The Solarian Celebration: Book 3 of the Alliance Conflict (17 page)

He scanned the sky and located the sun.  He saw that it hadn’t yet reached its apex.  Carank reasoned that it must be a couple of hours before noon.  He looked over at Clowy.  She was starting to move, but looked very sluggish and groggy. 

Carank ignored her for the moment and walked to the exit.  He placed his palm on the palm reader.  Nothing happened.  Carank repeated the process; this time leaving his hand on the pad for several seconds.  Again, nothing happened.

He placed his ear against the door.  He heard what sounded like a marching band sneaking down the corridor.  He looked just below the palm pad and saw the door had soundproof rating of STC.12.50.  He could yell all day and no one would hear him.

Carank began searching the room for an alternate exit.  He finished almost immediately after he began.  There were no other exits.  There was one other door in the room, but it led to the restroom.  Carank went back to the palm pad and tried a third time.  It didn’t open.

Frustrated, Carank began searching the room for anything that may prove useful.  He searched the desk and the chairs.  Nothing.  He searched the two couches.  Nothing.  He searched the bathroom.  Nothing. 

Clowy was relatively awake now and capable of talking.  She said, “What’s wrong?”

Carank replied, “We are trapped inside the room.”

Clowy responded, “Press the palm pad.”

Carank replied, “I tried.  Our captors disabled the palm pad.”

Clowy said, “Break the window.  Maybe we could crawl out.”

Carank checked the window.  It was high grade, semi-healing, durable glass.  He didn’t have anything in the room strong enough to break it.  He needed a glass cutter or a beam weapon to break through.  Unfortunately, he had neither.

Carank responded, “Good suggestion Clowy, but the window is too strong.”

Clowy looked down at the pile of clothes their captors had used to cover their bodies.  She said, “At least I hope they packed me a decent outfit.”

Carank searched the clothes for a moment and exclaimed, “Clowy, you’re a genius.”  Once again, the item he needed was in the exact last place that he looked for it.

Clowy said, “What?”  She thought for a moment and said, “What did you find?”

Carank held the item up for inspection and replied, “It’s a Model 542.26.19 label maker.”

Clowy responded somewhat dismissively, “Oh, I like the Model 20 better.”

Carank thought about several different sayings that he could put on the label.  After a few minutes he settled on one, printed it, and showed it to Clowy.

She said, “Do you think it will work?”

Carank replied, “It has too.  We have no other options.”

Carank slid the label under the tiny gap in the bottom of the door and shoved it as far into the corridor as he could.  He looked at Clowy and said, “Now we wait.”

They waited for many long minutes.  Carank kept his hear pressed to the door and announced when he thought someone was walking by.  He thought that there was an unusual amount of traffic for a hotel, but didn’t begrudge it.  He certainly didn’t want to be left trapped in the room all day.

Carank thought that he heard someone stop outside.  Carank held his breath, hoping that the being on the other side of the door would help them.  A moment later the palm pad blinked. 

Success!

Carank pressed the palm pad and the door slid open.  He looked out into the corridor and saw that it was completely empty.  He didn’t see who rescued them.  Carank gathered up his clothing and personal items and helped Clowy do the same.

They left the room together.  Once in the hallway, Carank bent down and picked up the label.  He said, “I knew that someone wouldn’t be able to resist pressing a pad that says ‘Do not push’.” 

They exited the hotel and walked back to their own hotel.  They dropped their clothing in their respective rooms.  Remembering the clutter law, they folded and organized their laundry.  Once complete, Clowy contacted Lexxi, Ella, Lorano, and Admiral Solear and told everyone to meet them in atrium. 

Carank and Clowy were the last to enter the atrium.  Carank whistled softly, clearly impressed.  He hadn’t seen the gathering room since Fletcher Birdsong had painted it.  Carank looked around the room and finally announced, “It is certainly different.”

Ella responded, “Thank you.  The painting style is called a fresco.  My father started by removing the protective coating on the walls.  Then he painted very quickly, allowing the paint to soak into the wall before it dried.  You can see that it gives added depth to the painting and creates a natural three-dimensional effect.”

“How did he pick this particular subject?” Carank asked.

Ella said, “He wanted to paint something to honor the rediscoverers of Old Solaria.  I think it is rather cute.”

Carank replied, “Your father captured our likenesses very well.  I think the portrait of me is phenomenal.  However, I am a little surprised at the subject matter.”

Carank looked at it again.  On one wall Clowy was dressed in a traditional Altian wedding gown.  She was standing next to Lorano, who was dressed in a human inspired tuxedo.  There was a stark contrast between their outfits.  Both looked good, but they didn’t match.  But, somehow they did match at the same time.

He scanned the next wall.  Admiral Solear was wearing an Alliance Navy uniform and holding an Altian urn and an Advranki sea moss square.  Both items were traditional wedding accompaniments. 

The third wall showed Lexxi wearing a Solarian style wedding gown.  She was smiling and seemed genuinely enthused to be there.  Carank was dressed in a traditional Advranki groom’s outfit and was standing next to Lexxi. 

When taken in total, the scene depicted a double marriage; performed while honoring four vastly different cultures.  Carank summarized, “Well, it is certainly … something.”  Carank hoped that Ella didn’t notice the pause.

Ella smiled brightly and responded, “He named the masterpiece
Double Wedding
.”

Carank said, “What do you think about the fresco Admiral?”

Solear responded, “I agree with your assessment Carank.  I couldn’t have summarized it better.”

Carank described their harrowing kidnap, questioning, and escape. He summarized with, “We were lucky that they didn’t kidnap Lorano and that they didn’t question me.”

Lexxi replied, “Why, do you know the secret route to Earth?”

Carank replied, “No.  Neither Lorano nor I know the route.  However, we both have the starting coordinates memorized.  If the bad guys knew the starting point they could probably deduce the rest.”

Clowy asked, “Where is the starting point?”

Carank replied, “I’m sorry, it’s a secret.”

Ella asked, “Do we know who the bad guys are?”

Carank replied, “No, we don’t.  It was obvious that the two Solarians that kidnapped us were working for someone else, but I wasn’t able to determine who.”

Ella offered, “The Hiriculans.”

Lorano chimed in, “Possibly.  It could also be an Alliance Senator, a highly ranked Alliance Naval officer, or the Solarian government.  We just don’t know.”

Carank looked directly at Lorano and said, “We have to be very careful.  We know the location of too many planets.  Plus, the bad guys won’t make the same mistake again.”

Ella replied, “Speaking of Alliance Senators, what do you think about Senator Figur’s murder?”

Everyone stopped and stared at Ella.  Ella replied, “It has been on the news non-stop for the last hour or so.”

Everyone continued staring at Ella.  Frustrated, Ella said, “Computer, display the news broadcast on the monitor in the atrium.”

…Now playing…

They watched the entire 26 minute loop.  The broadcast included an overview by a news anchor, several views of the dead body, and Alliance Senator Frank’s impromptu news conference.  The anchor then reappeared and provided a quick recap.

The broadcast then switched to a 4-panel view of psychologists describing the impact of the situation.  The first gave his ‘expert’ opinion on the matter.  “The murder stemmed from watching too many Human television shows.  I warned everyone last year that if Solarians continue to watch these shows, then we will experience an increase in violence.  Now, a murder has occurred.  We need to ban all Human television shows and strictly enforce it.”

The program switched to the next expert.  He claimed it was a secret plot by the Hiriculans.  The third psychologist was convinced that it was a secret plot by the Advranki to discredit the Hiriculans and make them look bad.  The fourth, meanwhile, professed that the killer was simply defective in the head.

Carank spoke first, “Clowy and I were trapped a mere 3 rooms away from the murder.  The commotion from the rescue workers woke us.”

Lorano replied, “I find it hard to believe it was a coincidence.  Perhaps they interrogated Senator Figur as well and something went horribly wrong.”

Lexxi said, “Or you two were next in line for see-through holes in your chests.”

Lorano said, “The next big question is whether or not we report this to the authorities.”

Carank replied, “I don’t think that we should report it.  However, we need to take precautions to ensure that they do not kidnap us again.”

Lexxi said, “Well, we are stuck here as guests of honor for another 10 days.  We can’t leave or cancel any of our personal appearances.  It will look too suspicious.”

Lorano said, “Hopefully, they are satisfied that with the answer that Clowy gave them and won’t bother us again.”

Clowy asked, “Who are they?”

Lorano replied, “I’m sorry Clowy.  We just don’t know.”

Carank said, “We need to warn Victor and Crista.  They are certainly our kidnapper’s next target.”

Clowy composed a secret message and sent it to Victor.  She cleverly worded it so that only he would understand it.

Kolvak sighed loudly and walked slowly toward the
Sunflower
.  He noted that he had stopped walking entirely and restarted, but at a slower pace.  He sighed again.  At this rate he wouldn’t reach the ship until tomorrow.

He sighed again, and started walking a little faster, but not much.  Kolvak knew that he was being punished.  Further, he knew that in essence he deserved it.  During the press conference announcing that there were humans in the Conron system, Kolvak loudly proclaimed that he hoped that the Navy would send the humans to his station.

He remembered saying, “I’m not scared of them!  Bring them here and I will teach them how to properly fix a ship.”  He remembered saying it primarily because it had been recorded and replayed to him on four separate occasions.

Kolvak, and Advranki, was a lead engineer at the Conron Shipyard and Naval Depot.  His little speech had been in front of several other engineers and even the station commander.  He had made the boast to try to attract the attention a particular female.

Well, the Navy had in fact sent the
Sunflower
to the Conron Naval Depot.  In hindsight, there really was no other logical place for them to send it for refurbishment.  Also, they had assigned the humans to the station until the
Sunflower
was repaired.  In hindsight, there really was no other logical place to house them.

The boast didn’t impress the female.  Or perhaps the female in question simply wasn’t impressed by him.  Either way, the aforementioned female found him unimpressive. 

However, the boast did seem to impress the station commander.  The station commander took Kolvak at his word and put him in charge of making the
Sunflower
space-worthy and teaching the human crew how to fly it. 

Normally, the station commander ignored him.  Kolvak was surprised that the station commander even heard him this time. 

Or, more than likely, someone had replayed the message for the commander.  He wasn’t naming names, but if he was naming names, there were several names that he would in fact name.  He changed his mind and went ahead and named a few names for posterity’s sake. 

The delay allowed Shole (pronounced sho-lé’) to catch him.

(Yes, two syllables – sho-lé.  However, if you prefer to pronounce it shol then I suppose you’re allowed.)

Kolvak asked, “Are you sure you want to do this?”

Shole smiled, brushed her hair out of her face, and responded, “I signed the confidentiality agreement, didn’t I?”

Kolvak thought, I don’t know, did you?  How was he supposed to know whether or not she signed it?  It was after all confidential.  That was the point of a confidentially agreement.

He answered, “Everyone who volunteers to work with the Humans has to sign one.  They even have a secret code name for it, Project Civilization.”

Kolvak awaited her response to his joke.  He didn’t receive one so he said, “Project Civilization – Because this project is to try to civilize the Humans.”  He looked at her expectantly.  He hated explaining jokes. 

Shole replied, “I got it.  I’m just not sure what to do with it.”

Kolvak said, “Switching subjects, why do you want to work with the Humans?”

Kolvak expected her to say something like she enjoyed working with less enlightened species or she was a teacher at heart or some other platitude.  However, her answer surprised him.

Shole said, “There are too many mysteries surrounding the Humans and I want answers.”

“Like what?” Kolvak questioned.

Shole: “The Alliance government said that the Humans have been in Conron this whole time, yet we haven’t seen or heard from them until now.”

Kolvak: “They were hiding them in secret.  Secretly.  If they were hiding them in public like they are doing now, then it wouldn’t have been a secret.”  Kolvak shook his head.

Shole continued unabated, “I spoke to a friend stationed on the
Dandelion.
She implied that the Humans have been on the
Sunflower
the whole time.”

Suddenly interested, Kolvak stopped and turned to face her.  He said, “Implied?”

Shole answered, “She wasn’t allowed to discuss it.  Apparently, the entire crew of the
Dandelion
was sworn to secrecy concerning the Humans.”

Kolvak: “You keep saying
Dandelion
.  I thought we were discussing the
Sunflower
.” 

Shole: “Exactly.  After the battle in Hepitila, commander Arean was promoted to captain and he and the entire crew of the
Sunflower
transferred to the
Dandelion
.”

Kolvak was getting slightly frustrated.  Shole was clearly trying to tell him something, but either she wasn’t being clear or he was being dense.  He replied, “Okay, so the existing crew was reassigned after the battle.  Who replaced them?”

Shole said, “I asked.  The response was a group of Solarian volunteers.”

Kolvak replied, “I didn’t think that there were enough Solarian volunteers to fill a…”  Kolvak’s brain engaged at the exact same time his mouth disengaged.  He finally understood what she was implying; the humans have been on the
Sunflower
the whole time.

They walked the final few paces and entered the flight deck.  The edges of the hangar were packed with equipment.  There were 40 brand new fighters parked in 10 perfectly spaced rows of 4 planes each.  They approached the nearest one and stopped.

Kolvak asked, “I wonder why they need 40?  Further, why aren’t 20 of them being stored in the hangar?”

“There are,” came a mystery response from nowhere.  An actual living, breathing human stepped out from behind the fighter.

Both Shole and Kolvak jumped backward.  Kolvak recovered and stared at the being in front of him.  The being was huge.  He was at least a head taller and much broader than any Advranki.  The human female at the press conference was bigger than everyone around her, but not that much bigger.

Kolvak had dismissed the stories that a human could kill an Advranki with a single punch.  Now he rapidly reassessed them.  It was clear that the stories were true.  The being was huge. 

Kolvak recovered somewhat.  The being wasn’t attacking them or acting aggressively.  In fact, he was standing still.  Kolvak said, “What?”

The human said, “There are 20 fighters stored in the elevator.  There are 70 total fighters aboard the ship.  Oh, and welcome to the
Sunflower
.”

Kolvak replied, “We are here to perform an engineering assessment and properly repair all of the systems.”

The human replied, “Welcome.  We appreciate the help.”  He grabbed his communication pad and said, “Computer, locate Colin O’Neal and have him report to the flight deck immediately.”

Colin gave the two Advranki engineers a full tour of the ship.  He showed them the checkerboard floor, the manual ion cannon opening, the Hiriculan ion cannon, the different colored hull, the myriad of wires strung throughout the ship, the severed trunk line, and finally the Hiriculan power generator and what was left of engineering.

“Well, what do you think?” Colin O’Neal summarized.

Kolvak said, “I am shocked that you were able to repair the ship at all, let alone in deep space.”

Shole said, “Tell me again what happened when you wired the Hiriculan panels into engineering.”

Colin replied, “The Hiriculan replacement engineering panels ran the Hiriculan power generator perfectly.  However, sometimes it acted a little flaky when we…”  Colin noted the weird expression on the Kolvak’s face.  Colin surmised that flaky wasn’t used that way in Alliance basic.

He started over, “Sometimes the Hiriculan panel gives erroneous or perhaps sub-optimal responses when we used it to try to control the other systems in the ship.  After a while, we only used the Hiriculan panel to control the power generator and the Alliance panel to control every other system.”

Kolvak studied the manual and reviewed multiple diagnostic screens.  He could read Hiriculan with some degree of proficiency.  Eventually, he said, “I think your solution was the correct one.  The systems aren’t as compatible as we thought.”

Shole asked, “Why not?”

Kolvak answered, “The Alliance computer processors have 4 states: yes, no, maybe, and probably.  We can combine maybe and probably and get a 5
th
state called perhaps.  The Hiriculan processors also have 4 states, but they use yes, no, maybe, and perhaps.  They combine maybe and perhaps to ascertain probably.”

Shole continued, “So the system got confused when it was expecting probably and instead received perhaps.”

“Possibly,” Kolvak answered.

Colin said, “How do we fix it?”

Kolvak responded, “First, we will replace all of the Hiriculan panels with Alliance ones.  Then, I will create a subroutine that can convert probably to perhaps when working on the power generator.  We will make all of the changes tomorrow.”

Colin asked, “Will that work?”

Kolvak replied, “Potentially.  However, it is plausible that it won’t.  We will leave a Hiriculan panel in stores just in case.”

…………………

Kolvak and Shole were among a total of 5 Advranki engineers who were daring enough to step foot on the
Sunflower
over the course of the next 9 days.  True to his word, Kolvak and his small team showed the humans how to properly fix each of the ship’s systems.

Colin made certain that any time an Advranki was aboard, s/he wasn’t surrounded by humans.  The Advranki seemed to be able to handle seeing and talking to one human or perhaps two at most, but they became very nervous when they were in a crowd.

“There,” Shole announced, “The ion cannon power distribution sub-system has been calibrated and verified for proper functionality.”

Their work done for the day, Colin escorted them off of the ship.  Colin waved goodbye to Shole and followed Kolvak to a class room a few paces inside the space station. 

Colin laughed at the relative insanity of the situation.  The humans were technically full members of the Alliance Navy, so the Advranki could no longer keep them trapped behind force fields.  Therefore, they had been given free run of the entire space station.  Unfortunately, the entire station, with the exception of 8 rooms in very close proximity to
Sunflower’s
berth, was currently closed for renovation.

Colin took a seat next Becky and waved to the other 3 engineers.  Although the overwhelming majority of the station’s residents were avoiding the humans, the aforementioned 5 were training them on a wide variety of systems.

Most of the training focused on the fighters; specifically how to calibrate the power generators and how to maintain and repair most of the other systems.  In addition, Kolvak was teaching them basic math.

Kolvak said, “Okay class, last time we left off with using the exponential function to predict mean time to failure given the variables of hours of continuous use, polonium levels, and deuterium concentration.  Now, we are going to complete the equation by overlaying the lognormal function to get a combined function that can model the…”

……………….

The
Vista
exited hyperspace in between the two forts guarding the now (supposedly) defunct hyperspace lane between Conron and Earth.  Crista exclaimed, “Another perfect jump; we are in the exact center of the lane and exactly where we are supposed to be.”

Victor said, “We are being hailed by traffic control.  Computer, establish connection and display the passive scan on the monitor.”

The traffic control function for this quadrant of the Conron system was handled by one of the two forts guarding the Conron – Earth hyperspace lane.  Victor watched the monitor as both forts made a rapid spin to face them. 

He continued watching as the forts stabilized for a minute.  Only one ion cannon was required to pulverize the ship, but now all 32 combined ion cannons were pointed directly at the
Vista
.  Victor had been threatened by the asteroid in the past, but this time traffic control did not bother him.

…Connection established.  Now uploading our transponder information.  Complete.  Traffic control is inquiring about our destination…

Victor set a course for the Conron Naval Supply and Depot at .06 light.  He engaged the sub-light engines.  He said, “Computer, communicate our course and speed to traffic control.”

…Complete.  Now downloading the top news updates and communications.  There are two news stories marked urgent.  Also, you have an email from Amy Weisman marked urgent, a second marked more urgent, and a third marked super urgent.  You also have an email from an Altian named Clowy marked ‘hair accessories’…

Victor found that extremely weird.  In his lifetime, only a couple of news stories had been marked urgent.  Now, there were two waiting for them.  He said, “Computer, play the messages in the order they were received.”

…First message.  Victor, Crista, enjoy your vacation.  By the way, did you happen to see 16 of our employees disappear about the same time as you left...