Ara'lana's expression remained impassive. -I'm aware of that, daughter. A foolish thing for you to have done. A true Ailian soldier does not surrender to such stresses.- She cupped her mug of tea in her hands. -I had my reasons, but most of all I was grateful for the distraction. Any additional strain that could focus resources away from potential discovery of my plans was valuable to me, and the spectacle of your treason charges was just such a thing. Of course, I am glad you survived.-
-Glad? You're
glad?
- Aria was dumbfounded. She couldn't believe that her mother was saying such a thing. -Mother, you
used
me! How do you imagine that makes me feel? I'm not some diversion to be used for strategic gain, I'm your
daughter!
-
-Calm yourself, Aria,- Ara'lana purred. -You're far too emotional. You always have been. Besides, it is not as if Major Tal'in's operation was the first time I sent someone to try to retrieve you.-
Aria blinked, confused enough that she forgot her anger momentarily. -Not the first time? I don't...- Then her eyes widened as she received a sudden flash of inspiration, and of horror. -You don't mean...You
can't
mean those human soldiers! Mother, Li'ara
died
when they came to our home! Please don't tell me they were there on your orders.-
A flash of anger passed across Ara'lana's face, but she quickly brought it back under control. -I most certainly did send them. You see, not
all
humans are so foolish as to think they can defeat the power of the Ascendancy. In recent years, some of them have wisely seen the benefits that allying with me may bring.- Growling quietly, she speared her daughter with an intense stare. -Unfortunately, I did slightly underestimate the resentment that a mere ten years of war can bring to such a weak-minded species. They were unable to resist the meager revenge that killing you would bring them. I am glad that you showed them the error of their ways.-
Still horrified, Aria shook her head slowly. -You're
mad!
Li'ara was your daughter, mother. I can't believe you would send armed human commandos into our home. How could you even
think
of putting your own children in that kind of danger?- Aria swallowed, feeling tears welling up in her eyes. -They killed Li'ara. They were going to kill everyone else, too, including me and Jack...-
-You mean the human you brought home with you?- Ara'lana asked. -Yes...Speaking of him, we need to discuss that.-
-Discuss how?- Aria inquired, her voice suddenly becoming very guarded.
Aria's mother set her mug of tea down on the arm of her chair, folding her hands in her lap. -I'm sure you can guess how. We need to discuss your choice of...I suppose 'lover' would be the proper term for it, since a human cannot be a true mate.- She closed her emerald eyes. -You realize that I cannot tolerate such a thing. I will not have my daughter ending up like that deviant we have for an Empress, choosing a partner who cannot assist her in extending the family line.-
With a shock of fury, Aria rose from her seat, her tea spilling from her lap, the mug breaking on the carpeted floor. -I hardly think you're in the position to dictate that!- she snarled, glaring at her mother. -You have been gone for three years. Who I choose to...to associate with is none of your damned business!-
-Sit down.- Ara'lana's voice was maddeningly calm, sufficiently enough to send a chill through Aria's blood. -My guards don't like hearing raised voices in my private quarters. A misunderstanding would be most unfortunate.-
Slowly, Aria sat back down again, fighting to get control of herself. After learning what her mother was truly capable of, she would not put it past her to call her guards in to kill her. -Mother...- She took a deep breath. -I know he is a human. I know he is not one of us. I know...I know he can never give me children. But I love him all the same. He has been there for me when it seemed like no one else was.- She gave her mother a very pointed look at that last sentence.
-I understand the way that you feel,- Ara'lana said, looking as though she was working very hard to keep her own anger in check, -but I must forbid it. After all, one day I will be the ruler of our people. And I must have someone to carry on my legacy.-
Aria's tail twitched. -You mean me?-
-Of course.- Aria's mother stood, beginning to pace around the room as she spoke. -Aria, this rebellion is the result of an entire lifetime of work. For decades I masqueraded as a loyal servant of a royal family that my very blood told me to loathe. I bided my time, making alliances within the ranks, finding like-minded individuals, gathering resources...I have not come so far just to have it undone when I finally do die.- She was circling her daughter like a shark. -While I was patient, I made sure that my legacy would be secure. I found a mate. I had a family. I had two sons, and more important than that I had seven beautiful daughters.- Coming behind Aria, Ara'lana placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders. -And you are the best of them all. The oldest, the brightest...The only one that I knew would follow in my footsteps. I knew you would not resist the call that burns in your very soul. And now you are here, with me.-
-What are you asking of me, mother?-
Coming back around to her chair, Ara'lana sat down. -I am asking you to join me. As you know you are destined to.- She leaned forward, her tail waving rapidly behind her. -Help me, Aria. Together, we can guarantee the safety and freedom of our people. We can end these long years of war once and for all. And we can rule it all when our task is complete!-
Aria stared at her mother. She could not deny that she, herself, was ambitious. Aria had always dreamed of being someone important, someone like her mother. When her career in the military had begun, she had thought that one day she would lead her own unit, perhaps becoming a commander, or a fleet admiral. Maybe even eventually making the transition from a military career to a diplomatic one. She had liked the idea of being an ambassador in her twilight years. Of course, when those fantasies had been hers, she had always pictured herself with a family of her own. But things had changed recently. Now she felt that she would be contented to spend her days with Jack, if she lived through the conclusion of her trial, perhaps even leaving her work in the military and taking over her father's business. She loved her job in the Navy, but she knew that it was unlikely that she could continue on with it now.
But Aria also realized that if her mother had her way, she couldn't have any of the things she had come to want. If Ara'lana was to complete her plans, she had to believe that humans would fare even worse in the new Ascendancy than they had in the current one. Her mother had already said that she would never allow her relationship with Jack to continue. Besides Jack, there was the Empress to think about. Aria could not begin to describe how grateful she was to Empress Solan for everything she had done, and to her consort Li'ren, as well. To join her mother in this rebellion would be a poor way to repay them. Aria knew exactly where her loyalties were.
-No...-
Ara'lana frowned, leaning back in her seat. -What did you say?-
-I said no, mother,- Aria said. She swallowed hard, raising her head and straightening up in her seat. -You were always my model of what an Ailian should be. I loved you like a daughter should. I couldn't imagine wanting to be anything less than what you are. And now I've found out that everything I thought I knew about you was a lie. An act.- Aria felt a tear run from her eye down through the thin fur on her cheek. -I can't betray the Empress, mother. I can't betray Jack. I will not join you.-
For the longest time, her mother just watched her. A series of emotions played across her face and through her eyes. First she saw anger, then denial, and then disappointment. Finally, Aria saw a look that she could only describe as sadness, her mother's ears drooping low. -That is your final decision?-
Unable to respond verbally, Aria just nodded. She was very afraid now, but she did not allow herself to shake.
Sighing, Ara'lana raised a hand. -Very well.- She snapped her fingers loudly.
Aria turned in her seat as the door leading into the sitting room opened behind her. Before she had the chance to react, two guards approached her from behind and grabbed her by the shoulders. Growling angrily, Aria tried to push them off of her, but her arms were still not back to their full strength. The guards hauled her out of the chair, starting to drag her back towards the door. -Mother...!-
Standing up, Ara'lana turned away from her. -I'm sorry, my daughter. But if you will not join me, I cannot allow you to leave here.- She waved a hand back. -Take her to a cell in the brig. I'll send orders regarding her later.-
-Mother, please!-
-I wish we could have come to more agreeable terms,- the elder Ailian said. She looked over her shoulder at Aria. -But perhaps if I remove the source of your hesitation, you will come to see things my way. Would you agree?-
With a sudden burst of strength, Aria managed to rip one of her arms free. -If any of your people even
touch
Jack, I swear I will kill you! Do you hear me, mother?- She tried to rush forward, and then two more guards came into the room, getting her back under control. As they pulled her out of the room, still struggling violently, Aria saw her mother smile and laugh.
-Your threats mean little to me, child. I have kissed the lips of death and come away clean. I fear nothing, now.-
******
Two days after the abduction of Lieutenant Me'lia, Empress Kri'a Solan sat down to a meeting with Admiral Te'rou and several of her other admirals, as well as some of her most important advisers. Also present were a few representatives of the Nuretan Empire, the allies of the Ailian Ascendancy. An amphibious race who originated on an aquatic world, the Nuretans were a shorter, slender people, though still taller than humans. Bearing slick skin with mottled blue patterns on their flat faces, their most vivid features were their neon-colored, dual-pupiled eyes, and the long, flowing white hair which grew from their heads. Among the Nuretans, who had arrived urgently at the request of Kri'a, was a female named Kalma Soumaren. Dressed in a military uniform of tiger-striped greens and blues, she was the commanding general of the Imperial Marines, the top infantry fighting force of the Nuretan Empire. Though historically only the commander of this specific military branch, in recent centuries the commander of the Imperial Marines had come to be a position analogous to the Chief Admiral's position in the Ascendancy Navy, making General Soumaren the Empire's counterpart to Admiral Te'rou.
Kri'a felt exhausted, more than she had in all the five years that she had been Empress. She had not slept much for the past two days, and it was mostly because she was unused to sleeping alone. At her request, her mate of ten years, Li'ren Amani, had left Lirna for her home planet of Arbaros in the Inner Colonies. The abduction of Lieutenant Me'lia from the middle of a highly secured Ascendancy Naval base, with elite Royal Guards in attendance besides the usual compliment of soldiers and security personnel, had made Kri'a aware that whoever was behind the rebellion might have operatives anywhere. She also knew that in the coming rebellion, she would be a prime target for assassination, and she did not want Li'ren to become collateral damage for any attempt on her life. Though she knew it had been for the best, Kri'a missed her terribly.
Clearing her throat, the Empress began the meeting. -Admiral Te'rou, thank you for taking time out of your schedule to meet with me,- she said. She nodded to her Chief Admiral, then turned to the Nuretans in the room. -And thank you all for coming on such short notice. Especially you, General. I think you will agree that the situation is certainly one of concern.-
General Soumaren inclined her head to Kri'a. -Yes, indeed, Empress,- she said, speaking flawless Ailian with a light, bubbly accent. Her electric blue eyes narrowed as she spoke. -Your report was most alarming to the Premier.- The general was referring here to the elected chief of state of the Nuretan Empire. Unlike the Ascendancy, the Empire was a highly democratic society, and had been for thousands of years without fail. Their stability was what made them such valuable and reliable allies to the Ailians.
-I should hope it was. It has been hundreds of years since your people aided us in our first civil conflict, and now it seems we are in the same situation again. I know that none of us hoped we would ever have to repeat history like this.- The Empress leaned forward, folding her hands on top of the meeting table. -Before we begin, I must know what level of aid you can commit to us.-
-Right now, I regret that I am only authorized to offer limited aid, Your Highness,- General Soumaren said. -If it were up to me, I would commit the entirety of our force to you, but our Premier wishes to be cautious. We fear a rift within the Ascendancy just as much as you do, but the Premier wants to hold the majority of our forces in reserve, should the conflict become dire. He says we must be prepared for the worst. I admit I do agree with him somewhat, but I believe the hard and fast approach would put an end to this quickly.-
Kri'a stifled a sigh. -Please, as soon as you can, tell the Premier that we cannot afford to be cautious. It is not only the rebellion of our Outer Colonies that we have to deal with, we are still engaged in combat with the humans.-