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[sub][ [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4999130]Prev[/url] ] [b] [/b][color=#00bfff]“[b]PASSING THROUGH GETHSEMANE[/b], Part IV” [/color] [ [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5023009]Next[/url] ][/sub][/center][COLOR=1E90FF][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]G O R A N G K A A[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][INDENT][INDENT][sup][color=gold]Kymellian Agricultural Colony | The Milky Way Galaxy[/color][/sup][/INDENT][/INDENT]
[indent][color=silver]A pair of gangly legs jutted from out of the ceiling.

The young Kymellian was contorted inside of a maintenance shaft, grease-marked and stained, as his large, three-fingered hands manipulated the variety of crystalline components that were arrayed about. The repairs to the smartship continued at a snail’s pace, though the addition of one more to the task had at least allowed the work to progress better than had Alora continued on her own.

Besides, Kofi’s leadership had nearly cost them the planet. As it happened, it had cost the Majesdanian Light Brigade dearly for the ships that had been lost in the haphazard defense of the Kymellian colony. So, he sent G’Kar to deal with the Council. He need not be there in person for Lord Aelfyre’s commands to be brought back to him or carried out.

Add to which, the manual labor helped to take the boy’s mind off of how dire the situation had become. 

[color=#ffd966]“Lord Whitemane.”[/color]

The Okaaran’s voice filtered up from the deck plates. Billy Batson might have just jumped down from the overhead. The Kymellian, by contrast, just shimmered out of existence -- only to appear standing beside the massive Warlord a moment later.

[color=#ffd966]“What progress?”[/color] G’Kar asked. As direct as ever.

[color=#00ffff]“Alora believes that the jump drive will be operational again momentarily. Communications appear to be functional. The diagnostics check out, but I can’t seem to get a signal to Billy,”[/color] the boy noted aloud, summarizing the progress of the last several hours. As for the artificial intelligence itself, those repairs were beyond Kofi’s art. They would need to put in at a Kymellian star port so that a qualified technomancer could evaluate the damage.

[color=#00ffff]“What news?”[/color] the grease-stained colt asked, turning the conversation back to the meeting that G’Kar had attended. The Okaaran was back sooner than anticipated.

The Warlord did not look pleased. [color=#ffd966]“Reports of a Shi’ar fleet massing near Chall,”[/color] the massive warrior-scholar noted grimly.

[color=#00ffff]“So soon?”[/color] the boy uttered, his ears perked upward but his head downturned as he seemed to mull the revelation over. Chall was close enough that a Shi’ar stargate could put a fleet overhead in a matter of [b]hours[/b], not days. If the Shi’ar were massing, it was certain that an attack was imminent. [color=#00ffff]“They can’t mean to attack again,”[/color] the boy remarked, looking up at G’kar as if for confirmation.

The Okaaran’s face was that of a man resigned to the harsh realities of war.

[color=#00ffff]“Unless...”[/color] Kofi began, trailing off as he, instead, tapped his communicator. [color=#00ffff]“Alora, any luck contacting the Starjammers?”[/color]

[color=#f4cccc][i]“I managed to make contact with a friend of a friend,”[/i][/color] the Majesdanian’s teen supplied in answer, filtering back over the connection. [i][color=#f4cccc]“No word.”[/color][/i]

The boy was quiet for a moment. Then, finally, he turned his head up toward G’Kar. [color=#00ffff]“They know,”[/color] the young Kymellian stated finally. [color=#00ffff]“They know Billy’s not here.”[/color]

The Warlord merely nodded in agreement. [color=#ffd966]“Then they will be coming,”[/color] G’Kar warned solemnly.[/color][/indent]
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[indent][color=silver][i][color=#ffd966]“...our combat forces will draw the enemy toward the edge of the system, providing cover for the transports to make their escape.”[/color][/i]

The assembled militia were gathered around the Warlord of Okaara, as G’kar supplied the briefing that explained the plan to evacuate the colony.

There were people who doubted. People who thought that Kofi was yielding to nothing more than fear and suspicion.

Those doubts seemed moot as the first alarms sounded through the hangar. [i]“Warning: Incoming stargate. Repeat, incoming stargate.”[/i]

[color=#00ffff]“Give the evacuation order,”[/color] Kofi uttered, in an unusually firm tone for him. The authority afforded the Kymellian Technomancy’s aristocracy had never settled well on his young shoulders. Glancing around at the assembled pilots and officers, the boy added, [color=#00ffff]“Then get to your transports.”[/color]

Of course, they would be joining that fight.

A particular sense of foreboding and dread sank into the boy’s stomach. With a wave of his hand, a shimmering light seemed to surround both himself and G’Kar...

...after which both appeared on the bridge of the Smartship Friday. 

Alora was already at the navigation controls, bringing life back to the repaired ship. As both Kofi and G’Kar took their seats, the ship was starting to take off.

[color=#ffd966]“Shields at maximum,”[/color] the Okaaran declared from the boy’s right. [color=#ffd966]“Weapons at your command.”[/color]

[color=#00ffff]“At your discretion, Warlord,”[/color] Kofi answered, before leaning forward. Through the viewport, he could see the line of Shi’ar cruisers approaching.

Well, this was familiar at least. 

[color=#00ffff]“Alora, let’s give the Shi’ar something to shoot at.”[/color][/color][/indent]