Chapter 1:

"Sweep's done, we aren't being listened in on." Monty leaned against the wall of the janitors cupboard, his body slackened as he let out a sigh of relief. Pressing his palms flat against the wall, feeling the vibrations of the pounding music through the clinical white plastic.

"And you are sure we won't be heard in here?" A soft feminine voice finally spoke, it's owner taking a look around whilst simultaneously using her free hand to smooth out the creases in her suit; the other hand was busy clutching a sleek metal briefcase.

"Tara, have you been out there? I'm surprised anyone can actually hear anything now." Monty chuckled to himself, drawing a stern glare from the woman.

"Do you know how hard it was to sneak this past customs?" She held up the briefcase, "Surviving the customs process is bad enough; try doing it with a category A contraband."

Gently pushing off from the wall, Monty sighed as he stood up straight. "Look, I understand the importance of this; so let's just get this over with." Idly fiddling with one of his glowing cuff-links, Monty threw a glance at the briefcase. "So, what have you got for me?"

"Data. And not what, who." Tara half-kneeled and gently set the case on the floor, "It's safe now; we're with allies." She spoke to the case.

"Verified." The case hummed with a matter-of-fact voice, deadpan and mechanical. The metallic surface begun to shift and twist, deforming and quickly taking a more humanoid visage. Within the space of a few seconds it had completed its transformation, a dull green light flowed into the room as a screen activated on what was the head of the construct.

"An Engi?" Strafing around the being, Monty examined it. In return the Engi followed his movements with its head; various lines of code and data pouring down the screen that it's face consisted of.

Tara nodded sternly. "Yes, an Engi. This is…"

"My designation is Theta of the 1st Macro-cluster." The Engi cut Tara off, drawing a momentary glare from her.

"T-1-M… Tim. Got it." Monty returned to his place, nodding to the Engi.

"Theta of the…. Affirmative." It begun to correct him, however Tara's shaking head quickly put an end to that.

"Can you see why this was so important?" She asked, crossing her arms.

"If it's important enough for you to smuggle a 'Xeno' through the blockade, yeah. I can." Holding up his finger Monty leaned to the door and opened it a crack, the music of the club seeped in as Monty glanced about. Shutting the door he pulled over a nearby mop and jammed it under the handle. "Good thing this place still uses manual doors…"

"What was it?" Raising an eyebrow Tara reached into her suit jacket. Tim also turned to watch the door.

"Just a couple that drunk too much; no need for a shoot-out." Monty pulled over a box and sat down, looking up at Tim. "So, what does he know that is so important?"

"Have you heard of the Lanius?" Tara continued to stand, shooting a disdainful glance at Monty's overt casualness.

He shook his head "Can't say I have…"

"Neither has the rest of this spiral arm. They are a new species."

"Incorrect." Tim quickly cut off Tara again, drawing the same reaction. "I shall brief the Ally. My data regarding the situation is more adequate."

"Fine." re-crossing her arms, Tara turned to Tim.

"Approximately five months, ten days and eleven hours local time ago Engi sub-hive Gamma eighteen was disconnected from the network. Five months... " Tim glanced at Tara as she gestured for him to hurry. "... Omitting redundant data. Continuing: A ship was deployed to compile a diagnostic report, the report indicated complete deletion of Gamma eighteen." Tim turned to the empty space between Tara and Monty; projecting a pale green hologram from his hand Tim displayed various images.

"And this was the Lanius' doing?" Monty leaned closer as he spoke, getting a better look.

"Affirmative. Upon departure from Gamma eighteen the ship was attacked; fortunately it transmitted a single packet of data containing a compositional analysis of a metal alloy. Additionally an image was sent." The hologram changed, displaying a low-resolution image of a vaguely humanoid being; however it's form was unsettlingly foreign. "The entity being displayed is not present in any life form database; additionally the analysis was taken of its outer body. Further analysis found it contained minerals present precisely five point seven two million years ago, Federation Standard Time." The hologram was switched off.

"So… what you are telling me is that these Lanius pre-date even the Zoltan?" Monty stood up and blinked, his eyes adjusting again to the dim light inside of the cupboard.

"Affirmative."

"We also believe they consume metal in great quantities." Tara shifted her stance as she spoke.

"Have you tried communicating?"

"Affirmative. Gamma eighteen was recorded to have sent eleven broadcasts."

Monty bit the inside of his lip. "So, where do I come in?"

Tara stepped forward, "We need you to deliver… Tim.. To the nearest Federation outpost."

"Rodel-8? Couldn't you have gone there yourself?"

"Too risky, especially with the Rebels now on the defensive. You know how to hide from their patrols. We need to keep this away from their eyes, especially because…." Tara's speech was cut off by a sharp pounding on the door.

"Open the door, now and prepare for a full sweep. By order of Commander Darrion of the Rebellion." A voice barked, distorted by some form of mask.

"Shit." Monty took a few steps back; dragging Tim to the very rear of the tiny room. Reaching into his own jacket, he drew his own weapon; it emitted a quiet but shrill hum as he flicked off the safety. Following his lead Tara did the same.

"They must have spotted something though my jammer…" Squaring her shoulders Tara took aim at the door.

"Final warning. Open the door now!" The rebel barked once more.

"Tim." Monty glanced over his shoulder. "There should be an old sewer access back there, can you get it open?" As he spoke Monty started pushing a metal cabinet in front of the door; Tara started with a cabinet of her own.

"Affirmative." Kneeling down, the Engi quickly got to work.

"I have a ship stashed a few blocks east; should be enough to get to the proper ship… You did get me a proper ship; right?" Monty looked at Tara.

"The old Brannigan dry dock; hanger seventeen."

"Get the cutting charges." The voices from behind the door could barely be heard; however what was audible put a grim look on the faces of the two.

"Tim, you got it open yet?" Monty turned.

"Affirmative." Tim responded quickly before dropping down. A feral hiss flared up from the other side of the door, the pungent scent of melting plastic filled the air. Tara and Monty pushed off from the makeshift barricade and dropped down into the access hatch.

The two landed on the dry concrete floor of the pipe, the dull sound echoing around. "Tara, the ship is straight ahead."

"Good, get going. I'll draw them away." She raised her gun again.

"Are you sure?"

"Not enough time, Tim and the data are more important. Hurry."

"Affirmative. Haste is required."

"Alright… Stay safe." Monty tapped Tim's shoulder before setting off down the tunnel. As the two ran the sounds of a firefight erupted in the distance, eventually and suddenly the echoes stopped. The tunnel was plunged into silence.