by S. H. Jucha
Asu recalled Alex’s theory that the occupants of the silver ships were hostages of the Nua’ll. At the time, his opinion was in the minority, nearly to the point of exclusion. However, he was the admiral, and humans and SADEs faithfully followed his lead, and time proved him correct.
“If you’d allow any race to cross the wall and occupy a system in the direction of human worlds, the Gotlians would be good candidates,” Asu stated firmly.
“I’d agree,” Willem added.
“Isn’t the operable supposition whether we want to allow federacy races to cross the wall in our direction?” Adrianna asked.
“It is,” Alex agreed. He regarded Adrianna carefully. She was attacking the subject from its critical point, which required the Omnians to make a moral and social decision.
“And the answer?” Adrianna asked.
“Still under consideration. Thank you for your input,” Alex said, rising and hugging Asu and Willem. Then he added, “Admirals, you’re with me.”
As Alex exited, Hector followed, but Adrianna hesitated. She regarded Asu and Willem, who grinned at her. “So, this is Alex,” she said quietly, and they nodded. Then she strode after the Omnian leader and her admiral.
“I’m not comfortable being referred to as admiral anymore. The crisis is over,” Adrianna said to Alex, when she caught up with them.
“Hector, did you dismiss her?” Alex asked.
“Certainly not, Alex,” Hector replied, refusing to display the grin he harbored.
“Then you’re still an admiral,” Alex said. “Don’t you like the position?”
“The strategizing, yes,” Adrianna replied. “But after we transited, I was scared to death.” She expected her comment to result in her immediate dismissal.
Instead, Alex replied, “A sensible reaction.”
The threesome boarded a traveler. Adrianna expected further conversation, but Alex tilted his seat back, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.
When the cabin lights brightened, Alex snapped awake and led the way off the ship. They worked their way to the upper deck and the Freedom’s owner suite. Renée, Tatia, Reiko, Ellie, and Julien were waiting for them.
Ellie, who hadn’t previously met Adrianna, stared from Tatia to Adrianna and back.
“Yes,” Tatia said bluntly, “we’re secret sisters.”
The group laughed and found seats.
Renée sent privately to Adrianna,
Adrianna caught Renée’s wink, and she glanced toward Alex, eyeing his mass. She couldn’t help the snicker that escaped her lips. Taking a seat, Adrianna looked expectantly at the faces around her, but they were all regarding Alex.
“There are two demands on our time and resources that are in conflict,” Alex said.
“Protecting Talus and chasing the fleets that crossed the wall,” Tatia finished.
“Yes,” Alex agreed.
“The fleets are supposedly full-sized wedges,” Reiko pointed out. “We’d need an entire fleet to challenge an alien battleship wedge. Then add in our potential losses with each confrontation. We’d require the replacement ships sail with us. That amounts to us having only one fleet.”
Reiko expected a response from Alex, an acknowledgment of some sort, but he sat quietly with his thoughts.
Adrianna examined the individuals in the room. It was obvious that there was a strategic meeting in play and, perhaps, a critical one.
“Defend Talus against unknown contingencies or chase three battleship fleets,” Julien said, crystallizing the challenge.
Adrianna chose not to second-guess where the discussion was headed. Instead, she focused on what Alex and Julien were saying. “One choice requires contact. The other might only require a formidable appearance,” she volunteered.
“And appearance requires lesser military experience,” Hector added.
“It’s too dangerous to divide our forces that unevenly,” Tatia riposted. To that, Alex nodded.
“If we only knew when Sargut might lose his battleships,” Renée commented.
“Sargut estimates that it probably won’t happen for at least a quarter annual, using Toral’s orbit,” Julien said. “It buys the Talus defenders some time.”
“In that period of time, the orbital station should have completed a total of five, if not six, Tridents,” Reiko noted.
“Those Tridents would be crewed by Toralians and sisters, and the sisters have some battle experience,” Julien said.
“Let’s start from the top just to see how this would look,” Tatia suggested. “Defenders get the Our People; trackers get the Freedom.”
“We have enough squadrons to make four good Trident commands,” Reiko calculated, “but we’re short an admiral.”
A deathly stillness settled over the room, and Adrianna looked at Hector for an answer.
“I’m sorry to hear of your losses,” Adrianna said solemnly. “I don’t think the majority of Harakens understand what you’re going through, the sacrifices you’re making.”
“I’m sitting here, listening to this discussion, and I’m wondering why I’ve been invited,” Ellie interjected.
“The Our People, specifically me, would need experienced admirals for the Trident commands,” Hector commented.
“Oh, no,” Adrianna declared stubbornly, suddenly believing she understood the conversation’s intent. “I’m not going to pretend to be a superior commander to the likes of Admiral Ellie Thompson.”
When Alex smiled, Adrianna saw that it had been Alex’s intention all along to elicit her response to the suggestion. Her eyes narrowed. She was determined to turn the tables on him, and said, “You do remember that I’m a Haraken captain, who’s responsible for a Haraken Trident and the safe escort of the Sojourn home.”
“Your ships can set sail anytime you wish,” Alex replied, with a relaxed air.
Renée schooled her expression, and sent,
“I believe your bluff has been called, Admiral,” Julien said, sprouting his poker visor.
“I’ve heard of your game, but I don’t know how it’s played,” Adrianna remarked. “Still, I get your meaning.”
“We can work out the return of the Sojourn and the Guardian, when we can ensure their safety,” Alex said. “Interested in becoming an Omnian?”
Adrianna gazed again at the assembled group. She felt like the slow child in the classroom. It was evident these individuals thought and spoke in a shorthand that outsiders would have difficulty following. She asked the group, “Is this the kind of treatment you have to endure?”
“We let Alex think he’s in charge,” Renée quipped. “It keeps him happy.”
It was the emotion behind the group’s laughter about Renée’s remark that gave Adrianna a good feeling. It was warm and sincere. They’ve endured so much pain, and they can still laugh, she thought.
Alex watched the shifting expressions on Adrianna’s face. He sent to her,
“I have a condition,” Adrianna announced. “With Hector’s permission, I will abdicate my position in favor of Admiral Thompson.”
“Granted, provided Admiral Thompson a
ccepts,” Hector replied. He was enjoying himself immensely, observing the interplay of strong personalities.
“Ellie?” Tatia asked.
It occurred to Ellie that the other Trident admirals hadn’t been invited to the meeting. More important, it wasn’t Tatia who had extended the invitation. It was Alex. She was his choice.
The thought of separating from Alex’s fleet felt like a stab in Ellie’s heart, and she consoled herself with the thought that it wouldn’t be forever.
“I have a condition,” Ellie said, which made Alex grin, knowing she’d accepted. “If I take the vice admiral position, then you, Adrianna, are one of my Trident admirals.”
“You could do better,” Adrianna replied. When Ellie stared at her without comment, she relented. “Accepted,” she said.
“If we continue this exercise,” Tatia said, “Hector needs a second Trident admiral.”
“I’ve made my choice,” Ellie stated firmly.
“Does anyone wish to guess who Ellie wants before she announces her choice?” Renée challenged. “If so, send me your thought.”
Renée tipped her hand in Ellie’s direction when she’d received the guesses. Hector and Adrianna, who had no knowledge of the experienced commanders in Alex’s fleet, abstained.
“It’s Commodore Alphons Jagielski,” Ellie said. “Did anyone get it right?” she asked Renée.
Renée smiled and laid a hand on Alex’s shoulder. Her message wasn’t missed.
“Are we going to mix the commands to help Hector?” Reiko asked.
“We can’t afford significant changes,” Alex said, “but we need a few thoughtful ones.”
“Should we guess again, Alex, or do you want to share your thoughts first?” Tatia asked. Her eyes were narrowed, and Alex offered her a lopsided smile.
“We allow Ellie to keep one Trident squadron from her present command,” Alex said.
“Yes! Descartes and the twins,” Ellie celebrated.
“Will you keep them as a squadron?” Reiko asked. She was interested in learning how Ellie, her best Trident admiral, might employ one of the fleet’s best squadrons.
“Oh, no,” Ellie quickly replied. “It’ll be Commodore Descartes, and Senior Captains Étienne and Alain de Long.”
“Sargut asked me a question earlier,” Alex said slowly and thoughtfully. “He wanted to know if humans would claim all the worlds between the wall and our colonies.”
“Why do we need to discuss this?” Reiko asked. “From what we’ve learned, the federacy races are steeped in generations of isolation, suspicion, and revenge. Those aren’t traits that make good neighbors.”
“The question was whether we would claim the worlds, not whether we would judge the character of these races,” Julien reminded the group.
“According to the Toralians, the Gotlians, the race we encountered at the water world, are aquatic. They’re desperate to locate a new home world,” Adrianna interjected. For some reason, she thought it was important not to share with the group that it had been Alex who told her that.
“Alex, what did you say to Sargut?” Tatia asked.
“I didn’t respond, except to say that we’d need to think about it,” Alex replied, “but I think the answer is that we’ll have to take it on a case-by-case basis.”
“How can we do that?” Reiko asked. “If you let a race like the Gotlians have their water world because they’re desperate, then every struggling race will be seeking new worlds across the wall. We haven’t the resources to patrol that vast area of space and adjudicate the deserving.”
“You’re absolutely right,” Alex replied, with a hint of a smile.
“We’ll need friends,” Julien replied, interpreting Alex’s smile.
“Good neighbors,” Hector agreed.
“Like the Gotlians,” Adrianna added, “if you can stop them throwing missiles at you long enough to talk to them.”
“There are always challenges to making new friends,” Renée said, “but Alex has been practicing.”
“So, has this been a mental exercise,” Adrianna asked, “or have we just committed to a plan of action?” A gaze at the surrounding faces confirmed the answer for her. “Congratulations, Vice Admiral Thompson on your new position,” she said to Ellie.
With the meeting having ended, individuals rose and disbanded.
At the door, Adrianna halted in front of Alex. “I’ve committed to your fight. Do I deserve a hug now?” she asked.
Renée chuckled at Adrianna’s request.
“It’s always been everyone’s fight,” Alex replied.
“Does that mean I don’t get one?” Adrianna rejoined.
“No,” Alex replied, “not when I know you want one.” He opened his arms, and said, “Welcome aboard.”
Adrianna stepped into Alex’s embrace. She didn’t receive what she’d expected. It wasn’t a quick wrap of the arms and genial pats on the back. She felt like she’d been enfolded. It was momentarily disconcerting. Then it felt like a safe place to be. When Alex released her, she stepped back and cast a guilty glance at Renée.
Adrianna sent in reply. Then she made a hasty exit.
-19-
Celebration
Announcements were made about the new command arrangements, and the fleet admirals took the opportunity to practice war games.
Taralum came to depend on the sisters, who were aboard every battleship, and she requested that they be made permanent assignments. The thousands of other sisters were hard at work on restoring the system’s infrastructure.
Asu, Willem, and many of the explorers spent time investigating the fascinating individuals they’d met — sisters, Toralians, and Chistorlans, who’d yet to return to their home world. However, Alex had sent a Trident, with a SADE aboard, to inform the Chistorlan monarch, Gramab doma Farla-Hesta, of Artifice’s defeat.
Inundated with the task of unloading and distributing cargo from the super freighters with Miriam and Luther, Mickey delegated Miriamopus’s new avatar to Z, Miranda, and Claude Dupuis. They’d constructed a significant number of standard avatar bodies, which were similar to the ones inhabited by Julien, Cordelia, and Hector. It was the final details that were needed — synth-skin coloring, facial modeling, hair color, and eye color, to name a few.
Hector joined Z and Miranda, when Miriamopus’s avatar was ready.
After the transfer, Miriamopus found reorientation challenging. One moment, she was directly connected to the city-ship’s comm system, controller, and sensors. The next moment, she was detecting everything through the avatar’s sensors. The sensation was one of being diminished.
The comms sent from Hector, Z, and Miranda stabilized her. She reached out for the Our People’s powerful controller and sensed she was connected again.
“Do I get first hug?” Miriamopus heard. She identified Alex’s bio ID before he stepped around the corner.
“That would be my pleasure,” Miriamopus said, testing her voice control. Unexpectedly, she received pressure settings from Miranda and realized her avatar was capable of much greater strength than that recommended for human contact.
Miriamopus wrapped her arms around Alex’s heavy-worlder body, and she felt his hug. Her senses flooded with the warmth and smell of his clothes and his skin, the pressure of his arms and hands, and the whispers in her ear.
Alex held Miriamopus until she had her fill of new sensations.
Stepping back, Miriamopus said, “That’s a unique introduction to mobility. Thank you, Alex.”
“We think the dear man wasn’t loved enough as a child,” Miranda teased. “That’s why he goes around hugging every individual in sight … human, SADE, and Dischnya.”
“The Toralians and the Chistorlans have no idea what’s waiting for them,” Z quipped.
“We must find him a more robust race,” Hector said, as if offering sage advice. “We need indiv
iduals who won’t be crushed in one of his affectionate moments.”
As the bantering continued, Alex’s lopsided smile at Miranda’s initial tease grew into a grin.
“Welcome to the slightly off-center world of the mobile Omnians,” Alex announced, and then he left the SADEs to return to the Freedom.
As Alex walked to his traveler, he considered Miriamopus’s avatar choice. She’d selected an exotic appearance for her face. It was a mix of ancient Earth’s European and Asian cultures, and he wondered from where she’d borrowed the imagery. Then there was her new comm ID. She’d abandoned the name Miriamopus, undoubtedly to separate herself from the Sisterhood. She was now Lydia.
* * *
Renée knew Alex was anxious to set sail and cross the wall. He’d waited to give the fleet admirals time to practice their maneuvers. The newcomers who Hector brought were quickly learning tactics from the battle-hardened.
However, Renée didn’t want the Omnians to lose sight of what they’d fought to defend, and she believed that the Toralians needed a lesson in enjoying life’s pleasures.
Having made up her mind, Renée sought out Julien and Sargut.
“President Sargut, with your permission, Ser would like to hold a celebration,” Julien said.
Sargut glanced at Renée. He’d learned to discern some human facial expressions. Hers appeared hopeful.
“What would we be celebrating?” Sargut asked.
“Many things,” Renée replied brightly. “The reclaiming of Talus, the birth of your new society, the sisters’ liberations, and so much more.”
“You’d hold this event on the Freedom?” Sargut asked, wondering why Renée was seeking his permission.
“No, I want as many as possible to attend,” Renée replied. “There’s a plain of grass near your ancient city. We could hold it there.”
“I believe Alex wouldn’t approve. It’s unsafe to be on the surface without extensive security,” Sargut replied.
Sargut’s growing familiarity with human expressions served him well. He could read the shift in Renée’s face and knew he’d said the wrong thing. He quickly added, “Then, of course, I’m sure that if you were to plan this celebration, you’d take that into consideration.”