Written from 1994 to1997 by Dee Dreslough. This Novel is Public Domain! Enjoy!
Tara stood stock-still, waiting for the first tiny gleam from the scout craft
to appear in the darkness of the wormhole. The gentle constant breeze of recycled air from the vent above blew
an annoying hair against her nose, but she ignored it.
A gasp from the psychic broke her silent vigil, and she turned.
"Results, Harmon?" she suppressed the surge of annoyance that ran through
her as she contemplated the psi's gift of getting all the hot news first.
Harmon's face slowly animated - joy sweeping in to replace stern concentration.
"Tarrin says the planet's a freaking gemstone! Thriving with life, large and small forms, no buildings of
any kind, hydrocarbons, metals, and a stable atmosphere. He's not even bringing them back through for a face to
face briefing. He says we should come through now, immediately, before the probe is reported late."
"Harmon, tell that good for nothing son of a beta to get his hindquarters through
the gate and back here NOW, or I'll open fire on him when we come back through." Tara fumed. Of all the impertinence!
Tarrin, no doubt with orders from Mason, was questioning her command decisions. That's what I get for not using
mercenaries.
She returned to her watch, regarding her own reflection in the long window. Mahogany-black
curly hair, cut short in the typical military style framed a careworn, dark-skinned face. It was not an attractive
face right now; her ebony eyes shadowed by hours on the watch, full lips pursed with frustration. She had the look
of every leader she had ever known. At six foot two, she stood a full head taller than even her Arrallin first
officer. Her glowering expression completed the imposing effect. She picked imaginary flecks off her stark gray
jumpsuit, and snorted. You look like hell, Tar. Don't blow this. Don't let fatigue get to you.
She used the discretion of the mirrored window to secretively survey her crew. Harmon
was an excellent addition to the bridge team, but was she open minded enough to defy United Earth Command and sever
all ties from Earth? She watched the psi bob her head, unaware of the rest of the bridge, shaking blonde curls
as she chattered away with the approaching psi relay on Mason's ship. She seemed so depthless - self conscious
and shallow on the outside, but having that incredible gift. There had to be more to her.
Well, if she didn't pan out, she'd be terminated. Any crew member that would jeopardize
the project was meat. It would be a shame to lose that talent, though.
Rakal, her first officer, was staring pensively at his panel. He was what this was
all about. She watched his graceful fingers ending in thick black claws tap out calculations on the panel. His
pointed ears swiveled back and forth, catching every sound from the bridge, while his long tail swished to the
rhythm of his thoughts. Only those of the Arrallin Insurrection inner team knew he was no common 'beta furry'.
His silken fur, which would be tawny golden and striped with jet black bands, was dyed perfectly to a pure black,
and his mane trimmed and thinned as to be indistinguishable from the rest of his coat. His eyes had been treated
and darkened to a rich purple to disguise the brilliant golden yellow color that would mark him as an Alpha Arrallin,
and leader of his hive. Right now, he looked like an overgrown wolf who'd learned touch-typing.
The scout ship re-emerged from the hole - a brilliant speck emerging from a sphere
of velvety blackness. It's hail crackled across the comm, and Tara spun to retake her seat at the helm. "Launch
the second probe. Won't Central be crushed to learn that another gateway has yielded little more than a class F
planet and a white dwarf system. Level 1 and 2 staffers should prepare to be briefed and move out. This sounds
like it's the one." The distinctive whuffle of pleasure rippled through the betas on the bridge, and Rakal
let loose a small growl, as if to caution his charges against false hope. They'd scouted twenty-seven gates so
far, and none had turned up anything worth the Insurrection's time. Tara would not let giddy hopes drag them onto
a rock that would spell the end for the project, and the Arrallin species.
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