Book 2

New Neighbors

Chapter 5

The next morning Amy gave Turrini her decision about the requests from Protectorate Headquarters; she would like for them to send an officer with the request in writing. Amy also explained that Earth was not to be contacted due to their paranoia about "spacemen". Turrini smiled when Amy told him her decision, he then told her he was glad she wanted things done officially. He would relay her response to his superior and let her know the reaction.

After talking with Turrini, Amy followed up on her request for an avatar for both AL and Carol. She was informed that instead of an avatar, AL would have an android instead, if she approved. Amy okayed the request and asked for a time table for completion. Carol's avatar would be ready by day's end. AL's android would take about a month, but an avatar would be ready by the end of the day. Amy then checked on the colonists that were to help settle Alpha Centauri, everything looked good for now. Amy was busy all morning with the minor day to day details that she had to approve.

After lunch Ted reported that he had been able to get more people to volunteer for the Mars and Moon bases from Earth. It appeared that the recruitment procedures he had instituted were working very well. Ted also had a question about who the captain for Carol would be when the expedition for Alpha left. Amy admitted that she had not given it much thought. This surprised Ted, Amy was usually very thorough in these matters.

It was the middle of the afternoon when Turrini contacted Amy to tell her that her response had been taken under advisement by his superiors. He also told her that it was unusual for someone to request official documentation from the Protectorate, usually the planet just accepted their offer. The fact that Amy wanted this documentation had caused concern. Turrini also, once again, said he thought that Amy was wise to be cautious when dealing with an unknown. These comments and Turrini's report caused Amy to believe that something wasn't right in the Protectorate. Amy decided to make sure that Ted and the rest of her senior staff were advised of her feelings or misgivings in this matter. Amy sent a private message to each of them to join her for dinner that evening, but to make sure that it appeared accidental.

The fact that Cal had been enroute to a system with the same name as the Protectorate did not slip past Amy. She was sure that something was going on that would probably end up causing her some problems. Amy then sent a message to Cmdr Thomas and requesting that he join her for dinner so they could get better acquainted, she also invited Captain Jones for the same reason. Amy next called Sam in to her office.

"Sam, there is something going on that has me concerned. Turrini mentioned that his superiors were concerned when asked to provide official documentation about Earth joining them. I think we need to keep a close eye on Turrini's crew, both onboard and especially on Mars. Could you make this happen without much notice from Turrini or his crew?" Amy asked.

"Sure, I think you might be right. His crew has been asking many questions I've been told. How soon do you want this to happen?" Sam replied.

"It should have started about 24 hours ago; but right now would be okay" Amy replied with a smile.

Sam left to take care of her assignment. As Sam left Amy there was a report of another inbound ship. "This is getting to be too common" Amy thought as she started to the bridge.

As soon as she reached the bridge Amy was told that the inbound ship a small one, a little larger than a shuttle. Passive scans showed that the ship was trying to contact someone on a very tight beam transmission. The transmission was encoded and not translatable at this time. AL's sensors reported that Turrini's ship was responding to the transmission. Amy had Ted go to Yellow Alert, but to do so quietly without broadcasting it to Turrini's ship. She also had AL send the same request to Captain Jones via his AI. Within five minutes Jones took his ship out of orbit and pulled out from the planet. As the cruiser left orbit Jones notified control on an open frequency that he was going to test fire a new weapon, and would be using the asteroid belt as a firing range. Amy smiled at this idea. Just then AL reported that Amy had an urgent message coming in from Turrini.

When Amy took Turrini's message he said that there was a command shuttle coming in and he had been relieved of duty. Amy noted that this message was not the usual voice transmission but a text message. Amy was very curious at these developments. Ted reported that the "shuttle" had slowed and was now broadcasting in the open and was requesting permission to enter the system. Amy responded that they would escort the shuttle in and had the request relayed to Jones for him to handle. Jones replied that he would send a fighter to escort the ship and continue the testing of the new weapon. 

Once again there was a reported tight beam message coming from the shuttle. Amy did not appear surprised at this. As the fighter approached the shuttle, it was reporting that the shuttle had dropped it's shields.

While waiting for the shuttle to be escorted in, Amy sent a request to Turrini to ask what was going on. This request was sent in the open. Turrini's first officer replied that the shuttle was in response to Amy's request for a higher ranking officer to represent the Protectorate. When Amy asked to speak to Turrini, she was told that he was unavailable. Amy asked that Turrini contact her when he became available. Sam called Amy and said that the package she had requested was onboard and asked if Amy wanted it delivered to her quarters. Amy was lost as to what Sam was referring to but said that would be fine. Sam then asked if Amy would meet her there to inspect the package or if she should just secure Amy's quarters after the delivery. Amy told her she would meet her at her quarters. Before leaving the bridge, Amy told Ted to keep her advised of any problems.

Amy was surprised to find Turrini in her quarters, accompanied by Sam.

"What's going on Sam?" Amy asked.

"I requested a private meeting with you Captain. But I didn't want anyone on my ship to know. I asked your security chief to arrange this meeting. Please do not fault her for this." Turrini replied before Sam could answer.

"Now is not a good time Turrini. Your first officer said that the inbound ship was in response to my request for a high ranking officer, I didn't request this officer." Amy said.

"Captain, as I told you earlier, I've been relieved of duty. This confirms my own suspicions that my first officer was a spy. I wanted to warn you before you met with the representative. I'm not sure what is going on; but this is unusual." Turrini explained.

Amy thought about this for a few moments then asked Sam to keep Turrini company while she was busy with the new representative. But to do so in a secretive way and to keep him out of sight, but not here in her quarters. Sam said she would take care of this matter.

Amy returned to the bridge and asked where Jake was currently. She was told that he was onboard Turrini's ship with the maintenance crew. Amy asked John if there was any way that he knew of for Turrini's ship to monitor the internal communications onboard AL. John said that it was possible but any attempt should be detected. Amy had John to run a detailed scan of the ship to double check internal security. John only took a few minutes to find a hidden transmitter in the conference room used yesterday, and another one was located in the landing bay. This made Amy mad, she had the one in the conference room located so as to have some idea who might have placed them. The transmitter in the conference room was found where Turrini's first officer had been sitting. Amy's thoughts were interrupted by the announcement that the shuttle was docking with Turrini's ship.

It was about an hour later when Amy was contacted by the Protectorate ship and invited to a formal dinner to meet the new representative. Amy declined the invitation, saying that pressing duties prevented her from attending. But she did ask about Turrini, and why he had not contacted her as requested. The first officer told Amy that Turrini was missing. Amy informed him that she would ask the ground security force to look on the surface and try and locate him. With that said she ended the communication.

Amy met with her senior staff during dinner, they all just happened to drop by her table in the Mess Hall. Each of them were informed of Amy's concerns and that Turrini was aboard but cautioned against anyone finding out. After finishing her dinner, Amy boarded the Captain's Gig and went to the surface. Nobody questioned the fact that Sam and three other security personal accompanied her, one of which was Turrini, plus Cmdr Thomas. While enroute Amy got a report from John that three more transmitters had been found, that made a total of five. Amy just acknowledged the report.

After she arrived on planet she went directly to the base security office for an inspection, and to have a very private talk with Turrini. The Commander's office had been carefully screened for "bugs" prior to their arrival. Amy made a quick inspection of the forces then went to Cmdr Thomas' office. Once inside, Turrini relaxed and the three of them started talking.

"Okay Turrini tell us what is going on. Why were you relieved of duty?" Amy asked.

"I have no idea as to the reason for me being relieved.  When the command shuttle entered this space it contacted me and informed me that I was relieved of command. My first officer was put in charge until the shuttle could dock. The admiral that is onboard isn't one I am familiar with, or have ever heard mention of before. His name is Admiral SuLak. That is all I know at this point." Turrini replied.

"Seems we have heard that name before, or am I mistaken Amy?" the Cmdr asked.

"No you're not mistaken. That name usually means trouble of some type. Turrini I don't mean to be impolite but, I need information from you very quickly. You might say that your life, and that of your crew, depend on what you tell me now. You said that you've never heard of this Admiral SuLak before, are you sure about that? Have you ever heard that name before in reference to any ship disappearing?" Amy asked.

"No, I have never heard that name until today. What do you mean my life and my ship are in danger? Surely you would not attack the ship with an Admiral on board." Turrini replied getting a little hysterical.

"Every time that name comes up some ship has almost been destroyed. My ship was the first one we heard of, then Carol and then Cal. All suffered damage because of someone named SuLak. Now, tell me about your ship, about the weapons, the shields, and the crew." Amy explained.

"The weapons are standard particle beam weapons, the shields are not functional - that is why we are in your repair facility. As to the crew, most of them have been with me for years. My first officer was a last minute replacement since my usual first officer was in the medical facility. You are not going to fire on my ship are you?" Turrini replied.

"Not if we can keep from it. From what you just told me, I think we may have a large problem. I'm going to ask you to remain here with Cmdr Thomas until we can sort this out. You are not a prisoner, but I guess you could say you are in protective custody. Now I must get back to my own ship. Commander, please quietly get ready to round up all of Turrini's crew on my order. I need this to happen quickly when I give the word, do not harm them if at all possible. They well may be caught in the middle of this situation. Consider the planet on alert for the time being, maybe announce a drill or something to keep everyone in place." Amy said.

"You know we are due for an alert drill come to think of it. I think the drill will start about five minutes after you take off. Of course I will notify you of the results of the drill and any simulated casualties." Cmdr Thomas replied.

Amy left the security building and went to her shuttle and lifted off. Almost exactly five minutes later there were many sirens sounding on the planet and a drill was announced. All non-security traffic was grounded, which meant that all the crew from Turrini's ship were caught on the ground and could not leave the surface. Of course Cmdr Thomas sent his apologies to Turrini's ship and assured them that the drill would not last long.