She only briefly considered informing Christoph she’d made it to her destination safely.They were officially over now, thanks to her applying for the long-distance communications officer slot on the Coydidak fleet’s deep space mission and not consulting him.
Despite the shouted argument that had closed the door on their four-year relationship, Laughter felt more excitement than regret.This decision is right.Coming here to go on the exploration of a lifetime is the destiny I was meant for.
The interview with the emperor’s assistant, then another involving the commander of the Coydidak fleet, a Dramok named Rorix, were mere formalities.There was no doubt the job was hers for the taking.
Chapter Six
Kalquor
“There it is.Explorer Class Number One-One-Two-Two,” Rorix gloated.
“Magnificent,” Negal breathed.His voice cracked slightly.
Rorix and Signis, standing on either side of their Imdiko, patted his back.Rorix didn’t blame his handsome clanmate for being dumbfounded.He was awed himself.
Most Kalquorian fleet ships offered little in the way of luxury.Thanks to their deep-space missions, Explorer Class ships were the exception.When men had to live deprived of setting foot on an inhabited planet or space station for a year or so at a time, they needed home comforts to keep from going space crazy.Quarters aboard ECs were spacious.
Though they stopped often to sell and trade, the Coydidak had given themselves large family living areas aboard reconfigured cargo ships.Their ships were old, however, which meant Rorix’s people were continuously making repairs and searching for parts.Staying ahead of breakdowns sometimes meant gaining those parts by any means possible.
EC-1122 had never broken down, because besides flights to verify it operated within accepted parameters, it had yet to be used.No one had lived aboard it yet.According to the information Rorix had been given, it had come out of assembly just over a month ago.It gleamed, lacking the slightest hint of wear under the dock’s work lights.It was tear-shaped, the rounded point of the forward section the narrowest point, ballooning to a fat roundedness at the aft portion.It gleamed, a silvery drop of dew against the darker gray of the massive docking bay.
It could house half of the Coydidak easily, who totaled nearly one thousand.The fact Kalquor was giving them four such ships, four dozen marauders, supply ships, and assorted craft told Rorix how ambitious Emperor Clajak’s hopes were for the expedition.
His gaze swept the dock’s expanse, taking in the armada he’d been tasked to lead.In total, one hundred fifty ships.Anxiety poked his guts.
The Coydidak will follow me without question, but the additional people we’re taking on means we’re outnumbered.
“The empire’s handing us not just these ships but supplies and money too.”The astonishment in Negal’s tone was matched by greed.He oversaw the Coydidak’s shared finances, and he was forever worried about their funds.Rorix had the feeling being gambled into forced servitude as a young man by his father played a part in his clanmate’s sometimes avaricious actions.
Signis snorted.“What the hell will we spend money on when we leave known space?Even if we find civilizations elsewhere, they won’t be interested in Consolidated credits.”
“True, but we’ll be in GC-affiliated territory for a year,” Rorix reminded him.“Though we’ll arrive at the last outpost on our route inside of nine months.”
“Which gives us plenty of time to offload the Earthers and any others who give us shit.I vote we do so on the most distant stations.”A new thought appeared to cheer the Nobek.“I’ll bet the lot of them, especially the humans, turn tail and run long before we reach the Divide.”
“Not before I get a chance to take one to bed,” Negal announced.“I’ve been wanting to try a human female for ages.”
