Haven 4 AVOW - Sandra R Neeley Page 0,70

I’ll send your pilot,” the warrior said, giving a salute across his chest and hurrying off toward the lounge.

Ko'San made his way to the transport the warrior had indicated and got on board without further delay. He chose a seat in the very rear of the small transport and laid Synclare on the bench along one side of the cabin. He looked down at Synclare, feeling a small pang of regret at what they were about to do. She was wrapped in a blanket from her bed, and her head was covered. She was breathing so shallowly that Ko'San couldn’t detect it. He pressed his fingers against her throat, feeling for a pulse and was somewhat relieved when he felt it.

Startled when a voice spoke from right beside him, he jumped and shouted. “What do you want?” he demanded.

“Where will I be taking you, General?” the pilot asked, stepping back from General Lo'San when he obviously startled him.

Ko'San glanced up at the man who’d just stepped back from him. “Forgive my outburst. I am somewhat on edge of late.”

“I understand, sir. Where am I taking you so that I can file the flight plan?” the pilot asked.

“Unified Consortium Defense Satellite Station,” he said simply.

“Yes, sir. Right away,” the pilot answered, moving up to the pilot’s seat without further delay, and beginning the preflight checklist.

Ko'San sat in the back of the transport, his right leg pounding out a constant rhythm as it bounced a thousand times a minute, as he waited for the transport to finally take off.

“General?” the pilot asked.

“Yes,” Ko'San answered.

“I’m being asked to confirm your presence onboard, sir. If you could please step forward so that the Command Deck can confirm and grant take off.”

“Why? That’s not necessary. Just do what I say,” Ko'San insisted.

“Sir, Lieutenant Commander Re’Vahl, and Communications Master Vennie have requested confirmation that you are aboard this transport since they’ve no record of your planned expedition from the ship,” the pilot said.

Ko’San’s stomach dropped, but he stood and walked forward to the pilot’s seat. The pilot indicated a translucent vid spanning the windshield, and Ko'San looked into the small area that seemed to reflect two males shown in white and gray as opposed to their true appearance. They were as translucent as the readouts and numbers that were ticking around the rest of the display.

A small male with tentacles peered back at him.

“General Lo'San, we are approving a flight plan to the Unified Consortium Defense Satellite Station as per your request.”

“Thank you,” Ko'San said.

“Identity confirmed, flight plan granted,” the tentacled male said as another male still watched him.

“Cleared for takeoff, General. Please return to your seat and strap yourself and your mate in,” the pilot advised.

“Done,” Ko'San answered, stalking back to his seat.

~~~

Re’Vahl stood beside Vennie’s chair and watched the small, green, tentacled alien as he confirmed Lo'San was aboard the transport.

“I’m surprised he didn’t make us aware of his plans,” Re’Vahl said. “He was here with his father this morning, surely he would have said something.”

“Do you wish to question General Lo’San? I’ve already confirmed with my own eyes that he is aboard that transport,” Vennie said. “You saw him, too.”

“No, I suppose that is all we need. Still, he’s very precise in everything he does. Would he not have advised us of his plans to leave the ship?” Re’Vahl asked.

“He is off duty for the day. Perhaps he wishes to spend some time with his female among some of her own kind. You heard his pilot tell him to strap himself and his mate in. There are several humans aboard the Consortium’s satellite station. Perhaps she is acquainted with them and misses her own kind.”

“Very well. Please log in the use of Transport 3V4 by General Lo'San,” Re’Vahl said. Re’Vahl turned and watched the tiny dot that was the transport shown on the main vid screen as it left Command Warship 1’s docking bay, and their ship’s tracking devices picked it up and followed its progress in the direction of the Consortium’s satellite station.

“Still don’t feel comfortable with this,” Re’Vahl said, his instincts telling him something was off with the way Lo'San had left the ship.

“I do not know what you require to be at ease with our General deciding to take a transport for a short while, Lieutenant Commander Re’Vahl. I can hail the transport and you can ask General Lo'San yourself why he didn’t get our approval before leaving,” Vennie said.

Re’Vahl straightened his back and raised his chin. “No. It is