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"Professer Rina! We found it!" The young College graduate lifted the brown canvas sheet that made the door to her tent where she was going through a tablet.

"You did!"

"Yes, Like the part you translated it from said it would be!"

"Splendid" she rose from her seat grabbing her hat as she stepped out into the harsh light and heat of the Talenaka desert. Her dig was the result of five years of research and the funding of an eccentric old man, and a piece of his collection. She Remember when He first meet him she was only six years old.

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It was six Years ago and after dusting off a part of a tablet in the National Measueum, something caught her attention, the Writting on the Tablet contained Human, Basitian and Keidran writting and one more language. She could not figure out what it was. Karen Rina went through all the available artifacts and noticed on a few others.

When She went up to the Museaum trusties, they Rejected her theroy called her insane for suggesting that there was a fourth race that no one knew about. She was dismissed from her position at the museum and out of a job. Later that night as she packed up her belongins, she heard a knock on her office door.

"Is this where I can find Karen Rina, cureator of the museaum?"

She sighed. "What would you want with that insane nutcase. She got dismissed and did anyone tell you we are closed. I will call security if you do not leave." She picked up the recievor on the telephone.

"I think you'll find security is rather busy at the moment, thats one advantage about being rich. Ah if you Excuse me, I am Calman. Ibem Calmen. And we have much to dicuss" He offered a hand to her.

"And Why Should I go with you?" Her eyes narrowed into slits.

"well, for one reason you are out of a job, two months late on rent and have a cat to feed"

"Wait, how did-"

"We will dicuss that in private, Come I know a wonderful place that serves Keidran and Human specals" He took her arm and led her to his waiting car where they took off.

"I still want to know how did you know all of that?" She persisted.

"We are all not as we appear to be. I happen to be working for the Republic's Central Inteligence Directorate branch. We monitor threats to the Republic from within and from outside."

"What does this have to deal with me?"

"You know your discovery, its been know for quite some time. We just been hiding it as best we can without leaving a trail. Unfortuantly you made too much noise and sadily your career had to end."

"WHAT! WHY YOU!" she slapped him with her Tiger furred palm.

Ibem Rubbed his face, he was rather impressed at how hard tiger keidran hit still. "Yes, I deserved that. However we had good reason to-"

"To WHAT! TO RUIN MY LIFE! TO MAKE ME THE LAUGHINGSTOCK OF-"

"Of a rioting and fear torn republic. That is what would have happen if we released the information all at once."

"But We are smart-"

"I beg to differ; Individually we may be smart, but as a species Humans, Keidrans and Basitians are dumb panicy creatures, just look. The Templars and Brotherhood still comitt atrocities to this very day, both sides locked in a deathspiral. Imagine revealing that, the chaos it would bring." The car turned another corner and slowed to a stop infront of a high end restruant, a place frequented by both Humans and Keidran. The Door was opened by a Human valet who offered an arm to help both out.

As they walked into the restruant the Host came upto Ibem. The Fox keidran addressed them as if they were a Married couple. "Good evening, and welcome to Moonlight Club. If I may reccomend the couples booth?"

Ibem waved his hand. "Thank you for the offer, but no. This is a buinesess arrangement. If you could please take us to a booth at the corner, I could be most pleased." He said handing him a hundred credit note.

The Host lead them to a booth in the corner. and they were seated. When they were alone he turned to the Tiger. "Now, as I was saying. It is unfortuante you lost your job" he heard a growl and knew he better make the offer quick. "However the CID has an offer. You join us, as our team has had no luck in deciphering the language, and we will pay you well and who knows maybe one day we will announce the discovery when deemed approiate and you will become famous."

"How much?" Karen could care less for the fame, she had a kitten to feed.

"I seen your proposal and you made more progress than anyone. Three times your salery you were making. In addition to this" He slid a envelope full of credits. "Call it an apology, but you don't have to make your decision now. Your rent has been paid off until the end of next month as well as your other bills, but it is up to you."

They had a nice quiet dinner and He dropped her off at her apartment with his buinesess card. It did not have CID on it, but rather it was the name of one of the largest companies in the Republic- Calman Heavy Industries.

Karen walked up the stairs to her one bedroom apartment. She checked her mail box- empty as usuall. And walked in and open a can of cat food for her cat, Mittins.

She fell onto her bed. and her pet joined her. "Oh what should I do now?" she asked herself. She scratched mittin's ear and he purred loudly. She turned her head and looked at the card.

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The next morning the phone on Calman's desk rang. he picked it up with one hand, twirling a cigar with another. "Hello, Ibem speaking"

"Hello, Mister Calman.... I like to take the job"

"Ah, Excellent! We hoped you would. Now listen, I'll be sending a car over. take what you can carry. We will send a moving company for the rest. I cannot meet you at the airport, but you need not worry about customs and the Internal Security Service, we have our connections with them. The Flight should take you to our main Research Facility At the Crestinga Mining Facility."

"Whoa, I didn't think I'll be moving."

"Correct, and I hoped I would not have to call in some favors with my friends in the ISS and Customs to get you there ASAP. but let us say what the miners discovered, is very significiant."

She packed her clothes and had to sedate her kitty. And Left for the airfeild. The Plane trip there was uneventful and soon she was in a remote area of the Human-Keidran Republic. the only other habitation was a military outpost called fort Defiance that stood watch on BOTH human and Keidran borders. From what the Pilot said, they operate as if war can break out any second.

The plane landed and she was escourted off the plane and onto a waiting car that ook her to the mines. Inquiring on her luggage she was informed that Specail arrangements for a fully furnished apartment were arranged through the company and that she was given a credit line to make purchases with Company credit.

She stepped out of the Car and was greeted by a Human wearing a Hard hat. "Welcome to the team. I am Derek Fleisher. The Boss said to give you a tour. Now when you come into work you have to stop by that shack". He pointed "and Grab a Hard hat. Your Official job is Government Saftey inspector so don't dress in expensive clothing. Then down into the cave we go!" he said leading her into the mouth of the caveand down into the shaft. They were walking on the sides as mining equipment went in and out of the mine. "We are a small team, now six of us, including yourself and I. I happen to major in Basitian language. Tony Branan is our Anchient Human languanges major. Illivana Freefox, is our resident Anchient keidran Linguist. Israko Sato is our Histoiran who studies anchient history and finally another Linguist Violet Shieks is the oldest researcher on the team."

"Good to know" She said but one thing bothered her. "Why a mine?"

"huh" Derek half turn to listen to what she said.

"Why are we working in a mine and not in a lab?" She shouted over the roar of a pneumatic drill.

"You have to see it to believe it! He waved her on. "Almost there!" They moved down the shaft and made thier way to a gated off esction that was patrolled by a guard and a sign "keep out" posted. After an idenity check they were buzzed into the secure area. then She saw it. The room was filled with the same unknown writting that she saw on the tablet at the museaum.

"Oh my.."