Lullaby of the stars

[Xalrok]

17:35 - Day One | Aboard the NTBS Belisarius | Robert's Quarters.

"Bridge, Commodore Crompton here. The Hinton is to depart immediately and maintain radio silence until otherwise notified. Tell Captain Manning to meet me in the hangar control room."

Robert turned back to the datapad Admiral Hale had given him a while ago. He'd lost count of the times he'd re-read it, but it made him no less skeptical. How could he trust this report? He glanced at the quarters around him one last time before putting the pad away and leaving.

17:37 - Day One | Aboard the NTBS Belisarius | Hangar Control.

"Captain Manning, glad you're here. I take it you're ready to leave?"

An armoured transport dominated the bay below them. A swarm of crew could be seen rushing to prepare it for the journey ahead. Manning could only frown.

"I am, but I've a bad feeling about this, Commodore. Every time we've dealt with a Nomad it's ended in nothing but pain and repairs for us."

Robert nodded slightly.

"I don't trust it either. I've spent these past few days trying to put aside my doubts but I'm still not convinced. I've sent the Hinton ahead as insurance, just in case."

Manning shook his head and turned towards the view of the armoured transport.

"You've always had a strong anti-Nomad stance, Commodore. There hasn't been a single piece of alien technology on the Hinton in years, so why this change? Why negotiate now?"

Robert sighed.

"It's important for all of us, Manning. The fact that the Order and Navy High Command will both be in the same room is enough." He chuckled. "Luckily, you don't have to worry about diplomatic eggshells or getting your mind warped. When we arrive you'll remain on the Kimbilio until I return from the meeting."

A nearby comms terminal activated with an audio-only feed. The source was from within the hangar itself - one of the hangar deckhands.

"Commodore, we've finished running the diagnostics and cleaning her up. The Kimbilio's ready to leave whenever you are."

Robert's face took on a more serious tone - the wait was over.

"Good work. Tell your men to clear the hangar - we're leaving immediately."

23:59 - Day One | Aboard the NTGS Kimbilio | Bridge.

Several long and uneventful hours had passed since they lost sight of the Belisarius. Nothing - just green smog and pancake asteroids. Robert passed the time tapping his fingers together, waiting... Manning paced back and fourth, monitoring every console intently. That inevitable attack never came, however. The sight of the first lava asteroids and a green IFF marker - the Normandie brought with it a sense of relief. Upon emerging in the Toledo exclusion zone, the armoured transport immediately sent a hail requesting permission to dock.

Shortly after the Papyrus' arrival, the Kimbilio came to rest beside the Order ship. Within less than a minute the Neo-Terran delegation had emerged onto the Normandie's hangar deck, Robert accompanied by his security detail. The disparity between the heavily armoured soldiers around them was evident, the Neo-Terran guard equipped with light civilian armour and standard rifles. Regardless, they walked onwards towards their reception.