Gunship Diplomacy by Jonathan Hanson

Author:Jonathan Hanson [Hanson, Jonathan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
Published: 2019-04-27T22:00:00+00:00

- 59 -

Zaria

The shuttle seats were almost empty as most members of the expedition finished prepping for launch. Only Zaria and the pilot were seated, huddled together as they triple-checked their approach.

Once the work was finished Zaria reclined back in her seat, sighed in relief, and turned to find an alien sitting two seats down from her.

Zaria instantly recognized him as one of the sa’kin males, but figuring out which he was took some effort. He was wearing an enviro-suit on top of his normal armor, giving him the appearance of an astronaut samurai. Only his eyes were visible as he looked out from behind both two different masks. Still, the sight of his pale green eyes was enough for Zaria to recognize him.

“Zukesh, right?” Zaria spoke up. The alien turned and looked at her with wide eyes. A smile crept across Zaria’s face, so far she hadn’t seen the male sa’kin show any sign of emotion. “I know we’ve met, but we’ve never talked.”

As expected, the sa’kin remained silent. He just stared at Zaria. His eyes were expressive, but Zaria didn’t know exactly what they were expressing. Was he shocked? Nervous? Afraid? Annoyed? She didn’t know enough about sa’kin psychology to jump to assumptions.

“I just wanted to say that I like your armor,” Zaria lied. She had been planning on complimenting his eyes, but she decided against it at the last moment.

“Dugara,” Zukesh replied.

Zaria smiled at the alien and imagined he was smiling back beneath his mask. Together they enjoyed a few sweet moments of silence before Kabiz interrupted.

“Krech,” she growled at her underling. “Hunazu mu?”

“Gumana chunu,” Zukesh replied. He had the looks of a barbarian warrior but the demeanor of a schoolboy who was being upbraided by a teacher.

“Excuse me,” Zaria interrupted and Kabiz turned to look at her. “I just wanted to talk to him. He didn’t do anything, I just said hi and told him I liked his armor.”

“You like his armor?” Kabiz recoiled in shock. When Zaria heard the words out loud she realized how they might be misconstrued.

“It was just small talk,” she explained. “Really. I just wanted to make him feel at home.”

Kabiz seemed suspicious of this explanation, but Zaria didn’t know how else to explain herself. She was a marine, not an anthropologist or diplomat.

“I see,” Kabiz eventually replied. “I appreciate your concern for my people.”

“Of course. I believe we can help each other.”

“If you would like I could make him give you his armor. I think it might fit you.”

“No thank you,” Zaria blurted out in shock. “I just think it looks cool. That’s all I was saying.”

“Alright,” the shuttle pilot broadcast over the intercom. “Looks like we’re ready for launch.”

Thank God, Zaria thought to herself. Saved from more awkward interspecies communication.

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