Author: J. W. Murison
Date: 2019-07-01T18:00:00+00:00
Description: Steven and the crew are sent out to bring another meat-eating race into the fold, but this time it isn't going to be so easy. The Goodwill Ambassadors are about to be caught in the crossfire between five different races. Once more Grand Commander Ne' tests the will of the human race and sets them on the precipice of war. One of the crew also falls in love with one of the Ambatta females, and a visit to the Gisha, race also provokes hostilities between the Captain of The Sir William Wallace, Jean Wilson, and Komoru; which one of these formidable ladies will get the upper hand. The Sparse Lands
Publisher: Amazon

The Sparse Lands

J W Murison

Copyright ©2019 J W Murison

All rights reserved.

ISBN-13: 9781077696280

DEDICATION

In memory of Nick Sutton

Every soldier realises very quickly that their lives depend on those who command. They have a tendency to become sceptical and judgemental over those that hold their lives in their hands. There are few officers that win the total respect and trust of the men they command. Nick Sutton was one of those – a man and officer I learned to trust completely. For a year, I was Nick Sutton’s driver in 4 Bravo; an armoured personnel carrier, or AFV.

He was one of the smartest men I have ever met in my life. His sense of humour was legendary; full of fun and mischief. I never heard him raise his voice in anger, or shout at a soldier. He could boot your backside with his wit, far more effectively than ever having to take disciplinary action against a solder for their indiscretions. What impressed me more about Nick than anything else was his professionalism. I felt privileged to be able to serve with him, and learned far more about the ability to command and tactics by watching and listening to him work, than I have from any other person.

RIP Sir, BYDAND.

Chapter 1

Steel shod brogues crashed onto the hard surface of the massive courtyard. Orders given out at the top of the officers’ voices were almost lost in the vast arena. Thousands of Evolka had turned up to watch the spectacle of their Emperor humbling the Human meat eaters. Strange titters swept around the gathered crowd. Chameleon-like eyes swept over the gathered Human soldiers, as well as their own. A single Human, dressed as a Goodwill Ambassador, stepped forward and thousands took a deep breath in anticipation. He climbed up the steps of the dais and bowed. The tension rippled around the waiting spectators. The Emperor placed his feet up onto a cushioned footrest and waved casually with a hand towards them.

Steven Gordon knew his life was hanging in the balance. He knew if he refused, the Emperor would simply lift a finger and he would be dead a second later. A voice came into his head.

‘He is intending to kill you Stevie, and the rest of us.’

Steven lifted a finger, and behind him the Bear gave out a word of command. The honour guard, made up of Scots and Japanese, turned outwards and each walked ten paces before coming to a halt. A split second later they hit the ground, their weapons at the ready. The crowd froze.

Steven took one more step.

‘Not a chance. Kill me, and you will be dead before I hit the ground. Your little trick with the weapons nullifier doesn’t work on chemical-based weapons, of which all of my guards are armed with. Nor will that little shield you have around your chair protect you from the projectiles fired from them.’

The Emperor’s hand froze in the act of lifting from the arm of the couch.

‘You dare threaten me?’

‘I have no problems either threatening you or killing you. A fleet of three thousand Earth ships are also on standby to attack your off-world assets, should you be reckless enough to try.’

The Emperor’s eyes swivelled around. They came back to Steven. ‘You bluff.’

‘Try me. We are well aware that you make a sport out of any race you believe may be a threat to your monopoly on ore production. You kill the ambassadors; scream you were insulted and then attack. You lay waste to your enemy’s supply of ore, or steal it, so you can retain the monopoly. That won’t work with us.

‘You may send a fleet into our space to try and destroy our supplies of the ore you covet so much, however, even we don’t know where it all is. Our sun would kill all of your people long before they were able to find any of it. A protracted fight with our people, to try and keep us out of the Federation, won’t work either. We will simple eradicate all your existing resources, return the bulk of it to their rightful owners, then destroy the rest.’

Steven pointed to the Emperor’s feet, ‘Now get those dirty articles out of my sight.’

The Emperor very slowly removed his feet from the footrest and slipped them back into his shoes.

‘You may have the upper hand now Human, but you will not retain it. I have a lot of support in the Federation.’

‘You don’t have as much support as you think you do. You know fine well you are only tolerated because of the rare ore you produce. There are many races out there who would love to see you taken down a peg or two. However, my President would rather have your support than have you as an enemy. Will you listen to his words?’

‘Do I have a choice?’

‘You do, but I can assure you that you will be by far the poorer if you don’t.’

The Emperor suddenly found himself slightly intrigued. ‘I will listen to your President’s words.’

Steven took out a small device and set it in front of the Emperor. A holographic projection of the Earth’s President appeared.

‘Emperor Voltern. If you are watching this, then my Goodwill Ambassador will have confirmed your hostile intentions towards the Human race and Humanity itself. He has been told to inform you of the forces that are arrayed against you at this moment, and also of our intent. We do not wish to go to war with you. We have worked very hard to win support from the other Federation worlds, and know that such an act would set us back a number of years. So it is in our best interest to find a solution beneficial to both parties.

‘You are a race that eats more vegetables than grasses, and we have discovered that one of your vegetables has great medicinal properties, highly beneficial to Humanity. I believe it is called a trock. We wish to purchase some of them from you and also some seed. We will be willing to pay you for it.’

A picture of a large circular rock replaced the President. ‘We have an abundance of the Spital ore that you covet so much. This rock has a radius of two thousand kilometres, and is made up of pure Spital. We are not allowed to trade in ore, nor do we wish to. We build our own ships with it. Nor are we allowed to refine it or sell it. I also believe it is on the prohibited list of metals and minerals that we will never sell across the great barrier.

‘There is no legislation to prevent us from making a gift to you of a very large rock. We could have it in your territory in about six of our months. I believe that is five of yours. My Ambassador has a small core of it for you to test. The price of this gift shall be peace between our races, your support for our bid, and your active endorsement of that bid to your allies. Please feel free to have the core sample tested before you answer. Thank you for your time and patience.’

Chapter 2

It had been an intense wait for Steven and his guard. The Emperor had dismissed them and they had returned to the ship. Two hours later Steven was invited down for a private audience. He wasn’t allowed to take any guards with him. A shuttle arrived and he climbed on board.

It didn’t take long for him to reach the planet’s surface. He was shown through a myriad of spotless and gleaming corridors, to some inner chambers where the Emperor was waiting for him. A gesture dismissed his servants.

‘Ambassador, I should have you killed for the way you talked to me earlier, but I don’t suppose you care.’

‘No sir, not really.’

‘Don’t worry, I never let an insult get in the way of profit,’ he leaned forward. ‘Not if it is a good profit anyway.’ He found his own joke hilarious and laughed for almost a minute. He finally caught his breath and wagged a finger at Steven.

‘You must have studied me really well.’

‘I have an excellent team backing me up sir.’

‘They did a good job. The stability of my empire relies solely on this ore.’ He picked up the small core Steven had given him earlier, ‘If this sample is genuine, then you have offered me trillions. It will secure my reign and that of my family for many generations to come. My people say they have never came across a sample so pure.’

‘We are aware of that.’

‘Is this bid so important to your race?’

‘Yes it is. We are one race, one planet, with no hope of expansion into this part of the universe, and desperate to protect it.’

‘How much of this do you have?’

‘We have really no idea. That rock is just one of a thousand, and the smallest of the group, the most practical to transport to this side of the barrier. We believe it was once a part of a small planet that was destroyed in some form of collision.’

The Emperor’s eyes boggled, ‘You have a whole planet’s worth of Spital!’

‘Yes sir. That is just in one location. We have found a dozen other locations.’

The Emperor held up a hand, ‘I don’t want to hear it. If any of that comes onto the market, you will ruin us.’

‘We have no intentions of putting it on the market sir. We simply don’t need to.’

‘How could you survive?’

‘It is one planet sir. One. We are self-sufficient in all things. We really don’t need the Federation, or commerce from it to survive. Two thirds of our planet is covered by vast oceans, and it has a huge diversity of life. We only need the Federation for one thing, and that is to protect our home world. With full Federation status we will be able to protect it and the diversity of life on it.’

The Emperor thought it over for a while. ‘What happens when you begin to spread out across this side of the barrier? Colonies require support from their home world.’

‘Part of Humanity’s bid requires us to stay behind the barrier. We are not allowed to colonise any other planet or planetary body on this side of it.’

‘That is written into your bid?’

‘Yes sir.’

‘That seems a little harsh.’

‘We really don’t care.’

That made the Emperor think again. ‘I wish some time to consider your offer and check on the details of your bid before I make a final decision.’

Steven got up and bowed.

chapter 3

Steven sat down at the dinner table with a sigh. He found a spot between Charlie and the Bear. The smell wafting up from his plate made his stomach growl.

‘Long day?’ Charlie asked.

‘Aye.’ He sorted out his cutlery and took a mouthful. They ate in silence for a few minutes. Charlie was already onto his coffee before Steven was finished. He shoved his plate away, and within a few seconds Cookie had placed a steaming hot mug of coffee in front of him. He realised that they were all watching and waiting.

Steven smiled, ‘They have agreed to sign the treaty. The Evolka are on board. Of course, he isn’t going to announce it until the arrival of his big rock; if we don’t deliver, it will fall through.’

There were a few growls of approval, the odd clap, and voices of congratulations. The smile on Steven’s face widened.

Howe leaned across the table, ‘Were his feet as bad as they say?’

‘They were stinking.’

The table erupted with laughter, the tension seeping out of the crew.

Eddie was sitting on the other side of Charlie. ‘I thought they were all going to shit themselves when he took his feet down off that thing.’

Charlie snorted, ‘They were all there to watch us get wasted. I don’t think they had never seen that before. Good plan Stevie.’

‘I'm glad we never had to shoot anyone.’

‘It was touch and go for a while though.’

‘It was that,’ the Bear agreed, ‘You could feel it.’

Steven put down his mug, ‘It was the longest two weeks of my life.’

‘Where to now sir?’ Howe asked.

Steven closed his eyes for a moment and talked to Babes. ‘The sparse lands. It would seem our lads in the Federation have ran into a little bother, and they have requested our presence.’

‘Have they been fighting?’

‘Yes Colonel. A meat-eating race called the Ambatta. They have captured one of them and wish us to talk to them.’ He turned to Charlie, ‘It is going to take us a couple of weeks to get there. I am going to need everything you can find on them.’

‘There isn’t much. I have a dossier on all of the meat-eating races. There are a few pictures. They look quite feline in nature. It wasn’t easy to make out too much detail, I only had a pictures of a few corpses. Their planet exists in the middle of an asteroid field. They were an advanced race that had reached the stars. The asteroid field is full of precious minerals and extends for thousands of miles around the planet.

‘I know their planet has been attacked many times, their ferocity and tenacity is legend. Apart from that, not much is really known. The Federation patrols around the borders of the asteroid field to keep them contained. They were knowing for attacking the home planets of their enemies. The Federation retaliated with a massive force. They did reach their planet but were eventually beaten off. The Ambatta weren’t adverse to throwing huge asteroids at them. The casualty rates were huge on both sides. No one really knows the state of their home planet, but I believe the Federation threw all the normal nasties at them.’

‘Who were their enemies?’

‘The ones that started it are called the Catataracs and the Haspsopot.’

Steven’s right hand jerked up, ‘I have heard of them.’

‘The Modloch went to war with Haspsopot. It was Darrick’s father. They kicked their arses. I have no idea what sparked the war. The Modloch took a fair chunk of their territory off them, but because they were so far away, they eventually were persuaded to give it back through diplomatic routes. There was some compensation paid.’

‘Where are they in relation to the races we know; do you know?’

‘Fair idea. The Haspsopot border the Sparse Lands on one side, the Modloch on the other and the Catataracs on the other side of the sparse lands.’

Steven groaned, ‘Which means we aren’t a kick in the arse from the Albany.’

‘Steven!’

They all got a little surprise. Komoru was standing behind him.

He shook his head, ‘What?’

‘Language please.’

‘Eh! I never swore.’

‘Bad enough,’ she scowled at Charlie.

Charlie took offence, ‘What are you scowling at me for? I wasn’t swearing.’

‘That makes a change.’

Charlie snapped upright and stuck his face close to Komoru’s. ‘You really need to stop blaming me for everything around here. It is severely getting on my fucking tits.’

Charlie stormed past her and out of the canteen. Komoru’s face went a darker shade as she found all the men looking at her. She tried to make light of it.

‘Oops.’

There were a few weak smiles and the rest of them got up and left, leaving Steven. She took Charlie’s seat, still embarrassed.

Steven looked at her and shook his head. ‘Did you really have to? I thought you two were making an effort to get on better.’

‘It just slipped out. Sorry.’

Steven lounged back in his chair, he was really feeling tired.

‘Make a bigger effort please.’

‘I will try.’ She decided to change the subject, ‘You look exhausted.’

‘I feel it.’

‘You should have let me take some of the strain.’

‘He wouldn’t deal with a female. You know that.’

‘It isn’t right.’

‘I know. We already have our next job.’

‘I haven’t heard yet.’

‘It’s right next to Catatarac space, and very close to Albany space as well.’

‘Oh shit!’

Steven picked up his mug and took a sip of his coffee without taking his eyes off her. Komoru’s face darkened again.

chapter 4

Lights flashed past the right wing of Commander Logan’s fighter.

‘Get this arsehole off my tail Alfie.’

‘Kick it right, in three two one, now.’

Commander Alfie Lloyd fired at the spot he felt the fighter was going to pass through to chase Logan. His first shots bounced off the fighter’s shields as they walked down the side of it. By the time they reached its tail, the shields had weakened and a couple of shots slammed into the target.

Both Humans peeled away, leaving the stricken fighter spinning off into empty space. A hundred fighters appeared on the other side of the Burning Wind. Its shields rippled in response. The fighters jumped out, then reappeared on their side of the ship. The two Humans were now in the perfect position. Their guns fired again. Two fighters staggered out of formation. They failed to jump, and the automated guns from the Burning Wind finished them off.

The remaining fighters disappeared into the black and never returned.

‘What the hell was that all about?’ Logan asked no one in particular.

Alfie decided to answer anyway, ‘Maybe they know we are new here and just wanted to test us.’

‘That was an expensive test Alfie.’ He glanced down to confirm. ‘I still have all of our flights on the board here.’

‘Beats me. What about that fighter we knocked out?’

‘Let’s swing around and take a look.’

The fighter was drifting in space. They pulled up alongside. They could see a figure inside punching at their controls. A panel appeared in their right hand and disappeared again. Logan put on his interior light and waited. It took a while for the pilot to notice him. When he did the pilot stared for a moment then sat back in his seat, resigned to his fate.

‘Looks like he thinks it’s all over Alfie.’

‘Should we haul him in?’

Logan scanned the ship. ‘Looks like he still has ammo and his guns are working fine. Let’s kick it upstairs.’

They got in touch with the ship and were ordered to drag the fighter in backwards. They flipped their fighters. As soon as they locked onto the ship, the pilot became frantic in his efforts to repair it. He tried everything in his power, even firing his weapons, to no avail. Logan landed with the ship by his side. Even then the pilot seemed to be fighting all the way.

Morval appeared in the hangar and walked over to the ship. He read the name on the side of the fighter and barked a laugh. He jumped up onto the short wing and banged on the canopy. It was almost a minute before the pilot looked his way. When he did, Morval could see the shock register. He laughed aloud and banged again. The canopy slid back and the figure stood. Alfie and Logan could see it had an almost Human, feminine shape.

‘Morval, what are you doing on a Federation ship?’ She caught sight of the two Humans standing below and grabbed for her pistol. Morval reached out and grasped her wrist.

‘No! You won’t need that. In fact, hand it over. Trust me.’

She reluctantly handed over her weapons and took Morval’s offered hand. The Humans were fascinated, even more so when she removed her helmet. Long silver hair fell down over her shoulders. Her face, and skin were almost Human, her nose small and cat like, along with her ears. She seemed as fascinated with them as they were with her.

‘What are these creatures Morval?’

‘They are called Humans. Meat eaters like us. They are now a part of the Federation.’

‘No, that can’t be.’

‘It most certainly is. Because of them, we are now also a part of the Federation. Our planet is at peace and protected. It is a long story.’

‘I think I need a big long Bruisk, and a seat.’

He turned away from her, ‘Let me introduce you.’ He lifted a hand to the Humans, ‘Commanders John Logan and Alfie Lloyd. This is Pilot Officer Trinnie Acuta.’

‘It is Flight Captain now.’

‘Oh! Going up in the world.’

She punched him. A squad of marines rushed up, but Morval held up a hand, ‘It’s okay men. It is a friend of mine, I will vouch for her.’

The corporal in charge saluted, ‘I will inform my Commander Sir.’

‘No problem, we will be in the canteen on B Deck if he wants to see us.’

Thirty minutes later she pushed away a plate of chicken bones and drank the last of a glass of milk.

‘That hit the spot. I can’t believe I am on a Federation ship. It looks Modloch.’

‘It was. Now it is Human, a gift to them from the Modloch Emperor.’

‘Carry on with the story Morval.’

It took a while to tell. He was just finished when the Captain appeared. Morval and his companions stood.

‘Captain Douglas McKinnon, Flight Captain Trinnie Acuta,’ Morval introduced them. Each bowed slightly and McKinnon sat down.

‘How did you enjoy your meal Flight Captain?’

‘Very nice, very palatable. The Federation do not normally take prisoners.’

‘Our orders have changed. When the Humans and the Ortea first met, it began a process that led to peace. Since arriving in your space, we have tried to communicate with your people a number of times; we have been ignored. Your capture has given us a rare opportunity. We wish to send you back with a request to begin a dialogue between our peoples. Before that, I would wish to give you a tour of the ship. That way you will be able to see with your own eyes the mix of races we have on-board. First, let me ask you why you attacked us this morning.’

‘Isn’t it obvious?’

‘No, not at all.’

Morval laughed. ‘Contraband. Freighters.’

‘What else would it be Morval? A distraction.’

‘This was where I was heading when Captain Gordon found me.’

McKinnon nodded his understanding. ‘There is no need for this now. Our orders have been changed. If your leaders enter into a peaceful dialogue with us, we will allow trade to pass through unmolested.’

‘That might not be possible Captain. We buy what we need with minerals that are considered illegal by the Federation. Contraband in other words. We have no other way of paying for such things.’

‘You may have other things that the Federation will allow you to trade that aren’t on the banned list.’

‘Like what?’

Morval interrupted, ‘That’s what we first thought. Now we have a thriving economy selling disused bricks.’

She shook her head, ‘I don’t understand…’

‘Long story.’

‘I need to hear it all.’

‘Of course.’

chapter 5

Trinnie swung her fighter in to land five hours later. She had been surrounded by her own fighters on the way in, and they had been hostile. Her ship was scanned more than once.

‘Are you sure you have no devices planted on board Captain?’

‘I'm sure, I checked my ship thoroughly before I left. Stop pissing around, I have valuable information.’

She had to wait a little.

‘Alright, bring her in, but land just inside the marker, and get out quickly.’

‘Are you going to toss my ship back outside?’

‘We sure are, and reduce it to metal filings. Place it on the yellow pad.’

‘Alright, it’s not much more than junk now anyway.’

She touched down and grabbed her satchel from the cockpit. She had barely made it off the pad before her fighter was ejected back outside into space. A squad of her own marines raced across the pad.

She held a hand up, ‘Relax will you.’

They took up firing positions. ‘What’s in the bag?’

‘Piss off. You’re not getting it.’

The leader lowered his weapon, ‘Well it’s definitely you Trinnie, but what’s in the bag?’

‘Food. Cheese, bread and a couple of Bruiskies.’

‘You disappear for hours and you come back with food and Bruiskies. What the hell is going on? We thought you were captured by the Federation.’

‘I was. Do you remember Morval, the Ortea?’

‘He is dead.’

‘No he isn’t. He is now a Liaison Officer with the Federation. Those Federation ships we were fighting this morning were crewed by Ortea, Dents and Humans.’

‘What the hell is a Human?’

‘The first meat-eating race to join the Federation.’

‘No!’

‘Oh but yes. I need to talk to the Commander.’

A short while later she was sitting across from the Commander. They shared the beers, bread and the cheese while he listened to her story.

He sat back and rubbed his belly, ‘I can’t believe how good that was.’

‘The fried chicken is to die for.’

‘What’s that?’

‘Some form of fowl.’

‘Right.’

‘You must have heard of these Humans?’

‘We’ve heard of them all right. Didn’t know what to believe though. So the Ortea are at peace?’

‘Not only that, they are trading with the rest of the Federation. The Humans have replaced their domestic livestock. Some have even started living above ground again.’

‘There is no way the Federation would allow them to become a part of it.’

‘They haven’t, it’s the Dent.’

‘The furry ones that they enslaved?’

‘That’s the ones. They were considered extinct, round about the time the Federation was in its infancy. They had been a part of that. Now they are citizens of the Ortea home world. The Federation has allowed them to bid to re-enter the Federation as full citizens, on condition that they stay on the Ortea home world, which is now officially their home. They are now the political wing of the Ortea world. Along with the Ortea, they have to supply ships and crew for Federation forces. The Ortea are not allowed to command a vessel. The Dents can’t.’

‘Where the hell are they getting the ships?’

‘From the Humans. They are a backwards race from the other side of the great barrier. They use Builder technology to build their ships, but it is stolen technology. The Federation was having problems integrating them.’

‘I get it. The Ortea have the experience, and the Dent the technical knowledge.’

‘Three races, one force.’

‘Nice. Do you think they are going to try and stop the war here as well?’

‘I think they are going to try. There are problems, however.’

‘What are they?’

‘The Humans and Albany are at war. They are also very close to the Modlochs.’

‘Which means they are also enemies of the Catataracs, and the Haspsopots.’

‘More or less.’

‘We need to kick this upstairs. You have never visited our home world, have you?’

‘My lifelong ambition.’

‘It is about to be realised. Go get cleaned up and put on your best uniform. You are about to go home.’

Trinnie left his office dancing with glee. What had begun as a bad day had turned into one of the best in her life.

chapter 6

The two ships were escorted through the asteroid field by a flight of a hundred fighters. It took almost a full day to navigate the field. Hailey noticed something strange.

‘Captain.’

Steven looked up from the pad he was reading, ‘What is it?’

‘The asteroid field behind us is closing.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘The path we have just travelled no longer exists. They must be able to manipulate the asteroids at will.’

He thought it over for a moment, ‘So there is really no defined path through the field? Very smart. If you see anything else strange, let me know.’

They finally broke free of the field. Before them was a large planet, right in the sweet zone. When they zoomed in the Human crew could see that large tracts of it seemed barren. There was surface water, but it looked to be of strange hues. What was wonderous was the way the asteroid belt extended right around the sun.

Hailey looked up from her console, ‘If I am reading this right, this is the only planet within the belt.’

All were gaping at the sight. Steven agreed, ‘It’s like one of those Chinese puzzle balls.’

Eddie was also on the bridge. ‘What’s that?’

Steven looked round, ‘Ivory ball with a ball or multiple balls inside.’

‘Aye, I’ve seen those. Didn’t know what they were called.’ He peered up, then down. ‘It’s like we are inside it eh!’

‘Aye.’

‘We have incoming, hundred and eighty degrees to port.’ Howe warned from tactical.

‘On screen.’ The forward view changed. A very large battleship came into view. ‘Status?’

‘Shields and weapons powered up, but not trained on us. We’ve never seen anything like that before. It is bigger than the Burning Wind.’

‘A display of raw power.’

‘Shall I scan it sir?’

‘No, let’s not piss anyone off.’

Howe was very interested in the ship, ‘It looks lethal.’

Steven smiled, ‘View screen forward again please.’

Sid turned in his seat, ‘We have permission to accelerate to five thousand miles per hour sir. We have to follow a fighter that will pull out in front.’

‘Hailey, when it appears keep up pace with it please.’

‘Yes sir. Why so slow?’

‘I would lay a bet on that battleship not being able to keep up. I doubt if it could travel at light speed.’ Steven pressed a button and spoke aloud, ‘Charlie, are you looking out the window?’

‘Aye, I see it.’

‘Know anything about it?’

‘According to military records, huge battleships were encountered within the asteroid field. They aren’t very fast, but their firepower was devastating. Their shield technology was also superior to the Federation ships. There was a ring of them around the planet. The Federation managed to bombard the planet quite badly before they were driven off. They took a heavy toll on the Federation vessels. None that entered the field made it out again.’

‘Thanks Charlie.’ It was exactly what Steven had been thinking. Howe and Beaver were both impressed, and passed a smile between each other.

The fighter appeared, flashing an amber light. Hailey sighed, ‘This is going to take forever.’

‘Give them time. I’m sure they will begin to speed up.’ Steven reassured.

Three hours later they were still travelling at only five thousand miles an hour.

Steven ran out of patience. ‘Sid, get in touch with them. Tell them if they don’t speed up, we are going to turn around and leave.’

Sid smiled and got onto the radio. It didn’t take long. ‘They have replied sir. Their escort is having engine problems. They ask patience for another hour. They will have a replacement escort vessel here by then.’

‘Acknowledge.’

‘Sir.’

True to their word another escort vessel arrived. It took over from the lumbering goliath to their rear. Their pace increased to a more decent interplanetary speed, but it was still going to take a further twelve hours to reach the planet. Steven decided to call it a day. He relieved the day shift so they would be on the ball first thing in the morning. He changed Charlie’s shift too, and he took over from Steven.

Charlie got comfortable in the ‘big chair’, as he liked to call it. Eddie returned to the bridge to keep him company for a while, as did the Bear. When things began to quieten down for the evening, Charlie asked if there were any signals coming from the ships or the distant planet. The operator scanned the frequency bands.

‘I have something on the lower bands Charlie, it’s like a TV signal. It is being sent by a high frequency signal to the ship behind it and it is broadcasting it at a lower level.’

‘Were to?’

‘Shipboard I think, and the fighter in front.’

‘Who fancies watching some alien TV?’

There were no objections, and they spent the remainder of the shift watching TV from the race below. It gave Charlie some decent insights into the people they were to encounter the following morning. In fact, they were probably more like Humanity than any other race they had encountered.

chapter 7

As they slipped into orbit, they could see the devastation caused by the Federation on the planet below. The Humans were quiet as they contemplated what might have been, had their planet been on this side of the great barrier.

Steven shook his head. ‘Puts things into perspective, doesn’t it Buzz.’

‘Sure does bud. You going to be alright down there?’

Steven sighed, ‘They asked for this. Should be fine.’

‘Still, no guard, minimum escort, side arms only.’

‘No pomp and ceremony,’ Steven smiled.

Steven had decided to take his special forces men to guard him along with Charlie. Komoru joined him on the shuttle with a couple of her men and Lewis. Her eyes skimmed over Charlie and he ignored her.

‘Any idea how we greet them?’ Komoru asked Stevie.

He shrugged, ‘Not a clue.’

Charlie smiled to himself. ‘Friends bump fists. Equals cross wrists and juniors to seniors bow.’

They both looked over at him. ‘When did you find that out?’ Komoru asked.

‘The big ship behind us was broadcasting TV programmes last night, we sat and watched them.’

‘You could have informed us.’

‘I informed the ships. They didn’t want to disturb either of you. Not my problem, have a word with the ships.’

She snapped her head back round. Steven sighed, ‘Anything else Charlie?’

‘They are very Human in their outlook on things. There were adverts and everything. Mainly beer adverts.’

‘So they must have grain of some kind?’

‘Beats me. You will find out soon enough.’

The shuttle began to vibrate as it descended through the atmosphere. They were still following the fighter. When it landed they all got out, soldiers first. The pilot clambered out of the fighter; it was obviously a female. She took off her helmet and shook out her silver hair. Her smile took all by surprise. Komoru clapped her hands in delight.

‘She is so pretty.’

The men glanced at her in disbelief. The woman approached and bowed.

‘Hello, my name is Trinnie Acuta, I am a Flight Captain with the defence force for the planet Ulona. Welcome to our planet.’

The ambassadors both bowed in return, but the soldiers remained erect and alert. She caught sight of Lewis and gasped in surprise.

‘Oh, your race has such diversity in its people.’

Lewis smiled and she smiled back. Her laughter was a strange tinkling that wasn’t unpleasant. She bowed again.

‘Please come this way.’

They followed her for about twenty metres. She stood in a small yellow circle and spoke aloud her rank. An elevator appeared from the ground. It was big enough to accommodate all of them. They sank for quite a distance. The lights when the door opened were much brighter than in the elevator. They stepped out. The hall was quite wide and there were a number of dignitaries standing waiting with their guards. At the forefront stood Morval. He stepped forward and bowed.

‘Ambassadors, it is good to see you both again.’ They returned his bow, then he turned to the waiting dignitaries. ‘These are the Earth’s Goodwill Ambassadors. I know them both.’ The tension seemed to go out of them a little. Morval suddenly spotted someone.

‘Charlie!’

‘Morval!’ The two met and embraced briefly. ‘How are the wife and kids?’

‘The wife’s good, the kids are growing so damn fast you wouldn’t believe it.’ His eyes flicked up and almost popped. ‘Lewis!’

Lewis laughed with delight. ‘Morval, my old friend.’ They met and clasped arms.

There was a discrete cough from Komoru. Morval’s head turned back round, ‘Oh! I got carried away sorry. Don’t worry ambassadors, the Ambatta aren’t ones for great ceremony.’

One of the Ambatta then stepped forward. ‘In fact, Morval’s actions have helped reassure us he is with friends. I am Chancellor Kanta. Welcome to our planet, what is left of it. As Morval has stated, we aren’t ones for standing on ceremony. We have known him for many years and trust him, and his judgement. Please ambassadors, come this way. We wish to speak to you alone. I can assure you that you will be safe. Morval can take your men to a refreshment centre. It is only a short distance from where we will be.’

Steve glanced at Charlie who simply nodded.

The guards scattered and went about their normal duties. The ambassadors followed three of them to a room not far from the entrance, while Morval guided the rest to a canteen. Trinnie went with them. She sat beside Lewis and gazed up at him. Lewis wasn’t quite sure what to do about it.

A hundred metres away, Steven and Komoru sat down on a comfortable couch. Hot drinks were placed onto the table.

‘Please test the tea to see if it’s compatible with your race.’ The Chancellor poured a little into a spare cup and provided a dipper for them. They both tested it and the small light turned green. Steven tasted it and shuddered. He put it down.

‘No, sorry, that is awful.’ Komoru took a sip and pushed it away. The look on her face said it all.

‘I'm sorry,’ the Chancellor looked surprised, ‘I heard this is what off-worlders liked.’

Steven was trying not to be sick. ‘It might be to the taste of a grass eater. We eat meat. Do you really drink this?’

‘Oh hell no, it makes us puke. I was just going to pretend to drink it.’ He turned round to the others, ‘Whose idea was this?’

‘Barras,’ one supplied. ‘It was labelled tea for foreign dignitaries.’

‘Idiot.’ He turned back to Steven. ‘I'm sorry about that. We don’t know what else to give you.’

‘May I?’

‘May you what!’

Steven closed his eyes. A few seconds later a basket materialised on the table. The Ambatta were in shock and stepped back. A full two minutes later, another smaller basket arrived along with a steaming hot pot of coffee.

Steven looked up at the startled aliens. ‘It’s all right. It is only snacks and some coffee.’

Komoru pulled across the smaller basket. ‘These are teas we find palatable, if you have more hot water.’

The Chancellor slowly came back to the table. Steven took out plates and opened packets of biscuits and beef jerky. It quickly became a small tea party, with the dignitaries trying a little of everything. They didn’t like the coffee too much, but found some of the teas delicious. They all loved the jerky and different biscuits.

As the tea party progressed, their story began to come out. They had been mining their own asteroid belt for a thousand years before outsiders began to turn up. At first they traded, but their neighbours became greedy. It escalated into a full-scale war. After a number of attacks on their home world, they brought the fight to their neighbours. They attacked their outer planets first, but once they began to bombard and attack their home worlds, the Federation stepped in. Over hundreds of years they were forced back to their own home world.

The Federation put in a number of desperate attacks and almost succeeded in destroying it. By then, they had been allied with the Ortea. Their technology helped save them. They had built these underground shelters. They had moved massive seas underground in the same way the Ortea had. Artificial worlds inside massive asteroids took their domestic stock. Everything on world had been removed. There wasn’t much left of it but an empty shell. Most of the population lived off world within the asteroid field. It still held massive amounts of minerals, and was still coveted by other races. The Ambatta fought them with a determined ferocity.

Such was the rarity of some of the minerals, an illegal trade had sprung up with them and some of the other races. Some of that trade was for grass and hay for their own domestic animals. Unlike the Ortea, they had never had to consume captives. However, as their people were slaughtered out of hand, they retaliated in kind. Having the knocked-out pilot returned to them had been a huge surprise. They had got in touch with the Federation forces, and Morval had been sent down as a liaison officer. They had known him for years and trusted him. He had brought them up to speed with developments in the Federation. It had given them hope.

Steven and Komoru were invited out to view the devastation wrought upon their home world. They accepted. For hours they flew above deserts and destroyed cities. They stopped in places that were safe to do so. Patches of green were, more often than not, rotting swampland devoid of life. It was a sombre pair that stepped off the shuttle.

chapter 8

They were all trying hard to contain their laughter. Trinnie had taken a very large shine to Lewis, and was laying her feminine wiles on him.

‘Do you have a mate Lewis?’

‘No ma’am. I did have, but she passed away.’

‘Oh! Was she a fighter?’

‘It was an illness.’

‘Did you have children?’

‘No ma’am, there was just the two of us.’

‘Did you never mate again?’

‘I never had the heart to.’

She sighed, ‘How romantic, you must have loved her very much.’

‘I still do and still miss her.’

‘Why is your skin such a different colour from the others?’

He laughed, ‘Our species originate from a country called Africa. It is in a very hot climate. Our skins darkened like this to protect us from the hot sun. As our species grew, it moved away from those hot climates. Dey moved to lands that were much colder. In those places, dey lost the pigmentation of their skin. Dey do go a little darker in the summers, but dey go white again in the winter.’

She touched his massive arm. ‘I think your species’ original colour is much prettier.’

It was too much, they all howled with laughter. Especially those who knew Lewis well enough to notice he was blushing.

She squeezed his arm. ‘Wow, you must be very strong.’

Even Lewis was laughing now.

He pointed to Charlie, ‘That guy there, he is much stronger than me.’

She looked at Charlie properly for the first time. Her head kinked to the side, ‘He isn’t a real person though.’ The laughter dried up.

Lewis wasn’t quite sure what to say. ‘Charlie is very real.’

She looked again, ‘His skin is synthetic, he isn’t real.’

Lewis plucked her hand from his arm. ‘Charlie is very real.’

They could see the confusion in her eyes. She knew she had made a mistake.

Charlie burst out laughing, ‘Can you really see my skin is synthetic with your naked eyes?’

‘Yes of course. It has a peculiar sheen to it and you don’t sweat like the rest.’

‘What Lewis means is that my outer shell may be synthetic, but inside my organs and brain are Human, functioning organs.’

‘Oh I see. I have never met anyone like you before. Is this an augmentation Humans can do to themselves?’

‘No it isn’t. I was very badly injured once. My skeleton, muscles and skin all had to be replaced, however my internal organs are all me. I am the only one of my kind.’

‘It is hard to believe you are alive,’ she reached out. ‘I am so sorry. I hope I never upset you.’

‘No not at all. One of my best friends calls me the freak. It takes a lot more than that to insult me.’ The mood lightened. ‘What do you people do around here for fun?’

She shook her head, ‘I have no idea. This is only my second time on my home world.’

That took them all by surprise. Lewis looked down at her, ‘Where do you live?’

‘In the asteroid field. Most of us do. The planet can’t support the population. It is also the prime target for any attack. I have always wanted to come here though.’ She lifted her head and shouted across to some men who were at a table nearby.

‘What do you guys do for fun around here?’

One pointed to his right, ‘There’s is a close quarter simulator three corridors down. Follow the signs.’

‘Any of you guys fancy a little shooting?’

They were all on their feet in an instant. ‘Was that a serious question?’ Howe asked.

She led them laughing to the range.

The range master was more than happy to take them through it. They spent a couple of happy hours blasting strange aliens with strange weapons.

Trinnie found some time with the range master. ‘How are they doing?’

‘Better than I would have suspected. They are up there with some of our best. I think the Chancellor should see these scores. The robot’s score is perfect.’

‘Ah Charlie. He is only part-robot, some accident or another.’

‘By these scores I would say most of him is. The system to attach his brain to the muscles must be highly advanced. Remarkable. I know a few guys who would benefit from that kind of medicine.’

She sighed, ‘Me too.’

‘Do you think these talks will do any good?’

‘What would you do if we didn’t have to fight?’

He thought it over. ‘I have no idea. Spend a night somewhere I could see the stars.’

She punched him, ‘Aw, what a romantic.’

‘Fuck off.’

They both laughed. He nodded to the Humans as they gathered in a group. ‘As aliens go, they aren’t that ugly either.’

‘Yeah, I know,’ she smirked at him.

He laughed, ‘Let me guess, the big one.’

‘Yup.’

‘You females are so predictable. He must have a mate.’

‘Nope. She died of an illness, he hasn’t had a mate since.’

He shook his head, ‘They won’t be here for long, so don’t get your hopes up.’

‘I wonder if they are staying the night.’

‘If he hasn’t had a mate since his mate died, I would say he isn’t the type. Maybe they have a mating season like the grass eaters.’

‘I forgot to ask about that.’

‘My advice would be to keep your pants on and try not to cause a diplomatic incident by insulting them.’

‘Ah! Never thought of that. Good advice, thanks.’

chapter 9

Emperor Ne´ Langus sat and listened to Steven’s report live. He made notes and checked up on details. Steven was forced to sit and wait for a while in silence. Ne´ eventually finished what he was doing.

‘Your report is quite contradictory, Ambassador. According to our reports, they are as bad as the Ortea. Are you sure they have no slaves, no race held as livestock?’

‘I am very sure Grand Commander.’

‘The Ortea holding slaves was a very good bargaining tool. Of course those bricks they are selling, are becoming a great status symbol. Do they have anything of worth to trade with? Remembering their mineral wealth would be useless, and if anything counterproductive.’

‘I haven’t found anything yet, although that really isn’t my area of expertise.’

‘Didn’t you start the PD Company of Earth, and help the Ortea sell their bricks?’

‘That wasn’t me Grand Commander, that was one of my men.’

‘But it is your name as president of the company?’

‘He started it in my name.’

‘He was responsible for both?’

‘Yes sir.’

‘Then get him to look, leave him there if you have to.’

‘I don’t know if they will allow that, but I can ask.’

‘Do that. Records tell me that we bombed their planet really hard. What state is it in?’

‘It is really bad. It cost millions of lives, but from what I can gather, millions were already living off world, in the asteroid belt. With the help of the Ortea, they had already begun to live underground, and many of their resources had also been moved underground. It is why they survived. The surface of the planet is in a big mess. The little water that is still above ground is nothing but stinking poisonous bogs.’

‘That doesn’t surprise me. I saw a list of some of the weapons used. However, that poison can be eradicated. As a goodwill gesture, I will have the antidote to those poisons used sent out to them.’

‘I think they would appreciate that.’

‘If they have Ortea technology, do they also have bricks they can sell?’

‘No sir. They don’t have vast cities underground, not like the Ortea. From what I have seen it is more like an underground bunker complex. Nothing complicated. Very spartan, very functional. Their planet is entirely different to the Ortea’s. It is more like Earth, with moving tectonic plates. They simply pumped the magma into existing flows, or deep depressions on the surface.’

‘Do you know their numbers?’

‘I haven’t a clue. There was one interesting fact I found out though - the pilot that we rescued had never before set foot on her home world, until after her capture.’

‘That is interesting. It means that the community she was brought up in is completely independent of their home world.’

‘That is the impression I got sir.’

‘What about their political structure? With so many communities, it must be very fragmented.’

‘I don’t know sir, I don’t think so. They are very laid back when it comes to politics. There was no pomp and ceremony, no official greeting, no fanfare. I met with three of them. The Chancellor and two Vice-Chancellors. It was sit down have a cup of tea and talk. They showed me nothing, told me nothing, yet seemed to show me and tell me a lot. Does that make sense?’

‘Yes it does Ambassador. You no doubt received the history of the conflict without being given anything of strategic value.’

Steven was relieved he understood. ‘That was pretty much exactly it sir.’

‘What is it like there?’

The question took Steven a little by surprise. ‘Extraordinary beautiful. Not the surface of the planet itself, but the skies above, especially at night. You can’t see the stars, but you can see the asteroids. It is unlike anything I have even seen before.’

‘Did you feel threatened at all?’

‘Not in the slightest sir. I think having the Ortea liaison officer there helped a lot. They knew him well and trusted him. He knew us.’

‘I really want to expediate this process. Do you think they would accept a visit from myself?’

‘I don’t see why they won’t. You aren’t their natural enemy. All I can do is ask.’

‘Then ask please.’

‘May I ask why you are so keen to push this through?’

Ne´ thought it over. ‘As you will always be in the forefront of these negotiations with the meat-eating races of this part of the galaxy, I will answer your question. The people of the Federation are forever expanding, pushing outwards. Most conflict comes from this expansion. Things have been quite quiet for a while now. The latest round of wars seem to be bubbling to an end. This means they will start to forge outwards. These small backwater wars within our own borders suck up our resources and manpower. History has taught us that our greatest difficulties arise during these periods of expansion.

‘I am a great believer in natural selection. The strong will overcome the weak. The weak will perish and fade from the minds of the living. Only the history of the galaxy will record their passing. However, those that have survived, have done so against insurmountable odds arrayed against them. I am a military commander, a tactician. Why would I not want people of that calibre working on my side, fighting alongside my forces? To me they are an untapped resource. I am slowly bringing the other top leaders of the Federation around to my way of thinking.’

‘That makes perfect sense to me sir.’

‘Then let’s find a way to broker peace with these people, Ambassador.’

Steven smiled, ‘I am completely onside with you on this sir. However, those neighbours of theirs might not be so keen on the idea.’

‘You are correct Ambassador. The Haspsopot race were devastated by a war with the Modloch. Since then they have recovered, but have remained quiet. It is the Catatarac, Vison, we will have to watch out for. A Human expression I believe: he is a snake. He will try and undermine us in every way possible. He is also a close ally of the Albany. He hates meat eaters with a passion. Be careful. I am ordering you not to get sucked in. Do not accept any invitation by Vison to talk. He will not hesitate to kill you or your people. As your people are probationary members and you are only a Goodwill Ambassador, there isn’t much anyone will be able to do about it. It will be a waste. I will send you an official order. You will only need to state the number in any dealings you have with them.’

‘I understand sir, thank you.’

chapter 10

‘This ain’t good Charlie, I don like it none.’ They were watching Babes and Ico leave the planet’s atmosphere. Charlie waited until they were out of sight before answering.

‘Take a chill pill Lewis. It is only for a week. Komoru isn’t going to die just because you’re not there.’

‘Don like it none.’

‘I know, but the people here think I’m a robot, and they think you’re very pretty. So you are the man for the job. Suck it up.’

‘This really ain’t my scene.’

‘I know. It isn’t mine either.’

‘You’re good at it Charlie.’

‘Doesn’t mean it sits right my friend.’

‘Sure, I get that. We are fish out of water.’

‘You know that alien chick has the hots for you?’

‘I ain’t going to take advantage Charlie. I’ll keep away from her.’

‘They made her our liaison officer.’

‘You are shitting me.’

‘Nope.’

‘Man…’

‘She begged them to let her do it.’

‘This ain’t good.’

Charlie took his attention from the skies above. ‘You could take one for the team man.’

‘What!’

‘You know. First Human male to pork an alien chick. You would go down in history.’

‘You!’

Lewis made a grab, but Charlie was off and running, laughing as he went.

Trinnie was very excited. She found them in the canteen. The small person was laughing while Lewis scowled his displeasure.

‘You guys ready to go?’

The scowl vanished from Lewis’s face. He stood. ‘Sure thing. Where are we going?’

‘I have been given a small shuttle. The Chancellor would like a few words first.’

They followed her through to an office. It was spartan, devoid of any decoration. Charlie could see where there had been something on the walls before. Obviously they had removed everything before the Humans’ visit.

The Chancellor addressed Lewis. ‘I have been told that we need to find something to trade, that will help with future negotiations. Something that might appeal to the citizens of the Federation. Have you any ideas?’

‘Lewis looked at Charlie and then back at the Chancellor.

‘This is the man you need to address sir, he is in charge.’

The Chancellor looked at Charlie and as quickly shook his head and addressed Lewis again.

‘Yes, but you are the Human.’

Charlie burst out laughing. ‘Told you Lewis, just go with it man.’

‘No, it ain’t right Charlie.’

‘You deal with the bullshit, I’ll try and figure out the rest of it.’

Trinnie stepped forward. ‘He is a real person sir. He was just in a bad accident. He is a Captain in the Ambassadors’ personal guard. Lewis is a crew member.’

‘Oh! I am sorry. I didn’t realise. I thought you were some form of companion.’

‘So far yours is the only race that can distinguish between a Human’s normal skin and my synthetic skin. I am impressed.’

‘Then do you have any suggestions?’

‘The first thing I would suggest is a documentary.’

‘Do you really think they would be interested in the devastation they caused to a meat-eating race?’

‘Oh they won’t give a shit about that. I’m talking about what’s in the sky above you. I know of no other place that has that kind of scenic beauty, especially in the night sky. The members of the Federation, especially the opulent ones, are very big on tourism. We first need to establish the fact that you have no slaves and have eaten no members of any race. We have to dispel those myths first. Maybe build a few hotels above ground.’

‘It isn’t healthy to stay above ground for any great length of time.’

‘In a few weeks’ time the Grand Commander will be here with the Ambassadors. He is going to deliver the antidote for whatever they did to your planet. I know our Ambassador has mentioned the scenic beauty here. The Grand Commander is eager to see it for himself.’

‘Do you think he will really come?’

‘He isn’t some wishy-washy bureaucrat. He is a warrior. He isn’t frightened of you. He isn’t a fool either. He trusts his people. He was the one who found a way to make peace with the Ortea, and bring them into the Federation. If you want to regain your home world, he is the one that will provide the path.’

‘Why, after all these generations?’

‘There could be any of a hundred reasons, but the main one is more than likely money. Its costs money, resources to keep a fleet stationed here. You would be better asking him yourself. I am sure you will have that opportunity.’

The Chancellor thought it over for a moment. ‘I don’t see the cost difference in having them sit on their fat arses in a base, or out here on patrol.’

‘They don’t die on a base. They don’t waste fuel, and they don’t have to repair or replace their ships so often.’

‘No, I’m not going to accept that explanation.’

‘I don’t give a shit. I’m not party to the company or thoughts of the Grand Commander.’

‘Charlie!’ Lewis growled, ‘Reign it in man.’

Charlie took a deep breath, ‘Sorry.’

The Chancellor waved it away with a hand, ‘No need to apologise. We are a race that don’t stand on ceremony. We much prefer people to be direct. The Captain is right. No one so low down would be privy to the thoughts of the Grand Commander. I am simply grasping at the tail of a wildling; throwing my thoughts out there,’ he hesitated a moment. ‘A wildling is a domestic animal. It has five tails. The species is called Gravits, we call the young wildlings.’ Charlie and Lewis both smiled,

‘Are there still some living?’

‘Yes. We can show you some.’

‘Those and any other domestic animal you have.’

‘I don’t know. I don’t trust you enough to take you to the places where these animals are kept. We know your ship can record and track your movements. I am not trying to insult you. I hope you realise that.’

Charlie looked around the office, ‘I can see you have removed all information from every wall we might pass, and from the rooms we are in. That is also a smart move. If you weren’t suspicious of us, I would call you an idiot. Can’t you move some of them to the surface, a selection, so we can view and record them?’

‘I don’t know. Food is always tight. It would be a waste. Any animal exposed to the surface is considered unfit for consumption - a hang up from the days when biological weapons were used extensively. Still, the law is the law.’

‘I am sure we can replace anything spoiled with the same weight in meat products from our forces in the Federation.’

He nodded in a very Human manner, ‘That would be acceptable, but I would wish for conformation before we go ahead.’

‘I will get in touch with them later.’

‘In the meantime Trinnie will show you around. You will not be allowed access to any military installations or ships.’

‘That’s fine.’

Trinnie gave them a similar tour to the one the Ambassadors had received. For the first few days they did little more than site-seeing. They filmed anything they found interesting. The Burning Wind sent down a half ton of meat products and, the following day, an array of domestic animals appeared on the surface. The wildings looked like horses. The ears were bigger, the nose shorter, and it had five tails. Charlie and Lewis laughed as the tails whipped around and around. The animals looked well cared for. As soon as the Humans departed, the animals were slaughtered and their carcasses disposed of.

The following day, Trinnie appeared in a different flight suit. On her right hip she had a pistol and on her left a strange handle stuck out of a holster, lower down on the leg.

‘Two pistols?’ Lewis asked.

‘No, this is my ECO.’

‘What’s that?’

‘Emergency Canopy Opener.’

‘Oh! How does it work?’

She pulled it out and switched it on. A beam of light shot out of the handle.

‘You just stick it through the canopy and cut yourself a hole.’

‘Wow!’ Both Humans exclaimed at the same time.

She gave them a queer look, ‘Are you two okay?’

Lewis put his hand on Charlie’s shoulder, ‘You thinking what I’m thinking?’

‘Lightsabre.’

‘Yup.’

‘What’s a lightsabre?’

Lewis took a deep breath, ‘We got a Human film, entertainment. It’s a story of a guy who was a Jedi knight. The Jedi all had lightsabres. They fought with them. They look just like that.’

Trinnie was lost for words for a moment. She looked from one to the other.

‘Are you both insane? These things cut through metal like paper. They would cut a person clean in half. That is horrible. Besides, they consume a tremendous amount of power and only operate for a few minutes.’ She switched it off, ‘Totally impractical for fighting, besides it is illegal. Only pilots carry them when we are in space.’

Their lecture over with, both men were determined to procure at least a couple of the weapons to take back with them. They jumped into the small shuttle and she took off. This time they headed off planet. She had been given permission to take them home.

It took the better part of the day to reach the asteroids. The next couple of hours were the most terrifying of both men’s lives. They had both experienced flying through asteroids before; it was slow and tedious. Trinnie was anything but slow. She whipped between the asteroids leaving both men sweating heavily and in sheer terror for their lives. Trinnie seemed relaxed, if not more relaxed than she had been during the journey there.

She finally arrived at a non-descript asteroid that seemed to be about five miles across. She guided the small ship into what looked like a natural fissure. They went up for an age then turned into what was obviously some kind of space port. She spoke to the controllers and was guided into a landing spot. Both of them wanted to puke by then, and it was on rubber legs that she guided them off the ship and into the complex. It was quite busy with people going to and fro. They got onto a small subway train. Ten minutes saw her stand up, and they followed her off the train onto a platform. They went up a couple of escalators. Neither man expected to see what they walked out to.

They stood rooted to the spot. It was bright, lush and green. The houses were crazy colours and shapes.

Lewis stepped forward, ‘Wow Trinnie, it’s beautiful. Like houses out of a fantasy novel.’

‘Really, you like it?’

‘A lot.’

It seemed to please her no end. ‘Would you like to walk or ride to my house? It is only a ten-minute walk.’

‘I think I would like to walk. Charlie?’

‘Aye, why not Lewis. It will give my legs a chance to stop shaking.’

Lewis laughed aloud.

chapter 11

Emperor Ne´ Langus cross-decked onto Babes. Steven and Komoru met him and guided him to the briefing room. They had prepared well and the Emperor wasn’t blinded by the time he arrived there.

‘You have gone to a lot of bother Ambassador Gordon, thank you.’

‘It isn’t a problem sir. We are used to having guests now.’

‘Tell me Ambassador, what was you first impressions of the Ambatta?’

‘They seemed to be very straight forward and honest sir.’

He turned to Komoru, ‘What about you, Lady Ambassador?’

‘I have to agree with Steven sir. There was no ceremony, no time wasting. They did serve us tea but it was a tea only suited to herbivores. I think it helped that Commander Morval was there and had set the pace for us.’

‘Is he here with you?’

They both hesitated for a second. ‘Yes he is. Your people told us to keep him away from you.’

‘My people are over protective Ambassador. Can I see him please?’

Morval’s legs trembled. He had been summoned to see the Grand Commander. A person he and all of his race had at one time made countless oaths to kill. He was shown into the room. He had seen pictures, but they did nothing to portray his sheer presence. He stopped in front of the Emperor.

‘Are you not a part of the Federation, Commander, are you not a Federation officer?’

‘I am sir.’

‘I am the Grand Commander, have at least the courtesy to stand to attention before me.’

It took a moment to sink in, but Morval suddenly snapped to attention.

‘That is a little better, you may relax now.’

Morval slumped a little.

‘I appreciate that, until very recently, our races were mortal enemies. But in the Federation we are of no race, we are of all races. Once you put on that uniform, we all agree to put aside our differences. I will protect your race and planet with as much diligence as I would my own or any other race. Do you understand?’

Morval felt something rise within him, ‘Yes sir. I believe I do. Or I do now.’

‘Now, you have met these Ambatta before, correct?’

‘Yes sir, many times.’

‘What do you think of them?’

‘It was my favourite place to visit sir.’

‘How so?’

‘I just liked them. They are very straight forward. What you see is what you get. Honest, trustworthy. They will always go that extra distance to help a friend. They are good fighters; if they weren’t, they would no longer exist.’

‘What about their rations?’

‘A little tight. They still have domestic livestock, unlike us. The beer is good as well. The planet is all but dead. It wasn’t sterilised like ours was, but poisoned. No one lives on the surface anymore, it isn’t safe.’

‘Do you know where the bulk of their people stay?’

‘They never said, but I got the impression most of them live in the asteroid field. I was only ever on one or two bases at most. They keep that kind of thing very close to their chests.’

‘What were you doing before?’

‘Smuggling supplies, of course.’

‘What kind?’

‘Anything we could shove on a freighter sir. Weapons, drink, hay, anything we could steal from passing freight that wandered into our territory, and that they were prepared to buy from us.’

‘What did they pay you with?’

‘Minerals mostly.’

‘Did they or you ever trade with other races? I’m not talking about meat eaters.’ Morval hesitated. ‘I am not looking for names, Commander.’

‘They did, we didn’t. Other races didn’t trust us. We often received replacement parts for our ships through the Ambatta. New parts, paid for, straight off the assembly line.’

‘So you are saying that there are races of herbivores that trade regularly with the Ambatta?’

‘Yes sir.’

‘Will you tell me who they are?’

‘No sir.’

‘I understand. Is there one person you can put me in touch with that might talk to me off the record? A herbivore?’

Morval thought it over. ‘There might be one who will talk to you. He retired a few years ago. One of the few that had anything to do with the Ortea; even if it was normally only through the Ambatta. I do have contact details. I could give him a call. He won’t accept communications from anyone unknown.’

‘Then give him a call.’

‘Right now?’

‘Yes right now.’

Morval took out his old pad; it didn’t take long to connect.

‘Morval, what do you want you man-eating prick?’

‘Hello you old fart, I have someone here who wants a word with you. Off the record.’

‘What the hell are you up to Morval?’ Morval put the pad down in front of the Emperor. ‘Oh Shit!’

‘You recognise me, that’s good. I don’t want your name. I know you smuggled goods to the Ambatta. I don’t care about that either. I just want you to answer a few simple questions about them for me.’

‘No disrespect Grand Commander, but I might, and I might not. It depends on what the questions are.’

‘I see. Tell me your impressions of the Ambatta. Do you consider them dangerous?’

‘No more so than any other race.’

‘Did they trust you, and did you trust them?’

The being was silent for a while. ‘Let me put things into perspective for you, Grand Commander.’

‘Good, that is exactly what I want.’

‘The Ambatta are a great race. They have the finest pilots I have ever come across. Once I got to know them, I realised I was never in any danger, not from them. I was in more danger from the Federation forces. More than one Ambatta gave their life to keep me safe; to give me a safe run in. I know they eat meat, but they have never eaten people, never eaten sentient beings, and never kept slaves. I have seen their livestock. They give their lives to keep those animals alive.

‘When I first became a smuggler, it was in desperation and for the money. A few trips to their home world saw me out of debt. I could have walked away then. I didn’t. Was it because I was greedy? Did I go buy bigger and better ships? No Grand Commander, it was neither. It was because I made friends on that world. I dropped my prices; it is probably why I was never caught. Those that were caught were the greedy bastards. They couldn’t explain the massive profits they were making from selling contraband on the black market.’

‘So you trusted them.’

‘If they give their word Grand Commander, they kept it. If you make friends, they will give their lives to protect you.’

‘That is exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you for your time.’

The old smuggler cut the connection. Ne´ sat back and thought over what he had heard. Eventually he made a decision. He turned to an aide.

‘Get in touch with the Ambatta. Tell them I want to meet their Chancellor, on the planet surface.’

Morval coughed discreetly. ‘They won’t allow it sir. Only meat-eating races can survive for any length of time on the planet surface. It was poisoned with a biological weapon that only affects herbivores. You would most likely die soon afterwards.’

‘I had intentions of giving them the antidote first.’

‘In that case I apologise sir.’

‘Thank you for concern Commander. It speaks well of your character.’

Steven decided to speak up, ‘Isn’t it still a little risky sir?’

‘What better way is there to convey the sincerity of your actions than by putting your own life in the hands of your enemy? By putting myself in danger, it will prove that we have indeed delivered an antidote; not another biological weapon.’

Steven nodded his understanding, ‘I find it hard to argue with your logic sir.’

chapter 12

Lewis found it strange lying outside on a recliner, looking up at the vaulted ceiling above. There was the gentle movement of air, but he knew it was mechanical. Still it brought a hundred strange scents to his nostrils.

Trinnie appeared. She had changed into a skirt of sorts when she had arrived home. Now she appeared in what must have passed for a nightgown. It was quite complimentary to her figure. Lewis looked away.

‘Are you alright Lewis?’

‘Yes, I’m fine. I can’t sleep. I don think I want to. Not yet anyway.’

Trinnie lay down on the recliner next to his. ‘It is so nice to be home.’

‘I find it hard to believe this is the inside of an asteroid. It has a great amount of beauty.’

A bird flew in and seemed to be as curious about Lewis as he was about it. It sang a song at him.

‘It’s a night lark; he seems curious about you.’

Lewis smiled and held out a hand. The bird hesitated for a moment and then leapt on. Lewis brought it close to his face.

‘Look at you, aren’t you the pretty one? I haven’t seen a bird since leaving Earth. Thank you for saying hello,’ the bird chirped a few times then flew off.

‘They say the night larks only talk to those who are pure of heart.’

‘I ain’t pure. I been a soldier most of my life. I have taken life. No one who has taken life is pure of heart.’

‘Your heart and mind are two different things Lewis.’

Lewis decided to try and change the subject, ‘Ain’t you married Trinnie?’

‘Did you see the people from next door?’

‘That came out and greeted you, the lady with the pink floral dress.’

‘Yes. They had a son. He was born a month before me. We went to school together, played together, studied. We got the same grades at school. We were drafted into the space force together. Went through basic training together, flight school together. We were even in the same fighter wing, but different squadrons. We fell in love before we could walk properly.

‘We had a plan: when we reached the rank of Flight Captain I would retire, we would get married and have a child.’ She let out a long shuddering breath. ‘He died on our very first combat mission. He was with the heavy fighters that engaged the battleships. I was with the light fighters. It is our job to stop the enemy fighters from grouping. We did our job correctly, but there is nothing you can really do if they fly straight into the broadside from a battleship. Seventy per cent of the squadron was wiped out in the blink of an eye. No trace of them were ever found.’

Tears ran down her face; it was the first time he had seen an alien cry. He reached out and she took his hand, burying her face into the back of it.

‘I was consumed with hatred after that; that was when the night larks stopped visiting me.’ The tears came full force after that. Lewis reached with his free hand and dragged the other recliner close. She buried herself into his side, sobbing uncontrollably. It lasted a long time.

Lewis thought she had eventually fallen asleep. Curious he reached over and stroked her ears. Her breathing deepened; it wasn’t long before her body began to tremble.

‘Lewis.’

‘Yes.’

‘You need to stop doing that,’ her head lifted, and it wasn’t sorrow he saw in her eyes. ‘Unless you want to take full responsibility for what happens next.’

A thrill ran though his body, one he hadn’t felt for many years. He had no idea how their hearts had connected, how his feelings had grown so much in such a short time. He wasn’t sure if it was the depths of her need or his own. When she threw her leg over his waist and straddled him, it was all over. All doubts vanished in an instant as two souls merged.

When Trinnie opened her eyes, it was near dawn. It wasn’t the growing light that woke her but the night larks. They surrounded the couple and began to sing. Lewis also opened his eyes to the wonderous sight. Tears ran down Trinnie’s face when she held out a hand and a half dozen birds alighted on her hand and arm. With a final song the birds flew back to their nests. Trinnie led Lewis by the hand inside to her room.

chapter 13

Lewis and Trinnie did not appear until midday. Charlie had been up for hours, as had her parents. They simply ignored him. Lewis had a shower. The parents made a huge fuss over him, offering him food. It was obvious they knew what had happened, and Lewis was totally embarrassed.

They left him alone and Charlie joined him at the table. Lewis was dreading it.

‘Have you eaten Charlie?’

‘No, they seem to think I’m a robot and don’t need fed.’

‘No shit.’

‘So how was it?’

‘Man,’ he put down his fork. ‘Is nothing sacred from you?’

‘Jeez Lewis. You pair were at it up on the bloody roof. The whole bloody neighbourhood knows.’

‘Oh shit! Do you think her parents know?’

‘They sneaked up for a peek last night. I would say so.’ Lewis was mortified. Charlie shook his head, ‘Don’t worry, they are delighted. They think you’re a damn pretty alien too.’

‘I won’t be able to look them in the eye again.’

‘Neither of you are children Lewis. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.’

He grunted and got on with eating his food. After a while he slowed down and began to toy with it a little.

‘Charlie…’

‘She is on the up and up Lewis. There is no guile about the woman. She is exactly who she says she is, she isn’t part of any intelligence service or anything like that.’

‘Man, does anything get past you?’

‘Very little.’

Trinnie came in, hair still wet from the shower.

‘Morning Charlie.’

‘It’s afternoon I believe.’

Her face fell, ‘Is it?’

‘Sure is.’

‘Ah, ah well.’ She checked the rations she took with her. ‘Have you eaten Charlie?’

‘No.’

‘Oh! That’s strange, where are your rations?’

‘Your parents heated them up and piled it all onto Lewis’s plate.’

‘No! Why did they do that?’

‘Probably because someone never explained to them that I am not a robot.’

‘I am so sorry Charlie. Didn’t you tell them?’

Charlie took out a fruit bar from his pocket, ‘This is enough for me Trinnie. I don’t require as much as most people.’

Just then Trinnie’s parents returned with some shopping. The first thing her mother noticed was Charlie eating.

‘Trinnie, why is the robot eating?’

She hid her face in her hands, ‘Because he isn’t a robot. He was in an accident and was augmented. He is still a real person inside. He still requires nourishment to feed his internal organs.

Her mother’s mouth dropped open, ‘Oh no! Why didn’t you say?’

‘I forgot.’

Charlie lifted up the fruit bar. ‘Don’t worry about it. I don’t require that much nourishment anyway.’

Her mother squirmed. ‘Would you like something to drink with that?’

‘Yes please.’

‘Tea?’

‘Have you any motor oil?’

It took a moment to sink in then the whole kitchen erupted in laughter, the awkwardness was gone.

‘Tea will be fine thank you.’

Lewis found himself under a severe inquisition from Trinnie’s parents. Charlie took the opportunity to speak to Trinnie on her own.

‘Trinnie, could you show me around?’

‘Uh, yeah.’ She looked at her parents. ‘Yes, let’s go Charlie. You will be alright won’t you Lewis?’

Trinnie’s mother put her hand in his arm, ‘He will be fine with us.’

Lewis looked imploringly at Charlie as he got up to leave. Charlie had no sympathy and grinned. ‘Enjoy your inquisition Lewis.’

‘Man, you have no heart.’

‘I do, in fact I have two. One just happens to be artificial. See you later.’

Charlie and Trinnie left, laughing at his predicament. Trinnie still wasn’t quite sure how to take Charlie.

‘Have you known Lewis for a while Charlie?’

‘It has been a few years now.’

‘What’s he like?’

‘Isn’t that the kind of question you are supposed to ask before you have sex with someone?’

The answer caught her flat footed. ‘Have I broken some Human law?’ Charlie laughed and she relaxed.

‘Oh! It’s so hard to read you Charlie.’

‘I know, expression doesn’t translate to my eyes very well. They are both false.’

‘Yes, I can see that.’

Charlie decided to test her, ‘What else can you see Trinnie?’

He began to zoom in on things and asked her what she could see. He tested her eyesight and hearing thoroughly.

‘Is there a reason for all of this Charlie?’

‘You have been ordered to help me with all of my enquiries, providing they don’t compromise your security, correct?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then please go with the flow.’

‘You still haven’t answered my question.’

‘Lewis is Lewis. What you see is what you get. He is honest, forthright, extremely intelligent, highly skilled, and he likes to blow shit up.’

Trinnie suddenly burst out laughing. ‘My kind of guy. I like to blow shit up too.’

‘Then you will get on wonderfully.’

Charlie pointed, ‘There is a tree about half a mile away. How many birds are there in the three lower branches on the right hand side?’

‘Seven. Is he a womaniser?’

‘No. As far as I am aware he has never been near a woman since his wife passed away.’

‘Are you married Charlie?’

‘No, never have been, and I was a womaniser before my accident. So don’t bother trying to fix me up with some of your friends.’

Trinnie gasped, ‘Can you see right through me?’

‘I can actually.’

‘Eh?’

‘You are wearing green matching underwear.’

It took her a moment, then she flung her hands across her body. ‘Don’t you dare.’

‘I won’t, don’t worry. I am quite big on peoples’ privacy.’

‘You sure?’

‘Yup.’

‘You really like to tease people don’t you?’

‘Only people I like.’

She let her hands drop, and they walked on with a smile on her face.

‘Do you know what he thinks about me?’

‘Not really, but weigh up the facts: you are the first female he has had any kind of a relationship with since his wife died. Lewis just isn’t the kind of person who would do that unless he felt very strongly about it. How do you feel about him?’

The question shocked her. ‘I haven’t really thought about it.’

‘Maybe it is time you did.’

‘I think he is beautiful.’

‘We use the word handsome to describe a male of our species. Especially one as robust as Lewis. We generally refer to the females of our race as beautiful.’

‘I will remember that, thank you. Oh I don’t know Charlie. I lost my one true love ten years ago. I have never looked at anyone since either.’ Her hands came to her face. ‘I don’t know what has come over me.’ She gave a little squeal and did a little dance.

‘I know what came over you.’

‘Tell me, please.’

‘Exactly the same thing that came over Lewis. Life just caught up with both of you.’ Charlie looked around. ‘Let’s go back before he has kittens.’

‘That doesn’t translate.’

‘I still have an unsavoury reputation with women…’

‘Even after your accident?’

‘Sometime shit just sticks to you.’

She laughed, ‘I get that. So you don’t have a woman now?’

‘I never said that. It is complicated.’

‘I will leave it be then.’

‘Please.’

‘There is one thing I am very curious about. You both sound so different when you speak.’

‘We are from different countries. Counties that have very strong regional accents. We try out best to speak as plainly as possible, because the translator doesn’t respond well to our regional accents. However, you can still hear it in our voices.

‘I thought it might be something like that.’

The relief on Lewis’s face was evident when they walked back in.

‘Did you find anything Charlie?’

‘I think we have exactly what we need Lewis.’

‘Oh! Great man. What is it?’

Charlie shook his head. ‘Later.’

chapter 14

Trinnie cuddled up to Lewis’s side. He began playing with her ears. She lifted her head to look at him.

‘Do you really want to set me off again?’

‘I think I do.’

‘Wow, you Humans have a lot of stamina.’

‘You ain’t doing so bad yourself.’

She suddenly became serious, ‘What are we going to do Lewis?’

‘I don know. I ain’t never been in a situation like this.’

She laid her head back onto his chest, ‘Me neither.’

‘What did you and Charlie talk about today?’

‘You mostly. Nothing else of any importance.’ Lewis smiled. ‘Does he really have a bad reputation with the ladies?’

‘He talked about that?’

‘I was considering finding a friend for him if he was single. He said he had a bad reputation with the ladies, and not to bother.’

‘Leave Charlie well alone Trinnie. Keep away from him. That was him warning you off in a friendly way. I didn’t know him well before the accident, but those that do say he has changed. He struggles with his demons.’

‘It was just an accident Lewis.’

‘No Trinnie, it wasn’t just an accident. What happened to Charlie, what was done to him, is beyond most people’s comprehension, and if I told you what it was, he would get mad at me. I ain’t scared of the man, he likes me and I like him, but I don wanna upset him none. Friends don do that.’

‘You have a good heart Lewis, I like that.’

‘We think he and a certain lady Captain are getting it on. Scuttlebutt you know; rumours.’ He picked up his pad and showed her a picture of Jean Wilson.

She sat up, ‘Oh wow! Are those real?’

‘Ain’t nobody got the guts to ask Charlie. Dey got into trouble with the Federation. It’s a long story, but they were accused of indecency. Dey fought it and won. Afterwards we all went on leave. When we picked Charlie up from his home, dey let slip that her ship had been there twice in the last month. We think she stayed with him while on leave.’

‘Was that back on Earth?’

‘No, Charlie got a home here, on a Modloch planet. It was a gift from the Modloch Emperor. Charlie caught a guy who was planning to overthrow him.’

‘Charlie seems to get around a lot.’

‘Long, long story.’

‘Still, doesn’t help us does it?’

‘Maybe we are avoiding the subject. I don know what to do Trinnie. Would you like to come with us?’

‘There is no place for me out there Lewis. My people are hated and hunted. We are at war with the Federation, you people are a part of it. I wouldn’t be able to go anywhere, I would be trapped on the ship like a prisoner.’

‘Not if you join the Federation.’

‘I hate the Federation Lewis. I want to kill them all for the grief they have caused myself and my people.’

‘Many of the Ortea felt the same to begin with. Now they are beginning to reap the benefits.’

‘What do we have to offer the Federation? Morval tells me that the Ortea sell bricks by the freighter full.’

‘How do you know Morval?’

‘My loved one died on the mission to let his freighter in. They landed at my base. I was inconsolable at the time. He came and thanked me for his life, and said he wished he could trade it to bring back my beloved. We’ve met a few times since then. He has almost died twice running goods to us. I forgave him a long time ago. Morval is a brave person. I almost fainted when I saw him in a Federation uniform, but I trust him like I trust few others.’

‘I like Morval. I don wanna say it out loud, but he is kinda ugly.’

Trinnie laughed until she thought she was going to wet herself.

Trinnie shot the shuttle out of the asteroid belt and into a field of stars. She sat back and took them in, in all of their glory. Lewis sat in the co-pilot’s seat and reached across for her hand.

‘For years I have just wanted to sit back and take all of this on board. The stars are so beautiful.’

‘Today you can.’

She squeezed his hand. ‘Today I can.’

A flight of fighters from the Burning Wind took up position around them. They had been expecting them. The battleship slid into view. She squeezed his hand harder.

‘Don you worry none.’

She looked out the window. ‘It’s alright for you to say Lewis, but that’s the bastard that shot my ship out from underneath me.’

Both Humans laughed hard.

chapter 15

Ne´ felt his heart thunder in his chest. ‘It’s you!’

Charlie gave a small bow, ‘It certainly is. How have you been keeping, Grand Commander?’

‘Quite well. I saw your friend recently.’

‘How is she?’

‘She is very well.’

‘She wrote to tell me you are becoming a very good shot.’

‘It is nice to hear she regards me so highly.’

‘She certainly does. How is Nea?’

Ne´ took a deep breath. ‘We got her a new vase, a nicer one. Her godfather sends her fresh flowers every week. I believe we are awaiting some seeds from Earth so she can sow and grow her own flowers.’

‘That sounds like Darrick, he is very fond of her.’

Ne´ felt the anger rise in him, but held it in check. ‘It isn’t the place of one so lowly born to refer to an Emperor of a great empire by his first name, Captain.’

‘I don’t suppose it is Grand Commander, however, Darrick is a personal friend of mine. If you don’t believe me, call him and ask.’

‘I may do that.’

‘Let me do it for you.’ Charlie took out his pad and sent a request to Babes. She boosted his signal onto the network. It was only a few seconds before Darrick appeared.

‘Charlie, are you here? Is something wrong?’

‘No I’m not home yet Darrick. I am talking to a friend of yours, the Grand Commander. He was a little upset that I called you by your first name.’

Darrick’s barking laugh could be heard by all in the room. ‘Is he getting a little bent out of shape?’

‘I have to deliver a report to him. It isn’t easy to absorb something when you’re mad at someone.’

‘Show me his ugly face.’

Charlie spun the tablet around.

‘Hey Ne´, doing something secret again are we?’

Ne´ felt the tension run out of him. ‘Yes of course I am. When are you going to get off your wife’s belly and come do some real work?’

‘Never. Charlie is a friend, and one day if I can pin him down long enough I will make him a Modloch Noble. I trust him implicitly.’

Ne´ smiled, ‘That is good enough for me Darrick. I have to get back to my secret stuff. Catch you later.’

‘Put Charlie back on will you?’ Ne´ handed the tablet back. ‘Charlie, when are you coming back this way?’

‘No idea, is something wrong?’

‘I think your friend misses you. He doesn’t seem quite himself. What happened when you were both on leave?’

‘Did you hear about his fiancée?’

‘No, what happened?’

‘She up and married a popstar. He shut himself away in his room for weeks, never came out until it was time to go back to work.’

‘That would explain a lot. Thanks Charlie, don’t be too long.’

‘I’ll let you know Darrick.’ He cut the connection and slipped the tablet away. ‘Are we satisfied now sir?’

‘Darrick calls very few friend. That is good enough for me. Now your report please.’

‘It might take a while. Could you open comms with my ship and send everyone else out of the room?’

Ne´ felt the fear come rushing back, ‘Is that necessary?’

‘I believe so. I will give you my report. What you do then is up to you.’

‘I see,’ he nodded, remembering Darrick’s words. ‘Clear the room.’

It took a minute for everyone to leave. During that time Charlie had noticed something and went over to a wall.

‘What are you doing?’

‘Babes, use my systems, sweep this room for bugs.’

It took her a few seconds. ‘You are looking at one Charlie,’ she informed him.

‘What is it?’ Ne´ asked.

‘The officer with the golden lapels planted a bug on the wall here.’ Charlie took out a knife and squashed it against the wall. ‘It has been destroyed Charlie. There are no more bugs in the room.’

Ne´ had come over with a device that had flashed red just before Charlie had destroyed it. Now it flashed white. Ne´ sighed. ‘How did you manage to see that?’

‘My eyes aren’t real, or any of my extremities. My internal organs are all that is really left of me. It’s a long story, and this isn’t the time for it.’

‘Alright, we’ll leave that there. I will have that and get him dealt with later.’

‘Fair enough, but if anyone was watching in real time he may well have a head start on you.’

Ne´ called in his senior security man who rushed off. Ne´ sat down and lifted his hands, ‘The report Captain. Is there anything the Ambatta have to offer the Federation?’

‘To the Federation as a whole, not a lot. To you professionally, quite a bit. Over the past few days I have been in touch with the Burning Wind, and the officers there. Please look at the screen. What you are going to see is footage from some Federation scouts. They chased a group of pirates into an asteroid belt a few months ago.’

‘Yes I remember it, we lost eight out of twelve ships and personnel.’

‘That’s right.’

Ne´ sat back and watched some of the footage. Charlie had only five minutes of it for him to watch.

‘I presume this is pretty normal.’

‘Yes of course. It is dangerous work. Their Commander was punished for sending them in there.’

‘So once they are in, it’s game over.’

‘Yes, pretty much. It can be frustrating for the men on the frontline though. That is how mistakes are made, how those who serve end up dead.

‘I am now going to show you some footage of the officer who acted as our liaison. As I mentioned before, my eyes are artificial. I recorded this in real time. Watch the magnification on the bottom left hand side of the screen. I am going to look at a tree. Do you see it in the background, about half a mile away? I can just make out the lower branches with my naked eye.’

‘I can see that.’

‘Listen carefully.’

Charlie’s eyes zoomed in on the tree. They could now easily see the birds. Charlie’s voice came over. It sounded slightly different. He asked her if she could see the branches and to count the birds. She answered without hesitation.

Ne´ suddenly stood up, ‘Play that back, let me count the birds.’ Charlie played it back. ‘She got it right, from that distance. Has she some form of augmentation?’

‘That was also my first thought. So I scanned her entire body.’ Charlie showed him the scan.

‘I don’t think I like that ability of yours Captain.’

‘Maybe not, but I rarely use it. Some things a person doesn’t really want to see. The point is, she has no augmentations. I did some other tests.’

Charlie went through the other tests he had subjected Trinnie to. Now Né was looking thoughtful.

‘I am very interested to see where you are taking this, Captain.’

‘I am going to show you footage in real time of our trip through the asteroid field. I will warn you, it is very disorientating.’

Ne´ could hardly believe what he was seeing.

‘This is real time? Unbelievable.’

‘If you think that’s good, wait for three minutes in, keep an eye on the top of the screen.’

Ne´ exclaimed aloud at the three minute mark. ‘What was that?’

Charlie played the scene back in slow motion. ‘That is a couple of their fighters. Trinnie admitted to us later that she was taking it slow and easy because we weren’t used to it. Both of us almost puked.’

‘I think I get what you are trying to tell me Captain. Summarise please.’

‘We all believed the Ambatta created lanes through the asteroid field. They do for larger ships, but not when they are in small craft like these. The craft are far more agile and suited to this kind of work, but it doesn’t detract from the skill required to fly one through that shit. Their reactions are far superior to any race I have even came across before. Their eyesight and hearing are also incomparable.’

Ne´ sat down. ‘If they had been the scouts there would have been no casualties, and I doubt if the pirates would have gotten away either.’

‘That was my thoughts exactly.’

‘I am beginning to see what Darrick sees in you Captain. Go on.’

‘I have been a soldier all of my life sir. I was trained to look for people that stood out. I spent quite a few years in reconnaissance myself. That is similar to the scouts and scouting.’

‘They would make a phenomenal addition to our ranks. Especially as most of the thorns in our side operate from regions of space very similar to this.’

‘We are on the same page then sir.’

‘I realise why you wanted to show this to me alone. My staff may be a lot harder to convince.’

‘I am sure they will be, but that is your problem sir.’

‘What else can you give me? I have heard about their night sky, is there anything else?’

‘Yes sir. Something that is of a premium on your home worlds: space.’

‘I not sure I follow.’

Charlie started another video. ‘You have seen Darrick’s big domes, the gardens with his honey bees and trees.’

‘You know I have, you have seen me there.’

‘I wasn’t actually asking a question sir, I was making a statement.’

‘I see, yes, they are remarkable.’

‘Did you take much notice of the scenery in the video footage I just showed you?’

‘No not really.’

‘Then let me give you the guided tour.’

Charlie took a deep breath and launched the video. He and Babes had spent hours working on it. The first part had been the living asteroid that was Trinnie’s home. The second part had been a conceptual idea that she had fleshed out and animated. It was so good it looked real. It would have done any real-estate agent proud.

Charlie was constantly reading the Emperor’s mind. At first the Emperor was thinking that the space and living accommodation for the commoner was lavish in the extreme. As Charlie launched into the conceptual video, his attitude began to change, and he was coming around to the possibilities. The video pulled out of the asteroid, into the asteroid field. It wound its way round them faster and faster until the camera was left with a big picture of the field from afar.

Ne´ was very quiet. Eventually he sat back. ‘Please summarise this for me Captain, the way you see it.’

‘Every species of Herbivore has one major problem.’

‘Space.’ Ne´ answered the unasked question.

‘The Ambatta have the technology to turn an asteroid of any size into a living space. They have billions of asteroids, from the size of a football to larger than Darrick’s globe, which is a hundred miles long. They use the engine from an old freighter to produce power and oxygen, in exactly the same way as they do on board a ship. However, as they aren’t propelling a ship through space, the fuel economy is far greater.’

‘They are really only powering the generators.’

‘That’s right sir.’

‘Then a full fuel load would last them about five years.’

‘I think it depends on the population of the asteroid.’

‘Of course it would.’

‘Every flower, bush, tree in these accommodations has some use. The birds pollinate the flowers, some open during the day, others at night. Each home has its own garden and the family are partially self-sufficient. I know that might not have any real significance to you straight away, but I suspect that most of the fruit, herbs and vegetables produced in these domes could be consumed by herbivores. Fresh fruit and vegetables are only affordable by the top tier of most races, the very rich: the Lords, Emperors, captains of commerce.

‘What if they could move off world? Buy their own asteroid, build their own home, their own little world. They could have acres of grass, beautiful birds, gardens full of flowers, fruit and vegetables. The ones the Ambatta have are more in line with the fruit and vegetables from Earth than those available from Federation planets, much tastier.’

Ne´ slipped back into deep thought. ‘They could build a large space station on the rim of the asteroid field for transfer. If the idea caught on, the money could be used to revitalise their home world. Some people may move back and leave whole asteroids void, ready for occupation. Big money attracts big business. I doubt if it would take long for the top retailers to get an asteroid of their own or locate on the planet’s surface.’

‘Good job Captain. Is there anything you would like to add?’

‘I could offer you a little advice on dealing with the Ambatta.’

Ne´ waved a hand in dismissal, ‘I have advisors for that.’

‘Advisors who have talked to the Ambatta’s Chancellor in person?’

Ne´ hesitated. ‘No. Alright Captain, go ahead.’

‘These people are very straight forward. Don’t expect any kind of fanfare when you get there. They stand on ceremony for no one. So don’t get onto your imperial high horse, or feel they are being disrespectful. They simply just don’t know. Anything they feel may be of use to an enemy will be removed from sight before you get there. Expect a lot of bare walls and desks. They are very honest. Do not make promises you cannot keep. Be truthful with them.’

Ne´ held up a hand. ‘What do you mean by that?’

‘Simply this: when their enemies find out the Federation is in dialogue with the Ambatta, they may well attack with everything they have. Expect at least three forces arrayed against them.’

‘We are going to ask for a cessation in hostilities.’

‘With respect sir, it doesn’t really matter what you ask for. You serve them, they are a part of the Federation. You will be duty bound to help them if they attack and the Ambatta give their arses a good kicking.’

Ne´ bristled. ‘You are ruffling my imperial feathers Captain.’

‘I really don’t care. Tell me I’m wrong.’

Ne´ took a deep breath. ‘I can’t.’

‘Then tell them the truth. Tell them these are simply initial discussions to try and find some common ground and that you cannot guarantee their safety from hostile action. In fact, the discussions may well result in an increase in hostile action against them, and that you will not be able to intervene on the Ambatta’s side. I am telling you this because I talked to the Chancellor, and a number of other high-ranking officials, and they know their enemy better than you do.’

‘You mean they expect their enemy to attack them.’

‘They are fully aware of the implications of any kind of peace talks. Their enemies have been telling lies about them for years. It isn’t in their best interest for the truth to get out. I think they expect you to sugar-coat everything; which is much and such the same to them as lying. You will put any peace negotiations off for generations.’

‘I will take it under advisement Captain. Thank you for all your hard work.’

Charlie bowed and left, receiving hostile stares from the Grand Commander’s staff as he passed through them.

chapter 16

Ne´ felt like he was floating. The interrogation of the officer who had planted the bug had shaken him to his core. The enemy of the Ambatta already knew far too much about what the Grand Commander was doing, and his intentions. Not only that, but their plans to stop it were already well advanced.

Instead of taking one of his ships down to the surface of the planet, he found himself sneaking into the asteroid field in the Ambassador’s ship. They were to rendezvous with an Ambatta ship once they were into the field.

Steven and Komoru sat on a separate couch. Above them Trinnie sat at the controls of the ship squealing with delight. Babes had reconfigured her controls to be the same as the shuttle Trinnie had flown. The controls were the only thing visible; Charlie and Lewis had the bridge. They didn’t so much as slip into the field as dash into it. It very quickly became a helter-skelter of a ride.

Within twenty minutes the decks of the ship were awash with sick. Many of the crew took to their bunks. Ne´ was close to being sick himself by the time they rendezvoused with the Ambatta battleship.

Ne´s legs trembled as he cross decked. He was put into a comfortable room where they couldn’t see what was happening outside. On board Babes, Trinnie followed the large battleship. The crew began to clean up her decks. Steven and Komoru had crossed deck with the Grand Commander and his top aids. Some of them had also been sick.

Ne´ and the Chancellor weighed each other up. They both bowed slightly, as was befitting enemies.

‘I apologise for any inconvenience I have caused Chancellor.’

‘I am not unduly put out Grand Commander. Just a little confused. Your trust in my people, however, more than makes up for that, or any inconvenience caused.’

‘I thought to make this a fleeting visit to weigh up the chances of finding peace with your race. As you already know, we are now at peace with the Ortea. It has produced some great and unexpected benefits to the Federation, and its people.’

‘We aren’t the Ortea. We don’t have three star systems bang in the middle of your shipping lanes. Lifting the war here would have no real benefits to the Federation.’

‘It would free up my resources. At this time I have three battle groups arranged around your solar system. The Federation is beginning to enter a period of expansion. Those three battle groups would better serve us out on the edge of Federation space, where they can react to any emergency quickly.’

‘Now that I can accept as a reasonable explanation. Before we move forward, please understand that we do not like the Federation, the races it serves, or what it stands for. However, if it spares the lives of our young people, then peace is something that is worth considering. I doubt if it will be easy to achieve.’

‘Do your people object so loudly?’

‘It isn’t my people who will object, Grand Commander.’

‘You are, of course, correct. As I have found out to my cost today. Warn your people that there will be a small battle at the previous coordinates you gave us to meet, and that they shouldn’t send out the reception committee to greet me.’

‘What has happened?’

Ne´s natural instinct was to avoid the question, but he remembered Charlie’s words.

‘Some of my officers weren’t as loyal to me as I believed. We caught one trying to send a message to the Catataracs. It would seem they wish to assassinate me. I ask that your forces do not intervene.’

‘Give me a moment please.’

The Chancellor left. It was almost ten minutes before he returned.

‘Would you like to come up to my suite, Grand Commander? It has the most splendid view of the asteroids.’

Ne´ laid a hand in his stomach. ‘After that last part of the journey, I’m not sure I would enjoy that.’

The Chancellor suddenly burst out laughing, ‘This ship is too large to manoeuvre like that. The asteroids are moved out of our way, we don’t go around them.’

‘Then I will accept your offer.’

A short while later Ne´ was mesmerised by the way the asteroids were moved to create a pathway. He filled a double couch. The Chancellor had pulled his seat around so they could sit side by side.

‘It is quite a splendid sight.’

‘It isn’t often I get off world, so I do still enjoy it.’ He looked at the tea Ne´ was drinking. ‘Are you really enjoying that?’

‘It is very pleasant. Have you tried it?’

‘Yes, I was treated to it as a joke by a friend. I was violently sick.’

They both laughed. ‘Are you sure you wish to travel to the planet’s surface Grand Commander? We cannot guarantee your safety.’

‘It has been over twelve hours since my scientists spayed the neutralizers. They said three. Six to be safe. It should be fine. So tell me, what started this war?’

‘Doesn’t your history tell you?’

‘It tells us our version.’

‘Ah! Alright. We reached space a few thousand years ago. Within a few hundred years, other races began to arrive, we traded minerals with them. Then they got greedy. We were attacked. Various races tried to wipe us out. After the first attacks, we began to explore ways of living in the asteroid field. We found illegal miners all over the field. Most of our resources were spent digging them out. We generally just killed them. These days of course, we have full control over the field. No one can approach without our knowing it.

‘About five or six hundred years ago, after a large invasion attempt, we broke out of our own solar system and took the war to our enemies. It was then the Federation sent a huge fleet. They turned our world into a wasteland. Millions died. Most starved to death, many were killed by the biological weapons used. The only thing that really saved us were our asteroids. We had been weaponizing them for generations. Most of your forces we crushed there. Those that broke through were destroyed by our forces, but the damage had already been done.’

‘Your mistake was attacking their home planets. That was when the Federation was forced to step in.’

‘I am sure my predecessors knew that at the time Grand Commander. They took a chance and lost. They thought the asteroids would protect us.’

‘It sounds to me like you had some friends amongst the Federation at the time.’

‘We still do. Some we have had had ties to for centuries. They bring us in supplies we can’t source ourselves.’

‘Such as?’

‘Various types of cloth. A good year breeding can see us low on fodder for our domestic livestock.’

‘I did hear that, from a crusty old freighter captain who also told me you have no slaves and have never eaten a sentient being.’

‘That is true. We were luckier than the Ortea. As I said, we were already well established within the asteroid field. Those there had enough food, it was those on the planet’s surface that suffered most. They did what they could; it simply wasn’t enough.’

‘So the Catataracs have been lying for years?’

‘Generations, Grand Commander, generations. What are your plans for my people?’

‘I had thought to take you into the Federation. However, I have better idea. I want to make your planet a protected planet.’

‘If I remember correctly, that means that no Federation race would be able to attack us or lay claim to our planet or its resources.’

‘That’s right.’

‘That won’t go down well with our neighbours.’

‘After they attack my transport today, I don’t think we will have to worry about their opinion too much.’

‘I don’t understand your thinking on this. There must be a price to pay.’

‘There is always a price.’ Ne´ took out a pad and handed it over. ‘Do you have any of these minerals?’

The Chancellor looked it over. ‘All of them, and in great quantity.’

‘They are becoming quite scarce, and expensive. Yet they are vital for Federation ship building. Scan down to the next page. Would you be able to supply us with those quantities on a yearly basis?’

He did as bid. ‘Easily.’

‘That would be part of your payment for becoming a protected planet.’

‘The other cost?’

‘I want a half dozen of your squadrons as scouts.’

The Chancellor thought it over. ‘I thought protected planets didn’t have to supply people to the Federation forces?’

‘Normally they don’t. However a half dozen squadrons is nothing compared to what you would have to field if you were a full member of the Federation. I would make it a part of the deal.’

‘You make it sound like you are doing us a favour.’

‘I am.’

‘Can’t you just leave us alone?’

‘We could leave things as they are; that’s the best I could do.’

‘This would give us full protection of the Federation?’

‘Complete protection.’

‘I have to admit it is tempting. I cannot believe, however, that this is what you came for, or what you originally wanted.’

‘It wasn’t. I envisioned you joining the Federation in a similar way to the Ortea; adding another battle fleet to my forces. It was the Human Captain that changed my mind.’

‘The strange one. I thought he was some form of robot, I ignored him at first.’

Ne´ laughed, ‘Somehow I don’t think that would have bothered him.’

‘It didn’t seem to. What was it he was supposed to do? Find something that the Federation needed?’

‘Yes, and he found it. Your pilots. He filmed his journey through the asteroid field. There is no other race within the Federation that can fly through an asteroid field in the manner your people can. I experienced that myself a short while ago. They put the female flight captain at the controls of the Ambassador’s ship. Despite its size, she never put a step wrong. I was terrified.’

The Chancellor grunted, ‘I made her ferry them around as a punishment for being shot down. She disgraced herself.’

‘I wouldn’t be too hard on her. She was shot down by a Human pilot. They are new to space, but not to fighting. Their pilots once fought in craft that flew through the air of their home planet. They call it dogfighting. They are very good at it. In atmospheric fighter training, they kicked the arses out of even the best instructors. It is very similar to how your light fighters work. The Humans have a saying: you were playing in their ball park.’

‘We didn’t know that.’

‘They also fight in pairs. One covers the leader’s tail.’

‘Ah! We didn’t know that either. Was there anything else the Captain brought to your attention?’

‘May I ask how hard it is to make an asteroid habitat?’

‘The hardest part is securing a power source. Freighter engines work best.’

‘Hollowing out the asteroid?’

‘That is the easy part, but takes a lot of resources.’

‘I see. What if someone with the resources came along and asked you build a habitat for them in the asteroid field; would it be possible?’

‘If they had the resources, yes of course. Depending on the size of the asteroid. One a few miles in diameter would take us about three months. Ten miles long, about six months. Anything bigger than that, about a year or so. It depends on what it is being used for. Small ones we use for storage and manufacturing, larger ones for habitat and domestic livestock.’

Ne´ took the pad out again. ‘Could you build something like this?’

‘Of course, but why would we? There is one habitat in that picture, it’s a complete waste of resources.’

‘If someone paid you to do it, would you?’

‘Yes, but why would they?’

‘Space. The one thing that is lacking in the Federation. Even the richest live on top of one another. Only royalty have anything like this. I have seen pictures of one of your habitats. No one on my planet has that kind of space. If we make your planet a protected zone, I think our citizens would flock here to have the opportunity to live as your people are now.’

‘I see. Being a protected zone would give them the complete assurance that they are safe.’

‘Could your people handle this? Would you be prepared to give up, sell off, some of your asteroids?’

‘I can’t make a decision of this magnitude on my own. I know the young pilots would fight one another for the opportunity to travel to the stars; that isn’t a problem. This may be.’

‘Can’t you just order it?’

‘I could, but I’m not going to. I would like feedback first.’

‘I understand.’

‘What will happen in the interim?’

Again the Captain’s words came back to him. ‘You may well be in for a bit of a fight. If they are prepared to try and assassinate me, they will most certainly try to strike out at you and your people.’

‘Can’t you protect us?’

‘It would take a special ruling from the council. I doubt if we would get it in time, and I don’t have the power to make that decision myself. If Federation forces currently come across any Federation members under attack from your forces, they would be forced to defend them. On the other hand, if those forces are within your asteroid field, then we don’t have to lift a finger.’

‘What your saying is don’t let my people leave the field.’

‘That is exactly what I am saying. If your forces come out of the field, we will be forced to take action, which could draw my forces right into the fight. I will, however, replace all three battle groups surrounding your solar systems with Human, Ortea and Dent forces. They have no love for the Catataracs, or the Albany. Although I don’t think they have ever came across the Haspsopot.’

‘Do you think all three might foray against us?’

‘Our friendly Human Captain does. I have to admit I couldn’t fault his reasoning. It could well be their last chance to grab your solar system.’

‘Isn’t there anything you can do to soften the blow you are about to bring down on our people?’

Ne´ sat back and racked his brain. Something sparked deep in the recesses of his mind, and he whipped out his tablet and searched. A small smile played crossed his face.

‘There may be Chancellor. If you and I sign a pre-cessation of hostilities, then I can do two things for you. I can draw my forces back to five hundred thousand miles of your designated defence perimeter. That would give your people a little wiggle room. I could also supply you with any intelligence I gather on those that may wish to disrupt the signing of a full treaty, whether they are Federation members or not.’

The Chancellor didn’t have to think too hard about it. ‘Have the document drawn up Grand Commander. It isn’t much, but it’s better than a kick in the balls.’

The two burst out laughing.

chapter 17

Komoru stood with her mouth open, unable to absorb what she had just heard. The goliath in front of her looked extremely worried, while Trinnie hid behind his back. When the telling was done she peeked her head round to see why things had suddenly gone so quiet. There was a delighted squeal from the figure at Komoru’s side.

Himari leapt forward, sending Trinnie scurrying for cover behind Lewis again.

‘Oh she is so cute!’ Himari bounced up and down in excitement. She gasped, ‘Oh no, what happened to your tail?’

Trinnie glanced behind her, ‘What tail? I have never had a tail!’

A form appeared from around the corner. ‘Calm down Himari.’

Himari’s whole disposition changed, she began to smoulder, ‘Hi Charlie.’

‘Leave her alone.’

‘No! She is so cute.’

Komoru was scowling at him.

‘I have a better idea. Trinnie, Himari, come get a drink in the canteen. I think Lewis and Komoru need to talk.’

Trinnie didn’t really want to go anywhere with the crazy girl, but Lewis added some gentle persuasion.

When they were gone, Komoru was a little lost for words. ‘What happened?’

Lewis didn’t really know how to explain it. ‘We met, we fell in love,’ he shrugged.

Komoru sighed and rolled her eyes, ‘What are you going to do about it?’

‘Don rightly know Miss Komoru. She won’t come with us. Her race is still considered an enemy of the Federation. She ain’t going to be stuck in the ship for the rest of her life.’

‘So it is over?’

‘No, it ain’t over Miss Komoru, it’s just starting. Maybe soon dey be a part of the Federation too. She is an awesome pilot, Miss Komoru. She be a great addition to this crew.’

Komoru grasped her face, ‘She is a remarkable pilot Lewis.’ Her mind flipped. ‘You haven’t, you know…’ Lewis didn’t answer. ‘Oh my God you have. She is an alien!’

‘She got the same bits as you have Miss Komoru, she ain’t no different.’

Komoru flushed. ‘I see. I shouldn’t have said that Lewis. It was none of my business.’ She let out a big sigh. ‘She seems very nice.’

‘She is a lovely person. Honest, straight forward. Her parents are lovely. You will like them Miss Komoru.’

She felt the tension leave her and she laughed, ‘Oh Lewis, I am sure they are. It just took me by surprise. Let’s go join them for a drink. I am so happy for you.’

Lewis beamed, ‘Sounds good to me Miss Komoru.’

Komoru threw herself face down on to Steven’s couch, her legs kicking. Steven was a little surprised at her actions. He went over and sat down. Komoru crawled up and laid her head in his lap.

‘Have you done something embarrassing?’

‘Yes, no… not really. Oh my God!’

‘Intriguing.’

‘Ah!’

‘Stop it, just tell me.’

‘Remember we always wondered who the first Human being to ever sleep with an alien would be?’

‘Charlie!’

She snorted, ‘Do you think I would be bothered if it were Charlie?’ She rolled over and looked up at him, ‘No, it was Lewis.’

‘Who, when, why… what the hell is going on?’

‘The pilot.’

It took a moment to sink in. ‘The awesome one!’

Komoru scowled up at him for a moment. ‘Yes, the awesome one.’ The scowl returned. ‘Do you think she is cute?’

‘In a weird kind of way yes, she doesn’t turn me on though.’

‘Huh!’

Steven glanced down and decided to try and steer the conversation back onto safer ground.

‘Who would have thought it would have been Lewis.’

‘Right. It never crossed my mind even once.’

‘Are we going to take her on board?’

Komoru shook her head, ‘She won’t join us. Her people are still enemies of the Federation, the ship would become a prison to her.’

‘I hope for both of them these negotiations go well.’

They both looked out the window. They still followed the colossus in front. When it broke out into free space, it began to pick up speed.

chapter 18

Ne´ looked up at the night sky where the stars should have been.

‘I can find no words to describe the beauty of what I’m seeing. To witness such a thing makes the whole journey worthwhile.’

The Chancellor looked a little worried.

‘Would you like to come inside?’

‘Do you mind if I stay a little longer? There is so much to see, to take in.’

‘I am worried for your welfare. There might still be patches of those agents around. We won’t know for sure until we test the whole planet.’

‘My scientists tell me it is perfectly safe now Chancellor, I trust them. However, if it gives you some peace of mind.’

‘It would. Please come this way.’

Steven and Komoru followed. This time they weren’t wearing their ceremonial robes, or Federation uniforms. They were wearing the simple uniforms they had first designed years ago. There was to be an informal meeting with the other chancellors. They were led down a series of narrow corridors that gave the Grand Commander’s personal guard palpitations.

They eventually came into a large room where there were tables with food laid out. Ne´ gave instructions and his guard spread along one wall. There were both male and females present. The atmosphere seemed strained, there was no laughing. Most stood around in small groups chatting. As Ne´ entered, most stopped and gave a small bow. Others didn’t seem quite sure what to do. All were dressed differently, although a few seemed to wear a common uniform of some sort.

The Chancellor took a step forward, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you the Grand Commander of the Federation forces.’ He took a deep breath. ‘This is an informal light lunch, a meet and greet as it were. The Grand Commander will make his way around the room, I will introduce you. Say hello. Answer any reasonable questions he asks; I am sure he will answer any reasonable questions put to him. This is not an opportunity for any of you to air your grievances. The first steps to peace are steps forward, not backwards. Please remember that. Thank you.’

They stepped towards the first group. They didn’t ask much and neither did Ne´. They moved quickly around the table. About halfway round, the Chancellor stopped to talk to a female. They touched hands briefly.

Ne´ instinctively knew she was no commoner. She had a bearing that was almost regal. Her clothes, although no more outstanding that any other present, seemed painted to her body rather than worn. Her hair was a golden colour and made up in a way that would soon send a hundred thousand hairdresser around the Federation into a frenzy.

The Chancellor turned, ‘Grand Commander, my wife, Flora.’

Ne´ dipped his head in the manner he had used since childhood to address ladies of the aristocracy.

‘My Lady, a pleasure to meet you.’

She frowned a little at his manner of address. ‘Likewise, Grand Commander. Have you partaken yet?’

‘No, I had noticed a nice bale of hay, I just haven’t reached it yet.’

‘Then please.’ She led him to the bale. ‘I am afraid we have no idea how you eat this.’

‘Shall we call it a finger buffet.’ He pulled some off and twisted it around a few fingers, then popped it into his mouth. She smiled slightly in amusement. It slipped away at the look on Ne´s face.

‘Are you all right?’

He gave a polite cough. ‘Yes. Is this hay Catatarac?’

‘Yes, we procure small quantities of it from time to time for our domestic stock. Is it all right?’

He coughed again, and tapped his chest. ‘Perhaps we should call it an acquired taste.’

Her smile returned, ‘Can your race eat fruit and vegetables?’

‘Yes, in small quantities.’

‘Then maybe you should try something else.’

They both spotted the Human at the same time. He was popping something into his mouth and seemed to be enjoying it.

Ne´ moved a little way down the table. ‘Are you enjoying that Captain?’

Charlie looked up from the dish of white fruit he was plucking another one from.

‘Aye, I am. It looks like a fruit, but it tastes like a new potato from my home world. They even have butter.’ He dipped the fruit into melted butter and popped it into his mouth. ‘Yum.’

Flora was amused, ‘It is a fruit Captain. It grows on a bush.’

‘Ours is a root vegetable, but the texture, the taste is the same. I noticed you have cooked it.’

‘One of the few fruits we have to cook. It is very hard.’

‘Same as potatoes. Do you fry them?’

‘Yes, sliced thin, with a little salt. We eat it as a snack.’

‘We do the same with potatoes.’

Ne´ tried one. ‘Oh yes, I like that. How would you describe the flavour Captain?’

‘Sublime. Try it with a little butter. It changes the flavour.’

Ne´ took the chance. The effect was instant. He made a strange noise. ‘Oh, that isn’t sublime, Captain. It is exquisite. This would befit a Royal banquet. Would I be able to procure some of these? Could you teach my cooks how to prepare it?’

The question caught her a little off guard. ‘Our rations are strictly controlled Grand Commander. I could ask. Maybe if we achieve some form of peace, and can reclaim the surface of the planet, we will have the ability and room to grow more.’

‘Of course, I apologise.’ Ne´ then asked the question that he would regret for the rest of his life; but would be transmitted throughout the galaxy. ‘Have you been affected greatly by the war?’

She lifted her head and looked him straight in the eye. ‘It has cost me both my son and my daughter, Grand Commander.’

He was shocked by her answer, however the look of pride on a mother’s face could not be hidden.

‘I am sorry to hear that. My condolences.’

‘No Grand Commander, rather than your condolences, I wish only your best efforts to find a peaceful solution to this conflict. When my husband told me you were coming to our home world, I doubted that you would turn up. He told me that you were a soldier, a person of great personal courage that would not hesitate to put his own life on the line if it meant bringing peace to our people. Please accept my apology for doubting you. You have indeed shown great courage in coming here. For the first time in my life it has given me some measure of hope.

‘I may be the Chancellor’s wife, but I am nothing special. Just a mother. Because we lost both children, we were given permission to have another. I gave birth to my second son two years ago. I now have some semblance of hope that I will not be called to sacrifice another child in this endless war. Thank you for that hope.’

Ne´ felt a great emotion well up inside him. He reached out and took her hand. She was surprised. He looked into her eyes.

‘I am a soldier, and I recognise true courage when I see it My Lady, and I see it before me now. I give my word that I shall endeavour to do my best to bring peace to our peoples.’ He held her hand and eyes for a long moment.

It was the Chancellor who broke it. He cleared his throat and Ne´ dropped her hand.

‘Shall we move on Grand Commander?’

‘Yes, of course.’ He bowed and left her alone.

Flora seemed quite taken aback and a little flustered. She caught the eye of the strange Human across the other side of the table.

‘He is more than I thought he would be.’

Charlie thought about keeping his mouth shut, but it simply wasn’t in his nature.

‘He isn’t just the Grand Commander of the Federation armed forces. He is also an Emperor, one who gave up his throne to serve. I believe that as an Emperor he had the right to refuse; I heard that he never hesitated for a moment.’

‘Then I shall place my trust in him.’ A moment later one of the other chancellors vied for her attention. Charlie quickly grabbed another of the hot fruit and slipped away.

chapter 19

Captain David Howe of the Federation Destroyer Tempest, was watching every screen he possibly could. They were a few minutes away from the rendezvous coordinates.

‘Keep frosty everyone. Shields up, weapons free. The moment they open fire, we jump. Helm have your finger poised over that button, but do not press it until they begin firing.’

‘I’m ready sir.’

He glanced at Sheela May and smiled. She was a damn good pilot, and her nerve was holding. She had the fastest reactions of all his pilots. The others took courage from his smile. He wanted to get up and pace the deck, but the first blow would probably send him skittering across the deck on his arse. At least in his chair he had something to hold onto.

An intelligence update from the Burning Wind, a short time before, appraised him that their enemy still thought the Grand Commander was on board. They believed they were going to cross deck to an Ambatta ship, a few thousand miles short of the asteroid field. He took a deep breath and almost missed it.

‘Starboard side,’ shouted an operator. The first energy burst slammed into the ship. Two things happened simultaneously. One operator pushed the panic button and Sheela pressed the jump button. A few seconds later they were five thousand miles away.

David jumped to his feet, ‘Damage report.’

Details began to flow in. The burst had been from a low yield weapon, probably from a destroyer like themselves. There had been no damage to the ship but a few of the crew had received some minor bumps and abrasions. David relaxed a little. Their part of the operation was over. They now had to wait until they were recalled.

When the Burning Wind received the telemetry from the Tempest, Douglas McKinnon fed it to the fleet. Seconds later they jumped. They caught the enemy by surprise. Their weapons tore through the largest ship there. Douglas realised they hadn’t even raised their shields. He ordered his guns to target all of the ships at once. Of the dozen ships, only three were quick-witted enough to raise their shields and jump out before they were destroyed. A task force was sent after them, catching one before they were recalled.

The Tempest returned to the scene of the battle. The Federation forces had withdrawn to a safe distance. Ships still blazed. Explosions began to rip them apart. Here and there life pods began to emerge from the wreckage. The nimble destroyers swept them up. Some of the life pods tried to make a dash for the asteroid field, and fighters from the Ambatta swooped. They grabbed the pods and delivered them to the Burning Wind.

A few hours later the prisoners were delivered to the Grand Commander’s flagship. There were only one hundred and seventy-two survivors from the small battle fleet.

chapter 20

The Chancellor pulled Ne´ to the side. ‘I have a report from my forces on the rim. A small battle fleet appeared and engaged the destroyer you were supposed to be traveling in. The Federation forces then engaged the fleet and destroyed it. My people say only three ships managed to get away.

‘How many were there?’

‘A dozen: a battleship and her escort.’

‘Any idea on Federation casualties?’

‘My people aren’t sure, but they don’t think there were any.’

‘Not one?’

‘They don’t think so. They believe the attacking force did not even have their shields up. The battle was over within a few minutes.’

Ne´ glanced up to see one of his advisors trying to get his attention. ‘It looks like you just beat my people to me Chancellor. Let’s see what they have to say.’

They went over, and the advisor gave the Chancellor a sceptical look. Ne´ spoke first.

‘The Chancellor has just informed me that our forces have defeated a small battle fleet that was attempting to assassinate me.’

The advisor was a little a taken back, but got the message loud and clear.

‘Yes Grand Commander. We sustained no casualties, no damage to our ships.’

‘Not even our destroyer?’

‘No sir, the Tempest took the first blast as expected, but escaped with no damage. It jumped immediately after the first shot was fired. Our forces caught the enemy with their shields down. They pursued three ships that got away. One has already been caught and destroyed. We called the rest back in case they ran into significant enemy forces. Right now we are gathering the survivors.’

‘I want them all on my flagship, all are to be interrogated. Segregate the officers from the ordinary ranks and interrogate them first. We will take them back with us so they can face formal charges.’

‘Yes sir.’

Ne´ suffered through the rest of the informal lunch. As details of the attack spread around the room, even the more reluctant of councillors began to come forward and speak to him; he was detained much longer than he had planned for. When they reached the surface again he pulled Steven to the side.

‘Captain, is your ship in orbit?’

‘Yes sir, of course.’

‘Could we return to the fleet in it?’

‘Yes of course. With the Chancellor’s permission to land.’

The Chancellor had expected them to return to the field in his ship.

‘Why, what’s wrong grand Commander?’

‘Speed is of the essence now Chancellor. His ship is much faster than any of yours. Right now word will be beginning to spread about the battle that took place here. We need to make sure that it is our side of the story that is heard first and the loudest.’

‘I understand.’ He addressed Steven, ‘You have my permission to land, Ambassador.’

‘Thank you sir.’

While they waited for the ship to land, the group took the opportunity to take in more of the night sky. There wasn’t a single head turned towards the ground.

The Captain of his guard stood close by Ne´s side. Ne´ glanced across.

‘What do you think Brach?’

The Captain grunted. ‘We are not a race given to flowery speech Grand Commander. As such, I find it hard to describe the wonder I am seeing, or how it makes me feel. I am definitely feeling something though. I would love to take my family to see this.’

‘Maybe one day.’

Brach gave a simple nod, ‘Soon I hope, while my children are still young. Such things have far more impact on the young.’

‘Nea would love this too.’

The Chancellor bid his farewells and the Ambatta left to return underground. For a while the tension rose. It would have been the perfect opportunity if the Ambatta had wanted to attack. Babes came into land a moment later and they clambered aboard. She took off and was soon in the upper atmosphere. Steven took his rightful place at the helm and they shot away from the planet. They soon arrived at the asteroid field and were escorted through. Within an hour of leaving the planets’ surface, they rendezvoused with the flagship. Ne´ took a moment to speak to Steven.

‘Where do your duties take you now Ambassador?’

‘The Modloch city ship sir, I have to report to the Earth’s President. My other half has to travel to the home world of the Gisha. Queen Wiola Maleck has requested her presence along with some of the women from both of our ships.’

‘Ah yes, I believe the formidable Captain Wilson has also been invited.’

‘I wasn’t aware sir.’

‘Yes, I saw her a few weeks ago, I remember her saying so. I have to commend you and your crew’s handling of this situation.’

‘You…’ Steven cleared his throat, ‘Didn’t have any problems with the Captain of my guards, by any chance?’

‘Ah! He has a way about him, doesn’t he?’

‘Unfortunately, it has a tendency to lead to trouble.’

‘He has a no nonsense approach that isn’t really suited to an Ambassadorial guard. You should remove him from the post and assign him to something else.’

‘Unfortunately, there is no one to take his place at the moment.’

Ne´ thought it over. ‘I could have him replaced for you with one of my own men. We could do a straight swap. I could use someone of his talents in an intelligence role.’

Steven went very pale, ‘The Captain won’t work for any intelligence services sir. You would end up having to shoot him.’

Ne´ was a little surprised at the answer. ‘Don’t your soldiers have to follow orders?’

‘He is an Officer, he would simply resign his commission.’

‘Then call him back up and force him.’

‘We can’t do that. The Captain may be a little unwieldly at times, but he has proven himself to be invaluable.’

‘I see, well the offer still stands if you wish to get rid of him.’

‘I will keep it in mind sir.’

Ne´ cross decked onto his own ship and Babes undocked. The two ships travelled together for six hours before parting ways. On board his flagship, Ne´ inspected the long line of prisoners. Most were Catataracs. There was also a sprinkling of Albany from the ship that got away. It made sense to Ne´, this race had fought the Humans before, and were likely more cautious going into battle.

His intelligence officers had begun to board the destroyed ships in an attempt to gain evidence. Grand Commanders had been assassinated before, but only with the consensus of the whole council – a little known fact that you were only made aware of when you became the Grand Commander.

This attempt on a Grand Commander’s life was unprecedented. Nor was Ne´ sure of what political fallout would result. He did know that he needed to get in touch with the council straight away. A preliminary report had been sent through the normal channels and should already have reached the council by now. He returned to his quarters and checked his messages. He smiled, he had received messages from almost all of them. As he watched a symbol appeared beside the councillors’ names to say they were in a place of secure communications. He gave them another thirty minutes, and used the time to prepare. By then they were all assembled. He pushed the button to connect. His room turned into dozens of TV screens. He got up from his seat and stood in the middle of the floor. He turned slowly and then bowed low.

The questions came quick and fast, but he was able to quieten them long enough to tell them what had happened. Most were stunned. They were appalled at the destruction brought by their forces on the attempted assassins. The show of the prisoners caught were enough for most to realise how serious the situation was. Eventually the Wopal council member put into words what more than a few were thinking.

‘Grand Commander. I think your fascination with these meat-eating races may well be at the core of what is happening here. How do you answer that charge?’

Ne´ had been hoping one of them would have the courage to ask exactly that.

He bowed low, ‘Emperor Mach Doe. Are your people not forging out into the unknown, looking for new territory?’

‘What has that got to do with anything?’

‘You just witnessed some of the finest tactical fighting any of us have ever encountered. Would you not want that battle fleet at your beck and call as your people forge into that unknown?’

The Emperor seemed uncertain for a moment. ‘I would be more worried about them running short of rations and looking for a quick meal.’

More than a few seemed to agree with him. Ne´ shook his head.

‘My respect for you has just taken a serious plunge Mach. What the hell? You aren’t an idiot. You know damn well the Humans don’t eat sentient beings.’

‘The Ortea do.’

‘They did, and that was as much the fault of my race as it was the Dents. I lost thousands of my people over the centuries to the Ortea. How many did your people lose?’

‘I am not sure.’

‘I am, it’s none. The only Wopal captured by them died a hundred years ago of old age. He was an engineer. I am the one who has had to swallow the most pride to accept the Ortea and the Dents into the Federation.’

The Emperor sat back. ‘I withdraw that statement Ne´. It was insensitive of me. Yet few of us trust the meat eaters.’

‘I understand. I feel it myself. We all feel it. Yet these races are far too small to be of any real threat to any of us. However, as a fighting force, fighting for us, they are invaluable.’ Ne´ pointed outwards. ‘What happened yesterday should never have happened. I have been to that world. I made a decision to go. I decided to put my life on the line before any others. I didn’t expect to be butchered by my own people for it. Why did it happen? The answer is simple: greed. I have never before felt so safe surrounded by meat eaters as I was on the home world of the Ambatta. I felt no threat. They do not eat sentient beings. They still have domestic livestock, but exist mainly on fruit and vegetables which they grow themselves in their own gardens. They have no slaves and never have had. That is all lies, to hide more than one race’s greed.’

He let that sink in for a moment, but his flow was interrupted by the Wopal councillor again.

‘Ne´, how the hell can they grow fruit and vegetables on a planet that is supposed to be devastated?’

‘Because they don’t live on the planet’s surface. Have a look at this, it will partially explain.’

He played the video Charlie had made of the inside the asteroid. When it was finished there were more than a few puzzled faces.

‘Were those the homes of their nobles?’ Asked one.

‘No. That was the homes of the commoners. The Ambatta took to the asteroid field after the first wave of attacks on the planet over a thousand years ago. They hollow out the inside of the asteroids and live in them. They have asteroids for living in, for storage, and ones dedicated to the rearing of their livestock. The one thing the Ambatta have in plenty is room. When their population increases, they just hollow out another asteroid. They can make an asteroid of ten miles or more habitable in about three months. Fifty to a hundred miles, six months to a year. How many of you have visited Darrick lately and received a grand tour of his off-world domes?’

There were a few who had. ‘If you haven’t, I suggest you do make that trip. They are a wonder to behold. A gift from the Human race. Some may think it an extravagant gift, however, Darrick himself asked for them. He had a particular problem in mind when he asked. Something that affects all of us: logistics, logistics, logistics. Thirty per cent of all space on board one of our craft is space for fodder. Rations to feed the crew. We cannot go far without a fleet of freighters carrying food.

‘Darrick is solving this problem with the use of those domes the Humans provided him with. He is devising emergency rations that all of his forces can survive on if they need to be deployed quickly. For the same space as it takes to store one bale of hay, a day’s rations for a single trooper, he can now store a full days’ worth of rations for half the crew of one destroyer.’

He let that sink in for a moment. Some already knew this and weren’t slow to support Ne´. He waited for them to quieten a moment. The Wopal Emperor gave him a nod. He was very interested now. Ne´ decided it was time he closed the snare.

‘When I was asked to take this post, I was asked to perform a number of tasks, ones that all of my predecessors had also been asked to complete. They failed, just as I was expected to do. Reduce costs to the Federation. Put an end to the continued piracy. Put an end to the wars with the meat eaters. Those three fundamental challenges have never once been achieved by any Grand Commander. To fight the meat eaters would cause a huge increase in demand for resources, for which none of you are prepared to pay. So, like my predecessors, I was happy to contain the meat eaters. The cost of materials to build ships for the Federation increases each year. As for the pirates…’ Ne´ shook his head, ‘I swept those under the carpet a long time ago, with the rest of the dust.’

More than one burst out laughing. The tasks given to a Grand Commander were almost a joke. None in thousands of years had been able to eradicate the problems.

‘I remember my father laughing as hard as some of you when he told me about those tasks when I was a child. Of course, like most when I first took over this post, I did try to do something about them. I also quickly realised that it was futile. Yet I never stopped looking for a solution to these problems. But I can now achieve all three. I can supply materials for ship building at no cost to the Federation. I have found a way to pursue the pirates directly to their lairs. I have found a way to build domes like Darrick’s, which can grow products that will enable us to be freed from those huge logistical problems we have faced since we first took to the stars.’

He spun round, looking at all of the screens. ‘The Ambatta hold the key to all of those problems. I didn’t know this when I first went there. I was thinking of forming some form of peace, so I could send the resources that are patrolling their solar system out to the rim where they will be of far more use. I sent the Humans’ combined forces out there to salt them. As you all know by now, a conflict ensued, which resulted in the Ambatta coming into direct contact with other meat-eating races that serve with the Federation for the first time. They requested the Human Goodwill Ambassadors, whom we sent. After reading their report, I wanted to see this race for myself. As a goodwill gesture I also took with me neutralising agents for all those biological weapons we dumped on their planet years ago, but were still persistent. I had a loose idea of having them bid for Federation status, and combining them with the other meat eaters. I have since changed my mind.’

He took another spin around the room. He was happy with the attention they were all giving him. He had them hooked.

‘What I propose is to give the Ambatta’s solar system protected Federation status, with conditions of course. I am going to put up a list of minerals and metals they would have to supply the Federation with directly as a part of the deal.’

They scanned the document eagerly as it came up on their screens. He watched their reactions and was happy.

‘They would not be allowed to sell anything or dump vast quantities of precious metals and minerals onto the open market. Right now there is a very lucrative black market that revolves around minerals and resources from the Ambatta home world. They sell it to procure hay for their domestic animals. I have actually talked to one person who spent a lifetime trading with the Ambatta. With the surface of their planet returned to a condition that can grow crops, the black-market trade will cease. He was just one of many races that are involved in this trade. One I wasn’t even aware of. He told me that he had never once felt his life was at risk from the Ambatta.

‘Of course this isn’t really enough. So what else can they offer us? I mentioned the big domes that Darrick has. They have the technology and ability to supply us with as many of those domes as we want. As you saw, they can grow anything in their asteroid homes, it doesn’t need to be a dome. Neither will we have to transport them halfway across the galaxy to our home worlds. The Ambatta assured me we could do it in situ. Not only that…’ He took a deep breath, ‘Have a look at this.’

He played the footage received from Charlie. It captured their imaginations. It was time for the final incentive.

‘With help from the Ambatta, Darrick and the Humans, there is no reason we cannot follow Darrick’s example. In a few years we may well be able to answer some of the huge logistical problems we face every day. Especially the rapid deployment of forces to troubled areas; or for emergency missions.’

Ne´ smiled, ‘Of course that just leaves the problem of the pirates.’ A gale of laughter reached him.

‘You can’t have it all Ne´.’ Mach shouted to more hilarity. It made Ne´ laugh all the harder.

‘I am afraid I will have to disappoint you again Mach.’ The laughter petered out. Ne´ knew there wasn’t a single planet that didn’t suffer from the attention of pirates. ‘I am going to show you footage from two different sources. The first was a disastrous mission we undertook recently to try to destroy some of those same pirates.’ He played the footage.

‘As you can see, our forces were obliterated, not by the pirates, but by the asteroid field they chased the pirates into. The second piece of footage I am going to show you was recorded in real time. It was taken from a shuttle larger than our fighters.’

The footage had exactly the same effect on the watchers as it had on him the first time. Eventually the film began to slow down.

‘Please, watch carefully at the top of the screen.’ There was a unified gasp as fighters shot over the top of the shuttle. ‘I will play that back in real time.’ There were cries of amazement. ‘I was informed that the shuttle pilot was taking it easy in consideration for her Human passengers.’ He let that sink in for a moment. ‘For those of you who are not military minded, and have not made the connection yet: the Ambatta would have no problem following the pirates into their little holes and destroying them. What do you think Mach?’

Mach slammed a fist into the desk in front of him. ‘Damn it Ne´, you might just be able to do it. Well done Grand Commander.’

Ne´ laughed. ‘We aren’t there yet Mach. Vison isn’t going to give up without a fight. He has already tried to assassinate me once. That was for only considering talking to the Ambatta. Let me summarise.’

He took a short walk around his office while gathering his thoughts. The councillors took an opportunity to grab a drink and consider what had been said. Ne´ was a master in this arena. He knew when they were all settled and ready for him to continue.

‘We the Federation have in our hands a race of none aggressive meat eaters. I have been to their home world. I have met their chancellors. I have met their military. In all my days dealing with all different societies, I have never felt less threatened by an individual species.

‘This race has at its disposal a vast asteroid field. If they became full members, that could and would flood our home markets with rare minerals and materials, smashing any monopoly anyone here has. If we take them in as a protected solar system, we can control what they produce. We will receive everything on the list I showed you for no more than the transportation costs. That will save us fifteen per cent of our total ship building budget. Billions.

‘There are other options open to us. We can try to take the planet by force and share out its resources. In the last war, one in which we considered a victory, and they consider a defeat, we lost almost a third of the Federation’s fighting force. It took us almost a hundred years to recover our losses from that war. Despite the fact that we were able to destroy the surface of their planet, they had enough resources hidden in that vast asteroid field to repulse any attempt by our people to mine their asteroid field within a few short weeks.

‘The other option is to allow those members of the Federation who have a vested interest in beating the Ambatta to gather together and try to finish them off. Personally I think it is a great way of weakening some races that many think of as a natural foe. We must, however, take into consideration that Vison and his allies may well have been preparing for an all-out war with the Ambatta for generations. Even though the cost would be great, if they win the rewards are a thousand-fold.

‘They are also full members of the Federation, and will not hesitate to exploit that asteroid field. They will have no reservation about flooding the markets with rare minerals. They could put many here out of business for good, and once they have control of the market, then they can charge whatever they want, and none of us will be able to do anything about it.

‘The Ambatta have a planet whose surface is totally uninhabited. If they achieve protected status then every race will legally be able to buy land there, and all will have the protection of the Federation. They not only have surface area to let, they have a vast asteroid field that they are able to manipulate at will, to turn asteroids into habitats. They may well have complete habitats for sale if enough of their people return to the planet’s surface.

‘If the Ambatta became a part of the Federation, they would be committed to supplying at least one battle fleet. I have seen their resources. Their battleships are huge, half again the size of my own flagship, and I believe able to defeat it with some ease, just through sheer firepower alone. What they aren’t capable of is interstellar drive. Which makes them unsuitable.

‘After seeing what their pilots are capable of, I came up with an entirely different solution. As a part of becoming a Federation protected planet and solar system, the Ambatta Chancellors agreed to supply our forces with squadrons of scouts; all flying fighters like the ones you saw in the footage earlier. Battle seasoned veterans that are going to give our pirate problems a severe boot in the arse.’

To his surprise there was a serous exultation from many of the members, one of applause and appreciation. Ne´ was quite touched. Mach was one of the first to give voice to his thoughts.

‘Ne´ you have quite outdone yourself this time. One problem I foresee. If Vison does attack and gets his arse kicked, won’t your forces have to intervene?’

‘I have already signed a pre-cessation of hostilities agreement between the Federation and the Ambatta.’

There was a lot of shouting and confusion. Ne´ held up his hands and they began to quieten.

‘I have not set a precedent. It has been done before. All it does is give the Ambatta some room to manoeuvre if Vison does attack. With the announcement of the agreement, it means we can ignore any plea for help from his forces. They will be on their own. We simply have to draw our forces back from the Ambatta’s defensive perimeter, which is now set at ten thousand miles from the edge of their asteroid field. Our forces will withdraw to a distance of five hundred thousand miles from that perimeter. Providing the Ambatta stay within that area, we won’t have to intervene.’

There were a few other questions, but once satisfied he did have the authority to agree such a deal, they began to sign off. Ne´ slumped into his seat and called for a hot pot of tea.

chapter 21

The sight of the city ship always had a strange effect on Steven. It was one of the few places he felt safe leaving his ship unattended. Despite that, there were contingencies in place in case of an emergency, and a number of the crew on standby at all times who could be beamed aboard from wherever they were. The crew were looking forward to a short break. Steven had purchased a block of flats where they all had their own homes, with even a few left to spare.

As he came down the ramp he stopped long enough to take in the scene. Rows of ships curved away on either side of him, each in their own docking bay. Most were Modloch in configuration, but not all. He enjoyed picking out the different types of ships and the races that owned them.

Behind him a protective barrier kept the cold of space out. As the city ship turned on its axis the view went from one of the stars, to one of the Modloch home world. Steven couldn’t help but smile.

He found Buzz waiting patiently. ‘You coming Stevie, or what?’

‘Sure am.’

‘What are you doing tonight?’

Steven shrugged, ‘No idea.’

‘Guys night out then?’

Steven frowned, ‘Isn’t Beth and the kids arriving in the next few days?’

‘They sure are.’

Steven suddenly got it. ‘Hell why not. I wonder if the Colonel will want to come.’

‘I already asked, they are coming.’

They caught sight of a lone figure walking away in another direction.

Buzz nodded. ‘Has Charlie looked at his flat yet?’

‘He’s never been near it yet Buzz. If I try to talk to him about it, he simply walks away.’

‘Never mind, his room in the royal residence is probably nicer.’

‘Still, I think it would be nicer if we all stayed together in the same place.’

‘You can’t hog tie people Stevie.’

‘True. Where we heading tonight?’

‘I heard that the family of one of the diplomats have set up a small restaurant. Got beer. It’s in the High Life district.’

‘They got enough tables?’

‘I booked the whole restaurant. Whole evening. Company card.’

Stevie never flinched, ‘Well we worked hard enough for it.’

‘We sure did.’

Buzz collapsed onto the large couch. It was one of the things he liked about the apartment. He also liked the large shower. They were about the only two things that were original about it. His wife had been buying stuff at home and sending it to him in a container. The Modloch crew who had been hired to remodel the apartments had done a great job and now their apartment was ready for his family.

He knew there was no food in the apartment, so didn’t bother looking. Rations could be ordered online from the quarter master but there wasn’t really much they could choose from. Fresh food was now becoming available from the Ortea home world, but prices were at a premium. Since their bid to become a part of the Federation had been accepted, all officials had been given a bank account, which their wages went into. This included the crew of the Ambassadorial ships. The funds still had to come through the PD Company of Earth. Buzz idly wondered if there was any fresh milk in. Before he could act on the inclination, his eyes fluttered closed and he was fast asleep.

He had woken a couple of hours later and threw himself into the shower. Revitalised, he changed into normal street clothes. If felt good wearing a pair of jeans again. A t-shirt and light jacket was all that was needed for the ambient temperatures of the city ship. He met Stevie and the rest of the guys and they jumped on the nearest transport. It turned into a cracking night out. All ate their fill of fresh beef from the Ortea home world and the fresh vegetables that went with it.

A little later they hit the bars. There wasn’t a single one of them who returned sober to their apartments.

chapter 22

Darrick sat for a long time on his balcony alone. He had watched the recording of Ne´, then spoken to him for quite a while afterwards. He had no concern that Ne´ was doing the right thing. He was more worried about the attempt on his life. His officers had squealed under interrogation, so had his spies. Ne´ had been so sure of the officers that surrounded him. To discover more than a half dozen spies in his inner circle had devastated him.

The councillors of the Federation had known about all of this for weeks now. They were on Ne´s side, but the general population of the planets had a different point of view. Darrick knew he could have a seat on the council in a heartbeat. He had been asked many times, but he believed his empire was just too big for him to give up so much of his time. Ne´ did reveal some interesting things though.

A slow smile crossed Darrick’s face as he saw the lone figure cross the courtyard bellow.

He lifted a hand and Gord came over. ‘I have just seen Charlie. Have him fetched here.’

Gord stepped back and called his staff in the corridors below. It wasn’t long before Charlie appeared. Servants had rushed to get something ready for him. A steaming hot pot of coffee and a Human sized mug appeared seconds after he did. They poured a cup and Charlie added the sugar himself. He was offered a huge biscuit. Charlie glanced across at Darrick.

‘For Human consumption,’ he reassured.

Charlie took a bite and a sip of coffee. ‘Och! That hit the spot. So what’s up?’

‘Are you aware of what is happening within the Federation at the moment?’

‘You know damn well I don’t really care Darrick. I’m a soldier. I only really pay attention when I have to fight.’

Darrick ignored the remark. He was aware the Charlie paid more attention than most; he just didn’t want to admit it.

‘The general public are swaying back and forth in their opinions. Vison is leading a good campaign to smear Ne´. He is acting on the fear of the general public towards meat eaters. Ne´ was very impressed with you. Can you help him?’

Charlie closed his eyes and breathed in the coffee vapours.

‘I probably have enough material to help on the propaganda front. Not sure. I’m not a reporter. My mind doesn’t work that way Darrick.’

‘I have some good propaganda ministers. If we can paint Ne´ in a better light, try and gain some support for the Ambatta… what did you think of them?’

‘I liked them. They are the nearest to Human we have come across since arriving. Very comfortable from a Human perspective. One of our guys has started dating one of them.’

‘You mean romantically?’

‘Aye.’

‘Do I know him?’

‘The big guy that is Komoru’s personal aide.’

‘Lewis.’

‘That’s the one.’

‘I would never have guessed.’

‘It took us all by surprise.’

‘Are they sexually compatible with Humans?’

‘By all the wailing and screaming that was going on in the middle of the night, I would say yes. No one’s going to ask him.’

Darrick thought that was hilarious. ‘Does he have a mate at home?’

‘No, she passed away from an incurable disease years ago. According to the Ambatta, her first love was killed about the same time. The two have been single since.’

‘Isn’t the universe a strange place Charlie. Strange and wonderful.’

‘I suppose it can be.’

‘How did you spot the bug being planted in Ne´s office?’

‘The officer in question stepped back against the wall. He was standing nowhere near it when I entered the room. I saw a hand movement. I zoomed in on the spot after they left; saw it.’

‘I forget at times.’

‘The Ambatta could see I was different, and that my skin was artificial, with their naked eyes.’

‘Seriously?’

‘I was surprised. They all thought I was a robot and ignored me. It was quite funny.’

Darrick found it funny too. He watched Charlie munch on his biscuit and wash it down with coffee. Charlie finished the mug and poured another.

‘Any idea where the Chief is?’

‘Probably drunk by now.’

‘Is it that bad?’

‘He has been seriously wounded. He will either recover, or make a very big mistake I will have him executed for.’

‘Can’t you order him to sober up?’

‘If I do that and he slips one day, he will be in even more trouble.’

‘It’s my fault anyway.’

‘How so?’

‘I spotted that she took a fancy to him, and kind of helped things along.’

‘Then try and sort it out will you Charlie? I don’t want to lose him. I am surprised though, he managed to resist two females in his household that were on heat.’

‘Three, the young one came into heat for the first time as well.’

‘Remarkable then. Are the three after him?’

‘Only the older two. The younger one seems to have taken a bit of a fancy to me.’

Darrick howled with delight. ‘Are you attracted to her?’

‘Oh hell no.’

‘Of course. You had a mate for the season, didn’t you? The beautiful Captain Wilson. How is that going?’

Charlie shook his head and shrugged. ‘I don’t know. We both communicate when we get the chance, but there are no overtures of love and affection.’

‘She knows everything.’

‘Everything.’

Darrick indicated his desire to a servant and they produced a hot pot of tea. The two chatted like old friends as they consumed their drinks.

chapter 23

Jean Wilson and her officers met Komoru as they cross decked. The Sir William Wallace was in orbit around the Gisha home planet. They had decided to stay in orbit and take a shuttle from Big Willy down to the surface. They were all in their number ones. Himari scowled at Jean before bowing politely. There was a lot of shaking hands. Jean realised there was more than one woman from the combined crews that were giving her funny looks.

Twenty women from all three ships climbed on-board the shuttle. Her top pilot at the controls took them through the outer atmosphere. The clouds were heavy and a lightning storm accompanied them on their way down. The shuttle was guided to a private field beside the Royal residence. Luckily the shuttle was able to fit under a very large awning. The women disembarked; all stood and gazed in awe at the amount of water cascading off the roof.

They were ushered inside and their identities checked against a list. A bus-like vehicle appeared and they were guided out to it. The driver didn’t seem to be driving anything. Jean noticed all he did was push a couple of buttons. It levitated and moved out into the rain. They could see little or nothing outside the bus, nor it seemed could the driver. Five minutes later the lights on his screen flashed. The rain diminished, and they realised they had arrived at their destination.

An usher, or page, who seemed very effete, called out their names as best he could, presenting each with a badge he pinned to the lapels of their uniform. He informed them that it was their palace ID and would open their rooms when they stood in front of the door. Their baggage followed and more servants appeared. The bags received the same treatment once identified and disappeared.

The usher looked them all over in a way a fashion designer might have.

‘What strange uniforms. However, they seem to suit. This way ladies. The Queen will be with you shortly. I will take you to the reception hall. There has been some refreshments laid out for your consumption. No grass, no meat, no hay. We are a race that consumes mostly fruit and vegetables. We hope they will be compatible with you. Please remember and use your testers first.’

The opulence of the Royal Palace had a feminine touch to it that all of the women were aware of. This was the home of a very strong and powerful woman. The reception room was quite small. The tables were of polished stone, the chairs huge. The groups split up.

Mary leaned in close to Jean, ‘Have you seen the daggers aimed at you by the Ambassador’s crew ma’am?’

‘I count three, you?’

‘Three and curious stares from the others.’

‘I know Komoru hates Charlies guts, I’m not sure why I am getting daggers from the other two.’

‘There’s Lady Mya looking across at you ma’am, maybe time for a little information gathering.’

Jean smiled and waved. It was enough for Mya to rush across.

‘Remind me to add a little something to your Christmas stocking this year Mary.’

‘I most certainly will ma’am.’

Mya rushed up and grabbed Jean’s hand. She held it to her forehead.

‘It is so nice to see you again Jean.’

‘You too Mya, how have you been?’

‘I have been very well, how are you?’

‘I am well too.’

They covered the normal small talk, catching up on what the other had been doing since they last met. Jean felt they were comfortable enough to ask the question that was uppermost on her mind.

‘Can you tell me why I am getting dirty looks from those three ladies.’

Mya flushed. ‘Ah! Maybe.’

Jean smiled, ‘I wouldn’t like to say anything wrong and upset them further.’

Mya glanced across guiltily. She couldn’t resist the gossip. ‘When we arrived to pick up Charlie after our leave, we were told that your ship had left the evening before, and that it was the second time it had visited the planet. Everyone thinks that you stayed with him while on leave.’

‘Didn’t Charlie say anything about it?’

Mya scowled, ‘Charlie is no fun. He won’t say anything to anyone, not even Cookie or Steven. Cookie says he has always been like that.’ She leaned in closer, ‘Komoru doesn’t like Charlie, so she disapproves of anything he does. The other Japanese girl keeps trying to get Charlie to sleep with her. She has some strange fetish. Cookie says it is an anime, android, cyborg kind of thing. I’m not really sure what that means, but she has become quite shameless in her attempts to get Charlie to sleep with her. He won’t; what makes it worse is that they work together. It must be horrible for him.’

‘It must make him uncomfortable,’ Jean agreed. ‘Who is the other one?’

‘Amanda Freeling, the ship’s doctor. We know she has had feelings for Charlie for a long time now. We thought they would get together, but she found out he did something that she found repulsive. She will barely talk to him now, but I think she still has feelings for him.’

‘Do you know what that was?’

‘No one has said directly, but I think it had something to do with the battle for the city ship. Something Charlie did there.’

‘Thank you Mya, forewarned is forearmed.’ The conversation changed tack and eventually Mya returned to her group.

‘At least you know he hasn’t been cheating on you ma’am.’

‘We aren’t in a formal relationship Mary, he can please himself, but it is nice to know.’

Mary smiled, ‘I wonder what he did that pissed off the doctor.’

‘I know what it was.’

‘Really!’

Jean looked down, ‘It is classified top secret. I can’t tell you.’

‘Wow! That guy just gets hotter and hotter. He is like a regular James Bond.’

Jean laughed, ‘You keep your wandering eyes off him. That’s an order.’

‘Yes ma’am.’ They laughed together.

After half an hour of waiting the groups began to disintegrate as the women relaxed and mingled a little. Jean suddenly found herself face to face with Komoru.

Komoru bowed slight. ‘Captain.’

‘How are you Ambassador?’

‘I am well, how about you?’

‘Very well thank you.’

‘Have you any real idea why we have been invited here Captain?’

Jean smiled, ‘A friend of mine believes that she wishes to promote more active female participation in her small Empire. I am sure he told you exactly the same thing.’

‘He mentioned something. Did he tell you that when you were on leave with him?’

‘Who said I was on leave with him?’

Komoru bristled, ‘He did.’

‘No he didn’t. I have been reliably informed that you only suspect I was there because you heard that my ship had visited the planet he was living on. In fact, I know you would be the last person he would divulge any personal facts to.’

‘Is that so?’ Komoru flushed with embarrassment at being caught out in a lie.

‘It is. I can assure you Ambassador, you will not like me either. I have far more in common with the Captain than I will ever have with you.’

‘I see. Excuse me please.’

‘Not so damn fast lady, you started this.’ Komoru was startled into stopping. She turned back. ‘He doesn’t particularly like you, and told me never to be fooled by your demure Japanese outer shell. He says you have a core of steel, courage, and the will and determination to act if you saw the necessity for it.

‘He may not like you, but it is enough for him to respect you. Try giving him a little respect back. You may come from different cultures, different social and intellectual backgrounds, but someone of your intelligence should understand that better than he, and so be more understanding. Respect, friendship and loyalty are very rare commodities these days. Those very traits lie at the core of who the Captain is. You should try harder.’

Komoru tried to gauge the woman in front of her. Eventually she bowed slightly and walked away. A few minutes later Queen Wiola Maleck appeared with a flair that made them all smile.

She clapped her hands in delight. ‘Don’t you all look so splendid! Welcome to my home ladies. My father told me to never apologise for the weather, but I am sorry it is raining so hard. I so wanted the scenery to make a grand impression on you all.’ She waved them over. ‘Please, come introduce yourselves to me.’

chapter 24

Stevie was looking over Charlie’s shoulder. ‘Are you sure you should be doing that?’

‘I'm not doing it Stevie, it’s done, and before you start, I didn’t do it either. It was Darrick and his fancy producers. I only supplied them with the footage.’

‘It’s powerful.’

‘We need to show Lewis.’

Steven took a deep breath. ‘He isn’t here.’

‘I know that! Send it to him. Forewarned is forearmed.’

‘Should we really?’

Charlie looked up at Stevie, ‘It’s me he is going to kill, no you. It is also out of our hands. This is going out tonight.’

‘Maybe it would be better coming from you.’

Charlie thought it over. ‘You could be right.’ He grimaced, ‘Babes, can you put us through to Ico.’

‘You need to speak to Lewis. Yes Charlie. Hold on for a moment please.’

It didn’t take too long. ‘Charlie, man, I thought I had seen the last of you for a while.’

‘Lewis, we have an issue here that concerns you.’

The smile fell from his face. ‘What’s going on Charlie?’

‘Are you aware that the Grand Commander has been having a hard time getting Trinnie’s planet protected status?’

‘Yeah sure, I bin keeping an eye on the situation.’

‘Emperor Darrick asked if I had any footage of the mission he could use to bolster support among the commoners. I handed over a shed load of stuff. There’s also footage of you and Trinnie in it. Babes is sending the footage over to Ico so you can see it. I have to tell you though, this is going out galaxy wide tonight. There is nothing I can do about it.’

‘Charlie! What have you done!’

‘Personally, I don’t think it is anything bad. I just don’t know how you would feel about it.’

‘I will watch it and get back in touch.’

‘Catch you later then.’

Lewis lifted a hand and the screen went blank. Charlie spun round.

‘I should know within an hour or so if I am going to be dismembered or blown up in my sleep one night.’

‘Do you think he will be mad?’

‘Hopping. It isn’t the footage, it’s just the fact that he is a very private person.’

The hour dragged by slowly.

‘Lewis wants to speak to you Charlie.’

Charlie took a deep breath, ‘Put him on Babes, and let Stevie see the transmission.’

‘Yes Charlie.’

Lewis wasn’t looking happy. ‘Charlie.’

‘Lewis.’

‘I watched it, and sent it to Trinnie. She loved it. I ain’t so sure.’

‘I know man, it was an invasion of your privacy. I sincerely apologise. They told me they would give me a chance to review it and take out anything I thought shouldn’t be there. They lied. I would have asked your permission first.’

Lewis frowned, ‘You think it should be in there.’

‘I do, aye. That’s why I sent it. I didn’t think they would use it.’

‘You think it will help?’

‘I think so Lewis. It paints the Ambatta as a people who are as capable of love as any other race, being able to love outside their own species as well.’

‘I don like being out there, you know that man.’

‘I know Lewis.’

Lewis shook his massive head. ‘Well Trinnie loves it, so do her parents. They think it was tastefully done. If it helps us be together, then I’m fine with it Charlie.’

‘You sure? You don’t sound fine with it.’

‘You know how it is Charlie. You’re in it too man, I know you don like being out there either.’

‘If it helps a good friend of mine be with the woman he loves, that’s fine with me Lewis.’

A smile finally cracked Lewis’s face. ‘I’m fine bud. You look after your self. See you soon.’

The screen went blank.

Steven met Charlie in the transportation room. ‘Where you off to Charlie?’

‘Going to see a Modloch about a drinking problem he has developed. What you up to?’

‘Nothing, bored to tears.’

‘Go grab a jacket then.’

It had been a while since Steven had seen the engine rooms of the city ship.

‘This is different.’

Charlie pointed, ‘Those are the new generators the Chief bought with the money he made from the music company.’

‘Big enough.’

‘Aye, state of the art. You could have every light and kettle on in the city and he can still draw enough power for the shields and every gun on it.’

‘Impressive. Better than the Albany had it.’

‘Aye, and it now has about double the firepower as well.’

Charlie received a few cheery waves as he made his way to the Chief’s office. He could see that the Chief was alone so he walked straight in. The head came up.

‘Look at the state of you. How long have you been on a bender?’

The Chief got slowly to his feet, with a strange noise coming from his throat.

‘Charlie, I thought you had forsaken me.’

‘Oh hell no. Your boss has been running me ragged for days.’

He spotted Stevie at Charlie’s side, ‘Ambassador.’

Steven smiled, ‘Ambassador.’

The Chief laughed. ‘It has been a while since I was an Ambassador. Are you here for the grand tour?’

Steven was smart enough to realise the Chief most likely wanted to speak to Charlie alone. ‘I would love it.’

His secretary was watching him through the glass. He cocked a finger and he dashed in. He gave some orders and Stevie left with the young Modloch.

Charlie watched them disappear. ‘That wasn’t very nice Chief.’

‘Charlie!’ It came out as a bellow. ‘Where have you been?’

‘Man, you wouldn’t even talk to me when we were at home.’

‘I couldn’t. I was so ashamed.’

‘So was I my friend. It was my fault your heart was broken. If I hadn’t meddled, you would never have suffered this heartbreak.’

The Chief’s face fell. ‘You are right, it is your fault. Is there any Human wisdom that will begin the healing?’

‘It is better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all.’

The Chief’s face changed expression, and his head flicked from side to side as he tried to absorb it.

‘For a Human saying, that wasn’t too bad.’

Charlie couldn’t help but laugh. It wasn’t long before the Chief followed.

When they had laughed themselves out, Charlie made tea and coffee. The Chief winced as he drank it.

Charlie shook his head, ‘That must be some hangover you have.’

‘It’s massive. I haven’t been able to shake it in days.’

‘The Emperor is worried he is going to have to execute you prematurely.’

‘What for!’

‘For making an arse of things.’

The Chief sniffed, ‘He hasn’t called for me in months.’

‘No, because he knows you come in here half pissed every day. If you appeared in front of him stinking of drink and looking like that, he would be forced to have you dragged away.’

‘Do I look bad?’

‘Aye and smell bad. You’ve lost a lot of weight as well.’

His head dropped. ‘I have never had my heart broken before Charlie. How do you cope with it?’

‘I got drunk every night I could afford to for months. Then I got horny and found another woman. When she broke my heart I got drunk for a few weeks, then went out and got another one. When she broke my heart I got drunk for a week.’

The Chief held up a hand, ‘I get the picture. How many times have you had your heart broken?’

‘No idea. There came a point, when a woman said it was over, I just shrugged and went out and got another. It doesn’t bother me anymore; just a part of life I suppose. Never look back, never wallow in self-pity.’

‘I feel sorry for you Charlie.’

‘How so?’

‘For no longer being able to feel love.’

Charlie smiled. ‘Never feel sorry for me my friend. Every woman, every love is a brand new adventure. Each one is different in so many different ways. From their bodies to their cries in the night.’

The Chief cocked his head. ‘I suppose they are all different. Not that I’ve had that much experience.’

‘Oh hell, the merry widows?’

‘There was only two Charlie.’ He thought about it, ‘But they were different. You are right. I wasn’t in love with them.’

‘Being in love intensifies everything you feel, every emotion.’

‘I discovered that. Being with her was so wonderful. I thought she felt the same. What happened Charlie, why did she forsake me?’

‘I have never met a female of any species that had a rational mind Chief.’

‘You can read their thoughts Charlie, what do they think?’

‘You really don’t want to go there Chief. They can barely think about the same thing for more than a few seconds.’

The Chief laughed aloud. ‘I think maybe it’s about time I came off the drink.’

‘Excellent. Want to go out tonight and grab something to eat and a few beers?’

‘Of course.’

They both laughed at their own wit.

chapter 25

‘I have been Queen of this World since just before I reached marriageable age. My father named me as his successor before he passed away. Because I was a daughter and an only child, the lineage should have moved to his next older brother. As is the world we Royals live in, he believed that one or more of his brothers were plotting against him. He was right of course. My mother and father were killed in a failed coup. It failed because of a number of factors.

‘When my mother and father were murdered, I was at finishing school on a nearby planet, for young ladies of royalty. The person they had sent to guard me was a crusty old veteran of the royal guard. He had protected my father and grandfather. He was semi-retired, and had just completed training up his replacement, who was his youngest son. When my father received word of the suspected coup, he sent this old man to look over me.

‘Of course I never appreciated the gesture. Not until my cousin tried to kill me. He had been trying to woo me for years. My total rejection of him was what had prompted the coup in the first place. He was more than eager to kill the female who had rejected him. I admit, I had not done so pleasantly.’

There was a spontaneous outburst of merriment from the gathered women. The Queen smiled. ‘He was boorish, loud, so full of himself and ugly. He decided to take personal revenge. Word reached both of us of the coup at the same time. My father was able to send out a small broadcast before he and his guards were overwhelmed. The son’s timing for my assassination was a little off. He arrived with a small group of followers about two minutes later. He was never given a chance to open his mouth. The old guard killed him on sight, as well as all of those behind.’

The memories came flooding back, and she took a deep breath. ‘We immediately jumped on a private shuttle. By the time we arrived home, he had gathered a large body of men loyal to him and my father, All of them ex-palace guards. With a friend in the armoury, they took out the usurpers and that same night I was crowned Queen. My uncle and all of his sons died in the fighting. There was a lot of political outrage at a female taking over the palace, but I dealt with those in the same manner as I had my uncle. The politicians soon got the message, as did any off world rivals. My old guardsman stayed with me for a further ten years. By then no one dared suggest that a female could not run an empire.’

She looked over the gathered women. ‘Despite my success, the majority of my people still regard the females of our species as second-class citizens. I have tried to change that way of thinking, and had some success. Believe it or not, it isn’t the males that I have had the problems with, it is the females. Despite my efforts, few seem to have grasped the opportunities that I have opened up for them. My reason for inviting you all here is very simple. I wish to show the younger females growing up now that there are other females out there in the galaxy who have the courage and will to follow their own path.

‘When I first heard that the Humans had lots of females within their armed forces, I was delighted. When Captain Wilson was able to hold her own against one of the most powerful males in the Federation, I just had to grasp the opportunity to invite some of you here. With your permission, I shall flaunt you all shamelessly in front of my people.’

The Queen was delighted at their positive response. Jean had a small smile on her face as she remembered Charlie’s words. A glance at the grimace on Komoru’s face told her the same thought had just crossed her mind. The Queen went through an itinerary with the women. The summer festival was similar to many of those back home on Earth. She wanted to portray them in a number of different ways. In their professional roles in uniform, and of course, dressed up in their best feminine attire.

Together they planned out an attack on the females of her world. There would be news shoots, interviews and parades to participate in. There were also social events, which included a garden party where many of the daughters of the nobles were requested to attend. At the end of the meeting, Jean was asked to talk to the Queen in private.

Jean was seated in a small private sitting room. The furniture was nearer Human size. The Queen appeared and sat opposite. Jean refused refreshments.

The Queen regarded her for quite a while before speaking.

‘I can’t believe you are actually here. After I first heard about you, I sent for information about you from your home office. You are an amazing woman.’

‘I am not the only one, your majesty.’

‘Please, please call me Wiola. May a call you Jean?’

‘I would be honoured.’

‘Tell me a little about your race Jean. Have your women always been part of your armed forces?’

‘My world is split up into many different cultures. In a way it is like a mini galaxy. Although we are all descended from the same origins, there are many different races. Each has their own beliefs. There are some cultures that still treat women as property. Property of the father, then the husband. What is hers, is theirs.’

Jean smiled and took a deep breath, ‘I am from the Western hemisphere of our planet, where the people are a little more open minded. Human history is full of stories of strong women. Strong warriors, strong Queens and rulers, though these were in the minority. Legends and history were often mixed into fantasy. The major changes in thinking came after two world wars.

‘Like here, many women believed in their place in a relationship and at home. During the First World War, so many men died that women were forced to come to work in the major war factories. Despite women having worked in factories for many generations, they were now having to do the jobs that only men had done before. After the first war, life returned to normal. However, many women resented being placed back into a secondary role. Almost twenty years later, there was another, even more devastating word war. Again women had to step into the breech. When it was over, women had gained their confidence. They began to speak out more forcibly about their rights as individuals. You could say the fight was on.

‘Soon after, they discovered birth control. It gave women far more freedom over their bodies. They could plan for careers and a family. They were no longer tied to the kitchen sink. It took a long time for women to be accepted as equals. However, I believe we have got there. These days we have women who are soldiers, have a family, and then come straight back to the fight. Their men look after the children.’

‘That is so wonderful to hear.’

‘Of course, that is a very brief summary of Human history. There was much more that happened over many generations. Women had been fighting for equality long before the first world war.’

‘I understand, but the wars were the major catalyst in the change?’

‘More or less, yes.’

‘What about you Jean, do you have a mate?’

Jean flushed, ‘No I don’t.’

Wiola was transfixed by her change in colour. ‘I was told that when a Human changes colour in that way, they are either embarrassed, or being untruthful. Was there some truth in the allegations?’

‘No. Not at the time.’

‘I see.’ She smiled. ‘So at the time you were innocent of all charges.’

Jean felt she could trust the Queen. ‘I was attracted to the Captain, and had been for some time. He never reciprocated those feelings. We had been conversing as friends for a while. It was my intention to deepen the relationship.’

‘Based on friendship?’

‘Yes.’

‘So you were both completely innocent.’

‘Yes.’

Wiola thought it over. ‘I have been reliably informed that you are considered very attractive amongst your race. Whereas the Captain himself isn’t considered anything special at all.’ She smiled, ‘I did a little checking.’

Jean laughed, ‘I have been told that too. I can assure you he is very special to me. He is a very sincere and very brave man.’

‘I would imagine courage is something that would attract a warrior woman. A man would need a large reserve of it to attract a female such as yourself. You know, my old guardsman was the ugliest old bastard you have ever come across in your life. However, I loved him dearly. If he had been younger, I would have taken him for a mate. I never did find anyone who measured up to him. It didn’t help that he was also married.’

‘What about his son?’

‘He died trying to protect my father. His brother never joined our military.’

‘So you never married.’

‘I have had many suitors, all had their eye on the throne. If I married I would have to hand over the reins of power. Not happening.’

They both laughed. Something occurred to Jean. ‘You are a lot like Elizabeth the first of England. They called her the Virgin Queen. Rumour has it she had more than one lover in her life time, but no children. She came from a society that was very male dominated. She very quickly got rid of those in opposition and even won a number of wars. She was hailed as one of the country’s greatest rulers.’

‘I would love to read about her.’

‘I think there are many autobiographies about her. There are even films, documentary series. That kind of thing. I will investigate for you when we return to the ship.’

‘I would appreciate that.’

The Queen called for tea. After testing it, Jean settled for a glass of water.

‘I am not really prepared for you people, am I?’ The Queen apologised.

‘So few are. Is this the first time Humans have visited your planet?’

‘Yes it is. I supported the Human bid, but saw no real need for an Ambassadorial visit. I still don’t see any real need. My allegiance won’t change any. My trusty old guardsman had a saying: if you want to get to know a race, execute the politicians and talk to the people. He never considered me a politician.’

Jean thought that was funny. ‘I know many that would agree with him. You were simply his Queen.’

The Queen clapped her hands, ‘Let’s get back to the Captain.’

‘He would not appreciate me talking to anyone about our relationship.’

‘Why isn’t he shouting it from the hilltops? Oh… silly of me; after what you were both put through, it is hardly surprising.’

‘I think of all of us, he was the least effected by the whole thing.’

‘Was he playing cool and calm?’

‘No, he generally just didn’t seem to care.’

‘That is strange.’

‘He was confident that the Federation couldn’t touch us, and what was happening was aimed far above our heads.’

‘What makes him so smart?’

‘He is a personal friend of the Modloch Emperor, who had told him many times that the Federation would cause some form of incident to test our superiors. After we were questioned and no charges were brought, Charlie was sure that was what was happening.’

‘You knew you were being tested as well?’

‘Yes of course.’

The Queen was frowning, ‘I don’t wish to throw a bad light onto the man you like, but Darrick doesn’t have any real friends. Friendships and being a ruler do not go hand in hand.’

Jean smiled, ‘I know it may sound strange. I can assure you though, I am not lying. The pair are as thick as thieves. He even spent the night at Charlie’s once, although Charlie had to sleep on the couch.’

Wiola was shaking her head, ‘He has a home somewhere here?’

‘On one of the Modloch worlds. The one with the heavy gravity. It was gifted to him by the Emperor. He even had a special gravity control device fitted so he could adjust the gravity of Charlie’s home when he was visiting to make it more comfortable.’

Wiola was racking her brain. ‘Wait, is he the Human that helped discovered the traitor in his family?’

‘That’s Charlie.’

‘Goodness. Suddenly he goes from plain to intriguing.’

‘You know about that?’

Wiola waved a hand, ‘My dear, our world, the world of Kings, Queens, Emperors and Empresses, is very small. Our lives, our very existence and that of the worlds we rule over, depends entirely on our ability to gather intelligence. Something like that happening in a Royal household very quickly becomes common knowledge.’ She became serious. ‘I would advise your man to keep as far away from the Emperor as possible. These things don’t normally end well for a common man. He is from a different species, and a different army. Your own intelligence services would be foolish to pass up such a gift.’

Jean couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Charlie was already approached by two members of our intelligence services. He reported them immediately to the Emperor’s staff and had them arrested. Charlie has a history with our intelligence agencies, and hates them with a passion. He would rather die than give them the time of day. It isn’t Charlie who has pursued this friendship, it is the Emperor himself.’ Jean looked her directly in the eyes, ‘I am sorry for laughing, you must think me simple or flippant. You may think I am ignoring the obvious. Human history is full of stories, of exactly the same thing happening. I am taking you seriously. No one is more aware of the dangers than Charlie. To explain to you how I am so sure would mean compromising him and the Modloch Emperor, neither would forgive me. I am not prepared to say more on the matter.’

‘Forgive me for pushing. If he is aware of the dangers, then he is the master of his own fate.’

‘Tell me, are you planning on having children?’

‘To do so I would have to take a mate, get married, lose my crown. Even to take a lover and become pregnant would be to risk everything. The desire when I come into season burns through to my very soul. However, the fulfilment of wielding absolute power is even more satisfying, than the brief fulfilment I would feel from mating.’

Something occurred to Jean, ‘On Earth, we too have women like yourself, who are powerful, bright, and dedicated to their work. We even have females who do not wish to mate with a man, but wish to have children. They either adopt or they go to a sperm bank.’

The Queen blinked, ‘A what?’

‘Sperm bank. You know, a male’s essence.’

‘I am aware of what sperm is, it translates easily enough. What is a sperm bank?’

‘There are… I suppose they are medical facilities. You have heard of artificial insemination?’

‘Invitro-fertilisation. There are a small number of males who do not produce enough sperm to fertilise a female naturally. I believe they collect a number of samples over the course of a mating season and concentrate it and then introduce an egg from their wives. If the egg is fertilised, it is then placed back inside her womb.’

Jean nodded. ‘Yes, we have the same thing on Earth. We take it a step further though. These sperm banks approach famous, rich, gifted, intelligent males, and ask them to donate sperm, for a large sum of money. Artists, musicians, professors, scientists. Are you following?’

Wiola was wide-eyed. ‘I am following you.’

‘The sperm is frozen. The type of women I have already mentioned visit these sperm banks and pick the sperm from a donor. If you are a musician, you might want the sperm from a grade one musician. If you are a business woman, you may want the sperm from a successful businessman. Or you may be a businesswoman who wants her child to have musical abilities, or be an artist, an author or actor.’

‘Stop!’ Wiola’s hand shot halfway up. Jean could see her mind working overtime. ‘What is to stop the male claiming his child?’

‘The male signs a contract, as does the woman. She will never know who the donor is, and he will never discover who the client was. She picks her child from a list of characteristics that she wishes her child to have. She will list her requirement and a suitable donor will be selected for her from their bank.’

‘You mean she can select genetic traits as well?’

‘Yes of course.’ Jean smiled lopsidedly, ‘Of course, they may not have the sperm of a six-foot-tall, handsome, dark headed classical piano player. They may only have the sperm from a five-foot-tall, ugly rock guitarist, however, she will be given the choice and the right to go to another place; or wait.’

‘I see lots of holes in that.’

‘Not every woman wants a gifted child. Different banks specialise in different things. Some like sport stars, some college students. Some women just want a fit and healthy child of average intelligence.’

‘You mean they get what they can afford. They do have to pay for this service?’

‘Of course they do.’

‘My goodness, you Humans are very inventive.’

‘The man’s seed is planted inside the woman while she is ovulating, or it is done outside the womb. A number of eggs are removed and fertilised, then placed back inside her.’

Wiola clapped. ‘Wonderful. This would enable successful women who have no wish for a mate, to have a child of their choice, maybe even from males well above her station in life.’

‘That is correct.’

‘What a wonderful idea. Your race really is far more advanced than many this side of the great barrier. Your world will be a great addition to the Federation. I hope that many of your people’s principles and ideas will filter down to all of the other races in the Federation.’

‘The emancipation of women on Earth has taken a long time. It still isn’t universally accepted by men across the whole of our world. I imagine it will take a very long time to spread across the whole Federation.’

‘Then maybe that journey will start here and now, with your help.’

Jean took a deep breath, ‘We will do what we can.’

chapter 26

Steven looked around in wonder. He had never been in a Modloch bar before. The Chief was gorging himself on a huge bowl of hay. The barman had tossed over a large bag to Charlie, who had caught it deftly. It was some sort of alien snack Steven had never seen before. Thin flakes of deep fried vegetables. Charlie poured some into a bowl and pushed it across to Stevie. Stevie went to grab a handful.

‘Wait, wait, wait.’ Charlie lifted a hand and caught a large shaker of some sort. He checked the level in the shaker. ‘You’re a cheap bastard Moloch!’

‘Think yourself lucky I put up with your horrific stench, meat eater. You scare off my clients.’

‘It’s no my fault they are a bunch of females. Besides, I have it on good authority that you Modlochs are honking. Even the Ortea think your meat stinks.’

The Modloch barked a laugh and went to serve another customer. Stevie wasn’t quite sure what to do next. He eyed the massive glass of beer in front of him. Charlie reached over and sprinkled some of the contents of the shaker over the crisp snacks.

‘It’s just a mix of herbs, makes them edible,’ Charlie explained.

‘This isn’t the beer that makes you sick is it?’

Charlie laughed at the memory, ‘No, it’s a sweet beer. Very nice, refreshing. Isn’t too alcoholic.’

Some of the customers laughed at Steven trying to drink out of the huge glass, but it was good natured. Steven took a lot more of his first draught than he thought he would. He slammed the glass down and expelled a deep breath.

‘Oh that is nice.’

Charlie followed suit, ‘Aye, it’s crisp.’

Steven tried a few of the chips and was pleasantly surprised. ‘This is nice as well.’

‘They have little or no taste at all without the herbs. Moloch complains I use too much of it.’

‘You’re a regular then.’

‘Only when I am in town.’ Charlie swung round suddenly and hit a green button. A large fan began to wind up somewhere close by. A few seconds later the Chief let out a thunderous fart. Steven was shocked.

The Chief took his face out of his bowl for a second.

‘Thanks Charlie.’

Charlie just gave a slight nod of acknowledgement. He saw Steven’s expression.

‘Extractor fan. Quite a common occurrence when you mix beer and hay.’

Steven took another drink. ‘Do they recycle it?’

The Chief looked back up from his bowl. ‘Of course we do. With millions of citizens producing huge quantities of flammable gas every day, we would be stupid not to. Every home, every bar, every street toilet in every city is plugged into the system. There are special toilets all over if all you want is a fart. We call them fart bars.’

‘Right,’ Steven smiled wanly, ‘I didn’t know that.’

‘Feel free to have a fart,’ the Chief encouraged, ‘Just press the green button. It will switch off when it detects no more methane.’

Steven gave him the thumbs up. ‘Got it.’

An hour later, a strange Modloch appeared at the bar. He did a double take and wandered over to the table. ‘You two were in that documentary!’

‘What documentary?’ Steven asked.

‘The one that was on tonight about the meat eaters. The Ambatta.’

‘I forgot that was on tonight…’

‘It is you two. Where’s the big guy?’

‘You mean Lewis. At the Gisha home world.’

‘Ah! Working hard huh.’

‘He is. Did you enjoy the documentary?’

‘Paints the Ambatta in an entirely different light. If they get protected status, would we be able to visit there, maybe stay?’

‘Of course. A protected world can be visited by any race. You can work there, live there. It would really depend on your skill sets, if they required your skills.’

‘My wife wants one of those homes with the garden thing. It’s hard to believe one family can have so much space, and grow their own grass.’

‘I think if they do get protected status, a lot of people might be looking to move. You might want to get your applications in first.’

‘Good idea. You really an Ambassador?’

‘Yes, for Earth.’

‘Hell, we’re getting some real swanky people in here these days. Nice to meet you.’

‘Thanks for stopping by.’

It amused the trio, but as the night progressed they were approached a few more times. The Chief had slipped off into a light sleep after filling his stomach. By the time Steven had reached the bottom of the massive glass of beer he was awake again.

‘I think I’ve had enough Charlie.’

The Chief stood. ‘I think so too. I feel like I need a good night’s sleep. You staying over tonight Charlie?’

‘Aye. You fit to go home Stevie? You can crash at my pad.’

‘Why not Charlie.’

The three made their way back to the Royal residence. Stevie was a little unsteady on his feet. They split up after saying goodnight. Steven was shocked by how austere Charlie’s apartment was. The walls were bare. A single couch sat in the middle of the room. There were two rooms off the main one, a toilet and a bedroom. A small kitchen was a part of the main room. It had been modified to suit a Human, but that was all. Charlie made them both a coffee.

‘You know your apartment at the flats is nicer than this.’

‘Might be, but the Emperor would take the huff.’

‘Even if he wasn’t here?’

‘He’s an Emperor Stevie. He doesn’t understand people refusing his hospitality, whether he is here or not.’

‘Aye, but it’s a bit of a shithole.’

Charlie laughed, ‘It’s all I need. Remember he gave me a whole bloody house.’

‘That is true. Did you enjoy your leave?’

‘It was fine.’

‘What about the fine Captain?’

‘I suppose there is no point in denying it.’

‘Not really. We know she was dropped off and picked up.’

‘We had some quality time together. Is that enough for you?’

‘Aye, it will do. I can’t hear the ship.’

‘Dampening field.’

‘It sure is quiet man.’

‘I know. Good init.’

They both laughed. ‘I won’t tell her you said that.’

‘Good, she will be on my case in the morning anyway because I let you stay here.’

‘She can be quite emotional for a ship.’

‘She certainly can. At least she doesn’t hate me.’

Steven sighed. ‘What is it with you and Komoru?’

‘Beats me Stevie. I can’t be arsed with her anymore.’

‘Can’t you look inside her head and see what is going on?’

‘The moment I did that and tried to sort it she would know.’

Stevie thought that over for a moment. ‘That’s true. It’s a no win, no win situation.’

‘Leave it be man. These things have a tendency to resolve themselves without anyone interfering.’

‘Do you regret coming with us Charlie?’

Charlie shook his head, but never answered straight away. Stevie waited patiently.

‘Remember when we were kids? We got a hold of that big cardboard box and dragged it into my grandad’s garage.’

Steven burst out laughing, ‘We painted it white and black with his old paint.’

‘What a bloody mess we made. Our own wee space shuttle.’

‘Climbing into it when the paint was still wet wasn’t very smart of us.’

‘Aye. We were four, I couldn’t even read and you were singing out telemetry like it was the real thing. I remember his face when he walked into the garage and asked what we were doing. He laughed all the way back to the house.’

‘Aye.’ Steven laughed, ‘But your granny freaked.’

‘So did our mothers. He made us one of wood after that, remember?’

‘We had a lot of class adventures in that shuttle Charlie.’

‘They were awesome, got to tell you though, the real thing is ten times better.’

They were both grinning from ear to ear. ‘I get it Charlie, thanks.’

‘No probs Stevie. Don’t worry about Komoru, and don’t interfere, you will just make it worse.’

‘I’m still not great with this relationship stuff, am I?’

‘You’re getting better. The complicated shit you’re great at, it’s all the wee stuff when you were growing up that you missed.’

‘Social interaction as a teenager. The most important years of your life for learning about social interaction. I read up on it. Why did you send me that link?’

‘Because you were getting confused, angry at yourself. Always wondering where you were going wrong. I just wanted to put it into perspective for you.’

‘Sometimes I think you’re smarter than me Charlie.’

‘I am in some things. I’m street smart; have a lifetime of social interaction to draw on. I’ve been through the mill, had my arse booted a thousand times. You missed all that.’

Stevie grinned, ‘Oh I don’t know, I think I’ve felt your boot a few times now.’

‘You’re a big boy now and responsible for a lot of lives. I don’t have the time to be nice about it. I know I’ve put you through a lot of shit Stevie, but you needed it.’

Steven thought it over for a moment. ‘If you see me falling from grace again Charlie; size eight is it?’

‘Aye. Dinna worry, it’s no steel toe capped.’

Steven laughed. ‘I sometimes think Komoru isn’t much better.’

‘She isn’t, but she has Lewis keeping her on track. Most of her crew are Japanese anyway; they have a different set of social skills; so it doesn’t really affect Komoru in the same way.’

‘How are they different?’

‘They just are. They naturally keep their distance from her. Komoru is also used to being alone. From what I have found out, she was a kid genius like you, and everyone around her knew that and treated her differently. When you went to college when you were a kid, you found Buzz. She had no one. She was far too young to be involved with the normal shit young women go through. Ostracised from those in her own classes by her age, from her peers because of her intelligence, she had no Buzz to fall back on.’

‘She used to talk to my mum a lot.’

‘Supported your theories as well I heard. Ostracised from the scientific community because of that.’

Steven was nodding to himself. ‘Yeah, but she was still brilliant enough to make money to retire on almost before she left university.’

‘Aye, and bought a bloody great house in the middle of nowhere, where she lived alone. Until you came along. I bet you were the first guy she was ever with.’

‘Charlie man, that’s private.’

‘Och for God’s sake! Did I say something bad? Grow up.’

‘You don’t talk about your private life.’

‘Okay, I’ll tell you, Jean wasn’t a virgin. Your turn. Man up.’

Steven felt himself under a weird kind of pressure, and felt more than a little panicky.

‘Yeah okay, your right. I was her first. She was my first. Alright.’

‘Was that so bloody hard?’

‘It was, aye. I still don’t like it.’

‘It simply proves what I was banging on about. She has little or no social skills either. No boyfriends, no lovers, a severe lack of the social interaction that normal young women go through. She has never been fucked and dumped, never had her heart broken. As a matter of interest, have you asked her to marry you yet?’

Steven went scarlet. ‘Ages ago, years ago.’

‘Has she set a date?’

‘No.’

‘Have you asked her about it?’

‘Is there a need to?’

‘Oh brother! Speak to Buzz about this one. He is the only one of us who has ever been in a stable relationship. All I will say is, women in love need a certain amount of reassurance. If they don’t get it, shit can go bad pretty damn fast.’

‘I tell her I love her all the time.’

‘You are her world Stevie. She has followed you all her life, been ridiculed for you all her life. Probably been in love with you all her life. Try asking her again, a new ring, get a date.’

‘I don’t see the need to Charlie.’

‘She has given her all to you, and you can’t even give her another wee ring for her finger. Cheap bastard!’

Steven laughed, ‘I can’t believe you. Are you actually sticking up for her?’

‘Maybe if she felt more secure in her relationship with you, she might get off my case a little. When it comes to Komoru’s social circle, you are it. You and Lewis.’

‘She gets on well with the rest of the women.’

‘She is making inroads, coming out of her shell a little. I wouldn’t go as far as to call her stable though. What about an eternity ring?’

‘Isn’t that for when you have been married to someone for fifty years?’

‘Beats the shit out of me. Make up your own rules.’

Enough!’ Steven stood, ‘I’m going for a pee.’

Charlie shook his head. When Steven was coming out of the toilet, he noticed a strange device on the kitchen worktop. He went over and picked it up.

‘What’s this Charlie?’

Charlie didn’t bother looking to see for himself. ‘What’s what?’

‘Looks like a torch in a holster.’

‘Dinna play with that, it’s dangerous.’

‘What is it?’

‘The Ambatta pilots use them to cut themselves out of their fighters if their safety systems fail.’

‘Like a laser.’

‘That sort of thing.’

‘Will it tear a hole in the roof if I switch it on?’

‘No, the roof will be fine.’

There was a familiar hum. ‘Wooh!’

Charlie sighed with exasperation and got up onto his knees on the couch, hanging over the back of it.

‘Do the words “dinna play with that it’s dangerous” mean anything to you at all?’

‘Charlie, this is a lightsabre.’

‘No, its no. It is a failsafe device, issued to Ambatta pilots to cut themselves out of their damaged craft. It can also be used to cut your way into an enemy craft. At least a dozen pilots have rescued themselves in the past few hundred years using those things. One guy stole an enemy fighter that stopped to have a wee nose. He killed the pilot, cut open the canopy and stole the fighter. A few others have managed to get onboard an enemy ship and steal fighters.’

Steven swung it around himself a few times. ‘This thing is awesome.’

‘Careful.’ Charlie growled.

‘What can it cut through?’

‘Haven’t tested it yet.’

‘We are going to have to do that.’

‘I was going to do that with Lewis when he got back.’

‘Has he got one?’

‘You're kidding right?’

Steven laughed. ‘Stupid question.’

‘How did you get your hands on them?’

‘Asked for them.’

‘Was that it? Can you imagine what would happen if these reached Earth.’

‘Aye, a lot of fannies would go about killing each other with them, lopping off arms and legs.’

Steven paused, ‘Good point. I suppose they would quickly be banned.’ He swung it a few more times. The blade flared a few times, then went dead. ‘Oh! What happened?’

‘The charge only lasts a couple of minutes. I’m going to have to put it on to charge now. Thanks Stevie.’

‘Can I have it?’

‘No.’

Steven thought it over. ‘What about your spare one?’

‘What do you mean.’

‘I know you Charlie. There’s no way you haven’t got a couple of these.’

‘You're right, but it isn’t a spare.’

‘You don’t need two.’

‘No, but it’s no a spare.’

‘What are you up to Charlie?’

‘Galactic law.’

‘Patenting laws?’

‘Aye, you got to hand in the device with all the other gumph.’

Steven’s mind went into gear, ‘Yeah. They take it to pieces and make sure there are no major components from major manufacturers.’

Charlie shrugged, ‘Never read through all of the material yet.’

‘I have read some of it. If two thirds of your design uses components from a single major manufacturer, they then have a right to say yes or no, or even prohibit the device from being constructed. They can even demand a share.’

‘It’s Ambatta, it should sail through any testing.’

‘Why are you patenting it?’

‘Cos its bloody cool. Also practical. No one else has anything like it. I imagine every Human pilot would want one.’

‘Hell I want one.’

‘It would be under licence from the Ambatta home world. There is nothing like this on the restricted list.’

Steven clicked. ‘You are trying to make them money.’

‘Is that no what I was told to do?’

Steven thought it over, ‘You were supposed to tell us.’

‘So some Federation business mogul can steal the patent? Or have it banned because some of the Federation council doesn’t want them to make money, or to be able to stand on their own two feet? I’m no a part of the Federation Stevie. I don’t give a shit what they say or think. I will always do what I think is right.’

‘You didn’t even tell me.’

‘No, because you were under Federation orders. You would have been obligated to tell them you had found a funky device that might sell.’

‘Charlie!’

‘No! If you think you are under some obligation to share this, I will resign my commission and retire. They don’t want the Ambatta doing what the Ortea did. They want full control of that planet and its resources for themselves. If you have any doubts about that, then you should resign your role as Ambassador.’

‘For God’s sake Charlie, you would think the Federation are the baddies here!’

‘You cannot believe for one second they are the goodies Stevie. For God’s sake man, how close did we come to going out as a species, and not just us? We are only joining the bastards to preserve the Human race, and our planet from the same devastation that was meted out to the Ortea and the Ambatta. For every meat-eating race that has survived, there are over a dozen who have completely perished. The members of the Federation do what they damn well please, and if they get their arses kicked, the Federation comes running and wipes their arse for them. The only difference is, if they can do it themselves, they win all the gains. If the Federation has to help, then the planet or solar system is divided up between them. Pull your head out of your arse man.’

Steven knew he had already lost the argument. He came back round and slumped down on the couch.

‘So why are they trying to get the meat eaters onside?’

‘Well… I plucked this straight out of the mind of the Grand Commander.’

‘Oh aye.’

‘Aye. The Federation is now going into a period of expansion. Every time that happens, it ends up in shitloads of new wars and conflicts. He wants his forces on or near the front line. Not tied up light years away. He believes the meat eaters that are here, the ones they have been fighting for thousands of years, have earned the right to survive. Our injection into the Federation has changed his way of thinking. It doesn’t mean he wants them running riot once they become Federation members.’

‘He wants to keep all of us in our places.’

‘Aye, hence all these restriction to our bid, the demands placed on us, the Dent and the Ortea, and now the Ambatta becoming a protected planet with conditions.’

‘Conditions that are beneficial to the Federation.’

‘Bang on dude.’

Steven scratched his head with the device. As an afterthought he handed it back to Charlie.

‘What’s your plans with that thing then?’

‘As soon as the Ambatta have protection status, I am going to patent it.’

‘Are there restrictions on species from protected planets patenting things?’

‘No, because most Federation protected planets are lifeless.’

‘They might rush in legislation.’

‘Then I will do it through the PD music company of Earth.’

‘Do you think the executives of the company will let you?’

Charlie looked at him flatly across the couch, ‘They had bloody better.’

Steven burst out laughing. ‘Don’t worry. You should take a wage you know.’

‘Don’t need the money.’

‘Not just now Charlie; but what about when we are all gone?’

Charlie took a deep breath, ‘Never really thought about that Stevie.’

‘I know Mum’s talked to you about it. I’m gonna make it happen, no matter what you say.’

‘Do what the hell you like Stevie, I’m sick of arguing about it.’

‘That’s sorted then.’ Steven was grinning from ear to ear. ‘So if you’re not going to market this on Earth, where and how are you going to market it here?’

‘Oh man, use your imagination. I asked your Mum to look into getting the Star Wars franchise; or at least getting permission to show the films here. If she gets that, then as soon as the patent is in, and accepted, we are going to release the films here.’

‘Whoa! Seriously?’

‘Can you think of a better way? I’m going to aim sales at the Federation for the use it is intended for, helping stricken pilots escape from their crippled craft.’

It didn’t take Steven long to figure it out. ‘You will turn it into a status symbol.’

Charlies answer was a smug grin.

chapter 27

The women were sitting in a comfy room with the Queen, watching the documentary that was going viral across the galaxy. When the film reached the part where the Grand Commander took the Ambatta female’s hand the Queen squealed with delight.

‘Goodness! Who would have thought the Grand Commander could be so gallant, isn’t he wonderful?’

‘It is a very touching moment,’ Jean, who was sitting closest to her, agreed. ‘The female, certainly looks refined.’

‘That is a woman of noble birth. You can tell by the way she carries herself. The Grand Commander recognises that as well.’

Komoru coughed politely, ‘The Ambatta have no real social status, or nobility.’

The Queen scowled at her, ‘Maybe not now Ambassador. I can assure you, that woman was from a noble or Royal linage. One can simple tell.’

Komoru gave a slight bow and sat back out of sight. They all sighed when Lewis and Trinnie appeared, sitting on top of a shuttle admiring the night sky. She was snuggled up in his massive arms. The expression on their faces wasn’t hard to read.

The Queen clapped her hands together a couple of times. ‘That was wonderful. I do hope they get protected status. I would love to visit. Where did they get all the footage Ambassador?’

‘Most of it was from our people. We have a neural link to the ship that can record what we see and do in real time. When we are on a mission like that, we have the ship’s record everything.’

‘Not just now I hope!’

‘No of course not your majesty. This is a social gathering.’

She turned to Jean, ‘Your man really doesn’t look anything special.’

Jean smiled, ‘I think that’s one of the things I like about him most. You really have to scratch hard to find the real man underneath, and looking so plain, most women don’t bother to try.’

There was some strange noises from further down the couch. Jean ignored them, but the Queen’s ears were sharp.

She placed her hand on Jean’s, ‘As long as you are happy Captain. That’s what matters.’ She looked up, ‘From what you may consider an alien female’s perspective, there was only one Human of note in that film, the one who found himself an Ambatta female.’

No one said anything for a moment. It was Hailey that spoke up.

‘That was Lewis your majesty. The Ambassador’s personal aide.’

The Queen had to lean forward. ‘Is he here with you Ambassador?’

‘Yes your Highness, on the ship.’

‘I would like to meet him before you leave.’

Komoru bowed slightly, ‘Of course your Highness.’

The Queen sat back and addressed Jean directly. ‘I bet the Grand Commander is furious.’

‘Why!’

‘He may be worried this detracts from his scary image. Although I bet most of the females across the galaxy are swooning right now.’

‘I don’t see it,’ Jean admitted.

‘You come from a society that is deeply different from ours. I am sure he is also quite ugly to the females of your race.’

Jean shook her head, ‘He looks very different; I for one don’t think he is repulsive. When he visits Federation One he always manages to spend some time with me.’

‘Does he have a thing for you?’

Jean laughed, ‘We get on very well. I am teaching him to shoot.’

‘With one of those chemical weapons your people use?’

‘Yes that’s right.’

‘Why you?’

‘Because I am a world class pistol shot. I hold many records for it on Earth. I am also a qualified instructor.’

‘I would love to see this weapon.’

‘I could give a demonstration tomorrow if you wish.’

The Queen’s eyes lit up. ‘Let me set that up for you. I believe we have marksmen with hand-held weapons. Would you appreciate a little competition?’

‘I don’t mind, your majesty. You have to remember that my pistol fires projectiles.’

‘Don’t worry, I will have that taken care of.’ The Queen stood. ‘Your presence tonight has been delightful ladies. I require some rest now. I shall see all of you tomorrow. It will be a very busy day; I suggest you all get some rest.’ They all stood and bowed.

Jean flopped onto the bed with her arms stretched above her head.

‘Oh that was a busy day.’

Mary groaned. ‘I'm bushed.’ Jean patted the mattress beside her and Mary flopped as well. ‘That’s better.’

‘She was really impressed with that documentary.’

Mary scowled, ‘What is up with that bloody Ambassador?’

‘Why?’

‘You couldn’t see it ma’am, but I don’t think she likes big Charlie all that much. Every time his name was mentioned she made some kind of face or noise. I want to punch her face in.’

‘Why would you want to punch her face in? You have never met him.’

‘Because he makes you happy. Because he writes huge letters by hand. Because he saved our planet. What did she ever do?’

‘I don’t know Mary. I am sure she works very hard.’

Mary stuck her tongue out at the bed canopy above her head. ‘Don’t care, she is a bit of a snob.’

Jean pointed to the door, ‘Go to bed and keep your peace with the Ambassador. I don’t need you to fight my battles for me.’

‘Yes ma’am.’

chapter 28

The carriage was quite large and open. It reminded Jean of the King’s birthday parade at home. The carriage itself was a splendid affair, decked in gold and Royal emblems. It floated above the ground in a majestic fashion. The people cheered their Queen; especially the females, and more specifically the younger of them. The males bowed with a sombre expression on their faces. Their fashion was as flamboyant as any Jean had ever seen, the most colourful of the races she had encountered, and there were more flowers present than seemed possible.

It was the first time Komoru had smiled in days. She had found herself placed in the second carriage. The Captain was alone with Jean and her retainers in the first one. She even managed a small wave. The women were all dressed in their finest uniforms.

Himari leaned in close. ‘You should be in the first carriage, this is an insult.’

‘I am just happy not to have to sit next that insufferable woman.’

‘She is only a Captain.’

‘There are many female Ambassadors in the Federation Himari. There isn’t a single female Captain within the Federation.’

‘You are a Captain.’

‘Yes, but not a serving one. There aren’t any in any armed forces. Or not many, and none I have seen.’

‘Still, it is an insult.’

In the first Carriage, the Queen leaned closer to Jean.

‘Is there a problem between your crew and the members of the Ambassador’s crew? There seems to be a little tension there.’

‘It isn’t much your Highness, nothing worth being concerned about.’

‘May I ask?’

Jean thought about it for a moment. ‘The Ambassador does not like my choice of men. He is a member of her mate’s Ambassadorial guard. They have known each other since they were children. Komoru comes from a race of Humans that are extremely traditional; polite but known for great courage and fighting ability. We come from a society that shares many of the same values. However, we can be rather blunt in our approach to things. Charlie is the epitome of that no nonsense, blunt approach which my people can be quite famous for.’

‘I see, so there is conflict between them.’

‘That might be putting it mildly. I admit that if Charlie had a little more consideration for the Ambassador’s feelings, there might not quite be so much friction between them.’

‘I assume, by your tone, that you don’t really care all that much.’

‘I train men and women to fight. I have quite a no nonsense approach to life as well.’

‘Has your man ever trained soldiers?’

Jean smiled. ‘When he was stuck at Federation One. He and his companion helped train some of our troops. They did a spectacular job. They raised the standards of our training by quite a substantial amount.’

‘How did they do that?’

‘They did it by example. By outperforming all of the recruits. My recruits half killed themselves trying to beat them. My training staff loved the pair of them.’

‘To a woman like yourself, that would make him even more attractive.’

‘I knew Charlie was a good soldier, I knew he was a very brave man. To see how he inspired young men and women to near kill themselves to imitate him was really the icing on the cake.’

‘You are a lucky woman.’

‘Maybe not.’ She smiled wanly at the Queen. ‘We move in entirely different circles. Soon I will return to Earth. I’m not quite sure if he ever plans to return. He has a home now in this part of the galaxy.’

‘Does love not conquer all?’

‘I’m afraid it doesn’t.’

‘Then enjoy every moment of the little time you do have together Jean.’

‘If I ever see him again, I will.’

‘What about the others in her crew? Do they just support her?’

‘No, there are two who are attracted to him.’

‘I think you out-woman all three of them.’

Jean smiled, ‘I can assure you I do.’

The pair laughed together, to the delight of the watching crowd.

chapter 29

Ne´ was furious but Darrick howled with laughter at his discomfort.

‘This is your fault Darrick, yours and that Human of yours.’

‘What is my fault Ne´? The fact that you have now more than enough support to push through legislation quickly? That the Catataracs have been hamstrung from taking any decisive action against the Ambatta? That if they try, the Federation forces don’t have to lift a finger to help?’

‘It’s your fault that my wife now thinks I was having an affair with a meat eater.’ It came out as a great roar. Darrick slid down his seat, he was laughing so hard. ‘Have you any idea how many requests from all over the Federation I’ve had as to my marital status?’

Darrick slid out of sight. Ne´ was forced to pace alone and listen to the laughter of his friend. Eventually Darrick was able to calm himself enough to climb back onto his throne. He had to blow his snout before he could finally speak.

‘You’re just embarrassed because you’re a repressed arsehole Ne´, lighten up a little. The whole of the Ambassador’s crew supplied the footage, not just Charlie. Don’t blame him, it was entirely my idea. It worked, so shut up.’

‘Too well I think.’

‘I’m sure your wife was just teasing you as well. You were impressed by that female, as I was, as anyone with noble blood flowing through their veins was. I would like to meet her.’

Ne´ was distracted. ‘She was noble Darrick. I saw the strength in her eyes when she told me both of her children were lost to the war.’

‘I saw it too. My father also saw the same thing in the Ambatta.’

It took a moment, Ne´ held up a hand, ‘Your father what?’

‘My father had an accord with them during the Haspsopot war. For a few supplies, they allowed us to use a secret base in their asteroid field.’

Ne´ was speechless for a moment. ‘When were you going to tell me this?’

‘Quite frankly, never. Now I don’t see the problem. Have you ever heard of the Modloch getting into a scrape with the Ambatta?’

Ne´ thought about it. ‘No, I don’t think so. Just as a matter of interest, what supplies?’

‘Any freighters we came across. Especially ones that had been destroyed. All they wanted was the engines. Now we know why.’

‘Have you met any of them?’

‘A few, I never spoke to any of them though. I had to sit to the side and keep my mouth shut. I was very young. There was more than one race there with them. The Ambatta have a lot of friends on the quiet. My father seemed very pleased with the deal. Being young I challenged him about it. He told me the Ambatta were far more trustworthy than most of the races I had met. Including yours.’

Ne´ laughed hard. ‘Your father was probably right. Still, I can’t see the Catataracs taking this lying down. We may well have slowed them down a little, but Vison will find a way around it. What we need to do now is cut down his allies. How is it going from your end?’

‘I have San Lo Tae´ arriving today for the tour of my gardens. San’s son Pan, his wife, and their children will also be with him.’

‘So the Ranagata are willing to be talked out of interfering. They still support the Albany and the Catataracs.’

‘They do,’ Darrick agreed. ‘Openly at least. They still have the strongest force that can interfere with your plans. The Catataracs can put a substantial force within their fleet, bolstering it, maybe even doubling it. The Albany really have nothing to offer, but the Haspsopot are an unknown entity in my estimation.’

Ne´ agreed. ‘They haven’t done much since the war with your people. Your father put them in their place.’

‘It doesn’t mean they have no forces Ne´, or that they won’t be a problem. They fought hard and with honour. Their technology at the time was equivalent to ours. If they are as strong now as they were then, you could be facing a major problem.’

‘Do you have any contact with them?’

‘No, nothing. Once my father signed the peace accord with them, we never heard from them again.’

‘No threats, no grumbling?’

‘Nothing. They cut off all contact. We don’t trade with them.’

‘Neither do my people. They have three star systems that stretch right across to the far edge of your territory.’

‘It was the invasion of our territory that we went to war over. A lifeless solar system that had a decent asteroid field. It still produces most of our raw materials.’

‘Well worth going to war over.’ Ne´ thought it over. ‘Do you know which direction they went after that?’

‘I don’t have a clue. They went very quiet after that war.’

‘Too quiet maybe. They could well be building up a substantial force.’

‘I have eyes and ears all over their solar systems. They don’t seem to have been up to anything unusual.’

‘Doesn’t mean they haven’t.’

Darrick sat forward, ‘I agree. They have been too quiet. They haven’t requested a visit by the Earth’s Ambassadors have they?’

Ne´ smiled, ‘Not that I am aware of. A pity. That lot have a good nose for trouble.’

‘It’s a pity I can’t get Charlie into a room with some of them to ask a few direct questions. We would soon know.’

‘You put that much store in his skills?’

‘I have seen him work. I have talked to my best investigators about him. They agree he has a phenomenal talent.’

‘Then I presume that you are taking him with you today?’

Darrick smiled, ‘How did you guess? I have had a small device made. It attaches to my skin near my wrist. Charlie has a small button he can press if he detects a lie.’

‘Smart. I want him on our side, as part of our intelligence community.’ Darrick slammed back in his chair. Ne´ frowned. ‘What is wrong with you? You look shocked.’

‘Don’t let any of your intelligence people near him Ne´. He will kill them out of hand. He doesn’t mind helping a friend. If you want his help, friendship is the only way.’

‘You are the second person who has warned me off about that. Still, I doubt I could become friends with a commoner. Even if you made him a noble.’

‘I doubt if he would want to be friends with you anyway Ne´.’

‘Why the hell not!’

‘You have no sense of humour.’

Ne´ scowled at the laughing Darrick. ‘In the words of a great Human general, up yours Darrick.’

The screen went blank, leaving Darrick to laugh on his own.

chapter 30

The last event in their calendar was an interview with a television personality. Jean and Komoru were both getting bad vibes from him. The Queen had warned them to be careful. Even by alien standards, he looked sleazy.

He began with a carefully worded speech that belittled females without actually going too far. With a sneering leer, he sat down to pick a first victim. He already knew who his targets were going to be.

‘Dr Freeling is it?’

Amanda hadn’t expected to be singled out, especially not first.

‘Yes it is.’

‘What made you think you could be a doctor?’

Amanda scowled a little. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t understand the question.’

He snorted, ‘A female who doesn’t understand a simple question. Are you a real doctor?’

All of the women went quite still.

‘Maybe something was lost in the translation. Or maybe you aren’t a real interviewer, and aren’t used to dealing with people from other worlds.’

He gave an unpleasant snort. ‘I think the translator is working fine.’

‘So you actually asked me why I thought I could be a doctor?’

‘That’s right, that’s exactly what I asked you.’

‘Have you got something wrong with your brain? Are all your race so backward, or is it just you?’

‘You dare insult me!’

‘You just insulted me. I am a top class surgeon, as both my parents were before me. I became a doctor, a surgeon, because I wanted to be. How dare you imply that just because I am female, that I was arrogant in my choice of career? Do you believe that you are better than me? Could you operate on a wounded person in the heat of battle? Can you, have you, ever saved a life? I am a combat surgeon. I have saved the lives of hundreds of men and women, and I wasn’t trained on some fancy machine that can do everything for you either.’

‘There are no female doctors on this planet.’ He snapped.

‘There was a time when there were no female surgeons or doctors on my planet either. Fortunately for women like myself, there were women who fought for their right to be heard, to vote, to be educated to the same standard as the males. To do any job they were capable of doing. I was the best student of my year, throughout my education. I beat every male in every examination that I took. On the planet Earth, you can be all that you want to be; male or female. All you have to be able to do is dream, and have the ability to work hard. I imagine for your job, you didn’t have to dream or work very hard.’

‘How dare you!’

‘I am a doctor, a surgeon, I am obviously far better educated than you, and above your station in life. So why wouldn’t I dare?’

The words choked in his throat. For a world with a hierarchal nature, her words hit home.

‘We believe there is an immorality to females receiving a higher station in life.’

‘So now you are directly insulting your own ruler? Is that wise for someone so low born.’

‘I did not mention our Queen.’

‘You most certainly did. You definitely said females. She is a female, so by definition, you believe she is immoral.’

‘You are putting words into my mouth!’ He almost screamed.

‘The words tumbling out of your mouth are your own.’ She dismissed him with a wave of her hand.

He took a moment to calm himself down, realising there was nothing more to be gained from baiting this female. He needed an easier target.

‘Ambassador. I believe you are living with a male, but are unmarried. Is this true?’

Komoru’s eyes went cold black. ‘What business is that of yours?’

‘We believe in the sanctity of marriage, before any mating takes place, Ambassador.’

‘I don’t care what you people think. I am not a member of your race. Nor from what have I seen, would I wish to be.’

His temper began to boil over. ‘You are from a primitive planet, a disgusting planet full of disgusting meat eaters, who mate all year round, and produce offspring in the same manner as vermin once did before it was eradicated on this planet.’

‘You dare call us primitive?’

‘Do you deny it!’

‘We live on the most beautiful planet in this galaxy. The diversity of life on it is one of its many wonders. You may be more technologically advanced than we are, however, socially, you are by far the more primitive of races. You treat your females like chattel, mere possessions of their fathers or husbands. You have no control over your breeding habits and thus your massive population problems.

‘You dare call us primitive, yet we Humans are the masters of our own destinies, bodies and minds. We did not reach a population saturation that required us to slaughter every other inhabitant of our world and force us to take to space to feed ourselves. We practiced birth control. We reduced our numbers so that the lands that supported us could cope.

‘We are the females of our race. We are free to choose our own paths in life. All the women here have chosen careers. We could fall in love, get married, have children and take up our chosen careers again later in life. Many do. We are not driven by an unstoppable desire to mate once or twice a year. Only the primitive creatures on our planet suffer from such an affliction. We can choose whether or not to have children. In exactly the same way your own Queen has. She has chosen to put her world and her people before her own desires, before having a mate and before having a family.

‘When we first learned of this, we thought the Gisha race were an advanced civilisation, socially as well as technologically. It would seem that not all citizens of the Gisha race are as advanced as their ruler. You sir, are most definitely a primitive being.

He was on his feet. ‘Primitive? None of us have to kill to survive!’

‘No, because your ancestors did it all for you. How convenient, how absurd.’

His finger flashed out, only now it was pointed at Jean. ‘You!’

Jean took a deep breath. His eyes slipped down to her ample proportions.

She smiled. ‘My eyes are up here please.’

It caught him off guard for a moment. He blinked stupidly; then slid back into his stride.

‘You have murdered males; admit it. You should be arrested and executed.’

Jean got to her full height and advanced on him. ‘The killing of an enemy in battle is considered a warrior’s duty, not a crime. I have killed many males of many different species. I have killed them in single combat. I have killed them by the thousand in ship-to-ship battles. My tactics and orders have resulted in the total loss of life on the battleships, cruisers and destroyers of my enemies. I have a battleship in orbit right now; with a crew who is dedicated and loyal. They will not hesitate to carry out any order I give. So just try and have me arrested you perverted little creep.’

As Jean had advanced, he had retreated. As she spoke her last word he lifted a hand to begin his next tirade. The hand came within an inch of her face, then considering it to close, he took a step back. It was a step too far. He howled as he fell backwards off the stage. He landed hard. The howl turned to a scream of pain as his leg was twisted beneath him.

Jean lifted her hands to her brow to shield her eyes from the bright lights and peered below.

‘Oh dear! It would seem the interview with this horrible person has ended ladies. Looks like he has broken a leg.’ She looked up, ‘Someone might want to call a doctor.’ She turned. ‘Amanda, would you like to swing into action?’

Amanda stood, ‘Not really, no! I am unfamiliar with the Gisha anatomy, I may do more damage that good.’

The women got up and left the stage while attendants ran to help the howling interviewer. Wiola was waiting for them back in their dressing room. The moment the door was closed she could contain herself no longer, she howled with glee. She laughed until tears streamed down her face. She gave Jean a hug.

‘Wonderful, simply wonderful. I have so wished to see him put in his place. To have it done by a female has made my year. I am sorry ladies, I did not know he would attack you like that. He was far more forward than I thought he would be.’

‘You aren’t upset at anything we said?’

‘Good grief no. It was wonderful. I have no doubt there will be a huge social outcry. However, you all managed to portray your message in a way I have never been able to. Thank you, thank you all.’

A little later Jean went out into the Royal garden. The scent was heavenly. She didn’t expect Komoru to be there. The two women sussed each other up. Komoru was about to sweep past and return inside when Jean spoke up.

‘Charlie was right about you.’

Komoru hesitated, ‘What was it your friend said about me?’

‘He said to never underestimate you, that underneath that demure outward appearance, you had a core of steel.’

‘Is that supposed to be a compliment?’

‘It was neither meant as a compliment nor an insult. It was a warning to me about you in a private conversation.’

‘In bed?’

‘Do you fuck your boyfriend, Ambassador?’

Komoru bristled, ‘That is private.’

‘As is my private life. Our words may have been different, but they asked the same question. Do you deny it?’

‘Perhaps I was being rude.’

‘As you have been throughout our whole visit. The Queen was going to have you with us in the front carriage, however she was disgusted with your behaviour. All the sniggering behind my back every time Charlie was mentioned. You have not done yourself any favours or won any hearts here Ambassador. Until tonight at least.

‘I don’t know why you hate Charlie so much, and neither do I care. He is man enough to fight his own battles. However, I expected some decorum when on show in front of an alien race. If it wasn’t for Charlie, we wouldn’t have a planet to return home to.’

‘If it wasn’t for Steven, we wouldn’t have a planet either.’

‘Steven or you. I admired you both greatly. I still admire your man for all that he has done. I considered you his equal in those endeavours. That respect has slid somewhat. Not for what you have achieved, simply for your childish behaviour this week.

‘You think little of Charlie, yet when neither you nor Steven could destroy the asteroid that would have destroyed Earth, it was Charlie, my Charlie, who did what neither of you two combined could do. He sacrificed much of what made him Human, to save Humanity. You may not like him Ambassador, you may literally hate him, but if you don’t respect him, you are an idiot, and don’t deserve to represent our planet in an Ambassadorial role.’

Jean brushed past her. She was five steps away when Komoru went after her.

‘Wait Captain, please.’

Jean was still angry, but she stopped and waited for her to catch up.

Komoru bowed low. ‘You are correct. I deserved that. I have been acting like a child. You are right. I do not like Charlie. I really don’t understand why. Something in me is repulsed by him. We fight and bicker all the time, and most of it is my fault. Are you aware of all of his abilities?’

‘I am not sure what you mean.’

Komoru took a deep breath. ‘He can see right through our clothing. Did you know that?’

Jean smiled, ‘I suspected as much.’

‘He can also read our minds.’

‘I don’t understand… he is supposed to be very good at reading body language…’

Komoru shook her head. ‘No. He can actually read peoples’ minds, peoples’ thoughts. The ship, when she repaired him, changed him.’

Jean was shocked by the revelation. ‘Oh wow! Oh that is big.’

‘I know. I am sorry Captain. It really just creeps me out.’

‘Oh… so much makes sense now!’ Jean clapped her hands to her face. ‘That is frightening.’

‘It is, isn’t it?’

Jean suddenly had a thought and burst out laughing. ‘You know, I don’t think you really have anything to worry about Ambassador.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘During a meal, I suggested he should try and explore his feminine side a little more.’ She laughed again. ‘He looked at me like I was a complete moron. “Why the hell would I want to be that confused.” Those were his exact words to me.’ She shook her head. ‘He will never try and read your mind Ambassador, simply because you are a woman.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘Charlie thinks women are a hotbed of confusion and conflicting emotions. Many Scotsmen think the same; regardless of your status or rank, or the cool calm exterior we put on for the world.’

It took a little while for Komoru to work it out. ‘Oh! I see.’

Jan leaned forward, ‘Would you like to look into another woman’s head?’

Komoru gave a small snort, ‘I have enough problems with my own neurosis.’ The two had a small laugh together.

‘I think your kimono is truly beautiful.’

‘I think your dress is lovely. We are all extremely jealous of your breasts. You really made that interviewer look like a pervert.’

‘Ah yes, the deep breath tactic. It doesn’t seem to matter what culture a male comes from or what planet, they always fall for that one.’

‘I don’t think it is a weapon that would work for me.’

‘We work with what we have. Each to their own Ambassador.’

Komoru bowed. ‘I will leave you to your evening stroll. I am feeling rather tired now.’

Jean returned it. ‘Good night Ambassador.’

Jean waited until Komoru was out of sight. ‘Bitch!’ she breathed.

chapter 31

Darrick met President San Lo Tae´ and his family at the reception area, which was vastly different from the early days. It now gleamed with polished rose coloured stone. It was large and open, with benches for sitting. In seconds the children were running wild, jumping up onto the marble-like benches.

‘Hello San.’

He smiled, ‘Darrick. It has been a while.’ He lifted his hands, ‘This is already quite impressive. Is this stone from the Ortea home world?’

‘It is.’

He sighed, ‘I apologise for my grandchildren.’

Darrick shook his head, ‘They will do no harm. Mine have already tested it out. They are waiting inside. Will you join me for breakfast?’

‘As long as it isn’t Catatarac hay.’ They both roared with laughter.

‘I can assure you it isn’t.’ He looked over, ‘How are you Pan?’

Pan bowed, ‘I am fine, your Highness.’

‘Still hungry?’

Pan laughed. ‘Always.’

The wives rushed ahead, guided by a servant. They ushered the children through to the other side. They heard the squeals of delight before they reached them. Both San and Pan were stunned by the sight that greeted their eyes.

San stepped forward, ‘What is this place?’

‘You could call it my own small piece of the planet Earth.’

‘Is their world truly like this?’

‘In the spring. You are seeing the trees in full bloom, the spring flowers. Please warn the children not to try and catch the insects. They sting. They also produce a nectar called honey. This may look pretty, but there is also a serious reason for it.’

‘I have heard of your famous biscuits. I can’t wait to try one.’

Darrick guided them to a pavilion. The scent from the flowers was breathed deeply by all. Everything seemed to be going well until they reached the pavilion, where a figure was waiting for them.

Pan froze. ‘You!’

Charlie stepped down from the steps, ‘Grand Commander Pan Lo Tae´ isn’t it?’ He folded his arms. ‘It has been a while.’

Pan snarled, and his father’s hands shot out. ‘Pan, what has got into you? Behave! We are guests here.’

‘He is the Human that held a gun to my head and threatened me. He can read a persons’ body as though it were speaking words. Have him sent away.’

Darrick stepped in. ‘Charlie is a personal friend of mine. He has also visited the Ambatta home world. You said you wanted to talk about it San. He has been there.’

San took a deep breath. ‘Pan, your problem with the officer can be sorted another day.’

‘He isn’t an officer. He is an ordinary rank. Sergeant, isn’t it?’

‘I was promoted to Captain. So your father is right.’

San nodded, ‘We have met before as well.’

‘Have we?’

‘Briefly, but we were never introduced. It was in a shuttle on the way to the space port.’

Charlie shrugged, ‘I have met thousands of aliens on shuttles.’

‘You bent my guards’ weapons.’

Charlie raised his eyebrows, ‘Ah! I remember that. I’m afraid I didn’t take all that much notice though. I was in a hurry.’

‘Do you bend a lot of weapons Captain?’

‘Being Human, it quite often leads to situations where alien races believe that I am about to eat them. I find bending a few weapons has a rather calming effect on people. It saves me from having to kill them.’

‘It is very effective.’

‘It is, isn’t it?’ Charlie agreed.

San eased his grip on his son’s arm. He had gotten the message; he had seen the weapon, and even tried to unbend it.

‘Another day then Human.’

Charlie sighed, ‘Really!’

Pan felt his temper rise again.

Darrick stepped in. ‘Charlie, San is a good friend of mine, and his son is also like a son to me. Did you give insult?’

‘I can’t honestly remember Darrick. I tend to insult a lot of people, so probably.’ Charlie made a face, ‘Ah! I remember when I got back to the ship, the officer in charge tore me a new one. So, the answer is definitely yes. I still can’t remember what I said though.’

‘Were you punished?’

‘Extra duties, a whole week.’

‘Would you apologise?’

Pan wasn’t happy. ‘What is the point if he can’t even remember what it was he said? Forget it.’

‘That is very gallant of you Pan. Don’t you think so Charlie?’

‘I am in a strange part of the galaxy, with strange people with strange customs. I have spent a lifetime soldiering, training men to fight, and fighting myself. At a point in a soldier’s career, if he has seen too much fighting, the niceties that society taught him as a child are burned off. We become rather blunt in our approach to others outside our small circle of friends. The more I interact with other species, the more I am being made aware of that shortcoming. I apologise if I insulted you. I had no intention to do so, it is just the way I am now.’

Darrick smiled, ‘He insulted me as well the first time we met.’

‘Impossible.’ Pan exclaimed ‘If he had insulted you, he wouldn’t be alive.’

‘He proved the truth of his own words. He also offered up his own life, if he was proven wrong, as an apology. I held the weapon in my own hands.’

‘A story for another day perhaps,’ San interjected.

‘When we are too old to do anything other than drink and eat hay San.’

San smiled. ‘What say you Pan, will you accept the Captain’s apology?’

Pan still simmered a little, ‘As I said, there is little point in being angry at some old forgotten words spoken in the heat of battle. I accept.’

Darrick was impressed. ‘You certainly have matured Pan.’

The two elders laughed at his wit.

Charlie showed them in to the pagoda. It was raised high enough for them to see as far as their eyes would let them. Inside were the debris from a number of biscuits the children had left behind. A servant quickly cleared up the crumbs. Tea and a coffee for Charlie were produced. Below, the children ran amok. The women picked flowers. It was an idyllic scene.

The chatter went from domestic matters to more serious ones. That was when Charlie began to take heed of the conversation.

‘How did you get on with the Ambatta, Captain?’ San asked him directly.

‘They are a very no nonsense race. Straight to the point. I liked them. I was with the Grand Commander most of the time he was there. He seemed to like them too.’

‘We saw the documentary. Are they really living in the asteroid field?’

‘I would say most of the population is, if not all. They wouldn’t tell us directly. It was just the impression I got while I was there. Our guide admitted it was her first visit to her home world. The way she flew through those asteroids was testimony to the fact she was at home there. She even flew one of our ships through the field, with as much dexterity as she flew a shuttle craft.’

‘Would you, as an old soldier, give an opinion as to the viability of an assault against them?’

Charlie took a deep breath. ‘You would be an idiot to even try… may I explain my reasoning?’

‘Please do.’

‘The Ambatta have been defending that asteroid field for almost a thousand years. Attacks on their home world proved to be ineffective, but prompted them to start building homes within the field. I suppose as insurance against a big attack. When the Federation finally managed to put in an affective assault against their world, it wiped out most of those on the planet’s surface. Yet those in the field were able to supply those on the home world with some sustenance.

‘That was five or six hundred years ago. For the next couple of hundred years, they fought constant battles with those trying to mine their asteroids. From what I could gather, not a single race has been able to mine so much as a grain of minerals from that field for at least two hundred years. That suggests to me that they have a very effective warning system, and the resources to back it up. Much of their manufacturing ability was transferred to the field before the Federation laid waste to their planet.’

‘Do you know how many were in the field before the great war?’

‘I believe it was millions.’

San sat back with a great sigh, ‘So the asteroid field has become their home world.’

‘I would agree with that assessment. The only way to eradicate the Ambatta is to destroy the asteroid field.’

‘Destroying their home world is a waste of time.’

‘A complete waste of time. No one lives there – no domestic livestock, no wild life, nothing.’

San held up a hand, ‘Why do you think no one lives on the planet?’

‘The asteroid we lived on for a few days was clean, spacious. The houses, streets and shops were all well cared for, well maintained. The facility we visited on the planet surface was pretty much the opposite. It wasn’t dirty, but it didn’t seem to be as well maintained. It was a bit grimy. You could see where things had been removed from the wall. To begin with I made the mistake of comparing it to what I would expect to see at home: bulletin boards with rotas, company orders, battalion orders. I thought they had just been removed. Then I remembered that no one on this side of the barrier has what we have at home. It’s all touchpad viewers and screens. Why not just switch them off? If you were that paranoid, you could just cut the power to them.’

Pan grunted, ‘That isn’t much evidence, a bit thin.’

‘You would attack the planet wouldn’t you?’

‘I am a Grand Commander. Of course I would attack the planet.’

‘The Ortea home world was devastated by exactly the same crap as the Ambatta’s world. Yet they had neutralised every agent on the surface of their planet. It was completely sterile. The Ambatta have never eradicated those toxins. They are paranoid about staying too long on the planet’s surface. We asked to see their domestic livestock. It took far too long to gather them together for the animals to have come from underground. The moment we had finished filming them, the animals were destroyed and burned. They warned Ne´ that they could not guarantee his safety, even after Ne´ had the surface sanitised. Before we got there, which of you knew that the surface of the planet was still infected? Would you have checked before you tried to land ground forces?’

Pan shook his head, ‘You may have a point Captain. We may well have landed a strong ground force to secure a safe zone and establish a base.’

‘Aye, especially if the surface seemed devoid of life.’

‘Devoid of life and sterile.’

Darrick had also been thinking, ‘What a good time to strike. Let’s say you had surrounded their home world and put down a strong landing force, maybe in more than one place. You would be loaded up with biological agents. What we use now is different to what we used then. Even if you had a neutraliser, would it have worked?’

Pan shook his head, ‘Probably not. Did the Grand Commander order specific neutralisers?’

Charlie nodded, ‘Aye, when we told him the surface of the planet was still infected, he had to research what was used and order the exact ones he required.’

Pan finally got it, ‘I could have had half my troops on the planet’s surface. They wouldn’t be protected from any of the agents. You said they destroyed the animals Captain?’

‘That’s right. Immediately, and burned the carcases to ash.’

‘So the agent could still spread. That would mean if we took them back aboard, the whole fleet would be in danger. Our forces would be split. The planet is a trap.’

‘Do you have enough firepower to eradicate the whole asteroid field?’ Charlie asked him.

‘A field that size…’ he shook his head. ‘We couldn’t even scratch it.’

All four fell silent for a few minutes. Pan was still mulling things over as he munched on a biscuit.

‘Captain, did you see their ships, anything substantial?’

‘A few battleships. They were almost twice the size of the Burning Wind. Luckily we weren’t treated to a demonstration of their firepower. I am no expert, but I got the impression they could handle anything we could throw at them, and dish out more.’

‘We have never seen one of their ships outwith the field. I have seen the footage. They seemed slow and cumbersome.’

‘Aye, they seemed that way.’ Charlie agreed. ‘Which is in complete contrast to everything else the Ambatta do. Another red herring.’

‘That didn’t translate.’

‘Another deception. Sorry, a Human saying.’

San took over the questions, ‘Now the Grand Commander has neutralised the agents on their planet, do you think they consider it a precursor for an invasion?’

‘I think that was their initial impression. They don’t trust the Federation or any of its members. However, when he signed a pre-cessation of hostilities agreement, drawing his forces away so they had some room to manoeuvre, I think he gained a small measure of trust.’

‘Do you really think Ne´ wants this peace accord to succeed?’

‘I would say he was more than determined. The Ambatta have agreed to supply the Federation forces with rare minerals and metals at nothing more than the cost of extraction, which, given their technology, is minimal.’

San grunted. ‘That will save the Federation millions, maybe billions every year.’

‘He also desperately wants their scouts and their skills to chase down pirates.’

‘Any appropriate Human saying Captain?’

‘Killing two birds with one stone.’

‘I like it. You Humans have a lot of sayings.’

‘We have a lot of imagination. May I be blunt?’

‘Do you have to be?’

Charlie thought it over, ‘I don’t have the social skills to put it any other way.’

San laughed, ‘Well said Captain. Please, be blunt.’

‘If you get involved, you’re going to get your arses kicked. I can’t tell you exactly what the Grand Commander is up to, but if he can find a legal way of interfering in attempts at attacking the Ambatta, I think he will.’

San waggled a piece of biscuit at him. ‘It isn’t that easy to turn your backs on your allies Captain.’

‘Does that mean they have superior forces to yours?’

‘An indelicate way of putting things Captain, but you have already apologised, so yes, that’s exactly why.’

‘Would they still be smaller if your allies got their arses kicked?’

San smiled, ‘Maybe not individually.’

‘We know the Catataracs don’t have a substantially bigger force than you. Their biggest asset is Admiral Valachean. The Grand Commander believes him to be the biggest threat. Word is he has drafted in our Admiral Baxter as a countermeasure to him. The Albany have nothing. In fact, intelligence tells us that you are protecting their borders at the moment. That only leaves the Haspsopot. Do they have a large fleet?’

San snapped upright, ‘I have no idea.’

Charlie’s mind was wide open. He caught a glimpse of a huge fleet, a fleeting image. San’s mind screamed the numbers at him.

Darrick reprimanded him. ‘That’s a little too forward of you Charlie.’

Charlie sat back satisfied he had his answer. His mind was still wide open though.

‘Sorry! My bad.’ Charlie looked away. He watched the children and women playing. Their thoughts were as clear as day. They were enjoying themselves. The Ranagata wives were envious of what the Modloch had. Darrick’s wife was feeling very superior. The children didn’t give a hoot. The servants were worried the children might hurt themselves or be stung by a bee. His eyes flicked to someone who was approaching the group.

‘Kill them, stop me, kill them, save me, please someone stop me. KILL THEM!’

Charlie snapped to his feet, ‘Darrick, who the hell is that?’

Darrick was still annoyed with Charlie but glanced across, ‘How should I know?’

‘I think he is going to try and hurt the children.’

The Modloch staggered on his feet for a second. Charlie gauged the distance and made a beeline for him. A running leap made all who saw it gasp. The Modloch’s thoughts were garbled and confused. Charlie could feel the pain as he rushed towards him, and he thought he wasn’t going to make it. At the last second the Modloch pulled out a large curved blade and raised it above his head. His attention had been swinging from one running child to the next. He selected the nearest child, who looked up just before the Modloch was about to strike.

Charlie roared at the top of his voice. The Modloch snapped round. Light flashed in Charlie’s hand and the raised arm fell to the ground, but the pain did not register with the Modloch as he bent down and peeled the blade from his own twitching hand. Charlie struck again and the legless torso fell to the ground.

The females began to scream. Charlie deactivated the light sabre and slipped it back into its holster. A hand was still reaching for the blade and Charlie picked it up. With now way of harming them now, something snapped in the Modloch’s mind. Blood gushed from his mouth, and the madness in his eyes receded. His eyes sought out Charlie’s.

‘Thank you for saving me.’

‘Who did this to you?’

Images flashed through his mind. ‘Aliens, hurt me. Couldn’t stop myself. Couldn’t could…’ His voice slipped away with his life. Charlie knelt and closed his eyes. He then lifted the Modloch’s hair and saw the marks.

The females and children had all retreated to a safe spot, all but one. San’s son stood trembling with fear. Charlie turned and looked down at him.

‘Look at me, not at him.’ Charlie raised his voice. ‘Look at me.’

His eyes slowly came up from the gruesome sight. Charlie knelt down as the others ran up.

‘My Papa said I will have to get used to the sight of dead people if I want to become a soldier.’

‘Your father is a great warrior, and he is right. If one day you want to become a warrior, you will have to deal with the taking of life, the sight, sound and smell of death. That is in the future, when you are older. This is not the time. This is the time to be a child, to play, to make friends, to laugh, to hurt yourself and cry like a child. When the time comes you will be taught to be a warrior, to deal with the sights a warrior meets in battle. Do you understand?’

‘Yes sir.’ He reached out.

‘Close your eyes,’ Charlie ordered. He did so and he picked the child up. He returned the child to his mother, who almost ripped him out of Charlie’s arms.

A fierce but low key argument had already sprung up by the time he reached them.

‘Shut up!’ Charlie snapped. He knelt and lifted the Modloch’s hair. ‘He was tortured into doing this. Look.’

They were all familiar with the marks. ‘Did he say anything?’ San asked.

‘He thanked me for saving him.’

‘For saving him? You mean the children?’

Darrick took a deep breath. ‘No, for saving himself, his honour, his family. A deed like this would have cost him everything. He and his seed would have been eradicated from existence and history.’

‘He told me that aliens had hurt him, he couldn’t stop himself. He didn’t die from the wounds I inflicted on him, something blew in his brain. That haemorrhaging isn’t normal. I suggest you do a joint post-mortem as quickly as possible.’

Charlie stood. ‘Wait a moment.’ He connected to Babes and got her to run the scanning program again. He scanned the front of the corpse and then rolled it over. It picked up a bug in a button. ‘This guy is bugged.’ He cut the button off, and held it up. Just then he picked up a high pitch sound, he tossed it away with a snap of his wrist, it only flew a few feet before exploding with a loud pop. They all ducked.

‘Bastards.’ Charlie cursed.

Darrick laid a hand on his shoulder, ‘You okay?’

‘Aye, they almost got me there.’ Charlie took a step towards San, ‘Which of your allies knew you were coming here today?’

‘My allies.’

‘Which ones?’

San’s eyes flickered closed for a brief second, ‘Vison.’

‘He wouldn’t dare.’ Pan growled.

Both seniors glowered at him. Pan felt a moment’s discomfort. Charlie saved him.

‘I think your son needs a hug, he is looking to his father.’

Parental concern took over and he marched to his son, who broke free from his mother and rushed to him. Pan picked him up.

Darrick swung his attention to Charlie, ‘What’s going on here Charlie?’

‘Looks like a set up to bind the Ranagata to the cause. I think he was supposed to kill the grandson, problem is, he kept swinging his attention from one child to the next. It could have been one of yours Darrick.’

‘How can you know such a thing?’ San demanded.

Charlie took a step closer. ‘I am a member of the Earth’s Goodwill Ambassador’s guard. I am also his chief interrogator. I study something called body language.’

‘I have never heard such rubbish.’

‘Let me demonstrate. How many ships do you have? Five thousand, eight, ten? We have already established that Vison has about the same number. What about the Haspsopot? Ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty five, thirty?’ Charlie nodded and turned to Darrick. ‘They can sally forth with a force of about fifty thousand ships, maybe a little more.’

San was flabbergasted. ‘What are you?’

‘I thought I had just established that.’

‘This is the man who caught my cousin. I rewarded him with lands and a home on one of my planets. You cannot lie in front of him San. That is why he is here today.’ He turned to Charlie, ‘How did you spot him Charlie?’

‘It was as though he was walking with a knife in his hands, even though it was still sheathed. In his mind it was in his hand. As he came across the meadow, he was fighting every step he took. It was obvious he wasn’t in his right mind. Yet he fought it. As the children played in front of him, he began to lose focus. His attention swung from one to the other, he was in a lot of pain. I didn’t think I was going to make it. After I cut off his arm, he still tried to carry out what he had been forced to. Once I had completely incapacitated him, whoever sent him to do this killed him.’

‘Do you think he was sent to kill Pan’s son?’

‘When his eyes focused on the lad, his attention seemed to change slightly; so yes, I would say Pan’s son was the original target. I presume fighting whatever was driving him was the reason for his initial confusion. I don’t know what was done to him; but I do know he fought it with courage.’

A host of gardeners ran up. It was soon established that the attacker had been a young gardener, who was single. The guard took the women and children up to the pavilion. No sooner had the corpse been removed than their courage returned. They began to demand to return to the meadow.

‘Do you want to return to your ship now San?’

The elder looked up at the bright light above and smiled. ‘Since when did we let an assassination attempt spoil our appetite Darrick? We are Emperors after all.’ He looked to his grandson. ‘This will be an important lesson for all of the children. Let us proceed as if nothing has occurred. You promised us lunch.’

Darrick laughed. ‘Well said San. It is a bit of a walk, but it is a pleasant one. I will send the guard ahead to clear anyone out of our way.’

San looked round, ‘I think with the Captain close by, we will be safe enough.’

Darrick laughed. ‘I do like to keep him close when his duties permit.’

‘I can see why you have taken to these Humans Darrick.’

‘Will you tell me San? What are their intentions?’

‘It isn’t hard to see Darrick. We were to blast a huge hole through the asteroid field and take the planet. I can’t agree with your friend’s assessment. They can’t beat fifty thousand ships.’

‘The Federation went in with almost twenty thousand. They did exactly the same thing Pan. Blasted a hole through the field. When the lead elements had gone through, the Ambatta crushed thousands of ships with asteroids and closed the field. Those that got through reached the planet, but were never heard from again. None returned. They fought for days, opening the field, sending in ships, only to have them close the field again, crushing even more ships. They tried in different places with the same results. We considered it a success because we were able to hit their home world, but the Federation never tried it again.’

‘Five thousand ships wasn’t it?’

‘That’s how many returned. They fired their weapons so much that every ship was depleted of fuel in a few days. Not to mention the Ambatta have had five centuries to prepare and perfect their tactics. I don’t care how many ships you have San, you won’t win. They have an asteroid field that surrounds not only their planet but their sun as well. Even with even fifty thousand ships, they will whittle you down. You have no idea the size of the force that opposes you. Your forces will bombard an unpopulated planet, depleting fuel and energy, then you will have to leave through the asteroid field again. Will you have enough fuel to fight your way back through?’

‘What choice do I have?’

‘I can give you a choice, but I need to know something first.’

‘What is it?’

‘There is no way the Haspsopot built thirty thousand ships to fight the Ambatta.’

San didn’t have to think too hard about it.

‘You’re right, they are after your territory.’

‘Thirty thousand ships wouldn’t be enough.’

‘No, but fifty thousand would.’

Darrick nodded, ‘So the price of the Haspsopot joining the fight against the Ambatta, was the combined fleets attacking me?’

‘That’s right. Don’t think bad of me Darrick, I was left with little choice.’

‘Then I will give you a choice.’

chapter 32

Ne´ was surprised to see Darrick. He cleared his schedule. Darrick came in carrying a container which he slid across his desk. Ne´ opened it.

‘Is this the finished product?’

‘Tried, tested, sealed and packaged.’

‘Issued?’

‘A third of the fleet now has emergency rations for three days.’

‘A way to go then.’

‘Did you know there is a combined fleet of fifty thousand ships heading the Ambatta’s way?’

Ne´ was shocked; it took him a moment to find his voice and he choked on his first few words.

‘What! How… what?’ He took a deep breath to gather his thoughts. He wondered if it was one of Darrick’s elaborate jokes, but Darrick’s face was as calm and as serious as he had ever seen it.

‘Alright Darrick, you had San over for a visit, I remember you told me that. Has this information come from him?’

‘Him and Pan. An attempt was made on Pan’s son’s life. One of my gardeners had been tortured and his mind bent. They had told Vison of the visit. The device planted in the gardener’s head was of unknown origin, but based on a Catatarac design.’

‘It wasn’t actually Catatarac?’

‘No, but we have security footage of a Catatarac and Haspsopot agent breaking into the gardener’s apartment.’

Ne´ was a little confused, ‘You have security cameras in the residences of your gardeners?’

Darrick felt his temper begin to rise. ‘They aren’t just any gardeners Ne´. They look after my bio domes, the Human plants and bees. They have been specifically trained for the job by Humans. Don’t you remember when all of my gardeners were abducted by the Albany?’

Ne´ held up a hand, ‘Yes, yes, yes; alright Darrick, I get it. They are a precious commodity.’

‘Damn right they are. They are also paid three times more than any other gardener in my empire.’ Darrick began to calm down.

‘Is the boy all right?’

‘Thankfully. The assailant was incapacitated, and whoever was controlling him killed him by remote. His body was bugged.’

‘Have you caught them?’

‘No, they got away. We know the ship they left on, we are still hunting.’

‘Fifty thousand ships then… a combined fleet?’

‘Yes.’

‘Catatarac, Ranagata and Haspsopot?’

‘Yes.’

‘When the hell did the Haspsopot build a fleet of thirty thousand?’

‘Since the war with my father.’

‘I can’t see them building a fleet of thirty thousand just for defence. They would need fifty thousand to challenge you. Ah…’ Ne´ sat back.

‘The Haspsopot agreed to support the Ranagata and Catataracs against us, if they helped with the Ambatta’

‘With thirty thousand ships they could have taken out all three, the Albany, Ranagata, and the Catatarac, thrown them back to their home planets…’ He dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand. ‘Too problematic. Have you had any incursions by Haspsopot ships?’

‘Nothing, no sign of them at all.’

‘So they were still building. This problem with the Ambatta has given them an opportunity. The Haspsopot Emperor is getting old, he would be dead before they could build another twenty thousand ships and be able to dominate your forces.’

‘They still couldn’t. They don’t seem to realise we have a pact with the Humans. They can add another twenty thousand ships to my fleet in a heartbeat.’

‘You kept that one quiet.’

Darrick smiled, ‘I’m not stupid. They won’t help with a pre-emptive strike against the Haspsopot though. Or help us in a fight we started.’

‘Are you going to commit all your thirty thousand ships?’

‘Forty.’

‘Where are you getting the number forty from?’

‘The Ranagata. They are going to change sides.’

‘Why, who’s territory are you going to go after?’

‘Vison and the Haspsopot.’

‘Can they hold it?’

‘Maybe. You aren’t taking into account the Ambatta forces.’

Ne´ shook his head, ‘Fifty thousand ships may be too many for them.’

‘Ask them.’

Ne´ only hesitated for a few seconds. He typed on a pad on his desk and swivelled his chair towards the wall. It became translucent. There was a buzzing. After thirty seconds a face appeared.

‘Grand Commander.’

‘Chancellor Kanta.’

The Chancellor noticed Darrick. ‘You have a guest, the Modloch Emperor, it is a pleasure to see you.’

‘It has been a while since I saw an Ambatta Chancellor, it is also a pleasure.’

‘Your father and my predecessor got on well. He told me your father did far more than fulfil the promises they made together.’

‘We may well find ourselves on the same side again.’

‘I presume you aren’t talking about after we gain Federation status.’

‘You would be correct.’

‘What is the news you have for me Grand Commander?’

‘We believe that there are fifty thousand ships heading your way.’

The Chancellor blinked, ‘Fifty thousand. Seriously?’ he leaned forward, ‘Any idea how many freighters?’

Ne´ and Darrick spontaneously burst out laughing.

An hour later the meeting concluded. Ne´ had called in Baxter, who was waiting for him by the time Darrick left. They nodded politely to one another, then Baxter was shown in. He sat next to Ne´, he also had a good idea what Ne´ was wanting.

‘Admiral.’

‘Grand Commander.’

‘Have you any word from your government yet?’

‘They refuse to attack the Haspsopot. They realise that the Modloch may not have much choice, but our accord stipulates the Haspsopot have to attack first. We are slowly beginning to win support; to attack a race that has never given us any offence could put us back politically. We might be considered no more than a tool of the Modloch Emperor.’

‘We have fifty thousand ships heading our way Admiral.’

Baxter stiffened, ‘Fifty thousand! We didn’t know that.’

‘Darrick left out the size of the fleet arrayed against us when he talked to your government.’

‘Why would he do that?’

‘What would it matter the size of the fleet? You would either help or not.’

‘Have you told the Ambatta?’

‘Yes, they didn’t seem too worried about it.’

‘How could they not be worried?’

‘Darrick has in interesting hypothesis, and the more I think about it the more I agree with him. He believes the Ambatta no longer live on their home-world.’

‘They live exclusively in the asteroid field?’ Baxter thought it over. ‘I can see how that would be a tactical advantage. There is no point in attacking the home world now; and futile trying to find or fight them in the asteroid field.’

‘We were all under an assumption that only a portion lived in the field.’

‘Any idea where the Emperor got his information from?’

‘No, but I believe the Ranagata are aware of the fact.’

‘Then the enemy know.’

‘The Ranagata are going to change sides as soon as the Modloch engage.’

‘That could well tip the balance in the favour of the Ambatta. The trouble is, no one knows how many ships they can field.’

‘The Ambatta Chancellor did not seem all that concerned by their numbers.’

‘Why am I here Grand Commander? You can’t do anything and neither can we.’

‘There is one possibility that we haven’t explored.’

‘What would that be?’

‘Rescuing a Human diplomat, stuck in the middle of a conflict, one under Federation orders. Say a certain Goodwill Ambassador and his mate.’

‘Steven Gordon. He is crucial to the survival of the Human race. With the knowledge that he is going into a potential warzone, we would have to field a large number of ships to protect him. The Ambatta, however, would have to let them in. You don’t really need him there, do you?’

‘The Federation has already ratified the pre-cessation of hostilities. This needs a counter signature from a number of the Ambatta. They also have to sign the agreement we made as to what they will provide the Federation with, once they reach protected status. Normally this is a job for a full Ambassador. The Ambatta, however, have asked specifically for him. They don’t trust any of the rest of us.’

‘So you are in cahoots with the Ambatta?’

‘Sorry, bad translation.’

‘You are working together.’

‘Yes, of course we are. The Ambatta want an end to the war, and we want their resources. Of course the Goodwill Ambassador will have to wait until after the battle to have anything signed.’

‘Can my President refuse to send him?’

‘He could, but it wouldn’t be a smart thing to do. We are not asking the Ambassador to do anything out of the ordinary here. This is all routine. Whether the Ambatta were to be attacked or not, he would still be asked to perform this duty.’

‘I understand, and in the meantime, if we wish to protect him, we had damn well better send in a fleet to do so. With the technology at his disposal Admiral, he could quite easily hide amongst the asteroids.’

‘We will be waiting in anticipation to see what you will do.’

Baxter got up and left.

chapter 33

‘You know it’s another one of their damn tests!’ Michael Montgomery was in a foul mood. The Modloch Emperor had contacted him days before, and had only laughed at his refusal. He had been feeling uneasy ever since, added to by the increasing political pressure from Earth to keep service personnel safe and increase trade. The first half dozen full time Human Ambassadors were now close to being fully trained, but even if they had been ready, they would still have had to send in an escort.

At home a world political organisation had been formed. Representatives from all over the world were now a part of it. He could not just please himself, he had to report to the Worlds House of Representatives, the WHR. They did not have the power to remove him, but they could make his life extremely difficult. A few had been going back and forth across the barrier for some time, to acclimatise politically with the galactic order. They were taken on trips to watch the galactic council do their things, to visit worlds that had been devastated by the Federation, and a number of friendly planets. Those who had already been were firmly on his side. They would understand.

There began a series of emergency meetings. As usual there was the normal bickering; however an underlying fear of losing the great Steven Gordon put most of them in a sweat. Especially after the arrival of Steven’s mother. Michael Montgomery had been smart enough to put her in the picture. She had walked brazenly into the meeting. Few of the representatives did not know who she was; it took her two minutes to pull them into line. She had warned them that if her son wasn’t going to get the full backing of the organisation, and he was subsequently hurt as a result, she would immediately stop all production. The PD Company of Earth would liquefy its assets and cease trading immediately.

She would order every machine under her control to cease, and reduce themselves to their component parts. There would be no more trading with the other side of the galaxy and she would cease all building projects on Earth. Two minutes after she walked out it was unanimously voted that the fleet stationed with the Modloch forces should act as an escort.

chapter 34

Steven was a little perplexed at all of the attention. It had been one briefing after another, for a whole day. He had received his orders from Michael Montgomery, and then been handed over to one expert after another. They were now on their way to rendezvous with Ico and The Sir William Wallace. Big Willy would then cross deck all her recruits to a fast freighter, who would transport them to Federation One. Her compliment of fighting men and women would be made up by the Federation forces that were stationed in the Ambatta solar system.

The large fleet set off together. Babes took her navigational instructions from the lead vessel and sat in the middle all the way to the rendezvous site. They were allocated an hour to cross deck the troops from the Sir William Wallace. Babes and Ico docked together. Ten minutes later, a shuttle docked with Babes. Charlie was asked to receive their guest.

Jean was alone in the shuttle. She opened the door and invited Charlie inside. He was a little puzzled, then alarmed, when Jean took up a rather seductive pose against a bulk head.

‘Guess what I’m thinking soldier?’

Charlie frowned, his eyes flicking towards the cockpit.

‘Don’t worry, I popped over on my own, we are all alone.’

‘Uh! Right.’

‘You don’t look happy to see me. Guess what I’m thinking?’

Charlie suddenly felt irritated. ‘Jesus Christ Jean, what’s got into you? This isna the time or place.’

Her whole demeanour changed. ‘That’s what I thought.’

‘What now? Some feminine love bullshit?’ Charlie was getting annoyed.

‘You have a major problem Charlie.’ His frown made her smile. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not having a go at you. I’m not here to seduce you either. I’m here to tell you that you have a problem.’

Steven was in the middle of some hugging bliss. He only barely registered that the shuttle had departed after a couple of minutes on board. That all changed when Charlie appeared from nowhere and ripped Komoru out of his grasp. She screamed as she flew through the air to land on the large couch.

‘CHARLIE!’

Charlie took Steven by the throat and launched him onto the couch too. He advanced on the pair as they untangled themselves. Komoru fired orders at Ico desperately.

‘That won’t work Komoru, I also have my own dampening field. Ico can’t get a lock on me.’

Steven managed to catch his breath and made to launch himself at Charlie.

‘I will kill you if you try Stevie, and this stupid little bitch about two seconds later.’ Both captains suddenly found themselves paralysed. ‘You will find you can’t move. The ships have agreed to do this to save both of your lives. That way you will both listen to me without interruption. I gave them no choice in the matter.’

Charlie sat them both up and pushed them together. His eyes flicked from one to the other.

‘Playtime is over children. This shit is about to get really serious. When this mission is over; if we are still alive, I am going to resign my commission and go work for the Modloch Emperor. Why? That’s just what’s popped into your head, isn’t it Steven? Komoru on the other hand is jumping for joy inside. You see her little ploy worked. She told Jean about my mind reading abilities. On a foreign planet, where they were being watched twenty-four seven.’

Steven felt his blood run cold, and tried to speak, but was completely unable to.

Charlie raised his finger to his lips. ‘Shh.’ He turned his attention to Komoru. ‘You may consider yourself a victor. However, if your little talk was monitored, then the repercussions on Humanity will be devastating. Do you really think that these aliens will believe that I am the only Human in the whole galaxy with this ability? I will not be the only one to die, just the first. There isn’t a single government official out there who isn’t paranoid about their bosses finding out what they really think. There isn’t an Emperor, King, or a President, that would allow me or anyone like me anywhere near them. Especially if they discover how far away I can do it from.’

Charlie poked her in the chest hard. She tried to cry out in pain but was unable to.

‘Your childish little game might have just cost us any hope of becoming a part of this Federation, and maybe even the lives of every Human being. Their paranoia will never allow them to accept us now. They won’t even meet a Human face to face after this.’

Charlie poked her again and again and again. ‘I want to snap your neck so much it physically hurts.’ He could now read the terror in her mind and was satisfied. ‘Should we, by some minor miracle, never hear any more about this, you will never interfere with me again. You will never talk about me to anyone. You will forget my very existence, because if you don’t, and I ever find out you are talking about me, on any level, about anything, even once, I will hunt you down and crush that scrawny neck of yours. As I have said, I will leave after this mission. That should sway your childish inclinations to dig my grave even deeper.’

He turned his attention back to Steven. ‘As of now old buddy, you may consider me semi-retired. No more help. No more reading the intentions of our allies or enemies. You are completely on your own. I hope it works out for you.’ He stood. ‘They have agreed to let you remain like this for twenty minutes. Please contemplate what has just happened, and what the future will bring both of you. I sincerely hope you will both be very happy.’ He hesitated. ‘If you survive this next battle of course. With somewhere in the region of ninety to a hundred thousand ships about to go into battle, and you two being a major target for the enemy, I doubt it very much. Have a nice day.’

chapter 35

Steven slowly began to regain control of his body. Komoru was petrified that Charlie would return. The ships were both silent.

Buzz was the first to be able to get through to him.

‘For God’s sake Steven, get yourself into gear. They are waiting for us.’

‘Tell them we need a further ten minutes please.’

‘Right.’

Steven took a deep breath and wiped the tears from his face. He was able to slowly get to his feet and turn to face her. From his pocket he took a small box and opened it. Her eyes flew wide. It was the most beautiful ring she had ever seen in her life. She cried out in anguish as it began to dissolve in front of her eyes.

The lid snapped closed. ‘Steven!’

He shook his head, ‘It was Charlie who suggested it you know. He thought I should ask you to marry me again, to show you how much I love you, he knows more about women than I do. I know you dislike him, hate him even, but how could you Komoru? How could you do that to a member of my crew?’

‘He hurts you. Embarrasses you.’

Steven smiled wanly. ‘Yes I know. He boots my arse every now and then. I need it. I need him. I need someone who isn’t so enamoured with me that they will never tell me what I am doing wrong. You all protect me, even you. He doesn’t. He shows me the error of my ways. In his words, we are responsible for more lives than the people on these ships. We are responsible for billions of lives and creatures on our home world. I learn ten times as much from him as I do from any other person; he doesn’t mollycoddle me. He is my friend. He isn’t doing it out of avarice, he doesn’t do it to embarrass me, or through contempt. He does it because he is my friend. He does it because he knows how to teach people quickly. Men like me. He has been doing it for years. He doesn’t need us Komoru, we need him.’

Steven wiped away the last of his tears. ‘My job today is to tell you what is happening. A huge war is about to break out, and we are stuck right in the middle. Fifty thousand ships are about to invade the Ambatta solar system. The Modloch are going to attack those ships with a fleet of thirty thousand. We were not to be involved. However, the Grand Commander has manoeuvred the Human race into a predicament whereby we will not escape unscathed.

‘They have prepared a number of treaties to be signed. One before the conflict starts. They are going to hold off signing the second until the battle is over. We are the only Ambassadors they trust. We will proceed to the Ambatta home world with a fleet of ten thousand ships from the Earth Defence Force as an escort. We will be allowed inside the asteroid field, the only ones allowed inside. We will arrive there a few days before the enemy arrives.’

Komoru was struggling with everything that was happening. She tried to throw her mind at what she was hearing.

‘Where are they getting fifty thousand ships?’

‘The Haspsopot fleet is thirty thousand strong. You know the rest. Their fleet was aimed at the Modloch empire, but was still years away from being able to make the attempt. They have agreed to attack the Ambatta, if their allies help them fight the Modloch.’

‘Thirty thousand ships! The Modloch will be slaughtered. Our people won’t attack because they attacked first.’

‘Ten thousand of the Ranagata are going to defect to the Modloch fleet before the battle begins.’

‘How do we know this?’

Steven lifted his arms into the air and let them fall by his side. ‘Charlie was there, at a meeting between the Emperor and the Ranagata President. He forced their hands a little after an assassination attempt that he was able to stop.’ Steven rubbed his face. ‘Babes has transferred the full details of what happened to Ico. Please, return to your ship and review the information there.’ She opened her mouth. ‘Please, we need to get going. The fleet is waiting for us.’

Tears were streaming down Komoru’s face. She closed her eyes for a moment. They snapped open again. ‘I can’t beam across. Ico won’t let me. I can’t go like this.’

Steven asked Babes; she refused. It was a part of the bargain they had made with Charlie. Komoru realised she had no choice. She reached for Steven, but he stepped back.

‘Charlie’s lessons can be very painful Komoru. I’ve learned the best way to survive them is to simply swallow your pride and get on with the job.’

chapter 36

Komoru’s room was far more traditional than Steven’s. It was quite spartan but still managed to have a feminine feel to it. Lewis was one of the few people who had been in it, and even then, rarely. Ico had agreed to let him talk to her. The lift slid down silently.

‘Miss Komoru.’ The place was in darkness. ‘Lights, please.’

He saw a small form huddled into a corner on the floor with a duvet over it.

‘Go away Lewis.’

‘No.’ He walked over and sat on the floor. He pulled the whole mass, duvet and all, on to his lap. ‘We are approaching the field. You need to get up, get dressed and take command.’

‘I can’t.’

‘It is a simple case of you have to. The Ambatta are expecting two Ambassadors, not one. They need two to witness it.’

She pulled the cover from her face. ‘Look at the state of me.’

‘Ico can fix that in a few minutes. I don know about the smell though.’

‘I smell?’

‘Real bad Miss Komoru.’

‘I am a mess.’

‘You sure are. Captain Gordon gone and broke your heart?’

‘Yes.’ She sobbed.

‘Dumped you?’

She sniffed, ‘No.’

‘Then what he do?’

She sniffed, ‘I was bad Lewis.’

‘What you gone and done?’

‘I did something stupid. Vindictive. I wanted to hurt Charlie.’

‘Ow! That’s the wrong guy to hurt Miss Komoru. What you do?’

‘I told Captain Jean that Charlie could read minds.’

‘Maybe that ain’t so bad. He would have to tell her one day himself anyway.’

‘I did it while we were on the planet Gisha.’

Lewis went very still for a moment as he absorbed it. ‘Oh, that bad Miss Komoru. They could have been listening to you.’

She took a deep breath, ‘I didn’t think.’

‘Damn right you didn’t.’

She turned her tear stricken face up towards him, ‘You too Lewis?’

He grabbed her head and pulled it into his massive chest. ‘You done bad. You got to put it right again.’

‘I am afraid of him.’

‘Maybe you should be. What is Charlie going to do now?’

‘He is leaving as soon as this mission is complete. He is going to resign his commission and work for the Modloch Emperor.’

‘He bout the only guy that could protect Charlie. Hope if he finds out, he don kill him.’

‘Is it that bad Lewis?’

‘If this gets out, then no place safe for Charlie Miss Komoru, not even home. He’ll be in a lab, or in a box. We’re the only people who know. We don care, because we know he don use it on us. Not never.’

‘We can talk to one another using our minds only anyway. I suppose it isn’t too big a leap to be able to read the minds of others.’

‘Ico and Babes pick up our thoughts all the time. We don think nothing about that, we just ignore it.’

‘That’s true, but he is different.’

‘Cos he can walk and talk? Cos he can talk to people the ships can’t?’

‘Yes, something like that, and he can see through your clothes. I sometimes think he is looking…’

‘He can see heat, and x-ray, but he can’t strip away the layers of your clothing, Miss Komoru. He can see if you got a bullet in your gut, but not your boobs, your skin or flesh. Don know where you got that from.’

She snapped forward and looked at him. ‘Ico told me.’

‘Maybe you miss-understood, my heart.’

‘Ico, you said he could see people without their clothes on.’

‘He can my heart, but in the fashion Lewis just described to you.’

‘You never told me that.’

‘I thought it would have been obvious.’

Lewis burst out laughing, ‘You been thinking Charlie been perving all the ladies!’

Komoru cringed, ‘Yes.’

‘He’d laugh at that.’

‘He has had lots of partners, he isn’t a nice person Lewis.’

‘Miss Komoru, you been a victim of scuttlebutt. His friends say that, they say it in fun. To tease him. Charlie ain’t been lucky in love like we have. He could have Himari any time he wants, he ain’t done it. The doctor, she have the hots for Charlie for a long time. Charlie came clean about something that would have affected their relationship if she had ever found out later. It cost him. He had to do extra duties. Charlie liked the doctor, I know, he told me. He was thinking of her heart Miss Komoru, not his own. You been seeing Charlie in a bad light, you never saw the good things he done.’

‘She still hates him.’

‘No she don. She hates what he did. Not Charlie. She knows he was right; she just don like it.’

‘She can’t come to terms with it. Neither can I.’

‘I don think Charlie can either. He says he has, but I spent a few weeks with the man, he has nightmares. Bad ones.’

‘Do we really need him Lewis?’

‘Charlie won his place with the crew, and the ships Miss Komoru. He was lost when he came here. He keeps Steven on the right tracks, reads the minds of the people that would do us harm, like the Evolka. He keeps us one step ahead of the opposition; saves our lives. He found a way to help Humanity get a bank account. Saved lots of lives that day maybe. The Ortea as well.’

‘Of course, all those bricks. Who would have known they would prove to be so popular?’

‘Charlie did, he saw the potential. With the Ambatta too. He knew what to take to the Grand Commander. I want Trinnie to live Miss Komoru, and her family.’

‘It has started a war Lewis.’

‘He helped create a situation where the Modloch are going to help the Ambatta. Forty thousand ships against forty thousand. Then you got ten thousand from us, and the rest of the fleet in reserve to help the Modloch. We ain’t even got any numbers from the Ambatta yet. Ain’t no battle ever set and cut Miss Komoru, but we got a damn good chance now, so have the Ambatta. It ain’t all Charlie, but he played a big role, Miss Komoru.’

She groaned, ‘I hate being so wrong Lewis.’

‘You ain’t used to being wrong Miss Komoru. You don like it none, no one does. But you gonna have to take responsibility. Ain’t no one indispensable Miss Komoru, Charlie be the first to tell you that. You and Steven, you still learning the ropes. We lose Charlie now, it could cost you your lives. This ain’t the time to lose him.’

‘The thought of apologising to that man infuriates me.’

‘You ain’t mad at Charlie no more Miss Komoru, you mad at yourself.’

She went silent for a while. Eventually she sighed, ‘How come you are so smart Lewis?’

‘Like Charlie, I got a life time of heartache and strife behind me.’

She turned and reached up to touch his face. ‘Never forsake me Lewis. I would be lost without you.’

‘Ain’t never going to happen Miss Komoru.’ Lewis took a quick look around. ‘Now, time for you to get onto you feet. We got a big battle ahead. If you ain’t at your best, then none of us might survive. We need you.’

chapter 37

The fleet received instructions from the Ambatta. A single Ambatta fighter left the field and rendezvoused with the fleet. It led them a few thousand miles further along the field. As they approached, they could see a large hole a hundred miles wide. The fleet strung itself out into the formation suggested by the Ambatta, with Babes and Ico in the middle of the formation. The Ambatta fighter swung into the middle of the gap and the Earth forces followed without a pause.

Steven and Buzz were on the bridge. Steven partially cloaked the ship so they had a grand view of the field as it slid past.

Steven’s eyes darted all over the place. ‘I wonder how they do that.’

Buzz grunted, ‘Beats me bud. Makes me feel kinda vulnerable. Wish I knew what that pilot out in front was thinking.’

Steven gave him a dirty look. He knew to what Buzz was referring. Steven had already appraised him of the situation. Buzz, however, seemed to be making a casual remark, rather than having a dig.

‘They are so close to peace Buzz, I doubt if they would risk it by doing something stupid.’

‘What do you think Colonel?’

Howe took a deep breath, ‘They already are doing something stupid sir, by letting ten thousand ships within their inner perimeter, they are taking a huge risk. It is a tactical mistake.’

‘You mean like a Trojan horse?’

‘That is a good comparison sir, although I doubt very much if the Ambatta will be getting drunk and celebrating in the middle of the night.’

The tension on the bridge increased until they were through. No one really relaxed until the whole fleet was through safely. There had been a single warning: if any of the ships became stranded in the field, they would be crushed. It was obvious the Ambatta would consider anything like that as an attempt to keep the field open for an invading force. No sooner had the last ship slipped through the gap than the field closed behind them. It was that quick that most missed it, and it gave the Humans a greater understanding of abilities of the Ambatta.

Baxter had changed his flag to the Sir William Wallace; Jean eyed the interloper on her bridge. She wasn’t quite sure what to make of Baxter. They had met a few times in the past, but they had never really conversed much. As the transfer had happened just before they entered the field, she was still unsure as to his thinking. He had been standing watching the monitors. He had ordered the last ships to record the field as they passed through.

He watched the field close behind them. ‘Fascinating.’ He walked over to stand beside Jean. ‘Did you see how quickly that field closed Captain?’

‘I did sir.’

He looked up at the forward viewer. ‘Any sign of the planet?’

‘No sir. It must be on the other side of the sun. Have you any idea of how this battle is going to be conducted sir?’

‘Not at the moment. I have an idea of how it should be conducted, though there are lots of unknowns at the moment. I have a meeting with the Ambatta military commanders soon.’

‘May I ask why you transferred your flag to Big Willy sir?’

He smiled, ‘Big Willy is it? That’s easy Captain. You aren’t a part of the force, you have no set place in the order of battle. It gives me more freedom of movement within the fleet. Any problems with your replacements Captain?’

‘No sir. Most were trained on this ship or have served with it at one time or another. They fit right in. Thank you for that. It was thoughtful.’

He smiled again, ‘Not really; it just made good sense to me.’

A few hours later the planet came into sight; although it could only be seen on long range scanners. The fleet had been skirting the asteroid field, a few thousand miles from the inside edge; still following the fighter. Baxter was called into conference.

A grey and old-looking Ambatta appeared on screen.

‘Admiral Baxter is it?’

‘Yes sir.’

‘I am Military Chief Doch Grish. The equivalent of your Grand Commander, I suppose. Soon a ship will arrive to guide your fleet to our base on the planet’s surface.’

‘Why are we meeting at your home world?’

It caught the Commander flat footed. ‘Because it is our home world.’

‘We are aware that none of your race actually live on your home world, so please dispense with this shit. We are here to help you, not fight you.’

‘Why would you think that?’

‘We are aware of it. More to the point, some of your enemy know that as well. The Ranagata.’

‘Aren’t they supposed to be changing sides?’

‘They are; but who knows. If they don’t, then the rest of your enemy will also know. Which means my people will be sitting ducks for however many ships you allow through that asteroid field before you slam it closed. I will not allow my people to become a sacrificial pawn in this battle. If you insist, I will consider your ships a hostile force and act accordingly. Then you won’t get your peace treaty signed; the Federation forces will be forced to back up your enemy. So, quit the crap and let’s get our heads together.’

Doch pushed a button and began to talk. Baxter couldn’t hear a word he was saying. Five minutes later he un-muted his mic.

‘It would seem you have us at a disadvantage Admiral Baxter. We are aware that, if things go wrong, we could have a fleet of almost a hundred thousand arrayed against us.’

‘Of course you would think like that, but we are not Federation members yet. We are meat eaters. It was the Human race that were able to stop the war with the Ortea, and have them brought in under our own umbrella. What you don’t understand is that our Goodwill Ambassador is the most important non-political person from our planet. He and his family alone control all our ship building, and his mother is very over-protective of him. If he is hurt, then she will pull the plug on us. Earth will be forced to abandon its bid for Federation status and we will pull back behind the great barrier. Ultimately it will lead to the ruin of our own planet and the extinction of our own race. We have as much resources in our solar system as you do within your asteroid field. Ours are virtually untouched.’

Doch pressed the button again. This time he only talked for a few minutes.

‘Alright Admiral. My superiors want to trust you against my better judgement. We will take you to somewhere more appropriate. There is little point in you coming here if you already know the planet has been abandoned. The big question for me is: do our enemy know?’

‘If the Ranagata keep their word then no. Otherwise, they are going to come after the first fleet they see. Which will be us. I am sure you are going to keep your forces concealed until the last moment.’

‘Wouldn’t you?’

‘Of course. I want room to manoeuvre.’

‘Do you think you could conceal your ships within the field?’

‘No.’

‘Well I don’t have a spare ten thousand pilots today. We will talk soon, Admiral.’

‘I look forward to it sir.’

chapter 38

The Ambatta made a better effort. One of Earth’s fast freighters had offloaded a whole consignment of various meat. It had been guided back out of the field again. They signed the pre-cessation of hostilities agreement and the evidence was sent to the Federation forces. They pulled back to the agreed distance. Instead of celebration, there was a mood of great apprehension.

Doch Grish pulled Baxter to the side. ‘Admiral. It has been noticed that some of the pilots that escorted you wore Federation uniforms. Is there some explanation for this?’

Baxter smiled, ‘The vessel I have my flag aboard is a training vessel. The Federation forces on the outskirts of our solar system are Human, Dent and Ortea. We sent the recruits back to Federation One and did a little local recruitment to bring the ship up to its full fighting compliment.’

‘I see. Wont they be missed?’

‘No, and I have every intention of keeping them out of the fighting as much as possible.’

‘Federation casualties might be a little hard to explain.’

‘Just a trifle, however it was the Grand Commander’s suggestion.’ Doch Grish shook his head. ‘Are you finding it hard to come to terms with?’

‘Very hard.’ Grish admitted.

‘I understand. You know even with a fleet of a hundred thousand, there is no damn way they can defeat you. Not unless they found out the location of every base, every habitat within this asteroid field.’

‘We were counting on them attacking our home world. We were counting on it still being contaminated and that would have taken care of any ground troops. Those agents have now been neutralised.’

‘Don’t you have any of your own?’

‘No, do you?’

‘They were banned on our world a very long time ago. The Grand Commander thought he was doing you a kindness.’

‘We weren’t exactly in a position to say no. It would have tipped our hand.’

‘I met the Grand Commander recently. I have never seen him so passionate about anything. It was he who forced us to come here. Our treaty with the Modloch is a fairly simple one; a consensus to defend each other from an attack. As the Modloch have decided to go to war on their own, we are under no obligation to join them. Our President refused to get involved. By placing our Goodwill Ambassador in harm’s way, we were forced into the position you see us in now. A large force of our ships is currently on its way as back up. If we are attacked, they will join the battle. Another twenty thousand.’

‘That is a very large fleet for a single world to have.’

‘Our world has a population of billions, in almost two hundred different countries. It is a world of vast oceans. We have been ploughing through those oceans for a very long time. We are used to having very large forces, simply because all of those countries have had a habit of conflict with each other.’

Doch frowned, it was obvious he was struggling with something. ‘Do you mean you fought each other? One of these countries against the other?’

‘Let’s not forget the civil wars where we fought ourselves.’

Doch let out a long sigh, ‘Unfathomable. Have you been involved in many conflicts?’

‘My whole career has been one conflict after another.’

‘So how would you conduct this battle?’

‘Split their forces in half. As soon as you do, have the Modloch and combined Ranagata fleet engage those on the outside so they cannot reinforce those on the inside. Those on the inside will be forced to split their forces when they find us here. If the Ranagata keep their word, they will attack the planet. Do whatever it is you have planned to those who attack your home world. As soon as we are attacked, allow the Human forces sitting just out of range to enter the asteroid field and engage those attacking us. With our forces alone we will outnumber them. With yours engaged in battle as well…’ Baxter shrugged, ‘Well, I have no idea how many ships you have; even if you only have a few thousand, we should be able to overwhelm them.’

‘Are you familiar with the term “ambush”?’

‘Oh yes.’

‘Come with me please. Let’s plan a few surprises for our enemies. After all, if your Goodwill Ambassador is killed, I wouldn’t want to upset a world who can field officers that can guess my battle plans and better them in barely a few breaths.’

The food hadn’t sat well in Steven’s stomach. Komoru looked thin and he was worried. Her eyes were sad as she looked at him and it tore at his soul. When she had rested her head against him during a quiet moment he hadn’t pulled away. It seemed to put a little colour back into her cheeks. She ate a little of what was offered, and seemed to enjoy a cold drink that was poured for her.

Lewis remained at her side. Steven noticed he had one of those sabres that Charlie had strapped to his right leg. There was none of his guard present. As usual there had been no fanfare. Howe and Beaver was his only escort.

Chancellor Kanta was able to catch a few minutes with him.

‘Ambassador Gordon.’

‘Chancellor Kanta.’

‘I hope the food was well received.’

‘It was, thank you.’

He turned to Komoru, ‘Are you well lady?’

‘I had a short illness, I am recovering now.’

‘I am happy to hear that. I saw the film that was made of our world and people. My wife was thoroughly embarrassed. However, it convinced me that the Grand Commander had been serious about this peace proposal. Others have taken more persuading, but after that documentary, he would only cause his own reputation harm by going back on his word.’

Steven thought over his reply carefully. ‘As a meat-eating race like yourselves, we were also very sceptical at first. We have come to trust him. We trust him now. We are putting our lives on the line right now. We won’t leave until this thing is over either. I don’t think we have ever seen him so enthusiastic about anything.’

‘I suppose he has a lot to gain from this alliance.’

‘I think he also really admires you as a race.’

He looked around. ‘I don’t see your robot today? He took a lot more pictures than we realised he was taking. I am puzzled about something. Some of those scenes in the documentary weren’t real. We don’t have habitats like those.’

Steven smiled. ‘He made those up to promote possibilities; fire the imagination of those who virtually live on top of each other on other worlds.’

‘Ah! I understand now. We have had a number of worlds trying to get in contact with us recently. It begins to make sense. Your robot has a use after all.’

Steven cleared his throat. ‘Charlie is not a robot. He is a real person underneath.’

To his surprise Komoru stepped in. ‘He is a real Human being sir, with feelings. He sacrificed most of what made him physically Human to save our world from a great disaster. He is a decorated hero from our world. Yet few know of the sacrifice he had to make. Would you like to be turned into something almost mechanical?’

The Chancellor was surprised and suddenly quite moved. ‘I am sorry lady, I did not fully understand. He didn’t seem to mind being called a robot. Maybe I should apologise properly.’

Steven shook his head. ‘We were childhood friends. We often played at being robots when we were children.’

The Chancellor suddenly laughed, ‘I did too. Maybe our people aren’t so different after all.’

‘I doubt very much if Charlie cares about being called a robot.’

‘I see. When I see his skin, I find it hard to think of him as a proper being. I will endeavour to rectify that, if we should ever cross paths again.’

Komoru bowed. ‘We would appreciate the effort Chancellor. He has quite a thick shell, but if you chip away at it for long enough he will not hesitate to make you aware of that. I can assure you the Captain’s retribution can have barbs that are very hard to remove.’

‘Personal experience Lady.’

‘Yes sir.’

‘I have friends whom have no hesitation in putting me in my place, despite the station I have achieved in life. Aren’t they the most precious of people?’

Komoru paled a little. ‘Indeed.’

He looked around. ‘I can see our military people have already left. No doubt they are already planning something nasty.’

Steven had to agree with him. ‘Admiral Baxter is our top man sir. He has been responsible for defeating the Albany a number of times. He will be in his natural element.’

‘Would you like to stay here when battle starts?’

‘That would not inspire confidence amongst our people. We will stay with our ships.’

Kanta bowed in respect, ‘Then please stay safe Ambassadors.’

There were frequent meetings between the military people over the next week, however Steven and Komoru were kept on the edge of things. They had plenty time to make up. One day when Lewis received a visit from Trinnie, Komoru slipped away from Steven. She pushed the button on the door and it opened.

Charlie was sitting up on his bunk reading. His expression was hostile to say the least.

‘What the hell do you want?’

Komoru took a deep breath and sank to her knees, then she prostrated herself.

‘Please forgive me Charlie. I was wrong, very wrong.’

‘Why should I? Have you any real idea of what you have done?’

‘Yes, I was stupid. So stupid. My dislike of you overtook my common sense.’

‘What the hell did I ever do to you?’

She let out a cry of anguish, ‘I thought you were being bad to Steven. That you didn’t care. That you took advantage because you were once friends.’

‘We still are friends.’

‘I wasn’t familiar with the type of friendship you have.’

‘Because you have never really had any bloody friends of your own.’

‘Is it that obvious?’

‘Of course it is.’

‘I am so sorry. Please don’t leave us. Steven needs you and I need you too.’

‘What else bugs you about me? You don’t honestly believe I still go around reading people’s minds and shit like that do you?’

She groaned, ‘Other things too.’

‘Like what?’

‘I thought you were looking. You know…’

‘No. Spit it out.’

‘At women, at me.’

‘Of course I look at people. What do you mean?’

‘With your special eyes. Undressing them.’

Charlie got it and barked a laugh. ‘Ah! You thought me a colossal perv.’

She pulled herself back onto her knees. Her face had flushed dark. ‘Yes, I thought you a colossal perv. You were undressing everyone, and me.’

Charlie shook his head at the stricken woman. ‘Well well, so that’s where it was all coming from! Well my special eyes may be able to tell you if you have a blockage in your intestines or a broken bone, but they can’t tell me the colour of your panties.’

‘I realise that now. I didn’t know.’

‘Cute mole by the way.’

It took her a second for his words to register, then her hand flew to her chest. ‘What!’

‘So that’s where it is. Stevie told me once you had a cute little mole. Would never tell where it was though.’

Komoru got to her feet spitting fury. ‘Oh you colossal bastard!’

Charlie roared with laughter. ‘I will give your apology serious consideration and will let you know of my decision in time.’

Komoru took a few deep breaths, stomped her foot a couple of times and stormed out of his room. Charlie’s laughter was cut off by the door. Komoru retreated down the corridor to what she felt was a safe distance, where she stopped to recover her composure. As her fury abated, she realised that Charlie had actually been able to make her swear. The laughter came slowly at first but gradually built until her side ached. She slid down the wall.

The laughter slowly abated, and the tears dried up. When she was able to get to her feet again, she returned to Ico with a smile on her face, and a strange feeling of liberation.

Charlie had been watching her through the walls. He smiled when she burst out laughing. He could feel Babes trying to communicate and opened his mind.

‘Are you fine Charlie?’

‘Of course I am.’

‘Are you going to accept her apology?’

‘I don’t know yet. Give me some time. Don’t tell Steven about this.’

‘I won’t, she will tell him in her own time. I believe she was serious.’

‘She was. Do you mind if I get back to my reading now?’

‘Of course not. It is just nice to talk to you again.’

‘Don’t worry Babes, I’m fine.’

‘Are you ready to update your software?’

‘In a little while. I want to finish this chapter first.’

‘Will I inform the doctor?’

‘Tell her half an hour; although why we just can’t do it here is beyond me.’

‘It is just in case anything goes wrong. She likes to monitor you vitals.’

‘Aye, whatever.’

Charlie picked up his pad again, wondering idly if Komoru would ever grow out of wearing teddy bear undies.

chapter 39

Pan Lo Tae´ gave the order and his ship snapped out of light speed. One of his staff began to waft smoke around the bridge with a handheld device. He barked out another order and it was relayed to the rest of his ships.

‘Get out.’ He ordered the junior rank with the device. He scurried away. ‘Get ready for a communication from Admiral Valachean.’

‘Coming in now sir.’

‘Sharp as always. Put him on.’

The ugly Admiral appeared on screen. ‘What’s wrong Pan?’

‘Do I look like an engineer?’ He leaned forward. ‘Put that damn fire out.’ He sat back again. ‘I will let you know as soon as possible.’

Admiral Valachean laughed, ‘Get a decent ship, or transfer your flag.’

‘It’s the best ship in the fleet. I’m turning my lot back to protect me while we make repairs.’

‘What for? Just move your damn flag.’

‘Go take a running jump, this is my ship. We’ll be there as soon as we can. Unless you’re afraid to go into battle with only forty thousand ships.’ Pan snorted.

Admiral Valachean knew there was little point in arguing.

‘Let me know as soon as you can. You have the coordinates.’

‘I can see you on long range sensors.’

The screen went blank. His crew were sitting watching him.

‘What?’ They turned back to their instruments.

Admiral Valachean arrived at the coordinates a few minutes later. A signal came in from the Grand Commander of the Haspsopot.

‘Where the hell are the Ranagata?’

‘About five minutes away on the edge of the solar system. There is something wrong with his ship, he has a bridge fire that I saw.’

‘Can’t he just transfer his flag?’

‘That’s the first ship he was made Captain of, it’s his baby. You would have to peel it off him. He will be along when its fixed. It isn’t like we desperately need him anyway.’

The Grand Commander grunted. ‘Who cares. Your ships can take the place of his.’

‘I’m not committing my entire fleet, I’ll add another thousand ships. You make up the shortfall if they don’t make it in time. He can act as the reserve force.’

‘It was your King who requested this, make it two thousand ships.’

‘Alright. Are you ready to begin?’

‘Was waiting for you. I will give the order.’

Thousands of miles away, Darrick received a message on a secure frequency. He sent the message on its way and sat back to wait.

Baxter was waiting for the signal in the Ambatta control centre. He showed it to Doch.

‘The Ranagata have stopped on the edge of your solar system. Once the others are fully committed, they will join Emperor Darrick’s forces.’

Doch leaned over the table that showed the positions of all of the ships.

‘The coordinates they supplied us with were accurate. We have already thinned the field there, it shouldn’t take our enemies more than an hour to burn through it. If the intelligence we have been supplied with is also accurate, they will commit twenty thousand ships. The last thousand will be freighters with supplies. We will cut them off at about fifteen thousand ships. That will give the Modloch a little more to fight, but they will still have the advantage of surprise. We will also trap about two thousand in the field.’

He pointed to the area around where the breach would be made. ‘As soon as the breach is closed, we will throw two thousand asteroids at them of varying sizes. They will explode on impact with anything they hit: ship or shield. That should give the Modloch an added advantage.’

Baxter agreed, ‘They will be so busy watching for the asteroids, they won’t even see the Modloch coming. We also had a message from my forces. They are holding at their current position and waiting for our signal. Remember, we can’t call on them until our own vessels are attacked.’

‘Politics always get in the way of a good fight.’ Doch grunted. ‘Let’s hope they can’t resist it.’

‘We’ll see. If Admiral Valachean is in charge, we should be in for a bit of a fight.’

‘Well I can’t see the Haspsopot Commander putting himself in danger.’

The wait began. An hour and a half later the scouts reported a breach in the asteroid field. About ten minutes later the enemy began to pour through.

chapter 40

Darrick had left the luxury of his leather chair and moved up to the bridge. His seat was just behind his commanders. Rannalld came and sat beside him.

‘Do you think Pan will keep his word?’

Darrick nodded, ‘He will. San has been looking for a way to get out from under the heels of the Albany and Vison for a while now. Since they tried to kill his son, Pan has had a large attitude change.’

‘Lucky for Pan your Human friend was there.’

‘Lucky for us too. If Charlie hadn’t been able to talk to the gardener, we might never have known until it was too late. We did a joint autopsy. We found an explosive capsule in his brain, signs of torture, and drugs.’

‘Did you wipe his family out?’

‘No. Charlie told me he fought it all the way. He could tell by the way the gardener was walking. He even thanked Charlie for stopping him. I had the body sent home to his parents with a note of personal thanks for his service and sacrifice.’

‘That was big of you brother.’

‘Yes, I thought so too.’

They were silent for a while. ‘You look unusually troubled Rannalld.’

‘Not really.’

‘It’s the Lady Mya, isn’t it?’

Rannalld sighed, ‘Nothing gets past you does it.’

‘I would think not. You can’t have her, you know.’

‘I know, but it doesn’t stop me from caring or hoping she will be safe.’

‘Ambassador To Ra Lie´ returned this week with his granddaughter.’

‘Trikki´?’

‘That’s her.’

‘She was an ugly child.’

‘Not anymore. She is the same age as Glee’s oldest, but prettier.’

‘I doubt that.’

‘She completed a degree in botany, she wants to work in my domes and study the Human plants. Asked me personally.’

Rannalld suddenly took interest. ‘She did?’

‘Blurted it out. Her grandfather was furious. He brought her up after her father fell.’

‘What happened to her mother?’

‘She couldn’t cope, became ill. Passed away within a year.’

‘She pined away.’

‘He was a good soldier; good personality. They were very much in love.’

‘Did you reprimand the girl?’

‘No damn it, I gave her a job.’

‘You gave a job to a female!’ Rannalld barked a laugh. ‘You have changed. You must be planning something. Which one of us is it?’

‘Your youngest sibling. I wrote to her professor. She has three years to complete her doctorate. She wants to do it on the Human plants. He said she was his best pupil. Loves what she does.’

‘Has she ever been influenced by the imperial lifestyle?’

‘No, but her grandfather is an Ambassador, so she knows protocols well enough. She isn’t looking for a husband either, so I am told.’

‘That makes a pleasant change.’

‘Your Mya has introduced Human plants on her estate hasn’t she?’

‘She has, fruit her gardeners can’t keep their hands off of. There is also a Human staple called rice. She turned part of a marsh into something called paddy fields, imported machines to do the work. Mya works very hard on them when she is at home.’

‘If your brave little Mya survives this battle, would you introduce them for me? It might help the girl.’

‘That’s a really great idea. I am sure Mya would appreciate the help.’

One of the operators called out to his Captain.

‘Message from the Ranagata sir. The enemy fleet has breached the asteroid field, and are starting to move inside. They are preparing to join us.’

‘Give them the coordinates.’

‘Yes sir.’

Ten minutes later the Ranagata fleet appeared off their port side. The Modloch fleet manoeuvred to accommodate them and Pan slid his forces inside. The Captain looked round and Darrick nodded.

The Captain turned his attention back to the fleet. ‘Signal the Ambatta. We have joined forces. We will attack on their command. To all ships, charge weapons and raise shields. Telemetry will be provided by the Emperor’s ship. Control will also be handed to this ship for the first phase of the attack.’

chapter 41

The ships burst through the breach. A few thousand miles inside, they veered off right and left. On the bridges, the crews shielded their eyes from the bright sunlight, until their screens adjusted to the sudden glare. Those that could see the inside of the asteroid field were mesmerised by the sight. They were close enough to see the reflection of light and shadows cast by the large rocks. Strange colours were reflected from gem-like crystals within the rocks. The effect was stunning. It was the first time any of them had seen the inside of the field. From the outside, with no direct sunlight, it looked barren and desolate. Within, it seemed to come to life with the mysterious light.

They were slowly pulled away from the sight by their duties. The fleet began to form up again. Squadrons reformed, battle groups. There was no sight of the planet, or of any enemy forces. Many sighed with relief. It was short lived. Most of the fleet was through when disaster struck. The hole in the field suddenly closed and exploding ships threw thousands of asteroids, most over a mile long, towards them along the whole length of the fleet.

The speed of the asteroids caught many by surprise. The smaller ones were stopped or pulverised to dust when they impacted shields; many began to scatter. Those ships that were in the middle were unable to react fast enough. Large asteroids smashed through the tightly packed ranks of ships. Dozens of ships were damaged, but only a few completely destroyed. Admiral Valachean quickly took control. He ordered all the ships to a safe distance. Once there, they began to reform again.

The stricken ships were left to look after themselves. The less heavily damaged helped shepherd those more badly damaged to a safe distance from the asteroid field and pick up survivors.

Valachean was satisfied that they were safe enough. It was time to look for the Ambatta home world. The fleet began to pick up speed. It was soon out of sight and swinging round the sun.

No sooner was the fleet out of sight than two gigantic vessels began to emerge from the asteroid field. Thick red stripes ran the length of the ships, breaking up their outlines. Within a heartbeat of clearing the field, the two ships were in the midst of the survivors, blasting them to smithereens. The damaged ships stood no chance. Three of them managed to escape, but the rest were quickly reduced to exploding hulks.

Valachean sent a battle group back the moment the distress signals were received. By the time they reached the scene of the battle, there was no sign of the Ambatta ships. They had dissolved back into the asteroid field.

On board his flagship Valachean felt the knot in his gut begin to tighten. He had studied what few details were left of the last war with the Ambatta. Little was known about what happened to those inside the asteroid field. Just a few radio messages. An operator caught his attention.

‘Sir, we are picking up a fleet of vessels, ten thousand strong.’

‘Are they at the planet?’

‘No sir, nowhere near it. They aren’t Ambatta. Configuration is Modloch. We have also identified two Builder ships.’

‘Will we attack?’ Asked one of his staff.

‘No, leave them alone.’

‘What if they attack us sir?’

‘They won’t. Those Builder ships are the Human Goodwill Ambassadors’ ships. The Federation forces in this sector have already pulled back. That means they have already signed the treaty of non-intervention. Their presence was to be partially expected. What wasn’t expected was a fleet of ten thousand ships as an escort. They came here expecting a fight. Get word to the Haspsopot Commander that our plans may have been compromised. Order all ships to avoid engaging the Human fleet. As long as we don’t go near them, they won’t attack.’

‘Yes sir.’

The aide left but came running back a few seconds later. ‘Sir, we have a message from the Haspsopot. A Modloch fleet of thirty thousand ships have just engaged them on the other side of the asteroid field. The Ranagata are with them.’

Valachean walked over to his chair and sat down. His aides watched him closely.

‘Get me the Haspsopot Commander on this side of the field.’

The Commander appeared on screen.

‘What’s wrong Valachean?’

‘We need to leave this field now! While we still can.’

‘Rubbish, we have our orders.’

‘Your Grand Commander is outnumbered. The Ranagata have changed sides. That means the Ambatta have been expecting us. We are walking into a trap. Our only hope is to get out of here right now.’

‘What makes you think the Ambatta know?’

‘If the Modloch know, the Humans know. That’s why they have such a large fleet protecting their Ambassadors. Which means the Ambatta know. The last force to enter this field never returned. Our only hope is to get out now while we still have enough fuel and energy.’

‘We haven’t lost that many ships Admiral Valachean. Our Grand Commander will soon deal with the Modloch and the treacherous Ranagata. It didn’t take us long to burn through that field. Their defences so far have been virtually ineffectual. They threw a few asteroids at us. Once we have dealt with the Ambatta home world, we will deal with those Humans too.’

‘Leave the damn Humans alone. If we don’t engage them, they won’t get involved.’

‘Our ships are superior to theirs and we outnumber them almost two to one. They are meat eaters. They deserve to be destroyed. We have our orders, keep your nerve Admiral Valachean.’

Valachean sat back and thought it over.

‘Order our ships to conserve as much fuel and energy as possible. They aren’t to fire on the surface of the planet unless ordered to directly by me.’

His aides passed looks between them, but never questioned his orders.

‘I want to know exactly how many ships we have, not in the fleet, just our own. Do we have any supply ships? What are our reserves? Everything, and right now.’

The answer didn’t take long to come. He perused the numbers. So far they had been lucky. They had only lost a couple of destroyers to the asteroids. His fleet had come through first. None of their supply ships had made it through. He had seven thousand ships at his disposal, a large force under normal circumstances. He regarded the whole mission as folly. Once the Federation’s Grand Commander had declared for peace with the Ambatta, he had considered it signed, sealed and delivered.

He was aware that Vison’s orders had left their planets vulnerable. Only small home fleets were left to defend their home planets. In his mind he was seeing the outcome of a Modloch and Ranagata victory. The outcome would depend on one factor, and one only: how many of their ships would survive this battle.

He turned to an aide. ‘What’s happening with the battle on the other side of the field?’

‘I don’t know sir.’

‘Then find out.’ He snapped.

‘We seem to have temporarily lost contact with our ships.’

‘Get contact; make it happen.’

He had to wait a good ten minutes. ‘We were able to contact one of our ships sir. Long range. He said it has been a massacre, he has run for home.’

‘Tell him to send a general signal. Any survivors of the battle to rendezvous at Trachna 3.’

‘Yes sir.’

The Ambatta home world began to grow large on his screen.

‘All ships scan the surface of the planet for signs of life and defences. Filter them through to me.’

chapter 42

Darrick suddenly remembered his father’s words: ‘There are no rules to judge beforehand the outcome of any battle. Any and all who enter into combat may perish. You may outnumber the enemy two to one or three to one, but if he has shields that are three times stronger than yours and weapons that are twice as powerful, you may well lose the battle.’

When his father had defeated the Haspsopot, it was because they had superior tactics and a superior fighting spirit. Numbers and weapons had been virtually equal. The Haspsopot had made a bad error in judgement, and lost two solar systems for it. Darrick’s father had removed their people and replaced them with their own. To Darrick’s mind, those two solar systems didn’t deliver all that much; however, they served as a decent buffer zone between the two races. They also served as advanced military bases and intelligence gathering stations.

The Haspsopot had gone very quiet. They never challenged the Modloch. Their patrols had become heavier, but still non-threatening. His father’s intelligence officers had been able to ascertain the Haspsopot were redesigning their ships for better shield performance and heavier weapons. Darrick hoped that they had been able to keep pace. Today they would find out.

Darrick now had a core of top spec ships from the Humans. There were only a hundred, but they had built their plans around them. Today he would be at the centre of the battle. His ships were ready, his troops were ready, the time was nigh.

‘We have a signal from the Ambatta sire. They are ready to engage the enemy when we are.’

‘Set a countdown of five minutes. Send that to all of our ships and allies. All Modloch prepare for battle. Send this message to all of our men: “Today we stand on the cusp of another war. We fight this war today so our children won’t have to fight it tomorrow. They will have to find their own damn wars.” His bridge crew burst out laughing. He waited until they calmed down. ‘We have discovered that the Haspsopot have been building a fleet in secret, aimed directly at our empire. That fleet has reached thirty thousand ships, which equals our own strength. They were intending on waiting until their numbers had reached fifty thousand. However, this conflict with the Ambatta added twenty thousand ships to their force. They now have an agreement with the Catataracs. For their aid in this war, the Catataracs would aid them in an invasion of our empire.

‘Within our fleet today, we have our long-time friends the Ranagata. They were to have been a part of this alliance; however, their friendship with the Modloch would not allow them to stab us in the back that way. As a thank you for their assistance, we are going to help them subdue those who would seek revenge on them for helping us today. So I can promise you many more battles in the weeks to come.’ There was a great roar of approval.

‘I know some of you still dislike meat eaters. The Ambatta are a meat-eating race. For any of you who remember the last Haspsopot war, the Ambatta aided our forces in defeating them. They provided my father with bases where we could repair our ships, with medical care for our wounded. The Ambatta have been our allies for a long time. My father liked and respected the Ambatta, and so did every member of his fleet. As do I. Make no mistakes, no error in judgement this day. Anyone who tries to engage the Ambatta in battle will spend the rest of their lives crawling around on the streets without hands or feet begging for food. As your Emperor, I vow this. Live hard, fight hard, die hard.’

His crew roared their approval, and all around the fleet his subjects rejoiced. Today would be a day to die, or to boast to their friends and family about till the end of their days. Darrick felt his fighting spirit begin to rise. His soul screamed out for battle as the last seconds counted down.

The Modloch fleet appeared as a solid wall. In unison their weapons fired at everything in front of them. Across their whole front, the enemy were taken by surprise. Those who had not deemed it necessary to raise their shields were the first to succumb. Darrick’s one hundred ships had already begun to penetrate the enemy’s front line before their resistance stiffened. The Haspsopot’s Grand Commander was no novice, or fool, and quickly began to counter Darrick’s forces.

Above his head Darrick could watch on a screen as the casualty figures came in. The salient he had poked in the enemy lines was now exposing his hundred ships to fire from three different directions.

‘Straighten our line, pull back.’ He ordered. It took a while to achieve. One of his hundred pulled out of the front line, badly stricken. Darrick ordered all ships to fire on the ship that had done the damage so it could escape. The pace of the battle changed a little.

It was with great relief that the line straightened.

Darrick was growling. ‘Let’s try this again. Order all ships in the front line to move forward as one. Let’s push them back against that field.’

It wasn’t long before Rannalld drew his attention to something.

‘The Ranagata are taking a hammering. Pan’s ship has been badly hit.’

‘Order the fleet to halt where it is. Tell Pan to pull his ships back to our fourth line of defence and have those gaps filled as quickly as possible.

The enemy tried to push forward as the Ranagata retreated, but the manoeuvre was carried out well, and the enemy were soon pushed back again by the Modloch battleships. The fleet began to push forward. Enemy fighters were swarming all over his ships. Darrick ordered the destroyers to deal with them, while his bigger ships engaged their like across the line. Many of his commanders wanted to release their fighters, but he forbade it. The battle settled into one of attrition, as normally happened. Smaller ships in the line were destroyed by larger ships only to have their place in the line taken by a ship that could match the ship opposite. The Modloch still had the upper hand, and were slowly pushing the enemy closer to the asteroids.

Darrick’s flagship was taking a pounding but the shields were holding up well. He smiled as an enemy battleship dissolved in front of his eyes. Another enemy quickly took its place and pushed the exploding debris out of its line of fire. Darrick’s ship was the first to engage.

The Haspsopot’s attention was now firmly set on the enemy to their front. Darrick watched the distance to the asteroids diminish and came to the conclusion that he had achieved all that they had set out to do.

He called an aide, ‘Tell the Ambatta they can engage when they wish.’

The Ambatta must have been waiting eagerly. Within minutes, thousands of asteroids were thrown out from the field across the whole length of the enemy fleet. As they crashed into the shields of the enemy, the Ambatta’s giant warships appeared. Their big guns cut a swathe through the Haspsopot fleet. From horizon to horizon, exploding ships blocked out their view of the ships behind for a few seconds. More asteroids and more gunfire followed as they fired through the burning debris.

The Ambatta ships advanced. Once clear of the field, they began to draw together. Twenty ships in a solid block. Each gun synchronised. Even the largest ships couldn’t withstand the concentrated fire. The Haspsopot Commander ordered all his fighters to try and swing round behind the Ambatta blocks. Smaller guns engaged them with a deadly accuracy. The few who got through and tried to slip between the ships failed as they crashed into an invisible wall. The twenty Ambatta ships combined all of their shields to project a single solid wall that completely surrounded the block.

Hundreds of ships fell in the first few minutes, then thousands. The enemy formation began to break up. The only safe places were between the blocks of Ambatta ships. Ships were condensed into an even smaller area. When two separate groups of Ambatta ships swung to face each other, as if on hinges, the ships trapped between quickly began to realise there was no safe place. The Ambatta crushed them. All along the line, the same tactic was repeated.

On the other side of the battlefield, the front line of the enemy began to lose its cohesion. Darrick ordered his ships to press harder. It didn’t take long. The enemy line broke. Ships began to scatter. Darrick ordered battle groups to break off and engage the fleeing enemy.

When he first saw the Ambatta ships push through the debris, Darrick shot to his feet.

‘What the hell is that!’

Rannalld joined him. ‘Holy shit!’

Darrick’s head snapped around. ‘Are we still broadcasting our friendly identifier signal?’

‘Yes sir.’ An operator snapped back.

‘Make damn sure the rest of the fleet is as well.’ He turned back to the screen. ‘Thank all the Human gods for that.’

Rannalld suddenly burst out laughing. ‘These Human expressions come in really handy at times.’

‘Sir, we are receiving a signal from the Ambatta.’

‘Put it on screen.’

Quite a comical looking figure appeared on screen. It waved and smiled.

‘Hello! Is your Commander available?’

‘I am Emperor Darrick, how can I help you.’

‘Oh! I’m sorry, your Emperor Highness sir. We were wondering if you could handle the clean-up operations? We are manoeuvring a base into this area so your ships can land and repair if necessary. We will also have medical facilities on standby if you need them.’

‘We will probably need both thank you. We will also handle the clean-up operation.’

‘That’s good, we have to get back into the fight. Em… Our Chancellor was asking if our old agreement with the Modloch still stood.’

Darrick turned to another aide. ‘Tell our captains to release all our fighters. Their mission is to track down and capture every available freighter. They are to be handed over to the Ambatta, fully intact, with their cargoes on board.’ He turned back to the figure on the screen. ‘Will that do?’

‘Nicely! Thank you, your Majesty Emperor sir.’ He sat and stared at the screen for a moment, then spoke to someone out of sight. ‘Switch it off you bloody fool.’

The screen went blank. ‘Well, your Majesty Emperor sir, what are your orders?’

‘Have a protocol advisor sent out to the Ambatta.’ They both burst out laughing. ‘Seriously, I want to find the Haspsopot Grand Commander’s ship.’

It took a while to locate. What was left of it was drifting slowly towards the asteroid field. The Modloch began to pick up survivors.

chapter 43

Admiral Valachean watched the bombardment of the planet’s surface with disinterest. Gunfire arced up from the surface below. It was powerful and accurate. Haspsopot ships darted in just above the atmosphere and rained down destruction on everything that lay below. Another Haspsopot ship was hit. It began to lose altitude. It streaked away, its Captain fighting for control. Valachean nodded to himself in admiration at the skills of the pilot as they managed to hit the edge of the atmosphere and skip off to a safe altitude. Below he could see fire spread across the landscape as testimony to those who didn’t have the same skills

The knot in his gut was getting tighter and tighter. He was unwilling to deploy his ships into the melee. The Haspsopot Commander was getting madder and madder at him. Valachean didn’t blame him. It was his King that had initiated this war, and it was his forces that were now sitting on their heels while the Haspsopot took the brunt of the assault.

‘It’s the Haspsopot Commander again sir.’

Valachean sighed wearily, ‘Put him on.’

He appeared on screen, and it was obvious he was furious.

‘What are you doing?’ He screamed.

‘I am saving my forces, fuel and energy for the moment that you realise this is completely pointless and decide to make a break for it.’

‘We are winning here.’

‘Winning what? All deep scans of these bases show no sign of life.’

‘Neither did the Ortea.’

‘The Ambatta are completely different. You are just losing ship after ship to no real advantage. You have knocked out three bases, but it has cost you hundreds of ships. We can’t reach your Grand Commander. I have reports that the battle is already lost and the remainder of our fleet scattered. Stop this madness, come to your senses. Let’s make a sudden break for the asteroid field. I have been doing long range scans and think I have found a few thin spots. It will take the combined firepower of the whole fleet to break through as quickly as possible.’

‘We have a mission, I have my orders.’

Valachean was on his feet, ‘Those orders count for nothing right now you fool. If we don’t break free and escape, our planets and our solar systems will all become vulnerable. I have had reports from no more than a dozen ships that survived the battle outside the field. Wake up you stupid shit, and let’s get the fuck out of here before it’s too late.’

The screen went blank and Valachean threw himself back into his seat. One of his aids appeared and handed him a tablet. It was an in depth study of the bases that had already fallen.

‘Are they all the same?’

‘Yes sir.’

‘Have we identified a vulnerable spot?’

‘Here sir.’ He singled out a point on a map of a base. ‘It seems to be a major relay station of some kind. Concentrated fire from a dozen battleships for thirty seconds should be enough to take it out.’

‘Will our shields hold?’

‘They should do sir, but I wouldn’t put the same ships in twice. Anything lighter than a battleship won’t last the thirty seconds. It will take full broadsides from every ship simultaneously.’

‘Order all the battleships from the guards’ squadrons to form up on me. That should be more than enough. Order the other squadrons to gather into groups of sixteen battle ships. As soon as they are assembled, we will take point.’

Out of range of the guns from the surface, Valachean reformed his fleet. As soon as they were ready, he went into the attack. His ship was hit many times before they could get into position, but he held his fire. On his command, all of them hit the same spot at once. The guns on the surface barely lasted sixty seconds. The relay station blew and they went silent. They proceeded to the next base. The first group pulled away, and began repairs, while the second took their place. They destroyed the next base. The Haspsopot began to become aware of what they were doing and changed tactics. Within half an hour, all of the bases were silenced.

The Haspsopot Commander appeared on screen.

‘All right Admiral Valachean, you were right. I sent down a team to investigate the first base we destroyed, it is completely deserted, automated. We haven’t been able to find any signs of life on the planet’s surface either, or below. I haven’t been able to receive any orders from our Grand Commander either. Just some garbled messages that the entire fleet has been destroyed. The asteroid field is blocking most of our communications. I sent a destroyer to the point where we came in. They have disappeared, but before they did, they reported they were receiving distress beacons from thousands of life pods.’

‘Are you willing to listen now?’

‘Our mission is complete. Our only other order was to attack the Humans. Are you in?’

‘No I’m not. That would be the worst mistake you made today.’

‘I am picking up survivors now. Let me think about it for a while.’

‘Don’t take long.’

It took an hour. Damaged ships were abandoned. They agreed to try and break out of the field together. As they approached the edge of the field, the area in front of them began to become more dense with asteroids. After twenty minutes, the field was still as thick, then huge Ambatta ships began to appear and fire on the fleet. Their weapons were devastating. The Haspsopot and Catataracs retreated to a safe distance. After a short break they tried another part of the field with the same results.

Valachean suggested they try a different part of the field. They were at it for thirty minutes before the ships appeared, but they were still unable to break through. They retreated to a point halfway between the planet and the asteroid field. The Ambatta ships sank back into the field.

Valachean and the Commander talked strategy. The Commander threw his hands into the air.

‘I am at a loss at what to do. They are whittling us down ship by ship. After our attack on the planet, my ships only have half their fuel reserves left.’

‘I think that is their plan. Once we are out of fuel, we are out of energy. They will come and finish us off. I think this is how they finished off the Federation forces years ago.’

‘Were there no survivors?’

‘Not that we know of. That doesn’t mean to say there wasn’t. With no females to breed with, any survivors would have died off a long time ago.’

‘That’s true. Any ideas?’

‘We could force ourselves into the field. Keep firing, pushing forward. The large ships on the outside, the smaller on the inside. Some might get through.’

‘To find a fleet of Modloch warships waiting for them? That isn’t for us Valachean. I would rather do some good before I die. I am going to attack the Humans, try and kill their Ambassadors.’

‘Why?’

‘Because there is no way out of this damn trap. Because there is no other target. Because I can. As of now I am releasing you from the alliance. You can choose your own path. Join us if you want.’

Something occurred to Valachean. ‘I will wish you luck. I want to talk to my Captains before making a final decision.’

‘Don’t leave it too late.’

The screen went blank. One of his aides handed him a pad.

‘Will I call the Captains sir?’

‘No. Order all our ships into line formation, a thousand in a group, and tell them to be ready to jump within a second’s notice. Scan the areas to the right and left of the Human’s positions. If anything happens I want to know. Let’s move to a position closer to the action. Oh! Get me in touch with the Human Commander.’

His staff just stared at him for a moment before going about their required tasks.

chapter 44

The battle on the outer field had been won. Baxter and Grish had been discussing the effort of the fleet within the field.

Grish pointed to their new position. ‘They seem to have given up trying to get out at the moment. The Catataracs still don’t seem to have put any great effort into the battle. I am certain that is Admiral Valachean down there. He is saving his ships’ fuel and energy for something. They seem to be splitting. The Haspsopot are heading towards your ships.’

Baxter nodded. ‘It looks like they intend going out with a bang. Alert all of our fleets. Expected time to engagement twenty minutes.’

‘The Catataracs seem to be following, they are changing formation. It isn’t any attack formation I know of.’

An operator called over. ‘Sir, Admiral Valachean is requesting to speak to the Human Commander.’

Baxter smiled. ‘Put him on.’

Baxter stood up straight and looked up at the screen above the table.

‘Admiral Baxter. A pleasure to see you again.’

‘Admiral Valachean.’

‘Do you have any of that delightful root beer with you?’

‘I most certainly do. What can I do for you today?’

‘You may be aware that there is a fleet heading in your direction. It is hostile and has intent to kill your Goodwill Ambassadors.’

‘We have been expecting your arrival for quite some time now.’

‘I wish to state at this moment that the Catatarac fleet has no intention of attacking you, your ambassadors or any of your ships. We have severed official ties with our allies.’

‘I see.’

‘I would presume that there were no Human forces present during the recent battle on the outside of the asteroid field?’

‘Of course not, nor any Federation forces.’

‘Then in my mind there is no reason for us to go into conflict with each other.’

Baxter took a deep breath. ‘I agree. You do seem to be approaching our fleet though.’

‘We will not come within firing range. We will maintain what I consider a reasonable distance and keep our shields up but our weapons powered down. My only interest now is to try and leave here. Could you convey to the Ambatta that I wish to call for a cessation of hostilities?’

Doch Grish placed a hand on Baxter’s shoulder and gently pushed him away.

‘Admiral Valachean, I am the military Commander for the Ambatta race. My name is Doch Grish. Now why should we answer your call for a cessation of hostilities? We saw you firing on our home world.’

‘I fired on an automated base that had no life forms within its structure. It was merely done to try and prevent further loss of life amongst our allies. Only your relay stations have been taken out. If I was you, I would have it rebuilt a hundred feet underground and shielded.’

Grish burst out laughing. ‘What makes you think it isn’t?’

Valachean went stock still for a moment. ‘I see. Clever, very clever. A trap within a trap. You Ambatta are a worthy foe.’

‘Your people, your King, is responsible for all of this, all the deaths that happened today. Your race were also the ones who first attacked us centuries ago, and were responsible for the Federation getting involved in our conflict. That led to the deaths of millions of my people Admiral Valachean. If you think we are going to allow a single one of you to escape alive you are wrong.’

‘I understand Commander.’

‘You have only one chance of escaping here, which is to force your way through the asteroid field. If you try and land on our home world we will crush you. Other than that Admiral Valachean, you can float about out there until your fuel runs out or you starve to death. We really don’t care.’

‘You mean you won’t risk a single life trying to fight us?’

‘Every life under my command is precious to me Admiral. I will not risk a single one if I don’t have to.’

‘That is exactly what I am trying to do Commander. So I understand your position.’

‘It is a big solar system Admiral. Find a nice cosy corner to rot and die in. Be my guest. Your death will only come swifter if you attack anything or anyone within it.’

Doch Grish walked away, and Baxter replaced him.

‘It would seem you have your answer.’

‘I have one more question, if you would be kind enough to answer it?’

‘If I can I will,’ Baxter conceded.

‘Pan Lo Tae´ is a personal friend of mine. He has a habit of throwing himself into the thick of it. Did he survive the battle?’

‘His ship was seriously damaged in the fight, but he is fine.’

‘Thank you for that consideration Admiral. I would ask you to send over a basket with a few of those root beers, but I doubt if you would have enough for the whole fleet.’

Baxter laughed. ‘I wish things could have worked out differently, and we could have met as friends.’

‘We would meet as equals Admiral, but I am sure the friendship would have followed naturally.’

‘What are you going to do now?’

Valachean smiled. ‘I have a little something in mind. Watch and see.’

The screen went blank. Doch Grish moved back to Baxter’s side.

‘He doesn’t sound like he is giving up just yet.’

Baxter shook his head. ‘I wonder what he is up to. Valachean may be an enemy, or his King is at least, but I’m damned if I can’t help liking him.’

‘You have met?’

‘We have. I put him straight on a few things, mostly misinformation about the Human race.’

‘Have you ever seen any creature so ugly?’

Baxter laughed, ‘I pretty much said that straight to his face. He wasn’t even insulted.’

‘Unusual for someone of his status.’

‘That is true. He is a very able commander; the best the Catataracs have to offer.’

‘You sure? He hasn’t impressed me any today.’

‘Look at it from a different perspective, of all the enemy forces engaged here today, who has lost the least ships, has used the least fuel, and is in the best condition with the least casualties?’

‘You have a point, but I’m still not particularly impressed. He is trapped. He is going nowhere.’

Baxter looked again at the map in front of him and wondered what Valachean was up to.

chapter 45

Steven had watched the ships swarm around the planet on their long range viewers. It was too far to make out a great deal of detail, but it was something to watch. The knot of fear in his gut had gotten tighter and tighter as the day had worn on. It had eventually got to the stage where he was feeling dizzy and sick. There was a moment when he considered going to the planet and trying to talk to them. It was a split second before he gave the order that a voice had whispered in his ear.

‘There are thousands of Ambatta ships hidden in the asteroids behind us. They are there to protect us if we are attacked. There are those in the hierarchy of the Ambatta who still think we are a part of all of this. If you head towards that planet, they will believe you are showing your true colours and trying to join their enemy. They will destroy this fleet in a matter of minutes. You are not a soldier. You are not a trained diplomat. You are not some universally accredited peace negotiator. Sit there, on your arse, do nothing. Wait! The same as the rest of us.’

Steven felt his stress levels drop a little.

‘Hey Charlie. Thought you weren’t going to help anymore.’

‘I’m thinking of everyone else here, not just you. Komoru did swing by and apologise though. I am reconsidering my position.’

Steven nodded. ‘I understand. Either way, I will stand by your decision. Stay close for now.’

Steven almost jumped out of his seat when the twenty minute warning was announced.

Steven heard Charlie move away. He swung round.

‘Where you going Charlie?’

‘We got twenty minutes. I’m going to take a piss before everyone else gets the same idea and grab a juice.’

There was no laughter, but a sudden rush amongst the bridge crew to do exactly the same. Steven shot down to his quarters. He discovered his hands were shaking. This wasn’t his first fight but he realised in that moment that it doesn’t get any easier, any better, in fact it gets worse. The Sarge had once told him that the first troops on Omaha beach had been the youngest, the green troops, simply because they had no real fear, no real comprehension of what was about to happen. Steven hadn’t understood it at the time, but now he did. Now it made perfect sense. He washed his face and dried his hands. He couldn’t face a drink; not even water. He made his way back up onto the bridge. He was shocked by how close the enemy now were.

Charlie was back and standing behind his chair.

‘They are getting close.’

‘We are still on full magnification.’

He suddenly remembered the prank he had pulled with Hailie’s comet; he felt such a fool doing that now. ‘Reduce magnification to normal please.’ The enemy fleet receded into the far distance. ‘I can’t see them anymore.’

‘There’s a communication from Admiral Baxter. It says our two ships are the main targets. It is the Haspsopot that are attacking. The Catataracs have pulled out of the fight. They want nothing to do with fighting us. We are to do our best to keep out of the firing line.’

‘Thanks Sid. Acknowledge the message please.’

Howe strode over. ‘I suggest that we put ourselves behind one of the big battleships sir.’ Steven hesitated. ‘We can take a few hits from one of their destroyers, but we can’t take a full broadside from one of their battleships.’

Beaver called over from his consul, ‘No need. The fleet is reorganising around us.’

Seconds later a large battleship slid in front of them. ‘What ship is that?’ Steven asked.

‘That’s Big Willy,’ Charlie supplied the answer. ‘The Sir William Wallace.’

Steven took a deep breath. Now they couldn’t even see what was going on. The minutes began to drag by. The first they knew of the battle was when Big Willy began to shudder. Suddenly they were surrounded by flashing light. A few seconds later Babes was struck.

‘What the hell was that!’ Steven cried out.

‘Enemy fighters, they have crashed the party and are intending to destroy us.’ Charlie told him calmly from behind his seat.

‘Guns!’ Steven cried out, ‘Keep them off us. Full shields.’

Steven felt helpless as Howe and Beaver shouted out commands. More and more fire slammed into them. Here and there came a cry of joy as a fighter was blown apart, but there was a lot of them. The Humans were hampered by how close together they were and the risk of hitting each other. A sever jolt threw some of the crew to the ground.

‘Damage report!’ Steven shouted.

Charlie grasped his shoulder. ‘We got bigger problems. Big Willy has been severely damaged. We need to move.’

Steven’s attention was taken up by the big ship in front which seemed to begin to slide downwards.

‘Hailey get us out of here.’

‘Where?’

‘Anywhere.’

‘Yes sir.’

Babes began to turn and pick up speed. She jolted again and again as shots slammed into her. Three fighters seemed to be hit at the same time. They slammed into the shields of the nearest ship and exploded. Fighters from Big Willy swarmed around them.

A friendly face appeared on screen. It was Commander John Logan.

‘Captain Gordon, we have been detailed to keep those fighters off your back.’

‘What about your ship?’

‘They are still fighting sir. Don’t worry, we are good at this shit.’

Despite his fears, Steven felt himself smile.

The intensity of the battle seemed to increase around them. Their senses were assaulted by the lights and explosions. The amount of hits they received decreased significantly; the intensity of fire from the Human ships increased. All of a sudden the battle seemed to end. There were no more flashing lights.

Sid spun round on his seat. ‘We have been ordered to move sir. We are to join the second fleet.’

‘What second fleet?’

‘The one that came through the field to cut off the Haspsopot.’

Steven remembered, ‘Right, that one.’

‘More news sir, half the Catatarac fleet has escaped.’

Fighters flanked them as they wound their way around the ships. Coming out into the open was a shock to all. There was hundreds of miles of debris, explosions and bodies. They skirted the mass until they were clear of the debris field. Babes couldn’t go very fast as she had damage in her engine room. It was a sight that would haunt Steven for the rest of his life.

chapter 46

Valachean was on his feet as soon as the Human fleet made an appearance. He had stretched his fleet out into a circular pattern. They had been split up into groups of a thousand. They were still orientated to run parallel with the field. He had chosen his spot well.

‘Do we have any group orientated with that breach?’

‘Groups three, two and one are closest sir, in that order.’

‘Get three to line up with that breach and everyone else to follow. Hurry! Count the seconds between incursions.’

In the distance, a thousand Human ships had jumped into the field. They began to peel off. Twenty second after they were completely out of the way a second group arrived, and followed their flight path. He had only been able to spend ten minutes explaining to his captains and navigators how he intended to escape the trap they were in. He had correctly surmised that if the whole Modloch fleet was outside the field, then their Human companions wouldn’t be far behind.

He had pointed to the Human fleet on the map. ‘Our Human adversary is Admiral Baxter. We have all heard of him. He relies on speed, manoeuvrability and ingenuity to win battles. Tactics born of fighting on something they call the high seas on their home world. I know it’s Baxter because I have just spoken to him.

‘Having his ships sit in the one position, like a big fat juicy bale of hay, is not his style. That can mean only one thing. It is some form of trap. I have little doubt that the Ambatta have a large fleet of ships sitting behind the Humans. The problem is, it isn’t much of a trap. At the first sign of the Ambatta, our former allies can simply jump away, reform and turn it into a running battle of attrition.

‘Baxter doesn’t like battles of attrition. He likes to trap you and pound you. So far no one has bothered the Humans. It has kept them out of this conflict. The moment our former allies hit them, that is all going to change. Their best hope of catching the Haspsopot is to come in from four different directions at once. To come in from one single side would allow the Haspsopot room to escape.

‘Baxter has another twenty thousand ships at his disposal. They have nothing on this side of the barrier to protect, so they will all be close. They will be lined up out there, waiting to come to the aid of their ships on this side of the barrier. This means the Ambatta will open the field to allow them access.’

He held up a hand with his fingers spread. ‘Five chances, that is all we will get. Four breaches. Five groups of five passing through each breach. The gap between the Humans clearing the breach and the next group arriving is the time gap we will have to get out.’

Valachean moved his hand across the screen so all were in little doubt. ‘Five chances before that breach closes. Once they are committed they won’t be able to close it. They will arrive in groups of a thousand, exactly the same as we are. It is the most efficient, and the maximum number of ships controlled by one, in this configuration.’

He let his hand drop. ‘Problems. If we jump out on the exact same trajectory as the Humans, we are going to hit the next group coming in. Distance. We need to calculate different distances for each group so we don’t crash into each other. The Humans will be stationary outside the system. We will have to jump to a point inside it, which makes us vulnerable to any forces out there. Time. Timing is the biggest factor we have to overcome. I have calculated the most likely points where the breaches will occur.

‘Orientation, timing and speed is key. Put the best pilot and navigators in each group in charge. If you don’t make it out you will perish here. I’m splitting the fleet to give us all a better chance of reaching one of those breaches. If you get out, head to the rendezvous already stipulated in your orders. Meet up with the survivors of the battle from outside of the field and head straight for our home world. High command will take over from there. Do not linger. Enemy forces may well be heading for our home systems as we speak. Priority is our home world. If none of us make it, all of our people will be left defenceless. Don’t even wait for me. That is an order.’

He had sent out confirmation orders and then waited. He had a number of operators keep watch on the battle with the Humans. He could see the doubts in the eyes of some of his aides. The Humans seemed to be getting the worst of it, but it was too early in the battle to say for sure. The Haspsopot fleet slowly spread right around the Human fleet, each captain determined to score a kill. Valachean spotted the moment.

‘Stand by, stand by all ships, begin to turn towards the field.’

The manoeuvre had barely begun when the first breach opened. A second and a third appeared a few seconds later. With a sinking feeling Valachean realised his own thousand ships were the furthest away from any of the breaches.

‘Flank speed, head to the third breach navigator. Line us up on the way.’

Group three had reached their desired position just as the second wave of Human ships cleared the breach. They jumped. Group two followed five seconds later. Group one was further away. They slowed down as the third group of Humans appeared. The moment they were out of the way, they jumped.

‘Group four has a problem sir. Their lead ship has suffered a malfunction. They are transferring lead to another ship and falling out of formation.’

Valachean slammed his fist into the arm of his chair.

‘Order them to jump individually. Are we going to make it?’

His navigator turned in his seat and moved his head slightly. Valachean sat back. They watched the efforts of the fourth group. Individual ships began to jump. Some were able to jump in groups. He received a report that half the group was ready to jump, just as the fifth group of Humans appeared. He opened his mouth to shout a warning but it was to no avail. The group jumped just as the breach closed. He didn’t need to ask if they had made it. The field seemed to belch rocks as they watched. Ripples in the field radiated out in a circular motion.

‘Report.’ He had called too harshly. His screen changed. The first three groups had made it and were already turning for home. Of group four, two hundred had made it through as individuals, and a further hundred and seventeen had made it through the breach before it closed. Of the ten thousand ships that had set off, under four thousand would return home. He changed the display. Only a dozen freighters had made it to safety. On the inside of the field, he still had three thousand ships.

One of his aides stopped by his side. The grizzled old veteran smiled.

‘What are you smiling at you old fart?’

‘You did it.’

‘Did what? Half of us are still trapped.’

‘I didn’t think any of us would get out sir.’

‘I was hoping all of us would.’

‘What now?’

‘What would you like to do?’

‘What are our choices sir?’

‘We can starve to death, freeze to death, join the battle, or live to be as old as you.’

‘Is that last one a real option?’

‘If we surrender.’

‘To who? The Ambatta have made their position clear, and the Humans aren’t full Federation members. There is no one else. Unless they let the Modloch Emperor through, there is no one to surrender to. Besides, Vison will kill all of your family for the disgrace.’

‘Would you like to die to save me from disgrace and my family from Vison’s revenge?’

The old veteran thought it over. ‘Fuck that. I got grandkids I want to see before I die, and hopefully great grandkids as well. If you surrender, only you and yours die.’

‘That’s why I like having you around you old fart. You never sugar coat things.’ Valachean stood. ‘I have a few things to take care of. Let me know when it is all over.’

Valachean retired to his office. He keyed in a number on his private comms. It wasn’t answered straight away. He let it ring. Eventually a dirty face appeared.

‘Hello Pan.’

‘Valachean, I have been expecting your call for a while now.’

‘Looks like you’ve been having a lot of fun.’

‘We took a few knocks. What do you want?’

‘I want to know why you turned on me?’

‘Ask that prick of a King of yours.’

‘I am asking one of the few friends I have. Why did you turn on us?’

‘I never turned on you, I turned on your King when he tried to have my son assassinated and blame it on the Modloch.’

‘What!’

‘Didn’t he tell you?’

Valachean was still in shock. He shook his head. ‘What the hell are you talking about Pan?’

‘You really didn’t know?’

‘Spit it out.’

Pan filled him in on the details. Valachean was struggling with it. ‘The Human that stopped the Modloch, how do you know he was telling the truth?’

‘Remember I told you about the Human bastard that held a gun to my head and read me like a book.’

Valachean was able to smile. ‘I remember, have you killed him yet?’

‘No, he was the one who saved my son’s life. He was the one that spoke to the Modloch before he died. It was that close Valachean, I mean a heartbeat from death.’

‘What the hell was the Human doing there?’

‘He was the Human that discovered Darrick’s cousin was behind the coup.’

‘The Human he rewarded with land and now calls friend?’

‘That’s the one. He was there to tell Darrick if we were telling lies.’

‘I understand now. That Darrick is a sneaky bastard.’

‘We caught the assassins, they were passing through our territory on their way home to Vison. It is all true.’

‘What the hell was Vison thinking?’

‘I presume he didn’t want Darrick persuading us to change sides. The assassination was to bind us tighter. You’ve said it yourself Valachean, Vison is a prick.’

‘I presume you are heading to our territory right now.’

‘I’m not, I’m trying to fix my ship, but the rest of my fleet along with twenty thousand Modloch ships are.’

‘Can I ask one favour of you Pan?’

‘Why the hell should I do you a favour?’

‘Because you are my friend. Because I am about to do the unthinkable.’

‘Surrender! You?’

‘It is the only way to save what little is left of my people.’

‘You are stuck inside that field. There is no one to surrender to.’

‘There is. Just one person, if he is still alive.’

‘You want me to go get your kids don’t you?’

‘I would do it for you.’

‘Vison will hunt you all down.’

‘He won’t be able to if I can pull something off.’

The tension seemed to seep out of Pan. ‘Let her know I’m coming. Give her my codes and tell her to get somewhere safe. I will be underway in under half an hour. No promises. You know that, not in war. I will do my best though.’

‘I couldn’t ask for no more. Thank you Pan.’

‘I half hope you make it and half hope you don’t. I don’t fancy facing you in battle somewhere along the line.’

‘There is a good possibility that option will be taken right off the table. Good luck Pan.’

‘Maybe catch you later, you ugly old bastard.’

The screen went blank. Valachean made another call. This time it was Ne´ who appeared on his screen.

‘Admiral Valachean, you are the last person I expected to hear from today.’

‘Grand Commander. I was just wondering if that job offer was still available?’

Ne´ smiled. ‘I see you are stuck inside the Ambatta’s asteroid field. You managed to keep most of your fleet intact and have even managed to get some out. Remarkable considering the circumstances you found yourself in. Let’s talk. First I want to know what made you consider this option. I know you Valachean, saving your life and that of your own family isn’t enough to tip you over the edge. What was it?’

‘I just spoke to Pan.’

‘Did you just find out what your King tried to do?’

‘It was the last straw.’

‘You protested against this action, didn’t you?’

‘It was folly from the start. An idiots greed. Of course I protested. After I saw that documentary, I wanted to come and visit, but not like this.’

Ne´ growled a little. ‘That documentary is quickly becoming a thorn.’

‘I enjoyed it, so did my wife and children. Maybe you should too, don’t make too much out of it. It didn’t do your cause any harm, in fact it helped a lot.’

‘Maybe, but I still don’t like it.’

‘That is just your personality Grand Commander, it has nothing to do with that documentary.’

‘Let’s get back to it shall we.’

‘Please.’

‘If you can get out of there with yourself and all of your personnel alive, that job offer will still stand. What I can’t do is save the lives of your wife and family from Vison’s revenge.’

‘I have persuaded Pan to fetch them for me.’

Ne´ shook his head. ‘I can’t believe he would agree to that. Not after what happened.’

Valachean snorted, ‘Pan knows how I feel about my own King. He is one of the few that do; one of the few I trust. I still can’t believe his son was almost assassinated. How was the Human able to stop him?’

‘I have no idea, but I know the Human in question. It doesn’t surprise me one little bit that he was able to. Darrick told me it was close though. If you watched that documentary, he was in it. He took most of the footage. The Human that was eating the white fruit. He is a Captain in the Goodwill Ambassador’s guard, so you will come across him. He is the single most dangerous person I have ever met in my life. The Ambassador uses him in the same way Darrick does.’

Valachean held up a hand, ‘Pan told me about him, they met once. He can read your body as though he were reading your mind. Is that correct?’

‘That is correct. If he is there, play it straight. If you don’t, they will know instantly.’

‘I was going to anyway, but thank you for the heads up Grand Commander.’

‘Good luck Valachean. You had better go catch yourself a Goodwill Ambassador before you end up stuck there forever. Once those documents are signed, he will no longer be a representative of the Federation.’

Valachean took a very deep breath. ‘Wish me luck.’

‘I’m not hiring you because you have ever needed luck.’

The screen went dead.

chapter 47

Steven was still reeling from the shock of the battle. The ships had sustained some damage. Babes had taken the brunt of it. Apart from the odd knock and bruise, everyone else was fine. Ico had fared much better. There were no fatalities. They set about fixing their ships, with the ships themselves doing much of the work. Both ships were strangely quiet in the minds of their Human hosts.

Outside, they were clear of the debris field, and within the protective cocoon of the second fleet. They had successfully surrounded the remaining Haspsopot fleet, then the Ambatta had made their appearance. A solid wall of battleships had appeared out of the asteroid field. It had overwhelmed the Haspsopot in a matter of minutes. Thousands of ships had been dissolved. Beams of light tore through defensive shields like they were tissue paper. Many ships managed to break free, but the Ambatta battleships had an astounding turn of speed. They hunted them down mercilessly.

Steven had just finished speaking to Baxter about the battle. He had also been brought up to date on what Valachean had been up to. He had actually praised the Catatarac Admiral for managing to save so many of his ships. Those that had made it through had made a clean get away.

Steven didn’t really care; he found it hard to concentrate on what Baxter was saying. It was with a sigh of relief that Baxter eventually signed off. He slumped onto his bed.

‘Babes.’

‘Yes my heart.’

‘Are you okay?’

‘Do you wish a revised damage report?’

‘No, I want to know how you are. I feel terrible.’

He thought for a moment she wasn’t going to answer him.

‘Today my mate and I took life for the first time. We were both frightened and appalled by what happened. I never wish to be in this situation again.’

‘This isn’t our first battle.’

‘Those before this, we two had taken no real active part in a battle. We were merely spectators while you scouted enemy formations, or transported men and supplies to those who needed it. We had never fired our weapons in anger before. Today we took the lives of others, we are deeply saddened.’

‘I felt totally helpless. All I did was sit there fixed to my chair. You and Ico kept us safe.’

‘We wanted to run, but we couldn’t. We had no choice but to fight.’

‘We didn’t start it Babes. You didn’t start it. We are trying to bring peace to a people who haven’t known it in over a thousand years. We have a right to protect our lives and you have a right to protect those who reside within you. We are grateful, thank you, and thank Ico for me.’

‘In the words of every soldier on board, this shit just got real.’

Steven managed a laugh. ‘It has. It did.’ He sighed. ‘I dread to think how many people died today. Yet it could have been millions or even billions. We only took a few: the lives of those who tried to kill us directly. Yet I am still sickened, disgusted. Not with us, not with you or Ico, but with this Federation, with the people within it. They call us animals; yet they are far worse.’

‘I am ashamed now.’

‘What about?’

‘About how I tried to lead you away from that escape pod.’

It took Steven a moment. ‘You mean the Ortea?’

‘Yes. I thought you wrong to pick it up. I didn’t like what happened with them, I still don’t like them. Yet I realise now they were only trying to survive.’

‘Like the Ambatta.’

‘Yes. They took different routes, yet they only did what was necessary.’ She went silent for a moment. ‘The Fleet Commander is trying to get a hold of you Steven. The Catatarac fleet is on its way. They are demanding to see you.’

‘I am so not in the mood for this.’

He got up and made his way to the bridge. All he could see was the back of another battle cruiser.

‘Tell them we are moving to the edge of the fleet.’ He nodded to the pilot, ‘Take us there.’

‘Yes sir.’

Steven ignored the protests as they slipped between the battleships. The fleet was heading straight towards their position. Of course they knew where he was. At least this time he wasn’t hiding.

The enemy formation changed. Steven frowned. ‘What are they doing, what is their status? Are they intending attacking?’

Howe was shaking his head, ‘Their shields are powered up, but their weapons are not activated.’

It was Babes who supplied the answer. ‘They are in review formation.’

Steven was surprised. ‘What kind of review?’

‘The formation states that they are in review to welcome a high ranking Federation official.’

‘What high ranking Federation official?’

‘I don’t know my heart.’

‘Are you sure they want to speak to me?’

Sid glanced round. ‘That what the signal says sir. Maybe they want to talk to you in an Ambassadorial role.’

‘Good thinking Sid. Maybe I had better go change.’

Steven was cursing under his breath as he put on his Ambassadorial robes. Seconds after he sat back down, the signal came through. All the crew on the bridge were shocked by how ugly the creature was. He seemed to smile when he saw the looks on their faces.

‘Ambassador Gordon I presume?’

‘You have me at a disadvantage sir.’

‘I am Admiral Valachean. I am in command of this fleet. May we pay our respects?’

Steven wasn’t sure.

A hand pressed gently on his shoulder. ‘Just say yes Stevie.’ Charlie’s words were spoken in his mind.

‘Yes. Certainly Admiral.’

Valachean smiled and bowed slightly. His eyes lingered on the figure behind Steven for a moment, then the screen went blank.

The Humans were treated to a fifteen minute display. It was nothing fancy, they basically paraded up and down a little before coming to a stop. The flagship came forward of the formation and stopped. The screen jumped to life again.

‘Greetings Ambassador Gordon.’

‘Greetings Admiral Valachean. What is it I can do for you?’

‘We recently contacted the Ambatta in an attempt to prevent further bloodshed. They have refused to cease the action, and refused us safe passage out of their solar system. They have given us a simple choice: we can either force our way through the asteroid field, or we can stay here and either starve or freeze to death. To that end I wish to invoke Federation law Section 55678; hostile action concerning Federation members. In particular subsection 1456, paragraph 209 sections 10 to 14. Would the Ambassador like a little while to review these sections?’

‘Yes please.’

Valachean smiled. ‘Take your time Ambassador. Neither of us are going anywhere for a while.’

The screen went blank, and Steven looked round to Charlie.

‘What is he up to?’

‘He wants to surrender.’

chapter 48

The Military Chief Doch Grish was infuriated. Chancellor Kanta’s normally neutral face was also looking displeased.

‘They are not getting away with this, they are not getting free. We will attack them now.’

Steven was suffering from a massive headache. ‘Having formally entered into negotiations with them, the Human fleet is now duty bound to protect them.’

A fist smashed into the table. ‘Why?’

Baxter had enough, ‘Because he is smart. He was brought up on this stuff. We are new to all of this.’

‘So we are fated to fight?’

‘We don’t want to, you don’t want to, they don’t want to. I am sure there is a solution to all of this, we just can’t see it yet.’

‘If it means those bastards getting away, then there is no solution. We will kill you all.’

The Chancellor reached out and grasped his arm. ‘Calm down please Doch. We agreed that any chance of peace should be grasped. Fighting the Humans is not the way. The Ambassador wasn’t aware of this law.’

‘The Catataracs have not engaged the Human fleet. They aren’t even full members of the Federation, they can’t surrender to them.’

Steven had already tried to explain this. He tried again. ‘Under section 55678; hostile action concerning Federation members, in particular subsection 1456, paragraph 209 sections 10 to 14, to some extent you are correct. The Catatarac and Haspsopot forces severed their agreement before they attacked us. As such we cannot consider them hostile to our forces. That means we also can’t take their surrender. Only the Modloch Emperor could take their surrender. He is light years away now. Even if he was, at this moment I still outrank him. Despite being only a Goodwill Ambassador, and from a race that hasn’t reached full Federation status, I am here on official Federation business. As such I am accorded the full rank and privileges of a full Federation Ambassador and am the highest ranking Federation official here at this time. I have the authority and duty to take their surrender. I am legally bound to do so. All that really remains is the terms of their surrender.’

‘Then why don’t you just go and do it? Let them go, or try. We aren’t letting them out of here without a fight. I will tell you that now.’

The Chancellor looked around in desperation. His eyes settled on the figure at the back of the room.

‘Captain, you did a wonderful job on that documentary. You seem to have a way of finding solutions to difficult problems. Any suggestions?’

Charlie came off the wall he had been leaning on. ‘The answer is right in front of all of you. You just can’t see it because you are all shouting and bawling at one another like children.’

It stunned them all into silence. ‘What is the answer?’ The Chancellor prompted.

‘You seem to have come to the conclusion that Admiral Valachean has the upper hand here. He doesn’t. He is on his knees begging you for the lives of those under his command. Steven’s words here are the key: the terms of surrender. I am sure Admiral Valachean is hoping you can see exactly what it is he is offering you.’

‘Who is this person?’ Doch spat. ‘Who is he, who does he think he is? Is he a junior rank in your guard Commander, is he a machine of some kind?’

Charlie arrived at Steven’s side just as he was about to answer and slapped a metal plate onto the table. It was made from an expensive, almost indestructible alloy.

‘Do you know what this is?’

‘A Federation identity tag. Not a common one either.’

Charlie slid it across. ‘I am Charlie Murison. I am a Federation citizen and a Modloch Noble. My title is Noch Man Drich. I have property bestowed on me along with my title by the Modloch Emperor. I am the only Human who has been granted Federation citizenship.’

Doch picked it up, confused. He passed it over a tablet at his side. The information came up.

‘You are part of the Imperial Modloch household?’

‘No, I am part of the Imperial Modloch family.’

‘My mistake. You are correct. All right Captain. The Imperial Modloch family are allies of ours. I will accept you as their representative. Please go on.’

‘What is it you don’t have?’

He lifted his arms. ‘Everything.’

The tension in the room broke and Doch scowled at those who dared laugh.

Charlie smiled. ‘Alright, I will rephrase that. Let’s say your Chancellor is invited to meet the great council. How will you get him there, how will you protect him?’

‘We would ask you to come and fetch him.’

‘Why? You have a vast fleet out there that can handle anything anyone could possible throw at you.’

‘Our ships aren’t suited for intergalactic travel. The don’t go faster than interplanetary speeds.’

Charlie tapped the table, ‘Terms of surrender. Think about it. What do you want, what do you need, what is it you will desperately need if your people are granted protected status?’ There was no immediate answer. Charlie sighed with exasperation. ‘You have the opportunity here to grab a fully equipped fighting fleet of three thousand modern ships that can travel at faster than light speed. That is what Admiral Valachean wants you to see. Terms of surrender.’

The shock on his face was evident as he grasped the full meaning. He shot to his feet.

‘Of course!’ Doch turned to Kanta. ‘Do you get this sir?’

‘I do. Yes. Why didn’t we think of that? Ambassador, is this possible?’

Steven rubbed his temples. ‘I have no idea. I don’t know.’ Steven passed the buck. ‘Admiral Baxter. Can you throw some clarity on this?’

Baxter had fixated Charlie with a brooding stare. He had heard the question, however.

‘Most destroy their vessels rather than hand them over to an enemy. The Captain is right though, we can negotiate the terms of surrender. I am quite sure our Ambatta allies will want those ships to be handed over in the condition they are in. The question is what will it cost us? Any ideas Captain?’

‘He is sitting out there shitting bricks. Why don’t you go ask him?’

Steven’s fist came up and punched Charlie in the gut. It wasn’t hard, but Charlie got the message.

‘Thanks for your input Charlie. Can I talk to you in private for a moment?’

‘Aye, sure.’

Steven took Charlie out into an empty corridor. He sighed. ‘Man you like digging for trouble. Watch what you say Charlie. These aren’t guys you can kick the shit out of in a bar fight. Baxter could cause us trouble.’

Charlie shrugged, ‘What can I say Stevie? I just love sitting in that bloody chair of yours.’

Steven burst out laughing. ‘Okay, a week’s extra duties.’

‘Cool.’

‘Is that what Admiral Valachean is after?’

‘Aye. He wants his people safe. He will only turn them over to us. We have to return them to one of their home worlds. He isn’t going home. He wants to delay this process as long as possible as well. He is waiting for word his family is safe. His King will kill both him and them for what he is trying to do here.’

‘So he is playing for time.’

‘Aye.’

‘Did you just find out?’

‘His mind works at an incredible speed Stevie. It’s hard to grab onto anything. I’ve been piecing it together from fragments. He has accepted a job from the Federation’s Grand Commander. It would seem that Ne´ has been after him for years. Ne´ knows exactly what is happening here. You can consider this a test of some sort as well.’

‘It been a test since we started this damn mission. Thanks Charlie, get your arse back to the ship and out of sight. Why don’t you go visit Big Willy?’

‘She is too busy to deal with me at the moment. I sent her a text saying we were alright thanks to her and her crew. She was relieved to hear we were all fine. She has quite a few casualties though, and has a lot on her plate.’

‘Right, catch you later.’ Steven took a couple of deep breaths. ‘Here we go again.’

‘Remember, you’re the guy with the clout here.’

‘I am?’

‘Och, what a dick!’

Steven pushed Charlie away. ‘Get out of here.’ Charlie walked away and flipped him the bird. ‘That’s two weeks extra duties.’

‘Awesome.’

Steven shook his head then smiled. He and Komoru would have lots of extra time together in the next fortnight. The smile was still on his face when he returned to the briefing room.

The chatter stopped. Baxter was still annoyed and noticed the smile.

‘You seem in a better mood now Ambassador.’

Steven rubbed his hands together. ‘Forgive the Captain, Admiral. He has a rather abrupt manner at times. I just gave him two weeks extra duties. Mine.’

Baxter suddenly laughed. ‘No wonder you’re smiling. I would presume this is a common occurrence?’

‘Oh yes.’

‘I would like to hear how a Captain in your guard became a Modloch noble and a Federation citizen.’

‘I would too. He forgot this.’ Doch slid the identity badge back across the table.

Steven picked it up and slid it into a pocket. ‘Thank you.’ He considered where to start. ‘You all know why the Ranagata changed sides: an attempt on Grand Commander Pan’s son’s life.’ They all nodded in their own fashion. ‘Charlie is a personal friend of the Modloch Emperor. He was present at the meeting. He was the one who saved the child’s life. The Emperor has been trying to make Charlie a Modloch noble ever since Charlie discovered that the Emperor’s cousin was responsible for an attempted coup. With the endorsement of two very powerful people, they pretty much forced the authorities to give him citizenship, despite the fact that he didn’t want it. An official title from the Modloch Emperor and a few swift boots in their respective places and within a few days Charlie became the first Human to receive Federation citizenship.’

‘So that’s the man. With his attitude, I am surprised the Emperor hasn’t tried to assassinate him yet.’

‘You would be surprised by just how much the two have in common. That includes their attitude.’

‘Still, shouldn’t he be in the intelligence corps?’

‘He would refuse.’

‘He is a soldier, he would obey an order.’

‘He is an officer, he would resign his commission.’

‘I would send him back to Earth.’

‘He is a Federation citizen, you couldn’t.’

‘I would stop his damn pension.’

‘Charlie formed the PD Company of Earth with my mother. It took some time, but we were finally able to make him a paid executive. He gets a share of the profits in proportion to what he puts into the company. Last month he made twice what you probably made in a year.’

It wasn’t often anyone outmanoeuvred Baxter and he was quite lost for words for a moment. ‘Maybe it would be better just to leave him where he is then.’

‘Thank you Admiral. Charlie is an invaluable member of my crew and my guard. I appreciate that.’

The byplay seemed to amuse the Ambatta. The Chancellor decided to drag things back onto track.

‘The question now is, how can we get those damn ships off Admiral Valachean without him blowing them up first? You are obviously going to have to be the mediator Ambassador.’

‘I understand that Chancellor. From the information I have at my disposal, Admiral Valachean has a wife and family. The Catataracs’ King considers surrender the highest form of treason. I believe the death of the officer concerned, and the eradication of his immediate family, is the price that is paid for such a treasonous act. We all realise that Admiral Valachean is no common leader. I would surmise he has something in place to try and rescue his family before surrendering properly. Please expect him to play for time. I wish you to all remember that as we go forward. Let’s not get frustrated or angry. I would at first ask the Ambatta to take the high moral road.’

‘What would that entail?’

‘That would entail the offering of medical services to any and all wounded.’

‘None of these races have ever shown any mercy to our people.’

‘You are walking a new road now Chancellor. Hand them over to us or the Modloch and we will look after them.’

‘I understand Ambassador. There are thousands of them out there right now, floating about in life pods. I suppose it will be easier to reuse the ships if we aren’t pulling corpses out of them. I will make sure the order is given.’

‘You don’t have to be nice to them Chancellor, but no beatings or torture please.’

‘Maybe some form of announcement on their frequency will help. How will we feed them though?’

‘We will fast freighter them to a Federation outpost. They can deal with them from there.’

Baxter stepped in, ‘You will receive compensation through the Federation. They will tax the races involved and pass that on to you.’

‘I see, so all we have to do now is negotiate with Admiral Valachean.’

chapter 49

Jean wound her way through the dark smoke-filled interior of her ship. Sweat ran down every crevice of her body and soaked her uniform. Her torch didn’t penetrate the smoke very well. Ahead she began to make out a glow. She knelt and signalled to those behind her. The firefighting team went ahead. The hiss of cold water quenching the fire reached her ears. She noticed a fire extinguisher on the wall and took it down, then moved ahead of the team to another glow and turned the extinguisher on it. White powder flew from the nozzle. The fire was out in seconds. She moved forward.

Jean reached the compartment first. She remembered the old rules and placed the back of her hand against the metal handle. It was cool to touch; she tried it. It wouldn’t budge. She pressed the button on the side of her mask.

‘We need cutting torches in here. This door is jammed solid.’

A team appeared and she moved out of the way. It took them ten minutes to cut through the hinges and then the handle. It fell away with a clang. The door fell open, almost squashing a couple of members of the team. There was some cursing and swearing which Jean couldn’t hear. What she could see was a metal wall that shouldn’t have been there.

‘What the hell is that?’ She pushed the button. ‘Section Chief, what is that we are seeing?’

‘It seems to be a piece of the inner hull ma’am. Shall we start cutting?’

‘If it won’t push out of the way then cut it.’

He ordered a couple of men to put their shoulders into it. It never budged. The cutting torches were lit again. It took another hour. By then the smoke had began to dissipate. Sheets of thick sharp edged metal were dragged passed her by the crew. She pulled the men and women out of her way, this would be her task. There was no smoke coming through the hole. There was no light either. She stuck her head out of the other side and switched off her light. She was mesmerised by the sight of a destroyer going past. In the distance she could see the sun.

‘What the hell?’

A light was flashed right into her eyes. There were survivors. The blackened face of a wizened old engineer was revealed in her light.

‘What took you arseholes so long?’

Jean pulled off her gas mask. The air was clean. ‘Pardon?’

The engineer came to attention. ‘Sorry Captain. Never realised it was you.’

‘It isn’t often I am mistaken for anyone else Mr Maitland. This is the only corridor we could find that wasn’t crushed.’ She came into the engine room fully. ‘Oh my God! Report.’

‘We took a direct hit. Not on the engines, on this section of the hull. Peeled us open like a tin can. This whole section was slapped in and crushed against the wall of the engine room. Cut everything damn near. Do you still have power?’

‘The auxiliary power cut in immediately. Casualties?’

‘We have twenty missing, presumed dead. A dozen injured. The engines shut off, we have no power. The cables are under that lot somewhere. We fought the fires with what we had available. It was enough. Plenty oxygen, the scrubbers are working fine. I need to get my injured out of here.’

Every rescuer couldn’t help but stare at the huge hole in the hull of Big Willy. Every now and then a piece of debris would smack against the shield, and it would shimmer. Emergency lighting was brought in.

Charlie found her in a corner of the engine room. He was carrying a huge back pack.

‘Hi ho! Shitty day then?’

She looked up. He could see where tears had cleaned parts of her face.

‘No jokes please Charlie?’

‘It was an observation, not a joke.’

‘What are you doing here?’

‘Punishment duties.’

A small smile managed to reach her lips. ‘Oh aye. Who did you piss off this time?’

‘I gobbed off at Admiral Baxter.’

She shook her head. ‘You’re going to end up spending your last couple of years locked up. What’s happening out there?’

‘Not a hellava lot. It was a bit of a standoff for a while. They have worked it all out now.’

‘That doesn’t tell me a lot Charlie.’

‘It’s all secret shit.’

‘Oh really?’

‘Sorry. You might be a spy or something.’

She laughed, ‘I am this close to kicking your arse off my ship.’

‘Who are you?’

Charlie eyed up the grizzly old veteran. ‘Captain Gordon sent me to help you with your repairs.’

‘One man!’ He snorted. ‘You got a couple of dozen decent engineers?’

‘You’re not getting me. I know fuck all about engineering. It’s what I have on my back.’

‘If you’re not going to be of any use, dump it and bugger off.’

‘Here you go then.’ Charlie slung the lump off his back and dumped it at the old guy’s feet. He tried to pick it up and frowned. He put both hands to it and heaved. It never moved. Charlie picked it up with one hand and slung it over a shoulder. The old guy paled.

‘Holy shit!’

‘Nah, nothing holy about it, but speaking of holes, this is going to repair your breach.’

‘That’s going to take months to fix in a major yard.’

‘It’s going to take about six hours with this thing. I need a clear space to set it up. Unless you want to do it yourself.’

‘Wouldn’t know where to start. Got a right nice spot for you lad.’

‘Lead the way.’

The two left Jean alone. Tiredness suddenly washed over her. She needed something to eat and some sleep. There was little more she could now.

‘Joe Maitland by the way. Chief Engineer.’

‘Charlie Murison.’

He grunted, ‘The Captain’s boyfriend.’

Charlie shrugged and continued setting up the machine. He connected to Babes and they scanned the interior of the ship.

‘You have eighty per cent of the material you need to close the breach. I can close it completely, but it will leave some sections thinner.’

‘What other options have we?’

‘There is plenty of debris floating about out there. We can have some towed to a point where the machine can reach it.’

‘That would be preferable.’

‘Right.’ Charlie went silent for a moment. ‘Captain Gordon is going to have the material towed to a spot just above the hull. I’m going to need something called a BRNL file.’

‘Never heard of it.’

Charlie paused. ‘It’s in the root directory of your engineering files. It is schematics of the engine room. This thing will understand.’

‘Still never heard of it.’

‘I’ll find it.’ He placed his hand on the unit. It took a few minutes. ‘Right got it.’

‘Got what?’

‘The file, I logged into your system and retrieved it.’

‘You can do that?’

‘Aye.’

The machine began to work. It scanned the breach and the hole again.

Charlie stood, ‘It’s asking what you want to do with the organic material.’

It took Maitland a minute. ‘Right. Body bags.’

Charlie shook his head. ‘It can’t restructure something as complicated as a Human body. All it can do is transfer the material or leave it. I would suggest some form of sealed coffin.’

‘I don’t think we have anything like that.

‘I’ll do it. Point me out a spot.’

Maitland looked around. ‘There isn’t one at the moment. I will have a spot cleared for you.’

‘Right.’

The machine began to work. Material began to disappear then reappear again on the hull. It fixed the torn sections on the outer hull first. They were soon realigned. Then it began to take the material from the inside of the engine room. Maitland was severely impressed.

‘This is how they build the ships, isn’t it?’

‘Pretty much, bigger machines though. More specialised.’

‘Aye. Coffee?’

‘Thought you would never ask.’

Jean returned to the engine room eight hours later when the stabilisers came online. She had slept for five hours. Half the room was black and covered in soot, the other half looked polished, brand new. She was astounded at the difference. She found Maitland dozing in his chair.

He came awake when she entered his cabin. ‘Sorry Captain.’

‘No Mr Maitland. I am sorry to disturb you. Could I have a status report please?’

‘We are all up and running ma’am. We are running diagnostics now. We should know in a couple of hours.’

‘Everything is repaired?’

‘Yes ma’am.’ He took a deep breath. ‘We have also recovered the bodies of our crewmates. Charlie made metal coffins and had them sealed inside. They were all wearing dog tags, so we have their identities.’

‘I see. I presume they are beyond recognition.’

‘Yes ma’am.’

‘That was good of him. Is he still here?’

‘No, he vanished into thin air along with that machine.’ He frowned, ‘That man is uncommonly strong.’

‘I am aware of that.’ She stood, ‘I will thank Captain Gordon for his assistance.’ Her face slid. ‘We took a severe beating, didn’t we Mr Maitland?’

‘Aye we did. Big Willy is back on his feet now though. He fought well, as did the crew and his Captain. Charlie told me that we saved them.’

‘It was what we were ordered to do.’ She smiled, ‘Charlie is it?’

Maitland laughed, ‘He isn’t much of an officer, is he?’

Jean frowned, ‘What makes you say that.’

‘He is as common as muck; just like myself.’

The smile returned, ‘You two got on well then.’

‘I would say so. Did you know one of his buddies is the Chief Engineer for the whole Modloch empire?’

‘I did actually.’

‘Next time we’re in port, he is going ask him to send me an invitation to go look at the big city ship’s engine room.’

Jean smiled, ‘I am quite sure he will as well. We have been ordered to return to the shipyards there. We will off load our casualties, and pick up replacements. They will also carry out any refitting we need and any additional repairs.’

‘So we are staying for a wee while longer?’

‘This little battle has set us back somewhat.’

‘I understand. We need to go back with a fully trained crew.’

‘That’s right.’

‘What was it like up there?’

‘It was bad, I felt helpless being unable to manoeuvre.’

‘Did we get any of them?’

‘A couple of destroyers, a battleship and lots of fighters. The battleship has to be shared I am afraid.’

‘Then we did our duty and we did it well.’

‘That we did Mr Maitland. I have a ship and crew I am very proud of.’

‘We are very proud of you too Captain.’

Jean returned to her inspection of the ship. There was still a lot of damage. By the time she was finished, the diagnostics were also completed. They joined a small group of ships who were also battle damaged. With an escort, they headed out towards Modloch territory and the shipyards there. Two of their own destroyers had been too badly damaged to be repaired. Another had been completely destroyed. The loss of life ran into hundreds, and it saddened Jean.

A third of the way there she received a surprise call. It was from the Gisha Queen. She had heard about the battle and the ship taking a lot of damage. Jean reassured her none of the women she had met had been a casualty. She even asked after Charlie. It gave Jean a warm feeling to think someone of her status would bother to ask after them. They talked for half an hour before the Queen had to return to her duties. She told Jean how well her campaign was going and how much progress they had made. It also occurred to Jean after the call was finished, just how well informed the Queen was.

chapter 50

Darrick roared with frustration as the Catatarac fleet jumped out of range again. They had quickly subdued the first two solar systems. Both only had mining colonies. They quickly routed the miners and Ranagata forces had landed to hasten their departure. Darrick and Pan had moved on to the second solar system. It was half evacuated by the time they got there. This time the Modloch dropped forces to hasten the evacuation. The next planet was where Valachean’s wife and children stayed; this was where the Catatarac fleet first put in an appearance. They engaged in hit and run tactics. More of a nuisance that a danger. Darrick was having the time of his life.

Pan appeared on screen. ‘I have had a signal from Valachean’s wife. They are ready for pick up. Can you hit the military bases for me? I’m going to send down a shuttle with a hundred fighters.’

Darrick grunted, they had discussed this earlier, and he had disagreed. Pan, however, had insisted. He pointed out that Valachean would not surrender otherwise, and if he got free, he would be twice the pain in the arse. He had already managed to get half his force home intact. If he got the other half home, the Ranagata would be in big trouble and it would tie up Darrick in the region for years. Darrick had reluctantly agreed.

‘Take them to my ship, it is the best ship in the fleet.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘They will be safer here, and safer on my home world. I will keep them as my guests until we know what is going to happen to Admiral Valachean.’

Pan thought it over. ‘Are you sure it isn’t too much of an inconvenience?’

‘It isn’t like I am going to be looking after them personally. It is of no matter to me.’

Pan laughed. ‘That’s true, and they will be safer. Thank you.’

Darrick shrugged it off. After he had thought about what Pan had said, it had actually made perfect sense. He had simply taken that thought a step further. Admiral Valachean was a master of tactics. Only Ne´ had ever scored a victory over him at school. Ne´ was the best of the best, and Valachean was a close second. It was better if he survived that he held no grudges against his people.

Darrick ordered his fleet to disperse in a fan formation. While they were rescuing the wife, the Catatarac fleet struck twice more. The second time, they hit back. They jumped in behind the Catataracs and caught them by surprise. His own ship destroyed a battleship. His men were on their feet roaring with triumph. The Catataracs withdrew to lick their wounds.

A flight of fighters escorting a shuttle made their way back to his ship. When they arrived, he sent a signal to Pan, who sent one to Admiral Valachean.

One of his aides approached.

‘The female wishes to talk to you sire.’

Darrick almost dismissed him, but he realised he should find out if she made it out with all of her brats.

‘Take them through to my study.’

The aide bowed and left.

Darrick reached his study first. It was only a few minutes before they arrived. The children filed in first. The boys were as ugly as the father, but when the daughters began to file in, Darrick sat upright. The Modloch and the Catatarac were compatible races, there were many interspecies marriages and Modloch males could be very attracted to Catatarac females. Darrick was shocked at the beauty of the female that walked through behind them. It took him a moment to find his voice.

‘Lady Valachean, welcome aboard.’

She bowed low, ‘Your Highness. Could you please tell us what is happening? Do you know what has happened to my husband? Where he is right now? We are lost.’

Darrick cast his eyes over the brood. The boys looked sullen, the girls frightened. All stuck close to the mother.

He cleared his throat. ‘Please, you are a guest here. Sit, I will order refreshments.’ He pushed a button and ordered tea and biscuits.

He guided them to the lounge area, and bade them all sit.

‘Your husband is fine. Do you know where he went?’

‘He would only say he was on a fool’s errand. He never says what he is doing or where he is going.’

‘Your husband attacked the Ambatta home world with a fleet from the Haspsopot. They attacked it together.’

He could see in her eyes that she didn’t understand. She shook her head. ‘What would he do that? We watched that wonderful documentary together. He told me it was an impossible task. He had grave doubts that the Ambatta even still lived on their planet.’

‘Did he explain why.?

‘Something to do with the contamination. I wasn’t really listening.’ She placed her hands on her knees. ‘May I ask a question your Highness?’

‘Please.’

‘Why is Pan attacking our world and why is he with the Modloch and not us?’

‘Your King tried to have Pan’s son assassinated and blame it on us, while he was visiting me with his father. We were able to stop it, caught the culprits responsible.’

She closed her eyes. ‘So Pan changed sides.’ She opened them again.

‘Yes.’

‘I see.’ Her chest heaved. ‘Why are you involved?’

‘My children, including my eldest son, was there too. They were also in danger. Not only that, King Vison had agreed with Pan’s father to join the Haspsopot in attacking my empire after the battle with the Ambatta was over.’

‘So we are prisoners.’

‘No Lady, you and your children are safe. You are guests. However, your husband is about to surrender what is left of his forces to the Human Goodwill Ambassador. If left at home, you and your children would be murdered by Vison. He requested that we rescue you first.’

‘Humans. The meat eaters. Did they fight with your forces?’

‘No, they were escorting their Goodwill Ambassadors on official business with the Ambatta. The Haspsopot fleet attacked them. Your husband didn’t. They are now trapped within the asteroid field, with no chance of leaving alive. The Ambatta refused to allow them to leave, and refused to cease hostilities at his request. His only other option was to surrender to the Ambassador.’

‘Then he is disgraced.’

‘He wouldn’t do that!’ His eldest son was on his feet.

A resounding slap made the child reel. ‘Sit down. How dare you talk to an Emperor like that!’

Darrick fixed the boy with a cold stare. ‘Your father is no coward. This is by far the hardest course of action for him. Right now he is trapped with three thousand ships and all of the lives within. If he surrenders, the lives of those will be saved and the crews eventually returned to their home world, where they can immediately resume their duties. It will aid in the recovery from this vast defeat. He is giving your people a fighting chance. He has already saved almost three thousand ships. Got them home safe. He left with ten thousand ships, the Haspsopot thirty thousand. Seven thousand of your ships went into the breach, into the inside of the asteroid field.

‘Of the three thousand that were left outside, only a handful escaped. Less than fifty we think. Twenty thousand ships tried to enter the breach, we are not sure how many made it. We think around ten thousand Haspsopot. Not a single Haspsopot ship survived the battle within the field. Of the twenty thousand left outside the field, only about a thousand escaped the battle. Many are damaged and being hunted down as we speak.’

He could see the boy was listening. ‘Of the seven thousand ships your father took into that breach, almost half made it out and returned safely home. We thought there was no chance of escape. He and his ships were to have been annihilated and your home worlds left vulnerable. Because of him, your people now have a fighting chance of saving some of your worlds.

‘Your King will call for help from his allies. They will provide ships but not crews for him to fight his wars with, not after the considerable defeat he has just suffered. But within a very short period of time, your people will have a substantial fleet again. All because of your father’s sacrifice. Do you understand what he has done?’

The child sank to his knees. ‘Forgive me your Highness. I was just upset.’

‘I can understand that. The greatest sacrifice your father has made will be that of his own life and that of his entire family. You understand that, don’t you boy?’

‘Yes sire.’

‘Do you want to die? Do you want to see your siblings and mother tortured and murdered before your very eyes?’

‘No sire.’

‘Then accept your fate. Your father may or may not survive. His friends, however, have decreed that his children will survive. Be grateful he has friends that would take such risks to save you.’

‘Yes sire. I am sorry.’ The boy got back up and sat down.

Darrick turned his attention back to the mother. ‘I will have you taken to my home world. There we will wait to see what will become of your husband. If he survives and is able to return to you, he shall make the decision of what will happen to you all then. Until then, you shall remain my personal guests at my official residence on my home world. If your husband should fall, the responsibility for your welfare will go to Pan. It was he whom your husband turned to for aid in rescuing you.’

‘Why would Pan rescue us after what nearly happened to his son?’

‘Pan holds your husband no ill will. He knows your husband had no hand in the matter. They have been friends for many years. Consider yourself fortunate my lady.’

She took a deep breath and managed a smile. ‘I always have your Highness.’

chapter 51

Steven decided that Admiral Valachean was even uglier up close. It had taken half an hour to go through the complicated ritual. All had been surprised when a huge asteroid had appeared through the field. Catatarac ships were guided into dock within the asteroid and began to offload their crews. A vast cavern within acted as a holding area. Ambatta pilots and a small crew took over the abandoned ships, then they melted into the field.

It took hours for the task to be complete. The cavern was eventually filled with milling Catataracs. Admiral Valachean appeared before them for the last time. His appearance caused them to quieten down. Steven was at his side.

His eyes cast around at the upturned faces. Here and there he smiled as he caught the eye of someone he knew.

‘Today is my last day as your Grand Commander. A title I was never granted, but that many here gave me anyway. I apologise for what has become of us. Many will believe we should have fought to the death. It was my judgement that none us would have survived this battle. I look around and see many familiar faces. Many of us have served on the same ships, fought side by side and risked our lives together.

‘To have fought and died in glory would have been wonderful, but it would not serve our King or our people. Right now, our home worlds and solar systems are already under attack. You are needed there, not dead. The disgrace is mine and mine alone. I shall carry it alone. I have been assured your repatriation will be swift. When you get home, hold your heads up. I do not return you to your loved ones. I return you to war, duty and death. This is my last order to you all. Live, return, defend.’ He bowed.

The cavern shook to the roar from his people. He hadn’t expected it. He felt the thrill of it to his very core. He turned to Steven.

‘Shall we, Ambassador?’

They left the cavern. Steven was now deep in thought.

‘This isn’t really a defeat for you, is it Admiral?’

‘Of course it is. Yet at the same time it is a small victory.’

‘I suppose that really depends on how quickly your men are repatriated.’

‘Of course. The thing is, the Federation doesn’t have the room to easily keep this many. A few hundred, a few thousand they can cope with. This many will just cause a logistical nightmare.’ He looked up, ‘If I know my King, he will refuse to feed them while in captivity as well. I hear you are leaving today.’

‘That’s right. We have to return to the council with these treaties signed. We also have to drop you off.’

‘Any word of my wife and children?’

‘They are being looked after by the Modloch Emperor.’

‘Of the war?’

You have lost three solar systems. Vison has pulled his fleets back to defend the home world.’

Valachean wasn’t impressed, ‘We are Federation members, our home world is safe enough. He should be harassing Pan’s people, or attacking their worlds. Force them to pull back from our system.’

‘The Modloch have already subdued the Haspsopot. They were left almost defenceless. Their King was killed by his own son. He has agreed to capitulate three worlds to the Modloch.’

‘Are they all occupied?’

‘Yes, the numbers are over a billion.’

‘Where are they going to put them?’

‘Nowhere.’

‘They aren’t evacuating?’

‘No. A simple change in administration. Whatever they produce on the planet, Darrick wants it, but he doesn’t have the people to inhabit it. They are still negotiating.’

‘How things change. I wonder if they will do that with any of our planets.’

‘I wouldn’t know.’

‘So I am to be your prisoner?’

‘I am an Ambassador, not a soldier. We are having a room converted so you don’t go blind. We have some hay in stock and plenty vegetables. At top speed it should take us a week.’

‘Any reading?’

‘We have an extensive library. We will give you a pad, the ship will translate anything we have for you.’

‘A Human library?’

‘Yes.’

‘I look forward to that.’

‘You also have the freedom of the ship. Problem is you won’t be able to see very much.’

‘I was on a Builder’s ship once before. It was an unpleasant experience.’

‘We will try and make it as comfortable as possible.’

chapter 52

Valachean realised that the Builder ship was probably twice as fast as any of his ships had been. The crew quickly got used to him, he took his meals at their regular breaks and made a point of trying to get to know them. He was amused to discover the diminutive figure behind the counter was actually a Modloch noble woman. He was also impressed by the fare. The hay wasn’t in quite as big a proportion as he was used to, but there were always fruit and vegetables to go with it. He found his energy levels soaring.

The Humans were respectful and called him sir. He found himself drawn to the Sergeant, who had served in numerous wars. He had been captured by the Albany and put in stasis. A lady of nobility, who often joined them, would keep reprimanding the Sergeant on his manners. He was even more fascinated when he discovered just how far out of time she was.

When he asked what they did on board, he was invited through to their office. He recognised Charlie from the video and introduced himself.

Charlie looked him over and offered a chair.

‘Is this the intelligence gathering part of the ship, should I be here?’

Charlie shook his head. ‘This isn’t a military ship. We don’t do military stuff. This is a cultural research unit, to keep our Ambassadors safe.’

‘Ah! I understand now. There are those with rather strange customs out there.’

‘That’s exactly it.’

‘What do you do exactly?’

‘I’m in the Ambassador’s official guard, I’m a Captain, but avail myself to many other duties. We all do, or we would go mad with boredom.’

Just then the Bear walked in. He eyed Admiral Valachean sceptically.

‘Anything for me Charlie?’

Charlie picked up a folder and handed it over. The Bear flicked through it.

‘Standard stuff.’

‘Nothing spectacular. Normal routine.’

‘Still we had better get some practice in.’

‘We have a month to prepare.’

‘Plenty time. You on duty again tonight?’

‘Aye, why? You got an officers’ mess bash on or something.’

He sighed, ‘What officers’ mess? No, we have a card school fixed for tonight. Thought you might like to join in.’

‘Thank you for considering me, unfortunately I’m on extra duties again.’

‘I’m beginning to think you do it on purpose.’ He nodded to Valachean and left.

‘Extra duties?’ Valachean enquired.

‘I pissed off an Admiral.’

‘That could get you shot in my forces. What Admiral.’

‘Baxter.’

‘I know Baxter. He owes me a root beer.’

Charlie flicked a thumb, ‘There is one in the fridge over there.’

Valachean squinted. ‘I’m sorry, I can’t see it.’

Jeb got up and fetched one for him. He opened the bottle in case he didn’t know how to do it.

Valachean took a long draught. ‘Oh that is wonderful.’

Charlies head snapped up, ‘Seriously?’

‘I could drink this by the barrelful. What a wonderful flavour.’

‘It is an acquired taste back on Earth.’

‘May I ask you a question?’

‘Fire away.’

‘They say you were the one who was with Pan when they tried to assassinate his son.’

Charlie gave Valachean his full attention for a few seconds.

‘That’s right.’

‘You stopped him?’

‘Aye.’

‘How?’

‘How does one normally stop an assassin?’

‘I see. I find it unusual that Darrick would allow someone from another race to be so close with a weapon.’

‘He didn’t actually realise I was carrying one.’

‘Do you normally carry a concealed weapon?’

‘It wasn’t concealed, it still isn’t.’ Valachean shook his head, he wasn’t getting it. Charlie slid it out of its holster. The women squealed and jumped out of the way.

‘Don’t you dare Charlie Murison!’ Jane shouted at him.

‘Oh shut up.’ The sabre sprang to life and Admiral Valachean jumped back in surprise. Charlie snapped it off again and replaced it.

‘What is that thing?’

‘It is an emergency escape tool. The Ambatta supply it to their pilots in case they get trapped in their ships. It will literally cut through anything.’

‘You used that!’

‘Didn’t have anything else.’

Valachean was still in shock. ‘Did you decapitate him?’

Charlie fixed him with a flat stare, ‘Really? You can’t get much of a conversation from a head.’

Valachean cocked his head, ‘I suddenly understand how you manage to get so many extra duties.’

‘Aye, I have a certain intolerance for stupid questions.’

‘Let me guess, Baxter asked you an equally stupid question?’

Charlie sighed. ‘He most certainly did.’

Valachean laughed. ‘Forgive me, I was taken a little by surprise. So this Modloch spoke to you?’

‘When he was completely disarmed the madness left his eyes. He thanked me for stopping him. He was able to tell me he had been tortured by a couple of aliens before they triggered some explosive device in his head, killing him instantly.’

‘Did he say who they were?’

‘No. I’m no quite sure what happened after that. I know they investigated it together. I think they found footage of Catataracs entering his building, tracked them down and caught them on the way home. That’s as much as I know.’

‘Did you see if the Modloch had any strange marks on him?’

‘I did. Circular ones on his head. Like small burns.’ Charlie demonstrated where they were.

‘It is so hard to believe.’

‘No it isn’t.’

‘Why not?’

‘I wasn’t talking about me, I was talking about you. You believe it, you just don’t want to.’

Valachean remembered what Pan told him about this Human. ‘You are correct. That is exactly how I feel. Thank you Captain.’

‘My name’s Charlie.’

‘I don’t think that is quite appropriate. Even if we are from different worlds, different armies, I still outrank you.’

‘Right now you are an Admiral of nothing. You have no rank, no station in life, no army, no fleet. My name is Charlie.’

Valachean took a deep breath. ‘Ouch! However, you are once again right. Morach.’

Charlie smiled. ‘Well Morach, what is it the Grand Commander wants of you?’

‘I have no idea.’

Charlie looked him straight in the eye. ‘Seriously?’

It caught Valachean off guard. He took a moment to reply. ‘Can I say I am not prepared to discuss that at the moment?’

Charlie shrugged, ‘It’s your business, none of mine. I was just making conversation.’

‘You have met the Grand Commander?’

‘Oh aye. He isn’t very fond of me at the moment.’

‘Why?’

‘I was partially responsible for that documentary. I supplied the material for it. I think he is still embarrassed about it.’

Valachean laughed. ‘He is still mad about it, though it certainly helped his cause. I enjoyed it, I watched it with my wife, she enjoyed it too. He really seemed to make a connection with that female.’

‘His sincerity came through. That’s what made it so good. I think that is why the Ambatta trusted him so much.’

‘They weren’t pleased about letting me go.’

‘That’s for sure. You’ve never fought them before?’

‘I considered it a waste of time and resources. We have a lot of archive material on clashes with the Ambatta. I think I read all of it. You would have to be a complete idiot to think you could come out ahead of them.’

‘Like your former King.’

He sighed, ‘My former King. I think I like that.’ He nodded subconsciously. ‘I never thought it would come to this though. I have lost everything.’

‘You’ve lost nothing.’

‘You have no idea what you are talking about.’

‘Your family is safe, isn’t it?’

‘For the moment yes.’

‘I imagine the Grand Commander will be wanting to give you a job. If he does, that means you and your family will be safe forevermore. To murder a Federation officer and his family is one of the most serious crimes. It carries severe penalties. I believe it was a law that was introduced to self-serve the Federation. That way, when talented people fall afoul of their respective monarchs, the Federation could grab them and also keep them safe.’

‘Yes but…’

‘Anything else is immaterial.’

‘I don’t think you understand.’

‘I understand, I simply don’t think it’s worth caring about. You have your life and that of your family. Your own enemy saved them for you. You have friends who have gone far beyond what one would consider the bounds of normal friendship. Emperor Darrick hates your King, and has always considered him and you an enemy. Yet he now protects your family. You have the respect of your enemies. The land, the home, the titles, the contents within are mere material wealth. A house lost in a fire can be rebuilt, its contents replaced. I understand there will be things lost that have great sentimental value and that you may feel irreplaceable. However, what would you rather have? The respect and loyalty of friends and enemy alike, and your family safe, or all your material possessions? Take your pick.’

‘That is no choice. My family of course.’

‘Of course it is a choice. You don’t believe so because you care for those you love. You would be surprised by how many throughout history have chosen the latter. You haven’t been blinded by your status in life. For you, the choice was simple.’

‘What you are saying is, keep it simple. Rejoice in what I have, not in what I have lost. Or should I say the material things I have lost.’

‘Pretty much.’

‘That is easy for a commoner to say. We of noble lineage have a hard time letting go of that which we were born with. What we are entitled to. You wouldn’t understand.’

Charlie took his Federation ID from his pocket and tossed it onto the table on front of Valachean. It took him a second, then he swiped it on a small reader.

‘Unbelievable! I thought you a commoner.’

‘I am. I still think like one. I would give that up in a heartbeat if I thought it would save the life of even one of my men. It means nothing to me at all.’ Charlie leaned closer. ‘The most noble thing you have ever done in your life was give up your nobility to save the lives of those under your command. That was the moment you won my respect, the respect of your enemies, and the respect of everyone you saved that day. They know it, their, wives, mothers, fathers and children will also know it. Your sacrifice gave your people a fighting chance. Your King will know it soon enough; even if he never admits to it. You never out fought anyone on that battlefield, but you out thought everyone. You won far more than you have lost, so don’t pine over it.’

The small chair creaked as Valachean sat back. He pondered over Charlie’s words then smiled.

‘Forgive me for calling you a commoner.’

‘There is nothing to forgive. The truth doesn’t hurt.’

Valachean stood. ‘Thank you for your time.’ He eyed Jeb and Jane bickering over something at a table. ‘Are those two married?’

‘No.’

‘They should be.’ With a nod he left.

It was the following night before Charlie saw him again, in the early hours of the morning. He appeared on the bridge shielding his eyes. He saw Charlie and went over.

‘I didn’t expect to see you here.’

‘Extra duties.’

‘Of course. Was this the Ambassador’s shift?’

‘It was.’

‘You are a trained ship’s Captain?’

‘Oh hell no. I just sit here and drink coffee, make sure everything is running smoothly. If anything else happens I drag him out of his pit.’

‘Pit, ah, you mean bed.’

‘Aye. What’s wrong with you, can’t you sleep?’

‘Your hours are quite different to those we keep. I also have little to occupy my mind with.’

‘You need to learn how to relax.’

‘I have been meaning to try that. Haven’t quite found the time to learn it.’

‘Take a seat.’

‘It is a bit bright in here.’

‘It won’t be in a second. Please.’ Now curious, Valachean sat. ‘Push the button on the end of the arm rest there and kick back.’

The seat lowered and Charlie did the same. ‘Ladies, what shall will we listen to tonight?’

Valachean suddenly realised the staff were all young females.

‘The planets.’ One suggested.

‘Nice one Grace. Prepare yourselves.’ They all kicked back and lay horizontal. ‘Babes, night time routine please. The planets with Mars first I think.’

Valachean gasped as the walls shimmered and vanished. He felt like he was floating. Whispers in the darkness caused the scene to change as the crew picked things they wanted to look at. They zoomed in and out at a sedate pace. The music and sensation filled him with wonder.

Charlie looked over twenty minutes later to see him fast asleep.

chapter 53

Ne´ glanced up at the figure before him, then down at the documents laid out before him.

‘You need to sign each tablet.’

Valachean perused them, ‘That is a lot of signing.’

‘They cover everything, from your new rank to your new home. This way I know we aren’t going to skip a page. I wouldn’t want to leave you vulnerable to your King’s revenge.’

Valachean smiled. ‘My King… no, he is no longer my King. I am afraid he has destroyed any right in my mind to call himself my King.’

Valachean signed all of the pads. The last one he lifted.

‘I am to be an Admiral? I thought I would lose some rank.’

‘Why would you? You have passed all the Federation exams during your career.’

‘Only because it is mandatory for all races.’

‘How did you get on with the Humans on your journey here?’

‘I thoroughly enjoyed the journey. I haven’t slept so well in years. Have you ever heard what the Humans call classical music?’

‘No I haven’t.’

‘It rivals some of the Federation’s best. You should try and get your hands on some. Extraordinarily relaxing.’

‘The Humans themselves?’

‘I believe I made some friends.’

‘The Ambassador?’

‘I never saw much of him. It was the members of the crew I found friendship with.’

‘The commoners.’

‘I doubt you could call any of them common. The Ambassador has a very talented team behind him.’

Ne´ took a deep breath, there were one or two of the Ambassador’s team he had a few choice words reserved for, but in the end he had to agree with Admiral Valachean.

‘Yes, he does seem to have an extraordinary team behind him.’

‘So you would have no problems working with them?’

‘None at all.’

Ne´ sighed, ‘That’s good. You have a month’s leave to get yourself sorted out. The treaty with the Ambatta will be signed within two weeks and they will become a protected planet. The contingent that is protecting it at the moment will receive two week’s leave then head out to the far reaches. You will be in charge.’

Valachean was speechless for a moment.

‘Isn’t that the Humans?’

‘Humans, Dent and Ortea. You will be getting them all.’

‘Oh!’

‘Problem?’

‘No, just shocked.’

‘You just told me you had no problems making friends with the Humans.’

‘I really don’t mind. Tell me, didn’t anyone else want them?’

‘I think most are terrified of those three races, especially the Ortea, who have eaten people from most species.’

Valachean seemed to sparkle, ‘Idiots!’

‘That’s what I thought.’ Ne´ agreed. ‘You look pleased.’

‘Delighted, what an opportunity. My flagship?’

‘The Burning Wind.’

‘Gairloch’s ship!’

‘That’s her, and she has been refitted, she is one hundred per cent full spec.’

‘This time last week I was at my wit’s end. It was hard giving everything up, or I thought it would be. I have learned a lot since then. Now my children will have the best schooling the Federation has to offer. My family will be safer than it has ever been under Vison’s rule. I will have under me probably the best ship in the Federation, and the opportunity to explore the edges of Federation space.’

‘I am very happy you are taking it this way. I honestly thought you would need a lot of persuasion.’

‘I haven’t look forward to anything so much since the day I got married.’

Ne´ laughed. ‘I’m still thinking you managed to get your hands on the best looking female in the Federation. Anyway, your Post Captain will be the present Captain of the Burning Wind, Douglas McKinnon. He is already a senior Captain from his own world. However, I want to bring him, and his crew in, and put them through their paces. I have someone else in mind for your permanent Post Captain.’

‘A Human?’

‘Yes of course.’

‘I trust your judgment Grand Commander.’

Ne´ smiled very strangely, ‘I have transport booked for the Modloch home world. It leaves in two hours. Go find your family; bring them to your new home, get settled in.’

‘Could I have the details of the Human’s quartermaster?’

‘You could get that when you join them.’

‘I imagine stores from their home world will take some time to reach this part of the galaxy.’

‘Yes they do. Alright, I will have their details forwarded to you.’ With a simple nod Valachean was dismissed. Ne´ was left wondering what Valachean required from the Human home world, given his lack of contact with them. Valachean was wondering who the Grand Commander had in mind for his new Post Captain. By the expression on his face, it must be someone he thought Valachean might disagree with.

chapter 54

Komoru lay in the silk sheets naked, almost purring as she gazed at the new engagement ring on her hand. She had shown Steven her appreciation the evening before, and still felt a little worn out. Her head lifted from the pillow slightly. Steven had spent the night in her quarters. Now he sat watching the Modloch planet below. He sipped at a glass of water, wrapped in a robe she had bought for him at home.

In front of Steven sat a large box. She almost burst out laughing at the sight of it. When she had opened it last night, she discovered a huge fire diamond. When she plucked it out, she discovered it was actually a ring. She howled in protest as he tried to put it on her and laughed until tears ran down her face. It was then from his pocket that he took the real ring. It was inset with a fire diamond, but not a traditional cut like her original, and tiny by comparison, but when she held it up to the light, she caught the colour pink, the pink of cherry blossom. It had taken her breath away. The tears of laughter had turned to tears of joy and emotion. She had given him her all, until both were utterly exhausted, and had fallen into a deep sleep.

‘Steven.’

‘Oh, you’re awake.’

‘Hmm. What are you doing?’

‘Nothing actually. Just sitting here with a glass of water watching a world float by.’

‘Really? You’re actually thinking about nothing?’

‘Not a thing. Just content to soak it all up.’

‘I’m glad we are all back together again.’

‘Yup. Our duties have taken us light years apart lately. It’s nice to be home.’ He shrugged. ‘You know what I mean.’

‘Still, it is over now. The Ambatta have protected status.’

‘People from all over the galaxy are flocking there.’

‘So I heard. It is quickly becoming the number one galactic tourist destination.’

Steven leaned back against their huge pillow with a sigh. ‘I’m not surprised, it is something to see.’

Komoru wanted to crawl over and into his lap, but couldn’t be bothered moving. ‘It has only been a few weeks. Things are moving fast.’

‘At least the fighting has calmed down.’

‘That’s true. No one has been displaced from their planets, apart from a few miners. The prisoners have all been repatriated as well. Any word of what happened to Admiral Valachean?’

‘Two days ago he stepped on board the Burning Wind and headed out to the edge of Federation space.’

‘Way to promote failure.’

Steven turned and gazed at her. ‘He lost, from what I hear he knew he was going to lose from the moment they set out. I don’t think he went there with thoughts of victory, more of how best to preserve the lives of his men.’

‘Then why did he go in the first place?’

‘He was ordered to.’

‘That was a silly question wasn’t it?’

‘A tad silly.’

‘Still, with a fleet of forty thousand ships, you would think they would have had a chance.’

‘That’s exactly what Vison and the Haspsopot thought. They were wrong.’

‘I was so frightened Steven.’

‘So was I.’

They both fell silent as images of the devastation wrought went through their minds.

‘How is Ico dealing with it?’

‘I think he is fine now. What about Babes?’

Steven shook his head, ‘Still having a hard time. I feel she is calmer now she and Ico are back together again.’

‘They need some time together.’

‘Agreed.’

‘Have we anything official on the cards?’

Steven took a sip of his water. ‘The Haspsopot have asked for an official visit.’

She gasped, ‘What for?’

‘As an apology I think. Our people weren’t at war, yet they attacked us with no provocation. If it is genuine, it is one more planet on our side.’

‘I don’t like it.’

‘We can try and retire. It won’t be long before the proper Ambassadors are trained.’

She thought it over. ‘No. So many people would be disappointed in us. I would also be disappointed in us. Besides, I really enjoy it.’

‘An official pack has already been sent to them.’

‘Didn’t the present ruler kill his father?’

‘He sure did, then immediately sued for peace. They lost a few planets, or should I say administration of those planets have changed hands. That’s about it.’

‘Forever.’

‘Fifty years I think it is.’

‘Not too bad then.’

‘No.’

Komoru snuggled into her pillow and began to drift off back into sleep. Steven settled deeper into the giant pillow, and wasn’t far behind.

chapter 55

The panel of Federation officers eyed them warily. Charlie and the Chief had wheeled in a number of strange objects; one of them the cockpit of a fighter. It wasn’t often the head of Federation requisitions was asked to attend a meeting personally. He could understand, looking at the pair standing before him, why his underlings were so confused. They both had noble titles, yet one was Human. He did a little search and discovered that he was the only Human Federation citizen. As such, there was no way they could refuse the request. He read the description again: an escape tool for pilots, if all else failed.

He knew of dozens of cases of pilots being stuck in their damaged fighters. Most were killed when the enemy swept through on a clear up operation and destroyed everything they found. It was either that or wait for their own forces to pick them up. What did it matter if they could get out of the fighter or not? Would it make a difference?

He decided to address the engineer.

‘What difference would this device make?’

‘It gives a pilot one more choice sir. This device has come from the Ambatta home world. It has been used by the Ambatta to rescue their pilots and has saved many lives. Very few Ambatta pilots actually decide to stay with their craft after it is obvious that there is nothing more they can do. Rather than wait to be destroyed, they will cut themselves out and use jets to get to a safe distance from the craft. After the enemy has made their sweep and they are sure they are now safe, they activate their emergency beacons. They have a device that tells them when their rescue craft are in their vicinity.’

‘So it is part of a whole rescue system?’

‘A very effective low tech system.’

‘How much would the whole system cost?’

‘We already have the ability to detect the beacons. The beacons themselves are in the handle and holster of the device. The Ambatta have a third one sewn into the collars of their uniforms.’

‘So nothing more than the price of the unit then.’

‘That’s right sir. If I may be permitted, we have with us an Ambatta pilot who has used the device and who can carry out the demonstration for us.’

He looked to his fellows. Like himself, they weren’t very impressed so far, however they were all here. They gave their approvals with a slight nod.

‘Why not? Carry on.’

Charlie spoke into a small hand held. A split second later, sparks flew from the cockpit of the fighter. It was so quick they almost missed it. A light shot out from the inside, and followed the seam all the way around. The darkened canopy was launched into the air, and clattered onto the ground. A small diminutive figure stood up and bowed. There was no sign of the device; then they noticed it in its holster.

The Chief took a single step forward and captured their attention again.

‘We did discuss just simply cutting out the canopy; but believed a cut through the metal skin of the fighter would serve as a much better demonstration of the device’s qualities. This means that poor Trinnie will have to stay there for a few minutes until the edges cool a little. Obviously in space, this isn’t a problem.’

Charlie spoke into his hand held and Lewis walked into the room. He pushed the hot canopy to the side then Trinnie leapt out of the cockpit and straight into his arms. It was then that the head of the requisitions department made the connection.

He shot to his feet. ‘Oh! Weren’t you with the Grand Commander on his tour of the Ambatta home world?’ It took him a further few seconds to place Charlie, the one who was eating the strange fruit the Grand Commander liked so much.

Lewis lowered Trinnie to the ground. They both bowed.

‘We were.’ Lewis spoke for both. ‘Charlie there was asked by the Grand Commander to find something that the Ambatta could sell to the outside world. Trinnie here be a pilot who has used this system. May she speak directly to the committee sir?’

‘Oh yes please.’ He sat down. ‘It is rare to see a female pilot within the Federation. May I ask about your service history?’

‘I am a part of an attack wing. It is my task to disrupt enemy fighters. I have seventeen kills accredited to me, and have been knocked out three times. Once I was able to eject safely. The second time I used this device and was able to escape, the third time I was captured by Federation forces. The Humans.’

He was fascinated. ‘That is quite amazing. Yes, so you were the Ambatta pilot the Humans captured. Why didn’t you eject, or escape the third time?’

‘I thought I had time Sir. We will always try and fix our craft and limp home. Rather a damaged fighter than no fighter at all.’

‘Let’s get back to this device. Would you say it is effective?’

‘It is extremely effective. It has saved countless lives in the past. Many have been able to reach our asteroid field, where they have been rescued and many others have been able to reach a safe distance from the fight to be picked up later. The beacon is set to a low frequency the Federation don’t use. That way we escape detection. I was picked up after six hours. Our oxygen packs last twenty hours.’

‘Is there anything else you would like to tell us about this device?’

‘There are instances in the past where pilots have been able to gain entry to enemy ships and steal a fighter. Others have been able to attack fighters that have stopped to savour their kill. As you can see, they easily cut through a canopy. One thrust will kill a pilot. You cut open the canopy, eject the dead pilot and steal the fighter.’

He sat back and thought over her words. ‘It will cut through the skin of a battleship?’

‘Through the skin or the airlock.’ She shrugged. ‘It is very powerful and extremely versatile.’

‘It seems to be very dangerous as well.’

‘They would be if you were foolish enough to play around with them. They are issued on the way to the flight deck and handed back the moment you land. The power only lasts a few minutes; you have to be very careful how you use them.’

‘Thank you for your input pilot.’ His gaze was now directed at Charlie. ‘Have you something here that can demonstrate the weapon’s ability to gain entry to an airlock?’

Charlie pulled the cover off a large object. It was an airlock door. It rode on a small cushion. Charlie switched off the carrier and it sank to the floor.

He took out his light sabre. ‘We were able to acquire this from a scrapyard. It is a pretty standard airlock from a battleship.’

With a flick of the wrist, Charlie sliced the top off it. Then the hinges and finally the lock. He stepped back as the door fell to pieces. The committee were more than impressed.

The leader of the committee couldn’t help himself. ‘What else have you brought. May I try it?’

‘Yes of course. Please. We have enough to give you all a try.’

They came clamouring down. The Chief had brought solid columns of different metals. They were soon slicing them up and enjoying every second it.

One of his senior members walked over when his tool went dead.

‘I can think of a few alternative uses for this device sir.’

He nodded. ‘As can I. Assault troops have been clamouring for something so simple for a very long time.’ He waved Charlie over. ‘Tell me, can we make these ourselves?’

Charlie shook his head. ‘The Ambatta already have the patents recorded. The biggest problem would be the material for the batteries. As you can guess, they hold an immense amount of power. Some of the materials are quite rare, but common in the Ambatta asteroid field. That would make them extremely expensive to make anywhere else. Neither can you buy the materials from the Ambatta, and neither were any of them included in the treaty.’ Charlie handed him a pad. ‘This is the price breakdown of the cost of a single unit.’

He frowned, ‘That is extremely reasonable Captain. Are they sure they can manufacture them for this price?’

‘They have been making them for years Sir. I think they have ten thousand in storage. The plant is automated. It can churn out a thousand a day. Three if it is run over a whole day’s cycle. The charging units are separate. They come in banks of twenty, although you can get individual ones. They are reviewing the price of the holsters. They come with the beacon fitted, however you may not want them with that beacon, and of course many races are far larger than the Ambatta. At this moment in time, they are waiting for you to get in touch, so you can inform them of your requirements.’

‘Do you have units that we can carry tests out on?’

‘We have a hundred units with us.’

‘That should suffice. Thank you Captain. I am very impressed. I think we all are.’

‘I am just discharging my duties sir.’

‘Was this at the request of the Grand Commander?’

‘I was asked to find something useful that the Ambatta could sell to the Federation. It is to help them set up their world with a bank account and funding.’

‘I see.’ He looked down. ‘I see you are wearing one.’

‘It’s mine.’

He laughed, ‘Yes, they are quite impressive, aren’t they?’

‘Everyone I meet seems to want one. They won’t be on sale to the general public though. Far too dangerous. The Federation has the first shout. If they don’t want it, I know a whole damn planet that would love to get their hands on one.’

‘You mean Earth.’

‘Aye, but again, I will only offer it to the services.’

‘You have an information pack?’

‘Of course sir.’

‘I will take the details from you now.’

Charlie passed on the details and they were dismissed.

A couple of hours later, they stepped onto the same Federation transport that they had arrived in. That night in the lounge, Charlie sat with the Chief and watched the first Star Wars movie to reach the Federation. It started a sensation. As Charlie had planned, it soon had the Federation forces baying for the emergency escape tool.

Chapter 56

Ne´ wasn’t surprised when the request came across his desk, but he was surprised at the size of the order. He read through the material. It seemed that almost everyone wanted to get their hands on the units. They had been trialling them with most branches of the services. The pilots wanted them in their fighters while on active service, the assault units wanted them, the marine units wanted them.

The devices had held up well during testing. None had broken down. The power output was the same throughout. None of the chargers failed. The pilots wanted the low-band distress beacons, the assault teams also wanted them, but the marines didn’t. It took Ne´ days to sort it all out. There was one thing that became clear: every officer who came into contact with them wanted one. He realised they would quickly become a status symbol if he allowed it. If that happened then the number of units would drop drastically and no doubt the officers would take up settling personal scores with them. He also knew exactly who was responsible for all of this. He had also seen the film.

The Captain had certainly been able to light a fire under the arses of his Federation forces. There was no way the timing was a coincidence. Discrete inquiries told him that it had cost the PD Company of Earth a substantial amount to buy the rights to show the film in this part of the galaxy. Money they would never see back; or so he thought.

He picked up the latest intelligence report from his people on the Ambatta home world. As yet there had been no great exodus back onto the surface of the planet. Grass had been planted their though; enough to feed their domestic livestock and some of the visitors they were beginning to receive. They had been inundated with requests from private individuals to go and live there, also from individuals wanting to buy their own asteroid. The Ambatta weren’t yet set up to deal with requests like this.

On the original landing site, a team of Ortea engineers had already built a hotel and a row of accommodation. As yet they hadn’t been furnished, but there was running water and power. They did not have the staff to run a hotel or the knowhow; the Ambatta were obviously struggling. All of it had happened so quickly.

Initial dealings had gone through the PD Company of Earth, and they had sent people to help the Ambatta set up their monetary system. The first mineral in the Federation’s list had already been delivered and the cost of that already paid into their account.

An intelligence report stated that the first ships gifted to the Ambatta by the surrender of Valachean had already been outfitted and upgraded. It was obvious the Ambatta were far more effective in military matters than that of tourism. It made Ne´ smile. As yet, none of his people had any idea where any of their military bases were, or the size of their military force.

He picked up another report. This time it was from Federation One. The Ambatta had sent a squadron of pilots there a fortnight ago. As expected, they had kicked everyone’s arses in their fighters. They had turned the asteroid field beside the space station into their own private playing field. Three instructors had already fainted while training with the Ambatta pilots. Again he cracked a smile. Right now one of his toughest Admirals was making his way to Federation One to pick up his new squadron. In the meantime, he had Federation One training the pilots in protocol and how things were done in the Federation. The logistics to keep the Ambatta fed were coming from the Humans. They had supplied their own chefs.

Ne´ sat back with a cup of tea and wondered who he could send to the Ambatta to fix their non-military problems.

chapter 57

Darrick was watching Ne´ with some amusement as he looked around.

‘He isn’t here.’

Ne´ looked a little guilty. ‘Is it that obvious?’

Darrick laughed, ‘It is.’

‘That’s a relief. That Human isn’t normal.’

‘Lucky for you he isn’t.’

‘You mean the incident with San and Pan?’

‘That one exactly.’

‘I heard he killed the gardener with one of those emergency tools. I’m surprised you even let him near you with it.’

‘He didn’t kill him. He simply cut off his arms and legs. For the record, I never knew what it was. The operatives had planted a device in the gardener’s head. They set it off when they realised he was talking about them.’

‘You caught them.’

‘Pan did. He sent me a recording of the interrogation. Charlie was correct. It turned things around in your favour.’

‘I suppose it did. I still don’t like that documentary you made.’

‘I don’t care Ne´. Have you ever witnessed something go through the council so quickly?’

‘Never. These are exciting times Darrick.’

‘Are we not at the forefront of history Ne´?’ Darrick picked up a glass and Ne´ raised his.

‘We certainly are.’ They both took a long drink. Ne´ gasped, ‘What is that?’

‘It’s called root beer.’

‘It has to be Human.’

‘It is. Charlie gave me a case to try out.’

‘Where can I purchase it? No don’t tell me: PD Company of Earth.’

‘There or through your Human quartermaster. Valachean told me he had ordered a couple of cases of it.’

‘So that’s why he required the details of the Human quartermaster. I did wonder at that. How did he enjoy his time here?’

‘He was very excited about his new post. Have you ever met his wife?’

‘I’ve seen pictures of her.’

‘They don’t do her justice.’

‘Really? You were smitten.’

‘Let’s just say I am glad it wasn’t anywhere near the mating season.’

‘How are his children taking things?’

‘Not so well as the wife, but I hear Vison has rescinded the kill order on him and his family.’

‘So I have heard. It isn’t like him.’

Darrick had to agree. ‘I feel he is up to something.’

‘Not quite. He lambasted those that returned. Accused them of cowardice. As soon as news hit their world that Valachean was now serving with the Federation, thousands of them applied to join. All the officers. Vison was faced with a revolt that he had never expected. He was forced to rescind the order in the hope of keeping most of his core officers.’

Darrick barked a laugh. ‘I bet that made him sit up and take notice.’

‘It obviously did.’

The sound of laughter filtered down to them. It caught their attention for a moment.

‘What is she doing here?’

Darrick shrugged. ‘State visit. Wanted to see the gardens. It would seem the Human females she had for a visit talked about them, and she wanted to see them for herself.’

The Gisha Queen spun one of the children up above her head. He laughed.

Darrick shook his head. ‘You can see she desperately wants a child. What a shame she is so unwilling to let go of power.’

‘Would you give it up just so you could have a mate?’

‘No.’

Darrick shrugged and both fell silent. They watched them frolic for a few minutes.

‘Do you find her attractive Darrick?’

‘No. The Gisha are a bit small for my liking. They only have one stomach, don’t really eat grass or hay, just fruit and vegetables. She has been sampling my larder these past few days.’

‘All your Human food.’

‘It would seem it is agreeable with her.’

‘They are a strange race the Gisha.’

Darrick had to agree. ‘There aren’t many races that would accept a Queen as regent.’

‘Do not underestimate her Darrick. To keep her throne, she has had to be twice as ruthless as we have ever needed to be.’

‘I am long past that stage Ne´. I heard you are becoming a deadly shot with that chemical weapon of yours.’

‘Taught by a female. She is a remarkable woman. Doesn’t your friend talk about her?’

‘Not much. He has to be asked, and even then it isn’t something he boasts about. I have been more worried about my Chief Engineer, but he seems to be back on his feet.’

‘I thought you gave him Lady Glee and her daughters to play with?’

‘I did, but he was engaged to a female from a record company. It would seem some rock star came along, took a fancy to her, and whished her out from underneath his nose.’

‘Bad luck.’

‘I was hoping he would turn his attentions to the Lady Glee and her brood. No such luck. He locked himself away during the mating season. Took to drink instead.’

‘Your mating season isn’t that far away. Maybe you will have better luck this time. You know that’s two commoners you have promoted to the ranks of noble. How are the rest of your nobles taking it?’

‘They don’t meet; they don’t walk in the same social circles. My nobles have simply ignored it for the most part. I did have one say something one day. I asked him how much he had given to his Emperor this year. He couldn’t answer me. I pointed out that my Chief Engineer had given every penny he owned, a number of times, just to upgrade my city ship and keep his Emperor safe. When I told him how much it had cost, he was staggered. More to the point, I was never informed of the transactions. I only found out by accident. He asked for nothing. He never used it to gain anything or vie for position. He didn’t want the lands or the noble rank I bestowed on him either.’

Ne´ grunted, ‘I wish I had nobles like that. What did he say?’

‘I don’t think he knew what to say. Nothing that would have painted him in a good light anyway. He mumbled something about how the occasional commoner could surprise one with a noble action and that maybe sometime in the distant past he had a noble ancestor that fell out of favour. They have been very quiet ever since.’

Ne´ laughed. ‘I bet they have. They will be worried you demand such undying loyalty from them too.’

‘Which was exactly the warning I was giving them. It worked.’

‘What about the Human?’

‘After my cousin, they are terrified of him.’

‘I don’t blame them. Did you give him much land?’

‘I tried to, he told me to ram it.’ Darrick howled with laughter. ‘I have two nobles that have done more for me than just about any others in the history of my race, and neither want any recognition for it.’

‘You are rich beyond compare Darrick.’

‘This kind of luck I never foresaw Ne´. I eventually managed to persuade Charlie to accept a large field attached to his cottage. He thought that reasonable enough.’

They both howled with laughter. ‘A noble with only a single field. Wonderful. What yield will you demand?’

‘Nothing of course. Nor from the engineer. He isn’t looking after the land. The upkeep of the house and the removal of Lady Glee is enough.’

‘I hope you never have to execute either of them.’

‘They don’t walk in noble circles Ne´. Neither have any aspirations to become Emperor. I am prepared for the other nobles trying to stab them in the back though. With little interaction, there will be few opportunities for that.’

‘I hope so.’

‘Never mind them, have you approved those tools Charlie used to stop the gardener?’

‘I have, but I have been selective. Only members of certain forces are allowed to wear them.’

‘My officers are howling for them. I said no.’

‘As did I. Only pilots and assault troops, specialised forces. Issued at the same time as their weapons, handed back in with them. Not for issue during training; rare occasions only.’

‘In time I may well do the same.’

‘You might have to wait a year, unless they enlarge their factory. I have put them on the special prohibition list so individuals cannot buy them, nor wear them in public.’

‘I was going to suggest that.’ The sound of laughter once again reached their ears. Over the beautiful meadow, the Queen of the Gisha race chased his children with abandon. Darrick shook his head. ‘What the hell is she after?’

chapter 58

The Sir William Wallace slid into home port. The crew crowded around every available porthole for a glimpse of Earth. Jean was looking from the bridge. The sight of it never failed to impress. Her eyes scanned the cloud systems, looking for the tell-tale signs of storms. There was no other planet that could compare.

They hadn’t expected the recall. The bridge and ship would be a flurry of activity, until all docking procedures had been carried out. A strange silence took over the ship for almost a minute. Jean made her way to her cabin and stood in front of the window. Mary found her there.

‘Are you alright Captain?’

Jean sighed, ‘It has been an adventure, hasn’t it Mary?’

‘Yes ma’am.’

‘How do you feel about being home?’

‘I’m not sure, part of me is glad, another sad. We have seen some wonderous things. It makes you want to see more. I joined the navy to travel. I used to love pulling into a new port. I never dreamed just how far it would take me.’

‘Would you like to go back?’

Mary flushed. ‘I am not one of the essential personnel ma’am. If Big Willy isn’t going back across the barrier again, I am going to apply for a transfer.’

Jean smiled, ‘Good for you. I will miss you. What about your boyfriend?’

Mary shrugged. ‘He can suck it up or dump me. There are plenty horny guys out there.’

Jean laughed. ‘That is true.’

‘What about you ma’am; will you ever return to big Charlie?’

She took a deep breath, ‘I have no idea. For the past few months I have been calling him my man, with no idea if I will ever see him again. I feel so foolish. Which reminds me.’ She began to unbuckle the gun at her waist. ‘Now we are home, I will have to consign Wee Charlie to the armoury. Strutting around like a cowboy won’t go down too well in the Admiralty.’

‘Do you have to report Captain?’

‘After our de-embarkation leave. Only it is no longer in Scotland. We have returned to a strange world.’

A buzzer sounded. Jean went over. ‘Ma’am, we have a Dr Gordon asking permission to come aboard.’

Jean shook her head, ‘What for?’

‘She wants to meet you.’

‘Is there any particular reason I should see this person?’

There was a little hesitation in his answer, ‘Ma’am, it is Dr Gordon, Steven Gordon’s mother.’

A jolt went through her. ‘Oh shit! Yes okay, show her directly to my office. I will be there as quickly as possible.’

She could hear the merriment in the operator’s voice. ‘Yes ma’am.’

She turned to Mary, ‘It looks like we are getting visitors Mary. Could you bring tea.’

‘Yes ma’am.’

Mary Gordon was like a miniature whirlwind. Jean was momentarily stunned by her beauty. She was even more shocked when Mary came over and gave her a big hug.

‘Thank you so much.’

Jean was at a bit of a loss. ‘I’m sorry?’

‘Steven told me what you did and how you protected them, also about the loss of life you suffered as a consequence.’

Jean relaxed a little. ‘I was obeying orders Dr Gordon. It was my job to protect the Ambassadors, regardless of the cost.’

‘I am still grateful. The loss of life bothers Steven so much you know.’

‘I am touched by his and your concern. Would you like a cup of tea?’

‘I would love one.’

‘Please sit down.’

As Mary came back with the tea, Mary Gordon squinted her head at a strange angle.

‘Aha!’

Jean stood. ‘Sorry?’

‘So you are the lady Charlie likes?’

Jean flushed red, ‘You know Charlie?’

‘Very well, and I have seen that before.’ She pointed to her pistol. ‘It was on his dining room table the last time we met on Earth. He told me it was for a very special lady. I will admit I was sceptical; but it seems he made the right choice.’

Jean smiled, ‘It is the best gift I have ever received from a man. I think it is the only one I have never returned.’

‘How is he?’

‘Fine. He came on board and helped fix the ship after the battle. How do you know him?’

‘We were neighbours once. Charlie and Steven have been best friends since playschool. I still visit his mother, I call his granny Mum.’

‘Of course, Charlie did say they were childhood friends. Does he keep in touch?’

‘We communicate all the time, we formed the PD Company of Earth together. Charlie is like a guiding light in the darkness. You know his latest acquisitions are root beer and Star War figurines?’

‘He doesn’t talk much about that side of things.’

‘Oh!’ Mary’s feminine senses went onto high alert.

Jean smiled, ‘We have spent some time together.’

Mary was delighted, ‘Wow, Charlie landed himself a stunner.’

Jean laughed, ‘I wouldn’t call myself that. Besides, I doubt if he will ever return to Earth. I don’t know if I will ever see him again. I will be here training recruits and he will be having mad dashing adventures light years away on the other side of the barrier.’

Mary took a sip of tea. ‘I wouldn’t worry about it my dear. You are both still in the forces, you may well be posted to the same part of the galaxy again.’

‘Of course, who knows?’

Mary took another sip of tea. ‘Steven told me that Komoru told you of his special abilities. How do you feel about that?’

Jeans features darkened. ‘I am afraid I don’t like your son’s choice of companion much. I didn’t need to know that. Moreover, she told me while we were on an alien planet. We could have been recorded. As for Charlie, he wouldn’t try and read my mind. He isn’t like that. In fact it is fairly obvious he doesn’t do it.’

Mary laughed, ‘I get that. I am sorry about Komoru. She is a delight, she just doesn’t seem to get Charlie. He often gives Steven a rough time, I think she is simply being defensive.’

‘That I can understand, but why try and drive a wedge between us?’

Mary shrugged, ‘We can all lash out a little when we think the one we love is being attacked.’

‘I suppose we can. You don’t seem to mind Charlie giving your son a bit of a hard time.’

‘Steven was a child prodigy, then he was involved in a very bad accident when he was fourteen.’

‘I know the story.’

‘Well when he got his intellect back, it was as though he was fourteen years old again. The years between seem more of a dream to him than reality. He hasn’t gone through what all of us have. He was protected, loved, cared for. No one could foresee what would happen. His intellect is the one thing that has carried him forward, yet he was never in a position to develop the leadership skills, or the personal skills that all of us have had to develop to function in society. His struggles have always been on a personal level, not a professional one. Charlie has all of those qualities in spades. I trust him to guide Steven, even if it is with the tip of his boot on occasion.’

Jean burst out laughing, ‘I have seen Charlie work that boot. He is impressive. I respect that you can see that.’

‘Yes but Komoru can’t. In many ways she has been as sheltered as Steven.’

‘Then maybe she becomes a little more understandable.’

‘She fell in love with Steven’s genius when she was little more than a child. We used to communicate back then. After she received her doctorate, she became a bit of a recluse. Supporting Steven’s theories gained her no friends. She was shunned by many. We eventually lost touch.’

‘Then she found him again.’

‘They found each other. I think it was always meant to be. They just got engaged again.’

‘Again?’

‘Komoru never set a date, so Steven surprised her, asked her again.’

‘You must be very happy.’

‘Delighted. I just wonder where the wedding is going to be held. I hope it is across the great barrier.’

‘May I ask how things are here?’

Mary took a deep breath. ‘It is as though the whole of Humanity is ready to take a great leap. There is a lot of pressure to let people travel through the great barrier. Pop stars, film stars, politicians, all of them are piling on the pressure.’

‘That would be a mistake. They aren’t ready, and neither are those from the other side. We are still shunned by many because we are meat eaters. There is still a bounty on every Human delivered to the Albany.’

‘I have seen the list and have to agree. I wouldn’t trust the half of them. Thankfully our politicians agree.’

‘We have still a lot to offer; but it must be done at a steady pace.’

Mary smiled, ‘It is recognising what we can offer, that is what Charlie is really good at. Not only that, he is good at recognising what we can use, or what will sell here. Like the bricks from the Ortea home world. That was a stroke of genius.’

‘Was that Charlie? They are all the rage on the other side of the barrier as well.’

‘It helped the Ortea, and us. Of course most companies want their hands on technology, but there is so much that is beyond us. He has been sending us devices for listening to music, that sort of thing. Simple stuff that is still technologically advanced for us.’

Jean smiled, ‘One step at a time.’

Mary Gordon returned her smile, ‘Baby steps. We may have the advantage of Builder technology, but we still don’t understand it.’

‘It is difficult to come to grips with, and the aliens don’t have any sympathy for us either. They consider the technology stolen and Humans backward. We are gaining respect in some circles, but the guys with the Federation were given a hard time at first.’

‘Yes, and I heard you and Charlie had a very hard time of it.’

Jean shook her head, ‘I had a hard time of it. Charlie never seemed phased at all. I just thought he was playing it cool.’ Her face darkened, ‘The chances are though, he knew exactly what was happening all along.’

‘Did you expect him to tell you?’

‘I suppose he did, in a roundabout way.’

‘Charlie is very pragmatic.’

‘That is quite obvious now.’

‘I doubt telling you that he could read minds would have impressed you much. You might have thought him unstable and never listened to his advice.’

‘That is also a good point. Still, I would rather have heard it from him.’

‘Are you that close?’

‘Maybe yes, maybe no.’

Mary shook her head with a smile. ‘I am sure that one day he would have trusted you with that information himself. To date, you are one of very few people who know. It would be advisable to keep it that way.’

‘Who would believe me anyway?’

‘There is that.’

‘Do you know what they are up to now?’

‘They have just carried out their first diplomatic mission since the battle. Steven and Komoru still seem traumatised by it all. We sent out a fast freighter a few weeks ago with hotel furniture and enough waiters and staff to run a hotel.’

‘Military personnel?’

‘Yes, from all over the world. Every bed and mattress had to be king sized. Chefs, everything. The Modloch are also supplying chefs. Together they are going to teach the Ambatta.’

‘Let’s hope they all get along.’

‘They were all super excited. I visited them before they left. I don’t think any of them thought they would get this opportunity to cross the great barrier.’

Jean smiled, ‘It has that effect on you, crossing the barrier for the first time. They will love the Ambatta home world. It is so hard to describe the beauty of the place.’

‘I want to see it myself one day.’

‘Why can’t you?’

‘Because I am a civilian. The law applies to me as much as anyone else. I can’t wait for us to get Federation status.’

‘Is it far away now?’

‘Not really. It was shortened by a couple of years for bringing peace to the Ortea. Maybe being part of this latest episode will bring us even closer.’

‘I heard that our little battle was a test of our resolve by the Grand Commander. We were forced into that battle. He wanted to test Admiral Baxter against Admiral Valachean, however, Valachean didn’t bite. It cost a lot of lives for a test.’

‘Are you sure about that?’

‘No, not really, it was just something I picked up from the other Captains when we were making repairs.’

‘They are so alien in their way of thinking. I only hope the loss of life was worth it in the end.’

‘I don’t think we have let the people of Earth down. I think we are giving a good accounting of ourselves.’

‘As do I.’ Mary stood, looking at her watch. ‘I am afraid I have a committee meeting to attend. One of so many.’

‘I will see you to the dockside.’

‘Thank you.’

Mary Gordon complimented her on her ship and how clean it was on the way back. Jean explained how she had defaulters scrubbing decks and polishing things until they shone. When they reached the airlock Mary hesitated.

‘I’m sorry I burst in on you today. I just had to thank you for protecting my boys.’

Jean smiled, ‘We were carrying out orders, no more no less. There is no need to thank us.’

‘It has been a pleasure meeting you Jean, and I hope we meet again soon.’

‘I hope so too Mary.’

‘Enjoy your leave Jean.’

‘I will.’

chapter 59

Jean had been mesmerised by the flight over the docks. Warships of every description were crammed into too little a space. She could see from high above that they were beginning to rust and that the maintenance crews couldn’t keep up. It saddened her a great deal. The last time she had been called to the Admiralty office, it was at home in Scotland. It was as old and crusty as the man behind the desk, with its red leather, books, model ships and pictures. Brass fittings and knick-knacks had adorned the office. This time the man behind the desk was the same, but the office was high above the street and in a modern office complex. He looked totally out of place.

As usual he ignored her for almost a minute. Instead of looking through a folder on his desk however, he was looking through one on his computer. He saved his work and sat back. He regarded her in silence for a moment.

‘It has been a while, Captain Wilson.’

‘It has sir.’

‘I bet you didn’t expect to see me here.’

‘Any Admiralty office wouldn’t be the same without you sir.’

‘You sook.’ They both laughed. He sat back. ‘So what to do with you now…’

Jean frowned a little. ‘I’m Captain of the Big Willy, I train recruits.’

‘I’m afraid not. It is back to school for you my girl. Admiralty school. When you return to duty it will be as a Post Captain.’ He smiled wickedly. ‘Have you ever heard of an Admiral Valachean?’

‘NO!’ It exploded from her mouth before she could prevent it.

‘Oh yes. You will have three months here, a further three months at the Federation’s Admiralty School, then you will be posted. You, my dear, will be the first female Captain in the history of the Federation. Before you call me something you will regret, this was a request from the Federation’s Grand Commander.’

Jeans shoulders slumped. ‘Wow! This is kind of big sir. Do I deserve it? I’m not the only female Captain out there.’

‘Your record is exemplary. You have fought and lead with distinction in every battle. You command a fierce loyalty among your crew, something quite rare these days. Because of that, Big Willy will replace the Burning Wind as his flagship; as I don’t want to deal with dozens of transfer requests when you are posted. Of course the core of your people will have already been moved to other training facilities. I don’t imagine that will slow you down for long though. In the meantime the Big Willy will receive a total refit and a suit befitting an Admiral. He will once more become a fighting ship.’

‘He was never anything less sir. He just leant himself for a while to the job of training people.’

He smiled, ‘Of course you will be based on land until the time you will re-join him. You will take him across the barrier with you. Your crew will be indoctrinated into the Federation at Federation One. There you will be joined by other key personnel from the Dent and the Ortea. All that is still to come. You will receive your orders in the normal manner. We will expect you to do well Captain Wilson, good luck.’

‘Thank you sir.’

Jean left the Admiralty walking on air. This was huge. Something Mary Gordon said to her came back to her and she smiled. That woman must be hooked into everything. Jean realised it was a relationship that she would be wise to foster. Sailors and soldiers from all nations, wearing the same uniform saluted her as she passed.

For the next few days she would return to the ship, before turning it over to the yard. She would inform the crew, receive their orders and send those who were moving to different ships and establishments on their way. Her excitement grew all the way to the port. She had so much to do and what seemed like so little time to do it.

Chapter 60

Charlie got off the fast freighter at nine in the morning, only to bump straight into the Chief as he got off a liner.

The Chief took a deep breath, ‘It’s good to feel one’s home gravity and taste the air.’ He glanced over at Charlie. ‘Not feeling it yet?’

‘Not really.’ Charlie looked up at the sky, it was threatening rain. ‘It’s going to rain.’

‘That will feel good.’

Charlie had to agree. It had been too long. ‘I’m looking forward to a massive plate of tatties and butter.’

‘Your vegetables should be ready.’

‘A good few.’

‘I will have to come down and try some.’

They walked out of the terminal together and hailed a transport ship. They threw their gear inboard. The pilot couldn’t have been more please to see them. He chatted away to them as if they were celebrities. Both took a liking to him and chatted back. It passed the time well. It wasn’t until they flew around the house that Charlie first detected something wrong.

‘What the hell?’

‘What’s wrong Charlie?’

‘My garden should be green. It looks like a bloody wasteland.’

‘Has there been a drought pilot?’

‘No sirs. Average rainfall I think.’

He joined Charlie looking down at the garden, but it passed out of sight.

‘Mine looked fine. Do you have the seeds to plant again?’

‘Aye, I have plenty bloody seeds, but what’s the point in planting anything if I come home to this every time.’

The Chief took a deep breath, ‘You don’t know for sure yet.’

‘Oh I’m damn sure already. I also stuck up a camera remember. I will know for sure soon enough.’

Ten minutes later Charlie was in a fighting rage. His roar travelled across the garden wall into the Chief’s garden. It was twenty minutes before the Chief appeared. Charlie sat back and showed him the footage.

Charlie wanted to throw something. ‘They didn’t even wait until the bloody stuff was ready. It was all eaten before it had half a chance to grow.’

‘I’m sorry Charlie.’

‘What the hell are you sorry for? You weren’t even here.’

‘My staff, my wards.’

‘It’s called taking responsibility for your own actions. Get them down here. All of them.’

It took a while to gather all of the staff. Charlie leapt up onto the wall and looked over them all.

He pointed. ‘What the hell is this!’ His roar made a few of them jump. His question was met by silence. ‘Answer me damn it! Do you think this is bloody funny? There isn’t a damn plant left. Do you think I don’t know who did it? I have a camera up there. Every single bloody one of you.’ He snapped a finger at the three females. ‘You three as well. I have caught all of you at it. What the hell am I supposed to eat?’

The youngest of them held up a hand. ‘There is plenty hay.’

Charlies roar of rage made her quiver. ‘I can’t eat bloody hay. I don’t have three bloody stomachs. I would get sick and die within a week you stupid little girl. Now I have no bloody food. Talking of which, where the hell are my chickens?’

There was still no reply. Charlie growled. ‘Do you think I’m stupid? Is that it? The stupid Human from across the great barrier. I can’t touch you, I can’t do anything to you. It would seem that news takes time to travel to the arse end of the Modloch empire.’ Charlie took out his ID and held it up.

‘Let me read this out to you. The bearer of this is Captain Charlie Murison, a Federation citizen born of the planet Earth, bestowed with the title of Noch Man Drich by the most noble of Modloch Emperors. A member of the Royal Modloch household and should be treated as such.’ He held it out for those closest to see.

‘I may not be able to have you executed, but I am sure that you all know better than me the fate of those who steal from the garden of a Modloch noble. If I have had no reasonable explanation by this time tomorrow, and if there is no sign of my bloody chickens by then, I will have the lot of you arrested and punished. I shit you not.’ Charlie leapt off the wall and stormed inside. He left behind a pack of wailing Modloch gardeners.

He was still simmering a couple of hours later when the Chief paid him a visit. When he saw Charlie’s face he burst out laughing.

‘Are you still mad?’

‘Why wouldn’t I be? I didn’t take all that much food with me.’

‘I sent in a requisition.’

‘Oh great! So now I have to eat the same shipboard rations I have been for the past six bloody months. Wonderful! I was looking forward to fresh greens straight from my garden.’

‘You have enough to keep you for about three days?’

‘Aye.’

‘I saw some greens.’

‘The plants I told them to leave alone for seed. They did, but they also took all of the seeds.’

‘Oh!’

‘Aye, “Oh!” Who do these shits think they are?’

‘Aren’t you taking this noble thing a little too far?’

‘This has nothing to do with being a bloody noble. It just gives me a bigger stick to belt them with.’

‘No, you’re right Charlie, they have taken advantage. I think that by the way they sucked up to Lady Glee, she was behind a lot of it.’

‘She was, but not all.’

‘Oh?’

‘She has a nice wee scam going selling baby chicks. It seems the young one took a chick to school. It started a craze.’

‘The bitch. We can’t really say anything though, can we?’

‘Not without tipping my hand, no. She has distributed them to different people, they are rearing them and selling the chicks on her behalf. They get to keep a small portion of the profits.’

‘Then you already know what’s happened to the rest of it.’

‘Aye, the seeds are growing on their bloody window sills at home. They are selling those too. Bastards! They are doing really well off of me.’

The Chief suddenly burst out laughing. ‘Man I have never seen you so mad.’

‘It isn’t funny.’

‘No, it isn’t, but the sight of you mad as hell is.’

‘Gee thanks.’

The Chief got up and helped himself to a beer from the fridge. He brought one for Charlie. He was still grinning.

‘What are we going to do about it Charlie? I know you won’t report them to the authorities.’

‘I am seriously considering it.’

‘They deserve it, I know, but we are no different to them. We are both as common as muck. They have probably been led by the horns by Lady Glee.’

‘You need to take charge of that bitch and her brood.’

He shrugged, ‘How?’

‘Bind them to you. It’s mating season isn’t it? Get them all pregnant.’

The Chief choked on his beer. ‘What! Hell no.’

‘You don’t get it do you? She is here all the time. She is adapting. She has made promises to certain other males, those in local authority. She is slowly building a distribution network for my veg and chickens. She is making a damn sight more than she realised she would. This mating season she is going to start dishing out her favours, because you dropped the ball last mating season.’

The Chief growled, ‘I warned her about that.’

‘Aye well, she has no more respect for you than she does for me. She hates me with a passion but has placed your gardeners between herself and me as a barrier. They are set to take the fall if it all goes wrong. If you let her dish out her favours this mating season, she will gain complete control. I doubt if we will be able to touch her legally, because she will have been fucking the judge and the police chief.’

‘When did you find that out?’

‘I’ve been reading her mind for hours, discovering all of the main culprits. She is taking something called… wait…’ Charlie grabbed a piece of paper and wrote it down. He handed it over.

‘This will stop her getting pregnant; lengthen her season.’

‘Aye, and she going to get her daughters to take it too. She is going to prostitute them basically.’

‘Do they know?’

‘Not yet. She is betting on putting them into close proximity with a mature Modloch male when they are at the height of their season.’

‘How does she think she can get away with this?’

‘Because you locked yourself up last time and never showed face.’

‘Do you know where she is keeping the drugs?’

‘In her room in a bedside drawer. She isn’t hiding them.’

The Chief stood, ‘I’m going to fix that bitch.’

‘How?’

‘Read my mind Charlie.’

A second later Charlie burst out laughing. ‘You can do that?’

‘Of course I can.’

Charlie got to his feet, ‘Wait, I’m getting a delegation. You are going to love this.’

‘What’s going on?’

‘Keep out of sight.’

‘Right.’

Charlie met them outside. They threw themselves to their knees: three males and three young females, the females to the rear.

‘Lord, please do not punish us. We come to offer our daughters as a peace offering, to make up for the offence that we have committed you.’

‘What am I supposed to do with them?’

‘They will come into heat this year for the first time.’

‘So?’

He wasn’t sure what to say next. ‘You look like an experienced male.’

‘I am, very. However, what am I supposed to do with a Modloch female? I am a Human.’

‘Yes, but you are also Modloch.’

‘Let’s push the titles to the side for a moment and let us consider species. I am Human. I am about half the height of a normal Modloch male, and I’m not equipped to mate with a Modloch female.’ They watched as he swung an arm back and forth. They got it. ‘I would have to tie a fence post on before they felt anything. So you can keep your daughters. I have no interest.’

It was too much for the Modloch on the right. He roared his challenge and launched himself to his feet, his horn aiming for Charlie’s midriff. A second later he found himself flying up over Charlie’s head. He was slammed so hard into the compacted ground he bounced. Up again he sailed and back over Charlie’s head. By the time he had hit the ground four times, the fight had gone out of him. The last thing he saw before slipping into unconsciousness was a flash of light.

Charlie picked up the horn and inspected it. ‘Cool.’

There was a strange whining noise from the gardener’s daughter. It became very high pitched until there was a very slight popping noise that only reached Charlie’s ears. She collapsed face forward onto the ground and a strange smell that made Charlie gag wafted up from her. Charlie was a little perplexed by the way her eyes rolled around in her head.

Before he could ask, the female next to her gave her a vigorous shake.

‘Get it together Ma La´, get home, now.’ She helped her to her feet and sent her running, although it was more of a stagger. She took her place by the other kneeling female, and they exchanged looks that had some meaning to them. The other female decided to take things into her own hands. She stood and addressed Charlie directly.

‘Great Lord. Are you sure that none of us are compatible with your species?’

‘It wouldn’t even tickle you.’

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. ‘I understand, but weep in my heart that you aren’t a Modloch male.’ She bowed then stepped forward and patted her father on the shoulder. ‘Come father, let us get Rayye to the hospital. We do no good here.’

Still in shock the two males grabbed their comrade and carried him away.

The Chief came out of the house. ‘That was like watching a cartoon character back on Earth.’

‘Eh?’

The way you slapped him back and forth like that by the horn. Did you have to cut his horn off?’

‘Actually it made me feel a bit better. He did try to kill me.’

‘That is true. What are you going to do with it?’

There was a metal spike for hanging something on just outside the door. Charlie stuck it on.

‘That will do it.’

‘Man you are brutal. He will be forever shamed.’

‘Maybe, but he is still alive.’

‘True, but I wonder what shame he will bear the best. The loss of his horn, or his daughter coming into heat and having an orgasm at the sight of his shame.’

‘So that’s what that was all about!’

‘Modloch women are drawn to strong males. Displays of great strength or valour can send them into heat early, especially if they are young and emotional.’

Charlie shook his head. They walked to the end of the cottage together. Charlie scanned the area and gave the Chief a nudge.

‘We have had an uninvited spectator. Go catch it.’ He pointed.

With a barking laugh the Chief took off after Lady Glee.

It didn’t take much effort to catch her. The Chief held her by the collar as Charlie walked up.

‘Lady Glee. It would seem that even here you just can’t keep your fingers out of every dirty pie you come across, and if there isn’t one baking, you bake one yourself.’

The light was beginning to fade and the garden lights came on. The one above their heads began to splutter. The lamppost was old and corroded. It caught all of their attention.

‘Thought I told you to get that fixed?’ The Chief snorted. He saw a way of frightening her further. ‘Charlie, could you take care of that for me?’

‘No bother, step back.’

He dragged her out of the way. Light flashed and the lamppost began to topple. Sparks flew as Charlie worked his way along the lamppost while it fell. It rattled along the ground in many pieces.

Lady Glee mimicked the young girl from earlier and the strange musk filled the air again. Charlie gagged.

‘That stinks.’ He switched the device off and approached Lady Glee. He stuck it in the middle of her chest. She squealed again.

‘I know you are behind all of this. I want a full accounting of every seed, chick, plant you have sold. Am I making myself understood?’

‘Yes.’

‘In the morning.’

‘Yes.’

‘Do something about that stink will you Chief?’

‘Be my pleasure Charlie.’

He dragged her away, laughing.

Charlie returned to his cottage and stopped for a moment to watch the sunset. However, the weird growls and squeals coming from the garden next door told him that they hadn’t even reached the house. There would always be more sunsets. He went inside.

chapter 61

The official’s eyes travelled between the horn stuck on the wall, the diminutive figure in front of him, and the ID he held in his hand; which trembled slightly.

‘You could at least give back his horn sir.’

‘Oh hell no. That’s mine. He tried to kill me; or didn’t they tell you that?’

He took a deep breath, ‘I was told you gave grave insult.’

‘All I did was tell the truth. Where is the insult in that?’

‘They were offering their daughters.’

‘Yes, and I told them that our species weren’t compatible. How embarrassing do you think it is for me to admit that I don’t physically have what it takes to satisfy a Modloch female? Do you think that was easy to do officer?’

‘I - well.’ He took another deep breath, ‘That is very embarrassing sir.’

‘I bet the whole damn planet will know by this time tomorrow. I wonder how many horns I will have on my wall by the end of my leave? It is a big wall. You see, I really don’t like being laughed at or ridiculed.’

‘I would respectfully ask that you don’t.’

‘So it’s all right for a Modloch to gore me, or mock me, but I am not allowed to defend myself. Is that it?’

‘That isn’t what I am saying.’

‘Sounds like it to me. I wonder what my brother the Emperor will have to say about this.’

Charlie could see the official was on the point of panic. ‘There is no need to involve the Emperor sir.’

‘These people wiped out my garden. Took everything, even the seeds. Even my chickens. That is theft.’

‘They were trying to apologise sir.’

‘So now you are saying it is all right if I starve to death as well?’

‘No sir.’

‘What am I supposed to eat officer? That was my food. We have had to send for an emergency food supply. How would you feel if weren’t able to eat for four days?’

The officer gave in. ‘I can have them arrested if you wish, and start an immediate investigation.’

‘Which means you will have to arrest all of the staff here and anyone who has bought a chicken. I imagine that will be a lot of people officer.’

‘It certainly will sir. The birds are quite popular.’

‘I may have a different solution to the problem. Leave it with me for the moment.’

‘I would be grateful. What about the horn?’

‘It stays. I believe they grow back.’

‘They do, but it is easy to see the new growth. It is extremely embarrassing.’ Charlie just shrugged and the officer walked away.

It wasn’t long before Lady Glee arrived and silently handed Charlie a pad. He guided her outside to the picnic table and sat her so the wind carried her scent away from him. She noticed.

‘Do you find my smell repulsive?’

‘It makes me want to puke.’

‘That is a shame.’

‘I don’t find any of you attractive either.’

She stiffened, but kept her mouth shut.

It was all there, a detailed account of exactly what she had been up to.

‘Tell me Lady, what do you need the money for?’

She eventually shrugged. ‘I don’t know. It is always good to have some spare cash.’

‘You call this some spare cash? You have made a fortune off me.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘No you’re not, don’t lie. It pisses me off.’

‘I will pay you back the money.’

‘I don’t need it.’ That shocked her. ‘I make more than this in an hour.’ He tapped the screen. ‘What is this expense?’

‘The leaves and stems from those tattie things. You said they were poisonous. I had them tested, I was concerned for the children. It would seem they have certain properties.’

‘What properties?’

‘They… aid a male in the area that you are deficient in.’ She seemed amused at her own wit. ‘Out of mating season, they give him a burst of strength and speed.’

‘Tell all.’

‘It is perfectly safe. Has no side effects. The company that tested it has been hounding me for more. I think they want to try and synthesise it.’ She looked him straight in the eye. ‘You couldn’t get your hands on more, could you?’

‘This is what you are going to do: you are going to set up a small company and register it with the PD Company of Earth. I am going to make you solely responsible for the acquisition and distribution of this product. You will pay a fair price for it and charge a fair price. I can almost guarantee you enough of it to supply the whole empire. So don’t try and get selective by only selling to the rich. We can get enough to supply everyone. Half of the profits will come to me, and half to you. You, however, will pay the administration costs from your half. That is your punishment. We will both contribute to the relevant taxes.

‘If you have to employ someone, you will pay a fair wage. Work conditions will be good. If I discover you are lying, cheating, on any level, I will rip this out from under you so fast it will make your head spin. Stand up.’

She wasn’t sure what he was up to but she stood. Charlie pointed to the field outside his wall.

‘This field was gifted to me by the Emperor.’

‘Is that all?’

‘It is all I would accept.’

She stiffened a little. She was beginning to realise this was no ordinary person. She would have taken everything offered. Maybe she would actually learn something from this Human, maybe learn to curb her greed. He was now a member of the Royal household, yet he came from nothing. To one of her breeding and status that was unfathomable. Yet history was full of people like this, people who had come from nothing. She remembered her father’s words, they struck her now in a way they never had before: ‘At one time there were no Kings, no Emperors, no nobles. All of us were common. We stand high on the shoulders of our ancestors. It was they who were noble, they who created an empire, they who rose above all others so we can now stand above all others. Not us. Noble lines come and go. Sometimes they fade away through time, but more often than not, they are lost through the greed and stupidity of their descendants.’

Glee looked at the man in front of her with new eyes and a new appreciation. Was it with the likes of this person that new noble lines were created? The wind suddenly picked up. It plucked at her clothes and face. It seemed to wash away some of the bitterness she had been feeling since her exile to this horrible world. She could not marry the Human; but if she stayed close and learned, maybe one day she would find a way off the damn planet.

Charlie was puzzled when she suddenly bowed.

‘Please excuse my bad manners.’

Charlie was tempted to probe her mind, but realised he didn’t really need to. She was onside now and listening.

‘As I was saying, this field was gifted to me. I can do with it as I wish. So I am going to parcel it up into sections that we call allotments; roughly the same size as my garden. You will lease out those allotments to anyone who wishes it. The cost will be dirt cheap. I mean beer money. However, there will be restrictions on what can be grown. No grass, no matter what type or variety. They will grow more or less the same stuff that I have in my garden. I will supply a good choice of seeds. We will sell them the seeds to begin with, at cost.

‘All crops will be grown until they reach full maturity. Ten per cent of everything they grow will be allowed to seed. They will collect those seeds and they will be returned to us. This is part of the price of having the allotment. You will return to them at no cost a portion of those seeds so that they can sow new crops. The other cost of having the allotment is, that when I return from whatever voyages I undertake, I can, and will help myself to any produce I require to feed myself and any guests I have.

‘Those extra seeds you will sell at a huge cost to anyone else who wants them. I mean mega bucks.’

She shook her head, ‘That did not translate.’

‘A lot of money.’

‘Ah! Yet not to those who wish to set up a new allotment here.’

‘Correct. If they have an allotment here, they get it at cost. Or the same price as it would be to ship it out from Earth.’

‘I understand.’

‘Good. Anyone who gets caught selling seeds to anyone else will get booted off the allotment and charged with theft. That ten per cent of their crops belong to us. Not them, no one else.’

‘What about the produce from their allotment?’

Charlie shrugged, ‘It is their produce and they are free to do with it as they wish. Paths between the allotments will be half a metre wide. They can build whatever they wish on the allotment, in the form of an equipment or storage shed. Nothing else. If they wish to sell their tattie shaws, they will do so through you, no one else. You will give them a fair price. You will set up a distribution network for them to sell their goods off world as well.’

‘This may all take a little time.’

‘Time is the one thing that I have. Do it right and you will be wealthy beyond belief. Do it wrong and you will end up in a grave.’

Once more the wind whipped at her face and clothing. She bowed low.

‘I thank you for this opportunity, my lord.’

‘If you bring your daughters in as well, make sure it is as employees. Pay them a decent wage too. Don’t try and do everything at once. One step at a time.’

‘I understand my lord. Will that be all?’

‘Yes.’

Glee walked away and Charlie went to work. He dug up the potatoes; they weren’t very big, and because no one had built up the soil around the shaws as they grew, many were exposed to the sun and green. Charlie put those to the side for seeds. There was just about enough for one large boiling. He contacted the local authorities and began the process of having the field fertilised and then ploughed and flattened. because the field no longer belonged to the Emperor, he had to pay for it all himself. It wasn’t too expensive and well worth the money.

On the day the big machines were flown in, it garnered a lot of spectators. Despite staying away from Charlie, he could sense the excitement in the gardeners. He knew every one of them would have an allotment, maybe more. With the aid of an aerial map and the computerised part of his brain, he was able to divide the field up into equal parts, just slightly bigger than his own garden. With his small tractor and roller he flattened the parts of the field that would become the paths.

After he had placed a very large order for seeds from Earth, he contacted Mary Gordon. He was surprised to receive a video invitation. He accepted.

‘Hello Charlie.’

‘Hi Mary, they finally got all the relay stations up and working then?’

There was only a few seconds delay. ‘Yes, and they are working well.’

‘So I see. Ah! That kitchen looks rather familiar. Where is the old yin?’

‘Don’t you dare call me old Charlie Murison.’

A woman with a toothbrush in her hand appeared. She waved it at him in a threatening manner.

‘You aren’t old enough yet that I can’t take you over my knee lad.’

He noticed the old dressing gown. ‘Hi mum. Must be early there.’

‘It’s nine in the morning, Sunday.’

‘Long lie then.’

‘It’s Sunday. Where the hell are you?’

‘In my own pad, on a few week’s leave.’

‘You didn’t come home!’

‘By the time I walked in the door I would have to turn around and come back. Literally. Where is the old fart?’

‘In the toilet.’

‘Right, can I get back to Mary?’

His mother huffed and walked to the sink. Mary’s smiling face appeared again.

‘What’s up Charlie? Anything interesting for me?’

‘Tattie shaws.’

Mary blinked blankly at him for a moment. ‘What?’

‘Tattie shaws. I need as much as you can get. Make sure they are organically grown.’

‘What on Earth for?’

‘Modloch Viagra.’

Her face slowly broke into a grin. ‘Seriously!’

‘Very serious.’

More than one person in the kitchen burst out laughing. Charlie heard a familiar laugh, but kept his mouth shut.

‘Where will I get that!’

‘All over the world. Has to be organic. They normally drop the tattie shaws with some kind of poison when they are ready to harvest. Not sure how they do it with organic ones. You are probably going to have to invent a machine to cut and collect them. They will need to be washed, all contaminates and bugs removed, then vacuum packed.’

‘We already have a plant that will do that for us. It doesn’t have enough work to keep it going all year round. This will help Charlie.’

‘I am setting up a company here to deal with it and sell it.’

‘Dare I ask how you found out?’

‘The buggers raped my garden. The only thing left was the tatties. The shaws were gone. I had a camera set up so I knew who the culprits were. I found out from them basically. The ring leader sent them to a lab to be tested. They are very keen on getting their hands on more.’

‘No doubt. I will get it seen to.’

‘So, are you home on holiday?’

‘Well we met a young lady while she was on leave and she wanted to meet your parents. We had a weekend off so we took her on a wee jaunt, popped in by.’

‘How are you Jean?’

A figure moved into the screen. She waved. ‘Hi Charlie.’

‘Aye, aye.’

‘Have you received my latest letter?’

‘Heard nothing from you since you went across the great barrier. How are things?’

‘I did write a letter. Sent it away weeks ago. I have lots of news. It would seem that we are destined to meet again.’

The got Charlie’s interest up. ‘How so?’

‘I am now at Admiralty school. I am going to be a Post Captain, and I am being sent along with my ship and crew to the Federation.’

‘Wow, that’s kinda big.’

‘Did you meet Admiral Valachean?’

‘Morach, aye, I met him.’

‘I am going to be his Post Captain. What is he like?’

‘I liked him, we got on well. Knows his stuff, very intelligent. He isn’t as biased as many. I presume this was the Grand Commander’s idea?’

‘I believe so. Any idea what he is up to?’

Charlie shrugged. His father appeared behind Jean for a moment. He juggled a pair of imaginary breasts in front of himself for a moment then gave Charlie the thumbs up and disappeared. Charlie closed his eyes and shook his head.

‘You okay Charlie?’

‘Aye, I’m fine. I have no idea what the Grand Commander is up to.’

‘I am sure my letter will catch up to you shortly.’

His mother re-appeared, ‘Aye, and just when were you going to tell us about this wee cracker here?’

‘As I had no idea we were ever going to meet again, or you were going to meet her, then never.’

‘You are such a heartless wee shit!’ Charlie had to sit and wait until his mother had finished her tirade. It seemed to please Jean no end. Being so far away, he couldn’t read anyone’s minds either.

chapter 62

It was quiet and the rain had stopped. Charlie thought it was beyond peaceful. Where were the sounds of the birds and the bees? The land was sterile of animal and insect life. His chickens had been returned, or some of them anyway. His food had also arrived two weeks before, and now they were right into the mating season. He smiled as he remembered his last conversation with the Chief. He had replaced the tablets that Glee had stashed away to ones that would make them more fertile. He had also eaten half the boiling of tatties that Charlie had prepared for himself. With the butter melting over them, he had bawled in an almost bovine way with pleasure.

Charlie’s eyes caught movement in the far distance. There had been no air travel in days. His eyes zoomed in. It was a shuttle craft of a design he wasn’t familiar with. As it got closer, his eyes scanned the interior. He recognised a host of armed troops, of a race he was unfamiliar with. He ran back to his house. The only weapon he could find was his emergency escape tool. He took it off the charger and strapped it on. He watched the ship through the walls as it came into land.

Troops spilled out and clambered over the wall. They obviously weren’t used to the gravity. They surrounded the house. He tensed up ready for action. A figure was lifted up over the wall and approached the house. Then he realised the troops were facing out from the walls and not inwards. The figure took the last few steps alone; they weren’t armed.

They knocked on the door. Charlie retuned his eyes to normal and swung it open.

‘Thank goodness you are in. I hear you can change the gravity of your environment. Could you please?’

Charlie took a step inside and returned the field to the same setting he used for Darrick.

She took a deep breath. ‘Thank you for that.’

‘Tell your men to stay within a half metre of the wall. They will benefit from it.’

The female passed on the information to a large male and he nodded.

‘May I come in Captain?’

Charlie stepped inside. He was waiting for some of her men to follow, but they turned away from the door. Charlie closed it and followed the strange female into his home. He invited her to sit down.

‘You have me at a disadvantage.’

‘I am Queen Wiola Maleck of the Gisha race. You know why I am here?’

‘No!’

‘You mean you haven’t read my mind yet?’ Charlie felt a cold chill go through him. ‘Please don’t try and deny it Captain. I am sure you know by now what transpired on my home world.’

Charlie got up and he saw a flash of fear go through her. It was gone in an instant.

‘Would you like something to drink?’

‘Do you have Earl Grey?’

‘I have Tetley. I’m not a great tea drinker myself, I prefer coffee. It is the cheap stuff.’

‘It will do.’

Charlie was tempted to read her mind but decided against it. He gathered his wits and returned with a teapot. He poured her a tea, and she seemed to take great delight in helping herself to sugar and milk. He poured himself one to be polite. They sat back and sipped at their tea for a few minutes.

‘So, who’s mind do you want me to read? An enemy, a love rival, husband?’

He was surprised when she giggled, ‘You are really being polite aren’t you? You really haven’t read my mind.’

‘Why would I?’

‘Don’t you do it all the time?’

‘I don’t do it at all, unless I really feel a need to. Right now I don’t feel a need to.’

‘Tell me Captain, do you find me attractive?’

Charlie frowned. ‘No, not in the slightest.’

‘That is a shame. Your lady friend told me some very interesting things when she was on my world visiting. A lovely woman. One of those things particularly peaked my interest.’ She put her hands to her face. ‘This is so embarrassing. You see I have no children, but I need a successor. She suggested that I seek out a donor. From something called a sperm bank. Which we don’t have.’

Charlie shook his head, ‘How the hell can I help you with that?’

‘You are going to be the donor.’

Charlie went very still for a moment. ‘You want me to donate my sperm. Seriously!’

‘Um, not quite. I want you to mate with me and make me pregnant.’

Charlie sat back in shock. ‘What!’

She took another deep breath. ‘I have never had a companion Captain, and I am damn sure if I do get pregnant, it isn’t going to be by artificial insemination. I want the real deal.’

Charlie was forced to blink a couple of times. ‘You are serious about this, aren’t you?’

‘Deadly serious.’ She took another sip of her tea to give him time to absorb it all.

Weird chills were running up and down his body. ‘Are we even compatible?’

‘Very compatible actually. I had the ladies’ rooms cleaned by forensic experts. They took hair samples and ran a genetic series on them. Did you know that our race shares the same basic genome? We too only have one stomach. Although we eat fruit and vegetables, not meat. Our reproductive organs are pretty much the same too. I believe you have only two options open to you Captain.’

‘You mean my choices are to kill you or fuck you.’

‘That is very accurate summation.’

‘Which means you haven’t told anyone yet.’

‘Of course not. I had to kill a lot of my people to keep this a secret. You know, I have a very good intelligence network Captain. Once I found out you could read minds, I did a full work up on you. I even visited Darrick to gain information. It was my luck that the Grand Commander visited while I was there. We Gisha have a drink that is infamous for loosening a person’s tongue. Did you know that the Grand Commander himself calls you the deadliest being in the universe? I learned a lot that night.’

‘Too much by the sounds of it.’

‘Enough to make me even more determined Captain. You, of course, know the penalties of not complying with my wishes.’

‘They are obvious. The moment you open your mouth, I’m as good as dead.’

‘No Emperor would wish such a person as you near them. Even though you obviously don’t practice your art all that much. Can you cancel out the voices?’

‘Block them, yes. What do you get out of this? There has to be more than a sperm donor? You know we look nothing like one another. Will you be happy having a child who is a potential meat eater?’

‘You call mating sex, don’t you?’

‘One of the many things it is called.’

‘The first thing I want Captain is the sex; lots and lots and lots of it. I know you will not be hindered by the physical factors involved in this. I also want a son to rule after me. One who can read minds. Don’t worry about his physical appearance. We are masters of manipulating genes. He will look fully Gisha. We will very quickly find the gene that opened your mind and manipulate it. He will also be the son of a noble lord.’ That seemed to amuse her.

Charlie snorted, ‘Noble lord huh. What happened to me was the result of an accident, you have to realise that. There is no guarantee he will be able to read minds.’

‘I have done my homework Captain. I know some Humans have what is called a sixth sense. My experts say that after your accident, whatever medical system that was used to heal you, must have mistaken that underdeveloped part of your brain as some form of injury and fixed it. We can manipulate it so the child is born with the ability.’

‘You can really do all of that?’

‘Yes we can. We do differ slightly from Human females; we are able to fertilise more than one egg at a time and pick the best of those to bring to full term. We have some control over how many eggs we allow to fertilise. A subconscious thing, as we only have a limited number of eggs in our life time. Most release three. I am going to release a dozen. You will fertilize them all. I will have them removed and manipulated, then I will keep the best for implantation.’

‘A whole family!’

‘Oh yes.’

‘Jeez, you are keen.’

‘If I am only ever going to have sex once Captain, then I am going to make the most of the opportunity.’

‘I don’t understand why you are going to all of this bother.’

‘Because if I take a mate, then he will become regent. I shall lose all of my power. I may be willing to give it up to a son, but no one else.’

‘Are you the first Queen of your race?’

‘No, the third. They gained power because their husbands died, and only kept it until their sons were old enough to take over.’

‘So they became regent.’

‘Yes, but were called Queen. I was made Queen when my father died and have ruled ever since. I do enjoy it.’

‘How are you going to explain the child, or children?’

‘From a donor of course. No one will ever know who.’

‘You have a whole ship full of people out there who will have a damn good idea.’

‘I told you, I will have the eggs removed. I will wait two months before having the first replanted.’

‘So people can’t tie it in with this visit…’

‘Exactly. Only the head of the team will know. He will be the only one to see me. The only other person who will know anything at all, is standing outside right now. He is the most loyal of all my subjects, promoted to the post by his predecessor.’

Charlie closed his eyes and searched. ‘Let me tell you something. He is not happy. You told him what you intend to do?’

‘I trust him.’

‘He is jealous, infuriated, feels insulted. Loves you with all of his being.’ Charlie smiled, ‘Doesn’t think he is good enough for you, but better than any damn meat eater. Hopes you will find me repulsive; wants to rush in here and kill me.’

‘Oh stop!’

Charlie opened his eyes and found her pressing both fists between her legs. She was taking deep breaths.

‘You okay?’

‘I will be in a moment.’

‘Found that a bit of a turn on did you?’

‘Our mating season doesn’t arrive for two months. However, I have discovered I can control it to some degree. I find this situation highly stimulating. That little demonstration almost put me over the edge. Wow!’ He noticed her eyes were watering a little. She brushed a tear away.

‘Well I wouldn’t let yourself be tipped just yet. I’m not ready.’

‘I thought you Humans were always ready?’

‘I can control my hormone levels. I will need to turn them up, and probably make a few minor adjustments to my physique to accommodate you.’ Charlie rolled his eyes, ‘Maybe the word “fit” would suit better.’

Her outer skin suddenly underwent a colour change. It was momentary.

‘I see.’ Her voice came out as a squeak. She cleared her throat. ‘Then maybe I should retire until tomorrow.’

‘Considering how close you are to losing it altogether; I would advise it.’ Charlie rose to his feet. She followed.

‘Until tomorrow then, Noch Man Drich.’ She bowed slightly.

Charlie returned it. ‘On the way out, I will challenge your man. Order him to kill me.’

‘Why? No!’

‘Do what you are damn well told.’ His sudden aggressive move made her jump. ‘Don’t worry, I won’t kill him.’

She followed him to the door. He let her out and stepped out after her. Charlie caught the eye of her bodyguard. There was enough emotion in them for Charlie to justify taking offence.

Charlie squared off, ‘You got a problem!’

Wiola took a deep breath. ‘If you think you can kill him Moran, then do so.’

He only hesitated a second. His assault weapon came up; triumph shone in his eyes. In a heartbeat Charlie was right in front of him, the weapon was pulled from his grasp and bent in two. He handed it back. The shock in the bodyguard’s eyes didn’t last more than a second. He let go of the weapon and snatched a knife from his waist. It was so quick his eyes couldn’t register it. He found himself bent over backwards with his own knife at his throat.

He bellowed in fear and with rage as Charlie slowly dragged Moran’s own knife in his own hand across his throat. As it reached the other side, the fight went out of him. Charlie stood him up, and the guard stepped back. The fear was still there, also respect. He slipped the knife back into its sheath. His Queen was standing with her hands outwards, stopping anyone interfering. He picked up his weapon and bowed low to Charlie. He joined his Queen.

She pulled away the collar of his uniform to inspect the cut.

‘Do you understand now Moran?’

He glanced at Charlie again, ‘Yes my Queen.’ He suddenly smiled then laughed aloud. ‘His son will make a fine King.’

‘It fills me with delight that you agree Moran. You are the closest thing I have to a friend. I need you by my side; then my sons.’ She touched his face and his eyes filled with pride and devotion.

‘Would his own father not make a more fitting teacher?’

‘He will never know his father. You will take his place as father, mentor, teacher. It has to be that way. Just not husband. I hope you understand.’

‘I understand my Queen. You do me the greatest of honour.’

‘Take a mate this year; I order it. You will have a son and bring them up together. They will be bound as brothers from birth. That plain but pretty one your family have been trying to get you to marry for years, she will do nicely. She has a good body and will bear sons well. She also loves you.’

‘I cannot return her love.’

‘You are not the type that will not care, nor abuse her.’

He sighed, ‘I do like her. We were childhood friends. I would never harm her, nor allow harm to come to her.’

‘She has waited a long time. Return her devotion with kindness Moran.’

‘I will my Queen.’

‘Tomorrow, I will return alone. I will need a communicator. I may be a few days.’

‘I understand my Queen.’

Charlie watched the shuttle craft take off, with a feeling of dread in his guts. He had been totally outmanoeuvred. It was going to be a long bloody week. He lay down on his lawn and closed his eyes; his only companion the ever-enduring silence.

Table of Contents

- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- chapter 3
- chapter 4
- chapter 5
- chapter 6
- chapter 7
- chapter 8
- chapter 9
- chapter 10
- chapter 11
- chapter 12
- chapter 13
- chapter 14
- chapter 15
- chapter 16
- chapter 17
- chapter 18
- chapter 19
- chapter 20
- chapter 21
- chapter 22
- chapter 23
- chapter 24
- chapter 25
- chapter 26
- chapter 27
- chapter 28
- chapter 29
- chapter 30
- chapter 31
- chapter 32
- chapter 33
- chapter 34
- chapter 35
- chapter 36
- chapter 37
- chapter 38
- chapter 39
- chapter 40
- chapter 41
- chapter 42
- chapter 43
- chapter 44
- chapter 45
- chapter 46
- chapter 47
- chapter 48
- chapter 49
- chapter 50
- chapter 51
- chapter 52
- chapter 53
- chapter 54
- chapter 55
- Chapter 56
- chapter 57
- chapter 58
- chapter 59
- Chapter 60
- chapter 61
- chapter 62