by Jeff Sims
Jack replied, “More building supplies for the new office. Specifically, one hold will be filled with an air conditioning unit and the other with the control unit for the window solar panels.”
Victor: “Why do you need my help?”
Jack: “Well, there was something of a misunderstanding. The Hiriculans thought that I was leaving immediately to start the contract. I thought I could complete the contract at my leisure, so I stayed on Solaria for the last two weeks and enjoyed the celebration.”
Victor was starting to realize what Jack was about to ask. He said, “How do I fit into this situation?”
Jack: “Well, if I don’t deliver both loads at the same time, the building will fall behind schedule. Further, the Hiriculans realized that the misunderstanding was their fault. As a result, they significantly increased the amount of the contract provided I can find a second ship. We can split the contract 50/50.”
Well, Jack thought, they would split it 50/50 after Jack took a 20% finder’s fee.
Victor was intrigued despite himself. He said, “How much?”
Jack didn’t answer. He held his communication pad to the screen. The amount was written on it. Victor saw the number and couldn’t believe it. The amount was sizeable, huge really. His share was enough to purchase a really nice apartment in Solar City and have enough left to buy a condominium near Solar Beach.
Victor couldn’t resist. He whistled and responded, “They must really be desperate.”
Jack responded, “What do you think? A quick run to Hiricula and back and we can both retire in style.”
Victor said, “Jack, we need to discuss it for a moment. Computer, pause conversation.”
Victor said, “Crista, I know I said that we would settle down after our last trip to Earth, but the money is extraordinary and it appears that Jack really needs our help. I think…”
Victor was talking rapidly, but Crista really wasn’t listening. Instead, she just looked into his pleading eyes. He was trying his best to convince her, but she knew that he had already decided that they were going. The money was too good to be true, let alone too good to resist.
When he paused for a breath, she nodded and said, “Okay, another adventure it is.”
Victor told the computer to resume the call and said, “When do we leave?”
Jack replied, “Now.”
………………
Bline replied, “Thank you Jack. That is great news indeed. I actually had the opportunity to meet Victor Bullpeep once; I think he will do a fine job assisting you.”
He paused for a moment and said, “So, in summary, both ships are leaving tomorrow morning and flying together. Excellent. I will inform the building crew so they can update the timing in their master schedule.”
Bline broke the connection and he and Lone started laughing.
After a minute, Bline recovered and said, “My contacts will be waiting for Victor when he reaches Hiricula. He will tell us the route to Earth.” He stressed the word ‘will’.
Ambassador Lone replied, “That was too easy.”
Chapter 16
The kidnapping had certainly made Carank, Clowy and the others more cautious. They blocked their doors at night and requested escorts to every major event. They managed to make it through the rest of the celebration without further incident.
Carank believed that this proved his theory. The kidnappers, after questioning them, no longer believed that they knew the route to Earth. However, the theory was impossible to prove or disprove. It may have simply been that the murder drove the kidnappers into hiding.
Either way, Lorano completely changed his strategy for researching the soil samples from their newly discovered planet. He initially wanted to drop the specimen off in an accredited laboratory and wait for the results.
After the incident though, he realized that he was probably being watched. If the bad people could kidnap and potentially murder, then they certainly could bribe a technician to make a copy of a lab report.
As a result, he decided to perform the analysis alone – well, with Carank’s help. He started by building an environmentally self-contained area in the hatchway of the Buzzkill. This particular spot was perfect because there was already a force field protection system and an emergency radiation bombardment decontamination unit in the hatchway.
Lorano purchased a Model 340.11.06 biological diagnostic computer. This version was portable and was specifically designed to analyze and categorize food, water, and soil. It was a generation or two behind the Model 340.44.18 bionostic computer available on Advranki Prime, but the portability was a plus and it should be more than powerful enough to perform the necessary analysis.
He also obtained a precision, robotic arm. The key selling point of the arm was that it could be operated via remote control. Therefore, they could vacuum seal the hatchway to further ensure that Solaria’s atmosphere didn’t interfere with the results. The arm contained several attachments; one could move the former make-up vials around and a different one could unscrew the caps.
Next, he put a meter long workbench in the area. He placed the diagnostic computer and the robotic arm on the bench. He surrounded the bench with an electro plastic material that hermetically sealed everything within.
The hermetic seal wasn’t necessary for the examination, but by self-containing the work bench they could enter the room without disturbing the specimen if necessary. This could become important since the examination room was in the corvette’s entryway.
On last day of the celebration, Lorano finally had everything assembled, tested, and ready for use. He notified Carank and told him to come to the spaceport.
Just as Carank was leaving the hotel he bent down and collected a small sample of soil and placed it in a proper, hermetically sealed jar. He figured that they could use it to perform a final calibration of their equipment.
Carank started walking the short distance to the hovertram station. He stopped and looked in the window of a clothing store next to the hotel. There was an outfit that looked exactly like the one in the painting.
Carank thought it was amazing that he had found the exact outfit pictured in the painting. He said, “Life really does imitate art.” He thought for a moment and realized that Fletcher Birdsong had probably seen the outfit in the window and copied the painting after it. Carank figured that the outfit would be perfect gag gift at a later date. He went into the store and purchased it.
“How would you like it wrapped,” the clerk asked.
Carank thought for a moment. It wouldn’t be any fun to give it right away. He said, “Go ahead and vacuum seal it and stick it in a tube.”
Carank left the store and took the hovertram to the spaceport. He rode the electro lift to their corvette. Lorano was standing there holding the make-up kit. They entered the ship together.
Once inside, Lorano placed the four vials on the bench. The first vial contained a water sample. The next two were soil samples; one from beside the apparent landing zone beside the pyramid and the second beside the stream. The fourth contained the worm.
Carank placed the Solarian sample beside the others. They entered the interior of the Buzzkill and sealed both inner and outer exit. They walked to the control room and sat in front of the main monitor.
Lorano said, “Computer, evacuate the air in the chamber.”
…Completed…
Carank manipulated the arm. He placed the Solarian sample in the diagnostic computer. He next switched attachments and used the arm to open the jar. The computer tested the soil and validated that it was from Solaria.
Carank then placed the water vial from the new planet in the diagnostic computer and removed the lid. The computer tested the water. Carank carefully replaced the lid and removed the vial from the diagnostic computer. They waited two minutes for the computer to complete the analysis. Lorano put the readings on the main monitor and they both studied them.
Carank summarized, “Well, it is water. One could drink it wi
thout getting sick. It has a touch more hydrogen sulfide than normal water. That means it probably tastes like rotten eggs.”
Lorano replied, “Yes, but once filtered, the water would taste okay. There is nothing harmful in it.”
Carank put both soil samples in the diagnostic computer. Once again, they waited for the computer to finish its analysis. The inspection showed that it was normal soil. There was nothing harmful in it.
Carank repeated the process with the vial containing the worm. Once again, the analysis showed nothing untoward. Carank summarized, “It appears to be an excellent source of protein.”
They dismantled the laboratory and returned to hotel in plenty of time to start the evening’s activities. This included a small parade to Settler’s monument followed by fireworks.
…………….
The amazing firework display had certainly been the highlight of the closing ceremony. It was long, loud, and brilliant. One could have dug an underground tunnel during the firework display and no one would have noticed.
The entire group met the next morning for one final goodbye. Carank and Lexxi were going to drop Solear off at the Naval Shipyard in Conron and proceed to Advranki Prime. Lorano and Clowy were taking the corvette Buzzkill to the Altian system.
Ella was remaining on Solaria and returning to her father’s estate. She gave each Clowy and Lexxi a long hug. She promised that she would accompany her father on his next trip to either Advranki Prime or Altian and make a pointed effort to come and visit.
However, she knew that she wouldn’t follow through any time soon. She was mentally exhausted from the stress of seemingly non-stop warfare. She wanted, and felt she deserved, a long break from everything.
Ella said, “Lorano, this is rather unlike you. Where is your parting insult? Aren’t you going to say goodbye Human?”
Lexxi replied, “I thought the similarity was just a cosmic coincidence.”
Lorano smiled and replied, “I was actually trying to be nice.”
He waited for everyone to stop laughing and continued, “However, I remain firmly convinced that you are a Human, or at least a descendent of one. Spending the last two weeks on Solaria has in fact reinforced my belief.”
Clowy said, “What Human?” She thought for a brief moment and said, “Which Human?” She smiled brightly.
Lorano replied, “I think it is foolish that we are being celebrated for discovering Old Solaria. All we found was an uninhabited rock bombarded by radiation.”
Clowy said, “Yes, that was Old Solaria.” She looked at Lorano rather strangely and finally commented, “How could you have forgotten that you discovered it?”
Lorano laughed and replied, “I didn’t forget. I am just stating that the only statue that should be standing at Settler’s Monument is Lez la Row na Wal to.”
Clowy said, “Who?” She wasn’t alone. Ella, Solear, and Lexxi echoed the question.
Carank responded, “Lezato was the name of the Altian that discovered Earth 300 years ago.”
Carank used a calculated approximation of the beings name in Alliance basic. He didn’t attempt to say the name in Altian. Further, the letter combination technically should have been Lenato. Strangely, Lorano didn’t correct him.
However, since the Alliance basic naming convention hadn’t been invented yet, that being would not have recognized either Lezato or Lenato. The Advranki were of 300 years ago were merely saying the first sound of an Altian’s name. Therefore, the approximation of the name should have been Lez.
With that, it was clearly time to leave. Ella gave Carank, Solear, and even Lorano a quick hug. She waved a final farewell and retreated inside the spaceport. The remaining 5 split into two groups and entered their respective corvettes. An hour later both groups left Solaria.
The Buzzkill circled the planet once before leaving. Lorano scanned both remaining pyramids. The one in Solar City was definitely an Altian energy pyramid. The one in rough terrain was not. The scan confirmed that the room that they saw was the only room in the pyramid.
…………………
Frank and the remaining Senate members returned to Advranki Prime two days after the murder. The Senators had remained on Solaria exactly one week; an appropriate time for a public figure to attend a celebration.
Frank was sitting in his office. The electro lift in his apartment was nearing completion, but nearing completion wasn’t complete. The place was still a mess and would be for at least another three weeks. He wondered why it took so long to dig a hole.
Frank smiled. This wasn’t a practice smile or a smile for effect. He was genuinely happy and felt like smiling. Frank had convinced the Senate to form a commission to investigate the murder.
The commission was authorized to review every aspect of Figur’s life; including conversations, emails, schedules, and his whereabouts. Only those marked with a Senate code were withheld pending a review by the Senate – for global security. The Senate would review them as a group if necessary.
The commission was looking high and low. They were shifting through reams of data; reading every email that Figur had ever written and listening to every private and public conversation that Figur had ever conversed. Further, the commission was giving every document to the media the moment they were finished processing it.
This was the biggest news story in a generation and all major television stations were covering it almost non-stop. There were hourly updates about the investigation. One television network even had quarter hour updates for a while, but most beings felt that was too often.
Frank had been interviewed multiple times and had recounted his story many times. He had become very good at telling it; adding little embellishments like seeing a fleeting image of someone enter the electro lift and seeing the body from a distance and racing across the hotel room to see if Figur was okay.
Frank hoped that the commission was getting close to finding some damning evidence. After all the effort he had gone through to plant it, the least the commission could do was find it. Frank turned on the main monitor in his office, turned to his favorite news program, and waited for the hourly update.
Newscaster: “This just in. There is a major development in the assassination of Senator Figur. I repeat, a major development. The commission has found an email from Figur to an unknown recipient. There information was written in code, but the commission was able to decipher it.”
Frank may have accidentally on purpose given a subliminal clue to the cipher in a recent press conference. He may have mentioned that the Senate had secret code names for high ranking officials, Hiriculans, and warships.
The broadcaster continued, “The email gives the strength and makeup of the fleet that was sent to Influenla. It even gives the names of the ships and contains detailed timing of planned operations. We now switch to our legal expert for his opinion.”
Legal expert: “It is too soon to pass judgement because we do not yet know to whom the email was sent. However, if it was sent to an agent secretly working for Hiricula, then it could be considered treason.”
Newscaster: “We have an update. The commission has released another email. This one is from the same unknown recipient and addressed to Senator Figur. It requests information concerning the strength and make-up of the fleet in Advranki 2 and 3. It also requests information about all ships under construction.”
Second Newscaster: “We have an update to that update. This just in; the commission just found that Senator Figur sent a response to that request just moments before he departed to Conron.”
Newscaster: “What did it say?”
Second Newscaster: “The response was only one word long. It said ‘No’.”
Newscaster: “Let’s switch to our expert on linguistics.”
Linguistics expert: “Thank you. Well, it is very clear from the overall tone and length of the message that Senator Figur decided not to provide the requested information.”
Newscaster: “Excellent summary. Is there anyth
ing else you can tell us from your analysis?”
Linguistics expert: “The evidence seems to lead us to believe that Senator Figur was providing information to someone, but suddenly decided to stop providing it.”
Newscaster: “Let’s switch to our investigative expert.”
Investigative expert: “He may have been bribed or manipulated. Either way, it is clear that he stopped providing the information for some reason.”
Newscaster: “Do you have a theory?”
Investigative expert: “I think we can all theorize that whomever the unknown recipient is became angry at the loss of information. That being may have killed Senator Figur in retaliation or was threatening him and accidentally shot him.”
Newscaster: “So, it appears that our experts agree that Senator Figur was likely a traitor. However, at some point he decided to stop providing military secrets and was murdered because of it.”
………………..
The real traitor was watching the exact same newscast at that exact same moment. He (or possibly it was a she) was scared that he would be caught soon; despite his caution and his cleverness.
The troop and communication irregularities were mounting and Admiral Dolen was planning to begin a thorough investigation. Although he hadn’t asked for or received any compensation, he doubted it would matter if he were caught.
The traitor made a decision. Well, he made two of them. Well, technically he made one, but he made a secondary one based on the first. So, in essence, he made two, but really just one.
The traitor decided that it was too dangerous for him to provide any more information to the enemy. The only information he had ever given was the location and destination of the Sunflower. The Hiriculans really wanted to capture that particular ship and the traitor really didn’t want the humans in the Navy.
So, it somehow made sense to him to provide it. He hadn’t been asked for any further information and he hadn’t volunteered to offer any. In fact, the Hiriculans were probably already done with him. He was certainly done with them.
