The Solarian Celebration: Book 3 of the Alliance Conflict (35 page)

Prued’mo forced herself to carefully and completely test the remaining samples.  Her colleagues may not have gotten suspicious about her other weird behavior over the last two hours, but they would certainly notice if she took a shortcut.  This cargo was destined for the station’s food supply after all.

What seemed like an eternity later, Prued’mo tested the last piece of fruit and declared both mini-freighters okay.  She sighed with relief.  The ship’s crew hadn’t returned yet.  Nor had the unloading crew.

She looked at one of her coworkers and said, “We’re done.  Go ahead and contact the unloading crew as we are walking back to headquarters.”

She started pushing the cart back to the food inspection headquarters.  She had taken about three steps when she suddenly stopped and patted her chest.  She then reached her hands in all of her pockets and pulled them back out.  She made a very strange expression and lowered her ear stalks in embarrassment.

One of her coworkers asked, “What’s wrong?”

Prued’mo shook her head and said, “Sorry, I must have dropped my portable scale in the mini-freighter.  I will go back and get it.  You two take the cart back for me.”

Her coworker said, “We can help you look.”

Prued’mo responded, “No, it is my fault, I will find it.  Besides, it is the end of our shift.  You don’t want to be late for your dinner date.”

She thanked them and raced back to the mini-freighter.  She knew that she didn’t have much time.  She could hear the unloading crew coming up the corridor.  She reached the mini-freighter and ran down the main hold to the crew compartment doorway.  She bent down and retrieved her lost tool.

She then opened the door, entered, closed the door, grabbed her bag, and walked to the ship’s control room.  She stopped and peeked around the corner to ensure that no one was present.  She giggled when she realized that the computer had already told her that the ship was empty.

“It never hurts to be too cautious,” she counseled herself.

Prued’mo realized that she was stalling.  She shrugged the final bit of apprehension away and walked into the control room.  She walked past the actual controls and directly to where the cryostasis tubes should be located.  She looked around and couldn’t find them. 

She panicked and turned to flee.  The cryotubes were the central part of her escape plan.  If this particular ship didn’t have any then she was going to be caught trespassing very soon.  She turned back, took a few deep breaths, and finally realized that the tubes were hidden by a curtain.

She walked to the curtain and pulled it back a little bit.  She let out a huge sigh of relief when she saw the two unoccupied tubes.  She opened the first and threw her bag inside.  She then tossed the scale on top of it.  She closed the pod without activating it.

She took a step left and activated the other cryostasis tube.  She accessed the control screen and created a freezing profile for a Hiriculan.  “No problem,” she said as she verified that the cryostasis chamber accepted the new configuration and allowed her to choose Hiriculan from the selection screen.

However, she realized that she had a small problem.  She couldn’t attach her communication pad to the tube.  That meant the only way to set an automatic wake-up was through the ship’s computer. 

At the moment she doubted that the computer would inform the owner of her presence.  However, if she gave it a direct command such as ‘Wake me when we reach Solaria’ it would almost certainly tell the ship’s owner. 

She searched the tube’s controls for an alternative waking method and found one.  She was able to set a timer to wake her after a certain number of hours.  She roughly calculated the number of hours she thought it should take the mini-freighter to return to Solaria.  She plugged the number into the tube’s controller. 

“Good-night,” she said to herself and climbed into the tube.  She tried to fasten the strap by herself, but she couldn’t.  Oh well, she thought.  She was willing to risk stumbling out of a tube for a chance at freedom.

She pressed the button and the cryostasis tube activated and she fell into a deep, suspended animation slumber.

…………………….

The two mini-freighters jumped back to Opron.  They micro jumped around the rest of the system and then had an uneventful 6 hour jump to Netron.  Once again they micro jumped around the outskirts of the Netron system to the Netron – Hiricula hyperspace lane.

There were 4 Hiriculan warships guarding the entrance to the lane.  Jack forwarded their shipping contact and they were allowed to pass without incident.  They then completed the 6 hour jump to Hiricula and the 5 hour real time flight from the jump point to the planet.

Jack contacted traffic control and received clearance to land at the main commercial spaceport in the capital city Dermatoma.  The two ships were given adjoining landing pads. Jack reached the upper edge of the atmosphere and slowed to nearly a crawl.  Jack instructed Victor to do the same.

Jack had heard rumors that the authorities wrote violations to anyone that flew too quickly through the atmosphere.  He hated the concept of receiving a fine for traversing too rapidly through a particular area. 

He cautiously flew down through the atmosphere, located his landing pad, and landed.  Jack couldn’t believe the spot they were given.  They had bypassed every story of the spaceport and had landed on the actual surface of the planet.  This was the first time, well not counting Earth, where he had landed on the actual surface of a planet.

The Hiriculans, of course, were waiting for Victor when he landed.  Jack too for that matter.  There were roughly 20 beings waiting for them at the edge of the platform.

Victor opened the hatchway across from the control room stood at the top of the ramp for a moment.  Crista joined him and together they walked down the short ramp to the landing platform and waited a few moments for Jack to join them.  They then walked over to the waiting entourage.

Two beings separated themselves and greeted the trio.  Jack was surprised that one of them was a Solarian female.  Jack performed his impression of the traditional Hiriculan greeting.  The crowd clapped and returned the gesture.

The first said in perfect Alliance basic, “Hello, I am Stavot’ne, or Stane in Alliance basic.  I am impressed that you have studied our culture.  Your greeting looked very good.”

“Thank you,” Jack replied.

The Solarian said, “Hello everyone, my name is Luna Owlhoots.  I am the Solarian ambassador to Hiricula.”

Crista responded, “Wow, I can’t believe someone as important as you are took the time to welcome us.” 

That was what Crista said, but the context may be unclear.  Crista looked at Luna from head to toe.  She didn’t like the other woman’s shoes; she thought her clothing was out of style, and she thought Luna was wearing too much make-up. 

Further, she thought that Luna’s hair looked too perfect.  She wondered if Luna had it enhanced with an Altian hair implant.  In summary, Crista took an immediate and utter dislike to the other women. 

Now: Crista responded, “Wow, I can’t believe someone as important as you are took the time to welcome us.”

Luna laughed.  Somehow she managed to make the laugh look both graceful and casual.  A genuine smile remained on her face afterward.  Her beautiful, long black hair swayed back and forth as she did so.  “Well,” she replied, “We rarely get visitors from Solaria here.  I couldn’t pass up the chance to meet you three esteemed guests.”

Stavot’ne said, “These fine beings behind me will load the cargo onto your ship.  However, it will take them several hours to complete.  Please join us for lunch and a tour of the city.”

Both Jack and Victor retracted the entry ramp and locked the crew cabins.  They then opened the primary and secondary holds.  Once complete, Luna swooped in close to Victor and put her arm through his.  She led him toward the waiting ground car.  She turned back and smiled at Crista.

The ground car was huge.  All five of them climbed into the back portion and took a seat.  There was plenty of room to spare inside.  Luna offered each of them champagne and insisted on serving everyone.  When she served Crista, she said, “I like your necklace, it looks handmade.”

Crista replied, “Thank you.  It is a one of a kind collar made by an up-and-coming fashion designer.  And you, your outfit certainly suits you.”

As they started driving, Luna asked, “I couldn’t help but notice, why are all three of you wearing make-up?”

Jack pulled his sleeve up a little and showed white skin.  Victor did the same.  Crista just smiled, denying Luna any type of answer.

Luna responded, “Three white Solarians.  This definitely requires a story.”

Victor responded before Jack could.  He replied, “We were part of the team that recently traveled to Earth to perform the semi-century evaluation of the Humans.  We had to bleach our skin white so that we could pass as natives to the casual observer.”

Stane replied, “That must have been an adventure.  Weren’t you scared that you would get eaten?”

Victor said, “That is something of a myth.  They don’t actually eat other races.  Kill them on sight as violently as possible yes, but not eat.”

Luna replied, “Well, that is certainly a relief.”

Stane said, “I saw on the news that you brought some of them back with you for further evaluation.  Do you think they will ever join the Alliance?”

Victor replied, “Maybe someday.  Probably not in my lifetime though.  They are far too violent and xenophobic for civilized society.”

The car drove through the city.  They approached an interesting structure and the car stopped in front of it.  The driver boldly double parked directly in front of it.  Stane identified it as the commerce center.  The building was probably 90 stories tall and had smooth, graceful lines.  It was one of the most impressive buildings that Victor had ever seen.  They got out and took a brief tour of the area. 

They posed on the stairs and had Stane take their picture.  Luna of course was in the center of the picture with Jack and Victor on both sides.  Crista stood on the far side beside Victor.  She was happy that at least she wasn’t cropped out of the picture.

They stopped at several more places and drove past even more.  Finally, they stopped at another amazing looking building.  The driver again double parked and everyone got out.  This time they walked into the structure.  Jack immediately realized that it was a massive art gallery.

Stane gave them a guided tour through the main sections of the building.  Jack was impressed with the Hiriculan’s knowledge of art and culture.  He seemed to know the back history of every sculpture and painting that they passed.

Finally, they turned into a room and stopped walking.  This time, Stane didn’t say anything.  Jack looked at the three paintings on the far wall.  They were exquisite.  He quickly realized that he had seen other similar paintings - on Ella’s picture viewer.

Jack said, “I recognize that artist.  Those three were painted by the Solarian Fletcher Birdsong.”

Stavot’ne smiled and said, “You are correct.  You have excellent taste in Solarian art.”

Jack almost said that it was because he had spent weeks traveling with Fletcher’s daughter Ella, but stopped himself at the last moment.  If the Hiriculans wanted that particular piece of information, they would have to pay handsomely for it.

Jack instead replied, “Thank you.   I saw several of his paintings on display once.”

Stane led them to an attached dining room.  There was a very nice table waiting for them.  It was raised and overlooked a small park and reflection pool.  The view was stunning.  Jack commented, “Excellent spot Stane, you outdid yourself.”

Stane responded, “Thank you, but I am just a humble servant.”

Luna laughed and said, “You are too modest.”  She turned to Jack and said, “Stane is a member of the Third Council.”

Jack’s lack of response didn’t seem to match the importance of Luna’s statement.  Jack realized this and responded, “I’m sorry, I guess I am not familiar with Hiriculan politics.”

Stane smiled and said, “The Hiricula system is ruled at the top level by a 12 member High Council.  This esteemed body is roughly equivalent to the Alliance Senate.  However, there are a few key differences. The first is that each council member is voted to one 48 year term.  They cannot run for reelection or hold other public office when their term ends.” 

Luna helped, “Meaning that every four years one High Council member retires and there is an election for the vacated position.”

Stane said, “Correct.  However, the most recent retiree becomes the Ceremonial Master for the next 4 years.  Like the Alliance, the CM calls the meetings to order and presides over the discussions.  However, unlike the Alliance Senate, the Hiriculan CM is allowed to cast a deciding vote in the case of a 6 to 6 tie.”

Jack replied, “That actually makes sense.  The Alliance Senate is often tied at 4 to 4.”

Stane continued, “Like the Alliance Senate, the High Council’s primarily focuses on interplanetary issues.”

Victor said, “Implying that there are lower level councils?”

Stane smiled and said, “Correct.  There are 4 councils that focus on planetary issues.  The councils are numbered 1 – 4, but the numbers are based on geography, not relative importance.  These councils only contain 6 members each.  They are technically called Lower Councils, but everyone just refers to them by their number.  Lower Council members serve 8 years and are eligible to run for reelection.”