E:A Vol 7 Ch 6—January 4, 2121

Chapter 6: January 4, 2121

Ky’nayth sat at the controls of his father’s personal cruiser. Two small booster seats had been made and put on board. Ky’nayth was delighted that his father had gone to such lengths to accommodate him. After putting his son in the seat, Zy’nayth helped his daughter into hers behind the co-pilot seat. Then sat and watched as his son powered up the small spaceship. Mik’kenna kept her sketchbook in hand as she looked out of the large windows, eager to see the planets up close and personal. True to his word, Zy’nayth said nothing, nor did anything. He simply made sure his son did everything correctly.

“Student Pilot One,” Ky’nayth said, using the designation his father had given him, “ready for launch. Does Supreme Commander concur?”

“Supreme Commander concurs,” Zy’nayth smiled.

Ky’nayth looked at his father and got a nod. Though he had flown the cruiser sitting on his father’s lap, he had never actually done it sitting by himself at the master controls, though he knew how. He studied everything he could get his hands on. Though it was still a bit of a reach for his short arms, his hands were steady on the various holographic controls as the cruiser lifted off from behind the barn on Victoria’s estate.

“Student Pilot One to Mommy, we has lift off. I take good care of everyone.”

“Have a safe journey,” Victoria replied, looking out of sliding glass doors that faced the barn from the house.

“He’s flying it? I mean all by himself?” the President Michael Stewart asked Victoria as the cruiser’s lights disappeared high above them.

“Yup. He takes after his father.”

“His father isn’t helping?” Holly asked.

“He said he wouldn’t unless they were in danger. He’ll keep his word.”

“But he’s only three.”

Victoria beamed with pride, “Yeah. Three. I was still playing with blocks at that age but my son is piloting a spacecraft.”

The cruiser soon entered a high orbit around Earth. Ky’nayth hit a few more buttons and the course he planned came up on the overhead display. “Daddy…ooh, I sorry…Commander, do you want me go manual or let computer fly?”

“Whichever you prefer,” Zy’nayth said, eyeing the course for a second time, having gone over it before dinner, and mentally giving it approval.

“I just go FTL jump to get us to point marked 1, then I go manual to go rest of way.”

“That is fine.”

Ky’nayth hit the controls for the pre-planned course to kick in. To his dismay, the ship didn’t jump to Faster Than Light speed. Zy’nayth said nothing. His son had calculated the course correctly, he knew the controls, the cruiser was ready, except for one thing. Ky’nayth had the details worked out, but missed one big item.

The boy checked all of his controls and his planned course. Then he checked again. Then he looked at his father, tears welling up in his eyes, “I no know what problem is. Everything right. Right?”

“Look at your course and the cruiser’s position relative to that course.”

Ky’nayth checked the course again then transferred it to the HUD, his eyes scanning the course on the larger display. It was correct. His father had said so. Then he checked the cruiser’s position. He was in the correct orbit. He transferred the location to the HUD and overlaid it onto the course. The cruiser was facing the wrong direction. As a safety precaution, the cruiser’s computer would not engage a program if the ship was more than ninety degrees off of the bearing, and it certainly wouldn’t jump to FTL in that situation.

“Oh. I’m sorry, Daddy. I wrong way. I never do this before. I got…” he gasped, trying to hold back his tears. “I sorry. I no think. I sorry.”

“It is okay, Ky’nayth. Get her turned around and take us to Venus.”

“Yes, sir,” he said, wiping away an escaping tear then he adjusted the heading of the cruiser. This time when he hit the button for the computer to take over, it did. Mik’kenna clapped.

“You did good, Bubby,” she said.

“I was facing the wrong way,” he said, “I so stupid. I no good pilot.” He started to get out of his seat but was ordered by his father to sit back down.

“I told you that I was not going to fly this ship. If you do not pilot it, who will?”

“You has to ‘cause I no good.”

“Ky’nayth, do not give up. We all make mistakes, especially on our first try.”

“But I was wrong way! I pilot and I had ship facing wrong way!” he nearly screamed.

“Son, I have done that. I have even done it recently. I get too busy with the controls and do not glance up at the screen, and the next thing I know, I am doing what you just did: checking and rechecking the controls. Then it dawns on me that I had disembarked from the flagship backwards, so when I hit the command line, the cruiser just sat there. Son, it happens to the best of us.”

“But they think I bad pilot ‘cause I’m little. They no want me to fly.”

“Who are they?”

“Everyone.”

“Uncle Kol’non?”

“No.”

“Well, if I remember correctly, this is my cruiser, and I do not care what others think. Yes, you are little, but I, the Supreme Commander of the Raythian Fleet, know you can pilot the cruiser despite your size. It does not matter what they think. Ky’nayth, you are nervous. Calm yourself and focus on the task at hand. We are about to come out of FTL.”

“You did good, Bubby,” Mik’kenna tried to encourage. “We not crash into satellites or anything. You coursed right. And we safe! I trust you fly me anywhere. You good pilot, Bubby. I so proud of you!”

“Your course was very well-planned,” Zy’nayth said. “There is a lot of space debris around Earth and your sister is correct, we did not hit any of it. You clearly thought out the course. I am proud of you.”

“Really?”

Zy’nayth gave him a loving smile, “I am. I am even more proud that you did all of the work yourself. You did not ask me any questions, other than to look over the program to make sure it was correct, which it was. Now, move us to a position where your sister can do her drawing.”

***

“I wonder how the kids are doing,” Victoria said as they walked through the mall. They wanted to allow the president and his family a little time alone after the stressful interviews, so she and the rest of her family, minus Ja’val and Vince, went to one of the malls. Ny’van, Kol’non, Be’atta, Kaven, and Jack Burgeon returned to their homes. The Second Science Commander came early to watch over Ja’val since Victoria and Becket were both going on the shopping trip. Ja’val, however, thought he was fine, and didn’t need the attention. Becket, didn’t care. He still wanted the First Science Commander monitored. The two Rayth and Vince kept themselves confined to the study, where Ja’val’s bed was located and the parlor outside of the study, allowing Michael and his family to get acquainted with the rest of the house.

“I’m sure the kids are having a blast,” Lutia replied. “And Ky hasn’t crashed because we would have heard from my husband by now. Can we stop in there? I want to look for a few things for Kel. He’s growing like a weed.”

“Sure,” Victoria said. “Or your husband hasn’t figured out they crashed yet.”

“You know Zy’s reflexes are pretty darn quick,” John said, “he’d get control of that cruiser faster than Ky could ask for help. And you know Ja’val probably has every satellite scanner locked on to that cruiser.”

Victoria laughed. “Okay. I’m a little nervous about Ky flying. I know he’ll do well, but I just keep thinking that he’s only three, despite what I told Holly.”

“A three-year-old with his father’s abilities,” Amelia said. “The kid has a pretty big advantage.”

“I’m worried he tries too hard to be like his father,” Becket said. “He needs to be a kid.”

“I know. I worry too. They both play and romp and do kid things, but they are so very much like their father. Not much I can do about that,” Victoria shrugged. “But you guys help a lot. Whenever they’re with you, they always come back telling us stories about all of the fun they had. And I think once Kel’lan and Maressa get a little bigger, the twins will be more kid-like.”

“We really need to think about a play area, both on the mainland and in the city,” Amelia said. “Something with swings and slides.”

“Well we haven’t had the opportunity this past year,” Lutia said. “But maybe now that things have settled down we can at least get something set up on the mainland. Once they figure out what’s causing those earthquake swarms, that is.”

“Vince definitely won’t go for it with the earthquakes going on,” John said, “so where exactly are we headed after we get Baby Science Commander some new clothes?”

“I just want to go to that home store on ten. I want to get a food processor for Be’atta and Kol’non,” Victoria said.

“Why?” Janice asked.

“So Kol’non can make baby food,” Victoria grinned, knowing Be’atta hated to cook but Kol’non loved to. “Zy and I want to get something for them, and he remembered that I made Ky and Kenna’s food. It’ll keep the First occupied when he’s not on the ship.”

Lutia smiled, “That’s a great idea. I could use some really nice pots and pans. I’ve been so busy since Kel’s been born, I just haven’t gotten around to getting something durable. Mine are all beat up.”

“I could use some too,” Amelia said. “I have one nice pan. The rest are all dented. I think they’re the same pans I had in college. Becket has maybe two pans. Honey, can we look for something?”

“Anything you want,” he kissed her cheek. “Janice, how about you? Seems to be all the rage today.”

“I have a good set…and they’re never used. But I would like to pick up a nice pan and knife for Ny’van. He needs something.”

“I think he might be a little sweet on you,” Becket said.

“Ny’van? Me?” Janice asked.

“And here you are going to out buy him a pan and a knife. Sounds like love to me,” Lutia teased.

John shook his head, “Weird mating rituals.”

Victoria burst out laughing at his remark. Then put her arm around Janice, “So, interested in the Vice Chancellor?”

“I hardly know him.”

“But you’re buying him a knife,” Becket said. “That’s pretty personal.”

“Oh, please.”

Lutia grinned, “I think you two would make a good couple. Though you’re both pretty direct people, you might fight a lot.”

“Be’atta and Kol’non are both direct and they don’t fight…at least not verbally. Probably go at it in the sparring arena though,” John said. “Janice, all kidding aside, we know he’s a stand-up guy, and I know you’re both grown-ups and should be able to, you know, tell each other how you feel, but if you want, I’d be more than happy to bring it up with him.”

“Or I could,” Victoria said, “he’ll think that I’m just trying to play matchmaker again, not inquiring on your behalf.”

Janice let out a sigh, “No. Don’t do this to me. Got it? Not interested. He’s a friend. That’s it.”

“I think you need a new Sunday dress,” Lutia said. “Something blue to match your eyes.”

“No please. I don’t want to talk about it.”

“But…”

“Please guys. I came with you to have fun, and I’m not having fun.”

“All right,” Victoria said, “no more talk about the Vice Chancellor.”

***

“I am sorry, Ky’nayth, I do not see anything on which we can safely target practice.”

“That’s ‘kay. Sissy is this good spot for you?”

She nodded as climbed up on her father’s lap and began going through her sketchbook. She compared what she was now seeing in front of her to what she had seen through her telescope. She made notations, usually in Raythian, flipped to another sketch, and kept going until her “initial research” was completed.

Ky’nayth got his tablet out and began figuring out the course he would need to take to get them to Saturn. Once in a while, Mik’kenna asked if they could move a little so she could better see something. Ky’nayth was more than willing to oblige his sister. Zy’nayth helped both of his children when they had questions, and eventually he broke out the picnic basket their mother had put together for their snack.

“I do not wish you to eat at the controls,” he said, “we are safely in orbit, thank you Ky’nayth, so we can eat back here. Besides, you need a break.”

“When we get to Saturn, can I target practice on some asteroids?”

“I think I will take you out once we get back to Andromeda for you to target practice.”

Mik’kenna set her sketchbook down as her father prayed over the food. “I think I done with Venus. I got good sketches and some pictures. We go to Saturn after snack?”

“We can. I believe your brother has his flight plan ready.”

Ky’nayth nodded. “I think so. Daddy you check it please?”

Mik’kenna looked in the picnic basket. “No chips. I like chips with cheese snack,” she said. “What’s that bag for?”

“I believe we ran out of chips, so your mother packed some carrots, broccoli, and celery. Miss Amelia made her dip for you. And there is a special treat in the bag after you eat your vegetables.”

“Oh! What treat?” Ky’nayth asked.

“It is something your mother has not made for you before, but she tells me that you will like it.”

“It better not be octopus,” Mik’kenna frowned.

Zy’nayth shook his head, not understanding where his daughter got her obsession with not wanting to eat octopus. But, loving to tease his children, he looked into the paper bag and shook his head, “No, I do not believe this is octopus. It does, however, look like squid ink.”

“Eww. Gross, Daddy. I no believe you.”

“Mommy no give us squid,” Ky’nayth said.

“It is a squid cake,” he peered into the bag, “I am almost certain.”

“No it not,” Mik’kenna said. “Mommy know I no like tenty things.”

“Tenty? Oh, tentacles. I understand. But this is just the squid ink, not the tentacles.”

“No, Daddy. No. I no eat it.” She pouted. “Mommy no make special treat out of squid. No.”

“Oh, very well. It is a chocolate cake.”

“But you said we no have ‘fore,” Ky’nayth frowned, “Mommy make chocolate cake lots of times.”

“She said this was new,” he replied. “All I know is that it looks like chocolate.”

Victoria had made a small chocolate cake but she filled it with gooey fudge and caramel. Mik’kenna wanted to devour the entire thing, but her father kept her to just one piece, promising they could have another as a snack while in orbit around Saturn.

Once they were done with their snack, the kids helped their father clean up the table then they returned to the cockpit. Zy’nayth checked over his son’s flight plan and gave him permission to set the course.

Mik’kenna was excited the moment they dropped out of FTL and saw the asteroid belt. Though her telescope was powerful, it was nothing compared to being so close to the field. Her sketchpad was out and at the ready, but she didn’t know where to begin.

“Perhaps it is best if you focus on sketching the planet, not the asteroids,” her father suggested. She nodded but set her sketchpad aside and dug into her backpack and got out her tablet and began taking pictures with it.

“Can I shoot just one?” Ky’nayth asked.

“What if you only graze one, and it hits another and another, and so on until one is on a collision course for Earth?”

“I kill it before then.”

Zy’nayth let out a laugh. “I am sure you would. But we should not mess up this solar system. I promise, we will go to an uninhabited system in Andromeda and you can shoot asteroids there.”

“Kay. Can I have more cake now while Sissy taking pictures?”

“We will take a break in one hour. You may have a piece then. Meanwhile, your sister may need you to adjust your course so she can take more photographs.”

“I want pictures of all sides,” she said just as an asteroid came a little too close for Zy’nayth’s liking.

“Impact shield up,” Ky’nayth said, immediately hitting the button before his father directed him to do so. “I pull back a bit,” he said and backed the cruiser after making sure they were not surrounded by asteroids. “Scanning area,” he said. “Daddy, I do this or should I do something else?”

“You are doing things correctly,” he replied, but pulled up the sensors and did his own sweep of the area.

“Son, check your flight plan and where you stopped the ship.”

Ky’nayth did as he was instructed, “Oh,” he sighed, “I went too far. I sorry, Daddy.”

“No harm was done. But remember to check all of the sensors and readouts when you are manually flying…and a look out of the window does not hurt.”

“I trying,” Ky’nayth sighed.

“And you are doing quite well.”

***

When everyone returned to Victoria’s estate, the kids excitedly talked about their adventurous day. “Aunt Lia, I show you my sketches. There asteroids everywhere. One nearly hit us! Bubby backed us out. He good driver.”

“How did your shopping go?” Ja’val asked.

“We bought lots of kitchen stuff. Victoria picked out a food processor for the First and Be’atta,” Amelia replied, “and Kenna, I would love to look at your sketches.”

“Actually, my husband had the idea of getting the food processor,” Victoria said. “I think everyone got them some nice cookware since we’ve heard Be’atta say they really didn’t have anything.”

“I’ve needed new pans for years, so I bought us some,” Lutia said, nudging Ja’val, “Now I just need to get my husband to cook.”

“I dabble,” Ja’val replied.

“I bought a new jacket. Almost as nice as your long leather ones,” John said pointing to Ja’val. “I was told that I looked very handsome in it.”

“He does,” Victoria said, “the saleswomen in the store were all swooning.”

“And that was before he tried on the jacket,” Becket teased.

“Did you purchase a jacket, Becket?” Zy’nayth asked.

“No, but I did buy my beautiful bride a bracelet she fell in love with.”

Amelia smiled and showed off the bracelet. Mik’kenna, sitting across from her gasped. “Stars! Mommy, did you get me star bracelet? I want one, please!”

“Honey, those are diamonds, and no, I did not buy you one.”

“Diamonds are very expensive, Kenna,” John said. “When you grow up, perhaps your husband will buy you a diamond bracelet.”

“Has to come from husband?” Mik’kenna frowned.

“Well, no,” John said, “I suppose your parents could buy one for you.”

“Daddy, please!”

“I do not think you need a diamond bracelet,” Zy’nayth replied. “Your mother does not even have one.”

“Maybe it’s because her husband hasn’t bought one for her,” Ja’val said with a smile.

“Victoria, I was under the impression that you did not…”

Victoria shook her head at her husband, “No. Don’t need, don’t want. If I wanted one, I’d buy one.”

“Don’t look at me,” Lutia said to her own husband who began to question her, “Hard to wear jewelry when I’m patching up our troops.”

“If you guys want to buy someone diamonds,” Janice smiled, “I’d be more than happy to receive them.”

After catching up on their early evening events, Mik’kenna showed Amelia her drawings and asked if she’d look at her photos. Amelia said she’d be happy to, but that it was late and they should get ready for bed. Mik’kenna transferred files to Amelia’s tablet to look at later.

By the time everyone retired for the evening, the kids were exhausted. Though still very protective of Becket, Mik’kenna wasn’t as stressed about it. Amelia promised her that she would thoroughly look over the pictures Mik’kenna took and so she was sitting up in bed looking through the gallery as Becket climbed in next to her.

“She get any good shots?” he asked as he snuggled next to her.

“I don’t think the planet has ever been so exhaustively photographed,” Amelia chuckled as she set her tablet on her lap. “Even with all of her father’s technology on that cruiser, she prefers to spend hours looking through a telescope, sketching, and snapping pictures.”

“Are you saying you didn’t when you first discovered the stars?”

She let out a little sigh, “I suppose I did. But if Zy offered me use of those scanners of his…”

“You’d still prefer to ride out in his cruiser and look for yourself,” Becket smiled and kissed her cheek.

“Yeah, I guess I would.” She picked the tablet back up, “Thank you for the bracelet. I love it.”

“I hope Kenna doesn’t pester her parents too much for one.”

“I doubt if she does. Once they get back to Terra 2 and she breaks out that bigger telescope, she’ll forget all about the bracelet.”

“I doubt if those kids ever forget anything,” he said and settled against his pillow, “but I imagine she’ll be engrossed with stargazing for quite some time.

“I think I’m going to ask Pavel if she can spend a little time in the lab with us, you know, just an hour a week or something.”

“Better check with her father first,” Becket said.

“I will, but do you think it’s a good idea?”

“It is, but there needs to be something special for Ky to do for that hour. I don’t want him feeling left out of special things like that.”

“Hmm. I wonder if John could take him up in a shuttle and let him practice flying?”

“That’s a good idea. Or maybe he could have an hour with Kaven to learn combat techniques. Or Chris could teach him how to use a gun and bow.”

“I don’t think Victoria would want him learning how to use weapons.”

“True, but his father might think differently.”

“I’m not going to pit Victoria against Zy,” she shook her head. “But I may talk to those three and see if they’d be willing to spend an hour a week with Ky. They might have a good idea.”

January 5, 2121

The next morning, after a big breakfast nearly everyone went out and played in the snow, from the twins to the president and the High Chancellor. Amelia stayed out for a few minutes and decided she’d be more comfortable inside. She kept a kettle going for people to come in and warm themselves up with hot tea or cocoa, but settled on the sofa with her tablet and found herself enjoying Mik’kenna’s photos. When the little girl came in to use the bathroom, she saw Amelia browsing through her pictures. She went to the bathroom then climbed up on the sofa with the astrophysicist.

“Did I do good? I no good at framing photos yet.”

“I think you did a very good job. But can I make a suggestion?”

“I need help,” Mik’kenna sighed.

“Oh honey, it’s not bad. I just wanted to say that instead of trying to cover the entire planet, that you focus on one area for a while. I know you were excited to go out on your first expedition, I would be too. You were also probably wanting to give your brother a reason to fly more. But when you go out again, try and plan out what area you want to photograph. Remember, you do have your father’s equipment at your disposal. You could get images from his satellites, but you, yourself, could just focus on one area. That way you can be very thorough and much more detailed.” She went back a few images and showed it to Mik’kenna, “See, this one, is all blurry. You were taking pictures so fast, the auto-focus couldn’t keep up.”

“I sorry.”

Amelia kissed the top of her head, “Hey, considering this was your first outing, you did really well. I couldn’t even hold a camera at your age.” She flipped back a few more photos, “See this one. You took a little more time with this didn’t you?”

Mik’kenna nodded, “Big asteroid. I like it.”

“I can tell. The photo is much more focused and the detail, look here and here,” she pointed, “very…” She stopped and zoomed in. “Honey, what’s this shiny spot? A reflection off the window?”

Mik’kenna shook her head. “Daddy fixed cabin lights and window thingie so no ‘flection. Unless he did wrong.”

“Your father isn’t known to mess things up,” she said and zoomed in closer. “Did you get more shots from this area?”

“I think so. I go get my computer and look.” She hopped off the sofa and went running to get her own tablet. Then she sat next to Amelia and went through her images. She had them all sorted by coordinates, something her father had programmed her tablet to do automatically when she took pictures. The computer extrapolated the distance from the lens then noted the exact coordinates for the object in focus. But when she transferred the files to Amelia’s tablet, due to the safety protocols he embedded into the program, that information didn’t copy with them.

Her tablet opened up with a virtual keyboard and two big screens after a few keystrokes, then she went to that image. It was one of her favorites, so she knew exactly where it was. “Shiny thing in some of these others too,” she said.

Amelia looked at the second screen and a third popped up. Mik’kenna’s fingers flew over the holographic keyboard. “It not satellite. I checked database.”

Amelia was intrigued, it wasn’t a satellite and definitely not an asteroid. “Can you zoom in?” she asked.

“No. I only has one high resolution, that first one, ‘cause I wanted more pictures. Sorry.”

“Coordinates?”

Mik’kenna tapped a couple of keys. Amelia picked her own tablet back up and typed in the coordinates.

Mik’kenna tapped a few more keys. All six screens were now up and she pulled up more images. “Same area but no clear as that one.”

Amelia looked at everything Mik’kenna pulled up, one right after another. Then something caught her eye. “Honey, would you go get your Daddy? I think he needs to see this.”

“It ‘portant?”

Amelia nodded, “I think so.”

Mik’kenna hopped down and ran outside without her coat. “Daddy, hurry! Aunt Lia say it ‘portant,” Mik’kenna yelled from the patio.

Zy’nayth went running to the house, thinking it was an emergency, as did everyone else. It was almost a stampede for the house.

Mik’kenna grabbed his hand when he got close and began to explain, “Miss Lia look at pictures and found something. It ‘portant.”

“This is about your pictures?” he asked, stopping in his tracks, a little upset that she had made it appear to be an emergency and worrying himself and everyone else.

“Daddy! Please! She told me get you and say it ‘portant! I no yell if not ‘portant!”

Victoria picked her daughter up, “Let’s get you inside where it’s warm and see what’s so urgent.” The entire group walked into the house, the dogs scrambling in between their legs and running to the fireplace while the humans took off their winter wear.

“Sorry to break up your fun, but I think your daughter found a ship,” Amelia said. “You didn’t mention any of yours in the area, and I doubt if it’s one of Earth’s. Look here.”

Zy’nayth walked over sat beside her, looking at the screens on his daughter’s computer.

“Is it ‘portant?” Mik’kenna asked as she climbed up next to him.

“It may be. I am sorry for raising my voice, Mik’kenna. I was concerned Amelia was hurt.” Zy’nayth handed the tablet back to Amelia and brought out his own tablet, but spoke to Ja’val. “My daughter seems to have found a spaceship. Science, I’m sending you the coordinates. Can you run some scans?”

“Not Rayth then?” John asked.

“Not unless they are here without my orders, or the First Commander’s.”

“One moment,” Ja’val said as he sat on the floor and pulled out his tablet that expanded into multiple screens and a full-sized keyboard. He glanced at the coordinates and began punching keys. His six screens began filling up with various data. Not Rayth, not Earth. A few more keystrokes and the ship appeared on one screen.

“It has some Mythican design similarities. Could another race have found another deserted Mythican ship?” Zy’nayth asked.

“I doubt it,” Ja’val said after several minutes. “The E:A city-ship on screen one, the one Mik’kenna found on screen two. There are a few similarities, but all things considered, there are just as many between Earth ships and ours, simple physics would account for that.” He continued punching keys, tapping into various Rayth satellites he’d placed in the system during the trips to and from the system. “Not seeing any markings, definitely not Earth. They throw names and numbers on everything.”

“Secret project?” Victoria asked.

“Doubtful,” Zy’nayth said as his son climbed up on his lap. “From what I have garnered in researching their space technology, they have not yet ventured that far with a ship. Satellites and probes, yes. Passenger ships, no. No offense intended, Mr. President.”

“None taken.”

“Daddy! It’s glowing!” Ky’nayth exclaimed, looking at the live feed on one of Ja’val’s screens.

“That looks very similar to the glow of the bridges,” Vince said looking at the screen.

“Indeed,” said Zy’nayth.

Ja’val hit two quick keystrokes and the satellite feed went dark. He tapped his comlink and after a few seconds he said, “It’s moving further out. She knew we were scanning her,” Ja’val said as he typed away. “She’s definitely leaving the system. Do we have any ships close to the Milky Way-Andromeda border along this trajectory?”

Zy’nayth contacted Kol’non, back on Terra 2. Kol’non replied to the question, “The closest one would take three days at FTL speed to reach the border. She’s not equipped with our top engine.”

“How far out is our Second Ship?” Zy’nayth asked.

“She’s keeping a close eye on the area where we believe the mystery ship is located, sir. The ship that was scanning Terra 2.”

Zy’nayth did the calculations in his head. “Get a warship to replace the Second. Send the Second at full speed to intercept. Scans all along the way. If they encounter this ship, do not engage, just follow.”

“Understood.”

“We do not have any other information, but I will have Science send along images and any scans he was able to complete before detection.”

“Should I pass the information along to Col. Chapman and Dr. Harris?”

“Yes. General Cavanaugh will follow up with him after we discuss things here.”

“Understood.”

“I’m setting all satellites to scan for this ship,” Ja’val said, “it will feed directly to Chris and Simon as well as stations on the flagship and Second Ship.”

“They do not appear hostile, but it is best to be prepared. Two mystery ships watching us. I do not take that lightly.” Zy’nayth ended the call and continued to study the image his daughter caught.

“Daddy, I need to take pictures more slow. Sorry they blurry,” Mik’kenna frowned.

“You did well, Mik’kenna. Even though the images are blurry, it alerted us to an unknown ship.” He looked at Vince then the president, “I think we should go into the larger living area and discuss this. Science, you as well. We can connect with the First and Second Commanders with a video feed. Science, you up to this? I know you are still recovering from the serum.”

“I’m fine,” Ja’val waved off the thought, “I need some excitement.”

“It’s almost lunchtime,” Victoria said, “I’ll make up a deli tray. You guys can sit and figure this out.”

“Good. Those who are not interested in the conversation can help my wife with lunch or simply go and relax. As I stated, I do not believe they are hostile, but we must be prepared.”

“Mik’kenna,” Becket said, “since my wife is going to be busy helping your father, would you mind if I sat with you? You can show me your pictures and explain things to me that I don’t understand.”

Mik’kenna ran over and handed him her tablet then took his free hand. “I no know as much as Aunt Lia, but I tell you want I can.”

John motioned to Zachary, “Come on, might as well learn something. Know anything about Earth’s space vessels?”

“A little,” he said and fell in step with the colonel.

The one thing that was hard for the humans to do, especially on a family gathering, was to refer to the Rayth by their titles and not their names. Since their names had not been revealed to the president’s family, they had to use their titles. Thankfully, not even the kids slipped up. Though Michael knew Zy’nayth’s name, he did not know those of the others, but understood their tradition and followed it.

“I think they’ve figured out where are satellites are and are attempting to circumvent them,” Ja’val said, his eyes hadn’t left his screen as he carried his setup down the hall to the larger living area.

“Are they succeeding?” Kol’non asked from the video link.

“No. In theory, we shouldn’t lose them with as many satellites as I’ve dumped out there. Want me to get the Third on video?” Ja’val asked Zy’nayth.

“Yes, thank you. And though I know he just left, the Second Science Commander would be a good one to have in the conversation.”

“I could check and see if Chris and Simon, even Steve are available,” Kol’non added.

“If I may,” Michael spoke up, “I assume you mean Lt. Col. Chapman, but I don’t recognize the other names.”

“Dr. Simon Harris is our Chief Tech Engineer. Of the humans, he knows about our systems better than anyone. And by ‘our systems’ I mean the Mythican systems. Steve is Major Steve Kessler. He is next in command after Chapman,” Vince said, “Let’s leave them out of the conversation until we determine just how significant this find is and if it is a threat.”

“Should I bring in some of my people?” Michael asked. “My DoD people?”

“Department of Defense,” John clarified for the Rayth.

“I would rather not,” Zy’nayth said. “I believe that there would be a leak, and a panic would ensue considering all that has happened in the last few months.”

“I could have them sign non-disclosure…”

“Sir, even if they were included in the conversation, and even if this is a threat against this planet, none of your countries have any weapons to go up against them. It is best not to start a panic.” Zy’nayth sighed, “I believe this is the best course of action at this point.”

“And like I said the other day,” Vince interjected, “I’ve learned to trust him with these things.”

“Okay, so, where do we start?” Michael said as Holly joined him handing him a notebook and pen.

“Firsts, do either of you recognize the craft?”

Kol’non, visible on one of Ja’val’s screens, shook his head, “First glance, no. Just getting the satellite feed images now.”

Ja’val was sitting beside Zy’nayth, with Ky’nayth between the two of them. “Chancellor, I know I said that I didn’t think it was Mythican design but…” Ja’val transferred his screen to his Zy’nayth’s computer, “That golden glow, like the bridge glow…according to a quick spectrometer test, they’re the same. I’m not saying that’s a Mythican ship, but the odds of those two light emissions being exactly the same are pretty small.”

“If it is Mythican,” Michael asked, “is that good or bad?”

“Depends on if you’re Rayth or human,” Ny’van replied, having been added to the video conference.

Mik’kenna was showing Becket the image that prompted the investigation. “And see how it’s shiny. Miss Lia saw that,” she said. “She has good eye.”

“That she does,” he smiled and kissed the topped of the little girl’s head.

“Ship’s changed direction,” Kol’non said, “Heading away from the Andromeda border. At least as far as I can project, she’s headed away.”

“Headed back this way?” Vince asked.

“No.”

Ja’val called up the satellite imagery on his computer. “Seems to be running about the same speed as those battlecruisers we have. Slightly faster.”

“So it could be the same tech that my brother used for those cruisers?” Zy’nayth asked.

“Too early to tell. Remember, we had to do some major work on those engines since they were so poorly designed,” Ja’val said. “Satellite sensors aren’t picking up any radiation leaks or…” he tapped several keys, “or the energy leakage we picked up from your brother’s fleet. If it’s the same tech, these guys fixed those little prob…” He stopped mid-word and began typing furiously on his keyboard. No one asked anything, they let him work, but Kol’non had been tracking the satellite imagery as well and spoke up.

“Sir, they jumped out of range,” he said.

“FTL jump?” Vince asked.

“They were in FTL,” Kol’non said, “only way they could have made it as far out as they did in such a short amount of time. No, they simply vanished.”

“Cloak?” John asked.

“Possible,” Ja’val said.

“Want me to send the flagship to the last known coordinates?” Kol’non asked.

“No,” Zy’nayth replied. “I do not want us to appear to be aggressors.”

“I think it a scout ship,” Ky’nayth said and pointed to the last image of the ship on his father’s screen. “See, Daddy. No weapons array.”

“No visible weapons array,” he corrected. “Remember that you cannot see weapons on Uncle Vince’s ship either.”

“But that ship bigger. This one tiny.”

“She may be small, but that does not mean she is not armed.”

“She could be sacrificing weapons for speed,” Ja’val said. “We simply don’t have enough information to know.”

“First, do we have any ships near the Rayk homeworld?” he asked.

“No sir, standing orders not to be in that quadrant.”

“Closest ship to that area?”

“Warship one-oh-seven. Patrolling.”

“Any transports close?”

“Not for another two days, sir, if they’re running on schedule.”

“Patch me through to the warship,” he replied and a moment later that ship’s commander answered the incoming call. Zy’nayth told them about the mystery ship as Victoria, Lutia, Janice, and Hannah came in carrying trays filled with sandwiches. “I need you to do a quick search,” Zy’nayth said, “a very quick one so that no one gets injured.”

“Where, sir?”

“The Rayk homeworld. Do you have the information as to how far out you need to be in order to keep anyone from suffering the ill effects from its energy source?” Zy’nayth heard him tap his control panel and received a positive reply. “Good. Set a course. Keep the First Commander informed of your status and projected completion time. Do not engage any unknown ship, do not linger. If there is any ship we have not encountered before, you are to send the information directly to me and the First Commander. No one else.”

“Understood.”

“And once your scan of the area is complete, even if you find a ship, you are to leave the quadrant immediately.”

“Understood, sir.”

Ja’val tapped into the conversation, “I’ll have a prelim to you in about fifteen minutes. If I come up with something after that, it’ll be passed along.”

“Your eyes only,” Zy’nayth added, “and your Science Commander.”

“Yes, sir.”

Zy’nayth looked at his two officers to see if they had anything more to add. Neither did, so High Chancellor left one final instruction with the Commander to stay safe, then he signed off. He looked up at his wife, “I seem to have my hands full, would you please make me a sandwich and probably one for our son as well.”

“I’ll get it,” Janice, since Victoria had just started to head back to the kitchen to bring in drinks.

“Can you please fix me a ham sammich?” Ky’nayth asked, “I like mussard, and pickles and mayosauce but not mayo.”

“The spread that Amelia usually makes,” Zy’nayth translated.

“Don’t have any of that left, sorry Ky,” Janice said.

“Then just mussard and pickles.”

“There’s lettuce here too.”

He frowned. He knew he should but it wasn’t his favorite, but he said he’d take a leaf or two.

“There are onions and tomatoes, too,” Janice smiled.

“I like onions!”

“Sure you don’t want a slice of tomato?”

Ky’nayth shook his head, “They drippy. Might get on computer.”

“I’ll let that one slide,” she smiled as she finished up his sandwich.

“No chips?” he asked, eyeing the trays.

Lutia came in with two pitchers of tea, “Sorry, out of chips, Ky.”

Soon all of the food was set up and everyone had their sandwiches. Mik’kenna loved to mix her tuna and egg salad together, then she threw a big pile of onions on it. Her mother carried a glass of tea over for her as she climbed back up next to Becket.

“Anyone need a plate fixed?” Victoria asked, eyeing John who hadn’t yet fixed himself anything.

“Ah, sorry, I got it. Was too busy looking at the images.”

“No, stay. Whatcha want?”

“Any meat and all the trimmings,” he replied, “Thanks, Victoria.”

Frostie came bounding in carrying one of Kel’lan’s little booties. She ran right up to Vince and dropped it at his feet then her nose headed for his sandwich.

“No, Frostie, not for puppies,” Mik’kenna said before Vince could correct his own dog. “You has puppy food.”

“And apparently my son’s clothes,” Ja’val grinned.

“Sorry about that,” Vince said. “I hope Kel wasn’t wearing it when Frostie felt she needed it.”

“Nah,” Lutia said, “got it out of the laundry.” She sat on one of the comfortable sofas next to John and leaned back and closed her eyes. “I’m wiped out and it’s only a little after noon.”

“Snowball fights will do that to you,” he said.

Victoria finally got her own plate fixed and sat next to Lutia. Baxter and Celeste trotted over and sat at her feet where Cinnamon had just curled up. The wind suddenly picked up, and the howling caused all of the dogs to perk up and run to the nearest windows.

“Were we expecting this?” Victoria asked then took a bite of her tuna sandwich.

“Not until later,” John said. “Glad we got our outside playtime done.”

“I have my preliminary findings ready to send off,” Ja’val said, “and since you requested that it is not to be shared, do you want me to send it to Chris and Simon?”

“Yes. I simply did not want the other Rayth on that particular warship to know everything. There is one on board who is on our watch list.”

Ja’val gave him a questioning look. “I don’t recall anyone…oh, never mind. I remember.” He tapped his comlink to talk to the warship commander as well as the First, Second, and Third Commanders, Chris Chapman, Steve Kessler, and Simon Harris. “Sending the preliminary findings now. Per the High Chancellor, this information is for your eyes only. We’re still talking things over down here. Will keep you apprised. First Science Commander, out.”

As soon as Ja’val disconnected, Zy’nayth’s comlink buzzed. It was the Third Commander who was in charge of the flagship that was just about to head back to the Andromeda galaxy. “Clarifying sir, my eyes only? I thought…”

“Sorry, that was intended for the Warship Commander. You may distribute the information among the appropriate personnel.”

“Thank you, sir. Out.”

By the end of the afternoon, there hadn’t been any further sightings of the mystery ship. The group came up with a plan of action, which was, for now, watch and wait.

***

First Officer Tel’lok walked into General Karken’al Dubasi’s office. “Sir, the scout around Earth was detected.”

Karken’al frowned. “Why were they not cloaked?”

“They had only just arrived in the system and were supposedly hidden in an asteroid belt.”

“Did Earth detect them?”

“No, sir. Raythian scanning technology was detected.”

“Status?”

“They ran with cloak down. A rather unusual heading, hopefully so that it would not seem as if they came from Andromeda. When they believed they had the full attention of the Raythian satellite system, they cloaked. So far, there’s no indication that the Rayth have found them. No incoming scans detected. Jil’ana’s making sure they have things calibrated properly.”

“Did she bridge to the scout ship?”

“Yes, sir. Is seeing to things personally.”

Karken’al’s frown deepened. “If she ever thinks of doing that again, you are to stop her. Or call me to stop her.”

“Yes, sir.”

“We’re in Raythian territory and if they detect us with my Chief Science Officer off ship…” he shook his head, “just make sure it doesn’t happen again. Any indication that we’ve been detected?”

“No sir.”

“Good. When my CSO returns, make sure she’s checks over what she missed, then send her in. She needs to be reminded of who’s in charge.”

“Yes, sir,” Tel’lok said, then was dismissed.