Guardian of Night by Tony Daniel

Author:Tony Daniel [Daniel, Tony]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science Fiction, General, Space Opera, Adventure, Fiction
ISBN: 9781451638028
Google: qoUIfAEACAAJ
Publisher: Baen
Published: 2012-02-07T05:00:00+00:00

FOURTEEN

10 January 2076

Vicinity of Sirius

Guardian of Night

Ricimer stood as Lieutenant Commander Hadria Talid entered his captain’s stateroom and joined the gathered officers for the evening mess. The craft cabins were confined, even on such a vessel as the Guardian of Night, and it was customary when someone entered for both parties to move around a bit to clear the air for conversation. No matter how absorptive the walls, there were always stray words hanging about in such close quarters, and it was important for a captain to say what he meant.

The chairs of the dining area were arranged in a square, with Ricimer taking up one entire side—at the head of the table, as it were, although there was no table—and two or three of his officers seated in feeding chairs on the other three sides of the square’s perimeter. Between them all on the floor of the cabin was square-shaped trough, like a small wading pool, whose inside was filled with a gellike feeding solution that would have smelled musty and woodsy to a human. All of the officers dipped their legs up to the ankle joints into the trough and absorbed sustenance through the gills on the bottom of their feet.

These officers were the product of many molts of selection. He must have officers to help him carry out his plans, but he could not afford to make one mistake in his choice. It had been harrowing. He’d spent hours poring over files, asking innocuous questions, trying to arrive at an officer’s true disposition. But it had all been worth it.

The proof was before him. No one had turned him in. Here they all were, in this up to their necks. Even if one were a plant, he or she must know that to turn back now would mean his or her death. Things had gone too far.

Yet they were frightened. Which was good—it was a display of intelligence to be frightened in such circumstances. He must use the fear, however, and not let it overcome them. This had always been his task as captain, and was now as much as ever.

“The refugees selected as rate replacements are coming along all right, but our other guests are growing restless in the cargo hold,” Talid informed him after the first “course” of appetizer fluid sloshed out over their feet. “They’ve requested a corridor pass to obtain exercise and an exhaust fan to clear the air in the hold once a day.”

Ricimer sat back and ran a palm along his cheek—a sign of Guardian contemplation as it was with humans. “I believe that should be possible,” he answered. “But remember it is taking all of Lamella’s ability to train our new rates at an accelerated speed. If the others leave the hold, they’ll inevitably cause distractions for our new crew. This must be done in a limited and orderly fashion.”

“I told their spokesperson as much, but he insisted I take the matter you, sir.”

“You did rightly, of course,” Ricimer said. “But let’s forget craft business for a while, Hadria, and enjoy our meal.

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