by S. H. Jucha
“You heard about Herrick?” Alex asked in reply.
“Disappointing,” Miriam said, which about covered the Omnians’ reactions.
“We need to get to Artifice,” Alex stated, with disgust. “Sargut told us that its creators were concerned about Artifice’s power. Supposedly, they built some kind of protective measures to keep Artifice isolated.”
“First, we need to locate the entrance,” Mickey mused.
“Then we need to identify the traps in the tunnels,” Miriam added.
“Traps … plural. Good thinking, Miriam. We need that,” Alex said. “Contact Z. We’ll probably need shadows.”
* * *
Renée waited with Pia and her staff for the landing of the shuttle containing Homsaff and her warriors. The medical staff was particularly anxious about Hessan’s status.
“Are you sure, Renée?” Pia asked, eyeing the injector in her hand.
“Are you questioning Emile Billings’ technical expertise, and, therefore, thinking that my decision might be dubious?” Renée asked.
“That had occurred to me,” Pia replied, “but Emile hasn’t failed us yet. I know this variation hasn’t had a live test, but he’s satisfied with the lab work, and the SADEs verified his findings.”
“Then you’re questioning my right to make this decision,” Renée challenged. She’d said it quietly, but there was metal in her voice.
“Don’t you think you should discuss this with Alex?” Pia asked. “This is a pretty momentous decision.”
“How did we get here, Pia?” Renée asked, turning to lock eyes with her friend’s.
“Did you want the entire story?” Pia shot back. She regretted bringing up the subject, but she couldn’t help thinking that Alex should be part of the decision.
“I’m not challenging Alex’s leadership,” Renée replied, “but let’s remember that this expedition is financed by Omnia Ships.”
“And you own half the company,” Pia finished for Renée.
“That’s correct, and I’m exercising my right of ownership,” Renée said.
“Without talking to your partner,” Pia added. “Is this a test?”
“As Alex would say, you bet it is,” Renée replied and grinned. Pia smiled in return and nodded her acceptance.
Renée and Pia, with the medical staff, moved quickly through the airlock and into the bay. The first individuals off the shuttle were the crew members transporting an unconscious Hessan.
Renée spoke quickly with Homsaff, explaining what she wanted to do, and the queen assented immediately.
Pia pressed the injector into Hessan’s neck. The crew members stared at her, confused by her action and wondering what she’d given Hessan that they didn’t have available aboard the traveler. Pia motioned them ahead, and they hurried to get their charge to the medical suites.
Medical techs attended to the other wounded, and Pia followed them. She’d administer cell gen injections to all of them.
Homsaff, without a single warrior around her, stood on the deck. She was tired, her energy depleted, and the death of her warriors weighed heavily on her mind. But before she reported to medical, there was a critical discussion to take place. She spoke briefly to a crew chief, who directed her to the Freedom’s bridge.
Striding onto the bridge, Homsaff asked, “Admiral, may we speak?”
Tatia turned from her discussion with Cordelia. The fur on Homsaff’s head was disheveled. Blood from cuts splattered her environment suit, and it bore a series of temporary patches, indicating it had been holed several times. She carried her helmet under an arm, and it looked worse for wear than her suit.
“Certainly, Queen Homsaff,” Tatia replied respectfully. The thought crossed her mind that someone should have warned her of Homsaff’s approach. “Let’s talk in my quarters.”
After signaling the cabin door closed, Tatia sought to offer Homsaff water, food, a refresher — anything to help the queen, but Homsaff refused everything.
“I’m sorry for your losses, Homsaff,” Tatia offered. The entire fleet was aware of the death of the five warriors and Hessan’s critical condition.
“Thank you for the courtesy, Admiral,” Homsaff said, tipping her muzzle. “I’m here to discuss the future of the Dischnya.”
“I don’t think that’s an appropriate subject for us,” Tatia replied, surprised at the turn in the conversation.
“Did we not fight as a military force?” Homsaff asked.
“Yes,” Tatia replied.
“Are you not the leader of the military forces?” Homsaff pressed.
“Yes,” Tatia acknowledged.
“Did we not perform adequately on Toral?” Homsaff pursued.
“You and your warriors were exceptional,” Tatia replied. “Your leadership was inventive. It reminded me of watching Alex’s approach to problem solving.”
“Then you’re pleased with us,” Homsaff said, with an air of finality.
“Yes, absolutely,” Tatia replied. She felt as if she was being led down a path, but she couldn’t see where it was going.
“Ser de Guirnon has offered me and my warriors cell gen injections,” Homsaff said proudly, although its delivery was a comical contrast to her appearance. She would have loved to raise her tail in celebration, but it was wrapped down the inside of her suit.
Tatia was flummoxed by the announcement, “I … I hadn’t known,” she stammered. She wondered why she was suddenly out of the loop on critical decisions.
“I believe that the Dischnya must have implants, if they’re to be equal to Omnians. We’re not to be treated as wayward pups anymore,” Homsaff said, with determination.
“Do the warriors want them?” Tatia asked, trying to thread her way through the awkward subject. These decisions were Alex’s domain and forte.
“If they don’t, they won’t be part of my ground forces,” Homsaff declared. “My warriors have bled and died for Omnian goals and to protect human worlds. I’m demanding entrance to your society for the Dischnya. You can start with me and my warriors.”
Homsaff paused. Her tired eyes held a mixture of pain, shame, and anger, as she said, “I was forced to ask a crew chief where to find you. As a queen, that’s demeaning; as a military commander, that’s criminal.”
“The fact that you don’t have implants was the key reason you were an asset in this situation,” Tatia pointed out.
“That’s understood,” Homsaff agreed. “But our inability to communicate hurt our performance and got warriors killed. That can’t happen again. We’re either to be treated as equals, as Omnian citizens and as part of this force, or we return to Sawa Messa and we stay there.”
“That sounds like a threat,” Tatia said, bristling.
“Consider it a promise from a queen to an admiral,” Homsaff replied, matching Tatia’s temper. Her tail struggled to rise in her suit. It was a reflexive response to her anger.
“That makes it sound only a little less ominous,” Tatia remarked. Despite her own ire, the thought crossed her mind that Homsaff would make a fine ground forces general one day — or possibly a fleet admiral. She fought hard for the well-being of her troops.
Homsaff watched Tatia think on her request. She was hoping for this moment of self-reflection. It was time that the Dischnya weren’t seen as a lesser race to be protected.
“I must discuss your request with Alex,” Tatia said. She quickly held a hand to forestall Homsaff’s response. “I might be the fleet admiral who’s in charge of all forces, but this expedition is funded by Omnia Ships. If you wish to be paid for your military services, we’ll need Alex’s permission.”
“Payment is preferred,” Homsaff allowed, which brought a smile to Tatia’s face. It was quickly wiped away, when Homsaff said, “I’ll wait.”
Tatia would have asserted her authority and ordered Homsaff to stand down, except
that she realized the queen had been through a horrendous experience. Worse, she’d lost five of her troops and possibly a sixth. She stepped around her table, activated a holo-vid, and linked to Alex.
“Alex,” Tatia said, before Alex could reply. “I’m communicating to you through the holo-vid so that Queen Homsaff can participate in our conversation.”
“As we expected, Alex. Your concern for the Dischnya is known and appreciated,” Homsaff replied.
“I’ve been informed by Homsaff that Ser has offered the Dischnya cell gen injections,” Tatia said.
“Homsaff has a request, Alex. She wishes the Dischnya to have implants,” Tatia said.
“I seek to know if my request will be approved before I talk to the warriors,” Homsaff replied.
Tatia thought she had a way of stalling the discussion. She said, “I’ll speak to Emile, and we can revisit this conversation later.”
“Thank you, Alex,” Tatia said, and closed the comm link.
“Well, if Emile is working on Dischnya implants, it probably means that you’ll get them,” Tatia said.
“They’ll be available to us when Emile completes his work,” Homsaff allowed, “but it’s Dassata who will choose under what circumstances we’re allowed access to them.”
“Don’t you trust Alex?” Tatia asked. She couldn’t believe she had uttered that question.
“I trust Dassata to work to protect all benevolent species,” Homsaff replied. “How he accomplishes his tasks does not always suit every individual. We must remember that. Excuse me, Admiral, I must make myself presentable and see to my warriors.”
With those words, Homsaff spun and exited the cabin.
-35-
The Comm Sphere
“Problems?” Julien inquired, when Alex, who had been in the middle of a conversation, held up a finger and communicated with individuals via his implant.
“Growing pains … the Dischnya,” Alex replied enigmatically.
“Do the Dischnya have the pain, or are the Dischnya growing and Omnians are in pain?” Julien asked.
“I would imagine it’s a little of both,” Alex replied.
“I can commiserate,” Julien commented, having recently been braced by the Sisterhood to adopt a more prominent leadership role for the SADEs.
“And I’m happy to stick with engineering,” Mickey interjected.
“Patience, Mickey,” Miriam said. “Your time will come.”
Mickey glanced at Miriam. His horrified expression had the others laughing.
Alex was about to resume his conversation, when he received another comm call.
Alex was stunned. Renée’s suggestion was incredibly imaginative and yet simple in its nature. More important, it cured a massive problem that was forthcoming, and that he’d not given any thought to resolving.
Alex heard Renée’s throaty laughter.
Renée let Alex’s sending seep through her implant and flood her mind. She smiled at the delicious sensation.
Again, Alex heard Renée’s laughter before she sent,
“There will be another delay,” Alex apologized to Mickey and Miriam. “Julien, I need the Nua’ll comm sphere.”
Mickey and Miriam glanced at each other in surprise and retreated to the far side of the shelter to give Alex and Julien some room.
The sphere had opted to follow the Freedom inward. It seemed an odd maneuver, but everything the sphere had done since it transited into the system appeared to be uncharacteristic. The sphere possessed no armament. At least, the Omnians had never witnessed any. So, it had been allowed to shadow the city-ship.
Julien chose to let Miriamal contact the sphere. She had the most experience with the alien orb.
On that one subject, Julien could agree with the Nua’ll.
Alex sent.
explained.
Miriamal ended the comm and shared the conversation with the Sisterhood.
“Eliminate their races?” Julien queried. “That’s an enormous bluff.”
“After what we’ve done here, I think they’ll believe it,” Alex replied. “Besides, it’s the same language that Artifice has used against them. Right now, I only want them to be frightened enough to keep our Omnians safe. I’m tired of seeing them sacrificed.”
“Who next?” Julien inquired.
“Z, Miranda, and Luther,” Alex requested.
A horn blast, whistle, and siren greeted Alex’s announcement. He smiled at Julien, while the two of them endured the cacophony.
Miranda shot back.
Alex replied,
