“Madam CEO?” The voice coming over the speaker in Cle-zea's office was tinny from the effect of being transmitted across thousands of lightyears and several vias to disrupt any attempt to trace its source. The Jerz female stopped primping her long golden hair and glanced sidelong at the informant whose projection had interrupted her.
“Hello, Number Seven,” she cooed. Her eyes flashed as she bit down her annoyance. She did not enjoy being interrupted, “This had better be good.”
“Priority number one,” the squeaky little alien said. She winced at his awful soprano, then paused as his words sank in.
“You're sure?” she demanded.
“Projecting images now, Madam,” he pressed a button hidden from her view and four stills appeared on screen.
A gangly black youth in body armor with a feline animal paointed in gold on his helmet stood beside another boy with almond eyes and a fur cloak. They appeared to be talking to a Europan, whether male or female she couldn't tell—all Europans looked the same to her. A second image flashed of the Europan perched on the shoulder of a girl...
“Wait, go back,” she held up a hand and the second image reappeared. The girl had large hazel eyes, an expressive mouth and a stubborn chin. Cle-zea glanced down at the photo provided to her by Anubis of Ambassador Melissa Phelps—definitely the same girl.
“I don't know...” she hedged, knitting her brows doubtfully. She gave Number Seven a skeptical look.
“It is, it is!” The informant squealed, “Look again!” He pressed another button and a space galleon appeared, bobbing gently up and down at a sea dock surrounded by stars.
“Where is that? Planetside somewhere?”
“No, Madam, its Survey and Research Station 42, just outside the Caldwell Nebula.”
“They have an Europan population?” She stared hungrily at the girl.
“152 Europans, four humans and fifty-six other alien races aboard, including ninety-one of the galaxy's best astrophysicists.”
“Sabotage the station—make sure it looks like an accident,” Cle-zea ordered casually, “Just enough survivors to tell the story to the press. Make sure the Ambassador does not escape.”
“Yes, Madam CEO.”