Xeno Core

The crew works tirelessly hauling long flat trays from the refrigerated storage racks installed in the back of Jumper. Thin misty vapors drift along the deck plating, pooling around the armored boots of the busy workers.

Frozen ova, ready to be activated at any time, printed by a machine I wish we had access to. The temperature-controlled storage system will also be deconstructed and used on the station, part of the medical wing that will be dug out any day now.

Lead Engineer Tulson Rah stands by the gangplank, directing the flow of workers around her. Next to her Terla activates circuitry built into one of the flat containers, sparking the development of the eggs inside and raising their internal temperatures sharply.

"Get those eggs down to the main chamber," Tulson orders, her breath forming clouds in the chilly air. "They should be hatching by the end of the shift."

Nodding his understanding, Dunc takes the tray carefully from Terla and follows the rest of the crew. His movements are stiff and careful, not yet fully recovered from his most recent training drill.

Out the cargo hatch, down the docking spire, then deeper into the hollowed interior of Kalibern the crew carry their trays, full of rapidly warming eggs. The speed of their development is augmented in some ways I'm unable to track.

Running scanning rays across one of the trays reveals that circuits printed inside it are dissolving even as they channel energies into the quickened eggs.

In addition, there are twenty-four large plasticine barrels. They're being rolled one at a time by Spen Dondrik down the long hallway to the new fields. Each time he arrives with a barrel, a swift kick is delivered directly to its center, causing rends and splitting. The young officer then continues rolling the leaking container until all the dirt is out. He even gives it a good shake to be sure it's empty.

A dirty heap of splintered brown plasticine attests to the hard work done by our newest Operative. I'll be sure to send Uhgun down later, to recycle the remains.

"Found them!" The shout comes from inside Jumper and is followed by a series of grunts before Diplomat Spere walks triumphantly down the gang plank. In her arms is a tray quite similar to those the other crewmembers have been carrying, but this one contains no eggs.

Instead, this tray speeds the germination of seeds ranging in size from small black specks to nuts three bits across. Marta follows the stream of busy workers into the station.

It's bigger inside every time she comes here, but she's in no danger of becoming lost. Marta's been an integral part of the planning sessions that have guided the growth of the station. She's walked these corridors in total darkness, when power supplies were more limited.

Moving confidently from chamber to chamber, she stops only long enough in each room to transfer a few tender green sprouts to planters and other designated green zones. A cheerful tune accompanies her, humming happily as she works. Already the place is beginning to feel less stark and cold.

Each chamber is given a different mixture of plants. Swift growing vines, hardy bushes, and ground covering mosses are among the most common, but nearly every plant is edible in some way. Selected as much for the berries and nuts that will be grown as for the color they will provide to their surroundings, there are even spices growing amid the planters.

When her tour of the complex tunnel network is complete she sighs, looking down at the doomed specimens she still carries. "Let's get you little guys back up to the Resurgent," she says sadly.

---

A rumbling laugh echoes out of the Tserri quarters. Vren stands in the barracks with Teah, deep laughter pouring from him as he is unable to contain his amusement.

"It isn't funny, Vren," the tawny furred engineer complains to her commanding officer. "All my hard work, gone! Nothing to show for days at the workbench." She paces as she talks, all of her arms waving around her, her claws snapping shut on thin air.

The crate she hauled back to her bunk is nearly empty, only a few unsold dice remain.

"You should have let them keep more of their chits. Is it any wonder they accused you of cheating?" Vren tries consoling the engineer, but she growls and swings her claws, as if attacking his words.

"They chose the stakes," she barks out. "Whose fault is it if they cannot call out their plays? Points not claimed do not increase one's score."

"Did you gamble all of your profits?"

"No," she hisses angrily. "But I did not earn enough for the tool I wanted. The winnings would have purchased it."

Vren shrugs elaborately before bending over and opening the storage chest at the end of his bunk. "It is not the latest model," he complains as he pulls out an advanced multitool, complete with variable interface. It's even dark green. He closes the trunk with a loud click and places the tool casually on top.

A quick glance at the lighter furred officer and he turns his back on her. Vren then walks out, without saying anything more.

The door closes behind him and Teah leaps at the shining green tool. Cradling it in her arms like her own baby, her purring can be heard out in the corridor.

Vren smiles as he walks to the officers' lounge.

Jim Tollek greets him as he enters. Waving to the empty seat across from him, Tollek pours drinks from a bottle of thick red juice.

"You were correct, Jim. They decided to rob her, claiming recompense for gambling losses," the dark furred officer says as he sits down, gladly accepting the drink.

"Dunc never could stomach losing. Did she like it?"

A single nod and Vren takes a deep drink of his juice. "She will be busy tinkering for some time, I suspect," he says with a throaty chuckle.

Tollek's broad smile dominates his face. He swirls his drink around in one hand. "The Cabin is already on her way out of the system." The smile fades slightly before he continues, "Back to safer pastures. We can't leave until the station is finished." A long drink drains his glass and he sets it down. "Or another battleship shows up."

"The work progresses admirably. Did Wollen leave any crew behind for Kalibern?"

"You don't usually ask stupid questions. What's really on your mind?"

Vren looks up, surprise evident on his face. He stands and walks over to the bar, which he leans against. "Will my people be required to stay behind once this ship leaves?"

"Huh." Tollek stands up as well but walks past Vren and takes up position behind the bar. "Did you know Mos Denn's been trying to distill alcohol for us?" He bends over and enters a string of numbers on the safe built into the bar. Air hisses as hermetic seals are broken, allowing a secure vault to be accessed.

Jim reaches in and pulls out the product of long experimentation. "This one's from an almost palatable batch," he says as he pulls the stopper out of the end of the chilled bottle. Some orange foam drizzles out the end.

Vren smiles and puts two glasses on the table. Jim raises the bottle to his mouth and takes a pull. He hands it then to Vren and wipes foam from his face.

"Strong," says the Tserri after taking a first drink. He takes another before handing it back.

It isn't long before the two are laughing together like old friends. Slapping each other companionably on arms and shoulders while telling ribald jokes.

The two are eventually joined by Gelly, skin flaking horribly. Roaring with good humor they hand him the bottle.

I knew alcohol was important to their culture. It's rewarding being able to help them.

After they empty the bottle, the three companions begin to teach each other war songs.

The song that Vren tries to teach them isn't anything their throats could imitate, but their attempts cause the normally stoic warrior to fall to the ground in fits of laughter. The two gray-skinned officers howl at each other drunkenly until passing crewmembers begin to throw trash at them.

Tollek then starts a marching song his mother used to sing, with Gelly singing along. Vren can't stop laughing long enough to catch his breath. Gelly makes up for it by pantomiming the impossible actions he and Jim are singing about.

After they calm down a little, Gelly stands up. "It goes a bit like this. Now, mind I've only one mouth and no gills, but let's give it a go."

The noises he begins to emit would stop the blood in my body cold, if I still had either.