The security squadron had apparently stopped just outside the machine shop door, and a shroud of silence settled over the launch bay area. Had his bluff actually<em>worked</em>? Rati slid along the walls as stealthily as he knew how toward the door, gracefully tripping over an empty bucket and sending a tool tray clattering across the room. As he clambered back to his feet, swearing quietly, he spied a small disc of shiny, obscurely purposed metal lying in the nearest corner. He quickly scooped it up, sidled up next to the door and thrust the disc around the corner to use as a mirror.<br/><br/>And saw.<br/><br/>Well.<br/><br/>A strange, little pink...thing. With a worryingly big stick.<br/><br/>Rati twisted and turned the makeshift mirror this way and that, seeking out something more...threat-ish. After almost a full minute of staring into the reflection, he poked his head 'round the corner and spotted its source. He kept one eye on the attacker, the other swiveled down on the viewshard, relaxing just an iota as he realized the little creature with the stick was apparently even more apprehensive than he himself. Perhaps a nice, non-threatening introduction would prove the wisest course, after all. After a moment's deliberation, Rati drew himself up to his full 1.7m height and boldly stepped into the launch bay...<br/><br/><br/>