Tara_NNP stood_VBD stock-still_JJ ,_, waiting_VBG for_IN the_DT first_JJ tiny_JJ gleam_NN from_IN the_DT scout_NN craft_NN to_TO appear_VB in_IN the_DT darkness_NNS of_IN the_DT wormhole_NN ._. 
The_DT gentle_JJ constant_JJ breeze_NN of_IN recycled_VBN air_NN from_IN the_DT vent_NN above_IN blew_VBD an_DT annoying_JJ hair_NN against_IN her_PRP$ nose_NN ,_, but_CC she_PRP ignored_VBD it_PRP ._. 

A_DT gasp_VB from_IN the_DT psychic_JJ broke_VBD her_PRP$ silent_JJ vigil_NN ,_, and_CC she_PRP turned_VBD ._. 

"_'' Results_NNS ,_, Harmon_NNP ?_. "_'' 
she_PRP suppressed_VBD the_DT surge_NN of_IN annoyance_NN that_WDT ran_VBD through_IN her_PRP as_IN she_PRP contemplated_VBD the_DT psi_NN 's_POS gift_NN of_IN getting_VBG all_PDT the_DT hot_JJ news_NN first_RB ._. 

Harmon_NNP 's_POS face_NN slowly_RB animated_VBN -_: joy_NN sweeping_JJ in_IN to_TO replace_VB stern_JJ concentration_NN ._. 
"_'' Tarrin_NNP says_VBZ the_DT planet_NN 's_VBZ a_DT freaking_VBG gemstone_NN !_. 
Thriving_VBG with_IN life_NN ,_, large_JJ and_CC small_JJ forms_NNS ,_, no_DT buildings_NNS of_IN any_DT kind_NN ,_, hydrocarbons_NNS ,_, metals_NNS ,_, and_CC a_DT stable_JJ atmosphere_NN ._. 
He_PRP 's_VBZ not_RB even_RB bringing_VBG them_PRP back_RB through_IN for_IN a_DT face_NN to_TO face_VB briefing_NN ._. 
He_PRP says_VBZ we_PRP should_MD come_VB through_IN now_RB ,_, immediately_RB ,_, before_IN the_DT probe_NN is_VBZ reported_VBN late_RB ._. "_'' 

"_'' Harmon_NNP ,_, tell_VB that_IN good_JJ for_IN nothing_NN son_NN of_IN a_DT beta_NN to_TO get_VB his_PRP$ hindquarters_NNS through_IN the_DT gate_NN and_CC back_RB here_RB NOW_RB ,_, or_CC I_PRP 'll_MD open_VB fire_VB on_IN him_PRP when_WRB we_PRP come_VBP back_RB through_IN ._. "_'' 
Tara_NNP fumed_JJ ._. 
Of_IN all_PDT the_DT impertinence_NN !_. 
Tarrin_NNP ,_, no_DT doubt_NN with_IN orders_NNS from_IN Mason_NNP ,_, was_VBD questioning_VBG her_PRP$ command_NN decisions_NNS ._. 
That_DT 's_VBZ what_WP I_PRP get_VBP for_IN not_RB using_VBG mercenaries_NNS ._. 

She_PRP returned_VBD to_TO her_PRP$ watch_NN ,_, regarding_VBG her_PRP$ own_JJ reflection_NN in_IN the_DT long_JJ window_NN ._. 
Mahogany-black_NNP curly_JJ hair_NN ,_, cut_VB short_JJ in_IN the_DT typical_JJ military_JJ style_NN framed_VBN a_DT careworn_NN ,_, dark-skinned_JJ face_NN ._. 
It_PRP was_VBD not_RB an_DT attractive_JJ face_NN right_RB now_RB ;_: her_PRP$ ebony_NN eyes_NNS shadowed_VBN by_IN hours_NNS on_IN the_DT watch_NN ,_, full_JJ lips_NNS pursed_JJ with_IN frustration_NN ._. 
She_PRP had_VBD the_DT look_NN of_IN every_DT leader_NN she_PRP had_VBD ever_RB known_VBN ._. 
At_IN six_CD foot_NN two_CD ,_, she_PRP stood_VBD a_DT full_JJ head_NN taller_JJR than_IN even_RB her_PRP$ Arrallin_NNP first_JJ officer_NN ._. 
Her_PRP$ glowering_VBG expression_NN completed_VBD the_DT imposing_VBG effect_NN ._. 
She_PRP picked_VBD imaginary_JJ flecks_NNS off_RP her_PRP$ stark_JJ gray_JJ jumpsuit_NN ,_, and_CC snorted_JJ ._. 
You_PRP look_VBP like_IN hell_NN ,_, Tar_NNP ._. 
Do_VBP n't_RB blow_VB this_DT ._. 
Do_VBP n't_RB let_VB fatigue_NN get_VB to_TO you_PRP ._. 

She_PRP used_VBD the_DT discretion_NN of_IN the_DT mirrored_VBD window_NN to_TO secretively_RB survey_VB her_PRP$ crew_NN ._. 
Harmon_NNP was_VBD an_DT excellent_JJ addition_NN to_TO the_DT bridge_NN team_NN ,_, but_CC was_VBD she_PRP open_RB minded_VBD enough_RB to_TO defy_VBP United_NNP Earth_NNP Command_NNP and_CC sever_VB all_DT ties_NNS from_IN Earth_NNP ?_. 
She_PRP watched_VBD the_DT psi_NN bob_NN her_PRP$ head_NN ,_, unaware_JJ of_IN the_DT rest_NN of_IN the_DT bridge_NN ,_, shaking_VBG blonde_JJ curls_NNS as_IN she_PRP chattered_JJ away_RB with_IN the_DT approaching_VBG psi_NN relay_NN on_IN Mason_NNP 's_POS ship_NN ._. 
She_PRP seemed_VBD so_RB depthless_JJ -_: self_NN conscious_JJ and_CC shallow_JJ on_IN the_DT outside_JJ ,_, but_CC having_VBG that_IN incredible_JJ gift_NN ._. 
There_EX had_VBD to_TO be_VB more_JJR to_TO her_PRP ._. 

Well_RB ,_, if_IN she_PRP did_VBD n't_RB pan_VB out_RB ,_, she_PRP 'd_MD be_VB terminated_VBN ._. 
Any_DT crew_NN member_NN that_WDT would_MD jeopardize_VB the_DT project_NN was_VBD meat_NN ._. 
It_PRP would_MD be_VB a_DT shame_NN to_TO lose_VB that_DT talent_NN ,_, though_RB ._. 

Rakal_NNP ,_, her_PRP$ first_JJ officer_NN ,_, was_VBD staring_VBG pensively_RB at_IN his_PRP$ panel_NN ._. 
He_PRP was_VBD what_WP this_DT was_VBD all_DT about_IN ._. 
She_PRP watched_VBD his_PRP$ graceful_JJ fingers_NNS ending_VBG in_IN thick_JJ black_JJ claws_NNS tap_VB out_RP calculations_NNS on_IN the_DT panel_NN ._. 
His_PRP$ pointed_JJ ears_NNS swiveled_VBD back_RB and_CC forth_RB ,_, catching_VBG every_DT sound_NN from_IN the_DT bridge_NN ,_, while_IN his_PRP$ long_JJ tail_NN swished_VBD to_TO the_DT rhythm_NN of_IN his_PRP$ thoughts_NNS ._. 
Only_RB those_DT of_IN the_DT Arrallin_NNP Insurrection_NNP inner_JJ team_NN knew_VBD he_PRP was_VBD no_DT common_JJ '_POS beta_NN furry_NN '_'' ._. 
His_PRP$ silken_NN fur_NN ,_, which_WDT would_MD be_VB tawny_NN golden_JJ and_CC striped_VBN with_IN jet_NN black_JJ bands_NNS ,_, was_VBD dyed_VBN perfectly_RB to_TO a_DT pure_JJ black_NN ,_, and_CC his_PRP$ mane_NN trimmed_VBD and_CC thinned_VBN as_IN to_TO be_VB indistinguishable_JJ from_IN the_DT rest_NN of_IN his_PRP$ coat_NN ._. 
His_PRP$ eyes_NNS had_VBD been_VBN treated_VBN and_CC darkened_JJ to_TO a_DT rich_JJ purple_JJ to_TO disguise_VB the_DT brilliant_JJ golden_JJ yellow_JJ color_NN that_WDT would_MD mark_VB him_PRP as_IN an_DT Alpha_NNP Arrallin_NNP ,_, and_CC leader_NN of_IN his_PRP$ hive_JJ ._. 
Right_RB now_RB ,_, he_PRP looked_VBD like_IN an_DT overgrown_NN wolf_NN who_WP 'd_MD learned_VBD touch-typing_JJ ._. 

The_DT scout_NN ship_NN re-emerged_VBD from_IN the_DT hole_NN -_: a_DT brilliant_JJ speck_NN emerging_VBG from_IN a_DT sphere_NN of_IN velvety_NN blackness_NNS ._. 
It_PRP 's_VBZ hail_NN crackled_JJ across_IN the_DT comm_NN ,_, and_CC Tara_NNP spun_VBD to_TO retake_NN her_PRP$ seat_NN at_IN the_DT helm_NN ._. 
"_'' Launch_NNP the_DT second_JJ probe_NN ._. 
Wo_NNP n't_RB Central_NNP be_VB crushed_VBN to_TO learn_VB that_IN another_DT gateway_NN has_VBZ yielded_VBN little_JJ more_JJR than_IN a_DT class_NN F_NN planet_NN and_CC a_DT white_JJ dwarf_NN system_NN ._. 
Level_NNP 1_CD and_CC 2_CD staffers_NNS should_MD prepare_VB to_TO be_VB briefed_VBN and_CC move_NN out_RP ._. 
This_DT sounds_VBZ like_IN it_PRP 's_VBZ the_DT one_CD ._. "_'' 
The_DT distinctive_JJ whuffle_NN of_IN pleasure_NN rippled_JJ through_IN the_DT betas_NNS on_IN the_DT bridge_NN ,_, and_CC Rakal_NNP let_VBP loose_VB a_DT small_JJ growl_NN ,_, as_IN if_IN to_TO caution_VB his_PRP$ charges_NNS against_IN false_JJ hope_NN ._. 
They_PRP 'd_MD scouted_JJ twenty-seven_CD gates_NNS so_RB far_RB ,_, and_CC none_NN had_VBD turned_VBN up_RB anything_NN worth_JJ the_DT Insurrection_NNP 's_POS time_NN ._. 
Tara_NNP would_MD not_RB let_VB giddy_JJ hopes_VBZ drag_VB them_PRP onto_IN a_DT rock_NN that_WDT would_MD spell_VB the_DT end_NN for_IN the_DT project_NN ,_, and_CC the_DT Arrallin_NNP species_NNS ._. 

