Kerulithar turned and made for the exit from the landing pad; Michael and Vargev followed him. The space port was full of hundreds of different types of aliens and other Solarians, talking, conducting business, and stopping by to have a drink in one of the many restaurants and bars that adorn the complex.
Soon the three of them exited the spaceport, and carried on their journey down one of the many arched walkways of the city. Resembling a wide roadway, anti gravity vehicles buzzed along the bustling street.
Along the paved sides of the archway thousands of Solarians and other races walked. To the right of them across the road, there was a massive structure almost a thousand meters high; it dominated the skyline in this part of Solaria city.
“What building is that?” Michael asked as he looked at it.
“That’s the Solarian central commerce building,” Kerulithar replied. “Most of the trade on Solaria is done there, in one form or another.”
They carried on past several other archways, some went under the one they were on, some loomed above casting great shadows, others connected directly to it.
At last after they had seemed to have walked for over an hour they came to a particularly wide crystal formation, with a large domed roof at its centre.
Continuing up a flight of marble steps, they entered through automatic glass doors. Inside there was a hushed atmosphere, the people inside all had an air of seriousness about them and were all dressed formally, the decoration was very formal also.
All this made Vargev and Michael in their torn, battered, and dirty landfall uniforms stand out like a sore thumb.
“Where are we?” Michael whispered.
“The Solarian council building,” Kerulithar whispered back, “It’s the seat of government for the entire Solarian Confederacy, and every planet has an elected member here, led by Solarian president Karalis.”
Kerulithar approached the nearest official, and began speaking. “I would hereby like to convene a meeting with the Solarian council as soon as is practicably possible; my name is ambassador Kerulithar.”
“The council is in deliberations at the moment, it’s unlikely that you will be able to convene a meeting for several days. They have an extremely busy schedule at this time,” the official replied.
“Please; it is a matter of great urgency,” Kerulithar replied, almost pleading with the official.
“One does not interrupt the council when in session,” the official replied sternly.
“It is these two Terrans who seek the council; their case is desperate and could have an impact on the galaxy at large, and I am acting on their behalf.”
“These are Terrans you say?” The official asked in amazement. He looked over at the humans again and then stammered. “I’ll notify the council.”
The official pushed open a pair of ornate looking chrome doors and disappeared inside.
“I hate politicians,” Vargev whispered.
“What’s to hate about politicians?” Michael laughed.
At length the official returned. “The council will grant your request; you may enter.”
Kerulithar raised an eyebrow at the relative ease of getting a hearing. It was hard enough even for Solarians let alone other races, yet he deigned to say nothing.
The three of them walked through the grand doors and into the council chambers itself.
Inside; the room was shaped like a vast oval, although only dimly lit; hundreds of delegates were all seated around its perimeter.
Several administrators worked in the centre; they were separated from the delegates by a handrail that ran almost the length of the entire room.
Kerulithar, Michael, and Vargev were ushered to a raised stand in the middle of the room; administrators were faced just in front of them.
The lights in the room swung around and shone down directly on Kerulithar, casting him in a bright white light. The only other light in the room was from a row of lighting embedded in the handrail which showed up the faces of the delegates and the head of the council.
Suddenly a deep, powerful voice came over the speakers in the room. “What do you seek from this council?” It asked.
Kerulithar spoke into a microphone fixed to the stand. “We seek for our case to be heard, Mr. President.”
Then the deep booming voice said again, “and what is your case?”
“I am acting on behalf of these two Terrans stood next to me; they have come to ask this council for aid for their people,” Kerulithar replied.
There was a brief hushed silence; a wave of excited whispering voices washed across the room. This was unheard of in Solarian politics, two Terrans stood in their own council; and issuing a declaration for aid, this was big news indeed.
Lights suddenly shone on Michael and Vargev as well; as if scrutinising them.
“And these are the Terrans?” The voice boomed again.
“They are, Mr. President,” Kerulithar replied.
“The Terrans may explain their case themselves,” the voice announced.
Michael and Vargev suddenly felt distinctly nervous, they were standing in possibly one of the most powerful ruling councils in the known galaxy. It was a place for senior diplomats and heads of state, and who were they? Just two humans, nobodies really, not even high ranking diplomats, just two ordinary humans trying to survive.
“You may speak before this council,” the voice came.
Michael tentatively began by telling them the same story he had told to Commander Ralavas at the Omicron repair facility, after Michael had finished, Vargev dutifully took his turn.
Then after several minutes; once the council had heard their stories, and the whispering of deliberations taking place, the voice boomed again. “This is a profound case with severe consequences and must be reviewed with a full panel, we will reconvene tomorrow at 2 o’clock local time, this session is now adjourned.”
They emerged out of the council; both Michael and Vargev felt somewhat disappointed and looked downcast, Kerulithar however looked jubilant.
“Why are you so happy?” Michael asked nonchalantly.
“That was incredible! They are going to give our case a full hearing. That has never been granted to an outside race in the history of the Solarian Confederacy, this is going to be talked about for weeks now,” Kerulithar replied triumphantly.
“But are they actually going to do anything, apart from just sit down and twiddle their political thumbs,” Vargev said.
“It is the best we could have hoped for.”
“I don’t know about you Kerulithar, but I didn’t come nearly half way across the galaxy, just to be told they might think about it,” Michael said.
“What more would you have me do? I’m just a simple ambassador!” Kerulithar retorted growing somewhat angry at the two human’s attitudes.
“To help us; give us a fighting chance against these Krenaran murderers,” Michael responded.
Vargev stood aside; quietly watching Michael and the Solarian argue. I should take bets on who’s going to come out on top, he thought with a mischievous smile forming across his face.
“That is for the council to decide,” Kerulithar pointed out.
“Well they had best decide quickly.”
At last Vargev stepped in, “look, this is getting us nowhere comrades. Let’s just get our heads down; get some sleep, and see what the council has to say tomorrow.”
Kerulithar and Michael both looked at the Major quizzically.
“What?” Vargev asked innocently.
“It’s kind of ironic,” Michael said smiling.
“What is?”
“A hard bitten, E.D. F commando veteran like you playing peacemaker,” Michael replied.
“Now don’t you lay any of that bullshit on me!” Vargev replied in mock anger.
They both laughed.
After a brisk walk along another archway they arrived at Kerulithars apartment. It was getting dark now; Kyo had reached its zenith high in the Solarian sky, stars were beginning to twinkle, and shuttle landing lights chased across the night sky which had turned a very deep crimson as the sun was almost set.