Shepherd Moon, Book 2: Homeworld   by Roberta J. Cabot

Chapter Five After Mia's, Tasha's and Sahsha's people landed, they commenced the Fifth Fleet's version of a pass-and-review or a trooping the colour, but just before its conclusion, what looked like a Tirosian suddenly came upon the scene, and commenced an attack run. With expert management, though, Mia was able to disguise the attack as if it was just part of the elaborate air show. The pilot was caught and an interrogation was started, but Mia couldn't help because they just started the reception for the conference.

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Chapter Five: Reception

 
Threatcon Bravo

Mia, Sahsha and Tasha stood about twenty feet from the bottom of the stage that was at the end of the hall (actually a converted hangar), which was the ideal position to greet their guests. That was because guests would have to cross the length of the hall to get to them, thereby requiring them to walk through the crush of guests, and make them interact with everyone. It also had the benefit of delaying any well-wishers so that the hosts wouldn't have to deal with a steady stream of people.

When Mia explained this to Queen Margaret, or "Meg" as she insisted Mia and Tasha call her, the queen said that might be a good innovation to add to the royal protocols for royal events and such.

Mia told the queen she could hardly call her "Meg," as it would be too familiar.

"Nonsense," Queen Margaret responded. "After all, we are peers now," she explained, "and it suits my casual and familiar manner." Her self-styled "familiar manner" was a departure from all other previous British monarchs, but she wasn't as casual as she thought she was.

The three noticed that she didn't extend the same invitation to Sahsha, so the queen's "casual" manner apparently had limits. In any case, Sahsha made sure not to call her "Meg."

Tasha took to it right away, of course. After all, among the members of the Elyran family, clan and peers, it was actually permissible to call each other by their personal names, with the exception of the queen, of course. By Elyran tradition, the only ones to whom it would be allowable to be familiar with her were the royal parents, spouse, siblings or children. Everyone else, even relatives, had to be formal with her.

Mia tried to accede to Queen Margaret's request, but it was an effort for her because she would instinctively call her "your highness," or "ma'am." Nevertheless, "Meg" didn't take it against her, and just let it ride.

This particular gimmick of the royal hosts of standing at the farthest point from the door was a common party trick among Elyran royals that was used a lot, and the few Elyrans present recognized this gambit. For the others, though, it was a bit of an annoyance, but they wouldn't show their annoyance to the three royals, of course, and would just grumble a bit about "yet another darned Elyran custom" when they were out of earshot.

While they waited between people coming over, Mia, Tasha and Sahsha talked about what had happened during the parade.

"So. Can you talk about it now, Mia?" Sahsha asked.

"I'm sorry, Sahsha," Mia said, "I wasn't authorized to tell anyone, even you and Tasha. But, yeah, I can talk about it now."

They paused as a couple of people from Secretary-General Romarkin's office came over to pay their respects. Though they knew Sahsha personally, they tried not to be too familiar now, though they warmly shared hugs with her.

As soon as they left, Mia continued.

"Phil said CETI had been getting some Phase-Wave intercepts that indicated some kind of Dravidian or Detterex plot or conspiracy. But Phil said the aliens clearly suspect that EarthForce can intercept and pick out individual communication signals so they've been encrypting their messages."

Mia stopped as a group of people from some branch of government they didn't know very well stopped to pay respects.

As soon as they left, Sahsha pulled on Mia's sleeve.

"So what else did Dr. McIntyre say?" Sahsha said.

"Well," Mia said, continuing, "Phil then contacted the Alien Threat Assessment Command, and provided them copies of the messages. But because of the sketchy nature of the signals, they couldn't come to any definite conclusions about what these people were planning, except they were sure that it wasn't anything good. All they could do was send out an alert to the Earth Alliance - namely, our friends onboard Colossus, and in Telcontar, Arachnia, Elyra, Daemon, Dixx and Star-453, and that there was something afoot in Dravidia and Detterex."

"Why not send out a general alert?"

"I think the ATAC people," Tasha said, "didn't want to tip off the conspirators, so they limited it only to our friends, who they were probably thinking were the targets, anyway."

Sahsha nodded, and waited for the latest batch of well-wishers to leave before continuing.

"So what else did they do?" Sahsha asked

"Well," Mia said, "Admiral Silverman had all EarthForce installations upgraded to Threatcon Bravo, while the other governments followed our lead. I myself heard about it just after I left Colossus. So I made sure everyone that joined the parade were all on alert, and all their equipment and weapons were loaded with live rounds and fully charged."

"Was that how our people were able respond quickly?"

Mia nodded.

"What's Threacon Bravo, anyway?"

"Wait a moment," Tasha said. "I'm looking that up..." She had her CC out. "Threatcon Bravo... 'this condition applies when an increased and more predictable threat of terrorist activity exists. The measures in this THREATCON must be capable of being maintained for weeks without causing undue hardship, affecting operational capability, and aggravating relations with local authorities.'"

"Oh..."

"And the moment we arrived in orbit," Mia said, "the admiral upgraded all installations in the North American Command to Threatcon Charlie."

"Ahhh... Thank goodness."

"Truth is, we didn't know what would happen and where. As it was, that missile almost got us. Thank goodness for our Elyran warriors and their anti-missile weapons."

"Thank goodness you were there to get them to fire off one of them when it was needed," Sahsha said.

"I've always wanted to ask," Tasha said, "who is this 'Goodness' person anyway, and what has she got to do with anything, that we have to keep on thanking her?"

Mia and Sahsha burst out laughing, and the next group that came over next looked at the three quizzically as they laughed themselves silly.

 
Asha

"So," FBI Agent Booth said as he talked with the Detterex pilot that tried to attack the VIPs at the parade, "anything you want to tell us?" Agent Booth was fully fluent in Elyran so he didn't need a translator.

The pilot gulped. She was so nervous, she was about to soil herself. A couple of days ago, she had pigged out on the food she bought from the countless street vendors on Times Square, and had a bout of indigestion, and spent a large part of that afternoon in what the Eathers called a "restroom."

And with this interrogation, she feld she needed to visit a restroom again.

Going without was something she was so used to - poor people usually were, but when let loose out on the streets of New York, with a pocket full of money, she couldn't help herself and bought these scrumptious things called "pretzels," and she was in heaven. She then followed that up with something called a "falafel" and a "shawarma," and then, after a while, she tried something called a "Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich." (She avoided drinks because she heard that Earther liquor was really strong, and didn't want to risk it.) The mysterious but tasty yellow substance that dripped out ruined her blouse, but she didn't care. Eating for a starving woman can be almost orgasmic, and things like a few stains on her clothes hardly mattered.

She had also tried "roasted peanuts" and popped each savory pebble-like morsel in her mouth, as she walked around the incredible Earther city. When she had finished the bag of peanuts, she then tried something called "ice cream," and that was the most incredible eating experience she had ever experienced. Nothing in her life came close to ice cream. But then, her stomach started to rumble, and rushed to the nearest "bathroom" or "rest room."

She lamented that Detterex's capital city, Amber, wasn't like New York City. Not even close. But with the current economic crisis the Empire was in, and the poorest of the poor were barely able to hang on, how can the government even think of spending on the city's infrastructure.

She and her family would do anything just to be able to eat regularly and put a roof over their heads.

That was why, when she heard from the neighborhood loanshark that a mysterious Dravidian from the Federation was looking for recruits, she and many of the people in her enclave (though "slum" might have been a better word for their neighborhood) checked it out. The Dravidians were looking for a specific type, and she was the only one who fit the bill. Apparently, they were looking for people who closely resembled Elyrans, and she thanked the prophet that she was short enough and looked close enough to an Elyran to pass. And even though it was for something... nefarious, she didn't care. However, she made sure that the Dravidians gave her the money that they promised first, which she than gave to her mother. It insured that her family would be taken cared of for a few years, and maybe even find a better situation out in the mountain strongholds overlooking the city, and for that, she didn't mind that she had essentially sold herself to these criminals.

After a week of training on a "simulator" (which was nothing more than a big shipping box with a folding chair inside, a broom handle for a control stick and a portable computer to simulate cockpit controls), she was declared ready, and she and several Dravidians left Detterex Prime and made their way to Earth.

They rode in a decrepit old Kembel freighter that was bringing a load of what the Earthers called "rare earth" minerals, as well as several hundred tons of Kembel handicrafts and pre-packaged foods and instant pastries that Earthers loved. It was small as far as interstellar cargo ships went, and only had room for them and this relatively small shipment of Earth-bound cargo. In fact, she had to share one stateroom with seven smelly and enormous Dravidians for over a month.

She did her best to keep busy, so she would roam the largely deserted ship often. She found the Tirosian "fighter" she was supposed to fly, and it was more like a pile of junk. She asked the Dravidian in charge about it, and he said that there was still work to be done on it, but he promised that it would be ready on time.

- - - - -

By the end of the trip, she was praying to the gods already, so desperate was she to escape from the ship.

But when she thought she couldn't take the cramped situation and the loneliness of being the only Detterex aboard anymore (she actually wouldn't have minded if there were anyone else other than Dravidians onboard - even an Elyran would have been welcome), they eventually arrived at Newark International Spaceport.

She and the Dravidians, as well as their equipment, were overlooked by the port inspectors - they hid on the cargo ship until the customs people left.

Once their ship was towed into one of the spaceport's ship hangars by one of the spaceport's tiny but powerful towtrucks, and parked beside a large FedEx Express Interspace ship, they waited for the FedEx ship to unload cargo. And as the FedEx cargo pallets were unloaded and towed out, they unloaded their "special" cargo as well and surrepticiously joined the procession of shipping containers being towed out of the spaceport.

Having escaped the spaceport authorities, they then moved into a large rented warehouse just beyond a large reclamation facility in New Jersey (a place the Earthers called a "junk yard").

After settling in, two of her Dravidian compatriots crossed the street to this facility, and returned an hour later with several crates of "junk." Later, she would see that the "junk" included the components of what she knew were "lasers" as well as a lot of parts for what she believed were Dravidian rocket engines.

Since the Dravidians said it would take them at least three days to re-assemble "her" Tirosian fighter plane, she was allowed to roam around the Earther city until it was ready.

And she got to know the place a bit and indulged in some of what the city had to offer. Not much, actually, since the Dravidians only gave her a little Earth "pocket money," but it felt like a fortune to her, and was able to enjoy some things - like watch a "movie," or go to an "amusement park," or take a "carriage ride" around the city's enormous Central Park, but the best was the street food, of course. City tour personnel told the "Elyran tourist" that pre-war New York City was considered dangerous, but the present was very safe, and she was free to roam with full confidence. She took them at their word, and she had no reason to complain.

 
Interrogation

While Agent Booth was asking her questions that she wann't answering, another Earther, an "Agent Aubrey," came in.

"Got some data from the lab boys, finally," Agent Aubrey said.

"Lemme see," Booth demanded, and he took the folder Aubrey gave him and started reading.

"Ahhh," Booth said, and turn back to her. "Seems you're not really an Elyran, after all," he said, shifting effortlessly to Detterex (although Detterex wasn't really much different from Elyran). "It says here you're actually Asha Terisa, from Detterex City."

The Detterex spy, Asha, gulped. "They found out!" she thought. "But how?"

"We have access to records of most Detterex citizen, as provided by your government under the cease fire accords. We used your fingerprints and iris to identify you.

"furthermore, the Royal Bureau for Travel and Immigration of Detterex City had recorded a citizen leaving Detterex Prime in the company of seven Dravidians on a Kembel ship bound for Earth."

Asha moaned sub-vocally. She was so scared, she couldn't stop from trembling.

"Asha," Agent Booth said gently, "don't be scared. You won't be harmed, nor will there be any retribution on your family back home." Booth put a gentle, placating hand on her arm. "We guarantee you will be provided full opportunity to explain and defend yourself. We just need to know."

Asha looked up at the big Earther. "I promise," the Earther said, and smiled gently.

For some reason, she believed him. An Earther that gentle and kind was worthy of trust. She knew what she was feeling was partly because this Booth was a bridge, a powerful one at that - a gentle submissive bridge, but she believed it wasn't just that. In her heart, she knew he was being sincere. So she decided to trust the Earther.

Before she started to talk, though, the Earther gave her a form - it was a standard Detterex/Elyran parole form, and it showed to her how well Earthers understood them.

In her presence, he and Agent Aubrey signed the form, and she signed it as well. Now she was assured she and her family wouldn't be hurt.

And she recounted everything that happened to her, starting from the time she first met the Dravidians.

 
Meg

One of the last groups that Mia, Sahsha and Tasha had to shake hands and say hello to was Queen Margaret and her retinue.

"It's indeed a pleasure, your highness," Tasha said, and gave the English monarch a buss on the cheek. It wasn't according to Earth royal protocol but it was part of Elyran protocol, so Queen Margaret nor her people had reason to complain.

"Your, highness," Sahsha said, and curtseyed. She knew it was okay to address the queen already since she had already spoken to her.

"Sahsha, my dear," the queen replied, and bussed her on the cheek as well - something quite unprecendented, even for a queen who behaved as casually as "Queen Meg."

"Your royal highness," Mia said when it was her turn. As she was bending to curtsey, Meg playfully hit her on the top of her head.

"Oh, stop that, Mia," Meg said. "I suppose I should be relieved that you didn't say 'my queen' or 'my liege,' or something equally inane."

"Ahhh, for me, that would be Tasha, your highness. Or Sahsha. No disrespect intended, of course."

Everyone laughed.

"Of course," Meg said, smiling.

"Sir," Mia saluted Prince Stephen. Nominally, as part of the British royal house, Meg's husband, Stephen, was someone that she saluted or curtseyed to, since she was supposedly part ot the British royal family as well. She took the "military" option, though, to make a distinction between the queen or the prince. Besides, Prince Stephen was, after all, the honorary commander of the entire British forces, and she was just a fleet commander.

Prince Stephen took her seriously, though, and saluted back.

"Good afternoon, Admiral," Prince Stephen said.

"Sir," Mia replied in a very reserved, British way.

As they were making pleasantries, Phil McIntyre came over with his grad students. Yet another break in Earther protocol.

"Phil!" Mia said in obvious pleasure.

"Mia!" Phil said, and returned the spontaneous hug. "Oh!" Phil said with a small, mischievous smile. "Apologies, Princess," he said, and bowed.

"You!" Mia said and playfully mock-punched him in the gut.

Mia took it upon herself to formally introduce him to her spouses, and to Queen Margaret and her party. Phil knew everyone already, of course, but followed protocol for the sake of his proteges, so he'd have an opportunity to formally introduce them.

"Your highnesses," Phil said in his best formal tones, "Madam Secretary-General, admirals, ambassadors, and everyone, I'd like to introduce to you the first batch of the CETI Exchange program.

"First, I'd like to introduce to you Doctor Ivan Oligov, a graduate of the Kissinger Diplomatic Program from the famous Moscow State Institute of International Relations, or MGIMO. He is currently pursuing his second doctorate under the Galactic History, Economy, and Social Studies Programme, or GHES."

The tall, blond Russian stepped to the front of the group, politely bowed to the VIPs, and stepped back.

"Next is Elmonte Oliveira, an undergraduate of Universidade de Sao Paolo's veterinary program, and was a late enrollee to the GHES. But he is one of our most promising students, and has actually helped improve our medical knowledge of extraterrestrial anatomy - he has authored several monograms on non-terran anatomy and physiology. Everyone calls him Elmo, by the way." That made the Earthers smile.

Elmo stepped forward, and bowed, just like Ivan, and said, "T'chahn, honored gentlebeings" in perfect un-accented Elyran.

"Next from my team is 'Eighth Terran Studies Student,' the current rising star of the First Arachnian University for Government and Law, Everyone in the program calls her Octavia, or Via for short."

Via stepped, and didn't say anything. Rather, she made the complicated Arachnian gesture for greetings, respect and a polite expression of happiness.

The First Ambassador moved and touched the tips of his antennae with hers, and had a quick conversation with her in native Arachnian. Quickly, though, both stepped back to their groups.

"I just told Via," the ambassador said via his Arachnian-made voder, "that I was very proud of her, and told her that all Arachnia is behind her."

"Next in the exchange program is Shu-Shu and Miao-Miao, from Telcontari's Allura Institute of Higher Learning, and is the first of the graduates of their own version of Earth's GHES program."

The two moved forward, almost giggling in both excitement and nervousness, and tried to ape their fellow students by bowing politely Telcontari fashion.

"And the last of my interns is Ms Marjorie Beatrice Quinn, the top undergraduate from the School of Foreign Service of Washington DC's Georgetown University. She prefers to be called 'Trixie.'"

Marjorie blushed in embarrassment when Dr. McIntyre said that. But she swallowed that, stepped forward, and then bowed like the others.

"So you're Marjorie," Sahsha said.

Marjorie looked at her with a bit of surprise and a lot of worry. "What do you mean, my lady," Marjorie asked politely.

Sahsha didn't answer, and exchanged looks with Mia and Tasha instead. They then looked to Phil, who nodded slightly. Marjorie and her fellow interns saw all this, and they wondered what it meant.

"Oh, nothing," Sahsha said. "So you want to be called Trixie?" she asked, trying to change topics. "Any particular reason why?"

"Ummm, not really, ma'am. I just like the sound of it."

Sahsha nodded. "I see," she said with a smile. "Then we're pleased to meet you, Trixie."

Marjorie... "Trixie" smiled shyly. "Thank you, ma'am. I'm pleased to have met all of you, as well, ma'am." And she stepped back to her group.

Queen Margaret's entourage was the last group, as befits the queen (after all, royalty had to be the first, but if they cannot be the first, then they would be the last, so as to have pride of place in the queue).

Admiral Silverman made his excuses, however, saying that he had things to take care of, but left his wife, Allison, with the Secretary-General. Mia, Tasha, Sahsha and the Secretary-General knew he had to take care of the recent attack, but everyone else didn't know anything about it.

to be continued...

 

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