Greta made herself a fruit laden cold drink with protein supplements. Although she ate and enjoyed the foods at the gala feast, it was prudent to make sure she had all the proper nutrients. The other effects of the concert wore off as she sipped the cold drink, while she compiled the report on the evening's events.

The cut and dried style demanded by Discovery and Exploration didn't do the event and effects justice. She made a chart detailing the political structure of Engari. The names of the cities and leaders would follow tomorrow.

Freddie emerged from the communications room and said, "I think the crystals have given me what we need. The invasion occurred several of their decades ago."

"Good work. How do I approach Ptrelto about this?"

"There is no punishment other than social consequences. Nothing in their legal system says you cannot bring up the events. It's an intense desire not to upset those who were adversely affected. The attack began in the city closest to the polar cap on the Western Continent." Freddie settled at the astronomy station. His constant admiration for the universe and his training in astrophysics made him the perfect navigator. "We have another fourteen Engari days before we have another sonic storm. That coincides with the return of our mothership."

"Best make the most of our time then. Isn't that northern city the same one Ptrelto comes from?" Greta put their map of the planet up on the main view screen.

Freddie nodded. "It is. Do you mind if I use the telescope? The night is clear, and I would like to do some deeper calculations to confirm your theory about the weather."

"You are always welcome to use the ships equipment, my friend. We are lucky to have you aboard." Greta pulled a more complex keyboard up from the side of the chair, manipulating the arm until it was comfortably in place across her lap. "I'm putting together the report on this evening's events, including the rather startling effects on our libidos. I'll read your report on the invasion when I'm done."

"Aye Captain. On second thought, I will retire. I do have to be up to relieve Rasta in six hours. I'll leave you to your paperwork." Freddie rattled softly as he rose. "The aggressive aliens died when the Engari locked them out in a sonic storm. We're in the peak season right now. Which is why I want to confirm your hypothesis. Apparently, the sonic storms abate entirely for over half of their year."

"Interesting. I'll look forward to studying your equations," Greta said as her Scilari crew member disappeared down the steps to the living area.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"Can we use the hatch in the bottom of the hangar to start a archeological dig?" Greta asked as they sat eating breakfast.

"Now why didn't I think of that. If the invaders were locked out, their remains might be buried in the sands here. It isn't a stretch of logic to think they might have landed here as well. It was picked as an optimum spot to start explorations," Rasta said.

"So, it can be done?" she asked again.

"I don't see why not. Even if we only bore for samples to confirm our theory about the liquid nature of the core of this planet and how it might affect the weather when combined with the influences of six moons it would be within our protocols," Freddie answered. "What do you think? Can we set up the automatic probe and do some analytics for foreign DNA?"

"Considering that we have most of the biome genetics in the computer already thanks to the openness of the Engari, we could extrapolate the appearance of anything we don't identify. It will be either the invaders or and extinct species native to the planet," Rasta answered. "If we hurry, we can set up before we leave on our expedition to the northern cities and have some answers by the time we get back."

"Then make it so," Greta said. "I'm very curious as to what you come up with."

"I'll be right back. Need a couple of things from storage." Rasta disappeared into the least often used section of their ship.

Freddie put his back to the rear end of the explorer and shoved it toward the hatch. The round access door they used on water worlds appeared and he put his tremendous arm strength to use unfastening the bolts which held it sealed closed.

Greta recognized the micro drill they used to assess rock formations for rare elements when Rasta appeared dragging a dolly full of equipment. He took the cable attached to it and strung it across the floor plugging it into the information network and a power source.

"I'll just let our little diode friends know what we are up to. I think we need to advocate to have them declared a sentient species." Freddie took the stairs two at a time and by the time Rasta started to put the little machine together, he was back.

"Do you trust the crystals to keep the secret of what we are doing?" Greta asked.

"I do. There is a definite differentiation between them. It is a clear as the mathematical process and a universal language as such," Freddie said.

"That's clear as mud to me," Great said. "Had to study like a fiend just to pass interspace navigation theory. I'm happier to let Rasta do it."

"What he's saying is there is a clear ranking of who does what in the crystal formations, Captain. Therefore, I will agree they will keep our secret. I got the impression the crystals are concerned about a return of the invaders. Their ship was dismantled, and reverse engineered to give our Engari friends the building blocks for their own space program."

Greta took a guess and asked, "Did Zbera confess to this?"

"He alluded to some serious help figuring out designs. They scaled things up to fit them, but he never said where the help came from." Her second in command continued fitting pieces together and then clamped the machine over the edge of the curved rim of their access hatch.

"What about you Freddie? Did Zodera hint at anything?" She tapped her fingers on the tabletop at the observation window.

"I have a dilemma, Captain. I promised not to reveal what he said, but I think, for the greater good in this case, I have to." Freddie's upper arms gestured, emphasizing every word.

"You know what you say will stay between us," Greta reminded him.

"Quite right. He said they were what you humans considered reptilian. They carried a device with them which regulated their body temperature. It was what gave them the idea of locking them out in a sonic storm might be a way to, what did he say? Alleviate the threat."

Greta nodded. "Outside temperatures did drop considerably during the storm we survived. So point taken. Did he give you any further hints as to what they look like?"

"He stopped talking about them like a guilty child who gave away the time of a surprise party." Freddie helped thread the flexible drill pipe into its receptacle and Rasta turned it on.

Greta clicked more lengths of it together until she had over a hundred meters of it and coiled it into a neat pile. Freddie tested the first section to make sure it slide through the guide correctly and then snapped the end of the initial piece into the interlock of the rest.

"I hope that's enough for our purposes," Greta said as she held her hands in the sanitizer. She couldn't remember the last time they used this equipment.

"Five minutes till we have to leave," Rasta reminded them.

"I'll just get my pack. I see you two have yours. Remember, record everything. We'll compare notes when we get back."