Implacable, page 37
“And I have no doubt the Wooareek are smart enough not to give it to us. Can you imagine what would happen if technology like that was dumped in our lap?”
“The enigmas have a habit of dropping disruptive, double-edged technology in our lap,” Geary pointed out.
“If that isn’t a cautionary example, I don’t know what is.” Rycerz paused, her eyes looking somewhere only she could see. “If the Wooareek are truly ethical aliens, maybe humanity will end up learning something from them that is far more important than whatever technological secrets the Wooareek have.”
“That would be huge,” Geary agreed.
“In addition to the proposal for the mosaic force for humanity to start debating, your ships are carrying my report to the government back to the Alliance. I wanted to be sure you knew it fully endorses your actions. And I wanted to be sure you knew I am grateful for all the times you could have used your power to run roughshod over me, and didn’t. This really was a team effort. We’re going to face immense challenges in the future with the aliens we’ve already met and those we’ve yet to meet, but I think we’re off to a good start.” Ambassador Rycerz waved. “May you have a safe journey home, Admiral. I hope we meet again someday.”
“Thank you, Ambassador,” Geary said, smiling and waving back. “May the light of the living stars shine on you and the tasks ahead of you.”
The call ended, he looked around the bridge, seeing everyone watching him. Checking the display, he confirmed that the Dancer ships which would escort his fleet through the Dancer hypernet were waiting ahead of the fleet.
“All units in the Alliance fleet, this is Admiral Geary. Immediate execute, accelerate to point zero five light speed.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I remain indebted to my agent, Joshua Bilmes, for his ever-inspired suggestions and assistance, and to my editor, Anne Sowards, for her support and editing. Thanks also to Robert Chase, Kelly Dwyer, Carolyn Ives Gilman, J. G. (Huck) Huckenpohler, Simcha Kuritzky, Michael LaViolette, the spirit of Aly Parsons, Bud Sparhawk, Mary Thompson, and Constance A. Warner for their suggestions, comments, and recommendations.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JACK CAMPBELL is the pen name of John G. Hemry, a retired naval officer who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis before serving with the surface fleet and in a variety of other assignments. He is the New York Times bestselling author of the Lost Fleet, the Lost Stars, and the Genesis Fleet series, as well as the Stark’s War, Paul Sinclair, and Pillars of Reality series. He lives with his indomitable wife and three children in Maryland.
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Jack Campbell, Implacable
