Chapter 6[]
Random Events (Nebula California) - Take 2[]
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Trench lines
Stalingrad
Toreel, Nebula California
9th February, 3153
He looked at the results of last night's battle. No calling it a battle was wrong. That would imply the raiders had a chance. Even the small collection of hand guns and hunting rifles that they had to call upon were more than able to provide a lopsided victory for them.
"How are our defenders?" Daniel suspected the answer but still had to ask.
"More bad than good I am afraid. We're going to have major morale problems on top of our ammunition issues." Fezzik answered.
"I was afraid of that. In a way it is easier to wrap one's head around a battle than a one sided slaughter like last night. How many more fights like last night can we handle before we have no choice but to resort to similar weaponry?" While he didn't know the answer already he knew he wouldn't like it.
"If no one else coughs up more weapons or ammo, five more with how much ammunition was used." Fezzik seemed dower.
"Damn. We have good farming land but best reports are we don't have a lot of mineral content to mine under us." Daniel shook his head.
"We may need to consider a raid on the Star Empire or the so called Earth." Fezzik raised an uncomfortable truth.
There were some key holes in the tooling they were able to bring with them. Enough that making even ammunition was some time off yet and that was assuming they were even able to find the raw resources.
"Start drawing it up. If we can keep a garrison here and have enough volunteers left over I tend to agree we may not have a real choice." Daniel nodded.
Meanwhile at Wellman Castle...
Kevin scowled. So far they had not noticed that he was spying on his new tenants, but them going elsewhere in the nebula to solve their supply issues just would not do.
"Selena, honey, I have a favor to ask." Kevin looked at his wife.
"Same as the last favor?" Selena gave a half smile.
"The other kind of favor." Kevin smirked.
"Oh. This should be fun." Selena's smile broadened.
Improvised spaceport
Stalingrad
a few moments later
Selena popped into a secluded part of the new town.
The four large sphere shaped Dropships were spread out in front of her.
She adjusted her clothes and made some slight adjustments to her appearance to blend in better then walked to the closest one.
Kevin had tried explaining these 'Dropships' to her before. She still didn't fully understand them but this was not the first time she had to do what she was about to do.
These people were much like Kevin's when they first arrived. No one even stopped to question her as she made her way to the engine bay.
"Hazit. Time for you to serve your queen." Selena nearly whispered as she called forth one of her demon servants.
"How may I serve you, my queen?" The small winged creature appeared kneeling at her feet.
"You remember the game I had you play about 50 years ago in a place much like this?" Selena smiled.
"It was much fun my queen. Is it time again?" Hazit smiled.
"Yes. Have fun." Selena kissed the small creature on the forehead.
Hazit's body warped into the shape of a rat as he worked into the pipes and wiring of the engineering space.
Selena began whistling a jaunty tune as she walked back out of the ship.
I almost feel ashamed of myself for how good I have gotten at passing myself off as a human. But to have fun I need to deny my natural need to draw attention. Selena thought to herself.
Gaining access to the next ship was no more difficult than the first. This one had even less people aboard despite being larger. The layout was a bit different but easy enough for her to follow.
"Galib. Time to serve your queen." Selena summoned another of her servants.
A similar small winged creature came into being at her feet.
All Selena had to do was smile and point and Galib disappeared from sight and went to work.
As she made her way out of the ship a small but well muscled human woman stepped up to her.
"I don't recognize you. Who are you and what are you doing on this ship?" The woman barked.
"I was asked to bring a part over." Selena tried to bluff.
"By who?" The woman wasn't backing down.
"Susan." Selena cursed herself for not paying more attention when Kevin was scrying on them.
"Security!" The woman barked.
Selena ran for the nearest cover she could find then teleported back to her starting spot.
"That was too close. Hewit and Greb. Time to serve your queen." Selena sighed.
"Yes, my queen." The two small creatures appeared at her feet.
"I need you two to go play gremlin in that place and that one. One of you each. I don't care who takes which. Just hurry and don't get caught." Selena pointed at the last two ships.
"We obey." The two creatures turned invisible then flew away.
Selena thought about chancing a new disguise to get them into the last two targets directly as she had the first two but decided she had risked enough.
Her mission accomplished she teleported back to her husband.
"It is done." Selena smiled as she assumed a more pleasing form with suitable attire.
"Good. Now for your reward." Kevin smiled.
At least he is more skilled than most humans and thus it is more enjoyable than usual. Still that he thinks he is my master suits my purposes. Selena smiled.
Back at Stalingrad
Daniel looked at the wrecked remains of the engine of their largest Dropship.
"I don't know how he did it so fast but he really did a number." Gilly sighed.
"What are the prospects of getting one operational again?" Daniel dreaded the answer.
"Maybe if we combine the stuff that still works from each we could get the Maru Maru flying again. But even that feels like a long shot and is months if not years of work." Gilly shook her head.
"As long as we still have power." Daniel sighed.
In a way he was glad that he wouldn't have to convince people to go on a raid. It was hard enough to convince people to pull guard duty when their main aim was to get away from the endless fighting.