Jejliard knew something was wrong the minute he arrived back on Turodey. The dock was swarming with soldiers, and they were clustered around something, blocking his view. As soon as he disembarked Tajlon was there to meet him.

"They've killed Gengor," Tajlon said

"What!"

"He must have slipped away while we were all working in the weapons lab."

"Did he attack anyone?" Jejliard

"No. It appears he just went for a swim and they spotted him. Widhbo's furious. I've never seen him in this dark of a mood," Tajlon replied.

"They just shot him in cold blood then."

"Yeah. Appears that way,"

Hal walked over to join them. "Looks like we have a big mess on our hands. Only the top brass were advised on the alien problem, now everyone here knows."

"I don't care who knows," Jejliard replied. "It's their mess. Come on. This is a good time for us to talk in private. Let's each drift over to the lab separately."

They split up. Jejliard pushed his way through the throng to view Gengor's carcass. He was riddled with bullets. "At least it was quick," he thought.

When he arrived at the lab, Koutou was nowhere to be seen. "Where's Koutou?" he asked.

"He's in the ship and won't come out," Hal said. "He's plotting something. I'm sure of it."

"I checked the door on the way over," Tajlon said. "He's changed the combination to the lock. I couldn't get in and the mechs are in there with him."

"Well, he said he was going to plan a surprise party," Hal recalled.

"I have a feeling the surprise is going to include a big explosion," Tajlon said. "We were going to set off a conventional blast and make two fake nukes. Widhbo has the uranium and plutonium on board the Sora with him. Now my prototype is missing. I hope he cools off before making a big mistake."

"We'll say the wreck has been damaged by the alien and it has been closed down for security purposes," Jejliard said. "We need to get in touch with Mara and Soshe soon and make sure they're okay."

"I told Soshe to stay out of sight. Her and Mara both know how to hide," Hal said.

"Yes, but will they?" Jejliard asked. "Soshe wants to see Tajlon and now Mara will be worried sick when she finds out Colberton's taken over NORC. Tajlon, I want you to put those bombs together as soon as possible. We have two days max."

"I'll need Widhbo's help to make a convincing fascimile in such a short time."

"Do it. Can't you communicate with him telepathically?"

"Normally I could, but I can tell he's blocking me out. He said he was going to use some of the radioactive materials to speed up the construction and remodeling." Tajlon said.

"You don't suppose he's going to blast off do you?" Hal asked.

"It might just be for the best," Jejliard replied. "I just don't want him to go without us."

***

Colberton had his hands full the rest of the day dealing with the workers and his own men. The original work crew members were telling exaggerated tales of their encounter with the alien when he ripped the door off the building. Everyone was convinced Gengor had been a savage beast with a thirst for human blood. The main concern was to contain the information. The ship could be explained away as an experimental design which sank during testing maneuvers, but the dead carcass was another matter. An alien beast would generate more interest than the ship. Colberton pacified everyone with accounts of sea monsters rumored to live deep in the rift.

Jejliard was glad they were being left out of things for the moment.

"I'm taking a break for a few hours, Dad," Tajlon said. "I have one of the shells together."

"You should try to get some sleep," Jejliard replied. "Hal and I are about to quit for the night too. We've almost finished the transport design. I hope we get a chance to make them."

"If we can just get those mechs back, I don't care if he leaves without us," Hal said.

Koutou appeared without warning inside the locked door. "You'll have to open the door first," Koutou said. "I don't care if I leave without you either."

Hal unlocked the door and found the mechs waiting outside. "Come on in fellows"

"Put them to work on your transports. They need to work through the night," Koutou said. "I'm building a bay onto the ship for them tomorrow before dawn."

"When will she be ready?" Tajlon asked.

"Sooner than originally planned. Have one of the mechs make a couple more of your shells tonight, Tajlon."

Jejliard turned to face Koutou. "I didn't know Gengor very well, none of us did, but we're grieving his death. It was unnecessary," Jejliard said.

"It was predictable. I warned him and forbade him to leave the ship. He brought it on himself, fool Daglyr," Koutou said pacing up and down the table, "It has changed my plans."

"Mine as well," Jejliard said. " I know you have a lot on your plate, but I want to ask a big favor."

"Fine. I don't feel like sleeping tonight," Koutou said.

"We need to get in touch with Mara and Soshe. I want to know their status and give them a heads up."

"It shouldn't take long if Nova is with them, I can find him through his chip," Koutou assured him.

"Colberton and his navy have taken over NORC," Jejliard said. "There are armed guards everywhere and a battleship in the harbor. Novaland is fast becoming a war zone."

"That's precisely what it is," Koutou agreed. "This is just the beginning. Your facility is the best suited for staging a war effort. You have the most sophisticated equipment and underwater docking station for their subs. Whatever you do, don't let them get their hands on the Solar Wave. We can't let them find out about its nuclear-powered engine."

"Good point," Jejliard said. "I'm worried about De'Marc and the others."

"They're dispensable to Colberton," Koutou said. "As soon as they get what they need from Tajlon, you all are."

"Without a radio, we can't contact them on the Sea Grinder," Tajlon said.

"In all the excitement I must have forgotten to mention it. They got the piece of junk working."

* * *

Jejliard awoke the next morning and the previous day's events came back with the crushing realization that their life here may well be destroyed. He had so many dreams and hopes, especially for Tajlon. Novaland was to be a shining example to the rest of Beldora, a beacon of hope for the future of civilization. They were well on the way to conquering many of the ills that plagues mankind. Through their technological and medical advances Novaland was setting new standards and leading in every field.

Now Beldora was on the brink of a nuclear war which could end civilization entirely. He shuddered to think he might have played any role. Mara's words came back to him from the first night they encountered the alien ship. The prophecy loomed in his mind, but he shook it off. He was still a man of science and would approach this problem the same as any other.

Hal greeted him at the breakfast table. "The mechs worked through the night. They apparently don't need rest or recharging."

"Widhbo must have upgraded them to run on nuclear power cells," Tajlon offered.

Jejliard was in a pensive mood and only nodded in reply. Hal walked over and inspected the transports.

"Look at these things," Hal said. "Nuclear power core and some sort of rocket propulsion with solid fuel. I've never seen anything like it before and this aerodynamic shell wasn't in our plans."

"You're welcome. There may be enough material left over to make a couple of reentry pods if I have time," Koutou said as he flew in and perched on one of them. "I have good news. Soshe and Mara have hidden the Casgora Wind up the Gistuwbe river. They'll wait until you give them orders to move."

"They must be getting low on food," Tajlon said.

"Not really. There's plenty of fish and wild game. Nova is supplying all the meat they can eat. He doesn't believe in going hungry."

"What about the transport deck?" Hal asked.

"It's done, all of it. I had to open the hull and make some bay doors large enough to accommodate them. It turned out well. I'm rather proud of our Sora."

"When do I get a tour?" Jejliard asked.

"Now is good. One at a time though. I don't want to attract anyone's attention."

Jejliard had been working on the ship every day and was not challenged by the guards surrounding Gengor's body.

"What are you planning to do with it?" he asked as he walked by. "It should be on ice if you're not planning on burying it soon."

"Not my call," the guard replied.

Koutou loaded the new door combination into Jejliard's head. He realized this was what Tajlon had been experiencing his entire life. He couldn't imagine how frustrating it must have been to keep it to himself. Jejliard also recalled how much he had ribbed Tajlon for talking to Nova and resolved to accept what Tajlon had told him about the big cat. Every thought in his head was pushed aside when he opened the door and stepped inside. The ship totally transformed from an empty shell with simple gridwork into an elegant living space. He went straight to the center console. The dials were alive, and the panel glowed. A strange language and symbols marked the controls. Widhbo remedied that with another transfer of information to his chip.

"She's magnificent. Thank you. Can she really take us into space?"

"That's the idea, isn't it? The interdimensional drive is not functional. Part of it must have broken off when we entered your atmosphere along with part of the hull."

"Well it's good to know we can't accidentally leave this dimension."

"I would have to agree with that sentiment. I'm sick of accidents."

* * *

"It's disrespectful," Widhbo said. His large, feathered body was stretched across the seating behind the control desk.

"I don't think Colberton's men are prepared to deal with this on such short notice. The body will be decomposing rapidly. As much interest as there should be in an autopsy on a creature such as Gengor, they have bigger things to worry about," Jejliard said. "I wish we could give him a proper funeral, or at least a burial at sea."

"I could do that much for Gengor. I like the idea of a burial at sea."

"But how would you get him past the guards?"

"Now that I have sufficient power, it would be easy to steal him out from under their noses."

They were interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Tajlon," Widbho said. He transferred the new combination to Tajlon so he could let himself in.

"This is really sweet," Tajlon remarked as he joined them in the command area.

"I've more changes planned but they'll have to wait until we're away from here," Widhbo said. "A window or two would be a nice touch."

"Excuse me while I take a look around," Tajlon said. "I want to see everything you've done."

"So, it doesn't sound easy to me," Jejliard prompted.

"Moving Gengor, yes. I can teleport him any time I like. Better to wait until the cover of darkness, of course."

"Teleportation, huh? Is that how you moved the Casgora Wind away from the sub that day?" Jejliard asked

"Oh, you heard about that?"

"Yes. The Raemolles. William is still quite disturbed by it actually."

"Hmm. No doubt. 'The boat can't just move, it's all theater he said'." Koutou cackled in spite of his dour mood.

"So we should do it. Move Gengor and bury him at sea."

"I want to do something spectacular in his honor," Widhbo mused. "Tajlon's been promising Colberton a demonstration. Let's do it right."

Tajlon rejoined them in time to overhear. "I thought we were to keep the Solar Wave away from Colberton."

"I wasn't thinking Solar Wave. I'm thinking remote control aeronautics and a showy bomb. Let them all gather around to watch. I'm tempted to drop the real thing and deploy it right in the middle of their pretty fleet."

"That's a little radical," Jejliard said.

"It's an act of war," Tajlon added.

"Killing Gengor was a little radical. I promised him I'd make them pay."

"I don't think I can agree to that plan, Widhbo," Jejliard said.

Tajlon was very quiet. His father didn't know Widhbo as well as he did.

"I'm not asking you to agree with me," Widbho replied. "What do you suppose they have in mind for you? Isn't that why you are so worried about all your friends?"

"I don't think they plan to kill us in cold blood."

"Hot blood perhaps?" Koutou said.

"Give me proof of that and I'm at your service," Jejliard said. His opinion of Colberton had fallen precipitously. There was a time Jejliard would have followed the man into battle. After the betrayal, Coblerton would not be spared the consequences of his actions. Jejliard's loyatly lay with his family, friends and the scientists working alongside him at NORC.