Sojourn by S H Jucha

Author:S H Jucha [Jucha, S H]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780960045907
Publisher: Hannon Books, Inc.
Published: 2019-03-20T22:00:00+00:00

“Di-Orsoo, a warship approaches,” Or-Deebaa warned. “It’s one of the three-hulled types, as we fought before.”

The Gotlian leader dropped the squirming blemmie back into the feeding tank, with a sigh and a hearty belch. The pressure of the last few days hadn’t done his digestion any good.

Di-Orsoo joined Or-Deebaa, and they made their way to the bridge.

“Status of the human warship, Captain,” Or-Deebaa requested, when they gained the bridge.

“It’s taken up a fixed position a quarter of the way around the planet just above the upper atmosphere,” Sa-Foosee reported.

“They’re using their knowledge of the previous encounter,” Or-Deebaa commented. “They know we won’t dare injure this world.”

“You miss a critical point, Commander,” Di-Orsoo said. “A powerful fleet waits several planets outward. Yet, the leader sends a single ship our way.”

“Then there’s hope?” Sa-Foosee asked.

“It could be the humans don’t wish to annihilate us, Captain,” Di-Orsoo replied. “But that doesn’t mean they’ll allow us to occupy this system. It might be that they’re giving us an opportunity to depart unscathed.”

Di-Orsoo could hear the slapping of tentacles. The crew was upset by the conversation.

“Calm yourselves,” Di-Orsoo announced to the crew. “We take this encounter one step at a time.”

“Should we orient the fleet?” Or-Deebaa asked.

“Make no movements,” Di-Orsoo replied, “and maintain comm silence. We wait until we see what they do.”

Franz launched the traveler, circled the planet, and approached the Gotlian fleet, maintaining a respectable distance. Then he assumed a stationary position and waited — and waited and waited.

<Alex, there’s no comm traffic that we can detect,> Cordelia noted again over the comm. <In fact, there’s no ship movement either.>

<They’re waiting for us to display our intentions,> Julien sent.

<I thought that’s what we did,> Reiko said in exasperation.

<Fear, with no options,> Alex stated cryptically. <Suntred’s analysis was correct. The Gotlians are desperate to hold this world, and they know they haven’t the force or the skills to defeat us.>

<And they’re not going to run away,> Renée finished. <I feel sorry for them.>

<But we can’t sail away and leave them behind,> Alex reminded them. <We have to establish a working relationship … somehow.>

<Alex,> Franz sent, <what if we investigated the battleship that’s stationed apart from the fleet?>

<It doesn’t have any heat signature,> Tatia reminded Alex. <Stationed as it is, it’s probably abandoned.>

<And if it’s not, the close-in defensive armament will shred the traveler,> Reiko countered. She was worried for Franz, but it occurred to her that others were just as concerned for the welfare of one or more of the other passengers.

<Franz,> Alex said, <approach that battleship from the stern. If it’s abandoned, there should be a bay left open, where the last shuttle departed.>

<Good idea,> Franz replied.

“Captain, the shuttle is moving away,” the Gotlian telemetry office announced. “It’s headed toward our abandoned ship.”

Di-Orsoo breathed a sigh of relief. He had no idea what was to come, but he was grateful the interminable wait was over.

“Why the abandoned ship?” Sa-Foosee mused. “They’d have no need of it.”

“Possibly they’re interested in parts and scrap metal,” Or-Deebaa replied.

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