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Alternity 2 - Chapter 3
"Our masters, have spoken," said Dylan. "They want us to return to HQ immediately." He was just as stunned as the others but had his High Guard training to fall back upon and had gone into 'act calm and don't let your subordinates know you're so scared you just pissed your pants mode'. "I expect that once we arrive at Mobius we will all be given individual assignments but until then it's business as usual. Andromeda, pass the word that we will be entering slipstream in two hours and to rig for slipstream."
"Dylan," interjected Trance. "I think that when we arrive at Mobius you should send some of us out to do some independent investigating of our own about that, that," she struggled for the words, "that 'Worldship."
"I'm sure HQ is already on it, Trance." replied Dylan.
"I know, Dylan" argued Trance 'but can we really trust whoever they send out to return the information to HQ and not just keep it for their home planet's exclusive use?"
"Point taken, but even so where do you recommend I send someone."
"Do you remember when Harper and I were on Ornithorne, watching the mandlebrots spawn?" asked Trance.
"Vividly," answered Dylan dryly, still in his 'act calm' mode. "You both were a week late returning with supplies I had sent you to bring back immediately."
"Well anyway," continued Trance unfazed by Dylan's sarcasm, "I took vids of them spawning and sent the recordings to All Systems Quarterly. They told me they were going to use them in this quarters issue but they didn't use the good ones. I had a really really nice vid of the courtship dance and one of them mating in the moonlight but they didn't want to use those they only wanted to use the boring closeups and... "
"Trance, focus," said an exasperated Dylan. " Mobile solar systems filled with Magog, remember."
"Oh, Ok, Anyway in the same issue there was an article titled 'Mystery of the Murderous Marauding Magog' and with a title like that I just had to look at it. They're not all like that you know marauding I mean. Rev is one of the gentlest..."
"Trance," said Beka in the tone of voice a mother uses on a small child who has forgotten the point of the story it was telling.
"Oh sorry. Anyway, there is this Umbrite on Mohendjo Daro, I don't remember his name but it's in the article, who has been doing research on the origin of the Magog. The article didn't exactly come out and say it in so many words but it hinted that he had made some sort of breakthrough. I bet if he doesn't know something about the Worldship he will know someone who does. So I think we should send someone to talk to him.
"Good thinking Trance," complimented Dylan. The purple girl almost wiggled in pleasure at the, coming from Dylan, very rare compliment. "Beka, when we arrive at Mohendjo Daro, I want you to go to the university and look up this Umbrite. Tyr, while Beka is gone I want you to...."
'No," the Nietzschean hadn't raised is voice but his refusal was clear and definite.
"No?" queried Dylan surprise evident in his voice.
"No," repeated Tyr. "You're not going to send Beka out on this expedition. I will go in her place"
"Tyr," said Dylan the anger an having his orders challenged evident in his voice, "I can't give you a direct order since you're a civilian, but I can and will have you removed from my ship if you challenge my orders. Is that clear?"
Andromeda's holographic self chose that moment to intervene. "Actually Captain, Tyr does have a point, no matter how poorly put. I recommend that you send them both on the mission. Working together they will have a better chance of getting the information than either one of them would separately. Their talents complement each other very nicely."
"I, see" said Dylan. He glanced at the image of Andromeda's core self in the view screen, who nodded her agreement with her sister self's argument. Inwardly fuming at the rebellion within the ranks but realizing with both staff and AI joining together this was one battle he was going to lose Dylan decided that his only course of action was a graceful retreat. "Very well, Tyr," he said, As soon as Andromeda arrives at Mobius you and Beka will go to Mohendjo Daro to see if you can locate this person and learn what you can about the," he decided to use Trance's word, "Worldship. And Tyr," he wasn't going to let the insubordination go uncommented on, "the next time you disagree with one of my orders you will do so in a respectful manner. Understood."
"Aye aye Captain," replied Tyr. There was only the faintest trace of mockery in his voice.
"Then in that case," announced Dylan as he stood up from the table, "this conference is over. Return to your duties and be at your slipstream transit stations in two hours. Andromeda, Rommie, I want to see you in my quarters immediately."
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