Veiled Threat

Comet Rider walked a slow circle around Girk, nodding with appreciation that Girk at first took for challenge. Until Rider spoke, that is.

"What's the status, Commander Girk?"

Girk smirked while she searched for a smart remark, but she wasn't altogether sure she still had a bead on exactly what they were discussing. "Status of what?"

Comet Rider was clearly more at ease than Girk had ever seen her. "Of your 'tec that'll take out the Monocracy,' of course. I'm assuming you were referring to our dear old Eskimo Shogunate? How far are you from viable penetration and appropriation?"

Girk let out a burst of full, genuine laughter. "Coup d'etat is old school, Commander. Surely you've learned that." For the first time, she had Comet Rider's rapt attention, and she knew it. "No, our Scribing has taken us well outside the realm of struggle, beyond the bounds of conflict. What our work has led us to is much more subtle than any of that."

Comet Rider took the two steps forward that brought her toe to toe with Space Girk. Placing her hand on Girk's shoulder, she began, "Then having your forces and mine thrown together in that catastrophe back at the Eskimo is more than fortunate, my friend. In fact, I must tell you-"

The blast of a maximum priority alarm cut Commander Rider's words short.

Girk adroitly activated her stream chip. "This is Girk. What's happening."

Com Chief Jayla King's voice came across smooth as planetary precession. "We're being overtaken by an object that looks amazingly like the Veil Nebula, only it's totally not where the Veil should be, and it's maneuvering, if you can believe that, Commander."

In a single voice, the Co-Commanders whispered, "Veema."