Any way Ch 5 is here. As always Andromeda is not mine and I make no money on it. I promise to return the crew and ship relativly undamaged.

I'm going to rate this chapter pg-13 just because of some of the Magog stuff.

enjoy.

Chapter Five

"The Greyest of Blue Skies"

"Why do we fear the dark,
Is it because the night obscures all things?
Or is because we have never truly understood the light?"

Brilliant-Amber-Glow
'Thoughts and Reflections'
CY 9534

"We're wasting our time here," Tyr growled in disgust as he paced across the deck. The Andromeda had been living out in its self imposed exile for nearly a month at this point with no end in sight.

"Come on Tyr," Bekka Valentine replied while sitting on a cargo crate facing him, "Its not that bad, Andromeda's had some time to do some extra upgrades. We have more missiles now then we have ever carried, thanks to all these wonderful asteroids and we seeded the entire system with all kinds of booby traps. This is the perfect place to hide from the Magog."

"Perhaps, but the longer we stay here the more likely it is that we will be discovered," Tyr told her, "And then the Magog will come to finish what they started. Unless you believe that Magog attack from a few weeks ago was just a coincidence?"

"No not really," Bekka admitted, "But what does that matter, they are bound to find us anyway, at least this way we can fight them on our ground."

Tyr considered here word for a moment dismissed them but moved on, "Then explain to me why we have built more missiles than we can hold in any of the weapon magazines such that this ships cargo holds are overflowing with them?"

"I don't know Tyr," Bekka replied emphatically, "Maybe Dylan doesn't want to get caught with his pants down. Having those missiles means we don't have to stop and reload."

"It is foolish," Tyr declared, "That much ordinance in unsecured areas is as big a threat to us as it would be to our enemies. One good shot from a Magog ships missile batteries and we're done for."

"One good shot from a Swarm Ship armed with a point-singularity projector would have much the same results," Dylan Hunt said as he entered the room.

"Dylan," Bekka said startled as she jumped from the crate she had been sitting on, "I didn't her you come in."

"The door was open," Dylan told her, "The two of you want to know what is going on, come to Command, I have something to show you."

The three of them walked up to the Command Deck silently. Dylan proudly led the way with a guilty looking Bekka and a defiant Tyr not far behind. The entered Command and discovered the rest of the crew was already there.

"Good, your all here," Dylan said, "Rommie have our friends arrived yet?"

"Not yet, Dylan" Rommie told him, "Though they are usually quite punctual."

Dylan acknowledged her with a nod and took up his station.

"Continue scanning," Dylan ordered.
"Ah, here they are," Rommie said with a smile, "Shall I put them on visual."

"By all means," Dylan replied with mock seriousness."

An image coalesced an Andromeda's view screens of over a dozen massive ships. These ships dwarfed the Andromeda several time over and began to move closer. As they approached the ships began to break apart and scatter throughout the asteroid field.

"What's happening," Trance cried out, "Were they hit by asteroids?"

"Not at all Trance," Dylan told her.
"The Consensus of Parts," Tyr said with equal parts amazement and incredulity.

"More accurately, the Outcast's number one through sixteen," Dylan replied. "Our new allies."
__________________

Hunger, it pulls at the Harbingers of the Abyss' spirit with unthinking vigour. No Harbinger can ignore it and few would dare try. The one constant for all Magog is and always would be hunger, for while a Magog can survive without food for weeks, they are always hungry.

Even Night Terror could not ignore his hunger forever, the Spirit of the Abyss would never allow that. Magog begin to digest themselves if they do not find food to eat, hunger was required for their very survival even more then any other species.

Weeks spent looking for the Andromeda meant that the Magog in this swarm had not eaten.

The situation had become untenable as hundreds of the Harbingers began to feel the effect of their hunger. Rumours were spreading of Magog attacking their brothers for food, something Night Terror had expressly forbidden.

Desperate times require quick and decisive action, Night Terror had learned. The Harbingers who served him were hungry, Andromeda was too far away, so Night Terror acted.

Nurdua was not a heavily populated world, only a few hundred thousand people, mostly humans scattered across the most forest filled regions of the planet. Few ships ever came to Nurdua and most of the galactic powers ignored the backwater little planet. Even the Magog had left it alone. Until today.

Even now swarm ship after swarm ship were landing all over this small world seeking out food. Thousands of Magog were feeding on anyone whom they encountered. The few small cities attempted a pitiful defence as hundreds of Magog overwhelmed them.

Night Terror pulled himself away from his latest meal. His Magog had spent too long feasting on the population of this world, it was time to return to the chase.

Night Terror howled into the darkness that surrounded him like a cold crisp blanket summoning back the Harbingers of the Abyss. His call would be repeated across the entire world and the Magog would gather together.

"Return to your ships," Night Terror called, "Return and prepare for our victory."

Leaving the carcass of his victim aside, Night Terror stalked of to return to his vessel.

It was not long after that the swarm had returned to space. The black forms of nearly two hundred swarm ships surrounded Night Terror's 'Black Death.'

"All ships are ready Great One," the lowly pilot reported.

"Good," Night Terror responded, "Then lets us continue."
_________________

"What do you intend to do with a asteroid belt full of broken-down parts?" Tyr asked scornfully. "I thought I would blow up some very nasty little ships with them," Dylan replied, "Think about it Tyr, the Consensus never has to worry about being eaten or infested. They for the most part lack any sense of individuality, so they don't fear death on a small scale. They're the perfect force to be allied with against the Magog."

"And what do they have to gain?"

Dylan chuckled slightly at his weapons officer but quickly became more serious, "They are in as much danger as any of us Tyr. The Magog aren't going to leave any of us alone. If they get the chance they will kill me and you, destroy the Andromeda and leave nothing but black holes in their wake of destruction. You tell me what the Outcasts have to gain?"

A transmission from the Outcast's prevented Tyr from responding

"We come in peace," the signal from the Outcast's said.

"Outcast Consensus', this is Captian Dylan Hunt of the Andromeda Ascendant," Dylan responded, "We welcome you in peace."

The Consensus ships continued to deconsensus around the Andromeda and throughout the asteroid belt. Many of the components were taking on new shapes and forming new ships.

"Captian Hunt," the Consensus replied, "The Andromeda taught us friendship, we now return this favour by supporting you, our friends. We will help you fight your enemies, in return we wish you to help us fight ours, when the time comes."

Dylan looked to his crew who were all shocked by this request, even Dylan felt taken aback.

"We agree," Dylan found hiself saying.

"Then let nothing stand in our way," the Consensus replied.

"Transmission ended," Rommie reported.

"Bekka, begin preperations to transfer as much of the extra ordinance as we can to the Outcast vessels," Dylan ordered.

"Can't they make their own?" Bekka asked with confusion.

"Yes, but we may not have that much time left before the Magog come," Dylan told her, "Like you said earlier, 'We don't want to get caught with out pants down.'"

Bekka left Command to carry out her instructions. A strange silence fell across the deeck as she left. Tyr stare began to bore into the back of Dylan's head.

"What is it Tyr?" Dylan asked without looking back.

"You promised them support in their fight against the Consensus of Parts," Tyr told him, "That was foolish of you."

"Perhaps," Dylan admitted, "But we need them know, will let the future take care of its self."

"It is a very dangerous game your playing at Captian Hunt."

"I didn't think that there was any other kind Tyr."

**************

Previous Chapters:
SoW Ch 1 "Darkness Within" & "Ch 2 Politcs"

http://www.slipstreambbs.com/ubb/Forum5/HTML/000422.html

Ch 3 "Men of Sorrows"

http://www.slipstreambbs.com/ubb/Forum5/HTML/000465.html

Ch 4 "Light and Shadow"

http://www.slipstreambbs.com/ubb/Forum5/HTML/000481.html

Ch 6 "The Twilight Hour"

http://www.slipstreambbs.com/ubb/Forum5/HTML/000714.html

Ch 7 "Through The Fire"

http://www.slipstreambbs.com/ubb/Forum5/HTML/001269.html

Ch 8 "Promise of Fate" (pt 1)

http://www.slipstreambbs.com/ubb/Forum5/HTML/001437.html

Ch 8 "Promise of Fate" (pt 2)

http://www.slipstreambbs.com/ubb/Forum5/HTML/001438.html

Epilouge

http://www.slipstreambbs.com/ubb/Forum5/HTML/001439.html

[This message has been edited by rodglas (edited November 07, 2002).]