Chapter 8: The Gathering Audience

On the outside of the Jian Seng, the few crew members who were outside were bundled up for warmth. Most of the crew that worked at the facility wore some form of thermal protection that overlapped their jumpsuit uniforms. The internal heating, however, was slow to kick in as it slowly warmed everything up.

Steam was rising from the transport, especially near the heated thrusters. The collected ice and snow on the sides and top were melting. The main bow door was open and lowered to the deck, with the large container section currently opening up. The armor plates began to retract inward as a loading ramp was being deployed to the deck as well.

Shira, the chief engineer, Obasi, and Manthan were out discussing and pointing out the different areas of the ship. Taking careful note, the goal was to assess and affirm that the vessel was in operational status. In the distance was Lifen, who was talking with a scientist dressed in a white lab coat. The male scientist had a pale complexion and a small, thin mustache. He almost had a prudish look to him. His hands were waving about whenever he spoke to the captain. Shira also recognized another engineer who stood some distance from her. The lone figure had been assessing the ship, but not part of the group.

The Itrean recognized this individual as Bertram, or the right-hand man to Obasi. He was busy rubbing his cheek. Shira’s fin-like ear was aimed at both the captain and Bertram rather than the team of engineers.

“I’m still concerned about the sensor network,” Obasi told the chief engineer. “Manthan, was it working alright during your watch?”

“It would occasionally flicker on and off,” Manthan replied. “As soon as it did, the secondary system would turn on.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that,” Whittaker replied with his gruff voice. “The new parts will be coming shortly.”

“Even then,” Obasi warned. “It’s a sign that the system is fully degraded now than ever.”

“You worry too much,” Manthan replied with glee. “We can conduct all the repairs in space.”

Obasi slapped his signs. “Fine ... just don’t make me work overtime like last night. Sick of that shit...”

Whittaker said nothing at first, his focus wandering to the protruding antennas. Getting the main communications array online was being quickly overshadowed by the sensors that were failing. Lack of parts made this nearly impossible to fix, and the chief engineer was fully aware of it.

“I don’t suppose you have any ideas on how to fix the system, Shira?” Whittaker asked her without turning his head to her.

Obasi and Manthan both looked at her. Obasi didn’t seem to hold the anger and hatred towards her after proving pivotal in fixing the communications array. Manthan already showed renowned confidence in the alien woman. With Shira, however, she was quiet at first. Her attention seemed somewhat diverted.

“The answer to fixing it will come soon enough...,” Shira replied.

“See? I knew it,” Obasi almost mocked her. “She can’t solve all of our problems.”

The words almost fell on deaf ears. The man’s tone was not a display of anger, and nobody seemed annoyed by it. He was not angry, but not happy with her either. His tone, while accusatory, was primarily neutral.

“Ah, Obasi, stop being mean to her,” Manthan tried to stop him. “She helped the engineers out yesterday. These problems require all of us to work together.”

Obasi sighed a little bit. Even for Shira, the words just seemed too much to say. She felt no insult from Obasi and only remained focused on the events going on in the hangar bay. She could see a large mobile vehicular crane that was heading to the bow of the ship. On one of the magnetic latches was a large sphere-like device. On its side were a control panel and a latching network. There were two additional sphere-like objects in the distance as well. The scientist continued to walk with the captain with a look of concern on his face.

“I think we’ll be alright,” the chief finally said, observing the side. He said it primarily to himself as he continued to follow carefully.

Both Obasi and Manthan were talking to each other. Shira turned her body to the oncoming captain and scientist. She could hear the two talking as they finally got within audio range.

“These superconducting magnets must survive the trip,” the scientist said with a thick Spanish accent. “They are my life’s work...”

“Doctor Lozano, you’re getting worried about nothing,” Lifen argued back. “It’s a simple trip to Valdivia. As soon as we depart, we’ll be heading to that location. It’ll be an hour at the most.”

“But about the pirates. If they get a hold of that technology, I’ll be ruined. The magnets I made are better than anything the UWA has ever seen.”

“You just told me that, Doctor. I know.”

“I’m saying it over and over again to make sure you understand. Any damage to that and they won’t work. They are very delicate.”

“Look, you won’t have to worry about pirates because it’s going in that!” Lifen remarked, pointing at the Jian Seng.

“That CC-5 will be a sitting duck! The pirates will easily...”

“Lozano, that is what I’m trying to tell you. This is not a CC-5 transport. This is a Fu Yi class military transport. See the guns and armor plating?”

By now, the first mobile crane was carrying the large metal sphere up the ramp and into the cargo container. It gently placed the device and began to reverse out and back onto the ramp.

“Ah...” Lozano said as he began to nod. “They did manage to send a military transport after all.” His eyes fell on Shira before he pointed his hand at her. “What is this Itrean doing here?”

“That is a member of my crew,” Lifen replied.

“A Shal’rein? I am well aware of them. They’re thugs. Why do you have one?”

Shira remained quiet and composed as the two were close to her now. The captain seemed annoyed with the doctor’s antics and comments.

“That is enough, Doctor,” Lifen explained to him. “It shows me that you didn’t even bother to read the report the UHN sent to you. Shira is a member of my crew. Treat her with respect. Her job is the same as everyone else’s, and that’s to safeguard your technology.”

“What is so important with these magnets, Doctor Lozano?” Shira calmly asked the doctor.

Lozano seemed to be surprised by the question. He didn’t expect such fluency with the words. It caused him to quickly snap out of it and grit his teeth a little bit.

“I’m surprised that you would care,” Lozano replied to her.

“It was a simple question, Doctor.”

“Fine ... They’re superpowered magnets,” he explained as he pointed at the next crane that was grabbing the next spherical device. “They’re one of the most powerful magnets to be ever constructed. When activated, it will draw everything within this hangar into it or send it flying to the hull of the Jian Seng. They are plasma-induced Tri-Haltrin Lozano Neodymium.”

“I’ve never heard of that design.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to know, Shal’rein. I actually created and named the element after myself. The magnetic fields these things make are perfect for mining operations. These can be used on drills to help extract the rare metals on Valdivia. I plan on making more of these, but I need to make sure that they can be properly field-tested.”

“Rest assured, Doctor. That it is a very likely possibility...,” she replied. Shira momentarily looked at the next crane that was moving up the ramp with the next sphere in tow.

“I put my life on it,” the doctor said, pointing to her. “Make sure that no one touches it!”

“We swear it,” Lifen answered for her.

This didn’t seem to be enough to quell the scientist. His emotions ruled out his prized work. With Shira, she could understand that the man wanted this delivery to succeed. Her head turned towards the direction while the scientist continued to rant a little bit. She put her hands behind her back as she remained calm and collected. Despite the words the man said to the captain, it did not phase the Itrean woman at all. Finally, the doctor waved his hand at Lifen. His expression only hinted at annoyance and lack of control in the situation. He turned around and walked away from everyone.

The captain gave a slight sputter of annoyance. Even the most professional individuals might have had some challenges. She made sure to wait for the scientist to be at a safe distance before she spoke to Shira.

“Ugh ... civilians,” Lifen replied quietly enough for Shira to hear. “I already have to worry enough about them as it is...”

“I would be more concerned about the sensor array system,” Shira replied to her.

“Yes ... again, thank you for your help last night. Lozano was pissed off enough as it was with the shipping delay.”

Shira gave a brief nod to her. The captain’s attention went towards the chief engineer, who was busy talking with Manthan and Obasi. Lifen started to head toward them. Shira’s attention was briefly attuned to the discussion that was at hand. She turned and began to walk back to the gathering group. Her shark-like tail swung briefly in the air as she kept her hands behind her back. She debated about lighting a cigarette, but kept it confined for now.

“I’m worried about the sensor system,” Obasi told the captain. “It was going in and out these last several days. It was doing it again.”

“Manthan, I remember you telling me about it,” Lifen commented. “Chief, any status on the shipment of parts yet?”

“We’re waiting on it right now,” Whittaker replied. “It should...”

Before he could say anything else, the door that led further into the base opened up. Two individuals in UHN uniforms, a man and a woman, came walking out and into the hangar bay. The woman was carrying parts in her hand. One looked like a tool of some sort, while the other was a large socket and gray cylindrical pipe. The chief gave a brief sigh of relief.

“There it is,” he said. “Yeah ... that’s it alright. It ... is one of the replacement couplers needed for the primary sensor array.”

“How is the status of the sensor array?” Lifen asked.

“It was operating at 100%, but it occasionally dips to 78% efficiency. The primary array is basically in a complete degradation cycle. It’s acting like the transceiver array is turning on and off. The secondary array kicks back online, but ... the effective range is less when it does so.”

Shira’s attention was momentarily focused on the man who had entered. He had broken off and waved at Bertram. The others’ concentration was mainly focused on the woman with the parts. It was easily the most crucial thing in the room. She pretended to give attention only to the woman as everyone else was.

“Do we need to stay here and conduct the repairs on the sensor system?” Lifen asked with some reluctance.

The chief engineer seemed unsure. “I don’t know yet, Captain,” he replied. “For a short trip like this, I probably wouldn’t worry so much about it. We need those parts if the repairs are going to take place.”

“I’m not exactly in the mood to be here with Lozano breathing down our necks,” Lifen commented.

“Doctor Lozano means well,” Shira answered calmly. “I can tell from his facial inflections that he’s true to his work. He wishes to see this shipment be completed. His attitude reflects that of a person who had to wait longer than expected for our arrival. The sooner that we leave, the sooner he’ll finally be able to calm down in turn.”

The last sphere was loaded into the cargo container of the Jian Seng. The chief engineer waved at the woman to come forth, and she responded with a brief smile. Manthan, Obasi, Whittaker, and Lifen were focused on the smiling woman, almost as if she were making the most significant delivery on Palora. Shira, on the other hand, was studying the woman closely. She had a similar facial complexion to that of the man and Doctor Lozano. She almost appeared to be Brazilian by her past nationality if she were on former Earth. Her long, black, wrapped-up hair and bronze complexion were apparent. On the other hand, the man who walked over to Bertram also had similar looks with short black hair, but had a paler face. The Itrean woman made sure to keep her attention directed at the woman.

“There it is,” Whittaker remarked as the woman happily planted the pipe-like device into his hands.

“The Genisen J70 Conduit you ordered,” the woman said with a familiar Spanish-like accent.

“There’s only one of them. Do you have the other?”

“It’s the only one. They just don’t make these anymore, Chief.”

“Fuck...” Whittaker said, shaking his head. “We need both to have the primary sensor array fully operational.”

“Will it improve everything?” Lifen asked.

The chief engineer nodded. “It’ll have to. I was really hoping to have both. At least we have the proper tools.”

“Without the other part,” Obasi said. “We’re looking at it being 85% of operation. Might not fix it completely. The sensor system will still go in and out.”

“How long will it take to install it?” the captain asked.

“We can do it right now, Captain. It’ll take like ten minutes tops.”

“Manthan, bring this into the ship and begin the installation.”

Shira’s head was turned to Bertram. Both of the men were talking to each other. With the attention diverted, her one shark-like eye was focused on the two. Very briefly, Bertram pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to the other man. It was done discreetly to ensure that handing it over wouldn’t be observed. The two didn’t even seem to notice the towering Shal’rein in the distance that was watching them.

With that, Shira began to walk towards the two men. It was enough to grab the attention of the captain and chief engineer, who both looked at her and the direction she was heading. Obasi had a look of concern as to what was going on. Manthan already had the part in hand as he was heading up the ramp of the ship. He hadn’t seen the set of events occur.

Bertram and the other man were busy communicating with one another, but it was obvious that the approaching towering alien woman was enough for them to look over to her. They stopped talking as Shira stood towering over them.

“Is there a problem, Itrean?” Bertram asked her with deep suspicion. The other man remained silent.

“Excuse me,” Shira coldly replied. “I couldn’t help but notice that you handed something to him.”

“What’s it to you? Go the fuck away!”

Shira’s head was turned towards the stranger. Her shark-like yellow eye gazed upon him. She wagged her shark-like tail around for a moment. With absolute calm, she took a step towards him. Bertram started to get defensive. Lifen, at first, seemed to hesitate in heading in her direction, but the moment that the chief engineer began to walk towards her was enough to persuade her to head over as well. Obasi had a look of anger and suspicion on his face as he had to head over to see what was going on.