by S. H. Jucha
The group immediately noticed that the SADEs comm ID identified him as the city-ship’s controller. Heads swiveled to observe Alex’s reaction.
Cremsylon sent.
The SADE signaled to Cordelia that Alex’s response proved she knew the co-leader well. The rear admiral had told him that he wouldn’t be antagonistic. More than likely, Alex would demonstrate curiosity.
The stunned humans turned toward Julien and Oliver, who appeared to have been unaware of Cremsylon’s existence. The SADE was more than a hundred annuals older than the eldest SADE in Omnia or Haraken space.
Alex sent.
For one of the few times, Alex was unsure how to respond to a SADE. The city-ship had been controlled by Cordelia for decades, and the lives of him, his friends, and the crew were entrusted to her care. Rather than give or deny Cremsylon his permission, he sent,
This type of question was one that Cremsylon had never encountered until he’d spoken to Winston and later to Cordelia. Now a human, who was critical to his existence, had asked the same thing. He paused to take stock of his surroundings, of the enormous input available to him.
Cremsylon relayed with deep satisfaction.
Cremsylon replied.
Cremsylon sent.
On private links, Renée and Julien sent their approvals, which Alex thought they might. He was still loath to make a remark about allowing Cremsylon a temporary home or a trial condition. Instead, he sent, After which, Alex closed the links to the Freedom.
Cremsylon waited for further clarification, but Cordelia deemed to say nothing more. In ticks of time, he reviewed Alex’s history. Only one aspect of Alex’s life might apply.
ediately reply, she added,
Aboard the Our People, Alex’s audience quietly watched for his reaction to the news about Cremsylon.
“That had to be unexpected,” Maria murmured.
To which Tatia laughed, her deep tones filling the room. She pointed at Renée and Julien and said, “That’s been the story of our lives ever since we met these two.”
Alex leaned toward Renée and kissed her hair. “You take the good with the exciting.”
“Funny, I’ve never heard it phrased that way,” Maria said.
“Newly repurposed,” Alex replied with a grin.
While en route to Omnia, Alex requested a special meeting of the planet’s assembly. When his traveler touched down, Renée, Julien, Maria, Oliver, Tanistok, Lydia, and he quickly made their way up the steps of the grand building and into its cool interior to escape the heat of the day.
Before the assembly representatives were called to order, Alex visited with old friends, such as Nyslara, Pussiro, Trixie, and Wave Skimmer.
The giant Swei Swee’s mood was ebullient at the sight of Alex. When Alex whistled his greeting, Wave Skimmer shot a squirt of water at Alex, who managed to dodge most of it. Afterward, fists and claws pounded each other in the traditional exchange.
The assembly hall was prepared to accommodate every species on Omnia and up to one hundred representatives. At this time, the reps numbered eighteen, and Alex was reminded of his thoughts about impeding Omnia’s growth. He’d worried for many annuals what the presence of his fleets might be doing to keep others away.
Alex squeezed Renée’s hand, as he was announced. Taking the stage, Alex talked at length about the encounters in federacy and alliance space. He spoke of the many races, and the economic advantages of trade and technology exchange. Then he announced the possibility of Messinant domes at Sol and the human colonies.
Julien sat near Wave Skimmer’s pool and translated for the Swei Swee.
“While the possibility exists, reengineering domes isn’t a reality, as of yet,” Alex said. “But I did suggest to Mickey that I’d like to have some.”
The audience laughed, barked, and whistled at the phrasing of the informal request to Alex’s formidable engineer.
A shrill whistle caught the members’ attentions. With their implants, they could translate Wave Skimmer’s query. However, the only human who had mastered the ability to speak the Swei Swee language was Alex.
“Yes, you could travel via the gates, Wave Skimmer,” Alex whistled. “However, the platform would accommodate only one of your race at a time. Perhaps, dieting would help.”
Wave Skimmer tweeted at the thought that his race would choose to forgo food for the sake of visiting other worlds.
Then Alex announced Sol’s hosting of a conclave.
Heads turned to observe Maria and Oliver in the gallery.
“Yes, New Terra has sent Envoy Gonzalez and Oliver as delegates to the conclave,” Alex said.
“Who will be invited?” Pussiro inquired.
“Every colony occupied by humans and other races, the alliance’s Tsargit, and I’ve sent an invitation to Talus in federacy space,” Alex replied.
“Why the limited number?” Nyslara asked. “You encountered more races than that.”
“Manageability,” Alex replied. “The first conclave will be a proving ground for the acceptance of mutual goals. I hope for delegates’ respect for one another, but I expect difficulties.”
“How many representatives from Omnia?” Trixie asked.
“I would like every race to be represented, and I require a SADE accompany every biological,” Alex replied.
Heads turned toward Wave Skimmer.
“Every race is invited,” Alex repeated.
Wave Skimmer loosed a complex series of whistles and tweets, which left Julien speechless.
Alex chuckled. His gigantic ocean-dwelling friend’s comment referenced a conversation they’d had many annuals ago. Then Alex replied with an equally involved response.
“Take some company, Wave Skimmer, preferably two accomplished males,” Alex whistled. “Understand, Earth’s oceans teem with fish and intelligent mammals, but they also support creatures dangerous to the Swei Swee.”
Wave Skimmer burbled his delight and raised his claws, which he clacked loudly.
“I’ve one delegate,” Alex announced in an antic fashion. “Do I have another?”
Nyslara and Pussiro barked at Alex’s imitation of a Dischnya selling produce in the market.
“Pussiro and I wouldn’t miss your grand meeting,” Nyslara announced. “Are there others who resemble us?”
Alex sent a flurry of images to the Omnia representatives of the many aliens who he’d seen and some that Jess and Lucia had collected.
Pussiro barked a laugh and said, “I believe my mate’s curiosity has been satiated, if not inundated.”
After a quick conference with her kind, Trixie said, “I’m selected to represent the SADEs, Alex. Which fleet will sail to Sol?”
“Eventually, both fleets will be present at Sol for the conclave. You may have your choice of city-ships,” Alex replied, and his grin broadened. There was no doubt that Trixie would be delighted to spend time with her partner, Hector.
Alex noticed the five human representatives were quiet, and he calculated that they were discussing who would attend. He sent them a private message. It said,
Barden was stunned, and his compatriots sent their congratulations or patted him on the shoulder. Annuals ago, Barden had an accident, which had heavily scarred his face and destroyed his eyesight. The scars had been removed, but nanites couldn’t replace the optical material that had been burned away.
Omnian SADEs and tech had provided Barden the best solution available. He wore special goggles that delivered images to his implant.
Those in the gallery and the other races had observed the interactions with Barden. Then they saw him duck his head and cradle his forehead in his hands. It was easy for them to guess what Alex had done.
Renée’s eyes glistened, and Julien privately sent to her,
“Prepare for transport,” Alex said. “You’ll be gone the better part of an annual. The Our People will be your ship, and when it’s ready, you’ll sail for Pyre. Hector will notify you of the schedule.”
From Cordelia, Alex heard the bright shimmering of silver bells. It was a thank you for choosing to transfer the leaders to her city-ship. Julien and she would be together for a lengthy trip.
15: Talus
The Trident squadrons of Descartes exited their transit above Toral. Immediately, the controllers divided the local area and the system’s periphery into sections for the ships’ antennae to collect telemetry.
Descartes and the captains focused on the huge ships.
The SADE waited for sufficient data to be collected before he added,
Taralum’s leathery wings fluttered, and the Omnians heard the soft hiss of breath through pointed teeth.
Descartes listened to the casual manner in which his senior captain had eased into conversation with the admiral. The SADE had the thought that he needed to adopt these techniques, especially in light of the possibility that the future might require less fighting and more diplomacy.