by Jeff Sims
Ace didn’t have to fly very far because the Sunflower had continued to fly toward the enemy battleship during the negotiation. At this point the two warships were both at dead stops 200,000 kilometers from each other. At .02 light the entire trip only took 30 seconds to complete.
However, Ace stopped just short of the battleship and waited for the Sunflower to perform a quick scan of it. Shole contacted the transport and told said, “There are 30 beings in the secondary hold. There rest of the battleship appears to be empty.”
Paul didn’t like the information. There were supposed to be 140 Hiriculans on a battleship. Either they were missing 110 or they had somehow shielded themselves from a scan. Either way, the marines were going to have to search the entire ship to be sure there was no one hiding somewhere.
Ace gracefully landed the transport in the exact center of the hangar bay right beside the door to the bridge. Becky unstrapped and left the cockpit area. She lay down and wiggled into the AAU. Once she was secure, the marines opened the rear hatch and jumped out into the hangar.
They spread out and searched the entire area. It was completely empty. One marine guarded each exit. Paul then walked down the main corridor to the bridge. It was open. He took the electro lift up to the top floor and searched each level. The bridge was empty.
Paul then guarded the corridor while Kolvak and Ace walked to the bridge. Becky came slowly clopping after them in the bulky AAU. They entered the bridge. Kolvak translated the control panel beside the door and found the button to seal the bridge.
Kolvak announced, “This battleship is named the Reckoning.”
Now that the bridge was secure and locked, Becky exited the AAU. She went to the engineering station. Ace sat at the navigation station. Kolvak gave him a tutorial on Hiriculan and he was soon able to fly the battleship. In essence, it operated just like an Alliance warship.
Paul, Jake, and the other marines then searched the ship and verified that there were no other Hiriculans on the ship.
.…………………….
Shole announced, “We just received an update from the marines. The ship is secure. They confirmed that there are only 30 Hiriculans on board. They are ready to go.”
Jim asked, “How about the Sunflower?”
Russ answered, “We have enough stored energy to activate the hyper drive.”
Jim contacted the Reckoning and said, “Ace, head to the hyperspace lane. I want you to follow our path exactly and jump 5 minutes after us.”
The Sunflower and the Reckoning flew to the short distance to the Opron – Conron hyperspace lane. Ace aligned the battleship perfectly behind the cruiser.
Russ said, “Hey, we just got mail from home.”
Jim replied, “That’s odd. Emails aren’t due for another two days.” He paused for a moment and said, “Well, who is it from?”
Russ replied, “There are 16 emails, one addressed to all of the new members. The emails are from Amy Weisman, the president of Victory Games.”
Jim replied, “Well, what does Ms. Weisman want?”
Russ responded, “She just basically said hello.” He paused for effect and added, “Oh, yeah, she also wants any information we may have on how to build a plasma reactor.”
Jim laughed and said, “Well, we have 8 hours to craft a fitting response.
Jim signaled to Russ and Ace. Both ships jumped to Opron.
.…………………….
Admiral Lopeq’la let the return message play in Alliance basic. He could speak the language, though very rarely did so. He listed to the demands and accepted them almost immediately.
Lopeq’la then had the computer translate and replay the message for those who didn’t understand it. Everyone left the bridge to gather whatever personal belongings they needed for the next 8 hours.
Captain Floop’la raced to his quarters and gathered a few belongings. Before he left he said, “Computer, activate hostile takeover protocol. Erase any and all non-essential files pertaining to this mission. Erase all secret files.”
…Completed. The only files remaining are standard logs and navigational info…
Lopeq’la also raced to his quarters and packed a few items in a carrying case. He then headed directly to the infirmary. Once there, he gathered a few specific drugs and medical instruments. He then raced to the secondary hold. The Alliance was about to land and he believed that they would kill him if he wasn’t where he was supposed to be.
When Admiral Lopeq’la arrived, Captain Floop’la announced that everyone was present. They waited several long minutes. Then the waited 30 more. No one from the Alliance entered the secondary hangar bay.
Floop’la said, “Computer, did the Alliance transport land?”
…Yes. The Alliance transport landed in the main hangar and several beings walked to the bridge. The bridge is sealed and the battleship is under power and sailing toward the Opron – Conron hyperspace lane…
Floop’la was surprised that they were already moving. He didn’t feel the usual jerk that occurs when a battleship first started moving. He looked at Lopeq’la and said, “They must have a really good pilot.”
…We have now jumped to hyperspace…
Lopeq’la decided that waiting 50 minutes was long enough. It was now clear that the no one from the Alliance was going to enter the secondary hangar bay and talk to them before they reached Conron. It made sense he supposed. Cruisers don’t carry AAUs, meaning that Captain Solear was probably bluffing. More than likely he just sent a bridge crew.
Lopeq’la wanted to prove himself right. He took a few steps to the exit, but stopped. He realized that it was probably better to assume that he was right versus being proven that he was wrong. Instead, he gathered the medical equipment that he had collected and began assembling a triage unit.
He called Fruid’la and the 4 tug pilots over the medical apparatus. Once assembled, he said, “When we arrive in Conron, we cannot talk about the first half our secret mission.”
One tug operator asked, “We can’t lie if questioned. What do you expect us to do, forget about it?”
After a few chuckles, Admiral Lopeq’la said, “Yes. He told the first pilot to lay down on the makeshift bed. Lopeq’la administered three drugs and then attached a device to the other being’s head. He verified that his vital signs were okay and that the device was functioning properly.
He said, “Remember when you first saw the object.”
The man did. Lopeq’la identified the specific brain cell that held the memory and zapped it. The device was extremely precise. It killed the one cell that held that memory.
He said, “Remember when you got in the tug and pulled it out of the main hangar bay.”
The man did. Lopeq’la identified the associated brain cell and zapped it.
He repeated the process several more times, asking the same questions in different fashions until the man could no longer remember anything about the object.
He repeated three more times on the other tug operators. Each time he showed Floop’la exactly how to locate and zap the associated memory.
Floop’la lay down on the bed. As he was receiving the drugs, he asked, “Will I only lose the memories of the object?”
Lopeq’la responded, “The device is very accurate. You should only lose specific memories of the object. It is uncommon, but you may lose any associated memories as well.
“Such as?” asked Floop’la
Lopeq’la responded, “Recall our conversation in the primary hold when I first boarded the ship. You won’t remember talking about the object, but you should be able to recall talking to me about the crewmembers.”
Floop’la: “There sounds like there may be a however with that statement.”
Lopeq’la: “However, it is possible that the two memories are so closely associated that in order to forget the object, you have to forget the entire conversation.”
They played 20 questions and Lopeq’la zapped each response from Froop’la’s memory.
They switched positions. Lopeq’la wrote down a series of questions for Froop’la to ask him. He then administered the drugs to himself. He asked, “Froop’la, do you remember how to operate the machine?”
Froop’la laughed and said, “Yes. It would have been comical if that particular memory had been zapped from my brain.”
Froop’la activated the device. He scanned the list of questions. They made no sense to him. He clearly recalled getting the memories wiped and knew that these questions were relevant to him a minute ago. However, now they were just words.
He read the first question, “Remember the object in the main hold.”
Lopeq’la did. Floop’la found the brain cell and zapped it.
Floop’la: “Remember entering the object?”
Lopeq’la did. Floop’la found the brain cell and zapped it.
They systematically worked through all of the questions. Lopeq’la’s list was just a little longer than the others. As a former intelligence officer and an admiral, there were a few other secrets that he felt that he should forget.
Afterward, Lopeq’la disassembled the medical unit and stored it back on the hover cart. Finally, he deleted the list of questions from his communication pad.
He had literally forgotten all about the old woman sleeping in the object.
Chapter 20
Eight uneventful hours later the Vista exited hyperspace in Opron. Crista immediately began a cursory scan to look for ships. Victor watched the main monitor as it rapidly updated.
Victor said, “Well, that’s a relief, there is no one here.”
The Jackal exited hyperspace exactly 10 minutes later. Crista coordinated with Jack and they began a detailed scan of the immediate area. The Vista searched ½ of the quadrant; the Jackal scanned the other half.
The mini-freighters scanning capability wasn’t nearly as good as a military vessel, but it was much better than the alternative of no scan. She also activated the passive scanners and began searching for ships throughout the entire system.
Two hours later both the active and passive scans completed. Jack forwarded his results to the Vista and the Victor combined both scans for a full result and forwarded it back to Jack. They established a video conference to review the results.
Victor spoke first. He pointed to a spot on the monitor that was completely devoid of any particles. He said, “This cannot be happenstance. It appears that someone fired an antimatter weapon of some sort here.”
Jack said, “There are 2 large or perhaps 4 small expanding dust clouds. The computer gives them a 70% chance of being debris from an exploded cruiser.”
Crista said, “There are no ships in the system. It appears the victor made a premature exit.”
Victor mouthed “One time” in response.
Jack expanded a tiny portion of the area and said, “Computer, that object has been flagged as debris. Can you expand the image and tell us what it was from?”
…88.2% It appears to be the remains of a Hiriculan fighter…
Victor consolidated the observations, well minus one, and sent them and the result of the scans back to Conron. Finished, they micro-jumped around the Opron system to the Opron – Influenla hyperspace lane.
This time Jack decided to go first since he had experience with the system. Ten minutes later the Vista followed. Eight hours, or 3 plus days in real time, later they exited hyperspace in Influenla.
Jack contacted Victor when they arrived and said, “This is odd, there is normally a Hiriculan frigate guarding the entryway. I completed a scan while I was waiting for you to arrive and it isn’t there.”
Victor replied, “Is it a problem?”
Jack answered, “No, no problem, just strange. Anyway, I contacted Traffic Control at the station and we have been assigned slips u-8a and u-8b. Just follow me.”
Jack sent Victor the exact docking coordinates and together they flew directly there. Once again, they were allowed to operate their mini-freighters in manual mode all the way to the station.
Both mini-freighters docked with their main cargo holds attached to the station. Jack had an overpowering feeling of deja vu. The last time he was here he had been trapped on the station for several days. Then the Alliance attacked, Ella boarded his ship, and they left without clearance or authorization. Jack hoped the station commander didn’t remember that.
The three Solarians exited their ships. Jack showed them the moving walkway. They reached the arch and stepped through. Jack still didn’t know what it was supposed to detect. Either way, they made it through without issue.
Jack felt a sudden sense of vertigo as the gravity switched direction on the other side of the arch. He quickly recovered and led the other two to the electro lift that carried them to the main part of the station.
Unlike Jack’s last visit to the station, he knew exactly where the mercantile was located. Fortunately, it was only a few paces from the electro lift. They walked the few steps and entered the mercantile.
There were monitors on the left side showing cargo items for sale and monitors on the right showing items that were desired. The corresponding sale price or desired purchase price was listed beside each item.
Jack scanned the board and realized, once again, that it was written in Hiriculan. He had somehow managed to forget that fact. Jack took his com pad and scanned the wanted items. He instructed the computer to translate them to Alliance basic.
Just as Jack had anticipated, the station was still consuming more food than it could grow. As a result, there were plenty of posted buy requests for fruit and Advranki sea moss. Jack used his communication pad to rent a warehouse and complete the sale.
Jack looked over at Victor and said, “We need to return to our ships in a few minutes. The food inspector is coming to clear our cargo through customs.”
Crista looked at him and said, “Can’t we just unlock our holds and have them verify the cargo in our absence? I would rather walk through the shopping district than watch someone taste fruit.”
Jack really didn’t want to leave his ship unprotected, but he eventually relented. Besides, there was little need for him to be there. It was extremely unlikely that they would short him again. He contacted his ship and created a temporary pass code. He then sent the code to the food inspector. Victor did the same.
Jack had a sudden revelation and said, “Victor, Crista, I just thought of something. The Hiriculans for the most part don’t speak Alliance basic. You won’t be able to communicate with them when we reach Hiricula.”
Victor looked apprehensively at Jack and asked, “You learned how to speak Hiriculan?”
Jack laughed and shook his head and said, “No. I got a facial translator installed in my mouth the last time I was here.”
Crista asked, “What is a facial translator?”
Jack responded, “It automatically translates for you. Nearly every Hiriculan I have met so far has one. Follow me, the store is next door.”
They entered the facial translator store and Jack immediately recognized the store owner. He also recalled that he really didn’t care for him. For some reason this being’s habit of ending sentences with questions really bothered him.
The store owner said, “Hello, you are new to the station I presume?”
Victor and Crista both said, “Yes.”
The owner continued, “And you want to talk to Hiriculans I am guessing?”
Victor and Crista both said, “Yes.”
The owner continued, “The facial translator translates words spoken from one being to another. You stand next to someone and activate the translator by pressing it with your tongue. It sends a signal to the person you are directly facing. That person in turns answers their translator with a tongue press and the two of you are linked.”
Crista interrupted with “Linked?”
“Yes, linked,” the owner answered. “The facial translator will only translate words spoken by linked units. You wouldn’t want to hear everyone’s speech, wo
uld you?”
Crista responded with a less than convincing, “I guess not.”
The owner seemed to have ignored the response. It was clear that the sales pitch was reaching the denouement. The owner said, “It can translate three languages – Hiriculan, Alliance basic, and Neto.”
Jack was tiring of the sales pitch. He interrupted and said, “These two beings will each take one. I assume the price is still $10,000 Alliance apiece?”
The owner shrugged and lowered his ear stalks. He responded, “Yes, for the lowest model. However, you don’t want a cheap one that barely functions do you?”
Crista shook her head no. She certainly didn’t want the cheapest model. Victor asked, “How much are the upgraded ones and what do they do?”
The owner replied, “Well, you can link multiple people much easier now. Plus, the upgraded one lasts 4 times as long and requires almost no care or maintenance. Also, it can translate Solarian. It is on special today only for only $20,000 Alliance. I am positive you want to treat yourselves to the very best, don’t you?”
Crista indicated that she did indeed need the more expensive model. The owner helped her to a chair in the middle of the store and asked her to open her mouth as wide as possible. He then inserted what appeared to be a thin wire inside her mouth. He attached it at the top right of her cheek so that it made contact with her ear.
He then threaded the wire down the inside of her right cheek and stopped at the top of her jawbone. He applied some quick sealing epoxy to cement it in place and keep it protected. Victor switched places with Crista and the owner repeated the procedure.
When he finished, he showed Victor and Crista how to use their tongues to activate the unit. The three had a quick conversation. Jack couldn’t believe how much better the newer units worked. He hated to spend more money on something that already functioned, but the newer unit was significantly better. Finally, he said “I want to upgrade my unit.”