Chapter 17.
Ardghal stepped slowly up to the podium, where he stood quietly for a few moments waiting for the crowd to settle.
In the rear of the auditorium he spotted Evander mingling with the standing-room-only stragglers. Their eyes met briefly before the old Procurator began to speak.
“All, my dear new friends! I’m so grateful you could come on such short notice.” He looked down at Zuri, sitting in the center of the front row. He could see tears building in her eyes, making his heart swell. They had grown very close during the short time they had know each other. It was almost as if she viewed him as a grandfather. Her initial reservations about the ‘seeding’ program seemed to have dissipated now that the whole of her training was complete.
“She has such a beautiful smile,” he thought; then he turned his attention to the audience.
“I’m so sorry there wasn’t enough room for all of you. Our facilities here are limited, so we could do no better, given the circumstances. Our meteorologists forecast the storm planet-side would not clear for several more days. Since I know you’re all anxious to get your first mission started, we decided to split the group, accommodating as many as we could here on our orbital station.
“For those of you still aboard the Brighid, please know my thoughts are with you also. Your sister ships, Sauda, Sequum, Venure, and Interloq, all are continuing their missions. As new worlds are discovered, each ship will receive ‘seeding’ missions. I am certain that everyone onboard those ships wishes you well.
“ALL of you, all five races. You are all exemplary. Each of you has demonstrated strength of character, determination and an eagerness to accept the challenge which has been set before you. I am proud and honored to call you my friends.”
Ardghal paused, collecting his thoughts, once again making brief eye contact with Evander. A quick nod let him know that all was in readiness. Shifting slightly on his feet, he continued.
“Who to choose for this mission? Given that you all are worthy, in this regard the decision was not easy. But, since your Fleet Commander was chosen by you all, it is only fitting that she, as your representative, and her flag ship the Brighid, should be first.
“As you all know, in the third sector of the Orion arm we have been monitoring a small solar system which contains within it a world ripe for ‘seeding.’ Probes assigned to the local LINK have re-confirmed this information.
“This will be our first mission in this sector, and your first as ‘seeders.’ May I once again offer my congratulations and appreciation for the outstanding work each of you has done in preparation for this, your first mission.
“Now, if I may, I’ll turn the remaining time over to your Fleet Commander for the pre-mission briefing. Once again, my heart-felt thanks to all of you.”
As Ardghal left the podium everyone in the room rose in applause. Once again Zuri was in awe of his ability to connect with people. She sensed that there was something more than just emotions involved in that connection. The inner warmth that she felt just being in his presence somehow reminded her of the feelings she felt when she was with her family. Yes, she had a strong connection with family; but that connection was much more than just emotional. She couldn’t quite put that feeling into words. Emotions seemed to come and go, to grow, and then recede. They were somehow transient, unpredictable. But with family, as it was with Ardghal, the connection was deeper, more fundamental. It was an integral part of who she was. The word ‘spiritual’ came to mind.
Once the Procurator had exited the room, Zuri approached the podium. It was unusual that Evander wouldn’t be close by during such occasions. But she knew that, being the detail freak that he was, he was probably making sure all was in readiness for their departure. Putting that thought aside, she began her address to the audience.
“Men, women, children, all fellow crew members of the Brighid. For all these generations we have thought of ourselves as brothers and sisters, as kin. In a very real sense that is true. Though we have been raised in different families, still we are one in purpose, and though we seldom think of it, we are all citizens of our home world Kalephia. Though none of us has ever visited there, it truly is our home.
“And soon, owing to our great fortune of becoming ‘Linked’ with Ardghal and Catriona and all the other wonderful people of Kalephia and the ‘Seeders,’ we will have an opportunity to visit our home world and once again forge a bond with others of our race.
“But first we have a rare and wonderful opportunity before us; to be intimately involved in the ‘seeding’ of a new world; extending our race into another part of this, our home galaxy.”
Zuri paused for a long moment, considering what she should say.
“I’m totally lacking in the eloquence of our dear friend and Procurator, so perhaps it’s best that I move on to the purpose of this gathering.
“As you know, the Brighid has now been refitted with all the upgrades necessary for us to successfully complete our mission. All but two of our shuttlecraft have been retired, and salvage of their components will begin once we arrive at our jump-off point in the Orion sector. In place of the retired shuttlecraft, Cygnus 5 has provided several of theirs, all of which are equipped with ‘masking’ software. Each has been fitted with low-orbit and sub-orbital monitors, together with a sufficient number of drones and transceivers for us to complete the initial phase of the ‘seeding’ operation.
“We will depart Cygnus 5 as soon as all personnel have returned to the Brighid. This completes the formal part of the briefing. But before I release you, let me just say how proud I am of each and every one of you for your hard work and diligence in completing your training in such an exemplary manner. Thank you again. You are dismissed.”
Zuri stepped back from the podium and watched as her crew filed noisily out the exits at the back of the small auditorium and crossed the hall to the hangar deck.
As she walked toward the exit to the left of the podium, she noticed two figures slowly walking arm in arm, their backs toward her . . . Evander and the Procurator.
Chapter 18.