Star Force Perseverance (SF81) (Star Force Origin Series) Read Free

debris floats within 10
    lightyears of this system I want to know immediately, I just don’t want to make
    a habit of checking surveillance reports myself.”
    “I’ll make you aware of anything that pops up, but
    thus far it’s pretty dead out here.”
    “I hope for our sake it stays that way. I can’t turn
    this place into Epsilon Eridani overnight.”
    “I’ll give you a week.”
    “Gracious of you,” the Count replied with equal sarcasm.
    “Though I suppose I should also inform you now that a detachment from Clan
    Sangheili is within the convoy. They have orders to establish a separate
    presence here, a pure startup of their own. I don’t know where that leaves your
    chain of command.”
    “Sangheili? Interesting, but not a problem. I’d been
    told you were in full command?”
    “I am, but you know how the Clans like to do their own
    thing.”
    “And Sangheili likes to be the first to jump the gun
    whenever possible,” the Archon said with some chagrin.
    “And you are what Clan?”
    “Clan Joanna. The rest of the Archons here are a mix
    with no official Clan function on this mission. May I ask who made the
    addition?”
    “The Director added it at the last minute before we
    left.”
    “Well then, no arguing that. He must have something
    good in mind.”
    “He always does. They have a padawan with them. Will
    she take lead or will you retain it? I can work either way, I just didn’t want
    to make assumptions.”
    “A padawan? No mage?”
    “No, but she’s already completed her apprenticeship.”
    “Baby mage then,” Klevin mewed. “If her duties are
    Clan specific then I’ll maintain operational command. If not we’ll figure it
    out. We don’t actually bicker about that sort of thing.”
    “Arm wrestle?”
    “No,” the Archon said, shaking his head slowly. “I’m
    glad there’s someone here now that’s stronger than me. It’ll give me a
    challenging sparring partner.”
    “If anyone other than an Archon said that I’d assume
    it was innuendo, but with you guys I know better.”
    The Archon smiled. “Sorry, Count. We won’t be helping
    you boost the population numbers…though others are doing an admirable job of it
    right now.”
    “A population surge request?”
    “No, I gave none. They’ve volunteered themselves to
    it.”
    Jeyron cringed. “It’s that boring out here, isn’t it?”
    “I can’t speak to that. My work is essentially the
    same everywhere I go.”
    “Diminished workforce?” Jeyron asked, knowing that if
    a lot of the female population were pregnant they’d be incapacitated for at
    least a short period of time.
    “Yes, but nothing too worrisome. Filling out the
    maturias sooner rather than later seemed more prudent, so I didn’t interfere.
    Most of the women are being responsible about it and taking breaks in between
    pregnancies, so we’re not losing whole chunks of population. They’re
    coordinating an alteration pattern on their own.”
    “Wise of them.”
    “They’re Star Force. Should you expect less?”
    “Perhaps not, but I’m also used to dealing with raw
    civilians who are less…insightful in their mating habits.”
    “We don’t have any raw civilians out here…save for the
    younglings.”
    “How far along is the first maturia?”
    “They’re 8 years old.”
    The Count nodded. “A good start then.”
    “I assume I can officially relinquish master builder
    activities?”
    Jeyron smiled. “I officially relieve you, Archon. You
    can get back to full training now.”
    Klevin bowed gratefully. “Much appreciated. I’ll meet
    you at the spaceport when you land and give you a proper tour.”
    “Looking forward to it,” the Count said as the
    transmission cut off…then he noticed the Captain giving him an odd look. “What?”
    “Mating habits?”
    “Sounds more professional than fucking.”
    “Sounds like something you shouldn’t need to worry
    about.”
    The Count shrugged. “Population statistics are
    something we have to