Page 9 of Shadows Approach
“The final push to be ready for the colonists is coming. The governor is bound to be working nonstop to prepare for their arrival,” Rihep pointed out.
“Which is why she plans to invite the supervisor of supply and acquisitions down to the planet soon. Though I advised against it, she wishes to meet our station’s lead psychologist as well.”
Etnil beamed. “That’s me! Oh boy, that’s me!”
“Mother of All, help her,” Rihep chuckled.
* * * *
Kila’s spyship
“S-S-nine-two-eight reporting in.”
Captain Kila nodded to Veko to open the com link. “S-S-one-zero-three-eight responding. Welcome to Bi’is.”
He gazed at the other phased spyship, his emotions a mixture of gratification and remorse. Keeping tabs on the Bi’isils was often a boring job, but he was convinced there was a secret lab operating on the planet, which had escaped the Galactic Council inspectors’ notice. It damned near physically hurt to let another ship’s crew find it instead of his.
Leaving it behind was his chance to begin the rehabilitation of his clan’s reputation. They weren’t returning to empire space, but they’d be in contact with plenty of Kalquorians as they took up secret guard duty of Earth II.
During the Kalquorian civil war, Kila and Admiral Piras had been tasked to accomplish the impossible: get close to the leader of the traitors against the empire, Dramok Maf. Achieving the impossible had meant doing the unthinkable. They’d had to hand over a key space station to Maf, which had meant sacrificing hundreds of loyal Kalquorian soldiers’ lives.
The war had ended five years prior, and the reason for their supposedly treasonous actions had been revealed to the public at large. Nonetheless, many of the dead had grieving families unwilling to forgive them. There were those who’d kill Piras and Kila if given the opportunity. Kila couldn’t blame them. The majority of the dead had been Nobeks, who’d have considered it an honor to perish so the empire would survive. Their families weren’t so forgiving.
Had it been his clanmate, brother, son, or father given to the cause, Kila would want vengeance too. He admitted he had little forgiveness in his soul when it came to those who’d harm his clan and family.
He wanted his clan to lead a normal life, however. Identity changes were a possibility, but not while they served the Kalquorian fleet. None of them, including Hope, who’d come along at the end of the war and served in a contractor capacity so she could remain with her clan, could imagine doing anything else.
Piras and Kila were the two most hated men in the empire, Piras in particular. Lokmi had been part of the plan too, so he was also in danger if discovered.
There had been clandestine visits to family on Kalquor in the intervening years. Piras had managed to be at his mother’s side when she passed away, heartbroken her son was so hated and unable to remain close. It had been a particularly demoralizing trip, but all visits had been difficult despite the joy of brief family reunions. Knowing discovery would possibly end in bloodshed, they’d had to be careful.
The crew of the ship off their bow had no idea whom they were relieving of Bi’is surveillance. All communication was audio only, and vocal masking was used to render Kila’s voice unrecognizable.
“We’re ready for the changing of the guard.” The other captain had been told to avoid revealing his own identity for security’s sake and to use masking as well…a ruse to guard Kila from having to identify himself. He sounded jovial. Kila wondered who he was and if they’d been friends before the war.
“You have the information on the shadow entities we observed?”
“Yes, Captain, and the likely location of the secret lab you believe is present on the planet. We’ll search for evidence of both.” He sounded gleeful at the opportunity. He must have had some experience in how monotonous it was to watch over an enemy. “Is the Galactic Council inspection contingent still enroute for their routine check?”
“Affirmative, Captain. I’ll send you our observations from the last week, then we’ll be off if there’s nothing else you require.”
“I believe we’re set to take over. Enjoy your return to civilization.”
“Thank you. The detail is yours.”
“Accepted.”
The single word ended Kila’s five-year surveillance of Bi’is, broken only by the occasional shore leave. Their long exile was over.
“Helm, fly us to Earth. Let’s get a look at our new home.”
* * * *
“Specialist Nath, report to your quarters.”
Hope smirked at Kila’s gruff tone on her com. She was aware her shift, as well as his, had ended nearly an hour ago, but she’d been busy assembling a nanospy program sure to knock her clanmates’ socks off. She was certain it would come in useful on Earth II.
Was she okay when it came to spying on her own people on the Kalquorian Empire’s behalf? Given her history of living in the presence of religious zealots who’d stopped at nothing to hold power, hell yes. She had no problem where keeping tabs on potential dictators was concerned.