Carinae Sector: 02 - Admiral's Fury - Part 1 - Purple Blood (20 page)

Omerio asked a cautious question as he ensured his recorders were still offline.

‘You appear different Altarebe and your involvement with the Sspol raises more questions. Are we still on good terms and can we speak safely?’

An anxious long moment came and went, and Omerio was considering making a run for a hyper drive point, even if the Sspol cruiser obviously had a weapons lock onto his cloaked ship. The moment came and went as Altarebe offered a friendly reply.

‘I have no problems talking with you Omerio as long as the Vorinne or Zronte have no knowledge of this fact. But I strongly recommend you power down your ship’s cloak and refrain from moving your ship or powering any weapons.’

Omerio paused for merely a second, as he evaluated that he was already past the point of no return with his commitment to talking to Altarebe. As the cloak around his ship dropped, he watched with consternation as several small Maveen ships now uncloaked behind him. He noted that there was a gate ship and six smaller probes present, and that they obviously already had weapons locks on his small ship as he spoke again.

‘A Maveen survey force in this area of the galaxy, with a Sspol cruiser and an Ancient male. I seem to have arrived at something momentous Altarebe.’

Several minutes of silence then occurred as the three different groups of aliens discussed amongst them what they wanted to do with their Barus interloper. Omerio felt a sweat of anxiety running down the fur on the back of his neck, though he had the wisdom to remain silent. His faith in his old friend was justified as Altarebe now spoke again.

‘Omerio, I was just telling my friends of our initial meetings relating to the Scourge seeded by the Tilmud and the later meetings in space when we had to implement quarantine methods. They are happy for the moment, however we need to know if there are any sizeable vassal forces in this part of the sector and what brings you here to this system?’

Omerio let out a held breath as he forced himself to relax, and he quickly replied with a concise report.

‘I now command sixteen cruisers and they are twenty five light years away at the edge of Cephrit space. A Barus research fleet could also arrive at the former Dradfer colonies shortly. The Vorinne brought out six cruisers to Tilmud space to enforce the end of war between the Cephrit and Tilmud, and there is possibly Cephrit scouts in nearby systems. The Jerecab have brought an armada to this area of space and seek to colonise the former Dradfer worlds and then destroy the humans on Earth. However unconfirmed reports from Cephrit scouts state the humans now have their own fleets of ships.’

Omerio felt considerably more relaxed, as he again waited the several minutes required as the three alien races again conferred between themselves. After several further minutes he found himself speaking with the Maveen lead probe for the survey force.

Omerio, I am Maveen Earth probe and I was at Earth one hundred and fifty years ago when your Barus squadron was driven away by the humans. Do you have any details of the numbers and structure of the Jerecab armada?’

Omerio stifled his amazement and replied that he did have this information which he quickly supplied to the Maveen probe. The Barus captain sat back and awaited the chance to ask his own questions as the three other races went over his information at great length between themselves.

                                                                     ***

Gindane slowly paced the deck of her research cruiser in both frustration and annoyance. The Jerecab had been detected at the second former Dradfer colony they had searched. Even now a small force of Jerecab frigates was sending neutrality and non aggression clauses to her ships. Gindane was aware that this could easily change if she made the mistake of either letting her guard down or getting her own ships too close to the main Jerecab armada. She watched intently as one of the Jerecab frigates left formation to leave the star system and go find the armada.

By habit Gindane checked over the latest status reports of the research ships in her fleet and was largely content with the results. The Vorinne second envoy had certainly sped things along for Gindane’s ships, and she had managed to leave with all her ships within four days of frantic final work. Her fleet now consisted of nine destroyers and six cruisers, but she knew that her ships were not regarded as first rate combat ships. Her fleet of ships possessed half the weapons, and in some cases half the shields of a fully fledged Barus warship of the same classification.

Gindane had estimated that if she encountered a force of twenty five Jerecab frigates or larger then her ships had best withdraw from the system. For her that was part of the frustration; her ships, her crew and not least herself, were all researchers not the fighters of wars.

Gindane continued to pace and think furiously, because she had a series of unanswered military questions, and she steeled herself to not be intimidated by the situation. The Barus captain wanted to know many things, starting with the location of Omerio with his fleet of larger cruisers. Also she was keen to know if the humans had made the journey out to the former colonies. Some of her trusted and experienced officers thought that this would be likely, as most races would rather a conflict with another race be resolved well away from their home worlds.

Gindane was not so sure about this, even with more recent Cephrit intelligence proving the existence of a capable Earth fleet. She now studied the star map with renewed interest and wondered yet again where Omerio and his fleet was now to be found.

                                                                     ***

The Maveen Earth probe looked over the supplied information from the Barus spy with consternation and sadness. The probe could see that the Jerecab were sending a vast fleet very soon against the humans, and he knew they would likely be exterminated when their planet was taken. He also knew that it would be next to impossible to get a non-vassal fleet to interdict the Jerecab armada due to both political and logistical reasons. The probe could see that his Maveen race was too far away even with their hyper gates, and in any case it was unlike that a decision to intervene would be made. The sector delegate had been quite specific about that fact as the Earth probe knew too well.

The Maveen probe now conferred with Drannep on the Sspol cruiser, who had remained uncharacteristically silent after Omerio made his report.

‘The news from the Barus is unwelcome and a surprise; does the Sspol have any forces nearby and would you intercede to protect the humans?’

The probe waited as the Sspol obviously discussed the news amongst them before they replied.

‘We are in agreement and resolute; the Barus cannot know our locations and strength of all our colonies lest the information find a way to the Vorinne and the Zronte.’

‘We seek information and wish to provide clarity; another cruiser is due here soon and they may have information.’

We express sorrow and humility; as many are the ships of the Jerecab armada and we are still few even if our colony has defenders.’

The Maveen probe now conferred amongst the other Maveen and the military evaluation was agreed to by all. The combined Barus forces and the presently unknown strength of the human fleet were unlikely to drive off the Jerecab armada.

The Maveen probe was still considering the news when the Sspol envoy spoke again to both other races.

‘Our our enthusiasm is tempered by knowledge of death; five Sspol cruisers are hidden in the human system and with this ship and the cruiser due that is seven. It is still not enough unless the humans are truly formidable in war.’

‘A threat should be known and allowed for by our colonists; Altarebe will convey the warning to our colonists.’

Agreement was eventually obtained amongst the three races and Altarebe now turned his attention back to Omerio.

                                                                     ***

Omerio’s quiet contemplation was broken by Altarebe and after several minutes he was brought up to date by the ancient on what the other three races had discussed. He thought it interesting that his friend made little reference to the presence of the Sspol, and his native curiosity was borne out when it was mentioned that another Sspol cruiser was due here soon. The next statement from Altarebe took his breath away.

‘Omerio, I am landing in an Earth ocean to seek out my wives. An ancient queen and her daughters have been hidden there for many thousands of years and they will later be leaving for space.’

Omerio had the presence to also send his reply to the other two races as he replied to the ancient.

‘Good luck my friend and your race is destined to be reborn if your plans succeed.

I will do all that I can to protect the ancients by protecting the humans. Do not underestimate the humans of Earth, as they are an intelligent and capable race even if they still enjoy haven status.’

Omerio continued after a pause with the question he really wanted answered given his new knowledge.

‘Surely the Maveen would not stand by and see their former masters’ safety compromised by the actions of the Jerecab?’

Omerio had then expected that Altarebe would answer the question, but the Maveen Earth probe wasted no time adjusting his expectations.

‘Omerio, we would only intervene if either the Vorinne or Zronte themselves attacked Earth with the ancients in the oceans. We are now eternal helpers to all and eternal servants to none.’

Omerio now moved onto the next point, after knowing he would just have to find a way to somehow report this new information. He had now established what he needed to have answered based on his own military experience.

‘I need to know if the human forces are still present in their home system. This is because a forward defence is strategically more valid.’

The reply from the Maveen Earth probe was not forthcoming, and Omerio now remembered his old academy training about the obdurate nature of the Maveen race. Omerio settled back to watch Altarebe again as the ancient focused again on the sled he occupied, and the unusual craft powered around the star system. As the sled moved away, Omerio noted the similarity of the sled to the nearby and silent Maveen gate ship. He was amazed again as the Sspol envoy now addressed him directly.

‘We feel cautious and conflicted about your presence; the Barus are vassals and we are no friends of the overlords. My name is Drannep and I insist that this meeting has to remain between us at all costs. To establish trust you will know that the eighth planet in the human system hides an important Sspol colony.’

Omerio was astounded by this news as he again considered the significance of the human home star system. He noted the response format the other aliens made when speaking with the Sspol and made his own careful replies.

‘I feel amazement and real concern Drannep; the human system is three fold valued for human, ancient and Sspol. The Zronte and vassal races can only know of the first and haven reason.’

‘A decision is formulated and needs only final proof; the humans are likely at the Dradfer worlds and the Jerecab might be diverted safely at those worlds. I will take my fleet to support other Barus and guide them using our hidden agreement and knowledge.’

Omerio paused and waited for the Sspol to speak and he did not have long to wait.

‘We have gratitude and respect for you; we are friends now Omerio, but know your actions are now important. We will not excuse a Barus attack on our ships though we wish you luck at the former Dradfer colonies. Your decision can be made when the second ship soon returns.’

Omerio though carefully and offered another reply based on his own earlier experiences with the Traders, the Maveen and Altarebe.

‘I offer wisdom and restraint; I deal fairly with Traders, Maveen and Altarebe, and I would deal fairly with the Sspol. For like the Traders, Maveen and the ancients, the Sspol offer honour and respect to others and need to be treated with such as well.’

Drannep remained silent for many minutes before he replied, and Omerio wondered if he had offended the Sspol in some manner. However the next statement from the Sspol envoy soon reassured him of their good intentions.

‘We provide knowledge and feel relief; for the second ship returns to this system. The ship reports that most of the human ships are approaching the former Dradfer worlds. The second ship also followed a small Cephrit scout that is now refuelling only three systems away.’

Omerio evaluated the information and in seconds he could see a way forward that would aid all their causes greatly.

‘Maveen Earth probe, I request your assistance to journey to the colonies and mislead the other vassal races. So this is what I would like to do …’

After several minutes of quiet explanation, Omerio had the agreement of both the Maven and Sspol, and prepared to leave the star system. The two senior races started to talk between themselves as he then made a point of rejoining Altarebe, who was travelling at a fair rate nearby, to say good bye.

The Barus captain noted with rising curiosity that wreckage now appeared to be fastened to the front of the Maveen sled Altarebe was operating. He politely asked about that fact after updating Altarebe, even as he scanned the wreckage, as he knew he still had some time left before he moved to the correct hyper drive point.

‘Altarebe I have enlisted the help of both the Maveen and Sspol to remain plausible in the eyes of my own race and other galactic races when I leave here. I just noticed that you appear to have small pieces of Tilmud frigates stuck to the front of the sled, and I was curious as to the reason why you would choose to have that wreckage on your hull?’

Altarebe swung the sled around and cloaked and uncloaked the vessel as it slowed down to pace Omerio’s ship. Omerio thought his own late model scout ship was very fast, but the Maveen sled was vastly faster by his calculations. The ancient now regarded the nearby Sspol and Maveen, still engaged in quiet discussions, before he replied.