Sojourn
Page 38
Mickey had the exteriors examined to see if the creatures had marked the surfaces. The Omnians couldn’t find any, which made the chief engineer think he had something that rivaled the warships’ faux shells.
In eleven more days, the city-ships were empty of Gotlian cargo.
Di-Orsoo, Ba-Geesaa, Or-Deebaa, and Sa-Foosee made their first and only trip to the Freedom. They were accompanied by a few other Gotlians. At Alex’s request, the leaders brought Ja-Faasoo.
Alex, Renée, and senior staff met the Gotlians in the city-ship’s grand park. There wasn’t a plan for a majestic ceremony or even a small one. The Gotlians wanted an opportunity to thank Alex personally for his assistance.
For Alex’s part, he had little to say. He wished the Gotlians well and then was quiet.
Yoyo stepped from the crowd who had assembled to witness the meeting.
Ja-Faasoo recognized Yoyo, and his tentacles danced in anticipation. He was motioned forward by Di-Orsoo.
Julien identified Ja-Faasoo for Yoyo, which wasn’t necessary. The eagerness in the Gotlian’s posture and face identified him to her.
“Moma-seefaa,” Ja-Faasoo said to Yoyo, when they closed on each other.
Yoyo smiled in recognition of the term.
“Are you well?” Yoyo asked.
Julien handled the pair’s interaction.
“I’ve fully recovered, Moma-seefaa,” Ja-Faasoo replied. “Without your presence, I might never have had the courage and wits to escape the creature. Without your presence and your ship, I wouldn’t have survived the gullet’s poisons.”
“I’m pleased you’re well again,” Yoyo said, embarrassed by the praise.
Ja-Faasoo stepped forward, gently gripped Yoyo’s shoulders, and said, “May the waters forever cradle you.”
Immediately afterwards, the Gotlians departed, and Alex had orders for the fleet, or he thought he had.
-34-
Haraken
“A single squadron to escort the Sojourn and the Guardian to Haraken?” Tatia repeated skeptically. She and others were seated in the owner’s suite.
“Yes,” Alex replied.
“Allowing for your incredible math skills, Alex, has it slipped your mind that Haraken is more than nine months away?” Reiko asked.
“I appreciate the concern, Reiko, but my apps are functioning fine,” Alex replied. “The fleet has been gone from Omnia too long. They deserve to sail for home.”
“Alex and I intend to visit Haraken for a while,” Renée interjected.
“The fleet possesses many more Harakens than can live aboard three Tridents,” Julien pointed out. “How will you choose who can visit their home world and who can’t?”
“Étienne and Alain would enjoy the opportunity to see friends,” Tatia said. “And they’d like to take their partners,” she added, glancing toward Renée.
“That’s true,” Renée quickly added. “It wouldn’t be fair to invite Étienne to travel with us and not allow Ellie to accompany him.
“We could split the fleet,” Alex suggested. “Allow the crews to shuffle positions and let each command sail for their home world.
“It’s not working,” said Renée, her disappointment evident.
“There’s a darker side to our intervention, Alex,” Julien said. “Harakens must see the final size of our combined fleets.”
“That’s likely to frighten them,” Alex replied. “The populace knows full well how many ships should comprise this fleet by now.”
“That’s the point, Alex,” Tatia urged. “The lost ships underline the federacy’s dangers in a way in which no amount of conversation could ever do.”
“Do you intend to keep the fleets intact?” Reiko asked.
“For now, yes,” Alex replied. “We have the funds, and I want to see what other federacy fleets cross the wall before I disband our forces.”
“Mickey is anxious to visit the Confederation and lease the Gotlian technology,” Cordelia said, laughing. “He wants to add to the credits flowing into the Omnia Ships accounts.”
Alex held up his hands in defeat. “The fleet sails for Haraken. Please see to it, Cordelia,” he said.
“With pleasure,” Cordelia replied.
* * *
When the Omnian fleet arrived, it took up station six hundred kilometers out from Haraken to stay clear of the tremendous amount of traffic surrounding the planet.
Four stations orbited Haraken, and liners and freighters plied a hefty trade in citizen and cargo transport.
Senior staff members rode with Alex and Renée on the first traveler to launch from the Freedom. The ship bypassed the orbital stations and dropped to the surface. The passengers regarded the populace’s spreading footprint. Espero was no longer the only major metropolis.
Cordelia and Julien sat across from Alex and Renée.
“Records indicate that Haraken’s growth has come from multiple sources,” Julien noted. “Many of them are Méridien immigrants.”
“Who in the Confederation?” Renée asked.
“Primarily Méridiens from the outer colonies, Independents, and some SADEs,” Cordelia replied.
“There are New Terran immigrants too,” Julien added, “and the local populace is having more children earlier.”
“Crèches?” Renée asked.
“Most aren’t using them,” Cordelia replied. “They’re raising their children at home.”
“The influence of New Terrans,” Alex offered.
“New Terrans by the names of Alex and Renée,” Julien riposted. “I’ve heard a term spoken during my contacts. If partners keep their babies at home, it’s called teagueing.”
Renée grinned at Julien, but Alex frowned. She sympathized with his reaction. They’d chosen to raise Teague. It was their intent to foster a close relationship with their son. However, as Teague entered his teenage years, the relationship of Alex and his son was progressively strained.
Renée knew that Alex blamed himself. He thought if he had forgone the titles and responsibilities of leadership, that there would have been more time for the three of them. It might have allowed their family to lead a normal life.
The universe has a will of its own, Renée thought. The worlds of humankind have needed you, my love. Teague will have to forgive his father one day.
The traveler made several stops to drop off passengers, while Alex, Renée, Julien, and Cordelia remained aboard. The pilot’s final destination was the president’s residence.
Terese and her partner, Tomas Monti, stood on the top of the residence’s grand steps, as the ship touched down on the grounds.
Renée and Terese, who was known to Alex’s intimate circle as the fiery redhead, ran to greet each other. They were two of the few survivors of the Rêveur, the ill-fated passenger liner that had been lost in space and time.
Everyone else waited to allow the women their moment. When they separated, Terese regarded Alex, as if she studied a larger-than-life statue.
Alex wore his offset smile. He stepped forward, and Terese hugged him. She whispered, “Thank the stars that you’re still with us, Alex. I’d hoped you were too big and too nonconformist for the universe to swallow you.”
When Terese released Alex, she studied him for a brief moment. Then she grabbed his face, wit
h both hands, and planted a full and hearty kiss on his lips. “Now that I’ve got that out of my system,” she said, “let me greet the remainder of my guests.”
After the greetings were complete, they made their way inside, where Sheila waited for them.
“Defense minister,” Alex repeated, after hearing Sheila’s title. “It suits you.”
When everyone was seated, Terese commented, “Our SADEs have been busy. We’d hoped the ships in your fleet didn’t constitute the entire number. Sadly, we’ve learned they do.”
“We’re sorry for your losses,” Tomas said.
“But you accomplished your goal,” Terese said, hoping to turn the conversation to a positive note. “You found our enemy and unseated the entity.”
“That part’s true,” Alex replied.
“Is your work finished?” Tomas asked.
“I’d like it to be,” Alex replied.
“As always happens,” Julien interjected, “the closing of one chapter inevitably opens another. The federacy races are free of their master.”
“Free to do what they wish,” Cordelia added, “Some desires are benign; some are despicable.”
“We’ve heard about the Gotlians and the Dutterites from Elizabeth,” Terese said, referring to a SADE who chose to dedicate her time to the presidency. “Thank you for the safe return of the Sojourn and the Guardian.”
“Don’t thank me,” Alex returned, holding up his hands. “Admiral Hector came to their defense, but only after the Gotlian battleships were kept at bay by the Guardian.
“There have been many aspects to your story, Alex, that have been difficult to absorb,” Sheila commented. “I’d supposed that your fleet sat in one place for a while, but you’ve managed to contact multiple races. On top of that, you found the New Terra.”
“Contact is an appropriate term,” Renée said, with a tilt of an eyebrow. “It came in all forms from passive to explosive.”
“We should set aside the story of the New Terra for now. It’s a long one,” Alex cautioned.
“I did pick up on one interesting piece of news,” Sheila said, staring intensely at Alex. “The Guardian is missing its original captain.”
“Oh, the captain isn’t missing,” Alex quipped. “Admiral Plummer is aboard the Our People.”
“You’ve always had a way of recruiting the best, Alex,” Terese remarked, laughing and patting Sheila’s leg.
“We’ve heard all these highlights, but there’s so much to understand,” Tomas commented. “Personally, I’m not sure where to start. I imagine my first question is why have you brought the entire fleet here?”
“In these circumstances, it isn’t his choice,” Renée replied decisively.
The Harakens were surprised by Renée’s demeanor. To them, the events in federacy space seemed to have had a profound effect on her.
“Meaning?” Terese asked.
“Where Alex goes, the fleet or a substantial portion of it goes,” Cordelia replied. She was as adamant as Renée.
“One day, I was master of my fate, and the next, I wasn’t,” Alex offered, with a shrug.
The Harakens didn’t hear regret in his voice. It sounded compliant, an inevitable acceptance.
“I can’t imagine what the four of you have been through,” Terese said sympathetically, “but I can see the effects on you. I want you to know that, as president, I appreciate the sacrifices you made to protect this world.”
Alex tipped his head in appreciation of Terese’s sentiment.
“I’ve seen images of the federacy’s battleships, like those of the Toralians,” Sheila remarked. “Are they as big and as powerful as they appear?”
“How big do they look to you?” Julien asked.
“Monstrous,” Sheila responded, her eyes widening.
“Then you’ve a good idea,” Julien replied.
“I think we need better adjectives,” Cordelia added flippantly. “Certainly, their proportions exceed anything we’ve ever seen, except for that of a city-ship. But those warships launch missiles the size of a Trident’s hull, and some of them carry nuclear warheads. They deserve a superior description.”
“True,” Alex agreed, “especially when you consider that one battleship can throw a hundred missiles in a single launch, and the ships travel in a formation they call a wedge.”
“How many of the races have a wedge of battleships?” Sheila asked.
“Every one of them who hasn’t been recently reduced,” Renée replied,
“And there are hundreds of races,” Tomas said, seeking confirmation.
“So we understand,” Julien said.
“And these races are free to send their fleets wherever they want?” Terese asked.
“Now you understand,” said Renée, her voice hard. “For the foreseeable future, you don’t send the Sojourn out to explore with any less an escort than a Trident command.”
Terese understood Renée’s anger. Her only son was aboard that ship, and Harakens had been unaware of the scope of the events taking place across the wall.
The meeting continued and was directed toward Haraken — its growth, the Assembly, Terese’s presidency, new technology, SADE integration, and Terese and Tomas’ two young children.
After the Omnians left the residence, the Harakens returned to the salon. They sat quietly with their thoughts.
Sheila broke the silence first. She said, “I think I liked it better when I was ignorant of the wider galaxy.”
“What’s more frightening is the casual manner in which our four friends accept the great chaos,” Tomas said.
“Perhaps, if we’d lived through what they’ve endured, we might have become inured to the dangers too,” Terese remarked. “Well, no matter how we view it, the galaxy continues to be a place fraught with hazards, and we’ve learned that one terror has been replaced with many others.”
* * *
Alex and Renée rose the next day. They intended to meet Alex’s sister, Christie Racine, and later, share an evening meal with Teague and Ginny. However, the day’s plans evaporated.
Alex heard Tatia’s laughter, as she closed the comm.
“Problem?” asked Renée, when she saw the frown on her partner’s face.
“The Dischnya have decided to pay Haraken a visit,” Alex replied.
It was Renée’s turn to frown. “Is anyone guiding them?” she asked.
“Apparently not,” Alex replied. “They simply boarded a traveler headed for Espero.”
Alex thought furiously. He’d no right to tell the Dischnya, especially a queen, what they could and couldn’t do. They were a volunteer force.
Julien confirmed the vehicle reservations and sent the location to Alex. Alex redirected the traveler’s pilot, and he and the others piled into a four-seat grav car and raced for the rental agency. They landed at the site, as the traveler touched down.
Homsaff and her warriors poured from the ship.
Alex watched Homsaff’s tail rise and its end twitch in frustration. He leapt out of his grav car and enthusiastically greeted Homsaff.
“This isn’t the city center,” Homsaff growled in reply.
“No, it isn’t, Homsaff,” Alex said. “I thought this would be better. We’ve three grav cars to tour Espero from the air. They’re open vehicles, which I’m sure the warriors will enjoy.”
“Then we’ll land in the city and walk among the citizens?” Homsaff inquired. It came across more as a demand than a question, and her yellow eyes bored into Alex’s.
“Absolutely,” Alex replied. While he chatted with the queen and her warriors about what they wanted to see, Julien and Corde
lia concluded the rental process and brought out the grav cars.
The warriors yipped at the opportunity to ride in the vehicles that allowed the wind to ruffle their fur. Homsaff heard her warriors’ approvals, and her tail lowered and curled around a leg.
“Homsaff, please ride up front with me,” Alex offered.
“I’ll ride with Cordelia,” Renée said.
“Climb aboard,” Alex called out, and the Dischnya hurried to claim seats.
Simlan, by dint of seniority, got the front seat of Julien’s car.
The rental agent gave Alex an indication of what to expect when they landed in the city center. His mouth was agape, and he stared wide-eyed.
Alex knew the Harakens had imagery of the Dischnya. However, a vid didn’t prepare a viewer for the real thing. The warriors, with their formidable muzzles, furred bodies, and powerful hocked legs, commanded attention. From their great clawed feet to the crowns of their heads, they averaged more than two meters.
The grav cars lifted and cruised toward Espero. Alex chatted with Homsaff and the others in his car about what they saw.
“Is this a typical human city, Dassata?” a warrior asked.
“For Haraken and New Terra, yes. For Méridien, no,” Alex replied.
“Green among the buildings, like Toral,” another warrior noted. “Like this,” he added.
“Our Omnian plains need this,” Homsaff pronounced with definitiveness.
“We’ve been worried that developing forests on the plains would attract the fauna of the green,” Alex replied.
“Deadly,” Homsaff commented, referring to the venomous fauna of Omnia’s polar forests.
Alex was considering how he’d guide the Dischnya through stunned Haraken crowds, when he received a link from Julien. When he connected to it, he heard his sister’s voice.