The Specimen

Chapter 24

“You feel the changes in the mission objectives is necessary commander?” asked Loo Tan Wun.

“I do sir. There is a lot of things we do not know about the space ship, who built it and why. We still need to study it, examine the dead bodies to see what really happened but I do not want to engage in unnecessary combat with either the crew or this specimen that they have collected.” said the commander.

“Do you need to return to the Triskewura commander?” asked Gy’Well

“No sir that will not be necessary, we have what we need to complete the mission on the shuttle but I needed some clarification on the over all objective.” said the commander.

“Such as?” asked Loo Tan Wun

“Why we are going?” responded the commander

Loo Tan Wun and Gy’Well looked at each other, Gy’Well then replied, “I understand your people had a saying for such an occasion.”

“We do.” said the commander “And it is an old one, but I need to invent another one just for this occasion.”

“Which is?” asked Gy’Well

“We like to come back in one piece please.” replied the commander

“Now?” asked Loo Tan Wun

“No, later after we get on that space ship and get chased by the first hostile unknown on that ship that is bent on killing us.” said the commander.

“Are you afraid?” asked Loo Tan Wun

“Right now, yes.” replied the commander “But before you order Ho Hi Zun to kill me for being a coward, I need to remind you, that I am afraid of the unknown and right now there are lot of unknowns, a lot of unanswered questions, things that do not make sense and my task is to make the unknown known, get answers to those questions, make sense of things, but all this would be for nothing if we get killed.”

“I see.” said Gy’Well “Do what you can commander.”

“Thank you sir.” replied the commander, “One finally request. Could we borrow the services of Task for a little while, I have an idea we can use to reduce the risk of hostile contact with the space ship crew.”

“We do not have extra image emitters.” said Gy’Well

“We don’t need to, we just need his voice.” said the commander.

“Very well commander.” said Gy’Well

“Thank you sirs.” said the commander

“That one is trouble, why do put up with her?” asked Loo Tan Wun.

“It is a long story.” said Gy’Well “Perhaps I will tell you later, however the commander brought up an important point that I did not consider as an issue on the Triskewura.”

“Which is?” asked Loo Tan Wun

“Which culture takes precendence here?” said Gy’Well.

Posted by Helen at November 24, 2003 11:02 PM