The Risks of Dead Reckoning Felicia Watson (books for 9th graders .TXT) 📖

Upon learning that themessage had been successful, Drawde left, promising to let themknow of the Council’s ruling. The group broke out some meal packsand spent their makeshift dinner hour brainstorming a way to get amessage to Lovelace regarding their present danger. Ricci assumed Ramsey wouldrealize something had gone far wrong as soon as she learned thatall communications with the landing party were blocked. He knewCarla well – she wouldn’t try anything too risky but as the hoursdragged on, she might think about sending down another shuttle.Ricci worried that such a move could be deemed as an attack by theagitated Lignatians. When all efforts to contact Ramsey provedimpossible, he figured he’d have to rely on her abundant goodsense.

“If they’re stillmonitoring the communication stream with the Aurora,” Kaplita said, “there’s adistinct possibility they may have detected our message to Tolu. Ifso, that would tell them something of what’s going on.”

“But it was inChiricahua,” Bayer objected. “How would they even translateit?”

“Commander Sasaki,”Jacoway replied. “Lieutenant Decker’s been teaching him Chiricahuaon and off for years. Even if he’s still not that conversant, he’llhave an algorithm that would work.”

Ricci said, “We’ll have tohope that’s the case for now.” He advised his team to get thebedrolls out. “We might as well get some rest. Even when theCouncil does render their decision, we’ll still have to wait fortheir entire government to ratify it. Meaning, we’ll be hangingfire here for a good long while.”

Bayer jerked an impatienthand through her short auburn hair. “It’s been hours and they stillhaven’t even gotten through step one yet. You think they’redragging it out just to torture us?”

Matt offered a weary smileto his acting head of Tactical. “I wouldn’t put it past Millua, butI think the probable explanation is that the Ruling Council’srational members are arguing for the more efficientand compassionate moveof simply sending all of the humans to Uniterrae.”

Kaplita perked up, hisvoiced filled with hope as he asked, “Then you think there’s achance they might retract the death sentence?”

With a sad shake of hishead, Ricci answered, “No, I don’t. Their obsessive need to hidetheir world from the rest of the galaxy combined with Millua’sapparent blood-lust won’t allow for that.”

“Why do you think Milluais like that?” Jacoway asked. “The Lignatians may be xenophobic butthey can’t be a truly malicious race – otherwise they’d never havetried to atone for the destruction of the Valiant in the firstplace.”

“Short answer or longanswer?”

“How about both?” Talactually managed a brief laugh. “We seem to have plenty oftime.”

“Short answer – a burningdesire for power, is why Millua is like that. Long answer – youstart by understanding politicians.” Jacoway interrupted to pointout that his parents and brother all worked for the Uniterraengovernment; therefore, his family was well acquainted with thebreed. “Okay, maybe I should have said you need tounderstand venal politicians. Millua rose to power by promising to rid theLignatians of the burden of the humans. Sending them all toUniterrae would effectively do that – but not in a way thataggrandizes Millua. To the average Lignatian, that looks like aproblem that solved itself. A leader like Millua consolidates powerby appearing to be the one and only answer to their people’sproblems.”

“Yeah. It all makesperfect sense, now,” Bayer said, nodding slowly. She leanedforward, her eyes wide. “If we survive this, sir, maybe you canteach me how to get a read on alien leaders thatquickly.”

“Lieutenant, I haveevery intention ofsurviving this – and reading leaders of any stripe is something youacquire a knack for after thirty-years in the UDC. It’ll come toyou in time.”

Kaplita said, “I’m moreinterested in how you figured out that the Lignatians wereresponsible for destroying the Valiant.”

“That’s simply a case ofrecognizing guilt.” Matt shrugged, explaining, “A motivator mostfifty-some-year-olds understand fairly well. Some more thanothers….” He noted Tal’s narrowed eyes and pursed lips. Ricci had asuspicion as to what the young man was thinking – but he wasn’tgoing to tackle that in front of an audience. He stood up, orderinghis crew, once again, to get some rest.

After they’d arranged fourbedrolls on the shuttle’s rear deck, everyone bedded down and Ricciordered the lights to twenty-percent. Matt hadn’t really expectedto get much sleep and in the dim light, he stared at the overheadbulkhead, wondering if he’d done everything possible to forestallthe impending disaster. He must have dozed for a while because thenext thing he was aware of, was waking to find one of the bedrollsempty. Matt raised himself up on one elbow to look around. The headwas unoccupied and the missing officer nowhere in sight. He arose,quietly exiting the shuttle and was intrigued to find Jacowaysitting on the dock, staring out at the unnaturally bluesea.

Ricci walked over and satdown near Tal. “Couldn’t sleep?”

“No, sir.” Jacoway glancedat him, adding, “It looks like you couldn’t either.”

“I never was a very soundsleeper – and especially not when I have something like impendingmass murder on my mind.” Ricci heard Jacoway’s murmur ofrealization and said, “Yes, Naiche gets her insomnia fromme.”

“It’s kind of funnybecause, that’s what has me up – Naiche. That message we sent musthave her frantic, wondering what’s going on. And thinking sheshould be here with us.”

“I’m sure you’re right,and I’m going to get an earful from both her and Kennedy about thiswhole fiasco when we reunite. The ‘I toldyou so's’will echo back to Uniterrae.” He couldn’t stop aquiet huff of laughter at the thought. “I am impressed that withall we’re facing, you’re worrying about her worrying about us.”Matt shook his head at his companion. “Forgive my saying so, butyou do have itbad.”

Flicking a braid over hisshoulder, Tal flashed a brief smile. “That’s the way with love, Iguess.” He studied Matt for a moment before asking, “Was that howit was for you? Were your thoughts always with Naiche’smother?”

“Yeah, very much so.” Hehad a suspicion as to why Jacoway had raised the subject so headmitted, “Though, my physical presence didn’t always follow.”Ricci paused for a moment to allow Jacoway to respond. When nothingwas forthcoming, he ventured, “Is there anything you’d like to askme about that?” Tal’s head jerked toward him in surprise. “Aboutwhat happened between me and Naomi Decker?”

“Uh,