The Project

Chapter 22

The Project Chapter 22

Alex sat with Gruk and Kleg as they flew the spacecraft back to Fort Kamata just talking about their world.

"Fort Kamata was built on what our scientists think was part of a much larger planet," explained Kleg.

"There is an atmosphere of sorts, but the oxygen level is very low. It's also rather cold there as well."

"So what do you guys do?" Asked Alex, "Live underground and in domes?" Both Golians looked at him,

"Why yes, how did you know?" Asked Gruk.

"Oh just a wild guess," he replied. "Back on earth they're always talking about building a permanent settlement on our moon, we'd have to do the same thing."

"I see," replied Gruk. "Well in the case of the fort, as we call it, all the living areas are underground all that you see above the surface is a gigantic solar collector as well as a landing area. There are other facilities as well and as you mentioned, are all located under two large domes. Fort Kamata is strictly an outpost for this sector as well as a collection point for transshipments of goods and various ores."

"Is there any kind of military presence there?" Continued Alex, "What about raiders or space pirates?" Both Golians quickly dismissed his query,

"That's a subject we're not permitted it discuss with outsiders," said Kleg, "suffice to say that detail is "covered." Alex learned that both Golians were part of the Golian equivalent of the naval reserve working as pilots for the outpost.

"Technically we work for the Golian government," explained Gruk, but we are paid through the Oxynian trading company; out here they are one in the same."

Alex thought about that for a moment, then said,

"You know it's kind of interesting in that when the country I come from was still being explored, they would send companies of trappers out into the unexplored wilds to trap beaver for their pelts. The fur companies would establish posts or outposts in places where these trappers could bring their pelts and trade for things they needed. But basically they were hundreds of miles away from any civilization."

"Well we don't know about any of that," replied Kleg, but even as far as we are from Golia, we certainly don't feel isolated, something's always going on back at the fort."

"He's right," added Gruk, "Take you for example; when Zeb first alerted us that there were off-worlder's on Deneva everybody just about fell out of their chairs. It's not that we never expected to run across new faces but our universe is an old one and has long been established. Just be prepared for a lot of questions," then Gruk lowered his voice and asked.

"Is it really true that your planet would fight to the end?" Gruk's question puzzled Alex, but he answered it straightforwardly.

"You told me that your galaxy is filled with hundreds of planets," began Alex, "Now imagine that instead of separate planets, with different races and cultures, you had one planet where all these different races lived, what do you think would be the result?" Both Golians looked at each other with horrified faces.

"Bluk! Replied Kleg,

"I think we get the picture."

"I'm afraid the one thing we on earth do very well is make war on each other and do terrible things not only to our own people, but to others as well," continued Alex.

"Well in all fairness," said Gruk, "There are several planets that it is advisable not to travel to, and I'm sure our superiors will inform you of them. A lot of raiders come from these places, but our naval forces keep them pretty much contained."

Then Alex asked a question that had been on his mind ever since they landed on Deneva.

"I'd like to ask you guys a question but I'm not sure how to frame it. I don't want to insult anyone but back on my planet, we have what is called "science fiction." Basically it's speculation about what will happen in our future, as well as possible other races out here in space."

"We're listening," replied Gruk.

"Are there any races that look more like animals, you know vicious attitudes, big teeth, monsters, in other words beings that don't resemble us. You know, races that don't walk around on two legs have two arms, hands and fingers?" Both Golians leaned back in their seats and grinned.

"Yes," replied Kleg, there are a few races like that, but they aren't traveling around in space." Leaning forward, he added.

"You see my friend, in order to do what we do, you need a superior intelligence, which is not to say that some of these races aren't smart, but their physical construction doesn't permit them to design and construct spacecraft, or develop enlightened societies. We told you about certain races that maintain hostile attitudes but they are all humanoids like us. Now perhaps many thousands of yeans from now they will have reached a stage of development that will permit them to venture forth into space or make something of their societies, who's to say?"

By this time Kelly and Bria had woken and were hungry.

"Say whatcha got to eat on this ship?" Asked Kelly.

"Yeah," added Bria, "I could use something to eat as well." Both Golians chuckled,

"Well we've got a nice supply of eabak on board, it's not as good as fresh made, but it's practically our national dish," explained Gruk, "Kleg, be a nice fellow and fix our hungry passengers some eabak." All three passengers looked wary at the offer, but it sounded like that was about all there was to eat.

"I've got an MRE," said Alex. Both Gruk and Kleg gave him a suspicious look.

"What's the matter?" Asked Gruk, "Don't like our food?" Well instead of putting food into it, Alex had put his foot in his mouth.

"Well…If you insist," he muttered.

"We do, replied Gruk, relax, it's nothing bad tasting or alive, just let Kleg make some, you'll see."

"Well it smelled good anyway," thought Alex. The food came in packages that looked very similar to MRE packages, Kleg opened three of them and mixed everything in a metallic looking container, then placed it in what Alex assumed was some sort of oven, probably their equivalent of a microwave. When the Golian doled it out it looked a hot potato salad but there were all sorts of things in the mixture. Both he and Kelly looked with apprehension at what they were about to eat, but Bria shrugged, and dug right in.

A big smile came over her face as she looked at Kleg and smiled.

"Say this is really good, it's almost like "Hemga," a lot of the miners take it for their mid-day meal, it really fills your belly and sticks with you." Bria continued to work on her serving so both Alex and Kelly dug in as well. Once again Kleg heard rave reviews from both.

"So what's in this?" Asked Kelly.

"Well," replied Kleg, "There's tabtag's, iza's, uh, ursil, pimag's and mupil's.

The dish is seasoned with apsal, adash, lumen's, chibat's lum, and kekka."

He then pointed to the various ingredients which Alex recognized as potatoes, onions, carrots, turnips and what appeared to be shrimp. The rest were spices like salt and pepper, along with some sort of hot sauce. All three cleaned their bowls with what looked like large spoons with three tines on the lip of the spoon.

"Keep in mind," explained Kleg, what you just ate was packaged for long term storage, you haven't eaten eabak until you've eaten it fresh.

"Say I owe you guys a big apology," announced Alex, "This stuff is really good,"

"Can we get a recipe?" added Kelly. Kleg just laughed,

"When we get to the fort, you can get as many recipes as you like, everyone seems to have one, like I said, eabak is our national dish, everyone fixes it a little differently."

To pass the time, Kelly taught everyone how to play poker, as well as "Pitch," so that by the time they arrived at Fort Kamata, Bria, as well as the Golians could play decently. Alex was asleep when they reached the fort so he didn't get to see the approach to the planet. Once they had landed, Gruk directed Bria to the proper office where she could receive her travel visa and set up her Oxynia account. Alex and Kelly on the other hand were escorted by both Golians to Deev Mocon's office where Mocon, along with two other Golians waited. Deev made the introductions,

"Greetings outworlders, my name is Deev Mocon; I'm the Oxynian director for this sector. This is Ilmi Krex, and Dryl Gwisk, representatives of the Golian central government." Both Alex and Kelly shook their hands as they sat down in the offered chairs.

"Word has reached us that you two are from outside the Oxynian Empire would you mind explaining to us how and why you are here?" Both Alex and Kelly felt like they were being put on the spot, but Alex began with just the facts.

"Well my name is Alex Russom, and this is Kelly Parkinson. We are from the planet earth. We are traveling with two androids named Arna and Garmik. Currently they are on the planet Xindus with a trade delegation from Deneva and Doradus looking to restart some sort of manufacturing on Xindus." The female Golian identifying herself as Ilmi, then spoke.

"Xindus, isn't that the planet where the droids revolted and now run everything?" Alex nodded,

"They are all out of work; Arna and Garmik are trying to help them get production going again."

"I've been reading some of the preliminary reports Zeb is sending me, seems like they have a lot to offer, and he's recommending that we consider it for a manufacturing hub for this sector."

Returning to Alex, Ilmi asked,

"So how come we haven't heard of you "earthling's before?"

"Probably because we don't have real space travel yet," he replied. "We send out unmanned probes, and have a small space station orbiting our planet, but other than that we don't get around much."

"So how did you come to be with these androids?" asked Ilmi. Alex gave her a quick explanation of Arna, Gideon Tate, the Karla-Ann, and the Neistra. Dryl Gwisk looked at Ilmi, and said,

"Now there's a name I haven't heard of in awhile," Ilmi agreed.

"So what about them?" Asked Kelly, "Are they good or bad?" Both Golians chuckled,

"I'm afraid you are going to have to define "good and bad," this is really going back, but for awhile, they were trying to compete with Oxynia, and almost beat them out, but in the end, Oxynia won out with lower overhead, and a superior payment set-up. As far as I am aware, they are still around."

"They are," added Deev, "But there is a lot of animosity between us, we don't trade with them, and I think they have their own arrangement with a few non-aligned worlds or something like that."

"Tell us about this "earth" Mr. Russom," asked Dryl. Alex tried to think of something positive, but in the end gave up and went with the description he had given Gruk and Kleg.

"I understand this Golian empire of yours is made up of a lot of different races and such. Well imagine just one planet made up of countries instead of planets, that's earth." This commentary brought forth looks of disbelief from the officials.

"And your planet is still in one piece?" Asked Deev.

"Well just barely," replied Alex, "everyone's got nuclear weapons and are always threatening to blow their enemies up. I'm afraid the one thing we're really good at is starting wars." This admission brought more looks of horror.

"So tell us," said Ilmi, "What would happen if we were to land on your planet?"

Alex wasn't so sure about this on, looking to Kelly for support; all he got was an indifferent shrug.

"Well I guess it depends on where you land," he replied. "There are a lot of people on earth that think we are all alone in the galaxy, then are others that are just waiting for races like you to show up. If that's what you really want to do, I'd park myself in orbit over earth and talk to someone like NASA, that's our space agency. I'd also hint that you have the ability to blow up the whole planet should you decide to land in an unfriendly country and they kill or capture whoever it is you send."

Both Ilmi and Dryl studied Alex and Kelly for a moment, then replied,

"That bad eh? Well tell us; is there anything worth trading with your planet?"

"Hard to say," He replied, "I don't know what you're after, and earth is so far away, whatever it was would really have to be worth it I guess."

"By the way," said Dryl, "Where exactly is earth?"

"Umm I've got the coordinates here on my phone," said Kelly. She then pulled her phone out of her back pocket and played with it for a moment.

"Yeah, here it is…Sector 000658000, Quadrant 765007, Mega 126002, Keva 6000466."

"That's the old navigational system," said Dryl, but in some places it's still used, you say this Arna and Gideon came from the planet Z'ha'dum? That was part of the old Neistra consortium so it's no wonder you're still using the old navigational system. However we can translate it easy enough."

"Well we thank you two for the information," said Deev, "So what are your plans?"

"Well Bria really needs medical help, and we will be looking for a place that might be able to treat her. And being new to space travel as well as this galaxy, we'd just like to travel around and explore."

"I see," replied Mocon. "Well let me throw out a couple of names that are part of the Oxynian trading company, Skye Eda, that's the closest to here, then there's Ugar, and Vla Glissa, they are well out into the Proxima 3 quadrant. Obviously, you two will need proper identification, how do you plan to pay for all this?"

"Well, replied Alex I've got a little gold from Deneva, but honestly I'm not real sure."

"Well we can issue you a work permit, as well as "flag" your ship if you plan to do any transporting, but be warned, transporting any illegal or contraband items will land you in prison, and get your ship confiscated."

"I understand," replied Alex, "I'm also sure Arna is aware of all that as well."

"Before you begin any journey," added Deev, make sure you bring your ship here to Fort Kamata, so we can examine it and give you a license, as well as issue you proper credentials."

"We will be sure to do that, replied Alex.