Trouble on Sting 3 (Troubleshooters 39)

By Dr E J Yeaman

Hi. I’m Tony. Bea (my girl cousin) and I are agents of the Galactic Federation – Troubleshooters. The peaceful people of a planet called Sting 4 had been burning too much coal and oil, so the planet was starting to suffer from global warming. Kavi-Gaki, the warlike young ruler of Sting 5, threatened to move all the people from Sting 4, to let it recover. He was going to dump them in the jungle of Sting 3, where they would never survive. We went with the team to ask Kavi-Gaki to change his mind. During the meeting, I saved Kavi-Gaki’s life. And that’s when my real trouble started.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr E J Yeaman
• Release date: Oct 22, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311902528

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

Open. The transporter door slid aside. The Bean and I hurried out. I always expect a planet’s comm centre to be full of guards, with a leader waiting to meet us, but this one was empty except for a round-faced, fair-haired boy.

I spoke into my wrist unit, Isn’t this Sting 4? I was ordered to report here as soon as possible.

The translation, coming from the boy’s wrist unit, made him run forward. I… I am sorry. I was sent here to meet a young Federation agent.

Well, I’m an agent. I spread my arms so he couldn’t miss my Troubleshooters uniform, like a grey tracksuit with dark green bands round the chest and cuffs. And I’m thirteen. Isn’t that young enough for you?

I… I am sorry. I expected someone older than me. And he did not mention a girl.

Wasn’t she called too? I’m sorry. This is the Bean…. I mean….

The Bean frowned at me. Thank you, Tony. I can introduce myself. She said to the boy. Greetings. I’m Bea. I’m Tony’s cousin. I’m also a Troubleshooter of the Galactic Federation. I’m pleased to meet you. We were told this was an emergency.

Oh! said the boy. Yes, it is. I shall show you to our Council Room. This way. As he led us, almost running, along a wide, bright corridor, he went on, My name is Syisho. (Say, ‘S-yisho’.)

Hi, Syisho, I said. I’m Tony. This is so like our home planet. Carpet on the floors. Wallpaper on the walls. Those big windows might’ve come straight from Sol 3. We were on the first floor, looking out over a busy street. Even the cars and buses look the same. I’d almost believe I’m at home although we don’t usually wear gear like yours in Scotland.

He was wearing a pale blue, knee-length tunic and matching trousers. On his back was a huge red symbol like a Chinese letter.

He said, I hope your planet does not have the trouble that we have. He opened a white-painted door. This is our Council Room.

It was long, with four high windows in the opposite side. The walls had wood panels as high as my neck, and white above with pictures that might’ve been views of Earth. A long table filled the middle of the floor, with a lot of red-cushioned chairs round it, but only three at one end were being used.

When we went in, two men stood, and I recognised the old, white-haired one. Moderato!

The red bands on his uniform showed he was a Negotiator, but he’s friendly, not like most Negotiators, who think they’re much more important than Troubleshooters. His native language is English but, being polite to the others, he used a wrist unit. Ah, Tony. Thank you for coming so quickly. And Bea too. I’m pleased to see you. You’ve met Syisho. This is his father, Hayoo, who is leader of this planet. He stretched a hand towards the other man, who also had a friendly face and a blue tunic with the same symbol as Syisho. And yes: his name sounded like, ‘Hey, you!’ He bowed and smiled to us.

This is Quitch. She was a small, thin-faced woman, still sitting at the table. Her uniform had the purple bands of an Administrator. She is Commander of the Federation base here on Sting 4.

She smiled with her mouth but not her eyes. Please ignore me. I am here to watch. I am interested to meet you, young man. Moderato has a high opinion of you.

Thanks. I shared an embarrassed grin between her and Moderato. We came as fast as we could.

Thank you, Tony, said Moderato. Let’s sit down. We have serious matters to discuss.

When we were sitting round that end of the table, he went on, Sting 4 is in trouble. I might even say it is in peril. Tony, what do you know about the planet?

Not much, I said. We came straight here without asking about it. It looks very like our own planet, Sol 3.

It’s very similar indeed, and it has reached the same level of civilisation, but there is one major difference. Everyone on Sting 4 lives in peace.

Hayoo said, May I comment? We do have our disagreements, but we have learned to settle them without fighting.

Moderato said, Sting 4 is troubled with global warming. They have been burning coal and oil for two hundred years. The carbon dioxide is increasing in the air, changing the climate and melting the polar ice.

We know about that, said the Bean. We have the same trouble on Sol 3.

Hayoo asked, What are your leaders doing about it?

Not enough, said the Bean. They keep talking about it, saying how important it is, but they don’t actually do much.

We were the same, said Hayoo. We knew we should reduce our carbon dioxide but we did not do enough. Then we had the message from our neighbouring planet, Sting 5.

I asked, What’s it like?

The civilisation on Sting 5 is much older than ours. They have learned to use renewable energy only.

I asked, Can’t they tell you how they do it?

Hayoo frowned. They have other ideas.

Moderato said, Perhaps Quitch would tell us about them.

Quitch said, As on Sting 4, everyone on Sting 5 belongs to one nation, but they are always quarrelling. Their rulers are often assassinated: one was killed about two hundred days ago.

Not pleasant neighbours, commented the Bean.

No, said Moderato. They’re so warlike that they’ve never been invited to join the Federation. I’m sorry: Quitch was telling you about them.

Quitch said, They already had space travel when the Federation found them, but they seldom leave their planet. They devote all their energy to fighting among themselves so they have not threatened other planets, even Sting 4. Until now.

Until now, echoed Hayoo. A year ago, a Sting 5 message interrupted our radio and television programmes. The exact words are burned in my memory. ‘People of Sting 4. I am Tatri-Gaki, ruler of Sting 5. Listen and understand. You are the intelligent species of your planet. It is therefore your duty to conserve it. Instead of that, you are ruining it by burning fossil fuels. You must not continue these wasteful ways. I give you one year to reduce your production of carbon dioxide by 50%. If you fail to do so, I shall take action to save your planet. Heed my warning.’ That was it.

He stopped for a moment, looking down at the table, then went on, We traced the transmissions to four Sting 5 ships in orbit round our equator. We are peaceful. The Sting 5 people are warlike. We dared not defy them. We broadcast pleas to their ships, asking for their help to use renewable energy. Our only reply was a repeat of that threat.

Syisho muttered, If you call that a reply.

Moderato said, Hayoo asked the Federation for help. I went to Sting 5 to speak to Tatri-Gaki. A nasty person. He refused to discuss the matter. He said it concerned Sting 5 and Sting 4 only. Others should not interfere.

Syisho said, Sting 5 is one planet. The Federation is thousands.

I’m sorry, Syisho, said Moderato. We do occasionally employ small forces to fight criminals but we have no army.

Quitch added, It would be foolish to oppose Sting 5 by force. They have advanced weapons, and millions of men who would be eager to use them.

Hayoo said, Although we did not like the threat, we did try to reduce our carbon dioxide production. We rationed coal and oil. We banned the use of fuels for half of each day. But… but hospitals need heat and light at all times. Fire engines must answer distress calls. Everyone seemed an exception. We did reduce our carbon dioxide production, but not as much as Tatri-Gaki demanded.

17%, said Syisho.

The Bean said, Wasn’t Tatri-Gaki killed?

He was, said Quitch. His son now rules Sting 5.

We hoped that might end the threat, said Hayoo. But no. Two days ago, when the year ended, the four ships returned to their orbit and made a new broadcast. He sighed. Again I can tell you the exact words. ‘People of Sting 4. I am Kavi-Gaki, ruler of Sting 5. Listen and understand. You have paid little heed to the warning you were given. I cannot permit you to ruin your planet. Since you have shown that you cannot conserve it, you must leave it. I shall send ships to remove you from it. Anyone who remains will be killed.’

2

TO SEE KAVI-GAKI?

After a moment’s silence, the Bean asked, Can he do that? I mean – it must be a huge job to take everyone off a planet.

Quitch said, We believe he can. On Sting 5, they have been building a fleet of huge spaceships.

Hayoo said, A later message ordered everyone to go to an airport in twenty-five days. Twenty-three now. Kavi-Gaki said he would send spaceships to transport everyone to Sting 3.

Sting 3, I said. What’s that like?

It is mainly jungle, said Quitch. Uninhabited.

Hayoo said, Kavi-Gaki will allow each person to take a box 0.8 metres square. The wrist unit translated the size as 0.8 metres, but he held his hands apart to show us. It wasn’t big, to carry everything they might need.

Syisho was almost crying. We cannot go to Sting 3. We could not survive in a jungle. Our people would die. You must stop him. I knew what he meant. I could imagine what would happen if everybody on Earth was moved to a jungle planet.

We’ll try to stop him, said Moderato. We’ll speak to him and try to persuade him to change his mind.

He will never do that, said Syisho. He has no mercy.

It’s the first thing we must try, said Moderato. That’s why I asked Tony. I hope he will agree to accompany us. He has helped me a great deal on other missions.

I knew what he meant. Young people from Earth can sense the minds of people from other planets, but we’re ordered to keep it secret so we couldn’t tell Hayoo and Syisho. I sensed no signal from their minds – not surprising since they were so like Earth people – but Moderato must hope I’d sense something from Kavi-Gaki and the people of Sting 5.

I asked, Who’s going to see Kavi-Gaki?

Hayoo and Syisho, you and me, answered Moderato. Since Kavi-Gaki is about your age, we hope he will be friendlier if you and Syisho are there.

I asked, Bea?

Moderato gave a grim smile. No. Nor Quitch. On Sting 5, the males hold the power. They believe that women’s only role is to produce and rear children.

Ignorant, commented the Bean.

No doubt. Moderato smiled again. But Kavi-Gaki would refuse to meet us if we had a girl in our team.

The Bean asked, How do you know so much about Kavi-Gaki and Sting 5?

Moderato said, Quitch gave us the information.

Quitch said, We have ways of finding out. The girl must not go to Sting 5.

"You should be glad of that,