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Authors: Evan Currie
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came to a full stop, its engine whining as the pilot cut power to the thrusters, the cooling fans working at full force.
For a moment, it just sat there; then the belly of the beast opened up and dropped an extending plank down. Tanner watched for a moment, patiently waiting, until the first of the people stepped off.
“Elder”—he nodded to the first to disembark—“it is good to have you back. I’ve informed the Council of your return, they will assemble in two days to meet with you.”
“Thank you, Admiral Tanner.” Corusc nodded in return. “I have much to discuss. First, though, I must know…What of the Drasin?”
“They pressed their attacks for two months after you left, Elder. We lost eight ships and three more of the outlying colonies before the situation stabilized. In the past month, we have seen no sign of them.” Tanner’s face turned grim.“The Council is of the opinion that they have retreated permanently.”
“I judge from the look on your face that you do not share their opinion?”
“No, Elder, I do not.” Tanner shook his head.
Corusc nodded. “I will discuss the situation with them. In either case, I do not believe that we can go wrong if we prepare on the assumption that they have not finished with us yet.”
Tanner nodded, smiling in turn. “My thoughts exactly, Elder.”
Elder Corusc nodded, then gestured slightly behind him, causing Tanner to look up and notice the group that had disembarked from the shuttle.
“This is Ambassador LaFontaine,” Corusc said, gesturing to a tall woman in elegant clothes. “They are representatives of the Terran government. They will need appropriate premises to live and conduct business. Admiral, if you could spare some of your people…?”
“Immediately, sir.” Tanner waved a young man forward. “Neril, please arrange for whatever the ambassador and her staff requires.”
“Yes, Admiral.”
“Excellent,” Corusc said, turning around. “Now, unless I miss my guess, Miss LaFontaine, you and your people are as weary as I and mine. We shall retire for the moment and meet again tomorrow?”
“An excellent idea, Elder.”
“Good,” Corusc said. “Then we go.”
The two groups moved off the platform, following the naval attaché Tanner had assigned them, while Tanner turned his attention to the striking figure in gleaming white who was approaching at the head of the next group.
“Captain Weston”—he grinned widely, clasping the man’s hand as he’d done after the Battle of Ranquil—“it is good to see you again.”
“And you, Admiral.” Eric inclined his head, as he’d become accustomed to doing when dealing with the Colonials. “I take it from your comments to the elder that the war has stabilized to a degree?”
Tanner nodded, but sighed slightly. “Yes. Perhaps too much. Many of my superiors believe that it may be over.”
Admiral though he was, Tanner was particularly pleased to have the
Odyssey
back in orbit for that very reason. It wasn’t the ship’s military prowess that he was pleased to have nearby—though, in the deep and dark part of his soul, he certainly didn’t mind that—but rather, just the reminder that it had taken outside intervention to save them the last time. Tanner would certainly drive that point home every chance he got, and the physical presence of the
Odyssey
would give him yet another chance to ensure that no one forgot.
They had to stand on their own, if they were to survive this crisis. He was grateful for help, but he would not abide his people being reduced to beggars.
Weston considered that, then shrugged. “Let’s hope that they’re right, Admiral. However, in the meantime, let’s assume that they’re not and prepare accordingly.”
Tanner smiled. “As I said to the elder, Captain, my thoughts precisely.”
“And on that note”—Eric half turned—“let me introduce you to some people who are here to help you do just that.”
Tanner switched his attention to
For a moment, it just sat there; then the belly of the beast opened up and dropped an extending plank down. Tanner watched for a moment, patiently waiting, until the first of the people stepped off.
“Elder”—he nodded to the first to disembark—“it is good to have you back. I’ve informed the Council of your return, they will assemble in two days to meet with you.”
“Thank you, Admiral Tanner.” Corusc nodded in return. “I have much to discuss. First, though, I must know…What of the Drasin?”
“They pressed their attacks for two months after you left, Elder. We lost eight ships and three more of the outlying colonies before the situation stabilized. In the past month, we have seen no sign of them.” Tanner’s face turned grim.“The Council is of the opinion that they have retreated permanently.”
“I judge from the look on your face that you do not share their opinion?”
“No, Elder, I do not.” Tanner shook his head.
Corusc nodded. “I will discuss the situation with them. In either case, I do not believe that we can go wrong if we prepare on the assumption that they have not finished with us yet.”
Tanner nodded, smiling in turn. “My thoughts exactly, Elder.”
Elder Corusc nodded, then gestured slightly behind him, causing Tanner to look up and notice the group that had disembarked from the shuttle.
“This is Ambassador LaFontaine,” Corusc said, gesturing to a tall woman in elegant clothes. “They are representatives of the Terran government. They will need appropriate premises to live and conduct business. Admiral, if you could spare some of your people…?”
“Immediately, sir.” Tanner waved a young man forward. “Neril, please arrange for whatever the ambassador and her staff requires.”
“Yes, Admiral.”
“Excellent,” Corusc said, turning around. “Now, unless I miss my guess, Miss LaFontaine, you and your people are as weary as I and mine. We shall retire for the moment and meet again tomorrow?”
“An excellent idea, Elder.”
“Good,” Corusc said. “Then we go.”
The two groups moved off the platform, following the naval attaché Tanner had assigned them, while Tanner turned his attention to the striking figure in gleaming white who was approaching at the head of the next group.
“Captain Weston”—he grinned widely, clasping the man’s hand as he’d done after the Battle of Ranquil—“it is good to see you again.”
“And you, Admiral.” Eric inclined his head, as he’d become accustomed to doing when dealing with the Colonials. “I take it from your comments to the elder that the war has stabilized to a degree?”
Tanner nodded, but sighed slightly. “Yes. Perhaps too much. Many of my superiors believe that it may be over.”
Admiral though he was, Tanner was particularly pleased to have the
Odyssey
back in orbit for that very reason. It wasn’t the ship’s military prowess that he was pleased to have nearby—though, in the deep and dark part of his soul, he certainly didn’t mind that—but rather, just the reminder that it had taken outside intervention to save them the last time. Tanner would certainly drive that point home every chance he got, and the physical presence of the
Odyssey
would give him yet another chance to ensure that no one forgot.
They had to stand on their own, if they were to survive this crisis. He was grateful for help, but he would not abide his people being reduced to beggars.
Weston considered that, then shrugged. “Let’s hope that they’re right, Admiral. However, in the meantime, let’s assume that they’re not and prepare accordingly.”
Tanner smiled. “As I said to the elder, Captain, my thoughts precisely.”
“And on that note”—Eric half turned—“let me introduce you to some people who are here to help you do just that.”
Tanner switched his attention to
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