Now why he had to come to this backwater planet was anyone's guess. Of course it was an impressing gesture to have an immortal show up in the flagship, but way too little preparation went into this trip, especially security wise.
He was a good telepath and most Yokuta were very friendly and had positive thoughts about the Union and a possible membership, but there was about 30 percent undecided and ten percent felt violently opposed to any ties to the Union. It was those ten percent that caused him concern. The local police was not very helpful in providing any pre visit intelligence and claimed they had everything under control.
He now sat in the wheeled bus below and behind the driver, with his eyes closed he looked like he was sleeping but he had his mental eye on the crowd around the bus. Psionic crowd scanning was not easy even for a very good telepath, you had to shift through hundreds of brains in mere seconds and look for an aggressive impulse that was strong enough for him to act. He could not simply stop the visit because someone was thinking badly about the Union or the Admiral. Thankfully he had the best Psi training and while it was demanding. He was experienced and he was not alone and besides there were ten Ultra Marines of F.A.S.T (Fleet Anti-Terror Security Team) posing as regular marines in Parade Uniforms. While they had no Psionic talents they could smell trouble a mile away and react fast.
He hated to be disturbed but Poul from Phantas a decent Telepath and good Telekinet, and one of his colleagues would not have done so if it wasn't necessary. He used the Psi Radio one of the great little devices only the PSI corps had." Hey CC have you had a chance to scan our cadets?"
"No, I thought they are just 3 day cadets freshly processed."
"They missed a Purist! One of them is full of hate and has serious ideas about hurting another cadet. Right now he is held back by his own fear to actually use a weapon and kill someone but it seems the threshold for violence is getting lower."
"Monitor him closely. I prefer to deal with that in the ship. Would send a bad message to the Yokuta if we arrest one of our own right before the meeting, I doubt this would go down well with the Yokuta or the Admiral. "
"I agree. I will keep my senses drained on them and I should be able to interfere telekinetically if needed, but that would mean you got to scan more of the crowd."
"I don't expect any trouble from the locals. Their police seem to be able to handle the few local trouble makers and I have not sensed any real violent opposed thoughts so far, even from those who are against our future presence or membership."
We left the bus and entered something like a Congress center. A big structure surrounded by tended parks and statues. It was basically a flat roof carried by a number of tall columns. Underneath the roof was just one open space area. Long buffet style tables one side. A raised platform with a lectern, local and union flags and large physical 2D view screens instead of field screens completed the ambience.
I grinded my teeth , because the band just had to play again! While that band simulated musically the life skinning of Nubhir wolfs, a number of quite obvious elderly Yokuta in colorful official looking garments climbed onto the platform and assembled behind the lectern.
One of them with an even more colorful robe place himself at that lectern and the band thankfully stopped playing.
"Welcome and our all deepest felt thank you, Union Citizens and Union Soldiers who have fought so gallantly and gave us back our freedom.
"We have suffered terribly for over threehundred of your Standard years under the joke of the Nogoll.
"We still can't really believe our fortune and to all of us it is as if we all walk on five inches of air above the ground, heads up and proud to be Yokuta and free on our own world." He wiggled his trunk that ws much slimmer and smaller than that of the Elly. It appeared to be a thank you gesture. To the yells and cheers that punctuated his speech.
" Much damage has been done by the occupants. Physically robbing resources and polluting without care since it was not their home, killing many hundred thousand over the centuries those who tried to fight the oppressor. Cultural damage by stealing our artifacts and melting our religious icons for their war machine, forbidding Yokuta art that was not approved by our former masters and mentally for making us being ashamed of what we are and thinking that being slaves is a natural place for Yokuta. The Nogoll are gone! Not only from this planet, but gone and so severely beaten that they can never return!"
At this point he paused a little longer and the assembly and the crowds all around the open sided building cheered as his image and his words were transmitted to the huge screens and I was sure they had similar screens all over outside as well.
He bowed to us and then pointed to a Union flag." It is them who under that flag fought for us. We heard of the Union only little via the Nogoll and always thought of them as enemies, worse than the Nogoll. Of course it was all lies and propaganda. Over the last ten day, we of the people's forum and you on your home viewers have seen what the Union really is. How huge, how powerful and it is not propaganda. Go look at our space port and see how this delegation arrived. Look at the power and the size of their ship. It is only one of many. Now many of us think it is best to join that Union and we were assured that we would not be slaves but equals and that one day Yokuta would serve and command ships like that. We can get as much or as little help from the Union as we want, we can stay isolated or be fully integrated and they ask very little in return.
"Some of you may ask: What is it they want from us ?. They will ask that we accept Union law. All of you have seen the documentaries and documents made freely available what those laws mean. These laws can be condensed into one sentence: Guaranteed rights of liberty to every thinking individual, pure and simple. Even without their ships and power. I personally like those laws so much I want them to be the model of our own laws even if we decide not to join and I know there are many who think like I do. However there are those who oppose this and those who are undecided. To help you see what I see and perhaps join me in voting for an application, we honored one of our oldest traditions and invited a group of young people to tell us about the Union. For this we will accept random picked calls from you the audience."
The speaker walked away from his desk and waved at us. The Admiral nodded and gestured us up the platform.
Uley saw the Union delegates getting up to the platform. He looked at his partner and made his decision. His hand cramped around the detonator switch. He took a deep breath, as he knew his decision was not the right one, but the only one he saw. He pushed past two Yokuta, jumped over the hip high barrier and ran as fast as he could towards the Podium.
Interlude: Hans
As far as Duke knew he still had control over Hans. The device was active and it could be triggered at any time,however it was no longer inside the Saturnians body but in a little Tough-film bag and in his pocket. Now that he was no longer alone and has someone to help him to get off planet and back home, it was easy to control his temper.
He came out of the Sojo tent and joined the guests. The duke noticed his relaxed state right away and made a few dirty remarks. Then he introduced Hans to a man, one could only describe as average. He was the most average human Hans had ever seen, nothing stood out. He didn't wear an extremely expensive suit, nor a cheap one. The color of his clothing was of a bland gray, even his hair color was somewhere between brown and blond. Donheer said:" This is Mr. Kelpie and he represents Sinister Sports your new owner."
The nondescript man held up a little silver device with a blinking green button." Nice to meet you Mr. Hammer." With a theatrical gesture he played with the device and brushed his finger over the button. It was obvious that this little man enjoyed having so much power over a being physically his superior." As you can see, I have the means to destroy you, Mr. Hammer. While your demise will represent a loss of investment money. In the great scheme of things however it is less than a percent point, easily recovered by write offs and post-hum marketing of your merchandise as collectables. The
refore do not think I will hesitate to use this, perhaps crude way of control. If you do the same what you have done for your previous employers, you will find us a generous partner and the rewards will be great. If you decide to do otherwise we have much finer methods of control and Psycho Surgery done right is a wonderful tool."
Hans had the strong urge to rip the man's head off or crush his bones one by one between his fingers but he said with his best poker face."I am a fighter. I care little about management decisions. Give me fights and I fight. Give me opponents and I kill simple as that."
Now the average man smiled broadly across his bland face." I think we have a wonderful future together. We want you start early tomorrow, of course there is a brand new Braddock Murphy Vultron in the Garage of your new apartment, which is this one by the way." He padded Hans on he belly, he had no hopes reaching his shoulders."It is a big day for you. You get a new costume, accessories and there will be interviews and picture shots. We will Virtu – animate you and sell Avatars of yours. You are playing with the big boys now, quite literally!"
Hans had a hard time to keep calm. It went exactly as the Sojo said it would and by tomorrow this time be on his way to Checkpoint 96 and from there he was a Space bus ride away from home. He already made up his mind not to stay home for very long, instead he planned to go to the Academy, right after he went to a recruiting office and had his citizen ship confirmed. Signing up for military service was a legal way to make up for lost school credentials."
Chapter 21: Yokuta Salad
I saw the Yokuta running towards the podium and my first response was to the dagger they had given us with the uniform. Of course, I had a blaster, but my reflexes were still geared toward sword and knife.
A burning foreign thought exploded like a yell in my mind." Stop!" It was a telepathic command and while it was given I knew it had been said by a commanding officer. My hand froze, before perhaps a microsecond before I was to throw.
The Yokuta ripped off his snouted gray head, ears and skin and all and revealed a black Nogoll and he screamed. "Don't shoot! I surrender! There are others like me with AM bombs and there are some in the ship!"
Two figures shimmered into existence next to the Nogoll, two Ultra Marines in full Destroyer suits, deactivating their active camouflage Holo cloak. I saw many more appear all over the place containing individual Yokuta in Stasis fields. It all happened with lightning speed and silently. The voice in my head said." Awesome reaction Cadet, but you can put your dagger away, and you know it is not regulation to carry the ceremonial dagger on your back, tugged away under your tunic!"
I was so used to Tyr and Egill's telepathic communications that I answered without speaking." Sorry Sir!"
There was a small pause." How did you get away with it at Uniform inspection?"
"The Auto dresser gave me weapon options and I choose a second dagger where I always carry my throwing knife, Sir."
"I also notice you have lots of experience in telepathic communication. I will keep an eye on you. Now we need to sort things out here and brief the Yokuta!"
"The ship, Sir!"
"No worries. No one gets aboard the Union Flag ship even on a sight-seeing tour without being scanned to the last body cell!"
The Yokuta and everyone else watched Ultra Marines and soldiers in dark blue armor suits take the hidden mountain base on the big screens and Admiral Stahl himself leading the assault! He was only recognizable by the lettering on his Destroyer suit, and the four stars stenciled on the huge shoulder pieces. Only the comments of the off screen commentators were heard. "A special task force of marines and Navy units was and is searching for remaining Nogoll units ever since the last transmission of the First Billie tipping us off that there were independent units still out there. Form captured ship data we knew about the expanse and the secret rally point. Admiral Stahl along with the just refurbished and updated Devastator followed up on a series of long range sensor contacts, found two landed Nogoll capital ships in the neighboring system Rohlo. The crews of these ships, after surrendering divulged that a group of Officers had returned to Arlicherb. Special Forces units were dispatched to find the suicide bombers and were found and neutralized in the last moment.
"Now alongside local Yokuta Police Units a final assault is made on the hidden mountain base and I can confirm right now,that Yokuta security units have successfully arrested the remaining Nogoll infiltrators."
The Image showed Yokuta in borrowed Union Battle suits guiding ten Nogoll out of a smoking cave entrance.
Since we still stood on the platform and behind the Old man of the fleet we could hear him mutter." I wonder how he does it, stealing my thunder all the time!"
He stepped behind the lectern and addressed the stunned and silent Yokuta crowds. "I am just getting the final reports and it turned out that local authorities acted fast and decisive, requested Union gear." There was ashort pause and the voice continued:" I can confirm the last Nogoll threat has been eliminated by heroes of your police force."
A thunderous cheer rose from the multitudes.
It took a while for everything to settle down again and the Yokuta Elders decided to continue as planned with the question and answer session. The first questions were directed to the Elly in our group. Someone asked how the Elly ended up on Union side and how they felt about their membership and they answered very positive. The tallest of the Elly who had showed considerable knowledge in local space sector politics answered most of the questions in a very educated and precise manner. To my surprise it was Ninio who put one of his arms around my shoulder and his other on Pure and said." What Deadan said is all true but these are political and other important matters. I find the best thing about the Union and the fleet is the wonderful friends you can make. I really like those Attikan, love the Garbini who still owes me a squiggle. That is a furry tentacle hug of a female Garbini if you ever want to know." Looking at me he said, "and this human is as good a friend as you can make in three days."
"Where are you from human?" A question was directed at me and I told them that I was from Nilfeheim and I had to describe my world in a few sentences. Then someone asked."How do you feel about non humans, Elly or Garbini for example?"
I shrugged." I knew very little about the Garbini and met Ninio only a few days ago. I don't have any opinion on the Elly as a species, I know way too little about them to have an opinion. A mentor and teacher of mine always said, judge only if you have all the facts." Then I grinned and said." I think Ninio is a practical joker with a great sense of humor and I think we could be very good friends one day."
Nino pushed me a little from the side." He got me figured out alright, I can't resist a good prank, but Eric is always willing to help and share, he is one of the reasons ten strangers are on their way to become good friends."
One of the Elders said." I still would like to know what you think about us. I know you don't want to judge and you know little about us, but everybody forms some kind of opinion and usually right away. We Yokuta value honesty above false compliments, so don't be afraid to be frank."
"Well if the Yokuta eat the same or similar things as the Elly, I am not sure I would like to eat or more to the point smell the food and I don't think I will be a great fan of Yokuta music, but other than that. It's a nice orderly planet, and the people don't strike me as particular special. You still eat, sleep, drink and breathe the same air. In my short time away from home I met a methane breather with tentacles and Two Three over there was born inside a star. I haven't seen much of your world or your civilization to really have an opinion, but I somehow think you are more or less just like us."
There was a pause of silence and I feared I had caused some major problem, but then laughter errupted and the Elder spread his arms." This is why we have this tradition. You are not trained diplomats, you say it as you see it and your argument is very true. We are quite average and don't stand out at all. I was one of the most vocal skeptics until now, but I will vote for an admission
now." He pointed at his trunk." Don't you worry Human, we love our cousins the Elly but at least I can't stand their stink food either. You will have a chance to sample our food later."
Two Three now had to describe his home and even I was fascinated about its answers. The way Two Three described his birthplace was incredible and truly alien.
Every Cadet had to answer questions and the whole thing dragged on for at least four hours. Ninio was just saying." I frankly hope you join so I can hear wonderful Yokuta music all the time and maybe even record traditional Elly Funtuty songs in Yokuta style, Eric just doesn't know what he is missing." Ninio made a guesture with his arms, I thought might be a shrug and added." I think If you don't join the Union you lose out. That's all I can say."
Instead of asking questions about membership and union the next twenty or so questions were all about Funtuty songs and music, and my worst fear came true. The band could not be stopped, they started playing and every Yokuta I could see and perhaps everyone watching the broadcast started singing and tooting their trunks .Finally the Speaker of the Elder ended the horror by resuming taking questions and asking the callers to refrain from music questions. The Garbini had to describe and demonstrate how a Squiggle was done and she was only too happy to comply. It all turned out to be one mushy and boring affair and I wished it would be over soon. I had completely forgotten about Bennett Waite, but as I turned more by chance than anything else, to see what Two Three was doing, I saw Waite with drawn blaster aiming at the Admiral or the Elly, who stood by the lectern. I rushed the four steps distance to him as fast as I could, chopped the edge of my hand with as much force as I dared on his wrist. He triggered the beam either of pain or reflex but the bright energy bolt went straight into the wooden decking of the platform only about a meter behind the Admirals feet. Waite had, so it appeared some sort of combat training as he drew his dagger with his other hand barley after his blaster dropped out of his hand. I was too close to deflect it, so I turned hoping he would stab me in the arm and not in the stomach as he had aimed, the burning exploding pain in my arm told me it had worked. I was still in motion too and hammered my palm under his chin, with as much force as I could muster. He collapsed but stopped as if frozen in time in mid fall and two marines appeared and man in Psi Corps uniform.
Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 6 (The Galactic Chronicles Series) Page 246
