Neptune's Massif by Ben Winston Page A

questioning look, she grinned. "Your people find our race to be attractive, correct?"
    Ian nodded. "Yes, as a race, you are very beautiful to us. There is a... magnetism to you that we find very appealing as well as your physical appearance." While they were talking, the group took places at a large table set up outside in the garden. The hotel had provided a small serving staff for the Matriarch, since she and her party had special culinary requirements. Ian quietly placed an order for a burger and onion rings with one of the servers who nodded and hurried off to get it. The rest of the group was beginning to serve the Benesians.
    T'gan nodded. "The same can be said of your race as well. You have a greater diversity in appearance than we do, as well as having many traits we admire that our males do not. We do not know if interspecies breeding is possible, but for now, intimate contact is forbidden. The discussion has not been debated for thousands of years, since contact with humans has been so limited. It is one of the issues I will be reintroducing to our synod upon my return."
    "T'gan, when you were speaking to Star about her sentience, it reminded me to tell you that she was present when your colony here was destroyed. Since her crew had evacuated to that area, she had maintained surveillance of the area. She recorded the entire event and admitted to me that it was the first time she remembered feeling an emotion," Ian explained.
    From her place, Star nodded her agreement. “Even had our races known of each other at the time, Matriarch, I was still incapable of action at that time. It was very disturbing to have to witness the event and not be able to take action to assist. Even though, until that event, I was unaware the colony existed. I would be happy to provide you with copies of all the records I have of that event."
    "That would be greatly appreciated. We have long wondered what had occurred to have destroyed the colony. I take it then that you are aware that we have been monitoring your planet for some time?" T'gan asked.
    "I was informed shortly after assuming command of the ship. We had no records in which to base a relationship with you, so we kept our distance and avoided contact. Besides, at the time, we had other issues troubling us, Ian admitted.
    T'gan nodded. "Yes, the Caldarians. As I understand it, you still have that issue, do you not?"
    Ian nodded. "Yes, they are stealing a large amount of crude oil from our planet every month. They have a base deep in the Atlantic Ocean that loads their freighters. We are getting set up to shut down that base and stop the freighters. However, before we do that, we must prepare for their retaliation. If we stop this source of sustenance for them, we are certain they will retaliate in order to re-establish the base."
    "Ian, they have been taking more than just the oil. They have been kidnapping your citizens as slaves for as long as they have been on your planet. Unfortunately, we have been unable to locate their remote base so that you may retrieve your people," T'gan replied.
    "We suspected as much. Fortunately we have discovered their remote base, however, it is too far away for us to stage a strike against it. We also have no information about it in order to plan such a strike. I agree we'll have to do something to retrieve our people, but to do so now would leave this sector defenseless for too long of a period," Ian replied, sadly.
    "Would you entertain a strike that did not leave you defenseless for a long period?" T'gan asked "One that would earn you a great deal of admiration from Benesia as well as the Alliance of Races Council?"
    Ian cocked his head at her. "This is what you wanted to speak to me about?"
    She nodded. "Before I begin, I will admit that I have a personal reason for asking you this. My Granddaughter is involved, and I am feeling an urgency that she be rescued soon."
    "So, where is she?" Ian asked.
    T'gan smiled warmly. "The planet Hyperion, in