Carinae Sector: 02 - Admiral's Fury - Part 1 - Purple Blood (18 page)

Gementer now took her mind off her own problems and addressed both her younger sisters in moments as they slowed to a halt in front of her.

‘I trust you heard mother’s latest instructions. I will be teaching you as mother and your other sisters set about getting us ready for travel into space. Today we will be reviewing navigation before we move onto avoiding battle…’

Seliandre now also came over and spoke to her older sister for several minutes before the queen led her away to the production facilities and the large project the Maven probe was working on. The two ancients admired the heavy frame that probe three was diligently constructing as the queen commented about aspects of the design.

‘The sled when complete will allow Gementer to leave Earth safety, the design allows for a body plan longer than my own but not as massive. We will later abandon the sled as Gementer will never return to an ocean when she reaches her final form.’

Seliandre considered this news calmly as she led her mother through yet another inventory of the production facility. The recent changes in their plans had highlighted a shortfall in certain electronic components used for specialised shields, including suppression shields. For some reason it appeared likely that the components had been incorrectly used elsewhere, but she was not sure of the ramifications of this error.

Seliandre knew that a space only variform could mean only one thing and she felt amazement as she considered the ramifications of this information. Plainly the renewal of their race could be even more spectacular than her mother had earlier planned. The deep depths of ocean closed around the ancients and the hard working Maveen probe as they steadily continued their long preparations to leave Earth.

                                                                     ***

Omerio ensured that the top of his travelling pack was secure as he wheeled the unit towards his latest small trading ship in the cargo hold of his flagship. He decided that it had been too long since he had been flying solo across little travelled star systems and he found he was looking forward to the adventure. He knew that piloting this new trading ship, with its additional features and improvements, was a big part of his decision. The Barus captain was already dressed in a civilian tunic and he surveyed the hold by habit before he turned to his second in command at the foot of the ramp to the smaller ship.

‘Commander Tamerio, you are to ensure that two ships of the squadron remain in this system and that pairs of cruisers are to continue to patrol in rotation their allotted systems. There is little to concern us now that the Cephrit - Tilmud war is finished, and the Jerecab armada is unlikely to be here yet. However I will not tolerate any slackness in fleet discipline.’

Omerio had added the last part purely for the benefit of several lieutenants that were trying to look busy nearby in the cargo hold. Tamerio took the hint and loudly addressed the junior officers even as Omerio started up the ramp. In moments the hold was cleared except for the two senior officers, and Omerio turned to regard his friend with approval as Tamerio now spoke normally again.

‘So Omerio, I guess there is no point in asking you about when you expect to return? Also please be careful out there old friend as I would hate to have to explain to Admiral Baredio that you failed to return.’

Omerio leaned against his travelling pack for a moment and again surveyed the large cargo hold as he good-naturedly replied.

‘Well I need to find out more about what the Jerecab are doing and this is the best way to do so. I want to avoid committing the fleet to anything unless necessary. Please carry on with your orders and I will be in contact later.’

The two Barus officers bowed formally and Omerio soon had his pack stowed and the ship secured for immediate flight. He did his pre-checks as the air in the cargo hold was pumped into shielded storage tanks under great pressure. Within an hour, the small trading ship was angling out of the star system at high speed towards hyper drive points for the former Dradfer colonies.

Omerio did not want his fleet of cruisers anywhere near Altarebe when he spoke to him again. He also would make a covert sweep between the Dradfer colonies and Earth to establish the current state of affairs. He wondered if he was prepared for what he might find as he tested the cloaking mechanism before the ship entered hyper drive and left the system.

                                                                     ***

A tired Thatak’siema wasted no time leading her entourage from the landing shuttle into one of the large hangars on the Cephrit star base. As she reached the foot of the landing ramp, she was greeted by the fleet master himself who favoured her with a full bow and a series of chirrs of welcome. The fleet master then spoke in the high Barus language common to all the vassal races.

‘Welcome back on board Cephrit star base 31 second envoy, and may the grace and wisdom of your edicts govern us under these troubled times.’

Thatak’siema noted that a sole injured female marine that only had four legs accompanied her Cephrit mate. The second envoy could see that the battered marine had two replacement buds that would grow into full legs again. She knew that the whole process was painful for the Cephrit, but now gave it no more thought as she curtly answered the fleet master.

‘You honour me and I thank you for your time. After being in space to fetch the Tilmud commanders, I have need of my Vorinne quarters for several hours. I will seek you out later to discuss what happened with the surrender of the Tilmud. I also understand the Barus research fleet is here and I wish to meet with Professor Elysius, Gindane, and Omerio also if he is here.’

Thatak’siema had just started to move forward again, when the fleet master replied after another full bow.

‘Your Grace, a reminder that Professor Elysius is deceased, and Professor Gindane now commands the research efforts and is here on the base. Omerio is now on patrol with his cruiser squadron near the former Dradfer colonies as per your request of Admiral Baredio. I will arrange Gindane to join me this evening, and I invite you and Lord Malang’troh of course, to dine later this evening.

The Vorinne decided that the fleet master was being almost too polite, but she decided to ignore it as she dismissed the Cephrit and moved forward again.

‘I will then enjoy the meal this evening but we will retire afterwards as it has been a long journey. Come along now Malang’troh we need to discuss your latest reports.’

The Cephrit fleet master had the presence of mind to offer a shorter bow and chirrs of obeisance to the Vorinne lord as he swept past, and he noted the subdued and perplexed nature of the fleet commander. After the two larger Vorinne had left the hangar, his sole guard and mate of record offered up a pithy opinion.

‘Noble mate and father of my children, the Vorinne envoy surely keeps her serf lord on a short leash of convenience. Not that I envy her condition or the events she will have to endure.’

The fleet master gave soft chirrs of amusement as he replied in equal good humour and instruction.

‘Well brave one, the envoy is nearing time to breed and the distance she extracts from the lord will be great. By comparison, she will be most compliant with a Zronte lord when that time comes. The pride of the named is their downfall as our faith teaches us. Now you will have to wait for me to return from the meal tonight, as the Vorinne can be most informative when only in small meeting.’

The fleet master ignored the muted chirr of irritation from his mate as he led them both from the hangar deck. He felt that she would even more attentive later for the wait, even if she was in no condition to breed again. He did not mind this limitation for his mate had a keen mind for a female Cephrit and he enjoyed her company. He also knew that if he kept her around for long enough she might come into breeding condition and he was most definitely looking forward to that occurring again.

                                                                     ***

Gindane strode firmly, and with well-concealed annoyance, into the large meeting room on the star base and headed directly over to the place of honour. She had omitted to bring her own guards or assistants, as she wanted to highlight her own lesser standing in the room were all others present heavily outranked her, apart from three unarmed Tilmud officers nervously lined up against one wall. As she reached the place of general standing, she elegantly bowed and announced her presence to the impressive form of the Vorinne second envoy, resplendent on the seal of honour in her best red cape and ornate staff of office.

‘Your grace and eminence, second envoy I respond to your summons as requested.’

Gindane kept her eyes downcast as she greeted the Vorinne lord and the two Cephrit present with smaller bows and intoned their names and the homily ‘delighted to serve’.

The lord responded with a single knock of his staff and the Cephrit responded with chirrs of approval. The Barus commander thought for a moment that the Vorinne lord had seemed distracted even as the second envoy responded to her greeting.

‘Captain Gindane, it has been to long since we spoke. Thank you for adhering to our conventions by not looking at us and you may now look at both of us with respect. I understand you now have a nominated mate; however, I am not prepared to release you from your punishment for the near future. Now you will inform us on how your preparations to leave are progressing?’

Gindane steeled herself as she lifted her gaze and took in the massive tawny eyes of the Vorinne, and she noted with surprise the ready to breed condition of the second envoy as she spoke again. She also noted that the two Cephrit seemed too nervous, despite their earlier meetings, and occasional soft rasps of anxiety came from the junior station master.

‘Your grace we lack critical generators and shields to make repairs to our fleet. General provisions and fuel are also now in short supply. The end of the war has created a short-term shortage of parts as the Cephrit catch up with long needed repairs to their fleet. We will have to leave one destroyer here anyway as it has problems with a generator for the hyper drive unit. Any assistance you can provide will be most appreciated.’

Gindane knew this now placed the two Cephrit firmly in the hot seat, but she had her reasons for her protest after many unproductive days at the star base.

The two Vorinne exchanged a measured look between them for several long moments, and now Lord Malang’troh rapped his staff now twice on the floor in a gesture of censure towards the two Cephrit. He then loudly spoke to them in a voice full of military authority.

‘As your performance in the last day of the war has already met with our disapproval, and as a valid military request for assistance from the Barus has not been met in a timely fashion, you are required to do the following in seven days. First your will supply all requested equipment immediately even if you need to dismantle your own ships. You will then supply all provisions even if you have to strip down these same ships and this star base to do it. Finally you will attempt to repair the remaining Barus destroyer and charge nothing for the either the repair or the storage of the ship.’

The two Cephrit had the presence of mind to bow fully and intone their intent to comply with the ruling they had just received. The second envoy now turned towards the nervous Tilmud trying to appear invisible along the wall and quietly ordered the Tilmud Admiral forward with an introduction and a command.

‘Professor Gindane, this is Admiral Tanuldesec who is now in command of the Tilmud fleet. Tanuldesec, I want you to convey to the Professor the details of the Jerecab fleet you came across some time ago.’

The Barus and the Tilmud favoured each other with half bow as Gindane found that she recalled the name from somewhere. In moments, her excellent memory had supplied the location and she spoke carefully to the Tilmud, as she was mindful of the presence of the Vorinne.

‘Admiral, I recall speaking with you briefly at Earth one hundred and fifty years ago. I offer my condolences on the losses of so many of your race in the recent war.’

Gindane bowed again and now detected an even further increase in the level of discomfort from the Tilmud admiral. She also noted that the Vorinne lord glared openly at the new Tilmud admiral, and she had no doubt he would be called to explain the details of this fact about Earth at some stage very soon.

Tanuldesec favoured her with another bow and began to speak.

‘I will of course provide you with an official report Professor, and Captain I will add. One of my squadrons, Commander Giruldesec here behind me was the actual commander, encountered a massive fleet of Jerecab ships heading from the Posient bulge towards the former Dradfer colonies. The armada consisted of well over two hundred and fifty ships and represents close to ninety percent of the Jerecab forces.’

The two Cephrit gave chirrs of alarm at this news and the Tilmud admiral ignored them as he continued with his lengthy reports. After another two hours, the three Tilmud officers were instructed to take their meals in the foyer and Gindane made a point of thanking the admiral personally for his report.

Tanuldesec replied to her with another half bow before he led his two junior officers away, and Gindane thought he was polite towards her personally. After the Tilmud left the meeting room, the Vorinne second envoy turned to regard the still guarded Barus professor as the food was now brought into the meeting room.

‘Well Gindane you need to establish what has happened at the former Dradfer colonies and Earth after all these years. You will also need to get a warning to the humans as I fear that the Jerecab plan to murder the human race. I am organising a fleet of ships, though both the Cephrit and Deltas Vass are not in favour of supplying ships and we only have six cruisers with us.’

Gindane looked around at the tense and still Cephrit and voiced a careful reply.

‘Apart from the research fleet I understand Omerio has a squadron of sixteen cruisers in this area of space. I understand he will be closer to the former Dradfer colonies.’