Capitan Rose asked the assembled group,"What's the status of Lieutenant F'loona's plan?" Capitan DOkka T'karro spoke for the humans, and answered,"The off-loading of the freighter is proceeding at a rapid pace. I believe we'll have the cargo removed with time to spare. Second Lieutenant Mea is supervising the off-load and Transport Command is sending a ship from Gateway Station to pick most of her crew up. Ensign Indra will complete the welding of the Melcosi ACV to the front of your vessel, and 2nd Lieutenant Mea wants to remain behind as a liaison office between US and Transport Command of the outer system." Pazu said,"My chair tried to eat me! I'll stand!" The Melcosi swung his horned head around and scratched at the offending nano-surface where his chair had just finished sinking back into the floor. Capitan Rose asked,"Why did you stress 'US' so strongly?" The only person who didn't laugh was Awina, the Naga-Haltu, who looked a little lost. She bobbled her violet haired head and looked around her with yellow eyes, as she asked,"Why all the laughter? Isn't your planet going to be struck by an anti-matter powered torch-ship traveling at twenty percent of light speed in less than eighteen hours?" Dokka shook his head," 'US' is a motley crew of individuals from some wildly diverse backgrounds,Rose. We need a more concrete chain of command." F'loona said to Pazu,"When I was on Awina's ship, the furniture had anal sex with me. You're lucky that your chair was just trying to eat you!" Pazu squawked out a laugh and several people smiled. Rose made a sucking sound as she finished her nutrient shake, and said,"I see what you mean. There is a lack of proper protocols on board." Tall White Lady interrupted,"Plus a lack of proper use of resources. I should go along with the 'Rabbits' to closely spy on the 'Fox'. I can read the minds of machine-life now." Rose looked at TWL as the room lost it's stress induced laughter. Pazu looked at Awina who looked shocked. Pazu then exclaimed,"Holy shit. THAT is big news! No Galactic species can do that. Prove it." Rose looked at TWL and asked,"Alright...what am I thinking?" TWL looked at the four legged machine-life woman and reached out with her mind. After a moment she choked up and sputtered out,"You obscene ROBOT! You're thinking of me having sex with 518--DOGGIE STYLE! Oh my GOD!" She finished on a squeaky note as several people at the table smiled. Rose nodded and asked,"Any details?" TWL looked surprised,"I do NOT wear a red silk choker, and 518 doesn't wear any jewelry. Especially diamond rings!" TWL's head turned a bright red color in embarrassment. Rose waved a cup at her,"I'm impressed. Alright, you should go on Awina's ship. Can you pick up anything from the 'fox' at present?" TWL exclaimed,"NO, I mean ,no! I'm too far away to pick anything up. Capitan. Why did you think of sex. Me and ..." "It was F'loona that mentioned sex. I was thought of 518 because Snowflake has a real fetish going with him since he's hairless, and I started wondering about you and him and I naturally started running low-priority simulations of...", Rose broke off as gales laughter greeted her and perceiving the distress on TWl's face. TWL choked out,"I'm sorry I asked. Remarkably organic for all the crystal clarity of the vision." Rose nodded, and remarked."We'll have to discuss the similarity and differences of thought processes when we have time." Thistledown interrupted the discussion over the intercom,"Martya is ready to try to teleport to the torch-ship." Capitan T'karro said,"Thank you,Thistledown. I'll be forward in a moment. I think we should conclude matters here and reconvene when Martya returns or in an hour, whichever comes first." Rose nodded. "So be it." --TO BE CONTINUED!--