Carinae Sector: 02 - Admiral's Fury - Part 2 - Hidden Menace (28 page)

He was about to continue speaking, when the view screen came online and Captain Gindane started to speak curtly to them both.

‘I have been speaking with the Maveen scout probe and he makes several telling observations that our own research backs up. You now possess larger and more powerful ships and this could cause the other vassal races to interdict your home system at a later stage. The vassals could possibly enslave your race if you wilfully ignore our advice. We recommend that you remove the engines of these cruisers and use them as static defences.’

Robert was speechless for several moments, but Emma was quick enough to reply with her own response.

‘Captain Gindane, we have recently identified the advanced technology the more senior races possess, but we do not possess. Note that the eight cruisers do not possess the powerful scanners and have no hyper drive capability. So surely this would allow us to remain inside the edicts?’

Gindane was quiet at this point and the Maveen probe spoke again in his metallic tones.

‘Your race has recently obtained advanced scanning knowledge and should be capable of implementing it quickly. The cruisers already have powerful ion drives and so could also be furnished with larger hyper drives well within your own life spans. Note that this is a quick increase in skills and capabilities by galactic standards. Your race would be well advised to listen to our instructions and later destroy these ships should you survive the Jerecab onslaught.’

Robert had been reviewing his design of the cruisers, and he gave a resigned reply as now placed the schematic onscreen.

‘Fortunately the cruisers were quickly built in sections and so we can remove their engines before we dock them back to back. Most of their weapons and shields will deploy correctly and they should still be formidable. Of course the next step is to agree on whereabouts they should be located.’

Gindane had her own views on this subject and she soon had cautious agreement from both Robert and Emma. The conversation continued at length as further details were discussed, with Gindane repeating something that Omerio had mentioned earlier.

‘Captain Omerio, who might still arrive in time with his cruiser squadron, mentioned that your own solar system offers advantages in defence that you should be mindful of using…’

Robert and Emma listened critically as Gindane made her point, for both knew that senior leaders on Earth could overrule any decisions that they would make. Gindane finished up, and the Maveen was now silent, and Emma now noted how tired Robert looked.

‘Well the launch sequence for the cruisers is coming along and we will go to the moon in two days time to watch. Now we can go through our new strategy over dinner in my quarters if that is acceptable Robert?’

The professor now gave her a bemused but warm smile, as he followed her from the command centre. The two of them enjoyed a meal together and Emma found herself enjoying Robert’s company again, though their discussions centred on the dry aspects of the latest Maveen and Barus advice. A long silence fell between them, before Emma put her arms around him and gave him a lingering kiss. Much later Robert slept against her back in her bed, and Emma thought at length on how she would change her life providing they survived this emergency.

                                                                     ***

The Cephrit station master felt harried as he personally supervised the mandatory welcome ceremony for the Vorinne second envoy. The Vorinne were due shortly so he ensured the imperial seal was set correctly and the marine honour guard formed up. He was relieved that the fleet master and the assault leader were not present, for at least if the second envoy became upset then only his own life would be lost. The station master activated the safety shields around his entourage as the shuttle slowed to enter the hangar. A brief pop of air meant that the outer main shield was down and the Vorinne landed their shuttle shortly afterwards.

The station master stood to one side of the lowering rear ramp and prostrated himself on all his six legs. He watched from one of his side eyes as the familiar forms of Lord Malang’troh and then Lady Thatak’siema slowly walked down to the hangar floor. The ritual Vorinne hunting horn sounded and the station master loudly chirred his greeting.

‘Second Envoy Thatak’siema and Lord Malang’troh, welcome once again to Cephrit star base 31 and it is my honour to serve.’

Malang’troh halted several metres and remained silent for several moments before he struck his staff once in acknowledgement on the decking. The Cephrit all remained still and silent, as they ensured that they were not looking into the eyes of the Vorinne. After several more moments the Vorinne lord spoke in measured tones full of authority.

‘We thank you for the ritual greeting and courtesy shown to us by not challenging us with eye contact. Her Grace, the Lady Thatak’siema is unwell and needs to rest quietly for an extended period. Also I wish to speak with the fleet master at the earliest opportunity as I am seeking explanations on several matters.’

The Cephrit station master forced himself to remain calm as he slowly stood up again, and he also ensured the Vorinne lord had finished speaking before he spoke.

‘Lord Malang’troh, I regret to inform you that the fleet master has taken four squadrons of our cruisers and is interdicting the former Dradfer colonies.’

The station master resisted the urge to explain too much and risk baiting the Vorinne’s renowned temper. He now remained silent as the second envoy slowly walked over to stand behind Malang’troh. The Cephrit averted his gaze after he took in the extensive injuries that must be causing Thatak’siema much discomfort. Malang’troh now radiated annoyance at what he felt was presumption by the Cephrit, however he remained still and silent.

Thatak’siema gave a resigned sigh and spoke softly to all assembled in the hangar.

‘It has been a long trip and we will discuss the finer points of the fleet master’s absence at a later stage. Unless there is key information that I need to address immediately then I wish to be shown to my apartments.’

The station master had been evaluating the injuries to the second envoy, especially the teeth marks across her shoulders. He now understood what had happened and in a leap of intuition he set his own plans in motion.

‘Your grace, it is my honour to serve and I wish you a speedy recovery. Two other Vorinne are present on this star base after fleeing assassins, I understand that one of them is your younger cousin.’

Thatak’siema gave a start of surprise and she gave Malang’troh a measured look mixed with tiredness that he picked up on immediately. The Vorinne lord knocked his staff on the deck twice and all the Cephrit went rigid again in anticipation as he slowly spoke again with his ruling.

‘The second envoy thanks the Cephrit for their vision and compassion in hiding her compatriots. By the ancient treaties between our races, the Vorinne extend their gratitude and forbearance to the Cephrit. Station master, you will now lead us to our apartments and then speak with me on several other matters, before we summon your other guests.’

The station master remained silent as he led the two senior Vorinne slowly off towards their apartments. The second envoy would walk slowly for awhile before resting for an extended period due to her injuries. The Cephrit knew that the presence of Thatak’siema and Malang’troh complicated the plans of the Cephrit race. He also knew that he did not have the time to warn their other guests of the latest arrivals.

                                                                     ***

Deshinal watched impassively as her mother and sibling conducted an animated discussion about the latest arrivals at the star base. Her older siblings were wailing in fright as they took in the news, for they all rightfully feared Lord Malang’troh after the brutal death of their father long ago. The Quixxe variform tried to impose a calm of sorts on her family.

‘Such rackets you all raise with your wailing and no wonder other races treat us with disdain. I hope the sound proofing in our quarters is up to standard and we are not detected.’

Deshinal’s mother, Apinal, looked at her with resignation as she replied.

‘Daughter you should not mock us in our hour of lament. We could end up on a livestock ship heading to Zronte space if the Vorinne take us prisoners.’

Deshinal did not feel chastised, as she noted that her sibling had stopped arguing and wailing long enough to hear her mother speak. She wasted no time in speaking again as a result.

‘We were supposed to aid the two junior Vorinne that came here earlier, and we had false identities given to us as a result. I have to remain hidden regardless, and only Shafinal has had any recent meetings with Lord Malang’troh.’

Shafinal looked across at her mother as she replied to her sisters’ observations.

‘Deshinal is correct, and the meeting was an incidental one when I graduated from pilot school. We will await instructions from the Cephrit, as this after all is their star base. I suspect we will be taken elsewhere at some stage, possibly to the world the matriarch mentioned earlier.’

Apinal knew that the Vorinne could easily overrule the Cephrit when it came to the welfare of the Quixxe. However she nodded her agreement to Shafinal’s logic and she softly crooned the tone of peace to ensure the argument was over. Her crooning was taken up by her children briefly before they all then fell silent.

                                                                     ***

Admiral Mary Neilson was impatiently looking through the data she had available for what seemed the fifth time. The Jerecab were running late and this was impacting her own plans. She was aware of the increased risks of her strategy, and she tried to put this awareness to one side as she took in the dry statistics for the Tau Ceti colony.

The admiral knew the colony held over twenty thousand colonists and was guarded by a local flotilla of ships. The auxiliary cruiser Long Reach was leading several of the smaller corvettes in a patrol across the far side of the system.

Mary knew that the local ships, apart from the cruiser, did not add much to her own fleet. However she needed to know if the Jerecab armada had been delayed or was changing course, as she would not abandon the colony without at least attempting to protect it.

Lieutenant Commander Griggs looked across at her in quiet appraisal, and Mary spoke up confidently as she took her attention from her console.

‘Spit it out Lieutenant Commander, you obviously are concerned about something.’

John Griggs looked around the bridge self consciously before he replied.

‘We have to assume that the Jerecab armada will attack either here at Tau Ceti or the nearby Epsilon Eridani system. We have other ships in place on nearby systems so they are unlikely to surprise us…’

Mary was only going to voice agreement with his assessment, for they had discussed this plan previously already. However she was interrupted as the tactical officer spoke loudly across the bridge.

‘Admiral, one of our scout ships has arrived nearby and is heading across to us at high speed.’

Mary waited patiently for several minutes before the dark features of Lieutenant Sachin Khan came onto the screen.

‘Admiral, the Jerecab armada are four hours behind us and they will use this jump point to arrive in this system. We detected well over two hundred frigates, and several dozen supply ships are also present. Note that an advance section of ninety frigates leads their armada by nearly an hour.’

Mary looked over at John Griggs, who gave her a nervous smile, before she replied to the scout ship commander.

‘Lieutenant Khan, thank you for the advance warning and we will only engage the Jerecab advance section at this location. The Jerecab are overdue so no doubt their supply chain is becoming very long. You will take your ship over with the remaining corvettes to join the Long Reach, as your own weapons are of little use in the coming battle.’

After several minutes, the smaller ships at the hyper jump point peeled away from the destroyers and began to follow the scout ship across the star system. Mary steeled herself before she began to speak again, this time to the commanders of her destroyers.

‘We will form up on the hyper drive point and attack the lead section on the arrival of the armada. Prepare all weapons for a shield suppression attack, for we are hoping to ambush the Jerecab before we flee. Ensure that all ships have their hyper jump engines prepared, so we can leave immediately after our ambush. We will do this by the numbers according to our training before we go home.’

The admiral sat back to consider her plans yet again with concern, for she knew that if her fleet was destroyed here then the Earth was as good as taken by their enemy. Earlier reports from the solar system had given her cause for hope, for she would implement additional plans upon arriving back home. Mary sat back to wait patiently for the Jerecab appear with their ships.

                                                                     ***

Freya Paulson cautiously watched the tall Fenshilla guards as she walked with Rebecca across to the door of the cargo hold serving as their prison. The female Fenshilla slaves were setting up the day’s meal on the long tables, and the commander began to form the survivors up in an orderly queue. She noted that the Fenshilla overseer, a particularly callous member of a violent race, was absent and so she felt some relief. The previous day the overseer had beaten two of the wounded to death, before the commandant and other Fenshilla officers had intervened. The further tragic losses of two of her crew had led to urgent discussions amongst the survivors, and a response was being planned.

Freya and Rebecca both now wore strategically placed strips of off-white cloth, which had been the trigger for the overseer’s rage yesterday. The rough cloth had been a concession organised quietly by one of the female Fenshilla slaves, and Freya knew that the beatings by their guards had diminished in both frequency and savagery. She bowed in greeting to the female Fenshilla and received a bow in return. The lead slave looked furtively at the male guards before she spoke slowly in Trader.