Odyssey (Galactic Neighborhood Book 2) Read online

  Perry and Swanson were both smiling as they stood side by side watching the process unfold. Kiren turned towards her guest to say something, only to find him watching her intently. He scooped up her hand, holding it in both of his.

  “Congratulations, Kiren. This project is going to change everything for these people. Well done.”

  Her mind ground to a screeching halt as her hand was enveloped by his warm, soft skin. She could feel her face heating, and began to perspire under his handsome gaze.

  “I... uh, thank you, Andre. You’re welcome to stay and watch if you like, but I have duties to attend to.”

  It was difficult to think while he was still holding her hand, and he gently let her go when she pulled away.

  “I would like nothing better, Kiren, but I have a meeting shortly with President Morales. If you have no other commitments, would you care to join me for dinner tonight?”

  Kirens’ heart nearly stopped as Andres’ question registered in her addled brain. She looked into his sky blue eyes and saw only warmth and affection as he waited for her to reply.

  “Yes. I mean, I would love to, Andre.”

  The smile her answer brought to his face was a reward in itself.

  “I will contact you later with details, then. Thank you for allowing me to join you today.”

  She watched him walk away, captivated by his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and muscular thighs. Duty called, however, and she made her way back to her work station and sat down. Closing her eyes briefly, she shook her head and wondered how she was going to be able to concentrate. The day was already filled with wonder, and it wasn’t even noon yet.

  ####

  When Mace Davis received Ensign Perry’s report yesterday morning, he wasted no time taking it directly to Vice Admiral Arlington and Ambassador Swanson. If Kiren’s suspicions about what occurred at the alpha water project site were true, it would not only neutralize their mission, but could endanger relations with the only other human inhabited planet in the galaxy.

  The report was thorough and pulled no punches – the ‘sand dragons’ of Sahara appeared to be a sentient race, and if so, held prior claim. It still needed to be confirmed one way or another, but there were serious ramifications for both Sahara and Pacifica. Arlington was never one to retreat from a difficult challenge, but even she flinched at the delicate ground they were about to tread. Today’s meeting with Morales, Flynn and Dooley could turn out many different ways, but she hoped there was enough trust built up between them to weather the storm and come to some agreement on how to proceed.

  Arlington, with Davis and Swanson in tow, were ushered into Morales’ office and seated in the comfortable corner nook they normally used. They were greeted warmly, offered refreshments, and settled in their places. Arlington spoke first.

  “Madam President, Ensign Perry, who is leading the water project team, has come across evidence the creatures you call sand dragons may, in fact, be a sentient species.”

  While Dooley looked incredulous, Morales simply glanced over at Flynn with a grimace on her face. Arlington continued.

  “I take it some of you have already considered this possibility.”

  Morales nodded in agreement.

  “Unfortunately, recently received information has forced us to take a closer look at the dragons, and why they have suddenly merited the attention of Senator Roux. Sam and I have been discussing scenarios all morning, so yes, the possibility of their sentience was discussed. Do you have any information you feel comfortable sharing with us?”

  Arlington gestured to Davis, who handed over a data chip. For the next few minutes they watched the activity at the alpha site which Perry included in her report. The Saharans looked stunned when it finished, and Davis started off the discussion.

  “It was Perry’s conclusion the sand dragons demonstrate remarkable abilities which are normally assigned to sentient species, and as such, would have prior claim on Sahara. Her research into the founding of this colony came up with only a cursory reference to them, and it was plain the dragons were not thoroughly investigated before the decision was made to colonize the planet.”

  “Further, she found it suspicious most of the records for the time period were wiped out by a bizarre “virus” which also destroyed Odyssey’s AI. We concur with Ensign Perry’s conclusions, Madam President, and believe the status of the sand dragons must be settled before Pacifica’s relationship with Sahara can continue.”

  Morales shook her head and sighed audibly.

  “It may come as something of a shock, but I agree with you. Given the information you provided, I suspect someone was not only willing to ignore the dragon’s status and prior claim, but was also crafty enough to cover their tracks. None of which can be proven, of course, but I have wondered for many years what really happened eighty years ago. Whatever Roux and his supporters think they know, he plans to use it against Pacifica’s presence here and my government. If he believes the dragons are simply clever animals, he may only try to embarrass us by claiming my incompetence has allowed the aggressive foreigners to disturb our poor helpless wildlife.”

  “On the other hand, if he has put the pieces together as we have, he will likely claim Pacifica is trying to throw us off the planet to take it for themselves, and emphasize I was the one who invited them here in the first place. This is exactly the kind of incident which could destroy everything we have worked so hard to accomplish. Let me be very clear - if it is determined the sand dragons are sentient, I will not hesitate to declare them as having first claim to the planet. If this happens, I need to know what our options are, and what we can expect from Pacifica. Ambassador?”

  If anyone might have suggested this particular scenario, Andre Swanson would have laughed in their face. Unfortunately, no one was laughing, and if ever there was a rock and a hard place, he was surely between them. Whatever his inward thoughts, they did not show in his calm expression as he prepared to speak.

  “Before I answer, I want you to know Pacifica is prepared to stand with you. While this turn of events could not have been predicted, it is clear the status of the sand dragons must be determined and settled. Meanwhile, Pacifica is committed to assisting you with food production, medical care, and security. The water project may have to be suspended, though it might still benefit the dragons if we were to continue.”

  “If they are found to have prior claim, we would assist you in the relocation and establishment of your colony on another planet. The possibility of a treaty relationship with Pacifica would be put on hold until your people are settled in their new home. At the same time, we would endeavor to determine the needs of the sand dragons and assist them in any way we can”

  “But allow me to be candid - in the event your people are determined to remain on Sahara, we would be forced to relocate the sand dragons and cut off all offers of aid to the colony. It is not our desire to threaten you or your people, and we respect your right to determine your own destiny. This is one rule, however, which neither we nor our treaty partners will break.”

  Morales looked grim, but determined, as she stood to her feet.

  “I want to thank you for bringing this to our attention, and for making your position clear. If you would give us a few moments alone, I would like to confer with my advisors.”

  Flynn stood to escort the Pacifican delegation into the small attached conference room, and quietly closed the door. He and Dooley joined the President at the large wall of windows on the other side of the room. Nothing was said for several long seconds, until Morales broke the silence.

  “Say something you two! Even if you think I don’t want to hear it.”

  Dooley cleared his throat nervously.

  “I have no idea how to make certain the dragons are really sentient, but I am going to assume for the moment they are and we can prove it. If this is the case, we have three options: find a way to share the planet, remove ourselves from Sahara, or remove the dragons from Sahara. The first option is unlik
ely. The third would be committing suicide, since we will never be able to survive here without Pacifica’s help.”

  “The second option is the one we must embrace, but doing so will undoubtedly be the greatest challenge we will ever face. It’s going to be difficult, messy, and extremely unpleasant. Lines will be drawn, enemies made, factions created in our society. And yet, we have no choice. Leaving the planet is the right thing to do, and we all know it.”

  Flynn merely smiled and nodded in agreement. Morales turned to the General and placed her hand gently on his arm.

  “Well said, Amos. I cannot speak for anyone else, but I find myself in agreement with your honest assessment.”

  With a small sigh, she quirked an eyebrow at her Vice President.

  “All right, Sam, I need to hear your thoughts as well.”

  He chuckled, still staring out at the bleak Saharan landscape.

  “It’s humiliating we even have to deal with this issue. If any one of us were in charge eighty years ago, I would like to think we would have pulled the plug on this planet and continued our search. We can’t go back and change it now, but we sure as hell got stuck fixing the problem. Our hands are tied, Olivia. In some ways it would be a relief to find a nicer planet to colonize where we can grow and build like we were meant to. In addition, we need the treaty with Pacifica to ensure our own survival, if nothing else. Our choices from here on out are crystal clear.”

  The next several minutes were spent exchanging ideas and forming a rough outline of their future steps. Sam retrieved the Pacifican delegation, and they all returned to their seats. There was an uncomfortable tension in the room, and Morales quickly took the initiative to resume the discussion.

  “Don’t worry, my friends, we are not planning to abandon our principles, nor do we blame you for creating this issue. First, I believe we need to keep a tight lid on this until we have the information we need. I propose we combine forces and work together, so I will be looking for your recommendations. Let’s keep the initial investigation team as small as possible, and on a need to know basis. If you can spare Ensign Perry from the water project, I would like to have her included. Until further notice, I want the alpha site cordoned off and guarded around the clock.”

  “The next step is to find a way to contact and communicate with the dragons. I believe Andre has prior experience communicating with another sentient species, so it seems logical to have him head up that portion of the mission. As far as anyone else will know, we are simply protecting the sand dragons from further disturbance while we study their way of life. There will be some who will not accept our explanation at face value, but the less we say the better.”

  “Meanwhile, we need to plan ahead on how to reveal our discovery to the rest of the population, and deal with the political and social upheaval it’s sure to cause. I would very much like to have an exodus plan in place, as well as a new planet for us to call home when we announce this to our people. If I am not mistaken, Pacifica has discovered a number of human habitable planets which might suit us. Obviously, Sahara is going to need a great deal of help from the alliance in order to make all of this work.”

  “I realize you will need to inform your superiors of the issue, and then decide on what kind of aid you might be willing to extend to us. Let me be frank - this government is committed to discovering the truth about the dragons, and then taking the appropriate steps to secure their claim on this planet. Now, if you would be willing to stay for a working lunch, I would like us to get a running start in dealing with the issue. As someone from Earth once said, “Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”

  Chapter 5

  By early afternoon, the rush from the morning’s events began to diminish. Kiren and her teammates ceased their rapt attention on the process unfolding outside their windows, and settled in for long hours of monitoring, sampling, and records keeping. From here on out there would prove to be very little in the way of excitement, at least until it was time to reintroduce the aquatic life which would inhabit the refilled lakes, streams, and oceans. There was already discussion of ways to speed the project even more, such as transporting larger quantities of H2o from a nearby ice world. It would require more monitoring teams and committed Sentinels, but it could be done.

  Kiren’s thoughts turned to a darker reality, as she wondered how the water project might affect the sand dragons and their way of life. More than a full day passed since submitting her report to Commander Davis, yet she received no response. Perhaps the entire issue was above her pay grade, and wiser heads than hers would be involved in the investigation. That may all be true, but she was still very concerned about the fascinating creatures at the alpha site. She wanted to help them, communicate with them, find out everything she could about them, even though this was not her area of expertise or training.

  She finished up her review of the early sampling results, and leaned back in her chair to think. The whole issue of the initial colony survey records as it related to the sand dragons was like a splinter in her mind. She was certain they must have known what the dragons really were, and yet allowed the colony to settle here anyway. The records were no help at all, and it was a shame there were no living witnesses she could talk to. This assumption, Kiren quickly realized, was made without the benefit of any research to confirm or deny it. With a little help she could correct the error, and so placed a communications request to Expedition’s AI.

  “J-95, this is Ensign Kiren Perry. Please confirm voice pattern and input authorization code.”

  Authorization complete. Proceed with query.

  “Do you have access to Saharan personnel records?”

  Please specify.

  “Are any of the original colonists still living?”

  Affirmative. There are three original colonists in residence.

  “Are any of them former officers aboard the Odyssey?”

  Affirmative. Thea Chilton served as a junior member of the bridge communications crew.

  “Where is she now?”

  She resides in a retirement facility in the third district.

  “Is there any information regarding her health?

  This information is restricted.

  “Does she have any family or relatives?

  Negative.

  “Would I be allowed to visit her?”

  Affirmative. Should I inform the facility of your intentions?

  “No. End of query.”

  Kiren closed the link and decided on a surprise visit to Thea this afternoon. What could it hurt? It wasn’t likely the old woman would have any useful information to share, but Kiren’s desire to know for herself made the opportunity impossible to pass up. She needed to watch her time though, as she didn’t want to be late for her dinner date with Andre.

  A sharp rap on the office door startled Kiren out of her thoughts, and she was surprised to see Commander Davis let himself in. She quickly rose and stood at attention, waiting for Davis to close the door and approach her.

  “At ease, Ensign. Please be seated.”

  Davis seated himself on the opposite side of her desk, a small smile on his handsome face.

  “I want to congratulate you on a successful start to the water project, and while we are quite pleased with your performance, you are being given new responsibilities. I have just come from a meeting with President Morales and her staff, where we discussed your report on the sand dragons. We agreed with your conclusions, based on the recorded data, but now it’s time to confirm their status once and for all.”

  “From this moment forward, all information on the dragons is restricted. In order to protect them, the entire alpha site is being secured by our own forces even as we speak. You have been chosen as part of the First Contact team, which will be a cooperative effort between us and Sahara, and will be led by Ambassador Swanson.”

  The look of surprise on Kiren’s face almost elicited a chuckle out of Davis, but he caught it in time, and schooled his features into pro
fessional passivity. He leaned forward and placed a small data chip on the desk in front of her.

  “Your orders are detailed here. Should you have any concerns, please contact me via a secure channel. Your assistant, Lieutenant Blair, will be in charge of the water project going forward. As far as anyone knows, you have been reassigned to assist in the study of the sand dragons in an effort to protect them. All inquiries will be handled by your team leader. Do you have any questions?”

  Kiren locked down the dozens of questions clamoring for attention in her mind, and instead embraced a quiet confidence.

  “No, Sir, not at this time.”

  Davis rose, followed quickly by Perry.

  “You have no official duties for the rest of the day, Ensign. I suggest you take some time to review your orders and enjoy some personal time until tomorrow. If you happen to run into the Ambassador this evening, give him my regards.” With a smile and a wink, he turned and left the office, closing the door softly behind him.

  Kiren stood there, quietly staring at the backside of the door, mind awhirl and heart racing. Her face flushed in embarrassment as she realized Davis knew all about her date with Andre. More importantly, he let her know he didn’t have a problem with it, even though they were now in the same chain of command. While this was an unexpected wrinkle in her personal life, she would never allow it to color her professional judgement.

  She took a deep breath and seated herself once again, picking up the small data chip Davis left behind. After she viewed it, she would touch base with Lieutenant Blair, collect her few personal belongings, and head back to her quarters before visiting with Thea Chilton. Her somewhat boring afternoon just became very interesting indeed.