Earthers by S. H. Jucha

Author:S. H. Jucha [Jucha, S. H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Hannon Books, Inc.
Published: 2020-04-12T21:00:00+00:00

20: Down Line

The Dontot meal consisted of planet-based foods, which were prepared with fruits, nuts, and legumes.

Two young females insisted on feeding Aputi bite by bite. He’d opened his mouth to protest, but Homsaff stopped him. She sent, <Don’t insult our hosts. Act like a male who deserves the attention.>

Aputi did as the queen instructed him, and unexpectedly, he found it satisfying to be treated in this way.

With the meal finished, and the question of compensation completed in favor of the station, Jess and his companions were returned to the central platform.

Several Dontot males leapt lightly to the ramp and prepared to assist their guests.

“They make that look so easy,” Aputi remarked.

“Try not to hurt anyone, Aputi,” Jess warned.

The veterans made Aputi jump first. It gave him less time to think, and this time, the Dontots were ready for him. They used their hands to stop his forward momentum, while they leaned into his mass.

Jess thanked Crixtos for the Dontot hospitality.

“It’s we who wish to thank you, Captain,” Crixtos said graciously. “Your race intrigues us. We’ve decided to visit Pyre when the gates are open again.”

“I imagine that I won’t be living on my home world for many annuals,” Jess said.

Crixtos watched the emotions cross the captain’s face. “You have a long journey ahead of you, Captain. Our representative will speak of you, the other veterans, and the Omnians in the Tsargit.”

When Jess boarded the traveler, the Dontot males exited, and Sharon lifted.

<Orbit, do we have an update on the Dontot dome?> Jess sent.

<The news is unfortunate, Captain. The designation remains yellow,> Orbit replied.

Orbit’s response caused eyes to turn toward Jess. That included Menous when he heard from Homsaff.

“We shouldn’t expect the insectoids to quit,” Tacnock said sympathetically to his friend.

“I know,” Jess replied. “It’s their population pressure that drives them. It makes them predictable and intractable. I was hoping they might have run when they saw our ships.”

“Wishful thinking,” Homsaff remarked.

Jess had Sharon divert to the Rêveur. He selected Tacnock, Aputi, and the Dischnya for the attack. Lucia selected herself, and Menous chose to ride along and observe. The veterans took one shuttle, and two more were loaded with shadows.

On the trip to the moon, Jess brooded.

When Lucia had enough of Jess’s silence, she sent, <It doesn’t matter what you think the Colony might do. Keep an open mind. Anything is possible.>

<That’s exactly what I’m thinking,> Jess sent in reply. <None of our previous entry tactics are applicable.>

“Homsaff, the holo-vid,” Jess suddenly requested. Then he sent, <Orbit, connect me to the traveler pilot at the dome.>

<Captain,> the pilot replied.

<Orbit, send the traveler’s telemetry to our holo-vid,> Jess requested.

The ship’s view was from a distance. Movement could be seen by virtue of the gates’ firings but not much more.

<Lieutenant Handling, I need a much closer view,> Jess sent.

<Stand by, Captain,> Jerome replied, as he eased his traveler toward the dome.

The veterans crowded around the holo-vid that Homsaff held. They were anxious to see what worried Jess.

<How close?> Jerome asked.

<A detailed view of a single red,> Jess replied.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.