The Saga of Seven Suns: Veiled Alliances by Kevin J. Anderson Page A

were limited as to how far they could take the blocky old vessel. The aliens towed the Burton across space to the nearest star system with a habitable planet. Dobro.
    It was a pleasant world of wide open skies, dry grasslands, and a moderate climate. Centuries ago, the Ildirans had established a small settlement there, a “splinter colony,” but their population was concentrated in a single primary town. On Dobro, there would be plenty of room for the human colonists to establish a new home . . . at last.
    Chrysta Logan cleaned herself up and changed into her best, though still threadbare, Captain’s uniform. She relaxed on the bridge, watching as the warliners delivered them to their new star system.
    Still on their best behavior, her crew was quick to respond to her every command, hoping she would forget, or forgive, their previous rash actions. But her memory wasn’t that short, and Chrysta reminded them with pointed comments whenever she could.
    She sat back, crossed one leg over the other, and smiled as the continents and cloudy skies of Dobro filled their field of view. “Always support your captain,” she reminded them. “Nobody aboard this ship is better qualified to solve problems. We’re certainly lucky the Ildirans came along when they did, aren’t we?” The crew remained intent on their stations.
    Dario Ramirez was quick to agree. “Whatever you say, Captain!” He remained at a post per her promise, though his rank had been much reduced and his respect stripped down almost to nothing. Over the past day, he had volunteered whenever he could, making supportive comments; she thought he was simpering. “I’m sure we’re all glad for a chance to start over on Dobro—a new beginning, a clean slate.”
    “No doubt, Mr. Ramirez.” She wondered if he heard the sarcasm.
    Ildiran cutters ferried eager passengers to the Dobro spaceport, while the Burton ’s own shuttles and cargo transports were loaded with colony supplies and made ready for departure.
    First, however, Chrysta wanted to meet the head of the Ildiran colony on Dobro.
    She stepped away from the landed shuttle after making sure her red headband, her best uniform, and the smile on her face were ready. The man who came forward to meet her was tall and slender; he had long ivory hair, some of which was bound in colorful ties, while other clumps blew free in the breezes. His voice was quiet, his words well considered. His facial features were arresting and extremely attractive in an exotic sort of way. At the center of his forehead, a tattoo showed a circle with a central dot. A status insignia perhaps? When he glided forward, his movements were smooth, almost pantherlike. “Captain Chrysta Logan, I am the Dobro Designate.”
    She clasped his hand, shaking it briefly; he held onto it longer than was necessary. She felt a brief electric shock and wondered if these Ildirans controlled a form of telepathy or emotional magnetism. “What’s a Designate?” she asked.
    “I am one of the Mage-Imperator’s sons, and I am assigned to lead this splinter colony. The welfare of every person on Dobro is in my hands. Including your people, now.”
    She finally released her grasp. “Everyone aboard the Burton is in your debt, Designate. Especially me, because I am responsible for them. Let me be clear, you’re offering us the opportunity to found our own settlement here, to live side-by-side with you?”
    “Yes, Captain Logan. Dobro is large and empty—too empty. We have room for many more colonists.” He smiled, showing off his white teeth. “You humans intrigue me.”
    “We can learn much from each other, Designate. And with all those wide open spaces, you could well do with an infusion of human colonists. We’ll work together.”
    “I look forward to it,” said the Dobro Designate. “It will be an interesting experiment.”
    Dario Ramirez came down on the fifth shuttle, while cargo units detached and dropped from the Burton to land in the grassy