Tensions were running high as Jason brought the Shire in to dock with the Alliance Tohoku class cruiser Nietzsche. "Here we go folks," he said over the com. "Time to be heroes."

Shutting down the engine he rose from his seat and headed back toward the cargo bay to greet the Alliance supply officer that would be waiting for him. As he passed through the common area he tossed his brown coat onto the old sofa. It would not do to be wearing that now.

The cargo bay door opened and Jason stepped forward to greet the supply officer, a bottle wrapped and a paper bag held in his hand. As the two came to stand facing each other, Jason passed him the whiskey in difference to old maritime tradition. Jason had also wanted to give him a carton of cigarettes, but had not had time to acquire them at the Ezra Skyplex. The man grinned in appreciation as he shook Jason's hand.

"Supply manifest is right here," Jason passed the man a clipboard listing everything that was scheduled for delivery. "My people can start unloading as soon as you like."

"Everything looks in order," said the supply officer after briefly studying the list. "Snap to it then."

Linda and Rick began lifting heavy plastiform crates that contained an assortment of weapons, food, and miscellaneous consumables and carrying them out of the Shire. In the large cruiser's cargo hold they stacked the crates in the bed of a cart that was hitched to a small mule.

The supply officer watched the first few crates loaded, then satisfied that all was well, turned and strode from the cargo bay, no doubt eager to sample Jason's gift. So far everything was going according to plan. The thought that he was about to see his sister for the first time in almost two years seemed surreal to Jason.

The Alliance grunt on the mule pressed down on the accelerator and they watched as it left the cargo bay and was hauled deep into the labyrinthine depths of the cruiser. Now, it was only a matter of waiting.

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Sarah