Read Online Leaving Blue 5.1 by Thadd Evans - Free Book Online

messages from Irea. Does she know how to use all of its features?”
    “I’m not sure.”
    “Do you know where she is?”
    “No.”
    “I’ll search for her infrared heat signature.”
    “Thanks.”
    “Sure. Anything else?”
    “Just a second.” I crawled inside a poorly illuminated shaft. At the same time, my shoulder-mounted light switched to bright mode, illuminating a spatial-light-modulator housing.
    “Op.” The housing cover opened. Three spatial-light modulators, also known as laser mirrors, had shattered. “Cl.” The cover hissed shut. Then I floated up the narrow corridor as the beam illuminated more housings.
    A voice came out of my vtp, “Greg, it’s UE. The second Reen ship has just landed in shuttle bay three. The pilot’s name is Caldur. Three other translators, Joama, Naartin and Rhea, were aboard. Joama has neck-length blond hair. Rhea has short dark-brown hair. The ship delivered the bombs. I’ll tell you more after you arrive.”
    “Thanks.”
    Lesley’s voice came out of my vtp. “Greg, I just picked up Irea’s heat signature. She is in shuttle bay three. I’ll go there after I’m finished debugging my script.”
    “I’ll be there soon. I want to speak with her.”

Chapter Fourteen
     
     
    I entered shuttle bay three. To my left, on the port side of an egg-shaped spacecraft resembling the other ship, its small wing retracted inside the hull. I didn’t see an entrance.
    I looked to the right. In the center of the room, three translators, two women and a man, walked toward UE and stopped, facing him.
    UE drew an A shape in the air with his hand. It meant nothing to me.
    Halfway between UE and the Reen ship, on top of a box-like pedestal, two torpedo-shaped bombs were stacked on top of each other. Unfortunately, there weren’t any hieroglyphics or text on either one.
    I walked up to UE. “Are they atomic weapons or are they filled with anthrax?”
    “I’m not sure.” He glanced at the translators. “They just told me they don’t know anything about these weapons.”
    A male translator, the slender one with auburn hair who somewhat resembled Darwin, came out from behind the Reen ship. Then he stopped next to UE.
    UE glanced at him.
    The translator didn’t blink, move or speak.
    UE turned toward me. “Greg, this is Caldur. He says they’re atomic bombs. Both have Plutonium inside them.”
    I flinched, shocked by the news. “Caldur, how will these be launched? Are there engines inside their tails?”
    He didn’t answer.
    UE announced, no trace of emotion in his voice, “Greg, according to the hieroglyphics in Caldur’s eyes, when we reach prearranged coordinates, these bombs will take off and head for their targets.”
    I crossed both arms over my chest. “Caldur, who told you about the coordinates and bombs?”
    He didn’t say a word.
    UE raised his chin. “Caldur said that the Council decides. He also mentioned Omay and Rema. I’ve never heard of them.”
    I paused, thinking. “UE, can’t Naartin, Rhea or Joama tell me more?”
    “No. All of them said that they don’t know anything about these weapons.”
    I shook my head. “This is annoying.” It was impossible to tell if they were lying or unaware.
    UE drew a S shape in the air. “Rhea just mentioned Ila. The problem is that I’m unfamiliar with the name. It might be a Council member, an agreement or a location. It’s hard to say.”
    I raised my eyebrows. “UE, why did you draw that shape with your hand?”
    “I was responding an icon that just appeared in Rhea’s eyes.
    I blinked, surprised by his answer. “Do they speak any English?”
    UE replied, “No. Irea is guiding them.”
    Behind me, the sound of clicking boot heels came closer. I glanced over my shoulder. Irea had just entered the room. She paused on the opposite side of UE, peering at him.
    Behind me, close to the shuttle bay entrance, Lesley spoke, “Greg, Irea says she wants us to help her use the vtp.
    Irea halted, facing me.
    I nodded