I'm not sure who the other lady here is besides me, but I ignore it, grab my pack, and fall in behind the Admiral. I'm sure he wants to have words, but luckily he doesn't want to have them in front of a potential enemy spy.
Tensi takes us out the servants entrance in the back and down another dirt path that winds for 100 yards through a miniature forest. It dumps us onto a small paved street, which we cross and find ourselves in front of a two story dull concrete building.
"The rooms in this building have been converted for human use, though currently I am the only resident. The 10 survivors from my crew pass through here from time to time, but they mostly serve aboard the clan navy in case a ship makes contact with a human crew held by the Life."
I can't wait any longer, I feel the need to be impolite.
"How did you and your crew survive capture by the Life clan? Everyone else we know of is either dead or dying."
"We were captured in Gamma Upsilon on a resupply mission for a... Well, for an unregistered colony there."
Pirates. He continues.
"Two Fitzgerald class ships stopped us and we were boarded. They gassed us before we knew what was going on, and we woke up drugged. Isis wasn't heavily armed, so they just used us to supply their ships and had us jump into an unmarked sector part way to here on orders to wait for them. No more Life clan ships ever came. Eight days later two Death clan ships found us, killed the Life clan Child on board our ship, and took us prisoner. They destroyed Isis, and we've been working for them ever since."
"You're still drugged?"
"Yes, Captain, but I find the Death honorable and trustworthy. They claim not to know how to get us off the meds, and I believe them."
The Admiral has pulled into formation with us. I ask another question before he can start.
"Why does the Death clan need us to help them? They seem perfectly capable of doing the job themselves."
Tensi takes a second to think, I can't tell if it's to generate a lie or because he's not sure he hasn't been lied to by them.
"Their religion requires them to kill other Children face to face. They kill the Life combatants more than half the time, but the ones who lose are taken under control by the Life and are used against the Death in the next battle. Death is winning the battles, but losing the war, because their numbers are shrinking faster. Almost everyone who dies is Death clan."
"So it's okay for them to ask us to kill the Life ship to ship, but not to do it themselves?"
"Aye."
We getting more confusing stories all the time, but I believe that he believes.
"What about the other clan?"
"What other clan? I only know of the two."
Truth or lie? Can't tell on that one.
Admiral Sutherland interjects.
"Get us to our quarters."
Tensi shows each of us an identical room, nothing but 100 square feet with a bed, chair, table, and small bathroom with shower.
"I'm at the end of the hall, last door on the left, if you need anything. Breakfast is at 0340 standard time, which is sunrise local time."
I nod at him.
"Thank you, we'll see you in the morning."
He walks away, I turn and walk to the Admiral who is waiting grumpily outside his room. I follow him inside.
"Krieger, explain. I should not have been left out of the conversation."
How do I say this in a nice way?
"Sir, I believe their society is built around a warrior ethos. Because I have killed other Libor face to face and you have not had the opportunity to do so, I got special treatment. You got the second place of honor because you killed ship to ship. The Captains got the end of the table."
He thinks that over for a second. I don't tell him my butt is certain it also had to do with me being barefoot.
Apparently satisfied, he changes topics.
"Do you believe Tensi's story?"
"I believe he believes it, sir, that doesn't mean I believe the Libor have been telling him the truth."
"Agreed. We will complete the Senator's mission by bringing a delegation home with us. Our goal is to get off this planet will all possible speed, preferably tomorrow, two days at the latest."
He pulls out his pad and types, waits for a response, and then types again before putting it away.
"Hornet is fully functional, we can leave orbit at any time. I've ordered a space made ready for an ambassador and staff. Have Yorktown prepare to take some of Hornet's crew on board if we need the bunks."
"Aye, sir."
My butt won't shut up. I agree with it, but (one t) I'm not getting into a fight with Sutherland until I must.
His aides interrupt before we can continue. The Admiral looks at me.
"That will be all, Captain. See you at 0340."
I come to attention, give him a snappy salute which he returns casually. Ten seconds later, I'm closing the door to my room, a door I discover has no lock. It occurs to me that I still have my pad in record mode, I run a couple fingers across the screen and shut it down, then send the file skyward to McAdams.
There's a radio in my pack which I extricate. Why the Admiral only has his pad, I'm not sure. It comes to life at my touch, the battery indicator shows full charge. I set it to the correct frequency and to scramble. Yorktown and Hornet are both still within range, I don't want anyone but Shelby on the other end listening.
"Krieger to Yorktown, over."
There's two seconds of static, then my First officer's voice.
"Yorktown, aye."
Her voice is cautious. I need to reassure her fast. My thumb hits the transmit key.
"Commander Kristopher, all is well on whatever we are going to call this planet, over."
There's an audible sigh from the sky.
"Good to hear, Skipper, over."
"We've made a tentative agreement to carry an ambassador back to Canada 2, details to be worked out tomorrow. Make sure both guest quarters are clean and ready. Admiral Sutherland wants them to travel on Hornet, I think they are going to ask for Yorktown. Be ready either for a group of Libor, or some humans from Hornet, or both. Over.
"Roger that. Anything else? Over."
"I just sent Courtney a file of our dinner conversation, please have her or Olivia go through it as quickly as you can. The Admiral is anxious to get us out of here, I am too, let's make sure it's not another trap that we fall into by moving too quickly. Over."
"Aye, Skipper. Over."
"See you soon, Commander. Over and out."
I stow my radio, hit the head, then get ready to hit the sack. No lock on the door, I take my sidearm out of my pack, make sure it's loaded and put it under the pillow. I take the two knives out of my uniform and put them on the floor next to the bed. My pad gets programmed to wake me at 0310. Then I lay down on top of the blanket and am quickly asleep.
I'm awake at 0300, my brain better at keeping time than my electronics. I lay there looking at the ceiling and contemplating the possibilities until my pad makes me move. There's a washcloth and towel in the bath, I decline to take a shower given the lack of door, and simply use the wet cloth to give myself a sponge bath. I took my sidearm with me into the head, in case you didn't figure that out on your own, so no one is sneaking up on me in this chapter.
Back out into the room, I reinsert the knives into their hidden compartments, check that the drug cartridges are still intact, put my pack on, and walk briskly out into the corridor. It isn't until I hit the tile that I remember I'm still barefoot.
I also forgot to turn my pad on to record, now I have to choose between doing that or putting on my moccasins. Tensi is already waiting for me, as are Sutherland's aides, which means the Admiral is waiting inside until I am here and I have only a couple free seconds. I choose to activate my pad.
Just as I finish with my pad, the admiral's door opens and out he comes. If this were anywhere else, I'm positive I'd be in for a dressing down for my current state of dress, but he gives me a quick look
and lets it pass.
"If you'll follow me sirs," Tensi talks while pointing toward the door, "Alexander is waiting in the Great Hall."
He leads us outside, and across the street, but turns left and takes us around front instead of returning through the back door. I think about advising everyone to take their moccasins off, but I have no proof. Tensi keeps his boots on while walking down the path, and jumps over the creek, so maybe I'm mistaken. The Admiral and his two captains all jump it today as well. Only my feet slide through the cool cleansing water.
We pass quietly through the entry to find Alexander standing in the same spot as last night, two other Libor with him, the daggers gone from their chests. I believe his companions are his left and right hands from the stage.
Tensi shows us where to sit, the five of us are on the ground before the Libor sit, in order, Alexander last. There's a circle of five, Alexander and his right hand across from the Admiral and me, with Tensi there to sign. The aides and the left hand are off to the side, with another human I have not seen before, but I assume is from the Isis crew as well.
Alexander signs for a while to Tensi, who soaks it all in, gets a thinker's look on his face for a couple seconds, then starts. I don't like having to trust him to make an accurate translation, I need sign language lessons.
"Alexander welcomes you again, and hopes your sleep was rejuvenating. On behalf of the Children, he proposes that you transport an ambassador, his aide, a security officer, and a translator to Canada 2, lead by the gentleman to his right, who I refer to as Khan the 85th."
Gentleman?
"Khan requests to take a quantity of his own food with him, a few boxes at most, so he can acclimate more slowly to eating human food. They will bring no weapons other than their ceremonial knives. They will be ready to depart at sunrise tomorrow."
He stops and looks at us. I look at the Admiral. Given that I've got three knives and a pistol on me, even the knife request shouldn't be a problem.
"Please tell Alexander," the Admiral nods its way, "that the terms are acceptable, and we will inform our vessels to prepare for our arrival shortly after sunrise at this location tomorrow."
Tensi signs briefly, and Alexander responds even more briefly. How terrified should I be that the sight of three fingered fur covered hands making signs doesn't even seem unusual to me anymore?
"Then we have an agreement. Alexander will take his leave of you for now, to meet with the other Guardians and prepare Khan to negotiate."
Two quick signs, followed by Alexander and the other Libor passing quietly out the main hallway. A human we haven't met before pops in through the back.
"Captain," Tensi talks while getting to us feet, "Seaman Alderson will guide those of you who wish to go on a tour of the city. I think you will find it fascinating."
Admiral Sutherland steps in, obviously pissed again that someone is asking me to make decisions that are rightfully his.
"We will go." He pointedly makes sure everyone understands it's his option.
"Admiral?" I don't want to make things worse, but I have a better idea. "If Mr. Tensi is willing, I would prefer to stay here and learn a few words of the sign language."
He thinks for a second.
"You shouldn't need it going forward, you've likely spent your last time with a Libor, but stay if you'd prefer."
"Thank you, sir." I turn to Tensi. "If that's okay with you?"
"I'd love it, captain. I haven't been home in three years, I'd trade you sign lessons for an update on what's going on in our space, particularly if you know anything about Brazil goings on. I'm sure Seaman Schroeder can package up a couple boxes of food without me."
"Sounds like a fair trade to me, and I spent a month on Brazil not that long ago, I'm sure I can let you in on a scandal or two."
The Admiral turns and looks at me.
"We'll see you here after the tour is over. Make arrangements for Yorktown to have a boat available at Hornet when we arrive in the morning to shuttle you over."
"Aye, sir."
We exchange salutes and he departs with his captains in tow.
I feed Tensi all the gossip I know, and try to backhandedly learn more about the Libor, but either he doesn't know very much or he's a very good liar. Before lunch, I manage to memorize about 30 words in sign, which is more complex than our version because they don't have a letter system, every word has to be its own sign, and human sign language often comes from body language or gestures that make sense to us. Nothing Libor makes sense to me.
Schroeder shows up after lunch to report that he has packed three boxes with dehydrated Libor food and another with fresh items that don't need refrigeration. Tensi asks him to deliver them to the spaceport. I can't read Libor body language, but this guy is all too human and he creeps me out.
After Schroeder's gone, I have Tensi test me, and find I have to relearn five of the words I forgot from the morning, and get corrected on seven more than I am currently doing wrong. I still manage to learn 19 more, plus numbers. My favorite is right hand middle finger up by itself, which means "knife" in Libor.
You can't carry on a conversation when you only know 49 words, but I can ask you if you are hungry, tired, sick, hot, cold, or in need of a knife. I can say yes and no, up and down, walk and run, or I have to pee. Basically anything a two year old Libor can say. Oh, and I can count to 10. A two year old Libor probably stops at eight.
Tensi tells me that even though they only have one language, their physiology of speech is so complex they often lose the ability to speak as they age, and they aren't allowed to talk and eat at the same time. Everyone learns sign language at an early age. Kids need it to talk to each other when they're supposed to be quiet. Adults need it to talk to their elders. The Life, as far as we know, didn't teach it to their captives, probably because they didn't want to be "overheard" in their conversations.
The Admiral and his aides return about sundown, and we eat alone where we are, no Libor join us and Tensi goes off to check on his business. They describe what they saw, which was nothing, and show me more pictures of boring square concrete buildings. They did go to a zoo, which had some weird animals, but, again, they got to see the wolf-like thing in a cage, I was almost killed by a pack of them. I try to sound interested anyway.
"Did you see any factories or anything that would tell us about their industrial capacity?"
Both Captains frown. I don't think they thought that their sightseeing could have had an actual advantage to the Union or they just realized they could have played spy.
"No." That's from Hersh, Ted looks like I just took his puppy away.
I am restrained from continuing to embarrass them by the return of Mr. Tensi.
"Gentlemen, I am requested to escort you to your rooms so that the night crew can get in here and prepare for tomorrow. Alexander has requested a brief ceremony at sunrise to see Khan off. We will then travel by bus to the airport, return to the spaceport where you first landed, and you will travel from there to orbit."
I look at him.
"You're not the translator? I assumed you'd be coming with us."
"No, Captain, I requested to go, but Alexander refused. He's sending my exec, Ship's Officer First Class Bill Osborne. He's very capable, from Canada, and as good at sign as I am."
Someone we haven't met. Not that I completely trust Tensi, but at least I don't think he's been intentionally deceiving us, he openly admits what he doesn't know.
We follow him out the servant's entrance, across the street to the now familiar human quarters. He leaves us at the front door, more work to do he says. The Admiral takes his Captains into his room, and non-verbally lets me know to go to mine. First time I've ever been sent to my room by a superior officer. At least it wasn't without my supper.
I take a minute to wash up before I grab the radio and get with Shelby. I suspect that Tensi is keeping track of Yorktown's orbit, because he's gotten me to my quarters both nights with my ship at optimal comm range.
I hit the transmit button.
"Yorktown, this is Kolby, do you read? Over."
Technically, I'm the next Krieger in line, but I skip myself and head for the next brother on the list. I'm halfway down the list, it's a good thing we're going home in the morning.
"Yorktown, aye. Over."
Emily is answering the phone, hopefully enjoying her shifts in the big chair. On the other hand, I'd bet she's secretly doing double duty in engineering and not getting much sleep. I'll assume that Shelby gave her the sibling list.
"Good evening Lt. Commander. Sit rep? Over."
"All is well, sir, nothing interesting to report. Courtney has been rattling on all day about bare feet being important for some reason, and she's sure she needs to figure out why. It's been amusing, but not life threatening. Over."
Libor: Katana Krieger #2 Page 29
