Lost in Time Chapter 20

[Ed Man]

A Common Enemy
Chapter 20

A week after the destruction of the station the evacuation on both worlds was running smoothly and Josh had returned to studying the time traveling drive on the captured ship. In the middle of a test run on a small fighter outfitted with a experimental time drive Sarah replies. “Josh you just received a subspace message.”
[Josh] “I’m a little busy right now Sarah can’t it wait?”
[Sarah] “It’s from the Agent on the trading station.”
As the results came in to a felled attempt from the ship Josh replied. “Move on to the next test I need to take this.” Josh went into his room and opened the message.
“Please come to the Station and transport me over to your ship I have a urgent message for you.”

Josh went back out into the control room and told the team to continue with the testing while he was gone until they were successful and transported over to his ship and jumped away.
[Josh] “Sarah set course for the station and hail the Agent on his ear piece and transport him over if he’s ready.“
As the ship reached transporter range the Agent stepped of the transporter pad saying. “Thanks Mr. Galen for your fast response we have a common enemy that would like to kill you and for destroying his secret Base.”
[Josh] “I destroyed the Base for the Ancients to stop a threat not start one.”
[Agent] “He want’s to kill me also so the Boss told me to disappear I thank you meet him the one that gave you the station. The one that want’s to kill us was the Royal Leader on the planet. He decided to have a election to show everyone how well loved he was but ended up losing the election and his control of the planet. Now he’s out for revenge and has been building up support wherever he can and he just enlisted the help of the Commander of the Space Fleet protecting the planet. With his help he can do anything he wants to the people on the planet. The ground forces can not win a fight against the space fleet and they know it so they will surrender to the Commander at the first sign of trouble.”

[Josh] “And how do I play into all this we’re planning on leaving as soon as we can remember. It sounds to me like the Ancients need to take care of this themselves their fleet poses no threat to me or my plans I’ll be long gone while all this plays out on its own.”
[Agent] “For one don’t sell him short he has connections with some of the Ancients and has been tied to the assassination of Sherpa the second in line to control the affairs of the planet you’re fleeing.
He was planning on taking control of that planet being the next successor with Sherpa out of the way.”

[Josh] “And how does that work they have a list of next in line to control a planet.”
[Agent] “That’s a crude way of describing it but yes. Sherpa would have been given a place on the ruling body with the Ancients replacing her father.”
[Josh] “What happened to Him?”
[Agent] “His sentence was to erase his scientific knowledge from his mind and strand him on the planet in a safe residence after the gate is removed to live out the rest of life as a normal man on the planet he condemned to annihilation with his ruthless and careless actions of genocide.”
[Josh] “Why don’t the Ancients step in and help me save the people if they know what’s going to happen? I have a cure for them!”
[Agent] “No you have a cure for the people on your ships after the gate is removed the virus will mutate a few more times and will end up killing everyone. The planet has to be isolated and the virus will die out on its own without a human host.”
[Josh] “And how do they know that?”
[Agent] “The Ancients can time travel so they placed monitoring devices on the planet and run several test into the future each ending in disaster.”
[Josh] “You know a lot about the affairs of the Ancients just who are you?”
[Agent] “I was just given this information for this meeting and have been recalled to the Councils Headquarters and they want to talk to you in person and they said you could bring one quest and they guarantee you and your quest safety and the right to leave whenever you choose.”

[Josh] “How do we get there if I decide to go?”
[Agent] “I’ll give you the jump gate codes where we dock with their ship and they take us the rest of the way. For everyone’s safety that’s how it works you don’t know where they are so their safe and you don’t know where they are if you was to be captured.”
[Josh] “If I don’t know where I am I’d be lost if I left! It kind of sounds like a trap to me.”
[Agent] “No the Captain of the ship that takes us there will take you back to the sector he picks us up at when you’re ready to leave. You can stay 1 hour or 1 week just say the word and he’ll transport you back and make sure you leave safely.”
[Josh] “I’ll transport you back and let you know my answer in a few hours.”
[Agent] “It’s quite a honor to receive an invite from the Council, don‘t take to long and use extreme discretion if you discuss it with anyone.”

As the Agent transported back Josh was trying to decide who he would take with him he had made his mind up to go while the agent was their but who to take with him? Sherpa was us to the Ancients but they were just people with self-absorbed ideals and Josh decided to keep Sherpa out of the picture and safe. The only other person he could thank of was Captain Mitchell he was the only one that didn’t have any ties to the Ancients or the people of this time giving him an clear perspective of the situation Josh knew he could be persuaded to do something to protect the people he was trying to save.
Josh jumped back and transported Mitchell over and told him about the offer and the reason Josh needed him to come along. A ship was sent to the sector the fleets was gathered in to deliver a classified message to the Council informing them what was about to happen and to place the fleet on high alert.

As the Agent transported over he gave Josh the sector codes. Josh recognized the sector codes, it was a remote and lifeless system they had already explored. As they entered the sector and pulled away from the Gate the sector was empty.
Josh looked around and studied the scanner nothing was showing up on the scanner or in dark void of space as the three looked out hopping to catch a glimpse of the ship coming to get them.
[Sarah] “We are receiving a message Commander.” [Josh] “Put it through.”
“Welcome Mr. Galen and friend please bring your ship to a stop and standby for as we ready for your ships docking.”
As the ship slowed to a halt it was transported into docking bay of the transport ship.
“Welcome aboard Mr. Galen my First Officer is waiting to deliver a remote device to you outside your ship in the docking bay. He will explain what it is, keep it on you at all times.”

As they opened the hatch a Man was waiting on them. He quickly handed Josh and Mitchell a small device and told them to keep it with them all the time. He went on to explain that if one of them mashed the button or got injured they both would be transported back onto the ship and jump away to safety, then delivered back to the sector they just left. He went on to explain to leave all weapons and scanning devices onboard the ship. Josh and Mitchell returned to the fighter and placed their weapons in lockers.

Mitchell watched as Josh took off weapon after weapon and placed them in their holsters.
[Mitchell] “Do you us all of those?” As he looked at the blaster, knives and pair of pistols in the lockbox. “Yes.” Josh replied as he closed the box and looked at the plaster and pistol Mitchell had in his box.
[Josh] “No blades Captain?” [Mitchell] “I had basic training with them but never got into blades.”
Josh handed Mitchell a nice knife for his flight jacket. “Here take this one as a gift from me you never know you may need it someday.” Mitchell placed the blade in the box as he said. “Thanks.”

As they walked up to the Officer he scanned them and said. “The Council is ready to meet with you Mr. Galen are you ready?”
[Josh] “Is their any special way of greeting them I should know about?”
[Officer] “No Sir just speak the truth and you’ll be fine. You’ll be transported to the meeting hall a steward will escort you and your friend into the Conference room are you both ready?”
Mitchell nodded his head as Josh looked at him then said. “Yes.”

A man was waiting on them as they transported into a lobby, The Man scanned them and said. “Please follow me I’ll show you to your seats the Council is ready to address you.”
The man lead Josh and Mitchell into a large conference hall. Josh could see a number of people setting in the shadows in a u shape theater seating around the table they were seated at giving everyone a clear view of Josh and Mitchell.
A Man stepped out of the shadows. “Welcome Mr. Galen can we get you something to drink?”
Josh spoke up not wanting to give anyone a live sample of his DNA. “No we’re fine what can I do for you and you friends?”
The Spokesman smiled. “Our Agent has informed you of the dilemma we are facing. We want you to capture the one in question. He is about to start a civil war on the planet and when he is done he will be coming for you. He has been tied to the assassination of Sherpa and conspiring with her father in the demise of Goanna and the slave trade of humans for experimentation. Along with conspiring to overthrow the leadership in neighboring sectors setting himself up as supreme ruler of the sectors all in direct defiance of this Council.” The man paused looking at Josh.

[Josh] “Like I told your Agent what does all of this have to do with me I plan on being long gone in a few weeks.”
The Spokesman looked at Josh. “It has everything to do with you. The Council has determined that you and the fleet you have can not stay in the time period it is in. Your technology would upset the time line so you and your ships and people must return to your future timeline. You will be given a planet to resettle your people on, the Council has looked into your past and seen a planet you and your family discovered while you were lost in space. All the Council ask is that you capture Hamadryad and the Commander of the Space Fleet his new Military leader. The Commander has already started the killing and the sooner you intervene the better. The Council has heard of a woman that may be Sherpa that is hidding in your fleet somewhere they want you to look into the issue and see if she is alive and hidding in your fleet.”

[Josh] “I thought you said Hamadryad had her killed and if she is alive why is she hiding in my fleet.”

[Spokesman] “Sherpa is the next in line to replace her fathers seat within the Council. If she is hiding in your fleet you have the authority of the Council to offer her safe haven and her fathers seat on the Council.”

[Josh] “You still didn’t answer the question of why I should get mixed up in what appears to be your problem. You have already decided what to do with us so please explain to me the purpose of getting me involved?”
[Spokesman] “This is a closed meeting Mr. Galen only the ruling members of the Council are here. Hamadryad has ears within the members not within the ruling Council if a decree to capture Hamadryad is rulled on he will hear of it. You offer the Council a element of surprise with the least amount of bloodshed for innocent people he would kill in the attack. If you help with the capture of Hamadryad the Council will return you and your fleet to your time line to the planet we discussed.”

[Josh] “Well that’s a good reason for me but what about my friend Mitchell will you return him to his time?”
[Spokesman] “No we can’t he is from your past and it would corrupt the time line, they all go with you or not at all.”
Mitchell told Josh to return to the Argon Sectors was just fine with him but can they trust them? They are hidding in the dark.
[Josh] “My friend has a good point. Can we trust your Council your in a secret place we can’t contact you and your setting in the dark so we can’t see you but we’re the ones in the spotlight about to wage war on your enemy.”
[Spokesman] “I resent that remark Mr.Galen! But the Council has asked that Captain Mitchell step out into the reception area the Council are only willing to reveal themselves to you.”
Mitchell stood up as a man escorted him out of the room. The lights were turned up as Josh looked at each member of the Council.
[Spokesman] “Are you satisfied now Mr. Galen?”
[Josh] “Yes I like nowing who I’m working with or in this case at least see them. I want to ask the Council for your help at the current rate all the people I will be able to save is around 300,000 packed into our ships. I would like to increase that number to over 500,000 if you would send a team of mine back in time in a secluded sector and allow them to build 12 super ships that would house 25,000 people each it would ease the overcapacity of our ships and the ships will serve as outpost on the new planet when we arrive here are the designs.” Josh showed the spokesman his PDA with the design.

[Spokesman] “Why should the Council agree to your request?”
[Josh] “To save lives!” The Council deliberates for several minutes in private as the room goes shady and silent.
[Spokesman] “The Council has agree to your request have a ship in the sector you were picked up in within three hours of your return ready and they will be sent back in time to build your ships but the Council will send a envoy to oversee the undertaking. The ships will be sent to the same sector the first in two hours after their departure the rest in 48 hour intervals till all 12 are built your team will return with the last ship. Well Mr. Galen if all go’s well you will never be before this Council again and you’ll be back in your time.”
[Josh] “I want to thank the Council for their help. If I find the woman you were asking about what do I do with her?”
[Spokesman] “The Agent you came with we be returning with you as a consultant and your contact with us. Just mash the button after you rejoin your friend and you’ll be back onboard your ship and in the sector you came from within the hour. It’s your mission do it as you see fit just don’t kill or injure Hamadryad. Good by Mr. Galen.”

Josh rejoined Mitchell and mashed the button and they were onboard their ship a second later the Agent was transported onboard with them.
[Agent] “I’m your emissary until you leave these sectors. I have the latest information on your target he’s onboard the Fleets Flag Ship in space with the Fleet Commander.”
[Josh] “Mitchell I want you to pick up the new Super Ships I’m going to be busy when we reach the sector. I’ll contact the fleet and the planet and tell them the good news about the ships. We may have to move the fleets First Officers up to Captain to fill the positions but I’ll let the Fleets Command Center make that call.
I want you to get your bridge crew together and us them to pickup and deliver the Super Ships by the time you deliver all the ships your TL should be ready to go. Contact Fleet Command when you reach the sector drop off point they’ll have a Support Ship for you and your Crew to use. You know Mitchell this means a extra 300,000 people will be saved and we have a planet to Colonize.”

[Mitchell] “The planet is a desert world it will take some getting use to I was raised on a planet with oceans and lakes and rain.”
[Josh] “That’s not going to be a problem I have the Ancients technology to terra farming planets. It may take a few years but we’ll make it a water planet. We surveyed the planet looking for a planet to live on when we were in lost in that part of space if it had water on it it would be a Class 1 planet. The nearest Jump Gate is over a hundred light years away and the one that stranded us there is 120 light years away from the planet. We were about to make a base on the planet when we discovered a Gate that lead us to the known Argon sectors.”
[Mitchell] “You’re not from the Argon sectors?”
[Josh] “No my home world planet was Alpha Prime and no I don’t know how to get back. I made my home in the Argon Sectors and now I guess I’ll be making a new home again and I’m fine with that. One thing I have fount to be a constant everywhere I have been when hard times and trouble set in you find out who your friends are and what kind of person they really are. The Ancients have just agreed to help us so they may not be all that bad after all.”
[Mitchell] “Tell me that when we’re on the planet. You ever heard of being weary of Trojans bearing gifts.”
[Josh] “Yes I have, you do have a good point. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how this all plays out.”
Sarah responded. “We just entered open space what are you orders Conmmander.”
[Josh] “Contact Fleet Command and have the assault team we used at the station meet us in the sector near the research ship and have them bring a support ship for Mitchell to use. Jump to the sector and fly to the gathering point near the TL so Mitchell can contact his crew.”

Minutes later the ship pulled into position as a support ship closed and Mitchell transported over and headed for the planet to collect his crew. Ten minutes later the assault team and ships entered the sector.

[Ed Man]

I us to work with a man that said he was his own grandfather
But he also thought there were tiny cameras hidden in the shop so they could watch everybody he unpluged the power supply one night to the alarm system he was convinced it was the power supply for the camera they had to watch him the boss was very mad after he had to call in the alarm people in to see what was wrong with the system it all came out a few days later what had happened.
what you said made me thank of that

[collins50]

I was suprized to find two chapter that I haden't read.

Thanks a good disstractor to the goings on around me.

Good work. we'll have to see how this plays out.