Euthara (2 page)

Atlantis appeared beside Jon and Aneoi let out a small gasp as he muttered, “A functioning AI?” A look of amazement crossed his face as he stared at Atlantis.

“Yes, among other things,” Jon said as he turned to Atlantis and was about to speak when his Tactical Officer contacted him. “Hunter here, report.”

‘Sir, the Desmodi has dropped out of fold and is approaching our location,’ a male voice said.

“Hail them and have them take up station next to us as an escort,” Jon said.

On the screen, Aneoi was talking to someone off screen, “What just dropped out of fold? Impossible! They haven’t been seen in hundreds of years.”

‘Sir, I ran a database check, and that is a Ga’sahde Battleship,’ a voice off screen said.

Aneoi looked at Jon, his eyes widening as another voice spoke up off screen, ‘Sir, we’re being hailed by the new vessel.’

“On speakers,” Aneoi said.

‘Eutharan vessel, this is Terri Hunter-C’loth, Matriarch of the Ga’sahde. The
Atlantis
and her crew are under the protection of the Ga’sahde and any acts of aggression against them or their vessel will not be tolerated. Let it be known Jonathan Hunter-C’loth is the House Primus and shall be afforded the rights of that rank in the Ga’sahde,’ Terri’s voice said.

Jon’s head pulsed in pain as the nanites received a transmission, ‘Brother; I’m well, and I’ll be coming to the
Atlantis
as soon as we’re alongside.’

Jon reached up and pressed the palms of his hands against his temples. An effort that didn’t dull the pain; in all this time it was still something that caused him pain. Very few people in the ADF could use the nanites this way without getting a headache. ‘I’ll talk to you when you get here, we’re in the observation room,’ Jon sent back. He stumbled a bit as the connection was broken, and the room swam.

Deatra reached out and grabbed his arm to help steady him as she spoke, “Terri?”

Jon nodded at Deatra as he opened a channel to the bridge, “Terri’s coming, allow her to dock.” Deatra’s face glowed from learning that Terri truly was alive and well.

You could almost hear the excited chatter break out on the bridge as the response came back, ‘Yes Sir!’

Jon turned his attention back to the screen that now showed a kneeling Aneoi, who spoke with his head bowed, “My apologies, I had no idea you carried that rank.”

“I try not to force titles down people’s throats,” Jon said. “To be honest, it’s a recent development and for the love of all that's holy, stand up. There is no need to kneel before me. Now, where were we? Ah, yes, I remember now. Atlantis, I want scans of those ships and reports on their conditions. I assume Commander; you wouldn’t mind sending their location.”

“No need, Captain,” Atlantis said. “They’re in storage around the space dock on the second moon in orbit of Euthara. I’ll dispatch some of my whiskers to do the scans. However, I can tell you the space dock is powered down along with almost every mining operation or industrial complex in scan range. Most of them have been off-line for a very long time.”

“Strange,” Jon said as he looked back towards Aneoi. “Why would all of these be shutdown?”

“My Prince,” Aneoi said as he tried to hedge around the issue. “That is part of the complex problem I mentioned.”

“Atlantis, have Mike and Brad go over and take a look at the dock. See if they can get it up and running again,” Jon said.

“Sir,” Aneoi said. “I can’t allow that. That station, as well as all other outposts and complexes, is off limits by order of the King.”

“You can’t stop me,” Jon said.

“I’m duty bound to the King, and I would have to try,” Aneoi said. His tone left no room for doubt or in his conviction to what he said. “Even if it meant the death of myself and everyone aboard this vessel.”

Jon glanced at Deatra who gave him a slight nod.

“Well, I wouldn’t want that,” Jon said. “I’ll settle for the scans for now and I’ll talk to the King about gaining access.”

Atlantis nodded as she disappeared just as Terri appeared next to Jon in a shimmer of multi-hued light.

She was very different from the last time he had seen her. Now dressed from head to toe in red and gold etched battle armor, hair was pulled back into a tight braid and wrapped around her neck, secured there from moving with a thin golden hair pin. Streaks of gold and platinum ran through her hair from the scalp to the end of the braid.

Her face was no longer spotless and unblemished as he remembered. A red band outlined in gold covered most of her forehead and dipped slightly in the center as though pointing to her nose.

Both of her eyes were framed in a deep blood red that looked like it had been allowed to run down her face. Her lips were the color of copper and shimmered in the light. Her emerald green eyes now had silver and golden flecks in them. Her hand rested on the hilt of a sword that hung at her waist.

It took a second for Jon to react. This wasn’t the way he expected Terri to arrive, “Terri!” He squeezed her in a hug that made her armor creak. She rested her head on his shoulder as she returned the hug.

“I’m sorry for your pain, it was the only way the trial could end,” Terri said in a soft voice.

Jon pulled back and stared into her eyes as he grinned, “I don’t care about all that, I’m just happy you’re alive!”

“It was the nanites that saved me,” Terri said as she reached up and wiped a tear from Jon’s cheek. “I was supposed to die, but somehow the dampening field failed and allowed the nanites to reactivate. With no rules governing that situation, they just pushed forward with the ceremony of ascension.” Terri released Jon as she turned to Deatra. “Sister, I hope you fair well.” Deatra and Terri both rested their hands on each other’s shoulders and touched foreheads in greeting.

“I’m fine and happy now that you’re back with us,” Deatra said as she pulled back, wiping happy tears from her face.

“Always,” Terri said. “I’ve made the
Atlantis
my seat of power for Ga’sahde operations while I’m out and about. That is if it’s OK with her Captain.” Terri grinned at Jon.

“I’m sure her Captain has no problem with that,” Jon said as he winked at Terri. “I know him personally and we see eye to eye on a lot of things.”

Aneoi cleared his throat on screen to get Jon’s attention.

Jon looked up at the screen and scowled for a second before he spoke, “Yes?”

“Once we get you settled in, Sire,” Aneoi said. “I’ll look into the matter of allowing you access to the space dock and the ships stored there. However, I don’t know how we will crew them. I already have an audience with the King set up for you about this matter. He’s most anxious to see you and his daughter. ”

Terri turned to the screen and looked the Eutharan over as she spoke, “That won’t be necessary, I’ve already dispatched people to the space dock to bring it back on line. That includes Mike and Brad.” The last part she said as she looked at Jon. “Hope you don’t mind that I’ve made that call.”

“Not at all,” Jon said. “Your position in the ADF is still in force and I would say you even have a bit more clout.”

“Um, Mistress Hunter,” Aneoi said as he gulped hard. “I can’t allow that…”

Terri cut him off in a harsh voice that left no room for argument, “Can’t allow that? You will allow that and you will do nothing to stop the shuttles going there. You had better contact the rest of the inbound ships. Make certain that they understand that any act of aggression towards the Ga’sahde or the ADF, will be met with equal or greater aggression. Is this understood?”

“Excuse me? This is Eutharan space, and you have no authority to give…” Aneoi said. A look of anger filled his face as if Terri had just slapped him.

“That is true, this is Eutharan space,” Terri said as she interrupted him again.

“Orders here.” Aneoi said, finishing the sentence. He crossed his arms in triumph at Terri’s words.

“However, as per the Treaty that was signed by your people,” Terri said. A grin split her face as she continued. “The Ga’sahde are to have rights to all Space Docks without question or hindrance. We’re also allowed to post guards throughout any dock we’re connected to. I’ll be making sure we have guards posted in every area once we get it back online.”

A stunned look crossed Aneoi’s face as he spoke, “That treaty is very old and…”

“Hasn’t been over-turned by the Eutharan council who are the only ones authorized to make changes,” Terri finished for him. “Therefore, it is valid and can’t be argued with. My one question is, why are you fighting so hard to keep us away from the dock? Is there something there we’re not supposed to see? Something the public isn’t supposed to know about that has been locked away?”

“I… no, not that I’m aware of,” Aneoi said. He stumbled on his words because of the pressure from Terri.

“One thing you might want to convey to your council and ruling members,” Terri said. Her eyes flashed as she pressed home her advantage. “I’m not here to play games or to coddle people. I’m here to restore order and find out why this world and its people are in the state they are in. If I find anything amiss, and I’m sure I will, there will be repercussions to those involved. The Eutharan people of today aren’t the people spoken about in the ancient Ga’sahde texts that I’ve studied, and I plan on finding out why.”

“Yes Mistress,” Aneoi said as he knelt and bowed his head. “Please forgive me. I’m only trying to do my duty.”

“Rise, there is no need to kneel before me,” Terri said. “I understand what you’re trying to do. No matter how misled you have been from the truth surrounding you. I’m here to correct this oversight and to bring back, balance and prosperity to the Eutharan people. My ship will be approaching the dock and then docking once it is brought back on line. Don’t hinder her in any way, is this understood?”

Aneoi didn’t speak he just nodded his head in agreement.

“Good, I’m going to speak to my leader,” Terri said as she indicated Jon. “If he agrees we will be sending out scouts to take a look at the operations that are shut down. I’ll also be speaking to him about setting up patrols for system security while we’re here.”

“I’ve already done that,” Aneoi said. “I have several squads on patrol as we speak and have recalled our two battleships to provide additional support.”

“Yes, I know this,” Terri said. “That is why I told you to make sure they don’t interfere with what is going on at the station. However, I want my own people on patrol, and I would like to have patrols from the
Atlantis
involved too.”

Jon spoke up; he was a bit in awe of what had just happened, “I’ve recalled the Titan to come help here as well as the Earth’s Revenge for additional support and I have no problem with the patrols. I’ll leave that to you to set up as you’re still the CAG on the
Atlantis
.”

Terri nodded her assent.

“I think you can help their cause out Captain,” Deatra said as she spoke up for the first time during the exchange.

Aneoi did not miss the fact that Deatra had just placed him in command with her blessing.

“As you can see, my bondmate and I, support the Matriarch of the Ga’sahde. I want you, by my order, to get me a list of all retired navy personnel still living, anyone with experience. Once we’ve settled planet side, I’ll need you to recall them so we can meet with them. I also want a list of all living owners of the industrial complexes in system and set up another meeting with them, once we’re settled of course.”

“As you wish, Princess,” Aneoi said as he bowed his head. “I, of course, will pass this request through your father.”

“Who is next in command?” Deatra said in a calm tone.

Aneoi almost stumbled in fright as he spoke in a stutter, “Uh, t-that w-w-would be Lieutenant N-N-Nafiea.”

“Is she present?” Deatra said.

“Yes Princess,” Aneoi said.

“Maybe I should place her in command while you talk to my father about my requests,” Deatra said.

“My Princess that won’t be necessary I can handle it while I place the requests,” Aneoi said. “The information is available to all in the national database anyway and can be easily retrieved.”

“Good, since it’s so simple I expect it transmitted to me on board the
Atlantis
in a couple of hours,” Deatra said. “Unless you have a problem with that.”

“I can do that, Princess,” Aneoi said.

“Good, send your requests and get me the information within an hour,” Deatra said. “We’ll contact you if we need anything else, you can remain on station as an escort.”

“Yes Princess,” Aneoi said as he bowed.

The screen went dark as Jon disconnected the channel.

“That poor man,” Deatra said. “He might have been able to handle one or two of us. But, he wasn’t prepared to handle all three. His head is spinning right now trying to figure out what to do.”

“I thought Eutharan crews weren't mixed? How come there's a female serving on board that ship?” Jon asked.

“It's an experiment. Since this is a sentry ship, and since we are getting so short on people, we are experimenting with mixing the crew,” Deatra explained. “I don't think it's expanded to any of the other posts yet.”

Jon nodded as he turned back to look out at the planet. “I think there’s more going on here than meets the eye,” he paused in thought. “I don’t think Aneoi is involved, but he knows something is wrong. He just doesn’t know what to do about it. I feel sorry for him. He’s in a bad position right now.”

“Jon,” Terri said. “You have to make sure you protect him as best as you can. His crew too, he can be a valuable ally once he wakes up to what is going on around him.”

“I’m not going to use him,” Jon said. “We did just that right now and the poor man is confused. But, I’ll protect him as best as I can. I’m not going to let him take the fall for something we did and besides that he has access to information we might need.”

“There’s no information I can’t get access to,” Deatra said.

“I’m sorry,” Terri said. “If you think that my sister, then you’re a bit on the naive side. All governments have secrets they don’t share except with top officials. While you might be a Princess, it doesn’t make you a top official. I mean the Top Secret: King’s Eyes Only type of information.”