Tajlon was restless. All he wanted to do was spend time with Soshe and he had promised to show her around. Instead, he had to attend this emergency meeting with the general and leave Soshe to Mara's care. They were going shopping to update Soshe's wardrobe. It was amazing how fast Soshe was adjusting from her austere life in the wild to the one of culture. She appeared at the breakfast table adorned in a bright sundress with her hair swept up in a sophisticated style which accented her slender neck. The necklace she wore had been handed down in Mara's family. He recognized it from the chest full of goods Mara had managed to salvage from her flooded island home so many years ago. The necklace looked as though it belonged on Soshe. Tajlon couldn't wait to escort her around the NORC complex and turn a few heads. His chest filled with pride at the very thought of being her escort. And she had kissed him. A lot. Life was good.

Colberton and Jejliard were already seated at the King's Table in his father's office when Tajlon arrived. Greyla rolled in a cart loaded with coffee, fruit and sandwiches.

"Looks like we'll be here a while," Tajlon commented.

"I plan to be brief. Never work on an empty stomach," Colberton said.

He had a heightened air of authority in his countenance. Tajlon could tell he was in his element and about to start giving orders.

"Yes sir," Tahlon said taking a sandwich and apple for later.

"How's your new guest?" Jejliard asked.

"She's doing amazingly well," Tajlon replied. "Mara will have turned her into a spoiled island princess by noon."

Colberton laughed. "Women are the greatest mystery you will ever encounter, Tajlon."

Greyla took a seat beside Tajlon. "That poor child needs a little spoiling if you ask me."

"I agree entirely," Colberton said. "But I'd challenge you to take a male recluse off some back water island and turn him into a prince in less than a day."

They all laughed and Greyla relented. "I won't argue that with you, General."

Hal came in the room followed by De'Marc and the Raemolles.

Jejliard gave them a moment to get settled before saying, "Let's get started. I believe we've all met." Polite nods went around the room. "In that case, I'll turn this meeting over to General Colberton."

Colberton stood up to take command of the room. "First let me say it's an honor to be the guest of such a gracious host as Jejliard Castonea. This complex has become a model of excellence to be envied and imitated by all of Beldora."

Jejliard nodded in recognition. ""The mission of NORC is not to hoard knowledge and profit from it, but to share the fruits of our science with others."

"I wish it were so simple, but as we are all aware there are those who would bend knowledge to their own selfish purpose and more. Which brings me to the reason I have called you here. There's a possibility that hostile forces are tapping into the destructive power of nuclear technology for the purpose of creating weapons," Colberton paused to sip his coffee. His words brought somber faces to everyone and concerned looks from De'Marc and the Raemolles as they heard the news for the first time.

"You all need to understand the magnitude of the problem. The Trabest navy intercepted a shipment of partially refined radioactive ore when on maneuvers north of Casgora."

"Casgora?" Jejliard asked in surprise. "Why was your navy operating so far north, General?"

"They were contracted by BTP's security division after we received reports of several raids on merchant ships in the area."

"Up to their old tricks, huh? So much for the treaty," Jejliard mused.

"Yes. The usual lies and diversion," Colberton said. "We found suffficient material to arm dozens of warheads. If the Theopian military learns to make a reliable weapon, they could destroy the entire civilization on Beldora."

Silence fell as his words hung heavy in the room. "All they are missing would be the ability to launch these weapons from the air, or from an underwater stealth attack near our shores. This is why the submarine and aeronautic research portion of the conference had to be cancelled," Jejliard explained.

Colberton emphasized the point. "It goes without saying, all such topics are classified and not to be discussed outside this group."

"I would not be including Mr, and Mrs. Raemolle in this conversation, but regretfully they have already been caught up quite by accident in a rather sensitive matter." Colberton turned to address the Raemolles specifically. "I must ask for your discretion in all areas of security, particularly regarding your encounter with the unknown entity salvaged from the Agartoon rift."

"Absolutely, General," Raemolle replied. "You have our word on it"

"I also have a job for you in our plans to preserve the safety of this planet," Colberton said.

"We're happy to help in any small way we can." Danlea said. "I'm tired of feeling useless."

"Good. But it's a not a small job. I want the two of you to accompany Greyla and Captain De'Marc on a trip to a remote area under the pretense of research. You're both astronomers and I doubt you've had a chance to study the southern hemisphere as far as the Rassel Glades."

"I've never even heard of them," Danlea said.

"Greyla has been fully briefed on the mission and will be going under the guise of researching a rare species of fish threatened with extinction."

"I'm guessing I'll be going as myself," De'Marc said. "As captain of the vessel chartered to transport the researchers."

"Yes. And you will all be looking for signs of military operations, weapons testing, stockpiles, and any other suspicious activities."

"Sounds exciting," Danlea said. "Not that I've been bored lately."

"It could be dangerous, and participation is voluntary of course." Jejliard added.

"When do we leave?" De'Marc asked.

"TIme is of the essence. Today in fact," Colberton said. "All involved in the Glades mission may leave now to make ready. Our security division will provide a suitable vessel and it will arrive in Novaland harbor this afternoon."

The Raemolles gathered their things and prepared to follow De'Marc. Jejliard got up, shook hands with his newly recruited guests and De'Marc before they left. Greyla stayed.

Hal looked her way and cocked one eyebrow. "Are you saying 'no', Greyla?"

"Not even. I'm already packed," Greyla replied. "I want to know what the rest of you will be doing," She turned to Colberton, "If you don't have a problem with that, General."

"Not at all. Jejliard has assured me everyone here is qualified and trustworthy," Colberton said. "Jejliard will be leading a thorough investigation of the wreck with Hal assisting. My organization will provide all funds necessary for salvage operations. We wish to probe the alien vessel and possibly reverse engineer the technology."

"That will take no small sum of money," Jejliard said.

"It matters of planetary security I have the authority to release any amount of funds needed."

"I think a spaceship crash landing on Beldora with a deranged alien on board would qualify," Hal mused, then said to Greyla, "I'll miss you, sweetheart. But I'm rather glad you'll be a safe distance away until we have this alien situation under control."

"What does that leave for me?" Tajlon asked.

"I believe you volunteered to work on weapons development yesterday, did you not?" Colberton asked.

"Yes, I... sort of did that," Tajlon said, stumbling over his own words. "This is getting real, really fast."

"Hal, you are to assist both Tajlon and Jejliard with your engineering expertise.

"So I get to be in two places at once?" Hal asked.

"We've already begun building a facility on Turodey to handle all your needs in one location. We don't want the weapons project on the main island," Colberton explained.

"For concealment or safety?" Hal asked.

Jejliard gave Hal a pat on the shoulder. "Both. Try not to make any explosive mistakes."