Nizhoni's Tale

This chapter is rated G.

Blood Fang

Director Trellan addressed the holographic images of the facility supervisors.
“That is pretty much the situation,” he said. “The raiders hit every facility with a landing pad. McTaggart’s site was the worst damaged but we think that may have been an accident. Our early arrival seems to have taken the raiders by surprise. Only a few escaped. We owe a great deal of debt to Angus’ friend, Tanen, for his warning. I intend to see the Company recognizes that when doling out his death benefits.”
Thanks to Tanen’s warning, the escort ships made an intense sweep of the landing areas and discovered the various raider ships hiding nearby, intending to destroy the Company ships after they had landed. They had killed the local caretakers and rigged the AIs on the landing beacons to send an all clear signal if queried. Their trap reversed on them, the raider ships never stood a chance as the escort ships blew them up before they could get off the ground.

“The Fox population has been decimated and that wasn’t an accident. Angus.”
“Aye, the one raider I was able to question before he died was part of the Kfaeghr cult. They live for killing the wee Foxes. The heathen racist bastards. He said something else that was odd though. They were being paid in advance and quite well too. I’ve never heard of a raider leader paying his crews in advance before the haul.”

“It wouldn’t have been much of a haul either,” Renard, one of the engineers, spoke up. “The ships they were using were not the proper design for hauling ore. They also had the ore silos wired up for demolition, although they didn’t get to set them off.”
“So this wasn’t really a raid to steal ore,” Trellan continued. “But they wanted us to think it was. There is something missing here. Well, until we figure it out, continue with your damage assessments. I’ve sent one of the escorts back to headquarters for instructions.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Angus found Rory picking through the remains of her and Hunter’s houses.
“Are ye alright, lass?”
“Angus,” the Fox said. “I’m sorry about how I acted earlier.”
“There now lass, there is no need to be apologizing. Ye had your whole world turned upside down. I’d be climbing a few walls too.”
“It’s just that Hunter and I…we became life mates, just before…”
Angus paused a moment as he considered what she was saying, then he lifted her up and hugged her close.
“Oh ye poor, poor lass it be doubly tragic for you then. To be married and lose a family and a husband in one day, I’m so sorry.”
Angus just held and stroked her as she cried out her sorrows into his broad chest.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Trellan came into the communications center in response to a call from the comm. operator. On the holo display was the image of a Wolf Vargr in a uniform.
“…this is Blood Fang calling, come in.” The figure said.
Trellan turned on his pickup.
“Blood Fang, this is Director Trellan of Darzak Mining. What do you want?”
The Vargr looked confused for a moment but then recovered.
“We are a…Krazig Scout ship. We received a distress signal from your world and are coming to provide assistance.”
“Your assistance isn’t needed Blood Fang, we have the situation well in hand.”
“None the less Director Trellan, I would be derelict in my duties if I didn’t assess the situation and see what aid I can render, all in the interest of interstellar cooperation. You can expect us to enter orbit in 25 hours, Blood Fang out.”

“What do you make of it?” Trellan asked the comm. tech.
“Well sir, I’ve been working this sector for awhile both for Darzak and the Imperial Scouts. Their signal doesn’t match the equipment a scout would be carrying. It looked like naval equipment to me.”
“Hmm…” Trellan pondered. “Blood Fang doesn’t sound like the name of a scout either. Look it up and see if it’s in the registry.”

They were interrupted by a chime from the comm. console.
“High priority signal coming in,” the tech said.