Disclaimer: I own anything you don't recognize. Everything else belongs to Tamora Pierce.
Key:
"speaking"
'thinking'
*italics*
{UniLang}
[Spanish]
Chapter Four
Jupiter
Kel motioned the squire up the corridor to the cockpit as she stowed her packs in a storage compartment, then followed. She sealed the cockpit hatch behind her and slipped into the pilot's seat. Strapping in and letting Lisan follow her example in the co-pilot's seat, Kel hit the switch that would raise the ramp and seal the outer hatch.
Lisan jumped at the distant *thud-CLANK!* that signified the shuttle was now space-safe. She tossed a glance at the older woman, and, seeing she seemed unconcerned, calmed herself and settled in to wait. Though still she wondered. How were they going to get anywhere? This construction had no wheels and there were no horses to pull it, so it couldn't be a carriage. But they were not in water, so it couldn't be a ship. How did it move?
Kel flicked on the stabilizers as she brought the engines out of standby. There was a reassuring, vibrating hum as the engines warmed without a hitch (1). With the sturdy little shuttle ready to go, Kel flicked on the comm. "This is Shuttle *Red Spot*, requesting dock cleared."
The spaceport monitor's voice came back. "*Dock cleared*, Red Spot."
Kel checked visually to make sure. "Requesting clearance for take-off."
"*Verifying . . . . Clearance granted,* Red Spot. *Safe journeys.*"
"Copy that," Kel responded. She fed power to her anti-grav engines (2), and they lifted off the pad. The experienced pilot ignored Lisan's gasp of surprise, instead nursing the shuttle to a height of 50 feet before smoothly switching to the sub-drives. "Pressure check," she barked, and nodded curtly when the pressure gauge settled correctly. Satisfied, she eased the sub-drives to their maximum speedily, and the sudden acceleration pushed her back in her seat, despite the work of the inertial adjustors (3,1). Lisan let out a yelp and gripped her armrests for all she was worth.
Kel adjusted the particle shield as they broke through the atmosphere, breathing deeply along with Lisan as the pressure let up. Wanting Lisan's first extra-terrestrial sight to be breathtaking, she maneuvered the *Red Spot* so that the peaceful and beautiful Mendari VI filled the front viewport. When Lisan peeled her eyes open, she gasped yet again - this time in awe.
"Where *are* we? What is that?" She pointed to her planet.
Kel gave her a soft laugh. The wide-eyed curiosity of the Terrans had never ceased to amaze and delight her, and now it seemed that the Mendari would share that boundless curiosity. "Where we are is called space. It's about 400 miles above the ground. That there is Mendari VI - your home planet."
Lisan's jaw dropped. "It's *beautiful,*" she breathed.
The former squire smiled. "Yes, she is."
And indeed, she was. Mendari VI was truly a shining jewel in this galaxy. The Takcha galaxy was not known for its living beauty. Most of its worlds were mineral planets. In fact, Takcha was the most mined galaxy in the universe. Takcha planets defied the laws of physics, and thus unique planets with the most unusual make-ups could be found. Shipbuilders had exclusive contracts with the miners of what were known as Tahshak planets - literally, planets of diamond. Ship hulls were made of a diamond-steel-deuterium alloy (disteerium) that was nearly impossible to penetrate. The diamond part of the alloy came from the Tahshak planets. The Praont System was the only system in Takcha that had no mining planets - it was the only system with an inhabited planet in the entire galaxy (4).
Mendari VI had three main continents - the Eastern Lands were settled on the northwestern coast of the secondary continent. For the most part, though, water covered the planet - 85%. She was similar in appearance to Terra, a fact that had been pleasing to the Terrans. Kel made it a point to always stop and just look at the planet she was protecting. It was often humbling.
"You can see *everything* from here!" Lisan exclaimed, letting her gaze sweep over her home world in awe. "Where's Tortall?"
Kel pointed the shuttle straight 'down' at the Eastern Lands, and the women could see a coastline that the younger had only seen on maps before. Off the coast to the west were three small island chains: to the north, the Yamani Islands; to the south, the Copper Isles; and in the middle but further west, Jindazhen. To the east, the Roof of the World rose toward them, but flattened out to reveal a great plain on the eastern side, hidden from the Eastern Lands by the majestic mountains. Seen without borders and boundary lines, the Eastern Lands looked so large, yet so small when compared to the rest of the planet. "It all seems so small from here," Lisan whispered.
"It is," Kel replied. "Mendari VI - your planet - is one of, if not *the* least-populated planets its side of the universe, thought it's the greatest populated in its galaxy. What's unusual is that the entire population is crowed into such a small area. All of the Eastern Lands would fit into the U.S., most likely (5)." She activated the holo-screen and brought up a map of the now abandoned nation and superimposed it over a map of the Eastern Lands. "America's a little larger," she corrected.
Lisan frowned as she studied the American map. "What's that place?"
"It's a powerful nation on Terra called the United States of America."
"What's a state?"
"A state is very similar to a fief. The main differences are that a state doesn't have a ruling family, and states are a great deal larger that fiefs - an average-sized state is about the size of Tortall, and many are larger."
Lisan nodded. "...I see." She again let her gaze wander over her world. "If the Eastern Lands are so small, then is the rest of the planet empty?"
"It was until three years ago," Kel affirmed. "That was when we came here."
Lisan glanced at her, silent. 'Is she actually going to tell me?'
"Mithros gave us permission to 'colonize' the planet as long as we didn't disturb the original inhabitants - you, the Mendari. We have colonies spread out all over the planet. Some are larger than others, and some are the size of a small Tortallan village.
"The eight main colonies are made up of the main cultural denominations: Asuran, made up mostly of Asians; Canerica, a combination of Canadians and Americans; Euron, for the most part Europeans; Arustilla, the Australians; Afirica, the Africans; Antaric, which is - ironically - populated by South Americans' and Ambavari, made up of Middle-Easterners. And then there's Columban, which is Central Americans. All but Columban were named (after a fashion) after the seven continents of Terra: Asia, North America, Europe, Australia, Africa, Antarctica, and South America, respectively. Columban's semi-sorta named after a country, Columbia."
Kel fell silent, letting the squire study her home world. After a few minutes, she brought the shuttle around and punched the main drives. *Red Spot* leapt forward and pushed both its occupants back in their seats before the IA's caught up. They were headed out-of-system to the farthest planet, Mendari XIII, where the *Jupiter* awaited them.
Lisan stared wide-eyed out the viewport as the *Red Spot* traveled at a speed unimaginable in the Eastern Lands. Other planets whipped by, visible only for brief moments before they were behind them. "Is all of space like this? She breathed.
Kel shook her head, chuckling. It felt good to loosen up. "No, not by a long shot. Most of it is just empty space. Just you and the dark."
Lisan shivered.
Kel slowed the shuttle as they neared Mendari XIII, not wanting to startle her sensor chiefs. The hum of the engines faded into the background, and the shuttle settled in to wait for the *Jupiter*. Judging by their timing, the attack cruiser would be coming around from the far side of the planet any second now.
Lisan gasped, and there it was.
Kel smiled, remembering the first time she had seen a UDR vessel. It had been the UDRS *Prudia*, named after the species that had been the cause of the long war. A smuggler who had rescued her from the Imperium scout ship had been carrying supplies for the ship commander, and planned to hand her off to him. However, *her* first sight wasn't *nearly* as spectacular as Lisan's.
The sun was directly behind the *Red Spot* when the *Jupiter* crossed the horizon line. The diamond in the hull fractured the light and cast brilliant rainbows in all directions, causing the massive ship to appear as a celestial being descending from the heavens. The light danced over Lisan's astonished features as she stared at the ship. She didn't even twitch when Kel flicked on the comm.
"*Jupiter*, this is Admiral Mindelan piloting the shuttle *Red Spot*, requesting docking clearance."
The unit cackled. "*Shuttle *Red Spot*, you have been cleared for docking. Captain Sarainak wishes to inform you that a security detachment will be waiting in the shuttle bay.*"
Kel glared at the comm unit. "Acknowledged. Mindelan out."
Lisan frowned, locking Kel's title away for further thought. "Why a security detachment?" she asked instead.
The *Jupiter* broadsided itself to the small shuttle, and one could see a hole yawning open. Kel sighed as she steered the *Red Spot* toward that hole - the docking day doors. "Bringing a civilian onboard a military vessel during Yellow Alert is strictly against regulations. But considering the circumstances, I've decided to make an exception - just this once, mind you - for the Terrans' sake. At least as far as the captain is concerned."
Lisan stared at her. "It's against regulations, and yet you're still doing it? Why not wait? Wh-why not wait until it's not during 'Yellow Alert'?"
Kel smiled grimly. "Several reasons, which I will not list for you now. We'll have time to talk later, after I've concluded my business." They passed through the magnetic shield (6), and Kel settled the shuttle on its landing pads with a soft *thud*. The shuttle hissed as its systems wound back down to standby mode, and Kel released the hatch. The sound this time was a *SNAP-clank-CREEEAAAAK* as the hatch unsealed, released, and lowered. Lisan winced - the sound was similar to someone dragging his or her fingernails across a slate: not very pleasant.
Kel retrieved Lisan's packs and handed them to her as they made their way to the hatch and down the ramp. The admiral paused as Lisan froze and stared in front of her in shock. Frowning, Kel followed her gaze, and scowled.
The 'security detachment' was made up completely of Sheook (7), the best hand-to-hand and all-around combatants in the universe. Their green skin seemed to glow in the lights of the docking bay, their hair of varying shades of brown and green appearing to pulse. On the bright side, they'd decided to take their most human form - their two extra sets of limbs were retracted.
"Relax, Lisan. Most of the crew is made up of non-humans. You could call them a type of Immortal, but they aren't - they weren't created by dreams, there are all different kinds, and not all live for quite so long. Just treat them as you would Tkaa, and you'll get along fine."
Lisan gave her a dubious look, but followed the older woman down the ramp. Kel spoke softly with the head of the team before motioning Lisan over. She warily approached the duo. "This is Lieutenant Aryk Waltich. He and his team will be escorting you to my quarters. You'll stay there until I've completed my business, and then we'll talk. Is that all right?"
"Uh..." Lisan eyed the tall, green-skinned man before her. His dark brown hair was long enough to be stuck in a small tail that rested on his shoulder. His dark brown suit clung to him like a second skin, but left a strip of flesh exposed on each side, running from the outside of his knee up his body to the inside of his elbow. Definitely someone she'd not want to bump into in a dark alley one stormy night. "Where will you be?"
Kel patted her shoulder. It was despairingly easy to see the fear in her eyes. "I'll be on the bridge. Don't worry. He might look tough, but he's really very sweet, and he'll take good care of you."
The other Sheook stifled their laughter as Waltich gave his admiral a pleading look. "{Please, ma'am. I have a reputation to keep. One where I'm not very soft or cuddly.}"
Kel laughed. "Don't worry, Lieutenant. I won't ruin your reputation. Just take good care of her, all right?"
He nodded. "{Will do, ma'am.}"
"There, you see?" Kel said to Lisan. "You'll be fine. And if you *really* need me, just tell him, and he'll got a hold of me."
Lisan nodded, and let the security team lead her to the rear turbolifts (8), glancing back to Kel for reassurance only once.
As the doors *hissed* shut behind them, Kel headed for the starboard turbolifts, reserved for officers, the bridge crew, ambassadorial parties, and emergencies. Unsurprisingly, the lifts lead directly to the bridge.
The main viewscreen - directly in front of her as she stepped out of the turbolift onto the bridge - was currently focused out-of-system, supposedly in the direction of the Calam system. The bridge was bustling with activity - the sensor chiefs were darting back and forth between each other's posts and the communications alcove, Commander Triskal was muttering under his breath as the weapons officer waved a data plate in his face, and other such things. Kel smiled to herself as she drew in the activity, allowing it to calm her. Since she had been abducted nine years before, the simple sights and sounds of an efficient, busy bridge had encouraged her, for some odd reason.
Ensign Harrnik looked back and grinned at her from his station at helm in front of the viewscreen. Other bridge crewmembers did the same, and Commander Triskal pointed to the captain's ready room. Kel nodded her thanks as she walked over and waved her hand before the chime sensor.
"Enter."
The door slid open and Kel walked in to find Captain A'bac Sarainak and Commander Badari Linch waiting for her. Sarainak stepped around his desk to shake her hand, then waved her to the second seat in front of the desk. "Good to see you again so soon, Admiral. How are things planet-side?" he inquired politely.
Kel seated herself. "Fairly well. We finally got the Comnet (9) repaired, and the harvest has been good. Canerica suffered a mild malaria epidemic - rather unusual, all things considered - but it was taken care of in short order."
Linch nodded. "I would hope so. After all they've been through, it'd be a shame if their numbers were diminished even slightly by an easily curable disease."
Kel also nodded. The Terrans had been thrilled to find that not only did the medical supplies given to them by the UDR, but also a local plant were the ideal remedies for malaria.
Turning to the captain, she finally asked. "So what have we got?"
Definitions/Terms
(1) Just a bunch of technical jargon that (most of which) I myself don't understand. Basically it means that she's getting the shuttle ready to fly, and then flying it.
(2) Anti-grav engines. They're what make the shuttle hover.
(3) Inertial Adjustors. They make it so that you don't get squashed into jelly when the shuttle (or even the really big ships) go really, really fast (like lightspeed and such).
(4) Okay, I probably lost you there. In this story (and the story it's kinda/sorta crossed over with) people can travel between galaxies. I made up a galaxy for the Praont System to be stuck in, and made it the mining galaxy.
I have no idea if planets made completely of diamond are possible (probably not), or even if hulls made of a mixture of diamond, deuterium, and steel are logical or possible. But hey - it's called fiction for a reason, isn't it?
(5) Tamora Pierce neglected to put a scale on the maps of Tortall, so this is just an educated (barely) guess. I originally had it the size of California, but I thought I'd be nice and make it bigger. If you have a Tortallan map with a scale, please e-mail it to me - it will be greatly appreciated. Or just let me know I'm wrong and which book it's in so I can go find it.
(6) Magnetic shield. It's what keeps the air in and the bay pressurized when the bay doors are open.
(7) Sheook. Another alien species. They're almost similar to arachnids - they have eight limbs - but are humanoid. The two extra sets of limbs between the bottom legs (regular legs for humans) and the top arms (regular arms for humans) are retractable. They also have flying-squirrel-type wings, also retractable. Their planet - Sheook - is a forest planet, so they have wicked-sharp claws that allow them to move through the trees, they're double-jointed (to an extreme), and their skin and hair are earth-colored for camouflage. They're also extremely short-lived - no more than 25 years exactly. There's a huge explanation for that that you probably don't want to hear, but if you do, e-mail me and ask, and I'll get back to you.
(8) Turbolifts. High-tech elevators.
(9) Comnet. High-tech Internet - this one let's you communicate instantly with not only anyone one the planet (visual and audio), but also on other ships or planets - or even galaxies! Really niffy - we need to get one.
Key:
"speaking"
'thinking'
*italics*
{UniLang}
[Spanish]
Chapter Four
Jupiter
Kel motioned the squire up the corridor to the cockpit as she stowed her packs in a storage compartment, then followed. She sealed the cockpit hatch behind her and slipped into the pilot's seat. Strapping in and letting Lisan follow her example in the co-pilot's seat, Kel hit the switch that would raise the ramp and seal the outer hatch.
Lisan jumped at the distant *thud-CLANK!* that signified the shuttle was now space-safe. She tossed a glance at the older woman, and, seeing she seemed unconcerned, calmed herself and settled in to wait. Though still she wondered. How were they going to get anywhere? This construction had no wheels and there were no horses to pull it, so it couldn't be a carriage. But they were not in water, so it couldn't be a ship. How did it move?
Kel flicked on the stabilizers as she brought the engines out of standby. There was a reassuring, vibrating hum as the engines warmed without a hitch (1). With the sturdy little shuttle ready to go, Kel flicked on the comm. "This is Shuttle *Red Spot*, requesting dock cleared."
The spaceport monitor's voice came back. "*Dock cleared*, Red Spot."
Kel checked visually to make sure. "Requesting clearance for take-off."
"*Verifying . . . . Clearance granted,* Red Spot. *Safe journeys.*"
"Copy that," Kel responded. She fed power to her anti-grav engines (2), and they lifted off the pad. The experienced pilot ignored Lisan's gasp of surprise, instead nursing the shuttle to a height of 50 feet before smoothly switching to the sub-drives. "Pressure check," she barked, and nodded curtly when the pressure gauge settled correctly. Satisfied, she eased the sub-drives to their maximum speedily, and the sudden acceleration pushed her back in her seat, despite the work of the inertial adjustors (3,1). Lisan let out a yelp and gripped her armrests for all she was worth.
Kel adjusted the particle shield as they broke through the atmosphere, breathing deeply along with Lisan as the pressure let up. Wanting Lisan's first extra-terrestrial sight to be breathtaking, she maneuvered the *Red Spot* so that the peaceful and beautiful Mendari VI filled the front viewport. When Lisan peeled her eyes open, she gasped yet again - this time in awe.
"Where *are* we? What is that?" She pointed to her planet.
Kel gave her a soft laugh. The wide-eyed curiosity of the Terrans had never ceased to amaze and delight her, and now it seemed that the Mendari would share that boundless curiosity. "Where we are is called space. It's about 400 miles above the ground. That there is Mendari VI - your home planet."
Lisan's jaw dropped. "It's *beautiful,*" she breathed.
The former squire smiled. "Yes, she is."
And indeed, she was. Mendari VI was truly a shining jewel in this galaxy. The Takcha galaxy was not known for its living beauty. Most of its worlds were mineral planets. In fact, Takcha was the most mined galaxy in the universe. Takcha planets defied the laws of physics, and thus unique planets with the most unusual make-ups could be found. Shipbuilders had exclusive contracts with the miners of what were known as Tahshak planets - literally, planets of diamond. Ship hulls were made of a diamond-steel-deuterium alloy (disteerium) that was nearly impossible to penetrate. The diamond part of the alloy came from the Tahshak planets. The Praont System was the only system in Takcha that had no mining planets - it was the only system with an inhabited planet in the entire galaxy (4).
Mendari VI had three main continents - the Eastern Lands were settled on the northwestern coast of the secondary continent. For the most part, though, water covered the planet - 85%. She was similar in appearance to Terra, a fact that had been pleasing to the Terrans. Kel made it a point to always stop and just look at the planet she was protecting. It was often humbling.
"You can see *everything* from here!" Lisan exclaimed, letting her gaze sweep over her home world in awe. "Where's Tortall?"
Kel pointed the shuttle straight 'down' at the Eastern Lands, and the women could see a coastline that the younger had only seen on maps before. Off the coast to the west were three small island chains: to the north, the Yamani Islands; to the south, the Copper Isles; and in the middle but further west, Jindazhen. To the east, the Roof of the World rose toward them, but flattened out to reveal a great plain on the eastern side, hidden from the Eastern Lands by the majestic mountains. Seen without borders and boundary lines, the Eastern Lands looked so large, yet so small when compared to the rest of the planet. "It all seems so small from here," Lisan whispered.
"It is," Kel replied. "Mendari VI - your planet - is one of, if not *the* least-populated planets its side of the universe, thought it's the greatest populated in its galaxy. What's unusual is that the entire population is crowed into such a small area. All of the Eastern Lands would fit into the U.S., most likely (5)." She activated the holo-screen and brought up a map of the now abandoned nation and superimposed it over a map of the Eastern Lands. "America's a little larger," she corrected.
Lisan frowned as she studied the American map. "What's that place?"
"It's a powerful nation on Terra called the United States of America."
"What's a state?"
"A state is very similar to a fief. The main differences are that a state doesn't have a ruling family, and states are a great deal larger that fiefs - an average-sized state is about the size of Tortall, and many are larger."
Lisan nodded. "...I see." She again let her gaze wander over her world. "If the Eastern Lands are so small, then is the rest of the planet empty?"
"It was until three years ago," Kel affirmed. "That was when we came here."
Lisan glanced at her, silent. 'Is she actually going to tell me?'
"Mithros gave us permission to 'colonize' the planet as long as we didn't disturb the original inhabitants - you, the Mendari. We have colonies spread out all over the planet. Some are larger than others, and some are the size of a small Tortallan village.
"The eight main colonies are made up of the main cultural denominations: Asuran, made up mostly of Asians; Canerica, a combination of Canadians and Americans; Euron, for the most part Europeans; Arustilla, the Australians; Afirica, the Africans; Antaric, which is - ironically - populated by South Americans' and Ambavari, made up of Middle-Easterners. And then there's Columban, which is Central Americans. All but Columban were named (after a fashion) after the seven continents of Terra: Asia, North America, Europe, Australia, Africa, Antarctica, and South America, respectively. Columban's semi-sorta named after a country, Columbia."
Kel fell silent, letting the squire study her home world. After a few minutes, she brought the shuttle around and punched the main drives. *Red Spot* leapt forward and pushed both its occupants back in their seats before the IA's caught up. They were headed out-of-system to the farthest planet, Mendari XIII, where the *Jupiter* awaited them.
Lisan stared wide-eyed out the viewport as the *Red Spot* traveled at a speed unimaginable in the Eastern Lands. Other planets whipped by, visible only for brief moments before they were behind them. "Is all of space like this? She breathed.
Kel shook her head, chuckling. It felt good to loosen up. "No, not by a long shot. Most of it is just empty space. Just you and the dark."
Lisan shivered.
Kel slowed the shuttle as they neared Mendari XIII, not wanting to startle her sensor chiefs. The hum of the engines faded into the background, and the shuttle settled in to wait for the *Jupiter*. Judging by their timing, the attack cruiser would be coming around from the far side of the planet any second now.
Lisan gasped, and there it was.
Kel smiled, remembering the first time she had seen a UDR vessel. It had been the UDRS *Prudia*, named after the species that had been the cause of the long war. A smuggler who had rescued her from the Imperium scout ship had been carrying supplies for the ship commander, and planned to hand her off to him. However, *her* first sight wasn't *nearly* as spectacular as Lisan's.
The sun was directly behind the *Red Spot* when the *Jupiter* crossed the horizon line. The diamond in the hull fractured the light and cast brilliant rainbows in all directions, causing the massive ship to appear as a celestial being descending from the heavens. The light danced over Lisan's astonished features as she stared at the ship. She didn't even twitch when Kel flicked on the comm.
"*Jupiter*, this is Admiral Mindelan piloting the shuttle *Red Spot*, requesting docking clearance."
The unit cackled. "*Shuttle *Red Spot*, you have been cleared for docking. Captain Sarainak wishes to inform you that a security detachment will be waiting in the shuttle bay.*"
Kel glared at the comm unit. "Acknowledged. Mindelan out."
Lisan frowned, locking Kel's title away for further thought. "Why a security detachment?" she asked instead.
The *Jupiter* broadsided itself to the small shuttle, and one could see a hole yawning open. Kel sighed as she steered the *Red Spot* toward that hole - the docking day doors. "Bringing a civilian onboard a military vessel during Yellow Alert is strictly against regulations. But considering the circumstances, I've decided to make an exception - just this once, mind you - for the Terrans' sake. At least as far as the captain is concerned."
Lisan stared at her. "It's against regulations, and yet you're still doing it? Why not wait? Wh-why not wait until it's not during 'Yellow Alert'?"
Kel smiled grimly. "Several reasons, which I will not list for you now. We'll have time to talk later, after I've concluded my business." They passed through the magnetic shield (6), and Kel settled the shuttle on its landing pads with a soft *thud*. The shuttle hissed as its systems wound back down to standby mode, and Kel released the hatch. The sound this time was a *SNAP-clank-CREEEAAAAK* as the hatch unsealed, released, and lowered. Lisan winced - the sound was similar to someone dragging his or her fingernails across a slate: not very pleasant.
Kel retrieved Lisan's packs and handed them to her as they made their way to the hatch and down the ramp. The admiral paused as Lisan froze and stared in front of her in shock. Frowning, Kel followed her gaze, and scowled.
The 'security detachment' was made up completely of Sheook (7), the best hand-to-hand and all-around combatants in the universe. Their green skin seemed to glow in the lights of the docking bay, their hair of varying shades of brown and green appearing to pulse. On the bright side, they'd decided to take their most human form - their two extra sets of limbs were retracted.
"Relax, Lisan. Most of the crew is made up of non-humans. You could call them a type of Immortal, but they aren't - they weren't created by dreams, there are all different kinds, and not all live for quite so long. Just treat them as you would Tkaa, and you'll get along fine."
Lisan gave her a dubious look, but followed the older woman down the ramp. Kel spoke softly with the head of the team before motioning Lisan over. She warily approached the duo. "This is Lieutenant Aryk Waltich. He and his team will be escorting you to my quarters. You'll stay there until I've completed my business, and then we'll talk. Is that all right?"
"Uh..." Lisan eyed the tall, green-skinned man before her. His dark brown hair was long enough to be stuck in a small tail that rested on his shoulder. His dark brown suit clung to him like a second skin, but left a strip of flesh exposed on each side, running from the outside of his knee up his body to the inside of his elbow. Definitely someone she'd not want to bump into in a dark alley one stormy night. "Where will you be?"
Kel patted her shoulder. It was despairingly easy to see the fear in her eyes. "I'll be on the bridge. Don't worry. He might look tough, but he's really very sweet, and he'll take good care of you."
The other Sheook stifled their laughter as Waltich gave his admiral a pleading look. "{Please, ma'am. I have a reputation to keep. One where I'm not very soft or cuddly.}"
Kel laughed. "Don't worry, Lieutenant. I won't ruin your reputation. Just take good care of her, all right?"
He nodded. "{Will do, ma'am.}"
"There, you see?" Kel said to Lisan. "You'll be fine. And if you *really* need me, just tell him, and he'll got a hold of me."
Lisan nodded, and let the security team lead her to the rear turbolifts (8), glancing back to Kel for reassurance only once.
As the doors *hissed* shut behind them, Kel headed for the starboard turbolifts, reserved for officers, the bridge crew, ambassadorial parties, and emergencies. Unsurprisingly, the lifts lead directly to the bridge.
The main viewscreen - directly in front of her as she stepped out of the turbolift onto the bridge - was currently focused out-of-system, supposedly in the direction of the Calam system. The bridge was bustling with activity - the sensor chiefs were darting back and forth between each other's posts and the communications alcove, Commander Triskal was muttering under his breath as the weapons officer waved a data plate in his face, and other such things. Kel smiled to herself as she drew in the activity, allowing it to calm her. Since she had been abducted nine years before, the simple sights and sounds of an efficient, busy bridge had encouraged her, for some odd reason.
Ensign Harrnik looked back and grinned at her from his station at helm in front of the viewscreen. Other bridge crewmembers did the same, and Commander Triskal pointed to the captain's ready room. Kel nodded her thanks as she walked over and waved her hand before the chime sensor.
"Enter."
The door slid open and Kel walked in to find Captain A'bac Sarainak and Commander Badari Linch waiting for her. Sarainak stepped around his desk to shake her hand, then waved her to the second seat in front of the desk. "Good to see you again so soon, Admiral. How are things planet-side?" he inquired politely.
Kel seated herself. "Fairly well. We finally got the Comnet (9) repaired, and the harvest has been good. Canerica suffered a mild malaria epidemic - rather unusual, all things considered - but it was taken care of in short order."
Linch nodded. "I would hope so. After all they've been through, it'd be a shame if their numbers were diminished even slightly by an easily curable disease."
Kel also nodded. The Terrans had been thrilled to find that not only did the medical supplies given to them by the UDR, but also a local plant were the ideal remedies for malaria.
Turning to the captain, she finally asked. "So what have we got?"
Definitions/Terms
(1) Just a bunch of technical jargon that (most of which) I myself don't understand. Basically it means that she's getting the shuttle ready to fly, and then flying it.
(2) Anti-grav engines. They're what make the shuttle hover.
(3) Inertial Adjustors. They make it so that you don't get squashed into jelly when the shuttle (or even the really big ships) go really, really fast (like lightspeed and such).
(4) Okay, I probably lost you there. In this story (and the story it's kinda/sorta crossed over with) people can travel between galaxies. I made up a galaxy for the Praont System to be stuck in, and made it the mining galaxy.
I have no idea if planets made completely of diamond are possible (probably not), or even if hulls made of a mixture of diamond, deuterium, and steel are logical or possible. But hey - it's called fiction for a reason, isn't it?
(5) Tamora Pierce neglected to put a scale on the maps of Tortall, so this is just an educated (barely) guess. I originally had it the size of California, but I thought I'd be nice and make it bigger. If you have a Tortallan map with a scale, please e-mail it to me - it will be greatly appreciated. Or just let me know I'm wrong and which book it's in so I can go find it.
(6) Magnetic shield. It's what keeps the air in and the bay pressurized when the bay doors are open.
(7) Sheook. Another alien species. They're almost similar to arachnids - they have eight limbs - but are humanoid. The two extra sets of limbs between the bottom legs (regular legs for humans) and the top arms (regular arms for humans) are retractable. They also have flying-squirrel-type wings, also retractable. Their planet - Sheook - is a forest planet, so they have wicked-sharp claws that allow them to move through the trees, they're double-jointed (to an extreme), and their skin and hair are earth-colored for camouflage. They're also extremely short-lived - no more than 25 years exactly. There's a huge explanation for that that you probably don't want to hear, but if you do, e-mail me and ask, and I'll get back to you.
(8) Turbolifts. High-tech elevators.
(9) Comnet. High-tech Internet - this one let's you communicate instantly with not only anyone one the planet (visual and audio), but also on other ships or planets - or even galaxies! Really niffy - we need to get one.