by S. H. Jucha
“Trees?” Alex queried.
“We’ve been trading produce with suppliers from Haraken, New Terra, and the Confederation for seedlings,” Queen Sissya explained.
“Agriculture isn’t a preferred profession on other worlds,” Pussiro said. “It’s left to mechanical means, which produces less than exemplary products. This is a niche that we can fill until we’ve closed the technological gap.”
Alex could see the pride in the Dischnya’s eyes. They’d left their tunnels and were determined to stay out. Their decision to adopt implants had opened the door to Omnian technology.
“Come, Dassata, let us visit,” Nyslara said, and she led Alex to the market’s first floor. They wandered among rows of bustling stalls and out into Celus’s bright morning light.
Nyslara walked under the huge temporary structure. It was opensided, and the ground was completely covered in shallow crates. Small seedlings sprouted from little containers.
“The seedlings will take ten to twenty annuals to mature into fruiting trees before we can harvest them,” Nyslara explained. “We’re planning for the future of those who will be left behind, when the young leave us.”
“The soma made up their minds?” Alex asked.
“Yes. Dischnya adults have inhabited their tunnels for too long,” Nyslara replied. “We’re no longer a spacefaring culture. The scents of our soil, food, and water are deep in our muzzles. We’re not enticed to inhabit the cold of space.”
Alex and Nyslara walked and talked, with Miranda a respectful distance behind.
“I’ll see you before you leave,” Nyslara said to Alex, before she walked away.
It was then that Alex saw Homsaff waiting. He realized he’d focused on Nyslara’s words and hadn’t paid attention to the tiny implant app notification of another individual entering his space. He glanced quickly at Miranda, who sent,
7: Warriors
“Dassata,” Homsaff said. “Nyslara and I’ve considered the reasons for your hurried return. With the fleet’s swift assembly, we conclude adversaries have been reported.” The queen had a gleam in her eye.
“Olawale has located a human colony, a collection of sentient worlds, and a pervasive enemy,” Alex explained.
“Is the enemy fleet bound?” Homsaff inquired.
“Negative,” Alex replied. “They’re a race of deadly five-meter and three-meter insectoids who are attempting to dominate the sentients’ planets.”
Homsaff repressed the growl that urged to be released from her throat. “You’ll need ground troops,” she stated firmly.
“Yes,” Alex replied. “Are the remaining members of your squads willing to go?”
The lips of Homsaff’s muzzle pulled back and exposed rows of sharp teeth, imitating a human’s grin.
“I’ve three squads of ten warriors each,” Homsaff announced. “They’re plasma-weapon trained.”
“Well done, Homsaff,” Alex replied. As Homsaff’s tail erected proudly, he added, “Have them board the Freedom with suits, weapons, mates, and pups within two days. This will be a long trip.”
Homsaff loosed a single, short bark in assent. Then she signaled her squad leaders, Simlan, Hessan, and Fenero, the newest member.
While Alex sought to rejoin Nyslara, the Dischnya travelers lifted from the market’s landing pad to collect the warriors and their families. Knowing the fleet was assembling, the Dischnya warriors had hurried to make preparations in anticipation of joining the expedition.
Alex met Nyslara outside the market. They chatted on the way to Alex’s traveler, which sat alone on the pad.
“Will this be a far journey?” Nyslara asked.
“Yes, much like the trip to federacy space,” Alex replied. “We’ve learned there are many peaceful races in this part of space.”
“A welcome change,” Nyslara commented. “You’re taking the warriors. Will you take our pilots?”
“No, they’re too junior and inexperienced,” Alex replied. “Much of the fight will be on the ground, but a federacy battleship fleet has made its way to alliance space. They’ve already exhibited aggressive tendencies. We must locate them and turn them back to federacy space.”
“Or destroy them,” Nyslara offered.
“If it comes to that,” Alex agreed, “which is why I can’t take newly graduated pilots.”
“They’ll be disappointed,” Nyslara said.
“I trust the queens to manage their discontent,” Alex said.
Nyslara halted at the traveler’s hatch. She stared into the distance. Where there had once been a dry and dusty plain with hints of struggling brush, the eyes were now filled with fields of green crops, fueled by polar subterranean waters.
“I believe the time of the queens’ rule is passing, Dassata,” Nyslara said wistfully. “In another generation, we’ll still engender respect, but we’ll have little influence.”
Alex slid his smooth hand into Nyslara’s clawed and padded one. “No matter what the future brings your race, Nyslara, the queens must remember that they ended the fight with the Swei Swee. They led the soma out of the tunnels. Today, once again, Dischnya fly ships into space because of the queens. That history should be honored. I will.”
Nyslara chortled. “That’s because you’re a sentimentalist, Dassata.” She hugged Alex, and her long tongue slipped around his ear. She believed the act brought him good fortune. More important, she believed it brought him safely back to her and the Dischnya.
Alex boarded the traveler, and Nyslara sent to Miranda,
From the market’s second floor, Pussiro watched Alex’s traveler lift.
Nata chose not to respond, which Pussiro expected. The wild ones’ leader was hampered by an innate stubborn streak that often clamped her mouth shut in frustration.
Nata was brought up short. Her one true friend was Neffess. For this potential schism, she blamed Alex. It was her answer for everything that had gone wrong since she’d landed on Omnia — somehow it was Alex’s fault.
* * * * *
In a conference room aboard the Freedom, Alex and Julien met with the scouts.
Alex scanned the twelve painted synth skins. They ran the gamut fro
m Killian’s plaid to Beryl’s display of her mineral’s namesake. He loved the view, their declarations of independence. There wasn’t a SADE in the room who hadn’t spent more than a century in a box.
“How goes the work?” Alex asked.
“After Miriam reported the enlargement of the first set of bay doors, I flew the Vivian’s Mirror aboard,” Killian reported.
Alex needed the scouts to be part of the search for the federacy fleet. The information they required would best be gained from sources within the alliance. He’d chosen not to ask the SADEs to spend the majority of their sailing time entrenched in their scout ships, which is why he intended to carry the ships aboard the Freedom.
After consultation with Mickey, which included his assistants, Miriam and Luther, it was proposed to enlarge the doors on four bays to accommodate the greater lengths of the scout ships.
“And the others?” Alex asked.
“One more full day,” Beryl replied. “Then the other ships will be aboard.”
“Good,” Alex replied. “You’ve all the information we have at present. In alliance space, we’ll collect more. At some point, you might be interfacing with the alliance races by yourselves. However, Olawale indicates their cube messaging system has been employed to update every available race about the presence of Omnians and Earthers in their region of space.”
“We require an augment to exit our ships at the alliance orbital stations if bays can’t accommodate them,” Linn said. Like Killian, Beryl, and Genoa, he was lead on one of the four scout ships.
“Do you have an idea?” Alex asked.
“We’ve proposed an augmentation to Mickey,” Linn replied. “He and the engineering SADEs approved the design.”
“Then implement it,” Alex replied.
“It’ll require components from the orbital platform,” Bethley said. “Their manufacture will delay the fleet’s departure by an additional two days.”
“So be it,” Alex said. “Anything else?”
There was utter stillness among the scouts. It was as if they’d become an avant-garde painting.
“Who would like to ask?” Alex inquired, sharing a grin with Julien.
The scouts turned toward Killian.
“Dassata, was your visit to Méridien successful?” Killian asked for the scouts and for every other SADE who hadn’t sailed with Alex to visit House Brixton.
Alex considered the conditions of the agreement. “It was,” he replied carefully, “and in due time, the SADEs will have what they’ve long sought.”
The scouts regarded Julien, who gave no indication of speaking.
“Then we’re content,” Killian intoned severely, and the scouts rose and returned to work.
“Clever answer, Alex,” Julien said. “I formed thousands of replies, but none were as simple and hopeful as yours.”
“My friend, while you searched for the perfect response, I came close to blurting out the truth,” Alex said, shaking his head at the near accident.
“The SADEs will wait now,” Julien said.
“Thankfully,” Alex replied. “Now, when humans come to me to ask, I’ll send them to you.”
Julien imitated a statue, and Alex laughed.
“An effective reply,” Alex said. “I wish I could do that.”
* * * * *
While Alex’s fleet finished preparations to sail, he visited the Our People.
The individuals, who were to meet Alex, assembled in a nearby conference room. It was where Hector had communicated to Alex that they would await him. However, the group discovered that Alex, who was usually prompt, was late. A quick sweep with comms and implants located him in the owner’s suite, which Hector, as captain of the Our People and fleet admiral, had occupied at Alex’s insistence.
The attendees quickly exited the conference room, walked up the corridor, and entered the suite.
“Greetings,” Alex said. “Where do you keep the tea service, Hector? I can’t seem to find it.”
Hector had moved into the suite, but he’d occupied it as a SADE. It was completely utilitarian in its outfitting and served only to meet the needs of a SADE. He hadn’t a response for Alex. There couldn’t be one. He was found unready to entertain the fleet’s humans and Omnia’s allies.
“I’ll properly furnish this suite for Hector,” Lydia, Hector’s advisor, piped up.
“I’d appreciate that,” Alex replied. “As there’s no place for humans to sit, I suggest we use the conference room.”
While the group relocated to the original meeting place, Hector reviewed several programs, their algorithms, and their hierarchies within his kernel.
First and foremost, Hector reorganized code to style himself as Alex’s representative. In that role, he would speak and act for Alex in his absence. The idea suited his personality, and he prepared to direct others to carry out his orders.
When Hector finished the editing, he sent,
Alex sent in reply.
In the conference room, Alex waited for everyone — Hector, Lydia, Ellie, Alphons, and Adrianna — to be seated.
“Let’s discuss this fleet’s operational parameters,” Alex said. “There are none. Any questions?”
Lydia commented privately to Hector. She recalled the first thing Alex did when she completed the transfer from her box to an avatar. He’d hugged her. It was as unexpected as this pronouncement from him.
“There’s any number of things that might occur while you’re gone, Alex,” Ellie pointed out. “We’ve left probes and comm units with the Swei Swee, Ollassa, Chistorlans, and Gotlians. The Sisterhood might need help, or they could warn of a federacy fleet crossing the wall.”
“Not to mention, Alex, there are rumblings among Neffess and Nata’s followers about an intended visit to Sawa,” Alphons added.
“All good points,” Alex said. “I don’t expect our trip to join Olawale and the Earthers to be a short one. There are a large number of peaceful races in alliance space. That peace needs to be preserved. Human worlds can’t afford to be trapped between the likes of a second federacy.”
“What will be our priorities?” Adrianna asked.
“I will determine those when the occasion arises,” Hector said steadily. His kernel’s new hierarchy was in force. “Furthermore, I’ll make those decisions in concert with this group.”
“Admiral Thompson, please update Alex on our concept,” Hector requested.
Ellie quickly laid out the plans for an NNEMP weapon.
Alex listened intently until Ellie finished. “Has this been run past Mickey?” he asked.
“No,” Ellie replied. “We’ve been building a prototype while you were at Méridien. Although, I’m sure Miriam and Luther are aware of our efforts.”
“I’m sure they are,” Alex said, with a wry smile. “Hector, formally update Mickey, and tell him that I said hands off. This is your project.” Turning back to Ellie, he asked, “How are you prepared to test its effectiveness?”
Ellie grinned at Alex. He thought it had an eerie similarity to Tatia’s favored expression that was seen when the fleet was on the hunt.
“It seems we’ve got several ancient fighters around that will make excellent test targets,” Ellie said.
“Daggers,” Alex replied, laughing hard. When he caught his breath, he asked, “Safety measures for the test?”
“Out of system,” Lydia replied.
“I’ll fly the Dagger clear of the far belt,” Ellie added.
Alex was about to object. Then he realized that a SADE couldn’t be near an NNEMP test, and Ellie was the only human in Hector’s fleet who was familiar with New Terra’s original fighter.
“Do you need to be in the Dagger, Ellie?” Alex asked, with concern.
<
br /> “The admiral will be wearing a specially crafted suit, Alex,” Hector explained. “Every precaution will be taken to ensure her protection. She’s made the point that it’s critical to observe the ship’s cascading electrical failure from the NNEMP’s firing.”
“A Trident will launch the NNEMP weapon from a distance and then retreat,” Adrianna added. “After the test, the Trident can tether and retrieve the Dagger.”
“At some point, you’ll need to determine the vulnerability of Tridents and travelers to the effect of your final prototype,” Alex said.
“The SADEs will design the protocols for safe distance for every type of ship in the fleet,” Hector assured Alex.
“It seems this group has things well in hand,” Alex said. “Any more questions?”
“Just one,” Ellie said, tentatively lifting a hand from the table. “Did Nyslara, um, you know ...?” Then she circled an ear with a finger.
Alex’s lopsided grin appeared. “Yes, she did,” he said, absent-mindedly wiping at what had been the wet spot from her tongue.
“That’s good,” Ellie said, with visible relief.
8: Pimbor
Phette popped out of a tunnel into his family’s abode. He nuzzled his mate and then hurried into the compound. Spotting Sam Fleetfoot, an Omnian security lieutenant and a veteran of the insectoid battles, he barked excitedly. It was high pitched, nearer a squeak, as befitted his diminutive size.
“Three grays hiding in fallen trees,” Phette reported.
“Show me,” Sam replied. He slipped under the overhang of a temporary shelter. It was open on all sides, which made the Pims more comfortable. They hated enclosed spaces that didn’t have immediate tunnel access.
Sam activated a holo-vid. It displayed the compound and the myriad tunnels radiating out from the Pims’ abodes. In the early days of taking Pimbor, a few Pims carried tracking devices. This allowed the Omnians to build a model of the tunnel routes.
