EndWorld

Chapter 4: "I guess we could follow you."

Bretna put the shuttle into orbit and went to go talk to the group. She stood at the cockpit entryway and stated, "I've got good news and I've got bad news."

"I always feel better getting soothed after getting punched in the face, so bad news first," Derek responded with a slight chuckle. The serum in that vial was strangely affecting him. In a way, that was leaving his head floaty. He still could not feel his leg.

Bretna regarded him for a moment then began, "We don't have enough fuel to make it to a free system." Everyone looked at her with grave concern in their eyes. "There is, however, a solution to that problem. The system navigation says this planet is called Garentor, it's a Drekk colonial project with multiple fueling depots on the surface. If we can get down there and steal just one canister of fuel, we can make it. If not we're screwed either way."

The group considered this, for a time there was silence, everyone wishing to pick at their fingernails rather than respond. Grit was the one to break the silence, "Sounds more like you had bad news and worse news, but we have no other choice in this but to do it."

They all looked at each other wondering if it could be done, then Hut posed a question, "Only two of us can go right? I mean Derek is in no shape to be sneaking around a Drekk controlled planet and someone will have to watch him."

Bretna nods, "That's a good point Hut, you and Derek can stay on the shuttle and Grit and I will go get the fuel. We've got two blasters, we'll leave the Drekk one here on the shuttle, but take the Vehnu one. I heard they're quiet."

Everyone looked at her, she very quickly took the role of leader and no one wished to contest that, but she couldn't help but feel the tug of doubt at the edge of even her mind about the prospects of her leading them in a successful heist.

__________________________

Jort was finally getting what he wanted, off of Drakkna. Unfortunately, it came with a mission. Hunt down and capture, living or dead, the escaped humans.

Getting to that point took some persuasion. Primarily because the Admiral wanted someone's head for this mistake, and the Warden's was in too many pieces to mount anywhere. He was given mercy by the admiral through what he wished he could say was logical reasoning, but it was mostly begging.

The deal is that if he manages to catch the escaped slaves, without arousing any suspicions of their escape, he would be allowed to live. He had to bring back at least one alive though. Jort felt he already had a good live target having seen the one that escaped Drakkna being injured.

The only issue is he knew that the other slaves were from a Vehnu research lab. He needed to find out what that research was.

_______________________

Garentor is a water world consisting of islands, the Drekk solution to this was to e*****e the population and force them to build a series of platforms and bridges across the islands to support a more land-based species like the Drekk and allow the facilitation of trade and the landing of larger vessels. This left a large portion of the world looking like a brown rash harshly contrasting the bright blue with speckled white of the rest of the planet. This was good for Bretna and the others for they had an uninhabited part of the planet to enter on and potentially land.

They hoped that would mean they would be undetected. The only issue after that is they would need to swim to the inhabited portion where the fuel depots are. They landed as close as they dared. Derek observed that Bretna and Grit still would take a few hours to reach the "mainland".

Bretna and Grit looked through more of the compartments on the shuttle, finding more first aid supplies, they took some of what they found and left.

Derek looked over at Hut and said, "I guess we better get comfortable."

Hut nodded and started examining the Drekk blaster.

_____________________________

Jort arrived at the Vehnu research station in a sour mood. The brief he got when he looked it up on the computer did not fill him with confidence for this assignment. He could not believe the Vehnu would give humans robotic limbs and higher cognitive abilities. The end goal they claimed seems worthwhile, but they empowering a group that is vital to the Drekk economy.

He docked his ship with the station and powered it down.

Upon entering he had three Vehnu waiting to greet him, which was annoying because he was hoping they would be surprised, he had not announced himself. This, was not a violation of the treaty, as far as he was aware.

One of them began speaking with the gurgling of Vehnuan being only slightly audible over the speaker on their translator, "Hello Captain Jort, what a pleasant surprise. We were made aware that you were hunting down some escaped humans that originated from this facility by the Grand Admiral, we prepared some information for you. If you would please follow us to the briefing room?"

Jort felt the anger within rising and growled as he motioned for the Vehnu to lead the way. He wasn't happy to just be getting a briefing from prepared statements. He wanted the chance to give the squeeze on these scientists, but now he had no choice but to take what they said at face value.

They led him through a series of doors and hallways with many blacked-out windows, this facility seemed to have a lot of secret research ongoing. He would be sure to remember this for his report.

Finally, they entered a conference room with multiple chairs and a long table. At the end of the room, they had a hologram set-up with diagrams of different robotic limbs. Jort was intrigued but didn't want to let that show

"Now this research better be as useful as your papers claim or I will be filing a warning in my official report." Jort snarled at the Vehnu.

The lead Vehnu wiggled a tentacle in front of Jort, "I assure you, Captain, this will change everything for you."

Jort grew alarmed as he felt a sting in his arm and all the Vehnu retreated from him, he made chase but his limbs began to weigh him down. He collapsed onto the table partially crushing it.

"As I said Captain, everything is about to change for you and many others."

That was the last thing Jort heard before he slipped into a deep sleep.

______________________________

Bretna and Grit had just arrived at a ramp-up to the mainland they were staying out of sight It seemed to be nearing time for the planet's sunset to occur, meaning they would be able to move around in the dark soon. So they moved far away from the ramp and began waiting. Neither daring to speak.

The sun had just slipped below the horizon when they heard a gurgling sound, both of them spun around towards the noise and saw a flat-headed creature looking up at them.

Grit glanced over at Bretna, "What is that?"

"Why do you think I know?" She retorted.

The creature began to rise out of the water, Bretna leveled her blaster at it, and it tilted its head.

Another one appeared, and another, it didn't take long for them to become surrounded.

Bretna looked at them all carefully, then looked at Grit, "Could these be the natives?"

They seemed relatively well suited for this world's mix of water and land environments. They had webbed hands and feet, seemed to be lacking any scales but had a somewhat leathery-looking skin, and had a tail along with the ability to stand on their hind legs.

The creature began closing in, Bretna knew they couldn't fight them off, she'd only be able to kill a few with this blaster. She secured it to her person and had no choice, but to trust, they meant no harm.

Once they got close enough they all looked surprised, then motioned for them to follow.

"I guess we could follow," Bretna says hesitantly.

____________________________

On another distant planet in a system furiously protected by the Vehnu, a scientist of great renown frantically records the result of an experiment. He can't believe his eyes.

He scrambles to speak with his Research Director and he cannot contain his excitement.

He phones up the governor of the planet.

The Governor then calls a Frentro forgeworld and begins discussing plans for A new major construction. It demands the utmost secrecy and takes the highest priority.

The Frentro begins to argue but is swiftly cut off with a code word.

The Frentro rushes to the Forgemaster and relays the information and pulls up the plans, repeating the codeword upon finishing the briefing.

The forge will burn hot for the next few rotations.