by Don Koch
Chapter 20 - The Visit
# Mare Moscoviense #
# Monday, July 25 #
“Ok Pat, are you ready for this.”
“Yes but it is a bit scary and exciting at the same time. Aston feels we should power up to 50%. That is a lot of power.”
“I just hope we do not need it. After we power up, Aston will give us coordinates to the command ship. Love you Pat.”
They powered up to 50%, reinforced their shields and teleported to the super ship. They arrived undetected and wandered about with no alarms or other indications that the crew was aware of their presence. In one space, they found thousands of rounded containers that Pat surmised had to be individual stasis units. After doing rough section counts, they figured that there must be units for about a million persons. Aston confirmed the count.
Andy and Pat then went to the bridge where two of the Grell appeared to be arguing. They both had some kind of key on a lanyard about their neck. Andy decided to try something he had not previously attempted. He wanted to understand what was being said so he tuned into the mind of the individual that appeared to be in charge. He showed Pat how he had done it and she too was able to replicate the feat. Aston was listening in and passed the technique on to the rest. The problem was that the person in charge was arguing to start the long delayed invasion at that instant. The other person was strenuously opposed to the command. The argument continued with one individual refusing to put his key into the console with his commander. He also stated a number of reasons to continue the status quo. The commander then ordered the other person to give his key to a third officer observing the argument. The officer refused. The commander drew a pistol, shot and killed the other officer. He then handed the dead officers key to the third officer and proceeded toward the console that would relay the command to start the invasion. Before either officer could place a key in the console and without further hesitation, Andy essentially shouted mentally
The creature was visibly shaking and responded.
Ten minutes later the designated battleship melted into an amorphous blob. Nothing remained of it that was salvageable. An hour later a second ship was destroyed. All aboard that ship were permitted to escape before destruction.
A short while later, a six-man Grell scout ship attempted to reenter the system. Aston noted the presence of six Grell life forms attempting to hide in the wake of a comet and Andy teleported to the vessel. He assumed a semi-visible form and appeared in the vessel.
Andy invited Collum and his compadres to the ship for a visit. Collum was astounded by what he had seen and heard. The entire exercise had been broadcast to all Solarans. Aston had made a visual recording of the operation and wanted to release portions of it to the media on Earth.
Andy, Pat, Collum and Menna teleported to the bridge of the alien ship in invisible mode.
The four then found themselves back on their own ship.
When Raphael spoke with me he mentioned another associate by the name of Raguel. I was told that Raguel would be contacting us with information on the Sorza. Out of curiosity, I ran the three Slegna names Barachiel, Raphael and Raguel against our database because the names all sounded Judaic. I had an immediate hit. The three names are all the names of archangels. What is more interesting is the listed attributes or patronages of the three. Barachiel is the chief of Guardian Angels, Raphael is noted for healing and Raguel is noted for justice, fairness, harmony and vengeance against sinners. I am not saying that I believe we are dealing with archangels but I am saying that there is a relationship between those names and what we have experienced with the Slegna. It is just a bit eerie.>