As Greta settled in to wait, she thought about the conversation in detail.

"Wait a minute Qwalto, what did you mean there should be people capable of helping arriving?'

"My squadrons. Some of them were youngsters when we were disbanded. I had a message primed, ready to send should the need arise. They all know where the base is, and their palm prints are in the system here. Speaking of which, I need to place yours, Freddie's and Rasta's into the system as well."

"I'm honored," Freddie responded. "But will your system deal with my oddly formed appendages?"

"The Lazaurians were not much better, and we were able to accept their clawed hands into our system, then lock them out as well when the time came. I would say use your dominant appendage for us to record your biometrics," Qwalto instructed.

Freddie approached the counter where Qwalto touched a pad with his trunk. Laying his middle right pincher on the pad he stilled, becoming motionless.

"Roll it back and forth, so we get the angles you might use when under stress. Interesting how your hand articulates with the clamp like structure moving and articulating like the fingers of our trunk," Qwalto observed.

They heard a brief beep, and the Commander nodded to the Scilari ambassador.

"Your turn, Captain Larsen."

Greta obliged, wiggling her fingers and rocking her hand as the pad recorded. By the time Rasta was properly entered into the security system, the smaller man door beside the maw of the hanger opened to allow four Engarian soldiers to join them inside.

The tallest of them, a female, raised her trunk to touch her right ear, and said, "Bravo squad reporting for duty, Commander."

"Take the aircraft control station, ma'am. I am pleased to see you respond."

Five more screens flashed green and moving blips caught Greta's attention.

"Commander, the planet leader's personal aircraft is approaching. Several other city leaders are moving in this direction as well."

"Bring them in and place them in order of arrival. Ptrelto closest to the main hanger door. I'll go out to greet her myself," Qwalto ordered. "

Yes sir!"

Another group of soldiers arrived from a door Greta only noticed as it slid into a smooth wall.

"Ah-hah! Alpha group. You found your way through. Have you brought the greenhouses back online?" Qwalto rubbed his hands together.

"Yes sir. We will be self sufficient in a few weeks. All systems functioning. Our shut down procedures performed as designed. Water is about to begin purification circulation. We did not lose any volume. The cisterns are holding well after the upgraded sealant was applied."

Although Greta sensed their curiosity, all the new arrivals curbed their questions and fell into well practiced routines. She watched Freddie nodding his head in approval as new groups reported and turned to watch the big monitoring screens as labeled blips got closer to landing.

"Land then, Mbreto, and watch the sky. I'm not sure what it is above, but it is huge!"

"Freddie! Get into our ship. I wasn't expecting the Mother ship this quickly. Have them hold until we're ready to give the space they need to land. All aboard stay put except the Admiral."

The Scilari envoy disappeared in a flash. Greta knew he could run when necessary, but this was impressive. No wonder no one guessed his age.

"Qwalto, that's my Mother ship."

The Commander nodded. "I will inform Ptrelto. She's about to disembark. Let me deal with her and guide her into our conference room." He continued to speak as he headed toward the smaller door. "Let your ship land afterward Captain Larsen and bring your Admiral into the conference room. Mbreto, you have the Command Center."

Greta figured out command was now the female lead of Bravo Squad. She took Qwalto's chair and her three squad members rearranged themselves in a practiced maneuver so quick there was no break in the instructions going out to incoming ships.

Watching through the observation window with Rasta, her jaw dropped as all nine leaders from the major cities landed in precise rows, making efficient use of the impromptu landing grid.

"What do think?" Greta asked Rasta.

"There's enough room for Star ship Yaeger, but whoever is piloting better be good. Wouldn't want an incident right now. They need to know we are skilled and respect them enough to take care."

Greta's wrist unit lit up.

Admiral Larsen will await your instructions. Please come aboard as soon as the Yaeger is properly shut down and safe to approach.

"Captain, are you able to do this?" Rasta's question had her squaring her shoulders.

"I'll handle it. We're both professionals here."

"But your father. I mean everyone knows the last time you met wasn't good. The news clips went across the live feeds to every last ship in the fleet."

"Don't remind me, Rasta. I'm taking Freddie with me. He cares to much about protocols to bring up the past with the ambassador present. When did he have time to transfer to our mother ship?"

"Rumor is he always knows where you are. I'm sure the contents of every one of our message capsules were relayed to him." Rasta pointed up. "Freddie must be guiding them in."

Mbreto nodded, tapping the nodule at the base of her right ear. "Captain Larsen, Freddie has a clear channel and control of the landing grid. He's a pleasure to work with."

Greta stood, shaking her dress uniform into place. "I'm glad we aren't all the way north, but more in line with the equator where we landed. My lack of outer wear will not be a problem."Freddie reappeared at the door, and it opened letting him in.

"The ID pads work, Captain. Your father is more respectful of your work here than I thought possible all considered. Allow him some leeway. We do not want a family squabble to interfere with this. There is far too much at stake."

"As I told Rasta. We are professionals. I was embarrassed by our falling out, and I expect he was too. My childhood misadventures won't come up. I will make certain of it." She went to the door leading to the exit.

Freddie was on his way to what she considered the air traffic control center. "Mbreto, permission to take over the Yaeger's approach, ma'am."

She emitted a sharp staccato blast and said, "Bogado, release your station to the honored Ambassador."

The Engari and Scilari saluted each other, and Freddie took over.

Greta whispered her question to Rasta. "How much of their systems does Freddie understand?"

"When it comes to being a quick study, I don't think there is much the Scilari can't learn. And our friend spent a long time in communications learning about our little golden crystal friends. I expect he satisfied his curiosity on many things."

She nodded. "I knew he was far more than he revealed on our initial meeting. His age was the least of it, but now? I'm glad he's on our side."

"Me too," Rasta said. "Here she comes. Fortuitous that our Mother ship is named after the same family with so many firsts in aviation and space exploration."

"If you believe in the fates, it could be no other. From Chuck to Mirianna, the Yaeger name brings luck and proof of concepts in engineering with it from the twentieth century right through to the present."

"Go out to the hangar, Captain. The big door is open again. Wait there for my contact, and I'll let up know when it's safe to approach her," Freddie called out from his post.

Greta flashed him a quick salute acknowledging his instructions and left the room.

I really hope Dad is ready to leave the past behind. And I hope Ptrelto is equally ready to forgive us for ignoring the ban on the Lazaurian invasion. Please don't take this away from me.