by Karl Morgan
“Absolutely Admiral,” Darlene replied. “I’ve sent a few maklans down there today to get video of some of the wildlife, as well as landscapes and other scenery for the brochures.”
“Thank you Darlene,” Arrin said. “I hate to break up your meal, but I do need a few private minutes with Dave and Captain Cartwright. Lia has already asked him to come to Dave’s ready room.” The others said goodbye to Arrin and filed out of the room as Carl stepped in.
“Arrin, we are alone now, please go ahead,” Dave said.
“Gentlemen, I don’t know what you’ve heard of the civil war brewing on Predax,” Arrin began.
“Admiral, I have been somewhat briefed by High Commissioner Fa-a-Di,” Dave replied.
“You have very good friends Dave,” Arrin said. “The rebels have been asking for support to depose Emperor Zendo and replace him with his son. So far, the Galliceans are willing to help, but Kalidus has continued to recommend caution. I have spoken today with Governor Novolus of the Kalidean colony Tantalus. He has allowed the rebels to establish a consulate on his planet. The new consul, Zakamar Vondee has been working tirelessly to convince us that Predax is very weak. She claims much of their fleet was damaged or destroyed over Nom-Kat-La. She believes her small fleet could fight Predax to a stalemate. Even ten or twenty more ships from our side could bring about the end of Predaxian control over hundreds of civilizations.”
“How can we trust the rebels, Admiral?” Carl asked. “Couldn’t this be a trick to get us into another battle we might lose?”
“That is exactly the problem Carl,” Arrin answered. “None of our civilizations have known peace with Predax. While they haven’t attacked Kalidean planets yet, they have attacked Greater Gallia twice and did force the attack on No-Makla. While we all wish we could defeat them now and end the constant fighting, we have no real evidence. I’m told that fifty million maklans are headed to Tantalus and Nom-Kat-La now to help push back the mind control from Alliance space. We hope to be able to pierce their interference and see how many ships they have in our regions. If we find few ships, we might lend a few ships. That’s where you two come in. Dave, I still need you and your team to go to Tak-Makla and negotiate a treaty with them. But I want Texas to move to Tantalus as soon as possible. We don’t have many fleet battle cruisers and I want all of them in this fight if it happens.”
“No problem Arrin,” Dave replied. “Nightsky is due to arrive here any minute and my core team can transfer there when she arrives.”
“Arrin,” Carl interrupted, “We’ll need a day or two to prepare. Once Ticonderoga installs the permanent portal, we should be able to do a direct jump to Tantalus. Will that be satisfactory?”
“You two make my life easy,” Arrin smiled. “It sounds perfect. Carl, please advise me when your ship arrives over Tantalus. Dave, I am as excited as you about Tak-Makla. I cannot imagine a culture that could build the beacon array on Station 801 four hundred million years ago. That will be a thrill.”
Dave grinned, “Arrin, we are all excited about what we might find. After Jake and Max made their report to No-Makla, that entire planet is buzzing with anticipation too.”
“Dave, one last thing I almost forgot,” Arrin said. “Since I’m sending you off again before you could develop your new colonies, I have recruited a new governor for your two planets. I think you’ve heard of Governor Lyra Lawson.”
Dave laughed, “That’s great! She has been an amazing help as we have been developing Far Sky and New Dawn. How did you convince her to give up Day’s End?”
“It wasn’t easy Dave,” Arrin replied. “Not only did I have to give her both planets, but I had to make another concession. I’m sorry about this Carl, but I had to make Lia her Secretary of State.”
Carl smiled broadly, “Admiral, Lia is the best communications officer in the fleet. But if this is what’s needed, you know I always follow orders. That is a great opportunity for Lia, and I would never stand in her way.”
“You see,” Arrin laughed, “you two do make my life easy. I’m off to have dinner with Lanz Lagerfeld. I’ll give him your best regards as well. Earth out.”
Chapter 11
Captain Jon Lake of the Nightsky sat across the table from Dave Brewster in the admiral’s ready room on the Texas. Dave sipped his coffee and sat back. “Jon, here we are for the private meeting. What’s on your mind, Captain?” he asked.
“Dave, I know I haven’t been on top of my game recently,” Jon replied. “The Predaxian invasion was too much for me.”
“I don’t understand Jon. Neither of us was involved in that action,” Dave said.
“Well, that’s true. But Lauren was,” Jon sighed, looking down.
“Are you talking about Captain London?” Dave asked. Jon nodded but kept his head down. “It was a terrible battle and her ship was destroyed. It pains me every day to think about it, Jon. Please tell me what you’re keeping inside.”
“Dave, Lauren and I had a relationship,” he began, looking up and making eye contact with the admiral. “She and her crew were very helpful in getting us started on fixing Far Sky. She ended up spending most of her time on the planet helping me organize things. After a while, we started dating. During that first six months, we became very close. I was about to ask Lauren to marry me when her ship was called back to Earth. That was the last time I ever saw her.”
“Jon, I had no idea,” Dave replied. “I am so sorry. I can’t imagine what you’ve been going through since the battle at Nom-Kat-La.”
“The worst part is not knowing, Dave. Her body was never found. While the odds aren’t good, I believe the Predaxians captured her. God only knows what those monsters are doing to her now. Somehow, I’ve got to do something, but I just have no idea what can be done,” Jon said as he dropped his head into his hands.
“We know that we can’t invade and go looking all over Alliance space for her. At least not yet,” Dave replied.
Jon raised his head and said, “What do you mean not yet?”
“We believe there is a civil war brewing inside the Alliance. Many Predaxians are tired of fighting and controlling other worlds against their will. Right now, we don’t know how strong Predax is. We are waiting for enough maklans to arrive at the border area and try to push back their mind control so we can count their ships and potentially find any prisoners of war,” Dave replied.
“Dave, if that happens, you have to let me go try to find her,” Jon pleaded. “Let me take Nightsky and join the rebels. They’ll help me find her.”
“Calm down, Jon,” Dave said. “This information is still very new and we don’t know how accurate it is. The rebels may be loyal agents trying to draw us into a trap. It’s going to take a bit of time. If and when we have actionable information on the whereabouts of any prisoners, Fleet Admiral Adamsen will send our best ships to get them. That I guarantee, Jon.”
“I hope that happens soon, Admiral. Every day is torture for me not knowing where she is and being unable to do anything,” Jon replied.
The door to the ready room opened and Charlie, Aria and Darlene entered. Each stopped by Jon and shook his hand, then sat down. Dave said, “Okay team, we have new orders. Fleet Admiral Arrin is calling the Texas to the Kalidean colony of Tantalus. Governor Lyra Lawson is taking over the establishment of the new colonies in this system. She is due to arrive in two days with the next colony ship and a cruiser. In the meantime, our team will relocate to the Nightsky. Jon, please make certain we have accommodations. We will need at least one conference room like this for meetings. Once we pass command of this system to the governor, we will proceed to Tak-Makla to make contact and establish diplomatic relations with them. Darlene, you will obviously lead that effort. I have already asked Jake to make certain an ambassador from No-Makla will travel with us as well. Are there any questions?”
Aria said, “Dave, I’ll make sure that the new coffee system for Texas is diverted to Nightsky. We’ve got to take care of the boss!”
“I’ll make certain all the arrangements are made on Nightsky, Admiral,” Jon replied. “Will we be jumping to that system or flying straight?”
“According to the computer system on Station 801, Tak-Makla is thirty light years from here. We don’t want them to think we are invading, so I think we will avoid jumping,” Dave said.
“I concur, Admiral,” Aria commented. “A heavily armed star cruiser suddenly popping into orbit is not a very friendly entrance. We will also find out how far out they can detect us. A few friendly conversations before we show up can’t hurt.”
“Admiral, at maximum speed, it should take Nightsky seven days to reach the target,” Jon said. “After this meeting, I’ll have my crew make certain we have provisions for at least four weeks. That should be sufficient.”
“Thank you Jon,” Dave replied. He turned to Charlie and said, “Charlie, I want you to know that Lyra has asked for Lia to be her secretary of state. Are you okay with all of this, old friend?”
Charlie smiled, saying, “Thanks for your concern, Dave. I am thrilled that Lia can help her mother on this project. I’ll have the science team pull together detailed reports on the planets to give to the governor on her arrival. For a second there I thought you were going to ask me to stay here and help them. You know that you cannot get rid of me that easily, pal. We do have another problem though.”
“Oh boy, let’s hear it. I hope it’s nothing serious,” Dave replied.
“I don’t think it’s serious,” Charlie laughed. “I’m sure you and Darlene remember that dinner we had at the Eiffel Tower before you two decided to come here.”
“Who could forget that, Charlie? That day changed my entire life,” Darlene responded.
“I’m sure you all remember the team that is supposed to fix human DNA and enable people to live to be a thousand years old,” Charlie continued. “Aria has tried to convince Matt and Rob to come here. Unfortunately, she hasn’t had any success. I think I need to go there myself to get the job done.”
“I’ve already scheduled the temporal jump, Admiral,” Aria said. “You and Charlie are scheduled for 0900 tomorrow. You’ll arrive in San Diego one month after you left the last time.”
“Me?” Dave said. “What value do I add to this?”
“Think of it as an early vacation, Dave,” Charlie replied. “It was my idea. Darlene, Aria and Jon can take care of everything here. You’ve been looking forward to jumping back for a long time. I can use your help convincing my boys to come. I stay up most nights worrying about how I would feel knowing they died a thousand years ago and never fulfilled this amazing feat because I failed to try hard enough.”
“Well, it sounds like everything is all set up,” Dave said. “It will be great to see the twenty-first again. Aria, when will we jump back?”
“You are scheduled to return at 0900 hours the day after tomorrow. That will provide plenty of time before Nightsky is set to leave for Tak-Makla,” she replied. “Don’t worry we won’t leave here without both of you.”
“Well, Charlie, it looks like we’ll be having our Starbucks coffee real soon. Frankly, I’m excited about this,” Dave said.
“Me too, Dave. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen my boys and I do miss them a lot. I’ve asked Muncie and Rence to meet us there and help out too. There’s nothing like a man from the thirty-second to convince someone it really can happen,” Charlie said.
Chapter 12
“I think I’m losing my mind, Mitch,” Lauren said to her maklan friend. “It seems like we’ve been stuck here forever. I’m glad that Pan and Wally were able to get the lights working again.”
“It is difficult for all of us, Captain. I still remember the last thing you told me on the bridge of the Courage. While there is life, there is always hope. We have to give our friends time to find us,” Mitch replied.
Panoplez Zendo walked over and joined the two. “I fully agree,” he began. “Even though my father said he eliminated all the Predaxians who followed me, I know it was a lie. There were too many to kill without starting a civil war. My fiancé told me she would take over the movement if anything happened to me. She’s a lot smarter than me, so I know she’s out there making trouble for dear old Dad.”
“Tell me about her, Pan,” Lauren asked.
Pan sat down on the floor and thought for a moment. “Her name is Zakamar Vondee. We met while attending college. I was always amazed by her intelligence. She convinced me that Predax was in decline. My whole life I was taught we owed our survival to our mind control abilities. The other civilizations in our area were brutal monsters who wanted nothing more than to destroy us. That was true at the time of the Great Rebirth, but tens of thousands of generations have passed since then. All the other civilizations had advanced and become simple traders and explorers. Predax had become dependent on the planets we ruled through mind control. We were addicted to power. After all those generations, we had switched places with the other Beings in our region. While they had become peaceful, we had become the barbarians. Without her, I never would have realized how evil our society had become. I would have continued my father’s plans to subjugate more innocents.”
“She sounds like an amazing woman, Pan,” Wally said as he joined the group. “Do you think she is out there trying to find you?”
“I hope not, Wally,” he replied. “I hope she is gathering the resistance and making plans to depose my father. That is the real fight. After that happens, there will be plenty of time to find us.”
A siren sounded and the lights began to flash. Pan said, “Don’t worry, that means our jailors are about to pay us a visit. Stay together on this side of the room. They will read our position and jump to the other end with fresh supplies.” A blast of white light filled the opposite end of the room. As it faded, a single, heavily armed Predaxian maklan appeared in the room with two pallets of supplies. Pan laughed, “Hey, Dokalak, they sent you alone?”
The other Predaxian leaned against the containers. “Cousin, you won’t believe what’s going on in space. Thuk might be the only safe spot in Alliance territory,” Dok replied.
Pan walked to the other Predaxian and hugged him. “Dok, you’ve got to tell me all the details. But where are the other guards? Don’t they know I could take you with six legs tied behind me?”
“Pan, is it safe to talk in front of your cellmates?” Dok said.
“Dok, come on now. There are five thousand miles of iron over our heads. We’re not going anywhere. We’ve haven’t been asked to do any interviews recently,” Pan laughed. “By the way, these are my friends, Jake, Lauren and Wally.”
“How are you all?” Dok said. “Sorry, that was a stupid question. I tend to ask lots of odd questions. You are in prison and I am your keeper. Of course you aren’t having a great time. Cousin, there is civil war brewing in the Alliance. The invasion of Nom-Kat-La was a disaster. Half of the Alliance ships deserted just as they were supposed to enter Gallicean space. The rest of the ships took a terrible beating. The rumor I heard was the deserters are trying to get the Galliceans or Kalideans to join them now. People are panicking all over Predax.”
“Gee cousin, I’m sorry to hear that,” Pan laughed. “Does anyone know who is behind the uprising?”
“There are more rumors about that. Most people believe you escaped from prison and are leading the rebel fleet. My uncle keeps reassuring the populace you are safely hidden, but fear makes people think strange things. My personal opinion is that girlfriend of mine you stole is running this,” Dok replied.
“Zakamar running a rebel army?” Pan laughed. “Don’t be silly. What makes you think she is capable of such a thing?”
“Pan, you know darned well Zak is smarter than you and me combined, except when it comes to her choice in men,” Dok laughed. “If she is running it, I think your father is in real trouble. My dad has been working day and night with the emperor to find a solution to the insurrection.”
“I still don’t know why they sent you h
ere alone,” Pan said. “Even if I was gentle as a lamb, they don’t know what the other three could do.”
“Cousin, almost all troops have been called back to Predax in case of a rebel attack,” Dok replied. “There are only three of us on the ship, the pilot, the loadmaster and me. Normally the ship would have a crew of thirty. If there is any problem down here, they have orders to leave me behind. I guess they assume you won’t kill your own cousin.”
“That makes sense, Dok,” Pan said. “Don’t worry, we’ll let you finish your job and go back. Without supplies, we won’t live long. It looks like you brought double rations too.”
“Exactly. They don’t want us coming here too often in case a rebel ship spots us and realizes how odd it is for a supply ship to be here in the dead quadrant,” Dok said. “The pilot has orders to jump me out in a minute, dead or alive. I hope I get to see you again Pan. Believe me, I want you out of this rock as soon as possible.”
“If you mean that cousin, you need to do me a favor,” Pan said. “You need to get a message to Zak and let her know where I am.”
“I don’t know Pan. That would likely land me here with you. I love you, cousin and I’ll think about it,” Dok said as the white flash returned. After it faded, they could see that Dok was gone.
“Your cousin seems like a nice guy, Pan,” Lauren said. “I don’t understand how the nephew of the Emperor of Predax would end up a prison guard though.”
“Dok is the greatest,” Pan replied. “He and I have been close friends our entire lives. He has never had much ambition. His father is Altamar Zendo, my father’s youngest brother. Before I came here, Altamar was Minister of Internal Affairs, which is code for head of the secret police. Dok has nine other siblings who have mostly entered the Bureau of Mind Control. They are probably living on other Alliance planets making sure the locals do what my father says. Dok could never decide whether he wanted to be a poet or a bum. I guess his father finally convinced him to join the military to get him off Predax. It seems clear to me they send him here because they know how close we are.”
