The Risks of Dead Reckoning by Felicia Watson (novels to improve english txt) 📕

“Are you sure? What if wedrop ranks? Do you have any questions then?”

“Captain, I had nointention of inquiring into—”

“Call me Matt and tryagain. If I’m going to be your father-in-law, you’re gonna have toget used to that, anyway.” Jacoway didn’t answer – his eyes werefixed on the hands gripping his knees. Ricci realized he needed totake the lead. “I figure a man like you must wonder how it was that I had achild in the world for ten-years and never tried to seeher.”

Finally, Tal swiveledslightly and faced Ricci head-on. “Okay, since you brought it up –the truth is…I have wondered.” He drew a deep breath and continued, “You don’tseem like the kind of person who could…abandon their child. I knowyou were only twenty when she was born – but what about all ofthose years afterwards?”

Ricci had gotten the exactquestion he’d been expecting – yet was still struggling to respond.It seemed like this explanation was never going to come easy forhim. Staring briefly off at the horizon, he admitted, “I have noexcuse – because there is no excusing that.” He searched Tal’s facefor censure but saw only doubt. “What can I say? Ambition is a hellof a drug. I was so focused on my career, and later, on the war wewere fighting, that I avoided anything that couldpotentially…derail me.” His frown deepened as his mind returned tothe days of his youth. “Back then, I was great at plotting a course– but terrible at navigating in a new direction…even when it wasabsolutely called for.”

Jacoway was silent,nodding, obviously digesting those words. Finally, he asked, “Afterdoing nothing for so long, why did you then try so hard to be partof Naiche’s life? Was it just because her mother haddied?”

“It wasn’tjust that. Like a lot offathers, I felt an overwhelming rush of love for my child uponseeing her for the first time. The difference being, she wasten-years old when that finally happened.” To steady himself, Riccilooked up at the hazy sky for a moment before facing Tal again. “Ibitterly regret those lost years, but there’s nothing I can doabout it. I’ll live with that regret to my dying day.”

Jacoway aimed asurprisingly kind smile at him. “You don’t have to. You and Naichehave a wonderful relationship, now – and a lot of years ahead. Toomany years ahead to remain focused on the past.”

“I know. But due to myneglect, I missed out on so much of her life – and there’s nogetting that time back. That’s my reality.”

“Captain, uh, I mean,Matt….” Tal paused, stumbling over the apparent oddness of callingRicci by his first name. “It sounds to me like you mightstill have a problemchanging course.”

A surprised chuckle bubbledout of Ricci. “You could be right. Doctor Clemente certainly seemsto think so.”

“You mean aboutthis?”

“No – another matterentirely.”

After a moment, Talmurmured, “Oh, the commodore thing.”

Matt sighed heavily,running a hand through his thick brown hair. “Is there anyoneon Lovelace who doesn’t know about that?”

“Considering there’s abetting pool going around about when you’re finally gonna breakdown and take the quals, I wouldn’t think so.”

“The crew has a poolgoing?” Ricci exclaimed. He put a hand to his hip, glaring at Talwho shrugged sheepishly and disclaimed taking any part in it. Mattwaved a dismissive hand, resigning himself to his crew’s shrewdimpertinence. He stood up, advising Tal to join him in trying toget some sleep; the young man followed him back to the shuttle. Onthe way, Ricci asked, “Is Naiche in that pool?”

“Oh, no, sir, she’snot.”

“They wouldn’t let herjoin, huh?”

“Nope.”

***

By the time Ricci and hiscrew were heading back to the contact zone in the boat with Drawde,they all knew their fate had been decided: all humans on Jileesawould be “extinguished mercifully.” The only hope for them,the Lovelace, andthousands of innocents lay in Ricci’s plan. Jacoway had his doubtssince the success of that plan depended entirely on Millua’sability to see reason. As far as Tal was concerned, anyone whocould order a massacre of this magnitude for nothing but personalgain, was entirely lacking in that quality.

Drawde escorted them backinto the same room as before. The governmental chamber they couldsee on the other side of the barrier was filled with Lignatians;Jacoway estimated there were at least forty of them floating in thehazy green atmosphere. They were arrayed behind four separatetables, with Wayru Millua front and center. Millua asked Drawde ifthe humans were present; when he gave the affirmative, silencefollowed, while the Lignatians flashed to each other.

Kaplita asked, “Can’t theysee us at all?”

“No, they cannot.Lignatians possess not the capacity to perceive anything in anoxygenated environment.” After a lengthy pause, Drawde explained,“They are preparing the charges against the Lovelace crew as a whole – and youin particular, Captain Ricci.”

“How do you know?” Ricciasked. “I thought you couldn’t understand them when you’re in thecommunication module?”

“I made arrangements sothat I could.”

Jacoway wondered at thatoblique statement but had no time to question it since a Lignatianbegan addressing the humans.

“Captain Matteo Ricci, I,Yhanar Sicuru Manik Puryt, will explain your fate.” Drawde informedthem that “yhanar” was the designation for Lignatians in charge ofplanetary defense. Sicuru continued, “You are charged withEndangering the Welfare of Jileesa, Theft of LignatianTechnological Principles, and Theft by Deception of LignatianResources. Your crew is charged with abetting you in thesecrimes.”

“I plead not guilty,”Ricci interjected, “as does my crew.”

It was Millua whoresponded. “Your input was not solicited nor is it welcome. Youhave been found guilty and will be extinguished, along with theAlktata Experiment, as soon as the Aurora returns toJileesa.”

“How long are you preparedto wait? Because they’re not coming.”

Vipin Aicilef answered,“We stopped receiving the distress signal during our deliberations.The Aurora ismost likely on its way here.”

“No, it’s not. If it’sgoing anywhere, it’s going to Uniterrae. Unless they hear otherwisefrom me – which they won’t, until you release us all,unharmed.”

Jacoway watched as severalLignatians flashed out white-hot impulses to each other. WayruMillua said, “I have never had patience for human folly. It isespecially undesirable at this time and will not save you. Explainyourself.”

“I sent a message to mypeople on Tolu. Like I said, they will take