Bright Horizons Read Online Free

sexes, male and female as close as we
can tell. Their ships atmosphere would normally be a bit light in oxygen
content, so we will be taking oxygen masks to wear, but they seem to indicate
that they can boost it enough to allow us to breathe easy without causing any
problems for themselves.”
    “It will
be hot though. They have indicated that if they lower the temperature in the
areas where we will be during the treaty signing to a comfortable level for us,
it will be rather chilly for them. They have agreed to 112º Fahrenheit to allow
us both to be uncomfortable without either being too uncomfortable.”
    Several
of the Marines sat back in surprise and a couple even whistled low at this
news.
    “Excuse
me Mister Ambassador.”
    “Yes,
Sergeant…?”
    “Sergeant
Major Williams. At what temperature do they normally keep their ship?”
    “They
indicated that their optimum temperature is around 180º Fahrenheit.”
    “Will we
have enough cool packs to protect us if something happens?” Sergeant Greene
asked with a little panic in his voice.
    “We will
deal with equipment concerns later,” Kyle quickly interjected. “Please continue
Mister Ambassador.”
    “Thank
you Colonel. We will stay on board the Shuttle until an hour or so before the
signing. There will be three NASA personnel, you thirteen Marines, and my team
which includes myself, my aide Amanda Stuart, and a documentarian from the
Smithsonian, Drew Carter. Major Anderson and Captain Boone will be part of my
team in civilian dress. My team will be given a brief tour of the facilities
and we have asked that two of the uniformed Marines be along. They seemed to
think that was appropriate as an honor guard.”
    “If I may
ask, then sir,” Williams said with his firm no-nonsense style. “Are the rest of
us just supposed to rest on our tailbones for an hour while this is going on?”
    Ambassador
Thomas smiled a bit and tilted his head in a reassuring way. Kyle could see how
this man got the job; his command of body language and his ability to express
his emotions non-verbally was impressive. He just hoped the Hedali thought so
as well.
    “Ideally,
Sergeant Major, that is exactly what will happen.” The Ambassador stood up and
walked over to Kyle. “I know that you are all highly skilled and highly prized
Marines in your specific fields. I also know that you are all very good at the
skills that every Marine must have, that is, combat. We don’t anticipate any
problems, and I pray to God that we don’t run into any. But if there is a problem,
the Pentagon wanted the absolute best of the best to be there. Because, quite
honestly, if you can’t handle the situation, it will tell us a lot about what
we are getting ourselves into.”
    An eerie
silence filled the room.
    Ramirez
finally spoke up. “Mister Ambassador, what I guess you are saying is that this
will either be a cake walk or a suicide mission. Is that correct?”
    “No, I
don’t think that’s a fair assessment. I think it will be either a cake walk or
suicide mission, or something in between. I have faith that you are the best of
the best. And while the idea of facing danger on an alien ship orbiting Jupiter
may not be something you could see surviving, I have to say that if anyone can,
it will be the men sitting in this room.”
    Kyle
looked at each Marine sitting there. He saw steely resolve and that glimmer in
the eye that all professional warriors get when they are ordered into the heat
of action.
    “Thank
you Ambassador Thomas, I think that will wrap up this meeting. We will, I’m
sure, have more questions in the next few weeks, so why don’t we set up
meetings daily at 1500?”
    “That
sounds good Colonel. Gentlemen, thank you for your time,” said General
Thibodeaux.
    The
General and the Ambassador left the briefing room as the Marines sat staring at
their hands, the table or a point on the wall.
    “We’re
boned,” said Williams. He was always the master of the