Chapter XXI: Meanwhile . . .

Helen smiled at Rick as she noticed him. "Hello, Mr. Silver, or is it Raygunn at the moment?" Her eyes twinkled in mischievous pleasure. "Good to see you again at any rate."

Rick's eyes widened and his jaw dropped a bit in surprise at the sight of her and then recovered. "Just Rick, that would be fine." He shook his head and sighed. "I should have guessed when…" A sudden sharp pain in his back reminded him of the garasian loaded with luggage standing behind him.

"Better get aboard, Rick. Places to go, things to do. I look forward to getting to know you better." Helen winked at him, and earned a scowl from Red, who was waiting in front of the hatch to the Blood Fever. Her face broke out in a large grin. "Why, from what I've heard from Red already, I feel that I know you so well already."

Red cleared her throat angrily as Rick failed at preventing a blush creep up his neck and turn his face pink. At that moment, the internal airlock hatch to the Blood Fever irised open, and Rick followed Red into the Blood Fever, closely followed by Visky.

The first thing that struck Rick as he entered the Blood Fever, was how clean and neat everything was. It resembled in all respects the interior of a Stellar Patrol heavy cruiser. Just on the other side of the airlock hatchway was the prep room. Racks upon racks of space battle armor were visible, and to Rick's eye, at least equivalent to standard SP issue. Along one wall were sliding panels, which on an SP ship, would slide back to provide troops access to weapons needed for boarding attacks.

As Rick looked over the equipment, two large men saluted Red and then relieved Visky of his load. Free of his burden, the garasian exited the airlock, back to his ship. Helen closed and sealed the airlock behind him.

"Rick." Rick turned to face Red and snapped to attention. "Helen will show you around the ship and give you the drill. Quarters have been assigned to you. Once you complete your orientation, stay in your cabin until I send for you. Understand?" Rick nodded and then Red turned to face Helen. "Rick is a guest, for now. Basic drills, but no privs."

"Aye, Captain."

Red turned and exited the preparation room, followed by the two men now burdened with her luggage. Once they had left, Helen slid her arm though Rick's, and smiled impishly up at him. "The captain usually doesn't bring such delightful souvenirs from her adventures. Come with me." With that, Helen dragged Rick out of the prep room and into the main section of the ship.

Rick followed Helen quietly as she pointed out the emergency hatches and went through the same basic safety procedures that were required by SP ships. If not for the distinctive red badges worn by Helen and passing crewmembers, Rick would have thought he was on a regulation Stellar patrol cruiser. He had a difficult time trying to maintain his appearance of an old jaded spacehand trying not to be surprised by what he saw, but inside, his thoughts were teeming.

Pirates were generally described as misfits and outcasts, using old and stolen ships to practice their trade, and that any SP ship was considered to be more than a match for them. However, if Red's ship was any indication, this was obviously far from the truth. It took significant resources to build and arm ships of this magnitude. The Blood Fever certainly wasn't a stolen or a surplus ship. It was as new and up-to-date as the latest SP ships of the line. This lead Rick to the obvious conclusion that some, if not all of the pirates, had more going for them than he was lead to believe.

There were two possible sources for pirate ships like the Blood Fever. One was that an enemy sphere civilization was financing and building ships, or that the Dark Worlds were much more resourceful than believed. To the best of his knowledge, none of the other civilized spheres were hostilely aligned against earth, except for the garasians, which were known for providing a safe haven for malevolent humans, and a ready market for stolen goods. However, it was known that the garasians were still weak from their war with the cherthian empire, and would be unlikely to be candidates for manufacturing ships of the line for pirates.

Another possible source, apart from an unknown alien sphere, would be the Dark Worlds. During the first great expansion five hundred years ago, when the wormhole star drive opened up the interstellar neighborhood to humanity, Thousands of ships, both government and corporate sponsored, sailed into the unknown. Hundreds of ships were lost, some due to malfunction, others to navigation failures, and many more lost to fates unknown.

During the second and third great expansions, many lost colonies were discovered, but many remained lost. It was during the third great expansion that the Terran sphere of colonization met with it's nearest stellar neighbors, the Cherthians and the Erscans, and thus defined the borders of the Terran civilization in those sectors. Scouts and expeditionary crews had visited almost all the stars that could have been reached by the primative ships used during the first expansion, and while a handful of additional lost colonies and failed attempts were discovered, still the fate of many ancient colony ships remained unknown.

Terran space remained unbound core- and spin-ward of the galactic center, and scout ships actively explored those sectors of space, on the lookout for lost colonies, and habitable planets. However, as civilization expanded, first rumors, then actual good started appearing in the fringe worlds about two hundred years ago. Rumors of planets still undiscovered, hidden from the encroaching terran federal government. Descendants of lost colony ships that had no wish to become part of the Federated worlds with Terra in control.

Items, trade goods consisting of personal armor and weapons began appearing. Weapons identical to the SP's finest, yet without the registration numbers or safety controls that were present in standard SP issue weapons. At first the official SP manufacturers were suspected of making and selling the contraband weapons, but after many thorough and exhaustive investigations, it was concluded that they were not the source of the illegal devices. In spite of official denials of the Terran sphere, backed with exploration records, that there were no hidden colonies within the Terran sphere, the rumors and stories grew, though the locations remained a mystery.

The Terran Federation got proof that there was an unknown source of arms and ships during the last colony rebellion fifty years ago. Ships beyond the resources of the revolting planets fought against the Stellar patrol navies. The Federation won, but at an enormous expense. Only the Federation's enormous resources, drawing upon hundreds of worlds and dozens of shipyards did the Terrans win. The ships they fought were state of the art, and in at least one case, beyond state of the art of the Terran sphere.

There was an unknown enemy out there, with resources and financing that rivaled the Terran sphere. Many other alien civilized spheres were thought to be the source or had leads, but none of them were proven. This resulted in the Federation, as well as the SP research and development labs, to budget larger resources and money to developing faster and better ships and more powerful weapons and armor.

Exploration ships were built by the hundreds and sent out into the galactic emptiness to search for the unknown worlds. Spies actively searched for any clues or hints, but all attempts to backtrack shipments or contacts failed. Psis, few as they were, were unable to pick up any clues as well. Two hundred years after the first whisperings of an enemy hiding in the starry night, this unknown enemy remained hidden, referred to collectively only as The Dark Worlds.

It was this accelerated research program that provided Rick with the prototype Stingray class interceptor that he used to begin his mission. Where it was now, Rick had no idea.

"Commencing docking procedures," reported the computer aboard the SPS Feist. Gernas motioned to Wilma, and with the captain's permission, they exited the bridge.

As Wilma and Commander Gernas reached the docking bay, they heard a dull thud and click as the main bay doors clicked shut. Through the viewport, they saw the sleek needle shape of the prototype interceptor at rest on the main hanger deck. Gernas placed his hand on the access panel, and the heavy door to the hanger bay slid open, closing behind the pair as they entered.

As they approached, Wilma got the distinct impression that the Star Ghost was watching them, even though there was no outward sign of movement or activity. She noticed that there was a circular patch of soot on the hatch of the small ship. Gernas strode up to the hatch. "Star Ghost, I am Commander Gernas. Please open your hatch."

A soft, melodious voice emerged from the ship. "Security level for Commander Gernas insufficient. Access denied."

"What?" roared Gernas.

"Security level for Commander Gernas insufficient. Access denied," repeated the Star Ghost.

"I heard that. I mean, why? My access is top secret grade three or better. Open at once."

"No," replied the ship curtly.

Gernas scowled at the Star Ghost and then tapped a communicator on his wrist. "Computer, access computer aboard the Star Ghost and open the hatch."

From his wrist, he heard the reply from the Feist computer. "Negative. Star Ghost refusing all data connections. Insufficient privileges."

Gernas stared slack-jawed at his wrist. "I don't believe this." He turned to face Wilma. "You will forget what I'm about to say, understand?"

Wilma nodded, feeling torn inside at the humor of a superior officer not getting his way, and the anguish at wanting to learn more about the Ferlonian's activity.

Gernas faced the ship again. "Star Ghost. Do you recognize the authority of Psi-Gamma-Alpha?"

"Affirmative," replied the Star Ghost.

"Then under that authority, as Commander Gernas of the Federation Psi Corps, I order you to open your hatch and open your system for data access."

"Insufficient authority. Access governed by need-to-know, security level alpha-five required."

At this, Gernas' eyes grew large. "Alpha-Five? Even the President doesn't have that level. We'll see about this!" With that, Gernas stormed off, out of the hanger bay, Wilma forgotten in his anger.

Wilma walked around the ship, pondering the situation. How did Rick, or rather the Ferlonian that posed as Rick, get access to the Star Ghost if it's security level was so high? Gernas had mentioned that the Ferlonians had incredible mental abilities. Presumably he had used those skills to gain the access codes.

She paused by the Star Ghost's hatch as she came to it, and ran her finger across the soot stain. From it's size, it must have been a sign or a sticker of some sort, but the remains that survived the ship's passage through an atmosphere seemed bonded to the ship's hull. Probably some poor ensign will be assigned to try to get that stain off.

Wilma sighed as she brought her hand to rest on the ident panel next to the hatchway. Much to her surprise, the hatch slid open before her, and the ship's voice emerged from the interior. "Please enter quickly, Wilma. There isn't much time."

To Be Continued...