We will jump in, one of the frigates arriving first, then us immediately behind them, and then the other frigate. The ether-jump navigators have calculated the best jump-in position, less than an hour from thePR’s position. Also, Maxim Colonies has confirmed with H’looder that they received word from the captain of thePRthat their ether-jump drive is offline and they are awaiting a jump tow.
Our initial excuse to be used during our approach is an official order from Maxim Colonies to allow the ether-jump engineer and techs from H’looder’s ships to take a look at the situation to see if thePRcan be repaired in the field and thus not require a tow. And if it cannot be repaired, thePR’s captain is to let one of H’looder’s frigates jump-tow them to their destination port.
Explaining our presence will be simple—Davies notified me their ether-jump engine was down, I mentioned it to Dr. H’looder, and he volunteered the use of his ships.
None of that is a lie, even if it is slightly bending the truth.
While normally lies are anathema to me, bending things just a little, in the service of what is good, lawful, and right, does not concern me too much. If no lives were at stake, I would take pause before lending my honor to this charade.
However, the greater good is served by this.
Maxim Colonies will time their order to the incoming tow to waive them off once we’ve confirmed we’re on-site.
Hopefully, all of this will catch the captain of thePalmarian Rubayneoff-guard and allow H’looder’s Guyardien security forces to board the cargo freighter in the guise of them being engineers.
Once that happens, they can seize the ship, secure it, search it, and take anyone who’s involved in the crime into custody. They’ve already received permission from Maxim Colonies, and from the freighter’s parent company, who’s contracted to MC, to seize the vessel and take the captain and stowaway into custody, as well as any other crew who are involved.
And then I can move Davies to the safety of H’looder’s ship.
Where I plan to keep him, safe by my side, until we return to the space station and decide exactly what our next step is.
Meanwhile, Maxim Colonies is already dispatching more ether-jump ships to intercept the tow and investigate this entire situation. If whoever is captaining the tow is part of this scheme, there is no way of knowing how many illegal smuggling runs they have engaged in.
It is vital those animals are retrieved and any biological damage their presence might have done be taken care of.
* * * *
I wish I could tell Davies exactly what is going on, and what to expect. Unfortunately, if there is any risk of his messages being intercepted and read, it will ruin the plan.
Therefore, I am left conversing with him, as we can, about our relationship, our love.
At least I can tell him how I feel now. That is some small measure of comfort.
The night before we are scheduled for jump-in to intercept thePalmarian Rubayne, I cannot sleep. I cannot eat, either.
I feel deep, rippling terror building within me over Davies’ safety.
I wish I could go with the landing parties to ensure my love’s safety, but that is neither possible nor practical. I have no military experience, and the Guyardien security officers are highly trained in what they do. Dr. H’looder assures me they are the best.
Trust is all I have.
Patience certainly has fled me, replaced by my fear.
One benefit of this forced waiting time, since we left the space station, is I have been able to speak with Dr. H’looder at length about Davies’ augmentations.
Interestingly enough, Dr. H’looder reveals to me that, among their many current projects, and one that is close to being perfected, they are working on a method so that a human mate can envenomate a Pfahrn mate.
Which would be…incredible, if they can achieve that.
It is something we have not yet done, but which I am looking forward to. Even better if Davies will be able to reciprocate in that way.
Dr. H’looder also wants to work with me and Davies as a couple, to bind our DNA together in a way he believes will help our mating be stronger, as if we were both Pfahrn.
I am willing to do anything my mate wishes to do.
Hopefully, he will be there with me to do it.
I am standing aboard the bridge of H’looder’s ship, next to the doctor, when the plan is put into action upon our jump-in. Dr. H’looder is once again dressed in a full protective mech suit. Veraci are a very fragile race, but this man in particular seems to have achieved a great deal in his life. So many degrees, so many patents and scientific breakthroughs—he has not allowed his fear to slow him down or get his in way.
