by C. M. Kane
The two men nodded formally to each other as Tae continued looking at the assembled Warriors.
‘I gather you’re all part of Loki’s contingent?’ She looked back at Brohan who nodded. She turned serious as she faced the men. ‘Please listen closely,’ she said addressing them all. ‘The name of the ship you are on is Brightmoon. She is a living ship, and is, for all intents and purposes, sentient, so please do not attempt to take, steal, or damage anything you know you shouldn’t while you’re onboard. I won’t like it, but more importantly, she won’t, and I have the feeling she will reprimand you severely should you try. This is the only condition I place on you while you’re onboard. Well that, and you don’t try to harm myself or any of my crew, do I have your word?’ She asked seriously.
‘You do,’ said both Tark and Sergeant Mara immediately.
‘I will vouch for them,’ said Brohan trying to hide his confusion. Living, Sentient, How? ‘They are men of honor and will behave as such, I give you my word.’
Tae smiled ‘That’s more than enough, now if you wait a minute I’ll organize someone to show your men to the mess hall while they wait for you.’ She looked up at Brohan again then leant up and kissed his cheek. ‘I’ve missed you so much, we’ll have breakfast together, I really need to talk to you.’
Brohan smiled. ‘Of course.’ He watched as Tae turned and strode off to speak with two men, with feathers instead of hair! Damn, great Warrior I am, sharp as a bloody tack! He thought disgustedly, he had been so busy ogling everything else he hadn’t really noticed the people in the hanger itself, and from the looks of it he wasn’t the only one. His men were openly gawping; there was simply no other word for it.
‘They’re Tuvarnans,’ Adam said in amusement.
‘Tuvarnans?’ repeated Brohan as the others also turned to stare at Adam.
‘The Gods had thought their entire species to be extinct, killed by Hera, until they turned up with Tae and Brightmoon; interesting aren’t they,’ he grinned.
Adam watched the reactions of Warriors with amusement, they were openly gaping before Brohan quickly reigned himself in and stood at attention. He noticed every Warrior with him did the same, although their eyes never stopped going over what they were seeing. Well disciplined, Adam thought, and this Brohan seemed to exude dignity, it was no wonder both Tae and these Warriors followed him, there was something both noble and fearless in his manner. His thoughts were interrupted by Tae returning with two of the Tuvarnans, both young men.
‘Brohan, this is Dishon and Rallein. ‘Dishon, Rallein, this is, Commander Brohan and his men, they are Lord Loki‘s personnel,’ she said in introduction. ‘Dishon and Rallein will be taking your men to the mess hall while we talk if that’s ok?’
Brohan nodded and the two young men escorted his men off towards a turbo lift located further along the Hanger. Adam then lead them to a small conference room, he had already ordered food and drink to be placed in it after Tae’s original invitation.
Tae sat and looked straight at Brohan. ‘Well I guess I better fill you in then,’ she said sheepishly. Then she related the whole story, starting with her flight from the Olympus, her capture by Ares and subsequent escape, followed by finding Brightmoon and Cassandra, and everything that happened after that. When she finished she just looked to Brohan for guidance.’
Brohan sat silently, his face an inscrutable mask as he thought over everything he had just been told; finally he looked up at Tae. ‘And if you should find this Felice and defeat the Titans, what happens then?’
Tae stared at him dumbstruck; this wasn’t the answer she had expected. ‘Huh?’
‘If everything goes according to the plan you have mapped out in that head of yours, what then?’ repeated Brohan, looking at her closely.
‘I don’t know, we’ll all be safe I suppose,’ she replied, frowning at her mentors tone. Was he angry with her?
Brohan shook his head, ‘Tae, do you honestly think that the Gods will allow a seventeen year old woman to control the most powerful ship in their realms? Be serious girl, nothing will have changed. They will still want control of this ship. In fact, if what you have told me about the Titans is true, they will probably be thinking up a plan to take her from you as we speak, as would I if I were them,’ he added.
Tae frowned, ‘I should have explained more fully to you, I’m not a fool Brohan, I know they’ll want Brightmoon even more now; that’s why I need your advice. I took off originally to buy some time. My plan was to find this Felice stuff and give it to them, along with what Cassandra had told me. I thought this would give me a good bargaining platform from which to approach the subject of my staying with Brightmoon somehow. You know; earn their gratitude a bit more by giving them a decent winning chance. Unfortunately I have the feeling I’m never going to find it without their help. So with that as my alternative I’ve managed to come up with a bit of a plan, but for it to have a chance of working, I think I’m going to need your participation, to smooth the way for me so to speak’
Brohan eyed her warily, ‘I have given my oath to Lord Loki, Tae, I will not break it under any circumstances. Having said that, what did you have in mind?
Tae’s brow furrowed in thought, she was aware Brohan would never compromise his honor, it was one of the reasons she respected him so much. ‘I need you to talk to both Zeus and Loki for me. I need you to convince them that I am genuine in what I am about to tell them. In short, I need you to tell them I am coming to negotiate the surrender of Brightmoon to them.’
‘But from what you have told me Brightmoon won’t accept anyone else,’ he said suspiciously, ‘how do you intend to get around that little hurdle.’
Tae grinned and told him her idea. Brohan smiled and shook his head as she laid out her plan to him. ‘You’re far cleverer than even I have ever given you credit for, and yes, I think that it might have a chance at working, if I can calm everyone down before you arrive with your list of requests. But Tae,’ he said seriously. ‘This is something you’re really going to have to work out with them, so don’t let that temper of yours rule you. I understand why you did what you did in taking off, and believe it or not I agree with your reasoning. If Lord Zeus would have taken immediate control of Brightmoon it could have been a disaster of epic proportions, especially given he might not have listened to anything you had to say. Arrogance amongst the Gods is a well known trait. By escaping you have given yourself breathing space to be able to negotiate in good faith, and from everything I know of both, Lords Zeus and Loki, both are honorable and will keep their word once it is given.’
He stopped and frowned in thought before continuing. ‘There’s something else to consider in this too, if Zeus has taken what you said to him to heart, you may also be dealing with a somewhat different God. I think you may have unleashed a formidable warrior and leader; don’t underestimate him, Tae, he will get Brightmoon one way or another, it’s now up to you to make sure it’s the right way. I will do all I can to help as soon as I return.’ He reached over and grabbed her hands, holding them gently in his own much larger ones.
‘You’re an amazing young woman, Tae; I only ask that you never forget the great burden you have been given with this ship. You hold in your hands a weapon of formidable power. I am only grateful that you have the sense and maturity to realize that the Gods haven’t done to bad a job ruling over us all these years.’ He shook his head. ‘It’s strange; even if they aren’t really “Gods” they always will be in my eyes. They were still instrumental in forming both ourselves and our societies. I have seen the vids of the Earth of the ancestors, and believe me, things would be a lot worse without them… that’s if we were even still alive. I feel like we owe them.’
‘Thank you,’ she breathed in relief. I’ve been thinking of home and how it’s changed since the Gods returned, as well as what happened to the Tuvarnans. I’m like you, I “know” that technically they’re just advanced aliens, but as you said, they formed us, they formed our way of life, and
overall it’s been pretty successful. I think that Hera was just an unfortunate anomaly. It’s what finally decided me on this course of action. I need to try to protect my crew, as well as Brightmoon. I think this is the only feasible solution left, and at least some good might come out of it for everyone if the Gods agree to my requests.’ With a final squeeze of her hands Brohan stood and looked to Adam.
‘Please summon my men, I better leave now and get this show on the road. I have the feeling that the less time the Gods have to make any plans concerning Tae and Brightmoon, the better.’ Tae nodded her head in agreeance and Brohan strode from the room, as he got to the door he turned back to her.
‘It’s a pity you aren’t a God, Tae, because I’d gladly follow you into to hell and back if that’s what you needed.’
‘Thank you, Brohan, the feeling is definitely mutual, trust me,’ she said softly. Then he was gone.
‘Now let’s just hope this plan of mine works,’ she looked at Adam who was still watching the now empty doorway lost in thought.
‘I honestly don’t think Brohan really comprehends what Brightmoon is truly capable of if she is taken from you forcibly… then again, maybe none of us do. That being said, he does seem to be a much wiser man than I had initially thought. I think with his help you will get the chance you need, Captain, either way the dye is now cast.’
***
Brohan seated himself once again in the pilot’s seat, he felt overwhelmed by all that Tae had confided in him. Although he couldn’t quite comprehend all that she had said, he quickly realized her plan for surrendering her ship to the Gods was sound. In fact it was the only way to ensure that no blood was shed and a lot of necessary changes were made, along with the added bonus of helping a friend in need. He grinned to himself, she had audacity he’d give her that. The Gods wouldn’t know what hit them once she arrived, of that he was sure.
He watched as Tark climbed into the seat beside him. ‘Well that was quick, but they didn’t have any blood on board so I couldn’t eat anyway, did you two have a good meeting?’ he asked curiously.
‘Let’s hope so,’ said Brohan as he started the Jumper then headed for the Hanger door. ‘I will need you and the others to keep your mouths closed about everything you may have learned about this ship until Tae meets with the Gods.’ He pursed his lips thinking. ‘You don’t have to lie to anyone, just tell everyone they can describe everything they saw, but that you and the others were taken to the mess hall while I went with Tae to a private meeting. Under no circumstances is anyone to say anything about Brightmoon being alive until after she has had her meeting, is that understood?’
Tarks eyes narrowed in suspicion but he nodded in agreeance. He knew enough of his new Commander to trust his orders implicitly. If Brohan wanted him to omit all that the woman Tae had said to them, then that was exactly what he’d do, besides, omitting something for a short time wasn’t lying, not to his way of thinking anyway. If people didn’t ask exactly what had been said to them then it wasn’t his job to tell them, that’s what he had a Commander for.
‘I’ll go and tell the others,’ he said as he got up, he paused glancing at the view-screen thoughtfully. ‘I wonder what those bird people taste like,’ he muttered as the Hanger doors closed behind them and they headed out of the ship.
Chapter 8
After Brohan left Tae went to her room, only to sit on her bed and stare at the blank wall. A small greedy part of her really didn’t want to do this. In fact it screamed at her to not let go of Brightmoon and all her power, but she knew both Brohan and her sensible half were right.
She was only seventeen; it would only be sheer arrogance on her own behalf that would allow her to think she was better suited to the roll of Captain than someone with decades more experience. No, she told herself sternly, there are lots of good people just like Brohan that had spent their whole lives working towards this opportunity. Wasn’t it only seven months ago she had hoped to be training as a tech aboard a ship? She had no real experience at command, and she had only a little working knowledge of ships and their crew structures and hierarchy. Yet, if she were honest with herself, a small part of her had just expected the Gods to allow her to keep the greatest ship in their realms, as if it were her right!
Oh by the Gods, the sheer arrogance! She fought her own rising shame at the secret expectations that her thoughts had bought her.
She stood and looked at herself in the mirrored door of her wardrobe for a long time. Slowly she raised her chin proudly. She hadn’t taken the weak, selfish course that her own vanity had demanded. Instead she had chosen the harder, but the far more righteous path of allowing Brightmoon and all her crew to have a future, and for other good people to have a chance at a far better life than the ones they had been born to. She had finally recognized that she was here to serve the Gods. Or, more correctly, she was here to serve their agenda of bringing peace to all their realms. She was not here to act like a spoilt demanding child. She would swallow her pride and go to Zeus because it was the right thing to do, for everyone. But she wouldn’t be going cap in hand, because once again she had a plan. She didn’t care about herself, but she had to ask for the safety of the people aboard the ship, as well as Brightmoon herself.
She hitched her shoulders up, she could do this; with Brohans help she could get the Gods to agree to a few simple requests that would change the course of at least two worlds and their peoples forever.
She took a deep breath and contacted Adam. ‘I’ll be on the bridge shortly, we will be going directly to Velonchos where I will hopefully, be putting both Brightmoon and myself under the control of Lord Zeus. I will need to address the crew before then, but first I need to work a few things out in my own mind.’
‘We’ll be ready Captain; I have everything we discussed organized and am ready for my part in your plan.’
Tae smiled to herself. ‘Excellent, let’s just hope that lady luck smiles upon us once more.’
A little later Tae strode onto the bridge for what she realized could be her last time. She had spent the last hour in her room going over all Cassandra had told her, and she had now come to some conclusions as to how she wanted to proceed.
As she sat she asked Dishon to open a ship wide channel so she could address the crew. When it was done she proceeded to tell them she was taking Brightmoon to Lord Zeus and placing her under his control. She told them that she wasn’t sure exactly what this would mean, but she had several concessions she intended to ask of him. She then outlined her plans to the crew, being as honest and forthright as she could. Before she signed off she told them she would be waiting an additional hour in case any, or all, wished to leave immediately, but at the end of the hour, Brightmoon would be heading straight for Velonchos.
Adam, had stood beside her the entire time she spoke, to make sure the crew knew of his obvious endorsement of her plan. Privately he was relieved she had taken this action, because if she hadn’t, he knew sooner or later violence would have been the only outcome for Brightmoon and her crew. He felt a great sense of responsibility for the remaining Tuvarnans; their race had suffered enough to last an eternity.
Tae looked around at her bridge crews questioning looks, ‘It’s the only way,’ she said softly. ‘As a good and wise friend pointed out to me, the Gods would never leave us alone while I was in charge. Sooner or later they would have attacked us, either destroying us, or forcing us to destroy them, along with all the good and decent people onboard their ships. I find I have done more than enough killing to last several lifetimes. I won’t risk anyone else’s life because I am too arrogant or stubborn to see sense. I only hope that Lord Zeus agrees to my terms.’ She sat down in the star chair and closed her eyes. ‘Please tell me when the hour is up, I need to talk to Brightmoon and try to explain what’s about to happen.’
‘Don’t worry Captain; we will let you know when it’s time,’ said Adam before he turned back to finish his own arrangements for what was to come.
Tae
settled down to try to reason with the ship, unfortunately this proved to be far more difficult than she had ever imagined, because simply put, Brightmoon didn’t like anything she had to say. She could feel the Dreadnaught start to become confused, enraged even, every time she tried to explain that she might have to leave, and that someone else might come aboard to Captain her. At one stage she even felt all of her pulse cannons switch to targeting ready before they started to swing around, as if in search of something, or someone, to fire upon. She quickly had to soothe the ship until it calmed a little. This saddened Tae greatly. Things had been progressing so well between herself and the ship up until that moment. Brightmoon now understood what she said when she spoke to her, and Tae now understood when Brightmoon talked to her in her mind, well most of the time, except when she was upset, like now. Now she could feel a strong sullen undercurrent coming from the Dreadnaught, followed by a disturbing burst of quickly disguised excitement. That was then followed by what Tae thought of as the ships “secretive mode”, where she started to actively disengage some of her thoughts from her.
This was going to be a problem, no matter which way she tried to approach the subject of a new Captain, Brightmoon would have none of it. As far as she was concerned Tae was it, and no-one else was going to get a look in. She sighed to herself; this wasn’t working, no matter which way she tried to approach it, and now, just to top things of, Brightmoon had started to actively ignore her. Tae thought the ship was in a “mood”, as her mother used to call Tae’s times when she wanted to be alone. She gave up trying to reason with her for the time being, deciding she would leave it and try to explain everything to Zeus and see what he said, she felt Adam touch her shoulder.
