It's been hectic, between the training simulations and final preparations. Time feels distorted for Tasha and Layth after spending so much time in virtual reality that it seems like a month has passed instead of a few days, and both have had to reassure themselves that this isn't just another simulation or dry run: Bellerophon is going to launch! Another addition has been made to the bridge as well: Fallen-Star's repaired projection device is clipped to the side of Layth's console.

"Reactor status is green," reports the miniature Fred in one of the floating PersoCom displays. "Computer systems and redundancy measures are green," notes a mini-Nora, while a micro-Mariel reports, "Communications systems are active. We have wireless comm with the Orpheus hive-mind and remote control of the hanger functions."

Prior to departure, Tasha has made one last hectic run in to Orpheus. While some supposed she might have snapped again, it turns out she just wanted to get Nora, Fred, and Mariel's precious belongings before lift off left them all behind. Now, she sits with her ears canted back, face a mask of concentration as she reviews the systems in front of her over and over, searching for any abnormality or gap in her understanding. This, after all, is the last time to ask questions. Space awaits.

Just below the command chairs, in the lower part of the wrap-around hemispherical display, a headless Titan waves up at the crew. Well, headless except for the Titanian head poking through where the mechanical one used to be.

Tasha lifts a hand to wave to Blammo, giving him a distracted smile. "It's too bad he couldn't come with us," she remarks. "But maybe we'll get to go with him some day."

Layth's only visit to Orpheus was to say farewell to the strange Naga computer system and recover a few bits of Silent-One tech that may be needed for later for the mech in the bay. Other than that, he has stayed on Bellerophon tending to various Engineering tasks. "Everything reports satisfactory after the fourth full systems check," Layth reports. "Star, is the Mind of Light also functioning within expected parameters, along with the PersoCom interface? It would be bad if the systems failed mid-flight."

"I'm not seeing any effect on Gabriel 2," Fallen-Star signs. PC Akkers had volunteered to be the 'mineshaft canary' for Fallen-Star to observe, since the ghost herself shouldn't be affected by MOTHER or the other systems.

Turning back to her console, Tasha remarks, "I never thought I'd drove a ship like this," as her hand dances across her screen. To Layth, her command chair is a large thing, with a narrow backed, angled-sided seat for winged comfort. The display is equally alien, displaying the scratchy slashes of the Vartan language.

"Alright, Layth; bring the stators up to full hover and prepare for balancing," Gabriel says after taking a deep breath. "Tasha, bring up the hangar remotes, prepare to retract the gantry supports."

"If his head swells, or his feet fall off, let us know immediately," Layth remarks, bemused. "One Akkers with a big head is more than enough." That is quickly and father seriously followed up with, "Yes, Captain. Bringing stators online and to power. Slight fluctuation in secondary power feed, looks like it's just a temperature spike in the … superconductor power line. Adjusting cooling accordingly."

"Hangar control is talking, communication lines look good except docking channel three. Backups are providing full control of hangar systems; no detectable error in self-diagnostics from either end." Tasha taps a few more virtual buttons, then, after cracking her knuckles, a few more. "Gantry on standby for release, hangar door hydraulic systems warming up now."

As the anti-gravity drives spin up, there are mild flashes of vertigo for the living people. And of course a flurry of warnings on everyone's console due to the missing backup systems that went into Fenris. But nothing that hasn't happened in simulation a dozen times. "Reactor is stable," Fred reports happily.

"Uh, passive scanners are running," Eli reports from the rear of the bridge. "We can't use active while in the hangar, of course. Getting some neutrino flux coming through the Orpheus hull but can't say if it's anything to worry about or not."

After a bit of fiddling, the various stator fields overlap and balance out, so there's no danger of Bellerophon suddenly floating off or 'falling' in some unwanted direction.

"Well, is it something to normally worry about?" Layth asks Eli without looking up. "Stators are fully active and hover is secure," he announces, "Not that you couldn't tell since the sensation of a floating stomach has passed… "

"Okay, Tasha, tell Orpheus to release the clamps and move the gantry," Gabriel says.

"Hmm." Tasha brings up the navigation sensors in the corner of her screen. "Just to be sure Layth, you might want to keep an eye on the gravitational fields for flux. It may be we're seeing early signs of the Dainty Mauler doing … whatever it does to travel space. Priority Omega that, though." The woman nods. "Yes Captain." She reaches and swaps menus, then glides the hangar remote access closer, touching the virtual Bellerophon's attachment points. "Gantry is responding, clamps withdrawing. We are away."

Loud booms echo through the ship as clamps release. There's no sense of motion though, thanks to the station-keeping stators. A countdown shows on Tasha's console, indicating when the gantry will be fully clear; about three more minutes.

"We are unhooked. We are still in the hangar," Layth remarks as he taps away on his panel. He brings up the display of the local gravitational fields, since the stators work to counteract them anyway. "I've got the monitor up on the local field. Can't tell much while inside the ship. We need the active scanners."

"Nothing has fallen off," Fred reports. "No movement in the vehicle bay," PC Zerachiel chimes in. "Medical is secure," PC Caravelli adds.

"I hope we remembered to vent the waste systems before we unhooked," Layth comments. "Otherwise it's going with us to Abaddon… "

"I hate that noise," the real Zerachiel notes from his seat.

"Gantry retracting, t-minus three minutes," Tasha reports. She leans back now, still scanning but not immediately having something to do. "We're 'away' when we're on our own power and isolated, I found out."

"I'm afraid to do it here or anywhere it may make it to the planet's surface," Gabriel says, as he begins the launch sequences. "Who knows what would evolve from it?"

"Mm, good point. We might create Poople," Layth agrees.

"Probably my third boyfriend," Tasha says with a laugh.

"Well, here we go: open the hangar bay doors as soon as they're primed, Cadet Tasha," Gabriel says.

"Space Cadet Tasha," Nora corrects from the rear.

"Cadet, is it?" Tasha looks up and grins, tail wagging, before she returns her focus to her console. "Door hydraulics are primed and ready. We're going to be using them alone, given the stators are down, and electrical lock system shut down approximately two-thousand years ago. It's a good thing Kahattans knew how to build things that last, because the geometry still looks pretty good. Annnnd … " She pauses to blink at Nora's insistence, not knowing or having time to figure out if that was a insult or not, " … the doors are cycling now, Captain. Opening sequence in one minute and falling."

"Spaced out, Cadet?" Layth offers.

"That was Fred," Nora claims, with a look of forced innocence.

"Why does everyone on this ship tease me," Tasha asks her console display. "I save ancient people and their bossy crystals, raise a man from the poverty of slavery, and it's teasing!" She laughs.

"So you don't get an inflated ego," Layth suggests. "Our storage bay is full."

There's a loud howling that the external audio pickups transmit, as Blammo answers the grumble of the ancient motors as they strain to move the huge doors. As the multi-layered gates begin to open, the first glint of unfiltered daylight beams through into the hangar, reminding them how much bigger Primus is when seen from Sheol.

"I don't tease you, Tasha," Mariel claims over the comm.

Tasha laughs at that, too. "Oh, I think my ego has been bruised enough to lack tensile strength and retention for inflation." She then shields her eyes reflexively, squinting. "It's hard to imagine there's a torus around our sun." Peering down, Tasha grins at Mariel's display. "That's why you're my favorite," she insists in a all-too-loud whisper.

"That is far too bright," Layth complains and looks back down at his console as a reprieve from the brighter light. Now with the doors opening, he checks the readouts on the gravity fields to make sure they're still stable.

"Keep an eye on the ultra-capacitor cycling for me Layth," Gabriel asides, as the air-breathing plasma engines are woken up. The stators aren't reading any unusual local flux – but then again, Sheol's entire gravity field is both impossible and artificial to begin with.

"Monitoring," Layth replies and brings up the readouts for the noted component in a secondary window.

The harshness of the light fades as the doors open further, and the shadow of Abaddon begins to soften it. An alarm sounds on Tasha's console though as one of the hydraulic units jams, and several others display warnings.

"We just lost hydraulics master distributor relay pump MAMRP3-S33, layer three door is stalling while backups come online. Opening time has been increased by another minute," Tasha reports as her display blinks. "Port hydraulic break pressure is also falling for exterior layer door; it may not be closable once fully opened," the red woman adds. "I'm re-routing, but the system is already taxed and we can't take much from the opening."

A few of the yellow lights turn back to green as things reroute. The doors have retracted enough to get a view outside now: Abaddon is a glowing red crescent coming down from the top, while Sheol's own near horizon is still blocked by the doors.

Thinking of something, Layth says, "I'm sending a report to the Naga systems. They can come repair the door after we leave. Otherwise it leaves them exposed."

"They'll probably weld the doors shut after we're gone," Zerachiel suggests. "No reason to maintain the hangar as it is for them."

Tasha looks a little surprised as her console goes green again, eyes widening. "Good thinking, Layth. It looks like – amazingly enough – the Khattan systems are handling this anyway, but if Fred's lessons are any indication, it needs to be seriously inspected anyway. I'm impressed it's all working so well. But then, the Melchior hasn't failed me either."

"Be careful what you say, Tasha. You are taunting the Fates," Layth points out, "We haven't even gotten to the dangerous aspects yet."

Another possible explanation is seen in the view-dome, as Blammo's Titan jogs past holding a hastily welded-together hammer.

"Taunting nothing, they're six-thounsand years old! It's sound engineering expectation," Tasha insists, then she leans forward to get a good look at Blammo's machine, and barks another laugh! "Well there you go: spot maintenance."

"He has an unhealthy obsession with hammers," the buck comments. "Everything still reads stable, Captain; only minor fluctuations so far… "

There is something artistic to the way the doors retract, the multiple layers of armor sliding past each other at different rates. It's like a long, flat flower pulling in its petals for the night. Once the door is half-way open, and the horizon is visible, various green lights signal that Bellerophon has enough clearance to launch.

Tasha leans back, grinning. "Titanians love hammers," she remarks. "I have a theory that Titanians were originally crafted to act as Progenitor engineers. Think about it: they have the skill but not the sense to use what they know. It'd mesh well with my other theory that Vartans are the Progenitor warrior race, having no native technology because others made it for them."

"They could have been created as the jesters, too," Layth points out. "A popular form of humor is whacking someone with a blunt instrument."

"Hang on to your unborn children," Gabriel warns. "I'm about to launch." A whine can be felt building, and an electric tension in the air as the superconductors transfer enough power to vaporize anyone unfortunate enough to come into contact with it to the atmospheric engines.

"Jesters don't traverse space/time on whim, though," Tasha points out. "Unborn … ?" Tasha lets the question go as she returns her full attention to her screen, settling back and bringing up key navigational menus with a flick of her wrist and a touch of her fingers.

"The good thing to realize is … if the engines fail we will be dead so quickly that we won't even realize it," Layth helpfully tells the rest of the crew. All he has to hang onto, though, is the holo projector for Fallen-Star.

"I always thought I'd die on a ship some day," the Vartan admits, grinning. "No better place to do it."

The ship does shudder as it begins to move forward, and as soon as the nose clears the hangar doors, a message glows in the air of the viewing dome, amidst the navigational displays: "Mourn not he whom Gods destroy, for he stormed Heaven and made his claim upon it."

"Umm … " Tasha lifts a hand to point at the message, "That … wasn't in the simulation?"

"No … and it is quite a worrisome message," Layth admits. "Captain?"

Gabriel just laughs. "Oh, it's the launch message. Every ship has them, they're like… well you probably don't christen ships on Sinai, but it's a ritual phrase. This is Bellerophon, named for the hero who stormed Olympus to take his place with the gods, and was thrown down to his death for his attempt. The Primus System is Olympus, for our generation. It's a message to go boldly, and damn the consequences."

"Hopefully we will not be thrown down," Layth points out. "Hitting the ground hurts."

"That's a message I can support," the Vartan woman remarks, grinning even more.

The navigational displays change from yellow to green as the body of Bellerophon leaves the hangar behind. The familiar corridor of light is overlaid on the view ahead, marking the acceleration route needed to orbit the moon and build up speed. "Here we go," Gabriel says, and throttles the engines to accelerate.

"Engineering is still stable. Fred, can you confirm the reactor output is within limits?" Layth reports as he taps away on his panel.

"We're doing good… uh… " Fred replies. "I'm getting some quantum effects here with my projection? Anyone closer to the projector having issues?"

"Navigational paths look good. No change to Delta-V calc; nothing fell off or on us, no stowaways, no change in planetoid gravitational field," Tasha reports as she goes over the ascension one last time.

"I'm stuttering too," PC Zerachiel reports from the vehicle bay. "No problems on my end," Mariel replies from Avionics. "I'm getting a bit of relativistic compression," Nora notes from the bridge.

"Is that bad?" Layth inquires. "Star, are you doing all right?"

"Nothing like technology you don't understand to make you worry," Tasha mutters. She scans her screen for any further navigational concerns, then switches to a display of internal regulatory devices. "Layth, check your systems for timing disturbances. We may be seeing SPF flux."

"I am fine, but I am closer than any to the projector," the Silent-One reports. "Gabriel is not showing any signs of distress."

Layth taps his console to bring up the various clocks embedded in the engineering systems. "Watching for skew," he says.

"All PersoComs make their way to the artifact bay to ride this out," Gabriel says. "That goes for you too, Nora," the Captain says, turning to look behind him, just as Zerachiel barks and proximity alarms go off! The too-close horizon hid the bulk of the Dainty Mauler, coming in on almost the exact reverse heading as Bellerophon.

Tasha's navigational screen blankets red as the large mass appears right in the middle of their ascent path! "C-captain, it's right in o-our … " She quickly begins sliding her hands across her display as fast as she can move them, feeding the navigational computer escape routes!

"Figures," Layth says in an all too disturbing calm way. "Captain, shall I use the stators to alter our trajectory without loss of thrust?" he asks. "By imbalance the field, we should drift to the side. Tasha, give me a route and I'll try to shift without thrust loss."

"Route nav. solution 3 is your best bet, Layth," Tasha calls across the bridge as she picks from a host of possible options.

"Waiting on confirmation from the Captain," Layth replies and hovers his fingers over the stator controls.

"No, can't risk the fields intersecting!" Gabriel says. A new path appears as Tasha keys it in, and the view flips as Bellerophon flashes past the Titanian behemoth but turning on its side, so that the kludged together hull zooms past 'overhead'. Layth's console complains, as the stators weren't primed for that sort of maneuver in a planetary gravity field. And… was that a Titanian hanging out of a window with their tongue flapping back out of the side of its mouth?

"It's interesting to see the Dainty Mauler drives generate that kind of disturbance though, i-isn't it?" The younger red woman comments nervously as she watches the giant ship get ever closer, then pass by. "I'll h-have to add that to my … My research n-notes."

"I'm just glad I do not need to change my undergarments," Layth admits as he frantically tries to silence all the alarms and complaints from his console.

"Their stators didn't show up at all on the scans," Zerachiel yelps. "Maybe they don't use them?"

"They seem to use pieced together First One technology," Tasha explains, her voice finally calming. "They can actually exit the Sinai System, through a method I wasn't able to understand."

Once the ship rights itself, the stators stop complaining. Anti-gravity is wonderful, but picky when it comes to other gravity fields. "I don't think we lost any speed, correcting back to original trajectory. Are we good, Tasha, or need another correction?" Gabriel asks.

"Stators have stabilized," Layth says and the final whine is silenced. "And I have to admit, that was better than having to fight them off as pirates, at least. I prefer them allies."

"We'll need to run the numbers a few times to be sure, but I believe we're largely on course. We might miss our landing window by seconds – the nav. comm. is working the Brachistochrone ingress now." While the system works, Tasha leans back again and massages her fingers. "I agree, Layth. I'd hate to have to lift a weapon against Blammo. In fact, I'm hoping to get permission to go with them some time."

"The Mauler is a fishing and trade boat, according to Rushfighter," Gabriel mutters. "But who knows what sort of 'fishing weapons' it's got. Layth, get a telescope ready to lock onto Orpheus when we come around again, so we can see what's happening."

"Telescope?" Layth asks, confused for a moment. "Ah, long range optical scanner for the weapons," he concludes once he sifts through the mess of technical data he learned the past few days. "I'll have its feed patched into the secondary display in a moment," he says, "I'll use the port side pod." More tapping ensues.

Tasha taps her display to bring up the telescope's feed, as well. "What will we do if there's trouble, Captain?"

"There's nothing we can do at this point," Gabriel notes. "We'll be nearing escape velocity around then."

"I could launch in the Melchior," Tasha suggests, although without much enthusiasm. "If it should be necessary."

"We can't open the hangar doors at this speed," Akkers notes. "We'll know what's going on in a few minutes once we round Sheol."

"The Naga are capable of defending themselves if need be," Layth points out. "I just hope it does not come to that."

"Understood, Captain." A pause, then Tasha says, "We have slight course deviation we can correct during orbital transition, hopefully. The stators really make these calculations a lot simpler!"

During those few minutes, the PersoComs report in from the Artifact Bay, saying they aren't experiencing weird effects once they're next to the projector. The secondary view screen hovers in space, showing nothing but a blur until Orpheus pops over the horizon again. The view changes rapidly, as they pass overhead, and there's a blip when the image is passed from the forward gun camera to the rear one. That one lasts longer, constantly zooming in to show the hangar doors nearly closed, and something moving across the sand towards the slowing Mauler: a further zoom resolves to show Blammo's Titan, running full out and carrying a huge bag of loot over its shoulder, right next to the hammer. The view is blurry, but the numbers being displayed hint that the Titanian ship is heading for a landing in the crater that was their own original landing spot on Sheol.

"Orbital transition coming up, prepare for engine switchover," Gabriel says. "Tasha, give me that new correction. Layth, don't let the air-breathers melt."

"As members of the JEF, I feel we should not leave out allies to fend for themselves in times of danger, if we can help it. Unfortunately, we cannot if that is the case this time. We'd run in to problems with getting enough reaction mass for a second launch," the red woman says. The woman then nods. "On your screen, Captain."

"Melt? Dagh, I haven't checked the coolant flow," Layth says and smacks the side of his head, causing his lop ears to swat. "Checking! Too high, rerouting coolant now. Temperature should be in safer range within a minute."

"Watch the transition phase Layth, the plasma-arc generators will create a surge in the system if not shut down once they're brought in to a vacuum," Tasha advises.

"Fuel pumps are primed, about to light the torches," Gabriel says. "Ignition in… 10… 9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… " he counts down, before the rockets kick in, and kick hard. Stator warnings flash as they compensate for the acceleration and transition from 'orbital' to 'free space' operation mode.

"Cutting air breathers in five!" Layth manages out from where he's pressed back into his chair from the sudden acceleration just before the stators can compensate. " … 2 … 1, cutting air engines, transition underway!"

Tasha presses in to her seat, making a noise that sonds something like 'nnrrrgh' until the stators compensate and reduce the G-strain. "You … You don't get that on an airship," she quips.

For the moment, the crew is at the mercy of the automated systems, until the escape burn is completed and acceleration stops. If it's anything like the simulations, it's now several hours of cruising with the inertial fields playing fast and loose with time-dilation effects.

"Are you okay, Star? No problems with thinking?" Layth asks the projector now that he can't do much.

Likewise, Tasha turns and looks to Gabriel. "How are you feeling, Captain?"

The response in the projector is a bit slow; "Your voice is fast. Everyone else is very fast."

"I feel like I'm aging faster," Gabriel admits. "I never liked this part of interplanetary travel, using the damned stators to mess with inertia."

Layth frowns. Ghost or not, he's worried about the Silent-One. "Fred," he says into the comm, "Do you know what is going on with Star? Why do we seem fast to her?"

"I know what's going on, Layth," Tasha speaks up. Turning to her friend, she explains, "Due to stator interference, we're experiencing time dilation. Fallen-Star must be immune to the effect, due to being composed of distorted time-space, or whatever the Sifrans use to create mag- … No! Reality-altering effects."

"We were experiencing acceleration artifacts before… time skipping ahead, like we were lagging behind and being jerked forward," Fred explains. "Star wasn't affected then, but seems to be taking her time adjusting to the new time-flow. She's not tied in to the ships clock like we are."

To Gabriel, Tasha then smiles. "You look as handsome as ever, though," she insists. Her smile is over-long for a crewmember, but not for a girlfriend, which may be what prompts her to ask, "I guess I can' t say things like that from now on, aye, Gabriel? I mean, Captain?

"By code you are supposed to call him an old, crotchety, Karnor with a big nose," Layth confirms.

"I couldn't call him that even joking," Tasha insists, sounding a little affronted. "Do you know what I went through to keep him? And now, he's my Captain!"

"We're in our own little bubble of time right now, so I'm prepared to be lax with protocol," Gabriel admits. "I wish I had some marshmallows and peanut butter though. That was always my favorite launch snack."

"Our food supplies are fairly limited, I am afraid," Layth notes, "We used most of the good stuff making the cake."

"What's a marsh-mellow? I picture … white … cylinders?" Inquires the Vartan woman. She taps her virtual display and sets it to alert her via her commcollar, allowing her to turn away. "We do have beer?"

"The flight crew isn't allowed to drink while on duty," Zerachiel laments.

"What did you two do to pass the transit time in the simulations?" Gabriel asks.

"She made out with Nora," Layth claims.

"Wait- what?" Tasha turns to Zerachiel, then Layth, then Gabriel again. "You … You don't drink while on ship? Whyever not?" She then blinks, answering. "I reviewed my research data and/or the Melchior's manua-" Her answer is then shattered by a snorted laugh with Layth's comment.

"I took a nap," Layth admits. "Well, a virtual one. It kept me from feeling too mentally tired."

"Well, I think this time we will conduct an inspection," Gabriel says. "I don't want the PersoComs leaving the Artifact Bay until we're on the ground… hmmm," Gabriel says, rubbing his chin. "Did you ever actually simulate landing? We have no idea where the coordinates we were given actually lead to."

"Oh that reminds me: sorry about a few days back, Layth. That whole … acting like Nora situation. It turns out I was getting feedback from the use of two different brain-computer interface systems, and the encoding triggered something the Melchior encoded, causing a personality crisis. Or, well, lending to one happening anyway," the red woman explains. She then nods. "Aye, we did, but as you say Captain, we didn't know what to simulate so Nora chose the most common ground target."

"Good. Because if you didn't stop acting crazy I was going to borrow, and hit you with, Blammo's hammer," Layth notes as he unbuckles himself so that he can perform inspections.

On standing, Layth realizes there was something missing from the simulations: the reaction of all this abrupt movement and acceleration on the bowels and bladder. But the bridge does have its own restroom, at least. It's just a matter of who gets to it first.

Being the only Lapi onboard, Layth predicts he will get there first! And he runs.

The woman laughs at that. "I'd probably have needed it, too. I can't live being Nora. Nora is Nora, and I'm me – even if that me is mixed with parts of Nora, Fred, cybernetics, and the Melchior's encoding. That's what that whole remark was, in fact. The Bird of Hermes is like … my identification key." Tasha joins Layth in standing up, but seems unaffected by the disturbances. But then, Tasha was born on a ship and seems very use to them by now. She watches the buck race off. "When did he get so competitive?"

After several hours in which the Doppler-shift-corrected view of Abaddon seems to crawl closer and radiation screens run at full capacity, the time finally comes for deceleration – which requires increasing the ships inertia to bleed velocity. Everyone is strapped back into their chairs and the PersoComs are alerted.

"That was as dull as it was in the simulation," Layth admits as he closes the harness straps on his seat. "And now for the experience of our intestines wanting to come out of our noses," he adds as he taps his console and brings up the stator display again.

Tasha tucks the Melchior's instructional manual next to her as she returns fully to the controls, then activates the forward extension to put her chair out over the display forward section. "There's no data at all on our landing target, Captain?" The woman asks.

"We'll have to try to get a visual from the telescopes during orbital insertion," Gabriel says. The coordinates are showing a location to the west of New Zion, but that part of the planet isn't even in view at the moment. "How are the stators holding up, Layth? Ready for inertial inversion?"

"There is an odd harmonic within the field," Layth answers, "Which might be due to the proximity of the planet and its own field. I don't think we are in any danger of field collapse, though. We should be able to perform the inversion barring any surprises."

"I hope they understand just how large this vessel is. Nothing on the airfield we saw even comes close," Tasha remarks as she brings up the insertion display. A few busy manipulations of the screen later, she says, "On The Rake, when docking in foggy ports, sea landings, or anchoring on the ground, we usually had three crew members fly out to act as guides, using long sticks with colored tassels attached."

"Alright," Gabriel says. "Navigation, confirm 300-second inertial transition to maximum dilation? I'm hoping we won't have that much trouble navigating."

"I don't think you can use the Titan to guide us in, Tasha," Layth remarks as he keys in the deceleration time and waits for Tasha to confirm it is correct before he enters the activation code.

"If it was really foggy, they'd use colored lanterns," Tasha adds as she looks down. A few seconds of studying the trajectory and a few touches later, the woman answers, "The corrections were largely successful, but our window is narrower due to the re-alignment. We're down twenty seconds from initial estimation."

Layth taps in the adjustments on the time. "The reduced time will put more strain on the stators," the buck says. "I still think they will hold … but it will be a bit rough. The field flow isn't smooth."

"We have should have enough fuel to compensate," Gabriel says. "Eli, be ready: I want a sensor snapshot as pass through the zero-point in the transition."

"Oh, and it was just a thought, Layth. I know a lot more about airships then I do about spaceships, after all," Tasha adds. "Anyway, standing by."

"Aye, Captain," Zerachiel replies. "Soon as we can drop the screens I'll light up the neighborhood."

"Let's put on some relativistic virtual mass, Mr. Layth," Gabriel says. "Cycle the fields when ready."

"Abaddon's artificial orbital satellites have all decayed in their orbit?" Tasha brings up the sensor view in preparation for the flyover, then rechecks their insertion for the tenth time.

"Field will cycle in 3 … 2 … 1," The buck counts down and then taps the controls. The ship around them shudders as the stators manipulate the inertial field and apparent mass. It's akin to having just flown into a massive headwind; the sensation of decelerating is immediate … and rather rough. Wave turbulence.

"Now that we get on airships," Tasha murmurs, eyes glued to her screen.

Numbers spin and fly on displays, showing relativistic equivalent mass and velocity changes. The power systems rebound at midpoint, when the ship is at 'neutral', real-world inertia and the radiation screens can be dropped. It only lasts for an instant, as the the view through the dome speeds up and takes on a blue tinge. Abaddon spins faster and faster and grows in size incredibly quickly. Unlike the hours spent with no apparent progress, the final part of the voyage is over in an instant. The stators automatically cycle back to normal as Bellerophon enters orbit, back in normal time.

"We've been followed," Zerachiel announces. "Dainty Mauler is trailing us by 120,000 meters. I really would like to see their drive system someday… "

"I'm glad we didn't eat anything," Layth admits from where he has hunched over his console. "My gut feels like it wants to escape after that." After a few ominous heaves he sits back upright and checks the console, he confirms, "Stators have returned to normal."

"I … I may never quite get used to relativity and time dilation," Tasha says after a moment, when the her world has finished playing with time. Her eyes remained glued to the forward display as the event occurred, but quickly flick back to her own display as Zerachiel announces pursuit. "I'm getting a trajectory resolution on their craft now. On screen, Captain."

"Beginning de-orbit," Gabriel announces, just before the rocket engines give a brief kick. "Gliding in, switchover to aerial engines in 100 seconds." If the Mauler stays on its apparent course… it should be landing back at the Gateway airfield, where it took off from originally.

"Dainty Mauler de-orbit trajectory shows it's coming in for a landing at Gateway airfield. I guess there's going to be a new Show tonight," Tasha says. She brings up a menu, then begins recording the Mauler's fkight performance for later research.

"It doesn't seem fair their junk ship outperforms this one, does it?" Layth remarks to no one in particular. "Are you and the other projections functioning still, Star?" he asks the projection.

"Full navigational sensors are available now," Zerachiel announces, and several new displays appear on Tasha's console, showing lidar terrain imagining along the projected course.

"All in good health," Star replies. "I do not think they want to go through another time squeeze though."

"They aren't the only ones," Layth admits.

"I've got full ground mapping now, seeing if I can't get a better look at our destination. No ground based obstructions on our approach path," the Vartan reports.

Switching to the aerospikes in mid flight, at several times the speed of sound, is a lot different than using them to launch. The Bellerophon lets out a roar and shakes as it hits the atmosphere.

Mariel's face appears in the air, and she reports, "We're getting radio chatter on the frequency we were given. I have a homing signal." Once she says that, the beacon appears on Tasha's panel.

"Hull and spike temperature is climbing, but is within safety limits," Layth reports.

"Get the stators ready for hover," Gabriel says as he manipulates the flight controls.

Tasha smiles at Mariel, then nods, eyes dipping. "Homing signal confirmed on the bridge. I'm going from manual coordinate to automatic lock-on to beacon and trimming our approach path. We're looking good. The landing zone should be on your screens momentarily."

Stators are on standby. At your command, Captain," Layth reports.

"Oh." Tasha can be seen to zoom something in from the corner of the men's eyes. "There it is. Our target is inside a large canyon,  in one of the canal regions. I'm putting it up on screen." Sure enough, a little spinning image of the canyon appears, although the window is rather small.

"Can you give me a weather report?" Gabriel asks. Zerachiel puts up several multi-layered displays in the dome, and the Bellerephon begins to descend. "Bring up the stators, Layth. We're going to traverse part of the cavern to avoid a dust storm."

"I've heard those canyons are filled with vegetation and hostile life forms. Layth, you may want to switch intakes for heavy filtering," suggests Tasha, who's currently plotting the canyon on screen – in that tiny window.

"And activate the weapons," Gabriel adds, as the ship dips below the canyon walls. Below, a jungle of green, purple and orange speeds past.

"Easing the field back on," Layth replies and his fingers tap away on the console. There's a slight shudder in the ship as the fields establish and grip the ship … then the ride smooths out considerably. "That's better," he says as he sees to checking the filtration systems next and making sure they're filtering the atmosphere well. "Doctor, please check the readings we're getting from the intakes and confirm they are safe?" he calls into comm. The buck finishes with, "Weapons will be online in a few minutes."

With the canyon plotted, Tasha switches to computer diagnostic mode and begins scanning each system for signs of SPF-spurned instability. "Anything else you need, Captain?"

"Nothing too heavy," Zerachiel notes. "But we should come in slow, just in case. We don't have any of the active filters on the intakes since we took them for Fenris."

Tasha grimaces. "I hope the intakes can handle the dust, foliage, and potential giant hostile fauna being sucked in to them. At least we'll have fresh meat, though!" The red woman laughs.

Gabriel begins decelerating. The canyon is wide, deep and not terribly twisty, but still not straight. "I need… uh… well, no time for a good-luck kiss now," he says. Of course, as soon as Tasha expresses her hope, the ship plows through a sudden flock of… things. Whatever they are, they are filled with purple goo and black bits. The port engine also stutters once at the extra reaction mass being inhaled.

"Ummmm." Tasha eyes the purple smears ooze down various external cameras and the forward display. "I hope no one will hold that against us when we explain our secondary mission to discover new life."

"Increasing power to port engine to 'burn off' the extra mass," Layth says as he diverts power to keep from stalling the reaction.

"Navigation and computer control is largely automated from this point, Captain. Do you want me to suit up in case we need to get something off the hull?" Tasha inquires.

Velocity continues to drop, and the engines switch to pump-and-pulse mode. By the time their destination comes into view, Bellerophon is coasting along at only 70 kph. Up ahead is a small, flat-topped mountain rising from the center of the canyon. Or at least one assumes it's flat, since the upper part is completely covered in iron plating. A huge dome made of pie-slice segments is already opening, the slices sliding on huge rails. Even from here several blast craters are apparent in the armor, which must be incredibly thick.

"And risk something getting in through the hanger doors?" Gabriel asks, then goes silent at the sight of the structure ahead. The massive cannon turrets also become apparent as they get closer.

"That is … rather impressive," Layth admits. "I hope they do not shoot those cannons … or greet us with an armed brigade to claim the ship."

"Oi, well … Just an idea, Captain?" Tasha turns to follow Gabriel's gaze to the fortress ahead, eyes widening. "So do I, Layth. They have been very nice … "

The fully opened dome is just large enough for Bellerophon's wings to clear. Gabriel hovers at a stop over it, the ship's landing lights shining down into an already well-lit landing dock. People are running about, emergency vehicles brought to the ready and a man with two glowing sticks trying to wave them down. "Well, I guess we land then," Gabriel notes.

"Should we? Are we sure this is safe?" Layth asks as his fingers taps worriedly on the console.

"I wonder what this was created for, originally … ," Tasha wonders aloud as she leans over her station to get a better look at the people scurrying about. "I mean, think of how long its been since anything like this landed here. It could be centuries old."

"Those are humans and Karnors," Zerachiel confirms, bringing up a magnified view for those not possessed with Vartan eyes.

"I guess the suggestion I take the Melchior down and scare them to check is probably a bad one," Tasha quips, distractedly.

"We've got nowhere else to go without causing trouble," Nora says over the comm. Gabriel begins the descent, using just the stators, until for the first time since the launch of the Expedition, Bellerophon's landing skids touch the ground.

"Permission to kick the Vartan, Captain," Layth requests.

"No need to scare them with something that looks Confederate," Gabriel says calmly. "Spin down the stators, secure the engines and prepare to idle the reactor. Then we can don armor and meet our new hosts."

"No one likes my suggestions!" Tasha mock-complains. She throws her arms up, then brings them down as she taps fingers across her display. "Understood, Captain. The computers seem to be handling the slight SPF increase; I'm not getting more than the expected internal variation. Navigation log is being processed, as is the recording of the Dainty Mauler's flight – for later research." Tasha then reaches back and begins returning her command chair to the deck.

"Nobody is pointing anything more threatening than a fire-hose at us," Zerachiel notes.

"Back to just being a buck," Layth remarks to himself as he taps in the sequence to cycle the stators down. "One journey ends."

"And another begins," Tasha finishes as she steps out of her command chair. "Let's go."

It's at least another half-hour before the ship is properly secured. The PersoComs man their stations, communication tests are run, and all but Zerachiel (who is busy in the bio lab) suit up in their armor. Fred has his own remote-controlled armor operate the landing ramp for them. They can see a small group approach the bottom of it, led by a uniformed Karnor who is not much older than Layth in appearance. They wait at the bottom, not attempting to board.

Tasha, now in her black-and-gold hyrbid Khattan/Vartan/Terran armor, gazes down at the group with those raptor-like eyes of hers. She has her helmet on, Gauss weapon shouldered and not powered – just in case. "This is where we feel like we stick out like a sore thumb and then they ignore us for the Karnors, isn't it," she sends over a private channel to Layth. He can see her face in the corner of his screen, the young woman looking anxious, eyes darting here and there.

"Most likely," Layth confirms through the channel. He too is clad in his white armor with full helmet, including the modified ear-shields. He gives the Vartan a slight nudge to begin her descent and once she begins to move, he follows.

Tasha proceeds behind Gabriel, giving him the fore despite her urge to put herself in front of him. "Well, whatever happens, we can be proud of our deeds. Nothing can change that," the woman insists, apparently trying to stave off her anxiety with positive thinking.

Gabriel walks down slightly in the lead and removes his own helmet when they reach the base of the ramp. "Captain Gabriel Akkers, Joint Expeditionary Force," he says, and salutes. The uniformed Karnor returns the solute, and says, "Lieutenant Gordon Vesuvius, Special Technology and Exploration Corps. Welcome to Tartarus Base, the Blister on Hell's Ass, Sir. Although we like to just call it the Pimple."

At the description, Tasha exchanges a look with Layth. "I bring you to all the best places, don't I? I guess we better get ready for introductions, if they haven't already forgotten about us."

"Better than the festering boil," Layth remarks back into the comm. "You first; this was your mission."

"These are my aides," Vesuvius says, gesturing first to the human woman with a very business-like stance. "Dr. Kitty St. John-Smythe," he says, pronouncing it as 'Sinjin-Smythe'," civilian liaison with the New Zion University and Museum." The Karnor he introduces as Sergeant Bear. "Whatever you need, just ask the Sergeant. I must say… I didn't expect your ship to be so… pretty."

"Oh sure, now it's my mission. Before it was "we're all in this together Tasha,"" The armored woman laughs, albeit restrained, just enough to carry across the comm. but be muffled by her suit. She then lowers her weapon to lean against her side, freeing her hands to remove her helmet. Pulling it off, she shakes her golden hair out and stands by for introductions, watching the other group with nervous interest.

Layth leaves his helmet on for now, since he's the most alien of all here; a species they likely have had no dealings with. He merely waits quietly, seeming more a statue than someone in armor.

"This is Pilot-Cadet Tasha Argentine," Gabriel introduces. "Her Gryphon, the Melchior, is docked aboard. She's my second-in-command on the ground."

Tasha begins to give Gabriel a questioning look, but aborts it as eyes turn towards her and she's forced to step forward. "It's … , it's a pleasure to meet all of you. I look forward to us, um, oi, … Ah, working together!" She then reflexively holds her hand out.

Gordon takes the hand and shakes it in military fashion – a few curt bobs. "Impressive! None of our Expedition Era Titans still run, but it will be an honor to see one in action!" he says with a genuine smile.

Gabriel turns to see if Layth is going to remove his helmet so he can be introduced.

Tasha peers at the man's hand when he shakes it, eyes darting and perhaps memorizing his technique or just puzzled by the whole transaction despite having initiated it. When the shakes end, she looks up and smiles genuinely, sounding much more confident when she says, "Well, I'll be happy to make a good show of it, then. Maybe we can see about your Titans, as well." Then, stepping back, she watches Layth as well. "If you don't want to, just say so; I'll cover for you," she offers over the commcollar.

Layth reaches back and activates the release mechanism that Fred built into the armor. There's a hiss as the seals release and the helmet spreads wider to facilitate its removal. The next movement is a roll and upward lift of his hand as he slips the segmented helmet from his head and his ears also slip free from the makeshift shields. The buck snaps his head once to the side to get his mane to settle out, then looks back to Gabriel, his expression held completely neutral. "Captain," he says.

"This is Cadet-Technician Layth Al-Sudairy," Gabriel introduces the buck. "He in charge of our Silent-Ones systems, as well as being the operator of our recovered Silent-Ones Titan."

"Two Titans!" Gordon says in surprise, and offers his hand to Layth next. "This will certainly aid in the council meeting… why does your name sound so familiar though?"

"He's a good man, and was with me when I lead the expedition that discovered the Fenris," Tasha adds, supportively. She gives Layth a smile, then turns forward and re-shoulders her weapon.

Layth extends his armored hand to Gordon. "Lieutenant," he says as his greeting as he shakes it. "I do not know why it would, unless you met two that I arrived with. Lady Aisha and Lady Calligenia."

While the men talk, Tasha takes a moment to sweep her gaze across the interior, then back across the Bellerophon.

"Oh yes! The ladies and their escort who… constantly… asked about the status of your expedition," Gordon says. "I think they will be coming with the council, whenever they all agree to come," he notes. "Until then, you have the run of the base, however – for political reasons – we cannot board your ship. But we can assist with anything you need outside of it, and perhaps do something about those bees you flew through."

"So that's what those are," Tasha murmurs, watching one of the bees slide slowly down the wing until it falls off and plops on to the hangar floor. She shakes her head in amazement, then turns back. "It's good to hear those two are fine. What about a Lapi – a rabbit – man that was with them? Aaron Lightfoot?"

"He must be the one who was always apologizing for the females," Vesuvius realizes.

"That's him!" Tasha says with a grin and a nod. "He was always apologizing for me."

"Just what is our status on Abaddon, Lieutenant?" Gabriel asks.

"Oh, are there any Vartans around he-" Tasha breaks her question off, letting Gabriel speak uninterrupted.

"I hope they have not been too trying. Both of them can be persistent," Layth says.

"Ah, well you are guests of the Expedition for the time being," Vesuvius explains. "Your ship and technology present the potential to radically shift the balance of power towards whichever group you align with - but luckily we have the Pit of Himar Treaty Organization Council to work these things out."

"Oh, so I was right about the political climate?" Tasha blinks, looking a little stunned. It may well be the first time she's made an accurate political forecast – or really understood what a 'political forecast' even is.

"I suppose we can discuss these things over dinner?" Gabriel asks. Vesuvius nods, and smiles! "We have some aged beef that we brought along. And a chef!"

"Ah, yet another meal I cannot partake of," Layth remarks to himself. "If you will all excuse me, I should see to the PersoCom systems and crew. I bid you all a good day, gentlemen," he adds and bows rather formally at that. The buck turns and walks back up the ramp.

"Oh gods, real meat!" Tasha breathes, her suit tail wagging behind her. "I can't tell you how much I missed shore food." She turns a big grin towards Gabriel, then, blinking, quickly looks forward and does her best not to look his way. When Layth begins to depart, she sends, "I'll see if I can find you a plant-plate. Tell the others hi for me, and ask if they need anything!" And with that, Tasha heads off with Gabriel, tail wagging all the way.