TEMPUS TWO CHAPTER ONE
I’ve always thought that a lot of the problems in the world would be solved if a spaceship did arrive, then anyone with one head and two arms and two legs would be your brother! It wouldn’t matter where they were from or what they believed or anything. It might be good for us.
Sigourney Weaver
Captain Wolf brought her ship into orbit beside the ISS.
“Tuseer contact them.”
“Yes, Captain.”
“Commander, this is Captain Wolf of the private spacecraft Séadhna.” (SHADE NA )
“You scared the hell out of us. That is a massive ship, First Lady.”
“Commander, while I am in my ship please address me as Captain.”
“My apologies Captain no offence meant.”
“No problem.”
“Where did you get the ship? Captain Wolf?”
“It was a gift from a world we liberated from the Lizards.”
“Holy shit.”
“Commander, could you have Charles contact us on this frequency?”
“Absolutely Right away. Is the First Leader on board Ma’am?”
“Yes, Commander he was the one who just ended the war.”
“Can’t wait to hear the details.”
“You will, the First leader would like to speak to Charles.”
After a few minutes, NASA contacted the ship. “Charles How are you?” said the First Leader.
“I am doing well, dying to hear about your exploits Cristian.”
“You will, right now I need a parking spot for My Wife’s ship. Can you accommodate us?”
“How big is the ship First Leader?”
“Big. I would say about 2000 feet long about half as much wide.”
“I can put you just North of Launch Complex 2, First Leader.”
“Got It Charles we will land there in an hour. Let the President and Press know we are back Charles.”
“On it Cristian.”
“Charles thanks for the parking spot see you in 60, First Leader out.” Cristian turned around to talk to the two other Aliens on board, The ones everyone here called the Nordics. “Raguel I trust your surgery went well?”
“Yes, Cristian the implants have been removed. Both of us are so sorry for what happened.”
“Save it you were not in control of your actions. Raguel do you still want to work with us?”
“If you still want us?”
“Without your help, we could not have won that battle, that is how it happened. No other mention will ever be made of the implants or your actions while under the influence of them. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Cristian.”
“Watcher this is how it starts the little lies.”
“I need you to pick up Larry, Albert, Stephen and Tiffany. Squeeze in Ethel, Callahan and Alfred. Take the Retribution. We will wait here for you. Tuseer, will let you out.” Cristian contacted his wife over the comm system. “Captain Wolf sweetie.”
“Yes First Leader sweetie.”
“Raguel will be heading out in the Retribution to pick up some friends.”
“Understood Husband.”
“The ship name Séadhna what does it mean?”
“It’s Celtic. It means Traveller or Wayfarer.”
“Interesting. We have a parking spot just north of Launch Complex 2 thanks to NASA. Watcher can take her down with your permission Captain.”
“Absolutely when are we going down to the surface?”
“After Raguel gets back.”
“ISS this is Séadhna, Thank you for your help? We are heading down to Canaveral within the hour. How are the new shields and gravity?”
“Great no more worries about bone loss or space Junk. Captain ISS out.”
Raquel returned with a full load of people to the Séadhna. Cristian and Lorelei, the Chancellor and Tuseer met them in the landing bay.
“Albert, Stephen, Larry, Tiffany I would like you to meet Chancellor K’proule. This is science officer Tuseer.”
“Cristian she is a Lizard.” said a wild-haired Genius.
“Yes Albert, take your hands off your guns all of you She is to be addressed as a Reticulan. Who do you serve Tuseer?”
“I serve you First Leader.”
“Why do you serve me?”
“You are the rightful leader of my People.”
“Have you ever eaten Human Flesh or participated in the killing of any sentient beings?”
“No First Leader.”
“Does everyone here understand that Tuseer now is part of our staff and must not be harmed or treated with disrespect?”
“We understand,” said Albert who was speaking for everyone.
“Good now we must present the same ideal to the world. I would also like to introduce the Captain and owner of the ship Séadhna. Captain Lorelei Wolf.”
“Captain of your own ship that is wonderful.”
“Thanks, Albert,” she said smiling.
“Tuseer I am Stephen. I would like to welcome you to the staff.”
“Thank you, Stephen. I know that gesture must have been difficult for you, given the actions of my people.”
“Captain Wolf I think it’s time we consider landing. Watcher, Please update everyone on what happened.”
“Updates are about to be up-loaded Cristian,” said the pocket watch.
“Cristian you finished the war?” asked Larry King.
“Larry we are not finished. We have thousands of worlds to find and help.”
“Watcher can we condense the events for a press release,” asked Larry.
“Absolutely Larry.”
“Tuseer could you give us a tour of the ship?” asked Tiffany.
“Ah sure, Tiffany right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Watcher take us in. Sound the Brace for Ground Landing warning.”
“Right away Captain. Do we have one?”
“Make one Watcher.”
“Aye Captain” A loud WWII submarine siren could be heard through the ship along with the words brace for Ground contact.”
“Nice one Watcher. I’ll bet they are paying attention now.” She said with a little smile.
The ship was taken down to Cape Canaveral for a landing. Huge clouds formed around the ship as they descended from the atmosphere. They seemed to wrap around the spacecraft making their landing more spectacular than it really was. The landing was captured by the press. Some zealots declared it the biblical Parousia. The second coming. Cristian of course downplayed that as nonsense when it was brought up.
“Watcher nice landing,” said Lorelei.
“Thanks, Captain.”
“Assemble the staff,” said Cristian. “Tuseer, Chancellor you will be escorted out in a few minutes. I will need to talk to the press first.”
Cristian and his staff walked out of the landing bay and partway down the ramp, where they were met with the hoard of the press, photographers, cameramen, dignitaries and onlookers.
“Watcher I think we will need to use the speakers on Lucy and Ethel.”
“You are live Cristian,” said Watcher.
“Thanks, Watcher turn on shields around the ramp.”
“Could I have your attention I will need order and quiet? People of the Federation of Earth. War with the race I have called Lizards, The Reticulans has ended. There was a battle that took place three hundred Light years from here, yesterday.
We will broadcast footage from the battle later today. We liberated the homeworld of a race called the Gray in the process. The Reticulans have removed themselves from all conquered worlds and have returned to their home planet. They are waiting for an address from me.
I have brought the Leader of the Gray, Chancellor K’proule here with me today. This ship was a gift from their planet. It was given to my wife. Who is now the Captain of the ship. The ship has been given the Celtic name Séadhna. I know you will have many questions about the battle of the Reticulans and the Gray. Over the next few days, we will be sending out interviews.
I have also added a Reticulan Female as part of my staff. Her name is Science Officer Tuseer. She has assured me that she has never been involved in the killing or eating of any sentient being. She is under my care and protection. If anyone on this planet or any other attempts to harm her in any way. I will forget that I am First Leader and take it personally. She is a guest of the Federation of Earth.
Please maintain order. I would like to Introduce Chancellor K’proule the leader of the Gray.”
The crowd went silent as the chancellor walked out onto the platform. He lifted his slender Gray hand and waved to the crowd.
“Now I would like you to meet Science officer Tuseer. Be mindful of what I said.”
“Callahan, Alfred watch for danger,” he said over the comms.
Tuseer walked out on the ramp slowly. The crowd was silent and respectful as Cristian asked. There were no boo’s or cat calls, just silence.
“Callahan take them back inside.”
“I would like to acknowledge NASA’s Support. Charles thank you for your help and the help from the leaders of the Federation of Earth. Most of all I would like to thank the people of Earth for your support. And many thanks to My staff and my wife, Captain Lorelei Wolf. Good night.”
Cristian sent Alfred over to get Charles to bring him on board. The ramp was retracted and the landing bay doors closed once he was on board.
“Cristian it is never boring around you.”
“I will take that as a compliment Charles.”
“Charles, how do you feel about Tuseer?”
“If you say she is okay that’s good enough for me.”
“Good what about the President, where is he?”
“He is aboard Air Force One on his way.”
“Great. Tuseer would you like to give Charles a tour of my wife’s ship.”
“Sure.”
“Cristian why did they give it to Lorelei?”
“I guess so that it would stay in the family.”
“Ahh, I understand elections looming.”
“You are a smart man Charles.”
“My money and backing are on you Cristian.”
“That might mean your job if I lose. How do you know I am running?”
“Because it is the only answer that makes sense. Maybe I could apply for a position here.”
“You don’t ever have to worry about a job.”
“Shall we go Charles it’s a big ship” asked the new science officer?
“Certainly Tuseer.”
“Tuseer how many crew would a ship like this carry?”
“We used to have over seven hundred on board.”
“How fast will she go?”
“Tuseer, answer him on general terms. We still have an unidentified enemy on this planet.” Cristian said over the internal interface.
“Understood Cristian” She answered back through the comm system.
“Raguel take Uriel and pick up everyone at the cave and bring them here. Have them bring food and guns?”
“Understood we are on our way.”
The President arrived outside the ship. Cristian walked down the ramp escorted by Lucy and Callahan, who still looked like a biker in a suit.
“Mr. President.”
“Cristian you beat the lizards?”
“Better than that.”
“What could be better?”
“I will tell you on board.”
“How many men do you have with you?”
“Six Cristian.”
“If you wouldn’t mind bring two if you are nervous and send the rest out to watch the perimeter.”
“I am not nervous at all Cristian they can all stay out.”
“I will send Lucy out with them.”
They entered a large room that was the Captain’s Quarters.
“Would you mind sending me images so I can see what happened?”
“Not at all, Mr. President.”
The President saw the images recorded. Cristian had followed Raguel and Uriel out to the Gray homeworld only to find them guests of the Lizards. They knew everything about Earth’s defences. As the Nordics left the lizard ship he had Watcher use the back door he built into the ship’s operating system to take over the Ascalon. Cristian fired all the Ascalon’s weapons at the Lizard ship and destroyed it. Then he sent a message to the Gray with images of a scorched world. He told them that he would use the scorcher to destroy their planet unless they surrendered in five seconds. He knew that if he defeated the Gray he would earn the leadership of the Lizards.
Then Cristian told the President how he threatened the Lizards with a scorcher that he said was ready to destroy their homeworld in the past. He declared to them that none of their conquests would ever happen. The LIZARDS gave in and declared Cristian their leader. Then he dispatched them and all others back to their homeworld to wait for an address from him.
Cristian asked to have two ships sent to the surface. He met the leader of the Reticulans along with the Leader of the Gray. Knowing that the Lizards were a warrior race he executed the one that claimed he was in charge. Then Cristian took charge of the rest. He kept one ship and sent the rest home.
“Holy shit Cristian. You bluffed and won the war, you have big balls.”
“It wasn’t a bluff. I had no choice. I had to act Mr. President. Officially Raguel and Uriel were part of a plan to win this battle.”
“I understand. So the ship belongs to Lorelei?” asked the president “Smart.”
“Mr. President the Gray told me about a group of enemies here on the planet who are the ones really responsible for our problems through history.”
“What do you know?. Our secret service has suggested as much, but no one has information.”
“I have to ask are you affiliated with them?”
“No Cristian I have no direct knowledge or affiliation with anyone like that.”
“I am unsure if he is telling the truth Cristian.”
“I apologize Mr. President I had to ask.”
“Do you believe me Cristian?”
“I trust but need to verify.”
“Good we need to find the bastards and root them out. So you are the new Lizard King?” said the President.
“Yes, and I hope to never hear that again,” Cristian said laughing.
“I will try,” The President said still chuckling.
“I think it’s time that you meet the leader of Thu-ban and my Reticulan Science Officer.”
“Chancellor and Tuseer could you meet me in the Captains Quarters.”
“Mr. President meets The Chancellor and Science Officer Tuseer.”
“Pleased to meet both of you.”
“Mr. President” was the simultaneous reply.
“Tuseer could you find Charles and send him in?”
“Certainly First Leader.”
“First Leader it has been a busy day for me. I would like to rest.
“Absolutely Chancellor. Have Tuseer find you quarters. What about meals?”
“I have meals aboard my ship in the landing bay.”
“Good, rest easy Chancellor.”
“Cristian I have decided not to run in the elections.”
“I think you should remain as First Leader. There will be no doubt that you have anything to do with any secret organization.”
“I had hoped not to run against you Second Leader.”
“What?”
“If anything happens to me. I need to know the people of Earth would be in good hands. We should let the world know as soon as possible.”
“I haven’t said yes yet.”
“You will. I don’t consider that position lightly.”
“Of course, I will. What is our next course of action? What about the US?”
“Nothing changes you remain the President of the US. If you have to assume the position of First Leader you can decide then. I plan on heading out to find other worlds to join our Federation. We still need to get the fighters built. We still need to build a Defence Force. Mr. President, I have some interesting news. I will not disclose it to the planet right now. The Gray say they do not have Time Travel capability.”
“How is that possible?”
“We may have another helper out there or more likely they are not telling the truth.”