Carinae Sector: 02 - Admiral's Fury - Part 1 - Purple Blood (7 page)

A young female astronomer, Brinnep, slowly floated towards him and signified her satisfaction with his efforts.

‘Well pleased with your efforts the race is; Greppun the observations show the humans now dominate the inner parts of this star system. Well advised we are to leave when we are able; as the secrets we keep must remain hidden.’

Greppun carefully acknowledged the gratitude of Brinnep, making sure to compliment the presence of one he sought as a mate.

‘The morning has risen again and it is beautiful as any Brinnep; the day however is clearly now that of the humans here in this system. Flight we must soon for a new home and new families; safe from the prying eyes of evil vassals.’

Brinnep did not flush her skin colours, or by any other convention show she understood the flirting and Greppun’s allusions to the morning. This was a social standard for the Sspol and it indicated her continued acceptance of his presence. He knew that he would have been in serious trouble if she rebuked him in prose, or even worse signalled either mocking desire or testy irritation via a skin colour change. He was considering further witticisms just as the colony leader now floated over to speak tersely with them both.

‘Less of the talk is needed; there is more of the work than our deadlines allow.

The talk of new homes and starting new lives will wait; first our departure and then a long search. Astronomers are reviewing the new findings and more are sought; a new cadet should not tarry on his first watch or a reward is revoked.’

Without even glancing at one another, the two younger Sspol went in different directions at an acceptable rate of flow through the atmosphere. The colony leader, Hireldop, calmly looked around the landing platform as over head the increasing cloud covered the colony. The world the humans called Neptune was idyllic by Sspol standards and the world would be a main Sspol planet if it was located elsewhere.

He remembered when the cruisers had arrived several thousands of years ago and the remoteness of the system, the haven status of the third planet, and the allure of Neptune’s atmosphere had proven too much. The Sspol colonists had later reaped a rich reward from the planet with their now dismantled mining operation, and many visiting Sspol cruisers had left with both new equipment and new crew members from the colony.

Hireldop thought for a few moments of his eldest son, now the Sspol envoy who had been tasked with resolving a long standing war with another galactic race. He wished Drannep well in his efforts, and knew that if any of them could convince the Maveen of their now benign intentions it would be his son. The elder Sspol also knew that long term peace would improve Sspol lives across the galaxy and they then would not have to live in constant fear of attack.

Hireldop also knew that this change would impact the significance of the third planet called Earth from so many different levels, for he knew that the solar system held secrets that must remain hidden for many more years. The leader and the other elders of the colony had recently agreed that the Zronte and the Vorinne must be kept distant from Earth for as long as possible well after the Sspol had left. Quietly Hireldop looked over the nearby massive cruisers, as he reviewed in his mind the sequence of events they would adopt after fleeing this world.

                                                                     ***

Sanctuary colony, Tau Ceti system 12 light years from Earth

Rear Admiral Mary Neilson strode into the Sanctuary colony committee meeting room and sketched a text book salute as she reached the head of the table. A colonist who was reporting the ongoing efforts to turn a deep mine into a point of refuge stopped his report and gave her a friendly grin. She kept her eyes forward, but no one in the room doubted she took in all who were present in an instant accounting.

‘Admiral Stanford, Rear Admiral Neilson reporting as ordered.’

The fleet admiral, Admiral Thomas Stanford, fixed her with a cool smile and returned the salute as he in turn then removed his cap. Stanford regarded the tall and slender rear Admiral with polite interest, as he could detect her tiredness before he replied with an instruction.

‘At ease, we are keeping this meeting as low key as possible for the comfort of the civilian’s present. You know everyone else here already of course. So how have you been going here at the colony Mary?’

Mary Neilson carefully doffed her cap to preserve her hair and just as casually took the proffered seat as she replied.

‘It is good to see you again too Thomas. Our colony defences will be ready in several weeks by my best estimations. The structure and basic training is in place, though the delivery of several key pieces of equipment is delayed of course…’

Mary continued her report and knew that it was concise even if understated. In her opinion the colony could amount a credible short term defence before they would be destroyed wholesale. Sanctuary was the cold and only moon of Tyr, or Tau Ceti f, an ice giant just outside Tau Ceti’s habitable zone. The Tau Ceti colony was Earth like - but the biosphere did not hold much oxygen yet. So once the human defences were destroyed the colonist domes would soon follow with a total loss of the colonists. The admiral picked up on her report and he already understood the shortfall as his next comment illustrated.

‘Well Mary, we need to keep other races well away from Earth and our new colonies, so we are heading further out into space to obtain up to date intelligence, and build up the human sphere of influence. If we can get ourselves up and running on enough worlds then possibly we can survive an encounter with another galactic race. Indeed you are in this meeting because of the submission you made eight years ago now.’

Mary, like all senior space fleet officers knew that safety was only an ephemeral possibility as the old Trader briefings painted a daunting picture of both the abilities and the aggression of various galactic races. Now she only dared hope as she took in reference to her colony founding submission, and made a dry enquiry.

‘I was previously debunked for being too forward in my estimations, so are we reconsidering our colonisation efforts?’

The French colony leader, Pierre Monterrey, now interjected amiably.

‘Mary, Môn Cheri, you take the criticisms of your peers and the greater community too literally. We understand your views even if many thought we were getting ahead of ourselves. Indeed you have done great work here and we will be sorry to see you leave the colony.’

Thomas picked up the conversation again at that stage as he shot a look of reproof at Pierre. He ignored Mary’s momentary puzzlement as he smiled again at her and also spoke amiably.

‘Mary, what we are saying is that your point of meeting alien races in a distant colony is preferable to a similar meeting in the home system has been recognised. We are leaving soon after the other ships arrive in four weeks with Admiral John Beresford. You will be coming with the fleet as senior fleet tactical officer and third in command overall. Congratulations Admiral.’

The colonists clapped their hands in approval as Thomas reached into his fleet jacket and removed a letter of commission that he then politely placed in her hand. Pierre took up the pause in conversation as Mary unfolded the official letter and quickly scanned the several relevant sentences. The scale of the policy change took her breath away for several moments as she read away.

‘Mary, you will of course leave instructions for your replacement. I understand that key pieces of equipment for the fleet have yet to arrive from Earth. Finally we need to accelerate our defensive planning from what I can understand.’

Mary brought her full focus back to the room and the polite interest of the colonists, and diplomatically replied as she pocketed the letter.

‘Pierre, we still need to properly organise the colonists themselves as a militia, as some of their larger mining ships are scattered around Tau Ceti and they still need to be brought in for arming and crew training. Yes, I understand they will gripe about not making money but it must be done.’

Mary resigned herself to further countless hours of work on behalf of the colony, before she took up her new role and left with the fleet. The two admirals left the colony council meeting after three hours, and soon recovered their adjutants and security detail from the waiting area.

Thomas paused for a moment and took in the magnificent overhead view of Tyr, ghostly white and three million kilometres away. The group soon found their way under the central dome to one of the colonies’ two restaurants. In minutes they were seated in a secluded booth and waiting for the food to arrive. Mary took out the letter again and Thomas arched an eyebrow as she launched into a series of questions.

‘Most of the fleet is coming here Thomas, are we sure Earth is still protected?’

‘So the former Dradfer colonies are our fleet destination? We are already light years from Earth and now we have to travel nearly one hundred light years?’

‘Tell me we are taking our best ships with us, and we have an exit plan in case it all goes pear shaped?’

Thomas ignored all but the last question as the food arrived and he nonchalantly replied.

‘We are taking our best ships exclusively, plus marines and supply ships coming out shortly with John Beresford. Our exit plan is up to you as the fleet tactical officer, given your previous recommendations.’

Mary took the hint and for her part was unfazed by his reply as she set about her steak and salad. She put aside for the moment the new concerns they would undoubtedly find after the fleet left Tau Ceti. Mary looked around the restaurant for a moment as Thomas continued enjoying his meal, and moved the conversation to a social level.

‘So how are Dianne and the kids doing Thomas? Last I heard your youngest son got the star point award for excellence at the academy?’

Thomas relaxed further into the easy geniality that Mary recognised from their previous lives so many years ago as junior officers. He completed his current mouthful and took a small sip of his wine as he replied.

‘They are all well thanks Mary. Stuart did indeed win the star point award and he is now a lieutenant on one of the new destroyers we are expecting here soon. So how are Mark and the girls doing?’

Thomas was keen to hear about Mary’s husband, Mark Reynolds, as the two men had bought taught subjects at the fleet academy on the moon before Mark went into politics. The two old friends continued their leisurely meal and by agreement did not further mention the up and coming deployment to the former Dradfer colonies. Tyr moved noticeably overhead as the lengthened into an early evening, and a mixed fall of snow and frozen carbon dioxide softly peppered the massive dome overhead.

                                                                     ***

Admiral Baredio strode past the ornate doors and into the main meeting room on Cephrit Star Base 31 towards the ceremonial rug in Vorinne red that now covered the place of honour in the centre of the chamber. The admiral paused as he took in a shackled Barus prisoner standing against the far wall. He was aware that strict protocol governed this meeting and no excuses could be offered for a lack of courtesy to the Vorinne; second only to the Zronte overlords in the sector. The Barus admiral gave a very respectful full bow to Thatak’siema, kept his eyes downcast, and politely reported his presence.

‘Second Envoy, Admiral Baredio of the Barus ninth fleet reporting as ordered.’

The Barus remained bowed as the second envoy struck the deck twice with her staff of office and replied.

‘Admiral Baredio, it has been many years, indeed too many years since we spoke. But first let me introduce my good friend Lord Malang’troh.’

The admiral remained bowed and gaze averted as he acknowledge the lesser ranked Vorinne male also present in the meeting room.

‘Lord Malang’troh, it is my honour to serve.’

Malang’troh gave a single knock of his own staff to acknowledge the welcome, but remained silent and still as the second envoy spoke again.

‘Admiral Baredio, we are grateful you honour us both with the correct forms, so you may now be at ease. The recalcitrant Tilmud High Admiral no longer even returns my calls let alone my orders. Of course you know our Cephrit friends here as well. Now attend as we first have to finish the matter of a trial we held earlier. Also I need to discuss with you a long series of reports, some of them from your friends at the Barus Institute.’

Baredio now straightened and then offered the Fleet master, now a good friend, and the junior Station master polite half bows that were returned as Cephrit courtesy chirrs. The admiral only glanced at the Barus prisoner, obviously a Deltas Vass acolyte, as he removed his cap. He instead took in the powerful six legged forms of the two Vorinne in a long glance.

Malang’troh would be Thatak’siema’s liege and therefore beholden to her utterly, and if Baredio was correct then the hulking Vorinne heavy cruisers in space nearby would belong to him. He also noted that Thatak’siema looked regal in her cape, though her belly scales showed tinges of blue and green.

Thatak’siema’s manner turned sombre as she noted Baredio’s glance at the prisoner. The second envoy curtly gave an order to two junior Vorinne officers standing either side of the acolyte, before informing the admiral on what was about to take place.

‘Position the prisoner several metres from the wall and stand well back. Baredio, as the senior Barus officer on this star base, you will witness the sentence of this prisoner.’

The Barus acolyte, an older and unkempt male, was then forced to his knees several metres in front of the second envoy, as she then knocked her staff twice to indicate a ruling was now being given. Thatak’siema imperiously rose to her full four metre height as she read the three charges and the sentences.

‘Acolyte Stamerio, you have been found guilty of three charges relating to the pandemic on Earth one hundred and fifty years ago. The first charge of releasing a bio weapon on a haven world, or in your case commissioning another to do the same, is punishable by death. The second charge of sedition is proven by the contents of your data tablet, and is punishable by death. The third charge of mass murder is then proven by default and the scale of the death toll still numbs my mind after all this time. Do you have any last words?’