VonGrippen stood dusting off his trousers, bouncing once on the balls of his feet as he clasped his hands behind his back, "It is our duty to assist the Lieutenant in whatever way he requires, as long as, of course, he understands that I am in command of this operation." He looked meaningfully over at Roki, "am I clear Mister Roki?"

"P-perfectly," Roki faltered uncertainly straightening up, "I mean, clear, sir."

"Lieutenant Worth will require the details of your plan," VonGrippen said calmly, "and we will need to see maps of the facility."

"Y-yes sir," Roki beamed walking quickly over to his briefcase and producing a laptop computer, opening it and logging in, calling up the appropriate schematics, transferring it to the headset interfaces.

VonGrippen rotated his optical display across and eye and examined the facility diagram as Lieutenant Worth hesitantly pulled on his own and did the same.

The facility complex extended beneath the surface of Phobos. Primarily labs carved into the rock manned by a couple of hundred technicians and an equal number of security personnel. The notations on the schematic were all French, indicating it was a French facility even though it flew under the EU banner. They were going to notice the sudden arrival of an English strike force on a RAF STOAT.

"We're currently broadcasting an EU-Psyops transponder code," Roki explained, "We are going to be cleared for an approach to the auxiliary pads on the north side of the facility. When questioned simply explain you are escorting me back to the facility under the orders of Doctor Enarbrem Sul'Rikard."

"And how do we explain my troops?" Dominic inquired sceptically.

"Simple," Roki replied, "the STOAT is on a courier run and is transporting you on to Mars after my presence on Phobos is no longer required. It should be believed considering this is the first flight to successfully penetrate the American blockade. Your men will be billeted for the duration of their stay, and the STOAT's officers will be assigned quarters inside the garrison. Your job is to wait until I have assessed the situation, and if I deem it appropriate..."

VonGrippen cleared his throat, "if I decide action is warranted." He reminded sternly.

"Of course Admiral, if you decide upon my recommendation that the facility is indeed compromised, then it will be up to Lieutenant Worth to secure the facility. There are a number of key objectives to accomplishing this, the primary security station, communications and the command and control centre." Roki looked expectant.

VonGrippen glanced across at Dominic and back towards Roki, "Lieutenant, report to the cockpit and ensure that Lieutenant Ryder is briefed on her part in this operation."

"Sir?" Roki blinked, he'd been expecting some kind of confirmation.

"That was an order Lieutenant," VonGrippen said firmly, his hand dropping to the butt of his pistol.

Roki saluted and darted off, loping towards the companionway as quickly as he could. As soon as he was gone Dominic rounded upon VonGrippen.

"Are you out of your mind?" He demanded angrily, "you bought that feeble load of... I... You know he's a lying snake right?"

"Oh yes," VonGrippen replied opening the top button of the collarless black shirt and running his hand through his stringy dark hair pushing it out of his eyes, "He's guilty of something that much is obvious. What he is guilty of we can only ascertain when we arrive at Phobos."

"Yes, but..." Worth sighed knowing that he was trapped in the circumstances, he gritted his teeth in frustration, "Why the hell are you going along with this, the longer we parade around the more chance you will be discovered."

"We risk detection if we refuse to follow orders," VonGrippen replied calmly, "We have the advantage of being on another planet, far from Headquarters, it buys us a little time, at least, before they uncover the truth."

"Great," Dominic muttered, "at least I'll have a gun to shoot the slippery bastard when we arrive on Phobos."

"By all means," VonGrippen reassured, standing up and walking towards the laptop computer still humming and logged in, shaking his head at Roki's clumsiness. The man really was flustered and unaccustomed to operating out in the field.

VonGrippen accessed the accompanying data on the facility and on General Michaud, transferring it to his headset before he closed the laptop with a snap. Turning back to Dominic, "I'm sorry," he said sincerely.

"We lost Beta," Madeline stood before the great oak desk, feeling nervous and intimidated as she always had when she had visited the Oval office. There was an expectation in that room, a sense of something far greater than just her watching every action she made as if she were under a microscope.

The President of the United States was leaning across his various morning reports fed to him by the CIA, his National Security Advisor standing a few feet to his right. The President had been the former governor of Colorado, a man who had built his political career on a fighting reputation. Working hard for the people who had elected him and earning his way to the White House through his own rugged determination.

While there were those who saw him as a weak President, one that lacked the balls to do what needed to be done, Madeline had come to learn, quickly, that the man in front of her had a cast iron set.

"I thought the prediction was for minimal damage," The President snapped, slamming closed the report in front of him, "Or was that another overly optimistic prediction from the Pentagon?"

"Sir," Madeline cleared her throat, "Beta Station came under sustained missile fire, our intelligence didn't anticipate the volume of fire that..."

"How many other surprises can I count on delivered by faulty intelligence?" The President rose from his chair and gritted his teeth angrily, "We just lost a trillion dollar space station, there is now a gaping hole in our orbital blockade that we are going to have to sink more money into in an attempt to plug it. And until then god knows what is going to get through."

"So far we've only detected one penetration of the orbital blockade, sir." Madeline was quick to produce the appropriate report from her sheaf of papers, "A British STOAT made escape velocity during the chaos over the Falkland Islands."

"Well thank god it was the British," The President replied, shaking his head, "With fighting intensifying in the mid-Atlantic and our losses in Africa..."

"We're planning a sub-orbital airlift to reinforce our positions around the southern Mediterranean." Madeline reassured, "We're not going to loose our bases in Northern Africa and the Middle East..."

"Tell that to the poor bastards in the North African Campaign," The President replied, "Our supply lines are already stretched thin, and if we loose North Africa we loose any capacity to mount an invasion into Europe."

"Where was the STOAT heading?" The NSA inquired reading the report Madeline had produced.

"Mars, probably en-route to the genetics labs they have up there. Our intelligence places one small platoon of British soldiers, a couple of Fleet officers and a Naval Intelligence Officer onboard. A courier run by all appearances. Nothing for us to worry about."

"Still, ordering our Martian assets to keep an eye out for it would be in our bestinterests," The President replied angrily as he got up, "I am going to the situation room for a briefing from the Joint Chief's, another batch of useless ideas on how to win this war that we have all heard a hundred times already." He stopped and sighed, "How long until the Fleet is ready?"

"L-5 reports that the USS Colombia will be operational in six months, the support frigates will be commencing their space trials in less than two." Madeline smiled, "Compared to the armed transports the European Union currently possesses, these ships will guarantee space superiority will remain ours. Our production of F-60 aero-space fighters are set to replace our current conventional fighters inside of four months. We should be able to field a further five squadrons in time for the Colombia's launch."

"And Overlord?" The President inquired.

"The AI should be ready for activation in a year, but it is already capable of operating TAC-net," Madeline smiled, "So far we hold a decisive advantage in the real time digital battlefield. The lessons learned from the Icarus computer designs have allowed us to duplicate the quantum computer core needed to run Overlord, however we have yet to complete the programming needed for it to co-ordinate our forces."

"If we are forced to fight this war," The President removed his glasses and gestured at her, "We'd better be damn sure we can win it. Get me Overlord and the Colombia."

"I have the ATIS. Radios are set," Sub-Lieutenant Ryder said aloud, she consulted the approach plate on her kneeboard and ensured that she had the ILS dialled into the number one NAV radio, NAV 2 to the GPAS for positional awareness, the Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) slaved to NAV 1, and their other frequencies dialled into the COM radios. "Approach brief: marker beacons are on, mag compass and heading indicator are set. Approach plate is," she looked at it, "VTOL pad four Right, Phobos Base. Identify NAV Aid," she pressed the IDENT button on her radio stack and listened for the standard three letter Morse Code identifier - cross referencing it with the code box on her approach plate which told her she had the proper frequency dialled in. "Switching to VTOL for final approach. Altitude is 1700 feet..."

Beside her VonGrippen ran through the pre-landing checks as he'd read his to do from his research in the computer, running through his checklist, "Fuel to both, gear is stand-by, fuel pumps are on. Landing lights are on. Board's checked. Checklist complete except for boards, flaps, spoilers, slats and gear."

The STOAT began its descent towards the Phobos facility, it's wings folding up as it's VTOL drives took over thrusters guiding the ship to centre overtop of the landing pad beneath them. The wheel's extending as the transport swung lazily for its final touch down.

"Cleared to land Victor-Two-Niner," the radio spluttered back at them, so far their only indication that anyone was monitoring them from ground control. VonGrippen presumed that meant the transponder code Roki had supplied them with was valid, otherwise the SAM emplacements around the crater wall would have blasted them out of space long before they got this close.

"Gear down, three green, no red. Boards, flaps, spoilers, slats," He called out peering at the transport's various control surfaces to insure they were all in the proper position.

The STOAT touched down with a short bump and a slight roll. Soft and beautiful the boards and spoilers deploying to stop the craft from rolling any further the moment the main strut compressed killing any remaining lift. And Ryder turned the STOAT about as she rolled it into the appropriate position as the base extended it's pressurized hatch to latch onto the STOAT and mate with the external airlock securely.

"Pleasure flying with you, sir." Ryder smiled as she extended her hand to him.

VonGrippen accepted the hand and nodded as he shook it firmly, glad of her warmth and understanding. She hadn't batted an eyelid over his presence, taking it all in her stride once she had worked out who had been sitting beside her. He just hoped his luck would hold when he entered the base.

"I'll do the after landing checklist," she reassured, "You should exit."

"Thank you," VonGrippen replied as he unbuckled and stretched his sore muscles, standing up and opening the cockpit door, as the soldiers were busy collecting their gear to exit the spacecraft.

Robson had the hatch open and was equalizing the internal pressure with the base's. Lieutenant Roki standing impatiently by the door, clutching his briefcase, looking anxious and agitated.

VonGrippen exchanged another look with Lieutenant Worth as he pulled down one of his bags, fishing out his rank insignia and switching it for the Commanders bars. Trading his leather jacket for the red and black great coat. The weight of authority that it carried would help him as the outer hatch cycled open and they were admitted inside.

Around the rear compartment of the STOAT assault rifle's locked and loaded, causing Roki to flinch. He turned, looking at the hard-eyed British soldiers armed and ready, forming up into ranks as Lieutenant Worth gestured.

"After you."

VonGrippen took a deep breath and walked through first, Roki a step or so behind as they entered the access tube and finally into the arrival lounge on the far side. A collection of low ranking French soldiers had assembled behind one officer wearing a Capitane uniform.

"Sir?" he inquired stepping forward and saluting VonGrippen, "Admiral? Welcome to Phobos base."

VonGrippen returned the salute with the RAF salute, palm out in the typical British manner, "Capitane, Tres bien, merci."

"Vous Parle Francais?" The Captiane seemed surprised.

"I speak a little," VonGrippen replied with a nod, "I'm en-route to link up with my ship, and I thought it prudent to escort Lieutenant Roki of the Royal Navy, before we continue on with our mission."

"Perhaps," the Capitane said turning to Roki, "the Lieutenant can explain why you are here on an unscheduled flight using a Psy-ops transponder code?"

Roki fished into his pocket and produced a plain black card that he held up for the Capitane, "I have no need to explain anything to you Capitane. You will billet the men and have someone escort me to Doctor Rikard's office at once."

VonGrippen stared a long moment at the black card and then back at the Capitane, "that would probably be best Capitane, if we could also refuel the STOAT while we are here."

"Of course Admiral VonGrippen," The Capitane nodded, ignoring Roki's rudeness, turning, "See to the Admiral's needs." He turned finally back to Roki, "and Lieutenant, I respect your clearance, however the facility is under a lock down, you will have to wait until General Michaud returns our security level to normal. I will see that you are made comfortable."

Roki faltered, still holding up his black card, "Capitane, I am here on direct business from Headquarters, their orders..."

"With respect Lieutenant," The Capitane raised his voice warningly, "General Michaud is..."

"Capitane..." Roki pressed.

VonGrippen reached out a hand and stopped Roki, "I suggest you comply Lieutenant Roki, patience is after all a virtue."

Roki seethed, clipping his black card to his breast pocket as he marched in annoyance to sit down in one of the chairs arrayed around the lounge. Lieutenant Worth motioning for his men to make themselves comfortable.

VonGrippen exchanged a sympathetic look with the Capitane, before saying something appropriate in French concerning over enthusiastic young men and patience. The Capitane relaxed and smiled at the Admiral before he offered a salute and turned to leave.

"What did you say to him?" Roki demanded angrily once the far doors had closed.

"I said you were an idiot," VonGrippen replied taking his seat, "And next time you will comport yourself like a British Officer, am I clear Lieutenant?"

Roki looked taken aback, he opened his mouth to snap something back, but one look at the rank insignia VonGrippen was wearing he decided to drop it, folding his arms petulantly and kicking back into his seat.

VonGrippen stared a long, silent moment at the Naval officer, pulling on his headset and adjusting the display, returning to his reading on General Michaud and the GN-1 project. Learning more about the facility and the illegal genetic experiments it was conducting outside the jurisdiction of the various Earth governments.

He chewed his lip as he accessed the files on the GN-1's, pausing as he scrolled through the list of names, identifying Rikard's and Roki's from a list of about fifteen hundred. He couldn't access Rikard's file, the clearance Roki had wasn't high enough to access that data, however Roki's file was exceptionally interesting.

VonGrippen read it carefully, his psychological profile identifying a broad variety of character flaws that came with an enhanced intelligence but lacking in the social development needed to function properly in society. Intelligence had been a convenient way for the British Navy to pigeon hole the GN-1 and get him out of any situation that would cause them problems. There were several notations from previous commanding officers of his inability to command and recommendations that he be phased out of the Navy at the first available opportunity.

They were on a mission with a sociopath. That didn't bode well, and VonGrippen slipped the headset off, handing it across to Dominic to read what he had read.

Dominic sucked on his teeth as his hands tightened on the pistol grip of his Enfield, worry creasing his face as he finished and returned the device to VonGrippen, "orders?"

VonGrippen shook his head, "we sit tight."

"Sedate her!" Michaud commanded, stepping back from the window as the chair crashed against the observation glass again.

"She has been sedated," Rikard snapped, taking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes, "It's been a week and her telekinetic powers are strengthening. As well as her control of the molecular level of matter." He turned to the general, "I warned you of the dangers of using the bloodroot with genetically receptive individuals, that is why I always maintained a strict limit on how much I administer at any given time..."

"Circumstances warranted this," Michaud bit back.

"Circumstances didn't warrant this!" Rikard thrust his hand out towards the window at the snowscape inside the lab, the girl, now rapidly aging to a young woman sitting cross legged on the table surrounded by snow and ice, objects dancing around her as she whirled them about to hurl them again at the door and windows.

"Get her under control Doctor," Michaud warned, "by whatever means necessary. Or I will order my men to shoot her and be done with it."

"Shooting a telekinetic will accomplish nothing." Rikard sounded patronizing, "you are failing to grasp the severity of what you have created, General."

Michaud rounded on Rikard, slowly and deliberately holding his temper in check, "then how do you propose to deal with this... this abomination?"

Rikard sighed, "allow Katherine back into the room, she has a calming influence upon Sephradon. If we can calm her down and keep her so maybe she won't breach containment."

"You believe that is a possibility?" Michaud asked cautiously, Sephradon had already killed a number of technicians. Fortunately she hadn't attempted a ranged assault. But Michaud understood the danger of her doing so.

Rikard heaved a sigh of relief when the general finally nodded his assent, leaning in to his radio he called down to allow Katherine back into the lab.

She kept the coat they had given her pulled tight as she stepped through the doors again. Feeling the nervousness of the French soldier who ducked back out, keeping his sub-machinegun raised as the door slid closed again.

Her feet crunched on the snow, and she stared in wonder at the frozen desolation around her as she tentatively walked forward, ducking under a floating computer monitor that drifted past her. Looking in concern towards Sephradon sitting on the edge of the bed, her legs pulled up under her as her tears had frozen to her cheek.

The woman on the table had aged from the little girl she had remembered and she stepped forward uncertainly. "Seph?" Katherine asked reaching out a hand to touch her friend's skin, drawing back in surprise at how cold it was, like ice.

The eyes burned with anger as they flicked up to meet hers.

Katherine stared in shock at the welts and burns on the exposed patches of skin,looking at the machine the electrodes had been attached to as she glanced back up at the observation window.

"You bastard..." she murmured, her green eyes blazing as she turned back to Sephradon, "I am going to take these off of you." She reassured, reaching out and fumbling with the electrodes, pulling them free, swallowing as she realized the extent of the damage that had been done.

She felt Sephradon wince with every one that was removed, her flesh beginning to heat as Katherine's firm fingers probed around checking her for other wounds, growing angrier and angrier at how Sephradon had been treated. How they had all been treated.

"Is this what we are to you?" Katherine demanded up towards the windows. She began to rub Sephradon's skin reaching through one of the shattered medical kits and began to pull out things she needed, anything that hadn't frozen as she began to clean the wounds and apply cream to the burns.

Sephradon's hand snaked out as she wrapped her arms around Katherine, burying her head against Katherine's chest, a wracking sob echoing through the young woman as she began to cry, the shock of her ordeal beginning to break.

"It's all right," Katherine curled her hand up to cradle Sephradon's head, fighting against her own tears, "You're going to be okay, I'm here now."

Around her the temperature returned to normal in a rush, the ice melting rapidly as it dripped and pooled upon the floor, raining down from the ceiling upon the pair as they held each other, Katherine shielding Sephradon and letting her cry.

"She possesses an interesting affect over the other GN-2's." Michaud observed.

"She's the eldest of the girls," Rikard replied, "and she was created with enhanced sensory empathy. It gives her a decided edge in dealing with the emotional problems developed by children raised in this fashion."

"You built her especially for this purpose?" Michaud blinked caught off guard.

"I built all of the GN-2's for specific purposes," Rikard returned to his computer, shutting down the monitoring equipment, "Katherine was built primarily as a means of control for the other GN-2's while they developed, following that she will make an excellent diplomatic negotiator and political wife."

"And what about Sephradon?" Michaud asked, "what happens to her now?"

Rikard chewed on his lip, "given her current mental state she may have one or two more uses left before she becomes too dangerous to contain. If she grows any stronger I will administer a lethal overdose of the Bloodroot and terminate the project."

Michaud nodded his head, "see that you do..." He paused as one of his men stood in the doorway of the lab expectantly, the Capitane marched in and leaned close to Michaud whispering in his ear.

The general gritted his teeth and glanced back towards Rikard, "It appears that one of our prodigal sons has returned to the nest, and he has seen fit to bring a group of armed British soldiers and Admiral VonGrippen with him."

Rikard started, "What?"

"A British STOAT just landed bearing Lieutenant Roki, he is apparently demanding to see you." Michaud folded his arms angrily, "he brought a colonial Admiral," he sneered over that word, dismissing the rank as nothing more than the self-styling of an over inflated ego common amongst House members. "The worry is the platoon of British soldiers escorting the Admiral."

Rikard swore loudly, "that idiot..."

"You were expecting him then?" Michaud asked pointedly.

"I wasn't expecting him like this," Rikard muttered as he hurried to the doors, "I'll see that Sephradon is treated in the infirmary, she should be all right as long as Katherine stays with her. And I'll deal with Roki."

"See that you do doctor," Michaud warned, "we can't afford public awareness of this facility. Even if I have to deal with VonGrippen and the British directly."

Ben glanced up, like that chill just before a bad storm, he shivered pulling his dressing gown tight about him as he curled into his bed, "the dark knight is here..." he looked across at Markus.

Markus lowered the book he was reading, sitting in the chair beside Ben's bed, "good, then it is time to go." He stood, "do you need anything?"

Ben shook his head, as Markus wrapped a protective arm around his brother and hurried him to where the others were already waiting.