Attempting to set down on the unknown planet's surface. Shuttle Two to Shuttle Three communication. Security Chief Keltikin (a Djinn) pilots Shuttle Two.

  "Captain Hilyard? Are you seeing this?" Keltikin Jinn says.

  The overly excited elemental uses one hand to adjust the communications device strapped to the belt of his security uniform.

  "This is no atmosphere, Captain. Well, not in the truest sense. It's completely artificial. Possibly some sort of specialized energy shielding. A...Projection. And a very good one. The energy being used is like nothing I've ever seen. Someone...Or something created this."

  Keltikin's glowing hands fly over his console as he attempts to glean more information from the environment around him. Inside Shuttle Three, Aurelia performs her own calculations and recalibrations, the truth of the djinn's words settle uneasily in her psyche. An enemy this sophisticated may not be an enemy she wants to tangle with. Why were the ship's computers able to pick up a signal in the first place? Is this a trap?

  "The heat envelope encircling the entire planet only goes down another twenty or so meters," Keltikin continues in his high-pitched voice. "After that, the air appears to be quite...Comfortable. And breathable. We won't need the suits and rebreathers we brought down with us at all. The readings being fed to the Nebulus are utter nonsense. I would surmise, we were expected to assume the planet was uninhabitable. I'm also guessing that's how these aliens have avoided detection for so long. Explorers on a casual flyover would never know what they were actually looking at. For all intents and purposes...From space...This would appear to be a dead world."

  "What about the heat we're feeling?" A voice says over the speaker in Shuttle Two.

  Aurelia recognizes the voice as Nyraxi, a recent recruit from the port at Centaurus Nimbus Eight. The captain grins as Keltikin happily educates his young subordinate.

  "You're experiencing a hallucination of sorts, Nyraxi. You expect there to be extreme heat...So you feel extreme heat. Once we have dropped below the projection envelope...The symptoms will slowly cease. You will notice your skin feeling damp...And then, extremely cool. It is only your mind and your body reacting to stimuli. Nothing more. You will soon see."

  From Shuttle One, a deep barreling laugh rumbles over every open mic. The voice of Jemblevre, half-brother of R'ogsef Bok. This particular Devvir Cat more closely resembles a sturdily built humanoid lion. Dressed in splendid armor made of shiny copper and steel, the fierce feline is a wonder unto himself. Jemblevre leans forward onto his console, continuing to laugh.

  The caustic laughter pouring from Jemblevre's deep chest echoes throughout the shuttle's cabin and through the sound devices of his unwitting shipmates. Jemblevre's mane of red-gold hair seems to take on a life of its own every time he shakes his massive head.

  "You think this is hot? You would not have survived a day on my world!" Jemblevre chortles cruelly.

  "That may be," Keltikin agrees. "But we'll never know. Will we, Jemblevre? We elementals are very good at surviving on just about any world we so choose. We have learned to adapt. We simply chose not to inhabit yours. You should be grateful."

  "How dare you, energy thief! Are you imp--," Jemblevre shouts.

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  "Enough!" Captain Hilyard interjects even louder, halting the usual beef before it can get started. "That is not our mission...Either of you. We're not here to discuss broken treaties and old hatreds. We're here to find the aliens who murdered my father. Do you both understand? My father put up with your incessant bickering. I won't. Either put your silly differences aside...Or you can remain on this planet when we depart. I won't have another minute of this petty nonsense from my crew. Test me...If you think I'm kidding! Now, is not the time. No one...Will stop me from avenging my father's death. Not even you two."

  Silence enfolds the three shuttles. And then.

  "Yes, Captain Hilyard," Keltikin Jinn replies.

  The djinn bows his head as he speaks, even though Aurelia cannot see him. It is simply done out of habit--and respect. On Djinnin, the Jinn priestess' word is law. No one dares oppose her--except one who has claim to the throne. So it will be aboard the Nebulus. He is a djinn, after all. Not a surly Devvir Cat.

  "I understand, Captain," Jemblevre reluctantly responds in his deep voice. "I apologize for my outburst. I did not show respect for our mission...Or your esteemed father. As the savior of my people, he deserves better. I will do better."

  "Thank you, Jemblevre," Aurelia says, her face growing warm.

  "Perhaps now...We can focus on the task at hand?" Aurelia exclaims in a much more confident tone. "Thanks to R'ogsef Bok, we now have the exact location of the alien fleet. I want a slow, steady descent. So far...It doesn't look like they're aware of us. But looks can be deceiving. Something about this whole situation doesn't sit right with me. It seems...Almost too easy. We descend, we scout out the area, we blow the lead ship, and we get the hell out of here. We cloak the shuttles and bug out as soon as the way is clear. Got it? No heroes. Three shuttles are no match for a fleet this size. But we may be able to send their fleet into chaos before the Terran forces arrive. If they arrive. Either way. We're doing this. Anyone who doesn't want to participate...Can hang back in the shuttles until we return."

  "I think...We've had this discussion before," Jemblevre thunders over his mic. "Everyone here is of the same mind. We kill the captain who murdered our captain. Seems fair enough."

  "When you say it like that, Jemblevre...It sounds absolutely terrible," Aurelia groans. "But you're right. That's exactly why we're here."

  "And you don't think this extreme action may provoke a war, Captain Hilyard?" Keltikin Jinn inquires in a patronizingly soft voice. "Violence so often begets violence and all that? I read that in an ancient human text once. I don't believe this mission will have the effect you're intending at all. But, I'm no captain. As Jemblevre so eloquently pointed out...Those who I don't like...I simply suck them dry. No risk of pesky vendettas when there's no one to tell the tale, eh?"

  Aurelia practically screams at her communications device, turning the knob to full volume.

  "Now? You seriously want to voice these objections now?"

  "There was precious little time while aboard the Nebulus. You were more keen to give orders...Not listen to objections. Whereas, now that we are here...There is ample time to voice neutral dissent. Don't get me wrong, the idea of sucking strange alien corpses dry is very alluring. With the energy readings I'm getting... Quite a banquet awaits me. I should be satiated for quite some time. But, you are not an elemental. Nor are many aboard these shuttles. Your life can easily be taken from you. I wanted to be sure you understood that. I will go with you to blow up the alien mothership. But maybe...Not all of us will return."

  "You're kidding me, right?" Aurelia gasps. "You're just now bringing all of this up? We're free agents, Keltikin. We do what we want. If this were a normal ship...Half of the crew aboard the Nebulus would never have even been hired. The Terran Forces want nothing to do with them. Too high and mighty. We act in the best interest of the entire Terran Alliance. We do what they fear to do. What must be done. And they know we'll do it. They refused to go after my father's killers because they knew I would. That's why I'm here. That's why we're all here. Like I said before, if you want to stay behind...Any of you...The choice is yours. I won't punish you. I simply ask that you find another ship on which to sail once we return to port."

  "Save your speeches, Captain," Nyraxi bravely interjects. "It's like you said...We go where The Alliance fears to tread. We stand with you, Captain Hilyard."

  An echo of voices confirm the brave recruit's strong words over the coms. Aurelia's eyes fill with tears.