Dragonsdawn - Chapter Thirteen
May. 1st, 2023 07:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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i_read_whatSo last time, we saw the characters deal with our other designated villain. I disagreed strongly with McCaffrey's opinion of the man, but I will give credit that, for the first time in ages, McCaffrey has given us an adversary complex enough to disagree about.
So you know what? Good on McCaffrey. She's still heavy handed, but she may actually have decided to use some nuance. Woo!
We start with Ezra Keroon and Jim Tillek. They're trying to figure out what's been happening in space. Why haven't the probes sent any data back? Why wasn't there a damage report (per Sallah, before her death)? Why didn't the Mariposa hit "the surface"?
Wait, the Mariposa DIDN'T hit the Red Star? I had assumed it did. Is THAT what Avril was saying?
Oh, and indeed, I spoke too soon. Apparently something hit it the same time the probes went bang. Interesting!
Ezra and Jim debate on whether or not there's something on the surface that is preventing inspection. Ezra doesn't think the formations look natural. They're too regular for an unpopulated planet. There's a much higher thermal activity, per the one probe that did send data back.
Oh hey:
“If Avril hadn’t taken the gig, we could find out what that nebulosity is. Then we’d know for sure! Hoyle-Wickraman-singh or little frozen blue critters.” Jim’s tone was facetious.
“We’ve the shuttles,” Ezra said tentatively, tapping his pencil.
“No fuel, and there isn’t a pilot among those left that I’d be willing to trust to do such a difficult retrieval. You’d have to match its orbit speed. I saw the dents on the Mariposa’s hull myself where the defense shields failed. Also, we didn’t bring down any heavy worksuits that would protect a man out in a meteor storm. And if your theory is correct, he’ll get shot down.”
Tell me again how Kenjo's harmless, while Ted Tubberman deserves exile. Fucking tell me that again, McCaffrey.
But Ezra does have a thought: they could get samples of the trail, without getting near the planet. Then they can rule it out as a cause.
Apparently there is some small amount of fuel left. Oh. Fuck this shit.
“There is?” Jim sat bolt upright, eyes wide with surprise.
Ezra gave him a wry smile. “Known only to a chosen few.”
“Well!” Jim made his eyebrows twitch, but he grinned to show that he took no offense at having been excluded. “How much?”
“With a thrifty pilot, enough for our purpose. Or maybe, if we could find Kenjo’s main cache, more.”
“More?” Jim gawked. “Kenjo’s cache? He scrounged fuel?”
“Always was a clever driver. Saved it from his drops, Ongola said.”
Jim continued to stare at Ezra, amazed at Kenjo’s sheer impudence. “So that’s why Kimmer’s nosing about the Western Barrier Range. He’s out trying to find Kenjo’s cache. For his own purposes or ours?”
They're still trying to paint Kenjo as a fucking harmless hero!
Ezra does do me the courtesy of saying that it might not be a bad thing that Ted sent off the homing device, because if the problem is the planet, then they're going to need the help.
Also, I love how, conveniently, of course the good guy doesn't mind being lied to by other good guys. Of course, he understands completely. Only an asshole resents being excluded.
...Okay, I probably need to exhale a bit. I MIGHT be starting to reach "bitch eating crackers" level of negativity, and that doesn't make for a good review. So I'm going to instead credit Jim's reaction to his close friendship and trust in his leaders.
I do like this hat-tip to the plot hole though:
"Joel Lilienkamp was livid that anyone would steal from his Store. We don’t even know how Stev found out about Kenjo’s hoard. Except that he knew how much fuel the Mariposa had in her tanks eight years ago. So he must have figured out someone had saved fuel back when Kenjo made those reconnaissance flights.” Then, as Jim opened his mouth, he added, “Don’t worry about Kimmer taking off even if he finds fuel. Ongola and Kenjo disabled the shuttles some time back. Kimmer doesn’t know where we stash the fuel sacks here. Neither, do I.”
That's actually a really fucking good point. They kept trying to scare us with the possibility of evil Avril and now Stev getting ahold of the fuel, without really explaining how they magically know the fuel is stolen. How could they figure that out from the reconnaissance run? Why would they not just assume that the fuel was from the official stores? It made sense that SALLAH figured it out because Sallah's a pilot. But Avril's an astronavigator. Why would she have known?
Apparently Paul and Emily are here too, they've just said nothing until now. Paul is thinking that if the planet is the cause, then when it's past them in eight or nine years, the Thread will stop. Well, we know that's not going to happen.
Paul doesn't really buy the idea of advanced alien adversaries, though he could accept the idea that the "Pluto planet" is defending itself. If the thread is from the tail, then it will fall for twenty or thirty years.
Ah, there we go.
“I wonder if that’s what Avril meant,” Paul said slowly, “by ‘it’s not the . . .’ Did she mean that it wasn’t the planet we had to fear, but the tail it brought from the Oort cloud?”
“If she hadn’t taken the Mariposa, we’d have a chance of knowing.” Emily’s voice had a sharp edge.
And if your buddy didn't siphon fuel, you'd be able to send another craft up. Suck it up, Emily. You should have guarded your shit better. Ezra does point out that they DO have fuel enough for one run. It's going to be risky, but there's got to be one pilot who'll go.
Interestingly, despite his characterization as a hothead, Drake turns them down. He's worried about the shuttle deteriorating from eight years of neglect. He's also married with responsibilities. They accept that, but Paul notes that this is going to be everyone's excuse.
Well, fuck you, Paul. I don't see you volunteering. I know he doesn't have the ability, but I'm not inclined to be fair to a man who is snarky about a risk he's not taking.
There is ONE pilot unattached though: Nabhi Nabol. Hmph, way to send the ace dude. (Not that I know if he's ace.) But it's interesting, because Nabol, as we know, falls into the Avril Bitra-Stev Kimmer guilt by association category. Will McCaffrey allow him some redemptive heroics?
Nabhi had already been reprimanded a dozen times and served Cherry Duff’s sentences for social misdemeanors such as being caught “drunk and disorderly,” several work delinquencies, and one “lewd advance.” Lately he had somewhat redeemed himself by being a good squadron leader, and was much admired by the young men he led .
“He’s a contractor,” Ongola said. “If he should be offered, say, a charterer’s stake rights, I think he might well go for it. He’s griped about the disparity in land holdings often enough. That could sweeten him. He also fancies himself as a crack pilot.
I mean, it seems like disparity in land holdings is a fair gripe to have when we're talking about an entire fucking planet. Didn't you guys go on and on about how there's enough for everyone?
And I guess Nabhi's probably not ace, given the "lewd advance", but it is interesting that he's been improving his behavior. Anyway, while there are other skilled younger pilots, Nabhi's the only one who is experienced with shuttle use in space. So they go with him.
Nabhi IS still an asshole, but I enjoy seeing people piss off Paul and Emily at this point:
Bargaining with Nabhi began that afternoon. He sneered at the flattery and the appeal to his competence and demanded to know just how much the trip was worth in terms of a holding and other rights. When he demanded the entire province of Cibola, Paul and Emily settled down to their task. When Nabhi insisted on being granted charterer status, they agreed with sufficient reluctance to satisfy the man that he was ahead in the bargaining.
Then Emily nonchalantly mentioned that Big Island was now untenanted. She and Paul managed to suppress their relief when he immediately seized on the notion of occupying Avril’s former property.
Nabhi said that he wanted the shuttle he had used during the ferrying operation and he specified the personnel who were, under his supervision, to handle the Moth’s recommissioning. He waved aside the fact that all the people he named were already heavily involved in crucial projects. He would only make the trip if he was satisfied that the long-disused shuttle checked out technically. But the other inducements were his immediately.
He then demanded Bart Lemos as his copilot, with the condition that Bart, too, would be given charterer status. Paul and Emily found that particularly unpalatable, but agreed reluctantly.
Nabol’s attitude toward both admiral and governor immediately altered, becoming so arrogant and pompous that Emily had to struggle to contain her dislike of the man. His smile of triumph was only one degree less than a full sneer as he left their office with the signed charterer’s warrant. Then he commandeered one of the speed shuttles, although it was needed for an imminent Threadfall, and went to inspect his new acquisition.
I like how the narrative blatantly admits they're manipulating him into a very dangerous voyage, but his attitude is the problem here. Fuck you, Benden and Boll. I don't see you volunteering.
But maybe a nod toward nuance, Nabhi didn't have to include Lemos. He does seem to be a more loyal friend than Avril or Stev.
--
So we switch over to the dragon update: twenty-seven eggs are mature and being taken to the hatching ground. The veterinary contingent assists the biologists. Sorka and Sean are involved, and apparently the dithering annoys Sean. Which is both unsurprising but also hilarious given how Sorka is apparently under the delusion that he rarely shows his anger. To be fair, Sean does suck it up, because the project is important.
Folks have come to the Hatching Ground, including Emily Boll, who Sorka thinks looks tired. Sean speculates whether one of the larger eggs is a gold. He'd lost track of what was put where. Sorka thinks that its a bronze, though she decides not to say so outloud, since Sean likes to debate that kind of thing.
Per Sorka, Sean is better at making the dragonets behave, while she understood them better. It reminds me a little of Mirrim vs. Menolly in the far future, actually, but Sean, being a man, isn't unnecessarily demonized for his personality. Hm. It occurs to me that I actually think Sean is more like Mirrim than F'lar. I can see some F'lar like traits, but F'lar generally is a more cool-tempered personality (when not arbitrarily abusive as in Dragonflight.)
Also, Sorka's pregnant. And extra sensitive. Oh yeah, she's TOTALLY going to Hear All Dragons. Fucking calling it now. Anyway, she's in good health, but hasn't told Sean. Sean, apparently, is still thinking of their "Kilarney holding", but they haven't had time to talk about it. I'm not sure if the holding currently exists, or they're planning to build it, from context. I suppose that doesn't really matter, with the present concerns.
Sean's dad did return Cricket after "stud duties" though. Good to know.
The shuttle is taking off. Sean's take on it is that Nabhi and Bart are obnoxious, but he wouldn't be in their shoes for anything. That seems like a fair take. But then, of course, I like Sean. I'm inclined to be less irked at him in general. I never claimed I was fair.
Sorka teases him a little about their drop to the planet, and he admits that he was trying to prove to her that he wasn't scared. In their affection, he somehow magically figures out that she's pregnant. I guess she's showing now, but it seems weird he wouldn't have noticed earlier. He's mad that she didn't tell him, which I don't really like, but it dissipates pretty quickly when she explains that she was concerned about Kilarney.
Okay. Per Sean's "that's a long way off" comment, Kilarney doesn't actually exist then. It's just their future plan. And okay. I have mixed feelings here:
“Sometimes you baffle me, Sorka,” Sean said, his anger abating. He shook his head. “Why wait to tell me? Killarney’s a long way off in our future now. We’re committed here. I thought you understood that.” He put both hands on her shoulders and gave her a stern shake. “I’ve wanted to be the father of your children. I want you to have only mine. I want it to be now, too, Sorka love, but I didn’t think I had the right to ask you to bring a child into the world the way it is.” His voice fell into the special tender tone he always used when they were making love.
The words are sweet, but the shaking is not. I'm choosing to blame McCaffrey though, since she had F'lar do that a lot. That's not romantic, McCaffrey, knock it off. Do NOT ruin your ONE completely consensual, appropriately aged, healthy pairing for me, so help me...
Sorka says that it's the best time, and the "just in case" is unspoken. This leads to this:
“Immediately after surgery, we’re going before Cherry Duff. This is going to be a two-parent child, or my name’s not Sean Connell!”
Sorka burst out laughing and did not stop until they reached the surgery shed.
Okay, that was cute. But you're on thin ice, McCaffrey. Do NOT ruin this.
--
Back to the shuttle. Ongola's moderating because Nabhi is annoying the refit crew. Gosh, it's not like the dude who is taking the risk should have opinions or anything. But to be fair, Ongola even agrees with Nabhi about double checking everything. But well:
“I wouldn’t care what he asked me to do,” Fulmar told Ongola, “if he’d only ask politely. You’d think he was doing me a favor. Are you sure he’s as good a driver as he thinks he is?”
“He is good,” Ongola reluctantly admitted.
“I’d’ve preferred the mission in Bonneau’s hands,” Fulmar replied, shaking his head sadly. “But with that big stake, kids and all, I can’t fault his refusal. It’s just that — ” He broke off, raising his big, work stained hands in a helpless gesture.
He IS doing you a favor, Fulmar. This is a risky fucking flight. One that Bonneau refused to do. So maybe forgive the rudeness. Honestly, Nabhi is starting to sound more like Ted than Avril here. God forbid someone be generally unlikeable.
--
We do get an exciting bit where Thread shifts patterns. There's lots of rallying. Oh, hey, a Tubberman update:
Shunning was very hard on the relatives. Ned was entitled to assist his mother and his younger brothers and sister in fighting Thread. If he chose also to assist his father in the emergency, there would be only family to witness it. Tubberman had been quick to clad his buildings with metal, so his stake was as safe as those precautions could make it. He would get no other help.
Ongola then contacted Drake and ordered him to avoid the Tubbermans’ stake. Drake at first protested that they couldn’t leave any Thread on any ground, shunned or not.
“Ned can protect that much with his mother’s help, Drake, but we cannot assist Ted Tubberman.”
“But it’s Thread, man.”
“That’s an order, man,” Ongola replied in a steely tone.
“Gotcha!”
...holy shit, man. Shunning means you're not even going to defend the guy against THREAD???
Ted's only crime that we're aware of for now is SENDING THE FUCKING BEACON. And for that, you're willing to let the guy get killed by Thread. Oh, well, generously, you're willing to turn a blind eye if the kid defends his father. But fucking still!
#JusticeForTedTubberman
Also, what about inheritance? If Ted's claim is destroyed, that WILL negatively impact his wife and children. Aren't they supposed to be innocent?
I'm starting to hope you ALL get eaten by Thread. At least Drake protested, but still.
Hey, did Ted even get a fucking trial? Or did they just DECIDE he's shunned?
Oh, but THIS is interesting. Afterward, we get an update on the Tubbermans. Ned and Mary were outside with the flamethrowers, but then Ted drives them back in the house. Drake is curious though, and while he obeyed Ongola, he still believes all Thread should be destroyed, even if it fell on a shunned homesite. Fucking thank you, Drake. He decides to visit.
And Ned is surprisingly excited. He tells Drake to tell Kwan, Paul and Emily (first name basis, as though they didn't basically abandon his dad to death, but this is McCaffrey, so as a good guy, Ned has to side with her favorites anyway.) Drake is confused at first, but then realizes: he had seen Ned standing on GREEN EARTH. Not scorched.
I am so satisfied by this:
“Exactly!” Ned grinned hugely and again pulled at Drake. The squadron leader rose and followed Ned out of the room. “I want you to tell them what you saw, to corroborate my statement. I don’t know what Dad’s done.” The grin faded and some of the buoyancy drained from Ned Tubberman. “He says shunning works two ways. Mother told me that he locks himself away in his laboratory and won’t let anyone near it. My brothers and sister go over to Sue’s all the time but Mother won’t leave Dad, even if he isn’t in the house much. She keeps the place ticking over.”
You know what, you go Ted Tubberman! Don't say a fucking word! They were going to abandon you to Thread!
...oh god. The leadership of this colony is so fucking stupid. So Ned and Drake report:
“But I saw it,” Ned insisted. “Drake saw it, too.”
There was a long silence, which Emily finally broke. “Ned, we do not doubt you, or Drake’s verification, but as your father said, shunning works both ways.”
“Are you too proud to ask him what he’s done?” Ned demanded, his skin blanched under his tan, and his nostrils flaring with indignation.
“Pride is not involved,” Emily said gently. “Safety is. He was shunned because he defied the will of the colony. If you can honestly say that he has changed his attitude, then we can discuss reinstatement.”
Ned flushed, his eyes dropping away from Emily’s tolerant gaze. He sighed deeply. “He doesn’t want anything to do with Landing or anyone on it.” Then he gripped the edge of the table and leaned across it toward the governor. “But he’s done something incredible. Drake saw it.”
...the dude found a way to save his land! And you're not even going to consider ASKING him, because he's a dick about it. Because he SENT A FUCKING HOMING BEACON.
SAVING THE FUCKING SETTLEMENTS isn't enough. Because he has a bad attitude.
I can't take these people. The rank and file don't deserve death by Thread, but if there was a way to sacrifice Benden and Boll, I'd love to see it. FUCK these people.
Paul suggests Mary can present evidence on Ted's behalf. This is an "honorable way out for Ned's sake" apparently. Hmph, I like that. You get the benefit of Ted's work and he gets nothing. Ned is hopeful, but I'm #TeamTed here.
There is a nice note that Nabhi's squadron has come to wish him luck. Even though Boll and Benden think he might renege, Nabhi does go up. Woo.
And now, HATCHING TIME.
The dragonets are all streaming to the hatching ground. We learn that Kitti had left instructions as to who could attend: sixty young people between eighteen and thirty get to stand around the eggs.
Oh, hey, Paul's still a fuckwad:
“They can’t know what we expect for today, can they, Paul?”
“Young Sean Connell” — Paul pointed to where the young man stood beside his wife around the eggs — ”would have you believe that they do. But then, they’ve always been attracted by birthing! After all they protect their own young against attack.”
Yeah, it's not like the guy who raises and trains fire lizards would have any idea, Paul. Maybe McCaffrey is doing this on purpose?
But it's time!
Let's see the first baby dragon:
Then all of a sudden, one of the eggs cracked open and a creature emerged, damp from birth: it shook stubby wings and stumbled over its shell, squawking in alarm. The dragonets answered soothingly. The young people in the circle stood their ground, and Emily marveled at their courage, for that awkward creature was not the graceful being she had been expecting, a beast remembered from old legends and illustrations held in library treasuries. She caught herself holding her breath, and exhaled quickly.
The creature extended its wings; they were wider and thinner than she had expected. It was so spindly, so ungainly, and its very oddly constructed eyes were flashing with red and yellow. Emily felt a flush of alarm. The creature gave a desperate cry, and was answered reassuringly by the multivoiced choir above. It lurched forward, its voice pleading, and then the cry altered to one of joy, held on a high sweet note. It staggered another step and fell at the feet of David Catarel who bent to help it.
He looked up with eyes wide with wonder. “He wants me!”
Awww. Go David Catarel! I don't really remember him much, but I feel like he was one of the Thread survivors. So yay!
David feeds the baby dragon and notes that he's talking. He's named himself Polenth.
There's a bit of banter between Paul and Emily that I'd find cute if I didn't hate them:
“Ye gods, but it’s ugly,” Paul said in a very low voice.
“You probably weren’t much to look at at birth either,” Emily surprised herself by saying. She grinned at his quick glance of astonishment.
Another egg cracks, and someone named Peter Semling is chosen. A few more. Some golds and bronzes, and a few browns. Folks are name dropped, I'm not paying attention except to note that one is named Shih Lao. They're not sure how long the hatching will take, but it's still working.
There's some peanut gallery discussions. We learn that Kitti Ping made the Impression choices gender imperative. Why? That makes no sense at all. Except of course, we need the Weyrleader/Weyrwoman set up in the future. But wouldn't it make sense to have them bond with anyone?
More pairings, more names. Quite a lot of golds. Someone named Marco Galliani gets a brown. I feel like I remember that name from that weird post Moreta short story.
Oh, hey, more gender bullshit:
“Do they always go female to female?” Emily asked Pol. “And male to male?”
“Since the males are expected to be fighters and the females egg carriers, Kitti made it logical.”
“Logical to her,” Emily said, a trifle bemused. “There aren’t any blues or greens among them,” she suddenly realized.
“Kitti programmed the heavier males, but I believe they’re to carry sperm for the entire range. The greens will be the smallest, the fighters; the blues sturdier, with more staying power; the browns sort of anchor fighters with even more endurance. They’ll have to fight four to six hours, remember! The bronzes are leaders and the golds . . .”
"Waiting at home to be egg-carriers.”
Pol gave Emily a long look, his tired face reflecting astonishment at her sarcasm.
Okay, I may dislike Emily, but I'll give her this one. This is fucking bullshit.
--
We scene shift to Nabhi and Bart. Nabhi definitely seems pretty sinister here, as he gloats about "saving fuel". Bart is surprised and confused, wondering why. Nabhi's mocking grin doesn't reassure.
Apparently, the real reason Nabhi took this ride was to look for the pods. He wants to find the flotsam. And Avril's cache of gold and gems. Okay, I know I'm supposed to think they're awful. But how is this different from Kenjo doing heroic things because he wanted to justify his fuel theft?
If anything it's better, since Nabhi isn't trying to deprive other people of Avril's wealth...
---
Back to the hatching ground. Some eggs seem to be duds, but some are still viable. Sean and Sorka are still waiting. And lo and behold...
A single great crack startled everyone, and the egg before them parted into two ragged halves. The bronze hatchling walked out imperiously, lifted his head, and made a sound like a stuttering trumpet. Everyone came to attention. Sean was on his feet, and Sorka pushed at his legs to urge him on. She need not have worried. As he locked eyes with the hatchling, Sean gave a low incredulous groan and moved forward to meet the beast halfway. Their fair was bugling with triumph.
Sorka was, of course, right. And Sean gets his bronze. Hell, I'm not going to complain. He's worked hard and hasn't pissed me off yet. His bronze is Carenath.
And just as the chapter ends:
Everyone in the Hatching Ground was wakened by his vibrant voice. Then the other egg broke open, and a golden female sauntered forth, chittering and looking about urgently. Sorka was too busy passing bowls of meat to Sean to notice until Betsy tugged at her arm. She s looking for you, Sorka. Look at her!”
Sorka turned her head and suddenly she, too, felt the indescribable impact of a mind on her, a mind that rejoiced in finding its equal, its lifelong partner. Sorka was filled with an exultation that was almost painful.
My name is Faranth, Sorka!
Aw.
So no sign yet that Sorka can hear the others, but I'm not ruling it out yet. We'll see next chapter. :-D
So you know what? Good on McCaffrey. She's still heavy handed, but she may actually have decided to use some nuance. Woo!
We start with Ezra Keroon and Jim Tillek. They're trying to figure out what's been happening in space. Why haven't the probes sent any data back? Why wasn't there a damage report (per Sallah, before her death)? Why didn't the Mariposa hit "the surface"?
Wait, the Mariposa DIDN'T hit the Red Star? I had assumed it did. Is THAT what Avril was saying?
Oh, and indeed, I spoke too soon. Apparently something hit it the same time the probes went bang. Interesting!
Ezra and Jim debate on whether or not there's something on the surface that is preventing inspection. Ezra doesn't think the formations look natural. They're too regular for an unpopulated planet. There's a much higher thermal activity, per the one probe that did send data back.
Oh hey:
“If Avril hadn’t taken the gig, we could find out what that nebulosity is. Then we’d know for sure! Hoyle-Wickraman-singh or little frozen blue critters.” Jim’s tone was facetious.
“We’ve the shuttles,” Ezra said tentatively, tapping his pencil.
“No fuel, and there isn’t a pilot among those left that I’d be willing to trust to do such a difficult retrieval. You’d have to match its orbit speed. I saw the dents on the Mariposa’s hull myself where the defense shields failed. Also, we didn’t bring down any heavy worksuits that would protect a man out in a meteor storm. And if your theory is correct, he’ll get shot down.”
Tell me again how Kenjo's harmless, while Ted Tubberman deserves exile. Fucking tell me that again, McCaffrey.
But Ezra does have a thought: they could get samples of the trail, without getting near the planet. Then they can rule it out as a cause.
Apparently there is some small amount of fuel left. Oh. Fuck this shit.
“There is?” Jim sat bolt upright, eyes wide with surprise.
Ezra gave him a wry smile. “Known only to a chosen few.”
“Well!” Jim made his eyebrows twitch, but he grinned to show that he took no offense at having been excluded. “How much?”
“With a thrifty pilot, enough for our purpose. Or maybe, if we could find Kenjo’s main cache, more.”
“More?” Jim gawked. “Kenjo’s cache? He scrounged fuel?”
“Always was a clever driver. Saved it from his drops, Ongola said.”
Jim continued to stare at Ezra, amazed at Kenjo’s sheer impudence. “So that’s why Kimmer’s nosing about the Western Barrier Range. He’s out trying to find Kenjo’s cache. For his own purposes or ours?”
They're still trying to paint Kenjo as a fucking harmless hero!
Ezra does do me the courtesy of saying that it might not be a bad thing that Ted sent off the homing device, because if the problem is the planet, then they're going to need the help.
Also, I love how, conveniently, of course the good guy doesn't mind being lied to by other good guys. Of course, he understands completely. Only an asshole resents being excluded.
...Okay, I probably need to exhale a bit. I MIGHT be starting to reach "bitch eating crackers" level of negativity, and that doesn't make for a good review. So I'm going to instead credit Jim's reaction to his close friendship and trust in his leaders.
I do like this hat-tip to the plot hole though:
"Joel Lilienkamp was livid that anyone would steal from his Store. We don’t even know how Stev found out about Kenjo’s hoard. Except that he knew how much fuel the Mariposa had in her tanks eight years ago. So he must have figured out someone had saved fuel back when Kenjo made those reconnaissance flights.” Then, as Jim opened his mouth, he added, “Don’t worry about Kimmer taking off even if he finds fuel. Ongola and Kenjo disabled the shuttles some time back. Kimmer doesn’t know where we stash the fuel sacks here. Neither, do I.”
That's actually a really fucking good point. They kept trying to scare us with the possibility of evil Avril and now Stev getting ahold of the fuel, without really explaining how they magically know the fuel is stolen. How could they figure that out from the reconnaissance run? Why would they not just assume that the fuel was from the official stores? It made sense that SALLAH figured it out because Sallah's a pilot. But Avril's an astronavigator. Why would she have known?
Apparently Paul and Emily are here too, they've just said nothing until now. Paul is thinking that if the planet is the cause, then when it's past them in eight or nine years, the Thread will stop. Well, we know that's not going to happen.
Paul doesn't really buy the idea of advanced alien adversaries, though he could accept the idea that the "Pluto planet" is defending itself. If the thread is from the tail, then it will fall for twenty or thirty years.
Ah, there we go.
“I wonder if that’s what Avril meant,” Paul said slowly, “by ‘it’s not the . . .’ Did she mean that it wasn’t the planet we had to fear, but the tail it brought from the Oort cloud?”
“If she hadn’t taken the Mariposa, we’d have a chance of knowing.” Emily’s voice had a sharp edge.
And if your buddy didn't siphon fuel, you'd be able to send another craft up. Suck it up, Emily. You should have guarded your shit better. Ezra does point out that they DO have fuel enough for one run. It's going to be risky, but there's got to be one pilot who'll go.
Interestingly, despite his characterization as a hothead, Drake turns them down. He's worried about the shuttle deteriorating from eight years of neglect. He's also married with responsibilities. They accept that, but Paul notes that this is going to be everyone's excuse.
Well, fuck you, Paul. I don't see you volunteering. I know he doesn't have the ability, but I'm not inclined to be fair to a man who is snarky about a risk he's not taking.
There is ONE pilot unattached though: Nabhi Nabol. Hmph, way to send the ace dude. (Not that I know if he's ace.) But it's interesting, because Nabol, as we know, falls into the Avril Bitra-Stev Kimmer guilt by association category. Will McCaffrey allow him some redemptive heroics?
Nabhi had already been reprimanded a dozen times and served Cherry Duff’s sentences for social misdemeanors such as being caught “drunk and disorderly,” several work delinquencies, and one “lewd advance.” Lately he had somewhat redeemed himself by being a good squadron leader, and was much admired by the young men he led .
“He’s a contractor,” Ongola said. “If he should be offered, say, a charterer’s stake rights, I think he might well go for it. He’s griped about the disparity in land holdings often enough. That could sweeten him. He also fancies himself as a crack pilot.
I mean, it seems like disparity in land holdings is a fair gripe to have when we're talking about an entire fucking planet. Didn't you guys go on and on about how there's enough for everyone?
And I guess Nabhi's probably not ace, given the "lewd advance", but it is interesting that he's been improving his behavior. Anyway, while there are other skilled younger pilots, Nabhi's the only one who is experienced with shuttle use in space. So they go with him.
Nabhi IS still an asshole, but I enjoy seeing people piss off Paul and Emily at this point:
Bargaining with Nabhi began that afternoon. He sneered at the flattery and the appeal to his competence and demanded to know just how much the trip was worth in terms of a holding and other rights. When he demanded the entire province of Cibola, Paul and Emily settled down to their task. When Nabhi insisted on being granted charterer status, they agreed with sufficient reluctance to satisfy the man that he was ahead in the bargaining.
Then Emily nonchalantly mentioned that Big Island was now untenanted. She and Paul managed to suppress their relief when he immediately seized on the notion of occupying Avril’s former property.
Nabhi said that he wanted the shuttle he had used during the ferrying operation and he specified the personnel who were, under his supervision, to handle the Moth’s recommissioning. He waved aside the fact that all the people he named were already heavily involved in crucial projects. He would only make the trip if he was satisfied that the long-disused shuttle checked out technically. But the other inducements were his immediately.
He then demanded Bart Lemos as his copilot, with the condition that Bart, too, would be given charterer status. Paul and Emily found that particularly unpalatable, but agreed reluctantly.
Nabol’s attitude toward both admiral and governor immediately altered, becoming so arrogant and pompous that Emily had to struggle to contain her dislike of the man. His smile of triumph was only one degree less than a full sneer as he left their office with the signed charterer’s warrant. Then he commandeered one of the speed shuttles, although it was needed for an imminent Threadfall, and went to inspect his new acquisition.
I like how the narrative blatantly admits they're manipulating him into a very dangerous voyage, but his attitude is the problem here. Fuck you, Benden and Boll. I don't see you volunteering.
But maybe a nod toward nuance, Nabhi didn't have to include Lemos. He does seem to be a more loyal friend than Avril or Stev.
--
So we switch over to the dragon update: twenty-seven eggs are mature and being taken to the hatching ground. The veterinary contingent assists the biologists. Sorka and Sean are involved, and apparently the dithering annoys Sean. Which is both unsurprising but also hilarious given how Sorka is apparently under the delusion that he rarely shows his anger. To be fair, Sean does suck it up, because the project is important.
Folks have come to the Hatching Ground, including Emily Boll, who Sorka thinks looks tired. Sean speculates whether one of the larger eggs is a gold. He'd lost track of what was put where. Sorka thinks that its a bronze, though she decides not to say so outloud, since Sean likes to debate that kind of thing.
Per Sorka, Sean is better at making the dragonets behave, while she understood them better. It reminds me a little of Mirrim vs. Menolly in the far future, actually, but Sean, being a man, isn't unnecessarily demonized for his personality. Hm. It occurs to me that I actually think Sean is more like Mirrim than F'lar. I can see some F'lar like traits, but F'lar generally is a more cool-tempered personality (when not arbitrarily abusive as in Dragonflight.)
Also, Sorka's pregnant. And extra sensitive. Oh yeah, she's TOTALLY going to Hear All Dragons. Fucking calling it now. Anyway, she's in good health, but hasn't told Sean. Sean, apparently, is still thinking of their "Kilarney holding", but they haven't had time to talk about it. I'm not sure if the holding currently exists, or they're planning to build it, from context. I suppose that doesn't really matter, with the present concerns.
Sean's dad did return Cricket after "stud duties" though. Good to know.
The shuttle is taking off. Sean's take on it is that Nabhi and Bart are obnoxious, but he wouldn't be in their shoes for anything. That seems like a fair take. But then, of course, I like Sean. I'm inclined to be less irked at him in general. I never claimed I was fair.
Sorka teases him a little about their drop to the planet, and he admits that he was trying to prove to her that he wasn't scared. In their affection, he somehow magically figures out that she's pregnant. I guess she's showing now, but it seems weird he wouldn't have noticed earlier. He's mad that she didn't tell him, which I don't really like, but it dissipates pretty quickly when she explains that she was concerned about Kilarney.
Okay. Per Sean's "that's a long way off" comment, Kilarney doesn't actually exist then. It's just their future plan. And okay. I have mixed feelings here:
“Sometimes you baffle me, Sorka,” Sean said, his anger abating. He shook his head. “Why wait to tell me? Killarney’s a long way off in our future now. We’re committed here. I thought you understood that.” He put both hands on her shoulders and gave her a stern shake. “I’ve wanted to be the father of your children. I want you to have only mine. I want it to be now, too, Sorka love, but I didn’t think I had the right to ask you to bring a child into the world the way it is.” His voice fell into the special tender tone he always used when they were making love.
The words are sweet, but the shaking is not. I'm choosing to blame McCaffrey though, since she had F'lar do that a lot. That's not romantic, McCaffrey, knock it off. Do NOT ruin your ONE completely consensual, appropriately aged, healthy pairing for me, so help me...
Sorka says that it's the best time, and the "just in case" is unspoken. This leads to this:
“Immediately after surgery, we’re going before Cherry Duff. This is going to be a two-parent child, or my name’s not Sean Connell!”
Sorka burst out laughing and did not stop until they reached the surgery shed.
Okay, that was cute. But you're on thin ice, McCaffrey. Do NOT ruin this.
--
Back to the shuttle. Ongola's moderating because Nabhi is annoying the refit crew. Gosh, it's not like the dude who is taking the risk should have opinions or anything. But to be fair, Ongola even agrees with Nabhi about double checking everything. But well:
“I wouldn’t care what he asked me to do,” Fulmar told Ongola, “if he’d only ask politely. You’d think he was doing me a favor. Are you sure he’s as good a driver as he thinks he is?”
“He is good,” Ongola reluctantly admitted.
“I’d’ve preferred the mission in Bonneau’s hands,” Fulmar replied, shaking his head sadly. “But with that big stake, kids and all, I can’t fault his refusal. It’s just that — ” He broke off, raising his big, work stained hands in a helpless gesture.
He IS doing you a favor, Fulmar. This is a risky fucking flight. One that Bonneau refused to do. So maybe forgive the rudeness. Honestly, Nabhi is starting to sound more like Ted than Avril here. God forbid someone be generally unlikeable.
--
We do get an exciting bit where Thread shifts patterns. There's lots of rallying. Oh, hey, a Tubberman update:
Shunning was very hard on the relatives. Ned was entitled to assist his mother and his younger brothers and sister in fighting Thread. If he chose also to assist his father in the emergency, there would be only family to witness it. Tubberman had been quick to clad his buildings with metal, so his stake was as safe as those precautions could make it. He would get no other help.
Ongola then contacted Drake and ordered him to avoid the Tubbermans’ stake. Drake at first protested that they couldn’t leave any Thread on any ground, shunned or not.
“Ned can protect that much with his mother’s help, Drake, but we cannot assist Ted Tubberman.”
“But it’s Thread, man.”
“That’s an order, man,” Ongola replied in a steely tone.
“Gotcha!”
...holy shit, man. Shunning means you're not even going to defend the guy against THREAD???
Ted's only crime that we're aware of for now is SENDING THE FUCKING BEACON. And for that, you're willing to let the guy get killed by Thread. Oh, well, generously, you're willing to turn a blind eye if the kid defends his father. But fucking still!
#JusticeForTedTubberman
Also, what about inheritance? If Ted's claim is destroyed, that WILL negatively impact his wife and children. Aren't they supposed to be innocent?
I'm starting to hope you ALL get eaten by Thread. At least Drake protested, but still.
Hey, did Ted even get a fucking trial? Or did they just DECIDE he's shunned?
Oh, but THIS is interesting. Afterward, we get an update on the Tubbermans. Ned and Mary were outside with the flamethrowers, but then Ted drives them back in the house. Drake is curious though, and while he obeyed Ongola, he still believes all Thread should be destroyed, even if it fell on a shunned homesite. Fucking thank you, Drake. He decides to visit.
And Ned is surprisingly excited. He tells Drake to tell Kwan, Paul and Emily (first name basis, as though they didn't basically abandon his dad to death, but this is McCaffrey, so as a good guy, Ned has to side with her favorites anyway.) Drake is confused at first, but then realizes: he had seen Ned standing on GREEN EARTH. Not scorched.
I am so satisfied by this:
“Exactly!” Ned grinned hugely and again pulled at Drake. The squadron leader rose and followed Ned out of the room. “I want you to tell them what you saw, to corroborate my statement. I don’t know what Dad’s done.” The grin faded and some of the buoyancy drained from Ned Tubberman. “He says shunning works two ways. Mother told me that he locks himself away in his laboratory and won’t let anyone near it. My brothers and sister go over to Sue’s all the time but Mother won’t leave Dad, even if he isn’t in the house much. She keeps the place ticking over.”
You know what, you go Ted Tubberman! Don't say a fucking word! They were going to abandon you to Thread!
...oh god. The leadership of this colony is so fucking stupid. So Ned and Drake report:
“But I saw it,” Ned insisted. “Drake saw it, too.”
There was a long silence, which Emily finally broke. “Ned, we do not doubt you, or Drake’s verification, but as your father said, shunning works both ways.”
“Are you too proud to ask him what he’s done?” Ned demanded, his skin blanched under his tan, and his nostrils flaring with indignation.
“Pride is not involved,” Emily said gently. “Safety is. He was shunned because he defied the will of the colony. If you can honestly say that he has changed his attitude, then we can discuss reinstatement.”
Ned flushed, his eyes dropping away from Emily’s tolerant gaze. He sighed deeply. “He doesn’t want anything to do with Landing or anyone on it.” Then he gripped the edge of the table and leaned across it toward the governor. “But he’s done something incredible. Drake saw it.”
...the dude found a way to save his land! And you're not even going to consider ASKING him, because he's a dick about it. Because he SENT A FUCKING HOMING BEACON.
SAVING THE FUCKING SETTLEMENTS isn't enough. Because he has a bad attitude.
I can't take these people. The rank and file don't deserve death by Thread, but if there was a way to sacrifice Benden and Boll, I'd love to see it. FUCK these people.
Paul suggests Mary can present evidence on Ted's behalf. This is an "honorable way out for Ned's sake" apparently. Hmph, I like that. You get the benefit of Ted's work and he gets nothing. Ned is hopeful, but I'm #TeamTed here.
There is a nice note that Nabhi's squadron has come to wish him luck. Even though Boll and Benden think he might renege, Nabhi does go up. Woo.
And now, HATCHING TIME.
The dragonets are all streaming to the hatching ground. We learn that Kitti had left instructions as to who could attend: sixty young people between eighteen and thirty get to stand around the eggs.
Oh, hey, Paul's still a fuckwad:
“They can’t know what we expect for today, can they, Paul?”
“Young Sean Connell” — Paul pointed to where the young man stood beside his wife around the eggs — ”would have you believe that they do. But then, they’ve always been attracted by birthing! After all they protect their own young against attack.”
Yeah, it's not like the guy who raises and trains fire lizards would have any idea, Paul. Maybe McCaffrey is doing this on purpose?
But it's time!
Let's see the first baby dragon:
Then all of a sudden, one of the eggs cracked open and a creature emerged, damp from birth: it shook stubby wings and stumbled over its shell, squawking in alarm. The dragonets answered soothingly. The young people in the circle stood their ground, and Emily marveled at their courage, for that awkward creature was not the graceful being she had been expecting, a beast remembered from old legends and illustrations held in library treasuries. She caught herself holding her breath, and exhaled quickly.
The creature extended its wings; they were wider and thinner than she had expected. It was so spindly, so ungainly, and its very oddly constructed eyes were flashing with red and yellow. Emily felt a flush of alarm. The creature gave a desperate cry, and was answered reassuringly by the multivoiced choir above. It lurched forward, its voice pleading, and then the cry altered to one of joy, held on a high sweet note. It staggered another step and fell at the feet of David Catarel who bent to help it.
He looked up with eyes wide with wonder. “He wants me!”
Awww. Go David Catarel! I don't really remember him much, but I feel like he was one of the Thread survivors. So yay!
David feeds the baby dragon and notes that he's talking. He's named himself Polenth.
There's a bit of banter between Paul and Emily that I'd find cute if I didn't hate them:
“Ye gods, but it’s ugly,” Paul said in a very low voice.
“You probably weren’t much to look at at birth either,” Emily surprised herself by saying. She grinned at his quick glance of astonishment.
Another egg cracks, and someone named Peter Semling is chosen. A few more. Some golds and bronzes, and a few browns. Folks are name dropped, I'm not paying attention except to note that one is named Shih Lao. They're not sure how long the hatching will take, but it's still working.
There's some peanut gallery discussions. We learn that Kitti Ping made the Impression choices gender imperative. Why? That makes no sense at all. Except of course, we need the Weyrleader/Weyrwoman set up in the future. But wouldn't it make sense to have them bond with anyone?
More pairings, more names. Quite a lot of golds. Someone named Marco Galliani gets a brown. I feel like I remember that name from that weird post Moreta short story.
Oh, hey, more gender bullshit:
“Do they always go female to female?” Emily asked Pol. “And male to male?”
“Since the males are expected to be fighters and the females egg carriers, Kitti made it logical.”
“Logical to her,” Emily said, a trifle bemused. “There aren’t any blues or greens among them,” she suddenly realized.
“Kitti programmed the heavier males, but I believe they’re to carry sperm for the entire range. The greens will be the smallest, the fighters; the blues sturdier, with more staying power; the browns sort of anchor fighters with even more endurance. They’ll have to fight four to six hours, remember! The bronzes are leaders and the golds . . .”
"Waiting at home to be egg-carriers.”
Pol gave Emily a long look, his tired face reflecting astonishment at her sarcasm.
Okay, I may dislike Emily, but I'll give her this one. This is fucking bullshit.
--
We scene shift to Nabhi and Bart. Nabhi definitely seems pretty sinister here, as he gloats about "saving fuel". Bart is surprised and confused, wondering why. Nabhi's mocking grin doesn't reassure.
Apparently, the real reason Nabhi took this ride was to look for the pods. He wants to find the flotsam. And Avril's cache of gold and gems. Okay, I know I'm supposed to think they're awful. But how is this different from Kenjo doing heroic things because he wanted to justify his fuel theft?
If anything it's better, since Nabhi isn't trying to deprive other people of Avril's wealth...
---
Back to the hatching ground. Some eggs seem to be duds, but some are still viable. Sean and Sorka are still waiting. And lo and behold...
A single great crack startled everyone, and the egg before them parted into two ragged halves. The bronze hatchling walked out imperiously, lifted his head, and made a sound like a stuttering trumpet. Everyone came to attention. Sean was on his feet, and Sorka pushed at his legs to urge him on. She need not have worried. As he locked eyes with the hatchling, Sean gave a low incredulous groan and moved forward to meet the beast halfway. Their fair was bugling with triumph.
Sorka was, of course, right. And Sean gets his bronze. Hell, I'm not going to complain. He's worked hard and hasn't pissed me off yet. His bronze is Carenath.
And just as the chapter ends:
Everyone in the Hatching Ground was wakened by his vibrant voice. Then the other egg broke open, and a golden female sauntered forth, chittering and looking about urgently. Sorka was too busy passing bowls of meat to Sean to notice until Betsy tugged at her arm. She s looking for you, Sorka. Look at her!”
Sorka turned her head and suddenly she, too, felt the indescribable impact of a mind on her, a mind that rejoiced in finding its equal, its lifelong partner. Sorka was filled with an exultation that was almost painful.
My name is Faranth, Sorka!
Aw.
So no sign yet that Sorka can hear the others, but I'm not ruling it out yet. We'll see next chapter. :-D