E:A Vol 6 Ch 11—November 2, 2120

Chapter 11: November 2, 2120

Zy’nayth and his family returned to the flagship the next morning after breakfast. The kids wanted to hand out the bags of cookies the minute they bridged on, but Zy’nayth said they could after they took their things back to their chambers. Disappointed, the twins trod behind their parents, heads down all the way to their chambers. Zy’nayth was tempted to tell them about what awaited them and looked at Victoria who gave him a look that said, “The big strong warrior was done in by a couple of three-year-olds.” He smiled and kept walking. When they walked into their chambers and the twins saw the two tricycles, one red, one green, with big bows on them, they both lit up and started for them.

“Wait,” Zy’nayth said as each dropped their bags, “they may not be for you. Let me check.”

“Daddy, there no one else small ‘nough to ride dem,” Mik’kenna said.

“Still, it could be a weapon of some sort. It is best if I check,” he winked at Victoria and set down the two large bags filled with the individual treat bags. Victoria let him handle things while she took the bag of leftovers to the kitchen, whispering to him as he neared the bikes, “Now you want to drag it out…three seconds ago, you wanted to give the surprise away.” He grinned.

The twins stood by the entrance, watching their father scanning the bikes, looking intently at the screen.

“Daddy, dey for us?” Ky’nayth asked, a little concerned that his father was going to so much trouble over something that was clearly a toy for them.

“The note says this green one is for Mik’kenna and the red one is for you.”

“Daddy, you teasy. You know red one for me,” Mik’kenna said. “Please, no more teasy. I want to ride tricycle.”

Zy’nayth hit a button on his scanner and it condensed down to the size of a credit card. He slipped it into a pocket. “Your mother thought these would be helpful for when you deliver messages,” he said, “but I have some rules you must follow.”

“Kay,” Ky’nayth said, walking over and tentatively touching the handlebar of his green tricycle.

“You may use them in the hangar where the Expedition team is staying. But you may not randomly ride them up and down the corridors. Only when you are escorted by an adult may you ride them in the corridors. I cannot risk having you run over one of my warriors.”

Victoria smiled at the thought of these two little kids on their bikes running over one of Zy’nayth’s warriors who had faster reflexes and were stronger than any human by at least three fold.

“We promise!” Mik’kenna said as she ran over to the red tricycle. She saw the bell, and as kids are wont to do, she rang it. “We can warn people we coming!” The ringing of the bell made both dogs bark.

“Keep in mind, some people in the hangar are working different shifts and may be trying to sleep, so only use the bell if you must alert someone,” Zy’nayth said.

The kids hugged their parents, thanking them for the present then Victoria realized the baskets she ordered weren’t on the bikes. Zy’nayth saw them in a shopping bag near the bed with a note on the nightstand above them. He went over and read the note. “David said he did not have time to put the baskets on. He had to do an extra run yesterday, then Maressa came down sick.”

“Oh no. Is she okay?” Victoria asked.

“I know nothing more than what the note says,” Zy’nayth tapped his comlink, calling Chris Chapman. “Christopher, I just found out your daughter is ill. Is there anything I can do?”

“Hey Big Guy. No, thanks, though. First Science and Becket checked her over. Just a cold and she’s maybe got a tooth coming in, she’s just really fussy.”

“I can heal the cold.”

“Nah. Talked about it with Doc and Science, and thought we’d let it run its course. If it turns into something worse, we’ll get you or Science to take care of her. He and Becket are keeping a close eye on her, and I don’t think Dad’s left her side other than to use the bathroom.”

“If you need me to come down and heal her, call me at any time day or night. Victoria and I, and the twins, of course, send our love and will be praying for a quick recovery.”

“Thanks. Appreciate it.”

Zy’nayth filled his family in on the conversation then attached the baskets to the tricycles. A white one with various colored flowers on it for Mik’kenna, and a simple brown one with green trim for Ky’nayth. Victoria loaded them up with the paper bags of treats for the dogs and cookies for the adults.

“Let’s make our deliveries,” Victoria said. They went planet-side first, to deliver to the Chapman family. Zy’nayth intent on checking over baby Maressa himself. Then they returned to the flagship and distributed among the family there. Since John and Kaven were on the city-ship working, the twins left the treat bags in the tent they shared with Vince, then spent the rest of the morning riding around in the hangar, careful to be quiet and avoid running into any of the nearly 5,000 people living there. Baxter and Celeste ran after them, enjoying this new game.

November 4, 2120

The morning of November 4, Victoria and her family were up early. Kol’non would be undergoing the serum treatment. Victoria would be serving as Becket’s backup and Zy’nayth, of course would be there if he needed to heal his friend. “Okay, I’m ready,” Victoria finished pulling her hair back into a clip the grabbed her medical kit.

Zy’nayth looked at his children who were at the door, eager to get on their tricycles. “You remember the rules?”

“No ring bell, ‘less ‘mergency; no leave hangar; report to Uncle Vince ‘til you come get us,” Mik’kenna said.

“Good. Now let us go to the Science Lab where we will pray for Kol’non, then you will go with Vince. Do you have your toys and games?”

Ky’nayth turned his back to his father and shook his little behind as he reached and patted his backpack. “We ready.”

The kids loved the curving, winding hallways of the flagship, it was more challenging to “drive” down them than a straight hallway. They stuck to one side and peddled along with their parents walking behind them. Baxter and Celeste often ran ahead, then ran back. They were never too far from the twins.

The First Science Commander was talking with Third Science Commander as the doors opened. Ja’val saw the twins and stifled a chuckle as they pulled in, then backed their tricycles up against the wall next to the door.

Be’atta, Kol’non, Janice, Becket, Amelia, Lutia, and Vince were already gathered. They chatted while waiting for John, Kaven, Ny’van, Chris, David, and Alessa to arrive. When they did, Ja’val joined them, then Zy’nayth led them in prayer for Kol’non’s upcoming procedure.

When finished, Zy’nayth and Ny’van needed to tend to call from the High Council, so they excused themselves, promising to return at the time the procedure was to start. John and Kaven returned to the city-ship to continue their work. Amelia stayed to be with Be’atta. Vince, David, Chris, and his family, escorted the twins through the ship. David, Chris, and his family went to the hangar where the bridge portal was located. “We’ll send Baxter and Celeste back up after they’ve taken care of business,” Chris said. “We’ll just send them up. They know their way around the ship. I’m sure they’ll find you.”

David sighed when he saw the horror on the twins’ faces at the thought of the dogs roaming the ship, lost. Though Chris was right, the dogs would easily find their guardians, the twins couldn’t even fathom the thought. “I’ll bring them up to you,” David said. “My son is just being silly.”

“Oh, thank you, Uncle David,” Mik’kenna said and gave Celeste one last hug before they went planet-side.

The twins, now with just Vince watching over them, pedaled back through the corridors to the what had become the E:A hangar.

“You’re free to ride around and play games. Just remember you’re not to leave the area without me,” Vince said.

“We know. Daddy tell us. And we no use bells here,” Ky’nayth said, “so we no wake anyone.”

“I appreciate that. And thank you for the cookies. I ate a one last night; saving the others for lunch and dinner treats.”

***

The screen switched on and before Zy’nayth and Ny’van was the Lead Councilman. “Good morning,” he said. “We will try to keep this brief. I had word that the Fourth Commander has destroyed one of the last remaining rebel ships.”

“Disabled,” Zy’nayth corrected. “We are taking prisoners and gathering any data from the ship’s systems, then the ship is destroyed. However, you have not received the most recent news. It was a drone ship. Programmed on a flight path. There was no one on board.”

“Do you think the last four ships are the same?”

“I would not venture to guess. But we are assuming there are rebels on board and we will find the last four ships.”

“What if Koh’vash’s ‘500’ was just a number and there were 530 ships?” another Councilmember asked.

“We are also assuming that,” Zy’nayth said. “My ships are continuously scanning, every planet and outpost is scanning, every satellite in our system is scanning.”

“I’m more worried about the ships your scanners can’t see,” the man pushed.

“As am I,” Zy’nayth said. “My First Science Commander and his core team are working on this issue. But note, those that we cannot detect did not overtly fire upon us. Only the ships we could detect were active in the fight. What that means, I do not know. They obviously sided with the rebels since they freed their prisoners, but they did not engage in combat. They are capable. The battlecruisers they gave the rebels were certainly fit for combat.”

“I think we need more scientists finding a way to detect these other ships,” the man continued.

“Sir,” Ny’van spoke, “do you know how many scientists the First Science Commander has working on the issue, besides himself?”

“He’s got what, a dozen on that flagship? And they seem to be busy helping those earthlings.”

Zy’nayth didn’t let Ny’van respond. He did. “With all due respect, Councilman, the core Science crew is on Kiva at his main research facility. Men and women from all over our Empire have moved to Kiva at my behest just to work on this one problem. The best minds in the galaxy. Over one hundred of them. This matter is taken quite seriously.” He then raised an eyebrow, “And no, the mere dozen of scientists on this ship are not all helping the earthlings.”

Ny’van smiled at the thought that the Councilman only believed there were a dozen scientists on the flagship. Zy’nayth never gave out a true number. There may be a dozen actually posted on the ship, but there were always scientists rotating through. Hundreds, currently.

“I can only assure you that I am doing the best I can with finding the remaining rebel ships,” Zy’nayth said. “But I believed that our meeting was going to be about Tarnia and those who have taken the serum.”

“Yes,” the Lead Councilman said, “I hadn’t expected this turn in the discussion. My apologies. Your assistant informed us that he’s receiving a number of requests from Tarnians who haven’t taken the serum who wish to do so.”

“I have not discussed this with him,” Zy’nayth said.

“Actually, he only just heard about it. The governor called him,” he looked at his watch, “two hours ago, and said that he’s been inundated with requests. Roughly another three thousand people wish to take the serum. He’s kept a list and forwarded it to your assistant this morning. Since he knew the First Commander was due to undergo the treatment today, he didn’t wish to bother you. Given how widely our scientists are spread, I told him to reply to the governor that it may not be possible for some time, but that I would discuss it with you.”

“It is not just a matter of having the scientists to distribute the serum, I can see to that. The issue is food. We did not account for an extra three thousand people when we procured food supplies.” He looked at Ny’van, “Contact my assistant and let him know that we will look into the situation but I would like to know how the Tarnians are doing with their gardens, farming, and livestock. I will talk with Kaven about getting more livestock. And check, my assistant not you, on the livestock situation on Kiva. It has only been three months, though chickens should be plentiful to send more to Tarnia, I doubt the other livestock has multiplied sufficiently, if at all.” He looked at his watch. “I will contact the governor before I go to the Science Lab. Lead, is there anything else?”

“No. We will have our normal meeting tomorrow here on Kiva, correct?”

“Yes.”

The call ended and Zy’nayth contacted the governor of Tarnia, explaining the situation. “Of course had the attack not happened, we would be in a better situation to distribute the serum,” he said, “and I need some time to gather some status information. My assistant may contact you or perhaps my Vice Chancellor. I am afraid I must leave it at that. I am due someplace else,” he said, already striding through the corridors of his flagship.

“Thank you,” came the reply. “I hope we can work this out quickly.”

“As do I. It is good news for the Empire.”

***

Becket and Ja’val, along with Janice, Lutia, Victoria, and a couple of men from Ja’val’s staff were tending to Kol’non who was now in a white hospital-type smock and resting on a surgical table with a blanket over him.

“You’re only going to need two injections,” Ja’val said, “but don’t be fooled by the two little vials, you will have side effects.”

Be’atta leaned down and kissed her husband then stepped aside. “I’m thankful you chose to keep him on the flagship. Knowing at least one of you will be here at all times eases my mind.”

“There shouldn’t be any complications,” Becket said, “just the side effects. Science and his team will monitor him as I give the injections. We’ll do one on each arm. Janice, Lutia, are you ready?”

“All monitors are up and running. We’re good to go,” Lutia said, standing next to a tray filled with various surgical instruments. Becket knew they wouldn’t be needed, but he was prepared for any eventuality.

“I can cover,” Ja’val said when Becket glanced at the clock. Zy’nayth hadn’t returned. Ja’val was a capable healer; he’d even saved Zy’nayth with a risky move that nearly killed him. But Zy’nayth’s healing abilities, as with all of his other abilities, surpassed any Rayth’s, and Becket preferred to have him near if needed. He knew nothing would go wrong, and yet, if something did and they needed Zy’nayth…

“Forgive the delay,” Zy’nayth walked in. “The discussion took a bit longer than expected. I am sorry.”

Becket looked back at Kol’non, “He was thirty seconds late, remind him of that if he ever complains about you being late,” he smiled. “Okay, he’s here in case you need healing, which you shouldn’t. It’s best to let things run their course despite how horrible you’re going to feel. And it will be bad. Sorry, my friend, we’re trying to come up with something not quite so difficult to deal with.”

“I’m ready.” Kol’non took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Janice again noted that she was ready, then Ja’val nodded to Becket to begin. It only took a minute to administer both injections, one on each arm.

“In about two minutes you’ll start feeling a bit woozy, sort of like your head is expanding and you feel like you’re floating, perhaps a little dizzy. That’s normal,” Becket said. “After that, you will probably feel some nausea, full blown dizziness, rapid heart rate, migraine, and anxiety or restlessness. Could be one, could be all.” He put a hand on Kol’non’s shoulder, “Deep breathing helps a bit. Try to relax.” He motioned Be’atta over. She took her husband’s hand and began coaching him through the breathing exercises.

“Vitals still good,” Lutia said. “Slight increase in pulse.”

“Headache,” Kol’non said. “Dizzy.”

“Take a deep breath in,” Be’atta squeezed his hand, “hold…and…out, slowly.”

After several minutes, Kol’non was nauseous and dizzy. Ja’val told him everything was normal. “Any adverse reaction to the serum will happen within the first thirty minutes. What you’re experiencing is not fun, but it’s not a reaction, only side effects.”

Zy’nayth paced the room, eyeing the monitors, having learned what the stats should read for both Rayth and human. Kol’non could do nothing more than close his eyes. The surgical table’s “upper” half was now tilted so he was sitting somewhat upright. Laying back caused too much nausea, sitting completely upright was as bad. Be’atta continued to coach him through the deep breathing.

A few minutes later, fighting the dizziness and nausea, he felt hot. Be’atta saw the beads of sweat on his brow and told Ja’val.

“Normal,” the First Science Commander said, but put his hand over Kol’non’s chest, “a rare side effect. I am going to send my energy into you to make sure it’s nothing more, but if my energy makes the symptoms worse, just say so and I’ll stop. Should only take five to ten seconds.”

Though Kol’non winced and groaned, he got through the five seconds without throwing up. “Nothing is wrong,” Ja’val said.

“Fifteen minutes until we’re in the safe zone,” Becket said, noting the development in Kol’non’s chart. “Technically, any reaction would usually happen within a couple minutes of administration. We’re long past that point. We’re just playing it safe now.”

At the thirty minute mark, a complete exam was done; all monitors showed that though some vitals were elevated, nothing was at a dangerous level. “I think all of our helpers can be dismissed,” Ja’val said looking around at the crew that was there to help if something went wrong. “Thank you all for coming.”

“Janice and I will be staying here with you throughout the day,” Becket said after they moved Kol’non to a different room and onto a hospital bed. Kol’non tried to walk, but instead Becket and Ja’val along with two other Rayth, transferred him to a gurney, wheeled him to the room, and hauled him onto the bed. Kol’non fought the nausea and dizziness during every jostle. All he wanted to do was sleep this off.

“Science needs to get back to his duties,” Becket said, hooking up the monitors. “Janice and I will be at the table across the room. Just try to rest. Lia will be back. She’s just getting some sandwiches put together for our lunch.” The monitors were checked, then Becket looked down at Kol’non, whose eyes were closed. “The next few days are going to be bad, so keep reminding yourself that it will ease. We’ll keep you on an IV today and start with liquids tomorrow. You’re not going to want to eat, but we’re going to make you because it’s the best course of action. The sooner your system gets used to it, the sooner the side effects pass.”

Kol’non grunted and attempted a nod, but only made the nausea worse. He’d been over all of the information with Ja’val and Becket during the weekend as they ran their baseline tests. He knew how sick Zy’nayth had been and knew he wouldn’t be as bad, but what he was experiencing was worse than what he thought it would be. “We’re the two shots enough?” he managed to get out. He couldn’t even open his eyes for fear the dizziness would be overwhelming.

“Should be,” Becket said, taking another look at the monitors. “Science’s calculations have been spot on. I double checked—as if I’d catch something,” he grinned. “Janice is getting the walker and yes, you will need it to get to the bathroom. You’re going to be weak and we know you’re already experiencing dizziness. If the dizziness is too much for you to get up to use the bathroom, we can put in a catheter or…”

“I’ll be okay,” Kol’non said.

Becket looked at Be’atta, “Don’t let him try to walk on his own. Use the walker. And don’t you try to support him. I know you’re strong, but make him use the walker regardless. He will need the balance it’ll provide.”

“I will,” she said as Janice came over pushing a walker and carrying a stainless steel pan. She left the walker at the side of the bed and put the pan on the stand next to Be’atta. “In case he needs to throw up,” she said, “which he will. Sorry, it’s just how this thing goes.” She checked the IV then fetched an extra pillow and blanket, making sure he was as comfortable as he could be given the circumstances.

Amelia walked in and set two coolers down by the table where Becket and Janice would be sitting. Then she went over and pulled up a chair next to Be’atta to keep her company.

“Like Becket said, we’re right over there,” Janice pointed to the table. “I’ll be beating him at poker but we’ll be checking the monitors. If either of you see anything out of the norm in between our checks, you signal us, okay?”

***

Later that morning, after taking care of a few things in his private lab on the flagship, Ja’val walked onto the command bridge. The First Pilot pointed to Zy’nayth’s office to the side. Ja’val gave him a nod and went over, activating the door chime. “Enter” came the gravelly voice.

“I have a problem,” he said as he walked in and sat down. He ran his fingers through his white hair. “Wasn’t even thinking about it.”

“The First?” Zy’nayth got up, ready to run to the Science Lab and use his healing on his First Commander if needed.

“Oh, he’s fine,” Ja’val motioned for him to sit back down. “Nothing should go wrong there. Becket and Janice are with him. No, it’s about that mount for engine three.”

“You said our machinists could make it.”

“Yeah, that’s not the problem. The problem is getting something that large here. It won’t fit through the flagship’s portal. We could cut it into sections and move it over a piece at a time and weld it together, but considering where it is on the city-ship, I’d rather use a solid piece with no welds. There was only a one percent flaw in the piece that broke, one percent is well within tolerance, so it shouldn’t have given out. I just don’t want to risk it with the number of welds we’d have to use.”

“Will it fit through the shuttle portal on the city-ship? It is much larger than our bridge. Though it is circular.”

“We’d still have to section the mount, albeit into fewer sections. And once it comes through the city-ship’s shuttle portal, we’d need something to catch it on this side otherwise it’ll crash to the floor. The portal’s on the ceiling, not the floor. I could teleport a large hover lift over, but we’d need equipment to hold the mount in position, until we could haul it out into space for assembly…which brings me to my next issue. We don’t have anything on the flagship to haul it into position outside of the ship. Granted, it’ll be weightless, and we can work around that issue, but…it just complicates matters on a vital part of the city-ship. A part we don’t want to take chances with.”

Zy’nayth shook his head but managed a chuckle. “I am envisioning all of my warriors outside trying to maneuver that mount into position. All right,” he cleared his throat, “Best solution?”

“Send a Science Ship with an installation team and the proper hauling equipment from Andromeda. It would take a good six weeks to get here. Unless you pull a warship with a faster engine.”

“Could we bridge in the correct equipment through the shuttle bay portal? And why an installation team? Your crew here should be able to handle it.”

“Yes, we can handle it, but it’s not one of our primary tasks. We can design the things, but that doesn’t mean we’re the best at putting them together. We have engineers trained for this type of work, and who have trained doing it space. I have two men on my crew, besides myself, who have done this type of work. It’ll take at least fifty. The engines look small from here, but that mount is enormous. As for the equipment, we’d have the same issue as we have with the mount. We need a platform to catch the stuff as it comes through.”

“And we have nothing on this ship that we can modify?”

Ja’val sat back in his chair and thought through the various systems that were used to repair things on the outside of the flagship. “Yes, we can modify the equipment, but why take a chance that it isn’t just quite right to do the job. Sir, I can rig everything to work. Send it over in pieces, put it together with rigged equipment and men not trained for this type of work. We can get it to work but I’d want to redo it all once we got back to Andromeda. It’s not worth it to do it that way.”

Zy’nayth stood, “Come with me.” They walked through the corridors down to the hangar where the Expedition: Andromeda team was being housed. They found Vince in his corner talking to a couple members of his staff. His silver eyes immediately found his children outside of the tent Vince shared with Kaven and John. They were playing a board game with a couple people. Baxter and Celeste were each playing tug of war with a couple other people. Vince finished with the two men then asked Zy’nayth and Ja’val what he could do for them.

Zy’nayth explained the situation. “So we either wait six weeks for a ship to get here, which would further delay getting the engine dismounted, the new mount put on, the engine put back into place, then tested, or…we take the flagship to Andromeda and retrieve what is needed. We can be there and back in about ten days at top speed.”

“Which means those staying on this ship will be stuck here for those ten days. No shuttles to go anywhere,” Vince surmised.

“Yes.”

Vince tapped his pen on his makeshift desk. “Even if you rush this ship to and from Andromeda, so we can get the engines online to return to Andromeda, we still can’t load everyone onto the city-ship. We don’t have a mess hall set up to feed them. So I don’t see the need to rush things. We’re a good month from a working mess hall.”

“Are you certain you do not want me to run to Andromeda and back?”

“I’m sure, but we can discuss it at tonight’s meeting. I don’t want to send everyone back down to Victoria’s estate, it’ll be too cold. And without a mess hall and a very limited number of bathrooms, the city-ship’s out of the question. Plus, if the flagship leaves, and there are rebel ships lurking about, the we’d be on our own.”

“There is a third option,” Ja’val said. “Get everyone up here on the flagship. Everyone. Those staying at Victoria’s estate due to the trauma, we can put in rooms here on the flagship so they don’t have to be in tents. We tow the city-ship back to Andromeda. It’ll be slow going, maybe a month, but it could be done. John’s teams could continue their work. We just start heading to Andromeda.”

“How much longer to incinerate the rest of the rebel ships?” Zy’nayth asked.

“A week, maybe two. Once we have the city-ship back to Terra 2, we can head back to finish that up or you could send another warship to do the job.”

“We may have a mess hall by then,” Vince said, “but…people would be stuck here for a month. And what if we don’t have a mess hall when we get to Terra 2? Sure people can set up tents on the mainland, but at least here they can go planet-side and go shopping, help at Central Command, do something. There’s not much more they can do on the mainland, though, granted, they’d see the sunshine.”

“I do not like any of the options,” Zy’nayth let out a sigh. “Very well, Science, use one of your science vessels. Get what you need and have them head this way. We will discuss contingencies in our meeting this evening, but get things in motion now.”

“Understood,” Ja’val said.

Zy’nayth looked at his watch. “I have another meeting to tend to on the bridge. Science, if you need me to give an order for the Science Ship, call. I will do it.”

“Shouldn’t be needed,” Ja’val said.

***

That evening, the group sat around some tables set up in the hangar where the E:A team was housed. They ate dinner while having their regular meeting. Zy’nayth and Ja’val went over the issue with the engine mount and the decision made, at least at that point.

“It’s fine by me,” John said.

“Could be another option. If you can tow it, we could work our way towards Andromeda,” Chris took a sip of his iced tea, “meet the Science Ship on the way, repair the engines then continue on.”

“It’s a viable option,” Ja’val said, “but again, the E:A team will be stuck on the flagship. The further away from Earth we get, the less the shuttles can be used as Vince mentioned. And when you get to Terra 2, perhaps without a mess hall…”

“I think we stick with our original decision and wait for the Science Ship,” Vince concluded.

Mik’kenna, still chewing on her sandwich raised her hand. Zy’nayth smiled at her. “Finish chewing, then tell us what is on your mind.”

She chewed quickly, swallowed, then wiped her mouth with a napkin. “I thinking ‘bout six weeks. Dat mean it almost Christmas. We has to get tree and decorations.”

“Which also means people will want to do some shopping,” Victoria said. “I agree. We should stay here, meaning the flagship, and I can start talking to people about doing some Christmas shopping if they want to. I’m also hoping the guy who runs this ship will allow us to put up some decorations and a tree in this hangar.” Her green eyes flashed with love at her husband.

“A Christmas party would keep morale up and brighten up the place,” Becket smiled. “Two months in this hangar will start to wear on everyone. And if we have to be here all winter…well, let’s do what we can to keep morale up. Mik’kenna, that was a great idea.”

“Victoria, go ahead and do what you think is best. However, I want you to enlist help. Christopher, since you are staying on Earth, would you be willing to handle transport pilots for the shopping? David, continue renting those large transports.”

“Will do,” Chris said.

“I don’t mean to be pushy,” Becket looked at Victoria, “but get people outside of our normal group to help with this. We don’t want people to think that only those close to the High Chancellor can do the decorating and such.”

“I agree,” she nodded. “It’ll keep them busy and hopefully lift up some spirits.”

“And can we tap into Earth’s broadcast system? I think nearly everyone has had their tablets replaced by now, so allowing them to tap into our internet will give those not working that shift something to do,” David said.

“Easy enough. I’ll set up something specifically for them that won’t touch our systems,” Ja’val said to Zy’nayth.

“Go ahead. John, status on the mess hall cleanup?”

“Alan, Trent, and Asuka have been in there since Friday. Jack is going to set them up with Antonin to work on a layout.”

“Antonin?”

“Antonin Carpella, one of the architects on staff,” John said. “They are working on a list of equipment. What they know they need if they were set up the mess the way it was. They are taking into account the extra fridge and stove and stuff that we have at Victoria’s will come up. We figure we can get the rest ordered and up to the city-ship. We’ll hold off on installation, obviously, until the layout and build are done.”

“ETA?” Vince asked.

“Depends on the layout. Jack said a couple of weeks but that’s just with one team. We’ll do what we can to speed that up.”

“I want you to start a team on 194. We need to really work on getting residential areas cleared.”

“I still want to head towards the walkway to tower two and the labs,” John countered.

“No. People are going to be stuck here for two months,” Vince said, “when we have engines working and can head back to Andromeda, I don’t want people going from this jet hangar to our shuttle bay. I want them to have chambers to live in. Our scientists can wait on their labs.”

“Okay,” John said. “No problem. I was just trying to get a jump on that. Maybe if we get access to that walkway to tower two, I can move a team to that, or add a team, rather. Keep focus on the residences, but at least have a team moving towards the science labs.”

“I can agree to that,” Vince said.

“We’ve scanned 194 down to 187,” Ja’val said, “outer hull integrity is fine, but coordinate with my team each day as you have been for scanning the interior. We’ll continue working down to 185 so you can cross over to Tower 2. The lower you go, there should be less damage since there were no direct hits on,” he looked at his tablet and flipped through a few screens, “about 190 to 150, maybe lower. Cleanup shouldn’t be as bad.”

“Well, at least that’s good news.” John checked his tablet, “Still going to keep three teams around the clock on the shuttle bay. Kaven, let’s take a good look at 194 and 193 tomorrow. Let’s see how many crews we can get up there to get those cleared out.”

“I will go with you. I do not want you there without a Rayth,” Zy’nayth said.

“Normal crews will still be working,” John said, “no need…”

“I wish to see the damage for myself. I have been tending to my people and have not had time to see how much you are dealing with.”

With that, the group broke up but Vince asked Zy’nayth if they could talk privately. Zy’nayth led the general to a corner. “What is it?”

Vince explained the situation, causing Zy’nayth to let out a sigh.

“I’m sorry,” Vince said. “I made contact with them before the attack. Everything’s been signed and paid for; I was just waiting for the holiday. Unfortunately, I completely forgot about it until about two hours ago.”

“I do not have anything against it, but it will be difficult if we do not get the city-ship back to Terra 2 any time soon.”

“Which is why I’m talking to you. If necessary, those involved can be moved to live at Victoria’s estate. By that time, we’ll be closer to leaving the Milky Way and those who were traumatized might be a bit more settled and can move up here with the rest of the staff for those couple of weeks until the engines are ready.”

“It is not just the engines. The people need a place to stay and to put those…gifts.”

“I’m assuming that once engines are online, we’ll have at least five residential floors ready. That’s roughly 400 units.”

“Are those getting the gifts in one of those 400 units?”

“Amelia.”

“One…out of seven?”

Vince nodded.

“I am not against your idea, but keep in mind, this situation you forgot about may be an issue for those not involved.”

“I know. Like I said, I made the arrangements before the attack. I could call it off. No one knows but the two of us. It wouldn’t be that big of a deal to cancel. I’d be out some money, that’s all.”

“They are your crew. If you are not on the city-ship by then, I agree that Victoria’s estate would be best, but they will be welcomed here.”

“Thanks. But I did have one other thought in mind. You could keep them until a more suitable time arrives.”

Zy’nayth tilted his head knowing that these particular gifts would greatly disrupt his life. “How long?”

“Until we can get the recipients into their chambers. Lutia and First Science would be on the flagship in his quarters, so I don’t see that as a problem. I’d be fine, even if I kept it in my office on the city-ship. Ny’van, I assume, would take his back to the island. That leaves Becket, Lia, and Janice. So two gifts. If their chambers aren’t open on the city-ship, they can either stay on Earth or maybe you could keep the gifts in your chambers.”

“I would prefer not to have them in my chambers, not that I do not mind but that it would be difficult for the children in the end. We would have to encourage our friends to stay on Earth. Go ahead as planned. We will take care of it, somehow.”

“All of that being said. I’m going to need accomplices to carry this off.”

Zy’nayth raised an eyebrow, “Who, exactly, did you have in mind?”

Vince’s sly grin spread across his face.