GENERAL NALANI KEAH
The departure of a grand exploratory mission called for a certain amount of fanfare. General Keah wasn’t the sort of person who liked parades and celebrations before returning home from a successful mission, but the crew deserved some sort of recognition. After all, they were going to the literal definition of “points unknown”—a star system that didn’t even show up on the charts.
She wanted to give her people a little extra reward. She asked First Officer Mercer Wingo to work crew scheduling, juggling shifts to arrange extra R&R for conjugal visits, or fixing the roof, or whatever else they wanted to do before shipping out to the fringes of the Spiral Arm.
Not surprisingly, all that celebration placed much of her crew in various stages of hangover misery when the Kutuzov pulled out of spacedock. But it was a long voyage out to rendezvous with Adar Zan’nh and his Solar Navy ships; she knew they would have a chance to recover on the way.
Sitting in her seat on the command bridge, Keah sympathized with her recovering crew and gave them light duties for most of the first day, but that was enough of that. On the second day she initiated a series of war-game exercises to keep them sharp, and they did their best—which was pretty damn good.
The ship’s green priest, Nadd, used his treeling to send messages of their progress. All green priests were eager to learn what had happened to the Gardeners, and Nadd would be there to see for himself.
The Kutuzov arrived at the rendezvous exactly on time—Keah was pleased about that—and Zan’nh was there waiting for her with his seven warliners. “You’re early, Z,” she said.
On the screen, Adar Zan’nh wore his formal uniform with medals and his impeccably clean dress tunic. “Being early prevents me from being late.”
As was their tradition before a joint mission, the General and the Adar shared a meal, taking turns as host. Keah shuttled over to the Ildiran flagship with some of her handpicked officers so they could meet their counterparts face-to-face. Any added understanding among the two crews might shave off a millisecond or two of critical reaction time, and a millisecond might mean the difference between destruction and survival.
The General was accompanied by First Officer Wingo, Weapons Officer Patton, Tactical Officer Tait, and their green priest. For his own part, Adar Zan’nh had invited the oddly pale Tal Gale’nh, and Gale’nh’s brother Rod’h.
Keah brought a bottle of wine, though the Adar had no taste for any human vintage. In exchange, Zan’nh brought out an expensive bottle of distilled kirae, which the General couldn’t even swallow.
She opened the wine herself while attender kithmen scurried in with numerous Ildiran delicacies along with crude attempts at traditional Earth dishes. Keah had eaten so much military food that she wasn’t picky; Wingo, Patton, and Tait ate the proffered dishes with polite comments, while Nadd seemed more curious than hungry. Adar Zan’nh, Tal Gale’nh, and Rod’h all ate with minimal conversation.
Rod’h raised a glass of kirae in a defiant toast. “This mission will end differently from the Kolpraxa.” He looked at his pale brother. “We will find answers to help us defeat the creatures of darkness.”
Gale’nh did not argue. He raised his own glass of kirae. “I concur.”
Keah picked up the wine bottle and nodded to Rod’h. “I’d like to requisition some of that confidence so I can distribute it among my crew.”
To the consternation of the eager attenders, she poured more wine for herself and her officers, and a polite splash of a taste for Zan’nh and his companions, knowing they would insist.
The Adar said, “We should wait for the formalities. One other will be joining us.” He frowned slightly. “He is often late because he is often preoccupied.”
Attenders hurried out of his stateroom and returned with a human male clad in Ildiran rememberer robes. “Sorry, everyone. I was translating newly recovered records. Remarkable stories! But alas, nothing useful for this mission.” He carried a datapad with him.
Adar Zan’nh said, “We must accurately chronicle this important mission. And for that, we require a rememberer.”
Anton Colicos was perhaps the most famous human historian, even though he had spent more than half of his life in the Ildiran Empire. He was grinning now. “Besides, I wanted to come along.” Anton extended his hand. “Pleased to meet you, General. I will try my best not to get in the way.”
“I don’t mind being in the history books,” Keah said.
The attenders reappeared with an extra wineglass for Anton. When the General reached for the bottle, one of them politely snatched it out of her hand and poured the additional glass.
Adar Zan’nh poured a small serving of kirae for himself and his Ildiran guests. “So we can all enjoy our toast.”
Anton Colicos rolled the wine around in the glass, sniffed. “Ah, it’s been a long time. And maybe you can spare a little coffee from your ship, General?”
Keah laughed. “As much as you like.” When everyone had their drinks, she lifted her glass in a toast. “To the start of a great adventure—at least let’s hope it turns out that way.”
They all drank.