Disclaimer: I own nothing except my three OCs, whose backgrounds are heavily influenced by Sylvia Engdahl's novel Enchantress from the Stars. Anything you recognize is from the Trinity Blood manga, by Kiyo Kyujyo, or the novels, by Sunao Yoshida.

Prologue

The Interstellar Introduction and Recovery Society of the Republic is located on the largest star cruiser in charted space, with recruitment offices in every Republic star system. Its job is to monitor Youngling worlds –worlds that are not part of the Republic because they have not developed far enough technologically to know of the Republic's existence, or lack knowledge of the psychic powers. By monitoring these worlds they have prevented wars and saved civilizations. They work for the safety of the Republic, and as Youngling worlds may some day become a part of the Republic, allowing them to develop at a natural pace to preserve their culture is paramount, save when such development threatens the safety of other worlds. They guide and nurture civilizations until they are strong enough to understand the existence of the Republic. Never has a planet declined to join the Republic.

On one of the higher levels of this mighty ship are briefing rooms where agents are given their assignments. Inside one of them, two female and one male humanoid stand before a large desk, covered in data pads each detailing a mission. In contrast to the desk's large size, its occupant is small; a gray-skinned Vrankar. The Vrankar spoke, showing his needle sharp teeth. "Senior Agent D'Arva, Agent Stenre, meet your new trainee, Zera Viduria." One female started. "A trainee?" she exclaimed. "No!" Her eyes were sharp as she glanced toward the back of the room, where the trainee Viduria stood. "No. No. I don't get trainees. I don't like trainees. I haven't had a trainee since-" she snapped her mouth shut, cheeks bright red. The man, Stenre, placed a hand on her shoulder as the Gonhir spoke again, yellow-green eyes narrowed. "Senior Agent D'Arva, I expected better of you. You forget to whom you speak."

"I do not, Assignment Officer Kebibi Kam'bir. Do you forget that just one sleep-cycle ago I was assigned to a solo mission on Toris? I should be leaving now, not dealing with a trainee!"

"Your assignment has been given to Officer Elemi, and she has already left. It was decided that she would blend more easily among the Torisians, and that you might benefit from taking her trainee. Seeing your reaction, I believe the decision was correct." Kebibi held out a data pad, which D'Arva grudgingly took. "This is your new assignment. You are to leave within five cycles. Do not disappoint me, my former student. Dismissed, all of you." The three humanoids exited the room, one frustrated, one resigned, and one confused.

They next met a cycle later when D'Arva, as the most senior among them and thus mission leader, called her two new subordinates to a conference room that existed for meetings between new teams. Stenre and Viduria came early, only to see that their leader had arrived before them and was already seated at the head of the table. Stenre took a seat to her right, and Viduria the one next to him. D'Arva spoke. "Trainee Viduria, as we both know your name it's fitting for you to know ours. I am Syeira D'Arva, and this" she gestured to the smiling man next to her "is Matxin Stenre."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Zera," said Matxin. His grin was infectious, and Zera found herself smiling back. At least, she was until she felt the cold glare of her new superior. "Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, let me make one thing clear. I have only two rules for you. Speak when you're spoken to, and keep out of my way. I don't see why the higher ups found it necessary to charge me with you, but I'll make the best of it." Syeira's brown eyes raked over Zera from head to toe, and she muttered "At least you'll find it easy to gather information from the poor besotted Younglings." Zera saw red. Because of her baby-blue eyes, blonde hair, and curvy figure, she was often dismissed as a know-nothing girl who had gotten in on good looks and was no good at an agent's difficult work. She was used to it. That didn't mean she liked it. "With all due respect, Senior Agent," she ground out, her tone far from respectful, "I am not a mindless body! I had some of the best marks in my class and have already seen fieldwork!"

"Trainee, I don't care if you had the best marks in your class and have just spent the last stage in a war zone. Speak only when spoken to."

"All right then. What do you have against me?"

"I consider myself a practical person. I work solo. You are nothing but a burden, one that I have no desire to bear." Syeira's cold gaze and uncaring tone of voice nearly brought Zera to tears. "I'm not! I have real skills! Read my file and see!"

"I have." Syeira said, and Zera couldn't stand it anymore. She stood abruptly and ran from the room. Never in her life had she been made to feel so insignificant.

"Well, that went well." Matxin's tone was wry. His grin was gone, replaced by a look of concern. At his words, Syeira seemed to wilt. Her proud posture vanished and she cradled her head in her hands. "Why are they doing this to me?"

"A better question is why are you doing this to her? What has Zera done to deserve that kind of treatment?" Matxin's voice was curious, not accusing.

"She's done nothing. Nothing at all! Her grades were a little better than average, and she gets sent out into the field. For two ten-cycles! You know the kind of missions I get sent on. It's not fit work for a trainee." Syeira sounded halfway between exhausted and desperate. Matxin moved his chair closer and put an arm around her shoulders. She flinched, but didn't pull away. "So you're trying to scare her away. It won't work, you know. She'll just try harder to impress you."

"And get in the way even more."

"Only if you think of her as a burden, and not a comrade. Syeira, please try to get along with Zera, otherwise this is going to be one long mission." Matxin sighed, and ran a hand through his red hair. "I'm going to catch up with her and see if I can mend things between you." He stood and rushed out of the room. "But Mat, you don't know the mission details! Mat?"

Oh well, thought Syeira. I'll tell them later. Since I have a few free periods, I guess I'll go to Records and study up on what we'll be dealing with. Earth and nanomachines. She exited the conference room at a brisk pace, data pad in hand.

After Matxin left Syeira, he jogged a small way along the corridor in the direction Zera had gone. Not seeing the small blonde, he leaned up against a wall and closed his eyes. Stretching out and searching with his mental sense wasn't too difficult, and he soon found a distressed mind, one floor down. Correctly guessing it to be Zera, as most fully trained agents kept mental shields up, he quickly caught up with her. "Trainee Viduria, wait up!"

"What do you want?" Zera snapped. Her eyes were watery and her face was red. Clearly she'd been crying. "Zera-may I call you Zera?" The blonde nodded. "I just wanted to see if you were all right. I know Syeira can be abrasive sometimes."

"Abrasive? Sometimes? In our first conversation she told me flat out I was a burden and insinuated that my only asset was my body." Zera's voice verged on hysterical. Matxin grimaced. "I know, and for all it's worth, I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize for her. Did she send you to do it?"

"Nope. I just left, like you did. She was shouting something about mission details when I ran out." Zera paled at Matxin's words. "Oh no! I didn't get the mission details! Now she'll think I'm even more incompetent!"

"I wouldn't worry," said Matxin in a nonchalant tone. "Syeira insulted you, and you refused to stand for it. She'll realize that. And besides, if there's anything Syeira's good at it's research. She's probably already in Records, looking up everything we could possibly need and more." Zera looked skeptical. "Are you sure it's alright?"

"Absolutely. Now, would you mind terribly going down to the cafeteria with me? I'm hungry, and company would be lovely. Especially if said company is as lovely as you." Zera blushed, and looked up into Matxin's eyes, as red as hair. His features were handsome and his infectious smile was bright white against his dusky skin. She said yes, and they had a very enjoyable day together.

The next time all three agents were gathered together was for a medical exam before they departed for the target planet. Matxin was separated from the two women, who were studiously ignoring each other. It was Zera who broke the silence, when she saw the medical droid preparing an injection. "Why are we receiving an injection?"

"If you read the mission details I sent to your personal data pad yesterday after you ran out, you would know." Before Zera could think up a scathing reply, the trainee and the senior agent 'heard' Matxin's telepathic voice asking Don't bother the trainee, Syeira. I'm curious too.

Neither of you checked your data pads? What were you up too?

We spent some time together in the lounge, that's all. Zera's mental voice was slightly unsteady. Syeira sighed. Fine. The planet we are going to is called Earth. Over five thousand stages ago an Abaran warship crashed on the next planet over in Earth's solar system, complete with the nanomachines Abaran soldiers used and the bacilli that supported the machines. We failed the recover the ship and Earthlings discovered the nanos and bacilli. That discovery started a war that devastated their planet, destroying any technology of the level we would monitor for. So for the past 3287.25 stages it has gone on with only standard checks every 100 stages. The bacilli spread too quickly to eliminate, but the last check suggested some of the nanomachines, and there were only four to begin with, may have survived the war. Our job is to eliminate them. Syeira's explanation was very matter of fact, in a why-don't-you-already-know-this? way. Wow, thanks for the history lesson. Zera hadn't known someone could send so much sarcasm through telepathy until she 'heard' Matxin. Shut up, Mat.

Only if you'll finally tell us what we're being injected with. Matxin had lost the sarcasm and now sounded nervous.

A modified version of the Abaran nanomachines, and enough bacilli to keep us going for a few Earth years. We'll fight fire with fire.

I have a question.

What is it, trainee?

Once we get there how will we find the other nanomachines?

Our first goal is the Imperial capitol Byzantium. I hope to gather information on the Empress, as the agent who gave the report said she has lived long enough that it can only be nanos sustaining her.

And after that?

We improvise.

AN: So, this is a rewrite of what was formerly Chapter One. I'm thinking about rewriting all the chapters. If you have read my story before, please tell me what you think of the changes. Even if you're a new reader, I'd love to hear your opinions.