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KNAPP 27.CACEPI.

November 2011.

Science fiction written by Alfred Juillet Frascara.

EPOCH: YEAR 4.221 STARDATE [39]98002.0123

Characters:From Knapp = Queen Girardot, Count Nutrix, Admiral Cacepi, Lord Quam, Treasurer Worfon.

10/11/2011

Chapters :

1.- ADMIRAL CACEPI.

2.- VOYAGE TO PLANET IV.

3.- COBOAL ALIEN.

CHAPTER ONE

Queen Girardot ends his meal and call for Admiral Cacepi, who arrives twenty minutes later,

saying:-Sorry, Your majesty, but I was at the other side of town, revising some items.

Of course. The Queen said, looking at the smear of ketchup on the Admiral jacket.

Certainly, he was lunching at some cheap restaurantShe added: I call on you for the delay

on our mission to Vulcan. They keep on saying they hadnt arrived to that planetary system.

Admiral Cacepi said:- Could I seat down, Your Majesty? My feet are killing me.

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Oh, please, seat down on that golden chair! - She said, signaling to a chair next to the door.

The Admiral takes the chair and approaches it to the dinner table, saying: My feet aches with

the cold. Well, the mission to Vulcan departed and no radio messages had been received. We

think they were having some problem, possibly a delay could be assumed. Just give them

some more time before getting worried, Your majesty.

Yes, but I am worried about it. Send a message to the Vulcan authorities- perhaps they couldsearch for that vessel in their vicinity- tells them the kind of vessel it is.- Queen Girardot said.

Very well, Your Majesty. You see, three months could be not much to wait- perhaps they

appear farthest than assumed- lets give them some more time.- The Admiral Cacepi said.

Yes, I assume you are right. Lets give them some more time, but send that message- they

could be farthest than thought.- Queen Girardot said, and the Admiral Cacepi went out,

saluting.

Out on his car, he said to his Assistant.- Send a message to the Brana One, Vulcan

government- tell them we need to know about a ship we sent there to fetch some new Vulcan

spaceships. Tell them when they departed, and if they could see if they scan the space around

their planetary system for us- well appreciate to be of help in this situation.

The Admiral knew the voyage was a three months trip, and those three months were recently

accomplished- Queen Girardot was worrying for nothing

Four months later, the Vulcan authorities sent a message to the Queen Girardot, saying they

had not found any Knappian vessel in the vicinity of their planetary system, so they were

enlarging the area of scan.

Queen Girardot calls on the Admiral Cacepi, saying: Seven months and not a clue! Seems to

me they not only are lost, but dead.

Admiral Cacepi palled noticeably, and said: But Your majesty! I think this is only a delay! The

Vulcan authorities will soon find them! It was a nice spaceship, NG 15, strong and reliable.

Queen Girardot moved her head, saying: We are but a small dot in space, Admiral Cacepi, and

everything could happen in deep space, and worst: the jumping through Branas are

dangerous.

Admiral Cacepi didnt replied, as he was certain the dame was upset. She said: Now we are

going to send another? Perhaps they could send us those spaceships relying on our word we

are going to pay them! Tell them so- I cannot keep waiting, we need those spaceships in here!

Very well, Your majesty. I will send a message this very day. The same number of vessels?-

Cacepi asked her.

Of course the same! We were doing miracles for the acquisition, and now I guess we are

paying double!- Queen Girardot said, calling for the Treasurer. Soon he appears, saying: Youcall for me, Your Majesty?

Yes, Treasurer Worfon. We are talking here with the Admiral about certain voyage we sent to

the Vulcan dominion- Brana One. As you should remember, Worfon, we sent the money in

gold bars- now it seems that vessel was lost.- Queen Girardot said.

Treasurer Worfon looks around, seats on a chair on the left of the Queen, and said: It is really

a pity to hear this! Certainly I remember the golden bars- I count them myself- Captain

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Vocularis receives it, and there was certain Coronel Rirnof present! And there is no news

about them? Perhaps they could have suffered some malfunction on their vessel- to think

about them as robbers seem unheard?

Admiral Cacepi turns red and said. Totally unacceptable to think about them as robbers!

Besides, nobody had seen them in the near planetary systems. They certainly tried to reach

Vulcan, but something evil happens in the way.-

Of those, we not certain.- Queen Girardot said, because she still hopes the NG 15 could

appear- be on Vulcan or in Knapp

Four months later, the Vulcans sent a message, saying that the required vessels were on its

way to Knapp, and about the NG 15, no news whatsoever.

Queen Girardot assumed the gold was irremediably and hopelessly lost, so he checked with

Treasurer Worfon , who said he had the necessary gold to pay. Vulcans were waited and three

months later they arrived to Knapp, staying in orbit while the Commander of the Vulcan fleet

went down to the surface to talk with the Queen Girardot.

The green vessel landed on Pole 02, near the Spatial Tower, and soon they were talking with

people from the Military base, and sent to the royal palace for the talks.

Queen Girardot received them at the Royal Dining saloon, as it was lunch time.

Welcome to my realm, noble Vulcans! Please have a seat! I am having lunch, and I expect you

could join me.- She said, while the seven military personnel from Vulcan seats at both sides of

the big long table.

Thanks for your welcome, and yes, we are accepting your invitation to lunch, queen Girardot!

I am commander Spotunior, and this is the captains Turange, Fordile, Marbobibo, Shuturber,

Sopoterion, Lalelotorajo, and captain Shua.

They were bowing to the queen in turn, so she could know who was called what, and the last

one, Shua, was a female, thin and very serious as they always are.

Very well. Aide! Call to this meeting our Treasurer and the Admiral Cacepi. They surely could

have something to say in here.- Queen Girardot said, while the soup was coming

They eat the soup, then a salad with plenty of tomatoes, and then a plate with dinosaur meat,

eggs and smashed potatoes. There were also bread (a new article on Knapp, brought by space

sailors from Earth) and onions in salt (said it gives extra energy).

Commander Spotunior tasted each plate with his spoon, and admired the good condition of

every plate, but in fact, no Vulcan was really eating.

When Admiral Cacepi arrives, the Treasurer was already seated and waiting. He said: Your

Majesty, you called for me?

Yes, Admiral. Here we have the Vulcan representatives that brought the new spaceships to

our planet. I call for you, as you are the one who must see about the training our crew must

endure.- Queen Girardot said.

Of course. I have some pilots already chosen, but of course, they must get a special training

on the Vulcan vessels.- The Admiral said.

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Admiral: we had brought the ten small Hunter spacecraft, one Space carrier and two tool

ships, able to repair any kind of spaceship in space. We had several instructors that will work

with your men in the same vessels where they are going to serve, and we assume our

instruction will take no more than three months of your time, and a part of it, we have several

hours of instructions on screen, and two simulators, able to capacitate a person on our

vessels.- Commander Spotunior said.

And what about the language? We dont understand Vulcan nor read or write that language,

and possibly not a word on your consoles could be intelligible for us.- Admiral Cacepi said.

Shua, the Vulcan female, said: I will teach some of our language, but as you are going to see,

our consoles have your language as first option- no need to know Vulcan to use those

consoles, but of course, some items on the engines and other parts have Vulcan names- we are

going to teach your crew about that, but I assure you, its a minor percentage.

Glad to hear that.- Cacepi replied.

In our three months period of instruction, we are going to visit not only Knapp but also the

other planets, so your crew could be able to land in any planet. Also, the weaponry will be

used in space only.- Captain Turange said.

I see that you had thought in everything.- Queen Girardot said.

I hope I could be present in the instructions, and also, to learn the language.- Cacepi asked.

Of course, Admiral. We have no restrictions pertaining the number of people learning how to

use these spaceships. Commander Spotunior said, adding: And of course, I will ask of you,

queen Girardot, to pay us before our instruction begin. Each Hunter has a cost of 1.8 million

sopes, the Space carrier has a cost of 39 million sopes, and the tool spaceships had a cost of 3.2

million sopes each.

Right away? Treasurer _Worfon, have you the gold ingots with you?- Queen Girardot asked

him.

Of course not, Your Majesty! I can deliver it with a couple of hours in delay.- Worfon replied,

looking somewhat outraged

Two hours.-Queen Girardot said to the Vulcan commander.

We will be waiting at our vessel, in the Oredloro spaceport, if you dont mind.- Commander

Spotunior said.

No, I dont mind at all. Well, this meeting is adjourned! Treasurer Worfon will be at the

Spaceport with the gold, and our Admiral will be arriving to our future vessels in our own

shuttlecrafts.- Queen Girardot said.

There are sixty three million four hundred thousand sopes.- The treasurer Worfon said.

In four hours.- Admiral Cacepi said, and the Vulcan commander bowed, acknowledging the

fact.

After the Vulcans walks out of the room, Cacepi said. They are very distrustful guys.-

Yes, they are, but what to expect? They have more experience in this than us! Besides, what

we want is their help- you must see that the crew became interested in all of this, and tell

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them that they are the future teachers of our Space force.- Queen Girardot said to the

Admiral, while the Treasurer dismissed himself and walks out the room.

The payment was donned and Admiral Cacepi brought the teams to each vessel in space- two

large carriers were there too, to provide the food and what they needed if necessary.

Two months they were there, being taught by the Vulcan people and at the third month

Commander Spotunior said to the Admiral. Now we are going to leave the planet and visit the

other orbs- are you going to join us?

Yes, I will! I am very interested in this magnificent vessel you had brought here. My ensign

spaceship will be, of course, the Space carrier.- Admiral Cacepi replied, and this was a radio

communication, so he hurried out the office to take a shuttle and traveling to the orbit, where

the large space carrier was waiting for him- also, the ten Hunters were inside the space

carrier, together with their crew.

The Vulcans were there too; two in each of the acquired vessels, and Commander Spotunior

was in the dark long arrow-like vessel that was going to serve him and his crew to return to

the Vulcan domain.

Admiral Cacepi admired this big space carrier for its sheer potential and capacities. He waits

until the small fleet was under way to the fourth planet, to visit every deck and lots of empty

rooms and hangars, due to the fact they had only thirty crewmembers now manning it, but in

full operational flight, three hundred was the upper limit.

He seats at the chair next to the commander, who was Spotunior, seeing that the crewmen

were doing their jobs properly, through a visor in front of his seat- he also was able to man the

entire vessel through another console, just in case there was some error. Cacepi knew it all,

because he did take the lectures given by the Vulcan instructors in the first days of the

training. Several phrases and lots of words in that language were also memorized, so he could

read the indications on all of the consoles not in Knappian language.

He heard the conversation of the Vulcan Spotunior with the other captains, who werefollowing the space carrier, that were the two tool spacecraft, some 20 meters long and

impressive weaponry, as they were also capable of being in battle themselves.

They were talking about velocities and direction, and all seems to be all right. The sky was

dark and menacing to the ones not accustomed to that view, and Admiral Cacepi was one who

never had the chance to get over it. He always had the sensation of impending doom, so when

he could, he marched down the corridors, grateful of Vulcan technology, that made this

possible: pseudo gravity, that permits him to walk as in the Knappian surface without being

weightless as in the majority of the old Knappian war birds.

At a corridor he finds Herboreil, a Hunter pilot, and said: You are not at your post, pilot?

No, Sir, I was replaced by my copilot Uribald; I am with a terrible headache right now and Imheading to the doctor at the Infirmary.- Said the thirty old year man, with a grin.

Oh, its bad! Ill go with you.- Admiral Cacepi said who was not too sure where the Infirmary

was located but the pilot seems to know, as he takes a turbo lift and soon they were walking

by a very white corridor, and into a wide room, where medical instruments were in place. A

female crew member approaches, looking at Cacepi, saying: Are you feeling ill, Admiral? The

doctor is occupied right now, but I can attend you while he is busy.

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No, thanks you! Its this young fella that is sick. See what is ailing him.- Cacepi said,

straightening his shoulders , as the woman was very attractive.

Very well, Sir. Please come in.- She said, smiling, and Cacepi reads her name on a lapel :

Ensign Woola Fernan.

Uribald seats on a chair, while ensign Woola used a tricorder, and soon she was saying:

Seems to me a rare case of space sickness. Very common at first. Not too accustomed to the

Vulcan gravity, I suppose.- Woola said.

No, I was accustomed to no gravity at all- that seems to be the case with me.- He said, as

Woola did some changes in the Tricorder, made a few passes around Uribald head, and said:

With this youll begin to feel better, pilot! I will give you a half day license for a day, and I

recommend you go to your bed and lie still. Soon youll be all right for your job.

Thanks you.- Uribald said, looking at her intently, and she blushed instantly, leaving the

Tricorder on a stool. Uribald went out, but not Cacepi, who said: I see the doctor is still busy.

What is he doing?

He is treating a patient from biliary colic. Nothing too serious.- She said, taking the tricorder

and putting it on a shelf.

I had seen him a couple of times, but never talk with him. I guess one of my duties as Admiral

is to know everyone on our spaceships by the way, you are from Oredloro?

No, Sir, from Oxiborion- the north side of it.- She said, smiling beautifully- her eyes were

dark blue, and with big long eye lashes. Cacepi was aroused by this woman in particular,

sensing she was not more than twenty four years of age- he was, of course, sixty seven, and in

no way comparable to the good young specimens at the spaceship, but none the less a man

or so he thought.

Oxiborion is a nice beautiful place, and that must had been the cause you are so pretty.-

Cacepi said, in a low tone; she blinked a couple of times, and smiled without a word.

Well, I guess I must be very sick to come here often! But I will remember you for a promotion,

in the future.- He said, leaving the Infirmary at the corridor, he smiled for himself- being a

Don Juan in space was a funny thing

By the corridor a sound hits his hears, and through an open door, he saw a man playing a

string instrument while he was singing. He knew that was not unusual at the old Knappian

Spacefleet, but here, on a new spaceship was the first time he heard that activity.

He stepped into the room, and the man was not alone, but with two other spacemen and a

woman ensign. He said: Nice to hear music, but are you aware this is like a first flight into the

outer planets?

Yes, sir, and for that motive its a delight to open the doors to music, our tradition asks me tokeep on with this melody. Have you any complain about this?- The man asked, and he saw at

the lapel on his chest, the name: TuronfardoLouter.

No, Turonfardo, you keep on going with the music- of course, when out of duty.- Cacepi said.

I am out of duty for a couple of ours, and so are my companions.- The man said, and keeps

on playing the string instrument and singing a very melodious song Cacepi return to the

main cabin, with a smile on his face- traditions was here to stay.

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Five hours to the arrival, Admiral. We could go faster, but we need to proceed with care- the

vessels are now on your people, Admiral.- Commander Spotunior said.

Very well, I assume this is the normal procedure. - Cacepi said, looking at the consoles:

everything was in going as planned.

Planet Fourth (Pedisequus) was soon occupying a good portion on the screens, and radio

communication with the four orbital stations were already in process. There was no news

except a malfunction in one of the mining stations that used radioactive material for the use of

their engines.

Four of the ten Hunters went out of the space carrier, and soon they were out of sight.

Commander Spotuniorsaid: Their mission is to secure the area, Admiral Cacepi; soon others

will be out with the same mission but at a closer distance.

Very interesting, Commander.- Cacepi said, and as he was saying those words, four other

Hunters went out of the hull of the big vessel and spread in all directions, but this time their

shining surfaces were visible in the screens. Cacepi was feeling proud of his men, that in so a

short while of time were able to apprehend all the necessary knowledge to be in command of

such advanced vessels

The space carrier keeps on orbiting Pedisequus for four days, while the Hunters descended to

the surface and pretends to fight one another, just to practice in front of the instructors from

Vulcan.

Cacepi did visited the Infirmary a couple of more times, always chatting with the beautiful

Ensign Woola Fernan, who was using her nurse dress as tight as she could

Doctor Macobit saw them chatting the fourth time Cacepi was in there, and said: OH, Admiral

Cacepi! Good to see you here! Are you ill?

Oh, no, doctor ! I was only chatting with Ensign Woola Fernan, who is so interesting that

makes my days brighter with her presence.- Cacepi said, trying to compliment the lady, who

was smiling while putting some bottles in a box.

Of course, Ensign Woola Fernan did the same effect in me- and perhaps in half the male crew

in this boat.- The doctor said, smiling acidly- he dislikes old people buzzing around young

promising woman.

I think you are right. And how do you find this Infirmary, doctor? Suitable, modern, state of

the art?- Cacepi asked him, trying to move the theme of conversation to other more

professional field.

The doctor coughed and said: For the most part, modern and suitable to our needs. I expect

you dont use it to make war against neighbors of our planetary system.

Cacepi laughed, looking at the nurse, which was now looking at some instruments on a shelf,but turns her head a little and gives him a smile. Cacepi was now blushing and making strange

noises, and noticing it, he said: Well, doctor, good to see you! Bye, Woola!

Bye, Admiral.- Said she, smiling shyly- the doctor coughed and glared like a parrot, but said

nothing.

At the corridor, Admiral Cacepi told himself that he was acting like a teenager in love, and

went to his cabin- a wide and modern cabin but as the spaceship was a Vulcan war surplus,

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there was no art in it but naked grey walls and everything functional. He seats in front of a

table and pressing a place in a console, a screen appear on the wall in front of the table, and he

had access to the main computer. A voice informs him that the system was ready- to whatever

he wants to know. So he asks about the velocity of the craft while in orbit, the distance to the

planetary surface, and about objects in the vicinity. This last question informs him there were

two orbital stations in view, and two Hunter vessels returning to the space carrier at

moderate speed.

Cacepi sighed- he has a wife on Oredloro, and his son was now piloting one of the Hunter

vessels- an affair with the nurse could get to be heard by him and from that to lose his respect

was just one step. Then he smiled, as the girl was probably thinking about him like an old

sympathetic person and nothing else

A small bell resounds in the console, and he saw the face of Commander Spotunior saying:

There is some news, Admiral! The Hunters had found a strange spaceship in orbit, and now

they are trying to find out to whom belonged it- there is not an entrance noticeable, so they

are going to drill to get inside. Do you want to see it the operation?

Yes, of course. Are you moving the spaceship carrier from orbit?- Cacepi asked him.

No, but we are going there in the remaining Hunters. See you there.- The Commander said,

and Cacepi stands up and begin to walk out the door.

At the ship hold he saw several people manning one of the Hunters- at the other,

CommanderSpotunior was waiting at the door. He said: We are going right now, Admiral

Cacepi. Follow me inside.- And both men walked up the ramp and the Commander seats

besides the pilot, adding: You must seat at the next section, Admiral Cacepi.

Cacepi didnt like it, but there was no other way in a small spaceship like that, and opened a

door and stared inside the second section, who had only two seats- one of them occupied by

Ensign Woola Fernan, who smiled and patted the seat at her side, saying: Get hurry, Admiral!

They are going to take off, and from here I can tell you its a hard take off.

He smiled as best he could- he was elated, moved, and perspiring to see the object of his

daydreams just here, in a small cabin and all for himself!

Nice to see you here, Ensign Woola Fernan! Glad to know you are going with us.- He babbled.

Why? Do you find it strange?- She asks, looking at him with round eyes.

No, but I figure you were to stay at the Infirmary- He said, blushing.

Oh, but doctor Macobit is in there! And there is not much work, because the crew is in perfect

health, and the new spaceships had a system that kills every known virus.- Woola said,

smiling.

Perfect. Oh!- Said him, because in that precise moment, the Hunter vessel jumped out of thecarrier, and speeded into the vacuum. Soon he heard the voice of Commander Spotunior

saying, by a loudspeaker inserted on the wall: Ten minutes to our destination point. Please

dont move from your seats.

All right! I am so delighted to see you here- Cacepi said, burning his ships right there and

then. Woola said: Oh, why are you so delighted, Admiral?

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The man takes her chin softly as he could, and placed a kiss on those attractive lips she

sighed, and closed her eyes Cacepi was in heaven, and keeps on kissing until he was on fire-

he caressed her face, her shoulders, but not more than that, because he was afraid she could

react and stop the caressesshe begin to moan, and Cacepi looked at the closed door in front

of him, not willing to stop but also, afraid the rigid Commander Spotunior could see him

kissing that lovable woman at hearts content

But not, because the ten minutes delay was all for himself, and then the voice of Commander

Spotunior said, from the loudspeaker on the wall: Admiral Cacepi, we are arriving there! I

suggest you use the next minutes dressing the special uniform, to be able to get out of this

vessel if necessary.

Cacepi panted: Do you know where those garments are instorage, my love?

She nodded, and said shyly: Follow me to the next section! There are four uniforms in there!

At the third section, she helps him dress into the uniform, but before he puts the helmet on, he

kissed her some more- then, he helps her put the uniform, and while at that, he caressed her

body here and there without restrain

When he puts the helmet on, his face was red as a tomato

They walked back to the seats, and the Ensign Woola Fernan said, by the inbuilt radio of her

helmet: Commander Spotunior, we are ready.

Very well- we are attaching magnetically our vessel to the alien spaceship in this moment-

dont worry, Admiral: we already revised the alien ship and there is no danger by now.

I understand. - Cacepi said, smiling to Ensign Woola Fernan, but she was looking to her

shoes, so she didnt see her tender smile

Soon they all went out of the small Hunter spaceship, floated in space but attached to a nylon

cord, and then inside the alien hull by a round aperture, made by a drill from astronauts from

the Hunter vessel, that now were inside the alien vessel, and their voices were heard by theradio- so Admiral Cacepi didnt need to ask questions, because there was information at each

minute in that way. He follows Commander Spotunior, and behind him was Ensign Woola

Fernan, with the lights of her helmet in full operation. Cacepi was now looking at the walls of

the alien vessel- they were rugged, with a coarse layer of plastic material- from time to time

was noticeable that there were cables running to and fro inside the plastic coat.

The commander Spotunior arrives to the main cabin that was very strange- the seats were

triangles maintained at two meters high by poles of metallic appearance and in the front wall

a huge screen was to be seen, but at the moment it was dark. With the light of their helmets

they could see everything neat and clear, so Cacepi could realize that the vessel was very old,

with dust covering almost everything except that screen, that was shining as new.

Beware! Dont touch anything!Commander Spotunior said to Ensign Woola Fernan, who

was leaning on a console and inadvertently was pressing a portion of a vertical console posted

at a corner. Suddenly, a smashing sound came from the aft section, and the whole spaceship

begins to tremble. By the radio, they knew the ancient vehicle was beginning to spin.

Commander! We must leave this spaceship at once!- Somebody said by radio, and

Commander Spotunior looks at Cacepi, saying: Admiral! Sorry about this, but we must leave

at once! Some device has activated some security protocol!

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that the builders were using this ship only for the use of reparations or to go from one vessel

to the other.

Suddenly, the radio gives a signal and then a voice was heard, saying: This is the Royal

Starfleet calling Admiral Cacepi! Please respond!

Cepicorio replied immediately, saying: This is Cepicorio on a safe spaceboat! We are going

back to you, but we are running out of oxygen! Please try to scan our signal and get hurry to

the rescue!

Im captain Herboreil speaking! We already spot your vessel! Well be there in minutes!- The

officer said, as he was already speeding with his Hunter vessel where the radar was telling

him where to find.

Ten minutes later, both vessels were in plain sight, and Cepicorio reduce the velocity to zero,

so the rendezvous was easy to made- only that they were forced to use their spacesuits to

went out the alien spaceship and fly to the open hatch of the Hunter, with the help of the

other crew.

Soon they were having the air they were already needing, and Cacepi said. Well be keeping

that small vessel with us. Call on the Carrier vessel to find us and take the alien vessel inside.

They are all coming here, Sir. Do you see those small lights in front? We just run to this place

in unison, only I was closer than the others: thats why I arrive first.- Herboreil said, with

modesty; the truth was he uses full power all of the time, not caring for a malfunction, like the

others

When the carrier was near, Cacepi ordered Herboreil to get inside the bigger vessel, so he

could disembark ; once at the Carrier, he said:- Well try to catch on with the bigger alien

vessel! Think about how many inventions it has inside!

Soon the whole fleet was in pursue, and two days later, the alien vessel was found speeding as

before- this time it was used a tractor beam, and soon a team of engineers gets inside, in order

to stop the engines.

The men gets inside as a swarm of bees, and begin searching for the controls. After some tries,

they did find the way to stop it and Cacepi said: Perhaps there is a way to provide a suitable

atmosphere for us, inside it. Who knows? If they were trying to kidnap humans, they must

have some way to provide oxygen to some of the sections.

The engineers did find the caskets with air, and this time the air was oxygen inside the big

spaceship. Theteam take their helmets off, with a sigh of relief.Admiral Cacepi run inside with

Woola as his assistant,who whispered now they could speak without radios:

Good you remember of me! I was feeling lonely in that space carrier!

Yes, I remember you all right! But do tell me, are you feeling better now?- Cacepi said,caressing her hair.

Yes, Admiral!Fine.- She said, looking at the two crewmen who were looking at the door.

Cacepi wasnt interested in to be seen caressing her, but stopped doing it, and said: Now we

have air, possibly we must begin searching for food. Seems this people have more than one

surprise in this big spaceship.- And he moved out of the room, saying to the crewmen: You

heard me, Ensigns! Now keep on searching for food- canes, liquids, anything you could find on

shelves, taste it first before you take a good gulp!

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And the men smiled, now they could breathe outside their helmets. Woola stayed with Cacepi,

and said: Now if I can find water, I will be able to clean this mess!- And it was referring to

her own helmet, smeared with her vomit- so it was the helmet of the Admiral, who said: We

are going to find water together! I dont want you to be alone again.

Me neither!- She said, pressing her arm, a thing that gives a lot of energy to the Admiral, now

he knew that the woman was attached to him- or so it seems.

They were sensing the vibration the engines were producing- the spaceship undoubtedly was

old but still usable, and Cacepi felt the chilling sensation of proud, imagining himself

presenting the trophy to queen Girardot in person!

There were eight decks, but as the owners of the spaceship seems to be giants, the decks were

vast and they get to slide up to look in the upper shelves to see what was in storage.

We need good luck if we want to use this vessel! Perhaps the good things are coming.- He

said, smiling to her companion. She said: We must be positive, Cacepi.

Oh, Im Cacepi again?- He jockeyed with the name.

Yes, or do you want to show disrespect in front of your men?- She asked, moving her headsidewise, causing her blonde hair to move like a golden wave.

Of course I can care less now we are alone in this alien vessel! Certainly, this vessel will help

us in our quest.- Cacepi said, sensing the engines vibrating through the floor, now she was in

her arms.

I am very scared- who could be the devil who devises this kidnapping? Perhaps they want us

for our flesh!- She trembled.

Quite the opposite!Have you not learnt that the more evolved a civilization, the less meat

they consume?- Cacepi said, and she makes him embrace her tighter, and said: Promise you

are going to save me from cannibals!-

Yes, of course. - Cacepi said, thinking that first he was going to eat her, but in another

sense

I see you so calm and happy! Oh, you are so brave!- She said, hugging him- he was sensing

her nice body pressed against his body, no matter the thick uniform, and thought what was

going to be having her with a lot less clothes

And yes, he felt happy to have her all for himself, with nobody able to interfere!

Or perhaps there was someone who could interfere if they arrive soon to port!

For that motive, he said: Lets get some rest, Woola! - And he guides her back to one of the

alien cabins where the nets were waiting- now that there was no artificial gravity, they floated

like fish.He closes the door, and locked the door with a bar, and proceeds to kiss the lady until they

were very in love

Hours later, they went out, after a short sleep, and finding the men at the main corridor,

Cacepi said: And did you find something, men?

Yes, Admiral! Water and food- we tasted both- we are waiting for the end results!- Ensign

Sepicorio said.

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Brave men! We must wait at least three hours.- Cacepi said, thinking it was much more to

see the end results, but he was not going to wait more than that, as he was very thirsty

They went to the main cabin, where the door was opened by the rest of the crew. Cacepi said

to Sepicorio:Sometimes in vessels this size there are more than one control cabin! Perhaps

you had seen something, in your explorations inside the ship?

No, Sir! There is dust everywhere, but not a resemblance of a console.- Otobirnio replied, but

Cacepi was sure there was something in disguise- a secret cabin somewhere

Go and get some sleep, men! There are cabins at the second deck; you must sleep to be on the

alert.- Cacepi urged them, so the men slides away through the corridor, like two big

dolphins

I want to sleep, too!- Woola said, and they went to their room, where he locked the door

with the same bar- this time more to protect themselves from the eyes of the crewmen, who

were now working to return to planet Pedisequus with the vessel propelled by its own

engines.

Woola said: Theres too much cold to be without clothes, no? Pity, because

Oh, I know what you mean!- He said, chuckling, and kissed her repeatedly.

Five hours later, they went out, and the engines keep on drumming as before- Cacepi takes her

by the hand, saying: We should go and see those engines !

Yes, perhaps we could.- She said, dreamily- she still has sleep, and taking his arm, they slide

through corridors and shafts until they arrive to the engine room- that was real huge- and

with not much to see- the machines were encased in black smooth boxes with not a single

right angle.

No screws, no bolts! This seems to be made to last- without reparations!- Cacepi mused out,

touching the metal- it was warm but not hot, and the vibration was powerful.

That engine over there- the green one- seems very queer, dont you think? Every other is so

big, and that is tiny.- Woola said, and they walked there- Cacepi finds an indentation, and

pressing it, the lid opens and they were looking now to a bright console full of lights.

Bingo all thanks to you!- Cacepi said, kissing her- she laughed, and seats on one of the

couple of big seats available inside the pod. Cacepi seats at her side, looking at the big console

that stretched in front of both seats

I am sure our engineers will be happy to see this new place of control , because they could

find more ways to control the spaceship from here. Oh, if only we could read this alien

language!- he said, counting the signs and the levers- there were four big signs, twenty in

green , twenty in yellow, and four in blue- all of this last were small signs, all illuminated by

bellow.

Do you remember something from the last time you were pocking at this signs? Woola said;

amused to see him so concentrated.

Yes, I remember this four.- And she signaled one of the big signs, and three of the smaller

ones. And added: They give us air-. But I doubt this are for the same purpose.

Why not? But also, dont use it in the same order! Perhaps we could slow down a little, - it

would be good, dont you think?- Woola said, touching his arm.

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Yes, but certainly we are going to end our romance, if we come back- its for the regulations- I

cannot love a subordinate!- Cacepi said, kissing her. She sighed and said: Yes, and you are

married, on top of it!

Oh, so you know my marital status?- Admiral Cacepi felt a chilling finger running down his

spine

Of course! I knew you were the Admiral the minute I enter the Academy! Silly you!- Woola

said, touching his chest.

Ah! Well, I get married rather young.- He lied, because he had married twice in his life The

second one twenty one years ago

No matter! I could be your lover!- Woola said, pressing his arm.

But its love you are feeling for me? What a beautiful girl you are!- Cacepi said, hugging her

while he kissed her repeatedly. From afar, near a door, Ensigns Otobirnio and Cepicorio were

looking them, and the first of them said: Wow! They certainly are going to get married!

Cepicorio takes him away, saying: Forget it! The man is already married!

Why, could he not divorce, and take this real dish for a wife? This woman certainly is betterthan the one he had at home!- Otobirnio commented.

Its not our business to sting where we cannot sting!- Cepicorio said, adding: You know this

big brass is resentful with the ones who went gossiping! So we must know nothing about this,

and never open our mouth to comment it! Perhaps we could get some promotion, if we well

behave while in this monster spaceship.

Otobirnio thinks about it, and said. You are right! We dont see a thing, no matter if it is the

size of a mountain!

Thats my boy!- Cepicorio said, walking away.

Where do you go?- Otobirnio asked him, while following.Where else? To see if the ones at the control room aredoing their job! Perhaps we are going

to stay here for the rest of the mission.- Cepicorio said, but in reality, he was willing to be as

far as he could from that couple

But they saw the pilots in control of the spaceship, so they decided to revise the upper

sections past the main cabin, finding several strange machines with opened consoles to

pocking into

Look! This seems to be some kind of food processor!- Otobirnio said, calling to his

companion- the other saw two cups full of what looks like ice-cream

And did you probe it yet?- He asked. Otobirnio said: Not yet! Perhaps its an acid capable of

to dissolve my finger.-

Cepicorio touched it with a finger, observed it- and put his tongue on the cream. Otobirnio was

waiting Nothing happens! And it tastes good.- Cepicorio said.

Ah, good news!Ice-cream! Lets see what other things this machine could make for us!-

Otobirnio said, and after a while, he had four plates with food and three more glasses of ice-

cream, but of different colors and tastes

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The food was not acceptable- it has certain element that feels like chlorine in it so Cepicorio

shows it to Cacepi, saying: Sir, this food is not acceptable, but this ice cream like food is

edible- I had eaten and I am still in good health.

Very well, Ill taste it myself.- Cacepi said, eating some of it, and it was agreeable. Ensign

Woola Fernan also eats of it and smiled. I can see we could keep on now- She said, and they

return to the second console, where Cacepi pressed some signs, expecting for the best. Thevehicle decrease the velocity half per cent, and begin to change direction.

Otobirnio went to the main cabin to tell the pilots there that the Admiral had a second driving

control at the middle section. The pilot Herboreil said: All right, well be doing nothing here,

but careful! This spaceship could crash against the others we are traveling with!

Wish to know where we are heading now.- Otobirnio said, looking to the ceiling and

walking back to the second control cabin, where he said:-The pilots were advised you are

manning the craft, Sir. Only they are preoccupied you could crash against other vessel from

our group.

I certainly am preoccupied too! But I am not turning here and there! Just trying to take the

touch of this.- Admiral Cacepi said, reddening. Soon he was speeding again, and Otobirniosaid: You made it, Sir! We know where we are but where are we?

Herboreil enters the room overhearing the Cepicorios question, and said : - We are heading

towards Pedisequus now, thats only three million kilometers away from us.

Cacepi realize the Ensign had taken advance of Royal Starfleet Academy lessons- and soon he

left the controls so Herboreil takes control again, with Cacepi visiting the main control cabin,

and saying: This will lead to our own planetary system. Wish we could know the velocity.-

Herboreil was now in radio contact with the rest of the fleet, and said: We are reducing

speed, Sir, and soon we ll be circling the Pedisequus planet. I am also taking notes and making

comparisons with the signs you could see on this panels and what our captains are reading on

their consoles.

Yes, good idea. Keep on with it.- Cacepi said, showing assigns of embarrassment, and going

out of the room with Woola at his side.

Seems there was nobody in this vessel. .Better for us. Ensign Woola Fernan said.

Ice cream and high velocity- good pair of friends.- Cepicorio said, looking happier.

Cacepi now was looking at the second control panel how they were decreasing velocity,

moving the spaceship around while maintaining the guidance systems pointing to the

Knappian realm. Ensign Woola said: Good you we are capable of to add this nice spaceship to

our Fleet, Sir.

Yes, our pilots will soon be moving this thing with closed eyes. Cacepi said, jokingly.

Ill go for a while, Sir. Wait me here.- Woola said, smiling, and went to some other place to do

her necessities- she was disgusted of herself, or better, of her body, who demands attention no

matter where she stands. While returning, she missed a curve, and end up in front of the main

cabins doorand enters inside, looking how the main screen was on, showing myriads of stars

shining quietly there, moving slightly while the big alien vessels crossed back the heavens

towards Pedisequus.

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She seats at one of the unoccupied seats- a big high triangle of metal- trying to figure how

were the aliens who could seat there, moving the ship with fingers? And thinking, then, about

him, what had become of her life, accepting the attentions of an older man, a married man

with possibly many sons who will look on her as the enemy

She left the room thinking they were returning to the end of her relation with Cacepi, and

when near him, he said: What happened to you, Woola? You are crying!

Oh, never mind! Silly thoughts that I have nothing else.- She said, moving her head sidewise.

Cacepi looks on her clothes, and then he said. Perhaps you are thinking we are going to be

separated?

Something like that- we are head on to disaster- to be split apart- I cannot be your lover,

being an Ensign, and you cannot married me, because you are already married.- She said,

sobbing, because she was willing him to solve this puzzle, for good or for worst.

My dear! I will make you mine- legally. No love is there on Knapp for me- only routine- I did

love you- the matter is if you could love an old man like me- truly.- Cacepi said, feeling

somewhat ridiculous in front of this young woman, with all her life extended before her.

I love you.- Woola said, looking straight at him, while Otobirnio and Cepicorio went out of

the room in tiptoe, not to disturb them anymore.

They kissed, and she whispered: Now what is going to become of us?

Well, for once, enjoy our honeymoon!- Cacepi said, smiling and pressing her body against

him. She laughed softly and said: And afterwards?

I will ask a release period to get my personal things in order- divorce, married you, return to

the Royal star fleet again- the married men could take their wives with them in peaceful

missions, but as you already are in the Royal Fleet, being an Ensign, you have the right to be

on a spaceship- with me, if you choose.- Cacepi said.

But what about your spouse- your sons and daughters?- Woola asked him, touching his lipswith a finger.

They will understand my liaison with my former wife is ended, and they are my sons and

daughters no matter if I dont live with their mother any more. Wherever I go, you follow.-

Cacepi said, thinking in how much his love for this woman could be, forcing him to rip cords

with old acquaintances like this.

Two days later, they arrives to Pedisequus and the Royal Knappian Star fleet, spread unto

orbit, while the Carrier Spaceship docks unto the bigger spaces station . There, he seats among

officers that was coming from the Hunters, saying: Commander Spotunior is dead. As we

must have a commander general, I had decided to give the post to you, Captain Herboreil, and

you will be staying on the alien vessel- for a lack of a better name, Ill call it Woola.

They all looked at the ensign of the same name, who was reddening by the minute.

But the Vulcan Captain Turangerwas wanting to know more about Spotunior, so he asked:

How did he die, Sir?

The sudden movements of the alien vessel catch him unprepared. His head hits a wall on the

corridor- you know the alien vessel has no artificial gravity for now. Perhaps it has! I hadnt

mastered every of its secrets yet. Cacepi said.

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We need to bury his body on our planet. Where is his body?- Turanger asked, coldly.

At a ship hold, Captain. You can go there and fetch it- ask the two crewmen I left there in

custody.- And of course, he was referring to Otobirnio and Cepicorio.

After the necessary arrangements, the Knappian fleet returns to the planet with one more

vessel, and at the orbit Admiral Cacepi calls on the ChamberlainAxeton.

Chamberlain: please tell our majesty that I need to have a meeting with her about some

personal matters.- Cacepi said.

Of course, Admiral Cacepi. Please call me this afternoon. Her Majesty have a reunion at this

hour, but at noon she will be having lunch, and after that, she usually attends government

matters on her royal desk- I will put your request in writing, and I will leave the request on

the top of the list.- ChamberlainMenisAxeton said.

Very well. You know how to contact me.- Admiral Cacepi said, and looked at Woola, saying:-

I want to ask of her a royal mandate, nullifying my marriage- that will solve my divorce and it

will cost me not a coin.

Clever boy! I love you.- Woola said. They were at the hotel room, in Oxiborion.Now we can enjoy the time!- Cacepi said, leaning on the bed. She jumped next to him,

saying: Later, dear, could we go visiting my parents?

Cacepi knew about her having parents in Oxiborion, so he accepted- only with great

reluctance he waits, later, at the parents door, to be received. He had serious doubts about

being welcomed there, because of the difference in years, between Woola and him.

A young female opened the door, and seeing Woola there, she embraces her.

Shes Bulleia, my sister.- Woola said, presenting Cacepi to her younger sister, adding: He is

Admiral Cacepi.

Bulleia stared at him in disbelief, because he was wearing civilian clothes. Once inside, herparents were presented: Oria the mother and Tukor the father. Both of them around the

sixties, and looking at Woola intrigued.

He is Cacepi, my fiance.- She said, at last. They seat at the armchairs in the living room and

suddenly Miss Oria went out crying. Bulleia followed her, and Woola said: What happened to

her?

Tukor looked at Cacepi, saying: Perhaps she finds something hard to swallow.

Cacepi was sure that the air had changed rapidly inside that house- now it was possible to cut

it with a knife

We are going to live together, and as soon as he obtains the divorce, we are going to get

married.

Ahum! Well, please go to see your mother.- Tukor asked her, and Woola follows the other

two women to the inner rooms. Cacepi waits for Tukor to speak, but as the old man keeps

being silent, he said: Its a pity I am not welcome here, Sir. The difference in age between me

and your daughter its being ameliorated by the love we have for one another.

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The man didnt move a muscle, and keep on being silent. Ten minutes later, Woola returns

(without her mother) and said: You already met my parents, Cacepi. Now we must go, father,

because we have lots of things to do.

Farewell, daughter. Good bye, Sir.- Tukor said, without moving from his chair.

At the Flier taxi, she said: Hope you liked my parents.

Yes, a pair of honest people living their pension. But why your mother has to cry?

She is like this when I visit her! She always end up crying when I visit her, perhaps is her way

to be happy seeing me well.- Woola explained, but Cacepi wasnt sure that it really this was

the cause. Moreover, the father was really pissed off- surely they dont wanted an old man for

her young daughter

Hope you are not angry with me?- Woola asked, seeing he was very serious.l

Of course not.- He said, and when arriving to the hotel room, he takes a long shower.

6

Later, he went out of the bathroom, and finds her asleep, so he bedded at her side, looking at

them on the ceiling mirror.

Queen Girardot smiled when seeing Admiral request on her desk, and said to the

Chamberlain: Oh, Our Admiral Cacepi has springtime fever!

Supposedly so, Your Majesty. His lover is an attractive young Ensign from Starfleet.-

Chamberlain MenisAxeton said.

Queen Girardot knitted her brow, disgusted. The ordeal was not to permit love affairs among

senior officers with young personnel, and said so:- Then our Admiral is presenting a bad

precedent to our entire Army! He should resign, if he wants to prefer love affair as a seriouscareerhow old is the Admiral?

Sixty seven years, Your Majesty. Forty years of them in the military. Seventeen years being

your Admiral of the Starfleet.- The Chamberlain Menis informed her.

Enough to be presenting his dismissal from his present charge tell him that I refuse to

dissolve his marriage, and insinuate him that I detest to know hes running a love affair in

detriment of our ordinance , bad precedent, etcetera! And enough of this! If he pursue on this

old mans nonsense, well be passing him to retirement at the end of this year.- Queen

Girardot said, and that was final.

Admiral Cacepi was called by the Chamberlain a month later, and at the office of that official,

who had now half the lights of his study off, in sign that the answer was negative- also, he sentto call him with one of his older assistants.

Welcome, Admiral Cacepi! Seat down, please!- The Chamberlain said, after a ceremonial bow

in his direction. Cacepi seats at an old chair, and the Chamberlain was now seating behind his

elaborate old big desk of twelve drawers.

And how are you, Admiral? All going well with our new spaceships?- The Chamberlain asked

him, and coughed.

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attends a couple of other customers, he returns and said: Seems to me that you asked for

something and their answer was no.

The Barman blinks one of his eyes.

Yes, that was the case.- Cacepi said, emptying his glass. The barman pours a thumb-full of

liquor and said: My name is Trugash of course, you dont know me. I was only an Ensign-

get mad with my superior and we fight- he wins but I was fired from Starfleet for

insubordination. I landed here, behind this bar.

11

With the fire of the liquor running on his veins, Admiral Cacepi was beginning to see things

brighter and said: I am married- I asked the Queen to nullify my marriage, in order to get

married again. She says no, and

Oh, pardon me, Admiral! Another client is docking at my bar. Excuse me.- And Trugash the

barman moves there to attend another thirsty man. When he comesback, he said: Hope you

find a young female for your next marriage?

Yes, a nice girl, a young Ensign.- Cacepi said, emptying his glass.

Well, fight for her! Youre an old soldier- you know where to hit!- Trugash said, receiving the

coins for those two drinks.

Cacepi went up on an elevator, and opened the door of his suit. Woola was there, but also her

mother Oria and she was crying.

Hello, darling!Whats happening?- Cacepi asked to Woola, who replied: My father is ill and

my mother come here for help.

Of course. Where is he now?

At the Hospital General.Its a heart attack.-

Well be there in a minute.- He said, and soon they were traveling in a Flier taxi. At the

Hospital, a doctor tells them: The patient is in observation now. Please wait at the visitors

room.

12

They walked there- a very aseptic place, with several other persons waiting for their

acquaintances or to be attended- some old women were coughing, a thing that Admiral Cacepi

rejects, so he said: I will see if we could learn more about your father. Waits me here.

And we went to the Information room, where he asks for the Director General, telling them hewas Admiral Cacepi. Not ten minutes later, the Director General, a female doctor in his forties,

arrives to the Information room, and asking who was the Admiral among the people, she

said: I am AsaraBigori. Please come with me, Admiral.

They went to a small room where there was a big screen, and the doctor Asara punched

several places on a small console, and the patient was seen there in plain sight, with some

bandages around his chest.

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He is patient Tusker, the one you mentioned at the Information Sector. He was operated and

he has a bypass in his heart now- he must be here to recover at least four days.- Doctor Bigori

said, sharply.

I congratulate you for your efficiency, Director General! I will assume he is in good hands- my

first thought was to be transferring him to a military Hospital, but I see there is no point in it.-

Cacepi said.

She smiled and said: Of course not, Admiral! I assume I give you the assurance he is going to

get well, thanks to our attention.

Yes, I am quite assured of it. Thanks for your personal attention, doctor, and if you need

something from my institution in the future, just let me know.- Cacepi said, looking on those

green eyes. The dame bowed and left the room .

Cacepi returns to Woola and her mother, saying: He was already operated, a bypass was

inserted in place, and now he must have repose by the moment.

Oh, so he is going to live?- Oria asked, and Woola said: Of course, mother! Dont you hear

Cacepi? He was talking with the doctor.-

Yes, with the Director General, and I saw him lying on a bed. Four days he was going to stay

here before returning to his home.- Cacepi said, taking Woola by one arm.

Do you want to go now, darling?- he asked, but she said: And there is no way we could see

him, dear?

Cacepi returns to the Information room, and asked there if the Director General could do an

exception and permits him and some other persons, relatives of the recently operated Tusker,

to see him for a few minutes.

Doctor AsaraBigori authorized him, so they were guided to Tuskers room- a nice room with

only him occupying it.

Oh, he is so pale!- Oria said, touching his face- it was cold but not as a corpse.

Yes, he is going to recover.- A nurse said, from a chair she was occupying at a corner.

Oh, he was eating supper and suddenly he collapsed! I call on the emergency phone number,

and they take him here in a rush. I come all the way wishing he dont die!- Oria said, crying.

The nurse gives her some medicine to straighten her a little, and after twenty minutes she

said:Now please leave the room, as the patient needs to rest in total silence. You could come

here tomorrow.

Thanks you!- Oria said to the nurse, and went out the room, followed by Cacepi and Woola.

At the corridor, Woola said: Mother, why dont you stay the night with us at our Hotel? There

are some extra rooms and we can come back early tomorrow here.Oria looked at her and said: No , thanks, daughter! I prefer to be at my own! I will be here first

hour tomorrow morning.

And she takes a flier taxi, returning to his house. Cacepi tales Woola to their hotel room, and

said: Pity about your father, but I need to attend my office tomorrow- I expect you could visit

him alone?

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Of course, dear! Do your work, and Ill see to my father, with the help of my mother. In any

case, we are going to be communicated by phone.- Woola said, taking a shower and getting

into bed. He did the same, and they love each other.

At dawn, she went out to fetch her mother and went to the hospital, where they were until

noon- then Woola went to the hotel room to see Cacepi, who was returning from office.

Lets take our lunch together at this same hotel, darling! We need to talk.- He said, and they

takes the elevator, to arrive to the Restaurant. There, they ask their preferred meals, and

while eating, he said: Queen Girardot says no to my request, so my divorce will be paid by me.

Did I dont deserve your money?- She asked, and smiled.

Of course you did! But the Queens permission would had been better, in all the ways. So we

must forget about her, and do it like a common civilian- it will not take long- I have some

doubts about how much she is going to take, but in all cases, I have a good wages at the

military institution, so we are not going to suffer.- Cacepi said.

Oh, I will be glad to be your wife!- She said, touching his arm. Cacepi said: There is another

problem, at the military life we are sharing: we cannot be having an affair, being both

members of the Starfleet, so one of us must to resign to it.

She drops a tear unto the mantel, and said: I guess it must to be me- only a simple Ensign, and

you the Admiral of the Royal Knappian Starfleet!

Yes, but only temporarily. Well wait until we get married, and as married couple, you could

ask for a reconsideration of your case, and be accepted again as Ensign I am the boss there,

so you will be accepted instantly.- Cacepi smiled to her.

She laughed, and said: You had all figured out! Well, one of the marvelous things to be clever,

is this! I accept.

You are lovable.- He said, thinking how quick he had resolve the case

But when Cacepi went to visit the Starfleet lawyer to see his case, Doctor Farthon said: Well,

well,Admiral Cacepi ! You surprise me! Married for 33 long years with the same dame and

suddenly, you want to divorce and married another woman!

Cacepi didnt like the tone, and said: If you cannot handle this case, I could hire some civilian

lawyer any time.

Doctor Farthon rubbed his fat hands and said: Oh, dont do that! Im having little work lately,

and I can handle your case with one hand! So to speak, of course. I have here your datafile

unless you want to search for other lawyer, its your decision.

Well, I work for the Starfleet, logically, I prefer a Starfleet lawyer that means, you.- Cacepi

said, trying to sound normal- this divorce was not in his line of thinking for years, and now he

was pushing it inside his line of work.

Very well, we can read here that you have four houses, one of them highly priced.

Bank account barely a thousand sopes. And that is all?

Yes, that is all.- Cacepi lied, as he has all his money on a safe box.

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Very well, this will take two weeks if there is acceptance from your wife, and a little more if

she dont. Are you willing to give her half your possessions?- Farthon asked him

yes, as that says the law.- Cacepi said, thinking how those homes were hardly won, and now

easily gone.

very well, I think I will ask her for a little chat. - Farthon said, adding: and I guess you want

to be present?

Is that an obligation?

No, but it could serves for to ease the trauma. Did you were in bad terms with your wife?- -

Farthom asked, looking at the Admiral.

Since I found this new dame, yes- bad terms. She surely is hating me great deal.- Cacepi

replied, remembering the burning eyes on that womans face.

Ah, so we better talk with her alone- you can rest aside. I will call you the minute things

works fine. Ah. My fine will be 302.000 sopes, and I assure you are doing a good bargain- I will

try to get more than the half you are entitled.- Farthom said, with a definite tone.

Very well, you know where to find me, but of course, I will be making calls to know howthings are going.- Cacepi said, departing with a sense of doom. He very well remember the

good days he had with his wife- glorious days where they were unite, challenging the

problems one after one, but with the passing years, the magic ends when he finds she was

having a parallel life where he cannot enter- hours and sometimes days where he was very

dubious of her real activity From then to disillusion was only one step, and when meeting

Woola that step was donned for good.

He straightened his shoulders and went to his office- he said to his first secretary, Ensign

Tubial (female) : Please, call on the General Hospital, and ask about some person called

Tusker, recently operated from a heart failure.

Very well, sir.- Ensign Tubial said, walking to the visophone. He went to his desk and readthe news of the day on the screen, and then the work he had to deal with for the day.

While he was going to call the first team to deal with a problem of provisions, Ensign Tubial

approaches, saying: News from the Hospital, Sir. Mr. Tusker is in good recovery lines. Nothing

to worry about.

very well. Send an assistant there with a pair of lunchs for two dames- Miss Woola and Miss

Oria, with my compliments.

All right, Sir.- Ensign Tubial said, going to comply with the order. Cacepi calls on the officers

in charge of provisions, and said: I want a report on our vessels- some sort of control over

their status. I need to know if they are ready to depart in some away mission, if that possibility

appears.

They are with half provisions, Sir. The economicalmeasures put on us by the government

makes us decrease our former capabilities.- Lieutenant Faserion said.

Really? Well, where is the money they had given us for public relations?- Cacepi asked of

officer Alener, who was a fat big man in his forties. He said, with a rasping sound: Not used,

Admiral- we are waiting for some governmental issues that never are too fast to arrive.

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Use the money to buy provisions- we need those spaceships fully armed, with all its crew- I

will run a test of capabilities, and what better than to use the Fleet in a away mission? To the

fourth planet, of course.- Cacepi said, looking at his men- people who were there because of

his choosing, so they were very loyal to his person.

That mission will be raising spirits throughout all the Fleet, Sir! So much time orbiting the

planet Knapp and no action whatsoever! The outer systems, the ones we had when ourkingdom was strong, are living on crumbs since our Queen is reigning.- Officer Alener said,

risking a reprimand, that didnt come this time. Cacepi said: I will see that we recover those

planetary systems! There were highly valuable ores and minerals over there- forgetting those

will make us weaker in the future.

Or perhaps we are weak already today, Admiral. Lieutenant commander Birgal said, staring

at them.

We are going to change things if we work hard.- Cacepi said, and they understand he was

scheming something big. Later, Cacepi calls for a meeting at eight hours next day, to the high

command.

That night, Woola arrives at twenty one hours to the room at the hotel, saying._ Mother wentto her home in a flier taxi, and I went here by the moving ways- I need to think about what is

going to be life for my parents, from now on perhaps my father will need some person who

cares for him while he recovers.

Yes, I thought about it- I can pay a nurse for him, of course. You know I have a lot of money-

and its at your service, honey.- Cacepi said, hugging her- she kissed him lightly and said:- I

know I enter a world of protection because of you.

Admiral Cacepi looks at her like a father to a daughter, but then he realizes he was his mate,

and kissed her for a long time.

After he takes a lawyer to get the divorce, the attorney calls him five days later, saying: The

process had been completed, Admiral: considered yourself divorced! I have all the documentsin front of me. Ill send you a copy to your visophone.

Thanks. Officially ended, of course, will interest me much more. Cacepi said, knowing

lawyers usually raise big hopes that afterwards went pop.

13

He doesnt give any clues to Woola, not to disturb her peace of mind so badly perturbed with

his fathers illness.

Three days later, the man was at his home, in repose. Admiral Cacepi sent his regards but

didnt go there, loyal to his promise not to put a feet on that house again.

At the meeting with flag officers, he gives them the news about project Endurance, a trip to

the Beta Swastica planetary system.

We are going, officially, only to planet IV, that is, Pedisequus. But we will keep on going until

we arrive to the Beta Swastica planetary system and recover our long forgotten and neglected

colonythat will be so recuperated. We will bring them food, new appliances, news from this

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world. We are going to bring back some volunteers to talk with our civilian authorities, and

some minerals things that will fire imagination on Knappian people. Admiral Cacepi said.

They already had an oath not to comment what they discussed on their meetings, so there was

no need to explain that reunion.

Admiral Cacepi used all the money the Royal Starfleet has in the Bank, buying food, weapons

and recruiting people to man Starfleet, with the secret idea to leave them as help for the

colonists, if necessary.

He said to Vice Admiral Iolinas: You are to stay keeping watch at Knapp planetary system,

Vice Admiral, I will travel with only the alien vessel and the space fleet carrier plus five

Hunters. Everything else will be at your disposal until my return.

Big responsibility you are placing in my hands, Admiral Cacepi. I hope we could keep on

without alien interference.- Vice Admiral Iolinas said.

15

But the spies of the Queen Girardot were not asleep and soon they told her about the secret

plans of the Admiral. She calls on the Ministry of the Interior and said: We have a case in our

hands, Duke Oheller. Admiral Cacepi is planning to visit our possessions out of our planetary

system and reactivate commercial and industrial exchange.

The fat bald Duke Oheller looked at a clock seeing it was eleven forty hours- he has a lunch

with personnel from the syndicate of Shoemakers at thirteen hours- so he try to shorten the

interview, saying:- Good for you , dont you think? Commercial interchange always brings a

gross increase in money and woods! What, do you oppose to more wealth?

Of course not! But I think its unnecessary being as we are I think its OK for our kingdom-

too much commerce brings often dangerous ideas of freedom, a new way of government in

fact, a Republic! And in a Republic you can forget to have a Queen!- Girardot rememberedhim.

This time the Admiral is going with newly acquired spaceships!- Duke Oheller said

He has no permission! I will call him and I will demote him! I am the Queen, chief of the

government and

17

Duke Oheller coughed, in order to interrupt, and then he said: But did he need permission to

take the Fleet out of the planetary system?

No matter that! I am so furious with him, that I dont want to see his face never again! -

Queen Girardot said.

Duke Oheller, who knew Cacepi from years ago, said: And do you have a name to take his

place as Admiral?

I am sure I will find someone suitable to take his post! There is a Vice Admiral ready to

replace him!- Queen Girardot said, as she has good counselors to deal with urgent cases like

this

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occasion with her , she was furious with you, and today she melted out. You must have

something that touches some fiber in her heart.

Good to hear that.- Cacepi said, smiling.

You know you have a friend in me, Cacepi. Not for nothing we were neighbors when young.

Any other threat I could knew of, I will tell you, to straighten things. And don t trust the

Chamberlain , because I knew , by truthful means, that the doesnt utter a single word in your

behalf, when most necessary.- Duke Oheller said.

Thanks, and if I can help you in any way, please let me now.- Cacepi said, but the other

feigned not to haveheard him and said: I am seeing some ladies near the Orchestra, that loves

to dance and other nice things, so lets approach to them. I assure you will be not

disappointed.- Duke Oheller said.

I am following you.- Cacepi said, looking at the Queen Girardot, who was now talking with

count Nutrix and his nice wife Racela.

The duke was obviously known by them, as he was received with great expressions of joy, and

soon both men were dancing with two lovable women in their twenties. Then danced, drink

liquor and afterwards they sneaked out , takes a Flier taxi and at one of Duke Ohellers

apartments, they keep on dancing and drinking , ending on separate beds, each one with a

laughing female

At the next morning, he thanks Duke Oheller for his hospitality, giving him a golden ring, and

saying:- Keep it as a token of friendship and for a marvelous night.

Duke Oheller takes it and places on a finger, saying. Nice jewel. Perhaps we could repeat this

event in future times.-

I am sure we will.- Cacepi said, departing to his hotel room- soon he was kissing Woola, who

asked:- Where were you last night? I was here alone all night, waiting for you.

Oh, I am so sorry! But I was at a reunion with the Queen and afterwards Duke Oheller asksme to stay at his home, where we talked about important matters until late, so I stayed there

for the rest of the night.- Cacepi explained, and the face of Woola brightened and she said:

My fathers health has improved a lot! My mother is very happy, now.

I am glad to hear that, darling.- Cacepi said, embracing her- he cannot resist making a

comparison with the nice woman with whom she passed the night and Woola was better.

That afternoon he spent giving orders to fasten the supply the spaceships with fuel and food,

and the other necessary things they were going to need in the voyage of training through the

space.

22

Fleet captain Engorien said, by the visophone: We are almost ready, Admiral. There is a

shuttle waiting for you at the military post.

Of course, captain Engorien, I will travel there in two days more- see that my cabin at the

spaceship carrier is shining new.- Cacepi said.

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Glad you are all right, Admiral.- Fleet captain Engoriensaid, and Cacepi realize he could

know something about the brief mismatch with the Queen?

That night, after seeing Woolas parents , that looked more relaxed now, Cacepi takes Woola

to dine and then to dance at a nice place, in a romantic mood, and then he said: I will leave

the planet with the fleet to the fourth planet . I was intending to prolong our journey to some

other planets,but someone told the Queen and the option was negated.

Oh! And us? Are you leaving me alone?

No. Do you want to marry me? I get my divorce yesterday, so I m talking to you as a bachelor

guy.- Cacepi said, embracing her.

I should be your wife? Yes, I accept! But I should have been properly prepared- I havent a

decent dress!- She said, thinking in an appropriate dress to buy in a hurry

At 15.15 hours, they get a marriage license, while the officer smiled to them with glee; Cacepi

has given her a golden ring with a pearl on top with the words Till death do us part!

At their exit from there, a whole company , dressed in uniform, presented them the traditional

salute, that ends at the Hall of Ceremonies , with lots of food and liquor for everybody.You really are surprising me! I thought our marriage was going to pass inadvertently!-

Woola said, very happy.

That night they stayed at the hotel and in the morning they take a shuttle craft and ascend to

the orbit.

How beautiful they look from here!- Woola said,looking by a bulls eye.

Yes, darling.You will keep on being assistant at the Infirmary, and with our title of Ensign- for

now! I assure you will come back after this trip,transformed in a Fleet Captain!- Cacepi said,

pressing her waist with both hands.

Wish you could make it true!- She said, with bright eyes.At the main cabin, hour later, the Admiral said, by radio: Royal Space fleet of Knapp! Today

we begin a course of instruction towards the outer planets! Good luck to all of you! Anchors

away!

And the seven spaceships begin to accelerate, in order to leave orbit in search of the fourth

planet.

Doctor Macobit saw Woola walking into the Infirmary , and said.- Are you returning for duty?

What a surprise!

24

Yes, doctor. I am the Admiral Cacepis wife now, and hope we could work together attending

the sick or injured.- Woola said, in a bellicose way, to make him understand he was not be

able, anymore, to sent her clean dirty receptacles

You come back to the Infirmary to serve!- The doctor replied, full of resentment.Admiral Cacepi receives a message from the Queen, hourslater, wishing the Royal Fleetpersonnel a good flight. Cacepi returns the message thanking her best wishes in the name ofall of the crew.

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CHAPTER 2.- VOYAGE TO PLANET IV.

Admiral Cacepi and Woola the Ensign went to bed, after the first shift at the space carrier, andshe said: Doctor Macobit almost didnt addressed me in all day. He is a despicable person, I

guess you must find me some other job.Cacepi looks at her, amused and also worried, and said: Of course, darling. What do you wantto do? Perhaps being a pilot will suit me better- not having a chief hanging around me all day couldbe liberating.- She said, seating in front of a table. He gives her the cosmetics satchel, and sheproceeds to take off his make-up, while saying: I will appreciate you did it! Of course, I haveonly 20 hours of flight- 40 hours in simulator.Yes, I guess you could be a good pilot! I will assign you as the copilot of one of the Huntersright away.- Cacepi said, seating in front of a keypad. He searches for the less experimentedpilot, and then he assign Woola as the copilot. She was now leaning over his shoulder,reading- and said: But dear, I will be only a copilot! How could I ll be gaining experiencewithout piloting a Hunter by myself?

Easy, darling! I will send the pilot to help on the steering of this Carrier as soon as you workone sole day in there! So youll be seeing him only once! And all will be legally donned- nocomplaints from anyone! Just a temporal transference that will be final- that I promise toyou.- Cacepi said.She seats on his legs, and kissed him for a long time- sending him to a world of delight he hadmissed in half his previous marriageCacepi was having a lot of work, trying that the new spaceships could work in unison as theymoved through space. He sent Hunters to lock unto the bigger spaceships, transferring fakedhurt people to Infirmary, coming back and a whole series of strategic movements, also firingagainst passing asteroids. Not always doing things accurately, but improving with the passingdays.There was a need to do this trip, and I was ignoring it. Cacepi said, while in bed with Woola.

Oh, something secret?-No, but our pilots are way below average- too slow and too clumsy.- Cacepi said.Oh, thanks! Because I was piloting one of those Hunters!- Woola said, looking at him insurprise.Cacepi touches her head and said:- You were the exception!Thanks!-. She said, embracing him and saying: Its marvelous to be there, flying and sensing

those little blipsand sounds that came from the consoles and mechanisms! Better than

stitching a leg in Infirmary.- Woola said.

Cacepi moves his head saying: Really, all the works produce some useful consequences-when somebody broke his leg, I am sure she will be thankful theres somebody boring at theInfirmary that could attend her.

She moves her head sidewise, realizing he doesnt get the spur of the moment, and went tosleep.Laying there, with her head over his chest, he feel like a father with his daughter He too getasleep.Eight hours later, she was on top of him, kissing his lips. He opened his eyes and said. GoodmorningYes, good morning! Woola said, kissing him.Later, they went out of the cabin and into deck one where he said: How are things going, Fleetcaptain Engorien? All marching good?

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Yes, Commander! We had detected three big asteroids in orbit around our star, and perhapswe could use them as target for our war games?- Engorien asked himI guess we could! - Cacepi said, and in two hours the Hunters were deploying out of theCarrier spaceship and speeding to their positions- the rest of the day was hard for everyone,as the missions were complicated and takes a lot of time to be completed. The three asteroidswere useless- no minerals enough, and mainly rocks were its components.

26Cacepi receives an encrypted message from his friend Duke Oheller, telling him that he keepson telling the Queen how fine he was being the Admiral of the space fleet, adding every gooddeed he could had donned in the past.Cacepi sent him a present of 160 kilograms of rice to one of Ohellershome , asking him toaccept it as a token of friendship.That night, as in every night now, Cacepi seats at a table with the higher officers and Woola athis right, as a wife (because as an Ensign she should have seated at some other table.)The food processors were in function but also some crew members were serving the stock offresh fruits Cacepi had in storage.Its a fine trek. Tomorrow we will be at planet IV.- Cacepi said and Fleet Captain Engorienreplied:- We travel fast with this new spaceships.

27Oh, yes, this is better, eh? A good chunk of money was spent in there, but it was worthwhile.-Cacepi said, putting a hand over Woolas right, and they all smiled

At the next day, twenty hours, they finally were orbiting around the IV planet- Pedisequus.The orbital stations were hailed-. To let them know they were the long awaited star fleet fromKnapp.Good people. So far from home.- Woola said while flying in his Hunter.Yes! The evil is only a few parsecs away.- Cacepi replied from the spaceship carrier, smiling.He knew that only the social malcontent could turns into the evil path. To the fleet captainEngorien he said:- We get to make a cadaster of every mining field on this planet, and thencheck out with the official list anyone not inscribed as mining here will get to have a goodexcuse about it.Engorien said:- Of course, Sir. There are rumors that some mining operations are not legal-the orbiting stations are here to protect workers from abusive patrons but nothing else.Thats right. Now that we had the force with us, it will be no problems we will get to orbitthe planet in a separate way- the carrier the two tool ships and the alien vessel. The Hunterswill go down when necessary.- Cacepi said, and soon afterwards the four big spaceshipsparted ways, to have a better scope of the terrain, while delicate and sensitive sensorsscanned the area below them.Six days later, there was a holographic grid prompt to appear whenever Cacepi likes , on themain cabin holographic set. He had eight red spots sprinkling that sphere, indicating theillegal mining operations.Cacepi calls for a meeting with the commanders and Hunter pilots at the reunion hall, and

once they were there , he said to a female ensign: Whats your name, Ensign?Nedala, Sir.Very well, from now on you are my first assistant Lieutenant Junior grade. Take a note ofevery name of this people.All right, Sir.- She beamed up, taking her writing pad from a side pouch and beginning towrite names on it. The list is this:Cacepi, Admiral of the FleetLacerna, Spaceship Carrier, Captain CommanderGelide, Alien Spaceship, Captain Commander

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Conus, Tool ship 1, Lieutenant commanderBidens, Tool ship 2, Fleet captain.Predisco, Hunter, Cadet 1th class.Paxillus, Hunter, Cadet 2nd.classInolens, Hunter, Cadet 3th classExpers, Hunter, Cadet 4thclass

Contritus, Hunter, EnsignAtratus, Hunter, EnsignIniectus, Hunter, EnsignQuomodo, Hunter, Lieutenant Junior Grade.Viviradix, Hunter, EnsignSublatus, Hunter, Ensign, copilot Woola.

Cacepi said to them: Now comes the dangerous part, gentlemen. We are known already byeveryone on this planet, because our presence had been radioed and our spaceships seen bymany on the surface of Cacepi planet. They are expecting what are we going to do next; else,we go one by one or we catch up with everyone at the same time.30

The commander of the carrier Lacerna said: I see you are thinking in refusal to our work?Or do you think they can escape the minute they knew there are inspections in neighboringillegal mining bases?The later. So, I will send the Hunters in masse. We had ten Hunters and there are eight illegalbases. As each Hunter could carry eight passengers, eight soldiers, an amount I consider fine ifthey are social and cooperative, but insufficient if bellicose.They stared at him and Woola said:_ And how is going to be?We will assume they are friendly, and in any case, the soldiers will use full armor and strong

weapons.- Admiral Cacepi said, risking his crew and betting for the best.

Hours later , the Hunters were deployed and Woola descended at the south of the planet, at a

place called Rainy ridge, for its white and black color.

The entrance to the mine was at middle high of a black big stony mountain, and in the twilight, light that was the normal day hours in planet Pedisequus.31The eight soldiers come out of the small vessel, leaving her alone to wait for their return.She leaned on the screen, eyes fixed on the proximity radar screen- the eight figures wereclearly seen there as red dots moving among lines that were the rocks of the terrain.The voice of the commander of that group was Xollak, who was saying:- All quiet in here- weare entering the tunnel- no lights visible- we are using our own lamps.Very well, commander. All quiet in here.- Woola said, looking by the porthole. A maze ofpebbles were around the Hunter and not a sound, mainly because there is no air inPedisequus.

After ten minutes, the commanderXollak said:- We find the pit, Madame. There are LASERmachines working, and the mineral is being accumulated on metal boxes- more than forty arealready stocked and more under way.An automated installation it is! But someone must be around! Somebody supervising it all!-Woola said, and the commander Xollak replied:- Of course its the sensible thing to expect.We will try to stop the mechanism without busting it, and while at it, searching for thesupervisor.

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Correct, do it.- Woola said, that has a pilot and an Ensign has no power to give orders toXollak, but as being the wife of the Admiral, that was sufficient to grant her with enoughweight to give advices.32Xollak sighed- that woman of twenty-so years seating there and giving orders! Hope the

Admiral has only one woman!- He grumbled for himself. The tunnel ends on the shaft, at the

tunnel the boxes were waiting who knows whom to be carried away.Its copper.- Rtolsaid, who was peeking inside the crates.Seems there is copper everywhere.- Xollak mumbled for himself and stayed at the end of thetunnel, seeing how the copper was being melted and sent up by a tunnel of force field to a bigreceptacle where it deposits waiting to be sent to the melting and then to the cooler.We must stop this machine.- He said. Ruel approaches he was a big man in his thirties, andsaid: A pair of LASER shoots and it will be a funeral in here.I dont want to spoil the place- the Government could rent the place later, if they dont appearto reclaim the mining operational enclosure.- Xollak said, descending to the bottom through acord. The others followed him right away.There was a rumbling vibration they find seve