9 Years, 7 Months, 2 Days After Eridani Landing
Chront
Leaning down and putting her head to the table Stagg yawned.
“Try the tea,” repeated Derrick sounding just as exhausted as she felt. The Captain turned to look at the engineer and then at the small pot on the table.
“I did. Taste’s like mold.”
Derrick grunted in agreement and took another sip of the cup in front of him, “An acquired taste then. It’s got something like caffeine in it. That or I’m imagining it does and it’s got an incredible placebo effect.”
Stagg sighed, reaching out poured herself a small cup and holding the scalding liquid for a moment took a sip, ignoring the heat and the taste to try and reap the rewards of the pseudo-caffeine. What she wouldn’t give for a cup of over caffeinated equally horrible tasting Martian coffee.
The doors to the conference room opened, Edie and the two aliens, Ranlin and Klyn walked into the room.
Stagg quickly stood, “Commander.”
“Captain. Can I sit?”
“Yes.”
The two of them collapsed back into the chairs around the table causing them to squeak in protest.
“I want to say thank you again in person,” said Stagg after a moment.
Edie shook her head, “No need. No need. Is that caffeinated?” she asked pointing at the pot.
“No idea. I think so,”
Edie quickly poured a cup and downed it.
The two other humans looked at her bemused.
Edie shrugged, “Vakurian quinine likes to use spices, and mild is what humans would call hot. I don’t think I have taste buds left.”
Ranlin frowned, her ears going down. “You could have said something.”
“I did. You insisted I would get used to it.”
“Did you?”
“Can’t tell you, I’ve got no taste buds left.”
Ranlin’s ears flicked in annoyance and she collapsed into the seat next to Derrick.
The engineer looked at her for a moment and then glanced at the small device in her hand, “That do holograms?”
Ranlin blinked, “Yes, you’ve seen me use it.”
“Through the transmissions, show me the real thing.”
Ranlin set the device down on the table. An image of the Valiant quickly resolved above it and began to flash showing the various sections of the ship that were still being repaired. It was significantly less damage when compared to the Canada. The ship’s frame had managed to remain stable, but other than that almost every other system was in some state of disrepair.
Not unexpected considering she had been hastily repaired already, thrust into an orbital battle, driven through an atmosphere and landed.
Derrick looked at the device for a moment.
“Interesting.”
He put his head back down on the table.
Ranlin looked at Stagg. The Captain looked at her chief engineer and shrugged, “I think he’s slept a total of three hours in as many days.”
“Four,”
“Four hours.”
The doors opened again, Anil, James, and the aliens that were called Tanuin stepped into the room.
All of the eyes, and ears, human and Vakurian alike turned to look at the small creatures.
Alpha froze in the doorway, even with as many eyes as he had unable to look at everyone.
Ranlin and Klyn both winced, and their ears went down and back.
“You alright?” asked Edie, turning to her second in command.
Klyn winced, “Could you stop that?”
James looked around the room, and then to Anil and then finally Alpha, “Stop what?”
“Not you,” grumbled Ranlin, “the alien, the Tanuin.”
“You can hear my thoughts,” squeaked Alpha.
Klyn put his hands over his already flattened ears, “If you mean that squealing sound you’re making? Yes. Please stop it.”
“I can’t, they are the sounds of my thoughts. Asking me to stop would is asking me to commit suicide.”
Ranlin slowly raised her ears wincing as she did so, “No one else can hear that?”
Edie shook her head, “I can hear him talking, other than that no. You do have better ears then anyone else in the room I think. Can you hear anything?” asked Edie addressing Anil.
The aide shook her head, “No, nothing out of the ordinary.”
“Compared to the other issue we’ll be having with interspecies politics? It is a small problem yes?” asked Alpha.
Ranlin and Klyn glanced at one another, “Yes, but still something we’re going to have to resolve. I’m going to have a headache after this. On top of the one I have already.”
“He’s got just as much of a right to be here, his species has proven that they’re behind humanity. I’m not going to ask him to leave,” said James.
“As have the Vakurian,” Said Edie stepping towards him.
“Captain, Commander, we’ll trade stories later. At the moment I think we have bigger issues, each of you is vouching for your respective allies, that’s plenty good enough for me.”
“We’re fine Edie,” grumbled Ranlin as she collapsed down into the seat next to Derrick.
Klyn leaving a space in the chairs took a seat as well.
James sat down and Alpha, who would not be able to see anything from the chair climbed up onto the table and looking at the pot of tea on the table for a moment carefully poured out a cup using two of his bodies in tandem to pour the liquid into a cup.
The others around the room all watched as he did so and Alpha shifted uncomfortably, “What?”
James chuckled, “I think most Class C’s are able to accept the little differences we’ve all got from one another. You though? You’re new.”
Alpha took a sip of the tea and nodded two of his heads, “Tasty.”
The room fell into an uncomfortable silence, only Alpha seemingly unaffected.
“How’s Megan?” asked Stagg.
James sighed and set his link down, “Not great, but not getting any worse. I’ve only got a medic onboard, nano-machines being what they are. As far as he can tell it’s neurological, skin’s also growing over her prosthetics again.”
“This is because of her antimatter FTL travel right?” asked Edie, “Are people in my crew going to experience it?”
James shrugged, “Top scientists on Bellona say no, the problem was known about after the first FTL jump in the Longboat IV. Megan was part of the Yamato crew and they did several very unsanctioned and very dangerous antimatter FTL jumps with less then precise calculations. The conclusion from the woman who invented antimatter FTL in the first place was it’s some sort of radiation or something. She adjusted the calculations for antimatter Jumps to eliminate and reduce it. We used those calculations to jump the Ark fleet to Bellona. No one’s exhibited any similar symptoms. So we’re thinking her antimatter travel now is simply aggravating the pre-existing condition.”
“Fun.”
Before anything else could be said the doors opened once again, King Henswick followed by President Renil, and then Bitus. Trialing behind all of them the man who had tried to negotiate with the Dorvakian’s and the man who Derrick had saved with his nano-machines, Gerinal.
The world leaders looked as haggard as everyone else, even Henswick who usually tried to control the room simply collapsed down into one of the chairs and grabbed at the pot of tea.
Renil looked similarly dejected, she was simply staring at the projection of the Valiant her eyes blank.
“Well,” Bitus said.
Every pair of eyes in the room turned to him.
“Thank you. I don’t know what else to say, just thank you doesn’t seem like enough.”
Stagg nodded, “We’ve been waiting for this. I can honestly say I’m happy you didn’t have to go through what happened to Earth, but I can’t promise this is over. In fact, I can guarantee it’s not.”
Gerinal stepped forwards now, “We’re well aware of that, and in light of this threat. The Certus Kingdom and Fedelin UN have agreed to cease hostilities. In that same spirit, they would like to send representatives to your planet to negotiate and form an alliance with Humanity. Paken will be sending representatives as well, myself actually.” Said the older man.
“We’re not going to be able to leave for a few days, and we’re low on antimatter. We’re not bringing them back for awhile,” said James from the table.
Edie cleared her throat, the Humans and Vakurian’s looked at her expectantly while the other aliens looked at her confused.
“The Vakurian people as well, Ranlin? You up for a field trip?”
Her ears went up and then drooped, “You want me to negotiate?”
“I don’t think the Vakurian’s have as much to negotiate. Let’s go for officially being friends with Humanity. The Admirals are going to argue about this for years. I’ll send Jun with you.”
Klyn chuckled, “Oh he’s going to love this. Loses his ship then get’s sent on a diplomatic mission?”
“I’m betting he’s going to have fun. Besides, he’s going to be beating himself up over his ship unless I give him something else to do.”
“True.”
Alpha picked up the cup he was holding and tapped it on the table several times, “I will compose a message to the Tanuin on Bellona, but I do not think any will be opposed to this either.”
Derrick looked around the table, “I thought this was supposed to be hard?”
“Meaning?” asked Henswick.
“Interspecies politics and negotiations.”
Gerinal smiled, “I would have thought so as well. However, even a fool knows that it’s better to fight with someone then alone. A common threat has always unified people in this planet’s history, how long those relationships last is the real test. I have no doubt issues will arise.”
The Engineer huffed, “Yay!”
James took the cup from Alpha and tapped it as well, “First point of then. The prisoners, we nabbed a few of those escape pods on our way back in. I’ve got two crewmen and an officer I think. I’d like to take back any other officers that you might have picked up Commander.”
Edie glared across the table at him, “The Admirals want to interrogate prisoners as well, and I am a Captain same as you. Might not be in the human military, but I am the Valliant’s Captain. Your rank is not something I’m deferring to, not right now.”
James raised his eyebrows, “I apologize for the presumption then.”
“However we did pick up, how many officers?” asked Edie turning to her second in command.
“We picked up a total of fifteen officers and twice as many crewmen Ma’am.”
Edie nodded, “Right. So I’m thinking we might be able to give humanity a few right?”
Klyn’s ears went out to the side’s and he struggled to keep from smiling, “I think a few given to humanity would be appropriate. Considering their past contributions and future prospects.”
“So I’ll give Humanity an appropriate amount.”
“I would like some to interrogate as well,” said Henswick as he stood up from his seat slightly, pushing it back.
“We captured nearly forty pilots, most ejected. I regret to say quite a few were killed on the ground, but we had no officers in that number.”
Gerinal slowly sank into the chair next to Derrick.
“You spoke to soon it would seem.”
Derrick groaned, “I know, I know. Could we get something stronger than this tea?”
The first proposal at the table of Humanity and its allies amongst the stars was unanimous.
Home World
[Charles] opened his eyes and stared up at the woman. A knife was at his throat, one from his own kitchen it looked like in the faint light from the moons filtering through the window.
Even in the faint light of his bedroom, even with the splitting headache he knew that look, it was in the eyes. It was an expression he had only ever seen on the faces of Humans. A lethal combination of barely contained fury, and deadly aggressive logic.
Human’s were like that. Even when they were at their emotional breaking point they remained deadly, not resorting to base instincts and clumsy attacks. An angry distraught and distressed Human was the deadliest type.
“You,” croaked [Charles] his voice scratchy from sleep, alcohol, and the alien tongue he hadn’t used in years.
“Me,” hissed the woman as she leaned down closer,”I’m going to kill you now.”
[Charles] closed his eyes, “I have no right to argue with you.”
The knife pressed in further on his throat.
“Nothing? No apologies, no pleas?”
Keeping his eyes closed [Charles] swallowed, the knife dug deeper into his throat.
“I have no right to apologize, no right to ask you for mercy. I murdered billions, billions of humans. Mother’s, fathers, children, I killed them all. I killed your entire species.”
The human took in a breath, “Still, you’re trying to finish the job. Teaching your Emperor about us, how to think like us, how to kill us.”
[Charles] slowly opened his eyes.
“If I tell him not to kill you, not to hate you, not to exterminate you, he’ll ignore me. He has the potential to be the greatest Emperor in our history. His parent’s are dead; he’s been raised on nothing but the ideals of being an Emperor. He could have simply done what other Emperor’s in the past like like him have done in the past, enjoyed their wealth, enjoyed their station, and let the politics play out. We’ve had a dozen like that, they lived long useless lives.”
[Charles] slowly began to sit up. The human kept her blade at his neck.
“This one though, he’s trying. He’s not your friend, he never will be. I’m not your friend, you should kill me.”
[Charles] leaned over to the side of his bed and picked up one of the empty bottles. “I’ve been trying to teach him to see you. To see you as something more than a plague to be wiped out. That’s what we’re taught from childhood. That the Class C’s will if given the chance wipe out the galaxy in their mad wars. We’re no better, we have war’s every [century] without fail. Still, we can point at you as primitive as we are and say we’re better.”
[Charles] dropped the bottle.
“So I’m trying to get him to see you as an enemy, a worthy one. To defeat any opponent, you have to understand them. I know you don’t want him dead, you didn’t shoot him.”
The Human tore the knife away from his neck and sliced his cheek, [Charles] winced but said nothing.
“He’s a kid. We don’t kill children.”
[Charles] wiped at the blood on his cheek, “You knew who he is, who he will be. Even if he is a child, he can’t be even a year younger than you. He’s grown up under different pressures, I’d not try to compare them. But he’s no more a child then you are. You can’t be more than what eighteen? Nineteen?”
The Human glared at him.
“Twenty.”
[Charles] rolled his eyes “That makes a difference. Why didn’t you kill him, you were the sniper. I read through what little data we pulled from your attire when we captured you. If Humanity has done anything in the past [decade] it’s prepare for war. There is no way you would have missed.”
Minerva slowly pulled the knife away from his throat, and dropping it punched him in the nose. [Charles] winced and slouched back against the headboard of his bed.
“I’m not stupid. The guy who released me and told me how to get past the defenses, around the compound, he was the one who had the other Humans or rather what was left of them released. I wasn’t going to do what he told me to do, out of nothing more than spite. Any amount of Stockholm in relation to [Vann] was inconsequential.”
[Charles] raising his bedsheets to his nose slowly nodded, “the men from your moon?”
Minerva’s eyes narrowed but she nodded, “yes. Whatever your Empire did to them, they weren’t human any more.” She frowned, “I imagine they were what you were taught to believe we are. Your own people did something to them.”
“The Consul, [Marcus]. He’s the one in control of the Senate, and he’s been in control of it since [Vann]’s parents died. He’s also the one in charge of military development and species classification.”
[Charles] paused and bit his tongue.
He had made the decision before, years ago. In the depths of the Martian bunker. Grabbing at the detonator, the small device that would have blown the humans, himself, and the Empire soldiers away into nothingness. He had done it, pressed the trigger in that instant.
That had been simple, one moment of complete betrayal to everything he had been taught. One moment. A moment he wouldn’t have to live with.
Simple.
Once again the weight of the lives he had taken, the Human lives he had taken threatened to drown him. It was not penance enough what he had tried to do. He didn’t deserve death.
The idea struck a chord in him, and [Charles] knew his fate.
Neither side, the Empire, Humanity would ever accept him. He would be in between. A Praia to both, a monster who killed billions, or a monster who helped the creatures of destruction bring about absolute death. That was penance in some small amount. A fate he deserved.
“[Marcus] is the one who ordered the attack on Earth.”
Minerva’s hand snapped back up, the knife once again raised.
“That does not absolve you!”
“I know that!” growled [Charles].
He closed his eyes and tried to ignore his headache, the pain in his nose, the cut on his cheek.
“Let’s make a deal human.”
“The last time I made a deal with one of your people he tried to kill me. You’ve got some talented soldiers, they weren’t happy when I missed my shot.”
“We kill [Marcus] and then you can kill me.”
Minerva’s eyebrows went up, “what?”
“He’s a threat to you, and [Vann].”
“You’re not helping your case. Why should I care about your Emperor?”
“You’ve met him. You want him in charge or the man who tried to assassinate him?”
Minerva frowned, and thought for a moment, “He is still an enemy. You are still my enemy”
“Then kill me.”
Minerva pressed the knife further into his throat causing more blood to trickle down his chest.
Sol
The High Scientist floated through the primitive station and entering the small research vessel docked to it’s side felt the gravity slowly return, his stomach settling the High Scientist groaned.
The weightlessness was annoying, but necessary. Most of the systems on the primitive station had been designed for weightless conditions. Not to mention the actual navigation of it. The installation of gravity was at the moment impractical. Still annoying though.
Stepping out of the airlock the High Scientist glanced at his peers who were still pouring over the data that they had managed to pull from the databanks. Sweeping past them and into the secured communication room the High Scientist quickly opened the communication.
“Report,” growled [Marcus].
“The data server is an incredible find.”
“Does it have the antimatter drive technology?”
The High Scientist hesitated, it was the goal of the entire endeavour. Searching through everything that was left in the C1764 system for any scrap of the data for then novel form of FTL. The badly damaged asteroid space station which had been ejected from orbit around the red planet during the battle was turning out to be one of best finds.
The bases on the main moon, and the small outposts had contained naught but scraps of information and barely useable technology. The actual planet itself was being searched through more official channels, and it was only bad luck that they had found what they had in the last section to be investigated.
“No sir, I don’t believe it does.”
[Marcus] was silent for a moment.
“Then what have you found that is so important?”
The High Scientist quickly flashed his Comm at the communicator transferring several files through the highest priority channels to the Consul.
“We were investigating what we thought was a military compound within the station, given the security around it. Unfortunately, it was not the compound was designated only as a civilian structure. However, on a whim, I ordered the investigation and analysis of several data servers inside of it.”
“Why?”
“The security was impressive, more advanced than some of the military security we’ve circumvented. The servers seemed to contain innocuous data on first glance. After digging through the encryption however, and cracking one of the keys we pulled data on several projects. We have the complete design schematics for the older C1764 ships models, as well as the most important find.”
“Get to the point.”
“The C1764 genome, is unique. It appears to be much more malleable than any other. If we wanted to we could convert them to class A within only two generations despite their class C staus. However, that is not the impressive thing. The impressive thing is that they have an incredible amount of work done on the modification of themselves already. As well as this,”
The High Scientist turned and raised the lights in the communication room.
A small primitive looking machine sat in the center of the light. A pylon of machines and computers nearly two meters tall and a half meter wide the object had at it’s center a small clear sided contained. Filled with fluid a small embryo floated clearly visible inside.
“This, is a weapon.”
[Marcus] leaned forwards in the projection, “We’ve seen incubation technology before.”
The High Scientist shook his head, “Not that, the embryo. It’s a modified life form. Were it not the only of it’s kind I would have it classified as another class C. The thing is, this sample was created in secret. Without the approval of the C1764 governments. It’s a project a civilian had undertaken.”
The High Scientist turned to look at the Consul excitement on his face. The Consul stared back at him looking less than enthused.
The High Scientist cleared his throat, “The amazing thing is that according to the data we found along with this subject, is that this is a third iteration of improvements. It’s a creature of unparalleled intellect, speed, and strength.”
“Scientist.”
“The most amazing thing is the programming, the genetic programming that can go into it. If the data here is accurate, and I’m having my entire team go over it now, this thing’s a template. The genetics are primed to take on various characteristics, most likely the plan was to take genetic samples from their planet. However other class C’s, the genetics are compatible!”
[Marcus] frowned, “The Amalgamation project?”
The High Scientist nodded, “Yes sir, it was your predecessor’s obsession I know that. Still, this is the missing component he was looking for. A base genetic sample that could accommodate and adapt to the radical changes. Our own genetics are the opposite of this, too rigid in terms of rejection to foreign materials. The class B’s and most Class C’s are the same. C1764 though, even unmodified is perhaps one of the more receptive species to the introduction of genetic modification. This modified sample?”
The High Scientist paused, “You are aware of the goal for the Amalgamation project yes?”
“The goal as I recall was to create a theoretical class D species, one we had absolute control of and would be able to exterminate class C populations. It was deemed impossible from both a genetic and control standpoints and abandoned, last I heard the only parts of it still operating are the categorization of genetic abnormalities which might be useful if ever the project was restarted. It was added to the species classification tests.”
“Correct sir, and with this genetic base, I believe the genetic problem has been solved. I would have to run tests, but all projections show we would be able to appended and merge the genetics of at least four or five class C’s into one creature using this modified C1764 as a base.”
[Marcus] on the other side of the transmission stood up and walked around his desk. The projection widened slightly and the High Scientist spotted the familiar visage of the capital out of his window.
“This is not the purpose of investigating the ruminants of the species Scientist.”
“I’m aware, but we might not find anything relating to the antimatter drive. They were class C, but they were not stupid sir.”
[Marcus] chuckled, “You have no idea.”
The High Scientist frowned at the remark, but it was forgotten a moment latter.
“Finish searching the Station. I’ll look into getting you funding for this. Other research groups have been making headway on duplicating the antimatter drive in any case.”
The High Scientist put his hand over his eye, saluting, “Sir.”
The Consul cut the communication and the High Scientist let out a breath slouching slightly.
Turning back to the module the man looked at the writing on the side of it.
‘Gatekeeper’ was the translation.
It had been the original name for the project under C1764, and it really didn’t sound horrible. It was certainly a better sounding name then the Amalgamation project.
Deep Space
“I think I got it!” said Diana as she held the two wires together inside of the electrical panel.
“Picking up tachyons now, you did it!”
Twisting the two contacts together Diana slowly pulled herself out of the access panel and brushed the dust from her uniform, “See, no problem.”
[Hal] scoffed from the shelf he was in, and where he had been for the past several days.
“Yeah, being stranded in deep space no problem. Next time you want to run a blockade, well don’t.”
“You were still unconscious, don’t complain,” growled Diana.
[Hal] coughed and leaned back down into his shelf.
“[Orin]?”
“Diana, next time you want to run a blockade, well don’t. [Hal] you owe me!” said the woman as she spun around in her chair to glare at them.
Diana rolled her eyes and sat down in the other chair, “We had another months’ worth of rations. The life support was working, honestly I thought it was going to take longer to fix considering we took what I thought was direct hit.”
“The gun was probably overheating considering how many shots they were sinking into the surface.”
“Probably.”
Diana spun around in her seat several move times before stopping it and looking at the console.
“What do you have our destination set as?”
“Olyn. It’s the most developed planet in the middle.”
“The middle?” asked Diana.
“Of the Empire, we’re not going to be able to jump into the center without documents and credentials broadcasting. Olyn though, well we’ll get yelled at for not transmitting IFF’s but that’s about it. We can claim trouble with the transmitter.”
Diana glanced at the scavenged control panel and redundant computer systems she had pulled from the wall.
“Not untrue.”
[Orin] nodded, “Yep. Once there, well that’s up to you isn’t’ it?”
Diana nodded, “You still with me?”
“Depends.”
“On?”
“Your plans are?”
Diana smiled, “Win.”
[Orin] opened her mouth to say something, before slowly closing it.
“Can you not be vague when we ask you things like that?” growled [Hal] his head still back on his shelf eyes closed.
“Call it a failing. First goal is tech; it’s why I came to Jikse. None of the old stuff either, I want the newest of the new, the experimental tech that not even half the empire knows about yet. I’m going to take that, and give it a class C tuning. Olyn the right planet for that?”
“Yep.”
“Let’s go then, we’ve got the tachyon lock.”
[Orin] glanced down at her control panel, and hit the throttle.
The small shuttle shook, and leapt away in a streak of red blue light.
Deep Space
“You get orders?”
[Vann] remained at the small desk that was in the Singer’s Captain cabin.
[Syn] frowned and stepped into the cabin, “Orders?” she repeated.
“I’m being lauded for my actions against the class C threat. I was more successful than the patrol fleet that was defending Jikse. They were lost all hands against the class C’s.”
“What?”
“It’s being announced today, that’s apparently what happened to the Jikse beacon. Why it went dark.”
[Syn] leaned up against the desk, “You know that’s not what happened.”
[Vann] exaggeratingly rolled his eyes, “Yes. But the rest of the Empire, no.”
The young Emperor groaned and put his head down in his hands.
“As further congratulations I’m being given command of the 31st fleet.”
“I wasn’t aware we had a 31st fleet.”
“We don’t. In response to the threat of the class C’s the older Artist class ships are being re-acquired by the military, and are going to go through the lengthy process of refitting. I as the Emperor who has shown he knows more about fighting these class C’s then even an Admiral far older than myself am going to be relegated to the oversight of these retrofits and the training of the fleet.”
[Syn] was quite for a beat.
“So once again [Marcus] is congratulating and shoving you to the side.”
“Yep.”
“We’ll at least be in the home system.”
[Vann] closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair.
“Meaning you’re getting reassigned as well.”
“Oh, from being your cultural advisor?”
“Does anyone actually believe that’s what you do?”
[Syn] smiled, “well most people think I’m your preferred woman at the moment, considering you’re not known to be that aggressive at the few social functions you do turn up at.”
[Vann] winced, “Great.”
“I’ve done nothing to quash the rumors, It’s rather good cover for being your spymaster.”
[Vann] glared at her, “That’s what I mean. I’m going to have to start getting actual control away from [Marcus].”
“Meaning you’re going to listen to my suggestions.”
[Vann] said nothing.
“We have three Senators who have always been loyal to the royal family through every dynasty, other than that we’ve got about half publicly supporting you. I’m guessing you’ll get a few more after these commendations. If we want to start pulling at [Marcus]’s support, well there is one thing that I think you’ll be alright with.”
[Vann] groaned.
“Quite a few of the Senators who support [Marcus] have some very lovely daughters. I can draw up a list.”
“Ugh.”
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