Nova

by Lora E. Rasmussen

  Her second officially designated role was that of Junior Science Officer, working directly under the Gorath Senior Science Officer, Major Ca’rrakk. Aboard ship, this position meant that she assisted Ca’rrakk with his primary duties which encompassed the observation, cataloging, and research of the varied environments they came into contact with, as well as any unusual scientific phenomena. At times her science based tasks overlapped with her other duties to ready for missions requiring special equipment so that the Squad was as prepared as possible for any potential complications.

  Excitingly, K’llan had learned that unusual or new discoveries and developments were sent to Naval Headquarters on Pax and the Quorum on Sigil to be followed up on later by fully supported and vetted science and research teams. This meant that her initial work could inspire breakthroughs in understanding that affect future generations.

  Her final sphere of responsibility was rather unusual and in many ways, unofficial, but given the extraordinarily high number of Arca augmented crewmembers aboard the ship, Captain Serros had felt that her background and training should not be wasted. As such, K’llan had also been assigned the position of “Senior Arcatech Officer.” So far her duties in this lattermost role were primarily comprised of possessing a thorough knowledge of all Arcatech Enhancements of each crew member and continued research into maximizing abilities that such technology granted. Z’arr was also tasked to train crew in Arcatech application.

  Though K’llan was still adjusting to her new role and work–intensive responsibilities, with the capture of Iak Risha, she had now played a significant part in Nova’s third successful mission since joining the Squad, and knew she was truly adapting to her new life. With a sweet pang, K’llan considered that if her mother could be present, she would be most pleased.

  New doors indeed.

  Ducking into the double–doors of the elevator lift, K’llan found herself face to face with a seven–foot–eleven, fur covered bi–ped. “Greetings, Major Ca’rrakk.”

  “Greetings, Lieutenant Z’arr. Are you heading to the Strategy Room for the mission debrief as well?” The Gorath asked, his rumbling baritone so deep that K’llan fancied she could practically see the vibrations pitch–off the lift’s royal blue and steel colored durexium walls.

  “Yes. Shall we go together?”

  “Excellent suggestion.” Ca’rrakk responded, coal–colored fur rippling in pleasure.

  As the ship’s Junior Science Specialist, K’llan had spent a great deal of time with the Gorath member of Nova Squad over the last few months, and had established not only a significant level of respect for his intellect as well as martial prowess, but she also found that on a personal level she liked him a great deal.

  “Any luck isolating the gradja lichen filaments to create an effective source of bio–luminescence?” She asked as the lift began its climb.

  “No, but close. I believe if pounded into a fine paste with an additive of synthetic silicate for magnification and a derivative of Adrenix to act as a sustaining agent, the mixture should catalyze to create at least some form of stable luminosity. It shall be most interesting to explore. Um, that is, at least during my personal time.”

  Though K’llan did not find the Gorath’s pet project to be all that personally fascinating, she did find his eagerness inspiring. “I am sure you will meet with success.”

  “Yes, we shall see. How about you? Any progress on your projection project?” Ca’rrakk asked curiously as the two exited the lift on Deck 2, the Gorath sliding next to the hall’s right wall in an effort to make room for a jogging Ensign Xiang, who offered a quick wave of thanks as he slipped into the lift.

  “Yes. I believe that with a little more fine tuning, I should be able to increase the range of the Captain’s favored Zadex Volturno SX9s by one–point seven percent.”

  “Ah. She will be quite pleased, I think.” Ca’rrakk responded with a twitch of his triangular nose.

  “Yes, I’m sure.” K’llan replied with a smile. “I myself prefer my Rubex GHT6s, but as I discovered a long time ago, each person has their own favored firearm.”

  “Given my own proclivities, I would have to agree with that claim.”

  As they entered the doors to the Excalibur’s Strategy Room and took seats next to one another at the smooth, glossy–black HUD table, Z’arr remarked, “Hmm. Given your zeal for massive armament, I am surprised that you do not simply attempt to carry one of the ships battery’s with you into a battle.”

  “Hey, why didn’t I think of that before?” Commander Marcus Perez drawled as he walked in with Captain Serros, the two taking their usual seats for strategy sessions and meetings with Serros at the head of the far end of the table and Perez to her right. Both were dressed just as the rest of the Senior Staff in standard rather than full dress uniforms. Each officer’s ensemble consisted of the stiff–necked, dark royal blue jacket trimmed in lighter royal blue markings and straight legged, oil–black trousers. Reverse triangular platinum pips on each person’s upper right chest designated individual rank.

  “Ha! Knowing you, it would get lost and I’d have to pay for a new one.” Serros quipped as the rest of the executive officers of the Excalibur and Nova Squad members filed into the room in short order. Lieutenant Commander Adeline, Lieutenant Rygel, Lieutenant Naxos, Lieutenant Chopa, and Lieutenant Commander Philips to the Captain’s left; Lieutenant Tildon Jaxx and Dr. Argos joining Perez, Ca’rrakk, and Z’arr on the right.

  “Where’s the faith, mi hermana?” Perez asked.

  “Uh huh. Adeline, status regarding our guest and the data dump?” Serros asked, turning to the Operations and Intelligence Officer sitting at her immediate left.

  “Our visitor is secure and sitting tight in the brig. He is also refusing to speak without his advocate.” Adeline answered, brown eyes glinting with humor. “Rygel and I were able to retrieve ninety–three percent of the data from Risha’s mainframe, personal hub and CPA. I’m about half–way through and still collating and organizing the info, but despite his best efforts, Risha’s security simply does not measure up. I’ve been able to retrieve several interesting files regarding the identity of more than a few of ‘Vartah’s’ key agents, as well. Plus, business fronts to launder drug–funds through and a list of officials he’s managed to bribe or coerce to support his endeavors. We have him, Captain.” Her expression was as fierce as the Captain’s own for the victory.

  Smiling, Captain Serros told the third in command “Superb work, Diana.”

  “Thank you, Captain.”

  “I’d like you with me when we drop Risha off and present our findings to the Quorum Representative and security detail on Avex. I want Risha wrapped up tight, with a shiny red bow for his journey to Sigil.”

  As Adeline nodded in the affirmative, the Vosaia could feel the flourish of warmth and pleasure that suffused the Human Lieutenant Commander’s entire being at the Captain’s praise, as well as something more.

  Both watching and sensing the emotion behind the exchange, K’llan understood something in that moment that had eluded her before, but explained much of the painfully polite yet stiff demeanor Adeline had adopted when K’llan and she came in to close contact. At the same time, just as she was suddenly quite certain of Diana Adeline’s feelings for Captain Avara Serros, she was equally confident of Avara’s benign ignorance of those sentiments, especially given how skilled the Ops Officer apparently was at hiding those particular emotions.

  Careful to not let a trace of her own feelings flicker across her features or emotionally reverberate, K’llan also noted her own reaction to the discovery as she felt a crack of vague alarm and unease quicken within.

  A further complication.

  Exerting her will, K’llan retracted her emotional and cognitive senses to focus more completely on the meeting rather than stray psychic readings.

  “What’s the status of our QN Buoy tube upgrade, Lieutenant Commander Philips?” Marcus Perez asked, changing topics.

 
; Shifting in his seat, K’llan watched as the Senior Engineering Officer’s smoky gray eyes blinked and he quickly pulled up some basic data on his CPA while simultaneously answering the inquiry. “Quite well. I’ve isolated the necessary power peak for our projected optimization.” Nodding his head at Adeline, Philips continued with, “Thanks to the research data provided by Lieutenant Commander Adeline, we should be able to achieve a forty–three second reduction in the standard lag–time between QN Buoy discharge and Quantum Net activation.”

  Despite her deliberate suffocation of psychic scanning, just as had already occurred several times in the last four months, K’llan had no difficulty at all in picking up on the espresso–haired Lieutenant Commander Philip’s sentiments regarding Adeline. Though respect was evident, they were feelings that quite obviously, at least to a Vosaia’s empathic senses, were not reciprocated.

  “Well done, Philips. The optimization will allow us to perform a QGST jump in close to half a minute sooner than average. That’s an advantage I’m certain we’ll find quite helpful.” Captain Serros commented with an approving smile and nod.

  “Thank you, Sir. Couldn’t have done it without Adeline.”

  “Of course you could and would have, Philips. I just helped to speed the process along.” Adeline chimed in, looking slightly embarrassed.

  With a second complimentary nod for both of them, the Captain turned her attention to Lieutenant Jaxx. “Any issues with our systems, Tildon?” Serros asked.

  The red–haired officer shook his head in the negative, a pleased look on his freckled face. In his R–clipped mode of speech common to his Old–Terran Russian background, Jaxx confidently responded, “No, Sir. The adjustments have fused without issue.”

  “Very good, Lieutenant.” Turning her attention to Commander Argos, Tildon Jaxx’s wife, the Shield queried, “Doctor, what’s the news on Ensign Ling?”

  “She’s quite well. The arm shall be fully recovered by tomorrow, though further rest wouldn’t go amiss.” Jenna Argos answered.

  “That’s good to hear. As we’ve only a couple days travel time to Avex and as of yet, no new missions in the queue, I think we’re all due for some R&R. After all, it’s been a month and a half since our last rotation.”

  Despite her best efforts to dampen her empathic senses, K’llan picked up on a short yet piercing spike of emotion as Captain Serros turned towards Perez. “Marcus, if you and A could work out the shore leave logistics, please. It is time.”

  Slightly frustrated, K’llan noted that no matter how she tried, the one person she found impossible to effectively psychically block was Avara, especially given the strength of her currently trumpeting emotions that stood in such stark contrast to her carefully offhand tone and cool facade.

  “Will do, Captain. I’ll handle the details for our… errand as well.” Commander Perez’s voice also held an unusual note of gravitas that K’llan found to be of equal significance. As the Vosaia watched Serros’s deep blue eyes meet Marcus’s rich golden–brown orbs, she could sense something unspoken pass between them, and as clear as the sounding of a siren, felt the two reach a form of perfect accord.

  “Anything else, people?”

  At the answering chorus of negatives, Serros announced “All right then, crew. Keep up the good work and dismissed.”

  With a sense of anticipation of an enjoyable evening to come, as agreed upon earlier the Vosaia fell into step with Captain Serros. “Shall we?”

  “Yes.”

  CHAPTER 12

  As K’llan and Avara exited the Strategy Room and the two made way onto the lift, Captain Serros inquired “How’s your work going with the Volturnos?”

  With a smile, K’llan answered, “Successful. Your shot range is now officially increased by one–point seven percent.”

  “Ha! Good work. I look forward to trying them out.” K’llan could clearly hear the note of what could only be described as gleeful delight in the Captain’s velvet–smooth alto.

  “I thought so.”

  After the two entered the lift, K’llan asked “Have you eaten, Avara?”

  “Yeah, I grabbed a bite right before our meeting. Have you had your Vitani?”

  “Yes, this morning.”

  “Despite all the day’s excitement?” The Captain asked as they exited on Deck 3.

  “I try to make it a habit of always in–taking my required nourishment during the morning, just in case the day does not allow for such necessary distraction.”

  After offering a friendly nod in return to a brief salute presented by the passing Ensign Zibai, Serros remarked “Ah. Convenient to only have to eat once a day. It’s not something I could sustain.”

  K’llan laughed at that, knowing only too well the Captain’s predilection for eating several large meals a day. “No, I do not imagine you could, given your habit of second and third helpings.” K’llan could feel Avara’s humor at the observation even as a rueful grin spread across the Captain’s face.

  “It is a common trait among Arcas, of course.” Z’arr offered. “Your body has to intake enough sustenance to support the required rate of amplified energy expenditure. For Vosaia, it simply means a larger single dose of Vitani. For most other species, the requirement equates to much increased quantities of food.” K’llan added the last just as they reached her quarters.

  “Well, as I happen to really enjoy good food, it all works out just fine for me.” Serros drawled in her South–Eastern Kylosian accent, a lyrical Human dialect that K’llan now knew from conversation was rooted in Old–Terran Welsh.

  The Captain remained standing in the doorway as K’llan retrieved a smooth, silvery wooden case about three and a half feet or so in length from the left wall just inside her small, but comfortable personal quarters. Gripping the case’s handle in her left hand, they left her cabin behind and continued walking side by side through the somewhat narrow ship hallways.

  “It is interesting serving aboard a non–Vosaia vessel and noting how much emphasis upon and enjoyment Humans seem to experience during their meals. Almost as if it is a ritual.”

  Cocking her head to the side in acknowledgment, Avara responded, “In many ways, the sharing of a meal is a ritual for Humans. Even throughout our earliest recorded history, during the Old–Terran Period and across all cultures regardless of origin or distance. The sharing as well as gifting of food signified many of the most important of Human exchanges and expression. Hospitality, peaceful intention, the creation of alliances and unions, the establishment of social status, and commemoration as well as celebration.”

  K’llan nodded, having now spent enough time among Humans to see the truth of the Captain’s words. “Yes, quite. It is different for the Vosaia, especially with the advent of Vitani Serum and the start of the Blood Wars.”

  “Such customs seem to be common among most sentient species. Is there no tradition of sharing sustenance for the Vosaia?” Avara asked, brow knitting with curiosity and her psychic energy unconsciously flaring with the intensity she tended to exude whenever trying to understand or address an issue. It was a force that K’llan had grown accustomed to in the past months, yet at times could still be somewhat jarring.

  “There is, but only among the closest of individuals.”

  “Why?” Serros asked as they reached their destination, the Captain’s own quarters. K’llan could feel the brilliance of Avara’s intellect as she sifted through her knowledge and understanding of Vosaia culture in an attempt to fully comprehend.

  Placing the case she carried against the left–most wall to the main room’s entryway, K’llan slowly walked around the Captain’s Quarters as she considered how best to answer the question. Though having been in these rooms dozens of times since joining Nova Squad, as always, she felt a surge of comfort intermingled with slight anxiety as she moved about the Shield’s personal living space.

  As befitting her status as Captain, though not particularly large, the quarters were more spacious and well–appointed tha
n those of any other crewman. The cabin consisted of two rooms partitioned by a glass wall featuring clear sliding glass doors. The farther, second room included the bedroom as well as a small private lavatory that all of the senior staff possessed, rather than the shared public facilities the rest of the crew utilized.

  The first and main room acted as a living–work space complete with a compact yet comfortable dark brown, leather L–shaped couch and matching chairs, as well as a low, jet–black glass table and a petite but well–designed matching work–desk. A small, in–set cooling unit held food and beverages next to a retractable, three–foot counter and an equally retractable diminutive wall–sink.

  As with the rest of the QS Excalibur, the space was primarily royal blue and steel colored durexium in hue, yet several dark wood, shallow bookcases lined the walls. The cases were filled almost entirely with antiquated paper books, each shelf featuring triple retractable bars to ensure that the rather valuable tomes did not go flying through the air when the ship was engaged in robust maneuvers. The subjects of these old–fashioned and worn, yet clearly well cared for volumes, varied greatly and spanned the known races. The topics ranged from history, philosophy, art, and archeology to language, quantum physics, star ship design, weapon’s tech, botany, and biology.

  Breaking up the left centermost bookcase, were two jewel encrusted yet deadly and clearly well maintained traditional Human cutlasses with elegant basket hilts. K’llan knew that they were types of short swords still utilized to this day in official duels between Humans in ritual combat to settle dispute. As with everything else aboard an active starship, the swords were carefully restrained from movement during flight, in this case by old fashioned brackets rather than the more modern mag–clips.

  The forward ceiling of both the main room as well as the second was mostly open viewports, featuring the icy streak of stars against a backdrop of black touched with vibrant indigo as the ship traveled at QGST.