[b]Innocence Lost - Double-Post[/b]

John was tempted to trust this guy and his affable manner, but held that sentiment back as it would alienate Rachel. He instead said, "May we know your name, then?"

He had not returned to full human form yet, but had shifted back to human [i]shape[/i] (fully clothed and armored) as the affable man talked. He then saw the girl - Now [i]she[/i] had magic - and said, "Now, who are [i]you[/i]? Another one of the 'Secret Regiments' come to join us, or a Loyalist? If the former, what is your code?" He then looked around at both newcomers and said, "Either way, we don't want a massacre; it'd be a public relations disaster and is furthermore unecessary."

He faced the mercenary. "Nevertheless, it is good to know we have potential friends and allies. Will you accompany us further into the ship, then, where we can watch each other more closely?"

-------

Snow Cecil found Gog and Magog just outside the ship; the two Tayanen had shifted into amorphous blobs by then. Without hesitation, these two blobs combined together into one and carried off the exhausted boy back to the countryside around the crashed wreck. Behind another hill, within a grove of trees, lay a small starfighter, one that carried a prototype spacewarping engine. Getting inside its cockpit, Snow activated the starfighter comms, finally messaging [i]his handler[/i].

"Agent Provocateur Snow Cecil to Grand Admiral [i]Alexander Kherol[/i], do you copy? Repeat: Do you copy?" A pause as he waited for the man to reply. "The mission has been successful; the Farmers not only rebelled too early to build up support in other worlds, but even with Moonstrike aid, they're slated to fall in two weeks. As for the Prison Ship [I]Circle of Hell[/i], we've successfully lured in Moonstrike operatives on a doomed rescue mission, but doing so created antagonism with mercenaries presumably in Ascendancy Service. Any recommendations?"

[@Gentlemanvaultboy][@Starlance][@Bartimaeus][@Stern Algorithm][@Crowvette][@KillamriX88][@The Jest][@CriticalHit]