Carinae Sector: 01 - Traders' Scourge - Part 1 - Alien Flight by David Buck Page B
Book: Carinae Sector: 01 - Traders' Scourge - Part 1 - Alien Flight by David Buck
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Authors: David Buck
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away from the asteroid. The skilled pilot swiftly powered down all non essential ship systems, before ensuring the stealth system was fully operational. Satisfied with his ship’s status, he then launched a stealthy mini-probe to remain behind the shadow of the asteroid.
Omerio knew that even with his heavy cargo, his ship could easily outrun the slower Tilmud frigates with their heavier shields and over gunned weapons. The danger would be if two Tilmud ships could get close enough to drop his weak shields and stop his ship’s engines before his ship could outrun them. He now hauled up the schematics of star system again as he set warning alarms for the scanners. He then deployed a second stealthy mini-probe with orders to passively scan the second planet and surroundings.
Omerio finally gave the ship’s tactical computer a challenge to nominate six different high speed escape routes from the star system. The challenge was based on the event of two Tilmud frigates entering the system from the populated part of the galaxy, so it did not involve the whole outer section of the star system. As Omerio set the console timer for several hours sleep, his eyes briefly took in before closing the ornate 3D puzzle by his console, a gift that he had received many years earlier from Gindane.
***
‘Omerio, I have had to leave to join Professor Elysius’s expedition urgently. A planet near the expedition’s current location – Sol 3 or Earth – has been sending radio signals for many years now. As the ship is leaving shortly I am unable to accept your request for a further meeting. Please accept this gift as a token of my admiration and affection for you.’
The short dispassionate video from Gindane had given nothing away and was well within the social norms of the Barus race, as they had a reputation for providing intellectual challenges to one another. Omerio knew with sadness that the subject of an actual relationship would be skirted around for many years yet. This was a given due to the fraught changes to Barus biology that had taken place since the Zronte had assumed control of the Carinae sector so long ago.
Omerio now had resigned himself to further years of careful work, officially as an itinerant scout and trader in a small ship, and un-officially as a secretive high level Barus operative. He had known Gindane since they were both cubs over two hundred years ago, when both of them were still young. Gindane had never bred as far as he knew, so he was hopeful as he was the only suitable suitor for many dozens of light years. However she had devoted herself to her studies of alien races in remote sector regions, as had many of the Barus species in their devotion to their life’s work.
Omerio eventually feel asleep, and his dreams were of an improbable but peaceful life. In his dreams there were swarms of brightly striped Barus cubs running around the legs of adults quietly performing home duties. He knew when he later awoke alone that this was far from the actual reality of near barren Barus vassals controlled by the edicts of merciless alien overlords.
***
Just after breakfast, Commander Steve Greene considered the two messages further, together with the ships reports that made up so much of his day. A brief skirmish with pirates and smugglers a week ago had generated much of these reports. The ship had then resumed their goodwill and aid visit to second Indonesian city.
Steve had been promoted to commander in 2046 after the nine months as acting captain of HMAS Perth. At that time Steve had allowed himself a quick mental note of delight in finally being promoted. The ship and crew had since then deployed several additional medical missions into South East Asia. Now
Omerio knew that even with his heavy cargo, his ship could easily outrun the slower Tilmud frigates with their heavier shields and over gunned weapons. The danger would be if two Tilmud ships could get close enough to drop his weak shields and stop his ship’s engines before his ship could outrun them. He now hauled up the schematics of star system again as he set warning alarms for the scanners. He then deployed a second stealthy mini-probe with orders to passively scan the second planet and surroundings.
Omerio finally gave the ship’s tactical computer a challenge to nominate six different high speed escape routes from the star system. The challenge was based on the event of two Tilmud frigates entering the system from the populated part of the galaxy, so it did not involve the whole outer section of the star system. As Omerio set the console timer for several hours sleep, his eyes briefly took in before closing the ornate 3D puzzle by his console, a gift that he had received many years earlier from Gindane.
***
‘Omerio, I have had to leave to join Professor Elysius’s expedition urgently. A planet near the expedition’s current location – Sol 3 or Earth – has been sending radio signals for many years now. As the ship is leaving shortly I am unable to accept your request for a further meeting. Please accept this gift as a token of my admiration and affection for you.’
The short dispassionate video from Gindane had given nothing away and was well within the social norms of the Barus race, as they had a reputation for providing intellectual challenges to one another. Omerio knew with sadness that the subject of an actual relationship would be skirted around for many years yet. This was a given due to the fraught changes to Barus biology that had taken place since the Zronte had assumed control of the Carinae sector so long ago.
Omerio now had resigned himself to further years of careful work, officially as an itinerant scout and trader in a small ship, and un-officially as a secretive high level Barus operative. He had known Gindane since they were both cubs over two hundred years ago, when both of them were still young. Gindane had never bred as far as he knew, so he was hopeful as he was the only suitable suitor for many dozens of light years. However she had devoted herself to her studies of alien races in remote sector regions, as had many of the Barus species in their devotion to their life’s work.
Omerio eventually feel asleep, and his dreams were of an improbable but peaceful life. In his dreams there were swarms of brightly striped Barus cubs running around the legs of adults quietly performing home duties. He knew when he later awoke alone that this was far from the actual reality of near barren Barus vassals controlled by the edicts of merciless alien overlords.
***
Just after breakfast, Commander Steve Greene considered the two messages further, together with the ships reports that made up so much of his day. A brief skirmish with pirates and smugglers a week ago had generated much of these reports. The ship had then resumed their goodwill and aid visit to second Indonesian city.
Steve had been promoted to commander in 2046 after the nine months as acting captain of HMAS Perth. At that time Steve had allowed himself a quick mental note of delight in finally being promoted. The ship and crew had since then deployed several additional medical missions into South East Asia. Now
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