Author: J. W. Murison
Date: 2017-09-30T18:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Science Fiction
Description: Steven and Komoru finish their ambassadorial training and set off on their first mission; what their instructors failed to tell them was that the life expectancy of a Goodwill ambassador is very short indeed. The dangers however, very quickly become apparent to both of Earths first Galactic Goodwill Ambassadors. Can Steven and Komoru, put an end to a two-thousand-year-old conflict, and bring a species, once thought to be dead, back from extinction, or end up on a dinner plate themselves.

The Goodwill Ambassador

J W Murison

Copyright © 2017 J W Murison

All rights reserved.

ISBN:

ISBN-13:

DEDICATION

I would like to dedicate this book to the readers of this series. Their continued hounding, inspires me to keep on writing these adventures. I find them a lot of fun to write, and as long as you keep enjoying them, I will keep writing them. Jim

Other Books by J W Murison

The ACV’s Series

ACV’s 1 Operation Black Gold

ACV’s 2 Operation Island Green

The Gareth Ogilvie Series

Gareth Ogilvie The Highland War Chieftain

Gareth Ogilvie The Great sea King

The Steven Gordon Series

Teardrops in the Night Sky

The Back Planet

The Modloch Empire

The Goodwill Ambassador

The Death Rises Series

Death Rises

1st Battalion The Gordon Highlanders (Space Division)

The Inspector Adams Series

Embers

Stand Alone Novels

CarnMo´r

The Kilted Cowboy

Zombie Ecosse 1&2

The J W Murison Short Stories Collection

ACKNOWLEDGeMENTS

Once more I  would like  to acknowledge the  skills of Jeannie Michaud for providing me with the covers for these novels.

CHAPTER 1

The rhythmic tapping of brass on stone held Commodore Janex mesmerised. The diminutive figure of the Human stopped at the white line Janex had drawn on the stone square. He tapped the pace stick twice then began to fold it. Janex had come to respect this small figure. The pace stick he held in his hands was so simple a device it bordered on genius in Janex’s mind. The former Sergeant stuck the pace stick under his arm and marched back to where Janex was waiting. He didn’t look happy.

‘What’s wrong Captain Murison?’

‘Seventy-three paces is what’s wrong sir.’

‘Seventy-three,’ Janex mused. ‘That is quite a lot. It’s because your legs are all so small.’

‘I am aware of that sir,’ Charlie glanced up, but his attention was on the two groups of soldiers that stood at the far end of the square.

‘They can all count to seventy-three Captain.’

‘Oh! I have no doubts about that sir. The problem isn’t the counting, it is their concentration.’

‘You don’t think they can concentrate long enough to count to seventy-three Captain?’

‘Not a chance.’

‘You seem sure. The normal bet?’

‘You have been losing an awful lot of brandy lately sir. I feel guilty.’

‘Then let’s make the bet a little more interesting. I suggest that the Japanese contingent get it less wrong than your Scottish soldiers.’

Charlie rocked back on his heels, ‘You have me there sir. Normally I wouldn’t take that bet. Last night, however, I know they all got involved in a drinking contest. None of the buggers are in great condition today.’

‘Who won the contest?’

‘It was a draw. The two Sergeants were the last on their feet and they had to stop to help out their puking men.’

‘So, it could be anyone’s bottle of brandy.’

‘Aye. Sir, I graciously accept your bet.’

‘Are you going to shout at them?’

‘Oh hell aye.’

‘I had better record it for the Emperor then.’

Charlie shook his head, ‘What the hell does he get out of those videos?’

‘According to Captain Gord, a full three-bellied laugh.’

Charlie shook his head again and gripped his pace stick tighter. ‘Let’s get this over and done with, shall we?’

He marched out onto the square and brought the waiting soldiers to attention. He paced back and forth in front of them, his kilt swishing from side to side. The Scots were dressed in tartan trews; the Japanese contingent the equivalent of their drill dress. Janex had taken quite a while to get used to the idea that these men wore garments that allowed their private parts to swing freely beneath them. Now he was accustomed to it, he even quite liked the garment and wondered what it would be like to wear one. He imagined the freedom would be invigorating.

‘Listen in. I will bring you to attention and order you to march. You will march for exactly seventy-three paces and come to a halt. I will say that again, you will march forward seventy-three paces and halt.’

Charlie marched to the side, brought them to attention, then ordered quick march. It wasn’t very long before the two groups of hungover men began to miscalculate and get out of step with each other. Charlie shook his head in dismay. They started to stop around the count of sixty-seven. Individuals tried to stop and were pushed from behind. Some on the back row were left behind. About half of them counted correctly and came to a halt, while some carried on. It was a shambles.

‘STAND STILL!’ Charlie screamed. They froze in place. Charlie wove his way between them, then marched over to Janex.

‘I humbly admit my loss on our bet sir.’

‘By how much Captain.’

‘One sir.’

Janex was very pleased with himself. ‘The tables are beginning to turn on you Captain. Please have the bottle delivered promptly to my residence after evening meal.’

‘I most certainly will sir. Now if I may?’

‘By all means Captain.’

Charlie about-turned and marched out to the front of the men. He took a deep breath.

Chapter 2

High above the square where the men were drilling, three people hastily went inside and closed the large glass windows.

Komoru was blinking rapidly, a look of shock on her face. Captain Steven Gordon’s face was flushing red. Their Modloch tutor’s eyes were rolling in his head. ‘Goodness.’

Komoru nudged Steven. He nodded and his eyes closed for a moment. When they popped open his face turned a deeper red.

Komoru frowned at him. Steven attempted a smile. ‘He told me to mind my own business.’

‘I see, I may have to have a word with him myself. Or Commodore Janex anyway.’

Their tutor was aware of what was going on. ‘I wouldn’t bother Commodore Janex, Komoru. Those two are as thick as thieves. A Human saying, I believe.’

‘A western Human saying,’ Komoru confirmed.

‘It is rare to see Janex enjoy someone’s company.’

‘What is Janex’s story, Master Trough?’

‘Janex is a national hero. One of the few in the higher echelon of the Imperial Guard who come from humble beginnings. He began his career as a simple foot soldier. His bravery in battle got him noticed quickly and he was transferred to the guards. He saved the then current Emperor’s life twice, and was made an officer. He became Captain of the Imperial Guard while still quite young. The old Emperor died, but Janex once again saved an Emperor’s life. He eventually came here to us, it was a retirement gift from the last Emperor. As you can see, he is still here. He is the most experienced of us all. He rarely takes classes now; your people are very lucky.’

Komoru turned to Steven, ‘It would seem they both have common ground. Charlie was a foot soldier too, wasn’t he Steven?’

‘I suppose so. I know he doesn’t like being an officer.’

‘Still, is his behaviour and language appropriate for such a place as this?’

Master Trough held up a hand, ‘Lady Komoru, I am under the strictest instructions from Commodore Janex not to interrupt or interfere in anyway with the Captain’s training methods.’

‘Then maybe I should have a word with Janex.’

‘Did you see the sliver ball hovering over the Commodore’s shoulder Komoru?’

‘I did, what of it?’

‘It is a recording device.’

‘Oh no! He isn’t recording his bad behaviour is he!’

‘I believe he is.’

Komoru was becoming upset quickly, ‘Steven, this isn’t good.’

‘Please, Lady Komoru,’ Trough interrupted her. ‘You don’t as yet fully understand the situation. You simply cannot record anything within the royal palace without permission from the Emperor. If the Commodore is recording anything at all, then it will be for the Emperor himself. Our wonderful and benevolent Emperor, has a slightly skewed sense of humour. I am quite sure the Captain’s training methods are keeping him greatly entertained.’

‘Charlie and the Emperor do seem to have a certain rapport,’ Steven supported Master Trough.

Komoru sighed and gave up, ‘Still, it isn’t very appropriate, is it?’

The two males shared a look. ‘I don’t suppose it is, but this is the Emperor’s domain and his will shall be done,’ Steven sympathised.

‘I would worry more about your own exams. Did I tell you that Lady Jane’s certification came through this week? She is now a fully qualified protocol adviser.’ The two exclaimed their delight at the news.

They realised that Master Trough was smiling. ‘Her choice of writing the answers to the questions on paper went down really well with the judges. It gained her a lot of prestige, and her hand writing is beautiful. She will serve you very well.’

‘How were they able to translate?’ Steven asked.

‘A simple translating projector. We now have a dozen earth languages fully documented. It wasn’t a problem. Yes, she did very, very well. She has been released from her studies. I think she is heading home to Earth for an Earth month.’

‘I haven’t heard yet,’ Steven admitted. ‘But that was the plan. She is going to take all her material home to Earth and pass it on to the protocol advisers in the royal household. They will then begin lessons on Earth.’

‘I hope she will have time for herself.’

‘So do I,’ Steven agreed. ‘Just try telling her that though.’

A look of alarm crossed Trough’s face and his eyes rolled in his head, ‘I will most certainly not.’

The two Humans laughed aloud at his alarm.

‘Let us move on to more serious matters. This is your last week here. Your men are trained, what are your plans?’

Steven thought it over for a moment. ‘It has been a long six months Master Trough. Providing we pass the exam, we will return to Earth for a short break. First, we have to check on the bio domes, and a few other things as well.’

‘Ah yes! The famous bio domes from Earth. They are still being towed towards our sun.’

‘They sure are. It will take them about another six months to tow them at sub-light speed. The construction of the outer shells has been completed though and they have undergone their first inspection; which they passed. I want to check on the crews. The Emperor is also on his way back and wants to examine them. We are scheduled to meet him there eight Modloch days from now.’

‘Yes, the main palace is already preparing for his return. We are going to be very busy.’

‘I imagine we will be. Once we have reached Earth, we will receive our first orders.’

The Modloch tutor smiled, ‘Yes, your first mission. Are you looking forward to it?’

‘Not really.’

‘No! I am surprised.’

‘I don’t want to get involved in politics, I want to explore.’

‘Of course, with a universe so vast, you would think you could just go wherever you wanted to. Don’t worry Steven, it is a vast galaxy, neither is it a very peaceful one. You may well get much more than you bargained for, even for an Ambassador. We have a saying, “For every star in the galaxy, there are an infinite number of dangers.”’

Chapter 3

Emperor Darrick of the Great Modloch Empire stood in the lounge of his brand-new battleship and viewed the great bio domes as they slid past. He was having a very good year. As his ship swung round behind them he returned to his mahogany desk and sat in the luxurious red leather bound chair. He had been mortified when he had discovered the material had come from the skin of an animal, however, he had already sat on it and was completely besotted by its luxury.

The Dark Veld had been commissioned and outfitted in the Sol system, the name the Humans gave their sun. It was the biggest ship of the line, the most advanced of its kind and built to full specifications. There simply wasn’t another like it in all the known galaxy. On one wall stood a library, with books bound in leather and translated into Modloch. Top Earth planners had designed his private quarters. Most of the materials were completely unknown to the Modloch, or had long since been lost on many of the worlds.

The Dark Veld had been on the drawing board since his father’s days; but the cost of building it had simply been prohibitive. He had laughed at the bill when the Humans had presented it. It had cost him little more that the price he would have paid for a run-of-the-mill Destroyer. He imagined that most of the cost had been lavished on his private spaces. The money had been paid into the PD music company of Earth’s bank account the same day.

He picked up a fountain pen from its holder and doodled on the massive writing pad on his desk. It was covered with his signature, and he was becoming very proficient. Of course, his stock of writing materials was now second to none in their part of the galaxy.

A light flashed on a raised panel. He touched it. It was the same system that the Humans had installed. It was so antiquated he didn’t have the heart to remove it.

‘Yes Gord.’

‘Your shuttle craft is ready sire, as is your guard.’

‘Excellent. I am on my way.’

He left his quarters and was immediately surrounded by his guard. The lift quickly took them to the launch bay. Minutes later they were heading to the first bio dome, each of which were a hundred miles long, fifty wide and a mile deep. Darrick had never seen anything like them before. Neither, he suspected, had anyone else in the galaxy.

The ship vibrated lightly as it came in to land. The Emperor stepped out onto a large landing bay. It still looked new, unused, un-scuffed. It was sterile by design and in looks. He smiled as he recognised the figure that was waiting for him.

‘Hello Sergeant, I hear you are going up in the world! What rank did they give you?’

‘They made me a bloody officer; a Captain would you believe.’

Darrick roared with laughter, ‘Well deserved I think.’

‘You would have to be a person of noble birth to think that is actually a good thing sire.’ Charlie bowed low. ‘It is an honour to see you again. I am here to serve as your guide.’

Darrick was still laughing, ‘Lead the way Captain.’

They followed Charlie into the narrow passage ways. Darrick was squeezed into the middle. Gord moved up to walk beside Charlie.

‘How have you been Charlie?’

‘Not bad Gord, what about you?’

‘Almost home, looking forward to a well-earned break. Going to spend it with the wife and kids.’

‘Sounds like you are looking forward to it.’

‘I am.’

‘Where does a member of the Imperial Guard take his family on holiday?’

‘To the inland shores of the Gral Tae´. Silver sands, lots of food and drink. The kids can swim all day and the wife can moan in my ear about how much my position in life takes me away from home. What about you Charlie, I hear you are going home?’

‘Aye, I think we are going to get a few off days when we reach Earth.’

‘Are you going to visit some of those beautiful places we have seen in the documentaries?’

‘Oh hell no. Home to the hills for a few days, then the Sarge has promised to show me round his spread in America. After that we are going across to Europe to visit a few friends.’

‘No silver sands, no swimming in clear blue waters?’

‘We have every intention of getting wet Gord, we just won’t be swimming.’

Gord’s barking laugh filled the corridor.

Steven and Komoru were waiting for the Emperor on a raised dais. None of them could really see much until they reached the top. Mouths dropped open at the sight. The two Ambassadors bowed low.

‘Your Imperial Majesty,’ Steven spoke before coming upright. He indicated the flat plain that ran straight as a die for a hundred miles. ‘I am afraid there isn’t much to see yet.’

‘Ambassadors. Did you say there isn’t much to see yet? I can see for a hundred miles. This is awe inspiring.’

Steven smiled, ‘May I introduce you to the Chief Engineer of this project. Keven Rattray.’

Keven had been standing a little to the side. He looked a little nervous as he came forward and bowed. ‘An honour to meet you, your Imperial Majesty.’

‘Indeed, it is a great honour. It is rare I meet someone as lowly as you. I have to say Mr Rattray, I am impressed by your endeavours. I hear they have all passed their initial inspection.’

Keven blinked owlishly at the Emperor, taken aback by his response. He quickly recovered though. ‘Yes sir they have. What we are waiting for now is direction from you. We have a hundred miles of terrain for you to play with. We can put in mountains, stream, rivers or lakes. Or you can have it like this.’

‘Interesting. I admit I have not given it much thought. Is that soil down there?’

‘No sir. It is powdered asteroid. We will mix it with a rich mulch, mixed with fertiliser, compost and worms from Earth. Together they will produce a rich soil ready for planting.’

‘While the point of these domes is to produce the food and honey I require for my army, it might not be a bad idea to have one as a showpiece. I do enjoy having things that others don’t and rubbing their faces in it. What would you call this beatification Mr Rattray?’

‘It is called landscape gardening sir.’

‘I have many gardeners, but none of that description. Ambassador Gordon, could you procure me some of these gardeners? I can supply the labour.’

‘I will look into it sire. Did you test the bee venom we sent you? We wouldn’t want to put your labourers at risk.’

‘I tested it on a bunch of criminals. The venom is painful but tolerable. Very similar to a Human’s reaction to it I believe.’

Steven was shocked. He thought it would have been tested in a lab and wasn’t quite sure what to say next.

‘That is… uh… reassuring sire.’

‘I gave them a few years off their sentences for it Ambassador. They were more than delighted to serve their Emperor in this capacity so please, don’t look so shocked. Even we, an enlightened species, have a few criminals we can do experiments on. I would imagine your race has more than a few.’

‘I cannot argue with that sire,’ Steven answered, his face deadpan.

‘I would appreciate it if your engineer could liaise with mine and bring him up to speed on all the technical matters of the domes, in case I require further information on them. For now, I would appreciate some alone time with my staff.’

Steven bowed. ‘We will remove ourselves sire.’

‘Leave the Captain to guide us out.’

Steven bowed again and the Humans left. Darrick walked to the edge of the platform. There was cries of alarm as some article appeared on the platform.

Charlie pushed himself forward, ‘Don’t panic, I ordered them.’

‘Don’t do that shit again Charlie,’ Gord growled.

‘Sorry Gord. I thought the Emperor might like some refreshments.’

Charlie picked up the big pillow and a wicker basket. Darrick glanced round as Charlie dropped the pillow behind him.

‘Have a seat sire.’

Darrick sat himself down. ‘What are you up to Captain?’

‘I had a selection of herbal teas sent out from Earth for you. I have had them all tested. I have a few sandwiches for you to try as well. I have peanut butter, avocado, cucumber.’ Charlie opened the lid of the basket to reveal half a dozen small flasks and a pile of sandwiches.

‘All have been tested?’

‘All. When I heard you were coming here today, I took the liberty of making a few preparations, just in case you had the time sire.’

The Emperor smiled as he observed the view. Charlie detached the lid of the basket and handed it to the Emperor. He then opened the first small thermos and poured half the contents into the lid.

The Emperor held the small cup up. ‘An interesting concept. Does that vessel keep the contents hot?’

‘That’s right sire. They are called thermos flasks. At home, we just call them flasks for short.’

A small plate of sandwiches was uncovered and placed on the makeshift table top. The Emperor drank all of the tea from each flask and finished all the sandwiches as well. From time to time he made comments and Charlie took notes. The Emperor felt replete and content.

‘Did you miss me Captain?’

‘Oh hell no.’

The Emperor barked with laughter until his sides hurt.

Charlie guided them back to the spaceport. The Emperor hesitated. ‘You may be glad to hear your friend is still alive. I made him my Imperial Engineer.’

‘I bet you don’t pay him any more though.’

The Emperor howled with laughter again, ‘Of course not. I don’t think he spends the money I do pay him. Your little business adventure has made him very wealthy.’

‘Do you still torture him?’

‘An Emperor requires his distractions Captain.’

Charlie laughed, stepped back and saluted. The Emperor gave a slight nod of his head and entered the shuttle.

Gord hesitated, ‘Are you still at the palace?’

‘Until the end of the week.’

‘Will catch you there Charlie.’

‘Aye, see you soon Gord.’

The shuttlecraft took off and Charlie made his way to the control room where they were waiting for him. There was no sign of the engineer or any of his staff.

‘How did it go Charlie?’

‘He is one very happy Emperor, Stevie. You can tell Cookie that was a great selection of teas and sandwiches. He loved them all.’

‘What does he think of the bio domes?’

‘He thinks he is one very smart cookie. Loves them, couldn’t be more impressed. He is very impressed with you as well, and wants to spend more time with you. He was thinking up excuses to get you to hang around more. He loves that battle wagon you built him as well. He was thinking about his lounge on the Battleship. Not much, but enough for me to get the impression that he is completely blown away by the luxury and design.’

‘We did well then.’

‘Bloody well Stevie, if you want to ask him for freedom to cross Modloch space whenever you want, this is going to be the time. They are heading back to the palace now.’

‘Not the city ship?’

‘No, his wife is coming into season and he wants to get home.’

Komoru blushed, ‘Charlie, really!’

Charlie sighed with exasperation, ‘What?’

‘Did we need to know that, it’s private!’

‘You ether want to know everything Komoru or you don’t. Make up your mind and stick to it please.’

Steven interrupted before it could escalate, ‘No Charlie, you did exactly what we asked. Thank you.’

Charlie nodded, took a step back and a few seconds later was beamed back aboard Babes. Steven turned to Komoru.

‘Really! Did you have to say that Komoru?’

‘I think that was too private.’

‘We asked him to tell us everything Komoru. Every thought we have inside our head is private. If the Emperor ever finds out Charlie can read minds, and we have been using him to spy for us, there is no place in this universe where we will be safe. It isn’t very pleasant to hear such things, but I am sure it is twice as unpleasant for Charlie. I know him, if we start pissing him around, he will simply stop talking to us. Contradicting orders is the first thing that seems to upset a soldier.’

‘Yes, you are right Steven. I am sorry, I will apologise to him later.’

Steven ran his fingers through his hair and gave his scalp a bit of a scratch. ‘I know Charlie gets under your skin at times Komoru. His personality has changed somewhat since he was hurt. He is fighting to come back though. Give him some room, or better still, take some time to get to know him. He has helped me a lot.’

Komoru bounced up and down on her toes a couple of times. ‘I know all that Steven, it’s just that he is so rude sometimes.’

‘You mean he is blunt and straight to the point.’

She put on a small scowl, ‘Maybe.’

‘That is a long way from being rude.’

‘That depends on where you come from.’

Steven knew he had just lost the argument. ‘Let’s get back on board. May I declare it a successful mission?’

Komoru beamed up at him. ‘I think you may.’

Chapter 4

Michael Montgomery, the elected representative of the people of Earth, shook hands with Steven and Komoru.

‘Congratulations both of you.’ He indicated the couch, ‘Please take a seat.’ His eyes glanced over the four officers that were with him, then he flicked his hand towards four straight-backed chairs. ‘Gentlemen.’

Colonel Howe, Beaver, the Bear and Colonel Takahashi sat on the offered chairs. He went over and shook hands with them all.

‘Colonel Takahashi, I don’t think we have met before.’

‘I am Ambassador Komoru’s military adviser and commander of all of her soldiers.’

‘I am aware of that Colonel, it is just a pleasure to finally meet you.’

The President sat down, addressing Steven and Komoru, ‘This is a short brief to inform you of how this is going to work. We now have the proper people in place to begin networking amongst our peers from the stars. On the forefront of that endeavour shall be yourselves. We will be training other Goodwill Ambassadors and, of course, people with full ambassadorial status. Some of these Ambassadors shall be placed permanently with friendly races, while at least one, a senior Ambassador, shall travel to different planets, following the routes of our Goodwill Ambassadors in striving to make new connections and formal alliances.

‘We have already received many requests for visits. Most involve the animals we brought with us, which are on display now in the Modloch home world. As Goodwill Ambassadors, you will be our front line. You will travel to these planets, gauge if they are a suitable place to take the animals to. You need to highlight any pitfalls that others following you may incur. I don’t want you to worry though. You are not going to be part of the circus. Not every place you will visit has requested the animal show.

‘You will actively seek out those beings who wish to make alliances, and those who do not. I know that you aren’t diplomats, but you two are probably the most intelligent people Earth has ever produced. I am sure you will both cope, and you have an excellent team backing you up. You are to sign no formal alliances yourself. Nothing more than a declaration to pursue friendly relationships. Please do not make any kind of promise without checking home first. We don’t want you to make promises we can’t or won’t keep. A flat refusal is much better that a broken promise.’

The meeting carried on for another hour; then the President invited them to a light lunch. He managed to spend time with all of them, but it was with Colonel Howe that he had the most to talk about.

‘Colonel Howe.’

‘Yes Mr President.’

‘I met someone a few months ago who was asking after you.’

The Colonel frowned a little. ‘Who was that sir?’

‘Your brother David.’

The Colonel was caught off guard for a moment then smiled. ‘How is he sir?’

‘He has his own ship now. He was promoted to command the Destroyer Tempest.’

‘I did get an email from him sir, but have heard little since. Wasn’t he one of the battle group sent to the federation as part of the alliance deal?’

‘That’s right Colonel, he was part of the Burning Wind’s escort.’

‘How are they doing sir?’

‘Not very well I am afraid.’

‘How so?’

‘Long story really, I will try and shorten it a little. Basically, Colonel, we just aren’t prepared. Our people understand very little about the systems they are working on, there isn’t a single pilot in the battle group that is a licensed pilot, that kind of thing. The list of complaints from the federation high command is growing daily.’

‘Doesn’t the Burning Wind have a Modloch training group on it sir?’

‘Yes it does, it is the only ship that is big enough to accommodate the aliens. The rest of our ships were designed around Humans, and there just isn’t enough head room on board for them.’

‘Wasn’t it refitted sir?’

‘Yes it was. The Burning Wind is now full design specification, new engines, everything. The Modloch crew drool over it I hear.’

‘I wouldn’t worry too much sir, they will work it out.’

‘I am sure they will in time; for now, it is causing us extreme embarrassment. They have even demanded one of our training ships, so they can evaluate our training methods.’

‘Are we sending one sir?’

‘Yes, the Sir William Wallace. It has the best results of any of our ships.’

Steven interrupted, ‘The Sir William Wallace? Charlie will be happy with that.’

‘You mean Sergeant Murison?’ The President asked.

‘That’s right sir. The Sir William Wallace picked him up after the incident with the asteroid.’

‘Oh yes I remember. I wasn’t happy about hushing up his part in it.’

‘It was his request sir.’

‘Yes, and we know why. How is the Sergeant these days Steven?’

‘Well, he is a Captain now.’

The Bear snorted, ‘He is the carbuncle on my arse, but the Modloch seem to love him.’

The gathered men laughed, ‘When was he promoted?’ The President asked.

‘It is just a field commission sir. Circumstances outwith our control required us to replace the designated officer to the Ambassador’s escort. I had to promote one of the men, and Sergeant Murison’s relationship with the Emperor and his people made him the natural choice.’

The expression on the President’s face began to change. He closed his eyes, canted his head back, and took a deep breath before opening them again.

‘Sergeant Murison is the asset that we have close to the Emperor?’ They weren’t sure if it was a question or a statement until he looked straight at Steven.

‘Why do you refer to him as an asset sir?’

The President’s eyes flicked back towards the ceiling. ‘Oh dear God. What a monumental fuck up.’

They were shocked at the President’s choice of words. Steven was beginning to get a very bad feeling about it. ‘Could you possibly elaborate sir?’

‘I suppose I had better. This is not to leave this room or this present company.’ They all vocally agreed. ‘A few months ago, I was briefed by the head of the intelligence community, that we had an asset close to the Modloch Emperor, and that they were going to try and exploit that asset, bring it on board.’

‘You mean spy on the Emperor sir?’

‘Of course Steven. Inside information is always sought on foreign powers. The intelligence community are on the back foot here. They have no assets at all, anywhere within the galaxy.’

‘Yes sir, that is understandable.’

‘In one of my last briefings, I was told that two agents had gone missing while trying to contact the asset. Have you any ideas what happened to them?’

Steven was shocked, ‘None sir.’

‘Good God.’ The Bear brought a hand down over his face. ‘Idiots!’

‘This is bad!’ Colonel Takahashi agreed with the Bear. ‘If the Modloch have them, all hell will break loose.’

‘Either of two things will have happened to them,’ the Bear mused with a worried frown on his face. ‘Either Charlie killed them out of hand and disposed of their bodies, or he reported them to Commodore Janex.’

The President interrupted. ‘Am I sensing a lack of concern for our agents?’

The Bear let out a great sigh. ‘I am sorry sir, there are strict rules regarding this kind of thing in the palace. Any spies approaching a member of the guard must be reported immediately to the senior commander. While there, we are bound by those rules.’

‘That is true sir,’ Colonel Takahashi backed up the Bear. ‘While in the palace, we were bound by a very strict code of conduct. There was no compromise because we were Human. The rules regarding being approached by outside sources requiring information are very strict, and disobedience carried the death penalty. The palace is full of stories about the unwary or the unwise who thought that they could get away with it.’

‘What would be the best possible outcome in this situation, gentlemen?’

The two Colonels glanced at each other; Takahashi’s eyes told the Bear it was his ball.

‘To be truthful sir, the best thing that could have happened was if Captain Murison had reported them to Janex.’

‘It would have been his only real choice, Mr President,’ Takahashi agreed.

‘I am afraid so sir,’ Steven stepped in. ‘The Modloch are paranoid about security. They regularly test their people. There is a whole department whose sole job is to try and trick their own people into giving away information, or spying on the Emperor. No one ever knows if they are being approached by their own people or outside sources. I believe it is very effective, and the punishment is death.’

‘Wouldn’t Captain Murison have informed any of you?’

They all shook their heads. ‘No,’ Steven confirmed. ‘Only Janex and Charlie would know. However, now we are no longer under Modloch supervision, I don’t suppose it would hurt to ask.’ Steven concentrated. He didn’t have to wait long for an answer.

‘Charlie has just confirmed that he was approached by two different men, an Englishman and a Frenchman. He reported them both to Janex who had them arrested and removed.’

‘Does he know what happened to them?’

It only took Steven a few seconds to get the answer. ‘He doesn’t know, neither does he care.’

‘No of course he doesn’t. I will inform the intelligence community and make discrete enquiries.’

‘No sir, let me do it.’ Steven insisted. ‘I will also be able to do it without compromising Charlie.’

‘Okay Ambassador, I shall leave the matter in your hands, and I will tell the intelligence community, in no uncertain terms, that they are not to approach the Captain again.’ He turned his attention to the Bear.

‘Mr De´ Beer, you said the Sergeant was promoted to the rank of Captain in the field. Can you elaborate, does that have some sort of special significance?’

‘The Sergeant has not been made an officer properly sir, he is still a Sergeant and getting paid as a Sergeant.’

‘You mean it isn’t permanent?’

‘Field commission, temporary or acting, as we like to term it.’

‘Can you make it permanent?’

‘That wouldn’t be my decision sir.’

‘I think a full commission would help protect the Sergeant a little from these people. Who do I have to lean on?’

‘I will give that information to your secretary before we leave, if you wish Mr President.’

‘I would appreciate that.’

The President was called away and he wished them well on their journey home, telling them to enjoy some down time while they got the chance. They were guided towards their shuttle.

‘What do you think Beaver?’ Howe asked.

‘It’s a complete cluster fuck.’

Komoru sighed with exasperation. ‘Why is it, whenever Charlie comes into the conversation, everyone begins swearing. Even the President swore.’

The men thought about what she had said for a few minutes then suddenly burst out laughing.

‘Steven!’ She admonished, but it made them laugh all the harder.

Chapter 5

The light tap on Charlie’s door brought him out of his reverie. He had been doing some research and taking notes when his mind had begun to wander.

‘Aye, come in.’

He was surprised to see Komoru standing there with Lewis at her back.

‘Oh! Hello, to what do I owe this unexpected pleasure? How you doing Lewis?’

‘Fine Charlie.’

Charlie’s eyes returned to Komoru.

‘Charlie, it has come to my notice, more than once lately, that your actions and more specifically your language has caused quite some embarrassment. Especially when we were in the palace.’

‘I see, embarrassment to whom specifically Komoru?’

‘To myself, Steven, some of the tutors.’

‘The only tutor we had in common Komoru was Janex, and he certainly wasn’t embarrassed by me. Steven has already talked to me about this, and I explained to him what it was all about. Didn’t he tell you?’

‘He mentioned something about a film, I thought it quite a weak excuse.’

‘Oh you did, did you? Well it wasn’t a bloody excuse Komoru. The Emperor is hooked on a film called Full Metal Jacket and is now a fan of an old marine drill Sergeant by the name of R. Lee Ermey, he has even watched all of his documentaries. He thinks all Human drill instructors talk like that, and now expects us to talk like that. I received that order from Janex myself. He filmed them to replay to the Emperor; who thinks it’s a hoot. Steven is cool with it all now, I know because we had one of our talks. What you really mean Komoru is that I am getting on those tiny tits of yours.’

Komoru’s face went dark, ‘How dare you!’

‘Pretty easily actually. So, do you have the guts to admit it?’

‘You have no respect.’

‘Respect is won or earned Komoru, not gifted. Why are you blushing so furiously, is it because I said you have tiny tits?’ Charlie provocatively looked at her chest. ‘I’m not lying am I? Or is it the just the word "tits.’

‘You are an animal.’

‘We all are. I can’t believe you get all bent out of shape at the mention of the word tits. You and Steven are in a real relationship aren’t you; you know, having sex, bumping uglies?’

‘How can you talk of such things? You are horrible!’

‘No, but I am an adult, hell I have had sex heaps of times. Want me to tell you a few stories? We could swap a few.’

Komoru snapped, ‘How dare you, you are a filthy animal! Don’t you ever step foot on my ship again.’

‘Not on your ship lady, so if you aren’t happy then piss off out of my room.’

She turned away and banged straight into Lewis. He gently turned her round and she stormed off down the corridor. He had a pained expression on his face as he turned back towards Charlie.

‘What the hell Charlie? You ain’t like this man, I know you like Miss Komoru.’

‘That I do Lewis. I bet that’s the first time you have seen her lose it as well.’

‘I ain’t taking that bet Charlie, you would win, ain’t never seen her that angry.’

Charlie patted the bed beside him, ‘Sit down here my friend and let me show you why.’

Lewis seemed a little hesitant, but he did, and the bed groaned in protest as he sat. Charlie ignored it.

A screen came on and images began to flit across it. ‘Did you know Lewis that 60 per cent of Goodwill Ambassadors don’t survive the first five years. Those that last that long have a better chance of reaching retirement, but are normally upgraded to a proper ambassadorial role.’

‘I ain’t heard that Charlie.’

‘Commodore Janex doesn’t think our two will last the year, let alone five. He gave me access to some files. You severely need to toughen that young lady up Lewis, or she is as good as dead.’

‘Charlie, we are going to be going round de known universe. Meeting civilised races man. People dat know us and want to get to know us. It ain’t that dangerous.’

Charlie glanced over. ‘This is a list of the planets that have been earmarked as a priority. Steven let me have it. Look at the third one on the list.’

‘I see it, Petoriie´, the Wopal.’

‘The planet Petoriie´ and a race called the Wopal. About seventy years ago, another race called the Vecery were doing exactly what we are, going round introducing themselves to other races. They were invited and attended what is referred to as the double moon ceremony. The double moon ceremony is a mating ceremony Lewis, where they all get naked and have sex under the double moons. They say children who are conceived under this moon are extremely lucky. It has been going on for tens of thousands of years.

‘The problem was, the Vecery hadn’t a clue what they were really attending. It also just so happens that they were as shy and private with their relationships as our Komoru. Of course, when their host stripped naked and began getting it on right in front of the Ambassador and his wife, they got the hell out of there as fast as they could. The only problem was, their host took grave offence. In fact, they considered it an insult big enough to go to war over. They took three planets off the Vecery before they sued for peace. To seal the peace, the Goodwill Ambassador and his wife had to attend the next double moon ceremony. Not only that, the Ambassador’s wife had to prostrate herself in front of the great council, and every one of them took her. They made the Ambassador watch, then he had to perform in front of the council with his own wife. By then obviously, she was in bits, and he couldn’t bring himself to do it. They killed him Lewis, but let the wife go. They accepted her plea that she hadn’t been in season, that’s why he couldn’t perform, but they still killed him. They did stop the war though.’

‘Animals,’ Lewis growled.

‘We all are Lewis. If the Ambassador and his wife had performed on the night, or even simply got naked. It would have been accepted. Their plea that she wasn’t in season would have been accepted. Their ritual nakedness would have honoured their host. There would have been no war, thousands of people would never have died, and the Ambassador’s people would never have lost three planets.’

‘Did the Vecery not go to war for their Ambassador?’

‘Oh hell no Lewis. It was his mistake in the first place. Goodwill Ambassadors are expendable. It is why they are out there in the first place, making first contact. Killing a Goodwill Ambassador out of hand, for no good reason, can have serious repercussions. Killing a Goodwill Ambassador because they have made a mistake, offered insult, is acceptable. They go to test the waters Lewis. They prepare large documents on the races, customs, things like that.’

‘Ain’t that stuff on their internet Charlie?’

‘Some of it, aye. Other races are very secretive. The thing is Lewis, the universal laws on killing a full blooded Ambassador are very strict. If an Ambassador falls foul of a planet’s laws or customs, the first place they look is in the documentation of the Goodwill Ambassador. If the Goodwill Ambassador missed something, guess who is held to account?’

‘Yeah I get it Charlie. So they can be punished years after they visited a planet.’

‘Aye.’

‘The Ambassador might just lie.’

‘Oh no, a copy goes to central universal archives. Off world investigators use that as a reference.’

‘Dis shit just got real fast, didn’t it Charlie’

‘You need to toughen that little lady up Lewis, and you need to do it fast. There are bets on in the palace, that they don’t last the first year. Some have even bet on them lasting a few weeks to a few months. All Ambassadors are bound by the laws and customs of the races that they are visiting Lewis. If Komoru can’t take a light hazing from me before losing it and stomping off, how the hell is she going to react out there?’

The bed creaked as Lewis got up. ‘She could start a war man.’

‘Exactly. I have prepared a number of cases and files for you Lewis, just ask Babes.’

‘Shu thing man.’

Lewis raised a fist and Charlie bumped it.

Chapter 6

Komoru was in a terrible rage as she paced up and down in front of Steven. When Steven went to contact Charlie, Babes prevented him. Instead she had been playing back Charlie’s conversation with Lewis, through Lewis’s eyes. The conversation had ended before Komoru had finished her rant.

‘Are you going to deal with that man?’

‘I will, don’t worry. Right now I have something I want to discuss with you. It is very important. More important than Charlie.’

Komoru took a few deep breaths, ‘Okay Steven. What is it?’

‘Babes can you put up a screen please?’

‘Yes my heart.’

‘We have been asked to attend the double moon ceremony when we are on the planet Petoriie´. It will take place while we are there.

‘Is that the race called the Wopal?’

‘It is.’

‘That sounds lovely, what is it about?’

‘It honours their ancestors, it is a love ceremony.’

She clapped her hands, ‘How wonderful, let them know we accept.’

‘Okay, Babes, can you run pictures from the last ceremony so we know what to expect?’

‘Yes my heart.’

Komoru sat down beside him and snuggled into his side. The ceremony was indeed beautiful, breath-taking even. Komoru thought it was wonderful, right up to the point where they began taking off their clothes. The scene degenerated very quickly.

Komoru sent out a command and the pictures stopped. ‘We are not going to that.’

‘If we are there, if we accept the invitation, we are going to have to, not only that, we will have to perform.’

‘I will not!’

‘Babes, can you access the files on the Vecery Goodwill Ambassador and his wife.’ Steven looked deep into Komoru’s eyes, ‘If you don’t watch this in its entirety, we are handing back the ambassadorial robes and returning to Earth.’

‘You are serious?’

‘I love you too much to lose you Komoru, the Human race will simply have to find its way among the stars without us. I am sure there is enough in our solar system to keep us interested for our entire lifetime.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘Watch this and you will.’

‘It was a series of news reports from the Wopal official news broadcasting service. It began with the walking out of the Vecery Ambassadors. There were reports on the war and then the subsequent suing for peace by the Vecery. Komoru cried as she watched the Ambassador’s wife being raped, then was violently sick as she watched the Ambassador being slaughtered, then dismembered.

When Steven tried to help, she pushed him away violently. A few seconds later she vanished. She didn’t talk to him again until they were a few days away from Earth.

Chapter 7

Charlie looked up from his coffee to find Komoru standing there.

‘Good morning.’

Komoru bowed low. ‘Good morning Charlie.’

‘To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?’

‘I wanted to apologise for my behaviour towards you.’

‘In that case I will also apologise for the way I treated you.’ Charlie stood up and bowed.

Komoru looked quite touched. ‘Thank you. I accept your apology Charlie.’

‘As I do yours Komoru.’

Charlie sat back down and indicated the seat opposite. Komoru looked a little unsure. Cookie appeared at her side with a steaming hot cup of coffee. They exchanged smiles and Komoru sat down.

‘We have never really talked, have we Charlie?’

‘No I don’t suppose we have. But then, what on earth would we have to talk about? You are a brilliant scientist and I am a simple soldier. Under normal circumstances, we would never even have met, and if we had, we would never have talked to each other.’

‘You can’t be sure about that Charlie.’

‘I would have been guarding something, probably standing outside in the wind in the rain, and you would have been driven past me in some form of limousine, on your way to do something startling.’

Komoru took a small sip of coffee and smiled. ‘You are right. I would most likely never have noticed you.’

‘There you go. Now we are being honest with one another.’

‘This isn’t really the Japanese way.’

‘The Japanese are an admirable race Komoru. They can handle honesty. It is the bluntness they don’t like.’

‘There may be a certain truth to that Charlie. We have ways of doing things.’

‘As have many of the races out here among the stars Komoru. Which makes you very suited to the job as Ambassador.’

‘So I have been told. I have also been told I have to grow up and open my eyes. I have led quite a sheltered life Charlie.’

‘You don’t have to explain yourself to me Komoru. I grew up alongside a genius. I know how protective, parents especially, can be around children who are gifted.’

‘You are far brighter than I thought you were Charlie. I struggled to find what it was Steven ever saw in you. I know you have special abilities now; I meant before all of that.’

‘I know what you meant Komoru. The simple fact is we just got on well. As children we both had the same enemies. Having Steven as a friend probably boosted me intellectually when I was young. It is hard for a kid of normal intelligence to keep up with a genius. I tried though, and he had limitless patience. Of course, children also have lots of non-scientific interests as well.’

‘You also have a gift for research.’

Charlie frowned a little, ‘How so?’

‘You were the one who set up the music industry and saved us all.’

‘I wouldn’t quite go as far as that.’

‘Do you really have no idea of just how much you did?’

Charlie’s blank look said it all, ‘I know we were in a bit of a pickle, I didn’t think it was all that serious.’

‘I can assure you, the fleet could have been in big trouble if you hadn’t opened that account Charlie. You are also responsible for all of the information that Lewis has been feeding me these past few weeks.’

Charlie shrugged, ‘It was Janex that whispered in my ear. I was alarmed, I didn’t want anything to happen to you, or us for that matter.’

‘I am talking about the research and the quality of it. You seem to have your finger on the pulse. I want you to head up a team to research the planets that we will be visiting.’

‘I thought that was Lady Jane’s job.’

‘Lady Jane is concerned more with protocol, that sort of thing. You are right though, this does lie in her domain. I showed her the news footage of the Vecery incident; I am afraid Lady Jane could not handle it very well.’

‘She seems quite tough to me Komoru.’

‘Lady Jane has never been subjected to that level of violence before Charlie, neither have I. We are inadequately prepared for this sort of thing. You are a battle-hardened soldier on the other hand. That is why I would like you to lead a small team dedicated to research. If you could handle that aspect of the research, I would be very grateful.’

Charlie gave his chin a bit of a scratch, ‘I suppose it’s what I am doing already. I like doing it to keep my mind active, and it is pretty damn boring between planets. You said a small team?’

‘Yes, yourself, Lady Jane and another member of my crew.’

‘You will need to talk to the Bear first, and Steven.’

‘Mr De´ Beer thinks that it will keep you out of trouble and Steven was all for it.’

‘Have you seen him lately?’

‘No but we have spoken.’

‘He seems to be getting a little tense. Maybe you should.’

Her laugh had a strange tinkling quality to it and Charlie hardened himself to it. Komoru was the kind of quiet demure woman that Charlie was naturally attracted to, but this particular lady was off the table, and Charlie had never chased an attached woman.

‘I am going to see him after I have talked to you. Are you looking forward to your leave?’

‘Not now.’

‘Oh! Why not?’

‘Haven’t you heard?’

‘No, I haven’t been keeping up with current affairs.’

‘My leave was cancelled. I now have to report to HQ Scotland to undergo some officer training. It would seem someone has seen fit to promote me to Captain permanently.’

‘Congratulations.’

‘Really?’

‘You aren’t pleased!’

‘Oh hell no. I had a leave of drunkenness and debauchery planned.’

Komoru stood. ‘As I can sense this conversation is about to take a nose dive, I shall take my leave. I will make all the arrangements after our leave.’

Charlie raised an arm. ‘Catch you later.’

Chapter 8

Buzz stirred his cup slowly then dropped the dirty teaspoon into the sink. They had been home for days. The sun was already up and he leaned forward to open the window. A light breeze wafted in; it made him smile. One of the few times he had done so since his return.

‘Why did you open the window?’ His wife asked from the kitchen table where she was having her coffee. ‘You will let the flies in.’

‘I just wanted to feel the morning breeze on my face, taste the fresh air.’

‘I bet you have no trouble with flies coming in the windows in space.’

He felt the tension begin to rise again. ‘You’re right, no flies, just aliens trying to abduct you so other aliens can turn you to mush in a blender.’

The argument had been going on since he had returned home. There was a bang outside the door and his daughter came stumbling into the kitchen.

Beth scowled at her, ‘Have you left your bag on the floor again?’

‘Sorry.’ Her eyes were downcast.

She sat down and reached for a cereal box. A clean plate and spoon were waiting for her. She filled it and put in milk. Buzz joined them at the table.

Jodie swallowed, ‘How come everyone else has to go to space academy on the moon and you didn’t Dad?’

He sighed, ‘You aren’t really going to give up on this, are you?’

They both smirked at him. ‘I told you, the ship doesn’t want families on board after what happened last time.’

His wife put her cup down. ‘I married a security guard, not an astronaut. I chose the guy who was going to come home every night, the guy who was going to be there for me every day, every week of my life. Who would be there for our children too. Now I have you. Who are you Buzz?’

‘I have spoken to Steven a dozen times, he says no.’

‘Then speak to him another dozen Buzz. It was all fun to start with. It was fine when you were doing your thing between here and the moon. It has been a hellava ride these past few years, but your children need their father and I want my husband back. We didn’t sign up for this.’

‘Neither did I! I didn’t know what was going to happen Beth. If it wasn’t for Steven and the guys none of us would be here anyway.’

‘And you as well Dad, you’re my hero.’

Buzz felt his stress levels come down a few notches. ‘Thank you sweetheart.’

‘What I don’t understand is why you want to live for another hundred years without Mum.’

It caught Buzz flatfooted, ‘Uh! Sorry?’

‘Well those nanites in your bloodstream will keep you alive and well for another hundred years. That’s right isn’t it? When mum’s seventy and you still look forty, are you going to dump her for a new model? I mean by then I will look older than you, or the same age.’

It was something that had crossed his mind, but not something he had given all that much thought to.

Beth put her cup down. ‘You are already looking younger Buzz. What happened to those grey hairs that were beginning to show, and the small bald patch you had? It’s gone now. You have as much hair as you had when you were twenty. I, on the other hand, am continuing to grow old. I have wrinkles, grey hair and things are beginning to droop in the wrong places.’

Buzz suddenly saw it, a lifetime without his beloved Beth. He missed her like crazy when they were apart, and now she was facing growing old at home alone. Not only that, she would continue to grow old at three times the pace that he was. One day he would come home to an old woman; what would he do then? She had seen it, and now she was letting him see it. She saw it in his eyes and smiled. He smiled back.

‘Have you any suggestions on how to persuade Steven?’

‘I might have a few.’ She smiled. ‘Jodi, get yourself off to school.’

Jodie got up and put her plate in the sink, ‘Yeah, I’m just going.’

Steven’s eyes flicked open. He listened to the voice in his head before answering in the same way. His head canted to the right. Komoru lay sprawled across most of the bed, and Steven found he had been relegated to the edge. They both lay naked under a single sheet. The light streamed in the edges of the curtains. Steven got up and opened them. He let out a groan and made for the toilet. A pee turned into a shower. By the time he was finished, he felt recharged. As he left the toilet a very tired looking Komoru barged past. He heard the toilet flush and the shower come on again. He went downstairs.

He was drinking coffee by the time a wet and still tired-looking Komoru appeared. She made a beeline for the coffee, then plonked herself down opposite Steven.

‘What’s this emergency with Buzz?’

‘I don’t know, I haven’t asked.’

‘Do I look as bad as I feel?’

‘Aye ye do.’

She squinted at him. ‘You are sounding more and more Scottish every day.’

‘Am I? Is that so bad?’

‘No, just saying.’

‘That was quite a night.’

She peeked at him with a single eye through her wet hair, which cascaded down over her face.

‘Before or after we got drunk?’

‘Both.’

A small sparkle returned to her eyes. ‘That’s the first time we have both been totally smashed out of our minds. I feel awful.’

‘Ask Ico to remove all of the alcohol from your system.’

‘He can do that?’

‘Of course he can.’

She closed her eyes. It didn’t take long.

‘Oh wow, that feels better.’ She got up suddenly. ‘I need to go pee.’ She dashed off.

Steven smiled to himself, ‘That’s why I asked Babes to do it while I was in the shower.’ He lifted the cup up to his eyes. ‘We won’t tell her that though, will we.’

It didn’t take them too long to get dressed. Komoru frowned when she entered the garage. ‘Where is the car?’

‘We left it at the bar last night remember. We got a taxi home.’

A hazy memory returned, ‘So we did!’

‘Buzz only lives a few blocks away. We will walk. He can drive us back to get the car.’

‘He won’t mind?’

‘Oh hell no.’

They left the house and Steven locked it, slipping the keys into his pocket. Steven turned at the end of the drive and smiled. He was finally home.

It had been in a terrible state when they first arrived. This was the house in the States where he had spent most of his life. His mother and father had bequeathed it to him; they were happy at home in Scotland. The two ships were at the old space centre where they had first landed. Security was being handled by Buzz’s old firm. A terminal had been set up for the scientists to communicate with the ships. The whole crew was on leave.

The house had been ransacked by government agents. Windows had been broken, ‘Traitors’ had been scrawled across the walls, along with other things not so nice. It had almost broken Steven’s heart. He had immediately hired a number of firms to put it straight and paid them a ridiculous amount of money to fix and decorate the place quickly. It had taken less than a week. It was what they had been celebrating the evening before. It was almost like a new house now. The outside still needed a lot of attention and Steven was planning to have that addressed next week. Komoru already had designs for a Japanese style garden; Steven loved them. They had put the designs out to a number of landscaping firms and were waiting for a reply.

Buzz was waiting for them with a fresh pot of coffee. Steven and Komoru were immediately aware of the tension in the household. It didn’t take long for Buzz to outline his problem. It left them both stunned.

Steven found his voice, ‘So if you can’t take Beth with you, you are going to quit!’

Buzz took a deep breath. ‘This isn’t an ultimatum Stevie, nor any kind of attempt at blackmail.’

‘May I speak Steven?’ Beth asked.

‘Of course Beth.’

‘We all know about those nanites you have running around your bloodstream. One of your old scientists leaked the information. We know what it does now. You both look younger than you did before you met the ships. Yes, I know you have totally changed Steven, but your hair was thinning too and you were showing grey. It is all gone. In a few years-time Buzz will be coming home to a very old woman. I want to live as long as he does Steven. We got married to share each other’s lives. This isn’t it. I’m not asking to become a part of the crew or even live on the ship. I just want to be nearer. I know you have a place on that city ship where Humans reside. That’s where I want to be, where I can see my husband at least once a month and not this once a year if I am lucky.’

‘Beth,’ Komoru interrupted. ‘It is something we have been discussing at length. Things have changed dramatically in the past few years. You aren’t the only wife to raise this concern. We have been able to procure residences for the political staff. At this moment, we are in discussions with the Modloch for the procurement of a block of homes, a thousand to be exact, and a building large enough to be used as a school. It is taking much longer than we thought it would. Bureaucracy on the Modloch home-world and the city ship is twice as bad as anything we have. There is no way to speed it up either. They are trying to give us a slot as far away from the centre as they possible can. We are bidding for a spot near the Human diplomats. That is as much as I can tell you at the moment.’

Buzz threw his hands up in the air, ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘It was meant to be a surprise,’ Steven admitted.

Buzz shook his head. ‘How long Steven?’

‘A few months I think. I am worried about schooling though. Not sure what to do there.’

‘Deal with the problem when it comes up Steven. Right now, we have enough on our plate.’

‘You’re right Buzz.’

‘When are you heading to Scotland?’

‘Couple of days. I want to show Komoru around town. I also have to collect my doctorate.’

‘About time,’ Buzz smiled.

‘From there we are going to spend some time in Japan with my parents, and then a few days touring Japan.’

‘Is the house sorted yet?’ Buzz asked.

‘Finished yesterday, we went out last night and got really drunk.’ They all laughed at the revelation.

‘I think we are going to do that tonight. At the weekend we are going up with Mike, pop over to Disneyland, stay in the most expensive hotel, order a lot of room service.’

Steven and Komoru laughed. ‘Enjoy yourselves. We got to go.’

It was a slow walk home through the park holding hands. They discussed the issue that Buzz and Beth had raised. It was one they had talked about extensively. Buzz wasn’t the only crew member affected, and of course the diplomats were also beginning to put pressure on the President to acquire more property for their families as well. As Komoru had said, it was just getting through the Modloch bureaucracy.

Chapter 9

Jeb was feeling pretty smug with himself. He had spent three weeks travelling the world, a world at peace. But he had been peeved when Charlie couldn’t join him on his tour. Five days in Hamburg with his two German friends had helped him regain his balance, as he liked to call it. He had spent a couple of days in France, went through Europe, China and Japan. When news of his arrival had reached Komoru, she had invited Jeb over to stay for a few days. He had met her parents and then they had visited her grizzled old grandfather, who was a fisherman. The old man had taken to Jeb in a way he took to very few people. He invited Jeb to stay for a few days. Jeb spent the rest of his stay in Japan with the old man. Jeb fell in love with the quite fishing village, the beautiful beaches and setting sail every day to set and haul nets. He had been sorry to leave. The villagers had got to know him quite well, and Jeb had finally found a modicum of peace and tranquillity. The old grandfather had invited him over any time.

When he arrived in Scotland, news quickly spread. The King was in residence in Balmoral, and he invited Jeb to stay for a few days. On his last night there Charlie had finished his officer training. The King had invited Charlie over and the three of them had gotten very drunk. Charlie had broken every record at the officer training school, and all in a couple of days. He wasn’t a happy man though. He had been hoping for a few days off but they were scheduled back to the ship the following day. When they arrived back, Charlie staged a single man mutiny. He knew they weren’t going anywhere for at least another week, and Steven had relented. Charlie had gone home for a well-earned break to visit his parents.

Jeb hadn’t seen Lady Jane at all during their break. When she found him in the small room Komoru had designated for Charlie and his new team she hadn’t been pleased. She threw a fit when she found out Charlie had invited him onto the team to help out. Charlie had wanted Jeb to keep an eye on things while he was away. She had stormed out to go and complain to Komoru. Jeb had sat back in the comfy chair with his large mug of joe and a smug grin on his face. It had been a good leave, a fantastic leave, but it was great to be back.

Chapter 10

Colonel Howe and Beaver found Lewis in the armoury. He was concentrating on soldering something, so they pulled up some tall stools to the bench and sat and watched. When he was finished, he put the soldering iron down.

‘What you doing Lewis?’ Beaver asked.

‘Little research into de big bang.’

The two laughed, ‘Not the theory on the origins of the universe either, I bet.’ Howe mused.

‘No suh, de really big bang, without de radiation.’

Now the two were really interested. Howe reached out, ‘May I?’

‘Sure suh, it’s safe. It’s just the firing circuit.’

Howe inspected the small circuit board. ‘Looks like a board to set off a nuke.’

‘Exactly what it is suh.’ Lewis reached across and took the circuit board off him. It slid into a small black box attached to several wires from a light board. Lewis pressed a remote and a battery of lights lit up. ‘Let me seal this suh.’

‘Sure thing Lewis.’

They waited until Lewis had finished soldering it, and retesting it. He placed it to the side, then went and fetched a plastic tub from the safe. He placed shaped pieces of explosives onto the table.

‘All these come together to make a ball shape.’

‘I have seen it before Lewis.’ Both men nodded. Lewis then fetched a small box from another safe. From a drawer, he pulled out a cradle. He opened the small box and tipped out a pea-sized metal ball. It didn’t roll very well. He picked it up and placed it in front of Howe.

‘Feel dat suh.’

Howe picked it up, ‘Wow. This is heavy.’ He passed it on to Beaver.

‘Holy shit! I didn’t expect that.’

‘Dat there is an element, a metal we ain’t got on our periodic table. Aliens ain’t got much use for it suh. Ain’t even got a name. It is too dense to be of any practical use. I had de ship classify it suh, sits right alongside uranium on our periodic table. It is a little heavier atomically.’

Howe took back the small pea-sized ball of metal from Beaver. ‘What makes you think it will go boom Lewis?’

‘Been doin a bit of studying suh. Dey aliens never had a nuclear age. Dey went right past that. They don like radiation or anything radioactive.’

‘Don’t blame them,’ Beaver agreed. ‘Only man could be so stupid as to play with something so dangerous.’

‘Das right Beaver, but dey had to have something, right?’

‘Stands to reason Lewis.’ Beaver shrugged a single shoulder. ‘Was this the non-radioactive solution?’

‘Ain’t quite Beaver. Dey experimented with many different materials, some we don even know about, like this one. Every alien race that tried this material all had the same problem: shit would blow up. Dey all stopped using it.’

‘You are trying to reproduce those experiments Lewis?’ Howe asked.

‘Oh hell no suh, I’m just trying to get shit to blow up, by using tried and trusted techniques devised by man centuries ago.’

Howe laughed, ‘Do you think this will do it?’ He picked up one of the shapes. ‘This isn’t semtex Lewis.’

‘No suh, it’s a top grade Modloch explosive. It twenty times more powerful than semtex. Dey don’t make it anymore; I had to hunt for the recipe, Babes made it for me. From what I can find, it was heat and pressure that set it off. It’s hollow, Babes filled it with a liquid that gets hot very fast when under pressure. Safe all other time suh. Seems when dis goes off, there is some form of molecular dehesion takes place in de blast area.’

‘You mean rather than a big flash and blast?’

Lewis nodded his answer. His skilled hands quickly assembled the bomb. The two officers watched in awe. Wires were attached and the components and they were placed inside a globe. Lewis flipped open a panel and filled it with a thick liquid.

‘Dis is an oxygen rich gel, that will prevent the components and explosives freezing in space suh.’ When he was finished, he pushed it over to Howe. ‘Wanna go blow some shit up suh?’

Steven was standing drinking a coffee with one hand and reading a tablet with the other. ‘Why do we need this Colonel?’

Howe thought it over, ‘We don’t really sir. Lewis was just trying to keep his game up.’

Steven shrugged, ‘That’s good enough for me. Is there any peaceful application for this metal?’

‘Not that I am aware of sir. It’s just very heavy. Lewis did a full write up on it.’

‘I can see that. It isn’t banned or anything like that?’

‘We have done an extensive search on this metal. Nothing at all. We can’t find any archive footage of experiments done on it either sir. It was all too long ago.’

‘Do you think it will work?’

Howe shook his head, ‘I don’t know sir, but Lewis knows his stuff.’

Steven thought it over. ‘Well, he is the Chief armourer for both ships. If we don’t allow him to practice his trade, we are doing little more than belittling the man.’

‘That’s true sir, and again it may well be a weapon that our enemies don’t have. It could also be very effective against asteroids thrown at Earth, especially if it works.’

‘I am seeing the application instantly Colonel. Let’s set up an initial test. We can tow an asteroid out of the belt, place it inside and set it off. If it doesn’t work,’ Steven shrugged, ‘then it doesn’t work.’

‘Nothing ventured nothing gained.’

‘Aye,’ Steven muttered absentmindedly, his mind trying to absorb the information he was reading. ‘This is really interesting Colonel. Have you read it?’

‘I have sir, most of it was over my head.’

‘I understand most of it, but it is outside my field of expertise. What else have we got on today?’

‘We have three meetings with the defence committee, then we have to pick up Charlie from the Lossiemouth base. You have to dine with your parents as well.’

‘Right, then home to the moon for a few days before heading off into the black again.’ Steven thought it over, ‘How about we drop off the crew at the moon and anyone who is interested can come with us to test this thing out?’

Howe grinned, ‘Sounds like fun to me.’

Chapter 11

By the time evening came, Steven was much less in the mood. His mother had put on a large meal, and it was still sitting heavily in his stomach. Komoru sat beside him, she was only there to support Lewis. She had her hand on her belly; obviously not in the mood and feeling tired as well.

Lewis wasn’t happy until they were over a hundred thousand miles from anything, and the ship herself ten thousand. He sat at Hailey’s consul directing the operation himself. When he had planted the bomb, he gave Babes the order to withdraw to a safe distance. It was then Charlie appeared.

Steven noticed him first. ‘Hey Charlie, thought you would have been in the Apollo 11?’

Charlie rubbed the back of his neck, ‘Nah! I was tired, fell asleep. When I woke up, we were out here. What’s going on?’

‘Didn’t you ask Babes?’

‘I have her switched off.’

‘You’ll have to teach me that one. We’re doing a test on a bomb Lewis invented with a new element.’

‘Way to go Lewis, adding to the destructive encyclopaedia of mankind, are we?’

‘Sure am Charlie.’ Lewis patted the arm of the chair beside him, ‘Come watch de show.’

Charlie sat down, ‘So what category does your new bomb come under Lewis – flash, bang or boom?’

‘Molecular dehesion Charlie.’

‘That has to be a new one! Well done Lewis, way to go, you invented a brand-new way for man to kill himself.’

Lewis laughed loudly. ‘Don know if it going to work yet Charlie, you just in time for the main event.’

Charlie sat back in the seat and Lewis carried on talking to Babes. He ordered her to zoom in and gave a small count down. When the countdown reached zero, nothing seemed to happen.

Lewis was frowning, ‘Did it go off Babes?’

‘Yes Lewis, the device detonated successfully.’

‘Oh! That wasn’t very impressive. Sorry everyone, I thought der would be a big flash.’

Charlie sat forward suddenly, ‘Way to go Lewis.’

Lewis turned to Charlie, ‘Sorry Charlie, you got up for nothing.’

‘It’s actually quite impressive. Molecular dehesion was it?’

Lewis thought he was being sarcastic until the look on Charlie’s face turned to one of horror.

‘Holy shit!’ He turned to Colonel Howe, ‘Put our shields up.’

‘What!’

‘Put our bloody shields up man!’ Charlie roared at him.

Howe instinctively hit a button. Charlie opened his mind and showed Babes exactly what he was seeing. The screen changed.

Steven was alarmed, ‘What’s going on Charlie?’

‘Babes will show you in a second. Basically, I was expecting a big flash and was watching in another spectrum to protect my eyes. I saw something happening on the asteroid and tried a few others to see if I could make out exactly what it was. Then I saw this.’

The screen changed and they saw a green wall racing towards them.

Steven got to his feet. ‘Analyse, what is that Babes?’

‘It is some form of pulse my heart. It will hit us in three seconds.’ The green wall raced towards them and then passed. ‘What a strange feeling. That tingled a little.’

‘You felt that?’

‘Yes my heart.’

A button on his chair began to flash. He sat down and touched it.

‘Yes Chief.’

‘What the hell was that?’

‘Some form of pulse, we haven’t analysed it properly yet.’

‘Aye well, it’s just popped a dozen fuses whatever the hell it was. We are going to be stuck here until I can replace them.’

‘Keep me informed will you.’

‘Yes sir.’

‘Babes I want a full diagnostic on all your systems.’

‘Yes my heart.’

He turned his attention to Lewis, ‘Lewis, I want a full report on your device and what you thought it was going to do. Gather as much information from Babes as you can. Colonel Howe, find out what penetrated our shields and why. When you have results, come up to the briefing room. Komoru and I will be there trying to make sense of this as well. Charlie, what are you doing just now?’

‘Is Cookie on board?’

‘No.’

‘Then I was just going to make a mess of his kitchen and head back to my pit.’

‘Can you take command while we’re involved in this investigation?’

‘Seriously!’

‘You are a full-fledged officer now Charlie, and a senior one as well. As such, you will be expected to take your turn on watch sooner or later.’

Charlie shrugged, ‘So what do I do, just sit there and no touch anything. Let you know if anything happens?’

‘Pretty much.’

‘God, it was so much easier being a grunt.’

The bridge laughed and it helped dispel the tension a little.

‘You will manage Charlie.’

‘Do I get to sit in your chair?’

‘Of course.’

‘Awesome. Catch you later.’

Steven and Komoru left the bridge and gathered together the scientists that were left on board.

An hour later Steven held a meeting in the briefing room. He played a video that showed the way the pulse had spread out from the epicentre. It looked like an expanding green ball. At thirty thousand miles from the epicentre it began to disintegrate and eventually vanished.

‘As you can see, the pulse radiated out from the bomb in a single continuous wave, that took the shape of a ball. When it hit us, it was still strong enough to do damage. By the time it had reached thirty thousand miles, the pulse had stretched and thinned so much it began to dissipate of its own accord. There is now no sign of the wave, no residual radiation of any kind, not even from the asteroid. The question is: what do we have here? What result has Lewis achieved, and can we use it or hide it from the rest of mankind? The first thing I would like to know is if we can protect ourselves from it. Colonel Howe.’

Howe nodded, ‘We can sir. I am going to begin by giving it a designation, we are call it a Molecular Dehesion Device, an MDD, and the pulse an MDP, just to make things easier. The Molecular Dehesion Pulse given off by the device has never been classified before. I have modulated the shields to protect us from it. If we had enough warning, the ship would have been able to modulate her own shields. Unfortunately for us, this pulse doesn’t even exist in her data banks, so she wouldn’t even have recognised it, or seen it, until it was too late. We could now be two feet away from an MDD and it would pose no threat. Without shields, within an area of a thousand miles of the epicentre, we would have been completely destroyed. Up to three thousand miles, we would have sustained so much damage we would never have survived. Up to seven thousand miles, severe damage to the point where survival may have been possible, and from there our survival chances would improve five percent for every thousand miles. At thirty thousand miles, we would have sustained the same kind of damage without shields as at ten thousand with shields. Outside that, minimal damage. The ship’s automated security systems have been upgraded to recognise an MDP.’ He nodded to Steven.

‘Thank you Colonel. Lewis, have you anything to add.’

‘First suh, I would like to apologise to everyone and de ship too. I did as much research on this material as I could. De aliens were testing it as a means of a possible energy source. Bout a half dozen races I know of tested it, but the plants they tested it in were all destroyed. Dey all say some form of molecular dehesion took place. There were big explosions. From what I can gather, de reports state that up to a few miles around de plant were destroyed by dis strange phenomena. However, dey said there were no radiation left by dis type of explosion. I thought that if I could make a device that could destroy asteroids, it would help defend de Earth from another asteroid attack.

‘Wit de Captain permission, I researched then designed a bomb around dis material. I never took into account the difference between doin de test within a planet’s atmosphere and in outer space. As far as I know, dis is de first time anyone has used dis material for a bomb. By de time most of the alien races out-der discovered dis metal, dey already had energy weapons. They were looking for something to boost their speed through space.

‘I have come to the conclusion that de massive explosions suffered by those people was because of the molecular dehesion of the equipment and materials within the plants dey were working in. I also have to conclude dat the aliens caused the explosions by accident. That might be why there was destruction in only a small area around the testing facilities. Whereas, I deliberately set the device off. The device was designed to maximise the yield. It obviously worked much better than I had envisioned.’

Dr Chapman had remained silent until now. He sat forward, ‘How much material did you use Lewis?’

‘The material I used was about the size of a pea.’

‘What did it do to the asteroid?’

‘I have no real idea suh. Charlie and Babes say it’s coming to pieces, but it still looks whole to me.’

The Doctor was shaking his head. He turned to Steven. ‘I still find it hard to believe that you are letting your soldiers run around conducting stupid and dangerous experiments Steven.’

Steven went to reply, but Lewis cut him off, ‘You may be a doctor suh, but you’re a doctor in a different field. I now have a Masters in Physics suh, which don make me a child, and don I never play.’

Steven could see Lewis was pissed off and decided to step in. ‘That’s enough Lewis, please.’

Lewis scowled for a moment longer then nodded at Steven.

‘The blame lies solely with me Tom. I gave Lewis permission but I didn’t check his figures. Even if I had, I doubt I would have been able to calculate exactly what happened here today.’

Komoru stepped in to defend Lewis too. ‘I too must bear some of that responsibility. I read the proposal, and checked Lewis’s figures, and I didn’t see the dangers. Steven and I both have doctorates in theoretical physics Tom. Lewis is certainly not to blame for this. If anyone bears responsibility, then it is me.’

Steven turned to Komoru, ‘You didn’t tell me you checked them over.’

‘Lewis showed them to me first, it was I who told him to pass them onto you.’

‘I should have checked them.’

‘You were very busy Steven; you can’t do everything by yourself. Even Babes couldn’t predict what happened, there is just too little data on this element.’

Tom gave a small grunt, ‘You have a point Komoru, if Babes didn’t calculate the danger, what chance would a mere Human have. You did crunch the numbers didn’t you Babes?’

‘Yes Tom. In fact I recommended a safe distance of five thousand miles. It was Lewis who doubled that. As Komoru said, our lack of data on this material was probably to blame for the incident. However, from the data I have collected during this test, we should now be able to predict more accurately the results from further tests and experimentation.’

‘Are we going there? Honestly?’ Tom was surprised.

There was a bit of silence around the table, eventually all eyes settled on Steven.

‘Honestly Tom, given our current situation, given that this weapon can utterly destroy an asteroid, I think we have to pursue it.’

‘But can it Steven? I saw the pictures of it. I don’t think it has been touched.’

‘Hell, let’s go see. Mr McGuire, are we ready to go?’

‘All fixed sir.’

Steven sent a message to Charlie and stood up. ‘Let’s go people.’

By the time they got to the bridge, the ship was only a few miles from the asteroid. Charlie made to get up.

Steven waved him down, ‘You’re doing a grand job Charlie. Any suggestions on how to deal with this situation.’

‘What situation?’

Steven gave him a look. ‘The asteroid.’

‘What asteroid? There is no asteroid out there. That’s just a pile of dust.’

‘How can you be sure of that?’

Charlie leaned forward towards Chapman, ‘Who the hell are you?’

‘I’m Doctor Chapman. You are?’

‘Another Doctor eh! Well, my name is Charlie.’

‘Do you have any rank? You’re certainly not in uniform.’

‘I have heaps of them, but I was off duty when I got dobbied for this little job.’

‘Dobbied! You mean grabbed in an emergency.’

‘Dobbied, grabbed, huckled, call it what you like Doc. I do have rank, I am a Captain in the Ambassador’s honour guard.’

‘Another soldier then.’

Charlie opened his mind and caught some of the Doctor’s thoughts.

‘I can see by the expression on your face you don’t like soldiers much.’

‘That’s untrue, I have nothing against soldiers.’

‘The first thing you will learn about me, Doctor, is that I can read body language very well, and you are lying through your back teeth. In fact, you probably think we are more of a hindrance to this mission than a help.’ Charlie smiled, ‘Oh, and making your body go ridged only reinforces what that body has already told me.’

Steven laughed, ‘Charlie, stop messing with Doctor Chapman.’

‘Aye okay, but he doesn’t like me.’

‘Charlie!’ Steven raised his voice a little. ‘What can you see?’

‘The asteroid has completely disintegrated. If there was any gravity oot here, it would be lying in a puddle.’

‘Okay, great.’

‘You’re going to take his word for it Steven?’ Dr Chapman interrupted.

‘You really want to get on my tits, don’t you?’ Charlie grimaced at the Doctor.

‘We can all see the asteroid Captain Charlie. It is solid.’

‘Captain Charlie, that’s a new one. The thing is, none of you can see it in the way I can. The ship’s report also backs me up. Or are you going to completely ignore that as well?’

Charlie had Chapman in a bind, and he knew it, so he changed tack. ‘So how can you see things that we can’t’

‘Because my eyes are artificial Doc. I can see in dozens of different spectrums. I also have the magnification of a microscope, as well as a big telescope. What I can see now is fine particles of dust.’ Charlie glanced at him. ‘I can see you have a hundred questions, but I’m not in the mood just now. Stevie, what do you want to do?’

‘Not sure.’

‘Want to see something cool.’

‘Why not?’

‘Babes, raise your shields and take us into the middle of that asteroid, stealth mode please.’

‘Yes Charlie.’

The decks shimmered and disappeared. The ship pushed her nose into the asteroid and it began to spill around the ship. They could see all of the different layers and colours.

Komoru smiled at Charlie, ‘Wow Charlie, this is pretty cool.’

Howe burst out laughing, ‘Tapper would love this; what a pity he is getting drunk in the Apollo 11.’

They hit a void in the middle of the asteroid then continued to push out of the other side. It took an hour. It also threw up some very interesting questions, especially about the void. It had been a spectacular show.

Charlie got up from Steven’s chair as he approached and Steven punched him on the shoulder. ‘Nice one Charlie, that was spectacular.’

‘I was only the driver, thank Lewis for the opportunity. Now are you getting back to work? I’m starving.’

Steven laughed, ‘On you go.’

Dr Chapman raised a hand as he passed.

‘No,’ Charlie stated flatly and walked off the bridge.

Steven and Komoru sat down. ‘Colonel Howe, I want you and Lewis to prepare a report on this weapon please: military applications, yields, effects, a full rundown of the data we have gathered, Komoru will help you prepare it all. It needs to be of the highest secrecy as well.’

‘How long do we have sir?’

‘Couple of days possibly. I also have a little input I would like to give. Lewis, do we have any more of this stuff?’

‘Enough to fill a standard size suitcase suh.’

Steven was thinking hard. ‘Can you make me one with a pinhead amount of material?’

‘Could try suh, that might not be enough for a reaction, I can crunch de numbers, see if it is viable.’

‘Yes please, but after the report Lewis.’

‘You have something in mind sir?’ Howe asked.

‘I do, I am curious about the previous explosions caused by this material. Why wasn’t there more damage on the planetary surfaces? Maybe the reports were falsified to make the incidents look less serious than they were.’

Lewis shook his head, ‘Too many reports sayin de same thing for that Captain. I think it could be because it was an accident, rather than an attempt to make a bomb.’

‘That’s what I want to find out Lewis. But we can’t explode one of these on Earth. I think we should return to the Black Planet. Find an Albany cruiser that isn’t too badly damaged, seal it, fill it full of air and explode a small one to see what happens.’

‘I think dat is a good idea Captain.’

‘Brilliant,’ Howe agreed. The Doctor was the only one shaking his head.

Chapter 12

A few weeks later they arrived at the Black Planet with full permission from the Earth Defence Force to carry out a number of tests there. It had taken a few days to find a suitable target for the bomb. Steven had eventually chosen two and sealed both ships and pumped them full of oxygen. It took time because the whole area was still highly radioactive. On one of the ships they were able to get the engines working. They waited until the ship had heated up and the engines had reached operational temperature. The two were separated by a mountain range and about a thousand miles.

They conducted the experiment on the ship that was a derelict filled with oxygen first. There were still doubts as to whether it would work, but Lewis was quite optimistic. Probes were set around the ship while Babes and Ico pulled away to a safe distance. Lewis detonated the bomb, data fired up on to their screens, but nothing spectacular happened. As they got closer, it seemed as though nothing had happened at all. They could still see the ship quite clearly. Its outline seemed to have changed a bit, but it wasn’t until they were close that they could discern what had actually occurred.

The ship simply no longer existed. What they had seen from space was simply the colours of the ship. The ship itself was completely flat. The realisation turned to excitement.

Charlie and Eddie were on the bridge to watch the show. Neither of them were very impressed.

Eddie cocked his head slightly, ‘Never seen something go from 3D to 2D before.’

‘Puddled.’ Snorted Charlie.

‘No boom though.’

‘No even a spark,’ Charlie agreed.

The tiny amount of element had produced quite spectacular results from the point of view of the scientists on board. Extensive calculations were done. Readings before and after were compared. An area of half a mile around and below the ship had been altered by the pulse, before its effectiveness had dissipated. The pulse had also travelled a few thousand miles out into space before fading completely. It gave them excellent data on absorption. Computer models were designed to see how effective it would be on a planet with Earth’s atmosphere and gravity.

After days of exhaustive study, they were ready to move onto the next target. This time there was a spectacular explosion that left them all breathless. It was the first time anyone from Earth had witnessed the instantaneous meltdown of a live engine. It demonstrated to the scientists, and more significantly the engineers, just how many safety protocols there were on all engines with star drive capability, and the amount of energy they actually released when all of those protocols were suddenly removed. The crater produced was over two miles in diameter a mile deep. Tremors were recorded running right down through the core of the planet. The crater was covered in a spider web of cracks. There was nothing left of the ship, not so much as a single piece of scrap.

A few days later Matt McGuire stood at a large whiteboard and cast his eyes over the assembled officers.

He took a deep breath, ‘I can see a few non-technical bods here, so I’ll try to keep this simple.’ He received a few smiles of gratitude.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, we have potentially opened up a whole shit can of worms. It has fallen to me to try and explain what caused the massive explosion the other day. I am going to try. Who doesn’t know what happens to an egg when you shove it into a microwave oven?’ He paused but there were no takers. ‘It explodes. The contents cook, heat, expansion, boom, stinky micro. Put that egg in a cylindrical container, but leave one end open. When the egg explodes, all that energy is forced in one direction. The cylinder is propelled in the opposite direction to the opening. Is everyone with me so far?’ There were nods. ‘Excellent. Now the force coming out of the end of the cylinder I am going to refer to as thrust.’

A few of the scientists who knew where this was leading stuck their hands in the air, but Matt slapped them down. ‘No, no questions, no interruptions. I know what you lot are going to say, but keep that for technical meetings and discussions.’ Matt apologised to the rest of the staff, ‘Sorry for that, they know where I am going with this, and there are lots of physics and fancy names involved; but this is not one of those discussions.’

Steven interrupted, ‘It’s okay Matt, you are doing the right thing, please continue.’

Matt nodded in Steven’s direction. ‘Thanks.’ He ducked down and pulled a large cylinder from under the table. ‘This cylinder represents a single core.’ He pulled off the top, and laid it down so everyone could see the different layers, like the rings on a tree. ‘It is a very good representation of an actual core, only this one is made of plastic. Each one of these layers represent a different element, all of which exist within our solar system but not all on Earth. Not all are metal, some are nearer liquid form, like the white and yoke of an egg.

‘Each core powers one engine. How many engines you have depends on the mass of the ship you are driving. The size of the core depends on the size of the engine and vice versa. Now, inside each engine lies one of these cores, and like the egg, this core is bombarded with something similar to microwaves. Like the egg, these materials react to these different forms of waves and give off energy. This energy is contained by very powerful containment shields that can be manipulated to release this energy in the form of thrust. All with me so far?’

There were nods. ‘Okay, now there are literally hundreds of safety protocols, devices, failsafes, all geared towards keeping this energy contained. What we saw was what happens when all those safety measures fail at once, and that energy is released. We could describe that as catastrophic failure.

‘I want you to bear in mind a couple of things too. That ship was not flying. It was basically sitting idle, producing very little thrust. Try and imagine how much bigger that explosion would have been if there had been a catastrophic failure while it was travelling at top speed. Or more to the point, if the ship was flying within the atmosphere of a planet.

‘Now you might wonder where I am going with this. The fact is we just broke almost every law in the galaxy. The containment shields, the safety protocols that govern the use of these engines, we just broke every damn one of them. These protocols are in place to prevent this kind of catastrophic failure. If you hit an enemy’s engine in battle, these protocols shut down the core to prevent this kind of failure. Why? Because a single ship in the middle of a battle group suffering a catastrophic failure can wipe out the whole damn battle fleet. If this occurs within the atmosphere of a planet you are looking at an extinction level event. It is that serious.

‘So serious in fact, that weapons that can cause this type of failure are completely banned by every race in the galaxy, even those outwith the federation. Our only saving grace is that these regulations are all aimed at energy weapons. No one ever envisioned a weapon like the one Lewis has produced here; a mechanical and chemical weapon that can produce the same kind of destruction. This weapon turns the engine, the emergency systems, the part of the engine that creates a containment field, to dust, it even turns the core to dust.’

‘So how can it explode if it no longer exists?’ Colonel Howe was frowning as he tried to follow Matt.

‘I already mentioned that.’ Matt rubbed his chin ‘Okay, the engine is producing energy, not like electricity, more like the energy produced when you set off a bomb. You understand that?’

‘Of course. It is a chemical reaction.’

‘This is similar Colonel. Imagine a bomb at the moment it goes off, it is converted from a solid to energy.’

‘Yes okay.’

‘You can’t demolecularize energy. If you set off a ton of explosives inside a box that’s strong enough to hold it, nothing happens right? Remove that box at the second the ton of explosives goes off and it is released. Same principle here. The safety measures that stop the reaction are gone, the containment field is gone, everything that is holding back that energy is gone.’

‘Right! So, the energy that is being produced at the moment you set off the bomb is released.’

‘That’s it exactly.’

‘So we can’t use it then.’

‘It would be inadvisable. On a spaceship in combat anyway. Current weapons aren’t capable of piercing the containment field around a core. They could build them of course; they all have the technology, but it is against so many different treaties it just isn’t worth the hassle.

‘In a nutshell, that’s pretty much what happened down on the surface. On the first ship there was nothing to blow up, just oxygen, but there was nothing burning, nothing for it to feed, no flash nor bang, other than the initial explosion, which was quickly overtaken by the energy wave of the material as it detonated. It turned everything to dust in hundredths of a second. With no blast, there was no crater. The battleship simply collapsed into its own footprint. I believe the popular term is puddled.’

There were a few laughs and Matt smiled at the recollection. ‘The second ship, as I described, blew a huge crater on the surface of the Black Planet in a most spectacular fashion. That was due to the loss of containment surrounding the core. The energy that was being produced by the engine at the moment of the explosion was released instantaneously with catastrophic results for the battleship and the surrounding area. The surface of the crater is cracked, the cracks going down quite some distance. The blast was picked up by surface seismic equipment on the other side of the planet. Another interesting factor is that the blast did not increase the power or density of the MDP. The damage caused to the area surrounding the ship, to the best of our estimations, was the same as the first ship. It is only an estimation however, as there is now a bloody great hole where the ship used to be.’

They all laughed, and Steven stood up. Matt sat down and Steven took his place.

‘All of this information has already been relayed to Earth. Despite the obvious intergalactic fallout if we get caught, they want us to proceed with experimentation. We not only have to test these devices; we also have our first mission. It has nothing to do with our ambassadorial role either. If the tests are successful, we have to slip across the great barrier and destroy the asteroid fields that pose a threat to Earth from our intergalactic enemies. We are to prevent more asteroids being hurled at us. In the meantime, back home, a delivery system is being designed to fire one of these devices through the rear shields at an asteroid on a collision course with Earth. Apart from ourselves, only ships stationed on this side of the great barrier will be armed with these devices. Needless to say it is of the utmost secrecy.

‘So far the devices we have used have been no larger than the size of a pea. These ones were the size of a pinhead. The ones we will be deploying are more likely to be about the size of a football. At zero eight hundred tomorrow, we will be heading for the great barrier. No further tests will be carried out in our solar system. We will be carrying out all further testing in enemy territory. Once we hit it, we will be in stealth mode, and will remain that way until the task is finished. We cannot risk letting off one of these devices within range of another vessel. The MDDs leave no residue, but an exploding starship does. It may be non-lethal, but it is a footprint we cannot afford to leave. If we do this right we can be in and out, and destroy a lot of asteroids, without anyone being aware we were even there. It may take them years to realise what has even happened. Hopefully it will become a big mystery. They will obviously know who is ultimately responsible, but they will never be able to prove it. If we start leaving bodies behind, that situation will change. As you have heard, weapons with the ability to destroy the containment fields around a ship’s core are not tolerated, and it will affect our bid to join the federation.’

‘Why can’t we do these tests in the Kuiper belt?’ Howe asked.

‘Because they are terrified of the power of these devices Colonel; it is as simple as that. They simply don’t want any more exploded here, in our solar system. Not unless it is on an asteroid that has been propelled towards Earth. Extreme measures are being introduced to do with these devices as well.’

‘Such as?’

‘They aren’t allowed near the Earth or the moon. They will be built on Mars and distributed from there.’

‘Sounds like a smart idea for a change.’

‘I suppose it is,’ Steven had to agree.

Chapter 13

Steven rubbed the back of his neck. His eyes felt gritty as well. For months they had been slipping around asteroids of all sizes. They had completed the tests in the first week. Since then they had been planting bombs. Komoru had done it first, until her supply of material was exhausted. Steven had patrolled the outermost edges for any kind of traffic. Now they had swapped roles.

‘Last drop of point coming up Captain.’

‘Thank you Hailey. Let’s look for a nice flat spot.’

She smiled, ‘Yes sir.’

The asteroid was huge, far too big to be thrown at Earth. None of the crew cared though; they just wanted to be out of this dangerous place. They had learned more in the past month about asteroid fields than any of them had ever wanted to know. Steven personally thought the whole exercise was one of futility; recklessly endangering both of their ships and crews. Despite the fact that they were about to render thousands of miles’ worth of asteroids completely useless for the purpose of throwing them at Earth; there were still tens of thousands of miles of asteroids in this single belt alone, that would remain completely untouched. It was nothing for these space-going worlds to tow an asteroid a few thousand miles more; they did it all the time at home. Still, Steven felt he didn’t want to push too hard against those in power. With a sigh he realised that their days of pleasing themselves was over.

‘What is the matter my heart? You seemed tired.’

‘More weary than tired.’

‘Ico reports that a vessel has just passed through the area.’

‘Typical, we see nothing for a month, and the day we are finished a ship passes by.’

‘It will still take us a few days to navigate out of this asteroid field my heart.’

‘I know, it will be long gone by then.’

‘Would you like to do some equations?’

Steven smiled, ‘No, my mind is too tired to play.’

Hailey took his attention for a moment, ‘There’s a nice flat spot Captain.’

‘Fine, deploy the bomb. Let Ico know and then let’s get the hell out of here.’

A few minutes later the bomb was deployed and the next shift arrived. Gratefully Steven returned to his quarters. He lay down on the couch and closed his eyes.

‘Would you like to see out?’

‘Oh hell no! I’m sick of the sight of all these rocks. It’s giving me a headache. Give me an update on the crew. How is Lewis doing?’

‘He is fine my heart. He confessed to Charlie a few days ago that he felt really bad about building the most destructive bomb ever devised by man.’

‘What did Charlie say?’

‘He told Lewis he wasn’t very impressed by it. No flash, no bang, no lumps or rock flying through the air. From a professional point of view Charlie declared it the single most unimpressive bomb he had ever came across.’

Steven laughed, ‘How did Lewis take that?’

‘In the same way you did my heart, he simply laughed.’

‘What about Charlie?’

‘He is a blank wall. I cannot read his emotions, or anything in his mind. His body gives no clue to his emotional state either. The Doctor is still worried about him. He teases her mercilessly. I think there are times when he is very apprehensive, but mostly at nights when he is trying to sleep. It is very hard to tell.’

‘What about his companions?’

‘They are still loving the adventure and work hard in their duties.’

‘Colonel Howe and his men?’

‘All are very happy with their work and duties.’

‘Tapper and his men?’

‘They too are very happy, especially Cookie. He and Mya have declared their love for each other. I am very confused over their mating ritual. Both are ready to mate, and have been for a while, yet they resist each other.’

‘Just let them sort it out themselves Babes. Any problems with our Earth Defence Force members?’

‘Nothing my heart. All crew members are experiencing high levels of stress just now, but considering our mission that isn’t unexpected. There is only one person I am worried about.’

‘Oh! Who?’

‘Hailey, she is experiencing bouts of loneliness. She has no love in her life. She also admitted to the Doctor that she was unable to get herself laid while on leave.’

‘That’s a bit too personal Babes.’

‘I am sorry my heart, but I thought you would wish to know.’

‘Still, it’s hard to believe she can’t get laid with all of these soldiers on board.’

‘They are hardly her intellectual equals my heart, and I believe there is another thing that may be preventing her from getting to know any men better, a psychological problem.’

‘Oh yeah?’

‘Something you said to her when we first began our journey together.’

Steven half sat up, ‘What would that be?’

She sent the images to his mind of the moment, and Steven flopped back down covering his hands with his face. ‘I did say that, didn’t I…’

It was the day he had fallen out with her and the Professor, stating that if she didn’t learn the basics she would be more use as a sexual diversion for the soldiers on board.

‘I can’t believe she is still hung up on that, I did apologise.’

‘She accepted your apology my heart, but it has stuck with her.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me before?’

‘It is only now becoming a serious problem.’

‘Didn’t she just receive her doctorate from MIT?’

‘Yes my heart, about the same time you received yours. Komoru sent a card but you didn’t.’

‘She sent it from both of us.’

‘I know, but she noticed that you didn’t sign it yourself.’

‘Oh shit!’ Steven’s mind raced, ‘Could you ask her to report to my quarters fifteen minutes before we begin our shift tomorrow?’

‘Yes my heart.’

It was the first-time Hailey had been in Steven’s quarters. She was surprised by the summons, and more than a little anxious. Steven had the couch turned towards the world that was sliding past outside.

‘I hear you like coffee Hailey.’

She smiled shyly, ‘Yes I do.’

‘Please sit down.’

She was forced to sit on the couch beside him. Steven poured a cup.

‘Sugar, milk?’

‘No thank you.’

He handed her the hot cup and the two sat side by side for a few minutes watching the asteroids slide by.

‘May I ask why you want to see me Captain?’

‘I just wanted to take a few minutes with you Hailey. You have been with me since the beginning. We see each other every day, yet I can barely remember having a conversation with you about anything that wasn’t work related.’

‘I wouldn’t worry about it Captain.’

‘Please, call me Steven, we are in my private quarters.’

She glanced at him; he caught the look and laughed, ‘Don’t worry, I’m not hitting on you because Komoru isn’t here.’

She flushed, ‘I never said anything like that!’

‘No, but your eyes did. I may be Captain but we are both Doctors now. I think you have more than earned the right to call me by my first name if we are in private like this.’

She smiled, ‘That’s nice of you Steven, thank you.’

‘You are also one of the few people who have been able to stick by me since we first began our wee adventure.’

‘I was doing my thesis.’

‘Yes, but you have your doctorate now and you could have walked away, but you haven’t. You are right here alongside me, risking your life in this god-forsaken part of the galaxy.’

She smiled, ‘Well the pay has gotten a lot better in the past few years.’

They both laughed together. ‘I just wanted to say thank you Hailey, and also congratulate you on your doctorate. Do you realise that you are the very first person on Earth to get a doctorate on astral navigation; who is actually a real astral navigator?’

She flushed with pleasure, ‘It has been mentioned a few times.’

‘I should think so too. I also wanted you to know that I consider you a backbone member of this crew. A very valued member Hailey.’

Now she was completely embarrassed. ‘Thank you Steven. That is really nice to hear.’

Steven shook his head, ‘I should have said something sooner. I have simply been so wrapped up in everything, I haven’t had the time to do things like this.’

‘It can’t have been easy for you Steven. I mean, you lost most of your memories when you were fourteen, then you got them back all in one day. What work experience did you ever have?’

‘I was a security guard. You’re right Hailey, I really wasn’t prepared for any of this. The days between the accident and getting my memory back are like a strange dream. They don’t seem real somehow. I missed all those teenage years, spent most of them in hospital.’

‘You did act a bit like a teenager back then, I wondered at that.’

‘I suppose I did. It was as though someone flipped the lights back on, and there I was, fourteen-years-old again.’

Hailey rolled her eyes, ‘I think that’s all been burned off now though.’

‘The turning point was the fight in the city ship. I haven’t quite felt the same since then.’

‘You have saved the Earth at least twice Steven, think on that rather than the bloodshed.’

‘I think it was less the bloodshed than what I couldn’t do, what I couldn’t bring myself to do.’

Steven faltered, but now Hailey’s curiosity was on full alert. ‘What was that?’

Steven’s smile was more of a grimace, ‘It doesn’t matter. I think it is time we got back to work.’

Hailey finished her coffee with a smile, ‘Thank you, that was lovely.’ She hesitated a moment. ‘I think you are a hero Steven, you are one of mine anyway. You held the fort all by yourself until the rest of Humanity caught up with you. Don’t be hard on yourself.’

Steven’s smile was genuine, ‘Thank you Hailey, I have really enjoyed this.’

‘As have I.’

Chapter 14

Amanda Freeling’s mind raced at the information that Hailey had brought her.

‘Do you think he was talking about that?’

Hailey took a sip of her coffee, ‘By the look on his face, it had to be.’

‘It also means it had to be one of his group that switched off the oxygen in the residential areas. He actually said that?’

‘Sure did; something he couldn’t bring himself to do. It has to be that. He looked really serious.’

‘Which leaves no one with the technical know-how in that group.’

‘It’s why we always thought it was Steven.’

Amanda cocked her eyes, ‘Steven is it?’

Hailey smirked a little, ‘It sure is.’

Amanda’s mind switched back to the mystery that had plagued her for so long. ‘What else did he say?’

‘Nothing. Although I did get the impression it was one of his group.’

‘Why?’

Hailey shrugged, ‘Intuition. You know there was only one other person in his group that could talk to the ship.’

‘I would rather think it was one of Colonel Howe’s group, or Tapper’s.’

Another voice joined in the conversation. ‘Why don’t you two leave this alone?’

‘I’m sorry Babes. One of our people was responsible for the deaths of millions of innocent civilians. I for one would like to know who it was, and you won’t tell us.’

‘There were no innocents on board Amanda. You know that.’

‘Babies can’t hold guns.’

‘No, but their mothers could, and all were willing to do so to save their children.’

‘We know in most of these races the females are incapable of bearing arms.’

‘Every group from our ship, battle reports from every unit that encountered civilian resistance, reported females bearing arms and shooting at them.’

‘So you say.’ Amanda returned to her cuppa. ‘Were they left with a choice, really? Is that what you are trying to say to me Babes?’

‘She is just frightened it was Charlie,’ Grinned Hailey.

‘What if I am?’ Snapped Amanda. ‘We are the same rank now, it’s official. But I could never look myself in the mirror again if I slept with a mass murderer. There are other considerations too. Someone capable of a crime like that must have severe mental problems and should be confined for the safety of this crew.’ Amanda’s face had turned scarlet.

‘Then why don’t you ask him?’

‘It’s not something you really bring up in a conversation. Besides, I have asked him, I have asked all of them. None of them will tell me.’

‘Ask him again.’

‘Ask me what?’

Amanda jumped about a foot in the air. Hailey burst out laughing. She had seen Charlie come in and his head come up when his name had been mentioned. Hailey was breathless with anticipation. Amanda had fancied Charlie for so long, now was an opportunity to help her friend. She was quite sure the culprit wasn’t Charlie.

‘She wants to know who turned off the oxygen in the civilian quarters on the city ship.’

‘That old chestnut. Why do you care so much?’

Amanda really was scarlet now. ‘Call it professional interest.’

Charlie pulled out a chair and sat down with his coffee and his tablet. He was paying more attention to the tablet and the coffee than he was the women.

‘Is it that important?’

‘Yes I believe so.’

‘Fine; then it was me.’

There was a moment’s stunned silence.

Amanda didn’t believe it. ‘No, you didn’t!’

‘Babes, make the battle reports available to Amanda.’

‘Those reports are classified Charlie.’

‘Let her see the truth Babes, rather than fumble around in the dark spreading rumours, talking shop about it to everyone. You know how the Doctor loves a bit of gossip.’

‘I see the sense in your words Charlie. Steven will not be amused.’

‘I will talk to Steven about it later.’

‘Yes Charlie. Amanda, I am downloading Steven’s account of that part of the operation to your tablet. I will delete it once you have read it.’

Amanda’s hands trembled as she took her tablet from her pocket. A stunned Hailey shifted her chair round and the two women read the report together. When they were finished, they sat and observed Charlie scrolling through his tablet looking for something to read.

Hailey reached out and placed her hand on Charlie’s. He was surprised at the gesture. ‘Charlie, how could you?’

‘We were in a battle for the right to exist. How could I not? I had a duty to the men I was with, and the people of Earth. Babes told Steven what he was looking at, and I overheard her. Steven shied away from it, I can’t blame him, it was his first battle after all. It wasn’t mine. I saw an opportunity to severely curtail the enemy’s fighting ability and took it.’

‘Still, it couldn’t have been easy Charlie.’ Hailey tried again.

Charlie put down his tablet and closed the cover. ‘No one said it was easy, but I did the right thing. I made the right choice. So I’m sorted.’

‘Sorted!’ Amanda snorted. ‘Is that it?’

Charlie took a moment to clear his mind. He leaned forward onto his elbows. ‘I have never been involved in a war where the only realistic outcome was the complete extinction of one side or the other. It makes you far more determined to sell your life more dearly. Neither have I ever faced a deadlier or more determined foe before. Hundreds, sometimes thousands, would charge at one time. Not a single one gave up or tried to surrender. Males, females, children, all bore arms if they were big enough to carry a weapon. The fact that they didn’t look like us wasn’t as much of a help as I thought it would be. We were there from the beginning to the end. The days, the killing and carnage all began to blend into sleepless nights and teetering exhaustion. It is far easier to kill someone when you no longer have the mental ability to do anything other than react instinctively to any situation that presents itself. Yet there are always moments in a battle that stand out.

‘One of those was of an Albany child. We had just slaughtered his parents, there must have been a couple of hundred of them piled up in front of us. This kid was running back and forth bawling its eyes out. It even had a pistol dangling from one of its mitts; none of us had the heart to shoot the wee bugger. He wasn’t aiming it at anybody anyway. It seemed to go on for ever, this wee fella running back and forth, looking for his parents, unable to see them and unwilling to start wading through the bodies. All of a sudden he simply stiffened, his eyes rolled into his head, and he fell backwards like a log. No one fired a shot. We weren’t sure what the hell had happened. We thought maybe his heart had burst. A wee while later I stopped at the body. It wasn’t anything we had considered. It was a neutron from our sun that had done the poor wee bugger in.

‘We all felt it though; we all knew that the kids suffer the most. As soldiers, for those of us who had fought before, it was always the most upsetting sight. You did what you could for them, enemy or not. So many kids die in the carnage of war. It is the horrible brutality of war. We hate it, it’s the kind of thing that really fucks up your mind. Sorry for the language.

‘Anyway, I can’t remember when it was, it is all a bit of a blur. We found ourselves in one of those residential areas that I had killed the oxygen too earlier in the week. I was freaking out. By then all my mates knew what I had done. None of us wanted to be there. It was so quiet it was giving me the major creeps. One of my mates dragged me bodily into one of the houses I had refused to enter. On the couch was the whole family. The father was at one end; his wife was lying down with her head on his lap. The child was embraced in her arms.

‘“It’s just like they are sleeping,” he said, and he was smiling in a kinda weird way. As I was watching, he lifted a blanket from the floor and placed it over the woman and child.

‘Of course, I was in major freak mode by this time. He tucked the blanket in and stood back from the couch. I was ready to bolt. “If these buggers get through to Earth, I hope my kid gets to go like this, in the arms of her mum, and no like that poor wee bugger that was bawling the other day there.”

‘It took a wee bit of time for it to sink in. In the end though I got what he meant. There was no blood, no guts. No screams of the dying or wounded. They knew what was happening, the people in those areas. They tossed their weapons and grabbed their families. Many, like in that house, died on the couch. Bigger families lay down on the biggest bed in the home and cuddled in. As the oxygen levels dropped, they fell asleep first, then simply slipped away. I sometimes wonder if they even had time to dream.’

When Charlie’s eyes refocused on the women, he saw Hailey’s face streaming with tears. Amanda was white and visibly shaking. He got up.

‘Well, got to get back to it. See you later.’ Charlie walked out of the canteen.

Hailey moved her chair back round to the other side. She wiped away her tears. ‘I don’t know what to say Amanda. I’m sorry.’

Amanda shook her head, ‘I am still trying to wrap my head around it Hailey.’

‘I am so glad I wasn’t there. I think the most horrible thing about it all is, I kinda get where he is coming from.’

‘I have seen the aftermath of battle Hailey. The mutilated children, the orphans left behind.’

‘There wasn’t that many left was there, at the end?’

Amanda shook her head, ‘No, most died long before they arrived on that floating bio-dome. I was told some died from sheer fright. Others stopped eating. Most were killed by the neutrons from our sun. Only a handful made it to the bio-dome and they all perished when they released that agent.’ Amanda brought her hands up to her face. ‘Oh God! I am actually thinking that dying in the arms of their parents was a blessing in disguise.’

‘Maybe it was.’

Amanda stood. ‘No Hailey, I can’t think like that.’

‘What are you going to do now Amanda?’

‘There is nothing I can do Hailey. I have to accept the situation.’

‘What about Charlie?’

‘There is no Charlie, Hailey, there never will be. If that big-boobed slut from the Sir William Wallace wants him, she can have him.’

‘What big-boobed slut?’

‘The Captain. The one who saved him. Kicked up a stink remember.’

‘Oh right, I have never met her.’

‘Well she definitely likes him, that’s for sure.’

Amanda left Hailey alone at the table.

Chapter 15

Amanda was standing on the other side of Steven’s desk, and he wasn’t in a good mood.

‘Babes tells me you are thinking of having Charlie sanctioned.’

‘It had crossed my mind.’

‘You won’t; you had no right to that information in the first place.’

‘Take that up with Charlie, Steven.’

‘I have already taken Charlie to task for it Amanda.’

Amanda looked down her nose at him, ‘How did that go for you? I bet it wasn’t pleasant.’

‘Charlie apologised and gave me his reasons for telling you.’

‘He apologised! Charlie apologised… I don’t believe that.’

‘Well he did. I accepted his apology and the reasons behind his actions.’

‘May I ask what they were, those reasons?’

‘He told me that you had taken a bit of a shine to him.’

‘That’s a lie!’

‘Do I have to play back a recording of you and Hailey’s conversation just before Charlie arrived?’

‘I thought you didn’t do that kind of thing?’ She snapped, her face turning scarlet.

‘I normally don’t, but I wanted to see if there was any truth in what he was saying. You were considering having a relationship with him. That is a fact.’

‘How does he always know?’

‘Take a seat Amanda.’

She sat down. ‘I am sorry Steven. That man is so bloody good at reading body language; it is sometimes terrifying.’

Steven smiled a little, ‘I have been on the receiving end of that so many times, you don’t have to tell me.’

‘So he was able to tell I fancied him. What else did he say?’

‘He said that there was no way you would ever be able to have a relationship with him if you knew the truth.’

‘Then he didn’t fancy me back, is that why he told me?’

‘No, that wasn’t it. How did he put it?’ Steven had a wee think. ‘Babes, play that scene for us will you.’

‘Yes my heart.’

Charlie and Steven appeared on screen. Charlie was sitting where she was now. He sat forward.

‘She is a lovely woman Stevie. If I went out with her, I have a feeling that would be it for me.’

‘Is that not a good thing Charlie?’

‘She is a Doctor man. She’s been fishing for who was responsible for the deaths of all those civilians for years now.’

‘Aye, but couldn’t you have concealed it from her?’

‘This is the kind of shit that always comes back to bite you on the arse Stevie. It’s the same kind of shit that brought me to this state, more machine than man.’

Steven had scratched his head, ‘That’s a valid point I suppose.’

Charlie pressed his opinion home. ‘What if, ten years from now, we were happily married with kids, and this came up. There is no way she would accept the situation; then what? Divorce on a starship light years from home. I couldn’t do that to her Stevie, I have far too much respect for her. At least this way, if she came to terms with it, then I know we would start a relationship with nothing hidden. You get what I mean?’

‘Aye Charlie, I get you now. You broke a lot of rules though.’

‘She is an officer in the army Stevie, a trusted workmate. She won’t do anything stupid or reveal top secret classified information. You can trust her.’

‘I do. I am still going to have to punish you though.’

‘Peeling spuds is it?’

‘You can take my shift tonight. That will give me a chance to catch up on some other work.’

‘I can live with that Stevie.’

The scene was cut. Amanda felt strange waves of emotion wash through her, along with regret. She took a deep breath, ‘He didn’t want to start a relationship on a lie.’

‘Pretty much, yes.’

‘You know this means I can’t sanction him.’

‘Are you talking about a medical reason here Amanda?’

‘He has shown compassion and consideration for another person Steven. Quite often people who are mentally ill can’t. Not always of course, but definitely with what I thought he was suffering from.’ She sighed, ‘Are you going to punish me as well?’

‘No, you did nothing wrong. I have spoken to Hailey about this and put her in the picture about how secret the information was.’

‘I see.’ Amanda stood, ‘I had better let you get on then.’

As she turned away, Steven blurted out, ‘I’m sorry Amanda.’

She hesitated, ‘What for?’

‘It is my fault, it was my responsibility, I should have been the one to commit the heinous deed. If I had, you and Charlie might have stood a chance together.’

Amanda found herself shaking her head. ‘No Steven, you reacted in the normal, rational, Human way. As Charlie said himself, it was your first battle. I am quite sure even Charlie didn’t become a mass murderer in his first battle.’

Steven cringed a little inside as she disappeared back on to the bridge.

Chapter 16

Komoru ordered her ship to turn around. The patrolling she found worse than the strenuous work of winding in and out of the asteroids. At least in there the danger was all around you. Out here in the dark void of space it was tedious work that stretched the nerves to breaking point.

‘Two hours until we pick up Steven, thank goodness for that Ico.’

‘It will be good to see my mate again. She believes they are on schedule.’

‘Are we going to meet up? He is on duty right now.’

‘No my heart, Steven is occupied and doesn’t want to be disturbed until they are out of the asteroid belt. Charlie is on duty at the moment.’

‘Oh! I thought Steven and I had the same schedule.’

There was a slight pause. ‘Babes says Charlie is being punished with extra shifts.’

Komoru tried to hide a smile behind a delicate hand. ‘Steven is punishing Charlie, and he accepted the punishment. That doesn’t sound right Ico.’

‘It seems that is what happened my heart.’

‘I can’t wait to hear that story. Don’t ask Babes, I will hear it from Steven himself later.’

‘Yes my heart. As you wish.’

Her attention was grabbed by one of her operators. ‘Captain, I have a large fleet of warships coming into our area.’

‘All crew to battle stations. Make sure we are running silent. Put their progress and our relevant positions up on the screen.’

The bulkhead in front of her turned green. Ico and Babes were white dots. Black dots represented the asteroid field while a cluster of red dots represented the enemy. Babes was just inside the edge of the field.

‘Calculate their projected course.’ A red line appeared and Komoru relaxed a little. The cluster of red dots would pass closer to her than Steven’s ship. ‘Tactical, do you have a report for me yet?’

‘We have eight ships travelling at almost maximum sub-light speed Captain. They seem to be travelling on a course of 370 on a trajectory that will take them right past us at a distance of two hundred thousand miles.’

‘Is there anything that lies on that trajectory?’

‘A Catatarac outpost. A space station that monitors the outer regions of their territory. We don’t have a lot of information on it. It was originally built to protect their miners who were working the asteroid belt thousands of years ago. It is very big and very old. The mining part of the facility has already been mothballed, but there is still a repair facility available, along with other military facilities. It was once a free station but now is in total control of the Catatarac military.’

‘I wonder why they are travelling so slowly. Navigation, place us in a good spot to get a visual.’

‘Yes Captain.’

It took a few hours for the ships to pass. The reason for their slow progress was quickly apparent. Two of the ships towed a third at top towing speed, while the others provided cover. They snuck in close enough to see that the ship had been damaged in a battle. Komoru withdrew to a safe distance. Once they were well out of range, she proceeded to the edge of the asteroid belt to meet Steven.

Charlie had been on duty when the call came in from Ico. He immediately called all hands to battle stations. When Steven arrived, he had relinquished command to Steven and joined his men.

Steven had skulked just inside the asteroid field until Komoru joined him, then they held a consultation with the senior military staff. The two crews then split up again. Steven overtook the Catatarac ships, to a range where beyond there should be no tell-tale signs of the explosions when they happened. Komoru travelled to the same distance in the other direction. It took a few days for the ships to pass, and another half day before Steven triggered the devices. They waited until the pulse of the devices should have reached them. They searched with every device at their disposal, but there was no sign that anything had actually happened. A couple of quick jumps took them back to the asteroid field, approximately the centre. There was no outward sign that anything had occurred.

Lewis checked and reported to Steven. ‘All the devices have triggered suh. Ain’t nothing left to say we been here.’

Steven banged a fist against the arm of his chair. ‘I would love to slip back in there to see how effective we have been, but we daren’t hang about any longer. Order Komoru to withdraw.’

‘Yes suh.’

Chapter 17

Steven and Komoru were drinking coffee when the call came down. They desperately wanted to spend the night together, but were reluctant to take the risk until they were out of the danger area.

‘What now Charlie?’

‘Distress beacon.’

The two passed a knowing look, ‘Okay, I will be right up.’

Komoru grasped Steven’s arm. ‘We knew if we travelled in this direction we may well encounter whomever the Catataracs were fighting. We should just slide past, leave it to the Catataracs.’

‘But why haven’t they already rescued them?’

Komoru sat upright, ‘Oh! That’s a good point.’

Steven stood and gestured towards the bridge, ‘Shall we?’

Charlie got up off the chair and Steven sat down. ‘What’s happening Charlie?’

‘One surviving pod. By what Babes can tell from this distance, it is a very old freighter. That’s about it, apart from that it seems to have been completely destroyed.’

‘That’s strange, most freighters are covered by intergalactic law. Why the hell are they destroying freighters? Are you sure there are no other signs of fighting in the area? One of those Catatarac ships was quite badly damaged.’

‘Babes says there is residue of energy weapons being used. More than one type. She can’t categorise them, but yeah, two different races at least. All in this small area we are approaching. She may be able to detect more when she gets closer.’

‘Why can’t you categorise them Babes?’

‘I am not a warship Steven. I have never had that sort of information.’

‘I understand, thank you Babes.’

‘Are you already thinking about acquiring that form of data my heart?’

‘You know me so well.’

The bridge crew laughed.

Komoru grasped his shoulder, ‘I am going to return to Ico in case a problem occurs.’

‘Yes please. Separate as soon as you are on board.’

Her eyes conveyed her reluctance, and Steven smiled his understanding.

When they had separated, Komoru took up a station behind Steven to cover his back as Steven brought his ship in close.

They were within a few hundred miles of the freighter when Steven made a decision.

‘Do a full in depth scan Babes.’

‘Yes my heart.’

Steven waited about ten seconds. ‘What have we got Babes?’

‘There is nothing there my heart. Please turn away now.’

Steven was shocked, ‘What! Wait a minute. What about the signal?’

‘It is of no importance my heart, please leave the area.’

Dr Chapman had been monitoring the data as it appeared on his screen. ‘There is a survivor, and he is still alive.’

‘Why do you want to leave him behind Babes, isn’t that against galactic law?’

‘He is a meat eater my heart, the rules do not apply.’

‘So am I. Hailey, take us in closer.’

‘He is Ortea, please just leave him.’

Steven understood immediately. ‘The ones that chased your previous crew through the great barrier.’

‘Yes my heart.’

‘There is word that the federation is planning to use Human troops in land-based operations against these people to eradicate them. If that is the case, I want to meet them.’

‘It is inadvisable.’

‘I got an idea,’ Charlie interrupted. ‘Do you have their language on record Babes?’

‘Yes Charlie.’

‘Then let me deal with him. We take him on board and isolate him. I will go in and interrogate him. Pass your questions through me.’

Babes and Steven thought it over. ‘I like that idea,’ Steven eventually agreed. ‘Babes?’

‘What do you need Charlie?’

‘A room big enough to accommodate that pod, with a bit of dancing room.’

‘I don’t understand what you mean by dancing room, Charlie.’

‘If the Ortea attacks me, I will need room to evade.’

‘I have a room big enough.’

‘Good, take the shine off the walls. Make it look like a bulkhead or something with a big door.’

‘Like it was a room off a docking port?’

‘That’s right, it will disguise exactly who we are.’

‘I understand. It will take me ten minutes to prepare.’

‘Anything else Charlie?’ Steven asked.

‘Beam out any weapons he has.’

‘Right.’

When the room was ready Charlie went inside. He looked around. ‘This is too clean Babes; you say this race resembles dogs of some kind? Chances are he will have a heightened sense of smell as well.’

‘I understand Charlie.’

She beamed in strange objects, and the smell of grease soon began to permeate the room.

‘That should be enough now Charlie.’

‘Beam the pod in then.’

The pod materialised in front of him. ‘I’m going to bash it around a little Babes, to make it feel like it has been grabbed by a passing ship.’

Charlie began to slide it across the room. He bounced it off the walls a couple of times.

Charlie’s mind reached out. ‘He thinks he has been picked up by a passing ship and is preparing to fight for his life.’

‘Be careful, I have removed a pistol, but he also has a knife. Do you want me to remove that as well Charlie?’

‘No, leave him with that. Don’t worry, I won’t get caught out.’

Charlie banged on the outside of the escape pod, and leapt back out of the way. Despite his words, Charlie was almost caught out. The beast within blew the door and leapt out. Charlie thought he would be slower, having been confined for days in the pod. Charlie side-stepped in time and a hand helped propel the Ortea towards the wall. He bounced off it, his eyes quickly taking in the situation. His reflexes were like lightning. He leapt at Charlie again. This time Charlie was ready. He caught the reaching hand with the knife and tossed the being hard against the wall.

The Ortea gasped with pain, winded, but he was able to maintain hold of the knife. Charlie didn’t give it a chance to recover; he leapt after it. Charlie dragged the Ortea away from the wall by his knife wrist, then locked the arm straight with his knee. Charlie simply squeezed the beast’s wrists and it bellowed with pain. Every time it began to struggle Charlie squeezed again; it soon got the message. It turned its head towards Charlie. Charlie took the translation device from his pocket and held it up so that it could see it. The beast gave a slight inclination of its head. Charlie leaned over and placed it in its ear.

‘Do you understand me?’

‘I understand you grass eater. Why don’t you just kill me and get it over with?’

Charlie smiled, ‘A friend and I tried to eat grass once, we were about eight. We both ended up puking. Look at my face again, look closely and tell me what you see.’ Charlie leaned over and grasped it by the neck and squeezed, the Ortea’s feet drummed against the floor and it howled. ‘If you get it wrong again, then as far as I am concerned you are too stupid to have any relevant information. I will simply snap your neck and toss you out an airlock.’

With watering eyes, it studied Charlie’s face closely. A strange frown crossed its face, then it made the connection Charlie wanted.

‘Your eyes are fixed forward for depth perception; your race are hunters. Are you a meat eater?’

‘Oh yes.’ Charlie took his hand off the creature’s neck and it gasped with relief. ‘Let go of the weapon.’

It released its grip on the knife. Charlie snatched it up and released him. He walked backwards out of range. The Ortea rolled on to his back and lay there gasping. After a few minutes rubbing its neck and wrist the Ortea struggled to its feet. It must have been seven feet tall. Its limbs were well formed, nearer Human proportions. The biggest difference was its face. It closely resembled a dog or a jackal; Charlie wasn’t quite sure which. Its face was covered in short black fur.

Charlie inspected the blade, it wasn’t well balanced and had a long, curved edge. It had been poorly forged. Charlie tested it out with a few knife-fighting techniques. His hands became a blur. The Ortea swallowed and took a few steps backwards.

‘This isn’t a good knife.’

‘It is the best I could afford.’

Charlie snapped the blade in half then into quarters. The Ortea’s jaw dropped open and it took another step backwards, bumping into the survival pod. Charlie tossed the blade away and sent a request to Babes. Charlie felt a blade appear beneath his trouser belt at the back. It was one of the knives Beaver had designed after the fight with the Albany. It was a large Bowie knife, honed to a fine edge with its own sharpening tools contained in the sheath. Charlie reached behind and took the knife out. He tossed it over to the Ortea who caught it deftly in his good hand.

The Ortea drew the blade and gasped at the simple beauty of the design. Then he tested its balance. Despite being designed for Human hands, it fitted well into his.

‘This is a beautiful weapon. Something of this quality would cost me a year’s pay. In fact, I don’t think I have ever seen a weapon of such high quality.’

‘Keep it as a good will gesture.’

Its eyes flicked up, ‘You jest!’

‘No, after all, I did break yours.’

‘May I call you friend?’

‘I wouldn’t jump the gun if I was you.’

It shook its head, ‘All meat eaters are enemies of the federation. If you are their enemy, then you are our friend.’

‘We are not their enemy. In fact, we are a part of the federation. Our bid to join has been accepted; of course, it is under constant review. We have about another six years at least before we can become full members.’

‘Impossible.’

‘Whatever! Who are you, what are you?’

‘I am a simple soldier.’

‘Ding, ding, wrong. Let me put things to you so you will understand them a little better. I am this ship’s interrogator. I get all the nice jobs. If you lie to me then you are of no use to me. I won’t torture you, I will simply toss you out the airlock. I have been straight forward and truthful with you.

‘We don’t want any strategic knowledge that you may have, we are just a little curious. We already have a small contingent of ships serving with the federation, and it may well be that sooner or later we find ourselves as mortal enemies. So far all we have heard is the federation side of the story, we would like to hear your side. So, who are you?’

The Ortea thought it over. ‘My name is Morval Oralia. I was second in command of the freighter whose debris you rescued me from.’

‘What were you doing here?’

‘Running weapons to another meat eating race under constant attack from the Catataracs.’

‘What kind of weapons?’

‘Every kind.’

‘We saw a damaged Catatarac ship. Was that you?’

‘Yes, didn’t they tell you?’

‘They are our enemy too.’

‘If your race are meat eaters, then you must have more than one enemy within the federation.’

‘Three we know about. The rest are wisely keeping silent at the moment, but we have plenty time to figure out who they are. You had shipboard weapons mounted in the freighter?’

‘Yes, of course. A Catatarac destroyer got to close, became suspicious. We took it out, damaged it heavily anyway. His friends were nearby, we were unlucky, this part of Catatarac space is relatively unpatrolled.’

‘How many times have you made this run?’

‘Over a dozen. You haven’t told me your name and rank.’

‘Charlie Murison, I am an officer in the Goodwill Ambassador’s guard.’

‘A Goodwill Ambassador from your planet?’

‘Yes.’

‘Now I understand your curiosity. It is a dangerous path your leader takes, and that you take with him. You are, if nothing else, very capable. My race has eaten many Goodwill Ambassadors.’

‘So I have been told. Is there a reason you eat them?’

‘My people starve, neither do we trust the grass eaters. To understand you would have to hear our story.’

‘That is what you are here for.’

‘Will you toss me out of the airlock afterwards?’

‘Might do, then again I might not.’

‘You mean it is not your decision to make.’

‘Exactly,’ Charlie put his hand to his ear as though he were listening to something. ‘The Ambassador says that if you cooperate fully, then he will be more than happy to drop you off in your own star system.’

‘He is watching this?’

‘He is.’

‘In that case Charlie, I will tell you the story of my people. We first discovered that there was life on other planets when our domestic livestock, and those who dwelt above ground, all died overnight. You see our race, when we were primitives, lived underground in burrows. Our sun is quite harsh. We live closer to our sun than most life seems to. As such the conditions can be very hard. We live underground by choice.

‘On the surface lived the great herds and the herders. The crops that made-up part of our staple diet also grew above ground, in the more temperate regions of our planet. Over many thousands of years, these regions had been fought over. One great king united us all, and shared out the bounty. Our people thrived, our cities were underground wonders. We had rivers, lakes, seas, all underground. Yet we had never looked to the stars.’

‘You were an advanced race?’ Charlie asked.

‘We had never taken to the skies, but our underground networks were extensive; fast. There was industry, transportation. Our whole world was connected.’

‘Ruled by one king.’

‘No, the great king and his descendants were long gone. A ruling body, elected politicians from all regions. The invaders came and poisoned the great herds, and those that tended them. A few weeks later they landed and began to terraform our planet. They poisoned the crops we grew and planted grass. They must have thought that they had killed all of us. You can imagine their surprise when we leapt from the ground and stormed their ships. Very few got away.

‘We quickly learned to fly the ships, and took to the stars in pursuit. Three times they sent Ambassadors to negotiate peace. Three times they betrayed us. They bombed our planet, they collapsed the roofs over many of our great cities. By then over half our population had starved to death anyway. The fish in our underground seas could not feed all. But we found a different source of protein; the meat from the bones of our enemy. Some of them are quite tasty. We are especially fond of Goodwill Ambassadors.

‘Our people now occupy three different star systems. We still live underground. Most of our technology is stolen from our enemies. We have very little capacity these days for manufacture, although we still do.’

‘Aye, and now you have a little thing going with other meat eating races.’

‘Few have survived the purge by the grass eaters, which begs me to question why you as a race have survived. Tell me a little about your people before you toss me out of the airlock.’

‘We are from across what you call the great barrier.’

Morval gave a small bark of surprise, ‘So that is why you have survived.’

‘It isn’t quite as easy as that. A race from this side discovered our solar system and its resources. A race called the Albany. They abducted some of our people and developed a serum that would allow them to survive on our side of the barrier. Long story short, we wiped them out. We made friends with a race called the Modloch along the way. They helped with our bid to join the federation.’

‘I’m not very big on galactic politics, but I get where you’re coming from. The Albany are actually quite tasty. Never ate a Modloch though. My father did, he said they were a bit tough, hard to digest.’

‘You actually eat them?’

‘You don’t quite get it. We hunt them down, enslave them, and breed them as domestic livestock. They slaughtered all of ours in one night. We have no other source of food. On our home planet there are fish, but that’s about it. The other two solar systems we inhabit have no planets that reside in the sweet zone. We live in caves on planetoids and within asteroids. Oxygen generators from old space ships keep us alive, and our captives keep us fed. Talking about food, do I get a last meal?’

Charlie smiled, ‘Someone is going to fetch some food down for you right now. The Ambassador asks where would you like to be dropped off.’

‘I can’t take you to where I stay.’

Charlie pretended to listen for a moment. ‘No need for that. We are going to put you back into that pod and kick your arse out the door. We aren’t interested in finding out where you come from, or where you are going. Just give us coordinates of somewhere you are bound to be found.’

‘Sounds fair to me.’ Morval reeled off a list of coordinates.

Charlie nodded to himself. ‘It is going to take us a week to get there, but the Ambassador is setting course now.’

Morval snorted, ‘A week? Your ship must be fast. It took us a month to get here.’

‘It is.’

The door opened and Lewis stepped in with a large tray of food. He was wearing a thin vest and his muscles rippled under his ebony skin. Morval reeled back at the sight of him and tumbled back into the escape pod.

Lewis looked down into the pod, ‘You okay there?’

‘I’m fine.’ Morval insisted.

Lewis offered a massive hand. A nervous Morval reached up and took it. Lewis pulled him up and then offered him the tray.

‘Don you worry none if you can’t eat it all. We will find something else for you.’

Morval inclined his head. ‘Thank you for the food.’ He watched, fascinated, as Lewis walked away. When the door closed, he turned to Charlie, ‘Are you not of the same race?’

‘My planet is made up of many different races and colours. Collectively we are known as Humans.’

‘I don’t know much about other races, but that’s quite unusual, isn’t it?’

‘So we are beginning to find out.’

‘So why isn’t he the interrogator? Is he the cook?’

‘Lewis is our armourer; he was just helping out.’

‘I have never seen anyone with such a physique. Is he a warrior?’

‘Yes, a very good and able warrior.’

Morval leaned forward and lowered his voice, ‘If I saw him coming at me, I would shoot him first.’

Charlie laughed, ‘He has had that problem in the past.’

Morval barked his own type of laugh, then turned his attention to the food.

He picked up a chunk of loaf. ‘Is this bread?’

‘It is. Can you eat it?’

‘We have pictures of it, I have never tasted it.’

‘Try dipping it in the soup. That’s what I do.’

Charlie found it quite fascinating watching his captive eat. He tasted this, tasted that. Dipped the bread until the liquid was gone from the soup and then tipped the bowl into his mouth. The ribs on his plate were consumed whole; powerful jaws crunched through them. Charlie’s biggest surprise came when Morval was finished the meal. He began to weep. Tears streamed from his eyes and fluid from his muzzle.

He pulled a rag from a pocket and wiped himself clean. ‘I am sorry about that.’

‘Are you alright?’

‘I just realised this must have been what food tasted like before our planet was invaded. It is the finest meal I have ever tasted in my life. Thank you for that.’

Charlie stood. ‘My presence is required elsewhere. I will be back.’

Chapter 18

Komoru, Steven, Colonel Howe and Charlie held a private conference.

‘Was he being truthful about everything Charlie?’

‘Aye, completely honest. As far as he was concerned, he wasn’t telling us anything that wasn’t common knowledge.’

Howe frowned but before he could open his mouth Charlie answered the question that was on his mind, ‘Yes I do know for sure. Because I read his mind. Yes, no, no, yes that’s why Steven always has me hanging around. No it isn’t because he trusts me more than he does you. Really! You are that insecure?’

‘Enough!’ Howe shouted. ‘Holy shit, what the hell are you?’

‘Yes I can switch it off and on, no I don’t go about reading people’s minds. Would you really want to hear the shit that goes through people’s minds every minute of the day?’

‘Okay Charlie, enough.’ Steven was waiting for a reaction from Howe.

Howe’s jaw was hanging slack, he waggled a finger, ‘I thought he was just good at body language.’

‘This is of the utmost secrecy Colonel.’ Steven replied.

‘Does the President know, do our intelligence services know?’

Charlie growled, ‘No, and they had damn well better never find out Colonel. I shit you not, if…’

‘Charlie,’ Steven snapped.

Howe glared at Charlie.

‘What!’ Charlie responded.

‘You’re out of my head now?’

‘Of course I am.’

Howe sat back and ran his fingers through his hair. ‘This makes so much sense now. Oh wow!’ He turned his attention back to Steven. ‘Don’t worry, I won’t say anything. I’m just a little stunned. Hell, I wish I had known sooner.’

Steven smiled, ‘You are now a part of the select few that do know Colonel.’

‘Right, okay. But what should we do about this guy?’

Steven turned to Charlie, ‘Are we at risk from this Morval?’

‘No I don’t think so. He wants to go home and tell his brass about us. It was the meal more than anything else. It was genuinely the best meal he has ever had in his life. I don’t think he would attack any of us. He is scared shitless of Lewis and me.’

‘That’s because of your abnormal strength Charlie.’ Howe interrupted. ‘He must believe we are all as strong and Lewis, being bigger, is much stronger.’

‘That’s exactly it.’

Howe turned back to Steven, ‘But what is on your mind sir? There has to be a reason behind this.’

Steven mulled it over, ‘While we were at the palace, it became apparent that there was more than one train of thought regarding the meat eating races on this side of the great barrier. Those that have survived, like the Ortea, are a complete pain in the backside to the federation. Since our arrival there is a new train of thought. As you have heard, the Ortea eat their captives. All knew that. What no one seems to know is that the captives aren’t slaughtered on the spot. According to our captive, they are enslaved and put into breeding pairs, in much the way we treat domestic livestock at home.’

‘They are eating the children,’ Komoru interjected.

‘Basically,’ Steven agreed.

‘That is so barbaric.’

‘You think genocide isn’t?’ Charlie asked.

Komoru’s mouth dropped open, ‘That’s not what I meant Charlie, but what are they feeding these people?’

‘Seaweed. I picked it up out of his mind as he was talking.’

‘Of course, they have underground seas.’

‘They don’t like the taste, but it is more nutritious than grass. Seemingly they thrive on it.’

‘Now that is interesting.’

‘That is interesting,’ Steven agreed. ‘We are however getting off topic. Some of the races want us to provide ground troops to wipe them out. The other races are too frightened. Colonel, what are your thoughts on that?’

‘I would say that is an option that we have to put off until we are at least full members of the federation. We certainly didn’t know about vast underground cities and underground network links through the entire planet. Charlie, did you pick up anything else out of his mind about these cities?’

‘I was able to pluck few pictures from his mind. I think old images of what they were once like and what they are like now. He has certainly visited some of them. They were once very grand. On some levels, they are certainly more advanced than we are, or were at our first contact. There are a few that are still amazing, but many are little more than ruins now. I think they are really struggling to keep it all together. Population wise, I think we are talking about population in the billions still, but that’s spread across three solar systems, and their slaves. The cities are now very deep underground. Thermal energy powers them. They also have some kind of shielding to prevent surface ships detecting them.’

Howe nodded, ‘Logistically, strategically, it would be a nightmare sir. Do you think poison would work Charlie?’

Charlie shook his head, ‘Not a chance. It was the first thing used against their people and is their first line of defence, I read that much out of his mind. I also caught snippets of their other defences. There is now no main entrance to any of their cities. They have all been blocked off and access is by secret tunnels that only a few know about. The image I got was that they link to sidelines, that link to minor stations through which you can then gain access to mainstream stations. It is all protected by codes. You need to know the code to start the engine and the code for the station you are going to, which is a security station that checks your identity when you get there. The tunnels are also lined with explosives. Personally, I think you would have to locate a city and then bore a hole hundreds of feet straight down to gain access.’

Howe was shaking his head, ‘It isn’t any wonder these people haven’t been wiped out. They must have a lot of slaves though. How have they been able to capture so many people?’

‘I can answer that question Colonel.’ Babes interrupted. ‘When the first terra-formers landed on the surface of their planet, there were thousands of them. Technology wasn’t as advanced then as it is today. It is said by the few survivors that the Ortea were somehow able to get between them and their ships and capture thousands. Since then the Ortea have been able to capture many thousands of galactic citizens. They are what you would call modern day space pirates, but instead of loot they abduct people.’

‘I think it is an impossible task sir,’ Howe concluded.

‘There is another option, one that is beginning to take form as we speak. There is word going around the leadership of the galactic federation that it may be possible for Humanity to restock the livestock of some of these races like the Ortea, and gain some form of peace.’

‘You mean meat eating races that have been tenacious, and refuse to die out sir?’

‘Pretty much Colonel. The argument against is that if we do that, then they could become even stronger and begin to lash out at those races that have hurt them in the past.’

Komoru’s worries were a little different. ‘I think the major problem we face at the moment is that, if we submit a report on this first contact like we should do, as the articles declare we should do, then we risk compromising this mission.’

‘That’s a good point,’ Steven agreed.

‘Who is going to tell them?’ Charlie asked. ‘Do you think the Ortea are going to call up the federation and tell them about this? The chances are, if the Ortea get in touch with the federation asking for a Goodwill Ambassador from Humanity to visit; the federation will think it’s because they have heard of a meat eating race joining the federation. I doubt if the Ortea would give away anything else.’

Komoru and Steven exchanged looks and thoughts. ‘I probably agree with you on principle Charlie, but we will never really know.’ Komoru summarised for them both.

‘You were the ones who rolled the dice. Either have the courage to go with it and see where they fall, or toss him out an airlock. Either way don’t prolong it. He is sitting down there right now terrified he is going to die any second.’

Steven took a deep breath. ‘Let’s do it Komoru, let’s meet him.’

She reached out and squeezed his hand. ‘Is there anything else that creature is thinking that we should know Charlie?’

Charlie thought it over before speaking. ‘Hope. Hope for his people, and hope for his children.’

Chapter 19

Morval handed his knife over to the black-skinned giant without argument.

He had appeared in full uniform. ‘You going to see the Ambassadors now. I need to take you weapon.’

The giant had tucked it inside his tunic out of reach. The door had been opened and Morval followed the Human through a few corridors to another room.

He felt a great sense of relief when he saw the white-robed Ambassadors and their guard standing beside them. He looked around for Charlie, but there was no sign of him.

Steven spoke first. ‘Morval is it?’

Morval decided to observe as much protocol as he knew and swept down onto one knee and bowed his head. He slammed a fist into his chest. ‘Yes Ambassador.’

‘Please stand up Morval. Come over here and take a seat.’

‘It is improper sir.’

‘This an informal meeting Morval. Can you guess why?’

Morval rose to his feet and stood behind the chair. It was something he had given much thought to. ‘Because you aren’t supposed to be here.’

‘That’s right, this is a secret mission.’

‘So rescuing me has compromised that?’

‘Of course it has.’

‘Then why not just kill me?’

‘It is an option, but one we are not considering at the moment. Please sit.’

Morval sat down.

‘Please tell me a little about yourself.’

‘I am, I was the second mate on the freighter that was destroyed. We were running guns to other meat eating races.’

Steven held up his hand, ‘I know all that, tell me about yourself.’

Morval blinked in surprise. ‘Well, I was born to a litter of eight. I am the last survivor of that litter. I also have a mate and we had our first litter last year. Six: four boys, two girls. Because of food shortages, we will only be allowed one more litter in our lifetime. I am a soldier and my mate was also a soldier. Of course, she is at home now looking after the children. They are quite a handful.’ He couldn’t help the smile that crossed his face, although it looked more like a snarl to the Humans.

‘I wasn’t born on our home planet, but I have visited it many times. My parents were also soldiers; they have both passed now. They had a good run before they were caught by an Albany battle group and eradicated. When I was young I got quite good grades. I was earmarked for the military. I was made a junior officer and worked my way up through the service, until I reached the rank of second in command. That is pretty much all there is to know about my life.’

‘I am sorry to hear about your parents. Were your siblings in the army too?’

‘Everyone is in the army Ambassador, no matter what you do. We are fighting for our very right to exist. We are involved in a racial war. In fact, this is the first time I have met an alien species that hasn’t tried to kill me. Very unusual.’

‘How did you manage to survive?’

‘Luck, more than anything else. As soon as the battle fleet appeared our Captain realised we had no hope of outrunning them. He directed all energy to the shields and ordered us to abandon ship. Most of us made it to the escape pods. I saw my men on board. When they hit the engines, I jumped in and launched. As soon as the ship was destroyed I turned back and concealed my pod within the debris. I waited a full day before activating my distress beacon. Advice my father once gave me. This is the second time I have had a ship shot out from under me. Worked the first time too.’

‘Good advice.’

‘Is this the female of your species?’ He indicated Komoru.

‘Yes, this is my mate Komoru, she is also a Goodwill Ambassador.’

Morval bobbed his head. ‘A pleasure to meet you lady.’

‘Likewise Morval. Don’t worry, we will see you safely back to your family.’

‘Can you tell me a little about your planets?’

‘We only have one.’ Komoru smiled. ‘We have prepared a little demonstration for you. If you look to your left.’

It was the standard ten-minute video that all got to see. Morval was enthralled. When it was finished, he turned back to face them.

‘What a beautiful planet, I have seen no others like it. It is no wonder the grass eaters covet it. Be very wary of them. Do not trust them, ever. At least until you are a full member of the federation.’

‘I can assure you that we don’t trust them.’

‘Then you are wise. They must be very frightened of your people to allow you so much as a step in the door. Is your technology so much more advanced than theirs?’

‘No it isn’t. In fact, like you, it is captured and borrowed technology that keeps us safe, that and our sun.’

‘Then it must be your fighting ability.’

‘We use tactics that have smashed great fleets of invaders, we are also used to fighting on the ground.’

Morval immediately saw the threat. ‘Are they going to use your people against ours?’

‘We won’t allow that to happen. Neither can they force us, not until we are full members. It has been suggested though. Our military experts however believe it would be an impossible task.’

‘I can assure you, it would be very costly. All our people are taught how to fight, Ambassador.’

‘I do not doubt you Morval. I fear my people would have suffered the same fate, even worse, as we do not have cities underground.’

‘Your people would have been wiped out Ambassador. I have seen it with my own eyes. Towns, cities of the dead, nothing left but bones.’

‘I thought they terraformed a planet after they wiped it out?’

‘In those areas of the planet that will support grass, they flatten everything. Pound it to dust, cover with fresh soil and plant grass. The areas of a planet that are less habitable and won’t support the grass they wish to grow, they leave alone. It is those places I have seen.’

‘You mean in places where it isn’t economically viable to terraform.’

‘That’s exactly what I mean Ambassador. Your allies are evil, and your people are joining a federation of death and destruction.’

‘We are becoming more aware of what our allies are capable of as time goes by Morval, yet we have little choice it seems. Our sun protects us at the moment, but they would eventually find a way to destroy us. If we are a member of the federation, then we will become free from attack on our home world. In the meantime, we are beginning to change how the federation looks upon meat eaters. We are at this moment little more than a curiosity, however mankind has unlimited resources at its disposal. We also have the will and the determination to become a major player within this federation.’

‘Maybe there is a small ray of hope for all meat eaters.’

‘There could be Morval, but not while you are eating federation citizens.’

‘We have no choice Ambassador. Could your people provide us with livestock that can survive on our planet?

‘We have domestic animals that can survive in harsh and hot climates, but no way of getting them to you without some form of official treaty. Any attempt to deal with your race would be seen as hostile on our part, with the consequences to go with it. Besides, as far as anyone in the federation is concerned, our two peoples have never met yet.’

‘Of course, you are on a secret mission. Still, we are not a stupid race Ambassador. I am sure our top brass would be able to think of some official way of contacting your people.’

‘You also have a great bargaining chip: thousands of federation citizens enslaved on your planet.

‘I can see exactly where you are coming from Ambassador.’

Steven smiled. ‘We are going to use the rest of this week to see what Human foods you can eat.’

‘Now that is a condition of captivity that I can live with Ambassador.’

Steven wondered if he had done the right thing. They had slunk into Ortea space and beamed out the life pod. True to his word Morval hadn’t activated the space beacon until an hour after they had dropped him off. Steven hung on the edge of range of the beacon and waited. Ten hours later it was deactivated. Side by side the two ships headed for safe territory.

Chapter 20

‘Morval you ugly prick, how can you still be alive? I heard the Catataracs blew the shit out of your ship; killed the lot of you. Hell, I got as pissed as a fart at your wake.’

‘Of all the arseholes in all of the star systems in this galaxy, I had to be rescued by you.’

A hand was offered and grasped. Morval grinned, ‘How the hell are you cousin?’

‘Not as good as you obviously. Shit man, you look like you put on weight. How the hell did you get here?’

‘It’s a long story cousin.’ Morval dipped into the escape pod and came up with a plastic bag. He tore it open. ‘Have you ever eaten beef jerky, Trlune?’

‘What?’

Morval shoved a piece in his cousin’s mouth. A few chews later his cousin’s legs almost gave way. ‘Oh wow! Where the hell did you get this?’

‘Would you believe that a race of meat eaters have joined the federation?’

‘Nope.’

‘Well you need to think again cousin. I need to get in touch with the brass and fast.’

‘Being rescued light years from where you were supposed to be killed is going to get you all the attention you need Morval. Any more of that?’

‘Yup, unfortunately I’m going to have to save it for the brass as proof of what I have to tell them. I’ll give you another piece if you let the family know I am all right.’

Morval tossed the pack of jerked beef onto the table. He had lost count of the number of interviews he had been subjected to, but this was the big one. Before him sat the three people responsible for the three solar systems, their great leaders. The three opened the pack and sniffed the contents.

‘Are you sure this is safe to eat Commander Morval Oralia?’

‘Yes sir, perfectly. It was a gift from a Human called Lewis.’

They each took a piece. Morval had a good idea of what was going to happen next. Sure enough, they were soon grabbing for pieces like they were young pups again. He had met his own leader before, but not the other two. His leader was the youngest, the other two were much older and had grey around their muzzles.

The three finished munching with very embarrassed looks on their faces.

‘That was very unexpected, and delicious,’ the supreme leader admitted. Soon all three were laughing. He had to wave his hand to calm them down before turning his attention back to Morval.

‘Your leader speaks very highly of you Morval. I know you two are acquainted and he trusts you with his life. So we three have decided to trust in your words and know you will be telling the truth. Tell me what the Humans were up to in Catatarac space.’

‘I have no idea sir, they would not tell me. It was a secret mission of some sort.’

‘You don’t think it was a plant of some kind?’

‘No sir. For a while I genuinely thought they were going to toss me out an airlock.’

‘The thing is, we have known about this race of meat eaters for quite a while now.’

‘Is it true that they are on probation with the federation?’

‘It is true. We have gained quite a bit of information on them from captured vessels in the past year. The Catataracs were involved in a plot to wipe out the Human’s home world with asteroids.’

‘So they weren’t lying.’

‘No Commander, I don’t think so. What are they like?’

‘A lot like us really. The major difference is their strength.’ He turned to his own Commander, ‘Do you remember that old knife I bought sir?’

‘I do, it was a nice knife.’

‘My interrogator snapped it into four pieces with his bare hands. It was an obvious show of strength to subdue me and it worked.’ He reached behind and tossed the knife Charlie had given him on to the table. ‘So as not to insult me, he replaced it with this.’

His Commander took it from its sheath and inspected it. ‘This is a beautiful knife, so well balanced. He replaced it with one of higher value.’ He passed it on. ‘Then they truly are a warrior race.’

‘I believe so. Their females also fight.’

‘That is encouraging, the grass eaters won’t like that much.’

‘I don’t suppose they will.’

The Supreme Commander returned the knife and addressed Morval personally again.

‘Truly a remarkable weapon. Why do you think those Humans rescued you?’

‘Curiosity. It was mentioned that the federation were considering using them as ground based troops to fight us.’

‘So they were trying to gauge the quality of our fighting men.’

‘I believe so sir.’

‘Did they come to any conclusions in your company?’

‘Yes sir, the Ambassador told me that his senior military commanders considered it a near impossible task. He said his people would also refuse to do it.’

‘They could be ordered to once they gain federation status,’ Morval’s Commander interrupted.

‘No, they are one planet; their contribution will be minimal. They couldn’t be commanded to field enough foot soldiers to be a threat to us. It would take a combined force from the whole federation to even be a threat. If the Humans were in charge and trained them properly then that would be a serious threat, and very damaging. One of the ships we captured a few months ago had details of the Humans’ attack on a city ship built by the Albany, and some details of the battles fought.’

He took out a note pad and showed a couple of pictures to Morval. ‘Are these the Ambassadors you met commander?’

Morval looked closely, ‘That’s the ones Commander.’

‘A Steven Gordon and his mate Komoru. They came into possession of two builder ships that we had chased across the great barrier. Were you blinded at all during your captivity?’

‘No sir, it looked like an old war ship.’

‘They must have disguised who they were then. They were obviously skulking behind enemy lines and got in and out of our defensive perimeter without being detected; it has to be builder technology. These two are very high on the Albany hit list. Because of these two the Human race survived. They used builder technology to build a fleet of ships that slaughtered the Albany invasion force. Did you notice any metal plates on their hands and face?’

Morval thought it over, ‘Yes sir, they both had metal plates on their hands and one behind their left ear.’

‘Builder ships. What about the physical capabilities of these Humans, did you challenge them?’

‘I attacked the moment that I blew the life pod lid. I was tossed about like a rubber ball. I have never seen a race that could move faster than we can before. I was interrogated by a soldier, a Captain in the Ambassador’s personal guard who barely came up to my breast bone, yet must have been three times stronger than me. He snapped my knife blade into four parts as though it were a dry twig.’

‘Yes you mentioned that before. What about the rest of the crew?’

‘Most I saw were bigger than my interrogator. The one who gave me the food you ate was almost as tall as I am, his physical presence is astounding. I took a picture of the two of them without them realising it. My interrogator and Lewis.’

Morval took out a small device and projected the picture onto the wall behind him. He made some adjustments and stood beside the two figures.

‘This is a life size representation sir.’

His three leaders were lost for words for a moment or two. The Supreme Commander found his voice first.

‘Did you say the small one was three times stronger than you?’

‘Yes sir.’

‘Not the giant?’

‘No sir, I never even tried to challenge him.’

‘No wonder the Albany got their arses kicked.’

There were mumbles of agreement.

‘Did you try and make friends with these Humans?’

‘Damn right I did sir, I didn’t want to get kicked out an air lock, besides the food was freaking awesome. The Humans tried out all kinds of their food on me. Meat, bread, soups, all of it. I honestly didn’t want to come home. There was some of their food I didn’t like. They called them greens. They came up as a negative on my food tester, but non-poisonous. I couldn’t eat them anyway, made me gag. There were other foods they called pulses. They must have been like the staple food of old. They used them in soups and dishes like that. I found them very nutritious, delicious in fact. The meats, the gravies, were out of this world. I didn’t want to leave.’

‘You certainly look fit and healthy after your captivity.’ He turned to his companions. ‘Any more questions for the commander?’ They shook their heads. ‘Then that will be all for now. Oh! One final question. Were you actually able to make friends with the Humans?’

‘I believe so sir. I wouldn’t want to eat one of them anyway.’

‘That will be all, thank you.’

Morval left and the three leaders discussed the revelations.

‘What do you think they are up to, these Humans?’ Morval’s immediate superior eventually asked the Supreme Commander.

He thought about it long and hard. ‘Imagine you are a meat eating race that has just joined the federation. There must be a lot of bias, especially in areas where there are meat eating races like us. We have been fighting the grass eaters for almost two thousand years. We raid their supply lines, fight them at every opportunity, capture their people and breed them like livestock. I have read the Commander’s report a dozen times. I think they want to form a bridge between our race and the rest of the federation. It would be a huge feather in their cap if they could bring an end to a two-thousand-year war. The Humans stated that they have animals that can survive in the extremes of our home climate, which means they most likely have the crops that will grow as well.

‘I think we should test the waters, ask for a Goodwill Ambassador visit.’

‘They won’t send one. We ate the last half dozen they sent,’ interrupted the third Commander.

‘They will if we request the Human Goodwill Ambassador. Besides, we have never requested one before.’

‘Good point.’ He conceded.

‘I doubt if they would care much if they lost a meat eating Goodwill Ambassador anyway.’

‘That is another good point, but what the hell do we have that could persuade the federation to even talk to us? The point of their peace negotiations before were to simply gain information to help eradicate us.’

‘That is also true, but read the part where the Goodwill Ambassador states that they were unaware that we enslaved many of our captives. The federation does not capture our people and interrogate them, or if they do, it is to gain tactical information, not domestic. Do you have any high value captives? I have at least a dozen of noble lineage over three different races in the capital, and that’s just the ones I can think of off the top of my head.’

‘I have at least two,’ Morval’s superior admitted. ‘They work cutting sea weed.’

‘I have a few too.’ Admitted the third.

‘Then we have a starting point. We could ask for domestic livestock from the Humans to replace our slaves. Seeds for some of these pulses. Bread! I have never tasted bread.’

‘But no one knows how to make it?’ Morval’s superior smiled.

The Supreme Commander smiled back, ‘That is true. Still, we are a long way from making bread; even planting out crops. We will also have to word our invitation very carefully. We must not let it be known that our people and the Humans have already made contact. We wouldn’t like to tip the Catataracs hand to the fact that an enemy has been skulking behind their lines. According to one of the reports, the Catataracs were involved in firing asteroids at the Human’s home planets. The Humans destroyed a large mining base and an Albany fleet that were protecting their assets. For some reason they never fired on a Catatarac fleet that was doing exactly the same thing. According to the Commander, they were caught not very far from the asteroid field. Which leads me to believe that the Humans were doing something in the vicinity of the asteroids. Maybe they were on a scouting mission, to see if any more asteroids were being prepared to be fired at their home world. However, my gut tells me that isn’t a job for an Ambassador.’

‘They are the only ones with builder technology. They can make themselves invisible.’ Morval’s superior pointed out.

‘Maybe so, but still, it’s more a job for a scouting group, not two lone ships. I want to send a scouting group out to that asteroid field to see if we can discover what the Humans were up to. Do I have your support?’

They all agreed. The Supreme Commander ended the meeting but stayed behind. He was old now and had fought in many battles, but for the first time in his life he felt hope for his people.

Chapter 21

The President sat at his desk reading through a report on their latest escapades. Steven sat across from him, a tight feeling in his gut. Eventually the President put the report down.

‘You have had quite a little adventure Steven.’

‘It didn’t seem much like an adventure at the time sir.’

‘I want to congratulate you on the job you did in Catataracs space. Well done for that. Then you compromised the mission by rescuing an enemy of the federation. I want you to know that a few days ago, I received a request from the federation. They in turn had a request from the Ortea race asking for a Goodwill Ambassador from the Human race to be sent to their planet. Don’t worry, they did not compromise you.

‘In brief, the Ortea claimed to have captured a ship that held a lot of up-to-date information. This included quite extensive reports on a race of meat-eaters who had joined the federation. They state that they are curious. The federation has sent many Ambassadors to the Ortea only to have them eaten. Now, however, they believe that with the inclusion of a meat eating race within the federation, it may be time to start real negotiations. They would accept a Goodwill Ambassadorial visit, but only if it was from the meat eating races. There will be a debate this week, and I am invited. Obviously, this will mean you and your good lady attending a meeting with a race that no one has anything good to say about, and are considered the most dangerous of all races.’

‘I will be able to handle it sir. If the rest of them are anything like our captive, we should get along quite well.’

‘Or maybe they are just curious to see what you taste like.’

‘I don’t think they are eating all these different species out of ill-will sir. They simply have no other choice.’

‘There was a very interesting part of the communication that hasn’t been made public yet. The federation were under the impression that they were simply killing and eating their captives. It seems they have enslaved many of them and are breeding them like domestic stock. The federation is livid. My first impression is that they want to launch a massive attack on the Ortea, but wiser heads are beginning to voice reason. As yet, they have no idea how many of their people are being held captive; but they all want one thing, they want their people out of there.’

‘Our captive let slip that there are millions of them, almost as many captives as there are Ortea.’

‘In that case an assault would cost as many lives of the innocent. The trouble is, we can’t disclose that information. It will be one of your tasks once you are deployed. The other thing is that the burden of supplying domestic livestock for federation citizens will fall to us. What do we swap them for?

‘It has to be camels and goats sir. Wild pigs maybe. Once negotiations start, we will have to send in scientists to discover what will grow.’

‘At least you are thinking about it. Now I have a final matter to discuss with you. What the hell happened at the federation training post? For god’s sake, I have officials breathing down my neck looking for scalps.’

Steven took a deep breath and dipped into his briefcase. ‘The simple answer is that you have to start screaming for scalps yourself sir. The people from the training establishment were well out of order. They boarded a non-federation ship, with arms, and tried to arrest its Captain. By their own laws, it does not come under the same federation laws.’

‘Stop! Give me a quick rundown of what the hell happened first.’

Steven took another deep breath. ‘We arrived at the federation training post about two weeks ago. The Sir William Wallace was there at the request of the federation. It has not been seconded to the federation, therefore it does not come under its command.’

‘I know that much, what happened next Steven?’

‘The Captain of the Sir William Wallace was the one who rescued Charlie Murison after he destroyed the asteroid that was flung at Earth.’

‘I see; yes I remember that. Go on.’

‘It would seem that our Charlie made quite an impression on the Captain and vice versa.’

‘She is all woman, I have met her. That cannon she wears at her hip is almost as impressive as she is.’

‘That was a gift from Charlie for saving his life. Also for taking the time to talk to him while he was blind and incapacitated on board her ship.’

‘Now I am beginning to get the picture. Was Charlie aware of who she was?’

‘Charlie was already a very big fan of hers. He knew exactly who she was. She was very curious to see what he looked like in real life. When Charlie was on board her ship, he was coated in a metal skin. He looked more like a robot. They met once more, briefly, on board my ship. Nothing happened there, I reviewed the meeting between the two; Charlie even told her that she wasn’t his type. They seemed to have formed some sort of bond though. Call it friendship if you will sir.

‘Anyway, when we arrived at the federation training post, she came aboard to see us and when she discovered Charlie had been promoted to the rank of Captain, she invited him over for dinner. At that time she also informed us of the problems she had been having with the federation training staff. The key problem was an Albany Colonel, who lost his father in the invasion of our solar system. He has been a royal pain in the arse to all, and particularly hates females in uniform.

‘Now, because of that Charlie did some research on rules and regulations. He discovered that the Sir William Wallace did not come under their jurisdiction. However, to be on the safe side, he downloaded federation protocol on the fraternisation between male and female military personnel. You have to understand that female military personnel are extremely rare, and there are none serving in the federation other than those serving with the Human fleet.’

‘So what you are saying is that these rules are very old?’

‘Yes sir, that’s exactly what I was saying. Charlie followed those rules to the letter of the law. This involved having someone senior as a chaperone present. They chose lady Mya, as she is a member of the Modloch Royal household. She in turn was escorted by Cookie as a guard.’

‘So if all protocols were observed, what went wrong?’

‘They have to post their intentions to have dinner on some bulletin board. The Albany Commander saw it and basically went off his head. He stormed on board the Sir William Wallace with an armed guard, then burst into the Captain’s cabin, where she was having dinner. Charlie bent a few weapons, kicked the Colonel. Cookie burst in on the scene and knocked another of them out. The ship’s guard arrived and arrested the lot of them. They are at the moment being held for armed assault on board the Sir William Wallace.’

‘I suppose this Colonel assumed that they wouldn’t know about the protocols and stormed aboard to arrest the Captain.’

‘Yes sir, even though he had no jurisdiction to do so.’

‘Of course, because the Sir William Wallace isn’t a part of the federation fleet.’

‘The Sir William Wallace and the crew are guests of the federation, which makes it even more inappropriate. They are supposed to be protected by the federation.’

‘So why am I being hit with a shit storm?’

‘Because they don’t like us, they consider us third class citizens of the federation, they don’t like to be beaten at their own game, Captain Wilson is a woman. Take your pick.’

The President took the folder and opened it. ‘Okay, I see these are all the rules and regulations.’ He flicked through it. ‘All the evidence I require as well. I will kick a few arses with these. Where is Captain Murison?’

‘He stayed with the Sir William Wallace to back up Captain Wilson, so did Mya and my chef.’

‘Cookie! He will be sorely missed.’

Steven smiled, ‘He is, but long gone are the days when he used to do it himself. He has enough staff to cover for him these days.’

‘So what is the latest from the Sir William Wallace?’

‘They are weathering the storm. At the moment the station has cut all amenities and ordered all Human ships to break all contact with the Sir William Wallace. If they leave, then the federation can justify taking action against them, but not while they are still tied up. They have plenty food and water and are running on internal power. They still have the prisoners on board.’

‘Were they provisioned before they were cut off?’

‘Yes Mr President. Captain Wilson caught which way the wind was blowing very early on and ordered the Lexx to re-provision them immediately. I believe she stocked up for a long haul.’

‘I hear Lady Mya appealed to the Modloch Emperor for help.’

‘I believe that she sent a letter to General Rannalld, the Commander of the Emperor’s army. I haven’t heard anything else since.’

‘I received a request from the Emperor’s men for information. I will have this forwarded immediately. Do you think the Emperor will respond?’

‘I have no idea sir.’

The Earth’s President contemplated it for a moment. ‘We will just have to wait and see.’

‘Is there anything else sir?’

‘No Steven, but don’t go very far. I have a feeling the shit is about to hit the fan. If this meeting about the Ortea goes well, you will be required for an immediate briefing and deployment. I want to strike while the iron is still hot on this. A fast resolution to this conflict will be a huge bonus to us. I will send for a fast freighter to bring a heard of camels and goats. A few hundred of each to start with.’

‘I can help with the freighter sir, but not the rest.’

‘That’s okay Steven, I know quite a few Arabs. Did you hear that the station on the other side of the barrier is almost complete?’

‘No I didn’t sir, they are well ahead of schedule.’

‘They are, those fast freights you introduced have certainly helped speed things up. Are they a lot faster than the ones they have here?’

‘We designed them around a battleship sir, so yes, much faster. The problem is they don’t really conform to what is specified here. They could dock at any orbital space station, but they aren’t designed to land on a planet’s space ports, which galactic regulations require them to be able to do.’

‘Are they illegal?’

‘No, many races have their own freighters. However, once they join the federation, space ports have to be built to a specific design.’

‘I get it, and the only freighters that will fit are the federation ones. So someone somewhere has a monopoly.’

‘It is a conglomerate sir, a very rich one.’

‘I bet it is. Alright, relax for now, but keep yourselves ready to move at any moment.’

‘Yes Mr President.’

Steven was dismissed.

Chapter 22

‘Mr Michael Montgomery, the President and representative of Earth.’

The President got up from his seat and walked to the podium. He had plenty time to take in the splendour of the assembly. Some of the aliens were a bit hard to take, and there were far more here than he had already met. He realised that this was indeed the big league.

The introduction was simple ‘Members of the Federation. Thank you for the invitation here today. It is unusual for a representative of a planet that has just began their journey to become a full member of the federation, to be invited before you. I realise however that the circumstances in which I address you are not the circumstances in which I would like to address you.

‘Four weeks ago, armed intruders from the federation defence force assaulted one of our training vessels, which was a guest of the federation at the time, and tried to arrest its Captain. The charges were fraternisation with a junior rank of the opposite sex.

‘The Sir William Wallace is not a federation vessel, and does not come under your jurisdiction. The armed intruders were subdued and arrested. They remain incarcerated, and will remain so until the Sir William Wallace reaches Earth, where they will be tried for their crimes.’

There was a roar of disapproval. The President had read the rules well and held up his left hand. The noise subsided.

‘Yesterday a combined fleet of Human and Modloch ships arrived at the training facility to escort the Sir William Wallace to the great barrier. That fleet consists of no less than two thousand ships. We know the nearest federation fleet is almost two days away, yet the training station refuses to release the Sir William Wallace.

‘We are there to extract the Sir William Wallace and escort it to the great barrier; the Modloch fleet is there to extract the Lady Mya, one of the royal household. If you do not release the Sir William Wallace within six hours we will incapacitate the training station and eradicate any forces opposing us. This is a signed declaration of intent from both myself and the Emperor of the great Modloch Empire.’

The board in front of the President lit up like a Christmas tree. He picked one light and pressed it. A robed figure stood.

‘Mr President, I am the representative of the Trolon Race. Do you expect to get away with defying the federation? There are rules and regulations defining the proper conduct of all ranks.’

‘None of the people involved were part of the federation.’

‘Still, do you not think as a guest of the federation, some respect should have been shown?’

‘All parties involved, as a matter of consideration to the federation, obeyed to the letter of the law, all rules and regulations regarding such a meeting. Did you not read the material you were presented with at the beginning of this session?’

The representative sat down. Many of the lights went out. He pressed another light and another representative stood up. The President recognised an Albany.

‘Mr President, I am Ts´ Le´ Tut, representative of the Albany people. You must realise of course that this problem has arisen because of the abhorrent way in which Humanity exploits its females and expects them to fight.’

‘It wasn’t all that long ago that females from your own race picked up weapons and fought the men and women from my race on board the city ship you sent to invade our planet.’ His eyes swivelled to the Master of the House. ‘May I be indulged, Master of the House?’

He lifted a hand and the President continued. ‘This is a battle report from a senior Commander on the ground during the battle for the city ship.’

The President flicked through his tablet. ‘Our advance has been delayed for a short while by groups of Albany females, who fight with a determination and tenacity which has so far been lacking in many of their troops. There is just no give in these females. We have tried talking to them, asking them to surrender. We have offered them food for their children and themselves, and a comfortable environment to spend their last days. They have steadfastly refused. After a number of determined charges, the women have now set up a defensive perimeter and continue to take a heavy toll on my troops. I fear we will have to eradicate them entirely before we can move forward.’

The President looked up from the pad. ‘They held up our advance in that sector by six hours and won the respect of the men and women that they fought. In his last report of the day the Commander praised their courage and determination. I know that when the battle was over, he and his men returned to the scene of the battle and themselves took care of the remains of the fallen.

‘On our planet, the females of our species are protected by a number of civil acts, including the right to equality. In our society, if a woman is up to the job, then she must be considered for it. The woman you question is Captain Jean Wilson. She is a highly-decorated member of the Earth Defence Force. An ace fighter pilot, she downed three enemy fighters in a single combat. She was also awarded decorations when she took the Sir William Wallace into combat against the Albany fleet. It was because of her actions and that of her crew that they were chosen to become a training vessel. The Sir William Wallace has the distinction of producing the finest fighting men and women of all the training vessels. Captain Jean Wilson has the respect and trust of the whole fleet. Don’t even suggest removing her.’

The Albany sat down and even more lights went out. It left only a half dozen.

He chose another one. A shorter figure than most present stood. ‘I am Queen Wiola Maleck of the Gishia race. I have to admire the way you Humans treat your females as equals, and indeed I would wish one day to meet this female Captain in person. However, are you and the Modloch Emperor seriously considering going to war with the whole federation over this single matter?

‘If that’s what it takes to resolve this issue, your Majesty. We did not make the rules, nor did we break them. It was the great federation that made them, and federation personnel that broke them.’

‘You know that taking the prisoners to Earth will be as good as a death sentence.’

‘The federation was given an opportunity to deal with this in house. They decided instead to try and punish us. We will not tolerate it. Neither will we tolerate the bullying that is happening here. We will happily stand at the side of the Modloch Emperor against all of you. If the federation wishes to avoid a conflict, then it should learn to follow its own damn rules.’

She sat down and all of the lights went out but one. The President pushed it. A figure he recognised immediately stood up.

‘Do you know who I am Mr President?’

‘Emperor Ne´ Langus, leader of the federation’s armed forces.’

‘Do you know why you are here today?’

‘Because troops under your command overstepped their boundaries and you don’t have the balls to reel them in.’

The Emperor howled with laughter as the whole room trembled. ‘I am the leader of the most powerful force ever created in the history of the galaxy, and yet you talk to me in this manner. If the translation of the word balls is correct, then you must have a very large pair Mr President.’

The whole assembly burst out laughing. ‘No Mr President, you are here because I devised this whole thing. It wasn’t the Albany Colonel who ordered the storming of the Sir William Wallace and the arrest of its Captain. It was me. You see, to become a full member of the federation, it isn’t just the men who serve under you who are tested, but also the people in command. I have to say you have passed the test with flying colours. A Human saying I believe.

‘The Albany Colonel in question did not lose his father in the war with your people. His grandfather came to my planet as a political refugee many years ago, and their family has served mine ever since. The Colonel is in fact a great personal friend of mine and I would appreciate his return intact. I ordered him to tell your people that to put them under pressure, to see how they would react to him. Your trial as a race has not only begun Mr President, it is well underway. So far, your people and yourself have exceeded expectations. Congratulations. I believe it is customary for Humans to clap hands in situations like this.’

He began to clap and within a few seconds the whole assembly followed suit. The President felt a great relief wash over him. He looked over at the Modloch representative who was howling with laughter and clapping at the same time.

Emperor Ne´ Langus lifted a hand and the assembly quietened. ‘Mr Montgomery, all amenities will be restored to the Sir William Wallace presently. Please convey that to your people as soon as possible. Withdraw your fleet with the Modloch fleet if you please. I am heading over there very soon and will apologise to Captain Wilson personally for the trial I put her through. You will receive the first evaluation report on your people in the next week or so. I know there has been some difficulties integrating your forces into ours, however these difficulties are being addressed. You and your people are doing well Mr Montgomery. I look forward to seeing what you and your people achieve with the Ortea.’

He inclined his head and the whole assembly stood as he took his leave.

Chapter 23

It had been a hectic few weeks by the time they picked up Cookie, Mya and Charlie. They undocked from the Sir William Wallace and headed towards the Ortea home world. Steven interviewed Cookie and Mya first. They found the time they had spent there quite stressful. Mya blamed herself for getting the Modloch involved, but was furious when she discovered it was a test of Human resolve.

When Charlie came in for his interview Steven asked him to sit.

‘When did you know Charlie?’

‘I found out about a second before I snapped the Albany’s neck.’

Steven shook his head, ‘Why didn’t you say anything?’

‘What good would it have done?’

‘A lot of good. I could have informed the President.’

‘What would you have told him Stevie? “Don’t worry about it, it’s just a game, one of my men can read minds”? You did your bit; the President did his bit. Everyone played their part and it turned out fine. Using my abilities in a life and death situation is one thing Stevie. Using them to get the better of a game aimed at people way above my station in life is another thing. This is one game you won’t win anything by cheating in.’

Steven shook his head. ‘So how did things go with Captain Wilson?’

‘They didn’t. After the incident, she deemed it wise to stay as far apart as possible from each other. I was put in a room with Cookie. Mya was put up in the women’s block. I only saw her a couple of times after that. The crew blamed me for the whole damn thing, so I took great pleasure in beasting the shit out of them.’

‘You were put to training were you?’

‘Cookie and me both. She was as mad as hell when she found out it was a put-up job though.’

‘I bet she was. Anyway, I need you to get on the computer and try to find out as much as you can about these Ortea. We have a meeting a week from today and I want to know as much about them as possible.’

Charlie stood, ‘I’ll get right on it.’

Jeb was the only one in the office, as they had nicknamed it, when Charlie arrived.

‘Hey Jeb, how’s it hanging?’

‘Hey Charlie, glad to have you back. How did it go?’

‘It didn’t. Still, I got a few weeks busting the asses of green recruits.’

Jeb yawned, ‘Hell, at least you had some fun.’

‘How are things between you and Lady Jane?’

Jeb grinned, ‘She is still busting my balls because you invited me onto the team. We got a new member on the team though.’

‘Who?’

‘Some Jap chick sent from Komoru. She knows something about algorithms. Does that mean anything to you?’

‘Not a thing.’

Jeb shrugged, ‘Me neither.’

They didn’t have long to wait until Lady Jane appeared with the new arrival. By then the two old soldiers were drinking coffee with their feet up on the nearest table.

She saw them and sighed loudly. ‘Really gentlemen. That is very uncouth, as well as rude.’

‘What is?’ Jeb asked.

‘Tables are not for feet.’

‘Ain’t it just like a woman Charlie; can’t see a man get comfy at all. Always got some acid spit sitting on their tongue, ready to disrupt a man’s peace.’

‘Don’t know what she’s busting my chops for Jeb, it’s you two who are damn near a married couple.’

They both shot Charlie a disapproving look. ‘Will you or will I, Sergeant?’ Lady Jane spat across the room.

‘Yeah, I got this one Lady. What the hell do you mean by that Charlie?’

‘Well she nags you like an old wife and you moan like an old husband. You think alike now. Look at the pair of you having a go at me, she even did the wifely thing and let you take the lead. It’s so cute, I just wish you pair would start bumping uglies to take the edge off a little.’

Jeb’s jaw fell open. Lady Jane did finally find her voice. ‘Preposterous. It is so obvious you were raised through the ranks Captain Murison. Your behaviour, manner and speech is unbecoming.’

‘Oh do shut up Jane, and introduce our new member will you, before she faints from holding her breath.’

There was a gasp of surprise from the young woman at her side.

Jane turned to her companion, ‘I am so sorry Himari. I did warn you about their behaviour though. I just hope you can cope with it. I am not sure how I can at times.’

‘Oh forget it,’ Charlie interrupted. ‘I’m Charlie, this is Jeb. I am in command of this section. Now, who are you?’

She bowed low, ‘I am Lieutenant Himari Watanabe of the Earth Defence Force Intelligence Services. I have a master’s degree in programing. My speciality is search algorithms and data mining.’

Charlie felt his ire rise. ‘You’re a spook!’

She looked shocked at the term, ‘You mean, am I a spy? No; merely a data analyst. I am a member of Komoru’s crew. If you are questioning my loyalties, they lie there. I am a second cousin of Komoru’s. She was like a big sister to me as we were growing up.’

‘When did your career with the intelligence services begin?’

‘At university, we were led into working for the government unwittingly. I did not like some of the things I was being asked to do. As soon as I graduated, I joined the Earth Defence Force. After my initial training I was sent to the intelligence wing against my wishes. I sent a desperate email to my cousin to help. She requested me, and I was sent out.’

‘Now you are going to be doing exactly the same thing again.’

‘No, I believe this is different.’

‘How so?’

‘This unit has been devised to try and keep the Ambassadors alive. That is different to what I was being made to do. I want to do this.’

‘You are still a member of the intelligence corps though, aren’t you?’

‘Komoru is trying to make me a permanent member of her crew.’

Charlie snorted, ‘You will be lucky, especially if you are any good. Once those bastards get their claws into you they don’t let go very easily.’

Himari gasped at his words, it was the first time she had heard someone swear since she had come on board.

She bowed low. ‘Please accept me as a member of your team. I am very good at what I do. Some say I was the best. Komoru told me that you may have difficulty accepting me because of your history, but I really want to serve with you. Please, I have no loyalty to the intelligence service.’

‘I accept that you are being genuine Himari, what I find amusing is that you actually believe that you have a choice of loyalties. Have you been warned about my special abilities?’

‘Komoru has told me that you can read people like a book, that your body language reading capabilities are unrivalled. That I cannot lie to you.’

Charlie seemed to be thinking things over. In fact, he was searching her thoughts.

‘Let me make something clear to you right now, Himari Watanabe. The intelligence services have tried to recruit me twice, and I had both of their operatives arrested. The moment they discover that you are working with me, they will try and recruit me through you. They will simply order you to do so. If you refuse, they will threaten or blackmail you into trying. On the day that happens, if you do not tell me immediately about it, I will kill you. Am I making myself understood?’

She had paled a little, ‘Yes perfectly.’

‘Good god Charlie!’ Lady Jane spluttered.

‘Was that necessary Charlie?’ Jeb protested.

‘Oh look, the old married couple in perfect harmony.’

They passed a shocked look. Himari stepped forward. ‘I understand where the Captain is coming from. I can live with that. Please!’

‘As far as I am concerned she already knows far too much about me. Were you asked to keep an eye out for me by any chance?’

Himari hesitated, but only for a second. ‘One of the last instructions I was given was to look out for you and report back anything strange I heard.’

‘Have you done so?’

‘No.’

‘Have you prepared a report?’

‘No.’

‘You are lying.’

Himari smiled, ‘I am sorry. I was just testing you. Yes, I have prepared a report, but found it unbelievable.’

‘Why haven’t you sent it?’

‘I simply didn’t want to.’

‘You will change that report and simply say that the officer in question is little more than a common soldier with no special abilities. The Modloch Emperor likes him because he can tell good stories and serves a nice cup of tea. Say you have researched the Captain’s knowledge and he likes to tell stories about his country, and the warrior race he believes he is descended from. However, his grasp of history is farcical at best, and has more to do with his imagination than actual history. He seems to be a figure of amusement in the royal palace according to some sources. He has taken an immediate dislike to you and shuns you at every opportunity. Recommend that you can see no value in trying to recruit this person, but let them know that you will, if requested, keep an eye on him. Make sure to say that the information he brings back from the palace is now treated with great scepticism by the Ambassadors.’

Charlie stopped talking and watched the new girl keenly. ‘Understand?’

She bowed again. ‘Yes sir.’

‘Please, call me Charlie. Send it a week from now.’

‘I will,’ she hesitated a moment, ‘Charlie.’

Charlie put his feet down and his empty cup onto the table. ‘It is about time we got started. Please sit down for a moment Himari, and explain what it is you are good at. What is a search algorithm?’

You are joking, was the thought that went through Himari’s mind. A quick glance at their faces told them he wasn’t. They aren’t stupid, she told herself quietly as she sat down. Her eyes caught Charlie’s. This man isn’t stupid, far from it. Obviously, they have simply never delved into the world of computing. Where to start?

She took a deep breath, ‘Have all of you used Google search?’ They all had. ‘An algorithm is what your question is put into. It is that algorithm that searches the web for anything connected to your search request.’

‘I suppose that is the simple answer for laymen?’ Charlie asked.

She couldn’t help the smile that came across her face, ‘Yes it is.’

‘Good enough, but aren’t the algorithms we are using now more advanced than anything we have on Earth?’

‘I don’t think so. Those on board the ship are, but the databases we will be searching are not of builder design. There are regular search engines you can use, but there is also an option to build your own for data mining. Babes tells me that it is an art that has almost been lost now. The algorithms that the ambassadorial databases use are quite efficient, just like Google. She has been teaching me the language and I believe I can tailor our enquiries to make our searches more efficient.’

‘Okay great, enough tech stuff. We have a couple of Ambassadors to keep safe. Let’s get to work. We will team up. Himari and I will work together, Jeb and Jane work together.’

‘Why do I have to work with him?’ Lady Jane protested.

‘Because I want to see what Himari is bringing to the team. In the meantime, look for anything cultural you can find on the Ortea race. Himari, we are going to start by searching for every incident that involved a Goodwill Ambassador.’

Chapter 24

Charlie and the team sat with Steven and Komoru. Charlie began the briefing.

‘Okay, we have searched every archive that we could gain access to and have discovered virtually nothing that could be of any use to you at all. The Ortea, as you know, are a race that lives primarily underground. As you also already know, almost two thousand years ago a race that no longer exists, called the Dent, tried to colonise the planet. They gassed what they thought was a primitive civilisation and then began to terraform the planet. In the process they landed somewhere in the region of a thousand ships full of colonists, whole families. It wasn’t so automated back in the day.

‘They didn’t expect armies of Ortea to appear. The Ortea captured most of the colonists, simply because they were not armed. A few Dent ships, little more than a dozen, got away. The ships were owned by a large company, the biggest on their home world, and of course their economy collapsed. The Ortea were far more technically advanced than anyone realised. Among the ships captured were those that initially attacked the planet, and they still had some of the nerve agent on board. The Ortea quickly got the hang of the ships and dumped what chemicals were left on the Dent’s home world.

‘That killed millions, but was not responsible for wiping the Dent out. The Ortea also landed and captured thousands more. About two hundred years later the Dent were wiped out by another race. That race now controls the whole area, and their leader, their Emperor, is the guy who is in charge of the federation’s armed forces, and defences.’

‘Emperor Ne´ Langus,’ Steven supplied.

‘Correct. It may be prudent at this time to mention one more thing about the Dent. If there are any remaining, then they will be on the Ortea’s home world.’

‘That’s a good point Charlie. Why were they wiped out by Emperor Ne´ Langus’ people?’

‘Because they were weak, they had never recovered fully from the Ortea attack. Every time they attacked the Ortea, the Ortea reciprocated, they became pirates if you will. They raided the planet almost at will, but not only that planet. It wasn’t long before the Ortea discovered other races, and they took to the Ortea in the same way as the Dent did. A war broke out that was to last two thousand years. Those were the days before the great federation. What existed then was a loose alliance of planets that the Dent were a part of, however, it did not protect the Dent. You have to remember that these are not green activists Komoru. Just because they eat grass, does not make them pleasant or unwarlike. In fact, the more I learn, the more territorial they seem to become.’

‘That is something that Steven and I have discussed at great length Charlie. You are correct, they are far more aggressive than one would have expected a race of herbivores to be. So, Emperor Ne´ Langus’ people simply wiped them out because they were weak.’

‘That may be exactly the reason, but there may also be more to it.’

‘I have heard about this before.’ Steven admitted. ‘I think it was your good friend the engineer who once told me that a race without a home planet doesn’t last very long, even within the federation. They are often hunted down to extinction levels.’

‘I don’t understand… why would they do that?’ Komoru admitted.

‘I’m at a loss there too.’ Confessed Steven.

Charlie had a stab at it. ‘Look at the natural world on our own planet. When an alien species is introduced into an ecosystem it often takes over, killing whatever species was there first. Take the Dodo bird. Rats were introduced to the islands and the rats ate all of their eggs.’

‘Not quite the same Charlie.’ Steven pointed out.

‘Of course it is. Red squirrel versus grey squirrel. Every place the grey squirrel gained a foothold in red squirrel territory, it resulted in the extinction of the red squirrel in those places. Same thing as this. So they are aliens flying a spaceship? Whose to stop another race taking over the ship and killing the crew, simply because they have no one to turn to? I have researched this. It’s like the land grabs back in the day, or the empire building of European countries. How many tribes were wiped out by the white men in America? How many by the white men in Africa? If you are the weaker, eventually you will pay the ultimate price.’

‘It wasn’t just the white men you know,’ Lady Jane interjected. ‘Many of the black tribes did exactly the same thing before the white men arrived.’

‘You are absolutely right. The point I am trying to make is: it isn’t just Humanity that is guilty of this, it seems to be a natural phenomenon that crosses all races, and all boundaries. Why shouldn’t these people be just as guilty of it?’

‘Back to the Dent then Charlie.’

‘Aye, sorry Steven, we were getting a wee bit side tracked there. If there are any of those people there, then it is something you will have to consider before entering into negotiations, simply because they will have no home world to return to. We could rescue them only to have them wiped out by their natural competition. Something will have to be done with them. Also, with no use for them, the Ortea may not be happy to be left with them. Once they have domestic livestock again the Ortea may well wipe them out.’

Steven rubbed his face, ‘So if we don’t look out for these people, then no one will.’

‘Exactly.’

‘I get it now. Thank you.’

Charlie checked his notes. ‘Where was I… right! With the demise of the Dent, the war changed hands. Unbelievably the Emperor’s people made exactly the same mistake with the Ortea as their predecessors. They found some of them living on the surface, and gassed them. Then they landed and tried to terraform the planet. The Ortea attacked and captured a load of colonists as well as their ships. It was about this time that they themselves began colonising nearby star systems. Himari, would you like to take over?’

Himari was a little bit nervous, but also excited. Komoru smiled at her.

‘The two other star systems that the Ortea inhabit are very close to their home star. With this move, the Ortea had access to three different races, and those who trade with them. These star systems have very little in the way of planets and are very much large asteroid fields. There are what could be considered dwarf planets within these, like in the Kuiper Belt at home.

‘No one has any idea how many Ortea there are in these areas, but we do know they can field large fleets. We believe the technology they use at home is what enables them to live in these areas. Speculation has it that they burrow out the insides of asteroids and set up home. As no one who has entered these areas has ever left alive, it is not known whether they have terraformed any of these small dwarf planets. It seems highly unlikely though, as they do not need grass to survive.

‘Again, speculation suggests that they have plenty water and may even have underwater seas on some of these asteroids.’

‘Where does that assumption come from?’ Komoru asked.

‘From this team. Charlie told me that the captive he interrogated admitted that they have underground seas at home, and from these seas they harvest the seaweed that keeps their slaves fed. It is not too hard to imagine that they seeded these asteroid underground seas with seaweed then moved in with their food source.’

‘That idea has a lot of merit. I doubt they could transport seaweed to these new planetoids or asteroids. Not on a very large scale anyway. What do you think Steven?’

‘It makes sense. They could import fish, seaweed, feed themselves. Well done team, good thinking.’

Himari gave a small bow and handed the briefing over to Lady Jane.

Jane had an old-fashioned set of notes which she tapped on the table. It proved a little awkward as there was only a couple of pages.

‘Culturally, we know little or nothing about this race. Every race that comes across these people simply tries to wipe them out. A long time ago prisoners were taken to try and extract information, however, it would seem the Ortea have a very high pain threshold, and little information was ever gained from them. There has never been a turncoat of any kind. The chances are that if there were, they would have been killed on sight.

‘Apart from our captive who knelt and bowed in front of the Ambassadors, we know nothing about their protocols or customs. The captive let slip that there are three leaders, one from each star system, with the senior being the leader of their home world. Culturally, that really is as much as we know. Their diet consists of fish, and the meat from the slaves they keep. How those slaves are integrated into their lives we do not know; neither that nor the conditions they are kept in. We do know that they practice birth control to keep their own numbers down, most likely to prevent starvation. Much of that must also be connected to the birth rate of the slaves they keep as well.’

Jane handed the briefing over to Jeb. ‘Militarily, they seem to be more on par with Earth than any of the other races that we have met so far. The one we took captive even swore. They are capable of acting as individuals, or as individual units; unlike many of the species within the federation. The individual we met was physically fit and capable. They are also very fast; if there had been anyone else in that room other than Charlie, they would have been dead. Our captive didn’t realise that throughout his stay. Their ships are those that they have captured. Even the pistol that he wore was an old pistol, probably taken as a prize somewhere. Do they produce their own weapons? We simply don’t know. We know they use captured ships, but they don’t manufacture them. Tactically, from what we can gleam, they will attack anything that moves through their space. They aren’t stupid though and will often try to draw away an escort before attacking a convoy of freighters. Tactics that we Humans recognise. They will also ambush the unwary. Neither do they have any fear of ground warfare. That’s all we have sir.’ Jeb apologised.

Steven rubbed his chin, ‘It isn’t much.’ His eyes turned to Charlie. ‘Did you hear about the communication we received?’

‘No.’

‘Came in this morning from the leader of the Ortea. They know we have builder ships. We have been instructed to come in visible. Any attempt at concealment will be treated as hostile. It was sent directly to me. We have to meet them in the more temperate region of their planet; we already have the coordinates. Two armed escorts only. Both ships must land. I want you as one Charlie. Any suggestion as to the second?’

‘Soto. He is the best martial artist we have.’

‘I can live with that.’ He turned to Komoru, ‘Do you agree?’

‘Yes.’

‘Settled then.’

The meeting broke up, but Himari sought out Komoru. She caught her on the way back to their own ship.

‘Komoru.’ She ran up.

Komoru smiled, ‘Himari, I have been meaning to talk to you. How are you finding it?’

‘Interesting; I think.’

They both laughed. ‘Charlie isn’t being rude, is he?’

‘No, not at all. Jeb and Lady Jane bicker all the time, and Charlie refers to them as the old married couple, which seems to upset them a little; although not as much as they make out I think. It was about Charlie I wanted to see you. Jeb said something very strange during the briefing. Why would no one else have survived the attack from the alien, if Soto is the best martial artist that we have?’

‘Ah! You haven’t heard yet?’

‘No, heard what?’

‘Something bad happened to Charlie. Most of his body had to be replaced. Charlie is more cyborg than Human.’ Komoru reached out and touched her shoulder. ‘He is much stronger than a normal person Himari. Our Doctor also believes that because of what he went through, he might be a little unstable mentally. Be careful around him; keep him at a distance. I don’t think he would hurt you, but no one can really be sure what is going on inside his mind.’

‘Oh!’ Himari’s face flushed deeply.

‘Please don’t worry. Come, we have a lot to do.’

Himari’s knees felt very strange as she followed Komoru back to Ico.

Chapter 25

The Ortea’s home world was a very strange looking world. Great coloured bands ran around it in circles. Most of the planet was desert, and from space you could easily see the different minerals in the bands. The top and bottom of the planet was primarily green and blue. They had followed the instructions given, and were heading for the green band on the southern hemisphere when the ships arrived.

There was great tension within the crew. The Ortea fleet was a motley collection of different vessels. When one got too close, Steven ordered their weapons to target it. The ship backed off hastily. Nearly a hundred vessels surrounded them. As they approached to within a thousand miles of the atmosphere a small ship pulled in front of them.

‘We are being hailed Captain. I can put it on screen.’

‘Do so please.’

An old Ortea with a greying muzzle and a very thick neck appeared.

‘Ambassador Gordon?’

‘Yes that’s me.’

‘Please follow me down to the planet’s surface. I will guide you to the rendezvous site. The fleet will stay in orbit in case of a hostile incursion by any Federation vessels.’

‘I understand, please lead the way.’

The face stayed on the view screen for a few moments longer before it went blank. The being seemed to have been studying him.

Steven could feel the sweat trickle down his back as he stepped onto the surface of the planet. Even with Charlie at his shoulder he felt nervous.

‘We are surrounded by snipers.’ Charlie commented casually.

‘That’s reassuring, thanks Charlie.’

‘It’s to be expected Stevie. Take a deep breath, settle your nerves. I am not getting any bad vibes. They have been told to watch out for any troops other than ourselves coming from the ships. They aren’t interested in us. You can tell Komoru to join us.’

Steven and Charlie had gone down the ramp first. Steven sent a silent command then Komoru and Soto appeared. The Ambassadors wore their white robes, with intricate designs woven into the fabric along the edges, while Charlie and Soto were fully armed in combat attire. When Komoru reached Steven, Charlie stepped out ahead, his weapon slung across his chest in an offensive manner. They weren’t the high-tech weapons they normally used. One piece of information they had been able to dig up was that the Ortea had systems that could render those types of weapons inoperable. Babes had assured him it wouldn’t harm him if they did operate such a device. Nor would it harm the nanobots in their systems. So, they had decided on old fashioned weapons, with live ammunition.

Charlie headed through waist high grass towards what looked like a tent. An area fifty metres’ square had been flattened around it. Charlie stepped out of the grass. As they approached, the sides of the tent were dropped by four guards who were standing outside. The interior revealed three men sitting at a rather crude table with a couple of crude chairs for the Ambassadors.

One of the guards pointed something at them and Charlie felt something pass through him.

Charlie passed a message to all of them. ‘They just tried to render our weapons inoperable.’

‘I felt it.’ Soto answered.

‘This isn’t starting well.’ Steven answered.

‘I’m not reading any malice Stevie; they are just trying to protect their leaders.’

‘Let it slide then Charlie.’

‘Okay, will do. Soto, come up alongside the Ambassadors. Let’s meet them in a line.’

‘Yes sir.’

They stopped short of the four guards. Charlie’s senses were on high alert. ‘Stevie, the three guards, the two on the left and the one on the far right are the leaders. The three in the tent are dupes.’

‘Shit! What the hell do we do?’

‘Play along for a while.’

‘Right.’

They came to a stop in front of the four guards. The one who wasn’t a leader stepped forward. He had a large device on his ear.

He held up a hand. ‘Hand over your weapons.’

‘No. If you take a step closer, I will kill you.’

‘They are no longer working.’

Charlie turned his weapon sideways and ejected a round. The guard was able to catch it. ‘They are working just fine.’

He looked confused at the object in his hands. One of the others stepped forward and pulled him back by the elbow. The round was taken and inspected. As this was happening Charlie took out a plastic bag from his pocket and held it up.

‘Translators, modern ones.’ The bag was tossed over and caught. The three inside the tent moved forward and each took out a translator.

Steven and Komoru bowed. ‘I am Steven Gordon, and this is my mate Komoru. We are the Goodwill Ambassadors from Earth that you requested.’

The three bowed in return. ‘I am the Grand Commander of the Ortea, Tern Do, this is Grand Commander Dylin Barli of one of our outer solar systems, and this is Grand Commander Gaun Dey, of our other solar system.’ He had held up a hand as he introduced each.

Before Steven could answer, Charlie interrupted, ‘He is lying. None of them are the commanders.’

There was a moment of stunned silence. ‘Who is this person?’ He began to bluster.

Steven bowed low and Komoru followed suit. ‘We will be leaving then.’

As they began to turn, the real Tern Do stepped forward. ‘Wait a moment please Ambassadors.’ Steven hesitated as the Ortea stripped off his tunic and was handed the one from the false Tern Do.

‘I am the real Tern Do.’ He was looking at Charlie as he spoke, and Charlie nodded to Steven. The other Commanders also swapped tunics. He introduced each quickly again. Then turned to Charlie.

‘You must be the formidable Charlie that Commander Morval Oralia spoke so highly of.’

Charlie nodded, ‘I am.’

‘You will not bow as the Ambassadors have?’

‘It is my job to watch you like a shite hawk, it’s their job to play protocol and be nice.’

‘As it should be.’ He held up the round Charlie ejected. ‘These are chemical-based weapons.’

‘That’s right.’

‘Brutal, unorthodox, very effective.’

‘Correct.’

‘I haven’t seen anything like this outside a museum. Did you know our enemy never developed chemical weapons like this? By the time they discovered they had enemies, they were already in space. Their weapons have always been energy based.’

‘I was actually aware of that.’

‘You are also aware we have devices that can render most of those weapons unserviceable?’

‘If we weren’t, we wouldn’t have brought these.’

‘May I keep this?’

‘Be my guest, just don’t do anything stupid with it.’

He turned it over and tapped the bottom, ‘The striker, what do you call this?’

‘The percussion cap. Hit that hard enough and it will explode. Don’t toss it into a fire either.’

‘I will remember that.’

He turned his attention back to Steven. ‘Please come, take a seat.’

When they had sat, Soto faced the other way.

Steven could see the intelligence in the creature’s eyes and wondered at the deception. He didn’t have to wait long to find out.

‘Please accept my apology for the trick Ambassador. After decades of fighting the federation, we are, I don’t know if this will translate, we are more than a little paranoid. It is hard to believe that they have accepted a meat eating race within their ranks.’

‘They haven’t quite accepted us yet, and many have doubts as to whether they actually ever will. We are discovering there is a lot of prejudice, even among those who call themselves allies.’

‘It doesn’t surprise me Ambassador. To me you have a mountain to climb, but it is shadowed by the one we are climbing now.’

‘Every journey begins with a single step, Grand Commander.’

Tern Do smiled, and hoped his smile didn’t come across as threatening to the Humans.

‘A single step. We have similar sayings. Yet I find myself hesitating. You see we consider you and your people as the biggest threat we have ever faced.’

Steven frowned. ‘Our commitment to the federation will never be enough to threaten your people. Not unless you go to war with us as a species.’

‘We are aware of that, yet you test weapons that are a far bigger threat to us, more so than any that we have ever come across before.’

Charlie’s voice shot into Steven’s head, ‘They investigated what we were up to and discovered the asteroids we destroyed.’

Steven and Komoru passed a look. Steven glanced down, he just wasn’t sure what to say next. Komoru was.

‘You are indeed a very cautious race. I am beginning to understand why your people have survived so long against such odds. I am afraid you have caught us at a disadvantage. What we were doing was of the utmost secrecy. We did not think that it would be discovered so soon. The weapons we were testing were designed to cause confusion amongst our enemies at a later date.’

‘Do you understand why your weapon causes us so much consternation Ambassador?’

‘I am beginning to Grand Commander. Two of the solar systems that you inhabit are very much like the regions of the asteroid belt that we destroyed.’

‘That is exactly why we now consider you the biggest threat to our existence. I am not sure whether we should let these discussions proceed; not as long as you have that weapon. It will be first and foremost on our list. We wish for it to be banned before these discussions proceed any farther.’

‘That, I am afraid, is an impossibility.’

‘Then we really have nothing further to discuss Ambassadors. You will be allowed safe passage out of our solar system. Understand that we now regard all Human ships as a direct threat, and they will be attacked on sight.’

‘You do not understand fully our position Grand Commander,’ Komoru smiled. ‘You see the Federation is completely unaware that we have this weapon. To have that weapon banned, you will have to treaty with us directly and on a completely different level.’ She turned to Steven, ‘Is that the correct term Steven?’

‘More or less dear; the talks would have to be held off record, be completely secret. To have this mentioned on record would cause us to have to withdraw from these discussions.’

The three leaders passed a confused look. ‘You now have me curious.’ Tern Do admitted. ‘Can you possibly explain this further?’

Komoru handed the ball back to Steven. ‘Are you aware of the rules and regulations governing weapons that can cause a containment failure on a starship?’

‘No, I’m not. Anyone?’ He asked his companions. They shook their heads. ‘I am sorry Ambassador, none of us have ever studied federation law. I do know something about engines though, and it is practically impossible to cause a containment failure. Even if you blow up a damn ship, the containment fields hold until the engine is shut down. We have salvaged lots of them.’

‘There are many laws banning weapons that can cause a containment failure on a ship. That’s because the energy that is released from a containment failure can wipe out a whole fleet of ships, no matter if their shields are up or not.’

‘You are saying that this weapon you have can cause a containment failure?’

‘It certainly can.’

‘So, you were testing a banned weapon?’

‘It can only be banned if the weapon is known about. Right now, none of our ships on this side of the barrier carry the weapon.’

‘You do.’

‘Not now, we used all the material.’

‘That type of weapon must already be banned?’

‘No, there isn’t a single instance anywhere in the federation of this type of weapon ever being developed before. They are completely unaware of the technology used to develop it.’

‘Are you saying the technology is beyond their means?’

‘Oh no, far from it. In fact the technology is primitive compared to the weapons they use now.’

‘Then that has to be the key. Some technological path that Humanity walked down but the races this side of the barrier never explored. Is that it?’

‘That is it exactly.’

Tern Do pushed himself back against the seat. ‘I would wish for a couple of minutes to talk to my fellow Grand Commanders. Please remain seated Ambassadors.’

The three of them got up and walked out of the tent. Tern Do led them far enough away to be out of earshot. Tern Do pinched his muzzle just below his eyes.

‘What do you two think of this? I am unwilling to proceed further without your say so.’

Dylin Barli was scratching a growing bald spot between his ears. ‘I admit to being lost. I’m a fighter, not a thinker. I will go with whatever you two decide. I trust you.’

Gaun Day had been thinking hard. ‘They are in a bind now.’

‘How so?’ Tern Do asked.

‘I always wondered if this whole thing had been a giant set up.’

Tern Do shook his head, ‘Too complicated, not that it never crossed my mind.’

They smiled at each other. ‘It is too complicated, and they are obviously telling us the truth, which has put them at a severe disadvantage in these negotiations.’

‘You can tell they are inexperienced at this.’

‘Or too close to the front line.’

Tern agreed, ‘A bit of both maybe.’

‘Maybe, but do we take advantage of it?’

‘We go in there and tell them to forget about it. We never mention it again. That will make them beholden to us at a later date.’

‘I agree. We begin these negotiations from scratch, like this conversation never took place.’

They went back in and sat down. Tern Do took up the mantle of spokesman again.

‘Ambassadors, thank you for your revelations, and we understand that this has put you in an awkward position. We accept your explanation. We will never mention this again and I suggest that we begin the proper negotiations now.’

‘We are grateful Grand Commander, thank you.’ Steven replied.

Chapter 26

The negotiations went well after that. The federation had given Steven a list of demands, or “requests” as they put it. Most of them revolved around the Ortea’s captives or slaves. There were other territorial demands the Ortea flatly refused to entertain. Steven and Komoru flatly refused to eat anything the Ortea provided. They did, however, provide their own small banquet. Cookie and his chefs came out with a barbecue. They had goat, lamb, pork, beef and chicken. With Cookie’s customary culinary flare, the Ortea were drooling at the mouth for more.

Tern Do sought out Steven. He held up what was left of a piece of flat bread with goat meat and onions.

‘I have never tasted anything like this in my life Ambassador. What wonderful flavours.’

‘That is goat meat sir. It is a domestic animal that can survive just about anywhere. This place is far more temperate than I expected.’

‘Like your planet, this one was once brimming with life. We had creatures flying through the skies. Much of these lands were given over to the production of crops. I don’t know how diverse, but we had staples like bread. There were many different species, some fed us, some roamed wild. Then in one evening it was all gone. Everything above ground, including the plant life. Trees, flowers, insects, everything. Gone in the time it took for the sun to set and rise again. Of course, the invaders paid dearly for it; they even replaced our livestock. I can’t begin to imagine what it was like then. There is old archive footage of the planet as it was then, I have never watched it though.’

‘Why not?’

‘My father told me not to, he said it was heart breaking. He told me to look forward, never back.’

‘Was he the leader before you?’

‘No he was an engineer; from what I have been told, not a very good one either. He died a long time ago. To become a leader, you first need to be a good fighter, and you also need a lot of luck.’

Something crossed Stevens mind, ‘Do you still have any of that race that first attacked you? ’

‘You mean the Dent!’

‘Yes.’

‘Of course, they make up the bulk of our population these days. As our numbers have gone down, so theirs have increased. Do you want to meet one?’

‘I suppose… I don’t mind.’

Tern spoke into a communicator, and was then distracted by one of his officers. When he reappeared it was with a strange-looking creature at his side. To Steven it looked a little like a squirrel, it even had furry tufts from its ears, but no tail.

Tern laughed at something. ‘Ambassador, meet a Dent. This is Gorack, my personal slave.’ He turned him sideways, and slapped him on the hips, ‘Look at the rump on him. Just say the word and I will have him on a skewer in no time.’

‘Oh, stop it you old fool. Ignore him Ambassador. He always says that. I have been his slave since we were children. My household has served his for many generations, and they have never served up so much as a single one of us.’

Steven wasn’t sure what to say. ‘I see, you seem like friends, rather than slave and master.’

‘We have been together since childhood. It is my task in life to serve, it is his to fight and lead. My children now serve his. It is how we survive. But behold our saviour. When you replace their livestock, we will be released from this life of servitude.’

Steven wasn’t sure how to respond. ‘Where would you go?’

‘Home of course, to our home world.’

Now he was shocked, he turned to Tern, ‘Don’t they know?’

Tern took a deep breath. ‘They don’t listen, won’t listen. They consider us all liars.’

‘You all are liars. Told us what?’

Tern shook his head sadly, ‘Maybe he will listen to you Ambassador.’

Steven was reeling. Gorack was waiting patiently. Steven found his throat had dried up. ‘Um… your people no longer exist. They were wiped out many generations ago.’

Gorack laughed. ‘You jest! He put you up to this, right?’

Tern shook his head.

Steven squared up to Gorack. ‘Your planet is now ruled by the same person who leads the federation forces in trying to wipe out the Ortea. If it wasn’t for one of my men, I wouldn’t have even known of your existence. While researching for information on the Ortea, he discovered that the race who had originally attacked the Ortea had suffered exactly the same fate. Those that survived the original attack were eventually hunted down and wiped out.’

‘You lie.’

Steven could see the distress he was under. Tern Do clamped a hand on his shoulder. ‘Stop it old friend. This is an Ambassador of the federation, they don’t play pranks. You could cause an incident here.’

‘It’s okay,’ Steven reassured Tern Do. ‘He is obviously in shock. I never took offence.’

‘Thank you Ambassador, that is generous of you. Gorack, maybe you had better go below.’

Gorack looked at Steven. ‘Who investigated it? Can I speak to him?’

‘It was Charlie.’ Steven shouted him over. ‘Charlie, this is Gorack, he is a Dent.’

‘Oh right, so they still exist.’

‘Is it true?’ Gorack asked.

‘Is what true?’

‘My people, my home planet…’

‘They no longer exist. Well, the planet does, but your people were hunted to extinction well over a thousand years ago. Didn’t the Ortea tell you?’

‘They told us. We didn’t believe them.’

‘I did some extensive research. As far as I can tell there may be a few hybrids on far and distant planets; those who mated with other races may have survived. But your species is considered extinct. I’m no a diplomat, but if you leave this planet, if the Ortea kick you out, you will become extinct.’

‘Charlie, for God’s sake!’

‘Whit!’

‘He just found out his people are gone.’

‘Don’t talk pish Stevie; he has known his whole life, he just chose not to believe.’

‘You talk as familiars,’ Gorack interrupted, ‘Not Commander and soldier.’

‘We were childhood friends,’ Charlie told them, ‘I have never got into the habit of calling him sir; even though I should.’

‘Then they are like us Gorack.’ Tern Do smiled; although the Humans weren’t quite sure if it was a smile or not.

The squirrel-like face broke into a smile of its own. ‘That’s true. You became a great leader, and I am still your servant. But I can still kick your arse when required.’ He wiped his eyes, ‘Ambassador, may it be too much to ask to see this evidence with my own eyes.’

Steven looked to Tern Do, he didn’t look amused. ‘Don’t try anything silly Gorack.’

Gorack looked him up and down, ‘You are turning into an old fool Tern. If this is true, where would I go? Would I leave my wife and children, my grandchildren to pay the price?’

Tern looked down, ‘No of course you wouldn’t. Forgive me Gorack.’ He looked back up, ‘Could you do this Ambassador?’

‘It is a bit irregular. Charlie, could you see to it?’

‘Come with me.’

They were away for an hour, and Gorack was silent on his return. It was obvious that Tern Do had been worried about the whole thing. He tried to speak to Gorack but was ignored. Gorack went round the back of the tent and a few seconds later disappeared. The talks resumed.

Chapter 27

‘Five years!’ The Bollan raged. ‘Five years standing up to my waist in freezing water harvesting kelp and seaweed. For five years in a row I was forced to mate with my wife, and at the end of that year the child that was born was taken from us to feed the Ortea. Our children slaughtered, hung up, turned into sausages. Taken away so my wife would come into season once again. Why weren’t we rescued, why did no one come for us?’

The Bollan sank to his knees and wept openly in the public box in front of the federation leaders. An usher came from behind and helped the Bollan to his feet, then led him away. The session ended. Emperor Darrick and Emperor Ne´ Langus retired together to discuss the growing situation. Neither felt particularly sympathetic towards the Bollan.

‘He was an idiot.’ Darrick grunted as he put down his cold glass of iced tea.

‘A captain of commerce. He ordered the pilot of his private leisure ship to fly through that area, didn’t he?’

‘He did, thought he would give his wife and children a little thrill.’

‘So why is he crying here?’

‘Why? Because while he was away, his oldest surviving son ran the business into the ground. It was eventually taken over by the executives. When the shares hit rock bottom, they bought him out, then threw him out of the company. The son then gambled away what was left, sold all his property.’

‘So he has nothing and is looking for a bit of sympathy.’

‘That’s how I read it Ne´. How is the truce holding?’

‘Really well. That’s a full six months without an incident. Trade is beginning to flow through those solar systems again, which is cutting down costs for everyone. I have even scaled back our presence in the area.’

‘Good for everyone.’

‘Until an idiot like this comes in and begins to stir up shit again.’

‘That’s true.’ Darrick agreed. ‘What are we going to do about it?’

‘Let it simmer away for a few days, then we are going to introduce the pilot, who is going to put him back into the shit.’

‘Put the blame back onto our captain of commerce.’

‘Exactly.’

‘As it should be,’ Darrick agreed. ‘We even had a few Modloch returned to us.’

‘Oh! I didn’t hear. How did they get captured?’

‘Working off-world on freighters.’ Darrick suddenly burst out laughing. ‘It seems the Modloch aren’t very tasty. All of the captured Modloch survived. Two of them have asked for permission to return to the Ortea home world.’

Ne´ was shocked. ‘Why the hell would they want to do that?’

‘Better job, better conditions.’

‘Seriously?’

‘That’s what they said. They hated being underground, but they say that freedom of travel and being allowed to go to the surface made all the difference. According to them there is a lot of space there. They did the same jobs as they did on the freighter, both engineers. They didn’t get paid, but their homes were palaces compared to the cramped conditions at home. That seaweed they were forced to eat is also highly nutritious. They were even given days off, when they used to go fishing in the underground seas, trade the fish they caught for extras with the Ortea. The only problem is trying to persuade their wives and children.’

Ne´ laughed aloud, ‘I can see why that would be a problem. Are you allowing it?’

‘The Ortea have kept the peace. They are releasing captives as agreed. I don’t see why I shouldn’t. Why Ne´, are you planning to attack them as soon as all the captives have been released?’

‘You jest Darrick. Start another two-thousand-year war that my people will have to bear the brunt of again? I don’t think so. The first crops the Humans planted on the surface of their planet are beginning to ripen. They have planted far more than the Ortea can use.’

‘The Ortea have allowed the Humans to use vast tracts of land to plant crops on, to restock their fleet.’

‘I know. They can also sell the surplus. I wonder what company will have the balls to land on the Ortea home world first.’

The two roared with laughter at their own wit. ‘Which reminds me Darrick, haven’t those huge bio-domes of yours began producing yet?’

‘A few weeks ago, we placed them in orbit and opened them up to the sunlight. I have spring flowers now, and bees waking from hibernation. Leaves are beginning to sprout on the trees. The bio-domes rotate on a twenty-four-hour Earth cycle. Special glass limits the sunlight to just what it would be on Earth. We already have our first jars of honey. Just for a taste. It is beautiful; I have it on hot toast in the morning. A Human thing.’

‘Isn’t it going to take months before you can start producing those biscuits?’

‘It will, but I have the time. As the trees grow they will produce more nuts. The bee population will also grow in size. All my gardeners have requested a transfer to the domes, they are just stunning Ne´. I have never seen colours like it.’

‘That’s not like you Darrick: stunning, beautiful; unfamiliar words from your mouth.’

‘Come and see it Ne´, you have the time.’

‘I suppose I have. I will leave tomorrow, bring the wife and kids.’

‘Good. When are you going to accept the delegation from the Dent?’

‘About a month from now.’

‘Are you going to allow them free movement?’

‘No. Visits will be strictly regulated. We will accept no appeals for asylum.’

‘That’s a bit harsh. They have been under the Ortea boot for almost two thousand years.’

‘They are not getting a foothold back on my planet. My ancestors wiped them out, they should be extinct. I will allow no foothold where they can then make claims on territory that once belonged to their families. We will wipe them out again if we have to. Besides, Ortea society would collapse if they left.’

‘I heard that the Ortea haven’t eaten any of them in almost eight hundred years.’

‘Except criminals. Any crime, one punishment.’

‘That would keep the masses inline.’

‘It did I believe.’

Darrick was thinking it over, ‘It is a strange pattern.’

‘I Don’t follow?’

‘Sorry, I was thinking out loud. Like the Humans who protect species on their planet, the Ortea have protected a species of herbivore that would otherwise have gone extinct.’

‘I never thought about it like that, but I suppose it is true. The Ortea are a lot smarter than I gave them credit for.’

‘How so Ne´?’

‘They knew that the federation wouldn’t tolerate them being given free movement. So they gave the Dent citizenship status, with equal rights, and are now using them in a diplomatic role. There may be little sympathy for a race that should have been extinct, but we aren’t allowed to say or show that. As a result, the Dent are allowed to move freely, while the Ortea can stay at home and protect the planet.’

Darrick smiled. ‘I wonder if they will make a bid for citizenship.’

‘I have little doubt they will, but it will take a few generations. In the meantime, we have to stop anyone trying to take over their planet. I am going to announce a motion to make it a federation protected zone. No military craft other than federation vessels will be able to approach. Trade only.’

‘That will be the Humans.’

‘To begin with. There may come a day when the Humans can’t use up the surplus they produce.’

‘I need to find out what seeds the Humans have given them. Do you have the list Ne´?’

‘I do.’

‘I want a copy.’

‘Really Darrick!’

‘I know and appreciate the quality of the food that Humanity produces. Besides, if I have citizens who are willing to return to that planet, then what objections could I possibly have for trading with them?’

‘Only because your people are so far away, and they taste like shit.’

Darrick laughed. ‘What would I care if a few idiots got themselves eaten. I hear they like eating your people the most.’

‘If I had my way, I would wipe them all out.’

‘You have had your way since you became Emperor. What is the grand plan? To infiltrate their cities, discover where they are and destroy them from orbit?’

‘The few that were close enough to the surface were destroyed centuries ago.’ Ne´ sighed. ‘No, let’s see how this peace goes.’

‘That’s a bit of a change in attitude. What brought that on?’

‘Just thinking long term Darrick.’

‘It’s the Humans, isn’t it? Are they doing that well in the federation?’

‘Yes and no. Their technical knowledge is as about as backwards as they come. Their fighting ability leaves me breathless.’

‘You’re imagining a force made up of Ortea and Humans, aren’t you?’

Ne´ grinned at Darrick. ‘Are you aware of an old Human saying, the hammer and the anvil?’

‘No.’

‘During a tactical training exercise it was suggested by a Human. They used our forces as an anvil, and their own forces as a hammer to trap an enemy between. My commanders laughed, but I saw the merit.’

‘There just isn’t enough of them, is there?’

‘With only one planet, there never will be either. Not against a force of any size. The Humans and the Ortea get on really well though, and the Humans also understand their tactics. I imagine the Ortea understand theirs too. A combined force of the two could really make a difference.’

‘The Ortea don’t have the ships.’

‘No, but the Humans do. The Dent have the technical abilities, the Humans the tactical, and the Humans and the Ortea together the fighting skill.’

‘Still, two small battle groups aren’t going to make that much of a difference.’

‘Three, not two.’

‘Three?’

‘Three races, not two. Humans, Ortea, and the Dent. The Dent want to be recognised by the galactic convention as a race in their own right, removed from the extinction list. In recognising that claim, we could ask them to field a force of the same size as the Humans; if they can’t field it on their own, then they will be given special dispensation to form a group double the size with the Ortea. Everyone is going to hate that, so we will bind them to the Humans.’

‘I see. You will make them match whatever forces the Humans have to put up.’

‘Exactly, and the price of the Humans joining the federation will be a whole tactical group.’

‘That’s too much isn’t it? A whole tactical group, from one planet?’

‘It’s almost a done deal Darrick. All I need is your approval to put it forward as an official motion.’

‘With three tactical groups under the command of the Humans, you will have your hammer Ne´.’

‘I will.’

‘You would normally come to me first with something like this.’

‘You need no persuading Darrick.’

‘You’re right, I like the idea.’

‘Could the Dent replace my engineers on Human ships?’

‘Their engineers are better than ours Darrick, and they aren’t as tall, they will fit better inside Human ships.’

‘I would have to have my Chief Engineer evaluate them before I would believe that.’

‘Feel free. Are you still torturing him?’

Darrick smiled to himself. ‘There are some pleasures as an Emperor one can afford oneself.’

Their laughter filled the room.

Chapter 28

The sun began to come up as the bio-dome rotated back towards the waiting star. There were gasps of surprise as the colours of the hundred-mile field began to glow. As they watched, flowers began to open. It was quite chilly for the first half hour, but the dome soon warmed up. There were gasps of wonder as a heavenly fragrance began to fill the air. The children were the only ones who laughed and played, but they were still too frightened to head down into the glorious meadow below.

The air began to fill with a light buzzing and the children shouted with joy as the bees began their daily task.

Emperor Ne´ Langus took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. ‘You were right Darrick. I have never seen or smelled anything so beautiful. Are they all like this?’

‘This is the second one. It is a few weeks behind the first. In that one the spring flowers are beginning to drop and the trees are beginning to flower. In a few weeks we will begin to rotate the third one.’

‘Are any of those flowers edible?’

‘The flowers of the daffodils? They have a very delicate flavour.’

‘The trees are very small.’

‘They will grow year by year, and every year they will yield more.’

‘I am very impressed Darrick, and more than a little envious. It is hard to believe this cost you nothing. Being friends with the Humans has its advantages. Is it true that they used the engines they stole off the Albany to propel them here?’

‘It is.’

Ne´ laughed aloud. ‘The audacity of that race. Do the Albany know?’

‘Who cares?’

White-suited figures began to emerge. ‘The bee keepers.’ Darrick supplied.

‘Humans!’

‘Yes, of course.’

‘Is that one a female?’

‘A young female by her shape.’

‘They do have a strange shape these Human females. It isn’t unpleasant.’

‘They are far too small to mate with. You would kill one.’

‘They aren’t all small. Didn’t an Albany mate with one? Isn’t that how they managed to get their serum?’

‘Yes he did, but he was only a teenager, neither fully grown nor developed. The Humans took him in and now he is in charge of their office for off-world affairs. He is good at it too.’

‘Is there one you are interested in?’

‘Interested, no, intrigued, yes. She is the female Captain that we stirred up all the shit on. A warrior Queen indeed. She will breed fine sons one day, if she is ever mated. I met her soon after the incident and apologised personally.’

‘That was very decent of you Ne´, I can’t say I would have bothered.’

‘It was in the interests of inter-species cooperation. After all, Captain Wilson wasn’t actually under command of the federation.’

‘I hope she thanked you.’

‘I thought she was going to shoot me. Have you ever seen a Human turn red with anger?’

‘No I don’t think I have.’

‘It is very impressive, especially the white ones. Captain Wilson is very white, and she went very red. She explained in very plain language how unamused she was, and how if I ever repeated the mistake she would blow a hole in my head so big you could shove your fist into it.’

‘That was very unwise of her. Hasn’t she been removed from command?’

‘No, I didn’t put in a complaint.’

‘Ah! You are just going to have her killed.’

‘I think that would be the easiest way. A small accident. My Albany friend thinks she was mad because she was trying to make her interests in a man known.’

‘A man! Ah, of course… the man she was having dinner with.’

‘A Captain in the Ambassadors team.’

Darrick went very still. He leaned forward. Ne´ noticed the immediate change in his friend’s demeanour. ‘Are you okay Darrick?’

‘You said a Captain in the Ambassadors guard?’

‘Yes.’

‘It wouldn’t be Charlie Murison would it?’

‘I have no idea, why?’

‘Check Ne´, and do it now.’

A frowning Ne´ put in a quick call. ‘Yes, you are right Darrick. Why?’

‘You will not have that woman killed Ne´, you will not touch her. Have her reprimanded through official channels, do you understand?’

Ne´ laughed aloud, ‘What is wrong with you Darrick?’

‘Charlie Murison is no normal Human being Ne´. If you hurt her and he comes after you, there is nothing in this universe that will be able to stop him. He won’t hesitate to kill anyone that gets in his way; that includes your wife and children.’

Ne´ scoffed. ‘You are being a little dramatic Darrick.’

‘No I’m not. You always wondered who was responsible for the deaths of all the Albany civilians on board the city ship. I’m telling you, it was Charlie Murison. And I can assure you Ne´, it doesn’t bother him one little bit.’

Ne´ felt a cold chill run through him. ‘How long have you known about this Darrick?’

‘Within a few months of the Humans crossing the great barrier.’

‘We have talked about this many times. Why didn’t you say anything?’

‘As far as I am concerned Ne´, the fewer that know the better. Now you are about to step on his toes, you need to know.’ Darrick filled him in on some of the things he knew about Charlie, including some of their meetings. When he had finished, Ne´ went silent for quite a while as he mulled it all over.

Darrick called for their cups to be replenished, a maid served them both. Ne´ finished his drink before speaking.

‘This is all very hard to believe Darrick, if it came from anyone else but you.’

‘Gord is just over there. Ask him.’

Ne´ waved a hand, ‘No, no need. I believe you. It would be interesting to meet this Human.’

Darrick put down his cup, ‘Well you won’t have to wait long.’ He indicated a lone figure standing at the back. ‘That’s my Chief Engineer, one of those Human fast freighters is coming to pick him up. The Captain is going to be his escort. They are heading to Ortea space to check out their engineers.’

‘I want to meet him.’

‘Be careful Ne´. He is like no other person I have ever met. He studies something called body language, if you lie to him, he will instantly know. I would not mention the woman if I was you.’

‘I will bear that in mind Darrick.’

Charlie gave a slight bow to both men.

‘Emperor, you wanted to see me.’

‘Do you know who this is Captain?’

Charlie gave Ne´ his full attention. ‘Emperor Ne´ Langus. I hear you had a run-in with a friend of mine. I also heard she got very upset and even threatened you.’ Charlie’s eyes scanned the cement table they were sitting at. He saw a rebar within its depths and bent down. His fingers crushed the cement and locked onto the rebar. He pulled it clean out of the block of cement and held it up before him, looking down it as he would have the edge of a sword.

‘I know what you Emperors are like. I really wouldn’t want anything to happen to that woman. She is actually quite enamoured with me, and your little stunt upset the carefully laid plans she had to ask me to consider her as a potential mate. There is an old Human saying Emperor; hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. I can assure you, it isn’t true.’

The Emperors hadn’t seen Ne´’s youngest daughter approach, but Charlie had. Charlie waggled a couple of fingers at her. She was holding a bunch of flowers in her hand for her father. Charlie wound the rebar around his arm and placed the coil on to the table. Her eyes went really wide.

‘This should hold your flowers. What’s your name little one?’

‘Princess Nea.’

‘Are those for your father?’

She nodded her head and placed the flowers in Charlie’s out-stretched hand. He placed them into the coil. ‘There you go Princess Nea. Do you like that?’

She shook her head, ‘No, it is ugly.’

‘I suppose it is. You need to put them in water when you get home. Do you have a vase, or a glass?’

She nodded, ‘I got a big glass.’

‘Well, if you put them in water and add a little sugar, I know Emperor Darrick has some, they will stay like this for longer.’

‘Can I have some Uncle Darrick?’

Darrick found it very hard to smile. ‘Of course you can.’

Charlie stood and he turned his eyes back to Ne´, they turned very cold. ‘As I was the reason for the woman’s fury, then I expect you to lay the blame on my shoulders, Emperor. I should also thank you for saving me from that situation.’ Charlie bowed his head a little. ‘Thank you.’

Ne´ coughed before he could get enough moisture into his mouth to talk. ‘Is she not attractive to Human males?’

‘She is more than attractive. I am quite sure that even one not used to Human females would be able to determine that. But I am not ready for that sort of a relationship. Maybe one day, we’ll see.’

‘I did apologise to her, face-to-face.’

‘She did tell me that. She also said she was very rude to you and felt as though she had made a complete fool of herself. I believe the next time she sees you she is going to apologise in person.’

‘If that is the case, then I will accept her apology Captain.’

‘I will let her know.’ He turned back to Darrick.

‘That will be all Captain, thank you.’

Charlie bowed to both again.

Nea had crawled on to her father’s lap and watched as the Human walked away, brushing the cement dust from the sleeve of his uniform.

‘Daddy, that man frightens me.’

He embraced her, ‘Don’t worry darling, he is a good man, he won’t hurt you. Those are lovely, but there is hardly any, do you want to go get more?’

‘Yes please.’ She scampered down and ran off; Darrick called for a refill.

When Ne´ picked his cup up, his hand trembled so much that the liquid spilled over the sides and burned his hands. He put it down and sucked the back of his hand. ‘What is wrong with me!’

‘It’s called fear Ne´. Strange, isn’t it?’

Ne´ snapped his head round and caught sight of Charlie heading out the door with the Chief Engineer. He felt his blood pressure begin to lower.

‘What the hell was that? Don’t tell me you play silly games with that thing?’

‘I have him serve me tea Ne´. He is also very helpful. If it wasn’t for the Captain, I wouldn’t have been able to envisage any of this.’

Ne´ shook his head. ‘I knew you were mad Darrick. I would have had him eliminated.’

‘Leave him and the woman alone.’

‘Don’t worry, I will accept the female’s apology.’ He tossed the flowers out of the coil and tried to straighten it; his fear factor began to return. Darrick was sitting opposite, sipping his tea and smiling. ‘You like him, don’t you?’

‘I have to admit I do. I feel very safe when he is around.’

Ne´ gave up and put the flowers back in. ‘That wasn’t normal. You know that, don’t you?’

‘Fully aware.’

‘I hope you know what you are doing Darrick.’

‘I believe I do.’

Chapter 29

Steven and Komoru lay on the huge bed exhausted. The pace of life had been hectic to say the least: meeting after meeting, rushing from one planet to another. The endless buffets that they could not partake of. They had booked a hotel room for the weekend on the Modloch home world. Their diplomatic status had got them the best room in the hotel. It was one of the few times Steven had used his executive card from the music company. He was glad of it now.

Komoru got up and went to the toilet. She came back laughing.

Steven smiled. ‘You can’t get over the size of the toilet, can you?’

Her laughter began afresh, ‘You could take a bath in the bidet.’ She flopped face down on the bed. ‘This is bliss.’

‘No voices in our head.’ They had forbidden the ships to get in contact unless it was an emergency.

‘What are we going to do today?’

Steven smiled. ‘I was thinking a day in bed watching Modloch TV.’

‘Exciting.’

Steven detected the tone of sarcasm in her voice and laughed aloud. ‘Why don’t we try and watch a film or something, we might learn something.’

She rolled onto her belly. ‘That is true. So where is it?’

Steven scratched his head. ‘I have no idea.’

It took them a while but they discovered where the entertainment system was. They soon got caught up on the world of the Modloch. One they both enjoyed was a space film, a historical drama that ended up with Modloch forces storming a city ship of their enemies. The heroes stood shoulder to shoulder in the final charge and won the day.

They howled in delight at what was supposed to be a romance film. In many ways it resembled the kind of romantic comedy that they would expect to see back on Earth. The surprise of the day was a Human film called The Great Wall. According to the announcer it was the third showing in as many weeks due to high demand. It said in the titles that it was a gift from the makers of the film to the people of the great Modloch Empire. It seemed they were loving it. In a few weeks’ time they were going to air the Lord of the Rings.

They didn’t go very far that day. Their food was beamed down from the ship and the empties returned the same way. The following day they felt refreshed enough to go sightseeing. They both found it very frustrating. There was nowhere they could sit down and eat or drink, but Cookie had sent down a packed lunch for each of them. Reactions from the Modloch themselves were varied. Here and there men grouped together at the sight of them, and held that stance until they passed. Some squealed and ran, while others wanted to take pictures with them. In every shopping mall security staff weren’t far behind. Despite the distractions though they had a good day, and Komoru bought a few luxury items. She howled in laughter at the clothes in the women’s shops; neither was there a single shoe she found that would fit her, not even a child’s.

Out of curiosity, they went into what would have been close to a supermarket at home. The food came in bales. Females sniffed at it and squeezed it with their massive hands. There were many different types of grasses in many different forms. The supermarket trollies didn’t resemble anything like those at home. They were tiny; Steven and Komoru couldn’t understand why at first. It seemed the Modloch shopped using some kind of a pen. A tap on the item brought it up on a small screen on the trolley. When they were finished, a couple of taps had the items sent directly home, paying for them at the same time. There were other domestic items that they recognised, but all were in big packages. Eventually they became self-conscious because of all the attention they were getting and left.

They took a short trip to view the local solar system on a domestic flight. The ship was more like a flying lounge. The week began to move too swiftly, and it wasn’t long before they were back on board.

On the bridge Buzz moved from his chair, but Steven waved him back down.

‘What’s up Kemosabe?’

He smiled in return, ‘Not a lot Tonto. We are expecting your buddy back later today.’

‘Charlie?’

‘Yup. Seems to be a bit of a buzz at the moment. Babes has picked up increased traffic between the Modloch home world and the fleet. A large contingent of battlewagons, ours and theirs, just lit out for the other side of the sun.’

‘Maybe it is an exercise of some sort. Let’s hope they keep us out of it.’

‘That would be a first.’ Buzz was going to be proven correct.

Chapter 30

Charlie looked up at the shaking figure. ‘Hey Chief, you okay?’

‘Will be when I get out of here. The Emperor wants a quick word.’

‘What about?’

The Chief looked down his snout at him, ‘Do you think he would actually tell me!’

Charlie laughed, ‘Okay, I will be as quick as I can.’

Charlie was barely gone ten minutes. The Chief felt relief as he approached. ‘What did he want Charlie?’

‘He wanted to introduce me to his friend.’

‘No shitting, Emperor Ne´ Langus!’

‘That’s the guy.’

‘Did he speak to you?’

‘A wee bit.’

‘Wow, what an honour. What did you say to him?’

‘I threatened to kill him.’

The Chief laughed, ‘Yeah okay Charlie, nice one.’

‘I’m no kidding.’

The Chief felt his knees begin to buckle, and Charlie grabbed him.

‘Please tell me you are fucking joking man.’

‘You’re picking up bad language from those you teach Chief. Don’t worry though. I was very diplomatic about it.’

‘Diplo-what? Holy shit, we aren’t even going to reach the Ortea home world!’

‘Oh stop panicking for god’s sake, or I’ll kill you first.’

In the officers’ lounge a couple of hours later the Chief was still glaring at Charlie, even though Charlie had explained it all.

‘It isn’t funny Charlie.’

‘Not laughing here Chief.’

His eyes rolled up into his head, ‘I can’t believe you threatened the most powerful man in the universe.’

‘Shit happens Chief, sometimes you got to step over it, sometimes you step in it. Don’t worry, everything will be fine, I promise. Why did you request me as an escort?’

‘So I know if any of these shits want to eat me before it happens.’

Charlie laughed, ‘You still getting a lot of shit from the Emperor?’

‘Yeah, every week he has me up in front of him for one thing or another. Some days I wish he would just kill me and get it over with. What a bloody life.’

‘You still spending all your cash on that bloody city ship?’

‘Oh hell no. He gave me a big fancy house on my own home world, with a small estate. I haven’t even seen it yet. My folks say it is grand though.’

‘Oh yeah? Seems he is doing right by you.’

‘The official residence of a former Ambassador. I suppose on some levels he is Charlie, I just wish he would leave me alone.’

‘What about your love life?’

The Chief’s eyes flicked down. ‘It would seem a little bird sent a note to a young lady that works in the music business as a receptionist, telling her that I was enamoured with her and had no other suiters at the moment. I wonder who that could have been?’

‘You got me! How’s it going?’

The Chief smiled, ‘Very well thank you.’ The smile faded. ‘The trouble is the Emperor found out and threatened to marry me to his third cousin if I tried to get married without his permission. Man, he is a pain in the ass.’

‘What does his third cousin look like?’

‘Like a male.’

‘Seriously?’

The Chief shuddered, ‘Seriously!’

Charlie thought it was the funniest thing he had ever heard.

‘Man, he just loves riding your pony.’

‘I’m not a man, and what’s a pony?’

Even on the fast freighter it took a week to get to the Ortea home world. The two spent their time relaxing in the officers’ club, watching movies and playing games; they even got drunk a couple of times.

When they reached the Ortea home world the freighter unloaded a huge herd of goats. Ortea workers came aboard with large hoses and began to spray the decks down. Rams pushed the water and muck out of the doors. The two watched the process.

‘Charlie!’

Charlie turned to find Commander Morval Oralia coming towards him.

He shoved a fist out at Charlie and opened it. ‘I believe this is the traditional Human greeting.’

Charlie took the hand and shook it. ‘How are you Morval?’

‘Fine Charlie, it’s good to see you. I was told the Modloch Chief Engineer and escort were coming, I never dreamed it would be a Human.’

‘The Chief and I go back a long way, we are good friends. He asked me to be an escort so here I am.’

‘I don’t blame him.’

The Chief stuck his hand out, ‘Just call me Chief.’

Morval took it. ‘A pleasure to meet you Chief. I am Commander Morval Oralia. Just call me Morval. I am your liaison officer.’

‘No ship yet?’ Charlie asked.

Morval snarled a little. ‘They say I am too damn unlucky, no one wants to fly with a guy who has had two ships blown out from under him.’

Charlie laughed. ‘They might have something there.’

Morval shrugged in a very Human way. ‘Who cares, it’s a break from the war and I get to go home every night, right?’

‘Are you enjoying the peace?’

Morval scratched himself behind the ear. ‘I don’t know Charlie. A lot of guys are on a knife edge. We keep expecting the shit to hit the fan any minute, as your friend used to say. The big question is, can we trust these bastards?’

‘I wouldn’t trust them any further than I could throw them.’

‘Hey! Am I invisible?’ The Chief protested.

‘We aren’t talking about grunts like us Chief. It’s those bastards that are in charge. Would you trust your Emperor?’ Charlie asked.

The Chief’s eyes rolled a couple of times. ‘You know damn well I don’t.’

The three laughed.

Morval was curious. ‘Did you ever fight in this sector Chief?’

‘Can’t say I did.’ The Chief admitted. ‘Anyway, engineers don’t fight. We run about the engine room like idiots trying to keep the ship operational. Our lives depend entirely on the skills of the Captain. I was lucky, I served with Admiral Gairloch from an early stage. He liked to take his experienced men with him wherever he went. He was also the Emperor’s brother, so he always got the men he wanted. He kept me safe until he went through the great barrier. I am the only survivor.’

‘Wow! You went through the barrier and returned to tell the tale? I need to be having drinks with you.’

‘We can all pull up a sandbag later if you want.’ Charlie stated. ‘Let’s get this show on the road.’

They spent the rest of the day moving around from one ship to the other. Almost all the engineers were Dent.

‘Explain something to me Morval.’ Charlie started.

‘What?’

‘How come all the engineers are Dent? How come none of them tried to escape?’

Morval frowned. ‘After the initial attack by the Dent, a couple of thousand years ago, a huge portion of our population starved to death. There was a terrible shortage of skills. Most of those who attacked us were slaughtered for food, but some of them however had skills we needed. They were enslaved. Over the centuries things began to change. Our people fought to defend the planet; the Dent began to make up the shortfall in skills that were needed to keep everything working back home.

‘I’m not exactly sure when, but our leader back then told the Dent that if they established their own schools, taught their own people, the top ones would be exempt from being eaten, as would their children. Over the years it led to very few Dent being eaten and we had to make up the shortfall elsewhere. The three grand commanders have now given them equal rights as citizens. It wasn’t just Dent though. If you had a skill we were short of, then the chances were you could not only survive, but survive well. Half our cities are still empty, or half empty. I don’t think there is a single person living in what was once considered the poor quarters.

‘I’m not sure if that answers your question Charlie. The Dent became half of us. The smart half. They have little or no fighting skills, but they are very tech smart.’

‘Pretty much the same as every engineer. As I said, we depend on the skills of the Captains to keep us alive.’ The Chief had become thoughtful. ‘It became a symbiotic relationship; still is. The Emperor asked me to look out for a couple of Modloch engineers who returned here after a period of captivity to resume the jobs they had before they were released, and they took their families with them.’

‘That sounds weird.’ Charlie decided.

Morval shook his head. ‘Not really. A top-class engineer gets their pick of places to stay.’

The Chief agreed with Morval. ‘At home we are moved about according to our family size. Apartments aren’t that big, the walls are paper thin, everyone lives on top of everyone else. You’ve seen it for yourself Charlie.’

‘I suppose. It’s like that on Earth in some places, but for the most part folk have a choice of kind. They can move away from the cities if they want.’

‘You mean if they have the skill sets required in the place they want to move to?’

Charlie found he had to agree with the Chief. ‘You got a good point. I suppose there are people in the poverty trap back home that can’t get out of it.’

Morval had wondered away a few feet to make a call. He came back. ‘I found your engineers, they are working in a major power facility underground. I can try and make arrangements to meet them if you want.’

‘I would like that.’

Morval nodded. ‘The problem is Charlie, we know you are from a builder’s ship, and you can be tracked by your ship.’

‘It has to be in orbit for that to happen. My ship is light years away.’

‘I will see what I can do.’

Chapter 31

The Chief and Charlie met two Modloch engineers on the shores of an underground sea. Charlie had been cleared after a few hours. They had spent the journey blindfolded and both were completely disorientated by the time they reached their destination. The blindfolds were removed at a station of some kind. There was quite a bit of movement. Some females and children were quite colourfully dressed, but the males seemed to be in uniforms of one kind or another. The trains were almost silent but still clearly recognisable to Charlie as trains.

The train on the platform filled up and moved off. Charlie noticed there were half a dozen lines of some kind. A bell rang and a clear barrier came down on the platform. Charlie was curious and watched. A few seconds later there was a blur as a train passed through.

‘Wow! That was fast.’

The Chief had also been observing. The bell rang again and the barrier was raised. ‘It’s going so fast it must create a vacuum. The barrier must be to stop people getting sucked off the platform.’

‘Amazing.’

It took another hour to reach the inland sea. They had to walk the last half mile. The two Modloch were sitting on a pier with their families laughing.

They got up and greeted the trio.

‘What are you doing?’ The Chief asked.

The older answered for them. ‘We are going fishing. We are just waiting for the right time.’

‘What for?’

‘Luxury goods. We can trade whatever we catch. There is little use for money down here. Food has more value. We are catching Trill tonight, a little shrimp like thing, but the Ortea go nuts for it.’

‘Why did you come back?’

‘They told us we could. We work on a power plant, it’s about ten minutes from here on the train. I have to admit it was a bit scary when we first got caught. Most of the people on the ship ended up in the stew pot, but as first-class engineers we were offered a job instead. Their engineering is a little different, but excellent. Then we were introduced to a new way of life. We loved it. When we were told that we could come back, we dragged the wife and kids with us.’

‘May I talk to your wife?’

‘Yeah sure.’ He indicated the female just to the side.

‘May I ask what you think of it so far?’

Her eyes gleamed, ‘I thought he was gone forever. The company he worked for was quite mean, and I struggled on his pension. When he returned, it was a miracle, then he tried to drag us back here. I was too scared at first, but he told me he was going anyway. I had a choice, I chose to stay with my husband, but I am so glad I did. The children are receiving a far better education, the house is wonderful, and the fishing is fun, we can do it as a family. The seaweed took a bit of getting used to, but we are now beginning to get grass products, so it isn’t as bad.’

‘You like it here?’

‘Love it, I miss the sunlight of course, but at the weekends we travel to the surface for the whole day. It’s fun, the children love it.’

While the Chief talked to the families, Charlie took a video on his phone of their surroundings. The city itself was quite big, but the dome they were in was huge. The whole place gleamed. Charlie likened it to a black glass. Even the dome above their heads seemed to be made of the black glass. It reflected the light from the city straight back down to the ground again. He had to admit it was beautiful.

‘How was this built?’ He asked the younger of the Modloch engineers.

‘It is a kind of microwave technology. It heats the rocks to melting point. The magma produced is taken away in a carefully shielded pipe, to keep the temperature of the magma up so it keeps flowing. At the other end, it is allowed to flow into carefully created moulds, which mould the cooling magma into any shape you want. It’s normally different types of bricks and building blocks. By the time a cavern is constructed, they have all the building materials they need to build a city. Saying that, I don’t believe they have built a city for quite some time.’

‘So the cities are built from the same rock that they extract to make these huge caverns?’

‘That’s it. Big machines will take a plan and lay the blocks into any shape of building you want. The same microwaves that melt the rock are used to fuse the building blocks together; on a smaller scale of course.’

‘Very neat.’

‘Different rock gives different colours of building blocks. It makes every city unique. Some are quite beautiful.’

‘Is this one made up of a kind of black obsidian?’

‘No idea, I’m an engineer not a geologist.’

Charlie’s mind began to race. He pulled Morval to the side.

‘Morval, what do they do with the excess blocks that they can’t use from building these cities?’

‘How the hell should I know?’

‘Okay, I want you to get in touch with some of your high command and find out that answer. I also want a legal finance guy to speak to, and tell them not to let that Human freighter leave the surface of the planet yet.’

‘I can’t do all that Charlie.’

‘Yes you can Morval, and do it now.’

Morval walked away. He talked into his communicator for almost twenty minutes before he came back to Charlie.

‘I have our top financial guy on the line, he wants to know what this is about before he goes any further.’

Charlie took the communicator from him. ‘Hello.’

‘My name is Dong Mings, what can I help you with Captain?’

‘I take it you have no financial ties with the rest of the federation?’

‘That is correct, but so what?’

‘Would you like some?’

The was a pause and a short barking laugh, ‘Of course, but what can a mere Captain do for us?’

‘When I was a mere Sergeant, I set up the PD music company of Earth. Have you heard of it?’

‘Only recently, but yes, I have heard of it. Okay, if what you say is possible Captain, then I am very interested.’

‘I can have the PD company set up a bank account for you, so that our peoples can trade with one another.’

‘I see, and through you, we can trade with other planets.’

‘That’s right.’

‘I’m listening Captain, a little sceptical maybe, but I am listening.’

‘Good, I want to know what you do with the building blocks that come out of these caverns, the ones you don’t use to build anything with.’

There was a slight pause. ‘They are in huge dumps on the planet’s surface. I think all are covered by layers of sand in the vast deserts. Why?’

‘Because I want to buy them off you.’

‘Seriously!’

‘Seriously. I need you to stop that fast freighter from taking off, and I need to get in touch with my ship.’

‘Do you mind if I meet you on the surface?’

‘Not at all. I also need to know if you have machines that can quickly fill a freighter with those blocks.’

‘I will find out. Could you put Commander Oralia back on?’

Charlie handed the phone back.

Within a couple of hours, Charlie was back on the surface, leaving the Chief with the Modloch families. The freighter Captain wasn’t looking amused.

He growled at Charlie. ‘This had better be good, we are on a tight schedule, one that is all to pot already because we had to pick you up on route.’

‘Toss it out the window, you are probably going nowhere for days.’

He shook his head. ‘Your funeral. Ambassador Gordon, our chief financial aid to the President, and the President himself are on the line.’

‘Excellent.’

The three of them were on screen waiting for Charlie and Dong Mings in the briefing room.

‘Stevie, Mr President, stranger.’

Stevie laughed, ‘Hey Charlie, what you up to?’

‘Nice to see you again Captain Murison. This is our financial director, Couper Angus. I told him that you were the one responsible for setting up PD music.’

‘Captain Murison, a pleasure, you are a legend in the financial world. I have to admit I’m quite excited to be called into a meeting with you like this.’

‘In that case gentlemen, I will get down to brass tacks. Now we have been with the banks for a couple of years, we are allowed to set up subsidiary accounts, aren’t we?’

‘That’s right Captain, but as yet we have had no reason to,’ Couper answered.

‘Well we do now. Set up an account, the PD building company. Liaise with the financial director of the planet here, Dong Mings. I will explain briefly: the Ortea live in huge caverns underground. These caverns are made by melting the rocks, turning it into magma, which is then put into moulds and set. Most of those are moulds of building blocks. Machines then build their dwellings, fusing the blocks together. I have just seen a whole city made from black obsidian. Now I’m no builder, but I will lay a bet they never used half the stone they took out to build it. It would seem all their cities are made like this, built from the stone they took out. They are all unique. The spare stone is kept in dumps out on the surface. Vast dumps. I propose to buy it in bulk, ship it home to Earth, and sell it there. The money can go into this subsidiary account and straight back to the Ortea. Building stone is not on the prohibited list.’

‘Can you see a profit in this Captain?’ Couper asked Charlie.

‘What film or pop star wouldn’t want a new house built with stone taken from an alien planet? We are also suppling the Ortea with food and seed, but I believe there is little profit in it. It is also only the bare essentials. This will give the Ortea revenue they can use to buy directly from us.’

Steven took a hand in the proceedings. ‘I will buy the first load Charlie. If I make a profit, the PD company can take over from me if it wishes.’

Couper disagreed. ‘That will be unnecessary Captain Gordon. We will do it, but instead of just shipping tons of rock Captain Murison, can you fill the first ship with samples of the rock and an idea of the quantity they have available?’

Charlie looked to the financial director. ‘Yes, certainly.’ Dong Mings confirmed.

Couper was pleased. ‘Now we will have to discuss a price.’

‘I have no objection to giving the samples away for free if you set up this account for us.’ Dong Mings suggested.

Charlie stepped back. ‘In that case I think I should let you gentlemen get on with it; you are more than capable of thrashing out the details on your own.’

‘I am quite sure we can. But could I have a few minutes to talk to the Captain in private please?’ Asked the Ortea.

They all agreed and Dong Mings accompanied Charlie out into the corridor.

‘Thank you for this opportunity Captain. What percentage would you like?’

‘I don’t take a percentage, I’m not interested.’

‘Are you so wealthy from your deal with the PD music company?’

‘I have never made a penny from that.’

‘Don’t you get paid by the company?’

‘Oh hell no! I only get my wages as a soldier. It’s all I need.’

‘Are all Humans like you?’

‘Very few. A lot are very greedy. The only person who made any money from that deal is the Chief underground right now. He was our initial sponsor, and I kinda twisted his arm to do it.’

‘How could an engineer possibly have that kind of clout?’

‘He was once an Ambassador to Earth, the only survivor to make it back alive from the ship the Burning Wind.’

‘I read a little of that. So that’s him?’

‘It certainly is.’

‘I am beginning to get the full picture now. This is probably the most important thing that has happened to us so far Captain. A foothold in the finances of the galactic family. If we make money, we could probably begin to purchase spare parts for our ships instead of making them ourselves.’

‘From what I have seen so far, your people have great skill sets, the Chief said so himself. Your engineers are doing repairs on stuff, making parts themselves, an art that the Chief said is almost lost within the federation. Old school he called it; don’t lose that.’

‘I will convey that to my superiors.’

Charlie broke away from the director and made his way back to the air lock where Morval was waiting.

The Captain caught him just before he reached it. ‘I just got orders to stay where we are for an indefinite length of time. Thanks!’

The sarcasm wasn’t lost on Charlie. ‘Were you going to be doing anything else?’

The question caught the Captain off guard. ‘Uh! No, don’t suppose so.’

‘Then stop being such a colossal prick about it.’  Charlie was about to swing away but hesitated. ‘You have an opportunity here few get Captain. You might get stuck for a week or two, I don’t know. You have federation money, get underground and buy some souvenirs. Sell them for ten times what they are worth. Make an impromptu documentary, sell it to some news company when you get home. How much do you think a bottle of Ortea whiskey would bring at home?’ Charlie walked away.

He met up with Morval again. ‘You don’t look happy Charlie.’

‘I’m beginning to think I’m turning into a bloody financier.’

‘Not good.’

Charlie sighed long and hard, ‘I wonder if there is a nice wee war going on somewhere…’

‘You’re joking!’ Charlie gave him one of his looks and Morval sniggered. ‘Yeah okay Charlie, so what is your thing?’

‘I think the happiest I’ve ever been was when I was a Sergeant training soldiers.’

‘You weren’t always an officer?’

‘Oh hell no.’

‘Foot soldier.’

‘Aye, infantry.’

‘Seen a lot of war?’

‘Too much probably. We had better go find the Chief.’

‘I heard he has gone fishing with those Modloch families. They asked permission for him to stay the night; it was granted.’

‘So it’s just me then.’

‘I will show you to your quarters.’

‘Fine.’

‘It’s in the same city I live in. Do you want to meet the wife and kids?’

‘Love to, but please don’t ask me to stay for dinner. I’m not allowed to eat people.’

Morval shook his head. ‘Don’t worry I won’t.’

Chapter 32

A federation destroyer picked them up a few days later. They then cross-decked to a Human destroyer. Their bunk space was pretty cramped, especially for the Chief. Charlie had been brooding a bit, but the Chief was in high spirits.

‘What’s the matter Charlie?’

Charlie shrugged. ‘I just hope that this isn’t some federation plan to rescue all their citizens from that planet and then wipe it out.’

‘I don’t think it is.’

Charlies eyes flicked up. ‘Why not?’

‘I think the Emperor and Emperor Ne´ are up to something.’

‘Like what?’

‘I’m not sure. I was asked to evaluate a number of things. One of them was whether the Dent would be able to instruct Human engineers.’

‘Was that what you were doing at that school?’

‘The answer to that question would be yes. The Dent are a smaller race than us Modloch, they would fit in the downsized Human ships much easier than a Modloch engineer. I have to say I really enjoyed that trip.’

‘What was the fishing like?’

‘It was a wonder Charlie. The krill they were after are a bit like Human shrimp. They come in a gigantic swarm, and they glow. It’s blue Charlie, the same colour as the lights those young men have on their cars back on earth. It lit up the whole cavern with this beautiful blue glow. We hauled them in by the net-full, by hand and winch. The children had their own small nets, I helped them. I don’t think I have ever had so much fun. We sold them on the back market.’

‘You mean black market?’

‘No, it’s called the back market. There are dozens of vessels out there fishing, it’s like a race to get the best spots. The big vessels work for the government and the catch is shared out. The back market is for private catches. The Ortea have a currency, you can get cash or trade. The children are saving up for things they just couldn’t get at home. I haven’t enjoyed myself so much in years. Their houses were amazing as well, compared to those on our home world that is. Plenty room to have bigger families. Amazing. What about you Charlie? I never got to see your quarters.’

‘It wasn’t too far from Morval’s house. His kids are a bloody menace. Six of them all the same age. They were all over me. I was glad to get away. The quarters were okay I suppose. Not much different to what we would expect at home. The stone there was speckled blue, it was nice.’

‘The stone, right, how did that go?’

‘The freighter left a few hours before we did. Seemingly it took longer to choose the stones than load them. We will just have to wait and see how it goes.’

‘You don’t seem to have enjoyed the trip Charlie?’

‘It was okay I suppose. Last night I got to play with some of their marines.’

‘You must have enjoyed that.’

‘Morval did, I had to put a couple of them in their places, especially their drill Sergeant.’

‘Did you punch him out?’

‘A punch and a kick did it. Then I ran his men ragged around an assault course. I beat them at everything; they were not happy. Totally demoralised. Another drill Sergeant appeared then. He was an unarmed combat expert. After I dislocated both his arms, they all quietened down. There wasn’t a single one of them that didn’t want to kill me. They were very prideful. I think if they were armed, they would have.’

‘Not so much fun then.’

‘No, Morval thought it was a hoot though. He loved the fact they got taken down a peg or two. He doesn’t like them much, says they are too full of themselves.’

‘Elitist unit huh?’

‘Aye, it would seem the universe is full of them.’

Chapter 33

‘Let me put you in the picture Ambassadors.’ It was a Colonel from the intelligence services who was briefing them. ‘Early this morning the Emperor’s bio-domes were raided and all of the beekeepers were abducted.’ Steven and Komoru looked at each other, both were in shock.

He went on. ‘The Emperor is going nuts. He has sent out whole battle fleets to stop every freighter that has come and gone in the past few days.’

‘Any idea who did this?’ Steven asked.

‘It is obvious who is responsible Ambassador: the Albany. The problem is that it is an inside job.’

‘How do we know that?’

‘The whole of Modloch space is monitored from the moment you enter this solar system until the time you leave. There isn’t a single ship recorded going anywhere near the domes. If that is the case, the Emperor is chasing his tail, if he had one. The chances are, whatever ship took them is also not on the record either.’

‘You mean the Emperor is going to stop every freighter that stopped here, but the one that is the real culprit will get away.’

‘It is worse than that. The stopping of these freighters could cause a political backlash. Only federation vessels have the right to search and detain, unless within the area of that race’s space. By the time they catch up with the real culprit, or many of the freighters, they could well be outside Modloch space.’

‘So how can we help?’

‘The Emperor is screaming for you and your special interpreter. Right now, he has imprisoned all the staff who were on duty during the suspected hours of abduction and the whole damn system is grinding to a halt. Ever ship here is to be searched as well. It is a mess.’

‘I will get right on it then.’

The intelligence man cleared his throat. ‘May I ask who this special interpreter is?’

‘No, you may not.’

‘That isn’t very nice of you Ambassador. We are aware that good quality information has been flowing between you other departments and important officials; however, nothing comes directly to us. We would like to redress that balance. We insist that anything of value that you come across should come directly to us.’

Steven studied the man for a moment. ‘That isn’t going to happen.’

‘You don’t understand Ambassador, this is not a request.’

‘You don’t understand. You and your kind do not step foot on board my ship, ever. If I ever discover that you have tried to infiltrate my ship, the consequences will be very severe.’

He smirked unpleasantly. ‘You can’t threaten us Ambassador.’

‘You’re right, I can’t threaten you directly, but I can stop building new ships. I can stop building projects all round the world and in our solar system, you know, all the things you have no control over. Do you people really think that I can’t hurt you?’ The intelligence officer went tight-lipped, but didn’t answer. ‘No I didn’t think so. Keep out of my business, or I will smash your little community with a sledgehammer. I will pass whatever information I gain directly to whomever I believe needs it. If that is you, then it will come to you. Am I making myself clear?’

‘Perfectly.’

‘Good.’

Steven and Komoru communicated silently on their way back to their ships.

‘When is Charlie due back Steven?’

‘He should be back already.’ He concentrated and got an answer from Babes. ‘He has been back for half an hour. Babes is bringing him up to speed.’

When they docked with Babes, Charlie had changed and was waiting for them.

‘Hey Stevie, Komoru. We just received a transmission, the Emperor is waiting for us at the transport point on the city ship.’

‘No time for a coffee?’ Steven suggested.

‘He is waiting in person Stevie, and has been for about twenty minutes.’

‘Oh shit!’

‘Steven!’ Komoru chided him.

‘Sorry. It’s Charlie, he is a bad influence.’

‘Charlie!’ She grumped.

‘Great, I get the blame for everything. We going or what?’

‘You ready Komoru?’

‘Hi.’

Steven took a deep breath, ‘Let’s go then.’

A few seconds later they arrived on the city ship.

The Modloch Emperor was in a terrible mood. Those around him had never seen him so angry.

Gord gave Charlie a look as soon as he saw him. Charlie opened his mind. Thank the Human gods he is here.

The Emperor strode over and barely acknowledged Steven and Komoru with a simple nod. He looked down at Charlie who had composed his face into stone.

‘I need your special skills.’

‘Lead on.’

‘Walk beside me.’ Charlie fell into step. ‘I need you to work your magic Captain. If you discover the culprits, you will be well rewarded.’

‘I don’t need any reward. Just try and keep your friend off my friends’ back.’

The Emperor scowled for a moment, then he realised what Charlie was talking about.

‘I already talked to him and warned him off. Don’t worry about the female.’

Charlie’s mind was completely open now and he realised the Emperor was telling the truth. ‘Thank you.’

They arrived at a small shuttle terminal. Charlie and the Emperor, along with his guard got into the first one, Steven, Komoru and the ragtag of officials got into the following ones. As soon as they were alone the Emperor opened up.

‘I have hundreds of men and officers under arrest. Everything has ground to a halt. I need this resolved quickly, which is why I requested your presence.’

‘I understand. I need a room you can bring the men into one at a time. If possible I want to view them, but do not want them to view me. I need only a single officer in the room, the oldest, friendliest face you have.’

The Emperor frowned. ‘I don’t understand, that’s not how we do things.’

‘How do you expect me to read their body language if they are all quaking with fear?’

‘Ah! I see.’

‘Ask them a few standard questions, put them at ease, then ask them if they know anything about what happened. I will be able to read their response. If it’s done right, they need not need be in there any longer than a few minutes. I will need some way of talking to the interrogator too. If they are innocent he smiles happily, tells them they are free to return to work, and you send them back out the way they came past the line. That gives them the chance to talk to their friends, let them know it is going to be okay, just tell the truth, everything will be fine.’

A sparkle returned to the Emperor’s eyes. ‘A simple deception. Yes, it should work.’

‘Deception! I sincerely hope that if they are innocent then you will let then return home.’

‘They are all guilty of dereliction of duty.’

‘Each of them were fooled in one way or another into believing that it was just a normal evening. Until you discover exactly how they were fooled, you cannot blame them.’

‘I can do what I want.’

‘Do you really want to start a pissing contest with me right now?’

The Emperor rolled an eye downwards. ‘It is probably the only physical contest I could win against you Captain.’

Charlie was caught flatfooted by the remark and suddenly burst out laughing. ‘I think you would win that one outright sir.’

The Emperor also burst out laughing. ‘I would only deprive them of a week’s wages, something like that.’

‘That sounds fair to me. Just don’t tell them that until after we have interviewed all of them.’

‘I won’t. I will savour that decision until we know for sure how it happened.’

It didn’t take long to set up. The Emperor was alone with Charlie, but they both had communications to those outside the small booth in one of the city ship’s police stations. The interviewer looked simple to even Charlie. A quick dip into his mind told Charlie he was anything but simple. He understood exactly what was expected of him.

The first one came in, petrified for his life. Charlie waited until he had visibly relaxed a bit.

‘Innocent.’

He was allowed to leave and was ushered out. Within fifteen minutes they were coming in nice and relaxed, almost smiling. They were seventy into the process when one showed signs of nerves. Charlie didn’t have to tell the interviewer, he spotted it as easily. They went through the routine, and Charlie read the man’s mind.

‘He is innocent, but he is hiding something.’ Charlie communicated to the interviewer.

‘A moment please, I need to pee. An old man’s bladder you understand.’

The old man joined the two in the back booth. He looked down at Charlie. ‘You are right, he is hiding something, but why do you think he is innocent?’

‘Look at his expression and the way he is fidgeting. He isn’t in mortal fear for his own safety. He has just seen seventy of his fellows come out alive and in good cheer, but he has something on his mind. He saw one of his superiors do something, and doesn’t quite know what to do.’

‘Why a superior?’

‘A superior, or a friend. Something is holding him back from speaking.’

The old man studied the operator carefully. ‘I can see the nuances in his behaviour now you have pointed them out. You’re right, he doesn’t seem in fear of his life, but he is still nervous. He must know the interview is almost over.’

‘He wants to speak. The thing is, he will be betraying someone.’

‘His only loyalty is to me.’ Growled the Emperor.

They both gave him a glance. ‘How do you suggest I proceed?’

Charlie suddenly smiled. ‘I think the Emperor should go in and remind him of his obligations to talk about anyone he suspects.’

Before anyone could say anything more the Emperor took off out of the door. The operator was visibly shocked and jumped to his feet. The Emperor was easily a full head taller; he looked down his nose in the most regal manner at his disposal.

‘My people tell me you are innocent of all crimes, but you know something. Your only loyalty is to me. Speak of what is on your mind, or feel my wrath.’

The operator sank slowly to his knees. ‘Forgive me my Emperor.’ The Emperor walked back out and was replaced moments later by the old guy.

‘Please get up. Sit down. Now, tell me what is on your mind.’

He gulped very loudly. ‘Last night I was asked to leave my post by my commanding officer.’

‘I see, what is your post?’

‘I have a supervisory position in the department that monitors the other side of the sun.’

‘Where everything happened last night. I see. Are you allowed to leave your post?’

‘Only during official breaks, or when commanded to do so by a superior officer.’

‘I see, so what were you ordered to do?’

‘Go fetch him a Ganblah from the canteen sir.’

‘Is that unusual?’

‘He normally has his runner do it, but he never turned up last night for some reason.’

‘So, you didn’t think anything of the command, am I right?’

‘There are a dozen other operators lower in rank than I am. I thought it was strange. I checked the footage of the time I was away, but there was nothing unusual at all. In fact, there was no traffic whatsoever.’

‘Is that unusual?’

‘No, not at all.’

‘Nothing else?’

‘No sir.’

Charlie confirmed it.

‘You have done your duty, and done it well. You may go home.’

Charlie looked up at the Emperor. ‘Why is your face contorted in murderous rage?’

‘Can you read me so damn easily?’

‘Aye.’

The Emperor sighed. ‘I should have had you executed a long time ago.’

Charlie barked a laugh. ‘Again huh!’

The Emperor frowned, he knew this Human well enough to know that he wasn’t referring to their first real meeting. ‘Why shouldn’t I kill that operator?’

‘He did his job, and he did it well. He was suspicious of his officer and he checked all the traffic coming and going while he had been away. How many have we talked to already that the same thing happened to, but the operators thought it perfectly normal and have said nothing?’

‘Then why didn’t he report it last night?’

‘Who to? His commanding officer? Can we please take a bite of the reality cherry here? What the officer did was well within regulations, or so it seems. I bet even you don’t know them.’

‘Of course I don’t know an operator’s regulations.’

‘Makes sense though.’

‘What does?’

Charlie got on his communicator. ‘Can you come in for a moment?’

The old man appeared and smiled congenially. ‘Yes, what can I do for you?’

‘You have that operator’s details?’

‘Yes, he is a section chief, although not an officer. Wonderful record, commended for excellence a number of times. His impediment to officer rank is his low born status. That’s about it.’

‘If his commanding officer did something wrong while at his station, then that must be the level where you can affect the whole system. I know nothing about this stuff. To move this process along we need to talk to all the section chiefs. Start with the non-officer, ones like him.’

‘You suspect my officers?’ The Emperor snorted.

‘You know I’m not really a Captain, right!’

‘You are an officer now, whether you like it or not.’

‘That would be not then.’

The Emperor shook his head. ‘You were a commoner far too long.’

‘We are becoming side-tracked.’ The old guy interrupted.

Charlie and the Emperor scowled at each other.

‘The Captain has a point, your highness. The officers have more knowledge of the system and higher clearances. They are also a closed club. If there were one or two involved in any way, the chances are they would not have colluded with the ordinary ranks.’

‘Good point Master Binns. You see Charlie, there is a proper way to say things.’

‘I will try and bear that in mind, so as not to cause so much offence wherever I go.’

‘Now you are thinking like an officer.’

A major reshuffle of the waiting operators was undergone and results started to come faster. Although each of them were innocent, each of them had been asked by an officer to undertake some strange mission during their shift. The Emperor was livid. So far six of his officers had been indicted in some kind of conspiracy. The chief interrogator suggested allowing the men back to their work and concentrating on the officers; the Emperor agreed. It was then things began to go wrong. None of the suspected officers could be found. An immediate alert went out; all officers were recalled. There were a dozen missing.

The Modloch security services went into overdrive, Charlie was dragged from place to place, meeting to meeting. Three hours later it looked like they were getting nowhere.

Charlie and the chief interrogator were standing at the side of a large hall. The Emperor was berating an officer at the other side. They were so far away they couldn’t hear what he was saying.

‘Who is that?’ Charlie asked.

The interrogator glanced up from the pad. ‘The Chief of the division. Why?’

‘Because he is hiding something.’

That got the interrogator’s attention. ‘What?’

‘I’m not quite sure what the Emperor is saying, but whatever it is, the answers he is getting are contrived and lies.’

In fact, Charlie was right inside his head, and knew he had found the culprit. The problem was how to convey it; he was already sending the details to Steven.

‘Are you sure Human?’

‘Positive, that’s our man.’

‘We will need to work quickly. Give me some questions.’

The Modloch began to move and Charlie stayed by his side.

‘What do you two want?’ Snapped the Emperor. ‘I thought I told you to stay back.’

The interrogator bowed to the Emperor but directed a question directly at the General.

‘General Molava, do you know anything about this incident?’

‘No, what, who the hell are you?’

‘He is lying.’ Charlie glanced at the Emperor who looked fit to burst.

‘Who is this Human? How dare he call me a liar!’

‘Please answer my questions General. Do you know what has happened to your officers?’

‘I will not answer you.’ He spluttered.

‘He knows something.’ Charlie interrupted.

‘Answer the questions.’ The Emperor growled. A strange stillness had come over him.

‘Do you know what has happened to your officers?’ The interrogator asked again.

‘No I do not.’

‘He is lying.’ Charlie kept his voice neutral.

‘Do you know how this managed to come about?’

‘No.’

‘He is lying.’

‘General, are you responsible for all of this?’

‘No I am not.’

‘He is lying. That’s your man.’

The Emperor cranked his head round and down. ‘Are you sure Captain?’

‘Positive; in fact, for the last and final time, I will stake my life on it. If I am proved wrong, you can execute me.’ The Emperor seemed to be having a very hard time taking it in. ‘Trust me.’

The Emperor cranked his head back round. ‘Which ship took them away?’

‘I have no idea, this is preposterous!’ The General roared in defiance.

An image flashed into Charlie’s mind and he sent it to Steven.

The Emperor called in his guard. ‘Gord, take the General into custody.’

The General’s eyes fixed onto Charlie, ‘How dare you Human, you will pay for your lies!’ He went for his pistol, but Charlie was quicker. He locked his hand down on the General’s holster. He howled with indignation and a huge fist crashed towards Charlie, who caught the fist and squeezed. The General quickly forgot about his pistol. He howled in pain, sinking to his knees. Gord and his men arrived and quickly disarmed him. They dragged the General away.

The Emperor was looking down at Charlie with a pained expression on his face.

‘Does he mean something to you?’ Charlie asked.

‘He is my cousin, my childhood companion and one of my best friends. We went through everything together.’

‘I am truly sorry to hear that. They say it is lonely at the top.’

‘It seems to get lonelier with each passing year. I hope you are wrong.’

Charlie shook his head. ‘I wish I was. Sorry.’

‘Right or wrong, I will not hold you to account. You may go.’

Charlie bowed and a few seconds later dissolved in front of their eyes.

‘Where on Modloch did he go?’ The interrogator asked in surprise.

‘His ship has the capability to beam then anywhere, in or out. Matter transportation.’

‘Amazing.’ He sighed. ‘He could be wrong sir.

‘He is never wrong. Unfortunately. Let’s get his over and done with. I want the machine on him. Do not harm him any more than you have to.’

The interrogator bowed low. ‘I shall have all the answers for you in an hour’s time my Emperor.’

Chapter 34

‘Shouldn’t Charlie be at this meeting?’ Colonel Howe asked.

‘He has a severe migraine. We will need him later, let him rest.’ Steven answered. ‘Have you had any luck Hailey?’

‘Yes sir. Luckily for us the freighter, Malingus, passed close by a few days ago. We still have a record of their engine signature. It is a freighter from the Shewll Mining group, manned by many different species and renowned for taking on the kind of jobs that no one else will even look at. The company was first set up to carry ore and refined materials, but branched out about a hundred years ago into general freight. The freighter itself is a newer version and can travel a lot faster than the company’s normal ones, close to the speed of a modern destroyer in fact. We can travel faster, but it will still take us about two days to catch up. By then we will be in intergalactic space.’

‘Thank you Hailey.’ Steven looked across the table. ‘Dr Barnes, what is our legal position here?’

‘As far as I know we have none. We have no right to stop, seize or board that vessel. If we do so we will be breaking the law. All we can do is call in the federation forces.’

‘What if a Modloch battle group catches up to them?’

‘Same laws apply to them, but unless there is a Modloch battle group on station ready to cut them off, they won’t catch them before they are in enemy territory. Will the Emperor risk a conflict to get his bee keepers back?’

Steven shook his head. ‘I don’t know. Right now, I am thinking he would. We need to catch up with them and assess the situation.’

A few hours later Steven was back on the bridge. Sid Tulane spun his seat around.

‘Captain, there is a communique from Modloch high command to all vessels in their space. They have put out a stop and search of a freighter called the Malingus. It is a Royal Proclamation, with a huge reward. They are also looking for the engine signature for the Malingus.’

Steven thought it over. ‘Send the engine signature through the proper channels Sid.’

‘Yes sir.’

‘What’s going on Stevie?’ Buzz asked.

‘They must have broken the Emperor’s cousin. He has given up the name of the freighter, but it’s fairly obvious that he has deleted the engine signature of the freighter from their databases.’

‘Wouldn’t their military have it?’

‘Only if they passed close enough to a military vessel. It is easy enough to avoid them if you know where they are.’

‘Which they would do.’

Stevie scratched his head. ‘I imagine they would have stayed in civilian traffic lanes and hid among civilian traffic. Where did we encounter it Sid?’

‘We simply passed within a few thousand meters of each other in different lanes. I can give you the coordinates.’

‘No, I have no doubt that there will be many vessels that have recorded their engine signature in passing.’

Sid sent the signature. ‘Just received a communique from high command: thank you, they already have it.’

‘With that kind of reward they must have been inundated.’ Steven was nodding his head. ‘Anything else Sid?’

‘Yes sir, they are sending out a joint Human-Modloch taskforce to track it down, on our present bearing. It should be ready to go almost immediately.’

‘Hailey, can you put up on screen our present course and a projection of where the vessel may be now. I also want a projection of where they are going to be in two days’ time when we catch up with them, and a possible destination.’

‘Give me a couple of minutes sir.’

‘Certainly.’

It did only take her a few minutes. The forward screen lit up with heavenly bodies and a number of lines.

‘There are no major planets or solar systems on the course they are on sir.’

‘So where are they heading?’

‘It looks like Catatarac space, to an area we are very familiar with.’

‘The asteroid belt?’

‘Very close to it. Remember the Catatarac space station, the one that was taken over by their military?’

‘The one they towed their damaged ship to?’

‘That’s it sir. It’s the only thing on a direct path with them.’

‘I remember it. It must mean they are going to cross-deck their prisoners.’

‘You sure?’ Buzz asked.

‘Sure am bud. I think that will be our only chance of grabbing them. We can beam them straight out and make a run for it.’

‘Will we make it?’

‘Should do, we can go faster than anything they have; or the Albany for that matter. Let’s make a plan.’

‘Sounds good to me.’

‘It looks like we will catch up with them just shy of the border of Catatarac space.’

‘If a Modloch and Human fleet cross that border, will it mean war?’

‘Pretty much. I would imagine there is something pretty nasty waiting for them in there.’

Steven wasn’t wrong either. They caught up with the freighter just short of the border, but a full light year before that the freighter was surrounded by a Catatarac fleet. It wasn’t their only problem though. It had taken Charlie a full hour to get all the information that Steven required. The levels of concentration were so intense Charlie came down with another blinding migraine and Steven sent him to sick bay. It was up to Steven now to prepare a plan. He gathered the men he required. Komoru was linked into the briefing from Ico.

‘I will begin this briefing by saying some of you will know how I have came about this information and some won’t. For those of you who don’t, please don’t ask.’ There was a small chuckle.

‘If the fact that we are now surrounded by a Catatarac fleet isn’t bad enough, I have even more bad news. The captives are not being held in a nice cell as we first expected. They are all in stasis chambers. This means we can’t beam them up. To do so would be to kill them instantly. Colonel Howe, what are our chances of survival if we assault the freighter or the ship they are cross-decked to?’

‘Virtually nil sir. It is simply too much of a risk. We can field a good number of men with the two honour guards, but we are still going to be outnumbered. If the information you gave me earlier is correct that is.’

‘It is. There are close to a hundred armed combatants in the hold with the chambers.’

Cookie made a suggestion. ‘Can’t we just beam them up, chambers and all?’

‘We can, but the moment we start beaming them up someone is going to notice. Right now we are running silent with little energy output. If the containers start disappearing, it won’t take them long to find us from our energy output.’

‘We could move about after each container.’ He suggested.

‘Another good idea Cookie; the chances of getting away are still quite slim though.’

Beaver had been sitting thoughtfully. He put his hand up.

‘Yes Beaver.’

‘There has to be a time when they will be unable to keep a close eye on them.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘They are going to have to move the containers from one ship to another, or even onto the station. That’s when they will be most vulnerable. If they are being moved around, it will be a lot harder to keep an eye on them.’

‘It will still be spotted Beaver.’

‘Not if we replace them.’

‘With what?’

‘Can’t we make mock ups? We have a few of our own, let’s copy those. They are pretty much all the same, the ones I have seen anyway. We could even put pretend bodies in them.’

‘So far it is the only idea we have of any merit. As you know we can’t beam anything anywhere while travelling at these speeds, so realistically it is the only time we can really effect a rescue.’

‘We need to get ahead of the game sir. Now they are with this battle group, they are travelling slower. We need to get to where they are going to make the exchange and form some kind of plan.’

‘Yes, but what if they stop short of the station and make an exchange there?’

‘It is possible, but why would they? The space station will have the facilities to quickly load and off load cargo.’

‘You mean why make an easy job hard?’

‘That’s exactly what I am saying. If they were going to cross-deck from one ship to another, why even come in this direction?’

‘Another good point Beaver.’ Steven took a deep breath. ‘Let’s go for it; let’s try and get ahead of the game. I will get both ships to start making stasis chambers right away. Colonel, would you like to come with me to see the Doctor? Those stasis chambers have viewing ports, which means we will have to recreate the faces of all of the captured individuals. Do we even have pictures of them? We’ll also need a device that’ll give out readings, as if there’s a real person inside them. I am sure the Doctor has records of all the readings from the stasis chambers we recovered on the Black Planet.’

A short while later they were discussing possibilities with the Doctor. She went onto her computer.

‘We should have all of them on record, they are company employees.’

Steven scratched his head. ‘I completely forgot about that.’

A line of thumbnails appeared on screen. ‘Here we are, they are all here.’

‘What about the rest of it?’

‘I don’t see why it’s not possible. A little ballistics gel, some 3D modelling and artificial wigs should do it. I was reading the report. By the looks of things, they were having breakfast when they were taken. The chances are they would have been dressed in the company boiler suits.’

Steven frowned. ‘I thought they were taken in the middle of the night?’

She gave him a funny look. ‘The middle of the night on the Modloch home world. The bio-domes work on Earth time, it was breakfast time.’

‘Makes perfect sense.’ Howe agreed. ‘It is easier to abduct people if they are all up, dressed and gathered in the same place at the same time.’

‘What about reproducing life signs?’

‘It’s easy, there are such things as testing units. The ship can build them and we just fit them in.’

‘Then let’s get to it, we don’t have a lot of time on our hands.’

‘Can I get some help?’

‘As much as you want.’

Chapter 35

It was Colonel Howe who disturbed Charlie. He knocked on the door and Charlie commanded it to open.

‘How are you doing Captain?’

‘Colonel Howe, this is a surprise.’

The Colonel studied Charlie lying back on his bed. ‘I know you don’t have to stand up and salute me Captain, but it would be nice if you opened your eyes.’

‘I have my eyes switched off Colonel. Even if I opened them, I wouldn’t see you.’

‘Are the headaches that bad?’

‘They were. Not so bad now though.’

‘Are you on meds?’

‘Just get to the point Colonel, what is it you want me to do?’

‘We have just arrived at the Catatarac forward base and found a whole Albany fleet waiting here. I have a feeling there may be more ships nearby. In a few hours, the Modloch and Human fleet will reach Catatarac space. If they enter it, I want to know if they are going to be ambushed.’

Charlie sat up and opened his eyes. ‘Can you find the command vessel?’

‘We have it.’

‘Then get me close.’

An hour later Charlie stood in front of a star map and began marking in positions.

‘That’s where they are.’

‘It is an ambush then.’

‘Big nasty one. An invasion of Catatarac space by hostile forces. It’s meant to teach us a lesson.’ Leaden steps took Charlie towards the door.

‘Are you okay Charlie?’ Steven asked.

‘No I’m not Stevie. This has got to stop. Twenty years in the army never killed me, I am damn sure you’re not going to either.’

‘Sorry man, it’s an emergency.’

‘There is always going to be an emergency.’ Charlie shuffled out.

‘Do you really think it is that bad sir?’ Howe asked.

‘I am afraid it is Colonel. If Charlie was fully Human, he would have been dead months ago.’

‘Seriously?’

‘Too much strain causes haemorrhaging on his brain, basically a stroke. According to the Doctor, Charlie has suffered nearly a dozen since arriving on this ship. Charlie doesn’t complain much, but she is sure the pain is equivalent, or ever worse than, an acute migraine.’

‘I didn’t know that.’

‘Right now we need to get this information to the fleet.’

It took them an hour to make direct contact. Steven assured Admiral Baxter that they were on top of the situation. Twenty minutes later Baxter assured him that they would stop on the edge of Catatarac space and begin to go through diplomatic channels. Steven slipped back into the large Albany fleet. He noticed that the ships looked brand new.

A single battle cruiser had docked with the space station. It was time to get to work.

Chapter 36

Cookie slipped behind some containers on the space station. The suit and helmet he was wearing shimmered slightly as it took on the appearance of his background. He knew he wasn’t invisible, but close to it. They had been beamed across to the space station, in the area likely to be used by the freighter. It was Cookie that found the transport, or more to the point they found him. A large hanger door in the direction of the battle cruiser rose with a clatter that told of its age. He leapt up on to the container and crawled across the top of it. A series of open trailers pulled by a strange tractor entered. It swung round and backed up to the hanger doors on the opposite side.

His transmissions were picked up in the briefing room. The operator got off the tractor and disappeared.

Howe began to issue orders. ‘Cookie, you got a great vantage point, stay put. Tapper, you’re closest, see if you can follow that operator.’ The radios gave a couple of bursts of static.

‘Did they hear you?’ Steve asked.

‘Of course. To cut out the chances of being over heard in a situation like that, you just give a single click of the mic to acknowledge that you have been heard. Let’s change to Tapper’s helmet cam.’

The screen changed. Tapper moved swiftly within the shadows. He stuck his head around the corner of the door. He saw the corridor was long and empty except for the Albany operator. The roof was also very high.

Babes was able to get measurements of the corridor and the hanger from their helmet cams.

‘Okay, that’s enough guys, we’re bringing you out.’

With the measurements taken, Babes began to beam in cameras. A couple went into the trailers, but most were attached to the roof, so they could watch the progress of the trailers as they were driven to the other ship.

‘That’s everything in position sir. We need to finish those chambers and the dummies.’

‘It will be close, but we should be finished in time Colonel. All we need now is to see them, and Babes and Ico will put the finishing touches to them.’

‘They don’t seem to have much security in place. Not yet anyway.’

‘Let’s keep our fingers crossed Colonel. I wonder how Komoru is getting on.’

A few miles away, Komoru was watching Lewis make preparations. She was doing something totally different to what Steven thought she was doing. He turned and studied her determined face.

‘Are you sure about this Miss Komoru?’

‘Yes Lewis. Finish it.’

‘You ain’t telling Captain Gordon?’

‘No Lewis I’m not. He would no doubt make some objection and try to persuade me not to do it.’

‘Yeah, I kin see dat. Dis is a big thing Miss Komoru.’

‘I am quite capable of making my own decisions Lewis. Are you willing to carry out my orders?’

‘Yes ma’am, shu am. I also respect you for making dis decision.’

‘Thank you Lewis, be as quick as you can please.’

‘I will have it ready Miss Komoru, don you worry none.’

All they had to now do was wait for the freighter to arrive.

Chapter 37

Flashing rows of lights sprang up out of the darkness. The brand-new freighter was still unmarked and its livery shone neon bright in the dark of space. The freighter broached sideways, and the docking port at the space station also began to glow. In contrast, the docking port looked like it had gone through the wars. It bore the scars of many careless manoeuvres. The station was so old, visitors had to dock manually. The pilot of the freighter was one of the best at his trade, and the freighter slid into position flawlessly. There was a slight fluorescing around the cargo doors as the freighter pushed through the station’s forcefield.

On board the Human ships, nerves were stretched taught. Men sat with weapons at hand, suited up for combat; if they were needed, it would happen in the blink of an eye.

The freighter’s cargo doors opened and almost a hundred armed soldiers doubled into sight. They ignored the transport and were ran past it by officers and NCOs. They disappeared quickly, heading back to their own ship. A small detachment of about twenty Albany hove into sight. They took up a loose formation close to the transport. The operator had returned to his tractor, and at the press of a button the sides of the trailers dropped.

A strange forklift device brought out the chambers two at a time and a couple of troops leapt onto the back of the trailers to help load them. Once one was filled, they began the second. Observers were allocated to everybody they could see. They watched the individuals like hawks. As they turned away from the trailers, they called out ‘CLEAR’ loudly. Babes monitored everyone and everything. As soon as all of them were looking in the wrong direction, she and Ico began to transfer the chambers.

The room was filled with voices shouting out, ‘STOP, CLEAR’. Steven began to sweat. Most of the time it was the tractor driver, sitting high up, who was the problem. He was watching the loading intently. Most of the soldiers had their backs to the trailers, watching outwards. An opportunity came when the driver jumped down to talk to an officer, however the forklift was delivering two chambers at that time. There was more than one sigh of frustration. It took a while to load the one hundred chambers, but the swapping was frustratingly slow.

‘Sir, the Albany battle cruiser is already warming up their engines.’

Steven sighed with frustration. ‘We don’t even have half of them aboard yet and the tractor is about to leave. Does anyone have any suggestions? We need to slow them down.’

Steven felt helpless as the tractor pulled away into the long corridor. It was almost halfway. With the Albany soldiers walking along side, it was easy to swap out the ones in the middle, but they couldn’t risk swapping out those at the sides as they could easily be seen.

‘Stevie, stick a wrench in its engine.’ Buzz called out.

‘What!’

‘Beam a wrench into its engine or beam a part of it out into space.’

‘Babes!’ Steven yelped.

‘I will try my heart.’

A few seconds later the tractor trundled to a halt. The operator got off and began kicking it. He lifted the engine covers. When he and the officer began to look inside, they beamed the containers across as quickly as possible; the soldiers had returned to an all-round defence with their backs to the trailers.

‘Grab the ones on the outside first.’ Steven ordered.

‘STOP.’ Came the command from two of the crew as they came back up from the guts of the engine. The officer froze and leaned to the left of the driver. He went up to one of the trailers and jumped up. He checked one of the chambers, gave it a few funny looks, then jumped back down. Everyone was holding their breath. When he went back to conversing with the driver there were sighs of relief all round. Stil,l he seemed to keep a closer watch after that. Steven ordered the chambers on the far side of the officer to be swapped. The driver seemed to be arguing with someone on his communicator. In the end, he stomped off. It took him almost half an hour to return with a new tractor.

Steven was thinking hard. ‘Babes, once he has swapped out the tractors, can you return the piece you removed to its exact position?’

‘Yes my heart, but there is no guarantee it will work again.’

‘I don’t need it to work, better if it doesn’t. As long as it is there.’

‘Yes my heart.’

The officer became distracted with the changing of the tractor. He commanded some of his soldiers to help move it. The driver linked up the new tractor and they set off again. The tractor was only a few feet away from the battle cruiser when they swapped out the last container. By now Steven wasn’t the only one sweating heavily.

‘That’s the last one on board.’ Howe reported.

‘Then let’s get the hell out of here before our luck runs out.’ Steven almost shouted.

‘Komoru reports she also has all of hers on board.’ Howe added.

‘Let’s head for the agreed rendezvous point.’

They began to weave their way through the Albany battle fleet. Once clear they sped up to top sub-light speed until they were thousands of miles away, before entering light speed. The two ships met at the appointed place, a large hollow asteroid, fifty miles inside the asteroid belt.

Komoru gave Steven a big hug. ‘That was intense, I didn’t think we were going to make it.’

‘Me either.’ Steven confessed. ‘Have you begun to revive them?’

‘No, I don’t see the point. Let’s get them safe first.’

‘I agree.’ Steven put up a map on screen. ‘We have to change our route out. Charlie was able to steal this from the mind of their commander, it’s a joint battle fleet waiting to ambush our forces if they cross the line. We need to get ourselves clear, circumnavigate the enemy fleet and then radio our success. I don’t want our signals to be intercepted.’

‘Do you want us to split up?’

‘No, I would rather have you close by just in case. We can support each other.’

She smiled. ‘Okay. Let’s not hang around.’

‘I agree.’

The two ships left the asteroid belt. Once Steven was clear of enemy forces he sent the success signal, but he requested that the fleet should stay in place until they were completely out of enemy territory. Almost a day later they docked with the Emperor’s battle cruiser. By then the bewildered bee keepers had been revived. They cross-decked into his protection. The Emperor requested Steven attend.

He looked over Steven’s escort. ‘Where is the Captain?’

‘If you mean Captain Murison sir, he has been detained in sickbay. He isn’t very well at the moment.’

‘I see. I hope he recovers soon. How did you get so far in front of us Ambassador?’

‘We had the engine signature of the freighter on record. We set off as soon as we discovered that. We can travel much faster than your battle fleet and caught up with them before they reached the Catatarac space station.’

‘Tell me about the rescue.’

Steven did so, omitting nothing.

The Emperor thought it over, ‘How is it they didn’t detect your ships when you beamed your people and the chambers back and forth?’

‘It uses a different form of energy, one which they are unaware of.’

‘You have done this before though, haven’t you, beaming people back and forth?’

‘Yes we have.’

‘Then they haven’t been able to isolate the energy signal yet. If I was you Ambassador, it is something I would use very infrequently. Once they have that energy signature, you won’t get away with it again.’

‘I understand sir, thank you for the advice, I will take it to heart.’

‘See that you do so. You and your crew are becoming very useful, it would be a shame to see you all die.’ He took Steven towards a big screen. ‘Would you bear witness with me Ambassador?’

‘What for sir?’

The Emperor pointed towards the screen and nodded to one of his officers. ‘Proceed.’

A picture appeared of a Modloch officer. It took Steven a moment to realise it was a live video feed. His uniform was in tatters.

‘The Captain told me that there was a tradition of stripping a man’s rank and insignia from his uniform before sentence was passed, is this true?’

‘I am not a soldier sir, never have been, but I know of what you speak. I think it is a tradition in some armies, or it was. I am not too sure. I believe it is considered a final humiliation.’

‘I liked it so much I have adopted it. That was why I wanted to see the Captain.’

‘Who is he sir?’

‘My first cousin, General Molava. The one who betrayed me.’

An officer partially blocked the screen and read out a list of charges and the sentence. There was no last words or last rights given. Steven’s mind was struggling to perceive what he was seeing. The look in the eye of the condemned Modloch was unfathomable. The officer marched out, and Steven recognised the sounds of an airlock closing.

‘What…’ Was as much as Steven was able to utter before the wall behind the officer shot open and he was propelled out into space.

‘The momentum should propel him across the border. If his new friends want to conduct burial services for him they can.’

The Emperor turned away. Steven almost ran from the Modloch ship, and spent the rest of the day being physically sick.

Chapter 38

Komoru was shown into the Emperor’s quarters. Darrick was still feeling quite morose after executing his cousin. He wasn’t really in the mood for the female Ambassador, however it was very rare to catch her on her own, and her mate normally did the talking for them. She bowed very low.

‘Emperor, please allow me to convey my sympathies on your loss.’

It was as though a jolt shot through him. ‘Very kind of you Ambassador, I appreciate your sentiments.’

‘I was told you two were very close once. Regardless of how life turns out, you must have warm memories of your youth together.’

‘It wasn’t an easy thing to do; yet what he did was inexcusable. You Humans do not execute traitors, do you?’

‘I am afraid it is not quite as simple as that sir. There are so many different countries with so many different traditions. Some still execute the worst offenders, but very few now.’

‘Of course, your world has many different cultures and races within itself, another unfathomable thing about Humanity.’

‘A few hundred Earth years ago, in my country, he would have been asked to commit ritual suicide.’

That intrigued the Emperor. ‘How so?’

‘They would have opened up their belly with their own sword.’

‘Would that not have caused a slow and painful death?’

‘No, they were always assisted by a friend, who would take their heads after the ritual disembowelment. Warriors in those days were called Samurai. The term means to serve. They served their master until death. If they displeased him, he could order them to commit suicide.’

‘Did that happen a lot?’

‘Yes, I believe it did. There is one famous case where forty-seven were ordered to commit suicide at the same time. Their lord was murdered by another lord. Masterless, they became Ronin. However, they were ordered not to take revenge for their lord by the Shogun, a supreme lord if you will. When they disobeyed him, they were ordered to commit suicide.’

‘They all did it?’

‘All of them.’

‘Remarkable! Is there a historical document or one of your films on this?’

‘There is a film called the 47 Ronin sir. It is very dramatized for the sake of entertainment.’

‘I will have to ask for it. What is it you wanted to see me about Ambassador?’

‘I wish you to keep the retrieval of the bee keepers secret.’

‘Why should I Ambassador? I would like to rub it in my opponents’ faces.’

‘In that case, could you keep it secret for just another twelve hours?’

‘What is going to happen in twelve hours?’

‘Something extremely unpleasant.’

The Emperor struggled to remember the Human word for a moment. ‘You have booby trapped something?’

‘Yes, it is both a booby trap and an explosive device. It is set to go off between star systems in twelve hours’ time.’

‘You mean if it is discovered that the people are not in those containers, and they open them, it will explode. If not, it will detonate in twelve hours?’

‘Exactly that sir.’

‘Is it one of your dirty nuclear devices?’

‘I am sorry, I cannot say.’

‘Why not? We will all find out soon.’

‘You won’t.’

‘Why not?’ He saw her lips tighten and knew what that meant, he had been married long enough. ‘Ambassador, I have no intention of saying anything, not until we get home anyway. We are far too close to the enemy as it is, and they might chance a battle to retrieve those Humans.’

She bowed. ‘Thank you. Then I shall leave you.’

‘No you won’t. You will explain yourself fully. Don’t try and leave Ambassador, you can neither talk to your ship nor beam yourself out either.’

‘You have special shielding?’

‘Yes I do, I always have it, everywhere I go. So tell me what you are up to Ambassador, or you won’t leave.’

‘Please sir, I would rather not.’

The Emperor sat back and studied her for a moment. ‘Ambassador, I am Humanity’s greatest ally in this part of the galaxy. I will hold anything you tell me in the strictest confidence.’

‘Even if it means breaking galactic laws?’

‘Especially if it means breaking galactic laws. If it is something that can ruin your chances of becoming a federation member, then I will arrest you and remove the information straight out of your head if you don’t tell me right now.’

Her head had been lowered, now her eyes came up to meet his. ‘Yes, it would stop our chances of becoming full members of the galactic federation.’

‘Tell me now, what have you done?’

‘I planted a bomb in one of the chambers, as you said earlier. It is one that we have just recently developed.’

‘What is so special about this bomb?’

‘It breaks article 007DFG.’

It took him a moment. ‘No!’

‘I am sorry, but that is a yes.’

‘How could a species so backwards develop such a weapon?’

‘By combining our methods of splitting atoms with new elements found in this part of the galaxy.’

The Emperor suddenly burst out laughing. He laughed until his sides hurt. ‘Wonderful.’ He finally managed. ‘Retribution; thank you Ambassador.’

‘You aren’t angry?’

‘No, very pleased in fact. Do you know one of the reasons that article came into being?’

‘Because of the danger to yourselves as well as the enemy.’

‘There is that, but it is also down to the cost of development. With a weapon of that size, the research is prohibitive. Yes, weapons have been developed in the past, and all are capable of producing one. Most races anyway. You aren’t talking about an energy weapon though, are you?’

‘No, it is a simple device, a bomb.’

‘What does it exactly do?’

‘It is a Molecular Dehesion Device.’

‘Are you saying it turns everything to dust Ambassador?’

‘Yes sir.’

‘Intriguing.’ The Emperor sat for a while thinking things through. ‘You have set this device to go off while they are travelling at top speed between solar systems?’

‘Yes sir.’

‘You have tested it, and you know it breaks article 007DFG.’

‘Yes sir; we tested it on an old Albany battle cruiser. We got the engines up and running and triggered the bomb. There wasn’t so much as a speck of dust left.’

‘What are you expecting to happen to the Albany battle group?’

‘I am expecting it to be completely wiped out.’

‘The whole group!’

‘Any ship within the blast radius of the bomb will suffer a catastrophic failure of the containment field around their engines. I expect the resulting explosions to cause a chain reaction amongst the other ships in the fleet. Probably.’

‘You aren’t quite sure?’

‘Not really.’

‘This is very interesting Ambassador. I will tell you what I will do for you. I will not mention the rescue at all. In fact, I will kick up a diplomatic stink, and keep it up until the relief beekeepers arrive from Earth in a few weeks’ time; then I will begin to let it slip. In the meantime, I will keep a diplomatic ear open to see if I can find out what happened to that fleet.’

‘That is very generous of you sir.’

‘It is, isn’t it? Tell me, why it wasn’t your mate that came to see me about this?’

Komoru hesitated. ‘He doesn’t know.’

‘Oh! I see. Would he not approve?’

‘Most likely not. I didn’t take the chance. He didn’t even know I had some of the element required.’

‘What they don’t know doesn’t hurt them. Is that the phrase?’

‘Yes, I believe so.’

‘Then I will keep it a secret Ambassador, from your mate as well. If, however, in the future, I require one of these devices; would you supply it?’

‘What would you use it for sir?’

‘Assassination most likely.’

‘You may have to supply the element sir; that was the last of my stock.’

‘That shouldn’t be a problem. Tell me though, why did you do it?’

‘Because I am sick of the Albany. I am sick of them believing they can do what they want to my people and my planet, without retribution. I am sick of this galactic federation that continually look down their noses at us. How dare they kidnap my people out from under our noses, to breed them, experiment on them, and then murder them so they can once more attack my planet, my people, my family. We are supposed to be at peace. Now we have our bid in, our planet is supposed to be safe. It is obviously not is it? Not if they are kidnapping our people to make more serum.’

‘I cannot fault your logic Ambassador. You are right, your planet is still in danger; you are not yet full members. Only that can give you full protection.’

‘In the meantime, I shall select my battles with care sir.’

‘What race do you belong to Ambassador?’

‘I am Japanese sir.’

‘One of those Human races that should not be trifled with, Ambassador.’

‘It is deemed unwise sir.’

‘Thank you for trusting me Ambassador. You may go.’

She bowed low. ‘Thank you for the audience sir.’

Twenty minutes later, his Chief Engineer arrived running.

The Emperor scowled. ‘Of all my staff you always take the longest to appear.’

‘I am sorry sire.’

The Emperor waved a hand. ‘Forget it, you were no doubt crawling about inside an engine somewhere. Just answer me a question. Let’s say we had a battle group travelling at faster than light speed. A battle cruiser in the middle suffers a containment failure. Complete failure. What would happen?’

‘It would depend on how close the formation is to the battle cruiser sire. Are they occupying the same position and time in space?’

‘They are in formation idiot, of course they are.’

‘Complete obliteration of the battle group.’

‘Would anything survive?’

‘No, but it would produce a lot of debris of various sizes.’

‘Okay you may go.’

The Chief left but the Emperor was still deep in thought, wondering how much debris would be left after the bomb went off.’

Chapter 39

In the darkest depths of space a strange light appeared. It shone for only a few heartbeats, then vanished forever. No one saw it, yet it travelled for light years through the darkness. In time, the dust produced from the intense pulse of light would strike far and distant planets. Strange beings would stare up at the night sky in wonder at the fantastic colourful display.

Captain Crae Han of the brand-new Albany destroyer Vault was filled with shame. He and his crew had been excited to face off against the Humans. Many of them, like himself, had lost family in the invasion of the Human solar system. He had lost a father. The high command had begged his father to extend his service to complete this last, final mission. His father and the battle cruiser he commanded had perished on the Black Planet.

The Vault had been plagued by problems since the beginning of its service, even though the ship’s shake-down space trials had gone without a hitch. The Captain couldn’t have been prouder of his new ship, but the moment they had joined the fleet, things had begun to go wrong. Twelve hours into their first mission they had come to a complete standstill and the engine had shut itself off.

Instead of joining their comrades in the left attack wing, the wing that was to seal the fate of joint Human and Modloch fleet if it had entered Catatarac space, they spent most of the time in the Catatarac repair station. Repaired once again, it had broken down half way to their ambush point. They drifted for a whole day before being towed back to the repair station by a fellow destroyer.

The Catatarac engineers finally found the fault and they had to wait until a new part arrived from the factory. Captain Han had been berated in front of his men by the Admiral, then by the senior Captain on the destroyer that had been forced to stay with them. The final humiliation had come from the high commander. He too had berated the luckless Captain on his shoddy crew.

Now he had his engineering crew in front of him, inside his small office. He listened to his Chief Engineer prattle on about intermittent faults, teething troubles, diagnostic problems, software problems. The tirade eventually stopped.

The Captain was silent for a long time. It was his first command, and he suspected his last. His eyes searched each and every one of them. There was a shortage of personnel throughout the whole fleet. He knew he had pulled the dregs, that was the norm: newest ship, young and inexperienced staff. Still he should have had a decent engineer. His record was exemplary. Was it too good? Had other Captains beefed up his sheets to get rid of him? Han knew it was already too late.

He waved a hand across the front of his body. ‘It is too late now. The chances are we will all be replaced when we get home.’

‘Captain, even the Catatarac engineers failed to find the fault at first.’

‘That Catatarac repair yard is in the arse end of the galaxy. No one would expect them to get it right straight away Chief. It is no excuse. You should have caught this on the shake-down trials. We should have caught it.’ He sighed and rubbed his muzzle vigorously with both hands. ‘I have just been berated by the high commander. I am sure you all know what that means. You will have plenty time to contemplate your own failures. Right now I want a complete and detailed account from each of you on the problems we are having. Do not try and plant the blame onto anyone else, or the Catatarac repair crew especially. Facts only. Do not embarrass me any further than you already have. They will have to be ready by the time we reach home. Failure to hand in those reports will result in disciplinary action, and will also serve to focus the attention onto yourselves personally.’

‘If it is any consolation Captain, the ship is now working properly.’ The Chief Engineer tried to placate the frustrated Captain.

‘No, it isn’t a consolation. It may well be to the Captain who takes over from me. Maybe even the engineer that takes over from you. Just complete those reports, and no embellishments, no finger pointing. What happened, when it happened.’

His buzzer went. He touched a panel. ‘Yes, what is it now?’

‘This is comms sir, we have just lost the fleet.’

Han squeezed his eyes closed. ‘Is our communication system faulty now?’

‘I don’t believe so sir. Communications from the fleet have simply ceased.’

‘Have you tried communicating with anyone else?’

There was a second’s silence. ‘No sir.’

‘Then I suggest you get your fat arse onto it operator. Give out a general communications check.’

‘Immediately sir.’

He slammed his fists onto the table. ‘What the hell else can go wrong with this bloody ship!’ He roared at the engineers.

The buzzer went again. ‘Yes!’

‘I am receiving confirmation from all sectors sir. Our communications are working fine.’

He stood up. ‘Then try to re-establish communications with the fleet. What about our watch dog, where are they?’

‘They reached the fleet about an hour ago sir.’

‘Try them.’

‘I have sir, no reply.’

‘I will be right up.’ He regarded those gathered in front of him. ‘Get back to your stations, all of you. If there is something wrong with the communication equipment, there are going to be accidents around here. Am I making myself understood?’

The engineers snapped to attention and fled.

It only took him a few minutes to reach the bridge and take his chair.

‘Report.’ He snapped out.

‘Comms sir, message from high command, they have lost touch with the fleet too.’

The Captain sighed with relief. ‘Navigation, how far are we from their last reported position?’

‘At top speed sir, a few hours. At this speed, two weeks.’

‘What is the state of our engines?’

The engineer on the bridge reported. ‘Engines are fine sir.’

Han thought it over carefully. ‘Comms, advise high command of our situation. Tell them we are lagging behind the fleet by two weeks at current speed, due to a major engine refit. As advised by the Chief Engineer of the fleet, we are slowly bringing the ship up to full speed over the duration of the journey. We were scheduled to re-join them in five days if the refit was a success. However, if we go immediately to full speed, we can catch up with them in a few hours.’

‘Yes sir.’ The reply was almost ten minutes in coming. ‘We have a reply sir.’

‘Read it.’

‘Continue your journey as planned.’

‘Confirm that order.’

‘Yes sir. Order confirmed.’

‘Patch me through to the whole ship.’

‘Open channel sir.’

‘Thank you. This is the Captain speaking. I know you have all worked very hard these past few months. Something is happening with the fleet; we and high command have both lost communications with them. We have been ordered to continue as we are, though that situation may well change. If it does I will need everyone at their best. Section chiefs, maintain the minimum crew you can for the moment and send everyone else off to rest. You are not to seek the recreational lounges, you are to rest, sleep if you can. That is an order.’ He stood up and returned to his bunk.

Han had just stepped out of the shower when he was required to report to the bridge. He dressed quickly. It had been a full twelve hours since they had lost communications with the fleet.

An unknown Admiral was waiting for him on the view screen. ‘You took your time Captain.’

‘I apologise sir, you caught me in the shower, I came as quickly as I could.’

The Admiral shook his head. ‘I don’t see many men on watch, what time are you running on Captain?’

‘Due to the problems we have been having, my crew were exhausted sir. In light of the current situation, I thought it wise to strip the crew down to a skeleton staff and give them as much rest as I could in case we were required.’

The Admiral studied him for a moment. ‘All right Captain, I will give you that one. You are to proceed to the last reported position of the fleet as quickly as possible. Approach the area with caution, record everything and send it immediately, we will be watching closely.’

‘Yes sir.’ The screen went blank. ‘All hands to stations. Section chiefs to begin recording. Bring us to top speed, but do it gently.’

A few hours later they approached the last known position of the fleet. He cast his eyes over his crew. They all looked fresh and eager. Each were aware that everything they were doing was being scrutinised.

‘One thousand miles sir.’

‘Full spectrum scans.’

The reports began to come in. There was nothing.

‘Navigation, stop in the last known position exactly.’

‘Yes sir.’

When they reached the last reported position of the fleet the ship came to a halt.

‘We are in position sir.’

‘Report.’

All stations came back with nothing. The Captain felt himself tense.

‘Anyone got the engine signatures of the fleet?’

There was a pregnant pause on the bridge. ‘Yes sir, I have.’ Ventured one officer.

‘Then there isn’t nothing. Waken up and report properly.’

‘I have all the engine signatures of the fleet sir, on the same bearing they were previously.’

‘That’s better. Visual please.’ The screen came up. ‘Okay, now full scans from all directions, including visual.’ There was nothing to be seen.

‘Captain’s official report on our findings so far.’ He stood up. ‘We are now at the last reported position of the fleet. There is no sign of the fleet, no debris, no signs of combat. We still have the engine signatures of the fleet’s ships. We are going to follow them. End report.

‘Navigation, follow the engine signature of the command vessel. We will follow it until we either lose the signal or find the fleet.’

‘Yes sir, I already have the signature and it is now locked in. We will follow on its exact course.’

‘It is a very large vessel navigation. We don’t want to hit it, do we? Let’s go for a parallel course between it and the nearest vessel.’

‘I am sorry sir, recalculating.’

‘Let’s pick up speed slowly. Keep an eye on your instruments. The moment you detect anything unusual, shout out.’

The ship began to accelerate away. They had only travelled at light speed for a few minutes when an operator shouted out.

‘Sir, we have lost the fleet’s engine signatures.’

‘Full stop helm. Where did we lose them?’

‘There isn’t an exact coordinate sir. They are just gone.’

‘Can you narrow that down?’

‘It might take a while.’

‘Don’t bother. Navigation, take us back to a position halfway between this point and our last stop. Helm, top speed.’

The ship turned around and it seemed that almost before it hit top speed they reached that position.

Han was back on his feet. ‘Report. Did you find where they disappeared?’

‘No sir.’

‘Fine. Navigation, take us to a point half way between where we are now and where we stopped when we first lost the fleet.’

‘I understand sir. Do you want to keep bracketing the signal until we discover where we lost the fleet?’

‘That’s exactly what I want to do navigation. Cooperate with the helm until we reach that point.’

‘Yes sir.’

Three jumps later, they were within sub-light distance of where the signal disappeared.

‘Navigation sir. We are now within a few thousand miles of where the fleet’s engine signatures disappeared.’

‘Stay alert everyone. Helm, proceed at three thousand miles per hour.’

‘Yes sir.’

The tension inside the bridge grew until they reached the spot where the command ship’s engine signature disappeared.

‘Come to a complete stop.’ Ordered the bewildered Han. ‘Report.’ Most had nothing to report.

‘Half the ships’ engine signatures end here sir, some carry on for a few hundred miles.’

‘Anything at all? Check all spectrums. Is there any anomalies in the area?’

All the checks came back negative.

‘Could they have come to a stop and retraced their route?’

‘No sir, it would show.’

‘There must be something, find it.’

After a half hour of searching and scanning, the operator responsible for finding the engine signatures called for his attention. Han went over.

‘What is it?’

The operator looked really nervous. ‘I’m not quite sure sir. May I use the main screen?’

‘Of course.’

‘I have made a visual representation of the engine signatures and plotted them as accurately as I could.’ The data came up on the screen as light-yellow lines. At the end of each line there was a circle.

Han cocked his head to the side. ‘What are those spots?’

‘They aren’t spots sir, they represent the engine signature.’

‘At the point where they disappeared, the engine signature turned into a circle.’

‘Yes sir.’

‘Odd. What does it mean?’

‘I am simply an operator sir, not a scientist.’

‘So you have no idea!’

‘None sir.’

‘Why is this circle so small?’

‘In real terms, it isn’t sir. Engine signatures take some very sensitive equipment to detect them, and they dissipate over a short period of time. If we were a few days behind the fleet, we wouldn’t be able to see anything. We weren’t able to pick them up until we reached the spot that we lost contact with the fleet. The signatures are always represented by a straight line that spreads out and dissipates. I have never seen a signature in the shape of a circle before. More to the point… if I may sir?’

‘Go ahead.’

The yellow line disappeared. The operator zoomed in. It took Han a few moments to figure out what he was looking at.

The operator pointed to the screen. ‘The yellow line is a misinterpretation sir. What we are actually picking up is these tiny particles. The yellow line is the spread of the pattern. Every engine is different, even if they are of the same type. I do not know why. As you can see, there are very few of them, but the pattern repeats.’

‘I can see that now.’

The screen moved to the large circle at the end. ‘As you can see sir, the particles at the end of the line are very dense.’

‘Compared to the normal pattern, I can see that. It is as though many of them were released all at the same time. What on Albany could have caused this?’

‘I am sorry sir, I will not speculate. This is for my betters to discuss.’

‘How long until this dissipates completely?’

‘Maybe a few days sir, at most.’

‘Record everything. I will get in touch with high command, from now on you will be working under their direct direction.’

‘Yes sir.’

For the next few weeks the crew of the Vault got little rest. When other ships arrived, his crew were syphoned off to the respective departments. Eventually they all came together again and the Captain and his crew were sent off to take up station with one of the home battle groups. The crew and ship performed flawlessly and past transgressions were forgiven. Sworn to secrecy, the crew kept tight-lipped against all pressure to reveal the what they knew about the disappearance of the Albany’s last great battle fleet.

With the loss of the fleet, and the Humans, the Albany could do very little. It would take them time to begin building up the forces that they would need to invade the Sol system once again.

Chapter 40

It wasn’t long after they returned to the Modloch home world till Komoru received an invitation from the Emperor.

‘Congratulations Ambassador.’ Komoru’s eyes rolled up from her low bow. He indicated the chair opposite. ‘Please sit down. I have some of that green tea the Japanese like.’

Komoru sat, and a servant poured the tea. She thanked him and the servant left the room. Komoru took a sip.

‘How is it Ambassador?’

‘It is fine sir.’

‘No it isn’t. I am beginning to be able to read Human facial expressions. You thought it was unpleasant.’

She smiled. ‘It isn’t what I am used to sir. It is drinkable though. One day I will have to make you a cup.’

‘Ah! The charming little Japanese tea ceremony. I have been studying your culture Ambassador. It is quite fascinating. I will look forward to it. Now, you may well be wondering what I was congratulating you about.’

‘A little.’

‘You managed to wipe out the Albany’s premier battle fleet. They haven’t got a clue what happened. Well, that may not be strictly true. They had a destroyer that was straggling behind the fleet. They managed to document the engine signatures of the ships before they dissipated. A little unfortunate, however it seems to have confused them even further.’

‘Did you say their premier battle fleet sir?’

‘Yes I did. The brand new one to replace those you destroyed in your own solar system. Now they are back to their home fleets. You did exceptionally well.’

‘Better than I hoped, it seems.’

‘There isn’t so much as a particle of dust left of the whole fleet.’

Komoru was shocked. ‘Has that been confirmed sir?’

‘From the most reliable sources.’

‘That is a relief.’

‘It should put their plans for your planet back a little.’

‘But we still aren’t safe.’

‘No Ambassador, you aren’t. I promise I will work with your race to keep your home planet safe.’

Komoru smiled. ‘Thank you. You really like us Humans.’

‘You took a lot of getting used to Ambassador, but yes, I do like your race.’

She laughed. ‘I think we got the bigger shock. At least you grew up knowing there were other races out there.’

‘That’s is true, and of course highly amusing.’

They laughed together and conversation turned to small talk. When she got up to leave the Emperor asked her one last question.

‘How is my friendly Captain?’

‘I believe he has made a full recovery.’

‘I am pleased to hear it.’

Komoru hesitated. ‘Why do you like him sir?’

‘I have to admit, I feel very safe with the Captain about.’

‘Steven says the very same thing.’

‘Don’t you Ambassador?’

‘No I don’t. Maybe that is because I am a woman, and the Captain has a reputation.’

‘I see. That is a part of Human society that I still have trouble coming to terms with. You have seen this behaviour in the Captain?’

Komoru hesitated. ‘No, but I have heard his friends talk.’

‘I see. Good day to you Ambassador.’

Komoru bowed low and left.

Gord came in when called. ‘It is nice to meet a Human female who is demure and acts properly sire.’

The Emperor gave Gord a queer look. ‘You think that female is demure Gord?’

‘Yes sire.’

‘You are an idiot, and a terrible judge of character Gord. Maybe I need a new Commander.’

‘If that is what you desire sire. I still don’t see it though.’

‘That Human female’s death toll on the Albany is second only to that of the Captain’s. Do not underestimate her again, or any other Human female Gord.’

‘I wasn’t aware of that sire.’

‘I have heard the Captain is back on his feet after his illness. I have little doubt he will visit my Chief Engineer sooner or later. I want to know when.’

‘Yes sire.’

Chapter 41

Charlie kicked back and laid the steaming hot mug down on the table.

‘Man, I needed that.’

‘I’m not a man.’ The Chief snorted.

‘Wasn’t talking to you, was talking to myself.’

‘They lock you up and fry your brain for that here.’

‘Sounds like fun.’

‘Seriously Charlie!’

‘Lighten up Chief. How is your love life progressing?’

‘Very well. I finally got some leave, took her home to see my new estate. She was very impressed. My father was impressed with her, but my mother wasn’t. It would seem she thinks I should aim a little higher.’

‘Mothers huh.’

‘I know. I am, we are, from humble beginnings Charlie. I am only an engineer.’

‘You are the Emperor’s Chief Engineer. You are the big kahuna.’

‘Only amongst engineers Charlie. The lowest noble on the whole of Modloch wouldn’t toss a daughter at me, even if they were penniless. Title and breeding have far more worth than money.’

‘Aye well, it used to be like that on Earth as well at one time. Not so bad now, but there are those who still think like that.’

‘How’s your love life Charlie?’

‘Non-existent mate.’

‘What about your new team member. The little black-haired girl.’

‘She has the hots for me big time.’

‘Then why not!’

‘She is Komoru’s friend, and she would have the nuts off me if I dipped it there.’

‘Do you like her? Are you attracted to her?’

‘Aye of course, but getting involved with her would mean having to marry her.’

‘Is that a bad thing?’

‘It isn’t a good one!’

‘I don’t understand you Charlie.’

‘No, and I don’t care either.’

The Chief laughed. ‘You are worried about your lifespan, aren’t you?’

‘I suppose so. I have a damn sight more nanites floating around my body, keeping what little organs I have left in tiptop condition. The ship thinks I could well live three times longer than the rest of the crew. This skin won’t wrinkle.’

‘You could make it wrinkle.’

‘I suppose I could.’

‘You don’t like the deception, do you?’

‘No I don’t suppose I do.’

‘It ain’t natural Charlie.’

‘Rub it in why don’t you?’

‘Three life times, you could have three mates.’

‘Aye, three lots of children, and I will end up burying the lot of them, and the grandchildren and great grandchildren.’

‘Okay Charlie, I’m beginning to see the problem. So, what are you going to do?’

‘I have no idea Chief. Where could I go, where could I stay? Am I doomed to wander the universe endlessly once my friends have all gone? I can’t see me being accepted by my own people when they discover what I am.’

‘You aren’t immortal Charlie.’

‘I know that.’

‘What did you want to do?’

‘Find a wee cottage in the hills somewhere with a few acres of ground. Live off my pension, grow a few crops for beer money. You know, travel a bit. Retirement stuff.’

‘Find a mate, get married.’

‘I was thinking more along the lines of a merry widow that already had a grown-up family.’

‘That’s just laziness Charlie.’

They both burst out laughing.

‘What can I say Chief? I like my beer cold and my companions comfortable, and worn in.’

The Chief howled with laughter. ‘Charlie you are horrible.’

‘How?’

‘It isn’t supposed to work like that.’

‘It’s just how it has worked out for me Chief. I never chose any of this. There were a few women I could have settled down with in my younger days, but they proceeded to rip my poor wee bleeding heart right out of my chest.’

‘I am glad I’m not Human Charlie.’

‘I wish I was.’

They both thought that was hilarious. ‘You know Charlie, at the bottom of that small estate the Emperor gave me, there is a small cottage. I can bequeath it to you. It’s yours for as long as you need it, or as long as my family holds the estate.’

‘Why would you do that?’

‘You saved my life and you made me rich.’ The Chief laughed. ‘You’re my good luck charm.’

The door banged open. ‘Giving away my property Chief? How decent of you.’

The Chief shot to his feet. Charlie was a few second slower. The Chief’s eyes began to roll in his head in panic. The Emperor tossed an earpiece onto the table, and took out a small device. He pushed a button and there was a small puff of smoke on the ceiling.

The Emperor pulled up a chair and sat down. ‘Join me please.’ Charlie was the first to sit. It took an extra look from the Emperor to make the Chief sit down. ‘That was a very interesting conversation.’ The Emperor took out a pad and slid it across to Charlie. Charlie took a look and shoved it across to the Chief. The Chief almost fainted. It was a full scan of Charlie’s body.

‘How long have you known?’ Charlie asked.

‘Quite some time. It was obvious from quite early on that you were much stronger than most Humans, and your abilities exceeded even the strongest of those. What we weren’t sure about was, were you really Human, or something built? This conversation has helped clear matters up nicely. I only have one question left. Why?’

‘To save my life.’

‘What happened, were you injured in battle?’

‘No.’

The Emperor waited for him to say more, but it wasn’t forthcoming. ‘Well!’

‘Well what?’

‘Aren’t you going to tell me?’

‘It is something I only discuss with my closest friends, and even then, rarely.’

A faint smile played around the corner of Charlie’s mouth. The Emperor burst out laughing, nodded in a very Human manner, then stuck out a hand.

‘Darrick.’

Charlie took the outstretched hand, ‘Charlie.’

The Chief couldn’t believe what he was witnessing. The Emperor’s eyes swivelled towards him. ‘Don’t even think about it.’

Charlie burst out laughing. ‘So, what is it you want to know Darrick?’

‘How did you end up in this condition?’

‘There isn’t much to tell really. When I was a young soldier, I saw something I shouldn’t have: two thugs from the intelligence community committing a crime against Humanity to keep a war going. They were both officers. I was ordered to walk away and forget what I had seen.’

‘Why didn’t they simply kill you?’

‘They were armed with iron bars, I had a rifle and the drop on them.’

‘Did you do as ordered?’

‘I walked away, but I reported the incident. They had an accomplice of a much higher rank. He was able to bury the reports. What they did cost the lives of many good men. I never saw them again until after the Albany invasion. I captured a high-ranking officer. The one that we made Human.’

‘I know of him.’

‘I was ordered to take him straight to the interrogation wing. When I arrived there, guess who was waiting for him.’

‘The two intelligence men.’

‘Correct.’

‘You refused to hand the prisoner over?’

‘I realised the significance of the prisoner, and knew exactly what would happen to him if I did. So yes I refused to hand him over.’

‘They came after you.’

‘They did. They used their rank and influence to get their hands on me. Then they tortured me, not in the nice way you do, with a nice little helmet. They began with my fingers and toes. Once they had crushed them and removed them they moved on to my hands and feet. When they were gone, they moved up my body. By the time they were finished, there wasn’t a bone left in my body that was unbroken. I only had one eye. My friends and Steven were able to rescue me at my execution, but there was very little left of me. The only thing keeping me alive was the stimulants that they injected me with to heighten the pain. I was dying very slowly and in agony. Steven asked his ship for help, we were childhood friends you see. This is how it turned out.’

‘There is only one of you?’

Charlie laughed. ‘There is only one of me.’ He caught the look in the Emperor’s eyes. ‘What’s the matter, thinking of ways to kill me now?’

‘The thought has crossed my mind many times in the past. I was just trying to understand what it was you went through. I didn’t realise Humans could be so cruel. Is that why you handed those intelligence men over to me so quickly?’

‘I was just following your orders.’

‘If those orders weren’t in place?’

‘I would have killed them.’

‘You hate them.’

‘With a passion you would not believe.’

The Emperor turned to his Chief. ‘You kept this all from me; you knew.’

‘Charlie is my friend. I knew he would do you no harm sire. He asked me to keep it private. After saving my life, it was the least I could do.’

‘Loyalty and friendship. Interesting concepts.’

‘They are easy for common men like us Darrick.’

The Emperor smiled. ‘But not for people like me Charlie, is that what you are saying?’

‘Exactly.’

‘You are not wrong. I have friends of course, they are all of noble birth like I am, Emperors and the like. Still, they would take everything I had if they saw the opportunity. I have never really envied commoners like you until now. I thought the Chief was my most loyal subject, yet he kept something from me for friendship. Astonishing. Don’t worry Charlie, I won’t take it out on him. I remember my grandfather looking down on a crowd of commoners once. He said, “These people below you are the lowest of the low, the most common of our subjects, but they are also by the far the most interesting. They can and will do things that will astound you.” I thought he was becoming demented. Now I have finally discovered the truth of those words.’

‘Would you like a cup of tea or coffee Darrick?’

‘Tea if you have it. Is it Human tea?’

‘Tetley, the Chief’s favourite.’

‘You keep him stocked?’

‘I do. It’s tea the commoners drink at home.’

‘Of course it is. I don’t mind giving it a try.’

Charlie made tea and coffee and the Emperor took a sip. ‘It isn’t too bad actually. It isn’t exactly what a refined palate desires, but I suppose it is okay if one is roughing it.’

Charlie and the Chief both laughed. ‘I prefer coffee myself.’ Charlie admitted.

‘I do struggle a little with coffee. Emperor Ne´ Langus loves the stuff. You met him once.’

‘Oh aye, I remember.’

‘Your lady Captain friend did apologise to him.’

‘I’m glad she did.’

‘She took him shooting. She wears some sort of cannon on her waist. She let him shoot it. He was very impressed. Not only by the cannon but by her accuracy with it.’ Charlie smiled and he noticed. ‘It would seem the cannon was a present from you. I thought you weren’t that close.’

‘She saved my life.’

‘How?’

Charlie laughed. ‘She found me floating in space.’

‘After a battle?’

‘Not quite. We stopped that last asteroid hitting Earth.’

‘I remember, your Captain planted a bomb on it or something.’

‘It didn’t quite happen like that. I was lowered onto the rock.’

‘Impossible! It was travelling at faster than light speed. The moment you went out of your ship’s shield, what little organs you have left would have exploded, literally.’

‘I can create my own field, with a little adjustment to my body.’ Charlie scratched his chin. ‘Maybe a little is understating it.’ He pulled out his tablet, found the picture and shoved it across.

The Emperor’s mouth dropped open. ‘This is you, is this a suit?’

‘No, I am actually quite naked in that picture.’

‘Unbelievable.’

‘To cut a long story short, the mission all went horribly wrong. I was lowered down to set the explosives. When they tried to raise me back into the ship, the line broke.’

The Emperor laughed. ‘Of course it did. You would have had to join your forcefield with that of the ship’s before you could be pulled back up.’

‘Don’t try and explain the forces behind it sire, it is beyond him. I have tried.’

Charlie threw the Chief a dirty look. ‘Aye, well we didn’t know that. I had them toss me down a rocket pack and I leapt off the rock. The explosion from the rock knocked me out of light speed. It was weeks before I was found, and I was on the edge of death.’

‘You were lucky to be found at all.’ The Emperor speculated.

‘I know that. The Captain took special care of me until I was picked up. As a thank you, I bought her the gun.’

‘Which I hear she wears with pride. I suppose she has little chance of winning your heart, with her life expectancy being even less than that of your own crew mate.’

‘You nailed that one Darrick.’

‘How long does the ship think you will live for?’

‘It depends on my mental functions really. I could last anywhere from six hundred to a thousand earth years.’

‘When you put it like that, it seems more like a curse than a gift. The good part of living is finding a companion you can share your life with, grow old with, have children and grandchildren.’

‘Aye.’ Charlie mused. ‘You don’t really expect to outlive all of them by hundreds of years either.’

‘Yes, and never grow old either. I can see how that would disturb the female of any species. They might like the idea of having a companion that would never grow old to begin with, but as they age, and their skin begins to sag and wrinkle, I imagine it would become very stressful.’

‘Would it?’ The Chief asked.

He found himself being lampooned by two sets of eyes.

‘Fool.’ The Emperor snorted.

‘Idiot.’ Charlie reinforced. ‘You need to give him permission to marry Darrick. I hate working with a virgin.’

‘I am not a virgin.’ The Chief retorted.

Darrick smirked. ‘The Chief here is a frequent visitor to the merry widow bars during mating season. He is terribly naive about females though. Tell me Chief, are you happy with that cheap doxy from the music company? I have a recently widowed lady of fine breeding looking for a companion and father to her two children.’

‘Very happy.’ He squeaked.

‘You would be doing me a great favour. Right now, she is crawling around the halls of the palace bawling, begging me for a patron. Yes, I could make her your ward, that way you could have your little doxy. The doxy wouldn’t last very long I’m afraid. Not once a high-born woman got her hands on her. She could spend some of that money of yours too.’

‘I couldn’t sire, not with a high-born.’

‘She may have been high-born, but her husband took her low. Her daughters are not far off mating age either. Maybe you will have a grand time of it.’ The Emperor made a strange noise and Charlie realised he was chuckling.

‘Don’t do this to me sir, please.’

‘Why not? That shit hole of a planet you call home is just the right place for her to be exiled to. You are rich but of low status, as befitting a punishment. I am sure if I tortured her, she would confess to have known of some of her husband’s plans. The problem of course is the daughters. Despite their father’s disgrace, they are still of royal blood. Right now I don’t really want to execute her, then I would have to look after them. It would get her out from under my ruff, and with four females in your home, give you the kind of life experience you really deserve.’ He turned to Charlie. ‘What do you think Charlie?’

‘It would certainly burn some of that wide-eyed innocence off him.’

‘Charlie!’

‘What?’

‘Do you know who the Emperor is talking about?’

‘How the hell would I?’

‘You know…’ It was the strange look he was giving Charlie that made him take a quick peek inside his friend’s head.’

‘Oh shit!’ Charlie turned to the Emperor. ‘Your cousin’s family?’

‘Wasn’t it obvious!’

‘No, not really. I still owe you an apology for that.’

The Emperor waved a hand. ‘No you don’t Charlie. In fact, I should be thanking you.’

‘I don’t think so. I heard you were close friends once.’

‘That was a long time ago. It would seem my cousin had taken a liking to power, and had hatched a plan with the Albany to steal it from me. The theft of your fellow Humans was just the beginning of the plot. If it wasn’t for you, we would never have discovered it until too late. They wanted to lure me out, which they succeeded in doing. If we hadn’t received the transmission from your Captain when we did, then I would have entered Catatarac space. When the combined fleets attacked us, he would have taken over here. The plan was to kill me. When we arrested him, it all began to unravel. I have no doubt his friends would still have tried to kill me. The officers and men behind him have also been arrested and executed. Not quite so dramatically as their leader, but they are just as dead.’ He looked up at the Chief. ‘Your favourite bars will have lots of new custom this year.’

The Chief shot to his feet. ‘More tea sire?’

‘Why not.’ He turned his attention back to Charlie. ‘It is customary for an Emperor to reward his loyal subjects for services rendered.’

‘I’m not one of your subjects, so don’t bother Darrick. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but there is nothing really I want or need.’

‘I could ratify the Chief’s bequest. For as long as you live, you would have a home here in the Modloch Empire.’

Charlie shook his head. ‘I don’t know, it seems a bit much.’

Both Modloch laughed. ‘It is nothing Charlie.’ The Chief reassured.

‘It is easy to tell you are not of noble birth Chief.’ Darrick laughed. ‘Any noble, facing having even a small piece of their property taken away, would be squealing like a young maiden in heat for the first time.’

The Chief laughed. ‘I am glad I am not a noble. He will need a little land to go with that cottage sire, so he can grow food he can eat, maybe even keep a few domestic animals.’

Darrick turned his attention back to Charlie. ‘Do you still need to consume food?’

‘Aye, of course, just nowhere near as much as I used to.’

The Emperor could see Charlie was still indecisive. ‘Tell me Charlie, how do you think your fellow Humans will view you in a hundred years’ time? How do you think they will feel about you?’

‘With great suspicion. Canna see them wanting to pay me my army pension for the next thousand years either.’

Both Modloch thought that was hilarious.

‘You see?’ Darrick drove his point home. ‘Your people are very primitive Charlie. How long until they drive you off your own planet? There are many other races out there that will treat you the same. I am offering you complete security. No one, not even my great grandchildren, will turn on you. I will make sure of that.’

‘I suppose I’m not really in a position to refuse, am I?’

‘You are, but then I would consider you as big an idiot as my Chief Engineer here.’

They both began to laugh, then eventually the Chief joined in.

Chapter 42

The stares from the federation council bored down upon the small delegation of Dent gathered before them.

‘This is a highly unusual request Ambassador Boe. You wish for your species to be removed from the extinction list? I don’t think it is a request that I have ever came across before, or one that is even recorded in the history of the federation. Is a federation protected zone around the planet you now call home not enough?’

‘We wish once more to be recognised as federation citizens.’

‘Don’t you mean galactic citizens? The federation wasn’t in existence two thousand years ago.’

‘It was in its infancy sir, and the Dent were a part of that.’

‘Is that true?’ He asked the general company.

‘In some ways.’ One of his companions stated. ‘What was to later become the federation had its roots in those times, and the Dent were a part of that. However, one could argue the point that what became the federation has no resemblance to its humble beginnings.’

‘Why not?’ Asked another council member. ‘Don’t your race get a lot of prestige from being a part of that same group? I am sure I have heard you boast about it on many occasions.’

There was a rumble of discontent, and the chairman stepped in. ‘I just want to look at the facts, not start another argument. Both points are valid.’ He turned his attention back to the Dent. ‘I suppose in some ways we should simply validate your claim and give you full membership of the federation. After all, none of the other races from that time had to make a bid, they were all accepted as full members of the federation without question as the founding fathers.’

Ambassador Boe smiled. ‘Thank you sir.’

‘There are problems however. To begin with, your race was wiped out. Your race also began a war that lasted almost two thousand years and cost hundreds of thousands of lives; millions in fact. You tried to take a planet by force. A planet of peaceful meat-eaters. A race that hadn’t shown any interest in space travel even. We shall not hold you to account for that, because many of our races have done exactly the same thing. The fact is, your people didn’t even observe the race you tried to wipe out beforehand. As a result of that, every race in the federation has suffered. Yet, we cannot expect a race that was supposedly wiped out, in the same manner as they tried to wipe out the Ortea, accountable. So, what do we do?

‘Some believe you should pay for your mistakes, some believe you already have. If you remain extinct, then no one can seek retribution. If are reinstated as a race, then should you automatically get citizenship? Again, if you do, some may seek retribution or even compensation. Retribution would cause another war; compensation you could not pay. I can’t see the Ortea paying for your mistakes either.

‘Of course, that brings us to the Ortea themselves. A race of meat eaters who have killed and eaten members from every race, right across the federation. A race that is not only feared but also detested. Isn’t it strange that those who subjugated and enslaved your people are the saviours of it? I wonder what would have happened if your race had never tried to eradicate them. They were a highly-evolved race, technically advanced, who simply showed no interest in space travel.

‘This argument will circle round continually. Over the past few weeks, that is exactly what has been happening every time we have tried to discuss the problem. No one here can simply agree to anything. It has become very complicated. A solution may have been provided for us. Will you listen to it?’

‘Why would I not?’

‘Because the person who has provided the solution is Emperor Ne´ Langus. You know of him?’

‘Of course I do. He has steadfastly refused to give any of my people asylum on our own home world.’

‘Would you like to hear why?’

‘I would be extremely interested to hear Emperor Ne´ Langus’ explanation sir.’

Satisfied, the chairman called for the Emperor.

Ne´ Langus had a bearing that made everyone sit up straighter. His gaze upon the Dent delegation was cold; a fact that wasn’t lost on them.

The chairman stood and bowed to the Emperor, who returned it.

‘Emperor Ne´ Langus, thank you for your appearance here.’

‘Council Chairman Ne Na Goo, I am at the federation’s service.’

‘Before we begin, the Dent delegates would like to hear your reason for not allowing them asylum on their own home world.’

‘Personally, I would like to wipe out both the Dent and the Ortea together, and eradicate the planet completely. The Dent have no home world. The one they are on now is the only one they belong to.’

‘Is that not a bit harsh Emperor Ne´ Langus?’

‘I consider them a race of cowards.’

One of the Dent began to shout out his objections, but their Ambassador turned and slapped him hard across the face.

‘Shut up, fool.’ He turned to Emperor Ne´ Langus. ‘I apologise your highness, please go on.’

‘Your race started a war that my race bore the brunt of for two thousand years. In that time, the race you tried to wipe out became dependant on your people to keep the lights on; while they gave their lives to protect you. I believe they became so dependent on you that they even stopped eating your kind. If it weren’t for the Ortea, you would not even exist. In fact, my race went to war with yours because of the trouble yours stirred up in the region. It wasn’t only the Dent that the Ortea lashed out at two thousand years ago. In fact, some of the races here were also involved in that war. My race inhabited the planet.

‘Now we discover that some of you have survived. Not only survived but thrived. Do you really expect us to open our arms and welcome you back? I would not give a single one of you asylum, ever. Do you think you can just please yourselves? You are still considered a dead race. Without the Ortea, you will become extinct.

Of course, there is also the Ortea to consider. In some ways, they are the innocent party in all of this. What will happen to them when all of you flee the Ortea home world? How long will they be able to keep the lights on for? Will you teach them how to look after themselves before you leave?’ The Dent Ambassador’s head dropped.

Emperor Ne´ Langus shook his head. ‘No I didn’t think so. You would just abandon them. You are a race of cowards.’

‘With respect Emperor, we are not cowards. My people have also fought alongside the Ortea to survive.’

‘There is no proof of that, but your people are not fighters. You mean that you gave technical support on board their warships, don’t you?’

‘Yes, that’s what I mean.’

‘I thought so. There is no disgrace in that. It may even be your only salvation. There is no proof of course. Every Ortea ship destroyed is normally pounded to pieces. No one looks for survivors, unless it is to kill them. Yet I will take your word for it.’

‘Thank you for that at least Emperor.’

Emperor Ne´ Langus studied the Dent. ‘I am not only the Emperor of your former home world. I am also the leader of the federation’s armed forces. Are you aware of that?’

‘Yes I am.’

‘In that role, I can see some use for you and your people. In that statement, I include the Ortea. Do you understand?’

‘Yes your highness.’

‘Then let me make my presentation to the council.’ The Dent bowed low and the Emperor turned back to face the council. ‘In my duties as the leader of the federation forces, it is part of my duty to consider the risks from within federation territory and outwith. We are in a unique situation, one we have never faced before. We have two races to consider here, the Ortea and the Dent. Two thousand years of war have ended, and much to my surprise the peace is holding. I doubt if it will for much longer.

‘Let me explain why. The three solar systems that the Ortea inhabit are smack bang in the middle of a number of vital space arteries. Until now, they have been off limits. As soon as it seemed that the peace was holding, many traders began to cut through these systems. It is saving trading companies days, even weeks, in travel, and so greatly cutting back transportation fees. Everyone is benefiting except for the Ortea.

‘I have been approached now by a number of Ortea officials. They are becoming very nervous about the increase in traffic through their solar systems. If you consider the history, it is hardly surprising. They must believe that our ultimate goal is to wipe them out. Every time a large group of vessels appear in one of their solar systems, they must half believe that it is a task force sent by the federation. They are becoming nervous and extremely stressed out, but freighting companies are unwilling to go around the area now.

‘I cannot blame the Ortea for how they feel. I would feel the same in their position. It will come to a head soon and the conflict will begin again, unless of course we can do something about it. There is only one thing that will prevent that from happening, and that is to build up trust between the federation and the Ortea. How can we do that? There isn’t a single member of the federation who would even consider giving citizenship of the federation to the Ortea.’

There were more than a few nodding heads. He went on. ‘Yet here we are, with half of the great council considering giving citizenship back to the Dent who live on the same planet. The chairman called the situation complicated. A week ago, an American marine called it something far more fitting. However, his words cannot be repeated in front of such an august body.’

It took a moment but the gathering began to laugh heartily. He waited until they finished.

‘For the Dent to be reinstated, they must at least serve the probationary period that all have to serve. Although the body here has not made up their minds yet, all were in agreement with that part.’ There were sympathetic nods.

‘Good. That would mean the Dent would have to supply at least a cruiser with all its supporting war and supply ships for each planet they have. To date that is only one. However, they inhabit three star systems, along with the Ortea, so I imagine that figure would have to be reappraised.’

He turned to the Dent. ‘Do you have a battle cruiser and its compliment of destroyers?’

‘We do.’

‘For them to be compatible with the fleet, they have to be able to able to travel at a minimum of Light 5.’

‘We have a few destroyers, but no cruiser that can do that speed.’

The Emperor shook his head. ‘What else don’t you have?’

‘We don’t have command elements. Our people are mainly technical support staff. It was the Ortea who fought and commanded the vessels we served on. We might be able to scrape up a few command elements from our staff, but not for all vessels.’

‘So, in order to be an effective group, you would need the Ortea?’

‘Yes your highness.’

‘I see.’

There was a growing noise from the assembled members. ‘You don’t have the modern vessels anyway do you?’

‘No.’

‘I have seen and fought against your people. I know the trash they fight with. Ships that shouldn’t even be out there, relics, yet they fought hard and with courage. However, to have the Ortea serve alongside you would mean that you would have to supply two battle groups, one for each race.’

‘In that case, we have the ships and the staff, just not the right ships sire.’

The noise levels were increasing and decreasing like a wave. When they realised the Dent couldn’t raise the ships, the noise abated a little.

Emperor Ne´ Langus was listening to it.

‘In that case, if no one will sponsor you, then you will not be accepted back into the federation, and we will all soon be back at war with the Ortea.’ The assembly room went quiet suddenly.

The Emperor noticed and looked around. ‘I can see by your silence, that no one here really wants that.’

The chairman cleared his throat. ‘Does it matter if they don’t have the right ships? Couldn’t they serve in some other capacity your highness?’

‘The rules are there for a reason. There can be no compromise.’

‘I understand, but no one wants to go back to war. Can’t something be worked out, somewhere, with someone?’

‘There is a solution to all of our problems sir, but both this august body, the Dent and the Ortea would have to agree to it.’

There were a few chuckles at that.

‘I would like to hear this solution your highness. I can’t think of anyone who would want to sponsor either race, or who could afford to.’

‘There is one race sir. In fact, it will help solve a major issue I have been having.’

The chairman scowled for a moment then it cleared. ‘I think I know who you are referring to, your highness. The Humans.’

‘Yes sir.’

The noise levels bumped up for a second then lowered quickly.

‘Aren’t you having problems training them?’

‘Yes we are. The solution to all of this came from a report I was given. It was supplied to me by a federation engineer. When I discussed the problem with the Modloch Emperor, he sent his top engineer to the Ortea home world. He heard that some Modloch who had been captured had returned to the Ortea home world, with their families, to live and work. He wanted his engineer to check out my claims, and the welfare of his citizens. May I quote from the Modloch engineer’s report?’ He was given nods of approval.

He took out his pad. ‘The Dent would be ideal candidates to help teach Humans the basic fundamentals of space engineering. On their planet, they are responsible for technology that is unique to this planet; in space, they are responsible for keeping a fleet of old and antiquated warships in running and fighting order. This involves a lot of hands-on engineering that we are unfamiliar with these days, but the kind of primitive engineering that Humans excel at. I can see the Dent becoming an important bridge for the Human race, if we ever wish to bring their engineering skills up-to-date with the standards of the federation.’

‘Who is this person?’ A member of the council blurted out. ‘Who is he to make such a judgement?’

Emperor Ne´ Langus skewered him with a look, but the council member met his gaze defiantly.

‘This engineer served aboard the Burning Wind. Both he and the ship served the federation for the appointed terms of service. He is the only survivor of the Burning Wind after its incursion beyond the barrier. He took charge of the city ship, and also became the first and only Ambassador to Earth. He knows more about the Humans and their engineering than all other engineers across the whole of the federation. He is now the Modloch empire’s, and the federation’s, foremost engineer. He has been rewarded by the Emperor with an estate on his own home world, for his services to the empire. He also is one of the founding member of the Human music company. He is a person who has no need to work, yet still serves his Emperor with great distinction. Does that answer your question council member?’

‘More than adequately your highness. Thank you.’

‘Right now, this is a problem. The Humans fight with a ferocity that few can match. Their tactical skills are beyond compare. Their pilots are quickly achieving high classifications. Their only problem lies in hands-on navigation, which is being addressed, and engineering. My proposal is to form a special attack wing. If the Ortea and the Dent both supply a battle cruiser and supporting ships to the federation, then we can build a nucleus for this special force.

‘Right now, Humans are tying up all my resources at Federation One, our training establishment. I have even had to draft in extra staff, and they are at least a galactic year from being ready to deploy. I considered splitting them up, but that would cause huge logistical problems. Three races, two of which are highly aggressive yet lack technical skills. One race with no aggression but highly skilled in the technical areas required. The Ortea have good navigational skills and experience that the Humans haven’t. Yet, if I can combine all three races together, in a few weeks I could have a battle ready tactical group, and free up all my resources.’

The murmuring was getting quite loud again and he held up his hand for quiet. They settled down. ‘The plan would be to mix crews across the whole battle group. The Ortea would not be allowed to command their own ship, certainly not at first. They would have to take positions as lead navigators and seconds to the command structure. The Humans have built up the trust of the federation members. I, for one, would be more than happy to have them serve in this capacity. It would mean the Humans having to supply more men and women than they have serving now. I have talked with their leaders. They are willing not only to do this but also to supply the modern ships that the Dent require. The Humans and the Ortea eat the same food and the Humans will supply most of it. The Dent are used to serving with meat eaters, and the Ortea and Humans together will be able to supply all of their nourishment needs.

‘It will also serve to settle the nerves of the Ortea. If they are being included in this endeavour, then I am quite sure that they will become more confident in their dealings with the federation, and may well be willing to create proper lanes of travel and protection through their solar systems for travellers and commercial transportation. That, my friends, will benefit all of us, and prevent a recommencement of hostilities. I lay this proposal before this august body for inspection, scrutiny and decision. I also lay it before the Dent delegation for the same purposes.’

Chapter 43

The Chief’s eyes were rolling in his head at the smug grin on the Emperor’s face.

‘It would seem you are quite the hit with the federation council Chief. I have received many compliments on your report on the Ortea home world.’

‘Thank you sire.’ Despite the compliment, the Chief wasn’t fooled.

‘It would seem that they have taken your recommendations to heart, have you heard?’

‘No sire.’

‘Of course you haven’t, I have only received word myself. I will tell you. The federation have accepted the proposal of Emperor Ne´ Langus to combine the Humans, the Dent and the Ortea together into a single force under the command of the Human contingent. The Dent and the Ortea have also accepted the proposal. It almost guarantees a lasting peace with the Ortea, and it all hinged on your report. Did you ever see yourself as a peace keeper Chief?’

‘No sire.’

‘As you have brought so much prestige to my empire, I have decided to reward you.’

‘No. Please sire! No more rewards, please.’

‘Shut up and stop trying to wriggle out of it.’

Gord was openly laughing in the background. When the Emperor gave him the signal he opened a small anteroom door.

‘Chief, let me introduce you to your new wards.’

The Chief’s head dropped in defeat. Since the Emperor and Charlie’s conversation a few weeks before, he had been dreading the moment he knew would come. He had seen the woman before and was not looking forward to it. She was highborn and knew it. He had walked right past her once and she hadn’t even looked at him. But she was considered a rare beauty in the Modloch world.

I’m not going to look, don’t look at her. The Chief thought, but he turned his head anyway. She was one of the rare females in which maturity seemed to enhance their looks. Her two daughters took after the mother. One was nearing mating age, and the other was just a few years behind. They were dressed like noble women. The Chief felt his heart sink. She barely glanced at him, her eyes glazing over almost immediately. He had seen it many times before.

She bowed. ‘Your highness.’

‘Ah, Lady Glee. Here you are. I have finally been able to find you a sponsor.’

‘Who sire?’

‘Are you blind?’

She almost laughed as she turned and her eyes actually focused on the Chief.

‘Is this a joke your highness? He isn’t a noble, he is a commoner.’

‘He most certainly is. I petitioned all of the Modloch nobles from every one of my planets. I even took special care to petition your old suitors. You are a pariah Glee. Not a single noble wants anything to do with you. Your own father suggested I execute you and your daughters to erase the stain from your family’s honour. Which made me think very hard.’

The Emperor sat up a little straighter, even though it was barely perceptible.

‘I began to think about my poor dear departed cousin. He had never in his life shown any inclination to become Emperor. To him the idea was laughable, he was one of the most loyal men I have ever known in my life. I treated him well, he had no reason to do what he did. I began to try and figure out why. Then I remembered you. I remember the first time we met at one of his birthday parties. I remember the looks you were giving me, and of course the huge hints. How you would drop him for me in a heartbeat.’

He saw her chin come up.

‘You do remember don’t you? That was when I took an extreme dislike to you. I remember him telling me of how you continually pushed him to better himself. He never had any dreams of becoming Emperor, but you always had dreams of becoming Empress. Ah yes, then it all began to make sense. Whispers on the pillow; you wouldn’t be the first female in history to push her partner to such extremes. I only wish I had thought to ask him why, and what part you played in this plot. It shocked me when your father asked for your execution. What was it he knew that I didn’t?’

‘I had nothing to do with it your highness. My children and I are innocent. The first we knew of the plot was when he was arrested. I was just as shocked and shamed as my father.’

He turned his attention to the Chief. ‘What do you think Charlie would be saying right now if he was here Chief?’

‘With respect sire, I think she is very lucky he isn’t.’

She scowled at the Chief. The Emperor smiled coldly.

‘I am sure they will have plenty time to get acquainted in the future.’

‘We shall see for certain then, sire.’

‘I don’t think I need Charlie for this Chief.’

He turned his attention back to Glee. ‘The only reason you are alive is because of those two at your side. Your father is a valuable ally and I know his granddaughters are the light in his eyes; I realised that I could not possibly do that to him. I also realised that I could not give you to a noble. How long would it be until you took over his household and those whispers in the night began again?

‘It gave me quite a problem, but this is my solution. My most trusted servant, but not of noble birth. He has lands and estates on his home planet that he is never there to run, and his commoner parents struggle to. Something you could do with ease. You will work as his servant for the rest of your life. You will look after his estates and remove a burden from his and his parent’s life. I know he will make sure that your children are well catered for and schooled. From this day on, what he does with you is entirely up to him. He has a free hand. If he wants to kill you, it is up to him, if he wants to mate with you and your children, that is entirely up to him as well.’ He turned to the Chief. ‘Although if you do mate with her daughters, I will expect you to stay within the remit of the law, and take responsibility of them for the rest of your life.’

‘That will not be happening sire, I will not have a harem.’

‘That’s a shame, it would have saved me trouble trying to find them husbands in the long run.’

She was in shock. ‘I will not prostrate myself for a commoner such as he.’

‘You had damn well better do as you are told.’

It was too much for the Chief, he turned on her. ‘You will never have to my lady, because I do not want you or your daughters. Neither do I want such a person as yourself in my home. You will never see me either. I have vast responsibilities that keep me away. I have been home twice in five years. As for mating, I can assure you, it will be the last thing on your mind. I come from the ninth planet and it will take you two years to get used to the gravity.

A word of caution. If I hear of you having any male over, in my home, when I am not there, I will have you executed. Expect to be very lonely for the rest of your life. You will receive a set budget from me every month; exceed it at your own peril. If you wish for more, then I will want a very good reason. If you have no wish to live like that, then please feel free to kill yourself.’

The Emperor laughed gruffly. ‘Well said Chief. Who knows, we may make a noble out of you yet.’

‘It is an honour I can live without sir.’

‘You will do as you are damn well told!’ The Emperor snapped. ‘Now take your new charges and get the hell out of my sight!’

The Chief took a step back and bowed. ‘Come with me.’

He led the stunned females away.

An hour later Glee was sitting with her daughters in a drab anteroom, deep within the bowels of the palace. The Emperor hadn’t been far from the truth and she shuddered at the memory of her husband’s face as he was blown out of the airlock. Would death be preferable to this? Her spirits had sunk to their deepest depths. Engineers came and went. Beyond the anteroom door there was a buzz of activity. A young Modloch male came out of the offices. His eyes swept over the three females, and the effect was that of walking into a brick wall. He didn’t know which one to look at. Glee was mildly amused that she and her daughters could still have that affect. The young male had a small money pad in one hand and a travel pad in the other.

He approached and began to shake and stutter. ‘Ma’am, I have your travel passes here. Do you have your identity on you? I need it to confirm the details.’

From a small pouch at her waist she took out three cards. He swiped them nervously and handed them back.

‘Thank you. I will be back to escort you to the port soon.’ He handed over the money tablet and turned away.

Glee almost didn’t look at it. He was almost at the door when she did. She shot bolt upright.

‘Wait, is there a mistake here?’

He turned back. ‘No Ma’am, I don’t think so.’

‘I was told I would get a monthly allowance.’

‘Yes Ma’am, that’s your monthly allowance and a little extra for travelling money.’

‘Oh! Thank you.’

When he went through the door, she turned it towards her eldest.

She also shot up. ‘That can’t be right.’

‘I am confused.’ Glee confessed. ‘This is almost equivalent to your father’s yearly wage.’

Now the youngest was curious. She was old enough to realise the significance of the amount.

‘Oh wow.’

A sudden tension erupted between the three females. Glee put the tablet away. ‘I think some questions are in order.’

It was another hour before the youth returned. ‘I have to take you to your residence, to collect your personal belongings. Interstellar removals are already on their way. They will pack up the rest of your belongings and transport them to the Chief’s residence.’

‘That is very efficient of you.’ Glee smiled.

The youth blinked, ‘Is it?’

‘I had a friend that was posted a few months ago, it took interstellar removals weeks to gather up their belongings.’

‘You are royalty Ma’am.’

‘Am I? Only by marriage, and my husband is now dead.’

‘I am sorry to hear that Ma’am. I just heard the Chief say that over the communicator to interstellar removals.’

‘He made the call himself?’

‘He did Ma’am. As you said, they told me it would be a month. The Chief took the call, had them make it a priority, a Grade A removal reserved for royalty.’

‘He is just an engineer, isn’t he?’

‘Yes Ma’am.’ He thought about it for a moment. ‘Sort of.’

‘I am sorry, I do not understand. Sort of?’

‘This way Ma’am, transport is waiting.’

The transport module that arrived to collect them, wasn’t very clean or appropriate. Glee however decided not to remark on it.

‘You were going to explain.’ She prompted when they had settled in for the journey.

‘It is hard to explain the Chief. I have only worked under him for a few weeks. Most of what I know is just rumour.’

‘Indulge me please.’

‘He loves engines and engineering. He is the empire’s best engineer. He went with Admiral Gairloch across the barrier and was the only one to return alive.’

‘I do remember that, yes go on.’

‘Some have said that the Emperor tried to acquire him many years ago but Gairloch stopped it. Gairloch was the only one who could really stand up to the Emperor in that fashion.’

‘That is true. The Emperor loved Gairloch, adored him. It surprised me that he let him cross the barrier.’

‘The Chief says that no one is indispensable in the service of the Emperor Ma’am. He has a picture of himself and the Admiral. They look like they were very good friends.’

‘The Emperor has him now.’

‘Yes Ma’am, the Chief is always running back and forth. He is in personal charge of any craft the Emperor travels in, apart from transport ships. Some say the Emperor likes to torture him.’

‘It is strange enough that the Emperor even bothers himself with a common engineer.’

‘That’s out of my league Ma’am.’

‘Still, having to look after the Emperor’s personal transport must be quite daunting.’

‘Really it is just the city ship and the Emperor’s battle cruiser. It is still a huge responsibility though. He also gets lots of requests from many other departments. He is always shooting off somewhere to help someone out, or on strange missions for the Emperor.’

‘It doesn’t explain how he can afford to pay a high-ranking officer’s yearly wage as a monthly stipend.’

‘Oh! The Chief is independently wealthy Ma’am. He doesn’t even touch his salary.’

She shook her head. ‘How can a commoner be so wealthy?’

‘He sponsored the Human PD music group. I don’t know how much, but he does get a percentage of the profits.’

‘I see.’

One of her daughters pulled out her tablet, and her fingers raced across its face. She flashed the results at her. Glee thought her heart was about to stop. Even a small percentage of the monthly total the PD company of Earth was making would be an astronomical figure. A strange tremor went through her body.

‘The Chief has been very lucky, and his mate. Is she at his residence?’

‘Oh, he isn’t married. Will be before the end of the year though.’

‘Is she a noble woman?’

‘She works for a music company as a secretary.’

The three females passed a look between each other. Glee decided then that the biggest threat was her own daughters. Her children recognised the look and knew the battle lines were being drawn.

‘She is a very lucky young lady.’

‘He is good and decent.’ The aid nodded absentmindedly.

Chapter 44

Glee and her two daughters were gasping for breath. Each felt as though a heavy weight had been placed on their chests.

The journey had not been stressful. Although not luxurious, their accommodation aboard the cruiser had been comfortable and the food of a decent standard. The walk to the waiting transport had been short but arduous.

It was midday and the sun was high overhead. A light breeze held the taint of freshly cut grass. The three of them collapsed into the back of the transport. Glee felt herself sink down into the soft seat.

‘How can anyone live here?’ She moaned.

The driver glanced round unsympathetically. ‘You will get used to it. Don’t try and do anything strenuous for a few weeks.’

Glee didn’t even thank him for the advice. The transport moved off, then took to the sky. Despite the speed of the transport, it still took an hour to reach the estate. The driver announced their arrival, and Glee struggled into a sitting position. Her mouth dropped open.

‘This is it?’ She gasped.

‘This is the address I was given Ma’am; so this is it.’

It was a stately home fit for someone of royal status, not just a mere engineer. They came into land in a small carpark at the front of the building. As soon as it touched down, a wedge of servants rushed out from the main door. Three motorised chairs accompanied them. The three females were soon bundled out of the transport and into the chairs. Glee thought the servants looked cloddish at best. One elder seemed to be in charge, and Glee could see the intelligence in the Modloch male’s eyes.

‘Are you the Ambassador’s father?’

He snorted. ‘Ambassador! You mean engineer?’

‘He is entitled to be referred to by the highest rank he achieved.’

He snorted again. ‘He only became Ambassador because everyone else was dead. To top it all, his mother and I have been charged with looking after this monstrosity while he is galivanting all over the universe.’

Glee looked up at the home. ‘It is very big, even for an Ambassador’s residence.’

‘It is the biggest on this planet. It is a royal residence, but no royal could stand to stay here for more than a day, so it was downgraded to an Ambassador’s residence. It was beginning to fall into a state of disrepair. According to the royal accessor, the Emperor gave him this residence because he was the only one who could afford its upkeep.’

‘That sounds like the Emperor.’

His eyebrows shot up. ‘You know him.’

‘Only too well.’ Glee admitted.

‘I see. You must have fallen very far from grace to end up here.’

She eyed him coolly. ‘Very far indeed.’

‘I suggest you just make the best of it then. It takes a while to get used to the gravity, and we do have seasons. They are a little more dramatic than what you will be used to, but they are actually quite refreshing. One of the good points of this planet is the higher oxygen levels in the air. It is an unpopular planet, so there’s much fewer people. The main cities are just as crowded as the home world though, and we have the same amenities.

‘Socially, you will have to make your own friends. There are those who consider themselves high and mighty. No doubt they will let themselves be known soon enough.’

‘That may take a while.’

He looked down the side of his nose at her. ‘How so? A beautiful person such as yourself with two very beautiful daughters should get lots of invitations.’

‘My former husband was the king’s cousin.’

They stopped inside the reception area and he looked straight down at her. ‘That cousin?’

She sighed. ‘Yes, that cousin.’

He shook his head. ‘In that case, you may well have to put up with the company of an old architect and his doting wife for a little while, at least to begin with.’

‘Do you stay here now?’

‘Not really. We stay as much as we can. I can’t stand it here, it is far too big for me.’

‘I thought an architect would love such a place.’

‘I spent a lifetime trying to save space where ever I could, so we could cram more citizens into the same space as before. I thought that a worthy cause, then I see this. What a waste of space.’

‘The wealthy and important also require somewhere to stay.’

‘This is decadent.’

‘It is a royal residence.’

‘It is still decadent. Neither is my son of royal birth, or even noble birth.’

‘A gift from the Emperor is not something you should turn your nose up at. To be quite frank, if your son refused, it could well have gone very badly for him.’

‘I believe he tried to refuse it.’

‘He also tried to refuse me and my daughters; look where that got him.’

‘Is he taking risks with his life?’

‘Anyone within the Emperor’s gaze is taking a risk with their life. Your son seems to spend more time in it than most do. One of your son’s aids told me that the Emperor likes to torture him.’

‘This certainly is torture for my son. He doesn’t like this, or want it. He just wants to work on his engines. It is all he has ever wanted to do.’

‘I think the Emperor will make him a noble.’

‘I hope not.’

‘Why does he even work?’

‘I told you, he loves his engines. It is all he has ever wanted to do.’

‘I am afraid I do not understand the common mind.’

He smiled. ‘You don’t have to.’

‘I see, I simply have to accept it.’

‘Yes.’

‘Where are your apartments here?’

‘We had moved into a small cottage at the bottom of the garden. However, a few weeks ago a team of workers sent by the Emperor himself descended on us. We were thrown out and the cottage was completely remodelled. It was also taken off the deeds of the property. We moved into the servants’ quarter.’

‘That isn’t good enough sir. You must take proper rooms within the residence.’

‘If you are taking over from me, my lady, you will see neither myself nor my wife for stardust. I retired a few years ago and intend travelling. With the money my son gave us we won’t have to set foot on home soil for a very long time.’

Glee smiled. ‘Could you please stay long enough for me to adapt to this planet a little?’

‘Two weeks should see you properly on your feet. We will stay a lunar month.’

‘Thank you sir, you are very kind. Is there something else I should know about that cottage? Would it not be for the head gardener?’

‘You would know more about these things than I do my lady. I know that it has been lavishly refurnished, with furniture befitting a child.’

‘A child! Is the Emperor hiding a child in it?’

‘No, nothing like that. I called my son, he knew about it. It is for a friend of his, a Human. One who saved his life.’

‘Were they in a battle together?’

‘Nothing quite so exciting I am afraid. My son fell down a hole in that big city ship and became wedged. He maintains he would have died if the Human hadn’t found him. The Human climbed down, pulled him free and carried him back to the top.’

‘So, your son had the cottage refitted?’

‘No, he never paid a penny. That’s the strange part. The Emperor paid for it all. All my son would say was that he was an invaluable aid to the Emperor recently. It was my son’s idea to give the cottage to his Human friend, however the Emperor found out about it and has not only refurbished the cottage, but also bequeathed it to the Human for the rest of his natural life.’

‘So, it is no longer part of the estate.’

‘Only the upkeep and maintenance. There is also a little land with it. We are to maintain anything that is planted there, for the Human.’

‘I see. I needed to know that, thank you. Is there a study that I can use?’

‘There is. Would you like to see it now?’

‘Maybe after a rest.’

‘Of course.’

Chapter 45

A great bellow of laughter filled the entrance hall.

‘So where is it then?’ Charlie asked the Chief.

‘ow the hell would I know

How the hell would I know?’

‘It’s your bloody home.’

‘I have only been here once, and I didn’t look around.’

‘What a plank, I can’t believe you never looked around.’

‘Hey!’ The Chief protested.

‘It is at the bottom of the garden.’ Came a feminine voice from a side door.

Both males went very still and turned towards the voice.

‘Lady Glee. We meet again. Are you and your children settling in?’

‘Yes we are thank you. Your parents have also been very kind.’

‘That is their nature. Could you point this fellow towards the cottage at the bottom of the garden?’ He turned to Charlie. ‘You have the key?’

‘Aye.’

‘Did you activate it?’

‘Aye.’

The Chief stepped through into the main hall. The house gleamed with new furniture and paint. He took it all in.

‘I see you are taking your duties seriously Lady Glee.’

‘I hope you approve sir.’

He raised an eyebrow at her use of the term sir. ‘It is very nice. Now, where is the garden?’

‘If you wish to retire to your room to freshen up sir, I will escort your guest to the garden.’

‘My guest.’ He took a deep breath. ‘This is Captain Murison of The Gordon Highlanders, Earth Defence Forces, on detachment with the Earth’s Goodwill Ambassador. You may as well know right now; he is the one responsible for capturing you husband.’ The look of shock that crossed her face was obvious to both males. ‘Did you have anything to do with the plot?’

‘No, of course not.’

Charlie looked up at the Chief and shook his head.

‘This way Captain, if you please.’

Charlie hefted his kit bag onto his shoulder and followed Glee through the house; the Chief went upstairs.

Out the back of the house Glee stopped. There were many people in the garden, and Charlie could smell freshly tilled soil. Fresh flowers had been planted.

‘If you wait here, I will fetch a chair for myself. I cannot walk that far yet. We have only been here a month.’

‘No need. Is it the cottage behind the trees and the wall at the bottom there?’

‘Yes. Wait, how can you see that?’

‘I can see lots of things many can’t.’

She hesitated a moment. ‘How did you capture my husband?’

‘None of your business. I shall make my own way from here.’

‘What about food, will you be dining with us tonight?’

‘No, I can’t eat grass, and have my own rations with me.’

‘That would be meat?’

‘A little.’

‘I have two daughters Captain. Are you attracted to Modloch females?’

‘Not even slightly, they are perfectly safe.’

‘What about from being eaten?’

‘Seriously?’

‘I have never met a meat eater before Captain. It is a worry.’

‘You are lying. In fact, I was at a reception where you met more than a few, including the Human king. You also met the Lady Mya and stuck your snout in the air.’

‘I don’t remember.’

‘You are a liar.’

‘Please stop calling me that.’

‘Then stop lying to me.’

‘I am not.’

‘Oh you are, and have been since I walked through that door. You were involved with your husband in a plot to kill the Emperor.’

‘I most certainly was not.’

‘You most certainly were. Did you plan it, coerce you husband into doing it?’

‘I did not.’

‘Well, at least in that you are telling the truth.’

Her mouth dropped open, ‘What on Modloch are you?’

‘I am someone you cannot lie to.’

‘Is this how you captured my husband?’

‘This is exactly how I captured your husband. I bet you didn’t know that the body has a unique language of its own. It speaks on a subconscious level, and it is very hard for it to lie.’

She suddenly clamped her mouth closed tight.

‘That is exactly the right way to speak to me.’

‘I hold you responsible for the death of my husband.’

‘I only caught him. He was responsible for his own death.’

Her mouth clamped firmly closed again. Charlie looked up. ‘That’s better. I can see by your body posture and the look in your eyes that you don’t really know what to make of me, or how to deal with me. Well you can’t seduce me; I don’t eat your food, so it will be very difficult to poison me. You might be able to persuade, with your charms, to get some of the staff here to attempt to kill me.’ Charlie stepped off the porch, picked up a stone and crushed it to dust in his hands. ‘I can assure you, that will also fail.’

Glee felt her heart begin to beat faster, and a fear she had never known before ran down her.

‘What are you, some kind of monster?’

‘I am a Human being, a natural born hunter, who has spent a lifetime being trained to kill. Does that put things into perspective for you?’

‘Yes.’

‘Good, remember that. I am also very protective of my friends. I presume your plans to seduce him are in a very advanced stage.’

‘They are not.’

‘Please!’ Charlie interrupted before she could put her foot further into it.

Glee closed her eyes tightly and tried to make her body as still as possible.

‘That won’t work.’ Charlie cautioned.

She let out a long breath. ‘I don’t know what to say anymore.’

‘It is very hard not to lie when you have spent a lifetime trying to perfect it.’

She looked down her nose at him. ‘My whole life has not been a lie.’

‘No, but you are a noble woman. People with position and power learn to lie at an early age. It is very rare to meet someone from the higher social circles who doesn’t have to lie to keep their position in life.’

‘At least you understand that much Captain.’

‘Oh, I understand far too much sometimes.’

‘So it would seem.’

‘Well, back to my friend. If you hurt him, I will kill you. Simple! That goes for his lady friend too. To hurt her will be to hurt him. If you can seduce him off her, that is an entirely different matter. After all, noble or not, you would be a fool not to try it on with a Modloch who has so much resources at his disposal.’

She was breathing heavily now. ‘You mean all is fair in the game of love and war.’

‘We Humans have exactly the same saying.’

‘Then I know my boundaries Captain. I think it unusual that you would think like that.’

‘I have been seduced, and in turn seduced many. To me it is half the fun in life.’

‘You truly are a hunter then, in every sense of the word.’

‘I suppose I am.’

‘I think we have an understanding Captain.’

‘That’s what I like to hear. Good day.’

Chapter 46

Steven laughed aloud. ‘He didn’t say that did he Charlie?’

‘Aye he did.’

‘Unbelievable.’

Buzz stuck his head out of the door. ‘Is this the gear Charlie?’ In his fist he held a massive strangely coloured bottle.

‘That’s it Buzz. Honest, you don’t want to try it.’

Buzz cracked it open and tested a small amount. ‘It says it is safe to drink.’

Charlie laughed. ‘If you are going to try it, then do it over there by the wall.’

Buzz shrugged and walked over to the wall. He took a swig of the native beer. A half second later, he was retching over the wall.

Steven and Charlie were still laughing at him as he sank onto the soft grass. Tears streamed down his face.

‘Oh my god Charlie! I thought you were joking!’

Charlie shook his head. ‘I warned you, it is the vilest stuff you have ever tasted in your life. It smells and tastes like fermented silage bree.’

‘I have to confess, I have no idea what silage is.’

The two Scots howled with glee.

Steven explained. ‘Cut grass, stacked and compressed as winter fodder for cattle. As it rots, it gives off a vile, stinking brown liquid we call bree. You know those poisonous mushrooms everyone here is going nuts over? They grow on it.’

Shudders travelled down the length of Buzz’s body. ‘It is awful.’

‘If it’s any consolation Buzz, I puked for a full ten minutes.’ Charlie confessed.

‘Did you take a full mouthful?’

‘Aye.’

‘I just took a sip man. Wow, what a house warming party!’

The two laughed as he staggered inside still grasping the bottle. He soon returned with more victims. It seemed everyone was determined to try it for themselves. It wasn’t long before a whole row of bodies were puking over Charlie’s wall.

Charlie had enough, he went over and took the bottle from Buzz, he poured it out.

‘That ain’t fair Charlie.’

‘I have to clean that up in the morning Buzz.’

‘Can I have the bottle? The kids will want to turn it into a lamp and sell it on eBay.’

Laughing, Charlie handed the bottle back.

It wasn’t long before Cookie stuck his head out of the door.

‘Hey! How the hell did I get stuck with the cooking?’

‘Because you kicked everybody’s arse out of the kitchen.’ Charlie replied.

Cookie frowned and took a slug from a bottle of beer he had taken with him. ‘Oh aye, I did, didn’t I.’

He went back inside and they heard Mya shouting at him.

Charlie smiled, ‘It looks like they are becoming very domesticated.’

‘Aren’t we all.’ Steven snorted, taking a sip of his beer.

‘Talk for yourself.’ Charlie retorted.

‘You have options.’

‘Not really Stevie. If I start doing Himari, Komoru will emasculate me.’

‘She wouldn’t.’ Steven laughed.

‘You have just no idea what that woman of yours is capable of, do you?’

Steven thought that was hilarious. ‘Och Charlie, Komoru is just a pussy cat.’

‘Aye well, the kitty has claws, just remember that.’

‘What about your wee Jeannie?’

‘That type of woman isn’t a roll in the hay Stevie, it is a full-on commitment. I couldn’t disrespect her by using her. No in that manner.’

‘So instead you are going to hide here.’

‘Yup.’

Steven shook his head. ‘It isn’t right Charlie.’

‘What am I supposed to do man? I’m going to outlive all of you by hundreds of years. Christ, I’m looking younger as the years go by, not older.’

Steven took a sip of his beer. ‘I did notice that actually. So, the Emperor gave you this for as long as you live.’

‘Aye.’

‘What is he after?’

‘He wants me to serve him, or at least his sons.’

‘Are you going to do it?’

‘I will be with you until the day you retire Stevie. After that, who knows.’

Three men appeared in front of them carrying cases of beer and spirits. They were laughing.

‘Permission to join the party sir.’ Colonel Howe asked.

Steven laughed. ‘It isn’t my party.’

‘As long as that isn’t Modloch beer.’ Charlie mumbled just loud enough for them to hear.

That brought a hoot of laughter. ‘Go stick it in the fridge.’ Charlie pointed a thumb at the door.

‘You got a fridge big enough Charlie?’ Beaver asked.

‘It can take a couple of bales of hay. A few cases of beer are nothing.’ Still laughing the three went inside.

‘I like dis house.’ They heard Lewis say, ‘I don bump my head, don even have to bend down.’ Steven and Charlie laughed.

‘What’s next Stevie?’

‘The city ship arrives tomorrow. The Emperor is going to do his thing. Then he is going to hop onto his battle cruiser, and we are going to escort him to the Ortea home world. The first state visit by any head of state. He has requested you as an escort.’

Charlie grimaced. ‘Did you say yes?’

‘Did I have a choice?’

‘Aye, I suppose not.’

‘After that we are going where no man has gone before.’

‘Aye, ye think? We thought we were the first to the Black Planet, then we discovered there were thousands of Humans living across the great barrier.’

‘They weren’t exactly free to go walk about Charlie, but I get where you are coming from. Orlan’s father got him a pet, who says another didn’t do the same?’

‘You read my mind.’

‘Makes a change.’

They laughed easily together.

‘Did I tell you I am getting a visitor tomorrow?’

Steven shook his head. ‘No, who?’

‘The great Darrick himself.’

Steven almost spat out his beer. ‘You are shitting me!’

‘Nope, come to see if his pal Charlie has settled in alright.’

‘I thought he wouldn’t set foot on this planet because of the gravity.’

‘He had something installed into the cottage that can reduce the gravity.’

‘Like on a ship?’

‘Aye, something like that.’

Steven shook his head. ‘Man he is serious.’

‘Aye, I’m his buddy now.’

‘Do you like him Charlie?’

‘Aye, I do.’

‘You will never betray him, will you?’

‘Not a chance. Don’t worry though Stevie. If I ever find out he is planning to do something nasty to Humanity, I will let you know.’

‘That’s good enough for me. How’s the Chief doing?’

‘Right now he is between a rock and a hard place. He has living with him someone who is considered one of the most desirable females in the empire, and her two daughters.’

‘I thought he was getting married.’

‘Supposed to be. This noble woman is a piece of work though. It was her husband the Emperor blew out that airlock.’

‘His cousin’s wife!’

‘That’s the one. He has made him her patron and she and the girls his wards. It’s the Emperor’s solution to a bad problem. He rightly thinks she helped her husband plot against him, though she had a little less to do with it than he thinks. He decided he couldn’t trust her at home with another noble man.’

‘So, he sent her out to the arse end of his empire, to a planet no one likes, but with someone who could take care of her.’

‘You got it in one Stevie.’

‘Why not just kill her? That’s more his style, isn’t it?’

‘The kids are the granddaughters of one of his biggest allies at court. It doesn’t wipe out the dishonour the grandfather feels at the betrayal, but he loves the children.’

‘So out of sight, out of mind.’

‘Pretty much. Sometime in the future the children can retake their place in society without the mother.’

Steven thought it over for a while. ‘So, our friend is stuck with her. Does he find her attractive?’

‘Oh aye.’

‘What is she doing?’

‘Acting like the perfect hostess. She has sorted this place out in short order, and according to the Chief, for far less than he thought it would cost.’

Steven nodded. ‘So she is making herself indispensable. Is she capable of murder?’

‘Oh aye. That is one cold bitch. She doesn’t even consider his fiancé a threat, that’s how confident she is.’

‘Someone like that always considers someone else a threat, do you know who?’

‘Her own daughters.’

‘No shitting!’

‘Nope.’

‘Oh this has the makings of a great drama.’ They both laughed. ‘I wonder how it will turn out.’

‘Well, stay tuned for the next episode. Thing is, the daughters are more like the mother than she realises. They certainly aren’t naive.’

‘And the poor Chief is stuck right in the middle.’

‘He isn’t as stupid as they think he is either. He knows damn well to keep away from here during mating season. He has already bought himself a high-class residence on the city ship, and on the Modloch home world.’

‘So, if he is away on the city ship on extended duty, his wife can stay there, and if he is at the palace, they can stay on the home world too.’

‘Bang on.’

Komoru and Himari appeared. Himari was getting more than a little drunk and plonked herself down beside Charlie. Komoru scowled and sat beside Steven.

‘Charlie, when are you going to go out with me?’

Charlie sucked on his beer bottle. ‘I’m not. I already told you, I’m more machine than man. I can’t do it for you.’

‘I don’t care, I just want to be with you.’

‘Himari!’ Komoru snapped.

Himari waggled a finger at her, ‘Komoru, you may be my Captain, but you can’t tell me what to do in my private life, butt out.’

She leaned against Charlie. ‘Charlie, when are you going to take me to bed?’ Her head slipped off his shoulder and onto his lap. A few seconds later she disappeared.

‘I put her home and into bed.’ Komoru confessed a moment later. There was no mistaking by the tone of her voice how much she disapproved.

Steven turned on her. ‘Actually Komoru, I think Himari is right. You should butt out. She isn’t a child. If she and Charlie want to have a relationship, that is their business.’ Steven stood up. ‘I'm sorry Charlie, I’m not in the mood anymore.’ Charlie was barely able to lift a hand before he disappeared.

Komoru stood up and scowled. ‘Why is it half the arguments I have with Steven are over you Charlie.’

‘You must look for the answer to that question within yourself, my child.’ Charlie answered in a strange mystical voice.

‘That isn’t funny.’

‘I thought it was. Although you could stop riding my ass all the time. That might help a little.’

‘May I be blunt?’

‘Yes please.’

‘I don’t trust you Charlie, I think you are very dangerous. I think you could get us into a lot of trouble.’

‘Me! There is no one more dangerous here than you Komoru.’

‘I resent that Charlie. I didn’t kill lots of mothers and their children.’

‘You read the report from the federation investigatory committee on their investigation into cutting off the oxygen supply on the city ship. Their conclusions were that as it was a war of eradication, and because even after surrendering, the Albany, believing they were on Earth, still tried to wipe out the Human race, the deaths were justified.’

‘They don’t know who did it though, they are still looking for you. They also believe it was Steven.’

‘Darrick knows, Emperor Ne´ knows, maybe lots more, and they have known for a while. Maybe believing it is Steven makes them warier, less inclined to upset him or you.’

She looked him up and down. ‘I am still not comfortable with it Charlie.’

‘I broke no laws and was cleared by a federation investigation, even if they don’t know who the hell I am. If you, however, get caught for destroying that Albany battle group, using a weapon that can cause catastrophic failure of a star drive, then you will be held accountable, and the whole Human race along with you. More to the point Komoru, I thought very hard before I did what I did. It wasn’t easy. I knew what I was doing was justifiable, and I saved countless Human lives by doing so. I was, and still am, prepared to stand up for my actions. The Albany’s leader, declaring every one of his people a combatant, was justification enough. How do you justify doing what you did?’

Komoru was reeling. ‘I thought you didn’t read people’s minds.’

‘I didn’t.’

‘Lewis?’

‘Don’t be thick. It was the Emperor. He swore me to secrecy. He’s a big admirer of yours by the way. He is waiting to see what happens next. If they can find no trace of that fleet, then he believes he has found the ideal assassination weapon. He has more than a few enemies he wants to try it out on. So, are you going to answer my question?’ The thought flashed across her mind before she could open her mouth. ‘I see, you were just fed up with the Albany pleasing themselves. I was hoping for an answer with a little more reason behind it.’

‘No one can trace it back to us.’

‘Don’t be a fool Komoru. We know about it. Our high command knows about it, Darrick knows about it, the Ortea also know about it, and with them the Dent know about it. Details and records of that weapon are now stored as data in lots of different places. Once the Catataracs discover that vast swathes of their asteroid belt have also turned to dust, what then? The people in this part of the galaxy are not stupid. They will find some way of discovering what happened to their damn rocks. Sooner or later, they will link it to us. From there, how long until they put two and two together? Darrick reckons that the particles from the Albany ships will just keep on travelling at faster than light speed forever. They may never be able to pin it to us directly, they may never find proof. It won’t stop them trying to pin it on us though. It’s all damaging. Sooner or later it will come back and bite you on that pretty little arse of yours. I think the quicker you confess to Steven the better.’

‘I will ask you to stay out of my affairs Charlie.’

‘Then stay out of mine Komoru.’

He saw her reel. Komoru took an involuntary step backward.

‘Do you think I was wrong to do what I did?’

‘Oh hell no. I think what you did was awesome. The only problem is, you never thought it through. I will stand by you regardless of what happens. I will protect you with my life if need be. Try not to do anything so stupid again. At least not without talking to the people around you first. That’s what we are here for Komoru. You may be a damn sight smarter than a half dozen of us all put together, but we have the experience in these situations. You don’t.’

Komoru felt the tension inside her seep away, and suddenly felt really tired. Her eyes closed for a second.

‘I understand Charlie. Thank you.’

Charlie reached down and plucked a beer from a cooler at his side. He opened it and offered it up.

Komoru looked at it for a moment then took it. She sat down beside Charlie and took a drink.

‘I think I like your new home. I see you have a Modloch size bath.’

‘It’s a pity, I rarely need it. Even my hair is synthetic now.’

‘I have never had the courage to ask you how it feels.’

‘Really strange at first, now I suppose I just feel like me.’

‘You got used to it.’

‘I suppose I have.’

‘What about touch?’

‘Feels normal. The nerves are all mine of course, but they stop short of the skin. There are artificial ones from there to where they would have been. The beauty of that is I can switch them off at will.’

‘Why would you do that?’

‘My skin can take very high temperatures, but it would still transmit as heat and pain to my brain.’

‘Ah! I see.’

‘I can do lots of things that would normally hurt if I didn’t have the ability to switch it off.’

‘Like what?’

Charlie picked up a small rock and crushed it. ‘Like that.’

‘Why would you want to do that?’

‘It comes in handy now and then, trust me.’

‘So, if you aren’t using your bath…’

‘Anytime you like Komoru, you are more than welcome.’

Komoru was still thinking about Charlie’s condition. ‘I thought, when you came out of the floor, that most of your skin was your own.’

‘It was at first. That all changed when I was turned into a robot. She had to replace my skin with artificial skin to protect me from the field I would be generating to protect myself.’

‘So the outer skin of the robot you, acted as a form of deflector, while the metal inner skin could generate an inertial dampening field that protected you internally. Is that right?’

‘Something like that. As a result, I have only about ten percent of my natural skin left. They are highly protected areas.’

‘Would you do me a favour Charlie?’

‘If I can.’

‘Go easy on Himari.’

‘I'm not the one with the robot fetish Komoru. I am also able to control my own hormone levels, and I turned those down a long time ago.’

She looked startled. ‘When did you do that Charlie?’

‘About a year or so ago.’

‘I had no idea.’

‘Why would I tell anyone?’

She shook her head. ‘I suppose it isn’t the thing a man would advertise.’

‘Or a woman for that matter.’

‘You are probably right. What made you think of that?’

‘A story Cookie told me about when they first came on board. Babes and Ico screwed down everyone’s hormone levels. It is just one of those things I added to my operating system.’

‘Your operating system? Wow.’ Komoru looked away. ‘That makes it sound worse.’

‘Babes and I have had a lot of fun with it.’

‘It sounds more frightening than fun to me.’

‘I can’t afford to become frightened of myself Komoru.’

‘I don’t suppose you can.’

They sat and chatted for another ten minutes, then Steven reappeared. He looked a little sheepish.

‘Sorry, I kind of went off on one.’

‘It’s okay, Charlie and I have had a long chat and have decided to not step on each other’s toes so much.’ She patted the oversized bench. ‘Why don’t you come and sit down. I have something to tell you.’

Charlie got up and went inside.

A few hours later the guests came out to watch the sunset. Lady Jane and the Sarge found themselves slightly to the side of the group.

Jane laid her arms on top of the wall and leaned on them. ‘Isn’t this simply wonderful.’

‘A glorious sunset, fresh air, a warm summer breeze, and a beautiful woman to share it with.’

Jane was immediately alarmed by the slightly swaying Jeb’s words.

She turned towards him ‘Are you referring to me Sergeant?’

‘Hell, call me Jeb.’

‘Jeb!’

‘It sure sounds sweet coming from your lips Jane.’ His hand slid onto her waist and he pulled her close. There was a muffled thump and Jeb’s hand slipped from her waist to his groin.

Lady Jane’s face had turned red with fury. ‘Keep your filthy common hands off me.’ She stormed away to the other side of the gathering.

Jeb slid slowly down the wall as laughter washed over him. A sympathetic Cookie handed Jeb an ice-cold beer.

‘Thanks.’

Bodies began to collapse with laughter as Jeb gently placed the bottle between his legs with a sigh.

‘She is some dame, ain’t she.’

Table of Contents

- The Goodwill Ambassador
- CHAPTER 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 8
- Chapter 9
- Chapter 10
- Chapter 11
- Chapter 12
- Chapter 13
- Chapter 14
- Chapter 15
- Chapter 16
- Chapter 17
- Chapter 18
- Chapter 19
- Chapter 20
- Chapter 21
- Chapter 22
- Chapter 23
- Chapter 24
- Chapter 25
- Chapter 26
- Chapter 27
- Chapter 28
- Chapter 29
- Chapter 30
- Chapter 31
- Chapter 32
- Chapter 33
- Chapter 34
- Chapter 35
- Chapter 36
- Chapter 37
- Chapter 38
- Chapter 39
- Chapter 40
- Chapter 41
- Chapter 42
- Chapter 43
- Chapter 44
- Chapter 45
- Chapter 46