Chapter 11
Alamein and Alzrand
Part 1
Jim couldn't believe what he had just heard. The territories of Alamein and Alzrand had always been a peaceful community. The fishing vessels bore no resemblance to pirates or Procyons which meant the dispute was internal. Jim wondered briefly if the citizens of Alamein were rebelling against the Empire as well. Why else would they refuse to let a naval vessel through? Yet, even that scenario didn't make much sense. The twin ports were too small to stand up to the Empire alone and they relied on trade in the galaxy for their economic wealth.
Amelia squinted her eyes at Captain Rozen who had his chin stuck out in a defiant expression.
"Pray tell, whose side are you on, Captain?" she hollered down to him. The man sniffed and wiped some snot away from his bulbous nose.
"I'm on nobody's side, ma'am. It's just we aren't going to let any vessels, Navy or not, through until we've completed our fishing for the day," he answered.
"How long has this been going on?" Amelia demanded, her patience thinning.
"As long as we've needed it to. Now back off!" Rozen sneered. Amelia's lips twitched, Jim could see it was taking all of her patience to handle the situation with delicacy.
"As I've stated before, Captain, we are heading to Alamein on official Navy business and we will not turn away. Disband this blockade now or, by her majesty, you will face charges!"
Captain Rozen did not take her threat to heart.
"You're going to have to try harder than that to make us move, Captain," he answered with an insolent chuckle. Amelia turned her sharp gaze to Amherst then as she strutted off the observation tower and back onto the helm's deck.
"Mr. Amherst, set our leading gunner up with the cannon on the starboard side. Tell him to load practice charges," she commanded. Amherst nodded his consent and ordered the head of the artillery on board, Mr. Naylor, to begin loading the nondestructive laser balls into the mortar. Although these balls were made of rock, they were less flammable and more lightweight. The Academy often used them in training exercises between practice vessels. "Mr. Naylor, fire a warning shot across their bow!"
"Aye, ma'am," Naylor responded as the cannon hummed to life. Jim and Ray watched as the practice charge was ejected, soaring through the stars and just over Captain Rozen's bow. It was a close shot. Close enough for Rozen to finally understand Amelia meant business.
"That was your only warning!" Amelia called down to him from the observation deck once more. Captain Rozen narrowed his eyes but he nodded to his crew to pass on word to the rest of the fleet.
"Very well," he snapped. "But there's more to this than you know, Captain!"
Jim watched as the fishing vessels began to pull away, but to his surprise they didn't sail into Alamein's port. Instead they made way for Alzrand in the distance. The Legacy's engines were soon powered back up as it sailed through the skies toward Alamein's port.
"What do you think that was all about?" Ray asked, giving Jim a worried expression. "Are Alamein and Alzrand against the Navy? It'd be really stupid if they were."
"Not if the Procyons are backing them," Jim replied, wondering if the ports were also trying to break off from the Empire.
"That's unlikely," Ray released a nervous laugh. "I mean, come on, they wouldn't seriously try something that rash, right?"
"Nah, maybe you're right," Jim shrugged. "I don't see any Procyon vessels in the area, but…maybe that's just because Alamein and Alzrand are still trying to get the Procs attention, let them know the twin ports are on their side."
"That's illogical," someone commented as Jim and Ray turned around to see Douglass. Ray's look darkened.
"Oh really? Why don't you share your opinions with your new best friend?" the dark skinned boy muttered. Doug chose to overlook this comment as he continued.
"Do either of you remember anything from our history lessons?"
Jim rubbed the back of his neck, feeling sheepish.
"I know Alamein and Alzrand rely on trade…but that's all I got. I hate our history and economics classes," he replied.
"Make that two of us," Ray raised a finger.
"Yeah, Alamein and Alzrand need trade to operate. The whole reason the two islands were populated in the first place was to facilitate interplanetary trade, but when the Moonfish changed breeding grounds they adopted that as another way to expand their open markets. Now everyone just assumes that they're the biggest fishing cities when actually –"
"Uh, Doug?" Jim piped up. "We get it." Doug faltered, feeling a tad sour that his chance to prove he was being smarter than the others was ruined. "So, obviously Alamein and Alzrand would have no reason to rebel against the Empire. That would sacrifice their livelihood, but if they weren't doing it for the Procs, who were they doing it for?" Jim rubbed his chin.
"Beats me," Ray shrugged. "I'm sure Captain Amelia will figure it out though."
As the ship sailed closer to the island of Alamein an unsettling feeling grew in the pit of Jim's stomach. He tried to shrug it off as inconsequential while Amherst ordered the students and older crew to begin preparing to dock. Jim kept his hands busy as he climbed the shrouds to help tie down the sails. When the ship had lowered onto the pier and the astral anchor had been dropped, Jim allowed himself a moment to think while his friends returned to the deck. He scanned the expanse of the island from his perch, but nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary.
Jim wanted to believe that it was only the blockade making him skittish, but he couldn't deny that it felt as if something more was going on here. He searched the horizon to see the island of Alzrand in the distance and the fishing vessels nearly there. A shriek of laughter drew him from his thoughts as he looked to the mast below him where Dalia, Alice and Ryan were giggling together, about to make their way down. Jim glared at the back of Ryan's head when Alice caught his eye and matched his look with her own. Jim could imagine what she would be saying if he was there:
"I dare you to keep up your attitude."
He turned away and began to descend.
"Bloody ridiculous that this is what we face when coming into port," Amelia growled under her breath from the stern beside Delbert, Amherst, and the helmsman Hullick. "Amherst please prepare the supplies for unloading and do let the harbormaster know of our delivery. Delbert, follow me, we're going to meet with the Mayor," Amelia beckoned, halfway down the helm's steps when Amherst called her back.
"Perhaps I should meet with the mayor as well," he said.
"Someone needs to take care of my vessel while I am away, and we shan't waste any more time in finishing what we came to do in the first place," Amelia replied. Delbert looked between the two as Amherst hesitated before nodding and calling out orders. Some service robots on the pier positioned a moveable stairwell beside the rail of the Legacy for Amelia and Delbert to depart.
"What do you think this could mean?" Delbert inquired as they walked down the stairs and onto a firm berth once more. "Could Alamein and Alzrand be at war?"
"It's unlikely they're at war with the Empire," Amelia began as they took the road into town, following the civilians and cartloads of Moonfish. "And to be at war with each other seems absurd."
"Hmmm," Delbert hummed, a crease upon his brow. "What about Amherst?"
"What about him?" Amelia asked, her sharp teeth revealing themselves in a sort of snarl.
"Well, he does seem agreeable, but do you trust him?"
"Delbert I -?"
"Do you trust him?" Delbert repeated causing Amelia to stop. They were now positioned in the thick of the bustling town as pedestrians moved left and right, making their daily way.
"No, and that terrifies me," Amelia sighed and began to walk once more. "I should be able to trust my own commanding officer, but there's something…about him that unnerves me."
"I'll keep an eye on him then," Delbert sucked in his breath, puffing out his chest slightly. Amelia tried to stifle a giggle.
"Oh, Delbert, your intentions are noble, but you're not very stealthy."
"What's that supposed to mean? I'm quite health – stealthy, mind you –" Before Delbert could continue with his statement, his foot snagged on a bit of stray fishing net near a vendor close by. A gasp escaped him at the last moment as, too late, he tripped and stumbled right into a large bucket of fish toppling it and himself over, scattering the fish across the street. The alien tradesman yelped and began yelling at Delbert in a language he knew well.
Flatula.
Amelia watched in odd fascination as Delbert proceeded to spit and puff out his cheeks in an attempt to outdo the angry man. After helping the man scrape some of the moonfish back into the barrel, he made one last armpit fart before turning back to Amelia.
"Some people," he huffed, crossing his arms.
"I love you," Amelia gave him a wicked grin. Delbert blushed as they shared a quick kiss and closed the distance to the mayor's home at the edge of town. The home was more like a comfortable mansion with the imperial flag flapping high above the rooftop. Delbert caught the door for Amelia and dipped his head to allow her in first so as to retain some of his dignity. He'd be scrubbing his clothes for weeks afterward to remove the fishy smell.
The entrance hall of the home was very ornate and quite comfortable with chairs for one to sit as they waited for an appointment and even a table with a variety of hot and cold beverages for guests. At the end of the hall was a large wooden desk where a receptionist sat doing some sort of paperwork. Amelia approached the desk and cleared her throat.
"Hello, yes, I'm here to see the Mayor," she announced. The young woman twirled a strand of hair around her finger in a bored manner.
"Do you have an appointment?"
"I don't need one. Tell him that Captain Amelia of the imperial vessel RLS Legacy is waiting for a very tasteful explanation as to why our mission to deliver supplies to your citizens was delayed," Amelia said, leaning over the desk. The receptionist looked surprised at Amelia's boldness and supposed it was best not to question the irritable feline. She stumbled to her feet, clutching a clipboard to her chest.
"Right away, ma'am," she stammered and exited the entrance hall through an opposite door. Amelia drummed her nails against the wooden desk as she and Delbert awaited the receptionist's return. At last the same door opened, but instead of the receptionist, an alien man appeared. He looked much the same species as Mr. Turnbuckle had been on the voyage to Treasure Planet. He was an octopus-like sort with grey-blue skin and a rotating head. From his head sprouted two eye stocks. His limbs consisted of multiple tentacles which he used to glide across the polished floor.
"My name is Mayor Ned, and you must be Captain Amelia Doppler as my secretary has informed me," Mayor Ned greeted, extending a tentacle. Amelia gave it a shake.
"Yes, and this is my husband Doctor Delbert Doppler. We were under orders to deliver cargo to your city, but we found our voyage was not as smooth as we had hoped," Amelia explained.
"Do tell," Mayor Ned cleared his throat, seeming uncomfortable. Amelia proceeded to describe how she had had trouble docking the Legacy due to some very insubordinate fishermen. When she finished Mayor Ned let out a deep sigh and shook his head.
"I was afraid that this would happen," he mumbled.
"Sorry, but, afraid what would happen?" Delbert inquired, adjusting his spectacles.
"Not so long ago boats from the neighboring island of Alzrand started plundering our Moonfish stocks. When we objected, they used their larger fishing fleet to blockade our harbor! Our fishermen have to stay docked, while they take the fish that have fed our village for generations!" he answered, his voice weary. Drawing a handkerchief from his pocket, he wiped at his brow. "I thought that with the arrival of a Naval ship they might disperse, but it is clear they have no intention of leaving. This is worse than I thought. I don't know how much longer we'll be able to sustain ourselves this way," he let out a dramatic breath, giving Amelia and Delbert a sad look.
"Well then I suppose there is only one way to settle this dispute. If you should like to come with me, Mayor Ned, we'll pave way to Alzrand to speak with their mayor about what is happening. You are all imperial citizens and are therefore protected by law. I don't see how negotiations could go awry," Amelia said, her last sentence hollow with sarcasm.
"You mean board a vessel and visit them?" Mayor Ned spluttered.
"What seems to be the matter?" Delbert asked.
"Well, I can't just leave a city. There are preparations that need to be made. I'll have to speak with my secretary Miranda about keeping up with appointments and meetings and –"
"Oh tosh, Mayor, this won't take that long. Please don't fret," Amelia scoffed, linking her arm with his and nearly pulling him out the door. "Besides, this problem is of utmost importance is it not?"
Delbert tried to stifle his snickers at his wife's wit as Mayor Ned attempted to gather his thoughts.
"I-I suppose you are right, Captain. Ahem, excuse my incompetence. Please, lead the way."
When Amelia returned to the ship, Amherst had just finished unloading the last of the supplies. She addressed the crew by giving a brief explanation of what was going on before the ship was casting off once more, sailing for Alzrand, but twenty minutes away. In order to pass the time, the crew lounged about, enjoying the warm atmosphere in space and pointing out Moonfish resevoirs as they went. Jim hung from the shrouds, feeling guilty about his actions earlier. He knew he should not have accused Ryan so quickly, but Jim could not shake his jealous feeling when the boy hung around Alice.
He tried to ignore his inner voice and instead decided to give Ryan a chance. He met up with Alice in the galley where she was enjoying a purp with Morph by her side. Jim was thankful she was alone as Morph flew forward to greet him. Jim gave his pet a small smile before turning his attentions back to Alice who was leaning against the wall, staring him down.
"Alice…" he began, sighing a little. She lifted her nose as if to encourage him to continue. "I'm sorry –"
"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to," Alice responded just as quick. Jim gave her an incredulous look.
"You've got to be joking."
"Jim, you know as well as I do he didn't deserve that! If you really want to make this right you'll apologize to Ryan for accusing him of things he didn't do," she frowned. Jim wanted to mutter that he still did believe Ryan deserved what he had gotten.
"Look, Alice, I'm not apologizing to him. If anything he should apologize to me!"
"For doing what, Jim?" Alice scoffed.
"For flirting with you and in front of me!" Jim snapped.
"He was not flirting with me!" she yelled. "Ugh, you're impossible sometimes!"
"I'm impossible? Fine, Alice, I'll just sit back and watch other guys ask you out," Jim shouted, waving his hand.
"He wasn't asking me out!"
"Really?"
"You're so –"
"Alzrand ahead!" came the cry of the lookout on deck. Jim and Alice stopped in the midst of their argument to glare at each other before Alice shoved passed Jim and ran up the stairs onto the main deck. Jim groaned and rubbed his face while Morph gave a nervous coo.
"What am I supposed to do, Morph?" Jim complained before he too followed Alice up the steps.
"Look, there they are, fishing our territory," Mayor Ned protested from the helm beside Amelia and Amherst. The three watched as they passed a different group of fishing vessels casting their nets on the edge of Alamein's fishing grounds. Amelia didn't respond as she ordered their helmsman ahead slow. The few fishing vessels that blocked the harbor set sail in a different direction when they saw the approaching naval ship. Good, Amelia thought. That means they won't be challenging us again.
"Mr. Amherst, give the order to dock the ship," she requested as Amherst ordered the crew into action. The sails were secured once more as the helmsman brought them in close to the pier. Dock hands rushed to move the staircase into motion as the ship was powered down and elevated safely just off the metal berth.
"Might I accompany you this time, Captain?" Amherst inquired, coming to stand beside Amelia as Mayor Ned and Delbert took the lead. Amelia did not at all like this arrangement. She did not trust Amherst and therefore wished to share as little information with him as possible when it came to political matters. Yet, she could think of no better excuse this time and thus proceeded to give him a curt nod. As the four of them headed off the ship, it was apparent they need not go far. Standing at the end of the dock was the mayor of Alzrand. Amelia guessed at this for beside him was a secretary and he wore a suit quite similar to the one Mayor Ned bore.
"Ah, afternoon, Sir," Amelia greeted coming closer. The Mayor of Alzrand looked quite like a fish himself with green scales and whiskers jutting from either side of his stretched mouth. He wore white gloves which gripped the edge of a decorative cane he used to lean on as they approached.
"Mayor Krell, Captain Amelia. I've heard much about you," he introduced himself, his voice deep and guttural.
"And I you," Amelia responded, raising a thin eyebrow.
"Yes, I'm sure you have," Mayor Krell lowered his voice, giving Mayor Ned a dirty look over Amelia's shoulder.
"This is Doctor Doppler, my husband, and this here is my commanding office Amherst," Amelia introduced.
"It's nice to meet you," Delbert smiled, extending a hand which was coldly rejected. He let his arm fall away as Mayor Krell turned back to Amelia with a harsh stare.
"Do skip the formalities, Captain. I would like to know why you are really here," Krell said. Amelia resisted the urge to rub her temples as she explained once again their trouble with the Alzrandian fishing vessels.
"All charges point back to you, Mayor Krell, I do hope you have a good explanation for what is happening. I'm in no mood to arrest anyone today," she finished. Mayor Krell took a moment to gather his thoughts before he began.
"In this way Alamein has managed to depict Alzrand as the antagonists, but I cannot agree."
"If you're not the antagonist, who is?" Delbert cut in with a frown.
"It began a few weeks ago when pirates began marauding our traditional fishing areas South of here," he growled before composing himself. His expression then drooped. "We had no choice but to move our fishing fleets North. However, when we tried to explain our problem to the Alamein fishing boats, they ignored us and tried to cut our nets!" he glared at Mayor Ned. Amelia was taken aback at this turn of events. Such circumstances were usually caused by greed. She had assumed Alzrand had only wished to expand their trade. "So you see, Captain, we were only attempting to keep our economy and ourselves alive."
"Is this true?" Amelia rounded on Mayor Ned. The man looked uncomfortable and he removed his handkerchief to dab at his brow once again before composing himself. Straightening his back he looked down at Amelia.
"They were in our fishing grounds," he argued as if the mere idea of intermingling disgusted him. Amelia scowled.
"You might at least have listened to them. My crew and I will deal with the pirates, but at the moment you'll share the northern fishing areas. Are we in agreement, gentlemen?" she announced. Mayor Krell stuck out his hand and at first Mayor Ned looked hesitant before he agreed and the two men shook on it.
"Thank you, Captain. Do feel free to replenish your supplies here," Mayor Krell thanked her before returning to the awaiting carriage that might take him back to his home. It was clear Alzrand was larger than Alamein and therefore a carriage was necessary for transport unless one wished to walk far. Amelia and Amherst took the lead back to the ship, and Amelia kept up a brisk pace so Amherst had to quicken his own to keep up.
"If these are the sorts of political disputes I'll have to put an end to, I believe I'd much rather be on the front lines. This is ridiculous that the Royal Navy has to step in to diffuse silly squabbles between our own people," she protested.
"Begging your pardon, ma'am, but I don't suppose you're much qualified to be on the front lines," Amherst replied. Amelia climbed the stairs to the helm, not bothering to grace him with her full attention.
"And why would you say that, Mr. Amherst?" she inquired, her ears flattening against her head as she bared her teeth in a sort of snarl.
"What with you having previously resigned from the Navy and agreeing to take up your post once again only on a 'most needed' basis," he stated. Amelia stopped short, whirling around to face him with a dangerous look in her eye.
"Who told you that?" she demanded.
"I too was given a file on you before the voyage began," Amherst explained coolly.
"Who gave you that file?" Amelia glowered. It was unlikely for crewmembers to read up on their own captain before a voyage. The confidential files on each spacer's background were given to the captain of the vessel for they were the ones that needed to know how every corner of a ship operated.
"The Admiralty gave it to me. You may have succeeded in retaining your designation, Captain, but that does not mean they trust you," Amherst answered. Amelia gave him a look that might shake Hell itself.
"And where do your loyalties lay, Mr. Amherst?"
"Mine lay with the Empire and our Queen," he responded, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Oh good, we're on the same page. Do be so kind, Mr. Amherst as to not question my authority again lest you take a tumble and find yourself strung up for treason," Amelia clipped, making her way toward her stateroom. "Please arrange a transit vehicle so Mayor Ned may be returned to Alamein safely and I would appreciate your help in sending out cadets to secure more supplies, thank you," she gave him a taunting smirk before closing her stateroom door. Amherst stood there for a moment in stunned silence as Delbert and Mayor Ned approached him from behind.
"You might like to do as she says," Delbert recommended. "It would be unwise not to." Amherst's lips twitched as he descended the stairs to the main deck.
"Listen up Cadets…"
A/N: NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION: WRITE MORE!
Because in all honesty this is just getting ridiculous. Another 3 months for a chapter!? But to be fair I have been working diligently on a fantasy book of mine that I wish to publish someday. Still, on those days when I'm just lying around lazily…tsk those are the days I should be writing to appease the few readers I have for these stories.
I decided to split this chapter into 2 parts because:
1. I really, really want to upload something and don't want to wait until I finish the whole chapter. And…
2. Because it's going to be a very long chapter if I don't chop it in half. I've only done this for once other chapter and that was the climactic scene in The Eternity Star during the chapter: Hanging in the Balance.
I wasn't sure I really wanted to chop this chapter in half, because that just makes my chapters messy, but then I thought, "Oh why not?" I think instead of uploading enormous 30 page chapters I'll try to cut them into parts so I can feed them to you in smaller bites instead of digesting a boat load of information all at once. Plus that allows me to focus on particular details in my author's notes. That doesn't mean all of my chapters are being cut into parts, just the ones that are extraordinarily long.
So, onward to chapter description!
Yes, I know this first part wasn't as epic or exciting, but do not fret my readers part 2 of this chapter is going to get really intense! A lot more action is coming up, I promise. In part 1 here I got to focus a lot more on Amelia and Delbert and their interactions, which I rarely do in these stories. Jim and Alice are the main characters so I usually try to focus on their development and how other characters interact with them. But it was important for me to switch to Amelia's point of view because of the tension between Alamein and Alzrand.
This was also important because we have now resolved an important matter: Amherst.
He's not the bad guy, so don't think he's waiting for the opportunity to mutiny and rise up with the Procyons. No, he's very loyal to the Empire, but he was hired by the Admiralty to be assigned to Amelia's vessel so he might keep tabs on her. After all the lies about the Eternity Star and the pirates escaping her custody, a lot of people don't trust Captain Amelia. Amherst is like an undercover first mate to be there in case she slips up.
But if any of us know Amelia, we know too that she is impeccable in her record. Just because a few papers tainted her name doesn't mean she's going to lose her ability. So again there's the tension between Amherst and Amelia because neither of them trust each other which is a very bad scenario to be in when shipping out during a time of war.
Ahem, so yes, that's about it. Now they have to go deal with pirates marauding Alzrand's fishing areas…or do they?
I'll leave you with those thoughts and hopefully I'll have Part 2 up ASAP.
Thanks for reading!
Special Thanks goes to: Devlin Ross, PartofYourWorld-ArielMermaid, and lazyX1000! Thanks for the support guys! I always appreciate it! :D