Viewing screens that none of the crew had noticed came alive. Several walls lit up with a video transmission. A shaggy creature clothed in a black vest and blue pants appeared on-screen.
"Uta shen kal bese," the creature said. "Aidyn kal naneirs."
His voice was raspy and he growled to punctuate his sentence.
"What'd he say?" Sariah whispered, leaning against Anniston.
Anniston stared into the ceiling, looked at the viewing screen as it went blank, and answered, "It's Progor. The trade language."
"What's it mean" Anya inquired.
"We've arrived," Relda chimed in. "And he ordered them to find the children."
The crew huddled together as the ship rumbled. It secured into place, and stillness returned. They spread out.
"So, what now?" Klea asked.
Ozla shrugged. She released an audible exhale.
"I guess we go into all the chaos," she asserted.
Chaos. Every corner of the ship stirred with activity. Dialorians emerged from chambers. Relda and her crew members hid in the shadows. They peeked into the long corridor ahead of them.
Females of all heights, beings, and shapes, adorned with jewelry, strode into the hallway.
Males came from different chambers. Both clutched readied blasters.
"We go to the base," a fanged, horned creature told the females. "You look for children."
The females cocked their blasters in unison. The tallest--a slender, tall, bald creature--gave a curt nod.
"We'll bring you the children," they promised.
Noah grunted and waved at her mother.
"Do we shoot?" She asked, making mouth movements but emitting no sound.
The females scattered. A lone one wandered the hall. She stopped at each chamber and pointed her blaster inside before stepping in.
"If they try to grab the children," Relda said, looking into the empty corridor. "Shoot. If one causes any trouble, shoot. Don't go looking for a fight."
She stood up, and motioned for the others to do the same. When the Dialorian on duty had slipped into the next chamber, they darted onward. Away from surveillance, at least for now.