Carinae Sector: 02 - Admiral's Fury - Part 3 - Fleet Action (32 page)

Mary looked sternly around her at the chancellors who were critically looking her over, before one, Chancellor Silvia de’Pantenor of India finally nodded in agreement, and then asked her a brief question.

‘So Admiral Neilson, we understand and would be interested in this arrangement, but we would need access to review all decisions by the military, and also no military officers may serve on the ruling council.’

Mary looked around at the thirty members from the ruling council and knew she had to bargain harder as she spoke again.

‘I recommend that the council choose six members for five years that function as a senate and are bound to military secrecy provisions. I also agree with your recommendation on military officers….’

The admiral soon had a preliminary deal sewn up with the chancellors, and even Chancellor Schmidt gave her a grudging nod of respect, and he began to lobby other chancellors as he sought to become one of the six senate members. Chancellor Silvia de’Pantenor was not finished as she setup a belated attempt to undercut Mary.

‘We can always rescind this extra authority to you Admiral Neilson, as it may yet turn out that the Barus do not return for another one hundred and fifty years. The aliens left many weeks ago and they have not returned, apart from a pair of Cephrit cruisers that patrol the outer areas of the solar system. Also we understand that the permission to settle the colonies could yet be revoked by the alien races.’

Mary noted that the other chancellors, except her husband Mark, were nodding silently in agreement. So she brought up the text of the fleet master’s conversation onto the screen as she replied in detail.

‘The Barus said under their own authority that they would return; barring an ongoing war that actually later prevented this occurring. Now the Cephrit, with their senior authority, have stated that at least Captain Gindane and her ship will eventually return, and we know now that the Tilmud were defeated recently by the Cephrit. Also the Cephrit did leave the two cruisers here and that is a committed decision by them. The fleet master was confident that his decision to allow us to colonise the former Dradfer colonies was valid. I would estimated that the return of the Barus ship could still be another two weeks to two months way, but it will not be years this time around.’

The other chancellors considered her opinions critically, and Mary could see that the German and Indian chancellors were now standing together and beginning to argue. The admiral decided that she would give them another twenty minutes of her time before returning to the gymnasium. Offhand, she wondered how the Barede colonists, so far from Earth, had managed to resolve their own political issues.

                                                                     ***

The dim blue light from the Maveen probe provided minimal illumination as it tirelessly guarded the now sleeping ancients. Probe three had earlier spent many days discussing both the battle and the information from the Earth probe that he had delivered. Queen Angwene had been delighted with his covert and safe return to Earth, as the threat of the Jerecab had weighed on her mind for many weeks.

The ancients now slept and would do so for at least fifty years, before they woke up again to continue their preparations. Seliandre slept between her mother and Altarebe, who was nestled against her flanks. The other ancients were all arrayed, still and dormant, nearby on the sea floor. The Maveen probe knew that the ancient females would awake possibly a second time for a very brief period before they slept again. The two youngest daughters were benefitting most from the long periods of dormancy, as they were still not ready for space flight.

Altarebe was a special case for dormancy, and he would awake every twenty years or so to assist the Maveen probe. In addition, it was hoped that he would perform a necessary function for one of the daughters. Upon waking for the third time, the work and patience of thousands of years would be realised, and the females would don their crafted ship bodies, in fact massive armoured space suits, before fleeing for the outer galaxy.

Probe three paused in his patrol circuit and took in the resting form of Gementer, the queen’s oldest and largest daughter. Her massive body shown with a dull grey glow that he knew was still healthy, despite her recent large increase in length, and the now healed fissures in her hull. Large metal sections reinforced Gementer’s hull and they would form a major part of her ship when she finally took off.

The probe noted that the forward section of Gementer’s platform was now scalloped out to allow access underneath to her breeding mantle. He knew that when Gementer next awoke that she would be encouraged to mate with Altarebe and that her mother and her sisters would either still be asleep or discretely elsewhere. Probe three and Queen Angwene hoped that the mating would delay the changes in Gementer’s body, and that she would then be capable of fleeing their nursery for the safety of deep space.

The massive suppression field was invisible as it operated just over the top of the massive underwater facility, but probe three had a constant remote link to the controls that told him that the field was working correctly. He again put aside questions as to the providers of the suppression technology as he resumed his slow circuit of the dormant ancients.

The Maveen knew that the humans might yet still discover their unknown guests before they could flee to space, and that this new galactic race might not take kindly to the ancients hiding in the oceans of their home world. The probe’s blue lights continued to shine dimly in the deep depths of the southern ocean, as he decided that the wiretap into the human internet system would need to be checked regularly for any news of their discovery.

                                                                     ***

Narindestat looked over at the silent image of his fellow captain and chief ally, Tahenedestat, and knew that his friend was both relieved and disappointed. Relieved that the Resuria was home and the crew safe after their long journey, but disappointed that there had obviously been deaths and that his ship was badly damaged. Captain Narindestat gave another full bow to denote respect and imply an apology as he spoke again.

‘So we ended up with over fifty dead and all the humans that stowed away with us are either dead, captured, or have fled back to Earth. We became separated from them after we engaged a Jerecab squadron and were later attacked by Fenshilla cruisers. The colonists first went to the assistance of their cousins from Earth before leaving with them on a military raid.’

Narindestat now kept silent as Tahenedestat thought through the ramifications of what he had heard. His ally now spoke carefully as he knew his words might be misconstrued.

‘I am saddened to hear of the death toll amongst our race and the toll among our friends and allies. Bring the Resuria straight in to land on Trader Island my friend and we will discuss this matter at a later stage. I will release a brief statement only stating the death toll for both races, but I will also state that we await notice from the Maveen upon the fate of the human home world.’

The two Trader captains continued to speak about the other news of the new colonies in the Fulcrum cluster, and Narindestat got an update on the status of the other Trader wing ships.

‘The Illuria is nearly back together and Engineer Halbindestat is almost ready to upgrade another ship, and it might as well be the Resuria as she is hardly space worthy. The Chumeria, the Tongeria and the Rigelia can be readied for dispatch to our new colonies in about two months. Of course this depends on the resolutions of the Captain’s table before we proceed, but several other ships will later become available.’

Narindestat remained standing to show his respect as he noted that the Resuria was slowing as it approached the Barede colony. He checked the course and speed of the ship for a moment before he replied at length.

‘I can foresee no objections as the star cluster is remote and capable of being easily defended. We will send full detachments of sneak ships and marines with them, and we will set up outposts as soon as possible. We will also enlist the assistance of the Maveen if we can to allow for a faster colonisation effort. Now note that both they and I have forbidden the presence of humans at our colonies due to the proximity of the border with the Crux sector races, especially the Dradfer.’

Captain Tahenedestat looked at his ally critically and responded after further deep thought.

‘The Maveen do not lightly enforce embargos and the reasons must be compelling. For now we will place all further discussion upon the Captain’s Table as soon as possible. Now note that Rory Edwards, the president of the Barede federation, would like to speak with your urgently.’

Narindestat shook his head in frustration, and looked annoyed as he replied tersely.

‘The human is nothing like his forebears and he trades incessantly upon their legacies. I will speak with him, but only briefly and under sufferance.’

Tahenedestat gave his friend a brief glance of sympathy from the large view screen, for the human leader of the Barede federation had a reputation for being difficult and pedantic. The view screen did not stay blank for long, before the gaunt features of President Rory Edwards appeared and nodded tersely to Captain Narindestat.

Narindestat bowed to show respect, but the human merely glared at him as he spoke.

‘Captain Narindestat, my military officers performed, under my authorisation, a covert mission aboard your ship and I wish to be advised of the death toll and as much information as possible. Your command centre has just advised us that none of the three Special Forces teams are onboard your ship, and that they are ‘missing in action’.’

Narindestat was aggravated by the president’s tone and merely pointed out a couple of shortfalls in the president’s requests.

‘President Edwards, you have not offered the protocols that have long existed between our races, inquired about our own losses or even asked about the fate of your home world. I must also formally protest about the manner upon which human marines found their way onboard my ship. Remember that we have long been allies of your race, also you will know that we are often over-polite when we are upset or angry.’

President Edwards glared again at Narindestat and offered him a stilted half bow that was almost an insult. The Trader captain knew that the president was up for re-election this year, and as he was not well liked, and Narindestat hoped that the human would be defeated. The president now visibly fought for self control as he tersely replied.

‘We felt that we could not leave the Earth to fight her battles alone, and despite the risks or Maveen instructions we were determined to provide assistance. Our home world is twenty four thousand light years way and despite the distance we will not sit idle. I stand by my decision, and yes, I do apologise for the manner in which it was executed.’

Narindestat now smiled grimly, and gave another full bow as he replied to indicate that while he disagreed with the methods he at least understood the resolve of the president.

‘Mr President, I will let your own race decide if you were right or wrong, for now I have to land my ship and speak with my own race. I anticipate that the Maveen will later speak with both our races to advise us on the fate of Earth. Until I land and sort out other matters I do not wish to speak with you further.’

Narindestat bowed again and nodded to Garendestat, who cut the transmission as it looked like President Edwards would go into a fit of rage.

‘Not fit to lead, and not even a shade of a man compared to his distant ancestor…’

Captain Narindestat thought sadly, as the Resuria began to enter the atmosphere of Barede. After fifteen minutes, the ship had landed and he donned his best blue jacket before he made his way to the massive rear ramp of the Resuria. As Narindestat entered the forward end of the main hold, he became aware that his surviving crew now stood on either side of the hold in ordered ranks. The captain walked in as the rear ramp lowered and the crew all gave him a full bow, and began to politely clap and nod their heads in respect as he walked past.

Garendestat beamed in pride and respect as he followed his father down to the base of the ramp. Illuria and Emeria rushed forward with his children and they all had several minutes of heartfelt embraces as the two Trader males were welcomed home. Around him other families were being reunited, and Garendestat watched with approval as a flatbed loader now came across and was pressed into service as a dais.

Narindestat climbed up onto the loader and gave the briefest account of their losses to the sombre crowd, before stating that families of those lost would be formally notified shortly. He then spoke in more detail of the new colonies that the mission had obtained the Fulcrum cluster. Garendestat noted that the other senior captains stood to one side and eyed his father with both respect and friendship.

Narindestat finished speaking and there was a moment’s silence, before the less restrained crowd took up a human custom and gave the captain and his crew three rousing cheers of appreciation. Emeria ensured Garendestat was in the middle of his huddled children, as they all had sorely missed his presence. A long glance was exchanged between the young Trader couple, and they both knew that their lives would once again change.

                                                                     ***

Robert Seville looked over with pride and love at his new wife Emma, as they continued to work away in his old office. They had married last week, a week after returning from the moon, and their honeymoon had consisted of packing up their lives on Earth and looking over the wreckage of the three Jerecab frigates. The frigates had been moved to the Fremantle advanced spaceship research institute or ASRI, after Admiral Neilson had placed them under military control. Now separate teams of scientists were scouring the command sections of these ships. Around the wreckage, construction teams were completing the fabrication of large sheds around each ship to shield them from the eyes of the Barus if and when they returned.