Previous Episode: The Beast

The crew of the Mystic Shark were preparing to leave the remote biological research facility, the scene of so much death and carnage, when five ships jump into the system. They hail:

I am Captain Shad Lavander, DSM, PC, of the Guild cruiser Genesis. I have twelve twin-linked blast cannon, eight quad mount pulse laser turrets and a missile battery that is heavier than your ship. You will state your name and clan, and tell me why I should not order my tactical officer to immediately vaporise you. You have one minute to comply.

Relena replied, claiming that they were lost, and had wandered into the system not knowing where they were. Captain Lavander sounded a little confused, saying that she didn't sound like a draca. Draca respect strength, and the correct way to greet a draca is with a blatant show of strength. The Mystic Shark was originally a draca ship. Kelda recognised the ship's design as belonging to the Guild, but they did not bear any markings or telemetry that would inicate that they were part of the House of Defiance (Guild navy).

Captain Lavander ordered the crew to heave to and prepare to be boarded. At first Relena refused, but the threat of twelve twin-linked blast cannon, eight quad mount pulse laser turrets and a missile battery that is heavier than her ship convinced her that resistance was, more or less, futile.

Lavander beamed aboard the ship, accompanied by a squad of fully armed and armoured marines. He apologised for the manner of his greeting - he thought they were draca - and sent the marines to search the ship. Meanwhile he interrogated Relena, who was not put off. She claimed that they were transporting Duchess Noumalia to her homeworld and had become lost. They put down on the planetoid to try and find out where they were, and were "attacked by BUGS!!!" She asked for his authorisation, since he was not forward about saying where he came from or who she worked for. He made a quick call, and soon Admiral Kerns, commander of the Seventh Fleet of the House of Defiance made a call and instructed her to cooperate.

The marines found the specimen of the mindspider as well as both the package they were sent to deliver and the papers they had removed from the lab. Relena claimed that they had been contracted to deliver the package and the papers, but Lavander could tell that she was lying. Noumalia tried to read his thoughts, but he was simply running a childrens' nursery rhyme over and over in his head. She started to sing along.

At that point, Lavander received a call from his executive officer, and presented Relena with a choice. She could either make a delivery to a certain location for a handsome fee, or she could face trial on charges of high treason for theft of military secrets. Needless to say, Captain Relena Horvald accepted the commission. They were to travel to the planet Aerris and make contact with Nikky Harraden, who would provide them with the cargo and negotiate terms.

On arrival, Harraden offered a commission of 10,000 credits to transport twelve crates to a location in the Demilitarised Zone. Relena asked for 15,000 and Harraden agreed immediately. The crates were filled with "humanitarian aid" - basically food and clothing - and a cursory inspection did not suggest otherwise. They were paid 5,000 credits up front. The location was interesting. Exactly equidistant (down to a kilometer) between the borders of Guild and Empire. The Mystic Shark set down on the Imperial side of the asteroid, unloaded their cargo without incident, and left.

On their return to Aerris, Harraden paid them another 5,000 credits and asked them to take the second shipment back to the asteroid. He was somewhat more forthcoming with information this time around. The asteroid is known as Exchange, and it was a location in neutral Arthirian-controlled space where prisoners are exchanged between Empire and Guild. The Guild suspects that the Empire has other plans for the facility though. There is a prisoner on the Imperial side who is due for exchange. Negotiations have been dragging somewhat, and the Guild intends for them to drag for as long as possible. In the meantime, he needs some equipment. After leaving Aerris for the second time, the crates were opened and Noumalia was able to identify scattered components of a long-range communications device.

Upon their second arrival at Exchange, the crew was taken prisoner by the Empire - all except for Kelda, who was able to conceal herself from the Murrk guards who searched the ship. Relena, Noumalia, Unity and Lance were all sent to separate cells. After a few days, Relena was interrogated by the Haochann administrator of the facility, who threatened her with torture if she did not provide whatever information he wanted. Relena spilled pretty much everything, including the name of her contact on Aerris. Meanwhile he indicated how worthless they were as an exchange.

During the interview, the prisoners revolted. Weapons had clearly been smuggled to them in small parts, and they were able to overpower the guards and set Relena's crew free. The leader of the insurgents was Jesse Hayes.

The Mystic Shark left the system - Jesse and his squad of insurgents said that other arrangements for their extraction had been made - and returned to Aerris. Another ship was in the system at the time - a freighter which was identified as the Paradroid. In the middle of communications with Nicky Harraden, contact was lost. Kelda on scan noticed that there was a beam of some kind emerging from the Paradroid's hull and enveloping the entire planet. At that moment an Imperial fleet arrived in system. The destroyers belonging to the two warring factions moved to engage the newcomers, but they were outmatched. Relena started making the calculations to escape into hyperspace. The best vector was towards the House of Defiance base at Gefe.

A shuttle launched for the Paradroid and made for the Shark. Scan was able to identify a single weak lifeform aboard, and it was being attacked by the Imperials - who had also begun shooting at the Shark. Just as the Shark was ready to make the jump to hyperspace, that lifeform beamed into the cargo hold. Relena and the crew had escaped the Imperial invasion.

Their new passenger was anthropos, female, and unconscious. She also appeared to have beamed aboard a large box-like device with a crystalline blue cone sticking out one end. Noumalia inspected it, but if it was a mechanism of some kind, it was unlike any mechanism she had ever encountered. Unity took their mysterious passenger to the medbay and stabilised her, although she did not regain conscsiousness.

Next episode: The Warlock Karla

Quote of the session:

The only skills I have are sword and sarcasm, so I don't think I've got a lot to offer in this situation.
- Sage