December Read online

  *

  Rosa led him on a tour of the station, continuously apologizing for the sorry state it was in. Lights were off in some areas, and gaping holes in the walls and ceilings could be seen. A skeleton crew scurried about, trying to keep critical systems running.

  “It’s an impressive station, in spite of its condition,” Ted said as they made it to their last stop, the command center. For the most part, it was up and running. Several cots scattered around the large area told him most of the command crew had just decided to sleep there.

  “I’m glad you think so. I love it. This station is my home,” she said, regarding the metallic bulkheads and computer screens warmly. “I’ve been here for twenty-five years.”

  “Twenty-five years?” Ted asked, astonished.

  “Yep. My father was stationed here when it was built. I started working in my teens and moved my way up the ladder. When my father died, Nate let me take his place.”

  “I remember when you left,” Ted said with a smile. “I remember hearing your father’s name on the news.”

  “I’m sure most people did. It was only the second crew to be sent all the way out here. The October brought us.” A nostalgic look came into her eyes. “Please tell me she’s okay.”

  “I’m almost certain the October was destroyed in the invasion,” Ted said apologetically. “We tried to fight back, government and private ships, but they overpowered us.”

  “But the December survived,” Rosa said, struggling to find some good in this news.

  “Yes. So did the November. But the last time I saw her, she was still in Drevi hands. I don’t know about the other nine.”

  “I think one of our top priorities should be getting that other ship back,” Rosa said boldly. “The December may be one of the most advanced ships on Earth, but the November is no slouch.”

  “Agreed. Getting the ship back would be extremely helpful,” Ted replied. He hadn’t really thought of that approach yet, but it made sense. It would help the humans to play more of a role in their own liberation, and it would serve as a psychological blow to the Drevi if they could take back what had once been theirs. He made a mental note to try and track down the other ships when given the opportunity.

  “What’s your strategy then?” Rosa asked.

  “I personally don’t have much of a plan. I’m leaving all of the strategy and planning in the hands of the Kolean military,” Ted told her. “I’m not exactly qualified. I’m here as an informant—if they need to know anything about Earth, they’ll have to come to me.”

  “I see. What about ships? How many did you bring with you?”

  “Over two hundred fifty. I don’t know the exact number.”

  Rosa whistled. “Impressive.”

  Ted turned to her. “Rosa, I need some information, if you are willing to give it.”

  “I can’t make any guarantees. I haven’t exactly known you for very long, so forgive me if I’m a little hesitant. For all I know, you could be working with the Drevi.”

  Ted’s eyes darkened. “It’s true I don’t hate the Drevi; it’s unfair to judge an entire race based on the actions of their government. But I will not stand here and be called a Drevi collaborator.”

  “What information do you need?” she asked with a sigh. Though there was something in her eyes that led Ted to believe his intense response had given her the answer she sought.

  “The general in charge of this operation, his name is Akui Toka, instructed me to gather as much information on the resistance as possible before we attempt to contact them. Do you know anything?”

  Rosa exhaled. “I can tell you the name of the man in charge of one of the groups, but I don’t know much else. His name is Kenneth Wood.”

  As much as he tried to hide it, Ted’s surprise showed through. “Kenneth Wood?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “I... knew a Kenneth Wood in college.” It couldn’t be the same guy, could it?

  “It’s a common name,” Rosa said dismissively. “I doubt there’s any connection.”

  “Yeah,” Ted said, her words reassuring him that it was probably just a coincidence. If it was the same Kenneth Wood he knew, that would make things... complicated. “And that’s all you know?”

  “We would get periodic communications from his sect of the resistance, but the messages take so long to get out here and back to Earth again that it hasn’t been a practical method of communication. They knew we were still out here, but without any ships capable of making the journey within a year, they haven’t been able to send anyone out here to us. Obviously their ranks consist of humans who haven’t been captured by the Drevi yet, but I’m sure they’ve managed to recruit some ‘specimens’ from within the labs for more inside information.”

  Find a man running a dangerous resistance cell in the middle of an alien invasion who may or may not be an old acquaintance who screwed my life over. Shouldn’t be too bad, Ted thought sarcastically.

  “Ted,” Trell’s voice floated down from above. The Kolean was standing on the upper walkway with the Chinese man from before.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, I haven’t introduced my second in command. This is Dong Zhu.”

  The Chinese man politely dipped his head in Ted’s direction, and Ted did the same. Neither said a word.

  “How many people do you have?” Ted asked as the question occurred to him.

  “Nearly fifty.”

  Fifty wasn’t a huge number, Ted thought, but having a base out there was far from inconsequential. The more allies they had, and the more places they could rest their ships and hold their supplies, the more victory seemed to be within reach. “Can you give me a list of things you need? We’ll do our best to get them for you.”

  “Mr. Zhu, you heard him.”

  Mr. Zhu nodded. “Right away, ma’am.”

  Ted glanced at her and raised an eyebrow. “Your people call you ma’am?”

  She shrugged. “I’m in charge now.”

  There was a pause, before he said, “Rosa, thank you for showing me around the station—I’ve truly enjoyed seeing it. I’m glad the two of us can work together to solve this crisis.”

  “So am I. I’m glad to lend my support.”

  “Let me go back to my ship. I’ll contact the Koleans and they’ll send over any supplies they can spare. We also might unload some of our extra supplies so they won’t be lost if the ships are destroyed or captured in battle.” He hated to think of losing ships in this battle, but the prospect was nearly unavoidable.

  Rosa nodded. “All right. Do what you have to do. We’ll be here.” Her voice was humorless.

  Ted glanced in her direction and gave her a stiff nod, then he and Trell stepped into the tube.

  “What happened?” Alana was waiting for them near the docking tube on the December’s side, pacing back and forth for nearly as long as her crew mates had been gone, if the wear and tear on the carpeted floor was any indication. Hoguh was standing a bit behind her, his face giving away his weariness at her obvious anxiety.

  “There’s about fifty people over there, all have been there since the Drevi first invaded,” Ted reported. Alana’s eyes visibly widened at the news.

  “So, do you recommend a change in our plan?” Hoguh asked, sounding stoic and official.

  Shaking his head, Ted said, “No. This changes nothing. It just means we have a space station at our disposal now. I recommend dropping off all non-vital supplies here so they are not lost if the ships are destroyed or captured by the Drevi.” He didn’t mention the list of supplies, since from what he could gather Hoguh had no authority to hand the supplies over. He would need to ask someone who was in charge of that department.

  Hoguh nodded. “A wise precaution. You have a thinking mind in you, human.”

  “Thank you, but you and General Toka are in charge of this operation, not me.”

  “So modest,” Hoguh said with admiration. “Your courage must have been great to come this far. Your hatred for the Drevi must b
urn bright.”

  “I do not hate the Drevi.”

  Hoguh’s gaze turned... curious, was the word Ted would use to describe it. “I find that hard to believe.”

  “It’s the truth,” Ted said quietly. “I may hate what the government and military have done, but that’s no reason to hate an entire species.” Perhaps being away from ground zero for so long had allowed the logical side of his mind to force this conclusion to the forefront. He hoped when he returned to Earth that he could control himself, and that his anger wouldn’t get the better of him.

  “If you’ll hear my advice, Ted Anderson,” Hoguh began, his voice smooth and chilled. “In my experience, it would be a fatal mistake to put too much trust in them. I’m sure there are some who are not evil, but for the most part they are cunning, cruel, and disloyal. You would do well to remember that.”

  Ted met his gaze but said nothing. With his beak clicking together irritably, Hoguh stepped away and vanished behind the sliding doors leading out of the room.

  “Smug bastard,” Alana hissed as soon as Hoguh was out of earshot.

  “So it would seem,” Trell commented. “But we can’t worry about him right now. And Ted, it would be best not to listen to his bigotry.”

  “I know, Trell. I know.” He knew, but would that make it any easier to keep from falling into the same trap?