Torchship Captain by Gallagher Karl K

Author:Gallagher, Karl K [Gallagher, Karl K]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Kelt Haven Press
Published: 2017-09-05T04:00:00+00:00

Tiantan, gravity 8.7 m/s2

As the elevator cage descended along the side of the destroyer, Guo saw a groundcar approaching. The passengers emerged just before he reached the ground. The first was Stakeholder—no, Daifu—Ping. A woman he didn’t recognize exited through the door on the other side.

He mentally rehearsed his greetings to Ping. Establishing the proper tone as a neutral messenger was crucial to the success of his mission. Then the third person exited the groundcar.

“Master Su!” Guo flew past Ping, then stopped, unsure if he should bow. The old man spread his arms to demand an embrace.

When they released the hug the old man said, “It’s good to see you again, boy. I wasn’t sure I’d live long enough.”

“It’s been too long. And I don’t know if you ever received my last letter.”

“I have the one you sent after returning to the Disconnect from Earth. Congratulations on your wedding. I sent the reply to Akiak.”

“It must have been lost in the war.” The invasion of Bonaventure had disrupted much more than mail service.

“I’ll resend it. But we must remember our manners.”

Ignoring Ping had been rude of them. Guo turned to face him.

“Welcome to Tiantan, Ambassador Kwan.” Ping accompanied the greeting with a firm Disconnect-style handshake. “Is this your fourth visit here, then?”

“Yes, the Fives Full let me take shore leave when we traded here.”

“I hope this visit won’t be as abbreviated as the others,” said Su.

“I’m to help clarify the Committee of Public Safety’s proposal to give the Elders a full understanding. I will stay until they’ve formed a reply for me to carry back.”

“And I promise you, Master Su, we will consider our words carefully,” Ping said with a smile. “Now let me introduce the Ambassador’s guide and liaison to the Elders. This is Chang Lian, a staffer in the External Affairs Advisory.”

The woman stepped into full view. She made a demure bow.

Guo strove for self-control. Her face was perfection. He’d only seen such beauty in advertising holos or on stage. To see it in person, up close, without warning—he made himself take a breath. “Miss Chang. I’m pleased to meet you.”

“Please call me Lian, Ambassador. I’ll be handling all your needs for your visit.”

“Of course.”

Ping announced plans for dinner. Guo found himself in the back seat with Lian. She filled his silence with tour guide chatter, leaning into his personal space when pointing out landmarks on his side.

As the shock wore off Guo analyzed her appearance. It was too perfect. Only holodrama stars and professional models would invest in the precision surgery to achieve that look. She looked to have pure Han ancestry, which made her height only a little below average for her stock. But her torso curved more than the Han average.

She could wear Mitchie’s clothes without a wrinkle. That couldn’t be a coincidence.

He interrupted Lian’s praise of an irrigation canal. “Were you born on Tiantan?”

She welcomed the question with a smile that made his wedding ring feel tight. “Yes, in Weihai. My parents came here from Franklin to join one of the Revivalist villages being founded.

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