"Thanks anyway", said Crichton shutting off the comm. He sat back in the
captain's chair of the Defiance. He sighed. "That's all 16 Coalition
Worlds, and none of them have the food to feed Sykar for more than a few
days" he said to Aeryn. She sat at the helm fatigued. Renaise was onboard
to relieve her if need be. Zhaan and Tralk had joined the usual crew on the
bridge.
The attack by Crais on the Roshanko had irradiated over 1 months worth of
food. Sykar had always used tannot root as a food source, but once they
rebelled they stopped growing tannot root. Unfortunately the tannot root
left the land sterile and nothing would grow. They refused to grow tannot
anymore because it could destroy the planet. The food stores were begging
to run out and most of the tannot root was turned to chakan oil for the
coalition and rebellion. Things on Sykar were actually worse free than
under Peace Keeper occupation. The exact opposite that Crichton had
promised.
Crichton looked up at the Urvidian map of inhabited planets, The Coalition
was in green, Urvidian territory in blue, and a large red mass representing
Peace Keeper territory. A small 3-planet territory caught Crichton's eye.
"How about these worlds, could they have enough food?" asked Crichton to
Tralk. Tralk laughed hysterically. "What's so damn funny?" asked Crichton.
"The Teherans?" he said coming out of a laugh. "Their xenophobic, fear and
hate other aliens", said Tralk. "Do they trade or ally with others?" asked
Crichton. "They occasionally trade with us for metal and fuel", said Tralk.
"Also we shared intelligence on the Peace Keepers and they have wiped out
many
Sheeang clans", "What are their ships like?" asked Crichton. "They use
light cruisers about the size of this one, and are armed with anti-matter
torpedoes", said Tralk.
"I need to speak to their leader", said Crichton. "We need to sign an
alliance with them against the Peace Keepers", said Crichton. "An alien has
never seen their leader, the closest you'll get is the Grand Ambassador at
Melnan", said Tralk pointing to the closest planet. "It's just like there
home world, over 90% ocean covered, but this one is almost as much fluorine
as it is water", he added. "I recommend that you cloak while you're between
the Coalition and their territory, its big Sheeang territory", he added.
As Tralk's shuttle left, the Defiance began to speed up. The Golden Eagle,
Talyn, Moya, and the captured battle cruiser all orbited Servec, as did
several Urvidian ships. The Defiance broke orbit and sped away.
Crichton looked out the view screen with his hand on Renaise's shoulder.
The beautiful, blonde Sebascean smiled. Her long hair was done up in a
ponytail. He stared at her face. "What?" she asked playfully. He saw make
up on her face, little, but it was there. He hadn't seen any on most women,
Aeryn sure didn't. "I was just admiring your make up", he said. "Don't see
much of it off my home world", he said. She looked at him embarrassed but
smiling. Unfortunately for them, Aeryn had watched every thing. She held
ration bars. Her face showed great anger under a calm facade. He meant the
touch to be platonic, but he knew Aeryn wouldn't see it that way.
"Crichton, shouldn't you be at the weapons station?" she asked. She threw a
ration bar at him hard enough to knock the wind out of him a little.
"Here's your lunch", she said. She signaled Renaise to follow her off the
bridge. He looked up at Aeryn, smiled and didn't say a word. When she
turned her back him he let out a concerned breath.
Outside in the cramp main hallway Aeryn turned to Renaise. "I have Retar on
Crichton!" said Aeryn. "I'm sorry, I didn't now", said Renaise half scared
and braced for an attack. Retar is like an engagement in Peace Keeper
society. Only the woman knows of the engagement. Any woman even barley
flirting with the man could expect to receive a beating. Aeryn grabbed her
shirt collar and pounded her against the bulkhead. She glared into
Renaise's eyes. She saw the fear. She released her grip. "It's not your
fault, you didn't know", said Aeryn half calmly. She wasn't used to having
so many females around in her "Territory". Plus Renaise's beauty made her
wary. "Go!" ordered Aeryn walking into the bridge.
Anjon stood alone in the dark of Talyn's interior. Beads pf sweat rolled
down his nervous face as he waited for the gunship to wake. The ship had
healed well with the absence of Crais Suddenly the lights came on and
consoles began to function. Chirps began to come from the floor and a gun
came from the ceiling. It pointed at Anjon. "Hold your fire, I was a friend
of Crais!" said Anjon hands raised. "My name is Anjon Verile", he said.
Chirps began. "I'm sorry, but Crais is dead", replied Anjon. Sad chirps
began to come from the floor. "He died of a virus, one that nearly killed
you, that's why we knocked you out, so we could cure you", said Anjon.
Chirps came again. "Yes, your mother is here, do you want to speak with
her?"
The uncloaked Defiance approached the almost water covered planet. A few
freighters of unknown origin orbited the planet. The ship began to enter
the atmosphere. It flew strait towards the only patch of land on the world.
As they approached, 3 light cruisers that looked similar DS9's Defiant.
(Large engines fully attached to the sides, which take up 1 third of the
ship and a triangular bridge in front).
"Open a channel," ordered Crichton. "Channel open", said Zhaan. "I am
Captain John Crichton of the Coalition ship Defiance, we wish to speak to
the grand ambassador", he said to the alien on screen. The Captain had a
pug face that was also wrinkled. He said nothing and disconnected. "Their
firing torpedoes!" reported Crichton.
The lead ship fired a green torpedo from a hole under the bridge. The
flankers also fired. The first hit the center shield dead center, however,
Aeryn managed to take the 2nd torp in the starboard shield and 3rd on the
port. "Port shield down!" exclaimed Crichton. "Aeryn, get us the hell out
of here, we're cloaking. The small fleet launched 2 more torps each from
their main body tubes. The Defiance did a quick 180 and faded from view.
The torps self destructed without a target.
"Targets gone!" said the Teheran weapons officer. "What do you mean gone?"
asked the Captain. "We've lost it visually and it's not on scanners". he
reported. "Well find it!" screamed the Captain.
The cloaked Defiance slipped into the water barley out of view of the
coast. The engines all covered themselves with metal covers to prevent
flooding. Small thrusters on the bottom guided the ship to the ocean floor.
The crew looked at Crichton. "What do we do now?" asked Zhaan. "Well, its
Obvious, I better get my ass to that city", said Crichton. "Are you
insane?" asked Aeryn. "They tried to destroy this ship, what makes you
think that they won't kill you?" she continued. "Well from what you told me
about what the Peace Keepers are sending, we need all the help we can get."
he said. "Not to mention Sykar is starving", he said. "That's right", said
Tanga walking in. "I'm coming with you", she said.
The pair descended from the bottom of the ship in PK space suits. They both
had propulsion packs that were provided by Tralk. The two flew quickly
through the gray water. Huge kelp like plants formed a great underwater
forest. Large fish also roamed the forest. After about 40 minutes they
arrived at some kind of dock, the emerged and removed their helmets.
They were almost immediately surrounded by a group of Teheran civilians.
Curious eyes and violent glares were all about them. Tanga grabbed her
Sykarian style pulse rifle from her jet back and pointed it at a
knife-wielding civilian. "Get the frell back damn it!" she yelled. Crichton
reached into his watertight holster and reached for his pistol. Suddenly a
voice came from behind the mob. "Stop!"
A young, black haired Sebascean man stood behind them. "Go back to your
work and homes!" he yelled. He walked through the parting crowd to Crichton
and Tanga. "Sorry about that, they just couldn't understand you", he said.
"Names Van, I am the translator around here," he said. "Captain John
Crichton and Lieutenant Tanga of the Coalition" said Crichton. "Oh, your
the ones Varan's ships tired to destroy earlier" he said. "Why couldn't
they understand us?" asked Crichton. "They don't use translator microbes,
they say that their too alien", said Van. "So, you speak their language?"
asked Crichton. "Yeah, hey lets go over to that dinner over there and talk,
you must be hungry", said Van.
Van came back to the table where Tanga and Crichton sat. Crichton was
quickly eating a fish. "I talked to the Ambassador and he will see you in
half an arn", said Van. "How do you lay it?" he asked. "Tastes like
snapper", said Crichton. "I wouldn't expect much cooperation from him
though, he's like all other Teherans", said Van.
Crichton, Tanga, and Van stood in the Ambassadors camber. The Teheran had a
mean look on his distinguished face. "Then we are in agreement?" said Van
translating Crichton. "Yes, we will trade your metal for our food through
the Urvidians to avoid going through Sheeang space", said Naroon, the
Ambassador. "And you will talk to your leader about an alliance against the
Peace Keepers along with intelligence sharing", said Crichton through Van.
Naroon nodded yes. "And we agree on the location of our next meeting which
will be Servec in 5 days", said Crichton. Again an affirmative nod.
Suddenly Aeryn's voice broke in.
"John, we have a problem, the Peace Keepers have arrived at the border",
she said. "Where?" he asked. "Near Darth, they destroyed a freighter
convoy", she aid. "And their pushing towards Sykar she
added"....................................
Insurrection Part 14: Teherans