Fragments 1: Devolution Landing

All is revealed

Back at the dig site the team disembarked. Professor Androbos stomped off in the direction of his tent and the others followed a little sheepishly. He was angry, frustrated and irritable. The archaeologists stood quietly while he vented his annoyance.

"...And if that was not bad enough," he shouted. "You have wasted my time on our last afternoon here. There were things that I could have done, but I had to chase after you. Have you no consideration!"

There was a long pause before any of them felt able to respond.

"We're sorry, but it was all too tempting..." began Moorfier quietly.”This was just such a good opportunity and..."

"Let me stop you there," interrupted Elveren. "I don't think you were entirely to blame. This was a set-up from the beginning, wasn't it Ran?"

She turned to face Perracheck who shrugged slightly.

"This team wasn't put together by accident I think," she continued. "Someone actually wanted a group of obsessive academics - no offence - who would stay a little too long and cause a diplomatic incident. Am I right?"

Perracheck shrugged again.

"I think the normal phrase here is, 'no comment'," he said flatly.

"And it's no accident that we have people on the team from different Federation worlds is it?" she asked. "But who or what are you?"

He said nothing.

"I began to wonder when you sneaked your bags through customs," she continued. "I thought you might be a smuggler - but then you encouraged Mor and Marcus to take off today didn't you. Was it your job to keep us here?"

"If necessary," he sighed. "Not long though. Just enough to mean that you'd just miss the last official shuttle out. They didn't want to put you in any danger, just create a bit of fuss so there was a reason to bring a couple of Federation destroyers into the area. The hope was that this might delay the Truccani attack long enough for the diplomats to step in and prevent a war."

"They being?" asked Androbos.

"Your government back on Sirius Four - and their allies..."

"So we were just pawns in a diplomatic game, and you were our... minder?"

"I was supposed to be your bodyguard," said Perracheck. "The minister didn't think you would be able to resist the temptation to stay longer. My instructions were to get you out before it became too late, but you were getting ready to go and I had to... improvise."

"This is all very interesting," the Professor declared firmly. "But it changes nothing. I have no desire to be a pawn, so I think we will go now. Get your bags and we'll be at the flitter in ten minutes. I intend to be on that last shuttle!"