Noah was glad his helmet had built in binoculars, it made scanning the valley easier and was one less piece of gear to worry about. “I don’t see anything that would be a ship. Although that forest is fairly dense. What does the eye in the sky say?”

  “There’s something down there. Looks like a smaller ship, although they can’t figure out what kind or how big it is exactly. Looks like it could be space worthy. The other two teams are going to be pulled around. We need to keep moving, time isn’t on our side.” Vazhchavyr paused to check the feed from the drone again, “I think its a Thalvren ship although I don’t know why they would have anything to do with a kidnapping.”

  “Most species have some hollow bones. We won’t know until we get there. Speaking of which we should keep moving.” Nekamormi said pushing into the woods, “Time is not our wife.”

  “As long as we can go quietly. I don’t like the fact we are the first squad in.” Vazhchavyr looked at Noah, “At least we have you. You’re point.”

  Noah shrugged, he had assumed that he was going to be the first one into whatever danger. Everyone needed to see what the human could do in combat, yet he was glad. Unless Nekamormi had a rather interesting career path he was the most experienced in combat. He looked over at Kazhvoyova, then pushed the thought of admitting their status from his head. Noah did close up to her. I let you talk important. He signed at her, Kazhvoyova nodded.

  “How do humans put it? Are you two passing loves?” Noah laughed at the mixture of tones Nekamormi’s translator decided on: fury and smitten at the same time.

  “Is someone jealous?” Kazhvoyova shot back, “That I know the human the best?”

  “I met him first.”

  “Technically I captured you Vazhchavyr. I don’t think we exchanged any words the other understood. Which raises the question, why did you admit that in front of such a crowd the other day? I thought it was one of the biggest dishonors, and biggest points in America’s favor when it came to negotiation table.” Noah said taking his spot back at the front of the squad. A chorus of disgruntled noises came though the translators, Noah wondered if he had just trapped himself in the lioness’ den.

  “While it is, that only adds up if you understand the internal politics. Frankly it’s not something foreigners knowing or not knowing is going to change much.” Vazhchavyr’s words were accompanied by a single word sent from Kazhvoyova: First. Things started clicking into place.

  “As we’re chatting on the stealth mission,” Nekamormi said after bounding to the front of the squad, “What was with that one Roschani that got pulled to medical? What did Noah do to her?”

  “He punched her right in the ovaries.” Vazhchavyr’s voice was a pained flat, “Frankly the most painful thing that can happen to a woman. Humans are one of the few species that are strong enough, and small enough to get a good hit on them.”

  “We assumed we were knocking the wind out of you all, and you all struggled in the mountain air.” Noah jogged back to point scanning the trees, “Didn’t know we were scoring nut shots.” Stifled laughs came back though his helmet.

  “That didn’t translate well,” Nekamormi said moving back to the front.

  “We will work on it, or teach him to speak a language we already have a translator for.”

  “You offering yourself as tutor Kazhvoyova?” Noah cut off Kazhvoyova’s response, “I see something looks like a parameter sensor. 210 far.”

  “Nice catch, close up.” Vazhchavyr tapped Noah on the shoulder, “I don’t see any emissions from it,”

  “Could be a cable, we did that all the time. You girls couldn’t figure it out.”

  “Low tech humans again. Think you can take it out without alerting it?”

  “Taking it out was often how you alerted us. Half of those sensors were just laser emitters with what looked like cameras when it went dark we knew someone was where they shouldn’t be.” Noah paused for a moment, “Did you never figure it out?” Vazhchavyr’s silence was telling. “I’ll shoot it if you want me to shoot it, I’d rather see if we can go around it.”

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  “I don’t want to spend the time. Take it out and then we run.”

  “Breach and clear any one who’s armed?”

  “Give them a chance to surrender Noah. This isn’t Earth.”

  Noah shot Vazhchavyr an annoyed look, then set up his shot. “Ready when you are. When I start running try to keep up.” A second passed then Vazhchavyr tapped Noah on his shoulder again.

  Noah’s shot rang out and the sensor platform shattered with a shower of sparks. Noah jumped to his feet and started running, he paused finding the poorly hidden cable and started following it. It wasn’t too long until he saw a ship sitting in the mouth of a cave. Noah halted and saw the girls take positions around the tree line. There was a camp set up around the entrance to the cave the ship shuttle craft were sitting around, as were more than a few buildings haphazardly constructed around the dock. A group rhino like creatures were mulling around with some lizards. Most if not all were armed. A small group was being formed up.

  Noah was unimpressed with his first view of space pirates. They were dirty and poorly equipped, even by resistance fighter standards, there was low tech and no tech. This crew seemed to be the later. “Captain says we should go in,” Vazhchavyr said, the communications system triggered a ‘stealth’ mode. Noah wasn’t sure how one could have emissions and stealth, but he was going to figure it out once he got back to his lab. “Noah think you can clear the ship by yourself?”

  Noah pondered it for a moment. “Maybe. Will want to clear out the outside. How long till that ship could take off?”

  “It’s dark but warm. Half hour at least.” Vazhchavyr whispered across the radio. “Still I’d rather you be aboard if they try anything. We will be on your heels.”

  Noah didn’t want to be trapped on a hostile ship, at the same time he would be the best at close quarters. “I’d rather not go it alone. Think they are all outside of the ship? Cutting them off may be the play.”

  “I see hostages outside of the ship. Looks like they are being sorted.” Nekamormi chimed in, “It looks like mostly crew members. Would the VIP look like a crew member?”

  “Qalmeri princesses tend not to stand out when traveling. Although Princess Su’lenali Teyrengal is known for her beautiful dresses. I don’t see her either.” Kazhvoyova commented, “She may be inside the ship for safer keeping.”

  “The other two squads will be here shortly. Move.”

  At Vazhchavyr’s order Noah opened fire on the group that was starting to head out from camp. He dropped the lizard that seemed to be leading the group and the rhinos scattered. Unsurprisingly Noah had the majority of the attention, mag-rifles didn’t have much of a report. Suppressor or not gunpowder was loud. The rhino like creatures sprayed down the treeline around Noah. He dropped one, and Kazhvoyova took a second the third and forth broke back towards the camp. Nekamormi and Vazhchavyr were suppressing the guards. Noah broke from the trees and dashed towards one of the shuttles.

  Noah dropped another two rhinos, then suppressed another squad that was attempting to push Nekamormi. He ducked as rounds came back his way. Vazhchavyr silenced the shooter pinning Noah. Noah pushed forward, a rhino jumped around a corner swinging a club. Noah blocked it, before getting into a wrestling match with the larger rhino. Noah found the larger creature wasn’t all that strong. The rhino attempted to push Noah into a cage. Noah saw an opening, as the rhino bellowed a war-cry and pushed harder he dropped to a knee attempting to throw the rhino into the cage. To his surprise it worked the creature tumbling into cage, he slammed the door shut and it locked with a beep. He picked up his rifle and ignored it’s shouting as he moved towards the ship.

  Noah decided to route past another shuttle, unlike the first the rear hatch was open. He rounded the corner and found that it was empty. Cutting across it he put another burst into a lizard that was charging Vazhchavyr with what looked like a trident. It fell to the ground and Vazhchavyr signaled Keep going with her arm. Noah kept moving he dashed and caught up with Kazhvoyova who was laying down shots from a large crate. “So you come here often?”

  Kazhvoyova ducked behind the crate and laughed, “You can make jokes in the middle of this?” She shook her head and replaced her magazine. “We need to get into the ship. I’ll cover you Nekamormi is in a place to be on your heels.” A ping with Nekamormi’s name flashed in Noah’s helmet conveying she agreed.

  “I’ll cover the other side, you to go on Kazhvoyova’s mark.” Vazhchavyr settled the plan. Noah reloaded and got ready to clear his way though the ship.

  Kazhvoyova popped up from her spot and suppressed the group further down the cave, Noah heard Vazhchavyr doing the same. “Go!” Kazhvoyova said and Noah sprinted into the ship. Hit a wall inside of the airlock Nekamormi took the other side breathing heavily. Noah looked though her visor, she was exhausted, her breastplate was heaving with her breaths. Her face was flushed orange.

  Noah held up a hand, “When you’re ready.”

  Yes, she signed. Noah took a knee in the door watching the hallway. The ship was missing most of its panels with what he thought were door levers next to the buttons to open them. A lizard came out from a corner, unarmed. “Hands up! On your belly!” Noah bellowed his suit amplifying his shout. The lizard jumped spotting Noah, and froze. Noah could see the lizard thinking about the pistol on his hip. “Don’t do it.” The lizard went for his gun and Noah put a burst into his chest. The lizard hit the ground in a heap. Noah ran up and kicked the gun back towards the door.

  Nekamormi tapped him on his back, “I’m good. Lets clear this ship.”

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