The Black Planet (35 page)

Chapter 78

Steven joined the ambassador for breakfast.  It was a routine they had got into over their many months of travel together.  The two had become firm friends as they travelled round the great city ship and worked on repairing it.  Most of the engineers had left the ship the day before.  Behind them in close formation the main Earth Battle Fleet cruised.

‘Today is the big day then Steven.’

‘It certainly is sir.’

‘So its sir again is it?’

‘For today.’

‘And tomorrow you will be able to call me chief.’  The two laughed easily together.  Of course the ambassador had to ask, ‘so where is the freak today?’

Steven grinned, ‘I have no idea where Charlie is today.  Probabily out running round the deck somewhere.’

The ambassador shuddered, ‘you really need to hide him away.  If anyone finds out he can read minds we are all in the shit.’

‘You know damn well we can’t do that.  We need him at that ceremony.’

‘To read the mind of my emperor, no doubt to make sure that he isn’t lying.’

‘Exactly.’

‘Well god help the lot of you if he ever finds out.’

‘We will be careful and it’s a onetime deal only.  Even my own command don’t know about Charlie.  You found out by accident.’

The ambassador had fell down a deep shaft.  It was so deep and narrow that he could barely breathe he certainly couldn’t shout out.  Charlie had heard his distressed mind and had come to his rescue.  It had taken a little time for the ambassador to work out how Charlie had found him, but he had in the end.  Despite his reservations, they had become firm friends and the ambassador was genuinely concerned for his safety.

As they were finishing their morning coffee Komoru appeared, she had been doing the night shift and was tired.  She chatted for five minutes and went to bed.  Their next visitor was Lady Jane with a list of the day’s itinerary and a list of protocols that had to be observed.  Even the ambassador was cowed by her manner.  He waited until she left.

‘Has anyone bedded that witch yet?’

Steven grinned, ‘not yet, but Charlie says he thinks she has the hots for Kelly.’

The ambassador grinned, ‘well if any man can handle that, it has to be Kelly.’

Their communicators began to buzz.  ‘Damn it,’ cursed the ambassador.  He looked straight at Steven, ‘this is the last time we will be able to do this in these surroundings my friend.’

‘I know, I am going to miss these mornings.’

‘As am I.’

By mid-day they had entered the great barrier.  It wasn’t as thick as Steven thought it would be and by mid-afternoon they had cleared it.  The clouds of dust parted to reveal a great Modloch battle fleet waiting for them.  For a moment Stevens’s heart leapt into his mouth.

‘It’s ok Charlie,’ murmured at his side.

Steven let go a long breath.  They were all dressed up in their finery.  The soldiers in theirs, Komoru in a cherry blossom Kimono.  Steven was in the Kilt and the ambassador in a long flowing white gown type of thing that Babes had made for him. 

Steven sent word to the fleet behind them and within an hour both fleets had come to a standstill.  The ceremonies began.  Mya was going to be one of the very first presented to the Emperor.  After the initial introductions the emperor would board the city ship for the hand over ceremonies.  Once they were completed the emperor would take possession of his new ship and both fleets would travel to the Modloch home world.

‘It going to be a long day sighed the Ambassador.’

Steven found himself smiling, it would be a long day, but it would be a great day. The beginning of a new dawn for mankind the beginning of a new adventure.

The End