Nova (57 page)

“Ah,” Avara said, deliberately throwing a note of mock
regret in her voice, “I am afraid I will have to disappoint you on that score,
Triarch Vael, as you have no authority to demand such a surrender.”

“My authority, Shield Operative Serros, is based on the
Excalibur’s
destruction of the
TS Ardent
, attack on the
TS Watcher
, and apparently,
the destruction of Science Observation Station J2 on Dantis.”

“It seems that some of your facts have been confused,
Admiral.” Avara answered, letting a cool note of steel slip into her voice. “We
came here, to the
unclaimed
space of the Arkaia System, in response to a
distress call routed through both the Human Ministry’s channels and those of
the Quorum. Apparently, some
illegally
captured slaves from territory
within the Aligned Systems had staged an escape aboard the
Ardent
.”

“Are you accusing the Imperium of illegally raiding the
Quorum Aligned Systems Space for captives, against the Treaty of Duriélle,
Captain?” The Karukai Admiral asked, iron coloring her own tone as her bright
gaze narrowed in a show of anger.

And Avara knew that was exactly what it was;
a show
. If
the stakes hadn’t been so very high, Serros would have laughed at the
skillfully played allegation.

“Far be it for me to judge whether or not the
Ardent
was under Imperial orders; you would know better than I.” Avara responded,
letting just the right trace of professional criticism slip through at the
thought that the Imperium couldn’t mind their own officers and resources.
“However, when we boarded the
Ardent
, none were left alive, and only
corpses remained to greet our rescue attempts.”

“If your words are true, certainly a travesty.” Vael
responded within the pause Avara had deliberately created.

“Yes,
quite
. Many had died horrifically, with several
prisoner cells actually vented, air sucked away.” Avara announced, allowing
some of the fire she felt in her gut to flare within her eyes, clearly
communicating her opinion of such acts of brutality to the Karukai Triarch.

“As I am sure you know, Captain Serros, any who enter
Karukai Sovereign Space are free game to be captured as potential spies and
infiltrators; which, I am confident, evidence shall confirm was the situation
of the prisoners aboard the
Ardent
.”

Vael’s slightly conceited smile rankled at Avara, knowing
only
too well
that the response was beautifully tailored to suit diplomatic
circles within the Quorum. It was designed to encourage politicians fearful of
igniting war that it all was just some tragic, unintended error. A
misunderstanding that the correct words, a few scribbled signatures, and a
smattering of handshakes would solve.

 
Appeasement; the looming tragedy of our times.

Serros knew better.

“It’s funny how definition changes with interpretation, is
it not?” Avara commented, offering a slightly feral smile that she knew from
experience, was still nonetheless engaging. A smile that she used to full
effect. “Sort of like the difference in meaning between the terms ‘Science
Observation Station’ and ‘Secret Clone Research and Production Outpost,’
yes
?
Especially when you add once–free, raided and enslaved sentients for genetic
variance and enhancement study.”

There it is!
The first crack in the Triarch’s
formerly imperturbable façade. Carefully sublimated anger and…. concern?

“Arrogance, Captain, a fatal Human flaw. Your customs and
mores do not apply to the citizens of the Imperium and it is pure hubris to
think otherwise. Additionally, philosophical debate is
irrelevant
to our
current circumstances.” Vael asserted. “You will surrender,
immediately
.”

 For a moment, Avara could feel the sheer power of this
woman’s will, the strength of what her species and the Vosaia would term
nya
.
And abruptly, Serros recognized that the Karukai Triarch was deliberately
broadcasting the strength of her soul and purpose to force Serros to acquiesce.

Apparently, for all of her brilliance, Artah Vael still had
a lot to learn about Human
arrogance
in general, and Avara’s in
specific.

“Tell me, Admiral, is war
irrelevant
? Because,
make
no
mistake
, that is the issue which is the current debate between
you and I.
I will not
surrender my vessel and the result will be the
immediate declaration of war between the Quorum and the Imperium.”

Pausing for a just a brief moment, Avara serenely met the
Karukai’s silent stare, look for look. “After all,” Serros added, fully
returning the Admiral’s earlier gesture by blasting her own psychic signature,
literally bombarding the Karukai Admiral with the potent and absolute certainty
of will and purpose that Avara Serros knew resonated within her own
nya
,
“All of the data regarding the
Ardent
, the attack by the
Watcher
,
and Outpost J2 has
already
been directly transmitted to the Quorum and
Human Ministry, and a fleet is currently underway to these coordinates.”

Utter silence, save for the intake of several soft, measured
breaths.

As if rousing herself from light meditation, Admiral Vael
finally inquired “Would you
really
allow your ship and all of your crew
be destroyed, rather than surrender into my custody?”

“You already know the answer to that question, Admiral.”

As the Karukai’s piercing gaze remained laser–locked to her
own, Avara maintained her current demeanor, sustained the sense of being an
immovable object content to spend an eternity in this moment, here and now,
without hope or fear, suspended between life and death.

Finally, the Karukai Triarch broke the silence, a flush
spreading across pale cheeks as she regarded Avara with almost
… Irritation?
Regard?

“It has been most enlightening to meet you, Captain Avara
Serros. I very much look forward to doing so again in the future.”

 With that, the Military Triarch’s image winked out of
existence and quietude reigned supreme throughout the Bridge and CIC.

“Captain, the
Sha’tal
is changing course to intercept
the
TS Watcher
. Repair drones and shuttles are being deployed from her
Bays.” Chopa announced into the pregnant hush, his voice trembling in relief.

“Okay crew. I don’t know about all of you, but I personally
never
want to see this system or planet again.” Avara announced, sitting down in her
chair before the tension and exhaustion she’d been carefully regulating dropped
her. “Nice and easy now, let’s leave the Karukai to their efforts. Cee, set a
course for Sigil and launch a Quantum Net Buoy when ready.”

“Aye Captain, punching course now.” The Navigation Officer responded,
affirmation accompanied by a smile whose buoyancy could’ve floated a ship all
on its own.

“Let’s bring our two shuttles home but Belgrum, just in case
our Triarch isn’t on the up and up, leave the Drones in place. Right before our
jump, activate self–destruct so the Karukai won’t wander into them and war
starts today after all.”

“Understood, Captain.” The Braxien Tactical Officer
answered, his eye–membranes ticking in satisfaction.

“QN deployed.” Lieutenant Chopa announced, and all could see
the triangular net of glowing kobalt cords.

“All right people; let’s go home.” No command was ever
sweeter to give, Serros mused to herself as she sat back in her seat, eyes
front–forward while the Transition Call sounded throughout the ship and each
member of the crew strapped themselves in. The streak of stars was beyond lovely
as the frigate leaped through the blaze of dark blue and silvery white stars.

CHAPTER 30

“What I don’t understand is how you were able to talk the
Karukai Admiral down. I mean, why
didn’t
she blow us to smithereens when
she had the chance? We knocked out her battlecrusier and you two blew up her
entire
secret
Outpost
!” Lieutenant Rygel exclaimed, connecting his two
hands together in a closed fist pattern and then suddenly flaring fingers out
to convey a massive explosion, complete with sound effects.

Diana watched Avara shake her head in a vaguely self–deprecating
manner as she leaned back in her chair. The myriad of kobalt–brushed stars
created a rushing panorama outside of the Strategy Room’s oblong viewport, lending
a sense of imperturbable eternity, irrespective of the small goings on of
lesser beings.

The Senior Staff had been sitting in the conference room for
the last two hours, trading intelligence and stories about the last three and a
quarter weeks since the
Ardent’s
destruction. It was an event that
seemed almost a life–time past and yet at the same time, Diana could hardly
believe what her senses were telling her. Avara was here, alive and safe.

Adeline couldn’t keep from drinking in the sight, though
there was much she saw that caused a lump of concern that warred with the sheer
joy of having her love returned at long last. Avara’s beautiful eyes were as
lustrous as always, yet they somehow seemed bruised, as if injuries had taken
place that would require more than rest to heal. Serros was also
far
too
thin, like a crow who’d been kept caged without proper food and forced to live
on the barest of scraps. The hollowness of Avara’s frame was exaggerated by her
hair, longer than normal and falling across her forehead and upper neck like a
shadow. It’s atypical, unkempt length a living reminder of the astounding, seventeen–hundred
and twenty–three mile journey Avara and K’llan had endured.

Lieutenant Z’arr looked no less emotionally weary, yet
despite obviously being physically taxed, she also exuded a sense of vitality
that was hard to miss. Furthermore, though it was almost disconcerting for
Diana to note, it was unquestionably clear that a new closeness radiated from and
between both survivors of the crashed Karukai life–pod.

A sense of intimacy and comfort with one another pulsed forth
as they traded off telling their tale, one finishing the other’s thought or
sentence with unconscious ease and familiarity.

Don’t be an idiot, Diana Bernice Adeline!
The
Lieutenant Commander scolded herself.
Avara and Z’arr just survived an
ordeal that would’ve left most people nothing more than a broken pile of bones
to lay forgotten in some bloody ravine! Of
course
they’ve grown closer!

Though she figured it was only human, Diana couldn’t help
but feel a slight stab of jealousy at the rapport her lover and the Vosaia
shared. Still, such thoughts could do nothing to chase away her joy at Avara’s
return. Or the happiness of the entire crew, for that matter.

The exchange of information had been interrupted only once,
by Major Bennet Gaius’s arrival. Even now, an hour and a fifty minutes later,
Diana felt her eyes conspicuously moisten as she pictured the initial reunion
between Avara and one of her oldest and closest friends, her personal Steward
from the days of her first Command aboard the
Sollus
.

Gaius had immediately hugged the Captain, inspected her
appearance, had Dr. Argos scan both Avara and Z’arr for hidden injuries, and
then promptly ordered heaping platters of food and drink brought to the
Strategy Room. Both uncharacteristically and unbidden, he also joined the
Senior Staff at their meeting. His purpose, Diana had no doubt, being to surreptitiously
assure himself of his charge’s wellbeing.

The man could be worse than a fussy old–hen, but at least
Avara mostly heeds his orders.
The thought made Diana chuckle to herself.

Only now, two egg–salad sandwiches, one still sizzling rib–steak
cooked to rare perfection, a heap of sautéed green–beans and mushrooms, a crisp
green apple, slice of coconut cream pie and two hours later, were the reunited
crewmates finally reaching the point of convergence in the narrative.

“Admiral Vael didn’t blow us to smithereens, Dane, because
she rather cleverly is employing a more effective stratagem.” Avara answered the
Communications Officer and tech expert’s question, prompting Diana to focus more
on the discussion that her own internal musings. “A reliance on politics to
delay action in the Quorum and within the individual governments of the Aligned
Systems, rather than galvanize a response though the creation of a group of well–known
martyrs.”

“Exactly.” Naxos agreed, emphasis lent by his elongated
c
that sounded more like an
s
. “The hunter uses every advantage he or she
can capture.”

“And in the short term, at least, massacring a Quorum Shield
Operative and her crew along with sanctioning the capture, execution and
experimentation on a hundred or so enslaved citizens would harm, rather than
bolster, her cause.” Lieutenant Z’arr added, her soprano conveying respect and
distaste in equal measure.

“Well, it will be a mistake, in the long run.” Avara announced,
her voice losing all of its previous, good–natured humor and happiness, now
shifting to a cold kind of deadly purpose as she added, “We
will
be
prepared, whatever the cost.”

“Prepared?” Rygel asked, and Diana found herself thinking
that for all of his skill with a sniper rifle and remarkable aptitude for
hacking systems, in many ways, Dane was still so very young, such an innocent.

“War.” Perez announced, rich eyes unusually bleak.

“Yes.” Avara confirmed with a sharp nod, looking at each
friend sitting around the table, each officer, one after the other. “Make no
mistake, war with the Karukai Imperium is coming, and I intend for us to be
ready
for it
.”