It’s one thing to dream of sending colonists out to the stars.
Lysis is about when they return…
“Fascinating stories, Reyard, absolutely amazing! Sounds as if it was truly the opportunity of a lifetime for a journalist! Galactic Adventurer must have thought highly of its star reporter to have sent you Out for so long. You were gone nearly three standard years I believe?”
“Yes, Senator Lambarton, just over thirty four months standard; for me of course, most of it in Transit/Suspend. I had been Out before, but never this long! As I said, we were eight months on the ground on Metis. That was only six weeks ago to me. Yet, over two years are gone!”
“I understand. I have traveled to two of the Seven Worlds, so I have some firsthand experience with Transit/Suspend – quite disorienting, but occasionally necessary in my line of work. “Reyard, you must be aware that many of us here were responsible for convincing the Seven Worlds Council that the civilian press had to accompany the re-contact expedition. We simply could not have it appear to be a military conquest, even if that’s what it turns out to be. Thus the seven representatives of the Information Guilds and yourself, the only periodical writer invited along.”
“I have some understanding of the politics of it, Senator, but I am after all simply a journalist writing for adventurers and tourists; though I suspect that it may be some time before a tourist actually sets foot on Metis. I am most happy that I was privileged to go. I am grateful to you all.”
He was seated in a wooden chair, well distant from the heat radiating from the massive fireplace. In sharp contrast to the modern semi-formal dress and closely shaven faces of the others; the compact man wore a ragged beard and he was clad in a close fitting suit of soft clipped furs. There was a small stone blade on a thong about his neck and hanging from his left shoulder on intricately braided straps were several bags of dark brown leather, each decorated with four eyes of different colors. Hard soled, tall leather boots protected his feet. His head was coved with a close fitting fur cap with a thin disk of bone at its peak. Suspended from this centerbone were several exotic small animal tails. The longest of these hung below the cap to the left side of the man’s face. He leaned forward, reached up with his left hand, crossed the forth and fifth fingers and with the x formed thereby and slowly stroked downwards on the alien tail. His voice resonant, his words measured and clear, “I was most fortunate, Senator. The re-discovery of the Fourth Colony Expedition after over five hundred years was easily the story of the century. The Guild writers have covered that and more. Anything I have written on the re-contact expedition has but shirt-tailed on their efforts.”
Judge Flamone interjected, “Reyard, you are far too modest! We are all aware of your reputation and we have avidly read your Hypewave dispatches while you were Out to Metis. I was impressed with your insights into the relationships being established between our lost children and ourselves. Your views on the people and culture are most refreshing. As you know, you will testify before my Security Oversight Commission next week as part of the debriefing from the mission. I eagerly accepted Senator Moxman’s invitation to meet you in more private circumstances before the hearings and hear your perspective first without the formality! You are most generous to lend us your time, so soon after your arrival in the Capitol.”
“You are very kind Judge Flamone. I am very pleased that you would want to hear my meager tales. All of you, I am well aware that such a distinguished gathering as this honors me. As to my ‘dispatches’ as you are kind enough to title them: when we embarked, Hypewave was very new and we carried an early prototype on Starflame. Accordingly, they limited me to those six articles. Four while I was actually on Metis: then two before we made Transit on the way back. All of those were relatively short. I am currently working on a definitive article for my magazine, outlining the consequences of the re-contact with Metis and of course, the possible establishment of tourism. I expect to complete it within several weeks.”