Keep On Hoping

Ishar let out a shaky breath. Then, he called Gargi. Thankfully, the call was connected and she picked up in a minute.

"Hello Ishar? Thank God you are safe, Dr. Tanvir told me what you found out about Rathore and stuff. I was trying to call you for a millenia. Wait. Let me call Anjani."

Ishar wasn't offered the opportunity to speak. He waited there, impatiently and helplessly, until Anjani got on the call. Then he started speaking, in a very careful voice.

"Listen guys. Our days are limited, restricted.The aliens have chained us with a deadline. Literally, a deadline. Where we will die if we do not do as they are told. W-we only have 30 days, 30 measly days, to do something to protect our planet. Now, I want you to listen very carefully.

Pick only those who are truly loyal to the Indian Army. And try your best, to create and modify the astras along with your team. These seem to be the only ones strong enough to cause any actual harm to the aliens. Just try to wrap it up within 15 days. I'm going to get inside their ship and find out their weakness."

There was an awkward silence.

"Err…you are going to try to get inside the ship? Like inside the ship?"

Ishar sighed. Speaking out loud, it sounded ridiculous to him too, but it was the only way.

"Well…I will try my best. You try yours as well."

"O-o-okay-y ... .zzz" The line went static. These stupid communication disruptions.

Ishar went back outside and joined the others. The atmosphere was gloomy and depressed, and given the circumstances, it wasn't supposed to be anything else. However, being a leader, it was Ishar's job to keep everyone motivated…though the chances were quite less.

He awkwardly cleared his throat. 

"So…umm…listen. I know that destruction seems inevitable now, but if we try, if we truthfully try with all our hearts, we might have a chance of stopping this. We just need to try."

Naren nodded. 

"Of course we will Ishar. But right now, I think we should probably head back to the headquarters and find out what's going on-"

"-We should first interrogate Rathore. I'm going straight for the treasure. I don't trust him, and I am completely sure that he knows something about this."

"But what about our soldiers? You can't exactly go there all by yourself…you need some security." Naren added.

Ishar sighed. 

"Yeah, you are right. It's just been hours since we found out about his work. How about this…I go to the headquarters, Tanik stays here and tries to find the dimanium, and you start spying on Rathore. Meanwhile, Pratap, Karan and Aniket will find a way for me to get into the spaceship, possibly first map it out with a space device. Meanwhile, Gargi and Anjani will create new, more powerful weapons, and we should all have some idea of how to defend ourselves within a few days."

"Shouldn't we warn the other countries about the spaceship?" Tanik asked.

"Err.." Ishar hadn't really thought of that, "It would cause international panic, right? Besides, if our own countrymen are trying to cover up solid facts, who says that the international power leaders won't do it? I think we need to wait for some time, then take global action."

Dr.Tanvir looked at them all, thinking deeply, and then said slowly, 

"Ishar…you said that you want to get on the spaceship?"

Ishar looked confidently at him, and said, "Yes. I will do anything in my power to stop those idiotic aliens-"

"Well, you can't call them idiotic exactly, seeing as they are smarter than us and have mastered intergalactic transport for a millenia-" Tanik interrupted.

"-fine." Ishar said. "The super smart, terribly clever aliens that want to kill us and absorb the planet for all its life. Better?"

Tanik rolled his eyes. Meanwhile, Dr.Tanvir had a sly grin on his face.

"Well, if you need help getting on the spaceship, I can help you with that. I have some very…extensive contacts, and I know a friend who can help us privately travel to space. If we don't get permission from the headquarters or ISRO."

Everyone looked at him, stunned. Who knew that this clever old man was such a rebel? After blinking from his faze, Ishar replied, "Thank you so much Doctor. I will forever be indebted to you. As for the others…let's get going!"