The Alienbutt Saga, Book 1. War of the Coffee Bean. Part 8.

Wickede straightened up and was suddenly all business. “What! What does it say? How did you work it out so fast? Where's Snoodgrass?” The excited Ick leader went back to the vid-screen as if he could now read it himself. Nifty sat down and picked up an opened bottle of whiskey and took a sip. Piestoff having finished his own kebab reached over and grabbed Wickede's showing no interest in the events around him.
“Piestoff, could you stop eating for one minute? Wow, Nifty, you just made the biggest breakthrough in over two hundred years of study.” Wickede could no longer contain his excitement and did a little dance. “What does it say?”
“It's instructions to me, telling me what I need to do. It's a private message.” She sat back in the chair and started looking at her fingernails.
Wickede looked at her, then at Blackarachnia before returning his gaze to Nifty. He started to speak but stopped. Knowing he would get no help from Blackarachnia, he turned to Piestoff. “Piestoff, tell her please, this is too important for messing around. We need to know what it means.”
Looking up from the now empty plate he looked at the pleading Wickede and then at Nifty. “Anything we need to know yet?”
“No.” Her tone left no room for manoeuvre; as far as Nifty was concerned the subject was closed.
“Don't worry Wickede, she'll let us know when the time is right.” He picked up the whiskey bottle Nifty had been sipping and took a large swallow. Wickede threw up his hands and stormed out muttering about finding Snoodgrass. Piestoff looked at Nifty, and both grinned.
“You're evil at times, Nifty.” Piestoff said.

CHAPTER 3
Battle Stations.
INTERSTELLAR NEWS CHANNEL 9 NEWS FLASH.

As unrest and rioting continue to spread across the universe in the light of further reports of an expected poor crop of coffee beans, over three hundred Senators at the Federation Senate today staged a protest when supplies of coffee ran out in the senate canteen. It took Federal police in full riot gear over two hours to restore order. Quazzel Proodich, head of the Federation Senate said in a brief statement.
“We are facing the greatest threat to universal peace ever when even the supply of coffee to the government can be interrupted like this. In partnership with the Coffee Houses we are doing everything possible to ensure increased production of the bean. All supply will now be controlled by official agents to ensure a steady supply to all key personnel. In light of this any unauthorised trading in coffee will become a Federal offence punishable by death. There is no need for panic as there is enough coffee to go around.”

Piestoff was lying on his bunk. Since the incident in the galley the night before, he had stayed out of the way. In two hours they would be dropping out of light speed and meeting up with the rest of the Ick fleet and the bounty hunters hired to track down whoever was attacking the outposts. The door opened and Poodles walked in. He saw Piestoff already on the bed and hunched down in front of him, yawning. “Sod off dog, it’s my bed.”
Looking offended, Poodles lay down on the floor before the bed. Just as Piestoff was starting to doze again the ship’s alarms went off. Jumping up, Piestoff was half way to the door when Blackarachnia’s voice came over the intercom.
“All crew to battle stations, pilots to their ship. This is not a drill, so move it people.”
Jumping out of bed to race down to the hanger Piestoff stopped at the open door. Looking back, he saw Poodles was already on his bed. “Stay,” he commanded.
Poodles yawned in a ‘I’m not moving mate, this is people business and I’m a dog’ way, and closed his eyes. Smiling, Piestoff headed off to the hangar bay. Half way there he came across Nifty already in a flight suit.
“Come on Piestoff, you’re gonna be late.” She grinned at him as she held the door to the lift that went down to the hanger.
Piestoff reached the lift grinning back at his friend. “What’s happening?” he asked.
Nifty shrugged her shoulders then looked down at Piestoff’s feet. “You gonna wear them boots from now on?”
Piestoff looked down at the red boots and shrugged. “Why not? They can be my new lucky boots,” he grinned. “Let’s face it, people are getting used to them now. Even Blackarachnia has stopped laughing at them.”
“He still giggles, though.” She shook her head at Alienbutt.

The lift doors opened and they walked into the hangar. Ten single seat Interceptor fighterships were being swarmed over by technicians and droids in the final stages of being primed for battle. Six other pilots stood before Blackarachnia and Wickede. Seeing the two of them, Wickede beckoned. “Come on you two or we’ll start without you.”
“That’s OK by me, I won’t mind, honest.,” replied Piestoff as they reached the group. After the initial rushing to get down here his nerves had caught up with him.

Thanks for reading, all images are my own work.