by Unknown
While the discussion continued, Mike, Jim, the Major and the Colonel stepped through the still open doors of the city. Once again, the Chief and his men remained safely outside and let the strangers assume the danger. Like Hadaie and Rokka earlier, the men marveled at the city spread before them and began making their way through the streets. Unknown to them, their appearance was noticed in the computer facility and Hadaie dispatched a bus to pick them up. They were walking along a residential street when the large vehicle pulled alongside and the doors opened. They were even more surprised when Rokka’s voice came over the speakers and told them to take a seat and let the bus bring them to their location. The four men sat down and the bus quietly moved through the streets toward the heart of the city.
“My recommendation is to put this aside until after we get through this one crisis and then concentrate on it after some further study,” Thompson said through the speakers over the communications station beside Hadaie and Rokka. They had been studying the controls further as they waited for both the discussion to end and for Mike to arrive.
“I agree, Number One. Commander Hadaie, please continue your review of the computer data and we will take up this discussion again after the Wilkes boy has been recovered.”
“Yes, sir,” replied Hadaie.
“Then we shall call this meeting to a close. Have you decided when the assault will take place, Commander?” Dickson asked changing the subject.
“We spent the day performing a recognizance of several areas, sir. I believe we are to return tonight and make some final plans,” he said.
“Very well, keep us informed,” he said. “Dickson out.” The carrier shut down and Rokka and Hadaie were in silence.
“This has been very strange, my friend,” Rokka said easing himself back in the console top. “From what we have seen, I feel sorry for those who left us and very proud of what my ancestors were able to do. But it somehow feels hollow, like it was all for nothing,” he said sadly. Rokka’s shoulders hunched over and he looked older than his true age. It was obvious that everything was happening too quickly for him and he was having a hard time keeping up. Things had been so simple just a few years ago, yet now so complicated. “How do you and your people deal with all the things that keep changing?”
Hadaie had to think a moment on that one. He and his shipmates were used to dealing with a multitude of situations and keeping all things in perspective. It was difficult to understand how others could not do the same. “It is not so difficult; however we are trained to deal with many situations. After a period of time, we find it becomes easy to keep things in perspective,” Hadaie replied.
“Are we any different from other civilizations you have come up against? Rokka asked lifting his head and looking at Hadaie.
Hadaie lifted one eyebrow. They should not talk about other civilizations, but somehow he knew Rokka needed personal reassuring. “Every civilization is different,” he said. “They progress through the ages on a basic level and in a certain order. In some ways, they are all the same, and in others different. We both know when Levid came to Thera, the normal timeline was changed in some ways. But at the same time, your civilization is basically the same as most others we have encountered. You are coping with the same problems as most other people at this level of technology. What surprises us is how well you are coping and growing with your new surroundings. As a people, your resilience is most impressive and indicates a maturity we rarely see,” he said softly. “Are you concerned about how things are going?”
Rokka chuckled. “Wouldn’t you be?”
Hadaie smiled back at him. “Someone on Centara Three once said, ‘Shit happens.’ But it is how you deal with the unexpected that helps a civilization to grow and expand. Generally, I find that you can either face the new challenge or ignore it. So it is really up to you.” Hadaie said.
Rokka took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “It would be so easy to let you tell us how to handle things,” he said.
“But then you wouldn’t learn by it,” came the voice from the door of the room. Mike, Jim, the colonel and the major were standing there listening to the conversation.
Rokka smiled and motioned for them to come in. “So I have to do all the dirty work, ‘eh?”
“No more than usual,” Mike said as he walked in. He looked around the room at all the equipment. “Quite a place you guys came up with,” he said.
It was the colonel that surprised them next. “Is this place like the one you examined in our country?” he asked looking directly at Hadaie.
Hadaie cocked his head slightly as he often did when something unexpected happened. “I was not aware that you knew of the underground community in your country,” he said.
“Before we left, I was fully briefed by a very senior official,” he said casually. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that he was speaking of the King himself.
Hadaie nodded. “You are correct in your assessment that this facility is of the same materials and technology as the other community, except for the scale and the added capabilities, they are roughly from the same period and culture,” Hadaie said.
“So it is definite proof that an advanced culture once lived on our planet,” this one from Rokka. He had not been privy to the information, but was a very quick learner.
“Yes sir. It equates roughly to the 22nd century on Earth, or nearly two hundred years before now in reference to our planet,” Hadaie said. “Your forefathers would now be far more advanced than even the Alliance.”
A crackling of the speaker and a voice that called out through the void interrupted their conversation. “Is anyone there? Can anyone hear my voice?” came the words in a language similar to Theran, but different in some ways.
“Who could that be?” wondered the Major, still uncertain at all he had seen in the past hour.
Rokka looked at the men around the room staring toward the communications console. “I believe we should see,” he said walking over and pressing the transmit button. “This is Rokka, who is calling,” he said evenly.
“I am Danjael, son of Horin, Keeper of the word of the ages. Are you from the Origin?” the voice questioned.
Rokka looked around, “Origin?” he questioned. Since no one seemed to have the answer, he pressed the button again. “I am simply a citizen of our world,” Rokka said. “We call our world Thera.”
There was a short pause before the voice came back. “Our place of origin was called Anthera by our people so long ago. Are you from the family of the survivors?”
That one word changed everything. Knowing what had happened meant that they were being called from the descendents of the people who had left their planet 5,000 years ago. Only they would know them as survivors. “Yes, we are descendents of the survivors from the asteroid that struck this planet nearly 5,000 of our years ago. I take it you are from the group that abandoned this planet at that same time?” he said cautiously, but with the indication that he knew the truth.
There was a pause on the other end. Finally the voice came back, “Yes, we are a small part of that group.”
The major looked concerned. He and the colonel had been briefed on what had been found so far, but something didn't fit. “I wonder what he means about a small part?”
Rokka had caught the nuance as well and was asking the same questions. He pressed the key again. “What small part of that group are you?” he asked.
Again there was some silence. “We are a part of the slave caste that has survived the war,” came the reply.
“There was a war?” Rokka asked.
“The war to end our servitude and to gain our freedom.”
The men in the room stood silently as the realization of what had finally happened struck them like a hammer. Leaders impressing workers to do their bidding, turning them into virtual slaves to their will, using every means to control the people until one day it became too much and the people rose up.
Rokka took a long deep breath. “Then you are living
in freedom there now,” he said.
“No, we have escaped in a ship we constructed from one that brought our ancestors to that place and we have set out with the hope of returning to our place of origin,” the voice said. “We are hoping that we may return to you and live in peace.”
Rokka turned to Hadaie. “If they are in a ship, can your people find them?” he asked.
Hadaie tapped his communicator. “Hadaie to Lexington.”
Dickson’s voice came back immediately. “We have monitored your communications, Commander, we are searching for them with long range sensors. You may ask if they are running with their shields up. If they are the same as the ones on the planet, we may have a difficult time finding them.”
“Acknowledged.”
Rokka stepped in pressing the transmit key. “Are you traveling with a shield system operating?” he asked.
“We are, to mask us from our former masters.”
“Then please lower them for a few moments so that we may determine where you are,” Rokka said.
“We will comply,” they responded.
Aboard the Lexington a ship appeared on their sensors just three light years away traveling in the direction of Thera at close to the speed of light. It was a huge ship with indications of life forms aboard.
“Looks like we have them sir,” said Thompson from his seat. “It’s amazing they could be that close and remain undetected.
“What’s more amazing is that at that speed they have been traveling nearly 50 years to get this far,” Dickson said. He pressed the communications panel on his seat. “We have them, Commander, nearly three light years away,” he said.
On the planet Hadaie responded. “Confirmed here as well, sir,” Hadaie said looking at another panel that clearly showed the ship’s approach.
Rokka pressed the button again. “I am not a government official here,” said Rokka, “but I am sure you will be welcomed home. Would you be willing to have a representative come to meet you so that we may come to know each other and our circumstances better,” he asked.
“My people would welcome that opportunity, however we are still far away from you and we estimate another three years to reach you.”
“We see you now and have ways of reaching you within a few hours,” Rokka said. “Please allow me the time to make the arrangements.”
“You can come here? Yes, please take the time you need. We are all anxious to see you. I will be waiting for your call,” the man said excitedly.
“I will be back to you shortly,” Rokka said before turning to Hadaie and the others. “I believe we are in need of your assistance,” he said. Within two hours the Lexington broke her orbit and quickly accelerated toward the approaching ship.
Chapter 13
Meeting History
All of the orchestra members had left and Jo was finishing up some notes for the stage crew when a man walked onto the stage. James Davidson had been a busy man for the past few days. He and his crew had held their rehearsals in the evenings after the orchestra had theirs. Now he needed to add one more item to his list.
“Mrs. Wilkes?” he called out as he made his way to where she was seated at the podium.
Jo looked back at him with a puzzled look. She had never seen the man before, but with him being here, he had to be a part of the embassy staff. “I don’t believe we’ve met,” she said with a slight smile, offering her hand.
“I’m Jim Davidson, Mrs. Wilkes,” he said shaking her hand warmly. “Your husband asked me to do some special things with the new Stagesim and I wanted to let you know what’s happening,” he said.
That explained a lot. Mike had told her he was doing something special. This man must have been installing the equipment. “What can I do for you,” she said as her smile broadened.
“Mike asked me to set some things up so that during your performance the simulator would respond along with the music. He wants them to be a surprise, so I won’t tell you what will happen, but just so you won’t be caught off guard or anything,” he said. “You’ll probably be seeing some characters and things dancing around.”
Jo’s face brightened significantly. Leave it to Mike to add some touch or two of his own. “That’s so nice,” she said. “Especially for the children, since this thing is really for them.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” he said. “Trust me, the kids are going to love this,” he smiled.
“And you’re sure you couldn’t give me a hint?” she teased.
“Not and keep in your husband’s good favors,” he said chuckling. “Have you heard anything new?” he asked.
Jo sighed. “No, not yet. The ship called and said he had checked in and is okay. The news media got the information that he was on his way to get his son back and they have been constantly on the phone trying to talk to me. So he probably couldn’t get me if he tried,” she said sadly. “But it’s nice of you to ask.”
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Wilkes. He’ll be alright, I’m sure. If there’s anything you might need or anything we can do for you for the concert, please let me know. I’m at the embassy,” he said.
Jo smiled up at him, but the hurt was still in her face. “Thank you, I appreciate it,” she said. “Right now, I just want to get this concert done and get my son back,” she said as she stood and gathered her things. “But thanks for the offer,” she said as she made her way out.
Davidson watched her trudge toward the doorway, her tired gate showing more than just physical exhaustion. Don’t worry, he thought to himself. We’re going to make this something you will always remember.
As they had walked through the building Mike found a small cafeteria. In it, were rows of food processors, all were operating. On his suggestion, they chose a meal from the menu which, thankfully, had photographs of the dish to be prepared. Mike and Jim Ramey made their selections as if it were an every day occurrence, and took their trays to a table. Rokka, the Colonel and Major were dumbfounded that all one had to do was select a meal and it would appear before their eyes. Yet, Rokka selected what looked like a meat stew and within 10 seconds, it appeared with fresh bread and an herbal tea on a tray inside the unit. There was even a fork, spoon and knife on the tray. The rest watched as Rokka removed the tray from the machine and then dipped a finger in the stew for a taste. His eyes went wide and he turned and said, “It tastes very good!”
That was all that was needed for the rest. They quickly made their selections and sat at one of the tables. For the first few minutes, they simply ate their food. Then, as their hunger was arrested, they began to talk.
“And this was made by Therans?” asked Major Desti.
“Everything I have seen indicates it was,” Hadaie said. “Even this evening we have received corroboration. It appears there was a large and very advanced civilization here. Then approximately 5,000 years ago an asteroid struck this planet. Some of the people escaped to another planet, the rest remained. Eventually they left their habitats like this one and returned to the world above the devastation.”
“At that point, you Therans were even more advanced than we were at the time,” Jim said with a chuckle. “And when you and your people begin to learn from your ancestors, you may find yourselves the most advanced in this sector,” he said.
“I don’t know,” Rokka said as he sat his fork down. He pointed at Mike. “Maybe we should take our time and do things gradually,” he said. “Isn’t that something I have been hearing for the past few years?”
Mike smiled at his friend. They were already thinking alike. “You have all the time in the world. I guess you can absorb it at your leisure.”
Rokka chuckled as Colonel Leftin spoke up. “Well, before we deal with that, I recommend we deal with the task at hand. What did you guys find today?” he asked between mouthfuls.
Mike sat back and stared at him, then tossed down his fork and napkin. “Not much of anything,” he said. “Aside from the run, the perimeter is heavily protected.” He made an invisible drawing with his finger on the
table. “We found two sets of trip wires, a layer of mines within the tree line, a 10 meter clear area before you get to the fence, about 5,000 volts of electricity running through the fence, then an open area for several hundred meters at least.”
“That’s not to mention the patrols every 15 minutes or so,” Jim added. “They are almost never out of sight from one another.”
The men thought for a moment. “Sounds like no options there,” the Major said.
Colonel Leftin nodded in agreement. “From what I have seen, from the photographs your people provided, they are keeping a close eye on their perimeter,” he said shifting in his chair. “The road has some possibilities though,” he said. He leaned forward to emphasize his point. “The truck convoy comes and goes every day at the same times and with roughly the same number of trucks. And as we saw, they kick up one hell of a cloud of dust as they go. The natives showed us the way. They waited for the last truck in the convoy to come through and attacked it. There was so much dust in the air they were probably not even noticed until the convoy got back. So, as I see it, that is the way to get into the base,” he concluded sitting back in his chair.
Mike gave the Colonel a questioning look. “You mean we attack the last truck and then pile on and catch up with the others?”
The Colonel smiled. “No, that might end up in us getting captured or at the least having to delay our mission. No, I have in mind a more fool proof method, something that should work without anyone getting the wiser,” he said with a grin. For the next hour they discussed the plan, then made their way back out of the building to catch a bus back to the entrance. On the way out, Rokka even turned out the lights.
The Lexington was traveling at stage 9 on her way toward the returning ship. On the bridge, Dickson was staring at the viewscreen as the stars sped by. He didn’t like the idea of leaving Wilkes and his party on the planet to fend for themselves, but this was something that could not be done by sending a shuttle. His silence was noticed by the rest of the bridge crew.
