Leilani arrived back at her house, running up to her daughter, saying," Beilani, I just saw Ia'lena down at the old Azula house, and Sai'luna has gone missing. Get the crew together while I inform leadership at Objective Mechanism, asap."
Beilani said, "You mean earth people are here, now; how is that possible?"
"I don't know, but we sure better go find out," she replied.
Beilani went running out the door, as did Leilani.
In the meantime, Ia'lena and her daughters had everything loaded in the lander.
Tlipions, their aunt's home, was on the other side of a meadow down one of the cobblestone roads.
Muffin asked," Can they all visit their cousins before they leave?"
"Sure," Ia'lena said," we will all go."
They knocked on the door and were welcomed in.
"Hey, Ia'lena and girls, what's up?" Tlipion asked.
Earth, my new home, wants us to get back asap because of the attack and the guys that were taken.
"Okay, but we have not had a chance to visit with you; you've only been here a few days.' 'I heard my people would not try another space flight until next springtime," replied Tlipion.
Ia'lena replied, "I'd like to, but we can't; Zigrida's technical advances have disrupted our mission to establish diplomatic relations."
Just then, Cya'plita came running up, "Hey, I just heard from one of my friends; Leilani knows you're here."
"Come on, girls, let's go."
Ia'lena ran out the door heading back to her mother's house.
While they were on the way, Emily from the Paloma broke the communications silence.
"Ia'lena over, Ia'lena come in."
"This is Ia'lena, over."
"As you know, we have been monitoring all communication channels on Zigrida; suddenly, alerts sounded a few minutes ago. 'Get back here as soon as feasible we are preparing to leave orbit," stated Emily.
"We are on the way as fast as possible," she replied.
The Captains
Leilani at the leadership building said to Kycatrina, "The only experienced crew we have is the TiliQ; how many have graduated from space command training?"
"300 are ready and waiting for ship placement," she answered. "And the two ships we confiscated are not fitted with the focus beams yet.' 'We have the TiliQ's' sister ships ready; however, their crews have only been running operations from orbit on their trials."
"Okay, have those ships meet the TiliQ in orbit; I will have my daughters take command," Leilani replied.
"The commanders chosen may feel disrespected," Kycatrina stated.
"Look, we don't have time to babysit Jr officers, then thinking I will make it up to them, you tell them that," Leilani answered.
Kycatrina notified the ElbiQ and the KyioQ that they would be receiving new orders and captains and to meet the TiliQ in orbit in one hour. Both have a team of 10 repair bots, mission bots, and 14 other Zigridians for ship operations.
Leilani informed Beilani that she would be taking over command of the DlbiQ.
Then told Tie'lani she would have the KyioQ meet her at the TiliQ at once.
Both ships did as instructed.
Ia'lena and the girls returned to the ship; Ta'mia navigating the Lander lifted off.
The planets authorities surrounded Ia'lena's mothers' house.
However, the Paloma left before they arrived, returning and landing in the storage bay.
Wy'jen coms lit up; pressing the button, he answered," Yes."
The Zigridians know we are here; we are leaving at once, report to the bridge.
"Understood," he replied.
You stay here; I'll lock the door, Wy'Jen said.
Sai'luna answered, "I can't stay here, nor do I want to leave my planet." Using her pheromones, she tried to coerce him to steal a Pod and take her back home."
He said, "I am sorry, but it didn't work, and don't try telepathy.' 'You know I'll deflect it."
She pouted but stayed in the room; as he walked away, she was mesmerized by his strength, confidence, and self-assurance. She had never been around such a person (well, other than her mother).
Sai'luna had fallen madly in love with him.
As Wy'jen arrived at the bridge, Emily told him to strap in were taking off.
"Oh, no," he thought; "how would he explain that a female from the planet was in his cabin, with whom he had intimate relations?"
Back on the planet, Leilani, now aboard her ship, while Kycatrina, at objective mechanism, ordered the focused beam to begin sweeping the space above the planet.
However, authorities found nothing at the Azula house, then went to Ia'lena's sister's homes, figuring she had contacted them. They denied knowing anything about their sister's arrival. For the time being, they were not challenged but told they would be under surveillance from now on.
The newly constructed radar systems were not ready yet, but efforts were being doubled asap.
Back on the Paloma, Emily said," Okay, everybody, strap in; let us get out of here."
Pamela, the navigator, placed the ship in gear; it lifted off.
Emily said, "As soon as we clear this moon, shift into high gear."
Aye, aye, Sir, Pamela relayed.
Science office sensors, at maximum range, scan anything leaving the planet.
Aye, aye, Sir.
"E.T.A. navigator," asked Captain Emily.
"One hour at maximum, Sir."
"We have a ship approaching from the planet, Ma'am," stated the science officer.
"Oh boy, Ia'lena, prepare your focus team; we have company," said Emily.
We have a problem, stated the Science officer; forward scans are detecting more of a dense radiation pattern than when we entered from the other side.
"Oh no, my mistake; I just remembered we needed to search for the softest way through; Quickly looked south to see if it was better down there, excitedly," said Emily.
The TiliQ and the other ships quickly rendezvoused together just outside planet Zigrida's orbit, with Leilani's daughters respectably taking over the DlbiQ and KyioQ. They then resumed the search for Ia'lena and her earth people using newly upgraded long-range sensors.
After traveling an hour, the science officer replacing Sai'luna said, "I'm detecting something faintly south of the radiation belt."
"That's them, full speed; get the stun beam ready," with excitement shouted Leilani.
The science officer informed Leilani that the earth ship was at extreme sensors edge; thus, if both vessels were traveling at the same speed, it would be virtually impossible to catch them.
"Look, one process at a time; okay, I understand that but follow them anyway," Replied Leilani.
"Aye, aye, sir," was her response.
Focus-way-through
The Paloma high beam sensors finally detected a thinner pattern informing the captain.
Ia'lena your team ready? Asked Emily
"Yes, we are," she replied, then told her son Wy'jen; since your help was essential last time, why don't we add you in, just in case?
"Okay, Mother," He replied, following her to the Focus beam dish in the forward compartment.
Pauline monitoring sensors said, "I detect three ships moving in quickly from the north."
"Oh, my goodness, navigator, slow us down. We can't go in at light speed; if we time this just right, we should be able to avoid our pursuers," replied the captain.
"Focus-beam standing ready at full power, captain," Ia'lena buzzed the bridge.
"Okay, now take us in, nice and slow navigator," said the captain.
The ship rattled a little but was flying as best as expected.
The science officer aboard the TiliQ informed Leilani they lost the sensor reading of the earth ship at coordinates 45.S.5367 vector 137. 0.003 light years away.
"Okay, we will follow them, but I want to exit at vector north of where they are; perhaps we will get lucky and catch one as we did before.' 'Fingers crossed, crew, they may be faster, but our ability to go through the radiation is better; we can catch them," stated Leilani.
The TiliQ punched through the radiation reasonably quickly, 1/2 light years north of where they thought the earth ship would be. Leilani said, "I am sure we got through before they did; navigator all stop.' 'Communications put me through ship-wide and tie us into all ships."
"Aye, aye, captain," relayed the communication officer; "Channels open."
"So far, sensors have not detected any earth vessels; however, the one we are tracking hasn't come through the radiation yet, silent mode, I repeat, silent mode, ships all stop; until I contact you, understood?"
The two ships following send a message: silent mode, all stop.
In the meantime, the Paloma was moving along through the radiation; how be it, at a slower rate than the Zigrida ships?
Emily asked. "ETA navigator?"
Who responded, "1/2 hour Ma'am."
Sai'luna got out of bed and tried to open the door; however, it was locked. "Hmm, she thought, the rat locked me in." Seeing how the door was designed thought she could pry it open. Looking through the room, she found a steel-looking fingernail file.
She unlocked the door and knew the ship's layout, knowing where the weapons locker was. Moving quickly found it, and luckily for her, it was unlocked.
Sai'luna retrieved two Zap Guns, placing them on the stun setting.
Using the communications buoy, Emily contacted Earth Space Command. She sent a message that they were on the way through but were being followed and needed help because the Zigridian aggressors were armed and dangerous.