The Better Part of Valor by Tanya Huff Read Free Book Online Page A

spite of the color—Torin thought it looked a lot less alien than a number of ships she’d seen.
    There were a number of identifiable air locks, one on each side up near the bow, one topside, one on the portside about two thirds of the way back, and one in the belly in the aft third. There were no identifiable exterior weapons. Unfortunately, airlocks had limited design options, and weapons did not. They could be looking at enough firepower to rebang the big one and never know it.
    Scans showed no energy signals—in fact they showed nothing at all inside the yellow hull although Ryder admitted his equipment was perhaps too small to penetrate.
    Which brought the expected response from the di’Taykan present.
    When the
Berganitan
arrived after four days in Susumi space, there’d be more scans, and then the Marines would be sent in to discover what the scans missed.
    Simple. Straightforward.
    Or it would have been had the scientists not argued every point—with each other, with Ryder, and occasionally with themselves. A half an hour later, when General Morris walked back out in front of the screen, now showing a dozen different views of the ship, his presence front and center had no noticeable effect on the noise level.
    “Think he’s going to order us to strangle them, Staff?”
    Torin grinned at Guimond’s cheerful question. “It would explain why we’re here, but, somehow, I doubt it.” She kept her attention locked on the general’s face. When, eyes narrowed in irritation, he met her gaze and nodded, she stood.
    “MARINES, ATTEN—SHUN!”
    Her voice filled the room, wall to wall, deck to deck. It filled in every single space that wasn’t already occupied by a physical form.
    Twelve pairs of boots slammed down on the deck as twelve Marines snapped up onto their feet. This time, because it counted, it was a textbook maneuver.
    The silence that followed was an unsure and tentative thing. Faces furred and bare stared from the general to the solid wall of black so suddenly behind them and back to the general again. Craig Ryder and the Navy officers had moved from Torin’s line of sight, but Captain Travik was obviously amused by the scientists’ discomfort. If Lieutenant Stedrin found the situation amusing, he didn’t show it. The latter went up, the former down in Torin’s regard.
    General Morris swept a stern gaze across the first three rows of seats. “I would like to remind you all that until we are one hundred percent certain this vessel does not belong to theOthers or one of their subject races, this will remain a military operation. Mr. Ryder’s scans as well as information extrapolated from them have been downloaded into your laboratories or workstations where you may go over them in as much detail as you wish. When you have chosen the four scientists who will be first to board the vessel after it has been secured, have them report to Staff Sergeant Kerr so that she can ensure they will be neither a danger to themselves or to her team. That is all.”
    The Ciptran unfolded its lower legs and stalked out of the room.
    The remaining scientists shuffled in place for a moment, then the Katriens—all trilling loudly—led the exodus.
    A moment later Captain Travik waded through the stragglers and headed for the back of the room.
    “Staff Sergeant Kerr.”
    “Sir.”
    “General Morris would like a word with you after you dismiss the team.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Nice to see the fear of the Corps in the eyes of those
serley chrika.
I told the general he should use the Marines to keep the civilians under control.” He sounded like he believed it, too.
    “Yes, sir.”
    She sent the team back to the Marine attachment under Corporal Nivry and followed the captain to the front of the room, where General Morris was speaking with Lieutenant Stedrin.
    “Staff Sergeant Kerr?”
    Most of her attention still on the general, she half turned to find Craig Ryder smiling at her. Up close, she could see that his eyes