Carinae Sector: 01 - Traders' Scourge - Part 2 - Maveen Offer (21 page)

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 another 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 conversations 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.

‘Ian, if we get the opportunity to get a clear shot at the Barus ship we will destroy it and the military worldwide is preparing alternatives. We owe that to the people of Earth after the pandemic, despite even what the Traders are saying. Also I want to see how the Traders will help us otherwise we take their ship from them.’

Ian suppressed a sigh of annoyance, as it looked like the major leaders had talked themselves around again to using military force. As the line of reasoning stood, he had not advised the other world leaders of the full problems associated with the Trader tattoos. He now decided to himself he probably would not do so until much later. He patiently stepped the US President through the logic again of why they were not attacking, but this time James Whiting was not buying into his rationale. The Australian prime minister then tried an additional pragmatic line of reasoning.