The Comet Riders: Book Five of Seeds of a Fallen Empire Read online

  Chapter Two

  "Captain Lier, I wish you and your crew the best of luck and success on your mission." Leader Maklian stood on the platform just before the starship shuttle's launch, blinking with sincerity, his face solemn and noble as he could render it, his proud eyes shining for all the holo-photographers to record for posterity.

  Maklian’s face was puffy, as though he had just woken up, and his watery eyes had an appearance of melancholy that survived his mood changes. Maklian had been leader for more years than Lier was alive; presumably, the stout, ineffectual figure had been a hellion agitator in days gone by, back when he was voted the next leader. Maklian had been expected to step down from the office after his stint of ten years, but had kept on for an additional fourteen, and now his health was failing, if not his shrewd mind.

  “Why, thank, you, Leader Maklian, and on behalf of all my crew, I accept your kind wishes. We look forward to meeting you all again on our safe return.” Lier said, warmly. Lier, however, was no fool, either. Lier smiled at Maklian throughout the speech, knowing what a bastard the man really was.

  All of the members of the odd assembly gathered at the Ariyal-synai astroport to witness the launch stilled to listen to the words of the mission leader on this monumental occasion, but Lier begrudged the silence after the shouts and noise that had filled the air since sunrise. What did they expect him to say that he hadn’t already said? How many times did he have to repeat the same trite propaganda before the mission would be launched?

  Now the council representatives, politicians, scientists, and spectators had all turned their attention to him; Lier was very aware that he had to say what was expected, no matter what he honestly felt. Would it have been fair to share his fears with the world when it so desperately wanted something wonderful to believe in?

  "On the behalf of my crew, I thank you as well, my fellow Seynorynaelians, for giving us this send-off.” Lier said, as loudly as he could in a strong, clear voice, making the necessary eye contact with several people, putting as much stone-solid integrity into his gaze as he slowly scanned left-right over the crowd.

  “In gratitude, I can only say that we will endeavor to live up to the faith you have put in us." The crowds began to cheer wildly as he finished his extemporaneous speech. Lier had the impression that anything he said would have been given an ovation.

  Some of the other leaders took over; after a while, Lier heard the noise and not the words. This was all just window-dressing.

  Wouldn’t they all forget the launch by the next tenday? Wouldn’t this singular event be swallowed by oblivion, that long mediocrity of human lives, while he and his crew were facing the dangers of space alone?

  A moment later, the engines of their spaceship Seishinna test flared, signaling that the rest of the crew should begin boarding. Lier stood, looking noble and heroic, waving like a fool, he was sure.

  “We live for these moments, don’t we?” Lier heard one of the mission subordinates saying to another, above the noise of the crowd. “When we can stand on top of the world and take our bows.”

  Lier looked out on the crowd and wished he could feel the same.

  "Well, sir, still taking it all in stride?" Chiyenn said as they left the platform, the tumultuous cries of the spectators drowning out the sound of the engines. Even when the air lock door descended, they could still hear the dim echo of the noise outside. Chiyenn waved through the small viewport, enticing a frenzy of noise outside that sounded throughout the ship.

  Lier had no intention of disabusing him of his heroic assumption and ruining the moment.