Chapter 19

Chief Science Officer's Starlog - June 17th, 2161

Lieutenant Commander Jess McQueen recording.

It is with great joy that I record this log entry back on Berengaria VII. It's been a long day, but all civilians and crew have been returned to Starbase 1, after ensuring that the comet impacted on the eighth planet just a few hours after changing course.

Berengaria VIII's ecosystem has already begun to change. But, with the creature's help, the whole world could be M-class within a a couple of centuries, although it will still lack protection from cosmic rays. At least this will ensure no one bothers the new indigenous lifeforms.

The creature should begin spawning once the environment has settled down. We have decided to call this species the Nayyar, after our astronomy lieutenant who discovered the comet. This way, he will be remembered not as a harbinger of doom but of life. Lieutenant Nayyar is pretty pleased with this, and I must confess to some professional jealousy. Biology is usually my domain.

We are still unsure of exactly why the creature decided to suddenly show compassion and spare us, but I like to think I managed to persuade it.

With a smile splitting his face, Mamao'lani sat behind his desk and opened the comm channel. This time he was very eager to see the Orion Syndicate's Spokesman Jozyk-Qil appear on the monitor.

"Spokesman!" he said, trying to restrain his delight. "Thank you for returning my call."

"A pleasure, Ambassador," Jozyk-Qil said, still dripping with false charm. "I assure you, our ships are still on their way to your system, don't worry."

Mamao'lani said what he'd been bursting to say. "Actually, I called to tell you that your assistance will no longer be required."

Jozyk-Qil's face fell. "I'm sorry?"

"We have managed to resolve the problem ourselves. I'm sure you'll hear all about it through the grapevine, but you can tell your vessels to turn around. Thank them for the effort though."

"I... see." Jozyk-Qil was hiding it well, but he was clearly crestfallen that whatever scheme the Syndicate had been planning was scuppered. His female superiors would no doubt be very angry.

Mamao'lani decided to twist the knife. "But rest assured, Spokesman, rest assured, your offer was much appreciated. We shall be sure to tell everyone of your kindness, and extend such hospitality to our allies in the fast-approaching Federation, and let them know they can rely on you. It will do the quadrant well to know that not all factions of the Orion Syndicate are ruthless cutthroats, many of which would turn against their own people for such mercy towards their enemies." Mamao'lani glared at the screen, letting his point land. "You really are a different breed though, Spokesman."

Jozyk-Qil's smile tightened. "Thank you, Ambassador, that is... very gracious of you... but we are humble in our chapter, and would much prefer if our offer went... unmentioned."

Mamao'lani leaned forward. "Oh, I'm sure you would, Jozyk-Qil, I'm sure you would. There's an old Earth expression though: No good deed goes unpunished."

He closed the channel, leaving Jozyk-Qil to sweat.

Grum waited at the airlock of the Garas for his shuttlepod back down to Starbase 1. Like everyone else, he was keen to return, even moreso after alienating the Tellarite crew up here. Although most of them had subtly let him know they approved of how he had stood up to the Director, even if they didn't fully agree with him. Or vice versa - they agreed with him but didn't think he should have disrespected the Director. Grum, to his shame, had forgotten some of the nuances of Tellarite etiquette.

At least Commander Sandor had been approving, giving Grum a hearty handshake as he departed the engine room. For the gruff Human, that was quite emotive.

"Still here?"

Grum turned from the airlock to see Director Brantik standing behind him, head tilted back to sneer at him.

"These Humans are terrible for timekeeping," Grum said. The insult towards a third party could help to mend bridges between the two of them.

Brantik snorted. "Hmph. It seems they do have some good qualities though."

"You know, sir," said Grum, smugly, "I hear one of the Earth vessels found deposits of cormaline while scanning the fifth planet. Buried pretty deep. Not quite as valuable as rodinium, although it has its uses. Given the climate, it will take some time to establish a mining operation there, but you can still report back that the Garas' resource-finding mission has been successful. I know our mining agreement with Earth only applies to Berengaria Seven, but once we're in the Federation we'll share this whole system with them.

"They wouldn't have found the cormaline unless there had been reason to go there, of course. Like, if they had destroyed the comet instead of evacuating."

"I see you've adopted the Terran skill for getting your point across with the delicacy of a battering ram," Brantik said. "But I take your point, Supervisor." He sighed and tilted his head level with Grum's. "I was wrong. About you and about the comet."

Grum knew he could only expect so much from Brantik and nodded his acceptance of the apology. "Humility, Director? Perhaps you're getting a bit too Human as well."

Brantik grunted. "With insults like that, maybe there's hope for you yet, Grum."