Damia's Children

by Anne McCaffrey

  THN WOULD BE ALONE HERE. IT IS ONLY FAIR THAT MRG AND DPL BE DEPRIVED IN SOME WAY AT THE SAME TIME.

  Thian rocked with laughter, falling backward on his bunk and cracking his head on the wall. As if they had caused his bump, the ’Dinis were all over him with tender digits and soothing caresses.

  THN WILL MISS HIS FRIENDS. THN ALWAYS DOES, he told them when they quieted and he could hold them against him.

  The next day when he appeared for his morning classes, there was an excited buzz in the air and many smiles for him. Except, of course, from Malice. Thian could feel dark brooding discontent from that source, as if Malice resented him doing this service to his shipmates. Or perhaps had small hope of being one of those on a shore leave roster. What amused him was the fact that there had been no official announcement of shore leave by means of Talent-assisted personnel capsule. In fact Captain Ashiant’s bulletin was anticlimactic: everyone on all four Human ships knew about it.

  Three days later Thian sent the first three drones back: two to Earth as requested by the personnel and one to Betelgeuse.

  You’ve made more work for yourself, the Rowan told her grandson as she “caught” the first of the three. But he sensed that she approved.

  There’s been a significant improvement in morale, he said diffidently.

  That is very important on a search mission such as this. Your grandfather says you ought to have warned Fleet so Earth could be warned.

  That’s not my responsibility, he began and then realized that he was being teased. Think of the money they’ll be spending!

  CHAPTER

  SIX

  TEN days after the first shore leaves were ’ported, the long-range sensors discovered an object moving at a very slow speed in the general direction of the squadron: a very large object to have been picked up at such a distance. Too far as yet to be identified, its presence livened all discussions on the Vadim and the other ships of the squadron. Thian ’ported all captains aboard the flagship and attended the meeting as recording interpreter. He was proud of his students: even after only four months’ intensive study they were able to discuss much in ’Dini, a fact which certainly pleased the ’Dini captains. Nothing could be done until identification was made, of course, but several courses of action were discussed.

  The ’Dini reluctantly allowed the possibility that the object might be a wandering planet, blown out of its native solar system by a nova—several had been noted in this quadrant. Such phenomena had been noted by both Human and ’Dini in the course of space explorations: the planets or asteroid fragments sterile and lifeless but occasionally worth prospecting. Thian knew by their language that the ’Dini captains were convinced beyond doubt that this was more likely another Hive ship. It was traveling from the general spatial direction of the ion trail they had been following, hoping it would lead them, at last, to the Hive home system. The ion trail had been getting weaker as its traces dissipated during the months of the search but was still discernible on the highly sensitive equipment the ’Dinis had developed. Space being the immensity it was even a general direction for search was a plus.

  The ’Dinis wanted to go on yellow alert and to implement intensive drill in the strategy of penetrating and destroying a Hive ship. As these tactics were of a suicidal nature, the Humans, understandably, temporized, suggesting careful surveillance and reconnaissance and to make the most effective use of the new weaponry with which the squadron was equipped. Untried against a Hive ship, to be sure, but theoretically more sophisticated than known Hive ordnance, delivering a paralytic shock of purportedly lethal proportions. Even glancing touches could inhibit movement for hours.

  This was where the ’Dinis and Humans diverged in their mutual war against the Hive World. Technically speaking, the squadron’s orders were to seek and identify the Hive World, and return for further orders. A single fast scout might have accomplished the same mission but a single fast scout could neither carry the armament needed in case it encountered Hive ships—which was a distinct possibility given the unusual Hive activity that had created this emergency—nor the supplies to last an indefinite search period. So a squadron was committed to the task, with orders that one ship must survive to report.

  In the ’Dini view, coming across a Hive vessel meant it must be destroyed. It could not be permitted to exist, no matter what cost the destruction. It could be heading for their homeworld and must not be allowed to proceed once intercepted. Where ’Dini soldiery was quite willing to die to achieve that end, Humans, not having had wars in several centuries, were not disposed to commit themselves with such fervent dedication. To be sure, naval units met with disasters of all kinds, causing the death of many or all those aboard the stricken vessel. But no Human warship sought deliberate attack, nor considered it the logical conclusion of sighting an alien vessel. Cowardice had nothing to do with this: common sense did.

  “He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day,” might be a Human sentiment but it was, unfortunately, an intolerable concept to the ’Dinis.

  As translator—and someone more familiar with the nuances of ’Dini speech than any of the others at the conference—Thian was doing his best to tone down what was couched in challenging language from the ’Dini while injecting vehemence in the almost diffident Human responses. To the ’Dini warrior ethos, this was put up or shut up time, while the Humans seemed more interested in discussing alternatives that did not, in ’Dini terms, exist. The oncoming object must be a Hive ship. It must be destroyed.

  When Ashiant, for one, realized that destruction was the preferred ’Dini tactic, he cast a meaningful glance at Thian. Thian gave his head a quick shake, wishing the captain hadn’t such a tight natural shield so he could immediately explain that there was no way he, with twelve minor Talents—even augmented by the generators of six big warships—could do what, two and a half decades ago, had required several hundred Talents in the Denebian Penetration.

  The Human captains vigorously insisted on discussing alternative identities for the wayfarer, the favored one—which the ’Dinis repudiated as soon as it was mentioned—being the possibility of meeting yet another sentient species in space. Thian privately agreed with the ’Dinis on that score. ’Dinis had explored enough over the centuries of their space travel capability to be cynical about that prospect: especially in view of the fact that they had already found Humans.

  Politely Captains Spktm and Plr listened to the Humans but Thian could see that they were convinced this was Hive and it couldn’t be anything else.

  In the fact of that unalterable opinion, Ashiant and the other Human captains wisely initiated intensive drill procedures but an actual discharge of the new weapons system, of course, was out of the question. Even the surprise of such new weapons might have an effect on the implacable Hivers. The Hive was also known to have acutely sensitive scanning devices—as some unfortunate ’Dini scouts had discovered. Biologists had suggested that the Hive members probably had more acute hearing than vision. What few fragments of Hive ships were left after a ’Dini suicide penetration gave little evidence of internal lighting systems.

  Fortunately, none of the Humans even mentioned evasion tactics, though it was no secret to Thian that each Human captain was reviewing how to preserve ship and crew even if the ’Dinis were quite willing to spend lives and ships to destroy a Hiver.

  Privately Thian wondered how many escape pods he could fling to safety with or without the impetus of generators in the event the Vadim was badly struck. There was also the ethical and moral problem of whether he should also contrive to save himself, the Prime, if it was at the expense of fellow shipmates. He decided that avenue of thought was depressing and self-defeating.

  This squadron had six of the newest, best equipped and best armored vessels of their respective navies, and powerful new weapons. Contemplation of defeat and/or suicide was self-destructive. Even thoughts of evasion could be defeatist. He started emanating stern resolve and optimism.

  Som
ewhat to his astonishment, his efforts began to produce results in the discussions as Humans and ’Dinis both began to talk themselves into more positive thinking.

  HIVE SHIPS FOLLOW TRADITIONAL PATTERN NO MATTER WHAT SIZE AND NEVER DEVIATE, Captain Spktm said, slipping a pencil file into the ready room reader and bringing up the enhanced image on the main screen. WEAKNESS REMAINS WEAKNESS, STRENGTH STRENGTH WITH THE QUEENS ALWAYS IN THE MOST PROTECTED SPOT, EGGS NEXT AND EXPENDABLE WORKER DRONES AUXILIARIES IN OUTER SHELL. The spherical shape of the Hive had been opened in one arc to show the levels. Much was extrapolation since Hive ships had to be blown apart to be stopped, fragmenting both attacker and attacked. The ’Dinis had gathered their information—painfully—over the centuries. SCOUTS ARE ALWAYS IN EXTERIOR BAYS. WEAPON SYSTEMS CONTROLLED FROM QUEENS’ LEVELS BY SPECIAL DRONES. BELIEF IS HELD THAT THERE ARE SPECIAL REINFORCEMENTS TO PERMIT QUEENS AND MOST VALUABLE EGGS TO SURVIVE EVEN THE TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE SHIP. ’DINI ATTACK GROUPS HAVE LEARNED TO RESERVE AT LEAST ONE SHIP TO CHASE AND DESTROY THESE SPECIAL INTERIOR CONTAINERS WHICH HAVE ON OCCASION CONTAINED SMALLER UNITS LIKE HUMAN ESCAPE PODS. (Mrdini ships had no comparable unit.) THE SURVIVAL OF AT LEAST ONE QUEEN ONE ATTENDANT DRONE MEANS THE HIVE SURVIVES. SUCH SURVIVAL UNITS HAVE ACHIEVED ESCAPE VELOCITIES THAT, UNTIL RECENTLY, EXCEEDED THE BEST SPEED OF CHASE VESSELS. QUEENS AND EGGS SURVIVE IN CONDITIONS FATAL TO MRDINI AND HUMAN.

  Then the ’Dini captain activated an animated reconstruction of the phases of attack and dissolution of a Hive ship. As often as Thian had seen this vid, it never failed to give him nightmares. The average Hive ship had between twelve to thirty Queens. Teardrop-shaped vessels spurted from the exploding wreckage of the demonstration Hive ship. They traveled at incredible speeds, disappearing so rapidly in all directions from sensor range that a fix could not be taken, making pursuit difficult—especially if only one ’Dini ship remained operational at the conclusion of the battle.

  For just this Hive maneuver, every ship in the squadron had been provided with eight highspeed pursuit craft cradled in the shuttle bays.

  Optimism spread and defeatism dissolved as the Humans began to psych themselves up for their encounter with this implacable enemy and destroyer. The fatalism which always motivated a ’Dini soldier began to seep into their Human allies as Spktm pointed out primary targets for the initial assault. Then the Human captains began to embrace the actual, not the theoretical, aspects of the possibility of their first space battle in generations.

  * * *

  Finally Thian was asked to inform both homeworlds of the discovery of an as yet unidentified object. Thian decided he’d tell Jeff Raven, as Earth Prime, first.

  Shouldn’t we wait to find out if the thing’s really dangerous? Jeff asked.

  I’m following orders, sir.

  As indeed you should, even with news as momentous as this. Jeff replied equably. It does add a little spice to an otherwise dull day. I’m passing the word to the High Council so you can expect to be on call now for messages. Are you a hard sleeper?

  No, sir.

  Well, get what you can when you can. That’s the down side of this job. Ah, yes, High Council is calling an emergency session. Have you apprised the Mrdinis yet? Do so immediately. It is only proper you would inform your own species first.

  When Thian ’pathed Laria, she erupted with what he felt was unprofessional excitement; more nearly exultation of a bloodthirsty variety.

  I’m not blood-lusting, Laria replied with some indignation, I’m practicing ’Dini hurrahs. They’ve waited so long for a breakthrough like this.

  We don’t know if it is a breakthrough, sis.

  Go find out! Like Mother did! The suspense would kill me.

  Mother didn’t KNOW what was out there, then, or I’ll bet she wouldn’t have gone.

  But how long before we know? Laria demanded, her mind sparkling with excitement. She was positively bloodthirsty, Thian thought.

  Even at the speeds we’re traveling, it’ll take several days to close the distance between us.

  What about probes?

  We’re not even close enough for a probe, even those new hypersensitive ones.

  But Laria had planted the notion in his head of a ’portational reconnaissance and he couldn’t shake it out. It might redress the impression the ’Dinis had that Humans were unnecessarily cautious. Even among his own kind, he’d accrue considerable prestige from such a daring action. And, speaking of suspense, establishing a definite ID would improve morale considerably. Waiting was always the worst part of any ordeal. Also, if Thian could prove himself, he might even get rid of Malice. Most of that person’s dislike centered around him being a civilian on a naval mission, a weasel-lover on a human-crewed ship, a snot-nosed kid who’d been pampered all his life because of a lucky genetic break.

  When they got somewhat closer—for even his mother had not risked going too far from her power base—he might just mention it to Captain Ashiant. Thian knew his strengths but he also knew his own limitations. Lucky he knew himself to be: but not snot-nosed.

  Busy as he became, hauling in more supplies, retrieving crewmates from their home planets for all shore leave was canceled, Thian also quickly found a way to answer the pressing need of his ’Dinis. Hibernation was not considered a dereliction of duty for usually only immature or post-mature ’Dinis went on long-distance duty. As it happened, several ’Dini observers from the High Council on Clarf required transport to the KLTL and KLTS so Thian arranged that Mur and Dip would have space on the return trip. Mur and Dip had the dubious pleasure of accompanying four of the largest ’Dinis Thian had ever seen.

  He missed his life-long friends almost as soon as he lost their “touch” as Laria took control of their capsule at the changeover point. This was not like their yearly retreat on Iota Aurigae: they weren’t a matter of kilometers away in a hillside he could see from his bedroom window. Their companionship had also afforded him relief from his anomalous position on the Vadim. He missed them more as his workload increased and tensions rose, in him and throughout the ship and squadron.

  Two days after the sighting, he had an unusual interview with Captain Ashiant.

  “You’ve handled yourself extremely well, young Lyon,” Ashiant began, steepling his fingers and staring so hard at him that Thian began to worry about what the man was leading up to. “I gather that our ’Dini allies find our attitudes towards a possible engagement at odds with theirs.”

  “They’ve fought the Hivers for centuries, with considerably more direct experience than Humans have had.”

  “They also consider there’s only one way to promulgate this war.”

  “They’ve only found one that’s successful in destroying the enemy. Any other outcome is unacceptable considering what this enemy does unchecked.”

  “Well, at the risk of appearing cowardly, Humans have usually,” and Ashiant stressed the adverb, “found that retreat can often result in significant victory.”

  “Humans have only been up against a Hive ship once,” Thian was obliged to remind him. “The scout ships don’t, apparently, count.”

  “That’s not what I wish to discuss with you. If we come up against a viable Hive ship this time, young Lyon, you will act upon these special orders should the special circumstances arise,” and Ashiant handed over a transparent pencil file. “You have an eidetic memory. This destructs after one reading and leaves no trace in your terminal.”

  Carefully Thian inserted the file in his breast pocket.

  “You will memorize the contents, and then forget them until you are required to implement the orders.” Ashiant rose to pace the long side of his ready room. “I intend to commit the Vadim as thoroughly as our Mrdini allies will commit their ships. In the event the Vadim is committed past the point of return and orders are given to abandon ship . . .” Thian held his breath, fear trickling down his arms and legs at such a contingency, “. . . you will ensure that the nine people on that pencil file are ’ported to safety. And that you,
” Ashiant swung about to point his forefinger at Thian, “leave with them. Are you clear on that point?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “How many of the Talents on board have you contacted?”

  “Only six so far.”

  “Well, do what is necessary so that, in the event the generators can’t assist you, you can effect the removal of the persons in your orders. They do not have the option of remaining. Are you clear on that?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Are nine too many for you to cope with?”

  “No, sir.”

  “We’ll be holding pod drills frequently over the next few days so you’re to familiarize yourself with the equipment and those in your pod. Each lifeboat has an engine as well as the initial breakaway thruster. I’m not certain how much power that will give you which is why you must use the other Talents as boosters. If the order to abandon ship is given, you are first,” and again the index finger jabbed in his direction, “to get in your own escape pod, then make sure that the others get in, too. If the worst possible circumstances ensue, and you are the only survivor, you leave! You cannot be jeopardized.”

  “Because I’m a civilian?” Thian asked, indignant with hurt pride even as he recognized that as an immature reaction.

  “No, sirree sir, because you’re a Prime . . . and because you’ll have had access to most of the information other captains and experts would need to combat the next Hive ship we encounter.” Ashiant waited a full beat and then added with a rueful smile, “You’re much more valuable alive, young Lyon. Before that blip appeared on our screens, this was not a dangerous assignment. It is now and you were not to be endangered. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Crystal clear, sir.”

  “Good lad,” and the captain gave Thian an approving thump on his shoulder. That comradely gesture reduced the resentment he’d been feeling. “Now, implement your orders, Mister Lyon.”