Artifice

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Artifice Page 21

by S. H. Jucha


  “That’s correct,” Tranimus admitted. His eyes were sad, and the Omnians, Sargut, Taralum, and Suntred realized that the grand commander had been too careful. After decades of fear under Artifice, he’d taken one significant step for his race, but he’d failed to follow through with what he started.

  “I will accompany Z and Luther,” Suntred said. “I’ll speak in your name, Grand Commander, and make the commanders heed my requests.”

  Tranimus regarded the defiant expression on Suntred’s face. The liaison position was one of facilitation and communication. It carried no weight within the command structure. But the heat in Suntred’s eyes indicated that she considered that a minor hurdle.

  “Commanders Sargut and Taralum must return to their ships,” Tranimus said. “They must be in command when Alex and the Omnian fleet return.”

  “You need have no worry, Grand Commander,” Suntred said defiantly. “They will listen to me.”

  Z and Luther packed up their sisters and equipment and followed Suntred to a different bay. Tranimus had thought of one thing to help Suntred. He’d given her his personal shuttle. It would indicate that she traveled through the fleet with his permission.

  Z and Luther could only be perplexed by a race that had advanced starships which were relegated to antiquated forms of communication. Then again, he knew Omnians didn’t live in fear as the Toralians did.

  While the grand commander’s shuttle had nicer appointments, it didn’t fly any better or the pilot didn’t have any better skills. However, the SADEs were careful to repack the grav pallet, park it at the shuttle’s aft bulkhead, shut it down, and strap it in place. Suntred occupied a bar, hanging upside down, and closed her wings across her face and upper chest.

  This flight was shorter. They’d traveled to the nearest battleship. Z had requested that they work outward from Tranimus’ ship, as if the grand commander was making a round of visits to the fleet commanders.

  After the expected thump, indicating they’d landed in a bay, Suntred said that she’d speak with the ship’s commander first, and that Z and Luther should wait aboard the shuttle.

  The SADEs heard Suntred politely greet the ship’s commander and subcommander, who had expected to meet Tranimus. Suntred’s explanation grew lengthy, and the conversation grew heated. Central to the argument was that the commander expected to be consulted before Suntred brought aliens aboard his ship. He was insisting she leave, while he took a shuttle to meet with Tranimus and hear from him directly.

 

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