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

the Aurora directly to Uniterrae, unlessI send an ‘all-clear’ notification.”

“Impossible. OurInspection-Filter would not have allowed this.”

“Your inspection filterhas some flaws, it seems. It cannot recognize Chiricahua Apache –one of our ancient languages. One I happen to speak – not well, butwell enough to get a message through to my daughter onTolu.”

Jacoway almost had toshield his eyes from the brightness of the conference raging on theother side of the partition. Drawde narrated, “Millua is askingAicilef to confirm if any such message was sent.”

Ricci asked, “Will that bepossible?”

“Now that Aicilef knowswhat to look for, yes.” They watched as the senior vipin workeddiligently at a small lighted console. After a few minutes, Drawdesaid, “Aicilef has announced to the entire assembly that you toldthe truth.”

Millua’s mechanical voicerang out in the small room. “I am proved correct that humantreachery is beyond all comprehension. I trust those of thisCouncil who argued against the termination see now their error.Captain Ricci, you have succeeded in warning the humans on Tolu,but that will not save you, or your crew, or any human onJileesa.”

“If you care for yourpeople, Wayru Millua, you should reconsider. When theAurora gets toUniterrae, they’ll figure out that you’re responsible for thedestruction of the Lovelace– along with thousands of other humans. TheUniterrae Defense Corps will not sit idly by knowing that youslaughtered their own.”

Yhanar Sicuru said, “Wehave been told that humans number in the billions. It is notcredible that your people would venture so far and risk so much forthe loss of a hundred. The others, they have no connectionwith.”

“Think back on the historyof humans you learned from the Valiant’s database. Mankind hasrarely been at peace. We’ve done far more, for lesser slights thanthis. I can guarantee – an outrage of this magnitude will provokewar.”

“Even if what you say istrue,” Millua said, “your defense corps will not know where to findus. The human who discovered the location of our home world willperish here, too.”

“Commander Ramsey isindeed a uniquely talented engineer – but not so unique that otherhumans can’t do what she did. They’ll find your—”

“They will find anasteroid field.”

“A barrage of photontorpedoes from a couple of command ships will blow away enough ofyour cover to allow our fighter ships in.”

“Then we must ensure yourdefense corps never find out what has transpired. Vipin Aicilef,activate the self-destruct sequence ofthe Aurora,effective immediately.”

Ricci’s hand slipped offthe communication panel as he breathed, “Son of a fucking bitch.”He re-opened communications to warn, “Don’t do this! We have ashuttle on Tolu. It will still make it home.”

Jacoway knew a shuttledidn’t have the fuel to make it back to Uniterrae from Tolu – atbest they might reach a relay station. He also knew, however, thatRicci was counting on the Lignatians’ ignorance of thatfact.

Aicilef said, “We haveobserved the capabilities of your shuttles. They cannot make it toyour home world alone. Even were this the case, it is doubtful yourship is far enough from the Aurorato survive. The blast radius will beconsiderable.”

“There is a city full ofinnocent Tolutay near the Aurora– would you condemn them to death for no reason?Would you bear the guilt of those deaths for generations – like itwas with the crew of the Valiant?”

Once again, the Lignatiansengaged in a private consultation; after a few minutes, Drawdetranslated for the humans. “They are discussing how it is that youknow what happened to the Valiant. Aicilef has astutely laidthe blame upon me.” After another pause, Drawde continued, “Milluais arguing that the responsibility for the deaths of the Tolutaywill lie with you, Captain Ricci, not with theLignatians.”

Ricci snorted derisively.“Are they buying that shit?”

“Millua is a mostpersuasive wayru.”

Jacoway’s despair deepenedwith each passing minute – Ricci’s plan had crashed and burned in ahorrific fashion. The unfortunate Maykure were now ensnared inMillua’s inescapable web of death.

When Drawde said theCouncil had sanctioned the destruction of the Aurora, Tal’s heart sank. Hewondered if it was selfish that his thoughts were now solely withNaiche – his only hope was that she could somehow survive. Heopened his eyes from a brief prayer for her, to see Ricci’s jawclenched and hands curled into reddening fists. Ricci glanced athim, and Tal knew that he was thinking also of Naiche.

Ricci’s voice was rough asgravel when he asked Drawde, “What’s going on now?”

“They are awaitingconfirmation of the self-destruct. It is taking much longer thanexpected.”

Bayer exclaimed, “Maybe itdidn’t work!”

“It did not,” Drawdeanswered.

“Avery must havediscovered the switch and disabled it,” Ricci said. Tal was stillgasping with relief when Ricci added, “I need to give that man apromotion.”

Vipin Aicilef’s voicesuddenly filled the room. “Vipin Drawde, do you know why theAurora’s self-destructdid not activate?”

“Don’t tell them,” Ricciurged. “After all, we can’t be sure.”

The captain shot a deathglare at the Lignatian when Drawde ignored him to answer, “Yes, Ido.” Drawde explained, “Foreseeing this possibility, I deactivatedit after I helped Captain Ricci send the message to Tolu,” leavingTal’s mouth hanging open in amazement.

While the governmentalchamber filled with blinding flashes from every Lignatian present,Aicilef asked, “How were you able to interfere with the functioningof the Aurora?You have remained in the human environment since the arrival ofthe Lovelace.”

Millua said, “What does itmatter? Drawde is a traitor and will pay dearly for this treachery.Your remaining days will be most unpleasant, Drawde.”

“I was able to reprogramthe Aurora, VipinAicilef, because I fully transferred my consciousness to thismodule, and cut the connection with my body.”

“That cannot be reversed –you will die.”

“Yes, I will. That is whythe wayru’s threats do not touch me. What will you do now, Millua?Will you take Jileesa to war – merely to prove a point? How manyLignatian lives are you willing to trade for the human ones youcrave? Jileesa has never engaged in warfare, while these humansmost certainly have.”

A reinvigorated CaptainRicci nonchalantly confirmed, “Quite right. We’re fresh fromvictory over a brutal and sophisticated enemy. One aligned with thePakarahova you so dread.”

No answer was given as theLignatians could be seen conferring amongst themselves about theirnext move. While the debate raged on, Ricci turned to Drawde. “Howlong will you live in your present state?”

“If I am very fortunate, Imay be able to escort you to your shuttle. That