Ali knew that even considering this plan was a stupid idea. She'd slept on it because she knew that. She was deliberately not consulting HQ because she knew what their response would be. Frankly it might be entirely unnecessary to take over the undercover mission Wood had been running, he had told her he might still be able to work it.

But that was just it, he'd given her the data, he'd said there was only a chance he could do more.

Therefore, if she could overcome one potential snag, she was picking up where he left off. She had spent a couple of years of her life as a loner doing odd jobs for some pretty shady people and groups. Walking back into that life might be stupid, but she had the experience.

The medical bay was blissfully quiet as she entered. As the doors slid shut behind her she paused to look around for her head medic. "Ali!" Even though she tried her best to hold onto an exasperated look as she turned to Commander Etsile Gadiitsiwe where he'd tried to surprise her - yet again - but the boisterous nature of his deep voice made it impossible. He was a jubilant force of nature and it made her smile despite herself. "What brings you into my domain?" His setswana accent was as thick as his eyebrows, which stood out in stark contrast to the shaven umber skin of his head.

"I have a challenge for you."

"Oh no," Etsile sighed dramatically, "you are up to something."

Ali feigned a look of innocence that he saw right through. "Okay, if I needed to cheat a biometric scan, how would I go about it?"

Etsile crossed his arms as he looked down at his captain to scrutinise her. "Why?"

"Because I want to try and gather some intel on groups who potentially hate people like me." Ali shrugged as if to deny that the prejudice bothered her. She avoided it by not advertising the fact that she was only half human. Her father was kentarian, though her human physiology was dominant enough that she appeared human if no one knew to look for it, but some of her proportions were just on the wrong side of average for human. To escape the stigma that hybrids garnered her parents had decided that her mother should raise her as human. Once Ali was old enough to learn the truth her father had taught her the basics of her kentarian abilities, namely her telepathic skills, and some of his culture, but up until the last year or so she'd never really gone beyond that.

But last year everything had changed. Her ex-lover had escaped from his prison cell and the telepathic connection - known as a tetnar - they shared had been as much of a liability as an asset. Since then she had undergone some serious training to give her more control over her telepathic powers. She had drastically increased the range of her abilities and become much more comfortable and confident in her kentarian nature as a result.

That didn't mean she was ready to advertise the fact, however, so very few people knew that she was a hybrid and most of them were on a different ship. Etsile and Rila were the only two on the Faraday that Ali had told. "…and you want to be prepared in case their weapons scans are a bit more invasive than usual?"

Ali nodded. "Wouldn't you?"

Etsile gave a little sigh at that, though he still managed a wan smile. "I have something, but it will be risky." Ali quirked an eyebrow as if to ask why that would stop her. He beckoned her over to one of the many benches set away from the patient beds. After a quick rummage through a drawer he pulled out a small container and handed it to her. She opened it to reveal a small microchip. "A subdermal chip, it emits signals designed to block most scanners," Etsile explained as Ali lifted it up to examine it, "but with certain modification it is possible we can make it emit a certain signal instead."

Ali considered it for a moment, as a scientist herself she knew the risks inherent in untested technology, but they didn't have a better alternative. Frankly, it was better than nothing. Frankly, it was enough to be worth the risk. "Okay, let's try it then."

~-x-~

Now that the most significant hurdle had been overcome Ali called a senior staff meeting. She had no problem involving her crew in this because she knew that as she was the one who ordered it, it was all on her head. She fully intended to take that blame when it - and Security Core - came knocking.

Since she had processed the data with Olkant she had already come up with the summary to brief her staff with. "It's simple enough, we pick up where the operative left off. The shipment of weapons was never claimed and is still sat in a warehouse. We have enough contacts that we should be able to establish ourselves as vendors to be able to get us enough access."

"You have a weird definition of simple, skipper," Ensign Eduardo Manzanares decided. He was the Faraday's helmsman, he had a roguish quality to his bronze features, fashionably mussed hair and designer stubble. When Ali had first transferred to the Faraday she had thought him to be cocky, however since then he'd done nothing but prove his skills matched his confidence.

"It's a simple enough drop," Rila replied without her eyes ever leaving the holographic data.

"But what will this achieve? I thought the aim was to stop the bad guys getting hold of this kind of payload." Lieutenant Niamh Dent leant her folded elbows on the desk in front of her as her brown eyes scanned the data, her face was half hidden by her barely chin length hair. As usual she was using a joke to highlight a serious point. The combination of her unruly hair and mischief had led to her nickname of Pixie.

Ali smiled and reached out to quickly bring up the specifications of the weapons shipment that Wood was supposed to deliver to the group in question. From the data he had supplied they had been able to work out that a rival supplier had gotten him arrested so that they could get the business instead. "Anything catch your eye?"

Pixie pushed her ginger hair back out of her face as she scrutinised the new data, as the Faraday's head of security she knew her way around firearms. A knowing smirk flitted across her face as she spotted it. "You devious… Give them the weapons and track the weapons," she said as she waved at the display with one hand and relaxed back into her chair.

"Have you located the weapons?" Etsile asked, "all it takes is one bribable employee and they'll already be in the wind."

"Yes, the trackers are still registering and the first thing we'll do is secure them." Ali reached back towards the display to bring up different data. "This is our target, Alain Touchard, he's more or less a standard two bit thug who's worked his way up the Cosmos' Champions to lead it."

"I've heard of them," Rila said, "not that long ago they weren't on anyone's radar, until Touchard and Zychene - his deputy - took over. They rebranded the group from street gang to mercenary group willing to back any cause if the price is right. Loyal so long as the money is flowing, and surprisingly they'll give their original benefactor a chance to up their offer if a better one comes along."

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"If our understanding is correct, Touchard is the business strategist and Zychene is the tactical one," Ali added. "We know their stomping ground and Rila and I have enough old contacts and reputation to get us entry with a little bit of creative record keeping. Just enough to make it look like our USEP association is a cover."

"I have already made a start on your cover stories," Olkant said to update them.

"You really plan on going in with just two?" Pixie asked, "I know you two are good but you'll be in deep and literally surrounded by BAMFs." Ali leant into her hand to cover up her amused smile. No matter how appropriate the word, there were some that Pixie just wouldn't say, even though she would make it perfectly clear she was thinking them.

"That's why Waarlm is coming with us," Ali agreed as she beckoned to their head of engineering.

No one looked more surprised than Lieutenant Waarlm himself - her chief engineer -, the shocked movement of his head caused his lavish mane to ripple. He was sat at the foot of the table, all four of his paws neatly placed in front of his body and his tail wrapped over them. His fur was a subtle patchwork of beige and tan tones. "Me?"

Ali nodded and she didn't miss the looks her crew exchanged looks with each other to ask if their captain had finally lost it. Apart from Rila, who just clicked her tongue and leant back in her chair as if she'd seen some hidden motive she didn't care to share. "Skipper, Waarlm, don't take this the wrong way but… wouldn't it make more sense to take someone more… experienced in a fight?"

"And who is going to pick a fight with the seven and a half foot bodyguard?"

An understanding fell over the table as they looked back at Waarlm. Isharates regularly swapped between quadruped and biped movements depending on their needs. As quadruped they stood just over four foot tall, as bipeds they were well over seven, some nearer eight. Therefore, despite the fact that Waarlm had a kind and gentle nature, his size and prominent incisors meant that it wouldn't take much effort to make him look ferocious and dangerous. Even if they were manipulating a stereotype.

"If that is settled I want you all to report to sick bay, full check ups and a few upgrades for your mission," Etsile ordered, though his tone still held it's usual upbeat tone.

"Aw, man, you guys get cool spy gadgets?" Pixie flopped back onto her elbows in disappointment, blowing at her hair. Ali and Rila shared an amused, knowing look over her head.

~-x-~

Ali had to resist rubbing at the raw spot in the dip just above her collarbone where Etsile had planted a subdermal chip. That particular one was a tracker with some emergency comm boosting capabilities. The one that would disguise her under intensive scans - if they were lucky - was planted just beneath her left shoulder blade.

Their intel had led them to a club that Touchard liked to do business in, so that was their starting point. The scene in front of them was noisy and chaotic, their bodies vibrating from the bass. Ali and Rila shared a look and Ali nodded. Rila turned and instantly plucked a nearby tray of drinks and lifted it high above her head before slinking her way into the crowd. From there she was a masterclass of lithe, graceful, gymnastic dance moves as she weaved between the packed crowd easily, never once coming close to spilling any of the drinks.

"How..?" Waarlm raised onto his hind legs as he watched Rila in disbelief until he lost her in the crowd.

Ali laughed as she said, "she was a gymnast before she worked the streets."

They made their way around the edge of the dance floor as Ali snuck surreptitious glances at her scanner. She'd programmed Touchard's biometric into it before they set off and she was using it to guide them to him. They finally located him in a high up corner of the club, lounging on a sofa with a few hired goons around him as he drank and did business. Ali thought he looked to be one gaudy cane away from looking like an insecure pimp. She stopped at the nearest bar to order drinks before finding herself a nice spot against the wall to wait for him to conclude his current meeting. Waarlm loomed over her as he wrapped two large paws around his own wide rimmed glass.

As they patiently waited Ali spotted Rila on the balcony opposite, who flashed her a thumbs up - a sign she'd learnt from humans - as she sidled alongside the railing away from one of the emergency exits.

Touchard's meeting wrapped up on time. Ali wasn't surprised, many criminal leaders liked to think of themselves as business people, so she was ready to move once the irrelevant parties had left. She pushed herself off the wall and vaulted over a sofa using a well placed hand before flopping to sit on it straight away. She looked around with a calm smirk as she sipped on her drink. She did love to make an entrance. "Just who do you think you are?" Touchard demanded.

"Ali Turner. I believe I have some gear you are in the market for, Mr Touchard."

"Gardes!" Touchard snapped but before anyone could move Waarlm had stepped up so that he stood directly behind Ali. His shadow engulfed the already dark corner as he created an imposing and intimidating figure.

"You could just hear us out. If you're worried about your next meeting, I can assure you that we won't be the ones to delay you." Ali took another sip of her drink, displaying ease and nonchalance at the scene unfolding around her.

Touchard glared at this strange, confident woman for a moment as he sized her up, before gesturing for his bodyguards to relax. Ali gave him her most charming smile at that. She could tell he wanted to put her in her place, but as she hadn't threatened him he had decided to leave it be, for now. "What are you offering?" He asked and Ali leant forward so that she could put a small tablet on the low table between them, sliding it across to him so that he could review the data on it. "I have seen these details before."

"Yes, our agent was sadly… waylaid by the competition. Rest assured the goods and price stand and we are still willing to deal." Ali deliberately sipped her drink to pause so that it sank in. "However, you'll understand that these events will have soured our relationship somewhat and unfortunately I am forced to put a time limit on the deal. You have till midnight to make your decision."

"You cannot possibly -"

"Mr Touchard, I can do whatever I please with my own merchandise," Ali said with a calm, comfortable and confident tone. As she stood up she reached for the tablet. "We are showing incredible generosity by offering you this deal a second time at all. Our product is of the highest quality and ready to ship. You already reached a satisfactory agreement with our agent, why go to all the effort courting a new supplier?"

Ali didn't wait for an answer and simply sauntered out of the meeting area to let that percolate.

They met back up with Rila on the main dance floor and quickly caught each other up on the details they'd missed; Rila's interception of their competitors meeting with Touchard, and Ali's meeting with Touchard. Now all they had to do was wait for the inevitable. With no other options and a time limited offer on the table their chances were high that Touchard would broach them again that night. Otherwise it was down to plan B, which was to find his alternative supplier and swap out the weapons with theirs without anyone being any wiser.

Peshtar didn't have the same hour system as earth, or even Forum standard - which some scientists had calculated was the optimum balance between all species needs when living alongside each other off-planet - but all planets had a midnight. Ali figured it was Peshtar's equivalent to half an hour to midnight when one of Touchard's goons sought her out in the crowded club.

Once the deal was arranged both Ali and Rila considered it a simple enough drop, though they were both suspicious enough that they scouted out the suggested neutral ground beforehand. It was easy enough for them to work out where any ambushes and hidden mercs would be stationed, which allowed them time to plan their positions when they did the swap. They called in a couple of Pixie's security team in as a precaution. In the end they were lucky, despite the snipers or mercs they knew were positioned, Touchard had no desire for conflict. A quick demonstration of the weapons was all he required after which he was happy to complete the purchase under the original terms Wood had negotiated before the competition had got him locked up.

"What about your agent?" Touchard's casual tone was hiding a suspicious edge. Ali suspected he thought they'd try and twist his arm to use his influence to get their man released.

Ali shrugged. "If he's stupid enough to get caught, he deserves to sweat a little." As much as she'd prefer to get Wood out of jail, being indebted to a man like Touchard was not a good plan. Besides, asking would only arouse suspicions in a world where everyone knew the risks of their actions. Touchard held her gaze for a moment as if he was still trying to suss her out, before he nodded and left with his men. Ali and her team watched them go until they finally dared breathe a sigh of relief and headed to their own extraction point.