Harbour heard Jessie’s dismissal. She intuited that Jessie considered that their negotiating position was untenable, and he wished to abandon this discussion. An alternative occurred to her, and she voiced it. “I think there’s another option for us, Jessie,” Harbour said. “We should take our case to the Review Board.”
“Why the Review Board?” Liam asked in surprise.
“We’re in new territory, Liam,” Jessie replied, liking Harbour’s idea. “We’ve aliens, intravertors, the Pyrean Green fund, and an effort to resurrect the surface. These things might be more fairly decided by adjudication.”
“Think of it as removing a weight from your shoulders, Liam,” Harbour added, with a kindly smile. “You’re new to this position. You shouldn’t have to mark your command with this monumental decision.”
Harbour stood, and said, “Good day, Liam.” Then Jessie said she exited the office before Liam could summon a reply.
As the pair passed through the lobby, Jessie asked, “Are we going to give Liam an opportunity to compare costs?”
“No, I don’t think so,” Harbour replied. “I’d like you to prepare a summary of the costs, as you perceive them. Treat the Belle as a large mining ship for the purposes of transport, storage, and hosting. However, I want you to prepare an argument for the Review Board that compares the expenses that we’re requesting to the losses you and I will suffer for keeping the Belle offline.”
“I won’t be able to complete this until our ships leave Triton, and we’ve detailed our efforts there,” Jessie replied. “Then, I’ll need Drigtik to give me an idea of the time to construct the intravertors and the platform.”
As Harbour and Jessie walked through the corridor, they were hardly aware of the pedestrians’ reactions to them. They were lost in their thoughts.
“We’ll also need to take in the daily transport of Jatouche to and from the YIPS and any crates the Belle had to take on,” Jessie mused. He stopped dead in the corridor and stared at Harbour. Then his face morphed into an enormous grin. He looked around, seeking a quiet place. Then he hooked Harbour’s arm and strode off, adding, “Miner’s Pit.”
Harbour smiled to herself, as Jessie nearly pulled her along. Years ago, he had difficulty finding himself in close proximity to her.
At the Miner’s Pit, Jessie smacked the door actuator multiple times. When the hatch slid aside, Maggie demanded, “Is the JOS going down? Should I pack and catch a shuttle for the Belle?”
Harbour grinned at Maggie, as Jessie pushed past the Pit manager and ordered a fruit drink for him and a green for Harbour. To Harbour’s surprise, Jessie took a seat at the bar and patted the stool next to him.
“We’re going about this all wrong,” Jessie said urgently, when Harbour sat and swung her stool to face Jessie. “What do we need the YIPS to do?” he asked.
Harbour started to reply, thinking of the steps that were taken to produce the first intravertor. Then she reviewed the conversation with Jaktook and Drigtik, and suddenly those processes seemed obsolete. “I can’t think of anything,” Harbour said. “The YIPS has six intravertors in various stages of completion, but the Jatouche are promising to finish them.”
“Exactly,” Jessie said. “Why can’t we assemble the intravertors on the Belle?” Jessie asked.
“Is it physically possible?” Harbour asked. “I mean, I know we have the bays, but can a single bay accommodate the construction?”
“Absolutely,” Jessie replied. “An intravertor is shorter than your ship’s new shuttle, which can land in any one of your bays.”
“If that’s the case, Jessie, does the Belle need to return to Pyre?” Harbour asked.
“That’s an excellent question,” Jessie replied. Maggie set their drinks before them, and Jessie pulled deeply on his fruit drink, while he mulled over his reply. “I don’t think so. Not for the foreseeable future, but let me consider that question for a day or two.”
The pair clinked their glasses together, celebrating their idea.
* * * *
Liam sat in silence, pondering the discussion that took place in his office. On the one hand, he felt he’d been outmaneuvered by Harbour and Jessie. On the other hand, if they were assuming part of the responsibilities for building and deploying the intravertors, they should be compensated. The more he thought about it, the more grateful he became for Harbour’s remark that she would take the matter to the Review Board.
Better you stay out of politics and stick to security matters, Liam thought.
The arrival of the Jatouche and their rewards for the explorers did simplify one matter for Liam. He was no longer desperate for the families’ contributions. His grin was predatory, as he picked up his comm unit. This was one call he anticipated enjoying.
“Dorelyn, looks like your ship has sailed without you and the family heads,” Liam began his conversation.
Dorelyn was meeting with Rufus and Idrian, and she placed a finger to her lips to silence them, as she placed her comm unit on speaker.
“What do you mean, Commandant?” Dorelyn asked.
“You’ve dithered making a decision to support the Pyrean Green fund, and now it’s a moot point,” Liam replied. “Oh, and greetings to whoever else is listening, as it appears I’m on speaker.”
Dorelyn clenched her jaw. Her comm specialist was supposed to have perfected an app that eliminated the ambient sounds of a room so that a listener wouldn’t know when their conversation was being shared. Obviously, it’s not perfect, Dorelyn thought angrily.
“Why are our donations not welcome, Commandant?” Dorelyn asked.
“I didn’t say they weren’t welcome, Dorelyn,” Liam replied cheerfully. “Fact of the matter is that the Jatouche have arrived bearing gifts. Apparently, Envoy Harbour underestimated the term reward for her team’s exploration. The Jatouche are prepared to build out twenty-seven new intravertors, drives, shells, and all, and complete our other intravertors.”
Liam could hear subtle whispering in the background. His grin got wider, and he fairly wiggled in his chair. The thought occurred to him that he was being petty. Then again, he’d been fighting the influence of the dome families his entire time in security. It was a delicious feeling to have the upper hand on them, at this critical time.
“Is this a promise of the Jatouche?” Dorelyn asked.
“Well, Jaktook told the envoy and her advisor that the dome’s deck and second level could only accommodate the first eighteen sets of crates. The Jatouche said they’d have to wait for help before they could move the remaining units through the gate. According to Envoy Harbour, the piles were really high. So, I guess you could say that the promise has yet to be completely fulfilled.”
Liam couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped.
In Dorelyn’s office, the threesome was thinking of any remaining points of leverage. Dorelyn held up a finger to cease the whispering.
“That’s generous of the little aliens,” Dorelyn replied. “But there’s the launch platform that must be constructed. The expense of that will be far greater than a number of intravertors. You’ll need the council’s contributions for that, and we’re awaiting the cost estimates.”
Dorelyn sat back in her chair, relieved to have reversed the circumstances on Liam.
“Oh, my apologies, Dorelyn. I forgot to tell you,” Liam said in an overly sweet tone. “The Jatouche heard about the engineers’ choice of a launch platform, and they want to build that too. It seems they plan to design it, fabricate it, and ship it in crates through the gate. Isn’t that amazing?”
“Amazing,” Dorelyn replied. She was too dumbfounded to say anything else.
“Well, it was enjoyable chatting, Dorelyn. I must prepare for my Pyre-wide broadcast announcing the good news. I think topsiders will be overjoyed with what Envoy Harbour and Advisor Cinders have accomplished. It looks like I might be alive and well when the planet’s surface opens up.”
When the call ended, Dorelyn continued to regard her comm unit. Rufus s
tarted to speak, but she held up a hand to forestall him.
“The fools,” Dorelyn whispered, and Rufus and Idrian knew who she meant. The council had debated too long. The families had missed their opportunity to show support for the Pyrean Green projects.
In Dorelyn’s mind, she saw the council dissolve, and the families enter a period of economic war. In the meantime, the topsiders would have the help of the Jatouche to open Pyre for settlement.
“Is there an opportunity we might have missed?” Idrian asked.
“Thirty-three intravertors will be deployed after the Jatouche build the platform. I give them a year to complete those projects. After that, how many more intravertors are expected and at what rate?” Dorelyn replied.
“The scrubbing of the atmosphere and the cooling of the surface will take place in years instead of decades,” Rufus marveled.
“We’re forgetting one more thing,” Idrian reminded his companions. “In Envoy Harbour’s original broadcast, she mentioned the rewards of the Tsargit, the alliance council. If what we’re seeing is the thanks of one alien race, what will be the rewards from the alliance?”
Dorelyn considered Idrian’s words. A thought went through her mind: There might come a day when downsiders will stare through the walls of their domes to regard the blooming fruit trees of topsider settlers.
— The Pyreans will return in Veklocks. —
Glossary
Colony Ship (Honora Belle)
Beatrice “Birdie” Andrews – Comm operator on the Belle
Bryan Forshaw – Propulsion engineer on the Belle
Danny Thompson – Pilot of the Belle, copilot of its shuttle
Dingles – Nickname for Mitch Bassiter, first mate on the Belle, later captain
Harbour – Protector of the empaths, captain of the Belle, later envoy to Jatouche
Helena Garmenti – Mother of Aurelia and Sasha
Lindsey Jabrook – Previous Harbour
Makana – Artisan who decorated Aurelia’s skins
Mitch “Dingles” Bassiter – First mate on the Belle, later captain
Nadine – Older empath
Pete Jennings – Engineer and ex-spacer
Sasha Garmenti – Younger daughter of Helena, Aurelia’s sister
Yasmin – Harbour’s closest friend, empath
Crocian (crow-she-un)
Mangoth of the Logar – Explorer
Norloth – Supreme Crocian body
Downsiders (Domes)
Dimitri Belosov – Former governor’s dead nephew
Dorelyn Gaylan – Matriarch of Gaylan clan
Giorgio Sestos – Former governor’s head of security, in jail
Idrian Tuttle – Dome family head
Jordie MacKiernan – Chief of security for Lise Panoy
Joyce – Alias of Sika
Lise Panoy – Governor of Pyre’s domes
Markos Andropov – Former governor of Pyre’s domes, in jail
Nevis – Emissary for Dorelyn
Portia – Alias of Sika
Rufus Stewart – Dome family head
Sika – Dorelyn’s administrative assistant/assassin; aka Joyce and Portia
Jatouche (jaw-toosh)
Drigtik (drig-tick) – Fabrication engineer, grandson of Gatnack
Gatnack (gat-knack) – Elderly engineer at Pyre, metallurgist
Gitnock (git-knock) – Elderly scientist
Jakkock (jack-cock) – Linguist
Jaktook (jack-took) – Dome administrator, later advisor to Tacticnok, later master advisor
Jatouche (jaw-toosh) – Alien race
Jittak (jit-tack) – Military leader
Kractik (crack-tick) – Tech and relief console operator
Pickcit (pick-sit) – Master economist
Rictook (rick-took) – Jatouche ruler, His Excellency
Ristick (riss-tick) – Emergency medical director
Roknick (rock-nick) – Master strategist
Tacticnok (tack-tick-nock) – Daughter in the royal family, Her Highness
Tiknock – Master scientist
Mistrals (miss-trawls)
Zystal (zis-tall) – Mistrallian research director at Rissness Station
Other Aliens
Gasnarians – Original race on Pyre, extinct
Messinants – Ancient race that genetically tinkered with species and built the Q-gate domes
Norsitch – Alien race with dome connecting to the Colony, Norsitchians
Shevena (sha-vena) – Alien dome administrator
Tsargit (tzar-git) – Alien alliance council
Veklock – Alien race with dome connecting to the Colony, Veklocks
Spacers
Aurelia Garmenti – Eldest daughter of Helena, also known as Rules
Belinda Kilmer – Second mate on the Marianne
Claudia Manning – Copilot of the Belle’s shuttle
Dillon Shaver – Brother to Tracy, explorer
Ituau Tulafono – First mate aboard the Spryte, later captain
Jacob Deering – Senior mining tech
Jeremy Kinsman – Navigator aboard the Spryte
Jessie Cinders – Owner of a mining company, captain of the Spryte, later advisor to Harbour
Kasey – Tech aboard the Spryte
Leonard Hastings – Captain of the Pearl
Nate Mikado – Second mate aboard the Spryte, later first mate
Nelson Barber – First mate on the Splendid Metal, explorer
Rules – Nickname for Aurelia Garmenti
Tanner Flannigan – Captain of the Splendid Metal
Tracy Shaver – Sister to Dillon, explorer
Yohlin Erring – Captain of the Marianne
Stationers or Topsiders (the JOS and the YIPS)
Benny – Retired spacer
Cecilia Lindstrom – Sergeant in station security
Devon Higgins – Lieutenant in station security
Dottie Franks – Starlight cantina patron and investor
Emerson Strattleford – Commandant of the JOS
Evan Pendleton – YIPS manager
Gabriel – Latched On store owner
Hans Riesling – Starlight cantina patron and investor
Henry Stamerson – Head of the Review Board, retired mining captain
Jameson – Med tech
Liam Finian – Major in station security
Maggie May – Hostess and manager of the Miner’s Pit, ex-spacer
Miguel Rodriguez – Sergeant in station security
Olivia Harden – YIPS engineer
Oster Simian – Starlight cantina patron and investor
Roby – Liam’s attacker
Rod Fortis – Candidate for commandant
Sandy – Maintenance worker, associate of Roby
Terrell “Terror” McKenzie – Ex-corporal in security
Theo Formass – Medical director
Trent Pederson – Starlight cantina patron and investor
Objects, Terms, and Cantinas
Agri-dome – Dome dedicated exclusively to agriculture
Alliance – Group of races to which the Jatouche belong
BRC – Bone replacement copy, pronounced “brick”
Cap – Transportation capsule
Captain’s Articles – Agreement a captain signs with the JOS
Coin – Reference to electronic currency
Coin-kat or coin-kitty – Male or female sex service provider
Colony – Entities entering by gate five in the Jatouche dome
Cube – Messinants communications device
Deck shoes – Shoes with patterned bottoms, which allow people’s feet to adhere to decks
Downside – Refers to the domes on Pyre
Dreeson oil – Therapeutic medicine or poison depending on concentration and use
El – Elevator car linked between the orbital station and Pyre’s domes
Empath – Person capable of sensing and manipulating the emotional states of others
&nb
sp; E-trans – Electric passenger transport
Gik-kick – Jatouche short measure of time
Green – Replenishing drink of herbs and vegetables for empaths
Hook on – Expression that means pay attention now, response is “Aye, latched on.”
Intravertor – Jatouche device used to cool Pyre’s surface and clean the air
Latched On – Spacer supply house
Miner’s Pit – Cantina owned by Jessie Cinders
Mist mask – Makeup mask
Mister – Dome bathing cabinet
Normals – Individuals who have no empath capability
Ped-path – Domes path for electric vehicles and pedestrians
Plumerase tree – Sweet fruit and an addictive narcotic, from the nut
Pyrean Green fund – Pyrean financial efforts to fund intravertor projects
Q-gate – Jatouche term for transportation gate
Review Board – Judicial body aboard the JOS
Rik-tik – Jatouche predator
Shock stick – Pyrean security’s weapon
Skins – Preferred clothing of stationers and spacers
Sleepholds – Places for people to temporarily bunk
Slush – Generic term for frozen gases
Starlight – Expensive JOS cantina
Stationers – People who live on the Jenkels Orbital Station, called the JOS
Trans-sticks – Hair accessories of dome young people
Vac suit – Spacer’s vacuum work suit
Stars, Planets, and Moons
Crimsa – Star of the planet Pyre
Crocia – Crocian home world
Emperion – Pyre’s second moon
Na-Tikkook – Jatouche home world
Pyre – New home world of human colonists
Rissness – Jatouche moon, Messinants dome located here
Triton – Pyre’s third, outermost moon
Ships and Stations
Honora Belle – Pyrean colony ship, also known as the Belle
Jenkels Orbital Station – Station above Pyre. Anchors the El car to downside, called the JOS, pronounced “joss.”
Marianne – Captain Jessie Cinders’ first ship, referred to as the Annie
Rissness Medical Station – Jatouche hospital, aka Rissness Station