"Raven's Ghost, this is the Craton, do you read?"

"We hear you loud and clear, Craton," the reply came. Even with just a voice, it was clearly Nadian himself. "Welcome to the middle of nowhere, home to the universe's largest gazebo."

A bridge officer snorted out a laugh, and Brooks was glad to let the humor lighten the mood.

"Glad to hear it, Raven's Ghost. We are prepared to receive you and your party at your convenience."

There was a slight pause, and Brooks took a moment to look at an enlarged image of the Raven's Ghost.

The ship was a pleasure yacht originally, built for the richest of the rich. It was a very rare thing; a small ship capable of making its own zerospace jumps.

Such power generation was not something that it was capable of, but the ship had massive capacitors onboard. With those, it had enough charge to carry itself to a location and back.

Nadian's companies had scraped and borrowed quite a lot of credits to buy it, and it showed in how it had been creatively modified after purchase.

"That's not even aftermarket," he heard Ham Sulp saying to Cutter. "That's just some homebrew antenna. Yeah, I know it's jank as hell, but they are getting our signal."

"Ah, Craton, there's a small problem with that," Nadian came back. "In our deal with the Union, the Raven's Ghost is to be the base of operations for this mission. If you want to be involved in our mission, you need to come over here."

Brooks felt a slight confusion, and glanced at the details of his assignment again, muting the channel.

It was in there - buried and easy to miss among other, more important clauses involving first publication and data rights.

"Oh, for . . ." Brooks turned the channel back on. "Our mistake, Raven's Ghost. My party and I will be launching shortly."

The Raven's Ghost was not a large vessel, and so their shuttle had to be correspondingly small.

But certain introductions had to be made to ensure an effective cooperation, and he needed to bring along those he intended to bring with him into the temple, All of which meant that besides himself, crowded in the shuttle were Apollonia, Urle, Kell, Cenz, Eboh, and Zhu. Y was present, but his body was currently stowed and he simply existed in the shuttle's computer system.

They also had a Response escort of Pirra, Kiseleva, Kessissiin, and Guoming, along with a technical support team of five.

It was a crowded shuttle.

If Farland had agreed to come to the Craton, it would have been far easier.

Looking back on it, though, letting the operation be run from his end had been a reasonably easy concession to make. Farland had every reason to cooperate with them, and no reason to do anything foolish. It was a positive show of goodwill as well, to let him take the lead.

No matter how crowded it meant the shuttle had to be.

Kell seemed to be in a poor mood, as well. He had not made eye contact with any of them, his gaze distant and set in serious, almost angry lines. He had spoken very little, and even ignored some lesser questions and comments.

The trip felt far longer than its mere forty minutes, and once they docked, Brooks still found himself having to stoop in the airlock as they waited for a good seal.

It was worse for the tallest among them, Pirra and Urle.

He glanced back over them all. "Let's all try to put on a pleasant face," he told them.

Some slight smiles came back as the airlock light turned green.

It opened, and Brooks stepped inside.

Beyond the airlock stood Nadian Farland and his team. Farland had a famed look that he'd clearly cultivated; like all space-faring people, he wore a full-body outfit that could serve as a spacesuit in the event of an unexpected decompression, but over that he had a webbed harness where normally his gear hung, the baggy pants that were a cultural norm on his homeworld, and the half-cloak that covered the one arm that the stories told was largely mechanical, even if it looked natural.

"Captain Brooks," he said with a nod. His eyes darted over the others behind him. "And company. Welcome aboard the Raven's Ghost. I hope most of you don't get too comfortable."

"Thank you for that warm welcome," Brooks replied neutrally, stepping aboard. Nadian and his people stepped back, giving room for the rest of Brooks's party to board.

"Ach, why so bloody many?" one man asked. He was a thicker man with a pronounced moustache that blended into muttonchops. Brooks vaguely recognized him, and his system supplied a name, though he could not place it - Fergus Mac Domhnall.

"You'll need to be working with the Craton," Brooks said. "I've brought several of my staff officers aboard to meet their equivalents and work out the best way to cooperate."

"More like take over," a tall woman said. Brooks's system could not ID her. "Captain, just send them back."

All eyes went to Nadian, and Brooks felt a flicker of annoyance at this petty power play.

But Nadian seemed to think the same thing. "Most of them will be leaving after introductions," he said.

Brooks nodded, and to his surprise, Nadian stuck out his hand.

"After our rocky start on Gohhi, I wanted to make a peace offering to you, Captain. What you did on Ko was admirable."

Brooks found himself so surprised that he hesitated before taking the hand and shaking it. "Thank you," he said.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"He has a history with Nadian Farland?" Apollonia whispered to Y.

"It appears so," Y replied. "I am unaware of the details."

"This is Rachel Zhu, Flight Commander. Shomari Eboh, Communications. And Cenz, head of Science. They'll be the main coordinating team for the mission. Next is my team I'd like to take with me into the temple; my Executive Commander Zachariah Urle, Dr. Y, Specialist Apollonia Nor, and Ambassador Kell."

Apple found herself surprised to be referenced so seriously, but she was their resident "specialist" Cerebral Reader, as the Union called people with her abilities.

"That's your team, huh?" Nadian said. "And the rest?"

"Lt. Commander Pirra and a part of Response Team One as escorts, and our technical support team to make sure our equipment works with yours," Brooks explained.

Nadian's eyes went over them all. "The techs can stay," he said.

Brooks arched an eyebrow. "And the rest you want off? Our aid is contingent on us having a presence in the temple, Mr. Farland."

"You're fine," Nadian said, his eyes going over the group Brooks had named as his party. "I just want your espatiers staying on the shuttle, and your 'liaison officers' off as soon as their job is done. As for your party - sorry, I'm not bringing your AI, cyborg, or pet CR on my expedition. You and the Ambassador can come."

"Pet CR?" Apollonia blurted out. "Don't be a douche."

Someone on Farland's team laughed. The man himself actually smiled, a disarmingly handsome look that quickly turned more harsh. "Either way, you're not coming on my mission, sweetheart."

Apollonia bristled, but then felt . . . something. It was like a pressure bearing down on her suddenly, but entirely mental.

"Oh," she realized out loud. "You have your own Seer, don't you?"

Her eyes flickered over the team behind him, settling on a man who she could instantly tell was the one in question.

He was somewhat tall, but had a thin and hollowed look to him. His hair was unkempt, and he was staring right at her.

"That's right," Nadian replied. "Captain, this is Tobias Fromm. He's a Seer." Nadian paused, and smiled. "Sorry, a 'Cerebral Reader', as you'd call him."

Brooks ignored the rudeness.

"This is Fergus Mac Domhnall - mythologist and fellow researcher."

He finally gestured to the tall woman; her blonde hair was pulled back into a bun, and she seemed the type to rarely be amused by anything. "And Katherine Michell, my foreman. We'll have Porter drones and that's it. Three of my team and two from yours. Small teams are how I get things done."

Brooks kept his expression neutral. "Very well," he said.

He knew that Urle and Y would object. Well, everyone would object to this change of plans. But there was no good to be had from arguing this. It was less important who was going and that they were going at all.

In fact, he'd been expecting this.

Far better to bring too many and have some sent back, than bring just as many as he'd wanted and have to go with even fewer.

He hadn't expected that it would be Kell, of all people, that Nadian would allow along - he'd expected Apollonia or Urle. Both would likely be less intimidating than Y, and both would be useful in their own ways.

He turned back to look at his escorts. "Lt. Pirra, take your team back on the shuttle."

"Yes, sir," she said. She and the other members of Response Team One marched back on. Among them, only Kessissiin showed any outward signs of annoyance.

"Cenz, Eboh, Zhu - get your work done then return to the Craton with Response Team One."

"Yes, sir," they replied.

He looked now to his team. "Doctor, I'd like you to wait on the ship with RT1, unless I call you."

"Yes, Captain."

Apollonia stepped forward. A lot of angry thoughts were running through her head, but she did not give voice to them. Now was not the time, at the very least, and she knew there must be a reason Brooks was giving in to this asshole.

She had always been a fan of Nadian Farland.

Who couldn't admire a guy who really went into the most obscure and dangerous places and came out with treasure and new knowledge?

But she was just Brooks's 'pet CR' in his eyes. The words stung, and she did not even know how to start going about rebutting them, only that she should not even try right now.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Nor," Brooks said to her, and she knew he was apologizing sincerely. "I'll have to ask you to wait on the shuttle as well."

"All right," she said. She glanced past him again, but at least the other Seer wasn't making a smug face. He was just staring at her exactly the same way.

She turned and left.

"Urle, you'll stay with me until the shuttle is ready to leave," Brooks said. His words were a little louder, daring Farland to argue. But the man seemed to accept that.

The techs and his command officers moved down one direction of the hall, being led by some of the Raven's Ghost's crew, while Nadian waved for the others to follow him.

Fromm and Michell stayed close to him, but Mac Domhnall slipped back, towards Kell.

"Ah, a Shoggoth! I've long desired to meet one of your kind," he said, pressing closer. He put his hands out for Kell's as they walked, but the Shoggoth did not respond in kind, merely staring back at the man with a vague air of annoyance.

When the being did not reply, Mac Domhnall pressed on. "I have a lot of questions for you, as you can well imagine."

Urle felt a vague amusement. He looked to Kell, curious how he'd respond. Kell rarely tolerated questions.

"Is that so," Kell replied, his voice flat and unreceptive.

Mac Domhnall's face fell slightly, catching the hint.

"Well surely you can tell me one of your legends. I imagine a people as ancient as yours would have many!"

Kell turned to Brooks. "As a condition of my being here you will keep me from being accosted by idiots."

"Ach, don't be like that!" Mac Domhnall proclaimed immediately. "I'm top in my field, not some common fool! Captain, please, tell the Shoggoth to play along."

Brooks shrugged. "I can do no such thing, and the Ambassador has made his position clear."

"He dinnae have to insult me in the process!"

"No," Brooks agreed. "He did not. But I can't order him to be nice."

Nadian looked amused. "You annoy an alien mind, Fergus, you may get an answer you don't like or expect."

Mac Domhnall scowled, first at Nadian, then at Brooks and finally Kell. After a moment, with a huff, the man quickened his pace, walking towards the head of the group.

Urle leaned closer to Kell. "You really didn't have to insult the man. We're working with him."

"He annoyed me," Kell replied. "I am not a social being."

"Yes, but we are. You kind of accepted working with humans when you joined the Union."

"I gave him signals that he should have understood," Kell replied. "That informed him of my lack of desire to speak with him."

Urle sighed. "Well at least don't insult him. As a personal favor to me."

Kell seemed to consider. "If I recall, it is you who have said that you owe me. I would like to call in that favor now."

Urle felt his apprehension rise. "What do you want?" he asked carefully.

Kell pointed to Mac Domhnall, raising his voice slightly. "Go and tell him he's an idiot."

The man heard them, turning back to glare. His cheeks were reddening with anger.

"Kell," Brooks said. "Stop being antagonistic. I'm making that an order."

A message came up in Brooks's HUD: And he's the ambassador.

It was from Urle, and Brooks smiled slightly.

This was unusually intense, even for Kell. He rarely stooped to insults.

"Is something bothering you about this?" he heard Urle ask softly. "If you didn't want to be here-"

"I must be here," Kell said. "But that does not mean I wish to be."

Nadian stopped and turned. "And why is that?"

The entire group came to a halt around the man, and Brooks felt the tension.

Kell seemed indifferent to it all.

Nadian continued. "I do want to hear your point of view. I won't pester you for it on every little thing, but I think you're closer to all of this than any of us."

Brooks thought Kell would not reply or would deflect it. He did neither.

"This is a placetime of transformation," he said. "As well as a curse. You do not understand how or why yet. But you will."