Lemm Tam leaned against the Akreos, eyes on the door that led to the ship, and the two warriors who stood facing them.

If they hadn’t been armed, she would have attacked, especially with Tarrgh on her wing. The warriors were fast and strong, but she was bigger and tougher. She’d taken down warriors before, and she would again.

Unfortunately, the warriors were armed. And unlike Titans or Avartle or Ler, they weren’t going to get distracted or bored. They were tasked with making sure Lemm and Tarrgh didn’t leave. They would stay on that task until they died, or were given another. This was not an exaggeration – if the Hive needed a task done, an individual insect would give up everything to complete it, no matter the costs.

Still, despite it all, at some point Lemm would chance it. They had one of her officers. She knew they thought Lauryna was working for them – why, Lemm couldn’t imagine. Crewmate Gwenn had flirted with insubordination once, but Captain Bass knew of it, and even if Lemm wasn’t sure she understood why, if the Captain said he did, that was good enough for her. No, Lemm doubted strongly that Lauryna Gwenn would ever be on the side of the Insectoids, which meant she was bluffing.

Brave as the Emperor, Lemm thought, and possibly as foolish as a tupp.

She shifted slightly, and looked at Tarrgh, who looked back at her; the wait was grating on the Ler more than on Lemm. Ler as a rule did not enjoy staying put. They wanted action – not just fighting, but the ability to move, to do. Doing nothing was not in their makeup, for the most part.

She was about to tell Tarrgh to get up and stretch – do something to make it easier – when the doors to the shuttlebay ground open, and Lauryna Gwenn walked in, with two warriors at her heels.

“We have come to an agreement,” Lauryna said, affecting an imperious air. “I have convinced them to allow a full inspection.”

Lemm looked at Lauryna, who looked back; she thought she saw a hint of…something. “I’m not sure that Captain Bass will agree to this.”

“Oh, I am,” Lauryna said, with a dismissive wave. “We should be coming out of warp presently,” she added, walking onto the Akreos. “I’ll contact Captain Bass when our friends tell us to. Signal us when you are [able to work],” Lauryna added, over her shoulder.

She pulled into the ship, and sat down at Comms, and began preparing to contact the ship. Lemm sat down in the command seat, and looked at her display. She paused, then looked back at Lauryna and barked, “You’re taking an awful risk, Ms. Gwenn. You should remember who’s the commanding officer here.”

“That’s Captain Bass, commander,” Lauryna said, punching in some more information. “He’ll know what to do, as long as you don’t interfere.”

Lemm grumbled, and barked to Tarrgh, “What are you looking at?! Eyes on your panel!”

Tarrgh looked down, then grumbled, “This is ridiculous!” she shouted.

“True!” Lemm said. Then she looked down at her panel, and shook her head.

*   *   *

“Any sign of them?” Aerti said, pacing the bridge. He had felt very good about this move when he made it, but it had been a good hour with no sign of anyone, and it was beginning to annoy him.

“No sir, I….” Dermish said, then blinked. “Correction, sir, we have a ship inbound for our position. Looks like the same one that bolted.”

“Condition Orange, Action Stations,” Aerti said, taking his seat as the alert tone chimed.

“Sir?” Jax Tornen said. “We’re being hailed. By the Akreos. It’s…Crewmate Gwenn, sir.”

Aerti furrowed his brow. “Put her on vox. Crewmate Gwenn, this is the Gyfjon. Sitrep.”

“Captain, all is well. I have managed to negotiatie with the Insectoids – they’re warriors, and unaccustomed to dealing with Titans. But I think if we bring the right crew on to inspect them, they’ll be fine.”

“Captain, this is ridiculous. It’s a green shaar, is what it is,” Lemm said, angrily.

Aerti leaned forward. “Lemmer, listen….”

“No, you listen, captain. Crewmate Gwenn has been acting recklessly since she got here. I recommend she be confined to quarters – hell, I think insubordination is a given here.”

“That may be,” Aerti said. “But I’m in command, Commander Tam. I’ll make the decisions. Ms. Gwenn, they know that after their little stunt, this is a full inspection – bow to stern. Their chance for a friendly hello is over.”

“They understand that, sir,” Lauryna said. “As I was saying, I believe if we send over the Heavy Raider with Crewmate Haedta and Crewmate Florem taking lead – they’re both very well versed in diplomacy with the Insectoids. They can pick the remainder of their crew – ten should do it, it’s not that big.”

Aertimus nodded. “Very well. Crewmate Gwenn. You will remain there, I assume?”

“Aye, sir, and I think Crewmate Tarrgh will be able to work with them as well. Commander Tam, however, should probably go back.”

“Gorram! Tarrgh is an idiot, she’ll never…..”

“Commander Tam, I’ve had enough of you. You’ll take the shuttle back. Crewmate Tarrgh, you stay behind, and follow Crewmate Gwenn’s orders. Crewmate Gwenn, please connect me to the insectoids.”

“Aye, sir, and bear in mind, you’ll be speaking Mantid, our translators don’t effectively translate Warrior.”

“Obviously,” Aerti said, punching a button.

“Also, siir, please ask Crewmate Haedta to bring a blue hyperspanner from my quarters; she’ll know the right one.”

“Roger that,” Aerti said. He waited just a moment for the Insectoids to pick up. “This is Captain Bass,” he said. “We are sending a crew over that was recommended by Crewmate Gwenn. They should be able to deal with you more effectively.”

“We understand,” the Insectoids called back. “We will not resist. We do want it done soon.”

“Of course,” Aerti said. “It will be over very quickly. Bass out.”

“Sir,” Haedta said, after a moment, “I have no idea what a blue hyperspanner is.”

“Not your fault. There’s no such thing,” Aerti said.

“Sir?” Jax said, motioning to his station.  Aerti looked at it, then at the display by his chair. He looked back, and nodded.

“Captain, this is a terrible idea. You heard Commander Tam!”

“Yes, Crewmate Gausi, I did. Ms. Haedta, ready your team. Full battle gear, and breathers on.”

“Aye, sir.”

“I should go with them,” Gausi said.

“You’re staying on the bridge,” Aerti said.

*   *   *

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Lemm said.

“I do too, Commander,” Lauryna said.

“Do you want me to take anything back to the ship?”

“No, ma’am,” Lauryna said. “She’s part of the deal.”

Lemm’s eyebrows shot up.

“I am sorry, Commander. I hope that we will be able to work together in the future,” Lauryna said.

“We’ll see,” Lemm said, sliding into the pilot’s seat. “All right, Crewmate Tarrgh, you heard the Captain. Ms. Gwenn is in command. Clear the ship. Gyfjon, Akreos departing the target.”

Lauryna and Tarrgh walked out of the landing bay, along with the remainder of the Insectoids. “The [check/oversee] [group] will be here soon. [Quiet keeping]. I will [sayer of things] to them.”

”Acknowledge statement,” the insectoids said as one.

“Kht-dtka and I will go to the [cave] with [eggs] [sea creatures]. Tarrgh,” she said, with a smile, “I haven’t had a chance to tell you, but they’re friends with the big shot who’s been paying us.”

“You are confusing me!” Tarrgh said.

“You need not pretend!” Lauryna shouted pointedly. “They are moving things for the same group that pays us to disobey orders on the ship! We are going to do a fake inspection, this time without Commander Tam to interfere, and with these insectoids not making mistakes!”

Tarrgh looked at Lauryna, and brought her tail almost vertical. “I understand! Very humorous! Commander Tam would be shocked!”

“Can you [say] [softer]? It hurts us,” the Insectoids said.

“Acknowledge and comply. They ask us to speak softer, as loud noises bother them.”

“Strange creatures. If they work for our paymaster, they are acceptable, however. I will go to the command center; tell them that, so they are not surprised.”

“[Reptile] [biped] will go to your [guidance] [room], it will [inspect].”

 

“Acknowledge and comply.”

 

There was a whine, as the shuttle bay opened once more, this time for the heavy assault vessel Negki. Lauryna rocked back and forth; soon, the team had reached the doorway, which slid open for them.

“Is my blue hyperspanner in the ship, Crewmate?”

“Yes, it is,” Haedta said.

“Excellent. Crewmate Haedta, you’re with me. Crewmate Tarrgh, go to the bridge. We’ll begin the action once everyone’s in place.”

“Aye aye,” Haedta said through the speaker on her suit.

*   *   *

Lemm stepped out onto the bridge. “Permission to enter the bridge, sir,” she said.

“Granted, commander. Welcome back. Green shaar, huh?”

“Aye, sir. Incidentally, sir, I may need to speak to you in your office.”

“If it’s the personal message you sent, you don’t,” Aerti said. “We figured it out too. They thought she –”

“Aye.”

Aerti chuckled. “Well, damn. All right, security’s a bit light right now. Can you….?”

“Of course, sir,” Lemm said, drawing her sidearm. “Falesial Gausi, you are under arrest for petty treason. Stand up.”

Gausi blanched. “You…you…but….”

“Crewmate Gwenn was kind enough to pass me information before I left, telling me they had been expecting a linguist from the Gyfjon to help them.”

“And that might have been circumstantial,” Aerti added. “But the message you attempted to slip in during our communication to the Insectoids? That was clear as a bell. Nice work, Mr. Tornen.”

“Thank you, sir. He also tried to switch the translator to Warrior, but I’d locked him out by then.”

Gausi glared. But he didn’t have much of an option here. He wasn’t going to be able to out-fight Commander Tam, and now that he was under arrest, his credit accounts would be fair game. There was only one thing to do.

They had given it to him, when he had taken the job. In case things went bad. His wife and daughter would be safe.

“Execute, blue blue blue,” he said, and he dropped to the floor, the chemicals in his bloodstream killing him instantly.

Lemm dropped her sidearm. “Dr. Geen to the bridge, medical emergency,” she called, though she knew it was too late.

“Bio-implant?” Aerti said, shaking his head.

“Has to be,” Lemm said. “We’re not dealing with amateurs.”

Aerti sighed, and turned to the viewscreen. “I just hope Ms. Gwenn knows what she’s doing over there.”

*   *   *

Tarrgh walked onto the bridge, and looked around it carefully. She was a security officer – she’d studied Insectoid controls. No, she couldn’t read them, but she knew exactly how to do what she needed to do.

The Insectoid at the controls stepped aside, letting Tarrgh observe them. “This is Tarrgh, I’m on the bridge,” she said. “Everything appears in order up here.”

“Florem, engineering,” a call came. “I’m looking things over now.”

“Kriome, I’m at the environmental systems, everything looks fine here.”

“Excellent,” Lauryna said. “Crewmate Haedta and I are in the cargo area, all is in order.”  She looked over at Haedta, and Lauryna looked at her. “LerTarrgh, what do you think?”

Tarrgh bared her teeth in what Ler considered a smile. “Execute Rhombil,” she said, hitting three switches in sequence, and drawing the sidearm Ms. Haedta had slipped her. She fired twice, stunning both insectoids. The other security officer grinned back; he hadn’t even had a chance to fire. “Bridge clear,” Tarrgh said, calmly.

“Florem, engineering clear.”

“Kriome, environmental clear.”

Tarrgh nodded. The ship was theirs. However….

“Ms. Gwenn, sitrep?”

“Cargo not clear,” Lauryna said, backing up against the wall.

The two warriors had caught it just in time – Haedta had drawn a second too slow. She’d stunned one, but the other had returned fire, blowing off her arm. Haedta had tried to right herself, but she’d gone into shock almost immediately.

Lauryna had remained unarmed, and so she was facing the lone advancing Insectoid warrior alone.

“[Wrong saying]. [Wrong saying],” ze repeated accusatorily.

“Yes, I lied,” Lauryna said – she needed both hands free, so she spoke in Archavian. “I would not give you so much as one human. And I will not let you take these roe to the Hive.”

“You [overpower]. But we can [consume] a [fine food] before your [overpower] is done.”

Lauryna’s eyes widened, as she realized why the insectoid hadn’t fired. Ze leg-whipped her with its antennae, knocking her off her feet, and ze moved a leg into position, pulling open the satchel on Lauryna’s side.

Lauryna looked on the creature in rage. “Not a gorram chance,” she said, fumbling in the satchel ahead of it and tossing Izzy in between her thighs. She sat forward, and pushed the insect. “You will have to kill me first!”

“Lauryna….” Izzy said, leaning against the Titan’s armored thigh. She saw the Insectoid trying to probe with its antennae, Lauryna knocking them back. Angered – or what passed for anger among the insectoids – it slashed at Lauryna’s face with the ridged outside of a leg, causing a splash of blood to drop.

“Give the [good food], we will not kill.”

“Frak you!” Lauryna shouted, and she dove forward, under the creature, and pushing with all her strength, pushed herself upward, launching the thing skyward.

She leaped to her feet, as the Insectoid landed on its back a few units away. It shifted and rolled, preparing to right itself; Lauryna didn’t give it a chance. She raced to where Haedta lay, and grabbed her sidearm. She took just a second to aim, and squeezed the trigger.

The Insectoid stopped its twitching immediately.

“Gwenn, cargo,” she said, breathing hard. “Secured. Crewmate down.”

She didn’t pause. She turned to Crewmate Haedta; she was pleased to see that the auto-tourniquet on the suit had done its job, squeezing her right arm tightly. Haedta opened her eyes, and looked up at Lauryna – funny, Lauryna thought, that Mija already had artificial eyes. She hoped an artificial arm wouldn’t be that hard to learn.

“Arm….” Mija Haedta said.

“I know,” Lauryna said, calmly. “We’ll get you stabilized.”

“No…arm….” Haedta said, reaching up with her good hand and pulling one of the insectoid’s legs free from where it had been caught in Lauryna’s armor. Haedta smiled “You must’ve hit it hard to tear an arm off.”

“Well, it hurt you, and it was trying to eat Izzy. Izzy!”

She’d almost forgotten, but Izzy was approaching as quickly as a human could. “Can I help? Is there anything I can do?” she called.

Lauryna exhaled. “No, Iz,” she said. “You’ve done enough.”

Tarrgh entered the bay, and rushed to Haedta’s side. “Brave Haedta! You are injured!”

“Aye, ma’am,” Haedta said.

“She’s still in shock, but she’s coming out of it. We need to get her back to the Gyfjon,” Lauryna said. “And we need to get them there, too.”

Tarrgh followed Lauryna’s finger, and her tail hit the floor in a Ler sign of horror. “Vile Insectoids,” she whispered. Then she flipped on her comm unit. “Captain Bass, this is Tarrgh! The ship is secured, but one officer hurt! And they have…they have more Dunnermac roe than I can count!”

On the bridge of the Gyfjon, Aerti slammed a fist down on his chair. “Doctor Geen,” he said, looking straight ahead, “Get a med team over there. Lemmer, take the Thriam, I don’t care if you have to cut a hole through the gorram side of the ship.”

“Aye, sir,” Lemm said.

“Sir,” Dermish said, “we have a hostile contact, positive 96.4 carom negative 4.2, inbound at warp 0.1…sir, it’s a dreadnought, Ishaytan-Seven.”

“Hail them, Mr. Tornen,” Aertimus said. “Lemm, take weapons.”

“What is this?” the Insectoids said as the large vessel approached.

“This is what happens when we catch smugglers. Better question is what you’re doing in this system.”

“Who are you?”

“I am Captain Aertimus Bass of the Imperial Starship Gyfjon, and you are in violation of the peace agreement between the Hive and the Empire. You’re ordered to depart Imperial space. Immediately.”

“You possess our ship?”

“We possess the ship of a smuggler, who was carrying contraband items in violation of Imperial law. Unless you wish to claim it; I should warn you, if you wish to accept responsibility, that would mean you had engaged in an act of war.”

The ship paused in its approach.

“We apologize. The ship had transmitted to us, asking us to meet. But if they were smuggling, they did so without the knowledge of the Hive. They are therefore their own hive. Dispose of them as you wish.”

“I’m certainly glad to hear that,” Aerti said, knowing the sarcasm dripping from his voice would go untranslated.

“We will return to space that you do not claim,” the Insectoids said, and with barely a pause, the ship reversed course and headed back to Hive space.

Aerti exhaled. “Okay, Lemm,” he said. “Now go take that ship apart.”

*   *   *

It was several hours later. The Insectoid vessel had been secured; the Insectoids had all died, though not from injuries sustained from the Imperials. Each had simply switched themselves off, like a light, an annoying habit of Insectoids who had been captured. They had completed their task; further life consumed valuable resources.

Lauryna sat in the conference room on the Gyfjon, waiting for Captain Bass. Izzy sat on the table, leaning against her hand. And before Lauryna really knew it, she was sobbing.

“Red, you okay?” Izzy said, standing up. Lauryna covered her face with one hand, cradled Izzy with the other. Lauryna still bore the gash from earlier – Dr. Geen could close it, but he had more important things to do right now. The salty tears stung as they hit the open wound, but Lauryna couldn’t stop them.

The door swished open.

Lauryna gasped, and swiped her hand across her face, and stood up.

“As you were, Ms. Gwenn,” the Captain said, calmly.

“I…sir, I….”

“Ms. Gwenn, there’s no shame in letting the stress out. Keep it in, and it will eat you alive. Every officer who’s ever been through combat knows that. You held it together as well as I could hope. You’re allowed to fall apart for a few minutes once the crisis is over.”

“Thank you,” Lauryna said, breathing in and out. “I’m sorry, though, sir. I….”

Aerti grinned. “You puke yet, Ms. Gwenn?”

“No, sir,” Lauryna said.

“Well, then you’re ahead of me. First combat mission I was on, I had to shoot a Tusola smuggler who was trying to get into the Sol Terra System. Wasn’t even on the same ship as him, but I still threw up once I was relieved.”

“I was too busy bleeding after my first time,” Izzy said. “But I had the shakes for a week.”

“Ah, Corporal Ibanez. Good, I’m glad you’re here. And she’s right, Ms. Gwenn. The good news is that it gets easier. That’s also the bad news.”

“Aye, sir.”

Aerti gave her a warm smile, a particular one he’d given but a handful of officers over the years. “All right, Ms. Gwenn, please remain standing.”

Lauryna raised an eyebrow.

“Ms. Gwenn, in addition to your Combat Insectoid Border Ribbon – which you obviously earned – and the Magenta Diamond that cut earned you – it is my honor to present you with the Service Excellence Award, First Class, for your excellent work decoding the Insectoid communications and communicating with them on the mission. It was a truly exceptional display of your linguistic talents. And for what you did afterward – the bluff you maintained perfectly – well, the highest award a captain is authorized to give is a Gold Starburst, and it is my honor to present you with that as well,” he said, handing her two small boxes. “You have performed highly meritorious and distinguished service, Ms. Gwenn. Congratulations,” he said, handing the boxes with his left hand, and shaking Lauryna’s wrist with his right.

Lauryna goggled at them as she took them. She felt remarkably unworthy of them. “I…sir, I….”

“I should note, Ms. Gwenn, that this is the highest award I can give you. I have recommended you for higher honors, and feel confident Grand Navarchos Zyn will agree.”

Lauryna hardly knew what to say. After a moment, she simply stammered, “Sir…I just…are the roe going to be okay?”

Aerti grinned. “Ms. Gwenn, that’s an excellent question. The answer is that Dr. Geen thinks as many as 2.5 percent could hatch and mature to adulthood. Given that the Dunnermac usually expect about four percent to hatch…well, that’s quite good. You probably saved a thousand lives.”

“I had a lot of others…I mean…I just did my job, sir.”

“You did your job, that is correct, Ms. Gwenn. You did your job precisely in the way I would hope an officer of mine would – above and beyond the call of duty. That is why there is one more thing I can present to you,” he said, handing her a smaller box. Lauryna popped it open, and saw a small black rank pin, with a single silver square.

“Congratulations on your promotion to Junior Crewmate, Second Class,” Aerti said. He took a step back, and saluted.

Lauryna straightened, and returned it. “I’ll try to be worthy of it, sir.”

“I’ve no doubt that you already are, Ms. Gwenn. And now, Cpl. Ibanez…as for you,” Aerti sighed. “What am I supposed to do with you?”

“Sir,” Lauryna said, “with due respect…she was willing to sacrifice her life to save me. I know she stowed away without permission.…”

“I appreciate that, Ms. Gwenn. But she shouldn’t have been there in the first place. I can’t have people just going around doing things; this is a capital ship, not a cruise liner. Corporal Ibanez, you need to learn your place.”

Izzy opened her mouth, then shut it. Captain Bass was right, after all. “Okay,” she said.

“’Okay?’” Aerti barked. “The proper affirmative response to one’s commanding officer – for a ground forces officer, anyhow – is ‘Yes, sir.’ Cpl. Ibanez, I’m tired of your lack of adherence to regs. This is why I’m ordering you to complete for me, within one month, an academy-level report on the history of Imperial Military conduct. I expect my crew to understand this. Furthermore, I will be giving you additional assignments as I see fit, both theoretical and practical. As long as you are here, I expect you to obey my orders and serve this ship.”

Izzy stared up, incredulously. “Sir?”

Aerti smiled. “Corporal, I wish I could simply induct you into the crew. I can’t. But unofficially – you can be an asset to this ship. At least you can as long as you don’t go wandering into places you’re not supposed to be.”

Izzy straightened, and smiled. “Yes, sir!” she said, saluting.

Aerti returned it. “All right,” he said. “Ms. Gwenn, Cpl. Ibanez, you both are relieved for the day. However, Ms. Gwenn, I need you at the all-department meeting tomorrow, 1400 sharp.”

“Sir?”

“You’re my senior xenolinguistics officer, Ms. Gwenn,” Aerti said. “Dismissed.”

Aerti watched Lauryna go, and waited patiently; a few minutes later, his executive officer walked in.

“Sir, permission to enter.”

“Lemmer, do we have to do this every time? You always have permission to enter. I understand doing it for the crew’s benefit….”

“I don’t want to forget, sir,” Lemm said, sitting down at the table.

“Very well,” Aerti said. “Thoughts, commander?”

Lemm looked out at the stars thoughtfully. “I do hope Crewmate Gwenn realizes I was feigning anger.”

“Of course she does,” Aerti said. “Lemm, anyone who’s served with you knows that if you’re yelling and screaming, it’s an act. Not your style. Still, on the off chance she has any doubts, you could send her one of your two-line messages.”

“Aye, sir. I will. She surprised me. I didn’t think she had that in her.”

Aerti nodded. “Seems pretty bubbly and sweet. But…well, she was willing to steal a shuttlecraft to get Ibanez home. Even though she knew it was her career, and maybe her life.”

“Pretty reckless,” Lemm said.

“No,” Aerti said, “because she was willing to listen to reason. She isn’t reckless. But she knows when she can’t afford to be afraid. When she has to stick her neck out.”

“Should I begin preparing a Line Officer certification course for her?” Lemm said, so deadpan that it took a beat for Aerti to laugh.

“No, not yet. But I think she’s earned a bit of pushing on our end. She have any certifications other than xenoling?”

“Aye, sir, she’s close to comms certification. Needs 19 more practical hours.”

“She ran comms on the Akreos. That mission took 34 hours total. Log it in and get her some rotations on the bridge. And she’s still Class 3 on xenolinguistics?”

“Not once you sign the paperwork, sir.”

“Good. All right, Lemmer. We’ll keep an eye on her. As for Ibanez….”

“Sir, permission to speak candidly?”

Aerti rolled his eyes. “What if I said no?”

“I wouldn’t say anything.”

“Permission granted.”

“Sir…do you really think a human can handle this? I know, your sister’s boyfriend is human, but….”

“Commander, quite bluntly, I do. I read Gwenn’s preliminary report, and yours. Gwenn said Ibanez was willing to sacrifice herself. You said Ibanez stowed away because she knew Gwenn hadn’t seen combat. Ibanez is a soldier. I think she can be useful. And if nothing else, giving her something to do gives her a reason not to be underfoot everywhere else.”

Lemm gave a bit of a smile at that. “That had not occurred to me, sir. Very well. We’ll try this. But if it doesn’t work….”

“I’m not putting her at the helm. And if she ends up causing problems, we’ll pull the plug. But I doubt it will come to that,” he said. “I have a feeling she’s going to prove quite valuable.”

Lemm nodded. “And the data in their computer?”

“We’re not gonna break it here,” Aerti said. “I sent it on to the Imperators’ Corps, see if they can do anything. It was a coded message for the Insectoids, though, along with a gift of more roe than anyone should be able to get their hands on. You know what that means.”

Lemm nodded. “Someone was planning treason. And not just Crewmate Gausi.”

“Exactly,” Aerti said. “Let’s hope this stopped it cold.”

*   *   *

“Hold still…there. The regenerative suspension is in place. You should be able to remove the bandage after you wake up, but it will be tender for a day or two.”

“Thanks, Dr. Geen,” Lauryna said, leaning up against the doorway to her quarters.

“Thank you, Ms. Gwenn,” Geoff Geen said. “You saved thousands of my people.”

“Hopefully,” Lauryna said. “Even if it’s just one….”

“Even if none survive,” Geen said, “you kept them from being eaten by the Insectoids. If nothing else, that preserves the dignity of my people. We are in your debt.”

“No,” Lauryna said. “Long time ‘til we Titans aren’t in your peoples’ debt.”

“Well, then at least you have made your payment on it in full, Ms. Gwenn,” Geoff said. “Good night, Crewmate.”

“Good night, Doctor.” Lauryna yawned, and walked back into her quarters. She was already stripped down to her bodysuit, and she slipped that off. She considered a shower, but she was too exhausted. She grabbed a nightgown, and flipping the bed back upright, she flopped down onto it, not even bothering to fix the blankets.

“About time you got to sleep,” Izzy said, from her spot on the nightstand.

“Iz?” Lauryna asked, sleepily.

“Yeah, Red?”

“Why did you tag along?”

Izzy sighed. “I was wrong.”

“Yeah, but still…why?”

“It was your first combat mission. I know…I knew how mine went. I didn’t want you to go in alone.”

“I could handle myself, you know.”

“Clearly. You didn’t need me.”

Lauryna smiled. “I’d be dead without you. Damn right I needed you.”

“Well, I’m just glad I didn’t get you in trouble.”

Lauryna turned to look at the diminutive woman on the nightstand. She was adorable, as per usual, and she fought not to scoop her up and cuddle her. She had earned a night that didn’t include her cooed over.

“Thanks for caring, Izzy. I…that means a lot.”

Izzy looked back at the massive woman on the bed. Sighing, she said, “You’re my best friend, Lauryna. ‘Course I care about you.”

Lauryna gave her friend a watery smile, and said, “You know, Iz, if you want to skip the video…that’s okay.”

“Naw,” Izzy said, pulling her blankets over her. “I don’t mind, not really. As long as the company’s good, I can put up with about anything.”

Lauryna lay back, and closed her eyes, a grin on her face. Strange, but despite the promotion and the medals and the congratulations…that was the best thing she’d heard all day.