Damia nodded, pursing her lips. `I must ask Elizara to come visit her namesake. Maybe this is just a phase she’s going through. It’s not like my family, and certainly not like your father’s.’ `All our children are individuals in their own right, Damia.’ `I know!’ Captain Osullivan of the Genesee himself welcomed Rojer Lyon on board and politely but firmly took control of the courier pouch that Rojer had been sternly charged to deliver only into the captain’s hand. His personal carrier, with drones attached like oblong satellites around it, was `ported by the efforts of Callisto, Earth, Aurigaean and Denebian Primes.
That gave Rojer some indication of how very far from his part of the galaxy the B-Squadron was.
A thought away, indeed, he thought. More like a hoarse whisper.
That’s all you know about it, young man, said his grandmother’s unmistakable voice, fainter than usual but clear. I can’t abide cocky youngsters.
There was, for Rojer’s peace of mind, the ripple of amusement in her tone.
The two drones directly obstructing his hatch were shifted and it was opened. Neither he nor his two `Dinis suffered any untoward effect from the atmosphere on board: the Genesee, being the prototype Constellation-class vessel, had an extremely efficient oxygen regeneration program: sgit plants played a large part in air filtration.
Rojer shook right hands with the captain: with his left hand, Rojer released the documents pouch to its stated recipient. Osullivan, a tall man in his fifth decade, tall, fit, slightly balding but urbane gave not the slightest reaction, as others behind him did, that such a young person had been entrusted with the courier pouch and had helped bring the drone supplies. The captain then introduced Rojer to the lieutenant who would be his aide while on board. He also issued an invitation for Rojer with Grl and Ktg – whose names he had no trouble pronouncing – to join him and his officers at dinner at 1930 hours. He then excused himself, courier bag clasped tightly to his side, and, nodding right and left to the dawdling crewmembers to get back to their work, left the bay.
Lieutenant junior grade Lin Xing Tsu, a slight, wiry young man with so close a haircut that his sallow scalp showed through his black hair, immediately picked up Rojer’s one duffel and led the way to his quarters.
Lin was obviously proud of the Genesee, recently commissioned and on her maiden voyage, and described her amenities in glowing detail as they traversed the passageways. As they passed some of the more important features, or Lin indicated which lift to take to reach the gym, sickbay and commissary, Rojer began to feel more assured. He, Gil and Kat were shown into a stateroom, not quite as large as the one Thian had occupied as described by Damia, but certainly not the cramped cabin that had been his brother’s first accommodation on the Vadim.
`Can I get a little something to eat. .. to tide me over until dinner?’ Rojer asked because he had left Aurigae just after breakfast, arrived before lunch at Callisto where the drones were attached to his capsule and arrived after the noon meal on the Genesee.
Smiling, Lin inclined his head. `Sure thing! Considering you brought us several tonnes or more of food, you’re entitled to a decent meal. Betcha all the edibles are already in the galley and storage.’ As they made their way back to the mess-hall, Rojer asked, `Is there a piece table aboard this ship?’ `A peace table?’ Lin slowed to glance back over his shoulder in surprise at Rojer. `We haven’t declared war yet. How can we make peace?’ `Not that kind of peace.’ Rojer spelled out the correct one. `You know, Hive ship pieces… Putting them together?’ His explanation fell on puzzled ears.
`On the Beijing, they had all the pieces, in scale of course, of the Hive ship that was caught by the nova shock wave. The one that the Vadim squadron found? People are trying to put it back together.
Lin still didn’t understand, so while Rojer continued to explain, he glumly realized that he’d have no more chance of participation. By the time this mission ended, the wreck would probably have been totally reconstructed. He’d so wanted to be part of that effort.