Star Crusades Nexus: Book 03 - Heroes of Helios by Michael G. Thomas Page A

economics with your ambassador.”
    That was all she said before nodding to the T’Kari. This time she spoke in their tongue, and the Alliance delegates were forced to rely upon the translator equipment. Teresa looked at the other groups, noticing only a few of them seemed to need the technology. It left Teresa feeling like a primitive in comparison.
    “Ayndir, of the T’Kari. It is good to see our old friends and allies in Helion space. We welcome all of your people back as one of us.”
    That was it, and as quickly as she had arrived and she was gone. The next up was a gruff looking man with dark gray clothing and body armor covering the right-hand side of his body. A band like a metallic visor ran around his head and hid both the man’s eyes and ears from view. Of all them there, he was the most like Teresa’s own people.
    “Greetings from the Khreenk Federation to both of you.”
    Teresa could see the man’s face was scarred, even from that far away. As he tilted his head, a glint of metal revealed where sections of his skull must have been replace or augmented with machine parts.
    “Our ambassador will meet with you shortly.”
    He then stepped back.
    “That was…short,” said Gun in a louder tone than he anticipated.
    A number of the Khreenk delegates turned and looked at them. It took a few seconds before Gun realized the translators must have been two-way. He smiled at them unapologetically and then looked back to Anderson.
    “Well, am I wrong?”
    Anderson shook his head in irritation.
    “Gun, this is a delicate moment.”
    “Then perhaps they can be a little more accommodating.”
    The next of the ambassadors approached the raised platform, and Teresa started to feel a pang of boredom. Much that these different people were something extraordinary, these public affairs were dull beyond belief. She turned her thoughts from them and instead to what she had seen outside. The platform leading to the vast chamber had been just one of the hundreds, perhaps thousands of massive buildings, and the skies had been filled. Thoughts of the sky turned to the space around the planet, and then as before, her mind wandered to Spartan.
    He’s been away so long now, I'm beginning to wonder if he might ever return.
    She felt something prodding her and looked to find Anderson tapping her. He pointed to the podium and whispered quietly, ensuring the translator unit was out of reach.
    “It looks like you might get your wish after all.”
    Stood on the raised platform was a single person, but unlike anything she had ever seen before. Barely larger than a human child, the tan color creature wore no clothing other its thick hide. It head was near human, buts its eyes were red and almost reptilian in design. A ridge ran from the top of its head and disappeared down its back.
    “Okay, that is definitely not mammalian!”

    * * *

    The quarters put aside for the Alliance personnel were impressive. An entire floor of the substantial Foreign Affairs building had been allocated just for the Alliance. Teresa had already examined each of the dozen rooms, as well as the largest one that looked like a cross between a boardroom and a military briefing room. Though the place was furnished, there were no decorations of any kind. Ambassador Broby Ramir and General Rivers had already been called away for one of a dozen meetings with the many disparate groups in the building. Only Anderson, Gun, and Teresa remained, and all three were sitting and tired. Between them was a small crystalline table, on top of which sat a beautifully intricate decanter filled with a fluid.
    “Yours?” asked Teresa.
    Admiral Anderson smiled.
    “This place might be interesting, but you can’t beat a good vintage Kerberon bottle of port.”
    He handed the decanter to Teresa who poured herself a glass before giving it to Gun. He almost poured the contents directly down his throat but seemed to release it the last moment, pouring himself a glass filled to the