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  “What is your proposal, Quafeira?”

  “I propose that Aarath, I and the others go down without an armed security team.”

  “Such a move would not be advisable,” Sabin protests.

  “I agree,” Aarath cuts in. “Quafeira, why would you even suggest such a move?”

  “Aarath, we told Prelarian Valmov that our purpose in coming down is to search for a lost ship. In essence, we are engaging in peaceful search venture. Obviously, a heavily armed security detachment would send him the opposite message.”

  “Quafeira,” Obbin protests, “we have no idea of whom we are dealing. By its very nature, any alien first contact situation demands that the necessary defense precautions be taken.”

  “They are fully aware that we can defend ourselves,” Quafeira states. “Upon learning that we were not from Harcon, they welcomed us.”

  “They also told us that they could aid us in finding the Illasius,” Ra’el breaks in. “I think that it would make another great stopover.”

  Eager to add her own ideas to the situation at hand, Ra’el happily joined the search team in helping to solve the puzzling mystery. Quafeira, despite Aarath’s earlier protest, felt happy to have brought Ra’el along.

  “Commander,” Quafeira continues, “these Surăvians would be much better convinced of our peaceful intent if we arrived without an armed security detachment accompanying us.”

  Ularik ponders his options before coming to a decision. Regardless of the promise of a welcome, he feels justifiably concerned over the safety of his landing party.

  Despite some individuals’ idealistic notions with regard to first contact, Ularik prefers to seek out new life and new civilizations with the Phesavius standing ready with weapons ready to open fire. “I was never one for diplomacy,” he continues. “In this instance, however, I will agree to your proposal. I will inform this Prelarian Valmov that I will be sending you, Aarath, Thanor and Ra’el.”

  “Thank you Commander,” Quafeira replies. “I feel this would make it far easier to carry out our search mission.

  “Very well. You four will act as representatives of our government. First, we will make the necessary preparations before planetfall.”

  “Agreed Commander,” Science Officer Mobren states. “Along with a few other prerequisites, we should first establish a common frame of time reference between our culture and theirs. As Neoma had indicated, they speak the Gothani language. We will need portable language translators.”

  “Commander, do you feel that this interplanetary conflict might, in some way, affect our mission here?” Aarath asks.

  “I am uncertain,” Ularik concludes, “although I am inclined to believe that they are now willing to cooperate with us.”

  “I am very excited over this,” Ra’el blurts out. “We should investigate every possibility.” Aarath is annoyed by Ra’el’s youthful gleefulness.

  “Ra’el is right. We must talk to these people first if we are to learn about the Illasius,” Quafeira concludes.

  “As I stated earlier,” Ularik continues, “I will keep the Phesavius crew on high alert status. I want each of you to begin making the necessary preparations. Get yourselves plenty of rest. We begin tomorrow.”

  “Commander, what time?” Ra’el asks.

  “Planetfall, via the shuttle, will commence beginning the eighth cetrion of the first division. I have no intention of landing my ship on that world. Thanor Somars!”

  “Yes Commander.”

  “Aarath informed me that you are an exceptional pilot.”

  “Commander, I am among the top ten pilots at the Rostrean Space Academy. I hold a level-four pilot rating.”

  “Impressive,” Ularik replies. “I want you to pilot the Sagean. You will transport the landing party down to the surface. There will be no fancy aerial maneuvering, just a routine landing.”

  “Yes Commander,” Thanor replies.

  “One thing though. If they show any hostility, I guarantee that there will be unpleasant consequences for our suddenly hospitable guests. Keep your communicators open and hidden. Dismissed!”

  Chapter 3The Egyptian Connection

  The Sawyers Residence

  Wednesday, 7 August 1974 (12:00 PM)

  After hearing the chime, Michelle walks to the front door. As she opens the door, she becomes excited at seeing one of her former elementary students standing outside. “Hello Sylvia, come on in. I have some lemon jelly doughnuts and drinks waiting for you. You’ve grown a lot too.

  “Thanks Mrs. Sawyers,” Sylvia begins. “I know this is unusual, but I had to see you about an important matter.”

  Michelle invites Sylvia in. Both women sit across from each other at a coffee table. “Sylvia, I understand your concern in this. You were always deep into these things.”

  “I love studying my cultural history,” Sylvia tells her. “I am seriously thinking about becoming a history teacher.”

  Michelle is surprised. “That would be an excellent choice on your part. These are the seventies and people’s attitudes are changing.”

  Sylvia happily agrees. “It sure looks that way. During my first year at Anonwood Central High, I saw some things that you wouldn’t believe.”

  “Oh, I’d believe it. Anyway, I found the information on the question that you had asked me over the phone. It took a while.”

  Michelle rises, walks over to a desk and opens a drawer. She pulls out two books, walks back to the coffee table and sits down. Sylvia eagerly removes both books from Michelle’s hands. Old and worn, the first book, Ancient Egypt: An Illustrated History, had been published in 1934. Michelle continues. “You were always the smartest girl in class. Some of the other girls, especially Gail Lyles, were jealous of you.”

  “I wasn’t trying to show anyone up,” Sylvia mentions. “This is just who I am.”

  “Yes, I can see that. Now, why are you interested in these old books? It took me nearly an hour of searching before I finally found them in the attic. My father gave them to me when I was in the fifth grade.”

  Before answering Michelle, Sylvia focuses on the front cover, which has a gray scale photo of the temple ruins of Pharaoh Seti I located in the city of Abydos, considered by the ancient Egyptians as the holiest site in the world. “Do you remember,” Sylvia begins, “when you had that oral discussion about ancient Egyptian pharaohs?”

  “Yes, I had the most difficult time keeping half the class awake. Most of the students were thinking only of the weekend.” The women break out in a short laugh.

  “Yeah, it was on a Friday afternoon,” Sylvia says. “You used this book as a reference source. You made mention of the author, Abdul Mahmoud and an Egyptian archaeologist named Fahim, I think.”

  “Actually, the name of the Egyptian archaeologist was Faheem Zeyad. You’ll find him in chapter thirteen.”

  Sylvia opens the book and scans the table of contents before focusing on chapter thirteen, which is entitled An Unusual Discovery. She flips through the pages before coming to the thirteenth chapter. Her heart begins racing as she flips over three pages. As she continues reading, she slides her forefinger down to a specific paragraph. “This is it! The nova! This has to be it!” Sylvia states excitedly.

  “The nova? What about it?” Michelle asks.

  “September 18th, 1889,” Sylvia continues, “is the corresponding date!”

  “I still don’t understand. The corresponding date to what?”

  Looking up at Michelle, Sylvia realizes that she cannot fully divulge what she knows. “I was arguing with a guy about something. He’s always, like, ya’ know, trying to prove me wrong. You know how some men are.”

  “Yes, I do. I’m married to one.”

  “I heard that,” Michelle’s husband shouts from another room.

  “Just kidding, Paul. I love you darling,” she shouts back. Both women break out in a muffled laugh.

  “Now why are you so interested in this particular nova?”

  “I didn’t t
hink hardly anything about this nova until I ran across some information I had discovered earlier. Actually, it’s the date of the nova that interests me the most.”

  Although Michelle is still puzzled by Sylvia’s interest in this stellar event, she nevertheless had decided to grant Sylvia’s request.

  “According to the historical account,” Michelle begins, “Faheem Zeyad and his team were finishing up some excavation work at the temple of Rameses II. This was when the nova appeared. Interestingly, Faheem indicated that this same star had flared briefly the previous night.”

  “That’s odd. Yet, I bet it got worldwide attention,” Sylvia surmises.

  “I wouldn’t say that it was world news in 1889 as it would be now.”

  “Why not?”

  “Only a few people during that time may have seen it. In September of 1918, this same star flared again and was recorded in the Journal of the British Astronomical Association as a recurrent nova.”

  “This is amazing,” Sylvia states.

  “Do you know what else is amazing?” Michelle asks.

  “What’s that?

  “During the early 1900s, the British Astronomical Association allowed women to be members. Elizabeth Brown was among the first of these women.” Laying the first book down, Sylvia picks up and opens the second book, The Turbulent Heavens, which was published in 1940.

  “In the class discussion about Deborah Michaels,” Sylvia continues, “you said that the sexism that Deborah and the other women endured at the university was horrific.”

  “Yes it was,” Michelle agrees. “The Women’s Suffrage Movement of the early 1900s and today’s Women’s Lib Movement underscore the fact that numerous women are fighting for social-economic equality.”

  “I agree,” Sylvia remarks, as she at times has had her share of sexual advances from young and older men alike. “Mrs. Sawyers, I want to know if I could use The Turbulent Heavens for a while. I need to research a few things.”

  “Be my guest,” Michelle replies. “You may return the book at your earliest convenience.”

  The Phillis Wheatley Community Library

  Wednesday, 7 August 1974 (2:00 PM)

  After stepping off the red and white CRT bus, Sylvia walks two blocks and enters the library. After a brief look around, she walks towards the reference section. After browsing through several rows of books, she selects Carl Hayden’s Guide to Astronomical Phenomena (Texas Board of Education, circa 1955), a reference book containing information on past stellar events that were seen and recorded between 1000 A.D. and 1900 A.D. Within its pages, Sylvia is surprised to learn that the same nova star that had been observed by Faheem Zeyad on 18 September 1889, had flared up previously on 17 September 1860, as seen Richard Allenworth. An associate of Faheem, though, mentions that the same star had flared briefly the previous night.

  With book in hand, she walks to the nearest table, sits down and begins reading. At the top of the left-hand column of page 147, Sylvia sees a photograph of a small group of stars in the shape of a distorted W. A white circle highlights the specific star that went nova. However, while giving substantial information on the nova star, scant information is given about Richard T. Allenworth himself. This omission puzzles her. Information on every other person listed in Carl Hayden’s Guide to Astronomical Phenomena is recorded in great detail, including name, date of birth/death, along with a host of other aspects regarding the life of the specific individual.

  Among many of these accounts is the appearance of a supernova that appeared in the night sky on 11 November 1572. Although many European historians had credited Italian astronomer Tycho Brahe as being the main eyewitness to the event, Supernova 1572 was seen earthwide by hundreds of millions of people. Sylvia notices that four pages are dedicated to Tycho’s observation of that supernova. In addition, she discovers that Supernova 1054, recorded by Chinese astronomer Yang Wei Te, was seen on the Gregorian calendar date of 4 July 1054. Placing the book down, she stands up and walks back to the library card catalogue. After a careful scan of a particular card, she discovers that Allenworth had authored two books. One minute later, she is browsing a particular row of older autobiography reference books.

  Finally, she comes upon a revised edition of one of those two books. Pulling one book off the shelf, she reads the title. She flips through the pages until she comes across a facial portrait of Allenworth. Although sharply dressed in a black three-piece suit and thin gold chain, he appears unhappy. Sylvia reaches a conclusion. “Now I see why they left him out.”

  Chapter 4Deadly Alliance

  The Pa’yoth Military Air Base

  The Surăvian Capital City of Sovrenka

  Shandar, 12 Gurron 1589 S.E.

  The shuttle, Sagean, descends slowly toward the landing tarmac. Along with a huge crowd of people, fourteen Surăvian high military officials stand patiently as the shuttle touches down on the tarmac just ahead of them. Prelarian Ilrazean Valmov is among them. Alongside Ilrazean are several of his well-dressed subordinates including Kalian Nirov and one female aid, Oleas Himach.

  With the aid of language-translation devices, Surăvian military officials are standing ready to insure that any verbal miscommunication or misunderstanding is avoided. Among the selothian party, each individual is also equipped with a portable arm-mounted language translator of his or her own. Finally, the shuttle touches down. Two minutes of eager silence passes. From the side of the shuttle, a metal ramp begins to extend outward and then down. The outermost hatch slides to the left. A few Surăvian officials appear stunned as they observe a tall and muscular individual dressed in a partially opened dark blue overcoat. His dark, thick hair is meticulously shaped.

  His shirt and pants are light blue. In addition, he is wearing a wide white belt. He walks down the ramp and stops. He breathes in the cold and crisp winter air. As he is viewing the people standing before him, various Surăvian females are smiling profusely at him. Their smiles vanish as another female begins walking down the ramp and stands beside him. Finally, a younger couple walks down the ramp and stand behind the two older individuals. The alien party is looking around in awe at the Surăvian people, as well as the various buildings. Along with gray overcast skies and slight rain drizzle, the temperature is colder than anticipated. The silence is broken.

  “Welcome to Akrosia! I am Ilrazean Valmov, the military Prelarian of the People’s Union of Surăvia.” After a few moments, Ilrazean’s greeting is translated into the selothian language of Ethrosian. Each member of the selothian party begins looking at each other before making a response. Surăvian military officials fear that the translation was not accurate. Their fears are allayed, however, as the taller selothian begins smiling.

  “Greetings Prelarian Valmov. I am Aarath Suris. As representatives of the government of the planet Dabenar and of her people, we accept your warm welcome and hospitality.” Aarath’s greeting is translated back into the Surăvian language of Gothani. Ilrazean Valmov and his military aides are highly pleased with the resultant translation.

  Reacting accordingly, the Surăvian crowd opens up with loud applause. In the standard Surăvian greeting, Ilrazean extends his hands out, rotates his palms upward and bows slightly. The selothian party follows in like manner. Ilrazean’s burnt-orange colored skin accentuates his black and square-shaped hairstyle. Standing six feet and two inches high, Ilrazean Valmov is one of his nation’s top military commanders. Under his authority are other military officers who command several ground and aerial attack units. Ilrazean’s uniform, a medium brown, two-piece outfit with decorative metals on the left side of his chest, is clearly an indication of his military status.

  Ilrazean scans each individual within the selothian party with acute curiosity. He assumes Aarath Suris, the tallest and largest of the four, to be the alien party leader. Ilrazean turns his attention to the female standing alongside Aarath. Her clothing, a long turquoise dress covered over by a white medium length topcoat. He takes particular notice of her dark amber skin
color and dark, yet neatly shaped indigo hair. Inwardly, Ilrazean finds her highly attractive and remarkably similar to another female that he once knew. Quafeira stands looking back at Ilrazean with equal curiosity. What she sees is unquestionably of acute interest to her. Finally, Ilrazean focuses on the two younger individuals standing behind Quafeira. Each is dressed in a light blue uniform under a medium length beige coat.

  Ilrazean is surprised that the younger selothian female has a light green skin color, while the younger selothian male has a medium yellow skin color. Aarath and the others see that they have landed within the center of a large military airbase. Aarath takes special note of one particular disturbing sight farther away. Approximately one hundred feet away, a line of twenty armed military soldiers dressed in brown and green cold-weather uniforms and heavy fur caps are standing at stiff attention. Aarath is amused to see these soldiers holding fully automatic rifles close to their chest; weapons that look highly similar to those used during the early 6th century B.E. breakup of the Cadician-Perasian World Empire.

  The last four of these 1,680-year-old weapons are presently showcased in vacuum enclosures at the Dovean Museum of Antiquity back in his home city. Although such weapons are ancient by present day selothian standards, Aarath is certain that these weapons are still deadly effective. Farther away behind the line of soldiers is a crowd of military officials and civilians. Thanor becomes attentive to numerous bright red flags posted at various locations throughout the base. He takes note that each flag has two yellow objects placed in the upper left-hand corner. Regardless, the presence of selothian aliens is a source of wonder for Surăvian spectators. A military band, per Ilrazean’s hand signal, begins playing Battle of Balinskivor, the Surăvian national anthem.