by S. H. Jucha
Despite the admiral’s protests, Renée chose the captain’s cabin, leaving Darius his admiral’s quarters. Immediately, she called a meeting with Kasie, Salsinona, Z, and Luther.
“Kasie, I heard from your brother that you tested your power on the grays at Sylia,” Renée began the meeting. “Tell us about it.”
“The test was ordered by Admiral Bellardo,” Kasie replied. It was obvious that she wasn’t pleased by the admiral’s heavy-handed methods. “The result was as I expected.”
“How’s that?” Renée encouraged.
“In the history of empaths, ever since Envoy Harbour met her first alliance members, the Jatouche, there’s never been a sentient race that couldn’t feel our emanations,” Kasie explained.
“What emotions did you test?” Luther asked.
“An empath can only send whatever she can generate at the time,” Kasie said. “I thought of peace and contentment. Those were times when Jess and I were young. They were memories from before we lost our parents.”
“And the effect?” Luther asked.
“The gray I targeted stopped its hissing. As I kept sending, the adult swayed from side to side, finally collapsing on the floor.”
“Was it injured?” Renée inquired.
“No,” Kasie objected. “The effect is similar to lulling individuals to sleep; except they don’t sleep. It’s a deep rest.”
“Have you ever hurt a sentient?” Z asked.
“Never, and I don’t intend to either,” Kasie declared.
“We wouldn’t ask you to do that,” Renée responded comfortingly. “We’re just trying to understand how you’ve used your power.”
“The purpose of empaths has always been to heal,” Kasie said. “Early in our history, there were instances of self-defense when empaths were in physical danger.”
“Salsinona, do you expect the grays to be alive?” Renée asked.
“I would have had my doubts, after Captain Cinders left them aboard Sylia’s orbital station,” Salsinona replied. “However, when the captain captured the Sylian dome, despite his forces’ heavy losses, I’d be surprised if Her Excellency Talsoma didn’t order them to be carefully maintained.”
“Z, what did Juliette and Esteban learn about the insectoids’ form of communication?” Renée asked.
“Ultrasonic wavelengths,” Z replied. “The lower registers are audible. To human ears, it sounds like high-pitched hissing.”
“Analysis, Luther,” Renée requested.
“Insufficient data, Ser,” Luther replied. “There’s no way to correlate their emanations with our vocabulary.”
“In the domes, there’s a learning tool in the consoles that enables the creation of translation apps. The apps are what reside in our ear wigs,” Kasie volunteered.
“What’s required?” Renée asked.
“I’ve never done it. I’ve only heard of it,” Kasie replied.
“I’ve observed the setup,” Salsinona interjected. “On a console panel, the input will be the speaker, a member of the race that’s to be understood. The output will be a translation for the console programmer’s language.”
“How long does it take?” Z asked.
“That’s part of the process that I haven’t witnessed,” Salsinona admitted.
“According to the stories of my parents, Jessie Cinders and others spent days at the console,” Kasie said. “Apparently, the console shows images. It starts with simple displays and increases in complexity to vids that require interpretation. The speaker identifies whatever they see.”
“Transporting grays to the dome and commandeering our console for several cycles will be difficult. It might not be acceptable,” Salsinona noted.
“I take it that we’d require Her Excellency’s permission,” Renée supposed.
“You would,” Salsinona agreed. “It’s the transport that would be the more difficult part.”
“Security would be a challenge,” Z said. “We’d need a cage with services for food, water, and facilities.”
“That’s not the only problem,” Kasie added. “You’ve not seen the domes up close, unless the SADEs or the veterans shared. There’s no access for your shuttles. You’d have to use a Sylian transport to land in the dome’s tubes. That way, you don’t have to cross vacuum and lower the cage down an empty tube.”
“I can think of another challenge,” Salsinona said. “I see no reason for the Colony to cooperate with you. They’ve never integrated with another race. How are you going to get them to participate in the console’s translation program?”
“Salsinona is right,” Kasie added. “The insectoids might not understand what we’re asking of them.”
“Then again, they might. They could choose to supply nonsense answers to the images,” Z offered. “With these challenges, I suggest we use the existing bay and preserve security. Julien accomplished much with the Ollassa and his holo-vid. We should duplicate his method.”
“Agreed,” Renée said.
* * * * *
“The starships have returned, Your Excellency,” Soshona, the Sylian fleet admiral communicated to Talsoma, the monarch.
“Where are they?” Talsoma asked, halting a staffer’s offering with an upraised hand, while she listened to Soshona’s report.
“Tzeena says they’ve arrived outside the system, but they’re making for Sylia,” Soshona replied.
“All five starships?” Talsoma asked.
“That’s the critical news, Your Excellency,” Soshona said. “Tzeena reports a large number of the tri-hulled warships. The Rêveur, the liner, is not with this group.”
“Then there’s the possibility our defenders aren’t aboard this collection of ships,” Talsoma mused. “That begs the questions as to who’s visiting us and for what reason?”
“What would you like me to do?” Soshona asked.
“The same as we did before, Soshona. Please, send them an invitation to visit with me,” Talsoma requested.
The following morning, a traveler hovered over the palace compound’s ornate stonework. The hatch opened, and the Sylians watched a huge entity jump through the open hatch.
There were gasps from the audience, who expected the individual’s obvious weight to crush the ancient artistry. When that didn’t happen, whispers of “SADE” went through the crowd.
Next a woman jumped from the hatch, and the massive SADE caught her. Others exited the traveler, and the Sylians joyfully recognized Salsinona when she leapt from the craft.
The visitors made their way to the reception committee.
“Welcome to Sylia. I’m the monarch, Talsoma.”
“Greetings, Your Excellency, I’m Renée de Guirnon. Kasie Cinders you know. This is Admiral Darius Gaumata, who commands our fleet. These other individuals are SADEs, Z and Luther.”
“Z, is there a reason for your size?” Soshona asked.
“Yes,” Z replied. “It’s the same reason that we’ve built warships and travel in fleets.”
“Please, let’s step out of the heat,” Talsoma offered. “I’d like to hear what brought you to Sylia.”
Talsoma chose to host the visitors in the royal apartments. Neither the throne hall nor the planning room seemed appropriate. The fleet of warships and the sizeable SADE, who hovered near the beautiful woman, indicated her importance, even though she’d not mentioned a title.
“Has the Tsargit been notified of the new arrivals, Salsinona?” asked Talsoma, when her guests were settled with cool refreshments.
“No, Your Excellency,” Salsinona replied. “We were at Pimbor, when the Omnian fleet arrived. The Colony occupies that dome. Therefore, no messages could be sent.”
“Pimbor?” Soshona queried.
“Your Excellency, if I may?” Salsinona requested.
A hand signal from Talsoma told her to proceed.
“The expedition visited Pyre and thereafter chose to visit the Tsargit,” Salsinona continued. “With the council’s support, two hundred Norsitchians
joined the expedition. The SADEs determined the star coordinates of the other lost domes, and the fleet sailed for Norsitchia.”
“Excuse the interruption, Salsinona,” Soshona said. “How did the expedition locate Hyronzy?”
“You’d be shocked to learn that Hyronzy’s star is closer to Crimsa than either the Norsitchian system or ours,” Salsinona said. Her deep rumbling purr indicated her humor.
“Suffice it to say that they did,” Talsoma interrupted. “Continue with your story, Salsinona.”
“At Norsitchia, we discovered the Colony held the dome, and they’d invaded the planet,” Salsinona said.
“The planet?” Talsoma queried, in horror.
“The Colony has invented a method of using a dome to energize a ring above it,” Kasie explained. “They send fast transports between gates, and the transports dump shuttles full of insectoids on the planet.”
“What is Norsitchia’s present state?” Talsoma asked.
“We took the planet and the dome back, Your Excellency,” Salsinona proudly announced.
“But we did have losses,” Kasie added.
“True,” Salsinona admitted. “We’d have had many more if it weren’t for our assault commander, Captain Cinders.”
“Does our Jess still live?” Talsoma asked anxiously, eyeing Kasie.
“My brother appears to be a tough one to kill,” Kasie replied. She let the love she felt for her twin spread through the group. She was unabashed about the release of her power.
Renée enjoyed the sensation, as did the other biologicals, and she smiled at Kasie.
Kasie closed her gates and continued. “Jess chose Pimbor next,” she said. “The situation there is worse. The Colony holds the dome and has flooded the planet with numbers. It turns out they’ve been sending pregnant females. Juveniles are rampant, to the extent that they’re exceeding the number of adults.”
“We reached an impasse and were close to abandoning the planet so that the expedition could resupply. That’s when the Omnian fleet arrived,” Salsinona continued. “Olawale had called the Omnian leader.”
“I’d understood the leader was a male,” Soshona remarked, with a frown.
“I’m Alex’s partner and co-leader,” Renée replied. She hesitated to launch into an explanation about the ownership of Omnia Ships.
“Then he sent you to Pimbor with his fleet,” Soshona supposed.
Kasie lightly chuckled, and Talsoma caught Renée’s delicate touch on the Pyrean’s leg, which stilled her.
“The ships above are called a command, Your Excellency,” Renée politely explained. “Admiral Gaumata leads this group. A second command is at Pimbor, where Alex Racine is presently. He’ll send that command to the Tsargit.”
“If Alex Racine sends the commands away from Pimbor, where will he be and who will support the veterans?” Talsoma asked.
“Alex and Renée possess two enormous city-ships and multiple freighters,” Darius interjected. “Alex is aboard the Freedom, one of the city-ships. That vessel, other freighters, and a contingent of our warships remain at Pimbor and will provide the support the veterans need.”
“You must see this ship, Your Excellency,” Kasie enthused. “They’ve a huge park in its center with trees, lush gardens, pathways, streams, and even fish. It’s as beautiful inside as it is monstrous in size.”
Talsoma’s mind was inundated with many more questions, but she focused on the most important one. “What brings you to our system, Renée de Guirnon?”
“Are the grays, who were left in captivity, still alive?” Renée asked.
“Yes, they’re well,” Talsoma replied.
“They’ve become docile,” Soshona added. “When station crew arrives to feed and water them, they retreat to the far side of the bay. Facilities have been installed for their use. It’s a strange arrangement.”
“Caring for your enemy is always disconcerting,” Renée remarked.
“That may be,” Talsoma acknowledged. “You need to know that the insectoids have had young. The adults have trained them reasonably well to behave when the bay is serviced.”
“What do you mean trained them?” Luther asked.
“Soon after the birth of the young, the crew reported the adults hissed at the young, when they arrived with food and water,” Talsoma replied. “Most of the young obeyed. A few did not, and the adults promptly dispatched them.”
“Tough training,” Kasie quietly remarked.
“Did the adults consume the young?” Z asked.
Except for Luther, the others in the room were taken aback by the question. Luther calculated that Z was being thorough. He was establishing the range of actions the insectoids would take within their society.
“No,” Soshona declared. “Why would you ask that?”
“We intend to learn to communicate with the Colony,” Renée explained.
“What?” Soshona uttered, in surprise, while Talsoma had asked, “Why?”
“It’s our way,” Renée replied. “It’s Alex’s way. Learning a race’s language sets us on a path to understanding them. It’s the first step in dealing with an enemy, without resorting to killing them.”
“Then you don’t intend to kill any of the insectoids?” Soshona asked, in confusion.
“I didn’t say that,” Renée replied. “We’re pursuing multiple avenues. We hope learning the Colony’s language will give us insight into their culture. If nothing else, what we gain might be an asset in our fight against them.”
Talsoma nodded in understanding. What Renée de Guirnon proposed was strategically smart. All information was valuable.
“Any other questions before we depart for the station?” Renée asked.
“One,” Soshona said. “Admiral, do the Omnians possess more than these two commands?”
Darius received Renée’s caution to be circumspect, and he replied, “Yes.”
Soshona waited. The admiral had responded, but it was most unsatisfactory in its lack of details.
“We’ll alert the station of your intentions,” Talsoma said, ending any further exchange. “May the spirit of Solseena guide you.”
Talsoma, Soshona, and an assortment of palace staff watched the visitors’ shuttle lift.
“Formidable aliens,” Soshona commented privately to Talsoma.
“Valuable allies,” Talsoma corrected.
When the Omnian traveler landed aboard the Sylian orbital station, Velsana, a scientist, and Vastzona, the station director, waited for them in the airlock. Others crowded the corridor for a glimpse of the new visitors.
When Z exited the craft first, the viewers were shocked.
A medical tech, an associate of Velsana, whispered in the scientist’s ear about what he saw.
“A SADE,” Velsana commented excitedly. He couldn’t wait for a closer view.
When the visitors passed through the airlock, Velsana and Vastzona introduced themselves.
Salsinona lauded Velsana as one of Sylia’s premier scientists.
“Hush, young one,” Velsana said. “You embarrass me.” He’d said it fondly to Salsinona, who flashed her canines at the supposed rebuke.
“Pardon my request, but could each of you come close to me?” Velsana asked.
Renée and her companions took turns stepping close to the snow-white haired individual, who sat in a mobile transport.
When it was Z’s turn, Velsana’s rheumy eyes traversed the width and breadth of the SADE. “Fascinating,” he commented.
When the introductions were completed, Vastzona asked, “May we show you to your quarters?”
“Briefly,” Renée replied. “Then we’d like to visit the grays.”
Darius hesitated, and Renée locked eyes with him.
14: Come, Stay, Go
Z’
s role was security, which was why he entered the grays’ bay first.
As the visitors were led to expect, the adults and numerous juveniles, who were reaching a meter in length, backed to the far bulkhead.
When Z didn’t add food and water to the trays and buckets or service the facilities, the adults hissed softly.
From within the open airlock, Luther recorded the grays’ ultrasonic emanations and added them to the library that Juliette and Esteban had started.
Z produced a portable holo-vid. When he powered it, one of the largest grays hissed harshly and charged Z. It slithered across the deck and rose up to attack. Z quickly set the holo-vid on the deck. The gray’s pincers opened wide in an effort to decapitate him. But Z’s hands clamped on the pincers, and his powerful avatar held the gray’s head in a suspended state.
The gray’s body whipped from side to side to free its pincers from Z’s grasp. Z continued to hold the heavy pincers, while the gray struggled. Unable to gain release, the gray subsided, and Z firmly pushed the insectoid away.
The gray retreated. Its hissing was much subdued.
Z slowly picked up the holo-vid. Several grays rose and hissed.
Z activated the holo-vid again and held it there. The grays’ noises lessened and then stopped.
Prior to their session in the bay, Luther had devoted time to reviewing Julien’s language app. It was originally developed in concert with Cordelia and Z to speak to the Swei Swee. Then Julien had employed the app and a portable holo-vid when Alex met the Ollassa.
The circumstances with the Vinium inhabitants were similar to those they faced with the Colony. In Luther’s opinion, there was much to recommend the program, even though none of the creators were language experts or communications specialists. After Luther had initiated the program and made his edits, he relayed the app to Z.