Chapter IIa: Absolute Disaster

"Yes, actually. It seems likely that this face to face meeting with the leader thing has something to do with how they manage to take over unsuspecting ships, so I'd like to see this plan in action without the attendant risks. Can you set up a force field cage that doesn't look like a cage? Maybe set up two chairs, one inside the cage and one outside, so it looks like we're just sitting facing each other unobstructed? But if he tries anything, it's caught by the force field. Doable?" Cass looks at Darcy for her input, as well.

Laser Feeling: While your search does not yield any direct hits on sentient parasitic species, you find information about the Grall, a symbiotic species where humanoids are joined with a symbiotic life form. The two combine into one person and after the death of the hosts the symbiote lives on in the next host. While the relationship between host and symbiote ja very different there than it appears to be with these parasites you can still draw some parallels: The symbiotes' lives are valued much higher than the hosts because they live through many lifetimes. Similarly, the parasites do not seem to care too much about their host bodies. The symbiotes are also able to perform changes in the way their hosts' bodies operate, from changing hormone levels and organ operations, to over longer time even manipulating bone structure. It is reasonable to assume that the parasites would be capable of similar things, possibly even more than the Grall symbiotes.

Cass:
Darcy does not reply, but she nods to show her approvement.

Moira, if you want to put this into action, give me a prepared expert Lasers.

You didn't get any successes, so no, you wouldn't be able to program one in either direction.

Cass, your search yields a surprising result: A spacefleet file shows up on your screen. The picture looks exactly like Kendall but the name reads Captain Karen Granden.
As you read through her history, you discover that she was always a bright and successful Spacefleet officer who climbed the career ladder quickly. During the last ten years you find a number of Mark's on her record accusing her of transgressions against Spacefleet orders and regulations but almost all of them have a note attached that says they have been dismissed in a hearing. Sixteen months ago, she took command of the USS Fortune, a small ship equipped for war that patrols the border to the neutral zone between the Consortium and the Naplicans

Cass stares at the screen in slack-jawed amazement. She had expected to find evidence of a Spacefleet career cut short by resignation or some sort of involuntary discharge. This was so much more... bizarre. And disturbing.

Unbidden, two words shrieked excitedly in her mind: Evil twin! She shook her head in self-disgust.

It's never twins, she tells her less mature side firmly.

She sits back to think about her next move.