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Rescue Beyond the Rim By: Malissa Madison Wolfs Bane; LSF Lydia Shore, Col, Commander Torri Sharr, driver Wraith; TM III Lorrna Shaye, Commander Goth; Frill Layella Dellorre, Primary Driver Terror; LSF Mark IV Troika Deirri, Commander, Lycan Sanissa Demure, Co- Commander, Driver (Cord Demure's younger Sister) Grief; TM IV Tarra Demure, Commander (Reno's Older Sister) Genie Fall, Primary Driver MTS-1, DLS 1.2-T FJ-123, FJ-124, FJ-125, Owner/Drivers MTS-2, DLS 1.2-T FJ-77, FJ-76, FJ-78, FJ-76b, Owner/Drivers MTS-3, DLS 1.2-T FJ-26, FJ-27, FJ-28, Owner/Drivers MTS-4, DLS 1.2-T FJ-43, FJ-44, FJ-45, FJ-45a, Owner/Drivers ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "Dropout in Five, four, three, two, Dropout," there was sudden silence as Wolfs Bane continued through the Blackout zone. Everyone was on the edge of their seats until a few seconds later the haze began to clear away with the rapidly thawing layer of frost on the windscreen. Lydia began scanning her HUD as her Comm Officer contacted the rest. "Wolfs Bane is in the clear," she reported to the three Transports behind them. They had just located the only fuel station on the planet Syracuse II, and began navigating that direction. They would fill up there in hopes that the Refuel trucks would catch up before they shot the next portal. "Lydia, let's have a Commanders conference," suggested Lorrna Shaye. In the conference Lydia asked, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking? We pair up Wolfs Bain with Terror and you with Grief?" "Yes actually I was," grinned Lorrna. "We can switch out leads too at each Portal Beacon." She was anticipating an argument from Lydia which didn't come. "Lorrna, I know you expected me to argue. But I made a promise to stay safe, I still have two people at home waiting for me to get back. You have the lead on the next leg." They'd just reached the fuel station and topped off the two newest Transports first when Commander Tarra Demure of Grief called out, "We have a portal activation behind us." "Wolfs Bane do you read us? This is MTS-1 with your Refuel convoy," "MTS-1 what is your Truck Design, over?" "Draconian Load Star 1.2-T's, we are pulling triple tankers and have a refit for your Transports courtesy of the Alpha Alliance." "What kind of refit?" asked Lorrna suspiciously? This far out from civilization you had to be really careful, even if you were armed to the teeth. "Refueling Jacks for the front like the Alliance uses," said FJ-123. "How long to install?" asked Lydia. "Twenty minutes, tops." They were told. "Stretch your legs everyone, we need this refit," Lydia told her crews. "Ma'am, the drivers are FJ's," said Sanissa Demure having scanned the four trucks occupants. It didn't take as long as predicted to make the modifications, now all four transports could refuel without stopping. Lydia drew the transport commanders together in a quick meeting. "This is how we are going to proceed. The senior transport in the lead of the junior out front. Then the next senior, followed by our fuel tankers and then the next junior. We'll keep trading up as before, but we have to make sure our fuel is secure. I've notified the Road Bugs that they are part of our convoy, and that will give them amnesty for stopping on the freeway between portals to wait for us to clear the other side." Everyone quickly agreed. She didn't want to think about the two very young FJ's in the group. But she didn't want anything to happen to them and knew she didn't have to point out the facts to anyone. While the Road Bugs, 'the builders and maintainers' of the freeway were not evil creatures they followed a simple protocol that had been set since they were first created. They followed the laws of the freeway to the letter. 1. There is no stopping on the freeway between Planets, unless it is an emergency. 2. Any vehicle stopped on the Freeway between planets will be recycled along with anything and everything inside. 3. No one may interfere with the Free and Peaceful travel of other beings on the freeway between planets. Since those laws were first created eons ago two more have been added in the last hundred years. The Intergalactic Police May stop and or interfere with Traffic in order to maintain peace between planets. Amendment A, allows Elements of the Followers of the Way and the Alpha Alliance to Act to preserve the life of innocents. And the final addition, Registered Towing and Recovery Vehicles may stop in order to recover stranded vehicles and motorists when a Recovery notice has been sent to the nearest Road Builder Terminal, and shall be completed within a specified time limit. The Road Bugs were a purely neutral Bio-Mechanical race, but there was one thing that would cause them to become hostile. Since they were peaceful, openly attacking one was an automatic forfeiture of life. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Lorrna was in the lead as they made the jump onto the freeway following the signal from beacon eight. Her own calculations told her that they had been so close, it was at the next Portal beyond the turn back point for the search and rescue mission six years ago. Two days out they finally had the portal readings on the HUD. A class nine dead planet. Wraith was down to less than half on all tanks, and they had passed five other portals. Portals that had already been investigated. "Marlins, ping the Beacon," she ordered. "All hands assume your stations." She didn't have to look to know that her veteran crew members were already standing by. The newly graduated recruits being guided by the rest as they neared the portal off ramp. "Beacon Signature confirmed, Midnight Run, Beacon number eight, Ma'am." "Grief, drop back to Thirty Kilometers on our tail," she ordered. "Grief dropping back," reported the transport. "Wolfs Bane setting up a holding line," reported Lydia. "Portal activation." "Entering black out," They waited everyone on the edge of their seats. Lydia poised ready to issue orders. As Grief followed even before they heard from Wraith. "Skecksies!!!!!" "Grief go weapons hot, NOW!" came the call from Wraith. "Lorrna how many? Can you make it back through?" called Lydia. "Everyone stand ready, these ships are dead." "Grief, stand by at the Portal I'm deploying an investigation team." They sat listening to the live chatter between Lorrna and her teams on the ground. "Two ships Ma'am. Both look like they were hit by IGP Cannons. No survivors. And nothing left either one of them from the looks of it." "Confirm what brought them down Sub Commander," ordered Lorrna. "Confirmed Ma'am. IGP Ion-4 Cannon residue Ma'am," reported the investigation team commander. "Ion-4's? Are you positive on that?" asked Lydia. "Yes Ma'am." "Lorrna, Midnight Run only had Ion-3's," Lydia said. "Yeah, I just pulled up Leopard's Armament listing. They'd just gotten the refit before they were lost." "Ma'am, we have a Skecksies Blast trail leading toward the other Portal," reported Layella. "Oh shit, I'm picking up debris signatures from Leopard." "Lorrna we're coming through." "Roger that, let's keep the Fuel Transports in the middle." Lydia followed through and they joined up again as they began hurrying toward the next Portal. Each Transport dropping back one at a time to refuel. The external cameras recording everything and transmitting it back to IGP Command. At one point they stopped long enough to bury the remains of two troopers found with what had been one of Leopards Laser Batteries. The location was marked with a recovery beacon. Wolfs Bane pulled out in the lead to shoot the next portal, Beacon number nines steady tone locked in. they'd deployed another Beacon at each Portal to give their signals more strength in reaching Omega Seven as well as the other Transports. "Grief, why don't you notify the palace so they can begin putting together a recovery detail?" suggested Lydia. "Grief to Guardian Command," she called. "Guardian Command Copies you Grief. Go ahead," Tarra heard recognizing the voice. "Commander we are sending you the Recovery Beacon for two sets of remains from Leopard," she reported as she pressed send. It had been while the little convoy had stopped burying the dead that MTS-3 reported picking up some sort of debris in the rear Tandem of the second trailer. Looking at it Tarra had identified it. "It is part of a backup long range antenna array. We have partial ID numbers we can identify which Transport it came from." Near the next portal they found the remains of another Skecksies ship. But this one showed no signs of what had destroyed it. It looked like it had simply crashed ten miles from the portal. "Ma'am, we have Transport tracks here. They're faint, but still recognizable." "Holy Shit!" "Jepson, what is it?" demanded Lydia. "A Log recorder from Midnight Run Ma'am. They refueled from this ship." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "Midnight Run, Mission Log twenty four. We've been following the Ghost ship. We lost our Long Range Antenna array when Beacon Seven misfired and hit them. We were nearly out of fuel when this Skecksies ship appeared. The ghost ship did something and it just stopped flying. Driver Kerrns has reported that the ghost ship is moving slowly along the freeway ahead of us. Gods help us, we can only go forward from here. I only pray this Skecksies sludge doesn't foul the engines." "Please tell my wife and children that I love them, but for some reason I am drawn to follow the ghost ship. I will leave a recorder chip in each beacon, but I only have two left. So we'll deploy them on the planet side after dropping through the portal." "Garr Shore, Commander, Midnight Run" Lydia sat in her Command chair reviewing the footage again. Tears rolling down her cheeks. "Kyla, please transmit the message to Command." "Everyone else, let's go find them." She knew the other transports would also pick it up. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ It was three days transit along the freeway, passing up two more portals before finding the one they needed. "Alright everyone, by the book," called out Lydia. "The 'Regents' Convoy just left Iridani so we're paving the way for them." "Ma'am I just picked up a second signal, its Leopards number two Beacon. Very weak, but still transmitting," reported Kyla. "Increasing speed," called out the driver. "Belay that," ordered Lydia. "Lets not get sloppy now." It was hard for her to keep reigning in her crew, but she couldn't afford to take too many chances here. They'd already found evidence there were Skecksies on this track. They shot the portal, several long heartbeats later the haze began to clear away. "Ma'am I have a dead Delphi Rader ship on long range scan," reported Kyla. "Roger that. Stop and hold at the beacons. Grief, set up a standoff five Kilometers out." "Terror coming through with the Fuel Rigs," reported Commander Deirri. They waited until everyone was through and had a defensive perimeter set up around the fuel trucks before Lydia led a ground team to the Beacons. Leopards had been almost destroyed as it deployed, and looked like it had lost its shoots and crashed. In the little compartment inside Midnight Run's beacon they found another recorder chip. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "Midnight seems to be burning the scavenged fuel without any problems. The Ghost ship seems to be waiting for us at the next portal, so we're continuing on. It is almost as if we are being led somewhere. I think if she meant us harm we'd have been destroyed by now, she's had ample opportunity." "Comm Officer Shields managed to get footage of the ghost ship. If you found this message please tell my wife I hope to see her soon." "Commander Garr Shore, Midnight Run" Everyone sat viewing the footage of the Ghost ship as it was transmitted back toward Omega Seven and to Star Explorer with a tag for Sylvia Winterbourne. They topped off halfway to the next portal, within sight of the Delphi Rader. It had definitely been taken down by Leopards cannons. A search team from Terror located hastily dug graves and another recorder chip. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "Commander Rona Trill, Leopard IGPT. "We were set upon by a mixed group of Delphi Rader's and Skecksies. Before we could transmit we lost our Long range antennas and most of our Comm center. We had no choice but to make a blind Phase jump, but were lucky enough to lock onto a Portal beacon. But only time will tell if the Midnight Run is still alive. The Skecksies managed to jump ahead of us and were waiting for us on a planet my drivers have dubbed 'Scorched'. We took out two of those and fought our way to the next portal only to find another dead Skecksies ship. I don't know why but the rest just left at finding it. We followed the beacon signature here where we ran into another Delphi Rader. We've decided to go in search of Midnight Run. We've drained the Rader's tanks to give us more fuel. Maybe it will be enough." "Commander Rona Trill, Leopard" They gave Terror the task of transmitting everything back this time. And were getting ready to set out again when they received a message from Star Explorer. "Footage of Ghost ship confirmed by Expedition Commander Winterbourne. That is the Bio-Ship 'Galaxia'. Proceed with caution, if you make contact make no show of force." Came the return message. It was called a ghost ship because it had only been visible to the naked eye. But now according to the reports it had been seen briefly on radar and actually been photographed. Another two days transit of the freeway brought them to an ice and snow covered planet. They had to dig some five feet into the ice to uncover the next beacon. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "I'm not sure where we are or how we'll ever get home. But I have a feeling that we will be seeing our families again. It is so cold here, and we don't see any signs that it ever stops snowing. But something has to be happening under the surface to keep the snow and ice layers at a five foot level." "Garr Shore, Commander, Midnight Run" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ As they continued on toward the signature of Leopards number three beacon they passed numerous destroyed hulks of Skecksies ships sticking up out of the snow and ice. Near the portal they picked up a tiny transmitter signal coming from one. It didn't take long to discover the recorder chip. "If you found this you've undoubtedly discovered the numerous Skecksies ships that have crashed here. My crew has dubbed this planet the 'Skecksies Graveyard' since none of these ships show any signs of battle damage. It looks like they just died and crashed here." "We are following the feint trail that still lingers from Midnight Runs passage. Our long range scanners are showing Skecksies in the outer atmosphere following us but none have tried to attack. Maybe it is something in the atmosphere." "We have nothing left to guide us, but these coordinates left by Midnight Run, so we are just going to make that or next portal exit in hopes of finding them." "Rona Trill, Commander, Leopard IGPT" Scratched in the paint where the chip had been found was a set of portal coordinates, and MRIGPT was scratched under it. The long range scan showed that portal was the third along the freeway. The same one that Leopards number three Beacon was coming from. Lydia had turned to exit the Skecksies wreck when her foot crunched on a piece of paper. "We have no beacons left, so we have chosen to leave this message here. I don't know how or why, but Lt Commander Curr has had this coordinate running through her head since we dropped onto this ice ball. But at any rate we can't go much further, our Number five Drive Roller is beginning to flake surface particles." "Garr Shore" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ It was his handwriting, Lydia would have recognized it anywhere. Now she rushed back to Wolfs Bane, her troopers hurrying to keep up. "Traction Stabilizers at two hundred percent, prepare the Portal Beacon to fire on dropout. We're pushing through to the next beacon," she ordered. Lorrna and the other three Commanders sat stunned, what had just happened? Why was Lydia in such a hurry now? Everyone started to move again as Wolfs Bane raced out ahead, the activation cylinders shooting up to activate the portal. "Lydia, what is it? What did you find?" demanded Lorrna. "They're losing a drive Rol," the rest was lost as Wolfs Bane entered the Blackout zone. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The planet Lush The current Comm Officer, Lt Cmdr Curr rushed out the open door way of Midnight Run. "Commander, we have a Portal activation," she yelled needlessly. Everyone in the clearing had heard the portal spin up. Now the IGPT troopers rushed to their own battle stations, unaware of who might be coming. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "Midnight Run, Leopard, do you copy? This is Wolfs Bane, do you copy Midnight Run?" "Uhhh, Wolfs Bane this is Midnight Run. Are you a Transport?" requested Lt Cmdr Curr. "Yes, is my husband Commander Shore still alive?" Garr recognized the voice instantly. "L, Lydia?" his tears began to roll down his cheeks. "I brought help. How are the troops? Can the transports still operate?" "Lydia, oh gods. Umm, stay on your current heading. But have your weapons stand down." "Garr, you know what they'll do to our friends," she heard someone else say on the radio. "Lydia, if it hadn't been for our current allies none of us would be here now," said Garr. He could see the transports racing towards them as they exited the portal. "Perhaps we should go into the jungle?" suggested Krail. But already the four transports were pulling into position around them. "Ma'am, I'm reading Loki life forms," said Layella. "Wolfs Bane we're picking up Loki on our sensors," relayed Lorrna. "Stand Down," roared Rona Trill over the open Comm Channels. "They saved our lives, they have our protection." "Loki? Loki saved your lives?" asked Lydia and everyone else in disbelief. "Yes, and they are nothing like those who started the war," said Garr. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ They were looking at the two transports, it was a wonder Leopard had made it this far. Midnight run sat lopsided from the missing Drive Roller. It took a lot of talking and a lot of uneasy meetings face to face, but eventually the new arrivals began to relax around Krail and the other Loki. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "Wolfs Bane this is Starr Explorer, do you copy?" they heard over the radio. "Star Explorer this is Commander Shaye of Wraith. We've found them." "Do you need Phase Spider assistance? We copied that there are Loki in the area," began Sylvia. "Negative, they are not hostile. The leader Krail says that he will be happy to meet with Gypsy," Lorrna answered. "Is he there with you now?" "Yes," answered Krail. "Krail, weren't you and yours the Loki ambassadors to Galaxia and the other Bio-Ships?" asked Sylvia. "Regent?" he asked in the ancient tongue. No one could follow the conversation that ensued after that. "Commander Shore, Gypsy and Astrid will be there soon. You will be responsible for their safety," said Sylvia. While they waited both Transports were filled with fuel, and troopers began helping to install the Atmosphere seals to the holes in Leopard's hull. "Excuse me please, Commander Garr Shore, I am happy to see you again," said FJ-123. "Have we met before?" he was now studying the FJ. "Do you not remember telling me that one day my kind would be free citizens of the Universes?" "Oh my gods, I should have recognized you Dent. I'm so sorry." "Garr, you know him?" asked Lydia. "He saved me from being beaten into scrap metal," said the FJ. "Yes and you still have the dents from before I could intervene." "That is why I volunteered my family for this mission. To thank you for your help." Finally they managed to establish a video link with Talon. "Talon, do you copy Wolfs Bane?" they knew it was being picked up by the other transports who were relaying it. "Yes Commander Shore, do you have an update?" asked Commander Derrell. Stepping up behind his wife now, Garr asked, "Is my son there by chance?" "Commander in Training Shore, report to the command deck on the double," she barked out the order. "Commander in training? He can't be that old," said Garr in disbelief. "Forgive me Commander Shore, Talon is a Training Transport. We are training Tracker Scouts for the summer," she explained. "Excuse me Commanders." "Randi, you can use my seat since Maleeza is in the training seat." She got up and he slid into the actual Command Chair. "Mom? Oh god Dad? They found you." His tears were flowing now. "Randi, are you ok?" Maleeza was there in an instant. "Dad, dad this is Maleeza," was all he could say for several long heartbeats. "Mom found you, I was afraid to hope too much. Tassia is going to be so excited." He stopped suddenly, "Dad there is a Loki behind you." With a grin now Garr turned and motioned with his hand, "Krail come meet my son." Krail and his people had been aboard Galaxia and Jena at the beginning of the war. The ships had dropped them off here as Galaxia fled to the depths of unexplored space since they swore they had no knowledge of Cylon's plans or intentions to harm anyone on either side. She had done it to keep them safe, as well as to reassure her daughter Jena, the current First Ship at the time, that she was safe. It had bought her enough time to escape unfollowed. "Greetings, young son of Commanders Shore." "Hello, you're different from Cylon," blurted out Randi. "I mean your head is not covered in a reddish blotches like his was." "You have seen the Loki Traitor, Cylon?" "Oh, no just his head after Gypsy fought him." "Cylon is dead? Cylon who betrayed us all?" "Uhh yes he is," answered Randi. "And what has happened to the First Queen, Ruby?" asked a Loki next to Krail. "Astrid, the new first Queen defeated her," answered Maleeza. "Then we can return home?" it was a question asked by a lot of the Loki. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tomahawk Towing and Recovery, Iridani Five 'ATTENTION TOMAHAWK TOWING AND RECOVERY' 'Immediate Response Authorized to recover two IGPT Transports from the current location, (as set of Portal coordinates followed), the planet has been named Lush by its inhabitants.' 'Transport Midnight Run is to be taken to the Transport Maintenance facility on Lyconia. Leopard is to be taken to the facility on Terrellia Four.' "Prairie Dog!" yelled Pam as she rushed out into the shop. "What is it?" she asked from where they were trying to resynchronize the twin drive trains on a Land Crawler. "The IGP has two Transports down, they need an immediate recovery." The sound of wrenches clattering to the floor was heard. "Where are they? Is the area secure? And what condition are they in?" asked Prairie Dog. "Someplace called lush, but I don't have any specifics," she answered. Prairie got on the long range dispatch radio and punched in the coordinates to be sure the signal was aimed that direction as she engaged the IGP Secure Communication Program. "Transports Midnight Run or Leopard, this is Tomahawk, do you copy?" "Tomahawk this is Wraith, those transports have no long range communication. Are you enroot to recover them?" asked Lorrna. There was a ten second delay. "We need to know what condition they are in. why they need recovery?" "Midnight Run has lost the number five Drive Roller, the others are almost in as bad a shape. Leopard has sustained severe blast damage. We do not have enough Atmospheric shields to close up all the holes. But also their drive rollers don't look too stable." "Roger we'll bring refits, and extra shielding," answered Prairie Dog. "Tootsie, Delta, we have a recovery mission. But we need to take two full sets of drive rollers and I'm not sure how much Atmosphere shielding." "We can use the Spray on, we have about five hundred gallons." Everything was being loaded hastily onto a trailer that Bigfoot would pull. "Prairie Dog, what's happening?" asked Hob and Teala from next door. "We're going to recover two Transports." "Midnight Run and Leopard?" Hob asked. "Yes but how did you know?" "Have they located the other four yet?" "Other four?" "The new transports must not be in range yet," was all he said. "Hob, if you know something you need to tell us now." "Look we've been working on the long range Transport locators. We found signals for four more, but they are too far out to identify. There's something out that direction that is interfering with our signals. If I could go along maybe I could," he didn't get a chance to finish. "Grab whatever gear you need, you'll ride with me," said Prairie Dog. "We'll Phase jump straight to Lush from here." Heading for the portal now Prairie was getting frustrated, her Phase Jumper would not lock in the Portals coordinates. Every time she tried it changed to the Syracuse II coordinates. "Jumping to," the portal deactivated. "What the hell?" The message began appearing on the HUD. 'Those coordinates have been locked out of the Phase Jump Database. Please state your reason for requesting those coordinates.' Holy shit this was coming from the Road Bugs. "We are trying to recover two lost IGP Transports from those coordinates," she said aloud. Suddenly there were six Road Bugs coming up behind them fast and the portal spun up in Phase mode. 'We will escort you to the terminal planet 'Ice'. Please note there has been heavy hostile activity there in the past. That section of freeway has been closed to all but IGP Transports. You will be escorted to your destination from there.' "Thank you" she said. They spent three hours and forty minutes in the Haze of a Phase Jump. When it finally cleared they were inside a Bug Terminal. 'Do you wish to join the other Transports that traversed between the portals on this planet?' "Yes please," she answered. 'Please proceed through the Weather Gate and turn left. You will be able to Phase Jump from the next portal. Be advised that is a Peaceful Loki Planet, you will have no Road Builder Assistance while you are there.' "Thank You." She answered swallowing hard. She'd never heard of a peaceful Loki. "Holy crap, this whole planet is one big Bug Terminal," gasped Hob finally getting readings. "If that's a Loki planet, that would explain why no one ever found," he stopped as they exited out onto the surface. "Oh shit," breathed Hob, his scanners registering thousands of dead Skecksies ships. "If they destroyed these Skecksies, why did they let the Loki live on Lush?" asked Prairie Dog. "They cut them off from everyone else except the IGP, which means they've never attacked a Road Builder," reasoned Hob. Suddenly there were two of the Bugs out front and the Portal was spinning up out of the Ice. Wolfs Bane do you copy? We are about to shoot your portal, we have two Road Bug escorts," called out Prairie Dog. "Roger, how many in your party?" "Five, two Bugs, Bigfoot, Dark Wing and Vamp," responded Prairie Dog as they started into the haze. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "What kind of vehicles are those?" asked Trill upon seeing the wreckers. "Those are what our new friends from Earth call Towing and Recovery Trucks, or Wreckers," explained Lydia still holding onto Garr. "They can go out onto the freeway and hook up to a truck or transport and haul it safely to a repair shop. That one in front is Bigfoot," she finished as the three trucks began pulling right up to the transports. "Excuse me, Commander Shaye?" "Yes Hob," she answered. "You might wish to see this. But we should go aboard Wraith first." Now she was looking at him with curiosity. The other commanders joined them as the crews and Wrecker drivers began working on the two lost transports. "I need to plug this into your Command HUD please." She motioned for him to go ahead. He had the little drive that looked like the transport locator plugged into the auxiliary port in no time. The result took a few seconds and then as it came to life Wraith was transmitting it to the other transports as first Shackle then Fearless appeared on the HUD. A moment later they were followed by Razors Edge and finally Screamer the farthest away. "How is this possible? Are these readings for real?" gasped Lorrna. "I sure hope so, we found them by accident. But until now we didn't have any ID on which transports they were," answered Hob. A message flashed on the HUD. 'Do you wish to retrieve those destroyed Transports from the Builder Terminals?' it had been flashed from one of the Road Bugs standing by to ensure the peace. "Those are Builder Terminals?" asked Lydia. 'YES' came an instant reply. "Lydia, I'll take it from here," said Lorrna. "You need to escort these two home." "You are taking Terror and Grief with you, I insist." Said Lydia. The work took nine hours to complete, but still Midnight Run would have to be towed. The damage to the number five drive hub had been too severe, and it would have to be replaced. Leopard had been sealed using the spray seal to close all the remaining potential leaks. And her onboard sealing system had been refilled. Both Transports now had Long Range antennas donated from Wraith and Wolfs Bane's spares. While she had to be towed, Midnight Run's crew was welcomed aboard Wolfs Bane. Garr had gotten to speak with both his children, and stood with Krail and his leaders in the meeting with Astrid and Gypsy. As they were lining up to shoot the portal Star Explorer called. "We're at the Builders Terminal on Ice. How soon before you are here and we can get those other four sets of coordinates?" asked Commander Gore. "We're shooting the portal now," called out Lydia. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ They were assured that none of the other Transports would need fuel while transiting between the Portals. And the unspoken question as to why the destroyed Transports had not been recycled was answered. It was really a simple clause in the agreement between the builders and the IGP. 'The Road Builders would not Recycle IGP Transports stopped for any reason.' It was unclear what they should do with them, so they had been taken to the nearest Terminal until it was determined or they had been retrieved by the IGP. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ They paused long enough to see the other seven transports off on their journey. Then as they began inputting the coordinates for Lyconia, their first stop along the way a Builder vehicle pulled up in front of them. 'Does the towed Transport require repair to the number five drive hub in order to operate freely?' "Yes that hub was damaged and will not support a new drive roller," answered Prairie Dog. "Hey I got two Bugs here doing something to Midnight Run," reported Tootsie. "Dark Wing, my number five hub just came online as fully functional. And I'm showing a new Roller," reported Lt Cmdr Curr. "Midnight Run is fully functional according to my readouts." They'd also done something to Leopard and the Atmosphere seals were now thicker, almost like actual metal. The Bugs had repaired Midnight Run in a hundredth of the time it would have taken the shop on Lyconia to do it. Now both Transports under their own power followed Wolfs Bane through the portal headed for home. They shot the portal in a long group, and as it was in Phase space they couldn't see any of the others. But they could talk. So almost an hour later they were stunned to discover they'd exited in three different locations. The three Wreckers exited on Iridani. Wolfs Bane, Midnight Run and MTS-1 exited on Lyconia and Leopard and the other MTS's exited on Terrellia. "Lyconia Maintenance facility this is Wolfs Bane, prepare to receive the Transport Midnight Run," called Lydia. "Terrellia Maintenance, Leopard is inbound. Please stand by to receive us," called out Commander Trill. Both queens stood among the honor guards to welcome home their lost transports and troopers. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Midnight Run, would be in maintenance overhaul for at least three months if not longer. All her troopers were placed on leave pending her completion. Garr requested an audience with Queen Natani. "Your Majesty, I've been away from my family for too long," he started out. "And I've served the IGP for over twenty three years. I wish to retire and turn the Command of Midnight Run over to Lt Cmdr Curr." "Garr, you have certainly earned the right not only to retire, but to choose your replacement. But have you told Curr of your decisions?" asked Natani. Lt Curr had been officially promoted to Lt Cmdr before starting her leave. "Not yet your Majesty. I was hoping that you would go with me." "Do you even know where she is now?" "Yes Ma'am, she's in the Maintenance Barn," he answered. The group that approached Lilly Curr was small. But she knew each one of them as she wiggled out from under an access hatch. "Commander Curr," began Natani as Garr and Lydia removed her Lt Commander rank that had been in place less than a week. Dead silence fell across the barn. "I hereby promote you to the rank of Transport Commander," said Natani as she kissed both her cheeks before stepping back. "Lil," began Garr. "You were beside me through everything. You helped keep us alive on Lush, and you never questioned my orders." He reached into his pocket and removed the long Crystal Key. "I am retiring," he said. "Midnight Run is now yours to command." He pressed the Command Key into her hand. "What? Where are you going? What are you going to do?" "I'm going to grow old with my family. Maybe you and Deke should think about that in a few years." "Lilly, we'll be on Earth for a bit. But we should be back in time to see you start your first run," said Lydia. "He needs to see his children. But Lilly you and everyone else will always be family."