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Authors: Isaac Hooke
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Raakarr.”
The Elder got to keep some of humanity’s technology in the form of the shuttle, so it was only fair that humanity should receive some of theirs in return. It was a gamble, of course, but Jonathan was betting the Elder would be so relieved to have their offspring back that they’d quit while they were ahead. That was what he would have done, anyway.
Even so, if the Elder refused to back down Jonathan was fully prepared to give up the suit.
When the gamma ray reply finally came, Barrick once more spoke over the comm.
“The Elder ask why four of our ships continue to hide behind the far moon of the gas giant,” the telepath said.
Jonathan muted the line and glanced at Robert. “So much for the pincer maneuver we planned to employ. It seems they knew precisely where our ships were hidden the whole time.”
Robert nodded. “I don’t like these Elder very much.”
“Ops, any idea how they’re able to detect our ships?” Jonathan asked.
“It can’t be via the Slipstreams,” Lewis responded. “Since the moon isn’t in the line of sight of either at the moment. It’s possible they have detection units scattered throughout the system, maybe on the moon itself. Either that, or they’re using those gravity waves of theirs somehow.”
“Would those waves allow them to detect the suit hidden aboard the Dagger? ” Jonathan said.
“No idea, sir,” the ensign responded.
“They could be bluffing,” Robert said. “They know four of our ships are absent, but they don’t know for certain which moon they’re hiding behind, and took a guess.”
“It’s possible,” Jonathan agreed. He thought for a moment, and then unmuted the connection. “Barrick, tell them what I do with my fleet is my business.”
Jonathan waited anxiously while the Talon dispatched its gamma ray. Was he going to have to back down? Would the Elder even let him, or would they simply attack?
The gamma ray response came. Jonathan tapped his fingers uneasily on his thigh; he noticed several of the bridge crew watching him, and self-consciously stopped the tapping.
Have to pretend I’m in complete control.
He folded his arms and allowed his features to smooth into a mask of serenity.
Barrick finally spoke over the line. “The Elder wish to know if there is anything else we would like to inquire of them before they depart this system.”
Jonathan slumped very slightly as relief coursed through his veins. He took a moment to compose his thoughts and then said: “Yes, there is one more thing. They said the enemy Raakarr promised not to ambush us when we passed into Vega 951?”
“They did,” Barrick agreed.
“And the Elder also said they could peer through Slipstreams, and use them like telescopes of sorts?”
“Yes...” Barrick replied.
“Well,” Jonathan said. “Before they go, can’t the Elder take a look into Vega 951 and confirm no ambush awaits us?”
“I’ll have Valor ask them,” Barrick responded.
After the prerequisite exchange of gamma radiation, a few minutes later Barrick had a reply.
“The Elder say they have examined the endpoint,” Barrick said over the comm. “There is no ambush, and no mines. It is safe.”
“Really,” Jonathan said, not convinced. He muted the line and glanced at Robert. “There are a couple of small planetoids near the Slipstream. I have a feeling they didn’t bother to check behind those.”
“What if they can’t?” Robert said. “Maybe they can only observe other systems via the optical properties of the Slipstreams.”
“Either way, they certainly wouldn’t reveal the full extents of their capabilities to us,” Jonathan commented.
Barrick came on the line. “The Elder also say they’ve already reconfigured the Vega 951 endpoint to point to Prius 3.”
Jonathan unmuted the connection. “Is that wise? What’s to stop the Raakarr fleet from performing a raid deeper into human territory?”
“You don’t trust anybody, do you, Captain
The Elder got to keep some of humanity’s technology in the form of the shuttle, so it was only fair that humanity should receive some of theirs in return. It was a gamble, of course, but Jonathan was betting the Elder would be so relieved to have their offspring back that they’d quit while they were ahead. That was what he would have done, anyway.
Even so, if the Elder refused to back down Jonathan was fully prepared to give up the suit.
When the gamma ray reply finally came, Barrick once more spoke over the comm.
“The Elder ask why four of our ships continue to hide behind the far moon of the gas giant,” the telepath said.
Jonathan muted the line and glanced at Robert. “So much for the pincer maneuver we planned to employ. It seems they knew precisely where our ships were hidden the whole time.”
Robert nodded. “I don’t like these Elder very much.”
“Ops, any idea how they’re able to detect our ships?” Jonathan asked.
“It can’t be via the Slipstreams,” Lewis responded. “Since the moon isn’t in the line of sight of either at the moment. It’s possible they have detection units scattered throughout the system, maybe on the moon itself. Either that, or they’re using those gravity waves of theirs somehow.”
“Would those waves allow them to detect the suit hidden aboard the Dagger? ” Jonathan said.
“No idea, sir,” the ensign responded.
“They could be bluffing,” Robert said. “They know four of our ships are absent, but they don’t know for certain which moon they’re hiding behind, and took a guess.”
“It’s possible,” Jonathan agreed. He thought for a moment, and then unmuted the connection. “Barrick, tell them what I do with my fleet is my business.”
Jonathan waited anxiously while the Talon dispatched its gamma ray. Was he going to have to back down? Would the Elder even let him, or would they simply attack?
The gamma ray response came. Jonathan tapped his fingers uneasily on his thigh; he noticed several of the bridge crew watching him, and self-consciously stopped the tapping.
Have to pretend I’m in complete control.
He folded his arms and allowed his features to smooth into a mask of serenity.
Barrick finally spoke over the line. “The Elder wish to know if there is anything else we would like to inquire of them before they depart this system.”
Jonathan slumped very slightly as relief coursed through his veins. He took a moment to compose his thoughts and then said: “Yes, there is one more thing. They said the enemy Raakarr promised not to ambush us when we passed into Vega 951?”
“They did,” Barrick agreed.
“And the Elder also said they could peer through Slipstreams, and use them like telescopes of sorts?”
“Yes...” Barrick replied.
“Well,” Jonathan said. “Before they go, can’t the Elder take a look into Vega 951 and confirm no ambush awaits us?”
“I’ll have Valor ask them,” Barrick responded.
After the prerequisite exchange of gamma radiation, a few minutes later Barrick had a reply.
“The Elder say they have examined the endpoint,” Barrick said over the comm. “There is no ambush, and no mines. It is safe.”
“Really,” Jonathan said, not convinced. He muted the line and glanced at Robert. “There are a couple of small planetoids near the Slipstream. I have a feeling they didn’t bother to check behind those.”
“What if they can’t?” Robert said. “Maybe they can only observe other systems via the optical properties of the Slipstreams.”
“Either way, they certainly wouldn’t reveal the full extents of their capabilities to us,” Jonathan commented.
Barrick came on the line. “The Elder also say they’ve already reconfigured the Vega 951 endpoint to point to Prius 3.”
Jonathan unmuted the connection. “Is that wise? What’s to stop the Raakarr fleet from performing a raid deeper into human territory?”
“You don’t trust anybody, do you, Captain
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