Lucien Read online

  "My systems are five by five. I have an omnipotent view of the entire ship. Monitoring systems hot. Navigation systems are ready. I have ten thousand books to read while the rest of you sleep."

  "Jenna, this is Captain Townsend. Which one are you going to start with?"

  "The Bible, followed by the Torah, the Koran, and the Seven Elven Texts of Creation."

  "Ah, the easy ones."

  "Ma'am," Lieutenant Zarn said from the Operations Station. "My board is green."

  "Copy that, Lieutenant."

  "Ma'am, Helm is ready," Lieutenant Vox reported

  "Thank you, Shelly. Captain, we are go.”

  "Thank you, Tayla. Ensign Nogar, signal launch control what we are ready for departure."

  "Aye, sir," the young lieutenant said as he contacted the station. "Sir, incoming message. It's Prince Lucien."

  "Put him on. Harmon! Damn, buddy, I thought you weren't going to see us off."

  "Jacob, Look out your starboard side."

  The captain looked and saw a sleek black freighter hanging off the starboard quarter. Flying it was a young elf woman with glowing blue eyes. Sitting next to her was the Prince of Ventos Prime. The Prince waved at him.

  "So that's the Grumpy Elfling, which means you must be Jewel Irithyl. Nice to meet you."

  Jewel waved.

  "Jacob, I just wanted to thank you and your crew for taking this gig. I made sure that your cover story remains intact."

  "What did we do again?"

  "You and your crew smuggled foodstuffs into Malthusia and Malthura for the Wombat elite. The foodstuffs were sapient."

  "Eeewww," Tayla said.

  "That is what we're hoping the others will say."

  "Do any of our people know what's really going on?"

  "Nope, which is why Alyson was chosen as a destination. Its continuous cloud cover will prevent the passengers from performing stellar fixes, at least initially."

  "Did you come up with this on your own?"

  "I helped a little. Well, buddy, daylight is burning. Good luck and keep in touch. And Tayla?"

  "Yes, My Prince?"

  "I finally got to meet your sister, Nayla. She claims she's the better pilot."

  "Don't believe it, Your Highness."

  Lucien chuckled at the sibling rivalry. "Keep that maniac in line."

  "Yes, My Prince!"

  "As for the rest of you, good luck and thank you from the bottom of my hearts. Grumpy Elfling out."

  As they watched, the black ship pulled away and headed back to the barn. "Sir, why the 'Grumpy Elfling'?"

  "His sister, Jewel, named it after his daughter, Shenda. She was not pleased."

  "I bet."

  "I think it is time to go. Ms. Hardy, on your mark."

  "Yes, sir. Raul, signal the station."

  "Yes, ma'am. They say fair winds and calm seas. We are free and clear to depart."

  "Zarn, clear all moorings and umbilicals."

  "Aye, ma'am. My board says we're ready."

  Tayla nodded to Jacob. "By your command, sir."

  "Shelly, take us out, half-speed, then take us into FTL when we're clear."

  "Aye, aye, sir. Half-speed."

  The mighty ship headed out into the unknown.

  <<<<>>>>

  About Frank Carey

  Frank Carey has been formally writing and publishing works of science fiction since late 2013. Over the years prior, he had dabbled in various forms of writing including haiku poetry, but that all changed when he and his wife, Jo, decided to try their hand at writing and self-publishing. All his work, to date, has been in the science fiction genre.

  Most of his stories take place about two centuries in the future when Earth joins the League of Planetary Systems. Many of his protagonists are strong females. He is an inveterate pantser who believes the story will go where the story wants to go.

  Frank’s background includes degrees in physics and extensive work as a scientific programmer and technologist.

  Frank and his wife produce a podcast—Xtreme Self-Publishing—which details their self-publishing efforts.

  Frank can be reached through his podcast at xtremeselfpublishing.podbean.com or via e-mail at [email protected] or [email protected]