Operation Chimera Read Free

available.
    The stranger moved into the room; ebon shimmers over his head had the appearance of either hairs or quills, it would be difficult to tell without touching. He turned his attention toward Aaron and Liam, attracted to the familiarity of their unit patches. With grace surprising for his size, he moved as if floating. Aaron leaned back as the newcomer’s oversized eyes, deep, royal blue ovals bespeckled with thousands of spheres formed of darkening shades, blinked in from the sides. Two ridges ran down the center of his face on either side of his nose, giving the impression of thick black leather grafted on to an otherwise human head. Teeth like onyx chips glinted from pale white gums as he smiled.
    “Lieutenant,” he said, nodding at Aaron before nodding to Liam. “Lieutenant.”
    The voice, silken and deep, did not come in time with the motion of his lips; another sound, faint and comprised of hisses, pops, and throat noises hovered just at the edge of hearing. Small blue lights at the ends of a metallic torc around his neck flickered in time with the speech. Both men shot a glance at the rank pin on the stranger’s sleeve as he extended a hand with three fingers and a thumb. Lieutenant JG, just like them.
    “My apologies, Terrans. Is vertical oscillation of the grasping digits not an acceptable greeting salutation among your kind? Also, if this device”―he tapped the small sphere at one end of the torc―“commits an offensive or embarrassing error of translation, please pay it no mind.”
    Aaron returned the gesture. “Handshake works for us, but if you run into anyone higher rank you should salute them.”
    “Oh, yes. Ridge of the hand to the brow. I remember.” He saluted them. “I am Zavex, of Talnur.”
    “Oh, I’m sorry.” Liam offered a subtle bow. “Damn those Draxx.”
    Zavex drew in a sharp breath, the blues in his eyes darkened. A sizzling hiss emanated from him, something the device did not bother to translate. “It comes with great cost that the Talnurians have agreed to support the Terran Alliance.”
    Aaron offered a grim nod. “I heard about that. Orbital station collided with the planet. Just like the Draxx to attack an unknown civilization.”
    “We were more than they expected. The albedo of Talnur is low, and we have gone many generations without notice. We do not, however, overestimate our capability. Siding with Terrans became a necessity rather than choice.”
    “That doesn’t sound like you’re very loyal.” Aaron winked at a passing female Ensign. She giggled.
    Zavex pondered for a moment before emitting a slow series of sounds; seconds later, the translator chimed in. “I meant to say that the Terrans offered us the opportunity not to be destroyed. It was, forgive my weak human idiom… not much choice.”
    “Don’t mind him.” Liam patted Zavex on the arm. “He’s an ass to everyone.”
    Aaron picked a crumb out of his eye with a certain finger.
    “So, you look a bit on the young side, what are you, about twenty?” Liam ignored the gesture.
    Zavex found that amusing. “Talnurians age at an equivalent rate of one human year for every 2.73 Earth years that pass. I am, in your time, approximately fifty-two years of age. However, among my people, I am considered a young adult. In your terms, I would be nineteen.”
    “Fancy that,” said Aaron.
    “I don’t imagine either of you would know if they have managed to find a flight suit with proper boots?” Zavex flexed his toes.
    Aaron and Liam looked at each other, then cracked up.

    A loud beep silenced all conversation in the area. “Attention all personnel departing for the TU 83110
Manhattan
, preliminary boarding process begins in three minutes. All civilians are asked to leave the flight deck at this time.”
    The anonymous male voice silenced the commotion for about fifteen seconds, at which point the wail of a child repeating “please don’t leave” drew all eyes. Sarah’s minutes of calm clinging