A Galaxy Unknown 10: Azula Carver Read Online Free
Author: Thomas DePrima
Command and the Galactic Alliance. The Admiralty Board, Space Command, Space Marines, GA Senate, and all the people of the Galactic Alliance are deeply indebted to you for your many years of service and incomparable dedication to duty.
"Once you've rested and are ready to return to work, we'll have time to discuss the role that Admiral Jenetta Carver can play as she continues her invaluable service to the Galactic Alliance. Naturally, the role should be both gratifying and fulfilling.
"Richard E. Moore, Admiral of the Fleet, aboard the GSC Battleship Artemis . Message complete."
Jenetta leaned back in her chair and stared silently at the Space Command logo that had replaced the image of Richard Moore as the message ended. It was the first time since she had been promoted to lieutenant commander that anyone in command had even suggested her assignment be gratifying and fulfilling.
I sense Brian Holt's hand in this , she thought. I wonder what that crafty old devil said to them? For the time being it made no difference. She still intended to take an extended LOA, even if the entire Denubbewa fleet showed up and threatened Quesann.
~ ~ ~
"Madam President," her Chief of Staff said as the cabinet meeting began, "our intelligence operatives have concluded that the offer to solve our sterility problem in exchange for the cloning technology and the metallurgical process for manufacturing Wlabisnk-320, or what the GA calls Dakinium, can only be coming from the Raiders. You can't seriously be entertaining their proposal."
"To save our race from extinction, I would make a pact with the devil."
"That's exactly what you'd be doing. We've carefully examined the history of the Raider crime organization, and this is exactly how they operate, using ostensibly legal companies to front their illegal operations. If the GA Senate learned we were negotiating with them, they would withdraw all support and isolate us here on our planet."
"If it was the only way for our species to survive, isolation would be worth it. We were isolated before we entered stasis, and our race managed to survive just fine until our Nordakian ancestors tried to kill us off."
"Madam President, while we slept, the galaxy changed more than we could have imagined. At one time we were sure we were the only intelligent species in the universe. After sleeping for almost twenty thousand annuals, we've awakened to learn we are just one of dozens in the Galactic Alliance. And that's just in this one small part of this one galaxy. There may be millions of intelligent species in the universe. We cannot return to an existence of isolation while the galaxy and universe continues to pass us by. And there's no way of knowing if the Raiders can even accomplish what they promise. But if they can, who is to say they are the only ones?"
"And who is to say they're not? We know from Commander Carver's own statements that the incredible healing nature of her body is owed to a Raider DNA Manipulation Process. If they can produce that, what other miracle formulas might they already possess? The GA hasn't got anything to match that formula."
"We must give the GA a chance. They're working on it."
"And what results have they produced?"
"It takes time just to set up the operations and begin research. The Raiders are still making idle promises while the GA is working towards a solution."
"Most of us have worked in government— or at least large bureaucratic organizations that operate like a government— so we're all aware of how notoriously inefficient the operations under the control of politicians can be. They're often filled with waste and fraud, rampant with cronyism, and controlled by small, petty bureaucrats who are only interested in building their own little empires within an expansive labyrinth of other small bureaucratic empires. In spite of the importance to our own population, the government labs here on Dakistee were unable to find a cure for the sterility.
"Once you've rested and are ready to return to work, we'll have time to discuss the role that Admiral Jenetta Carver can play as she continues her invaluable service to the Galactic Alliance. Naturally, the role should be both gratifying and fulfilling.
"Richard E. Moore, Admiral of the Fleet, aboard the GSC Battleship Artemis . Message complete."
Jenetta leaned back in her chair and stared silently at the Space Command logo that had replaced the image of Richard Moore as the message ended. It was the first time since she had been promoted to lieutenant commander that anyone in command had even suggested her assignment be gratifying and fulfilling.
I sense Brian Holt's hand in this , she thought. I wonder what that crafty old devil said to them? For the time being it made no difference. She still intended to take an extended LOA, even if the entire Denubbewa fleet showed up and threatened Quesann.
~ ~ ~
"Madam President," her Chief of Staff said as the cabinet meeting began, "our intelligence operatives have concluded that the offer to solve our sterility problem in exchange for the cloning technology and the metallurgical process for manufacturing Wlabisnk-320, or what the GA calls Dakinium, can only be coming from the Raiders. You can't seriously be entertaining their proposal."
"To save our race from extinction, I would make a pact with the devil."
"That's exactly what you'd be doing. We've carefully examined the history of the Raider crime organization, and this is exactly how they operate, using ostensibly legal companies to front their illegal operations. If the GA Senate learned we were negotiating with them, they would withdraw all support and isolate us here on our planet."
"If it was the only way for our species to survive, isolation would be worth it. We were isolated before we entered stasis, and our race managed to survive just fine until our Nordakian ancestors tried to kill us off."
"Madam President, while we slept, the galaxy changed more than we could have imagined. At one time we were sure we were the only intelligent species in the universe. After sleeping for almost twenty thousand annuals, we've awakened to learn we are just one of dozens in the Galactic Alliance. And that's just in this one small part of this one galaxy. There may be millions of intelligent species in the universe. We cannot return to an existence of isolation while the galaxy and universe continues to pass us by. And there's no way of knowing if the Raiders can even accomplish what they promise. But if they can, who is to say they are the only ones?"
"And who is to say they're not? We know from Commander Carver's own statements that the incredible healing nature of her body is owed to a Raider DNA Manipulation Process. If they can produce that, what other miracle formulas might they already possess? The GA hasn't got anything to match that formula."
"We must give the GA a chance. They're working on it."
"And what results have they produced?"
"It takes time just to set up the operations and begin research. The Raiders are still making idle promises while the GA is working towards a solution."
"Most of us have worked in government— or at least large bureaucratic organizations that operate like a government— so we're all aware of how notoriously inefficient the operations under the control of politicians can be. They're often filled with waste and fraud, rampant with cronyism, and controlled by small, petty bureaucrats who are only interested in building their own little empires within an expansive labyrinth of other small bureaucratic empires. In spite of the importance to our own population, the government labs here on Dakistee were unable to find a cure for the sterility.
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