Chapter 17

"Who are the Gaussians?" Buck asked as they scrambled to move Bill into a long footlocker in the cargo bay area.

"They are from the planet of Gauss in the Alpha sector. They were our first allies in the Earth Alliance. In fact, they were the ones who proposed the idea of the Alliance in the first place several decades ago. We had heard about the Emperor Draco and his conquest of most of the galaxy, and we felt we needed to defend ourselves against their advances. So the Gaussians and Earth entered into the Alliance and we set about together to find other free planets to join defenses against the Draconians."

Bill's head banged against the side of the footlocker. "Careful!" Buck exclaimed. "Watch my head! His head! That head!"

"Sorry!"
"So if the Gaussians are such good guys, why are they here with a warship?"

Wilma shrugged. "I don't know. In fact, we don't know a lot of history about the Gaussians. I do know that about three hundred years ago they were the major reason we were able to rebuild our cities and our technology. In fact, a lot of our technology and advances came directly from them. If it weren't for the Gaussians, we'd probably still be in the dark ages of the holocaust."

"That still doesn't explain why they're here in the twentieth century with a warship heading toward Earth."

"I'm sorry, that's all I know about them."

Buck nodded. "I know. I just tend to ask questions when I'm nervous. And getting tractor-beamed into a warship tends to make me nervous. You said about three hundred years ago they decided to help Earth. What did they do before that?"
"I don't know. They are pretty secretive about their history. Doctor Theopolis might know a little more than I do."

"Too bad he's not here."

A loud clanking sounded throughout the ship. Buck and Wilma suddenly fell to the floor. Wilma stood straight up as Buck slammed the lid of the footlocker.

"Sounds like we've landed," she said needlessly.

Buck nodded. "Yeah, and they've got gravity. It works, too," he said as he slowly stood up.

"So why are we hiding Bill?"

"I don't want to explain why there are two of me running around this ship. Too bad this shuttle wasn't made for smuggling. This isn't exactly a good place to hide someone."

"Let's just hope they don't come looking. Come on. If we meet them outside on our own, maybe they won't search."

They quickly made their way to the cockpit hatch. As soon as the hatch was opened, Buck stuck his head out to see several dozen armed soldiers. Slowly he lowered himself out of the hatch followed by Wilma. They stood by the hatch and raised their hands into the air. A soldier in a different uniform from the rest approached them.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"I am Buck Rogers, Captain of the United States Air Force."

"Colonel Wilma Deering."

"You are from the planet Earth?"

"Yes. Can we put our hands down?"

A dozen rifles raised as the soldiers took a step forward. Buck shot his hands back into the air. "Okay, okay. I guess not."

"What are you doing here?"

"We were brought here by you."

The man struck Buck across his face with a backhand. "Is that supposed to be a joke on your part?"

"No, Sir. The colonel and I just launched from Earth about three days ago. We are on a five-month expedition, experiment, really, to determine the feasibility of landing on Mars. That would be the fourth planet of our solar system. We were here minding our own business, no offense, when suddenly your ship appears from out of nowhere and kidnaps us."

"What were you doing by the stargate?"

Buck looked at Wilma, then back at the man in front of them. "What's a stargate?" he asked.

"Is there anyone left aboard your ship?"

"No. It was just the two of us."

"Uh-huh." The man whirled around to face his soldiers. "Take them to Security Level One. And search the ship."

He strolled rapidly across the hangar. Buck and Wilma exchanged glances again before the soldiers surrounded them. Buck shrugged and lowered his head. "Lead the way, guys."

Once their hands were secured behind their backs by handcuffs, Buck and Wilma were led into the interior of the ship.

The large man fidgeted in the slightly too small chair nervously. He waited impatiently as the rest of the crew scurried around him on the bridge. Just as he was about to stand up and demand to know what was going on, the captain of the warship stepped up to the makeshift throne.

"Minister Turon, we have successfully managed to unlock the stargate."

"Unlock it? What are you talking about, Captain Arnogg? I thought the stargate was already unlocked. We've been sending scout ships to Earth for years!"

"Yes, Sir. There were different size limitation locks on the stargate. It looks like the locks have been there for centuries, like someone was trying to keep this planet hidden from the rest of the galaxy. We finally managed to unlock the last size limitation seal. We can enter the stargate anytime you are ready, Sir."

"Give the order, Captain. I want to be standing on Earth before the week is over."

"Yes, Sir."

The captain went to his command chair. "Helm, take us into the stargate. One quarter speed."

"Aye, Captain."

The large ship exited the stargate. Suddenly the bridge became abuzz with activity. People scurried around their stations rapidly. Minister Turon squeezed out of his throne and waddled over to stand at the captain's chair.

"What's going on, Captain Arnogg?"

"There appears to be a small spaceship off of the port bow. It's like nothing we've ever seen before."

"How small?"

"About half the size of your personal shuttle."
"So it is no threat to the ship?"

Arnogg laughed. "Not hardly. We could run right through it and never even feel it scraping the hull. I've landed my fighter on asteroids bigger than that."

"Carry on, Captain. Full speed ahead."

Just as he was about to give the order, an officer quickly whirled his chair around and stood to be recognized. "Captain! Captain Arnogg!"

The captain turned to his left. "Yes?"
"Sensors are showing that there are life signs aboard the ship!"

"Life signs? Are you sure? There's actually somebody on board that thing?"

"Yes, Sir. There is definitely somebody aboard that ship."

"How many?"

"It's hard to say. At least two."

"What do you mean at least two? Don't you know how to read the data?"

"Yes, Sir. There are two strong sources, and then one that is giving ambiguous data. It could just be a fault or an echo."

"It doesn't matter. Run them over."
"Wait," Minister Turon bellowed. "Can you determine where the ship is from?"

"Initial data indicates they came from Earth."

Turon scratched at the base of his long beard. "What are you thinking, Minister?" Arnogg questioned.

"I have never before met a representative of a world I have conquered, or yet to conquer. This could be interesting. Interesting indeed. Have them brought aboard. I would like to entertain them for awhile."

"What about your conquest of Earth?"

Minister Turon shrugged. "It's not going anywhere. And when I get bored of entertaining, they will meet the same fate as the rest of the planet: their death! I'm going to go and prepare for their arrival. I'll let you know, Captain, when I am ready for them."

He chuckled to himself as he headed for the exit. "Yes, this is going to be interesting. Interesting indeed!"