They watched the transmission for the fourth time. Jalisco turned his seat around and faced the others in the escape pod. He said, "We're travelling at just under 11 light-seconds per hour. With braking included, we'll get to Hel's atmosphere in about fifty minutes. Here's the plan." "Perro, can you and Andromeda here me in Pod2?" Perro's voice came over the intercom, "We sealed up the leaking hatch. We had to weld it, so we'll have to use Pod1! This one is toast, now." Jalisco nodded, "Confirmed. We'll jettison it after the braking maneuver. Be ready to transfer." "The plan...we're going down to that ship TWL and Violet discovered on Hel. We have no choice, really. They are our fellow crew-members. The Aeriolus will be here in four hours, thirty five minutes. We can't wait." Warrant Officer Lil Damacles snorted. "The situation CAN'T be more dire! We have ONE pistol. That's it! If we run into an ALtho-Krommium down there..." Jalisco said, "It wasn't a human shadow. Altha-Krommiums looked human for the most part. Girtset believes it might be an A-K telepath. We know almost nothing about them. Other than they are telepathic. Girtset?" The green man steepled his fingers and said, "Those telepaths were feared because their powers, BUT they have limits. Other telepaths are more vulnerable than non-telepaths. I know a meditation to hide my mind from most telepaths. They cannot detect Cyclops or Machine life. These measure might not help us against these creature, though." "They were reputed to have telekinesis and other abilities. Powerful enough telepaths CAN interfere with electronic systems. That's about all I know." The pink haired, blind human telepath, Ginger said, " You're holding out on us. Aren't you?" Jalisco said, "I thought you can't read me. Yes I am holding out. It's top secret, need to know. You don't need to know. Your mind might be read. Sorry." Warrant Officer Lil asked, "Will it help us, even though you have only one pistol here?" She let go of the weapon and watched it float free in the micro-gravity. Jalisco looked over at Girtset and said, "It might. It's never been tried in combat before. I have a system identical to my sister Violet. She was surprised and might not have used it. I can't say more." He finished by saying, "Lil, you stick close to me. Keep the pistol. I'll have a hand-weapon, a machete from the other Pod. We have another machete, and two ice-axes. Girtset is an expert with swords, so he'll have the other machete. Perro will have the ice axes. Andi--I want you to stay in the Pod when we go EVA on Hell. Ginger will stay behind,too. No offence, but you ARE blind. You'll scan from a distance and stay open-miked with us for any oddness." Lil grabbed her weapon before it drifted off and said sarcastically, "Oddness? More than we've seen? Great." Jalisco said, "There may be more than one. Anyway--Lieutenant Commander Perro, you are the ranking officer. Are my plans adequate?" Perro said, "YOU are the ESWAT Special Forces expert. Take command. I am an engineering officer, who can fight like hell itself. You seem to have an innate grasp, more than your years would indicate." Jalisco laughed, "One of my playmates growing up WAS Slicey-Dicey, you know. We played REALLY rough and tumble. My mom was Commander Rose. Play is good for this stuff." Perro said sarcastically, "Throw up that you had a childhood! Go right ahead. I just had programs to use. I'm also hundreds of years older,too." Jalisco said, "You can lead OR take point if you wish." Perro said, "You're the 'Winged Sword'! You got the chops. Chop away." Jalisco said, "I'm setting the timer to go off in thirty-five minutes. If anyone can nap, do so. I'm going to recharge and nap." Girtset nodded and grabbed a seat next to Ginger and closed his eyes while buckling in. Jalisco turned off the lights. --TO BE CONTINUED--