forest.

They were into the fourth mile of an eight-mile trek to the landing zone. It was a common exercise, simulating a post-assault evacuation under unfavorable conditions—it was the fade part of “stick and fade.” At the extraction point, they’d be picked up by a lander shuttle.

Over the past several months, the regiment had kicked its training routine up a notch, placing more and more emphasis on endurance training and tactical proficiency. It happened every few years, but there were differences this time. The senior non-commissioned officers could sense a new edge in their battalion and company commanders.

The buck sergeant leading this particular squad had more important things to worry about. His squad wasn’t going to return to the mobile camp when the got to the landing zone. Just before the exersize kicked off, the lieutenant had told him the squad was going to make the jump off-world to dock with a ship in orbit. He hadn’t said why. Sergeant Nussgj looked back to his rear guards. “Numloksss at the apexss,” he hissed, pointing to the top of the rocky hill. The rear guard picked up the pace.

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Next: "Of Rocks and Rings"

Close readers may have noticed the use of a Star Trek "tricorder" in this episode of Hilsfar & Company. The script called for a Starflight genre prop, but the budget was short, so we broke into Paramount's lot and looted the Voyager set. We scored big, bagging three phasers, the warp core, Khan's outfit and several Vulcan ears. A Dark Lightning may or may not have been left in Chakotay's trailer.

Hilsfar & Company: "Tooling Around" the Galaxy