Stormy Alionet Waves Prologue

                                    Stormy Alionet Waves Prologue

    Rion opened his eyes in time to see Giani bent over him.
    "It's time." Giani said, then his figure disappeared from view.
    Rion groggily sat up. "We're here?" He looked around expectantly.
    Sorbet answered, "Would we wake you if we weren't?" He pointed over to the port opening.
    Giani helped him to stand. After a shot of revitalizers, Rion slipped into the jumpsuit that Giani handed him. He swam over to the window and peered out.
"It's beautiful." He softly whispered. Aquaria loomed as a big blue and white ball, a perfect sphere.
    Giani momentarily stopped at his elbow and peered out as well. "Yes, it is." He steered Rion over to the console. Rion obediently sat down and began to read. A refresher course with last minute updates, new information and language practice would be a daily exercise before he actually left the "Allilota" to reside in his new home.
    Rion's scientific curiosity awakened in seconds as he immersed himself in the information. Someone brought him a few lirits and he ate them with a nod of acknowledgement. He scrolled down the screen drinking it all in.
    A few kitos later Rion surfaced, aware that activity was going on around him. The tunneling crew, Dontali and Geordio, had returned for more equipment. They carried the bulky items through the doorway to the shuttle. With Kendri's help, all the cargo was placed inside and strapped down. Even with their technology, entries were still rough. The shuttle was cleared for take off.  Kendri concentrated on doing his job.
    Giani and Sorbet were clustered together with other biotechs going over some details. Rion could tell that he had been forgotten. In a bemused trance amidst all the activity, Rion remembered the events that brought them to this chaotic time.
    It seemed a lifetime ago when Giani had discovered that their sun was going nova. They had been helpless to stop it, even though all their scientists worked furiously on the problem. No solution was found. As their waters warmed, the radiation levels increased. The Alionets began to sicken, most died. Many repercussions were felt especially the cessation of reproduction. Small successes in that area were a breakthrough but it was not enough to evade the eventual total extinction of the Alionets.
    Finding a new home was the only viable solution left. The look became outward. When Aquaria had been discovered, hope had risen. After a probe had been sent, they all awaited eagerly for its information. When it confirmed that Aquaria's oceans were inhabitable and that the indigenous upper land dwellers were similar in genetic make up, Sorbet had practically danced at the data. Expectations ran high.
    Giani, head of the Scientific Counsel, gathered a team to present a colonization plan. Iota, jealous of Giani's discovery, gathered his own team and petitioned the Supreme Council to submit a proposal as well.
    Operation Invasion, Jota's contribution, was rejected by the Council immediately. The council wanted peaceful occupation and Giani's Operation Integration was hailed as the plan of the age. Giani was heart broken to hear that Iota did not take the news well. He had been a valuable colleague.
      Everyone had pitched in and worked together to outfit a vessel, the "Alliota" (meaning hope) was outfitted for space travel. It was a long journey to the Milka System and would need the cooperation of everyone. Iota worked with the rest of them but the council noted his reluctant attitude. Though nothing was proven, the minor setbacks they experienced did not keep them from their schedule.
    Rion was jostled from his walk down memory aisle when Nianti brushed by him. Rion retired to his room. He had only one wilo to be ready. By that time, the excavations and installations would be complete in his new domicile.
    When the wilo passed, Rion was surprised that it had gone so quickly. Giani had handed him his console bag with the wondo inside as he was stepping over to the shuttle. A loud pop followed by a rolling shock wave toppled Rion from his feet.
Sorbet fell from the shuttle door. A small wound in his head leaked blood, staining the water in front of him. Giani quickly applied pressure with his hand.
    "Trouble." Sorbet answered the unasked question in Giani's eyes. "Saboteur."
    Giani froze. "Repairable?"
    "I think so." Sorbet sank into the chair behind Rion. The bleeding had stopped.
    "I'll get right on it." Giani was already moving away.
    Sorbet stared vacantly then came to with a start. "Jota's workmanship, I'm sure." Then he looked up at Rion, "You must not fail."
    "I won't." Rion understood how important this mission was. His timetable seemed short and crowded already but he had to accomplish as much as he could before Stage Two could be implemented. And too, before much more drastic measures were taken by the dissidents.
    Sorbet collected himself and then he sprang into motion. He hurried through the opposite door practically knocking Giani to the ground in his haste to get to the control room.
    Rion waited for the repairs. He doubted that any more protest actions would be manifested. When it was time for him to board, both Giani and Sorbet shook his hand before he left them.
    Rion relaxed against his seat as the acceleration increased. The pressure of his mission weighed heavily upon his heart. Their non¬confrontive way of life would come to an abrupt end if he failed. Three yanis did not seem to be enough time to prepare for integrated colonization.
    Details crowded his mind. Rion remembered Giani's last words to him as he left. "If you can't succeed, no one will." He was shaken by the confidence that Giani placed in him. Sorbet's last words were somewhat similar.  The weight of success pressed him down into the seat.  It was almost intolerable, but he decided then and there that nothing would get in the way of his accomplishing what they had set forth to do.
    He thought of the upper land dwellers. I wonder if they’ll welcome us. Still it would be awhile before that particular phase of their plans would be put into effect.
    The shuttle engine tone changed in pitch and Rion braced himself for the entry impact. The crew took care of the cargo off loading and installation before they returned. Rion watched them go with a feeling of regret, yet in anticipation to begin. Rion gathered his cases and cleared a spot to install the wondo. It would be instrumental in communication with Giani and Sorbet.
    Rion wanted to get the wondo tested as soon as he was able. He knew that Giani and Sorbet were waiting on his first transmission as well. Furthermore, he was curious to get started on his other work. There was a lot to accomplish and a little time in which to do it in.