Angelika Queen Of Mars

Chapter 20

Chapter 20 Grave and Serious Charges

We were taken to a room where we were told to wait, immediately; we all started asking each other who had done what to bring the government down on us.

"Don't look at me," exclaimed Jeff, "I didn't start any fights, accost any women much less meet any. The only…Oh s**t!…Do you suppose?"

"What are you talking about?" I quickly asked,

"Remember those, what were they…Oh yeah, Amulins. Gerry and I just talked to them, we…" Suddenly the inner door opened, and a very angry Falthian, who I was sure was another government official called out.

"You three in here!" We quickly followed him into another room where he pointed to some chairs and snapped,

"Sit!" We were on the "hot seat," that's for sure, and I was starting to get scared.

Waving what looked like a folder, the Falthian glared at us as he spoke.

"My name is Darnorick Torrick the Foreign Affairs minister. Right now, I've got the Amulian ambassador in the other room screaming about "spy's" and Kagorians asking about secret projects, as well as things they have no business knowing, now normally, you four would be in prison right now, however, I decided that something about this whole affair isn't right, so I had you brought here in hopes that you can explain. And I warn you, this better be good."

I stood up and began to explain,

"Sir, I honestly have no idea as to why we are here, we can't think of any reason why we are here, we've done nothing that any of us can think of to stir up the Amulins."

The foreign affairs minister gave the four of us a hard look, then said,

"Ambassador Skamma is claiming that you were showing drawings you had made of some of their spacecraft, is this true?"

"So that was it?" I thought. Those Amulin pilots must have run right back home and squealed on us.

"Sir," I replied, "Would it be possible to speak to the Amulian ambassador in person, I think I can explain this to everyone's satisfaction. Please, let us talk to him." Mr. Torrick thought a moment, then disappeared into the next room for several minutes before returning with what was obviously the Amulin ambassador.

He was somewhat taller than Mr. Torrick a pointed face with yellow eyes and a very serious expression. He immediately approached us waiving the piece of paper Jeff and Gerry had shown to the Amulian pilots.

"Who drew these sketches?" he demanded. Both men stood right up,

"We did sir, but we haven't been spying on you, we've been in the company of Falthian marines practically the whole time we've been on this planet," stated Jeff.

"I think I can explain this, if you will only listen," added Gerry, who then went right into his explanation.

"Those sketches are what we term "flying saucers," back on Kagor. People have reported seeing them for years in the skies over earth or Kagor as you call it."

All four of us then went into lengthy explanations describing the concept of "flying saucers," the famous crash at Roswell New Mexico.

The sightings of strange little "men," near Hopkinsville Kentucky, and the air force's project "Blue Book." We had both men listening which was good; they weren't trying to have us thrown in jail. I made the closing remarks,

"So you see Mr. ambassador, those sketches were simply drawn from memory, none of us have ever seen these things, and as I told you, going around telling everybody you've seen flying saucers is a sure fire way to make people think you're crazy."

"You've got a lot of people who don't believe in them, then another group that does, and then a third group that doesn't know what to think. Were you to go to Kagor, and ask people what a "flying saucer," was they would draw you a very similar picture." At this point, the Amulian ambassador was very confused, asking to speak to the foreign affairs minister in private. We were asked to step out of the room for a moment while they conferred.

"We're so sorry LT," offered Jeff, "We had no idea that just drawing pictures would get us into all this trouble."

"I think I know what's going on here," I replied, "But let's see what they come up with first." Several minutes later, we were called back into the conference room and it appeared that both ambassadors had calmed down and weren't scowling anymore.

The Amulin ambassador spoke first,

"So you swear that you sketches are strictly composite drawings?'

"Absolutely," I quickly replied, "We are not spy's sir, just humans trying to do the right thing. If you're worried that someone saw something they weren't supposed to see, wheel that's water under the bridge now, all that happened over sixty years ago, and I assure you Mr. Ambassador no one on earth really cares, it certainly isn't something you go around advertising." The ambassador actually looked embarrassed over his tirade, but then asked,

"Would it be possible for you to find reports and pictures of these incidents?" I smiled,

"I can certainly do that sir, but right now we are sorta tied up with this training project, and it might be awhile before I return to Kagor. Besides, anything I could dig up would all be in English and you wouldn't be able to read any of it."

The Amulian ambassador then turned to the Falthian foreign affairs minister.

"Kagor seems to be your concern of late, but would you consider allowing one or two of our people access to Kagor to amass this data?" When he said this, I saw an opportunity, and spoke right up.

"Sir, my great grandfather's house in the Black Hills has been serving as a sort of way station lately, I would be more than happy to house any Amulins that came, set them up with a computer, show them how to use it, feed, and house them, and offer any assistance they might need. I would consider this an honored duty." Both ambassadors looked at me for a moment, then the Amulin ambassador said,

"You would do all this for us?" I looked at the foreign minister whose facial gestures showed approval.

"Whoever you sent would have to be able to read and understand English," I replied.

"Like I said, I would be more than happy to help them in any way I could, there's a lot of information available to the general public, including the Blue Book information."

The Amulian seemed to smile, then looked at the foreign minister and said,

"I will be in touch," then strode out of the room.

"You don't mind helping them?" asked the foreign minister,

"Sir, I think I know what happened, and as a responsible citizen I need to correct this, call it cementing Amulin/Kagorian relations." He smiled and gave a small chuckle.

"Well then, care to offer your opinion as to what actually happened?"

"Well sir, I seem to recall someone telling me that the Amulin's deal with a couple three races they won't let you near, but Falth trades with them indirectly through the Amulins. I think they built these "flying saucer's" as well as other craft for one of these races, who then paid a visit or two to my planet, one crashed, the members of this race were caught fooling around in Kentucky and naturally people reported all this. I also suspect this race whoever they are did all this without the Amulin's knowledge, that's why they want all these pictures, and reports, somebody is in a world of trouble I'm betting."

The foreign minister raised his eyebrows and grinned, Mr. Gandrigg, I can neither confirm nor deny your hypothesis, but I will say that you're a rather perceptive young man. You say there are pictures of these craft?" I smiled and nodded.

"Yes sir, however most are very blurred or grainy, remember, amateur's took these photo's, most are black and white, and quite frankly just looking at these photo's you don't know if they are real, or someone made a clever model and is holding it up by a thin string when the photo was taken. Many have admitted to doing this."

"As you help the Amulins gather all this data, make copies of all of it for us as well, especially any pictures." I gave him a big grin,

"I had already planned on that sir."

We were then excused to return home, Dori was incredibly relieved, as she had been worried sick that she would never see me again. I explained what had happened, grateful it was all a misunderstanding, but one I wanted to quickly correct. Two days later I was called back to the foreign office where the foreign minister and the Amulin ambassador were waiting.

"Jake Gandrigg," began the Amulin ambassador, "Are you offering your dwelling as a place our people can gather all this information you told us was available?"

"Absolutely sir, I would be more than happy to do so. Like I said, my great grandfather was a Nuelian, so it's in my blood, his place was, and apparently is again becoming an intergalactic "way station," and I want to do all I can to help. I can set up a room for them to work in, provide access to the internet, offer a printer, and help with whatever they require."

"When would you be able to return home?" he then asked.

"I'm not quite sure sir?" I replied, I've got a couple projects going on here at the moment, then there is the problem with a ship…" The foreign minister then held up his hand.

"In the interest of diplomacy I think I can get you back home for a short while, say a relfa, your friends will have to do without you for that long, do you think this will be enough time?"

I nodded, "I think so, sir, it's just a matter of sorting through the internet and copying the information, there might be some things I will have to order through the mail, but there should be enough time.

"Most excellent," replied the foreign minister, who then said to the Amulin,

"See Ormarlack, when you treat these Kagorians with respect, they are more than happy to help you, Mr. Gandrigg, my office will contact you when we line up a ship and pilot."

The foreign affairs minister also told me I might be traveling in a Bexault A-50 Runner, which was basically a three seat mini- personnel transporter, designed to travel at incredible speeds, getting someone to where they needed to go in an awful big hurry.

Dori would be staying here, working with Moreck, while I made a quick trip home. He sent a message along with me directing Tarsig to return home when I returned back here. Since I would be gone for almost two and a half weeks or relfa's as I was getting used to calling the weeks.

Dori and I spent the evening and night "saying goodbye, in a very erotic way that Murgu females "specialized" in. At first, she was hesitant to show off her "skills," being unsure as to my attitudes on s*x, as well as skills. Since our marriage, she had slowly become bolder in her "bedroom" manor but the thought that she might never see me again, refocused her mind bringing forth a true Murgu female. Needless to say I wasn't used to her extremely aggressive approach, and only because I was in good shape able to withstand her advances. Having to return to earth only made things worse, as I was really "hooked" on this lady and I couldn't wait to finish "act 2."

Carrying Moreck's specially programmed computer as well as other information for Carman, I met the Runner at the landing field outside of Cluria and it's most unusual pilot. Kha'Mak was a Ja'Komasec SK 2152 droid. At first I thought he was a live Nuel, but as I got right up to him I spotted all the tell-tale signs of an android, the skin was the give-away, as well as the way he spoke. Slightly stilted, but very knowledgeable and witty. As I was soon to find out, there wasn't anything he didn't know (or not programmed with.)

The ship strongly resembled the inside of a sleeper cab truck, a pilots seat on the left, a fold out jump seat on the right, a wrap around window that provided an incredible view of the universe. A full wrap around console dashboard fully adorned with instrumentation, also above the window as well. On the left angle of the console was a medium scanner screen. Behind this array was a small square cabin (or sleeper as it would be on a semi-tractor) There were two fold-out bunk beds, a tiny galley and a toilet sink combo that slid out from a side panel. Everything was very condensed and compact. Pushing this affair was a very large engine nacelle, basically creating a large engine pushing a small flying platform. Entering from a hatch on the left side I wasted no time in buckling up.