When the Stars Fade (The Gray Wars) (92 page)

              -                           
II                            -

              Mara paced a hallway of the Rebel Flagship
Barrenon
. Sh
e’
d been given a decent suite in which to rest and change, and clothing that fit her lithe frame had been laid out on the bed before her arrival. The revolutionaries had known for some time that the Historian would eventually join their ranks. She still had
n’
t entirely come to terms with the reality of the situation. Her people were tearing each other apart, using the deception of the humans as an excuse for war. She knew better than to believe that the cause was so black and white. The Domin had long held a grudge against the Magistrate, calling them the elitist knife ever present at the throat of the working class.

             
At least they had
Barrenon
. Of all the warships in the armada,
Barrenon
had the best chance of survival. It was the newest of the refugee fleet, built during the Boxti incursion. At three thousand hands, it also boasted the largest crew an
d—
if the talk could be believe
d—
the most loyal. No sailor under Domin Shodon would betray the trust of their beloved commander.

             
Hanweh had bidden her to come and speak with the leaders of the revolution, who had come to call themselves Dad
u’
And
o—
Those Who Walk in Light. After a few fitful hours of rest Mara found herself standing in the crisp and clean command center awaiting the Domi
n’
s arrival. All around the room the crew went to work as though nothing was out of the ordinary. She wondered if they had been given a choice. The Domin knew the consequences of the their actions. Not just the physical toll, the bloody end result of such a conflict, but the price of failure. Everyone labeled a traitor would face death or banishment from the community.

             
The armada had split, but what of the civilians? Not everyone in the hideaway nebulae was a soldier. There were scientists, teachers, merchants and engineers who had managed to escape the destruction of Nangol. Were they a part of the Magistrate or the Dad
u’
Ando? Did they get the message that a civil war had begun? So many questions raced around her head she thought she would faint. The sound of heavy boots clacking on the ground brought her back to the present with a rush. Looking up, Mara saw Hanweh approach.

             
They had met several times before, for no longer than a few minutes. Historians were highly regarded in the world of the warriors, and it would have been odd for such a prominent Domin to never speak to the leader in the anthropological circles. Mara had spoken with Hanweh several times at different functions, but never more than small talk. Conversation in Nangolani culture was always brief and to the point. At least in the cities. Rural areas tended to linger on topics longer, and lengthy discussions were not outside the ordinary. The more Mara thought about it, the more she realized how insulated she had become during her years in the fleet.

             
“Fah rhok dashtan
,”
Hanweh said as he arrived.
Well met, Historian
.

             
Mara bowed her head, showing the Domin the respect he deserved
.“
Filan Marmakan, Domin Shodon lilot reh bon
.”
Honored, my elder, to be welcomed by the great Domin Shodon.

             
“Please
,”
he said
.“
Relax. Ever since the opening shots, w
e’
ve become rather informal
.
”

             
Mara looked into the older ma
n’
s eyes, wondering what went on behind them
.“
Thank you for rescuing me
.”
He offered his hands out, palms up. She was surprised by the gesture. Rebel or not, he outranked her by a far margin. Historians garnered respect but lacked authority. She was humbled. Carefully, as though he might change his mind, she placed her hands on top of the commande
r’
s
.“
I am in your debt
.
”

             
“It is I who owe you the debt of gratitude. Without your research, we never would have discovered Andui
n’
s treachery. Who knows how long the lie would have been carried by our progeny. It may have erupted a year down the line, or a thousand years. But it is wrong to burden our children with the effects of our transgressions
.
”

             
The historian nodded
.“
I worry about our people. What will this war do to our numbers? To our chance of survival
?”
They walked in step down the corridor, the dim green lighting casting deep shadows across their faces. As they neared the command center, others joined their procession. Mara recognized a few faces, members of the Navy mostly. All wore their most impressive uniforms, as though they marched toward the gallows.

             
The group was led to the commande
r’
s meeting room just off the bridge. They took seats around the oblong table and waited as Glin, a rather sweet spirit, was served. Mara took a chair near Hanweh and an ancient Nangolani named Io. For a few minutes the talk was cordial; the usual banter that precedes the real meat of the conversation. Pleasantries were exchanged regarding nephews and nieces, children and grandchildren. Most Domin lived and died aboard their fighting vessels, rarely seeing lifemates or children aboard the civilian ships. One the rebellion had done was reunite families under one roof. Finally the matter at hand was broached.

             
“The Nangolani can no longer suffer under the heel of the Magistrate
,”
one elder commander said. Mara recognized him as Luthat, the oldest Domin in the fleet. His face was scarred from fighting the Cthanul over a hundred years before
.“
When we learned about the ruse placed over the humans, the Domin called a meeting. It took days, but the decision was not reached lightly
.
”

             
Hanwe
h’
s head bobbed in agreement
.“
It was painful, but both sides understood what had to happen
.
”

             
“All of the Domin were present
?”
Mara asked
.“
Even those from the other side
?
”

             
“It would not have been proper to go to war without mutual consent
,”
Hanweh said
.“
We first thought that merely leaving the fleet and beginning our own would solve the issue, but Domin Terobas knew that the species would not survive if divided as such. Only through conflict will the question of authority be finally resolved
.”
He sipped at a cup of sparkling liquor, a deep furrow forming on his brow.

             
An aide refilled Mar
a’
s glass
.“
Domin Shodon, I appreciate that the traditions involving open conflict are set, but are
n’
t you worried their knowledge of your roster will put you at a disadvantage? Surely the Magistrate has ways of locating your ships
.
”

             
The other Domin began to murmur, and Hanweh sighed wearily
.“
The Magistrate is gone, Historian. Sent to their deaths by the Royal Magister and our late Emperor
.”
He gave her a moment to process before continuing
.“
Regardless, they would know who we are the moment we failed to respond to their calls. It seemed a faster route to write a declaration of war and accept the consequences. Deception would buy us days, but rob us of our honor. That was a trade no commander would make
.
”

             
“And your crews? What say did they have in all this
?
”

             
Luthat coughed
.“
A soldier knows his place
.
”

             
“It was
n’
t that simple
,”
Hanweh said quickly
.“
We told our ships the intention of the Domin, and allowed them the option to move to one side or another. Only a few actually requested to change positions, and they were placed on shuttles back to the home fleet
.
”

             
Mara had to admit, it was a fair beginning to the fight. Nangolani political structure demanded that both sides of a conflict understand the issues and come to an agreement of terms before the first shot was fired. It allowed the actual violence to take up as little time as possible, lowering the expected casualties and greatly improving the chances of a peaceful resolution down the road. Still, her time among the humans had left her somewhat aghast at the casual way in which the Domin spoke about their treason.

             
“So what is the request of the Dad
u’
Ando
?
”

             
Luthat sipped from his cup, some of the green liquid spilling down his chin
.“
It seems obvious now that the Empire is crumbled. That it took one hundred years of exile to realize is our own fault. The Royal Magister must relinquish control of the fleet. We will install a temporary Tribunal of elected Domin to run the government until a more permanent solution can be found. The humans will be told of our predecesso
r’
s deception and granted the option to choose our punishment. We will find a way to repent for the great pain our people have caused
.
”

             
“Domin, forgive my boldness
.
”

             
Hanweh waved a hand
.“
I invited you hear as an equal, Historian. Not just a witness
.
”

             
Mara wiped a hand across her forehead, surprised at how hot she felt
.“
We seem to be forgetting that w
e’
re in the midst of another, far more dire war. The Boxti are literally at our throats, ready to wipe us and our newfound allies from existence if we are not constantly vigilant. How can you decide that now is the appropriate time to go to war
?
”

             
The room began to fill with side conversations, but Hanweh held up a hand to silence them
.“
Yes, the Boxti is our true enemy, but our focused attention allowed Anduin and his ilk to walk on the backs of our people. We will continue our support of the humans in their efforts, but truth be told we have
n’
t seen a direct attack from the Horde since the attacks at Eda Taura. If we had not summoned the Boxti, they might have left us alone entirely. The actions of the Emperor have to be dealt with immediately
.
”

             
“Tha
t’
s ridiculous
,”
Mara said, drawing several gasps
.“
Our people have held off conflicts for far less important causes. The Gulan War was delayed for nine years while the Qom alliance was negotiated. Emperor Popasi ordered the Domin to wait almost a generation for their war on the Archinarians, to the point that most of the commanders did
n’
t even know what their enemy looked like
.”
Her voice rose, despite her best efforts to control it
.“
Do
n’
t pretend that there was
n’
t another option. We do
n’
t have the luxury of lying to ourselves. Our real enemy is here, right in front of us, and we are looking to each other for a fight.
I’
m sorry, Domin, but I am truly at a loss to understand why you would choose now to bleed our race of able-bodied soldiers
.
”

             
Hanweh stood, his dark skin flushed
.“
The Magistrate has treated us as second-class citizens for centuries. Aside from Io, only Luthat and I are old enough to remember the purges during the escape, how veteran officers were chucked aside to make room for political appointments
.”
He looked around the room, making eye contact with each loyal Domin
.“
They used the privilege of command as a bargaining chip in negotiations. Ships were given away to boys who could help finance the lifestyles to which the
y’
d grown accustomed
.
”