“You could have told me what was going to happen,” she accused.
“I was under orders not to tell anyone.”
“I thought I wasn’t just anyone,” she countered in a low voice.
“You’ve been serving with the Vada for over twenty years Thalia. Orders are orders. You should know that and you’re not just anyone to me. I … I thought you knew that too.”
“Really?” Thalia raised her head. She blushed, her heavy heart lightening immediately and her anger dissipating.
“Really,” he confirmed.
They were getting to the point of one or other of them taking their blossoming relationship the next step when …
Crash!
Everyone looked round.
“Mikey again!” Thalia groaned.
“He’s managed to trip over nothing and spill the contents of his tray all over Rodick!” Artem burst into gales of laughter. He wasn’t sure if Mikey had done it on purpose in retaliation for Rodick’s anger earlier or not, or if indeed it had been an true accident (his suspicions were in actuality correct). “I’ll just,” he said, half rising from his stool.
Thalia was laughing too. She shared Artem’s suspicions.
“Leave him to Tavin,” she said through her laughs. “Mikey’s his problem, not ours. I’d much rather we resumed our conversation. I believe it was getting rather interesting.”
She accompanied this with an arch look and it became Artem’s turn to blush. He coughed, trying to hide his face.
“I, er,” he said, settling back down on to his stool. “I, er, believe I will. You were saying?”
Simultaneously they ‘heard’ chuckling inside their minds.
There was little that escaped the Lind.
* * * * *
The commanding officer, Susa of the Aikko was a Brai called Raknu. He took the news about ‘Mikey the Stowaway’ very calmly and informed Vandiel that he would send the notification about Mikey’s presence as a part of the next headquarters transmission.
After that he promptly forgot all about him.
He and the other four members of the Aikko’s crew had enough to concern them without worrying about one stray human youngling. The crew were all black-skinned Brai. There was Falu, the weapons specialist, Dru, the engines specialist, Jaru, the communications specialist and Belu who was the environmental genius. Belu had the unenviable of task of keeping the gravity and atmosphere aboard the Aikko at levels suitable for all the species present, the storage areas and the growing areas. All five crewmembers were also qualified pilots and navigators.
As a supply space ship the Aikko was there, not only to transport the Vada but also to resupply the three verustas. The three latter could not land on planets to replenish and depended on the Aikko for their survival. In return they would protect the Aikko, which posessed only about a quarter of their weapon-power.
“Communication from the Atacarino,” Jaru informed his Susa. The verusta Atacarino was the leader of the ‘A’ Defence Group, which was made up of the Atacarino herself, the Aanvallenino, the Assalireino and their own Aikko.
“Put it up on screen,” Susa Raknu commanded.
The two looked at the screen and Raknu’s gleaming, black eyes widened.
“It appears the Vlon were right after all,” he commented. “They are reports of another two strange space ships located close to the star position where the first sightings were confirmed.”
“Enemy reinforcements?” ventured Jaru.
“We mustn’t be hasty in our assumptions,” Raknu cautioned his junior. “We don’t yet know that they are hostile. We follow the ibon trail until it leads us to their destination. They are faster than we are so we must expect orders from the Atacarino concerning evasive action. Our Susyc will not wish our space ships tracking the trail of the first three strangers to be discovered.”
“But we’d be foolish if we did not plan for such an eventuality,” Jaru said.
“Indeed. We shall take all precautions. Inform all on board about what we have been told.”
“Yes Susa.”
* * * * *
Although there was not a great amount of spare room on board the Aikko, Assistant Weaponsmaster Artem had managed to find a small exercise area close to the growing area suitable for practice and to teach sword-work.
The class numbers were perforce small and it made a long working day for him but he arranged a timetable accommodating everyone at least once every second day.
In one class were Tavin and the other artificer whose name was Maximilian, Max for short. To this class Mikey was added to watch and listen.
Tavin and Max were not complete beginners, especially Tavin. At seven years old he had entered the Duke of Hallam’s household as a page. Although he performed other duties such as serving meals, he was also taught how to ride, how to shoot with bow and arrow and how to use a sword.
Max came from Vadath where all youngsters, whether male or female learned how to use a sword efficiently if not expertly. The Militia of Vadath was very efficient and proud of its heritage. It had served, with honour and great bravery, in every battle fought on the planet.
Artem spent the bells re-teaching what they had forgotten and correcting any bad habits they had picked up through inferior instruction or as he said, often and with great vehemence, through simple laziness.
Mikey, watching from a stool Artem had set beside the practice-sword rack drank it all in like an alcoholic being given a bottle of his favourite tipple.
He was allowed to take part in the exercises Artem had devised to keep the men and women in shape during the journey but he was always sent to sit down once the swords came out.
Not noticeably subdued by the multiple tellings-off he had received by so many he had lost count, he was thoroughly enjoying himself. He had even made friends with Susa Raknu.
The Susa of the Aikko liked his spirit and sense of adventure although his scolding had been the strictest of them all. It had reduced Mikey to so many tears that he had been repeatedly sick for an entire evening.
Tavin, to whose charge he had been placed had sighed resignedly and cleared away the vomit.
As well as sword work, the three were also learning how to ride. Katie and Kenlei were given this duty. As with the sword-work, there wasn’t much room available but the wide corridor on the middle deck was selected. They learnt how not to fall off. Falling off on to a metal deck hurt, especially if they fell sideways as the Lind swerved and stopped in the narrow space.
Tavin, being vadeln-paired with Whufflya found it far easier than the other two because of the mind-link. Mikey, who was matched with Slei, managed very well. He had natural balance and a knack of staying on no matter what contortions Slei managed to execute as he tried to dislodge his small rider.
For Max, mounted on Rsya, it was a different matter. He was a large, slightly plump young man and not used to hard exercise. He had never ridden a horse and had little sense of balance. Katie decided that before they reached journey’s end she would have to modify Rsya’s harness to include extra straps, which would hopefully keep him on her back when they landed and started travelling.
There was no place on board where they could practice firing their firearms. They went through the motions again and again until they could do it in their sleep. Thalia did dream about it once or twice. They could certainly all strip their firearm down, clean it, put it back together again and load it in the dark. Mikey was included in these lessons much to his delight. He proved very adept at taking them apart and putting them back together again.
It became a bit of a competition between the vadeln-pairs to see who was the fastest.
Thalia headed the leader board the majority of the time but Katie, Artem and Tavin ran her close and one of them managed to beat her perhaps once a tenday.
One day followed another.
One hundred and eighty days passed.
The only alteration in their routine was when the Susyc (the Susa of the Atacar
ino and commander of the defence group) ordered the four space ships to hide behind a moon whilst the two stranger space ships passed by. The hiding period lasted just over a day and a half. Everyone on board had to stay very quiet and the engines were shut down. With the ventilators off it got very stuffy and everyone became lethargic, even Mikey.
Once the strangers had gone everything was switched back on much to everyone’s relief and the four space ships took up the trail again.
On the one-hundredth and ninety-fourth day of their journey Vandiel was summoned to the command bridge.
The Brai had found the planet the strange space ships had been heading for.
* * * * *
“We Brai have visited this planet before,” said Raknu.
“When?” asked Vandiel.
“Well,” Raknu thought for a bit. “About three hundred or so xanus, at least that is what the records tell me. I’ve been studying them.”
“A lot could have happened on a planet in three hundred years.”
“Possibly. But the planet is located in a part of the galaxy not much travelled by us or any other, at least that was, as you know, what we thought … until now. You know that apart from humankind, and their sphere of influence is a great distance away, there are only two species that travel in space and around the galaxy, the Vlon and the Jus.”
“And I know the Jus have only travelled as far as the outskirts of their own Solar System. The Vlon?”
“Ah, they are rather more advanced but even they have not explored this far out and will not now. There were incidents in the past, they are not the most peaceable of creatures, when we Diaglon believed we would have to fight them but these days are gone. Remember, it was the Vlon who warned us. Some think that the warning might be a trap of some kind but I do not believe this is so.”
“The Vlon stay in their part of the galaxy and we stay in ours?”
“That’s about the sum of it.”
“Tell me what you know about this planet,” said Vandiel in his ‘tell me absolutely everything or you will regret it’ voice.
After Susa Raknu had given Vandiel a basic outline of what he knew and what he thought they would expect when they landed, he sent him to see Belu for more detailed information about the planetary surface.
* * * * *
“Is the planet safe for us all to spend a considerable time there without using these masks like the emergency ones we had on the Limokko?” asked Vandiel. He had been informed the air was safe to breathe but he wanted to be absolutely sure. He hadn’t understood much about the contents of the atmosphere when Susa Raknu had explained it and this worried him.
“Oxygen concentration is at twenty point two-two prozent, which is well above the minimum required for Lind, Diaglon and Humankind. As you will know (Vandiel didn’t), anything under nineteen point five prozent can be fatal to us although your systems can cope, but with difficulty,” answered Belu.
“What is it there?” asked Vandiel, who had understood, despite his lack of scientific knowledge, most of what he had been told so far.
“Slightly over twenty point nine seven,” answered Belu. “The other elements, and I will round the figures up, are seventy-seven prozent Nitrogen and one prozent Argon. There are only faint traces of Ammonia and Carbon Monoxide. Methane, Nitrogen Dioxide and Iodine, amongst others, were also identified during our survey and measured but the levels present are not dangerous. Water vapours are also within acceptable limits although you might find the climate slightly damper that you are used to.”
Vandiel had only understood about an eighth of Belu’s last paragraph. Belu had used his native language and it had been a very long time since he had studied any science.
He raised a hand in protest as Belu opened his mouth to continue his lecture.
“So it is breathable and will not harm us?” he asked.
“Isn’t that what I have just told you?” answered Belu, in Standard this time. “You can take your people and Lind there with a …”
“Clear conscience? That’s what I needed to know. Thanks Belu.”
Vandiel however, made no indication that the interview was over.
“Does more worry you Ryzcka Vandiel?” Belu asked.
“Well,” said Vandiel, considering. “We don’t know how long we are going to be there.”
“That is so.”
“I’ll admit that I’ve still got some worries about food supplies if we’re there for an appreciable time. Susa Malkum gave me to understand that if our proteins run out there are animals that are safe to eat but I would like to know more.”
“Naturally,” agreed Belu. “We Brai eat a lot.”
“As do the Lind.”
“I can tell you that these animals Susa Malkum was talking about come in two main types. The long brbsta type creatures we know a lot about. The Sbnai who did the survey sampled them and reported that they were safe to eat and tasty into the bargain.”
Belu’s tail twitched. The majority of the Diaglon may have been eons past the days when their ancestors lived in rough dagas and hunted prey (as did his own distant ancestors, the hunter gatherers of prehistoric Earth) but deep within their inner psyche that need to hunt lingered, much like the Lind, the Larg and indeed, humankind.
“As we know that what we can eat and what you, the Lind and the Larg can eat without undue effect are essentially the same, we can safely assume they can be caught and eaten by every one of us if necessary. There are also some small …”
Vandiel’s eyebrow rose. The Brai estimation of small might be anything from a hand-sized creature to one the size of a Larg but he forbore from making a comment. He might not understand many of the scientific words Belu was using but he was setting his worries to a manageable level.
“… four-legged ruminants in the area. Although the Sbnai did not eat any of them they did make tests.” He pulled over his data pad. “Let’s see, yes, the elements in their make up are hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, phosphorus, nitrogen and sulphur. Very like ours although not precisely the same.”
“It’s the ‘not precisely the same’ part that worries me.”
“Ryzcka Vandiel, there is nothing to worry about. We Brai are different in make up from you humans but the basic elements that form our bodies are the same, albeit in different proportions. The Lind and the Larg have a similar physiological make up. There is perhaps more calcium in what makes up of the creatures on the planet but that is actually a good thing. Calcium is good for bones and it makes wings strong. There is less magnesium, selenium and fluorine but that should not matter in the short term.”
Vandiel breathed a deep breath of relief. At least they wouldn’t starve.
* * * * *
“Listen up everyone,” commanded Vandiel some bells later. “This is important.”
You could have heard a pin drop in the silence that followed.
“Tomorrow we land on the planet.”
Present in the cabin were Vandiel himself and his four Vadryzkas, Cera, Thalia, Dafid and Jenna. Their Lind, and the other Lind vadeln-paired with those in the cabin were outside listening in. Also present were Artem and Jim. These six would brief those under their command.
Artem had been appointed Vandiel’s second. This wasn’t usual in the Vada. By tradition, the senior Vadryzka, in this case Cera would have taken command of the Ryzck if Vandiel was to fall but this wasn’t a normal campaign.
They were going to an unknown planet to search for an unknown ‘enemy’. They were carrying weapons untried in battle and as Mikey had said to his cousin Tavin that very morning, ‘having to go there is about as scary as the scariest thing could possibly be. Isn’t it Tavin?’
“Right,” continued Vandiel. “Plan of campaign. There are going to be six groups. The four Vadryz will obviously be the first four. The fifth, led by Artem and Larya includes Jim and Avdrya, Rsya, Slei and Jvldr. Headquarters group includes myself and Zandya, Katie and Kenlei, Anne and Danavdr who will set up the Holad with Lastair and
Saya, and the two artificers Tavin and Max. Whufflya will of course be with Tavin. I’ve thought long and hard about young Mikey. He’s young but after talking to Tavin and others we came to the conclusion that he will be better on the surface with us rather than being left alone on the Aikko getting into mischief. Monika has offered to keep an eye on him as has her Mlei. He has promised to behave.”
Vandiel pretended he hadn’t heard the derisive snort of laughter that Thalia tried to disguise as a sneeze. That very morning they had discovered that salt had been added to some of the sugar bowls in the dining area. The giggling culprit had not been hard to identify. Mikey had been banished to his and Tavin’s cabin for the rest of the day as a punishment. She had also heard that Mikey was sitting on a cushion, the direct and painful result of the other half of his punishment.
“Accompanying the headquarters group will be Belu from the crew. He will maintain communications with the Aikko and also run a sky watch during the daylight hours.”
“Is the Aikko not remaining with us on the surface?’ asked Thalia.
“No. We don’t know what kind of creatures are down there or what they’re capable of. The Aikko lands, we disembark and she leaves. The three verustas can defend the Aikko in space far easier than if she is like a sitting vuz on the planetary surface.”
“So we will be on our own?” asked Cera and realising she had just stated the obvious, looked embarrassed.
“Not completely alone,” Vandiel answered. “The Brai space ships have sensors and they’ll be keeping an eye out for us. Now, you’ve seen the maps of the surface. Unfortunately they are over three hundred years old so they will not be entirely accurate.”
“Where will we be landing?” asked Jim.
“Map please,” said Vandiel, knowing that the internal communications aboard the Aikko meant that the bridge crew knew exactly what they were doing and what was being said.
On cue, the screen behind Vandiel lit up and a map of a part of the surface was displayed. There was a large red dot blinking in the northwest corner.
“It’s pretty self-explanatory,” said Vandiel. “The Aikko will land there. You will notice that the dot is surrounded by heavy foliage. Once we have landed we head for the cover of the said foliage and set up our headquarters.”