Carinae Sector: 02 - Admiral's Fury - Part 2 - Hidden Menace (4 page)

Angwene noted the increase in concern from her younger daughters listening silently nearby, and she sought to reassure them.

‘The probe has provided an interesting combat simulation that offers some hope. We will continue to analyze the results and decide on how we can further covertly aid the humans.’

Altarebe followed Seliandre to one side and began to question her as he noted that the queen and the Maveen probe had begun their own private conversation.

‘Seliandre, do you have any up to date information on what the humans have constructed in space or on the moon, apart from the newer destroyers?’

Altarebe looked through the listings he was then given and he felt both surprise and hope. He recognized that the humans needed more time and then they possibly would survive, as the Earth-moon system had been heavily fortified. A series of new structures on the moon grabbed his attention, and he listed through the inventory quickly.

‘Eight structures of each roughly fifty thousand tons, the guns and shields are cruiser class, and they also have engines fitted, powerful engines even for cruisers. The galactic races will be concerned about the existence of these structures, even if the humans seek to protect themselves. The Maveen probe has to see this information as the humans could be making a large mistake by launching these ships.’

Altarebe began to speak again with probe three and Queen Angwene. The Maveen probe had no trouble following Altarebe’s concerns as it continued to repair the Maveen sled. Altarebe noted the patient and quiet regard of Angwene towards him as he answered a series of questions from the probe.

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Deshinal followed her mother Apinal into the Deltas Vass clearing and took in the impressive form of the matriarch fixed in the ground before her. A legion of male Deltas Vass drones encircled her and glared protectively at the two Quixxe females. Deshinal put aside any fears for her siblings held nearby, as she instinctively attempted to hide her height and heavier frame. The Deltas Vass destroyer commander trailed behind both of them, before he stepped out from one side and gave his matriarch a full formal bow in silence.

Quickly the two Quixxe repeated the gesture before falling to their knees in supplication. The matriarch considered the two Quixxe in front of her for long moments, and gave a terse instruction tinged with musical chimes of humor, before asking her first questions in standard Vorinne language with a lilting accent.

 ‘Off your knees the both of you and none of your species pathetic wailing or squawking. I do not recognize the authority of either the Vorinne or the Zronte to take slaves and I never will. I also care little for the implied threat of the edicts upon the younger female Quixxe in front of me. So now that I have told you too much about me and I know now you had a good reason to flee, who are you? And why have you chosen to visit me directly?’

Apinal allowed herself a brief sense of relief as she parsed through the matriarch’s first comment, for she was sure she was in the presence of the life chapter matriarch. The traditionally hidden in plain sight matriarch was the one that the Zronte and sometimes the Vorinne sought to kill as a matter of course. Apinal knew she could offer no diversion as she respectfully gave her answers.

‘Your Eminence, we thank you for your sanctuary. I am Apinal of the Vorinne colony of Vituma IV, with my offspring and a stolen Vorinne scout ship. The colony is administered by Lord of Systems Malang’troh, liege lord of the Vorinne second envoy. My daughter Deshinal is a variform of our race, and we fled to your world so we can live far from the attentions of Zronte especially. Deshinal is fertile and capable of breeding and we seek your instructions and protection as a result.’

The matriarch kept silent for many moments as she considered the information, before she spoke in the musical chimes of the Deltas Vass language to both the destroyer commander and a drone holding an advanced medical scanner. The drone came forward and patiently scanned a nervous Deshinal, as the matriarch and the commander continued their own conversation.

The medical drone stepped back and kept silent for several minutes, before the matriarch was done with the commander’s lengthy report. The drone then made a shorter report to the matriarch that the massive female considered at further length. The commander and the drone then bowed again and stood to one side as the matriarch reverted to standard Vorinne language to speak at length with the two Quixxe females.

‘The medical drone verifies your claims Apinal, as Deshinal is capable of conceiving a range of Quixxe forms, however the methods that are later used to implement this possibility may not appeal to her. Deshinal, I only recommend that when the time comes to aid your race that you consider all options. Also you will remain in hiding as your existence is death to vassals that aid you in your flight. Now the commander states that the scout ship is an experimental design and is of high value to our cause. You will remain well hidden with your family and will all be taken elsewhere in the galaxy where a home will be provided for you. I have contacts who will wish to see information on the ship you stole, and you and your family will be part of the trade.’

Apinal felt great relief as she gave a series of bows in response but had the common sense to remain silent. She was conscious of Deshinal mirroring her actions before both the Quixxe females were escorted from the holy clearing by the destroyer commander and several drones. Apinal was eagerly looked forward to updating her other children with the welcome news, and she pondered fleetingly what the matriarch meant by her cryptic comments on Deshinal.

The life chapter matriarch watched the Quixxe leave with satisfaction, for centuries of patient waiting had finally borne fruit. The younger female was not only a fertile variform, she was also markedly different in genetics from the variform Quixxe that the matriarch had established in a remote colony many centuries earlier. Also the scout ship finding its way into her possession was an un-expected bonus, she just had to reverse engineer the ship and then discretely get rid of it later. The male drones detected the matriarch’s happiness on the winds and began to play a series of chimes as they sang for her enjoyment.

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Maveen probe three again reviewed the damage to the sled that Altarebe had used to get to Earth. The lower rear section of the sled was a buckled ruin and he knew that only the power conduit fail safes had prevented the miniature anti matter reactor from exploding with extreme force. Probe three isolated the power conduit problems and performed another diagnostic on the remaining sections of the sled. At least the rest of the sled, the reactor itself, and the shields and weapons remained intact.

Seliandre had moved away from her mother and Altarebe as the queen had pointedly requested a private audience. She knew that her prospective mate’s future was being discussed and she felt no unease, as her mother had often commented in the past on the dire situation of their once glorious race.

Seliandre now remembered another earlier time when Gementer was still active and very much her older sister, and the memory came back to her as she then turned to study the industrious Maveen probe nearby.

‘Now listen carefully my daughters, traditionally you all have first mates and by mutual agreement they came become your life mates. However you must have two additional mates at a later stage before you select your life mate. This is to both preserve genetic diversity and to ensure your own survival, as our bodies are designed for more than one mate to breed correctly. Fortunately I was able to mate with three different partners before my exile on this world otherwise I would already be long dead.’

Seliandre and Gementer had felt scandalized by learning this information, and they were both thankful that their younger sisters had been sent elsewhere earlier by their mother. Gementer had laughed at Seliandre’s more obvious discomfort as she had moved closer to her mother by instinct. Angwene had issued an unusually stern rebuke to Gementer, usually Seliandre’s confidante and her mother’s faithful lieutenant.

‘Gementer, do not put down your sister in such a manner, for you are not a child of a lesser race to use such cruelty. Please apologize and make amends in acceptable manner!’

Seliandre remembered that her older sister had borne the rebuke with no ill ease as her gracious reply had indicated.

‘Sorry mother and dear sister, I meant no ill will at all in my humor. Mother, I understand you were younger than me when you took a series of mates. If it is any comfort to Seliandre I offer to allow her first choice with a prospective mate after we leave this world. I just find the discussion of a mate to be so surreal with all the other potential issues facing us.’

Angwene had fallen silent for many moments after Gementer’s apology before she spoke again.

‘Well you have made a gracious offer, and I only speak of this as there may not be much time when we eventually leave this world.’

Seliandre then remembered that the conversation between the three of them had then shifted to advice on choosing a nursery world. She remembered with sadness that this was one of the last normal conversations that they had managed before the ancients had entered their last series of hibernations. Seliandre had later awoken from the last hibernation expecting to see Gementer patiently waiting for her. Instead she had been shocked to see her older sister lying still and crippled, possibly forever.

Seliandre made a strong effort to return to the present, as she noted that the Maveen probe was no longer working on the damaged sled, but instead quietly regarding her as if it had something important to say. The probe moved closer and spoke urgently to her in a metallic voice.

‘Princess Seliandre you seemed lost for a moment and did not respond to my calls. I understand that you have a lot on your mind but I require your assistance please in repairing the sled.’

Seliandre listened patiently as probe three made his request for assistance. To one side she could still see her mother talking to Altarebe.

Altarebe was aware of the Maveen probe and the daughters at a discrete distance in the ocean depths. He ensured he listened attentively to Queen Angwene, who spoke quietly but in a voice full of regal authority.

‘Now Altarebe, attend and pay close heed, for I cannot let your role in this facility be misunderstood. You have offered the pledge of allegiance and this is the start of your new life. Now we are effectively trapped here for another one hundred and fifty years or so. The two younger daughters especially need the time, and my oldest daughter Gementer should stabilize but will be weak when we leave. Do you understand what has happened to Gementer? Also do you accept responsibility in protecting her life and the lives of all my other daughters?’

Altarebe looked over at the dormant form of Gementer for several moments as he made a formal reply.

‘Yes your Majesty, I understand too well the responsibilities and the obligation that I am now under, for our race is now indeed very rare. I consider it an honor to serve you and your daughters with my life if necessary. We are possibly the only members of our race still alive in this sector apart from my father.’

Queen Angwene then questioned Altarebe at length about what he knew of others of their race elsewhere in the galaxy. She was satisfied with his responses as she brought the conversation back to her daughters.

‘Altarebe, I have been very impressed with both your fortitude in reaching this world and your restraint in your manner. I am pleased to accept you as consort for both my oldest daughters only, as in the two oldest daughters only, at this stage. Note that Gementer is a special case and I will leave a message for her if I am asleep when she decides to awake again. Now you must mate with Gementer well before we leave this world or she will likely not survive.’

Altarebe suppressed any initial embarrassment at the queen’s instructions, for he had been well versed by both his father and his education before he had found this world.

He quickly offered his grateful reply and acknowledgement of the situation, for he could see Seliandre again regarding him as the smaller Maveen probe moved over to speak with her.

‘Yes your Majesty, I understand both the mission and sanction that I have been given explicitly. I will be mindful of your younger daughter’s development as I perform my duties and help you all to leave this world. I understand too well the problems Gementer faces and I will do everything I can to help her survive.’

Angwene was well satisfied with Altarebe’s answer, and summoned Seliandre over to speak to join them after sending the four youngest daughters off on an errand. Seliandre was soon brought up to date with Altarebe’s new status, but she seemed rather subdued as she took in the news.

‘Mother, Altarebe, the news is both anticipated and welcome, but the issues Gementer faces clouds everything around us, even the still remote Jerecab threat to the humans.’

Angwene was proud of her daughter, for all of them were deeply concerned about Gementer’s state. She knew that Altarebe would remain silent by convention unless she gave him leave to speak, so she first answered Seliandre.

‘Well Gementer should survive and the best estimate gives us within two hundred years to leave. As long as she mates before she leaves, say within one hundred years or so then she will be fine. Altarebe, do you have anything to add to this for Seliandre?’

Altarebe only repeated what he had said to the queen earlier for Seliandre’s benefit, before the queen sent then both over to assist the patiently waiting Maveen probe.

Altarebe watched in silent approval as his first bride assisted the probe in the difficult repairs to the sled. He knew that they would have plenty of opportunities to get to know each other over the remaining years they would be hiding on Earth.

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