by David Buck
Mary resigned herself to further countless hours of work on behalf of the colony, before she took up her new role and left with the fleet. The two admirals left the colony council meeting after three hours, and soon recovered their adjutants and security detail from the waiting area.
Thomas paused for a moment and took in the magnificent overhead view of Tyr, ghostly white and three million kilometres away. The group soon found their way under the central dome to one of the colonies’ two restaurants. In minutes they were seated in a secluded booth and waiting for the food to arrive. Mary took out the letter again and Thomas arched an eyebrow as she launched into a series of questions.
‘Most of the fleet is coming here Thomas, are we sure Earth is still protected?’
‘So the former Dradfer colonies are our fleet destination? We are already light years from Earth and now we have to travel nearly one hundred light years?’
‘Tell me we are taking our best ships with us, and we have an exit plan in case it all goes pear shaped?’
Thomas ignored all but the last question as the food arrived and he nonchalantly replied.
‘We are taking our best ships exclusively, plus marines and supply ships coming out shortly with John Beresford. Our exit plan is up to you as the fleet tactical officer, given your previous recommendations.’
Mary took the hint and for her part was unfazed by his reply as she set about her steak and salad. She put aside for the moment the new concerns they would undoubtedly find after the fleet left Tau Ceti. Mary looked around the restaurant for a moment as Thomas continued enjoying his meal, and moved the conversation to a social level.
‘So how are Dianne and the kids doing Thomas? Last I heard your youngest son got the star point award for excellence at the academy?’
Thomas relaxed further into the easy geniality that Mary recognised from their previous lives so many years ago as junior officers. He completed his current mouthful and took a small sip of his wine as he replied.
‘They are all well thanks Mary. Stuart did indeed win the star point award and he is now a lieutenant on one of the new destroyers we are expecting here soon. So how are Mark and the girls doing?’
Thomas was keen to hear about Mary’s husband, Mark Reynolds, as the two men had bought taught subjects at the fleet academy on the moon before Mark went into politics. The two old friends continued their leisurely meal and by agreement did not further mention the up and coming deployment to the former Dradfer colonies. Tyr moved noticeably overhead as the lengthened into an early evening, and a mixed fall of snow and frozen carbon dioxide softly peppered the massive dome overhead.
***
Admiral Baredio strode past the ornate doors and into the main meeting room on Cephrit Star Base 31 towards the ceremonial rug in Vorinne red that now covered the place of honour in the centre of the chamber. The admiral paused as he took in a shackled Barus prisoner standing against the far wall. He was aware that strict protocol governed this meeting and no excuses could be offered for a lack of courtesy to the Vorinne; second only to the Zronte overlords in the sector. The Barus admiral gave a very respectful full bow to Thatak’siema, kept his eyes downcast, and politely reported his presence.
‘Second Envoy, Admiral Baredio of the Barus ninth fleet reporting as ordered.’
The Barus remained bowed as the second envoy struck the deck twice with her staff of office and replied.
‘Admiral Baredio, it has been many years, indeed too many years since we spoke. But first let me introduce my good friend Lord Malang’troh.’
The admiral remained bowed and gaze averted as he acknowledge the lesser ranked Vorinne male also present in the meeting room.
‘Lord Malang’troh, it is my honour to serve.’
Malang’troh gave a single knock of his own staff to acknowledge the welcome, but remained silent and still as the second envoy spoke again.
‘Admiral Baredio, we are grateful you honour us both with the correct forms, so you may now be at ease. The recalcitrant Tilmud High Admiral no longer even returns my calls let alone my orders. Of course you know our Cephrit friends here as well. Now attend as we first have to finish the matter of a trial we held earlier. Also I need to discuss with you a long series of reports, some of them from your friends at the Barus Institute.’
Baredio now straightened and then offered the Fleet master, now a good friend, and the junior Station master polite half bows that were returned as Cephrit courtesy chirrs. The admiral only glanced at the Barus prisoner, obviously a Deltas Vass acolyte, as he removed his cap. He instead took in the powerful six legged forms of the two Vorinne in a long glance.
Malang’troh would be Thatak’siema’s liege and therefore beholden to her utterly, and if Baredio was correct then the hulking Vorinne heavy cruisers in space nearby would belong to him. He also noted that Thatak’siema looked regal in her cape, though her belly scales showed tinges of blue and green.
Thatak’siema’s manner turned sombre as she noted Baredio’s glance at the prisoner. The second envoy curtly gave an order to two junior Vorinne officers standing either side of the acolyte, before informing the admiral on what was about to take place.
‘Position the prisoner several metres from the wall and stand well back. Baredio, as the senior Barus officer on this star base, you will witness the sentence of this prisoner.’
The Barus acolyte, an older and unkempt male, was then forced to his knees several metres in front of the second envoy, as she then knocked her staff twice to indicate a ruling was now being given. Thatak’siema imperiously rose to her full four metre height as she read the three charges and the sentences.
‘Acolyte Stamerio, you have been found guilty of three charges relating to the pandemic on Earth one hundred and fifty years ago. The first charge of releasing a bio weapon on a haven world, or in your case commissioning another to do the same, is punishable by death. The second charge of sedition is proven by the contents of your data tablet, and is punishable by death. The third charge of mass murder is then proven by default and the scale of the death toll still numbs my mind after all this time. Do you have any last words?’
The old acolyte merely said nothing after locking eyes with the two Vorinne in an open challenge. Baredio flinched in disbelief but he had the sense to remain silent and still. Both the Vorinne repeatedly knocked their staffs against the floor to censure the prisoner as the second envoy spoke again in pure fury.
‘You would dare openly mock my authority? So be it then traitor, you have lost the right to a painless execution as a result. Your death will recorded and distributed as a warning to all that oppose my authority. Lord Malang’troh, the sentence of death is by your hand!’
The Vorinne lord knocked his staff of office once more and stepped forward to carry out the sentence. Baredio watched in horror from one side as a long glowing blade extruded from the top of the Vorinne’s staff of office. Malang’troh quickly swept the blade through Stamerio’s right knee, and the acolyte screamed in agony as he collapsed onto the floor. The Vorinne merely waited until the acolyte stopped rolling before he struck again and took off the other leg. Baredio noted clinically that there was very little blood present as Malang’troh continued to dismember the acolyte. The screams of agony from Stamerio were mercifully cut off, as Malang’troh casually finished the execution by taking the acolyte’s head cleanly off his furry shoulders.
Lord Malang’troh then glanced at the junior Cephrit station master, who summoned two junior officers forward with subdued chirrs of instruction to clean up the mess. Thatak’siema knocked her own staff once on the floor and Lord Malang’troh returned to his earlier position after giving her a full bow of respect. The Vorinne envoy merely looked through her data tablet again before she then spoke in a softer voice for the benefit of the Cephrit.
‘Well now onto more civil matters. You must understand that our previous efforts at ending the war when it started were unsuccessful and I was long ago ordered to desist. However that i
s all now in the past and we will see an end of the matter finally.’
The two Cephrit gave several clicks of both consternation and anger, as they realised that the disarming comment from the second envoy had revealed that the Tilmud had been sanctioned in the war by the Zronte overlords themselves. The second envoy decided to ignore the rasping sounds coming from the two Cephrit, who had the good sense to quickly fall silent and both bow respectfully. Baredio considered that he would soon have a good conversation with the Fleet master later even if he was a member of the most junior vassal race present.
The second envoy knocked her staff once on the floor, and looked around at the assembled junior vassals before she continued to speak.
‘Now the Cephrit fleets are to return to guarding their own core systems as we now go about stopping hostilities. You are not to resume your attacks on the Tilmud core worlds under any circumstances.’
The two senior Cephrit males gave soft chirrs of acknowledgement, but otherwise remained silent as the second envoy now addressed Baredio.
‘Admiral Baredio, you are under my authority to contact the Tilmud and get them to disengage. You will use the edicts not your discretion, in how you deal with any breaches of ceasefire that the Tilmud commit.’
Admiral Baredio remained silent as the Vorinne second envoy spoke again to the Cephrit.
‘Once the hostilities are over you will patrol all your own sectors of influence thoroughly, as we have concerns about the actions of independent races over the last one hundred or so years.’
The Cephrit Fleet master now spoke in his soft chirring voice and gave a respectful nod as he did so. The Cephrit might be one of the senior vassal races also, but the Vorinne were considered first amongst equals for very powerful reasons embodied by the second envoy’s staff and the patrolling Vorinne cruisers nearby.
‘Your Grace, it will be as you command, we are honoured to serve.’
Baredio thought that both Vorinne gave a small start of annoyance that no reference to obey Zronte edicts was included by the Cephrit. However the second envoy immediately spoke to him again instead.
‘Admiral Baredio, afterwards your cruisers will patrol the outer areas of Tilmud space near the former Dradfer colonies, for we are also concerned about recent Jerecab activity in this area. Once again you are not to attack the Jerecab unless they are breaking the edicts in a serious manner.’
Thatak’siema paused for a moment and Admiral Baredio took the opportunity to respectfully reply to the second envoy, though he was careful to avoid posing her a question.
‘If it pleases your Grace, we have also reports that the Jerecab have been building their forces up heavily over the last one hundred years of so.’
The second envoy fixed Baredio with a glare of annoyance that he deflected by bowing low and averting his gaze. Thatak’siema found what she wanted in her data tablet and continued to speak again.
‘Admiral, I will deal with the Jerecab at a later stage. Now I also understand you complied with my order five years ago reactivating your research fleet under the command of Gindane and they are resuming research at the Dradfer colonies. You will continue to remind Professor Gindane of her obligations to the planet of Earth. Indeed I will be seeking a meeting with Gindane and for that matter Omerio at a later stage.’
After two more hours had passed during which further reports were discussed. The two Vorinne then unsuccessfully quizzed him about specific Barus naval intelligence matters. Baredio had politely answered her by emphasizing how his race was more concerned about the recent supernova. The second envoy ended the meeting and left with her liege dutifully trailing two steps behind her. A Cephrit junior officer quickly scanned the room for electronic bugs before giving a curt nod to the Fleet master before he withdrew from the meeting room.
Baredio crossed closer to the two senior Cephrit and gave a bow of respect, as the Fleet master started speaking softly in an obscure Barus dialect that they all understood.
‘So there is collusion as we suspected. Now I cannot imagine the Tilmud high Admiral will come peacefully after all the battles we have engaged in with their fleet….’
The two Vorinne walked back to their shuttle and conversed in an equally obscure Vorinne dialect that they used for their own purposes, with Malang’troh careful to not offer opinions unless otherwise requested. Thatak’siema now thought this to be unnecessary as her next relaxed comment indicated.
‘We did well not to remind the Admiral Baredio of his embarrassment at Earth when the humans drove his cruisers away. Apparently he is still peeved at both the humans and the Traders, though we later found he was not culpable for the escape of the Trader ship. Now speak freely Malang’troh, in fact you will be required to state your mind increasingly during our expedition to this remote part of the sector.’
Malang’troh gave her a lingering look that she enjoyed and he wasted no time in his considered reply.
‘Well your Grace, the Barus Admiral even now colludes with the two Cephrit to bring down the Tilmud Admiral. I suspect this is what you intended and I applaud your excellent logic behind this move. Indeed one day I would like to hear a detailed account of how the humans drove the Barus cruisers away. However the reactions of the Cephrit themselves towards your initial comment are of concern, and I noted they did not acknowledge the authority of the Zronte either. This is disconcerting and needs to be discretely evaluated.’
Thatak’siema stopped her walk towards the shuttle and looked Malang’troh directly in the eye from three metres away. The closeness of their bodies was disconcerting also to Malang’troh as Thatak’siema was coming into breeding condition within the next few months. The second envoy gave a small smile as she noted his subtle reactions, ‘Vorinne males are so easy to read’ she thought as she casually replied to his comments.
‘Well Malang’troh the Tilmud had got all this coming to them in my estimation. If my decisions crimp the plans of a Zronte battle lord ten thousand light years away then so be it. You can read about ‘Baredio’s folly’ for entertainment after we dine together tonight. The Cephrit are not ones to hold grudges and I also would like to see them exert more control in this area of space over the Tilmud, Jerecab and possibly the humans if they survive. I will also attempt to get restitution through for the Cephrit if possible, however this will have to be done carefully.’
The two Vorinne continued their walk towards their landing shuttle, and ignored nearby Cephrit and Barus dock workers; some undoubtedly spies, going about their business. After several more minutes, Malang’troh took their shuttle back onboard his flagship and the Vorinne fleet made preparations to interdict the Tilmud home worlds.
In a Deltas Vass utility shop in the trading district, a shopkeeper drone prepared a confidential report to send away. However he felt real frustration with their efforts, as the audio bugs had only picked up snippets of the Vorinne conversation due to a small suppression field the second envoy obviously had operating in her staff of office.
***
Chapter 2
Gindane sat in her command chair on the research cruiser and looked over the latest dockyard reports with endless patience she felt she needed to get through the current day, even with her two thousand year plus life span. The whole process was so frustrating, even if the Barus fleet continued to source limited numbers of older but trusted crew and random shipments of obviously second hand weapons and equipment infrequently arrived.
Gindane of course understood the supply problems due to the Barus dealing with the threat of the massive supernova. But sometimes she felt the last five years of her life had been to test her sanity after the unremitting efforts of over one hundred and forty years of academia.
Fifty years had passed since Omerio had joined her for that lunch in the restaurant and subsequent urgent meeting with Professor Elysius. However their further joint petitions to the Barus Institute had been futile as the news of the supernova dominated. For forty years she and Omerio had continued sporadic di
scussions as the interest of the Barus authorities in the former Dradfer colonies and Earth again wound down. Gindane had kept busy and had completed two more qualifications to allow her to be appointed as one of the many emeritus professors at the Barus Institute.
Ten years ago the now quite elderly Professor Elysius had passed away and she had been shocked to see Omerio at the funeral in civilian garb. The later ritual private dinner between the two friends had revealed that he had this time taken leave of the Barus fleet to perform covert solo missions once again.
At the time Gindane thought he looked subdued and introspective and he had spoken in a pensive manner.
‘Gindane, it is like all we are taught fear about the independent races is a lie and all the supposed powerful truths about the great vassal system are also lies. How can a stable galactic society exist when it is based upon oppression and falsehoods?’
Gindane had paused for several moments before she then answered sadly.
‘Omerio we are junior members of a lesser vassal race in a vast system. All we do is to comply in a fair manner with the edicts to the best of abilities. We know that interacting closely with the Vorinne, let alone the Zronte overlords can be a dangerous practice. We are surely doing the best we can in our limited circumstances.’
The two Barus had continued their dinner in comparative silence and Omerio had returned to space for an extended period thereafter.
Five years after the funeral of Elysius, Gindane had received a call to a meeting in the office of the Barus Institute chancellor. She had been momentarily surprised to see Admiral Baredio in the office and feared the worst as she gave a courteous bow, before he reassured her with his opening words.
‘Rest easy Commander, Omerio is still alive somewhere on yet another trade run.’