by David Buck
Everyone not part of the broadcast moved to the sides of the bridge, and Steve and Emeria flanked Captain Narindestat as he again sat in his command chair. Steve was still concerned on the absence of Garendestat, as he though he would at least be present on the sidelines for the second broadcast session.
‘Communications, give me the same human television frequencies we had earlier and also hail the Barus ship please.’
The view screen picture changed and now projected the smaller and different shaped bridge of the Barus research ship. In the command chair of the bridge, a sleek brown furred alien regarded the view it could see of the two Traders and the human on the bridge of the Trader ship. Steve was impressed again, and he idly wondered if all the aliens they would encounter would be taller than humans.
The Barus commander seemed more graceful than other larger Barus that must be males given their slender four metre high. So the Barus in the command chair must be female Steve concluded. He then noted that none of the Barus were as solidly built as the Trader crew. The long moment passed and the Barus commander finally spoke.
‘I am Commander Gindane and I am the captain of the Barus research ship in high orbit around your world. I understand and agree that this conference be conducted in English, as we also have nothing to hide. Now we have several concerns that we need to address, starting with your presence on the human world.’
The story of the Traders running into general problems and landing on Earth was mentioned by Captain Narindestat, but Gindane impatiently waved them aside.
‘Captain, I would like to know the specific reason for your initial landing in an Earth ocean and the death toll amongst your crew. I already have followed your earlier broadcast, I might add with considerable scepticism.’
Steve looked the Barus commander in the eye and made his first comment.
‘Commander, my name is Steve Greene and I represent the humans on this ship. My team and I have heard the full reasons for their underwater landing. I am satisfied with their explanation and will detail our observations to more senior human authorities this evening.’
Gindane did not like being side-tracked, though she did little to convey any annoyance as she tersely spoke again.
‘Human, even your presence on that ship is an affront to galactic law. The approval of your race is not relevant in any case due to the current haven state of your world. I suggest that your species clings to the status of haven world for as long as possible. Also you should know that a repeat of your missile attack on us would be most unwise, at least I am in agreement with the Trader captain in that regard. Now Captain Narindestat what is the direct cause of your presence on Earth? You must also know that no more obstruction will be accepted.’
The captain looked sideways at Steve and then looked back to the Barus commander. He then repeated the earlier edited story of the Voorde infestation he had told the humans. He sombrely included the death toll of thirty two amongst the Trader crew. Steve noted with considerable interest that the Barus female now paced the deck of her ship like a two legged lioness, as she in took all this detailed information.
Gindane paused for a moment, sat down again in her command chair, and then fired two barbed questions at the Trader captain.
‘Captain, you landed on a living haven world teeming with life and your ship was infested with Voorde scourge?’
‘Did you possibly consider for a moment the incredible risks you placed the humans and all the other species of the world under with your actions?’
The Trader captain was doing a commendable job of remaining calm as he answered in the affirmative to both questions. But Gindane was just getting around to warming up, and she launched another accusation.
‘Captain, your independent viewpoint led you to make a decision which is illegal from adherence to galactic edicts. Only the presence of your tattoos reassures me that you and your crew have not turned rogue.’
Steve now made his own views known, as he already had listened to enough of the Barus commander’s strong comments.
‘Firstly, Gindane my name is Steve not just human. I am a former commander among my people as well, so again not just human. We are only concerned with how the Traders are behaving on our planet as we cannot know of your edicts. We are satisfied as to the controls they used to minimise the risks even as they then eliminated the Voorde. We have witnessed no rogue behaviour from the Traders on our world.’
Steve watched as the Barus commander strode around the bridge of her ship again. She absentmindedly rubbed her brown furred arms repeatedly, as she considered her own reply and spoke again.
‘Steve, my apologies for any slight or insult. We ourselves are a race of administrators and researchers, though we do have an auxiliary military role as junior vassals in the Zronte hegemony controlling this part of the galaxy.’
Steve kept silent as Captain Narindestat spoke again quietly from his command chair.
‘To say you have an auxiliary role in the galaxies affairs is understating your case Gindane. Your race would have the fourth largest war fleet in this whole sector, despite your race being allowed to operate nothing larger than cruisers. We have also traded peacefully with your race for many centuries and it appears you are content to engage in that trade as long as it remains within the edicts. Once there is a problem with the edicts you are too keen to try to enforce them on us, rather than work with us to resolve the issue.’
Gindane was obviously now struggling to remain polite as she in turn replied.
‘Your ship and all the other Trader main ships are battle cruisers capable of taking down entire fleets, yet you hide behind the simple premise that you are peaceful traders. You know that we are bound by law as a vassal race and the law is not to be trifled with in terms of our responsibilities.’
Captain Narindestat gave Gindane a disarming smile over the link and ventured another statement.
‘To be more forthright Gindane, we also adhere where we can to the expansive set of edicts set by the Zronte, otherwise we would not be permitted to trade with you in this area of space. We are a victim of circumstance Gindane not deliberate law breakers. You could apply your own logic on your presence here and run into credibility problems due to the nature of the pandemic outbreak.’
Gindane seemed to be very upset with this statement, but merely kept to pacing the bridge on her own ship, before eventually again replying.
‘Narindestat, you omit to mention that you made a conscious decision to land on the human world with live Voorde and I find your line of reasoning to be specious. I repeat my call that you surrender your ship to galactic authorities upon leaving the world of the humans.’
Captain Narindestat looked at the Barus commander with great sadness.
‘We are not ready to leave for several days yet due to our repair and refuel requirements. I politely decline your call that we surrender. Now if you please excuse me I have to get back to work on the repairs to my ship.’
Steve watched impassively as the video conference was ended, and the image of Gindane disappeared from the large screen, before he then turned to speak to Captain Narindestat.
‘We seem to be running into more questions and I am sure we will talk about galactic politics again soon. For the record I think the human audience will be in your corner.’
The captain for his part sat still in his chair and kept silent.
***
Garendestat sat in his quarters after a shower and change, and worked on the new simulation he had devised this afternoon after working in the main cargo hold. His left arm pained him at the end of the day and he now took care to support it as he continued to work. He knew he would need to check the data set for the simulation with both the chief engineer and also the captain.
Both the older Traders had given him urgent duties during the day. He was still not entirely sure of his father’s rationale in dividing up all the new reactors, shields and guns. His team had then placed one set at the front of the hold, and ano
ther set in a locked smaller hold away from any watching eyes.
Garendestat now considered the actions of the Maveen lead probe again as his door chime rang. He let in Emeria, who gave him the briefest of hugs before sitting in one of his chairs. He noted both that she had bought a bag with her and she seemed flushed again. So he quietly reminded himself to watch his words and attitudes.
After the standard pleasantries were exhausted he spoke a bit about how the humans were going, and Emeria gave him an update on the two video conferences. They talked generally about the clever nature and resourcefulness of the humans, before another awkward silence came between them. He tried to stop himself looking at her restored tattoos. Emeria then asked if she could use his bathroom and walked off.
Garendestat turned back to now close down the simulation as he was getting very tired. As he sat back in his chair for a few moments, Emeria walked out of the bathroom carrying a wet towel. She was only wearing an ornate bridal wrap and a nervous smile. Garendestat stood and also felt very nervous as she calmly walked into his good arm. He looked down at her and asked her the question he had to know the answer on.
‘Emeria, I would be honoured if you would be my life mate and wife.’
Emeria smiled softly at him and gave him the formal reply.
‘Garendestat, I felt like something inside me died when you went overboard from the ship. I would be honoured if you would be my life mate and husband.’
She then handed him the towel and asked for him to wipe her face. Garendestat knew that this was part of an old and simple ritual. The new couple each symbolically wiped their new mate’s fixed tattoos to indicate that even their glimmer tattoos could not come between them. As he wiped the tattoos he could see that they actually came off in the wet towel. Garendestat looked in wonder at the towel and his new wife as she softly spoke.
‘The humans called it makeup. I could not let you suffer anymore so here I am. I saw what effect these tattoos had on you today.’
Emeria then took a clean part of the towel and wiped his already healed tattoo scars to complete the ritual. Garendestat said nothing but just held her tightly. They would have to perform the proper formal ceremony at the appropriate time when back in space, but legally they were now husband and wife. Emeria lent into him, gently cradled his broken arm, and looked into his eyes with a big smile as she spoke.
‘Dear Garendestat, the fake tattoos are a specific example of human resourcefulness. Now we need to see some Trader resourcefulness.’
Garendestat calmly pressed the privacy button to lock the front door and to disable all video feeds. He then gently led his new wife into the bedroom.
***
Steve again sat in the meeting room of the Aurora Discovery with a late dinner. The other seven members of the team were also sitting down to a late meal. In turns each of them offered lengthy opinions and assessments on the day’s meeting with the Traders. Steve had already managed to get all members of his team to refrain from discussing the significance of the Traders tattoos. They were aware that a media release with that information could alert the orbiting Barus ship.
There were six additional people in the meeting room, four male and two female scientists with good academic standings, and they listened silently as the team revealed what they had seen. The Southern Cross had returned from Geraldton with the additional scientists and further information. For apparently several other nationalities of scientists would be coming across to the Abrolhos islands. The smaller ship had also returned with quantities of the specific list of food stuffs that Steve had ordered.
Steve knew he have to manage that team situation further as he had no formal leadership role, and he resolved to qualify that with the prime minister shortly. The consensus among all that were present was that the Maveen needed to be studied further. The events with the Barus were interpreted as being a diversion by at least two of the newcomers.
‘Let them think that about the Barus, if they knew how much danger they represented then the Traders would be offered to the Barus out of fear.’
Steve thought sombrely to himself as he let Douglas take over the meeting again, and excused himself to make that important phone call. Steve was soon talking to Ian Ridge and gave him an accurate run down of the day’s events. He held nothing back, but again stressed confidentiality. As he finished his summary, he heard silence from the other end of the line as the Australian prime minister thought about the situation. The prime minister then asked a concise question.
‘Steve, I need to know if we are thinking the same way about this new Barus race. I saw both the media efforts by the way and I must comment that the tide of opinion rests with the Traders at the moment. Obviously the situation about their health issue could change things for the worse very quickly.’
Steve already had considered this critical view on the Barus would need to be clarified and he was ready with a response.
‘Prime Minister, the Barus are governed by strict edicts and their hands are tied by these laws and beliefs. They fill me with a deep sense of disquiet if this is to be the long term pattern of our relationships with galactic races. Under the right circumstances the Barus would without hesitation eliminate the Traders and force a battle on our world to do so. We must use subterfuge to prevent them fleeing too soon and bringing back more ships.’
The voice down the other end of the line paused again, and Steve was concerned for a moment that he had been too forward. His concern was unfounded as he heard Ian Ridge’s reply.
‘Steve that is my main fear voiced and you make the most sense of anyone I have spoken to today. European leaders even want us to just hand over the Traders without realising we don’t have the ability, and we certainly don’t have the jurisdiction or moral authority. So here is what I suggest we do to misdirect the Barus.’
Steve listened with an occasional grin as the prime minister made several telling comments, and he told himself that the man would be a first rate military officer in another career. He then voiced his concerns about managing the increasing numbers of scientists that had arrived in the afternoon.
‘Sir, we do not want to submerge the Traders in our scientists as they need to finish their repairs. We also need to concentrate on the key strategic research that has been identified. Basically we need to be focussed and to have a formal leader in this process. I am only the captain of the ship the scientists are using for research and sleep.’
Ian Ridge was the one now who was ready, and Steve could only listen in silence as he outlaid exactly how these concerns would be dealt with.
‘Steve, you sell yourself a bit short here as you are to be in charge of this expanded science team. I say expanded as no doubt the Russians, Chinese, Europeans, and others, will all be anxious to talk to the Traders. Now for you to do this I insist that you resume your naval commission and the appropriate rank I have asked the Governor General for in the warrant is captain. You are to exercise a high degree of autonomy but be mindful of the strategic research goals. I would also recommend that you appoint Douglas Stoneham as the second in command. He can manage the scientists for you as he has considerable experience running research groups.’
The prime minister paused for several moments and Steve quickly replied.
‘Sir, I accept and would be honoured to lead this international mission team. Do I report directly back to you every evening?’
Ian Ridge gave a relieved chuckle from the other end of the phone as he spoke again.
‘For the time being please do so, and copy Fleet West in your reports. I will ensure full confidentiality this end as well as we are setting up a formal reporting line through our navy. The Americans and others do not like it already, but there it is from my view. We cannot stop everyone from talking with the state of communications these days, but we can mitigate some of the risks.’
The two men talked for several more minutes before they finished the conversation. Steve went back to the meeting room, now buzzing with conversati
ons as team members stood in small groups. He drew Douglas to one side for a quiet conversation at the end of the room. He repeated the last part of the prime minister’s conversation and promptly got a hearty congratulation from Douglas. Steve then asked Douglas to be his second in command, and he was fixed with a rueful look from the American academic as Douglas replied.
‘You would do that to me wouldn’t you? I have the experience to do the job, but these research people will be champing at the bit to get in front of the Traders. I accept of course and it can only help to keep this effort stable and focussed.’
Now Steve went and quietly spoke with Samantha. Samantha looked right into his eyes as he recounted his conversation with the prime minister. She then gave him a kiss and a hug as she replied.
‘Steve I don’t mind at all. We had to have the formal command chain identified for the science mission teams otherwise an incoming scientist could attempt to take over.’
Douglas caught Steve’s eye and got the nod he was waiting for from Steve. He picked up a steel mug and rattled a spoon against it to bring the discussions in the room to a halt. Now all heads swivelled to Steve and Douglas at the head of the table. Steve spoke quietly but firmly about both his appointment and resumption of naval rank by the efforts of the prime minister. He then informed the group about his appointment of Douglas as his second. As he looked at the eyes of all the scientists he was aware that two of the newcomers had flickers of doubt or scepticism that they did not hide very well. Steve put this observation to the back of his mind for the moment, invited all to take a seat again, and the briefing session continued late into the evening.
***
Chapter 11
Ian Ridge slowly walked around the luxurious hotel room and listened carefully on his satellite phone. He had made the trip overnight to Perth and was tired both from the pace of the last week and the long flight. He was listening to the US President on the phone and James was being quite adamant again about the orbiting Barus research ship.