The Saga of Seven Suns: Veiled Alliances by Kevin J. Anderson Page A
Authors: Kevin J. Anderson
Ads: Link
apologize that we are unable to provide you with any further data.”
She raised her chin. “Don’t worry, Septar. We’ll find out what there is to know and then make our report. That’s why the Hansa sent us.”
He responded with a grave nod. “Nevertheless, exercise caution. You may be surprised by what you find—Llaro was once a home to the KIikiss race. If you search, no doubt you will find ruins of some of their ancient cities.”
Madeleine caught her breath. Abandoned alien ruins? That detail had not been included in the reports. “The Klikiss? I thought you said the Ildiran empire had never encountered another intelligent race?”
The Septar considered his answer. “Not another living race. The Klikiss died out long before our empire formed.”
From the shuttle’s cockpit, Jacob yelled, “Come on, Mom! They’re in orbit already.”
The Septar gave a brief bow. “Good luck to you, Madeleine Robinson. We will retrieve you soon.”
“Thank you . . . for everything,” she said, then felt a lump in her throat. “For a second chance.”
At his insistence, she allowed Derek to pilot the shuttle. She knew how much practice he had put in and realized it was also good to give him the responsibility. Sitting at the Ildiran controls, Derek was confident as he took them down toward the planet, concentrating on their course, staring through the broad windowport.
“See, I told you, Mom. The shuttle is as easy as piloting a hovercar back on Earth.” He laughed. “Only there’s not as much traffic.”
As they descended, Madeleine glanced up at the giant Ildiran warliner dwindling in the distance, then turned her attention to the world below. Llaro.
“Find us a good place to make a base camp, Derek. You’ve got the whole world . . . and we’re on our own.”
The warliner was gone by the time they orbited back from the night side. Using their broad-range scanners, Madeleine took an initial survey of the continents, and before Derek spotted what might one of the ancient Klikiss cities. The Ildiran shuttle approached the surface.
By now, petulant because his brother did all the flying and his mother wouldn’t let him take a turn at the controls, Jacob threw himself on one of the small bunks and gazed up at the ceiling while the compy stood by. “Just pick someplace and land!” Jacob groaned. “It’ll probably be boring. Right, TZ?”
The skies were a lush pastel orange, splashed with highlights of lavender and lemon. The shuttle descended toward a cluster of incredible extraterrestrial ruins that looked like a cross between towering freeform skyscrapers and organic termite mounds from the African savannah.
The towers were lumpy, pocked with various openings . . . but apparently empty. The Klikiss city was abandoned, falling into disrepair. Madeleine saw no roads, ramps, or staircases, merely numerous protrusions.
“No,” she finally responded to Jacob’s comment. “I don’t think we’ll be bored.”
17
CAPTAIN CHRYSTA LOGAN
As her pregnancy grew, she felt closer to Rekar’h, happier and more content with her relationship, her position, and her new life here than she had ever been aboard the damaged Burton .
The Designate had recently returned from his trip to Ildira. As the two of them entered the human settlement along a lane between thriving grain fields, she held onto his arm and said, “This colony is becoming everything we’ve dreamed of. It represents the best of both of our races.”
She touched the swell of her belly, and Rekar’h placed his hand on top of hers. He said, “Joining humans and Ildirans was the right thing to do. I have high hopes for our child—as does the Mage-Imperator. He gave me a specific mission, and I will need your help with the other humans. There are many interesting questions to which we would like to find answers.”
Human and Ildiran children picked vegetables from long green garden rows. Burly Ildiran worker kithmen harvested tall stalks of
She raised her chin. “Don’t worry, Septar. We’ll find out what there is to know and then make our report. That’s why the Hansa sent us.”
He responded with a grave nod. “Nevertheless, exercise caution. You may be surprised by what you find—Llaro was once a home to the KIikiss race. If you search, no doubt you will find ruins of some of their ancient cities.”
Madeleine caught her breath. Abandoned alien ruins? That detail had not been included in the reports. “The Klikiss? I thought you said the Ildiran empire had never encountered another intelligent race?”
The Septar considered his answer. “Not another living race. The Klikiss died out long before our empire formed.”
From the shuttle’s cockpit, Jacob yelled, “Come on, Mom! They’re in orbit already.”
The Septar gave a brief bow. “Good luck to you, Madeleine Robinson. We will retrieve you soon.”
“Thank you . . . for everything,” she said, then felt a lump in her throat. “For a second chance.”
At his insistence, she allowed Derek to pilot the shuttle. She knew how much practice he had put in and realized it was also good to give him the responsibility. Sitting at the Ildiran controls, Derek was confident as he took them down toward the planet, concentrating on their course, staring through the broad windowport.
“See, I told you, Mom. The shuttle is as easy as piloting a hovercar back on Earth.” He laughed. “Only there’s not as much traffic.”
As they descended, Madeleine glanced up at the giant Ildiran warliner dwindling in the distance, then turned her attention to the world below. Llaro.
“Find us a good place to make a base camp, Derek. You’ve got the whole world . . . and we’re on our own.”
The warliner was gone by the time they orbited back from the night side. Using their broad-range scanners, Madeleine took an initial survey of the continents, and before Derek spotted what might one of the ancient Klikiss cities. The Ildiran shuttle approached the surface.
By now, petulant because his brother did all the flying and his mother wouldn’t let him take a turn at the controls, Jacob threw himself on one of the small bunks and gazed up at the ceiling while the compy stood by. “Just pick someplace and land!” Jacob groaned. “It’ll probably be boring. Right, TZ?”
The skies were a lush pastel orange, splashed with highlights of lavender and lemon. The shuttle descended toward a cluster of incredible extraterrestrial ruins that looked like a cross between towering freeform skyscrapers and organic termite mounds from the African savannah.
The towers were lumpy, pocked with various openings . . . but apparently empty. The Klikiss city was abandoned, falling into disrepair. Madeleine saw no roads, ramps, or staircases, merely numerous protrusions.
“No,” she finally responded to Jacob’s comment. “I don’t think we’ll be bored.”
17
CAPTAIN CHRYSTA LOGAN
As her pregnancy grew, she felt closer to Rekar’h, happier and more content with her relationship, her position, and her new life here than she had ever been aboard the damaged Burton .
The Designate had recently returned from his trip to Ildira. As the two of them entered the human settlement along a lane between thriving grain fields, she held onto his arm and said, “This colony is becoming everything we’ve dreamed of. It represents the best of both of our races.”
She touched the swell of her belly, and Rekar’h placed his hand on top of hers. He said, “Joining humans and Ildirans was the right thing to do. I have high hopes for our child—as does the Mage-Imperator. He gave me a specific mission, and I will need your help with the other humans. There are many interesting questions to which we would like to find answers.”
Human and Ildiran children picked vegetables from long green garden rows. Burly Ildiran worker kithmen harvested tall stalks of
Similar Books
