Caged Raptor

[Magus Stormtalon]

<T.A.S. Choctaw>

Captain John Willis looked up from his work when the comm broke the silence of his ready room. He was a middle-aged man with twin raven black brades that fell over his shoulders.

His ruddy brown skin was pock marked from a horrid case of acne that accentuated his wrinkles around his eyes, that were nearly as black as his hair.

"Captain," his operations officer said over the speaker. "We've found something."

"On my way," Willis said and stood. Once he stepped onto the bridge he ordered, "Report."

"Sensors have detected a debris field. It contains, uranium and tritanium alloys. I'm also detecting readings that would support an anti-matter explosion, along with organic matter that could be of a humanoid origin."

Willis sighed, "Tractor the largest piece into the shuttle bay, and meet me down there."

Several minutes later Willis, the operations officer, and the Chief Engineer were standing around the charred fragment of a starship. It nearly completely filled the shuttle bay. The piece even had writing on it. Narlin writing; with an Aliance standard registry NCC-98911.

Willis' heart sank when he'd seen it. It was the registry of the T.A.S. Narla. The former Narlin Imperial Starship was one of the few Narlin ships to be incorporated into the Alliance Navy after they joined the Alliance. Being the flagship of the Narlin fleet the Narla was primarily used for the transport of the Royal Family and defense of Talaria.

"The President isn't going to like this report. Who is the next in line for succession does anyone know," Captain Willis said after a moment.

"I think it's Ambassador Starbreeze," his chief Engineer said.

* * *

Magus woke to a screaming baby. The child seemed distant. Absently he wondered of there was something that needed doing.

Then the peices started to fall into place, and his mind started filling in the missing pieces. Magus climbed to his feet and took in his surroundings.

His daughter was sitting up in the center of the barren room that they were in crying. His wife and Tereska were still unconscious on the floor.

Tending to the immediate need he scooped his daughter up, "Shhh. It'll be all right my little warrior."

Still not happy, but no longer scared and exhausted to little girl leaned into his arms, and still silently sobbing fell almost immediately asleep.

[Tereska Kellow]

Teri woke up, her head splitting and her stomach feeling queasy, like she had the mother of all migraines. Her first thought was that she had a killer migraine on the Emperor's ship and was laying on the floor of her cabin. Sitting up slightly she opened her eyes and looked around.

"This... isn't my room..." she said groggily and blinked a few times. "Heard... baby crying... " Tereska saw Magus and the baby. "Where are we? I was in my room... then... I think I had a black out or something."

[Magus Stormtalon]

"No, you are not," Magus said evenly. He was bouncing his daughter on his hip while looking through the small window recessed into the door of the cell. "I don't have a clue, but this is obviously brig."

[Tereska Kellow]

"Yeah... seems like... that..." Tereska said and then saw the Emperor's wife laying on the ground. "Omigod..." she went over to her side and touched her neck. "She's alive... but she's weak." looking up at Magus. "What happened? This doesn't feel like a Federation ship brig..."

[Magus Stormtalon]

"It isn't, but I don't know who's it is. We were attacked, that's all I know. If I had to guess this is an Ajem'dasis or Dominion ship. Possibly a Brethern."

[Tereska Kellow]

"Who'd be dumb enough to risk war by attacking and capturing you... and putting all of us in the same cell together?" Teri said and shook her head. "Unless we're bait or hostages?" she nervously played with her ring and tried to look out the small window. "I thought the Alliance ships were supposed to be so safe?"

[Magus Stormtalon]

"That's never stopped anyone," Meeria said sitting up. "Give me our daughter." Magus complied, and she put the baby to her breast who greedily latched on to eat.

"I am pleased to see you are well my love," Magus said to her kneeling before her. They reached out and pressed each other's palms together. "My wife is correct. When war comes they will do what is nessicary to achieve their goals."

Footsteps approached and the latch too the door opened.

[Tereska Kellow]

Teri put herself between the Empress and her daughter and the door. She had only just met them, but already she had connected to her and from what history told her, the wives and children of the leaders were usually 'expendable' in these sorts of things. Magus towered over her, as did his wife, but she could scrap if she had to. Growing up with two younger brothers usually meant learning to kick a little ass every so often.

"Whatever happens Emperor... we'll face it." Teri said as calmly as she could, even though inside she was trembling.

[Bellatrix]

A hooded figure emerged. She drew back the hood to reveal her face. Her mane of cinnamon and crimson flew wild around her face, like a cartoon who had been electrocuted.

"Hello," she said with a smile. "It's been a very long time since I have seen either of you three." Her gaze fell upon the baby and she extended a playful finger, "And who is this?"

[Tereska Kellow]

"It's a baby duh. You were one once I'm sure." Teri said as she got between her and the baby. "And you'll leave her alone."