‘The capabilities I got through being the daughter of the ruler of Firstworld, who is the Defender of the Firstworld Gods and at least equal to your heritor.’ She lifted an arm and patted her five stripes. ‘And these, saying I am in charge, as my men, my ships, my bases and my stations will confirm.’
The admiral bowed. ‘Both arguments are astonishing, but convincing. Very well, ma’am; I have always accepted the chain of command and I will not change that now.’
‘Thank you,’ she said calmly, hiding the sense of relief she felt. ‘And you, Lead Designer Iollant?’
The designer shrugged. ‘I do not much care who commands, as long as we can do our jobs. For us, return to Moigar was never an option. The average planetary Moi found brains creepy and dangerous, and their presence was forbidden on-planet, so what binds us to that place? Most of us have our families with us—they’re all right; I checked that.’
‘Your jobs are vital; I certainly want you to carry on as before.’ Kambisha looked at the massed brain techs and the Fleet men, all watching her and waiting for news. ‘If everyone is present, I’ll tell them how matters stand.’
When the two leaders had returned to their people, she walked up to face the crowd. Techs of all ages, most in white lab smocks over their jumpsuits, and crewmembers ranging from a stern-faced flag captain to a huddle of ship’s boys, and she felt a moment of apprehension. She had told their story often enough by now, but never to a public of adults old enough to be her parents or more.
She stood there, hands to her back, and introduced herself. Then she gave them all, in bald words. It rocked them, but even more than those cadets and students before were they used to keeping a check upon their emotions.
The last bit of her tale she spun out longer, how they revived base after base, emphasizing the survivors rather than the victims. She told them of the cadets’ bravery in going to battle only days after revival, of finding the Polymatech staff, and of her plans for the near future.
‘That’s it, I cannot make it sound any better,’ she said when she was done. ‘I hope you all carry on. Realmfleet will be paying your wages starting today, and we will see to all your needs.’
‘If you take over our contracts, we shall continue,’ the lead designer said.
‘Z-Tu will join you as well,’ Admiral Borunn said.
‘Thank you for your trust, gentlemen,’ Kambisha said. ‘You can dismiss your people.’
‘We were about to load our latest AI batch into Z-Tu,’ Iollant said when the others techs had gone to check the building and the ship’s crew had returned to their ship.
‘You can send them to my flagship, care of our Realmport designer, Mr. Marff.’
‘I don’t know him,’ Iollant said. ‘Is he official?’
‘A new graduate from the Realm University. Top of his class. He did some good work on helping traumatized ship’s AIs.’
‘He’s official then. You don’t scrap malfunctioning brains?’
Kambisha looked at him. ‘We do not. One AI we rescued had developed a fear of outer space. He now runs our Firstworld headquarters and everyone is happy.’
‘I noticed you are careful to put names to the brain persons, ma’am?’ Iollant said. ‘Government Directives state that by law brains die when they are removed from their body, that they will be resurrected as brain machines without legal status, and that any remaining personality is a phantom phenomenon.’
‘That is nonsense,’ Kambisha said. ‘Our mindmages find our brain persons are aware, in thought and feeling humans with a mechanical body. Realmfleet accepts every brain person as a full human with all rights pertaining. They will retain their old ranks, only not in line of command, but as specialists.’
She looked from brain techneer to admiral and back. ‘We go a step further. We found that several Expanded AIs who spent the past millennium awake, developed a personality at par with most humans. These brains can apply for the same rights a human brain person has. As a matter of common courtesy, all Realmfleet personnel will treat every human-level AI as a person.’
‘That will take some re-educating,’ the admiral said.
‘There is more. Ship’s brain persons will rank at a minimum equal to the first officer, again as specialists, not line officers. Base brain persons keep their own ranks, and all can be promoted in the regular way.’
A small gasp she thought came from either Laiisse or Dorra.
‘Thank you,’ the lead designer said. ‘You will find all of us in agreement. For years we tried to convince the Moi government, but they distrusted brains and refused to listen.’
‘They didn’t listen to a great many things,’ the admiral said. ‘I work well with Z-Tu, with Dorra—Lieutenant Commander Dorra, so I shall inform the crew of the new regulations. There remains one point, ma’am. We were temporary stationed at Moi Moonport. I suppose that base is no longer available, so we will need a new home.’
‘Manselm 7,’ Kambisha said. ‘The 4th Fleet was out on exercises. We found their ships and all the Academy cadets they had been training, but the crews were gone. I am sure Captain Diccon will be pleased to have you take over.’ She grinned. ‘We took the ships, so you will have to start from scratch. The base is large enough for your flagship, and I may be able to spare you a frigate or some corvettes as well. If you have officers in line for promotion out of your ship, send Manager Gunild their dossiers. We have one battlecruiser plus a few frigates and corvettes still in need of a captain.’
‘Thank you, ma’am. Manselm is a fine base and I will be happy to take command. I may have some names for you, but I will wait awhile to see how things shape up under the new circumstances,’ the admiral said.
‘Of course,’ Kambisha said quickly. ‘One moment. Commander Dorra, you read me?’
‘I’m still speechless with the honor, ma’am. But yes, I read you,’ Dorra said.
‘I transfer overall command back to Rear Admiral Borunn.’
‘Noted. I am pleased he and I will continue to serve together.’
‘So am I, actually.’ Kambisha smiled. ‘That’s it, Admiral, Lead Designer. I will return to Realmport. If there is anything, don’t hesitate to call on Manager Gunild.’
They shook hands, and Kambisha ported her Marines back to her ship.
‘Emma, tell Captain Mhann Divine Thara and I spoke. The matter has been resolved satisfactory. Thank her from me and she’s to resume her patrol. Then we will go home.’
CHAPTER 24 – OVERDUE LIBRARY
Back at Realmport, Kambisha called the commander of the duty ship.
Corvette captain Ogmond of Cl-A 97 was a former merchant navy master’s mate; a thin Vanhaari woman, her hair cut short, and with a small scar on her right temple. She was a new arrival and rated senior lieutenant in command only the day before.
In at the deep end, Kambisha thought. She looks capable enough, and at twenty-two she is among the elders. ‘I need a bit of snooping around done. The world is Krogond 2, the place is a Moi base occupied by Dreghs. We want that base back, so I need to know the situation; defenses, number of enemies, any ships, the whole works. Don’t take any risks; if you are attacked, port back here.’
Ogmond saluted and hurried off.
‘There,’ Kambisha said. ‘Time for a break.’
‘Already?’ Ram raised an eyebrow at her. ‘You only saved one ship and one base, and talked to one god today. You are easily satisfied.’
She grinned. ‘I know; I’m getting horribly lazy. But now I want my cawah and a big slice of apple pie.’
They sat down in the mess, and while the servor rattled off to get their order, Kambisha closed her eyes. ‘Gunild, how does the Realm stand?’
‘Diccon is very pleased having a new admiral. I never met Admiral Borunn, but the General calls him a good man and a fine officer. His superiors found him too liberal, so that’s another positive. He comes of a noble House in Moigar, but of course that’s all gone now. His Z-Tu was the newest and largest ship in the Fleet
. She swears she has sustained no damage, all those years in the desert. I told her to have a check-up at the Son 4 yards, nonetheless.’
‘Good,’ Kambisha said. ‘Better to make sure.’
‘Shan 4; Captain Atharn says his base is operational again. He now is working on his flotilla. He doesn’t promise anything, but he may be able to repair most of them. The AI brains were all responsive. I will ask BrainLabs to send someone to inspect them.
‘I posted some staff and two crews to the Search & Rescue base. We haven’t got anyone to command yet, but between them they can search the area for anyone in need of help.
‘One of our corvettes found another Realmfleet Outpost, Pink Tail Estate. There was a party going on board.’
Kambisha opened her eyes. ‘A party?’
‘Quite a wild one, too. In stasis, of course. They were from the nearby mining operation at the Darliene Variables, a triple moon system circling a planet at a red giant. It seems their foreman had just married, and they were throwing them an orgy. Miners, they are a rough lot, ma’am. They all awoke still drunk, but they sobered up quickly enough. Aw-F 58 went and restored their AI and they’re all back at work. Rejoice, ma’am; they are mining power crystals. That is one of the few things we cannot duplicate with any success.’
‘Send the happy couple a present,’ Kambisha said. ‘Theirs must have been the longest wedding party ever.’
‘The longest hangover as well,’ Gunild said. ‘I’ll find something suitable. It... Wait... Darn! It’s CL-A 97 porting back; she looks pretty shot-up.’
Kambisha jumped to her feet and ran for the stairs to the hall, with Ram on her heels.
Without a word, they raced across the field to the ship. CL-A 97 was lying on her side like a landed dolphin, with a series of holes in her side.
Kambisha saw the upper airlock swing open. A uniformed figure slid to the ground and staggered toward her, while from the main building a ground crew came running. The figure said something, and one of the techs nodded.
It wasn’t Ogmond, Kambisha saw. A younger officer, a Moi sublieutenant she didn’t know, who halted, stiffened formally and saluted.
‘The Dreghs got a fleet, ma’am,’ she said, out of breath and fighting against tears. ‘Six ships at least. A battlecruiser overhead opened fire as soon as we appeared. We managed to get away, but my captain is hurt, and so is our healer.’
‘You’re the first officer? Well done!’ Kambisha said. ‘Go back and see to your people. We will take care of those cursed rats!’ She turned. ‘Gunild, get our fleet ready. Tell Unnaerd I’ll take Pta-Gor, as she has no captain yet. Get Lhandor and half of the Marines into Lin-Gor and Colonel Ram will bring the other half to me.’
Sirens went off, and the quiet port changed into a mass of running crews. Ram hurried off to collect his squad, and Kambisha ported on board Pta-Gor.
‘Aharte, you’ll be flagship today,’ Kambisha said. ‘Goal is the base at Krogond.’ She gave the ship all the details she had.
‘I’ve got all data CL-A 97 had gathered,’ Aharte said. ‘One battlecruiser, five frigates and a scout. Inside the base they counted some eight hundred Dreghs.’
‘The base defense?’
‘She’s strong; almost as strong as Realmport. We will be at risk.’
‘We’ll do it like this,’ Kambisha said. ‘We come out shooting. I will port our five hundred Marines into the base, then Emma Lin-Gor will port her detachment to me. We’ll take the base and get the brain. Meanwhile you and the other ships will flit around like mad bees, taking potshots at the enemy. If it gets too hot, try to get under the guns’ lowest reach.’
‘On our bellies through the grass,’ Aharte said. ‘Like boot camp.’
‘You did boot camp?’
‘I was a major of Marines once. Mortally wounded against other Dregh rats. I don’t like them, ma’am.’
‘I can imagine. You are a major still, if you want to, or opt for the naval equivalent.’
‘Major, that’s what I am used to. I informed the other ships and captains, ma’am. All are ready.’
Kambisha turned and saw Ram had returned. ‘This is going to be tricky. We will ride down for the dome and when I get my glimpse of a good spot, I’ll port us inside.’ She saw him nod and grinned. ‘We’ll make a goddess happy today.’
He snorted. ‘I hope she appreciates the effort.’
Kambisha shrugged. ‘We can only do our best. Major Aharte, tell the fleet to go. When we arrive, open the airlock. We’ll be quick.’
Darkness, followed by a moment of silence. The airlock opened, and five hundred men dropped out.
Kambisha craned her neck, looking down. Through the dome she saw the hall building, and Dreghs running.
‘Prepare for teleporting,’ she said when she had found a suitable spot. Then she collected the whole force and sent them into the dome, safe from any Dregh beam cannons.
Screaming battle cries, the Marines ran for the enemy. The thirty or so Dreghs didn’t stand a chance, and they ran over their dead bodies into the main building.
‘Give me time to reach the brain,’ Kambisha said to Ram.
He nodded and gave his orders. As his guys ran off to secure doors and offices, a horde of Dreghs came up the stairs from the quarters below. Before the battle was underway, Lhandor appeared with his men, and soon there wasn’t an enemy left alive.
‘Check the floor below!’ Ram shouted.
Lhandor lifted a hand in salute and led his men to the stairs.
Kambisha forgot them all. She crouched down at the main column and went to work on the cover of the keyboard. Outside, varicolored beams crisscrossed deadly patterns in the sky as the Dregh gunners fired at the ships from the safety of their bunkers.
With a clang, the hatch opened to the brain cellar. Then another loud bang followed.
‘Cannon inside!’ someone shouted.
Instinctively, Kambisha shielded up, and moved to the hatch. The cannon was a small piece of field artillery that could be devastating inside, if handled well.
A second bang, and something crashed into her shield, propelling her across the hall. She passed out as she slammed into the back wall.
When she opened her eyes again, the overhead display of power had lessened. In the hall was silence and the only person she could see was Healer Thon kneeling beside her.
‘Back again, ma’am? Good. Those Moi made solid chairs.’
Kambisha blinked. ‘Chair?’
He grinned. ‘That’s what hit you. Those Dreghs shoot like blind mice. That cannon slammed into the brain’s column, the blast set the furniture flying and the desk chair kicked you across the room. Spectacular, but hardly deadly. Your body had things under control even quicker than I could have healed you.’
‘The base brain? Any damage?’
‘None. Donoan went down and woke him up. He is Commander Kethrull, and he doesn’t approve of Dreghs. Gunild gave him your code, so he is fully on our side.’
‘Imagine!’ Kambisha said. She sat up. ‘The ships?’
‘They are Kethrull’s; the 6th fleet. Of them all, only the battlecruiser is still fighting. The others were crewless. The moment he realized the situation, Kethrull ordered them out of the way.’
‘We must board her,’ Kambisha said. She came to her feet. ‘Ram?’
‘He went back to Lin-Gor with his five hundred Marines. I think he wants Emma to open up that Dregh ship somehow and allow him to enter.’
As she looked at the battlecruiser, she saw a mass of broomriders descent on her hull, to disappear from sight.
‘Curse it!’ she said desperately. ‘I must go up there. I can’t let him go alone.’
‘Of course you can,’ Thon said. ‘You’re not going to port right now; give your body some rest. Ram is a Marine; he can take that ship without you. You didn’t make him a colonel just for giggles, did you?’
‘No!’ She knew Ram could do it, but still... She stared up at the battlecruiser, head awhirl and hear
t pounding. Then she tore her eyes away. She wasn’t going to stand there as some besotted moonling! Let him do his job.
‘Commander Kethrull?’ she said a bit louder than she intended.
‘Ma’am High Admiral?’
‘Happy to meet you, Commander. While we wait for Colonel Ram to finish the fight, we can go on to the next point. The library.’
‘Ma’am?’ he said.
‘You are protecting a library, aren’t you?’
‘Ma’am...’
‘Is it a secret?’
‘Yes, ma’am.’
‘Why?’
‘Heritor’s orders.’
‘But the heritor is out of the picture. I rescind this order. You can tell me.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’
‘Well?’ she said, as he didn’t say anything.
‘It is not part of my command, ma’am.’
‘There is another brain person involved?’
‘Yes, ma’am.’
‘In lockdown?’
‘Yes, ma’am.’
Kambisha sighed. ‘How do we get to this library?’
‘There is an elevator down, ma’am.’
‘Show me this elevator.’
‘It is underneath the stairs to the messroom, ma’am.’
Below the stairs was a door, inconspicuous enough to have been overlooked easily. It opened on a small, chrome-plated cabin with two buttons, marked Up and Down.
Resolutely she pressed Down, and the elevator gave a slight shudder. But the mechanism worked and brought her to a small hallway.
‘Hello?’ Kambisha said, looking around at the clean, whitewashed walls.
‘Restricted Area,’ a voice said. ‘You are not allowed to be here.’
‘I am High Admiral Kambisha of Kalbakar,’ she said. ‘As the de facto successor to the last heritor of the Moi, I am permitted to be here.’
‘What claim is that?’ the voice said. ‘The heritor is immortal and has no successor.’
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