Galaxy's End by J. T. Solo

Author:J. T. Solo [Solo, J. T.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Future House Publishing
Published: 2019-11-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Mission time 0445

Dax hated it when he had a brilliant idea and no one listened to him.

“I told you we should have started with the ‘bring guns’ idea,” Dax said. “They—” he emphasized the gunmen with a gesture, “obviously got the memo.”

Both Bik and Tai remained silent, just glared at Dax.

Mission time 0125

Sunset over Gamma 4 was hauntingly beautiful. Gamma Solara minor lit an ocean of emerald that reached to the bloodred horizon and beyond, light refracting off the onyx black clouds in the distance. And the quiet. Without the Tactum, the legion of agri-drones remained still, and the only sound was the whirring of the local insectosoid. The humans were reticent to disturb the peace, buoyed by the gentle pace of the puma, Kyrie’s cargo transport.

Bik sighed. “It reminds me of home. Chem green agri-crops, black carbon refractory clouds. Terraformed of course, just like my home planet. It was the Tribe Chiefs themselves that sold our land and our people to slavery. The Cooperative’s offers for subsidization were too substantial to pass up.” He looked towards the sunset, and sighed. “My peoples were given a chance to be free, but given the prerogative, they chose servitude for themselves. At least my colony did.” He shrugged and patted his machine gun.

Tai and Dax stared at the oft quiet marine, surprised by the most consecutive words he had uttered since they met.

“Feeling homesick, Bik?” Kelly asked.

Bik chuckled to himself. “Hardly, Kelly.” He took a deep breath, seeming to savor the air around him. “While I hold a tiny longing for my tribe, it is my home that is sick of me.” He smiled and shook himself out of his reverie. “No, just trying to work up the strength to break this beautiful peace.” He reluctantly picked up the radio. “Sergeant, this is Mbikala, come in.” The man spoke over the radio with a clear, refined accent.

They had decided to check in every fifteen minutes mission time and to use the marines’ shortwave radio instead of their wristcoms. Just in case hostile elements were scanning burst transmissions. Or even not-hostile-but-opportunistically-in-a-thieving-mood elements were scanning in the area.

“I read you Bik, what do you got for me?” Ramirez’s voice came in with just a hint of static. They were close to the radio’s optimal distance.

“We will soon reach the base’s perimeter, but our sweeps look clear. We are going to proceed.”

“With caution, of course.”

“Of course.”

There was a moment of silence. “Have the Captain copy on that.”

Bik turned to look at Dax, raising one eyebrow quizzically at him.

Dax grabbed the set from Bik’s hand. “That’s a low blow, Ramirez.”

There was an audible sigh from her end. “That isn’t a copy.”

“Yes, yes, copy Sergeant.” Dax returned the set to Bik. “Let’s get this done. ‘With caution’ all right? An extra helping of it. Over and out.”

Bik just shrugged, smiled, and embraced the silence once again.

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