Today I have a special post, part of Tali Spencer’s “Meet My Character” blog tour. We have an interview with Peri McSmith, Devin’s best friend from The Degan Incident. Peri also made a memorable cameo appearance at the end of The Cassini Mission.

Check out Peri’s interview and an excerpt from my current work-in-progress: Galactic Conspiracies Book 3: The Degan Paradox.

State your name for the record.

My name is Perin McSmith, but I go by Peri. What’s this all about anyway?

This is a standard Union Navy security screen. It is required before civilian travel on any Union Navy starship. Please state your destination.

The Degan Homeworld, in the Ursa Major Alpha system.

Yes. Alpha Ursae Majoris IV. What is your business there?

I’m relocating there. My best friend Devin lives there with his family.

Do you personally know any Degans?

Of course. I’ve met Devin’s husband Bastian several times. And I met Bastian’s uncle Beshel and a couple of Beshel’s co-workers.

Beshel Drago, Degan Federation Chief Investigator?

Yeah… I guess that’s his work title. Why are you asking me about him?

As I’m sure you’re aware, Degans are not members of the Galactic Planetary Union. If you have a relationship with a ranking member of a foreign government, that would be something Union Security would need to know. So what is your relationship with Chief Beshel Drago?

I wouldn’t say we have a relationship, because ew. He’s not really my type. I mean, he’s kinda hunky, but his personality…

When was your last contact with Chief Beshel Drago?

I haven’t had any contact with Beshel, if you’re trying to imply something. I haven’t seen him since… Um… He was supposed to help me pack up Devin’s apartment, but… We were supposed to order Chinese and pack. He didn’t show up…?

You don’t sound sure, Mr. McSmith.

Well, to be honest, I don’t remember anything about that night at all. When I think about it, it gives me a migraine. I don’t know.

Describe Beshel Drago.

He’s a Degan, so you know… big, muscular, seven-foot fur-covered beast. He’s very serious, severely lacking in any sort of pleasantries, not to mention spontaneity… If you run a bioscan on him, you’ll find he is missing a funny bone.

You are aware the “funny bone” isn’t an actual bone in the human body.

Oh my god. Are you sure you don’t know Beshel, because you might be his twin. So am I clear for travel or what?

We’ll be in touch, Mr. McSmith.

Excerpt from Chapter 1 of The Degan Paradox…

“Sir?”

Degan Federation Chief Investigator Beshel Drago looked up from his comPad toward the officer who’d just entered. It was just as well. He’d read the damn intelligence report three times now and still didn’t understand a word. His B Team was investigating a xenophobic faction whose protests of the influx of off-worlders were turning violent.

What the hell?

Why was he having so much trouble focusing lately? He rubbed the knot on the back of his neck, digging fingernails into his fur, in a vain attempt to ease the tension. “What is it, agent?”

Beshel’s second-in-command, Agent Barlan was fair-furred, though he had a noticeable scar bisecting the fur near his left cranial horn. Likely a battle injury. Not unlike Beshel, he was a bit on the short side for an adult Degan male, but made up for it in the width of his shoulders and generous muscle mass.

Barlan raised a brow. “If I may be blunt… you look like shit. Sir.”

“It’s this damn rock. The sooner we get off it…”

“Agreed, sir. I’m ready to get home.”

Besh longed to return to the lush vegetation that covered his homeworld.

He turned and glanced out the window. Chunks of metal and concrete littered the landscape of ruined, crumbling buildings. The road into the facility was riddled with potholes large enough to swallow a Degan battleship.

Centauri Colony was a shithole, to be frank. The human colony had been decimated years ago during their war with the Mirans, back before Earth joined the Galactic Planetary Union. Today, most of the planet was still abandoned, left in ruins. Not that it was a gem before the war. The world was little more than a barren ball of dry dirt, stripped completely bare of any natural resources that might have been even remotely valuable. Only two kinds of people made Centauri Colony their home: nutballs trying to live off the grid… or those with something to hide.

Do you have any questions for Peri? Leave a comment below!

Thanks for reading!

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