Copani Story

[Scarlett O'Hara]

This is a collaborative chapter by Scarlett and Cnaeus Valerius

“Myself.” came the simple reply. Surl was stunned and sat quietly waiting on further explanation. After a couple of minutes and another bottle of water, D’Nel began to talk. “I’ve waited too long to give the order to attack the Sonjon. I have become too focused on getting just the right assets into the right positions, with fully trained crews. Meanwhile, the Sonjon have continued to get stron....”

“"Meanwhile...." Surl emphatically interrupted "...you have helped locate science crews and provide them with our best technology to search for a cure of the famine and illnesses that plague our worlds. It was you who convinced everyone to contribute their shares of the profit from the Rim worlds we helped to open which provided us with the credits we needed to buy untainted foods from neutral space. The plan you developed to enable warships loyal to us to secretly depart from their patrols in order to move food to starving planets..."

D’Nel, just as emphatically, interrupted “And the Sonjon grow stronger! I am fooling myself and all of you as well. It will take us several generations to get enough assets to attack the Sonjon directly!”

Surl seemed to look completely shocked. The muscles in his forehead gave the impression of raised eyebrows cocked with incredulity. “That has never been our plan, Warlord! You and the rest of us have always known that we can not defeat them in a few major battles! We must do it with quick hit and run attacks, keeping them off-balance. We’ve known that we must simply out last them. The populace will eventually become unstable with food shortages and other atrocities and they will rise up. Then we’ll have the popular directive we need to take on the military directly. Once the military is defeated, we’ll disperse the old government and bring in the new one.” Surl’s voice was full of confidence as if he lectured a schoolroom of children.

D'Nel laid his head back against the wall and his voice held deep sadness to it when he finally spoke. "And that is what I will have to tell my son one day? That I conducted guerilla warfare while our enemies flaunted their power in the shameless abuse of the populace? I will have to tell him that the burden of righting this wrong was too great for me to solve and that his son will have to finish what I had so poorly begun? I feel no honor in this, Surl."

"Never confuse honor with stupidity!" Surl quoted with mock pomposity.

"The Darkness of Space will surely swallow any wretched Appian warriors who use my own words against me..." D'Nel muttered but there was no heat in his words. Surl merely grinned knowingly and pressed on with his point.

"You’ve also stated repeatedly that if we simply replace one government with another, and don’t do it with the support of the masses, then we’re no better than the Sonjon.” Surl stood and began to pace. D’Nel’s eyes followed him as he drank two more bottles of water and then started on a fruit juice.

After several long minutes of silence between them, D’Nel said softly “You quote my most frequent arguments back to me. You and the others are always ‘with’ me. I never hear a dissenting vote.”

Surl’s voice was deep and booming as he turned angrily to his friend, "Perhaps because we are still convinced that our mission is just and the path we have chosen through the Sacred Void is the correct one!"

Looking calmly up at the Appian warrior, D'Nel added sadly "Perhaps I am no longer quite so convinced..."

Still seething with his own anger, Surl nearly bellowed “Then, Warlord, you have a problem. You should be asking yourself when you became unsure and what was behind the change of mind!”

Without having to think through it, D'Nel answered matter-of-factly "When I was promoted to Fleet WarMaster Admiral." He paused to take a large gulp of fruit juice and added, "I began to think we could change things from within, peacefully. None know better than both our peoples that the price of civil war is always a high one."

The sound that erupted from Surl sounded like a critically wounded gafta bear from the Draksan frontier. D’Nel briefly thought about the first one he had killed as a young man, with his father’s help. But Surl’s trembling voice brought him from his reverie. “Yes, I saw the change then as well. I first thought it was a bad omen. But then I realized your promotion was a blessing for all of us. You now had access to the entire fleet and personnel. Especially with your....” Surl suddenly darkened, as if his nearly uttered statement and thoughts had embarrassed or troubled him.

"Especially with my.....what?" D'Nel arched an eyebrow and cocked his head to one side. He motioned for Surl to continue with his thought.

“I thought your affai...affiliation with the General was part of your plan to manipulate the military personnel through her Chief of Staff position.” Surl’s voice was suddenly very low, very controlled again. He realized he had just committed the one thing that could ruin his friendship with D’Nel Ghar. He was shocked when D’Nel leaned his head back and roared with laughter.

“Actually that was my plan!” Seeing the surprise on Surl’s face, D’Nel laughed so hard, he couldn’t drink any more juice. “But the truth? I didn‘t think of it until the morning of my promotion ceremony. Seeing that the Chief of Staff was the woman I had spent the night with, gave me the idea. It took less than a day of discreetly talking to other officers to discover that she had no power base among the Royal Houses. The only reason she was there was because the Shahidan had spent several tours of duty with her and trusted her to protect his back.”

Surl stared gaping at D’Nel who calmly resumed drinking large gulps of cold fruit juice. Finally, D’Nel added “I decided she’d be an asset I could use to our advantage. That’s why I put the Appian guards on her, among other reasons. I didn’t want my new asset being assassinated before I got the information and assistance she could deliver.” Another chuckle and D'Nel added as an afterthought "I can't believe that was just over seven solar months ago!"

“What happened to the plan?” Surl asked innocently.

D’Nel shrugged and drank the rest of the juice. “Plans change.” He grew quiet, twirling the small empty bottle in his hands as if he were studying it. Under his breath he added nearly inaudibly “She became Ela-N’ssi-Raballa.”

Surl asked “What is Ela-N’ssi-Raballa?”

D’Nel snapped around and stared at the Appian. He hadn’t realized he had said it out loud. “It’s...a Draksan thing.” he summarized. Clearly, his tone told Surl that nothing else was to be said on the subject.

 

[Scarlett O'Hara]

This is a collaborative chapter by Scarlett and Cnaeus Valerius

Surl looked up and changed the subject to a safer path, adding proudly “But now she is with us. She is as impassioned as you - a Draksan trait that is very Appian.”

D'Nel shook his head slowly. "She is not 'with' us." D'Nel saw the shock on his friend's face, but more importantly he saw the way Surl's hand unconsciously came to rest on the hilt of his knife. The Appians were a complex people, but sometimes they favored simple solutions.

“I demand that she swear fealty to you and the cause before she is told anything else!” Surl’s voice actually softened at the harsh remark, his fingers lightly gripped at the knife again.

D'Nel quickly offered his friend an explanation. "She is not with us yet...because of the baby, she wants out of anything to do with the military. She wants something very different now. We're going to lose her to motherhood, I think." After several more thoughts, he added "And frankly, I think I want her and the baby somewhere safe."

“And where is somewhere safe, Warlord?” Surl’s head tilted slightly, and he looked confident. “We are back to our original point of contention, are we not? How do we approach our mission? How do we make things better for wives and children of all species? I say we escalate our mission and make that hard decision to attack soon! After all, it is why you were chosen.”

D’Nel looked confused at the last statement “It is why I was chosen?”

Surl bowed his head slightly and stated respectfully “It is why you carry the soul of Soh-Dwar, the Appians’ greatest warrior.” D’Nel’s eyes closed in frustration and he sighed deeply. He couldn’t seem to make people realize that he was just D’Nel Abahai Ghar, son of a Draksan Mining Unionist from the northwestern continent. The northwestern continent was the last frontier on Draksa, uncivilized and exhilarating. He opened his eyes and slowly a smile began to form.

“What we need is an unorthodox approach.” D’Nel’s voice suddenly bubbled with excitement. “You and I have always done well with unorthodox approaches!” D’Nel’s eyes blinked wide and he smiled as Surl shook his head and backed away.

“NO, NO, NO! I know this look, D’Nel. The ‘Let’s-Do-Something-Totally-Unorthodox’ Look.” Surl’s hands had come up as if in surrender as he backed away, still shaking his head. “Remember, this unorthodox approach technique nearly always gets us almost killed.”

"Nearly always gets us almost killed?" D'Nel grinned at his Appian friend. "What...are you getting old and cautious on me Surl?"

Flashing anger, Surl growled "Need I point out who won our bek’shaya match just now?"

D’Nel laughed and finally said “Need I point out that the bek’shaya is one of the few things in which you can best me? Now, back on subject - what we need are new allies.”

Surl, confused said “Of course. That has been the root problem - how to identify allies and convince them to join us.”

D’Nel stood and stretched “Yes, but we’re not looking far enough out.” He pointed across the room and Surl’s head snapped around to look. Slowly drifting by the viewport was the Aurora Shell, located approximately a hundred kilometers off their port side.

“They’re reptiles, D’Nel. I don’t like the way reptiles smell.” Surl’s nose flared with memory.

D’Nel slapped his shoulder and said playfully “Don’t be a bigot! Think of this as an....”

“Opportunity! I’ve heard this enough in my career.” Surl added sadly. Though honestly he didn’t think the small, overly good-natured reptiles could help at all.

D’Nel’s voice dropped low into a conspiratorial softness “Imagine what that ship holds for us! They outright gave us a potential new comm-package. We didn’t have to ask for it, buy it or steal it. Don’t these new prospective allies deserve analyzing more closely? Perhaps they will offer more technology.”

“But D’Nel...” Surl whined pitifully “...I really hate the way reptiles smell.”

“Oh Surl, you probably smell just as offensive to them!” D’Nel tried not to smile on seeing Surl’s offended demeanor. “So, are you with me?”

“As always, WarLord.”

“Good. I think I want to shower and sleep now.” D’Nel pushed off the table. He slowly walked from the cargo bay, turning at the last moment to add “Have Enna begin an analysis as soon as possible on the Auroran comm-package. See if she can figure out how that shell does white out Sonjon sensors.” Seeing Surl’s acknowledging bow, D’Nel continued towards the cabin he shared with P’Mela.

As soon as D’Nel was out of hearing range, Surl approached the nearby computer display. “Computer, Translate Draksan phrase Ela-N’ssi-Raballa into Appian Standard, and into Sonjon Standard.” Surl waited only a second and the translations printed to the small blue screen. The display read “In Appian Standard means ‘My Heart’s Music’. Sonjon Standard means ‘My Life’s Future’.” Surl smiled. He recognized both phrases.

 

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Later, as D’Nel entered their cabin, he was surprised to see P’Mela propped in bed reading. He didn’t realize just how much his body posture gave away his pain. “I knew it! You’ve injured yourself.” she sighed and closed her alien book of poetry. He noticed it was the book to which she normally retreated when her mind was troubled.

“I’m right, aren’t I?“ she asked again. Her tone was one of concern not anger or annoyance. “When I awoke and found you gone, I did a quick check on ship’s security. I saw you doing bek’shaya practice with Surl. And you’ve been out of medical for less than 12 hours.” Her last sentence held more than enough reprimand in its tone.

“Just muscle weakness and some over exercise. I’ll be alright.” D’Nel answered quietly, and slowly in pain, stripped from his sweaty clothes.

“I’ll start a hot shower for you. Afterwards, I’ll give you a massage with some herbal creams. That should help muscle soreness and inflammation.” He smiled at her tone. Her maternal ‘I’ll-take-care-of-you’ voice was developing nicely. It was a refreshing change from her commanding voice in the early days of their relationship. But as she slipped from bed, he noticed the very pale yellow chemise again. It was so sheer that the only hint of modesty provided was by the delicate embroidery.

D’Nel stood in the shower long after bathing to allow the hot water to pound into his sore back muscles. Already he could feel a little relaxing of the tightness. It was when he turned off the water that he finally noticed the shower head had been moved up to accommodate his height. A large smile erupted. As he dried, he thought about the other things he had unconsciously noticed earlier: the dresser had been rearranged to remove some of her items to make room for some of his; when he got his practice clothes from the closet, her clothes had been pushed tighter together and his spread further apart. The smile returned as he realized the transition this signified in her thinking.

P’Mela burst into the bath “Are you alright? You’ve been in here so long, I thought....” Her sentence trailed off as D’Nel gathered her in his arms and kissed her gently at first, then with more urgency. Moments later, she reluctantly pushed him away and softly demanded “Now, your massage.” P’Mela pulled two bottles of Draksan herbal cream from the nearby drawer and followed him to the other room.

He was surprised at just how good the herbal creams made his back and shoulders feel! Or, he wondered, if it was her gentle hands deeply massaging his muscles that made the warmth spread pleasingly through him. Between the soft lights, the slow but strange music playing, and the herbal creams on her hands, he was almost relaxed enough to sleep.

D’Nel rolled onto his back and smiled up at her as she applied more cream to her hands and gently worked across his chest and out onto each arm. “Now I understand why you enjoy your massages so much.” he teased quietly. Her pale blue eyes were serene as she gazed down at him, but at his remark, she smiled slightly and her eyes seem to twinkle. He enjoyed the sensation that he might fall into her eyes and plunge deeply into her soul.

They were both intensely aware their eyes were fixed on each other. To his delight, P’Mela began to whisper caresses of words, revealing the depths of her feelings for him. The words made him yearn for her with more intensity and his hands pulled her to him, molding her to him. He realized that her soft voice - especially her musical Draksan voice speaking seductively - put the steel in him such as he had not known before.

With sweet deliberateness, his lips roamed her face and neck and shoulders, leaving only to redeem her lips again. He could feeling her thundering heartbeat against his chest. Her delicate floral fragrance teased his senses. Gently, they melded into one. Words ceased as they communicated with bodies and lips. Between them flowed a current of such intensity, it threaten to consume them

Abruptly he slowed their movements, turning his kisses back to gentle. His hands spread wide over her back, and his fingertips slowly traced the line of her spine. It sent tingling shocks flooding through her. Gently, he moved her off him and to his side. Then he leaned over to gaze down at her eyes again. Those eyes seem to look at him through windows of eternity. She shivered as the cool air brushed across her hot skin. He lowered to kiss the hollow at the base of her throat as his hands delicately traced her curves.

With a sigh of contentment, his hand splayed across her gently mounded abdomen. A large smile crossed his face when he felt his child flutter into a new position inside her. “Amazing!” he whispered to her and looked into her eyes. Once again, she reveled in his large eyes of quicksilver. They always seem to smolder a few shades darker when he was emotional or aroused.

Dipping his head, his lips brushed along her jawline and then suckled at her soft ear lobe. Again he whispered endearments to her and she to him. Her hands as light as feathers, caressed his shoulders and down his chest, then slipped to his back. Gingerly avoiding the large sore muscles down the center of his back, she concentrated on lightly caressing along his ribs and onto his shoulders. She took deep breaths of his clean herbal scent before letting gentle kisses taste the flavor of his neck and chest. P’Mela was thoroughly surprised at the blush on her cheeks when his eyes glided along her with obvious male appreciation. He chuckled softly when he saw the blush on her, as he tucked a loose tress of hair off her face.

His embrace gentle, D’Nel scooped her body under him, bringing her softly acquiescing to his. He shifted and groaned slightly into her ear as they merged into one again. In moments like these, nothing else seemed real to either of them - only the sensation of being together. But moments later, she felt herself trembling. The shivers of delight started to possess her and she whispered his name repeatedly. He coaxed her to greater response with the rhythm of his body, his fingers and the tempting touches of his lips on hers.

Once she began to whisper his name with abandon, a primitive sense of triumph gripped him and his control slipped. He allowed himself several more minutes of full passion, then softly began to return to reality, as h e declared his love and devotion to her. Her eyes twinkled up at him, and he saw the depth of trust she had in him. He promised himself to never let her down.

Moments later, as they snuggled together for sleep, one of them managed to mumble “Viewport-opaque.” Darkness engulfed the room as the filter stopped the soft reflected light from the dead ag-planet Makmadi. But both of them were already deep into sleep.

Te’Zsing was busily decrypting the newest transmission received from WarMaster Command Sergeant Mai. The ship was once again heavily annoyed at having to listen to long boring Sokoto love chants in order to find the complex encryptions.

Maintenance droids were readying the smallest of Te’Zsing’s shuttles for the upcoming trip to the Aurora shell. The Appian Assault Shuttle had proven too large to visually maneuver efficiently into the shell. The smaller shuttle would provide greater clearance for the pilot.

Surl, finally asleep from exhaustion, was snoring loudly. The sound harmonics passed through the air spaces and awoke both Enna-Telis and Osala-Ghan in the next cabin. With no hope of returning to sleep, the two Appian females decided to cook a sumptuous breakfast and then ready themselves for the upcoming trip to the Auroran Shell.

 

[Cnaeus Valerius]

Sokoto System, 1 parsec from the planet Sokoto

“Captain, all frigates report mine laying operations are complete.” Jarm-Fah glanced up from his display screen and look over at me with his outer jaws closed tightly and his lower jaw visible beneath them in an Appian frown. “Are you sure we should have used all of the mines?”

“Would you like me to set one aside for the museum Jarm?” I glanced over at my first officer and he sighed. I smiled at him and he shuddered slightly. He told me once that a smile on a face with only one set of jaws was one of the more unsettling things in the galaxy.

“It would look lovely in the ‘Times the Captain Should Have Listened to Me’ exhibit hall…I’ll put it right next to one of those furry things from Traelek.” Jarm clicked his jaws in laughter as I scowled at him.

“How was I supposed to know that was where their mouths were?” I tapped the command sequence to activate the minefield into my console and a sphere of symbols representing active mines blossomed into being on the tactical holographic display. The pattern was just as I envisioned it. The mines were placed so their gravity wells slightly overlapped and bound the mines together into the larger sphere. Throughout the large sphere were pockets of normal space outside the influence of the gravity mines. In theory the minefield should act like a sponge soaking up and trapping the ships of Sonjon Alae as they passed through it on their way to attack Sokoto. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it Jarm? I think it will hold about three alae…”

“We’ll know soon enough. Here come the first of the Sonjon ships.”

The bridge was silent as one by one the lead elements of the Sonjon fleet appeared within the pockets of the sphere. When a Glory-class ship became trapped between the gravity wells the crew cheered. Jarm clicked his jaws merrily and clapped me on the back with enough force to almost knock me out of my chair. I beamed confidently at him. I knew it would work.

“Captain, a Sonjon destroyer has just collided with one of the gravity mines…” the tactics crewman paused and furrowed her brow as she tried to decipher was happening.

“Damn…” I muttered hoping Jarm would not hear me. He did.

“You never say that when something is going according to plan.” Jarm looked from me to the THD in rapid succession. The pattern of mines shifted slightly while more ships became trapped within it. Jarm’s facial features reflected a growing suspicion. “What’s happening Ch’Ryl?”

“The entire structure is going to collapse and create sort of a temporary micro-black hole. It will still pull the Sonjon ships out of warp but we will take them out the old fashioned way.” I sighed as the red blossom of gravity mines withered in on itself. “On the bright side any ships caught within the sphere will be crushed by the micro-black hole. Sound Battle Stations, Jarm.”

“Bright side…she creates a gaping hole in the fabric of space and finds a bright side about it…may the Sacred Void protect us from the Ghars.” Jarm muttered softly in his chair as he altered his display screen to show battle data. He tapped a button to send a fleet wide alert and he spoke in a clam, steely tone. “Battle stations, battle stations. Damage control teams stand by. Prime all weapons systems for firing.”

“Have a third of the fleet fall back to Sokoto in case any Sonjon make it past us. The rest will follow our lead and fire at will.” I called up the nav display on my console and found a Glory class starship adrift and in flame near the micro-black hole. The transition to normal space had not been kind. “Helm set a course for that ship! All forward batteries open fire once she is in range. All other batteries are to clear us a path there.”

“We could always take them out with long range missiles. It would save us the inconvenience of charging through…” Jarm clicked his jaws quietly as he counted the enemy starships. “At least two Alae of Sonjon vessels.”

“No…no…coming out of warp on top of a black hole has left them disoriented. They are demoralized already by watching nearly half of one of their Alae getting crushed into a single point in space.” I motioned to the THD and grinned. “If we come in guns blazing we can destroy that Glory-class before the crew can recover. The rest of Sonjon fleet will surrender shortly after that. Helm, take us in. Best possible speed.”

 

[Scarlett O'Hara]

On the Rim, near Neutral Space at Sonjon ag-world Makmadi

“D’NEL!” Te’Zsing spoke harshly for the third time.

Rolling over onto his back, D’Nel groaned sleepily “Yes, Te‘Zsing. I heard you the first time!” He stretched and called out for P‘Mela.

“She is not onboard, Admiral. They just left for the Aurora Shell.” Te’Zsing answered far too quickly, as if he had physically pounced on D‘Nel. “You have an urgent priority message from WarMaster Command Sergeant Chiang-Zhaizu Mai. Then we have to talk.” The ship’s voice sounded strained.

“What?” D’Nel sat straight up. “They left for the Aurora Shell without me?”

“I believe that is what I just said!“ Te’Zsing answered peevishly. “They should complete docking within the hour. Then we shall lose all contact with them. May I remind you that Surl was delayed in completing the Auroran comm-package installation last night.” he added in a rather annoyed tone which D’Nel was more than familiar with.

“At ease, Ship!” D’Nel said in his most stern commanding voice. There was no need for the ship to be so surly at this early hour. “Play Mai’s message from the start.” he added and laid back against his warm pillows, hands laced behind his head. Long minutes later, he was up and dressing quickly as he told the ship to “Replay.” He slid into the chair in front of the computer display and his eyes scanned the message. He noticed his hands were gripping the arms of the desk chair so hard that his knuckles were losing feeling.

D’Nel read the entire message at least a dozen times. Each time the shock was deeper as he analyzed exactly what the impact was. According to Mai, the Sokoto’s quickly devised attack on the Sonjon Royal Palace had resulted in a good number of the key officials being captured for interrogation, and the deaths of quite a few others. As a result, N’Fan had called for an outright attack on Draksa, simply because he thought P’Mela LeonDocTchi and D’Nel Ghar had planned the attack on the palace. He had subsequently, two days later, ordered a similar attack on planet Sokoto when he realized that the central figure at the palace had been a Sokoto disguised as an ambassador. Mai concluded that N’Fan had surmised his own participation in the attack and would seek retribution against his homeworld.

D’Nel read again the details of the attack on Draksa:
The destruction to P’Mela’s ancestral estate and death to a majority of her family members had been confirmed.

Nearly all of the planet’s desalinization centers had been destroyed, along with great expanses of crops, and key manufacturing complexes. There was no doubt that N’Fan had chosen those areas most crucial to a desert planet to hit, or so he thought. Fresh water and food supplies had been his first targets!

Next hit were military targets - militia outposts, comm-centers, and airdocks.

The planet’s defense platform had been destroyed by the opening volleys from the four Alae. The ships had uncloaked on top of it while the system was only on standby. D’Nel agreed with Mai’s conclusion - the Sonjon Alae had been in close proximity to Draksa in preparation for attack.

The Draksan GPS system was completely destroyed. D’Nel allowed himself a small smile of defiance when he read that it was the Draksan’s themselves who self-destructed the GPS. They apparently meant that the sophisticated system would not be allowed into the hands of the Sonjon for the purpose of tracking the Draksan population and its ground based militia forces. “Excellent!” D’Nel thought.

D’Nel could not believe that the Sonjon had purposefully destroyed the tri-city area of Khaliji-Saeedi-Qarah. The 5 million person tri-city area was the mecca for Draksan communications/banking/diplomacy, and in the center of the city was the Old Believers Temple complex which dated back nearly four millennia. Luckily, what the Sonjon did not know is that the Draksans had quietly been moving key communications and banking functions to other, more secured, areas of Draksa. D’Nel muttered defiantly “Destruction of the Old Believers’ Temple and relics will alight a fire across Draksa that will overshadow the burning crops!”

Though personally, he did not believe in the religion of Draksa, he knew P’Mela did. She called Draksa “The Jewel in the Sonjon Crown” and used the Old Believers’ rhetoric to support that claim: “Once the old gods were saddened in their children. Fearing the loss of all that was dear, the old gods dipped their fingers into the void and created Draksa. They sent their best children to populate the planet.......”

Pulling himself from his reverie, D’Nel moved the message to a secure file for his view only and sat back in the chair. “Can we talk now, D’Nel?” asked Te’Zsing, the softness had returned to his voice. Upon seeing D’Nel nod into the monitor, Te’Zsing said “I would like to recommend that we do not tell P’Mela of this tragedy, not at this time. At our best speed, we are nearly 3 weeks from Draksa, and two and a half from Ch’Chock’pi. There is nothing her knowing now could change.”

“But why....” D’Nel started to ask.

“Because she was ill and the baby was under siege by the virus for so long. I think we should give her a couple of weeks to recuperate and get her strength back prior to having to deal with this an emotional situation.”

“I’ll take it under advisement.” D’Nel answered, his tone non-committal.

He began to pace the small ship as he thought through the conflicting emotions in him. He thought about the right thing to do for P’Mela and weighed the health of his unborn son against it. He thought about Draksa and knew he wanted to be there in their defeat of the Sonjon. There was no doubt in his mind that they would defeat the Sonjon. In his arrogance, N’Fan had destroyed the desalinization centers which meant only that Sonjon soldiers would be trapped planetside without fresh water supplies. The population of Draksa had grown to strength on the desert world. Knowledge of how to find fresh natural water and food was ingrained in Draksans. By destroying nearly harvestable crops, N’Fan had sealed his soldiers to living on small prepackaged rations. At best, they were merely nutrient sufficient. Soldiers quickly tired of them and avoided them. N’Fan would then have to provide fresh food along very long supply routes while Draksans would live off their food stores hidden in deep cellars across the land.

The Battle for Draksa would be long and deadly, but there was no doubt in D’Nel’s mind that the Draksans would win. He wondered briefly if it was his Draksan pride that was so sure.

As D’Nel stepped onto the lower deck, he spotted Kov-Strop, the Appian weapons expert, calmly sitting and sharpening two bek’shaya. He seldom saw the elusive warrior. “Good Morning, Kov. They didn't take you to the Aurora Shell either, I see.” D’Nel offered as a conversation opener.

“Obviously.” The Appian did not look up as he glided the sharpening tool along the blades.

“Why are you honing those?” D’Nel asked out of curiosity. Surl usually kept the blades razor sharp and oiled.

"Knicked." Kov growled through two pair of gritted jaws. Appians were most strict in their care and respect of weapons.

"Oh...that's too bad."

"Is nothing - filed knick out already." Kov glared at the Draksan, then resumed his methodical sharpening of the weapon.

"Ah, good. How did you knick the blade anyway?"

"Fighting." Kov said, nodding his head as if sharing some great secret. The expression on his face implied D'Nel was already in on the secret. D’Nel winced with sudden recollection. He and Surl had simply dropped them the previous night and then became engrossed in conversation. Obviously, Surl had forgotten them as well. There was a lingering silence.

"Ah...well...glad to hear everything worked out okay then. I'm off to the bridge now." D'Nel nodded and walked away.

"Urrrr." Only a answering groan escaped Kov.

Finally finding himself on the bridge, D’Nel watched the monitor as Te’Zsing’s smallest shuttle docked with the shell. “Contact is now lost.” Te’Zsing added with a slight rebuke in his tone.

“Distance to shell?” D’Nel asked as he slid into the captain’s chair. He didn’t like the situation at all. His gut was telling him something was not right. His gut was usually correct.

“One hundred kilometers.” Te’Zsing answered immediately.

“Use thrusters only and slowly move us to ten kilometers off the Shell’s docking port.” D’Nel’s command was soft. The ship’s movement was so smooth that only the slight movement of Makmadi on the monitor was indication of their position changing.

 

[Scarlett O'Hara]

On the Rim, near Neutral Space at Sonjon ag-world Makmadi

Departing the docked shuttle, P’Mela was greeted by the female doctor who had helped her on the previous visit; Surl, Enna and Osala were warmly greeted by Jahnno. Surl was rather taken aback when the small grayish Auroran threw his arms around him and squeezed. He immediately sneezed when he inhaled the reptilian musk smell.

Jahnno introduced Enna and Osala to an engineer who would show them the core functions. “I thought I would accompany them.” stated Surl. Before he could follow his shipmates and the Auroran engineer, Jahnno grasped his hand and said excitedly “But I wish to introduce you to my family and explain my nesting responsibilities. Surl frowned but followed rather meekly. After all, Appians did have a social code to follow - and being rude was not part of the code.

As the female doctor led her on a ship’s tour, P’Mela kept her eyes focused on the fabric of the doctor’s dress sheath. It seemed a creative work of patchwork, with small areas of different coloration and iridescence. After a few minutes, P’Mela became aware of the uneasy silence between them. To make things easier, she asked the doctor “What is the fabric of your clothing?”

The doctor seemed surprised but her webbed hands slid appreciatively over the fabric. “We call it chiton. It is quite efficient for space missions.” She saw the Draksan’s interest as her eyebrows raised. The doctor continued “It is comprised of one-cell organisms which divides and links itself together. While we travel in space, fresh water is a luxury and we must conserve. The organisms in this fabric absorbs our bodies’ wastes which are secreted through our skin. It absorbs and uses as an energy source for reproduction. We have a symbiotic relationship.”

P’Mela’s lips curved down initially in disgust. But she had not smelled any odors while on board. If they didn’t bath, yet had no odor, something was at work. “So you sweat, the fabric eats it, makes more of itself?” P’Mela summarized.

The doctor’s voice erupted in jingling sounds and finally she said “Yes, that is a simplistic way of looking at it.” The jingling sounds continued a while longer. “It continues to grow as long as we wear it. When I wish a change of clothing, I select other pieces grown by others.”

“You share clothes?” This time P’Mela’s face lapsed into a very disgusted frown.

“Yes.” the doctor replied simply. “The results are quite beautiful, don’t you think?” The doctor saw the Draksan’s lack of understanding and explained “Each person excretes a different concoction of waste products through their skin. It is as unique as the person. Those differences give the organism’s new cells a different look. This accounts for the differences in coloration and reflection of the various patches.”

“Aaahhhh.....” P’Mela understood.

“The chiton continues to grow, unless we kill it.” the doctor stated matter-of-factly. “But we keeping cutting away excesses and piecing them to others’ excesses and making clothes for the children.”

“What is your name?” P’Mela finally thought to ask, feeling rather harsh that she hadn’t thought of them as individuals.

“Kyata.” the doctor made that same hands to the forehead and fingers to the lips sign that the first Auroran made upon their meeting. “And what is your name?” the doctor asked in politeness.

P’Mela smiled and said “P’Mela Piaue LeonDocTchi.” and bowed her head a little.

“PeeeMaillah Peeeowe....” the doctor worked her tiny pointed mouth, trying to wrap the words around all her round prominent teeth. “That is a lot of name.” she concluded. P’Mela laughed.

“Doctor Kyata, would you do a favor for me?” she asked as they arrived at the medical complex, deep inside the shell. Seeing the Auroran’s interest, she continued “The medical facilities on my ship are apparently not as advanced as yours. Though my equipment shows the virus has been killed, would you check me again. You know...to make sure everything is fine.”

“Of course. With one condition. You agree to let me enter your physiology information into our computer. We have nothing on Draksans.” Kyata.

On the opposite side of the Shell, Jahnno was introducing Surl to his 11 youngsters. The Appian knew he’d never remember their names. Though, like Appian children, they were full of curiosity and questions, all bickering to be the one to ask the next question of the strange alien in their home. As he patiently tried to answer their questions, Surl noticed that they appeared to be more or less in size groupings. Finally, the Auroran took him into a smaller room. They was a concave type bed with an Auroran female seated upon it. Seeing the alien, she first squealed and was calmed by Jahnno. Slowly, she arose from the bed and moved quickly around the Appian, and then hurried from the room. Jahnno pointed down at the 4 eggs in the nest. “Today, I begin my nesting duties.” he announced happily and climbed over the bed. Gently, he settled himself onto the eggs. Surl thought it was the most disgusting thing he had ever seen a male do.

“How long must you do....this?” asked Surl, his jaws pulled jointly into a deep frown.

“Until they hatch. My mate must attend to preparing herself for their after-hatching care.” Jahnno explained and indicated a nearby chair.

“Ah.” Surl said and quickly moved the discussion to the pathogen being studied by the Aurorans.

In the core of the Shell, Enna and Osala moved about and studied the various systems as the engineer pointed to things. Questions were answered happily and fully. Enna wondered if the Aurorans had any idea how foolish they were for giving out such vital systems information. A potential enemy could use this information against them. She discovered that Surl’s evaluation on such short examination was indeed correct. They had no artificial cloaks, no weapons and only short range and slow speed engines. “How do you travel over very long distances?” Enna asked the pudgy engineer.

“The Copani are our allies. They move the Shell into a Science Mother Ship and move us quickly from one point to another. After we are repositioned, they leave us to our work.” the engineer explained between bites of some type of nutrition food bar.

Osala glanced at Enna and mumbled sarcastically “That’s nice of them.”

The nearby engineer laughed “Yes, it is. But it is easier to do that than have their engineering teams spend time on board installing complicated engines for us.”

Enna look out from under the main engine casing and glared at the Auroran. “Why is that?” she questioned.”

“Copani can’t stay on board for more than an hour. The shifting gravity axis makes them have vertigo. Very bad vertigo. And the deeper inside the shell they go, the worse it gets.” Looking about to ensure no one could hear, the engineer whispered “Nothing worse than a Copani who is sick to its stomach! I don‘t know what they eat!” Enna and Osala laughed merrily. The engineer giggled between bites of his food bar.

In the medical facility, Kyata finished her scan of P’Mela and smiled. “Very good, PeeMaillah. The virus has been purged from you. The womb is already healing itself, thickening. I have a question. Where are you in the gestation cycle?”

P’Mela gently caressed her stomach and smiled “Draksan gestation is 55 weeks. I am approximately half-way at 26 weeks.” She watched as the Auroran quickly input the data into the small computer. Then P’Mela added “Draksans are a very long lived race. Thus our fertility cycles are further apart than short-lived species. Sometimes, a fertility cycle can arrive a bit early, surprising the unprepared.” She laughed at some private joke.

The Auroran doctor looked at her, its head tilted slightly to one side. “May I deduce that this pregnancy was an unexpected? Auroran pregnancy is never an unexpected. We use every opportunity to increase our population. We are....as you said.....a short-lived species.”

“Yes, it was quite a surprise. Usually, birth control is easy in a Draksan. We have a simple injection. Normally one would take it immediately before the start of the fertility cycle. It prevents fertilization.” P’Mela explained as she sat up and pulled her sweater down.

“Birth control?” whispered the shocked Auroran, and made several noises of discordance. She looked back at the alien in her medical facility. “Would you like to have some pictures of your baby in the womb?” she smiled at seeing the bright smile on P’Mela’s face. “I thought so. I have prepared a crystal for you to take back”

 

[Scarlett O'Hara]

On the Rim, near Neutral Space at Sonjon ag-world Makmadi

"Doctor Kyata, I would like to discuss the pathogens you are studying on board.” The doctor had insisted on a short break to a dining facility after P‘Mela suffered a short bout of vertigo and nauseau. She thought perhaps a pregnant Draksan might need nourishment. P’Mela slid into a comfortable seat adjacent to the Auroran female. They were served a steaming bowl of something that smelled delicious. Watching Kyata, P’Mela mimicked the handling of the bowl and sipped cautiously. It was very much like a Draksan clear broth, flavored with herbs and small cubes of white tender meat. She ate hungrily.

Another course was delivered and P’Mela beamed in delight. “I know this. This is chocolate cake!” Large slices were put in front of her and the doctor.

“Yes! We discovered it after studying a small planet in neutral space.” the doctor added.

“Aaaahhhh....that is soooo good! I‘ve only encountered this on one planet in my travels - Earth.“ P’Mela declared as she took a large portion into her mouth. “I would love to have some of this for my ship.” she added with a full mouth. The doctor laughed and agreed.

“Yes, Earth is where we discovered it as well.“ Kyata released a deep sigh. “I despair to change the subject from chocolate, Peemaillah. However, I do wish to discuss this pathogen. It appeared in Auroran space several years ago. We have traced it to a third party shipment from neutral space. The merchant, when later contacted, said he bought the shipment in bulk from the Sonjon. Subsequent research showed us that the tainted grains and seeds originated on this particular agricultural planet - Makmadi.” Kyata outlined the scientific data which linked it specifically to Makmadi. “We have also ascertained that the virus is not a naturally occurring virus. It was manufactured.”

“I believe the pathogen originated in Sonjon space, as you indicate, Kyata. But I will need your proof in order to trace it further and deeper into Imperial space. Can you provide me with detailed analyses?” P’Mela looked longingly at the small plate with chocolate smears littering the surface. She had to remember to get the chocolate samples as well.

“Yes, I would gladly give you any information we have gathered. And with the comm-package Jahnno gave your associate, we should be able to communicate with any additional findings.” Kyata frowned and brushed the plates away. Her webbed fingers worked nervously as if she was trying to find words for the next bit of conversation.

P’Mela watched the play of emotions on the face of her new friend. Finally, she said softly “Kyata, just say it. I won’t be offended.”

The Auroran doctor looked up, her dark small eyes filled with anger. “You readily agreed that the pathogen probably originated in Sonjon space. Why would someone purposefully manufacture such a destructive thing?”

“To use as a weapon against the other empires of this galaxy.” P’Mela stated firmly. “Of course, I am guessing. I had no part in its making or use.”

The doctor made a string of noises. “Why? Aren’t conventional weapons of enough destructive nature without making something which affects our very DNA? And you also claim you had no part in its making or use. But aren’t you as guilty as any scientist who worked on the pathogen? Or any soldier who deployed it?”

“NO!” P’Mela snapped angrily before she could control her response. “IF......if I were as guilty as they, I would not be trying to find out information now. My.....my......” P’Mela stumbled over the descriptive word to use concerning D’Nel. She had never referred to him as “my” anything before. Sighing deeply, she continued “My mate and I are out here for the same purpose as you. He discovered information which linked a series of ag-worlds together in regards to food shortages and starvation, and rebellion in Sonjon space. We are trying to find answers as well, Kyata. But we have to help each other!”

The Auroran apologized for her outburst and asked if they could walk. Together, they moved about the Shell again, stopping to observe scientific tests in laboratories, to watch school sessions with various aged children, and to visit the arboretum. Kyata took two small bags from a drawer and handed one to P’Mela. “We’ll gather some cocoa beans for you to take to your ship.”

“Thank you, Kyata, but I am not fond of beans.” P’Mela tried to hand the bag back to the Auroran, but she was doubled up in a light-hearted laugh. “What’s so funny?”

“It is what chocolate is made from.” Kyata managed to explain between laughs. She laughed harder at seeing P’Mela’s shocked expression. “I promise to give you the formulas necessary to use the beans appropriately.” and laughed further.

P’Mela began to smile and then laugh. Finally she said “Why not just give me chocolate? That would be easier.”

“If I just give you chocolate, you would soon consume the supply. If I give you the beans and the knowledge of how to grow your own and make the chocolate, then you shall always have the chocolate at your fingertips.” Kyata explained and giggled even more.

“Alright. I understand!” Though pouting, P’Mela immediately thought of the very small arboretum on Te’Zsing. She would happily uproot some herbs to make room for these...cocoa beans.

As they left the arboretum, P’Mela stuffed both bags of cocoa beans in the pockets of her light weight jacket and began to ask specific questions about the Shell’s modifications. “The Copani helped us to adapt the shells for habitation and research. They installed the multiple language displays; they have tools which can cut, albeit very slowly, through the shell’s hardness. As a result, we could install safe biospheres in which to study various hazardous materials. If not for the Copani.....”

“If not for the Copani, several worlds would still be alive!” muttered P’Mela under her breath. The pure hatred in her new friend shocked the Auroran.

“You dislike the Copani so strongly? To us they have been nothing but helpers and friends. They are a peaceful peop......”

“There is a third of a galaxy out there that would disagree with you, Kyata!” P’Mela said more calmly.

“Yes, and there is two-thirds of a galaxy out there that would disagree with you as well, Peemaillah. So which of us is correct?” Kyata stared at the Draksan.

After a long moment of silence, P’Mela answered “I have killed many Copani Seekers in my career. There are two who have eluded me thus far - ZakRianan and MosGaladstin. I’m sure either of them would love to capture me and make me pay for the Copani I have killed!”

Kyata stumbled a few steps and made a screeching noise. Seeing the lightening gray of the Auroran’s skin, P’Mela knew that the doctor was in shock. “MosGaladstin?” Kyata whispered. Her eyes darted quickly from side to side as if she were thinking through an important decision. Suddenly, she grabbed her Draksan friend’s arm and pushed them into a running gait, headed for the docking bay. “You have to leave immediately, my friend. Get to your ship and get away from Makmadi at the maximum speed available to you.”

They ducked through children coming from classrooms. “What’s wrong, Kyata?”

Kyata stopped abruptly and pulled P’Mela to a small display. She quickly said something into the device and turned. “This is the Shell’s intercom. Call your people quickly. You must depart.”

“But why.....”

“DO IT, Peemaillah.” she screamed harshly. “Tell them to hurry to the docking bay!” Kyata was frantic. Her hands were trembling. P’Mela made the announcement twice, calling for Surl, Enna and Osala to meet at docking bay. Emergency Situation.

As they began to run the rest of the way to the docking bay, Kyata stuttered “The Shell is due for retrieval today. The Copani Science Mother Ship is commanded by MosGaladstin.” The color drained from P’Mela’s face and she thought her legs would collapse benath her.

They arrived at the docking bay and P’Mela climbed on board to start the pre-flight sequence as she waited nervously for Surl and Enna. A few minutes later, Kyata stepped into the shuttle and shoved a pile of papers at her and three small containers. “I don’t know how accurate this is. I had it translated rapidly and printed.” she explained.

“What is this?” P’Mela asked.

“Formulas for the cocoa bean usage and a few samples of chocolate products.” came the surprise answer.

“What I need is the pathogen information, Kyata!” P’Mela snapped harshly in return.

“Yes, but that is very extensive and we don’t have time. I can send all of that via the comm-package! Please hurry!” was Kyata’s breathless reply.

“Promise me something, Kyata. Once you leave Makmadi, get the Shell out of Sonjon space. The next Sonjon ship that stumbles across you probably won’t be as inquisitive, or as friendly, as I.” P’Mela powered up the engines. “Promise me, Kyata!”

“I...I can’t. We have to go where the research leads us.” Kyata stammered. “If we are to save our people, I have to follow the research.”

“Then turn off the damned transponder! That’s the only way we found you. The shell doesn’t show up on Sonjon technology.” P’Mela demanded as she fastened the safety harness and did a final check on all the displays.

“Agreed. Thank you, Peemaillah.”

“No. Thank you for saving my baby, Kyata!”

The Auroran climbed off as she saw the three Appians running into the docking bay. Kyata stood back as the energy field protected her and the others from the docking bay opening. She waved shyly as the small shuttle exited the Shell. She hoped her new friends would get away.

P'Mela checked the computer. Their trip to the Auroran Shell had lasted a little over 9 hours.

 

[Zack Ryan]

“Looking at the message displayed for the second time, he thought to himself, “P'Mela, D’Nel Ghar, and the Appians. It has to be her, but D’Nel Ghar and several Appians, for that matter, are not as interesting as who is sending the message and who is receiving it. So Zak my old friend, you and I shall meet again soon. You as well P'Mela, you as well.
”Boro’Con,’ he spoke into the communicator, “move us to the shell immediately. Stay cloaked until we are directly over the “Shell” and then extend shields and de-cloak. I believe they are about to board and attack the “Shell”. I want you to board the ship before it begins it’s attack and bring the two Draksans here, alive and unharmed, the others you may do as you see fit.””

As Mos sat and waited for the Boro’Con to get the ship into position and report, his Comm. System beeped at him and, expecting the Boro’Con, he sent his acknowledgement and opened reception. When the screens showed each other who was on the other end, Zak smiled widely and Mos’s mouth opened wide in disbelief, then fell into a smile of recognition. “Your Highness, may I offer my congratulations on your soon to be ascension to the throne and sincere sympathy to you and your family for what is about to befall all of you. I truly liked your father, he was a fair male and a good King.”

“Thank you Mos, I appreciate your thoughts and I know my family will also, but I must ask, what are you doing there? You are inside Son’Jon territory and as charming as you can be, I am sure you were not invited.”

Suppressing a smile, he quickly told Zak, “I am the Boro’Ches of the Copan Royal Science Mother Ship. I am here to bring the “Auroran Shell” on board and move it to it’s next location. Since it is the largest and most heavily manned Science Ship in our alliance, it is also the most vulnerable. There is a Son’Jon Hunter Killer standing off from it and we were about to board and capture the Draksans who are aboard it. Interestingly there are also several Appians aboard as well. They just returned from a trip to the Shell and I think they are going to attempt to board and attack the personnel. The ship is Te’Zsing, personnel craft of the female Draksan P'Mela who has been chasing Copani Seekers.”
“MOS! Call off your attack. Do not board the vessel. Te’Zsing is P’Mela’s ship, and is in regular communication with me. I will be there soon and explain.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Excuse me please.” Keeping Zak on one channel, he hailed the Boro’Con and told him, “Stand Down Boro’Con, stay cloaked and stand down. I will explain later, JUST DO IT!”

The Boro’Con acknowledged the order and the ship halted above the shell and rose away, staying cloaked and waiting. Going back to Zak, Mos had a large smile on his face, as did Zak. “Your Highness, I wish….” was as far as Mos got before Zak interrupted him.

“My name is Zakrianan, Zak to you Mos. I am Your Highness in public. In private we are the same as we were all those hundreds of years ago when we were young males with huge egos and ambitions to match. By Horvath Mos, I have missed you terribly.”

“And I you Zak, but I didn’t realize it until just a few years ago how much I missed our friendship. Is it not strange that we both felt the same way but Yan’chi posturing did not allow either of us to make the first step towards the other? How long will it be before you arrive?”

“About 2/3’s of a ships day my friend, so have some drinks ready and be prepared to show me the “Shell.” OH, I have a surprise for you when I arrive.”

Intrigued, Mos wanted to ask outright, but decided to wait.
“Zak, you will not be able to go aboard the Shell. All Copani who board her last no further than a few hundred feet before vertigo sends them back to airlock. I will arrange to have a video tour done for you with their Chief Scientist.”
Zak nodded and smiled. “All right my friend, a guided video tour will have to do.”
Mos asked, “What of P’Mela and her ship? We intercepted the ghost of a burst message that was sent from Te’Zsing towards Neutral Space and when I read it, I was surprised to say the least.”

“That I will tell you upon my arrival. It is a very, very long story and I wish to sit and talk and renew a valuable part of my life, with the one person who would understand some of my decisions, and have probably kept me from making some of the mistakes I have already made.”

Zak and Mos talked a few minutes’ longer and made plans for the rendezvous in a few hours. Zak stood from the console, and began whistling a song that he and Mos had heard and liked the night they graduated, as he walked out to the command deck. Mos took one last look at the Tactical Display and saw a small mass approaching the area at jump speed, but it didn’t appear to be something to worry about. Mos stood and, smiling, left the Comm. Deck and went for a walk, whistling a song he and Zak had heard the night of their graduation and one which they both had liked immediately.

 

[Zack Ryan]

As Ontanan left the command deck, Zak went to the Command Console and opened up the files that had been created from Ravinian’s memories and other thoughts. Scanning them quickly he saw several Draksan names, which puzzled him greatly. But what didn’t puzzle him was that Ravinian was far outside the norm for the normally altruistic Copani. He had been dealing, as middleman, with the Draksans for several years, selling them technology and weapons. He needed to find out where Oni Sleipnir was as well.

Calling up the file on Oni Sleipnir, he called Ontanan back and had him begin to run comparisons of base cellular patterns of Sleipnir and the entire crew of Demon pilots and support crew. Once he was sure that work was moving along he left the deck and headed for the Medical Bay.

As he stepped through the door all the off duty personnel that Aglianan had come to call friends, turned and bowed. Disappointed that Eunest was not there, Zak pulled the Chief Medical android aside and asked him her condition. The droid responded very dryly, “She will walk again, the paralysis she feels at this time is caused by the near miss and overheating of her spinal fluid. Her Menoch Sac condition, though, is beyond the scope of our limited equipment and I would suggest a complete examination as soon as possible to determine the condition of the Sac.”

Like a toy that is turned off, the droid finished abruptly and waited instructions. “She will be attended to as soon as we reach Copan. In the meantime monitor her closely and let me know of any changes in her condition.”

Zak turned away and moved into Aglianan’s room. She was awake, tired looking and a bit scared. Walking up to the bed, Zak bent over and kissed her ear lobe, whispering at the same time, “You will walk in another day or two, as soon as the cord heals completely. As for the other, you will be transported to the Royal Hospital as soon as we get to Copan and the determination will be made then as to how much damage Ravinian did.”

Aglianan looked up at Zak and began to sob softly. Mistaking her tears as tears of sadness he sat next to her, taking her hands and holding them tightly, whispering words of encouragement to her. She quickly stopped crying and began to laugh softly, choking slightly as she tried to get out the words. Zak was worried that she had lost her sanity until she was able to breathe and tell him, “NO, NO, Zak. I am happy. I was fearful that I would not be able to walk again. I can fly or enjoy coupling without a fully functional Menoch Sac, but I cannot function at all without legs.

Zak reached out and squeezed Aglianan’s hand and then told her what he had found out from the files from Ravinian’s brain. Aglianan listened, asked a few questions and said, “This presents a very difficult problem. Half the populated planets believe we are evil incarnate, thanks to the Draksans and Appians using captured or wired together ships that look like ours. The other half know we are not simply because they are in the alliance and know we are not the things a child’s nightmares are made up of.”

Zak shook his head in agreement and then told her he needed to study the files in more depth, coordinating the data and determining what the next step was to be.

“OH, Aglianan, I have a surprise for you in a few ships hours. One I believe you will greatly enjoy.”

“What is it Zak, I’m a sick female, you shouldn’t do this to me in my condition,” she said gravely, then began to smile broadly, “Too much you think?”

Zak nodded and walked out. As he returned to the command deck his mind was churning over everything that had happened so far today, wondering what meeting up with Mos and Te’Zsing would bring.

Ontanan’s voice came from the wall, breaking in on his thoughts. “Boro'Ank, we have picked up an odd signature on the instruments, traveling in an intercept course. It should arrive shortly before we do. It is a small anomaly and should pose no real problems for us.”

Zak told Ontanan to have one of the others keep watch and to go back to the base cellular analysis until he had ruled everyone out. Zak continued on to the Command Deck, determined to glean as much information as possible.

 

[Cnaeus Valerius]

Sokoto System, one parsec from the planet Sokoto

“There are almost three Alae here Ch’Ryl.” Jarm frowned as he counted the Sonjon ships once more. “We have only accounted for two Glory-class ships…that third one has me worried.”

The bridge of the Shadow of the Tempest shuddered in the fluctuating gravity along the event horizon of the micro-black hole. I found myself once again wondering how Jarm prioritized his worrying. Gravitational shear was much more of a threat to us at the moment than any starship could be.

“Captain…the Sonjon ships are concentrating their fire on us but they seem to be have problems achieving a lock on our position. Most of their shots are missing us by a wide margin.” My rather confused Sokoto weapons officer called from over the shoulder of one of the weapons technicians. I was surprised by his reaction. He really should have known.

“Lieutenant, did you sleep through your classes on astrophysics?” Jarm snapped. He claimed worrying over anything unusual as his exclusive domain and guarded it jealously. This had the curious effect of calming those he was lecturing.

I turned to face Ensign DreamWatcher 4, my science officer, and was troubled by Charitim’s body language. I had a feeling what was troubling it.

“What is the status of that black hole Ensign DreamWatcher?” I was dimly aware as I spoke that Jarm was administering a brief lecture on how black holes bent energy emissions, be they in the form of light, sensor beams, or weapons fire, in unpredictable ways this close to the event horizon of a black hole.

“It is growing increasingly unstable Captain.” The Charitim glanced down at its instrument readouts. I heard a slight tremor in its voice. “I believe it will undergo a catastrophic inversion soon.”

“In other words, it will explode?” I tried not to laugh when I heard Jarm stop in mid-sentence.

“Yes Captain.”

“Violently I trust?”

“Yes Captain.”

“Excellent. Helm, start shedding some of our speed. I want to be at Two-thirds when we smash that battleship. That should encourage most of their Alae to close in on us.” I turned to Jarm and smiled at him. “You did say you had devised a new power management routine to boost our speed? We will be needing a bit more speed soon I think.”

“Actually Captain, I have developed nearly a dozen routines tailored to the various situations I have noticed we tend to encounter.” Jarm huffed as he tapped a few commands into his console and muttered loud enough only for me to hear him. “This is a classic Type 3…classic…Any ideas about where that third Glory class is?”

“I think it will come out of warp with the rest of their forces over on the other side of the system. They would plan on using the bulk of their forces to keep any defenses Sokoto might have pinned down out here somewhere. The remainder of their forces would come in from another angle and attack the planet. Then the defenders out here would be picked off one by one as they tried to return to save Sokoto. I am sure they thought it was an excellent plan when they conceived it…a pity they had not planned on going up against me.” I sat back in my command chair and crossed my legs. It was time to finish off that battleship. “Mister Ainoru instruct your crews to open fire on the battleship. Comm, signal the fleet to begin falling back to Sokoto.”

“Someday, Captain Ch’Ryl Ghar, you will be the death of me. It will be the most glorious death in all of Appian history, I am certain of it.” Jarm chuckled in Appian delight as he pulled up a thermal image of the Sonjon battleship. In the image the ship’s hull glowed white hot where internal fires raged uncontrolled. New hot spots blossomed where our long range weapons impacted with the hull. “It will not be today however. The enemy fleet is forming up nicely to close in on us. We could break off our attack now Captain and let the collapse of the micro-black hole finish them.”

“No, Jarm. This kill belongs to the crew not some temporary freak of nature.” I turned my attention to a system map. The captain the third battleship was cautious – otherwise he would have already appeared. He was too cautious to risk his precious battleship too close Sokoto where a lucky shot by a defense platform may prove crippling. The system’s large gas giant appeared to be the perfect place to hide while directing the battle. “Helm, prepare a course for the seventh planet in the Sokoto system. Engage on my mark.”

The Tempest shuddered as the battleship began to return our fire. I glanced over at Jarm’s display and saw a constellation of debris orbiting the enemy starship. It would not be long now. In my peripheral vision I saw Ensign DreamWatcher shifting its weight from side to side. It would not be long before that black hole went either.

“We have breached their engineering spaces Captain!” The young Sokoto officer shouted from his station. I watched a series of small explosions knock more debris loose from the hull of the battleship. A few lifeboats rocketed away from the dieing starship only to be trapped in the gravitational pull of the black hole, but I felt no sympathy toward them. They would be the deserters.

“Engage course now Helm. Jarm, do what you have to in order to up our speed.” I felt a wave of satisfaction wash over me as the battleship was reduced to so much molten scrap. I could only begin to imagine the look on D’Nel’s face when I told him the Tempest had could claim credit for the destruction of two Glory class ships while his Sonjon Glory could only claim credit for one. Poor D'Nel would be so jealous his eyes would go violet. All I needed to do was find that last battleship…

“Captain! Incoming message from the captain of the N’Fan’s Glory…” The comm technician gave me a puzzled look as the space around the black hole was twisted by the sudden inversion of gravity and energy around it. The shock wave radiated rapidly outward and tore apart many of the Sonjon ships with gravitational shear. “He demands our immediate surrender. It would seem our defeat at the hands of his superior force is immanent.”

“Now there is a being who counts his avians before they are hatched.” Jarm observed loud enough for the bridge crew to hear. Ensign DreamWatcher stiffened slightly at her post. “No offense meant Ensign.”

“None taken sir.”

“I want one destroyer to remain with us. The rest of the fleet should continue to Sokoto.” I drummed my fingers as I considered the situation. We still had not detected the presence of the remaining battleship, but the signal had definitely come from somewhere in the vicinity of the gas giant. I decided flushing the battleship out may prove to be a challenge.

“Oh…how I hate when you smile like that Ch’Ryl…” Jarm groaned quietly beside me.

 

[Cnaeus Valerius]

Sokoto System, approaching Sokoto 9

“Captain, the rest of the Sonjon fleet has come out of warp near Sokoto Defense Platform Theta 6. The planetary task force is moving to meet them.” The tactical officer called from his station as the ship icons appeared in the THD. The icon depicting the defense platform began pulsing rapidly indicating the station had already begun to send out an emergency beacon. The enemy had probably taken advantage of the station’s fixed position and had their torpedoes pre-targeted and launched as they exited warp. The enemy ships turned to meet the portion of my fleet I had sent to the planet, but not before I was able to deduce where they had come from by their post-warp orientations. I felt a cold pit form in my stomach. “They have a full alae Captain. I don’t think our task force will be able to hold them.”

“Your assessment is correct Lieutenant, but things will change once the remainder of our fleet joins the battle.” I returned my attention to the gas giant and its system of moons. Where would my cautious opponent hide? I glanced at the icon representing the destroyer running beside the Tempest and smiled. Jarm had made an interesting choice when assigning that duty. “Comm, raise Commander DestinyPath.”

“Greetings Captain Ghar. It is my pleasure to be serving with you.” Destiny bobbed her head in the Charitim manner of greeting. Her eyes seemed to sparkle slightly as she looked at me over the comm channel. “What is it that you wish me to do?”

“Greetings to you Destiny. I want you to make use of those famed diplomatic skills of yours to devise a way to sooth the Sokoto government concerning that black hole. The gravity fluctuations will probably disrupt merchant traffic for a year or two. While you are doing that I want you to take your ship in close to the gas giant and boost your sensors to maximum strength. Both fighter squadrons from the Tempest will be flying between your ship and mine. They will close to give you a hand if anything attacks you.” I turned to Jarm after Destiny acknowledged my orders and told him to relay those instructions to the fighters and to launch them all.

“Fighters away Captain.” Jarm called once the last status light on the ready board changed color to show a successful launch. His tone said he wished a few of them were still on board…just in case.

“Excellent.” I turned my gaze to a planet sized moon that appeared half shadowed on the main view screen. The sensors of a ship holding position close to that moon would not have been able to detect the destruction of nearly two thirds of the Sonjon fleet. “Set a course for the day side of the largest moon. Weapons, on my mark fire a full barrage of antimatter torpedoes toward the dark side of the moon. Set them to explode on my command.”

“At this range Captain the torpedoes will run out of fuel just as they reach the moon. They will spiral in toward the moon’s surface and eventually crash.”

“I am aware of that Lieutenant. Fire the barrage.” I sat back and ran the tip of one finger over the smooth surface of the gemstone on my family ring. On the THD I saw that all of my ships were engaged in the battle close to the Sokoto homeworld. The Sonjon ad not been able to break through our line yet, but I knew that would change unless I destroyed the N’Fan’s Glory. Once their last command ship was gone the Sonjon fleet would be unable to fight as a single cohesive unit. I frowned as a squadron of fighters passed through our lines and moved in on the planet. Orbital defense platforms vaporized many of the fighters before they were able to do any damage, but a few were able to get close enough to destroy a communications relay station before being destroyed themselves.

DestinyPath’s destroyer was now skimming above the outer layers of the gas giant’s atmosphere. The destroyer was faster than my dreadnaut and as close to the planet as she was had already pulled significantly ahead of my ship. The cloud of fighters raced along at a greater distance from the planet but were also significantly ahead of the Tempest. One by one the torpedoes entered a decaying orbit around the large moon as their motors went dead from lack of fuel. Soon the destroyer and the fighter group would be in position for their sensors to detect what might be on the other side of the large moon. Prior to that happening, a cautious captain would…

“Sensor contact on the day side of the moon.” The tactical officer seemed ready to dance excitedly around his station as the new contact appeared on the THD. He managed to resist the urge, however, the grin on his face betrayed it as a close thing. “It is a Glory class battleship Captain.”

 

[Cnaeus Valerius]

Sokoto System, Sokoto 9-Alpha

“Helm, move to intercept. Shields up on a fifty percent charge.” I sat back in my chair feeling rather pleased with myself. Things were going well so far, but there was still an element of danger.

“Only half shields Captain?” Jarm gave me a quizzical look.

“It will be just enough to keep them from getting any sort of accurate sensor readings as to our capabilities, but weak enough to encourage them to believe we do not pose much of a threat. This will be their first encounter with a vessel like our Tempest and I want to surprise them.” I could not help beaming at my first officer. He clicked his jaws in a manner that did not indicate laughter.

“I hate surprises…even when they are for someone else…” he said in a tone that sounded suspiciously like pouting. Appians, of course, did not pout.

“Captain we have moved into the shadow of the moon. We have lost contact with the fighter group and our escort.” The Sokoto officer paused to study his tactical display. “They will move in the shadow of the gas giant in approximately twenty seconds. We will have no way of raising them until they either complete their orbits or until we clear the planet.”

“That information will not be lost on the captain of the N’Fan’s Glory who will doubtless consider it a most fortunate happenstance. I suspect he will be hailing us soon.” I tried not to let any doubt creep into my voice. Things would be far more difficult for us if the enemy captain was not the sort to hail us.

“They are hailing us Captain!” The comm technician looked up from her station with more than a little awe in her expression. I breathed a quick sigh of relief and ignored the look it drew from Jarm.

“Open a channel and put them on Screen 2.”

The Draksan male wearing a Sonjon uniform who appeared on the screen was handsome enough to be a model for the recruiting posters. In truth he was a model for the recruiting posters. Tragically the pretty package contained roughly the same personality as a dust mote and not a particularly interesting dust mote at that.

“This is Imperial Admiral R’Char Turen DiDellan of the Emperor’s Ship N’Fan’s Glory. You entered a combat zone and will stand down to be boarded.” He spoke in a cultured voice that matched his cultured appearance.

“R’Char! I cannot express how delighted I am to see you are the one in command of the N’Fan’s Glory.” I tipped my head slightly to the side as if puzzled. “I have no trouble, however, expressing my surprise at seeing they have made you an Admiral.”

“With all of the best officers joining the rebellion Captain, no doubt the Sonjon desperately filling the vacancies with the personnel they have left.” Ensign DreamWatcher piped from its science station. Such helpful beings, the Charitim.

“Thank you Ensign. I had underestimated the desperation of the Sonjon Fleet.” I nodded and smiled at my science officer and then turned back to the viewscreen. “Well, it would seem your promotion is not so surprising after all.”

“Hmmm, very nice.” R’Char paused to give me a tight-lipped smile. “You were far sweeter when we shared a bed. My breaking up with you seems to have left you bitter. Bitter and foolish if you think you can actually defeat a Glory class battleship in whatever that is you are approaching us in.”

“Trying to embarrass me in front of my crew R’Char? I cannot believe anyone would be so very petty. I was going to offer you the chance to surrender, but now I am simply going to destroy you.” I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as everyone, including R’Char gave me a confused look. So much for subtle humor.

“Those are bold words for a woman so badly out numbered.” R’Char motioned toward the THD on his bridge. “Do you honestly believe that is my entire fleet? I have nearly three more Alae waiting a mere parsec from this system. It is you who need to surrender.”

Any moment now he would clear the moon enough for one of his bridge crew to realize the only Sonjon signals coming from a parsec outside the system were lifepod rescue beacons. I considered myself fortunate that no one would believe I had really shared a bed with R’Char. I had only done it on a dare from D’Nel anyway. To be perfectly honest, it had actually been rather pleasant, as long as R’Char was not saying anything, compared to what D’Nel had to do. A quiet laugh escaped my lips as I thought of the very first Ghar Maneuver.

The signal from the N’Fan’s Glory suddenly went dead and on the THD I saw the battleship begin to reverse course. Someone must have noticed the lack of reinforcements. I called on tactical to give me a status report on the Sonjon ship.

“It looks like they are powering up their warp drive Captain. Since our escorts have moved behind the planet I think the N’Fan’s glory intends to put the moon between its position and ours and attempt to escape us.”

“Agreed. Helm keep us on an intercept course, maximum speed. If they get behind the planet and break contact with us I will have your hide. Shields on full. Forward batteries fire at will. We won’t be able to do much at this range except annoy them, but that should be enough to keep them close to the moon.” I typed a series of commands into my console and studied the results.

“Very clever…if we keep them close to the moon they won’t be able to execute even a small warp jump.” Jarm pondered his own display for a moment. “If we divert some power from the rear shields we should have enough speed to prevent us from having to flay the helmsman.”

“Do it.” Unfortunately I only half heard what Jarm had said or I would have responded differently. “Comm, open another channel with them.”

“Channel open Captain.”

I rose from my chair and clasped my hands behind my back. “Leaving so soon R’Char? Won’t your masters be displeased with you for not staying until the bitter end? Perhaps this will convince them to help you pay for that spine implant you have always longed to have.”

The bridge of the N’Fan’s Glory reappeared on the Number 2 screen and R’Char glared at me from his command chair. On the main screen his ship moved in closer to the moon in an attempt to lose us. The methane atmosphere glowed like a fiery shroud around the Sonjon battleship. “You may have won here at Sokoto Ch’Ryl, but we have Draksa! The desalinization plants are destroyed, the hydroponics farms are burning, and all the cities are occupied by Sonjon troops! We will be back to deal with you and your little fleet.”

“You have been away from Draksa for too long R’Char.” I sat back down in my command chair as a small flash appeared and vanished in one corner of the image on the main screen. I tapped my keypad impatiently. “I feel I should point out that while the Sonjon may temporarily have Draksa, you include yourself erroneously with them. You, R’Char, do not have Draksa. You have only your ship. Soon you will not even have that. As the poets are found of saying – the shadow of the tempest is upon you.”

The main screen dimmed as the antimatter torpedoes began exploding in sequence. None of them were close enough to cause any real damage to the N’Fan’s Glory but on Screen 2 the bridge shook violently with each explosion.

“Evasive maneuvers!” R’Char shouted to his helmsman. The communications technician was apparently too distracted to close the channel. I smiled as the battleship took the only clear path away from the explosions. R’Char turned back to his communications screen and scowled at me. “I will get you for this, you-”

Whatever insult he planned on hurling at me was cut off abruptly by the screech of metal. With a dozen antimatter torpedoes exploding overhead the helmsman had panicked and brought the ship even lower into the atmosphere of the frozen moon. Glory class battleships were not meant for any sort of atmospheric flight – particularly at high speeds.

“Emergency power to maneuvering thrusters! Get us more altitude!” R’Char forgot me as he screamed from his command chair. The view of his bridge shook violently once more as a salvo from one of the Tempest’s batteries made contact. A pity that with the warp engines charging and the sudden drain on the shields there was not enough power left to make any difference. “Helm! More altitude! More al-”

I saw R’Char leap suddenly from his chair as the inertial compensation failed a moment before the image went blank. The audio channel carried the tortured screams of armor plating being ripped from the hull of the starship and the internal bulkheads failing in rapid succession. On the mainscreen the armor plating fell away from the ship like the petals of a flower as the engineering section of the hull smashed forward into the ship. The forward sections of the battleship were crushed between the armored engineering section and frozen surface of the moon. A moment later the entire scene vanished as the power core went critical and exploded in a geyser of energy.

I hoped the moon was not some sort of Sokoto nature preserve...

 

[Cnaeus Valerius]

Shadow of the Tempest, Captain Ch'Ryl Ghar commanding, Personal Log

My Alae has met the enemy in our first true battle– I imagine the historians when they record the events of this revolution will call it the Battle of Sokoto. Unfortunately they will have to record that we failed to achieve our primary mission.

There can be no dispute that we crushed the Sonjon fleet both figuratively and literally. The outcome of the battle was so certain, however, that I cannot honestly think of defeating the Sonjon fleet as a mission goal. My peers accused me of excessive arrogance when I told them of this before the battle but they all apologized after I pointed out the overwhelming advantage we had due to our superior technology, combat experienced crews, tactical surprise, and exceptional leadership.

Okay that last one might be a touch arrogant, but my ship just destroyed two (technically three, but I am not keen on calling attention to that whole “accidentally tearing a hole in the fabric of space and time” incident) Glory class battleships. I think I am entitled to a little post-battle arrogance.

It is also true that we prevented the enemy from damaging the Sokoto homeworld, but given that the defeat of the Sonjon fleet was so certain this cannot be said to be a true goal either. The more cynical beings will no doubt point out the disruptive gravitational disturbances caused by the micro-black hole and the vast oceans of liquid methane that now cover the large moon of Sokoto 9 constitute serious damage to the system. The gravimetric disturbances will fade after a few years and Ensign DreamWatcher assures me the once the methane re-freezes that moon will be as good as new and almost as spherical as it was before the battle. Hardly what might be termed lasting damage…more a temporary alteration of the solar environment…

No. The true goal of this mission, as I saw it, was to capture nearly two Alae of Sonjon starships in the gravity matrix. While Dark Nebula does posses a distinct technological advantage, the enemy has an advantage in the number of ships they possess. We both have roughly the same starship construction capabilities so we would not be able to surpass them through manufacturing. The numerical advantage does not mean much at this early stage of the war when the battles will be mostly classic naval engagements. It will take about three Sonjon vessels to destroy one of ours, but in massed combat they will not have a chance for three of their ships to target one of ours at a time.

According to D’Nel our problems will really begin once the Sonjon have been forced to flee to more remote parts of the galaxy. They will disperse their fleet and resort hit and run ambushes targeting only one or two ships at a time. If they are clever, lucky, or both D'Nel feels the Sonjon will be able to slowly grind down our fleet until they have the upper hand.

The losses we inflicted on the Sonjon today only served to balance out what we lost here at Sokoto and at Draksa. I would have liked to been able to present my brother with two Alae of starships.

I will settle, however, for being able flaunt two battleship kills to his single battleship kill. Oh…the look on his face when I tell him…

Speaking of which, the last time I spoke with D’Nel the look on his face implied he was in love again. Again! I need to meet this new woman he has found. Soon. Perhaps after we have finished mopping up the Sonjon here in Sokoto…

Oh bother...Ensign DreamWatcher just called me from the bridge concerning some research she did on Sokoto 9-A. What a stupid place for a nature preserve...

 

[Cnaeus Valerius]

In the darkness of space they spoke.

Theirs was not a language of sounds and words, but had it been their conversation may have gone something like this…

“Leader, the prey has joined a pack.”

“Threat assessment?”

“The scent of all targets is familiar.” There would have been confidence in the words, but the confidence would have faltered somewhat. “Threat level is…currently…nominal.”

“Currently?” This with a trace of impatience.

“Others will be joining the pack. Our prey may become frightened and take flight.”

“Understood. Such is the nature of prey. Potential threat assessment?”

“Significant. Transmitting relative data.”

“Transmission received. Threat assessment accurate. Wait for us. We shall act together.”

“I will do as instructed Leader.”

Silence returned to the darkness then, but it was the uneasy silence of hunters stalking their unwary prey…

 

[Scarlett O'Hara]

With P'Mela and D'Nel' small staff, Secured Bunker, on Sonjon homeworld, Ch'Chock'pi

The Sokoto Warrior, Mai, poured himself his traditional dusk-time Noeq’L and sat back in the small chair in the outer office. It had become a rather amusing habit of his to watch the Charitim, FireIce, wait impatiently at the secured entrance each evening.

In the many days since their attack on The Holy City of Ch’Chock’pi, Cadet Yhanna, despite his severe wound, had insisted on returning to BL’Hala Headquarters each day. He had argued that N’Fan would figure out who the informant was if he did not show up for work the day after the palace attack. Mai, with the help of the Charitim doctors at the official military hospital, had arranged a cover story to give the young Sonjon a couple of days of hospital care. They had set up a cover story of a ‘failed assassination attempt’. It had made the story more believable when Mai and the small group of Appians had quickly found and assassinated 3 other low level staff members from BL’Hala. As a result, Lord N’Fan had promoted the young Sonjon, thus giving him even more information access.

FireIce, however, was an emotional wreck each day until the handsome Sonjon arrived cloaked and had entered through the secured underground tunnel. It was an open secret among the small staff that FireIce was smitten with Yhanna. If Yhanna suspected, there was no indication. Each evening as he arrived, FireIce would become a constant companion. If anything, Mai suspected that Yhanna was annoyed by the overactive chattering of the petite blue Charitim. It was this little show each evening that had become the amusing “the day has gone well” ending for the Sokoto.

Once P’Aylie had gotten over the initial shock and fury at the Sonjon assassination of her family, even she had noticed the difference in FireIce. “Someone should really tell Yhanna, don’t you think?” she had asked the previous day.

“Let’s call it a test of his observation skills.” Mai had chuckled. “There is something to be said for finding out the traditional way.” he added, which garnered raised eyebrows from P’Aylie and almost a question.

FireIce, like its parent DestinyPath, tended to be more effeminate than androgynous like most Charitim. And since its lovesickness over Yhanna had struck full force the night of the palace attack, FireIce seemed to have become even more feminine in appearance and action.

Mai took another drink of Noeq’L. Yhanna was later than usual. That was not a good sign. But suddenly he noticed FireIce’s nervousness expanded exponentially. It began to chirp happily, chattering “Ian! I’m so glad you’re back. And safe!” It always found a way to shyly touch his arm or place a small hand on his wide chest. Yhanna would usually smile and the two would talk all the way across the small office until they reached Mai’s office for his nightly debriefing. But tonight, Yhanna’s reaction was far different.

The Sonjon pushed the Charitim away angrily, snapping harshly through gritted teeth “Out of my way!” The Charitim looked as if it would cry. Yhanna’s long determined stride carried him quickly towards the Sokoto’s office. Mai, spotted the anger in the man, and quickly met him at the corner office.

Yhanna stormed into the office with FireIce running right behind. Mai saw the clenched jaws flexing and the rigid body posture. The young Sonjon was wound tightly like a caged predator. “The bastards! Look at what they’ve done now!” His voice roared and his black Sonjon eyes seem to flash his anger. P’Aylie had seen the indications as well and had quickly followed, closing the door with the four of them in Mai’s office.

Ian shoved the small datacrystal into Mai’s computer and the holo-display focused in mid air. Immediately, the propaganda appeared. Mai was not shocked at the information. He knew it would come eventually. What was shocking was that it had taken Lord N’Fan so long to do it!

It was an Imperial death sentence issued by the Royal High Court for treason. Tried in absentia, P’Mela Piaue LeonDocTchi, D’Nel Abahai Ghar, and Chiang-Zhaizu Mai had been found guilty of a multitude of crimes, the worst of which had been the attack on the royal palace and guests, as leaders of a rebellion. The empire wide communication claimed that among other crimes they had committed, were: attacks on dozens of rim colony worlds and destroying their food supplies; confiscation of food relief transports for personal gain; intentional poisoning of agriculture worlds as a way to cause rebellion and uprisings; and the list went on. The Royal High Court had put an old-fashioned “bounty” on each of them.

Mai stood and pointed to the display. “Now I am really angry. Really trully angry! Why should the two Draksans’ bounty be more than twice as much as a Sokoto’s? This is clearly rascist.”

P’Aylie snickered “With respect, sir, but perhaps it is because each of them is over twice as pretty as you.”

“Don’t be insubordinate, Commander!” Mai pretended to frown at P’Mela’s Draksan assistant and then the two laughed.

Yhanna was stunned, as was FireIce. Yhanna’s complexion seem to darken in anger as the two looked back and forth between Mai and P’Aylie. “THIS IS NOT FUNNY!” Yhanna growled loudly. “The General and the Admiral are out there and everyone will be looking for them. Look at the fortunes to be gained. And note the communication says ‘Dead or Alive’!”

Mai stepped closer to the Sonjon cadet and placed a large reddish hand on the young man’s shoulder. “No, it is not funny, Ian. I apologize for upsetting you unnecessarily. But trust me when I tell you, they are both very well protected. They are safer where they are than they would have been here on Ch’Chock’pi. I can not go into any further details with you at this time. If you are discovered by N’Fan, as our insider at BL’Hala, I can’t afford for you to be.....” his sentence trailed off as Yhanna’s expression of realization hit. “Just trust me on this, Ian!” he added confidently. “Trust me.”

Yhanna’s eyes searched the Sokoto’s. It was that he really liked the two Draksans and this Sokoto and he couldn’t imagine what type of security they could possibly have besides the small bands of Appians. And, he reasoned, they had to be onboard Te‘Zsing or Sonjon Glory. Even though Admiral Ghar’s Alae had gone to cloak and disappeared after the attack on the palace, the one large Alae was not sufficient against the vastness of the remaining Sonjon fleet. Yhanna was frustrated because Mai had been keeping more and more details from him lately.

Mai stood quietly studying the emotions playing across Yhanna’s facial expressions. Apparently, N’Fan was not releasing information about the attack on Draksa or Sokoto, to the lower echelon of BL’Hala staffers, like Yhanna. Ian had not reported anything about the two worlds in his evening debriefings. Obviously, he had not heard anything on Sonjon open communications, or the secured communications he dealt with at BL’Hala. This had to mean that N'Fan had yet another layer of officers between him and the BL'Hala, which was not good news. In addition, all the staff working for Mai were under strict orders not to discuss anything with Yhanna while he was at the secured facility. He had been, by necessity, cut out of the information chain.

Mai understood that information is power but control of the information is even more power. Mai knew it was an extremely emotional and difficult position for Yhanna to be in. His loyalty to P’Mela, D’Nel and he, had been proven to Mai beyond doubt! In reverse, he had to work daily with those he hated, while appearing to believe as they. He had more access to their information regardless of how skewered it was than he had to Mai's.

Seeing the hurt and concern written on FireIce’s expression as it stared up at Yhanna, made Mai realize he had a bigger problem. He had to do something with FireIce. It had become conflicted with romantic emotions for the Sonjon. FireIce had access to a great deal of rebellion information. It might try to tell Yhanna things to sooth him. Thus Mai’s decision was made. Tomorrow morning without warning, he would send FireIce off the planet in the scheduled small evacuation of families. Part of Admiral Ghar’s Alae had been scheduled to meet three cloaked Appian transport shuttles on the dark side of Ch’Chock’pi’s moon to take the first group of family members to safety. Among them were Mai’s wife and daughter, and now his godchild, FireIce.

A brief look between Mai and P’Aylie was exchanged. He saw her slight nod and knew she understood what he was thinking. She said “By the way, FireIce, I will need your assistance tonight on a special project. Please come with me.”

The Charitim looked around with surprise. “But...I had scheduled off tonight to spend with Ian.”

P’Aylie smiled and shrugged “Sorry but you know how unexpected things are right now.” The Charitim looked back at Yhanna, who was lost in his own thoughts. Mai saw the sad frown on FireIce, who’s small shoulders seem to sag as it turned to follow P’Aylie from the room.

 

[Zack Ryan]

"Boro'Ches," his aide, Morfar, said as he entered the command deck, "the shuttle has left the shell and is headed back to the other ship.” Stepping up to the display, Morfar adjusted the screen and pointed to the now four distinct shapes. “The anomaly we have been tracking for the past several ships hours have turned out not to be a single entity, but at least four distinct craft, possibly more. Their course will bring them directly here to this area, with a course that will intercept ours in about 2 ships hours. As the anomaly gets closer, we should get clearer status."

Mos thought for a several moments before speaking. "Contact the shuttle, ask for P'Mela LeonDocTchi, and request a meeting aboard her craft. Tell her it is I and that I wish to speak to her, about things important to both of us. Then a message to the Prince and tell him about the anomaly and when it is due. I have a very uneasy feeling about those ships."

Mos stopped the Boro'Sug as he reached the door. "Contact the shell and tell them to prepare for pickup, and take us out of cloak. I suspect those are Son’jon war vessels and they are never friendly. I want to be prepared to protect the shell, and if need be, the other ship."

When the ship decloaked, alarm klaxons began blaring. Mos quickly got on the comm. and requested status. "I have attempted to call the shuttle twice. When it docked aboard the larger ship I had the comm. operator try to contact the other ship. It is refusing to acknowledge our request for communication. When we decloaked it's weapons systems came on line and are powered up to max."

Mos frowned and then said to the Boro'Sug, "Do you have the burst frequency of the message we intercepted and the tags?"

"Yes sir."

"Then quickly encode the message to P'Mela LeonDocTchi, tell her it is important to contact me immediately and be sure to tell her that we believe that the anomalies are hostile. Sign it Mat'Tepin Gilpali, Klinghow of the Z'Kin'Dros freighter Kuchow. Keep our weapons systems powered down. We must show them we are not going to attack.”

 

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Originally posted by Zack Ryan
Mos thought for a several moments before speaking. "Contact the shuttle, ask for P'Mela LeonDocTchi....

I was just engaging the shuttle’s thrusters as we yawed away from the shell, when I heard the initial hail. My eyes raced over the sensor displays. Nothing showed but Te’Zsing and our small shuttle, along with the conspicuous electronic absence of the Aurora Shell. I heard my name hailed a second time as the hail repeated automatically until acknowledged. I knew it was a Copani voice! Though fluid in Sonjon Standard, the Copani’s enunciation still bore the hallmarks of the soft-vowel, sing-song chant punctuated with abrupt guttural consonants of its own language. Before the hail could repeat a third time, I ordered the communication cut.

Behind me, as if from a great distance, I heard the anxious mutterings of the female Appians, Enna and Osala. Surl, beside me in the second flight seat, was doing as I - leaning forward and frantically searching visually for a Copani ship. Our eyes locked once and I wondered if he could see the fear and dread in me.

“I’m glad D’Nel moved Te’Zsing closer to the shell for us.” I muttered, hoping to distract both of us from my discomfort. My hands were visibly shaking. “Thrusters at full. Six kilometers to dock.”

“Perhaps Te’Zsing took the initiative....” Surl began, his voice a little off.

Far too harshly, I bit back “Te’Zsing would never violate regulation minimum safe distances in a peaceful situation.”

“Peaceful until now.” Surl’s voice held as much anxiety as mine, I thought. It was not a comforting thought. I had come to think of him as strong and cool, and like D’Nel, dispassionate in threatening situations.

“Distance to Te’Zsing?” I asked Surl as I concentrated on messaging Te’Zsing’s landing bay controls, with a footnote to the ship itself to prepare for immediate cold jump.

“Three kilometers. Slowing speed to half.” Surl’s voice had regained its professionalism....for a moment.

Originally posted by Zack Ryan
Mos stopped the Boro'Sug as he reached the door. "....take us out of cloak

“DAMN!” Copani mother ship is decloaking...right on top of us!” Surl barked.

I jumped, noting that the Copani ship was phasing into detection on the electronic displays. Te’Zsing’s docking bay was open in front of me and the landing lights were pulsing along in sequence. I quickly entered the command codes and released shuttle helm to Te’Zsing’s central computer. I couldn’t swallow. I couldn’t breathe deeply. I wanted to vomit. The slight fluctuations in the shuttle as it aligned itself to the pulsing dock lights added more urgency to my stomach’s queasiness. For a brief moment, I remembered the one mother ship I had been able to destroy before the Copani had become wise to the maneuver. It had taken me two years to chart the ship and note its pilot’s patterns before I caught it coming out of jump near Quinif Primus. In the 18 seconds while it was dumping inertia, I had......

Originally posted by Zack Ryan
When the ship decloaked, alarm klaxons began blaring. Mos quickly got on the comm. and requested status. "I have attempted to call the shuttle twice...When we decloaked it's weapons systems came on line and are powered up to max."

Mos frowned and then said to the Boro'Sug, "...."Then quickly encode the message to P'Mela LeonDocTchi, tell her it is important to contact me immediately and be sure to tell her that we believe that the anomalies are hostile. Sign it Mat'Tepin Gilpali, Klinghow of the Z'Kin'Dros freighter Kuchow. Keep our weapons systems powered down....

Te’Zsing has powered his weapons.” Surl announced firmly with only a trace of concern detectable. “Copani ship has lowered its shields and does not have power to its weapons.”

I stared at the Appian and asked shrilly “Lowered shields?” My eyes quickly reverted to the sensor displays to verify. “And no weapons! What is he playing at?” I added incredulously.

“I do not believe this Copani is playing.” Surl added thoughtfully. “He does not wish to provoke us and possibly incur damage to the Aurora Shell. With nearly 5000 people on board that shell, he is protec.....” his thought went unfinished as our shuttle snapped to a hard stop. Our eyes met again as we unbuckled from our seats and felt Te’Zsing’s jump power plant coming online. I smiled as I realized that with his shields down, the Copani would be extremely vulnerable to the magnetic disruption of Te'Zsing's time dilation jump. But then I frowned as I realized the Aurorans on the shell would be just as vulnerable.

"All a Copani needs to do to provoke me is be in my space!” I added irritably as we moved quickly off the shuttle and into Te’Zsing’s tight-fitted docking bay.

As we rushed towards the exit to the ship’s inner decks, Te’Zsing began to broadcast a decoded message over the ship’s comm. Again, I heard my name called, this time in Draksan Standard - so eloquently enunciated even by a Copani. I stumbled badly when I heard the name ‘Mat’Tepin Gilpali‘. That was the name of the Z’Kin’Dros I had fallen in love with. His pale blue form had been so beautiful and I had hoped his baby would be a blessing to us. Of course, it had been MosGaladstin in shapeshifted form, pretending to be a Klinghow {Captain} of culture and gentility. He had known so precisely how to seduce me and hurt me with giving me a baby in his Copani likeness.

“P’Mela!?” Surl snapped as he grabbed me to keep me from falling. I looked up at him through hot tears. Once again, Mos had proven how vulnerable I was to his manipulations. Something he had no doubt counted on when he had the message sent!

As Surl held me and we began to rush to the bridge, three decks away, I listened as Te’Zsing played the entire message. I wondered why D’Nel had not ordered it discontinued. Again, I winced at the bittersweet memories evoked in me, and the self-hatred I had suffered at giving away my own child. But I shook it off, albeit without eaze, and listened.

He was warning us about hostile ships, possibly Sonjon. Yet I knew that no Sonjon vessels had been detected on long-range sensors before our departure for the Aurora Shell. I was sure it was another of Mos’ ruses to buy himself time to recover the Aurorans. I knew that D’Nel was sitting in the captain’s chair, methodically using this time to plot strikes against the mother ship. After all, without their shields and cloaks, and with weapons down, he could get 4 or maybe 5 shots off before they could react. And if he targeted the 3 power plants on the ship, then they would not be able to get power to weapons or shields ever again. I hoped he was just short of giving the order to blow the bastard to pieces.

“This is D’Nel Abahai Ghar, acting Captain of Sonjon vessel designated Te’Zsing. Maintain your shields-off, weapons-down status. Your request for a meeting onboard this vessel is denied. This communication channel is quite secure for anything we wish to discuss.” D’Nel’s voice was cool, confident and unemotional. I knew he had to be stalling for time until complete scans were made of the mother ship. Then he would blow it to pieces!

“I am MosGaladstin, Boro’Ches of the Copan Royal Science Ship.....” came that all too familiar voice. We were only two decks away from the bridge now. I was glad Surl still had an arm around my waist, otherwise I think my legs would have collapsed from weakness.

“You previously identified yourself as Mat’Tepin Gilpali, Klinghow of the Z’Hin’Dros freighter Kuchow. Please verify your identity. I like to know to whom I am speaking.” D’Nel’s voice was still calm and confident. My heart nearly sang as I envisioned him quickly verifying sensor data for a weapons lock.

My stomach flipped sickly as I heard Mos’ gentle laugh answering D‘Nel. It was exactly the same as the laugh I had known from Mat’Tepin. I wondered how much of Mat’Tepin’s persona had been the real Mos. “I am Boro’Ches MosGaladstin, Admiral Ghar. It is a privilege to ‘meet’ you after studying all those Copani intelligence dossiers on you and your....exploits.....on the rim.”

“A privilege, hum?” D’Nel’s voice seem to hold some surprise in it, along with a touch of humor. “If you would kindly forward your dossier to me, Boro’Ches, then perhaps after studying it I could also say it’s a privilege to meet you.” he added with that typical Ghar arrogance which could be charming or annoying, depending on one’s mood at any given moment.

I could see the bridge door as we quickly rounded the corridor leading up from the second deck. “I am not your enemy, Admiral Ghar.” I heard the words of Mos coming through the comm with feigned seriousness. “But I believe we may have quite a few Sonjon as common enemies. This, and more, is what I would like to discuss with you and P’Mela. I have offered to bring a one-person shuttle to Te’Zsing to forward these talks in our mutual interest.” Mos added.

D’Nel’s answer was not forthcoming. I could not believe that he was listening to this Copani! I could see the bridge door less than 200 feet ahead and my anger was boiling........at Mos or at D’Nel, I could not tell which.

 

[Cnaeus Valerius]

“Admiral, I am detecting a tight beam transmission from a cloaked source being directed at the shuttlecraft.” Te’Zsing said with a trace of uncharacteristic hesitation.

“Are you able to intercept it or pin point the source Te’Zsing?” I stared at the THD and drummed my fingers as I ran through all the races known to possess cloaking technology.

“Negative Admiral.” Again I thought I heard a trace of hesitation in Te-Zsing’s voice, almost as if he were holding something back.

‘Te’Zsing, is there something-,” I stopped in mid-sentence as the warning sirens flared to life and the bridge lighting shifted to combat lights. The THD flickered as it automatically adjusted the scale of the display to accommodate the Copani mother ship decloaking directly above our position. I slapped the combat actions switch out of habit, but Te’Zsing had already brought the shields up and powered the weapons systems. I felt the deck vibrate slightly beneath my feet. “Status of Copani ship?”

“Shields are down, weapons are off line.” Kov stated in his characteristic monotone. “Should we need it Warlord I have incorporated the axial transmitter from the assault shuttle into Te’Zsing’s systems and augmented the ship’s self destruct capabilities. Even if the Copani raise their shields we should have enough energy to at least”

“You what?!” Te’Zsing spoke with no hesitation now. “It is not possible for you to have made such modifications without my consent.”

“You gave my mate, Enna, consent.” Kov’s monotone was broken by a more than a little smugness. “While she kept you busy I made the modifications.”

“What?! I feel so…so…used…” The ship said in a tone appropriate to someone on the wrong side of a relationship triangle.

“As fascinating and disturbing as this conversation is I would prefer for everyone to focus on the Copani vessel prior to their captain deciding to blow us out of space. TeZsing, lower rear shields and get that shuttle back to the hangar as quickly as possible. Kov target the Copani’s powerplants with luck we can get off enough shots to cripple their weapons systems.” I turned to the hangar deck status board and watched the shuttle land. Te’Zsing must have been still distracted by what Kov had told him because the shuttle landed forcefully enough for me to feel the vibrations ringing through the ship.

“The Copani ship is now transmitting directly to me Admiral.”

“Very well. Put it on ship’s intercom so the away team can hear the message.”

I felt my stomach flip as the Copani captain hailed for P’Mela by name. It made sense for a Copani captain to know the name of the greatest Copani Hunter in the Empire, but it did not bode well.

“Open a channel, but do not acknowledge the hail.” The Copani would be able to detect that a comm link had been established, but as long as they could not confirm P’Mela was actually on board we might be able to stall them. I sat back and listened as the Copani captain warned us of approaching Sonjon vessels and requested a meeting. I had to give the Copani credit for possessing good intelligence. If their intel was that good however, then they would most likely know that P’Mela was aboard.

“Put the captain on screen.” I straightened my uniform and took up a casual pose in the command chair. “This is D’Nel Abahai Ghar, acting Captain of Sonjon vessel designated Te’Zsing. Maintain your shields-off, weapons-down status. Your request for a meeting onboard this vessel is denied. This communication channel is quite secure for anything we wish to discuss.”

“I am MosGaladstin, Boro’Ches of the Copan Royal Science Ship.....” I noted with amusement that the Copani had assumed an identical posture to my own. The Copani seemed equally amused, but it was hard to read Copani sometimes.

“You previously identified yourself as Mat’Tepin Gilpali, Klinghow of the Z’Hin’Dros freighter Kuchow. Please verify your identity. I like to know to whom I am speaking.” I politely held up a hand to halt the Copani’s introduction. Their ship was enormous and it was taking time to locate the tertiary powerplant. I needed more time.

The Copani captain laughed politely, but there was a trace of tension to it. He had to know what we were doing, but he still had not raised his shields. I wondered what his game was…perhaps another ship was inbound. Capturing the greatest Copani Hunter alive would surely be worth more to them than killing her.

“I am Boro’Ches MosGaladstin, Admiral Ghar. It is a privilege to ‘meet’ you after studying all those Copani intelligence dossiers on you and your....exploits.....on the rim.” The Copani’s manner seemed to be approving without being condescending…more like one warrior admiring the work or another. I did not read too much into it though – a Copani would almost certainly approve of anyone causing the Sonjon grief.

“A privilege, hum?” I turned to Kov and spoke quietly. “Do we have anything in ship’s stores for one of my many fans?”

“Our ship’s stores are fully stocked with autographed holo’s and other Ghar Fan memorabilia, Warlord.” Kov bared his teeth in a grin while on the monitor behind him Te’Zsing played a small animation of an Appian getting sucked out an airlock. The animation stopped when Kov turned back to his station.

“Ah, excellent.” I turned back to the main screen and addressed the Boro’Ches. “If you would kindly forward your dossier to me, Boro’Ches, then perhaps after studying it I could also say it’s a privilege to meet you.”

“I am not your enemy, Admiral Ghar.” The Boro’ches spoke with notable urgency – he obviously wanted me to believe him before I opened fire. His life would be much less stressful if he raised his shields, but they remained down. Perhaps there was some truth to what he was saying – the enemy of my enemy is my friend after all. “But I believe we may have quite a few Sonjon as common enemies. This, and more, is what I would like to discuss with you and P’Mela. I have offered to bring a one-person shuttle to Te’Zsing to forward these talks in our mutual interest.”

It was possible the Copani were willing to overlook P’Mela’s highly successful career in exchange for crippling the Sonjon. They would probably demand she be handed over to them after the war was over, but we could distract them simply enough by pressing forward with the invasion of the contested space. I was about to answer when the blast doors to the bridge opened suddenly and the deck seemed to vibrate again as P’Mela stormed onto the bridge.

 

[Cnaeus Valerius]

Shadow of the Tempest, Captain Ch’Ryl Ghar commanding…

I closed my eyes and leaned back against the edge of the bath. The final battle to secure Sentinel 7 had left me feeling sore all over and a nice hot bath before bed seemed like just the thing I needed. The room was filled with the scents of home and the invigorating sounds of a Draksan contemporary band. I tapped my foot in time with the beat of the music and inhaled slowly, savoring the smell of flowers that the ancients had believed to be magical. It was easy to understand why. I imagined what it must have been like to have sailed across the vast Salt Sea and have been among the first to see the towering black cliffs and lush green valleys of-

“Bridge to Captain.” Jarm’s voice sounded somewhat apprehensive over the comm speaker…but then Jarm’s voice always sounded apprehensive to one degree or another. I tried very hard to shake the image of Jarm standing beside me on the quarterdeck of an ancient sailing vessel.

“I imagine the Sokoto have finally gotten around to filing a protest about the little black hole incident or melting that methane moon…” I sighed and reached for a towel.

“No captain, it isn’t the Sokoto.”

“What? They really should have called by now. I don’t like it. Send one of the scout ships – the Paladin I think, they came out relatively unscathed – back to see if the Sonjon have launched a second attack.”

“My apologies Captain, but the Sokoto called to lodge a protest while you were aboard the Sonjon Glory inspecting the damage. The Glory’s comm system was down again so I had them speak with Ensign DreamWatcher while I arranged to have a runner find you.”

“Ensign DreamWatcher?” I thought on this a moment. “I imagine in her enthusiasm to defend me she went into extensive detail concerning the temporary nature of both incidents?”

“The term ‘exhausting’ is what I would have chosen Captain.” Jarm joined me in a quiet chuckle.

“I take it the Sokoto no longer wish to complain?”

“Not so long as the good ensign is our science officer.”

“Things like that are what makes the universe conspire against you, you know.” I chided my first officer and heard his jaws click in laughter again.

“Doubtless, Captain.” The Appian’s tone suddenly became serious. “We are receiving a distress call from the Sonjon Glory – text only.”

“Another distress call? Timot is having a bad day.” I stepped up out of the bath and grabbed my towel. “Put it through to the viewer in my stateroom.”

 

[Ogg]

From behind the viewer the strange little creature known as Ogg watched. He had managed to avoid detection by the Copani, by simply letting the game run out, but the situation was getting very grave, he would have to act to save her, to save him, to save life itself. Yet he was forbidden to act directly in the affairs of others, of course that had never really stopped him before and after all a little humor never hurt anybody…