The captain was waiting for them with a grave expression on her handsome augmented features.
“A matter has arisen which requires our attendance. The Dinavri high consulate is interested in turning a prisoner of war over to us. However as you are no doubt aware, Commander Atlas, I am unable to travel to the Dinavri region in my capacity as captain due to the restrictions on females.”
The Dinavri were a war-like species who embraced sexism as a core tenet of their existence. They were so tied to it as a fundamental value that they were willing to eschew all the many benefits of being part of the alliance in order to continue to oppress anything with ovaries, mammaries, or, oddly, hair longer than an inch.
“You’re going to have to cut your hair,” Jerri blurted. Then she felt somewhat silly, not just because she’d spoken out of turn as the most junior rank present, but because her first thought upon hearing that Atlas was going to have to see the Dinavri was for his hair, of all things.
“Yes,” Captain Janus said. “You will need to cut your hair, Atlas. You are otherwise a prime specimen according to their culture, so little other cosmetic changes will be required.”
Prime specimen. Yes, he was, especially seen through the lens of a species that considered brutal hand to hand combat the equivalent of a handshake. Jerri had never met a Dinavri, and she probably never would. Any females serving on Authority ships were forbidden from interacting with the Dinavri in any way, both for their own safety, and because of a persistent rumor that said the Dinavri would inevitably go to war with any culture or force that employed women. They were highly committed to their misogyny, and very proud of it.
“This is a diplomatic mission of some importance,” Captain Janus said. “You’ll need a DSN, Atlas, due to the perilous path to the rendezvous. I’ve selected Tessil in that role.”
“Understood. Good choice.” Atlas sounded pleased. Maybe a little too pleased.
Jerri did a few mental calculations. They were going to be alone in a two-berth shuttle for the better part of a month at least. The entire Audacity was not big enough for the two of them and now they were going to be in an area where avoiding him was going to be absolutely impossible.
“Alright. Make the necessary preparations and get underway. We want this prisoner back in our care as soon as possible. Minimize contact with the Dinavri, and don’t be drawn into any form of diplomatic contact aside from what is absolutely necessary.”
“Shouldn’t we be sending a warship?” Jerri asked the question out of turn and out of concern for their general survival.
“We cannot afford to be seen as making a show of force. That would excite the Dinavri. They have been known to attack warships out of sheer excitement. We will make this a low-key, swift mission. The Audacity will be out of range for much of the mission as per request from the Dinavri consulate. However, if you activate the emergency protocols, we will be there as quickly as possible.”
“Come on.” Atlas grabbed her by the back of her collar and hauled her out of the captain’s office unceremoniously. Jerri half-expected Captain Janus to say something about it, but she seemed not to have a problem with Atlas’s handling of her. Maybe she assumed he was getting into character for dealing with the Dinavri.
Chapter Seven
Preparations were made. Jerri did her best to ready herself, but she was effectively already ready. That was the thing about being a DSN and being able to leap into action with less than a moment’s notice. You really didn’t need more than a moment’s notice. She packed a few things into a bag, which still didn’t take very long because she knew she wouldn’t be allowed more than a change of underwear or two and a personal entertainment device. Space on the shuttle would be limited, and Atlas was exactly the kind of stickler who would probably demand a gear inspection before launch.
He was already there when she got down to the hangar. Their departure time was still a ways off, but early was late when it came to these things.
Jerri drew in a deep breath as she walked up the gangway. She’d never been on a solo pilot mission before. Atlas aside, this was a big professional step and she did not want to fuck it up.
“Permission to board,” she said, harkening back to archaic human times with the phrase. Atlas seemed to enjoy archaic human things, for whatever reason. Probably the same reason a lot of humans were obsessed with Kitari literature. Unfamiliar things seemed exotic and interesting whereas local things seemed commonplace and tedious.
“Permission granted,” Atlas said, acknowledging her with a swift nod. He was very solemn in demeanor, more so than usual. Jerri wasn’t surprised that he was taking this seriously. He took everything seriously.