Carinae Sector: 01 - Traders' Scourge - Part 1 - Alien Flight by David Buck Read Free Book Online Page B

and do not pace around as others of your kind do like a caged vleetch. I also understand your promises have always been kept, unlike those vermin Jerecab outcasts we occasionally deal with now.’
    The Barus kept his face impassive and he replied carefully, for he had spent years studying the customs of the Cephrit, also known as the unnamed.
    ‘I take it we have a deal then, though it will still be some time away. I am also informed the ship will be free to trade with others as it sees fit. I will build my cover story in the intervening period.’
    The old Cephrit silently approved the economy of the Barus operative’s words before it replied.
    ‘It is as you have stated and I wish you luck. The rendezvous details will be specified when your small ship reaches Cephrit Star Base 31 about five years from now.  Now please select some of my wares to buy to retain your cover.’
    After another hour, the Barus operative left the courtyard, and he was careful to place several older laser rifles he had just purchased across the shoulders of his Jerecab mercenaries. As he was escorted away down the street, a shutter on a second story window of a nearby house was opened slightly. A massive form loomed out of shadows and peered out the window at the departing group. Intelligent eyes in a wide blue and grey face with ornate gold and silver tattoos down one cheek, considered the Barus operative, as he walked past and disappeared down the dusty street.
     
                                                                ***
     
    The navy bus had halted at the gangway to HMAS Perth just after 8am and the first passengers now left the bus. The tall blonde Army reservist quietly cajoled her charges into a line, and headed for the foot of the gangway. The petty officer standing with two ratings that studied her group with detached interest, but they all quickly came to attention and acknowledged her rank.
    ‘Buffer, Lieutenant Samantha Edwards reporting to board ship with my medical aid team. Also several truck loads off medical supplies are following shortly, can you please organize a detail to load and secure these supplies when they arrive?’
    The petty officer sketched another quick salute.
    ‘Lieutenant, welcome aboard, I am Buffer Rogers. I will take care of the supplies after I show you aboard.’
    The buffer turned to the two ratings and he ordered one to stay at the gangway, and the other to trail the medical aid team onboard so that no one was lost. Lieutenant Edwards thanked the buffer for his assistance, and further queried him about the ship status and when the team would get to meet Lieutenant Commander Greene. The buffer smiled at the lieutenant briefly as he politely replied.
    ‘We are waiting to swap helicopters and additional spare parts with the laid up HMAS Adelaide. Lieutenant Commander Greene would be the best person to answer your questions after the medical team is settled into their quarters.’
    The conversation continued between them, and the buffer learnt with growing respect that the lieutenant and her medical team had already spent two years treating the epidemic in Asian refugee camps.
     
                                                                ***
     
    Gindane slowly paced her bridge in abject exhaustion, for a further two years her crew had monitored the effects of the pandemic on the humans since the journey to replenish her ship at the forward research base. Professor Elysius had led the initial investigation at the Dradfer forward research station and had decided that the incident was an act of a lone terrorist. The matter would have ended there, but Gindane knew that due to the extreme death toll, senior galactic officials would be conducting a formal trial at a later stage. Yet again she though dark thoughts about what she would like to do to the senior engineer that had unleashed