Lakor5. He drove off in the direction they came from and the rest of his procession followed. Jumper and Alan were left alone again.
Alan checked the central compartment of their 2-seater.
“Our clothes are still here.”
“I’d rather have that big off-trailer,” Jumper said. “Oh, well. Let’s go home.”
Chapter Three
The High General gazed out his large circular window before tossing back his tube of Redflower-20. When the effects of it subsided, he turned back to his guest.
“The governor specifically requested I bring you with me. It’s been a long time since he had foreign visitors. The alien fleet moored at the station is big enough to make him squeamish, even after I ordered our patrols tripled. Nineteen transport ships, all of which we assume are loaded with fighters. The other alien fleet over Amulen is roughly the same size. I don’t have to tell you how serious this is.”
Brandon smiled in response and took his drink as well. He was sitting in the medium-sized leather chair and looked rather comfortable. At that moment, Olut6 realized he wasn’t coming.
Brandon spoke. “I’m not a military man, General. You know that. Whatever the trouble is, I’m confident you and Mip7 will handle it. He’s a very experienced foreign relations delegate.”
“You—and him—are two of the best military men I’ve ever known. I realize it’s not an experience either of you wish to relive. But he did seem adamant that you come.”
“And I will come, General. But I have business on Amulen first.”
“Urgent business?”
“I fear so. With two alien fleets having arrived, including troops on the ground at C3, I’m concerned over the security of our situation there. It’s a little too close for comfort, just one continent away.”
Olut6 nodded. “The contaminated network?”
“Yes,” Brandon said. “It’s been 25 years. The culture should be fully developed and ready to deploy.”
“Almost 25 years,” Olut6 pointed out.
“Close enough, hopefully. I can’t help but feel the current disturbance on Amulen is a danger to all human life there. We need to get the rest of our people off that planet—all of them.”
“Do you think they’ll all agree to leave?” Olut6 asked.
Brandon slowly stood up. “Yes. Yes, I think they will now. The time has come. There’s nothing there for them anymore, and the atmospheric deterioration is becoming too much of a health hazard. Those few who remain have been living in denial, but even they must now admit the end has arrived. Especially with alien battles taking place so close by. That could prove to be a blessing to us.”
“When can I tell the governor to expect you?”
“I don’t know, General. Soon, hopefully.”
Olut6 turned back to the window. “Mip7 claims no knowledge of the light orb that was seen moving upon the station last night.”
Brandon came over next to him and said, “Do you believe him?”
“No, I don’t think I do. He seemed …aloof when I asked him about it.” Olut6 looked down at Brandon. “Do you believe him?”
Brandon hesitated before answering and stared up at the early evening sky. Olut6 looked back up as well. The light from Cardinal-4 was becoming visible next to the great white sphere that was Amulen.
“No,” Brandon finally said. “I don’t believe I do.”
*
“I heard you guys spent a wild night out.”
Jumper turned toward the familiar, sweet voice—although he knew from experience how quickly it could turn from sweet to stinging when provoked.
“Hey, Kayla. Did Alan open his big mouth and tell you all about our trip?”
“Ha-ha, no. But it sounds like maybe I should say yes, and trick you out of the juicy details. I just know you guys always have a wild time when you’re gone overnight.”
“It was a little wild. Going for a swim?”
“Ooooo, aren’t you smart. Figured that out, did you?” Kayla threw her towel in Jumper’s face.
“Well, your wetsuit looks kind
Alan checked the central compartment of their 2-seater.
“Our clothes are still here.”
“I’d rather have that big off-trailer,” Jumper said. “Oh, well. Let’s go home.”
Chapter Three
The High General gazed out his large circular window before tossing back his tube of Redflower-20. When the effects of it subsided, he turned back to his guest.
“The governor specifically requested I bring you with me. It’s been a long time since he had foreign visitors. The alien fleet moored at the station is big enough to make him squeamish, even after I ordered our patrols tripled. Nineteen transport ships, all of which we assume are loaded with fighters. The other alien fleet over Amulen is roughly the same size. I don’t have to tell you how serious this is.”
Brandon smiled in response and took his drink as well. He was sitting in the medium-sized leather chair and looked rather comfortable. At that moment, Olut6 realized he wasn’t coming.
Brandon spoke. “I’m not a military man, General. You know that. Whatever the trouble is, I’m confident you and Mip7 will handle it. He’s a very experienced foreign relations delegate.”
“You—and him—are two of the best military men I’ve ever known. I realize it’s not an experience either of you wish to relive. But he did seem adamant that you come.”
“And I will come, General. But I have business on Amulen first.”
“Urgent business?”
“I fear so. With two alien fleets having arrived, including troops on the ground at C3, I’m concerned over the security of our situation there. It’s a little too close for comfort, just one continent away.”
Olut6 nodded. “The contaminated network?”
“Yes,” Brandon said. “It’s been 25 years. The culture should be fully developed and ready to deploy.”
“Almost 25 years,” Olut6 pointed out.
“Close enough, hopefully. I can’t help but feel the current disturbance on Amulen is a danger to all human life there. We need to get the rest of our people off that planet—all of them.”
“Do you think they’ll all agree to leave?” Olut6 asked.
Brandon slowly stood up. “Yes. Yes, I think they will now. The time has come. There’s nothing there for them anymore, and the atmospheric deterioration is becoming too much of a health hazard. Those few who remain have been living in denial, but even they must now admit the end has arrived. Especially with alien battles taking place so close by. That could prove to be a blessing to us.”
“When can I tell the governor to expect you?”
“I don’t know, General. Soon, hopefully.”
Olut6 turned back to the window. “Mip7 claims no knowledge of the light orb that was seen moving upon the station last night.”
Brandon came over next to him and said, “Do you believe him?”
“No, I don’t think I do. He seemed …aloof when I asked him about it.” Olut6 looked down at Brandon. “Do you believe him?”
Brandon hesitated before answering and stared up at the early evening sky. Olut6 looked back up as well. The light from Cardinal-4 was becoming visible next to the great white sphere that was Amulen.
“No,” Brandon finally said. “I don’t believe I do.”
*
“I heard you guys spent a wild night out.”
Jumper turned toward the familiar, sweet voice—although he knew from experience how quickly it could turn from sweet to stinging when provoked.
“Hey, Kayla. Did Alan open his big mouth and tell you all about our trip?”
“Ha-ha, no. But it sounds like maybe I should say yes, and trick you out of the juicy details. I just know you guys always have a wild time when you’re gone overnight.”
“It was a little wild. Going for a swim?”
“Ooooo, aren’t you smart. Figured that out, did you?” Kayla threw her towel in Jumper’s face.
“Well, your wetsuit looks kind
Similar Books
