{"id":1550,"date":"2016-07-13T07:22:30","date_gmt":"2016-07-13T12:22:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1550"},"modified":"2016-07-16T07:44:35","modified_gmt":"2016-07-16T12:44:35","slug":"buck-rogers-part-14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1550","title":{"rendered":"Buck Rogers – Part 14"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

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

Part 14<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Buck landed the Thunderfighter back onto the runway once again back in the NAA after quite the ordeal in the UEA. He shut down the fighter after rolling it to its spot and jumped out as the maintenance crew made their way over and begin looking it over and servicing it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWelcome back Buck,\u201d one said taking the helmet from him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d Buck replied watching as another fighter rolled in and stopped.<\/p>\n

\u201cHeard you had quite the adventure over there,\u201d the head crew chief said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlmost blown up and got kidnapped, not sure that\u2019s an adventure or not,\u201d Buck replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cCompared to what happens around here, that\u2019s an adventure,\u201d the man replied back.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, not something I want to do again though,\u201d Buck said, and it wasn\u2019t. He had been through a bomb and an attack and really wanted something a bit more peaceful right now after all of that.\u00a0 The crew chief would have said more but another man approached.<\/p>\n

\u201cCaptain Rogers, you\u2019re wanted for a briefing,\u201d the man said, and Buck recognized the uniform as a man in the military with the rank of Lieutenant. He felt grateful they had not eliminated, or changed too much, the ranks of the old US military.<\/p>\n

\u201cLead on,\u201d Buck said, wondering who would be at this meeting, but had a feeling he knew what it was going to be over. It was something he had been mentally preparing for since being rescued, or perhaps even before, when he was captured.<\/p>\n

He followed the man into the building slightly surprised when they didn\u2019t leave and entered a larger meeting room, inside were a few familiar faces, and some he did not recognize.<\/p>\n

\u201cWelcome back captain,\u201d Jack Thomson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIts nice to be back,\u201d Buck replied walking over to have a seat as Wilma walked in next and sat down as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, you\u2019re not one to beat the asteroid with so we\u2019ll get right to the point,\u201d Jack said. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, there was the attack at the dinner, which you all probably know about,\u201d Buck said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, the bombing attack which the group Urals took responsibility for, not surprising at all,\u201d Jack said. \u201cWe didn\u2019t think they would dare attack so openly, or so our intel led us to believe, if so we\u2019d have warned you and sent additional guards.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, the attack itself seemed pointed at the President, not me,\u201d Buck replied recalling the events and how it went off just before he had sat down. \u201cMade me miss supper.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s actually the events after that which we\u2019re really interested in Captain Rogers,\u201d Doctor Theopolis said from where he was hanging around Twiki\u2019s neck.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, that one started off normally, heading to one of the other cities when the transport stopped, that\u2019s when they attacked,\u201d Buck said. \u201cCaught everyone inside off guard and according to the people I was with they didn\u2019t seem to think I would be targeted either.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, that one was a surprise to us as well,\u201d Jack replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey rushed in shooting and quickly bound and dragged me out, placed mask over my eyes and drove off in some car,\u201d Buck said. \u201cAfter a drive over some rough terrain, they don\u2019t know how to drive, we finally stopped in a compound of some sort.\u00a0 Was able to see it had several buildings, a main road leading in and out and there were several people, all of whom I\u2019d never seen before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you talk with anyone?\u201d Theopolis asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne guy, think he was the leader of the group there,\u201d Buck said. \u201cSaid I was supporting the current administration which they couldn\u2019t allow, thought I\u2019d be sympathetic to their cause due to the history they learned of the twenty-first century.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn what way?\u201d Wilma asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThought I was supportive of the whole money and power thing, the history of that wasn\u2019t kind to the poor as the people rebelling thought,\u201d Buck said. \u201cAlso, he mentioned that the bombing wasn\u2019t done under his orders, had the impression some people under him did it on their own.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cInteresting,\u201d Theopolis answered. \u201cPlease go on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen it became clear I wasn\u2019t on their side as much as they expected his attitude changed, not more hostile, but almost more of a regret,\u201d Buck said trying to recall the encounter. \u201cIt was almost as if he never thought I would consider not working with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnything else?\u201d Jack asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was one thing,\u201d Buck said, hesitant to say it but they might know something he didn\u2019t. \u201cWhen they locked me up, I had a view out of a window, not sure they realized that or not.\u00a0 Looking out I saw the compound and a car drove up, a man got out and exchanged words with the rebel leader.\u00a0 I had the feeling that whoever the man was held a lot of power.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe real leader?\u201d Wilma asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cOr someone who knew the leader, but he seemed a bit familiar to me, not sure where,\u201d Buck said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve given us more information than we expected,\u201d Jack said. \u201cWe expected you to know nothing, going from one holding spot to another.\u00a0 We wanted to try a rescue while you were moving, figured there would be fewer guards.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buck figured that made sense, especially if the rescue group was small.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is one other matter,\u201d Theopolis stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Jack said, almost a bit reluctantly. \u201cWe have received an answer from the Draconian Empire as to who ordered the attack.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh?\u201d Buck said, shifting in his chair to hear what they had to say.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey claim princess Ardala ordered the attack.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Buck said in shock. \u201cThat\u2019s total BS, I can\u2019t see her doing such a thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I see we\u2019re on the wavelength here, neither do we. I consider it a false excuse, a ruse,\u201d Jack said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know Ardala is a brat, but doing something so bold, not her style,\u201d Wilma said. \u201cAnd she\u2019s usually thinking more about other things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buck knew what she meant by other things. Ardala thought more about her own pleasure than anything else and that seemed to dictate everything she did.\u00a0 Planning such an attack was not in her character at all.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, we have a dilemma as well over this, publically we\u2019ve accepted this \u2018explanation\u2019 but secretly we\u2019ve informed the Draconian Empire that we do not think their explanation is adequate,\u201d Theopolis said.<\/p>\n

Buck gave that some thought, not sure why they were really telling him about all of this until Theopolis asked his next question.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think either of the other two, Harold or Victor, could have been behind this?\u201d<\/p>\n

Buck thought about it for several seconds before giving his answer. \u201cYeah, probably, they both seemed to have their father\u2019s thirst for power,\u201d Buck said recalling what was said during the dinner.\u00a0 \u201cVictor was very insistent over football, but I think it was Harold who I would say would do something like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d Jack asked, now sitting up as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe seemed to have something to prove, like he wanted his father to see how well he could run things after all, Victor is the heir to the throne, a bit of a power play to show who was better. Victor seemed more preoccupied with football and other things as Harold wanted to do something,\u201d Buck replied back.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn interesting theory,\u201d Theopolis replied. \u201cBut why tell us Ardala was behind it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably because she was the most convenient, nothing will happen to her, she won\u2019t even care unless it affects her ability to bed someone, and it might only help her within the empire,\u201d Buck said. \u201cIs she being punished in any way?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do not have that information,\u201d Theopolis replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo we\u2019re relying on someone else for information about this,\u201d Buck said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we\u2019ve said before, getting spies into the Draconian Empire has not been easy, especially getting close to the royal family,\u2019 Theopolis stated.<\/p>\n

Buck recalled that Ardala stated such spies were easy to capture. He wondered what they were doing to give themselves away but returned to the information at hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you captain,\u201d Jack said, effectively dismissing him.<\/p>\n

Buck stood and walked out of the room, wondering what he might do next when another man approached him.<\/p>\n

\u201cCaptain, the chancellor has asked for you,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cLead on,\u201d Buck said, wondering if he was going to repeat all of this once more and why the Chancellor wasn\u2019t at this meeting.<\/p>\n

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

Buck didn\u2019t have to wait to meet the Chancellor, almost as if he was waiting for him and walked in seeing a couple of senators sitting in the room as well, including Mark Gonzalez. Buck smiled as he made his way over already feeling on guard due to the fact Mark was here.<\/p>\n

\u201cCaptain, glad you could make it. I take it you had no problems with your other debriefing?\u201d the Chancellor asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNope, routine stuff,\u201d Buck replied looking over at the other senator who he knew was familiar but couldn\u2019t recall her name.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey made sure I was kept up to date, and they were really insistent to carry out the rescue operations,\u201d the Chancellor replied. \u201cBut, I want to thank you for doing such a good job in representing the NAA, even though you are not an actual citizen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I wasn\u2019t about to try and start a war, I only acted natural,\u201d Buck replied wondering how he could have made things worse, or even embarrassed the government of the NAA.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were in an interesting group once more captain,\u201d Mark said from where he sat.<\/p>\n

\u201cThings got a bit tense diplomatically,\u201d the chancellor said making Buck wonder how much pressure the government had to put on the UEA to carry out the rescue.<\/p>\n

\u201cPutting it mildly,\u201d Mark said. \u201cI\u2019m beginning to wonder what side you\u2019re on, things seem to happen ever since you arrived.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no idea,\u201d Buck replied back to him unsure if any answer he gave would appease him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will get to the truth,\u201d Mark told him.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood, then you\u2019ll know I had nothing to do with any of this,\u201d Buck replied back to him, he was done backing down to the man.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll see,\u201d Mark replied back to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, honestly, you\u2019re as bad as a Draconian,\u201d the woman said chiding Mark before turning to Buck. \u201cCaptain, I take it you\u2019ve heard the latest news regarding who was responsible for the attack on Earth by the Draconians?\u201d<\/p>\n

Buck nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood, and I take it you don\u2019t agree with that official statement?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

Again Buck nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cNeither do we,\u201d she said confirming what the admiral had told him only minutes ago in the last meeting.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe problem is we can\u2019t just come out publically without any real proof,\u201d the Chancellor said. \u201cPrivately we\u2019ve already told them we don\u2019t accept their official statement.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBlaming Princess Ardala doesn\u2019t sound right,\u201d Buck said.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe had visited us the most,\u201d Mark said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, and she\u2019s more interested in other things than leading. She likes power, but doesn\u2019t want to actually lead.\u00a0 She uses the power for her own pleasure, anything outside of that she doesn\u2019t care about,\u201d Buck told them recalling everything he knew about her.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, from what we know it doesn\u2019t fit her personality,\u201d the Chancellor replied back to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyone you think might have done it?\u201d the woman asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019d lean more towards Harold instead, he seems to have a chip on his shoulder and wants to prove something to his father,\u201d Buck told them.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally, we don\u2019t know much about him,\u201d the woman said giving it some thought. \u201cYou really think so?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf the people I met, yes. Of course it very well could be someone else but I think they would have turned them over if it had been.\u00a0 With Harold, the king might have felt reluctant to say anything, and blaming Ardala would seem to be a perfect alibi and he wouldn\u2019t have to really punish her,\u201d Buck told them, having given it some more thought on the way over.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for your insight captain, I\u2019m sure you\u2019re tired after your trip,\u201d the Chancellor said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, it was a long trip, not every day I\u2019m around for a bombing and a kidnapping,\u201d Buck said before rising and leaving the room. Now to head back to his apartment and consider what he would do next.<\/p>\n

End part 14<\/p>\n

Continued in part 15<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Buck Rogers by AJ Marks Part 14 Buck landed the Thunderfighter back onto the runway once again back in the NAA after quite the ordeal in the UEA. He shut down the fighter after rolling it to its spot and jumped out as the maintenance crew made their way over and begin looking it over […]
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