Kentauran Date: Phoenix 2, 93

Lunumbrulino walks into the briefing room of the Oficejo of the Supercilious Plenipotentiary of Krønberg located at the government compound in the Nesaru region of the Occoneechee mountains on the planet Kentaurus.  

"Komencu," she says.

The Direktisto de Ŝtataferoj took his cue.  "The most pressing order of business is the arrival of the Carnyorth starship from Earth.  We set up a reception on the orbital facility at Sedna.  This will reduce the scope of the security issues, and will remove the Kentauranoj from the loop."

"Why do we want the Kentauranoj out of the loop?" the Direktisto de Komunikado asks.

"Because the Karniortanoj is a previously unknown race from Earth." La Direktisto de Sekureco responds.  "These people don't even appear in any of our databases.  We don't know their intentions or their history.  Keep the variables to a minimum.  Once we know that the Karniortanoj can be trusted, we'll bring in more parties.  The last thing we want to do is start an interstellar incident, although you have to admit it would liven up the party."

"Daǔru," MoonShadow commands flatly.

"There will be several DP's there.  The final number hasn't been counted yet.  The Princino, however, will not be in attendance.  She is offworld, about twenty light years distant, between here and Goshtyán.  No way to get back in time.  The Reĝa Yacht is not a speed boat."

MoonShadow takes a deep breath and sighs to herself.  "Daǔru.  Ĉu Teroristoj?"

"We have set up the standard precautions against external attacks and internal threats."  The Security Director takes over.  "The ground based defenses on Sedna will be at full alert, and heavy gunships at the Lagrange points.  Sensors will monitor for toxic chemicals and known biologicals.  The Ceremonial Guards will be Reĝa Marines, and their weapons locked and loaded.  The food servers will all be from the Reĝa Secret Service."

MoonShadow nodds.  "Bona.  Sekvantu."

"There is the matter of Admiralo Neĝa," The Affairs Director says, and then indicates a man wearing the uniform of the Admiral of the Navy, Rufus DiMaggio, who continues.

"Admiralo Neĝa has been recalled, but he refuses to leave Krypton."

MoonShadow's eyebrow lifts. "Daǔru."

"We sent a carrier convoy.  Communications with fleet stationed at the Superman world have been terse of late.  We are concerned."

"I am more than concerned, Admiralo DiMaggio." MoonShadow startles everybody with her statement.  "I am downright worried.  What is going on there?"

"We hope it's a misunderstanding, but we are preparing for worse."

"Let me be blunt, Admiralo.  If Neĝa decides to be nasty about it, how much trouble can he be?"

"His best tactic would be to dig in at Krypton, limiting our available responses."

MoonShadow's irises narrow to pinpoints.  "And wage a war of public relations."

"Precize."

"Get me a communication link with Neĝa.  I don't care how it's accomplished.  I want that man off of the Reĝa payroll by sunset.  Is that understood?  And I want the name of his senior officers on my desk by the end of this meeting."

"Komprendata."

"Sekvantu."

"On a lighter note," The Affairs Director goes on, "Deputy Chief Lupo has been Born Again.  He was baptized in an oddly public ceremony last night at a cathedral in Clarksville.  Fokusigu Sur la Familio sponsored the event.  He appeared to be very repentant.  Contrite even."

One edge of MoonShadow's mouth curls into a worrisome expression.  "That could be the end of that debacle.  What do our operatives in Fokusigu have to say?"

"They believe that it's legitimate."

MoonShadow taps the eraser of a pencil on her note pad.  "Reactions from the Kavaliroj de Ĉarlimajn?"

"None yet."

"I want a statement from Lupo ASAP."

"Komprendata.

"Okej.  Sekvantu."

...

Later that day, MoonShadow is washing her hands in the Virina Necesejo when a polite chime sounds in her ear from the implant there.  It's a private communication from her cyborg.

"Pardonu, Damo. I have just received an encrypted and urgent communication from Ambasadoro Enrika.  Shall I relay it to you."

"Jes." MoonShadow's heart skips a beat, and she feels her palms get moist.

"My darling Luna," Enrika's well remembered voice fills MoonShadow's consciousness, using a pet name that only she ever used.  "I have received orders from the Kentauran Diplomatic Office that I am to attend some sort of First Contact event between Krønberg and some newly discovered nation from Earth.  I am well aware of the public relations snafu that our brief encounter at the Ball last year generated.  I thought you should be warned.  Regardless of the political fall out, I am overjoyed at the prospect of seeing you again."

The playback ends, and MoonShadow stares into the mirror, not really seeing anything.

==============
El Karnyort:

Finally the large hidden doors to docking port 8 slide open and the Hardy emerges from Castle mountain, a quick turn and it dissapears into the cloud cover.

'Delays, always it is delays' grunts Captain Krasis, tugging on his immense beard.
'We had to complete a very full roster of safety checks given the nature of our'... Lieutenant Ironforge the head engineer is cut short by Krasis
'Hmph'
'We have left the earth's atmosphere, sir firing impulse engines'
'1/2 impulse, head for the Martian waypoint, then set course for Alpha Centauri warp 6'.

The massive YoungWorld forum Space Station lumbers into and then out of view...
'Always an impressive sight' i thought to myself. 'We have the asteroid belt to negociate before we can safely go to FTL speed.... i hate the asteroid belt, it makes me feel space sick'.... sigh.

==============
Kentauran Date: Phoenix 3, 93.

"I thought you said that the Kentauranoj were out of the loop." MoonShadow demands of her Affairs Director as they walk together down a hall lined with officess filled with busy people.

"They were.  Up until a few days ago, they were more than happy to let us deal with the situation.  In fact, we found it difficult to convince them that another race from Earth would be important enough to make a fuss about.  Then suddenly we start getting messages demanding that we let a Kentauran representative attend the event."

"And I don't suppose it's just a coincidence that they are sending the one person in their entire government who could do the most damage to my administration in terms of PR at this moment."

"Ne, Damo. There are no coincidences in government."

"I need to know who's behind this request, and I need to know before reception."

"Jes, Damo."

As the Affairs Director turns to go, Deputy Chief Okul-Lupo approaches.  "We have a situation," he says.

"We always have a situation, Lupo.  And I need to talk to you about getting religion."

"And nothing would please me more than to talk to you it, Damo, but we have something more urgent."

MoonShadow suspects a diversionary tactic, but is willing to hear him out.  "Daǔru."

"We just received reports of a public health emergency on Goshtyán.  Some sort of bacterial meningitis that's resistant to our current antibiotics.   The planet is under quarantine. The disease may already have spread to as much as three percent of the population.  Local health services are overwhelmed.  Universal precautions are already in effect, but they don't even know how the contagion is spread.  This is serious."

MoonShadow considers the desperate plight of people stuck in an epidemic without enough resources, and then remembers. "Princino Mariah . . ."

". . . is on Goshtyán," Lupo nods.  "We probably could have gotten her off planet, but two of her crew became sick."

"Fi!" MoonShadow curses.  "Kaj la Princino?"

"Currently asymptomatic, but under close scrutiny by her physician.  And you know what a pleasant patient Mariah can be."

MoonShadow takes a deep breath and reminds herself of her responsibilities and political realities.  "I have to ask, Chief -- The source of the outbreak.  Could it be manufactured?"

"The human universe being what it is, we always suspect human intervention when a resistant epidemic hits the population.  And we just aren't sure.  But I will let you know as soon as we know."  Lupo's phone rings, and he holds up a finger.  "This might be it.  I'll take this call."  Lupo turns and places his hand to his ear.  "Parolu."

While Deputy Chief Lupo spoke to his contact, MoonShadow accepted a call on her phone.  "You asked me to contact you as soon as we had confirmation that the Karniortanoj had launched.  Contacts in the Terra-Luna system just confirmed their departure."

"Dankon." She said, then addressed the telephone's AI.  "Get me the Secretario de Puplika Sano Kaj Sekureco."

It took an inordinately long time to get a response from the Health and Safety Secretary to respond.  MoonShadow imagined assistants in the department going into panic mode upon seeing the SP's name on the caller ID.

"Bonan Matenon, Damo.  It's good to hear from you!" came the Secretary's falsely cheerful voice.

"Bull.  You're entire staff knows that I only call when there's a crisis.  What can you tell me about the situation on Goshtyán?  What are we doing about it?"

"We are working closely with the Goshtyán health officials in treating the affected citizens and tracking down the source of infection."

"The source of the infection?  So you do suspect human activity?"

"Ne necese.  Even with entirely natural epidemics, we always try to find patient zero.  But in this case, the physicians on site have not yet ruled out bio-terrorism."

"Kompenda.  I don't have to tell you to keep me informed."

"Ne, Damo.  You'll receive regular updates."

As MoonShadow terminates the call with the Secretary, Chief Lupo returns his attention to her.  "That was not an update on the Goshtyán, but it was other very urgent business.  With your permission, Damo?"

MoonShadow waves her hand in a shoo-ing motion and turns down the hall towards her own suite of officess.
==============
The CSS Hardy has arrived in the Alpha Centauri system, it is holding position and awaiting instructions and escorts...
==============
Kentauran Date: Phoenix 5, 93
Krønberg government compound, Occoneechee Mountains, Kentaurus
02:33 hours

MoonShadow's audio implant chimes politely, but it still wakes her out of a sound sleep.  She struggles with consciousness and finally finds it.

"Jes. Parolu."

"Damo MoonShadow, we have word that the Carnyorth ship is approaching the system.  They are currently sub-warp, and are decelerating at 10 gees.  We have radioed instructions for them to rendezvous at Sedna.  ETA, about 20 hours."

"Tre bona.  When's the next window for a launch to Senda?

"In about six hours."

"Alert the staff that we lift for Sedna in six hours."

"Komprena. Ses horoj, Damo."

MoonShadow throws the covers off and pulls herself out of bed.  Her pet snark complains at being disturbed.

"Kafon. Mi bezonas kafon," she tells her cyborg through the same audio hook-up.  She knows that by the time she gets out of the shower, the hot brown liquid will be waiting for her.  She also wishes that something more powerful than caffeine would be waiting for her.
 
Occoneechee Spaceport
08:12 hours

"Okej, that's it," MoonShadow tells the flight crew of the moon jumper. She sits in the observer's seat in the flight deck and locks the seatbelt.  "Everybody's on board and everything's strapped down."

"Wouldn't you be more comfortable in the passenger deck?" the pilot asks.

"Are you kidding?  Do you have any idea of the memories this brings to me?  If I had a type rating on this craft, we'd be trading places."

The pilot and copilot smile at each other.

Krønberger Sedna orbital facility
18:56 hours

MoonShadow has spent most of the transit time in communication with everybody associated with the Carnyorth greeting.  In spite of everything, there is still a government to run.  As she boards a shuttle which will carry her to the presidential suite, and aid hands her a pair of glasses.  

"Incoming message from the Reĝa Yacht on Goshtyán." he says.  "This was recorded about fifteen minutes ago."  MoonShadow dons the glasses and gives the KOMENCU command.  

The image of Princino Mariah fills MoonShadow's field of vision and starts to speak.  "MoonShadow, you nekapebla putino!  Get me off of this garbage heap of a planet before I have you arrested for treason!  Did you think I wouldn't find out the real reason for abondoning me here?  You'll never get the throne, you fiulino!"

The image goes dark and MoonShadow calmly removes the glasses and turns to her aide.  "Any progress on Goshtyán?"

"Ne, Damo. The entire planet is still  under quarantine.   Short of ignoring directorates from the WHO, there's no way to get the Princino off planet."

"And if we did manage to get her off planet, we could end up exposing the population of some other planet to the epidemic."

"Jes, Damo."

MoonShadow nods. "Komprendata.  What does the press know?"

"Only that the planet is under quarantine, and that the Princino is holding up bravely," the aide says with a smirk, and turns to leave.

"One more question," MoonShadow interrupts the aide's exit.

"The Ambasadoro Enrika?"

"Remind me to give you a raise."

"She's been here for two hours.  Locked herself in her quarters and refuses to communicate.  Her aide assures us that she'll be ready for the reception."

Reception Hall
Sedna Orbital Facility
22:30 hours.

"Gesinjoroj, it is my pleasure to present Captain Krasis of the Carnyorth Starship Hardy, Ambassador Albert Jones, and their associates."

All eyes turn towards the entrance to the reception hall.

=============
Captain krasis bows low and in his finest and deepest stately voice addresses his hosts. 'Our thanks to you for this magnificent and munificent reception, if i may present my crew and passengers to you'. My first officer, as you can see is a human, Commander Emily Treneer (Emily bows politely). My weapons and security officer lieftenant Gelon son of Gamon (bows extremely low). My communications officer sub lieftenant Pisander son of Lysander, my cheif engineer sub commander Grimwade son of Grimwade (bows with a regal and well bearded grunt) and my chief of the medical staff Dr Timoleon son of who knows!(who bows his head and shakes his hosts hands).
Krasis laughs heartily, 'my good friend the doctor as you will see is more *progressive* than most of us humble dwarves. Finally may i present our ambassador Albert jones (bows) and our vip passenger an Archon* of the ruling committee no less'!
'damo, saluto de la popolo Karniortanoj, mia espiri long.... um,... longa de^e....um....dam! I knew I should have paid more attention in language classes at school! Anyway! It is a great pleasure to be here mam, our cordial thanks for this invitation, i trust our arrival finds you well?'

As guests and hosts alike walk towards the awaiting festivities...
'I cant apologise enough for my apalling Kentauran, I tried to learn some en route, but language skills were never my strong suit!'...

*Archon, is the Dwarven title for a councellor. More will be revealed shortly as to the nature of contemporary Carnyorth politics. Presently an Archon is one of the 12 members of the Carnyorth ruling committee (formally the Neighbourhood Watch committee). The membership is entirely human, the dwarven populace being under the various subjection of 5 kings in 5 subterranean kingdoms.

=============
"Ne gravas, Archon," MoonShadow bows and smiles with warm assurance. "Your language efforts are appreciated and noted.  I was born in California and am a native speaker of American English.  You'll find that most people here speak one flavor of English or another."  

MoonShadow proceeds to introduce the men and women about them, all of whom either bow or shake hands, depending on who is introduced to whom.

MoonShadow's attention is briefly sidetracked by the sight of an elegantly tall middle-aged woman dressed traditionally in a white Cherokee Tear Dress.  

MoonShadow catches her breath and says, "May I also introduce the Kentaruan representative, Ambasadoro Ravenhair Enrika."

"Unalihelitseti, ulisgedv anisiyvwiha," Enrika bows as she greets the Carnyorth ensemble, then turns to MoonShadow. "And to you, gvlvquodi svnoyi ehi nvdo."

MoonShadow visibly blushes, and somebody is heard stiffling a chuckle in the background. Enrika continues.  "On behave of the Kentaruan Federation and planetary government, it is my pleasure to welcome the representatives of Carnyorth to our little corner of the universe.  May your visit be prosperous, and our association peaceful."  MoonShadow is amazed that Enrika manages to speak English with a London accent.  A true diplomat if ever there was one.  She wonders if Enrika spent the night practicing The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain.

Enrika stands at one meter eighty-six, and MoonShadow wonders if the open mouths of the dwarves is a result of Enrika's beauty or an artifact of having to look up at her.

=============
Eased somewhat by the earnest smile of his host The Archon replies. 'ne gravas' that means not important right? Well you are most diplomatic Damo Moonshadow'. And I am fascinated to hear you are from Earth, I would love  to hear how it was that a Californian came to be Supercilious Plenipotentiary of Kronberg!'

'And ambassador Enrika, this is an honour an a pleasure, we are greatly pleased to make aquantance with you and hope that we may extend the hand of friendship to Kentaurus as well as Kronberg. You speak english like a native if I may say so, you're not from England are you?' the archon adds with a smile.

A trained diplomat his mind probed around him as he spoke, noting amoungst other things a palpable tension between the lady Moonshadow and the lady Enrika and also the way in which one or two of the Kentauran enterage payed a keen and occasionally poorly concealed interest in the two.

'Cadzooks, are those mushrooms!' captain Krasis exclaims as he beholds the feast awaiting them all'.
=============
Sedna Reception Hall
23:30 hours

The chefs have outdone themselves.  Most in attendance are amazed that 'shrooms can be prepared in such a variety of ways, and the dwarves describe 'shroom recipes to the amazement of those within earshot.

"You have an amazing beard, Captain Krasis," Enrika says.  "It reminds me of one sported by a Druid named . . ." she pauses.  "Oh dear. I'm afraid this one slips the mind.  Luna, what is the name of that Druid who claims to be the reincarnation of King Arthur?"

"Asterix," MoonShadow replies.  "And he is becoming quite the political centerpiece on Kverkvojo.  Seems he appeared in the streets one day, reported just returned from Avalon."

"That's it. Asterix." Enrika goes on.  "For the most part, Druid politics escape me, and my impression of Asterix is that he is somewhere between Josef Stalin and Huey Long.  And yes, he has impressive facial hair, though not quite in the same class as Captain Krasis or any of his male crew.  What kind of mushroom is this called again?"

For MoonShadow, the conversation is drowned out by an emergency chime in her audio implant.  "Emergency level 4," says an urgent male voice.  "Explosive device located on Level Two.  Repeart: Explosive device on Level Two.  Seal all environmental hatches. Code Red."

MoonShadow stops chewing and reaches for her glasses.  This action causes a look of consternation to cross Enrika's face.  MoonShadow smiles at Captain Krasis, Albert Jones, and the Archon. "If you'll excuse me for just a moment, gentle sirs, somebody is requesting my audience."  MoonShadow dons the glasses, puts a hand to her ear and opens a channel to Enrika.  "Stay here and keep everybody smiling and eating," she whispers.  "I will keep you informed as I learn what is going on."  Enrika gives a barely perceptible nod.

As soon as MoonShadow is out of earshot, she addresses the net computer.  "Security, show me the location of the explosive device."  Her view of the reception hall is overlaid by a schematic of the orbital facility, and a red dot over a room on Level Two.  "Security, assessment?"

"Seems to be a biological bomb," a nameless voice informs. "The squad is working on disarming it now."

The phrase biological bomb sends shivers down her spine and causes her to think of Goshtyån. "Suspects?"

"None yet.  But considering that this is the most closely guarded facility in Krønberger space right now, an inside jobs seems most likely."

She looks back at the table where her guests are still enjoying the fungal delights.  The Communications Director is saying, "Would you look at the press corp?  It would seem that your arrival, Ambassador Jones, has brought out journalists from every news outlet in the system.  There's even a reporter from the Duibhlinn Daily."

"Attention security," comes a new voice over the security channel.  "By now you have found the bomb on Level 2.  We made that one easy to find so that you would know that we're serious.  There are two more bombs located on the orbital facility.  They will explode unless our demands are met, and everybody on the facility will suffer the same fate as the barbarians on Goshtyån.  We are the voice of the L'Dereau."

Such a silence follows this announcement that MoonShadow is certain that she has lost contact with the net.  Then, "I guess we have a suspect now."

In her field of view MoonShadow saw a stylized question mark sent from Enrika.  MoonShadow composed a brief text message and sent it back.  "Three bio bombs.  L'Dereau."

"Shall we evacuate the facility?" someone asked over the net."

"Negative.  That would probably elicit a premature explosion of the devices," another voice said.

Perhaps it is just a coincidence that a reporter from the news corp choses that particular moment to approach MoonShadow and ask, "Damo, can you comment on the claims by the Kavaliroj de Ĉarlimajn that there are Hassurah spies in the employ of the Krønberger government?"

=============
Captain Krasis laughs heartily 'Well lady Enrika, you flatter all male dwarves with your words, our beards are indeed our most treasured possetions, in fact we have to have special doors on our starships to ensure they remain thusly so, but that is a story for another time. These mushrooms are beautifully prepared, our hosts have done their homework well to know that the mushroom is the national dish of the Dwarven kingdoms!'

Meanwhile ambassador Jones is locked in conversation with the communications director of Kronberg and is making a strenuous effort to avoid drinking some of the fine wines that are on display before him. His eyes flash to a rather fine looking crystal glass that sits before him, but he wills himself to wait till later, then have some fun, this is buisness!
'Indeed, we are all taken aback by the media interest in our trip, the Duibhlinn daily is the bestselling paper back in Carnyorth, beating even our local paper the Carnishman in circulation'..

A call comes in for Captain Krasis, his communicator issues a subtle bleep. 'If you will excuse me my good ladys and gentleman i have a message from my ship'. krasis s off a little, 'go ahead lieutenant'..
'Its probably nothing sir but we've picked up a substantial increase in encrypted comms chatter from the station over the last 5 minutes'

'Hmph, any idea what it says?' krasis growls
'negative sir, the encryption is too sophisticated for our computers, additionally the hull of the staion is composed of an uknown composite which makes it difficult for our sensors to penetrate'..
'Very well lieutenant, keep me informed of developments, its probably nothing, press control or something' krasis adds, mindful however that it was 5 minutes ago that the Damo Moonshadow left the table so far not to return.
'Hmph'.

===========
Sedna Reception Hall
23:50 hours

"Ni trovis ĝin," exclaims the voice of one of the security personnel.

"Klarigu," MoonShadow demands, somewhat tersely.

"The Sec Ops com unit from which the terrorist statement was recorded.  Somebody had to have access to the security channels, and every broadcast is encoded with the unit's serial number.  According to the logs, the unit was being used by Special Agent Swensen."

"And where is Special Agent Swensen?"

"Unfortunately, she's dead.  She didn't surrender her com unit peaceably, and I'm willing to bet that some of this blood isn't hers.  Forensics are on their way."

MoonShadow fights her impulses to exit the reception hall and run down to Level 2 to personally supervise the operation.  She closes her eyes and reminds herself to let her people do their jobs.  MoonShadow's job is to attend to her guests, and she forces herself to turn back to the dining area.  

"Where is Captain Krasis?" MoonShadow inquires.

"I think he went to the little dwarves' room," the Communications Director says and immediately regrets.  The entire table goes silent and everybody is looking at the Director. "Ah, that didn't come out like I meant it."

MoonShadow bites the inside of her cheek to avoid laughing out loud.  "I'm sure it didn't, Director."

"Ambassador Jones," Enrika interjects without missing a beat, "Where do you plan to set up your offices on Kentaurus?  Clarksville, aside from being the planetary capital, is also the center of culture for an entire continent.  The Krønberger compound in the Occoneechee Mountains is very pleasant if one prefers a rural environment far from the noise of the city."

MoonShadow knows a dig when she hears it, and sends a text message; "I didn't leave you.  You never called.  You never wrote."

"You became a Krønberger," comes the text reply in accusatory undertones.

"It's a job! They give me a paycheck and everything!"

"Yes, I'm sure the benefits are wonderful, too.  If you didn't turn your back on me, you turned it on Kentaurus."

"Mi Kentarano estas ankoraǔ."

"Ĉu vere? Kiel vi estas Kaliforniano ankoraǔ?"

The argument is interrupted by the security channel.  "Forensics confirms that some of this blood isn't Swensen's.  In fact, they believe that the attacker is probably bleeding to death even as we speak."

That won't do at all, MoonShadow thinks, but refrains from telling the Security people what they already know.

"We're following a blood trail now," confirms the Security guy.

"What about the sample of biologicals in the bomb?" MoonShadow asks.

"On it's way to the labs."

MoonShadow's attention returns to the table to find the diplomats deep in the process of convincing each other that open trade and exchange of information is vital to the other nation's very existence but of little importance to anybody else.

==========
Ambassador Jones puts on a steely face which immediately begins to tremble, twitch and warp in the corners of his mouth.. the effort becomes too much for him and after briefly choking on a mouthfull of wine he roars with laughter.... then chokes some more...
'gasp, little dwarves room, thats hilarious, gasp...' he mops his brow with a knapkin.

Krasis is standing behind him at this point and the ambassador senses that the gazes of the people opposite him at the table are now over his shoulder and he becomes suddenly tense, you know the kind of tense you get when you suspect that a massive bear has just reared up behind you and is preparing with murderous intent to use your head for a ping pong ball....

'Hmph' growled Krasis. 'Find that *ammusing* do you boy'?

'Er, well no, I mean that is to say, well, yes....' he trailed off and prepared himself for instant death.

Instant death did not come for Ambassador Jones, nor even a slow prolonged death or 'fairly short but definately longer and more painful than instant death could ever dream to be death.... instead the dwarf himself roared with laughter and whacked the young ambassador so hard on the back that he nearly swallowed his tongue.

Recovering perhaps 37 percent of his composure and stature, the ambassador answers the Lady Enrika's question, 'Regarding our embassy, we are uncertain as yet, but we are a simple country people, and the dwarves do love the mountains so these Occonneechee mountains sound perfect... With the agreement of all partys of course!'

If there was any implied dig at Krønberg from the Kentaurans the young Ambassador Jones did not notice it, but followed up with another glass of wine.
====
Kentauran Date: Phoenix 6, 93
Sedna Orbital Facilty, Kentauran System
00:15 hours

Though the man who assaulted, killed and stole a security communications unit from Special Agent Swensen did a pretty good job of avoiding leaving a blood trail that mere humans could detect, hound-bots pick up the scent immediately.  The man knows he is doomed and has only a little time to set the other two bombs. The original plan had called for setting the bombs and then sending the announcement, but he doubted he would live long enough to stick to the original plan. A tactical mistake, he realizes.  He should have planted the bombs before attacking Swensen.  His haste had caused him to err, but his dedication to the Cause drives him on-ward.  He would not die in vain.  All Krønbergers, the industrial puppets of Kentaurus, would pay for their crimes against God and Humanity, and especially against the Hassurah.

One last bomb to plant, and he could die with honor.

MoonShadow, sitting and smiling at the dining table in the Reception Hall, listens to reports from the security detail.  "The hound-bots are following the trail through the mechanical chase."

Hound-bots.  Mostly machine and part biological, they have the olfactory skills of a bloodhound and the agility of squirrels.  MoonShadow recalls that they also have the personality of a rock.

MoonShadow desperately wants to know how the terrorist obtained the codes to use a security comm unit and to gain access to the mechanical chase.  And she knows if she made that request to the security chief, she'd sound like she was micro-managing. Let your people do their jobs, she tells herself. They''ll get you the information.

"Archon," MoonShadow addresses the oddly quiet man who, like herself, was born in one country and became a secular leader of another.  "I must shamefully admit that I know little of your country.  We were unable to find much mention of it in our histories.  What does an Archon do?  What responsibilities to your people do you have?"

This is a test that MoonShadow is fond of giving visiting dignitaries.  Instead of talking about political position in terms of privilege and power, she talks about responsibility to the electorate. 

"Allow me to refill your wine glass," Ravenhair Enrika offers to Albert Jones.  "This is a wonderful cabernet from the south continent.  Krønberg is known throughout several systems for its beer, but Kentaurus prides itself on a wide selection of fine wines."

"Oh my god! What's wrong with him!" a shrill voice sounds from the other end of the table.  All eyes turn to see a red-spotched and swollen faced Deputy Chief Okul-Lupo gasping for breath.  A well meaning Secret Service Agent cum waiter attempts the Heimlich maneuver before another stops him.  "He isn't choking on food.  Get him to the infirmary.  Call emergency health services, and tell them we have a possible infection on the way."

Okul-Lupo is efficiently and expertly moved onto a stretcher that someone reflexively retrieved.  A medico is prepping her tools of the trade to perform a tracheostomy.

"Perhaps if we all sit back down, we can regain some control over the situation," MoonShadow suggests.  "Deputy Chief Lupo is being cared for by some of the finest people in our system.  I'm sure he'll be fine," MoonShadow hopes she isn't lying.

=====
The Archon has been talking with his neighbours, small talk mostly, letting the young ambassador do the hard work, as this will be his hour. He watches heartened at one moment as the ambassador reveals a natural talent for the work, deftly answering complex questions and dealing with pressure like a professional of many years. However, then he starts on the wine and is soon humiliating himself with Captain Krasis.

'Nevermind, at least people are laughing' thought the Archon.

He turns to hear the Damo Moonshadow who poses a tricky question about his office.

'Mmm this will be an interesting one', he thinks well aware that the Carnyorth political system is a mystery to most members of the government itself let alone otherworlders.

'The term archon is from the dwarven for counciller, and in our case means a member of the ruling human committee in Carnyorth, there are 12 of us at present. We maintain that the dwarves stole the name, and actually pretty much all of their names from the ancient greeks, but that is another matter! Originally when Carnyorth declared independance from its tyrannical overlords the British, we were governed by the local anti crime 'neighbourhood watch commitee', of which i was a member. We are still essentially the neighbourhood watch committee, and we are unpaid volunteers and any citizen can *in theory* become a member of the committee.

'Carnyorth is a nation rich in natural mineral wealth and the mines were expanded to build our new nation's economy and consequentially imigration to Carnyorth occurred on a substantial scale... perhaps spurred on by some rather misleading stories of a goldrush!. However as they dug deeper into the mountains they burst through into the previously unconfirmed dwarven cities underneath. I say *unconfirmed* as throughout the centuries the Cornish have whispered legends of the 'little folk' they encounter in their mines, and well, now we know!

'The dwarves themselves were and are still for all intents and purposes divided into 5 kingdoms, Himera, Laurium, Artemesium, Olynthus and Lydia. Each ruled by a king with clans and such like, krasis will be able to tell you more about that. Suffice to say when we made official contact with the dwarves they were at war with each other, in what we now call the 1000 years war. We mananged to help them negotiate an end to this war (a very very long story) and in return the dwarves have pledged their undying allegiance to the humans of Carnyorth.

'Essentially we have an as yet unwritten confederation, I suppose for want of a better term, and when I return from this meeting my responcibilty to the Carnyorth people will be to try and tie together our unorthodox committee based government with 5 dwarven kings and make it work for a population now recconned to be around 700 million, (dwarves outnumber humans 20 to 1) please wish me luck!

Meanwhile Ambassador Jones gratiously accepts the cabernet, amoungst his favourite 'tipples' and suddenly hits on the similarity between the names 'Kronberg' and 'Kronenberg' in the beer world, and asks whether this terran beer is in fact a liscened version of the famous Kronberg beers?

The dinner pleasantries are interupted by a very sick man stumbling into the room. Dr Timoleous gets up to help the man... Captain Krasis asks to speak to MoonShadow in private...

'Lady MoonShadow, is everything ok here, perhaps I am wrong but since you left the table a while ago to answer a message, things have become a little, well... tense???'

====
Kentauran Date: Phoenix 6, 93
Sedna Orbital Facilty, Kentauran System
00:30 hours

"Captain, we have a crisis," MoonShadow admits.  "In retrospect, we probably should have evacuated everybody off of the orbital facility, but if Deputy Chief Lupo is infected, it is too late.  It might become necessary to quarantine everybody here.

"My sincerest apologies for this incident, Captain.  But one or several L'Dereau terrorists have managed to plant biological bombs in the facility.  The biological agent is capable of dealing a horrible death to its victims by infecting the meninges of the central nervous system.  To put it less than politely, Captain, we may be Reĝaly screwed."
====
krasis raised an unfeasibly bushy eyebrow and was silent for a moment.

'I understand, if theres anything we and our ship can do. Our good Dr Timoleon will be eager to find out more about the pathogen, with your permission I would like to involve him in this conversation. Are all the devices accounted for yet?'