I asked Kadi with all the others from the delegation around her, “Well how did you find trading with Earth compared to other worlds?’’
Kadi hesitated before saying, “Business was brisk I can’t deny that but… All those men though, I and the others felt so uncomfortable we had to be on our guard all the time. Most of the men were polite but a few were rude and so full of themselves, one had the audacity to touch Dara on the cheek. River soon sorted him out. Otherwise we found Earth… interesting, to say the least.’’
“Would you visit Earth again?’’ I asked her.
Kadi looked at the others, most were not too sure about doing that. A couple reluctantly said they might. Then Kadi replied. “Only if really necessary. I doubt if I would come here again otherwise’’
This confirmed my suspicion that Earth would be down at the bottom perhaps even below Grimda on destinations of choice, I could only conclude it was their loss and River further confirmed my thoughts on the subject by saying, “You just need to show the cads and sexist pigs who’s boss. Most shut up when you embarrass them.”
“River!’’ Alenna said, “We do not have to stoop to their level and use such language. We must remember we are cultured and as such we must always be polite. I know you must have had a hard time in captivity, but please remember in whose company you are now.’’
River replied, “I understand, but some human men make me mad and are just awful with no manners at all. The only way to deal with that type is go one better than they at their game. Sorry Alenna I will resist from further comment on the subject of human men.’’
Alenna shook her head before changing the subject to recreation and informed everyone, “I am pleased to announce that the hologram room will be open all evening for your entertainment.” The usual Alkarren beach scene was selected. River was not like other Alkarren females. Her manners were more human having spent fifteen years in captivity on Earth. She spoke English fluently and even had a US accent. Unfortunately she had acquired some bad habits. She would swear though not too strongly. Luckily this is almost entirely directed at human men who cross her. During captivity she became addicted to television. Although River did not care for anything involving strong violence. Her love was chick flicks and reality programs. On a more cultured side River also enjoyed watching documentaries and of course music channels.
I asked River, “Do you watch soap operas?”
Her reply was definite, “No I don’t, the actors are always arguing, having affairs and the violence is so unbelievable. Someone is always getting into fight or being murdered. They’re just a load of….” this was then followed by a colourful metaphor.
I was somewhat shocked at her for using such a word. In reply to her I said, “River you have got to control your language. None of your fellow Alkarrens would use such a word as that to describe what they thought of something. My sister Rachael or I would not either, well not in front of an Alkarren anyway. You could have easily have substituted that word for (rubbish) instead.’’
I realised how much River had missed television programs by the way she spent her entire evenings on the cargo ship during our stay on Earth, glued to the screen until she fell asleep.
Chapter 8
Time is Fast Running Out
The week soon passed and we found ourselves back on Alkarr. The first thing for me to do was to ask Lara if we had the go ahead to supply Earth with the plasma cannon. I called her up. Again I had been granted permission to proceed. Great more profit for us and even better profit for Lidier. This was not the only good news. All armaments older than one hundred years had now been derestricted regarding sales to Earth. Old by alliance standards but still more advanced than Earth’s own weapons. Alenna had started filling her diary with bookings, as we had just one more planned delivery to Earth of the remaining transport shuttles and I could also take the plasma cannon at the same time. Our first job on recommencement of our usual duties would be a trip to Relnor with rice and other produce before continuing on to Molk to pick up a consignment of fish. But first I must take the cargo ship to the moon to collect the goods in question. Alenna had given the gold, the payment for the first consignment of the transport shuttles to Perri who in turn was to hand it to Lidier. She did not entrust me with it. I wonder why? With the help of Lidier’s family we manage to load not only the remaining shuttles and plasma cannon but also ten hover lifts. We had unprecedented interest for these on the website and Lidier could make a good profit on them two hundred times better than just scrapping them. I walked around the scrap yard with Lidier and Perri looking for any possible items we could sell to Earth but alas everything that could have been useful was either damaged, incomplete or completely worn out, so for now, that was it. Part of the dome that Perri’s family lived in was like a small town, many families lived there. A number like Lidier had their own airlock for entry and exit to whatever business they partook in outside. These spread out from the dome in sections like a piece of cake. I had not had a chance of wondering around the dome as usually the time was taken up with staying with Perri’s family. I had asked Perri on a number of occasions if she would show me round and at last Perri was willing. Set in the centre were a few shops catering for everyday items. It also had the only public green area with a fountain and flowers beds and a lawn surrounding it, quite quaint.
There was only one café where Perri decided we should have something to eat. We sat down and our order was taken. Perri then said to me, “Have you tried moon cake?”
“No, what is moon cake? I replied to her.”
Perri now explained, “The owner of the café has this secret recipe. You can only obtain them from here and nowhere else and they are so delicious. In a moment you can try one.”
The waiter delivered our order and Perri handed me, not a cake, but a biscuit, I then tasted it. I now said to her, “Guess what, this is something we have on Earth, It’s called an oat biscuit, and this one tastes no different from those found on Earth. Have you tried one with chocolate on the top Perri? I know you love chocolate digestive biscuits don’t you Perri?’’
Perri surprised, replied in astonishment, “You have these on Earth and with chocolate on! I did not know that. I do love cholate digestive biscuits and would love to try one of these with chocolate on”
“Well next time we visit Earth remind me to buy some and yes they are double scrumptiously delicious with chocolate on.’’ I said with a lick of my tongue.
A bell rang, Perri informed me that bell was an advanced warning and in ten minutes time they would be turning on the sprinklers to dampen the dust before the sweepers were let loose and if we didn’t want to get wet we should not doodle. We both hurried back to her mother’s residence. We had two minutes to spare and as I watched from a window all the sprinklers at the top of the done were activated, just long enough to wet everything. The sweepers are robots that brushed the public areas of dust and dirt that has accumulated, at the same time making everything fresh and cool. Soon it was time to leave the moon and return to Alkarr. We had a day to spend on Alkarr before we returned to Earth, I would spend this time finding out about how plasma cannon worked and would download all the information onto five pids with their translation set to English. This idea was included in the price. At least if they could not fathom sometime out, they could then check if the information was recorded in the pid. The journey to Earth was again more pleasant this time, as once again we had no guests on the cargo freighter so I could roam freely without a chaperon. This time when we came out of star drive I noticed three of those frigates in orbit. Our ship at once drew their attention and we were challenged. From now on this was to be a routine procedure as it had been agreed between the nations that now owned these frigates that there was always to be a minimum of three in orbit at any one time. The Silka advanced party wa
s due to arrive at Earth within the next two to three months and preparations were now proceeding at a steady pace. I did not wish to stay on Earth longer than needed this time so after contacting everyone about their goods whether it was the shuttles or the plasma cannon, I then contacted the Prime Minister as I wished to discuss a thing or two with him.
I was privileged to be one of those who had his private number so I contacted him and said “It’s Jake do you have a minute or two to talk?”
He replied, “I am on my way to the House of Commons so I can spare a few minutes. What do you wish to discuss?’’
I relied, “I am going to Relnor in the next couple of weeks and I will attempt to get hold of that military catalogue of space craft for you. I also have a contact regarding used military hardware. At the present time I cannot give any more information. If there is anything of use, is it possible to hold an auction in the UK for invited friendly nations. This would be more desirable where there it only one item available. I don’t want nations fighting over anything, if you know what I mean.”
The Prime Minister thought for a moment then said, “Yes it may be possible, but I would like to be consulted on who is invited and you must understand for the security of the UK I must insist that I can a veto the attendance of any county if needed. And another thing the auction can only be for planetary defence hardware, and not for any other weapons. On another note do you have any further information on what we can expect when the Silka arrive?’’
“Thank you for that and I agree to your conditions,” I replied cautiously. “As for the Silka, I am in the dark about them as much as you are. The alliance as far as I know has little information about them, other than you don’t get a chance to communicate with them. I really do not know what to expect regarding weapons. They may also have the ability to launch small craft from their mother ship and to what this may incur, no one knows. I am not naive. I know without doubt that the UK and other countries military scientists will already be copying and producing beam weapons and I suspect that these will be retrofitted to aircraft. Well good! You may have to deal with ground base attacks, but again I have absolutely no idea of what to expect. I am still not sure if the alliance are concerned about something regarding the Silka and are keeping it to themselves. Well for now I can’t be sure, but I won’t stop trying to find out if they do. If I do receive even the smallest snippet of information I will of course let you know.’’
He had now reached the Houses of Parliament and could not speak further so we both said goodbye for now and the communication was then terminated. I had some spare time after we had moved the Shuttles and cannon to the warehouse. I asked Rachael to go to duty free and purchase several packets of a chocolate coated oat biscuits, which she duly did. That evening they were passed out to everyone, where Perri acknowledged that they were indeed scrumptiously delicious with chocolate on. All we had to do now was wait for all the goods to be collected. Even after I had urged urgency in their collection, we were still waiting for one shuttle to be collected on the day we expected to leave Earth.
Alenna said, “Why are we still waiting? We have been here for three days and we must leave today.’’
I replied, “I have just come off the phone with the buyer of the last shuttle. The problem was with the transport they hired; it had broken down en route to us, but now it has been successfully repaired and at this very moment is on course to be here within the next hour. So hopefully we can leave soon.”
Alenna was getting impatient and commented, “Well they better be here within the hour or we are leaving and they will have to make a new arrangement to collect the shuttle on our next visit.’’
Luckily for them they did make it in time and soon we were on our return to Alkarr, where we were to resume our regular shipments of food and goods, going first to Relnor. Only this time on arrival I did not help with the unloading. Instead I collared Jenna into accompanying me to the sales area where all the military space vessels of all descriptions were located. This was some distance from the cargo port so we went there in our shuttle. Just like before when we were greeted by a sales Relnorian for commercial space craft, we were again greeted by a sales Relnorian only this time we were looked at in a suspicious way.
The Relnorian first said, “I think you are in the wrong place. Commercial craft are not catered for here.’’
I replied through Jenna, “I am here to enquire about military craft. I represent Earth and I just want a brochure. Earth can’t apply to buy anything with star drive, but it may be possible for them to purchase planetary defence hardware. Is it possible for you to show me something along this line?’’
Now the Relnorian was more than interested. She knew about the Silka heading to Earth and she knew that Earth was pretty defenceless against an attack.
“Come this way please,” she said beckoning us towards a new gun ship.
We were invited in and she then went through her sales procedure, reeling off all the defences, plasma cannon, shields and something I had not heard about, singularity torpedoes. Apparently when these impact an enemy ship they implode to create a kind of singularity for just a moment and in doing so can crush the area around the impact zone into small sphere the size of a tennis ball, so ripping a large hole in the enemy’s ship in the process and thus allowing the vacuum of space to do it work. This is not actually a singularity as that would be a black hole and the process stops way before reaching that state.
Finally, she said, “How many do you want?”
I replied, “I cannot commit to anything at this time. First I have to find out from any prospective purchaser on Earth if they are interested and willing to pay the going price. Secondly it will need approval from the alliance council and this may be the most difficult part. You see the alliance has already mentioned that Earth may not be able to acquire advanced weaponry, as fitted to this gun ship, but with the threat of the Sika invading they may concede at some time and hopefully change their minds.”
The Relnorian said, “If you do get permission please ask for me personally. She then gave me her calling card and smiled before giving me the brochure of all the military space craft they produced. I had never ever seen a Relnorian give such a wide smile before.
I replied. “Thank you, I will ask for you personally if things work out ok.’’
I had my doubts if I would be able to supply anything on the brochure to Earth, but you never know.
Jenna and I returned to our cargo freighter just as they had finished the unloading. I did get a moan or two about not helping with the unloading, which was a bit cheeky as I always volunteer to help unlike some of them, as they all seem to take it in turns, with the exception of Alenna who is always on hand mainly to give orders. Now off to Molk; this time I hope that we will all get a chance to spend an hour or two on a real beach. It was a lovely sunny day when we arrived, as always work before play. This consignment of fish was larger than usual, but still looked so small when stored in a corner on our huge cargo deck. The fish is always frozen so our cargo deck had the refrigeration turned on, it was cold so nobody wanted to stay in there for longer than necessary. Once loaded we could leave for the beach, down the meandering path towards the cove. We could see as we approached that we were not the only ones who had decided to spend the day there. Many local residents used this cove and today was the busiest I had ever seen it. We managed to find a spot, not the most ideal as it was close to the harbour wall, but the children did not care.
I had Luka as my chaperon. I then asked a local who was sitting nearby, “We saw what the condition the beach was in after the storm, did it take much effort to re-float the fishing vessel and remove all that stinky seaweed?’’ Luka was also wanting to know and awaited her reply as well.
The local replied, “Did it take much effort, yes it took alm
ost a week to get that fishing vessel re-floated and another two to dispose of all that sea weed. Once moved we then had the problem of slimy sand. Luckily several tides later the slime had completely disappeared. As you can see now, our beach is back the way it should be. You’re not from around here are you and if you don’t mind me saying you’re not Alkarren are you?’’
I smiled and said, “No to both questions, I am from the planet Earth and we often come here as it’s a break for our children. It’s such a lovely beach. We are here to collect a consignment of fish. Our cargo ship is at the port just over the hill.’’
“Earth!’’ She spluttered, “I heard about Earth. It’s a very dangerous place to go to and its people can be very violent. You are from there!’’ She now looked me up and down and seemed a little worried.
I quickly reassured her by saying, “You really don’t want to believe all that you hear, I am not violent and most of the inhabitants are not either, I have lived on Alkarr for many years, Do you think the authorities would have let me stay if I wasn’t peaceful.’’
Chronicles of Jake 2: The Invasion Begins Page 15
