Colonist Commandant: A Science Fiction First Contact Adventure (Guardian of Vesta Colony Book 3) by Dan Raxor & Tyler Bowman

Author:Dan Raxor & Tyler Bowman [Raxor, Dan & Bowman, Tyler]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Royal Guard Publishing LLC
Published: 2023-04-29T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18: The Dinner

That evening, Alex made his way from the suite he shared with the girls to another part of the palace, where he would dine with three of the members of the government junta.

In any other circumstance, Alex might have approached this dinner casually, letting himself enjoy the company of his own people but tonight was different.

He had questions—not just about the build-up but also about the Obovites, and how they fit into Atlantean society. His curiosity had been stoked by Stella, and after hearing her point of view, he wanted to know how the junta would explain their presence.

As Alex entered the dining room of the grand palace, he was struck by the grandeur of the setting. Like the rest of the palace, the walls were adorned with ornate tapestries, and the ceiling was a masterpiece of frescoes depicting scenes of heroic conquests. The large wooden dining table was set for four, with gleaming silverware and crystal glasses reflecting the soft light from the chandeliers.

Alex's attention was drawn to the three figures standing at the far end of the room. Ramses, Hector, and Brenna were already waiting for him, all of them bearing polite smiles and ready to extend a greeting as he neared.

“I hope you’re hungry,” joked Ramses, gripping Alex’s forearm lightly. “You’ll be in for a real treat tonight, Alex. Our chefs make an excellent steamed mellowfish that is simply to die for.”

“I’m definitely hungry but I can’t say I’ve ever heard of a mellowfish before,” replied Alex, chuckling.

“Descriptions won’t do it justice,” said Brenna, also greeting him. “You’ll just have to trust us on this one. It’s simply phenomenal.”

“Sounds great to me,” replied Alex, as he rounded on the last member of the junta, Hector, who didn’t appear as jovial as the others. Hector gripped Alex’s forearm tightly and offered only the perfunctory greeting, something that struck Alex as odd considering his warm introduction the day before.

“How are you settling in, Alex?” asked Brenna once they were seated and wine had been served. “Does the palace meet your standard for accommodations?”

“They far exceed any standard that I might have,” joked Alex. “I can’t think of a single negative. It’s almost too much if you ask me. I don’t feel that I’ve earned such royal treatment.”

“Your presence here has been great for all of us,” said Ramses. “The Atlantean people look upon your return as a very favorable omen. Support for the government has never been higher, so you can say that this is very much a win-win for both sides.”

“Keeping the people happy is always important,” replied Alex. “I know a little about that too, from my time on the council of my home colony of Vesta.”

“Vesta,” repeated Brenna. “What an interesting name. Tell me about Vesta, Alex. Where is it located?”

“It’s the closest settled human colony to Atlantean space,” replied Alex. “I wasn’t born there, but I left Earth to settle there after my fortunes on Earth turned on me.”

“A story that we know very well,” quipped Ramses, making the others laugh.

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