The Sleeping and The Dead, page 21
part #4 of The Awakening Series
"My friends usually call me Tebrey," he replied.
"Good night, Tebrey."
"Good night, Alessa."
Chapter Thirty-Two
It was nighttime and somewhat chilly on Aurora when Lyra arrived, although warmer than on Geoffrey's Earth. The vault of heaven glittered with endless stars, unobscured by clouds. The reflected stars in the lake made the world seem like nothing but a thin ring.
There was a whoosh of displaced air only a second after Lyra appeared as Emerald apported next to her.
"Lyra! Thank the gods," Emerald exclaimed. "We've been looking for you."
"Calm down, Emerald." He was obviously upset, and green flames rolled up his arms. "I'm back. Now tell me what's wrong."
"The Earth Confederacy fired on the Kach-Ryu!"
That was the only non-merchant starship of Aurora, Shining Star in English. It was an exploration vessel captained by one of the Circle, Raphael Ryan. It wasn't a warship. It didn't even have any real weapons, just defensive lasers.
"Tell me happened. Is the ship…?"
"They didn't destroy it, but they sure as hell tried to. A lot of people got hurt. Two died."
"Ryan?"
"Injured but stable. He's at the starport. He wants to talk with you."
"What's the mood?"
Emerald laughed sourly. "What do you think? Leander is with Ryan and isn't talking about it. Brennen is gods-know-where. David just got back, and Sondra is pissed. The Collective is conflicted."
"I'll bet they are." Lyra handed Emerald her pack and gun belt. "Do me a favor and drop this off at my cabin. I'll go straight to Ryan."
"Will do," said Emerald. "Lyra, do you think this means war?"
"We'll see." Aurora didn't have a fleet of starships. It wasn't a rich world, despite being a trading hub for several species and hundreds of worlds. If war came to Aurora, there might not be much they could do to protect their people.
Lyra apported across the planet to the polar starport. The bright lights momentarily blinded her when she arrived. Security immediately escorted her to the small clinic. It was strange to see armed guards on Aurora. There normally wasn't any need for such things.
"Ah, Lyra! I'm glad you're here," Leander said as she walked into the clinic. "We need to talk."
"Yes, we do. How is Ryan?"
"Stable. I sedated him while I was working on him. He's… going to be okay, eventually."
"I heard we had two deaths."
"Explosive decompression when their compartment was holed. We should consider issuing spacesuits like your friends in the Concord do."
"If we had the money for that, we already would have," Lyra replied. "What happened?"
Leander sighed. "From what I've been able to glean, the Shining Star responded to a distress signal. It was a trap. Two Confederacy starships pounced on the Star. They fired without provocation. When Ryan tried to negotiate, they demanded that he surrender and prepare to be boarded."
"How did they get away?"
"Ryan engaged the Alcubierre drive and got the hell out of there."
Lyra flinched. The stardrive on the Shining Star warped spacetime. If the Confederacy ships had been closing to board… "The other ships?"
"Ryan isn't sure. He didn't stick around to find out."
"If those ships were disable or destroyed, the Confederacy is going to be out for blood."
"They already are," Ryan said from the door to the exam room. His left arm was in a sling, and a thick bandage covered his left eye. "They lured us in with a false distress signal and fired on us, Lyra. We're at war."
"Were you in Confederacy space at the time?"
"Like I'd be that stupid. We were in our space. Lyra, they aren't going to stop with this. You know that, right? The Dark Ones have taken control of the Confederacy, and they won't stop till Aurora is ashes."
"Don't be melodramatic, Ryan. We don't know anything about activity in the Confederacy. We do know that it doesn't take a Dark One to commit evil deeds. From their point of view, it might not even be evil."
"Oh, please!" Ryan waved his hand dismissively. "This was an unprovoked attack. We need to take a strike team in and—"
"Ryan! We can't provoke a war!" Leander said firmly.
"We're already at war!"
"Gentlemen," Lyra interrupted, "I think at this point we need to try to figure out how to protect our home and the Protectorate."
"We could ask the Rhians…," Ryan suggested.
Leander snorted. "Yes, I'm sure they'd love to move in and annex a few of the Protectorate systems. For their own good, of course."
"Then what do you suggest?"
"We need to open negotiations," said Lyra, taking back control of the conversation. "We need to find what it is that has the Confederacy so riled up. I suspect this entire thing could have been avoided. We need to convene the Circle and make some decisions."
"No one can find Brennen," Leander said quietly.
"Then he won't be taking part in this discussion, will he?"
"Lyra, if we convene the Circle without Brennen, it could be seen as a sign of weakness. The Circle needs to be united before we approach the Mo'Ceri Collective."
"David and I already tried to find him," Lyra said. "If you know how, go for it."
"What lead did you follow?" asked Ryan.
Lyra sighed. "I'd rather not go into all the details at this time. I haven't given up. I'll try to find him again before we convene. In the meantime, try to find out through our allies if negotiation is even possible."
"Lyra, the Confederacy is afraid of Aurora," said Leander. "They've been afraid since the first humans came here. They're still afraid. If something has pushed them this far, I doubt negotiation will do very much."
"It will buy us some time."
Θ
Drake took the children on a rapid series of dimensional jumps that left Art retching by the side of the road when they stopped. The cobblestone road they stood on ran through a forest of giant black trees with red leaves. The sky above them was a dark crimson, heavy with clouds and portents. Drake knew, without checking, that they were in the correct Realm, although it had been a long time since he'd been here.
"Where are we?" Morgan asked. "Is this where we're supposed to find a portal booth?"
"This is the Realm my daughter is from. It is known locally as das Gerycht des gebrochen Prynzen."
"Is that German?" Art asked.
"The language is similar, although it isn't called that here. It is the language of the common people in this Realm. In the court, they will speak Thari. In English, it is called the Court of the Broken Prince, and we had better get moving. It is late in the day, and we don't want to be out at night."
"Night? How does that work?" Morgan asked. "There's no sun."
"It clouds completely over and rains. Then the things come out."
She shuddered and moved a little closer to her brother.
"I can protect you both, but I'd rather not have a need to. It would draw attention that we can ill afford to provoke. Now come. Let us move."
The forest smelled of dankness and mildew. The trees seems to move, even though there was no wind. There were no animals or birds.
"Is the whole planet like this?" Morgan asked.
"What makes you think this is a whole planet?" said Drake. "This world was destroyed in a war a long time ago. The shattered parts have stayed close together, so the atmosphere is more or less intact. We are just on a stable fragment."
"You mean literally shattered, don't you?" said Art. "Like the Death Star blasted it."
"Not quite that bad," Drake replied, amused. "Almost half the planet remains intact."
"Almost half," Morgan said. Her voice was a little thin. "Nothing to worry about then."
It was beginning to get truly dark when they reached the gate to the city.
The high walls were built of giant black basalt blocks. The road led right up to a deep, fortified gate. The doors were open, and the portcullis up. The guards at the gate were not human.
The guards looked like fur-covered men with the heads of goats. Their legs were back-swept, and they had claws on their hands. They wore red livery over chainmail hauberks, and they were armed with swords and spears. One had a crossbow.
"Halt!" the closest guard said in Thari. "What is your business here?"
"What did he say?" Art asked in English.
Drake gestured him to silence. "We seek shelter from the night," Drake replied to the guard in Thari.
"We don't let just anyone in these days."
"I commend you on your caution," said Drake. "However, I am known to the Court."
"Your name?" the guard asked. His odd goat eyes kept flicking from Drake to the children.
"Prince Daerandir Drake of the Ruined Courts." Drake gestured, so that the sign of the Instrumentality became visible for a moment.
The guards dropped to their knees and kowtowed. "Forgive this humble servant for questioning you, My Prince."
"Rise, faithful servants," Drake intoned. "It has been long since I visited."
"Please proceed, prince."
"What the hell was that all about?" Morgan asked as they passed through the wall. "And what were those things?"
"The guards were beastmen. They used to be human, but they were changed long ago by dark magics. As for their reaction, I told them my name and gave them reason to believe it."
"And they bowed and begged for forgiveness?" said Art. "Who are you, anyway?"
"I am a Prince of the Empire this Realm is a part of. Leave it at that."
"Are we going to the Court?" Morgan asked, smoothing her hair.
"No, we are going to the Noble House that is the front for the Institute in this Realm."
"The Institute is controlled by a Noble House?"
"What else would you call the Families?"
Neither of the children had an answer for that.
The city smelled terrible. A light rain had started, and the damp made things worse. The people they passed on the street were a mix of races and species. Most of them looked human, with either Asian or European features, or a blend. There were a few beastmen. There seemed to be several languages in use, none of them English.
Drake ignored the rain and the people, and led them through the city to the walled courtyard of the House he was seeking. Human guards stood outside the locked gate. Drake supposed it was a subtle bit of bigotry. Stupid, really, he thought. The beastmen are a lot tougher than humans.
His name and rank got them through the gates. A servant inside handed them towels to dry off and led them to the dining room, where the family was just sitting down to dinner. The man at the head of the table stood when he saw Drake. He'd recognized him.
"Prince Drake, you honor us. It has been many years. Forgive me, but I'd heard you were dead."
"I got over it," Drake replied. "Count Sima, I'll not take up any more of your time than needed. I hate to disturb your meal, but my business is urgent. I am here on Family business."
"Clear the room," the count ordered. He waited till everyone left. "What is this business, My Prince?"
"I have need to use your portal booth."
Count Sima nodded. "Follow me."
The count led Drake and the children down a long, winding stair into the cellar. He carried a small lantern, and the flicking flame cast strange shadows. The count used several keys to open thick, reinforced doors. He reached down and flicked on a small generator, and primitive light bulbs lit up to reveal some old-fashioned computer equipment and a glass portal booth.
"Hey! I recognize this stuff from our history lessons. This gear is Victorian!" exclaimed Art.
"Actually, the technology was from another Realm," Drake replied. "Technology doesn't always work well in this place, so they still use the older, more robust stuff."
"That makes sense," Morgan said. "I can tell this is a really low Band. I didn't think we had outposts down here. How low is it?"
"This is Band one-oh-three point nine," said Count Sima.
"You speak English!" Morgan exclaimed.
"Of course. All the families do." Sima turned to Drake. "Where do you need to go, my Prince?"
"Twenty-two twenty-seven point six."
Sima nodded. "A mid-Band safe place. It will take a few minutes to warm the gear."
The children studied the equipment as Count Sima gestured Drake aside. "A word, my Prince?"
"What can I do for you, count?"
"There has been word here of strange happenings. The Bands are at war with dark forces. We've even had some trouble here."
"Anything you need help with?" asked Drake.
"No, we've dealt with it. We mourned when we heard of your death. I am glad to know that it was not true."
Drake sighed. "Well, I wouldn't say that. Just take it on faith that I'm back now. How about that?"
The count bowed. "My Prince."
"Do you know if word had gotten to my daughter?" Drake said. "I would have spared her that."
"I don't know. We only received word a few months ago. We have not heard from the Red Flower in many years."
Drake smiled at the name the count's family had given his daughter, Lu Xi, the Red Flower. She had his red hair, which was not common in this Realm. The nickname explained why she went by Lucy on Geoffrey's Earth.
"It is ready, my Prince."
Drake gestured the children into the booth, stopping only to grip Sima's arm. "Thank you. I'm sorry we interrupted your dinner."
"You will have to come and have dinner with us some day to sooth the memory," Sima replied.
"I will, old friend." Drake stepped into the booth and shut the door. There was a bright flash and a feeling like dropping in a fast elevator.
Then the door opened.
Chapter Thirty-Three
The Vigilant transited from hyperspace at twenty light-minutes out in the 96 Gamma Piscium system. They didn't want to get involved in a shooting war with the Homndruu. Captain Maxwell was sure her ship could make it back out of the system if the Homndruu started shooting, but why risk it?
"They will have detected us, Captain," the sensor chief reported.
"Lt. Freeman, open a channel," Maxwell ordered. "I hope you're right about this, Commander Tebrey."
"Me, too," Tebrey replied.
"Channel is open, Captain," said Freeman.
"This is Captain Josephine Maxwell of the Sentient Concord Heavy Cruiser Vigilant. We are here at the request of the Empire, and await your bidding." She waved her hand over the air screen to close the channel. "Translate that to Homndruu and retransmit, just in case. Now we wait."
"Captain, we're getting engine trace on a trio of ships," Lt. Commander Kaharn reported. "They are headed out to us. Should we go to battle stations?"
"No. Keep us standing down. I want those missile ports closed. Alessa?"
"Yes, Captain?"
"Can you take control and jump us out if they fire on us?"
"I have a route calculated already. We'd have to drop out of hyperspace at some point to pick up speed, though."
"As long as we don't get killed, I'll be happy."
"Of course, Captain."
It took almost forty minutes for light to crawl down the gravity well to the approaching ships and back again. "This is Captain Gretorn Freyquor of the Imperial Battleship King Slatvin II. We have been expecting you." Freyquor's Normarish was a little guttural but clear. Tebrey knew he would never have been able to equal Freyquor's skill in the Homndruu language.
"Is that a good thing?" Maxwell asked Tebrey.
Tebrey shrugged. "I would think so. at least he didn't order us to surrender."
"Or fire on us," muttered Kaharn.
"If you don't mind, Captain, I'll go get my team ready. Do you have a preference as to whether we receive guests or not?"
"Oh, I'm sure we're going to have to go through the whole dog and pony show before this is all over. You won't have to deal with that too much.. The diplomats will handle most of it. You have the really hard part: convincing the Homndruu we're worthy allies."
"Who are the diplomats?"
"Ambassador Inkeri Valkoinen, her aide Jorgen Campbell, and Emissary R'Chalnok," the captain replied.
"We have a Rhyrhan Emissary aboard?" asked Tebrey. He was surprised. Emissaries were ascended Rhyrhan. They must have decided to roll out the big guns for the Homndruu peace talks.
"Yes, she'll be leading the peace talks. Why?"
Tebrey assumed the captain didn't know much about what an Emissary actually was. "No reason. I was just surprised. I didn't think they left Rhyr all that often."
"They don't, normally," said Kaharn. "But these talks with the Homndruu are very important."
"I understand. I'm glad, actually. It makes my job a little easier."
"How so?" asked Captain Maxwell, glancing from her XO to Tebrey. She could tell there was something unspoken that she should know, but she trusted them to tell her if she really needed to know it.
"Neo-panther teams were created to fight the Homndruu. No matter how friendly the Homndruu are, there's going to be an undercurrent of hostility just due to Hunter and I being here. That the talks are led by someone of great rank who isn't human is for the best."
"I understood that they asked for you, personally," the captain said.
"So I was told, but we don't really know why." Tebrey shook his head. "How long until their ships reach us?"
"Just over an hour," Kaharn replied.
"Then I will take my leave and get ready for whatever may come," said Tebrey. "Captain, I'll be in the drop bay if you need me."
The drop bay of the Vigilant was kept at one gravity. Tebrey often trained with Sergeant Pt’kar at one-point-five gravities, but the Homndruu ships and stations would be at two. He was going to have to wear his armor at all times, just to avoid injury. His organs were protected by an internal gravity harness that should protect them up almost twenty gravities. He’d experienced acceleration that high once, during an orbital insertion on Norlin, on his first real combat mission against the Nurgg. He’d survived, but it hadn’t been fun.
He was thinking a constant two gravities would be like that: not fun. He was confident of his tech and armor. He knew he wouldn’t suffer any permanent damage, but he wasn’t looking forward to it. Sergeant Pt’kar, on the other hand, seemed almost giddy with excitement. She routinely worked out on her own at two gravities, and was looking forward to seeing if it had been worth it.
