Carinae Sector: 02 - Admiral's Fury - Part 1 - Purple Blood

by David Buck

  Mary now tried to relax and was still considering the incoming data and tactical evaluation on the star system, as both Admiral Thomas Stanford and Admiral John Beresford came onto the bridge. One of the ensigns promptly called out to the bridge.

  ‘Fleet Admiral is now on the bridge.’

  Mary stood and saluted, and it was politely returned before she instructed her bridge.

  ‘Everyone at ease and remain at your stations please, for this is a new star system and we cannot get over confident.’

  John Beresford ran a polite but critical eye around the bridge before he calmly spoke.

  ‘Thomas and I would like to sound you out on a few things based on what little we know of the Jerecab. We will have our discussion in the rear command room if that is convenient?’

  Mary gave a polite nod and trailed the two senior Admirals into the command room, and in moments they were all seated around the small meeting table.

  Thomas closed the sliding door by remote control and began to speak.

  ‘Mary, we looked through the old information the Traders supplied and it made mention of the Jerecab Red faction being a patriarchal system, namely all their ship crews and their armed forces are males. The only females of any importance apparently for the Jerecab species are the acolytes and engineers or scientists in the planet bound Blue faction.’

  Mary parsed this statement for several moments before she offered a discrete question with a warm smile.

  ‘So Thomas from a biology and species interaction viewpoint the Red Jerecab might not relate to well to an intelligent female?’

  John Beresford now took the opportunity to offer his own opinions.

  ‘That may well be the case from a diplomatic perspective Mary and we would be keen to avoid offending them if you can see my point. Also it may offer us a tactical advantage if it comes down to combat and they underestimate you as a result.’

  Mary could see were this was going and did not like the implications one bit as she spoke now to John.

  ‘So if I command our forces this means that either or both of you two is then no longer alive? So just what are you and Thomas planning?’

  John gave her a significant look, but Thomas now replied.

  ‘Mary, now do not get all determined with us, as John and myself will be offering a diplomatic solution to the Jerecab. The Earth council insists that the senior fleet officers first attempt diplomacy. Basically we could save ourselves an interplanetary war, and possibly thousands of lives, by doing so. Also we want to explore some of the former Dradfer systems as we think it has a significance we cannot understand from the Trader accounts. Now if the diplomacy goes wrong you will have to fight the Jerecab as we mentioned beforehand.’

  Mary gave Thomas a glare of reproof as a now flustered John spoke again.

  ‘Heck Mary, your official orders will state what we want you to do. Indeed you are the best battle commander we have as most of our fleet preparations are to your guidelines. We are not going to stand on seniority here either.’

  Mary glared at both Thomas and John with mixed feeling as she darkly muttered her reply.

  ‘Well I just hope you do not get your damn fool selves killed, and I reserve the right to recommend that you both desist if I feel your lives are in danger. Now how precisely do you plan on offering this diplomatic solution to a race we have not met yet?’

  Mary now sat back and listened closely for two hours as the two men ran though a series of choices they would operate under to talk to the Jerecab. She knew that it all sounded fine from a human perspective, however she did point out that the Jerecab had never heard of the Geneva accords and had a reputation for being dangerous. After suggesting several points she hoped would be of assistance, Mary then made her way back over to her command console after the meeting ended a short time later and the two senior Admirals had left the bridge.

  The fleet had left Tau Ceti nearly two weeks ago after Lieutenant Grayson had been seconded to the auxiliary cruiser Long Reach as the executive officer. She again wondered if John Griggs was as able as his more experienced predecessor, as the communications console now came alive with Commander Ferguson reporting back at the agreed interval.

  ‘Admiral, we isolated the problem using the Lieutenant Commander’s guidelines and it is indeed a problem relating to sensor versions. Apparently an old sensor was re-installed in the control chain for the new reactor on the Linares at Tau Ceti, as one of the junior engineers was concerned about a different problem with the newer sensor.’

  Mary now stood from her command chair again and stretched as she replied.

  ‘This is good news Stuart. John, thank you for a good diagnosis, and I want the result send to all ships for urgent attention please. We cannot afford this type of problem when faced with a possible space battle. We will power down for six hours to allow any further changes to be made before we leave this system.’

  The human fleet now coasted across the remote star system as the required changes and checks were made to their latest fusion reactors. After several more hours of cruising across the system the ships enabled their powerful hyper drive engines within seconds of each other as they headed for the next star system. Two more hours elapsed and a smaller Cephrit ship uncloaked and followed the path of the human ships at a discrete distance before it too enabled a hyper drive jump to the next system. The clouds of the gas giant swirled in an endless storm and remained featureless for another two hours, before the giant silver globe of a Sspol cruiser erupted into space and fled a high speed across the star system towards another quadrant of the sky and a much different destination.

  ***

  Battle Lord Temeroth flexed his massive taloned hands and took several three metre strides to work off his impatience as he moved around the central atrium of his palace. The Tilmud guards at the two entrances kept rigidly still in fear even though his impatience was not directed at them. Rather the young Zronte battle lord was most put about by the contents of the data tablet he held. The Zronte had awoken from a five year sleep only four days earlier and he was still finding his way around the changes in the world that had happened.

  Temeroth gave a low snarl of frustration and anger that rumbled around the atrium, before he spoke loudly in feral Vorinne pidgin.

  ‘This second envoy goes too far this time. I repeatedly told her that the war was to be left well alone. Now while I have been hibernating she takes it upon herself to end the war!’

  The Vorinne military attaché paused for several seconds, to both ensure the high caste Zronte as not armed and had finished speaking, before it replied diplomatically in the same pidgin dialect.

  ‘Battle Lord, a protest has been lodged through to the Vorinne Imperial Defence Ministry and they will be following it up with the second envoy promptly. The initial reasons for the end of the war…’

  The Zronte battle lord gave another loud roar of anger and the Vorinne attaché had the sense to remain silent. The military attaché, Lieutenant Dreshe’ahal, noted that the five low caste Zronte drone officers in the atrium also kept perfectly still, with their squat six metre bodies bent in servitude to their lord and master.

  ‘I can damn well read you moron. The reports also list some garbage about the rat like Jerecab getting too big for their whiskers and encroaching on forbidden zones, and a haven world, dirt or Earth it is called…how imaginative a name…’

  Lieutenant Dreshe’ahal again awaited the Zronte to wind down before it spoke again equally as carefully. He was well aware that Temeroth had been incoherent, nearly blind and deaf for the first two days after he had awoken from the hibernation the Zronte used to regenerate their massive bodies. This awareness was never highlighted for he knew the Vorinne themselves had their own particular weaknesses that the Zronte both relished and fully exploited.

  ‘The forbidden zone is the former Dradfer colonies Battle Lord, and the second envoy has copied her correspondence through to the Zronte high ambassador himself.’

 
Dreshe’ahal was expecting Temeroth to get aggressive again, but this time the Zronte Battle Lord merely poured through his massive one metre square data tablet reviewing what had occurred. The Vorinne attaché recognised that the Zronte was deep in thought as his four metre tail swished slowly around side to side for several minutes before it came to halt and Temeroth spoke again.

  ‘Very well, we will leave tomorrow for the Vorinne forward zone near Cephrit space, though we will speak to my father the high ambassador along the way. Ensure that the ‘Wrath of God’ is ready to leave in ten hours.’

  Dreshe’ahal was not convinced by the sudden mellowing attitude of Temeroth and he wondered how the second envoy would fare if she met up with the Zronte battle lord soon. He now backed away from the Temeroth in a series of formal bows to show his servitude before he turned on his four rear legs and smoothly made his way to his quarters. Temeroth gave no sign of him leaving apart from studying his data tablet again in thought before five chimes from the atrium bell broke into his concentration.

  The Zronte battle lord gave a snort, this time of expectation. Without ceremony he thrust his data tablet with one hand at the nearest Tilmud guard, who struggled under the unexpected weight, even as another Tilmud also grabbed the tablet. Temeroth eyed the still supine forms of his drone cohort leaders for a moment before he spoke in native Zronte to them.

  ‘Arise slaves and be at ease, for the bell chimes five on the fourth day and finally time to feast. You will all accompany me to the feeding pens and you are each permitted two Quixxe only.’

  In seconds the five Zronte slaves had risen in a smooth flowing motion and all gave Temeroth a full bow. The senior cohort leader looked the battle lord in the eye and now received a nod of respect from his master as he spoke.

  ‘We as leaders of the greatest warriors salute you Lord and Master. We also thank you for your generosity.’

  By convention the slave Zronte formed up along either side of Temeroth and they walked out of the atrium towards to feeding pens a distance down wind of the battle lord’s palace. Temeroth thought back momentarily about the limited information he had about the new race, these humans, including the fact they were roughly the size of a Quixxe. Idly he wondered if these humans were good to eat at all, as the six Zronte then each walked into their own feeding yards.

  After a few moments pause, Quixxe mules were pushed through an opening into each feeding yard, and gave brief interrupted shrieks of terror that broke off as coarse crunching of avian bodies when each Zronte began to feed.

  ***

  Omerio straightened his immaculate armless tunic as he reached the bridge of the flagship. He was nervous, but not surprised by recent news that Flag Captain Stiderio had come aboard the ship less that an hour previously in a long range shuttle. For Admiral Baredio had returned to the squadron several days earlier and had briefly mentioned that a senior Barus officer was due to arrive.

  The captain was a senior member of the royal court as well as being a highly regarded and decorated fleet officer. Stiderio knew both Omerio and Gindane previously from the research work they had collaborated upon for the white demon hyper nova. Omerio was concerned at two levels about the presence of the senior captain, as apart from being superior in a professional sense, he could even pre-empt him in a social sense as well.

  Specifically the captain was well within his rights to either forbid Omerio from courting Gindane, or even assume the mantle of her suitor himself if he chose to do so. Stiderio had the backing of the imperial court and Omerio knew that there was no getting around this fact, even if he knew and liked Stiderio. Omerio quickly went through the readiness of the ninth fleet in his mind and was reassured, so that left only his social concerns he evaluated carefully.

  The Barus ninth cruiser squadron was the same squadron that had visited Earth one hundred and fifty years earlier and been driven away by the humans and their missiles. Even now none of the crew mentioned Earth or the humans in Admiral Baredio’s company, long after the cruisers had been repaired and upgraded. Omerio knew that there had been several serious fights over the years between usually placid Barus males when the subject of the battle was mentioned at various galactic space ports over the traditional evening drinks.

  Omerio also knew that the admiral, also his uncle, had been exonerated of any blame in the incident, but the older Barus chafed badly whenever ‘Baredio’s folly’ was alluded to in public meetings. He walked across the bridge towards the meeting room and an ensign spoke up with ‘commander on the bridge’ before he was immediately admitted into the admiral’s private meeting room at the rear of the massive bridge.

  Omerio favoured first Admiral Baredio then Captain Stiderio with both salutes and then full formal bows of respect, which both senior officers returned with casual ease. The admiral took his seat behind his desk and Omerio remained standing at attention. Captain Stiderio took one of the two solid armchairs in front of his desk before the admiral started speaking.

  ‘Commander Omerio, you remember Flag Captain Stiderio from your academy days no doubt?’

  Omerio answered with a polite nod as the admiral looked him over in an evaluating manner and continued to speak again.

  ‘Good, as Captain Stiderio will be with us for a week before he returns on the long trip to the fleet base on Barus prime. Note that I will also be leaving the command of this squadron at that time for a new posting on Barus IV. I will now be working on our relocation requirements as a result of the hyper nova. The captain is a messenger and I am a witness for needs to be discussed between us today.’

  Omerio kept perfectly still as he evaluated in seconds what the admiral was telling him. He knew he was the next most senior commander in the fleet, even if his lengthy sojourns in his latest small trading ship caused his peers in the squadron to shake their heads at his audacity. His evaluations were confirmed as he glanced momentarily at Captain Stiderio, who gave him another friendly and tooth covered smile. The admiral spoke again and handed Omerio a formal document he recognised with considerable excitement that he just managed to contain.

  ‘Commander Omerio, you are to be promoted to Captain immediately and raise your pennant on this ship. Your commission includes a squadron command ranking of Captain, though you will be junior to all other full fleet Captains elsewhere for ten years. Congratulations Captain, I personally think that the promotion is long overdue, but there you have it now.’

  Omerio offered another bow, this time of both gratitude and respect as he took in the import of the Admiral’s words and the senior captain also slowly nodded in agreement. He had expected to have to gain further seniority as Commander and then just Captain with no squadron ranking. Effectively he was being heavily promoted and he knew it as he spoke cautiously to the two older Barus males.

  ‘Thank you both for the news of this promotion, I look forward to the duties in this part of space far from the Barus home territories. No doubt you both have a series of instructions for me regarding the Tilmud after we leave our forward deployment zone?’

  Flag Captain Stiderio chuckled with mirth as he parsed Omerio’s focus and intent, and the Admiral fought back a tight grin as he spoke again.

  ‘Now please take a seat Omerio and be at ease, as I am well aware of your interest in this area of space. We have a series of instructions for you that we will discuss further along. For now Stiderio would like to talk to you in a social sense, and as your uncle and superior officer I am entitled to remain as a respected witness.’

  ‘Here it comes, a career win followed by a social defeat…’ thought Omerio dejectedly as he kept his broad face impassive and his powerful jaw closed so as not to show any teeth. He did however rub both his arms momentarily as he placed his cap under his arm and slowly took a seat in the last remaining armchair.

  The gesture was not lost on Stiderio and he paused momentarily before he started to speak with both compassion and authority.

  ‘I will not delay any further on this at all Omerio, as I do
not want to be misunderstood on this sensitive matter. By authority of the royal court, your court ship of Lady Gindane is both sanctioned and well respected. However the marriage ban from the Vorinne second envoy will remain in place for the foreseeable future. The formal announcement of this understanding is also being sent to Lady Gindane as well of course. Also I would request that you and Lady Gindane attend my own wedding to Lady Cendine well after the current set of fleet emergencies are dealt with by our forces.’

  Omerio felt real sense of both relief and gratitude as he nervously replied to Stiderio.

  ‘Stiderio, I am honoured by your message to me and I thank you for your real courtesy and support. I am also honoured and privileged to attend your wedding and I look forward to it at a later stage.’

  The admiral looked relieved at both seated officers and pressed a button on his desk to summon an ensign as he spoke again.

  ‘Stiderio, Omerio, we will take refreshments to celebrate both items of news. Indeed this will now keep our meeting informal as we devise our deployments for the squadron.’

  The ensign soon placed beakers of alcohol and a large amount of food in platters on the admiral’s table, before she executed a stiff bow and backed out the room. Omerio felt his stomach softly growl in anticipation as Stiderio spoke again.

  ‘Excellent and of course, Admiral you have my thanks as I am looking forward to this meal after the weeks on that fast shuttle out to this forward zone. Now Omerio I understand you recently were away again in your small ship and I would like to know more about what you reported back to us…’

  Omerio secured a glass of his favourite drink and a plateful of food as he sat back for a moment before speaking. Both Baredio and Stiderio leaned forward with interest and favoured him with a patience glance before he spoke.