CHAPTER FIVE

One of the plans that the Private came up with, broke no less than 5 codes of conduct. The main one was, “Never, under any circumstances, is any technology to be shared with an inferior species,”

 Private was aware that they were now in the early 1970’s {earth date} and the group of humans, known as Americans, had just completed a series of rocket missions to their moon, With that in mind, he approached the Captain with a plan.

 “Are out of your mind? I goal is to get back home. I do not want to go to all that trouble just to be thrown into the brig! Private, are there any codes that you have NOT broken in putting this plan together?” The Captain shouted.

 Surprisingly, it was the Sargent that came to the Privates defense.

 “Captain, what if it wasn’t that Private that voluntarily shared the information as such. What if we invoked article Zed IIJ? A human forced into servitude would be able to view and understand certain equipment in order to carry out what was required for them.”

 The Sargent could see Sara getting upset.

 “Don’t worry Miss, that will be our excuse, not our plan,” Sargent said with a wink.

 Both the Captain and Private stared at the Sargent in disbelief. It was Private that broke the silence.

 “That is brilliant!” Private shouted.

 “Only if H.Q. believes it.” the Captain mumbled.

 “Really Captain, what choice do we have? By the time we are rescued, the codes could have changed…many times.” The Private argued.

 “How long are you thinking it will take before you might have a chance to go home?” Sara asked.

“Time is relevant to where you are in space and where it is you want to go. There are so many other variables that are almost impossible to explain. It is safe to say that in earth terms it will be later than sooner, but the faster we get started the better,” The Captain explained.

 “This is against my better judgement but proceed with your plan Private," the Captain said shakong his head in disbelief.

 Private grabbed Sara by the hand and hurried off before the Captain could change his mind.

 “Captain, you realize that our jump in time is going to make it more difficult for anyone who might come to look for us,” the Sargent stated.

 “Difficult, but not impossible. The technology that the Gein put into our larger ships is quite amazing. I took a tour of the Harrington, the scanners that ship had was second to none. I suggest you alter the frequency when you resume sending the signal. That may be enough of a clue for them that we have changed time periods.”

 The Captain turned and to a few steps before turning back around.

 “If we do not here from them soon, we will need to figure something else out.”

 “Captain, our time jump reduced our axion reserves more than I have first thought. I would like to pull some from our defenses to help boast the signal. I have scanned the area and there is no indication that any human technology is capable of detecting us, as long as our cloak is operating.”

 “Very well Sargent, just make sure you can switch it back rapidly if necessary.” The Captain warned.

 “Yes Sir.”

 The Captain returned to his station and began working on a plan that he hoped they would never have to use.

 After the Sargent switched the power he needed, he took a long look at what he possibly could do to boast the signal even more, and what may be available in this earth decade that he could modify.

 “Percy, what are you searching for?” Sara asked as she watched him flip through several screens.

 “Sara, In this time period, the American government is deeply involved in putting humans in to what they call, ‘outer space’. The equipment they use to communicate with those in space is more powerful than what the military uses.”

 “Okay?” Sara said in a confused tone.

 “Once I have compiled a list of parts, then I will try to find out what would be the best way to try to obtain them. Either try to find someone within the organization they call N.A.S.A., or someone in each of the companies that make the parts.”

 Sara got a sad look on her face and made private look at her.

 “Is that why you contacted me? Just to use me to get what you needed?”

 Private knew the correct answer was yes, He also knew from their observations of human emotions, that being truthful would invoke several emotions, and most times they were not pleasant.

 “Sara, for many years we inner-acted with all sorts of people and never did anything to gain favors, or anything else for that matter. We were simply here to observe, When we first discovered that we had been abandoned, we were at a loss for what to do. We formulated a plan to try to send a complex distress signal. However, some of our equipment was badly damaged.”

 Private paused.

 “It was nothing personal. We were light years from home with no way to get back on our own. We needed parts, and we needed a way to get them. I guess in human terms we did use you, but we also appreciated your help enough to not let you die in the dessert or in that mountain. Because of that, you are the only human that knows anything about us.”

 Sara thought about that for a few minutes.

 “Okay, for now I am going to consider our relationship as a working relationship dealing with an inner-change of information. So now what?” Sara asked with a smile.

 Sara was a quick learner and within two days, she and Private had located what they needed.

 “There are still some problems with your plan.” Sara pointed out.

 “Like?” Private asked.

 “Like, if I understand this map correctly, we are out here in the middle of nowhere, with no transportation, no credentials, no credit or bank account, you know, minor stuff,” she said with her arms folded.

 “Sara, we Gein have been getting in and out of places and purchasing items since before you were born. We have our sources. I can implant all the authorization that we will need into any system they use. I have also discovered that if you are willing to pay enough, they will deliver whatever you want to anywhere you want.” Private said with a smile.

 “How are you going to pay, you don’t make counterfeit currency…Do you?”

 “No, we Gein do have a code of ethics. Let me put it to you this way. I am sure you are aware that some humans have what they call hidden, or secret accounts. In a lot of cases, the funds put in these are obtained by illegal means. We simply tap into those, wipe them out, and offer to return the funds to the authorities, for a fee. The percentage we ask is usually willing accepted.”

 “Would not the authorities want all the money back?” Sara asked.

 “Some do, but even if they did have an accurate figure of what was taken, which is rare, we still keep all the interest that had accumulated while the funds were in that account.”

 Private pulled up some older records to show her what they had done in the past.

 “That’s amazing,” she whispered.

 “Yep, it is what you humans call ‘A win-win, situation.”’ Private said, as he went back to putting the finishing touches on his program.

 Sara thought about this for a while, then went back to helping Private. The two of them got all the paperwork put together for each company that they might use.

“Captain, you better come take a look at this,” the Sargent called out.

 “Now what? Why would they be bringing all that equipment and troops out this way? Is our cloak functioning properly?" The Captain asked.

 “That is the first thing I checked.”

 “I have an idea of what is going on,” Sara said as she and Private walked in.

 “War games.” Sara stated.

 “War is no game!” The Captain said in a sharp tone.

 “That is what the military call it. It is basically a training session for the troops and the equipment. It is supposed to keep them ‘Battle ready.’”

 “This is really going to mess up our delivery plans,” Private mumbled.

 “I have an idea. Sargent you keep a watchful eye on them and where it looks like they are going to set up. Private, you and Sara go back to what you were working on. I need to go research something,” The Captain ordered.

 It had been a long time since the Captain had been that vague about what he had in mind. The Captain started going through what was in their data base deal with humans military training exercises. It did not take him long to find what he was looking for. He called everyone back together again.

 “Our records show that these kinds of exercises are always called off because of violent dust storms,” the Captain told them.

 “Okay, but I am sure someone checked the weather before they started out, and most storms of that nature doesn’t pop out of nowhere.” Sara said.

 “That is true, if you are talking about naturally occurring wind storms, however…”

 Private and Sargent got a big grin on their face, The Sargent split his screen to where he could still monitor the army, but also call up another program.

 “Captain, I can do it with Private’s help. The problem is that it will deplete the power for our defenses down to next to nothing. I doubt that we can find anything here on this planet to restore that.” The Sargent stated.

 “Sargent, we are in survival mode. We have to care for one crisis at a time. I don’t like the prospect of depleting anything, but if we don’t run off the military, we won’t have a chance of getting the parts we need. So, we are just going to have to take that risk.”

 “Yes, Sir Captain, it will take about an hour to prepare everything.”

 “Do what you need to do. I will monitor the troops, while you get thing together,” the Captain told him.

 While the Sargent and Private were busy working on their project, Sara was watching the screen with the Captain.

 “War Games, how sad,” the Captain mumbled.

 “I agree,” Sara said with a sigh.

 “You know Sara for eons, the Gein went about the universe studying other species. We were always trying to learn from others. We adapted to our species what we felt would be a benefit and did our best to avoid and prevent what proved to be a detriment. We never had a need or a want for any kind of military. That was until we met up with the Dread. We had never encountered a species that was so violent.”

 The Captain paused a moment and laughed to himself.

 “No offence, but the Dread makes humans look very tolerant and peaceable, in comparison. Our leaders at the time did not realize how much impact the dreads behavior had on those who were inner-acting with them. Eventually, all research ships and crews were pulled and band from having any further contact with the Dread, it was too late. Many had started to develop violent tendencies. They were no longer just interested in learning about other species, they began to desire what others had, and would use whatever was necessary to take it. This caused some other more advanced species to retaliate.”

 “So, you had to learn to fight?” Sara asked sadly.”

 “Not at first. Our leaders tried everything to avoid that. They tried to negotiations and offered compensation to those species that had been wronged. That kept us from having to fight others, but not ourselves. Our species was now divided. Those that supported the more violent  way of thinking, stole several research ships, and left to settle on a nearby moon.”

 “How sad.” Sara whispered.

 “Yes, but that was not the end. Wisely our leaders had blocked access to the computer that held all the research we had gathered so far. They knew that the rebels would eventually want to take over the planet, so they built one of the finest defense systems from what they had learned from other species.”

 “How did that work out?” Sara asked.

 “It was a good thing for those on our planet. It wasn’t long before the rebels had aligned themselves with other species and tried to invade the planet. They did not succeed the first time, but everyone knew they would not give up. That is why our leaders finally agreed to send out research ships again, They knew however, that anything they sent out, could come under attack. This is why they developed the Carrier ships. These could carry up to fifty research ships. They could also travel much further into space. These were the first ships to ever be equipped with weapons as well as defenses.”

 The Captain pause to re-check the screen.

“Eventually, all the research ships were also fitted with weapons as well as defenses. All of this took place well before my time, but that is now why our research ships today are run by those of us who have had both military training and are accomplished researchers.”

 “Uncle…Um Captain, I appreciate you telling me all of this.”

 “Telling you all of what? A good officer never reviles anything to a member of a species that is being observed.”  the Captain stated, then gave Sara a wink.