Fatal Flaws (Gate Ghosts Book 13) by S. H. Jucha

Author:S. H. Jucha [Jucha, S. H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hannon Books, Inc.
Published: 2024-05-26T00:00:00+00:00

16: One More Time

OUTPOST THIRTEEN: UNION

HELGART SYSTEM

With the passing of cycles, the individuals who’d returned aboard Juno’s flotilla to Helgart appreciated the outpost’s and the Liberation’s relaxed atmospheres. Those individuals included the residents, who knew they had risked the same fate as had the conclave fighters.

Derry enjoyed a short visit with Claudia. Then the councilor had to return to Naiad. But they parted with a commitment to be together in the near future.

However, there came a time when everyone aboard the Liberation felt that they had unfinished business.

Gaylene sat with Mila in one of the gardens. She had been careful not to mention her anxiousness about failing to return more residents. If there was anyone who deserved to experience more downtime, it was Mila, who’d spent a long time in the Jatouche tank.

<Mila, you seem preoccupied. What’s the problem?> Gaylene asked.

<I don’t think I should talk about it,> Mila replied.

<You know you can talk to me,> Gaylene encouraged.

<All right, but don’t blame me if you get upset,> Mila prefaced. <The truth is ... I’m bored.>

Gaylene stared at her friend. Then the heavy worlder started laughing uproariously.

<What?> Mila queried forcefully.

Gaylene got her laughter under control. Then she sent, <Many of us have been tiptoeing around you about the subject of further action. We didn’t want to upset you.>

Mila frowned. <That missile destroyed my traveler and half of my body. It didn’t do anything to my mind or my resolve. As long as I have a Jatouche tank nearby, Krackus peacekeepers better stay out of my way.>

Gaylene smiled and shared the conversation with Juno and Kelley.

<Time to talk,> Juno sent. <We’ll join you.>

While Gaylene and Mila chatted, Juno and Kelley made their separate ways to the garden where the pair sat. Then the foursome found a circular bench on which to chat.

<What’s Tocknicka saying?> Mila inquired, without preamble.

<He seems to be in a wait mode,> Kelley responded.

<What’s Commodore Ticnikrok’s status?> Mila continued.

<Tocknicka informed me that Admiral Cordelia is planning an operation with the commodore,> Juno replied.

<So, we don’t have access to our escort, and the commander is worried about our mental health,> Mila surmised. <Kelley, can I have your holo-vid with the executor territory map?>

When Kelley initiated the display, Mila sent an image with text that Kelley used to augment the star map.

<Someone’s been busy,> Gaylene commented.

<I was also concerned about your reactions to continuing to return the residents,> Mila responded, smiling. <Originally, we jumped to the far side of the empire to interdict grain shipments. We’ve done that. That means we can choose a different strategy. The territories next to this one can absorb a great number of residents. I say we propose these areas of space to Tocknicka.>

<Without escorts?> Juno asked.

<We inform the commander that we wish to sail to these two areas of space, and we need his support,> Mila replied.

<It’s doubtful that the commander can assemble the number of Trident squadrons we require for a considerable length of time,> Kelley pointed out.

<I said we’d ask the commodore for his support.

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