appearance was very similar to that of Metatron, minus the beard. His
gold breastplate, trimmed with red and yellow, depicted an Olive and Almond
tree interwoven together.
Michael, like
Metatron, was of the most powerful order in the Seven Heavens. The Seraphim,
traditionally only 4 in number, had consisted of Metatron, Michael, Serapiel
and Uriel. Uriel had disappeared without trace 8 months ago. Three months ago,
Serapiel, during a skirmish with the Watchers, had been sucked out into vacuum
following a hull breach and subsequently zapped by a Trireme’s field disruptor
and heavy plasma cannon. Apparently there hadn’t been enough of Serapiel left
to make a decent sandwich. None of the Cheraphim, including Gabriella, had
stepped forward as yet for advancement.
Gabriella gave
Michael a smile that had caused many a lesser male to leave an unsightly stain
in their pants. “Have you missed me Mickey boy”?
Michael shifted
uncomfortably in his seat. “About as much as a snake in my underpants. If you
don’t mind, can I get on with the briefing”?
Gabriella’s smile
never faltered. “Of course."
“As you undoubtedly
know, a company in the Camus system, Nebula Inc, on the asteroid Coleridge, has
reportedly developed a revolutionary new star drive known as the Overdrive. We
intercepted company reports, distributed to an as yet unknown owner or owners,
stating that, as of two weeks ago, the Overdrive had been successfully tested.
This technology has the ability to travel between stars faster, circumventing
the Shiva. We all know what the implications will be for our current
exploration and navigation monopoly." He gave Gabriella a significant
look. She nodded dutifully to show she was paying attention.
“Metatron and I,”
he continued, “have dispatched a Galley, with a full compliment of Templars and
led by Simbiel…”
“That moron! He’s
incapable of tact. The only thing he’s good for is for chopping up things into
small bits."
Michael, ignoring
the interruption from Gabriella, sailed on.
“…led by Simbiel
to obtain a working prototype. Simbiel arrived too late. Another party arrived
before him, destroying the prototype, seemingly by mistake - at least that’s
what our sources assumed, and turning the employees of Nebula Inc into greasy
spots on the floor. It seems however, that the senior designer, one Felix
Teppitt, managed to escape and is now on board a Hedonist starcruiser bound for
Revel. Simbiel is about to give chase."
Gabriella nodded
again, trying not to show her surprise. She’d known that Felix had escaped but
had not known his means or destination.
“It is imperative,"
continued Michael, “that we get our hands on this technology. If it falls into
the hands of the Watchers or any other powerful group then we will lose our
pre-eminence in this part of the galaxy. To this end, and unknown to our fellow
members of the Angelic Council, we intend to dispose of this technology. If we
cannot obtain it for ourselves, we will destroy it utterly.”
Gabriella was
perplexed. “Two questions. Why not share this with the rest of the council and
why get me involved when you and Metatron sound like you’ve got things under
control”?
Before Michael
could answer, Metatron, goblet in hand, took control of the situation in
classic drunk style.
“Why! Because the
rest of the council is composed of damn fools." Metatron gesticulated with
the hand carrying the goblet. Red wine stains appeared on his robe. Some
droplets splashed onto the table, narrowly missing Gabriella. Unseen by
Metatron, Michael rolled his eyes. Gabriella tried not to giggle.
Metatron,
seemingly oblivious to the damage he’d done to his robe and table, went on. “If
we told the rest of the council about the potential of the Overdrive, the
idiots will want to use it for themselves."
Noticing that
Metatron’s goblet was now largely empty, Michael refilled it. Metatron,
distracted and intently watching Michael refill his
gold breastplate, trimmed with red and yellow, depicted an Olive and Almond
tree interwoven together.
Michael, like
Metatron, was of the most powerful order in the Seven Heavens. The Seraphim,
traditionally only 4 in number, had consisted of Metatron, Michael, Serapiel
and Uriel. Uriel had disappeared without trace 8 months ago. Three months ago,
Serapiel, during a skirmish with the Watchers, had been sucked out into vacuum
following a hull breach and subsequently zapped by a Trireme’s field disruptor
and heavy plasma cannon. Apparently there hadn’t been enough of Serapiel left
to make a decent sandwich. None of the Cheraphim, including Gabriella, had
stepped forward as yet for advancement.
Gabriella gave
Michael a smile that had caused many a lesser male to leave an unsightly stain
in their pants. “Have you missed me Mickey boy”?
Michael shifted
uncomfortably in his seat. “About as much as a snake in my underpants. If you
don’t mind, can I get on with the briefing”?
Gabriella’s smile
never faltered. “Of course."
“As you undoubtedly
know, a company in the Camus system, Nebula Inc, on the asteroid Coleridge, has
reportedly developed a revolutionary new star drive known as the Overdrive. We
intercepted company reports, distributed to an as yet unknown owner or owners,
stating that, as of two weeks ago, the Overdrive had been successfully tested.
This technology has the ability to travel between stars faster, circumventing
the Shiva. We all know what the implications will be for our current
exploration and navigation monopoly." He gave Gabriella a significant
look. She nodded dutifully to show she was paying attention.
“Metatron and I,”
he continued, “have dispatched a Galley, with a full compliment of Templars and
led by Simbiel…”
“That moron! He’s
incapable of tact. The only thing he’s good for is for chopping up things into
small bits."
Michael, ignoring
the interruption from Gabriella, sailed on.
“…led by Simbiel
to obtain a working prototype. Simbiel arrived too late. Another party arrived
before him, destroying the prototype, seemingly by mistake - at least that’s
what our sources assumed, and turning the employees of Nebula Inc into greasy
spots on the floor. It seems however, that the senior designer, one Felix
Teppitt, managed to escape and is now on board a Hedonist starcruiser bound for
Revel. Simbiel is about to give chase."
Gabriella nodded
again, trying not to show her surprise. She’d known that Felix had escaped but
had not known his means or destination.
“It is imperative,"
continued Michael, “that we get our hands on this technology. If it falls into
the hands of the Watchers or any other powerful group then we will lose our
pre-eminence in this part of the galaxy. To this end, and unknown to our fellow
members of the Angelic Council, we intend to dispose of this technology. If we
cannot obtain it for ourselves, we will destroy it utterly.”
Gabriella was
perplexed. “Two questions. Why not share this with the rest of the council and
why get me involved when you and Metatron sound like you’ve got things under
control”?
Before Michael
could answer, Metatron, goblet in hand, took control of the situation in
classic drunk style.
“Why! Because the
rest of the council is composed of damn fools." Metatron gesticulated with
the hand carrying the goblet. Red wine stains appeared on his robe. Some
droplets splashed onto the table, narrowly missing Gabriella. Unseen by
Metatron, Michael rolled his eyes. Gabriella tried not to giggle.
Metatron,
seemingly oblivious to the damage he’d done to his robe and table, went on. “If
we told the rest of the council about the potential of the Overdrive, the
idiots will want to use it for themselves."
Noticing that
Metatron’s goblet was now largely empty, Michael refilled it. Metatron,
distracted and intently watching Michael refill his
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