DelProx Andromeda (Editing In Progress)

Chapter Seven - Protega XI

"You're cleared for landing."

"Roger that," Coltz replied, manoeuvring the shuttle into position.

They took off out of the Sparrow, descending into the blue-tinged atmosphere of Protega XI, the kagiin home-world. It was a beautiful tropical planet with a stunning eco-system, and was an absolute haven for xeno-zoologists, boasting a diverse population of mammals, birds, marsupials, insects and reptiles. Buried deep below the planet's surface lay seams of unimaginably rare and valuable metals, kept safe from mining and exploitation by vast quantities of poisonous yellow gasses. What few mines that remained had been turned into profitable tourist attractions that offered tours for a very reasonable price. The team took in the tropical paradise beneath them as they flew through the clouds.

The shuttle landed outside the kagiin Inter-systems Security Office, and the team debarked. It was a large, organic building, covered in a light-bending glass that served as one of Protega XI's most profitable exports. It seemed to shimmer and shift in the weak sunlight, appearing and disappearing into the tropical scenery. Kagiin architecture was notoriously natural-looking, giving their home-world an ethereally untouched quality, and was considered an untouched gem in Delegation space.

They were met at the landing site by three kagiin. A few members of the team tried not to stare. It was unusual to see kagiin outside of their home-world after the Kagiin Rebellions, and so Gaz and Stephanie had never actually met one. They took in the foremost creature's tall stature, dark velveteen fur, large pointed ears, and long, off-white hair that was tied back in a braid. His twin tails twitched slightly. He wore the traditional short pants and no shirt, as had been their male fashion for centuries. Wrapped around his slender neck was a long blue scarf.

"Good day," the kagiin said pleasantly, inclining his head to the team. "My name is Geza Pax. I am the Head of Security for the Kinae office. If you would kindly follow me?"

Geza Pax turned and Gaz received a nudge in the ribs from Kesby.

"Eyes up, Casey," he muttered sternly. "You wouldn't want someone staring at your tails, would you?"

"No, sir," Gaz muttered back. He could see Stephanie smirking at him out of the corner of his eye.

They entered the beautiful building, and were immediately struck by the grandness of its scale. It appeared far larger within than it had without, and Mitchell opened his mouth.

"Dimensional pocket," said Jack quietly, before the question could be asked. "Saves on space when populations increase, and it keeps the eco-system in balance."

Geza Pax's left ear twitched slightly in their direction.

"I understand that Dr Atkins has a good understanding of our culture," he said curtly.

"How can anyone truly understand a culture as rich and complex as that of the Kagiin?" Jack replied diplomatically, offering a friendly smile that the Head of Security did not return.

They crossed the room, followed by several large, bright kagiin eyes, and were escorted past the security beams that scanned each of them without issue. Jack's high-tech suits appeared on the system as ordinary ECHO soldier uniforms, a fact that manifested an involuntary gloating smile upon his face. They approached a large metal panel on a pedestal.

"If you would place your hand on the plate, Commander?" Geza Pax instructed.

Kesby pressed his hand against the cool metal. After a brief pause it began to shift, the silver darkening to black as the metal seemed to come alive. It engulfed the Commander's hand, working its way into every crease, every whorl, every pore of his skin. The colour changed once more, paling to grey and then to a shifting, swirling blue and green. Slowly, the metal receded, regaining the shining silver and solidity it had had before.