Ship's Log: November 22

[back to Hawkes]

Finding quarters for all of the diplomatic parties had been, to say the least, challenging. He had insisted on keeping the accommodations for each as far apart as possible, reducing the opportunities for the more unfriendly factions to "accidentally" encounter one another. Although the size of the ship made it almost impossible to avoid all such encounters, they had managed to provide some distance between each set of diplomats.

He passed the quarters given to the Arctican delegates. The security officer stationed outside the hatch straightened, but did not salute as Hawkes strode by. Assigning a security detail outside every diplomat's door, and at strategic positions throughout the ship, had strained the limits of the Emerald Flight's security contingent. On the small ship, the security personnel often assisted with other tasks, usually related to inspection or maintenance. These tasks would remain delayed or undone for the next several days. Hawkes restrained himself from betraying even a hint of a smile. Chief Rayna had offered several complaints and alternatives, all of which the Captain properly rejected. About time that drunkard and addict pulled his weight around here.

Hawkes had never completely understood Devereux's selection of the man for her Engineering Chief, nor why she allowed him to remain both on board and in that position after several incidents that should have called for a court martial. Hawkes' few attempts to broach the subject had been met with pointed evasion and even sharper looks. What little research the Tactical Officer had been able to complete on his own, the bulk of the personnel records being off-limits even to him in his capacity as Head of Security, raised more questions than they answered.

Coming around the next curve in the passage way, he found the next security officer at her position near the Heftaur ambassador's cabin. Now there's an interesting one, Hawkes thought. He travels alone and without weapons or significant personal cargo. These facts sounded several alarms in the Tactical Officer's mind. He appeared harmless enough, but Hawkes' experience had shown him repeatedly that such appearances could be more than deceiving—they could be deadly.

He remembered hearing that Heftaur ambassador had been speaking with the Captain at length during the reception. No one present could remember of the two, though, who had approached whom first. Tarkanan's dossier claimed that he was a member of a pacifist clan, but Hawkes wondered that truly meant on the ambassador's world. Even if it were strictly true, surely Tarkanan must carry some grudge against the Arcticans for their occupation of the Heftaur world.