{"id":1571,"date":"2016-07-30T07:26:54","date_gmt":"2016-07-30T12:26:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1571"},"modified":"2016-08-03T07:20:04","modified_gmt":"2016-08-03T12:20:04","slug":"buck-rogers-part-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1571","title":{"rendered":"Buck Rogers – Part 19"},"content":{"rendered":"

Buck Rogers<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

by AJ Marks<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 19<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Buck relaxed in the lounge back on Earth surrounded by other pilots, all of whom asked questions about the trip. He weathered the storm of questions and finally people either had their questions answered or ran out of steam and now he sat quietly in the lounge.<\/p>\n

\u201cFinally settled down I see,\u201d Wilma said walking into the room startling Buck.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, took long enough,\u201d Buck said. \u201cI think I went through the entire trip about a dozen times, not like there was anything to tell.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, most people still haven\u2019t been off world like you have,\u201d Wilma replied. \u201cDespite our technology interplanetary travel doesn\u2019t happen that often between the races.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about trading?\u201d Buck asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cA few people do that, but overall it\u2019s a select few who do trading on other worlds,\u201d Wilma replied.<\/p>\n

Buck gave that some thought when another person walked into the room heading straight towards Wilma who turned and waited.<\/p>\n

\u201cColonel, just had this report come in, seems that ambassador Ardala is to visit again,\u201d he said to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWonderful,\u201d Wilma said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy is she coming?\u201d Buck asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeems she\u2019s coming for an official visit by the Draconian Empire to help \u2018smooth\u2019 things over with what happened,\u201d Wilma said.<\/p>\n

\u201cA bit unusual considering they gave her as the person behind the attack,\u201d Buck said confused at the actions, but also knew from reading online that even most civilians didn\u2019t consider Ardala the one behind the attack.<\/p>\n

\u201cFormalities,\u201d Wilma said. \u201cProbably so she could talk to the Chancellor, does this any time something happens between the two of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, does that affect us?\u201d Buck asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot really, though we might be on heightened alert after she leaves. Usually nothing happens while she is here,\u201d Wilma replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey don\u2019t act while she\u2019s here or risk the displeasure of her and her father,\u201d Buck said.<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen I guess we prepare for after she leaves,\u201d Buck said to her watching as she agreed with him.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Buck stood in his official uniform at the gathering for the ambassador, hosted by the Chancellor in the official hope to gain trust between the two empires. So far everyone seemed almost calm and relaxed and he wondered if that had more to do with Ardala or the overall attitude of the people towards her.<\/p>\n

He learned that most people viewed Ardala as what people in his time would consider a slut, and probably more like some rich spoiled celebrities daughter than anything else. In fact he was surprised to see online several websites devoted to her by \u2018adoring\u2019 fans.\u00a0 He briefly considered what they might say if they learned he had slept with her.\u00a0 Now he stood here with a drink in his hand waiting to see the others.<\/p>\n

Looking around at everyone he spotted a few wearing the uniforms of the Draconian Empire mixed in as Wilma walked over to where he stood.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnjoying yourself?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt a typical a party like this,\u201d Buck replied having been to several in the past week or more. \u201cActually reminds me a lot of when I visited China.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChina? Oh, yeah the UAC,\u201d Wilma said.\u00a0 \u201cChina?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, to me it was always China, or even Chin, but this UAC stuff makes me think of some place in the Middle East instead of Asia,\u201d Buck replied honestly as he scanned the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose so,\u2019 Wilma said, he looked over at her seeing she was looking somewhere else.<\/p>\n

Looking over in the direction he was only slightly surprised to see Ardala standing there talking to several others, one of whom it appeared she was trying to woo. In a way Buck felt glad she wasn\u2019t over with him trying to get him in her bed.\u00a0 Her attention turned to them and she quickly made her way over much to his disappointment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, well, its my favorite person from the past,\u201d she said to him. \u201cAnd a very beautiful commander of NAA\u2019s defenses.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPrincess, you\u2019re in good spirits,\u201d Buck replied back to her unsure what else to say.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, things are always looking up,\u201d she replied back to him. \u201cI am blessed with beauty and the ability to have a good time where ever I go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMust be such a burden,\u201d Wilma replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were always so rigid,\u201d Ardala replied back to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m just not trying to sleep with everyone around me,\u201d Wilma said back to her.<\/p>\n

Buck turned to look around again this time his attention was caught by a very familiar walk. He looked on watching the guy for several seconds as he walked over to the far side of the room and Buck realized he was dressed in a Draconian uniform.\u00a0 It seemed off to Buck.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, you see someone else you like today?\u201d Ardala said sounding miffed that he was ignoring her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat,\u201d Buck said reluctantly tearing his eyes away from the man and back to Ardala who stood looking back at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIgnoring me, I\u2019m hurt,\u201d she said placing a hand over her chest.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, for all of five seconds until you move on to your next victim,\u201d Wilma said.<\/p>\n

\u201cArdala, do you know that man over there?\u201d Buck asked, nodding over towards the other side where the man still stood.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich one?\u201d Ardala replied. \u201cThere are several men over there, all of whom I could introduce you to, didn\u2019t know you swung that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? No, I don\u2019t,\u201d Bucks aid suddenly looking over at her.\u00a0 \u201cNo, the one in the Draconian uniform, black hair.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHmm, not quite my type, joined my entourage for this trip,\u201d Ardala replied. \u201cWhy, doesn\u2019t seem your type either.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI said he wasn\u2019t, and I\u2019m not interested in him that way,\u201d Buck said seeing both Wilma and Ardala were looking over at him. \u201cNo, when I was capture in China a man came to the compound and visited and heatedly discussed things with the leader.\u00a0 That guy reminds me on him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think there is a connection?\u201d Wilma asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has been acting a bit strangely,\u201d Ardala stated. \u201cIt was odd that he was added, usually I have control over such things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho added him?\u201d Buck asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Ardala said suddenly. \u201cI thought it was my father at first, but now, its not the type he usually adds.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d Buck asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are usually older, this guy is young,\u201d Ardala said. \u201cMy father knows better.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll seduce them,\u201d Wilma said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, wouldn\u2019t you,\u201d Ardala said then looked over at Wilma. \u201cPerhaps not, you couldn\u2019t seduce a rock.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know subtlety, you prefer clubbing them over the head like a cave woman,\u201d Wilma replied back to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you two argue later,\u201d Buck asked, seeing that the Chancellor was headed over in their direction.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpoil sport,\u201d Ardala said but they looked on at the man watching as he made his way round to another person and began talking with him.<\/p>\n

\u201cKnow him?\u201d Buck asked indicating the second man.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah I do,\u201d Wilma said. \u201cI\u2019m going to head over and see if I can gain any information.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis outta be interesting,\u201d she said as Wilma left and the Chancellor approached and Buck watched as Ardala changed into a charming young woman. \u201cChancellor, wonderful party.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I knew you\u2019d enjoy it,\u201d the Chancellor replied. \u201cYou know our famous celebrity, Captain Rogers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBuck, we\u2019ve met, had plenty of time to talk to him when he visited Draconian space,\u201d she replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, yes, forgot about that,\u201d the Chancellor said. \u201cIt was very kind of you to invite him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not every day you have a celebrity human-wide, the first human to test fly a warp drive engine, survive and be over four hundred years old,\u201d Ardala said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMakes me sound like I\u2019m ancient or something,\u201d Buck replied back to them. \u201cYou do realize I don\u2019t feel a day over 33.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buck watched the interaction between Ardala and the Chancellor before turning his attention back to Wilma who was now talking to the Draconian man and the person he had been talking to.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething interesting?\u201d the Chancellor asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, no, just looking around,\u201d Buck replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou seem to be looking over at the colonel a lot, she is very beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buck almost groaned, was everyone thinking about matchmaking in some way.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think, hmm, they do make a good couple,\u201d Ardala suddenly said causing Buck to cough on his drink. It was the last thing he expected to hear from her.<\/p>\n

He had a feeling he would have to learn what happened later as Wilma turned and left the room. He watched the reaction from the other two, neither seemed phased by what she had done.\u00a0 Perhaps she had given an excuse.\u00a0 He would continue to watch and hope nothing else happened.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Buck walked into the briefing room having been summoned rather quickly and urgently. He had made it in good time considering he was still tired from last night\u2019s party, he had stayed late allowing himself to talk to a lot of people, but had lost sight of man who had piqued his interest earlier in the evening.\u00a0 To make matters worse Wilma never returned leaving him alone to deal with Ardala\u2019s comments but was surprised she didn\u2019t try to make an advances.<\/p>\n

To his surprise he spotted several people already sitting in the room, including the head of intelligence. Walking over and taking a seat he noticed several were already here, and when Wilma entered, along with Jack, he noticed she looked as if she had not slept at all during the night.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you all for coming,\u201d Jack said to the group.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have some important information to give all of you,\u201d Wilma said pulling down a screen and activating it, a picture of the man who had held Buck captive appeared. \u201cThis is Cho Lon, leader of one of the groups of rebels in the UAC, recently his group was behind the attacks against President Chin and kidnapping Captain Rogers.\u201d<\/p>\n

This was all information Buck already knew but listened on.<\/p>\n

\u201cWorking on intelligence received from us the UAC managed to capture him last night,\u201d Jack said picking up the briefing. \u201cTheir interrogation of him has revealed some very interesting details which we did not have before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith their help, and Captain Roger\u2019s observation skills we discovered that Lon was taking instructions from the Draconian Empire,\u201d Wilma said causing everyone to murmur at the same time with some surprise.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have yet to figure out who he is working for,\u201d Jack said.<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably Ardala,\u201d another one stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe think the man Lon took instructions from is this man,\u201d Wilma said unfazed by the outburst as the picture of the man from last night appeared on the screen. \u201cThis is Tim Jorston, formally a member of the Royal Guard, and a recent addition to Ardala\u2019s guard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do we know of their connection?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCho Lon confirmed the man as his contact with the Draconian Empire, it appears they were upset when they kidnapped Captain Rogers,\u201d Wilma said. \u201cWe\u2019re working on trying to arrest Tim Forston as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUntil such times we\u2019re keeping it quiet that he\u2019s under observation,\u201d Eric said speaking up for the first time.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre they also responsible for the attack a few days ago?\u201d Buck asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know,\u201d Eric replied looking over at Wilma and Jack. \u201cWhat we do know is those fighters have a short range warp engines.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow short?\u201d another person asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not sure,\u201d Eric said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, somewhere close by there is probably a larger ship which is where they are based,\u201d Buck said coming to the conclusion easily.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the reasoning,\u201d Eric said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre we going to do any patrols?\u201d Buck asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fleet is already preparing for several extended patrols to see if we can discover anything,\u201d Jack replied back to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cA command ship, or fleet somewhere out there, and a threat from the Draconian Empire, not a good combination,\u201d Aaron said from where he sat and Buck had to agree, especially if the two groups were working together. They might be able to overwhelm Earth\u2019s defenses.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not ruling anything out, and we\u2019re starting out patrols in the direction where the fighters jumped off in,\u201d Jack replied back to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s the solution if you find them?\u201d Buck asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll discuss that when we find them,\u201d Jack replied and Buck wondered if they were going to try and talk to them first. He had a feeling that would be a bad idea especially after how they tried to attack without any warning.\u00a0 \u201cThe scout ships have orders to not engage but return right away with their location.\u00a0 We\u2019re also keeping close communications with each ship, if they do not check in on time we are to assume something is wrong and they were attacked.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buck nodded thinking it was probably a good idea. Now they had to wait to see what happened next.<\/p>\n

End part 19<\/p>\n

Continued in part 20<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Buck Rogers by AJ Marks Part 19 Buck relaxed in the lounge back on Earth surrounded by other pilots, all of whom asked questions about the trip. He weathered the storm of questions and finally people either had their questions answered or ran out of steam and now he sat quietly in the lounge. \u201cFinally […]
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