Read Online Carinae Sector: 02 - Admiral's Fury - Part 1 - Purple Blood by David Buck - Free Book Online

Greppun’s allusions to the morning. This was a social standard for the Sspol and it indicated her continued acceptance of his presence. He knew that he would have been in serious trouble if she rebuked him in prose, or even worse signalled either mocking desire or testy irritation via a skin colour change. He was considering further witticisms just as the colony leader now floated over to speak tersely with them both.
    ‘Less of the talk is needed; there is more of the work than our deadlines allow.
    The talk of new homes and starting new lives will wait; first our departure and then a long search. Astronomers are reviewing the new findings and more are sought; a new cadet should not tarry on his first watch or a reward is revoked.’
    Without even glancing at one another, the two younger Sspol went in different directions at an acceptable rate of flow through the atmosphere. The colony leader, Hireldop, calmly looked around the landing platform as over head the increasing cloud covered the colony. The world the humans called Neptune was idyllic by Sspol standards and the world would be a main Sspol planet if it was located elsewhere.
    He remembered when the cruisers had arrived several thousands of years ago and the remoteness of the system, the haven status of the third planet, and the allure of Neptune’s atmosphere had proven too much. The Sspol colonists had later reaped a rich reward from the planet with their now dismantled mining operation, and many visiting Sspol cruisers had left with both new equipment and new crew members from the colony.
    Hireldop thought for a few moments of his eldest son, now the Sspol envoy who had been tasked with resolving a long standing war with another galactic race. He wished Drannep well in his efforts, and knew that if any of them could convince the Maveen of their now benign intentions it would be his son. The elder Sspol also knew that long term peace would improve Sspol lives across the galaxy and they then would not have to live in constant fear of attack.
    Hireldop also knew that this change would impact the significance of the third planet called Earth from so many different levels, for he knew that the solar system held secrets that must remain hidden for many more years. The leader and the other elders of the colony had recently agreed that the Zronte and the Vorinne must be kept distant from Earth for as long as possible well after the Sspol had left. Quietly Hireldop looked over the nearby massive cruisers, as he reviewed in his mind the sequence of events they would adopt after fleeing this world.
     
                                                                         ***
     
    Sanctuary colony, Tau Ceti system 12 light years from Earth
     
    Rear Admiral Mary Neilson strode into the Sanctuary colony committee meeting room and sketched a text book salute as she reached the head of the table. A colonist who was reporting the ongoing efforts to turn a deep mine into a point of refuge stopped his report and gave her a friendly grin. She kept her eyes forward, but no one in the room doubted she took in all who were present in an instant accounting.
    ‘Admiral Stanford, Rear Admiral Neilson reporting as ordered.’
    The fleet admiral, Admiral Thomas Stanford, fixed her with a cool smile and returned the salute as he in turn then removed his cap. Stanford regarded the tall and slender rear Admiral with polite interest, as he could detect her tiredness before he replied with an instruction.
    ‘At ease, we are keeping this meeting as low key as possible for the comfort of the civilian’s present. You know everyone else here already of course. So how have you been going here at the colony Mary?’
    Mary Neilson carefully doffed her cap to preserve her hair and just as casually took the proffered seat as she replied.
    ‘It is good to see you again too Thomas. Our colony defences will be ready in several weeks