OUTCASTS

They melted thru the lowlands as quietly as the dappled shadows played on the swampy ground. Lollo had picked lowlanders for his team, and it showed in the speed and confidence with which they moved. Many of them had been born on this ground, so every step the point took was certain and safe for the rest of them to follow. The night which had been their best ally gave way to a pale dawn that saw them sheltered amid seemingly impassable ground, even as daylight became fuller in the sky.

Noses and ears served now, as the fur bearers let the wind work for them. The team was linked, so that all could share what the point sensed and felt. The lowlands had scents of their own, and a sound all their own. They moved swiftly, but deliberately, allowing the morning's rising breeze to carry to them anything that was alien to this ground, so strange in itself.

It began with a distant hollow sound. The cougar who heard it instantly became as still as death, waiting, and feeling.

The same hollow sound met the wind, and was carried to the fur-bearing ears. Metal being hammered!!

Instantly Chaunci dropped to a stalking pose, a visual warning that requires no words or thought. Those behind him saw the posture change, and in a moment, the entire Team seemed to melt into the loose ground.

Lollo felt the cool wetness seep thru his guardfur as he crept slowly along the ground to join the cougar, whose predatory eyes were wide with the sight he saw. Lollo made almost no sound, but as Chaunci heard him approach, the cat reached back and pressed the wolverine even lower into the ground. With a silent paw, the puma matched Lollo's line of sight with his own.

About twenty paces ahead of where the fur bearers lay, silently watching, the line of the trees was broken by the gleaming metal of a sunlit vent pipe that jutted oddly from the ground!

Chaunci and Lollo looked at one another, and then both slid back along the damp ground as Lollo sent their sighting and location to the other strike teams.

Mirika had been awake for a day and a night as the sun cast the sky pink. He had broken away, sliding swiftly over the ground on a wild hunch. The rest of his cohort was not far behind, but from the moment he had set paws on this ground, some deep seated instinct had pulled magnetically at him.

His senses and training told him that this ground was alive, and with fur bearers. He set his nose to the morning air and as faint as it was, Mirika could scent wolverine!

If luck was with him, he would be on them in a few minutes, and as Mirika loped over the soft, wet ground like a Fur-Bearing ghost, his only hope was that he would be in time to help!

Mirika's send touched the rest of his cohort, and then amplified by a dozen trained Minds, it was sent on to a far distant hilltop!

To the north and east Crystal's neckfur tingled as Lollo's send touched her. She re-formed her team with paw signals, and once they ringed her, she sent in thought and spoke in muzzle to ear whisper with each one of them.

Before the disc of the sun had cleared the horizon, two of the three teams knew their target area, and sent that information beaming to Dasher, whose team included the heavy equipment. Now they would find the area without fail, and that made their slow pace quicken as the sky grew lighter.

Lollo and Chaunci had all of the information that Vladimir had sent to them. Now the maps made by the masked engineer proved their real worth. Chaunci's sure and silent paws let him scout the vent pipe as quietly as the shadows that it now cast along the ground. The cougar lingered, feeling the warm updraft that rose from the pipe, and catching the unmistakable scent that rose along with the air-Simians, and many of them!

Along with the scents, Chaunci could also hear the distant, low growling echo that came from Simian voices! To these, he listened intently, as the guards far below spoke openly, never fearing that anyone might eavesdrop!

A quarter of a hour later, unseen and unscented by any below ground, Chaunci had heard, sensed and scented enough. Lollo lay still behind some fallen trees with the rest of his team. The cougar padded up and sent directly to the wolverine. Lollo paused, sensing a short distance. Shamir dropped low and stalked silently along the ground to join the group as Chaunci reported what he had heard and felt.

Deep Cavern. Simian barracks area. I scent food, and machinery. Oil and other vapors.

Lollo Nodded. The Simian garrison is probably just waking up.

Just changing guards. Every two hours. One guard said that the second guards cohort had been sent to the other side of the complex.

Lollo's neckfur rose. That means there's as many of them as of us. Did you hear anything about the ship?

Yes. One of the guards is angry because he was dropped from the invasion force by a Simian of higher station.

So the blasted Simians know, do they?

It would seem so. One of them said that promotion was given to all Volunteers.

How wide and deep is that shaft? Lollo wondered.

Shamir scanned the data crystal. Twenty five deep, two and a half spans wide. The large young lion sent in reply.

Lollo cursed. That means fewer than half of us will fit! Is there another way down? An elevator shaft, maybe?

Shamir coded a search pattern into the crystal matrix. He looked up from the hologram, comparing it to the ground before them. I read what might be an entrance tunnel thru those trees. But-

But?

There's a notation on the scan. It says Armor

Chaunci's muzzle fell, but as the cougar looked at the wolverine, the Cat saw something far from dejection.

Lollo's eyes sparkled. All Right, Fur bearers. Who wants to take a little walk?

**** ****

Far distant from the lowlands, a send of tight focus touched a fine and sensitive mind. Nachtoter had chosen his spot well, and when the send came, it rang thru his Mind like a bell. The panther waited, to make sure he felt it all, before sprinting down the steep side of the hill, and around the rocks on the facing slope. He ducked low, clearing the ceiling on the dugout by less than half a span.

Send from Mirika, General. He is trailing a Fur-Bearing party in and near the silver swamps. He expects them to meet at mid-day.

Rocar nodded Shomron's strategy is a sound one. We don't want to start a stampede south. Have one full Legion stand ready. Deploy another here, to watch the Simians. I will detach my guard cohorts, and we will march southward. I fear that Mirika may meet more than the resistance. If so, he will need help.

Sword and steel, My brother. Nactoten sent in reply.

My guards will leave within the hour. The ready Legion must depart before sunset. I will break trail for them. If summoned to battle, they must move as quickly as life itself, understood?

Understood Sir!

Nachtoter?

Yes, Rocar?

You are with me.

My Life is yours, Rocar, always.

**** ****

The trail before them faded into nonexistence. The ground was perfect and pristine. The Simian scouts cast down handfuls of the signless dust, snarling with disgust.

The Trail ends here, Sir! One of them reported.

It cannot be! Three Legions do not vanish. Two thousand of them. No trace at all?

No sir!

Ku Minn Li smiled inwardly. Rocar was as skilled as they said, and more so, because each second that the Simian stood in indecision was another second that became the white warrior's ally.

Then it is up to you, Ku Minn Li, you have your orders, find Rocar, and bring him here, or kill him. How many legions will you require?

I will go alone sir. Ku Minn Li replied when at last given a chance to speak.

Alone? The other Simian general's eyes went from disbelief to suspicion.

Yes. My I speak?

The ranking Simian nodded shortly.

Legions will slow me down. Rocar is a trained warrior. No legion we have is capable of capturing him. But another warrior, alone, might find him. Ku Minn Li's statements were flat and free of the usual Simian ego.

If that is your wish, so be it, but the cost for failure is still the same. Do you understand? The Simian general asked pointedly.

Yes, Sir. If I do not return in two nights, I will be unable to return, for I will kill him, or we will have killed me. Ku Minn Li told the officer.

Shamir knew the look in Lollo's eyes. The same one he had seen at the observatory. The only thing missing was the mop, and the young lion knew better that to stand in the way of a Mustelid with a plan, no matter how crazy it might seem.

Post guards here, Shamir, you and I will take a look. maybe we can get the Simians to invite us in. The others, fortify in cover. Crystal's not far away now. When she gets here, tell her what's going on Marito will take charge here. Lollo thought to the group.

The diminutive rabbit nodded at the mention of his name and new orders

What are we going to do, Lollo? Shamir thought in reply.

The wolverine smiled broadly. If we can't get in there by invitation, I guess we just have to crash this party.

Meaning?

Meaning that if the Simians won't let us come down as Fur-Bearers, we go down as Simians.

Before Shamir could probe the depth of the wolverine logic, Lollo dashed off, rolling toward a stand of trees not far distant.

Shamir sighed, thought of his father, and zipped after Lollo in an easy, fluid spring.

The ground was solid and the stand of trees was ancient, thick enough to hide Shamir from view. Lollo peered cautiously from behind the trees, matching what he had seen on the scan with the ground ahead of them. The soggy soil was flat nearly into the distance, save for an un-natural mound that seemed to defy the natural contour of the bottom land.

Shamir saw Lollo smile so wide that the wolverine might have given them away with the sunset reflecting on his teeth. That, My young lion, is a standard type seven bunker, usable for troops, supplies--

And heavy armor! Finished Shamir, a bit more somber.

Exactly. Now, Watch! You'll know what to do!

Lollo scarcely had time to finish the thought before he made a standing dash across the open ground, strolling casually toward the bunker, in plain sight!

Still hidden behind the aged trees Shamir fought back the instinct to gang tackle his friend. There were times Lollo's bravery blurred the fine border between the foolhardy and superlative. Breathlessly, the young cat waited to discover which one fate would choose this time!

The Simian sentry glanced out thru the slit and then away before disbelief made him look again! He laid a heavy hand on his partner's shoulder, and indicated the slightly squat dark figure who walked calmly toward the bunker, paws tucked behind his back and humming casually!!!

A Fur-Bearer? Up there? He escapes!

Then why does he come to us?

Let's take him, at least it is something to do.

His partner grunted, and both bored Simian smiled as they opened the bunker's main entrance.

From his place in the stand of trees, Shamir saw and heard the heavy door open. Two armored Simians with stun sticks dashed out and confronted Lollo. Shamir didn't wait to eavesdrop. Instinct lowered him to a stalking posture, and the young white lion crept slowly toward the open and unattended bunker door!

You! Fur bearer! What do you do here?

Me? Oh. Just walking. Nice day.

No one allowed up here now. You will go back down! Now!

Well, all right. Can you show me the quickest way? I got separated from my group.

Come, stupid one. We will take you.

Couldn't I just stay here. It is boring down below.

Not worry. after tomorrow, no more bored. you see. No more Fur-Bearers.

The other guard gave his companion a stern look, that brought instant silence.

The cowed Simian shoved Lollo roughly toward the bunker entrance. Lollo dropped to one knee for a moment, and could see Shamir's shadowy shape hide itself just inside the open door. Lollo was picked up under each arm and dragged toward the bunker, just as he knew and hoped he would be!

Shamir could sense the guards approach, and got ready to spring, gathering his powerful young body as he hid among the supply cases stacked at the rear of the bunker. He paused, to take note of a large round metal hatch set into the hard stone and steel floor.

Stealhfully, he reached out a quiet paw and bolted the hatch from the top.

Then he set to spring, cutting off the angle of the door, so once the Simians were inside, Shamir's attack would block the door with his body.

They appeared in the door, one on each side, their hands full of wolverine, as he sprang hard at them, attacking both guards at once!

The first Simian never knew what dented both his new helmet and the head beneath it. A huge white blur struck at him, and a paw nearly as wide as his chest felled him like a dead tree.

The second guard was suddenly aware of two sensations. The first was the detached sight wolverine sinking his formidable teeth thru a Simian wrist, and locking his powerful jaws to pulverize the bones between the Simian arm and hand. Before the shock and pain could register to the fullest, the second Simian felt his guts wrench and then turn to water as he saw his partner drop to the floor as dead weight, and hearing the sickening sound as the dead Simian's disjointed head fell face down to the floor, leaving another dent in the smashed in helmet.

A sharp, tearing jerk took this horror from his stunned brain as Lollo held his bite, and used his neck strength to flip the other Simian out flat on his belly and hard into the floor. Before it could hurt anymore, the Wolverine was standing heavily on the Simian's neck, his bite still sunk deeply into an impossibly bent Simian arm, that no longer seemed to be his own.

Lollo reached down to the Simian's belt, grabbing the Simian stun stick and popping up a full charge. Lollo sank the stick into the nape of the Simian neck just under the edge of the helmet. The slightly used Simian convulsed once and was still. The wolverine released the contorted arm and it flopped uselessly to the Simian's side.

Shamir looked at Lollo, open muzzled in amazement!

And you need me? the young Lion thought at the wolverine.

You're not bad, yourself. With a little training, you could constitute a second front!

All Right. Shamir thought at his friend. Now what?

Lollo slipped the undamaged helmet from the stunned Simian. He tried it on. It was several sizes too big. He took it off again, and spring over to Shamir, standing on the inactive console to slip the helmet over Shamir's head. It was a snug fit, but it would do!

Now, all we do is open a comm link. Lollo explained.

But, anyone can see I'm not Simian. countered Shamir.

Don't worry. I can cut down the image resolution on the link. All they'll see is a familiar shape. And--

Shamir nodded, smiling They open the inner doors for us.

Then, the fun begins. Lollo answered, as he jumped down and quickly searched the two fallen Simian guards. From one pocket, came a code book.

The other Simian's dispatch pouch yielded a folded printout. Lollo read it, and passed it silently to Shamir. Shamir read the orders on Lollo's quivering paws, and nodded tightly.

Lollo folded the printout and put it in his sidepouch, along with the code book. He drew the slide on the pouch pocket, and locked it securely.

Let's get that link open. Shamir said quietly, any sense of youthful exuberance now gone, replaced instead by quiet desperation and speed, as Lollo worked at the main console of the bunker.

Now, the wolverine understood the offhanded Simian remark. Theirs was now a race against both time and death.

Crystal moved easily over the spongy ground. She had been trained on all types of ground, so the swamp was no stranger to her paws or her nose. It was more the second that guided her now, for with the rising heat of the muggy morning, the wind told her of fur-bearers, many and close by. She was elated that they had found the right spot, but her happiness could not become case for carelessness. She had seen two sets of sighs not far back as she broke trail for her team. The first had been so faint that only someone with Crystal's enhanced senses might have picked it up. Whoever this fur bearer was, for there was not enough of a scent for her to be sure, he was the best she had ever seen.

The second set was far more telling and Simian in its clumsiness. A patrol of six, and messy they had been, leaving a trail thrashed out of the ground and tall grasses that an idiot could see and would have been stupider to follow. She had no way of telling what they knew, so she decided for caution.

She took to the trees rather than go around them. This gave her a vista of the ground ahead that only one of the falcons might enjoy. The climb was no more difficult for her than breathing, and in a moment from the lush green branches, she could see nearly to the horizon. At this height, even the wind helped her as she lay still in the tree, more feeling than seeing what was below.

They were a quiet group, but not quiet enough. The wind brought her the telltale scents and signs of a large part of fur bearers in the adjoining stand of trees. Crystal stalked over the branches and dropped among them almost as silent as the sunrise. She crept up behind Marito and gave him a playful scritch between the ears!

Hi There, remember me? She thought at the smaller fur bearer.

Marito looked up and around, surprise painted on his shocked face. The effect was doubled, because the face he recognized smiled at him thru the helmet of a Praetorian Guard, as did the trained fur-bearing body who wore the uniform, still a gleaming white in spite of the clinging dampness of the sloppy soil.

Crystal! I'm glad to see you. You look good enough to kill.

Let's hope it doesn't quite come to that. Where's Lollo, I have to talk to him.

With any Luck, he might be just beneath your feet about now? You wanna dig?

WHAT? He went below? Where's Shamir?

About two steps behind Lollo, if our luck is holding

Crystal set her helmet down and sat on it, slightly dazed.

This Time, it was Marito's turn to scritch. They will be all right. You know those two.

I also know I think they and we just might be walking into a Simian ambush.

Then Underground may just be the safest place for them Marito sent.

Dasher is an hour away, maybe less now. and so is some Simian, whose been making steady progress south for at least the last day and nite. I want survey parties out, when the black gang gets here, we're going to have to know the fastest way both in and out.

They should be back from their second sweeps in about two minutes. So far, whoever gave us these maps hasn't been wrong once, Everything right where it's supposed to be.

I just hope Lollo and Shamir are where they are supposed to be. Crystal added. We have a very long day ahead of us.

Rocar didn't bother with being stealthy. He hadn't stopped since the hilltop, and had redoubled his speed since sunrise. He broke trail in the literal sense now, a great white moving wall that ran thru smaller saplings, rather then around them, and leapt wide spots in the marshy ground without slowing down.

He was vaguely aware of being tracked by someone, but he could ill afford to slack his pace and wait to be found. The location seemed to be burned into his eyes, and as the terrain began to match, Rocar reached deep, pulling more from his fantastic pool of endurance. He dared never stop now, for if he did, the results might be tragic.

Shamir was glad to shake off the tight fitting Simian helmet. It fell to the floor with a clatter, but the door was sound and send proof, so the young cat didn't care. He helped Lollo make a neat pile of the four Simian guards, whose stunned forms were still awkward to handle.

They were no fun at all. Sighed the younger lion, feeling new strength come to him as his adrenaline peaked. He finished binding the tranquilized Simians. Having taken full charges from their own stun sticks, they would sleep all day.

Lollo smiled. He was already keying pass codes from the book in his sidepouch into the interface. The Simians had fallen for his image processing trickery, and the two fighting fur-bearers had blown thru them like a stiff and wild winter wind, even before the blast door had come up all the way.

So it's fun, is it? Lollo sent. In that case, getting this door open might start a real party Lollo sent as he finished keying in the code. The thick metal door slid open without any protest from the alarm.

Shamir looked at Lollo. Here begins the quietest party ever. Let's go find us a starship!

The wolverine smiled and led the way, after setting the door to close and seal behind them.

There was no way back now, except to go through. And that was exactly what the Wolverine and the Lion intended to do. One way, or the other.

They found themselves in a huge store room, just as the readout had said. Shamir's senses told him it was vacant except for great stacks of boxes and crates. Lollo had chosen the longest way down, knowing that these rooms would be unpopulated, and thus offer easy passage. Now, they were inside, and according to the data crystal, only two rooms and a short passageway kept them from the room that was their real target. Yet as Shamir and Lollo paused safely hidden among the cargo, they could both hear a great number of voices coming up the corridor that led to the room that was their next goal.

Mirika could feel them now, as keenly and clearly as his own senses. He sliced thru the last stand of tall grass. Standing nearly nose to nose with him was a surprised ocelot with a short dagger.

Greetings! Mirika said simply. I come from Rocar.

The name was like a magic key. Hearing it, drained all the tension of fight away from the ocelot's face. Mirika could almost see the send. The tall grass rustled, and Dasher sprinted into the open.

We were told to expect scouts in this area. The site is about an hour ahead, on the other end of the swamp. Dasher sent without fear, because the cat before him felt right. He had both the bearing and the calmness that Dasher had felt from Rocar, and the margay trusted his instincts.

Your party is heavy laden. I can show you a path that is firm ground, so even the slowest of you can move more quickly. We will arrive long before noon. Follow me Mirika sent in return, and simply kept walking, as Dasher and the rest of his hidden team watched, and then gathered themselves to follow.

Crystal watched the sun climb higher with anxious eyes. She had set guards out along the ground, and into the trees, so that every blade of grass now had eyes. The Simians would never expect her, but now neither could they surprise her. That was not her worry. Crystal's mind ached for some trace of send from Lollo or Shamir.

She had waited more than an hour before her instincts won the wrestling match.

Quietly, she slid thru the tall grass and across the open ground, toward the bunker.

Shamir motioned for the door of the storeroom as soon as quiet fell again. Lollo was surprised as he came to the far corner and found the familiar triangular interface console!

Lollo looked skyward and thought of Krista, somewhere above. This was a find that could make their passage much easier!

Again, the mustelid claws unfastened his sidepouch, and the small green book proved it's value. Within moments, the interface was flashing images of the surrounding corridors and rooms out of the dataflow. Shamir opened his Mind, and let the dataflow pool in his Mind. In a mater of seconds, the young lion knew the surrounding rooms as if he had hewn them from the ground himself.

But then, the interface flashed again, with an image that caused both fur-bearers to draw in their breath sharply and hold it.

She was almost avian in shape and line, with a thick, almost rounded mid-body that tapered to a flat squareishness on her aft flank. She was big, bigger than the pictures that Shamir had seen as a cub. But the sight of the starship, as stunning as it was not their main concern. Above the image hung a dispassionate set of numbers, that slid backwards with an awful and final precision that Shamir also knew.

The restless images moved again, this time to show an oval room with high metal ceilings.

Rows of Simians at consoles, and on the wall, the same procession of numbers, creeping backward with time that would arrive at zero with the next sunrise!

It was a strange feeling. an elation of proof, mired in an awful desperation. But both of them had read the secret order that now seemed to make Lollo's belt pouch seem to weigh so much more. They stayed still, studying the flow of images for what seemed like days, until Lollo deactivated the interface. Shamir moved silently into the now empty corridor with Lollo just behind him. If they were right, the two of them had less than fifteen hours to capture the ship destroy her, or let the Simians do the unthinkable!

The bunker showed signs of a brief struggle. She found both Simians trussed up and asleep, which is how she left them as she knelt to read signs. Here they were, Lollo and Shamir, both quite alive, and quite gone! Crystal found the supply hatch oddly bolted from the top. She opened the hatch, and dropped thru it quickly, into the underground maze.

Shomron received the first batch of relayed sends with a mixture of delight and alarm. He had no doubt that the complex could be found, but distance and time worked against them to spoil the coordinated attack that Shomron had hoped to make. In the end, he felt awful, useless and chair-bound, having to make the only decision that he could, sending to Dasher to handle the situation as he saw fit.

Vladimir sensed the frustration in his friend, and tried to divert his mind.

We need to think about what's next after we take the ship, Shomron. You were right. We need you here, as much for leadership as for politics. Vlad told him.

You're right. Call a council meeting, here. Give me two hours.

The Skiltaire nodded and began a long list of required sends. But he sent only the call for the meeting, knowing that if their secret became known to soon, it might die, and take many along with it.

When Vladimir was finished, he walked down the corridor to his office with both Aurora and Vladimir. This was their normal meeting-before-the-meeting. But Aurora could sense something unique as the sound and send proof door to the office closed. Shomron fell into his friendly worn chair, feeling every second of his age.

The cheetah leaned heavily on his elbows, his paws clinched together in front of him, and his eyes downcast. When he spoke, his voice was heavy.

I need your help, friends. he said quietly.

What can we do, Shomron?

You're Skiltaire, your people were born among the stars.

Yes?

I need to know. To be sure. Shomron began, his thoughts wading into a sticky ball with his emotions.

Of what?

I need to be sure. That we're ready, or if we should try.

Aurora stepped forward, and took hold of Shomron's paws. No baby can stay forever in the cradle. The time has come for us to grow, Khai Shomron Aurora told him gently thru gentle but resolute eyes.

Shomron looked to Vladimir. He nodded. First steps can mean a first fall, but that's the price of walking, my Friend. Vladimir added. You were right years ago, you were right a week ago. Why would you be wrong now?

That's what worries me. Shomron confessed. I know it has to be, and I know it has to be now. But what then?

Whatever happens. Aurora replied. We will not die for want of vision.

She said, looking at Shomron proudly.

If you're good enough to think that far ahead, Shomron, than I'm not at all worried. Vladimir answered.

Thank you, my friends. Shomron said quietly.

As soon as her paws hit the solid floor of the tunnel, her posture and personality changed. Her first test came in the form of a bored Simian sentry, half asleep at his post. He leaned heavily on his stun stuck, the same one Crystal snapped in two with a perfunctory kick! The Simian tumbled to the floor in a heap. He landed heavily and shook his head, a growl rising in his throat as he looked up.

Crystal heard that growl die as a choked off rattle, and saw the Simian eyes dilate into pinpoints of sheer terror as the Simian looked up, suddenly wishing he could die quickly.

Get up, Fool! Crystal snarled, her voice sounding even more cruel thru the filter in her helmet. She kicked the Simian to a standing position, until he was painfully at attention.

If I find you sleeping again, your rest will be forever! she said coldly to him.

Yes, Tribune! the terrified Simian responded, grateful that he had escaped with Minimal pain. If she had wanted him dead, he would still be on the floor, broken.

Pass me thru to central control. I have just returned from patrol.

Yes, Tribune! Instantly the Simian guard produced a white and gold card, that he pinned to her uniform with clumsy and shaking hands.

What is the status on the ship, sentry? She snapped.

All supplies loaded. Gas canisters loaded, Troops standing by to enter ship, Tribune!

Inside her helmet, Crystal's ears pricked up. Luckily her dark visor hid her expression of surprise.

Excellent! She snapped. Ahead of Schedule. No thanks to your kind! Are you in the invasion force?

No, Tribune!

Good, then we have some hope of Victory. Carry on! she snarled at him, and stalked away.

Crystal let her facade of anger drop as the swaggered away from the Simian sentry, still looking every inch the Praetorian Guard. Behind her, Crystal could still sense the Simian quivering with fear. She had been luckier than she deserved to be, and she knew it.

Ahead of her were two entryways. Both of them guarded. She had seen the scanned drawings, and the photographic memory that she had been created for took over her body, steering her to the right hand door. The sentry had seen what had happened across the room, when Crystal snarled as she walked by, he snapped rigidly to attention, and dared not speak one word of challenge.

She took a dozen marching strides down the empty corridor, until the tunnel curved a bit and joined a second set of passageways. Crystal sidestepped, removing herself from view for a moment, and then she paused, slumping down against the wall in relief.

He Mind reeled, but she forced it to focus, probing for Lollo and Shamir.

A familiar sensation brought Shamir up short. Lollo noticed he was purring softly.

Crystal is here. someplace. close. the young cat thought at the wolverine.

The relief on Lollo's muzzle was visible. Great! Let's find each other!

Shamir sent a probe in reply, and when they met, he could see thru her eyes for a moment.

She's outside, and down the corridor. Let's go! Shamir sent as he loped for the doorway.

Cautiously he looked around the doorway, and saw only the vacant corridor. Then a shadow just around the bend took a step back.

If Shamir lived the rest of the Century, he would never forget the delight in Crystal's send as they saw one another!

His own delight was cut short as a sharp voice filled the corridor with a low, gravely threat. Don't move, Fur-Bearer!

Inside, Lollo froze. Down the corridor, Crystal ducked back into the shadows, pressing hard against the wall.

You big. Who are you, and what do you do here? The Simian guard asked, as he walked toward the doorway, stun stick at the ready.

Don't you know who I am? Shamir said curtly.

No

I am Shamir, son of Koda Shalimar. Shamir gambled on the truth, making it sound like he was more annoyed than scared.

Ohhh. You famous. I see your father once. Now he dead. Very sad. But what do you do here?

Preparing supplies for the ship.

Oh. But all supplies loaded. and orders say that all Fur bearers must stay in quarters. I think you come with me.

Shamir heaved an annoyed sigh that was edged with a growl. I have no time for this, I have work to do.

The Simian guard laid the side of his stun stick across Shamir's shoulder, blocking his way as the white lion tried to walk on. You come. Now.

Lancer!

The shout had a cold, hard edge to it that made steel seem brittle.

Shamir saw traces of colour drain from the Simian face, and saw the guard's eyes flood with a look bordering sheer terror!

What is the meaning of this outrage? Demanded the tall Praetorian Guard who strode up and took charge.

He is Fur-Bearer. Orders say lock all of them in quarters on sub level two, Tribune.

I am aware of those orders. I gave them. The tall white uniformed female growled at the Simian as she loomed over him by nearly two heads in height.

Do you know who this is? she snarled at him.

The Simian guard nodded. He say he famous.

He also Said he has work to do. under orders from me. Do you challenge my authority? The Praetorian accented the question by moving to draw her sidearm.

The terrified Simian panicked, nearly breaking down on the spot!

NO. No!. Praetorian lord. Please. You take him. I say nothing. Nothing. I swear it!

Begone, or I'll kill you for the practice.

In a moment, the panicked Simian seemed to evaporate, leaving Crystal and Shamir standing alone outside the store room!

My but you're frightening. Shamir sent in admiration.And I've never been so glad to be so scared!

I'll second that! Lollo said, Coming out from behind the door as Crystal walked Shamir back into the store room.

I'm so glad to see you both! We'll talk about insubordination later. What now?

I need to get a look at the ship itself. Can you get us to the launch bay? Shamir asked.

Seems to me that you go anywhere you want to Lollo observed.

Well, so far, I'm of higher station than everyone we've run into. Our luck may or may not last.

It seems to be the only luck we have. Lollo sent.

All right, Let's go. remember, you two are my prisoners.

Both the wolverine and the lion nodded. and Crystal walked behind them up the maze of corridors.

The Military command headquarters seemed to glow extra bright on this historic day. The Simian leader was nearly in a good mood as he marched to his office. Almost at once, an underling stood up to him and saluted, as if passing inspection.

The Simian leader returned the salute sloppily and waited.

Great Leader, I beg to report that the starship is reported ready for launch. All that remains in for the troops to board. the underling reported.

This news brought a smile to the flat Simian face. All is ready, and the trap is set. Any News from Ku Minn Li?

No sir!

Pity. He must now be considered expendable. Prepare all troops for boarding, but do not embark them yet. And order the battle groups to seal off the Silver swamp. Inform the commander of the fifth Simian legion that he will have the honor of the kill, with the other legions to eradicate any escapees. No Prisoners, and no Quarter, Understood?

Yes, Sir. Are any of the leaders of the rebels to be taken alive?

For every one of them left alive after this day, any Simian who does not kill them shall forfeit his own life. Understood?

Clearly, Great Leader!

Ku Minn Li could follow the traces clearly now. It was obvious that Rocar knew, and may suspect who followed him. It was also clear that his white quarry was not stopping, nor slowing his pace. The Simian warrior's own pace quickened now, and as he too slid over the ground, his Mind repeated a steady choirs of Rocar's words to him in the bunker. Try as he might, Ku Minn Li's Mind would not focus, as it had for so many other battles. As the Simian warrior moved, he came to realize that the battle lines had been drawn within himself.

The meeting would begin in less than an hour. Shomron committed the proposal to his memory. Finalizing it had taken the three of them less than ten minutes. The other fifty had seen the two Skiltaire and the Cheetah orchestrate their superlative organizational skills and focus them toward solving the next problem the movement faced.

Much of what we do will depend on events, Vladish Shomron said. If we can take the ship and get her airborne, it could only be the start of our troubles.

We have forty five hundred of us below ground by this morning's count, including twenty two newborns over nite. Aurora told the two males. My evacuation plan will still work, but that's nearly half again as many as I figured on.

Is there any way to reduce evacuation time? Vladimir asked.

My plan originally called for everyone to take what ever they could manage. The plan envisioned us having to live off the land in the mountains. Aurora told them both.

Simple. We know the ship is stocked to support an invasion force, Right?

Vladimir nodded.

Then we will have to live off of what's in the ship. Shomron said.

I will pass the orders. Minimal baggage. Aurora said.

The only exceptions will be scientific equipment, tools, any and all medical needs and the library of datacrystals and an data interface units. Shomron ordered.

Aurora's slide rule made some quick calculations. That might cut or load time, and will reduce our flight weight by about one-third. She concluded. It will still be hard, but a lot less complex logistically.

Good. You two get hold of Shazi. Tell him to start preparations for emergency evacuation, with his entire staff and all his equipment. Get him all the help he can use, and start right away. If we're forced to stay, we can always unpack. When we go, He'll have to be the first one aboard. Especially if we have to fight for the ship. Shomron said quietly.

Join me in the meeting room as soon as you can. I have a feeling that the fight for the ship may not begin down south. Shomron told them in passing.