by S. H. Jucha
Pardus had no sooner finished speaking than the SADEs disconnected from the data banks.
“We have what we need, Admiral,” Killian said.
Pardus squawked and clapped his hands, freeing several feathers from each wing. “Over before it began,” he said. “This was worth the wait. I hope to see all of you again.”
“It’s possible,” Olawale said.
“Make it soon,” Pardus replied. “Time isn’t on my side.”
Deirdre thanked the elderly Veklock, and the group returned to their quarters.
“Did you collect information that wasn’t authorized?” Ophelia asked the SADEs. She believed they would have done it and was wondering if they’d tell her.
“I retrieved a connectivity map,” Trium replied. “It details the connection of every gate in the alliance domes. I deemed the information applicable to our request.”
“I found an unusual map under the category of Pyrean Resistance,” Bethley said. “It’s incomplete, but it outlines the paths taken to encounter the Colony. The domes don’t have names, only designations.”
“Those would be non-alliance domes,” Ophelia explained.
“Do we sail or journey?” Aputi asked.
Deirdre regarded Killian, who said, “Within six journeys from this dome, we can exit an alliance gate into a non-alliance dome.”
“Any record of observance?” Ophelia asked. To the frowns that greeted her question, she said, “In the past, alliance members often journeyed through a gate to a non-alliance system. They’d observe the planet to get an idea if a sentient race was developing. They’d report those observations to the Tsargit.”
“Apologies, Admiral, we didn’t know to look for those records,” Trium said.
“None needed,” Deirdre replied.
“Are we saying that we could encounter the Colony or a race that has just claimed their dome?” Patrice inquired.
“Yes, and the latter could be as bad as the former,” Ophelia opined.
“The young race might not have discovered the purpose of the dome,” Bethley offered.
“Correct,” Ophelia replied, “and you would appear out of nowhere. If the entities were to react violently, they’d have the advantage.”
“Should we pay a return visit to Pardus, Admiral?” Bethley asked.
“I wouldn’t recommend it,” Ophelia said. “Pardus would have received the council’s formal approval for your first visit. It would have detailed your request, and Killian announced that the SADEs had what they needed.”
“So, if we ask for more data ...” Deirdre said, leaving her statement incomplete.
“Pardus must report that request to the council,” Ophelia finished.
Deirdre regarded the SADEs. “Select a few jump-off locations to non-alliance domes,” she requested. “We can ask the local race if they’ve observed ascension in the adjacent non-alliance dome.”
* * * * *
Deirdre had to decide who she’d take on the journey and who would cross into the non-alliance dome. Her more senior personnel would prove to operate more successfully under the most difficult circumstances. However, she was loath to risk her experienced individuals.
After Deirdre considered what Alex might do, she chose her senior members. It was critical that the task was completed well, and the challenges were unknown.
For the security team, Deirdre chose Major Wes Standish, a contemporary of Lieutenant Fleetfoot. He was the command’s senior security officer and also an ex-TSF officer.
Deirdre sat down with those who’d come aboard with her to meet the council.
“Four security personnel will accompany two SADEs to the non-alliance dome,” Deirdre stated. “I’ve chosen Killian and Bethley.”
Deirdre was inundated with approvals from the other SADEs for her smart choices, and the praise included Trium’s.
“I’m requesting Olawale, Patrice, and Ophelia accompany me and those six individuals. You’re free to stay with the fleet, if you wish,” Deirdre continued. All three said they would journey with her.
“When security arrives, we catch a Hyronzy shuttle to the dome,” Deirdre said. “The SADEs will guide us on our journey, security stays in the background, and the rest of us play ambassadors.”
When Deirdre received word of Major Standish’s arrival, she and her company made for the bay. When they arrived, the major and two security personnel were on deck.
“Lieutenant,” Wes said, offering weaponry to Aputi, who accepted them with a grin.
Wes regarded Deirdre, and said, “When traveling into the unknown, Admiral, take your most experienced individuals with you. That was most recently made clear to me.”
Deirdre’s lips curved upward, and she tipped her head at Wes.
Except for those who would journey through the dome, the Omnians loaded aboard the travelers to return to the fleet. The other scouts traveled with them. There was no need to load into their ships yet.
Ten Omnians and Pyreans were escorted to the next station shuttle and given priority seating.
After landing on the moon, their guide led the
m through the tunnels to the dome.
Killian requested their destination, and the ten squeezed onto a platform.
Ophelia eyed Wes, Aputi, and Olawale. She remarked, “It’s a good thing that there are only three of you economy-sized men. Otherwise, someone would have to stay with the fleet. By the way, if anyone hangs over the edge of the platform, the gate won’t fire.”
Upon hearing Ophelia, the three large men tried to make themselves smaller.
While Deirdre and company had boarded a shuttle for the Hyronzy dome, the Tsargit had alerted the alliance races to the arrival of the Omnian ships and the intention of their leader to hunt the battleships. They also forewarned the domes to expect Omnian journeyers, who would be accompanied by Pyreans.
At the group’s final journey, Ophelia spoke with the dome administrator, a squat alien, with blunt teeth and quills protruding from the back of her head. She asked the administrator about recent observations in a connecting non-alliance dome.
“We secured that gate over two centuries ago, Commandant,” the administrator replied. “At our last observance, which was prior to that time, a sentient race was developing concentrated population centers.”
“Has the race tried to connect with this gate?” Deirdre asked.
“No, Admiral,” the administrator replied. “We’ve programmed the autoresponse system not to fire if a cube is received or if the profile doesn’t match the insectoids.”
Deirdre eyed the enclosure around the gate that the administrator had indicated. It consisted of four tall independently standing sections that wrapped around the platform. Weapons were mounted on the top of each section and pointed at the platform. “Beam weapons?” she inquired.
“Yes, Admiral. It’s a copy of the Jatouche model,” Ophelia supplied.
“Clever,” Bethley opined. “None of the insectoids’ techniques used to circumvent safety protocols or remotely control the platform will be effective against this.”
“Are you choosing to journey to the non-alliance dome?” the administrator asked.
Deirdre regarded Wes and the SADEs for answers. They each replied in the affirmative.
“All of you?” the administrator asked, with concern.
“Six will go, including these four security personnel,” Deirdre replied.
“Commendable,” the administrator replied. “It’s advisable to send a cube before you return. We’ve never had an occasion to test the beam weaponry’s programming.”
“Good to know,” Wes replied, tongue-in-cheek.
“How long do you expect to be gone?” the administrator asked.
“We could return immediately. If not, then, at a minimum, nearly three hours. Maybe longer, depending on circumstances,” Killian replied.
The humans glanced at Killian. The phrase “depending on circumstances” gave them pause for concern.
“Then, Admiral, while your companions journey, the others of you will need accommodations,” the administrator said. “Are the six of you ready to journey?”
“We are,” Wes replied.
18: Exalted One
The group said their goodbyes.
“Be smart, Lieutenant,” Ophelia cautioned Aputi. She had an urge to hug him but refrained.
The administrator received word from dome security that the weapons had been disabled. Now, eight dome security aliens, with stubby weapons, defended the platform from the enclosure’s four slots.
The journeyers climbed on the platform. Five of them watched Aputi pull out a drum, tap it against his leg, attach it to his launcher, and check the breech for a dart.
Immediately, the three other security personnel followed suit.
“Lie down,” Aputi instructed. When everyone hesitated, he said, “Old explorer trick. While you coalesce on a platform, the insectoids have a tiny window of time in which to bring their weapons to bear. They tend to aim where the chests of most races would be located.”
“Drop down,” Wes ordered.
When the team was ready, Wes gave Deirdre a thumbs up, and the gate was activated.
The journeyers appeared in a dome that was in a state of chaos.
Twin-horned, heavily built defenders were battling insectoids. Several defenders diverted their attention from the insectoids, who were spilling off a platform, to focus on Wes and his team.
Aputi, who faced the Colony’s platform, aimed and dropped insectoids with his Loopah weapon.
Recognizing momentarily allies, the horned defenders bellowed, and their hooved feet pounded against the deck, as they attacked the insectoids with a collection of weapons.
One defender lowered his head, charged a gray, and skewered it with curved horns. Then the gray was tossed into the air. When it hit the deck, the defender stomped the head flat.
“Target the insectoids,” Wes belatedly yelled. He and his fellow fleet members had been frozen by witnessing the clash of the two groups of enormously large aliens, especially the insectoids. Seeing them in person was different from a holo-vid or implant view.
The Colony members were swiftly eliminated.
Aputi called out for the security squad to spread out and target the insectoids’ platform. Aliens, humans, and SADEs watched the bodies on the platform disappear in a flash of blue light.
Immediately, Aputi sighted on the gate, and the rest of the security squad imitated him.
When the next group of insectoids appeared. Aputi dropped the two reds as they coalesced, and Wes and his Omnians eliminated the grays.
Killian and Bethley approached the console. Three horned aliens guarded it. Killian pointed to the console, then the gate, and then made a chopping motion with the right hand into the palm of the left hand.
An alien, with impressive curled horns, bellowed, and the three guardians of the console stepped back.
Killian dived into the master panel to access the hidden submenu. He was about to lockout the gate, when it activated again. The defenders dropped the insectoids, and Killian waited for the Colony to clear the platform. When they did, he shut down the gate.
“All clear,” Bethley called out.
Suddenly the alliance dissolved. The horned aliens grouped together and faced their visitors.
“Wonderful,” Wes groused sotto voce, as Omnian security slowly raised their weapons.
“Stand down, Major,” Aputi hissed. “This is an alliance matter. I need to see if I can salvage the situation.”
Despite Wes’s reluctance, he ordered his people to lower their launchers.
Aputi slipped off his Loopah weapon and his satchel and carefully laid them on the platform on which they’d arrived. He held his hands about shoulder high and deliberately walked toward the Colony’s gate. When he climbed on the platform, the horned aliens gestured wildly for him to get off.
Pointing toward the console, Aputi made a gesture, cutting his fingers across his throat.
The alien with the magnificent horns, which were decorated with gold bands, lowered his long sword. He paused to wipe the blood from it before sheathing it. Then he stalked across the deck, which rang with the impact of wide hooves and inordinate mass.
The gold-banded alien briefly halted before the platform. He knew his citizens’ eyes were on him. Then he surged onto the platform to stand beside Aputi.
There was a moment of absolute silence from the aliens, who expected their exalted one to disappear. When nothing happened, the gold-banded alien bellowed in triumph and clasped Aputi on the shoulder. Then the horned aliens saluted their exalted one’s bravery, with a stomping of hooves and raucous bellowing. They were indifferent to the fact that he was the second one to dare the Colony’s platform.
Aputi twigged to the dynamics of the exhibition. He stepped off the platform and held out his hands, palms up, to indicate the gold-banded alien on the platform. That created another tremendous outburst from the aliens on the deck.
Aputi qui
etly slid next to the major’s side, and Wes whispered, “What now?”
“I haven’t the faintest idea, Major,” Aputi replied. “I’ve broken a fundamental alliance rule by coming here. The Tsargit states unequivocally that nascent races must be allowed to discover their dome’s purpose by themselves.”
While the aliens celebrated, Killian and Bethley joined their companions.
“In point of fact, Lieutenant,” Killian said, “We weren’t the first to demonstrate the dome’s function. The Colony did that.”
“You can make the case, Lieutenant,” Wes added, “that our timely arrival prevented the Colony from grabbing another world.”
“Or you can state that you were following us, and we chose to journey to this non-alliance dome,” Bethley interjected. “We’re not alliance members.”
“Heads up,” Killian cautioned, when his rearward sensors detected the gold-banded alien descending from the platform and heading their way.
The alien approached Wes and company. He regarded the various entities before him and focused on Wes, who was one of the larger entities in the group. More important, Wes’s uniform was adorned with touches of gold. Therefore, he had to be an exalted one.
After minutes of bellowing and gesturing by the horned alien, nothing had been communicated.
“Lieutenant, what do you suggest?” Wes asked.
“At this point, I think we should see if they’ll let us at their console,” Aputi replied. “Things can’t be any worse, as far as the Tsargit is concerned.”
“You lead, Lieutenant,” Wes said out of the side of his mouth. “Our horned leader seems to tolerate you.”
Aputi, who hadn’t retrieved his launcher, pointed toward the console.
Several aliens near the console saw Aputi’s gesture, and they urgently signaled their leader, who stepped aside and motioned Aputi forward.
“Killian, Bethley, follow me,” Aputi said.
When the SADEs stepped forward, the leader grunted and placed his hand on his sword’s hilt.
In response, Aputi retreated. The leader urged him forward, and Aputi shook his head, pointing to the SADEs and then himself.
More urging by those at the console convinced the leader to motion to the three visitors to approach the console.
