Chapter 7
KITTINIR
I was only mildly surprised to discover several other officers had been called in to report and were seated.
I didn’t recognize any of them, but the Fleet had over a dozen ships plus the personnel stationed here on planet, so it wasn’t as if I was likely to know most of them.
Not to mention, I’d gone straight to my assignment at the university more or less, with less than a week spent shipboard, and that was for orientation.
One of them grinned at me, brushing back floppy brown bangs out of his eyes as he addressed me.
“You get called in over a supposed bad DNA sample, too?” he asked.
”Ah, so that’s the story they called everyone in with?
” I grinned conspiratorially back. ”Yup,” he replied.
“Which I thought was weird, because since when does that ever happen?”
“I must admit I was rather taken aback, seeing as the machine sequences it and Xeranos records it, so the sample itself is superfluous.”
”And destroyed immediately after sequencing,” another male interjected, approaching.
“I’m Lieutenant Gofryth, and I’m in charge of this Center.
Now that you’re all here, I’m free to explain why you’ve actually been called in.
As you may recall, recently, one of our officers took his bride on a honeymoon to the edge of charted space, where they encountered an AI swarm that believes it is still fighting a long ago war.
Upon further contact with the species in that region who reached out to assist us during the incident, it came to our attention that the parties responsible for raiding the Dragonii settlements originated from there. ”
”What? You mean like refugees turned pirates?” a red headed male asked.
“More like the start of that war was caused by one group raiding the colony worlds of another, and upon their space stations and worlds becoming decimated, they sent out colony ships of their own, settled down, and the members of the fleet who’d enjoyed the raiding became full on pirates and mercenaries. ”
“What does this have to do with us?” the floppy haired male who’d first greeted me spoke this time.
“Politics,” was the unexpected reply. “Those responsible for the raids were seen off, and with the Dragonii joining the Alliance, we’ve all contributed patrol ships to the new border that the Dragonii claimed space has provided.
But, both the space station incident during our officer’s honeymoon and our Fleet’s own Dragonii officer finding his mate here, the Council and the humans have come to a new agreement I must apprise you all of before it becomes public. ”
”Oh, this should be good,” a black-haired male with piercing blue eyes muttered.
Gofryth continued on as if he hadn’t heard.
“Simply put, you’re all to wrap up your affairs here and arrange for the remainder of this term’s classes to be taught remotely.
I’m afraid you’ll have until five p.m. local time to do so before reporting back here.
That’s not 5 p.m. tomorrow, but the day after, so in two days’ time.
I apologize for the short notice, but I was notified just before you were as well.
” He took a deep breath. “If it makes any of you feel better, after you all are back with the fleet, I have to report in with the rest of the Center officers to Brussels, where we are all being trained in the new joint Mylos-Dragonii mate Program Protocols.”
“So, what you’re saying is the Dragonii maneuvered the attention on their species to negotiate their own mating treaty,” I drawled.
“Yes. Redondo’s origins of coming from one of the colony worlds affected by the pirates and his successful mating provided them with the platform to request negotiations, which have concluded.
Going forward, the Dragonii will be using our matching program and will, in fact, be helping man the Centers. ”
“So they are also offering scholarships?” someone asked.
Gofryth grimaced. “No. It is my understanding thus far that those desiring scholarships or to participate in our veterans’ program will apply to us specifically as usual, but those seeking mates can also apply specifically to the Dragonii who are offering plots of land on three of their colony worlds.
Those worlds are not on the border and have never been raided, but are still sparsely populated.
One of them is also the province of one of the Dragonii princes, who is unmated and will be the face of their advertising campaign here on Earth.
In addition, those applying to be matched by either program will also get the choice to be entered into the database of the other. ”
“And this has to do with our classes, how?” I asked, wishing he’d get straight to the point.
He sighed. “All of you teach classes deemed beneficial to potential Dragonii mates. You’re to work with the Dragonii on an educational program for those who get matched to better their chance of success on the colony worlds they go to - accounting, biology, et cetera. ”
And there it was. I sighed. “And after we’ve helped the Dragonii design their classes?”
”You can choose to return to teaching at a human university, or classes within the Fleet, or go on extended assignment to help oversee the Dragonii education efforts you will have helped design.”
Great. I could just hear my bestie bitching now.
I decided I’d tell him tomorrow. Tonight was his mother’s birthday, and I wasn’t going to let my news ruin what we’d planned to celebrate it.
It would simply upset him and send him into a deeper depression instead of lifting him out of it.
Tomorrow, he’d have a clearer head, and I could point out that I could invite him up to come spend the weekend, and I could come down on occasion.
His curiosity would win out, I was sure of it.
I became aware everyone was taking their leave, so I stepped out of the way to let them pass.
“Anything I can help you with?” the lieutenant asked me.
“Yes, is it possible to know yet which ship I’ll be posted to?”
He smiled. “Xeranos should have your berth assignment, including your permanent quarters, sent to your kunnarskyn no later than eight a.m. local time.”
“Great, thanks.” At least I’d be able to give my friend those particular details, and I’d know where I was actually heading. I hated not knowing things, which is one of the reasons I became a scientist, after all.