Fatal flaws gate ghosts.., p.27
Fatal Flaws (Gate Ghosts Book 13), page 27
Morgoth explained.
Korvath supplied.
Luther shared.
Orly asked.
Minimalist replied.
Quanitine assumed.
Minimalist sent.
Orly grumbled.
Iltaft grunted in amusement.
As the group was forced to wait until many of the projects on Pavbleg were substantially underway, Eshtitor took the opportunity to meet with Shoya and Gat’r.
Shoya remarked.
Eshtitor returned.
Gat’r sent, chuckling.
Eshtitor sent, with poorly concealed rumbling laughter.
Shoya asked.
Eshtitor replied.
Shoya replied in a minor huff and unwilling to admit that she was miffed about losing the bet to Gat’r. The fact was that he almost always won, and she had hoped to best him this time.
Gat’r sent.
Eshtitor replied excitedly.
After a morning in the pilot’s cabin, Gat’r had midday meal with Shoya.
Shoya asked.
Gat’r replied.
Shoya queried.
Gat’r affirmed.
Shoya inquired.
Gat’r replied.
Shoya queried in surprise.
Gat’r explained.
Shoya asked, her curiosity piqued.
Gat’r replied.
Shoya sent, smiling with narrowed eyes.
Gat’r had seen that look before, and it didn’t bode well for the captain or him.
After midday meal ended, Gat’r found Eshtitor and Quanitine in the pilot’s cabin. It was obvious that she’d brought trays for both of them, while he continued to familiarize himself with the ship’s more esoteric commands and controls.
Quanitine sent.
Gat’r warned, which alerted the Dwerves.
Quanitine asked.
Gat’r grinned. he sent.
The males heard Quanitine’s soft laughter. Focusing on Eshtitor, she sent,
In response, Eshtitor grinned, baring his heavy canines.
Gat’r shook his head in mock dismay. he sent, which made the Dwerves laugh.
Quanitine excused herself, taking the trays with her, and Gat’r sat copilot.
When Gat’r saw Eshtitor regard him, he responded,
Following the same protocols that every ship of every race used, Eshtitor cleared the bay, closed the traveler’s hatch, signaled depressurization, and opened the bay doors. Then he neatly slid the traveler through the opening.
Gat’r regarded Eshtitor’s face, as the Dwerve took the ship through its paces.
On the Trident’s bridge, conclave members, Quellers, and Dwerves watched the performance.
the Trident pilot was heard to query.
Quanitine remarked with tears in her eyes.
Shoya shared. Then she ran from the bridge.
A little while later, Eshtitor shared privately with Gat’r.
Gat’r replied.
Gat’r sent.
Eshtitor returned.
As Eshtitor flipped the traveler in a corkscrew motion to end behind Shoya, Gat’r grinned. His partner would have someone with whom she could dance.
In reply, Shoya stood her ship on its bow, as she flew it in that manner in front of Eshtitor.
Then Eshtitor sat his traveler on its stern and pressed it within two meters of Shoya’s ship.
Then the game was on.
Every conclave bridge had been alerted to the action, and crews were linked to the controllers to watch the acrobatic display.
Finally, Eshtitor witnessed a maneuver he couldn’t fathom how to make, and he brought his traveler to a halt. Linking to Shoya, he sent,
Gat’r interjected.
Eshtitor responded, to which Shoya laughed.
When Eshtitor exited his traveler, Quanitine was waiting for him.
Gat’r recognized the earmarks of a private moment, and he slipped out of the bay. Crossing to the Trident’s other side, he collected Shoya. She was wearing that happy smile that said she’d had a great time with her ship.
Throwing her arms around Gat’r’s neck, Shoya sent. Then she kissed him soundly.
Shoya spent the first duty rotation training Eshtitor in the traveler’s subtler operations.
After evening meal, Gat’r visited with Eshtitor and Quanitine.
Gat’r sent, laughing at the couple.
Quanitine queried.
Gat’r replied.
Via Gat’r’s links with the couple, they were able to see him peruse the controller with hundreds of queries. Some of them were inconsequential and resulted in small amounts of returned data. Other requests were complex, which engaged the controller in attempts to focus the request.
At one point, Eshtitor interrupted and inquired,
Gat’r replied.
Eshtitor started with queries about a class one freighter. Soon, he was immersed so deeply in the data that he ignored it when Gat’r and Quanitine broke off their links.
Quanitine sent privately.
Gat’r replied.
Quanitine requested.
Gat’r replied.
Quanitine inquired.
Gat’r explained.
Quanitine remarked.
Gat’r sent.
Quanitine offered.
Gat’r asked.
Quanitine replied.
Gat’r offered.
Quanitine complimented.
As Quanitine was curious about humans, who played a dominant role in the conclave, she decided to test a thought she held.
Gat’r quietly chuckled at Quanitine’s underlying concern. he explained.
Quanitine sent.
In their shared cabin, Shoya welcomed Gat’r and asked, she inquired, which made Gat’r laugh.
Gat’r replied, as he headed for the refresher.
Shoya followed, curious about her partner’s sudden quiet.
As mist clouded the refresher, Shoya asked,
Gat’r replied.
Shoya pointed out.
Gat’r replied, shutting off the refresher. The mist was quickly sucked out of the cubicle, and Shoya handed him a lengthy absorbent cloth.
Shoya reasoned.
Gat’r allowed.
Shoya mused.
Gat’r dropped the cloth into the recycler.
Shoya eyed her partner. she sent.
Gat’r grinned. On that subject, he didn’t need any encouragement.
∞
Nearly four weeks later, the work had progressed on Pavbleg to the point that the required infrastructure was complete and only minor finishes were required.
The Dwerves who would inhabit Pavbleg said goodbye to friends and dropped planetside.
A Trident would remain on station until Queller travelers could be transported to assist the population.
The Dwerve warship, the Withern, and most of the conclave ships sailed for Devona.
During the first duty rotations, Eshtitor remained in constant contact with a Trident captain via a sister, Cyan, to monitor the means by which conclave bridge officers were directed.
Aboard a Trident, Timteri shared with Iltaft,
Iltaft replied.
Timteri considered the question, and she replied,
Iltaft responded.
Timteri sent. When she saw Iltaft quietly waiting, she considered what she’d said.
Suddenly, it occurred to Timteri what had transpired, and she added,
Iltaft shared.
After a few moments of thought, Timteri sent,
Iltaft grunted amusedly. she agreed.
Timteri swiftly replied, understanding where Iltaft was leading her.
Iltaft replied.
Timteri finished.
Iltaft shared.
Timteri would have grunted, except Iltaft stared solemnly at her. She let the statement sink into her thoughts. The idea both intrigued and frightened her.
The flotilla exited the dark far below Devona and made its way system inward.
As the ships neared the Queller home world, Eshtitor focused on what the Trident captain he shadowed took pains to track. The captain was identifying the ships around the system.
The Dwerve warship’s telemetry officer noted to Eshtitor that the Krackus freighters were absent, which indicated they delivered grain to other Queller worlds.
Then Eshtitor heard the officer indicate the presence of a new class one freighter nesting with the Alexander, and he directed the officer to focus on the ship.
“It’s unmarked, Captain,” the officer reported to Eshtitor. “I would say it’s on its initial voyage.”
“It gleams,” the Dwerve pilot remarked.
Eshtitor could hear the admiration in his officers’ voices. He wasn’t the only one who dearly wanted to continue sailing the stars. Many of his officers were already implanted, and Shoya and Gat’r sailed aboard the warship to manage their training. At this time, it was only the third duty officers who were restricted from employing their implants outside of training until they’d progressed a few more cycles.
Cyan sent.
Eshtitor saw the bridge officers’ eyes settle expectantly on him. he warned them.
In the morning, Shoya and Temtalum were busy shuttling Cremsylon’s guests to the Alexander.
Knowing who was coming to the meeting drove many to second-guess what Cremsylon had to say.
As large as the conference room was, it was crowded with attendees. The three sisters, Cyan, Orly, and Jacqueline and the SADEs, Minimalist and Luther, chose to stand to allow the biologicals seats at the table.
Cremsylon sat at the conference table’s head with Wymron and Iltaft beside him.
Also present were Eshtitor, Quanitine, Doktorg, Korvath, Timteri, Morgoth, Shoya, and Gat’r.
Cremsylon began. It was a rhetorical statement. Therefore, no one responded, except with nods and smiles.
Cremsylon shared.
Timteri heard Iltaft’s words in her mind, and she was surprised that the conclave was already questioning the path the Quellers would take.
Wymron replied. Then he indicated Iltaft, who sat across the table from him.
Iltaft shared.
Cremsylon replied.
Nearly every emotion possible was exhibited on biological faces, and while the sisters retained their composure, they expressed curiosity among themselves.
Cremsylon asked.
Doktorg inquired.
Cremsylon explained.
Iltaft grunted in amusement.
As the group was forced to wait until many of the projects on Pavbleg were substantially underway, Eshtitor took the opportunity to meet with Shoya and Gat’r.
Shoya replied in a minor huff and unwilling to admit that she was miffed about losing the bet to Gat’r. The fact was that he almost always won, and she had hoped to best him this time.
After a morning in the pilot’s cabin, Gat’r had midday meal with Shoya.
Gat’r replied.
Gat’r had seen that look before, and it didn’t bode well for the captain or him.
After midday meal ended, Gat’r found Eshtitor and Quanitine in the pilot’s cabin. It was obvious that she’d brought trays for both of them, while he continued to familiarize himself with the ship’s more esoteric commands and controls.
Gat’r grinned.
The males heard Quanitine’s soft laughter. Focusing on Eshtitor, she sent,
In response, Eshtitor grinned, baring his heavy canines.
Gat’r shook his head in mock dismay.
Quanitine excused herself, taking the trays with her, and Gat’r sat copilot.
When Gat’r saw Eshtitor regard him, he responded,
Following the same protocols that every ship of every race used, Eshtitor cleared the bay, closed the traveler’s hatch, signaled depressurization, and opened the bay doors. Then he neatly slid the traveler through the opening.
Gat’r regarded Eshtitor’s face, as the Dwerve took the ship through its paces.
On the Trident’s bridge, conclave members, Quellers, and Dwerves watched the performance.
A little while later, Eshtitor shared privately with Gat’r.
Eshtitor returned.
As Eshtitor flipped the traveler in a corkscrew motion to end behind Shoya, Gat’r grinned. His partner would have someone with whom she could dance.
In reply, Shoya stood her ship on its bow, as she flew it in that manner in front of Eshtitor.
Then Eshtitor sat his traveler on its stern and pressed it within two meters of Shoya’s ship.
Then the game was on.
Every conclave bridge had been alerted to the action, and crews were linked to the controllers to watch the acrobatic display.
Finally, Eshtitor witnessed a maneuver he couldn’t fathom how to make, and he brought his traveler to a halt. Linking to Shoya, he sent,
Eshtitor responded, to which Shoya laughed.
When Eshtitor exited his traveler, Quanitine was waiting for him.
Gat’r recognized the earmarks of a private moment, and he slipped out of the bay. Crossing to the Trident’s other side, he collected Shoya. She was wearing that happy smile that said she’d had a great time with her ship.
Throwing her arms around Gat’r’s neck, Shoya sent.
Shoya spent the first duty rotation training Eshtitor in the traveler’s subtler operations.
After evening meal, Gat’r visited with Eshtitor and Quanitine.
Via Gat’r’s links with the couple, they were able to see him peruse the controller with hundreds of queries. Some of them were inconsequential and resulted in small amounts of returned data. Other requests were complex, which engaged the controller in attempts to focus the request.
At one point, Eshtitor interrupted and inquired,
Eshtitor started with queries about a class one freighter. Soon, he was immersed so deeply in the data that he ignored it when Gat’r and Quanitine broke off their links.
Quanitine sent privately.
As Quanitine was curious about humans, who played a dominant role in the conclave, she decided to test a thought she held.
Gat’r quietly chuckled at Quanitine’s underlying concern. he explained.
In their shared cabin, Shoya welcomed Gat’r and asked,
Shoya followed, curious about her partner’s sudden quiet.
As mist clouded the refresher, Shoya asked,
Gat’r dropped the cloth into the recycler.
Shoya eyed her partner.
Gat’r grinned. On that subject, he didn’t need any encouragement.
∞
Nearly four weeks later, the work had progressed on Pavbleg to the point that the required infrastructure was complete and only minor finishes were required.
The Dwerves who would inhabit Pavbleg said goodbye to friends and dropped planetside.
A Trident would remain on station until Queller travelers could be transported to assist the population.
The Dwerve warship, the Withern, and most of the conclave ships sailed for Devona.
During the first duty rotations, Eshtitor remained in constant contact with a Trident captain via a sister, Cyan, to monitor the means by which conclave bridge officers were directed.
Aboard a Trident, Timteri shared with Iltaft,
Timteri considered the question, and she replied,
Suddenly, it occurred to Timteri what had transpired, and she added,
After a few moments of thought, Timteri sent,
Iltaft grunted amusedly.
Timteri would have grunted, except Iltaft stared solemnly at her. She let the statement sink into her thoughts. The idea both intrigued and frightened her.
The flotilla exited the dark far below Devona and made its way system inward.
As the ships neared the Queller home world, Eshtitor focused on what the Trident captain he shadowed took pains to track. The captain was identifying the ships around the system.
The Dwerve warship’s telemetry officer noted to Eshtitor that the Krackus freighters were absent, which indicated they delivered grain to other Queller worlds.
Then Eshtitor heard the officer indicate the presence of a new class one freighter nesting with the Alexander, and he directed the officer to focus on the ship.
“It’s unmarked, Captain,” the officer reported to Eshtitor. “I would say it’s on its initial voyage.”
“It gleams,” the Dwerve pilot remarked.
Eshtitor could hear the admiration in his officers’ voices. He wasn’t the only one who dearly wanted to continue sailing the stars. Many of his officers were already implanted, and Shoya and Gat’r sailed aboard the warship to manage their training. At this time, it was only the third duty officers who were restricted from employing their implants outside of training until they’d progressed a few more cycles.
Eshtitor saw the bridge officers’ eyes settle expectantly on him.
In the morning, Shoya and Temtalum were busy shuttling Cremsylon’s guests to the Alexander.
Knowing who was coming to the meeting drove many to second-guess what Cremsylon had to say.
As large as the conference room was, it was crowded with attendees. The three sisters, Cyan, Orly, and Jacqueline and the SADEs, Minimalist and Luther, chose to stand to allow the biologicals seats at the table.
Cremsylon sat at the conference table’s head with Wymron and Iltaft beside him.
Also present were Eshtitor, Quanitine, Doktorg, Korvath, Timteri, Morgoth, Shoya, and Gat’r.
Cremsylon began. It was a rhetorical statement. Therefore, no one responded, except with nods and smiles.
Cremsylon shared.
Timteri heard Iltaft’s words in her mind, and she was surprised that the conclave was already questioning the path the Quellers would take.
Nearly every emotion possible was exhibited on biological faces, and while the sisters retained their composure, they expressed curiosity among themselves.
