Ally

"Greetings noble warrior. Thank you for coming", Princess Nina expressed her gratitude Takunda outside the underground castle. They had just disembarked from the scout ship. Takunda was wearing his universal translator on his utility belt cordlessly connected with plug ins allowing for him to receive translations of alien languages directly into his ears. A small speaker was clipped to the breast of his uniform enabling his speech to be translated into any alien language.

"You sound like you were expecting me?" returned Takunda surprised.

"We were hoping that someone would respond to the SOS sent out into space by king Krain after the aliens you rescued us invaded", explained princess Nina.

"Can I see the king it is he with whom I must to talk", returned Takunda.

"That will not be possible", commented prince Pais.

The expression on princess princess Nina's face caught Pais' eye and he went quiet.

The silent exchange between Pais and Nina did not go unnoticed by Takunda, who looked from one to another.

"Why not?", asked Takunda directing the question to both of them.

Prince Tais quietly looked at the floor.

"King Krain", my father, is no more", began princess Nina.

"He was your father?"

"Yes", I am his daughter, Nina, princess of the planet Plaska.

"Plaska", repeated Takunda.

"That is the name of this planet you are on, emphasized Princess Nina.

"And he is, my cousin Pais she proceeded, referring to the Prince.

"You come alone?", asked a Prince Pais.

"What my cousin is trying to ask is where is your fleet", ", explained, princess Nina more directly.

"We needed to see for our selves that the situation on the planet before deciding on a course of action", replied Takunda

"Let me introduce myself, I am captain Takunda Munda of the galactic patrol from the planet earth.

"Takunda from earth, you must your leaders inform your leaders on earth of the dire crisis facing this planet. We urgently need assistance", proceeded Princess Nina.

"Even as we speak tremors are being felt getting stronger in parts of the tunnels", added Prince Pais, "We suspect the aliens are in the process of attempting to blast their way down to us with explosives".

"I understand your concerns and now have even enough to report back to my superiors back on earth, I 'm positive they will send the help you want", responded Takunda

An aide suddenly burst in panting.

"Your majesties, the aliens have broken into a section of the south tunnels", reported the aide.

"That's the section from we we entered the tunnels", princess Nina remarked to Takunda.

"I must get to my ship and report to space command on the situation I have found here", replied Takunda.

"If the aliens have broken through, then they will have troops stationed between us and your ship. I 'm afraid it will not be possible for you to get to it", princess said to Takunda.

"Without my report, princess, no help will come", declared Takunda.

"Without assistance this planet is doomed", added the princess Nina.

Princess Nina and Takunda held each other's gaze for an moment, deep in thought with neither one of them talking.

The uncomfortable silence was only broken by prince Pais asking the aide,

"Have the people hiding in that section of tunneling

been evacuated?",

"Yes your majesty, we have barricaded ", replied the aide respectfully.

Back on earth the president of the thunder nation and his ministers set anxiously in the cabinet room waiting for news from the mission to king Krain's planet. They had last heard from the scout ship almost 24hours earlier when the mission had run into a fleet of alien vessels just beyond the planet's orbit. A number of possibilities could have occurred.

The scout ship might have been destroyed during the encounter with the alien vessels. It could also have been captured intact and it's pilot taken prisoner. Either possibility did not look good with the later presenting an even greater threat.

The aliens would come to learn of earth's location.

"Unless, Takunda suggested thoughtfully..."

"Yes?", pressed princess Nina anxiously.

"I can get a message out from where king Krain broadcast the SOS", proceeded Takunda.

"That is directly above us in the throne room, We can go there in the elevator".

"It might be dangerous", remarked prince Pais.

"It is possible that the aliens might not be watching the throne room as everyone fled when they invaded", replied princess Nina. "Either way it's the best chance we have of getting help", say we take it".

"Lead the way princess", urged Takunda.

"I 'm also coming along", quickly added prince Pais.

"Find a technician and meet us outside the elevator" , princess Nina instructed the aide.

The aide quickly rushed off to do as he had been instructed.

"Lead the way your majesty", said Takunda.