Perilous choices, p.26
Perilous Choices, page 26
part #11 of Gate Ghosts Series
Tocknicka eased into his chair.
Tocknicka chittered.
Claudia laughed, invented a flourish of obeisance, and sent,
Tocknicka replied. Then Claudia and he laughed until she began to cough.
Afterward, Claudia was able to get more rest. When she woke, she ate a hearty breakfast, enjoying the conversations with those individuals at her table. She relished the biological diversity around her. Although she felt that she was the least decorative among them.
When the crew across the table from Claudia looked behind her, she swiveled around.
Sharing for the benefit of the table, Ariel sent,
Odd noises and frowns greeted Ariel’s announcement, and Claudia sent,
As the pair exited the huge meal room, Claudia sent,
Claudia accepted the gift, threw an affectionate arm around the SADE’s shoulder, and thanked her.
18: Tocknicka’s Reception
NAIAD, HUMAN HOME WORLD
AXIS CROSSING SPACE
Accompanying Tocknicka on the exit from the outpost and the Helgart system gave Claudia a new appreciation about the power a conclave commander was granted.
They’d dropped through the station’s levels unimpeded. Crew had readied the traveler and had both sides of the bay’s airlock open for them.
Linking to the traveler’s controller, Claudia noted a Trident waited a mere few hundred meters from the station. When the traveler landed aboard the Trident, the tri-hull accelerated, while the bay doors closed.
Claudia was reminded of her last conversation with Ariel, and she decided that she’d do her part to keep Tocknicka occupied.
Claudia offered.
Tocknicka chittered.
Claudia shared.
The pair conversed through the morning, with occasional refresher breaks for Claudia. By midday meal, the Trident had passed through the Kilmer anomaly and was headed for the wormhole on the other side of the Daimler system.
At mealtime, Claudia got to enjoy the same experience as she had on the station. Her tablemates were an assortment of races, and she was disappointed when they finished their meals and, soon afterward, departed the room. That’s when she realized that the crew was eating by a schedule. Her tablemates had left to make room for the incoming crew members. So, she returned her tray, as she’d seen others do, and left to join Tocknicka.
Claudia noted the passage to the Filium system. It was the location of the Geneva mining planet, and the area known as Axis Crossing. Before she could respond to the commander, Tocknicka sent,
Claudia chuckled.
Claudia replied.
Then Claudia began with in-depth analyses of Naiads and the ways in which Tocknicka could give the citizens an appreciation of who the conclave was and what it did for races. That discussion continued on and off until the Trident made for Naiad.
Claudia had little time to arrange individuals, but Violet was instrumental in making many things happen for her.
Gemma fielded Violet’s call.
Afterward, Violet contacted comtech and notified them that she was reserving space for a data dump retrieved by Lead Councilor Claudia Hoffing.
Diana Breneman, comtech’s director, wanted more information about the data and who would have access before she approved the transfer.
Unfortunately, before the sister and director’s conversation ended, Violet had finished the installation. Then she thanked Diana for her time and closed the call.
The TM partners received a link to the newly installed database. After a short perusal, Brendan commented,
The four partners stared at one another. None of them were happy.
Gemma clapped her hands to direct attention to her.
Gemma retorted.
Oscar replied, gently bumping shoulders as he passed.
Gemma chuckled at Oscar’s play. More than likely, Oscar would be the first to submit his questions. Brendan and Simona were the cerebral types. They would write, edit, and sort their questions until the last minute.
As Tocknicka and Claudia dropped by traveler to Naiad, the commander examined the planet through the controller.
The pilot, a SADE, directed Tocknicka’s and Claudia’s attention to an activity far out on a smooth ice sheet.
Claudia chuckled.
When the traveler set down inside the newly completed landing dome, Tocknicka jumped lightly out the hatch, and extended his hands to Claudia.
Choosing to jump, Claudia felt the commander catch and lower her easily to the deck. Then she walked beside Tocknicka to the elevator to descend one level to the transport station.
Tocknicka noticed the numerous looks he received from the Naiads. he shared with Claudia.
On the transport, two university students hurried to sit across from Claudia and Tocknicka. After strapping into their harnesses, the female student sent,
The young woman blushed and returned,
The transport had stopped, and Claudia was unfastening her harness. Therefore, Tocknicka quickly sent,
After Claudia and Tocknicka exited the transport, the young male student sent,
The boyfriend knew immediately that he’d probably be spending the evening alone.
On the surface deck, the walk from the transport station to Justice Hall was a short stretch of the legs, as humans termed it.
The couple’s conversation was truncated by a crowd of a few thousand citizens.
Word had spread of Commander Tocknicka’s arrival and the new repository of information about faraway humans, the Omnians. Those citizens with implants had spooled off data, while they hurried to intercept the commander. Citizens with readers were a little slower to react, but they’d heard from friends that they should assemble near Justice Hall.
The TM partners and the vid crew Oscar had hired were front and center, as Claudia greeted the assembled citizens.
“Thank you for turning out to greet Commander Tocknicka,” Claudia said, her voice carried by the vid crew’s audio relay.
“Commander Tocknicka, why are you visiting Naiad?” Gemma boldly interrupted.
Other questions were shouted before Tocknicka could answer. He smiled generously. However, the display of small sharp teeth might not have been interpreted correctly by the Naiads.
Holding up his hands, Tocknicka sought to quiet the crowd. It was a fortunate time of day. The dome’s filtered starlight highlighted the gold insignias on Tocknicka’s uniform, which added credence to his appeal to the citizens.
On the sideline, Violet, who was connected to every implant in the assembled Naiads, sent,
Immediately, citizens with implants quieted their neighbors.
“I thank you for the enthusiastic greeting,” Tocknicka called out when the crowd calmed down. “In answer to Gemma Burke’s question, I can tell you that, as the conclave’s military representative for this area of space, it’s my job to be aware of the social and technological development of every race. The conclave is pleased by the recent steps that Naiads have taken.”
“Commander, could you tell us what steps stand out to you?” Brendan asked.
“Councilor Hoffing and I were just talking about some of them, Ser Burke,” Tocknicka replied. “The elimination of cloning is first and foremost on the list. Then the recognition as citizens of the present clones, the mining mickies, and the sisters demonstrate Naiads’ social maturity.”
Then a question was shouted from the crowd. It was, “Commander, does your presence indicate possible military action against Naiads?”
Violet spotted the citizens who recoiled from the speaker and was able to identify him. Then she sent to Tocknicka and Claudia,
“Commandant van Dysen, I’m sure that you take your responsibility for Naiad humans’ security seriously, and that’s to be commended,” Tocknicka replied. “I invite you to read the information that was deposited on comtech servers. It will help you understand the nature of the conclave. The organization doesn’t subsume peaceful races. Or are you planning to attack another race?”
