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Preparations
© 2020 by Walter Reimer
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Calibanescu rose to his hooves, and the assembly quieted. Fisheries seemed to have gotten angrier, if that had been possible. “Those voting in favor are in the majority.” He paused while several people applauded before adding, “I know that several of us have asked to go with – “
“NO!” Sanjaz shouted, jerking his knife from his belt and running toward Dara before Security or the other guards could react.
Dara stood up and stood there, waiting.
The feline got within two meters before something struck him and his momentum carried him, practically flying, three meters to Dara’s left and into a knot of settlers who were too stunned to get out of the way.
Into the shocked silence Kal said, “Like I said, Dara, your friends are never far away,” and there was a chorus of gasps as the CDT guard dropped their thermoptic camouflage to reveal a suit of powered armor.
Security muttered as he walked over to supervise Sanjaz’s arrest, “Wish I had one of those . . . “
The former member for Fisheries (his failure to attend meetings and his attack upon a stranger caused the Convocation to vote him out on the spot) was given into the custody of his family. He wasn’t injured, so his male relatives carried the still-dazed feline back to his home because the settlement had no jail in which to hold him. The other two CDT guards materialized, and the armored trio moved off to the Expedient’s lander, leaving Dara alone with the settlers.
More than a few, including some children, followed to see this new attraction.
“So, you were not unprotected, it seems,” Armon remarked as she walked up to him.
“No,” the otter admitted to the older canine. “It’s standard procedure if one of us goes into a potentially dangerous situation. I was more in danger when I was in the ocean,” he added with a chuckle. “Please don’t hold it against me.”
“I won’t. Sanjaz always was a little bit foolish.” She glanced back at his padd, where Kal was showing a growing number of awestruck children an educational cartoon. “You are still welcome in my clanhold, young Qandus.”
The otter smiled. “Thank you, Ma’am.”
***
Mari, Akiko and Tsien all looked at each other before looking at HOLLI. The canine holograph smiled at Tsien and said, “Ready on your order, Tsien-san. All equipment upgrades are completed, we have sufficient power, and we’re connected to the hypersat carrier signal. I’ve updated myself to accept standard communications protocols.”
The feline glanced back at the other Committee members gathered on the bridge of the Tau Beta. He took a deep breath and nodded. “Go ahead, HOLLI. Initiate contact.”
The simulacrum grinned. “Thank you.” She put a paw to her ear. “TSS-129 Tau Beta, calling CDT Moncayo . . . TSS-129 Tau Beta, calling CDT Moncayo.” The image then turned and faced the bridge’s refurbished main screen as it flickered and displayed the CDT’s insignia.
“We hear you, TSS-129, strong and clear signal.” The insignia was replaced by a dhole femme wearing a Colonial admiral’s uniform. “Greetings, Tau Beta. I am Administrator Patel Manasi, the CDT’s head here on Moncayo. I’m very pleased that you’ve reached out to us, and pleased that you’ve accepted our help.” She seemed to focus on Tsien. “Are you the leader of the local government?”
The feline cleared his throat. “Heavens, no, Ma’am. I’m Tsien-san, the Member for Technology. The Conducator is here,” and he stepped back as he waved Calibanescu forward.
The red deer buck gave the feline a passing glare as he stepped forward. “I am Conducator Ion Calibanescu, Administrator. We’re all very happy that you heard our call for help.”
Patel smiled. “And we’ve been happy to help, Sir. Your Lost Colony designation has been approved. Team Leader Athenry has recommended that colony operations proceed slowly, to avoid disturbing your society too much.” Chiuri caught Mari’s eye and nodded at that. “I am also told that several of the younger members of your society wish to leave Tempest.”
“Including my grandfawn, Ma’am,” the Conducator said. “They’ve had their heads stuffed full of old furs’ memories, and now they wish to see things for themselves.”
Chiuri stepped forward. “I’m the Member for Education. There is some question of the difference between their educational level and yours, of course.” Instead of glaring at the gorilla femme, Calibanescu merely nodded.
“We have a training center here on Moncayo, and we can tailor the curriculum very easily. According to reports, your education concentrated on literacy. That will help, of course.” She glanced at Athenry. “Mari, well done. You have files being transferred to your padd, along with new information for the Tau Beta’s computer – “
“HOLLI,” the hologram said.
“HOLLI, of course. Your team’s recommendations have been received, and are being implemented. Again, well done to you and your team. Patel, out.” The dhole’s image was replaced by the CDT insignia, and HOLLI accessed an information channel. She muted the volume as Calibanescu and Chiuri approached Athenry. The kangaroo doe looked up from her padd and Chiuri said, “You won’t be taking all of the children, will you?”
“Certainly not,” Athenry replied. “Living space aboard the Expedient is more or less all taken with my team and the ship’s crew. We’ve vacated a cargo hold and set it up for living quarters for twenty furs. The trip to Moncayo will take a week, and they’ll be training from the moment we break orbit.” She grinned. “This won’t be a pleasure cruise.” The Members chuckled at that.
“Matvei is with his family and friends, saying his goodbyes,” Calibanescu said, “as are, I trust, all the others.” He suddenly seemed older as he asked, “Will they be gone long?”
“Two years,” Commander Adson spoke up, “and they’ll be coming back here to help their families.”
“I fear I may not live long enough to see that day.”
Chiuri lightly smacked him on the shoulder and when he glared at her she shook a finger at him. “I’m not that much younger than you, Ion, and I plan on being here.”
“And with the medical teams that are staying, you and your mate have an excellent chance of living longer than that,” Adson added, the fossa hastily saying, “but there are always limits to what can be done.”
***
The jumpsuit still felt strange on him, Matvei realized, but he’d better get used to it. The other nineteen furs going with him to Moncayo also looked uncomfortable and nervous, so he didn’t feel singled out. Like him, they all had the common desire to see the things that their grandparents or great-grandparents had told them about, or had seen on faded hardcopy.
The young red deer buck dropped to one knee and hugged his brother and sister, the fraternal twin fawns sniffling back tears. His mother and father hugged him as he stood up, and his ears dipped as his mother kissed him. His father, thankfully, just shook his paw.
His grandmother hadn’t stopped crying since the entire settlement turned out for a farewell dinner, but the Conducator merely took his paw. “Sergeant-at-Arms,” he said quietly, “you are dismissed,” and he smiled as he added, “We’ll see you when you return.”
Matvei had then hugged the old man before picking up the small satchel he’d been issued and, with a final wave, stepped aboard the lander to join the others.
The settlement’s population were still waving as the lander rose vertically until it had disappeared from view.
© 2020 by Walter Reimer
Thumbnail art by
steamfoxCalibanescu rose to his hooves, and the assembly quieted. Fisheries seemed to have gotten angrier, if that had been possible. “Those voting in favor are in the majority.” He paused while several people applauded before adding, “I know that several of us have asked to go with – “
“NO!” Sanjaz shouted, jerking his knife from his belt and running toward Dara before Security or the other guards could react.
Dara stood up and stood there, waiting.
The feline got within two meters before something struck him and his momentum carried him, practically flying, three meters to Dara’s left and into a knot of settlers who were too stunned to get out of the way.
Into the shocked silence Kal said, “Like I said, Dara, your friends are never far away,” and there was a chorus of gasps as the CDT guard dropped their thermoptic camouflage to reveal a suit of powered armor.
Security muttered as he walked over to supervise Sanjaz’s arrest, “Wish I had one of those . . . “
The former member for Fisheries (his failure to attend meetings and his attack upon a stranger caused the Convocation to vote him out on the spot) was given into the custody of his family. He wasn’t injured, so his male relatives carried the still-dazed feline back to his home because the settlement had no jail in which to hold him. The other two CDT guards materialized, and the armored trio moved off to the Expedient’s lander, leaving Dara alone with the settlers.
More than a few, including some children, followed to see this new attraction.
“So, you were not unprotected, it seems,” Armon remarked as she walked up to him.
“No,” the otter admitted to the older canine. “It’s standard procedure if one of us goes into a potentially dangerous situation. I was more in danger when I was in the ocean,” he added with a chuckle. “Please don’t hold it against me.”
“I won’t. Sanjaz always was a little bit foolish.” She glanced back at his padd, where Kal was showing a growing number of awestruck children an educational cartoon. “You are still welcome in my clanhold, young Qandus.”
The otter smiled. “Thank you, Ma’am.”
***
Mari, Akiko and Tsien all looked at each other before looking at HOLLI. The canine holograph smiled at Tsien and said, “Ready on your order, Tsien-san. All equipment upgrades are completed, we have sufficient power, and we’re connected to the hypersat carrier signal. I’ve updated myself to accept standard communications protocols.”
The feline glanced back at the other Committee members gathered on the bridge of the Tau Beta. He took a deep breath and nodded. “Go ahead, HOLLI. Initiate contact.”
The simulacrum grinned. “Thank you.” She put a paw to her ear. “TSS-129 Tau Beta, calling CDT Moncayo . . . TSS-129 Tau Beta, calling CDT Moncayo.” The image then turned and faced the bridge’s refurbished main screen as it flickered and displayed the CDT’s insignia.
“We hear you, TSS-129, strong and clear signal.” The insignia was replaced by a dhole femme wearing a Colonial admiral’s uniform. “Greetings, Tau Beta. I am Administrator Patel Manasi, the CDT’s head here on Moncayo. I’m very pleased that you’ve reached out to us, and pleased that you’ve accepted our help.” She seemed to focus on Tsien. “Are you the leader of the local government?”
The feline cleared his throat. “Heavens, no, Ma’am. I’m Tsien-san, the Member for Technology. The Conducator is here,” and he stepped back as he waved Calibanescu forward.
The red deer buck gave the feline a passing glare as he stepped forward. “I am Conducator Ion Calibanescu, Administrator. We’re all very happy that you heard our call for help.”
Patel smiled. “And we’ve been happy to help, Sir. Your Lost Colony designation has been approved. Team Leader Athenry has recommended that colony operations proceed slowly, to avoid disturbing your society too much.” Chiuri caught Mari’s eye and nodded at that. “I am also told that several of the younger members of your society wish to leave Tempest.”
“Including my grandfawn, Ma’am,” the Conducator said. “They’ve had their heads stuffed full of old furs’ memories, and now they wish to see things for themselves.”
Chiuri stepped forward. “I’m the Member for Education. There is some question of the difference between their educational level and yours, of course.” Instead of glaring at the gorilla femme, Calibanescu merely nodded.
“We have a training center here on Moncayo, and we can tailor the curriculum very easily. According to reports, your education concentrated on literacy. That will help, of course.” She glanced at Athenry. “Mari, well done. You have files being transferred to your padd, along with new information for the Tau Beta’s computer – “
“HOLLI,” the hologram said.
“HOLLI, of course. Your team’s recommendations have been received, and are being implemented. Again, well done to you and your team. Patel, out.” The dhole’s image was replaced by the CDT insignia, and HOLLI accessed an information channel. She muted the volume as Calibanescu and Chiuri approached Athenry. The kangaroo doe looked up from her padd and Chiuri said, “You won’t be taking all of the children, will you?”
“Certainly not,” Athenry replied. “Living space aboard the Expedient is more or less all taken with my team and the ship’s crew. We’ve vacated a cargo hold and set it up for living quarters for twenty furs. The trip to Moncayo will take a week, and they’ll be training from the moment we break orbit.” She grinned. “This won’t be a pleasure cruise.” The Members chuckled at that.
“Matvei is with his family and friends, saying his goodbyes,” Calibanescu said, “as are, I trust, all the others.” He suddenly seemed older as he asked, “Will they be gone long?”
“Two years,” Commander Adson spoke up, “and they’ll be coming back here to help their families.”
“I fear I may not live long enough to see that day.”
Chiuri lightly smacked him on the shoulder and when he glared at her she shook a finger at him. “I’m not that much younger than you, Ion, and I plan on being here.”
“And with the medical teams that are staying, you and your mate have an excellent chance of living longer than that,” Adson added, the fossa hastily saying, “but there are always limits to what can be done.”
***
The jumpsuit still felt strange on him, Matvei realized, but he’d better get used to it. The other nineteen furs going with him to Moncayo also looked uncomfortable and nervous, so he didn’t feel singled out. Like him, they all had the common desire to see the things that their grandparents or great-grandparents had told them about, or had seen on faded hardcopy.
The young red deer buck dropped to one knee and hugged his brother and sister, the fraternal twin fawns sniffling back tears. His mother and father hugged him as he stood up, and his ears dipped as his mother kissed him. His father, thankfully, just shook his paw.
His grandmother hadn’t stopped crying since the entire settlement turned out for a farewell dinner, but the Conducator merely took his paw. “Sergeant-at-Arms,” he said quietly, “you are dismissed,” and he smiled as he added, “We’ll see you when you return.”
Matvei had then hugged the old man before picking up the small satchel he’d been issued and, with a final wave, stepped aboard the lander to join the others.
The settlement’s population were still waving as the lander rose vertically until it had disappeared from view.
Category Story / General Furry Art
Species Cervine (Other)
Size 120 x 87px
File Size 44.5 kB
Listed in Folders
Adventure into the unknown.
That's all I could have thought to type after thinking long and hard about this story....especially the last paragraph. It sort of reminds me of going to my first furry convention back in 2005 (Anthrocon)* and the feelings I was going through.
*Yeah yeah, as of this writing I've only been to two furry cons dammit!
That's all I could have thought to type after thinking long and hard about this story....especially the last paragraph. It sort of reminds me of going to my first furry convention back in 2005 (Anthrocon)* and the feelings I was going through.
*Yeah yeah, as of this writing I've only been to two furry cons dammit!
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