“We cannot go back to how things were before the Screen,” Limex argued. “Every alliance member recognizes that. Why can’t we? Our homeworld is destroyed. Rebuilding it will not recapture its former glory. We must accept the reality as it exists now, rather than pining for a life gone cycles ago.”
Jumix realized they would continue to argue without agreeing to anything. It would do nothing to improve their situation. “Very well, I must accept your point of view. You must do what you feel is best for us.”
Limex was surprised at how conciliatory he had become. Jumix always argued his stance if he firmly believed in it. But it had been a long day. Perhaps they all needed time to assess things.
“We will talk in the morning and come to a consensus,” Limex offered. “I would like us to be on a united front before addressing the others.”
“Very well,” Jumix said as he put his wrists together. “I will see you in the morning.”
Limex put her wrists together as he left. It would be difficult convincing the others to be patient looking for a new world. Maybe she had worn Jumix down enough to get him to accept her way of thinking.
Outside, Jumix took his time walking back to his quarters. He knew it was a long shot convincing Limex that they should return to homeworld. Unlike the others, she had become enamored by life on this ship and all the luxuries it offered. But Jumix was resentful, as were many of his brethren. They only saw the other aliens as being arrogant, flaunting their good fortunes. It was an insult to the Cresorians. They were no better off since the Screen were defeated.
If they were to leave PHOENIX, they had to leave united. But if Limex wanted to stay, there would be a few others who would stay as well. No, he had to force her hand. He needed to force Limex to tell the others that they needed to leave the ship.
“Computer, I would like to request a private meeting with Ben Ravarius Attorney. Is he free?”
“His schedule shows he is free at 1430 hours tomorrow,” Vish replied.
“That is acceptable. Send him my request.”
“Acknowledged. I will notify you when he has agreed to the meeting.”
Jumix was satisfied. He knew what needed to be done. It was for the good of his people.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
John didn’t sleep well. His mind raced with the events of the past twenty-four hours. With the Palmroid planet rendered uninhabitable, they were back to square one finding the Cresorians a new home. On top of that, they still had the hostile Cresorian ship out there. The DUDOS captain sent repeated communications to PHOENIX declaring he would pursue them until he got his people back. They hadn’t replied to him at all. What was the point? John realized nothing he said would convince Buinox to abandon his mission.
As John got himself ready for the staff meeting, he went over some recent status reports. It seemed the Palmroids were unfamiliar with having personal residences. When they were shown some quarters, they protested at having to live in such confinement (the crew working with them did explain they were free to come and go from their quarters as they pleased). But it seemed the insectoid aliens were used to living freely underground. They had no need for their own quarters, wanting to live throughout the ship. They were so small and, with only a few thousand of them, it wasn’t a logistical issue. This morning Sally would issue a ship-wide announcement letting the crew know about the Palmroids living situation.
Although recent events were unfortunate, they distracted John from thinking too much about Andre. The captain considered going to Andre’s quarters and going through his personal effects, but he realized he wasn’t ready yet. He needed more time to process what his friend had done.
Before heading to the meeting, John took the time to sit out on his balcony and enjoy the view of Central. He didn’t do this often enough. It was a great way to clear his mind.
“Here is your breakfast,” X said as he set the plate on the small patio table. “Will you be home for lunch?”
“Doesn’t look that way,” John replied. “I suspect it’s going to be a full day for me.”
“If you want this unit present with you throughout the day, let me know.”
“Thanks.” John smiled as he watched X go back inside. He appreciated the bot’s offer and willingness to look out for him. X was the last link to John’s childhood. He was grateful he had him here.
Just then a Palmroid appeared and perched itself on the balcony handrail. The creature didn’t say anything right away. It appeared to be checking out John and his breakfast.
“Hello there,” John greeted.
“Why is the organic material in front of you generating so much heat?” the Palmroid asked.
“You mean my breakfast? We sometimes heat our food.”
“Why? Is it poisonous?”
“No, we just sometimes like to eat cooked food,” John replied. “Do you not prepare your food?”
“We eat the vegetative matter that grow in the tunnels. We have no concept of altering what we consume to make it more appealing.”
“One less complication to deal with,” John quipped. “I’m Captain John Roberts,” he said, assuming the alien didn’t know who he was.
The Palmroid hopped off the handrail and flew up to the captain’s face. “You speak for all individuals on this ship?”
“Well, I don’t necessarily speak for everyone,” John clarified. “I’m the leader of this vessel.”
“Yes, Captain Olson and others have explained the concept of singular leadership to us. It is very strange, but fascinating. I am Goi.” The Palmroid flew around John in circles a couple of times. “I am trying to identify what traits you have that would distinguish you from others of your kind to justify your appointment as permanent leader.”
“Being a leader isn’t a result of physical traits,” John tried to explain. “There’s more to it. Your accomplishments, how you inspire others, your ability to speak for many voices who may not agree with you.”
Goi landed on the patio table. “You operate differently from my kind. It will take time to learn more about you.”
“How have you been settling on the ship?” John asked.
“We are finding it not difficult to adapt to your ship. Everyone has been patient with us,” Goi replied.
“I wasn’t asking about all the Palmroids. I was asking how you’re doing?”
Goi was perplexed by the captain’s question. “My kind operates for the collective well-being of each other. We do not concern ourselves with our own needs.”
“The crew operates as a collective as well,” John explained. “We work together for the well-being of the ship, but everyone here has their own goals they work towards to be happy.”
Goi cocked his head as he considered what John said. “I find it difficult that one could have their own needs while working for the benefit of others. Does that not get…confusing?”
“It can get complicated,” John admitted. “But that’s how we work here. When you’ve spent more time here getting to know people, you’ll see.”
“Vish to Captain Roberts. You are thirty minutes from the start of the staff meeting.”
John got up from his seat. “I’ve got a meeting to go to. It was nice talking with you.” He headed into his apartment, not realizing Goi was following him.
“John, the Palmroid is behind you,” X pointed out.
John turned to the Palmroid. “I’m heading to a meeting of the senior staff only.”
“For what purpose?” Goi asked.
“We’re going to talk about some pressing issues. I need to get some ideas about how to handle them.”
“I will come with you. It will be a good opportunity for me to observe how you interact with one another on this ship,” Goi stated.
John was about to explain again that the meeting was for only senior staff members, but he didn’t have it in him to get into a prolonged explanation. “Fine, come on.”
********
Goi wasn’t the only Palmroid at the st
aff meeting. Yuto and Noa were also there. Julie invited them, figuring transparency might go a long way in easing the Palmroids integration to ship life. The three insectoids hovered above everyone as the meeting took place. There was one item on the agenda that was tabled to the next meeting because of their presence. It was a report regarding them.
Sally had put together a report from crewmembers reporting unusual occurrences with the Palmroids. They were minor things: Palmroids helping themselves to people’s food at restaurants, following people into their quarters. There was one report of a Palmroid watching a human female crewmember showering. It was clear the aliens needed to learn some basic social norms that were customary on the ship. John sent Sally a private note asking her to solicit volunteers to help educate the Palmroids.
“What’s the latest on the DUDOS?” John asked.
“They stopped transmitting to us at 0343 hours,” Bret reported.
“They’re still holding position near us,” Tim added. “They haven’t activated any weapons.”
Although he already knew the answer, he felt he still needed to ask. “Is there any possibility of restoring the planet’s atmosphere?”
“Our scientists went over the data all night,” Julie replied. “They’re adamant that the effect’s irreversible.”
“Even if the atmosphere could be restored, we cannot send the Cresorians down there with the DUDOS present,” Korifluxinina pointed out. “Is there a plan in place regarding them?”
“No,” John admitted. He was trying to come up with some diplomatic solution. So far, he had nothing. “How are the Cresorians on board doing?”
“No disturbances from them at all,” Chief Davers replied. “They’ve been good.”
“Limex and I are meeting the entire group later this morning,” Ben said. “She’s going to tell them that they’ll have to remain on PHOENIX until we can find them another planet.”
“Such a plan is irrelevant with the DUDOS,” Korifluxinina added. “They will destroy any new planet we find. Any plan that involves locating a new planet is futile with that ship out there.”
It was an unfortunate fact that couldn’t be ignored. Any plan short of sending the Cresorians back to their homeworld would be blocked by Buinox. They had to come up with a way to get them to abandon their mission.
Suddenly, the sounds of blasts could be heard. Vish came over the board room’s speakers. “Multiple impacts on PHOENIX’s shields.”
“Roberts to command deck, what’s going on?”
“The DUDOS has opened fire on us,” the duty officer reported. “Shields are holding. There’s no threat of them penetrating our defenses. We’re estimating they’re using sixty percent of their available weapons to attack.”
“Something’s riled them up.” John rolled his eyes and got up. It was clear none of the staff had any new insight on how to deal with the DUDOS. “Meeting adjourned.”
Goi flew down and settled on John’s shoulder as the staff filed out of the board room. “There did not appear much interaction among your people that resulted in new information.”
“We’re dealing with a tough situation,” John replied.
********
The senior officers arrived on the command deck greeted by the continued sounds of weapons blasts hitting the ship’s shields.
“Report,” John requested as everyone got to their stations. Goi remained on his shoulder, curious to everything that was happening. Yuto and Noa were flying around the command deck. Julie figured they would come along and notified the command deck staff that it was okay.
“Shields are holding,” Tim reported as he checked the readings from his station.
“Ship systems are showing no damage,” Shelly added.
“Have you tried contacting them?” Julie asked.
“We have made several attempts since they began firing,” Rudov replied. “They will not respond.”
“They might answer if they hear from you,” Julie suggested to John.
“Works for me. Open a channel to the DUDOS,” John ordered.
“Channel open,” Bret said.
“This is Captain Roberts. I’d order you to cease your attack on my ship, but as you probably have figured out, your weapons are ineffective. You can deplete your energy resources and continue firing or stop and talk to us.” John couldn’t help but be sarcastic. He felt any goodwill towards Buinox would be pointless.
“Transmission coming in from the DUDOS. It’s Buinox,” Bret reported.
The image of Buinox appeared over the operations table. “John Captain, I demand you return our people immediately. As captured enemy combatants, they are to be returned to us unless they possess vital tactical information that would serve your purpose during this time of war.”
Buinox’s statement alarmed John. “Hold on! No one’s at war here.”
“Incorrect,” Buinox countered. “At huip meke arb the Cresorian government officially declared war on all alliance races for kidnapping and holding our people hostage.”
John motioned for Bret to mute the transmission. He then looked at Julie. “He’s lying. I can’t accept that the Cresorians would declare war on the entire alliance.”
“He could be making it up,” Julie postulated. “But TERRA has no way of telling us since they don’t know where we’re at.”
“Cresorian communication technology is superior to ours,” Korifluxinina stated. “It is possible they have maintained real time contact with their homeworld.”
John couldn’t fathom the Cresorians going to war over thirty-eight individuals. It would be preposterous. They were in no position to wage war with anyone. None of this made any sense.
“Open channel,” John ordered. “Buinox, I’ve received no notification that a declaration of war has been made. Even if that were true, it changes nothing. The Cresorians on this ship have made it clear they don’t want to return to their homeworld. They remain on this ship of their own free will.”
The image of Buinox disappeared. “The transmission has been terminated on their end,” Rudov reported.
“Guess he didn’t like what you said,” Julie remarked.
“Bret, send a communication to TERRA,” John requested. “I want to know if it’s true.”
“We’re pretty far out,” Bret said. “It could take time to get an answer.”
“Do it,” John reiterated. Noa and Yuto, who had been hovering high above the command deck, descended onto the operations table.
“You allow Cresorians to stay on your vessel when their very own are trying to harm you?” Noa asked.
Before John or Julie could reply, Goi spoke up. “Captain Roberts explained to me how individuals work as a collective but still have their own personal needs. I believe we are witnessing that phenomenon now.”
“It is disconcerting to operate in such a manner,” Noa remarked.
“From what I have witnessed on this vessel, it would seem such contradictory actions are normal,” Yuto observed. “Perhaps they need to function in this manner to thrive.”
Suddenly, the sounds of weapons fire could be heard again. “It would seem the Cresorian vessel captain did not listen to you,” Goi said to John.
“What do you intend to do?” Korifluxinina asked.
John shook his head. He couldn’t believe how stubborn Buinox was being. “We’re in no danger. We’ll hold position for now. I want to wait and see what our Cresorian guests have to say about this latest development.”
********
The meeting with the Cresorians was heated. Most of it consisted of yelling and accusations being thrown around. Some accused Limex of conspiring with the PHOENIX crew to sabotage the planet to keep them on board. Others blamed the DUDOS, fearful they ultimately would be returned home as slaves, or even executed. It took almost an hour for Limex and Ben to get everyone calm enough to explain the latest developments. No one seemed enthused with the idea of staying on PHOENIX. But everyone agreed on one thing, the presence of the DUDOS serv
ed as a continued threat to whatever plans they came up with.
When the meeting was done, Ben retreated to his quarters for a quick nap. He was exhausted and wanted to sleep the rest of the day, but with the DUDOS firing on PHOENIX, he assumed Captain Roberts would be calling on him.
The nap was restless. He tossed and turned on the couch as he couldn’t clear his mind. Realizing he couldn’t sleep, he went over some legal briefs. It was a pleasant distraction focusing on something else besides the Cresorians.
“Computer, what time is it?” Ben asked.
“It is 1437 hours,” Vish replied.
Ben realized he missed his meeting with Jumix. He forgot to tell the ship computer to remind him of it. He started scrabbling for his shoes when the door chime rang.
“Who is it?” Ben asked.
“Jumix.”
“Come in.” As the door opened and Jumix entered, Raz began to apologize. “I’m so sorry. I lost track of time.”
“It is of no matter,” replied Jumix. “This location will serve my purpose just as well.”
Ben assumed he was fine with having their meeting here. He turned and looked around for his DAT. “I know a lot was discussed at this morning’s meeting. I have a couple of ideas…”
Ben stopped talking when he felt a sharp pain in his side. He looked down to see a knife protruding out of him, held by a furry hand. Blood already began oozing out as another furry hand wrapped around his throat.
“Now you will make a call for me,” was all Jumix whispered in his ear.
********
Julie was sitting in a booth at Smitty’s, waiting for Mitchell to come up from engineering to meet her for a very late lunch. She tried to get John to go to lunch with her, but he wanted to remain on the command deck as long as the DUDOS continued firing on the ship. With most departments on elevated alert, Mitchell was busy in engineering. He managed to get some time away to see his wife. It helped to be married to the executive officer.
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