“What will be the cost?”
The attendant eyed the four of them before answering. “You should know that there is no charge for the Juireans. All energy modules come from them in the first place.”
Sherri stepped forward, placing her hand on Kaylor’s shoulder. “Please forgive my apprentice here,” she said warmly to the other female. “He is new and we were letting him experience an order on his own. Of course we know there is no cost for Juireans. Who doesn’t know that?”
“Apparently he doesn’t,” the alien said pointedly. “I have had limited experience with Belsonians before, and from the ones I have met, they do not seem to be the smartest beings in the galaxy, are they?”
“Very far from it,” Sherri agreed, as she shoved Kaylor behind her, seeing the ire building on his face. Riyad completed the action by placing Kaylor behind him and nearly out of sight of the attendant. “In truth, we have not had too many contracts for the Juireans. This ship is traveling alone without its normal compliment of support vessels. What of the other contractors here; do they also have the proper security to work on Juireans?”
“Only Travess,” said the attendant. And then she leaned across the desk, a little closer to Sherri. “In all truthfulness, since we will not receive a fee for the recharge, you are more than welcome to book the procedure through them.”
It was all Sherri could do to keep from laughing out loud. She was amazed at how alike most species were when you got right down to it. Each had their own wants, needs and desires, and more often than not, they overlapped among all intelligent creatures, no matter their point of origin.
“I completely understand,” Sherri said grinning — while keeping her lips together. “Since you know they’re coming, maybe you could tell the Juireans that all your recharge ships are already previously booked. I will certainly convey this to my superiors. That way Travess will naturally be awarded the contract, freeing your crews for actual paying customers.”
The alien beamed. “You would do that for me? I am in your favor. Without your forewarning, my company would have been obligated to take the contract. But in truth, I can certainly book the security ships on other vessels prior to the arrival of the Juirean, if even for simple maintenance. This is something I would not have done normally. That way I would truly have no ships available for the recharge should my schedule be checked.”
“I’m so glad I could help. But between us, I do not believe I will approach Travess until just before the arrival. I will make it a surprise for them.”
After a few more moments of gushy thank you’s between the two females, the foursome eventually left the building and returned to the JU-224
The Zinnol star had set by the time they arrived, and the moonless night would normally have been pitch-dark except for the countless lights coming from the buildings all around the spaceport. Like most centers catering to interstellar travel, this part of Ragnor Lin never slept. With spaceships arriving and departing at all hours, there was a constant need for service, be it for the travelers or for the natives just getting off their shifts. The various businesses surrounding the spaceport ran around the clock shifts. It was the only part of Ragnor Lin that looked to be even the slightest bit prosperous.
Back at the Exitors, the two aliens and five Humans felt quite satisfied with the progress made in the short time they’d been on the planet. Their ships would be recharged, they knew which company would get the contract to service the Juireans, and come the next day, they would scout the shuttle port located to the north of the commercial spaceport for the ships that would actually service the Juirean battleship.
Kaylor, however, was still upset at having been insulted at the dispatch office. How was he supposed to know Juireans weren’t charged for energy? He’d never worked in a recharge station before. Sherri and the rest of the Humans played with his emotions for a while, until they realized Kaylor was taking their ribbing seriously.
“Kaylor we’re all friends here,” Sherri said finally. “We’re just having a little fun. You did great today, and with your help we have a much better chance now of rescuing Adam.”
Kaylor seemed to relax a little, even though Sherri could tell he was still upset. “We still have a very dangerous task ahead of us, and the responsibility for its success will fall more directly on you Humans,” Kaylor said in an effort to dampen the good mood in the room — which had been achieved at his expense.
Yet even in the face of danger and uncertainty, the Humans continued to smile and joke among themselves. Kaylor grew more frustrated, and soon rose from the couch. “I am going to my room now. The recharge crews will be here early in the morning and I need my sleep.”
The Humans waited until he had left the room before they all let loose with a flood of laughter.
Jym, who had been seated next to Kaylor on the couch, also got up. “You Humans are a mean and cruel race.”
“Don’t take things so personally, Jym,” John Tindal said. “We’re just having a little fun. After all, it’s been a long time since we’ve had anything to laugh about.”
“Still, you have hurt his feelings. I will now go to see if he is all right.”
To Riyad’s surprise he found himself saying: “Tell him we are sorry. Kaylor is an integral part of our team, as are you. Out of all the aliens I’ve met and associated with, you two are the only two I can truly call friends.”
Sherri was equally shocked by the admission from Riyad. He had always been the most cold-hearted creature she’d ever met, be it Human or alien.
The compliment was not lost on Jym, either. “I am grateful for your comments and will convey them to Kaylor. He will find them to be soothing, I am sure.”
After Jym had also left the room, Riyad looked around at the others, all staring back at him with stunned looks of their own. Finally Riyad smiled and simply said, “What a putz!”
Sherri just locked her eyes on Riyad. There may be hope for him after all.
Chapter 32
Early the next day the two recharge crews showed up right on time. There were five members of each team — for surface recharging. Since neither Kaylor nor Jym had ever been aboard a ship large enough to require an orbital recharge, they had no idea how many would be on those crews. That was something they would have find out.
The most striking feature about the crew that showed up was their uniforms. Even though the ten workers consisted of beings from three different species, they all wore the same bright green outfits, custom-fit to their body style. They covered nearly every square inch of their bodies, leaving only their eyes to peer out through special goggles. The only two creatures not to wear the full-body uniforms were the two supervisors.
With the hazardous nature of the work, the uniforms made sense. They would also provide the perfect cover for the Humans in the assault team. Kaylor could go in dressed normally — as a supervisor — and help with the cover story the team would project.
The recharge crews also came with chests full of the necessary tools required to run exhaust tubes, insulted power lines and to help install the new power modules. These chests would allow the team to take ample firepower aboard the Juirean ship with them.
Chief Rutledge had trained Sherri and Riyad in the use of the Heckler amp; Koch MP7A1 submachines they had onboard. These weapons were part of the initial cache the SEALs had brought with them from Earth, when they escaped just as the Juirean bombardment was taking place. The MP7 was a Close Quarter Battle — or CQB — submachine gun, ideal for operations within houses, buildings, aboard seafaring ships — and even starships. It was lightweight and compact, with ample firepower to rip through any alien flesh or battle armor, yet not powerful enough to risk puncturing the hull. It also came with a 40-round magazine, which could come in handy against a force of over ninety aliens.