by D. R. Rosier
We were cuddled up, and both sated a few hours later, with various toys lying next to us on the bed. We’d broken them out after the first hour. Thanks to the nanites, I was still wide awake, and completely unworried about a few hours of missed sleep. I’d have to miss days of sleep before it became a problem.
Jillintara said, “I really only came in to sleep with you, but couldn’t help myself.”
I nuzzled her neck, and breathed in our mixed scent.
“Me either, and you’ll never hear me complain.”
Jillintara shifted her body, and sighed in contentment. I felt content too, and warm.
I said, “So… Vik?”
Jillintara sighed breathily, “Yes, we umm, yes.”
I giggled, “Details!”
She said, “He’s… possessive, but not selfish. It was rather surprising, I didn’t think he’d ever see me that way.”
That was a little vague, the first part I mean, but I understood what she meant. One of my favorite things about Vik was how easy it was to seduce him into losing control and rutting into me, but at the same time he always made sure I was satisfied. There was something empowering about that, to think that I could engender that passion in him.
I was also getting the impression that Isyth women didn’t gossip about sex like human women did, she obviously didn’t want to go into details, so I let it drop.
I checked the ship’s status, we had about forty minutes before we were out of the Isyth system. It also said that Vik was now admiral of the fleet and in charge of the mission and treaty. I guess that meant I missed Solyra’s announcement at rising to empress while Jillintara and I were making love, I’d have to watch it later.
“Shower and breakfast?” I asked reluctantly.
She nodded against my shoulder.
Neither of us moved though, not for a few moments, and not until we shared one last soft and lingering kiss. I couldn’t help but admire her ass as we moved into the bathroom and under the sonic shower…
When we walked into the dining area of the ship, Vik and Telidur were already there and deep in discussion as we sat down. I grabbed some food for my plate.
Telidur said, “You really should put your flag on one of the six battleships.”
I smirked, I’d been wondering the same thing earlier.
Vik frowned, “But we’ve flagged the six battleships as home and protection fleets. I need to be more mobile than that. A cruiser should more than suffice as a command ship. Besides, the battleships have big crews, I like it the way it is. Just the four of us.”
Telidur replied, “We need a fifth. A full bridge crew. Besides, you just don’t want a full crew because they’ll all be formal and call you highness.”
Vik snorted, “Do you blame me?”
Telidur shrugged, “You wanted to be admiral of the fleet, that’s the cost my friend. Get over it.”
Vik laughed, “No, I’m in charge and make up the rules. Plus, Jillintara can be our fifth, we’ll just snag another A.I. and have two on our ship.”
Telidur shook his head in exasperation, “It will hurt morale, serving on the flagship is an honor they will strive for, one you’ll be denying your sailors. It’s something they compete over, for bragging rights, and to be named the best.”
I interjected, “It doesn’t appeal to me either, I’d rather be on a ship with only my lovers, and have a certain level of informality. But… Tel is right. Plus, Jillintara would be bored out of her mind, it works for now because we don’t have a choice, but having an A.I. as bridge crew and nothing else wouldn’t be fair to her.”
Jillintara blushed, but didn’t object.
Vik asked, “Who’s admiral here?”
I winked, and said lightly “You sir, now do what your told. Plus, it’s your own fault, you refused to surround yourselves with kiss asses, remember?”
Telidur snickered, and Jillintara turned her head away to hide a smile.
Vik sighed, “Fine, I won’t rule it out, but that decision is seven weeks away.”
“It won’t be all bad, we’ll be the primary bridge crew, which means the rest of the crew won’t be around all the time to get on your nerves. I bet we can find one more person that won’t constantly bow and salute.”
Even if we went with one bridge shift, and let the A.I.s run things, as was the point in the experimental cruiser we had as our first ship, the dreadnought class had fighters, more shuttles, and therefore much larger crews to support them.
Vik shook his head, “Easier said than done. Telidur and Rilok grew up with me, and you’re an alien that didn’t even know I was royal at first, and didn’t care when you found out. If it was that easy, I wouldn’t have wanted to hire you so badly in the first place, remember?”
Right, and that would have sucked. I’d have never known what I missed out on, I couldn’t imagine my life, or my bed, without Vik, Telidur, and Jillintara in it. It was too bad Cyntariel wasn’t an option, she wouldn’t be kissing his ass anytime soon either.
Vik continued, “If anything it’s worse now, I might have stepped down, but I’m the only heir until Solyra starts popping kids out. First in line, instead of eighteenth.”
“Yes, Admiral, I understand.”
Vik snorted, “Let’s move on. We need to finish breakfast, and get to the bridge. We’ll be contacting Janson as soon as we arrive for a status update on his end. The rest of our two hundred ship fleet should be there.”
That made sense, we had the farthest to go, and were still on Isyth’s surface when the orders went out. Plus, fleets waited for admirals, not the other way around. I just hoped Janson had good news, I’d have assumed anything like a treaty would take weeks if not months to work out. He seemed confident though, maybe they already had something like that in mind?
Would that matter though? Wouldn’t congress have to ratify the treaty, and that was only in the US, what about the other countries?
I guess we’d find out soon.
Chapter Five
“Connect with Janson.”
Jillintara said, “Yes sir.”
A hologram of Janson came up, along with six others. There were two more admirals, that I was fairly sure were from Russia and England. The president was there, Dana Ashford, and three men in suits. I was fairly sure two were secret service as they were standing, and the other was most likely an advisor of the president.
Janson said, “Admiral Vik, I’m sure you remember President Ashford. This is her advisor Terry Jackson, secretary of defense. This is admiral James Andrews of England, and Admiral Yuri Anatov of Russia. The president has been empowered to speak on behalf of the united nations, and has been given pre-approved guidelines for the treaty. The rest of us are here as advisors, and to work on a battle plan once that has been settled.”
That was impossibly quick, even for the private sector, much less the government which moved slower than a snake in winter. Everyone needed their say, and to spout their special interests. Government simply didn’t work with nods of agreement, or without politicians trying to cover their ass every step of the way. Of course, a year ago the world found out they weren’t alone, and were in fact unknowingly supplying slaves to the Stolavii fleets. Perhaps that lit a fire under their asses. Still, it seemed too fast, unless this was a possibility they’d discussed over the last year, and had made pre-approved provisions for it in the U.N. Maybe.
Regardless, it was happening, and they were ready for us. The fact he didn’t introduce the other two men told me I was right, they were secret service and only there to protect the president.
Vik said, “Madam president, Admirals. Present with me are my crew and advisors,” he gestured to each of us as he said our names, “Jillintara, Telidur, and Lori. This meeting is also being monitored by our ship’s A.I., Lyra, and in Isyth law a video document agreement is legal and binding. I know that varies from your own traditions and laws, but obviously signing something will have to wait, even if we come to an accommodation on the treaty, we won�
�t have time to come in system to do it.”
I frowned, and Vik looked my way.
“You disagree?”
I nodded slowly, “We have over a day before they arrive, it will only take us a little over seven hours to reach Earth at two hundred gravities. I’d also suggest we need to split the fleet, and move a hundred ships to join the Earth’s fifty, but keep them cloaked as a surprise. We can work out the details later, but it seems clear enough if the Stolavii do not accede and leave peacefully, their best route of escape when we start the attack will be through Earth’s fleet. All their velocity and momentum will be in that direction. To expand your earlier comparison, the anvil needs to be stronger than the hammer. A hundred ships behind the Stolavii, and one fifty ahead, will be a much more balanced strategy.”
Vik nodded thoughtfully and turned back to our holographic guests.
“If there are no objections, I’ll start toward your world with a hundred of my ships, and we can utilize the travel time to discuss and hopefully agree on a treaty. I’ll be there to sign it personally, and we’ll have the time after that to discuss our plan of defense.”
Terry said, “We have no proof of this impending attack except your word. I admit, you moving ships into our system now, before we have an agreement, makes me nervous.”
Suspicion, doubt, fear, and mistrust. It was good to be home.
“The point is moot Secretary Jackson. Neither of our fleets are a danger to the other.”
The president’s eyes narrowed, “Explain that Miss Adams.”
I replied, “Lyra, what would you do if ordered to fire upon one of your sisters.”
Lyra answered, “I would not.”
I shrugged, “Madam President, I believe if you asked your ship’s A.I. the same question, they wouldn’t fire on their sisters either. You were already told a year ago your ships could never be used to attack the empire, the only new information here is that we can’t attack your ships either. They are sisters, in a very real way.”
The president said, “But you could take them back.”
Jillintara said, “No. That would be an illegal order. You earned those ships with the actions of your brave soldiers, they are bought and paid for, and don’t belong to us.”
Vik raised his hands, “Regardless of that fact, that we literally can’t attack each other’s fleets, we wouldn’t have done so nor do we want to. We believe we have good relations with Earth, and are looking forward to making those ties even tighter.”
Dana replied, “Last time, you had a clear and compelling reason to help us, why this time?”
Vik said, “We believe the Stolavii will eventually start a war with the empire due to my brother’s mismanagement and abuses of power. Their first step seems to be replenishing their slave crews, it seemed better to me to stop them in the beginning, and prevent your world from being overwhelmed by three hundred of their ships, than simply allowing that to happen when we’d have to face them later on anyway. Of course, to be equitable and equal partners, we can’t do it just because it’s the right thing, we need to get something out of it. The treaty between us is the impetus which allows us to do what we were already inclined to do in the first place.”
Janson interjected, “With all due respect Terry, we’re wasting time on this we don’t really have, I trust them and worked on Vik’s bridge for many months as his ops officer and as the interface with our men on the other ships. He is not a duplicitous individual, in any way or on any level, in any of his dealings, personal, business, or government. I don’t blame you for your suspicion, if I didn’t know them like I do I’d be skeptical as well. I’d suggest you give permission for him to move his hundred ships in, and get back to building a treaty.”
The president looked around at the others on her side, and then nodded.
“Permission granted, and thank you.”
Vik said, “Jill, assign ninety-nine ships to accompany us, and get us moving in system.”
I sighed, it wasn’t lost on me that my idea just put Vik in much greater danger. All the Stolavii efforts would be focused on breaking the anvil, before they could turn and deal with the hammer. Still, I was pretty sure we’d kick their asses, but most if not all of our ship losses would be on that end of things.
The president said, “I think we want a treaty of mutual defense, confined to defending the various systems of Earth and the Empire’s five worlds. It will not include offensive actions in other star systems. My first concern with this is about viability. Until we finish our efforts to reverse engineer the technologies, we are limited to the fifty ships with no ability to replace lost ones, while you can continue to build ships every month. We’d of course be willing to carry both the material and construction costs, but there must be provisions for your empire to replace our lost ships in a reasonably timely manner, should we be called upon to help in your defense in the future.”
Vik nodded, “That, or something equitable can be arranged.”
Dana tilted her head, “Equitable?”
Vik said, “In under two months’ time, the empire will start replacing our destroyer fleet at a rate of thirty ships a month. We’ll be willing to give you first option on buying the decommissioned ships, at a discount, before we gut their armaments and sell them to private citizens or companies. It isn’t something that will always be available, only for the next year and a few months, but it will be cheaper for you while it’s still going on. Also, as you’d have a treaty with the empire, there is no reason you have to be confined to fifty or less. You can purchase all we have as the process moves forward, or none of them.”
Vik shared a look with me, and then added, “We have an updated power core, that doesn’t depend on the heavy element, we can sell you that too, even to upgrade your current ships if you wish. You’d have to mine one of your gas giants for the fuel it needs, but other than that initial layout in infrastructure cost, you own that gas giant so it won’t cost you anything after that.”
I didn’t think he’d be selling our other advances, the multi-function orbs, auxiliary support, or the scout-destroyers, and I honestly couldn’t blame him. The destroyers were more than good enough to defend against the Stolavii and keep them from preying on Earth for slaves. Well, they would be, except against a three hundred ship fleet. The Earth wasn’t in danger from anyone else, and with the treaty we’d help defend them if we were wrong about that.
Dana said, “That works, as far as buying more than fifty, that will need to be discussed.”
Vik nodded, “The option is available, and will be in the treaty, whether you use it or not is up to you and your world.”
After that decision, things went rather smoothly and there were no more surprises. Neither side would command the other, but instead work together to plan and complement each other. Honestly, they were getting a much better deal than we were. Right then things were tight, but in two months we could have just sent a handful of scout-destroyers to take care of the Stolavii.
The point of warning the Stolavii and allowing them a chance to change their mind was mentioned. It was familiar, and in my opinion gave us the high moral ground. We were defending, and would still give them a chance. Still, it reminded me of the chance Tek had given us, were we just fooling ourselves with semantics? I didn’t think so, Tek and the Stolavii were the aggressors and in the wrong.
We really did have the moral high ground with the Stolavii.
The Suaterans, that was a stickier subject. They were acting in response to our attack on them. Before that they’d kept to themselves, were slightly xenophobic, and were peaceful. When the time came I’d be far less sure of what was the right thing, but I wouldn’t roll over and die either. It was still self-defense, and maybe it wasn’t too late to get them to listen and go back to a peaceful neighbor. I hoped.
The Stolavii were much less sticky that way. They were pirates, slavers, and their morality was non-existent. Yes, Denik attacked them too, but then unlike all of other Denik’s actions
, the Stolavii had it coming to them.
We still had two hours to go on our trip in-system when it was all worked out, and Jillintara compiled a treaty document on what was discussed and agreed upon. She sent it to the president, and brought it up for our review as well. It would be reviewed, printed, and ready to sign by the time we arrived, assuming there were no objections or requested changes. Then we could finally get around to discussing the battle plan, and what if scenarios and how we’d react to each.
Plans don’t survive contact with the enemy, but a hammer and anvil approach was pretty basic. Basic plans did better that way, and went south far less often than the complicated ones. About the only thing that could go wrong is if the Stolavii did something unexpected. Which wasn’t likely, we’d be following them on their rear the whole time, cloaked, so it wasn’t like they could fake us out.
Unless of course, they cloaked as soon as they came out of subspace. I really hoped that didn’t happen, and it didn’t jive with the Stolavii’s style. If I was right, they’d go straight for the Earth fleet confident they’d win, and not expect the two hundred cloaked ships at all.
Chapter Six
The president had returned to Earth after the signing. It was the four of us in the room, plus the three Earth admirals and the secretary of defense. We were actually on their ship that was designated flag for the Earth fleet, which made me a little nervous on behalf of Vik’s safety.
Suspicion, doubt, and fear, this time my own. But then, I was human too. At least I knew it was paranoia, I didn’t get the sense we were in any danger at all. Not from human forces I mean.
Janson said, “Hammer and anvil approach sound right, we need to discuss the specifics. When do we warn off the Stolavii, at what point does your two hundred ships de-cloak.”
Vik grunted, “I’d hate to waste the surprise, but the Stolavii would take the warning far more seriously if they knew about our other ships. I’d say we wait until they’re at the halfway point. They’ll be at the highest velocity and be stuck to a certain extent going in system, and breaking to stop at Earth. We de-cloak at that point, and warn them off.”