DE Chpt 14

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==Chapter 14 - Danger Everywhere==
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20 June 3050
Star's End System
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Deep in the asteroid field, Captain Felicia Graves had spent the last two hours negotiating with the locals who ran the orbital repair facilities. She had been here twice before, it was the closest place to the Oberon Confederation to have any work done on Jumpships or Dropships. Word of the fighting on the surface had already reached those out here and that only made the locals more nervous.
"Look, we can trade two Dropships to cover the conversion of the Overlord in addition to maintenance on our other Dropships. They are in need of new air scrubbers at the very least." Captain Felicia Graves said
"Fighting with those here is not the best way to curry favor with us." The man replied
"I can agree to that, but we did not come looking for a fight. Do the work, take the two Dropships as payment and we will leave as quick as we can." Captain Felicia Graves said
"The conversion will take three months to complete, we have to enlarge the ships environmental systems and life support systems. Fabrication of the parts takes time. It cannot be done quicker. But, you must promise no more hostilities while you are here." The man replied
"We will not start anything, but neither will we stand by and be threatened or attacked without defending ourselves. I must be clear on this." Captain Felicia Graves said
"Agreed then. Your shuttle can handle transporting some of my people to the surface? They will begin work on your other ships air scrubbers and evaluating what other work needs to be completed. Also one of my pilots who will guide your crew to where we will work on the conversion." The man said
"We can handle that. How soon can they be ready for departure?" Captain Felicia Graves asked
"Within the hour." The man replied
"Very well. Have them at my shuttle ready to depart in an hour." Captain Felicia Graves said
Once back onboard the Clan shuttle, she relayed the deal to both Star Captain Branden and Major William Mitchell on the surface. Though the deal was expensive, it also washed away any hope of capturing one of the returning Jumpships for extra collar space. 
"Star Captain Branden, have the other shuttle bring down Point Commander Trishia and her troops. Keep the others with you. They will stay with our Overlord while it is being worked on up there with our crew as security. We will rotate them every month back to the surface or Excellence. Possibly every two weeks. I want every move they make watched closely by our engineers." Major William Mitchell ordered
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27 July 3050
The return of one of the Invader Jumpships that had departed with Major Walter Duboise was a surprise to everyone. It carried the two Leopard CV and nothing else. Communication was quickly established between Excellence and the returning Invader Jumpship.
"It was a trap! We went to Icar. Comstar said the coast was clear and no Clan troops. Major Duboise took the Dropships down. The only reason the Leopards made it back to us was they stayed in orbit. I have no clue where the other Invader went when we jumped out. The last message from the surface was a simple RUN ITS A TRAP. We delayed just long enough to scoop the returning Leopards."
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