Solbidyum Wars Saga Book 1: Battle of the New Orleans (6 page)

“
Tibby it is a great pleasure to meet you” Major Kalana began, “I understand you prefer to be called Tibby, is that correct?” 

“Yes ma
’am,” I replied, “either that or Tib, both are fine with me.  Most of my closer friends just call me Tib.”

“Well in that case, if you do not
object I will just call you Tib, and you may call me Kala, I hate being called Major.” She said with a smile.  “Do you have any personal possessions onboard the
TRITYTE
that you require?”

“No ma
’am… Ahh I mean Kala,” I stuttered… “I’m afraid I was not able to bring any personal positions with me other than those I am wearing.”

“
Ahh … interesting,” she said giving me a quick look over.  Then she continued.  “You must forgive me Tib if I seem overly curious at times… my specialty is that of a cultural attaché for dealing with the many planets, cultures and local government’s though out the Federation and outlying areas.  You of course are a new opportunity for me as we have no indications of ever having had contact with your planet before, so please excuse me if I say or do something that might offend you.  I will also be available to inform and guide you on elements of society and protocol on this ship and later when we make planet fall at the Capitol.  I suspect that things may seem a bit strange to you, but on the whole most of the planets and cultures within the Federation are very forgiving of indiscretions of protocol or social faux pas.   Now let me show you to your accommodation and get you settled.” She said as led me to the back of the hanger area with two of the troops preceding us and two falling in to our rear.

“Excuse me Kala, but am I a prisoner or being held for some crime or something?”  Kala stopped and looked at me strangely for a moment and then said.

“Ahh the guards and the ship escorts…. we forget you do not know the significance of the ship you arrived in nor the complications it creates for you and its safe transport to the Capitol.  To answer your question, no, you are not a prisoner, nor are you in any legal trouble... the escort ships and these troopers are for your protection just as the ones surrounding the ship are there to protect the ship.  Until we reach the Capitol and are able to make your status regarding the ship officially, you as well as this ship and all aboard are in potential danger.  I must ask that other than for a few officers on this ship that the Captain or I introduce you to, that you do not speak of where you are from nor mention the
TRITYTE
in anyway.  This is most important for the time being, we will explain it to you in full very shortly. In the meantime please be assured you are not in any trouble with our government nor are you a prisoner, but it is necessary for us to protect you for the moment and for you to keep secret the existence of the
TRITYTE
and especially its cargo.   While I cannot tell you at this moment how important this is, let it suffice to say that at the moment for anyone who has knowledge of you, the
TRITYTE ,
or its cargo being here, passing on information about it to anyone outside of official channels could result in their death.  It is that critical and serious, all of this will be explained to you very shortly.  I apologize that I cannot tell you more at this moment.”

By this time we had reached the far wall and at a nod from Kala one of the two guards standing by a door tuned and opened
it for us and we entered a small compartment with seats.  Kala took a seat and indicated that I do so also.  Two of the troopers also took seats but the other two attached themselves the end walls of the room by lines and eyelets so that they were both facing the door from both ends with weapons drawn.  Again I was having a very uneasy feeling and wondered if the ship was safe or if there were mutineers running about and the ship under siege.  Kala watched me and must have assessed my feelings as she smiled and said, “No Tib, the ship is not under siege, nor is there a mutiny going on… but if knowledge of the
TRITYTE
or its cargo or of you in relationship to the
TRITYTE
and we could be.  These men are here to protect you as well as the ship and its cargo at all costs, the order of importance is the cargo first, the ship second and you third… all the rest of us are expendable until all issues regarding you the ship and the cargo are resolved at the Capitol.  Oh, and one thing more Tib, if no one else has told you, you are the luckiest man in the entire universe, though at the moment you do not understand that, but soon you will.  I envy you Tib… and so will every other person in the galaxy once the news of all this breaks.”  As she was saying all of this I detected that the room had started to move, it was then that I noticed a small console in front of one of the seated troopers and realized we were in some sort of transport pod. 

It took a few minutes for our transport to reach its destination
, I had no idea where we went from or to and had no idea if we were in the middle of the
DUSTEN,
the top or the bottom of it, for all I knew we might have left the
DUSTEN
altogether.  But when the door opened and we disembarked into what seemed to be a very well decorated and furnished lobby area and people streaming about I felt we still were on the ship, Above the lobby area there appeared to be a skylight that showed a dark sky above, but just a bit below the Skylight there were numerous lights that emitted light at a daylight level, lighting the lobby area below.  With the two troopers still preceding us and two following we moved down a long and wide corridor a short way and then stopped at a door on one side.  Kala walked to a small panel by the door frame and placed the palm of her hand against a plate and muttered some phrase I didn’t understand then stepped back.  The door opened and we went through. 

Once we were through we found ourselves inside yet another corridor, this one smaller and for the most part empty of people.  There appeared to be a receptionist sitting at a desk in a small alcove to the side.  Kala approached the woman sitting there and spoke to her briefly.  The woman glanced at me then nodded as Kala
spoke; Kala then turned to me and asked me to come over to the reception desk.  The lady behind the desk asked me to press my right hand on a plate by her desk and to say my name.  I was then asked to provide a password that only I would know.  Both the lady and Kala walked away from the desk until I had done so and then returned when I was finished.  I was then asked to provide a “distressed” word to use in case of an emergency where someone may be trying to force me to use my password in a compromised situation.  In both cases I used words in English from earth that it was unlikely anyone here would know.  My password was catfish my favorite food, and the distress word was alligator.  Both creatures I would have found in the swamp back home and both words I would easily remember.

After this process was completed Kala and the
four troopers that I was starting to think of as the four horsemen of the apocalypse, [a reference to four mythical characters in a religious writing that bring about the end of the Earth], escorted me further down a hall and to another door guarded by two more armed guards in an enclosed guard station.  We were each required to present our palm prints at the guard station before the door was opened and then we moved a bit further into another corridor that was lavishly decorated, down an equally lavish corridor to a large set of double doors guarded by yet two more guards.  We were again required to present our palm for identification and the door was opened.

On the other side of the door was a huge space that I can only describe as opulent to the point of nearly being decadent
, it was obvious that great wealth had been spent and no luxury spared in its decoration.  It seemed to be both a living area for socializing.  I was amazed by the height of the ceiling as it must have gone up a good fifteen meters.  The furnishings in the room were definitely high class; elegant pictures adored the wall and sculptures and large potted plants adorned the area. We were barely inside the room when a small group of individuals assembled before us.  Kala said, “These will be your accommodations while you are with us on the
DUSTEN.   
This is the diplomatic section of the ship and these accommodations are setup for ambassadors and other visiting dignitaries requiring a personal staff and other living spaces.  You are to be treated as a top dignitary while you are with us and since you have no personal staff of your own one has been provided for you by the Federation.  These are your personal staff and it will be their job to see to your wishes and needs.  All of them hold the highest levels of security and training, but even so it is advised that you not discuss, with or in front of them, any of the details we discussed earlier.  This is the main or common room, all of this area inside the doors we just passed through is considered as a secure area for you to move about in.  All of the staff, your four body guards and me have quarters within this section.”  She then began introducing the staff to me and telling me each of their functions.

“This is
Piesew Mecarta, he is house majordomo, and needs or requests for anything or service should go through him,” she began” it will not be necessary for you to actually make any requests of the other staff unless there is an immediate or pressing need.” 

After this brief introduction Piesew Mecarta stepped forward and presented me with a small
wrist band with a button on the side that resembled a watch, Piesew Mecarta explained.  “This is a communication device that puts you directly in touch with me at any time.  To activate it simply press these two buttons like this between your two fingers and speak to me your wishes and I will immediately see that it is carried out.  If you require a beverage or a snack, or some item of clothing all you need do is ask and I will see that it is taken care of immediately. If any aspects of the accommodators are not to your liking we can change them for you.”

I took the device and after removing my wrist watch I placed in on my wrist
and then put the watch in my pocket.  Piesew Mecarta proceeded to introduce me to each of the staff telling me each of their functions as well. 

When he finished Kala said
, “My quarters will be right next to yours. Two of the body guards will always be stationed outside your door while the other two are off duty but still stationed here with your accommodation area. All of the staff will have access to your personal quarters, but will only be admitted with the presence of one guard.  The only exceptions to this will be with the Captain and myself as well as  two other officers of the ship who you will meet later.  No one else will ever be permitted in your quarters when you are there without at least one armed body guard present.”  I was becoming a bit overwhelmed with all the security around me and even more so by the level of opulence in the quarters I was being provided.  Kala and Piesew Mecarta, followed now by only two guards proceeded across the room and down yet another corridor with wood paneling and trim lined with paintings and tapestries at varying locations, along the long corridor wall only four doors could be seen two on one side the corridor and two on the other, spaces at about thirty meters apart.  It was to one of these doors that I was led.  Once again I was told to present my palm to the door, which immediately opened to allow me entrance, one of my guards stationed himself outside my door and the other entered with me, Kala and Piesew.

I do not know what I expected, but it was nothing that I had anticipated. My personal
accommodations were basically a huge suite of rooms.  There was a personal dining area, a luxurious bath facility, a private office/study, the bed chamber had to be at least one hundred twelve square meters in area and there were screens that mimicked windows with moving scenes on them that simulate country vistas that pleased the eye.  The detail was so clear and real that I felt if I broke one I could step through it into the out of doors.  Piesew explained that should I desire the views could be changed to suit any location on any planet or space itself and should I wish he would be most happy to assist in altering the view.  The bed itself was large enough to accommodate about five people and I began wondering what sorts of activities went on with ambassadors and dignitaries that required such a bed.  I mentioned to Piesew that I thought the bed a bit large and he said that a smaller one could be found to replace it if I were to provide him with an idea of the size bed I required…. I noted Kala looking at me as though she was curious to hear my reply, but I responded saying that the bed would be fine for now and I would let him know later if I wished it changed.

Piesew
also related to me that my quarters were equipped with a “safe room” only it was called a “safe-pod” and he showed the hidden door to access it.  I was told that in the event of an emergency where my life may be in danger to immediately enter the “pod” until all was safe. In the event the pod was discovered while I was inside there was a special “eject button” that would eject the pod into space where I would be rescued later.  All of this was becoming too much and the security around me seemed to be excessive even for a president.  What was making me so damn important anyway?  Piesew and the guard left the room but Kala remained.  She informed me that the captain would be meeting me in about two hours if I would like to freshen up and perhaps have a bite of food.   All of this sounded pretty good to me and I said that I could use a nice shower and a chance to clean my clothing.

“You do know that you need not continue wearing the same clothing
?” she said, “There is a complete wardrobe here for you with current fashions and styles from all across the Galaxy for you to wear.   I would be happy to assist you in selecting something for your meeting with the captain if you like.”