Read M'tak Ka'fek (The T'aafhal Inheritance) for Free Online Page B

present circumstances. We have had some success in picking up crews from submarines, however.”
    TK gave Ludmilla a questioning look.
    “Being in a submarine is probably as close to traveling around in a starship as you can come on Earth. Cramped quarters, isolation for months at a time, it is a better fit than other naval duty. Not that we would turn down any former navy personnel—it is just that few surface ships survived the tsunamis from the bombardment. Air force pilots and crew seem to adapt to the shuttles and even the corvettes fairly well, but when we get a few of the frigates built we are going to be hard pressed to fill out their crews.”
    “You are probably right, Ludmilla,” Rajiv said in a conciliatory tone of voice, “but remember, we were all rookies at this not that long ago.”
    Ludmilla snorted, “That is true enough, Rajiv, I guess we all have to start somewhere.”
    Rajiv and the science staff from the Peggy Sue were driving themselves at a torturous pace. Yuki Saito, Olaf Gunderson, Elena Piscopia, Melissa Scott Hamilton and Dieter Schmitt had all assumed positions as department heads, leading multiple projects intended to expand the base, construct new weaponry, build new ships and a thousand and one other things. All this in the hope of dragging humanity back from the edge of extinction.
    “We are finding plenty of willing scientific personnel,” Rajiv added. “The problem is finding things for them all to do. Most require additional training to do useful work with T'aafhal technology—to end up sitting in a classroom after traveling to the Moon is not very satisfying to most.” He paused thoughtfully.
    “We have managed to expand the polar bear contingent to 42,” Isbjørn inserted into the gap in the others' conversation. “It was fortunate that none of the impacts occurred in the Arctic but the effects on the atmosphere have led to massive storms planet wide. I'm not sure we will be able to continue the search for more bears until the weather settles.”
    “How are the new bears adapting?” asked Ludmilla.
    “They are confused and a bit angry. We had to load the most unruly of them into a large shuttle and show them what was happening on Earth. Even so, some wanted to be released on the surface to fend for themselves.”
    “I fear that the weather will be growing even worse in the near-term,” Rajiv said, sadly shaking his head. “The immediate effects of the impacts—mostly heavy overcast from dust in the atmosphere, leading to storms and significant cooling—could remain for several years, judging by studies of volcanic eruptions in the past.”
    “I've been trying to explain that to the new bears, but they are a skeptical lot. We just do not have enough experienced bears to teach the others, at least not with eight bears from the first group of recruits being on the hunting expedition.”
    Seizing the chance to change the subject, TK asked: “Speaking of Task-force Alpha and the alien hunt, what's the latest word?”
    Ludmilla sighed. “The last report was about a half hour ago. Gretchen said that they were closing on the enemy and expected to engage shortly. Given the almost five hour transmission delay they may have attacked already. In fact, the battle is probably already over.”
    “The lack of instant communications is drivin' me crazy. We've all grown so use to 24 hour cable news, smart phones and text messaging. It's like going back to the age of sailing ships and mail delivered by pony express.”
    “Sadly, that is something we cannot change, TK. We can only await word from the task force and pray that it will be good news when it arrives,” Ludmilla said, once again giving voice to Russian fatalism. “Regardless, we will know the outcome of the fight in a few hours—one way or the other.”
     
    Task Force Alpha, Sol's Kuiper Belt
    “Maintain our position, Mr. Taylor,” Gretchen commanded. “It would appear that most of the fight has gone out of our