Sisterhood of Suns: Pallas Athena

by Martin Schiller

  Felecia nodded, clearly excited at being in the control cabin. “You know, I have never been up in front like this before. I have always been in the back, or in a stateroom. Where is our escort? Where’s the convoy? Shouldn’t they be here by now?”

  Maya hesitated, and glanced up at Sarah questioningly. When the woman nodded her assent, Maya answered Felecia’s question. “Well, you see, Felecia, we don’t actually have an escort or a convoy. We go it alone.”

  “What?!” Felecia replied in alarm. “No escort? No other ships? How in the Mother’s name can we do that? How can we even get into Null?”

  “That’s the JUDI’s little secret,” Bel Lissa told her. “We have our own Null-wings, and ‘special’ defenses to deal with the Indies. You’ll see.”

  “Yah,” Zara added warningly, “and now that you know about it, you’ll have to keep your silence, or we’ll make you walk the plank.”

  Felecia looked more confused than ever, and Maya calmed her. “Don’t listen to Zara,” she said. “There’s no ‘plank’, but it is something that you’ll have to keep quiet about. And don’t worry, we’ve done this before many times, and we’ll get through Null just fine.”

  “So hold on tight, me hearties!” Zara cackled, “We’re weighing anchor and setting sail in search of buried treasure! Aaaarrrr!” Even Sarah laughed as she started to focus energy into the Null-wings.

  ***

  Their passage through Null proved both exhilarating and terrifying for Felecia.

  “Oh Maya!” she said breathlessly as they flew under an arch made of crimson gases. “It is spectacular! I never imagined that Null was so exquisite! I’d always thought it to be somewhat dull-looking. I can see now why you became a nulltrekker.”

  “It is amazing,” Maya agreed. “Don’t let its looks fool you though, it’s also very dangerous.”

  “Yes,” Felecia replied. “The Indwellers. Do you think… do you think we’ll actually see one?” There was a distinct note of fear in her voice.

  “As a matter of fact, we will--right now,” Bel Lissa answered. “Sarah, we have two, no make that three Indies closing from heading 270.5.14 You should see them at about your 02:91 position.”

  “Confirmed,” Sarah replied. “I also sense a fourth and a fifth somewhere below us, contemplating an ambush while the other three distract us.”

  Maya glanced at the displays and saw that the Indies were closing the distance rapidly. And the temperature, which had already dropped when they had entered Null, was plummeting rapidly.

  “Initiating evasive action,” Bel Lisa said, steering the JUDI on a course away from the oncoming creatures. Sarah meanwhile, had closed her eyes and was beginning to concentrate.

  Seeing this, Felecia clasped Maya’s arm. “What is she doing?” the girl asked, mystified.

  “Getting ready to fight,” Maya told her.

  By now, the Indwellers had drawn close enough for them to register visually on the JUDI’s sitscreens, and Felecia squeaked in fright. Maya took her hand, but she also kept her eyes on the engine power just in case they needed the additional energy for the ship’s weapons.

  Then Sarah let out a small breath and the two Indies that were below them abruptly broke off and flew away in opposite directions. This did not stop the other three however, and the woman’s brow knotted in concentration as she pushed at them with her talents. Although this made the trio of black forms slow down, it didn’t stop them. They kept coming.

  Sarah pushed again, and this time it had an effect. The largest of the Indwellers halted and its form shuddered. As sweat broke out on Sarah’s brow, the thing suddenly folded over, and then shot away into the clouds. This still left the final pair, and suddenly it was Bel Lissa’s turn to defend the ship.

  “Maximum power to the forward guns, now!” she commanded.

  Maya let go of Felecia and quickly entered in the command to the reactors. The instant that their power level peaked, Bel Lissa fired at the nearest Indweller, hitting it squarely in the center of its mass.

  An unearthly howl reverberated through the entire ship as the JUDI’s energy guns ripped a hole in the thing. It tried to continue moving forwards, but as it did, the guns continued to do their work, tearing a long ragged gash, and finally, the creature was forced to ascend.

  Only the third and last Indweller remained, and although it took multiple hits from the guns, it continued to come at them.

  “Maya,” Sarah said. “Come here. I need your help!” Maya unbuckled immediately and hurried over to her.

  “Take my hand,” Sarah instructed. “Concentrate on the last Indweller. Push out at it with your talents. Imagine that your fist is hitting it in the center of its body.”

  The moment that she made contact with Sarah, Maya could see the Indweller through her eyes. More than ever, she could also sense its absolute malevolence, and she did her best to ignore this as she put all of her will into her visualization.

  “That did it!” Bel Lissa declared. “That sent it running.”

  Maya opened her eyes. The thing was speeding away from them, trying to catch up with its companions.

  “It is like that sometimes,” Sarah said to her with a weak smile. “They do not always react the way I want them to, and there were many more this time than I normally deal with. Thank you for helping me.” She seemed paler than usual, and Maya felt a stab of concern.

  “I will be fine,” Sarah assured her. “A moment to collect myself is all that I need. Go back to your station.” The girl left her and rejoined Felecia, who looked equally wan.

  “T-that was terrifying,” Felecia stammered. “I-I don’t know how you can stand to do this all the time. They were so evil. They--they hated us!”

  “It’s the price we pay for taking a short-cut through the universe,” Bel Lissa explained. “The locals don’t welcome visitors.”

  Felecia nodded, and then leaned in close to Maya. “Maya?” she said in a small voice, “Can you help me....please?”

  Maya looked down, and saw what was wrong and then glanced over to Zara. “Lady Felecia needs my help. Are you good here?”

  “Yah, girl. Go take care of her.”

  Maya helped Felecia unbuckle, then assisted her down the ladder. The girl was red-faced with shame, and Maya tried not to look at the dark urine stain between her legs. When they reached the correct stores locker, she helped her find another jumpsuit and showed her to the bathroom with as much dignity and tact as was possible.

  The life of a nulltrekker wasn’t for everyone.

  ***

  Sarah waited until Maya had descended from the control cabin with Felecia before she allowed herself the luxury of a private smile. Although the Indwellers had attacked the JUDI in greater numbers than usual, it hadn’t been anything that she couldn’t have handled and had handled many times before. Enlisting Maya’s assistance had forced the girl to act out of loyalty and a sense of teamwork; two qualities that she had never bothered to nuture. Whether she realized it or not, Maya was changing, and being changed, one step at a time.

  The Goddess wills the way, she reflected, but it is our hand that brings that Will to fruition.

  More than ever, she was certain of what the cards had predicted for Maya, and had she been able, she would have thanked the Indies for the part that they had unwittingly played in helping this to become reality.

  CHAPTER 12

  USSNS Pallas Athena, In Space-Dock, Rixa Naval Base, Rixa, Belletrix System, Pantari Elant, United Sisterhood of Suns, 1043.02|22|03:39:13

  A golden statue of the goddess Athena stood in a niche behind Lilith’s chair in the ship’s conference room. One-quarter life-size, the figure was old, having been created over three hundred years earlier, when the Pallas Athena had still been a new ship. It had been given to the crew by a master craftswoman as a token of gratitude for saving her planet during the Second Widow’s War.

  Lilith let her eyes travel over the figure, drinking in its rich detail. Whoever the model had been for
the statue, the artist had chosen her well, she decided. Beneath the armored headdress, the goddesses’ eyes seemed to exude all of the patience and wisdom in the universe.

  Although Lilith worshiped Selene, the goddess of lunar change, it was at times like these that she made a special point to pay homage to her ship’s divine patroness. Activating a small votive holocandle at the figure’s feet, she whispered a prayer to the guardian of ancient Athens to watch over the ship as she always had. Then she turned and took her seat to await her officers.

  Katrinn and Mearinn filed in first, followed by Dr. elle’Kaari, Ellyn n’Dira, Col. Lislsdaater, Bel Sarra and finally, Erin taur Minna. In addition, Lilith had invited Captain Veera t’Gwen, the chief of the Athena’s Internal Security Detachment to join them.

  “Ladies,” Lilith said after everyone had taken their seats, “to put it mildly, this has been an eventful week. Between the body that was found on deck 12 and the tragic incident in Ord Stores, I have to say, that I for one, am quite glad that we are shipping out. I don’t think I could tolerate any more of the ‘peace and quiet’ that we’ve enjoyed here in space dock.” There was a smattering of laughter around the room before Lilith continued.

  “As you all know, we have been given a unique assignment to undertake. Although we have been on many missions, I doubt that any of them will compare with the demands that this one may put on us, on our crews, or our respective ships.’

  “Our first port of call will be Thenti, the Territorial Capitol, and our next leg will be determined from there, based on the local situation. Although, goddess willing, certain portions of our patrol may be uneventful, I want each of you to make sure that your people are at full readiness at all times. We cannot predict when or where we may be called upon to respond in an emergency.’

  “In addition, because of the risk of interference by dissident elements, I will be relying on each of you to maintain a high state of vigilance and work closely with Captain t’Gwen and her Security Patrolwomen. Captain, do you have any special remarks that you’d like to make?”

  The platinum blond nodded. “Yes, I do” she replied, “One of our major concerns will be access to our ships and the transport shuttles serving them. All passengers will be checked, and entry aboard any vessel will only be granted with the proper identification. We will also be scrutinizing any supplies transported aboard and keeping a watch on any civilian visitors, regardless of rank or position.’

  “In addition to our normal shore patrol, my girls will also provide protective detachments for any officers going downside. I realize that all of this might seem quite extreme, but given the uncertain political climate in the Territory, my department feels that these measures are necessary, and we will do all that we can to make sure that our presence is as unobtrusive as possible. Thank you.”

  “Thank you, Captain,” Lilith said. “I know that everyone here understands the need for these steps and will provide you with any assistance you require.”

  Then she addressed the others. “Captain t’Gwen will be in charge of the Battle Group’s overall security forces, and she will meet with the heads of security for the Artemis and Demeter and work with them to see to it that our combined efforts are in sync. Col. Lislsdaater, I know that I don’t need to ask for your military policewomen to assist in this effort.”

  Lislsdaater smiled. “It will be our pleasure, Commander.” Her MP’s worked hand in hand with the naval security women as a matter of routine, and Lilith knew that she could count on them, and their commander, to help wherever they were needed to get the job done.

  “Well, then, unless anyone else has some special details that we need to go over, I think we can consider this briefing over,” Lilith announced.

  No one spoke up and Lilith rose from her place. “Let’s make preparations to get under weigh. Have your Helmsmistresses set their course for Thenti. I want transit to Null in 1 hour.”

  Thenti City, Sagana Territorial Capitol, Thenti, Sagana System, Sagana Territory, United Sisterhood of Suns, 1043.02|22|05.20.25

  Thenti was an airless rock, one of twelve satellites that orbited around a central gas giant. It was far from barren though. Lilith gazed out of the Territorial Manager’s Office onto a bizarre landscape made of solid rock whose shapes suggested strange alien creatures and fluid, abstract forms.

  One stone reminded her of a humanoid figure, but with a wildly distorted and mushroom-shaped head. Another looked like a sand beast from the desert world of Razka, complete with its deadly razor–spines, and its neighbor seemed like a woman trying to shield her ears from a scream that only she could hear.

  The formations had been created by some geologic process that was utterly unknown to her, and stretched out and away from the view port at until their individuality was lost in the sheer confusion of their numbers and the harsh interplay of light and shadow.

  “Thenti’s ‘Stone People’ can be quite enthralling,” her host said. Marylyn ebed Terri handed her a glass of Corrissan tea and joined her her at the view port. “As one might expect, after several generations of colonists, there are also many tales told about them. One story is about a woman who went out among them and became so enchanted that she fell under their spell and actually turned to stone herself.’

  “Some of the older miners even swear that the stones will come alive when you’re out among them long enough. They even say that if you’re clever like one woman, I think her name was Fionn n’Cara, and you learn their secret names, they’ll lead you to their treasure hoard. Fanciful little tales, wouldn’t you say?”

  “Yes,” Lilith agreed, taking a sip. “Quite.” The tea was exquisite, and without parallel except for the teas of her motherworld. “We had similar stories back on Ara. It was very much like Thenti, although we had an atmosphere. Thank you for the tea, by the way.”

  “My pleasure, Commander. We’re really quite grateful for the Athena’s visit,” Ebed Terri said. “Aside from the danger that the Hriss pose, especially with our mineral resources, I was hoping that you’d be able to aid us in sorting out a local problem.”

  Lilith turned to face her. “And that problem is, Governess?”

  “Please, Commander, the title is not official yet,” Ebed Terri demurred, “Madame Manager, or just Marylyn will do. The ruling to declare us the 12th Elant is still waiting for the Chairwoman’s signature, and that’s heady enough for this old miner.”

  As a naval officer who dealt with colonial affairs on a regular basis, Lilith understood the situation perfectly. Becoming an elant, a state, wasn’t easy or automatic by any means.

  First, viable colonies had to exist and they had to produce a marketable resource of some kind. They also had to have become at least 50 percent self-sustaining within two generations of their founding.

  Then, the colonies had to agree to merger with their neighbors under the management of a single member colony, and apply for membership as a territory.

  Once this license was granted, the final challenge came when the territory petitioned to become a permanent elant. In order to qualify, the prospective state had to possess Articles of Constitution that were the equal of the Concordance, boast a population of no less than 80,000 souls, have an official capital, and elected representatives who met there on a regular basis. If all this was accomplished, and the Supreme Circle and the Chairwoman ratified the petition, then statehood, with full representation within the Circle, would be awarded.

  Even though Thenti and her sister worlds had surmounted all of these hurdles and was on the verge of achieving their goal, a serious local issue could undo everything and bring their space under the interim governance of an appointed committee. And few territories emerged from under the talons of such committees very quickly. Thanks to a trade war between two of its worlds and mutual embargoes, the petition by the Artemi Territories had floundered for decades before it had finally been granted full elant status. This was not a lesson easily forgotten by any group of worlds hoping for greater things.


  “Very well, Marylyn,” Lilith replied, “What can we help you with?”

  “Storm and Siren,” the Manager said, calling up a holo and zooming in on two worlds in the Agleope system. “The women on these two planets have been at odds with one another for years. It all started over a lost minebot, with one party claiming that the other one stole it. There was a counter-accusation about mining rights being violated, and it went downside from there.’

  “Recently, things have gotten worse. Neither planet officially acknowledges the other and both of them are claiming sovereignty over the Agleope system. Each planet sends its own representative to the Territorial House and both of them have claimed the same seat. We’ve even had to have the women ejected from the floor on several occasions.

  “That’s in addition to having everything from personal duels, to near-battles between mining parties. Nothing major, mind you, but enough to be a constant headache for the Territorial Marshals.’

  “Now, to make things even worse, a group of scientists from Siren have turned up missing during an unauthorized trip to Storm. Siren is charging Storm with kidnapping, and Storm is charging Siren with trespassing and espionage. It’s a glorious mess. We’ve tried to mediate, but neither party will make the slightest concession. I was hoping that a more… official…intervention might knock some sense into their heads.”

  “A glorious mess, indeed,” Lilith agreed. “I don’t know how much a warship can do to help heal this breach, but we were sent out here to try and consolidate things against a possible Hriss incursion. I can’t promise you a miracle, but we’ll certainly see what we can accomplish.’

  “By the way, what was the scientific team doing on Storm in the first place? That would seem to be a rather perilous venture, given the state of local politics.”