by Ava D. Dohn
* * *
A shiver swept across Trisha’s shoulders, waking her from a fitful sleep. She rolled over to sit up, sliding her feet out of the bunk and onto the floor as she did. The quiet hum and distant vibrations of pulsing engines and machinery were still singing the ship’s lullaby. Looking over her shoulder and watching Zadar’s rhythmic breathing as he peacefully slept was also comforting. Still, there was a building trepidation that wouldn’t ease. Her neck and shoulders began to ache from the growing stress. Trisha rose, quietly gathered her uniform up and silently parted the cabin, passing a reassuring glance over her shoulder as she did.
It felt strangely refreshing to be hurrying down the darkened corridors naked. The experience of doing such a thing was new to the woman. Although it was common for the men and women of this realm, she had refrained from doing the same out of false modesty or guilt, she supposed, but that was mostly gone now.
Zadar had changed all that. He had made her feel free. The shame of sharing her beauty, of being a woman, or being a sexual creature was part of the past. When men or women looked with delight on her shapely form or naked flesh, she found pleasure in their stares. And then there was the tingle of the rushing air on all those tiny hairs that clothes crush and restrain. Oh, how titillating their movement as they resisted the breeze’s intrusion!
After entering the wardroom, the Army’s temporary headquarters aboard the Sophia, Trisha pulled on her green breeches. She picked up her blouse, but couldn’t bring herself to put it on. Placing it over the back of her chair, she sat, resting her elbows on the conference table.
What was wrong? Never had she felt this way before. When she closed her eyes, why, there were soldiers marching out from the gates of a walled city. Huge machines with gun turrets came rolling down the broadways, one after the other. And then there were the mounted soldiers riding giant, horned beasts, their skulls forming bony shields, and their hide covered with iron plates.
She shook her head, but the vision did not end. It twirled and spun around in front of Trisha’s eyes, maddening and frightening. Like some deathly shadow, the army from the city crawled ever forward, crushing everything in its path. Then she heard singing and laughter. At first, the words were muddled and confusing. Eventually they became clear. “To the south we shall go, to crush our evil foe. To the south we will strike. There we will send our might.”
At that moment, Centurion General Sarah stepped through the door. She was immaculately attired in her white dress uniform, a sword hanging at its side. Sarah was not comfortable with others seeing her flesh. Rarely did a person see skin above her lower thigh, and she always slept alone. Few were the men that she was truly comfortable with and fewer were the ones she trusted. Jebbson was sorely missed.
Sarah stopped and stared at Trisha, wide-eyed with wonder. Trisha reached for her blouse, apologizing for not wearing it. Sarah waved her off, telling her it was not a matter of concern to her, but that it was a surprise to find the field marshal awake.
Trisha released the blouse and asked Sarah to sit. She went on to tell her the reason for being there, that the disquiet of her waking dream delivered her to this place. “Never before have I seen things so vividly or heard speech so clearly in a dream, and yet I am not sleeping. Even now, while I look at you, I see the wild armies in my head.”
Sarah nodded in recognition. “I’m seeing vast armadas of warships tearing each other apart. Some are white with double crosses painted on their hulls. There are red ones like those of the Crimson Fleet. And then I see my own WolfPack Marauders. Debris and bodies float in the wasteland of cold space. Wreckage of every kind is all around me. Then I see the white ships fleeing and hear cheers and cries of victory.”
Anxious, Trisha asked, “What is happening to us?!”
Just then, Chasileah entered through the doorway, still hurriedly buttoning her uniform. “Yes, Commander?” She called out, stepping up to Trisha.
Trisha looked up at Chasileah. “What are you doing here?”
Surprised, Chasileah replied, “Why, you called for me to come.”
Trisha denied it. “I have just arrived from my quarters. I assure you, I didn’t call for you nor did I send someone to bring you.”
Chasileah disagreed. “Oh yes, you did! You summoned me in my dreams, telling me it was urgent, that you needed my assistance.”
“That’s impossible!” A disbelieving Trisha retorted. “I cannot come to you in your dreams! I cannot speak with my mind!”
Chasileah thought she understood. She asked, “So you do not believe you can speak with your mind?”
Trisha and Sarah responded that was so.
“Tell me then, please...” Chasileah began, “how did you pray in your elder days? Did you cry out to Lowenah with your voice or with your mind?”
“But that was to God!” An irritated Trisha replied, “With Lowenah, all things are possible.”
Chasileah waved her hand. “Don’t muddy the water with old clichés. Think! It would be one thing if Lowenah could only speak with you. But you could also speak with her. To do that, one must be equipped with the needed machinery to both receive and send messages with the mind.”
She pointed toward herself. “Most of Lowenah’s children have the power to speak to another without using the tongue. Some of the Ancients can call to others across great distances. It has been said of Gabrielle that she can communicate across star systems.”
Trisha and Sarah asked Chasileah to sit. They each described to her, in detail, the visions dancing in their heads. Chasileah listened carefully and asked many questions.
At length, she began to explain what she understood of the matter, first cautioning, “Do be careful to learn how to cloak your mental speech. You must learn how to tell the difference between private thought and open communication.” She took time helping them understand the differences and then practiced with them.
Chasileah addressed the general issue. “It has been said of you by our wise ones that your kind would receive power beyond normal and, in our hour of darkness and great need, you would rise up to rescue our souls from certain destruction. Now I do know for a fact that Mother has given to each of your kind special tools, like the rings you have, but there are also hidden tools you possess in your mind.”
She smiled. “I can see many things, but not to the extent that it has been given to you. Let me explain what these kinds of visions are. First, there are visions that come from the Cherubs or Mother. They are often prophetic and shown in riddles or symbols. I doubt the visions you two are having are from that source. What you are seeing are events as they take place, either in reality or in someone’s thoughts.”
Then to Sarah, Chasileah said, “You’re viewing the reality of things as they have been unfolding. Apparently, there is or has been a great battle fought. At the moment, our side has been victorious. This might not remain the case, seeing that you are watching it as it occurs. If you project your mind so as to focus on events, you should eventually be able to move around where you wish within the vision. If your power of insight is great enough, you will eventually pick out details, individual people, and even parts of their conversations.”
She cautioned, “Do be careful with your emotions. Anxious fear, anger, and boastful pride tend to blind a person to these visions, even blocking out mental communication. Asotos once was the greatest of all seers, but his wicked pride has clouded his abilities. Although still dangerously powerful, his strength has diminished.”
Chasileah attempted to explain how this ‘seeing with the mind’ works. “What is really happening in your brain is that very delicate sensory systems are reading the disturbances in the energy fields of the Universal Web.”
Observing a total lack of understanding on the part of her students, she offered an illustration. “You have seen the communications systems used to listen to voices from far away, right?”
&nbs
p; They agreed.
“As you have learned through the teachings of our mathematics, all harmonics create vibrations of sorts that can be measured either by machine or mind. The way those machines work is to filter out unwanted vibrations traveling through space. By carefully adjusting the controls for the exact signal, the operator’s desires can be isolated and enhanced. Then, with amplification, the signal can be seen or heard. Sound and pictures are transmitted this way.”
Chasileah pointed toward her head. “To a lesser or greater degree, each of us has a similar kind of machine within us. Instead of using a physical control to adjust the filter, we use our thought processes to do it. If our in-gathering power…signal…is great enough, we can focus in on many things, even if they may be far away.”
She extended her hand, pointing first toward Sarah and then Trisha. “The mental powers Mother has given you are very great. Few are the children who can see beyond the walls of a ship like this. Even calling to me, so that I could clearly hear you, is something that only the most ancient of our wise ones are able to master.”
Sarah was being patiently polite, but desired to know more about her visions. “So, tell me, of what value are my waking dreams? Will they show me what I should do, or do they portend the future?”
Chasileah answered, “From what I gather, your visions are not from Mother. You merely see what is taking place…or has...depending on the time it has taken the signal to reach you. I do not know which waveform your mind has latched on to. There are several, and they move at different speeds across the universe. The one you are deciphering, I do not know. Another factor is the distance you are from what you are seeing. So, it may take minutes or hours…possibly even longer for the signal to reach your brain.”
“How does this help me?” Sarah asked. “Of what value is it for me to see something if I am unable to know when or where it is happening?”
Chasileah smiled. “You must hone your mental abilities. Concentrate on what you see and ask questions in your mind. Focus on the picture and ponder the sights, sounds, and even possible smells. The controls to manipulate the vision are all inside you. You are the one who must learn to steer the vision where your desire. Eventually, you’ll be able to denote when something happened and even pinpoint where.”
Sarah was stubborn, not wanting to believe she had such power.
She was told to stand. Chasileah walked around behind her and lifted her hands to Sarah’s temples. She began to gently rub them with her fingers. “Here, you do the same as I am doing. While you do, close your eyes and concentrate on your waking dream.”
Chasileah took Sarah’s hands and touched them to her temples. “Now close your eyes and think about what you’re seeing. Relax your mind and focus on the vision.”
As Sarah surrender to Chasileah’s commands, her vision became sharper. Gradually she could see more detail, to the point of identifying individual people and ships. She gasped with excitement.
Placing her hands on Sarah’s hips, Chasileah slowly rotated her in place.
“Stop! Stop!” Sarah cried. “I can see it so clearly now.”
Chasileah grinned. “That is the probable direction from which your vision is coming. The distance will be more difficult to discern.”
Sarah opened her eyes and turned to face Chasileah, beaming with excitement. “I can see! I can see so clearly!”
Satisfied with her teaching skills, Chasileah went on. “To achieve greater detail, or if you are searching the universe, find a quiet room, sit on the floor and relax your body. Reach out with your mind to explore the worlds around you. I have been told by some of the Ancients that, with training, persons can draw themselves into their visions and be swept along with them.”
Trisha spoke up, “So, Major, tell me, please, what do my visions reveal? If not from Lowenah and not the same as the Commodore’s here, what am I seeing?”
Chasileah apologized for her tardiness and then explained, “Because your visions are strangely abstract, most likely you are seeing into the mind of a very careless adversary. The person must be an Ancient for you to be receiving such a strong vision. From what you tell me, I would guess you’re having a visual interpretation of someone’s battle plan, either just implemented or about to be.”
Trisha was wide-eyed with excitement.
Chasileah placed a finger to her lips. “Remember my warning about controlling your thought processes! If you don’t learn which part of your mind is speaking, you may blabber your secrets across the universe just like this fool is doing!”
“So what does this mean for us?” Trisha asked, concerned. “If this is some battle plan, how can I decipher it? What is our enemy doing, or planning to do?”
Chasileah continued, “The mind will often send out signals in the form of signs or riddles, especially when the person sending the signal isn’t intending to. What you see is a mosaic of what the person is thinking, and the speed at which a mind thinks often creates a jumble of messages being transmitted all at once. In other words, all the things you see and hear are like the parts of a puzzle or, possibly puzzles. And not all of them may be pertinent to the subject…or they may be. For that reason, you must remember every detail. Each may be vital.
“Now, you say that an army is coming out from the gates of a city. There are many broadways or many roads exiting the city gate. There are soldiers afoot, on beasts, and in machines - a very large host. And they are singing out their direction of travel.”
Chasileah thought a moment. “One possibility is the enemy will advance upon you from the north, exiting a fortified city or camp. It is a major thrust intended to crush the opposition. And, because of the intensity of your vision, I’d say the person thinking these things is close, possibly on the planet’s surface, and that the strike will happen soon if it hasn’t started already.”
Trisha scratched the side of her head, pondering aloud. “There is but one major, walled city on MueoPoros.”
The realization of her own statement struck her hard. She jumped up, almost shouting. “They’re going to hit us in the south! In the south! Damn it! If he makes a major thrust in that direction, we’ll never be able to take the blow!”
Chasileah countered, “We have the battle plan. Just how soon it will come is still a mystery, but knowing it will give us time to prepare. Commander, because of your visions, we will not be taken by complete surprise.”
Sarah stopped them. “The ships I am seeing appear to be troop transports. If that is true, then Asotos must be sending reinforcements to MueoPoros.”
“Why?” Trisha asked. “Legion already outnumbers us over two to one. Plus, his armies are concentrated. If he released his forces in a general assault, we’d be hard pressed to hang on to our holdings in the west. Never mind our positions at Memphis.”
Chasileah was trying to put the two visions together. She asked Sarah, “How far away do you think the enemy fleet is?”
“Far beyond our scouts, I’d say. We know the location of Asotos’ armada. These must be further away. Also, I see only ships that appear to be from the Crimson Fleet and my own WolfPack Marauders. Wait!”
Sarah put her hands to her head and closed her eyes in concentration. “Those ships of mine are from Commodore StarFaggo’s battle wing, which hails out of Stargaton. Their journeys take them beyond the Frontier as far north as the Outer Corridor and east to EremiaPikros.”
Chasileah interrupted. “You say the other ships appear to be those of the Crimson Fleet? Isn’t its main body located on patrol in the Trizentine?”
“Yes, they are!” Sarah exclaimed then frowned. “But how do we know if the action I am seeing is related to Trisha’s vision?”
Chasileah thought a moment. She snapped her fingers and asked, “Can you follow the debris field caused by the fighting?”
Sarah bent her head in concentration. A look of surprise crossed her face. She began to shout. �
�It comes toward me! Straight as an arrow it flees to the south and west!”
“All right.” Chasileah rested her hands on the table as she leaned forward. “If the enemy is retreating in the same direction it has come from, then it likely is heading for us. Do we know the location of any other enemy battle groups?”
“Why, yes, we do.” Sarah thought about it. “There are two coming down the Channel.”
(Author’s note: The Channel is a broad expanse encompassing much of the sky Q-north to south in the EdenEsonbar Confluence. It reached far to the east beyond the Frontier. Before the Rebellion, it was a heavily traveled route because it was relatively free of space rocks and asteroids.)
The wheels turned in her mind, putting all the information together. “If I’m correct, those fleets I see are on the same course as the ships we are tracking.”
Chasileah cautioned. “We cannot be certain that MueoPoros is or was the intended destination of the invasion fleets, though it’s more than likely the case. Still…” She stood up. “May I make a suggestion, General?”
“Please.” Sarah replied.
“Well,” Chasileah began. “I think it likely your invasion fleets’ destination was MueoPoros. But the Channel is a very big place and includes many star systems besides this one. The Hindly Page jump portal near Stargaton is in it, as well as parts of the Outer Corridor and some Frontier star systems. You have seen two invasion fleets, but there likely are more and not necessarily headed for us.”
“My suggestion is to warn all the colonies in the eastern theater, from the Trizentine to Candletoe. If an attack comes, it will likely manifest itself within twenty-four to ninety-six hours. Some places, we were told at the Council of Eighty, were to be secretly reinforced. I believe that Stargaton is one such place. Advanced warning will better prepare our people, helping them repel such an attack. Other places not fortified can make preparations and set their own plans in order.”
Chasileah then addressed Trisha. “Commander, I think it’s possible that any major attack against us on the ground will coincide with Asotos’ grand plan.” She asked Sarah, “Commodore, has a time been calculated for when the enemy carriers will be within fighter range?”
“Yes.” Sarah answered. “As of twenty-two hundred hours, they were calculated to be a little less than three days out.”
Chasileah turned to Trisha. “Commander, I believe you have forty-eight to seventy-two hours before Legion unleashes his counter-offensive.”
The room suddenly seemed cooler, or was Trisha feeling more vulnerable, being naked? Whatever the case, she reached for her blouse and quickly put it on. As she hurried with its buttons, she began to issue commands.
“The hours are escaping us, Major. There is no time to waste. I want you to get to Memphis and personally deliver my orders to General DinChizki. Make it clear to him the gravity of the situation. I want him to quietly shift every available unit to the south. Emphasize his need for secrecy. Tell him what you must, but with the others keep mum about the possible attack. My orders will fill him in on what I expect.”
She pushed a button on the conference table. In a moment, an unseen voice filled the room. “Army Command Center.”
“This is Field Marshal Trisha of QaShaibJal. Please find General NoazOhfehr and have him report to the Army wardroom. Tell him the field marshal begs his forgiveness at disturbing his rest, but his presence here is necessary and to please come in haste. I also want you to ready an armed shuttle, accompanied by two escorts, to be at my immediate disposal.”
She paused in thought, adding, “And please send to the commodore general and the admiral of the fleet, requesting them to join me here.”
She found some paper and began writing down her orders, all the while filling Chasileah in on the battle plan. “General Din will buttress up his southern army with whatever reinforcements he can risk from the other divisions. The divisions in the south will need to dig in and prepare for the worst.” She frowned. “Having to carry a second front has drained us of our reserves of soldiers and equipment. Added to this, the constant air fighting has depleted our air arm.”
While tapping her pen on the table, Trisha bemoaned their weakened state. “General NoazOhfehr’s army is spread out across the plains and low hills to the east of the PrasiaOdous Mountains. I believe we can hold our own there, no matter what is thrown at us.” She shook her head. “Trouble is, until I know for sure where the blow will strike, I dare not risk lending any support to Memphis from that sector. It’s sad, but our army to the south of that city stands alone.”
Trisha handed Chasileah a folded paper. “I have no envelope, nor do I have wax for my seal ring and there is no time to obtain them. You are my surety and trust. General Din will listen to your voice.”
Taking another sheet of paper, Trisha began to write, saying, “Show this to the good general, that is, if you’re willing to do me a huge favor?”
“Whatever it is you ask of me, I shall faithfully attempt to accomplish.” came Chasileah’s crisp reply.
“Good!” Trisha sighed. “I am giving you a field commission of brigadier general.”
Chasileah was shocked speechless.
Trisha handed her the paper. “There exists some little support that can be provided to our southern troops, should the time come when all else fails. Approximately eight thousand mounted scouts, couriers, standard bearers, and the like are spread throughout the Memphis armies. Most of them are experienced veterans from the old school. If all else fails and our forces falter, we may be able to boost their fighting morale with a grand show of determined pageantry.”
Chasileah queried, “Are you asking for a battle charge into death and glory?”
Trisha shook her head, quietly answering, “No. I’m asking you to lead, as a last resort, a battle charge into death and slaughter. There will be no glory in it, for there is no glory in reckless destruction.” Her sadness grew. “I highly doubt it will succeed in driving off the enemy, but it might buy us some time and spur our forces back into the fight.”
With that, Trisha reached up and tore the insignia from her left sleeve, tears growing in her eyes. “Here, General. I’m sorry, but I have no other ensign to give you.”
Chasileah was deeply touched. “No greater gift could you give me. This I will wear with pride. I will not dishonor it.”
Trisha put a hand on her shoulder, offering a wistful smile before kissing her on the lips. “I want for you to return it to me if at all possible.”
General Noaz made his appearance at that moment. Trisha called him over and quickly brought him up to speed. He well understood the gravity of the situation. Giving Chasileah a tender kiss, Noaz promised, “If there is anything I am able to do, I will not hesitate to give it.” Then waxing romantic, “Should our world dissolve into dust and ruin, and death be our sealing fate, there awaits for us one more divine, where the rivers PisTeuo and Elpis mate.”
Chasileah interrupted and finished the verse. “So doth the fearless warrior speak, as he stands the battle line.”
Noaz grinned so sadly. “My dear sister, you have never failed us…”
Chasileah frowned and started to argue. Noaz put a finger to her lips and shook his head. “You have never failed us…or your soldiers. I have always admired my older sister. In peace and in war, you have led us with distinction.” He affectionately embraced her.
Just before Chasileah left, Trisha assigned Jonathan to her command as an aide-de-camp. “Now be off quickly, General.” Trisha took her hand. “May your services go un-required.”
Chasileah begged her leave, hurried to her cabin to retrieve some personal articles, which included an ancient golden helm, breastplate, mail, and other pieces of armor. To throw away one’s life in battle might not bring glory, but it could still be glorious. With luggage packed, and assistance from two orderlies, she made her way to the shuttle bay and departed to an un
known fate.
Meanwhile, Planetee arrived at the wardroom. In a few moments, Admiral SujinKotoku made an appearance, telling the others that the admiral of the fleet was indisposed and requested he take her place.
No one disputed Trisha and Sarah’s visions. Admiral Sujin immediately began preparing the Navy for Asotos’ coming offensive. He contacted the colonies, warning them of possible invasion and began consolidating his scattered forces at important strategic locations. Commodore General Planetee, conferring with the Navy, added support forces to the army on MueoPoros by pulling three Marine brigades from the navy ships, a Marine brigade comprised of approximately seventy-eight hundred soldiers each. These forces could not be consolidated on the battlefronts, but their added presence did help slow Legion’s advancing armies, especially to the south of Memphis.
The leadership concluded it unwise to remain together, risking a total command breakdown should the Sophia be destroyed in the ensuing battle. Sarah removed herself to one of her larger Special Forces vessels. Planetee transferred to the carrier, TifaraTirza, along with her staff officers. Trisha ordered her field commanders, along with General Barkai, her chief of staff, to MueoPoros’ surface.
Determined and resolute, the leaders of the Children’s Empire settled down for a fitful wait. The next move was up to the enemy.
(Author’s note: Truth be told, Gabrielle was found by a staff secretary, doubled up on the floor of her cabin. She had managed to assist the admiral into bed and called Sujin to inform him. Gabrielle was too sick to walk, her blinding headache making it impossible for her to move.
The history books do not mention Gabrielle’s illness, but I think it is imperative you should know. At the risk of receiving her rebuff, I shall break my silence and confess to the reader what I know about the matter.
There has been some historical criticism given to Gabrielle for her failure to act more decisively, especially with Mihai and Anna. There are also intermittent periods of time during the King’s War when the woman disappears from the record.
Let me assure you, Gabrielle was stalwart in her duties…and there was no other person better suited to carry the responsibilities than she.
Gabrielle could not shake her headaches. They persisted throughout the war. After a minor stroke disabled the admiral, shortly following the battle for MueoPoros, Gabrielle stopped taking the strictnoisun for her ills. She had two more strokes over the following six months, forcing her to command in absentia while she convalesced. The strokes left her right arm partially paralyzed and caused her to go blind in one eye, a condition from which she did not fully recover throughout the period of the war.
When the children of the Shadow Days grow beyond the traumas of that age, their testimony will prove that Gabrielle effectively carried out her duties. Her sickness and several war injuries did not affect her unparalleled leadership abilities.
In my personal examination of the facts, I have come to believe that it was Gabrielle who held the Empire together during its darkest hours. Never did her mind falter. She is notably the most outstanding military strategist in history.
As for questions raised concerning Anna and Mihai - issues that will be discussed at a later time - the student of history must consider the political ideology of the day. In the minds of the people, Mihai was ‘king absolute’. They would not have tolerated anyone short of Lowenah questioning her decisions and commands. Had Gabrielle publicly acted against Mihai’s will, she would have lost credibility as chief commander in the Empire, weakening her influence with the people.
Two positive things did come out of Gabrielle’s sickness. After the Battle of MueoPoros, Field Marshal Trisha transferred Zadar from her command to serve as Gabrielle’s personal adjunct. This was fortuitous. Under the admiral’s tutelage, Zadar grew in wisdom and leadership abilities, eventually becoming her second in command over the Navy. He has been credited with many of the decisive victories that led to Asotos being driven from the First Realm.
The second positive thing that came from Gabrielle’s sickness was the resurgence of technological invention. Gabrielle was an excellent fighter pilot. Her physical disabilities, including her loss of mental insight - visions in time and space - made her incapable of flying the TKR-17. Openly embracing Jebbson Garlock’s smart machine development and offering the Navy’s full support, she eventually helped in the production of the TKR-21. The TKR-21, better known as the ‘Baby Pearl’ was credited with ending the Endikos scourge. It was easy to manufacture and, more importantly, an average pilot could quickly master its controls.
The Baby Pearl changed the history of warfare and, later, interplanetary travel. The ships of your day still use many of the innovations incorporated in it. Its arrival on the scene coincided with the introduction of the ‘Planetee’, or ‘Crystal Bullet’, a subject for future discussion. The Baby Pearl is the fighter you will most often see in paintings of Mihai wearing her pilot’s uniform.
At the controls of the Baby Pearl, Gabrielle soon regained her reputation as a fighter ace. Near the end of the war, when Asotos’ armies were in full retreat, she led dozens of sorties against the enemy. The information I have revealed may help add meaning to Gabrielle’s statement, when commenting about this ship. ‘It has been my right arm, helping me see beyond the horizon.’)