Alien Dreams

Chapter 15

Gray follows Aubrie onto the bridge and notices James and Kiefer at the pilot and navigation stations. "Status."

Both men jump and turn to look at him before turning back to their stations. James answers him.

"All pack ships in the air and in formation Alpha. Though a lot of the pack are confused about how they got onto the ships, they are all accounted for." He tells him and then looks over to Kiefer to finish.

"The invading ship has stopped two miles from the lodge and is hovering Alpha. I don't think that they expected us to have so many ships here when they showed up." He reports watching his screens.

"That won't last for long." Gray tells them taking the Captains seat. "Do we know who they are?"

"I am going through all known ship designs now Gray." Markis informs him. "So far there are no clear identification. I have checked all known Margoleyian type craft with no matches found."

"Have they attempted any communication?"

"None Alpha. All channels are open but they aren't talking." James tells him frowning. Something about the other ship was bothering him but he wasn't sure what it was. It reminds him of a ship that he had once seen as a child, but he was sure that the line had been dropped nearly thirty years ago. "Markis, please check your records for the Prestone class two. It would be around thirty to forty years ago. Check the personal cruiser class."

"Checking James."

"Who do you think it is James?" Aubrie asks taking over navigation from Kiefer to free him up for weapons and communications."

"I'm not sure, but the way it looks reminds me of one of the models my father gave me as a kid." He tells her still studying the other ship. "It was decommissioned before any of us were born, but I seem to remember my father saying something about the company that had built them giving several that were still in good condition to a world that couldn't afford to pay for top of the line ships."

"The Preston class two cruisers were decommissioned thirty-two point seven years ago." Markis informs them. "Two hundred and fifteen ships were given to the Castovions in trade for mineral rights on their second moon for Enthol-g crystals."

"Aren't those the crystals used in most healing instruments?" Aubrie asks looking at the ship.

"Yes. They are mostly used in regeneration chambers for their ability to quicken healing on a microbial level." Markis tells her.

"That's right, and the Castovions are excellent healers themselves." James puts in. "We need Keynon up here. If that is a Castovion ship he may be able to find out what they want. It doesn't make sense that they would break through the island shielding the way that they did. As far as I've ever heard, they aren't a violent people. I've never heard anything of them attacking anyone."

"They didn't break through the shield for violence. They were deeply concerned about Greg." Keynon tells them as he and Tayla enter the bridge. "They have someone on the Margoleyian ship that contacted them about what happened with him. She kept a light mind touch on him even when we transferred him here. When Tayla altered his memories she became concerned that another race had taken him and where doing further damage to him."

Gray looks from him to Tayla and watches her closely as she moves to his side. "How do you know this?"

"When they were close enough, they felt my presence and contacted me to find out if I had treated him. They apologize for causing a panic, but when our ships lifted off they grew even more concerned for Greg's safety."