OMEGA Guardian (24 page)

I replied, "The Feldons are a proud people. The fact that they want to do this themselves is a good sign."

Go had his orders; I had my coffee. After returning to SS241, I sent a comm hail over the portals to Garrett.

I spoke. "Have you left Adicus yet?"

Garrett replied, "I was just about to. I found an Adican wandering the streets. He somehow evaded the scanners when they took everyone else. He has begged me to take him to another planet. I don’t blame him; I spotted a ship heading this way already, probably salvagers."

I gestured toward the Adican standing behind him. "We need to make a detour. Where can you get computers like we have on the
Jess
?"

Garrett gave a half frown. "That’s a tough one. I think they are made on Alpha Prime. I would need a whopper of a cover story to get one, though."

I replied, "We need a hundred of them. Could they be used in mining machinery, being that mining is the business you are in?"

Garrett thought for a moment. "Mining machinery is typically pretty dumb. I suppose we could be working on automated mining drillers or dredges or something like that. It’s an economic need and not a militaristic one. That might be doable, although, we do have the ban on automated equipment that is still in force. I know the AMP was all started when an android was overthrown, but banning nearly all automation just always seemed excessive. I'll have to be careful with how I word my pitch."

I transferred credits to Garrett's corporate account. "See if you can get us a hundred of them and have them shipped to SS241 for pickup. We can work the payment through the station bank as an economic assistance for a business in this sector."

Garrett again frowned. "They are going to be expensive."

I replied, "Grease some palms. Do what you can. We have the credits and we have the need. I’m putting together a small fleet to take to Theta as a backup plan in case we can’t get to Joni before she gets shipped off."

Garrett furrowed his brows. "What are we going to do? Attack the training complexes there at Theta?"

I shook my head. "No, we are going to volunteer to go fight in Andromeda. If she has already gone through, that is the only way we will be able to get her back."

Garrett frowned at the suggestion. "We don’t even know if she is alive! Going through to Andromeda seems like a really bad idea!"

I again shook my head. "Only a quarter of the galaxy is in question. If we can make contact with her fleet before it gets involved in any battles, we can bring her away from it."

Garrett scratched his head. "And if we do somehow rescue her, if she is even alive, how do we get back here? The main portal to Andromeda is closed. And if there is a war going on, that portal is probably closed to all the galaxies."

I replied, "We’ll have to figure that out when we get there. If there is a chance she is alive, which there is, we have to go get her. It will take us three to four months to get our fleet together,
if
we can get those computers and blasters. After that, we can tack on a month or so for us to get to Theta from Omega. The Organization indicated that training was taking ten to twelve weeks before troops were sent forward. There would be more training when they arrived in Andromeda, and then time again before they were sent forward. I think we have a good chance of catching up if we can get there within six months."

Garrett winced as he shook his head. "I want to say this is all too sketchy, too far fetched to work, but we seem to achieve the impossible on a regular basis."

I replied, "I believe that too often people just do not try. We can do these things if we put forth a good effort."

A voice could be heard from behind Garrett. "Please, Sir. I have no one here. Take me anywhere."

Garrett turned back towards the Adican. "What’s your name?"

The Adican replied, "Jontik Bahnhos."

Garrett gestured. "Well, Jontik, this is your lucky day. Welcome to the
Jealousy
. Have you ever been to Alpha Prime?"

Jontik replied, "No."

Garrett laughed as he slapped him on the shoulder. "Well, you have an hour to get whatever you need. After that, I am leaving with or without you."

Jontik nodded and hurried away.

Garrett turned back to face the comm camera. "Well, now I have a passenger. I have the feeling he won’t be staying on Alpha Prime after they just conscripted all his people. Maybe I can drop him somewhere when I get out to Orwall for those blasters."

I nodded. "I am certain that after the uprising, the Adicans are welcome on Orwall. While on your journey, see if he has any information as related to the revolt. Perhaps there was word of an injured Human."

Garrett pointed as he replied, "Good idea."

Garrett looked at the time clock on his arm pad. "Hmm. 4:00 p.m. standard time, don’t you have patrol coming up?"

I shook my head. "I took the week off.

Garrett flipped off the comm. We had six months to come up with a small but capable fleet to possibly take to Andromeda. After a trip to Alpha Prime and a heated negotiation, one hundred Centari computers were purchased and shipped to the Omega sector. Garrett, along with Jontik, was headed to Orwall. With luck, a shipment of blaster tips would be sent our way soon after their arrival.

When questioned about Joni Salton, Jontik didn’t have any direct information. He did, however, state that a Human female had been working closely with the new Adican government. Who she was or what she was doing, he didn’t know. He had been a member of the rebellion, but the higher-ups maintained a level of secrecy when it came to government activities. They didn’t trust the common citizen, whose information could be purchased with a minimum of credits. The Adican economy was still in shambles.

When I heard the news, I had hope that it would be her. If there was a Human that was capable of making deals with the Adicans, it would be Joni Salton.

~~~

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