The Remnant Fleet, page 22
“And that is that,” Indira said.
“Good riddance,” Bauwerji said.
Indira turned to the group. “Thank you all for being here. And thank you for the parts you played in preventing disaster.”
Once the others departed, Indira moved to stand beside Bauwerji. “I’ve heard that a new security officer is being assigned later this week. Promotion from within the ranks, from what I gather. Whoever it is, it won’t be a Karezz. I assure you of that.”
“Thank you, ‘Dira.”
Indira nodded and faced forward. “Things are practically back to normal. For now. There are a million billion asteroids out there, but I still fear someone will find the one that could end so many lives.”
“Or one of the others,” Bauwerji said. “There are bound to be more, covered with the same genetic information that made this stone so dangerous. We don’t even know how the Wakerran found out it existed, where it was found, who dug it up...”
“Please,” Indira said. “I’m going to have nightmares as it is. I don’t need more facts.” She sighed. “And then there are the others. First the Cetidroi, now the Wakerran? Who knows what other races are out there beyond our scope? Just waiting to come sniffing around their neighbors.”
Bauwerji said, “We forced two of them to run back where they came from. If anyone else shows up, we’ll do the same thing.”
“Good attitude.” She checked the time. “I should go back to my desk. Let’s grab a meal after duty, ai?”
“Sounds good.”
Indira smiled and went to her office. Bauwerji walked purposefully down the central aisle, hands clasped behind her back as she scanned the workstation of each yeoman she passed. Her leg was in the odd middle-ground where it was nearly healed and she was almost so accustomed to the brace that she barely noticed it anymore. She could stand and walk without any apparent difficulty. The bruises and cuts would take longer to fade away, but soon they would be gone as well. The officers in the wells to either side of her were mostly Human, although there were a handful of Occamian, Acapsian, and Ladronis as well. Everyone on the Quay was far from where they were born, she realized, but none of them were far from home.
Her earpiece chirped with an incoming signal. She tapped to answer it. “Executive Officer Bauwerji Crow of the Aphelion Station Quay. How may we assist you?”
“This is Captain Cyriaca of the Irikoan freighter Jetlucani requesting permission to dock at your fine station.”
She smiled; Cyriaca was an agreeable old flirt. “We read you fine and clear,” Bauwerji said as she crouched to look at one yeoman’s screen. “You have been cleared to approach on trajectory nine-nine-one-four-one-two. Yeoman Pahleis will guide you safely in. Try to be kind to him, he hasn’t been assigned here very long.”
“No promises, Bauwerji.”
Bauwerji smiled and stood, clasping her hands behind her back. “You’re in safe hands with him, gentlemen. Allow me to be the first to welcome you back to the Quay. We hope you enjoy your stay.”
About the Author
Geonn Cannon has been writing since 2000 and is the author of over 30 novels, including GCLS Award winning titles "Gemini" and "Dogs of War," and "The Virtuous Feats of the Indomitable Miss Trafalgar & the Erudite Lady Boone," which was named to Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2015. He's also written an official Stargate SG-1 novel, along with two short stories in Stargate anthologies. He lives in Oklahoma.
Geonn Cannon, The Remnant Fleet
