----------------------------------
VRDET-OP: The Marraketh Connection
           "Situation"
        by: Red Paladin
----------------------------------

	*Well, let's begin* Red thought.
	A few seconds later, the door slid open and the group was 
complete. The idle chatter continued till High Councillor 
Malaclypse stepped up to the podium and hammered it to signal for 
silence.
	"Right. Now that I have your *attention,* we can begin 
the briefing." He began, speaking in a business-like tone.
	"Approximately one hour ago, High Councillor Katze 
Brenner was abducted by previously unknown Wyrm forces. It is our 
belief that she has been taken to the nation of Marraketh for 
interrogation and Goddess-knows-what." He paused, to give 
everyone just enough time to realize what had happened before 
continuing.
	"Here's the kicker, though; Marraketh lies in another 
dimension. Specifically, the dimension coded 00-07-00. 
Fortunately, though, the prototype Gateway can reach Marraketh 
with... some ease, so we can mount a rescue mission. Seeing as 
how we're still in the process of getting reorganized, the people 
in this room represent our strike force. We can't set any more 
through the gate, anyway, so don't expect backup forces to be
charging to your rescue if you screw up."
	"Now, this is what we know about Marraketh: Intel is 
sketchy at best, but we figure a population of around several 
hundred thousand, most of which are farmers. The capitol city is 
called Rhye, assume population of about ten thou, located 
approximately at the centre of the country."
	Red vision flickered over to Councillor Nexxus's seat, as 
she suddenly sat upright, though displaying no extra emotion.
	"Alright, mission commander is Nexxus, with Commander 
Aris as XO. For the R&D people hitching along, Brynhild is in 
charge, with Selvane as her backup. Any questions?" Mal paused 
momentarily, scanning the room for raised hands. "Good. Then 
Godspeed, people. Get your gear and report to Dimensional 
Research in ten minutes. Dismissed!" 
	*We were just there* Red mused.
	The Rangers rose from their seats to leave.
	"Race you to the transporter room." Red said suddenly to 
Bryn, grinning. 
	"Your on."
	Immediately, Red went through one of the dark shadows in 
the room. *Shadowslipping[tm] does have its advantages.* After a 
few steps in the grey world, he stepped through another shadow, 
to the third floor, where the inter-dimensional gate was located. 
There were numerous technicians working at the controls, priming 
the Gate for a dangerous, but important, trial. 
	A minute later, the door to the room opened and Bryn 
walked in. She did not require the ten minutes that Mal had given 
them since she had already packed before the meeting. Bryn had a 
grin on her face which quickly turned to a expression of surprise 
mixed with anger when she saw who was already in the room.
	"I see you took the elevator," Red stated, smiling.
	"That's not fair," Bryn said. "If I knew you were going 
to use magic I would have been here before you."
	"Ah, your crystal. Well, like most people have said, 
'You didn't ask.'" He smirked.
	The door opened again, allowing the last members to 
enter. Mal was at the control panel adjusting displays, pushing 
buttons and turning dials. He stopped as he conferred with Nexxus
	The door once again, letting the last of the rescue team 
inside the transporter room. Nervous chatter broke the room's 
silence, but was abruptly cut short when High Councillor Nexxus 
spoke to the group.
	"All right everybody, Mal says the gates ready, so if 
you'll all just follow me, we'll get this mission started. Please 
step into the light."
	Light emanated from the portal illuminating the centre of 
the large room. The VRDET personnel lined up with Nexx taking the 
lead. Red, unlike some of the others Rangers, was not nervous 
about the transportation as he had come to Earth through a Gate; 
that was made by the Sponges escaping his homeworld, but it was a 
Gate nonetheless. He jumped calmly through it, into the light.

To Be Continued in "Impatience"

(C) A Neutral&Chaotic Production, 1998. 

Neutral&Chaotic Publishing since 1997.
----------------------------------------------------------------
The preceding segment is a work of fiction. Names, characters, 
places and incidents are either the product of the author's 
imagination or are used fictiously. Any resemblance to actual 
events or locals or persons, living or dead, is entirely 
coincidental.