Thrust 5.

"Shrubbery!" The Vagendra of Manocide declared, striking a pose that was nothing to do gardening.

"Oh no that is never a shrubbery," Captain Seymour DickLogic pointed at the drawer with panties in.

"No no, it's this huge jarring chord used to frighten the enemies." She insisted, making funny noises trying to imitate the sound as she remembered, "like jumping on a piano."

"In space?" in a book? well, it could be a kindle. Or worse, a kobo!

"Not sure. I was in a radio play once and we used it a lot." The Vagendra of Manocide looked in the indicated drawer and selecting a random pair, disappeared into the toilet.

"Oh! We use Polka. You could ask the Science Officer. He might still have that weaponised 8-track. Only do it dressed or you'll frighten him out of a year's growths."

---

"Hello!" A young woman, extra medium lolly size chimed cheerfully as she greeted the Science Officer.

"You!" The Science Officer panicked. "Why are you in a book about the Manliance's glorious-"

"The Loliplex." Doctor Firm-Posterior waved a leaflet at the Science Officer, "The Glories of the Loliplex will give you Space Rabies."

"To shop! Darling said to ask you if you still had the weaponised 8-track." The Vagendra of Manocide chimed cheerfully.

"In a red skirt?"

"It doesn't show the blood stains."

"You don't have ensign nappies on under that do you?" The Doctor asked, handing Communications Officer second class Slime Dispenser a pair of quad-damage ultra nappies.

"Oh no, no pants see!"

Doctor Firm-Posterior sighed.

---

"The Loliplex. Is this realy a Navel Trading Post?" The Vagendra of Manocide admired the glories of one of the largest shopping malls this side of the Manliance. It was so big it had a climate.

"I think we have to wait for the massive description infodump." Captain Seymour DickLogic sighed, "you do have pants on now?"

"I find those indigestible." She declined to answer about the pants.

"Mm. Here it comes, excuse me while I go water the flowers."

The Loliplex. A huge base purposed with supplying the Navy (and sometimes science missions) into the Panchira Quadrant. Dry docks, repairing, upgrading and re-painting ships. ...

"How was it for you darling?" The Vagendra of Manocide asked, she had earmuffs on for some reason.

"I find watering the flowers deeply relaxing. Only one cosmogalacticredit too. They have an amazing display of carnivorous pansies versus triffids. Look, souvenir runcible spoons." Captain Seymour DickLogic waved them at the Vagendra of Manocide.

"It's really huge, I don't think I've ever seen anything so big."

"It's not a patch on The Spendadrome."

"That's in Manliance space. Off limits, like my sock drawer." The Vagendra of Manocide pointed out.

"No. The Spendadrome is in The Zone Indifferent."

"Wait! That planet with the rings and deranged fleet admiral TightPants?"

"Shop or die?" Captain Seymour DickLogic grunted manfully.

"Yes, yes, her. The Melanoma of Dungarees tried to invade and lost half her fleet."

"Wait, Cathyin TightPants is an admiral now?"

"Yes, why?"

"The last time I saw her, she fell out of her space nappies in zero gravity training."

"Kinky!"

"She was two. I have no wish to see that ever again," Captain Seymour DickLogic shuddered manfully, "shooting around the room under her own power."

The Vagendra of Manocide smiled, her mental image frantically trying to scribble itself out with the blue pencil of censorship.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Let's shop!"

"Wai!"

"Enough of the lolly." He grunted manfully, furrowing his brows.

"Food first, then warfare." She agreed.