Free The Refugee (The Korvali Chronicles Book 1) by C. A. Hartman Page A

Eshel had done, she’d begun examining the epigenomic data she had at her disposal. Such research required no bench work and could be accomplished from her quarters, except for one problem: the data belonged to the Space Corps, which she could only access from her lab.
    Suddenly, Catherine heard something. The door. Feeling trapped as she heard footsteps approach her tiny office, Catherine felt herself get into a defensive posture.  
    It was Eshel.  
    Catherine breathed a sigh of relief. “You scared the hell out of me.”
    “I am… sorry,” Eshel said. His apology sounded odd, as if he were as unaccustomed to offering apology as he was to using utensils. “My duty shift just ended. Tom said you work here late at night.”
    “What happened today?”
    His expression grew cold. “My arguments did not succeed.”
    She sighed. Shit . She sat for several moments, until something occurred to her. But before she could speak, she realized the laboratory lights had come on. Her heart began to pound as she waited to see who would emerge through her doorway this time.  
    It was Steele, his gaunt face looking right at her.  

November 18th  

    Hi Dad,

    Happy Thanksgiving. I know it’s still a week away, but we’re in and out of satellite range and I don’t know when this will get to you. Are you going to Aunt Cora’s this year? I hope so. I hate the idea of you spending the holidays alone in the mountains. Whatever you do, eat some turkey for me. Something went wrong with one of the meat freezers, so all the turkey spoiled, leaving us with a vegetarian Thanksgiving. Tom and Snow are not happy.

    Work isn’t good. I am quite sure that Commander Steele hates me. He assigns me projects that a graduate student could do; and now, after finding me working on a side project late at night, he’s forbidden me to work on any projects he doesn’t assign. I can’t even enter my own lab after hours without setting off an alert! What’s worse is that Eshel happened to be there with me when Steele showed up. It took multiple meetings with the brass and Technology searching our personal messages to convince them that Eshel and I aren’t defying the Alliance and threatening the galaxy with our genetic plots.  

    This isn’t what I signed up for, Dad. This is supposed to be a scientific mission, too. Commander Edelstein and I talked about the projects we’d do. I know he’s struggling with his health and there was only Steele to replace him at the last minute, but Steele sees no reason to live up to Edelstein’s promises. What’s worse is that Eshel, the one person whose knowledge might help me make the breakthrough I’ve sought for so long, still can’t discuss genetics at all with anyone but Steele. How’s that for irony?

    Maybe I’m just irritable. Nearly five months of being ship-bound is getting to me, and I think it’s getting to the rest of the crew, too. People seem testier than usual.  

    According to Tom’s sources, the Korvali haven’t reacted to one of their people living with us. Some of the brass seemed pretty concerned about it. I did some digging and found out that the Korvali made quite a stink when Ashan escaped years ago, and it was only his disappearance that quelled the rising conflict. Some believe the Korvali found him and killed him; others say his disappearance was staged, that he’s alive and well and only hiding to prevent conflict.

    Eshel has decided to stay with us and—you won’t believe this—he’s now a midshipman, training to become an officer! Apparently he works extremely hard and easily passed all the entrance exams. From what Tom said, his promotion is provisional, at least until Headquarters feels secure he’s not some Korvali spy. To be honest, I’m surprised they approved his request at all, considering the anti-Korvali sentiment that’s still prevalent around here. Tom must have had something to do with that. He gets a kick out of Eshel and seems to have taken him