Part IV Informational Truths

Wade sat there, a little perplexed. He did not move a muscle or show the slightest emotional response from the Governor's words. Buddy and Mikhail sat quiet not sure what to say

"That was easy."

The High Governor, making himself another cup of coffee, a small smirk, almost a smile breaks across his face. "Do you not trust me? Or perhaps you are thinking your offer a bit small now? Want more - say two suites in the tower? Credits for you and your men - lets say 10,000 to start, another 25,000 when my daughter stands here, in this room", the High Governors voice grows louder, his wife's hand reaches out for Dean's arm to calm him.

"I forget my place - excuse me Mr. Wade. You see while Hioceans might seem a tad emotionless I assure you we still feel loss, pain and at times regret. I would do anything - send in anybody - to find her, if I could."

Wade jaunts a look over to Mikhail - Buddy seem still a bit unnerved by the easy success of the barging. Dean Gul stands and walks over to a large portrait of his daughter, always sipping his coffee. "You are right Wade; your demands would have been met probably no matter the cost to me. But I have good reason, I always have reason". The High Governor strides across the room as if giving a conference on the matter at hand.

"Chances are you will not survive so the bargain is moot for me. Not the best answer for either party since it leaves you dead and me without a daughter. Being the High Governor brings with the position certain luxury and freedom but only with it responsibility and customary dictates - as such my first duty is to our station here, my position and loyalty to the Hioceans people. So while I would love to send in a garrison of my highly trained soldiers I am forbidden to do so. Our treaty with Earth forbids me sending in troops into open hostility even for one of my own kind. Even side stepping these obstacles I still face the Hioceans governing body - which would not allow such use of military resources on a mission of such a personal nature. You see Mr. Wade I have little or no choice in my options."

Governor Dean takes the sit opposite from Wade, staring with his piercing eyes, looking for any sign of hesitation.

"Most importantly for you Mr. Wade - you fit in, you blend. Your group here has the dirt and grime camouflage to succeed where my crack units would fail. You look and smell like them, your talk, your weapons, your manner. Yes I have soldiers and men of greater caliber and talent but they would be notice a thousand miles away. You're perfect by being imperfect."

"I guess that is a compliment in some left field way - everything but the smell part. You want us to do your dirty work. How do I know you will keep your word if we do come back?"

Ellen Gull stands, enrage "How dare you! The High Governor asks…" Dean waves a hand and Ellen stops and sits.

"No insult intended mam', High Governor, but as two old soldiers trust I shard to come by, sometimes a man's word is as useful as the French army. I just want to sure to cover my back and my partners."

"No offense taken Wade" Governor Dean strolls about the room like man with too much energy for this own good. "And I have my own insurances policy on you. Two of my men will accompany you, they will follow your lead but one miss-step, one action that places my daughter in danger they will have the command to act."

Mikhail, Buddy and Wade were not prepared for this news at all. "Wait one second - we don't need any help. We have being just fine - I don't need a corporate lawyer heeling me", Wade grumbles.

"I am afraid you have no choice Mr. Wade. Mister Krill will accompany you, along with one other of his choosing. They are my insurance policy and as such not open to debate. Krill will also act as my liaison on this matter as mentioned before it would be out of line for a man of my position to be talking to you. Krill has all the authority to act on my behalf. That is the deal Mr. Wade - accept or decline?"

Wade knows when he has been painted into a corner, fight or flight. Wade extends his hand for a gentlemen's handshake. Dean Gul looks almost confused. "Oh yes, this old custom - shaking of ones hand for assurance". The two shake.

"We will get your daughter back home" Wade mutters in his most reassuring voice.
Krill enters from the foyer. "Krill will see to your needs and supplies in High town. I assume you will need some time to get ready so make all haste. Now if you can excuse me and my wife have other matters to attend to. Ellen - if you would see our guests out. Good luck Mr. Wade." Dean Gul gives one more passing glance at Krill before exiting, Wade is probably reading way too much into it.

The group walks towards the elevator, Mikhail and Buddy shaking each other hands mocking Wade. Buddy, in broken English, "You need a man hug Wade?"

"Shut up" Wade mutters as the climb aboard the private elevator to head down.

In the lobby of the great tower Krill starts handing out badges. "These will get you around town; show them where they ask for them. DO NOT LOSE THEM, they are your lifeline while here in High town. You are not here for the entertainment - we will meet at 6 am. Please be on time."
Krill starts to jaunt away, almost in disgust.

"Wait one second Krill", Wade stopping Krill in his tracks. "What?" Krill barks back.
Wade not too pleased with his deposition. "Well we are going to need a few things for our vacation out of here. And these badges - will they take us to Middleton as well?"

Krill ponders the question. "Yes - these will take you any where you want but why you would want to go down there…never mind. Make a list of you wants and I will have them ready - Now is there anything else?"

"No I guess not" Wade exhaled. Krill was off, in a whirlwind of a flash. "Not much of a talker huh? Mikhail places his arm around Wade, "Well gentlemen I guess the night is ours? What first dinner? Beer? Women?"

Wade smiles but it fades quickly, looking more focused at Mikhail and Buddy, "Listen up, I want you to go somewhere for me, there is a place in Middleton, a bar to be precise." Mikhail's face lights up at the mention of a bar. "Old Man Murphy owns it's, I want you…"

"Old man Murphy - mad man Murphy. I thought he was dead?" Mikhail interrupts.

"No, not dead, apparently smarter then you. He came up here and saved for a few years and bought this bar, called The Celtic Cross. Tell Murphy who you are, give him my name, and start making the lists - ok OK?" Wade trying to get an affirmation out of the two.

"Ok boss" Buddy got out - "Where will you be?"

"Oh don't worry about me Buddy, I want to do some research before we go. I figure this must have a library or something - I want to know anything I can about this crater before I go put my neck on the line". The separate but before they are out of ear shot Wade shouts "And keep Buddy off the juice".

Wade watches as the two leave and heads toward the entrance. Just before him a soft voice echoes off to his right. "Mr. Wade - please a minute". To his amazement there stands Ellen Gul. "Sorry to catch you like this but I needed to speak to you before you left and without my husband. You see…"

Wade shuffles her to the dimmer light, away from the crowd. "What is it Mrs. Gul?" Wade tries to be comforting to little avail.

"My daughter is very important to me and my husband; I want you to know this. I don't want you to believe for one minute Dean, the High Governor would not do anything to save his daughter. I don't want you to have a bad opinion of him - he has many responsibilities and you see - it's hard of a man of power to show that side, especially for Hioceans."

"It's ok Mrs. Gul. I understand the mission and I will do everything I can to bring back your daughter." Wade is getting better at comforting as a warm smile crawls across Ellen Gul's face.
"I know you will try - I have faith in that. Now take this," She pulls out a small necklace, silver bands with a pendent attached at the bottom with a bright green stone. "It was hers; I gave it to her right before…" Ellen Gul voice tightens up and tears fill her eyes. "She is all I have Mr. Wade, bring her back." Her hands tighten around Wades own, squeezing them.

"There is something else, something I am not sure even Dean is aware of, maybe I shouldn't, it's just that. Our daughter was, what is the word I am looking for, involved, no, she was…"
"Friendly with a man, a boyfriend?", Wade injected.

Ellen's first real smile. "Thanks for being modest, this man was older then she and neither one of us are ready for this, parents never are, but they were quite the couple-but under the radar they say. I am afraid Dean would have none of it; well I am afraid he is gone and done something rather impetuous on his part - he went to find her. Almost three weeks ago and nobody has heard from him. I am afraid he has meet a fate a dare not think about. Dean thinks he merely is traveling the region but I know he went for her. I just thought you would need to know that."
"She is my eldest and she just turned eighteen, so head strong - stubborn to a fault. We await her sister now" Ellen stroking her belly.

Wade embraces her hands, this time a soft repose, "I will do everything I can to bring her back-that I promise to you. Either alive or…I will bring her home".

Ellen Gul composes herself. A cold stare remerges "And Mr. Wade one more bit of advice from an aging actress - Do not trust Krill, or his kind, his interest lie outside my daughters or your. It might be from my days in Hollywood but he smells and acts like too many agents I have known - dirty and two faced, watch your back."

Wade ponders this new news. "Thank you. " Ellen Gul slips away unnoticed in the crowd while Wade stands there clutching the necklace. "What exactly have I gotten myself into old boy?" Wade exits.

The High Governor enters a darken room, only a small slit allows for light. One side of the room glows from a wall of monitors and computers. Dean enters and begins watching them, jumping from one to the, scanning at a fantastic pace.

Behind him, cloaked in shadows sits another man, his face obscured. "Well did Mr. Wade accept the deal?" a dark, gnarly voice breaks the silence.

"Yes, of course, he would have been a fool not to - we gave him everything, and then some", Dean rumble back. "They leave tomorrow."

"Well done. The Committee does not look upon these acts with the same disposition I do. They will not tolerate another failure. Do not forget our true objectives here Dean."

"I have not forgotten and do not forget your place among me and my people", Dean barked back, highly annoyed at the veiled threats.

"And Krill?" the voice beamed back without hesitation.

Dean, staring in the darkness, trying to find eyes if the shape had any. "Krill has his orders, they are very clear. He will follow through with the objectives as planned."


The Celtic Cross bar, Middleton. The bar is the total opposite of Low Town Tavern. Polished, birch wood decorates every inch, chrome accents, sweet smell of fresh beer and food. And best part no blood on the floor, or walls, or seats - no blood anywhere.

Mikhail and Buddy have nestled in a back booth. Lorn's might be common in many places but not here, not to every day folk. Fearing any unrest Mikhail pick a place a distance from the foot traffic.

Standing before them is Mad Murphy, a long gangly Irish fellow that could have played basketball in the day but now looks like an aging Tom Hanks. No grease stained apron, no ashes in the food - Murphy is all class down to his velvet vest and the ivory handle pipe he smokes from.

"I cannot believe you own this place", Mikhail laughs out while sipping another brew. "How is that possible? You are the same person I saw eat dirt to live!"

Murphy shakes off the ribbing, "Appearances can be deceiving young master, I ate dirt to make you think I was mad, and it worked to didn't it? Ahh, I did a lot of things most men would vomit at but while all of you were making fun you know what - I earned a dollar or two. No government agents for me - they all thought I was crazy and who wants hassle an old bean like me. Yea, I ate some dirt, but now I am living off steak. How crazy is that?" Buddy chomps down another tasty bite of the thick steak.

"I never feel for the act", Wades voice echoes from behind. "Crazy people would have had seconds". Murphy turns and smiles then gives Wade a bear hug.

"Well look who all grown up and playing soldier boy, I swear I would never see this day, if my pecker isn't ten inches long - having you three here, right now. Color me dead - Doris, hey Doris, bring my boys all the bear and food they want - it s on the house."

Wade and Murphy settle into the booth. "Alright boys, tell me what brings you here and don't tell me it's for the sigh seeing". Murphy asks bluntly.

"Big mission", Buddy blurts out without thinking. "Yea, big mission, one that can…" Mikhail starts. "One that could change our fortunes Murphy, just like you", Wade finishes, "We are heading towards the Crater."

Murphy's eyes grow as large as saucer, he takes out the pipe, and his smile turns to a frown. "The Crater! - and you call me mad? The crater is not a vacation spot you know? What has the crater got Low Town is missing?"

"The Governors daughter", Wade softly states, "we are going after her, apparently one of the Gov's old boys had a falling out and kidnapped her. He wants us to get her back."

Murphy takes several deep puffs from the pipe, "and what is your life worth for this quest?"
"Two sky suites and enough money to buy a bar like this - only in High Town." Wade smiles, Buddy and Mikhail toast the idea.

Murphy deadpans, "Many men I have known, sitting in this bar, talked of the crater and are never seen again. That place is a dark place - a dark mark on this land, mind me boys when I say this to you, the Crater is not a place for the living, its place to go for dying."

"It gets worse", Wade bringing to the table stacks of paper, "I give you the public library or at least what they call it here. Did some research on this place and it's not fun reading. Basically the Crater, as it is commonly known, came into existence when a Hiocean ship was destroyed in the atmosphere and crashed landed near Chicago, upon impact is nuclear engines rupture and exploded, taking a good part of Chicago with it along with only about 5 million people. They stopped counting at 5 million at least. And that was the good part."

Mikhail and Buddy are fascinated by all of it. Wade passes around archive images of the destruction and aftermath.

"Beyond the death and destruction associated with this type of disaster our own special government decided it was far too dangerous to pursue a course in which to rebuild the area, be as it was in the middle of a war. They simply made the area off limits and quarantined it - living all those left alive to suffer within. Nice huh"

"So, years pass by and inside this hell you have generations of mutations and god knows what else. We know people lived and continue to call the Crater home for no other reason then that is where they have lived all their life. The land is forever marked in fall out and ionic storms, flash foods. They make their living by piracy and black market deals. Now this was all well and good since it only happens in the Crater. Along comes our High Governors pal - Nor the Soldier."

"Nor comes in and takes over, like a mobster, rubs out anybody opposing his rule and unifies the rest of the clans into his own private army. Now, according to the history books the worst happen during this period of unrest - the Crater became a war within a war."

Wade drinks another beer, "Now starting about the time our Governor takes command things change within the Crater. No longer satisfied with living from within the boundaries Nor's men start to conduct raids outside the Crater - first small then bigger and bigger. And in one of Nor's most aggressive acts strikes nearly 1000 miles away with the apparent kidnapping of Dean Gul's daughter."

Wade relaxes; Mikhail and Buddy look a bit worried. Murphy can only shake his head in disbelief of his friend's mission.

Murphy sucks on his pipe, "I heard one story, not sure how true, must have been five or six years ago, a ship of missionaries from the coast decided it was gods will they go to this Crater and reform its people. So they filled their ship of supplies and bibles and off they went - singing hymns and all that righteous shit. Nothing ever is heard from again. Then, a week later here comes their ship barreling into New Chicago, ZOOM and BANG! Smacks right into downtown. Now everybody is in an uproar and the authorities come and they realize it's the missionary's vessel. They open that ship and what do they find. Jesus Christ - just the insides of the missionaries, mind you not their skin, just everything else. A bible pin to their hands like they were praying. In blood, written across the ships hull…"To Whom It May Concern, God does not exist in the Crater". Let me tell you boys, if Gods won't go there why you should?" Murphy gets up and leaves to attend to the bar.

Wade downing another round, "Well story or not there has not been any military action in the Crater for awhile now. Even the military won't venture in. This place is not holy ground for anybody except Nor so we have to go by the book on this one - one misstep, and we are thought to be working for the governor or anything not Nor related we are dead men. Any ideas?"
Mikhail, "Yea, let's go home", Buddy smiles and nods in agreement.

"I think we need to really think about this - what will keep us alive in there because I sure don't expect Krill to lend a hand but I thought he, or his special talents might come in useful at times. But we have got to watch Krill and his lanky, I am sure of one thing Krill has no problem leaving us for dead." Mikhail and Buddy nod in agreement.

"Ok what about the lists?" Mikhail hands over the scraps of paper, "Yea this will do, let's see if Krill can get it available, and make him work for that suite in the sky right boys".

"You think any Lorns' inside the Crate?" Buddy spits out.

"Not sure but we aim to find out. If you are worried about appearances old friend I do not think this place is too uptight on lineage or family status but Nor is a Hiocean so anything can happen. But with Mikhail and me watching your back I think you'll be fine."

Murphy walks by and Wade asks. "Murphy, what about the High Governor - what do think of him? What's his story?"

"Well, he is tough bastard but fair. He was already in power when I came here. Supposedly he was an established soldier in the army and wanted to forward his career. Doesn't like us humans a whole bunch, strange since he married one. I don't know, he imposes some tough laws and punishments but I always thought they were needed around here."

"And his personal guards?" Wade questions.

"Oh you mean men in black pails, yea, those guys, the fellows who only wear black and never see the sun. Scary. Empaths I hear but really hard-core trained. Lots of stories about them, a kind of bio-science gene project that the High Gov helped start during the war. We are always hearing of stories about what they do in the middle of the night - ambushes, assassinations, and raids - all the fun stuff. Remind me of the Nazis. I would watch them especially when they read your mind and thoughts - around here just the idea of breaking the law is punishable."

"Thanks Murphy you have been a big help", Wade shakes his hand.

"If Mad Murphy cannot help some Low Towner's then what is the world coming to? Drink up my boys for tomorrow we might all be dead!" They all drink but Wade and others do so with worried brows.

The airbase is like nothing the three have ever seen. It stretches for what seems like miles, massive ships come and go, making thunderous noise as they break the low laying clouds. Men and machinery scream about in all directions like ants working a colony. It's a whirlwind of activity as they descend into the hanger bay.

The interior is just as nice; workers go about their business fixing air ships and freighters alike. Not a speck of dirt and grim our three bounty hunters are so used to. They all look in amazement at the place, unaware or unaccustomed to such technology or beauty. The ships glean with polished surfaces, engines churn and robotic helpers move around with direction and purpose.

They make their way to a ready room just to the side of the main hanger. Inside only a bounty hunters dream come true. From wall to wall of nothing but weapons and armor to choose from.
Buddy and Mikhail cannot help but be excited at the site. So many years scrapping out parts and weapons in the Blue Zone only to come to this mecha of modern warfare.

Wade too shows his kid-like joy in seeing the armory before them. They carefully gleam over pulse rifles and body armor, explosive devices and sensor arrays. Wade clutches a long range sniper rifle with tele-scoping sites and laser range finder. "This would have come in handy back in the day, eh Buddy?"

Buddy just nods as he has found small assorted weapons known to be Lorn in nature. Wade cannot be sure but he would swear Buddy smiled as his hands touched them all. Sometimes it is the little things that makes one feel alive again.

The three begin to shuffle around the room, raiding for weapons and armor but careful enough not to bog themselves down - they need to be light and fast for this mission.

What seems to be hours Krill walks in on the three with his fellow traveling companion in tow. "Well I see the criminals have found the loot. Make sure to note everything they have Commander Mul. Listen up your three, this is my second - Lt. Mason Mul, he will be traveling with us. He has seen more battles hen you three put together; he is an expert in tactics and hand to hand, close quarter combat. Please do him the pleasure of showing him some respect as I quite sure he has earned it." Krill scans the three for any sign of understanding but is simply stared at.

"What's up Krill? I see you are your usually cheerful self this morning?" Wade and the others chuckle.

"Oh yes, Mr. Wade, how I have so missed you charming wit. I notice by my records you scored some files from a library then spent the better part of the night at a bar. I must say this is quite out of character for you - no brothels to venture into" Krill picks over the pieces Wade has chosen, "I see you're found the oldest and rusted junk armor in here. I give you all this, the bright and unused, and you three pick through the refuse - missing home are we?" Krill smirks.
Wade smiles at the remark while trying on the slightly used armor, "No, but see all this shiny shit you and your boy wear will only gives us the opportunity to be detected sooner then later. See where we are going they is no outlet store for this stuff - those people fight, scrounge and kill for whatever they can. If we were going in with say a thousand men so be it - use the shiny new shit but for me and my men, old and rusted suits us - might even keep us alive."

"Oh so many tricks up the bounty hunters sleeve is it? So tell me when we are knee deep in the muck out there you trust your lives to these two - a has been Lorn and a know nothing Hiocean? Is that your plan?" Krill barks at Wade.

"Only the best" wade answers.

"Do you think you are the first?" Krill asked harshly.

"We are the best or did you not hear what the High Gov will give us", Mikhail quickly answered.
"Your nothing", Krill jolts back, "You're just the next name on the list, another number. Did you think you were the first and only group to attempt this?"

Krill slams down a folder on the table, "Let me be the first to dispel that myth. Others, many others, countless talented others have been sent in there, here, read about them, I assure you they came to us much more credentials then your lot has. Let's see who we have sent…we have a Dunchuese, Moore, Salvatore, several rangers and what not, oh the list goes on Mr. Wade. You three are nothing special."

Wade shifts through some of the pages, catching glimpses of men's faces and dockets of action they have seen. All well trained and rugged men and all dead.

"I guess your mistake was using these guys first." Wade bit back. Buddy and Mikhail enjoy the remark.

"You know what they call a retired bounty hunter Mr. Wade? Deceased." Krill looks sharply at Wade. The room is silenced. "Get what you need, Commander Mul will check it out, the ship is being prepared and will be ready to leave within the hour."

Krill begins to leave but Wade wasn't finished, "Ohh, I get it", smiling and following after Krill around the room. Krill turns and stops. "It just occurred to me, oh, yes I must be slow today. I get it", Krill is perplexed by Wade's manner, "Oh it doesn't take an empath to read you and the signals you're putting out - you're scared."

Krill is quiet, taken back at the remark, a little annoyed. "All these other groups, these hired hands, all left and never came back, ended up dead or worse. But this time, this time the High Governor has asked you to tag along, his golden boy. And it has you scared. Tell me I am wrong - Mr. Krill doesn't mind walking into a dive bar and executing a man but when he has to go to the trenches, to get his hands dirty his real colors show - is that it. Are we afraid of the Crater?"
Krill is less them amused. "Why you inbred human shit puss - I should gut you right now for addressing me in this manner!", Krill clutching his gun, Mikhail and Buddy have theirs already in position. Commander Mul moves in to keep the two apart. Krill walks away but utterly angered.
"Why is that you hate us such much Krill? I mean I get why you hate Buddy - he is Lorn so of course I understand a little hatred on your part. But every since the day you walked into that bar all you have done is thrown the entire human race into the shitter and I want to know why - before I place myself or my men in danger I want to know why the person, the soldier who might have to save my neck, would rather spit on my face then shake my hand - so let's have it Krill, once and for all, soldier to soldier."

Silence. Buddy, Mikhail and Mason just stand waiting for anything, expecting anything. Krill scans the room and then coldly stares at Wade like an insect that needed to be stepped upon.

"Why? I have thousands of reasons Mr. Wade but if you need it in a nice neat fashion - Because you are nothing, your entire race are like a disease, vermin to the world and each other. You humans have no honor, no code, and no measure of duty to anything beyond. Time and time again you sold each other out for the most sublime reasons - money, land, and resources. How many times in your races history have you turned on each other for nothing more then the sake of war itself? Your books are filled with stories of heroes who did what - win a battle? For what - for another laurel wreath, another medal. I despise your race lack of duty to something beyond themselves."

For the past 20 years is about how our war affected humans --- oh the poor humans. Lets help them, we need to do this and that - help us, teach us…"

"What did you expect form us", Wade speaks

"You could have done something - anything! You did nothing - you sit by like an absent landlord. Your politicians sold you out, your sold each other and then had the audacity to stand there and ask for our help. I would have killed the entire planet. Always passing the blame on to something else, that's the real idea humans have brought us - passing the buck."

Krill is riled, "You question my duty, my courage, I have seen the first on Orion's belt burn, I have lived in trenches where the blood is a foot deep, I have pulled bullets and scraps of iron form my very own body and smiled. I have earned my position - what about you? You think living in the Blue Zone makes you special? I have no touched my child or my wife in over 20 years - 20 years damn you. I have killed men on planets I cannot name and places I choose to forget... And in all this time I witness great acts of violence and courage - other, lesser races taught us that it is not the level of technology that prevails but the races' blood line and call to duty. Two things human are running short of. The human race has no back bone - no heart."

"The human race burned itself out many eons ago and yet here we are, trying to help you, better you and all I see around me is contempt and compliancy. You disgust me outright Mr. Wade. Not one human ever stood at my masters feet and told us NO - not this planet. Your race placed its own well being over its lifespan, you choose self pity over duty, over indulgence over sacrifice."
"I live a life of service, knowing my actions, while might seem arbitrary to you and harsh, serve my people for the better good. Yes I have no love for the Governors daughter but it is my mission and that alone I welcome the chance to serve. You serve for what - a sky suite and money? So tell me Mr. Wade who here is really evolved? I go because I believe what we do as a people is right, that my actions serve a purpose beyond me. What do you serve?"

Wade, silent, searching for the words, "It must just kill you that your High Governor married a human huh?"

Krill snarls.

Wade has heard the truth and it hurts but Wade isn't one to back down, "It most absolute fucking kill you that he married into a species you find so disgusting, but, and I mean this, it most tear your balls out he is sending you on this mission, duty or not, sending you to the crater with other humans and a Lorn to fetch his lost half-human daughter."

Krill, snarling right into Wades face, "I will do what it takes to complete my mission, even it takes your life in the process. You and your men are expendable. Don't toy with me - I have done things that assure my place in hell. Never forget that Wade, out there if need be I will make sure I come home."

Wade doesn't flinch, "and rest assured Krill, if you so much as move out of line out there or place my men at unnecessary risk I will show you how just truly disgusting human I can be. My people are not expendable. And don't ever talk to me about loyalty…these men you hold is such low regard are my family and as such I would protect them as they were my brothers. Out there I am your master - a fact you better come to terms with real quick."

Krill backs off not wanting any more to do with them. "And take your papers with you", Wade throws them at his feet, "let it remind you the difference between being considered the best and living up to it." Krill walks off without retrieving the fallen papers and Buddy and Mikhail let out a sigh of relief.

"The ship is ready when you are", Commander Mul states before leaving.

"Get your gear ready guys, you know the drill, I want light and fast, lots of ammo and bring some tradable items. Mikhail - don't forget to bring along your "sister". Wade kicks the nearest trash can out of anger - is Krill right? "Damn him", Wade mutters as he composes himself.
Mikhail's "sister" is an inside joke among the three. Mikhail packs in his shoulder pack a small, compact but deadly repeating shotgun for up close and person matters - nicknamed "the sister of pain".

Buddy has gather mostly Lorn weapons for ease and a slightly over sized duster jacket to cover up with. Buddy is adorn with only modest armor as most is designed for Hioceans and no the slightly larger Lorn structure.

Wade is more traditional in armor- breast plate, shoulder, knee & shin guards. A light weight duster to keep out the weather and some form fitting inner blast assault wear. His weapon of choices, beyond his normal pistols, a light tactical assault rifle with extended clips and folding stock, two automatic pistols, a back up pistol and enough ammo to take out Cleveland.

The three also cram full their survival packs with rations, medical supplies, survival items and some other odd weapons - such as charges, mines and sensors - just what every team needs.
Once packed, dressed they leave but as Buddy passes Wade chucks him on the shoulder, "Don't worry buddy, we have come this far, what's the worse that can happen?" Wade tries to smile.

The three enter the hanger bay and before them is a nice size Assault Skimmer ship - low radar signature, small but effective weapons. Can be used in the open mode or closed mode for space or atmosphere travel. Dual sided armor, painted black for effect. It will be cramped but highly effective. It reminds Wade of the assault mechs the Hioceans used during the war.

Already on board is Krill and Mason looking more displeased then ever to see the three now all amassed with weapons.

"Lets move - don't want to keep Nor waiting". Krill yelled over the roar of the engines coming online. Buddy, Mikhail and Wade begin the process of storing the gear. The engines turn louder and louder, the weapons turrets click to life, the whole ship buzzes with energy. Wade takes one last look around, like he was missing something. Buddy stretches out his long arm to bring Wade aboard. "Anything wrong?" Buddy asks.

"Just seeing ghosts Buddy. It's been awhile since…well any of this. I am fine - go find a seat." Wade takes the seat next to the open door, feeling more at ease with seeing the ground. He can only look out upon the people below as the ship gently lifts off; into a future even Wade is unsure it's out come.