The Sol 3 Agenda

by Brian Kitchen

  “Does that mean her body will deteriorate quicker than normal?” Kate asked.

  “Catherine believes that the new medical nanobots she developed will ensure that she has a normal Aos Si lifespan,” Oisin replied.

  “You said you are an Imperial,” John slowly said, coming to terms with what his father had said. Oisin nodded. “My mother was a Varn though,” Oisin nodded again. “Did she know you were an Imperial?”

  “Yes, John. Your mother knew everything. As did Catherine Penrose and John Trevaskis Senior. I kept no secrets from them. Don’t forget Catherine as the Badhbh and John Senior as leader of the Varns, had risked all when they married. Both of them wanted to bring about peace and achieved it, although it cost them nearly everything they’d ever had. After the war had ended, John Senior and Catherine, or Catriona, as I know her, just wanted to live in obscurity and found it in Cornwall in the early 1800s. They lived happily there and after a great many years, about a hundred or so I think, Catriona and John Senior had a daughter, who was your mother, John.”

  “Why did they go to Cornwall?” Kate asked.

  “The Trevaskis’ were a Varn family who’d settled in Cornwall thousands of years before,” Oisin explained. “John Trevaskis Senior had travelled through time and space to Cornwall in the 1800’s and found that the family line had died out. He therefore knew he and Catriona, Cath as you know her Kate, could settle there and wouldn’t interfere with the Timeline.”

  “Was Trevaskis an Aos Si name then?” John asked.

  “No,” Oisin shook his head. “It’s a Cornish name your ancestors adopted.”

  “So why am I the Badhbh in Waiting?” Kate wanted to know.

  “Catriona couldn’t continue as the Badhbh after JT attempted to kill her,” John’s father told her. “Before that happened however, John’s mother had renounced her claim to be the Badhbh in Waiting. This had happened years before JT ever came to Earth. As Catriona had no other direct line female descendant, the position of Badhbh in Waiting went into abeyance. When you were born Kate, you became the Badhbh in Waiting as Catriona’s nearest female relative.”

  “Wow, it’s a lot to take in,” Kate said. John nodded, his mind reeling from all his father was telling them. He turned to his father.

  “So, what I want to know dad, is who you really are?” John told his father.

  “Me, I’m Oisin, an Aos Si and an Imperial as I said and also the son of Fionn Mac Cumhaill, Ceannaire of the Fianna and one of the greatest heroes that the Aos Si have ever had. A challenging thing to live up to.”

  “My mother, Carol, is she also Aos Si?” Kate then asked. She hadn’t known any of this when they’d last met and like John was trying to work everything out.

  “She’s a human, Kate, her and your father were a real love match from all accounts,” Oisin told her.

  “So, I’m half Aos Si and half human?”.

  “That’s correct, Kate.”

  “And we’re cousins,” Kate said turning to John, who smiled.

  “First one I’ve had,” he answered grinning. Then John turned to his father again. “You spoke of Fionn Mac Cumhaill, a grandfather that I never knew I had, as though he’s still alive. When will l get to meet him?”

  “It’s complicated John,” his father answered. “I really don’t know where he is, or whether indeed he is in fact still alive. In his absence we have a great deal to do. I’ve learned from Mona McBeolain that JT has gone on the run, possibly back to his private island. He needs to be captured before he can do any more harm. Then I have to get Fionnuala, the Nemhain to accept that things have changed since she was imprisoned about 14,000 years ago and that I and the Fianna are no longer her enemy.” John’s father then turned back to Kate. “ Then I have to get you, Kate, and Iseabail installed as Badhbh and Morrigan respectively which will mean you both undergoing a ceremony at the Callanish Stone Circle on the Isle of Lewis, at the Autumn Equinox, which is now only just over a week away.”

  “Do I have a choice about that?” Kate asked.

  “What? Becoming Badhbh?” John’s father questioned. Kate nodded. “Not really,” he replied. “Kate, more than ever now the Aos Si need a Badhbh and the Morrigan in Waiting, Iseabail, will ask you to take on the role. As for you John, one day you will become the Ceannaire of the Fianna and must begin training for that role and before you ask, you have no choice about that either, unfortunately it is your duty.”

  “Well I suppose that’s it then,” John said, looking over to Kate, who looked very unsure.

  “I know nothing of how to fulfil the role of Badhbh,” Kate said, seeing John look questioning at her.

  “Catriona will help you to prepare for the role,” John’s father assured her.

  “So, what happens now?” John asked his father.

  “First of all, I need to contact the Nemhain. Hopefully by now, Fenella will have explained to her, how things really are.”

  Chapter 27

  Earth Orbit, The Nemhain’s Command Deltoid

  Wednesday 14th September 2005

  “If the Andromedans’ are planning to invade Sol 3, or Earth as it is now called, as you’ve told me, Fenella, then we must stop them and send them back to the miserable desert planet they call home. The Fianna will be more than a match for them. I’ve had my differences with Fionn Mac Cumhaill as you well know, but he is the greatest military commander the Aos Si have ever had. I must talk with him as soon as possible. Make the necessary arrangements,” Fionnuala instructed having heard all that Fenella had to tell her.

  “There’s a slight problem, Nemhain,” Fenella answered looking a little worried again. “No-one knows where Fionn is and he took most of the Fianna with him.”

  “But you said that the Fianna have been helping you.”

  “They have, Nemhain, what is left of them in this galaxy. It amounts however to one Galaxy Class Deltoid and barely twenty Interplanetary Class Deltoids.”

  “That’s all?” Fionnuala questioned. Fenella nodded her head. “The size of the Andromedan invasion fleet?”

  “We’ve no idea, Nemhain, but it could be hundreds of Galaxy Class ships.” Fenella told her, seeing the utter shock that appeared on the Nemhain’s face.

  “Who commands the Fianna left behind?” Fionnuala quietly asked after pausing to think for a moment or two.

  “Oisin, Fionn’s son and Sceolan, who was Fionn’s second in command.”

  “Oisin’s only a child!” Fionnuala retorted, “How can he be commanding the Fianna?”

  “He’s not a child any longer, Nemhain and he has a son, John, the grandson of John Trevaskis Senior. Oisin you see, Nemhain, married the Ceannaire of the Varns’ daughter. Oisin’s son, John, following the death of his grandfather, is now the Ceannaire of the Varns.”

  “This is all very complicated, Fenella,” Fionnuala replied, shaking her head. “I still have problems accepting that the Varns who were traitors and my mortal enemies when I was imprisoned, are now our allies and that the Morrigan’s child Iseabail, is now the Morrigan in Waiting. She was just a babe in arms the last time that I saw her,” Fionnuala shook her head again. “I was in stasis for far too long.”

  “Surely, it’s good, Fionnuala, that you have these Fianna as allies,” Joshua pointed out, “and that you will have a Morrigan and Badhbh to support you.”

  “Yes, you’re right, Joshua, things could be far worse I suppose. You’d better get me in touch with Oisin, Fenella. It seems that we urgently need to talk,” Fionnuala instructed her second in command.

  “As you command, Nemhain.”

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  The Beagalltach, The Fianna Command Deltoid

  The same time, the same day

  Kate walked with Morann, John and his father onto the bridge of the Beagalltach.

  “Ceannaire of the Fianna on the bridge”, one of the battle droids announced, as Oisin walked forward and took his place on the first row of seats, seating himself to the right of a young woman who had a bird perched
on each of her shoulders. They looked like crows, but were much larger than the normal ones. The young woman turned her head and smiled at them. Kate walked to the seat she’d occupied before, noticing that Sceolan was absent.

  “You’re here by me, John,” Oisin called to his son, who was still looking interestedly around the bridge.

  Morann tapped Kate on the arm and leant forward to quietly whisper to her.

  “The young woman in the middle of our row is Iseabail, the Morrigan in Waiting.” Morann told her. Kate nodded and looked at the young woman beside Oisin again, noticing that she was leaning forward and chatting animatedly to John, who’d just taken his seat.

  “Where to Ceannaire?” Bran called out, from the row behind them.

  “Set course to rendezvous with the Nemhain’s ship,” Oisin announced as the door to the bridge opened again and Sceolan came in and took up his seat. “Everything all right, Sceolan?” Oisin enquired.

  “Yes, Ceannaire. Colonel Hoskens is presently talking to his crew and will be joining us shortly. I’ve explained Declan’s position and that he was infiltrated into SATCU for the Colonel and his crew’s protection.”

  “Thank you, Sceolan. I did not want things to be awkward between Declan and the SATCU crew, when they meet up with him again,” Oisin replied.

  “Ceannaire, the Nemhain’s ship is hailing us,” Bobdall announced.

  “Put it on speakers,” Oisin told her.

  “It appears that you and I need to talk, Ceannaire of the Fianna,” the Nemhain’s voice came through. “Shall I come to you, or will you come to me?”

  “I’ll come to you, Nemhain and I’ll be bringing the Morrigan in Waiting, the Badhbh in Waiting and my son, who as Fenella has probably explained to you, is now the Ceannaire of the Varns and will one day be Ceannaire of the Fianna.”

  “I look forward to meeting you all,” Fionnuala replied.

  “We’re within teleportation range, Ceannaire,” Bobdall announced when the call had ended.

  “Right then, Iseabail, Kate, John, you’re with me,” Oisin said getting up out of his chair and leading them off the bridge and back towards the teleportation chamber. John walked with his father, but Iseabail walked beside Kate.

  “I am very pleased to meet you, Kate,” Iseabail told her. “It must have been a shock for you to hear who you really are.”

  “It certainly was, and I just hope that I’m up to the task before me.” Kate replied turning her head to look at Iseabail. Kate noticed that the two crows were studying her closely. The smaller one suddenly bent its head down and cawed softly in Iseabail’s ear.

  “Well,” Iseabail said. “Fea and Anann, certainly think that you are. Oh, by the way, Fea is the smaller of the two.”

  By now they’d reached the teleportation chamber and a moment or so later were in another one and being greeted by two tall, beautiful women. The taller one who had strawberry blonde hair in a pageboy style stepped forward and inclined her head towards them in turn.

  “Morrigan in Waiting, Badhbh in Waiting, you are welcome, my sisters of the Triumvirate. Ceannaire of the Fianna,” she turned and inclined her head then towards Oisin and finally John. “Ceannaire of the Varns, you are both welcome too. This is Fenella,” Fionnuala indicated the slightly shorter woman who had dark auburn hair. “My second-in-command. “Please come with us to my cabin.”

  They all followed Fionnuala and Fenella to the Nemhain’s cabin, where a short, slightly built man young man, with longish black hair was waiting for them.

  “This is Joshua who rescued me from my prison,” Fionnuala introduced him. “He is now my adviser and companion.” Kate noticed the young man blush. “Please, all of you be seated. We have much to talk about.”

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  The Beagalltach

  The same time

  “So, Colonel, you’re telling us that this is an alien spacecraft, being flown by a race of people called the Aos Si that you’re descended from, who came to Earth, what about 15,000 years ago?” Sergeant Pascoe was the first of Sam Hoskens’ crew to speak after Sam had finished speaking to them. He’d thought that the time for subterfuge was well past and so had levelled with them, omitting nothing. Sam nodded in confirmation. “That our President is an agent of another alien race, the Andromedans, who are hell bent on conquering and enslaving us, so that they can settle here and exploit our resources. Have I got it right so far, Colonel?”

  “Yes, Sergeant Pascoe.”

  “Well Colonel, you’re either stark freaking mad, or telling us the truth, either of which ain’t looking good for the good old US of A,” Pascoe continued, searching the faces of his fellow crewmates as he did so. “What do you think, Master Sergeant?”

  Master Sergeant Thompson gave Colonel Hoskens a searching look, before he spoke.

  “I’ve known the Colonel for over four years and I’ve never had cause to ever doubt his word before,” Master Sergeant Thompson eventually spoke. “From what we’ve gleaned from the alien artefacts that we have at Area 51 and from knowing the workings of our own Deltoid, we can all see that this is a spacecraft far more sophisticated than our own. I’m inclined to believe that the Colonel is who he says he is. As regards our President, I’d need far more proof than what the Colonel has told us, to condemn her as a traitor and also more proof that these Andromedans intend to invade us. What about the rest of you?”

  “I too am descended from the Aos Si,” Sergeant First Class Kelly spoke and looked over to Sam. “My forefathers served in the Fianna and my most distant ancestor fought alongside Fionn Mac Cumhaill, in the war between the Aos Si and the Varns.” Before anyone could question Kelly further, the door opened, and Declan entered.

  “Ah Declan, I’ve not yet had time to tell them who you really are,” Colonel Hoskens told him. “Declan, gentlemen, is a member of the Fianna who was sent to protect us and also to try and find out what was going on in Building 66, at Area 51.”

  “Building 66, that’s the building we aren’t allowed to go into?” Specialist Roskilly observed. “You needed special clearance to get in there, which none of us had.”

  “Correct, which is why it interested the Fianna,” Declan told them.

  “So, did you find anything out?” Master Sergeant Thompson enquired.

  “I only got in there the night before we were sent on this mission,” Declan replied. “and soon found out why we weren’t allowed in there. It’s some kind of laboratory, well more like an automated production line and whatever it is that’s being manufactured in there, it’s being produced in great quantity, vials and vials of it.”

  “What, like the vials medicines are stored in?” Sergeant First Class Kelly asked.

  “Yes, the kind used to contain liquids for inoculation,” Declan confirmed.

  “Have you told anyone about this?” Sergeant Pascoe questioned.

  “Yes,” Declan confirmed. “I passed the information onto Oisin, the acting Ceannaire of the Fianna. Oisin seems to think it that it could be some kind of mind control drug that the Andromedans would use to control the population of Earth.”

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  The Nemhain’s Command Deltoid

  The same day

  “So, Oisin, the Andromedans intend to invade this planet and you think JT is manufacturing a mind control drug to use to manage more easily the population of this planet,” Fionnuala was the first to speak, after Oisin had finished telling all of them what had been found out regarding JT’s plans. “Then we have two objectives. Stop JT from unleashing this mind control drug and stop the Andromedans from invading Earth.”

  “Well three actually, Nemhain,” Oisin informed her. “We have to ensure that the Morrigan in Waiting and the Badhbh in Waiting, are ready for their inauguration at the Autumn Equinox which is only just over a week away.”

  “What is this ‘week’? A measurement of time? If so, it is one that I am unfamiliar with,” Fionnuala interrupted.

  “It’s about a quarter of the time this planet’s
moon moves through the phases from new moon to new moon,” Joshua said, thinking hard how to explain it.

  “A seachtain, Nemhain,” Fenella advised.

  “Not much time then, Oisin,” Fionnuala agreed.

  “No and we don’t know where the Inauguration Stone is, “Oisin continued. “The Morrigan had the stone hidden somewhere on Earth just before she was imprisoned and those who knew where it was hidden are either long dead, or like my father, have gone missing.”

  “Why is an Inauguration Stone needed?” John asked.

  “It’s part of our tradition going back thousands of years to the very first Triumvirate,” Iseabail explained. “The ceremony was originally held on Si Fionna, the Aos Si home world, but my mother brought it to Sol 3, Earth that is, at the end of the war between the Imperials and the Varns. She also designated the stone circle at Callanish as the new Inauguration site.”

  “But without the Inauguration Stone, the ceremony cannot go ahead,” Fionnuala pointed out. “and we need the Triumvirate to be reinstated if we are to gain access to the Morrigan’s Depository, which could aid us in our defence of this planet.”

  “Well, actually, we only need Kate and John to be able to able to open the Morrigan’s Depository,” Oisin informed her. “The Morrigan changed the authorisation procedure before she was imprisoned. She didn’t know her fate then, or yours, Fionnuala, and Iseabail was only an infant. The Badhbh and the Ceannaire of the Varns between them had been able to end the war and the Morrigan therefore felt they were the most suitable persons to control access to the Morrigan’s Depository. This guardianship was to pass down to the future holders of those positions and that’s why you and Kate are the only two who can open it and only then if you act jointly,”

  “I see,” Fionnuala said more calmly. “I think I can see the wisdom of that. The contents of the Depository couldn’t be used to wage war on each other, but could only be used to wage war on a mutual adversary. Am I correct, Oisin?”