Steve
*************

Nate wanted to track Kiria so badly. I didn't mind helping him after all, the data on Alaria could wait a few hours. It was stored somewhere in this facility but I could tell my friend was overcome with anxiety.

"Let's see.."I began as I brought up the computer."Computer locate Kiria Koals, supersoldier."

"Kiria Koals is outside of Rome, Italy along with three others with the same genetic enhancements."the female computter voice replied.

Nate and I exchanged a look. "Computer pinpoint their exact coordinates and get a transporter lock in case they run into any trouble."

"Transporter lock confirmed."the computer replied.

"Nate, the transporter should beam the group here if they come under serious heavy fire."I explained."If you want we can stay here and watch them. Glad I signed onto Star Command? I saw how you were on the station. You'd be a great officer. I can just picture it..Captain Nathan Koals."

"That's an amusing thought. We'll have to see though won't we? Have to survive this war first." Nate smiled.

"Confed seemed to be working on a fast solution."I began."Our allies on other worlds don't like seeing Earth this factionalized. They'll still talk to us but they're forbidden to interfere with cultural issues as part of a Directive. "

"Right...Well that's helpful..."Nate sighed.

"Well, Star Command is made up of many many of those races in Confed and will help in any way."I started."We still have to find the aliens responsible for upsetting the balance on paradise. They're obviously not a Confed member."

"I'll say and they had some reasonably advanced bomb technology even though they were still using suicide bombers to carry them." Nate nodded.

I had a thought. We could bring up the Confederation newswire and examine what the other charter members were saying about Earth. I pushed a button and the newswire came on on another monitor.

"Says here that the Yereti are bringing supplies to help out on Earth."I read the articles fast."The Dabarans have been in prayer to the Prophets in the hope that Earth makes it through this hard time."

"That doesn't tell us very much now does it?" Nate asked.

"Well, word only just got out, Nate."I explained. Confed is spread over 8000 light years Subspace news takes time. Not much we can do other than wait. Confed knows what we're doing and they're going to help us no matter what. They want a return to an united Earth."

"Well i hope they don't take too long. The longer it takes the longer I'm gonna worry that Kiria's life is in more danger than I would like it to be." Nate sighed.

I was worried about Kiria too. But, the Confederatyion council was meeting even as we spoke.

"Confed will find something."I explained."They have to meet with the faction heads before anyone hijacks a shuttlecraft and inadvertantly start a war in this sector and from there the whol alliance could break down. Nate, the quardant's very survival could depend on us."

"No pressure then." he sighed.

"Didn't mean to dump all this on ya but we got to have faith. Humanity's been in worst scraps. Remember World War III? It was right before the invention of the star drive back in 2063."

"Yes I, remember but the pressure's really on such a small number of us and we're up against a hell of a lot of enemies this time." Nate shook his head.

"That's where my uniform comes in."I explained as I read the newswire. "Star Command right now is committing officers from the 3rd Fleet to assist. The admirial must have talked to the council. Star Command will support us."

"That's helpful but we still don't know where this is going or what Sadano thinks he's planning. I'm not too sure I wanna find out either." Nate explained.

"That.."I began."We're gonna have to wait and see."