Dual Domains, page 34
“A difficult choice, Liaison,” Kelter teased. “Sit on the cold hard floor or relax on my wing.”
“Come here, Korvath. Sit with us,” the Tritiums called.
“I accept the offer, Kelter,” Korvath said. He tested the wing between the bones. It was firm, which he hadn’t expected. However, rather than climb to where the Tritiums lay, he kept his boots on the floor and sat on the wing’s edge.
“Now tell me what troubles you, Korvath,” Kelter said, resting his massive head on the floor.
“I’m going to quit,” Korvath suddenly uttered. The moment he said those words, it felt like a weight was released from his shoulders.
The normally voluble Tritiums hurriedly communicated telepathically between them.
“Could you clarify, Korvath?” Kelter murmured. “Are you intent on resigning your liaison position or are you choosing to take a further step and quit the empire?”
Korvath’s orbs widened. Kelter had intuited what had bothered him the most. “I think the first leads to the second,” Korvath replied. “I thought to save the Imperium the trouble by quitting and taking up residence on Helgart.”
“While the accommodations are improving, the inability to reside among our own races is debilitating,” Kelter pointed out.
“For me, there would be no going back,” Korvath said. “The executors can’t allow me to talk freely about what I know ... ever.”
“There is that,” Kelter replied. “Have you made a final decision?”
“Not yet, but I’m close,” Korvath replied.
“Your journey opened your orbs, did it?” Kelter inquired.
“It did,” Korvath admitted. “It made me sad for the Imperium.”
“Will you inform the admiral?” Kelter asked.
“I must. I owe her the courtesy,” Korvath replied.
Kreus sent.
Z inquired.
Kreus replied.
Miranda sent.
Korvath watched the protectors exit the hatch that led to the warrens. “Not much privacy around here,” he mumbled.
“Perhaps, Korvath, you’re more important than you realize, which means your words matter,” Kelter replied.
“We understand that you want a meeting with the admiral. We can facilitate that,” Z said.
Korvath was taken aback. He expected an argument from the protectors about his conversation with Kelter. Instead, Z had gone straight to the endpoint.
“That is what you wanted, dear Korvath, wasn’t it?” Miranda asked solicitously.
“It’s what I was talking about with Kelter,” Korvath admitted.
“After you resign your commission, what will you do?” Miranda asked.
“Good question,” Korvath replied. “I thought I might be accepted here.”
“What happens in either case if we make progress with the empire or lose to them?” Miranda asked. “In the former case, the residents will be repatriated to their worlds. The cells will empty, and you might be left alone someday. In the latter case, a Krackus fleet will arrive and return you to Imperium for judgment. Incarceration might not be the decision.”
Korvath halted the urge to squawk. The SADEs had thought further ahead than he had.
“There might be alternative paths for you, Korvath,” Z offered.
Korvath’s head came up and his crest partially rose. If there were two entities he trusted among the visitors, it was the protectors. But, in his mind, the admiral loomed in the background. The thought of confronting Cordelia caused his crest to fall.
Z commented privately to Miranda.
Miranda returned. Then she connected to the Nyslara and linked to Cordelia.
Miranda sent.
Cordelia inquired.
Z sent.
Cordelia surmised.
Miranda sent.
Cordelia sent.
Z sent,
Cordelia responded.
“What could be my other choices?” Korvath asked of the protectors.
“Do you still believe there’s a path forward for the conclave and the empire?” Z inquired. He was linked to Miranda, and she maintained her connection to Cordelia.
“I was hopeful when I first arrived,” Korvath said. “But I don’t believe the executors would be sincere about any offer they make.”
“Allow me to rephrase my question,” Z replied. “Under what circumstances do you think the conclave and the empire could reach an agreement?”
This was a question that Korvath had never considered. It would have seemed too outrageous to consider. But proposed by a protector, it demanded he consider the possibilities.
As Cordelia raced belowdecks for a traveler, which Nira ordered prepped for her, a question for Korvath occurred to her, but it would have to wait. Her link with Miranda was one-way, listen only.
“A change would have to happen at the executor level,” Korvath mused. “They have the power, and I don’t see them voluntarily giving that up.”
“What would cause them to change their views?” Miranda inquired.
“Loss of power. Loss of territory. Loss of too many ships,” Korvath enumerated.
“Which of these would you consider most effective?” Z asked.
“I certainly don’t want to consider the loss of ships,” Korvath declared defiantly.
“Neither would we,” Miranda soothed.
“An executor’s power is tied to their territory and the riches it produces,” Korvath explained. “If trade was interrupted, the executor would demand the Imperium’s response.”
“Specifically, how should trade be curtailed?” Z inquired.
“It could continue between the worlds within the territory. It’s the ships sailing for Imperium that must be halted,” Korvath replied.
“Wouldn’t some of the intraterritorial commerce be run by Krackus concerns?” Miranda asked.
“Indeed,” Korvath responded. “However, the business owners owe allegiance to the territory’s executor and pay for the privilege of operating in that territory. If they can’t ship to Imperium, they’ll be squawking.”
Z lit his holo-vid and projected a star map. “This is Helgart,” he said, highlighting a star. “The nearest resident’s world to us is Kelter’s home world.”
At the mention of the Gorder home world, Kelter’s head rose off the floor.
Miranda sent.
Kreus sent.
Miranda replied.
The traveler pilot dropped toward the planet, with Cordelia suited and the rear ramp open. As she slowed to land, she swiveled the shuttle’s aft end toward the bot charging bay, and Cordelia leapt to the surface. Within a few strides, she entered the bay. Dropping her environment suit, she glided down the corridor toward the cargo bay. Just before entering, she engaged her human mannerisms and walked into the space.
Immediately, Korvath jumped up and assumed a rigid posture.
“I’ve been informed of your potential decision, Liaison Korvath,” Cordelia. “I’d like to take part in the discussion. However, you may not want my participation.”
Korvath’s stance eased, but he couldn’t find the appropriate words for a reply.
“Let me begin with an apology, Korvath,” Cordelia said. “I thought it convenient and necessary to measure your truthfulness. I feared that you were a distraction who would lull us into a false sense of security. As the admiral, I believed it my duty to vet your opinions of us.>
Miranda sent with emphasis.
Cordelia laughed lightly. “I’ve just been reminded that an explanation of my actions doesn’t constitute an apology. Regardless of my reasons, Korvath, it was dishonest of me to start our relationship in that way. For this, I humbly apologize.”
Korvath had never heard a superior apologize to him, not imperator or fleet imperator, or inquisitor, or executor. Despite acknowledging that the apology was due him, it still made him uncomfortable.
“Mistakes are made, but they can be repaired,” Korvath said. “I appreciate your sentiment, Admiral.”
Despite the foursome’s following discussion, Korvath didn’t reach a final decision. However, he felt engaged by the visitors, and he realized that was all he ever wanted.
During the next cycles, Korvath and the Krackus crew watched the arrival of station sections above the dome’s ring. Then cargo travelers would latch onto the huge components and transfer them to where the SADEs worked to assemble the station deck by deck.
The Krackus couldn’t believe the speed with which the station was assembled.
“What the empire couldn’t do with this technology,” the imperator mused to Korvath.
“Truly,” Korvath said agreeably. “We could dominate races so much quicker.”
The imperator had nodded his head never knowing that the liaison’s comment was meant to be sarcastic.
Julien had asked Cordelia to name the new station. In turn, she’d queried the Omnia fleet members, who had first arrived on scene.
Captain Nira Racine volunteered a name that received wide support. She said the new station should be called Outpost Thirteen: Union. When asked why that word, she’d replied,
26: Investigation
BETA ONE, STABLER SYSTEM
X-ORE PLANET
The Alexander exited the anomaly into the Stabler system. While this wasn’t the council’s primary destination, Claudia had asked Cremsylon to make a detour.
“What is it you hope to see?” Shoya had asked.
The mickie leader rarely addressed Claudia properly, but the councilor ignored the lack of protocol. Shoya’s anger simmered just below the surface, and Claudia didn’t want to scratch the veneer.
“As you heard, we’ve received Peña’s proposal about supplying travelers,” Claudia patiently explained. “I wish the council to confirm the status of her production facilities.”
“Don’t you believe her?” Shoya asked.
“Whether I do or don’t isn’t the issue,” Claudia replied. “It’s my job to confirm. Isn’t that what you do for your gang?”
Shoya considered the idea, and she grudgingly nodded.
“Also, we want to see the statuses of the populace, especially the clones and the mickies,” David said.
“They won’t be the same as they were before Peña and her sisters arrived,” Shoya noted. Then the light went on. “Oh, that’s the point. You want to see what the sisters have accomplished. Then you can compare the conditions of these people to the clones and mickies on Geneva and Transit One.”
“Yes,” James said. “In addition, we want to hear what Peña thinks of expanding the sisters’ numbers to accommodate the work on those two planets.”
“Well considered,” Shoya commented. She didn’t care that the councilors thought her approval gratuitous. The harshness of her life had inured her to the opinions of the powerful.
Violet and Gat’r had been two others who had listened to the back and forth.
Violet sent.
Gat’r wasn’t about to be outdone. He sent a blast of SADE-like humor to Violet, and she reciprocated.
As the Alexander settled into Beta One’s orbit, Peña sent greetings to Cremsylon, who informed the sister of the new passengers aboard.
Peña responded.
Within the domes, humans had various reactions. The sisters assured a quantity of the populace, the employees, that the new arrivals were allies.
Doell queried Peña. He’d finally accepted the offer of an implant, but he was early in the adoption cycle. On the other hand, Saran still had refused the device.
Peña replied.
The news thrilled Doell. A profit-sharing deal had been worked out between Peña and himself. Peña would create accounts on Naiad for the sisters, sharing a significant amount of the credits among them. The remaining share would accrue to Beta One.
Nate Strasser sought Doell, who touched a finger to his temple to indicate he was online.
“Yes?” Doell queried of Nate when his link with Peña dropped.
“I still can’t believe you accepted that alien device in your head,” Nate remarked.
“We’ve had this conversation, Nate. It’s getting old,” Doell replied.
“Who’s up there?” Nate asked. “You don’t seem upset. So, I imagine that it’s good news.”
“The Alexander is inbound with some special passengers,” Doell said, smiling mischievously.
“Who?” Nate inquired, suddenly intrigued.
“The Naiad council,” Doell replied.
“Nice joke. Who is it really?” Nate pressed.
Doell smiled and winked. That’s when Nate blanched.
“Aren’t you glad Peña and her sisters were here first?” Doell said, gently slapping Nate’s shoulder. “This mining location is undergoing rehabilitation, and the council will see that.”
Nate quickly reviewed the development that the dome’s populace had been undertaking. The entirety of mickies and mining clones hadn’t been completely repaired, but the count was well over half. The incubation of clones was halted, and the educators were at work on the clones’ future curriculum and instructing classes. Most important, the inactive clones were under the sisters’ care. While there was nothing to be done to extend their lives, they were being kept comfortable.
“What did you say?” Nate belatedly asked the retreating Doell.
“Peña wants me to meet her in the engineering bay adjacent to the launch pad,” Doell said over his shoulder.
When Doell arrived in the bay, he found Peña had donned an environment suit, and two sisters helped Doell dress.
Doell inquired via his implant. He tried to use his new device at every opportunity.
Peña chuckled. She’d first heard the phrase from Doell. she sent.
Doell asked.
Peña replied.
Doell shrugged. In some ways, Naiads were strange to him too.
With face shields retracted, Peña and Doell waited for the Alexander’s traveler to land. After the Quadrant’s transit near Beta One, a traveler had sped ahead.
Doell attempted to connect to the shuttleport’s antenna to monitor the inbound ship. Try as he might, he was unsuccessful. Then he received a link from a nearby sister. he sent, before he accessed the antenna.
The implant’s power amazed Doell. He watched images of the traveler drop planetside and touch down on the landing pad. Then he signaled his faceplate closed and his airflow on.
Peña inquired.
Doell nodded, and the pair entered the rotating airlock.
“We’re about to receive our welcome on the surface,” Violet warned the passengers. “The council must stay with their SADEs. Samuel, you have Lisa, and Gat’r, please remain close to Shoya.”
“Not a problem,” Gat’r remarked with a leer, which earned him a gentle kick in the leg.
“Who takes care of me?” Emory quipped.
“We hope to lighten the traveler when we lift again,” Violet deadpanned, and the passengers erupted in laughter and noises.
The cargo shuttle’s rear ramp dropped, and Lisa gripped Samuel’s arm tightly. Fillery did the same to Violet.
“Welcome to Beta One,” Peña sent over the suit comm. “I’m Peña and my companion is Peter Doell, the director of operations for Beta One and Beta Two. Please follow us.” She turned and led the group across the surface to a large assembly shed.
The sealed construct had two entries. One airlock was for individuals, and the other opening operated primarily as an entrance and exit by which parts and material entered and the completed traveler left the shed.
Before gaining the interior, Peña warned, “Please keep your helmets sealed. There’s heat for the sisters, but oxygen is only supplied for specific construction processes.”
“This traveler appears nearly complete,” David said when the group got inside.
“Three more cycles,” Doell said with pride. “This will bring the total of travelers in this system to six.”
“Do you need six?” James asked.
“One would suffice,” Peña replied. “However, only two are available for sale.”
“Have the two that are ready been flight-tested?” Ricardo asked.
Peña chuckled and pointed at a viewport.
The group turned and gazed at the blue-silver nose of a traveler that filled the viewport.
“Our test pilot is Knut Kielpinski,” Doell explained. “I doubt any Naiad shuttle pilot will stress their travelers to the extent that Knut does.”
“Knut was the Beta Two pilot who bested Miriamal’s sisters,” Shoya exclaimed. “I played him on the gaming console. He’s really good.”
“As were you, Shoya,” Peña complimented.
While they watched, the bow of the traveler disappeared.
“Knut’s looping for the Alexander,” Emory said. “Apparently, he’s found a new obstacle to orbit.”
“Come here, Korvath. Sit with us,” the Tritiums called.
“I accept the offer, Kelter,” Korvath said. He tested the wing between the bones. It was firm, which he hadn’t expected. However, rather than climb to where the Tritiums lay, he kept his boots on the floor and sat on the wing’s edge.
“Now tell me what troubles you, Korvath,” Kelter said, resting his massive head on the floor.
“I’m going to quit,” Korvath suddenly uttered. The moment he said those words, it felt like a weight was released from his shoulders.
The normally voluble Tritiums hurriedly communicated telepathically between them.
“Could you clarify, Korvath?” Kelter murmured. “Are you intent on resigning your liaison position or are you choosing to take a further step and quit the empire?”
Korvath’s orbs widened. Kelter had intuited what had bothered him the most. “I think the first leads to the second,” Korvath replied. “I thought to save the Imperium the trouble by quitting and taking up residence on Helgart.”
“While the accommodations are improving, the inability to reside among our own races is debilitating,” Kelter pointed out.
“For me, there would be no going back,” Korvath said. “The executors can’t allow me to talk freely about what I know ... ever.”
“There is that,” Kelter replied. “Have you made a final decision?”
“Not yet, but I’m close,” Korvath replied.
“Your journey opened your orbs, did it?” Kelter inquired.
“It did,” Korvath admitted. “It made me sad for the Imperium.”
“Will you inform the admiral?” Kelter asked.
“I must. I owe her the courtesy,” Korvath replied.
Korvath watched the protectors exit the hatch that led to the warrens. “Not much privacy around here,” he mumbled.
“Perhaps, Korvath, you’re more important than you realize, which means your words matter,” Kelter replied.
“We understand that you want a meeting with the admiral. We can facilitate that,” Z said.
Korvath was taken aback. He expected an argument from the protectors about his conversation with Kelter. Instead, Z had gone straight to the endpoint.
“That is what you wanted, dear Korvath, wasn’t it?” Miranda asked solicitously.
“It’s what I was talking about with Kelter,” Korvath admitted.
“After you resign your commission, what will you do?” Miranda asked.
“Good question,” Korvath replied. “I thought I might be accepted here.”
“What happens in either case if we make progress with the empire or lose to them?” Miranda asked. “In the former case, the residents will be repatriated to their worlds. The cells will empty, and you might be left alone someday. In the latter case, a Krackus fleet will arrive and return you to Imperium for judgment. Incarceration might not be the decision.”
Korvath halted the urge to squawk. The SADEs had thought further ahead than he had.
“There might be alternative paths for you, Korvath,” Z offered.
Korvath’s head came up and his crest partially rose. If there were two entities he trusted among the visitors, it was the protectors. But, in his mind, the admiral loomed in the background. The thought of confronting Cordelia caused his crest to fall.
Cordelia sent.
“What could be my other choices?” Korvath asked of the protectors.
“Do you still believe there’s a path forward for the conclave and the empire?” Z inquired. He was linked to Miranda, and she maintained her connection to Cordelia.
“I was hopeful when I first arrived,” Korvath said. “But I don’t believe the executors would be sincere about any offer they make.”
“Allow me to rephrase my question,” Z replied. “Under what circumstances do you think the conclave and the empire could reach an agreement?”
This was a question that Korvath had never considered. It would have seemed too outrageous to consider. But proposed by a protector, it demanded he consider the possibilities.
As Cordelia raced belowdecks for a traveler, which Nira ordered prepped for her, a question for Korvath occurred to her, but it would have to wait. Her link with Miranda was one-way, listen only.
“A change would have to happen at the executor level,” Korvath mused. “They have the power, and I don’t see them voluntarily giving that up.”
“What would cause them to change their views?” Miranda inquired.
“Loss of power. Loss of territory. Loss of too many ships,” Korvath enumerated.
“Which of these would you consider most effective?” Z asked.
“I certainly don’t want to consider the loss of ships,” Korvath declared defiantly.
“Neither would we,” Miranda soothed.
“An executor’s power is tied to their territory and the riches it produces,” Korvath explained. “If trade was interrupted, the executor would demand the Imperium’s response.”
“Specifically, how should trade be curtailed?” Z inquired.
“It could continue between the worlds within the territory. It’s the ships sailing for Imperium that must be halted,” Korvath replied.
“Wouldn’t some of the intraterritorial commerce be run by Krackus concerns?” Miranda asked.
“Indeed,” Korvath responded. “However, the business owners owe allegiance to the territory’s executor and pay for the privilege of operating in that territory. If they can’t ship to Imperium, they’ll be squawking.”
Z lit his holo-vid and projected a star map. “This is Helgart,” he said, highlighting a star. “The nearest resident’s world to us is Kelter’s home world.”
At the mention of the Gorder home world, Kelter’s head rose off the floor.
The traveler pilot dropped toward the planet, with Cordelia suited and the rear ramp open. As she slowed to land, she swiveled the shuttle’s aft end toward the bot charging bay, and Cordelia leapt to the surface. Within a few strides, she entered the bay. Dropping her environment suit, she glided down the corridor toward the cargo bay. Just before entering, she engaged her human mannerisms and walked into the space.
Immediately, Korvath jumped up and assumed a rigid posture.
“I’ve been informed of your potential decision, Liaison Korvath,” Cordelia. “I’d like to take part in the discussion. However, you may not want my participation.”
Korvath’s stance eased, but he couldn’t find the appropriate words for a reply.
“Let me begin with an apology, Korvath,” Cordelia said. “I thought it convenient and necessary to measure your truthfulness. I feared that you were a distraction who would lull us into a false sense of security. As the admiral, I believed it my duty to vet your opinions of us.>
Cordelia laughed lightly. “I’ve just been reminded that an explanation of my actions doesn’t constitute an apology. Regardless of my reasons, Korvath, it was dishonest of me to start our relationship in that way. For this, I humbly apologize.”
Korvath had never heard a superior apologize to him, not imperator or fleet imperator, or inquisitor, or executor. Despite acknowledging that the apology was due him, it still made him uncomfortable.
“Mistakes are made, but they can be repaired,” Korvath said. “I appreciate your sentiment, Admiral.”
Despite the foursome’s following discussion, Korvath didn’t reach a final decision. However, he felt engaged by the visitors, and he realized that was all he ever wanted.
During the next cycles, Korvath and the Krackus crew watched the arrival of station sections above the dome’s ring. Then cargo travelers would latch onto the huge components and transfer them to where the SADEs worked to assemble the station deck by deck.
The Krackus couldn’t believe the speed with which the station was assembled.
“What the empire couldn’t do with this technology,” the imperator mused to Korvath.
“Truly,” Korvath said agreeably. “We could dominate races so much quicker.”
The imperator had nodded his head never knowing that the liaison’s comment was meant to be sarcastic.
Julien had asked Cordelia to name the new station. In turn, she’d queried the Omnia fleet members, who had first arrived on scene.
Captain Nira Racine volunteered a name that received wide support. She said the new station should be called Outpost Thirteen: Union. When asked why that word, she’d replied,
26: Investigation
BETA ONE, STABLER SYSTEM
X-ORE PLANET
The Alexander exited the anomaly into the Stabler system. While this wasn’t the council’s primary destination, Claudia had asked Cremsylon to make a detour.
“What is it you hope to see?” Shoya had asked.
The mickie leader rarely addressed Claudia properly, but the councilor ignored the lack of protocol. Shoya’s anger simmered just below the surface, and Claudia didn’t want to scratch the veneer.
“As you heard, we’ve received Peña’s proposal about supplying travelers,” Claudia patiently explained. “I wish the council to confirm the status of her production facilities.”
“Don’t you believe her?” Shoya asked.
“Whether I do or don’t isn’t the issue,” Claudia replied. “It’s my job to confirm. Isn’t that what you do for your gang?”
Shoya considered the idea, and she grudgingly nodded.
“Also, we want to see the statuses of the populace, especially the clones and the mickies,” David said.
“They won’t be the same as they were before Peña and her sisters arrived,” Shoya noted. Then the light went on. “Oh, that’s the point. You want to see what the sisters have accomplished. Then you can compare the conditions of these people to the clones and mickies on Geneva and Transit One.”
“Yes,” James said. “In addition, we want to hear what Peña thinks of expanding the sisters’ numbers to accommodate the work on those two planets.”
“Well considered,” Shoya commented. She didn’t care that the councilors thought her approval gratuitous. The harshness of her life had inured her to the opinions of the powerful.
Violet and Gat’r had been two others who had listened to the back and forth.
Gat’r wasn’t about to be outdone. He sent a blast of SADE-like humor to Violet, and she reciprocated.
As the Alexander settled into Beta One’s orbit, Peña sent greetings to Cremsylon, who informed the sister of the new passengers aboard.
Within the domes, humans had various reactions. The sisters assured a quantity of the populace, the employees, that the new arrivals were allies.
The news thrilled Doell. A profit-sharing deal had been worked out between Peña and himself. Peña would create accounts on Naiad for the sisters, sharing a significant amount of the credits among them. The remaining share would accrue to Beta One.
Nate Strasser sought Doell, who touched a finger to his temple to indicate he was online.
“Yes?” Doell queried of Nate when his link with Peña dropped.
“I still can’t believe you accepted that alien device in your head,” Nate remarked.
“We’ve had this conversation, Nate. It’s getting old,” Doell replied.
“Who’s up there?” Nate asked. “You don’t seem upset. So, I imagine that it’s good news.”
“The Alexander is inbound with some special passengers,” Doell said, smiling mischievously.
“Who?” Nate inquired, suddenly intrigued.
“The Naiad council,” Doell replied.
“Nice joke. Who is it really?” Nate pressed.
Doell smiled and winked. That’s when Nate blanched.
“Aren’t you glad Peña and her sisters were here first?” Doell said, gently slapping Nate’s shoulder. “This mining location is undergoing rehabilitation, and the council will see that.”
Nate quickly reviewed the development that the dome’s populace had been undertaking. The entirety of mickies and mining clones hadn’t been completely repaired, but the count was well over half. The incubation of clones was halted, and the educators were at work on the clones’ future curriculum and instructing classes. Most important, the inactive clones were under the sisters’ care. While there was nothing to be done to extend their lives, they were being kept comfortable.
“What did you say?” Nate belatedly asked the retreating Doell.
“Peña wants me to meet her in the engineering bay adjacent to the launch pad,” Doell said over his shoulder.
When Doell arrived in the bay, he found Peña had donned an environment suit, and two sisters helped Doell dress.
Peña chuckled. She’d first heard the phrase from Doell.
Doell shrugged. In some ways, Naiads were strange to him too.
With face shields retracted, Peña and Doell waited for the Alexander’s traveler to land. After the Quadrant’s transit near Beta One, a traveler had sped ahead.
Doell attempted to connect to the shuttleport’s antenna to monitor the inbound ship. Try as he might, he was unsuccessful. Then he received a link from a nearby sister.
The implant’s power amazed Doell. He watched images of the traveler drop planetside and touch down on the landing pad. Then he signaled his faceplate closed and his airflow on.
Doell nodded, and the pair entered the rotating airlock.
“We’re about to receive our welcome on the surface,” Violet warned the passengers. “The council must stay with their SADEs. Samuel, you have Lisa, and Gat’r, please remain close to Shoya.”
“Not a problem,” Gat’r remarked with a leer, which earned him a gentle kick in the leg.
“Who takes care of me?” Emory quipped.
“We hope to lighten the traveler when we lift again,” Violet deadpanned, and the passengers erupted in laughter and noises.
The cargo shuttle’s rear ramp dropped, and Lisa gripped Samuel’s arm tightly. Fillery did the same to Violet.
“Welcome to Beta One,” Peña sent over the suit comm. “I’m Peña and my companion is Peter Doell, the director of operations for Beta One and Beta Two. Please follow us.” She turned and led the group across the surface to a large assembly shed.
The sealed construct had two entries. One airlock was for individuals, and the other opening operated primarily as an entrance and exit by which parts and material entered and the completed traveler left the shed.
Before gaining the interior, Peña warned, “Please keep your helmets sealed. There’s heat for the sisters, but oxygen is only supplied for specific construction processes.”
“This traveler appears nearly complete,” David said when the group got inside.
“Three more cycles,” Doell said with pride. “This will bring the total of travelers in this system to six.”
“Do you need six?” James asked.
“One would suffice,” Peña replied. “However, only two are available for sale.”
“Have the two that are ready been flight-tested?” Ricardo asked.
Peña chuckled and pointed at a viewport.
The group turned and gazed at the blue-silver nose of a traveler that filled the viewport.
“Our test pilot is Knut Kielpinski,” Doell explained. “I doubt any Naiad shuttle pilot will stress their travelers to the extent that Knut does.”
“Knut was the Beta Two pilot who bested Miriamal’s sisters,” Shoya exclaimed. “I played him on the gaming console. He’s really good.”
“As were you, Shoya,” Peña complimented.
While they watched, the bow of the traveler disappeared.
“Knut’s looping for the Alexander,” Emory said. “Apparently, he’s found a new obstacle to orbit.”
