I came in low, trying a simple attack by using my left hand as a distraction. I stepped in, firing an open-handed jab like a boxer. As I expected, Fend Rakar easily stepped back to avoid my predictable offensive move. The large sentinel moved as quick as his brethren, his size not slowing him down at all despite the extra muscles on him.

I saw him angling to swat my arm away as I kept the palm of my hand splayed out, occupying him sightline while my knife hand came in low as I attempted to skewer him in the kidney. That is, if he actually had one. I was not well versed in Inugorian pgysiology.

Rakar saw the motion of my right hand and intercepted it with a downward sweeping block. He timed it so that he would hit my wrist, jarring the knife from my grip. I was now disarmed and facing an expert combatant.

Yet, not all was lost.

The knife strike was also a gambit on my part. With both of his hands out of position, I pushed with my back foot, propelling myself bodily forward. I tucked my chin in and shifted forward as I accelerated towards the surprised Inugorian.

My shoulder hit him in the stomach as I threw all my weight behind the charge. The sudden exhalation of breath almost had my hopes up but it was like hitting a padded wall. I rebounded back and tripped on my own feet, sprawling backward.

I laid on the ground panting as I tried to get air into my lungs. I cursed in frustration as that was the closest I have ever been to actually touch the sentinel.

"That was very good. I suspect that if you have been fighting a less trained human then that human would have been the one on the ground. Excellent application of distraction and follow-up." The dark bulk of the amused Fend Rakar observed while proving commentary as I continued getting my breath back.

"Still didn't save me though." I gasped. The sentinel offered a hand up and lifted me back to a standing position with no effort at all. Damn, he's just so strong.

"It would have earned a black mark on my record if that attack had arrived at your predicted conclusion. You seem to forget that I'm one of the protectors of the trees of Inugoria. The commander no less. It would take much, much more for me to suffer an attack." There was no arrogance in the Inugorian's tone. He was stating a fact that I was in agreement with.

"Still makes me feel like shit." I complained. The coughing sound of an Inugorian laughing was all the response that I got from him. I walked over to my dropped practice knife. It was of familiar design though with a longer handle to accommodate the longer fingers of Inugorians. It was the smallest fighting knife design they had so I made do with it.

"You are comparing yourself to somebody that has trained since leaving the safety of the crèshe. I've been fighting the foes of Inugoria and the Galactic Alliance for the better part of fifty galactic standard years. You might be talented with the small blade but not enough to lay low a prepared enemy.

Still, you have shown yourself as competent with it still in your hand rather than just when throwing. There will come a time that you would only have one at hand and it would be folly to gamble it on a debilitating or killing throw. I would suggest that you find yourself a trainer, once you are back in your ship, and learn faithfully the ways of the short blade.

Yes, before you say it, I know that you are not a foot soldier but it would only do you good to learn how to properly defend yourself. It would lessen the chance of you spilling important parts of your anatomy on the floor."

Fend Rakar was the one that suggested that I try sparring with him with a practice blade. He had few more tricks he taught me to improve my knife-throwing skills but I was pretty much good at it. He wanted to see if I was any good at it in a straight up fight so hence the sparring. It became very apparent that I didn't know what I was doing so the sentinel stopped the sparring and proceeded to instruct me on the intricacies of close quarter combat. He gave me very basic instructions as this was a one-off thing but I was surprised that I was not horrible at it. Fend Rakar guessed that my long familiarly with the knife made it easy for me to wield it and my childhood history of playing sports helped my balance and footwork. For an amateur.

The flavor of our sparring changed after thirty minutes of instruction as the Inugorian officer had me go through some basic drills with the practice blade to show how it would actually apply in a fight. He then had me try using what I learned on him as he continued to critique my blade work. Fend Rakar emphasized on perfecting the technique of wielding a knife and focus on speed and power later.

"Just thinking about that is making me vomit. Please, no more talk of my intestines decorating the wooden deck." I grimaced as I tried to erase the memory from my brain. The doctor had done her part, there was no trauma for me to suffer through yet it was still creeping me out.

Fend Rakar lifted his right hand in an open palm, signifying the Inugorian sign of peace. We moved towards the weapons rack as another pair took to the circle as they warmed up for sparring. Both were sentinels from what I could see and were armed with staves. One was twirling his weapon around while the other was contorting his body on the deck. It looked painful.

"You should not be discouraged by your performance. Your last attack would have worked on most sentients of the same mass of you. Even a trained fighter can be surprised once in a while and that attack was completely unorthodox." Fend Rakar commented. I was wiping the sweat off my face with the hem of my shirt as it was almost completely drenched with sweat. I sat down on the floor as my body cooled down. The sentinel remained standing, not even winded at all. I didn't even muss up his clothing.

"Thanks. I'll keep what you said in mind. I might need it if we ever get boarded again."

"You've been boarded? by whom?"

"Krait Slavers with a dash of New World Fanatic. We found ourselves at the wrong place in the wrong time. My performance was... less than exemplary. I was just happy I didn't kill my teammates."

"Ah."

We had a little bit more small talk before Fend Rakar made his goodbyes citing a need to be somewhere. I thanked him for his gracious time and we exchanged comm contacts. It was an odd thing. I've always thought that military commanders were a dour lot but Fend Rakar was even more engaging than Musaka.

I sat there for a couple of minutes more as I watched the exercising and training Inugorians. While predominantly occupied by sentinels, there a few vessel officers grunting around. The navy equivalent of the sentinels were no slouches either. I could see them lifting the same weights.

When I felt I had recovered, I stood up and made sure that I returned everything I used back in its proper place then made my way towards my quarters. I was dripping sweat and starting to smell so a quick shower and a nap was in order. A ding on my ArmComm also indicated that I have a non-priority message so I decided to read it after getting cleaned.

I knew that water is water but somehow, the water that came out of the shower was more refreshing than the water we have in Woglinde, if that made any sense. I felt particularly clean when I was toweling myself off. They must have treated the water with something.

I sat on the bed while the clothing refresher unit did its thing while I fiddled with my ArmComm. I was pleased to see a message from the head cook of the ship telling me that he has approved of my request to work in the kitchen and would like to invite me to help out for dinner. He wanted me to come in a couple of hours early to talk about trying to serve a couple of human-styled food. He was curious to see how receptive the crew would be to it. It would go a long way of improving his cooking options if he could introduce a whole new cuisine. I smiled at the thought.

I sent a quick reply saying I would be there promptly. I was happy that I was getting the chance to work in an authentic Inugorian galley. These people have very little to no exposure to human cuisine so I would get a chance to learn real, original Inugorian recipes.

I messed around a bit more and spent some time updating my social network profile on the GalNet. I've spent some time checking in on some of my friends and also checking for new holo game releases. My Red Tiger ArmComm was a newer model so I could play most of the newer games so I decided to splurge a bit and spend some credits on a fantasy role-playing game. I've always played the sword-swinging warrior or barbarian but maybe due to my new-found love for the knife, I decided to go with a thief.

***

A beeping sound woke me up from my unexpected nap. I must have been a lot more exhausted than I thought. Those regen beds sure take a lot out of you. Although, they do keep you alive so there is that.

I closed my hibernating game and checked my UI. My ArmComm was reminding me of helping out for dinner. I had a solid hour and half ‘nap’ and felt reenergized. I checked myself on the reflector and patted down wrinkles on my shirt and made for the galley. I was still not familiar with the layout of the ship but I was generously given level one access to a few areas so I had my ArmComm give me directions.

When I arrived, the galley crew just finished their preparations. The head cook was there and greeted me warmly. Apparently, I’ve made an impression amongst the ladle-armed members of the ship. He showed me some of the recipes that he wants to try out after he did some researching on the GalNet on biocompatible human recipes for Inugorians. I scrolled through the holotab he passed me and was surprised at some of the selections he made. Considering the sensitivity of the Inugorian palette, he made so bold choices. They were excellent choices but not something I would have chosen for myself if I was serving human-based food to first-time tasters. I made my thoughts known and the head cook laughed and waved my concerns away. Some of the galley crew had talked about the sample food they’ve tasted during the seminar and a lot of the ship’s crew were intrigued about the idea. Frankly speaking, it was more about tasting something different. According to the head cook, they’ve been on a long tour and due to the vagaries of space travel, it has been quite some time since they’ve been able to restock their pantries with something other than staples.

The galley crew got to work as I suggested how the different recipes could be done properly and efficiently. I know I’m the only one in the galley that was certified in xenoculinary but I’m still in somebody else’s kingdom. Lots of people think of nothing when barging in a kitchen but I knew better. You show respect when you’re in somebody else’s home hence the suggestions, rather than outright orders. The head cook caught my eye and gave me a grateful nod as he picked up on what I’m doing. No point in undermining the head cook’s authority.

After a little bit more than an hour, we had three kinds of salads, a fish-based stew, and two fruit roasts. I had to dig deep in my memories in Inugorian physiology to come up with alternative ingredients. They have a pretty good range of variety in their pantry but not all of things in there would taste right. I had to use the chemical analyzer a few times just to make sure. I had to scrap the sweet and sour fish idea since Inugorian stomachs couldn’t handle the acidity of a pineapple substitute. They used it more as a counter cleaner than something to put in their sauce.

Inugorian dining culture was interesting to observe. Rather than getting into a line and getting a loaded plate, servers went around the circular wooden tables that dotted the dining area. Each table was large enough to accommodate twenty people. There were circular indentations on the table that worked itself around the entire surface. I was curious as to what those were since that part was not covered during my education and was enlightened when I saw the servers place bowls within the indentations, ensuring that even if the ship suddenly shifted, it would not spill the contents of the bowl.

The rest of the table setting was pretty traditional. Two wooden bowls for each sitting place and a spork. Of all the things that humanity had contributed to the Inugorians, none has been embraced more than the venerable spork. They used to have this pronged-teacup kind of thing that they used as a serviceable eating utensil. Pre-industrial Inugorian beliefs revolved around having a weapon hand free to grasp a spear so one-handed utensils were all the rage. Curious how such an intelligent species has not thought about the abomination of a dining table called spork. I would have loved to see the face of the first Inugorian to be introduced to it.

Each bowl was also covered by a large leaf, humans compare it to a banana leaf, where the diners place roasted vegetables and meat.

A large, Inugorian-styled, indented lazy Susan sat in the middle of the table where the servers placed serving bowls of everything we cooked and tongs so the diners could serve themselves.

All in all, dining in an Inugorian galley had a feel of culture and community. No bioplastic trays and disposable utensils anywhere. Everything was wood or leaves and everyone shares in the communal meal. The Inugorians tend to be stereotyped as unfunny and formal people but they are very social beings. It was heartening to see such traditional eating practice still finds its place in the modern universe.

Dinner went swimmingly and the head cook wanted to know if I would like to work temporarily with the galley crew for as long as I was on the ship. I agreed and promised him to pass as much knowledge as I can for the limited amount of time I would be working with them.

As for my own dinner, I’ve set aside a few serving bowls of human-friendly variations of the dinner menu. Nabila and Ronald were due in a few minutes to eat dinner with me and to catch up. Nabila was still hinting about that date comment she made previously.

I’ve not been a romantic relationship for quite some time. With the hectic schedule of running an eatery and my lack of interest in going to bars, I’ve not had the opportunity to meet a lot of women. Sure, there have been a few customers that I had my eye on but I was leery about making a pass at my customers. I have this notion that if the relationship doesn’t work out, an angry ex-girlfriend/customer could really wreck my credibility in Gourmet.Me, a GalNet hospitality network. Those commenters and reviewers could get real vicious at times. It was one of the reasons why I tried to be extra friendly to my regulars.

I moved towards the dining area and took a seat by a deserted table as the dinner rush started to abate. Nabila pinged me that they were finishing something up and would be here in five minutes. I figured that I might as well prepare our tables so while the drones were cleaning up after the previous occupants, I took the serving bowls I’ve set aside and started laying it out on my chosen table. I’ve passed on using the leaf. It was a bit strange for me but I’ve kept a few around so if the others wanted to use them, it’ll be within reach.

I just finished updating my social network profile when the two CPM officers made their appearance. It was the first time I’ve seen Ronald since my eatery blew up and he was still as intense as ever. The augment was already scanning the room both optically and electronically before completely stepping through the doorway. He swung his head towards me and gave me a nod of acknowledgment before walking my way. Nabila trailed after her partner and she looked exhausted. She was rubbing her temples with her left hand while giving me a view of her muscles at the same time. I raised an incredulous eyebrow as she flashed me a brilliant smile.

“Hey, cutie. Thanks for saving us dinner. Damn, today was a long ass day.” Nabila said as she parked her butt on a seat beside me. She made a point to move the seat closer than necessary. She was at it again.

“Really? Data entry exhausted you? Not the sparring session you had with some of the sentinels at the gym or lifting a hundred kilos worth of building materials? Pressing buttons tired you out?” Ronald asked as he took his seat in a more dignified way. The man was wearing an immaculate dark blue smart suit. He looked fresh and perky for somebody that should have been working the entire day.

“Well, excuse me. Not everybody gets orgasmic when checking boxes and filling in data.”

“You’re an officer of the law. A third of our job is compiling data. How could you stand doing it if you hate it so much?”

“I love getting paid better than hating data entry. Besides, since you love it so much, I doubt that you’d noticed when I forwarded to your inbox a few of mine. Saved us both a whole lot of time, really. In fact, I don’t even doubt that you never really checked if the forms are yours, do you? You just love watching those blanks getting fill in.” The mischievous grin on her face said it all.

Ronald sputtered and tried to come up with a response but failed to do so. I have a feeling that this was an old argument that the two of them loved to get into. I coughed to interrupt their conversation. I suspect that if I left the two of them to their own devices, dinner would pass us by.

“Anyway, dinner is served. I dunno about you guys but I’m real hungry.” It was true too. I grabbed the serving bowl of salad and started dumping veggies in my wooden bowl. I passed the salad to Nabila when I was done but she gave it such a disgusted look I imagined I just offended the woman. She took it gingerly then placed it back on the lazy Susan with a dull thump. She then reached for the fish stew and scooped a generous amount in her bowl. She also grabbed a large bun of not-bread, which was called Samalut according to the head cook, and was soon chowing down. She was almost inhaling the stew while taking occasional large bites out of the bread. It was amazing how quickly she plowed through her meal.

Ronald was more circumspect with his food selection. He took a bit of everything and took the time to arrange his food in his bowl. Creepy.

“So, what have you been doing? You got plans tonight?” Nabila asked when she got a chance to swallow her food.

“Just been helping here and there. I’ve got invited to a gathering with the sentinels later, that’s why I’m eating this.” I brandished my skewered roasted fruit.

“The sentinels? Those are some real hard cases. Shame they're not willing to share their training techniques. We could use some people that could move like them in the woods."

"I don't know anything about that. I just got my ass kicked earlier today by Fend Rakar. That Inugorian is something else. He redefines the whole meaning of fast." I unconsciously rubbed my left forearm. He caught a strike with a particularly hard block and it still stung.

Robert looked over my way when I mention the huge Inugorian's name.

"You met Fend Rakar? Large being with black fur?" He asked.

"Yeah. He saw me practicing my throwing and offered some tips and then some." I replied.

"Consider yourself lucky. Quite a few sentinels have tried to catch his attention for some training instruction. He's considered as one of the best, if not the best, at what he does. Few in the alliance could match him when fighting boots on the ground." Robert continued eating after sharing what he knew about the commander. I didn't know anything about the officer. All I knew about him was down to his title and how he introduced himself. I mentally shrugged. It didn't matter to me. It was not like I was going to be working with the sentinel in the kitchen.

We talked a bit more about small things before both CPM officers made their goodnights. They had a long day and were looking forward to unwinding a bit. Ronald was going to see if he could bet on some local races if he could find some and Nabila was going to watch a few holo shows before getting some sleep. I cleaned up after them and went back to the galley to see if the crew needed some help. I worked with a couple of assistant cooks to prepare some vegetables for some overnight soaking. We were cleaning the galley when my ArmComm alarm beeped. I excused myself with the permission of the head cook and went to my quarters to freshen up a bit. I washed my face and threw my shirt in the refersher for a minute of cleaning before donning it back on. I checked myself on the reflector to make sure I looked presentable and had the ship computer ping my ArmComm with a map to the sentinel's bay. As I left my quarters I mused that I was starting to get fuzzy with how I look. It was not like I was a slob before but I was paying more attention now to how I present myself. Must be the military bearing that was going around this place.

The sentinel's bay was a bit further than I expected. I had to move a couple of decks down then take a fast tube to their section of the ship before arriving at door guarded by a sentinel. I paused in front of the guard and was stumped at what to do. I didn't have a written invitation and I doubt that the sentinel would take me for my word. I was going to message Fend Rakar when the Sentinel caught my attention.

"Mr. Mayon, I presume? Fend Rakar has informed us of your invitation. Please proceed. Just follow the blue lines. It would lead you to the function room." The guard said. I thanked the being with relief and stepped through. This part of the ship looked as much as the same as the others but there was iconography on the bulkheads that I was unfamiliar with. A few sentinels were moving here and there and I greeted those that I passed just to be polite.

I arrived at the function room and was startled to see that there were more than a few people packed inside, all sentinels. Fend Rakar, who was sitting at the head of a large, circular table stood up and waved for me to enter. I stepped through and squeezed my way through the press of people.

When I arrived at the table, Fend Rakar met me with a cup in his hand. He thrust it to me and picked up his own.

"Sentinels! this man that would partake in the drinking of wine with us is a man of honor. Though not a trained warrior like us, his spirit is one. He met an enemy of superior strength and training and was victorious. To our shame, we have not seen the danger. Thankfully, we as people have learned to set our pride aside when the need to learn a lesson is paramount. This is one of those needed times. We drink, sentinels, not just to honor the action of this man, but also to honor the lesson he had taught us. Vigilance, at all times, was our lesson reminded. Keep that lesson at the forefront of your thoughts." With that, Fend Rakar closed his eyes and muttered something like a prayer but it was in Inugorian so I didn't understand. I stood there with the cup in my hand and waited for him to tell me what to do.

When Fend Rakar opened his eyes again. He motioned for me to drink so I put the cup to my lips, hoping that whatever it was, it wouldn't melt my stomach.

The sweet and tangy taste of fermented fruit was pleasant enough and it burned gently as I poured it down my throat. I coughed once as it was a bit stronger than the beer I was used to drinking but I kind of liked it. Fend Rakar looked approvingly when I finished off my cup. I looked at him inquiring at what to do next and he turned to address the group.

"Now, we feast."

Sentinels carrying trays full of wooden bowls went around the room, handing each Inugorian one. I was a bit anxious that I might get served something that I could not eat but realized that they would have taken consideration of my physiology.

When the trays stopped coming, each had a bowl and the table was heavily laden with fruits and vegetables. Seemed like it was vegan night. Fend Rakar did something with his hands and people started filling up their bowls. I was seated beside the large Inugorian and we reached over with our tongs to grab something to eat. I tried to be more adventurous with my selections when I started filling up my own bowl. From what I've seen, nothing in the spread was actually toxic to a human. It would only be a matter of taste. What is being a cook for if I was afraid to taste something new?

"Thank you for inviting me for dinner. It's an honor to eat with the protectors of Inugoria." I said when I was done serving myself.

"It is you we are thanking here. The lesson we learned was a harsh one, but a lesson still. To be lax in our own ship, it was unthinkable. We have rectified the situation." Fend Rakar said with confidence. Personally, I didn't think that they did anything wrong. It was a plant from long ago from what I understand and the fanatic came from a different ship. It was not like they were harboring the man but I didn't say anything.

The sentinels were both a solemn and relaxed group of people. Fend Rakar said that it was normal for them to sit and talk with friends over some fermented fruit when off duty. It allows them a moment to lessen their guard and remember that there is more to life than just work.

I spent a couple of hours with the sentinels and made acquaintances with a couple of them. Fend Rakar told the group about our impromptu knife fighting class to my embarrassment but was reassured when a few sentinels talked about their own thrashing in the hands of the large commander. Apparently, it was normal for him to personally check his people's proficiency in all martial matters. Few could say that they have bested their commander in sparring. I realized that I was given a gift of learning from the best and made a mental note to go over everything I learned from him and practice them until I could do them with skill.

Right before we ended the small get together, Fend Rakar signaled for silence. The sentinels settled down and paid attention to their commander. I was wondering if he was going to make a speech or something but the commander walked over to his executive officer and was handed a bundled package. He thanked the Inugorian then walked back to the central table. He waved for me to stand up then he walked over to stand in front of me.

"Albert Mayon, though not a soldier yourself, you have placed your well-being in jeopardy to defend a being of not your own. You have taken action when others knew not. You have not hesitated though you had no training. You have prevented the death of an Inugorian held dearly in the bosom of Inugoria and almost died in the process. We will not forget.

To show our appreciation, please accept this gift. This fighting knife is one of the many you will find sentinels carrying in their utility belt. It has always been our symbol of defiance against our enemies. A sentinel will continue to fight, even if this knife is all he has. May it serve you well."

Fend Rakar unwrapped the packaged and took out a very modern molecular knife. It was very different from the utilitarian designs that I was used to. It was made out of polished wood. I was afraid that it would be slippery to the grip but was surprised with how it almost stuck to my hand when I reverently held it. The wooden grip felt right on my hands and when I wrapped my right hand around it, it fit perfectly in my grip. I pointed it sideways before pressing the activation stud on the weapon. A forty centimeters long thin blade sprung out of the enclosure, emitting a soft blue light on its edge. I slowly lifted it to eye level to examine it and was astonished by its quality. This was not manufactured in a ship. The knife was made by a craftsman. Not only was it made from cascading metal, a nanotube ran along the blade itself, like a blood groove. Those nanomachines would ensure that my knife would always be repaired in case of notches and dings and would keep it from losing its edge. This was not something I would be able to buy in a weapon's store.

"Thank you, Fend Rakar. This gift would not leave my side." I said as I clipped on my new knife on my belt. I knew better than trying to refuse the gift. Inugorians do not give gifts often and when they do, it came with great meaning.

Fend Rakar placed his paws on my shoulder and gripped them slightly to acknowledge my thanks. He then lifted his drink and enjoined everybody to do the same. I picked up my drink and had one last toast with the sentinels. I felt very special that night. Sentinels did not generally honor those not of their own but they even held a feast for me.

I walked back towards my quarters with my head filled with thoughts on how far I have come. My former eatery owner self would not recognize me now. He would probably be aghast too.

When I arrived at my quarters, I took the gifted knife out and spent a couple of minutes just admiring the thing. I did not notice earlier but there was an engraving on the lower part of the grip that I did not recognize. It was the same image I saw etched on the bulkheads in the sentinel's bay. I made another note to check the GalNet for its meaning but that would have to wait for the next day. I had two dinners and was feeling sleepy from being stuffed. It was a good thing that I exercise regularly because, at the rate that I was eating, obesity would not be far behind.

I stripped to my underwear and threw my clothes in the clothing refresher so that it would be fresh for tomorrow. I slid under the covers and was out like a light.

***

The loud beeping of my ArmComm dragged me awake from my sleep. I opened my eyes and was a confused as to why it was beeping so loud. I tried grabbing it from the small end table but my wakefulness was sluggish and I missed. I tried again and was able to snatch it. I saw that I still had thirty minutes before my normal wake up time. I also saw that somebody was trying to call me so I pressed the 'accept' key. A small holo of the Inugorian liaison popped in front of me.

"I wanted to say 'good morning' Mr. Mayon but we have no time for pleasantries. A shuttle from your ship will be arriving in seven minutes. Please make your way to auxiliary hanger two B. The forest lord would be signaling General Quarters in a few moments and you cannot be here." The liaison informed.

"But, I've not met with the lord yet." I lamely replied. I did not know why I even said that.

"Your meeting with the forest lord has been postponed indefinitely. Probably until when the situation in the Pegasi sector has stabilized. I'm sorry but I have to cut our conversation short. Proceed to the hangar." With that final instruction, the liaison ended her call with her usual abrupt fashion.

I cursed and jumped out of bed to get dressed. I threw everything on and made sure to check that I have everything with me. The feel of the wooden handle of my new knife informed me that I have everything as I ran my hands over my body. I swiftly stepped out and jogged towards the lift. My ArmComm mapped the route with the quickest route in mind. I just entered the lift when somebody crowded me from behind.

"Move your cute butt, Albert. We're hitching a ride with you guys."

Nabila slapped my ass as she shoved me in so that she and Ronald could get some space. They were both in what I call their CPM uniforms of black smart fabric suits. They were also each carrying a large bag.

"You guys got kicked off too?" I asked as I shied away from the grinning Nabila. Her butt slap hurt.

"We're CPM and this is a military vessel. The forest lord suggested that we move ourselves to the Woglinde for the duration of the incursion. He was not confident in being able to keep us safe. Of course, we argued but the forest lord's word is law so here we are." Ronald explained.

"Wait, 'not confident is being able to keep us safe?' This is the largest, most powerful ship in the Inugorian navy. How can you not be safe? aren't we facing off with a bunch of slavers and fanatics?" I asked.

"An Inugorian recon drone just returned from transitioning from the Pegasi Sector. Somehow, the fanatics were able to get their hands on few modern battleships. They also heavily mined the transition point with hydrogen bombs. The fleet is going to take some beatings once we start our attack. We suspect that the sudden rash of fanatics revealing themselves was a move by the New Worlders to delay the attack and allow them to move their forces to cover the transition point. That was a smart move." Ronald's grudging respect towards our adversaries spoke volumes of how much more difficult the situation has become since last night.

The three of us hustled towards the auxiliary hangar bay and we could see a couple of non-Inugorian beings doing the same thing. It seems like the lockdown was over and the fleet was now gearing towards its war footing.

We arrived at the auxiliary hangar and it was busy with military personnel running here and there. I saw a shuttle with the Red Tiger logo on its side waiting with its power plant glowing docked nearby. We worked our way towards the shuttle and I saw that it was the same one that delivered me here the first place. The same curmudgeon of a Barral was standing in the middle of the open cargo bay waiting for us. When he spotted us, he waved at us once to move it then stomped his way inside. The doors were already closing when we reached the shuttle and we had to jump inside. We were already moving away from the large ship by the time I was strapped down in my seat.

This was it. I was going to participate in a large fleet action. A freaking cook is going to be on a ship that would be fighting slavers and fanatics.

I hope I don't wet my pants.