Empire of Bones by Terry Mixon Read Free Book Online

are ready to go. The science team leaders have checked the labs and addressed all deficiencies. The four destroyers and their accompanying science vessels will depart as soon as all personnel have reported aboard.”
    He made a gesture to the conference room door. “I’m certain you’ve all noticed the people swarming around Orbital One . The shipyard technicians are leaving the ships and departing for Avalon to take some well-deserved rest. Enough will remain on hand to address any last minute issues, of course.
    “The chips in front of you contain the full rosters of your expeditions. The expedition commanders are already familiar with the senior science people, but there were some last minute substitutions that these lists accurately document.”
    Admiral Yeats tapped the recessed console in front of him and the lights dimmed. The Imperial star map with connecting lines denoting matched flip points appeared on the wall screen. Green dots represented the Core Systems, blue marked the rest of the Empire, and yellow noted the explored but unaligned systems.
    The map looked like a toy designed by a lunatic. Flip lines shot out for a hundred light years, then came back in fifty, only to shoot out another direction. It all seemed perfectly random. One system only ten light years away from Avalon took four flips to get there, traveling over three hundred light years. Most known systems had two flip points, but a few had only one and several had three.
    Red dots represented star systems that no one had ever visited. Most wouldn’t have flip points at all. That much had come down through their oral history. The vast majority of worlds would never see human visitation.
    The admiral highlighted four systems with unexplored flip points on the periphery of the Empire. “While there are literally dozens of possible paths, the experts have selected these four systems for attention at this time. Each has habitable, though unoccupied planets. In a pinch, you could survive there if trouble strikes.
    “With the distances involved, it will take your ships about a month to get to your kickoff points. We don’t expect you back for eighteen months. I’m aware that might be conservative if you find something interesting, but rest assured we’ll come looking for you if you don’t make it back in three years. You’ll be leaving probes in every system you explore, starting with your kickoff points. Keep them updated with your most recent situation reports as you move on and recover them on the way back. We’ll use them to follow you, if need be. Fleet doesn’t abandon its own.”
    He swept the room with his gaze. “I don’t expect you to run into trouble you can’t handle, but if you do, I expect you to be prudent. Retreat if there is danger beyond your ability to handle. The Empire needs to know what you find. If things really go into the toilet, the science ship will retreat while the destroyer provides cover. Understood?”
    Once they had all muttered their understanding, he turned off the screen. “The Terran Empire is proud of each of you. You’re our best and brightest. I have no doubt you’ll make us proud. Good luck. Dismissed. Commander Mertz, a moment.”
    Charlie leaned over as he rose to his feet. “I’ll get the marines to organize a rescue party if you’re not back to the ship in half an hour.”
    “Thanks,” Jared muttered.
    Once everyone else had left the room, the admiral took a seat beside him at the table. “Would you care to explain your tardiness?”
    “I have no excuses, sir.”
    Yeats’ expression cracked a little, allowing a small smile through. “You sound just like your father when you say that. It’s a bit uncanny. I’m not looking for an excuse, just an explanation.”
    Jared took a deep breath. “Dinner went much better than I anticipated and I stayed very late. I missed the first shuttle and the departing shipyard crew delayed me. I’m sorry, sir.”
    The admiral’s smile widened.