First | Previous | Index | Next

As the ships formed up ready for the first jump of their journey Mori signalled all the ships.

“Slight change of plan,” it said. “We’ve had a message from the Council and the first stop will be to Talis Station.”

“Well it’s en route to Aletheia,” Amapreet said. “But why?”

“That’s exactly what I asked,” Mori said “Apparently the eggs hattched and the computer has fed the hatchling queen a synthetic version of an elixer that the Queens used to secrete. Apparently it somehow passes on information so the queen is fully aware of the situation and wishes to meet rhe Council. They’ve agreed, of course.”

“Given their obvious abilty to push memories onto alien brains like mine and Mei I don’t suppose we can be surprised they can do it to their own kind,” Amanpreet said. “But this is good I’ve been looking forward to meeting them.”

“We all have,” Mori said. “But Aletheia is going to be very busy when we get there. The Karisi have a delegation there as well apparently. And the taskforce to deal with the Kiath situation are working out of there as well.”

“That’s not surprising,” Niobe said. “We’re unexpectedly doubling in size. It’ll be hectic and that’s without having to rejig the chamber.”

“It’s exciting,” Amanpreet said. “I just wish it didn’t presage a war.”

“War is bbad,” Mori agreed. “I know enough human and Mez history to know that. But if can not be avoided it must be endured. It’s not like both your species haven’t been preparing for the possibility.”

“We were thiinking of something like the problem with the Kiath,” Summer said. “Not some sort of evil empire from a classic space melodrama.”

Amanpreet snorted. “Ooh, like in The Heat War, you mean?”

Summer made a surprised squeak. “I heard you were a connisseur of classic space fiction, captain Amanpreet, bit I had no idea that you reaad outside your species.”

“I do when I can,” she said. “There’s a slight derthof traanslations available. Sad really, Mez Space Drama is awesome.”

“I have an extensive collection,” he replied. “It’s untranslated but perhaps–”

Mori gave an irritated rattle. “We’re getting off topic!”

“We were already off topic.” Mahir interrupted dryly. “The ships are all in formation for the first jump so if all the navigators are ready we can jump whenever.”

“I’m ready,” Mark said from the Whisper’s dome. The other navigators signalled their readiness as well.

“Good,” Mahir said. “We’ll jump to hyperspace on my mark.”

“I just hope nothing interferes this time,” Amanpreet said. “I’d like a nice smooth journey for once.”

***

The first jump did go smoothly and after they returned to normal space to swap out navigators they found four of Promise’s people waiting for them. Two of them were normal looking Fish like Promise but the other two were the smaller ray type.

“This is our armed escort,” Promise said. “They’ll get us to Aletheia safely.”

“Those little ones,” Mahir said. “I’ve never seen a Fish like them. Not a space fish anyway.”

“They’re descended from an early version,” Promise explained. “They’re very maneuverable and so small it’s hard to detect them entering and leaving hyperspace.”

“Oh! Useful!” Mori said. “Will they help us?”

“That’s why they are here,” Promise said. “Shall we make the second jump? We have a schedule to keep to, I believe.”

First | Previous | Index | Next