Trouble on Unin 1 (Troubleshooters 24)

By Dr E J Yeaman

Hi. I’m Tony. Bea (my girl cousin) and I are agents – Troubleshooters – of the Galactic Federation. In this mission, we were sent to investigate sabotage on a huge farm on the planet Unin 1. We met four people:
Mr MacEllery – the big-headed owner of the farm.
Xerxes – his spoiled brat son.
Jo – his friendly daughter, who had a secret.
8-1 – an eco-terrorist.
When 8-1’s plan went wrong, the six of us had to trek through the forest of Unin 1, facing the dinosaurs which lived there, and the killer machines that protected the crops from them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr E J Yeaman
• Release date: Apr 13, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311431998

Dr E J Yeaman

I retired (early) and started a new career as a writer. I wrote short stories and articles. Some were published; some won prizes; some sank without trace.Having heard my stories, two friends suggested I should write for children. I’d never thought of that, although I’d spent my first career communicating with young people – as a Chemistry teacher, and running clubs for badminton, chess, table tennis and hillwalking.I tried writing for young people – and I loved it. It became my main occupation. I sent samples to publishers. One asked to see a complete story. In excitement, I sent it off. Then nothing. After four months, I rang, and was told the manuscript was being considered: I would be notified. Then more nothing. Now, after eight years, I no longer rush to the door when the letter box rattles.But I kept writing the stories because I enjoyed it so much. Until, in late 2013, I learned I could publish my stories and games as e-books. Since then, I’ve been polishing and issuing some of them. I hope everyone enjoys reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.Check out the series:C: Charades – party game – a new twist to the traditional game.D: Diagags – party game – gags written as plays for two people.M: My Story – novels – classical stories, told by the heroes.O: One-Offs – party game – guess the titles, not quite the classical ones.P: Pop Tales – short stories – inspired by 60s and 70s hit songs.Q: Quote-Outs – word games – can you deduce the missing words?S: Inside Story – novels – a boy’s adventures inside classical stories.T: Troubleshooters – novels – space adventures for young people.

Book preview

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XERXES, I SAID.

Father, I said. I’m going to be an agent of the Galactic Federation.

You are not, he said. You are going to work for the MacEllery Development Corporation.

I’m not going to work for the MacEllery Development Corporation. I’m going to be a Federation agent.

Solomon, he said. I have decided. When you are old enough, you will become my assistant. I will teach you about the MacElDeCo. Then, when I retire, you will run it. That’s an excellent career for you.

No, it’s not, I said. I’m going to be a Federation agent. Federation agents go to lots of planets, and boss the people. That’s what I want to do.

Solomon. He put on his stern voice. You will do as I say.

Yes, Father. I don’t argue with that voice. When do you want me to start working for you?

When you are old enough – about seventeen.

Seventeen, I said. That’s not for more than four years. I could be a Federation agent until then.

No, Solomon. Don’t waste your time in useless dreams. Concentrate on the work your tutor gives you.

I can’t concentrate on that. It’s dull. If I went to the Federation College to train as an agent, I would learn useful stuff. If I was an agent for four years, I would see lots of planets. That would be much more valuable when I work for you.

He shook his head, but looked thoughtful. I hoped I’d persuaded him to quit hassling me, at least until I’m seventeen. At last, he nodded. You may be right, Solomon. Perhaps a Federation training would be more successful than your tutor. It can hardly be less so. I shall speak to Wellington.

Father knows Wellington, who is Commander of the Investigators at the Federation headquarters on the planet Yband 4. Wellington arranged for me to start training.

Most of it was boring, listening to an old agent called Blackett yacking about the Federation. I did like the work experience – visiting other planets. I acted like a proper agent: I told the people what to do. They weren’t as grateful as they should have been.

When I finished my training, Father told Wellington, Solomon wishes to become an agent of the Federation.

That is not possible, said Wellington. Blackett reports that Solomon is not suitable.

I said, Blackett doesn’t like me. He’s always nagging me.

Wellington, said Father. Solomon is eager to assist the Federation by becoming an agent. I know you do not wish to disappoint him.

Wellington frowned. Of course not. But the decision is not mine. Blackett reports that Solomon does not have the skills to become an Investigator.

I don’t want to be an Investigator, I said. Investigators are boring. I want to be a Troubleshooter.

Wellington’s eyes opened wide, then he began to smile. A Troubleshooter?

Yes, I said. Blackett told us about them. They’re a new team of agents, sent on special missions. That sounds exciting. I want to be one of them.

That may be arranged, said Wellington. I also command the Troubleshooters. Mr MacEllery, I believe that your son has shown the skills required by a Troubleshooter. I shall be delighted to arrange for Solomon to assist the Troubleshooters on their missions.

I asked, As an agent? With a proper uniform?

When Wellington hesitated, Father said, Wellington, if the child is being asked to do the work of a Troubleshooter, surely he should wear the uniform.

Wellington sighed. Very well. I cannot overrule Blackett’s decision, but I do have the power to appoint agents for temporary duties. Solomon, are you certain you wish to become an agent of the Federation?

Yes, I said. And I know what name I’m going to choose. It’s….

Later, Wellington interrupted me. First, you must take the agents’ vow. Stand.

He brought up the agents’ promises on the screen, and I read them out. Then I said, Now can I choose my name? I want to be called Xerxes.

Xerxes! said Father. Your name is Solomon.

Solomon’s a dull name. The tutor said that Xerxes was a great king. It would be a good name for me, because I’m going to be great too. I don’t expect to be a king but, if any planets ask me to rule them, I might agree.

Wellington said, You will be expected to obey orders from agents with higher ranks.

Yes, Solomon, said Father. You must….

Not Solomon, I said. Xerxes. When do I get my Troubleshooters uniform?

Wellington said, I shall arrange it now.

Wellington, began Father. Do I understand that these Troubleshooters are assigned to problems on planets of the Federation?

Yes, answered Wellington.

Then I have a problem which may be suitable for Solomon’s first job.

Xerxes, I said.

Father went on, Sabotage. At the MacEllery Development Corporation’s operations on a planet called Unin 1. He yacked on about the problem, but I wasn’t listening: I was imagining myself in my smart new Troubleshooters uniform.

A trainee agent’s uniform is like a plain grey tracksuit, but a proper agent’s uniform has coloured bands round the chest and cuffs to show the agent’s job. Ordinary Investigators have light green bands, but Troubleshooters have dark green ones.

Wellington called the leader of the Troubleshooters. Martin, send two agents to my office immediately.

Martin said, No Troubleshooters are free at present.

Where are they?

They’re all busy.

On missions?

Bea and Tony have just completed a tiring mission. They are on their way home for a break.

Recall them immediately. I have a job for them.

Is it…? began Martin, but went on, Yes, Wellington. I’ll order them to report to you.

Without delay, ordered Wellington.

While we waited for the other two Troubleshooters, Father and I went to the store for my uniform. The dark green band on the chest had my name, Xerxes, and my rank, 45, at the right, and some squiggles at the left. It was really smart.

I collected more stuff too, including a stun-gun. Father said, Are you sure you need that, Solomon?

Xerxes, I said. Of course I need it. I know how to use it. I practised during my training.

As we crossed the entrance hall, on our way to Wellington’s office to meet the other Troubleshooters, I was a real Federation agent, ready for action.

1

BEAN, THAT MAN!

Troubleshooter Tony giving this report. Xerxes wanted to report the whole mission, but I said I would do it. I did let him do a prologue, explaining how he became a Troubleshooter.

(I would’ve spelled his name Zerk-says, because that’s what it sounds like, but it has two Xs on his uniform. The Bean says Xerxes was a king in the Bible.)

The entrance hall of the Federation headquarters is like a town square, surrounded by two-storey buildings in cream-coloured stone. The ceiling is bright blue, like the sky. It has a fountain in the middle, and bushes in pots dotted around.

As the Bean and I crossed it, I said, D’you think we should change into our uniforms? We were wearing Federation casual gear – like uniforms, but blue.

No, said the Bean. Wellington’s message said to report immediately.

Wellington has a nerve, calling us back, I said. I wish he’d mind his own business.

It is his business. As Commander of the Investigators, he’s also in charge of the Troubleshooters.

It’s Martin’s job to give Troubleshooters missions. Wellington’s doing this because he doesn’t like us. Why can’t he…? I pulled the Bean to a stop, and whispered, That guy! Behind that bush. His mind is tense. He’s planning something.

Young people from Earth can sense the feelings of people from other planets. That’s why the Bean and I were asked to be Federation agents. I went on, Get a stun-gun. I’ll watch him.

She hesitated, saying, Wellington.

Tough on Wellington. What does he want us to do? Ignore an emergency so that we can report for his stupid little job?

She nodded, and hurried away. I strolled back, keeping the bush between me and the guy. Even if he saw me, I hoped he wouldn’t be suspicious: the square was busy. I hung around on the other side of the bush, near enough to sense the signal from his mind.

His excitement rose. I peeped round the bush as he stepped forward, pulling out a gun. His mind said he was going to do something desperate.

I threw myself at him. The gun gave a crack. My senses swam, and I felt myself falling.

2

SABOTAGE?

When I wakened, the Bean was kneeling beside me with a reanimator. A circle of faces looked down at us. Three were frowning – two Investigators and a thin-faced man. The other, a round-faced boy, looked grimly determined. He was pointing a stun-gun at me.

I sat up and asked him (quite) politely, Did you use that thing on me?

Before he could answer, another face pushed into the circle. Wellington’s. When he saw me, his angry frown became angrier. You! I might have known. Whenever there’s trouble, you are at the centre of it.

I stood to face him. Before you start blaming me, you might listen. We were….

I shall hear it in my office. He told the Investigators, I know this child. You may go.

He marched away. The Bean and I followed – and so did the man and the boy. The man was dressed like a bank manager – dark blue suit, white shirt and blue tie. The boy was wearing a Troubleshooters uniform.

I asked him, What are you doing in that uniform?

I’m a Troubleshooter.

No, you’re not. There are only four Troubleshooters, and you’re not one of them.

Wellington called, Silence! over his shoulder.

But this… this….

Silence, I said!

The Bean squeezed my arm, and whispered, Tony, please keep calm. I opened my mouth to argue with her, but shut it again. She was right. No doubt we would soon get an explanation, and I had a suspicion I wasn’t going to like it.

Wellington’s office has a U of seats facing the screen of the terminal of Victor, the Federation computer. Wellington took his control chair, at the bottom of the U. The man and the boy sat on the settee at his right, while the Bean and I took the one at his left.

As soon as we sat down, Wellington shouted at me, Explain.

I didn’t bother to hide my anger. Not in front of these two. They’re not agents.

"I am an agent," said the boy.

Be quiet, snapped Wellington.

But he said….

Be quiet! Then he told the man, These are the Troubleshooters that I summoned to investigate your problem. He told us, This is Mr Benjamin MacEllery, owner of the MacEllery Development Corporation, and his son, Solomon.

Xerxes, said the boy, pointing to the name on his chestband.

I asked Wellington, Why is he wearing a Troubleshooters uniform?

I appointed him a Troubleshooter, to assist you to investigate his father’s problem.

Isn’t Martin supposed to appoint Troubleshooters?

Do not question my decision. Make your report.

I took a deep breath to shout at him, but the Bean squeezed my arm. Tony, no! Then, louder, No!

I shook her off, but the interruption was enough. I’d only get in trouble by shouting at Wellington. I let out most of the breath, and reported, Following your orders, sir, we were coming to report to you. As we crossed the entrance hall, I saw a man behaving suspiciously.

We’ve been ordered to keep our mind-sensing secret, but the other two would probably know about it. They were talking English, so they (or their ancestors) must come from Earth. Xerxes could probably sense minds.

I went on, I hid behind a bush to watch him. When he brought out a gun, I tried to stop him using it. But some spam-brain used a stun-gun on me.

I did that, said Xerxes eagerly. You attacked that man. I’m a Federation agent, so it was my duty to stop you.

Didn’t you see his gun?

No. I saw you attack him.

Wellington asked me, Are you certain he had a gun?

Of course I’m certain he had a gun. It wasn’t a stun-gun or a nerve-gun. Probably a bullet-gun: it made a bang when he used it. I asked Xerxes, What happened to him?

Mr MacEllery answered. While we were dealing with you, he must have escaped. Do you know who was his target?

No. The place was busy, and I was watching him.

Humph, said Wellington. He swept the office with a glare, giving me the biggest share. An unfortunate incident. Mr MacEllery, since it is resolved, perhaps you might explain your problem to these agents.

Mr MacEllery leaned forward to speak to us. No doubt you have heard of the MacEllery Development Corporation.

Before I could ask, The Macwhat? the Bean said, Mr MacEllery, a briefing like this ought to be complete. For the record, would you tell us about the MacEllery Development Corporation as if we know nothing about it?

Mr MacEllery said, You may be right. The MacEllery Development Corporation, MacElDeCo for short, is developing an uninhabited planet called Unin 1. We have cleared some land, and planted crops. (The name sounds like ‘Yoo-nin’.)

What crops? I asked.

"Many crops. Federation agents must be fed, young man. The food does not reach the tables by magic.