sergeant, shall we get a move on?" exclaimed the officer with a decidedly more authoritarian tone than before. "We canât stay here all night."
"Go and fetch the Generalâ, the large Sergeant ordered one of the soldiers who had accompanied the two officers.
After a couple of minutes, a totally bald man, with a large moustache and grey eyebrows, and two small bright black eyes, appeared on the threshold of the door behind the sergeant. He wore the uniform of a General, but one of the four ordinance stars was missing on his right shoulder. He was handcuffed and, behind him, the soldier from before held him at gunpoint.
The General jumped for a moment at the sight of the two officers, then, guessing the plan, remained silent and looked as sad as he could.
âThank you, Soldier," said the skinny Colonel, removing his Beretta M9 from its holster. âWeâll take this scumbag now."
Theos spacecraft - Action plan
"Isnât it exciting to think that the two of us are going to save the Earth, my love?" said Elisa, gazing at the Colonel with the eyes of a loved-up kitten, as she reached for his hand.
ââMy loveâ? Isnât that moving a little fast?â Jack chided her frowning.
Elisa winced, then when the Colonel smiled affectionately and stroked her cheek, she realised he was teasing her. âSwine! Donât play tricks like that on me again or Iâll show youâ and she began pummelling his chest with both hands.
"Okay, okay" whispered Jack, hugging her lovingly. âIt was just a silly game. I wonât do it again.â
The sudden embrace had a calming and relaxing effect on Elisa. She felt all the tension she had accumulated up to then, suddenly melt away like snow in the sun. After all that had happened in the last few hours, it was just what she needed. She melted into his arms and slowly closing her eyes, leant her head against his strong chest and let herself go completely.
Azakis, meanwhile, had slipped into the dreadfully cramped H^COM booth and was waiting for an answer to his communication request on the holographic screen in front of him.
A series of multicoloured waves, starting from the centre of the screen, began creating an effect similar to that of a stone thrown into the calm waters of a pond. All of a sudden, the waves gradually began to fade and the hollowed and time-marked face of his Elder superior, started to appear.
âAzakis," said the man smiling slightly, while he slowly lifted his bony hand in greeting. "What can this poor old man do for you?"
"We revealed the truth to the two terrestrials."
âA bold thing to do," commented the Elder, holding his chin between his thumb and forefinger. âAnd how did they take it?"
âLetâs say that after their initial legitimate amazement, I think they reacted very well." Azakis paused briefly then said, in a very serious tone, "We suggested using the superfluid toroid to them."
âThe toroid?" exclaimed the other, rising to his feet so fast even a youngster would have been jealous. âBut it hasnât been fully tested yet. You do remember what happened last time, donât you? We could create an uncontrolled gravity fluctuation with that thing and thereâs even the risk of creating a mini black hole."
âI know, I know only too well" replied Azakis quietly. âBut I donât think thereâs an alternative. This time, if we don't use drastic measures, Kodonâs passage could be fatal for the terrestrials."
âWhatâs your plan?"
âThe orbits of the two planets are estimated to intersect in just under seven days. If you could get them to prepare the toroid and have it brought here to me at least a day in advance."
âThatâs not much time, you know."
âYouâll have to leave me a small margin for the positioning, configuration and activation procedure."
âIâve got a bad premonition," said the Elder running a hand through his silvery white hair.
âPetriâs with me. Itâll all be fine."
âYouâre two clever guys, I donât doubt that, but be very careful. That thing could become a lethal weapon."
âYou just try and let us have it in time, leave the rest to us. Donât worry."
âOkay. Iâll get back to you as soon as everything is ready. Good luck."
His superiorâs face vanished from the monitor that went back to showing the same multicoloured waves as before.
Azakis slowly rose from the uncomfortable chair and stood with his hands resting on the top of the narrow desk for a while. A thousand thoughts were flooding his mind and, while a slight shudder ran down his back, he had the distinct feeling they were about to land themselves in a sea of woe.
âZak," exclaimed his companion in adventure cheerfully, when he saw him emerge from the H^COM booth. âWhat did the old man say?"
Azakis stretched then answered calmly, "He gave us his approval. If everything goes according to plan weâll have the toroid, or rather Newark, the day before the planetsâ orbits intersect."
âLetâs hope we manage it. Itâs not going to be easy to configure that thing in so little time."
âWhat are you worrying about my friend?" replied Azakis with a slight smile. "If the worst comes to the worst, weâll just open up a space-time distortion. Thatâll swallow up the Earth, Kodon, Nibiru and all the other satellites, all in one go."
The two terrestrials, who were standing a little way off but hadnât missed a single word of this conversation, were petrified.
âWhat are you saying?â Elisa managed to splutter, while looking at him appalled. âA space-time distortion? Swallow up? Are you telling me that if this plan doesnât work, we will be creating the destruction of our people and yours?"
"Well, there is a small risk," commented Azakis quietly.
âA âsmall riskâ? And you tell us just like that, with that calm, serene look on your face? You must be crazy! And us, more than you."
âCalm down darling," intervened Jack, grabbing her by the shoulders and looking her straight in eyes. âThey are much smarter and better prepared than us. If theyâve decided to go down this route, we cannot do anything other than support them and give them all the help we can."
The doctor let out a long sigh then said, "I need to sit down. Too many emotions today. If this goes on itâll kill me."
Jack took her by the arm and led her to the closest armchair. Elisa fell into it like a dead weight, with a low groan.
âPerhaps weâve reduced the percentage of oxygen in the air a little too much," Azakis whispered to his
