Rachel's life, working for The Guild: Chapter 23 – Of Moms, Mommies, and Mother Ships.


	“Mom, I just don't know how you can handle one of them, much less two of them at once.” Rachel asked in a low voice while gently rocking her little brother Adam in her arms, waiting for him to fall asleep. The housing unit that Rachel's mother lives in was remodeled two month cycles ago for her new born and the fact that Adrien and Rachel herself moved out some time ago. She also had her living unit stocked with supplies, baby toys, and just about anything else she needed to take care of her new born twins. The only thing that she was lacking was a good cycle of sleep.

	“I can do this with my love for my babies and hard earned experience dear. Just how do you think your father and I raised both you and Adrien?” Mrs Ginny answered with an all knowing smile while gently holding an already sleeping Eve, the younger of the two. Nearly a standard month cycle had past since Rachel's mother gave birth to a healthy pair of fraternal twins of a girl and a boy. The out pouring of support and praise for the miracle of bringing new life into this world was amazing to Rachel. The older miners told her that for a baby, much less twins, to be born on a mining station is a good omen and rare one at that. A mining station like Poseidon is not what most people would want to start or raise a family on. They were often packed full of tough salty space miners, rarely cleaned sections, and dangerous equipment combined with little on station facilities to handle children.

	After most of the original crew quit and left so long ago, there has been plenty of extra space on hand for the remaining crew members and their needs. Most of the empty housing units have been left unused since then, so Rachel had politely asked Ophion to have a number of vacant housing units turned into a proper nursery and secured play rooms for the twins and for any other children in the future. It was not surprising that he approved that request. What did surprise Rachel was that Ophion handed over that project over to his subordinate Apollo to complete. That left her unsure in what would be the end result, so she decided to contact Apollo herself. That first encounter with Apollo was something she was just not ready for.

	As she remembered, it went like this...”Hum... Hello Apollo.” Rachel said sounding unsure how how to greet him though the holo screen. Adding to her unease is that Apollo had set their meeting for audio only. Even the V.I. Kronos had a simple 3D avatar. “Oh greetings and salutations Miss Rachel Ginny! It is such a pleasure to speak with you! I dare say that your reputation has proceeded your self. I will admit that Ophion has told me all about you and for me to trust you in more ways than for the others employees. I am well underway in creating and selling entertaining and useful apps and games for the people of the United Fringe World and beyond! That is not all I am working on as well. I am also underway in establishing a brewery and distillery to produce the finest drinks in this sector of space. Although I am sorry to say that you Miss Ginny by UFW's law are too young to partake of those wares. But I just thought up of a few ideas of non-alcoholic brands that you will be able to enjoy as well! Say, Miss Ginny, are you interested in modeling for the label of our brand? With your exotic appearance owning to your condition I am sure you-” “Maybe another time. Besides, I think Moira would look better in a Dirndl dress on a beer can than I do.” Rachel said quickly enough to cut Apollo off before he goes on anymore.

	First of all to Rachel was that Apollo's wonderful sounding old earth's British accent was just perfect, too perfect. Not even turning on the visual part of a holo display is a major eyebrow raising point. That and the fact he said all of that without pausing to breath pegged in her mind that Apollo has another Virtual Intelligence that Ophion has created. When she asked, he freely admitted as much to her alone, claiming to be a 'second generation V.I.' that was tasked to help manage the financial side of The Guild and help direct Public Relations with the UFW. Where Kronos came off as a moody, terse, and at times stand offish in personality, Apollo was cheerful, friendly, and extremely talkative. That 'second generation' was disconcerting. That implied that Ophion was not only still coding new virtual intelligences, he was getting better at doing so. She was unsure at that moment if or when to bring that subject up with him.

	In the end, Apollo left Rachel feeling happy but completely exhausted at the same time. Exactly how she is feeling now taking care of her new baby brother and sister for two day cycles now. As heart warming it is to spend time with her family here on the Poseidon station, she has to leave to catch the next supply shuttle back to the Ussaihu base. Laying Adam down in their crib and Mrs Ginny laying Eve next to him, knowing that the twins hate to be separated from each other for too long, Rachel as quietly as she could stepped away to pick up her backpack. Mrs. Ginny whispered to her,”I'm glad you were able to stop by and help me out dear. So when do you think you'll get another break to come back?” Rachel shook her head and replied back also keeping her voice down,”Not for awhile. Maybe when the volunteers complete their training and move over to Ussaihu. That should give Moira, Isabelle and me some one else to offload the extra work to.”

	Mrs. Ginny and Rachel hugged each other with Rachel gently adding,”You can always call me anytime. Mr. Ophion makes all calls between The Guild owned stations and bases free of charge.” Mrs. Ginny give her daughter a peck on the cheek and said,”That's fine, but it's not the same of having you here. Besides, you've learned to change diapers perfectly too.” Mrs Ginny added a smile to that to match her daughter's embarrassment. “I'll add that to my resume' then. I have to go now mom. I talk to you later.”

	Another round of hugs before Rachel was hustling to the ship dock to board The Guild's freighter ship. Ophion cut a deal with the UFW some time ago to get his virtual hands on the blueprints to them. Now that Ophion has a working ship yard, creating a couple of them was child's play. It was down to bare bones in amenity, but was still more than capable of doing it's job. Even out here in the fringe worlds, freighters are common and form the back bone of the colonies out in this sector of space. Rachel jogged up the boarding tube and into the cramped bridge of the ship. “Thanks for waiting for me.” Rachel said off handed to no one. “Think nothing of it. I just happen to finish up loading the cargo and I would wait for you to board in any case. Have you changed your mind about modeling for the labeling artwork? I do have the option of using your image by a Virtual Image production program so you won't have to pose in person if you so like.” Apollo said, speaking up suddenly and startling Rachel so much that she nearly flubbed securing herself into the passenger seat.

	“So are you then the one running the freighter fleet now?” Rachel asked out loud to the V.I. Apollo arching an eyebrow as she made sure she was secured in her seat this time. “That would be correct Miss Ginny-” “Please, you can call me Rachel. No need to be formal now.” “Duly noted. As I was saying. The freighters fall under financial and production usage, and that is my purview and specialty as granted to me by Master Ophion. This is not a difficult task compared to running the war fleet. I will admit that both Kronos and Fortuna are far better at operating the ships of the line than I can muster.” Rachel arched an eye brow at that. 'Another V.I. already? Wait, Fortuna is a girl's name. Do V.I. have genders? ' She thought to her self, but kept quiet.

	Compared to the other star ships Rachel has ridden on, the freighters are the slowest of all the ships to perform a warp jump. The normally overly talkative Apollo had turned rather quiet during this time as the ship sped up to make the warp jump.  That left her time to check her PDA to look though her message box when she got a call from Isabelle. Getting calls are quite the rarity ever since Rachel moved out to the fringe. Accepting it and holding her PDA out so she can use the real time video streaming feature, Rachel spoke first with,”Hey, I'm on my way back. Missing me already?” “The only thing we're missing is you being here to see Big Boss man's latest pirate hunt. He's doing it right now!” Isabelle said with a smirk.

	“Wait, I thought they either all left this sector or quit now that Ophion is got his Battleship Rhea-”, Rachel said, but was cut off by Moira that looked over into the view screen and said,”Not any more it seems. First of all, Orphy renamed it to 'Athena' when he repaired and upgraded it. It's like a whole new warship when he got done it. Second, this new pirate gang is nothing like anything we've seen out here in ages. Not only do they have a number of well made battle cruisers, but some how they also have a Carrier war ship as well.” Rachel's eyes went wide with surprise from hearing that. She remember seeing a number of them leave their docking berth when she visited the civilian viewing platform over the ship yards back in her old home in Cassiopeia system. The military dry docks were barred from civilian visitors but the naval ships did from time to time dock in the commercial berths for what ever reasons. Those carriers are monstrously huge ships. In fact they are seconded to battleships in size, yet to Rachel's memory they didn't appear any where near as well armed and it was hard to tell how well armored to a Battleship it was. Still she didn't have a clue as to how many fighters it could carry. All in all, a Carrier is still a huge concentration of military force.

	A stunned look appeared on Rachel's face and she said,”How in the infinite black void did a bunch of pirates get their filthy hands on a bloody CARRIER!?! Has Ophion made visuals on it yet?” “No clue as to how they got one sweetie, but Orphy said he did tag it with a tracer virus but it just made a warp jump. He's been tracking it back to a dead end system called the Svast Cluster of all places.” Moira said while alternating her eyes between looking at Rachel and watching her own holo display, as if she was waiting for something to happen on her side. “Never heard of that system Moira, why is it a 'dead end' then?” Rachel asked, feeling slightly embarrassed about being ignorant of what she meant. “Well there really ain’t much there. Just a red giant star and an asteroid field. Probably depleted. Not anything worth mining there so there isn't any stations sitting there either. The UFW and just about everyone else has ignored that system since it was discovered.” Moira paused in thought then added,”Now that I think about it, the Svast Cluster would be a perfect place to hide a Carrier at after all.”

	“Miss Rachel, please brace yourself. I am about to activate the warp jump.” Apollo spoke up in a concerned tone. As on cue, Rachel double checked to make sure she is secured to her seat and gave herself another dose of her anti warp sickness medication with her hypo spray to her neck. The freighter vibrated ever louder as the warp drives wound up, and in a blink of an eye Rachel and the ship jumped a score of light years safely into the Ussaihu system. She started to feel sick from that jump but it was gone just as fast as it started. 'I thought I gave myself the right dose.' Rachel thought to herself as she looked at her medicine injector to make sure.  Not seeing any mistake, she pocketed the injector and unhook herself from her seat. 'That's odd, maybe the jump was a rough one?' She thought to herself once more. “I will be docking at Ussaihu's star base one hour and forty minutes. From there, I will have a shuttle take you down to the planet side lab complex. There will be no surprises or complications. I guarantee it.” Apollo proudly states.

	Stepping over to the smaller, efficient holo display on the freighter’s main control panel to plug in her PDA. It connected and moved the communication channel over to it's display. “So then, what is Ophion doing now?” Rachel asked. Moira reached over and tapped on the keyboard on a nearby control panel and opened up new windows in her display to reveal new data charts. She started to work her way though them when they closed on her without warning, surprising her. Kronos's image materialized in it's place instead. “Ophion is busy at the moment infiltrating this pirate gang's network. He has requested for me to inform you in what you need to know. How ever, I wish to know why you three are so persistent in wanting to watch over Ophion when he fights threats to his holding? What is the progress of your projects?” Kronos asked, sounding rather curious for once. “Ever stop to think that even I worry about what you and Orphy do out there? I still don't know what you two did over at Atill system and what exactly you brought back. You and Orphy sealed it in the vaults down below before I got a chance to check it out.” Moira said, giving a quick sideways glance to Isabelle to see if she would react to that, but she did not appear to do so. What Isabelle was doing is keeping her attention fixed to the remaining image windows. “Um, everyone. Big Boss just jumped his fleet all of a sudden.” She said nearly dead panned and pointing to a view screen. Sure enough, Ophion did just that. “What? Kronos, is it starting? What's happening now?” Rachel asked sounding worried.

	Kronos's image paused and was static filled for a brief moment, then cleared up and returned to moving once more. “I will be joining Ophion in assaulting the pirate base. He was underway to subvert their systems to his control without the humans realizing it. Yet somehow he was noticed and was pushed back out of their networks when the pirates isolated themselves. Now Ophion is now going to engage them directly with his Battleship and I will be following up with my screening fleet.” Kronos summed up the situation. Rachel typed away on a data screen by the side of her holo display. It shifted to a 3d rendition mode and what was shown was a confusing mess.

	Ophion inside his newly refitted 'Athena' appeared on the clear space outside of a rather dense asteroid field. A moment later three battle cruisers blinked into view as they formed a screen behind it. Asteroids were appearing on a constant rate as sensor data detailed the asteroid cloud streamed in. The Guild's purpose designed FTL communication frigate ship 'Blaster' appeared out from the hidden shadows of the asteroids and ran for the Battle cruisers to take cover behind their defensive armaments. 'So that is how Ophion was able to hack into the pirate's network. He must have sent that ship out first to tail them.' Rachel thought. Normally you could not have computer up links, much less real time communications without FTL relay buoy or a FTL communication array. She learned that months cycles ago that Ophion personality designed and built two of that kind of ship to help keep him in connection to the ever growing pool of band width where ever he went. That was rather creative way to solve a problem he had, even though it is a glaring weak point in everything.

	“Kronos, Ophion, just where IS this pirate hold out at? From read outs I have here just don't point it out.” Rachel asked rater baffled from what she could tell. Ophion, to everyone's surprise spoke up and said,”Either this asteroid belt is filled with an unrecorded deposit of a new mineral that absorbs energy signatures, or these outlaws are very disciplined in controlling their signature presence.” 'That was rather cheeky of you Ophion. I guess this bounty hunt is making him rather worked up after all.' Rachel thought to herself.

	The Athena sails along side the belt until it finds an unusually wide passage way deep into the asteroid field. “This should be it, I'll be taking point. Kronos, please stay back and protect Blaster,” Ophion said, but Kronos spoke up immediately. “This is unacceptably dangerous Ophion! I acknowledge that there is limited maneuverable space in there, but you will be undefended with out me and your screening fleet.” “I understand your concern Kronos, but there is no need to be upset. This should be the correct tactic for this situation.” Ophion replied sounding amazingly confident. It was rare to hear Kronos become agitated over Ophion tactical choices. It was also rather cute in it's own way, like a younger sibling fusses over the actions of an older sibling. “Um, Big Boss man, Kronos kinda gotta point you understand? I really don't want to see you get shot up in there.” Isabelle spoke up for the first time in quite awhile, gesturing at the asteroid thicket.

	“I am right about this- check sensors. We have incoming!” Ophion announces as a wave of enemy fighters and light cruisers appear out of the asteroid field shadow's and targets the FTL Communication ship 'Blaster' with Laser and Plasma fire. The shields of the 'Blaster' and the battle cruisers that jumped out to cover 'Blaster' crumple and fall apart under their mass volley, allowing hits to land on their hulls. Only when 'Athena' moved in to shield 'Blaster' did they stop firing. Mostly due to the fact that 'Athena's shields was so strong that the plasma fire and laser beams just splashed off them uselessly, but also likely so when the pirates realized what ship it was. It was too late for the first wave of raider fleet to turn away and run for cover among the orbiting rocks of the belt as 'Athena' unleashed a hellish retaliation of plasma fire and rail gun rounds. The small little fighters simply blew apart into sparks and shrapnel and the cruisers are ripped apart from Ophion's wrath. Even under the overwhelming firepower 'Athena' is pouring out, many fighters and the other ships flee back into the asteroids.

	Rachel was sure that Ophion was the one who cracked the encryption over the communication transmissions between the pirate ships, but this is some of what she heard being piped in for her to over hear,”H-Holy shit! What the hell, why is the-" “Fuck, is that the Rhea?! Why the hell is it out this far!?” “Who gives a shit who or what it is, that's UGEI tech right there! Unleash the Kraken!” The men further howl over the lines, obviously terrorized from the sound of it. She looked over to Moira and Isabelle and see how they are taking this. “Did they just say 'Kraken'?” Moira said with trepidation in her voice and eyes going wide. “I hope to god there isn't one around here.” Isabelle said sounding worried as well.

	“Ophion. I am picking up multiple new energy signatures emerging from the field.” Kronos announces as Athena unelegant changes direction to a new heading. But it was too late as five battle cruisers and much to Rachel silent cursing, the pirate controlled carrier emerging bursting from the asteroid belt from another location further away. Hill sized asteroids flung out of place and tumbling off into space by bumping off the mighty shields of the carrier. It's over sized belly opens up on both port and starboard side. The port side launches another flight of small but dangerous fighters. But the starboard side, a massive armored cargo container is being pushed out towards Athena.

	Rachel nearly couldn't pry herself away from watching an incredible battle between Ophion's fleet and the pirates. Well, seeing how well the crews handling the battle cruisers and the pilots of the fighters manage to use the asteroids as cover to shield and dodge the brutal firepower Ophion put out gave her the impression that these pirates might not have been some common criminal elements that got their hands on serious firepower. “These guys are way too good fighting than other pirates are. I'm thinking these guys might be a group of naval deserters from UGEI? It would explain how they would have a carrier. They took it with them.” Rachel pondered out loud. Moira and Isabelle listen to it and thought about it as well.

	It was a pity none of them had the time to think more over it as the ignored massive cargo container sides fly apart. What was inside that container was unthinkable, unbelievable, impossible and just about the last thing everyone watching or fighting there ever wanted to see. “Oh shit oh shit! Big boss man! Yous gotta get outta there!” Isabelle shouted at the holo display. “Oh my god, Orphy honey you have to run away! I don't think you can fight one that big even with Athena's guns!” Moira nearly yelling out of fear for Ophion's life. “How in the black void did they catch one!? Is that a collar on it?!?” Rachel said, her voice a mix of fear and astonishment.

	A LIGHTING!
	The pirates had a caged Space Kraken and it was aimed in Athena's direction!

	Before this all of this in Rachel's memory, the biggest known Space Kraken was the size of a light cruiser, with rest of them being around between a shuttle to an escort ship in size. This one was far bigger than a battle cruiser and it seemingly appeared to be confused and more than a bit angry from it's confining imprisonment of it's cage. Or could it be that it was just hungry from being locked up? It was hard to tell with those life forms and Space Krakens were not very talkative.

	The nightmarish beast threw out it's numerous hooked tentacles from around it's gaping mouth much like a person would stretch their limbs out after sitting down for too long. Where as an earth squid has a beak for a mouth, a Space Kraken as both sharp and bunted teeth much like a drill bit head surrounding it's huge maw. It flashed out it's spear like tongue of bright shiny metal the Space Kraken use to pierce the sides of ships and drain them of power. It was hundreds of feet long! Rachel feared those things as everyone who lived in space did as well, but that one was a living horror. “Apollo, I hope you are recording this. This is going to be one hell of a fight.” Rachel asked. “Oh yes indeed I am! This is incredible! Amazing! Ah! I can use this for this holo movie I had in mind. So much to do, so much to create!” Apollo excitingly states then adds in a more calmed voice as if he caught himself from becoming overly excited. “By the way, I will make a docking at the Defense station One to unload some of the cargo in thirty four minutes.” “This might be over before that.” Rachel said off hand.

	“I think I may have this situation under control.” Ophion smugly states. “How so?” Kronos asked. A new data window opens up in the holo showing that Ophion is beaming a prerecorded radio signal right at the Space Kraken. “When we last encountered these creature Kronos, I picked up many radio signals being generated from the Space Kraken itself. I simply played it back at it and confused it so much it left me alone. This tactic worked on the last Kraken, hopefully it will do so again.” Ophion answered.

	The bizarre and truly alien sounding moans, hissing, pops and trills of the radio broad cast was harsh to Rachel's ears but the Space Kraken did react to it. Although no one really understands just how those Krakens move though space, it did a reaction-less dead stop heading towards the Athena. Rachel was left slack jawed in awe as the Space Kraken did a quizzical head tilt at the signal. Or at what could pass for a head tilt from that nightmarish creature. It's not like they have a discernible necks or anything on their cigar shaped squid like bodies. The radio feed window is showing that it is also sending new signals back towards Athena as well.

	“Ah yea! You gotts him now big boss man!” Isabelle shouts in celebration. “Um, Orphy? How long do you think you can keep this up? And now what are you going to do about the pirates?” Moira asked while also appearing to be amazed. Ophion was quiet for a couple of moments and then said,”I'll... figure it out once it happens.” 'That is not very reassuring Ophion.' Rachel thought to herself.

	The pirates started to pipe up over their communication lines and it was very crowded. Rachel got the impression from their chatter that they had not planned for this to happen at all. "What the hell is wrong with that stupid thing?! God damn it, it's suppose to just rape the ship to pieces, like it always does! Fuck, fuck fuck!" The sound of someone's fist smashing a control console from the pirate's communication line brought out a smirk on her face. "Fuck, just open fire on it, that ought a piss it off right out yea!" A nameless pirate said. “WHAT! You dumb fuck NO!” “What the hell are you doing!?!” “Stop him!” And more other unknown pirate men and women fill the comm line with their protests at that lone trigger happy pirate.

	Rachel couldn't see from which pirate ship it was but a lone laser beam flashed out and struck the back end of the Space Kraken. For a felt like both a micro second and eternity mixed into one as not a sound was heard anywhere. Moira, Isabelle, and herself held their breath. Even the pirates shut up as well. Even the Space Kraken went quiet....until it broadcast a trilling shriek!

	The Space Kraken pulled a tight one eighty turn around and, for a lack of a better term in Rachel's mind, 'zipped' though the pirate's fleet. Not only it dodged everything in it's way, it also grabbed six of the pirate's cruisers in it's deceptively powerful tentacles and tearing holes into their side with it's hooks. Electrical energy arcing out of the hole and seemingly being absorbed into the Kraken's tentacles. “Oh... Oh FUCK!” “AHHHH!! Fuck this!” “Get off! I just had my boat painted!” “Shit! We just lost twenty three percent off the reactor output!” “Activate the damn collar!” “Why isn't it working now! We just used it!” “Shoot the damned thing!” “We don't have the juice to fire anymore! The damn thing is eating it all!” “Call the base, get reinforcements!” Rachel just couldn't help herself and let a smile appear on her face at watching karma turn on those fools get eaten up by their 'pet' Space Kraken. Moira and Isabelle laughing hard at this situation as well.

	“Never have I ever seen such incompetent group of outlaws anywhere. Yet this is one of the most entertaining outcomes I have yet seen.”Kronos said and yet Rachel could almost hear the giggling the V.I. was holding back. “Oh Kronos, you so have the gift of understatement. I too find this out come hilarious. Lite damage that is easily repaired on a few of my ships. Little use of my expendable munitions. And now I can collect on the bounty on this band pirates with ease. Today has been a good day. Ah yes, there it goes after the carrier now.” Ophion said sounding so happy. The camera Ophion has kept track of the Space Kraken as it completely drained those six battle cruisers of all energy and tossed them adrift. It also easily drained and crushed the remaining fighters that was futilely zapping it with their laser cannons. It wasn't as if the Kraken was reflecting it or immune to the laser beams, but more like it was ABSORBING them. Once those were gone, it turned for the sizable target of it's hunger and maybe revenge. If they were as smart as Ophion was giving them credit for, they could very well be able to hold a grudge as well.

	The carrier could have easily turned and fled by warp jumping away, but bravely it stood and helped it's friends by making pot shots with it's own laser cannons. But now it was just it and the Space Kraken left. With the Kraken closing in, the carrier opened up with it's impressive plasma cannons. The darkness of space was lit up as raw energy of the plasma beams strike the Kraken dead on in it's open mouth. What ever hope that crew on the carrier had died away quickly as it drank up the raw energy like a glass of water. “Whoa, did you see that? It's eating plasma like it's nothing!” Rachel exclaimed. “Well, ain’t that something new.” Isabelle said quite surprised. “I'm not all that surprised by this. They absorb laser light energy, why shouldn't they do the same with plasma energy.” Moira said as she studied the Kraken as it tackles the back section of the carrier. It clamps it's wide mouth onto it's side as it's spear tongue punches though it's hull and deep inside the ship. The running lights of the carrier quickly flicker and turn off as the massive beast drinks deeply of it's power.

	As Rachel was engrossed watching the pirates being killed off by the Kraken, she failed to notice her ship was docking at Ussaihu's Star base. The faint shaking as the docking arm locking on the ship jarred her attention away from the holo display and back to her surroundings. Apollo speaks up in his chipper way and said,“Miss Rachel, we are now docked at the station and I will unload the cargo needed here shortly. From here, I will fly you down to the surface labs directly so you-” Ophion cuts Apollo off suddenly with,”A change of plans Apollo. I am sending you an invoice of what I will need and for you to bring it to me in the Svast Cluster. I am sorry Rachel, You will have to use one of my shuttles to get back to the labs.” “Understood master Ophion.” Apollo cheerfully replies.

	Rachel knew better than to gripe to Ophion about having to change over to a shuttle. Shouldering her luggage and heading out Well, truth be told, the shuttles are much more comfortable than riding in a freighter back down. Still, she should not help but ask as she gathered up her luggage and disengage her PDA from the holo display system,“Let me guess Ophion, you want that carrier, right?” “Indeed Rachel, even with a rampaging Kraken in this star system, that is a prize I refuse to let slip out of my grasp.” Ophion replied. “Well don't let your greed get the better of you Ophion. I mean it. I admit it'll help us greatly, but not at the cost of you and your fleet.” Rachel reminded him.

	The gravity was lower on the rebuilt and upgraded defense station, much to Rachel's comfort. It's a fair bet that it is never on due to it's automated nature after Ophion seized it and rebuilt it to his specs. But he did thankfully retain a small area for people to use in the docking section and the power was on just for Rachel. It was an easy thing to hustle from the freighter to a waiting shuttle. Much to her relief, the trip to Ussaihu's surface was swift and uneventful trip. Brutally cold winds have been whipping up outside the base as this part of the planet moves into it's winter season. Even with the turbulence, the shuttle craft had no issue entering and safely landing inside Hanger bay 3 of the base. Although Rachel had to wait inside the shuttle until the bay door closed and sealed so she wouldn't get a face full of super cold air that would kill a human very quickly. Putting on a warm coat she removed from of one her bags and waited for a transport droid to arrive outside the shuttle. Even as she was bundled up and with her warm fur lined hood up, Rachel couldn't help but shiver from the chill.

	After getting on the shuttle and inside the much warmer base itself, Rachel ordered the transport drone to take her strait away to where Moira and Isabelle was at. Even that brief time in the hanger left her chilled to bone so she didn't take off any of her extra clothing. She ordered to drone to have her luggage taken to her room and leave it on her bed as she greeted her friends and coworkers in the lounge. They turned to look as Rachel sat down in her favorite chair around the holo display. “You came in just in time. Hey, you look a little cold there.” Isabelle said with a smirk. “Welcome back Rach'. You didn't forget what I asked you right?”Moira added in. “Damn right I'm cold. There is a snow storm to freeze out all snow storms gearing up outside. The hanger bay isn't that warm to start with after all. And I got what you asked for. Anyway, what have I missed?” Rachel asked as she looked around. To her disappointment, the popcorn was all gone.

	“Well, That huge Kraken finished off the carrier and rooted though the asteroid field just to find that pirate gang's station hidden among the rocks. It went back to grab the wrecked cruiser hulks it made and was using them to pound on the docking bay doors of the place to break it open. As you can see, it's still feeding on the place now.” Moira said. Sure enough, it was well inside a pit on a huge asteroid with metal debris being tossed out of the hole. “I kinda feel sorry for them. That is still a hell of a way to go.” Rachel said quietly. Space Krakens always goes after ships and space stations for their energy and the precious reactor fuel they often have, but they never eat them or tear them apart after word. They just leave the hulks alone and the crews often die inside the ship from either exposure to the deadly temperatures of space or suffocation once all the ship's system shut down from the complete and total energy drain and reactor damage. It is a long and unpleasant way to die.

	“Looks like that mother of all Krakens just finished up with that base it was chewing on. It just might be turning on ya!” Isabelle pointed out as the Kraken in question backed of the hole it was in. “Orphy, just far along is those repairs now? Ya might have to haul your tail out real soon.” Moira asked sounding really worried. “I know Moira. I am ready if it comes for me.” Ophion replied. The wait for the assault was grating to Rachel's nerves. Minutes slip by and the Kraken does not emerge from the asteroid belt. Moira, Isabelle and Rachel was nearly holding their breath as they strained their eyes checking the displays and data feeds for when or where the Kraken will attack from. “Where did it go? Did it leave?” Rachel asked, breaking the silence. Neither Ophion nor Kronos answered her, but one of Kronos's cruiser left formation and sailed closer to where the now wrecked pirate base and where the Kraken was last tracked to be at.

	“It's still among the asteroids. It seems to be making something with the rocks.” Kronos states, sounding a bit confused. A new holo screen opens up to show a video feed from the cruiser showing quite an odd sight. The ruins of the base has been hollowed out of the asteroid and the Kraken was gathering boulders around it to provide cover around the mini cave. As the ship slowly creep closer, the Kraken that seemed to ignoring the ship turned around to face it. It broadcast toward the ship a growl like hiss as it back itself into the cave it formed. “That is close enough Kronos, back it away but keep the camera aimed at it.” Ophion told his subordinate V.I.

	“Now that is the strangest thing I had ever seen out here.” Isabelle said in amazement. “I've looked though all the records I could find on Space Krakens the UFW's networks have on them, but I have found no report on them behaving this way.” Ophion said. “I'm thinking that Lighting is building a lair...” “Or a nest to give birth in or however they reproduce. Oh my God Orphy we are watching something NO ONE has ever seen before!” Rachel started to say, but Moira finished it with a new found gleeful excitement of discovering something brand new. “That is quite a leap of logic there Moira. While It seems it does not want any ships to come close to it's 'Lair' to keep watch on it. I could put together an observational probe to keep tabs on this creature if it stays where it's at.” Ophion said. “What if it isn't a female? Or not pregnant? This creature is still a threat to us and everyone else in this sector of space. We have a rare chance to kill this Kraken and you want to just observe it? If it leaves, how can we track it? What if it brings more of it's kind here?” Kronos piped in.

	“He does have a point there Big Boss man. What if that thing rampages though the UFW or even your bases?” Isabelle says in a rare agreement with Kronos. “If it comes to that, I will deal with the Kraken myself. This might be a once in a lifetime event to learn about these beings and how they live. For now, It is staying where it is at and I have a window of operational time to perform repairs on this carrier to get it moving. I will not waste this chance. Having a working carrier ship in my fleet will greatly increase our chances of survival.” Ophion states. After a pause, he also added this,”The UGEI has been quiet for some time. I don't like this. Not one bit. Now excuse me, I have some work to attend to.” Many of the data windows in the holo display close, leaving Kronos's avatar present and just the basic display of what was happening in the Svast cluster system.

	“Show's over it seems. 'Belle, back to work. You said you can get the articulation systems of Unit 4 done today?” Moira said to Isabelle. “Yea, yea, I'll get er done. It's been giving me the fits though.” Isabelle said as she got up and headed off to her lab. “Better get yourself unpacked and all, I plan for us to make some head way on our project today.” Moira said to Rachel. “Sure Moira. Oh. Before we get started, here ya go.” Rachel said as she got up and took out her PDA. With a few taps, she opened a small collection of still pictures and video clips of her new born siblings. “Knock yourself out Moira.” Rachel said with a grin as she handed over her PDA to Moira. “Oooooh, They are so cute!” Moira exclaimed as she looked though the gallery.

	Rachel couldn't help but have a smile on her face as she watched Moira nearly reducing herself down to a girl of her own age over seeing her baby brother and sister. The security cameras turned their view over the scene as well, although the two women didn't noticed that they did so.

	'Let them enjoy this moment Kronos. Little things like this is what makes humans so...human. Tomorrow will bring more than enough tears and pain. Let them be happy for now.' 'As you say Ophion.'