Read The Cagliostro Chronicles II: Conflagration for Free Online

Mark,” she agreed uncomfortably.
Mark and Red exchanged quick glances, then returned to their respective stations.
    The instant Mark sat down in the command chair the main view screen sprang to life. The images were split in two, one from each probe. The small ball shaped devices used camouflage technology so they blended in with their backgrounds.
    “Now that’s curious ,” Mark commented. “That ship is just sitting there in orbit, and it is a G’Kor class.”
    “We are so screwed ,” Eddie murmured.
    “Not yet we’re not , Eddie. Red, engage the camouflage. Let’s hide the Cag, just in case.” Mark said, “Red, take control of the two probes please. I want them to be hidden. Find floating debris up there they can latch onto or hide behind. I think there were some asteroid pieces in orbit, correct?”
    “Yeah that’s right , Boss. There are. I can maneuver the probes into hiding behind them. We can keep an eye on our unwanted guests from there.” Red replied .
    Mark nodded approvingly. “Good, do it.” He sat there quietly a moment staring at the view screen image of the almost two mile long battle cruiser on the screen before them.
    “What do they want here?” Mark stroked his chin and asked quietly.
    “Mark?” Eddie questioned.
    “Eddie, I don’t think that ship is looking for us.”
    “So what’s it here for then?”
    Red turned suddenly and barked, “We’re all going to find out. Two ships just launched from that thing heading nearby our position.”
    “Explain ‘nearby’. ”
    “Mark, they look to be heading almost right for us, but not quiet on top of us. We could be in trouble if those guys are scouring the area.”
    “ Great.” Mark grunted, “Go to full red alert. Be prepared, everyone. Things could be going bad in a big way.”
    The crew stared at their displays and awaited Mark’s next order.
    “Here they come ,” Red announced.
    A dull roaring could be heard overhead and then disappeared in the distance.
    “What the hell? What just happened?” Eddie asked.
    “ Those ships flew right past us and kept on going,” Red answered.
    “Where are they going to though ? That’s the question.” Mark asked.
    Red replied, “I don’t know, Mark, but I can bet it’s safe to say that these guys are going somewhere they don’t want us to know about. I can definitely tell you one thing though; those ships weren’t looking for us,”
    “So they don’t know we’re here ,” Mark surmised.
    “ But what are they here for?” Red asked.
    “I don’t know, Red. But I think it’s safe to say whatever it is, it’s something we’re not going to like .”
    “Mark, what do we do?” Eddie asked.
    “For now, until the ship is repaired and fully operational, we lay low. The repairs will continue as fast as humanly possible.”
    “What about those clowns out there?” Red nodded toward the viewer at the red skinned natives. They were now camped out around the ship, actually making fires and cooking over those fires.
    “What are they eating?” Lori asked.
    “The pterodactyl I think. It’s not exactly a lot of food,” Eddie replied.
    “I have an idea ,” Mark announced as he turned and exited the command deck.
     
    ***
     
    Five minutes later Mark, Eddie and Red along with a small contingent of security people walked down the boarding ramp toward the natives carrying platters of steaming food.
    “You really think this is gonna work?” Eddie asked.
    “We won’t know until we try ,” Mark replied.
    “Sometimes , Boss, I think you’re nuts,” Red added.
    “Why are we doin’ this again?” Eddie queried.
    Mark shrugged. “The enemy of my enemy is what?”
    “In this case it could be someone who wants to eat us ,” Red offered.
    “You know, you are really a glass half full kinda guy ,” Eddie remarked as he placed a platter of food on the ground at the inside edge of the force field barrier next to the others.
    Outside the barrier the natives forgot about the small