by John Walker
Did they want this thing back bad enough they’d be willing to follow a man like Krilan? Doubtful. Then again, they’d seen some pretty strange things since taking to the stars with the Behemoth. Even with her experience prior to joining the humans, she’d visited various sectors and never really been involved in the same kind of adventures.
Clea rubbed her eyes and checked her chronometer. They would arrive at alliance headquarters soon and already she had meetings popping up on her calendar. Most of them were simple debriefings about the colonies and what they found but one in particular caught her eye. Alliance Floral Design wanted to speak with her and they set it at the highest priority.
Um…that’s weird. Mother maybe? I guess I could be receiving a bouquet or something for coming back but it doesn’t seem likely. My parents tend to be too practical for such a gesture, especially to put it as a priority one.
Clea brought up the business on her tablet and noted they were a simple flower shop. Nothing special about them except they enjoyed a space less than a block from the council building. They must rake in the business. All those businessmen and politicians who end up going home long after they said they’d be there need something for their spouses.
Multiple positive reviews blanketed the net’s appraisal of their services with only two negative experiences. They were each related to business hours, which seemed strange. No business operated so well, even near the government buildings. Maybe they erase what they don’t like. It’s not necessarily legal but business owners need all the edge they can get.
“What’re you looking at?” Durant asked. “We’re studying this device, Clea.”
“I feel like we’ve gone as far as we’re going to get with it,” Clea replied. “Besides, I got a strange meeting request I’m looking into.”
“Oh?” Durant moved around to look over her shoulder. “Is it a job interview?”
Clea smirked. “No, Durant. Though I guess flower arranging might be safer than what we’ve been up to lately. Unfortunately, I never could differentiate flowers beyond the obvious ones. Teeramines I know…and lorndas I’ve also got but beyond those?” She shrugged. “The rest are just pretty…or smell nice.”
“I’m not a flower person.” Durant waved his hand dismissively. “They’re a waste of money too, if you want me to be perfectly honest. I mean, who pays for something that’s essentially already dead to just display it on a countertop? I call it morbid. You don’t do it to other living things.”
“You paint a disturbing visual,” Clea said. “I hope I don’t have to educate you on why people find plants soothing.”
“Oh, they’re soothing when they’re in the ground.” Durant pointed at her tablet. “Those people cut them and such. Like arranging floral corpses for the macabre to enjoy and apologize with. I imagine the true message of giving a bouquet. Look honey, I killed several plants for you today. Do you forgive me? Barbaric.”
Clea rubbed her eyes. “Now you’re getting ridiculous.” She put the cover on her tablet and stood up. “I’m going to lock this thing away for delivery to the alliance before getting ready for what promises to be a very long day.”
“I’m off to coordinate the engineers in our retrofit project for the fighters.” Durant grinned. “Those Orion’s Light bastards will be in for quite the surprise when they meet our pilots next time.”
“Are you sure it’s not going to take long?”
“The parts on the current inertial dampeners need to be replaced,” Durant replied. “Once we do that, they’ll be ready for the same type of maneuvers we saw…and then some. I’ve already run them in simulators. While you’re in meetings, we’ll test one of the ships before doing it to all of them.”
“On the fly updates seems pretty risky.”
“We’re in war,” Durant pointed out. “We have to take some chances…but again, we’ll make sure we at least get some good test flights in both on our fighters and the ships aboard the Behemoth. Believe me, the flyers are eager to make this work.”
“I’m sure.” Clea grabbed the sphere and stuck it in the safe, locking it down. “I’ll talk to you later. Keep me informed on your progress. I’ll relate it to the captain.”
“Of course.” Durant waved at her. “You’d better hurry. Wouldn’t want to keep bureaucracy waiting.”
Clea groaned as she left. She hadn’t anticipated exactly what her promotion meant because she figured she was staying aboard the Behemoth. How much could her job change? But whenever they were near the alliance capital, she knew exactly how much more responsibility she received.
The sheer amount of work they wanted out of her felt surprising. They needed briefings on activities, opinions about engagements, updated reports and new information for their knowledge base…the list stretched on and on. It got to the point she looked forward to getting back into deep space with the Behemoth.
Even a battle would be better than sitting in board rooms, talking about her activities. Some of them were experiences she’d rather not relive over and over. Their time at the research facility seemed to be a favorite for the historians and battle tacticians and she’d been in the thick of it. Her knowledge was invaluable.
Unfortunately for her, that was also the mission where her sister betrayed them. Clea still didn’t know where her sibling had been taken or where she was incarcerated. The trial hadn’t happened yet but she’d be expected to testify when it did. That was quite possibly the most dreaded event on her future docket and she hoped that a recorded message would be sufficient.
The bridge bustled as she stepped inside, having a seat beside Captain Gray Atwell. Most of the other command crew were relief personnel, giving the primaries a chance to rest. Clea checked the reports for anything unusual. Nothing jumped out so she directed her attention at the view screen, which held a lovely view of her green and blue home world.
Plenty of space traffic moved about them, moving to and from the various stations in the solar system. Different races, other participants throughout the alliance, traveled alongside kielan ships and they worked together on various projects. Clea found herself introspective concerning the view.
This was what life should’ve been like. The threat of war looming over them tainted too many feelings, too many careers. Explorers became soldiers and Clea had to wonder if they’d ever be able to make a transition back from a battle ready state. Even on the verge of possibly ending the conflict with their true enemy, another reared its head.
Will we be in a constant state of conflict for the rest of my life?
Clea rubbed her eyes, fending off the depression her question brought. Orion’s Light might not be the biggest threat they’d ever faced but they proved ruthless and resourceful. It may be hard to put them down completely and who might jump up in their place? Did they constitute another enemy or just a bunch of criminals?
The fact they took down alliance ships and still managed to escape the Behemoth gave them some credibility beyond most brigands. There would always be pirates and thieves roaming around, even murderers and flat out raiders but people intent on overthrowing the government, they were rare. These anarchists, or insurrectionists, had to be stopped. Soon.
“You okay?” Gray asked, tapping her forearm. Clea nodded.
“I’m fine. Just mentally preparing for all the meetings I’m about to be involved in.”
“I know how you feel. Earth’s councilman is all setup now and ready to talk about some things they learned from home. Apparently, the new ship is good to go and we’re ready to use it. That means we’re free to remain out this way for a while longer for mission work. I have a feeling your folks have something for us to do.”
“They’ll always have something for us to do,” Clea muttered. “Even if it ends up being fetch assignments, our commanders are good at tasking people out.”
“As long as it matters, I’m okay with it.” Gray settled into his chair, relaxing his muscles. “I wonder if they’re ready to consider attacking the enemy yet.
”
“I hope so,” Clea replied. “I want to see that to the end no matter what else happens. I’m kind of annoyed that no one’s told me how my code did…or if we’ve even sent anyone yet to see what they discovered. I found all that information and they patted me on the head then sent me away. I could’ve helped, Gray.”
“You did,” Gray pointed out. “And now it’s their turn to do their jobs.”
“It’s not even about the glory. I just…want to make sure…”
“They’re doing it right?”
Clea nodded.
“Give them the benefit of the doubt. They’re professionals.”
“I know…I just…never mind.”
“I get it. It’s hard to let go but believe me, you have to learn. It’s important.”
“Captain,” Ensign Agatha White interrupted them from the communications station. She was one of the only primary crew on the bridge at the moment. “I’ve received docking clearance for the space station. They are ready to receive us.”
“Very good, Ensign. Thank you.” Gray turned to the pilot, a young lieutenant named Shane Granden. “Take is in and get us secure, Mister Granden. By the end of this shift, I’m sure we’ll all be either on the planet’s surface or enjoying some much needed time off in the station. Agatha, let the ship know to prepare for docking. We are now officially at safe harbor.”
***
Gray brought six marines to escort the strange device they brought back from the monastery. Clea walked alongside him, looking nervous. Considering the lengths Orion’s Light went through to get the thing, he understood her concern though he didn’t expect problems on the Alliance home world. They were met by a contingency of guards and all piled into a military transport.
Escorts got them to the council building in less than an hour where they all piled in and took the device to the tech lab. There, Clea and Gray signed off that they had delivered and finally headed off. Gray checked his calendar and frowned. He had a long day ahead of him and by the way Clea peered at hers, she was in the same boat.
Gray grinned. “See you…sometime in the next couple weeks?”
“Don’t be sarcastic,” Clea replied, also smiling. “Though it sure looks that way. I’ll be done by dusk.”
“I won’t,” Gray said. “I trust you’ll be seeing the family?”
Clea nodded. “For a late meal, yes. What’s your plan?”
“Adam’s coming down so I thought I’d show him around.” Gray patted her shoulder. “Good luck. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Good bye, sir.”
Gray watched her go before heading toward his first appointment with the Earth council member. The man had his own office on the seventieth floor and the elevator ride up took almost two minutes. Even after living in a space vessel for days and weeks at a time, Gray felt claustrophobic in the small box. When the doors opened, he stepped out and felt a little wobbly.
Earth had some tall buildings but something about them put him off. It seemed ironic considering what he did for a living but somehow, his mind differentiated space ship from tall building. Maybe one was mobile and meant to be up high. These buildings…they didn’t entirely feel natural to him.
He distracted himself by considering what might be on the agenda with the councilman. The man was newly appointed, taking over from the other person who turned out to be temporary. Apparently, Earth sent the first person they could grab then allowed their actual choice to show up a while later.
This one had been an ambassador for a number of years on Earth. His record indicated he had the approval and trust of all the military folks as well as the civilian politicians. Gray never met him before, never even heard of him but he felt somewhat ashamed at the fact. He’d supposedly brokered several peace deals with various nations.
Something for the history books kids are reading now, not when I was in school.
Two guards stood at the door as he approached and they saluted when they noticed his uniform. “Good afternoon, Captain,” the one on the right said. “You’re expected.”
“Thanks, guys.”
One of them held up a scanner and ran it over him from head to feet. “He’s clear. Identification confirmed.”
Gray smiled. “Tight security, huh? How many people come up this far?”
“More than you’d think,” the one on the left said. “We’ve had some pretty loony customers wander off that elevator. Don’t even know how they manage to find this floor or wait so long to get off. This floor wasn’t on the secure registry is why. They’ll be making it so only people with special ID cards can even have the elevator stop here.”
“Should make your jobs easier,” Gray said. “Good luck, huh?”
“Yes, sir. Go on in.”
Gray entered the room and closed it behind him. He expected a moderately sized office large enough for maybe two or three people but instead, he found a massive suite which could’ve been an apartment. The desk sat near the wall sized windows overlooking the city scape. A couch was pressed against the wall and a full bar occupied the opposite side.
He had his own bathroom as well.
“Captain Atwell!” The ambassador came from behind the desk to shake his hand. The man must’ve been in his early sixties, with thick gray hair and a thin beard. He wore a gray suit with red piping and expensive shoes. “My name is Ambassador Kyle McRenner. It’s an honor to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Gray replied. “You’ve got quite the place.”
“A bit ostentatious, I know.” McRenner shook his head. “Please, have a seat. Can I get you anything?”
Gray shook his head. “I’m fine, sir. Thank you.”
“Of course.” McRenner sat back at the desk. “I’ve read the report of your latest assignment. Quite amazing. These…Orion’s Light figures are quite the menace, eh?”
“You could say that. I sent my assessment to high command as well.”
“Perfect. I do have news from home. The first vessel is one hundred percent operational. They’re working feverishly on the next. Your work with the mine has paid off. We’ve been able to source all the necessary parts and assistance to get it done.”
“Excellent.” Gray leaned back in his seat. “I’m curious what you know about the attack on the enemy. Are we planning on taking them out soon?”
McRenner sucked air through his teeth. “Honestly, it’s too soon to say. I know that the scout mission has been completed but I’ve not been shown their findings. I do believe they’ve invited you to a briefing, however. I’d also like to say they’ve requested more of our help, specifically from your ship. I’ve committed us to continuing work here.”
“High command was okay with that?”
“Oh, yes. With some small convincing. Now that they have a new ship there, they feel somewhat better but of course, your experience puts you above them. However, that experience is specifically why you’re still out here. In order to finish this fight, there are things that have to happen. One of them will involve dealing with those terrorists I’m sure.”
“They’re formidable,” Gray said. “Believe me.”
“Yes, I’ve read your report and I completely agree.” McRenner shook his head. “Sincerely, I don’t know how such monsters exist still. I mean, it sounds like a horror story from our own world.”
“Bad people exist everywhere,” Gray replied. “And we don’t corner the market on crazy, that’s for sure.”
“Indeed. There’s a mail call for your crew which I’m sure your com officer is downloading now. Such things are sent to major settlements and wait in a queue until they can be properly sent to the ship waiting for them. Should be good, right?”
“Yeah, they need word from home. I’d like to make sure they all get a chance to visit Earth again before we commit to any action against the enemy. Not to be glum but it may well be our last chance to say goodbye.”
“I’ll make absolute sure of it, Captain. You have my word.” McRenner went to the bar and poured hi
mself a drink. “I’ll tell you this, everyone here’s been incredibly kind. I’ve not had an easier time working with foreign dignitaries. They’re refined to it here, you see. They’ve spoken with other cultures and worked through the nuances of ‘different’.”
“I’ve found the kielans to be amazing,” Gray said. “I’m impressed by their government and how they handle most things. However, those maniacs who jumped in on us while we were conducting an operation recently? They weren’t entirely on board with working together. Even after we told them we had undercover people their actions jeopardized.”
“Yes, my predecessor gave me your write up on that. I’ve lodged the complaint formally and the military issued an apology but I trust that’s not quite what we were hoping for. I wanted the following sentence to be we will be more careful in the future but taking down a major pirate base seemed more important to them.”
“If we win the war because of what we accomplished, those buffoons could’ve jeopardized it.” Gray shrugged. “They’ll need to learn to trust people so they don’t put their foot in it. We warned them off for a reason and it wasn’t because we were bored.”
“Understood. I’ll bring it up in the next meeting.” McRenner tapped his tablet and brought up a series of charts. “Now, we have some financials I’d like to go over with you. Go ahead and bring up the sheet I sent to your account and we can discuss next steps, what the alliance is now paying for and how we’re doing overall.”
My favorite part of the job, Gray thought, letting out a sigh. He complied and prepared himself for an incredibly boring forty-five minutes.
***
Gray and Clea convened with the military council later that afternoon for an update on the intelligence they recovered from enemy territory. Clea couldn’t wait to see what they found. They were about to confirm for her whether or not here data was worth anything at all. Had they gone on that hunt for a good reason or was it a total red herring?
As they sat together at the conference table, Atha-Dae Crole Te’Gerran stepped into the room. His rank put him at the equivalent of an Earth admiral and he must’ve been in his late sixties. He sat across from them and smiled, a gesture that made Clea feel better right away. If the conversation was going to go badly, he’d surely look more somber.
