Rene followed Solae’s lead and stepped aside, allowing the aliens to pass. There was nothing improper in allowing the Kalderi to inspect the ship. Mia had already sanitized the computer records beyond the ability of anything less than a full forensic team to reconstruct. It was merely listed as a prize of war that had been brought into service by then Marquessa Falia. Records after the capture were complete but hardly very illuminating. A true diplomatic vessel would look much the same, with any truly sensitive information stored in a diplomatic computer that was physically separated from the mainframe. Mia’s massaged database included an account of the Empress’ promotion of Solae along with authentications take from the Rosette she carried so there could be no question as to their authenticity. 

The Kalderi started at the bridge, making some attempt to interface with the Bonaventure by way of probes built into their armor. From their comments about the Syshin they obviously knew more about Imperial society than Imperials imagined but if so that didn’t make them any more suspicious. Solae opted not to follow the two Kalderi, a deliberate expression of trust and the fact she had nothing to hide, but they followed their progress on security holograms. From time to time the aliens paused and moved their mouth parts. Mia interpreted the behavior as using some sort of sonic sounding, probably to confirm that there were no false compartments hidden on the ship that were contra to what their scans indicated. Even though he knew there were no such cavities, Rene found himself holding his breath.

After ten minutes the Kalderi returned to the airlock, their expressions were hard to read but Rene thought they seemed a little more relaxed than they had when they had first come aboard. The larger of the two made an obscure gesture and then both aliens made a slight bow to Solae.

“We are transmitting coordinates,” the smaller of the two said in a slightly more feminine voice.

“Do not deviate from them or the skyfires will engage,” he/she cautioned. Rene glanced at a holographic display on which Mia was acknowledging the receipt of course information. Rene wasn’t sure what they meant by ‘skyfires’ but it wasn’t difficult to guess from context. Before anyone could say another word both aliens bounded back into the umbilicus, sailing weightlessly back towards their vessel.

“Not much for small talk,” Rene commented once the airlock doors had closed and he heard the hissing disconnection of the boarding tube. He wasn’t sure if that was a cultural peculiarity, perhaps the response of junior officers to suddenly finding themselves in the presence of a high level envoy from another government, or simply a desire to be away from what they would see as a strange alien ship. There was so much unknown that making any kind of assumptions might be dangerous, so he tried to keep his speculations under control.

“Lady Solae,” Mia interjected breathlessly.

“These coordinates are for landing within the Kalderi zone, not the area reserved for human vessels. I can find no other record of such a landing,” the AI announced.

A video feed, slant imagery from a ship on approach Rene guessed, appeared on the screen, displaying a small palatial structure with a large open space which initially appeared to be a courtyard, but was actually a private landing pad judging from the data the Kalderi had committed. Rene let out a low whistle, impressed that they had managed to penetrate so quickly. Perhaps this would work afterall.