Her delicate  eyebrow  rose  a bit, as she  gave him a coy, half-smile...one Vampic  does not kill another... You leave  each Vampic's  mates alone....  For a Vampic, to mistreat another is the highest  form of  Crime, and will  earn you a  Rotwood  stage in your heart.

  If one  enters  the VAmpic   service, you have one goal. That goal is anything  you can do, to further the VAmpic   rise  ..whether it be power...population...or  trade.. Vampic service people will defend  or ..Avenge  our  race... It seems Your   people have   that same sort of  outlook, as VAmpic  are on  the 'shoot  to kill' order?

Henry nodded.

"You hold that the life of your fellow Vampics is to be preserved at all costs, yet deny other sentient species the same courtesy? Did you do so, you would not be under threat from us."

  Again she smiled a , polite smile, one might give a child who was having trouble with a lesson.

  ..I see your point of  view , Doctor. But had  we worried  about  such things,,, our race would have merged   with the Empire long ago... Right now.. Vampic   do what  furthers  the Vampic  Race. alot of the races... yours included,, popped up, well after Vampics  were roaming  The Black... and Vampics  will still be around, when  young races, as yours...are  extinct..

"We have certain standards. If we do not maintain them, then we indeed are lost. Yes, we have greedy and selfish people, but we do not let them get out of hand. Your people, it seems, encourage the greedy and selfish: those who would profit at the expense of others."

Henry shook his head sorrowfully. Such a shame that the Vampics have chosen self-interest over becoming part of the galactic community.

  Mortica    smiled  again,  she sure seemed to  be.. a lovely  woman, if a bit  pale....


 ..is  that not what the humans  are doing.. tearing through  The BAlck.. Killing  people but the  thousands, Just to protect your own world?

"We seek to protect all those whom others prey upon. Many other species have joined us. It would be better if yours did as well."

Henry was quiet but firm.

   She  slides  a hand  through her  black hair  with  shimmering grey  mixed in.

  ..The Demons left us alone.. the  Hyrians  raely even try to enter our  space....I bet, if you  would   stay on our ship, for  but one night.. we would understand...

Henry grinned.

"Ah, but would I return to the Hermes the following morning?"

  Mortica  breathed   slightly. her voice  just a bit  husky...We  find , that many  Human   males, find it  hard to leave the Vampic, once they have seen whaat we have to offer..

"I think I'll pass, I like my blood where it is..."

He got up and went out, turning to the SEC troopers.

"I have about all she can provide about the Vampics, I'd better go and write it up. She's all yours now..."

  The two troopers,   Motion  for her to stand, then lead her out to the Brig.

  Val  shook  her ehad   when  Henry  came out, watching the monitor  as the GUards    got ready to escort her...She  like a pit  Viper....

Henry flopped down on a stool.

"Unless the Vampics decide to join us, they remain a real threat. Even if they do, it will be wise to sup with a long spoon..."

... They are..not a good race.... From what  we have been told  ..there has been no sighting of  offspring, of these creatures.... which means , if there are any, they are  kept at home or   in colonies?.... There ships  have  two purposes.. war... and 'recruiting!'

  ..and  since  i brought  up ships... The Void  is  just about to be seized  by  ESN people as well as a Transport that has  been linked to it..... should i contact them about Bodies  for test subjects?

"Please. Although I don't want them making any specially... but if someone does get killed..."

Henry was always a little dubious about the process with sentients. Many species had various rites they performed on their dead and he didn't want to interfere.

 Val started to make the COM  call. don't  worry there  Doctor... I'm sure there  will  be  dead Vampics

 Then she  Put in an Order with Colonel comings   for a MAle and Female VAmpic That was killed, but in good shape...

Henry went off to his office to work through the information stolen... was it only last night?

    Val  steps in the door  with    some hot  tea and a  few cakes, she  sets  a few  down for Mila as well.

  .. Doctor?... This  was   found  by one of our people in SEC..  he gave ot  to be, says  he  took it as a souvenier. but it  creeped him out, and Thought you could use it... It seesm to  be a pocket Version, of the Vampic  Holy Book?

 The Book's Title  is  " Vampic Reign "

  there are soe stylized  picture  of  great  Vampic    leaders fighting hosts  of   Humans. One shows  a  Female  Vampic  with an aura  around her... a  Burnign sword   in her left hand  Points to ...what looks like..Demons in  the corner.. and they cower  and are  on Fire.

 Her right had Has a Rod of gold   that points at Humans   as the reach for  her  with Rapt ecstatic  faces...

  Behind the  female   are three  vampic   males in Balck armor  who carry Silver blades.

 the    deeper he  flicks into the book, the   more the pictures  show Vampics entangles with   huamns in lustful poses, or   fighting with  , what could only be demons and Lizarda men..

 But the Last chapter shows   Humans on thier  knees worshipping   the Female.. while next to her. the  three armored  Males   are shaking hands  with   demons..LArgrans..and what looks to  be  , Creshians.

Henry looked through the book with a mix of interest and revulsion.

"This is more for an anthropologist or someone who studies comparative religion. Can you make a copy, I know just the man in Oxford..."

He thought about his friend Ralph Udall, who taught theology and was still a devout Christian despite all that had been going on, all these alien races and history of their visits to Earth that seemed at times to parallel what was described in the scriptures. Many had lost their faith as a result, but not Ralph.

Of  Course  Doctor.. would you want it  Bound... or in a file?... and which one  will you keep...

 Val waited for the Books  and the order.


  a COM call came through,..Doc Henry?...  This is Chief Monns.. the New  Brig Chief?... Hey.. I don't know nothin' about  no Vampic things?.. but i know  somethin's  damn wrong here..I just had to Pull  one of the   guards that  too her food  in?.. he was  trying to open her Cell... now.. She ain't that bad  lookin' an' all if ya  get paste the  whole ..white-grey  skin thing... But  the fellow that was   sent in to feed her?.. he's  not stupid...when I asked  what he ws doing , he  just stared at me.. so i got two more of my boys  to pull him  out and slide in the  food?.. he's  sitting here  Now?... seems OK, but I'm send  him up to Med tech with one of the other guys.. I'm Tellin' ya   Doc? That's pretty damn creepy..

"Oh dear," said Henry, mind racing.

"They apparently can exert some kind of influence over people, mental manipulation of some kind. Make sure nobody is alone with a Vampic and absolutely no touching. Do you know what her long term disposition is to be, Chief? Maybe I'd better come down..."

  The  chief  pondered a bit, then answered...she  was    smilign alot.. she took her  food  and began to  eat, but she  kept staring  at the trooper , until we got him out.... she's damn smart too..  she looks  up at the camera  and   waves   or  winks  sometime, like she knows   when someone is watching.

"Do you want me to come and take a look, Chief?" asked Henry.

  The chief is   quiet for a bit,..look?  Sir?... I Know  how  Busy you are.. but..next time to take her out to  test her or whatever.. be  damn careful... she's  a wee bit creepy, she is

"It's no bother, Chief... and if you and your crew are bothered, I maybe can set your minds at rest or find something to make you feel safer around her," said Henry.

 ..Well Doc?  Its  up to you.. I'm sure the Admiral would just say something like " deal with her  , how you think best"...but.. this  ain't  one of them others?.. I know  how to handle  Nivarians, Roussians , Empire scum..even EDT.. this one   is weirding  me out , man...