{"id":1560,"date":"2020-06-12T15:34:36","date_gmt":"2020-06-12T19:34:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/?p=1560"},"modified":"2020-06-12T15:34:36","modified_gmt":"2020-06-12T19:34:36","slug":"tmc-9-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/tmc-9-3\/","title":{"rendered":"TMC 9-3"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Retranga<\/em> was entering the main Nebulan solar system. Llyra was in her quarters, reading a novel and munching on a Nebulan snack, when the door chimed. \u201cEnter,\u201d she called. Amy came in wearing her robes. \u201cMagic practice?\u201d guessed Llyra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHomesick,\u201d corrected Amy. \u201cWearing my robes usually gets rid of any distress I feel. Of course, it depends on how much I have. Trema does the same with meditation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s nice to have something to remind you of home,\u201d agreed Llyra. \u201cI usually read novels from Nebulos to stave off my homesickness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve been off-world before?\u201d asked Amy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvery Nebulan has left our world once or twice in their lifetime,\u201d replied Llyra. \u201cI pity those that are in exile or have no home world anymore. They can never cure their homesickness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, I guess we\u2019re lucky in that regard,\u201d mused Amy. \u201cIn any case, I wanted to know something about you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAsk away,\u201d urged Llyra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI heard Arcana mention something about patrols,\u201d recalled Amy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s where I come in as a last resort,\u201d answered Llyra. \u201cIf our holo-filter fails, I can get us out of any situation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow?\u201d asked Amy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRegretfully,\u201d sighed Llyra, \u201cI can\u2019t tell you until the situation actually gets that far.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026All right,\u201d muttered Amy as she shrugged. She then saw the title of the novel Llyra was reading. \u201cStruggle of Eternity<\/em>?\u201d she asked. Llyra then looked at Amy in surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can read Modern Nebulanese?\u201d she quizzed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAra U omparep tami galamar, rant torik le,\u201d (How I learned your language, that novel is) replied Amy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cE klafeer ro Trema, tam reem arak!\u201d (A student of Trema, you truly are!) praised Llyra. \u201cOnly Trema would teach our language with the finest novel ever written as a reference!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll\u2026take your word for it,\u201d mumbled Amy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI take it you DIDN\u2019T enjoy it?\u201d asked Llyra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell,\u201d floundered Amy, trying to be polite, \u201cI thought it was\u2026interesting, if a bit dull in parts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBy the Rings,\u201d swore Llyra. \u201cI can\u2019t believe a student of Trema would consider Struggle of Eternity<\/em>, Lokoro\u2019s greatest work, to be dull.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just thought the story got a little redundant after a while,\u201d explained Amy. \u201cLokoro\u2019s supposed to be talking about seven generations of a Nebulan family, but he tells the same story over and over and over again! All of his characters lead selfless lives of duty to the Nebulan state and honor to their family, grow old, then the strongest of those characters dies in glorious battle, then the next generation comes along and does it all over again!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut that\u2019s exactly the point,\u201d countered Llyra. \u201cA repetitive epic is the best way to demonstrate Nebulan morals to the people, stemming of from our elders telling us the same stories over and over again to make sure we understand the morals thoroughly. Struggle of Eternity<\/em> is the greatest achievement of the repetitive epic, taught in Nebulan schools across the planet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut none of the characters ever come alive,\u201d sighed Amy. \u201cAnd, while I will agree with the morals about honor to your family, there\u2019s more to life than just that and duty to the state.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAn Autobot view if I ever heard one,\u201d mused Llyra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve held that view before I even met the Autobots,\u201d sighed Amy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf I may change the subject,\u201d interjected Llyra, \u201chow did you meet them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI kind of stumbled on one,\u201d replied Amy. \u201cI thought an Autobot\u2019s holo-form was someone I have a major crush on and got a surprise when he vanished and the sports car turned into Optimus Prime.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOptimus Prime?\u201d repeated Llyra. \u201cI thought it was Sentinel that was Prime.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSentinel stepped down,\u201d explained Amy, \u201cand the Matrix chose Orion Pax as its new bearer, Optimus Prime.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPax?\u201d quizzed Llyra. \u201cI knew that family, Arcanus and Soleanna Pax, and their children Dion and Megatronus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, from what Dion, Ultra Magnus now, told me,\u201d elaborated Amy, \u201cthey had a third child after the Great War.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDion\u2019s a Magnus now?\u201d chuckled Llyra. \u201cWhat about Megatronus? Is he teaching mathematics now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cActually,\u201d replied Amy as she winced, \u201cMegatronus switched sides and leads the Decepticons as their new Supreme Commander under the name Megatron.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat?!\u201d Llyra gasped in disbelief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt threw us for a loop,\u201d answered Amy. \u201cHis stutter was just an act when we knew him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, poor Pax children,\u201d moaned Llyra. \u201cTheir brother is on the wrong side.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWorse than that,\u201d sighed Amy. \u201cIt would help explain why we ran into the D.J.D a week ago. The war between the Autobots and Decepticons is back on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s back?!\u201d yelped Llyra. \u201cThat must be why there\u2019s a dissident movement on Nebulos.\u201d Amy thought about asking her about the dissident movement now but buried it quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd Optimus is going through all this at 153,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c153?!\u201d yelped Llyra. \u201cThat\u2019s adolescence on Cybertron!\u201d The door chimed again. \u201cEnter,\u201d called Llyra. Trema came in. \u201cYou never told me the new Prime is in a war at only 153!\u201d cried Llyra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll discuss that later,\u201d replied Trema. \u201cRight now, we have more immediate concerns. A patrol ship is coming towards us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDuty calls,\u201d mused Amy. Llyra got up and all three made their way to the bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAny sign of them figuring us out?\u201d Trema asked Duros.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, My Lady,\u201d replied Duros. \u201cThe holo-cloak is working perfectly. Nobody here but us Femaxians.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow about the holo-filter?\u201d asked Trema.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStill works perfectly,\u201d answered Duros. \u201cI could make you look like a hedgerhino, if you like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFemaxian Captain Sharveen will do nicely,\u201d remarked Trema with a grin at the joke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019re getting closer,\u201d gulped Gort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEasy, Young Gort,\u201d assured Duros. \u201cAs far as their scanners are concerned, we\u2019re a Femaxian Merchant Vessel.\u201d His console beeped. \u201cWe\u2019re being hailed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOpen a channel and engage the holo-filter,\u201d ordered Trema.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat if the Captain of that ship is male?\u201d asked Arcana. \u201cYou\u2019d have to be blatantly sexist towards him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, even Femaxians wouldn\u2019t dare be sexist towards a Nebulan male,\u201d replied Trema. \u201cStylor could tell you stories about his dealings with Femaxians.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSome other time,\u201d smiled Stylor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cChannel open and holo-filter engaged,\u201d reported Duros as a heavyset Nebulan male filled the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is Traboon Monzo, Captain of the Boroba <\/em>and Headmaster to Weirdwolf,\u201d the man introduced himself. \u201cIdentify yourselves.\u201d He could only see a Femaxian crew, thank goodness for holo-filters<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen did HE get promoted to Traboon?\u201d thought Llyra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is the Femaxian Merchant Vessel, Gold Medal<\/em>,\u201d answered Trema. \u201cI\u2019m Captain Sharveen. How may I help a strapping man like you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat is your destination?\u201d asked Monzo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy, Nebulos, your lush home world,\u201d replied Trema. \u201cWe\u2019re carrying a shipment of Rezardium needed for the military.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStandby while we board your vessel,\u201d demanded Monzo. Worry struck the hearts of the Retranga<\/em> crew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTraboon Monzo,\u201d urged Trema, \u201cthe Rezardium is urgently needed. I would hate for a fine man like you to risk your career explaining why it was delayed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Rezardium can wait!\u201d snapped Monzo. \u201cDissident activity has been on the rise in our system! By the order of Lord Zarak himself, all incoming vessels are to be stopped and searched!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf they get too close,\u201d whispered Natalie, \u201cwe\u2019re finished!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStandby,\u201d called Trema. The call ended and Trema turned to Llyra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI believe it would be best to drop the holo-filter,\u201d she suggested. Everyone\u2019s eyes went wide. \u201cTrust me,\u201d assured Llyra. \u201cI\u2019ve gotten paperwork signed to allow us passage with no further interruptions from patrols.\u201d Trema thought for a few seconds before deciding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo as she says,\u201d she told Duros. \u201cGort, be prepared to get out of here fast if this doesn\u2019t work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAye, My Lady,\u201d replied Gort. Duros called Monzo back. Monzo\u2019s face was one of surprise as he saw who the \u201cFemaxians\u201d were.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTam rog lamatray, bara tho?\u201d (You get promoted, when did?) asked Llyra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKeb Femaxiana, tam ram!\u201d (Not Femaxians, you are!) snarled Monzo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRokesnarm, tam ram,\u201d (Observant, you are.) scoffed Llyra. \u201cTami recoa maroma, tam reli mora!\u201d (Your ships around, you will turn!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cZaraka prilanma, tam tho ba\u2026!\u201d (Zarak’s daughter, you may be\u2026!) roared Monzo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOg Regon locen celomer, rant le!\u201d (An Omega level mission, this is!) interrupted Llyra. \u201cRaji-Raji-Forea-Talo-Coret-Fet, nar celomer gorb le! Ti nar gorek ga un talort, tami recoa maroma, tam reli mora, hal fora ga rant gorshaben, tam reli farshi, ga rant al yi far, feg tam reli reank! Tam morrofarek, te?\u201d (Five-Five-Seven-Nine-Eight-Six, the mission code is! On the order of my father, your ships around, you will turn, all logs of this encounter, you will erase, of this to no one, and you will speak! You understand, do?) Monzo entered the mission code into his console.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFaretiam, nar celomer gorb le,\u201d (Verified, the mission code is.) droned the computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBarametema, U mek,\u201d (Forgiveness, I beg.) gulped Monzo. \u201cMoratemo ga tami celomer, U lan,\u201d (Ignorant of your mission, I was.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAl rocear tami filaca morp solirmatori, tam ramate,\u201d (To perform your duties with distinction, you wanted.) assured Llyra. \u201cBoru, rant bori le,\u201d (Over, this call is.) The call ended and the patrol ship veered off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey just told the other patrol ships,\u201d reported Duros, \u201cto let us pass uninterrupted.\u201d Llyra released a breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat went better than I expected,\u201d she sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood to hear,\u201d replied Trema. \u201cThere IS something that confuses me. \u2026TRABOON MONZO?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t look at me!\u201d protested Llyra. \u201cHe was still a Rookeel when I last saw him!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy would Zarak promote an idiot like Monzo to Traboon?!\u201d yelped Arcana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll find out when we land,\u201d replied Trema as Nebulos came into view. A green planet with tiny patches of blue, surrounded by rings, and two green moons orbiting the planet outside the rings, it looked beautiful. \u201cIt\u2019s been too long since I saw it,\u201d said Trema. \u201cGort, begin landing procedures.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAye, My Lady,\u201d confirmed Gort. The Retranga<\/em> lowered effortlessly through the atmosphere, through the silver clouds and gliding over the trees, right to Trema and Stylor\u2019s estate in the Folassian Forest.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Retranga was entering the main Nebulan solar system. Llyra was in her quarters, reading a novel and munching on a Nebulan snack, when the door chimed. \u201cEnter,\u201d she called. Amy came in wearing her robes. \u201cMagic practice?\u201d guessed Llyra. \u201cHomesick,\u201d corrected Amy. \u201cWearing my robes usually gets rid of any distress I feel. Of course, it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1058,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[98,233],"tags":[337],"class_list":["post-1560","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles-arc-9-amys-alien-adventures","tag-transformers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1560","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1560"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1560\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1561,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1560\/revisions\/1561"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1560"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1560"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1560"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}