conjectured. They should be happy and enjoying life; but all they seemed to do was fight and bicker. Billy Caudwell just did not seem to be able to comprehend why his plan was going so wrong.
“What were you doing before you left?” Billy asked sending a thought command to his PES to initiate the jeans and sweatshirt image.
“Algebra homework in your room,” Jed replied nervously as the First Admiral’s blue PES began to morph into the required configuration, “your father has been in the loft since he got home from work; and your mother is in the kitchen writing,” he reported.
“Algebra,” Billy groaned, “oh, thanks a bunch,” Billy shook his head in dismay.
He hated Algebra. Despite the fact that his mathematical knowledge was in the region of two centuries ahead of anyone on Earth, he still detested the subject, which had been his least favourite before the failed abduction that had made him First Admiral.
“Fairly easy, sir,” Jed reported with a mischievous smile, “Simultaneous equations; should take you no more than a couple of minutes.”
“Yeah, great,” Billy replied, “So, what are your plans for tonight then, Jed?” he checked that the image being projected by his PES was correct.
“Back to the Officer Texts, sir,” Jed said matter-of-factly, “and catch-up on some sleep,” he added.
Jedithram Prust was quite happy to use his down time to study to become a Supply Officer and further promotions. He was young and ambitious and knew that the fledgling Alliance would soon expand presenting him with greater opportunities.
“Are you comfortable on the Ranger? I always thought they were cramped and untidy ships,” Billy asked.
“No problems, sir,” Jed replied, “I’ve got my own cabin and the crew pretty much leave me alone.”
“OKAY, then, I’ll try not to disturb you,” Billy promised, “but keep a watch on the Emergency Command Frequency in case I’ve got to come back in a hurry.”
“Yes, sir,” Jed replied, knowing only too well that if some crisis arose then he would be back down on Earth in the First Admiral’s place in rapid order.
Satisfied that the image was perfect, Billy stepped over to the teleporter and activated it through a thought command in his PES.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t,” Billy smiled, with a cheeky wink.
Then, he disappeared in a blinding flash.
Chapter 2
The Imperial Palace, Bardan
Lullina, the Grand Empress of the Bardomil, stared in shock and incredulity at the object on the small, circular, legless table hovering before her.
“It’s...a rock!” Lullina said icily, her voice echoing around the cavernous Throne Room, to the two yellow-clad figures prostrate on the floor before her.
“If it pleases Your Imperial Gloriousness,” one of the prostrate figures raised his head, smiling nervously to explain just exactly what this “rock” was.
“This had better be good,” Empress Lullina replied haughtily still staring at the object.
Sammut Claggit, of the Xanath species, tried to rise to his feet only to be brutally shoved back down by one of the two black uniformed Imperial Bodyguards who hovered menacingly over him and his young assistant, Bem. Raising himself up onto his elbows, Claggit realised that this was going to be a tougher sell than he had first imagined. Looking up at the Bardomil Empress, sitting on the green and white onyx throne, Claggit shuddered inwardly. She was a beautiful creature to look at, tall, slim, elegant and graceful. Her pale peach gown seemed to shimmer at her slightest movement creating a swirling pattern of various shades in the gossamer-fine material. Her face was almost angelic with the high angular forehead; created by binding her head when she was just an infant, to achieve that haughty superior expression. The golden skull cap, wreathed with the jewelled coronet, set off her pale grey facial features perfectly; even those sinister completely jet black eyes that stared
“What were you doing before you left?” Billy asked sending a thought command to his PES to initiate the jeans and sweatshirt image.
“Algebra homework in your room,” Jed replied nervously as the First Admiral’s blue PES began to morph into the required configuration, “your father has been in the loft since he got home from work; and your mother is in the kitchen writing,” he reported.
“Algebra,” Billy groaned, “oh, thanks a bunch,” Billy shook his head in dismay.
He hated Algebra. Despite the fact that his mathematical knowledge was in the region of two centuries ahead of anyone on Earth, he still detested the subject, which had been his least favourite before the failed abduction that had made him First Admiral.
“Fairly easy, sir,” Jed reported with a mischievous smile, “Simultaneous equations; should take you no more than a couple of minutes.”
“Yeah, great,” Billy replied, “So, what are your plans for tonight then, Jed?” he checked that the image being projected by his PES was correct.
“Back to the Officer Texts, sir,” Jed said matter-of-factly, “and catch-up on some sleep,” he added.
Jedithram Prust was quite happy to use his down time to study to become a Supply Officer and further promotions. He was young and ambitious and knew that the fledgling Alliance would soon expand presenting him with greater opportunities.
“Are you comfortable on the Ranger? I always thought they were cramped and untidy ships,” Billy asked.
“No problems, sir,” Jed replied, “I’ve got my own cabin and the crew pretty much leave me alone.”
“OKAY, then, I’ll try not to disturb you,” Billy promised, “but keep a watch on the Emergency Command Frequency in case I’ve got to come back in a hurry.”
“Yes, sir,” Jed replied, knowing only too well that if some crisis arose then he would be back down on Earth in the First Admiral’s place in rapid order.
Satisfied that the image was perfect, Billy stepped over to the teleporter and activated it through a thought command in his PES.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t,” Billy smiled, with a cheeky wink.
Then, he disappeared in a blinding flash.
Chapter 2
The Imperial Palace, Bardan
Lullina, the Grand Empress of the Bardomil, stared in shock and incredulity at the object on the small, circular, legless table hovering before her.
“It’s...a rock!” Lullina said icily, her voice echoing around the cavernous Throne Room, to the two yellow-clad figures prostrate on the floor before her.
“If it pleases Your Imperial Gloriousness,” one of the prostrate figures raised his head, smiling nervously to explain just exactly what this “rock” was.
“This had better be good,” Empress Lullina replied haughtily still staring at the object.
Sammut Claggit, of the Xanath species, tried to rise to his feet only to be brutally shoved back down by one of the two black uniformed Imperial Bodyguards who hovered menacingly over him and his young assistant, Bem. Raising himself up onto his elbows, Claggit realised that this was going to be a tougher sell than he had first imagined. Looking up at the Bardomil Empress, sitting on the green and white onyx throne, Claggit shuddered inwardly. She was a beautiful creature to look at, tall, slim, elegant and graceful. Her pale peach gown seemed to shimmer at her slightest movement creating a swirling pattern of various shades in the gossamer-fine material. Her face was almost angelic with the high angular forehead; created by binding her head when she was just an infant, to achieve that haughty superior expression. The golden skull cap, wreathed with the jewelled coronet, set off her pale grey facial features perfectly; even those sinister completely jet black eyes that stared
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