Buck Rogers
by AJ Marks
Part 22
Buck made his way back to the hanger of the squadron the next morning having had a good evening, and a nice dinner with Wilma where they didn’t talk about work, but he learned a lot more about her. He had to admit, he found himself attracted to her and wondered if there was some sort of rule or regulation forbidding him from dating her.
He turned the corner only to have his communicator go off indicting he had an alert. Turning it on he looked at the screen and almost groaned at the sight, once more he was wanted in the Council chamber.
Making a U-turn he made his way to the government building trying to think of what they might want this time. He hadn’t done anything lately which they already didn’t know about. The trip over went quick as not many were traveling at this time, the peak time had already passed. He nodded at the secretary who merely waved him inside.
“Welcome Captain Rogers,” the Chancellor said as Buck walked inside. “I apologize for calling you in so early and without warning.”
“It’s all right, but I have no idea why I’m here,” Buck replied noticing for the first time that Ardala was in the room which seemed a bit odd.
“That will be settled in time,” the Chancellor said. “First, we’ll review.”
Buck noticed he motioned to Eric who stepped forward.
“With the help of Captain Rogers, we’ve come to realize several things which have been going on. These events effect may Empires, including Earth and the Alliance of nations here,” Eric said to the group while looking at Buck.
He had a feeling whatever it was, was big.
“We had Time Jorston under surveillance since he was pointed out by Captain Rogers as a person of interest during his kidnapping,” Eric said. “During that time he met with several people, which was unusual. We followed those people as well, and discovered a hidden network of people and made a raid early this morning making some remarkable discoveries.”
Buck had the feeling this was heading to the important part.
“It seems that another race is behind this, one that contacted a member of the Draconian Empire’s royal family, specifically, one Harold Draconia,” Eric said.
“Idiot,” Ardala said from where she sat.
“Who is this new race?” Buck asked.
“We have some information about them. They call themselves the Alrions,” Eric said. “We’re working on gaining their location and giving that information to the other races, and we assume they are the ones who attacked us recently with the drones.”
Buck nodded, it all made sense, but he still had no idea why he was here.
“With all of these new developments, we are asking for your help,” the Chancellor said. “Being a galactic star, you are allowed to speak with many other races, as such we can open communications with them to inform them of this situation.”
“So, you want me to go around telling other races about this new threat?” Buck asked.
“In a way, it would avoid rousing any suspicion that we are on to them,” Eric said. “Right now we’re still trying to gain information about who they are, spooking them might make them disappear before learning enough about who they are and what they want.”
“So, I’m travelling again,” Buck said.
“We are asking if you would,” the Chancellor said.
“As always, I would be accompanying you,” Theopolis stated from his spot. “You will also have another guard, either Wilma or some other escort to go along with you.”
“Well, I guess so, if this is what it takes to figure out who they are,” Buck said. “Are we working in any other ways to gain this information?”
“I’m helping as well,” Ardala said surprising Buck. “I have many contacts outside of my official role, and being the ambassador to many other races can visit at will as well.”
“Why are you helping?” Buck asked unable to help himself.
“Because I don’t like being made the scapegoat,” she replied back to him. “And I think whoever this race is, they have infiltrated my family, specifically my brother which could endanger everything.”
Buck wasn’t sure what that meant, but from he understood about her family, they enjoyed their power, or at least she did and a threat to that power could easily make them her enemy. She perceived this alien race as a threat to her power and lifestyle, not a good move on their part.
“We also learned that Mr. Jorston was the one who made contact with your kidnappers in the UEA,” Eric said, confirming what Buck suspected. “He was not happy with the rebel group, it seems that their actions were not part of the overall plan. Their actions indicate that not everyone who is working for this group are on the same page.”
“Dissent within the ranks,” Buck said to himself.
“Yes, we think so, and we hope we can use that to our advantage,” Eric said.
“But won’t they know you’re on to them?” Buck asked.
“They might, but they also might think we’re onto a cell which wants to take down the UEA working within the NAA,” Eric replied. “That is how they are hiding and contacting each other. This information about the other race was well hidden, and found only by accident.”
“Then I guess I’m doing some travelling,” Buck said.
“Thank you captain,” the Chancellor said.
*****
The fighter landed on the landing pad and taxied down to the hanger designated for their use. He was visiting another race, his second on the current trip which served two purposes. One was good-will between the races and the other to inform the other races of this new race which had attacked Earth.
The last race had already heard of the attack on Earth, but not the fact it was probably another race. They had been given the technology and they had been informed on what was going on, Theopolis knowing even more than Buck did giving the information to the proper people.
Stepping out he saw two red looking aliens standing there waiting for him. He made his way over along with Twiki and Aaron, who was with him on this trip as Wilma had some work to do back home.
“Welcome,” one of the aliens said. “I am Kreeev.”
“Kreeev, I’m Captain Buck Rogers,” he said, normally he would give his regular name but wanted to be called Buck, not William. “This is Twiki, and Corporal Aaron Richard of Earth’s defense force.”
“Welcome,” Kreeev replied. “We are honored to have you hear captain.”
“It’s nice to be able to visit so many different cultures,” Buck replied honestly.
“You are most unusual for a human,” Kreeev said.
“Its my age,” Buck said joking a bit watching as they didn’t understand it. “I’m almost four hundred years old. There is a saying on Earth that as mellow as you age.”
“Oh, I see,” Kreeev said. “Very interesting indeed, and funny. We have a spot for you on the evening show.”
“Is there a way I can discuss something with your ambassadors?” Theopolis asked.
“Hmm, I don’t know, I can ask,” Kreeev stated.
“It was something I was asked to relay to them instead of risking an open broadcast,” Theopolis said.
“I see, all I can do is ask, aside from that I do not have that authority,” Kreeev replied.
“I understand,” Theopolis answered diplomatically.
Buck was led to a transport and they took off while Kreeev spoke to someone on the communicator in their language and he wondered if Theopolis understood the language. He had a feeling the robot would, and probably would be able to speak the language as well as it did not have the vocal limitation the human body had. It was something he learned as well, most creatures could speak human languages but not the other way around.
In a way he felt excited to do another interview. They were proving quite interesting as other races asked different questions compared to human reporters. He hoped Doctor Theopolis’s mission went as well.
*****
Buck met back at the hanger Ihe morning, things had gone very well, and he had met some new people, like Kreeev, who was actually a female of her race. It was a good thing Buck had not made the mistake of calling her a him, though a reporter had called buck a woman, an interesting and awkward situation for a few seconds as the reporter’s partner quickly cleared up the mistake.
“I want to thank you for your hospitality,” Buck said to her.
“It was nice to meet a human and not be a part of some political or economic issue,” Kreeev replied before turning to Theopolis. “My government informed me to tell you thank you for the information, they will process it and give you a reply back.”
“It was expected,” Theopolis replied. “It was kind of your government to even hear me.”
“Are we ready?’ Aaron asked.
“Yeah,” Buck replied, thanking Kreeev again before climbing into the fighter watching as Twiki and Aaron did the same thing.
The fighters taxied out to the runway, were given clearance and launched. He pulled back the stick and climbed through the atmosphere and out into space, once there he moved as instructed to the jump point when he noticed something odd, several craft had suddenly appeared on his scanner.
“Aaron, do those ships look familiar to you?” Buck asked.
“What ships, oh, wait, yes they do,” Aaron replied suddenly.
Buck watched as the scanner identified the ships as the same ones which had attacked Earth not long ago.
“Control, this is Earth fighter six, you have incoming hostiles,” Buck said.
Even as he tried to communicate he heard them trying to establish contact with the unknown ships. He watched seeing nothing happening, instead he noticed that same attack pattern which they used when they invaded Earth.
“Um, Corporal? What do you think?” Buck asked.
“Our first duty is to make sure Doctor Theopolis is safe, beyond that, its up to us,” Aaron said.
“All right, Twiki, how are you doing?” Buck asked instinctively taking over.
“Biggy biggy, looks like a fight is going to happen,” Twiki replied.
“Yeah, how close are you to jumping?” Buck asked.
“I can jump at any moment,” Twiki replied.
“Aaron, what about you?” Buck said, wondering how Aaron was doing.
“Ready as well, you Buck?”
“Ah, I’m not as fast as you two are, go ahead and jump and return to Earth,” Buck said. “I can take care of myself against this group.”
“You sure?” Aaron asked. “If you don’t come back I’ll get hell from Wima.”
“Yeah, dying isn’t on my list of things to do,” Buck replied, “I’ll be there as soon as possible.”
“Okay,” Aaron replied.
Buck watched as Twiki’s ship jumped, followed a few seconds later by Aaron’s ship. Now Buck looked down at his scanner and his computer trying to quickly recall everything he had to do to make a safe jump. The last thing he wanted to do was jump into a planet or something else in the path. Everything was very precise when it came to a jump.
He watched as the attackers quickly zeroed in on his position making him very nervous even as he noticed additional fighters coming from the nearby space stations and ships to counter the attackers. Realizing he would be in range real soon and he wasn’t going to be ready to jump he quickly went on the defensive, running away from the attackers.
“Well Buck, looked like you’re in for a fight to get out of here alive,” Buck said to himself as the enemy fighters opened fire on his position. He had no idea if he would receive any help from the planetary defenses, or if they would also target his fighter. As a result he did the only thing he could think of, went away from where the defenders were coming from.
Finally far enough away he decided to turn back into the attackers, seeing he only had three against him. A quick shot destroyed one even as he continued to fly erratically to throw off the alien computers. He took out the second which was quickly followed by the third one before looking around.
His fighter was now alone and he could have left, but he noticed one fighter not far away and guessed which fighter that one was. He quickly calculated the range and turned as if he was about to jump hoping to get closer to the enemy fighter. When it failed to turn Buck guessed the person inside the fighter thought he was going to jump, or was engrossed elsewhere.
Taking a shot he prayed it went straight, pleased when the ship was struck, but failed to be destroyed. He did noticed it appeared damaged and closed in slightly surprised when the fighter did not quickly head into a jump. What did surprise him was shortly afterwards there was another massive burst on the transmission and the fighters all turned to jump except for the one close to him.
Buck wondered what to do next when several fighters approached.
“Earth ship, surrender at once,” the communications said. “Do not try and jump.”
He knew it would take too long for him to input the information to execute a jump, and he was in one piece for now. He also had a feeling he could get out of this if he was able to talk.
Buck decided he would talk later but for now he surrendered to them. He was placed on board one of the warships which came up and for a second time in a month he was surrounded by aliens with weapons drawn. He got out and raised his arms as another alien walked up to him.
“I apologize Captain Rogers, but we can’t take any chances at the moment, they did attack while you were about to leave, it might be nothing but we as going to investigate,” he said to him.
“Yeah, at least you’re friendlier than the Rizonians are,” Buck replied as he was taken down to a cell which had bars allowing him to see into other cells. The bed looked much more comfortable than the Rizonian cell was and he settled down to wait.
End part 22