by Bob Blanton
“Did they pick a Black girl to make us feel comfortable?” Raelyn asked.
“Hi, Sergeant Knox,” the second flight attendant said.
“Hello, C’Anne, when did you start working as a flight attendant?” Barry asked.
“I’m still in training, but Jackie saw this come up, and since I know you, she asked if I wanted to make the run. Of course, I had to.”
“C’Anne, this is Raelyn and my family. Everyone this is C’Anne; her father is in my platoon.”
“Who’s Jackie?” Raelyn asked in a whisper.
“She’s head of cabin operations for Peregrine Airlines,” Barry whispered back.
“Oh, so you do know some important people.”
“I’ve never met her.”
Just then a man came out of the Lynx wearing a pilot’s cap. “That’s Bill, he’ll work with the ground crew here to get your luggage stowed,” Jenny said.
As Bill moved down the stairs, Catie was suddenly visible behind him.
“Is that Princess Catie?!” Talia asked.
“I think so,” Barry said.
“Talia, hush, don’t make a nuisance of yourself,” Grandmother Hendricks scolded.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Hey, Barry,” Catie said.
“Hi, . . .”
“It’s Catie in case you don’t remember,” Catie said.
“Hi, Catie, I’m just surprised to see you.”
“Kal told me you were bringing your family, so I volunteered to pick you up in a Lynx. I need the hours, and it’s way better than flying commercial,” Catie said.
“You can say that again.”
“We’ve got a thirty-minute wait, so I wanted to stretch my legs. You guys can board anytime you want.”
“Don’t you have to refuel?” Eric asked.
“No,” Catie said.
Eric looked confused.
“Oh, I can explain that,” C’Anne said. She put her hand on Eric’s shoulder and led him toward the back of the plane. “See, these Lynxes have a fusion reactor in them. So even though they carry jet fuel, they don’t have to . . .”
“Ahem,” Bill coughed.
Catie turned and read a message in her HUD. “Barry, you know we don’t allow firearms.”
“Mama, I told you, you couldn’t bring your gun!”
“You don’t expect me to go to some strange city and not take my gun. How will I protect myself?!” Mrs. Knox asked.
“It’s okay, we’ll pull it out when we get to Delphi City,” Catie said. “I assume there’s only the one.”
Grandma Hendricks coughed and raised her hand.
“Mama! I told you!” Raelyn scolded.
“I know, but when Nadine said she was taking hers, I figured you must have misunderstood.”
“We’ll take care of it in Delphi City,” Catie said while Barry just shook his head. “They’ll put them in a locker at the range. You can go check them out if you want to do some practice, but there are no guns allowed in Delphi City.”
“What about the police?”
“The police don’t carry guns either.”
“What happens when you have a situation?” Mrs. Knox asked.
“They call us Marines in to deal with bad situations, but those are rare,” Barry explained.
“Sounds like they already have that community policing thing figured out,” Mrs. Knox said.
“We think so,” Catie said.
Chapter 3
Can We Be Friends?
“Catie, are you going to Gemini Station to survey the Fazullan ship?” Liz asked.
“I’m definitely going for the survey, and I plan on sitting in on the interviews with the Fazullans and the other aliens,” Catie said.
“What about the Dutchman?”
“I assume that means you want to go to Gemini as well.”
“Yes, but we don’t want the Dutchman sitting idle that long, it’s already been too long.”
“Why don’t we send Derek?”
“As captain?”
“Yes.”
“He’s never been on her.”
“But he’s commanded the Sakira and the Roebuck. Arlean will be with him, so there’s not much risk.”
“It’s a long run, Artemis with a bunch of colonists, machine equipment; then Paraxea with platinum metals, then back to Artemis with fixtures and some more machine equipment before coming home to Earth.”
“It’s either that or one of us does the walkthrough and interviews virtually.”
“I really want to be there in person,” Liz said.
“I do too. I’ve avoided doing any more of the virtual walkthroughs so I can get the full impact,” Catie said. “So?”
“Send Derek.”
“I agree. Do you want to tell him since you’re the one who hired him?”
“I’ll tell him tomorrow.”
◆ ◆ ◆
“Catie, what did Dr. McDowell and you decide about your wormhole theory?” Marc asked as he, Blake, Liz, and Catie met to prepare for their interviews with the aliens.
“The math says it’s possible,” Catie said. “We determined that a quaternary system with the right geometry could generate a wormhole. The measurements we have of the system I picked out indicate it would produce one that would extend to that system next to Artemis, depending on the state of the binary star system in it.”
“Does it explain the Fazullans being the ones to attack the Paraxean colony mission?”
“It shows that it is possible. The probe we sent to the star the Fazullans came from on their way to Artemis shows a satellite in a holding pattern where we predicted the wormhole would open. We haven’t sent one to where the Paraxeans were attacked, we don’t have that many probes available.”
“Okay, we’ll decide what to do once we talk to the aliens that the Fazullans were holding prisoner.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
◆ ◆ ◆
“Derek, are you okay with being captain for this run?” Liz asked.
“Hey, if you want to pay me the captain’s share, why would I complain?”
“You do have to run the ship. Are you okay with that?”
“The crew will run the ship. I just need to walk around and look important,” Derek said. He laughed and gave Liz an idiot smile.
“Okay, I’ll mention that to Arlean. I’m sure she’ll straighten you out.”
Derek laughed again. “I’m sure she will. But seriously, it won’t be that different than the Roebuck and I’m sure everyone in the crew knows their job.”
“It’s going to be a long trip.”
“That’s okay. I can use a break from carousing at the bars every night. My feet are sore from all the dancing.”
“Sounds like you want to hide from someone.”
“No, just getting a little antsy being planetside for so long.”
“The Dutchman is scheduled to leave in two days. You should go ahead and take over command. That way you can help with the loading. The crew will appreciate the help and you won’t look like so much of a freeloader.”
“I’ll head up today.”
◆ ◆ ◆
“Hi Nikola, hi Ajda,” Catie greeted the two women. She and Liz were meeting them at the Delphi airport before catching their ride to Gemini Station. They were going to be part of the survey team that would examine the Fazullan starship. Nikola also planned to join Catie and Liz on the team that would be interviewing the aliens they had awakened from the stasis pods. Major Prescott, the Marine major who had led the team that first entered the ship, had awakened several aliens from each of the three representative groups. During the trip to Gemini Station, ADI and ANDI had been studying the aliens and working with them to learn their language so everyone could communicate.
“Hi, Catie, who else is going with us?” Nikola asked.
“Just us four,” Catie said.
Dr. Nikola frowned, “Don’t tell me we’re taking a Lynx?”
Liz coughed slightly an
d hid her smile.
“Yes, we wouldn’t want to take an Oryx for just four of us. And the Roebuck left three weeks ago to be part of the escort for the Fazullan starship.”
Nikola sighed and motioned Catie to lead on. Their Lynx was sitting at Gate Two, so it only took them a few minutes to reach it. Liz quietly followed Nikola and Ajda into the jet.
“How can you be so blasé about having to spend three or four days restricted to your seat, having to use a ladder to get to the bathroom?” Nikola whispered to Liz.
“Two words, Hover Lynx,” Liz said.
Nikola looked at her like she was nuts, but Ajda started to laugh. “Think about it, how does a Hover Lynx work?” she whispered.
Nikola stared at them for a minute then reality dawned, “Gravity drives?” Nikola realized that by using gravity drives instead of the space engine, the Lynx could accelerate toward Gemini Station along the axis perpendicular to her floor, giving them a sense of gravity in the orientation that was normal for the Lynx design.
“Of course.”
“She could have told us!”
“What’s the fun in that?” Catie asked as she turned around to the trio.
“I would get even with you for making me panic, but that’s a losing proposition,” Nikola said.
“It might be interesting if you tried,” Liz said.
“Go for it,” ADI urged Nikola over a private channel.
◆ ◆ ◆
“Major Prescott, please have them align their orbit one hundred thousand kilometers behind Gemini Station,” Blake ordered.
“Yes, Admiral. We are aligning orbits now.”
“Captain Clements, can you put the Enterprise ten thousand kilometers starboard of the Fazullan ship?”
“That won’t be a problem, Admiral.”
“Feel free to give shore leave here on Gemini Station once you’ve set up your port watch,” Blake said. “Major Prescott, please have the aliens set a port watch, then bring Captain Lantaq and the aliens we’ve tagged for interviews to Gemini Station. We’ll have a team meet you at the entry port.”
“Yes, sir.”
Blake turned back to the team assembled in the conference room, “Well, are we ready?”
“As ready as we can be,” Nikola said. “Based on my study of the data from Major Prescott, the Fazullans do not have an antimatter reactor.”
“Then how do they power that ship?” Blake asked.
“One very big fusion reactor,” Nikola said. “We may be able to learn something from it. I had hoped that Dr. Nakahara would come.”
“Once we figure out what to do with all the aliens in those stasis pods, we’ll be breaking that ship apart. He’ll be able to study the reactor when we ship it back to Delphi Station.”
“Are we really going to break it apart?” Catie asked.
“Yes! It gives me the willies to see it. I can’t help but fear that there is some kind of hidden code or timer that will tell it to blow itself up. I’ll feel much better when it is nothing but a collection of parts.”
“Does anyone have any last-minute observations or thoughts to share before Captain Lantaq is brought in?” Liz asked.
“We haven’t gotten much out of him, just name, rank, and serial number,” Blake said. “The same with the three crew members who abandoned the shuttle before Captain Fitzgerald had it destroyed.”
“But they obviously value their lives,” Catie said. “Captain Lantaq killed Captain Shakaban before he let him destroy their ship, and the three crew abandoned the shuttle instead of trying to evade the missiles.”
“True, but they’ve barely said a word since then.”
“I think we have to figure out what he wants for himself and his crew,” Catie said. “I’m sure he wasn’t thinking that they should be prisoners of war for the rest of their lives.”
“Agreed, but do not discount that he might be playing a long game, hoping to learn things from us that would be to his advantage,” Blake said.
“What do you make of the fact that for two of the three alien races they only had males?” Nikola asked.
“Not only that but all the Fazullans on the ship were male,” Liz added.
“A patriarchal society?”
“That would explain the Fazullans, but what about the slaves?”
“Breeding,” Liz suggested.
“What?!” Catie asked.
“They’re using the females for breeding. To increase the slave population. They don’t need the males for that, so they’re expendable, cheap labor.”
“What do you mean they don’t need the males? . . . Oh,” Catie gasped. “Then why would there be females with the third race?”
“Not sure,” Liz said, not wanting to share her suspicions.
◆ ◆ ◆
The sentry posted at the door pinged Blake’s Comm. “Major Prescott and the prisoner, sir.”
“Bring them in,” Blake ordered.
Major Prescott entered the conference room, followed by Captain Lantaq who was pinned between two Marines. In person his blue-tinted skin was lighter than Catie remembered, it made him look a bit like a ghost. His black hair had a reddish tint to it.
“He looks like a cross between a Viking and a Klingon,” Catie messaged Liz.
“I thought he was a Klingon ghost,” Liz messaged back.
“Captain Lantaq, please have a seat,” Blake indicated the seat on the other side of the conference table. “Major Prescott, please join us over here. Your Marines can step outside.”
“You don’t want security in the room with us? . . . sir,” Major Prescott asked.
“I think we’ll be safe enough,” Blake said. Captain Lantaq gave Blake a curious look before taking his seat.
“Captain Lantaq, let me introduce the others who will be assisting me in the interview. This is Commander Farmer and Lieutenant McCormack,” Blake said.
Catie and Liz nodded to Captain Lantaq. Nikola and Ajda had both opted out of the interview at the last minute, deciding to spend the time on the alien ship instead of participating in the interviews. Ajda really wanted to look at the powerplant.
“Captain Lantaq, do you need any refreshments, water?” Blake asked, Captain Lantaq’s Comm automatically provided the translation via the earwig he was wearing.
“No, I’m fine,” Captain Lantaq replied.
Blake waited until he saw Captain Lantaq shift his position before he began. “Our first question is, what do you hope will become of you and your crew?”
Captain Lantaq was clearly surprised by the question. He started to speak, then stopped. It took him a full minute before he responded.
“I would hope we will be returned to Fazulla.”
“And what kind of reception do you expect if you return?”
“I would hope my government would understand my reluctance to sacrifice the crew for the ego of our captain.”
“Do you think that likely?” Blake asked.
“It is a possibility.”
“What can you tell us about your homeworld?” Blake asked.
Captain Lantaq’s eyes shifted before he answered. “It is a harsh place, but we make a good life there.”
“What about your species’ homeworld?” Catie asked.
Captain Lantaq smiled. He was a bit surprised that they knew that they were from a colony planet. “I have no knowledge of that.”
“Surely they teach you about where you came from?” Catie asked.
“Only that is far away and long ago.”
“What if we could return you there?”
“Hmm, I would not know if that would be a good thing or not.”
“Why were there only males in your crew?” Blake asked.
“We are not willing to risk the lives of our females. Without them, how would we have more sons?”
“What about your slaves?”
“The same thing. A male slave dies, you lose one slave. A female slave dies, you lose hundreds of slaves.”
“Then why did yo
u have females from that one race?” Catie demanded.
“Someone to clean the ship,” Captain Lantaq said, but he didn’t sound very convincing.
“Why did your captain decide to attack Artemis?” Blake asked.
“He had invested a lot into the mission; returning home empty-handed would have ruined him.”
“Financially or reputation?” Liz asked.
“Both.”
“Why did you target Artemis?”
“You must know how rich the system is in metals. Those metals are rare in our system. The profits from mining your asteroid belt or the planet for a year would have been enormous.”
“How did you reach us?” Catie asked. “We know that all planets close to Artemis are uninhabited.”
“By our starship.”
“How long were you traveling?”
“I can’t say.”
“Can’t or won’t?” Blake asked.
“Both.”
“Can you explain the slaves?” Blake asked, wanting to clarify why they kept slaves.
“One of our many sins.”
“Why do you keep them?”
“It allows people in power to have more power. They can farm more land without having to employ other Fazullans.”
“Doesn’t that cause hardship for your people?” Blake asked.
“It does, but when you have power, what do you care?”
“Do you own slaves?”
“Yes, my sire was a powerful man. He owned many slaves. I inherited them when he died.”
“You could have freed them,” Catie said.
“On Fazulla the only way to free slaves is to kill them.”
“Some of them might prefer that!”
“Some slaves have made it known that they prefer death. It is unfortunate when that happens.”
◆ ◆ ◆
The next group to be interviewed was the Paraxeans. The first Paraxeans they had awakened had been able to provide limited information, just enough to tell them they were descendants from the original colony mission. When asked to identify one of their leaders, they had toured the stasis chambers until they identified an old man. Major Prescott told them that he suspected that they had actually just identified the oldest Paraxean that they could find.
“This is Cer Hastra,” Major Prescott said, introducing the elderly Paraxean as he led him into the interview room.
