"Just remember, I want to be on your ship to provide healing support."
Quinn nodded, "let's go see if your friend's family is here yet."
As they entered the teleport area, Lana noticed the rags the family had been relegated to due to the economy.
Duff introduced Lana to his family. His sister Nan was 13, brother Mica was 10 and little Brooke was 6. Lana told them all she was happy to meet them. Before heading back home, they were going shopping.
After another hour, the family had new clothes, some books, blankets, and a few assorted things. Duff's father got himself a new set of armor to go out on hunts.
Not long later, Lana was in her room sleeping and the Seek family had a new home near their son. Celia offered to help teach the children since all her children were school-age.
It was the next morning when Lana finally woke up. It had been a full day. She was so hungry she stumbled to the travelers' center with Shalt and Caser helping her. They sat her down and food magically appeared in front of her. Before she knew it, her plate was empty. She suddenly realized she had gotten this far into her pregnancy and didn't have a lick of morning sickness. She was grateful for small miracles.
After she was finally satisfied, Alto took her aside.
"My father wants to come. He got permission for the transfer through the faction leader but his boss has something up his sleeve. I can no longer contact my father."
"What faction is your father under?"
"Bree."
"Good. Give me the information to contact is faction."
Lana went to the command post and dialed the faction in question. A man named Fromp answered. He had jet black hair and wore glasses. He stared back at Lana in the hologram, "This is the Star Faction, how can I help you?"
"My name is Lana Plantwell of the Plantwell Faction. I'm calling in regards to Sirus Funnel. He desires to transfer to my faction but is not being permitted to and his son has lost contact with him. I would like to speak with him."
"Sirus withdrew his request this morning. He is busy working. There is nothing I can do." He was getting ready to hang up when Lana spoke once more.
"Are you not going to investigate why he said he wanted to join his son and then withdrew and refuses to speak to his son?"
"No. It's not really my business. If he changes his mind, I'll authorize the transfer." He hung up on her.
Lana's blood was boiling. For the first time, she went to her office on the second floor and dialed a number she didn't think she ever would.
The image that appeared in front of her was that of a young lady wearing a black witch hat. "Lana! How good to see you. How is Caser?"
Lana smiled, "He's gotten so much bigger! I hate to call you like this but I'm having trouble with one of your factions, the Star Faction."
Mona appeared to think for a bit before responding, "Oh yes, I know them. What is the issue?"
"Alto was raised on that planet. His mother died in the war. His father is all the family he has left. He stated his father has always been mistreated at work. He was finally able to reach his father and ask if he wants to transfer under me and his father did. He made the request, it was granted and now his father is unreachable with the request withdrawn. The faction leader said there is nothing he can do."
"That doesn't sound right. And this treatment was happening before the Civil War?"
Lana nodded.
Mona frowned slightly, "I don't have time right now to go there and deal with it. It's a bad time right now."
"I'm not asking for your action. All I really need is for you to call them and tell them not to interfere. I'm to be permitted to land, operate as I see fit and leave again."
Mona nodded, "that's easy enough. Are you sure you can handle it?"
Lana nodded, "I also wanted to let you know the reason that other faction never managed to explore to the other two settlements is things are strange out that way. We got attacked by four king-tiers at once. We are okay but we are going to wait a few months before going back out there."
Mona looked concerned, "are you sure you're okay? You never even completed your second year of school!"
Lana smiled, "It was pretty scary but I was traveling with eight people instead of five. We would have died if our party was the normal size."
Mona's smile returned. "You really are smart."
Lana chuckled. "I'm getting ready to go after a faction to save a friend's father while 5-months pregnant. I don't know if that's smart."
Mona's expression changed to one of shock. "No, that would not be smart."
Lana's expression changed to a serious one. "I need to save my friend's father. I never had one. I won't let his be taken without a fight. … Could you tell them I'll be there tomorrow?"
She nodded. "I'll do what I can on my end. Try to be safe," Mona said as she hung up.
Lana went back to the travelers' center. Everyone was still in there talking about the day's plans. Some lower ranks were going to go practice around the former Bree area. Lana smiled. Her people were willingly getting stronger.
"Alright, we need to go rescue Alto's father. Who's going with me?" Lana smiled.
Shalt and Alto stood behind her. She heard from the kitchen, "give me a few minutes to prepare food to go!" Lana chuckled as she looked around. It seemed almost everyone wanted to go.
"Since Dobin went last time, Kattie can go this time."
Lana heard a "YES!"
She looked at the others. "Rene and Almin. Get ready. We leave in 30 minutes."
"Do we have a game plan?"
It was Almin.
"Well, they are going to know we are coming. His boss is apparently really powerful in the faction and is pulling some strings. If anything, this is something the Bree will be happy about if I'm right about what we are going into."
"But will the Bree be okay with us going in and busting things up?" It was Kattie.
Lana smirked. "She is the one telling them we are coming and not to interfere."
She heard some gasps around the room. "Does anyone have any recording equipment?"
She saw nothing but blank stares. "Of course…"
"Meet me at my ship in 30 minutes. We'll be gone for maybe a day. Be prepared for that."
Back in the command post, Lana called Logan and explained the situation. She decided to use this as her weekly check in since it would be happening the next day anyway. He gave her a code to get a Logan Green "special" camera system so the whole thing could be recorded in secret. His family had a close relationship with the Bree family and thought this would best protect both families.
She received the gear and had Shalt show her what to do with it via Logan's instructions. She had on her king-tier robe and was ready.
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