by S. H. Jucha
That query told the Omnians how deeply their technology had penetrated the Talusian system. The battleships contained controllers, and Taralum, with her implant, had requested and received the names of each Omnian commander.
Taralum’s use of the term good fortune was another clue about the changes in Talusian society. The Toralians were adopting the speech of the sisters.
Taralum laughed again, breathless intakes and exhales through her sharp teeth.
Descartes suggested.
Miriamette had waited for the conversation among ships to finish before she contacted them.
The wish for the president’s health gave Miriamette an indication as to the importance of the contact. Furthermore, an entire command had arrived to deliver the message.
As the Omnian command approached the planet, they spotted an enormous station. It easily rivaled the size of the Sardi-Tallen Orbital Platform stationed above Omnia.
Étienne reached out to another sister.
Étienne heard a breathless laugh from Desdemona, and it underlined the changes within Talusian society. As the Toralians adopted implants, communication between the two races, Toralians and SADEs, had increased dramatically. Furthermore, the exchanges had encouraged the sisters to copy Toralian habits. Thus Desdemona’s imitation of the Toralians’ soft laughter.
Étienne did some swift calculations, and he was shocked at the numbers.
Desdemona sent, repeating her breathy laughter.
Étienne replied, adding his own laughter.
To Étienne it said the Sisterhood’s patience with interlopers was at an end. They had priorities for their new home, and the aggression by races who believed they were due some recompense for Artifice’s actions against them was interfering with their agendas.
Miriamette received the entire exchange between Étienne and the commodore.
<Étienne’s laughter indicates his approval with my answers,> Desdemona sent.
Miriamette replied and dropped the link. She replayed the contact, content to listen to Étienne’s voice. She longed to be with the Omnians. More important, she missed her favorite human, Franz Cohen. She’d kept his words close in her kernel’s memory. Upper most in the list were Franz’s words to a crew chief when his damaged fighter was recovered. Franz warned the chief to do whatever was necessary to recover the sister in his ship.
When Descartes’s command made orbit above Toral, Étienne and the SADE dropped planetside. They exited the traveler at the designated coordinates and were surprised at the changes.
The ability of sisters to work around the chronometer had rapidly and remarkably transformed the decaying city that Omnians had first seen when Artifice was deposed.
A grav car approached the Omnian pair, as they crossed from the ship to what appeared to be a passenger hub. The car signaled a welcome and a request that they enter.
Étienne grinned at Descartes. The sisters had taken the use of grav cars one step further than Omnians. The Talusian cars were fully automated, allowing the vehicles to be sent and routed for prospective passengers.
Descartes and Étienne climbed aboard, and they were whisked away.
The SADE signaled the controller that they wished to observe the city from a greater height, and the car quickly complied. It shot upward, and the Omnians were able to observe the tremendous amount of work that the sisters had accomplished.
Near their destination, the car descended to pathway level.
As the Omnians passed pedestrians and other riders, they received greetings from Talusians.
When the Omnians received their second greeting from a sister, Étienne’s eyebrows rose at Descartes. The sisters inhabited Toralian avatars. Their comm IDs identified them as city administrators.
Étienne mused.
Descartes welcomed Étienne’s remark. He hadn’t pondered Alex’s reaction. His first thought had been for Julien, the SADEs’ leader.
The grav car came to a halt outside a municipal building. Pedestrian conveyors moved individuals from multiple approaches to the doors.
Inside, Miriamette’s unmistakable avatar approached the Omnians. “A pleasure to see the two of you again,” she said. “Suntred and I would like to discuss your visit before your presentation to President Sargut, if you deem that feasible.”
“Is Suntred still acting in the role of presidential advisor?” Étienne inquired.
“No longer,” Miriamette replied. “President Sargut has decreed that Suntred is officially his second-in-command.”
“Isn’t that contrary to Toralian norms?” Étienne asked.
“If you’re referring to the process by which a Toralian male takes possession of a new colony, then it is unusual,” Miriamette replied.
“Sargut repossessed the home world by visiting an ancient mound. Would Suntred do the same, and would she undergo the same metamorphosis?” Descartes inquired.
“Entirely unknown, Commanders,” Miriamette replied. Her gentle laugh had none of the earmarks of Toralian mannerisms. It was human and had a subtle similarity to Renée, who the SADE’s avatar resembled.
The choice of laughter wasn’t lost on the Omnians, who saw it as a good sign for the outcome of their visit.
When the conversation lulled, Miriamette said, “I imagine that you’re considering the challenges a female might face, if she ascends to the presidency. You’ve spoken to Admiral Taralum.”
The Omnians knew that Miriamette would possess any conversations they’d shared with Talusians.
“Admiral Taralum is a supporter of President Sargut and Vice President Suntred, as are the local Toralians,” Miriamette explained. “And I needn’t explain to you the Sisterhood’s opinion about a female leader.”
Miriamette smiled and replied, “Well said, Captain. You have a future in diplomacy.”
“Which is why we’re here,” Étienne riposted.
“Good to hear,” Miriamette said. “Shall we?” she inquired, swinging an arm toward a lift.
As the trio stepped into a car, Descartes asked, “And what of your role, Miriamette?”
“For the most part, it remains presidential advisor,” Miriamette replied.
“Why the qualification?” Étienne queried.
Miriamette privately linked to Étienne and sent,
Descartes detected the time discrepancy. For a SADE, it said there’d been a private exchange. He had confidence in Étienne, who he knew would inform him of the details, if and when that became necessary.
The greetings with Suntred were typical for a Toralian. It required there be no physical contact. The race’s delicate bone structure and leathery wings told of an ancient species that once could fly.
Nonetheless, Suntred’s wings fluttered, indicating her delight in meeting with Omnians again.
The foursome settled into nanites chairs, which allowed Toralian wings to be cradled.
“Let’s put minor topics aside and speak to what brings an entire command to Toral,” Suntred said.
Descartes launched into a long explanation about alliance space, which included the Messinant domes and Mickey’s successful attempt to add gates and his project to reengineer a dome.
Then Alex’s concept of a conclave was next. Sol had accepted the role of host. Alex was visiting the human colonies, and the outpost was responsible for inviting the Tsargit members. The mention of the latter two terms, the outpost and the Tsargit, required further explanations.
“Which is why we’re here,” Descartes finished. “The leaders of Omnia Ships are inviting the Talusian government to participate by sending a delegate, preferably the president or a highly placed individual.”
“By the way, Suntred, congratulations on your promotion,” Étienne said.
“Thank you,” Suntred replied. “I seek to do the same quality of work I’ve always done for Sargut, but I’m nervous about a future transition.”
“Know that whatever peaceful process is chosen, you’ll have the support of Omnia Ships,” Descartes promised.
“We deeply appreciate that,” Suntred said solemnly.
“It’s been decided,” Suntred said. “Talus will attend the conclave. We need to embrace opportunities to meet with peaceful races.”
“Please thank President Sargut for his approval,” Descartes said.
The Omnians received smiles from the Talusians.
“The leader from the colony defender is quite loquacious,” Miriamette explained. “When he’s recognized, he’s known to speak for a half hour. As you arrived, President Sargut recognized him.”
“So he was able to listen to us, while he paid minor attention to the speaker,” Étienne surmised.
“Precisely,” Miriamette replied.
“Will President Sargut be attending?” Descartes inquired.
“President Sargut has appointed me as the delegate,” Suntred replied.
“Alex requests that every attendee be accompanied by a SADE,” Étienne said. He kept his gaze fixed on Suntred.
After a brief pause, which indicated a private conversation, Suntred added, “Then Miriamette will accompany me.”
Étienne linked with Miriamette and sent,
“Excellent,” Descartes pronounced. “Alex, Renée, and Julien will be pleased to hear of your decisions.”
“What of Ude?” Miriamette inquired.
“We ensured Ude was transported to a Jatouche medical station in the Pyrean system,” Étienne replied. “I would say that he was fully repaired, but that doesn’t completely explain his transformation. The Mistrallian who handles genetic matching and prescribes the repair processes told Nata that the station hadn’t encountered an individual whose body had so completely deviated from his genetic potential.”
“Was the transformation unsuccessful?” Suntred asked worriedly.
“On the contrary,” Étienne replied with assurance. “The Mistrallian chose to repair Ude’s body as if he had lived a healthy life.”
“Then he appears as he was meant to be,” Miriamette said, with satisfaction.
“He does,” Étienne said. “But the story doesn’t end there. Ude had trouble converting from implant control to direct mental stimulation of muscles.”
“Interesting conundrum,” Miriamette commented, while she communicated the challenge to the Sisterhood.
“Alex was able to help Ude employ both aspects of his mind and his implant to control his body,” Étienne explained. “The result has to be seen to be believed. Ude’s muscular control equals, if not exceeds, that of Alain’s and mine.”
“So what opportunity has Ude found?” Suntred inquired.
“Ude has chosen to lead a unit of Norsitchians against the Colony,” Descartes replied. “From the latest reports, he’s one of the command’s most successful leaders.”
“Ude always did need an adversary,” Miriamette commented.
“If we’re speaking of adversaries, what of Artifice?” Étienne asked.
