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Once Ray got over the surprise of Brian`s news, he instructed the computer to send all relevant newscasts to Brian Goddard, and to include a recording of all future transmissions in and out of the Defender. This would keep Brian Goddard completely up to date with the situation on this side of the galaxy.
Only then did Ray attempt to contact Tyler Burrows through the blocked portal, and much to the surprise and delight of both Ray and Jean Connors, he succeeded in making contact with Tyler.
“Tyler am I glad to get back in touch with you, I have so much news to tell you about the current situation.” Ray said, he sounded mightily relieved, as he was.
“We too have been busy Ray, we have Caroline and the children safe with us here, and we also have Marot Pallas with us, but the guys that kidnapped him are all dead, they were all eaten by some rather vicious dinosaurs down here. By the way, you were right about the portal, it does drain the energy from any Phaser weapon that passes through it, it was lucky for us that we had our antique weapons along with us. We have arrived at some kind of maintenance exit; there are some space suits down here so I assume that we will emerge on a planet without an atmosphere.” Tyler said.
“I`m afraid you will not emerge anywhere at the moment Tyler, a ship belonging to Ares Fortuna, the political rival to Marot Pallas, fired a Phaser weapon just a short while ago and brought down the rim of a crater onto the portal on this side, and buried it beneath a ton of rubble. A landing party had just returned through the portal, so I would imagine that it was in response to your safe arrival there.” Ray said glumly.
Tyler then called Marot Pallas across and told him of their situation, and the name of the man who had created their problem.
“Let me speak to your friend please, I can tell him who to contact to clear the landslide away from the portal.” Marot Pallas asked.
“Ok Marot, I will just inform Ray Connors, the man on the other end of this radio.”
Tyler then told Ray that Marot Pallas wanted to speak to him about getting help. Marot Pallas then came forward and spoke over the short wave radio that Tyler and his friends always used when operating away from home.
“Please contact Aswan Trajan through the space port authorities, they will know how to contact him, ask him to have my starship come to this moon with the necessary equipment to clear the way through, he is an old friend, and he is also a very capable man.” Marot Pallas instructed.
“We will do that after we have told Tyler the rest of our news, if you would please put him back on.” Tyler came back on the radio.
“Tyler it is imperative that you keep Marot safe, he is the only thing that is standing between peace and a new Heliot empire. Tyler the planet Helionia is more than likely the planet Heliot fifty thousand years on. The old planet of Heliot was destroyed by an attack that came across the depths of space from another planet in a nearby solar system, the Planet of the Light. It is believed by Brian Goddard, that Ares Fortuna may well be dead set on reviving the old Heliot nation, and one of his first acts might be to enact revenge against the Planet of the Light. However, prior to that he might want revenge against us and in particular you Tyler. It seems that another Helionian starship preceded the one that kidnapped your family, and they found out how you defeated the ancient Heliot army on Orion, and this ship was owned by Ares Fortuna.” Ray hoped that his friend would be able to accomplish all that was asked of him, it would sure take a lot of planning, and a lot of luck.
“Thank you Ray, maybe you should contact Aswan Trajan and get us all out of here. In the meantime I will speak to Marot about the new situation we find ourselves in.”
While Tyler filled Marot Pallas in about the demise of the space fleet of the old and unmissed Heliot nation, Ray Connors contacted Captain Lysenko, instead of the spaceport.
“Captain this is Ray Connors we have an urgent request to make, will you please ask Aswan Trajan to contact us immediately you get this message, for we have good news for him, Marot Pallas is safe, and so is Tyler Burrows and his family, but they desperately need his assistance to return to Helionia.”
Ray Connors then moved the Orion Defender to the surface of the moon about a mile from the portal with his cloaking device and defence shields turned on. After all the communications that had taken place you couldn`t be too careful.
Tyler Burrows moved Caroline to one side and told her of his conversation with Ray Connors.
“Darling it might be necessary to forego our planned revenge on Patina, the resurgence of the Heliot Empire is not something we can risk, everything possible must be done to prevent it happening, and it appears that Marot is the only person on Helionia to ensure that the ideals of the Heliot nation are not reborn once again on Helionia.” Tyler said grimly.
“Unfortunately what you say is too true Tyler, the chance of her crime losing Marot Pallas the election is too terrible a thing to contemplate, for if it should see the Heliot nation rise again then it would be our fault alone, but we needn`t tell her just yet, let her suffer a little while longer Tyler.”
Caroline saw that once again Tyler had looked at a situation and seen far beneath its surface to grasp hold of something hidden from all their eyes. His decision not to kill Patina Pallas was now so very important to the wellbeing of the galaxy, it could be that even he had not understood just why he had come to the decision, but having come to it, he went along with it until new evidence came in to prove him right or wrong.
Day 154 Helionia Calendar
The starship Swiftsure was despatched to Galafrey immediately, it arrived with a freighter full of mining and earth moving equipment, and this was soon unloaded from the freighter onto the surface of the moon. The men now started the long task of moving the rocks and dust to clear a way through to the portal.
Ray kept the Orion Defender fully cloaked and watched as the work quickly moved ahead. His reason for not disclosing his position was that he knew that not all of the people of Helionia would be quite so happy about the rescue mission that was taking place on the moon. He wanted to go unnoticed by all who may fall into that category, so that he could intervene at the crucial moment, if the situation arose.
Trial by Ordeal Page 25