Confrontation
“Did they receive the transmission?” “Yes Kilo Commander just before they entered the Sord.” “Very good work, now erase all traces of the communications. You did use the altered code?” “Yes they will think it came from the Capital.”
The channel closes. The figure in the darkened room reflects on what has just transpired. “That hot headed little Ablïarsec bitch. She’ll see that message and seize command of the attack frigate. Once they get to the location in the message, we can discredit her. She got too nosy, too close. She needs to be silenced and quickly. She does not trust Captain Ekuryua. It’s a perfect plan to discredit that brat Princess and to shift the blame away from Me.” The figure leaves the room and joins the Ships Company.
*********
“Captain. We can turn around as soon as that transport ship is clear.” The navigator said. “How soon to normal space?” Ekuryua leans forward to view the display. “About four hours. It was unfortunate that the regularly scheduled supply run was approaching the Sord or we could have reversed course immediately.” She sits back in her chair. “Very well. Turn us around and maintain enough distance from those transports. You know they almost stop to exit the Sord. We don’t want to run into one now do we?” The navigator agrees. He slowly starts the maneuver to reverse the course. Always keeping a lot of distance between the transport and their ship.*********
Lafiel lies on the bunk in their quarters. The words floating on the ceiling above her head. “You are to arrest the Princess and take her to Admiral Kotoponi’s fleet and turn her over. She is to await trial on the charges of treason against the Empire.” She kept thinking. “What did I do? Who did I betray? Treason! It’s been four hundred years since anybody was brought up on charges of treason.” The more she looks at it, the more disturbed she got. Touching her creunoc she calls. “Jinto where are you?” He replies he is in engineering. “Stop by the bridge and bring Captain Ekuryua to the cabin please?” Jinto stands in the engineering lift; Lafiel’s voice was so calm so sure of itself. What had she found out? Entering the bridge he asks Ekuryua to follow him, which she does readily. They approach the cabin and Jinto opens the door.Lafiel still was lying on the bunk staring at the ceiling. “Too convenient. It’s too convenient. We were leaving Vorash. The message should have reached the orbital platform first. Then have been relayed to us. The Vorash controller never tried to stop us or even hail us? Did they?” Ekuryua stands in the doorway. The door was beeping. It was trying to close. “In or out! But stop that noise.” Lafiel said. Noel steps in and the door closes. “You’re right. Not a word and we just passed a supply convoy. Not a peep out of them, even when we turned to follow them.” Jinto sat in the chair next to the bunk Noel leans against the door. “Lafiel? Do you think it’s a hoax?” Noel asks.
“There is one way to find out. Can we station keep near the Sord? I don’t want to enter normal space.” Noel nods. “That’s easy. The supply convoy will take a while to clear. We can sit fifteen thousand meters off the event horizon and no one would know we are there. Why do you ask?” Lafiel sat up and faces her. “I need to speak to my brother through the Vorash relay station using a highly encrypted Imperial code. I’ll need an hour or more to do that. Depending on what he says, we either proceed to the location in the message, or we go to the Hyde system gather some allies. Then, go find this message sender.” Either way someone has gone to great lengths to convince me I’m a criminal.” She looks at Noel. “The orders were for you to arrest me. Confine me to my quarters and deliver me to the location. Why did you disobey those orders?” Noel smiles. “Lafiel you’re a lot of things. But in my heart I know you’re not a traitor. I questioned those orders the minute I saw them.” Lafiel nods. “I see. One day you’ll tell me the things you think I am as well. Won’t you Noel?” Ekuryua leans forward, turns, and opens the door. “Maybe, Maybe not. I’ll let you know when we are in position Lafiel.” She leaves and the door closes.
Furious. Lafiel looks at Jinto. “Why can’t she ever give me a straight answer. Why?” Jinto removes himself from the chair. He pushes it beneath the desk and joins Lafiel on the bed. “That’s the way she’s been since we met her. I seriously doubt you or I are going to change her. Risch might, then again I do believe he likes her that way.” He put his arm around her side and pulls her head to his shoulder. “I wonder if you and I are ever to lead a normal life?” She puts her arm around him and nuzzles into his shoulder. “Jinto. Would you please define the word normal? Do you really want to be normal? You’ve always said normal would be boring. You want to be bored for the next two hundred and twenty five years or so?”
Sometimes he wishes Lafiel were a simple mountain girl. Nope that would not make him happy. Being in love with a royal pain in the butt Princess was to be his lot in life and he would not trade it for the universe. “Hey Lafiel?” She looks in the eyes, “Yes Jinto.” He kisses her. “You’re the most wonderful pain in the butt I’ve ever met. I shall not trade you for the universe.”
She pushes him into the bed and with his shoulders pinned she looks him in face. “Pain in the butt am I? I’m glad you realize there is nothing in the universe that can replace me. And Jinto, I’ll keep you as well. Right now. I need to start encrypting my message to my brother. After that can we have some quiet time together just the two of us?” Jinto tries to raise his head to kiss her. She moves out of the way. “Later Jinto, business before pleasure.” She pauses. “If I were a criminal you would still love me, wouldn’t you?” His kiss was his answer.
*********
“Captain we are receiving a transmission through the Vorash relay station. It’s in a encryption I don’t understand.” Kilo Commander Duhiel Ablïarsec rose from the center seat and moves towards the communications officer’s station. Looking over the officer’s shoulder he smiles. “Send that transmission to my cabin. I’ll decode it there.” He turns towards the lift and says to his first officer. “You have the bridge. I’ll be in my quarters.” The first officer took the center seat as Duhiel left the bridge. The trip to his cabin was a brief one, as he opens the door and turns on the lights. The flashing red lamp on communications console greets him. “Well sister what sort of trouble have you gotten yourself into this time? You’re using our old emergency code. I almost did not recognize it.” Decrypting the message and reading it twice he calls the bridge. “Has there been any traffic directed at Vorash from the Capital?” “No captain it’s been quiet since we arrived on station.” “First officer, start making long range sweeps of the entire area. Bring the ship to alert condition two until further notice. I’ll be on the bridge shortly.” He closed the channel as he did the gentle chiming of the alert alarm penetrated the ship. The message posed no threat to him and his ship. But a little caution would go a long way. He sat composing a response to Lafiel.
*********
“Captain? How much longer do we need to hold this position?” Ekuryua lowers the data pad to her lap. “Until we receive the Princess response. Is there a problem?” The navigator shook his head. It was not really a problem, it was being that close to the event horizon of a Sord was playing havoc with the instruments and was giving him a headache. He hopes the message would arrive soon.*********
Jinto sat in the cabin. He had just tucked Lafiel in to bed and was composing his own message to Samson. Heading for the bridge he stops at Seelnay’s quarters and briefs her on what was happening and the message he was sending to Samson. She looks at him, her face very serious in its expression. “I don’t like this at all. I’ve had a bad feeling since we entered the Sord. Now I know why. You have to keep her from fighting. She’s not able to go into combat. She still is not fully recovered. If she fights you will lose her Count Hyde I can feel it.” Jinto looks at her in amazement. How did she know this? He questions Seelnay on her comments. Her answer was complete and irrefutable. “I’ve massaged her several times. She does not have her complete physical strength back and I really question her ability to be able to command. She can not keep a straight train of thought going. She wanders off topic. Have you not noticed it?” Jinto had noticed that from time to time Lafiel would start a conversation or express a thought and would either never finish it, or he would have to ask her what she meant. He never gave it any mind till now. If Lafiel was to go into combat she would have to be better than one hundred percent or. Jinto thanks Seelnay for her concerns and leaves for the bridge. He asks Ekuryua to send the message to Samson and returns to their quarters.
He slips into the bed and Lafiel woke. “My response. Is it here?” Jinto said no not yet, then he started questioning her on her intentions. “You want to defend your honor from the center seat don’t you?” She sat up. Jinto sat up along with her, and she turns towards him. “Jinto somebody has tarnished my honor and my family name. I’m not going to sit by idly and do nothing. If doing something means taking a ship and doing battle. Then that’s is what will happen.” Jinto took her hands. “I’m worried Lafiel. You’re not well yet. I don’t feel you’re ready to go into combat.”
She tried to strike him. But he held her hands firmly. The more she struggled. The weaker she became. In a short time she was laying on Jinto’s chest the energy drained out of her. “Lafiel you should have beaten me. We are in reduced gravity. I’m sorry you’re not fit to command, and until you can prove it to me. I’ll oppose you. Because I won’t lose you.” Jinto felt his chest getting wet. Her tears were streaming down her face and soaking into his shirt. He raised her head and kissed her lips. “Get some rest Lafiel. As soon as the response comes in I’ll get you. I love you and I want you healthy. I will do anything to defend you and your honor. But I can not allow you to endanger yourself or the lives of others.” He wipes the tears from her face and covers her up. She was already asleep. He left the cabin heads for the bridge. He stops and thanks Seelnay for being so blunt. She had opened his eyes to Lafiel’s real condition.
*********
“Captain. Message sent. Scans are normal. Your orders?” Duhiel looks at his first officer. They had gone to school together and he had turned down several promotions to stay with his friend and he felt future Emperor. “Let’s return to our previous posture, but be a little more vigilant. If we were to need help the closest ships are?” His first officer looks at the tactical display. “Captain the training fleet is less the twelve hours away. Their proposed war games, will bring them about four hours from us in the next three days.” Duhiel looks at the planet below and out to the limitless space. “Contact the training fleet when they are within direct communications range and ascertain their plans past the war games. You have the bridge. I’m off to diner.” He leaves the bridge.*********
“Message received captain.” Ekuryua verifies the transmission is complete. “Back us away from the event horizon and station keep till I receive orders from the Princess.” The navigator moves them point seven -five light seconds from the Sords event horizon. The static and distortion disappear and the job of station keeping becomes much easier. The door chime goes off and Jinto opens the door. Ekuryua is standing there. “We received the message. It’s on your terminal. I’d like to stay if I can?” Jinto looks over Lafiel is asleep. “Let me wake her and I’ll call you.” The room fills with the sounds of Lafiel coming to. She sat up in bed the blinking red lamp greeting her. She saw Ekuryua standing with Jinto. “Come in you two. I’m awake and it’s here. Let’s see what we’ve got.”
She activates the display and plugs in the decrypting code a visual display opens. “Hello Lafiel, I wanted to address you in visual mode. To answer your question there has been no communication between the Capital and Vorash since the time we arrived on station. Now I’ve done several deep sweeps of the area and besides the training fleet located here.” *another display opens and the area is highlighted* “This is the latest tactical display. As you can see the gap in the defenses between Nastoyia’s fleet and the Capital is great. I’ve heard that Admiral Bebaus Fleet, here, has been given to father to command and fill in this gap. Lafiel I’m very sure that your message came from beyond the Hyde Sord, my best guess would be Nastoyia’s fleet or somewhere close to it. Whoever sent this has covered their tracks well. You might be able to get more information at Hyde system. Finally Sis, I care dearly about you and I know how your anger can cloud you judgment. Count Hyde, I know your there. Take care of my sister keep her from harm and from herself. Lafiel. I’ll see you soon everything here is fine not to worry.” The display dims and the message ends. Lafiel turns to Noel. “You heard my brother, the emperor to be. To the Hyde Sord.” Noel leaves the room and heads for the bridge.
The door shut and Lafiel explodes. “That brother of mine! I’ll vaporize him! That…” She stops and motions to Jinto he approaches her a little unsure of what she wants. She dove into his arms. “I’m having trouble. All of the sudden everyone seems to care deeply about my welfare. I know Duhiel is right and I know he’d be really mad if I got hurt. He said father was going into battle again. Well maybe. Here I am the sick one unable to fight or defend myself from even you.” She stood holding him. “Jinto. I’m not a coward or a weakling.” He held her. “Lafiel. It will be all right. You need to rest and your body will finally catch up. You’ve done more than you should have. We know this condition is not permanent. So just be patient a little longer.” He puts her back to bed. They were four days from the Hyde Sord. She was going to rest the balance of the trip even if he had to have Seelnay watch her.
*********
“Paveryua come to the control room!” The urgency of Samson’s voice brought to the room in record time. “What is it Samson? What’s the problem?” Samson had Jinto’s message open and Paveryua read over his shoulder. Is this somebody’s idea of a bad Joke?” Paveryua asks. Samson shook his head. “No. It’s very real. Someone wants Her Highness in shackles in the worst way. They almost got away with it. At least Seelnay’s with them. The Princess will be easier to handle with the two of them. I don’t understand this last line.” Samson points at the screen. Paveryua looks and smiles. “Seems wing officer Lynn is asking us to gather a fleet assessment report.” Samson looks at him. “I gathered that. Why would he?” Samson and Paveryua came to the same conclusion at the same instant “She’s going after the message sender. She’s planning on commandeering everything that can fight around here.” They both look at the freshly refitted Kal class floating in the repair dock. “She gets her hands on that. She’ll have the most powerful battleship in the fleet. I don’t think Spoor will give it up without a good fight though.”
Punching the yard manifest Samson takes note.” Half of Atosuryua attack frigates are here. Lets see, Twenty Kal class, one super Kal class and three Roil classes, one of them being the Basroil. We got enough personnel to man all, but the Basroil and it’s still not refitted completely.” He looks at Paveryua. “Two or three days?” Paveryua pulls up the station spares. Two if we use the normal anti proton cannon. But there is one more of the anti matter beam cannons, that would double it’s firepower. Three days if we do it that way. I’ll modify the engines to the newer spec. It will be very maneuverable in normal space. The cannon and shield modification will make it difficult to be damaged in plane space. It won’t be invincible but it will be a very safe ship.” Samson agrees. Paveryua left to gather a team to finish the Basroil.
*********
Kenesh floats over her desk. The data before concerns the rifle shot. The evidence was still inconclusive, but the time had come to confront Nastoyia with it and see how she reacts. The problem was getting through to Admiral Nastoyia. It was becoming almost impossible. Direct communication with the Admiral could not be established. Always her Chief of Staff answers and wants to take a message. Kenesh was not in the mood to share the information with her Chief of Staff. Something else would need to be done and quickly. Her ten days were about up. Opening a Comm link she summons a high-speed shuttle to transport her to Sord 577. Her second link went to Ramaj. “You have a command staff ready?” Ramaj answers they would be waiting at the shuttle. Then she adds. “Admiral Kotoponi will intercept you and provide you an escort to Sord 577. But if it starts to go wrong out there, get back here. I’ve positioned Admiral Trife’s fleet to cover your retreat. Lastly we have found the Rebel base. It’s where he said it would be. The scouting fleet just reported in and they will join up with Nastoyia fleet in six days. Good luck Kenesh.”
Kenesh normalized the gravity and shut down the displays. Removing a class three-laser pistol from the upper desk drawer she straps it on and proceeds to the docking bay. It’s had been sometime since she was last in the field. She wonders if she would still be able to cope.
The door to the docking bay opens and a surprise awaits her. “Hello Nefee. Seems you’re going with me?” He nods. “I’m to take command if you find Nastoyia unfit. Then destroy the Rebel base taking no prisoners. Those are my orders.” The family dispute that had separated the twins left Nefee to be promoted. He was equal to his brother finally an Admiral of the Empire. His bloodthirsty attacks had earned him the title of the Bloody Bebaus. A title he was very proud of. He follows her into the shuttle hoping that Nastoyia would be relieved of her command. A fleet and an enemy to crush it made him blush. The shuttle departs the Capital. It would take a little more than fifty hours to join up with Admiral’s Kotoponi’s fleet.
*********
The slowest pace that the machine could maintain is where it was set. Spoor had gone about twenty minuets at this slow pace. Twice she reached to increase the speed and Kufadis note stops her. It says. “Follow the routine or you will wind up in a wheel chair! It’s your choice Admiral!” She quietly curses Kufadis. She knows he is right. But accepting orders from a mere commoner is embarrassing. She quietly plods along the muscles in her legs accepting this new pace she was going at. When she finishes she walks to the hot tub. She sat soaking, it felt wonderful her legs did not feel like dead weight anymore and her back felt relaxed. The soak completed. She dresses and slowly walks back to her room. Opening the door she finds Kufadis reading a book. Hearing the door open he lowers the book. “Have a nice session Admiral?” She walks over to him. “Stand up Kufadis!” He stands. The smile on her face was unusual. She gently wraps her arms around him and placed her head on his shoulder. “Thank you Kufadis. Thanks for caring about me. It’s been so long since anybody cared for me I’d almost forgotten.” She stops. Kufadis wraps his arms about her middle careful to avoid the injury to her back. He speaks over her shoulder. “One day you will share things with me about your past. Until then let’s look forward to the future together. Not that I’m saying to ignore the past. But it has its time to be revealed, and now. I’m more than happy to have you feeling better and here with me. Do you understand?”
She held him. “I understand. When did you fall in love with me Kufadis?” He pauses. “It’s been awhile. What convinced me that I loved you was when you came to on the bridge after the explosion. I willingly set your leg then you smiled and passed out. For a moment I thought I’d killed you then I saw you were still breathing. You were laying their unconscious for so long. I started missing you. Then and there I decided to express my feelings to you no matter what your response was. To my surprise, you willingly accepted my feelings and expressed your own.”
He lifts her head from his shoulder. “When did you fall in love with me Admiral?” She smiles. ”The first time I really teased you. I though you were either going to faint or pee your pants. You did neither. You gained my interest at that moment. Then. I woke up on the hospital ship and found you their looking worse than I felt. The attendant told me you had hardly left my side since you carried me on board. I knew then I did not want to lose you.” She kisses him. “You’ll have to keep me, I guess. You’ve got to much time invested in me to just let me go.” Standing in one place was starting to get to her. Kufadis helps her into bed. He kisses her forehead. “We’ll take another go at this in the morning. You get some rest Admiral.” She smiles and drifts off to sleep. Kufadis lowers the lights and leaves the room. He had a very warm feeling inside.
*********
“Still no communications from Admiral Kenesh?” The communications officer answers, “Not yet.” She slams her fist on the desktop and ends the link. Frustrated Admiral Nastoyia lay on her bunk staring at the ceiling. Up on the bridge the communications officer had a question. “That was the fifth time today Kilo Commander. How much longer do we lie to her?” The Kilo-Commander looks at her. “Your in this as deep as I am. You’ll keep your opinions to yourself Decca Commander. Have I made it perfectly clear?” the Decca-Commander stares at her terminal in silence.*********
The first day Lafiel slept in their cabin. Seelnay dropped in and gave her a bath and rub down. Jinto brought her meals throughout the day. While she slept, Jinto visited the engineering department and spent time on the bridge with Ekuryua. Returning to their cabin Seelnay stops him. “Count Hyde can I have a moment of you time?” Jinto stops, and looks around. They find a meeting room and sit in it. “Seelnay what’s on your mind?” Seelnay sat there staring off in space. ”It’s her muscle tone. She losing it, no matter how much I massage her. She is still like a rag doll, all soft and mushy. I’m beginning to worry at first I thought it was my hands. They are not as strong as they were twelve years ago when I first met Her Highness. But I just gave the Captain a massage and she felt very normal. What I would expect Her Highness to feel like. When we get to Hyde she needs to see a doctor. Something is wrong, that’s all I can tell you.”
Jinto reflects. She was feeling a lot softer than she normally did. He just figured it was her body adjusting to growing at such a late age. Dr Sasoum had said she would experience a lot of changes in the next six months. Although two months had already passed and Lafiel did not seem to be getting any better, maybe Seelnay was right. There was an excellent medical facility on the depot and Dr. Sasoum was just a few hours away by Comm link. Jinto thanked her and went off to their cabin. Entering the room Lafiel lay sleeping. Jinto stood alongside the bunk and grabs Lafiel’s arm. Seelnay was right it felt very soft. Applying gentle pressure he could feel her bone under the muscle that readily gave way under the pressure he was applying. Lafiel moves, he releases her arm and leaves the cabin.
The ship had an extensive library. Jinto spent the rest of the day reading up on Abh physiology. They never went into this much detail in school, he thought. The Abh make up was such to accept high-speed acceleration they were extremely solid in bone structure but the joints and muscles allowed for extra movement, they were very pliable. In the reduced gravity Lafiel would easily have overpowered Jinto. Her muscles were accustomed to the momentary stresses of space travel, not the daily strain of planetary life. Overall she was the same physical height as Jinto however she weighed more than he did, the difference being the increased bone mass. Now she had lost tone in her muscles the simplest thing even in reduced gravity tired her. The data suggested several courses of action, however all of them recommended a complete physical before starting any treatment.
While this wealth of information was lying before him. Jinto decided to study the Abh physiology further. The reproductive system. The information here seemed very dated. Then he realized Abh women don’t normally have babies. The early centuries of Abh reproduction were well documented. However with the advent of the birthing chambers. The study of Abh reproduction within the females ceased. There were a few comments on women that had carried to term and some of the difficulties encountered. The last recorded pregnancy to term was fifty years ago. He did find a diagram of a pregnancy assistance device. It looked like the pocket of a slingshot and went around the abdominal area of the woman to help support the child. It was explained that some women’s abdominal muscles could not support the child properly and the device prevented muscle strains and possible tears, which could be harmful to the child. “Now I see why doctor Sasoum was so insistent on Lafiel not becoming pregnant during her growing phase. The damage could have been fatal to her or the child.” Reflecting on what he read he decided that he would do nothing till they arrived at the Hyde depot. Lafiel was going to be examined when she got their though and he would not take no for an answer.
*********
“Wham Bam Boom!” The office shook violently. The cup of coffee on the table hit the floor and the general alarm sounded. Pulling himself to his feet Samson opens a Comm link. “Paveryua! Paveryua! What the hell just happened? Paveryua answer me!” Static filled the Comm link then a familiar voice. “Whoa Samson sorry about that. Seems the OLE Basroil still has some fight left in her. That was supposed to be a ten-percent test fire of the new cannon. Looks like I wired the controls backwards and that was a one hundred percent blast. Thankfully it went into space. Kind of shook the base real good I think.” Samson silenced the alarm, opens a channel and announces to the depot that there was nothing to worry about. Then he returns to Paveryua. “You lame brain. I ought to, So it works good Eh?” Paveryua informs him that the blast was set at one hundred percent. But the reactor had only made it to eighty-percent power at the time of the test fire. “So if she was up to full power. Whoa! Paveryua, you really want to hand her a weapon with that kind of firepower?” *********
Sitting in the lounge Spoor and Kufadis were getting ready to start on their walk. Suddenly the base shook and the lights dimmed followed by the general alarm, Kufadis rolls his creunoc to his lips, ”Lashkau. What just happened? Is the ship alright?” The answer came back instantly. “Commander Kufadis we are fine is the Admiral ok?” Kufadis informs them she was next to him and fine. “What was that? Felt like an explosion?” The answer surprised them both. “Commander it was a anti matter cannon discharge from the far side of the planet estimated to be at eighty-five percent power.” He looks at Spoor, she was speechless. “Can you tell what ship fired it?” The time for the answer to come seemed an eternity. “It came from an attack ship Roil class in low orbit over the depot. F.O.F. signal identifies it as the Basroil.” Spoor shakes her head. “Lashkau. Repeat the ships identity.” “Admiral, it is confirmed as the attack ship Basroil.” Kufadis acknowledges the transmission and closes the channel. Spoor looks at him. “What the hell is Samson up to now?” Kufadis shakes his head. They start their walk with a new destination, the fuel depot office.*********
Gathering his thoughts and looking around him, Samson fails to hear the door open. Turning around he finds Kufadis and Spoor staring at him. Before he can speak Spoor starts. “You have some explaining to do. That was an anti-matter cannon blast from the Basroil. Why is that ship equipped with that destructive of a weapon?” Samson smiles. “It’s a gift for Her Highness. The first ship she commanded, a memento.” Spoor frowns. “Lair! If you’re under orders not to tell me then just say so. But don’t lie to me stationmaster it’s not very becoming and I’m not in a real good mood. So one more time why did you modify the Basroil?” Samson looks at her. “Admiral. Ask the Princess she will be here in two days. I’m not at liberty to divulge any more information at this time.” Spoors eyes narrow on Samson. “Very well stationmaster I’ll speak with Her Highness when she gets here.” She looks at Kufadis. “We need to finish the walk, come Kufadis.” Kufadis gives Samson a strange look and follows Spoor out of the room. Samson breathes a sigh of relief he knows the Count and the Princess will be in for a surprise when they arrive. But he did as he was instructed to and Spoor will just have to wait. He turns off the lights and leaves the room.*********
Sitting in the crew lounge Kenesh is reading the latest report on fleet movements. The sound of a chair being moved attracts her attention. “Mind if I join you?” Kenesh looks up. Nefee is standing before her. “Go ahead, after I was finished here I was coming to look for you. You’ve saved me the trip.” Nefee sits down facing Kenesh. “Fleet movements? Really exciting reading material Kenesh.” Kenesh finishes the report and looks at Nefee. ”Part of the job. You know that as well. Tell me something? What happen between you and Nereis? Why did you disown your own brother?” Nefee sat back in the chair. “Kenesh you knew my brother well. You know the answer. We are both insane. He avoids admitting it. I on the other hand relish in it. I use it as the reason I do as I do. I’m tried of the war. I wish to stop it finally. If that means the half of the universe that opposes us needs to be destroyed. Then so be it. The cautious tiptoeing that you and Ramaj have done is moving us to a position of weakness. We should not negotiate with those weaker than the Empire. We should crush them. Turn their solar systems to dust. As proof of our overwhelming power.”
Nefee suddenly stands and leaves Kenesh. As he walks off Kenesh thinks about what he just said. “Ramaj, what the hell were you thinking? I dare not relieve Nastoyia of her command. If I put Nefee in charge he’d probably destroy most of the outer ring in his perceived pursuit of peace.” Dazed. She sat there. Her options had just been drastically reduced. It felt like Aptic all over again. Although this time, her side was at the great disadvantage.
*********
The room was dimly lit. His restraints loosen as promised. He laid there, his mind slowly unraveling before him. It had been two days since his last coherent conversation. He had asked then how soon death would come and there was no answer to his query. The DNA time bomb was about to explode. It would leave him a mental vegetable. This was not the agreement he had with the doctor, he thought. The sound of the door opening distracted him from his self-induced conversation. Doctor Sasoum stood there, a hypo spray in her hand. “Are you ready for the great sleep?” He nods. She held the instrument to his neck. “Before I do this. There are a couple of thing I’d like you to know. First the child is dead, as we agreed. It’s strange her DNA is your DNA. But it’s an older strand. So the original of you was still alive when the girl was cloned. We found the Rebel base. It was where you told us.” He smiles. She gently pulls the trigger. He took one last deep breath and then he was gone. She folds his hands on his chest and covers him with a sheet. As she leaves the room, she turns off the lights.
*********
The wing of the ward was silent. She walks to her office. She enters the room, turns on a desk lamp and sits at her desk. She places the hypo spray on top of the desk. Then she buries her head in her hands and cries. She had never taken a life before and hopes never to have to do it again. She had kept her promise. But it would haunt her the rest of her life. Two hours pass she finally felt she was able to complete what she had started. She opens a Com link and Ramaj answers. “Tell Kenesh it’s done. About two hours ago, I would like some time off if I could?” The answer took awhile to be spoken. “Do as you need to doctor. But do not leave the Capital. Your services will still be needed for the short term.” She acknowledges the statement and closes the channel. She turns off the desk lamp and reclines in her chair. His smile would not leave her mind it was just as clear as...
*********
Arriving at Admiral Kotoponi’s fleet. Kenesh receives the news of Dusanyu’s passing. She makes it to her cabin aboard the flagship just as she breaks down. The next several hours she spends hating herself for allowing the doctor to do it when she was not there. Admiral Kotoponi heads for Sord 577. Before Kenesh’s rendezvous with her fleet she had dispatched a communications shuttle to notify Admiral Nastoyia of Admiral Kenesh’s arrival. The news sets Nastoyia ablaze. She demanded from her communications officer an explanation of what was going on. The Decca Commander stuck to her story. “Admiral we’ve had no communications with the Capital.” Which she knew was a lie, it would not be long before the lie and liars were exposed. She sat there; her career had just been derailed. She figures the Chief of Staff could explain it better than she could. So she kept quite. It was a grave mistake on her part.*********
Lafiel slept through the transition from the Sord into the Hyde system. Jinto had established communication with Lina in direct violation of the treaty. However when Jinto explained the two problems he had. Teel ignored the fact that Jinto requested communication. The log was altered to show the planet called him. “Lina, I appreciate the help you’ve given Lafiel on understanding religion. I’ll see she reads what you have transmitted. The herbal remedy for weak muscles do I rub it on her?” Laughter fills the room. “No my darling. She drinks it. She not going to be very happy with you either, it’s quite bitter. The remedy should be given a little at first to see how she reacts to it. Then increase the dosage as stated in the instructions. In about ten days she should be fine. If you use it that is. Have your doctors check it. Since we all evolved from the same seed it should not do her any harm, but don’t give it to her till your doctors have tested it. I like her and would not like to see any harm come to her.”
Jinto thanks her and closes the channel. He opens the ingredient for the remedy. What he sees intrigues him. It’s a mixture of base vitamins in a concentrated solution of green tea. The fresh young leaves are still full of the potent ingredient tocotrienols and L-glutamine. The Abh have a genetic treatment. Lafiel’s condition prevented any genetic therapy. The old fashion remedy would have to do in this case.
Jinto’s creunoc was the next thing to announce their arrival to the depot. Samson calls and warns Jinto of Spoor’s visit. He also informs him of the completion of the Basroil. Jinto levels with him about Lafiel’s condition and orders him to secure the Basroil so she cannot operate it. “Samson she is madder than I’ve ever seen her, although she is not showing it outwardly. If she knew the ship was done and the firepower it had, she’d leave immediately to pursue the party or parties responsible for the message. She’d die clearing her name.” Samson responds that he’ll meet them at the dock and that the Basroil was already out of sight. “Spoor’s ship is complete. She’s got everything she always wanted. Kg for Kg she’s got more firepower in the Lashkau than twenty regular Kau class ships. Jinto. Spoor’s not fully recovered either. So go easy on her.”
Jinto acknowledges the transmission and looks around. Martine was off to the left of the ship and the depot was distant to the right. He was home, a home he could never step foot on. The tears streak his face. It was Risch’s voice that returns him to reality. “Jinto. The Captain wants to see you. It seems the minute we entered the Hyde System. Admiral Atosuryua has been hailing the Princess. She’s asleep and Atosuryua is not happy. The Captain wishes for you to speak with the Admiral.” Jinto turns to Risch his face became visible. Risch stares. “Something I said?” Jinto shook his head he explained the treaty with the Hyde system to Risch. “So you can never go to the surface?” Jinto nods his head. “That’s why the island is so precious to you and Lafiel.” Jinto puts his arm around Risch. “Yes. Right now though. I guess I’d better settle the Baroness down.” They proceed to the bridge.
*********
“I’m sorry Admiral. The Princess is asleep and left orders not to be awaken.” Ekuryua sat looking in the main viewer. Admiral Atosuryua sat staring back. They had been deadlocked for ten minutes. The door opens and Jinto walks onto the bridge. Atosuryua saw this and went to speak. Jinto raised his hand to silence her. “Admiral. Her Highness is sleeping. You have two choices, you talk to me now, or you wait till she awakens. This ship is operating under her orders and therefore is no longer your responsibility. Now. Baroness what shall it be? Talk to me or wait for Her Highness?” Atosuryua scowls she leans back in the chair. She hand raises, the link was broken, the display went blank.Ekuryua turns towards Jinto. “How did you just do that? She caved in so fast. She did not put up an argument.” Jinto turns towards her. She finally saw his face, his look was stern, his eyes focused and the traces of tears still stained his cheeks. Jinto looks as if he would have handed anyone their head should they try to argue with him. It was a look Ekuryua had never seen before and wishes not to see in the future. “I’ll be in our quarters. Inform me when we have docked.” Jinto turns and leaves the bridge. Ekuryua and Risch watch as he leaves.
*********
“That was pretty scary! He was as mad as Her Highness gets. Only he did not lash out like she does. Controlled anger. Is that what that was?” Risch shook his head. ”I’d say he’s been pushed to his limit and that was his outburst.” He proceeds to explain the treaty to Ekuryua and the condition he found Jinto in. “He’s had enough nonsense. I truly believe he would be happy to take her back to that planet and live the rest of their lives out there in peace. But the Empire has other plans for them. They will probably shape our futures, bring about a lasting peace and a new age of co-operation.” He steps closer to her and whispers. ”We could be watching history being made right here and now. Think about it. She’s more powerful than an Empress is. She can shape and make policy almost at will. She is the Empire at this moment.” Ekuryua sat back in her chair a thought hit her. “Risch is that why all of this has transpired, to discredit her? To make her an outcast, then it truly is a trap. Anyway to take her out of the picture to put the Empire in chaos. We need to tell them.” Risch agrees. They would tell them of their suspicions when they arrive at the depot.
*********
“Commander Kufadis. The Attack Frigate has cleared Planet Martine. Should I inform Admiral Spoor of its arrival?” Kufadis looks at the communications officer. “No. You’ll tell the Admiral nothing. Time to the depot? The officer glances at the display. “About thirty minutes sir.” Kufadis searches the bridge; the first officer was in the fire control station he walks over to him. “You have the watch. I’ll be with the Admiral. Nobody boards this ship, not until you hear from me. You do understand me don’t you?” The first officer looks him in the face. “Understood sir, no one gains access to the Lashkau without your direct orders. Would that also include the Admiral as well?” Kufadis smiles “It’s her ship. You can’t keep her off it. You need not worry. The Admiral will be with me at all times. No other visitors.” The first officer nods and then Kufadis depart the bridge. Going down the gangway he recalls the data crystal in the safe. “Guess she ought to see that before she sees them. I’m sure Count Hyde will question the Admiral about it.” He stops and returns to the ship removing the crystal from the safe he puts around his neck and leaves the ship once more. He knows a place where she can view it in private that has few breakables in it.“Admiral will you follow me?” Kufadis takes Admiral Spoor to a surgical conference room locks the door and shows her the crystal. “Count Hyde sent it to you twenty-two days ago.” Spoor scowls at him. “I was waiting for your condition to improve before you saw it.” He loads the crystal into the reader then enters the decryption code. Spoor views it several times. Finally when she stops the viewer a look of anger and concern comes to her face. She stood up and faces Kufadis. She made a solid eye contact. Kufadis braced himself for the onslaught that was about to be unleashed. She took a deep breath and smiles. Placing her hands on her hips she addresses him.
“Kufadis you do understand what we just saw? He nods. “You had the nerve to keep it from me?” Kufadis holds fast, he had expected she’d be angry about this delay. ”Admiral when I got this. You could not walk you were under extensive pain management. Would you have understood what you just saw, then?” Spoor turns towards him her, hair whisks around her hips. “You have a point Chief of Staff. You should have come to me with this sooner though.”
He stops her there. “What would you have done Painiach? Hobbled to a yet completed Lashkau. Gone where and done what? Except make a damn fool out of yourself.” They were locked in eye contact and neither of them was prepared to blink. “I agree I should have shown it to you sooner. So what do you want to do about it?”
Spoor steps back she close her eyes and spoke. “Right now, nothing. Nothing till I speak with Count Hyde and the Princess. He sent me that to me for a reason. I’d like to hear his reason before I do anything else.” She opens her eyes they were surprisingly calm. “I’m hungry Kufadis. Let’s go find something eat and wait till they arrive.” She extends her hand towards him. He removes the crystal from the reader and puts it around his neck. Taking her hand they leave the conference room and head for the cafeteria.
*********
Passing the event horizon of Sord 577. Admiral Kotoponi’s flagship was hailed. It was Admiral Nastoyia calling. Kenesh’s face appears on the viewer. “So you’re finally taking my calls now that I’m here!” Admiral Nastoyia stood looking at her is disbelief. Before she could speak a log window opens showing the calls to Nastoyia from the Capital and how they were answered or rejected. “You’ve got some explaining to do Nastoyia. This time to my face, not only do you have a communications problem, but I’d like an answer for this as well.” The log disappears and the video of the EM shot plays. Nastoyia’s face grows expressionless. “We will dock in ten minutes. I’ll expect answers then. Kenesh out!”Nastoyia falls back into the center seat. The communications officer is pale and silent as well. Opening a Com link she goes looking for her Chief of Staff. There is no answer. Looking at the communications office, Nastoyia speaks. “Where is she?” The officer pales. “She took a shuttle and headed for the transports about an hour ago.” Nastoyia glares at her. “Find her! Bring the fleet to alert, find and confine her. You have some explaining to do, as well Decca Commander.” The communications officer sends the alert out and collapses in her chair. She realizes that she is going to take the fall for this and there is little proof of the Kilo Commanders involvement.
“Kenesh will you look at this?” Admiral Kotoponi points to the message being transmitted by Nastoyia’s flagship.” She’s tearing her fleet apart looking for her Chief of Staff. Wasn’t that the woman who cold shouldered you while you were trying to contact Nastoyia?” Kenesh read the message. “We are more dispersed than Nastoyia is. Tell her we will scan the system. Have her ships hold their positions. We don’t need us bumping into to each other. The scouting fleet scans the system it does not take long to find an abandon shuttle. Location of the shuttle was on the far side of the sixth moon of the third planet in the system. It was a short run from there to the entrance of the Sord.
Kotoponi’s ship docks with Nastoyia’s ship. Kenesh and Nefee go aboard. They are greeted by the acting Chief of Staff a pleasantly happy woman. She leads them to a conference room. Admiral Nastoyia and the communications officer are waiting for them. “We found your shuttle. It was abandoned. The scouting fleet is sweeping the area looking for evidence of where the Kilo Commander went. I’m guessing by the look on your face. You have no idea of what is happening around here. Do you?” Nastoyia sat stone faced and solemn. She looks over to the Decca Commander. “Tell her everything now!”
The communications officer opened up and proceeds to tell Kenesh and Nefee of the communications the Kilo Commander had her send or alter and ignore. When she got to the message they sent to Lafiel. Kenesh stops her. ”You sent the message knowing it could have been a trap? Why?” The communications officer explained that there was a group of officers that felt the royal family was bungling the war. To that end they had banded together to oppose the ruling family. She said that they would hold the Princess hostage and have her to negotiate a withdrawal of forces from the outer ring. That was all they wished for. “Do you know where this location is?” The communications officer supplies the information.
It was Nefee who spoke. “Oh my! That’s the location of the Rebel base.” Kenesh agrees. “Do you know if the Princess is headed there now? The communications office shook her head. “According to plan the Princess should be there by now. You can’t save her. It’s too late.” Then she looks at Kenesh. “What did you mean by the Rebel base?” Kenesh proceeds to show her the data from the scouting fleet. “You just handed Her Highness over to the enemy. Was that your wish?” The Decca Commander pales, it finally hits her. The Kilo Commander was working for the Rebel’s, not the resistance. “Nastoyia you need to do a through house cleaning before you leave this system if she is among your crew there are more. I’ll leave Nefee and his command staff with you.” She looks to Nefee. “You’re her second in command. Help her go through the fleet and weed out any other members of the resistance. Let me know when your ready to do battle. I’ll trust you’ll remember our other conversation?” Nefee smiles. “I’ll not disappoint you Admiral. You can be sure if that.”
She turns to Admiral Nastoyia. “Did you fire on Admiral Trife?” Nastoyia looks Kenesh in the face. “I might despise that man, but to kill others just to get to him. I think you know me better than that Kenesh. You’re headed back to the Capital then?” Kenesh looks at her. “To the nearest communications hub. I need to know where the Princess is. You will not move from this spot till I order you to. The scouting fleet will be here in three days. There is still a big hole in our defenses and you’re not ready to fight Admiral.”
Nastoyia steps back the Decca Commander comes into view. ”What do I do with her?” Kenesh looks towards the Decca Commander. “She’s coming with me. She has information I can use.” She sat down and faces the Decca Commander. “You are in a lot of trouble. You can help yourself, by helping me ascertain where the Kilo Commander went and to help me locate the Princess. Or you can be placed in the brig on this ship and take the full measure of your crimes. It’s up to you. I need your answer this minute.” She nods accepting to help Kenesh in any way possible.
“Nefee be thorough, but don’t waste time. Hopefully you can be ready to leave in two weeks or less. If we lose the Rebels, then we lose them. But if this fleet were to mutiny in the midst of battle we would lose much more. You’re up to job, then do it well. The future of the Empire might well rest on what you do here.” Kenesh and the Decca Commander leave the room and head back to Kotoponi’s flagship.
Nefee and Nastoyia watch as they leave. “Admiral I know of your feelings for Abh males. Can you put those feelings aside and work with me? It would go a lot faster if you do.” She smiles at him. “Since you’re not a typical Abh male. I can overlook my feelings for the a typical male. She was going to arrest me and put you in charge wasn’t she?” Nefee nods. “What changed her mind?” Nastoyia asks. “Admiral. I changed Kenesh’s mind. If you will work with me, then I need not say more.” Nastoyia spun on her heels and heads towards the lift. “We have work to do Admiral, time is a wasting.” Nefee follows her.
*********
“Given what you’ve told me Jinto. I’d say she is malnourished. Send me the contents of meal she has eaten since you left. I’ve reviewed the remedy that Lina sent you. Try some of that as soon as the test results are in. Calling me was a wise move. I can send her records to the depot. They have an excellent facility there. Anything else Jinto?” Jinto sat looking at the display. “No nothing right now Doctor Sasoum. Thanks for everything.” Jinto closes the channel. The display went dark.They had arrived two hours earlier Lafiel was still sleeping. Samson and Seelnay were rounding up quarters on the depot for them. Then Seelnay was heading for Martine on a mission, she would only label as most urgent. Jinto was finally exhausted; the past four days had left him mentally and physically drained. Worrying about Lafiel’s condition, the message and having to deal with the space he was in had almost proved too much for him. A hand rested on his shoulder he turns to find Risch standing behind him. “Looks like you could use a friend to talk to Jinto.” It was true. Lafiel had always been the one he could confide in discuss things with and share opinions. She was now sleeping, more than she was awake, and had not been good conversationalist since they left Vorash. “Yeah I guess I could get some of this off my chest, you willing to listen?”
Risch slid out the chair across from Jinto and sat down facing him. “Fire away! I’m all ears.” Jinto starts to discuss everything that was on his mind. Most of it Risch had heard before so he listened. When Jinto finishes Risch interjects something Jinto had never thought of. “Do you realize how much influence the two of you have? Especially Lafiel?” He continued to share the conversations he and Noel had been having. Jinto became aware of a new reality as Risch spoke. “Jinto you ever feel you’re sitting on the jade throne. Noel and I feel that you and Lafiel have more power between you than the person who would sit on that throne does. Maybe she does not hold the title of Empress but her actions and yours qualify the two of you to be rulers of the Empire.”
Jinto shook his head. He orders a drink from the venderbot. Risch took one as well. “Risch let me get this straight. You feel that Lafiel and I are running the Empire by proxy?” Risch sips his drink. “How else would you explain everything that has happened? Why only we received that message? Why would someone want to discredit Lafiel like that? You realize they went to a lot of trouble to fabricate that information. They also had faulty knowledge. They were under the impression that; One, Lafiel was well. Two, She and Noel were at each other’s throats and Three Lafiel would take command of the Attack Frigate and go storming off to the location given in the message. I’m sure somebody at those coordinates is very upset that the ship is not there by now."
Jinto orders another drink. “I understand what you are saying. I’d never realized it, but you are right. After the exposure of Dusanyu’s clone, Lafiel would have been at the head of the line to ascend to the throne. She’s never wished that to happen, she’s always wanted her brother to become Emperor. This changes things doesn’t it?” Risch nods. “If Lafiel gets killed or captured the clans of the Imperial family would probably go into chaos. Jinto you see I’m a commoner from a lower ranked family. If someone had told me I’d be in the company of and friends with the two most powerful people in the Empire. I’d laughed them off. So here I sit thanks to the Star Forces, one very cunning Captain and the luck of the draw getting trapped with her in an escape pod.”
Jinto’s eyebrows rose. “You too Eh?” Risch smiles and he continues. “You see this all makes sense to me because I’m not directly involved. Noel ranks higher than I do, but she also sees the picture as I do. You and Lafiel have become so swept up in things that the big picture is too big. Where all Noel and I can see is the big picture. You understand me?”
Jinto sat back. He took the drink in his hand and slowly moves the glass. The liquid rolls around the glass almost spilling out. “Sort of like this glass. From the outside you can see what’s about to happen. But from the inside it’s hard to tell what will happen next. Only thing you know for sure is that the liquid is moving and you’re going along for the ride.”
At that moment Jinto twitches his hand a bit of liquid spills over the top and lands on the table. “See you and I are on the outside we saw that coming had we been on the inside we would probably be there.” He points to the spill on the table. “Yes Risch. I do understand and you’re right. I’ve become swept up in the fluid and if I’m not careful Lafiel and I will wind up spilled on the table.” He looks at Risch. “I need to wake her up so they can run test on her. Then I need to talk with Admiral Spoor. Guess I should get going?” Risch nods, he and Jinto stand up and go their separate ways.
*********
Continued in the next post.