Thoughts over Breakfast
© 2020 by Walter Reimer


Thumbnail art by  rabbi-tom


Magus Station’s commissariat had managed to acquire some stocks of Kashlanin foodstuffs, and was able to offer Varan several items for breakfast. How they acquired the stocks was a question that Varan decided was worth passing on to the Support Branch liaison.

The rupma’, flecked with bits of dried fruit, was quite tasty, and the fruit juice she had with it was just tart enough to enhance the dense bread’s flavor. She’d send that message to Support later.

After breakfast.

Meredith and Fuji were seated across from her, enjoying their own meals while the vir regarded the piece of rupma’ in her fingers until the mare asked, “Are you all right, Varan?”

“Yes.” She smiled. “I’m just thinking.”

“I guessed that, and that it was something serious.” Meredith brushed an errant lock of her mane out of the way, muttering about getting a fur trim. “I know you well enough to know that.”

Varan chuckled. “Yes, you do know me. I have the feeling that plans are being made, that involve me.” She popped the piece of bread into her mouth and chewed, swallowing before adding, “And I am not being informed.”

Fuji looked concerned before breathing across his mug of coffee. Varan resisted shying away from the stink, and Meredith asked, “Do you know what may be planned?”

The vir gestured affirmatively. “Before I became the Kith’s Command-Second, Subcaptain v’Tal and I had a conversation.” She caught the look in Meredith’s eyes and chuckled. “Only part of it was about twining tails with Gartabin k’Jen.”

The mare giggled. “You know me pretty well.”

“True, lir demef. Nerin explained to me that I was chosen for promotion because I know you specifically, and by extension Terrans in general.” She took a sip of her juice. “And there may be a need for a liaison between the Fleet and This Far’s government.”

“So the Empire plans on staying here?” Fuji asked.

Varan’s tail gestured in a shrug. “Until the Confederacy asks for peace. I do not know the Azraa’s mind on the matter.” She broke off another piece of rupma’ and ate it. “Still, what do you think?” she asked Meredith.

The palomino mare spooned up a mouthful of her hot cereal dish (Varan knew it was edible, but it looked like diarrhea to her) as she thought the question over. After washing the mouthful down she replied, “Strategically, it makes no sense for the Empire to withdraw from the areas in the Terran Sphere that they’ve moved into. The Confederacy hasn’t been beaten yet, so it makes sense that you’d want to bolster relations with the Colonies.” Her ears dipped. “You have diplomats for this.”

Varan raised a finger. “Not allowed in a combat zone.”

Fuji sipped his coffee, watching both females with an alert expression.

“Then it’d be a sensible move to have at least one shlan as a liaison,” Meredith said. “And probably others are being taught for the same function as well.” The mare ran a fingertip around the rim of her mug. “And there are some here on This Far who might have foreseen this.”

“Yes?”

“Uh huh. The meat farm that my mother Marie works for started a pilot project, growing meat that’s compatible to Kashlanin tastes.”

Varan’s ears perked. “That’s an excellent idea. How far along do you think they’ve gotten?”

Meredith shrugged. “No idea. I’ll call home and find out, though. Meanwhile, I have to go to the Transcosm office planetside. Cargoes to arrange,” she said with a smile.