23 Discovered by the Galactic Flee (1/2)
”Captain, Sir, there has been a message from Major Harold,” First Lieutenant Percy reported wearily, as if he was about to collapse from exhaustion. ”A life planet has been discovered in an unexplored solar system. The Poseidon was spotted on this planet with long range visuals. All ships are to close the net around this solar system and prevent any escape routes of the target.”
”Finally, those damn criminals won't escape again!” Captain Argentear was livid, banging his arm on the armrest of his chair. ”Act according to your training. Adjust our vector to match the rest of the fleet to encapsulate this solar system.”
”Yes, Sir” Two navigational officers saluted before controlling the ships vector in space to slowly sweep towards the targeted solar system.
Major Harold's destroyer served as the central computer for coordinating the net of Galactic Fleet ships sweeping through the cosmos. A holographic projection was displayed in his destroyer highlighting the positions of all 10,100 ships and the solar system the Poseidon was located in. The light dots denoting the positions of the ships began to slowly curve inwards, wrapping around the solar system like a giant hand was grasping it.
The Prime Minister, Mortimus Lupin, sat beside Major Harold in a chair especially prepared for him. He watched this 'hand' enclosing around the planet with a smile of nostalgia.
*****
As the fleet began to infiltrate the solar system, great stirs began to arise within the Vulpes planet.
King Margold had a dignified expression as he held an audience with several noble bureaucrats who served as close aids. The audience was held in the main hall of his royal castle, a long hard filled with gold embellishments and laden with long royal-purple carpets. The king himself was in his royal attire, a purple robe with gold trimming. A gold crown with large encrusted rubies sat atop his head, closely circling his short fox-ears.
Beside King Margold, his wife, Queen Sherell, sat on a slightly smaller throne. She was a beauty capable of befalling a kingdom, with a light brown hair and dressed in pure white and red robes. She was usually silent, only ever speaking a few words in support of her husband.
”We require more information on the incoming aliens,” King Margold declared in a tone that did not allow refusal.
One of the noble bureaucrats saluted with a fist over his chest as he knelt on one knee. ”Your majesty, all we know is that the alien ships have entered the solar system from every direction and are heading toward our planet. They have formed a net as if to catch something, or someone. Our best guess is it is related to Mr. Ivan and Mr. Mazur.”
”How many alien ships are there? Do we need to be concerned about hostile intentions?”
”Your majesty, we are unsure of the exact numbers, but our space observational facility has counted several thousand ships before they employed some form of stealth technology that made them vanish from our radars. Based on information provided by Mr. Ivan in the past, they should be the governmental armed forces, the Galactic Fleet. We do not believe they will be openly hostile toward us.”
King Margold was a wise man who could see the larger picture, something which allowed to hold the affection of the citizens. He brooded in silence for several minutes as the noble bureaucrats sweated nervously while trying to anticipate what the king was contemplated.
”We have decided. All information on the cooperation between us and the two aliens is to be comprehensively erased. We do not want to see a single mention of the two individuals on the national information network. All traces of our knowledge on the galactic common language, their technology, or governmental body are to be complete hidden.”
”Y-your majesty?” One of the noble bureaucrats began hesitatingly, but King Margold raised a hand and cut him off.
”We decree that an immediate report is to be made to all citizens, nobody is to reveal this information, or speak in the galactic common language, while these aliens are present. To do so will be treated as treason against the empire. We also decree that the army is also to stop marching and build defensive positions, the new weaponry is to be removed from sight and the old weaponry shall be reinstated. You are dismissed.”
”U-understood, your majesty,” All the noble bureaucrats knelt in salute. They hurried off to rapidly instruct the media and make arrangements for information deletion across the national information network.
A royal decree sealed by the royal emblem arrived at their residencies not long after they began the processes, entitling them the king's authority when carrying out the procedures.
*****
”I demand to descend down to the planet's surface!” Captain Argentear demanded to Major Harold across a communication line.
Major Harold's expression become stern across the video feed. ”Your words are bordering on insubordination, Captain.”
The Major had a strict expression, but he was secretly worried that the Prime Minister would hold an unfavourable opinion of his command if the situation wasn't handled well.
”I must see these people captured! One of them is unknown, but the other is one of the most notorious criminals in the galaxy! He must learn that there are laws to follow, and the consequences of breaking them!” Argentear grit his teeth and frustration.