Planet Zar: Nexus

"It's Pern, isn't it?" Kalev regarded the hologram with narrowed eyes, his mouth pressed to a tight, thin line - all very deliberate, facial muscles straining as he attempted to hide everything from his face. Elation bubbled like champagne and hot springs under the buzzing surface of his skin, but he needed to keep his cool. "That's not a Pernese dragon."

"Nothing gets past you, does it, Engelheim?" The shrewd, slick man sitting across from him blinked a contented cat grin. Kalev knew enough about this man - Merete - to be cautious of him. "It's an imperial court dragon, such as young sergeant Rosenheim's Mauryath. We've been informed this particular clutch is likely to result in dragons useful for information gathering. Intel is your branch of choice, isn't it?"

Kalev raked his eyes from the hologram to meet Merete's gaze, ignoring the goose prickle of pride-desire-please. "Yes, sir."

"We believe bonding one of these dragons will help you achieve that particular aspiration."

"Is subterfuge required?" It was Pern, afterall. Kalev's knowledge of the world was limited, but he'd gathered it was backwater old tech. Isolated from a great deal of the Nexus. Many weyrs were unaware and unwelcoming of outsiders, even the human ones, unless they passed as suitable Pernese. Kalev could do it. Throw on a tunic and some leathers and recite the jargon before he had to touch down in a weyr. He threw his shoulders back, chin high, challenging.

Merete's expression remained malevolently amused. "No, but what an astute question, my boy. This particular Pern is well aware of off-worlders, although I wouldn't recommend shapeshifting in front of anyone. Keep that to yourself."

Incase subterfuge was ever required, remained unspoken but heavy in the silence.

"Understood, sir."

"The offspring produced by these imperials are meant to be called the Hope court." Merete's lip quirked. "And we do have high hopes for you, Engelheim."

"I'll endeavor to do my best to impress a dragon."

"Very good. See that you do. You'll be leaving tomorrow, I suggest you pack lightly."

"Thank-you, sir." Kalev tossed off a neat, perfunctory salute, turned on heel, and marched out of the room.

He swept around the corridor corner and out of view before he let his mask crack into a broad, grin, giddiness forcing his breath to hitch. A dragon. A dragon for spec ops.

Best damn day ever!