The Enclave (The Verge) Read Online Free PDF

to bunk down with the rest of the Adelaide’s crew.  There will be some complaints about that from certain quarters.  But this was her ship, her fief, and people will sleep where they are allocated.
    “Captain, Curtain Port Authority has sent ahead to say they have cleared the Ambassador’s party.  They are heading our way.”
    “Thank you Mr. Coulthard.”
    Katherine rose swiftly from her seat and primly adjusted her uniform jacket until it was sitting perfectly.  She then plucked her hat from the arm of her chair and settled it carefully on her head.  Richard Coulthard was similarly primped and pressed along with the rest of the on duty crew.
    “Is the welcoming party ready and waiting Coulthard?”
    “Yes Skipper.”
    “Good, very good.”
    Katherine glanced once more around the Operations Deck and was pleased to see nothing out of place.  She turned and headed down the corridor towards the primary airlock.
    “Captain.  May I have a brief word before we meet the Ambassador?”
    “Of course Richard.”  Anything to delay seeing her brother.
    “I’m not happy about this assignment.”
    “That makes two of us,” Katherine agreed.
    Coulthard gave her a small smile.  “I’ve read the briefing notes from your meeting with the Admiral.  I can understand the Federation sending an ambassador to negotiate terms for Val Myra’s entry, but if it is true that the Alliance has blasted the city for wanting to secede from them and join the Federation, wouldn’t that mean they have an active force in the system that might try to make things ‘difficult’ for a Federation ambassador coming to draw up terms?  After all, if I was the Alliance, I would like to send a warning to other Alliance members who were also contemplating leaving.  And if I were Fleet, I would have sent a sizable escort to ensure the protection of our Ambassador.”
    Katherine listened to her XO in silence.  The same thoughts had crossed her mind and that made her wonder what the real purpose of this mission is.  Whatever was going on, these poor bastards from Val Myra were the ones caught in the crossfire.
    “Richard.  I wonder what we are flying into as well.  But Ambassador Kirk has promised to update our orders during transit.  Hopefully they will give us a bit more clarity on the situation.  I just want to know why we were targeted especially for this assignment.  And it had better not be because the Ambassador is my brother!”
    “I just have a bad feeling about this,” Coulthard muttered quietly as a crewmember squeezed passed them in the corridor.
    “I always have a bad feeling where my brother is concerned.”
    The beeps preceding a bridge call interrupted their conversation.
    “Captain, the ambassador’s party has just passed through the final gate.”
    “Thank you Mr. Johnson,” Katherine said over her comm link.
    “I note your concern Richard and, just for the record, I feel the same.”
    “We’d better get going.  Don’t want to keep the ambassador waiting do we,” Coulthard replied with a grin.
    “The sooner he is aboard and away, the sooner we can really find out what is going on.”
     
    “Welcome aboard Ambassador.”
    Katherine stood stiffly at the head of the welcoming party who were now standing crisply to attention.  She let no hint of emotion touch her face, Katherine will treat her brother like any other dignitary that had boarded her ship.  Unfortunately John had bought along that blonde harridan Hayes, who still had that ugly smirk on her face.
    “This is my Executive Officer,” Katherine gestured towards Coulthard who was standing beside her.  “Lieutenant Commander Richard Coulthard.”
    Coulthard held out his hand and John shook it warmly.  “Ambassador Kirk.”
    “Good to meet you Richard.”  John turned to his aide.  “This is Julie Hayes, my assistant.”
    Coulthard held out his hand again and Katherine saw that smirk of hers slip a little.  The woman hesitated before taking