CHAPTER 38: The Armada Sails

The lights of Nazeera’s office were low. The ethernet was broadcasting a special on Alexander. It was a documentary with the title “Alexander of Terra, Conqueror or Friend?” It was typical journalistic sensationalism. They sought to weave a connection between the ancient Alexander of galactic legend, and this new Alexander. There was little real information available on either Terran, so it was amusing in its conjecture.

She smiled. The ordeal was almost at an end. Once the scout ship sent its report Alexander would be retrieved. She’d command the ship herself. Within a decurn Bureel would be dead, and she would be . . .

There was a light knock on the door and Nazar poked his head in, telling her earnestly, “The Elder has called an emergency meeting of the Assemblage.”

They left immediately, arriving at the Assemblage hall in a few minutes. Nervous talk pervaded the chamber, but no one knew what it was about. When the Elder finally appeared everyone went dead silent.

“Nine decurns past, I dispatched a scout ship to the Terran system. The purpose was to determine whether the Terrans were arming for war, or defense.” His voice was heavy with gravity. “The scout ship entered the Terran system this evening. It sent a transmission that I will play in its entirety.”

The viewers brightened all around the room. A blue and white planet came into sight with a companion planet in near proximity. The image jumped in size to show a quarter of the planet. There were tiny bright lights orbiting against the velvet of space. The view magnified again and they lights turned into ships—ships unlike anything they’d ever seen.

A voice joined the tape, and the Elder explained, “That is Captain Terval, commanding the twenty member crew.”

Terval said, “As we noted earlier there are a large number of scans taking place in this system, most emanating from the planet itself. Therefore, this is as close as we can get. The scan system indicates an advanced planetary defense, but what’s interesting is the presence of ships. We’ve identified one hundred and thirty-seven vessels thus far, of which the majority are Scythian cargo freighters. We must assume the rest are Terran, and are obviously warships. The particular vessel in our viewer is in the process of forming a squadron.”

The picture revealed a large vessel coming around the night side of the planet. Unlike the smooth shark-like shapes of galactic warships this ship brazenly sprouted sharp metallic superstructure and weaponry. It made no pretense at being anything other than a warship.

Two other ships of equal size and twenty smaller ships were all in formation. The ships moved slowly away from the planet and into space. Their course would take them past the scout ship, and quite close.

“We have our screens up so they shouldn’t be able to detect us,” the Captain said. “We should get a very good look at them.”

They did indeed. The battleships paraded majestically across the viewer as it closed in. They made an impression on the Captain.

“Incredible! I’m reading a full array of weapon systems, defense screens, scanners and superluminal engines. The design is certainly not that of any galactic civilization we know of, so I must assume it’s Terran. I have no definitive analysis on the ship’s complement, the formation is loose and of strange configuration, but as to the ships themselves they are definitely comparable in weapons and defense. Wait a moment. We’ve been spotted!”

A transmission interrupted the picture. It was a large Terran in a black uniform with silver decorations.

“Alien vessel, this is Captain Thomas of the Battleship Iowa. You’re in Terran space. Maintain your position and prepare for escort. Please acknowledge.”

The Chem Captain gave several curt orders to the crew, and the Assemblage heard the surge of the engines. The Terran squadron was breaking up. Initially, there seemed to be no method, but in a moment it became apparent that the Terrans were attempting to block the Chem escape. Another message came over the Chem’s video ordering the ship to halt or the Terran’s would open fire.

The Chem ship turned away from the squadron, though the viewer still showed the Terran ships. The battleships spread out with a halo of other ships around them.

“Prepare to engage superluminal engines!” Captain Terval ordered. The viewer showed the battleships close behind. Suddenly six enormous flashes of flame erupted from the lead ship. The screen went dead.

Silence filled the hall. At length the Elder said, “No further communications were received from the scout. None are necessary. Captain Terval and his crew did their duty honorably. His ship was well armed and fast but was nonetheless destroyed. Terran intentions and capabilities are, I think, self explanatory. We are now in a struggle for the very existence of our Empire. I ask for no debate. I put forth a motion of war against the Terran system, and the Scythian Empire. What says the Assemblage?

A chorus of “yea” greeted the Elder. “The Armada will sail at the earliest opportunity. Nazeera of the Triumvirate will command the Armada. May fortune follow us,” he said, and he left the chamber.

The hall burst into a cacophony of conversation, but Nazeera would have none of it. She stormed out of the building, Nazar at her heel, and Bureel watching in evil pleasure.

At home Nazeera raged, “How could I be so blind, Nazar? I shall take a ship to Pantrixnia and blast him myself before we destroy his precious planet!”

“He may not have betrayed you, Nazeera,” Nazar told her.

“How can you say that? You saw the Terran Fleet. They’ve been mobilizing for years with the Scythians graciously providing cover!”

“That may be so,” Nazar replied, “I’m not speaking to that. I’m merely saying that Alexander may be telling the truth, at least as he knows it. His memory tapes give no indication of an advanced Terran space faring capability, or modern technological war fighting capability.”

“Memory tapes can be altered.”

“But why alter the tapes and not the memory? If he was so important that the Terrans purposefully put him in our hands then why leave his memory intact? Chances are we would discover the inconsistencies, and fairly soon after that, the truth. Alexander is a pawn in all this. He was truthful about everything to you; to the extent he was able.”

“Let him live his life out on Pantrixnia then,” she said bitterly. “He is a symbol of my shame and foolishness. I want nothing more to do with him!” When Nazar attempted to protest she cut him off, “I mean it Nazar, nothing more! I could not live with such shame around me.”

“I can understand your bitterness, dear wife,” Bureel told her as he entered the room. “We must forget such petty thoughts, however, in view of our greater purpose. Once the Terran system and Scythian Empire are under our sway, then there will be time to turn our attentions to smaller matters.”

“What is it you want Bureel?” Nazeera asked dangerously.

“What does every male Chem want, an heir. I’ve let the subject lie far too long. Before I allow you to go into battle I want an heir. It is a valid request, and a legal one.”

“Leave it alone, Bureel,” Nazar cautioned. “I’m in no mood to listen to your legalities today. The subject can wait until after the war. We are far too concerned with the survival of the Empire to deal with this.”

“How patriotic of you Nazar,” he said. “I am touched with your far sighted duty to the state. However, this is a personal matter between my wife and me. You would do well to leave it alone. The tribunal does not take kindly to interference in these matters.”

“He’s right Nazar. You should go.” Nazeera told him.

Nazar left, but not before he planted himself in Bureel’s face, “This will be settled between us one day.” Then he stomped out.

“Well, what of my request?” Bureel asked. “I’ll take it to a tribunal the moment I leave this room, if you don’t agree. That would likely result in a rather compromising scandal.”

There was a long pause. Nazeera had no doubt that Bureel would do exactly as he threatened. It was the Empire that made the decision for her. “I have conditions, Bureel,” she told him with finality. “You will leave Nazar alone. You will in all appearances, no matter how small, support and conform to the policies of the House of Nazeera. There will be no undermining of my position in the public eye, is that understood?”

“Understood and accepted,” Bureel smiled.

Nazeera never claimed any memory of the act, when Bureel finished she showered—she tried over-rode the computer safety and tried to scald away the stain—then she returned to the Assemblage. She avoided Nazar that entire day, and their dinner was silent. The next day she went to the physician and had the fertilized egg removed. They put it in an incubation cell, and she forgot about it.