Deep Space Settlement - 9. DSS Chapter 9

“This is Ambassador Lucas Durham, of the United Republic of Planets, as you will see on your radar, my space shuttle is heading straight for you, and unless you want to cause a diplomatic incident, I suggest you break away and return from where you came from… Group Leader return to your station, I will deal with these idiots, over” Lucas said sternly.

As the two Canadian aircraft turned to return back to base, the USAF aircraft continued to come straight at the shuttle, and Lucas was getting sick of this.

“Ok, lets’ play a game of Cat caught the mouse, shall we,” Lucas said to the pilot beside him, and the pilot grinned broadly, “Yes sir, with pleasure, I have always wanted to try out this manoeuvre” the pilot replied, as he opened the front doors of the cargo bay, and increased altitude then increased speed until they passed the USAF aircraft then did a loop so they came up behind them.

Carefully and skillfully, they approached one aircraft, and it entered the cargo bay and the doors slid shut before the USAF pilot and co-pilot knew what was happening, and as they continued to fly inside the shuttle cargo bay they lowered their wheels and decreased their speed until they dropped to the floor of the cargo bay, trapped inside with nowhere to go.

Once the engines were off, and the brakes set, they opened their canopy, “Stay inside your aircraft, we will be landing shortly” they heard a voice say over a PA system, and so the two pilots sat back down.

Meanwhile, the remaining three USAF aircraft, having seen what happened to their colleague, turned around, to return from where they came, which is presumed to be a nearby aircraft carrier.

When the shuttle landed at the same place as before, 12 armed Canadian Airmen appeared and were ready to detain the two USAF pilots. The shuttle pilot opened the rear cargo hatch, and the Armed airmen raced in with guns up and aimed at the two pilots, and ordered them to slowly climb down and raise their hands.

One the co-pilot tried to reach for his sidearm, a volley of shots aimed around his feet were fired, and the co-pilot raised his hands, in surrender. “We are US Airforce pilots, you cannot do this,” the Pilot said angrily, as they were marched out of the shuttle cargo bay, and taken to the main building.

From there, up to the security centre, where there are two detention cells. “Oh, yes we can, it was you that broke the rules Mr, not us. You ignored the warnings, so now you have to deal with the consequences”, one of the Canadian airmen replied, as the men were searched, the side arms removed, and they were placed in the cells.

Lucas and Franklin asked the Air Commodore to meet them in the Communications centre, where they contacted the Canadian Air Command in Ontario, Canada, to brief them on the incident, and Lucas let the Air Commodore speak to them first.

“…and technically we did not detain the USAF aircraft and its crew, Ambassador Durham did in his Space shuttle, by flying behind one of the US fighter jets until it was inside their cargo hold and shut the doors” the Air Commodore explained to his superior, who laughed.

“Oh, I wish I had seen that, I am so glad that we are on the right side with the United Republic” the Air Marshall in Ontario responded. “I am glad you are to Air Marshall, this is Ambassador Durham speaking.

I wish to ensure you that with me taking the action that I did, it dissolves the Canadian Airforce and Canada of any direct action, from capturing the USAF aircraft and its crew, even they are being detained in the Canadian Airforce Base Brig, a temporary measure until we have the airport terminal built, which will have its own detention centre.” Lucas said.

“Well thank you for your assistance with this matter Ambassador, now maybe the United States will stop pushing their weight around where it isn’t wanted. By the way, I have heard that you have presented a proposal for the relocation of the United Nations Headquarters, from what I have heard so far, there are many who are for this to happen. Now what about these to Air Rats and their aircraft?” the Air Marshall said to Lucas.

“A good name for them sir, I will contact the New Zealand Ambassador in New York, and he will forward a message from me to the US Ambassador for the UN, and we will see where that takes us with this incident,” Lucas said “Yes we shall,” the Air Marshal said, and shortly after the call ended.

“To the United States of America, as you were informed a few weeks ago, the United Republic of Planets claimed the five new islands located in the North Atlantic Ocean, North East of Bermuda, as its own, and has recently allowed the Canadian Airforce to establish a base on one of the islands.

On a number of times, you have sent a single military aircraft to fly over the islands, and on two occasions that this has happened the Canadian and United Republic of Planets flags have been flying, clearly indicating who the islands belong to.

Now that the Canadian Airforce base has been established and is fully operational when four of your Airforce planes approached the islands it was warned off, with these warnings being ignored.

When your flight leader did decide to respond, it was in an arrogant manner, with no interest in obeying our warning, and after a few more warnings, it was the United Republic of Planets spacecraft that intercepted and captured one of your aircraft, less than 50 miles from the Canadian Airforce base on Durham Island.

The aircraft and its two pilots are currently detained and are being well cared for, by the United Republic of Planets authority based at the nearby islands. They will be released only when the United States of America, agrees to abide by United Nations laws, to not invade other countries territories.

Also, all US military aircraft and shipping and any other crafts, are to remain outside of the 200-mile exclusion zone of the Canadian Airforce base on Durham Island, and it’s four neighbouring islands. Signed L Durham, Earth Base Ambassador of the United Republic of Planets of Sahndrol”.

Lucas hoped that this clear letter would put an end to this incident, and the US will keep well away, especially with the Earth Base soon to be relocated to the area. The following morning, I was called to go and speak to the Air Commodore on Durham Island, and he was directed to the Commodore’s office on the first floor.

“Ah good you are still here, I wasn’t sure if you were heading back to New Zealand or not,” Air Commodore Rankin said when Lucas entered his office. “No sir, after yesterday’s incident, I thought it best to stay around for a while and see what the response is from my letter” Lucas responded.

“Since yesterday’s incident, the Navy has dispatched some ships as extra protection of the islands, they have gone a bit over the top, as they are sending the Submarine - Windsor, which is the one that visited here before, the Frigate - Halifax, which also has been here before, and a Coastal Patrol Ship – Kingston, with the Coastal Patrol Ship - Moncton, alternating one-month patrols around the islands,” the Air Commodore said to Lucas.

“I think any assistance will be helpful, just so we let them know, that we do mean business, and don’t forget, the cargo ship will be arriving today, so the sight of that should scare them away” Lucas replied smiling.

"I have been informed that the submarine will be doing sweeps just inside, the South Western end of the exclusion zone, and the Coastal Patrol Ship will do the rest, with the Frigate making periodical visits,” the Air Commodore said.

Lucas was still on Durham Island when the warning came that the Shuttle was arriving, and moments later, it slowly came down, and landed near the edge of the parking apron, on the runway, for easier off-loading of all the building materials.

The Air Commodore had already suspended patrol flights until the ship is unloaded and it moves off the runway, with Lucas deciding to keep the ship close by for a short while, with it to be sitting on Arrow Island for that time.

After two days, of solid work, the ship was completely empty, and right away it was moved over to Arrow island so that air patrols could resume, even thou the Frigate and Coastal Patrol Ship had arrived earlier in the day, with the submarine also in the area, already doing patrols.

The construction of the Airport terminal would take two weeks to complete, with it having been built in sections, so all there is needed to do, is put it all together. The terminal consists of a Departures and Arrivals Ramp, like most standard International Airports have, which leads to a Customs and Quarantine Centre.

Beyond that, there is a large open lounge area, with plenty of lounge seating, plus tables and chairs, with two café’s and a restaurant, that can be opened when required, plus two lots of Men’s and Women’s bathrooms.

Downstairs, which is restricted, and not open for any passengers or crew temporarily stopping on the island, there is a Detention Centre, an Animal Holding Centre, in case there are any animals in transit on an aircraft that needs to land on the island, the Airport Administration Centre, and the Luggage Holding Storage Area.

It was decided that the current Airforce personnel on the island would be able to handle the running of the airport terminal when needed.

A few days after the arrival of the Cargo ship, once it had moved to Arrow Island, the Canadian Submarine reported that a US Aircraft Carrier was heading directly towards the boundary of the exclusion zone, and looked like, that it was not going to stop.

The Frigate, was on its way back to home base, so it was of no use, so the Coastal Patrol Ship headed in that direction, even thou it is very small compared to the Aircraft Carrier.

Just 2 miles before the US ship reached the boundary, it turned sharply, and followed a course almost alongside the boundary, obviously testing the response that it may get from being there. “US Aircraft Carrier, this is the Canadian Submarine Windsor, 5 nautical miles inside the boundary, and following your same course, this is a warning, do not, I repeat, do not cross over the exclusion zone boundary”.

This is your first and final warning” the submarine Captain said via radio to the Aircraft Carrier, and moments later the Carrier changed direction and headed away from the area, and the Captain radioed the Airforce base to inform them that the Aircraft Carrier was no longer a threat to the Airforce base.