by S. H. Jucha
“Good thinking. Tell Millie thank you for her consideration.”
“All part of the service, Alex. I can’t tell you how much your help means to my company. Our contract in support of this agreement will be a great ending to my captain’s days, and they’ll ensure a future for my wonderful young crew.”
“Glad to be of help, Captain. Is there anything else?”
“There is one thing, Ser,” Durly said, standing. It was obvious by the nervous hands and glances to the side that Durly preferred not to speak on the subject.
“Come, Captain, you’re among friends. Speak up.”
“Well, Maria Gonzalez was ecstatic when the Assembly approved the agreement. After the Dark was loaded, she stopped aboard … personal like … to see us off. She told me to tell you that the Rover would be right behind me, bringing the first group of your workforce and escorting some more freighters.”
When Durly paused, Alex raised his eyebrows, intimating the captain should continue. “Well, Maria has a strong personality, as you know … ex-general, ex-president, and all that.”
Alex nodded his agreement, and Durly plowed on. “Well, Maria Gonzalez, in front of my crew, kissed me full on the mouth, and said, ‘You give that to Alex for me, Captain,’ and then she left.”
“I can see where it would be difficult for you to pass on that message, Captain,” Alex said, trying to keep a straight face.
“Yes, Ser,” Durly admitted.
“Allow me to assist you, Captain,” said Renée, smiling, stepping close to Durly, and lightly gripping his shoulders. “You may deliver Maria’s message to me.” Relief showed on the white-haired captain’s face, as Renée received a chaste kiss on the cheek.
* * *
After three days of downtime aboard the Freedom, the freighter crew was driving the Dark out of system when Cordelia updated Alex on more ship movement.
Alex smiled, as he strode along the Freedom’s wide corridor toward Mickey’s engineering bay. His senior captain was maturing.
* * *
Hector delivered his report to Cordelia, once he broached the outer planet’s orbit.
Cordelia processed that remark and decided an issue had stepped outside her purview.
Alex reminded himself that he was speaking to a newly freed SADE and should have phrased his question more carefully.
For her part, Cordelia realized how much more sophisticated her capabilities were in anticipating humans’ needs, especially those of Alex, even though she was still learning.
Hector’s emotional algorithms soared. He’d planned for the entire trip how he’d phrase the topic of the additional passengers to Alex. He’d thought of tens of thousands of ideas and discarded every one. It was something Trixie said to him that gave him this idea. She’d said, “Don’t let the past anchor your persona. Enjoy what you have and celebrate it.”
So, Hector planned to surprise Alex. It was a small thank you to the man who’d freed him, after years of torture under Mahima Ganesh, and he’d made Alex laugh. It was a reward that he would keep secure in his memory, as long as his kernel had power.
emendous power, and his people exhibited ferocious loyalty. I was sure the man was a mirage, a façade until he played in the waterfall. I was wrong then and, over time, I learned how wrong I was.>
Hector sent.
Cordelia said, and closed the comm. She spent moments running through her memories of Alex from their first interaction. The memories piled up and up, as did the worlds where they were created, and she was enormously pleased by the extent of them. May Julien and I enjoy thousands more with you, Alex, before we conduct your star services, Cordelia thought.
* * *
Per Tatia’s request, Franz and Reiko landed aboard the Freedom and went directly to her spacious cabin. Tatia wanted a conference with the pair to understand the reasons for their return.
“Well, you two, to what do I owe the pleasure? In other words, are you visiting, or are you interested in a job?” Tatia said perfunctorily, after Franz and Reiko were comfortably seated.
“Depends on the job,” Reiko replied.
Tatia caught that Franz had started to speak but kept his counsel when Reiko replied first. I see who I have to win over, Tatia thought.
“That probably depends on what you’re interested in doing. I presume I may call you Reiko, guessing you resigned your commission in Haraken’s services.” The fact that Reiko’s delicate jaw muscles flexed and distended told Tatia that Reiko had taken the leap and resigned without knowing exactly what awaited her at Omnia. The hard part is over, Reiko, Tatia thought.
“I want warship command,” Reiko said with firm determination.
“That’s not what I have in mind, Reiko,” Tatia replied. “I have experienced commanders who are ready to captain a warship with its complement of fighters.”
“So, what position is available?” Reiko asked with resignation.
That was the question Tatia was waiting to hear. “As I said, my senior people will captain the first warships. They’re experienced at commanding flights of fighters, fast, maneuverable units that can swarm a larger ship. But what they’re not experienced at is fighting a large warship in concert with others against a powerful force of multiple ships or a sphere. What I need is a commodore to take command of a warship squadron.”
Reiko’s eyes blinked twice, and her mouth started to drop before she quickly snapped it closed. Franz, who had been nervously sitting on the edge of his seat, leaned back and pretended to rub his jaw, but he was really covering his grin.
“Well, Reiko, I haven’t got all day. Do you want the position or not?” Tatia said, grinning.
“Absolutely, Admiral,” Reiko replied, jumping to her feet.
“Congratulations, Commodore Shimada,” Tatia replied, shaking Reiko’s hand. “You have your work cut out for you. I’d like you to engage Captain Cordelia, Z, and Miranda to design a battle-simulation program. Plan scenarios of both offense and defense against a variety of adversarial conditions.”
“As soon as Franz and I get settled into a cabin, I’ll get up to date on the specs of the new ship designs,” Reiko replied. “I do have one question, Admiral. Couldn’t you have said something about this opportunity before I sailed the Tanaka back to Haraken?”
“I could have, but it wasn’t what I wished to do,” Tatia replied, her eyes adopted her ground-pounding, officer-in-charge stare, which stated clearly that the discussion was closed. “And, by the way, Commodore, once our ship production reaches the point where we have multiple squadrons, you should be prepared to take on more duty.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” Reiko replied, a grin spreading across her face.
“And you, hiding behind your grin,” Tatia said, turning her attention on Franz. “Our discussion will be short and sweet.”
“I’m happy to remain a wing commander,” Franz said, holding up his hands in appeasement.
“That would be fine, if I wanted another commander,” Tatia replied, which effectively wiped the smile off Franz’s face. “We won’t have carriers in this fleet. They’re too vulnerable. Each warship will carry a complement of fighters. The travelers of each squadron of warships will combine to form a wing. Multiple wings will have to fight in concert with the warships, sometimes attacking the enemy and sometimes defending their host ships. That means I need a fighter group leader, and the position reports to your partner.”
Franz assumed a straight face, as he replied, “I have no difficulties, Admiral, working under Reiko, at any time, day or night.”
Tatia burst into laughter, which filled the cabin. “Get out of here, you two, and welcome aboard.”
Once in the corridor, Franz picked up a squealing Reiko and swung her around in the air.
When Reiko’s feet touched the floor, she kept her arms around her partner’s neck. Her eyes gazed lovingly into Franz’s face, and she said, “We should start practicing immediately. I mean that part about you working under me,” she added, grinning.
* * *
While Tatia met with Franz and Reiko, Alex and Renée waited in the airlock for a second transport, ferrying Olawale Wombo, his associates, and a load of Harakens. In more than one way, the Sol transplants held a special place in Alex and Renée’s hearts for their courage and selflessness.
Alex received the bay’s confirmation of pressurization in his implant, and he signaled the airlock open. While Alex walked purposefully across the bay, Renée fairly skipped ahead.
Olawale easily descended the traveler’s steps, courtesy of his cell gen injections, which had cured the professor’s aging disabilities.
Renée shouted Olawale’s name, and the big man held out his arms to her. When she jumped, he caught her, spinning her in circles, and Renée laughed throughout it. With their faces pressed together, they were a study of alabaster and hematite.
Much to Alex and Renée’s delight, down the traveler’s steps came Olawale’s friends, Yoram, Boris, Nema, Priita, and Storen. Only one Sol native was missing, Edward Sardi, who had preceded his friends to Omnia, only to lose his life investigating the newly discovered planet. But Edward’s pursuit was something scientists understood — the acquisition of precious knowledge.
Renée didn’t wait until they reached the comfort of the suite before she asked her first question. “Not that I don’t love seeing all of you, but why the trip to Omnia now?”
“We had the opportunity to meet with Captain Durly before he left Haraken, and later we spent time with Captain Hector,” Priita Ranta replied, as if that explained everything.
“An admirable choice for the city-ship’s captain, by the way, Alex,” Yoram Penzig, the philosopher in the group, commented.
“Imagine educating an alien race,” Storen, the xenobiologist, enthused. “I presume we’ll have your guidance, Alex, in choosing the best location for classrooms or, perhaps, a larger structure.”
“Wait, Sers,” Alex exclaimed, coming to a halt in the corridor and facing the professors. “The Dischnya are not a simple race. There are multiple nests … what you might think of as different tribes. Then you have queens, wasats, warriors, hunters, midwives, and issues with scent control.”
“This will be incredibly challenging,” Storen replied in a rush of breath, and his eyes glowed with anticipation.
“What about Espero University?” Alex asked.
“The university is operating fine, Alex,” Olawale replied. “For the most part, we’ve been administrators of colleges or departments for years.
“Yuck,” Nema commented.
Renée believed that if Nema thought it appropriate to spit to underline her comment, she would have done so.
Because Alex looked unconvinced, Boris Gorenko, the medical expert, added, “Alex, remember, we’re the ones who stole a shuttle to escape the UE and grasp the opportunity to find a better way to live. That action nearly cost us our lives.”
Alex nodded his head in agreement of their courage
ous act.
“So, why would we stop searching for those opportunities that celebrate life?” Yoram added. “We’re proud of our accomplishments on Haraken, but it’s time for a greater challenge.”
“Unless you think we’re not up to the task … too old, perhaps,” Priita challenged.
Alex held up his hands in surrender. “I think patient and inventive natures will be needed to accomplish your purpose planetside, and I find those generally improve with age.”
Alex’s comments brought smiles to the aging faces of the Sol natives.
-27-
Soma School
The professors requested permission of Alex to facilitate a trip planetside, so they could pay their respects to Edward by visiting the site where his traveler was trapped and where he met his end.
Prior to boarding their traveler the next morning, the professorial group uploaded the library of the Dischnya language from the Freedom’s databases to their implants. They were so excited by the discovery of the alien language that they spent the entire night in Olawale’s cabin, consuming copious amounts of thé and discussing the nuances of the Dischnya tongue.
Too anxious to sleep, the professors were waiting in the corridor, outside the landing bay, even before the crew chief arrived.
The Daelon Independent grinned at the Harakens, as he passed. “First trip planetside?” he asked.
“Yes,” Nema gushed, “we’ll be meeting the Dischnya.”
“To do what?” the crew chief asked.
“To teach them,” Yoram answered simply.
The crew chief’s mouth briefly hung open. Then he shook his head in wonder, proceeding into the airlock, as he commented, “Dassata’s world never ceases to amaze me.”
