“Yep. That should be fun. Shall we eat now, I’m hungry?”
“Yes, I’m hungry as well,” he replied as she went to the kitchen. Collected the food from the dispenser, and brought it to the table.
They sat eating in silence, both thinking about the coming events; that would inevitably change their worlds forever.
Afterwards, they cuddled up on the sofa but found it increasingly difficult to keep their hands off each other.
Eventually, both realising they were fighting a losing battle, they stood up and began moving towards the bedroom, hastily undressing each other as they went. Finally, they stopped by the bed, both naked and breathing heavily.
He stood in front of her, admiring her naked, and as ever, voluptuous body. Then buried his face between her breasts and kissed them gently as Susanna gasped with desire. He moved back slightly, then fondled her breasts roughly. Her hands dropped down and firmly took hold of his erection, squeezing it and pulling him backwards towards the bed.
As Susanna sank back onto the bed, Frank lowered himself slowly down onto her body, and they joined. Her hands came up around his shoulders, and they were both ‘lost in the moment’ again, as always.
The following morning, both felt energised as they got up, took an ISO shower and dressed. Then ate a quick breakfast together, all the time smiling broadly at each other.
“I must go, Sues, lots to finish off.”
“You go, I’ve plenty to do.”
“OK, see you in the loading bay at 2:30.”
“OK. Go on then!”
Frank looked out of the atom glass windows in his control room and noted that there seemed to be fewer ships than he had expected to see.
He sat down at the control desk in front of his main screen and checked the number of contacts that had been tagged. There were only five Crillon ships and three Solverons spheres. The rest had gone elsewhere. That surprised him.
He then realised that two of the Crillon ships weren’t tagged.”
He hit Astro’s Icon.
“Yes Frank,” came Tim’s voice as his image showed on Frank’s screen.
“Two Crillon ships aren’t tagged. Why?”
“They came in two minutes ago, they’re being tagged right now.”
“Good. Send the tag data to Hector, a.s.a.p.”
“Of course.”
“Sorry Tim, I’m a bit jumpy.”
“That’s OK Frank, we all are.”
“Andromeda, do we know the names of the captains of these two Crillon ships?”
“Yes, Frank. Confirmation’s in; they are Commanders Arans and Tarcan.”
“Put their icons on my screen.”
“Done Frank.”
“Andromeda, please place the icons in groups by species please, it’ll be easier to find them in a hurry.”
Looking outside, Frank could see that his ships were still in the same formation as when they exited the wormhole. But they had moved out and up to the left of the wormhole, by about 20 kilometres.
This, ensuring that anything coming out of the wormhole couldn’t collide with his ships. And that Derringer and Repulse, who were in the lower corners of the formation, had better coverage of the wormhole’s exit point.
Frank’s tactical pad beeped as Hector’s conference arrangement details were received. Frank studied them and was suitably impressed.
Venue Location: Room 9 was the first large room beside the holding bay. Hector had allowed for three curve shaped tables, set in a ring. Each table had seating for five participants. With a holographic projector, in the centre of the circle.
Environment: Air and temperature were both set within the tolerance limits of all three species.
Refreshments. He had placed the food and drink dispenser at the end of each table, with the machines each configured to cater for the species that would sit at that table.
Language Translation: An Instantaneous, multi-lingual language translator unit was positioned at the centre front edge of each table. This was provided to deal with any words that weren’t already included in the language packs.
A damping field was also installed in the room, with a selectable damper-strength that could be enabled to prevent any unauthorised listening devices from operating.
Frank decided to speak to his captains before they started the conference so hit the ‘All Captains’ icon, bringing their images up on his screen.
“Good morning to you all. I know that you are aware that this will be a make or break session,” he said.
Pausing as he saw that none of their faces showed any reaction to his words, which had the temporary effect of putting him off his stride.
“Stay alert men. No one should be using the wormhole, but Tony and Barry must keep an eye on it. This is vital, for everyone’s safety.
If any of the ships start moving aggressively, try to warn them off. If any of them still poses a threat, destroy it,” he ordered.
“Andromeda will be linked to me, and if she wants something done, make sure you do it. The rest is up to you. Now, is there anything I need to know?”
“No Frank,” Derrick said. “Just get them all to agree on something. We’ll watch your back.”
“That’s all I need to know. We’ll have a debriefing after this conference ends,” he said, then cut the connection and sat back relaxing.
At 2:20, Frank and Susanna arrived at the holding bay. To find that Marine captain, Jenny Moore was seated in the pilot’s seat of one of the two force-craft readied for today’s transport duties. Jenny was dressed in her full battle armour, with the head section folded away.
Hi Jenny,” Susanna said as she walked up to her craft. “On Solveron ferry service, I see,” she joked.
“Yes, should be fun. Are you going now? Only, I need to get going, and the bay door won’t open unless we’re both powered up.”
“We’re going Jenny,” Frank replied as they both stepped up onto the other force crafts platform. Susanna then sat in the pilot’s seat, with Frank sitting behind her. “Controls to Andromeda,” Susanna instructed.
At once, both force crafts force-fields activated, shutting them off from the holding bay’s atmosphere. Seconds later, after the air had been drawn into the bay’s storage chamber, the holding bay door opened and both force-crafts slid out into space.
Jenny’s craft darted away towards the Solveron’s ships. While Susanna’s made a gentle curve along Andromeda’s side.
Frank and Susanna, were both taken aback as they swept along Andromeda’s immense golden hull, and on out towards the Argonaut.
When viewed on Franks large control room screen, the impression was that all the ships were relatively close together.
But from out here, it was evident the other vessels were far away in the distance. The human and Crillon ships appearing to be like ten-millimetre long strips of gold and copper. The Solveron’s like three bluish dots. All of them seemingly painted on a star-studded background. The site was truly breath-taking.
Argonaut was the closest ship. But even though it was the largest Earth ship, it seemed tiny, and far away to Frank and Susanna.
At precisely 2:30, Andromeda guided Susanna’s force-craft into one of the Argonaut’s two holding bays. The door closed. Then the holding bay was re-pressurised.
Hector met them; with both men shaking hands, but he wasn’t sure what to do about Susanna.
“Come, Hector, doesn’t a girl get a peck on the cheek these days?” she jokingly inquired.
He kissed her on both cheeks, blushing as he did so.
“Come on Hector. Don’t mind Susanna, she’s always been a bit quirky. Let’s see the conference room you’ve set up.”
“Follow me,” Hector ordered. They did so, and just fifteen steps later entered the room.
“This is perfect Hector. Ah, I see you’ve got your new translation system up and running.”
“Yes, and it works really well,” Hector replied. Then pausing, looked at Frank a bit apprehensively
. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve put a couple of force-field emitters in front of each table.”
“Fine Hector. We don’t want delegates to throw things at each other.”
Hector laughed, the tension dissipating in him.
Then asked Frank, “If we turn the damping field on, how are you going to keep in touch with Andromeda?”
“Don’t worry Hector,” Susanna interjected. “Frank and I won’t be affected, we don’t really need the implants now.”
Hector looked intently at them both. “As I said earlier, there is something odd about you two.”
“You can say it as much as you wish Hector, but it doesn’t make it correct,” Frank added.
“Yeah! So you say.”
2:40.
Hector stopped speaking while he listened to something on his implant.
Then said. “Frank, my marine captain Thomas Reece wants to talk to you urgently.”
“OK,” Frank said, as he enabled his own implant.
“Yes, Captain Reece?”
“I’m sorry to bother you sir, but Senate Chairman Kasosko wishes to talk to you on a closed link.”
“Set it up, Thomas.”
There was a crackle; then the communication could be heard.
“Captain Richardson, I am Senate Chairman Kasosko. I will be joining you shortly.”
“Yes. How can I help you, Senator?”
“I would like to bring an extra person.”
“If Commander Tripicac vouches for him, then that will be fine.”
“I’m afraid Commander Tripicac dismissed him a while back. But Bronico’s clan still holds twenty-five percent of the senate’s votes. So, although he is not liked, he is still very powerful.”
“So, what are you asking?”
“Tripicac, for good reasons of his own, doesn’t like the idea. But I think that it would be better to get Bronico on our side.”
Frank felt that there was a different agenda seeping through his mind than Kasosko’s words appeared to convey.
“Are you alone senator?” He carefully and deliberately asked.
“No, Bronico’s with me. We’re ready to leave, but we’re waiting for your decision on whether or not he can come with us.”
Frank tried to search ‘mentally’ for access to Kasosko’s mind. But he could feel nothing.
“Is Bronico happy to work ‘with’ us?”
“He says he is Commander.” The senator paused as if deciding how to finish.
“They tell me that you have excellent perception, Commander. Tripicac said that it was ‘you personally’ who got the Solverons to release him.
So, as you know, things are not always what they seem. Are they Commander?”
Frank knew there was a message in there somewhere, so he answered carefully.
“Yes, I did, but Tripicac doesn’t always appreciate what people do for him. Put my Marine back on, senator.”
Immediately the marine captain was back on.
“Captain, can your craft carry seven people?”
“Yes, Commander. Seven, including the pilot.”
“Right. Bring them up.” The comms ended.
Susanna looked at Frank, saying. “But we didn’t get Tripicac released.”
“I know, but I understand the message. It’s a coded warning from Tripicac.”
“But why is Tripicac willing to risk bringing Bronico here?” She asked.
“Well, Tripicac told us that the Crillon Navy, possibly with the help of a senator, organised the assassination of the Solveron delegation. So, what role might Bronico have played?”
“He was the Senate chairman at the time.”
“Yes Sues, that’s right, and I think I get it.”
Then asked, “Hector, how difficult would it be to put a force-field around this Bronico, without him realising it?”
“It’s possible Frank,” Hector replied, thinking about how this could be achieved.
“If we spread the seating out, extend the Crillon’s table and sit Bronico at one end. Then we should be able to put four field-emitters around his area.
Air and speech waves are all slow moving so they would go through the force-field without hindrance. Yes, it will work.
Plus, if we tell everyone that we’re running a power field, to stop eavesdroppers Bronico will think the low-level static is due to that.”
“Hector, you’re brilliant, set it up, please.”
“It’ll take about ten minutes. So, if they’re likely to get here early, stall them.”
“Will do.”
Hector left, and they were alone, still thinking about the change of direction that this conference might mark.
Chapter 23
A History Lesson.
At 2:55 the four Solverons filed in, with two marines in battle armour guarding them.
Savron and Frank clasped each other’s hands in greeting, with Frank thinking that the Solveron had quite a firm grip for such a small person.
Then Frank felt a ‘warmth’ touch his mind as the Solverons sat down, but it quickly went as the Crillons entered the room.
Tripicac, Arans and Tarcan, embraced Frank in the usual Crillon way but just nodded to Susanna, unsure of the correct address for a human female.
Two Crillon senators followed them in; both dressed in scarlet robes, each with a crest on their shoulder denoting which house or clan, they represented. The senators also nodded to Frank and Susanna in acknowledgement of their presence.
Then, as Senator Bronico entered, both Frank and Susanna immediately ‘sensed’ a heightened level of anxiety in him.
Bronico was dressed in a brown robe. As he walked by the Marines, he gave one of them a friendly tap on the back. Then completely ignored his hosts as he came and sat down where indicated.
Frank and Susanna then sat next to Hector and two of Hector’s specialists joined them.
‘Andromeda.’
‘Yes, Frank.’
‘Can you check the surveillance camera’s footage? Just before the surface security-check position? I need to know which marine Bronico approached, and when he approached him.’
‘One moment. Yes, I have it. He patted Captain Reese on the back, just before the security scan.’
‘Ok, you’ve given me what I needed to know.’
‘I have?’
‘Yes,’ he replied, and turned his attention back to the conference. Thinking, it doesn’t matter who I ask to start. It will still be an insult to the others. So, l might as well start first.
“Good afternoon I’m glad you are all here, which in itself, is a good omen,” he said, then paused and looking around, asked.
“Um, can you all hear the translation?”
They all nodded yes. ‘Sues,’ he thought, ‘keep a good eye on Bronico.’
‘I am.’
“Good,” he said out loud.
“This is the first conference between our three alien races. I hope it will be the first of many,” he said, then paused in surprise as they showed their approval of his words.
“Thank you. I trust this is yet another good omen,” then after looking around continued.
“It is my view that we can all achieve greatness in our own right if we really want it to happen,” he paused to let that sink in.
“You all know that your ships are tagged. In other words, targeted by our weapons. But, as we have already told you, individually, this is simply to protect all of us.
I don’t have to remind you that we have had to destroy both Crillon and Solveron ships that have attacked us. So, you are surely all aware we will destroy your ships if we have to.”
A murmur ran around the delegates, then stopped as Frank continued.
“Many years ago, a settler ship from our planet which we call Earth, crash-landed on a planet in orbit around a star we call Delta Pavonis.”
A holographic image of the star system then floated mistily in the centre of the circle of tables.
“That’s where we first came ac
ross the Solverons,” Frank said.
Then looked deliberately at Savron.
“Perhaps Savron, you could find out why one of your Solveron ships was taking humans aboard and fitting transceiver implants in them?”
Savron looked uncomfortable at that but nodded his head in acceptance as Frank continued.
“The Solverons then attacked us. But they attacked us for the wrong reasons, and we were forced to destroy four of their ships and crews.
It was then clear to both us and the Solverons that we had to reach an understanding. We needed to be able to trust each other, and both of our species needed to be able to work together.”
With that, Bronico leapt to his feet in a fit of rage. Pulled a small weapon from his pocket, and fired it at the Solverons.
Then he screamed. His gun’s discharge, which had been deflected back by the force-field that Hector had set up around him, swirled around, almost tearing his body apart in a flurry of energy. Which having been contained within the force-field only dissipated as Bronico’s body finally tore apart.
As Bronico’s mutilated body parts fell back into his seat, Frank quickly stood up.
“Please remain seated,” he ordered. “Our droids will remove his body and clean the area.”
Even before he’d finished speaking, two droids had already increased the level of the portable force-field around Bronico to its full power. Then raised the force-field up into the air along with Bronico’s body, still in its chair.
The containment bubble drifted silently out of the room, and Bronico was gone, in less than a minute.
“As I was saying, before being rudely interrupted,” Frank continued, knowing he had to keep his emotions to himself.
“The other problem was the Crillons inbuilt aggression.
The Crillons attacked us for no apparent reason. This was not acceptable to us.
First, they destroyed our unarmed ship, the Hawk, which had been sent from Earth on a peaceful mission.
The Definitive SpaceFed Trilogy (SpaceFed StarShips Trilogy).: A thrilling, action-packed Sci-fi space adventure. (SpaceFed StarShips Series Book 8) Page 58
