by Ivan Kal
“I have come to learn over the years that diplomats usually like to drag things out for as long as possible. I, on the other hand, prefer a much more direct approach,” the Emperor sent, her own telepathy interpreting and allowing her to hear the words in her own language. “If you are willing, we may speak inside, freely and without restraint.”
Levisomaerni could feel inside the room, and knew that it was not occupied. She also knew that she could feel inside by design, as most of the other rooms in this place were shielded against Sha. She also knew that the Emperor knew that she could feel them.
Intrigued, she looked back at her guards and decided to leave most of them in front of the room, taking only the leader of her guard, whom she trusted implicitly. With a quick mental conversation, she and her guard made the arrangements and she accepted the Emperor’s offer.
* * *
Kane and Vaana sat at the small table along with Clan Leader Sumia of Nuvan Clan, Sentinel Hayashi and a man dressed in the armor of the Hand of the Empire. Sora was with them as well, but she was curled up behind Kane and Vaana’s seats, out of sight and asleep. Both of Kane and Vaana could feel the Emperor standing in front of the room, and the powerful mind standing beside him. They feel almost as powerful as Lurker of the Depths, Vaana commented. Kane agreed mentally. It was high praise, especially coming from them, who had been taught all of their mind Sha by Lurker of the Depths. And as powerful as both Kane and Vaana were, they still fell just a bit short of their teacher.
Many people in both the Empire and the Shara Daim liked to guess at who were the most powerful Sha users in the Empire. The top names for the mind Sha were always those of their father, Adrian, and his teacher–Lurker of the Depths. Kane and Vaana had firsthand experience of both, something very few people could say, and they knew that while their father was more powerful, Lurker of the Depths was more skilled. Kane and Vaana had argued constantly when they had been young about who would win in a battle between them, often even changing their minds. In the end, they had decided that it would always be a coin toss. Either their father would manage to overpower Lurker of the Depths, or the teacher would manage to trick their father. It was not a battle that would ever happen truly. Regardless, when one reached their level of strength, it was a matter of moments that decided life or death.
The doors opened and the Emperor entered, followed by the Partenai they had seen on the video previously, escorted by a single guard of a race that they were not familiar with. A tall and lanky being, with long arms and three legs. The Sha presence of the guard could be felt, meaning that he was strong, but it paled in comparison to the other. She was even more impressive in person. Quadruped, sleek, and somehow graceful by her very presence. Sha almost sang around her. She is strong in more than just the mind Sha, Kane commented. His sister didn’t respond, but he knew that she agreed with his thoughts.
The Emperor led her to the table and offered a seat across from the group already sitting before he himself took the seat to the side. “Allow me to introduce you,” the Emperor said, and the device in the table translated his words.
“These are Kane and Vaana–heirs of the Shara Daim throne.” Kane and Vaana dipped their heads, and the Partenai did the same.
“Then we have Clan Leader Sumia of Nuva, Sentinel Hayashi, and a representative of the Hand of the Empire,” the Emperor finished, and then he gestured toward the Partenai, introducing her. “This is High Matriarch Levisomaerni of the Josanti League.”
Their guest nodded again, and the others did the same. Then after a moment of silence, the Partenai spoke mentally to them all.
“So–leaders of all of your biggest factions, meeting with me in private. May I ask why?”
The Emperor looked at her in askance. “I think that all of us know that you did not come here for a simple diplomatic mission. Our territories might be very far away from each other, but we have learned enough about the Josanti League to know that you do not seek out relations with star-nations outside of the galactic core. And the Josanti League most certainly does not send someone like you to negotiate.”
The High Matriarch did not deny anything; she did, however, remain silent for a long moment. “It is not very often that I am confronted so…directly. Few would risk insult to anyone in the Josanti, and especially someone like me.” She paused, looking around the room.
“We do not seek to insult,” Vaana started. “Our desire for the Josanti League and our nations is only peace–”
“–unless we are threatened,” Kane finished.
The High Matriarch tilted her head at the two of them, but didn’t comment. A moment later, she returned her eyes to the Emperor’s.
“It is true that I had another reason for coming. Although I am not as certain about it as I was before I started my trip.”
“May we know what this reason is?” Clan Leader Sumia asked.
The High Matriarch’s nostrils twitched, and for a moment Vaana was sure she felt a touch of amusement from her–but it was gone almost instantly, as if it hadn’t even been there. To Kane’s mind the Partenai seemed collected, resolute, with a touch of trepidation. A strange mix of emotions, but then again he knew very little about the Partenai other than the broad strokes of their history. And even that was ancient history.
“Yes… Perhaps directness is best,” the High Matriarch sent. Then, casting her eyes to the rest of the table, she continued. “Does the term ‘the People’ mean anything to you?”
Guess we know why she came, Vaana told her brother privately. Kane glanced at the Emperor, raising his hand and making a Nel gesture that indicated that he should be the one to answer. As soon as he did, Vaana sent him feelings of amusement. Their father had taught them to use the Nel gesture speech, but the twins had always complained how they would never have the need to use them. Shara Daim, unlike the Nel, did not hide behind their emotionless faces; or at least that was what they had thought long ago.
“So,” the Emperor said, “you still remember.”
“Dear creators!” The High Matriarch’s control slipped for a moment, allowing them to feel her shock, as well as relief and fear, all combined into one. A moment later she seemed to realize her slip and pulled back, giving away nothing. “You are the People, then?”
The corner of the Emperor’s mouth quirked upward in a half smile. “Yes. And no.”
“What do you mean?” the High Matriarch asked confused.
“We are their... descendants in a way. We carry the DNA of Axull Darr the last of the People.”
“Descendants?”
“I have answered your question in as much detail as I am willing to at this point. We still do not know the reason for your visit. But in the spirit of good will, and for the purpose of this conversation, you should know that we possess all the technology of the People, as well as all of their data. That includes historical information. We know who your people are, High Matriarch,” the Emperor sent firmly.
The High Matriarch was visibly taken aback for a moment. Her head pulled back and her feathers shook.
“So, I am going to ask you again. What is the reason for your visit?” the Emperor asked. Kane was surprised at his tone. He himself would’ve probably spoken directly, and with perhaps more respect for a powerful representative of a powerful star-nation. But Emperor Tomas Klein never allowed fear to guide his words.
The tone did not even seem to register with the High Matriarch; she just kept looking from one face to another. Finally, she stood up and turned to the Emperor.
“I have come in order to see if you truly are the People. And while you are not what I had expected, I see that I was at least partially right in my belief. I would like to know the rest of your story, to learn what happened to the People after our punishment. We have learned only pieces from the races across the galaxy that still remember, and a rare few abandoned facilities we uncovered.
“But the true reason for my coming here was to ask for forgiveness. For the things we did long ago
, to the ones that had given us so much. And if I cannot ask that forgiveness from those we erred against, then I shall do so from you, their descendants. The Partenai owe a debt, one that I hope you will be able to help us meet.” Then she bent her head and lowered herself forward, kneeling before the Emperor.
Well... I did not expect that, Kane said to his sister, and Vaana could only agree.
Chapter Twelve
Erasi core – interstellar space
Aranis dropped to the floor, thrown aside by Ryaana’s kinetic blast. He did a good job of pretending to be actually hurt, and slowly got up to his feet.
“Enough! I don’t think that I could take anymore,” Aranis-as-Vas said.
Ryaana grinned at him playfully. “C’mon, you’re not going to become a Sentinel if you don’t put in the work.”
Vas shook his head. “I’m reconsidering.”
Ryaana let out a deep laugh and walked over to him, slapping him on the back and nearly dropping him to the ground with the force of the slap.
“Fine, fine,” Ryaana said as they walked out of the training room. They changed and then went their separate ways–Ryaana to the command center, and he to his own quarters. He would join her there a bit before they were meant to drop out of hyperspace. He might not be certified for command, but he was still her second, and his place was always by her side.
Once back in his quarters, Aranis turned his thoughts to his plans. He had spent a year in the form of Vassily. A year in war. It has been an interesting experience. He had never been involved in a war of such scale, not at the ground level. Not when he had still been one of the People, and not after. He had commanded, sent his armies forward, and commanded a World-ship. This experience had taught him much, had showed him how detached he had been from the true horror of what war truly was.
At times he had even be tempted to simply leave. There had been moments when he almost convinced himself that he had seen enough, learned enough, and that he could leave. But he knew that he hadn’t, not really. He now knew much of Axull Darr’s children’s technological capabilities, as well as some of the races close to them. He had a general idea of what level of threat they were, and he knew that with their current capabilities they would not be able to do much harm. The Enlightened’s projects were slowly approaching the point where not even a united galaxy would be able to stop them. But still, he could not bring himself to leave. A part of his being screamed at him; the part that had been Axull Darr’s best friend. That part knew that there was more, something that he was not seeing. Axull Darr was far too intelligent to put all his hopes into people that only shared his genetic code. There was more to them, more to his plan. And that was what he needed to uncover.
It would be far too dangerous for the Enlightened to begin the final phase only for something unexpected to strike at them. The last phase was too delicate for that; they could not allow for interruptions. If they somehow managed to interfere with the relays or if they attempted to stop the Conduit before it was finished…it could spell disaster for everything. No–the Enlightened needed to know everything.
And for all that, they were examples of all that the Enlightened feared. There were moments when he could see something more in these people. They were willing to go to the extreme, but they did it to protect their people. And no matter how much he tried to deny it to himself, there was a part of him that was happy. A tiny sliver of who he had been long ago. A shade of Waiss of the People whispered of content, surrounded by a pale shadow of his own people.
And then there was Ryaana: half Shara Daim and half Human. A being caught between two worlds, isolated, alone. Her struggle spoke to him. For he, too, had to fight between his two natures: one of the life he had before and the one after his change. He knew what he had to do, and knew why he had to do it. He knew that it was right, that there was no other choice. Yet Waiss still whispered, from time to time, at times when he looked at Ryaana. When her easy smile that hid a great loneliness reminded him of his own daughter, dead since so long ago. When Ryaana’s camaraderie reminded him of the time he spent with Axull.
There were moments when he could see Axull in all of them. He could not help but feel himself drawn closer to them, caught up in their lives. He had fought by their side, and in instants of intense battle, forgot and lost himself in Vas.
The camaraderie he felt when he stood beside Ryaana was a strange feeling, especially for someone like him. But in the end, he was strong enough to know that no matter what he felt, he had no choice. Nothing could change the truth.
And that harsh truth was that they all had to die.
* * *
Ryaana sat in the command center of her flagship, the Command-class ship Gallant, and waited as they were about to enter another Erasi system. A sound behind her drew her attention and she looked back to see Vas come to a stop behind her, arriving to his post just minutes before they dropped out of hyperspace. She couldn’t help but smile at him. He was taking his role as her second very seriously.
Meeting him had been a real gift for her. He was the closest thing she had to a friend, even though he was her subordinate. He was the only person she had ever met that did not treat her like some kind of royalty. She hadn’t really realized how much she had hated that until she had found someone who didn’t care. Ryaana could not even begin to fathom how the twins could suffer it. But then again, she knew that her siblings were not like her.
Shaking her head, she turned back to the holo in front of her. Her fleets was ready; the plans had been finalized before they had even entered the system. Soon twenty attack fleets would enter the Erasi system and begin their attack. Their target was–according to intel–a single-planet system, with two moons, and three bases on the surface. It was supposed to be one of the Erasi Fleet’s secondary command posts. Not a great priority target, but still valuable. Ryaana’s mission was to hit as many military targets as possible and to simply sow chaos.
Her force might be fairly large, at around ninety thousand warships, but it was surprisingly easy to hide. Space was truly vast. Unless one knew where to look, it was extremely hard to find anything. There were things that could mitigate that, of course, but no one could actually patrol interstellar space.
The defenses of their target were not supposed to be too large, seeing as this was not such an important system and they were in the Erasi core. Few would dare or even manage to strike here. And Ryaana did not plan on getting engaged in a full-on siege. She needed only pass through and strike at the Erasi, to do as much damage as possible and then leave.
The counter above the holo reached zero and Ryaana’s task-force entered the system in a staggered formation, with her command ship entering the system as one of the last ships. As planned, the fleet AIs immediately had every ship enter the skim and move toward the planet. Ninety thousand warships moved from the edge of the system to almost its very center. They dropped out of the skim twenty light seconds away from the planet and its moons.
Their ships pinged the system with their sensors, getting real-time images, and red dots started appearing on her holo.
“What are those?” Ryaana asked.
“Erasi warships, Sentinel,” a Furvor officer replied.
Ryaana watched in surprise–their intel had not indicated that there would be that many warships present. By the computer’s count, the force arrayed between the moons and the planet was almost equal to her own.
She grimaced–she did not want to get involved in any kind of fleet battle. That was not her mission. She would much rather leave than get into a battle that would most certainly lead to her losing ships.
“Change course,” she ordered. “Get us pointed toward the hyperspace barrier below the sun’s plane, and tell all fleets to ready their skim drives.”
“Yes, Sentinel.”
Ryaana looked at the holo as her ships reoriented themselves. The Erasi didn’t move, which was strange. They were at the very edge of their viable range, so they weren’t able to fire
without closing a distance a bit. Well, they could fire, but their accuracy and power at this distance would suffer. Yet… Ryaana couldn’t explain the strange feeling she was getting. The Erasi did not act in this way.
“All fleets report ready to enter skim, Sentinel.”
“Skim us,” Ryaana ordered.
A few seconds passed, and nothing happened. Then a few seconds more.
“Why are we not in the skim?” Ryaana asked.
“We… All of our ships report that they are unable to form a skim field, Sentinel!”
Ryaana looked at the tall Furvor for a moment, his beak opened in a gesture of shock. The same shock that Ryaana herself felt.
“All fleets are to reverse course, full power toward the hyper-barrier,” Ryaana ordered just as alarms started blaring. On the holo she could see the Erasi fleet starting to move, and another large signature appeared from behind the moon.
“What is that?”
“We don’t have a match, Sentinel. But its power spike… It’s enormous.”
Ryaana read through the data as it was arriving, and saw that the projections on the signature put it at a mass close to that of a Sovereign.
“Is that why we can’t enter skim?” she asked.
“We can’t pinpoint the origin of the disruptions, Sentinel.”
With a twist of her hand and a command from her implant she opened a holo on her personal command board and found a visual of the ship. She couldn’t tell its size from the image, but the computers estimated it at around forty kilometers wide. It was shaped like an arc or a crescent, with massive pillars attached both to the top and the bottom of the ship all bent forward–it was an ugly thing.
Ryaana debated what to do. She did not know what this new signature was, but it was clearly a new type of warship, a copy of the Sovereigns, perhaps. It might also be just a massive disruptor. But even that was dangerous. Whatever it was, she did not want to engage it, a thing made difficult by their inability to enter skim. The Erasi must’ve expanded on their skim-field disruptors, enhanced their range enough to be able to cover vast distances and put it on a massive ship. Or there were hidden emitters around her fleet, or a hundred other possible explanations, it didn’t really matter. Her fleets were turning around, but the Erasi ships were fast, and they would enter range soon…and then she would start to take a beating. Making a decision, she ordered a quarter of her force to turn and meet the Erasi, acting as rear guard.
