Rescue Mission to the Stars

by Philip R Benge

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  The next morning saw Tony Miles and Jimmy Fielding standing at the airlock of the Galactic Traveller as they prepared to leave for the city on the start of the day`s mission. However, they didn`t exit the freighter to hop into their hovercraft because a Mazeren officer appeared at the bottom on the ramp and asked to speak to David and Sarah. On being introduced to them, he asked if they would like to join Admiral Stator for a friendly chat over a kakao at his house in the country. The officer told them that he would take them to the house and later he would return them to their starship. How could they refuse and Sarah was secretly just a little smug for she saw this as an added indication that what she had felt earlier on New Mars could well be true.

  David turned to Jimmy and Tony and said, “Why don`t you guys wait here until we return, I will speak to you later.”

  The drive to Admiral Stator`s house was uneventful, although of interest, as it gave them the chance to see some of the more scenic and peaceful parts of the countryside away from the busy space port. One hour after having left the spaceport they arrived at a spacious country house set within its own grounds.

  “The admiral has a nice house, Sarah.” David said as he looked at a house that his former house would have fitted into at least three times over.

  “Yes David, as on Earth an admiral here would seem to earn a large enough salary to be able to afford such things.” Sarah replied. She certainly wished that she owned such a place.

  They were shown into a large, well decorated entrance hall to be met by Admiral Stator who was accompanied by a young woman about Sarah`s age. It was his daughter, she seemed to be just a little tired to Sarah, who smiled at her, it was as if she were getting over a bad illness, or so it seemed to Sarah.

  “Ms Hardin, Captain Charlton, let me introduce my daughter. Lantana, these are the two people from Earth that I told you about.”

  “It is good to meet you both; never did I believe that I would be meeting aliens from another planet, here within our house. I bid you both welcome to our home, please come through to our garden, for it`s a lovely day and we can sit and talk outside in the sun.”

  With that Lantana turned and led the way through a luxurious sitting room and out onto a paved patio area. A brick wall surrounded this portion of the garden and made a sun trap. Laid out on a small table were four cups of kakao and what David was happily surprised to see, something that looked remarkably like chocolate truffles, for they were his favourite. After they had finished their drinks and had partaken of the usual small talk, Admiral Stator suggested that Lantana show Sarah around their garden while he and Captain Charlton tried a slightly stronger drink and talked of their adventures in space. Sarah was happy to follow Lantana along the small brick path, and spoke of the flowers that lined it, and of other minor things until Lantana stopped and put her hand on Sarah`s arm.

  “Sarah, may I call you by your given name?” Lantana asked hesitantly.

  “Of course, Lantana, we are hopefully going to become friends, are we not?” Sarah replied looked across at the young women who she already found herself liking.

  “Yes, I too would like that Sarah.” Lantana then guided Sarah into a small summerhouse that stood just off the garden path before she spoke again.

  “Sarah, can I trust you to keep what I`m about to tell you just between the two of us, and of course Captain Charlton who I assume is your lover?” Sarah blushed profusely, on Earth, and definitely, amongst her own circle of friends no one would ever say such a thing quite so bluntly.

  “Lantana, whatever you say to me will be treated with the utmost confidence.” Sarah finally managed to say.

  “Three years ago I was at university Sarah; there I studied computers and physics, it was a really fun time in my life. I met many different people and I was able to build up a wide circle of friends both in Plakara and in the other cities of Mazere. It was then that I became aware of the injustices on my world and went on a student march to protest against them. Unfortunately, the authorities cracked down hard on anyone who joined in the march and I was stripped of my citizenship. Since the march, my father has kindly allowed me to carry on my studies at home, now that I am no longer allowed to go to university. I’m afraid that I have betrayed him somewhat, as I used this time to carry on working for the betterment of the Non Citizens, and what I have done in this building is part of that work. Whatever we say in here will not be overheard by one of the many snoopers working for the state police.” Lantana`s words reminded Sarah of the work carried out on their shuttlecraft by Steve Ryan.

  “My father has let me read the tablet that you and Captain Charlton gave to him, and he has told me a lot more about your world. I will now tell you something about our world that you may not like, for I believe that it goes contrary to your own beliefs.” Lantana broke off her as she looked about her as if she was ensuring that her father wasn`t nearby.

  “If it is about your Non Citizens, Lantana, then yes neither David nor I are too happy about that.” Sarah said hoping to make it easier for Lantana.

  “My father told you then of our peoples crimes against some of our more unfortunate people.” Lantana said somewhat surprised.

  “Yes and as you say, it does go against everything that we believe in.” Sarah answered wondering just where this pleasant young woman was leading her. Lantana then told her of the riots and of her being taken away by the state police.

  “Since the riots and following the death of my mother I believe that my father and I have become closer, and that he now agrees with many of the things we used to argue about.”

  “Just what did you say to him Lantana, which was enough to change the views of such a powerful man?” Sarah asked, for she still thought that she had been right in thinking that the admiral would agree to assist them in their quest, if they asked him.

  Lantana then related to Sarah everything that she had told her father ending up with the destitute and impoverished people on the planet Phlox.”

  “The Phlox, Lantana, who are they?” Sarah asked.

  “Oh they are another alien race that our people met, but unfortunately they are still fighting amongst themselves, or so our government would have us believe. I have become quite an accomplished hacker, and during one such episode, I got into a secret government file. I then found that our government is stirring up the troubles there; we are keeping them a divided people. This means that their people are only allowed a very limited access to Mazere, and may never become united and progress beyond the aggressive stage that they are currently in.” Lantana said sadly.

  “And is this what your government intends for Earth, Lantana?” Sarah quietly asked and fearing the worst.

  “I believe so Sarah, unless things change here. Although I was happily surprised to hear that your ambassador had been invited to Mazere for talks, this never happened with the Phlox. There is certainly something in the wind so be advised Sarah, and be very careful in your dealings with my worlds leaders.” Lantana replied quietly but firmly.

  “To say the least you have left me in a total state of shock, albeit one tinged with admiration for what you are doing Lantana.” Sarah said. Her words sounded rather lame to Sarah after Lantana`s revelation, but it was all that Sarah could manage for a moment but she soon recovered albeit with her mind full of worry for their future.

  “Well Lantana, your world may not get my seal of approval, but Earth too has many problems that I`m not too proud of. We have a rising crime rate, there are still wars between nations and most serious of all is that we are over populated and it is getting worse. Our answer seems to be to do nothing to stop it from happening, your people`s answer may well be very wrong to my way of thinking, but at least your world has tried to solve the problems regarding over population.” Sarah said deliberately not speaking too quickly so that Lantana would be able to keep up with her. Sarah smiled at Lantana for her words had brought a smile to Lantana`s pretty face. Sarah then continued.

  “We al
so have a large amount of corruption in government, poverty and riots, and we are no nearer to finding any answers to these problems as we are to our over population problem. I think that our two worlds need to come together to try to help each world get a grip on what is wrong with both civilisations, corrupt governments that are too busy lining their own pockets to solve the important issues of the day.” Sarah said and then she burst out laughing.

  “Here I am sixty light years from Earth but having a similar conversation to the one that I had just six months ago with a friend of mine at university. But tell me Lantana, how long have you been speaking English, for you seem to be quite at home with our language?” Sarah asked. Although Sarah had meant this as a compliment, she couldn`t help but wonder at what point Admiral Stator had in fact told Lantana about the existence of Earth.

  “Thank you for your compliment Sarah. Unfortunately I still have a way to go, as I`m sure you will have noticed. I find your grammar most difficult and I am still learning so many of your words. My father asked me to learn your language almost a year ago. He told me that it would be a great help to him if I managed to master it. I have a teacher to tutor me for three hours each day, it is very tiring, and I would much rather be in my garden, even my domestic duties are easier.” Lantana said smiling at the young woman from Earth and the conversation was lifted up to a lighter level.

  “Our house is full of laughter these days Sarah, for father holds many dinner parties with his friends in the military, I even allow myself to be happy during these wonderful nights. Unfortunately he stays up to the early hours talking with his friends and the next morning he is tired and irritable.” What she didn`t say was that she had installed a listening device to listen in to these late night sessions, and to collect a lot of top-secret information. Lantana then brought the conversation back to a darker level and she spoke again about her earlier warning.

  “Sarah, I have told you of my work not to boast, but in the hope that you and your friends can warn your ambassador of my government`s plans for you`re own world. Maybe you can also be a friend to my people, and help us when you can?”

  Sarah didn`t say anything, she just nodded her head, Lantana`s repeated warning reinforced her earlier worries, she now wondered if perhaps they had entered into a lions den, and they were to be served up as the next meal.

  The two women now returned to the house, and to David Charlton and Admiral Stator, who on hearing the two women return, turned to smile at them and suggest that their two guests stay for lunch. Lantana then turned to David and asked him a question that had been bothering her.

  “I was surprised to hear that you would also be accompanying the ambassador to Mazere, Captain, as your part in the proceedings was completed, the delivery of the cargo that is?” Lantana added the last part when she saw a question in David`s eyes concerning her question.

  “We too were a little surprised, but delighted also, for this is our first trip to a world inhabited by an alien race.” David replied, taking a sip from his glass of Mazeren wine.

  “It was my idea Lantana, I thought it would make you happy to meet two such charming people, and talk of other worlds rather than our own one.” Stator said smiling at his daughter who returned his smile. He knew that there were other darker reasons behind his invitation. Lantana knew something of his plans through her secret listening device in her father`s study, but she did not know her father`s new plans, or just how dangerous they would be for her guests from Earth, for these plans had been conceived on New Mars.

  “Well in that case father, I would like to thank you, for I am enjoying our small party, and it is nice to talk to two such nice people about such exotic things as far away worlds and peoples.” Lantana said, throwing a smile towards her father. Sarah for her part was finding it hard to see the real Lantana hidden behind the sweet dutiful daughter.

  They talked over lunch and well into the afternoon about Earth and its people, but nothing more was said about the problems on Mazere. David then asked Admiral Stator a question.

  “Admiral I wonder if you could assist me, my crew and I would like to travel in to your capital city to look around its museums, could you arrange an escort for us, and maybe a translator to explain all of the things that we will see?”

  “Father, please let me be their guide, I haven`t been to the capital since that awful night, and I would dearly love to see it again?” Lantana begged, her large eyes pleading with her father. Stator looked into his daughter’s eyes for a long moment before smiling at her.

  “Ok but I think that a large group such as yourselves should be split into two groups so as to make the trip all the more enjoyable. You, Lantana, can go with Captain Charlton and Ms Hardin, I will order Lieutenant Crestor to escort you so as to ensure that you don`t get into any trouble. The other members of your crew Captain can travel to the capital with Lieutenant Pallas who speaks perfect English, and who is eager for a break away from my starship. How is that?” Stator said smiling to the others.

  His real reason for the two groups was to ensure that his two officers would have an easier time stopping the earthmen from getting into mischief and attempting to track down the information they so desperately required to assist them in their quest. One other reason for agreeing to the request was that David had unwittingly given the admiral the chance that he had been seeking that would enable him to put the last part of his plan into operation, and this was the other reason behind the luncheon invitation. In fact, the admiral had been on the verge of proposing such a trip.

  “That is marvellous Father; I can hardly wait until tomorrow morning.” Lantana squealed.

  “I will have the two lieutenants at your door bright and early, for you have much to see, and you may need two days or more to see everything.” Admiral Stator said, only too happy to see the smiles on his daughter`s face and hear her laughter. Even subterfuge can have a fun side Admiral Stator thought.

  David and Sarah arrived back at the freighter just as the sun was going down, and just in time for dinner, such as it was, for it was Tony`s turn to cook and his culinary skills were almost zero. Over dinner, Sarah told the others of their plans for tomorrow, but Steve feigned annoyance.

  “Well I suppose that I`m stuck with the Cinderella roll again?” He tried to sound angry but failed dismally.

  “Sorry Steve, but if the shoe fits what can we do?” David said and then burst out laughing with everyone including Steve else joining in.

  Later when they were alone in their cabin, Sarah told David all that Lantana had said to her. After recovering a little from the shock of what he had been told David said that he too needed time to think about the young Mazeren woman, and even more about her revelations.