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  “And Spinner?” Weniell lowered his voice, well out of earshot from the rest of the bridge crew. “Does her involvement have something to do with this unprecedented act of an admiral leading a mission of this magnitude?”

  Furious now, Dael spoke just above a whisper. “I will pretend I didn’t hear that, but just to set the record straight, this whole mission is unprecedented. My role is more than just that of a military leader or an ambassador of sorts. If my crew thinks I will abandon them at will—and this early in the mission at that—it will lead to a whole new problem. The morale issues we’ve had the last few days will seem like nothing if the crew loses faith in its leadership. I will confer with my counterparts in the rest of our convoy. Your concern is duly noted. You have the bridge.” She didn’t wait to hear his response but turned to Lt. Schpay. “Put together a small recon team. Have them meet me in freighter-bay one.”

  “Aye, sir.” Schpay regarded the two senior officers with widened eyes as he carried out his orders. “They’ll be ready when you get there, Admiral.”

  “Please, take care while you carry out this mission. Losing our commanding officer will be equally bad for morale.” Weniell smiled wryly.

  Recognizing the partial approval, Dael spoke slowly. “Oh, I have no intention of getting myself killed. I’d be in so much trouble with the former fleet admiral if I did.”

  Chapter Nine

  Spinner hoisted her backpack higher and ground her teeth. Despite the pain relief, her head and arm pounded like mad, and climbing the unforgiving territory of the island didn’t help. The ground consisted of sand upon bedrock, and it was slippery as the sand rolled beneath her feet. The sky darkened as the day headed toward early evening. Soon it would become pitch-black and a great deal colder.

  “Several tsunamis have hit, growing larger with each wave.” Darmiya kept close; she could probably see Spinner wasn’t doing entirely well. “If they keep coming, and growing, they’ll wash everyone off the island and out to sea. Perhaps even overturn the ships.”

  “You’re damned whatever you do,” Spinner murmured. “That’s why we have to get out to one of the boats so I can boost the signal enough to reach my convoy.” She hoped that meant Caydoc and the four captains would blast into action. They had to. They couldn’t allow these people to die.

  “You sure she’s not some sort of megalomaniac who’s dreamed up this bunch of vast spaceships?” a man in the crowd behind them shouted. “For all we know, she could be part of whoever did this.”

  “You fool.” Darmiya snarled at him. “Why would she risk her life by faking a crash and then subject herself to the same dangers we’re facing?”

  “What do I know?” the man said, shrugging.

  “Exactly,” Calagan said as he came running. He’d moved faster and was rejoining them after reconnoitering. “I saw several of our small boats and secured two of them. Some of them have been smashed against the cliffs, but these two looked intact.”

  “Great.” Spinner forced herself to inject energy into her voice as well as her sluggish body. “How many can the boats hold?”

  “Eight, maybe ten, depending on weight.” Darmiya pointed ahead where the cliffs came into view. “See, over there?”

  The salty air seemed fresher here, and the sound of the crashing waves became increasingly louder. Having spent most of her life in space, Spinner wasn’t fond of the sea. Water was a treacherous element. Like space, it lacked breathable oxygen, but it also had a way to drag you down, unless you mastered it. Of course she could swim. Most people could. Still, when water closed above her head, she could feel an otherwise very distant panic lurk in the back of her mind.

  Now Spinner disregarded her reluctance and stepped into the boat as men and women helped push it from the cliffs. Darmiya, Calagan, and six others jumped in as well, and as Darmiya started the engine, they all began to use the automatically extendable oars as well. Spinner assumed the current and the power of the ocean were too much for the small engine.

  “Let me help,” she yelled to Darmiya over the roar of the waves.

  “No. You’re injured, and you’re the one we need to take care of. The one who knows how to get help.” Darmiya tore at the large handle, sending the oar into the water and pulling hard against it. “Sit down and hold on. This is going to be bumpy.”

  “Wonderful.” Grasping the low seat, Spinner was soon as wet from the spray of the waves, as if she had actually swum in the ocean. The sky was now black, and only the sparse light from the remaining moons and the stars that peered through the smoke and ash clouds made it possible to see anything.

  “We’re closing in on the first ships. Hell, this is going to be rough. The sea is crazy!” Calagan’s face was contorted with the exertion of rowing. “Get ready, Commander. We might have only one chance to get you aboard.”

  “What do you mean? We’re all going aboard.”

  “That’s not possible.” Darmiya shook her head wildly, sending the black curls around her cheeks flying. “Our best chance is to make sure you do. Don’t let us down. Please!”

  Spinner’s gut ached. Not only from the repercussions of the crash, but also from the idea of this brave group of individuals risking their lives for their world, their people.

  She saw the large ship tower above them. It felt as if they were a tiny nutshell next to this gigantic vessel—a luxury passenger cruiser that tilted precariously in their direction. “Creators of all things possible,” Spinner said under her breath. “That thing isn’t far from flipping over.”

  “And still it’s one of the ships doing fairly all right,” Calagan said darkly. He steered along the port side of the impressive ship, and Darmiya used a stroboscope light to get the ship’s crew’s attention.

  Suddenly a chirpy sound was heard and metal steps ejected on several places along the ship’s hull. Just the idea of climbing up made Spinner’s stomach churn. Her head ached badly, and the idea of clinging to a ladder that high above this tormented ocean frankly scared her to death. Still, she’d do it. To chance saving these people, to persuade Caydoc to break whatever protocols she needed to disregard, she’d do it.

  “Oh, no! Hold on, hold on!” Darmiya’s voice held a whole new panic. “A new tsunami! They’re coming closer together.”

  Spinner’s head snapped around so fast, she moaned from the resulting pain. This was nothing compared to the terror filling her when she saw what the super-wave had done to the ships surrounding the island. People on the cliffs scurried away, but the ships had nowhere to go. Nor did they, in their small damn rowboat.

  Spinner thought of the mission of finding a new homeworld for the Oconodians, of saving the part of a people who suffered because the other part was changing into something different. Perhaps this was an omen that other solutions to the Oconodian issue were possible. No matter what, she wouldn’t be a part of either. She was going to drown here and now, on a world that wasn’t hers, trying to save a people that wasn’t hers either.

  The downdraft happened so fast Spinner thought the wave was already upon them. It didn’t make sense, and yet this tremendous force pressed down against her, made it impossible to breathe. Expecting for the swirling sea to engulf her any second, she drew a deep breath, not because she expected to live, but because the idea of inhaling water terrified her.

  Instead, something else, a soft, satin-like fabric, surrounded her, pressed against her, and tugged her upward. It took her only a few moments to realize it was an Oconodian extraction tube; after that, everything turned black.

  *

  Dael made her way back to where her medical crew was triaging the evacuated people from Gemosis. She stood among the startled individuals, some looking immensely relieved and some quite scared and confused. Children cried and whimpered, except a few who merely looked around with huge eyes.

  She had deployed fourteen freighters from each of the ships, joining the Gemosians who had gathered outside the debris field in the rescue effort. None of the captains i
n the Oconodian advance team had objected, which made her experience humbling. She’d been prepared to pull rank, but as it turned out that wasn’t necessary.

  “Sir! Admiral? Over here.” One of the nurses waved her over. Lengthening her stride, she had to force herself to not gasp at the sight of the pale woman on a gurney. Soaked by the ocean and the rain, her hair matted against her head, Spinner wasn’t moving.

  “What’s her status?” Dael asked hoarsely.

  “She’s suffering from hypothermia, her blood pressure is too low, and her lower left arm is fractured.”

  “Any head injury? She’s unconscious.”

  “She has a contusion above her left eye. It’s been dressed, but we’ll deal with it regardless, as her bandages were soaked by the rain and the ocean.” The nurse stood back as two crewmen passed with yet another gurney.

  “Spinner?” Dael touched the unconscious woman’s shoulder. “You’re safe now.”

  Stirring, Spinner’s eyes opened into narrow slits. “Sir?” Her voice was a husky whisper.

  “Can you see me? How’s your eye?” Dael leaned over Spinner, trying to judge the reaction of her pupils as her stunning eyes opened further.

  “Yeah. Yes. Good to see you, Admiral.” Spinner rose on her elbows but fell back down with a moan. “For the love of the Creator. Ow.”

  “Careful. They’re about to set your fracture and redress your bandages. If you’re up for it after that, we can talk.”

  “Wait, sir. Please, just tell me…the others from the boat? The ship that’s tilting so badly?”

  “We’re pulling out as many as we can and transporting them to Gemosian ships and their largest moon. We’re working against time here, I’m afraid. This planet is becoming increasingly unstable.”

  Spinner closed her eyes and nodded, but not before Dael could read the profound sadness that filled them. “How can you be here? The air, I mean, the ash from the volcanoes, it clogged my propulsion system.”

  “Looks like bringing my nania wasn’t an entirely questionable idea. As it turned out, she worked with Chief Dioga in engineering, and the two of them came up with a substance to add to our filtering systems. It wouldn’t work on the assault craft, but the freighters have a more forgiving system.”

  “Thank the Creator. But, sir, what the hell went wrong?” she murmured. “How can a moon just explode?”

  “The Gemosians have provided us with data. We’ll have the answers soon. You just let the medics deal with your injuries. I’m—I’m glad you’re safe.” Dael suddenly felt awkward and the words came out choppy.

  “Me too,” Spinner said wryly. “If you run into two siblings, Calagan and Darmiya, please make a note where I can find them. They helped me and ought to be on this freighter.”

  “I will remember that.” Dael watched with some concern as the medics put a supporting composite orthotic brace on Spinner’s arm. Spinner pressed her lips together but didn’t make a sound. No doubt it went against everything in her personality to show any sort of weakness.

  “I’ll check back with you in a little while. Just rest until then. That’s an order, CAG.”

  “Aye, sir.” Spinner looked up, and a crystal-clear teardrop dislodged from her eyelashes and ran down her temple and into her hair. “Damn it.”

  Afterward, Dael couldn’t explain why she quickly bent down and wiped the wet trail away and then repeated the maneuver on the other side. She somehow knew Spinner’s tears weren’t caused by her own physical discomfort. If she read this complex woman right, she would never shed tears on her own behalf—only on someone else’s.

  “We’re doing our best to reach as many as possible. Fortunately, Gemosis is not as populated as Oconodos.”

  “So many have lost their lives already, in the first wave of disasters.” Spinner blinked, clearly trying to contain her emotions. “Don’t let me keep you, sir. You have more important things to do than…this.”

  Dael knew Spinner didn’t want her to witness any more perceived weakness, so she stood and made her way among the gurneys. They had so many rescued Gemosians now; some were sitting on the deck along the bulkhead. Dael nodded at them and some reached for her, looking ready to kiss her hands.

  “Thank you, ma’am. May the deities of your world bless you.” A man hugged a woman and a young boy closer. “They sent you our way when we needed you most.”

  “Just rest. You’re safe now.” Being called “ma’am” only happened when it came to civilians, and the man’s utter adoration made her feel uncomfortable. Smiling briefly, Dael strode back to the small bridge. “Report.”

  “Our sister ships simply cannot find any more people alive, sir.” A young ensign at the ops station looked up, his face pale. “One of the ships sank as the last tsunami hit, and they talked about deploying divers.”

  “I would surmise the ocean is too wild for individual divers to go down. Signal Espies Major and have them deploy watercraft.” They had only four craft that could endure being submerged in water. All the others could tolerate dipping into an ocean briefly, but after a few minutes, they would start to corrode. The watercraft served a double duty as they also performed well in space, though not with the same maneuverability as the assault craft and space freighters.

  “Already have them on standby, sir.” The ensign looked relieved, closing her dark eyes briefly.

  “Good initiative, Ensign”—Dael glanced at the name tag—“Lomi.”

  After she reached the helm, Dael turned to the officer commanding the freighter. “When you get the intel that we have rescued everyone from the surface, set a course for their biggest moon…What was it called again?”

  “Alino One, sir,” said Lt. Trepp.

  “Exactly. Set a course for Alino One. We need to deliver the Gemosians for examination.”

  “And where will they go after that?” Lt. Trepp looked somber.

  “Actually, Alino One has been terra-formed with great success. I’m not sure how many people can live there long-term, but they can definitely help care for the injured and displaced during the acute phase.” Dael rested her hip against the console next to her. “I suppose it could provide a refuge for a while, but that’s a tricky question. Just imagine how long it took our government to realize we couldn’t choose any of the worlds in our own sector in the Exodus plan.”

  “What’s your plan, sir?” the lieutenant asked carefully. “How long will our aid effort last?”

  “You mean, how long do we squander our resources that were meant to keep us alive while we search for a new home to our people?”

  “That’s a bit harsh, but essentially, I guess that’s what I was thinking, and I’m not the only one.”

  “I’m very sure of that.” Her voice cooling a few degrees, Dael pushed her shoulders back. “As soon as we deal with the immediate danger, we will be on our way. Just understand this, Lt. Trepp. When we have a distress call, the rules of engagement are in play. Though we’re weeks or months away from where we originate, the laws, rules, and protocols still apply. The day we turn our back on someone we have a decent chance to save, I will remind my crew of this—each and every time. Do I make myself clear, Lieutenant?”

  “Yes, sir. Very much so. Actually, when you spell it out I feel safer.” Trepp smiled warily. “I’m glad we found Spinner. Espies Major wouldn’t be the same without her. Nor would the spin jack tables in the mess hall.”

  “I daresay.” Feeling marginally better as well, Dael motioned toward the back of the freighter. “I’m going to make another round before we reach Alino One. Once the Gemosians have gone ashore, we need to return to Espies Major. I don’t foresee that we can continue our mission until tomorrow, but that’s not too bad a delay.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Nodding briefly, Dael walked along crowded corridors where people who hadn’t fit into any of the quarters or other spaces aboard the freighter sat or lay down. When she carefully made her way through yet another corridor, the fifth one on deck three, she sudden
ly felt a careful touch on her right calf. She stopped and glanced down at a woman kneeling next to her.

  “Please, ma’am…or, Admiral, isn’t it?”

  “It is. What can I do for you?”

  “My name is Darmiya and this is my brother Calagan.” The woman gestured to a pale man slumped by her side. “He’s a bit out of it. He was the last one to be rescued from our boat.”

  Dael recognized the names immediately. “Have the medics seen him?”

  “Yes, Admiral. We’ll be fine, but I wanted to inquire about a woman who belongs to you. To your crew.”

  “I expect you’re referring to Commander Seclan. She’ll be all right as well. I saw her a little while ago on another deck.”

  “She’s alive then? Oh, thank the deities for their mercy.” Darmiya pressed the back of her hand over her mouth. “She wasn’t doing very well, and yet she risked her life to signal for help…for our sake.”

  Clearly, Spinner had made her usual impact in the short time she’d been on Gemosis. “She asked for you and your brother earlier. When I see her next time—”

  “Oh, could I speak to her?” Darmiya stood.

  “Don’t you want to tend to your brother?” Frowning at the woman’s persistence, Dael took a step, signaling that she was about to leave.

  “That’s all right,” the man, Calagan, piped up. “You go make sure the commander is fine. I’ll just rest here until you get back.”

  “I’ll show you the way.” Her jaw tightening until she was afraid it might shatter if she didn’t relax, Dael motioned for Darmiya to follow her.

  “It’s amazing how we bonded in such a short time,” Darmiya said, her voice breathless. “She crashed right there among us and still managed to avoid hitting anyone. The commander must be your best pilot.”

  “Commander Seclan is very accomplished,” Dael said, ready to just turn around and head back to the bridge.

  “I suppose she has to go back with you to your space ship? That’s too bad. Our doctors are very skilled. They could help her.”