SWEET HOME ALLE BAMMA (SOLBIDYUM WARS SAGA) (21 page)

Marranalis and his troops successfully secured the main areas of the
URANGA
and ushered the admiral and his surviving staff to a patrol ship that returned them to the
NEW ORLEANS
without incident.  After settling back into the command center, the admiral reviewed vids of the incident and read reports that starting pouring in from various debriefings that were underway.  When he felt comfortable that he was fully informed as to the known scope of the incident, we resumed our conversation about the following day’s events on Plosaxen.

“For security reasons it’s obviously best that we wait until morning to shuttle to the surface.  Once we’re there, I’m primarily concerned about the parade
.  That sort of venue leaves us pretty vulnerable and I don’t want to walk into a situation where we’re sitting targets.”

“I think I can help you there,” offered A’Lappe, “but we’ll need to borrow the 10X fusion reactor that’s intended for the
URANGA
for a few hours.”

“You want us to move the 10X reactor off the ship and back again?  You don’t think that will be rather obvious?” I said.

“We won’t be moving it off the ship; in fact, we won’t need to move it at all.  What we will do is connect it to the
NEW ORLEANS
’ RMFF system in place of the solbidyum reactor, which we can temporarily relocate to one of the surface transports we have here on the ship.  The admiral can insist to Senator Tacfacs that we must use our own ground transport for the parade.  We can easily install the small prototype RMFF system that I have developed for the Mirage Fighters and power it with the solbidyum reactor to provide a safe shield around the transport at all times.  I can install a control switch that will allow us to tailor the field so it is as close as a few millimeters beyond the vehicle’s exterior, as it will need to be on the underside during the parade, while it is as far as two meters away at the top and sides.  To the crowd everything will appear normal; but if anyone should attempt to fire at you, you’ll remain perfectly safe.”

“I don’t know that I’m too keen on taking the solbidyum reactor off the
NEW ORLEANS
, but it’s highly unlikely anyone will even consider the possibility that we’ve done so, much less find out once we’re there,” I said.  “We can immediately reinstall it when we get back and then deliver the 10X reactor to the
URANGA
as originally planned.  We’re taking a risk, but I don’t see that we have a lot of alternatives that will guarantee our safety.  What do you think, Admiral?”

“I don’t like the idea of the solbidyum reactor leaving the safety of the
NEW ORLEANS
either, but I agree; it’s unlikely anyone will suspect anything, since its existence is pretty much unknown to all but a very few Federation officials.”

“Okay then
, its settled.  Do what you have to, A’Lappe, but limit the number of people who know about it and use only those technical personnel with the highest levels of security.”

The next morning Kala and I met with Admiral Regeny for a quick breakfast.  Other than for a slight scratch and slight bruise on his forehead, there was little sign of his having been near the explosion on the
URANGA
.  The admiral was in the process of telling us about the incident when word came in from Marranalis on the
URANGA
,
reporting that the Special Ops team had managed to locate and capture the bomber.  They had also located and disarmed a second bomb planted on the opposite side of a bulkhead to the bridge, just as A’Lappe had surmised.  The remainder of the ship had been cleared, including the transports and shuttles.  The bomber was being questioned by some of Marranalis’ investigative detail and the rest of the team was being dispatched to the surface to set up security along the parade route.

I harbored some doubt that A’Lappe would be able to accomplish all that he had suggested, as far as moving the reactors and installing the RMFF on the transport in time for our departure for the planet.  However, when Kala, the admiral and I met him in the hangar, A’Lappe advised that the solbidyum reactor and RMFF installation for ground transport was completed
and tested and that the transport was already loaded into the small freighter that awaited us in the hangar.  Six patrol ships were manned and ready to escort us to the surface.  The admiral, Kala, Marranalis and I would ride inside the ground transport with the RMFF shield on while still in the freighter cargo hold, just in case of an attack on the ship.  Even if the ship were blown up, the RMFF shield would protect the four of us and we would be safe.  Fortunately, the trip to the surface went smoothly and there was no sign of attackers.

The ground transport was a vehicle similar in size to a vehicle we had on Earth called a
stretch
limousine
.  The sides and a large portion of the top were retractable, so the crowd could see us as we moved along the parade route.  A’Lappe assured us that even with the top and sides open, the RMFF shield would remain effective.

The capital city on Plosaxen was similar in features to the major cities back on Earth.  The metropolitan areas were defined by tall buildings, endless traffic and crowds of people.  The streets were a bit wider than those seen on Earth and there were no traffic lights.  Instead, each vehicle was equipped with an electronic device that was synchronized with an automated traffic control system, which slowed and stopped vehicles at intersections and regulated the alternating flow of traffic on perpendicular streets.  The system was remarkably simple and traffic accidents at intersections were virtually nonexistent.

I was reminded of my first trip to the capitol on Megelleon as we made our way through the city.  The crowds that lined the streets were even denser; and the banners, flags and confetti were as abundant as the ecstatic cheers and waving from the citizens.

We were about half way through the parade route when the assault on the transport took place.  One moment all was normal, and in the next the entire transport was suddenly enveloped in what I can only describe as a virtually silent bubble of blinding white light.  There were several such bursts before something struck the field with a loud explosion and a ball of fire consumed the space surrounding the transport.  Between the bursts of light and fire I could see people fleeing, some falling to the street wounded, and others stumbling in their haste to escape.  Kala’s first reaction was to want to jump out of the transport to help the fallen and injured.  I had to struggle to hold her back and repeatedly remind her that the RMFF shield could harm her if she tried to pass through it.

The field lit up again, as another volley of fire was absorbed.  Then, just as suddenly as it began, everything stopped and all was quiet, save for the cries of the injured and fleeing citizens.  Troopers appeared from the leading and trailing security vehicles to take up positions around the transport.  By means of a headset and the com system inside the transport, Marranalis was able to communicate with the troopers, who directed us to stay in place for the moment.  A few seconds later the voice of Major Sokaia came across the com system to report that the attackers were in custody and emergency units were already arriving to triage and transport the injured.  The scene was secure and it was now safe for us to move forward.

I gave Marranalis a questioning look and he said, “I sort of anticipated
that something like this might happen, so I had most of the Special Ops troops sent planetside several hours early to assume stations along the route.”

“Good job,” I said and slapped him on the shoulder.

“That’s amazing,” exclaimed the admiral.  “You were able to corner and capture the assailants within just a few minutes of the attack.  I never would have believed it possible had I not seen it.”

“Just think what it will be like when every star ship in the fleet is carrying about 200 of these Special Ops troopers
,” I said.

“Yes, indeed… and when all my troopers are trained in martial arts, as well…yes, indeed,”
the admiral said as he grinned and reclined in his seat.

As a precautionary measure to prevent further threat to the citizens, the parade was cut short; but we maintained our visibility before the citizens from a safe distance as everyone dispersed
. This visibility asserted the Federation’s unwavering presence in spite of the assault.  Marranalis continued to direct his teams and track their deployments on his vid pad maps while we maintained this posture; and I did my best to reassure Kala, who still wanted to help injured citizens, that medical personnel were on their way and would be better able to care for them – that and the fact that our presence could serve to put more people in danger if the Brotherhood tried to attack us again.  When I said that, Kala relented; but I could see the concern on her face for those who were injured.  Within an hour we were able to return to the
NEW ORLEANS
to quickly debrief and watch the news broadcasts of the incident.

If the Brotherhood had hoped to advance their cause in the eyes of the people by eliminating the admiral and me with their attack, they failed drastically.  While the rest of the parade was canceled the news media was ablaze with vid broadcasts of scenes and comments about the attack.  It was quickly noted by the media that some sort of “secret force field” had been employed by the Federation to protect the ground transport and
that the attackers were apprehended with unprecedented efficiency and skill by “an equally elite and hitherto undisclosed group of specially trained troopers.”  The overall message presented by the media was one of powerfully demonstrated Federation superiority, where the Federation was not just on top of the situation at hand but consistently one step ahead of the Brotherhood, an organization that was clearly revealing itself to be nothing more than a band of rebel terrorists.

Admiral Regeny played his role to the hilt when interviewed by the press, hinting that the Federation had advanced knowledge of plans for a potential attack by the Brotherhood and expressing his concern for the citizens who suffered injuries as at the hands of these violent criminals, who clearly had no regard for the welfare of the people of Plosaxen.  When asked about the inability of the weapons fired by the Brotherhood to harm those inside the confines of the transport, the admiral simply said, “That information is classified,” and moved on to the next question – an approach that put forward an air of strength, control and resolve.

Kala was relieved to also hear in the reports that all injured parties were expected to make a full recovery.

“Well,” Kala said as we were watching the vid-casts, “it certainly seems that whole situation worked out to our advantage.”

“Yes,” I said, “and I think we all owe A’Lappe and Cantolla a measure of gratitude and recognition.  Had it not been for A’Lappe’s inventions and the combined efforts of the two of them over the last two days, we would most likely all be dead now.  As it is, in the minds of the citizens of the Federation – and probably those of many non-aligned planets – the Brotherhood is not a friend of the people; their organization is made up of traitors, liars and violent criminals.  Hopefully this incident will lead to desertions from their ranks, at least in this sector of space.  In just a few days the solbidyum reactor will be commissioned here and Senator Tacfacs can announce that the delivery has taken place as promised by the Federation.  At that point, I suspect the Brotherhood will flee this area to concentrate on another planetary system where they can establish their footing.

“
Since numerous Federation vessels arrive here daily, hopefully no one – particularly the press – will assume that the
NEW ORLEANS
was the ship that delivered the solbidyum, though I’m sure there will be at least some speculation of that nature.  If we can continue to implement the GW pod deliveries as planned and successfully commission solbidyum power distribution on a few dozen planets in different sectors, especially on planets far removed from anywhere the
NEW ORLEANS
has travelled, I think the idea that we’re the ones delivering the solbidyum will vanish.  By that time we‘ll hopefully not be needed for deliveries at all anymore.”

The normal calm of the ship was broken suddenly, when alarms again sounded and Captain Stonbersa’s voice came over the com links.  “All crew members, respond to battle stations.  We are under
 attack - I repeat we are under attack.  The RMFF is deflecting fire.  There are no reports of damage to the
NEW ORLEANS
.  Repeat – there are no reports of damage and the RMFF is deflecting fire from the assailants.”

Fortunately, Kala and I were near the bridge when the alarm sounded.  I left Kala to communicate with her staff
.  I entered the bridge by the time the captain finished his announcement.

“Ah, Tibby, you’re here.  Good. What do you make of all this?”  Stonbersa said sweeping his arm toward the view screen.  Three patrol ships could be seen speeding toward the
NEW ORLEANS
and attacking with every weapon they had.  Flashes of light filled the screen and streaks of energy played around the RMFF field but nothing came even remotely close to penetrating the shields.

“Just three ships?” I asked.

“That’s all we’ve seen so far,” replied Stonbersa.

“When they come about on their next sweep, wait until they pass by and then activate the cloaking device just at the point where you think they lose visual contact with us.  Then move us in the opposite direction far enough that they don’t fly into us but so we are still within sight of them.  If I’m right, they will linger a bit and then head for home, wherever that is.  Follow them discretely while cloaked and let’s see where they lead us,” I said.