~Sometimes, when caught in the middle, the smallest need only duck.~

Baskylla Jardzen Khla ponders everything Mrff just told him. The Zarrakyssn interdictors can be defeated. Perhaps not easily, but it can be done. And, the humans have either quickly become paranoid, or they are receiving counsel from certain prisoners.

Both revelations give Khla a boost of confidence that both his Zhi and Dzor are alive and well, as well as the semi-official ability to counter one of the Zarrakyssn’s most deadly and effective technologies. Mrff’s method is limited to the best pilots in the lightest ships the Fievegal has, but it highlights how the technology actually works. It was widely believed that the weapon was some kind of hull-blast or EMP, or a continuous field like a powerful gravity well or nuclear particle barrage. Instead, if Mrff is correct, it’s closer to being a turret-based weapon, with a limited fire rate and operated by a crew.

He also looks over the location calculated by Helmdraavv Dzhonn. There aren’t many worlds within a short jump range from the location. The Fievegal also doesn’t have the best maps of areas around Zarrakyssn territory. They control an ever-growing empire of consumption, and they are consequently the only known threat to the Fievegal’s superiority.

It just dawns on Khla like a writer having a sudden idea, that there is more than one reason to not let the Zarrakyssns capture the humans. If the ruthless annihilators find out the Fievegal is without a Saurmynnyka, they would be FOOLS not to launch a campaign against the Fievegal. And, though there aren’t many tactical minds amongst the Zarrakyssns, they would quickly come to such a basic conclusion if they find out.

Laurel asks suddenly, ripping him out of his thought, “Are those the possible places my people went?”

Khla looks at her as she studies the starmap. He glances up at Mrff, who is nearby. Laurel isn’t forbidden from the bridge, so long as she is carrying hope. Khla meant it when he said he sees her as royalty. But, he is no less surprised by the suddenness. He finally manages to reply to her, “Yuss. Billivv so.”

Another realization. This is perfect. Who better to think like the humans than another human? She doesn’t need the extra weight of the decision Khla was just pondering, but she may be far more useful to him than he ever imagined. He says brightly, “Hoomin Lorrill! Porfict teemeeng. Need yuu.”

Surprised, the female mammal replies, “N-Need me? F-For what?”

Khla quickly steps out of his command chair, helping/pushing Laurel up into it. He explains, “Hoomin Baskylla lond here:” He points to the landing dot, depicted as a red dot. He continues, “Theess oll known words een short joomp ronj froom tharr. Need yuu tell wheech word eez moss leekly targit. {These all known worlds in short jump range from there. Need you tell which world is most likely target.}”

Still surprised, or even more so, Laurel retorts, “M-Me!? H-How should I know?”

“Moturls hoomins need sorveev. Oll theess words had wator lost we know. Need narrow down. {Materials humans need survive. All these worlds had water last we know. Need narrow down.}”

Khla’s navigator, Nordzen Dzudich’chn, says respectfully, “Eef mah, Yarjen, Hoomin. Mooss be theess word. See? Goll. Loss goll. Hoomins need goll for sorveev, yiss? {If may, Jardzen, Human. Must be this world. See? Gold. Lots gold. Humans need gold for survive, yes?}”

Khla nods, “Mmm, yuss. Yuu hovv pont. Hoomins horde goll, war, ond trod weeth high volloo. {Mmm, yes. You have point. Humans horde gold, war, and trade with high valve.}” He adds, “Leekly dih weethout. {Likely die without.}”

Khla halts when Laurel suddenly bursts out laughing. Dzudich asks, surprised, “Whih eez foony, Hoomin? Wee see heestoree. Hoomins war for goll nurr-constont. {What is funny, Human? We see history. Humans war for gold near-constant(ly).}”

Mrff says nothing, but he does smirk at Khla. Perhaps there’s a reason he didn’t suggest anything. Laurel replies when she calms herself, “Apologies, but… We don’t need gold to survive. It’s precious to us because it’s shiny and rare-ish. That’s about it. If the fleet IS being run by a Navy Captain, and they’re more focused on survival, Gold is almost out of the question. Though, it’s not useless. I think it’s a good conductor or something.” The tiny being studies the map, which is labeled only in Grodrrn. But, she’s picked up quite a bit, reading-wise. She points, asking, “What’s this word?”

Mrff looks along her arm, replying after, “Gig-hurl. What yuu coll pot-sum. {Gyghrll. What you call pot-sum.}”

“Pot-sum?” asks Laurel confused. “Potassium?”

Mrff nods. She adds warmly, “That’s a contender. What else? How about this world?”

Khla replies, “Hee carbonn continn. Coul ronj froom plonts ond coal to patrolum ond deemons. {High carbon content. Could range from plants and coal to petroleum and diamonds.}”

“Diamonds?” Khla nods. Laurel nods, saying, “Not bad. I don’t think the space ships need petroleum or coal. How about this?”

Mrff replies, “Neetroos.”

“Neetroos… Nitrous?”

Mrff repeats, “N-Nyee-troos. Yuss. Metolls ond carbon, tuu. Mooch liss oboondinn. {N-Ni-trous. Yes. Metals and carbon, too. Much less abundant.}”

Dzudich adds, “Wuzz eenhobittid. Eef Zarrakyssns reach, not eenhobbittid now. {Was inhabited. If the Zarrakyssns reach(ed), not inhabited now.}”

“And what resources they had would be gone… Plus, it’s the furthest away from the landing point.”

The Nordzen nods. Laurel thinks for a moment. She replies, “If potassium is present on that first world, it probably has other minerals and salts, right? I think that’s where they’d start.”

“Theenk?” growls Dzudich. “The Zarrakyssns dohn occeept apoloj. Leekly onlih woon chonce. {The Zarrakyssns don’t accept apology(ies). Likely only one chance.}”

Khla growls in their own tongue, “{There are no absolutes, Nordzen. Not this far out in space.}”

“{All the more reason we must be more precise. If ‘think’ is acceptable, then I think the gold planet is a safer bet. Zarrakyssns NEVER take gold. They might not have even stripped the planet. There’s likely other trace elements like potassium and carbon there than the other worlds.}”

Khla replies calmly, “{You’re not entirely wrong, but nor are you entirely right. The human fleet is small. They don’t need much from a world. Priority can therefore outweigh abundance.}”

Mrff adds, “{A planet with that much gold is also going to have a high gravity and strong magnetic fields. Not many pilots can successfully land on a world changing pull every few seconds. I don’t think either Helmdraavv the humans captured could handle it. Honor to both, of course, Jardzen.}”

Khla nods civilly, asking, “{What do you think, Mrff? Is Laurel correct?}”

Mrff thinks for a moment. He replies, “{She isn’t sure. She wasn’t military and didn’t spend any time in the fleet. It’s impossible to know the priorities of your counterpart on species need alone. That said, it’s the best we have now.}”

Khla nods. He replies to Dzudich, “{We’ll send a recon probe and scan that planet once we’re in system. The world we KNOW the Zarrakyssns have stripped is safer than the one they might not have.}”

Dzudich nods, “{As you wish, Jardzen.}” He turns and heads to his station.

Laurel asks quietly, “Was… that about me?”

Khla looks at her and smiles. He replies, “Onlih abott deeforinss in sortan vorse theenk. No sortan here. {Only about difference in certain(ty) verse think. No certain(ty) here.}” The Baskylla Jardzen adds reverently, “Hopefullih, we bawth reooneetid soon. {Hopefully, we both reunited, soon.}”

Khla watches the bridge crew as preparations are made for the jump. Optimism isn’t a Grodrrn’s defining trait, but he is rather optimistic. This whole voyage has had numerous ups and downs. With luck, life can finally go back to normal.

***

“WE HAVE THREE LEFT!” booms Captain Angelica Long’s voice, filling the lab. Chief Grey stands by with Little Bird holding his hand. The small girl studies the three gelatinous orbs sitting all alone in each of three of the incubating pods. Long emphasizes, “THREE! Out of, what, two hundred plus!?”

Dr. Craig Coulson replies, as scientists frantically test EVERYTHING, searching for answers, “We’re sorry Captain! Th-They started dying suddenly and without warning. Each batch has its own equipment and we sample regularly. As far as we can tell, nothing changed from when they were healthy and growing to now.”

Long growls, “What are we supposed to tell the Cave Queen? Huh? That we’re not nearly as smart as we thought we were?”

Dr. Coulson replies as calmly as he can, “Captain, it’s alien biology we’re dealing with. Clearly there are factors we’re missing. If the Queen knew more about her hosts…”

“WE promised her an alternative. This was supposed to be the simplest of our outstanding challenges.”

Dr. Coulson stays respectful, replying, “We’re doing our best, Captain.”

She takes a deep breath and sighs. “I know. I’m sorry. But, I NEED you to do better. Try something. ANYTHING.”

He nods, excusing himself to join his team. Long turns to face Chief Grey. She asks dryly, “Ask me how the rest of my day is going.”

Grey replies, “Don’t need to, Cap. Anything I can do?”

She scoffs, replying, “Whiskey…”

Grey chuckles, whispering, “What’s it worth to you?”

Long chuckles and sighs. Little Bird asks, “These are all of the Queen’s babies left?”

The Captain glances at Grey. She replies, “Mm-hmm. For now.”

“Did aliens hurt them, too?”

Long kneels to her level. She replies softly, “No. We did. We promised we could help, but we don’t know what’s wrong.”

Little Bird is quiet for a moment as she watches the closest occupied pod. Lieutenant Kane enters the lab, saying, “I’m afraid the Queen doesn’t know anything more, Captain. Tried asking everything I could think of. She understands, though. I just hope we can figure something out. She’s, uh, getting rather large again.”

Long sighs, “Great. It doesn’t make sense. What could be missing?”

Little Bird asks suddenly, “Could they be lonely?”

Long smiles at her gently, replying, “No, Sweetie. They’re too little in their eggs to know.”

The tiny girl says softly, “She looks so sad, though.”

Everyone looks. The embryo looks tiny and underformed. Two dark spots indicate eyes, but not much else suggests any kind of expression.

Dr. Coulson replies, “These three aren’t in pain, thank goodness. That much we can determine. Other than that, their brain activity is minimal, so it must just be how they look at this age.”

The little girl is quiet again. Lieutenant Kane is as well. Long pulls Grey aside and whispers, “Is Jessie’s still…?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“And is it…?”

“Three times that size. Squirms constantly. She bursts out laughing from it tickling her.”

“HER,” whispers Long with a smirk. “‘It’ is a ‘she’.”

Grey scoffs. Long murmurs, “How can that be, though? She’s barely upgraded from a water bottle. How can hers be doing so much better?”

Grey shakes his head. “Dunno. Cap. Moving around, maybe? Spaceman Long stays active, with a little caution of course.”

The auburn-haired Captain nods, “Maybe. Eliminates gravity as a possibility.” She turns and speaks up, “Doctor Coulson, have you tried agitating the pods gently? Simulate a host walking and moving.”

The scientists all halt and look at each other. Dr. Coulson replies, “No, but we’ll begin immediately, Captain.”

“Good. Try to match walking primarily. Update me as soon as you can.”

“Of course, Captain!”

She sighs and looks at Grey, “Let’s hope that’s one snag resolved.”

Kane says warmly as he approaches, “That’s good thinking, Captain; the movement. So what’s snag two?”

Long frowns, replying, “Several mining craft are grounded on the surface while a storm blows through. It’s big, and it has a lot of electrical discharge. Not safe to fly, but now Captain’s Francisco and Murdock are asking us to consider… contingencies.”

Grey growls, “What ‘contingencies’, exactly?” She shoots him a light glare. He knows exactly which ones.

Kane replies, “Not an option, Captain. If we leave mining crews behind, we fail twice. Once for giving the Grodurns their version of what they want, and once for the lack of mining volunteers if being abandoned at the first sign of trouble is in the job description.”

Long urges, “I agree, but they’re not wrong, either. We MIGHT be able to take a battleship ship to ship, but we don’t have the numbers to risk in fights.”

Grey growls, “Then the mission should have been recalled as soon as the weather started to shift. Do we suddenly not have eyes in space for weather?”

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

Long replies, “That’s getting addressed, I promise, Chief. But, what should we do right now if hostile ships jump in?”

Grey replies without hesitation, “Sleep in our bed. We fight to the death this time and not make this mistake again.”

Long looks down, and Kane adds, “There is a less severe option. We do have at least two pilots who might be able to pilot properly equipped ships to extract the crews, one of whom would likely help.”

“You mean Craw?” asks Long.

Grey chuckles, “From invader to savior. THAT’LL silence the complaints.”

Kane counters, “Craw isn’t experienced, but she’s well-trained on xeno-atmospheric entries, even in hostile weather.”

Grey asks, “And, if she takes her newly ‘rescued’ humans and jumps back to her fleet? Or, simply plays keep away until they arrive?”

Long replies softly, “I don’t think Craw would do that. Jor, maybe, but not Craw. She’s optimistic about our project on her. Remember, the Grodurns have about as much likelihood of success with their plan as we had going in blind on the Queen’s eggs. Capable is not the same as prepared. And, I think Craw and Jor have both thought about that a lot.”

Long looks at each of them, adding, “You’re both frontline soldiers. What do you think? Should we retrieve the crews now, just in case?”

Grey replies first, “I’m not in charge of the big picture. If the crocs arrive in the next five minutes, I’m ready to fight while they’re retrieved. Beyond that, the ‘metrics’ and all that bureaucracy is out of my hands.”

Kane replies, “I agree with Chief Grey, Captain. But, I believe we should retrieve the crews now, just in case. We’ll survive lost extraction time.”

Long nods, “Very well. You’re right. I’ll notify Helmdraff Craw. Lieutenant Kane, to ease the Chief’s concerns, would you accompany her on extraction?”

Kane nods, “Of course, Captain.”

“Good. Meet Craw in the hangar. You’ll be taking Stingray One.”

“Stingray One, aye, Captain.”

She thanks both of them and departs. Chief Grey looks at Little Bird, who seems to be softly talking to the pod. Grey says, “A’ight, Marine. Let’s head to the ready room in case something happens.”

The tiny girl perks up, whirling to face him. She says brightly, “Okay, Chief!” She quickly says to the pod, “I have to go! Please hang in there, baby!” She waves at the pod and jogs to catch up to Grey.

Lieutenant Kane doesn’t watch them, however. He is a man of instincts. He has to be. Given his total amnesia, automatic instincts for the strange, unremovable device on his arm are the only reason he’s alive. And, although he can’t remember anything specific, he catches glimpses of what seem to be a past life or lives. Deep down, he feels like he has been at least one other person, and not in the reincarnation sense. Somehow, the device is involved.

And, in at least one of those lives, he must have been a parent. He’s certain of it. Because, his gaze doesn’t track to scientists rocking the pods manually while jabbering about how best to simulate. His gaze drew to a single computer monitor with three graphs. Each graph shows a jagged line that barely leaves flat, except one. For the last several minutes, and ending seconds ago, one of the graphs was showing increased activity.

Those three graphs are each a brain activity monitor.

***

Helmdravv Khla patiently performs her preflight checks. The human Lieutenant Kane aids her from the copilot seat. She knows why he’s really there. He’s present to stop her if she goes rogue. And, she’s okay with it. The humans have shown profoundly more trust in her than the Grodrrns would for one of them. She can venture the ship, under guard of course, discuss tactical plans and Grodrrn shuttle operation –though shuttles only-. She helps with the maintenance and repairs of the shuttles, as well as the human-friendly modifications.

Most exciting to her, though, is that she’s overheard talks of extending Jardzen Dzor similar escorted walks. He hasn’t been outside of the containment area at all. However, Captain Long is optimistic that Dzor is more friendly than he lets on, as well as she is very grateful to both his blessings of Khla’s cooperation and his approval of the fertility project.

The humans have had setbacks with the alien they call the ‘Cave Queen’. Or rather, with her offspring. Unlike Khla and the Grodrrns, this alien has an abundance of offspring to spawn, but it takes circumstances the humans are struggling to replicate. Khla is admittedly envious, though. However, if all goes well for the Grodrrns, Khla may very well be the lucky first Grodrrn female to lay eggs who isn’t a Saurmynnyka in millennia.

So far, it’s been lots of blood tests, with samples taken from all of the Grodrrns so the humans can try to baseline varying traits between males and females, such as hormones, sickness, and DNA. From Khla’s limited understanding, the DNA is key, because –supposedly- if the Grodrrns are biologically similar to males and females of almost every species of Earth, then the male Grodrrns contain a sample of healthy female DNA to which a sterilized female can be compared to genetic damage. Longer term, the humans are hoping to apparently grow replacement organs for Khla, though they seem to think DNA damage is the underlying factor, or the Grodrrn healing units should have repaired Khla’s organs long ago. The problem is whether or not they can viably make at least Khla’s organs useable.

In any case, the humans are optimistic, still. And, Khla’s only input is her body for now, so she returns her mind to the task at hand. In exchange for their work, they have given her many luxuries in order for her to serve as a pilot for them. So, she can understand Kane’s presence. After all, he’s always been pleasant to her, save his orginal self defense.

She runs some calibrations on the shuttle’s systems and glances into the crew bay when footsteps approach. Captain Long and the young male Human Ensign Hancock, enter the ship. Hancock is wearing his EVA suit, and he has a device on his back with a satellite dish pointed up.

Captain Long asks, “Room for one more?”

Kane asks, “Testing something for Lopez?”

Hancock nods, “Yes sir. Long range robust comms. It’s a narrow beam, but Le-uh, Dr. Lopez believes this should be able to cut into the caverns better, as well as the storm, obviously.”

“Good. Helmdraff? Will the ship be okay with one more person?”

Khla jumps with a small start, surprised to be given a voice. On a Grodrrn crew, the pilots usually aren’t that high ranking. But here, she’s still getting used to how often her input is requested on missions and the authority she has. She nods, “Yess. I may have to adjoost compensation once onn surface, but non-issue. Given numbers, Humans much less weighted than Grodurns.”

The three humans nod, and Kane says warmly, “Strap in, Ensign.”

Captain Long says warmly, “Nothing fancy. Go down, retrieve personell only, and return. We’ll retrieve the ships if we can once the storm’s gone.”

Kane and Hancock reply, “Aye, Captain.” Khla mimics, “Aye, Captain.”

“Good luck.” The Captain leaves the ship.

Once prepared, Khla squeaks, “L-Lieutenant?”

“Yes Helmdraff?”

“Am… I permitted to wear EVA? Grodrrn S.O.P. for xenoatmospheric…” Kane doesn’t even let her finish. He replies, “Of course. I’m sorry, I should’ve realized. I should get mine too. Hang tight.” The Lieutenant jogs out quickly. He returns with a cart behind him carrying a Grodrrn EVA suit and his own. He says calmly, “I’ll take us out while you don yours, and we’ll swap. Sound good?”

The surprised pilot nods. Kane takes control of the ship as Khla starts putting the space-safe suit on. The humans always find new ways to surprise her. Under Grodrrn leadership, if it wasn’t supplied, it wasn’t necessary. The S.O.P. for landing on alien worlds only says to wear EVA suits in case the hull gets a leak or they need to open hatches to fight and clear a landing zone. Earth was different because probes indicated it was safe.

Kane says into the communicator, “Flight control, this is Stingray One. Flight preparations complete. Requesting permission and takeoff vector.”

A voice comes back, “Affirmative, Stingray One. Stand by.” There’s a pause, and the voice says, “Stingray one, Flight Control, permission granted. Take off vector four by seventeen. You may launch.”

“Affirmative Flight Control. Vector four by seventeen. Stingray One taking off.” The Lieutenant applies throttle to the engines slowly, and the shuttle slowly drifts out of the hangar. Once in space, Kane accelerates gently toward the planet on the given course, which is plotted near the fleet to ensure small ships flying around don’t intersect and collide.

Once Khla is ready, she takes her seat and says, “Lieutenant, I’m ready.”

Kane nods. He says calmly, “Vector’s five by fourteen. Ahead one-third. Once we’re clear of fleet perimeter, you’re free to adjust as necessary. Helm is yours.”

She takes control and replies, “I have helm.” The human smiles and nods at her. He then steps into the back to don his EVA suit.

As she flies, though, Khla notices strange readings on one of her instruments. It’s a field strength graph that’s circular in shape, and it shows strange warbles from the left side. Usually, a battleship has a team dedicated to determining and eliminating noise in the instruments. From there, that information is relayed to all smaller vessels. However, this signal isn’t in any of the typical noise bands for field and signal detection. It’s just above the allowable noise zeroing threshold, and has a distinct field distortion instead of a signal waveform.

Khla asks politely, “Lieutenant?”

“Yes?”

“Can we ask Ensign Hancock to disable his device. I’m seeing something.”

Hancock replies, “It’s not on, Ma’am.”

Kane steps forward, “What is it?”

Khla points to her screen. “I detecting some kind of field distershin. Could indicate a lot of things. In this case, I would relay to battlesheep and let they decide what is.”

Kane chuckles, “I see the problem…” He studies the signal. He asks, “Any idea what it is?”

“No. Not specific. Many stars have fairly unique signatures, and could cause. Certain celestial bodies collision. I sorry. I do not possess enough wisdom.”

Kane replies gently, “It’s okay. Keep an eye on it as we go. If it strengthens or anything, we’ll flee the area to be safe. Let’s focus on getting the miners.”

“Right.” Khla pilots the shuttle deftly, aligning with the planet. Kane takes his seat. Khla activates the ship’s entry systems, which will automatically account for temperature and pressure changes while she navigates the storm.

Hancock says from the back, “Helmdraff… Lopez is asking what the signal looks like. Does it look like a gravimetric pulse or its echo?”

Khla replies, “No. Gravionic pulse creates sweep. This is directional.”

Kane whispers, “This is why I wanted to wait. That girl does enough. It’s a wonder she finishes anything.”

Hancock replies politely, “She usually doesn’t . Other team members take over when she’s pulled to something else. Sometimes, they get it, sometimes, she has to come back. And no one’s useless, of course. Doc Lopez just has ALL the right creds.”

Kane chuckles, replying, “Poor thing.”

Hancock adds, “Uh, she’s asking if it’s growing in magnitude or has a consistent… heartbeat?”

Kane nods. “She’s asking the same questions we have; does it appear to be synthetic? Tell her no, for now. Signal’s not steady or pulsing rhythmically, and it’s not growing.”

A moment later, Hancock asks, “Direction?”

Khla replies, “Our left.”

Kane adds, “About two ninety to three ten degrees.”

“Yes Sir, Ma’am.” After sending his response, he says, “Captain Long is having it looked at.”

Khla nods. “Apologies for trouble.”

Kane replies, “Safely involved, no such thing.”

As the shuttle descends, Khla speaks up, “Both strap in? Storm could be rough.”

Hancock replies, “I’m strapped in.”

Kane replies, “I’m in. You need my help, just say what.” She nods gratefully.

The shuttle starts to rumble as the three brace themselves against the surface storm. The wind howls, whipping viciously against the hull as Khla deftly keeps the shuttle on course with large and small steering movements. Kane monitors readouts and altitudes.

The shuttle lurches as a flash whites out the screens, before the viewscreens all turn dark. An instant later, the screens flicker to life with virtual readout.

Hancock asks nervously, “Is it supposed to do that?”

Khla replies, “No. Is storm. To worry not. Grodurn shuttle still fly.”

“What if there’s another?”

Kane teases humorously, “Afraid to die all of a sudden, Hancock? The Grodrrns seem to have their ships set up to sacrifice visuals under intense EMP. Why, I’m not sure, but it works for them.”

Hancock retorts dryly, “Sounds like a great way to run into a mountain, Sir.”

Khla explains as she pilots, “My Hulm’hin’s second in command once told, visuals lost because harder to shield. Too many direct line to hull.”

The shuttle suddenly drops rapidly, the result of losing lift. This usually occurs when a sort of ‘bubble of emptiness’ has formed in the atmosphere. There’s nothing for the hull to generate lift against. Fortunately, the bubbles are usually small. Each atmosphere is different, and what causes it could be some kind of chemical reaction catalyzed by lightning, or even the ionization of the ship’s hull. The gas that was present suddenly collapses inward on itself as it flash-condenses, and thicker atmospheres react slower to the change.

It’s still usually only for a moment. And, sure enough, the shuttle lurches with a 'Whoomp!' as the air around them races in. The hull groans from the strain, and Hancock nervously shifts. Khla can hear his heart racing, barely audible over the noise.

Khla says calmly, “Be calm, In-sinn. Shuttle armored for entry.”

Hancock chuckles nervously, replying, “Yes, Ma’am.”

Khla checks her various altitude sensors. One uses the planet’s gravity and atmosphere densities for a rough estimate. Another uses a sound wave echo. A third uses a radiowave echo, for when there’s no atmosphere. And, if all else fails, each shuttle has a drop probe that uses a subatomic energy transfer that ignores virtually all matter and can tell the shuttle distance from the probe exactly. The disadvantage is that it’s basically like dropping a bomb, so it’s frowned upon on potentially or confirmed inhabited worlds, and it can sink in some liquids. Lastly, the drop probe then has to be retrieved, which can be an endeavor of its own.

Fortunately, Khla’s X.A.E training quite adequately covered her being the pilot analyzing her three readouts and averaging the distance based on the core factors of signal propagation, which was arguably a course unto itself, teaching her how vapors, precipitation, temperatures, solids, and semi-solids, radiation, electromagnetic interference, gravimetric distortions, and ions all affect each of the three readings and how to estimate what’s between her and the ground, and adjust her ‘real’ distance in her head.

The radio sensor is rather erratic, which is to be expected with the nature of this storm. The echo sensor is also struggling to hold a trending value, due to the turbulence. The density altimeter is typically unreliable as is, and it’s even worse now.

But, Helmdravv Khla is prepared. She ensured to review the recorded distances the humans measured during all of the other landings. With that, she knows that the echo and radio are both intermittently detecting distances that make sense. She also knows the fixed orbit height of the fleet, and her ship is tracking that distance as well, though via a human instrument. The irony of Khla’s ‘captivity’ is not lost on her. She and Dzor have each learned more in a few short months than the Fievegal knew from 20 years of studying the ‘Voyager’ rocket.

She knows Dzor would never admit it, but he does appreciate Captain Long’s visits. She keeps him from going stir-crazy, and from becoming depressed. She stokes his pride as a Jardzen, a position he worked longer than Long has been alive to achieve. It was a position he and Jardzen Khla dominated in, until Earth.

But, the interactions with the humans have opened the eyes of all of the Grodrrns. The humans can be profoundly compassionate, even when they are struggling. They can be brave and strong, especially together. Their short lifespans have only driven them harder to succeed. They adapt to change, they perservere, and they ponder a new future, always.

Most Grodrrns are given a lot in life, and they perform their duties. That’s it. They know when they will even be allowed to consider applying for an egg. They know when they will be allowed to apply for a new home. They know when their mandatory military service will end… assuming they live.

Baskylla Jardzen is a rank attained after obligatory service, almost exclusively. And, Helmdravv Khla has a long way to go before she finishes obligatory service, and she hasn’t thought much of it as a result. Her Chulm’chn encouraged her to start her service as early as possible and get it out of the way so she could focus on new things from a more universal perspective.

Now, Khla is piloting a mission to rescue humans from a storm-battered planet surface in case her own people catch up to them. She’s doing so because there is hope for a new future for all Grodrrns in her very reach. It is change; change she can contribute to. And, in so doing, it is a freedom she might be able to give to all, with help of course.

So let the shuttle shake and rattle. Let the hull squeak and groan. Let the visuals flicker. Khla once aspired to an old saying she heard Jardzen Mrff say. “{A master dies in his bed of old age.}” The best pilots in Fievegal history get to claim that seemingly innocuous statement.

The young pilot grips her controls more firmly. She is the best pilot in this fleet. Of that, she has no doubt. She will EARN the humans’ respect, and in time, their medical efforts already given.

The ground approaches rapidly, but Khla is calm. She can hear Hancock talk quietly into his device, “I don’t know. We’re still flying. I can hear you good, though.”

She could probably hear the person on the other end if she desired. But, she stays focused on her task. Her visuals –while useless from clouds- have rebooted.

Kane says politely, “Helmdraff, we’re picking up the GPS of the mining shuttles. Twenty degrees right and six degrees down.”

Khla smiles. Of course, she’s learned her sharp-toothed smile can pretty easily intimidate humans, but Kane has never once been intimidated. She stays on course, though, acknowledging him, “Understood.”

Khla finally eases the throttle down and slows the ship’s descent. Even at lower level, the storm is raging. But, she’s clearly close to the ground. The pinging and constant scraping on the hull indicates they are being pelted continuously by gravel.

Khla descends lower confidently, though, and soon the heaviest of the barrage subsides while the miniscule light darkens even more. The pilot flips the shuttle’s lights on, illuminating the deep dark tunnel with infrared lightning, which Khla’s eyes can see well in. Similarly, the humans’ helmets pick up the infrared light well, and Hancock muses in awe, “Whoa… How… did you find the entrance so easily? You’ve never even flown here.”

Khla keeps her eyes on her flight concerns; path, instruments, and power. She can’t afford to relax now. She does reply though, “I wish become and die a master pilot.”

Kane chuckles, replying, “Hooah,” as Hancock replies, “You’re not?” He scoffs, joking, “What can’t you do?”

Khla replies warmly, “Eez said, master pilot can dash a gap by Grodurn hair, wash hull at water in full speed, shood down ten griggs, and return to dock with nothing more than engine and rudder… een same fly.”

There’s a pause, and Kane jokes, “Wait a minute… You don’t have hair.”

Khla hums –something that sounds more like a giggle than the deep noise she makes if she pulses her lungs the way humans do to laugh and giggle-. She replies warmly, “Hence, ‘master’, and I not.”

Both humans laugh briefly, and Hancock asks, “So what’s a grigg, then?”

Khla thinks for a minute. She’s not sure if human has a word for it. She replies, “Just word for enemy fighters.”

The young human replies, “Ah! So, like our ‘bogey’, gotcha.”

Khla nods. She assumes he must be right. She of course has no idea what a bogey is.

Regardless, it’s only a short way through the hazy tunnel before they can see the lights of the mining crews parked on the first stable ground. Khla carefully and slowly eases the shuttle in closer, and the surprised humans on the ground guide her into place.

Once landed, the Grodrrn pilot opens the hatch. She nods at Kane.

The Lieutenant says, “Alright, good work Craw. I’ll go get everyone ready to board, Hancock, do your tests for Lopez. Craw, please keep the shuttle ready for takeoff.”

The pilot nods, “Of course.”

***