Project Lafiel

“They both told you to go away and mind your own business?”

Kenesh’s face flickered on the display she has just delivered her report. I thanked her and ordered the fleet back to the Capital’s solar system. My son and my grandson both refused to cooperate. Lafiel will have to be convinced by other means then. Ramaj dimmed the light and left the office on her way back to the council chamber she decided how she’d handle those who wanted Lafiel stopped. She stopped at the door to the chamber and thought.

“I wonder if they have enough nerve to go to Shahrazad and tell Lafiel to be a good little girl. I seriously doubt it.”

I awoke about mid morning Lafiel was still sleeping. I’m being too generous what Lafiel was doing although she had her eyes closed was not restful sleep. Twitching, turning about the bed, she was wrestling with her next options concerning the Zu’har. If this is how the night has gone she’ll not be rested in the least.

The room is cool and Lafiel has kicked the covers off onto the floor. I pick up everything but the light blanket and place them in the chair beside the bed. Being careful not to wake her I gently lay the blanket across her lower torso. On contact her hands grasp the blanket and pull it to her chin. I adjust the free end to cover her feet and leave the room.

Bright sunshine and a clear blue cloudless sky greet me as I walk across the square to the restaurant in the Village. Breakfast was simple I wasn’t all that hungry; once I had that finished I contacted Risch. The evening of sorting through data had yielded some interesting tidbits which he asked me if he should bring them to the Village or await our return. I told him of our evening and suggested that he had the information at hand in case Lafiel wanted it here but it was my understanding that those decisions were to be made on the island and not in the Village.

Before I ended our chat I asked how Jinto was doing. Risch was blunt; Jinto had Martine and nothing else on his mind. He spent till early morning searching for anything concerning those involved in the orbital devices. Risch said Jinto was waiting for the Seelnay and the Ku Dorin to arrive. I paused for a moment and realized that having a fast ship has some disadvantages. We arrived here well before the transport due to our speed now Jinto has to wait for them so he can continue to question Arisa. I told Risch that Lafiel was still sleeping and I wasn’t sure what mood she would be in when she woke, but what ever happens I told him that I missed him and loved him very much. And I would see him very soon one way or the other.

I closed the link and went back to the square that is where Lafiel found me. I was sitting very disconnected from my body and present surroundings day dreaming as Jinto would say. Her hand on my shoulder returned me to the here and now.

“Noel. Are you hungry?”

“Already had breakfast you hungry?”

“Not really but I’m not ready to go see Scholar either.”

“We could sit here and absorb this beautiful day till you’re ready to go Lafiel.”

Lafiel sat next to me and for about two hours we took in the day, felt the warmth of the sun, the scents on the breeze and the calm this planet normally shows one who takes the time to notice it. Although Lafiel’s mind did not require food her body announced rather loudly that nourishment would be the next thing on our agenda. We made our way to the restaurant for lunch and I joined Lafiel in having a bit of a snack myself. It had been a long time since we had a leisurely lunch and we enjoyed every moment of it.

Our conversation over lunch was light hearted. We discussed the crop forecast, noticed the baby boom had truly arrived and looked towards the future. It was the future that turned the conversation dark. Lafiel suddenly stopped talking, finished her drink and said it was time to go see Scholar. We had spent almost three hours total not thinking about anything of any importance. I found it a welcome change from our recently accelerated life style, which I wished would end so I could return to… Wishful thinking on my part, from the first I knew finding peace was going to be a challenge, but after the time we just spent being peaceful I was determined to find a way to make it permanent.

Sorry if my English is somewhat imperfect, it's not my native language and I rarely have chance to practice it.

Jinto slept restlessly I heard him up and wondering about several times. It was just after sunrise and I quietly made my way to where Arisa was. We continued the conversation we had on the Hyde fuel depot. I’m convinced she originally had no knowledge of what she was transporting, however on the second and I now find out third trips she knew something was wrong and failed to report it. I told her we were not finished with this conversation but I also told her to take in the island and relax.

She expressed concerns about confronting Jinto and I told her that Jinto would remain in the background that she need not fear him. I could sense her relief I also added in what had happened last night and staying clear of Seelnay would be an excellent idea. As I left I told her breakfast would be at nine sharp. She nodded and said she would be there.

I left Arisa and headed to the rose garden, admiring the latest blooms I saw Noel heading towards the docks. It was then I realized Lina would be here in less than two hours and the next crisis will begin. I figured when Jinto found out not only would he be angry but this time I stood in an indefensible position. I had withheld information from Jinto and I expected to incur his wrath over it. The smell of the flowers was calming but I also knew this calm was going to be short lived.

I left the garden and stopped by Sobbash’s I figured I’d better tell her my thoughts incase Jinto did something unexpected this time. Her response was predictable, she hoped calmer heads would prevail and said she would wear a side arm if I thought it was necessary. Sobbash’s answer to conflicts lately has been comfort in a loaded laser pistol. Actually it’s not a bad idea if we were dealing with a formidable enemy, but not our loved ones though.

Scholar and I planned to leave at dawn. As I was loading the shuttle Noel approached me. She gave me a briefing on what I would encounter inside the Guardians underground complex. Her final thoughts left me wondering what I’d gotten myself into.

“Dai the complex is immense, almost twenty kilometers in every direction. Do not wonder off no matter how your curiosity is stimulated. Yeah, that’s the last thing you should know about; you’ll be under constant probing while you’re there. One thing you must not do under any circumstances is wear a receptive alpha. The show one is fine, you’ll still be probed, the worse thing you can do is to forget to change alphas once you arrive. I know I’ve done this, the data crystals even though retracted, are very sensitive to the background noise that resides inside the complex. If you’ve ever sensed a pulsar that’s mild compared to what you’ll experience there. You need to keep your senses about you and watch Scholar carefully, being a telepath she’s managed to block the complex, yet I’m sure she has a weakness if they ever find it and exploit it well…”

I had encountered a pulsar before. I had a headache for several days after that and Noel said that would be mild compared to what the complex was like. I cringed and wondered a loud what I’d gotten myself into. This time Noel answered my question and gave me information to ponder on the way there.

“Dai in the data banks is the record of our first encounter with the Wise Ones. I suggest you study it and all encounters afterwards. There is a pattern to our visits, should you get there and it’s different, or you feel uneasy, trip the emergency beacon. I’ll be there before you know it.”

I knew the Independence was back but Noel gave me the impression that she alone would come to our rescue. I didn’t understand why she would make such a statement unless there was something she hadn’t told me. I guess a review of the data banks was in order.

The interference from Martine has reached a level that it is interfering with long range communications. I’ve directed the defensive grid be placed on line and have tried on several occasion over the past few hours to scan the system. The interference is distorting our scans. I have a feeling something is happening out there something Shahrazad should know about before Lafiel arrives. Samson I wish you were here between the two of us we might figure this out. However Samson’s not here the only other person I can trust is… she’s sleeping right now as much as I do not want to wake her I must. Sobbash trusted her insight and opinion I must now take the same leap of faith and confide in her everything that I know. I let myself into her room pull the chair beside the bed and gently shake her.

“Wake up we got problems.”

A half dazed look greeted my words then my memory got jarred.

“Are you here to propose Paveryua? I told you, you’re not allowed in my room unless you are proposing to me…”

I gave the order for the assault troops to come to Martine; this would give us two days to gather what intelligence we could and plan our ground assault of Martine. Surprised? You should be. Let me guess, you figured as a trained Abh officer. I’d just sit up in space and lob ordinance upon the surface until they surrendered and you would have been right. But I’ve out grown that training, we are going to do the minimum amount of damage that we can get away with by launching an invasion of Martine with ground forces. Lala is leading the group of thirty thousand troops, not mercenaries either, trained combat troops. I plan on leaving as much of Martine intact as I can. Tonight the fleet rests; starting tomorrow the real work begins.