by S. H. Jucha
“I’m so sorry,” Teague said into Ginny’s pile of blonde curls.
* * *
Word circulated quickly across the fleet. The Swei Swee refused Alex’s request for a truce. Those who crossed Alex’s path were tapped by their fellow crew members and asked for a visual of their leader. Nearly everyone expected to witness dejection, mirrored in a strained face and weary steps. Instead, they were surprised, but pleased, to see an energetic Alex, who frequently disappeared into the Rêveur’s lab. The odd thing was that none of the humans were receiving any information or visuals from the lab or its goings-on. Unbeknownst to the crew, the SADEs ensured that.
It was two days after Alex’s meeting with the Celus-5 Swei Swee when Reiko called for a conference of the entire fleet’s principals. It was to be held in the Sojourn’s meeting amphitheater, the only place with enough seats to accommodate everyone.
Alex and the Rêveur’s people entered the amphitheater near the start time. Captain Lumley headed for the dais and the table where Reiko, Asu, and Willem sat. Alex scanned the front rows, but every seat was filled.
Alex looked up at the table and caught Reiko’s eye. The captain nodded her head toward the empty seat next to her, and Alex bussed Renée quickly before he strode toward the dais. He eschewed the steps on either side of the stage and leapt up the meter to the platform.
A group of Confederation SADEs, near the front, rose as one and proceeded to move to the amphitheater’s rearward rows, and Julien guided Alex’s people to take their places, sending his thanks to those who saved the seats.
Alex sat between Reiko and Asu, well aware that he was seated in the central position. “So who starts?” he asked, glancing left and right.
Willem nodded and stood up. “I’m speaking for Captain Azasdau and myself, as the original mission co-commanders. We believe the exploratory mission should continue, but we also believe this decision should be taken in concert with the many other ideas being circulated. This planet represents an incredible find of biodiversity and intelligent life. We would be remiss not to complete our original purpose for coming here.”
Asu replaced Willem, standing to add a few words of his own, stating that the mission’s crew, despite the loss of its two members, was in favor of continuing the research. In fact, it was because of the deaths of their friends that they didn’t want to leave without completing the work they had traveled light-years to perform.
Reiko was next. “I find myself in a difficult position,” she said. “I was given superior mission command to facilitate a rescue of the Sojourn and its crew, although some huge man and his compatriots seem to have taken care of that for me.” Reiko’s comments brought a ripple of laughter from the audience.
“The Tanaka is capable of the defense of the skies and nearby space,” Reiko continued. “We’re not outfitted to deploy a land-based force to maintain the peace between warring factions of Dischnya and prevent the hunting of Swei Swee. If the Sojourn votes to stay, then the Tanaka will remain to protect the ship, but only if the ground problems can be resolved to my satisfaction.”
Alex’s forearms rested on the table, and his face was stoic. The reminder of Reiko’s eminent position was throwing hot plasma at his plans.
Winston rose from his audience seat. “If you don’t know her, this is Trixie,” he said, introducing the blue-faced SADE next to him. “She speaks for the Confederation SADEs, Ser Racine, except for the SIF directors, who are nonetheless sympathetic to their viewpoint.”
Trixie rose and tipped her head to the front table. Her orange hair, pulled into a ponytail, swung forward, and she tossed her head to swing it over her shoulder. “We like this planet, Ser Racine. The SADEs who have recently immigrated to Haraken have shared their disappointment with the rest of us. They lament that they don’t inhabit your sphere of influence, Ser, and haven’t experienced the world-shaking events of your eight SADEs.”
Alex was about to object to Trixie referring to the original Haraken SADEs as belonging to him, but she had already rolled on.
“Understandably, Ser, you don’t view them in that manner, and we find that commendable, but they know they’re unique and have earned a place in Haraken society. It’s not the same for us. We’re merely oddly appearing immigrants, and many of us now see our choice of avatars as an excess of celebration.” Trixie raised her bare, blue arms, swung her orange ponytail, and smiled to accentuate her point.
“Our decision to follow you, Ser, and help with the rescue of the mission personnel has led to the discovery of a world full of opportunity. Here on Celus-5, all Harakens are aliens, no matter our appearances. In your role as Dassata, you’ve encountered intransigence with the Dischnya and the Swei Swee, who expect proof of your commitment before they will take further steps toward a peaceful coexistence. The Confederation SADEs stand ready to help you achieve your purposes.”
“Are you aware that we’ve learned of a third dominant species on this planet?” Alex asked. It was a rhetorical question, but he wanted it out in the open.
“Yes, Ser,” Trixie replied. “And we understand that it’s not known the extent of this species’ intelligence.”
“And since we’ve barely explored a small percentage of the land mass and known waters, it’s entirely possible that we might discover more intelligent life. There’s a distinct possibility that the oldest of these might ask us to leave their world alone, and we would have no choice but to accede to their wish.
“This too is understood, Ser, but, if not this world, there’s always an opportunity for another.”
With that reply, another piece of Alex’s puzzle clicked into place, and he smiled at the electric blue face.
Trixie beamed back at Alex, recognizing that what she had said resonated with the human, who was a significant asset in her and the other SADEs achieving freedom. She received a comm from every SADE, congratulating her on her choice of words. Trixie thought back to the vids she had reviewed in the Rêveur’s library. So much of her reasoning and phrasing originated from those stories, and she was determined to possess a copy of the entire collection, as soon as she had a sufficiently large enough data storage location.
“Let’s return to your earlier statement, Trixie,” Alex said. “How can the new SADEs help the peace progress?”
“It’s obvious to us that you must leave, Ser.” When Alex raised an eyebrow at her, Trixie explained by saying, “Analysis of the present situation reveals that you’re without sufficient resources to accomplish your aims. Simple deductive reasoning indicates that you’ll leave to gain those resources and return.”
“Had you considered the possibility that I might leave and not return?”
“Yes, Ser. The probabilities were deemed too small to give it any consideration.” When the audience laughed, Trixie looked around her, returning her bright smile. She hadn’t meant to be humorous, and the audience’s response to her words would require further attention, at a later time.
“It’s our intention to remain here, Ser, and ensure, in your name, that the queens wait for your return without engaging in further conflict. We’ll protect the Swei Swee and preserve the mission’s safety.” On the last note, Trixie directed her focus at Captain Shimada to underline the SADEs would provide the ground-based security the captain desired.
“I’m informed by Captain Shimada that stun guns are in short supply. The majority of the SADEs would be vulnerable to the Dischnya’s slug-throwing weapons,” Alex said.
“If I may, Ser,” Miranda said, rising from her seat. “If the mission and the new SADEs stay, Z and I will remain too. We’ve studied your style and know that our constant presence at the hives will do much to keep the queens patient. We’re confident that we can manage the tru
ce while you’re gone, providing, of course, that you’re not gone too long.”
“You’re aware, Ser, of our avatars’ capabilities,” Trixie said, alluding to the strength and speed that few humans were privy to. “Even unarmed, we can deter the initial instances when the Dischnya stray from the truce.”
“Well, Captain Shimada, it would appear that you have the floor for the first response,” Alex said.
“If our new SADEs, plus Z and Miranda, are willing to remain, protect the mission, and preserve the peace, then the Sojourn’s exploration can proceed, and the Tanaka will stay until relieved or recalled.”
“I have one final question before we figure out who’s staying and who’s going,” Alex said. “The question is for you, Trixie, and your companions. If we discover that Harakens can live on this planet, what do you intend to do here?” Alex watched Trixie enter a fugue, which suggested she was being inundated with comm exchanges between her fellow SADEs.
“Your pardon, Ser,” Trixie said, apologizing for the delay. “The concepts are too numerous to enumerate, but the overarching request is to build a city.”
“What type of city?” Alex asked, suspicious of seeing a reconstruction of the cubicle buildings the SADEs built on Haraken.
“A city that would welcome all intelligent beings,” Trixie said. “Those who live on Haraken recognize the mistake of isolating themselves. On Celus-5, humans, Dischnya, Swei Swee, and SADEs would all be welcome.”
“Is that the extent of your list?” asked Alex, a smile quirking one side of his mouth.
Trixie grinned in reply. “Ser Racine is, as usual, thinking of the future. Our new city would be open to any and all peaceful, intelligent species that Dassata discovers.”
“Good to hear, Trixie,” Alex said, leaning back in his chair, crossing his arms, and giving her a broad smile.
Winston stood, as Trixie sat. “It’s the duty of the SIF directors to return to Méridien, despite our preference to join the others here. We’ll be aboard the Rêveur.”
The remainder of the meeting dissolved into exchanges of who was staying and who was going. In the end, Alex was carrying a meager number back with him. Franz would stay with the Tanaka, but Alex would get Svetlana. Mickey, Emile, Edmas, Jodlyne, the engineers, and the techs working in the lab would remain aboard the Rêveur.
Z with Miranda and Claude’s support transferred his collection of avatars to the Sojourn, where the two SADEs would stay. Claude was returning with Alex.
Julien, Cordelia, and the twins, of course, stayed with Alex.
* * *
The fleet took two days to reorganize, transferring people and equipment.
Immediately after the amphitheater meeting, Willem descended planetside with groups of SADEs, visiting each queen who had attended the Fissla and explaining Dassata was leaving to procure the resources he needed to fulfill his commitments. He told them that in the meantime Harakens would be stationed around the nests to ensure the truce. For the most part, the queens invited the Harakens to live inside and were surprised when Willem said they would remain outside. “Be aware, these Harakens can call our ships at any time,” he told them, tapping his temple.
Four SADEs were left on the perimeter of each nest, requiring a full 164 of their number. The only queens who required some persuasion were those seven who refused to attend the Fissla. Z led the entourage for the visits to the seven recalcitrant queens and was often required to yank a lookout’s locked tunnel hatch from its hinges.
In four cases, the soma immediately obeyed the Harakens’ request to speak to the queen, who recognized when she was outmatched by the aliens. But, in three situations, the warriors fought with intensity, and the SADEs backed off. Extra SADEs were deployed at those three nests, and each one carried a stun gun, which, over the course of time, was used frequently to discourage warriors, who foolishly executed forays during the night against their minders, expecting the aliens to be unaware of them in the dark.
Z, Miranda, and Trixie kept in constant contact with the SADEs planetside to ensure the peace was being maintained. It was noted that not one group of hunters from Tawas Soma or Mawas Soma made for the shores. Nyslara and Homsaff were honoring their promises to Dassata.
It was the nest lookouts who were the most perplexed by the Harakens. Through their scopes, they watched the individuals stand their posts, never moving, except for their heads, which slowly and constantly swiveled from one side to the other. They stood there, silent and unmoving, enduring the day’s heat, the night’s cold, and the occasional rains and dust storms.
Since the SADEs were completely engaged with the nests, Reiko employed three travelers to guard the shores. The ships hovered above the shoreline at each of the three bays Alex proclaimed as protected, pointed bow first toward the plains and clearly visible to the lookouts of the six closest nests.
Reiko needn’t have been concerned. There was no intention among the queens of the Fissla to hunt the ceena. As far as they were concerned, Dassata was more intimidating than the alien ships.
-29-
Haraken
When the Rêveur left the planet’s orbit, Captain Lumley set a course inward toward Celus so that Alex could conduct the star services for Edward and Ullie. Julien broadcast the event to the fleet, as the crystal-canopied coffins were ejected from the bay, and the Harakens sent their first offerings to fuel the system’s star.
Edward’s services hit Alex particularly hard. The Harakens received only a few Earthers, a handful of elderly scientists and one ex-commodore, and it was unlikely that their society, in his lifetime, would benefit from other Sol emigrants. Now that precious number was one less.
Immediately after the services, Alex gathered some key individuals in the captain’s cabin — Renée, Julien, Cordelia, Francis, Mickey, Emile, and the twins — and explained his plan on returning to Celus-5.
“I’m confused, Alex,” Mickey said. “Are you saying you intend to live permanently on that planet?”
Alex glanced at his partner, who smiled warmly at him.
Renée sent.
“I don’t think I’ll be living anywhere, permanently, for a long time, Mickey. I thought after my presidency ended that I could enjoy some retirement time, but that seems to have been a nice daydream.”
“It’s those dark travelers, isn’t it?” Emile asked. “I’ve heard the stories from just about every ex-crew member that ever served with you. They’re haunted by their memories of that massive sphere too.”
When Alex agreed with Billings, Étienne asked, “Are we going hunting, Ser?”
“Eventually, I will. We have Cordelia’s original vector from Libre, and we have a known point where the Nua’ll sphere stopped, namely Celus-5. If there remain records on Celus-4, kept by the Dischnya, we might get a vector toward their previous location, possibly their home world.”
“The odds of that are quite improbable, Alex,” Cordelia said.
“Yes, yes, they are,” Alex admitted. “But consider this: What if the sphere’s message home warned of a powerful enemy? What weapons do you think a second sphere would carry when it arrived in the Confederation, years from now? And remember that it’s Haraken that lies on the Confederation’s periphery and is the first in line with the sphere’s previous approach vector. I would rather spend my life hunting the Nua’ll than waiting for them to arrive in our home system, carrying even more incredible technological prowess.”
&n
bsp; There was no assailing Alex’s argument, which silenced everyone. When Alex thought he’d given them enough time to absorb his plan, he interrupted the quiet. “There’s one important point here. This is the path that I’m choosing. No one in this room, save for my lovely and delectable partner,” to which Renée stood and delivered an impromptu curtsy, “should feel a need to follow me.”
Alex’s statements were met with soft laughter, which ignited others, and soon the entire room was roaring loudly, except for Julien and Cordelia, who merely wore wide grins and were incapable of the tears pouring from faces of those laughing hardest. The only exceptions to the demonstration were Renée and Emile.
When the room quieted, Alex said, “A simple affirmation of your intent would have sufficed,” but his quiet grin showed his appreciation of their support. “I take it that you’re out, Emile.”
“Oh, no,” the biochemist replied. “I just wasn’t sure whether it was appropriate for me to laugh, but I’m definitely following you. Too much happens in your wake not to want to be part of it.”
Emile’s comment drew more laughter and smiles from the room full of friends.
“There’s the small matter of a significantly sized labor force, materials, equipment, et cetera, the usual civilization-starter items, which would be required to construct and crew a powerful military expedition, which could take on the Nua’ll home world. One can only imagine the forces that might surround their system,” Julien said.
“Yes, I was thinking on that, my friend, and I’m glad you brought it up. Just how many credits do the Exchange directors have? I might need to borrow some.”
Julien was sure that Alex’s question was meant to elicit a conversation, but he wasn’t sure what direction it would take. So, he waited.
“Furthermore, how much do you think the Assembly would charge me for a used city-ship?” Alex grinned at his friend and slapped his shoulder with such a resounding thwack that even the New Terrans shuddered, as the sound reverberated throughout the room. “Meeting’s over, people, keep the news to yourselves,” Alex said, as he exited the cabin.
