He had always expected to hand the ship over when it was completed, but he had assumed it would be missing the one key element that made all Kraed vessels unique—the presence of a Nirunoc integrated into the ship’s systems. But Tehar had shocked him when she had chosen to bond with the ship the day before he had left Drakar.
The ship was Tehar in every sense that mattered, and her decision indicated the depth of her love for him, and her loyalty to the woman whose name she had accepted when she had joined with the ship. She had become Star, and the ship had become the Starhawke. He could not have asked for a greater gift.
It was a selfless act. She had given up her intimate connection with the other Nirunoc and the rest of the clan on Drakar. Like Jonarel, she had chosen an unconventional life among humans in order to serve something greater than themselves—their half-human, half-Lumian captain, the woman who had the power to change the course of history.
“Aurora sent me to fetch you,” Tehar said. “She suspected you had lost track of time.”
A quick glance at his chronometer indicated he was late for the crew meeting. He had not been this absorbed in a project since he had finalized the designs for the Starhawke. But it made sense. Like the ship, the settlement was a gift for Aurora. That made it special. And important.
“Tell her I am on my way.”
Thankfully the conference room was only one level above the crew cabins.
The intricate colored panels that opened into the room parted silently as Jonarel approached. Aurora and Kire were seated at the far side of the massive circular table in the center of the room, with Kelly on Kire’s left, and Mya and Cardiff to Aurora’s right. A chair had been left vacant next to Aurora, and he settled into it.
Aurora smiled at him. The light caught the golden highlights in her braided hair, making it look like a crown.
“I apologize for keeping you waiting.”
She shrugged. “No problem. This week has been intense for all of us.”
That was certainly true. But he suspected their efforts were about to be rewarded.
“I appreciate how hard you’ve all been working.” Aurora rested her forearms on the table. “Now we have a decision to make. We’ll start global and work our way down. Kire, tell me about the planetary geology and climate. Any concerns?”
Kire shook his head. “Nothing we can’t plan for. The planet has active tectonics, but the volcano that created the island has been dormant for centuries. It shouldn’t pose a threat. And the abundant rainfall provides a stable source of clean water in the freshwater aquifer.”
Aurora shifted her attention to Kelly. “What about long-term sustainability?”
“I compared our readings to the historical data the Kraed survey team recorded four hundred years ago,” Kelly said. “The information is nearly identical. Everything past and present indicates a healthy, stable ecosystem. Nothing that is cause for concern.”
“That’s good news.” Aurora turned to Cardiff. “What about dangers from the local fauna?”
“You mean are there any walking mountains with teeth?”
Aurora’s gaze flicked briefly to him. “Something like that.”
Jonarel clenched his jaw. Aurora had been vague on the details of that encounter, but Cardiff’s question indicated it had been more hazardous than anyone had admitted.
“Nothing that I could find,” Cardiff said. “No large animals of any kind, either predator or prey, and the smaller ones are relatively harmless. It’s a very benign location.”
“And a pretty one,” Mya added.
Aurora snorted. “So was the one with the rock monsters.”
Mya’s brown eyes twinkled. “Pretty is as pretty does?”
Aurora nodded. “That’s right.”
“Well in this case, you can have both. The lack of aggressive fauna means the plants haven’t needed to create potentially lethal defenses. Most of the plants on the island are edible in one form or another, and thanks to Celia, we know they’re tasty to boot.” Cardiff had spent most of the week preparing meals crafted from the local vegetation, which she had offered to the crew. The tastes were foreign, but enjoyable.
“So the planet and island are solid prospects.” Aurora’s green-eyed gaze met his. “Which brings us to the question of potential building sites.”
He touched the control panel built into the table and projected his preliminary sketches. “I have identified several options, but this elevated location is the most advantageous for camouflage. There is plenty of concealing vegetation and easy access to water sources.” He enlarged one of the images. “The ground is level and a rock promontory nearby could function as a shuttle landing platform.”
Aurora studied the images. “That location was my favorite, too. It has a nurturing feel to it.” She smiled, warming him from the inside out. “I think the Lumians would be happy there.”
“As do I.” And if the Lumians were happy, Aurora would be happy.
She glanced around the table. “Does anyone have concerns we haven’t addressed?”
“Not me,” Kire said. “I like it.”
“Me, too,” Cardiff replied.
Kelly nodded.
Aurora propped her chin on her hands as she focused on Mya. “So, do you think we’ve found their new home?” The look in Aurora’s eyes belied the casual way she had posed the question. The success of their mission hinged on Mya’s answer.
Mya held Aurora’s gaze. “Yes, I do.”
Aurora grinned. “So do I.”
“Hallelujah!” Kire cheered as he smacked the table with his palm.
Mya and Aurora laughed, and even Kelly smiled at Kire’s enthusiasm.
However, Aurora’s grin faded as she turned to Jonarel. “But we still have one more hurdle. This planet is within the boundaries of Kraed space. We’ll need approval from your father and the rest of the Kraed Elders before we finalize anything.”
“That is not a concern.” Every planet they had investigated as a potential homeworld had been within Kraed territory. Tehar had engineered the search that way. The Elders wanted to keep the Lumians close. “The Elders have already given approval for any suitable location. The Lumians are welcome to settle here.”
Aurora frowned, her gaze searching his, but if she had any questions, she kept them to herself.
Kire leaned back in his chair. “You know, I hadn’t thought of the planet’s location as a bonus, but being close to Drakar will reduce the chance of the settlement being discovered. Fleet ships and Earth transports won’t go anywhere near it.”
“Or Setarips,” Kelly added. “They usually avoid Kraed territory.”
And with good reason. After his race had learned of the opportunistic and violent nature of the Setarips, they had taken a much more aggressive stance in their engagements, always to the detriment of their adversaries. Setarips who wanted to live gave Drakar and the other Kraed systems a wide berth.
Aurora pushed back her chair. “Then if everything is settled, will you contact your father and let him know we’re on our way to Drakar?”
“Of course.” And his clan would have quite a homecoming prepared by the time they arrived.
CHAPTER SEVEN
AURORA HAD FOUND A HOMEWORLD.
Cade leaned back in his chair and reread the short message.
C –
Location confirmed. On our way to gather supplies. Will keep you posted as work progresses.
A –
He tapped his fingers on the console as he stared at the lines of text. During the weeks of waiting, he’d kept telling himself he’d be relieved when light appeared at the end of the tunnel. Instead, he was viewing the change as a proverbial oncoming train.
Not that he wasn’t thrilled that the Lumians would have a new home soon. They deserved a fresh start and a chance to experience true freedom.
But their new beginning was his finale, at least where Aurora was concerned. As long as he was in charge of the Lumians, he had a connection to he
r. After she came for the Lumians, that connection would be severed. Probably for good.
They’d agreed before she’d left Gaia that he wouldn’t be the one to deliver the Lumians to their new home. For one thing, he was flying a decommissioned Fleet medical freighter. The Admiral had done everything he could to guarantee the Nightingale was clean, but there was always a chance someone might find a way to track its whereabouts. Taking this ship to the new Lumian homeworld would be a monumental mistake. He didn’t want to risk leaving a trail that could be followed.
That’s why the Starhawke would be coming to him. Aurora would transport the Lumians to their new home, and he would report back to the Admiral for his next assignment. After that, his path might never cross Aurora’s again. What a depressing thought.
With a sigh of frustration, he stood and headed outside. As he exited through the Nightingale’s main hatch, the soft glow of lanterns outlined the greenhouse to his left. The Burrow climate was intense during the day, so everyone preferred to work at night and sleep during the day. His team had set a rotating schedule, taking overlapping twelve hour shifts with eight hour breaks in between so that at least four members of the team were on duty at all times.
Construction was nearly finished, and the hum of activity ran through the community like the steady drone of a beehive. Williams stood in front of the greenhouse, his arms crossed over his barrel chest and his shaved head gleaming in the lantern light. He lifted a hand in greeting when he spotted Cade heading his way. “Almost done here,” he called out, his gentle tenor voice at odds with his solid physique, but ideal for calming anxious patients requiring medical attention. “The shading materials are in place and irrigation from the well is completed.”
“Glad to hear it. All we need now are plants. When are you making your first run?”
“Tomorrow night, as long as the weather holds.”
They’d had a few nights of gusting winds recently that had slowed their progress. If the wind returned, it would prevent any attempts at transporting vegetation, too.
Reynolds appeared in the greenhouse doorway and Williams motioned her over. “Reynolds and I have mapped out three locations with sufficient plant density to meet our needs. And two of them are large enough for multiple runs.”
Reynolds’s short blond hair was streaked with dirt. She swiped at a trickle of sweat at her temple. “We’ve also rigged up a harness between two of the stealth pods.” She gestured to the shadowy objects to their right. “We’ll be able to bring back more plants that way and also avoid leaving any tracks.”
Good plan. They certainly didn’t want to draw attention to their presence. “How will you remove the plants without making it obvious they’ve been dug up?”
“We’ll have to be very selective in what we take. And we’ll bring a couple of the Lumians along to help.”
Cade stared at her. “You want to take Lumians with you?” He’d nixed that idea during their initial discussion. Apparently she and Williams disagreed with his decision.
“Definitely. Their abilities will enable them to unearth the specimens without damaging them or disturbing the surrounding vegetation.”
Williams nodded. “And the work will go quicker that way.” His hands dropped to his hips and his stance widened, like a gunslinger preparing for a shootout. “We need them on this.”
Cade’s gut said no. As long as the Lumians remained in the canyon, he could protect them. But Williams made a good point. Taking the Lumians would minimize the overall risk. And that was the goal. However, if they were going to do this, Cade would be the one leading the team. “Then I’ll ride point on the third pod.”
Williams relaxed. “That’s a good idea.”
“Who did you want to bring along?”
“Raaveen, for one,” Reynolds said. “And Paaw. After all, the greenhouse was their idea.”
“And with you on the third pod, we could bring Sparw, too,” Williams added.
More hands would mean less time out in the open. That was definitely a bonus. “Okay. As long as the weather holds, we’ll head out tomorrow night.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
“THE CLAREK CLAN is awaiting our arrival.”
Aurora pulled her gaze away from the tantalizing image of Drakar on the bridgescreen and focused on Kire. “Let them know we’re on our way. Kelly, take us down.”
“Aye, Captain.”
As the ship began its descent, Aurora’s body tingled with anticipation. She’d been captivated by the homeworld of the Clarek clan when Jonarel had brought her here two years ago to attend his succession ceremony. Little had she known how much that event would alter the course of her future.
From space, Drakar reminded her of a Monet painting of water lilies. Lots of blues and greens interspersed with patches of white. The Kraed homeworld contained a diversified climate, but the plant life in most areas grew to a lushness that far surpassed Earth’s most verdant rainforests, in part because the Kraed had never attempted to alter the landscape. They’d chosen adaptation over conquest.
Star shimmered into place next to the captain’s chair, her expression revealing her eagerness as she gazed at the image on the bridgescreen.
“You look exactly the way I feel whenever I return to Earth.”
Star’s honey-colored eyes glowed as she met Aurora’s gaze. “I suppose I do. I had expected to wait years for a chance to reconnect with my clan.”
“Years? Really? I’d assumed we’d need to return at regular intervals for maintenance and upgrades.”
Star looked amused. “Unless we suffer structural damage to the exterior, I can maintain all my other systems.”
Wow. Every time Aurora thought she understood the extent of the Starhawke’s abilities, Star and Jonarel surprised her with something new.
The image on the screen shifted as the ship dropped into the lower atmosphere, revealing the stunning landscape that stretched to the horizon. The Clarek clan lived close to the equator, where a seemingly unending vista of trees and other plant life resembled a bayou combined with a redwood forest. Most of the tree species that thrived here were massive, with trunks that could easily grow to twenty meters in diameter and stretch up a hundred meters into the sky.
It was these trees that had enabled the Kraed to thrive in an environment where large predators patrolled the skies above and the waterways below. The Kraed’s razor sharp claws served as both climbing tools for reaching the safety of the canopy, and weapons against creatures looking for a tasty meal. She’d thought the claws on Jonarel’s hands were impressive until the day he’d shown her the ones on his feet. A well-placed kick from a Kraed could be lethal.
Of course, the advanced technology of the Kraed race made such life and death struggles almost non-existent. But that didn’t mean their skills had dimmed. Every Kraed child was taught how to survive outside of the safety of the clan’s compound. Only fools picked fights with the Kraed.
Kelly pivoted to face Aurora. “Captain, we’re getting close to the landing coordinates, but I’m not seeing any sign of a platform.”
“That’s because the Kraed compounds and ship ports are camouflaged.”
A line appeared between Kelly’s auburn brows. “Then how am I supposed to dock the ship?”
Star’s image vanished from beside Aurora and re-materialized next to Kelly. “When we get closer, the Nirunoc will guide you.”
One of Kelly’s brows quirked up. “Meaning what?”
“Maintain the heading I gave you and follow the ship’s motion. You will be fine.”
Kelly gave Star a long look, her reluctance obvious as she turned back to the console. Star was asking her to make a leap of faith. Not an easy task for the tech-minded navigator.
“What are those?” Kire’s eyes were wide as saucers as he stared at the bridgescreen.
Aurora followed has gaze and spotted a dark mass of shapes in the sky. Their leathery wings and long tails were a dead giveaway. “Trebolks.”
Kire gawke
d as the creatures glided through the air, momentarily blocking out the late afternoon sun. “They’re huge!”
Celia watched from the tactical console, her hands hovering over the weapons controls as the flock swung in their direction. “Are they dangerous?”
“Not to us. They don’t bother ships. They spend most of their time nesting in the upper canopy or hunting in open water.”
“Good to know,” Kire murmured as the creatures drew alongside the ship.
They kept pace with the Starhawke, like dolphins swimming in the wake of a boat, giving the bridge crew a close up view of their thick bodies and refined heads. But as the ship descended toward the canopy, the trebolks changed course, heading off to the east.
Kelly decreased their speed, a look of apprehension on her normally placid face as she glanced at Star.
“Trust me,” Star reiterated.
Aurora could only imagine how challenging that request was for their navigator. Based on the image on the bridgescreen, it looked like they were about to smash into the upper branches of the nearest trees, which were close enough to make out the shape of individual leaves. But they wouldn’t crash. Star and the other Nirunoc were guiding the ship into an invisible web of tethers that would direct the ship’s motion.
Like a bird returning to its nest, the Starhawke glided through a break in the trees, continuing to slow as they approached an alcove that was the perfect size to accommodate the ship’s bulk. The greenery of the surrounding trees filled the screen as the ship’s forward movement ceased. A moment later the engines powered down. The Starhawke was home.
“Well done.” Star beamed at Kelly.
Kelly blinked. “I’ve never seen anything like that.” An uncharacteristic grin spread across her face. “That was stellar.”
Celia looked similarly impressed with their unconventional landing procedure.
Jonarel’s deep baritone boomed over the comm. “All docking connections are secure.”
“Acknowledged,” Aurora replied. “We’re on our way.” She rose from the captain’s chair. “Who’s ready to see Drakar?”
The Chains of Freedom (Starhawke Rising Book 2) Page 4