- Battleship Amenta, this is Order Commander Leo Serre, I and Zoner Ekaterina Rogozina request permission to dock by order of Commodore Storgen. “Commander Serre, you and miss Rogozina are permitted to dock. Commodore is waiting for you in the briefing room.”
“Sabre” and “Raven's Talon” just arrived from Roussilon after a brief meeting with a group of people who lives at remote Andorra Haven station. Serre wanted to lay low somewhere in Tau-37, but his communicator received a message to arrive at battleship Amenta as soon as possible. He had no idea what could happen, but he and Rogozina turned back to Orkney where battleship is hiding from unwanted attention. Dispatcher allowed the fighter to land on free pads 6 and 7, but slowly and carefully, because Amenta, as Osiris-class battleship, is relatively small one among other known battleships. Agent and scientists landed ships and left their cockpits. It is the first time when Ekaterina sees The Order from inside, so she tried to walk alongside and keep up with commander.
- Agent Thunderbird! - somebody called Serre behind them.
He turned his head back and saw another agent from Omicrons wearing their basic dark-grey uniform. - Bonjour, agent Moonkeeper, I haven't expected to find you on Amenta. Katya, meet my combat buddy, Artur Teryoshin. He is from Jiangxi, just like you.
- Рад знакомству, Екатерина. Желаю вам обоим приятного времяпровождения (//Nice to meet you, Ekaterina. I wish you both a pleasant time), - and Teryoshin gave them a sly wink, - Leo, are you looking for something? - Yes, I was called by our Commodore. Can you show me where is briefing room?
- It's easy, just walk about fifty meters ahead and you will see doors with a nameplate on top “BRIEFING ROOM”. But what the hell entire Commodore wants from you?
- I would tell you if I knew, but I have no wish to keep High Command waiting, can it wait until we are free?
- No questions, bratan, just don't forget to make a visit before you leave us once again.
- Спасибо, Артур, рада буду ещё побеседовать. (//Thank you, Artur, I will be glad to chat) - Katya responded in their native language and smiled sweetly at him.
Artur waved to them and walked away. Meanwhile, Katya and Leo found a room with a proper nametable above the door. Serre asked for permission to enter and did so a few seconds later. The briefing room was empty except for Commodore himself and another woman who looked barely older than Ekaterina. They both looked at arrivals. - A-ha, commander Serre, you finally arrived, - Storgen said in a calm voice and threw a glance on Ekaterina, - And not alone. - Katya, darling! - Storgen's companion jumped up to the coalition girl and hugged her in a friendly way. - Sally, haven't seen you for a long time, - Katya replied with her usual smile and confused Serre with this sudden expression, - Leo, you look like you've seen a ghost, relax. We were friends since the past decade long before you and Sally joined The Order.
- Yes, commander, we're in an informal setting, officially I haven't left Carthage, so you can call us by name within this room. Besides, you are a bit older than me by several years.
Leo was confused, but nodded and asked why he and Katya had been called to Amenta. William, instead of words, just unbuttoned the top of his uniform top and pulled out a pendant in the shape of a luminous blue flower. - My parents gave it to me when I was a kid. This is an artifact, an active artifact, and always been like this for as long as I remember. And it helps me to survive in Omicrons by overstepping mental attacks.
Sally came closer and continued: - For some reason artifact reacts to Nomad presence, when it sees its twin, and also protects the owner from effects on the psyche. This one has been with Willy for over two decades, I have a similar thing too, - and Sally took a red glowing crystal in the shape of a 12-pointed star out of her pocket. - That's all that we know about them. Nobody else has ever heard about that kind of artifacts. Their true nature remains a riddle.
- We tell you about this not just to show nice bling, but also offer a work, - Storgen said getting sullen, - Although I don't like it a bit, it's important. Some months ago me and Sally had visited Tau-61 for the first time and passed by one of the satellites of a large gas giant there, and both our artifacts reacted in the same way – they felt the third artifact was nearby. We didn't have the time or opportunity to explore everything ourselves, and even now I have to go back to Carthage, so I have no other choice but offer this task to you. No large groups, reinforcements, or capital ships will be there – we rely on stealth and a sort of secrecy. Nobody will know where are you and why.
- Isn't this the place rumored to be full of Nomads? - Ekaterina asked in surprise, - I can't imagine how fast and strong we are supposed to be there. However, I wouldn't mind looking and discovering something new for myself. - And you will have a chance, Katya, just fully fuel the ship and take supplies for at least a week if you are going to explore the desert and cold terrain. And fly on the same fighter with Leo.
- Eh? Why should I leave my “Raven's Talon”? I have strong piercing lasers on it, nobody would dare to attack us, - Katya answered indignantly. - Two ships are easier to detect than one, my friend. Do not worry, our brave Gallic commander will not leave the girl in trouble. He won't? - Sally came close to Leo and put her arm around his shoulders, looking into his eyes with a sharp, even dangerous look. - You better promise, Leo, - William laughed at it. He clearly knew what does it mean.
Leo just looked at both girls, whistling Commodore, and gulped fearfully.