Carinae Sector: 02 - Admiral's Fury - Part 3 - Fleet Action (26 page)

Mary had spent a considerable time years earlier reading what she could of the old history of the Traders. She knew that the Cephrit, former mentors of the Traders, had considerable but unfortunate experience in this matter. The admiral though for several moments, and then gave both a subdued reply and an example of now understanding the problem.

‘Wise fleet master we will temper our expectations in exploring and colonising space with a greater understanding of the edicts. For example, a force of human cruisers patrolling well beyond our proposed colonies would lead to a full scale war with a vassal race.’

The Cephrit went silent for several moments, before it replied in a soft but firm chirr of approval mixed with threat.

‘Admiral, your race has already made a good start by only ever sending destroyers into these local star systems to defend yourselves. The example you quoted is a good example of what your race should not do under any circumstances. Now be sure that you do understand the new obligations upon your race, as I would hate to have my descendants come back and enforce the edicts by war.’

Mary nodded her agreement before taking a deep breath and then stating her final reasons for the meeting.

‘We will ensure that your advice forms the central parts of our defence policies in space. Now with regards to the alien ships in this system, I request that all ships, especially the Jerecab ships, not involved in salvage or edicts compliance, be moved as soon as possible to beyond the orbit of Mars.’

Mary sensed the other races tense up again, but the Sspol captain soon spoke in agreement.

‘The solar system belongs to the humans and their word as a haven species is final; it is related to their presumption of authority in their home system. We will move out to the location specified after we assist the two vassal races in carving up the hulks for later destruction.’

The Cephrit fleet master had been expecting the Sspol to leave shortly, but the news that they could be around for a few more days really surprised him. He was struggling for a polite response, even if he knew that their assistance could save him well over two days. Omerio stepped again into the conversation and the fleet master listened with approval.

‘The finer points of edicts for haven class worlds do recommend that alien races keep well away from them and the humans have made a fair request. Now the Sspol should consider leaving earlier as this then lowers the risks of a misunderstanding between us.’

Mary was all for lowering the number of alien ships in the solar system and she picked up on Omerio’s points.

‘Captain Hallime of the mighty Sspol, we thank you once again for you race’s assistance and bravery; now we politely request you lead the withdrawal of alien ships to past the orbit of Mars. We will speak with you privately before your ships leave our solar system.’

Several moments silence greeted Mary’s request and she wondered if she had insulted the mysterious alien race. However, the Sspol captain gave no indication of being upset as he replied.

‘We the Sspol would be honoured to lead the vassal ships to the holding zone. We will speak with only you later as requested; we will remain in this meeting for the moment.’

Mary was conscious of the other races regarding her, including the Jerecab Neanres, but she merely gave a formal bow and continued to speak.

‘Fleet master I am satisfied that this meeting has accomplished all that I need to resolve today.’

The fleet master seemed relieved at the latest developments, for the continued presence of the little known Sspol could always turn violent from what little he understood of the hydrogen breathers. He stretched to his full height again and replied to close the meeting down.

‘The meeting is now coming to a close with matters now agreed to by us all. Is there any other matters we need to discuss today?’

Omerio looked over at Gindane as he calmly spoke.

‘Well there is the matter of the fractured human leadership on Earth, plus our ongoing concerns with over population and environmental damage to their planet.’

The fleet master had also seen reports from his scientists onboard his flagship, plus his earlier covert conversation with Narindestat came to mind as he made a strongly worded reply.

‘Well Admiral Neilson, three more pieces of advice for your race that no doubt the Traders and Maveen made during their visit. Sort out your chain of command for interacting with another galactic race with split leadership, or like the Traders long ago, no leadership or accountability is very dangerous. Limit your population on your home world down to two to three billion at most, and for the colonies no more than a billion people per colony. Look after your planet, I understand that Jerecab warheads did real damage, but your race still needs to improve your environmental record. So is there anything else that needs to be mentioned?’

The other races indicated that they were now satisfied and the fleet master ended the meeting. Omerio gave a curt pair of orders as Gindane motioned two of her guards forward to escort Neanres back to her shuttle.

The fleet master merely looked over at Mary as Omerio spoke again.

‘The broadcast is ended, the Sspol are no longer present, and the monitoring in this hangar is temporarily disabled due to ‘battle damage’. Admiral Neilson, there are a few things you need to learn off the record.’

Mary listened with relief as the two Barus and the Cephrit fleet master advised her that they had discretely taken control of several potential problems.

‘The auxiliary cruiser and two Trader sneak ships in the Tau Ceti system were a clear breach of edicts and they would be quietly resolved, but the second envoy would later be informed off the record.’

Mary felt anxious at this revelation but the fleet master soon reassured her.

‘Admiral we recently performed a huge favour for the Vorinne second envoy and she is in our debt. Your soldiers in the Gold system were also recovered and should arrive back here on one of our freighters in a few days. My mate of record is escorting them home after getting them to surrender with promise of safe passage home.’

Omerio spoke casually, both to reassure Mary further, and to keep the tone of the now secret meeting informal.

‘I was wondering where your esteemed and valued senior assault leader had gotten to old friend. I bet that her latest exploits would be a good story over a glass of good Barus wine.’

Gindane rolled her eyes at Omerio’s over familiarity with the fleet master, but the Cephrit also responded in a jovial manner.

‘Well Omerio, she has had a problem or two after ingesting a human food so we need to monitor her condition.’

Mary was advised on the food involved, and she made an offer that the Cephrit knew he would have trouble refusing.

‘You are welcome to covertly deal with us on this matter as this informal meeting illustrates that galactic politics are a complex subject. I also now understand that we cannot request a non aggression pact with either the Barus or the Cephrit for a variety of reasons.’

The fleet master chirred good-naturedly for the speed of the human’s uptake was along the lines he would expect from a Barus like Omerio, and he ribbed his fleet captain friend first as he replied.

‘Watch out Omerio as these humans remind me of you and your various schemes, of which the second envoy suspects but has not be able to prove…yet. Admiral we cannot accept a non-aggression pact with your race, as we may have to perform a policing action on your race in the future. The offer of covert help will be placed aside for when it might become useful.’

Mary noted that the two Barus had remained quiet for a moment at the Cephrit’s joke, and she inturn now reassured them.

‘Well with Gindane and Omerio visiting us regularly I can see no problem with edict compliance. The last three pieces of advice are the important long-term concerns that we need to keep under control.’

The Cephrit motioned to Omerio for a moment, and the Barus captain pressed a control sequence on his data tablet. The fleet master spoke candidly before he made to leave, and Mary felt chilled as she took in the importance of his words and the fact that the cameras were now live again.

‘The whole question of your race’s fitness to survive depends on how you solve the three points I just mentioned. I must leave now Admiral Neilson and I wish you and the people of Earth all the best for the future.’

The Cephrit offered a curt half bow to both the Barus and Mary, before he left without saying a further word or giving a backward glance. His two guards trailed behind him as he entered his ship. Omerio and Gindane now gave Mary a full bow of respect and mentioned that they would speak later. Mary quickly boarded her shuttle, and after several minutes, she was heading back over to the Exeter.

Gindane favoured her intended mate with a full bow of respect, far more than was needed between them. Omerio felt flattered by her next words, as he again dropped the camera feed for the hangar deck.

‘Well my old friend I anticipate we will have to explain ourselves, especially you and this could be a major problem. Your covert actions have directly contributed to the survival of the humans and I am really proud of you. But the second envoy already is keen to talk with you and your life maybe at risk.’

The two Barus left Neanres to cool his heels under armed guard for another hour as they quietly made additional plans in the now deserted hangar. Gindane seized on something Mary had said and knew she would highlight this viewpoint long before they both fronted the second envoy.

                                                                     ***

Queen Angwene had kept silent but got very busy, as news of the approaching Cephrit squadrons arrived by the wiretap into the human internet. She felt sombre as she realised that Seliandre, Altarebe, Helisphan and Isphara might have to launch in hours. She knew that that the four young adults were not strong enough to fight the masses of Cephrit cruisers near the moon and then get clear safely.

Seliandre had watched the queen assemble equipment for some time and she asked her a pointed question.

‘Mother you cannot be serious about taking off and fighting all those Cephrit ships?’

The queen looked at her second eldest daughter and currently her best hope for her race as she replied.

‘If we are all trapped here then we all will die at the hands of the Vorinne and Zronte. At least if you later leave with Altarebe and your two middle sisters, then the race can be later be reborn elsewhere.’

Seliandre was beside her usual calm self as she spoke loudly this time.

‘But Armuen and Cliade would be doomed, and Gementer is defenceless while she sleeps! In addition, Gementer represents an incredible possibility for the future, one you did not consider before we were born.’

Seliandre knew her mother was wavering in her rash decision to force a battle with the Cephrit. She was also aware that her two youngest sisters were listening to the whole conversation in stunned silence. Her mother stated to work again in silence and Seliandre now played the card she knew would definitely upset her mother.

‘Mother, the humans would be innocent casualties and over four billion lives would be lost as they are extinguished!’

Angwene gave a short subsonic pulse of irritation as she replied testily.

‘Daughter you must know that just the thought of the humans dying is seared into my mind. The presence of the humans protected us for so long but now our detection could cause their deaths. The only consolation I have is that the Barede colony is probably still surviving, but the consolation is very bleak.’

Angwene hesitated to go on again, mindful of her already upset youngest daughters, but Altarebe spoke firmly into the awkward silence between the queen and her daughters.

‘Your Majesty the Sspol ships are leading the bulk of the ships near the moon on a course for a location past the orbit of the moon. The other alien ships are removing the command sections from the destroyed ships.’

Seliandre now accessed the wiretap into the internet and in moments had confirmed her consort’s timely report. She provided further confirmation as her sisters crowded nearby in the ocean depths.

‘Well that is a relief, as the humans are broadcasting the efforts of the vassal ships as they go about removing from the wreckage the advanced sensor sections. We will have to discuss this action by them with the Maveen probe when he returns.’

Queen Angwene gave only a soft call of relief as she quietly began to replace her ship components back into their assigned storage locations. Overhead the massive suppression field continued to signal that it was an empty seabed across all the frequencies the humans used in their instruments. Altarebe again considered the nearby suppression field generator and was quietly thankful for the strange piece of Dradfer technology that had served Queen Angwene well for so long.

                                                                     ***

Chapter 13

The Maveen probe reached the outskirts of the solar system and released a miniature spy drone that would self-destruct in six hours if he did not return for it. The probe knew that he would have to release his sole larger message probe if he could not establish contact in this location. The probe continued to race out at high speed into interstellar space for half an hour. He then released a bright flare of power from his engines and then abruptly cloaked. To any distant observer, it would look like he had made a hyper jump into the next star system, but probe three now circled back and slowly made for the location of his miniature spy drone.

After two hours, he was cautiously approaching the location of the spy drone when he received the expected low powered signal. Probe three replied with a low powered response of his own and after five minutes the Earth probe was alongside and speaking with him with low powered radio signals.

‘Well met Probe three, let us stay cloaked and slowly head back into the solar system. You can brief me about the human victory so I can eventually relay the message to the Barede colony. In addition, I would like to know the full status of the ancients on Earth. All your other reports are second to these two main requirements.’