CHAPTER SIX

The Captain had just turned back to look at the screen when he began to chuckle to himself.

 “Sargent, Private, come here!” The Captain ordered.

 “How far have you gotten?”

 “Sir, we just got started. This isn’t…”

 “Button it Sargent, I just got a better idea. One that won’t cost us any power. How easy is it for you to tap in on the communications those army people are using?”

 “It is simple, why?” The Sargent replied.

 “All you need to do is to tie in to their communications, record enough of the one who is in charge to piece together a command to call off the exercises.”

 “Sir, what if I cannot get enough communications to put that command together?” The Sargent asked.

 “Well then, I guess you will have to put your impersonation talents to work. Look Sargent, you was the one concerned about draining our defenses, I can’t do everything around here. Now get on it!” The Captain shouted, then stood up.

 “I will be at my station running some test. Private you go back to your project, and Sargent, you let me know when those troops are withdrawing.”

 “Yes Sir,” Came from the two of them.

 However, much more came from the Sargent. Fortunately for him, it was in a low enough tone that the Captain did not hear it, or at least chose to ignore it. As the Sargent was working on his assignment, he began to wonder how the Captain knew of his impersonations ability. Long before this assignment, he would many times impersonate a superior officer, in order to play a practical joke on his friends and foes alike. Due to the consequences of this, he carefully executed this talent. Because he was never received any punishment, he figured he had gotten away with these little pranks. Now he was not sure, and he frantically tried to recall if the Captain was one, he impersonated at one time, or worse, was one of his former victims.

 “Oh well, what has been done, is done.” The Sargent mumbled and concentrated on recording the army’s communication channel.

 Private was busy again at his computer when Sara went over to him.

 “Percy, even if we are able to get parts delivered out here, how will you get them in the ship without being seen?” Sara asked.

 Private smiled,

 “Don’t worry that will not be a problem. We will simply borrow one of there troop carriers.” Private stated as he searched through the army companies for one that was empty.

 With a flip of two different switches, he transferred the carrier to place it next to the ship and cloaked it.

 “Sargent, did you get enough from their communication channel in order to give the command to withdraw?”

 “Yes Captain, But request permission to insure they don’t return for a while.”

 The Captain was not sure what the Sargent had in mind but knowing how silly he had made Gein officers look in the past, he was sure whatever he pulled the human military would not declassify those records for a very long time.

 “Just do it quickly,” the Captain stated.

 After the Sargent had his fun with the troops and they had all cleared out, he began to play around with other communication channels that were in the nearby area. He came across one that confused him.

 “Captain, come listen to this.”

 “It is one of the many different languages the humans use,” the Captain stated.

“Yes sir, I am aware of that, however, it is a signal that is close by, and is more heavily secured than the one the army commander was using.”

 “That sounds Russian,” Sara stated.

 The Sargent turned a few knobs, and the message became clear.

“They are planning to sabotage N.A.S.A.” Sara said in shock.

 “That is none of our concern,” the Captain stated.

 “Sir it is if we plan to get our parts, and the government thinks it is going to them.” Private pointed out.

 The Sargent pulled up a screen of historical records.

 “The next rocket launch is due to happen two weeks from now.”

 He paused and flipped through a few more screens.

 “There is no record of any attempt of sabotage,” the Sargent stated.

 “Maybe your government broke it up.” The Captain suggested.

 “Captain, we can not afford any more delays in our getting our parts.” Private pointed out.

 The Captain expression was one of not being happy.

 “Alright! Private, order your parts, Sargent monitor that communication channel. We will not interfere unless it becomes absolutely necessary.”

 The Captain walked away mumbling heavily to himself.

 Sara walked over next to the Sargent.

 “How are you at impersonating Russian officers?”

 “I never tried, but I do like challenges,” he said to her with a wink.

 As Private and Sara went back to place their order, the Captain came over.

 “You need to understand Ms. Parker, that many times, once someone goes messing around with events, people, etc. it sits off a chain reaction. I will not be responsible For something that we can not hide that we had a hand in.” the Captain stated firmly.

 “So, you intend to hide what happened to me?” She asked with raised eyebrows.

 “Don’t get me started! I do what I have to do, and I avoid getting myself any deeper than I have to, period!”

 “And you should know Captain, that I will do anything I can to help you three get home, but I also will do what I can to protect my future.”  Sara said with her arms folded.

 The Captain motioned to Private and went back to his station.

 “Sit here a minute Sara.”

 Private took a deep breath.

 “Sara, the future is not set in stone, as you humans would say.”

 Private paused a moment.

 “Look, as far as our research shows, no humans has ever time traveled before, and for good reason. If you go messing around in the future, without careful planning, it will start off a chain of events that could very well unravel all human existance.”

 Private looked straight into Sara’s eyes.

 “We, as a species have done tons of research into the events of time periods in human history. From way before you were born to long after you died. We have become experts in being able to make certain tweaks here and there, without any changes to the way history records what happened. Most of this is because, history does not record everything, and if we do have involve ourselves in something that was recorded, we can alter that record without any lives being effected.”

 Sara took a while to process all of what she was told.

 “So do you think the Captain will act to stop the sabotage.”

 Private looked around to see if the other two were busy, before he answered. He pulled he off to the back of the ship.

 “The Captain has been at this for a long time. For those of us on the ship he is by the book. However, I have also noticed that he will also do what he feels is right, regardless of the rules. Now, lets work on getting these parts ordered, and trust that the Captain will do what needs to be done.”

 Private took Sara by the hand and led her back to his station.