War for the Iron Planet

Chapter 30: Communications

High above Hittania, Grim sat at a table in Raelik's star tree with Crane, Raelik, and the Astralbian lord's knights. The knights were looking at Crane's hideous, mechanical features with undisguised contempt. He was either oblivious to or consciously ignoring the insult.

"Will the prince be joining us?" asked the grotesque pirate captain.

"No," said Raelik. "He has other matters to attend to, though I will be reporting back to him on this meeting."

"And what is the point of this meeting?" asked Grim impatiently.

"To discuss strategy," said Raelik calmly, and with a hint of condescension. "The Ramshackle Collective will have a crucial role to play in the upcoming assault on the Republic."

"If the role is so crucial, I will want more compensation," demanded Grim.

"I cannot offer more than I already have," responded Raelik. "If you want to leave Hittania empty-handed please leave now and stop wasting my time."

"Fine, but I won't accept responsibility for the star tree stolen by my traitorous first mate."

"Done," said Raelik. "We will both be happier when the rebel has been crushed beneath your boot."

"Won't we just," said Grim, his fist clenching.

"Now," said Raelik, "about our strategy."

The meeting was not a long one, but everyone left feeling confident things would go their way, and hopeful they could extract a pound of flesh from the others, so to speak.

***

Kwa-Kwa was back at the lake once again, offering some fresh meat to the furgator she'd befriended. She'd come out here at every opportunity over the past couple of days. This time, Rahk had come with her.

"C'mon, Freckles," she said, calling him by the name she'd given him. He stomped over, keeping a wary eye on Rahk. Kwa-Kwa tossed him some meat.

"Okay, your turn," Kwa-Kwa said to Rahk. The Dromean made an annoyed face at his friend, but offered the meat to the gator. Freckles growled and slinked away backwards.

"He likes you," said Rahk. "You can feed him."

"I have to get him used to other sapients or there's no way I'll get to keep him."

"Ol' Blue doesn't listen to anyone but the Admiral," countered Rahk.

"Well that's... that's different," stammered Kwa-Kwa. "Ol' Blue is a war hero and stuff. Bringing a pet like this on board is a long shot, but I don't want to leave Hittania without Freckles."

A familiar rumble sounded overhead, and Rahk looked up to see the shuttle returning to the Fort. There was a tug at his hand, and when he looked down the meat was gone and Freckles was chewing contentedly.

"We'll be back, buddy," said Kwa-Kwa, giving the beast a pat on the head. "C'mon, Rahk, let's go see if we're going home."

***

When the shuttle landed, Raivyn finally left the quarters she had holed up in, avoiding everyone as much as possible. Jasken, who D'Jarric had gotten up to speed by comm, was waiting for them in the hangar, along with a number of officers, the fighter pilots, and any members of the engineering team that could break free.

After a brief welcome, the survivors of the Ferryman were shuffled off to the medical wing and everyone else started unloading and organizing crates.

"We should have everything we need, plus enough to help out the Freewill Robots or whatever they're called," Reclan said to Jasken as they pushed a crate down the shuttle's ramp together. Jasken raised an eyebrow.