Carinae Sector: 02 - Admiral's Fury - Part 3 - Fleet Action (27 page)

Probe three ensured that his radio signal broadened in frequency to provide as much bandwidth as possible, as he brought the more senior Maveen Earth probe up to date on what he had discovered. The Earth probe soon commented as he took in the information.

‘So the humans won a hard fought battle after they fortified their moon, and this is welcome news for both their survival and that of the ancients. The Sspol spoke with you only briefly, they mentioned the Fenshilla, and that is good as I have my own information to supply to you. The Sspol are still covertly assisting us and will misdirect the vassals about the destruction of the Fenshilla cruisers.’

Probe three was now amazed as he learnt of the covert joint actions of the Sspol, Maveen and Traders after the Resuria had been badly damaged. He voiced a sentiment with all due respect that he knew the Earth probe would find a concern to answer.

‘If the Zronte or Vorinne suspect collusion amongst us and the independent races then they will journey out in force to attack us. We must prepare ourselves for this eventually occurring probe leader.’

The earth probe knew that if probe three completed his mission successfully later on that he would be promoted. The senior probe felt once again justified in giving the junior probe the important mission of caring for the ancients in the oceans of Earth. The earth probe now spent considerable time going through the information about the ancients, as the condition of Gementer especially intrigued him.

‘The Queens oldest daughter offers an opportunity we had not realistically considered and your trip out here is now doubly valued.’

Probe three answered a couple of additional questions, before the Earth probe changed the discussion by providing a large amount of additional information of his own in reply.

‘As you can see, the Traders are slowly increasing in numbers, their ships are being refurbished for war, and they are founding eight colonies in a remote section of the colonies. We recently located an Altoran planet that will ally readily to both the Traders and the Barede humans. We found planets full of Quixxe and of Huopheen and they will be involved with whatever transpires over the next few hundred years. Incidentally we are relocating the Quixxe to a safer location shortly.’

Probe three considered the new information at length and knew that if he successfully returned to Earth he would have a series of long conversations with the ancients. The two cloaked Maveen probes continued to fly slowly into the outer solar system, as probe three ventured an observation.

‘The Dradfer do now appear to have been involved in protecting the ancients since the queen landed long ago on Earth. Queen Angwene no doubt could provide further information unless the Dradfer also enlisted her silence.’

The Earth probe was delighted in his protégé as he answered with confidence.

‘Our revised programming is already allowing us to build up further forces to fight if necessary the Dradfer, but the Zronte and the Vorinne may well beat us to it once they uncover what is going on. The other races in the Crux sector would not stand lightly by this time if the Dradfer were attacked in their own sector. We also have intelligence that the Kulvar slavers are attacking the three other overlord races in the centre of the galaxy, but we do not know how long the Zronte will be distracted by this attack.’

Probe three knew that it was unwise to highlight the risks of dealing with the meddling Dradfer, even to the Earth probe. For many Maveen had been lost forty thousand years ago when the Zronte and the Vorinne had taken exception to the gene meddling of the interlopers. Instead, he highlighted something he heard in passing after earlier speaking with Omerio.

‘The Barus mentioned that several of them became ill after contracting a human virus, and that it was difficult for them to recover from the effects of the illness. Also the Jerecab that landed on Earth either died or are all suffering another illness that kills off the green dander in their fur. Possibly there is a hidden biological significance to Earth that we should consider.’

The Earth probe thought that probe three had a point as he answered, again after referencing the information already supplied.

‘So that explains the quarantine signal you got from both Barus flag ships. Fortunately the ancients are silicon based life forms so the diseases of Earth will not affect them in any way. We will seek additional information on the effects of these illnesses.’

Probe three was glad to be reassured that the living ships were at least not at risk of biological attack. However, he was still concerned about the humans’ later gaining advanced scanning technology and defeating the suppression field.

‘Earth probe, three Jerecab frigates crash landed on Earth and the humans now understand the value of the advanced scanners. A human team recently accessed well-hidden Trader manuals on one of their ships. They will likely be able to control this technology well before the queen and her daughters can leave Earth.’

The Earth probe kept silent for several long moments as he thought through the scenario, and he then understated the risks as he replied.

‘Probe three, as soon as the ancients take off for space this is what I want you to do….’

The junior Maveen probe listened at length to his team leader and after an extended period he answered simply.

‘Earth probe, I will follow your instructions precisely. Now we have travelled several million kilometres and I should be getting back to Queen Angwene shortly.’

A brief farewell followed and the two cloaked probes separated, with the Earth probe sneaking back out to his well hidden gate ship, and probe three creeping in stealthily towards Earth.

                                                                     ***

Two days after the humans won their war with the Jerecab, Maveen probe three, still cloaked and onboard his sled slowly approached the South Pole and prepared to re-enter the atmosphere of Earth. He had earlier threaded his way past the fortunately still broken defences of Earth and had easily dodged the handful of vassal ships and few surviving human ships. The larger ships were preoccupied with either repairs of securing the command sections of destroyed vassal ships, and he ignored a handful of smaller ships some distance way.

The probe also briefly noted that the two surviving orbital bases were being dismantled and he already knew of their likely fate. The time for re-entry arrived and he ensured that his descent was able to coincide with the re-entry of several pieces of wreckage over a large part of the South Atlantic Ocean. The descent was almost too easy, and the cloaked probe executed a snap roll to power at high speed directly for the ocean to get below any human surveillance. He soon slowed to subsonic speed, and after verifying he was not being observed he slipped under the ocean and headed off to rejoin the ancients.

Robert Seville was in the front seat of a borrowed corvette, and the small ship was a distance from other smaller ships that were clearing out the array of smart mines. He was grateful that he was not alone for they had been in space for well over a day in the small patrol ship, and Emma was piloting from the back seat. He again looked over the subtle but interesting readings he had just obtained, as she spoke over the local circuit to him.

‘Darling, we will speak discretely to Admiral Neilson about this matter for the ramifications are unknown and potentially lethal. You are sure about what we detected just then?’

Robert again checked the status of the infrared camera and the long-range lens and made a confident reply.

‘Yes sweetheart, the camera picked up something the size of this ship make a high G turn for the ocean just after re-entry. We did not detect the ship itself only its heat signature and that was low, very low.’

Emma slowly turned the corvette around so as not to draw any attention to them as she spoke again.

‘Well there could be ten more of them out here and we would never detect them in space. Perhaps we should just let it go and let the future take care of itself.’

Robert would have vigorously disagreed with her as recently as a month ago, for he had always avidly sought the technical secrets of the alien races. But now he just sighed and made a convivial reply to his intended wife.

‘Well the probe did state that the Maveen would continue to look out humanity in their own secret way, so perhaps we need to help by not looking too closely for them. Now let us get back to base for we have to pack our bags for the celebrations.’

The two of them now went silent as Emma piloted the corvette back towards the larger space ships still clustered around the moon. Robert was already thinking of what he wanted to do next with his life as he found himself now in total agreement with Emma. Perhaps they would speak with Admiral Neilson perhaps not.

Probe three slowed right down as he approached the hidden underwater facility, and he gave a soft subsonic call that was returned immediately by Seliandre. The young princess was with her consort and they both peppered the probe with a series of questions, but they fell silent as Queen Angwene immediately came over. The queen warmly greeted the Maveen, but dismissed her daughter and Altarebe nosing around either side of her.

‘Probe three, a well done and congratulations on your efforts in space above the Earth. Your resourcefulness and bravery have ensured that we are safe for the near future. Seliandre please take your consort and your siblings away so I can converse with the Maveen in peace. Thank you.’

A somewhat put about Seliandre did as she was instructed and led the others away to the other side of the facility. Queen Angwene settled into the seabed and listened avidly as probe three now proved a series of lengthy reports. She knew that especially Altarebe and Seliandre would later debate the contents of these reports at length over the following years.

                                                                     ***

Gindane sat back in her command chair and looked critically around the bridge of the Rupane, as one of her lieutenants repeated his message.

‘Captain, the Cephrit message probe was sent for the fleet master from his subordinate, the station master at their star base 31. The message probe also has additional messages for yourself and Captain Omerio from the Vorinne second envoy.’

The other members of her bridge looked sideways from their consoles at the mention of the Vorinne, for many of them had been defendants alongside Gindane one hundred and fifty years ago. During the trial, Thatak’siema had pardoned the crew but sentenced Gindane to what many thought was a harsh sentence in not being permitted to breed. Gindane stood slowly as she thought furiously, for she had hoped to have weeks of time yet available to plan her responses to the second envoy. She issued a reassurance to her crew and then placed two orders that her crew had waited on for hours.

‘I am sure that the second envoy just needs to be advised of the outcome of the Jerecab attack on Earth. Now I want this watch to stand down and the next watch to come duty two hours earlier. Captain Omerio’s best cruisers will soon leave with two Cephrit squadrons to take the Jerecab to their home worlds, so I need to confirm the earliest we can leave for the star base. I will just be in the meeting room to listen privately to the second envoy’s message.’

Gindane ignored the call request from Omerio as she walked into the rear meeting room and closed the door. In moments, Gindane had supplied her private encryption key and the tall visage of Thatak’siema appeared as a hologram that spoke at length.

‘Greetings Captain Gindane and I trust that this message finds you well. I have ordered both you and Omerio to report to me at star base 31 as soon as possible. Hopefully the Jerecab problem with Earth has been resolved and there were not too many casualties. You are instructed to tell the humans that you will return as soon as possible, unless you are subjected to my justice. Note that I am displeased with Omerio and will seek a series of explanations from him. You are also instructed to tell Battle lord Temeroth, or any other Zronte, very little in the unlikely event you encounter them in your journey back here. This is for your own safety Gindane and I have stated the same to Omerio.’

The image paused for several seconds and Gindane thought that the Vorinne looked both distraught and fearful, but as quickly as that thought entered her mind, the second envoy spoke again.

‘Waste no time in your journey back as the Cephrit are also being summoned, and their fleet master is being advised on an investigation that his junior station master has performed. You are also forbidden to speak directly with the fleet master on the investigation as this will likely invalidate the process.’

The message quickly ended and Gindane sat back for several long moments to consider the implications, as she knew that the investigation could spell bad news for Omerio in particular. The call request chimed again and Gindane now spoke to Omerio on his own cruiser after giving him a warm but brief smile.

‘The second envoy wants us to waste no time and we are ready to leave in any case. So do you have any idea of what this investigation is about?’

Omerio looked across at his hoped for life mate and replied.

‘Well Gindane I have been all over this part of the sector and no doubt she seeks clarification on my activities. My own ships need at least another day to get ready to leave and I will send Commander Tamerio on with my flagship and most of the squadron to escort the Jerecab home with the Cephrit….’

Omerio was going to speak again but something distracted him and he spoke hurriedly.

‘Gindane please excuse me but the Sspol are leaving and their commander wishes to speak with me.’

The screen went blank and Gindane again pondered Omerio’s relationship with the strange and alien Sspol race. She had plenty to do though, and exited the meeting room to find the next watch operating the consoles. The research captain regained her command chair and noted that the repair requests for her ships were finally coming right down in number. Gindane felt relief that her remaining ships would soon be leaving the solar system as she allocated extra engineers to the last of engine and power conduit problems.