Solbidyum Wars Saga 6: Defeat of the Tottalax (18 page)

By the time I was adjusted properly, and I looked up, I saw that Lightning was nearly tied with Thunder, and neither horse looked like they were about to let the other one lead.  I saw Kala look back over her shoulder at me with a huge grin, and I knew she was totally enjoying every minute of the race.  Slowly, my riding instincts began to come back, and I found myself feeling like I was bonding with the horse as though we were one animal.  I leaned forward in the saddle with my head close to the horse’s head and whispered, “Come on Lightning, let's show those two just who’s best out here.”  Lightning responded just as if he fully understood me and agreed.  Almost as if by magic, Lightning began putting on more speed.  Inch by inch, we moved up until we were next to Kala and Thunder, and then as Kala shouted encouragements to her horse, Lightning began slowly to move ahead.  At first, it was just a few centimeters, but those quickly grew to a meter and then to a full length.  Behind me, I could hear Kala shouting to Thunder to go faster, and I laughed with exhilaration and whispered to Lightning, “Go ahead boy, give it all you got.”

In all the years I had spent living in the country and riding horses, never in my previous life did I have a ride like this one.  Lightning’s speed continued to grow and for a minute in the back of my mind, I started to envision the horse leaving the ground and flying through the air.  I was crouched down low on Lightning back in a near jockey position.  It seemed like the horse's feet only barely touched the ground before they were in the air again.  I glanced back over my shoulder to see Kala nearly three lengths behind me, and Lightning continued going strong.  I just held my place in the saddle and let the horse have its way.  Finally Lightning began to slow down and eventually settled into a slow trot.  I looked back to see where Kala was and saw she, too, had slowed down, but she was a long way back.  I turned Lightning around and we slowly trotted back to Kala and Thunder.

“How did you get Lightning to move so fast?” Kala asked.  “The horses are both clones taken from the same stock, so they virtually have all the same DNA and features.  They should have performed equally, however Lightning was clearly much faster than Thunder.”

I don’t know,” I answered, “Maybe Thunder was just not feeling up to his usual abilities today.”

“Tib, these horses are great!  I can see now why you wanted to share them with me.  Once more of these are bred and made available to people in the Federation, they will become a huge hit; I’m sure of that.”  We rode on talking as the horses cooled down, the identical pair trotting along side by side.  Nearby there was a stream that flowed from the main lake down through the field, we rode the horses over and allowed them to drink.

“How’s the war going?”  Kala finally asked.

“We won the battle at Windsor, but it was a rough one with a number of casualties.  We did obtain a Brotherhood database from one of their computers at an underground facility; from it, we hope to get locations for a number of the enemy bases.  If we succeed we will be taking this war to their door steps instead of being on the defensive all the time.”

“So what now?”  Kala asked looking at me as Thunder began nibbling on some soft grass near the stream's edge.  “What’s next on the agenda?”

“I need to go to Irribis to meet with a Tottalax refugee, and I hope he is un-enamored enough with his fellow Tottalax that he will assist us or at least give us some information we can use.”

“Irribis!  Kala said excitedly, “I’ve always wanted to go there.  It’s a Federation planet, in the heart of the Federation.  Perhaps while we are there you and I can go see one of the underwater shows?”  I didn’t fail to note that Kala had subtly included herself in the mission.

“I don’t see why not,” I answered, “there is no reason for us to expect any enemy actions in that area, so I think we should be safe enough.  Besides, I’m hoping to go in civilian attire and not to be seen as a military presence while there.  I know no matter where we go we will draw attention, but I don’t want people to associate our visit as one with a military objective.”

“Even though that’s what it will be?”  Kala said.

“Precisely!”  I replied, and Kala laughed.  Then she abruptly stopped and stared off in the direction of the estate.  I looked to see what she was staring at and noticed a small cloud of dust and a white horse pulling a carriage.

“By the stars, what is that contraption?” Kala asked.

“It’s a horse-drawn carriage," I responded, “Surely there are animal drawn carriages elsewhere in the universe.”

“Well, yes, but there are not that many used anywhere in the Federation these days.  Everyone uses powered flyers, transports, trains, or ships to get about.  I know there are planets outside the Federation that continue to use beasts of burden, but within the Federation, the practice is almost extinct.”

As the horse and carriage drew nearer it became apparent that Raymond was driving the carriage and that the passengers were Jenira and the twins.  Kala and I could hear Lunnie and Reidecor laughing and squealing with every bump the carriage made.  As soon as the carriage reached us, Lunnie began squirming in Jenira's arms and saying, “I want to go to Daddy.”  Jenira managed to get her out of the carriage, leaving Reidecor in the carriage seat, and brought Lunnie and handed her up to me.  Immediately Lunnie began patting Lightning’s neck.  It was obvious that she was totally smitten with the horse.  I looked over at Reidecor and saw that he was examining the carriage with all the same enthusiasm that Lunnie was with the horse.

“I think we are going to need more horses,” Kala chuckled.

“Yeah, and a few carriages also, I suspect,” I added as I nodded in Reidecor’s direction.

“He sure is fascinated by anything mechanical,” Kala replied.  By now, Jenira had taken Reidecor down from the carriage and set him on the ground.  Almost instantly he was under the carriage and looking at its construction and the wheels.

“Jenira,” Kala called, “you better get him out from under there, if the horse should get startled and take off, he could get injured.”  Jenira nodded and tried to get the very resistant Reidecor from under the carriage, while Raymond stood at the white horse’s head holding on to the harness.

“What did you say the name of the white horse is?” I asked Kala.

“Cloud,” Kala said. “The horses are Thunder, Lightning, and Cloud.  So far, they are the only three horses the science team have cloned.  However, they do plan to clone a few more and to start breeding them.”

By now, Lunnie was bouncing up and down, clearly wanting the horse to move, so I gently nudged the horse forward a bit.  Immediately Lunnie began to giggle.

“You’re really going to make Lunnie impossible to live with now,” Kala said, “She’ll want to go riding every day from now on.” Kala looked at Reidecor, who was still fascinated by the carriage.

“Tibby, did people back on your planet actually travel using devices like that?”

“For many centuries before we learned about electricity and powered engines, carriages like these, or riding like we are now, was the only way to travel on land other than by walking,” I answered.  “But during my life on Earth, this type of travel was more of a recreational hobby and not the preferred method of travel.”

“I can see why it was a fun recreational past time,” Kala replied, “but I also discovered that it can be somewhat painful until you get accustomed to it,” she added as she rubbed her butt.

“So have the science team cloned any other Earth species?”  I asked.

“Several actually, they are putting some species of fish into the lakes here on the estate from Earth, a fish they called a
trout
, I believe.”

“Trout!  That’s great! But aren’t they concerned they might have an impact on native fishes and aquatic life forms here on the planet?”  I responded.

“Tibby, did you ever take a close look in the lakes here?  There are no aquatic animals here.  Megelleon was a terra formed planet.  It was barren a thousand years ago when it was discovered.  All the life forms on this planet came from somewhere else.  The lakes and streams here are devoid of animal life other than for some aquatic plants and plankton.  There are some marine insects and mussels that somehow got into the large sea here and have made it into some lakes.  The scientists working on the cloning said it wasn’t enough to provide food for the trout, so they also cloned and added a few other life forms to the lakes as well.”

“How many fish did they release?”  I asked as in my mind I began contemplating doing some fly fishing.

“A few hundred I believe they said.  They are very small now but the science team said in a few years, once they are larger and begin laying eggs, the population should grow quickly.”  Suddenly, my dream bubble of going fishing vanished like a puff of smoke as I realized it was a dream that would need to wait a few more years.

I could see Lunnie was becoming frustrated with my riding in circles around the group as I talked to Kala.  She turned and looked at me with a cross face and said, “Go fast, Daddy.”

I had to laugh at her frustration, and I said, “Hold on” and I nudged Lightning into a trot.  Lunnie squealed with glee as we rode a short distance away from Kala and the others and then back again.

After we had returned to the stable where the horses were kept, and I had dismounted, I noticed the saddle for the first time.  I had taken for granted it was made of leather like typical Earth saddles had been, but when I dismounted I realized it was actually made of some sort of plastic.  I asked Raymond about it.   He said the saddles had been made by a machine, using the plans for a saddle found in old Earth documents brought by the Mars team.  I also noticed the bridles were made of plastic, as well as were the bits on the bridles.  Raymond explained that though the bits were of some type of plastic material that was stronger than Earth's steel, the horses seemed to react better to them then metal bits.

By now several hours had elapsed and I needed to be getting back to the
DUSTEN
soon.  I showered at the estate and put on a new uniform and then had a quick meal with Kala and the twins.  I wished I could spend more time with them like this, but before I knew it, I was back on the
DUSTEN
and standing in the War Room once more.

“What’s the status, Captain?”  I asked Marranalis.

“Things on the surface are secure.  We’ve located the supplies of head gear for suppressing the effects of the Tottalax sleep weapon, and they are being transferred here to the
DUSTEN
for later distribution to the fleet as needed.  Admiral Wabussie’s FSO bunch are working with the data we’ve acquired from the Brotherhood computers.  Our ships are removing the last survivors from the damaged Brotherhood ships and processing them here, before we transfer them to the Lunar prison.

“Rear Admiral Regeny has gone to the base on Plosaxen, and he said to tell you that the
MAXETTE
is scheduled for its dedication and shakedown cruise in two weeks.  He wants to know if you plan to make that your flagship and if you are attending the shakedown cruise?”

“Find the exact date and time and put it on my schedule.  By the way, do you know who Admiral Regeny has selected to be the captain?  I wanted to move Wanoll over to captain the ship, but he wanted to stay here on the
DUSTEN.
When I told Admiral Regeny, he said he would select someone appropriate and qualified, but that’s the last I heard anything about it.”  I said. 

“I believe sir that the captain is a Nibarian named Mareoparen.  He is one of the few Nibarians that served in the Federation military before you showed up.  He’s served honorably with the fleet and has a distinguished career,” Marranalis replied, “I believe he served under Admiral Stonbersa for a while as his second in command.  That was before Stonbersa’s resignation.”

“If he was Stonbersa’s second, I would imagine he is good,” I said, “Tell the Admiral, yes, I will be at the launching, and that yes, I still plan to make the
MAXETTE
my flag ship.”  I noticed Marranalis grin when I said this, and I had a feeling there was more he hadn’t said.

“Okay, what’s the rest?  I said looking at him firmly.

“I think that Admiral Regeny is thinking about making the
DUSTEN
his permanent headquarters, and he wants to use your quarters as his own.  If you make the
MAXETTE
your flagship, it won’t be any big deal for him to take over your old quarters.”

“He could have had my quarters anytime he wished,” I said, “I don’t stay here on the
DUSTEN.
  At nights, I go back to the
NEW ORLEANS
to be with Kala and the twins.  I barely use my quarters here at all.  Anything else?”

“A’Lappe says he needs to talk to you about something.  As usual, he would not say what.  I asked him how important it was and his answer was,
how valuable is it to be able to penetrate an RMFF shield?
”

“Do you think he’s found a way to do that?”  I asked.

“I have no way of knowing.  I tried to get him to say more, but he only grinned, blinked his eyes and disappeared.  I really wish he didn’t do that.”  Marranalis said as he shook his head.

“Ha, ha, A’Lappe never changes,” I laughed.

“Tibby, why has no one has ever seen anyone of A’Lappe’s race before?” Marranalis asked.