Galactic Axia Adventure 1: Escape to Destiny by Jim Laughter Page B

just stood for a minute watching the ground car disappear out of sight. Robert climbed back up the steps and together they went into the house for the evening. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day.
    ∞∞∞
    Back at the Eagleman farm, Prudence Hornbeck told Dorn and the officers about what had just happened. Assuring the pitiful man they would be back tomorrow, she and the officers returned to town. The privacy of the drive allowed the police officers to discuss the situation. Neither cared for the way things were going, and especially for the director’s coddling of Delmar’s brother. However, there was very little they could do. Their hands were tied by the local courts, which had given the social agency broad powers in these matters.
    When they arrived back at the agency office, Ms. Hornbeck called another meeting. She and her minions planned tomorrow’s search of the Hassel farm and their subsequent arrest. A quick call to the judge secured the necessary warrants.
    Calling the police chief, the director used the court orders she had just received to demand two dozen officers for tomorrow’s action. Hamstrung by the court order, he reluctantly agreed.
     

Chapter Seven
    Dawn at Jasper Station was bright and clear when the Imperial ship set down. Its ramps extended and various details of the crew and the few passengers exited the craft. One particular passenger, a trooper-first, looked around and then spotted the ground crew chief.
    “Excuse me, chief,” the trooper-first called as he approached.
    “Yes? How can I help you, trooper?”
    “I’m Trooper-First Michael Azor, and I need to find the liaison office.”
    “Over behind the ops office,” answered the chief, pointing toward the Operations Building.
    “Thanks.” Trooper Azor turned and strode toward the indicated structure. Once inside, a clerk examined his identification and the directives from Empress Ane. “May I help you, sir?”
    “I’m here under direction of Our Lady to investigate a situation.”
    “Let me show you to the C.O.” Mike followed him to a small, overstuffed office where a lieutenant was sat behind a desk.
    “What can I do for you, trooper?” the lieutenant asked.
    “I’m here under direction of Our Lady to investigate a certain matter, sir.” Mike handed him the papers and waited.
    “It looks like we’re going to be busy. When do you want to get started?”
    “Immediately,” Mike answered.
    “I thought you’d say that.” The lieutenant stood and took his hat from a rack in the corner. “Let’s go.”
    ∞∞∞
    Another meeting was just breaking up in Keeler. “Okay,” said social agency director Prudence Hornbeck to the assembled caseworkers and reluctant police officers, “let’s go.”
    It was obvious she enjoyed commanding such a large contingent of people. She was certain she was going to set things to rights before the day was over. The officers and the workers piled into their ground cars and the convoy wound out through the valley.
    Arriving at the Eagleman farm, the cars carrying the caseworkers parked under a large tree. The police ground cars, along with the social agency director’s car, continued up the road toward the Hassel farm.
    ∞∞∞
    Back in town, the Imperial ship carrying the lieutenant and Trooper-First Azor set down in a field across from the headquarters of the local police district. The nearly empty parking lot puzzled the lieutenant. Inside they also found a corresponding lack of personnel. The lieutenant approached the front desk clerk and asked to see the chief. After calling on her intercom, the receptionist pointed to an open door and asked the two men to enter.
    When they stepped into the office, the chief shook their hands and invited them to sit. Introductions were made around and the three men sat down.
    “So Mike,” began the police chief, “what brings you to our little neck of the galaxy?”
    “I’m here on special assignment from Our Lady to investigate a matter