Lovett’s musings were interrupted by the soft beeping of his comm unit, a reminder it was time for him to go. He took one last look at the view, and then turned back to the well worn path which led into the base. Birmew, Logan Osborne and Dr. Vance, along with several female crew members, would be joining him for dinner. Though many of the former house slaves were not quite ready for socialization, the ladies at tonight’s shindig seemed to be making excellent progress and gave no indication they would be uncomfortable around Birmew.
Still, Lovett worried how the lone Silestri was going to be able to make a life for himself among humans. He also wouldn’t be able to protect Birmew from the hostile stares and angry comments he would inevitably encounter. The way Lovett figured it though, if the very people who suffered most at the hands of the Silestri could accept him, there was hope after all. In the meantime, he would try to shield his friend from the ones who could not forgive and hope time really did heal all wounds.
####
Glynnis White pasted a fake smile on her face and forced the nausea into submission as she mingled with the rest of the crowd. She didn’t want to be here, but she needed to provide an example for the others, and forced herself to maintain composure. There were only twelve women present, as eight of their number were still undergoing more intensive therapy and could not leave the facility.
Part of group therapy for the former sex slaves involved getting out of the confines of the hospital complex from time to time. Today they were touring Delta, the smallest of the six islands, and home to the Khrusallis and Deviri embassies. Apparently, this was one of the rare occasions when both treaty partners would be present on Pacifica at the same time.
Their first stop was to the towering Khrusallis facility, where they were given a tour and then listened to a brief address by a visiting Vingah dignitary. The butterfly-like aliens were gentle and intelligent, and even through the translator, their calm way of speaking was a soothing balm to Glynnis’ frayed nerves. The lighter gravity inside the embassy was somewhat disconcerting at first, but the beautiful glass structure was airy and cheerful. Watching the Vingah flutter by overhead in the soft breeze was fascinating, and helped her relax for just a few moments.
With no warning, the fearful anxious thoughts which often plagued her came flooding back and threatened to pull her under like a dark riptide. She was sure all the normal people here were staring at her, even though her bald head was hidden under a life-like wig. She could hear whispers all around, talking about the traitorous whore in their midst and wondering what she was doing here. Beads of sweat broke out over her body, heart pounding like a bass drum in her chest.
Without realizing it, she stopped dead in her tracks, unable to move or think or breathe...until gentle hands took her arms on both sides and led her to a nearby bench. Soothing voices spoke softly to her as the med patch placed on the back of her neck took effect. Moments later, her mind cleared enough for her to resume the tour, and she forgot what sidetracked her in the first place. A look of concern passed between her caregivers, though Glynnis didn’t even notice.
After the group returned to the hospital complex, the staff met together to discuss how the patients fared on the excursion. Glynnis’ meltdown, while not as spectacular as earlier episodes, was still very troubling. At first, she projected strength and mental flexibility, but the facade soon gave way revealing the fragile psyche underneath. It was decided to return her to the stasis chamber and give her more time to heal through the virtual reality interface. It was too early to say if she would ever recover far enough to lead a normal life, and the same could be said for the others who also crumbled under the weight of their slavery. Alliance medicine could do some amazing things, but there were limits, and it remained to be seen if they’d already reached them.
####
Marina Bishop awoke with a start and sat up in bed, trying to remember where she was. Her hands automatically reached out to find the warm body which was supposed to be next to her. The softness of the bedding and the light peeking around the window curtains were additional clues she was no longer in captivity. She shook her head and sighed, wondering how long it would take for her mind to accept the reality of her new life. It was no longer as frightening, but it was an annoying reminder she was still dealing with the aftermath of her servitude.
Old habits, it has been said, are hard to break, but she was determined to sever the bonds which held her for so long, stealing years of her life she could never get back. Counselors continued to reassure her she was doing remarkably well, and though it was nice to hear, she really wished they would shut up and stop trying to wrap her in cotton.
Like all the other former house slaves, she continued to have issues with standing up for herself, saying no, making direct eye contact, or even speaking out loud unless asked a direct question. Her old personality, which was nothing like a meek and subservient slave, wanted to reassert itself and she was doing everything she could to give it free reign. There were daily reminders, however, it was going to be a long process to shed herself completely of the mind and body habits imposed on her for so long.
Regardless, she was enjoying her classes immensely and spent much of her free time exploring Pacifica. It was amazing how far humanity progressed since Exploration launched, especially given the near annihilation of her species. Despite the minor annoyances, she was grateful to her Pacifican hosts for their generous and understanding care.
It didn’t take long for Marina to seek out her friends from Exploration, though she discovered many of them were dead. She was ecstatic to discover first officer Jack Lovett survived, one of the few bridge personnel, like herself, who were still alive. Out of a crew of three hundred, sixty perished at Silestri hands, leaving gaping holes in the leadership team of their future colony.
Both Captain Watson and colony leader Celeste Pollard were among the early deaths, and it would be difficult to find qualified replacements among the survivors. According to the latest scuttlebutt, a transition team was to be formed soon after everyone’s medical procedures were completed. The team, made up entirely of Explorer crew, would form a temporary decision making body which would help their people transition into a new colony government.
Marina continued to ruminate as she rose from bed and prepared for another day. Though still not used to it, she thoroughly enjoyed having the spartan quarters to herself. She became so used to being surrounded by other people every minute of the day, she almost felt guilty for sleeping, bathing, or eating alone. She still interacted daily with many of her fellow slaves, but she refused to limit herself to what felt familiar, and pushed herself out of her old comfort zone.
Today would be an example of self-inflicted discomfort, but it was for a good cause. Several times a week, she made it a priority to visit some of the still hospitalized crew. There were many having difficulty adjusting, including some of the men, and she wanted to help if at all possible. The counselors said just seeing a familiar face and sharing old memories was good therapy. If nothing else, it motivated her to get on with her life and not wallow in self-pity.
The turning point for many of the crew occurred when they were brought together as a group to hear and see the events which took place on Bastet after the battle. Captains Arlington, Sorrell, and Bolitz, as well as Dr. Norcross and General McClure led the presentation and shared their own stories. Detailed recordings of the actual events were played or displayed, followed by short informative commentary. The crew was encouraged to ask questions and share their own thoughts and feelings regarding the events which impacted them directly.
The last images shown were those of Admiral Perry and his personal encounters with the Silestri. There was a bone deep satisfaction at Yarmew’s death and the humiliation and punishment of their captors, though many openly wept. All in all, it was a cathartic experience which freed most of them to put the past behind and move forward. Marina still struggled at times, but she was on her way, and nothing was going to hold her
back.
####
Sol system, space station Guardian.
Breaking up a good team was never easy, but having to say goodbye really made it unpleasant. Bax, Cole, and Harley Duran were enjoying a meal together on board Guardian, reliving the highlights of their shared mission. Their time together was short, but the intensity and importance of their assignment bonded them together in a way which went beyond mere friendship. With the battle behind them, the corridors closed, and the Silestri dealt with properly, there was no longer a need for their combined efforts. Now, the personnel from both teams were heading off in different directions.
The Hound Dog initiative was successful beyond anyone’s expectations, earning praise and promotions for the entire team. Assignments were handed out, and the newly minted Lieutenant Commander Duran was set to report for duty first thing tomorrow. It seems his particular skills were noticed by General McClure, who hand picked him to become his first officer aboard Guardian.
The station was growing, and with the approval of the new moon base, the General needed to expand his staff to handle all of the increased traffic and new projects going on in the Sol system. Earlier in the evening, McClure’s assistant, Hunter Prescott, stopped by to congratulate Duran and say goodbye to Bax and Cole. Apparently, it was his suggestion to the General to consider Duran, and Harley was grateful for the plum position. Not that Prescott was going to let him forget it anytime soon.
Bax and Cole, themselves newly promoted to Lieutenant JG, would be leaving shortly aboard the Colorado, headed for the Rxyl/Human world of Deviri. The planet and its surrounding space were to become the next testing ground for the EMR’s. This time, a series of war games and simulated battles would provide a completely different set of experiences for the EMR’s, as well as for the troops interacting with them. The Vingah, now back home on Khrusallis, were overseeing the manufacture of additional units, as well as studying the recently finished missions on Hathor and Bastet.
Now that the concept was successfully proven, the team was going to be very busy expanding the units’ skills and experience. Since the EMR’s were no longer a secret, suggestions and requests from seasoned officers began pouring in regarding their use. Admiral Perry and General Moreland were the first to congratulate Bax and Cole, and remained the primary sponsors of the project. Due to the high level of interest, and the game-changing nature of the EMR concept, a new curriculum was being developed for next years’ first year students at the Academy.
The Vingah also announced the creation of a separate science division dedicated to EMR technology and all future applications. While all of this was certainly exciting, Bax and Cole never lost sight of the original purpose of providing heightened security for humanity, wherever they may be. It was particularly satisfying to know they took part in bringing the last group of Earth’s children safely home.
####
Pacifica, Vulcan system, nearly two years later.
As Pacifica’s Chancellor, Jacob E. Tascio (Jet) was eminently qualified in the fine art of establishing a human colony on a foreign planet. Before Expedition ever left Earth, he was selected as colony leader for his organizational ability, political savvy, and decision making skills. Though the circumstances surrounding his ship’s eventual colonization of Pacifica were somewhat unusual, it actually made the process much easier than anyone could have foreseen.
The surprise, then, was not that he succeeded so spectacularly, but that he was called upon to put his skills to work twice more in the years to follow. First came the situation with Odyssey’s colony on the planet of Deviri, bedeviled as it was by an all but dead ecosystem, political upheaval, the presence of another sentient species, and the development of telepathy among its citizens. He and his staff worked hand in hand with Odyssey’s people to turn the colony into a thriving, prosperous world and a valued member of the Alliance.
The final challenge presented itself with the sudden discovery of Exploration’s people, coming from the last colony ship sent from Earth before its destruction. No one could deny their rescue from the Silestri marked a glorious and heroic turning point in human affairs. At the same time, it was obvious with their ship destroyed, numbers decimated, and no world to call their own, the struggling band of humans were brought to their knees.
The simple solution was to assimilate Exploration’s people into the already established worlds of Pacifica and Deviri, yet no one wished to rob them of their destiny, especially after having lost so much before having a chance to succeed. As a result, Jet found himself once more in the position of helping to establish yet another colony not his own. Granted, the position was unofficial and temporary in nature, but the amount of work was still the same.
Realistically, the work load was even greater and stretched out over a longer period of time. Some things, such as the mental, physical, and emotional healing of the future colonists were not to be rushed. There was simply no point in discussing the construction of buildings, planting of crops, or establishment of a new government until the people tasked with doing those things were ready for it. Pacifica’s citizens understood the sacrifices necessary to undertake such a huge project, in addition to being both patient and generous, and Jet was grateful it was so.
It took the better part of two years before the rescued colonists began planning in earnest for their new home, though Jet included them as soon as they were able to handle the responsibility. Despite the wait, there were two crucial colony related projects he assigned shortly after the Silestri were defeated; the search for a suitable planet and the construction of a new system security net. Following a very brief meeting with Admiral Perry, those projects were started without delay since neither of them needed direct input from the survivors.
One of the ongoing PSF initiatives was to locate and study human habitable planets whenever and wherever they were discovered. Specialized teams were kept busy investigating any number of worlds which met a broad range of criteria. At the top of the list were those planets which could safely and comfortably sustain human life without massive amounts of terraforming or genetic manipulation.
Obviously, the roster of options was rather short, but it did provide a good starting point for the colony search. In the end, the brief catalog was only consulted briefly before another solution was agreed upon. The idea to consider Hathor as one of the choices was obvious to Jet and his staff, yet they chose to simply add it to the list and allow the colonists to decide for themselves.
There was some objection at first, but once their major concerns were dealt with, the planet was recognized as ideal for colonization. It was feared the men who were once marooned there would never be at ease making it their permanent home. This assumption proved to be incorrect, and the men embraced the idea, especially after the corridors were closed. The remaining problem was the universal presence of Viperheads on the planet’s surface. The vicious indigenous lifeform was a pernicious threat to human safety, and made the simple act of moving about outdoors a dangerous activity.
After consultation with Alliance experts, it was decided to limit Viperhead territory to a single isolated island in the southern hemisphere. The rest of the planet was cleansed of the scourge, neatly solving the only other objection to colonization. The next task was to find a new name for Hathor. Various ideas were submitted and discussed, but in the end, their newly elected leader made a suggestion, drawn from his Scottish heritage, which was overwhelmingly embraced. Henceforth, Hathor would be known as Alloa, located in the Barony system, with Erskine as the capital city.
The second of Jet’s projects was a good deal easier to accomplish, though it did take time and resources. The construction of a security net was a top priority, as the colonists would not be allowed to step foot on their new home until it was in place. The galaxy, as humanity found out, was not always friendly to their kind, and they refused to take unnecessary risks with their people.
Not only were Sentinels and buoys needed, but a mobile presence was also nec
essary to secure the system properly. In addition to reassigned units from the PSF, a new battleship task force was under construction at the Pollux shipyard. Eventually, Alloa would have the resources and personnel to build and man their own fleet, but until then, Pacifica would take on the cost and responsibility of security.
Finally, after much preparation, the time came to shift the bulk of the work and responsibility onto a new set of shoulders. As Chancellor, Jet’s days were consistently full, caring for the citizens of Pacifica and the needs of the Alliance. The extra burden of preparing the people and resources for a new colony were taxing, to put it mildly, and both he and his staff were eager to restore some measure of normalcy. The hand-off would not be entirely complete for some time, but his personal involvement would be greatly reduced, as it should be.
Exploration’s crew selected new leadership, choosing Jack Lovett as Governor and Marina Bishop as Lieutenant Governor, in addition to a ruling council which would shepherd them into the future. Logan Osborne, Lovett’s former second in command, was chosen as their Ambassador. In one of their first official actions, Alloa petitioned to join the Alliance, and was enthusiastically welcomed into the fold. In just a few weeks, the primary transfer of colonists to Alloa’s surface would mark both the end of their journey and the beginning of their new lives. Despite Exploration’s severe challenges, humanity’s third child flung to the stars was finally poised to come home.
Exploration (Galactic Neighborhood Book 3) Page 21
