[center][h2]Kibō-hosh, High Orbit[/h2][/center]

"Psychic message? So that's what they are. We call them Sceca Events, the oldest one recorded by our scientists was after the Two Centuries' War. I'm surprised that you called it a message, we assumed it was latent genetic code that activated at certain times. Frankly, I can't believe that you don't have them. We always assumed that they were an essential part of the development of a spacefaring species. Then again, we thought the same about these."

He clutched one of his apparent earrings, holding it out in front of his head as if presenting it to them. 

"When we discovered that the Romans didn't have these, we couldn't understand where they got computer technology. We had no idea that having a natural organ inspire digital technology was the exception!"

[center][h2]Arcadia, Cathacia[/h2][/center]

The magic energy still flowed through the Empress, keeping her from more or less collapsing. Before greeting the soldier, she bowed to the dead Naga. Only then did she turn to face the soldier, and bowed notably deeper as a kind of apology for waiting to get to him.

"Yes, I am Abh. My name is Lamsar Na'brel, High Admiral of the Spaceborne Navy and Empress of the Eight World's Empire. I don't know what this magic you speak of is though. It's understandable that someone who had never met a Na'brel would think I just did something special, but calling it magic seems to be going a bit far. The ability to overcome pain is something every child of the Na'brel family has."

[center][h2]Midway, The Line[/h2][/center]

The Kestral's radar ping showed exactly what they didn't want to see: hundreds upon hundreds of starships, lined up with weapons trained on each other. The entire section of the asteroid belt seemed like it was going to turn into a shooting gallery any minute, with the Kestral right in the middle of it all. Most of the Abh ships had pulled back slightly behind their flagship, an almost incomprehensible choice at a battle line like this.There simply wasn't any reason for the formation, it was like they were planning to put new ships in front of the old ones. Obviously, however, there wasn't anywhere for new ships to come through.

As they monitored the scope, they picked up a radio transmission coming from a tiny buoy within the area. It had been sent from the gas giant of the system, one of the planets the Empress had mentioned as safe.

"Empress, we're ready over here. The ships are in the air and ready for deployment. I can send them over right now."

The Abh flagship launched its own buoy, which was almost instantly accompanied by another one from the gas giant.

"Understood. I'll need the exact coordinates, so the fleet will be late. Are you sure about this?"

Yet another exchange took place, with there being only a few seconds between the launch of the first buoy and the arrival of the second one.

"No, the risk is still too great. I wouldn't give that order if Ningen himself told me to."

The flagship launched another buoy, and the exchange was over. 

A final message was sent from the Abh mechs as they broke off from the ship, knowing that if the Romans found them inside the debris field they would be obliterated.

"I'll see to it that they are prepared to receive you. We must return to the [i]Excalibur[/i], I can do more good on the bridge than at these controls."

[center][h2]Heiwa no Tochi[/h2][/center]

"You know, Lasec, you might want to go to the doctor. I'll bet Ningen himself heard that one."

Lasec let out yet another sneeze, something that had been all too common recently. It wasn't allergy season, and that seemed to be good enough for him. He kept refusing to get checked, and blamed it on the Romans being dirty. Yoshdach also blamed it on the Romans, but said it was an alien virus of some sort. Despite Lasec constantly reminding her that diseases usually don't infect alien species, she considered the Romans "close enough". To be honest, she could be right. It's not like anyone had compared Abh and Roman DNA (or at least released the results).

"I still say they just don't bathe. Besides, there are more important things than my sneezing."

"It'd better not be another drink. I think we've all decided that exactly one Abh can handle that, and it's you."

"It's not! I've built a thing!"

"How very specific."

Lasec simply ignored her comment, and motioned for her to follow him. She did so, knowing that he probably wouldn't take no for an answer. He led her to an old shed, where farming equipment had been kept before the Romans reorganized the labor force. When he opened the door, she discovered just why he had kept what he built a secret. Sort of.

"I understand exactly one thing here: the Commune's flag. And that these are completely worthless."

"That's because I got the idea from a dream!"

Yoshdach stared at the device, now horrified by its origins. Considering how the food kept ending up, she wasn't exactly optimistic about the device.

"And what the hell is it? I mean... they're just really big hunks of metal."

"You can put them on your legs! Watch!"

Lasec jumped into the two metal... things, which he had apparently situated upright for that very purpose. His legs slid into them perfectly, but he let out a yelp as he hit the inside of it hard from the jump, and fell forwards. He and the device smashed into the floor, bruising his arm.

"It worked in the dream!" He said, trying to defend himself.

"Did that dream happen to involve badly written genre fiction? Because I'm starting to think that your life is a parody of badly written genre fiction."

"Hey! It really works!"

"You said that about the gun too."

Refusing to answer, he simply closed his eyes and focused extremely hard.

"Bad. Genre. Fiction." Said Yoshdach, and just after she did, Lasec's legs lifted up into the air as they pulled him along.

"Negative mass floats!" he exclaimed triumphantly, floating upside down with a stupid smile on his face.

"You can't control them." She said, planting her face firmly in her hand. "You got your hands on skycar fuel and you can't control what you made with it. I pray that the Army gets here before you have a chance to do anything."

"I'll be able to soon! I'm getting miniature antimatter thrusters soon!"

Yoshdach stared for almost a minute before finally responding.

"How the hell do you plan to get those?!"

"There's a resistance, you know."

"The traders? Like you got a deal with them."

"I did! Look!"

He reached over to a desk, stretching his arm out as far as it would go. When he found that he couldn't reach it, he began wiggling, trying to get himself closer. Finally, he managed to reach a piece of paper, presenting it to Yoshdach.

"Holy shit you got a deal with the traders."

"They provide the thrusters, we both get the fuel."

"Lasec, please don't do this. Just sell the thing to them, you shouldn't risk your life."

"Only I can control it. The negative mass needs a... whatever the hell this is current to be controlled."

"Well then I'm coming."

"No! It's too ri-"

"Then why are you going?"

Lasec paused, before quietly mumbling "Okay", then deactivating the device. He fell right on the tips of it, presumably where he was putting the thrusters. A few wobbles later he was on the ground.

"We're meeting at the old school at noon tomorrow, look stereotypical. There'll be groups spread out across town, all ones of two. I can explain the plan better when it's time."