Joking is more comfortable than serious talks, for him too.
“Take good care of her.” He strides to the door, but glances back. “Don’t wear her out.”
Domm
* * *
“For the next three months, we need extra patrols and additional surveillance of the airspace near Hectan-3.” Seke points to a 4D digital rendering of the galaxial segment in question.
Shuffles and muted voices break out in the room as all of us assembled Zandian warriors glance at each other.
“You have questions.” Seke’s voice is calm. “The answer is that the Ocretions, at least certain factions of outlaw pirates, want one of our newest warships. They want our tech.”
“Every faction in the galaxy tries to steal others’ tech.” A warrior named Lanyon stands. “What’s different now?”
“They’ve got a new ship themselves, with better cloaking technology. Nearly invisible at times. The issue is that we need to get their ship and reverse engineer it before they get ours.”
More rumbles in the room.
“Are they going to try for an overthrow of our planet?”
“No. The Ocretions are greedy but not stupid. That’s not a wise idea for them at this point; too much negative publicity especially with the current galaxial agreement they’ve joined in order to improve their trading rights. They’re about money.”
“So they just want to get our scientific advances.”
“That’s right. And we want theirs.” Seke raises his voice just slightly. “But we will not risk Zandian lives to get it, is that clear? They would gladly take you instead of your craft and extract information. Each of you, alone, is worth many stein on the open market if you are captured. We will not engage in risky behavior. We will conduct ourselves with extra caution and care.”
When the meeting is over, I meet Lanz at our ship. Update him on Seke’s message.
He frowns. “But we’re still going on rescue missions?”
I nod. “Yes. But we’re approved to use force as necessary, and he told us to avoid situations that are too risky. Stay out of the belt that comprises Jesel, Techna, and the Midrian stars.”
“Every situation is too risky.” He scoffs. “But I understand.”
“How is Mirelle?” I’m eager to turn my mind back to our mate.
He sighs. “Marginally cooper
ative, but she seemed eager when Kristine came to speak with her.”
“That’s a good sign, yes?”
Lanz cocks his head. “Not if she targets her as another human requiring rescue.”
“Veck,” I mutter. “We have our work cut out for us.”
Mirelle
* * *
“So I’ve been asked to come here and tell you about human lives on Zandia.”
The human woman looking at me has large, lustrous eyes and shimmering skin, but it’s her essence that really shines. She’s happy—gloriously, exuberantly happy. And it shows.
I can’t help but notice that she has a guard with her, a tall, strong Zandian. He crosses his arms over his bulging chest and stands at the door. Watching us.
“Protection?” I gesture at him.