“As you wish, sir,” Lord Kaporine responded as he sat. “How may we be of service?”
“We have decided to coexist with the soft skins and this HEB Alliance.”
That single statement took everyone by surprise.
“What do you mean by that, Your Lordship?”
“We will no longer expand our empire.”
‘You mean that you will stop invading our systems,” Vice-Admiral Weiskoff interjected.
“Who is this who interrupts?”
“War, may I introduce Vice-Admiral Weiskoff, the commanding officer of Humanity’s space fleet.”
“I understood that Commander Marston controlled the soft skin space force.”
“If I may, Lord Kaporine?”
“Continue, Ambassador.”
“War, Commander Marston commands the civilian, non-military fleet. It was only through need that we converted it to a war fleet. Vice-Admiral Weiskoff is the commanding officer of Humanity’s war ships. What we call the Federacy Space Fleet.”
“Then, I should be talking to Vice-Admiral Weiskoff.”
“No, War,” Krag firmly stated. The HEB Alliance is a non-military governing body. The military follows its direction.”
“Until we get the Federacy back on its feet, Marston.”
“Vice-Admiral, since this is a HEB Alliance negotiation, I think that it is best if you observe, only,” Lord Kaporine interjected.
“We know of this Federacy,” Intelligence stated. “We know that the Federacy Space Fleet is what we defeated. We also know that this Federacy no longer has a fleet of ships.”
“Not true. We’ve got your ships,” Weiskoff stated. “Soon, the entire fleet will have jump drives and gravity rockets.”
Igaklay stood and faced the Vice-Admiral.
“From my analysis, the Mortek, War, has come here to negotiate a peace. Further analysis reveals that you, Vice-Admiral, want to be in control. To protect my Overseers, Den Griffin and the HEB Alliance, I will not install any Ballisonian technology in anymore Federacy ships if this negotiation is not allowed to proceed. Please sit and observe.”
Weiskoff cut back a retort at the small, greyish-green avatar and just glared.
“Please, War, I am very sorry for the interruption.” Igaklay also returned to his seat.
“Lord Kaporine, you do not control this Federacy?”
“I am not in a position of command, Logistics. However, because the HEB Alliance is the only governing body which controls the jump drive and gravity technology, we do have a very powerful say in how the Federacy can act.”
“What proof do I have that the Federacy, once it gets its ships upgraded, will not ignore your orders and attack the Mortek?”
“All Federacy ships with jump drives also have quant-coms. If any ship attempts to attack a Mortek without HEB Alliance approval, Preceptor Igaklay will destroy the jump drive, leaving the ship floating in space.”
Krag stated this while boring visual holes into Weiskoff.
“Do you have that capability?”
“I will give you a demonstration, if you like,” Igaklay answered.
“That will be required.”
“War, let us get back to the reason that you have called this meeting. You spoke of coexistence.”
“Yes. We will withdraw to Home One and Nest One. You will not attack either of our worlds.”
“Sasania is not your world!”
“Weiskoff, quiet,” Krag commanded.
“You have forcefully taken the Yeni Persia system, War. Why should we not have it back?” Keiko asked.
“Those are the terms.”
“One moment, please.”
Everyone went quiet as a telepathic and electronic discussion took place.
“What is the status of this Yeni Persia, Ambassador Suzume?” Keiko heard through her earplug.
Keiko mumbled into her throat mic,” It is in complete ruin, Lord Kaporine.”
“Are any humans still on the planet?”
“Some, not many.”
“Mr. Gregor, how long would it take to bring Sasania back to its level of habitability from before the Mortek invasion?”
Lawrence duplicated Keiko in listening with his audio implant and speaking with his throat mic.
“Decades, maybe a century.”
“Everyone, would it be acceptable to leave this ruin of a planet in the claws of the Mortek?”
“I get that we don’t want mutual destruction, Hawk. But, just giving them one of our solar systems?”
“I’m not liking it, either, Corry. What’s the alternative?”
“I think I understand what is needed. Do we all agree that, although it is not an ideal solution, it is possibly the only solution?”
The HEB Alliance Counsel unanimously agreed.
“We have a counter proposal, War. The HEB Alliance will allow you to occupy the Yeni Persia system if you allow us to remove all remaining Humans,” Lord Kaporine stated.
“Many of the soft skins are labor.”
“And, you use them for food. That is no longer acceptable, War. As part of this agreement, the HEB Alliance must be allowed to remove all Humans in the Yeni Persia system.”
Keiko stepped in. “In return, your ground forces are currently being defeated on Cencore. They will also be killed on Nye Nippon. You may retrieve your troops.”
“Intelligence, summarize.”
“I believe that this is what has been reached. One, The Mortek armada will return to Nest One. Two, the soft skin Federacy and the HEB Alliance will not attack Nest One or Home One. Three, we will be allowed to retrieve our ground forces from what you call ‘Cencore’ and ‘Nye Nippon’. Four. You will retrieve all Humans from Nest One.”
“Very succinctly stated, Intelligence. Are we all in agreement?”
Krag stared at Weiskoff, daring him to say a word. No one voiced an objection.
“Honorable Vidhee, Legate Buster, Preceptor Igaklay, will you please draw this document up? War, will you please have Intelligence join them so that this document may be written in Mortek as well as Galactic English?”
“Intelligence, join them for the creation of this treaty.”
“At your command, My Overlord.”
Being simple and straightforward, in less than two hours, the three Synthetics and one Mortek created the cease fire and termination of conflict document. Everyone returned to their places.
“We have two documents,” War stated. One in the soft skin language and one in Mortek. How do I know that I am putting my mark of resolution on a soft skin document which matches the Mortek document?”
“We do not need the Galactic English copy, War,” Igaklay stated.
“Why not?”
“During the writing of the Mortek document, I learned the written language of the Mortek.”
“In two of Nest One’s hours?”
“Easily, War. And I distributed the translation tables to Honorable Vidhee and Legate Buster.”
“War, may I remind you that you are communicating with Preceptor Igaklay’s avatar. The Preceptor is actually that artificial moon orbiting Ballison.”
“I understand.” War once again reminded himself that the technological advantage of the HEB Alliance dwarfed anything Mortek.
War reread the document on his personal tablet then pressed a single claw to the screen. Holding out the tablet, the Mortek war leader waited while Lord Kaporine repeated the gesture.
“We are done here,” War announced.
“Captain Desinal, will you please prepare Reprieve for your return flight?”
“Immediately, Prime Minister.”
“Then, this meeting is adjurned.”
Everyone waited while Captain Desinal led the four Morteks back to her ship.”
“This is plop!” Weiskoff bellowed. “You know that that bug just bought time to expand his fleet and protect his worlds.”
“Yes, Vice-Admiral. But that is for tomorrow’s discussion,” Keiko responded. “Today we just ended
a war. I would call that a victory.”
Epilogue
HEBA Headquarters - Ballison
Sunrise. Igaklay had doubled the size of the lanai. Krag, Keiko, Igaklay, Buster and Gopai all sat, luxuriating in the warmth of Ballisonian’s morning and the in the sweet feeling of peace.
“Now, can we begin looking for my people, Commander?”
“Let’s get our Sasanian refugees settled in first. Then, as soon as we get a ship ready, we’ll go looking, Igaklay. We’ll find your people. I promise.”
“When are we leaving? Will we use Griffin?
“Maybe. Maybe not. Whatever ship we select, she’ll be out there for a long time. We need to do some planning. And get the right crew. So it will take some time to prepare.”
“Oh, okay.”
“After we get the Sasanians settled, we need to make a jump to Dorogon.”
“I told you, Krag. Father will never give us his permission to marry.”
“No try, no results, Half-Pint.”
“Just be prepared for the let-down, Big Guy.”
“You do want to get married, right?”
“Like I said before, how should I know? You haven’t asked me.”
Just then, Mack wandered in, carrying his hot coffee and a breakfast plate. Settling in, he took a hot sip.
“Asked you what, Wee-One?”
“Oh, this and that.”
“Uh-huh.” Mack gave Krag and Keiko a double look.
“What a grand and glorious day!”
“That it is, Wrenchy.”
“No war, good weather, all is right in our corner of the galaxy, Tinman.”
“What are your plans, Mack?”
“I was thinking, Cap. I dinnae want to upset you, Iggy, but I was thinking that I might take a peek at Bachama. That hologram we found said that your people had built a base there. I might find some information to point me where they got off to.”
“I’ve looked there, Mack. There is a very large pyramid on its equator. I didn’t build it. My people must have used construction robots and materials not under my observation or control. I can’t see inside. I’ve sent in some robots, but they never come out.”
“Och, Iggy. You said there was a way to stop the quant-com signals. I guess that’s what they did. That definitely gets me to wondering.”
“Take Buster, Mack. And some drones.”
“Will do, Cap.”
Just then, Sue stomped in.
“You rangy old goat!” Sue accused as she came to a halt, firing a fierce glare at Mack.
“What?” Mack’s voice cracked at the surprise denunciation.
“You did it on purpose!”
“What?”
“Don’t you ‘what’ me. Don’t deny it!”
Keiko caught on first. Krag heard her snicker and stared in confusion.
“Deny what?”
“I’m pregnant!”
“What?”
“Is that all you have to say?”
“But!”
“No ‘buts’.”
“Don’t you have Prophylaxis vials?”
“Yes. But, before you, I never needed them. Not since my divorce. They’re dry.”
Looking sheepish, Mack answered, “Same here. Never needed them before you.”
“Well, what are you going to do about it?”
“What?”
“You better make it right!”
With that exclamation, sue stomped back out.”
Krag and Keiko fought to stop from busting out laughing. Gopai kept a continuous gurgle in his throat, trying not to bark out his own Elonian laugh.
The End
Thank you for reading ‘Victory in the Stars’. If you enjoyed this book, please post a review and some stars on Amazon:
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Books by D. Patrick Wagner
(Click on a title to go to the book on Amazon)
The Marston Chronicles
Book 1: Sleeping in the Stars
Book 2: Waking in the Stars
Book 3: Meeting in the Stars
Book 4 Battle in the Stars
Book 5 Rescue in the Stars
Book 6 Victory in the Stars
The HEB Alliance Narratives
Return to the Marston Universe with the upcoming series.
Victory in the Stars (Marston Chronicles Book 6) Page 44