{"data":{"id":17577,"title":"Instrument of Surrender (Part Four)","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/serialized-fiction\/17577-Instrument-Of-Surrender-Part-Four","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/17577","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/17577","channel":"Undefined","category":"Undefined","series":"Instrument of Surrender","images":[{"id":23520,"name":"Instrument-Of-Surrender.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/media\/8yfnvv0gp8ovlr\/source\/Instrument-Of-Surrender.jpg","alt":"","size":1340804,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2020-01-28T15:50:05+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/23520","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/23520\/similar"}],"images_count":1,"translations":{"en_EN":"Writer\u2019s Note: Instrument of Surrender (Part Four) was published originally in Jump Point 4.8. You can read Part One here, Part Two here, and Part Three here.\n\u201cConcentrate fire; too many shots are missing the stern,\u201d Commander Wallace barked as she looked out to survey the battle. Hypnotic waves of laser fire flew between the two ships. For a brief moment, she forgot about the potential death that each streak represented and got lost in its strange beauty.\n\nThis was it. Crescent\u2019s chance to stop the Tevarin capital ship from attacking Crion. The Tevs were trapped between them and a swathe of anti-ship mines. Since its powerful phalanx shield could only defend one side at a time, it was deployed between their bow and the minefield, exposing the ship\u2019s stern for attack.\n\n\u201cSignature spike . . . starboard side, main cannon,\u201d cried Starman Daughtry.\n\nThe warning returned Commander Wallace to reality. She checked their angle then made a quick calculation. \u201cForward another 1,000 meters, adjusting yaw plus ten. Full strength to bow shields.\u201d\n\nThe massive ship lurched forward and turned just as the Tevs took their shot. The blast sailed narrowly passed their starboard side. The crackle of shield energy showed just how close the barrage had been.\n\nCoburn bellowed from his terminal, \u201cTev shields have swung again. We\u2019ve got an angle on their starboard side thruster.\u201d\n\nCommander Wallace looked to the hologlobe. Coburn was right.\n\n\u201cReduce bow shields to 50% and divert to the railgun. I want that starboard side thruster nonexistent, clear?\u201d\n\n\u201cRailgun\u2019s up!\u201d\n\nCoburn looked to Commander Wallace. She\u2019d let him have this one.\n\n\u201cCall it.\u201d\n\nCoburn grinned. \u201cFire!\u201d\n\nWallace watched the railgun shot sail through space and punch through the thruster. Multiple internal explosions detonated inside the gaping hole until the whole thing finally went up.\n\nThe bridge exploded into cheers as Wallace sank against the railing, breathing a sigh of relief. The Tevs would have a tough time navigating out of this asteroid belt without that thruster. Let alone executing their intended attack on Crion.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019re launching ships, sir!\u201d called Starman Tillman.\n\nTevarin fighters and boarding vessels poured into space and then scattered. A few disappeared on the far side of the Tevarin ship to disarm the anti-ship mines. Meanwhile, the majority of the ships set their sights on Crescent.\n\n\u201cCoburn, lock us down. We can\u2019t let any \u2014\u201d\n\nBut Coburn cut her off. \u201cGot a report from Hernandez in sector six. They already caught a Tev.\u201d\n\nThat must have been our saboteur, she thought. Who knows how many have already infiltrated.\n\n\u201cSeal all bulkheads and get Marines to search every inch of this ship, starting with sectors housing major components or connected to the bridge.\u201d\n\nSuddenly, the phalanx shield materialized between Crescent and the Tevarin ship. Doing further damage to them just got a lot more difficult.\n\nThen the realization struck Commander Wallace. While crippling the Tevarin ship might mean Crion was safe, it also ensured the Tevs would bring to bear everything they had against Crescent.\n\nBetween what that boarder did to our power and their blown thruster, neither of us are leaving this area anytime soon, she thought. At least not both of us.\n\n\u201cParedes! Stand the hell down.\u201d\n\nDrahk remained motionless on the floor as the Marine with the black eye trained his gun barrel at Drahk\u2019s head. He had just seen the Marine knock the other Human unconscious and the anger in his fleshy expression showed that it wouldn\u2019t take much for him to snap again. Although it seemed another younger Marine was trying to talk him down.\n\nAn older Marine pushed his way to the front, \u201cParedes! What the hell you doing?\u201d\n\nThe one known as Paredes slowly lowered the weapon. The older Marine looked over the scene.\n\n\u201cOn your feet, now!\u201d the older Marine yelled, but Drahk stayed on the floor. Command training taught those whose spoke Human to keep it a secret. It might be the only advantage he had in this entire situation.\n\n\u201cHe said get up,\u201d Paredes jammed the butt of his rifle into Drahk\u2019s back. \u201cGet up!\u201d\n\nParedes hit him harder. Drahk slowly eased himself up, making sure his hands were visible the entire time. Paredes pushed him against the corridor wall.\n\nMeanwhile, the older Marine checked the unconscious Human. \u201cHope it was worth it, Paredes. Now someone\u2019s gotta carry him back to the brig. Wanna guess who that\u2019s gonna be?\u201d\n\nParedes opened his mouth, then thought better of it, \u201cYes, sir.\u201d\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s go. We\u2019ve already wasted enough time.\u201d\n\nParedes slowly stepped away from Drahk, slung his gun behind his back and lifted the unconscious Human.\n\n\u201cCome on, move,\u201d said the older Marine.\n\nDrahk stepped forward then caught himself. The older Marine eyed him \u2014 did this Tev just understand me?\n\nKlaxons erupted up and down the halls.\n\n\u201cHold up, people.\u201d The group turned towards the older Marine, checking his personal data device. \u201cChange of plans. Anti-boarding protocol is in effect. We need to sweep this sector immediately.\u201d\n\nDrahk was glad his helmet\u2019s visor was so dark. It helped hide his smile. This had to mean the warriors of Rijora were coming.\n\n\u201cSir,\u201d said Paredes, \u201cthe hell we supposed to do with these two? The brig\u2019s nowhere near our sector.\u201d\n\nThe older Marine shot him a look. \u201cShut up and follow me.\u201d\n\nA rumbling roused Hickory. He regained consciousness face down on a cold floor, his head throbbing and full of fog. He rolled onto his back and then sat up, blinking rapidly to bring his eyes into focus.\n\nWell, one thing was certain, he wasn\u2019t in the brig. Through metal latticework, the ship\u2019s half-filled cargo bay came into focus. As he scanned his surroundings, the intensity of the light forced him to close his eyes again.\n\nA cage. They put him in a cage.\n\nHickory\u2019s hands gently probed the side of his head, wincing when he found the spot where he\u2019d been struck. Guess it could be worse. Nothing was broken, and he remembered everything up until the kid cracked him across the head.\n\nOnce the wave of pain passed, he spotted a strange form through the latticework on his left.\n\nIt was the Tevarin, sitting serenely. Helmet in its lap. Eyes closed. Meditating or praying or whatever it is they do.\n\nHe grabbed the cargo cage door and shook it. It barely gave. Minimal movement meant it was well built with a strong lock. Luckily, his hand could fit between the slats in the latticework. So he reached through and felt the front of the metal case housing the lock. Then breathed a sigh of relief. There was a keyhole.\n\nHickory pulled his hand inside the cage. Then sat with his back to the door. That\u2019s when he saw the Tevarin eyeing him suspiciously. Hickory didn\u2019t trust the Tev either, but knew he could be helpful. Especially since he spoke Human.\n\n\u201cSeen any guards around?\u201d\n\nThe Tev shook his head.\n\n\u201cKeep an eye out for me.\u201d He reached into the right sleeve of his spacesuit. \u201cAny idea why they threw us in here? I missed that part.\u201d\n\nAfter a few moments of silence, the Tev decided to respond, \u201cThey were called into battle. Brig was too far away.\u201d\n\nHickory pulled the multi-tool from the hidden pocket in his sleeve and thumbed through various tools, \u201cGotta say. Your accent\u2019s interesting.\u201d\n\n\u201cNot Human enough for you?\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s not what I meant. It\u2019s just, I\u2019ve only heard it one other place . . . Olympus. You spend much time there?\u201d\n\nThe Tevarin opened his eyes and looked at Hickory for a moment before going back to meditating, \u201cMy youth.\u201d\n\n\u201cLived there myself for a few years while I was, well . . . it\u2019s a good place to go unnoticed.\u201d\n\n\u201cYes.\u201d\n\nHickory had seen plenty of Tevs on Olympus. He\u2019d seen how horribly most of them were treated, but also how they acted when the tables were turned. He found the rake on his multi-tool and locked it into place, \u201cI\u2019m Hickory, by the way.\u201d\n\n\u201cDrahk.\u201d\n\nHickory carefully slid his hand between the cage\u2019s chainlink. Then angled the multi-tool back towards the keyhole. Suddenly, the ship shook. The multi-tool slipped from his hand. A metallic thud from the hull echoed across the cargo bay. He glanced through the cage\u2019s slats to see it tumble well out of reach.\n\nA string of expletives poured from his mouth. Hickory turned to see Drahk drop to the floor and use his long, lean arms to grab the multi-tool. \u201cYou\u2019re a lifesaver, Drahk.\u201d\n\nHe extended his hand only to realize Drahk wasn\u2019t giving it back. Instead, he flipped through the various tools. \u201cAm I?\u201d\n\nHickory felt a lump in his throat. He watched as Drahk returned to the rake and examined the series of bumps on its end, then slipped his arm through the latticework.\n\nWhat was he doing? The Tevarin had obviously never picked one of these locks before.\n\nThen he began to worry. How strong were Tevs? What if he severely bent the tool? It would destroy any chance of either of them escaping. Hickory couldn\u2019t take it anymore. \u201cCareful, you can\u2019t force it. It\u2019s a touch thing; more slow and steady.\u201d\n\nDrahk glared at Hickory while continuing to work the lock.\n\n\u201cWhat? I\u2019m trying to help. See, it\u2019s just . . . I need to get out of here. I can\u2019t die like this.\u201d\n\n\u201cDeath is not to be feared; it is but a truth. The Rijora has guided me from its grasps many times today. Now it\u2019s brought me the tool needed, so I can escape and help destroy this ship.\u201d\n\nHickory wasn\u2019t sure what expression was on his face, but Drahk read it plain as day. \u201cMaybe you\u2019d understand if you had faith in anything but yourself.\u201d\n\n\u201cFat lot of good your Rijora\u2019s done for you. Put you on the losing end of two wars.\u201d\n\n\u201cTwo wars?\u201d\n\nDrahk eyed him with a mix of interest and suspicion. It took Hickory a second to realize.\n\nThat\u2019s right, how could he know?\n\n\u201cThe war . . . it\u2019s over.\u201d\n\nThe bridge swayed slightly. Another blast from the Tevarin cannon had caught Crescent\u2019s starboard side flush.\n\n\u201cHow are the shields holding up?\u201d asked Commander Wallace.\n\n\u201cDown to 43% effective.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe need that battery bay back online.\u201d\n\nCoburn checked his personal data pad. \u201cEverybody in that sector who can fix it is fixing it. Marines are still completing their searches. Until we\u2019re certain no other Tevs are on board, it\u2019d be risky to open bulkheads so others could help.\u201d\n\nCommander Wallace consulted the terminal before her, comparing their accumulated damage to the Tevs. \u201cFine, but the second we\u2019re clear get some help there immediately.\u201d\n\n\u201cSwitch up your flight path, Ayers!\u201d bellowed Coburn.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re falling into a pattern even I can crack.\u201d\n\nCrescent had to duck and dodge fire from the Tevarin ship, while also trying to outmaneuver the phalanx shield so it could deliver damage of its own. Ayers had done an acceptable job of randomly moving the ship so far, but it was clear he was growing weary. According to the data, Crescent was starting to take more hits than it delivered.\n\nSuddenly, alarms screamed. No, it couldn\u2019t be . . .\n\n\u201cGot a breach! Multiple contacts in Sector Six . . .\u201d\n\nCommander Wallace and Coburn locked eyes. So much for restoring the battery bay there. Wallace didn\u2019t need to do any calculations to know their chances of surviving had just dropped dramatically.\n\nShe did everything she could do suppress that growing fear before speaking, \u201cI want fighters and any turrets to protect that sector from more boarders. If that\u2019s their foothold, I want to cut it off. We\u2019ll never survive if they overrun this ship.\u201d\n\nCargo crates rattled around them, a sign the battle was intensifying. Drahk had been silent since the Human told him the war was over. He just couldn\u2019t shake the feeling that it was true. He couldn\u2019t remember a time where they\u2019d gone so long without receiving a transmission from Corath\u2019Thal.\n\nOf course, he would be foolish to just take the Human\u2019s word. He looked to Hickory, who was nervously drumming his fingers against the cage. The human seemed unreliable at best.\n\n\u201cHow would you know the war is over?\u201d\n\n\u201cI found the Instrument of Surrender while salvaging a military wreck in system. Ship must\u2019ve gotten fried by an electrical storm before broadcasting the news.\u201d\n\nThe Instrument of Surrender was the sacred Rijoran text used to end conflict. Still, having it meant nothing unless signed by their holy leader. So he kept pressing, \u201cReally? Authorized by who?\u201d\n\n\u201cPakal\u2019Dor.\u201d\n\nA sense of relief swept through Drahk, \u201cWhat you saw was a fake. Only Corath\u2019Thal can validate the Instrument of Surrender.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019d be tough, I think.\u201d Hickory said as he shifted and stretched out his back, \u201cCorath\u2019Thal\u2019s atomized. Supposedly, he planned some big attack and got tuned up. Apparently he didn\u2019t take it so well, so he led the few survivors to your homeworld and rammed their ships into the ground.\u201d\n\nHickory glanced at Drahk, who was completely immobile. Inscrutable too.\n\n\u201cSo I don\u2019t know, I guess Pakal\u2019Dor was next in line for command? Tevarin military\u2019s more your thing, so you tell me.\u201d\n\nIt all made sense now. The truth was staring him in the face, but he didn\u2019t want to accept it. If true, Corath\u2019Thal had brought immense dishonor to himself and the Tevarin people.\n\nThe Rijora strictly forbids suicide in battle. It decreed \u2014 Honorable surrender, over all, when one\u2019s back is against the wall.\n\nAs the reality set in, Drahk realized it was more important than ever to escape this cage. Only he could save his fellow fighters from the disgrace of fighting for a dishonorable leader.\n\n\u201cDo you have it? The Instrument of Surrender.\u201d\n\n\u201cOn my ship.\u201d\n\n\u201cHere?\u201d\n\nHickory shook his head then pointed to a data pad build into his suit, \u201cBut I know exactly where it is.\u201d\n\nDrahk held up the multi-tool and Hickory\u2019s eyes went wide.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll help you off this ship, if you get me that Instrument of Surrender.\u201d\n\nHickory nodded, \u201cSure.\u201d\n\nDrahk extended the multi-tool. Hickory took it and went to work on the locked cage door.\n\nWallace watched Crescent\u2019s shield ripple as it absorbed another blast. The shield\u2019s overall efficiency ticked down another percent. She knew this firing back and forth was unsustainable. They were going to lose.\n\nCoburn hurried to her side, which wasn\u2019t a good sign.\n\n\u201cReport from Sector Six. Hernandez lost three, forcing him to fall back to the main hangar. His team\u2019s working with the flight crew to secure the area, but it\u2019s only a matter of time before the Tevs attempt to breach it.\u201d\n\nThe terminal before Commander Wallace beeped. She looked down and scanned the results. Earlier, she had noticed something about the phalanx shield. Every time it absorbed a blast, a stream of energy from the ship swiftly repaired the damage and returned the shield to full health. So she stitched together a series of scans. Together they traced those energy streams back to specific areas of the ship. Maybe if they attacked those locations, they could take down the shield.\n\n\u201cCommander, did you hear what I said?\u201d\n\n\u201cThese points. You see them?\u201d Coburn nodded in response. \u201cThat\u2019s where the power to the phalanx shield is coming from.\u201d\n\n\u201cIncoming!\u201d\n\nWallace and Coburn looked up to see a Jackal on a strafing run to attack the bridge. Barely above Crescent\u2019s surface, it fired from both barrels while expertly swinging its small phalanx shield from side to side to deflect incoming attacks.\n\n\u201cFocus fire. Take that thing out, now!\u201d cried Coburn.\n\nShots from the Jackal tore into the ship before the bridge, only for it to enter a sudden and dramatic spin. A shot had clipped its wing. The Jackal desperately tried to stay on course, but instead corkscrewed down, crashing into Crescent just before the bridge.\n\nThe blast shook the ship. A cloud of debris plumed and blocked the bridge\u2019s view of the battle. Coburn got back to his feet, \u201cWe need to do something or we won\u2019t last much longer.\u201d\n\nCommander Wallace nodded, \u201cGet Villar these coordinates. Let\u2019s take out that shield.\u201d\n\n\u201cAre we looking at the same shield?\u201d\n\nWallace nodded. \u201cAyers, turn to heading 273. Redirect shields fore . . .\u201d\n\nEveryone on the bridge paused. A few exchanged baffled glances.\n\n\u201cConfirm . . . 2-7-3, sir?\u201d Ayers said, his voice faltering.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s heading right at it,\u201d Coburn said. Wallace turned to him expectantly. He finally mustered a \u201cSir.\u201d\n\n\u201cConfirm.\u201d Wallace said loudly while staring down Coburn. \u201cLike you said, we have to do something.\u201d\n\n\u201cKilling ourselves wasn\u2019t what I had in mind.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe push through the shield, hit those points, and maybe we can start doing some real damage.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnless they chew us up first.\u201d\n\n\u201cWell, make sure that doesn\u2019t happen.\u201d Wallace looked around.\n\nEveryone was still frozen.\n\n\u201cYou got orders, people. Act like it,\u201d she yelled. Coburn broke away and went back to his terminal.\n\n\u201cVillar, I\u2019m gonna need all weapons to have that updated targeting solution ready to fire on my command.\u201d\n\nDrahk managed to stay on his feet. Hickory wasn\u2019t so lucky. Moments earlier, a massive blast had rocked the ship, sending him flying off the wall and onto the floor. Luckily, the Human had found a helmet in the cargo hold to help cushion the blow.\n\nHe hustled over and helped Hickory to his feet. Together they continued towards their one hope \u2014 the hangar. Even though it would be crawling with personnel, it was their only chance to get off this ship. As they moved, Hickory kept fiddling with the settings on the helmet.\n\n\u201cTo the right,\u201d Hickory called.\n\nDrahk rounded the corner and slowed. At the end of the hall was a bulkhead door bearing the scars of a breach. The two slowly approached the gaping hole in the door. Shouts and scattered weapon fire echoed from inside.\n\n\u201cMy people have breached the hangar.\u201d\n\nHe snuck up to the hole and scanned the hangar. Human and Tevarin bodies littered the floor, leaving a trail of corpses that told the battle\u2019s tale. A series of makeshift barricades had been built but overrun. The few Human survivors were hunkered down, either alone or in small groups, desperately firing at anything that moved. Drahk watch Tevarin warriors run between cover spots, working to outflank the remaining pockets of resistance.\n\n\u201cAny ships?\u201d\n\n\u201cOne, on the far side. Never seen one like it before.\u201d\n\nHickory peered into the hangar. \u201cDamn. It\u2019s just a utility vehicle.\u201d\n\n\u201cCan you fly it?\u201d\n\n\u201cOf course. That\u2019s not the problem.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat is?\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s unarmed. Shields are minimal, at best.\u201d\n\n\u201cYes?\u201d\n\n\u201cYou know there\u2019s fighting going on outside.\u201d Hickory nervously looked to Drahk, \u201cHow we doing this?\u201d\n\n\u201cAs fast as possible. Stay low and follow me.\u201d\n\nDrahk stepped through the breach, then hurried to a makeshift barricade hastily assembled to guard the door. Moments later, Hickory joined him.\n\nThe ship sat directly across the hangar, but a wide-open area lay between them. They couldn\u2019t cross it without being noticed.\n\nSuddenly, a shrill shriek filled the hangar. A Tevarin warrior charged a barricade, drawing fire from the Human behind it. Meanwhile, another Tevarin crept up from the other side. The Human suddenly realized his mistake and swung his weapon around but it was too late. The Tevarin warrior snapped up its own weapon and put a shot through him.\n\n\u201cMove. Now,\u201d Drahk said. He took off for the barricade closest to the ship. Shots rang out in his direction. As the barricade drew close, he slid across the floor until he was behind cover, heart pounding, exhilarated beyond belief.\n\nHe rolled over to see Hickory racing towards him, but the Human didn\u2019t even bother with the barricade, instead running straight for the ship. Hickory leapt inside and started the initiation sequence. The ship roared to life, drawing everyone\u2019s attention.\n\nDrahk ran to the back, opened the cargo hold and climbed inside. He turned to see a Tevarin warrior charge up the ramp, weapon raised. When he saw Drahk was a Tevarin, he stopped and stared curiously. Suddenly, the ship lurched forward, causing the warrior to fall off. Drahk hit the button and watched the cargo door close.\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s get out of here,\u201d he called to Hickory.\n\n\u201cNow for the easy part.\u201d With that, Hickory accelerated the ship out of the hangar. They burst through the air shield into a maelstrom of combat. Thick fields of scattered debris from dead ships occupied the space between the massive capital ships.\n\nFighters, both Human and Tevarin, wove through space, chasing target locks and spraying weapon fire. It was a pure inferno.\n\nHickory evaded the best he could through the network of crisscrossing weapon fire. As he managed to break clear of the intense fighting, Drahk got his first good look at the battlefield. Crescent looked like it was trying to ram the Tevarin. Based on the events of late, it seems ramming your ship instead of running was the strategy of choice.\n\nMinutes later, Hickory still felt like his heart would beat out of his chest. Somehow he had survived piloting the ship through the chaos of all-out war. The serenity of open space was a strange counterpoint to what they had just experienced.\n\n\u201cHow much farther?\u201d asked Drahk from the cargo hold.\n\n\u201cAlmost there,\u201d Hickory replied while keeping his eyes on the scanner.\n\nDrahk had grown increasingly nervous the more distance they put between them and the asteroid belt. He urged Hickory to fly faster. Though this ship was built for many things, speed was not one of them.\n\nA subtle beep came from Hickory\u2019s suit. They were close. As he increased the range of the ship\u2019s scans, a blip hit the radar.\n\nMoments later, his ship, Dolos, came into view. A part of him had believed he\u2019d never see her again. Hickory stopped the ship then turned to Drahk. \u201cSo how\u2019s this going to work?\u201d\n\n\u201cIf the Instrument is authentic, it will include a series of codes that my people can use to verify.\u201d\n\n\u201cAll right. I\u2019ll take care of it,\u201d Hickory smacked Drahk on the shoulder on his way towards the hatch. \u201cGood luck and thanks for your help.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m coming with you.\u201d\n\n\u201cNothing personal, but I don\u2019t let anyone else on my ship.\u201d\n\n\u201cForgive me if I don\u2019t take you at your word. My people, and yours, will continue to die until they know the truth. I am bound to make sure that the message gets out.\u201d\n\nSilence sat between them for a few seconds. Hickory couldn\u2019t remember the last time someone other than he had been aboard his ship.\n\n\u201cWe can fight about it if you want.\u201d\n\n\u201cFine, fine. Let\u2019s go then.\u201d\n\nThe two climbed out of the ship and EVAed to Dolos. Hopefully the broadcast wouldn\u2019t be too late.\n\nCommander Wallace watched as Crescent\u2019s bow passed through the phalanx shield. It was immediately met with a barrage of shots from the Tevarin. Once the initial waved passed, Coburn called, \u201cWeapons! Fire.\u201d\n\nCrescent responded with a volley of its own. The massive shots punched into the Tevarin ship\u2019s hull. Wallace watched the terminal before her.\n\n\u201cPhalanx is down ten \u2014 no twenty percent. It worked!\u201d cried Daughtry from the scan station.\n\n\u201cPower back to shields,\u201d ordered Coburn. \u201cGet us an angle on the next spot and fast, Ayers.\u201d\n\nCoburn looked to Commander Wallace. The fire in his eyes said it all: this might just work.\n\nA Tevarin counterattack caused the shields to flare up wildly. Some shots punched through and vented parts of the massive capital ship, but Crescent held.\n\n\u201cGuns ready in ten!\u201d\n\n\u201cWaiting on you!\u201d Wallace yelled.\n\nSuddenly, the phalanx shield completely disappeared. A cheer went up around the bridge. Wallace studied her screen. Something was wrong here.\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s back out of range of those close-quarter cannon,\u201d ordered Coburn. \u201cThen pound them until there\u2019s nothing left.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve got a message coming across the emergency channel,\u201d called Darsha from the comm station. Commander Wallace glanced down at her terminal to read the incoming message.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re in position, sir!\u201d\n\n\u201cReady the railgun and \u2014\u201d\n\n\u201cHold your fire!\u201d\n\n\u201cCommander!\u201d Coburn called. \u201cNow\u2019s our chance to end this.\u201d\n\n\u201cThey just broadcast their surrender. They dropped the phalanx shield to show they\u2019re serious. Wait . . . they\u2019re also saying the war is over.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat? They know and somehow we don\u2019t? It\u2019s a lie. You can\u2019t trust these Tevs.\u201d\n\n\u201cWatch your tone, XO.\u201d\n\n\u201cCheck the scans. I bet more Prowlers are sneaking their way to that breach as we speak,\u201d Coburn yelled, becoming more manic by the second. \u201cWe have to finish them now while we have the chance. Villar, fire that bloody railgun!\u201d\n\nFor once, Villar didn\u2019t snap to Coburn\u2019s order. She looked at Wallace.\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019s your order, sir?\u201d\n\nWallace looked around the bridge. They were looking to her, not to Coburn, for the first time.\n\n\u201cStand down. Open channels.\u201d Wallace turned to Coburn who was still quivering in rage. \u201cAre we going to have a problem, XO?\u201d\n\nCoburn held Wallace\u2019s gaze. It looked like whatever seized him was fading. \u201cNo, sir.\u201d\n\n\u201cGood,\u201d Wallace stepped over to the hologlobe. \u201cNow, let\u2019s see what they have to say.\u201d\n\nDrahk listened to the UEE military broadcast from the utility vehicle while Hickory used it to fix his ship. The message had gotten through just in time. The Tevarin ship was saved. It had suffered heavy damage, but a good portion of its crew was still alive.\n\nCrescent\u2019s crew didn\u2019t know what to do with all the survivors. The Tevarin ship was too crippled to make it out of the asteroid belt. Then they overheard the call go out for the transports to handle the survivors.\n\n\u201cLooks like I\u2019m done,\u201d said Hickory from the pilot\u2019s seat. \u201cProbably best I\u2019m not around if Crescent comes in this direction. You may not be their enemy anymore, but I doubt I can say the same.\u201d\n\n\u201cBest of luck to you. Hope there\u2019s better days ahead for you,\u201d Drahk said, then tipped his head in deference.\n\n\u201cWhat are you gonna do now?\u201d\n\nDrahk thought for a few moments.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d\n\nHickory smiled and opened the hatch. He paused and looked back, \u201cI\u2019ve got this thing in Banu space I\u2019ve got to take care of but, um, there\u2019s a lot of places to land between here and there. I can drop you somewhere if you want.\u201d\n\nDrahk looked up to him and nodded. \u201cYes.\u201d Hickory smiled back at him. Silently, they exited the utility vehicle and EVAed to his ship. While Hickory prepped Dolos for takeoff, Drahk made his way into the back. He laid on the bed and instantly fell asleep, unsure where he was going or where he\u2019d be when he awoke.\n\nFor the first time, he was okay with that.\n\nTHE END","de_DE":"Anmerkung des Verfassers: Instrument der Kapitulation (Vierter Teil) wurde urspr\u00fcnglich in Jump Point 4.8 ver\u00f6ffentlicht. Sie k\u00f6nnen Teil Eins hier, Teil Zwei hier und Teil Drei hier lesen.\n\"Konzentriert das Feuer; zu viele Sch\u00fcsse fehlen am Heck\", bellte Commander Wallace, als sie die Schlacht beobachten wollte. Hypnotische Wellen von Laserfeuer flogen zwischen den beiden Schiffen hindurch. F\u00fcr einen kurzen Moment verga\u00df sie den potenziellen Tod, den jeder Streifen darstellte, und verlor sich in ihrer seltsamen Sch\u00f6nheit.\n\nDas war's. Crescents Chance, den Angriff des tevarinschen Gro\u00dfkampfschiffs auf Crion zu verhindern. Die Tevs sa\u00dfen zwischen ihnen und einer Reihe von Anti-Schiff-Minen fest. Da ihr m\u00e4chtiger Phalanx-Schild jeweils nur eine Seite verteidigen konnte, wurde er zwischen ihrem Bug und dem Minenfeld eingesetzt und legte das Heck des Schiffes zum Angriff frei.\n\n\"Signaturenspitze . . . . Steuerbordseite, Hauptkanone\", rief Starman Daughtry.\n\nDurch die Warnung wurde Commander Wallace in die Realit\u00e4t zur\u00fcckgeholt. Sie \u00fcberpr\u00fcfte ihren Winkel und machte dann eine schnelle Berechnung. \"Noch 1.000 Meter vorw\u00e4rts, Gieren plus zehn einstellen. Volle Kraft, um die Schilde zu verbiegen.\"\n\nDas riesige Schiff taumelte vorw\u00e4rts und drehte sich, gerade als die Tevs ihren Schuss abgegeben hatten. Die Druckwelle segelte knapp an ihrer Steuerbordseite vorbei. Das Knistern der Schildenergie zeigte, wie nah das Sperrfeuer gewesen war.\n\nCoburn br\u00fcllte von seinem Terminal aus: \"Die Tev-Schilde haben wieder geschwungen. Wir haben einen Winkel an ihrem Steuerbord-Seitentriebwerk.\"\n\nCommander Wallace blickte auf den Hologlobus. Coburn hatte Recht.\n\n\"Bogenschilde auf 50% reduzieren und auf das Railgun umleiten. Ich will, dass der Steuerbord-Seitenstrahler nicht mehr vorhanden ist, klar?\"\n\n\"Railgun's up!\"\n\nCoburn blickte zu Commander Wallace. Sie w\u00fcrde ihm den hier \u00fcberlassen.\n\n\"Ruf es an.\"\n\nCoburn grinste. \"Feuer!\"\n\nWallace sah zu, wie der Railgun-Schuss durch den Raum segelte und die Schubd\u00fcse durchschlug. In dem klaffenden Loch explodierten mehrere innere Explosionen, bis das Ganze schlie\u00dflich in die Luft ging.\n\nDie Br\u00fccke explodierte in Jubel, als Wallace gegen das Gel\u00e4nder sank und erleichtert aufatmete. Die Tevs h\u00e4tten es ohne diese Schubd\u00fcse schwer, aus diesem Asteroideng\u00fcrtel heraus zu navigieren. Ganz zu schweigen von der Ausf\u00fchrung ihres beabsichtigten Angriffs auf Crion.\n\n\"Sie starten Schiffe, Sir!\", genannt Starman Tillman.\n\nTevarin-Kampfschiffe und Enterschiffe str\u00f6mten in den Weltraum und verstreuten sich dann. Einige wenige verschwanden auf der anderen Seite des Tevarin-Schiffes, um die Anti-Schiff-Minen zu entsch\u00e4rfen. In der Zwischenzeit nahm die Mehrheit der Schiffe die Crescent ins Visier.\n\n\"Coburn, sperren Sie uns ein. Wir k\u00f6nnen nicht zulassen...\"\n\nAber Coburn schnitt ihr den Weg ab. \"Bekam einen Bericht von Hernandez in Sektor sechs. Sie haben bereits einen Tev gefangen.\"\n\nDas muss unser Saboteur gewesen sein, dachte sie. Wer wei\u00df, wie viele bereits infiltriert sind.\n\n\"Versiegeln Sie alle Schotten und lassen Sie die Marines jeden Zentimeter dieses Schiffes durchsuchen, angefangen bei Sektoren, die wichtige Komponenten beherbergen oder mit der Br\u00fccke verbunden sind.\n\nPl\u00f6tzlich materialisierte sich der Phalanxschild zwischen Crescent und dem Tevarin-Schiff. Ihnen weiteren Schaden zuzuf\u00fcgen, wurde gerade viel schwieriger.\n\nDann schlug die Erkenntnis bei Commander Wallace ein. Der Ausfall des Tevarin-Schiffes k\u00f6nnte zwar bedeuten, dass Crion sicher war, aber er stellte auch sicher, dass die Tevs alles, was sie gegen Crescent hatten, zur Geltung bringen w\u00fcrden.\n\nAngesichts dessen, was dieser Grenzbewohner mit unserer Macht gemacht hat, und ihrer gesprengten Schubd\u00fcse wird keiner von uns dieses Gebiet in absehbarer Zeit verlassen, dachte sie. Zumindest nicht beide von uns.\n\n\"Paredes! Halten Sie sich verdammt noch mal zur\u00fcck.\"\n\nDrahk blieb reglos auf dem Boden liegen, als der Marine mit dem blauen Auge seinen Gewehrlauf auf Drahks Kopf richtete. Er hatte gerade gesehen, wie der Marine den anderen Menschen bewusstlos geschlagen hatte, und die Wut in seinem fleischigen Gesichtsausdruck zeigte, dass es nicht mehr lange dauern w\u00fcrde, bis er wieder zuschnappen w\u00fcrde. Obwohl es schien, dass ein anderer j\u00fcngerer Marine versuchte, ihm das auszureden.\n\nEin \u00e4lterer Marine dr\u00e4ngte sich an die Front: \"Paredes! Was zum Teufel machst du da?\"\n\nDer als Paredes bekannte senkte die Waffe langsam ab. Der \u00e4ltere Marine schaute \u00fcber den Tatort.\n\n\"Aufstehen, sofort!\", schrie der \u00e4ltere Marine, aber Drahk blieb auf dem Boden liegen. In der Kommandoausbildung lernten diejenigen, die menschlich sprechen, dies geheim zu halten. Das war vielleicht der einzige Vorteil, den er in dieser ganzen Situation hatte.\n\nEr sagte: \"Steh auf\", und Paredes rammte Drahk den Kolben seines Gewehrs in den R\u00fccken. \"Steh auf!\"\n\nParedes schlug ihn h\u00e4rter. Drahk entspannte sich langsam und stellte sicher, dass seine H\u00e4nde die ganze Zeit sichtbar waren. Paredes dr\u00fcckte ihn gegen die Flurwand.\n\nW\u00e4hrenddessen untersuchte der \u00e4ltere Marine den bewusstlosen Menschen. \"Hoffentlich war es das wert, Paredes. Jetzt muss ihn jemand zur\u00fcck in die Brigg tragen. Willst du raten, wer das sein wird?\"\n\nParedes \u00f6ffnete den Mund und dachte sich dann besser: \"Ja, Sir\".\n\n\"Los geht's. Wir haben schon genug Zeit verschwendet.\"\n\nParedes entfernte sich langsam von Drahk, warf seine Waffe hinter seinen R\u00fccken und hob den bewusstlosen Menschen hoch.\n\n\"Komm schon, beweg dich\", sagte der \u00e4ltere Marine.\n\nDrahk trat vor und fing sich dann selbst. Der \u00e4ltere Marine schaute ihn an - hat dieser Tev mich gerade verstanden?\n\nKlaxons brachen in den Hallen auf und ab.\n\n\"Wartet mal, Leute.\" Die Gruppe wandte sich dem \u00e4lteren Marine zu und \u00fcberpr\u00fcfte sein pers\u00f6nliches Datenger\u00e4t. \"\u00c4nderung der Pl\u00e4ne. Das Anti-Einstiegs-Protokoll ist in Kraft. Wir m\u00fcssen diesen Sektor sofort durchsuchen.\"\n\nDrahk war froh, dass das Visier seines Helms so dunkel war. Es half, sein L\u00e4cheln zu verbergen. Das musste bedeuten, dass die Krieger von Rijora kommen w\u00fcrden.\n\n\"Sir\", sagte Paredes, \"was zum Teufel sollen wir mit den beiden machen? Die Brigg ist nirgends in der N\u00e4he unseres Sektors.\"\n\nDer \u00e4ltere Marine schoss ihm einen Blick zu. \"Halt die Klappe und folge mir.\"\n\nEin Rumpeln r\u00fcttelte Hickory auf. Er erlangte mit dem Gesicht nach unten auf einem kalten Boden das Bewusstsein wieder, den Kopf pochend und voller Nebel. Er rollte sich auf den R\u00fccken und setzte sich dann auf, blinzelte schnell, um seine Augen scharf zu stellen.\n\nNun, eines war sicher, er war nicht in der Brigg. Durch Metallgitterwerk geriet der halb gef\u00fcllte Laderaum des Schiffes in den Fokus. Als er seine Umgebung scannte, zwang ihn die Intensit\u00e4t des Lichts dazu, die Augen wieder zu schlie\u00dfen.\n\nEin K\u00e4fig. Sie haben ihn in einen K\u00e4fig gesteckt.\n\nHickorys H\u00e4nde tasteten sanft die Seite seines Kopfes ab und zuckten zusammen, als er die Stelle fand, an der er geschlagen worden war. Sch\u00e4tze, es k\u00f6nnte schlimmer sein. Es war nichts gebrochen, und er erinnerte sich an alles, bis der Junge ihn am Kopf schlug.\n\nAls die Welle des Schmerzes vor\u00fcber war, entdeckte er durch das Gitterwerk zu seiner Linken eine seltsame Form.\n\nEs war der Tevarin, der ruhig sa\u00df. Der Helm auf seinem Scho\u00df. Die Augen geschlossen. Sie meditieren oder beten oder was auch immer sie tun.\n\nEr packte die T\u00fcr des Frachtk\u00e4figs und sch\u00fcttelte sie. Sie gab kaum nach. Die minimale Bewegung bedeutete, dass sie gut gebaut war und ein starkes Schloss hatte. Gl\u00fccklicherweise passte seine Hand zwischen die Lamellen im Gitterwerk. So griff er durch und f\u00fchlte die Vorderseite des Metallkastens, in dem das Schloss untergebracht war. Dann atmete er erleichtert auf. Da war ein Schl\u00fcsselloch.\n\nHickory zog seine Hand in den K\u00e4fig. Dann setzte er sich mit dem R\u00fccken zur T\u00fcr. Da sah er, wie der Tevarin ihn misstrauisch be\u00e4ugte. Hickory traute dem Tev auch nicht, wusste aber, dass er hilfreich sein konnte. Vor allem, da er menschlich sprach.\n\n\"Irgendwelche Wachen in der N\u00e4he gesehen?\"\n\nDer Tev sch\u00fcttelte den Kopf.\n\n\"Halt die Augen auf f\u00fcr mich.\" Er griff in den rechten \u00c4rmel seines Raumanzugs. \"Irgendeine Ahnung, warum sie uns hier hineingeworfen haben? Den Teil habe ich nicht verstanden.\"\n\nNach einigen Momenten der Stille beschloss der Tev zu antworten: \"Sie wurden in die Schlacht gerufen. Brig war zu weit weg.\"\n\nHickory zog das Multitool aus der versteckten Tasche in seinem \u00c4rmel und bl\u00e4tterte verschiedene Werkzeuge durch: \"Ich muss schon sagen. Ihr Akzent ist interessant.\"\n\n\"Nicht menschlich genug f\u00fcr Sie?\"\n\n\"Das habe ich nicht gemeint. Es ist nur, ich habe es nur an einer anderen Stelle geh\u00f6rt... Im Olymp. Verbringen Sie viel Zeit dort?\"\n\nDer Tevarin \u00f6ffnete die Augen und blickte Hickory einen Moment lang an, bevor er sich wieder der Meditation \"Meine Jugend\" zuwandte.\n\n\"Ich habe selbst ein paar Jahre dort gelebt, w\u00e4hrend ich, nun ja . . . es ist ein guter Ort, um unbemerkt zu bleiben.\n\n\"Ja.\"\n\nHickory hatte viele Tevs auf dem Olymp gesehen. Er hatte gesehen, wie schrecklich die meisten von ihnen behandelt wurden, aber auch, wie sie sich verhielten, als der Spie\u00df umgedreht wurde. Er fand die Harke an seinem Multi-Tool und schloss sie ein: \"Ich bin \u00fcbrigens Hickory\".\n\n\"Drahk.\"\n\nHickory schob vorsichtig seine Hand zwischen die Kettenglieder des K\u00e4figs. Dann winkelte er das Multitool zur\u00fcck zum Schl\u00fcsselloch. Pl\u00f6tzlich zitterte das Schiff. Das Multitool rutschte ihm aus der Hand. Ein metallischer Aufschlag vom Rumpf hallte \u00fcber die Ladebucht. Er blickte durch die Latten des K\u00e4figs, um zu sehen, wie er weit au\u00dfer Reichweite st\u00fcrzte.\n\nEine Reihe von Schimpfw\u00f6rtern str\u00f6mte aus seinem Mund. Hickory drehte sich um und sah, wie Drahk zu Boden fiel und mit seinen langen, schlanken Armen nach dem Multi-Tool griff. \"Du bist ein Lebensretter, Drahk.\"\n\nEr streckte seine Hand nur aus, um zu erkennen, dass Drahk sie nicht zur\u00fcckgeben w\u00fcrde. Stattdessen bl\u00e4tterte er durch die verschiedenen Werkzeuge. \"Bin ich das?\"\n\nHickory f\u00fchlte einen Klo\u00df in seiner Kehle. Er sah zu, wie Drahk zum Rechen zur\u00fcckkehrte und die Reihe von Beulen an seinem Ende untersuchte, dann schob er seinen Arm durch das Gitterwerk.\n\nWas hat er gemacht? Der Tevarin hatte offensichtlich noch nie zuvor eines dieser Schl\u00f6sser geknackt.\n\nDann begann er, sich Sorgen zu machen. Wie stark waren die Tevs? Was, wenn er das Werkzeug stark verbogen hat? Es w\u00fcrde jede Chance zerst\u00f6ren, dass einer von ihnen entkommen k\u00f6nnte. Hickory konnte es nicht mehr ertragen. \"Vorsicht, man kann es nicht erzwingen. Es ist ein Ber\u00fchrungsding; langsamer und gleichm\u00e4\u00dfiger.\"\n\nDrahk starrte Hickory an, w\u00e4hrend er weiter an der Schleuse arbeitete.\n\n\"Was? Ich versuche zu helfen. Sehen Sie, es ist nur . . . Ich muss hier raus. Ich kann so nicht sterben.\"\n\n\"Der Tod ist nicht zu f\u00fcrchten, er ist nur eine Wahrheit. Die Rijora hat mich heute viele Male aus ihren F\u00e4ngen geleitet. Jetzt hat sie mir das n\u00f6tige Werkzeug gebracht, damit ich fliehen und helfen kann, dieses Schiff zu zerst\u00f6ren.\n\nHickory war sich nicht sicher, welchen Gesichtsausdruck er hatte, aber Drahk las ihn ganz deutlich vor. \"Vielleicht w\u00fcrdest du es verstehen, wenn du an etwas anderes als dich selbst glauben w\u00fcrdest.\"\n\n\"Ihre Rijora hat Ihnen sehr viel Gutes getan. Damit haben Sie zwei Kriege verloren.\"\n\n\"Zwei Kriege?\"\n\nDrahk be\u00e4ugte ihn mit einer Mischung aus Interesse und Misstrauen. Hickory brauchte eine Sekunde, um das zu erkennen.\n\nStimmt, wie konnte er das wissen?\n\n\"Der Krieg . . . . er ist vorbei.\"\n\nDie Br\u00fccke schwankte leicht. Ein weiterer Schuss der Tevarin-Kanone hatte die Steuerbordseite der Crescent b\u00fcndig erwischt.\n\n\"Wie halten die Schilde?\", fragte Commander Wallace.\n\n\"Runter auf 43% effektiv.\"\n\n\"Wir brauchen diesen Akkuschacht wieder online.\"\n\nCoburn \u00fcberpr\u00fcfte seinen pers\u00f6nlichen Datenblock. \"Jeder in diesem Sektor, der es reparieren kann, repariert es. Die Marines sind immer noch dabei, ihre Suche abzuschlie\u00dfen. Bis wir sicher sind, dass keine anderen Tevs an Bord sind, w\u00e4re es riskant, die Schotten zu \u00f6ffnen, damit andere helfen k\u00f6nnen.\n\nCommander Wallace beriet sich vor ihr mit dem Terminal und verglich ihren akkumulierten Schaden mit dem der Tevs. \"Gut, aber sobald wir sicher sind, dass wir dort sofort Hilfe bekommen.\"\n\n\"\u00c4ndere deine Flugbahn, Ayers!\", br\u00fcllte Coburn.\n\n\"Du f\u00e4llst in ein Muster, das sogar ich knacken kann.\"\n\nDie Crescent musste sich ducken und dem Feuer des Tevarin-Schiffes ausweichen, w\u00e4hrend sie gleichzeitig versuchte, den Phalanx-Schild zu \u00fcberlisten, damit er selbst Schaden anrichten konnte. Ayers hatte bisher eine akzeptable Arbeit geleistet, indem er das Schiff wahllos bewegte, aber es war klar, dass er langsam m\u00fcde wurde. Den Daten zufolge fing die Crescent an, mehr Treffer einzustecken, als sie lieferte.\n\nPl\u00f6tzlich schrien die Alarme. Nein, das kann nicht sein . . .\n\n\"Wir haben einen Bruch! Mehrere Kontakte in Sektor 6 . . .\"\n\nCommander Wallace und Coburn schlossen die Augen. Soviel zur Wiederherstellung des dortigen Akkuschachts. Wallace brauchte keine Berechnungen anzustellen, um zu wissen, dass ihre \u00dcberlebenschancen gerade dramatisch gesunken waren.\n\nSie tat alles, was sie tun konnte, um diese wachsende Angst zu unterdr\u00fccken, bevor sie sprach: \"Ich m\u00f6chte, dass die K\u00e4mpfer und alle Gesch\u00fctzt\u00fcrme diesen Sektor vor weiteren Angreifern sch\u00fctzen. Wenn das ihr Standbein ist, will ich es abschneiden. Wir werden niemals \u00fcberleben, wenn sie dieses Schiff \u00fcberrennen.\"\n\nFrachtkisten klapperten um sie herum, ein Zeichen daf\u00fcr, dass sich der Kampf versch\u00e4rfte. Drahk hatte geschwiegen, seit der Mensch ihm sagte, der Krieg sei vorbei. Er konnte einfach das Gef\u00fchl nicht loswerden, dass es wahr war. Er konnte sich nicht an eine Zeit erinnern, in der sie so lange fort waren, ohne eine Nachricht von Corath'Thal erhalten zu haben.\n\nNat\u00fcrlich w\u00e4re er t\u00f6richt, dem Menschen einfach das Wort zu nehmen. Er blickte zu Hickory, der nerv\u00f6s mit den Fingern gegen den K\u00e4fig trommelte. Der Mensch schien bestenfalls unzuverl\u00e4ssig zu sein.\n\n\"Woher wollen Sie wissen, dass der Krieg vorbei ist?\"\n\n\"Ich fand das Instrument der Kapitulation bei der Bergung eines milit\u00e4rischen Wracks im System. Das Schiff muss durch einen Gewittersturm gebraten worden sein, bevor die Nachrichten gesendet wurden.\"\n\nDas Instrument der Kapitulation war der heilige Text von Rijoran, der zur Beendigung des Konflikts verwendet wurde. Dennoch bedeutete es nichts, ihn zu haben, wenn er nicht von ihrem heiligen F\u00fchrer unterzeichnet wurde. Also dr\u00e4ngte er immer wieder: \"Wirklich? Von wem autorisiert?\"\n\n\"Pakal'Dor\".\n\nEin Gef\u00fchl der Erleichterung \u00fcberkam Drahk: \"Was Sie gesehen haben, war eine F\u00e4lschung. Nur Corath'Thal kann das Instrument der Kapitulation f\u00fcr g\u00fcltig erkl\u00e4ren.\"\n\n\"Das w\u00e4re hart, denke ich.\" Hickory sagte, als er sich verlagerte und seinen R\u00fccken ausstreckte: \"Corath'Thal ist atomisiert. Angeblich plante er einen gro\u00dfen Angriff und wurde darauf eingestimmt. Anscheinend nahm er es nicht so gut auf, also f\u00fchrte er die wenigen \u00dcberlebenden zu Ihrer Heimatwelt und rammte ihre Schiffe in den Boden.\n\nHickory warf einen Blick auf Drahk, der v\u00f6llig unbeweglich war. Unergr\u00fcndlich auch.\n\n\"Also ich wei\u00df nicht, ich vermute, Pakal'Dor war der n\u00e4chste in der Kommandozeile? Das Tevarin-Milit\u00e4r ist eher Ihr Ding, also sagen Sie es mir.\"\n\nJetzt machte alles Sinn. Die Wahrheit starrte ihm ins Gesicht, aber er wollte sie nicht akzeptieren. Wenn sie wahr war, dann hatte Corath'Thal sich selbst und dem tevarinschen Volk immense Schande gebracht.\n\nDie Rijora verbietet strengstens den Selbstmord im Kampf. Sie verordnete - Ehrenhafte Kapitulation \u00fcber alles, wenn man mit dem R\u00fccken zur Wand steht.\n\nAls die Realit\u00e4t einsetzte, erkannte Drahk, dass es wichtiger denn je war, diesem K\u00e4fig zu entkommen. Nur er konnte seine Mitk\u00e4mpfer vor der Schande bewahren, f\u00fcr einen unehrenhaften F\u00fchrer zu k\u00e4mpfen.\n\n\"Haben Sie es? Das Instrument der Kapitulation.\"\n\n\"Auf meinem Schiff.\"\n\n\"Hier?\"\n\nHickory sch\u00fcttelte den Kopf und zeigte dann auf ein in seinen Anzug eingebautes Datenpad: \"Aber ich wei\u00df genau, wo es ist.\n\nDrahk hielt das Multi-Tool hoch, und Hickorys Augen wurden weit aufgerissen.\n\n\"Ich helfe Ihnen von diesem Schiff, wenn Sie mir das Instrument der Kapitulation besorgen.\"\n\nHickory nickte: \"Sicher.\"\n\nDrahk erweiterte das Multi-Tool. Hickory nahm es und machte sich an die Arbeit an der verschlossenen K\u00e4figt\u00fcr.\n\nWallace beobachtete, wie sich der Schild von Crescent kr\u00e4uselte, w\u00e4hrend er eine weitere Explosion absorbierte. Die Gesamteffizienz des Schildes nahm um weitere Prozent ab. Sie wusste, dass dieses Hin- und Herfeuer untragbar war. Sie w\u00fcrden verlieren.\n\nCoburn eilte auf ihre Seite, was kein gutes Zeichen war.\n\n\"Bericht aus Sektor 6. Hernandez verlor drei, wodurch er gezwungen war, sich in den Haupthangar zur\u00fcckzuziehen. Sein Team arbeitet mit der Flugbesatzung zusammen, um das Gebiet zu sichern, aber es ist nur eine Frage der Zeit, bis die Tevs versuchen, es zu durchbrechen.\n\nDas Terminal vor Commander Wallace piepte. Sie schaute nach unten und scannte die Ergebnisse. Zuvor war ihr etwas am Phalanxschild aufgefallen. Jedes Mal, wenn er eine Explosion absorbierte, reparierte ein Energiestrom vom Schiff rasch den Schaden und machte den Schild wieder voll funktionsf\u00e4hig. Also f\u00fcgte sie eine Reihe von Scans zusammen. Gemeinsam verfolgten sie diese Energiestr\u00f6me zu bestimmten Bereichen des Schiffes zur\u00fcck. Wenn sie diese Stellen angreifen w\u00fcrden, k\u00f6nnten sie vielleicht den Schild ausschalten.\n\n\"Commander, haben Sie geh\u00f6rt, was ich gesagt habe?\"\n\n\"Diese Punkte. Sehen Sie sie?\" Coburn nickte daraufhin. \"Von dort kommt die Energie f\u00fcr den Phalanx-Schild.\"\n\n\"Ankommend!\"\n\nWallace und Coburn blickten auf, um einen Schakal zu sehen, der im Beschuss die Br\u00fccke angreifen wollte. Kaum \u00fcber der Oberfl\u00e4che von Crescent feuerte er aus beiden L\u00e4ufen, w\u00e4hrend er seinen kleinen Phalanx-Schild gekonnt von einer Seite zur anderen schwang, um eingehende Angriffe abzuwehren.\n\n\"Feuer konzentrieren. Nehmen Sie das Ding raus, sofort!\", schrie Coburn.\n\nSch\u00fcsse des Schakals rissen das Schiff vor der Br\u00fccke in sich zusammen, nur damit es pl\u00f6tzlich und dramatisch ins Trudeln geriet. Ein Schuss hatte seinen Fl\u00fcgel gestreift. Der Schakal versuchte verzweifelt, auf Kurs zu bleiben, aber stattdessen schraubte sich der Korken nach unten und st\u00fcrzte kurz vor der Br\u00fccke in die Crescent.\n\nDie Explosion ersch\u00fctterte das Schiff. Eine Tr\u00fcmmerwolke st\u00fcrzte herab und versperrte der Br\u00fccke die Sicht auf die Schlacht. Coburn kam wieder auf die Beine: \"Wir m\u00fcssen etwas unternehmen, sonst halten wir nicht mehr lange durch\".\n\nKommandant Wallace nickte: \"Geben Sie Villar diese Koordinaten. Schalten wir den Schild aus.\"\n\n\"Haben wir es mit demselben Schild zu tun?\"\n\nWallace nickte. \"Ayers, wenden Sie sich an die Position 273. Schilde nach vorne umleiten . . .\"\n\nAlle auf der Br\u00fccke hielten inne. Einige wenige tauschten verbl\u00fcffte Blicke aus.\n\n\"Best\u00e4tigen . . . . 2-7-3, Sir?\" sagte Ayers, seine Stimme schwankte.\n\n\"Das geht genau darauf zu\", sagte Coburn. Wallace wandte sich erwartungsvoll an ihn. Schlie\u00dflich rief er ein \"Sir\" auf.\n\n\"Best\u00e4tigen.\" sagte Wallace laut, w\u00e4hrend er auf Coburn hinunterblickte. \"Wie Sie sagten, wir m\u00fcssen etwas tun.\"\n\n\"Uns umzubringen war nicht das, was ich im Sinn hatte.\"\n\n\"Wir dringen durch den Schild, treffen diese Punkte, und vielleicht k\u00f6nnen wir anfangen, echten Schaden anzurichten\".\n\n\"Es sei denn, sie zerkauen uns vorher.\"\n\n\"Nun, stellen Sie sicher, dass das nicht passiert.\" Wallace sah sich um.\n\nAlle waren noch eingefroren.\n\n\"Ihr habt Befehle, Leute. Handelt danach\", schrie sie. Coburn riss sich los und ging zur\u00fcck zu seinem Terminal.\n\n\"Villar, ich brauche alle Waffen, um diese aktualisierte Ziell\u00f6sung auf mein Kommando schussbereit zu haben.\"\n\nDrahk hat es geschafft, auf den Beinen zu bleiben. Hickory hatte nicht so viel Gl\u00fcck. Augenblicke zuvor hatte eine gewaltige Explosion das Schiff geschaukelt und ihn von der Wand auf den Boden geschleudert. Zum Gl\u00fcck hatte der Mensch im Frachtraum einen Helm gefunden, der den Schlag abfedern half.\n\nEr eilte herbei und half Hickory auf die Beine. Gemeinsam machten sie sich auf den Weg zu ihrer einzigen Hoffnung - dem Hangar. Auch wenn es dort von Personal wimmeln w\u00fcrde, war es ihre einzige Chance, dieses Schiff zu verlassen. W\u00e4hrend sie sich bewegten, fummelte Hickory weiter an den Einstellungen am Helm herum.\n\n\"Nach rechts\", rief Hickory.\n\nDrahk kam um die Ecke und wurde langsamer. Am Ende der Halle befand sich eine Schottt\u00fcr mit den Narben eines Bruchs. Die beiden n\u00e4herten sich langsam dem klaffenden Loch in der T\u00fcr. Schreie und Streuwaffenfeuer hallten von innen wider.\n\n\"Meine Leute sind in den Hangar eingedrungen.\"\n\nEr schlich sich an das Loch heran und scannte den Hangar. Menschliche und Tevarin-Leichen lagen auf dem Boden und hinterlie\u00dfen eine Spur von Leichen, die die Geschichte der Schlacht erz\u00e4hlen. Eine Reihe von behelfsm\u00e4\u00dfigen Barrikaden war errichtet worden, die jedoch \u00fcberrannt wurden. Die wenigen menschlichen \u00dcberlebenden hatten sich entweder allein oder in kleinen Gruppen zusammengekauert und feuerten verzweifelt auf alles, was sich bewegte. Drahk beobachtete, wie Tevarin-Krieger zwischen den Verstecken hin- und herliefen und daran arbeiteten, die verbliebenen Widerstandsnester zu flankieren.\n\n\"Irgendwelche Schiffe?\"\n\n\"Eins, auf der anderen Seite. So einen habe ich noch nie gesehen.\"\n\nHickory sp\u00e4hte in den Hangar. \"Verdammt. Das ist nur ein Nutzfahrzeug.\"\n\n\"K\u00f6nnen Sie es fliegen?\"\n\n\"Nat\u00fcrlich. Das ist nicht das Problem.\"\n\n\"Was ist?\"\n\n\"Es ist unbewaffnet. Die Schilde sind bestenfalls minimal.\"\n\n\"Ja?\"\n\n\"Sie wissen, dass drau\u00dfen gek\u00e4mpft wird.\" Hickory blickte nerv\u00f6s zu Drahk: \"Wie machen wir das?\n\n\"So schnell wie m\u00f6glich. Bleiben Sie unten und folgen Sie mir.\"\n\nDrahk trat durch die Bresche und eilte dann zu einer behelfsm\u00e4\u00dfigen Barrikade, die hastig aufgebaut wurde, um die T\u00fcr zu bewachen. Augenblicke sp\u00e4ter gesellte sich Hickory zu ihm.\n\nDas Schiff sa\u00df direkt gegen\u00fcber dem Hangar, aber dazwischen lag ein weites, offenes Gebiet. Sie konnten ihn nicht \u00fcberqueren, ohne bemerkt zu werden.\n\nPl\u00f6tzlich erf\u00fcllte ein schriller Schrei den Hangar. Ein Tevarin-Krieger st\u00fcrmte eine Barrikade und entzog dem Menschen hinter der Barrikade das Feuer. W\u00e4hrenddessen schlich sich ein weiterer Tevarin von der anderen Seite herauf. Der Mensch erkannte pl\u00f6tzlich seinen Fehler und schwang seine Waffe herum, aber es war zu sp\u00e4t. Der Tevarin-Krieger schnappte sich seine eigene Waffe und durchbohrte ihn mit einem Schuss.\n\n\"Bewegung. Jetzt\", sagte Drahk. Er machte sich auf den Weg zu der Barrikade, die dem Schiff am n\u00e4chsten lag. Es fielen Sch\u00fcsse in seine Richtung. Als die Barrikade n\u00e4her kam, rutschte er \u00fcber den Boden, bis er hinter der Deckung war, sein Herz klopfte und er war \u00fcbergl\u00fccklich.\n\nEr drehte sich um, um zu sehen, wie Hickory auf ihn zuraste, aber der Mensch k\u00fcmmerte sich nicht einmal um die Barrikade, sondern rannte stattdessen direkt auf das Schiff zu. Hickory sprang hinein und begann mit der Einweihungssequenz. Das Schiff erwachte zum Leben und zog die Aufmerksamkeit aller auf sich.\n\nDrahk lief nach hinten, \u00f6ffnete den Frachtraum und kletterte hinein. Er drehte sich um und sah, wie ein Tevarin-Krieger mit erhobener Waffe die Rampe hinaufst\u00fcrmte. Als er sah, dass Drahk ein Tevarin war, blieb er stehen und starrte neugierig. Pl\u00f6tzlich schaukelte das Schiff vorw\u00e4rts, so dass der Krieger herunterfiel. Drahk dr\u00fcckte den Knopf und sah zu, wie sich die Frachtt\u00fcr schloss.\n\n\"Lasst uns von hier verschwinden\", rief er Hickory zu.\n\n\"Jetzt kommt der leichte Teil.\" Damit beschleunigte Hickory das Schiff aus dem Hangar heraus. Sie durchbrachen den Luftschild und gerieten in einen Sog des Kampfes. Dicke Felder mit verstreuten Tr\u00fcmmern von toten Schiffen nahmen den Raum zwischen den massiven Gro\u00dfkampfschiffen ein.\n\nK\u00e4mpfer, sowohl Menschen als auch Tevarin, zogen durch den Weltraum, jagten Zielschl\u00f6ssern hinterher und verspr\u00fchten Waffenfeuer. Es war ein reines Inferno.\n\nHickory wich so gut er konnte durch das Netz der kreuz und quer laufenden Waffenfeuer aus. Als es ihm gelang, sich aus den intensiven K\u00e4mpfen zu befreien, bekam Drahk zum ersten Mal einen guten Blick auf das Schlachtfeld. Crescent sah aus, als wolle er die Tevarins rammen. Nach den j\u00fcngsten Ereignissen scheint es die Strategie der Wahl gewesen zu sein, Ihr Schiff zu rammen, anstatt zu fliehen.\n\nMinuten sp\u00e4ter hatte Hickory immer noch das Gef\u00fchl, sein Herz w\u00fcrde aus seiner Brust schlagen. Irgendwie hatte er \u00fcberlebt, als er das Schiff durch das Chaos des totalen Krieges steuerte. Die Gelassenheit des offenen Raums war ein seltsamer Kontrapunkt zu dem, was sie gerade erlebt hatten.\n\n\"Wie weit noch?\", fragte Drahk vom Frachtraum aus.\n\n\"Fast da\", antwortete Hickory, w\u00e4hrend er seine Augen auf dem Scanner behielt.\n\nDrahk war zunehmend nerv\u00f6ser geworden, je mehr Abstand sie zwischen sich und den Asteroideng\u00fcrtel legten. Er dr\u00e4ngte Hickory, schneller zu fliegen. Obwohl dieses Schiff f\u00fcr viele Dinge gebaut wurde, geh\u00f6rte Geschwindigkeit nicht dazu.\n\nEin subtiler Piepton kam von Hickorys Anzug. Sie standen sich nahe. Als er die Reichweite der Scans des Schiffes vergr\u00f6\u00dferte, traf ein Blip auf den Radar.\n\nAugenblicke sp\u00e4ter kam sein Schiff Dolos in Sicht. Ein Teil von ihm hatte geglaubt, er w\u00fcrde sie nie wieder sehen. Hickory stoppte das Schiff und wandte sich dann an Drahk. \"Also, wie wird das funktionieren?\"\n\n\"Wenn das Instrument authentisch ist, wird es eine Reihe von Codes enthalten, die meine Leute zur \u00dcberpr\u00fcfung verwenden k\u00f6nnen.\n\n\"In Ordnung. Ich k\u00fcmmere mich darum\", schlug Hickory Drahk auf dem Weg zur Luke auf die Schulter. \"Viel Gl\u00fcck und danke f\u00fcr Ihre Hilfe.\"\n\n\"Ich komme mit dir.\"\n\n\"Nichts Pers\u00f6nliches, aber ich lasse niemanden sonst auf mein Schiff.\"\n\n\"Verzeihen Sie mir, wenn ich Sie nicht beim Wort nehme. Mein Volk, und auch Ihres, wird weiter sterben, bis es die Wahrheit erf\u00e4hrt. Ich bin verpflichtet, daf\u00fcr zu sorgen, dass die Botschaft verbreitet wird.\"\n\nEinige Sekunden lang herrschte Schweigen zwischen ihnen. Hickory konnte sich nicht daran erinnern, wann das letzte Mal jemand anderes als er an Bord seines Schiffes war.\n\n\"Wir k\u00f6nnen dar\u00fcber streiten, wenn Sie wollen.\"\n\n\"Gut, gut. Dann lass uns gehen.\"\n\nDie beiden kletterten aus dem Schiff und begaben sich nach Dolos. Hoffentlich kam die \u00dcbertragung nicht zu sp\u00e4t.\n\nCommander Wallace beobachtete, wie der Bogen von Crescent durch den Phalanxschild ging. Er wurde sofort von einem Sperrfeuer von Sch\u00fcssen des Tevarin getroffen. Nachdem die erste Welle vor\u00fcbergezogen war, rief Coburn: \"Waffen! Feuer!\", rief Coburn.\n\nCrescent antwortete mit einer eigenen Salve. Die massiven Sch\u00fcsse schlugen in den Rumpf des Tevarin-Schiffes ein. Wallace beobachtete das Terminal vor ihr.\n\n\"Die Phalanx ist um zehn, nein um zwanzig Prozent gesunken. Es hat funktioniert\", rief Daughtry von der Scan-Station.\n\n\"Energie zur\u00fcck auf die Schilde\", befahl Coburn. \"Besorgen Sie uns einen Winkel zur n\u00e4chsten Stelle, und zwar schnell, Ayers.\"\n\nCoburn blickte zu Commander Wallace. Das Feuer in seinen Augen sagte alles: Das k\u00f6nnte funktionieren.\n\nEin Gegenangriff der Tevarins lie\u00df die Schilde wild aufflackern. Einige Sch\u00fcsse durchbohrten und entl\u00fcfteten Teile des massiven Gro\u00dfkampfschiffs, aber Crescent hielt stand.\n\n\"Gesch\u00fctze bereit in zehn Minuten!\"\n\n\"Ich warte auf Sie!\" schrie Wallace.\n\nPl\u00f6tzlich verschwand der Phalanxschild vollst\u00e4ndig. Ein Jubel ging um die Br\u00fccke herum auf. Wallace studierte ihren Bildschirm. Irgendetwas stimmte hier nicht.\n\n\"Lasst uns aus der Reichweite dieser Nahkampfkanonen zur\u00fcckweichen\", befahl Coburn. \"Dann h\u00e4mmern Sie auf sie ein, bis nichts mehr \u00fcbrig ist.\"\n\n\"Wir haben eine Nachricht \u00fcber den Notfallkanal erhalten\", rief Darsha aus der Kommandozentrale. Kommandant Wallace blickte zu ihrem Terminal hinunter, um die eingehende Nachricht zu lesen.\n\n\"Wir sind in Position, Sir!\"\n\n\"Bereitet das Railgun vor und -\"\n\n\"Nicht schie\u00dfen!\"\n\n\"Kommandant!\" Coburn rief an. \"Jetzt ist unsere Chance, das zu beenden.\"\n\n\"Sie haben gerade ihre Kapitulation bekannt gegeben. Sie lie\u00dfen den Phalanxschild fallen, um zu zeigen, dass sie es ernst meinen. Warten Sie. . . . sie sagen auch, dass der Krieg vorbei ist.\"\n\n\"Was? Sie wissen es und wir irgendwie nicht? Das ist eine L\u00fcge. Man kann diesen Tevs nicht trauen.\"\n\n\"Achten Sie auf Ihren Ton, XO.\"\n\n\"\u00dcberpr\u00fcfen Sie die Scans. Ich wette, w\u00e4hrend wir hier sprechen, schleichen sich immer mehr Prowler zu dieser Bresche\", schrie Coburn und wurde von Sekunde zu Sekunde manischer. \"Wir m\u00fcssen sie jetzt erledigen, solange wir noch die Chance dazu haben. Villar, feuern Sie das verdammte Railgun ab!\"\n\nVillar hat ausnahmsweise einmal nicht auf Coburns Befehl reagiert. Sie schaute Wallace an.\n\n\"Wie lautet Ihr Befehl, Sir?\"\n\nWallace sah sich auf der Br\u00fccke um. Sie blickten zum ersten Mal zu ihr, nicht zu Coburn.\n\n\"Halten Sie sich zur\u00fcck. Kan\u00e4le \u00f6ffnen.\" Wallace wandte sich an Coburn, der immer noch vor Wut zitterte. \"Werden wir ein Problem haben, XO?\"\n\nCoburn hielt den Blick von Wallace fest. Es sah aus, als ob das, was ihn ergriff, verblasste. \"Nein, Sir.\"\n\n\"Gut\", trat Wallace zum Hologlobus hin\u00fcber. \"Jetzt wollen wir mal sehen, was sie zu sagen haben.\"\n\nDrahk h\u00f6rte sich die Milit\u00e4rsendung der UEE aus dem Nutzfahrzeug an, w\u00e4hrend Hickory damit sein Schiff reparierte. Die Nachricht kam gerade noch rechtzeitig an. Das Tevarin-Schiff wurde gerettet. Es hatte schwere Sch\u00e4den erlitten, aber ein guter Teil der Besatzung war noch am Leben.\n\nDie Crew der Crescent wusste nicht, was sie mit all den \u00dcberlebenden machen sollte. Das Tevarin-Schiff war zu lahmgelegt, um aus dem Asteroideng\u00fcrtel herauszukommen. Dann h\u00f6rten sie den Ruf nach den Transporten f\u00fcr die Behandlung der \u00dcberlebenden.\n\n\"Sieht aus, als w\u00e4re ich fertig\", sagte Hickory vom Pilotensitz aus. \"Wahrscheinlich ist es das Beste, wenn Crescent nicht in der N\u00e4he ist, wenn er in diese Richtung kommt. Sie sind vielleicht nicht mehr ihr Feind, aber ich bezweifle, dass ich dasselbe sagen kann.\"\n\n\"Ich w\u00fcnsche Ihnen viel Gl\u00fcck. Ich hoffe, dass Ihnen noch bessere Tage bevorstehen\", sagte Drahk und neigte dann respektvoll den Kopf.\n\n\"Was werden Sie jetzt tun?\"\n\nDrahk dachte einige Augenblicke lang nach.\n\n\"Ich wei\u00df es nicht.\"\n\nHickory l\u00e4chelte und \u00f6ffnete die Luke. Er hielt inne und blickte zur\u00fcck: \"Ich habe dieses Ding im Raum Banu, um das ich mich k\u00fcmmern muss, aber, \u00e4hm, es gibt viele Orte, um zwischen hier und dort zu landen. Ich kann Sie irgendwo absetzen, wenn Sie wollen.\"\n\nDrahk schaute zu ihm auf und nickte. \"Ja.\" Hickory l\u00e4chelte ihn an. Schweigend verlie\u00dfen sie das Nutzfahrzeug und begaben sich per EVA auf sein Schiff. W\u00e4hrend Hickory Dolos zum Start vorbereitete, machte sich Drahk auf den Weg nach hinten. Er legte sich auf das Bett und schlief sofort ein, unsicher, wohin er gehen w\u00fcrde oder wo er sein w\u00fcrde, wenn er aufwachte.\n\nZum ersten Mal war er damit einverstanden.\n\nDAS ENDE","zh_CN":"Writer\u2019s Note: Instrument of Surrender (Part Four) was published originally in Jump Point 4.8. You can read Part One here, Part Two here, and Part Three here.\n\u201cConcentrate fire; too many shots are missing the stern,\u201d Commander Wallace barked as she looked out to survey the battle. Hypnotic waves of laser fire flew between the two ships. For a brief moment, she forgot about the potential death that each streak represented and got lost in its strange beauty.\n\nThis was it. Crescent\u2019s chance to stop the Tevarin capital ship from attacking Crion. The Tevs were trapped between them and a swathe of anti-ship mines. Since its powerful phalanx shield could only defend one side at a time, it was deployed between their bow and the minefield, exposing the ship\u2019s stern for attack.\n\n\u201cSignature spike . . . starboard side, main cannon,\u201d cried Starman Daughtry.\n\nThe warning returned Commander Wallace to reality. She checked their angle then made a quick calculation. \u201cForward another 1,000 meters, adjusting yaw plus ten. Full strength to bow shields.\u201d\n\nThe massive ship lurched forward and turned just as the Tevs took their shot. The blast sailed narrowly passed their starboard side. The crackle of shield energy showed just how close the barrage had been.\n\nCoburn bellowed from his terminal, \u201cTev shields have swung again. We\u2019ve got an angle on their starboard side thruster.\u201d\n\nCommander Wallace looked to the hologlobe. Coburn was right.\n\n\u201cReduce bow shields to 50% and divert to the railgun. I want that starboard side thruster nonexistent, clear?\u201d\n\n\u201cRailgun\u2019s up!\u201d\n\nCoburn looked to Commander Wallace. She\u2019d let him have this one.\n\n\u201cCall it.\u201d\n\nCoburn grinned. \u201cFire!\u201d\n\nWallace watched the railgun shot sail through space and punch through the thruster. Multiple internal explosions detonated inside the gaping hole until the whole thing finally went up.\n\nThe bridge exploded into cheers as Wallace sank against the railing, breathing a sigh of relief. The Tevs would have a tough time navigating out of this asteroid belt without that thruster. Let alone executing their intended attack on Crion.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019re launching ships, sir!\u201d called Starman Tillman.\n\nTevarin fighters and boarding vessels poured into space and then scattered. A few disappeared on the far side of the Tevarin ship to disarm the anti-ship mines. Meanwhile, the majority of the ships set their sights on Crescent.\n\n\u201cCoburn, lock us down. We can\u2019t let any \u2014\u201d\n\nBut Coburn cut her off. \u201cGot a report from Hernandez in sector six. They already caught a Tev.\u201d\n\nThat must have been our saboteur, she thought. Who knows how many have already infiltrated.\n\n\u201cSeal all bulkheads and get Marines to search every inch of this ship, starting with sectors housing major components or connected to the bridge.\u201d\n\nSuddenly, the phalanx shield materialized between Crescent and the Tevarin ship. Doing further damage to them just got a lot more difficult.\n\nThen the realization struck Commander Wallace. While crippling the Tevarin ship might mean Crion was safe, it also ensured the Tevs would bring to bear everything they had against Crescent.\n\nBetween what that boarder did to our power and their blown thruster, neither of us are leaving this area anytime soon, she thought. At least not both of us.\n\n\u201cParedes! Stand the hell down.\u201d\n\nDrahk remained motionless on the floor as the Marine with the black eye trained his gun barrel at Drahk\u2019s head. He had just seen the Marine knock the other Human unconscious and the anger in his fleshy expression showed that it wouldn\u2019t take much for him to snap again. Although it seemed another younger Marine was trying to talk him down.\n\nAn older Marine pushed his way to the front, \u201cParedes! What the hell you doing?\u201d\n\nThe one known as Paredes slowly lowered the weapon. The older Marine looked over the scene.\n\n\u201cOn your feet, now!\u201d the older Marine yelled, but Drahk stayed on the floor. Command training taught those whose spoke Human to keep it a secret. It might be the only advantage he had in this entire situation.\n\n\u201cHe said get up,\u201d Paredes jammed the butt of his rifle into Drahk\u2019s back. \u201cGet up!\u201d\n\nParedes hit him harder. Drahk slowly eased himself up, making sure his hands were visible the entire time. Paredes pushed him against the corridor wall.\n\nMeanwhile, the older Marine checked the unconscious Human. \u201cHope it was worth it, Paredes. Now someone\u2019s gotta carry him back to the brig. Wanna guess who that\u2019s gonna be?\u201d\n\nParedes opened his mouth, then thought better of it, \u201cYes, sir.\u201d\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s go. We\u2019ve already wasted enough time.\u201d\n\nParedes slowly stepped away from Drahk, slung his gun behind his back and lifted the unconscious Human.\n\n\u201cCome on, move,\u201d said the older Marine.\n\nDrahk stepped forward then caught himself. The older Marine eyed him \u2014 did this Tev just understand me?\n\nKlaxons erupted up and down the halls.\n\n\u201cHold up, people.\u201d The group turned towards the older Marine, checking his personal data device. \u201cChange of plans. Anti-boarding protocol is in effect. We need to sweep this sector immediately.\u201d\n\nDrahk was glad his helmet\u2019s visor was so dark. It helped hide his smile. This had to mean the warriors of Rijora were coming.\n\n\u201cSir,\u201d said Paredes, \u201cthe hell we supposed to do with these two? The brig\u2019s nowhere near our sector.\u201d\n\nThe older Marine shot him a look. \u201cShut up and follow me.\u201d\n\nA rumbling roused Hickory. He regained consciousness face down on a cold floor, his head throbbing and full of fog. He rolled onto his back and then sat up, blinking rapidly to bring his eyes into focus.\n\nWell, one thing was certain, he wasn\u2019t in the brig. Through metal latticework, the ship\u2019s half-filled cargo bay came into focus. As he scanned his surroundings, the intensity of the light forced him to close his eyes again.\n\nA cage. They put him in a cage.\n\nHickory\u2019s hands gently probed the side of his head, wincing when he found the spot where he\u2019d been struck. Guess it could be worse. Nothing was broken, and he remembered everything up until the kid cracked him across the head.\n\nOnce the wave of pain passed, he spotted a strange form through the latticework on his left.\n\nIt was the Tevarin, sitting serenely. Helmet in its lap. Eyes closed. Meditating or praying or whatever it is they do.\n\nHe grabbed the cargo cage door and shook it. It barely gave. Minimal movement meant it was well built with a strong lock. Luckily, his hand could fit between the slats in the latticework. So he reached through and felt the front of the metal case housing the lock. Then breathed a sigh of relief. There was a keyhole.\n\nHickory pulled his hand inside the cage. Then sat with his back to the door. That\u2019s when he saw the Tevarin eyeing him suspiciously. Hickory didn\u2019t trust the Tev either, but knew he could be helpful. Especially since he spoke Human.\n\n\u201cSeen any guards around?\u201d\n\nThe Tev shook his head.\n\n\u201cKeep an eye out for me.\u201d He reached into the right sleeve of his spacesuit. \u201cAny idea why they threw us in here? I missed that part.\u201d\n\nAfter a few moments of silence, the Tev decided to respond, \u201cThey were called into battle. Brig was too far away.\u201d\n\nHickory pulled the multi-tool from the hidden pocket in his sleeve and thumbed through various tools, \u201cGotta say. Your accent\u2019s interesting.\u201d\n\n\u201cNot Human enough for you?\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s not what I meant. It\u2019s just, I\u2019ve only heard it one other place . . . Olympus. You spend much time there?\u201d\n\nThe Tevarin opened his eyes and looked at Hickory for a moment before going back to meditating, \u201cMy youth.\u201d\n\n\u201cLived there myself for a few years while I was, well . . . it\u2019s a good place to go unnoticed.\u201d\n\n\u201cYes.\u201d\n\nHickory had seen plenty of Tevs on Olympus. He\u2019d seen how horribly most of them were treated, but also how they acted when the tables were turned. He found the rake on his multi-tool and locked it into place, \u201cI\u2019m Hickory, by the way.\u201d\n\n\u201cDrahk.\u201d\n\nHickory carefully slid his hand between the cage\u2019s chainlink. Then angled the multi-tool back towards the keyhole. Suddenly, the ship shook. The multi-tool slipped from his hand. A metallic thud from the hull echoed across the cargo bay. He glanced through the cage\u2019s slats to see it tumble well out of reach.\n\nA string of expletives poured from his mouth. Hickory turned to see Drahk drop to the floor and use his long, lean arms to grab the multi-tool. \u201cYou\u2019re a lifesaver, Drahk.\u201d\n\nHe extended his hand only to realize Drahk wasn\u2019t giving it back. Instead, he flipped through the various tools. \u201cAm I?\u201d\n\nHickory felt a lump in his throat. He watched as Drahk returned to the rake and examined the series of bumps on its end, then slipped his arm through the latticework.\n\nWhat was he doing? The Tevarin had obviously never picked one of these locks before.\n\nThen he began to worry. How strong were Tevs? What if he severely bent the tool? It would destroy any chance of either of them escaping. Hickory couldn\u2019t take it anymore. \u201cCareful, you can\u2019t force it. It\u2019s a touch thing; more slow and steady.\u201d\n\nDrahk glared at Hickory while continuing to work the lock.\n\n\u201cWhat? I\u2019m trying to help. See, it\u2019s just . . . I need to get out of here. I can\u2019t die like this.\u201d\n\n\u201cDeath is not to be feared; it is but a truth. The Rijora has guided me from its grasps many times today. Now it\u2019s brought me the tool needed, so I can escape and help destroy this ship.\u201d\n\nHickory wasn\u2019t sure what expression was on his face, but Drahk read it plain as day. \u201cMaybe you\u2019d understand if you had faith in anything but yourself.\u201d\n\n\u201cFat lot of good your Rijora\u2019s done for you. Put you on the losing end of two wars.\u201d\n\n\u201cTwo wars?\u201d\n\nDrahk eyed him with a mix of interest and suspicion. It took Hickory a second to realize.\n\nThat\u2019s right, how could he know?\n\n\u201cThe war . . . it\u2019s over.\u201d\n\nThe bridge swayed slightly. Another blast from the Tevarin cannon had caught Crescent\u2019s starboard side flush.\n\n\u201cHow are the shields holding up?\u201d asked Commander Wallace.\n\n\u201cDown to 43% effective.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe need that battery bay back online.\u201d\n\nCoburn checked his personal data pad. \u201cEverybody in that sector who can fix it is fixing it. Marines are still completing their searches. Until we\u2019re certain no other Tevs are on board, it\u2019d be risky to open bulkheads so others could help.\u201d\n\nCommander Wallace consulted the terminal before her, comparing their accumulated damage to the Tevs. \u201cFine, but the second we\u2019re clear get some help there immediately.\u201d\n\n\u201cSwitch up your flight path, Ayers!\u201d bellowed Coburn.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re falling into a pattern even I can crack.\u201d\n\nCrescent had to duck and dodge fire from the Tevarin ship, while also trying to outmaneuver the phalanx shield so it could deliver damage of its own. Ayers had done an acceptable job of randomly moving the ship so far, but it was clear he was growing weary. According to the data, Crescent was starting to take more hits than it delivered.\n\nSuddenly, alarms screamed. No, it couldn\u2019t be . . .\n\n\u201cGot a breach! Multiple contacts in Sector Six . . .\u201d\n\nCommander Wallace and Coburn locked eyes. So much for restoring the battery bay there. Wallace didn\u2019t need to do any calculations to know their chances of surviving had just dropped dramatically.\n\nShe did everything she could do suppress that growing fear before speaking, \u201cI want fighters and any turrets to protect that sector from more boarders. If that\u2019s their foothold, I want to cut it off. We\u2019ll never survive if they overrun this ship.\u201d\n\nCargo crates rattled around them, a sign the battle was intensifying. Drahk had been silent since the Human told him the war was over. He just couldn\u2019t shake the feeling that it was true. He couldn\u2019t remember a time where they\u2019d gone so long without receiving a transmission from Corath\u2019Thal.\n\nOf course, he would be foolish to just take the Human\u2019s word. He looked to Hickory, who was nervously drumming his fingers against the cage. The human seemed unreliable at best.\n\n\u201cHow would you know the war is over?\u201d\n\n\u201cI found the Instrument of Surrender while salvaging a military wreck in system. Ship must\u2019ve gotten fried by an electrical storm before broadcasting the news.\u201d\n\nThe Instrument of Surrender was the sacred Rijoran text used to end conflict. Still, having it meant nothing unless signed by their holy leader. So he kept pressing, \u201cReally? Authorized by who?\u201d\n\n\u201cPakal\u2019Dor.\u201d\n\nA sense of relief swept through Drahk, \u201cWhat you saw was a fake. Only Corath\u2019Thal can validate the Instrument of Surrender.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019d be tough, I think.\u201d Hickory said as he shifted and stretched out his back, \u201cCorath\u2019Thal\u2019s atomized. Supposedly, he planned some big attack and got tuned up. Apparently he didn\u2019t take it so well, so he led the few survivors to your homeworld and rammed their ships into the ground.\u201d\n\nHickory glanced at Drahk, who was completely immobile. Inscrutable too.\n\n\u201cSo I don\u2019t know, I guess Pakal\u2019Dor was next in line for command? Tevarin military\u2019s more your thing, so you tell me.\u201d\n\nIt all made sense now. The truth was staring him in the face, but he didn\u2019t want to accept it. If true, Corath\u2019Thal had brought immense dishonor to himself and the Tevarin people.\n\nThe Rijora strictly forbids suicide in battle. It decreed \u2014 Honorable surrender, over all, when one\u2019s back is against the wall.\n\nAs the reality set in, Drahk realized it was more important than ever to escape this cage. Only he could save his fellow fighters from the disgrace of fighting for a dishonorable leader.\n\n\u201cDo you have it? The Instrument of Surrender.\u201d\n\n\u201cOn my ship.\u201d\n\n\u201cHere?\u201d\n\nHickory shook his head then pointed to a data pad build into his suit, \u201cBut I know exactly where it is.\u201d\n\nDrahk held up the multi-tool and Hickory\u2019s eyes went wide.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll help you off this ship, if you get me that Instrument of Surrender.\u201d\n\nHickory nodded, \u201cSure.\u201d\n\nDrahk extended the multi-tool. Hickory took it and went to work on the locked cage door.\n\nWallace watched Crescent\u2019s shield ripple as it absorbed another blast. The shield\u2019s overall efficiency ticked down another percent. She knew this firing back and forth was unsustainable. They were going to lose.\n\nCoburn hurried to her side, which wasn\u2019t a good sign.\n\n\u201cReport from Sector Six. Hernandez lost three, forcing him to fall back to the main hangar. His team\u2019s working with the flight crew to secure the area, but it\u2019s only a matter of time before the Tevs attempt to breach it.\u201d\n\nThe terminal before Commander Wallace beeped. She looked down and scanned the results. Earlier, she had noticed something about the phalanx shield. Every time it absorbed a blast, a stream of energy from the ship swiftly repaired the damage and returned the shield to full health. So she stitched together a series of scans. Together they traced those energy streams back to specific areas of the ship. Maybe if they attacked those locations, they could take down the shield.\n\n\u201cCommander, did you hear what I said?\u201d\n\n\u201cThese points. You see them?\u201d Coburn nodded in response. \u201cThat\u2019s where the power to the phalanx shield is coming from.\u201d\n\n\u201cIncoming!\u201d\n\nWallace and Coburn looked up to see a Jackal on a strafing run to attack the bridge. Barely above Crescent\u2019s surface, it fired from both barrels while expertly swinging its small phalanx shield from side to side to deflect incoming attacks.\n\n\u201cFocus fire. Take that thing out, now!\u201d cried Coburn.\n\nShots from the Jackal tore into the ship before the bridge, only for it to enter a sudden and dramatic spin. A shot had clipped its wing. The Jackal desperately tried to stay on course, but instead corkscrewed down, crashing into Crescent just before the bridge.\n\nThe blast shook the ship. A cloud of debris plumed and blocked the bridge\u2019s view of the battle. Coburn got back to his feet, \u201cWe need to do something or we won\u2019t last much longer.\u201d\n\nCommander Wallace nodded, \u201cGet Villar these coordinates. Let\u2019s take out that shield.\u201d\n\n\u201cAre we looking at the same shield?\u201d\n\nWallace nodded. \u201cAyers, turn to heading 273. Redirect shields fore . . .\u201d\n\nEveryone on the bridge paused. A few exchanged baffled glances.\n\n\u201cConfirm . . . 2-7-3, sir?\u201d Ayers said, his voice faltering.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s heading right at it,\u201d Coburn said. Wallace turned to him expectantly. He finally mustered a \u201cSir.\u201d\n\n\u201cConfirm.\u201d Wallace said loudly while staring down Coburn. \u201cLike you said, we have to do something.\u201d\n\n\u201cKilling ourselves wasn\u2019t what I had in mind.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe push through the shield, hit those points, and maybe we can start doing some real damage.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnless they chew us up first.\u201d\n\n\u201cWell, make sure that doesn\u2019t happen.\u201d Wallace looked around.\n\nEveryone was still frozen.\n\n\u201cYou got orders, people. Act like it,\u201d she yelled. Coburn broke away and went back to his terminal.\n\n\u201cVillar, I\u2019m gonna need all weapons to have that updated targeting solution ready to fire on my command.\u201d\n\nDrahk managed to stay on his feet. Hickory wasn\u2019t so lucky. Moments earlier, a massive blast had rocked the ship, sending him flying off the wall and onto the floor. Luckily, the Human had found a helmet in the cargo hold to help cushion the blow.\n\nHe hustled over and helped Hickory to his feet. Together they continued towards their one hope \u2014 the hangar. Even though it would be crawling with personnel, it was their only chance to get off this ship. As they moved, Hickory kept fiddling with the settings on the helmet.\n\n\u201cTo the right,\u201d Hickory called.\n\nDrahk rounded the corner and slowed. At the end of the hall was a bulkhead door bearing the scars of a breach. The two slowly approached the gaping hole in the door. Shouts and scattered weapon fire echoed from inside.\n\n\u201cMy people have breached the hangar.\u201d\n\nHe snuck up to the hole and scanned the hangar. Human and Tevarin bodies littered the floor, leaving a trail of corpses that told the battle\u2019s tale. A series of makeshift barricades had been built but overrun. The few Human survivors were hunkered down, either alone or in small groups, desperately firing at anything that moved. Drahk watch Tevarin warriors run between cover spots, working to outflank the remaining pockets of resistance.\n\n\u201cAny ships?\u201d\n\n\u201cOne, on the far side. Never seen one like it before.\u201d\n\nHickory peered into the hangar. \u201cDamn. It\u2019s just a utility vehicle.\u201d\n\n\u201cCan you fly it?\u201d\n\n\u201cOf course. That\u2019s not the problem.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat is?\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s unarmed. Shields are minimal, at best.\u201d\n\n\u201cYes?\u201d\n\n\u201cYou know there\u2019s fighting going on outside.\u201d Hickory nervously looked to Drahk, \u201cHow we doing this?\u201d\n\n\u201cAs fast as possible. Stay low and follow me.\u201d\n\nDrahk stepped through the breach, then hurried to a makeshift barricade hastily assembled to guard the door. Moments later, Hickory joined him.\n\nThe ship sat directly across the hangar, but a wide-open area lay between them. They couldn\u2019t cross it without being noticed.\n\nSuddenly, a shrill shriek filled the hangar. A Tevarin warrior charged a barricade, drawing fire from the Human behind it. Meanwhile, another Tevarin crept up from the other side. The Human suddenly realized his mistake and swung his weapon around but it was too late. The Tevarin warrior snapped up its own weapon and put a shot through him.\n\n\u201cMove. Now,\u201d Drahk said. He took off for the barricade closest to the ship. Shots rang out in his direction. As the barricade drew close, he slid across the floor until he was behind cover, heart pounding, exhilarated beyond belief.\n\nHe rolled over to see Hickory racing towards him, but the Human didn\u2019t even bother with the barricade, instead running straight for the ship. Hickory leapt inside and started the initiation sequence. The ship roared to life, drawing everyone\u2019s attention.\n\nDrahk ran to the back, opened the cargo hold and climbed inside. He turned to see a Tevarin warrior charge up the ramp, weapon raised. When he saw Drahk was a Tevarin, he stopped and stared curiously. Suddenly, the ship lurched forward, causing the warrior to fall off. Drahk hit the button and watched the cargo door close.\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s get out of here,\u201d he called to Hickory.\n\n\u201cNow for the easy part.\u201d With that, Hickory accelerated the ship out of the hangar. They burst through the air shield into a maelstrom of combat. Thick fields of scattered debris from dead ships occupied the space between the massive capital ships.\n\nFighters, both Human and Tevarin, wove through space, chasing target locks and spraying weapon fire. It was a pure inferno.\n\nHickory evaded the best he could through the network of crisscrossing weapon fire. As he managed to break clear of the intense fighting, Drahk got his first good look at the battlefield. Crescent looked like it was trying to ram the Tevarin. Based on the events of late, it seems ramming your ship instead of running was the strategy of choice.\n\nMinutes later, Hickory still felt like his heart would beat out of his chest. Somehow he had survived piloting the ship through the chaos of all-out war. The serenity of open space was a strange counterpoint to what they had just experienced.\n\n\u201cHow much farther?\u201d asked Drahk from the cargo hold.\n\n\u201cAlmost there,\u201d Hickory replied while keeping his eyes on the scanner.\n\nDrahk had grown increasingly nervous the more distance they put between them and the asteroid belt. He urged Hickory to fly faster. Though this ship was built for many things, speed was not one of them.\n\nA subtle beep came from Hickory\u2019s suit. They were close. As he increased the range of the ship\u2019s scans, a blip hit the radar.\n\nMoments later, his ship, Dolos, came into view. A part of him had believed he\u2019d never see her again. Hickory stopped the ship then turned to Drahk. \u201cSo how\u2019s this going to work?\u201d\n\n\u201cIf the Instrument is authentic, it will include a series of codes that my people can use to verify.\u201d\n\n\u201cAll right. I\u2019ll take care of it,\u201d Hickory smacked Drahk on the shoulder on his way towards the hatch. \u201cGood luck and thanks for your help.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m coming with you.\u201d\n\n\u201cNothing personal, but I don\u2019t let anyone else on my ship.\u201d\n\n\u201cForgive me if I don\u2019t take you at your word. My people, and yours, will continue to die until they know the truth. I am bound to make sure that the message gets out.\u201d\n\nSilence sat between them for a few seconds. Hickory couldn\u2019t remember the last time someone other than he had been aboard his ship.\n\n\u201cWe can fight about it if you want.\u201d\n\n\u201cFine, fine. Let\u2019s go then.\u201d\n\nThe two climbed out of the ship and EVAed to Dolos. Hopefully the broadcast wouldn\u2019t be too late.\n\nCommander Wallace watched as Crescent\u2019s bow passed through the phalanx shield. It was immediately met with a barrage of shots from the Tevarin. Once the initial waved passed, Coburn called, \u201cWeapons! Fire.\u201d\n\nCrescent responded with a volley of its own. The massive shots punched into the Tevarin ship\u2019s hull. Wallace watched the terminal before her.\n\n\u201cPhalanx is down ten \u2014 no twenty percent. It worked!\u201d cried Daughtry from the scan station.\n\n\u201cPower back to shields,\u201d ordered Coburn. \u201cGet us an angle on the next spot and fast, Ayers.\u201d\n\nCoburn looked to Commander Wallace. The fire in his eyes said it all: this might just work.\n\nA Tevarin counterattack caused the shields to flare up wildly. Some shots punched through and vented parts of the massive capital ship, but Crescent held.\n\n\u201cGuns ready in ten!\u201d\n\n\u201cWaiting on you!\u201d Wallace yelled.\n\nSuddenly, the phalanx shield completely disappeared. A cheer went up around the bridge. Wallace studied her screen. Something was wrong here.\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s back out of range of those close-quarter cannon,\u201d ordered Coburn. \u201cThen pound them until there\u2019s nothing left.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve got a message coming across the emergency channel,\u201d called Darsha from the comm station. Commander Wallace glanced down at her terminal to read the incoming message.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re in position, sir!\u201d\n\n\u201cReady the railgun and \u2014\u201d\n\n\u201cHold your fire!\u201d\n\n\u201cCommander!\u201d Coburn called. \u201cNow\u2019s our chance to end this.\u201d\n\n\u201cThey just broadcast their surrender. They dropped the phalanx shield to show they\u2019re serious. Wait . . . they\u2019re also saying the war is over.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat? They know and somehow we don\u2019t? It\u2019s a lie. You can\u2019t trust these Tevs.\u201d\n\n\u201cWatch your tone, XO.\u201d\n\n\u201cCheck the scans. I bet more Prowlers are sneaking their way to that breach as we speak,\u201d Coburn yelled, becoming more manic by the second. \u201cWe have to finish them now while we have the chance. Villar, fire that bloody railgun!\u201d\n\nFor once, Villar didn\u2019t snap to Coburn\u2019s order. She looked at Wallace.\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019s your order, sir?\u201d\n\nWallace looked around the bridge. They were looking to her, not to Coburn, for the first time.\n\n\u201cStand down. Open channels.\u201d Wallace turned to Coburn who was still quivering in rage. \u201cAre we going to have a problem, XO?\u201d\n\nCoburn held Wallace\u2019s gaze. It looked like whatever seized him was fading. \u201cNo, sir.\u201d\n\n\u201cGood,\u201d Wallace stepped over to the hologlobe. \u201cNow, let\u2019s see what they have to say.\u201d\n\nDrahk listened to the UEE military broadcast from the utility vehicle while Hickory used it to fix his ship. The message had gotten through just in time. The Tevarin ship was saved. It had suffered heavy damage, but a good portion of its crew was still alive.\n\nCrescent\u2019s crew didn\u2019t know what to do with all the survivors. The Tevarin ship was too crippled to make it out of the asteroid belt. Then they overheard the call go out for the transports to handle the survivors.\n\n\u201cLooks like I\u2019m done,\u201d said Hickory from the pilot\u2019s seat. \u201cProbably best I\u2019m not around if Crescent comes in this direction. You may not be their enemy anymore, but I doubt I can say the same.\u201d\n\n\u201cBest of luck to you. Hope there\u2019s better days ahead for you,\u201d Drahk said, then tipped his head in deference.\n\n\u201cWhat are you gonna do now?\u201d\n\nDrahk thought for a few moments.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d\n\nHickory smiled and opened the hatch. He paused and looked back, \u201cI\u2019ve got this thing in Banu space I\u2019ve got to take care of but, um, there\u2019s a lot of places to land between here and there. I can drop you somewhere if you want.\u201d\n\nDrahk looked up to him and nodded. \u201cYes.\u201d Hickory smiled back at him. Silently, they exited the utility vehicle and EVAed to his ship. While Hickory prepped Dolos for takeoff, Drahk made his way into the back. He laid on the bed and instantly fell asleep, unsure where he was going or where he\u2019d be when he awoke.\n\nFor the first time, he was okay with that.\n\nTHE END"},"links_count":3,"comment_count":16,"created_at":"2020-04-29T03:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"6 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-14 00:34:34","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":17576,"next_id":17578}}