Recruit: Book One of the Universal Conflict ( Under Constant Editing)

Chapter 18

As Cory and T'ilvesh sat brooding in the conference room the communications officer suddenly called Krystal to the station.

"It seems that there are a lot of programmers among us." the officer said as he acknowledged all the incoming responses from the call that had gone out.

"I'll inform the Commander." Krystal said "Open the channel to the conference room."

The comm officer flipped a switch on the console "Channel open, Captain."

"Sir?" Krystal queried.

"What is it?" T'ilvesh replied.

"We have a reply for you from the broadcast." Krystal announced "It seems that we have quite a few programmers among us. At least twenty are on the way here in response."

"That's good news. Send them here when they arrive, please." the Commander requested.

He turned to Cory with a look of hope. He wanted to be happy, but reality said to wait until he talked to the experts.

Cory felt the same but still had a smile, he wanted the programmers to be able to deliver good news.

After an hour of waiting the first programmer walked into the room escorted by Hawk, who had run into the programmer on the Retailator, and had brought him in his fighter.

"Thanks, Hawk." Cory greeted him "Krystal will be glad you're back. She wants to ask you something. She's on the bridge now if you want to say hello."

"OK, I'll go see her in a few. I need to eat first." Hawk replied.

"After you're done," T'ilvesh interrupted "I'd like you to join us in here."

"Yes, Sir." Hawk acknowledged, turning to leave he started to walk away when he turned and handed the Commander a paper and said "When you have time, my mate has requested a transfer to The Revenge."

"The time is now." T'ilvesh said "Approved." Signing the orders immediately.

"Thank you, Sir." Hawk replied.

After Hawk had left Cory said "So much for Krystals talk with Hawk."

"Why is that?" T'ilvesh asked.

"She wanted Hawk to talk to his mate about a transfer so he could stay with the squad." Cory answered "He apparently wanted her here so he could stay, as well."

T'ilvesh smiled at that, then turned serious once he faced the programmer. What he saw was an older man past his prime but with a fire in his eyes that said he will fight for his homeworld by any means he could.

"Can you tell me if your race designed a backdoor in the ships, an ability to control systems from a remote distance?" the Commander asked.

"On civilian ships, yes." the programmer answered "On military ships, I don't know, it just might be possible."

"Can you try..." T'ilvesh said "I don't know your name."

"Yes, I'll try." came the answer "My name is Tijklin. Just call me Tij. "

"Thank you, Tij" the Commander replied "We need all the help and luck we can get."

"I'll do my best." Tij assured him "Where do you want me to work? Here or on the ship I live on?"

"Wherever your most productive." T'ilvesh said.

"That would be here. I have too many offspring to concentrate on the residence ship." Tij smiled as he said it "It will do me good to get away for awhile."