In
about three hours they turned into a river and sailed up it at a good
speed.
An
hour after that they entered into a canyon and further up the canyon
the sides got even higher.
By
mid-day the sun had started to go down, and the canyon sides was at
lest a mile high in parts, most of it however was about a half mile
high.
The
man got onto his hand-held radio system and called those on the land,
he let them know that the ships where carrying several injured people
and that they were approaching the lake.
After
they went about another two miles further up the river the canyons
walls started to decrease in height until it was about a quarter of a
mile high.
Then
in about five minutes later Tesla noticed that they were approaching
a large castle that was built over the river and up both sides of the
canyon itself.
As
Tesla looked at this castle over the river she could have sworn that
it sparkled like a starlit sky.
The
closer they got the shinier it got until they started to pass under
the sky walk.
About
one more mile further up the river they entered into a lake and
sailed right up to a dock that was set aside for them to use.
Once
they docked they noticed that their was several people standing at
the waterfront.
Each
one was armed with some type of hand held gun and there was several
ambulances arriving there as well.
The
man that took charge of the ship then said; “tell
your people to stay on-board
the ships, they will be taken one by one off the sips by one of my
people.
Tell
them until further notice, they are to follow the instructions of
those on shore! We will start with the more seriously injured people
and get them to a hospital and go from there!”
“Alright!”
Tesla
got on the intercom system and told her crew and people to stay
on-board until further notice and to do as instructed by those on
shore.
“How
many people do you have on-board?”
“Each
ship has five hundred and fifty patience and one hundred crew
members!”
The
man picked up his radio and called the beach crew then told them.
As
they sailed by the mouth of the river they went past a naval yard
that had three destroyers, ten cruisers, twenty smaller PT boats and
one small aircraft carrier.
When
the gangplank was passed over to the ship and secured, several people
climbed onto the ships.
They
started to check everyone out and then started to hall some of the
more seriously injured patience out.
Then
Angmar looked at her and said;
“welcome to the city of Kalzanka!”
“Thanks,
for everything!”
“Don’t
mention it! I’ll get you the law books to study, let your people
know about them so they don’t get into any trouble!”
“Aren’t
they similar to ours?”
“Similar
yes but not exact and you all will be here for awhile so get to know
them!”
“We’ll
be here awhile? What exactly do you mean!”
“These
ship aren’t going any where else for now and the empire isn’t
going to let you go back over the reef so you might as well get to
know the laws of the land!”
The
look of shock fell over her face as she looked at him intently.
“You
all will have free rain over the city as long as you don’t try to
lose the tail we will give you for now but none of you will be
allowed to cross over the reef again!”
“So
we are prisoners?”
“If
you wont to look at it like that then so be it but how many prisoners
do you know of that have the right to travail throughout the whole
city?”
“If
we can’t go home then we are prisoners!”
He
just looked at her, tilted his head slightly then said; “you
could always take your arguments to the Zane and see if he would over
ride the history of our people but I wouldn’t count too heavily on
it because its how we do things!”
“The
Zane?”
“He
is the ruler of our people! He has the power to let you return home
or make you stay here!”
“How
could I get in to see him?”
“First
you need to know some of our laws, then you need to go to Phycondar
palace!”
“And
how do I get there?”
“Right
now, if I were you, I would worry about your people right here, right
now!”
“I
am but I also know that there is nothing I could do to help them here
but at the Phycondar palace I might be able to, so how do I get
there?”
“After
we finish up here, if you co-operate fully with us I’ll put you in
touch with someone that could take you there!”
“You
have my co-operation then!”
In
about a half hour later the final ship showed up at the docks and
docked.
The
escort vessel set anchor just off the rivers mouth.
Over
the next couple of hours Tesla helped the medical crew of the ship
and those from the land with the injured people.
Then
after most of the injured people was taken off the ship she called a
meeting with the ships crew and medical staff.
She
told them all about the conversation she had with the Commander that
took control of the ship and told them to co-operate fully with them.
Then
she requested the right to go too the other ship, one was already
mostly unloaded, were she held yet another meeting with that ships
crew and medical staff.
Then
she went to the final ship and helped them out until it was also
mostly unloaded.
Then
she held a meeting on-board that ship as well, then she went back to
her own ship and her own quarters for the night but in about two
hours later one of her crew members came to her quarters to get her.
“There
is a man here that is asking all the rest of us to go with him!”
“Then
I quest that we should!”
She
got up and they all left the ship following the man.
She
was taken to a hospital where they were given a full physical by a
doctor and got a couple of shots.
One
was in the but and in about five minuets she fall asleep.
After
she and the others woke up they were escorted to an office and was
given some papers to fill out.
After
all the papers where filled out they were escorted to an apartment
there in the city for the night and they had been given a permeate
shadow.
Every
man was being trailed by another man and the women where being
followed by another women everywhere they went.
Once
they were in their quarters they all went back to bed for the night.
The
next morning she went back to the Trydent but she wasn’t allowed
on-board until the Commander showed up that had taken control of the
ship when they first arrived there.
The
Commander said; “I
will allow you to get your belongings but these ship now belong to
the Arkondians and none of your people will be allowed back on-board
them until the Zane says otherwise but like I had said earlier, I
will introduce you to someone who could help you talk to the Zane,
all I need is about a day in order to get everything else squared
away here first!”
“Just
one day?”
“Yes,
I know were you are staying and if you can give me that time I’ll
see to it that by tomorrow you will be on your way to see him! I
promise!”
“OK!”
“But
you all do need to get everything of your off right now because we
are going to move those ship to another location soon!”
“And
how will we get back to our homes if the Zane lets us go home?”
“We’ll
take you to them at that time, if it happens!”
“Alright!”
The
crews of the ships got their belonging off the ships and went back to
their apartments.
About
midday another man showed up at her door, he brought some flyers and
a map of the city.
After
he gave her them, he left, Tesla then called a meeting with her three
ships crews there at her apartment.
They
all discussed the situation and they agreed to let Tesla try the
diplomatic approach before they tried to escape.
“Did
you all get the map of the city and the flyers?”
She asked, the first officer of the Trydent;
“yes,
they are sure that we will like it here aren’t they!”
“No,
they think that there is nothing we could do about it, they are
moving all the ships later today to a different location!
Lets
take advantage of this situation and see what we could learn about
them as a group!”
“And
were do you think we should start?”
“There
is a flyer here that says if you are from over the reef then we could
help you fit in to the Arkondian society.
I
think that some of us could go to that group and see what it’s all
about while the others go through the local libraries and look around
the city, talk to people about their technologies and about their
governmental structure.
Basically
act like someone who wants to stay here but report back anything that
I might be able to use when I talk to the Zane.”
“What
about our people at the hospitals!”
“I’ll
check in on them regularly and see what we could do to help them out!
Then I’ll tell you all at the next meeting!”
“And
when is that?”
“Lets
make it about four weeks from now!”
“Right!”
And
with that Tesla said her good buys, after everyone left she went to
the first hospital.
While
she was at the hospital the data grid box was on in the lobby area
and it had the story about Zane Zyphan’s father hanging off the
receptor tower.
One
of the nurses was taking her to each room that her people was at and
giving her a brief idea as to what was wrung with each one.
As
they approached one man that wasn’t expected to live pass four
months the nurse said; “this
man was among the worst of them, he had a broken arm, a broken leg,
internal bleeding, a number of broken ribs, a concussion and several
cracked vertebrae!”
“So
is he going to survive?”
“Yes,
we got to him quick enough!”
“Our
doctors had said that his injuries are to bad and they said that
there was nothing that could be done, how is it that your people
could save him?”
“Our
medical science is quite a bit more advanced then yours!’ The
look of thought crept over Tesla’s face as she followed the nurse
through the hospital.
The
nurse continued on saying, ‘Several
of them will be released by the end of the month, some will even be
going home today, figuratively speaking, but out of them at lest one
out of five will need home care!”
“If
my crews could get their equipment off the ships they could do that!”
“I’ll
talk to Commander Canus about it then!”
“Commander
Canus?”
“He’s
the military attache officer for this hospital and your people!”
“I
though that was Commander Angmar!”
“No,
Angmar is the commander of the navy command ship that intercepted
you! Other then that he has nothing to do with this!”
“But
he said that he would introduce me to someone that would take me to
the Zane!”
“Then
he will before he leaves!”
“Are
you sure?”
“Yes,
I have known him for awhile and I have never known him not to do what
he said!”
“Good!”
After
that they finished up the tour, Tesla got the name and addressees of
all the other hospitals that has some of her people.
She
then went to the next hospital and took the tour of it.
It
was at this hospital that she ran into the man that Admiral Suzan
Bell told her needed to get back to Port Emerald at all coast.
“How
are you feeling?”
“A
bit groggy but OK! Where are we?”
“Some
place called Arkonda around the reef of Arkon!”
“Have
you heard from Admiral Bell?”
“Yes,
where on our way to Port Emerald but we got side tracked and chased
into the reef!”
“The
Nycrian’s?
“Yes
but we are at the moment safe from them!”
“Who’s
in charge here?”
“Of
our people, I am! I’m Captain Tesla, I haven’t got a clue who is
of the Arkondians!”
“Arkondians?”
“It’s
a somewhat long story!”
“Maybe
you could tell me about it?”
“Not
now, I’ll come back into here to talk to you in a couple of days
OK!”
“That’s
fine Captain Tesla!”
Then
she finished up the tour.
She
learned that several of them would be allowed to leave the hospital
in about a month or so.
She
went to each of the hospitals on her list and it took her about eight
hours to go through them all.
Late
on the third day she walked back to the hospital that had that man
that Admiral Suzan Bell wanted to get back to the United Isle.
She
went on into the room that the man was at and shout the door so she
could talk to him without being heard, “I
think that its time that we got to know one another personally!”
“I’m
Gary an infantry soldier of the fifth platoon!”
“As
you know I’m Captain Tesla of the Trydent and the ex-captain of the
cruiser Titan! Admiral Suzan Bell let me know a little bit about
you.
I
know that you have a little more rank then that so I thought that I
would tell you what we know and what we are doing right now!”
“OK!”
“I
think that you might be interested in knowing that we, that is the
crews of the hospital ships are doing some research on these people.
They
have far more medical technology then we do and those ships they
intercepted us with are smaller then any we have with bigger guns on
them from what we could see!
They
have some type of aircraft that flies faster then anything we have
ever seen let a lone could dream of!
They
have them both on land and they have a large ship that has several of
them as well.
They
have vehicles here that move at a faster speed then anything we have
for the general populations and they have devices they call computers
which record anything they put into it and recalls it all up faster
then anything we have.
We
are out of our deaths here but they told me that once we crossed over
the reef we sacrificed our freedom, that is none of use would be
allowed to go home, however, they have a strange way of holding
prisoners.
We
can travail anywhere we wont as long as its in this city and we don’t
try to slip away from our escorts, or put in another way we are being
followed everywhere we go.
I
have been gearing up to try a diplomatic approach with a man they
call a Zane which is their equivalent to an Emperor from what I can
get out of it in an attempt to get our ship returned to us so we
could go home!”
The
man whistled then said; “but
their not Nycrians?”
“No,
as far as I can tell they aren’t!”
“When
I get out of here we can set down and talk a lot more about it if you
would like!”
“I’ll
like that, yes!”
After
that she went to her apartment but Commander Angmar was waiting there
for her in the lobby with another man that was in his early thirties.
“I
was just about to give up one you Tesla!”
“Its
nice to see you again!”
“This
is Tiean, he is a governmental representative officer from the
Palace, I told him about your problem and he said that he will try to
help!”
“Grate,
wont you both come in?”
“I
can’t, I’m leaving within the hour with those ships you brought
us!”
“Not
intentionally we didn’t and with any luck we will be getting them
back again!”
“Yes,
well, good luck on that one anyway!”
“Before
you leave can we get our medical tools off the ships?”
“Commander
Canus has them all at the hospital called Kalzanka General already!”
“Grate
and thanks!”
Commander
Angmar then left the area, Tiean however said;
“I’ll come on in and talk to you about it though!”
Tesla
then walked on in and held the door open for him.
“Would
you like some coffee or tea?”
“Tea
would be nice, thanks!”
With
that he sat down on the couch, Tesla went into the kitchen area, then
reemerged with a tray and two cups of tea.
“This
is the complements of Arkonda, Could I get you something to eat to?”
“No
thanks, now lets see if I got this right, the only reason on why you
came into the reef of Arkon was because you were chased into it by
some war ships, you’re the leader of three hospital ships, the
crews and their patience, in fact the only mission you have been on
is a mission of mercy and you all want to go back to your own homes
over the reef!”
“That’s
it in a nut shell!”
“What?”
“I’m
telling you that your right!”
“Well,
I’ll be rather direct here, its not the policies of our people to
allow any body to go over the reef, let it be to go home or to go
just to visit, the reasons are, one those outside the reef get into
to many war, they simple love to kill each other and they don’t
discriminate on who they go after.
Second,
if those outside the reef don’t know where we are then they wont
try to attack us at all and finally its something that we have always
done!
What
you are asking of us goes totally against the way we are and it puts
our lives in grave risk, as well as, the lives of our children and
their children’s children.
So
what I’ll do for you is take you to the Zane but the rest is
totally up to you to do!”
“That’s
fine with me!”
“However,
right at the moment the Zane isn’t at the Palace and no one knows
where he is, so when the Zane dose return to the Palace I’ll come
get you and we could get started!”
“That
sounds good but we outside the reef have a lot to offer your people
and your people has a lot to offer us!”
“Maybe,
maybe not, that’s not for me to deiced, what we have to offer each
other is aside the point, we can’t afford to get into a war with
those outside the reef simply because we love life to much to just
throw it away!”
“By
hiding behind the reef you risk a war when you are discovered because
your people have so far proven that you don’t want to share what
you have!
However
if you come out now while everyone else is weekend from this last war
you might be able to save face by proving what you just said and that
is life is just to precious just to throw it all away!”
“How’s
that?”
“The
medical technologies alone that you have could save countless lives
around the world, that’s how!”
“So
we could save the thousand live today so they could just attack some
one else like us causing tens of thousands of lives to be taken
away?”
“As
I said everyone else is to severely weekend right now to even think
of that and buy the time they can think of it your people could have
already establish your boundaries and a good trade base with everyone
outside the reef!”
The
man finished his tea, then said; “well,
as I said I’ll take you to see the Zane but the rest is up to you,
I gave you the information that you need in order to pull it off if
its even possible, so until then have a good time.”
and he left the apartment.
Tesla
showed him out then went next door to her first officers quarters,
and knocked on the door.
When
she answered the door, Tesla could see that their was several people
in there.
One
was wearing a Phycondar Rescuer uniform, the man stood about seven
feet tall, he had blond hair, blue eyes.
“I
was just about to call a meeting in my quarters with everyone!”
“And
you still can, come on in, you need to meet some one!”
“OK!”
And
with that she walked in, the man stood up as she approached the
couch.
After
she sat down he sat down again next to her.
“Captain
Tesla this is Mickle, he is from the Phycondar Islands and his mother
is from the United Isles,’ she
looked at him then asked, ‘is
that right?”
“Yes,
its nice to meet you! I was just telling your crew that your not
alone, we have several committees in the Phycondar Islands that are
made up of people from outside the reef and I’m here to invite you
all to join us there!”
“Thanks
but were trying to get back home again!”
“Everyone
dose that when they first arrive here but then they see the
advantages of staying here!
You
all are welcome to come join us whenever you want!
We
have about ten committees at the Phycondar Islands, all of them have
the aim of helping people try to cope with there new life here!”
“Thanks,
and we will keep it in mind if we ever give up on going home but in
my case its not likely!”
“I
don’t know anyone who would like to go back after they give this
place a fair chance but each of these committees are and have been
trying to open the reef for travelers for centuries now!
We
just got some outside help from a man named Marduss and his wife
Janit.”
“You
can count on us in that fight as well!”
“And
we will look forward to working with you on this!”
“This
Marduss gentleman, is he a powerful man?”
“I
don’t know if powerful is what you would call it but he has the
Zane’s ear! If that means anything!”
“It
dose but dose the Zane lessen to him when he talks?”
“We
think so!”
“You
think so but your not sure?”
“Here
on Arkonda, one cant be too sure what the current Zane will lessen to
but at less he will hear anyone who talks to him as a person and
nothing else!”
“And
how can one simple talk too him?”
“First
you go to the Phycondar Islands Palace, then you can see him when he
is ready to lessen to you and that doesn’t take as much time as you
might think!”
“That’s
all?”
“Yes,
the current Zane likes to hear from his people!
He
thinks that it will make him a better leader but he doesn’t always
act on what they say!”
“At
lest he lessens to them, I know several leaders that wont even go
that far!”
“Unfortunately
I don’t know any outside the reef but I’m hopeful that I will!”
“So,
tell me, is it just people that comes from outside the reef that
wants the reef opened up or are there some Arkondians involved in the
movement?”
“Mostly
it’s the children of those from over the reef, our parents said
that they know what its like over the reef and they don’t wont it
opened and the only Arkondians that are trying to help us are some of
the IGA’s that had finally come home for good!”
“IGA’s?”
“It
stands for Integrated Governmental Agents, they are the ones that
live among those outside the reef for several years, keeping an eye
on things going on over there so the main lands wont have to worry
about being discovered or in their eyes attacked!”
“Arkondians
spies!”
“Yes,
I think that’s what they call it over the reef!”
“Are
there many of them?”
“Thousands
maybe more, why?”
“Just
carious that’s all!”
“Do
you know how they get back and forth!”
“No!”
Tesla
just looked at the commander but said nothing about it.
“You
said that this Marduss is an I.G.A. then, or was it his wife that was
one?”
“Marduss
was but now he’s retired!”
“Do
you know him personally?”
“Yes,
I work with him as a forestry and search and rescue officer!”
“What
are you doing here then?”
“I’m
on a Vacation!”
“And
why are you here at our apartments?”
“Just
to invite you all into our groups, Phycondar is beautiful this time
of year!”
“Thanks,
and if you would leave us your name and how we can get in touch with
you there we’ll look you up if we ever get into the neighborhood!”
The
young man stood up and handed her a sheet of paper, then said; “I
was hopping that you would say that! Now I’m going to go see the
sights!”
“Have
fun!”
“Oh,
I will!”
Then
young man left the apartment, Tesla looked at her commander then
said; “for
a people that don’t wont to have contact with the other nations
they seam to have one hell of a network of spies!”
“Their
probably out there to keep an eye on all of us! To make sure that we
don’t discover them by accident!”
“Maybe,
or maybe not, who can say for sure? Anyway, keep that young man in
mind when you come to the meeting at my quarters you can tell
everyone about him and what he said!
The
meeting I’m trying to get it for tonight about eight OK!”
“I’ll
be there!”
And
with that she said;
“see you later on then!”
and left to go to her own apartment.
Once
she got into her own apartment she got a cup of coffee, sat down in
the front room, then she thought that she would check out the data
grid box unlike when she was at the hospital, she hadn’t had the
time to look at it closely.
When
she turned it on she was surprised to see that it was colored.
The
show that was playing was a soap opera about a well established
family that worked in one of the Palaces somewhere on Arkonda as a
reporter.
She
started too switch the channels to see what else was on and to see
how many channels was available.
She
settled on a news channel about a minutes later.
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