Atlantis Rising (37 page)

“There is no way out of this, Captain,”
Sa’oliq said.

“I’m ordering you…” Jon said. Terri squeezed
his wrist again. “It’s okay, trust me.”

Terri raised an eyebrow in question briefly
as she looked at her brother then eased her grip. “Just be careful what you
say,” Terri said.

“Sa’oliq,” Jon said.

“Yes, M’lord?” Sa’oliq said.

Jon moaned, what was going on with people and
the ‘M’lord’ crap, lately.

“I’m ordering you to continue to run the
Castanian Empire, and to report directly back to me,” Jon said. “You will have
final say on all things that involve the Castanians, after you confer with me.
I reserve the right to make you choose for your people, without my input. Is
that understood?”

Sa’oliq grinned, “And he shall cause the fall
of a queen, while bringing her to power. He shall rule, while not ruling his
people.”

Jon muttered under his breath.

“Well done, M’lord,” Sa’oliq said.

“One more thing,” Jon said.

“Yes, M'lord'. Sa’oliq said.

“Cut the ‘M’lord.’ ‘Jon’ is fine,” Jon said.

“Of course, Jon,” Sa’oliq said.

“Sir,” the Tactical officer said. “Sorry to
interrupt, but we have two incoming hyperspace events.”

Jon looked at the tactical display over the
planning table. Two event horizons were marked on it at the edge of their scan
range.

“Release the whiskers and begin the sweeps,”
Jon said.

“Whiskers active,” the Tactical officer said.
“Beginning primary sensor scans.”

“Sa’oliq,” Jon said.

“We see them too, Jon,” Sa’oliq said. “We’re
moving in to provide cover for you and I’m on my way to your location as we
speak.”

“There’s no need for you to endanger
yourself,” Jon said.

“I’m sorry but you’re my primary concern, as
is the Cypher,” Sa’oliq said.

Hi’joas, who had been listening the whole
time, finally spoke up. “Two Invaru battle cruisers have just exited
hyperspace. They’re on course to our current position at full speed,” he said.

“Confirmed,” the Tactical officer said. “I
have them as the Ki’ased and Liosa.”

“Prepare to bring us to battle stations,” Jon
said.

Terri turned to leave the Bridge as Sa’oliq
interrupted Jon. “Jon, please maintain what you’re doing. You can’t break your
‘Cypher Status,’ until they have attacked you. If you do, you will ruin the
emergence of the Cyphers. Right now, you’re flying under a diplomatic flag. To
suddenly swap would undermine what you have done here,” she said. “We’ll take
care of the Invaru, if it comes to that.”

“And if they attack us?” Jon said.

“Then by all means defend yourself from
aggression,” Sa’oliq said.

Jon nodded as he glanced over at his sister.
“Have all hands standby for battle stations. Terri you’re with me. I need you
doing just what you’re doing.”

Terri nodded and took back her spot next to
Jon.

“I told you my Queen,” Hi’joas said. “We
can’t afford to harbor them against the Invaru.”

“Captain Hi’joas,” Sa’oliq said. “If you have
a problem with this, you can relieve yourself, and allow your second to command
in your place.”

“My Queen,” Hi’joas said. “All I’m saying is
this is a bad idea! We can’t afford to fight the Invaru.”

“You know that secretly, the Invaru have been
our enemies for ages,” Sa’oliq said. “We have been waiting for one thing before
acting. Now he has appeared before us. I have been ruling this empire for over
a thousand years. I remember the great wars and the peace that was before it. I’ll
not let this slip through my fingers. We will defend that ship! If it comes to
it, we will die doing our duty. That is my final order and you will follow it
or resign your position. Do you understand?”

Hi’joas knelt and nodded as he spoke, “As you
wish, my Queen.”

“However, I don’t think it will come to
that,” Sa’oliq said.

She had returned her gaze back to Terri.

Terri smiled as she spoke, “Anything I can do
to kick the Invaru’s teeth in, will be my pleasure, your Highness.”

Sa’oliq laughed as she spoke, “I doubt they
will be ready for this. Just a bit of information you can use: The signatories
never revoked the Mandate. It is still in the core of the treaties that all new
races sign, even today.”

Terri’s grin widened, “That is very
interesting, and very useful! My thanks.”

Sa’oliq smiled and nodded back.

“Sir,” the Com officer said. “We’re being
hailed by the Invaru.”

“Your show, Honorable Hunter,” Sa’oliq said.
“Do not let them address you without the word: ‘Honorable.’ It is part of your
heritage, and a sign of respect for your position. That is, unless you allow it
to be otherwise.”

Jon resumed his seat and let Terri have the
floor. “All yours Honorable Hunter,” Jon said. A small smile spread across
Jon’s face.

Terri shot Jon a look that could freeze
blood, as Jon chuckled.

“I’ll get you for that,” she said.

“I’m sure you will,” Jon said.

Terri turned back towards the main viewer.
Her expression was now neutral.

“Put them through.”

She had pulled the loose cloak around her
body, and the hood now covered her face.

A large Invaru, wearing Captain’s bars,
filled the screen and immediately started speaking.

“Atlantis, you are ordered to drop shields
and prepare for boarding.”

The Captain of the Invaru vessel had a look
of triumph on his face.

“This vessel is on a diplomatic mission,”
Terri said.

The Invaru Captain blinked for a second, as
if he’d just seen Terri.

“It doesn’t matter,” the Captain said. “I
have been ordered to seize that vessel, and its crew.”

“How dare you or the Invaru Empire interfere
with a vessel under The Cypher’s flag,” Terri said.

A surprised look crossed the Invaru Captain’s
face. “Excuse me?” the Captain said. “Did you say ‘Cypher’?”

“Yes,” Terri said. “Can you not see the
colors adorning this ship, and my dress that denotes me as of the Cypher
Guild?”

“What kind of ruse if this?” the captain
said. “The Cyphers have been gone for thousands of years. Now suddenly one
appears out of nowhere? I have to give it to you humans, you’re a crafty lot.”

“There is no trick here, of that I assure
you,” Terri said, switching to perfect Invaru as she spoke. “I’m Terri Hunter,
the new beginning of the Cypher Guild.”

The Captain waved one of his four arms in
dismissal at Terri. “Whatever you say Hunter.”

Several of the Invaru on the screen looked at
their Captain as if he had just sprouted horns.

“You dare insult me and my Guild?” Terri
said.

Her face filled with anger as the captain
began issuing orders quietly to his crew.

“I was excusing the slight, before. However,
the proper way to address me is ‘Honorable Hunter’! I shall expect no less from
you.”

“Yes, I know that,” the Captain said. “I also
know that if you don’t know a Cypher’s name, the proper way to address them is
Honorable Cypher. However, we both know you are neither honorable nor a Cypher.
Just because you fly the colors, doesn’t make it so.”

“I’m ordering you to cease your approach on
this vessel,” Terri said. “Under the rights afforded me by the Mandate of
Radosa Prime, no vessel carrying a Cypher can be boarded, seized, or even approached
without the consent of the Cypher in charge. I don’t give you that authority,
and furthermore, I’m ordering you to return to your own space.”

“Fine have it your way,” the Captain said.
“Battle Stations, prepare to fire on that vessel.”

No one on his ship moved until he slammed his
fist down and yelled, ‘NOW!’

“What?” Terri said. “You would dare fire on
my ship?”

“I will do as I’m ordered,” the Captain said.
“You have one last chance to surrender.”

“You fire on that vessel, Captain,” Sa’oliq
said as her picture popped up, “and the Castanians’ will pull their support
from the Empire. Consequences be damned, I’ll not sit here and let you do this.
The ship is carrying a Cypher! Since The Mandate is still in effect for all
members of the Empire, the Honorable Hunter is correct in everything she has
said and done.”

“Sa’oliq, this doesn’t concern you,” the
Captain said.

“Captain Taeade,” Sa’oliq said, “this matter
does concern me! It also concerns every member of the Empire. If you destroy
that ship what do you think will happen when people find out?”

“A sigh of relief?” Taeade said.

He grinned as he spoke and chuckled slightly.

“You’re an idiot, and shouldn’t be in command
of a garbage ship,” Sa’oliq said. “If the Invaru Empire can’t even follow its
own rules and laws, then the member races will try to break free. I use the
term ‘member’ lightly, as we all know we were given little choice. However, at
this time, do you think the Invaru can afford a civil war?”

“Don’t tell me you believe this nonsense
about the Cyphers coming back?” Taeade said. “It’s a ruse for these people to
gain an advantage however they can.”

“She has been speaking in perfect Invaru for
over half your conversation,” Sa’oliq said. That alone is proof enough she is
whom she says she is. Not to mention that she speaks Castanian very well for an
outsider who has never seen us.”

“That can be faked,” Taeade said.

“That is true,” Sa’oliq said. “But, there are
always signs that show it as fake. There are no such signs, here.”

Taeade drummed his fingers on the arm of his
chair as he stared at Terri.

“I’ll have to contact my superiors in this
matter…”

“Another event is forming behind the Invaru
ships,” the Tactical officer said. “A super carrier is dropping out of
hyperspace and taking up position between the battle cruisers. I have her
marked as the Wrath’s Revenge, under the command of Admiral Breq.”

“That won’t be necessary, Captain Taeade,”
Admiral Breq said as his face appeared on the screen. “I’ve been monitoring the
situation.”

“Sire,” Taeade said. He stood up from his
chair and knelt.

“Captain, you will apologize to the Honorable
Hunter for your conduct,” Breq said.

“What?” Taeade said. He looked up in
astonishment.

“I said… ‘You will apologize to the Honorable
Hunter for your conduct,’” Breq said. He stood up from his chair and glared at
the screen.

“She’s an impostor!” Taeade said. “The
Cyphers have been gone for thousands of years, and you expect us to believe a
human is one?” Taeade stood up and was almost yelling. “We have been looking
for the Atlantis, and this Jonathan Hunter! Now we have them and can end all
the trouble they have been causing us! Yet you expect me to believe their lies?
I’m sorry, Sire, but I can’t do that. I don’t believe any of it. It’s too much
of a coincidence to be true.”

Breq’s eyes narrowed as he spoke, “I have
been monitoring the transmissions, and I have had my translator off, for most
of it. I have also had the technicians going over the recordings looking for
any anomaly. We’ve found nothing. She speaks perfect Invaru. That is a sign
that she is who she says she is.

“Furthermore, The Mandate is intact! As she
says, it is not up for dispute. You will apologize to her, to keep this from
becoming an embarrassment against the Invaru people. That ship, for now, is ‘hands
off.’ Do I make myself clear?”

“I...,” Taeade said.

“That had better be a ‘Yes, Sire’ coming from
you, or so help me…” Breq said.

Taeade swallowed hard as he glanced back in
Terri’s direction.

“Yes, Sire,” Taeade said. He knelt and bowed
as he continued, “Honorable Hunter, please forgive my previous actions.”

“Forgiven, Captain Taeade,” Terri said.

Her right foot was making a grinding motion
on the floor as she smiled.

“Captain Taeade,” Breq said, “we can’t just
ignore the rules of engagement, and the laws of our Empire, simply to suit our
whims. There has to be order, and we must set the example.”

“I understand that, Sire,” Taeade said. “I
see this as a major threat, though. They have the ability to move about our
space without any repercussions. Doesn’t that make us vulnerable?”

“True, they have the ability to move about
with freedom,” Breq said. “However, I don’t see how one single ship can make
that large a difference. The Emperor will no doubt change The Mandate, and make
it null and void.”

“The council will never allow that,” Sa’oliq
said. “With the emergence of the Cyphers, treaties and documents between races
will mean more, not less.”

“The council are nothing more than pawns used
by the Emperor to get what he wants,” Breq said. “How do you really think they
will vote?”