In The Beginning by Gail Daley (top 100 books of all time checklist .TXT) 📕

"Please be seated gentleman," she pointed to the chairs opposite her. "Allow me to present my condolences on the loss of your homeworld."

"Thank you," Michaels responded. "We offer our condolences on your losses as well, Mi'Lady."

Just then, Sooka, who had quietly gone unnoticed by most of the other candidates, hopped off Katherine’s shoulder and bounced over to Lieutenant Jackson, springing up onto the arm of his chair. Startled, he jumped. "Well, now, who are you?" he inquired, with just the right note of amusement to please Katherine.

"That is Sooka," Katherine replied. "She is a Quirka. Many of us keep them as companions. They are empathic. Apparently, she approves of you. You can pet her as long as you stroke downward on her fur."

"Why she’s changing color!" exclaimed Vernal.

"Yes, they have chameleon-like qualities," Katherine replied.

"You brought a pet along on an interstellar trip?" asked Zack incredulously.

"It was necessary," Katherine responded. "She is not exactly a pet. A Quirka’s empathic attachment to their chosen human is very deep. A separation of so many months would have caused her to go into a depression and she would have starved herself to death in my absence. She was no real trouble on the journey; Quirkas are omnivores and with a box of sand in my quarters as a toilet, all I had to do was order the appropriate food from the dispenser."

She watched Sooka carefully as the small creature leaped from one man to the other investigating each one carefully before returning to Zack’s lap.

"So tell me Colonel, what are your plans for the future?" she asked.

Gideon looked up from watching Zack play with Sooka. "Most of the men in my command are from Moodon, like me. As you know, Moodon was burned off by the enemy. I would like for us to find a new homeworld where we could all settle together."

"And why is that?"

"Well, most of my unit entered the service as a group and we’ve served together so long we have become each other’s family. If we hadn’t been together when we heard Moodon was destroyed, I don’t think some of us would have made it."

"How do you feel about taking orders from women?"

He shrugged. "I don’t see a problem. On Moodon we considered men and women to be equals; women as well as men give orders."

Katherine turned to Vernel. "And you, sir, how do you feel about that?"

"I do my job. I take my orders and carry them out. Doesn’t make me any nevermind who gives them. I’m not a leader."

"Lieutenant Jackson?" she asked.

Zack rubbed his nose. "Everyone has a different idea of how folks should behave."

"I’m afraid that isn’t good enough. I require a full answer. On Vensoog, our men only hold property through their wives and daughters and they can’t hold an office except as a deputy for a wife or daughter. How do you feel about that?"

"To answer that question properly, I would need to see the text of the law so I can determine how fair it is," he replied.

"That," replied Katherine, rather pleased, "is a very good answer. I would have been disappointed if all of you had given me a flat yes. It would have shown duplicity."

"Are you saying we would be second class citizens?" Michaels asked, "Because that is not something I find acceptable."

"Not at all; you and your men would be full members of the Clan O’Teague. Traditionally most of our law enforcement and defensive offices have been held by men, but due to the war most of these offices are held by women, however Clan leadership, property and inheritance are held in the female line."

Michaels nodded. "Okay, I think we all need to see the actual terms of the bargain you want us to agree to before we go any further."

"I agree," Katherine said. "But perhaps you would like to provide me with a text of what you desire for your new homeland, that way when we meet tomorrow, we can see if we want to take this any further?"

She stood and took three data crystals from her belt pouch and handed them to each man. "Here is the contract you and your men would be required to sign to become members of Clan O’Teague, and a text of our laws and privileges. May I hope you will send me your requirements by this afternoon?"

All three men had risen when she did. "I brought that information with me," Michaels replied and offered her a data crystal in return.

Katherine took it, smiling. "I like a man who comes prepared," she remarked. "Why don’t we agree to meet over lunch in the canteen tomorrow for further discussion? You can meet my chaperone and mentor, Lady Corrine then."

The next day at noon, Corrine and Katherine programmed their meals in the robo-chef on the side of the canteen away from the windows and then took their food trays to an unoccupied round table in an alcove. They were joined a few minutes later by the three men. The canteen was in a bulky plastacrete building designed to feed large groups of people. It had privacy alcoves with large windows for officers and others who needed to discuss matters they didn’t wish broadcast wholesale. The portable chairs and tables could have (and had) served ten thousand diners at a sitting. Now it appeared to be only about a third full.

All three men were taken aback to realize the Quirka were apparently dining with them. Katherine and Corrine had provided small bowls of finely chopped raw meats and vegetables for each pet and a small finger bowl of water. The two Quirkas perched on their haunches on the table beside the women and waited patiently for the meal to begin. Unselfconsciously, Corrine bowed her head and said a quick Grace. There was a trifle awkwardness in the beginning of the shared meal, but Corrine and Vernal soon provided an opening for normal table conversation.

"Lady Katherine said you keep these Quirkas as companions?" Vernel pointed with his chin at the