Tajlon called the mechs down from the wreck to the dock. Technology such as this had never existed on Beldora before. They paraded past a few onlooking guards who seemed intimidated by the massive machines. The mechs rolled along on sturdy wheels and were folded in on themselves which made them look boxy and crude. Once inside the building they unfolded into industrial machines with multifunction arms and incredible dexterity.

"I'll have them finish up the walls to the lab first," Tajlon said. "Dad, could you ask NORC to send over the parts we use to build the noddas? I want to make a couple of transports for the Sora."

Hal shook his head. "I must still be asleep. Transports for what?"

"The Sora. That's the name of the spaceship," Tajlon said. "We'll need them to carry supplies or passengers to and from the Sora."

"So Widhbo can't do that over there?" Hal asked. He yawned and stood up.

"We already have the Nodda parts, Hal," Jejliard said. "Tajlon will be building a bomb and you need to look busy, remember?"

"And it'll be a lot of fun," Hal said.

"That too."

An amphibian craft was approaching from the general's ship and heading toward the dock.

"As much as I would love to stay and watch this, I promised Colberton I'd go to the Security Council meeting with him today," Jejliard said. "I don't expect it will be good news. I just hope things aren't heating up too fast for us to get ahead of the Theopians."

"We've got this under control, Dad," Tajlon reassured him.

"I sincerely hope so."

* * *

Colberton was waiting for his arrival and they launched the minute Jejliard boarded the ship. "I've arranged for a few officers and council members to meet with us on Novaland to save time," he said.

"We'll also need to meet with the Theopians and see how far we are from being able to negotiate an arms treaty," Jejliard said. "If they are still pretending to honor the treaty, that is."

"Publicly, we will try to negotiate of course. For now, I need to convince our forces we can be in position to retaliate soon should hostilities develop."

"Meaning, get the bomb?" Jejlaird asked.

"Yes. From what I gather, Tajlon can build it with the materials we already have at hand."

"He can," Jejliard replied. "No need to doubt his ability."

"I don't," Colberton said looking across the deck toward Turodey as it disappeared behind them. "How's the wreck coming along?"

"Slow. It's been in the rift for a hundred years or more. We're experimenting with fuel sources and I'm trying to get some power to its computer. Then I can try to decipher the alien code. It could take a while."

"What of the alien who attacked the research building?" Colberton asked.

"He disintegrated after we shot him full of tranquilizer," Jejliard said. "I've searched the ship. Nothing."

"Do you think there's another way off the ship? A hidden door perhaps?"

"It's possible. He may turn up eventually," Jejliard said. He knew Colberton would never forget about the alien, but Gengor could stay hidden forever.

When they arrived back at the Novaland harbor, a naval battleship was anchored offshore in deep water. Jejliard couldn't see its call sign or the insignia of the BTP Security Force. Big guns were camoflaged well from a distance, but as they drew closer Jejliard could see the outline of the huge barrels under the tarps.

"Always prepared, my friend," Collberton said following Jejliard's gaze. "Say, have you heard from the pretty young lady Tajlon rescued?"

"Not since we've been on Turodey. She went with Mara to meet some relatives and the last I heard she plans to go back home."

"I'm surprised. She and Tajlon seemed to be a good match."

"I thought so too. Apparently, civilization was a little overwhelming and she is getting a little homesick."

"I hope Tajlon didn't mention any of this to her."

"No. He's far more cautious than to discuss sensitive information with a girl he's barely met, even a pretty one."

"Well, here we are," Colberton said, changing the subject away from Soshe. "I hope you don't mind us borrowing the NORC conference center."

"Not at all." Jejliard knew this wouldn't end well from the moment he saw the new battleship. He wondered what Colberton wasn't telling him. Perhaps there had already been an incident with the Theopian forces. The battleships scattered about made him nervous. Both he and Colberton had their secrets.

* * *

The first load of ore was delivered after lunch. Jejliard suggested they get it from one of the mineral rich cayes near Turodey which was already used for mining. Hal guided the mechs back to the Sora to unload the wagons. He looked in the door and saw a huge funnel had been installed. It conveyed the ore into a chute and deposited it into a bin deep down in the ship. Apparently Widhbo had been busy.

"Hey, are we ready for some dirt down there?" he asked into the ship's empty maze.

"We are," Widbho replied telepathically.

"Great. Now I'm hearing voices like Tajlon," Hal said. "Okay boys, dump it here," he said to the mechs.

The ore kept coming throughout the day. The mechs worked tirelessly and Hal perched on a rail calling out orders.

"Yeah, I'm going to have to take this up with Tajlon," he thought. "We could have built the new NORC complex in a couple of months with a few more of these."

"Tajlon was just following my orders," Widhbo spoke to Hal again.

"Great. You're reading my mind too," Hal said aloud. "I see the orders have changed now that you want your ship working."

"They have."

"Well at least you're honest," Hal replied and to himself thought, "Self-serving little bastard."

***

"Where do you think you're going?" Widhbo asked Gengor. The daglyr was sidling toward the door where the mechs were making quite a racket unloading ore.

"You said I could leave while the mechs and wagons were distracting everyone."

"No, I said I'd throw you off the ship. That's different."

"So why don't you?"

"I have to cause a little disturbance first. I'll make you leave then."

"What sort of disturbance?"

"It's a surprise, Gengor. You tend to spoil things when you know too much."

"Who would I tell? I don't have anyone to tell. I don't have a single friend."

"Don't expect pity from me. You aren't likely to make any friends here either. You're a freak. You don't blend in well."

Gengor sat down on the floor and scraped his fingers across the grid making a grating sound.

"What now?" Widhbo asked. "Why do you have to be so annoying?"

"I'm unhappy. It sounds like I feel."

"I'm going to pop over to the research building," Widhbo said, ignoring Gengor's comment. "Stay out of trouble while I help Tajlon with his project."

"I like him. What's Tajlon working on?"

"None of your business as usual."

Gengor looked up in time to see a flash of light as Widhbo teleported. The door was open and beckoning as the wagon rolled away. He got up and crawled along beside it. The mech pulling the wagon didn't seem to notice. The mechs evidently weren't programmed to be concerned with his coming or going. Once on the beach, he was free. He eased into the water and went for a swim. He loved swimming and didn't give a thought to the possibility he could be sighted by boats patrolling the island.

* * *

Tajlon was putting together his prototype. Making a working explosive device was turning out to be a lot harder than drawing a mockup on paper. Koutou flew in the door of his lab and settled on his work bench.

"I was wondering when you would show up," Tajlon said.

"Need a little help?"

"It would go faster."

"How much of the enriched uranium do you have to work with?"

"Not a lot. Only enough to make two maybe three total."

Koutou looked over Tajlon's notes and diagrams and let out a loud laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"Fission. Primitive."

"Primitive? Really?" Tajlon asked.

"Yes. Fusion is so much more effective and cleaner." Koutou downloaded a file of information into Tajlon's chip.

Tajlon processed the information and sighed. "Okay, but we don't have the heavy water."

"My ship can provide it. Of course, my ship will want a little something in return."

Tajlon reconsidered what he was about to do. "I really don't want to make anything that powerful. I want to make fake bombs."

"You won't fool the military. They know power when they see it."

"I'm not detonating a nuke."

"Then I suggest we make a couple of duds for Colberton and a conventional bomb that will imitate a nuclear blast for your demo. I'll keep the uranium and plutonium for my ship's reactor to fuel the remodeling project and finish a lot sooner. Colberton's people won't even realize anything is missing until we're gone."

"But there won't be any radiation in the aftermath from my demo."

"Explain that fusion is very clean and allows them to move back into the war zone quickly. A big improvement," Koutou said.

"What I can't understand is how the enemy got hold of nuclear technology in the first place. It couldn't have gotten past our security."

Koutou busied himself looking over Tajlon's work.

"Koutou?"

"Yes?"

"It was you, wasn't it?"

"What was me?"

"Don't play innocent. You gave them the information. You're the leak."

Koutou fluffed himself and picked at a couple of feathers.

"They were a poor second choice, but I was desperate. Jejliard fell into such a deep depression after your mother died, I thought he would never snap out of it."

"You're despicable, you know that?"

"No, I'm not. Your species is despicable. All I wanted was to advance the technology. I had no idea what these demented psychopaths would do with it. You could have created a paradise and enhanced the quality of life for your entire planet but choose to kill each other instead. That's not my doing."

"Well I don't want any part of this war."

"You have to play along until the Sora's ready."

"Why do I feel like a prisoner here?" Tajlon asked.

"Because you are."

* * *

The first bullet that whizzed past his head surprised him. Gengor didn't know what had happened. He looked up to see a man standing on the bow of a patrol boat aiming for a second shot. Instinctively he dove under, but the bullet penetrated his thick hide and seared his flesh. A trail of blood darkened the clear water. Gengor could hear motors of several other vessels converging and coming closer. He dove deeper and tried to swim past the tightening circle of boats, but finally his air ran out and he had to surface. He gulped in as much air as he could. He was sighted by a couple of seamen and their fire rang out again, narrowly missing Gengor as he dove under again. In a panic and cut off from the open sea, he headed back toward the dock and safety of the Sora.

He had lost some blood and felt a strange weakness in his body. The patrol forces were gaining on him by the time he clambered out of the water. Now they were close enough to get a better aim. Gengor moved as fast as he could toward the door of the Sora, but his heavy bulk was sluggish out of the water. A volley of fire pierced his body. Gengor staggered with the impact and pain. This was far worse than anything he had encountered on Corrudi. These men weren't trying to stop him. They meant to kill him. Another bullet struck him in the head and his mind clouded. He could see Koutou flying from the research building follwed by Tajlon. Tajlon was running and shouting at the boats. Gengor fell with a heavy thud. Widhbo called to him telepathically before he lost consciousness. "They'll pay for this, Gengor. I promise."