Maddox answered, “Our shipis nearly restored, so we will try to leave tomorrow or the dayafter, at the latest.”
“That might be a slightoverstatement,” Lindstrom interjected. “Avery wants to execute afew test flights before he’s willing to declare theAurora space-worthyagain.” He looked at the Maykure officials. “We will leave as soonas it is possible and, in the meantime, we will do our best tocreate no more hardships for your people. Anything more than that,we cannot promise.” It was clear that the Maykure were not happywith that assurance but at least they seemed accepting.
Knowing about heraspirations to visit the Intabet, Con wasn’t surprised that Deckerextended the conference by asking what the Maykure knew about them.However, it was evident that Lindstrom and Maddox were puzzled byher questions. Kennedy offered up a silent plea for patience to hisCO. Lindstrom rolled his eyes and shook his head but remainedsilent while the officials relayed what knowledge they possessedabout the Intabet and their mountain home, Intabah.
On the way back to theship, Con and Naiche trailed well behind Lindstrom and Maddox.The Aurora captain was inquiring into the delay in heading for Jileesaand Lindstrom was giving such a technical explanation of theconcept of hull integrity that he couldn’t have been more confusingto her if he’d tried.
Deck said to Con, “So –turns out they’re not quite the villains I was expecting them tobe. The Maykure, I mean.”
“Nope, they’re not.”Kennedy stared up at the dusky sky where stars were starting toappear. “Like the Featay, it seems like they’re doing the best theycan with the shitty hand they were dealt.”
“I guess I’m not going tofind a villain on Tolu any easier than I did some good news.” Shekicked at the ground, clearly depressed at the notion. “This isjust an ill-fated world where some random gamma ray fuckedeverything up for everybody.”
“Maybe we need to stoptrying to find a villain and concentrate on finding a solution forthese people.”
Deck stopped and pointed adecisive finger at him. “That’s exactly why I’ve been working onthat plan to visit the Intabet. Knowing how to handle the peerazuwill help the Maykure just as much as the Featay.” She stared offtowards where the float-ways were located. “I know the whole ideais risky. Like Ekno said, it’s kind of crazy to venture all the wayto the mountains not knowing what’s waiting there for us,but—”
“—but risky and crazy isour specialty,” Con interrupted, with a laugh. “We just have tofind a way to pull this off in the time before Avery green-lightsthe Aurora.”
“We should be able to –with a little luck.”
“That’s too bad.” Conbumped her shoulder in a gesture of comradery, retorting, “Sinceluck has not beenour specialty lately….”
Aboard theAurora, Con saidgood-night to Decker at her door and headed wearily for his ownquarters and a late dinner with Aqila. Before he reached them, hishand-held buzzed with the sound of an urgent message. He swiftlyread it and immediately jogged back to Decker’s quarters. When sheopened the door, he announced without preamble, “I just got an IMfrom Lindstrom – he wants to see us in his office. Now.”
“I know – I got the samemessage. I thought he postponed our meeting.”
“I’m guessing this aboutsomething else, entirely.”
“Like what?”
“No clue – let’s go findout.”
As soon as they got toLindstrom’s office, the commander indicated they should have a seatand wait, as others were coming to the meeting. A knock at the doorprompted Lindstrom to issue an invitation to enter; Aqila did so,followed by Omar Uddin. Con smiled at his wife and pulled over achair for her, while wondering what the hell was goingon.
Once they were all seated,Lindstrom said, “Ten minutes ago, I received a high-priority,encoded message from Captain Ricci via the new messaging systemRamsey developed.” Kennedy froze, wondering if he should point outto his CO that such message contents were generally limited tolieutenant commanders and above; therefore, technically Deckerdidn’t belong at this meeting. Before he could decide on a courseof action, Lindstrom continued, “Lieutenant Decker, you are presentbecause I need your assistance in translating themessage.”
Deck, who had been shiftingabout in her chair, stilled. “You need my help? Is the message inChiricahua?” she laughed.
Deadly serious, Lindstromanswered, “I believe it is.” He swiped a hand across the surface ofhis hand-held and the room filled with the sound of words that Convaguely recognized as Chiricahua. He watched in concern as Naiche’sface quickly morphed from amusement into alarm.
In a voice stripped of allemotion, she said, “The captain’s orders are for CommanderLindstrom to keep everyonehere on Tolu, until further notice. If we don’thear from him within the next three days, then….” She cleared herthroat and finished, “…then we are to proceed directly to Uniterrae in theAurora.”
While studying Deck forsigns of a looming outburst of emotion, Con asked “Did the captainsay why?”
“That was the entiremessage.”
Lindstrom quickly regainedcontrol of the meeting. He turned to Naiche. “Thank you, LieutenantDecker. I’ll send an acknowledgment that the message was received,if you would be so good as to supply the wording, since I believeit would be safest to continue in the captain’s chosen mode ofcommunication.” He extended his hand-held computer to her and Deckswiftly recorded the short message. He sent it off and steepled hishands in front of him. “In the morning, I’ll communicate to therest of our crew that we’re staying here on Tolu until furthernotice. I’ll tell Avery that he is not to declare theAurora space-worthyuntil I give him the go-ahead. I’ll also field all of theinevitable questions from Maddox and her crew.”
In that same slow, stiltedtone she’d used before, Deck said, “The Lovelace is in trouble. And theydon’t have either of their Tactical leads with them.” She wasshaking her head. “Their lives must be in danger – and the captaindoesn’t want to put any more lives at risk.” She was reflexivelystroking Kay’s head since he’d responded immediately to her obviousdistress. “There’s no other reason he’d order us to stay away fromJileesa.”
Lindstrom firmly advised,“We do not know any of that
