FSE

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** CHAPTER 18** Revelations

The image of that abandoned mine still lingered in our minds. It wouldn't be easy to forget what we saw that day.

After we encountered that improvised refuge in that tunnel down in the mine, we decided that it was time to head back. On our way out, we managed to find the main chamber where the Blue Mineral was being extracted from. The Retcans admitted that they have never encountered such a massive accumulation in its natural state. It was now easy to see why our systems were so highly affected.

Titan decided not to prolong our stay, so we exited as soon as we could. The theories that there might've been another access were confirmed later when we found ourselves in a large room with heavy machinery that we concluded were the C02 extractors. The C02 extractors exited in a ledge, and parts of the mountain had collapsed destroying the vents that held the valves that kept the mine pressurized. We managed to exit the mine form there.

Behind us we left that place forgotten by time. The last lights were failing to sustain themselves probably due to generator finally loosing the battle against corrosion and all the degradation that it had suffered by the merciless pass of time. That would certainly be the last time that mine saw the light...

When we finally reached the central base of operations, we found ourselves with some disturbing news. The group of Retcans lead by Major Alpha made a horrible discovery. Hundreds of ships buried underneath the ice. These ships were full with those beings... all dead... frozen since who knows when. What was happening there?

Enough was enough. It was time for us to return to our ships and head back...That afternoon we arrived at the D.E Cruiser. Still disturbed due to how the simple exploration mission turned into a scenario full of death and unanswered questions...

After exiting the ships we went through the mandatory decontamination procedures. First our ships, then us with our armors still on. The computer didn't detect any hazardous elements so we had the ok to proceed into the upper levels of the ship. In the armory we stripped from our newly acquired L3000 Environmental Armor Suits and headed directly to the secondary decontamination showers, which are nothing but a common shower.

"Man, it feels so good..." I said. The warm water running through my body gave such a relaxing sensation; very welcomed after wearing that pressurized armor since early that morning.

"I know... those armors are well ergonomically designed, but there is a limit of how long you can use them." Fx replied as he let the warm water run down his face and muzzle.

"I know you're tired guys, and I'll let you relax for a while. But please make it quick. I need you in the Planning & Strategy Room as soon as possible." K9 ordered after he quickly gave himself a shower. He disappeared soon after.

"I don't know if I can leave these showers. It feels too good..." I insisted. I couldn't even stay standing so I sat on the floor of the showers and let the water hit my whole body. I felt a little bit disoriented because of the sudden change in atmospheric pressure and the difference in the gravity.

"This isn't over. We still need to know what we are going to do with all that Blue Mineral." Fx said.

"What do you guys think we'll do with the mineral? I mean, we can't leave it there." Zulu added.

"True." Kala said. "I think it's obvious that no one will reclaim that mineral crop any time soon. It's simply too much to be abandoned." She was all covered in a funny smelling yellow soap that was part of the secondary decontamination procedures.

"Yeah, we know." Andy replied. "But did you see how the Retcans reacted when they saw those creatures? What did they mean by Unfurred? I mean, I know they didn't seem to have fur on them, but I think there was a deeper meaning into that term."

"Andy is right." I said, still sitting on the floor with my eyes closed. "That didn't make any sense. There has got to be a very strong reason why the Retcans reacted the way they did. I mean, even General Zonda. He looks so strong and emotionless, yet he reacted nervously when he saw that creature."

After a while, we were all sitting next to each other in the floor of the showers. Our minds were filled with so many strange emotions. We never imagined going through what we just did. We tried not to think too much about it. Moments after we found ourselves to be more relaxed.

"You have to use the disinfecting soap, Husky. It's mandatory." Fx told me. We had been in silence for a couple of minutes just letting the warm water run through our bodies.

"That thing smells horrible. I really don't want to..." I softly grunted.

"Oh yes you will!" Kala said playfully. As I opened my eyes I saw her in front of me squeezing the bottle of the disinfectant into my fur. That thing smelled like if it was flammable. It made my eyes water.

"LET'S CLEAN THE HUSKY BOY!" Kala yelled. Andy, Fx and Zulu followed her game and before I knew it I was surrounded by them. They all were playfully lathering me between laughs and tail wags. I couldn't hold my self to twitch and laugh maniacally due to me being so ticklish. But they had no mercy on me. After a while I was all covered in that funny smelling yellow soap, still crying of laughter. They didn't miss ANY spot, I must add...

"You're so skinny Husky!" Kala laughed when she saw me all soaked. My fur usually makes me look puffier.

"What did I ever do to you, guys!?" I exclaimed. But I couldn't hold my laughs.

It was a very cute and pleasant Evocanis moment. We never really had the time to bond that way and this really helped us overcome what we experienced in the comet. After playing around in the showers for a while, we went out and helped each other drying and brushing our fur. It reminded me how much I love my friends.

Back in our comfy uniforms we headed up to the living quarters. K9 let us take a rest for a while and eat something before we continued with our work. Andy made us a wonderful meal. Later then we all relaxed for a while at The Dome in the comfy cushions that were scattered around in the puffy carpet. It felt so good... While Kala, Zulu and Andy relaxed themselves playing with the flight simulator games that we had, Fx and I cuddled together and fell asleep next to them.

Meanwhile, back in R105...

Things weren't that relaxed as they were in the D.E cruiser. Alpha, Zonda and other Retcans reported to Silver and they held a long meeting in their own Planning & Strategy room.

The room had black walls, black floor and ceiling. It was a very dark place with a big oval table right in the middle. Around it, the higher ranks of R105 sat. At the center of the table, a larger chair was occupied by Captain Silver. Her silverish blue eyes shined through the dark, reflecting the light of a small holographic projector at the middle of the table. Her gaze expressed how displeased she was at that moment.

"Captain. Our choices are difficult. But to my opinion the only wise choice is to return to Lusceonis for energy supplies." Suggested Zonda. "We can't risk our security or the security of Canis Major with a recovery mission.

"I appreciate your suggestion, General Zonda. But that is ultimately my decision. I know how much we are risking ourselves now, but I can't return to Lusceonis without fulfilling our duty." She responded firmly. Her shinny eyes pierced through Zonda's already intimidating yellow eyes.

"So we are going to continue with the retrieval of the Blue Mineral?" Titan asked confused after his sister's uncertain plans.

Silver kept her silence. No direct answer was given.

"What do we know so far about the mineral crop, those creatures and the comet?" Instead she answered with another question.

"I've made some studies with the help of Cobalt." Titan expected an answer to the question that he made before. He didn't get it... With an air of disappointment and confusion he continued. "Some of our colleagues took samples of the ships that were found buried in the ice." Titan replied. He stood up and showed some images and statistics in the holographic projector. "We concluded that the ships, the corpses and everything else have been there for at least one thousand years. So far we haven't found anything that might suggest activity after this time period. The comet passes close to that planet every twenty five years, so with that we can conclude that the mine and mineral crops indeed could be abandoned."

"'Could be' is not a straight answer. We need to make sure." Silver responded harshly.

Titan sighed in desperation. Silver was acting so strange and seemed to be stuck between her decision to withdraw or continue with the current mission. Nobody really dared to confront her not because of her being the leader, but because everyone was also confused.

"Silver." Zonda stood up. "Again. Please consider our withdrawal. You know how the Council has been pressuring us these last days. We can't continue bouncing between one thing and another. I'm sorry, but I have to be direct."

"My brother is right." Alpha continued. He is second in charge of the defense squad of R105; younger than Zonda, yet not a less intimidating Retcan. His red eyes looked directly into Silver's. "I think it's time to take a decision. Whichever it is, we will follow it. You'll have our full support, Captain."

Silver didn't respond at the moment. She stood up and walked around the table finally stopping between Titan and Cobalt.

"Any results on the probes that I ordered you to release in that planet, Cobalt?" She asked again evading any questioning directed to her.

"Negative, Captain. The probes sent various signals throughout the planet and there wasn't any response. There is nothing... Even the smallest electrical field would've been detected by now."

"Then we have no choice. Inform D.E1. They are helping us once again. We will go to that planet and run some reconnaissance flights. There is a possibility that these creatures in the comet belong to this planet. If that is true and they are still there, then we will withdraw from this solar system and continue our way. If we find nothing, then we will proceed with the retrieval of the Blue Mineral in the comet." Silver ordered. This caught everyone by surprise. Yet another strange and unorthodox approach to the current situation was ordered by Silver.

"Silver are you..." Titan jumped from his seat. "Are you sure of what you're saying? First you're being very cautious about this comet and reluctant to continue due to what we discovered inside that mine, and now you not only want us to go to that planet, but also involve the Evocanis in this?" Titan confronted his sister.

"Titan!" Silver yelled. "Are you questioning my authority?!"

"Silver, I'm just worried of what we are doing. You really need to sit down and think ab..."

"I will not tolerate your insubordination, Titan!" She interrupted Titan abruptly. "You all wanted me to take a decision, right? Then I've taken it! We are going to that planet and confirming that those unfurred ones are no longer in possession of that Blue Mineral crop!" She yelled to surprise of everyone in the room. It wasn't common to se a Retcan loose his composure like this, as they are very calm natured creatures. Silver herself had never been so extreme. "I will not return to Lusceonis without complying with the original mission that we were assigned! Do I make myself clear?!" Silver waited for an answer while she appeared to be slightly hyperventilating herself.

"Yes, Silver..." Titan replied. He didn't look convinced. He never took his sight from his sister. He never felt so worried for her.

"As you wish, Captain. Like my brother said, we will follow whatever your decision is." Zonda added.

"Good..." Silver replied while going back to her seat. She took a deep breath and apparently returned to her usual serene demeanor. "I will need you here at 2000 hours. We will have a talk with D.E1 and prepare everything for our following mission. You are dismissed." She said now much calmer.

As everyone was about to exit the room, Silver stood up and called them back. "My friends... I am sorry. I didn't mean to talk to you that way..."

"It's ok, Silver. We know what you're going through right now." Zonda said. "I will personally make sure this is done as fast and as efficiently as possible. Before you know it we'll be back to our regular duties. I understand why you decided to do this. This is the only way to know for certain if we are not taking this Blue Mineral from someone else. And if to do this we need to go to that planet, then to that planet we will go."

"Thank you, Zonda. I trust in you." Silver replied.

Zonda nodded, smiled and continued his way. Titan stayed with Silver for a while. It was no surprise of what they discussed. Silver apologized with him for being so harsh but that wasn't Titan's real concern. His concern was the way that Silver was acting. She was indeed no longer in control of her decisions.

It was now clear for Titan...What happened thirteen years ago when the Retcans saved us from those machines really took a toll on Silver. She was now obsessed with perfection. Somehow she felt like everything she did wasn't good enough, and whenever she faced the need for taking a choice, every choice felt like the wrong one.

Every time she imagined like if many innocent lives were lost because of this, just like when she faced the choice of helping us or not. She didn't know it but her strive for perfection was destroying her and making her a worst leader. This would have to stop eventually...