Operation Ark by Pauline Baird Jones

Author:Pauline Baird Jones [Jones, Pauline Baird]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Perilous Pauline's Books

City was not thrilled to be alone with Lady Yodrirka, well, almost alone. Tiger was curled up on one of the ready room chairs, his cat’s ears up, his expression alert and interested. In fact, he kind of reminded her of a referee, the way his head turned to her, to the Lady, then back to her.

City had never felt so Picard. Ready room for starters. Her hands were clasped behind her back, her chin was up, the table was between her and the bird. The uniform was different and there was no Earl Grey tea, but she channeled him because she needed to be the Captain at this moment.

She needed the bird to talk.

The bird was still, not even her eyes moved as she watched City. Those eyes. It took channeling Picard and all the other Star Trek captains to hold it.

“You wished to speak with me, Sergeant City?”

Her voice was as deep and old as her eyes, with the timbre of a mountain storm.

Yeah, it was that cold.

Was the “Sergeant” a push back against the captain channeling?

“Yes, I did. You’ve seen what’s happened at our other…stops. I don’t know if they are after you, your ally, OxeroidR, or both of you—”

“You don’t believe this ship is an attractive acquisition?”

“I’m sure that this ship interests someone. Now. But no one knew about it before. We think the Testudinians either talked or were coerced into talking.”

“The robot knew. And his human.”

“We both know that if OxeroidR wanted to take this ship, it would already be his.”

The bird’s head moved in what could be a nod. For the first time, she moved, turning to pace slowly over to a painting that had come with the ship, her claws clicking ominously against the uncarpeted flooring. City didn’t know where or when the painting had been created. It was a place she wouldn’t mind seeing. A place of blue mountains and a purple lake. Both familiar and alien at the same time.

“True.” She turned to face City once more.

“Bull and I have been looking at the probe data. We’ve identified an area where we can drop you off. This time we’ll take the Emissary down, use the scan dampening effect of your mountains to confuse them. You fly your way and we fly ours.”

The Lady continued to stare at her. Not a feather ruffled, so why did City feel distrust emanating from her? What was her deal?

“We are concerned about ground defenses. Can you give us any insights to what we might encounter during atmosphere entry?”

“Such as?”

“Ground to air or ground to space weapons? Be a pity to be shot out of the sky this close to your home.”

The Lady walked the other direction, then turned to face City. “You are not going to open communications with the humanoids? That is what your Mr. Faxton desires, is it not?”

Faxton had started to set his sights on getting home. City cocked her head. “Should we?”

“Is that not what you do? Make treaties with other

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