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\n OK I'm back. Here's the next chapter of War tails of the white wolf. Again not much happening in this chapter but it holds foreshadowing for not only the next chapter of this but also of my other series. It's not hard to find but good luck...please vote and feel free to leave a comment!



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\n "I told you, you'd be seeing me real soon."

\n Lliam had a troubled look on his face as he said "Oh no." and laid his ears back as he looked up into the face of a rather large wolf.

\n This large wolf had grey fur with white fur on his chest, stomach, under his muzzle and other areas. He stood eight inch's taller then Rrahkarr at six feet eleven inch's total. He had short silver colored hair, brown eyes with a very muscular build, he inherited the recessive timber wolf genes from his mother's side of the family and with the recessive genes he got from his father he was born a timber wolf. His chest was wide and his shoulders back as he carried himself with pride. He was dressed in a fleet officer's uniform with Colonel Pips on his shirt collar. This was Rick.

\n Rick had a devilish smile on his face as he looked down at Lliam. Lliam on the other hand had a fearful look and you could hear him start to whine before Rick easily picked him up out of the chair; like he was a pup, and hugged him before saying "How's my little cousin doing."

\n "Rick...please, would you put me down." Lliam asked as Dan and Nate laughed a little.

\n "Of course William." Rick said as he set Lliam onto his feet "How've you been?"

\n "I've been better. How bout you?"

\n "Good." Rick said as he took a seat in the other chair at the table and got relaxed.

\n "So Lliam who're friends here?" Rick asked just in time for the three of them to notice his rank pips.

\n "Corporal Daniel Barker Sir!" he said as he stood up and saluted.

\n "Corporal Nathaniel Barker Sir!" he said and did the same.

\n "At ease fellas, there's no need for that." Rick said as they took there seats.

\n "When did you earn your bird Rick?" Lliam asked.

\n "Just before my current assignment actually." Rick told him.

\n "What's your current assignment, unless it's classified?" Lliam asked

\n "To scout and explore a world recently found. We're hoping that it will turn into a fairly safe colonial world." Rick said.

\n "So what are you doing here?" Nate asked.

\n "To board the ship that will be exploring the sector to make sure that there are no pirate havens or pirates in general in the area. While the team that's here with me sets up a camp and starts exploring the new world." Rick explained.

\n "And what ship would be doing that?" Dan asked as he leaned back in his chair.

\n "...The Darwin." Rick said as Dan tried to get the chair back on all fours but tipped over instead.

\n "Ow...you mean..." Dan started.

\n "Yep, I'll be joining with Darwin for a while...do you think one of you could take me to see your captain?" Rick asked.

\n "I'll take you." Lliam said and looked over to the Nate and Dan "Catch you later." He added as he left with Rick.

\n *****************

\n A little while later as Lliam led Rick towards the Darwin he started asking him about the world they found.

\n "So does this planet have a name yet?"

\n "Not really, right now it's called ACX-004. and if everything goes well it will be open for colonization in three and a half years."

\n "Really...how long will it take for your team to scout the planet?" Lliam asked as they turned a corner that ended with the entrance to the Darwin.

\n "About...half a year." Rick answered then stopped and added "Then in about three years after that, colonists will come...which leads me to talk to both you and Rrahkarr about something."

\n "Why...what's wrong?" Lliam asked.

\n "I'll tell you and Rrahkarr at the same time." Rick said and continued walking with Lliam leading the way onto the Darwin.

\n *****************

\n After a few minuets of halls and one turbo lift ride later, Lliam and Rick arrived on the bridge of the Darwin. Neal; being on bridge guard duty today, greeted Lliam as he walked in but looked a little surprised when the nearly seven foot tall wolf behind him walked in..

\n "H-hey Lliam, who's this..." Neal started when he saw Ricks Coronal Pips and saluted him.

\n "Is the captain of the ship in?" Rick asked.

\n "Yes-sir, Admiral Keeton is in his day room." Neal said and walked Rick into the Admirals day room.

\n Lliam stayed outside but heard voices that sounded like old friends catching up. This confused Lliam because as far as his knowledge went, Rick had never met Admiral Keeton...but there was a lot about Rick he still didn't know so he let it go.

\n A few seconds later Neal came out and closed the door behind him. He looked at Lliam and smiled before he said "You might want to go find something to do. From what I caught this may take a while."

\n "Sure thing...do you know where Rrahkarr is? He hates being surprised by Rick; I think I should go tell him he's here." Lliam said.

\n "And ruin the fun, why would you do that?" Neal said as he laughed a little then added "What does the Captain do when he surprises him?"

\n "Well...the last time Rick surprised him, Rick ended up chasing Rrahkarr through the house. He likes being able to pick us up like we weigh nothing and Rrahkarr hates it." Lliam told him.

\n "You mean he can lift Rrahkarr up off the ground with ease?" Neal asked; surprised.

\n "Yeah he did the same to me but I'm only five foot nothing...how do you think Rrahkarr feels being sex foot three? The last time, Rrahkarr jumped through one of the windows to get away...and ended up having to go to the emergency room." Lliam said and laughed at the memory.

\n "What happened?"

\n "Oh he decided to jump out of a window that was on the second floor and ended up getting covered in glass...hell one piece went right through his hand, and he also got a broken leg."

\n "Damn...so why are you laughing at that?" Neal asked.

\n "We may like Rick but we hate his greetings, it's kinda stupid but we usually hide for a little while before showing ourselves. Or that hulking mass somehow sneaks up on us and scares the hell out of us. I'm laughing because jumping through the window was a little extreme; he had to pay for it too out of his own money." Lliam told him.

\n "I see that's kinda funny." Neal said.

\n "So do you know where he is?"

\n "No I don't sorry. You might check in the hanger bay, the med bay, or ask Sara...she usually knows where he is." Neal said as he scratched his chin.

\n "Hmm...I see. Well thanks anyway Neal. Catch ya later." Lliam said and walked out of the bridge.

\n *******************

\n An hour later Lliam was heading towards Sara's room to ask her if she'd seen Rrahkarr, he had searched where Neal told him and even a few other places. He was twenty feet from Sara's room when the door opened and Rrahkarr stepped out and noticed Lliam coming.

\n Rrahkarr raised his hand and waved as Lliam approached and said "What's going on?"

\n "There you are...I've been looking everywhere for you."

\n "And why would you be looking for me." Rrahkarr said and chuckled.

\n "Oh just to tell you that Rick is right behind you." Lliam said as Rrahkarr's eyes widened and he jumped forward and in mid air turned around to face Rick who wasn't there.

\n "Where is he?"

\n "Meeting with the Admiral." Lliam said and laughed.

\n Rrahkarr let out a sigh, then said "You little bastard." Then chuckled after thinking about what he had just done.

\n "Sorry I had to. You always do something...(sniff)...funny once you...(sniff, sniff)." Lliam tried to say but a peculiar scent had reached his nostrils.

\n "What's up with you?" Rrahkarr asked.

\n "SO that's why I couldn't find you." Lliam said with a devilish smile.

\n "Damn you and your sensitive nose, what do you smell?"

\n "You were mating with Sara weren't ya?" Lliam said.

\n Rrahkarr realized now what Lliam had smelt. A grin split his muzzle as he fought back the laughter building in him and said "Damn...and I took three showers too. I should've put on some cologne or something."

\n "It wouldn't have helped much." Lliam said.

\n "Yeah, she's in heat and all. This was actually the third time today...I'm a little worn out." Rrahkarr said.

\n "Third time today?! What are you trying to do, get her pregnant?" Lliam asked as they both started walking down the hall in no particular direction.

\n "You know how hard it is for a wolf and fox to mate and have pups...or kits. The odds are way up there." Rrahkarr said.

\n "Hell now you just jinxed yourself." Lliam joked.

\n "Please don't say that...I don't feel like being a father just yet, or at least not while I'm in military."

\n "I understand but we have to go see Rick. There was something he wanted to tell us." Lliam said as the headed back to the bridge.

\n ********************

\n They got there but Neal told them Rick had left already with an escort to where he would be staying while he was onboard. He told them the room number and what deck it was located on before they left in search of him.

\n When they got there it didn't surprise them that he wasn't there. Lliam sighed and Rrahkarr shrugged.

\n "Lets wait for him in the coffee lounge." Lliam suggested.

\n "Sure thing" Rrahkarr said as the headed off "Oh but we'll sit at a booth where we can see him enter." He added.

\n "Yeah I know...you don't want to be surprised by him...hell he snuck up on me in the stations food court."

\n Rrahkarr laughed along with Lliam as they headed towards the coffee lounge.

\n ********************

\n They got to the coffee lounge and found a booth where they could see anyone entering the lounge from, and had been sitting there for ten minuets talking when they spotted Rick entering the lounge.

\n He didn't notice them sitting there watching him as he went up to JJ and started talking to him. They watched as JJ nodded and poured a mug full of coffee and handed to him. Rick asked him a question and JJ pointed over to them.

\n Rick looked over and saw them watching him and smiled and walked over to them. Since Rick didn't have the opportunity to sneak up on Rrahkarr he decided to just give him a normal greeting this time.

\n "Hey there RJ how've you been?" Rick asked.

\n "Good...I see you've been promoted?"

\n "Cant complain...even if I have to do a ton of paper work the pay's not bad." Rick said as Lliam moved against the wall so Rick could sit down.

\n "So what're you here for?" Rrahkarr asked.

\n Rick told Rrahkarr the same thing he told Lliam earlier then started to tell them both something else.

\n "Ok now time to tell you something about the colonists that will be colonizing this world." Rick said as both Rrahkarr and Lliam gave him all their attention.

\n "Lliam, after you gave Admiral Keeton your message to send he added one of his own for me. The reason why I'm leading this mission is because he thought I would be best because I'd have reasons to do my best. That and I'm turning out to be a promising commander." Rick said.

\n "What's the reason why you'd do your best for?" Lliam asked.

\n "The same reason why both of you are going to help make sure that everything goes smoothly." Rick said.

\n "And what is the reason?!" Rrahkarr asked more sternly.

\n "David, Ada, and Maya are going to be colonists on this world. That's why the Admiral believed I would be one of the better choices...I'd have family participating in the colonization effort. Once we find suitable areas for colonies to be built on the surface and document some of the life forms and plant life, we'd search the system for pirates and when that was done we'd set up some defense platforms to defend the colonists."

\n "And when were they planning on telling us that they'd be colonists?" Rrahkarr asked.

\n "Now...when I came aboard, here's a holo disk they recorded that I'm to give to you two." Rick said and handed the disk over.

\n "I'm guessing that you'd want to get underway soon then...to scout out the new world?" Lliam asked.

\n "Yeah...they wanted this done a few months ago but there were no destroyers...hell let alone any federation ships near this system and none that would be close except the Darwin, so the sooner the better." Rick informed them.

\n "Who's going to set up the defense platforms?" Rrahkarr asked.

\n "My team once the Darwin has searched the system for any hostiles. We've brought along the platforms with us...in fact I just got clearance to bring them aboard with some other cargo." Rick said.

\n "I'm presuming that the defense platforms are unmanned?" Lliam asked.

\n "Correct but after the first colonists arrive, a Core Tug will be arriving, bring with it the core piece to start building a space station. Then lots of freighter ships will be bringing along the rest of the station in pieces...you know build as you go." Rick said.

\n "So when do we leave?" Rrahkarr asked.

\n "Immediately...soon the Admiral will announce to everyone that it's time to go." Rick said when the ships PA system activated and the Admiral began speaking.

\n "Attention everyone, the Darwin will be setting off at 0900 hours ship time, 1500 hours station time. We have new orders and need to get underway as soon as possible. I'm sorry but we have to cut shore leave short a couple of days. Everyone to your stations and prepare for the station launch sequence. That is all." The Admiral said and disconnected.

\n "0900 hours! That's in ten minuets!" Rrahkarr said.

\n "What about everyone still on the station?" Lliam asked.

\n "About twenty minuets ago the station announced that the Darwin would soon be leaving so everyone has gotten onboard or are working on it already." Rick said.

\n ******************

\n Ten minuets later the Darwin was given permission to leave. People onboard the station all watched as the large federation destroyer undocked from the station. It wasn't often that the people on this station saw an I.S.F type ship dock or undock, let alone a destroyer class ship at that.

\n Murazar watched from one of the windows as the Darwin started to head out into deep space. Onto the next mission that only the crew of the Darwin knew. He headed towards an information terminal and asked where the ship he'd been assigned was located.

\n The terminal showed a ship on its screen. The information on it showed that it had been assigned to one Freelancer Delta and was located not far from where he currently was.

\n He then began heading toward the ship but stopped when he saw some crew from another ship that was hastily reading for launch. He noticed the patch that all of them wore and his eyes widened for a split second in recognition. He looked for the emblem on the ship and there it was clear as day to everyone who looked.

\n Murazar knew well what the emblem was down to exact detail; it was a cross with hands on the bottom holding others down, hands on the left and right pushing others aside while hands on the top lifted a select few above everyone else. It was the symbol of the Electus the chosen few who are held above all others.

\n And of course they didn't have to hide the emblem...they were known far and wide as a pharmaceutical company to almost everyone. It didn't fool him though. He must have been standing there for a while because the next thing he knew the ship was launching.

\n Then the ship began heading out to space...only it was taking the same path the Darwin just took. Then it hit him...they were following the Darwin. Several thoughts crossed his mind and he wondered if they found out that both Rrahkarr and Lliam; two descendants of Tro'nen, were onboard.

\n He didn't trust this situation and hurried to his ship. Once onboard he requested immediate launch from the station on code F-325; the code that a Freelancer uses to get immediate clearance to leave once that code is issued and only when it's an emergency.

\n "We're sorry Freelancer Delta but a cargo ship is about to dock and it'll be blocking the dock port that your ship is docked at." The station control tower operator said.

\n "If you don't open that hatch I'm going to blast my way through it, then blast my way through that ship killing a lot of the crew. Then I might just destroy the tower that you are so comfortably sitting in." Delta said and a moment later the hatch opened and Murazar quickly launched.

\n The unfortunate circumstances were that the ship he was in, while only launching fifteen minuets after the Darwin and seven minuets after the Electus ship, would reach the Darwin after half an hour after it was engaged in battle with the other ship.
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