If the Chairman was shocked, he hid it well. Fitz made a mental note not to play poker with these guys.
The answer came. “He says that they do not have authorization to deviate from their flight plan.”
“I am aware of that. We had to come to you this way in secret and ask that you deviate from your flight plan because of the great danger to our mission and the Legion. You are in danger as well.”
“He says that he is aware of the danger The People are in. He is also aware that this move to destroy the Legion puts them in even more danger,” said Fitz passing the message along.
“I wonder how his high command is taking all this,” said La Force.
“Yes, it would be interesting to know,” said Fitz. Then it hit Fitz to ask, “Is it possible to deviate course during the jump?”
The old Chairman actually lifted his head and turned slightly toward the translator. Fitz suddenly felt as if he had asked something that he should not have asked.
“I think I just screwed us, sir.”
“Well, unscrew us,” ordered La Force.
Fitz spoke the words aloud to the translator. “Perhaps one should apologize.”
The answer came back. “Apologize for what?”
“We know the jump drive is a closely guarded secret. Perhaps I should not have asked any question concerning it.”
“The Chairman is pleased that you understand the delicacy of the situation. Might I add, we know your people desire the secret of the drive.”
“Commander, tell him neither me nor the Legion will do anything to attempt to steal the drive’s secret. In fact tell him this. Given what has happened, it is better if The People keep the drive a closely guarded secret.”
“That seemed to satisfy them, sir. He told me that they suspected this meeting was designed to acquire knowledge of the drive.”
“Tell him that there is no guile in my words.”
Fitz did so, and the Chairman raised one finger of his left hand slightly. One of the Greys got up and left. The tea servers returned and freshened everyone’s cup. It would be a while before the meeting continued.
Soon the Grey returned with another Grey that Fitz thought might be a female. “Commander, any idea who this is?”
“My guess is, it is a specialist who is studying human guile.”
“Do tell. Well good, maybe now they will believe us.”
The new Grey sat a short distance behind the table and was not offered tea. This individual put on a headband but did not communicate with Fitz, probably eavesdropping.
“Commander, tell them that the navy’s raid on the Reptilian held planet was a failure. It is still controlled by the enemy.”
“Yes sir.”
Fitz looked up at the translator and spoke to him directly. “Are you aware of the mission to wipe the Reptilians off one of the planets they took from The People?”
“Yes, we are aware.”
“Have you been told that the planet is now free of the Reptilians?”
Something passed between one of the other Greys and the translator. “Yes, we have been informed of its success.”
“Please tell the Supreme Chairman that the mission was a failure. A reconnaissance of the planet showed that the enemy still occupies the planet,” Fitz insisted.
“How is this possible?” The reply communicated surprise.
“The Reptilians burrow below the surface and build their bases below ground. The attacks from the air were not effective.”
Fitz leaned forward. “The navy cannot win the war from space.”
“How is this possible?” Fitz thought he detected emotion in the translator’s ‘voice’. “We were informed that this miraculous weapon could win the war and make us safe.”
Unexpectedly, the Chairman laid his hand on the translator’s arm. This seemed to calm the junior Grey. He was perhaps showing emotion.
“Sir, I don’t know if they have anyone who can read English, but now might be a good time to give them the report.”
Admiral La Force removed a tablet from his valise, turned it on, and slid it across the table. One of the attendants picked it up and took it to the translator who placed it before the Chairman.
After a cursory inspection by the Chairman, another individual at the table took the tablet and left the room. Fitz thought that this might take a while. He was right, here came the tea servers.
After less time than Fitz expected, the Grey returned with another device, which he took to be some sort of tablet. This he placed in front of the Chairman who quietly picked it up. Fitz could see the glare of symbols scrolling by reflected in the Chairman’s bulbous eyes.
He then looked up directly at the Admiral in a manner which would have conveyed boredom, had it been a human. However, this is the most animated Fitz had ever seen one of these guys. The translator quickly spoke.
“We find no guile in your request or your demeanor. Are we to understand that you are operating outside your people’s authority?”
“Tell him yes, and that we have a plan for saving the Legion and winning the war.”
There was a long discussion, of a sort, between the Greys. Even the ‘guile specialist’ got in on the act.
Then the translator asked, “What is your plan for winning?”
“Tell him that once the Legion is safe, we will use scout ships from the Greys and members of the Legion to destroy the enemy’s jump ships, and we will destroy their ability to make jump ships. The Reptilians will no longer be able to make war.”
The answer came back, “A bold plan; how do you intend to implement it?”
Fitz explained that using scout ships with Legion sappers on board, they could destroy the Reptilian jump ships. Then they would destroy the factories where the jump ships are made. Hopefully, the destruction will be so great that they cannot make more. This will necessitate considerable intelligence gathering. This too could be done using your ships and technology along with the Legion.
“The Legion will land on enemy ships, plant explosives, and destroy them. Your scout ships will also land legionnaires on their planet to destroy the methods of constructing ships that make star jumps.”
“You believe you can do this? Would it not be better to destroy manufacturing from the air?”
“Yes it would, but your ships do not carry weapons. Not to mention, the navy will not be happy to have us win the war without them.”
The ‘guile specialist’ came up behind the Chairman and there appeared to be some conversation between her and the Chairman. It was at this moment, Fitz and the others felt the disorientation of slipping out of star jump. He looked over at La Force.
“Now we’ll find out if they plan to betray us.”
“If they do, the party’s over,” said La Force.
Blackstone then added, “We’ll soon know.”
Their concern must have registered with the translator who passed this understanding on to the Supreme Chairman. “Do not be concerned friends; the Supreme Chairman has no plans to turn you over to your authorities.
“Then what is to be done?” asked Fitz.
“We must take off passengers and cargo as per normal procedures. Then we will see,” came the translator’s reply.
“We will see,” repeated La Force. “That’s not very reassuring.”
“Preparations are being made for your biological needs in this portion of the jump ship, the area which is usually restricted. You will please follow this individual,” said the translator, indicating the Grey to be followed.
The elder Grey stood, followed by everyone else. He then led his people out of the room. One of the Greys stayed behind and motioned for the men to follow.
He led them into a smaller chamber with chairs and a table. There was a door to the left, opening to the head. The room was austere in the extreme. A bowl
of fruit had been left on the table.
“Make yourselves comfortable boys; we might be here a while,” said La Force.
Fitz checked the time. “Let’s see how long it takes for them to come to a decision.”
“Decision?” asked Blackstone.
“Yes, do they turn us over to the authorities on the Moon or are we off to rescue the Legion?”
“But he said …,” began Blackstone.
“I wonder if there is a third option,” suggested La Force.
“A third option, sir?” asked Blackstone.
“Yes, we are expecting independent action from the chairman of a committee, not the captain of a ship.”
“I wish I could hear their discussion,” mused Fitz. “There would be so much we could learn concerning how they do things.”
“Yes it would, but any attempt to eavesdrop will be seen as standard human trickery,” assured La Force.
Fitz suspected that even without the headband, the Greys were eavesdropping on them, though he said nothing.
They were all dozing when the door opened. The Grey wore a headband. The group roused itself, and Fitz put on his headband.
“Has a decision been made?” asked Fitz aloud.
“Yes, but there is a problem.”
“Problem?”
“Yes, reaching a majority consensus was difficult. There are those who want to turn you over to your own people and preserve our delicate relationship. Others fear that this course will lose the war for us. There has been much discussion.”
“What’s he saying?” asked La Force.
“Apparently, they have reached some sort of majority decision on what to do with us.”
“What did they decide to do?” asked La Force.
“What have you decided to do?” asked Fitz of the Grey.
“It is not my decision. Follow me please.”
They followed the Grey back to the tables. The Grey said to Fitz, “Please sit, it will only be a little while.”
La Force looked over at Fitz as the Grey undulated away. “Well?”
“We are to wait; it will be only a little while, or so he says.”
“I’m sure it will be a little while to them, but a little while to them might not be the same as a little while to us.”
“No sir,” said Fitz with a slight chuckle.
After a few minutes, the tea brewing detail showed up and set to work. Fitz watched in fascination at the intricacy and delicacy of their work. La Force and Blackstone just looked bored.
“I don’t know how much more tea I can stand,” offered Blackstone.
“I don’t know, I kind of like it,” said Fitz.
“I’m sure it’s an acquired taste,” responded La Force.
About the time the tea was ready, three Greys came and sat facing them. Fitz put his headband on again and waited. Nothing was said for a while, and eventually the tea came. He watched with interest as the three Greys’ eyelids closed over their bulbous eyes. They sat with their eyes closed as they drank.
Fitz glanced at his boss. Both he and Blackstone did not appear to be enjoying their tea as they choked it down. He smiled inwardly, and he thought, are we rejecting it because it is alien? That would make us no different from the Greys attempting to keep our culture from contaminating theirs.
He did not have long to contemplate this as the Grey in the center sat his cup down and raised his face to the humans. La Force and his men did likewise.
Turning slightly to the Grey with the headband the meeting began. The translator began, “We hope that the place provided for you was adequate.” Fitz passed it on to La Force.
“Tell him that it was quite adequate and thank him for his hospitality.”
He did so and passed the next message along. “Sir, they are pleased that we were comfortable.”
“Ask him if he has arrived at a decision,” ordered La Force.
“That is not my decision to make,” was the answer.
“Yes of course,” said La Force. “That is not what I meant. What has your Supreme Council decided to do about our request?”
“You are to be taken to one of our planets where your request has been passed on to our superiors. You cannot expect such a variance from procedure by a ship’s committee.”
“Yes, of course,” replied La Force. “When are we to depart?”
“Immediately, if that is acceptable.”
La Force said, “Tell him that is most acceptable.”
Fitz communicated the message. The translator looked over at one of the Greys who rose and left the meeting.
The translator continued, “We will be leaving shortly. You might want to return to the area designated for you until we arrive.”
“Tell him that we will do so,” instructed La Force.
Fitz did, and the remaining Greys stood and left. On the way back to their holding area, they felt the ship make the jump.
La force turned to the others and said, “Well, I’ll be hanged; they didn’t turn us in.”
Fitz spoke, “You were expecting them to?”
“I figured we had no better than a fifty-fifty chance.”
“Glad I didn’t know that,” said Fitz.
“Me too,” added Blackstone.
* * * *
Fitz dozed in and out coming fully awake only when the disorientation of dropping back into normal space hit him. He struggled to his feet cold and stiff. Fitz stretched, shook himself, and went to wash his face.
Fitz came out and looked at the time. It had taken longer than the trip to New Earth. By now, Appleton should have made contact with their people on the Moon.
After about a half hour, a Grey came to fetch them. Upon entering the meeting room, Fitz had a sudden feeling of comradeship, the sort people who have faced great danger know.
Fitz could not help but to stare at the Grey sitting to the Supreme Chairman’s right. He was beginning to note slight differences in the Greys. Something about this one seemed familiar.
He put his headband on and waited for the tea to be poured. This tea business could get old. He wondered how La Force and Blackstone were taking it. Soon the Supreme Chairman turned slightly to his right, and the Grey put on his headband.
“Yes my friend, it is I,” were the first words he heard, and Fitz knew, it was Cee.
“Cee what are you doing here?” he said aloud.
Then he turned to La Force. “It’s Cee. He’s the one who put on the headband.
“Yes Commander, I heard you.”
Fitz must have looked puzzled. “You said it aloud.”
“Afraid I wasn’t aware of it.”
Cee appeared to be in contact with the Chairman. Fitz waited.
Finally, he said, “You are surprised to see me?”
“Yes I am. I was afraid they buried you in the deepest hole they could find.”
Fitz could have sworn that Cee’s thin lips curled a bit. “We do not put our people in holes.” Cee turned serious. “Nor do we leave them to die on Reptilian infested worlds.”
Fitz passed this on to the others. Then to Cee, he added, “That’s good to know. How did you get here?”
“It is a long story, but after my report on our last adventure, our leadership knew something had to be done. The wisdom of The People’s unwillingness to trust the Separatists concerning the star jump drive has been confirmed. They cannot be trusted.”
Fitz passed this on to La Force as Cee appeared to confer with the Chairman. Then he added, “The Supreme Chairman wants me to tell you what has happened.
“After my report, the Supreme Chairman of the Supreme Council of The People felt that I needed someone to watch over me so that I didn’t get myself, and others hurt.”
Fitz laughed, “Considering some of our adventures, possibly a wise decisio
n.”
“Apparently, my superiors think so. However, we were not sure how to proceed. The special committee appointed to study this problem felt that my returning would be too dangerous. They finally decided you would have to do something like this eventually.”
“Something like what?” asked Fitzpatrick.
“You would attempt direct contact with The People, and the only jump ship to which you had access was this one.”
“A perfectly logical conclusion,” said La Force.
“Yes, but there is more. The leadership also reached the conclusion that the Separatists could not win the war on their own. That, their willingness to kill their own Prime Minister, and leave thousands of their fellow humans to die, forced a drastic decision.”
“What decision?”
There was a pause as Cee communicated with the Supreme Chairman. “First I was assigned as the personal assistant to the ship’s Supreme Chairman. They have forbidden me to leave the ship without his expressed permission.”
“Ask him: is that how they knew we were coming and had a meeting place set up when we arrived?”
Fitz did so, and the answer was swift. “Yes, it was. When we saw that three of you were traveling aboard an in-system ship and that one of your men was traveling with the regular passengers, we knew the time had come.”
“They seem to know quite a bit about our operation,” observed La Force after Fitz passed this to him.
Fitz let out a long breath. “Sir, can you blame them given the circumstances?”
“No, I can’t. Still, I find it unnerving. Ask him how are we to proceed.”
“Yes sir. How does the Supreme Chairman wish to proceed?”
“We now have enough ships to evacuate the Legion.”
“Now, you mean now that we have dropped back into real space?”
“Yes, we have ships that can land on the surface and remove the Legion after you have destroyed the enemy ship in orbit.”
“We will still need to disable the base on the surface. Did you bring a nuclear device?” asked Fitz.
“No, I’m afraid the Supreme Council wishes to decrease the number of casualties.”
Hell Fighters From Earth Book 2 Page 32
