SWEET HOME ALLE BAMMA (SOLBIDYUM WARS SAGA) (48 page)

Kala started to laugh.  “I knew it!  Tib’s typical day is finding the enemy in the morning, defeating him in the afternoon and going dancing in the evening.”

All the while that Kala conversed with her visitors about the events of the past several weeks, I watched her life signs on the vid monitor and was pleased to see them continuing to climb closer and closer to the normal range.

A’Lappe entered the room and greeted Kala.  He looked over the monitor readings and said, “It would seem the antidote is working properly, Kalana.  All body functions are returning to normal.  I think by tomorrow you will be able to return to your suite and continue your recovery in more comfortable surroundings; and perhaps soon after you can begin moving about the ship.”

To everyone’s delight, Kala’s recovery was much faster than predicted and by the end of the next day she appeared to be fully recovered.  That evening we had a quiet dinner alone in our suite and I filled her in on all the details of the events that had occurred while she was in stasis.  It was when I began to tell her about Thumumba that she stopped me.

“Tib, I had dreams of Thumumba.  I don’t know when, exactly.  I know it was after I was poisoned, but I don’t know if the dreams occurred before or after I was placed in stasis.  I remember the two of us standing before him in the trees.  He called us his children.”

I was shocked when she said this, as I had not yet related to her my own dream of this event.  When I told her that I had dreamt the same dream, she asked, “What do you think it means?”

“I think it means that it’s time to make one more trip to the surface before we leave,” I said.

We were still discussing the events that had unfolded during Kala’s long sleep, when Kala’s communicator signaled that someone was trying to reach her.

“Kala here,” she said.

The call was from one of her personal staff who first inquired about her condition and then said that an invitation was sent from the
URANGA
by Admiral Regeny that requested our presence at a victory dinner celebration the next evening.  The
URANGA
was scheduled for departure the following day.  The admiral and his crew now had the arduous task of interrogating each prisoner while transporting them to a proper prison facility, where several weeks of tribunal and court proceedings would take place.

Kala said she felt up to attending; so we accepted the invitation, but only on the condition that neither of us would be required to put on a martial arts demonstration.  Kala’s assistant also informed her that the admiral and a team of legal experts had arranged a meeting earlier that same day to discuss some issues that had to be resolved in terms of disposition of the prisoners.  Since Kala and I were scheduled to be at the celebration on the
URANGA
that evening, we agreed to go to the
URANGA
early for the meeting.

The
NEW ORLEANS
was a large ship – the largest privately owned yacht in the galaxy – but compared to a star ship it was like a baby.  The
NEW ORLEANS
could easily accommodate a few thousand people, though I had so far staffed it with a considerably smaller crew, leaving many cabins and suites unused.  By comparison, more than 10,000 people could easily be accommodated in a star ship; and every one of them would be surrounded with luxury and style.  Star ships were so large and their journeys so vast that, in addition to serving as military platforms, they also served as mobile government offices that hosted diplomats, ambassadors, senators and other government officials during transit between planets.  Scores of civilians served aboard as support personnel; and various stores, shops, restaurants and clubs were found in the common areas throughout the ship.

It was on one such star ship that I lived when I first arrived in the Federation territor
ies – the magnificent
DUSTEN
.  Boarding the
URANGA
brought back all the awe and wonder of that first experience on the
DUSTEN. 
We were transported to the hangar of the
URANGA
on a luxurious transport craft, where we were greeted by the Federation’s Color Guard and armed troopers who lined the pathway from the transport to the ship’s interior.  Kala and I were both dressed formally – Kala in her lieutenant commander uniform and me in my honorary vice admiral uniform.  Commander Stonbersa, Captain Kerabac and Captain Felenna were present in their respective non-military uniforms of the style and cut of my staff.  Lieutenant Marranalis rounded out the party and was dressed in his formal Federation military attire.  Even though we would only be on the ship a few hours, we were still assigned a large suite with rooms enough for all of us and a full staff to see to our needs as long as we were aboard the
URANGA
.

Since Kala and Felenna didn’t have an opportunity to meet prior to departing for the
URANGA
, I left them to become acquainted while we were on the transport.  Kala had heard of Felenna’s participation in the battle with the Brotherhood and was eager to talk to her.  Likewise, Felenna was excited to meet Kala and was in total awe of her, as both Kala and I were rapidly become legend throughout the galaxy.  Their conversation continued even after our arrival; and I watched in amusement throughout the day as Felenna was mesmerized by Kala’s every word.

The time arrived for the meeting with the admiral, the High Command, and the Federation legal team.  I was under impression that only Kala and I were to be involved in the discussion from my side of
the issue, so I was a bit taken aback when Kala and I entered the large conference room and saw a number of people already seated on our side the table.

“Who are these people?” I asked Kala.

“This is our legal team,” she said.

“We have a legal team?”

“Of course we do, silly.  With all your wealth, property and vast number of employees you don’t think a legal team is necessary?”

“To be honest, I hadn’t given it any thought; but now that you mention it, I guess it is.”

“Let us begin,” said Admiral Regeny.

After making the necessary introductions, the admiral came directly to the purpose of the meeting.  “Disposition of the prisoners is not going to be easy or straightforward.  The undisputed action
s relate first to prisoners who were serving in the Federation military during their membership with the Brotherhood.  Their membership and rebellious actions on behalf of the Brotherhood, up to and including the armed conflicts against the Federation, constitute treason, for which they will be tried in a military tribunal.  It is also generally agreed that the civilian Brotherhood prisoners who participated in the attempt to steal the solbidyum at Banur on Plosaxen should be treated as enemy combatants and tried accordingly in a Federation court.

“
The difficulties emerge when determining the course of action against civilian Brotherhood members not involved in the Banur conflict or any other conflict against the Federation.  This category of prisoners is comprised of those involved in the drug production and transport operations at Alle Bamma.  Since Alle Bamma is a non-aligned world which, by definition, means actions here do not fall under Federation jurisdiction, neither the military or civilian courts have recourse against these individuals.  According to treaties with most of the planets throughout the galaxy, such individuals can only be charged with crimes committed on the planet that are defined by its laws.  In this case, the problem hinges on the fact that Alle Bamma has no known formal set of laws.  There are tribal edicts and decrees that are understood in their verbal traditions and laws; but no one is sure what they are or whether they apply globally to all tribes.

“
Do we turn over those prisoners who don’t fall under Federation jurisdiction to the natives of Alle Bamma, or should they simply be released?  This seems to be the real issue.”

This debate began in earnest and it wasn’t long before everyone in the meeting recognized that the solution was not going to come about that day.  In late afternoon it was decided that the
URANGA
’s
departure would be delayed until the legal team had an opportunity to visit the planet and speak with tribal leaders.  Kala and I were asked to go with them the next day to seek out Jnanara and resolve the issue.

As the meeting broke up for the day and we prepared to leave, Kala asked me, “What will happen to Felenna after all this
, since was a Brotherhood member?”

“I don’t think a lot
can
happen to her,” I said.  “She was not a member of the allied forces, so the military has no jurisdiction over her.  She was not a part of the battle at Banur, so she cannot be tried in a civilian Federation court as an enemy combatant.  Beyond that, she fought against the Brotherhood here and played a major role in their defeat.  Unless the natives of Alle Bamma feel she needs to be punished – and I don’t see that happening – she will be free.”

The victory celebration that night was larger than I anticipated.  The event took place in the largest social hall on the
URANGA
and thousands were in attendance.  Giant vid screens were located throughout the hall to afford every guest a close-up view of the central tables that were prepared for the guests of honor.  Admiral Regeny, Captain Xantaee of the
URANGA
and several other officers who played significant roles in the battle at Banur were all seated at the host’s table.  Nearby at the main table sat Commodore Stonbersa, Captain Kerabac, Captain Felenna, Lieutenant Commander Kalana, Lieutenant Marranalis and I.  Surrounding the main table were additional tables that seated officers of the ships that had served in the battle of Banur and officers of my own security force, and another where A’Lappe, Cantolla and Hotyona sat with other members of the science team.  Beyond that were tables filled with senators, ambassadors and diplomats; and beyond them the other crew members and passengers of the
URANGA. 
Captain Xantaee acted as host of the event.

“Good evening, everyone, and welcome to all.  This evening we are gathered to celebrate the stunning victory over the Brotherhood that has unfolded in the past few days.  The confrontation at Banur was the largest attack by the Brotherhood to date.  The Federation’s superior strength and intelligence were demonstrated when the Brotherhood walked into a trap designed to draw in the local Brotherhood forces; and though they
came with a sizeable fleet, they lost almost all of their ships in the conflict, the remainder of which retreated here to Alle Bamma.  Under the orders of Admiral Regeny the
URANGA
pursued.  Using the newly designed Mirage Fighters, loaned to the Federation by Vice Admiral and First Citizen Thibodaux James Renwalt, the Federation military forces were able to make daily raids on these fleeing Brotherhood ships, picking them off one at a time, until the last of their ships surrendered just two days ago.  Little did we know during this pursuit what was waiting for us here at Alle Bamma.  I will leave the rest of the story to Admiral Regeny.”

Captain Xantaee took his seat and Admiral Regeny stood to speak.

“Forgive me, if I go back a bit further than the battle at Banur; but in order for the true story to be told, it is necessary.  As many of you may know, the High Command operated for a period of time from First Citizen Vice Admiral Thibodaux James Renwalt’s yacht, the
NEW ORLEANS
– by his invitation, I might add
. 
The truth of the matter is that, had we not been there under his protection, we most likely would have perished.

“By now many of you know that the Federation military has recently begun installing new 10X fusion reactors, Reverse Magnetic Force Fields
and cloaking devices on our star ships and frigates.  The cloaking devices are also being installed on all our other ships that are not large enough to house the 10X reactors that are needed for the RMFF shields.  The credit for the development and availability of these devices belongs to two individuals; one is First Citizen and Vice Admiral Thibodaux James Renwalt and the other in an enigmatic individual we know as A’Lappe.” The admiral nodded toward A’Lappe.  Vice Admiral Tibby’s ship, the
NEW ORLEANS,
was the first ship to utilize this new technology, which played a large part in the successful recovery of the
DUSTEN
and the destruction of the Brotherhood base on Megelleon, not to mention the delivery of solbidyum to some of the first worlds to commission their solbidyum reactors.  Vice Admiral Tibby’s plans, advice and assistance have played a huge role in the successes achieved by the Federation when battling the threat of the Brotherhood.  In all fairness to First Citizen Tibby and his crew, we may very well have fallen to the Brotherhood by now, had it not been for him.  I’m sorry to say that although the Federation has bestowed on First Citizen Tibby the greatest wealth and highest honors possible, we have not treated him as respectfully in other regards – at least I haven’t, and for that I wish to apologize.

When First Citizen Tibby first appeared here in the Federation, I was wowed by his hand-to-hand combat skills and his keen sense of knowledge for military tactics.  I envisioned a military made up of such warriors; and soon, through a bit of trickery, I got him to promise training for my troopers…and
train
he did!  Not only did he train my troopers, but he trained his own as well, quickly and efficiently enough so that when the Brotherhood attacked a few weeks later, Tibby and the recruits
that were still in the middle of training
were able to take the
DUSTEN
back from the rebels.