Henry Gallant Saga 2: Lieutenant Henry Gallant by H. Peter Alesso

President Wolfe is hardly cozy. I met the man yesterday. In fact, I doubt he looks favorably toward me or anyone from the Intrepid. I have the sense he would be happy to see our backsides as we leave.”
    Something about the image which Gallant’s words conjured struck Alaina as funny, and she laughed out loud.
    “I see my granddaughter finds you amusing, but now that I see you, I am puzzled by her earlier description.”
    “Oh?” was all Gallant could think to say. Feeling somewhat lost, he turned to business. “I was hoping you could tell me about the political situation on Elysium.”
    “Patience, patience. We have much to discuss and learn from each other. Eventually I hope we will reach an understanding,” he said. “You must realize you are the first visitor to our colony since its founding twenty years ago.”
    Everything in the living room seemed normal and relaxed. The windows were open, and a slight breeze billowed and rippled through the curtains. Hepburn appeared at ease, but Gallant sensed an undercurrent of tension. He decided to bide his time and let events unfold at their own pace.
    “Perhaps you’d like to try a glass of my wine. It’s a vintage from my own vineyard out back. I’m rather proud of it.”
    “In that case I’d be delighted.”
    Hepburn reached for a decanter, but Alaina had already picked it up and was pouring three glasses. “Thank you, my dear. She anticipates my every want and need,” he said smiling.
    “To your health,” he said, raising his glass.
    After the three clinked glasses to finalize the toast, Gallant took a sip. “Excellent,” he said.
    “Thank you.”
    “I understand you are a professor of cybernetics,” said Gallant.
    “Yes. I was installing a new comprehensive AI control system for automating Ceres’s entire mining operations when the Titans captured us.”
    “Have you been able to develop other AI systems?”
    “Unfortunately we lack the infrastructure for serious chip manufacturing, but I’ve managed to make small contributions, here and there.”
    “Do you have any other family members on Elysium?” asked Gallant.
    “My dear wife died during our voyage. Alaina’s parents died a few years after we arrived. She’s been looking after me and the household ever since.”
    “What about exploration of this planet? I assume there have been extensive efforts to study the species of plants and animals, as well as to map the terrain.”
    “Council President Wolfe discourages exploration. He doesn’t like people to wander away from his immediate influence.”
    “Isn’t that rather strange?”
    “One might think so.”
    “It’s a crime really,” chimed in Alaina.
    “Oh, so you’d like to see more of the planet?”
    “Of course. And I will.”
    “My dear child, you know there are significant dangers, including predator animals. We already know about some, but there might be others lurking out there as well.”
    “You could frighten me into staying close to home when I was a child, but I’m grown now, and I can take care of myself.”
    Gallant had no doubt she could.
    “Never mind,” said Alaina, frowning at her grandfather and changing the subject. “I’m anxious to learn about you. . . . Ah, . . . oh, . . . I mean . . .” she said, fumbling with her words. “I mean, we would like to learn about the current United Planets’ situation. And I imagine you’re interested to learn more about us. To start with, can you tell us how the UP is doing in this war with the Titans?”
    Gallant gazed out the front window. “From what I learned from President Wolfe yesterday, the Titans abducted the UP Ceres colony fifty years ago. At the time, the UP assumed you disappeared along with a great deal of your equipment as a result of a natural disaster, such as an asteroid collision. It wasn’t until several years later the UP detected a Titan scout ship in the asteroid fields. Some people speculated that the Titans were responsible for your