The huge System Defense Battle-cruiser Hyperion snapped into view from sub-light travel from the inner planets.Admiral Kozak ordered Dokka to introduce him to Toxic. They came into the bunk room that Toxic was sharing with Snowflake, Sunshine and Lime, daughters of Dokka's second in command,Rose, the Cyclops. They could hear laughing and carrying on out in the companionway, and once inside, they saw Toxic trying to run her mysterious power-sword into Snowflake's shield. Dokka relaxed a bit. That meant that Kael Oran had told everyone to keep up the appearance of the Four Sisters system operational. The less they had to explain, the better. Dokka said, "Toxic, I'd like to introduce Admiral Kozak." "Alright. Busy trying Snowy's shield. Didn't help much against the scourge thingy, but is stopping me!" Dokka looked around the room in curiosity. Sunshine was up on the table and cheering Snowy. River Prince was sitting next to where Toxic was standing and cheering her on. "Chop up a chicken next! Can you set fires with it? Can you teach me how to do that? No more FARTING! Gas attacks IS illegal, right?" Everyone laughed at Prince's comment. Snowy smiled, and said, "You remembered what I said! Good for you!" Sunshine laughed, "It's alright with ME! I don't have a nose, so I can't smell!" Admiral Kozak said, "FALL IN! What is with you people?" Kael leaned over and said to him, as Dokka sighed and sat down in one of the chairs, "Sir? Except for the Captain, we are all CIVILIANS! We are on our own time right now and blowing off some steam." He glared at Kael and growled out, "SO I see! If you were under me for any time..." Toxic said, "...you'd be committing sodomy?" Dokka shouted, "TOXIC! Enough of that! Apologize to the Admiral!" Toxic looked over at Dokka with a raptor-like look. "Why? He said..." Dokka leveled a finger at her and said, "No cookies for you! You don't even know the man, and fired off an insult like that? That is just rude!" Toxic blinked and the sword flicked out. "I was?" She turned to the Admiral and bowed, "Sorry. I didn't mean to be rude." Admiral Kozak said, "That's a little better. I have orders from the top to take all of the Four Sisters onto my ship with the reptile man, River Prince. Your co-operation will earn you all the 'cookies' and what ever else you might want." Dokka sighed and shook his head in disbelief. He started, "Admiral..." Toxic snapped off a curt,"NO." Admiral Kozak snapped back, "I can have you arrested." Toxic snapped the power-sword into being, a centimeter from the Admiral's nose. Dokka said levelly, "I think she means, 'You can TRY.' I wouldn't, if I were you. She just survived a contact range THERMO-NUCLEAR explosion without a mark. She fought an ancient creature of immeasurable power and has before fought one of the Althan-Krommium forerunners to a halt." "Admiral...what do you know of herding cats?" Kozak narrowed his eyes. Toxic's eyes were cold and predatory looking. Kozak saw his own death in them. Toxic wasn't playing around, or joking, this time. She said, "You are a very bad man. I SHOULD kill you right now." Dokka came over and said quietly to her, "Toxic. That's enough. Stand down." Toxic's sword flicked out of existence and she went over to stand next to Snowflake. Dokka asked in a purposely casual tone, "From the top, you say? Say from, Sky-Marshal Zolf Reinz? I have orders from the Judge Advocate's office to NOT obey ANY order from him. You aren't giving me illegal orders, are you? If so, I must refuse them." Kozak scowled and growled, "You'll be arrested and stripped of rank." He wheeled and left, enraged. Prince asked, "What's sodomy?" Toxic started, "You take a banana and a donut and you..." Dokka left the room before he heard anymore. He had things to do, quickly, before he had a chance to change his mind. --TO BE CONTINUED!--