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“Thank you. We’ll be in contact.” Vintor nodded.

“I’m sure the females will want to converse regularly to share how their sire is faring. And I know Kagan would like to visit or host your Conclave on Cadi,” Ashtoret added.

“Of course.” He nodded. “I also think we need to have a deeper discussion about what happened on Earth.”

“And we should include the Miran Sona from the New Earth colony,” Vintor agreed.

“It would be wise to try to resolve the misunderstanding.” Ashtoret shook his head in disappointment.

It had been a frustrating situation. The interaction with the Miran Sona guarding Earth quickly devolved. Despite their best efforts the ambassador from the Miran Sona home world refused to believe they were allies and instead treated them as a threat, forcing them to flee back through the wormhole.

Obviously, they’re not communicating with their own people on this side of the rift.

“At least we know someone’s watching out for Earth,” Vintor conceded.

It was just a shame they didn’t know that when they first went to Earth. If he had, he might’ve been better prepared and brought more ships.

“But will the Miran Sona be able to fend off a fleet of Jurou Biljana?” he couldn’t help ask. That was the whole purpose for the mission to begin with.

“Damn reptilian flesh merchants,” Ashtoret grumbled.

“We don’t know the bastards have reproduced the rift drive yet.” Vintor tried to be positive.

That was true, but it was just a matter of time before the Jurou Biljana had a swarm of ships capable of traversing the wormholes and terrorizing countless unsuspecting systems.

Not if I can help it,he sighed.

“Well, it’s clear we have a lot to discuss. But let’s take a break. I’ll be in contact,” he assured them.

First thing’s first he had promised to heal Nadzia’s sire and he would uphold that oath.

“You better stay in touch!” Abby said as she and Carol joined them.

“You take good care of my peanut,” Matron Carol instructed Ashtoret.

“Always.” Ashtoret bent and hugged the older female. “We will see you very soon.”

“Where is Nadzia? Didn’t she want to see you off?” Aculus asked Abby.

“No. I don’t think she wanted everyone to see her ugly cry,” Abby admitted as they headed to the loading bay where the cruiser taking them to Cadi had docked.

“Ah. I understand. Safe journey.”

He bid each of his guests farewell but his thoughts were on Nadzia. The moment everyone exited the frigate, he was back down the corridor.

“Aculus.” Thorac, a fellow Osivoire and captain of another frigate, stopped him in the hall.

“Yes.”

“I will be heading back to patrol the rift shortly, unless you need anything else,” the captain reported.

“No. Keep a keen eye for any unusual movement from the Jurou Biljana,” he instructed Thorac.

“Aye. If those vasta reptiles manage to reproduce that rift drive then no one is safe.” Thorac nodded and turned to go.

Aculus stopped him. “Thank you again for coming to our aid. I’m not sure if we would’ve been able to hold off those Miran Sona vessels much longer.” He clasped the male’s forearm.

“You were doing a decent job fending them off,” Thorac assured him. “You were just outnumbered.”