Wed to the Alien Prince by C.V. Walter

Chapter 26

Whatever Serogero had expected from General Rogers, it hadn't been an annoyed grunt and a comment of "We've been collecting evidence on your people for years, glad you've finally decided to make the greetings official."

"Yes, and we need some equipment installed to make the official announcements run smoothly," Serogero said.

"I'm not about to send my people to put together something you send down," he said. "We have brilliant minds but with this kind of notice, you'll get whoever's closest. Might be one of our finest minds, might be someone who's one step up from a chimp with a hammer. They are occasionally the same person."

"Understood, sir," Serogero told him. "Honestly, I want to send one of my best minds to do it, I just need to make sure he's not going to be shot down or interfered with once he's there."

The General frowned. "Do you know where you're landing? I'm assuming it's somewhere in my country or you wouldn't be talking to me."

"My people are getting the exact coordinates with a flight plan for your airspace together as we speak. I can have it sent over in the next fifteen minutes. It's going to take them some time to install and confirm that it works."

"Uh huh," the general said. "And you just want us to leave you alone."

"That seems like the most ideal solution," Serogero told him. "Normally I'd invite some of your people to watch and help but we don't have the supplies to support them and the people we'll be sending."

"Uh huh," he replied. "I understand you have one of our astronauts who went absent without leave, do you plan on giving him back anytime soon?"

"That's an interesting question, General," Serogero said. "I understand that terminology means he's going to be disciplined when he returns."

"Might be," General Rogers allowed. "Depends on the circumstances surrounding his disappearance. Abduction by aliens isn't usually an accepted excuse unless one brings the aliens back with them."

"I see," Serogero nodded. "Well, we certainly did not intend to keep him from his duties but he's been instrumental in helping us prepare to make contact and I would hate to send him back into a situation where he is going to be punished for that help."

"Well, depends on what you want, then, because that could be considered aiding and abetting the enemy which would be treason."

"A very serious charge," the Prince acknowledged. "And one that would be untrue. We are not here to be your enemy, General. I understand it's a bit of a cliche on your planet but we come in peace."

"Here to enlighten mankind and put us all on the road to a single government so we can take our place as a client state in the galactic union?"

Serogero shook his head. "You're a paranoid man by profession, General, and I can appreciate that. We are not here to make you a client state in any kind of galactic union because such a thing doesn't exist. How you govern yourselves is your business and I understand there are a number of different independent entities on the planet. We have seen the horror that occurs when someone moves to change that."

"So what do you want?"

He'd been briefed on the correct answer to this question and, while it was at least partially true, it came nowhere close to their actual intentions. Which, he considered, was all to the good.

"We're explorers, General," Serogero told him. "Voyagers seeking out new planets and new civilizations. We came looking for new things to trade for and planets that might be hospitable to visit. Having met some of your people, I had great hopes that you would be amenable to the idea of trading for goods and information."

"What do you have that we would want?"

"Exotic jewels and fabrics, to start, which I have been assured are like nothing on Earth. Medical technology that is beyond but still compatible, or can be made to be compatible, with your own," Serogero said.

"What about weapons?"

"The weapons that we have are not appropriate for use in atmosphere," Serogero told him. "While they are powerful, they are more likely to set the air on fire than they are to put holes in things. It's a horrible way to die, General, and it's difficult to control the area that would be affected when aiming them at a planet."

"What are they for, then?" The General asked, the gruff look on his face was starting to soften into inquiry.

"Breaking up large asteroids," Serogero said with a grin. "So we can remove the minerals and keep them from hitting the ship."

They were also good for breaking up enemy space craft but that wasn't something the Prince wanted to go into at the moment.

"Interesting," General Rogers said, nodding. "Very interesting. Alright, Your Highness, I'll do what I can to make your first official contact happen. You're working on a tight schedule, though, and there are agencies that might get wind of what's going on that I can't control. Are you prepared for that?"

"As prepared as we can be, General," Serogero told him.

"Which means not at all or you have people in those organizations to contact as well," he said, shaking his head.

"We have some hope of landing and working as far away from any human habitation as we can," Serogero told him. "In a place that is generally difficult to get to."

"And why is that?"

"Well, we didn't want to hurt any of your people," Serogero told him, his face earnest. "We did our best to put it where people aren't and it should have landed without any issues. The fact that we have had problems means we did not get our placement right. But I think we would have all been surprised if nothing had gone wrong."

"That I understand," the General said. "It's going to make it harder to get to but I'll do my best to keep my folks out of your hair as much as possible."

"Thank you, General," The Prince said. "I'll get you those coordinates as soon as we have them. Is there a better place to send them than to the number we contacted?"

"This will work as well as anything else," General Rogers said. "I'll get things in motion and see what we can do about setting up a secure channel for you to contact me directly. My wife is a wonderful woman and can keep a secret if she has to but there will be things a civilian shouldn't know about at some point."

"Understood, General, Prince Serogero out." He cut the connection and watched the screen go back to the holding pattern that Aidan had said meant it was on but not doing anything. Turning it off completely caused issues with their probe on the planet only working intermittently.

"That went better than expected," Kaelin said. "All things considered. We didn't get all the things we wanted, though."

"There will be another dozen calls between now and then where we can ask for places to acquire supplies while we're on the planet."

"And the suggestion that having them delivered rather than having to go and get them ourselves would get us off the planet and out of the General's hair would go a long way to get our needs met quickly." She nodded. "I know how these kinds of negotiations work."

Serogero wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her against him. "You are too smart and too wise," he told her. "But I appreciate how you think."

Alvola appeared in the doorway with a very tired looking Mindy. "We have the coordinates," he said. "Aidan said the connection is mostly stable. How was it for your calls?"

"No issues," Serogero said.

"Good, we'll send the information and then we have to make more calls before we disembark," Alvola said.

"The connection is yours," Serogero told him and used the arm around Kaelin to steer her towards the door.

"You don't want to stay?" Aidan asked.

"I assumed there were local contacts," Serogero said. "But if I don't know about them or the contents of these conversations, I can honestly say later that I had no idea. So, I will take my ajoia to get breakfast and talk about inconsequential things while you make the arrangements for our second excursion to the planet."

"You are not going this time, Highness," Alvola said.

"And who would stop me?" he asked, his body stiff with indignation.

"I will," Kaelin said. "There's still too much to do aboard the ship and you're the only person who can monitor me without locking me up in the Medical Bay again."

He felt himself soften and looked down at her. "You're right, cherna, of course. I may wish to join them on this grand adventure but I'm afraid my next visit will have to be one of state with all the pomp that will require."

"Oh? Do you have a lot of traditions around first contact or being visiting dignitaries?" She asked, her arm wrapped around his waist.

Her wide eyes blinked up at him and he grinned. Part of him missed the glasses that perched on her nose and made her eyes twinkle. Without them, though, he could see her eyes twinkle with mischief and he almost preferred that.

"We do, in fact," he said, squeezing her shoulders. They walked out of the door and down the corridor while he explained the incredibly boring and tedious ceremony that tended to surround meeting new civilizations. Often, it wasn't the first meeting between them but rather the first official opening of diplomatic relations.

He decided he preferred opening relations with Kaelin to any others he'd participated in.

When they arrived at the kitchen, she'd managed to distract him with so many questions, he was no longer upset at being stuck on the ship while the others went down to the surface. If he were honest with himself, he'd much rather leave the technical part of this to others and spend as much time with his ajoia as possible.

Serogero was still in awe that she existed, was there with him, and seemed to enjoy spending their time together. He hadn't expected the health challenges she posed but it was exciting to wake up with her in his arms and face the next question or problem with her right there next to him.

Even now, when he recognized what she had done, he appreciated her tact and care in distracting him and getting him out of the room so the real work could be done. He'd smoothed their way as much as he could and he knew he'd be doing more of it but for now, his presence was more of a hindrance than a help. Thankfully, he had much more pleasant things to be distracted by and he was going to let her distract him as much as possible.

"Do you think we can go see the woman who altered my dress?" Kaelin asked, her question catching him briefly by surprise. "You said she's on the ship, right?"

"Of course, my heart," he told her. "I understand she had requested to see you at your earliest convenience."

"Excellent," Kaelin said. "We're going to have to start designing the wedding dress now if we're going to have one in time for the ceremony."

"Ceremony?" Serogero asked her. "What ceremony? There is only one step left in Joining and, due to the circumstances, I thought we would keep it rather informal. We can do it today, if you'd like."

"Not the Joining ceremony," she said slowly. "The wedding ceremony. My mother eloped but we're not going to have that option. If we want to make sure we have as many people interested and on board with our bond as possible, we're going to have to get married in the tradition of my people."

Serogero turned the thought over in his head. Mintonar had talked about following the traditions of Molly's people to satisfy her son, Aidan, and to make certain their offspring were recognized by her people. War brides were, officially at least, a thing of the past on this planet and unlikely to be recognized as a legitimate spouse. Without the public commitment, there would probably be a number of people attempting to rescue Kaelin from his influence.

"It won't get rid of all the detractors," Kaelin went on. "Some people are contrary just to be contrary but it would probably help show that I'm here voluntarily and your people are ready, willing and able to participate in our ceremonies. Plus, it's a very large opportunity to put on a very nice show for people who might otherwise be a little hostile."

He nodded. "How much preparation does a wedding involve? And how much could we do as an excuse to visit and trade with your people?"