The Solarian Celebration: Book 3 of the Alliance Conflict (33 page)

Lopeq’la could see that the crew was now far less demoralized over the stunning loss.  They now had a purpose because they were still part of a far reaching plan.  He knew that the crew would go along with his plan.  Now, he only needed to convince the Alliance cruiser.

.…………………….

Jim studied the main monitor and said, “We will be in missile range in another two minutes.  The battleship still hasn’t moved.”

Russ responded, “It certainly appears like they are just hoping we will float by.”

It certainly did.  Jim was about to order the fighter squadrons to peel off and attack the battleship when Shole said, “Captain, we are being hailed.”

Jim was about to respond when Shole said, “Correction.  They sent us a recorded message.  The computer has translated it to Alliance basic.”

Jim responded, “Play it on the main monitor.”

…Captain Solear, this is Admiral Lopeq’la.  Per section 21.5.13, sub-paragraph 11 of the Alliance – Hiricula treaty, this ship and its crewmembers formally request political asylum.  In exchange for this battleship and whatever information we can legally provide, we ask that we are allowed to settle on Solaria…

Jim looked at Russ.  Russ looked at Shole.  Shole looked at Colin.  Colin looked at Kolvak, who in turn looked at Jim. 

“Um,” Jim offered.

Kolvak replied, “We need a plan.”

Russ responded, “I vote we blow it up anyway.”

The computer interpreted that as a request for information and responded.

…The treaty specifically prohibits killing any being that has requested asylum… 

Jim asked, “Computer, is that section of the treaty really real?” 

…Your question is unclear.  There is a section 21.4.13 in the treaty…

Kolvak said, “I am reading that sub-paragraph now.  Apparently they can request asylum and we have to temporarily grant it.  Then, we hand them to Alliance officials and they will decide whether or not to accept their application.”

They quickly created a plan.  Jim called Paul Smith, the head of the marines, who was currently leading Third squadron.  He told him to land his squadron and come to the bridge.  He also told Kip to land Alpha squadron.  First squadron was still patrolling.  Kolvak and Shole both left the bridge to change their clothes.

Once Paul arrived, Jim told him the plan.  Paul summarized, “It isn’t a very good plan; we don’t get to blow anything up.”

Kolvak reentered the bridge wearing one of Solear’s captain uniforms.  Fortunately, he hadn’t converted all of them to admiral yet.  Kolvak walked across the bridge and sat in captain’s chair.  He looked at Jim and said, “Are you sure this will work?”

“Don’t worry,” Jim replied.  “They are expecting to see a male Advranki and you are a male Advranki.”

Russ commented, “I am sure that all Advranki look alike to the Hiriculans.”

Kolvak motioned to Russ to establish a connection to the enemy battleship. 

Kolvak said, “We have reviewed the treaty and accept you terms.  We are sending a transport containing 6 AAUs and a pilot.  When it arrives all personnel are to report to the secondary hangar.  Anyone found outside of the secondary hangar will be killed.  The pilot will assume control of the ship and will fly it to Conron.  Are these conditions understood and accepted?”

Less than a minute later they received a positive response.

Paul and the other 4 marines loaded their MPS suits onto one of the transports.  Next they loaded the remaining AAU into the transport.  They hadn’t yet replaced the one that they left on the Spindle Station.  However, they now had a conundrum.

Jake summarized, “We don’t fit.”

The marines huddled and discussed possible ways to fit the 6 suits and themselves into the transport.  The discussion quickly ended with one potential solution.

Paul said, “Okay men.  Everyone get into your MPS.”

They unloaded the AAU.  Then they unloaded the MPS suits.  Next, they put on the MPS suits.  After that, they loaded the AAU into the transport and climbed in around it.  It was very cramped, but at least they all fit.

Jake asked, “Who is going to fly this bird?”

A second marine asked immediately after, “Who is going to wear the AAU once we land?”

The marines again huddled and discussed possible ways to solve the new dilemma.  Again, the discussion quickly ended with one potential solution.

Paul sent out a general broadcast, “We need a volunteer to pilot the transport and the Hiriculan vessel and a short, thin person to wear the AAU while aboard it.”

The marines then unloaded the AAU.  Ace appeared from out of nowhere.  He entered the rear of the transport, walked through to the control room, and sat down at the pilot seat.  Ace gave a thumbs up that he was ready to go. 

The marines then reloaded the AAU laying on its side.  That way, someone could easily slide into the AAU after landing.  Next, they climbed back into the rear of the transport.  It was very cramped, but not quite as bad as before.

Kolvak entered the hangar bay with Becky walking closely beside him.  They walked to the rear of the transport and stopped.  Paul realized that there wasn’t enough room for them to walk through the rear of the transport and enter the control room. 

As a result, the marines again exited the vessel and allowed Becky and Kolvak to pass.  The marines reentered and took their usual positions. 

Becky said, “There has been a small change in the plans.  Kolvak doesn’t actually know how to fly a warship, so the Captain sent Ace to do it.  I am going to wear the AAU and assist if needed.”

Paul asked, “Becky, do you even know how to wear an AAU?”

Becky flashed him her middle finger.  She suddenly remembered her diversity training and accompanied the hand gesture with a smile.  She replied, “I just got certified.”

Ace donned the pilot’s cap and mentally linked to the transport.  He gracefully launched the transport from the main hangar and headed toward the battleship.  First squadron formed around the transport and gave them an escort.

Ace didn’t have to fly very far because the
Sunflower
had continued to fly toward the enemy battleship during the negotiation.  At this point the two warships were both at dead stops 200,000 kilometers from each other.  At .02 light the entire trip only took 30 seconds to complete. 

However, Ace stopped just short of the battleship and waited for the
Sunflower
to perform a quick scan of it.  Shole contacted the transport and told said, “There are 30 beings in the secondary hold.  There rest of the battleship appears to be empty.”

Paul didn’t like the information.  There were supposed to be 140 Hiriculans on a battleship.  Either they were missing 110 or they had somehow shielded themselves from a scan.  Either way, the marines were going to have to search the entire ship to be sure there was no one hiding somewhere.

Ace gracefully landed the transport in the exact center of the hangar bay right beside the door to the bridge.  Becky unstrapped and left the cockpit area.  She lay down and wiggled into the AAU.  Once she was secure, the marines opened the rear hatch and jumped out into the hangar. 

They spread out and searched the entire area.  It was completely empty.  One marine guarded each exit.  Paul then walked down the main corridor to the bridge.  It was open.  He took the electro lift up to the top floor and searched each level.  The bridge was empty.

Paul then guarded the corridor while Kolvak and Ace walked to the bridge.  Becky came slowly clopping after them in the bulky AAU.  They entered the bridge.  Kolvak translated the control panel beside the door and found the button to seal the bridge.

Kolvak announced, “This battleship is named the
Reckoning
.”

Now that the bridge was secure and locked, Becky exited the AAU.  She went to the engineering station.  Ace sat at the navigation station.  Kolvak gave him a tutorial on Hiriculan and he was soon able to fly the battleship.  In essence, it operated just like an Alliance warship.

Paul, Jake, and the other marines then searched the ship and verified that there were no other Hiriculans on the ship.

.…………………….

Shole announced, “We just received an update from the marines.  The ship is secure.  They confirmed that there are only 30 Hiriculans on board.  They are ready to go.”

Jim asked, “How about the
Sunflower
?”

Russ answered, “We have enough stored energy to activate the hyper drive.”

Jim contacted the
Reckoning
and said, “Ace, head to the hyperspace lane.  I want you to follow our path exactly and jump 5 minutes after us.”

The
Sunflower
and the
Reckoning
flew to the short distance to the Opron – Conron hyperspace lane.  Ace aligned the battleship perfectly behind the cruiser.

Russ said, “Hey, we just got mail from home.”

Jim replied, “That’s odd.  Emails aren’t due for another two days.”  He paused for a moment and said, “Well, who is it from?”

Russ replied, “There are 16 emails, one addressed to all of the new members.  The emails are from Amy Weisman, the president of Victory Games.”

Jim replied, “Well, what does Ms. Weisman want?”

Russ responded, “She just basically said hello.”  He paused for effect and added, “Oh, yeah, she also wants any information we may have on how to build a plasma reactor.”

Jim laughed and said, “Well, we have 8 hours to craft a fitting response.

Jim signaled to Russ and Ace.  Both ships jumped to Opron.

.…………………….

Admiral Lopeq’la let the return message play in Alliance basic.  He could speak the language, though very rarely did so.  He listed to the demands and accepted them almost immediately. 

Lopeq’la then had the computer translate and replay the message for those who didn’t understand it.  Everyone left the bridge to gather whatever personal belongings they needed for the next 8 hours. 

Captain Floop’la raced to his quarters and gathered a few belongings.  Before he left he said, “Computer, activate hostile takeover protocol.  Erase any and all non-essential files pertaining to this mission.  Erase all secret files.”

…Completed.  The only files remaining are standard logs and navigational info…

Lopeq’la also raced to his quarters and packed a few items in a carrying case.  He then headed directly to the infirmary.  Once there, he gathered a few specific drugs and medical instruments.  He then raced to the secondary hold.  The Alliance was about to land and he believed that they would kill him if he wasn’t where he was supposed to be.

When Admiral Lopeq’la arrived, Captain Floop’la announced that everyone was present.  They waited several long minutes.  Then the waited 30 more.  No one from the Alliance entered the secondary hangar bay.

Floop’la said, “Computer, did the Alliance transport land?”

…Yes.  The Alliance transport landed in the main hangar and several beings walked to the bridge.  The bridge is sealed and the battleship is under power and sailing toward the Opron – Conron hyperspace lane…

Floop’la was surprised that they were already moving.  He didn’t feel the usual jerk that occurs when a battleship first started moving.  He looked at Lopeq’la and said, “They must have a really good pilot.”

…We have now jumped to hyperspace…

Lopeq’la decided that waiting 50 minutes was long enough.  It was now clear that the no one from the Alliance was going to enter the secondary hangar bay and talk to them before they reached Conron.  It made sense he supposed. Cruisers don’t carry AAUs, meaning that Captain Solear was probably bluffing.  More than likely he just sent a bridge crew.

Lopeq’la wanted to prove himself right.  He took a few steps to the exit, but stopped.  He realized that it was probably better to assume that he was right versus being proven that he was wrong.  Instead, he gathered the medical equipment that he had collected and began assembling a triage unit.

He called Fruid’la and the 4 tug pilots over the medical apparatus.  Once assembled, he said, “When we arrive in Conron, we cannot talk about the first half our secret mission.”

One tug operator asked, “We can’t lie if questioned.  What do you expect us to do, forget about it?”

After a few chuckles, Admiral Lopeq’la said, “Yes.  He told the first pilot to lay down on the makeshift bed.  Lopeq’la administered three drugs and then attached a device to the other being’s head.  He verified that his vital signs were okay and that the device was functioning properly.

He said, “Remember when you first saw the object.”

The man did.  Lopeq’la identified the specific brain cell that held the memory and zapped it.  The device was extremely precise.  It killed the one cell that held that memory.

He said, “Remember when you got in the tug and pulled it out of the main hangar bay.”

The man did.  Lopeq’la identified the associated brain cell and zapped it.

He repeated the process several more times, asking the same questions in different fashions until the man could no longer remember anything about the object.