The Unscheduled Mission Read Online Free PDF Page A

to imply!” Dannet barely kept himself from shouting.
    “No,” Taen purred now. “Of course not. I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to get you upset, Captain. You’ve done well. You may go now.”
    Dannet had no trouble obeying the dismissal and he hurried out of the deputy’s room, but as he made his way back to the other side of the module, a green-skinned man snapped to attention and saluted him. “You are from Dennsee, ensign?” Dannet asked quietly, returning the salute.
    “Sir, yes, sir!” the ensign nodded. Dannet was fairly young to the service, but this one must have been freshly out of the academy.
    “Good,” Dannet nodded. “Please do me the favor of joining me in my cabin this evening. I’d like to hear news from home.”
    “Thank you, sir,” the ensign saluted again. “I will, sir.”
    Dannet reported directly to Park and Iris on his return to the other side of the module. “I just had an interesting discussion with Jance’s deputy,” he announced, stepping into the Trenisi , and proceeded to recount everything that had happened.
    “Interesting,” Park commented. “Do you think it was wise to invite that ensign over here though? It seems rather convenient he was right there for you as you left Deputy Gisla’s room.”
    “I did actually think of that,” Dannet admitted, “but I’m fairly certain I can trust any Dennseean to deliver a sealed note for me and that was my main reason for asking him in for dinner. Getting a bit of news from homes seemed like a good idea too.”
    “Well, weigh how he presents that news carefully before handing him any secret assignments,” Iris advised.
    “Oh, this won’t be all that secret,” Dannet admitted. “All I plan to do is write a letter to my father. I’ll tell him I’m fine and being treated well.”
    “Is that some sort of code?” Park asked.
    “Not the way you mean it,” Dannet smiled. “The hidden message will be the same as the overt one. ‘Having fun, wish you were here.’”
    “I could have had postcards printed up for you,” Park commented.
    “What are postcards?” Dannet asked.
    “Never mind,” Park shrugged the matter off. “And what are you going to tell him about the negotiations?”
    “Only that we have just started but that I am looking forward to a speedy and happy conclusion to them,” Dannet replied. “Then I figure to spend the rest of the letter asking about the harvest and how the family is and the usual sort of thing. Park, I fully expect that letter to be read several times between here and Dennsee. That was the first thing we all learned in military training. Expect your mail to be read.”
    “And that’s legal?” Iris asked, shocked at the notion.
    “Of course not,” Dannet replied instantly, “but it is done in the name of security.”
    “Whose?” Park asked pointedly. “Yours or theirs? Well, never mind that one either. So you’re sending a letter home. I’m sure your Dad will be happy to hear from you, but why are you making such a big point of telling us?”
    “I’m hoping father will understand why I’m sending it,” Dannet replied. “I’m hoping when he reads it, he’ll understand that I’m throwing you my full support. When he does, he’ll gather his allies in the Diet and try to have Jance sent orders to recognize you and your claims.”
    “Isn’t that a bit of a long shot?” Park asked.
    “I hope not,” Dannet replied, “but we do need time to allow the letter to get there and for Father to act. Jance will try to conclude these talks quickly.”
    “So far it sounds like he expects us to accept the reinstatement of the Covenant,” Park pointed out. “That’s not likely to happen.”
    “I’m concerned he might wear Colonel Theoday and Prime Terius down,” Dannet replied. “Next time he might not call it the Covenant, but bit by bit he’ll slip in all the important parts of the old Covenant into this new treaty. It’s happened before. Not here, but there have been