3 replies to this topic

[Casojin]

"Human vessel, please standby in orbital lane 82 until further notice." The voice from control center announced, leaving Golarf Calma to his disappointment. It was his seventh time in Mattia system. He never had to wait during previous six times he was here but this was understandable. He heard rumors about neighboring alien aggression for months, so this was an acceptable delay.

Golarf swung to his beeping sensor console and found out that a squadron of starships was heading up from below. Each Fonai vessel dwarfed his ship beyond other humans' imagination. Even a mere gunship was as large as his trade vessel. Many Fonais he knew mocked him about the size of his 'little' starship. He stared out through starboard viewport and saw those ships steaking like comets into orbit. He looked at the flagship of this squadron which seemed to be a heavy explorator cruiser. There was a name of the ship painted in Fonai common dialect at the side. He read it instinctively after years of learning this dialect, Flame Sword.

"What a wonderful name!" Golarf muttered sarcastically. "Who would have use sword in battle these days?"

He kept watching those squardon of elegant ships passed until they were out of sight. He shifted his attention to the weather pattern on the blue and green planet below. Mattia seemed a lot like his long lost childhood home which was destroyed by its own star, taking his father along with it. He sighed and tried to shrug the bad memory away. His attention was once more at the console when the control center signalled, "Human vessel, you're clear to land at Sova Starport via route 28."

"Acknowledge, I'm proceeding as instructed." He replied and began entering atmosphere.

----------

Sova Starport used to be a busy place for commerce. However, there were not many people to be seen when Golarf went through the check-in counter. The starport was constructed about a kilometer above ground with six huge supporting struts, which also acted as power conduits, stationed around the circular disk-like upper section. Directly under the disk, there was a large cylindrical structure attached to it. That was the main section of the starport. Golarf's vessel, the Lost Hope, was landed into an enclosed vessel bay. Of course, it was a lot larger than his vessel since it was built to sustain much larger Fonai merchant vessel.

"Something wrong today?" Golarf asked the receptionist at the check-in counter with fluent Fonai common dialect.

The male Fonai turned to him with one raised eyebrow. "Haven't you listened to the news report? The alien threat is real and everyone is uncertain about what they should do. But if you ask me, I'm not afraid. Our warriors can surely protect us from them."

"Thanks for the insight." He then headed further into the starport, wondering whether this was a bad day for commerce.

[Casojin]

It was a bad day for trading after all. Fortunately, Golarf's major contact in Mattia didn't cancel shipment order like other minor contacts. He had successfully traded a new irrigation system design and several other hardware pieces for finely decorated housing equipments, which would worth almost a tenth of a million credits on human colony where he used to be. After loaded his cargo successfully, he took time to stride along the starport hoping to catch a meal.

He stepped into the place that was called Forever Wonder. It was well known to be the most crowded entertainment and food complex in Sova Starport. It was better than the rest of the starport in any case even though it contained only half of usual guest number. As Golarf took his seat in alien corner (since Fonais dwarfed most aliens that were in contact with them), a waiter stepped by and looked down at Golarf with order recorder in his palm. He had been in contact with this race for years but every time they just made him feel as if he was in a land of giants. "What would be your order?"

"Sa'lkamchee." He tried hard to pronounce one of his favorite dishes correctly.

The waiter frowned before replying, "You mean Sa'lkhamchi, right?"

"Yes, that's it." Golarf was relief. "And I would like to have Durin juice."

Nodding, the waiter left. Golarf turned toward the center stage. A female singer who looked very impressive stepped onto the stage and started to sing. The music was wonderous though sad. As the song went on, he heard another group of alien traders talking and activate the translator earphone. He heard them talked about current tension. It seemed that Fonoss new expansion phase had met a hostile alien race. From the rumor he was listening, this alien was violent and distrustful. There were several skirmishes between Fonai warship and the alien ones. An open conflict was coming close and the Fonais were agitated about it.

Suddenly, the music was interrupted with an official announcement. Golarf turned to the main monitor to see the High Matriarch, Connoi Shal Durias, who glared at anyone watch with fierce look. "Greeting fellow Fonais. Today I've come with grave news. The 28th Panit Assault Wing was decimated four kovins ago by the dispicable amphibian alien. Thus, I'm entitled to declare war on those vile creatures who oppose the greatness in the name of the Great Mother. As of now, Jun'tha Zaela'chuk is announced. For Fonoss and the Great Mother...!!"

"What the heck is this Jun'ta Sala'chuk?" One of the alien traders Golarf was eavesdropping blurted out with his friends. Unlike them, Golarf already knew what was Jun'tha Zaela'chuk. It was a call-to-arm for Fonai everywhere.

This is going to be worse than what I originally expected. He thought.

[Casojin]

"Are you not hungry?" a soft feminine voice asked Golarf from opposite to his seat.

It took a short while before the human trader replied, "I'm worry about your planet current situation."

Pomak Vicha Yarr stared at the trader and said with her gentle voice once again. "Golarf, you shouldn't worry too much about this. I'ms ure that our warriors could defend us from any enemy."

"You sounds just likethe reception guy I met when I got here four days ago." Golarf sighed and realized that he couldn't expect anything else from Fonai who had strong belief in their class-based society. "I don't say that I've no confident in your military. I'm just....not used to such situation. War tends to be very bad for everyone from my learning."

"Nevertheless, there is no other way for us." she told him with intense surety. "The enemy has violated our territory and killed our people. Such aggression must be stopped at all cost."

Giving up arguing about how bad the war was, Golarf decided to pursue another matter. "Yarr, would you be so kind to tell me anything you know about this.....conflict?"

"Delighted to..." She smiled and started, "It was about 3 Errdars ago when second phase expansion began in a sector of space called 'Erindia cluster'. Many outposts were built quickly as you know about our construction technique. An Errdar passed smoothly until an alien vessel was encountered. It attacked Fonai vessels without trying to talk, so the warriors just destroyed it. Afterward, more of them appeared but none of them ever engaged in battle for about an Errdar but their traces were found near some outposts. Yet, a real conflict began when they attacked the outermost outpost in Erindia cluster. Since then, skirmishes spread across our border like a wildfire. About two Mu'dars ago, they simply went quiet."

"And they just attacked the Assault Wing your High Matriarch without any warning recently?"

"That's correct."

Golarf was astonished by this fact. "What do we know about this alien other than amphibious creatures?"

"If our warriors knew, they didn't share the information publicly." Yarr said and finished her meal. "Would you like to have something else for this meal?"

He then remembered that he hadn't eaten a bit although his stomach had groaned repeatly. Relieved, he decided to filled his empty stomach. "This would be enough for me. Thank you."

[Casojin]

"Due to military restriction, I cannot provide you with items in this list." A Fonai supplier told Golarf as he was acquiring the last set of items, which mostly were parts for fusion reactor maintainance. "I'm really sorry Golarf but no one can go against military order."

Nodding submissively, the human trader merely replied. "I know."

"May be you could try purchasing from a Genyea trader named Toyin. Since the restriction, he has brought these items to barter with us. He might have some extra. You can find him on Level 48 if you hurry." The supplier gave him a smile as she suggested an alternative.

Golarf had no choice. He simply bowed and headed away. His destination would be Level 48 of Sova starport. He took an elevator a few level up and walked straight at a trading hub. He found the only scaly alien called 'Genyea' talking to another Fonai. The tall Fonai always dwarfed other species and the Genyea was no exception. The male Fonai was over half a meter taller than the alien trader. As Golarf approached, the Genyea turned. "How can I help you?"

"Mr. Toyin, I would like to negotiate a little barter." Golarf swiftly answered.

"One moment." He raised his hand in a strange gesture and quickly concluded his business with the male Fonai. Finally, he focused his attention at Golarf. "What would you like to negotiate with me?"

"If you have extra for these items, I would be delightful." the human trader handed the Genyea a data-recorder.

After a moment of checking, the Genyea rubbed his ridge nose. "I'm afraid that I don't have extra for all these. However, some of them can be barter with you. I'll show you which one.

"I have 2 crates of Patar ale." Golarf tried offering something valuable. Human ale was something that many Fonais were fonded of. These two crates were brewed from his home planet in renowned Patar province. "I can offer you a special discount if you can provide me more in the list."

The Genyea paused for a short moment. "I really like to barter those items, Mister...?"

"Golarf."

"Mr. Golarf, I've already delivered those items as per my contract with the Fonai shipyard. What I got are only extra one. I'm really sorry for this."

"Well, we can trade what we've got then." Golarf finally surrendered to an inevitable. "Let's talk about the price then..."