Avi grinned. “So it’s not all about the money is it? It is about the glory.”
Warren grinned. “Do you blame me? To be the one who sent off the ships that made first contact. Can you imagine? That’s a place in history. Like Isabella of Spain who sent Christopher Columbus to find the new world.”
Greg grinned, “But if we don’t find aliens?”
“We will set up a colony there and continue the quest.”
“The grand quest for the home of the aliens?”
“Yes, by the only person who could fund it.”
Greg scratched his chin. “It’s not how I intended to spend my retirement, but I’m game. We’ll gather the troops.”
“Thank you. I hope we have a long and fruitful working relationship.”
Once Warren had returned to his ship and the two ships parted, Avi turned to Greg and said, “Are we in as deep as I think we are?”
“Not half as deep as Saul.”
“Well, reinforcements will be there shortly.”
Greg and Avi made the rounds following the itinerary Warren had planned for them. They smiled and waved for the photographers everywhere they went. They could often be seen holding hands walking down some public thoroughfare or catching a quick kiss behind some monument. While they were polite to the photographers and occasionally posed for them, they did not answer any questions about their travels preferring to let the reporters draw their own judgments. At every step of the trip they met clandestinely with a wide variety of power brokers. Each heard their story about the sabotage at the nuclear test facilities and the plot by a single rogue Swordsman to embroil them in a debilitating series of wars. Each received a data module with supporting documentation and the information they would need if they elected to support the mission to stop this war before it started.
THIRD GENERATION - CHAPTER SIXTEEN
SAUL WAS WORKING with a flight of intra-system interceptors on combat techniques when a ship appeared at the point where ships entering the system were supposed to wait for clearance to approach. Saul recognized the call sign immediately. His ship’s database confirmed his recognition.
“All ships!” Saul called. “Round the clock on the intruder. Stand off at two kilometers on my mark! Go!”
Saul’s ship and the five he was working with short hyper jumped to positions around the strange ship. They encircled the ship in three dimensions The ship was surrounded, and even if it attempted to defend itself, it would be completely overwhelmed. The ship responded by popping out its weapons pods extending its lasers into firing position.
“This is Saul Cohen! Eretz warship! Stand down! Prepare to be boarded.”
“Saul!” Fiona exclaimed, “what are you doing?” She had recognized the white color of the ship with the blue six pointed stars on its flat surfaces. The plainly visible black stenciled numbers with the cartoon character of an American cowboy and his horse meant that she, too, knew which ship this was.
“Transmit passenger manifest!” Saul ordered.
By this time Moses realized something was up, and whatever it was he needed to follow along. “This is Eretz Pirate Interdiction Ship Model 2251A Serial Number 405 with passengers Moses and Rebecca Cohen requesting safe passage to dock and conduct personal business. We stand ready to accept visitors.”
“Initiating docking procedures,” Saul said.
Once the two ships were locked together at the air locks, Saul grabbed Fiona and raced across to the other ship. He wrapped his brother in a bear hug. “Man am I glad to see you!” He shouted. Then softly he said, “We are in a world of shit.”
“You’re looking great!” Moses said loudly. Then softly he said, “Why am I not surprised?”
Saul disengaged from his brother and wrapped his arms around Rebecca. He kissed her lightly on the cheek. “Do not be surprised at anything I do. Play along.”
Rebecca pulled him away and said, “Saul, I missed you. I talked Mom into letting us come ahead.”
By this time Sabrina and the two escorts had unstrapped and had squeezed themselves into the P I ship’s tiny flight deck. Saul turned around. “Fiona, please show Moses and Rebecca around our ship. I think they will find it is truly spectacular after traveling so far in this tiny one.”
Fiona ushered everyone out and discretely closed the air lock door behind her.
Saul collapsed in the pilot’s seat. “Hey, Buddy. You are a welcome sight. Sorry for the rough welcome.”
“How bad is it, Saul?” Buddy asked.
“Very. Everything we do is monitored. We have to be very careful.”
“What would you like me to do?” Buddy asked.
“That ship over there is dumber than a stump. Is there anything you can do to make it smarter?”
“I can try. I can’t make it sentient. Only Peter can do that.”
“Anything will help.”
“I’m on it.”
“Thanks, Buddy.”
“Oh, Saul, your mother was your age when we first started having adventures. I kind of miss it. Are we going to have adventures together?”
Saul chuckled. “You have no idea how glad I am you are here. If you call the battle at Homestead an adventure, then we will share many such adventures.”
“That makes me happy.”
“Now, Buddy, don’t get cocky and make sure you keep our secrets.”
When Saul returned to his ship, Buddy was quietly singing “Back in the saddle again” as he industriously reprogrammed the ship he was attached to. The tour group was gathered on the flight deck when Saul arrived.
Saul smiled at the assembly and said, “As you can see, this ship is much larger and more comfortable than the P I we love so much. I think since we have so much to talk about we should stay on this ship, and we can leave the other ship coupled until we get to the dock area.”
Saul sat in the pilot’s seat and keyed the comm. He called out to the flight of interceptors. “Flight group! That was excellent. The exercise was a success. I will see you next week. Thank you very much. You are dismissed.”
Moses’ eyes swept over the displays in front of his brother and quickly realized that Buddy had taken command of this ship and was reprogramming it. He shook his head. Saul had matured years in the last few months. Whatever help Saul might need from Moses would likely have more to do with his combat skills than his medical skills. Moses reflected that there were some advantages to being able to go both ways.
Moses and Saul wandered back into the galley. “You know, brother,” Saul said, “I think I know how Ender felt.”
“Mom wondered if that would happen,” Moses observed.
“It did.”
Sabrina sat down to the console Saul had vacated. She said, “Don’t you think we should be getting back?” before she looked at the displays. When she did she gasped. She spent a half second being amazed at how quickly Saul had subverted this ship to his own purposes. “Dock 108, right?” She called, covering her command not to the ship they were in but to Buddy who actually controlled both.
“Dock 108,” Saul called back. “Make sure you observe channel and speed restrictions.”
Buddy flashed the acknowledgment on the display. “Navigating for dock 108. Collision avoidance systems engaged.”
Sabrina sighed. The balance of power had shifted slightly in Saul’s favor.
The harbor master’s assistant was waiting for them when they arrived. He grabbed Saul by the collar of his flight suit and slammed him against the wall. “You little brat are on report! Your flight privileges are revoked until further notice! You do not bring an armed alien warship into my harbor without proper notice and without having been inspected by proper authority and without escort!”
Madison and Lauren stood on either side of Saul unsure of what to do. This angry man was clearly within his rights to say these things to Saul, but he had stepped over the line when he slammed Saul against the wall, but other than shouting, the man did not seem inclined to harm Saul any further.
The man continued, his face flushed with anger. “You never, do you understand me, NEVER bring in two ships coupled unless you are a harbor tug! You have broken a list of regulations as long as my arm. You are grounded until a proper hearing can be arranged.”
Saul meekly said, “Yes sir, but...”
The man cut him off, “Save it for the court!” He released Saul and spun away.
“All righty then,” Saul said. “Shall we get you moved in?”
After processing Moses and Rebecca through customs and immigration, Moses moved into Saul’s room and Rebecca moved into Fiona’s room. They stayed up well into the night talking about what had happened since they last parted.
Saul’s court hearing was the next afternoon. He admitted his guilt to all charges without challenge and was sentenced to a one month suspension of flying privileges. Further, his flying privileges would not be restored until he passed a series of licensing exams up to and including harbor tug pilot. The sentence stated that passing these exams did not grant him the authority to do the activities which the licenses would otherwise have granted due to the fact that he was under age. They were intended to give him a thorough understanding of the rules associated with navigation in a busy freight depot. Saul accepted his sentence gracefully. In spite of this punishment, he knew that by the time Elizabeth arrived, he would be flying again.
Moses’ presence seemed to calm Saul. He was more cautious and less abrasive in his brother’s presence. Moses and Rebecca quickly settled into the same routine as Saul and Fiona had established without the allergy treatments or the flying. Saul apparently decided that swimming was the next best thing to flying and they spent as much time as they could in the station’s pool. By the end of Saul’s flight restriction, Fiona was swimming as well as the others, but even with all their work, none of them could keep up with their marine escorts. Not that Saul minded. Seeing them in bathing suits was good for his ego.
After a session in the pool, Saul noticed Madison talking to a tall handsome marine in uniform. She gave him a quick kiss before they parted. Saul strode over to them. “Madison! Naughty, naughty, making out on duty,” he said teasingly.
“And what you going to do about it, little man?” The male marine challenged gruffly.
Saul grinned his most innocent grin. “I assume that you are this delightful lady’s significant other. I am going to ask that we be formally introduced and remind you of the fact that you are one very lucky guy. I expect that you will take excellent care of this lady and should you fail to do so, I will find a way to make you sorry you ever met me, big guy.”
The marine stood at least a head taller than Saul and Saul had to tilt his head back to look the man in the face. The marine cracked a grin, but only for a moment. He held out his hand. “Terrence Rattigan, little man. I will take care of her.”
“I don’t need being taken care of!” Madison shot back.
Saul turned to her. “Yes, you do. Everyone does.”
Terrence shook his head. “Look, little man, try to stay out of trouble. You are giving everyone fits. You have too few friends and too many enemies.” His voice had the quiet assurance of someone who did not speak often, but always spoke the truth.
Saul looked up. “Thank you for having the courage to say that.”
“You are welcome.” He turned and walked away.
Saul heeded the advice and focused his energies on his studies as they all eagerly anticipated Elizabeth’s arrival.
The patchwork that had been done to get Elizabeth able to move at hyper speeds had been restricted to repairing the drive systems and moving the navigation controls to the hospital section. The hospital section was the only part where the life support still functioned. Rachel, Wendy, Reuben and Rashi devoted the duration of the voyage to clearing as much of the debris as they could and making the portions of the ship they could access as livable as possible.
As Saul had expected, his flight restrictions were lifted not long before Elizabeth’s arrival. However, much to his chagrin, he was in school when Elizabeth announced her arrival and request for safe passage. Following Warren’s detailed instructions, the harbor master assigned harbor tugs to guide the ungainly ship to the docking port furthest away from the populated portions of the station. Once properly docked, a delegation from the security service crossed to the ship and formally welcomed the travelers. The delegation included Marine Lt. Terrance Rattigan.
Lt. Rattigan stood half a head taller than the next tallest of his detail and towered over Rachel and Wendy. “Captain Solomon-Cohen, welcome to the headquarters of Stellar Interstellar Corporation. Please allow me to escort you and the members of your party through customs and immigration.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant. Could you inform the children that we have arrived?”
“With all due respect, Ma’am, they are at school and the school administration already knows of your arrival. However, if I may say so, your younger son probably knows on his own. Ma’am, he will find you.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant. Please lead the way.”
The entourage left the ship and proceeded down a long hallway to the immigration office. While they walked, Rachel asked, “Lieutenant, would it be presumptuous of me to ask how the children were doing?”
The Lieutenant caught his breath before answering. His eyes stayed locked straight ahead as he spoke. “It was rocky at first, but when the others arrived, things settled down. Your younger son is a ball of fire if I may say so, Ma’am.”
Rachel smiled. “I take it you have had contact with them?”
“Yes, Ma’am, My fiancée is one of their escorts.”
“Well, I think under his mother’s watchful eye, he should calm down some more.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
They processed through customs and immigration and followed the Lieutenant to their quarters. “Your children’s quarters are two doors down Ma’am. Do you need assistance unpacking? The rest of your luggage should be arriving shortly.”
“Thank you, but I think I should like to investigate the contents of the refrigerator,” Rachel said.
“Yes, Ma’am. You will find that there is no alcohol allowed on the station. Fruit and fruit drinks are in the refrigerator. Solid food is in the pantry.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant. I should like to have dinner with the children. Will you be back to escort us?”
“Miss Mahoney is making those arrangements, Ma’am.”
“Very well. I trust we will see you again.”
“Yes, Ma’am. Welcome to Headquarters.” He exited the room and gently closed the door.
Reuben opened the cabinet. “This looks like flight rations! Yuck!” Everyone laughed.
“Well, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to headquarters,” Wendy said. “Welcome to the home of the most powerful businessman in the galaxy. It doesn’t look like the palatial estate I would expect from someone of his means.”
“We’ve only seen the working parts,” Rachel said. “Who knows what lies on the planet below.”
“I did notice a cluster of domes near the north pole,” Rashi offered.
“No telling what goes on down there,” Wendy said.
There was a light knock on the door. Rashi opened it and ushered Sabrina inside. After hugs and kisses all around, Sabrina asked, “How much did our buddy, the Lieutenant, tell you?” Her emphasis was on the word “Buddy”.
“Enough to not be blind,” Wendy said.
Sabrina spoke loudly intending to be heard by more than those in the room. “I have arranged dinner for all of us at the Yardarm restaurant. Best food this side of Eretz! I’ll come get you at 1900 hours. We can discuss living arrangements over dinner.” Sabrina left to a chorus of agreement about dinner plans.
Once the door was closed, Rachel said, “Well, never let it be said that our lives are dull.”
They chose their rooms and no sooner had they unpacked their carry-ons than the rest of their luggage arrived. They finished unpacking in
time to get dressed for dinner.
As soon as Saul saw his mother, he ran to hug her. In the embrace, they deftly traded data modules. Rachel flushed with pride in the knowledge of how much Saul had learned for him to be prepared with a data module on her arrival. They would review the shared data on their secure data assistants in private. Suddenly Saul’s task ahead did not look so daunting. Help had arrived. They followed Sabrina to the private room she had reserved for the assembled multitude. Spirits were high as they took their places around the tables that packed the little room.
In the safety of the restaurant at Stellar Interstellar Headquarters, Rachel, Wendy, Reuben and Rashi enjoyed the welcoming dinner secure in the knowledge that the entire team would be together again in a month. Peter and the children had taken a longer route with less risk of being discovered in transit. Greg and Avi would be along shortly thereafter. Once together, they were confident that they could tackle any challenge thrown at them. Dinner was the usual loud and raucous affair typical of these two families and was filled with double entendres not all of which meant what the hidden “double meaning” appeared to mean. Thus, in plain sight and while being monitored by the headquarters security service, Rachel and Wendy were brought up to speed on the depth of the situation.
When dinner was over, a new person entered the room carrying a large model of a space ship. “Is there a Captain Rachel here?” the new arrival asked grinning.
As a single person, Rachel, Wendy, Sabrina, Reuben and Rashi jumped to their feet and raced to hug the latest arrival. Saul barely rescued the model before the group hug made it impossible to hold.
“Tyrannosaurus Doc!” was the only intelligible thing that came out of the chaotic greetings.
Seemingly oblivious to the chaos around him, Saul carefully examined the large plastic model as the “adults” finally settled back down. Saul began to wonder if he was the only one who understood the depth of the challenges that lay ahead of them. Like Ender, was he to be the “adult” while his parents played games?
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