AngelWings Ch 65 'MEGAS'/'Mind Search'

December 31, 2009 - Thursday

AngelWings Ch 65 'MEGAS'/'Mind Search'
Current mood: grumpy
Category: Writing and Poetry

[Apocalypse Now with the Angels?]




The Angels in combat? Apocalypse now would have been different with the Angels eh?



AW Ch 65 'Make Room For MEGAS'/'Mind Search'


[Graphic Novel Angels, Mugghi and Faye Valentine]


This is what the graphic novel Angels look like with Mugghi. Gad! I think they all look like wimps, don't you gang?

AW Ch 65

Wow!Mar's been injured and now that worst of all combat weapons is almost in Zorin's cronies' hands- Gundams! Almost as terrifying as the 'God Guns' or the Angels' new toy- the r-- whoops! I almost let the neko outta the sack folks! This chapter will put two close tomos at loggerheads with each other and nai it ain't Vacuumhead and Firebrand either! Some old tomos returned and the Boss decides to head for Onsokamaru! Who's in sick bay and how did she end up there? Why is Yuri Donovan furious? Who are the newbies? Did the truckers succeed?

ANGEL WINGS

DISCLAIMER: OK Kurumi darlin’, it’s all yours. First I wanna thank Mr T for the use of his Angels and stuff. Then I wanna thank everyone else who has been allowing us to use their creations here like Thom Beers for the use of his ice road truckers Hugh, Drew, Rick, Eric, Alex and Bear. I took the liberty of naming the 3WA academy in Furool City on Shimougou after Mr Haruka Takachiho in honour of his creations- the Angels. How was that, Yuri? Great, kiddo. Oh hai it sure was, Kei! Now since we left ya up in the air last time let’s get to Ch 65 without any further meandering, shall we? Why is Zack Zero back and oro does he want with Suba Marina Oki? Can Mandy keep her big mouth shut? A hint re the titles- Aw do ya expect me to spoil it for ya? Oro does this all mean? We’ll find out momentarily gang. The Boss Red Marshall’s on the warpath again! Here ’tis:-

CHAPTER 65

'Make Room For MEGAS' or 'Mind Search'

The 'Carthage' was the 'KASP' ('Kaguran Air & Space Patrol') flagship and she was commanded by Commodore Dan Dastun formerly a captain on the 'Paradigm City Military Police' forces.

"Mr Quinn. Those three wayfarers below us seem to be marooned. Take the 'Hannibal' down there and see if they might care for a lift." ordered Dan.

Lt Harley Quinn (Harlequin- get it?) saluted, pointed to his away team and ordered them to prepare the shuttle for immediate liftoff.

A few moments later the 'Hannibal' touched down on the small asteroid. Harley leaped out followed by his away team.

"Hullo there. Having trouble, folks? (Coop and Kiva nodded. Kiva rose to her feet and saluted) Just you three?" asked Quinn.

"Yes. And him, sir." replied Kiva, jerking a thumb over her shoulder to indicate 'MEGAS' their BGR which stood higher than the mountaintop beside it.

"That damned thing will not fit inside the 'Hannibal's cargo bays, sir." advised Lance Corporal Tomasina O'Malley.

"Yes. I know that, Toma. We'll have to have it 'beamed' aboard the 'Carthage' so get some 'pattern enhancers' (they tell the transporters where the 'beamee' section is and everything within their field is transported) and call the 'Carthage' for us." ordered Harley.

Toma saluted and hustled off with three sappers to carry out his commands.

"We'll have to have your 'toy' beamed up I'm afraid. You three will accompany us aboard the 'Hannibal' so onegai (please) follow me." said a short aoishi (blue)- haired girl sapper named Tammy McShane.

Tammy was a 'Quarl' and hailed from the faroff world of 'Halifaxus' which was in the same mysterious 'Omega Quadrant' as 'Workoh-- the Boss's own home world.

A grizzled old iron grey-haired veteran of countless wars limped over to his superior and saluted Quinn. Then he clamped a cigar between his teeth and pointed behind him.

"That blarsted thingymajig's been transported up, Master Quinn, sir." said Master Sergeant Angus MacMillan who the away team's leader.

"Very good, 'Scotty'. Might as well be off then. Get the team back aboard." replied Quinn and did an about face. Then he strolled up the gangway to the shuttle.

As soon as all of the away team and the three wayfarers were safely aboard the 'Carthage' Lt First Class Sir Richard Burton (the esteemed 19th Century Terran explorer who discovered the source of the Nile River on ancient Terra not the Terran Welsh actor) gave the order to resume their voyage to 'Romulus' once again and the ship accellerated to forty Warp.

"Steady as she goes, Lady Alice." he said and the blonde pilot nodded.

He and Alice (she was indeed the very same Alice that had inspired that very famous Terran childrens' book 'Alice in Wonderland' to be written by the Reverend Charles Dodgson much better known by the name of Lewis Carroll) had both been picked up from a very strange world- 'Riverworld'- several years ago by a passing Kaguran patrol squadron. Since that time both had been trained as fighters and pilots.

As a result both of them were 'KASP' officers although Dick by virtue of his leadership skills was a Lieutenant First Class while Alice was merely an Ensign. Dick was the 'Carthage's first officer and exec to Dastun while Quinn was the weapons officer and away team commander. Quinn felt that Dick Burton was promoted over him because he had been a Terran knight of the British realm. Of course he never said anything to either Dick or Dan or even Alice.

Belowdecks Harley and 'Scotty' were both quite perturbed. Getting 'MEGAS' beamed aboard had been mere child's play. Making it fit inside the 'Carthage's small cargo bay was another matter entirely.

"This damned bleedin' thing be just too high for the bay! Let's just chuck it down in that old storage room beside the engine rooms, sir." suggested MacMillan.

"You are not gonna chuck 'MEGAS' down in some smelly old closet dammit! It's mine!" yelled an enraged Coop.

"Ours!" corrected Kiva. "And you most certainly are not putting 'MEGAS' down there by the engines, sir!" she added, wrapping her flight jacket around Kurumi. The steel angel had decided that the cargo bay was too warm for her and she had promptly stripped down to her underthings! The 'Quarl' girl giggled and grabbed Kurumi away from Kiva.

"Don't worry. I'll find her some pajamas, ma'am." said Tammy and she escorted Kurumi to the lift.

Quinn was shaking his head sadly.

"Let's try laying it on the floor. Then we can use 'force beams' (like miniature energy barrier force fields) to secure it. That OK with you two?" suggested the slight weapons officer.

Reluctantly Kiva and Coop nodded their agreement. After 'MEGAS' had been secured as best they could manage Toma took Kiva to her quarters and Quinn took Coop back to his rooms. Tammy had already put Kurumi in the spare bunk in her own cramped quarters.

All three of them were immediately pressed into temporary service with 'KASP' whether they liked it or not. Coop was made Second Lieutenant much to his delight. Lt Kiva was demoted to an Ensign and Kurumi was made a Sub-Ensign.
Kiva became an assistant 'navvie' or navigator. Coop became a gunner and Kurumi became the 'Carthage's new cabin girl. The steel angel was ecstatic. After all she was a maid anyway, wasn't she?

Coop was nuts about all kinds of guns so being a gunner was cool. However, Kiva resented her reduction in rank and her use as an assistant 'navvie'. After all she was a damned good fighter pilot! The Commodore was sympathetic but adamant. He had all the pilots he needed for now but he needed an assistant 'navvie' so Kiva was it. Either that or scullery maid in the galley. Kiva grumbled but acquiesced.

Kiva's post was beside the comm relay officer Subaltern Jadzia Dax, a 'trill' who had formerly worked for 'Starfleet's colony on 'Deep Space Nine'. It had been rumoured that she and Lt Commander Worf the colony's 'Klingon' exec had been an 'item' back then but Dastun had forbidden any mention of that subject aboard his star cruiser. Dax seemed pleasant enough and explained quietly to Kiva that their real 'navvie' was Lt Andrea 'Kitty' Torres and had suddenly transferred back to the 'Coriander' at 'Starfleet' Captain Kiva Nerese's personal request. Andy had left just a few days ago. If she thought this would change Kiva's feelings about her demotion and menial usage as a 'navvie' it didn't.

Jadzia had been working the comm relay mikes fro about an hour when she suddenly tossed off her headphones and swore mightily.

"Dammit, sir! I just cannot raise the 'Lovely Angel 2', the 'Shalimar', the 'Coriander', the 'Outlaw Star', the 'Nova Hellsing', the 'Botany Bay 2', the 'Emerald Queen', nobody! It's like all of 'em dropped off the face of the cosmos, sir!" said Suba Dax angrily. "Please excuse my outburst, Commodore. It was uncalled for, sir." she added.

"A bad business." agreed Burton. "However, we must press on and hope for the best, Jade. We'll make 'Romulus' pretty soon. They should be on 'Remus' by that time and you can try again." said the exec.

"Keep trying anyway, Jade." corrected Dan Dastun, patting the 'trill's shoulder.

Suddenly her face brightened and she snapped her gloved fingers.

"Sir? I believe there may be another way to get through to them, sir." she replied.

"How?" asked Dan Dastun. Jade was already hitting switches and shutting down banks of controls on her console.

"There may be a 'Beta Zoid' aboard the 'Angel 2'- 'Starfleet's Lt Commander Dyanna Troi. I'm a 'trill' and I just might be able to link my mind with hers. If you permit, sir, I'll try it." she suggested.

"By all means, my dear Jade. Please try." replied the Commodore.

Dax composed herself, slid back her chair and stretched out her lithe body and shut both aizu (eyes) thus concentrating her strong will. Slowly she began to speak like an ancient Terran medium or psychic.

"I have her, sir. Dyanna says that they are travelling inside the 'Daedalus Nebulae' and can neither send nor receive signals of any kind. That explains why-- Sir! I have just reached another 'Beta Zoid' aboard! It is a male, a Legato Bluesummers from 'Gunsmoke', I think. He says they will rendezvous tomorrow evening on 'Remus' with the 'Shalimar'. He says the 'Nova Hellsing' and the other craft we cannot raise are already stored aboard the 'Angel 2', sir. I have told them to tell the Boss that we will relay them when we reach 'Romulus', sir. I am sorry but the 'Shalimar' does not seem to have any receptive minds aboard, just a couple of robotic androids. Dammit! Sorry Commodore but I have lost both contacts!" said Jade who was shaking violently and almost in tears.

Dan patted her hand. "Well done, Jade." he said. She nodded, stood up and swooned to the deck.

"Medic to the bridge- stat!" shouted Alice into her vidmike.

"Oro (What) the Hell's she on- 'Taramot'? I have warned you people before about these space drugs you know!" admonished Dr Keymar, an elderly Martian physician.

"Of course not, you old fool! She's just done a 'mind search'! She's a 'trill', Doc!" yelled Tammy McShane.

"Ach! Das explains her condition then. I vill give her a shot of 'Axileine 30' (painkiller and sedative). Take her to her room. She vill need a good long rest." said the medico from Mars.

"Ensign! Take the Suba's place as comm relay officer! That is an order, Ensign Kiva!" ordered Burton and he snapped his fingers. Kiva glowered at him but obeyed.

"Aye sir!" she intoned and sat down at Jade's console.

Harley Quinn stood and slammed his fist into his palm.

"By jove! Now I've got it!" he shouted.

"Well don't give it to anyone else, sir." mumbled Kiva.

"Bluesummers! I thought sure that name sounded familiar don't ya know! He's wanted by the 'ISSP' ('Inter Solar Systems Police', a police force headquartered on Mars. The 'Bebop's Jett Black is a former member of their 'Ganymede' branch where John Raven is commander)! He's got a bounty on his head, sir! I wonder if the 'Angel's commander knows this, sir?" cried a shaken Quinn.

"If I know our Reds she sure as Hell does, eh Burton?" chuckled Dan Dastun. Both men knew this particular firebrand Amazon Hellcat Angel quite well indeed! Dick nodded ruefully and began patiently explaining the comm relay controls to Kiva- for the third time.

Aboard the 'Carthage' the gun deck is one level below the bridge and Coop was avidly eying row upon row of gun controls.

"Here, Lt. Mr Quinn insists all of us gunners wear a sidearm, sir." said Toma O'Malley, buckling a weapons sash around the big galoot's waist. Coop yanked out the huge M4 disruptor pistol and took a bead on the bulkhead wall.

"This damned thing loaded, Tommy?" he asked and pressed the firing stud. Tomasina dove for the floor when a green plasma beam melted the wall! Where her head had been a few seconds earlier was now a smoking crater a full metre wide and half again as long!

"Does that answer your question, you crazy lunatic! You could have killed us both dammit! (Suddenly she saluted) Sorry, sir! I apologize but please be more careful." said the Lance Corporal.

"My fault entirely, ma'am. I am so sorry. Let me help you up there." replied Coop, easily lifting Toma to her feet. Toma took the M4 from Coop and snapped on the safety lock. Then she stuck it back in his holster.

Kurumi awakened next morning and (still in her pajamas) sought out Dr Keymar's sick bay.

"Good morning, Miss. How might I be of service to you?" he asked without taking his aizu (eyes) away from her curvaceous frame.

"My knees feel rusty, sir. Could you lube them for me? Please?" she asked and dropped her pajama bottoms to the deck.

"Rusty? You mean they are hard to move? Ja?" asked Keymar, feeling her knees gingerly. Kurumi shook her head.

"No. I think they are rusty, sir. I am a steel angel android, Doctor. Don't you have any oil I can use?" asked a puzzled Kurumi. He shook his head, then sat down at his desk. He hastily scribbled on a prescription vidpad, tore it off and stuck it in the girl's hand.

"Go down three decks to der engine room and give this to der Engineer. His name is Ron Shaftoe and he vill fix you right up, my dear. Get dressed first because it is quite chilly down there, my child. (Kurumi slid off the table and headed for the portals) Miss Kurumi! Do not forget your bottoms! Good day to you." said the Martian medico.

Kurumi pulled on her brand new 'Subby' uniform as soon as she got back to her room. Recalling the doctor's admonitions of cold she pulled on flight boots, gloves and a flight parka. Then she walked to the gantryway stairs and descended on her mission to Engineering.

The Chief Engineer was very tall and very effeminate with long blonde hair.

"I think that '311XX' should do the trick for you. Drop your trousers, love. Not to worry. My crew's at breakfast, darling. Fine workmanship, I see. Not done on this world then? A little dab on this one and a little dab on that one. There. Feel better, dear? Good. Now how are those feet? OK? (Ron felt her arms and legs) You need a complete tune-up, I believe. Better take it all off, love. That's right. Now this won't hurt a bit, me old darling." said Ron Shaftoe with a wink.

A half hour later when she left him Kurumi felt like a totally different android, a new steel angel! She stopped in at the galley and was soon trundling an antigrav trolley laden with dishes back to her rooms.

"Your breakfast, mums." she announced and began laying out dishes for Tammy, Tomasina and Alice.

"You surely seem chipper today, Kuri." observed Alice.

"Yes'm. I just had a complte overhaul and tune-up down in Engineering, mum." she explained to the trio of open-mouthed women.

Meanwhile at 1900 hours (7 PM) the mighty 'Angel 2' at long last exited 'Daedalus' and her inhabitants found themselves less than two hours away from 'Remus' and the 'Shalimar'. Still 'cloaked' they wasted no time in heading for their rendezvous. Still dogging their heels was the determined 'Liberator'.

While all of this was going down the 'Carthage' touched down on 'Kazrah', one of the many 'Romulan' moons. All of a sudden Kiva had a plethora of comm relay messages and everyone's vidcell unit started chirping at the same time.

By 1930 (7:30 PM) the 'Carthage' had made contact with the 'Angel 2' and the 'Shalimar' while the vidcells continued to keep all hands informed of the latest gossip.

By 2030 hours (8:30 PM) the 'Angel 2' had at last rendezvoused with the 'Shalimar' so Kei decided that since they had arrived at 'Remus' and were well ahead of the invasion forces it would be safe to break comm relay silence with their 'Galactic Command' escort vessel.

"This is the 'Lovely Angel 2' calling the 'Liberator' in the clear. Please respond. Over." relayed Kome Sawaguchi.

"Roger that. This is the 'Liberator'. We read you, love. Over." relayed Zach Zero.

"Glad to have you watching our back, Captain Zach. The Boss wants to see you pronto and she asks that you bring your special passengers with you. Shall we send transport? Over." relayed the strawberry-blonde teen.

"Negative. I'll use the 'Freelander' for the trip. Over." was Zero's response.

"That'll be fine, Captain Zach. See you soon. Sawaguchi out." relayed the young Suba.

"Roger willco. Can't wait to see you, kiddo. Zero out." chuckled Zero.

By 2100 hours (9 PM) Zach and his yeoman arrived along with a roll call of 'Who's Who' of the 3WA, the 'UG', the 'GC', 'Starfleet Command', the 'Alliance', the 'ISSP', 'KASP', the 'Federation', 'MI5', 'Interpol' and the new Mrs Han Solo as well. The Boss and her exec, second officer and comm relay officer began to smell a 'Zygorian' rat- a big one!

"Oro (What) gives, Chuck? You brought everyone except Uncle Vito (Galadriel- the god of the 3WA and the 'UG'. Think Howard Hughes and Bill Gates times a trillion and you have some idea of his power and influence in the 23rd Century) for Christ's sake!" growled the redhead.

"Now you just calm down, Katie me girl." said Andre Francis Gooley who was Aquarian Galactic Chief and one of the few folks who could call the Boss 'Katie' and get away with it.

"Calm down? When you baka (crazy) morons have brought every ranking leader of the cosmos into a war zone which is awaiting the vanguard of an invasion fleet! You and Chuck had better have a good escuse, Andy!" she yelled, crashing a gloved fist down on the conference table so hard that the ice-like veneer cracked.

Admiral Katherine 'Dragon Lady' Janeway stood up and pointed at Kei O'Halloran, her golden orbs flashing fire.

"Enough of these temper tantrums, Madam Marshall! Sit down at once! Lord Grand Admiral Pike? The floor is yours, sir." said the 'Dragon Queen' sitting down again.

Christopher Pike stood and nodded a few times. "Thank you all for coming. I'll make this short and sweet. As most of you lready know we are here to negotiate a peace treaty with Count Dooku and Grand Admiral Thrawn. Their envoy has assured us that Dooku wants nothing more to do with this idiotic war and Thrawn agrees. Therefore they will withdraw their forces and lift the blockades around 'Shimougou', 'Mars', 'Kagura' and Terra immediately thereafter. They will return to their own worlds and agree to any terms we stipulate. In return they ask only that amnesty be granted to all invaders and their hirelings, that there be no reprisals later and that we release Zorin Oakenshield. He will be--" began Pike.

"Oro (What) the FXXX! Release him? You're damned bloody lucky I ain't executed him yet! No way in the nine jigokus (Hells) will I 'ever' agree to that! He's in my brig now and that is where he will stay until his trial and that is final dammit!" yelled the Red Marshall, slamming her chair back so hard that it smashed into the bulkhead wall.

"This is not your decision, young lady. It is ours and we have already made it. Whether you agree with it or not is really quite immaterial. Control yourself and please permit Lord Admiral Pike to continue. Another outburst like that and you'll find yourself inside your own brig. Lord Pike?" said 'Interpol's Commodore James Bond whose own ancient Terran ancestour had been famed MI5 secret agent 007.

"Thank you, Bond. Zorin Oakenshield will be banished forever to a small atoll asteroid in the faroff 'Omega Quadrant'. This quadrant sits in the most remote area of this entire Universe. Should he ever escape from that asteroid he will be executed on sight. These provisions have already been agreed to by both Count Dooku and Grand Admiral Thrawn. Both 'Romulus' and 'Remus' as welll as every single one of their myriad of moons will be under the direct jurisdiction of the 3WA, however, the people of these worlds and their moons will elect their own leaderships. As we speak these self same proposals are being explained to Zorin Oakenshield. (Kei raised a gloved hand, frowned and began to rise) The answer, Madam Marshall, is no. We see no justification for banishing either Dooku or Thrawn. We believe that both men were manipulated by Oakenshield. Ah! Here comes their envoy now." said Christopher Pike who had worked his way up the 'Starfleet' chain of command from a lowly space tech to his present position as supreme leader of 'Starfleet Command' itself.

The 'envoy' from the Count and the Grand Admiral was a short squat 'Sontarran' named Torg well known to most of the inhabitants of the 'Angel 2' as well as a good many of the cosmic leaders present in the room. He very closely resembled the 'Michelin Tires Man' of ancient Terran television commercials. Several high ranking officials and every Admiral in the room followed Pike and Torg across the hall and into an empty storeroom to confer. Kei rose and was waved back to her seat by Bond who slowly shook his head at the young commander.

"He is upset quite a bit but he has agreed to abide by the decisions since His Grace (Count Dimitrios Dooku) has approved them." advised Torg.

"The little shit knows we'll be keeping close tabs on his ass?" demanded Rafe Donnelly who commanded the 'ISSP' on Mars.

"He knows, Lord Rafe." replied the 'Sontarran' knight.

There were a few other technicality type questions which Torg answered. The results seemed to satisfy the assemblage because after a while they all returned to the huge conference room where a lively discussion began and lasted until almost 2300 hours (11 PM) when a vid relay signal was received. Kei's vidphone chirped and she automatically answered it.

"O'Halloran here. Oro (What) the Hell do you want?" she barked angrily. Suddenly she sat bolt upright.

"Oro (What) did you just say, Kome? Huh? Hell yeah and put it through to Vidscreen Six in here. Thanks." she said. The Boss hung up and used a small remote to lower Vidscreen Six so that it hovered above the table at the far end of the room.

"We have a relay from Dooku so everyone shut the Hell up dammit." growled the redhead.

The tall spare figure of His Grace, Count Dimitrios Dooku of the 'Myatlantic Realm' slowly materialized on the vidscreen.

"That's the blighter? He looks like 'Ming the Merciless' from 'Flash Gordon' on the old Terran films." cried Rafe.

Dooku bowed to the assembled group and smiled. Kei loathed him at first sight.
"I trust that our terms meet with your approval? It seems to myself and Reagent Thrawn that we are doing most of the giving while you are doing all of the taking. (He chuckled) After all we are not really asking you to release Zorin Oakenshield to us. Rather we are merely asking that you banish him to someplace very far away from us and the rest of the known Universe. So as not to prolong this unduly, Pike, does Zorin know all the details of our proposal? (Pike nodded and Dooku rubbed his hands together) Excellent. To confirm that you agree on all counts onegai (please) flash your running lights twice. (Pike picked up a vidmike) Very well--" relayed the Count and he turned to speak to his subordinates.

Kei grabbed Pike and turned him away from the vidscreen. Lowering her voice to a whisper she placed her mouth very close to the Grand Admiral's ear.

"Belay that, Pike! (Pike dropped the vidmike and the Boss caught it before it hit the deck) Think about this for just a minute, sir. My ship is 'cloaked' at the moment. That means we are invisible to other transports. If we flash our running lights, even for a nanosecond or two, we will not only give away our position- we will be totally visible to all aizu (eyes) out there for a second or two. Gomen (Sorry) Pike but I just do not trust this long lanky weasel, sir. (Pike stared at the redhead incredulously) I have more experience with his kind, sir. Please let me handle this matter for you. (Pike nodded and sat down. Kei turned to face the vidscreen again) Yo! Listen up, Dooku! (The tall nobleman glared icy daggers at the Red Marshall) We will comply, however, if you fire on me I will personally blow you and Thrawn off the face of the cosmos. You understand me, Gramps?" relayed a very menacing-looking tro-con. The chiefs buried their faces in their hands except for Don Poporo who shouted 'Way to go, girl!' before Anton Gustav kicked him in the shins.

Dimitrios Dooku nodded and pointed a warning finger at Kei.

"Yes Madam, I understand perfectly. The same goes for me, my dear. If you cross me, I will take extreme delight in ending your kawaii (lovely) young life. (He guffawed loudly) Just kidding. Please proceed." relayed the tall gaunt grim figure who sort of resembled the 'Grim Reaper' more than 'Ming the Merciless' today. Kei turned her back to the Count once more and hurriedly spoke into her comlink earring.

"Vicky! Flash our running lights twice. Huh? Just do it dammit! That's an order, Captain." she trilled and dropped her voice to a low growling whisper.

"Shields up before you hit those lights, kid. Stand by on our plasma cannons and quad guns just in case." trilled the redhead.

Captain Seras 'Vicky'/'Police Girl' Victoria complied and from Dooku's ship came two answering winks.

Dooku smiled and chuckled. He picked up a goblet of wine and sipped it.
"See Madam Marshall? I asked for your signal only so that my people would receive confirmation of our agreement. You really must learn to trust people more, my dear child." relayed a grinning Count.

Kei stared right at him and whispered "Keep our shields up, Vicky. I still don't trust this damned weasel. (Then a thought struck her) Vicky!! Have Zoe change course to SSE 350.00947 immediately! Dooku's got our position now or so he thinks and I'll be damned if he's gonna be able to use it against us!" trilled the Boss angrily.

As events turned out Dooku was, for once, telling the truth. An hour later (well past midnight) Kei had Kome put through another relay call to Dooku for her. When the Count appeared on her vidscreen Kei forced herself to smile at the leering lecherous creep.

"I want to be perfectly clear on a few key points, pal. (Dooku nodded wearily and sat down at his desk) We will transport Oakenshield to 'Quorangi 9' where he will remain under 'eternal' banishment. Correct? (Dooku nodded testily) Furthermore he will be under the joint jurisdictions of the 'UG' and the 3WA and should he somehow to escpae from his confinement and leave that asteroid he will be executed on sight. Is that also correct? (Again the Count nodded and puffed away on a long pipe) And lastly- you and Thrawn agree to all of these terms, sir?" demanded the firebrand Hellcat, one fist resting lightly on the butt of her holstered Mark XIII ion cannon.
"We both agree to all of the terms in the proposal that we presented to your people, Madam Marshall. If we did not agree to them then why would we present the proposal in the first place? (He sighed) Do you have any other questions, my dear?" asked Dooku wearily.

"Just one more. Who are you sending along with us so we can prove to you that old Zorin's been properly banished?" asked the Boss smugly.

The Count mused a moment and puffed away on his pipe some more before answering her.

"Keep my envoy aboard. Is that agreeable to you, Mr Torg? (The little 'Sontarran' nodded nervously) Excellent. Thank you, Mr Torg. Then do we have ourselves a deal, dear lady?" asked the Count.

Before Kei could reply Fleet Admiral Kirk cleared his throat loudly.

"Whether Marshall O'Halloran approves or not this is our decision, not hers, sir. However, to answer your question, yes, we do indeed have a deal, Your Grace. Mr Torg will keep you informed. Good evening, my dear Count." said Kirk. Dooku rose and bowed to him. Then he blanked his vidscreen. Kei used the remote to blank hers as well and the vidscreen disappeared into the ceiling. Then she pointed to the Count's smallish envoy.

"See that Mr Torg gets a private suite next door to Zorin- in the brig. Sorry Torg but I still remember your last visit to my ship when you and your cronies hijacked two of our 'Angels' so I ain't taking any chances. (InuYasha stepped forward and Torg extended his hands) No cuffs are necessary, are they Torg? (Torg shook his head) Take him away, Doggie Boy. He'll give you no trouble." she chuckled merrily.

"He'd damned well better not." growled the big hanyou and he shoved the 'Sontarran' towards the lift. Kikyo and Kouga accompanied them and Naraku brought up the rear. After Torg and his jailors had left Kei glowered at the cosmic leaders still seated around her conference table.

"Unless you ladies and gentlemen want to take a long trip to 'Quorangi 9' I suggest you catch a lift from Captain Zero's 'Liberator'. We'll lift off in the morning. (She spoke into her comlink earring) Kome, advise all warships that there ain't gonna be no invasion and send 'em all back home. Zero has advised us that he's not leaving until tomorrow. OK Kome? Great. Thanks a lot. (She turned to her own yeoman Suba Marina Oki) Marina, I'd like to have a chat with you so report to my quarters in ten minutes. Vicky, the comm is yours. (She turned to her guests) I'll leave you nice folks to discuss your plans, ladies and gentlemen. (Kome Sawaguchi and Ojou the Yakuzza princess came in as Marina was leaving the room) Kome. Yamkumi. You're with me. The rest of you guys have your orders. Good evening." said Kei who spun on her heel and strode off swiftly to the lift.

The Yakuzza princess had just delivered the first part of Zach Zero's message to Kei- that the 'Liberator' was laying over until the morning. The second part of his message she had hesitated to deliver before. Now she had no choice!

END of Ch 65. Ch 66 'Yeoman Trading' or 'Homecoming' soon. Getting interesting eh? Wonder how our heroine’s gonna get outta this one? Read on and r/r/s away as always. Have a wunnerful day and sfn/sys/jm/Kami bless you all for your interest and assistance. Hooble-toodle-doo! Toodles tomos watashi-K&K
I dickered over this chapter’s titles. Let me know if I got ‘em right eh? Don't our guys and gals play some cool practical jokes on each other? All in good-natured fun of course!

Hope ya had a happy and safe Guy Fawkes' Day! Happy Thanksgiving. Dunno if the Japanese even celebrate it but Naruto does.
A belated happy birthday to our fearless leader- Classic Kei who will be born 27 Nov AD 2121.

Meri Kurasumasu to all of my tomodachis and may Kami bless you this holiday season. Akeome to everyone and here's to a super 2010 my dear friends of anime.
PS- I really do appreciate all your loyalty and support over the years my tomos watashi all! And you can take that to the bank folks!-K&K
See ya next blog post. Toodles-K&K
This chapter brings me up to date. Then I have to wind up this one and think about my next one folks- K&K

Alice who is now a pilot aboard the 'Carthage' once said she always tried to do six impossible things before breakfast. Someone sent me this cute trio of unicorns and I just could not resist putting it in here. Enjoy- K&K


[A trio of unicorns]