politics, therefore I have little knowledge as to the position of either group. However, based on what little I do know and if I were forced to guess, I would have to say that we are on the side of those that believe in your Legend of Origins.” He hoped that the use of the term might add to their credibility.
The second aide, who appeared to be an officer of some sort, spoke an order in Corinairan. Immediately, all of the guards powered down their weapons and slung them over their shoulders and assumed a slightly less threatening posture. A wave of relief washed over Nathan as he realized that he had given the correct answer.
“Then you are the leader of this group?” the Corinairan translator asked.
“I’m Captain Nathan Scott, of the United Earth Ship Aurora. This is my security chief, Ensign Jessica Nash. And this is Redmond Tugwell and Jalea Torren.” Each of them nodded at the Prime Minister in respect. “I assume this is your leader.” he said, gesturing toward the Prime Minister.
“At the moment, yes. We have yet to confirm the status of all the members of the Corinairan Parliament or the President and her cabinet. Until then, the Prime Minister serves as the head of state for all of Corinair.”
The Prime Minister spoke to his aide in their language, pointing at Tug and Jalea.
“Are these two also members of your crew?” the aide inquired in a suspicious tone.
“Not originally, no. They are serving as guides while we are in this region of space. But I have come to trust them as much as any crewman under my command.” It was a lie, but a necessary one, at least for the moment. “A question, sir,” Nathan continued. “Are we prisoners?”
“No. Restricting you to this room was done only to protect you. Things on the surface are a bit chaotic at the moment. And until more of our troops can be called into service, we must remain locked down… for everyone’s protection.”
“I understand. Then we are free to go, if we so choose.”
“Yes. If you wish to leave, we will return you as safely as possible to the spaceport so that you may return to your ship. But we will retain custody of the prisoners that you handed over to us earlier.”
“We didn’t exactly hand them over ,” Jessica commented under her breath.
“However,” the Prime Minister’s aide continued, “I strongly recommend that you remain here for the time being, as it is much safer.”
“Yes, of course,” Nathan agreed, holding up his hand slightly to urge Jessica to withhold her comments. He had no intention of departing anytime soon, at least not until he tried to get medical care for his executive officer.
“Again, apologies for being direct, but the Prime Minister would like to know the purpose of your visit.”
Nathan was a bit confused. As far as these people knew, Nathan and the Aurora arrived out of nowhere and saved their entire planet from destruction. It seemed an odd question to be asking after such an event. Again, he had to wonder how much the Corinairans actually knew about them.
“Captain,” Jessica said in hushed tones, ignoring his gestures. “We know little about these people, or their leader for that matter. The less they know about us, the better.”
Nathan understood Jessica’s point, but his instinct, as usual, was to be open and honest with these people. As a holder of public office, his father was a master at such deceptions. It was a technique that Nathan had always found somewhat distasteful. Given the circumstances of late, he was beginning to understand the necessity of such tactics.
“You should also try to keep your statements in line with the Legend of Origins,” Jalea added quietly.
“I’m not telling these people that I’m some kind of hero, if that’s what you mean,” he objected, trying to keep his voice low enough that the aide would not overhear his protestations.
“She’s right, sir,” Jessica said. “You might want to turn off your moral compass for the
The second aide, who appeared to be an officer of some sort, spoke an order in Corinairan. Immediately, all of the guards powered down their weapons and slung them over their shoulders and assumed a slightly less threatening posture. A wave of relief washed over Nathan as he realized that he had given the correct answer.
“Then you are the leader of this group?” the Corinairan translator asked.
“I’m Captain Nathan Scott, of the United Earth Ship Aurora. This is my security chief, Ensign Jessica Nash. And this is Redmond Tugwell and Jalea Torren.” Each of them nodded at the Prime Minister in respect. “I assume this is your leader.” he said, gesturing toward the Prime Minister.
“At the moment, yes. We have yet to confirm the status of all the members of the Corinairan Parliament or the President and her cabinet. Until then, the Prime Minister serves as the head of state for all of Corinair.”
The Prime Minister spoke to his aide in their language, pointing at Tug and Jalea.
“Are these two also members of your crew?” the aide inquired in a suspicious tone.
“Not originally, no. They are serving as guides while we are in this region of space. But I have come to trust them as much as any crewman under my command.” It was a lie, but a necessary one, at least for the moment. “A question, sir,” Nathan continued. “Are we prisoners?”
“No. Restricting you to this room was done only to protect you. Things on the surface are a bit chaotic at the moment. And until more of our troops can be called into service, we must remain locked down… for everyone’s protection.”
“I understand. Then we are free to go, if we so choose.”
“Yes. If you wish to leave, we will return you as safely as possible to the spaceport so that you may return to your ship. But we will retain custody of the prisoners that you handed over to us earlier.”
“We didn’t exactly hand them over ,” Jessica commented under her breath.
“However,” the Prime Minister’s aide continued, “I strongly recommend that you remain here for the time being, as it is much safer.”
“Yes, of course,” Nathan agreed, holding up his hand slightly to urge Jessica to withhold her comments. He had no intention of departing anytime soon, at least not until he tried to get medical care for his executive officer.
“Again, apologies for being direct, but the Prime Minister would like to know the purpose of your visit.”
Nathan was a bit confused. As far as these people knew, Nathan and the Aurora arrived out of nowhere and saved their entire planet from destruction. It seemed an odd question to be asking after such an event. Again, he had to wonder how much the Corinairans actually knew about them.
“Captain,” Jessica said in hushed tones, ignoring his gestures. “We know little about these people, or their leader for that matter. The less they know about us, the better.”
Nathan understood Jessica’s point, but his instinct, as usual, was to be open and honest with these people. As a holder of public office, his father was a master at such deceptions. It was a technique that Nathan had always found somewhat distasteful. Given the circumstances of late, he was beginning to understand the necessity of such tactics.
“You should also try to keep your statements in line with the Legend of Origins,” Jalea added quietly.
“I’m not telling these people that I’m some kind of hero, if that’s what you mean,” he objected, trying to keep his voice low enough that the aide would not overhear his protestations.
“She’s right, sir,” Jessica said. “You might want to turn off your moral compass for the
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