Fourteen hours after leaving Nuvian Space Port 27

  On the Nebulus' bridge

  (The ship is currently traveling within a lighttravel corridor outside of known Terran Space. Present speed of approximately Grade 3.75 or 433 * the speed of light)

  Aurelia uncomfortably adjusts her rear end within the deep folds of the newly installed Captain's chair. There's comfort and style. And then, there's whatever this is. Despite her slight discomfort, Aurelia is grateful for the dedication and painstaking detail the Nuvian engineers put into their work on the previously damaged starship. The newly remodeled ship is a marvel to behold. In addition to the Nuvian's state of the art plasma energy technology; and more modernized upgrades to what were once considered some of the best gadgets of technological wizardry Earth had to offer, the Nebulus is now a force to be reckoned with.

  Aurelia is confident that Mr. Yoth's worries, about the ship's capabilities, were completely unfounded. The Nebulus will perform just fine under pressure. As she has many times before. In fact, she'll do more than that. With Captain Aurelia Hilyard at the helm, and the brilliant team of scientists and engineers aboard, those damn aliens won't know what hit them. If everything goes according to plan, she won't need to take on the entire alien fleet. Just the main ship. Kill their captain; and send them home packing. Straight into the plasma beams of the allied space forces. A Captain for a Captain.

  -

  -

  Two hours later

  Slowing down and dropping out of lighttravel

  "Captain Hilyard! I'm picking up a very large signal," R'ogsef Bok yells from behind his console.

  The male Devvir Cat turns in his somewhat less cushy chair. The rippling muscles beneath the feline's spotted gold pelt are in stark contrast to his more mundane task as a navigations officer, making him seem completely out of place. Aurelia catches herself staring at R'ogsef Bok's bulging pecs and suppresses a smile. Too bad the Devvir Pact expressly forbids undue fraternization with other species. As a free agent, performing missions under the banner of the Terran Space Allied Forces, she doesn't dare buck interstellar law. Oh well.

  "The signal seems to be coming from a planet more than a hundred parsecs from our present location," R'ogsef Bok continues in a steady voice. "It would appear our elusive enemy has a secret headquarters. The trace emissions I'm picking up in the area confirm we aren't dealing with any known or Terran fleet. They're using a type of elemental propulsion I've never seen before. The emissions trail their fleet is leaving behind is...Strange. If not, wholly inconsistent. I do believe it's them, Captain."

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  "So...It's them? That's wonderful," Aurelia says, using this occasion as an excuse to rise from her very uncomfortable chair.

  Staring at the projected image of the approaching planet, Aurelia struggles against the strong emotions warring within her. Anger, sadness, anxiety, and a small twinge of fear. She was anticipating a battle in open space. What if they can't hold the strange enemy off? What if the space forces don't arrive in time? Perhaps, she should order the crew to cloak the Nebulus and wait until the Terran space fleet arrives? Only if the enemy attempted to flee would they risk an engagement.

  Just as suddenly, Aurelia arrives at a stubborn conclusion. No, they are already here. The enemy is within range and within her grasp. So their plan will need to be altered a bit? No big deal. They will sit and observe. They will determine which ship belongs to the devil fleet's accursed leader, and they will blew it sky high. In truth, nothing about the plan has truly changed. Except the level of risk. Keeping the Nebulus cloaked may help mitigate that somewhat.

  "I'm heading to the security deck, R'ogsef. You're in charge until I find a replacement for Second Mate Boofgis," Aurelia says with a low sigh. "He would pick this time to go on a pilgrimage. When I finally have need of my second mate, he's halfway across the galaxy contemplating how many hairs are left at the top of his head or something. Is there no justice in the universe?"

  "Not that I am aware of, Captain," R'ogsef Bok chuckles softly.

  "You weren't supposed to actually answer that, R'ogsef," Aurelia says, laughing as well.

  "I know."

  "As I said, R'ogsef...You're in charge. I really wish you were joining us in the landing party. We could sure use your muscle. But...I trust your judgment at the helm equally as much. You're the only member of this crew who has captained a ship before. Albeit, a Devvir freighter. Not quite as big, and definitely more agile than this old girl. However, I trust you'll keep the Nebulus in one piece. Send all of the information you can get on that alien planet down to security. I wanna know which one of those slick bastards is their lead ship. Once we've exited the Nebulus inside the shuttles...Cloak the ship and take her into low orbit. "

  "Will do," R'ogsef Bok replies with a wide grin. "Much luck, Captain Hilyard. I wish I was going with you as well. To help avenge your father's death. If it were not for him...My people...The Devvir...Might never have been accepted into the Terran Alliance. Our very civilization might've come to an end. It took a common man...Not a common diplomat...To make the politicians and warmongers finally see reason. I will be forever grateful to your father for that. My people, will forever be grateful. His loss bears down on us all."

  Hearing yet another strong declaration of devotion to her deceased father causes anger to flare anew within Aurelia's bosom. Mr. Yoth had stated that her father was a poor diplomat. Yet, R'ogsef Bok is of a different opinion. In each man's own mind, the reasons behind their love for Jake Hilyard are like blazing lines in the sand. Captain Hilyard had stood strong and firm on issues which mattered most to him. And in doing so, he'd helped to secure the bright future of many species within Terran Space--and its numerous alternate dimensions.

  "I mean it...I want everything you can get, R'ogsef," Aurelia reiterates, taking lively steps towards the bridge doors. "I mean everything. And I need it fast. We can't risk losing the element of surprise. I want telemetry...I wanna know how many ships there are...Their sizes...What they're composed of. Everything. I'll be in security."