Talus

by S. H. Jucha

  Before the Omnian could stun the warrior, the crazed individual ran away and quickly disappeared into the blowing sands.

  The investigation of the nest revealed that the strongest warriors had taken to feeding on the dead soma. The few who remained were driven insane by their ghastly attempts to survive.

  When the demented warriors saw the suited Dischnya, they howled and fled. Many times, they screamed the same thing the warrior with the blade had shrieked. It was the Dischnya term for spirit. The warriors thought the dead had returned to haunt them for their travesties against the soma.

  With regret, Nyslara left the several nest warriors to their fates. It would take hundreds of Omnians to track and trap the demented warriors in the maze of the nest’s tunnels. Even if the warriors could be captured, she had no idea whether they could be returned to sanity.

  Centuries ago, the Sawa Dischnya had been a courageous race. They built ships that sent nests toward the next planet outward, which they called Sawa Messa.

  However, after the launch of many ships and as the Sawa climate worsened, the queens abandoned support of the Dischnya who they’d sent to colonize the new world.

  In time, the desiccating surface drove the Sawa Dischnya underground. Those nests fortunate enough to possess deep water cisterns within their territories were most advantageously situated.

  Other nests that lacked water sources faced a tough choice. They either had to conquer a nearby nest to access water-filled caverns or merge with that nest.

  Nyslara had heard from her matriarch, who had learned it from hers, and down the line, that Sawa once possessed hundreds of nests.

  When the Omnian search ended, seventy-three territories, which were marked by hatches, testified to the number that had successfully made it underground.

  Of the seventy-three nests searched only one remained viable ... the Tamassa Soma nest. Coincidentally, it was the nest that Alex had encountered on his visit to learn of the Nua’ll sphere, and it was located at the landing site that Nata used, as recorded in her ship’s controller.

  Credit had to be given to the machinations and personalities of Ceefan and Falwass. Although they represented the worst of the Dischnya, they’d managed to keep their nest alive longer than other queens and wasats. It helped that the Tamassa Soma nest had some of the most numerous and deepest pools within their caverns.

  On subsequent food deliveries to Neemtasa’s nest, Omnian engineers and techs, human and Dischnya, arrived and constructed a small building on the surface. One of the nest’s hatches exited into the building.

  Inside, power crystals supplied energy for stock tanks and food dispensers. A refresher was installed with supply tanks and a recycling center.

  The last item to be added was a wind turbine. The fierce Sawa winds kept the turbine’s blades spinning continuously, if not ferociously, and the generator supplied the power crystals.

  A question had been repeatedly asked of Nyslara. The other queens wanted to know what she intended to do with the Tamassa Soma nest.

  Nyslara had answered, “How long did it take our nests to leave the tunnels and join Omnian society?” She made her point that she wouldn’t abandon the one viable nest, and she was prepared to deliver the resources necessary to raise the soma out of their tunnels, whatever it took.

  Fortunately for Nyslara, the Omnian Assembly agreed with her, as did many of the queens and the wasats. It would be decades long in the making, but Omnia had the resources and the will.

  It would primarily be the nest’s mewlings and youngest pups, who would receive the technical education when they were older. The question of whether that education would take place on Sawa or Omnia was fiercely debated. The majority thought it was better to keep the entire nest on Sawa, but the resources to accomplish that would be extensive.

  The progressive queens’ opinions were that the sooner the pups were incorporated into the social aspects of the Omnian Dischnya, the quicker they could be assimilated.

  9: Reduced Duty

  Nata exited a traveler into the OS Intrepid, Captain Pettifleur “Petite” Draken’s Trident. She was embarrassed, and her ears burned. She hadn’t piloted her ship but had sat in the main cabin as a passenger. Security had bracketed her.

  That security escorted Nata was a mere courtesy. She was the adopted pup of Nyslara and Pussiro, Omnia’s most prominent queen and wasat.

  In addition, everyone knew that despite Alex Racine’s habit of treating sentient life equally, he had his favorites. Among the Swei Swee, it was the First, Wave Skimmer, the giant leader of several hives, and among the Dischnya, it was Nyslara.

  When Nata entered Petite’s quarters, she was surprised to find Neffess there.

  “Captain, Neffess didn’t —” was all Nata managed to say before Petite raised a hand to silence her.

  “This is the point where I speak, Lieutenant, and you would be well advised to stand at attention and listen. Am I understood?” Petite asked.

  Nata was tempted to stand beside Neffess, but she didn’t want to embroil her friend in her troubles. She chose to approach the captain’s desk, assume the requested stance, and stare at a point above Petite’s head.

  “There is a great debate about what to do with you, Lieutenant Nata,” Petite said. “At this moment, I thank the stars that I’m a lowly Trident captain, and I’m not responsible for the decision. You’ll stand before Admiral Thompson, and she’ll decide what’s to be done with you. Lieutenant Neffess, who’s chosen to speak on your behalf at the review, will pilot the traveler to the Our People. You leave immediately.”

  “Yes, Captain,” Nata said, snapping a salute. She waited for the return salute. When it didn’t come, she held her fingers to her brow.

  “Understand this, Lieutenant, whatever happens, you’ll probably not be flying a traveler for a while. You should get used to the idea,” Petite warned. “The question is whether you remain with Omnia Ships or are returned planetside to seek alternative employment.”

  Nata’s arm faltered then grew rigid again.

  Petite returned the salute and said, “Dismissed.” Then she gazed at Neffess. “I appreciate that Nata is your friend, Lieutenant, but I don’t think your words will carry any weight in the review,” she said. “The details of Nata’s actions are clear.”

  Neffess couldn’t help baring her teeth.

  Petite grinned in reply. “Good fortune, Lieutenant,” she said, shaking her head at the Dischnya’s intentions. “You’re dismissed.”

  Neffess’s traveler exited the Intrepid, and Nata sat in the co-pilot seat.

  Neffess sent, as both of them wore helmets.

  Nata managed to send before the link was shut down. An attempt to link to her friend was denied.

  Nata fumed for several minutes. It took a quarter hour before she relented and tapped her friend’s leg. Still Neffess waited to reconnect.

  Neffess finally sent.

  Nata’s answer was a long time coming, but finally she sent,

  Unfortunately for Nata, she would be challenged to keep her promise. Staying silent wasn’t her forte.

  Neffess sent. She waited to see if Nata would speak and chuffed in appreciation when she didn’t.

  Neffess continued.

  Nata’s mind screamed to ask questions. It was all she could do to keep her mouth shut.

  nter,> Neffess sent.

  The two close friends sat in silence for the remainder of the flight to the city-ship.

  Nata hadn’t received information on their destination. She’d assumed they would have met with Admiral Thompson in her quarters. Instead, she was led by Neffess to a conference room that had been prepared.

  Inside the room, the lieutenants came to a halt and saluted Admiral Thompson, who sat behind a table, with Admirals Plummer and Jagielski. Seated to the side of the room were Hector and Lydia. A single chair sat facing the admiral’s table.

  “Be seated, Lieutenant Nata,” Ellie said, after returning the salute. “We’ve been made aware that Lieutenant Neffess will speak in your defense. Do you understand that she might make your case worse by her remarks?”

  “I do, Admiral Thompson. I trust my friend’s judgment,” Nata replied.

  “Let us proceed,” Ellie said.

  Never having done this kind of thing before, Ellie was uncomfortable with the proceedings. Part of her was angry at Nata for forcing her to convene the review board. When she’d spoken to Adrianna and Alphons, they’d supplied the New Terran concept of the three-member review panel, which had made sense to her.

  “Telemetry provides clear evidence of Lieutenant Nata’s flight path after the mock battle,” Ellie stated for the record. “Lieutenant Nata, do you wish to enter into the record any conversation that took place after the engagement’s end?”

  Nata took a breath to respond, but in her implant, she heard,

  “Admiral Thompson,” Neffess said, “any conversation between Lieutenant Nata and me was personal. As you state, the mock fight had ended ... successfully for us, I might add. Therefore, the exchange doesn’t relate to the matter before this panel.”

  Lydia sent to Hector. Her preferred sound of humor, the clang of metal on metal, accompanied her communications.

  “Fine,” Ellie replied. “Does Lieutenant Nata disagree with the evidence presented in the telemetry that she landed on Sawa without permission, resulting in her capture by the local nest?”

  “The lieutenant admits to landing on Sawa, Admiral,” Neffess replied. “But, respectfully, we disagree with your phrasing of the question.”

  “Explain, Lieutenant,” Alphons directed.

  “The panel makes the assumption that Lieutenant Nata failed to seek permission for her actions,” Neffess said. “The implication is that the lieutenant disobeyed an order or a directive.”

  “Didn’t she?” Adrianna inquired. “She was ordered to return to her Trident. In this case, that ship was the Intrepid.”

  “We admit that there was a general recall to rendezvous, but there were no specifics given about the speed with which that should happen,” Neffess said. “It’s common practice among the commanders and the pilots to talk about the engagement before rendezvous. Rarely is there an anticipation of immediate return flights.”

  “What about Lieutenant Nata’s landing on Sawa?” Alphons asked.

  “Please clarify your question, Admiral Jagielski,” Neffess requested.

  Hector and Lydia sat unusually still during the review. They were aware of Nata’s conference link and the individuals on that link. In addition, Neffess had requested privacy from the SADEs for any communications during the review board meeting.

  Alphons smothered the smile that threatened to cross his face. It occurred to him that he was speaking to more than one individual when addressing Neffess. He knew the other admirals had to be realizing that too.

  “Does Lieutenant Nata deny that there is a prohibition against landing on Sawa?” Alphons asked.

  “We do,” Neffess replied. “Furthermore, we’d like the admirals to provide proof of that prohibition. I couldn’t find it on any controller, and the SADEs couldn’t either.”

  The eyes of the review board members swung toward Hector.

  There was no direct question to Hector, which made him choose to remain silent.

  “Lieutenant Neffess is correct,” Ellie stated. “Alex Racine requested our Dischnya not visit Sawa because of the nature of the soma who he’d encountered on the planet, but he felt he had no authority to dictate to Omnian Dischnya. Omnian queens chose to support Alex’s request. Prior to the Dischnya achieving piloting status, there was no opportunity to stray from the request.”

  “I’m sure that this panel is aware that Queen Nyslara and her associates have discovered that the Tamassa Soma nest, the Dischnya who captured Lieutenant Nata, are starving to death,” Neffess offered.

  “We’re aware that the lieutenant’s capture has led to a critical intervention for the Sawa Dischnya,” Adrianna replied. “However, that does not have any bearing on the matter before the review board.”

  “I believe the panel has the after-action reports of Captains Étienne de Long and Pettifleur Draken stating the combat qualities of Lieutenant Nata,” Neffess pointed out.

  “We do, and they’re exemplary,” Ellie replied. “However, as Admiral Plummer stated, they’ve no bearing on the issue we’re considering.”

  “Understood, Admiral Thompson,” Neffess said politely. “We’re merely pointing out the lieutenant’s exceptional combat qualifications.”

  “Demonstrated only during mock fights,” Adrianna said. “Life-and-death encounters are another thing. There’s always the question of how a pilot will perform when it counts.”

  “Is there anything else that you wish to state for the record, Lieutenant Neffess?” Ellie asked.

  “Yes, Admiral,” Neffess replied. “If Lieutenant Nata had been piloting a Dischnya traveler on her own time, there would be no issue with command about landing on Sawa. That would have been between Queen Nyslara and her. As it was, she was aboard a traveler belonging to Omnia Ships and attached to this fleet. In that regard, we admit that it was ill-considered of Lieutenant Nata to land on Sawa without requesting permission from Captain Draken. However, it’s our contention that no explicit order or directive was contravened. We thank the panel.”

  Neffess ended her comments and assumed a parade-rest stance.

  Adrianna sent to the other admirals.

  Alphons replied.

  Ellie sent, indicating her displeasure.

  Adrianna sent privately to Ellie.

  “Lieutenants, you’re dismissed. Don’t travel far. The panel will have a decision soon,” Ellie said.

  After the lieutenants exited, Ellie leaned back in her chair with a heavy sigh.

  “What exactly is the issue here?” Adrianna asked Ellie. “I thought she violated an Omnia Ships’ prohibition against landing on Sawa. Now you say that it was only a request.”

  “This was the reason I didn’t discuss the issue in advance,” Ellie replied. “I didn’t want to bias the panel.”

  “Obviously, we heard the opinions of queens and wasats,” Alphons remarked, “At least, that’s who I think was in Neffess’s head.”

  “Those individuals and more,” Ellie commented. “It was important for them to let us know that Omnian Dischnya don’t have a negative view of Nata’s actions.”

  “I think Neffess opened the door for us with her final remarks,” Alphons suggested.

  “Ill-considered but not contravening orders or directives,” Adrianna repeated.

  “Agreed,” Ellie said. “So, what’s the appropriate response?”

  “If Nata is as effective in combat as she is in mock battles, she would be a tremendous asset,” Alphons said.

  “Another Svetlana Valenko,” Ellie remarked sadly. “She’ll probably either become a formidable admiral or a r
egrettable disaster.”

  “I think the appropriate action is a reprimand and alternative duty,” Adrianna suggested.

  “I’m in agreement,” Alphons said.

  “The question we should be asking ourselves is whether we take her with us or leave her here,” Ellie added.

  “On that subject, I’ve some input from Captains de Long and Draken, who spoke with Nyslara,” Alphons said. “The queen believes it would be in Nata’s best interest to accompany the fleet when it sails.”

  “Was Nyslara suggesting that Nata be restored to full duty?” Adrianna asked, with concern.

  “On the contrary,” Alphons replied, smiling conspiratorially. “Nyslara intimated that Nata might benefit from work that helped her realize the error of her judgment.”

  Ellie grinned. The pieces were coming together for her. She accessed the city-ship’s personnel database and located the name she sought.

  “There is one more thing to consider. Ude is on Toral,” Alphons reminded the other admirals.

  “That will be Nata’s challenge to manage,” Ellie said determinedly. “If she wants to visit with Ude, I don’t have a problem with that. Afterward, she might choose to leave the fleet and live on Talus. I’m good with that too.”

  Ellie sent a message to recall the lieutenants.

  When Neffess and Nata returned, they stood side by side in front of the panel.

  “Lieutenant Nata, this review board has decided that you acted improperly in landing an Omnia Ships’ vessel on Sawa,” Ellie pronounced. “However, you broke no edict nor did you ignore orders. As such, your services to the fleet will be retained. For failing to contact your captain before landing, the panel has decided that you exercised poor judgment. Therefore, while the fleet sails to the Talus system, you’ll be placed on reduced duty aboard the Intrepid. When the fleet arrives in system, the panel will take Captain Draken’s report of your performance under advisement as to whether you’re to be returned to pilot duty. Do you wish to address the board, Lieutenant?”

  Neffess sent urgently to Nata.