by Don Koch
Kar was clearly surprised and said, "My Father, how could you know this?"
"Why my son, it is written in your faces in big bold letters." Whereupon everyone except the King and Queen started laughing." When it had simmered down to a dull roar, Estes asked, "my son, what was so funny that it hit you all so spontaneously?"
Kar replied through his laughter and tears, "Father, that is the third time in a week that the exact same expression has been applied to Loriella and me. The first was by Henry Stone and the second by Loriella's father General Josh Adams who stands before you with his wife, Anne. I had no idea we are so transparent."
"Only about some things my son. It is so good to see you. Oh this is truly a grand occasion. Would you all agree to a grand ball this week to celebrate this occasion and to give the people a chance to meet you. I have to tell you that the news media will go crazy. Can you spend a week or two?"
"Your majesties, we had hoped you would ask. We wanted to get back to visit your world and now events have conspired to allow that. We would be delighted. Would it be permissible to allow our people to visit. We will not overburden your resources to handle visitors and they behave really well. I hope the reports and video materials have been coming through ok so that you and your people can see what we have been doing."
"They have, they have, and those generate so much curiosity. I too have many questions. I see that my son and new daughter both wear similar uniforms. May I ask about them and that patch on the shoulder of that unusual beast is striking. What is that about? I also see that you and Josh also wear this patch. It reminds me of a terrible creature from our distant past that would attack and eat anything it could find and usually traveled in packs. Ours was about human in size but a bit heavier but it was pure predator."
"That is interesting. The patch represents a similar creature from our prehistoric past. Actually we had several of this general shape; some were very large. One was the Tyrannosaurus Rex often referred to as a T-Rex and another was the Velociraptor. The latter fits the description you just gave. This patch is worn by a group we have on the stations called the T-Raptors. They are our principal intelligence gathering and espionage unit. Typically a unit is multi species consisting of one or more telepathic Human, Glarin, Gar and AI. The T in the name is our short form for telepathic. A unit will enter into rapport, that is where the 'raptor' comes from, and then project to the location they want to examine. A projected unit is essentially invincible as far as we know now. The unit can take a visible appearance, a nebulous appearance or an invisible one. It can manipulate items at its selected destination and it can't be touched. T-Raptors have been invaluable in bringing the current threat to a close. We are still exploring its capabilities. Both Prince Kar and Loriella are quite talented at this work. I know this goes beyond the role of an envoy but your son was not to be denied. Since the havoc wreaking appetites of the dinosaur represented was like our Telepathic Raptors we adopted the image and the name T-Raptors. Actually, Josh here was responsible for formation of the unit and its mascot. Wearing the patch has become a matter of great pride because that is the method we used to end the recent conflict and we were able to do so without bloodshed. It also works wonders for morale."
"I think you will want to spend some time getting to know your new daughter in law and learn of the details that your son can best provide verbally. Your son is a valued member of our team and it has been a joy to watch him develop. You can be very proud of him. The rest of us have a few things to catch up on the station but then we really would like to see more of your world. Our AI is Barana and she will be listening for you, so if you want to contact us, just think her name. Perhaps tomorrow if your schedule permits, we can do a bit more planning so we do not overly disrupt your population."
King Estes said, "Tomorrow is great. Our population really wants to meet you, having seen what you have accomplished. When they learn you are here, it will be difficult to deny them. They were fascinated with what you did with the Taku, er no, the Taju Blade. Would you be willing to talk to one of our video interviewers on the air. It would probably be a world-wide sensation."
"I would be delighted. I will chat with you tomorrow." With that Hank, Sam, Josh and Anne returned to the station.
Chapter 9: Frote
On Station 1 in Frote orbit – October 4 – C Day 401
Sam said, "That sweetie, he deserves a kiss for that, I will be ready."
At 9 they arrived at the throne room and King Estes, Queen Risa, Prince Kar, Loriella and Prime Minister Cor were seated around a table with light refreshments. Sam winked at the Queen and went around to the King and kissed him on the cheek saying, "you say the nicest things and I hope this 'uniform' is suitable" as she twirled in a nice conservative knee length dress of blue and red.
Queen Risa was smiling and King Estes grinned saying, "definitely regal. That dress will become a fashion hit in less than a day." He rose and greeted Hank and continued, "I thought we could cover a lot more ground in a less formal setting. My son tells me that this is your usual preference and, truth be known, it is also mine. Come, let us sit and chat."
"We are becoming acquainted with our new daughter and she is indeed a prize. I have been studying your idiom and Kar has told me of her father's role in the recent crisis. She is, as you would say, 'A chip off the old block", no?"
"Well said Your Majesty, I almost did not recognize her when I saw her a week ago. I had last seen her when her father was my commanding officer and she looked quite different then. She made Captain in record time and did it on her own merit."
"My son tells me that you like to get out to meet with people and do this without body guards or security. I expressed my concern that some idiot might try to hurt you but he laughed and said they could try but not even a bomb blast would do you harm. I admit I was puzzled until he explained and described the 'command package' you have installed. I admit that I was skeptical but both Kar and Loriella insist this is true. If it is, you will be extraordinarily popular for being so accessible with out a cordon of guards. Is this true?"
"Indeed it is true your Majesty, in fact it got me in trouble the day after Sam and I were married because I demonstrated it without preparing her for what was coming. I had a full clip of bullets fired at me with a powerful handgun at very close range. I caught all of the bullets when they stopped just short of my body and showed them to the witnesses. She punched me in the arm and told me she would shoot me herself if ever I pulled such a stunt again."
Sam blushed while Estes laughed and Risa giggled. "It is something that I do not even think about anymore. It is just there. In fact your son and new daughter also have the enhancement. We know its there when it kicks in but otherwise we would appear perfectly normal."
"Well you have just uncomplicated the security needed for your visit. May I suggest that the first thing you might want to consider, because it will satisfy the curiosity of many people, is to do the extended video interview we mentioned. Some are asking if you are still accepting applications for the stations or for the colonies. I have told them that I thought so but that you would have to be the one to answer that question. Is this interview something you would still entertain?"
"Certainly that is the easiest way to get information to many people. Are you envisioning a one hour, two hour or three hour session?"
"My goodness, you were not kidding. Hmm, why not a two hour session first and then perhaps when you are in this area again you could co
nsider another two hour session with different questions and a smattering of the public posing some questions as well. Would you be comfortable with that?"
"Yes, Sam and I would and we are available today or tomorrow for the first session if that is your pleasure."
"You are making this far too easy. This is a free society so there are no restrictions or limits on the topics you may wish to discuss. Our most popular broadcast interviewer is Fila Tomas. Why don't we bring her in here, she has been waiting in the next room hoping that you would agree to an interview. She will be excited to learn how long an interview you are willing to do. Cor would you please do the honors."
Prime Minister Cor brought in the news host Fila Tomas and did the introductions. After doing so he moved again to the back of the group. Hank noticed and said, "Cor, I hope we have a chance to chat, I wanted to ask you about some of the things on Frote that the Royal Family would not personally see. Also there is a delegation that will be coming shortly that will want to talk to you, at least I gave them your name." At this Cor visibly brightened.
Hank turned to Fila and offered his hand and said, "I understand that you are the one who will be asking loads of questions on behalf of the people of Frote. Would you mind very much if your show is broadcast to other planets? Curiosity is not the exclusive purview of the people of Frote. It is almost universal and it will save me duplicating what you do here."
She was clearly taken aback as she was not expecting interstellar exposure and said, "That would be amazing. I would love that."
Sam said, "We will be very open and hopefully responsive to your questions, but there are some things that we will not answer if it relates to something that jeopardizes station security or the lives of our people. Some issues we won't discuss publicly in great detail including some of the capabilities of our AI's, our stations, our T-Raptor teams, the enhancements some of us have, things that we would rather not have an enemy know. I am not clear how you want to go about this but I would suggest an informal set that will give this a more spontaneous feel. If we can't give you an expansive answer we will try to explain and tell you what we can. No editing. We can go for about two hours on the first round and then perhaps another two hours at some time when we are back on Frote. Does that sound OK to you?"
Fila was stunned, "You are willing to be interviewed for two hours, without editing, and have it broadcast live interstellar? Why?"
Sam responded, "Why not? The Antoran Fleet has a major impact on 21 systems currently spread over more than 4,000 light years. We have a technology base that is probably thousands of years ahead of any of the planets we know of except our base world. We have no doubt that the number of systems in our sphere of interest will increase. I think it is important that people in those systems have a good idea who we are, what we can do and why we do what we do. What is our motivation and what is our belief system? Who are these people who tell us that we can't have conflicts in space? Wouldn't you want to know? Whose interests do we have at heart? These are things that are of interest to people. There is at least one world in this stellar neighborhood that ended up enslaved because they did not question when they should have. So here is an opportunity that a free people should have and woe to us if we fail to provide that opportunity."
"Well said Sam."
Fila responded, "I am delighted to have the opportunity you offer, I just did not expect that you had thought of this in the way you have just expressed. It sounds like you would welcome questions that expose that philosophy. Are you not worried that the worlds you are protecting will achieve technological advances that exceed yours."
Hank said, "Actually no. That would be a good question for the interview. We welcome those advances so long as they are not used to enslave or to bring conflict into space. How soon would you like to do the first interview."
"Would tomorrow evening be too soon? I can be ready by then and that gives us today and part of tomorrow to alert the public that this is happening. We have a set like that you describe in our studio about two blocks from here. Would 5:00 tomorrow evening be ok and then we can start live broadcast at 7:00. Happily, I already have a host of questions prepared that people have been asking so I should have enough questions for you. I have to tell you that this is one of the most exciting events that I have been exposed to except, of course, when I interviewed King Estes the first time. Tomorrow morning I will send a copy of most of the questions I expect to ask so you will not be totally blindsided. I have two or three that I may throw in as a surprise primarily because I want spontaneity when it is posed. I look forward to tomorrow."
Hank and Sam rose as Fila made her departure. King Estes said, "Now I too look forward to tomorrow. I think you have made that lady's day. My friend, Fila is incisive but she is not malicious. It should go well. After that, I would like to take you two and General Adams and his wife along with Kar and Loriella to a lodge for a few days. It is on a large mountain lake that is in a spectacular setting. After that we can wander a few of our cities to give you a taste of Frote."
Sam said, "that is exactly what I was hoping for," in a delighted voice.
"Would you mind if Sam and I wandered around your fair city a bit. It might be fun to do before everyone knows we are here?"
Estes replied, "Excellent idea, I will have one of our more nondescript transports drop you off in one of our tourist areas and you can start from there. Would you join us for an informal dinner this evening and we can chat some more about anything that comes to mind? Say about 6:00 and come dressed as you are."
Sam said, "That is great. I am curious, have we interrupted anything with our sudden appearance?"
Queen Risa said, "Good Heavens, no. This is a relatively quiet time of the year. So your timing was perfect."
They continued to chat for another hour and then an aide to Estes arranged their transportation and they were off to explore the city. As they strolled down the street looking in shop windows, Hank noticed some people were glancing their way and he realized that his uniform was a bit unusual and was drawing attention. He was about to turn around when he saw a young boy of about 6 or 7 about to step off the curb into the path of an oncoming vehicle. Hank took five steps so fast, he was a blur and plucked the boy out of harms way and handed him to his mother who was just realizing what had been averted. Hank said to the boy, "That vehicle almost hit you, you really should always look both ways before stepping off the curb. Are you OK with that?"
The boy said in a quiet voice, "Yes sir. That scared me." The mother was thanking Hank when the boy said to Hank, "I know you. I know you. You're Genel Stones."
A small crowd had gathered who had witnessed the event and Hank said, "That is pretty close, but my name is Henry Stone but how did you know that."
To which the child replied, "'Cause I saw you on the vid yesterday and you had the same suit and that lady Sam was there too." Pointing at Sam.
At that another observer stated, "Good Lord, that's General Stone who has been protecting us and now he has saved this youngster." The small crowd that had gathered offered their thanks and someone suggested that they give the Stones some breathing room. "Its OK folks, my wife Sam and I were just here to visit so we thought we would be like any other tourists except I forgot that I was wearing this great big flag of a uniform." He chuckled at himself and said to the crowd, "Are all of you folks from around this part of the city?" To which most indicated that they were. He went on, "You really have a nice town here. Can anyone recommend a good place to go for a hot beverage and a pastry to eat and sit for a while?" More than half the crowd pointed to a small shop in the middle of the block, one saying that it was the best in the city and another saying that the variety was excellent and the quality was likewise. With that Hank said that he would go and check it out and if anyone had questions he would be happy to answer them there. He also said that if anyone did go into the shop they would have to be paying customers because it would not be otherwise fair to the proprietor. With that a crowd de
scended on the shop that fortunately was pretty much empty at the time. Hank thought this was the easiest way to get this crowd off the street and it was. The shop was surprised at the sudden boon and Hank and Sam had a nice friendly and unexpected chat with a number of Frote's citizens. It was clear that those in the shop were surprised at the open way that the Stones chatted with them. Several asked if they could have their picture taken with Hank and Sam. They agreed and there was one very happy and excited group of Frote's citizens that left the shop.
After that broke up they went to a couple of shops and picked up some souvenirs. Sam told him that was a very cool way to break up a disturbance. At 5:00 Barana transported them to the station so they could freshen up for the evening and then to the Royal Palace fifteen minutes before dinner.
At dinner, King Estes said to Hank, "Well my friend, you caused quite a stir today. News surveillance cameras caught your rescue of that little boy this afternoon and you are the talk of the town. You garnered more good will from that rescue than you did ending General Brondin's attempt to destroy us. Well done. I also see what you meant by your comments concerning enhancements. You were moving so fast you were hard to track. Amazing. You also dealt with that crowd very smoothly. I suspect that shop owner will be glad to have you there anytime. He has sent some of his special pastries for you. Seems the little boy you rescued was his grandson so I do not think your money will be good there hereafter. Quite an afternoon."
"We did meet a lot of nice people and that was relaxing. I tried not to scare the boy too much but I did not want him hit by the vehicle. I suspect his mother will convince him to be more careful hereafter. Funny, the little guy recognized me."