“Very good,” Acorna agreed. “Our people are looking much improved. But we need to get them home -where they can graze and rest and have the wounds to their spirits salved.”
“I hope,” Aari said in a voice so tight that it came out rather high, “that their families will not fear them, too.”
Acorna laid her horn against his shoulder. “Your family did not fear you. Maati was very put out we didn’t bring her along, in fact.”
In the lounge and on the mess deck, the Starfarers were putting all of the gourmet selections in the Shahraza()‘s replicators to the test, while Karina and the staff busied themselves at other replicators on other parts of the ship, fixing food for the youngsters to take on their journey home.
Becker stuck his head through the onion-domed port, nodded to Aari and Acorna, and said, “Saddle up, crew. Time to go back in the sky now.”
So they left Hafiz and the Haven in charge of the former prisoners, both human and Linyaari, and boarded the ConSor once more, setting off for the coordinates that the hologram had given as those of narhiiVhiliinyar.
Acorna was a little surprised to see Nadhari Kando, Neeva and Virii, and ‘Ziana and Pal already aboard. “I’m amazed Johnny Greene isn’t here, too,” she said.
“He’s still back on the Shahrazcu) generating those messages with the coordinates, sending out fresh holovids every little once in a while just to keep Ganoosh and Ikwaskwan interested,” Becker told her. “I figure they’ve been traveling maybe forty-eight hours by now, but using my special navigational methods, we’ll be there several hours before them.”
He was correct as, Acorna was learning, was usual. The Com)or arrived at the Federation outpost well before the mercenary fleet. When the post commander heard the stories of the Linyaari ambassador, the legendary Nadhari Kando, and the young Starfarers, he was at first hesitant until Acorna said, “I can only bring you the words of my uncle, whom the Linyaari people regard as a sort of honorary kinsman and who considers all of my people to be under his protection while they are outside their own territory.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the Federation commander said. “And your uncle, can you give me a name?”
“Hatiz Harakamian,” she said. “You may have heard of him. Patron Emeritus of the House of Harakamian? My other uncle Rafik Nadezda is the current patron and he naturally shares Uncle Hafiz s concern. In fact, Mr. Kendoro and Ms. Kando are close personal friends of Uncle Rafik’s as well as mine.”
The commander’s demeanor changed. “You’re Lady Acorna Harakamian-Li! At the behest of Mr. Rafik Nadezda, the Federation has been investigating certain crimes against it and unaffiliated races.”
Acorna nodded.
“And-uh-two other uncles-your parents seem to have had a lot of brothers, ma’am.” Acorna nodded. “Two other uncles were so insistent that we send Federation troops that there is a detachment on the way already. I’m afraid your uncles were so upset that they had to be forcibly detained to keep them from coming along. No civilians on troop ships, ma’am. I’m sure you understand.”
“If you could just send them word that you’ve spoken with me and I am” she started to say fine but then amended it to, “I have survived, Mr. Harakamian is safe, and we are among friends, I would appreciate it.”
“Roger that, ma’am.” Within a few hours real Federation ships began arriving from outposts all over nearby quadrants, creating a formidable welcoming committee for Ikwaskwan’s fake ships.
When Ikwaskwan’s troops arrived, bristling with weapons
but speaking words of peace to what they fondly supposed to be the Linyaari home world, they were flanked by the real Federation ships, locked into tractor beams, and escorted to the outpost, after a brief skirmish ending in the Federation’s favor and providing so much salvage for Becker that he had to put it on the tractor beam to tow behind the ConDor.
“Now then, Aari, here’s something my daddy taught me about towing salvage. You always tow it at a thirty degree angle from your flight pattern. You know why that is?”
“Perhaps so it does not hit your ship if you must suddenly cease acceleration or reverse course?” Aari asked.