The Black

The small Delmar fleet exited subspace into the outskirts of their home system. Delmar was the second Planet of 2 with a substantial asteroid field acting as a belt between the two planets. This Ring was in an off-axis orbit that made for some spectacular shooting star showers during the fall and spring months of the year. An ancient religion of primitive Delmar had dubbed their star "Signus" sometime during their pre written times.

No one knew what religion, but the name had stuck. Technically the Delmar Confederation resided in the Signus Prime system on the official star charts. The Signus system also resided on the far edge of the Galactic Unity. Due to the almost total Delmaracian monopoly on the Freight hauling capabilities of the G.U., Delmar lacked the normal heavy hand of the Unity in an open uniformed presence. While The Delmar had Lost their bid against the Unities expansion, the "Delmaracian Confederacy Tribal Land" remained under the direct control of their Defense forces under penalty of economic collapse.

Mac had joined Lyrian on the bridge for the entry into Delmar taking one of the observation seats provided just aft and to starboard of the 'captains chair'. Mac had to stifle down a bit of a chuckle.. 'If Jene Roddenberry had lived to see that he guessed the bridge lay out right..' raced through his mind as Lucid Travelers forward viewports flashed blue as she exited subspace. "First time I've seen that" mac whispered over to Silu.

"I suppose so, you would have been on standby in your ship for most of these." he responded.

"Jump complete, ETA 4 Hours to Decel burn. Turning on course 061 by 227" Came Lyri's voice from the Con Silu sighed, "Very good. status on our escort."

"All escorts report in, their commander would have a word with you and.... Mackenzie." came the reply from Coms.

"Well then, tell him we will meet in Hanger2" Silu responded, "Marge you have the bridge."

Silu stood, "Lieutenant, let’s not keep the commander waiting." He nodded to Mac, who stood and followed the captain out.

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Commander Folmuri exited the shuttle into Hanger 2 of Lucid Traveler. Captain Silu and.. well.. someone stepped through the Hangers Corridor entrance and began walking over to them.

"Commander, A pleasure to finally meet you", Captain Silu offered with a nod.

"Likewise, Captain. Your request on our exit from Argorania was certainly energetic." Folmuri offered. "And who might be your guest?'

"Lieutenant James Mackenzie Grarzia, Commander under the void of Concord", the Being responded in almost perfect Delmar.

"Grarzia, wait... This is him? This is your Niece’s claim?" Folmuri looked him over. His was basically the same height of a Delmar female not the significantly taller Males of the species, He lacked any skin patterns made him a strange looking being with his brown hair cut short. He was wearing a void suit, but it was slightly bulky in odd places around his upper and lower legs. Folmuri returned his gaze to Grarzia’s face, almost causing him to balk. This Lieutenant Grarzia's eyes were an icy blue and they felt like they were piercing his very soul. They were colder than just a moment ago during introductions, more calculating. Folmuri got the very distinct feeling that the mind behind those eyes was methodically deciding if he was worth killing.

"Yes, commander. Lyrian is my wife." the Ice in this mans eyes came out of his mouth and sliced into the commander’s spine with warning.

'This is a dangerous man, I walk a thin branch'. Commander Folmur rallied, "I meant no offense, it is just that you are not Delmar. You are fluent in our language; of that I am impressed."

"Thank you, Commander. No offense taken, call me Mac." The being said. With a flash, the over tones of danger were gone from his features, and He smiled. "Now, what can I do for you?"

"I watched the engagement during our burn out of Argorania. I know from the lack of visible light signature that you had to have used a Kinetic, but I cannot just put, "I Donno" down in my report.” Folmuri offered.

"Ah... Well, Commander. without getting into too great technical detail. What I used is very similar in concept to the Flak Kanons that you possess already. The primary difference, is that while your point defense Kinetics fire with a projectile speed of around 150 'kilometers' a second. The MAC cannon, that's what we call them, are firing projectiles much closer to 30,000 'kilometers a second', with a combined output of several thousand projectiles a second'." Mac explained to a mouth agape Folmuri.

"You can’t be serious... How do you have the capacitance for that!" he asked.

"I don't, They are run directly off the reactor." Mac held up a hand, "I cannot tell you how much power Concord makes. That is Classified under an oath I took years before being flung into this part of the galaxy. I hope to remedy that, but for now just know that I could power every energy weapon on most UGN ships of the line for months of continuous fire. Concord produces more than enough power to fling shaped metal rocks at relativistic speeds".

"Considering your claims, I guess the reports of your ship being armed with Atomics are accurate?" asked Folmur.

"They are. What I can tell you is in Silu's report" Stated Mac.

"I see, May I see this… Concord?"Folmur asked carefully.

"Right this way Commander" Silu responded. This had been predicted, and Mac had given his consent to an external tour in an earlier conversation with Silu. A few minutes later, the three men walked into Hanger3.

"This, is Concord" Mac announces stepping out in front with a wave of his hand.

They walked around the nose then the left wing, "I'm confused, I see no weapons at all. No hard points. No guns. Nothing," Folmur observed.

"Concord is a 3rd Generation Fleet Escort and Interdiction Fighter. All of her weapons systems are internally mounted, even the port that the G.A.U. cannons fire from is covered with a panel that opens just before firing." Mac interjected, "I'm sorry, but I cannot open the panel's. Classified."

"You walk a thin branch, Lieutenant" Folmur stated sternly. "You are a member of Tribe Helyon are you not."

Mac's eyes locked in his, "I am, but I hold Oaths that precede Helyon. Imagine what you would do if your weapons officer went and married into another tribe, then started spilling secrets." the cold warning was back.

"I… get your meaning" Folmur nodded, "Thank you for the tour. I believe I have enough for my report." He glanced once more as the sleek grey predatory machine sitting in the hanger. It triggered ancient instincts he disliked immensely.

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Lyrian hopped up from the Con as Traveler was taken under Tow. The orbital tugs plied to their Charge, Guiding Traveler. Soon enough, she lay to her moorings inside the Helyon's orbital shipyard facility. From there, most of the Crew would be ferried down to their ancestral lands for the Celebration of Return.

Mac had dubbed it, "Homecoming". She was not joining the rest in the shuttles. When She and Mac had wed, the Tribe had been notified and his pay/bonuses had been calculated into the construction of a private residence. She and Mac had received a generous payout this season. Lyrian, for being senior Bridge crew, had received a handsome raise from her last season. Mac had recorded his Kill's. Although the weapons he used were not like anything anyone had ever seen, His 'gun cam' had shown irrefutable proof that he had indeed sunk 2 Pirate Barges, 3 UGN warships, and 5 snub fighters. They had chosen not to count disabling of the now dishonored Convergent Dawn. They had used the extra funds to have Gravity plating installed under the flooring of their lodge. Mac had spent a large amount on having a 20000 'meter' by 120 'meter wide section of their property cleared, leveled, packed down, and paved with Duracrete .5meters thick. She had noticed that when it popped up on their console as completed but had not had the opportunity to ask. Delmar was a largely jungle world so finding enough open property to make that happen had been a challenge. They had ended up with one end of this paved strip butting up against the Helisty straight. a body of salt water that had been the origins of Tribe Helyon's seafaring, then space fairing traditions. Mac had approved of them so now Lyrian was in their Quarters double checking everything was ready for the Movers. She finished putting on her G-suit on. 'Is it getting tighter?' she wondered, heading down to Hanger3 to Join mac in Concord for their trip down to the surface.

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Mac finished up his walk around just as Lyri, positively skipping, entered the Hanger and bounced up to him, "We ready?" She asked.

"Mostly. Time for another lesson, you have to know how to check over a ship like this. Your job-while I finish up down here- is to get into your seat and boot up Jarvis and ask him for 'preflight checklist walkthrough'. He will walk you through what you would need to check as the back seater, then as the pilot." He slapped her on the rump then pecked the cheek of her shocked face, "off you go!" He grinned and turned back to the outside of Concord.

"Cretin!" she scoffed and started climbing up the ladder. She didn't notice him leaning back to watch her go up from below. 'he's gonna pay for that later' she smirked to her self as she hopped in her seat, "Uh.. Jarvis?" she asked tentatively.

*Voice authentication accepted. Greetings Ms Grarzia*

"Uh, Hi. Mac told me to ask for the 'preflight checklist' walkthrough?" Lyri asked tentatively, still unused to having conversations with a computer.

*Preflight Checklist tutorial Walkthrough initiated, please activate your helmet. This Module is HUD based*

"Right, uh, thank you." she said, deploying her suites Helmet and listening for the tell tale sounds of it sealing properly.

*Helmet Hud boot up detected, Starting Module. Ms Grarzia, Jarvis is linked directly to this module as a voice interface. you can pause at any time and ask question through voice interaction*

"Uh.. thanks. Jarvis, start module." She stated and her helmets HUD came to life pointing out with virtual Icons where everything was as Jarvis' voice went through the list and indicating action. She was just finishing up as Mac crested the cockpit seal and hopped into his own seat up front.

"Figure it out?" he asked as he started flicking through buttons and controls with practiced ease.

"Yea, I think. could you check me?" Lyri asked.

"I am, you haven't missed anything so far. I am going to have you run that tutorial until you don't need it as part of learning Concord.... Looks like you got all the Wizzo stuff, and what I asked jarvis to include on the Pilot/commander side. Button up, lets get out of here before they close the Shipyard for the night." Mac activated his helmet and the Canopy started closing as Concord started to awaken. Lyrian's helmet was already on, and she let her hands and feet fall to her controls, feeling the Ship’s familiar barely contained power at her finger tips.

Mac called the Hanger control room and started the opening sequence. Then, swapping frequencies he checked something on his arm data pad. "Helyon harbormaster, Helyon harbormaster, this is Concord, Concord." he spoke in practiced clarity.

*Helyon Shipyard harbormaster, Concord. We were told to expect you, Exit Hanger 3 then turn to bearing 020 by 355. Main Drives are not permitted until crossing the Shipyard main door threshold. upon reaching the doors contact departure on point 79.*

"Exit Hanger 3, direct heading 020 by 335, maneuvering jets only till exterior, point seven niner for departure at the doors" Mac repeated over the Coms.

*Readback correct Concord. Cleared to the doors as read, Harbor out*

Concord stalked out of her home for the past few months and turned toward the large yellow trimmed doors. Lyrian could hear fait puffs of gas as Concord tip toed up to the hanger doors. Mac Turned on the now installed Delmar Ship Becon as he closed on the doors "Helyon shipyard departure, this is Concord. Concord. at the outer doors in station keeping, transmitting on point seven niner" he called.

*Concord, Helyon departure, I barely see you on sensors, just your beacon*

"Concord is designed to do that, Beacon transmitting 224867 is accurate. that's us, you should be able to see us with your optical systems" Mac was being understandably patient. Stealth was not something this part of the galaxy had even considered as an option in spacecraft.

*We have a visual now Concord. Gods your tiny. I've not seen a ship like yours before. Gates cycling, cleared to the surface along Homestar 3 approach via Tri then direct Homestar3. Welcome Home Concord* Mac plugged in the approach details into the Nav and eased Concord out of the doors.

"Homestar3 is clear, nobody on sensors anywhere near our route." Lyrian reported.

"I'll make a fighter pilot out of you, yet" Mac chuckled engaging the main drives of Concord settling them into Low idle.

"Looks like they cleared us down through the scenic route, Homestar3 is one of my favorites." Lyrian looked over the Nav inputs.

"Care to do the honor's?" mac asked, "your controls. Keep it under 1.5 Human Gravities. Take us down to atmo, I'll handle reentry then hand it back. You don't know Concord's reentry profile. I'll give her back once we are in atmo."

"My controls, got it." Lyrian responded, and Concord leaped to her finger tips as they made for the approach markers. Lyrian flew the approach down to the upper atmosphere. she gasped a little when Mac took over.

He promptly pitched concord up hard until her engines were pointed along their route of flight, as he gunned them. Concord Howled as He started his deceleration profile, slowly bleeding off speed until Jarvis told him that Concord was safely on profile, Mac then shut the engines down and pitched down until they were facing forward again. Lyrian had to work a bit at staying awake, feeling the internal dampeners muting the external forces to 3 human G’s inside the cocpit. She smirked as she realized it was considerably easier to manage than her first flight. 'My training is working' she thought as she looked around as Concord spoke anew. She looked around outside and noticed that Concord was glowing slightly, and that huge, perforated panels had deployed from her wings. "Uh, mac? we're glowing.”

"That's normal for Concord on reentry. Remember she is designed for war in deep space. A powered reentry system was considered unnecessary for her class. Concord was designed for a powered retro burn then friction braking. Normally I would be doing this at around 6 Human G's. I had Jarvis calculate out a more palatable profile for you. Jarvis, Deploy scram. and mode swap-Aero”

*Changes Confirmed*

Concord was no longer glowing at this point and Lyrian could see bits of the wing moving on their own and Concords Atmosphere borne fighter jet lineage flexed their muscles once more. Concord’s bellowing howl changed as well as Ram intakes opened, providing Concord with oxygen to feed from as well. This air was mostly for cooling, but it also added considerable thrust as it was super heated while being fed through the main drives. This allowed Concord to compensate for the drag of flying in atmosphere. In this configuration, Concord could fly at a significantly lower power setting than with her intakes closed. The airflow also metamorphosized Her engine notes. Her customary baying howl was accompanied by a Low-frequency rushing roar; akin to air rushing past the ear if one was standing in a tornado.

"Your controls" Mac called over their helmets, "you have the coordinates, take us down."

"My controls" Lyrian repeated back and gently caressed The Sticks. Concord was not as twitchy in atmosphere. and Lyrian had to remember her early flight training in power gliders to remember to think in terms of control surfaces not thrust vectors and maneuvering jets. Concord shared another of her secrets with Lyrian. This aggressive, twitchy Predator of the Void became buttery SMOOTH to fly in atmosphere. Lyrian had gotten a taste of her Fury in the Void over Argorania. In the Skys above her home-world, Lyrian got to experience her grace. Lyrian giggled as she inverted Concord through a series of gentle 2 G rolling spirals as she frolicked with Concord among the clouds and air currents. The Sensors paired to the HUD made every cloud transparent as she found one of the Crew return shuttles and soared over, settling in off its left wing with ease and waving to the pilot and passengers. They couldn't see her face through her helmet, but She could see them. The pilots face was one of awe and fear. The fear faded as the predator failed to kill anyone, but the Awe remained. Hardly anyone from Traveler had actually seen Concord, and Lyri saw the Pilot have to compensate as the entire weight of passengers pressed against one side, clamoring for a look at the Warship.

"Wiggle the wings slightly back and forth" Mac offered, "It makes you look like concord is waving to them.

She gave concord a slow oscillating role for 2 or 3 evolutions then waved one more time before barrel rolling over the top of the shuttle and diving for the surface. She felt a flicker of worry from Mac before it subsided as she closed the throttles.

"I forget you were a pilot before we met. you have the throttles closed, ease them back up to high idle, we are in atmosphere with our intakes out. we need to maintain a little power to prevent a flame out, or shock cooling." he explained, never once requesting the controls back, "reach down with your right hand, just inside and below the throttles. feel the lever? that's your air brake, throw it over center back toward you" She did so and those perforated panels deployed from Concords wings. She felt concord slow as the airbrakes bled her dive speed back to a more sedate pace, "That's good, close 'em" Mac called hands interlocked behind his head, obviously relaxing. She flipped the levers and leveled out about 2000m above the surface of the Helisty straight. Lyrian restarted their descent until they were below the level of the jungle on the shore line, but about 150 meters above the water. Mac was enjoying himself letting out a little "whohoo!!" as she weaved back and forth feeling out this new language Concord was speaking. The conversation between pilot and steed continued for several minutes as they wove their way up the straight.

*Waypoint Marked HomeSweet 1 20km out and closing* Came the voice of Jarvis and Lyrians breath caught in her throat. Mac had input a custom beacon for their Lodge and named it.

"James, it’s perfect" she Coo'd.

"Thanks, now my controls. Concord does not have Vertical take off and landing capabilities, its why i had them build a runway." Mac called.

"That explains those messages, your controls." lyrian responded.

Mac whipped a quick 3 HG turn to course and started a slight climb while throttling down slightly, "I’m going to talk through this so that you have an idea, when we do this for practice." Mac called over his shoulder. Lyrian nodded. They could see each other through little cameras in their helmets and display section in their HUDS.

Mac found what he was looking for, "under 600 first notch of flaps, turning downwind to runway 23" he called, "you will be able to see it over our left wing". concord slowed further as they flew out over the water from the shore line, "under 400 second notch, landing gear deploy." Mac turned in a slow hook keeping his eye on the runways threshold. As the nose of concord lined up with the fresh Duracrete and painted stripes Mac called again, "below 350 final notch. landing flaps deployed , confirmed gear down and locked. approach speed in this gravity and air density three zero zero.

Concord wafted in, hanging on her wings, slightly nose up, as the water seemed to close on them from below. Lyrian couldn't see the 'runway' anymore, she hoped mac could. The beach came rushing by so close that Lyrian felt like she could touch it, then the end of the runway flashed under them just moments before *CHIRP*, the wheels on Concords landing struts contacted and she touched down. Mac shut the engines down then pulled up on the throttles lifting them out of their mount slightly then he pulled them back some more. she heard a clunk sound as deflectors clamped over the exhaust of the Final drives. Mac pulled the throttles back even further, spooling up the final drives as they bellowed into their muzzles. The engines howled again, deflecting exhaust out and slightly forward. Lyrian sagged forward in her seat at the unexpected braking… and then it was done. Mac returned the Engines to low idle and closed the Atmo Intakes. concord coasted up to a strange giant shed with huge doors as Mac shut down the drives entirely.

"Concord is still a starship first. I dont have a true jet turbines to taxi her around properly. Luckily, the crazy nerds at Skunk Works gave her an electric motor in each of my main gear axles. Time to put her to bed." he chuckled as he flipped a few switches and Concord silently stalked into her new home, spinning on her wheels until she was pointed towards the door just like on Traveler.

Mac started flipping switches, "go through the post flight with Jarvis. I'll beat you there and start on the exterior. Join me when you're done." Lyrian nodded and activated the module once more.

She hopped off the bottom rung of the ladder just as Mac was finishing up placing little red 'remove before flight' tabs of little openings he needed to protect from critters. "Well that was not what I expected Concord to sound like" the familiar voice of her father rang out through the hanger.

She waved and then checked up on Mac before running to her parents with a Hug, "Oh my gods.. Da'! Ma'! she's a warship in space, but a dancer on the wind."

"We were on that shuttle, you made an impression Mac, your vessel does dance, indeed. " Tili half scolded as Mac joined them.

"Don't look at me, Lyrian took us in. I just did the re-entry and landing. It was her the whole time. I was to busy staring at your world. an Auburn and Silver Jungle foliage. It’s magnificent!" Mac finished before noticing Tili staring at Lyrian in shock. That got a belly laugh out of Mac and a Chuckle out of Doc Icario.

Lyri tried and failed to look innocent, fizzling into a bout of giggles.

"Come" Icario said finally, "Let’s not be late to the party."

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Mac was Proud of Lyrian. She seemed at home among the clouds, and she was taking to Concord quickly. Mac, had spent the entire descent taking in This new world. It was the first planet he had been on outside of Terra, as he never had even set foot on Mars. The sweeping waves of Auburn and Silver contrasted with the Deep Blues and Greens of the Winding inlets and Seas. Delmar was broken up into 3 land masses that appeared like their edges had been shattered in an explosion of Archipelagos. Lyrians Ancestral Home was abutted against one of the bigger coastal bodies dubbed the Helisty Strait. Mac knew he was acting like a little kid at Christmas. He didn't Care, they were going to a Home-coming.