A pretty redhead appeared at the rail. Carmin, a biochemist from Eranus, was as unrestrained in bed as she was masterful over a microscope. She and Deke had gotten to know each other quite well during this voyage. She must have noted the oncoming weather since an orange slicker covered her body.
“Where do you think you’re going?” she hollered as he broke away from the dive platform.
“I have to check something below,” he called, meaning to obtain a tube-worm specimen.
“No, you don’t,” a fierce male voice said. Commander Brigarde strode into view. The executive officer’s large bulk was impressive even in his rain gear. His heavy dark brows furrowed in an angry line. “A message has come through from Command. You’re to report to the captain’s stateroom immediately.”
Annoyance rippled through him. “What? I can’t leave now. I’ve just found something—”
“Get your ass up here,” Brigarde shouted, his face reddening.
“Yes, sir.” Deke flipped onto the dive platform and removed his headgear. The clouds chose that moment to burst. Rain splashed his face and cascaded down his neck as he wrestled with the rest of his equipment on the swaying deck.
Still wearing his insulated wet suit, Deke clutched the specimen container in his hand and headed for the captain’s quarters. His thoughts raced as he wound his way through the gray metal corridors of the ship’s interior.
A message awaited him from Command. Did that mean he was needed for a SEARCH operation? It would sure beat floating around here and hunting schools of fish.
He identified himself on the comm unit, and Captain Manseur’s gruff voice invited him to enter. Deke stepped inside, closing the door behind him. Then he turned and gave a crisp salute.
“You can dispense with the formalities, Commander. What’s that?” The captain eyed the collection jar in Deke’s hand.
Deke grinned, appreciating Manseur’s blunt manner. “I found tube worms by the reef, sir. This is the first time I’ve seen them in this type of environment. I took a water sample so I could test its properties.” He ran a hand through his damp hair, wondering if he’d be allowed time in the ship’s lab.
Captain Manseur gave a curt nod. A stern military man who possessed a keen sense of humor, he was in charge of the fleet of oceangoing research vessels that Defense League maintained on Setai IV. The world was mostly water with a few land masses, much like Eranus. Setai IV was being explored with the possibility of colonization in the near future.
The captain didn’t claim to be a science scholar. He preferred fine wines, gourmet foods, and beautiful women as his hobbies. With Deke receiving new orders, no doubt he’d concentrate on getting to know the voluptuous redhead when Deke transferred off his ship.
“You’ll have to leave your specimen for our biochemists. Here are your new orders.” Captain Manseur handed a datalink to Deke.
Deke activated the device and peered at the contents displayed on the screen. He was to report for duty at the Defense League station on Bimordus Two, the Coalition capital. He’d be taking charge of a special mission. A space voyage of sixteen days duration was involved.
“What is this? Why me?” Deke stared at the datalink in stunned silence. His missions had always utilized his diving expertise. He belonged at sea, not piloting a starship. Appalled, he glanced at the captain as though his superior officer could change his orders.
“A transport vehicle is scheduled to arrive for you within the next haura, Lieutenant Commander. I suggest you pack your things.”
“The hell I will! This isn’t the kind of mission I’m normally assigned.”
“You wish to contact Vice Admiral Rutta to protest your orders?”
“They’re not from Rutta, sir. The Supreme Regent sent this message.” Deke didn’t care what the mission entailed. He wanted to remain on Setai IV to investigate those tube worms. Perhaps it was all a mistake. “May I use a secure line, sir? I’d like to learn more details so I’ll know what equipment to bring.”
“As long as you’re ready when the shuttle arrives, you can stop by the comm center.”
Deke nodded and snapped a salute. “It’s been a pleasure serving with you, Captain.” Still clutching his specimen container, he left the captain’s stateroom.
Detouring by the ship’s lab, he gave his valuable water sample to one of the biochemists before heading to the comm center. The duty officer left him alone so he could make his call in private.
Glotaj came on the line right away. Deke faced the older man on the monitor screen. From the background view, he could see the supreme regent was in his office.
“Sir, I don’t understand why you’ve put me in command of this mission,” Deke said. “My skills are better utilized in undersea operations.”
“Your diving expertise is one of the reasons why I selected you to lead the team to Yanura, Deke.”
He drew in a breath. He hadn’t known their destination. “Yanura? Why there?”
Glotaj patiently explained the purpose of the voyage. When he was finished, Deke let out a long breath. He had reasons of his own for wanting to visit the planet, so he didn’t need to be convinced. But he was still puzzled as to why Glotaj had chosen him as team leader. “Why didn’t you just assign me as science officer?” he asked.
“As you know, your father and I are friends. He’s spoken to me about your interest in the chancellorship. I thought I’d give you the chance to demonstrate your leadership skills. I’ve been following your career since you entered the service, Deke, and I believe you have the potential to go far.”
“Thank you, sir.” Deke’s voice choked with emotion. This could be the opportunity he’d been needing to distinguish himself from the other candidates. He’d better make sure his team accomplished their mission objectives. “The shuttle is expected at any moment, and I have to prepare for departure. I appreciate your faith in me, Your Excellency.”
Glotaj’s lined face creased into a smile. “May the Light of the Aura grace your voyage. By the way, the name of the vessel you’ll be taking to Yanura is the Celeste.” His eyes twinkled mischievously. “You’ll find she’s different, but that can have its advantages. Glotaj out.”
As soon as the supreme regent terminated the link, Deke went to his cabin to gather his personal belongings. While automatically piling his things into a single worn case, he thought about the problems Glotaj had mentioned.
He looked forward to investigating the seaweed farms on Yanura. Mariculture was familiar to him from his home planet, so he knew what to expect. If the Yanurans were fooling anyone with their story about an age-preserving drug, they wouldn’t get past him. And should the Yanurans be involved in Jallyn’s abduction, he’d find her, too. He wouldn’t let them get away with any more of their dirty tricks, not after what had happened to Larikk.
His good friend and colleague had disappeared on Yanura three annums ago. Deke had reason to believe foul play was involved, but the Yanurans had effectively blocked any attempts at an investigation. At the time, they were not members of the Coalition, so he couldn’t pursue the case. But now that they were applying for admissions status, they’d come under Coalition provisional law.