Platonia (12.3)

Laurie knocked urgently on Captain Mitchell's door but received no response. She stood there staring at the door, anxiously wondering what could possibly be taking him so long to answer.

"There you are, Laurie," Captain Mitchell called, coming up the hall.

"Captain Mitchell, Mrs. Droselphine just told me that it was the Guild that sabotaged our mission so that we wouldn't interrupt theirs. They were on their way to intercept the EC ship we are looking for!"

A furrow appeared on Captain Mitchell's brow, "Well, we'd best fix the ship and get out of here as soon as possible."

"Yes sir!"

Laurie followed Captain Mitchell back to the small dining area. There they met the rest of the crew sitting down at the long table eating breakfast. Laurie walked over, hugged her mother and father, and sat down between them.

"Good morning," Eli said. "Did you sleep well, dear?"

Laurie nodded with a smile, then helped herself to a serving of something that was similar to yogurt. Captain Mitchell was standing in the doorway that led out into the hall, holding a quiet but urgent conversation with Tack, Endil and Droselphine.

After everyone was finished eating, they all left with Tack, Endil, and Droselphine leading the way to their ship.

"We should be there by now," Dr. Kingston mentioned to her husband.

"We are Mom, look on the horizon. Hmm," she murmured, thinking aloud, "You might not be able to see it. Droselphine said that Tack and Enoch had camouflaged it."

"You can see it, Laurie?" Dr. Smith asked, coming up from behind.

"I think so, but barely," Laurie answered. "It's only about a football field away from us. I learned a lot about telling real plants and rocks from fake or unnaturally-placed ones when Chris and I were helping Tarpin with the negotiations between the Chameleons and the Squirrels. They have traps all over the marshlands and you have to keep a sharp eye out."

Dr. Smith nodded. Then, just as Laurie suspected, Tack and Endil stopped a short time later, and signaled the Star Traveler crew to wait. They split up, walking slightly to the left and the right of the group's original path. They each picked up an identical green rock, tapped it, and a holographic screen flickered and faded, revealing the Star Traveler. Gorioshi rubbed his eyes, not believing what he had just seen.

The crew walked over to the Star Traveler and started checking on the few repairs that Tack and Endil had managed to start the evening before.

A few days later, Laurie was sitting on the grass, pulling apart a circuit that had been damaged in the hurricane.

"Ugh, that's the third voltage regulator that will need to be replaced," she groaned, tossing the part into a growing pile of refuse.

"What's going on here?" Gorioshi grinned as he approached with Dr. Smith.

"The wind tore off an access panel which was dented by flying debris. Water got in through the opening and shorted a circuit, overloading a lot of the other circuits."

"Perhaps some lunch would help?" Gorioshi suggested.

"Thank you," Laurie said, taking the sandwich Gorioshi handed her.

Dr. Smith and Gorioshi sat down opposite her, being mindful of the stacks of repaired circuits. Laurie set down the circuit she had been repairing and polished off her sandwich in a few short bites. Rubbing her hands together to get rid of any crumbs, she returned to her work.

"Laurie, how did you become so proficient in electronics and engineering at such a young age?" Gorioshi asked, after finishing a bite of his sandwich.

"A number of ways I guess," Laurie said still working on replacing or repairing numerous wires and other pieces in the circuit she was holding, "I've always loved to learn. My father, besides being a botonist, was also trying to teach himself electronics as a hobby. I enjoyed sitting with him, watching him work, even from as young as the age of one. Or so my Mom says. I was learning what he was doing and why before I learned how to read. My parents started home-schooling me in their off hours after work and on weekends when I was four years old. They were smart – they tied everything they could to my love of electronics. I learned quickly, and soon I was able to help my Dad with his projects. It wasn't long after that I began building my own projects and presenting them at science fairs.

When I was six, my parents were asked to join the organization that was working with EASA. One of their new colleagues, Mrs. Adler, was invited over to our house for Thanksgiving dinner. She had heard from my Mom about my talent, and after dinner she asked to see some of my work. Soon afterwards, she invited me to come and visit her lab.

While my parents were off doing research and experiments, I accompanied Mrs. Adler to her office in the engineering department. It was there it became more than a hobby. I knew it was what I wanted to do with my life.

When my family was transferred to the moon, the agency made sure I had access to a lab so I could contribute and learn more."

"What about your flying skills? In all that time, where did you find time to take flying lessons?" Gorioshi asked intrigued.

"I see Gorioshi has been trying to find out all he can about his crewmates," Captain Mitchell said, laughing as he approached the three of them sitting on the ground.

"Personally I see it as a complimentary trait." He added once he noticed Gorioshi blushing. "As to your question concerning Miss Laurie's flight experience and training, I believe I can answer your question, if it is all right with her?"

Laurie nodded, she was too occupied with her repairs.

"Okay then," Captain Mitchell continued. "After we were organized into a crew, I was given formal training by EASA on the new Star Traveler. I had to undergo many simulations to prepare me for flying in different circumstances. One of these training sessions was supposed to prepare me to fly through the dense asteroid belt.

"Well, I wasn't doing all that well. I crashed the Star Traveler more times than I could count," Captain Mitchell shook his head as he paused. "Laurie, wandered into the simulation room and was watching me from the open door. Failing yet another try, I took off the headset and rubbed my eyes. I happened to look up and caught Laurie standing in the open doorway.

"She asked me what I was playing. I told her that it was sort of like a game to see if I could get past all of the asteroids. I told her that she could try it if she wanted to; I needed a break. Laurie sat down and put on the virtual reality gear. During the test she was three moves ahead of every asteroid before it even appeared on the screen. She finished the simulation with hardly a flaw."

Laurie, still engrossed in the circuit she was repairing, blushed, Three moves might be exaggeration.

"I was shocked. I had gone through military flight school and had countless numbers of flight hours under my belt, yet I could never dream of flying that well. When she took the headset off, I asked her to stay put. I stepped out of the room and waived down one of my superiors in the hall. He agreed to put her through an official sim. This time they stepped up the odds and threw her some rogue asteroids. She outmaneuvered everything with only minimal damage to the virtual ship.

"After I gave her a bit of tutoring in the handling of the ship in a few more sims, she was named chief of special flight control. She was then sent to complete her pilot's license before we were scheduled to leave on our mission. That allowed her to become my backup pilot,"

"What about you, Gorioshi. How did you come to be assigned to our crew?" Dr. Smith asked.

"Well --,"

"Um, sorry-- excuse me, but these circuits are finished, Captain Mitchell. Once I get them back inside their ports we should be able to get off of the ground," Laurie said

"Good, then Dr. Smith and I will go and make the last minute checks. Sorry Gorioshi but I'm afraid your story will have to wait," Captain Mitchell picked up parts and prepared to follow Laurie to the ship.

"Quite understandable," Gorioshi rose from the ground and helped clear the brief meal.

Laurie returned to the ship with the remaining circuit boards, Captain Mitchell right behind her. She reinstalled the repaired circuits and closed the panel. Dr. Smith finished picking up the discarded pieces and, wrapping them in plastic, carried them back onto the ship.

Droselphine came running towards the Star Traveler.

"I bring good news and bad news," she panted.

Captain Mitchell, who was carrying another large storage box up the entry ramp, set the box down and went to meet her.

"My brother radioed me and told me that he has temporarily disabled the Guild's main computer so they won't be able to attack your ship as you leave, and the electrical field is down. You can lift off when you are ready."

"Good, so then what's the bad news?" Captain Mitchell asked.

"Tack and Endil have sighted a small group of the Guild coming this way. They are fully armed. Tack and Endil are going to try to distract them."

Laurie who had just finished sealing the outside access panel to the repaired circuits joined Captain Mitchell. Captain Mitchell turned to look at Laurie with a raised eyebrow. She nodded, they were good to go.

"The ship should be ready to launch," Captain Mitchell said. "How long do you think Tack and Endil will be able to hold them off?"

Tack and Endil came running full speed toward them, talking hurriedly in Platonian.

"Not long at all," Droselphine translated. "The group is growing!"

Captain Mitchell stood a moment, mulling over all possible plans.

"Droselphine, we thank you for your help and hospitality, but for your sakes, I am inclined to request that you, Tack, and Endil leave. Go now, before that squad gets here. The rest of the crew and I will prepare the ship for launch. We will be alright"

"Alright…," Droselphine stated, "If you or your crew are ever in the area or need to contact us, use frequency 9.508. I believe I showed you how to change the frequency transmitted through your MTD earlier, Laurie?"

Laurie nodded.

"Good, we shall keep you in our prayers."

Droselphine, Tack and Endil shook hands with Laurie and Captain Mitchell, then ran off toward their hidden home.

"Come, Laurie, we had better get the Star Traveler airborne."

"Yes sir!" Laurie said with a nod.

Laurie and Captain Mitchell entered the main deck and took their seats. Dr. Kingston, Eli, and Dr. Smith were already seated.

Captain Mitchell pressed a few buttons.

"Systems check‒ what was that noise?" the Captain asked, suddenly alarmed.

Laurie stood alert at once.

"Weapons fire, Captain!" she exclaimed.

"Where is Gorioshi?" Eli asked.

Captain Mitchell nodded to Laurie, and she ran out of the room.

"Whec ach tor onseton, (where are the others?)" a Guild member demanded.

Gorioshi had tripped and fallen on the entry ramp. The soldier kicked him and made his demand again, threatening Gorioshi with the weapon he had fired at him previously.

Gorioshi grimaced as he reached for his left leg.

Great! My MTD is in the ship! I don't understand a word they are saying. Gorioshi thought in desperation.

Laurie appeared in the doorway of the ship, and quickly assessed the situation with her tegar fully extended. Recognizing the Platonians hand held weapons from the battle on Exandra she knew she may need to use her tegar to deflect any of the electric balls the Platonians might fire at her.

"Yenon weson noretet herseon! (You will not harm)" Laurie commanded, using what Platonian she had been able to learn from Droselphine.

Her use of their language brought them to a standstill.

All eyes and weapons followed her as she walked down the gangplank and stood protectively beside Gorioshi. He slowly stood, favoring his left leg.

"Becenton!" a second Platonian exclaimed thrusting the business end of his gun at her.

Laurie took it to mean that they were not intimidated.

Doesn't matter, just as long as we get out of here, Laurie thought.

Laurie detected footsteps coming from just inside the Star Traveler door. She judged the presence to be her mother.

"Mr. Higashi, can you get to my Mom?" Laurie asked while keeping the soldiers at bay.

Gorioshi limped up the ramp and Dr. Kingston helped him to sickbay.

"Leton usid! (Leave us)" Laurie commanded, using her tegar to push the lead soldier into the group just as the Star Traveler's engines came to life.

As the soldiers tried to close in, Laurie ran into the ship. The ramp retracted even as the soldiers attempted to follow her. As soon as Laurie was through the door the hatch closed and sealed. A moment later, the Star Traveler lifted off the surface. Rising from just beyond the hill that had shielded its presence, a Platonian patrol ship followed in close pursuit.