Alliance

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Alliance Page 3

by S. H. Jucha


  “Aye, aye, Commander,” Jess replied smartly. He’d hoped for the opportunity to travel with the visitors.

  “May I accompany Captain Cinders, Commander?” Tacnock requested.

  Tzeena knew the pair was inseparable. Their personal bond was formed on the cycle of the Colony’s invasion, but it had always been that way between Pyreans and Jatouche. Despite their physical dissimilarities, their races shared similar societal attitudes.

  “Permission granted, Captain Tacnock, provided the visitors permit it,” Tzeena replied.

  Tacnock flashed his teeth at his bridge crew. He was thrilled, although not everyone shared his enthusiasm for experiencing what the visitors offered.

  “Captain Tacnock and I are excused from duty to sail with you, if that’s acceptable,” Jess said, resuming the conversation with Olawale.

  Olawale sent.

  Despite not understanding the concept of being picked up, Jess eagerly coordinated with Tacnock to select a trajectory that headed them toward the moon’s station and put distance between the squadron and them.

  Patrice eyed the Rêveur’s bridge crew. It was a desultory bunch of faces. A first contact with an alien race had resulted in the consignment of the crew to slow death. That insidious manner of demise forever lurked in the minds of those who plied the dark.

  “Esteban, I need to speak with Lucia,” Patrice requested.

  The SADE understood Patrice’s intentions. They’d used this technique many times already. Esteban linked to Lucia and nodded at Patrice.

  Patrice knew that she had no expectation of privacy unless she requested it. If she’d learned one thing, it was that Omnians preferred to share. Their implants supported that, and it kept their society open and communicating with one another. There were secrets, but the vast majority of those were held by the SADEs at the behests of the various parties.

  “Captain Bellardo, you couldn’t have known of this race’s penchant for abandoning its crews,” Patrice said. “We’ve entered a war zone. Our early encounters will bring unintended consequences. The races who are defending this system are requesting our help, and we need to learn what’s been transpiring in this part of the galaxy.”

  Across the fleet, crews stopped to listen, as implants and ships’ comms were employed.

  Lucia sent harshly.

  Olawale strenuously objected.

  “I agree,” a Sol Enclave (SE) Trident captain said before the other two SE captains echoed his sentiment.

  Lucia sent, dismissing Patrice’s attempt to discuss the subject with her.

  Olawale queried.

  Orbit sent.

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