Sonata in Orionis (Earth Song Book 2)

by Mark Wandrey

  "The T'Chillen, of course."

  Minu put on her best poker face as both of the Rasa's independent eyes studied her carefully. When he finally looked away she swallowed hard and tried not to scream. This was not the time for panic.

  A short time later it was only her own team of scouts and Var'at standing in front of the portal. She handed him his control rod and he activated the portal. He made no attempt to hide the destination so she didn't bother trying to see where it was. The Rasa were far too intelligent to make such an amateurish mistake. The portal opened onto a endless plain of waving grass, a orange sun shinned warmly.

  "I depart now," he told her. A scout handed him his equipment which he simply slung over one shoulder.

  "Farewell," she said.

  "We shall meet again," he said and stepped through. On the grassy plain he turned, pointed his control rod, and the portal closed.

  "I don't doubt that for a second," she said to the quiet portal before taking her own control rod and opening the way to FAX544. She was going to have a long report to write, and probably a longer debriefing.

  Chapter 15

  Octember 25th, 516 AE

  Council Chamber, Chosen Headquarters, Steven’s Pass

  Given the same decision to make again, Minu was sure she would make the same call a second time. Sitting in front of the Chosen council for the third day straight made her resolve slip hour by hour. Over and over they asked the same questions, wondering on her decision process. Did she carefully take the ROE into account before ambushing the Rasa team? Wouldn't negotiation have served the Chosen better? Had she considered the Tog before taking the cache which the Rasa claimed to be T'Chillen property? And on, and on, ad nausea.

  She'd managed to get a few messages from her team after returning. Both the scouts who'd fought the battle with her were already finished their briefings and had offered her, albeit quietly, their support in her decision to both fight and claim the cache. As had both Richardson and Capella. In fact she'd gotten text messages of support from just about every Chosen she'd worked with thus far.

  The highest drama came when Bjorn Ganose strode down from his seat, resplendently attired in a dress black uniform, the two little silver stars on his cuffs catching the light. It was either bad luck or perfect timing that First Jacob showed up at exactly that time. Bjorn's testimony of Minu's incredible resourcefulness and decisiveness was noted, and that was it. He returned to his seat looking annoyed and cast a worried glance at her on the way.

  Finally, at the end of the third day, the proceedings were coming to a close. Only the actual council remained, all the two stars from each of the five branches of the Chosen, the First and his Second. Seven men no younger than twice Minu's age who almost to a man looked very displeased with her. Only Bjorn looked down on her with compassion in his old eyes. Dram's face betrayed no emotions at all. Minu struggled not to break down and start crying. It was only a powerful inner fire of self-righteousness that held her resolve strong. I didn't do anything wrong, damn it!

  "I think it only fair that Minu be allowed to make a statement," Dram said suddenly. Minu hadn't said more than a few words to him since his promotion. She caught how the First shot him a surprised look, and then quickly covered it up.

  "There is no precedent for that," Jacob said with a dismissive gesture.

  "Neither is there for trying a Chosen team commander before the entire council without actually charging her," Bjorn put in. There were mumbles all around and Jacob's expression turned stormy. What had she done to so anger him, anyway? Was it that she was a girl, or did he harbored a resentment for her father? She understood that Seconds were often picked for political reasons, often appointed from among a Firsts chief rivals. That definitely seemed the case when watching Dram and Jacob. She'd thought they were much closer when first getting to know them, now she wondered if the weight of leadership was pulling them apart.

  "I would like to hear from the Chosen." All heads turned in surprise at the synthetic voice. A lone Tog stood by the open doorway. Two nervous looking Chosen waited just behind hser.

  Jacob bowed his head and stared guardedly at the Tog's three digit feet for a long moment before replying. "P'ing, you do your Chosen a great honor!"

  Being a lowly four star Chosen, Minu dropped to the proper respectful posture, touching her chin to the floor before rising. The Tog's huge silvery almond shaped eyes evolved on a jungle covered world where they lived in perpetual twilight. Hse turned their entire heads to look at an individual and took advantage of their eyes natural fish-eye effect to scan a room. You never knew if they were staring at you unless they looked right at you, yet Minu felt she had this particular Tog's complete and undivided attention.

  "I wanted to come and speak with you about the captured cache, and was puzzled to find you missing from your office. I decided to wait for your return. That was many hours ago."

  "Great patron, you need only to summon me!" Jacob spluttered.

  "I ordered your assistant not do so, instead I wanted to be brought to you. Your assistant was taken aback and took some time to decide to follow my orders. Eventually, I arrived here." The Tog had no mouth to move as it spoke. Fluid hand gestures and subtle changes in bioluminescence on the fingernails were detected by the translator which sent its words to the room. Of course hse didn't sit, instead hse stood in place on the beings horse-like lower body. Listening to a Tog speak was like a light show mixed with a ballet.

  The Chosen standing to the right of the Tog looked like he was about to faint. A four star not much older than Minu, he looked like someone who would rather be wrestling a kloth than in that room at that moment. Jacob fixed him with a look that spoke of more pain to come, then dismissed both the escorts with a quick hand gesture. They retreated, closing the door behind them. "How can we serve you, master patron?"

  "We of course received your notification of the cache and its recovery by our Chosen, and I decided to come and discuss this development with you in person. You will explain the meaning of this meeting of your Chosen council."

  Minu saw Dram and the other Chosen turn to look at Jacob. Dram seemed almost as eager as the Tog to hear his explanation. P'ing settled onto the first joint of each leg, rather like a human sitting cross legged. They weighed almost three hundred kilos so none of the chairs would hold them.

  "Well, honored patron, we are conducting a hearing into this Chosen's actions on GBX2334. It has been agreed by this council that those actions have placed us, humans on Bellatrix, in some jeopardy. We are further concerned for you, our generous patrons."

  "While appreciated, your concern for us is misplaced and confusing. You must misunderstand your position as clients of the Tog. It is neither your place, nor your job to be concerned with our position within the Concordia. I have read the report and summary of this Chosen's actions on GBX2334, provided by your Second, and find hser execution of duty to be within the law, and in our best interest."

  "But we, the council, were not consulted on whether to engage in combat or to actually claim the cache!"

  "You did not instruct the Chosen Minu Alma that the rules of engagement were changed, the Chosen Minu Alma was sent to evaluate the cache and decide on its worth, and the Chosen Minu Alma came into a hostile situation against an aggressor where not only was combat not precluded by position within the Concordia, but hse had been involved in hostilities with that species in the recent past. We are wondering what is to be gained by this hearing if the Chosen has performed hser duty as instructed and trained?"

  Minu remained kneeling without saying a thing, a four star Chosen such as herself did not presume to rise or speak to a Tog unless invited to do so. She couldn't believe what was happening. Had a Tog, the one in charge of all humanity, come to her personal defense? She must be mistaken. There had to be some sort of higher reason.

  The First looked among his fellow council for support. Whatever support he'd gotten to call the hearing suddenly evaporated in the face of the ap
pearance of P'ing. "There is no further reason for this hearing," Jacob said, more a growl.

  "That is good. Attend to me, First, we have business." As P'ing rose to hser feet and moved toward the councilor’s private exit. As hse passed Minu, P'ing turned hser head and in an unmistakable movement regarded Minu directly. Minu touched her chin to the floor again in the gesture of respect. P'ing gave her a very clear and noticeable nod of hser head then left the room followed by the council. Only Dram glanced back at her and grinned hugely. His wink to her was much more noticeable than the Tog's nod.

  * * *

  "You're still in uniform," Pip noted as she entered her office. He was sitting behind her desk and using her computer with an unabashedly surprised look on his face.

  "Trying out the chair for size?" she asked and stood while he moved to one of her two cramped guest chairs.

  "Not at all, you couldn't pay me enough to strap on a gold star." He got a mischievous look and shrugged. "Well, maybe if it was only one..."

  "I'm sure you have a better chance than I do after today." She practically fell into her chair, letting it recline until it hit the stop leaving her almost parallel with the floor. "Oh shit, that was the worst experience of my life."

  "So, tell me what happened." Minu glanced at her computer and was not surprised to see that Pip already hacked her access to try and find out about the hearing. With a sigh she told him everything. It took a few minutes to reach the dramatic interjection by Bjorn. "That was my idea," Pip took credit, "he didn't realize you were being eviscerated. So I take it he was no real help."

  "Unfortunately, no. They were on schedule for some sort of plan when P'ing showed up and spoiled the party."

  "P'ing, the Tog leader? No way!"

  "Yep, none other."

  "Hse must have a planned meeting with the council and that little show went long?"

  "I don't believe so. No, I'm sure hse didn't. There is no way his appearance was planned or expected. It even looked like Jacob tried to keep the tog from showing up at that hearing."

  "Then how did hse know about the hearing."

  "Dram sent hser my report."

  "Oh, really? Isn't that the second or third time he's stepped on Jacob's toes on your account?"

  "Probably."

  "I think he might be sweet on you,"

  Minu blanched and Pip laughed. "Be serious," she almost yelled, quickly lowering her voice before someone in the next office wondered what was going on, "he must be more than twice my age."

  "Some guys like young girls..."

  "Most men seem to prefer young girls," she mumbled and couldn't help thinking of Ted Hurt, doctor and pervert. He'd invited her to meals more than a few times since they had met. Minu always made sure to bring a friend along, usually Gregg or even better, Aaron. Of course Ted was always a gentleman, but she was sure his interests ran much deeper than his professed interest in her education. "No, Dram is not that kind of guy. I mean, sure he's handsome and built like a fortress, but he's never so much as touched my hand. And he's at least twice my age!"

  "Then why has he risked his career to help you over and over?"

  "I don't know how much risk he took. Maybe he made a promise to my Dad? They were friends, you know." Pip just shrugged. Minu's computer chimed and she checked. A friend in logistics sent her a message. P'ing made hser request for a share of the loot from the mission. Pip warned her that it was the Tog's right to take a share. Considering the incredibly valuable nature of the goods, she'd been braced for the Tog to clean them out. Sure, they'd give them a couple like throwing a kloth a bone, and the council would sell them to buy more affordable weapons and equipment. Humanity would also be credited for the find, against their rescue debt. With a sigh she read the message.

  "That bad?" Pip asked when Minu gasped and put a hand to her face.

  "No, not bad, unbelievable!" she said and turned the computer so he could see.

  "I don't believe it," he said, "they're only taking five guns and fifty of the shields? Still, that's half the shields..."

  "Yeah, only half. I thought you said they'd take most of the entire find!"

  "I don't know what to say, this is unexpected. Don't they know how much those guns are worth?"

  "I'm sure they do," Minu said and read the rest of the message. "Look here, P'ing has instructed that we are not to sell them, and to use no more than ten for experimentation or cannibalizing for parts."

  "What do they expect us to do with them?"

  "Use them, I suspect."

  Pip blinked and shook his head. "The Tog are the teddy bears of the Concordia, you know that as well as I do. They avoid fights at all costs, and when they have to fight they hire someone else to do it for them. Remember that class on Concordia socio-economics? The teacher talked about how much they spent on that little skirmish a hundred years ago?"

  "Maybe that's the point," she said more to herself than to Pip.

  "Huh?"

  "I said maybe that's the point! They want their own military force."

  "Then why not just tell us? Let us train for it, recruit the right kind of Chosen? As a people we wouldn't have a problem with that. Remember, we were fighting a war or two when they came back. Half the Chosen are spoiling for a fight anyway."

  "Maybe they're of mixed feelings on the issue. If the Tog are such pacifists, I wonder if they're scared of us."

  "Scared? Of humans? We're more of a danger to ourselves than to anyone else."

  "Maybe before," she said and turned to look at something. The very beamcaster she'd used in the fight days ago, still sporting the improvised stock. It was safely disarmed and its power circuits turned over to her lab for evaluation. It rested behind glass in a case newly mounted on the wall. She'd requested it and been granted the request as a gift from Bjorn. The aged scientist kept one himself, but she suspected that one wasn't deactivated. Bjorn was dangerous enough with supposedly harmless technology; she shuddered to think of what he might do with the gun some night when he was bored.

  The message from logistics was followed quickly by one from Bjorn with instructions, she read it to Pip. "We're ordered to immediately begin an evaluation program to determine the best way to utilize the weapons including a training protocol, storage options, and a retrofitting program to make them more usable. Guess he wants something more long term than my solution," she said and cocked a thumb toward her prize.

  "No problem," Pip said and rubbed his hands together, "let’s get to work!"

  * * *

  December 17th, 516 AE

  Science Department, Chosen Headquarters, Steven’s Pass

  The orders came with a modest R&D budget that Minu managed to stretch for almost a month before it ran dry. The proposal for her team to develop a testing/training facility included a hypothetical construction budget. When she saw the final designs Pip and the team came up with, the budget went up like an inferno. "Are you kidding me?" she asked at the planning meeting. She'd just returned from the university after two final exams. She'd left Pip in charge of finishing the proposal. In her absence they'd gone berserk, of course. "Look at some of this crap," she said and grabbed a stylus.

  All other projects for her team were on the back burner, after much crying and teeth gnashing from all her people. The lab looked orderly and positively austere compared to the first time she'd visited. All the tables were against one of the two long walls, leaving the other one clear to be used as a large display. She thumbed the stylus on, pointed it at the wall and began crossing things out. Elevators went immediately with a savage sweep of her wrist. She heard Pip moan and ignored him. Next went the lavish bathrooms, showers and of all things, a lounge?! She pulled down menus and replaced the now empty spaces with a couple multi-purpose rooms and a single unisex bathroom.

  "The dual facilities were an attempt to accommodate you," Alijah mumbled.

  "I've been pissing with boys for more than two years, no reason to stop now." She could almost feel the heat of Mandi's anger
and she knew that it was more than an attempt to engender approval of their boss and likely an attempt to impress the buxom engineer. "Is it really necessary to build this a full twenty meters below the surface? The excavation alone will run thousands."

  "What difference does it make?" Terry asked.

  "Safety counts for a lot," Mandi agreed.

  "So does credits. If we, say, only go down..." she quickly accessed the survey of the mountain side where the Steven’s Pass facility sat and found the data she was looking for, "five meters and build a ceramic concrete bunker instead, we can do it with entirely local labor and keep the greedy Concordia specialists out of our pocket book." The team all looked at each other and shrugged. "Good," she said and quickly made the changes. "Now, no new test gear, we'll use currently in stock equipment in removable mountings."

  "But-" Pip began.

  Minu held up a finger to silence him. "We double the number of firing ranges with the savings and add a few extra instruments for recording accuracy. This facility has to be built with long term use in mind. Temporary instruments for power and effect are expensive and only leave four firing ranges. If we make the change I suggested we get ten ranges that are just as useful for testing, and more than twice as effective for training. Come on guys, think like Chosen, not scientists. We don't have an unlimited budget."

  She tapped the finalization icon and waited while the program evaluated the design. She needed to add a couple load bearing beams that cost her the middle firing range, so she incorporated extra storage space and split the facility in half. The final results produced a proposed cost about twenty percent of her team’s proposal. It was still twice the entire initially budget.