Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 12, 2025
"I know the newsies are a bit overwhelming, but there's no danger. They're just doing their jobs, sending this story all over the Empire. Traiti monitoring stations will pass it on to your worlds, too." That helped; the three Traiti relaxed a little. Arjen, on the Hermnaen, was too busy to relax.
It didn't make sense for them to keep their word, release a fully-operational enemy battle cruiser. But he couldn't have passed up even so remote a chance . . . Arjen turned, to face Willis' image directly. "The condition met has been, Ship-Captain. You free to go now are." Willis didn't look as if she believed it, but she gave orders to have Terra's coordinates fed into the helm.
Then she searched the repeater screen, still wearing a troubled expression. "Ranger ?" Tarlac moved to stand beside Arjen, the beginnings of hope allowing him to smile. "I'm all right, Captain. Your log'll show everything, including this, but I'll make it an order anyway. Return to Terra." That didn't seem to make Willis any happier, but she couldn't argue with a Ranger's direct order. "Yes, sir."
Most of what he'd learned only served to raise further questions. The Ordeal was the key to the whole thing; Fleet-Captain Arjen had said as much. And it was dangerous, Arjen made no secret of that but how dangerous? Aside from the fact that it left scars and wasn't universal, he knew little about it. Had they tested any other humans before deciding to try a Ranger? If so, what had happened?
He'd had all the isolation and deference his Imperial rank demanded for fifteen years, and he thought he'd prefer to spend the next few millennia with the easy warmth he sensed from Arjen, from Ch'kara and in fact from all the Traiti.
"The Supreme and First Speaker ask, that you them on Homeworld join. I their invitation extend, and transportation offer." Tarlac appreciated the sharp irony of the so-courteous invitation, backed up by the outsized fleet. "They don't leave me much choice, do they?" "They truly none you leave, Ranger," Arjen said regretfully. "I do not these tactics like, but I must my orders follow." "Mmm.
Even to the humans, unaccustomed to Traiti expressions, Arjen looked uncomfortable. "That had I hoped not to say, Ranger. The First Speaker says it necessary is, a Ranger to Homeworld bring. If I more say, it may your crew distress." He hesitated, then went on. "The Supreme's word you have, such a thing will never again done be."
The Communications operator's attention returned to his console, and within minutes Arjen was in communication with all his Ship-Captains. Without preamble and without expression, Arjen briefed them on the mission and detailed his plans for its execution. "The Intelligence Service reports intercepting communications involving a Ranger named Esteban Tarlac, which indicate that he is in this sector.
Still reluctant to begin the trickery that was part of this operation, Arjen spoke anyway. "Release signal transmitter." "Aye, Fleet-Captain." Battle discipline was strict, if fair; not even an action as apparently senseless as releasing a beacon in the center of a combat-ready fleet was questioned. Then the Hermnaen took its own position in the sphere and Arjen ordered the beacon activated.
There were none, so Arjen dismissed the captains and went to his cabin, regretting, not for the first time, that senior commanders had to have private quarters but too-close personal contact with his subordinates would be bad for discipline.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking