The Luck of Han'anga (War of the Second Iteration, Book One) by Thomas Watson

Author:Thomas Watson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Desert Stars Publishing
Published: 2018-10-20T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Robert spent the next month immersed in an effort to learn the basics of Leyra’an flight systems, as well as the command and safety protocols of Confederation warships. He worked mostly with Eb’shra Vurn as they shuttled back and forth between the William Bartram and the Han’anga - the restrictions having been relaxed now that the Republic had equal access to the Commonwealth - coaching each other on the systems of their respective ships. They were soon trading pilot duties on the shuttles and couriers they used during flights from one ship to the other, each quickly adapting to the systems of the other. That both men were pilots with wide and long experience facilitated the process, as did the fact that Leyra’an and Human engineering did in fact have much in common. It was all variations on themes, and by the end of that month Robert could safely fly small Leyra’an transports unassisted.

At the height of his inevitable going-away party - and never mind that he was not going very far, or for very long - he was asked how the Han’anga’s crew seemed to be adjusting to the idea of a Human onboard. “So far, everyone seems at ease with it. A few seem quite eager to make me feel at home.”

“Females,” said Eb’shra Vurn. “Mostly. Novelty has an appeal.”

“Somehow, I doubt that’s got much to do with it,” Robert scoffed.

“Fal’a ni totet,” Kr’nai Melep assured him, patting his leg. It meant roughly that he was being far too modest.

Alicia gave her a long, careful look, one eyebrow raised over a slightly bleary eye. The party had been going for some time, and like the rest, she was drinking a bit too fast for the nanomed in her body to keep up with the alcohol. “May… be we should leave Eb’shra Vurn on the Han’anga and let you travel with us!”

“Mmmm… no, that would not do! Observers…we’re s’posed to exchange ob-ser-vers. Eh! Moj’el jalot!” Kr’nai Melep grinned, teeth and all, and waved her several times refilled and now half emptied mug of ale in the air. “We leave Rob…ert and Ev’shr-uh-Vurn here, and you travel with me! On Han’anga! We would have such adventures!”

“Oh… maybe not,” said Robert with mock concern.

“Indeed,” Eb’shra Vurn agreed. “I do not believe crew of Han’anga is ready for such a challenge. To be sure, other women aboard are not!”

Alicia and Kr’nai Melep both laughed delightedly, looking quite pleased by the flattery.

The next afternoon Robert and Eb’shra Vurn met for a quiet mug of ale after the last of their joint briefings. Just the two of them at a quiet table in a corner of the Willow Lake Inn, within the structure itself. The replication of a 19th Century pub from somewhere in the British Isles was, Robert was told, very close to the real thing. Having never been to Earth, he took it on faith that the tables and the bar and the kegs were authentic in appearance, and at the same time did not really care.

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