[geoschmo]

2417.1 Continued

Along with the coordinates, he had been given a frequency to monitor, but no other information about what to expect. After a time his communication system chirped and the sergetti ship pulled into view. It was much larger than his own ship, probably frigate class, although Flicken was not all that good at identifying those sort of things. Space ships had never held much facination for him. As long as they got him where he wanted to go he cared for little else.

This ship did not have the sleek cylindrical shapes that he was used to with Sallegan ships. It appeared to his untrained eye to be just a series of large spheres joined together with some engines hung off the back almost as an afterthought. He had been told to maintain strict radio silence to avoid detection, and suddenly realized he didn't know how he was going to dock with this thing as he had been given no instructions. As soon as that thought formed though several lights along the side of the Sergetti ship began flashing in a rythmic pattern drawing his eyes towards what was obviously a docking portal.

He nuged his ship slowly closer until the magnetic clamps took hold and locked their ships fast. He made his way to the airlock and stepped through into the Sergetti ship. The sergetti airlock was very similer to his own. Idly he supposed there was only so many ways to design one of these things afterall. The only major difference was a complete lack of furniture of any kind. In fact the only thing in the room was an enviroonmental suit hanging on a hook in the wall. A closer examination showed the suit appeared to be designed for Sallgan pysiology. As he had been on their ship for several minutes now and had no communication from his hosts, Flicken surmised that they were waiting for him to put the suit on.

As soon as he did so he heared a hissing and gurgling sound and the chamber rapidly began filling with water. The suit had some sort of breathing aparatus and something that appeared to be a communication device, but it was not very well insulated. The water was painfully cold. So much so that Flicken started to wonder if he would be able to function in it. He had no medical training, but he knew what hypothermia was, and what kind of effect it had on the Sallgean body. His body started to shiver uncontrolably

Once the chamber was full the inner door opened and Flicken floated face to face for the first time with a member of the Sergetti race. Three meters long, and except for a larger head and arms it was the spitting image of the sea snakes that inhabited his homeworld. Seeing his discomfort with the water temperature the Sergetti swam towards him, reached out and pressed a button on the sleeve of the suit. Flicken felt the warmth flow over his body as the environmental suits heating system kicked in.

Through the water Flicken could hear sereval clicks and whistles that he assumed was the aliens method of speech. His guess was confirmed when the communicator/translator crackled to life with a mechanical sounding voice speaking in Sallegan, "That is better, no?" Flicken nodded his approval, the shivers almost completely subsided now.

"What is your designation, er, your name? Is that the word?" The Sergetti asked.

"My name is Davisen," Flicken replied, using the name he had adopted all those years before. "I speak for Governor Simpson of Usphada III."

"You may call me Riesta. My Queen wishes for me to be blunt with you. Why do you seek to betray your government?" The Sergetti had been swimming slowly around but stopped and locked eyes with Flicken while he waited for a response.

"My governor and I, and many others in this part of the Sallegan Republic believe that it is our government that has betrayed us. They have failed to give us adequate protection from the Norak in the area. And now we have learned that they are prepared to give back the gains that we have fought and bled for for their own security. We feel this is a bad policy. We believe the Norak are not to be trusted." Flicken had told himself these things so many times he almost believed them. "Our Admiral is a shortsighted fool. He seized power years ago in a time of crises, and has refused to relinquish it. He has caused mch suffering among my people, and the Sergetti people in his attempt to keep the masses afraid and in line."

"So," Riesta interupted "This is why your people have invaded our territory and enslaved our populations?"

"Yes. Governor Simpson is prepared to return your planets to you in return for your assistance." Flicken stated flatly. The fact was Simpson had no knowledge of this meeting, and would probably have wet his pants at the thougth of conspiring with the Sergetti.

"What is this assistance you need?" Riesta asked warily "We cannot openly oppose the Norak, we have a treaty with them. We are not particularly fond of their expansionism in the area, but they have not captured our people or destroyed our vessles as you have."

"No, we understand this. We do not ask you to take arms against the Norak. We will deal with them. We have many ships that are loyal to our cause. But we need time. We need your ships to interfere with communications between Usphada and the Sallegan Homeworld. And when we deal with the Norak here will need your assistance in dealing with the Sallegan fleets that are sure to come to respond. Many will be tied up in Cephredi as this action will likely cause open warfare between the Norak and Sallegan fleets amassed there, but enough will come that it could be a problem for us."

Riesta considered Flickens words for a moment without speaking. "And for this assistance, you will agree to remove your fleets and your colonies from Usphada and Narcisston once you have seized control of your government?"

"Yes." Flicken answered without hesitation.

"Then go, we shall do as you request. But do not fail us, and do not allow the Norak to learn of this arangement."

With that Riesta swam away into the interior of the ship and left Flicken to make his own way back to his ship.

...