conversation, during which Jan’Hax cleared his throat. “Isn’t anyone going to inquire about my post-Brigade activities?” he complained.
“Does it involve heading to Fortuna to waste your currency on gambling?” Khrome asked flatly.
The length of Jan’Hax’s pause spoke volumes. He raised a webbed finger defensively. “Wasting is such a harsh word.”
“Then why ask?” Khrome decided, drawing laughs from Surje and Tyris. “Really feels like UComm plutoed us. All that training and time, wasted.”
“Wasn’t entirely wasted,” Tyris countered. “Met some great sentients, got some invaluable training. And…we all became better friends.”
“We don’t know if tomorrow’s a death knell for Star Brigade,” Khrome insisted. Clearly his hopefulness was undimmed.
“Then explain to me why this is the first all-hands we’ve had in months,” Tyris threw back, throwing cold water over Khrome’s optimism.
“Not just the field operators,” Surje chimed in. “Analysts, pilots, astroengineers. Anyone with any part in Star Brigade.” The Voton suddenly turned a shade of heated red. “Even the reserve Brigadiers. In one room.”
Jan’Hax’s eyes narrowed. Tyris began clenching and unclenching his fists. If the mention of Star Brigade’s decommissioning had ruined the quartet’s jovial mood, talk of reserve Brigadiers detonated it entirely. Everyone in the room knew who Surje so subtly referred to—a former earthborn friend, who had ducked out of active Star Brigade service after completing a xenobiology fellowship. The memory still stung.
“Oh, come ON you guys!” Khrome groaned with annoyance. “Lily never had any contractual obligation to become an active Star Brigadier after her fellowship ended. Stop punishing her already.”
Only Khrome remained on the Liliana Cortés bandwagon. But in Tyris’s opinion, the Thulican forgave others way too easily.
“Khrome’s got a point,” Jan’Hax conceded after a long and loaded silence. “And it’s not like Lily went and pulled an Addison Raichoudry.”
The memory of Addison Raichoudry and her unceremonious departure sent a collective cringe through the group, Surje more than most.
The Voton leaned forward, staring at nothing. “Earthborn women are strange,” he muttered.
“No joke,” Tyris agreed with a rude noise. Of all the odd species he had encountered in Union Space, humans offered both a surprising adaptability and a volatility that could be troubling.
“The meeting could be good news,” said Khrome, not accepting defeat.
“Or that the Brigade’s getting decommissioned.”
Khrome gave Tyris a reproachful look. “You’re just a comet full of sunshine, you know that?”
If the Tanoeen had a visible mouth, it would reveal a broad and toothy smile. “Comes with the sparkling package.” He always knew how to push the Thulican’s buttons.
“If the Brigade ends tomorrow,” Jan’Hax cast a sweeping gaze over his three friends, “it’s been fun serving with you all.”
Khrome’s grin stretched ear to ear. “Truth.”
“Likewise,” Tyris added with genuine enthusiasm.
“Hear, hear!” Surje raised a fist in the air, for no apparent reason other than to show his agreement.
Jan’Hax wasn’t finished. He waved his webbed hands to get everyone’s attention. “How about this post-Brigade idea? And no, it does not involve Fortuna or gambling, so save me the sermon, celebrant!” Jan’Hax countered as Surje opened his mouth angrily.
“Alright, humor us,” Khrome allowed, arms spread wide.
“Us four, traveling through Union Space, taking in all the sights.”
Tyris perked up. “Like a space tour?”
“Yes,” Jan’Hax continued. The Ciphereen smacked his duck-billed mouth with excitement. “We pick some planets to visit, no set time table on how long we stay on any of them.”
Tyris considered the proposal. He had been curious to see more of Union Space since arriving here over five years ago. And who