Chapter 1061: Hoodwinked

Max set up the portal locations to return to the Rae 5 system the moment that they were through the anomaly. It had been a brutal two months of constant research, and even the Innu were beginning to look a bit haggard from all the work that it had taken to get things working properly and to create a way to force the Collector's technology and Ancient Human technology to successfully interact with modern human technology.

Two of the three were created to be deliberately different from each other so that if the Great Enemy tried to adapt to one it would be vulnerable to another, and the third simply had nothing in common with either.

Trying to adapt an alloy that became stronger when exposed to massive heat sources to also be an electrical conductor, but without losing its self repair and self strengthening properties had been an absolute nightmare, and that was only the very start of their issues.

Creating a Replicator system that could produce it and produce the compressed matter that they needed for the cores as well had been nearly impossible, and even now, it didn't run on entirely human technology. They had to adopt some of Ranarth's recommendations that they use Dark Energy in the process, or they couldn't create either of the alloys at all.

But as impossible as it had seemed, they had completed the task, and he did not envy the teams that were going to be assigned to attempt to optimize the new Replicator.

[Welcome back to the Rae 5 system, research team. Please report to Absolution upon your arrival, as there is an event scheduled for you tonight.] The traffic controller informed them.

If there was an event, he should have been the one to make it, Max thought. But perhaps it had to do with the Board Members, or some visiting dignitary.

[It's got to be my mother. The lack of recorded messages, the small number of incoming vessels, the completely normal traffic inside the ship. It's definitely her. We've been hoodwinked by that old conman, Lu.] Nico informed Max a few seconds after the broadcast.

[You know, I didn't have to check the ship's logs to know that it was your mother. If there is anything happening that we're not informed about, but that involves us, she will find a way to make herself involved somehow. Plus, we've been gone for two months while our ship is in orbit over top of her house. She can see it from her office window at night.

If she didn't catch us for a dinner meeting tonight, she certainly would have done it tomorrow.] Max reminded her.

Nico sighed and began to speak out loud.

"You're right, I should have thought of that first instead of overanalyzing things. I got stuck in research mode." She agreed.

They adjusted course to head for the Commander's private hangar bay aboard Absolution, where Max could sense that there was a large group of researchers already gathered to catch up on what had happened in his absence.

It wasn't all the staff from Absolution, but it looked like Uncle Lu had given the whole research team from the Moon Base the day off to relax on the World Ship, and most of the ones from Absolution had chosen to take a bit of time to come welcome them back as soon as they got the news.

That made this much more likely to be Uncle Lu's plan, though with him distracted by research topics, Max couldn't sense what he was up to.

"Welcome back Commanders!" The researchers shouted when the doors to the Cutter opened and the ramp extended for them to disembark.

"Thank you all for the warm welcome. How are you enjoying your day off?" Nico yelled back so that they could all hear her from across the bay.

The answer was all cheering, so she assumed that they had a good day so far, and all the other researchers were getting excited to have the evening off to explore the World Ship. IF there was some big fancy dinner or event going on, there was no reason for them to be there, so they were already making plans to go and play before anyone could stop them.

They exited the Cutter, and stepped into the happy embraces of their peers, who were already preparing to leave again now that they had verified with their own eyes that the Lead Researcher and the Commander were fine.

"The research lab has its own high-speed shuttle that runs in the service corridors between levels. So, come with us, and we will go to the water park." One of the Absolution team members announced, and even the most reluctant and tired of team members were dragged away.

Their staff pass would let them book any open hotel room in the area, so they should be fine, Max assumed. He could already sense Mary's impatience, as she was waiting just outside for them to come greet her and the others that she had gathered for dinner.

"It's time to face the music. Your mother is right outside." Max whispered to Nico, who grinned back at him.

"Oh, I know. I'm the one who locked the door. But let's go meet her before she literally explodes with excitement. Maybe we really should get her a puppy. Or perhaps have her adopt an Innu child, they're both on the same energy level."

"You know you love her." Max laughed as they reached the door.

There was a large crowd gathered outside. Both of Nico's parents, the Board Members, and a half dozen Alliance dignitaries, plus the Envoys, had all gathered to wait for them.

"Welcome back! Do you perhaps have good news for us?" Mary asked.

"No grandchildren yet. Sorry, Mary." Max joked.

Mary reached up to grab his throat and playfully shake him.

"You know that's not what I meant. How did the research go?" She replied.

"But it was what you really wanted to know. The research went well. We have two stable prototypes and the plans to reproduce them with a high level of success. The teams will be busy in the lab for some time, but that's just refinement.

Now, we shouldn't keep these fine folk waiting for dinner. For those of you who don't know me, I am Keres Max, Commander of the Terminus Trading Company and this is my Subcommander, Nico Tarith. It is a pleasure to meet you."

Max started the formal introductions, and the usual ritual of introducing yourself and saying a few polite words to those you already knew began.