First Contact (Galactic Axia Adventure) (28 page)
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Authors: Jim Laughter
“It wasn’t,” Garret offered. “Thousands of years ago we had interaction with the Axia, even though we were independent. Our ships flew alongside theirs and we had a flourishing trade.”
“What happened?”
“Unfortunately, our society was still somewhat unstable,” the scientist sadly continued. “Through political anarchy and self-serving politics, we tore ourselves apart with internal wars. It happened suddenly and plunged the entire planet into chaos.”
Garret stood and peered out the window overlooking the control center. “Most of our ships and their crews stayed clear and eventually resettled on other planets. Here on Maranar, we began what you and I know as the Bloodbath. The Axia sealed off the planet to protect our galactic neighbors and to provide us room in which to work out our own problems. Since then we’ve risen from the ashes three times, only to destroy ourselves again later. In fact, there are the remains of a base on the far side of our smallest moon that was established the last time we had space flight. Commander Tess showed it to me on our way back to Maranar. After war left its occupants stranded to die, the Axia rescued them.”
“Where does that leave us now?”
“I don’t know about you but I’m against being opened at this time,” Garret said, shaking his head. “I want us to mature socially before we try to join the rest of the galaxy.”
“I agree,” the chairman said reluctantly. “At first, I was all eager to open up and fly to the stars. Then I got thinking about it and realized that we would still take our problems with us. We can’t even get along among ourselves, much less the universe.”
“Don’t forget those Red-tails,” the scientist added. “We had another tangle with them on the way out to the mothership. I’m quite content to let the Axia go on protecting us until we’re ready to fight our own battles.”
“Agreed,” the chairman said. “Now the question at hand is how to keep the information of the Axia a secret.”
“I’ve given some thought to that,” Garret said. “We can pretty much assure silence among our people involved. The big problem is the information network. I’m afraid that something may have already leaked about all of this.”
“I’m afraid you’re right,” the chairman said. “When we were conducting the search for that couple, I had to give out information to aid the searchers. I can’t be sure it will be easily forgotten.”
“I may have an idea. Let me contact the commander tonight and maybe they can help us seal this thing up tight. I get the impression they have some experience with this sort of thing.”
The chairman agreed. “In the meantime, I’ll keep the press team busy working the discounting angle to keep everyone else in line.”
With the unofficial meeting ended, each of the men went their separate ways to implement their plans. Fortunately for them other minds were even then working on the same problem.
∞∞∞
“I’ve decided to keep the planet closed,” Commander Tess said to her senior staff. “I checked with Shalimar and they concur. Now the problem remains how to do it.”
Just then a trooper entered the conference room with a message slip for the commander.
“It’s a message from both the chairman and Dr. Garret,” she said to her staff. “They believe it’s in their best interest to stay closed.”
Several people nodded their agreement and approval.
“They’re requesting we continue having covert contact with them on an annual basis,” Commander Tess continued. “They also request help eliminating any information that may have leaked into their information network about the Axia. Dr. Garret says their computer systems are very susceptible to illegal taps.”
“What about having them just go through all of their memory systems and delete any reference to the Axia?” someone suggested.
“It wouldn’t be completely effective,” the ship’s computer expert answered. “Even the most primitive system contains memory safeguards to restore deleted files.”
“What would you suggest?” the commander asked.
“What we need to do is introduce a program that will cause any affected computer to automatically purge itself within the safeguards present.”
“Could you do it?” Commander Tess asked.
“Frankly, no,” the man replied. “What we need is someone with a grasp of how primitive systems, especially those foreign to us, process information and how to use their strengths to defeat the safeguards.”
“Contact Observation on Shalimar,” the commander ordered the man. “They should be able to find us the necessary personnel to take care of this.” The man got up and walked out to the comm center.
∞∞∞
Stan and Leatha aboard the Aurora were making slow progress toward his mothership when the call came through to the ship comm system. They’d stopped at two planets and one outpost base on Stan’s return to duty. Although neither would admit it, the attraction between the two young people had grown strong during their private time together.
Stan recognized Ert’s signature on the screen. They figured the Horicon computer was just calling to say goodbye again and to bring them up-to-date on Sherry’s condition. Leatha activated her voice recognition program so Stan could speak directly to Ert.
“Ert,” Stan said. “What’s up?”
“You’ve got orders, Stan,” Ert said.
“Orders?”
“That’s right.”
“And you’re passing them on to me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Professor Angle thinks I’ll be able to help you.”
Stan suspected Ert’s simple explanation that Professor Angle had suggested his involvement was missing a few facts. He had the feeling that he was in for an adventure, if for no other reason than for Ert’s unpredictability.
“Are you going to tell me about these orders?” Stan asked.
“You’re going to do some computer hacking.”
“Where and when?”
“On a closed planet called Maranar,” Ert answered. “And right now. I’ll upload the coordinates of the mothership in that section to you, but you’ll have to arrange your own transportation.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem,” Leatha said coyly. She took Stan’s right hand in her own and kissed him on his cheek. “Sure am happy I have some leave left.”
Epilog
Stan watched the sphere of Maranar grow large in the front windows of the patroller. With deft twists and turns, the captain of the patroller guided the ship past the various native detection fields. Her passenger appreciated her skill as Captain Taver again approached the remote island. He reflected on the similarities of technique between Captain Taver and Leatha.
When the ship landed on the old airstrip, Stan only wished it was Leatha who’d brought him to Maranar. He missed being with her. They’d grown very fond of each other. Some might even call it love. They’d enjoyed their time together on the
Aurora
and their few days on the mothership while he trained for his mission to Maranar. But their time together ended all too soon and she had to return to duty far across the galaxy. He already looked forward to the time he would see her again. He could still taste her kiss on his lips when they’d parted only yesterday.
A native aircraft awaited his arrival as planned. Upon entering it, Stan found himself in the company of the former envoy from Maranar. Dr. Garret who immediately noticed that this young computer expert was already dressed in acceptable civilian attire and should have little trouble blending in.
“Hello,” the scientist greeted Stan in heavily accented Axia standard. “I am happy you were able to come.”
“I’m intrigued by your situation,” Stan answered in the native’s language. It had only taken a few days of intense subliminal teaching to give Stan an adequate grasp of the language and its nuances.
“I understand you want me to rework your computers,” Stan continued. “You need me to remove all mention of Galactic Axia from your computer network.”
“That’s right,” Garret answered.
“For the whole planet?”
“Yes.”
Stan leaned back in the uncomfortable seat of the primitive aircraft. “This will be good practice for me,” he said. “I’ve got orders to do the same thing on a planet called Sol-3. Barbaric place from what I understand.” He looked out the window at the world unfolding beneath them. He wondered if this place was any different.
Dr. Garret only looked at Stan and wondered how many planets this young man had been to. “We’re just not ready for the Axia yet,” the scientist said as the aircraft flew low over the water below. “Someday maybe but not now.”
∞∞∞
Far out in space the mood was festive as Commander Tess watched the celebration unfold. In the middle of the well-wishers stood Tim and Diane, he in his formal dress uniform and her in a beautiful white gown. Even from here the commander could see the wedding ring on Diane’s finger.
A fitting end to this assignment
, Tess thought while she watched the happy couple. Looking at the guests, she realized the only person missing was Captain Taver who was even then returning from Maranar.
If she pushes it, there should still be some cake left.
Approaching the couple, Commander Tess shook hands with Tim and embraced Diane. Couples made excellent teams when sent to work on closed planets. Tim and Diane had handled themselves commendably on their last mission, and their future was bright. Tess sighed happily as she contemplated the type of trooper the new generation was producing.
Outside the skin of the giant mothership, the universe danced to a tune written by the Unseen One. There was much uncertainty in the future for the humans. Only time would reveal what would unfold next.
Books of the Galactic Axia
Adventure Series
1. Escape to Destiny
2. The Horicon Experience
3. Space Trader
4. First Contact
Ghost Series
1. Ghost in the Dark
Coming soon
2. The Blue Ghost
Coming soon
Other books by Jim Laughter
From Victim to Hero:
The Untold Story of Steven Stayner
(True story of the Steven Stayner kidnapping)
The Apostle Murders
(A psychological thriller)
Polar City Red
(Climate fiction)
∞∞∞
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