A Forest of Stars - Kevin J. Anderson [261]
Since Tasia Tamblyn had often demonstrated her skills under extreme pressure, Lanyan selected her to take a Manta and go find the flaming entities. Tasia had gladly accepted the assignment, though privately she wondered if the General considered a mere Roamer to be more expendable than other Eddies.
Since so many officers and soldiers had been killed during the staggering defeat at Osquivel, Tasia had been promoted yet again. She now wore the rank of Captain. Six other Mantas were ostensibly under her command, but General Lanyan was leery of sending too many warships on Tasia’s “diplomatic” mission.
“We don’t want to threaten these creatures,” he’d said. “If we come in with only a token vessel, then perhaps the fire things will be more open to communicating with you.”
Tasia had accepted the instructions, but the situation reminded her of Robb Brindle in his diving-bell encounter vessel. She had been edgy since Robb’s death, feeling his loss like a cold stone in her gut, but she had to keep going, had to follow her Guiding Star and find some way out of this mess. As always, she intended to succeed beyond anyone’s expectations; no doubt, they would raise the bar even higher next time.
Maybe she would devise some innovative new strategies to communicate with the fireball entities and prove the value of her flexible Roamer upbringing. Humans and faeros shared a common enemy. The drogues had racked up a higher and higher debt on the vengeance tab, as far as Tasia was concerned.
She had already reviewed Admiral Stromo’s recon images taken at Oncier, the first sighting of the powerful fire creatures. The artificially triggered sun of Oncier seemed a key strategic point in this entire war. Now her Manta cruised into the same system, which was a known hiding place for the faeros. She couldn’t think of a better place to start looking.
With the EDF trying to reassemble after Osquivel, many new officers had been recently assigned to her bridge. Everything had happened so fast since the disastrous battle, but she trusted that these fresh crews would do their duties and follow her orders.
Humans were supposed to be a single fighting force, their political differences tabled for the duration of the conflict. Roamers, Therons, Hansa citizens. Some good might come of that, at least…if they could all keep their eyes on the big picture.
Though Tasia had only one cruiser with her now, the EDF considered her mission important enough to warrant a green priest. On the bridge, Rossia stood like a human telegraph station, waiting to transmit his report should they encounter the fiery entities. His wide eyes looked as if they were about to pop out of his face in astonishment or fear.
General Lanyan would not make the same mistake as when he’d sent the compy-crewed reconnaissance mission to Golgen, which had vanished without a trace. Though she missed EA and often wished her Listener compy could be found and returned to her, Tasia had a human crew now.
“Strange readings out there, Captain Tamblyn,” said her sensor operator.
“Great.” Tasia tried to remember the young woman’s name…Mae? Terene Mae? She thought so. “Show me, Ensign Mae.”
As the Manta closed the distance at high speed, Oncier’s new secondary star seemed to flicker and fluctuate. “Admiral Stromo was here only a month ago, but it’s several magnitudes dimmer than the last known readings.”
“Magnify the image, Ensign.”
“Aye, Captain.” The small star of Oncier now looked like a waning cinder, burnt orange instead of dazzling yellow-white. It was surrounded by tiny specks, like luminescent moths swirling around the irresistible attraction of a flame.
She spoke to her nav officer. “Move forward with caution, Lieutenant Ramirez. Run silent—no communication broadcasts whatsoever.” Tasia’s stomach felt uneasy. This wasn’t at all what she’d expected to find.
Rossia flinched as he saw the sparkling flurry around the dramatically cooling man-made star. The Manta