when Thian `pathed Laria, she erupted with what he felt was unprofessional excitement; more nearly exultation of a bloodthirsty variety.
I’m not blood-lusting, Laria replied with some indignation, I’m practising `Dini hurrahs. They’ve waited so long for a breakthrough like this.
We don’t know if it is a breakthrough, sis.
Go find out! Like Mother did! The suspense would kill me.
Mother didn’t know what was out there, then, or I’ll bet she wouldn’t have gone.
But how long before we know? Laria demanded, her mind sparkling with excitement. She was positively bloodthirsty, Thian thought.
Even at the speeds we’re travelling, it’ll take several days to close the distance between us.
What about probes?
We’re not even close enough for a probe, even those new hypersensitive ones.
But Laria had planted the notion in his head of a `portational reconnaissance and he couldn’t shake it out. It might redress the impression the `Dinis had that humans were unnecessarily cautious.
Even among his own kind, he’d accrue considerable prestige from such a daring action. And, speaking of suspense, establishing a definite ID would improve morale considerably. Waiting was always the worst part of any ordeal. Also, if Thian could prove himself, he might even get rid of Malice. Most of that person’s dislike centred around him being a civilian on a naval mission, a weasel-lover on a human crewed ship, a snot-nosed kid who’d been pampered all his life because of a lucky genetic break.
when they got somewhat closer – for even his mother had not risked going too far from her power base – he might just mention it to Captain Ashiant.
Thian knew his strengths but he also knew his own limitations.
Lucky he knew himself to be: but not snot-nosed.
Busy as he became, hauling in more supplies, retrieving crewmates from their home planets, for all shore leave was cancelled, Thian also quickly found a way to answer the pressing need of his `Dinis.
Hibernation was not considered a dereliction of duty for usually only immature or postmature `Dinis went on long-distance duty. As it happened, several `Dini observers from the High Council on Clarf required transport to the KLTL and KLTS so Thian arranged that Mur and Dip would have space on the return trip. Mur and Dip had the dubious pleasure of accompanying four of the largest `Dinis Thian had ever seen.
He missed his life-long friends almost as soon as he lost their `touch’ as Laria took control of their capsule at the change-over point. This was not like their yearly retreat on Iota Aurigae: they weren’t a matter of kilometres away in a hillside he could see from his bedroom window. Their companionship had also afforded him relief from his anomalous position on the Vadim. He missed them more as his workload increased and tensions rose, in him and throughout the ship and squadron.
Two days after the sighting, he had an unusual interview with Captain Ashiant.
`You’ve handled yourself extremely well, young Lyon,’ Ashiant began, steepling his fingers and staring so hard at him that Thian began to worry about what the man was leading up to. `I gather that our `Dini allies find our attitudes towards a possible engagement at odds with theirs.’ `They’ve fought the Hivers for centuries, with considerably more direct experience than humans have had.’ `They also consider there’s only one way to promulgate this war.’ `They’ve only found one that’s successful in destroying the enemy. Any other outcome is unacceptable considering what this enemy does unchecked.’ `Well, at the risk of appearing cowardly, humans have usually,’ and Ashiant stressed the adverb, `found that retreat can often result in significant victory.’ `Humans have only been up against a Hive ship once,’ Thian was obliged to remind him. `The scout ships don’t, apparently, count.
`That’s not what I wish to discuss with you. If we come up against a viable Hive ship this time, young Lyon, you will act upon these special orders should the special circumstances arise,’ and Ashiant handed over a transparent pencil file. `You have an eidetic memory. This destructs after one reading and leaves no trace in your terminal.’ Carefully Thian inserted the file in his breast pocket.