Terra Dawning (8 page)

Jorga picked up the narration. “Soon after we entered hypersleep, the remainder of our people fought against the Sal'andori. It was a fight we were losing. Then the Lizarrus, intent on destroying all trace of the Sal'andori everywhere, attacked the orbiting fleet and deployed troops on planet. At first, our people thought they had found a new ally, until one of our patrols discovered a group of Lizarrus sharing a meal.

“When we finally kicked the Lizarrus off the planet, the ecology and environment were damaged beyond its ability to sustain human life. The survivors of the human race, most of which had no idea we even existed, left the planet to try and reach a safe world they could live on in peace while the Earth healed itself.

“During the wars, several refugee ships had fled the fighting. These ships were how the Lizarrus learned of the Sal'andori and as it turns out, a new source of protein. The ships that left after our discovery of the Lizarrus headed in a different direction. Those that got through were picked up by Hyclarion warships and their occupants immediately arrested as Lizarrus spies.

"From what records Mother could find on InfoNet, our people were not executed as spies due to a lack of confirming evidence and condition of their vessels. So they were simply imprisoned and held pending the outcome of the war. It didn't work as planned.

“In the general confusion of the armistice and the surrender of the Saurian Fleets, Humans fell through the cracks. By this time, the human ships had been destroyed and humans, now little more than slaves, had forgotten who they had been and where they had come from.

“The general area of origin was known based on the recorded trajectories of the ships that were intercepted. The Lizarrus quickly claimed the displaced people as vassals, but the Hyclarion Emperor saw through the claim and decreed that under no circumstances were humans to be eaten, nor could they be kept as non-indentured slaves.

“The rest, I believe you already know,” Jorga finished. “Only we have the records to back all of this up; although they could be challenged as fabrications.””

“How long ago did all that take place?” Elrond asked, awed.

“Roughly eight-thousand years ago; just before the beginning of the current planetary ice age,” she replied.

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A
rgassi Aerie

Anti-Piracy Command, Regional Headquarters

Terral III, Duchy of Cassius (Earth)

Hyclarion Imperial Consortium

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“C
ommander Jance, you've seen the new scans. How will you proceed?” Warmake asked.

“Very cautiously, Task Commander. I believe we have an area to search, but we have to do so in such a way as to not rouse suspicion. I had planned to impose on you and your pilot for a 'final' inspection of the Aerie site before I file my final report,” Jance said smiling. ““However, I would like to take some equipment with me, so would it be too much of a bother if we left the normal crew behind and only took my team?”

“That is a reasonable request. If we depart now, however, we will not arrive before sunset. You would be forced to work in the dark. If we depart tomorrow before sunrise, we can arrive at the location just after sun rise,” Warmake replied, in a somewhat snobbish way. He gave the Ranger a brief smile so she knew he was playing to an audience.

Jance gave a well-worn sigh and nodded. “Very well, Task Commander, but I want no more excuses. We will be in the air tomorrow by sunrise or I will forgo your assistance completely. As it is, I will be forced to report your reluctance in assisting us.” She rolled her eyes at him so he knew she was acting as well. “Thank you, you are dismissed.”

It was close to the end of the day shift, but it wasn't actually the end, so Warmake didn't leave. Instead, he acted slightly offended and walked over to one of the clerks operating a console. He thrust a file folder at the young operator. “See to it that this gets filed in the appropriate place.”

Inside the file was the second scan that Warmake had asked for, only modified to appear as if it had originated from the Ranger vessel. Neither Warmake nor Jance had any doubt that that file would be taken straight to another team to be scanned for any anomaly that would prompt the Rangers to wish to continue their investigation.

Warmake also knew that Jance had no intention of leaving this planet empty handed. Indeed, even he no longer knew who the victims were and who the perpetrators were.

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O
ffice of the Prime Councilor

Command Pod Alpha One

24 Apr. 10266 CE (AD)

Sector 34871 - Great Inland Sea

Earth, Sol system

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“T
hank you for coming, everyone. Gail, I would like you to prepare to evacuate all the personnel from the former pirate base. If we have the room and can get them here without being detected; bring their ships as well."

Ben changed to a more formal tone of voice. “At this time, acting in my capacity as Prime Council and with the blessings of the Council of Elders of the Planet Earth, I am formally offering emergency asylum to the group heretofore known as 'The Pirates' via their leader, Captain Elrond Coir, of the Armed Freighter Bittertree, formerly a vassal craft and privateer to the Duchy of Cassius of the Hyclarion Imperial Consortium.

“Also included are the crew of the aforementioned craft and their families presently accompanying them, as well as the crew and families of the Armed Freighter Nistian Dew of the same aforementioned registry.

“Captain Elrond Coir, will you accept asylum with us, for yourself as well as on behalf of your people, in your capacity as their acknowledged leader, under the condition that neither you nor any of your people ever intentionally, or with knowledge of forethought, reveal any of the information entrusted to you without the leave of the Ruling Council, or myself as Prime Council?””

Arivan was standing there with her mouth open in surprise, while the other two looked really confused.

Elrond stood and replied formally. “I, Captain Elrond Coir, Master of the aforementioned Armed Merchantman, Bittertree, and as the agreed upon leader of the group known as 'The Pirates', which includes the Captain and crew of the aforementioned Armed Merchantman Nistian Dew and all the families and loved ones currently with said group, do hereby accept the offer of Emergency Asylum under the conditions stated by Benjamin Bedouin, acting as Prime to the Council of Elders of the Planet Earth.”

“It is so witnessed by Jorga Bedouin, Aide to the Prime Council, on this day, the twenty-fourth day of April, of the year ten thousand, two-sixty-six of the common era.” Jorga turned to Arivan and nodded to her.

'Uh, it, uh it is so witnessed by Arivan Jythee, former citizen of the planet Centris Nine, aide to Captain Elrond Coir, on this day, uh the... twenty-fourth of April, of the year ten thousand, two-sixty-six of the, uh, common era."

Mother intoned to all present. “The agreement has been officially recorded.”

Ben nodded and relaxed. “Okay, now that that's out of the way, Gail, I have a special mission for you, but first, the Captain and his friends will need transportation back to their base so they can have a chance to explain everything that’s happened and hopefully get his folks ready to move. He will need one of our subcomms with him so he can call for us when he needs it.

“I would also like it if he could take someone with him in the event he can't get all of his equipment ready to go. I would like them to analyze it, then scan it for replication at a later time. However, the priority is getting the people to safety. Retrieving their ships and equipment is secondary to this priority; understood?” Ben said.

“Completely, Prime, I'll get people right on it!” Gail nodded and moved aside to begin issuing orders.

Ben sighed. “I'm sorry; everyone must be really hungry...”

“I'm on it, dear, you handle business. What would you like?” Jorga asked.

“Uh, Garlic chicken with a side of cream cheese and crab meat wantons and some green tea please,” Ben asked. “Oh! And a glass of Mountain Dew; I'm going to need the caffeine.””

Jorga nodded to him and looked at Gail. “Want anything, General?”

“Same as Ben, but make mine General Tso's Chicken please,” Gail replied.

“Hmm, must be a theme tonight. I have an idea, since our new friends have no idea what to order. Give me a hand with the replicator, Gail?” Jorga asked.

Gail joined Jorga at the replicator to start carrying stuff to the conference table and setting the table for the meal.

Deirdre finally got Elrond's attention. “Excuse me Captain, but how many people are we talking about and how are they grouped?”

Before Elrond could reply, Mother did. “I have forwarded the information to your data pad, Minister.”

“Thank you Mother,” Deirdre said and moved over next to Arivan to speak with her quietly. “Hi again, it's good that the Council has finally figured out that you're good people. It's a pain in the ass I know, but we have too much at risk here to take chances,” Deirdre said.

“I think I understand, but can I know what 'too much to risk' entails?” Arivan asked. "I'm still really unclear on exactly what's going on here."

“This 'pod' is the smallest of about fifteen hundred spread out all over the planet. Our current population is just under two million at this point,” Deirdre stated and watched the woman pale in surprise.

“Sorry about the shock, but like I said; we really have to be careful. But the reason I wanted to talk to you before we eat is that it's my job to make sure everyone is taken care of, clothed and fed. Now, I see that you have a total of two-hundred and fifteen people, most of them families.

“We're going to have a temporary issue with housing. I think I can find housing for everyone, but not all of it will be in this pod. In fact, most of the folks will have to be in the other two pods in our group,” She explained.

Arivan began to object, but Deirdre stopped her. “Here, let me show you on my pad.” She touched the needed commands to bring up a view of the pod they were sitting in, showing them sitting in Ben's office.

She slowly backed the view out until Arivan could see all three pods and the edge of the military base. “As you can see, they really won't be that far away and they can come over here anytime they want. There are no limits or restrictions on traveling. The other pods aren't that far away and we simply don’t have the room in this one. Now that you can see it, do you think that'll be a problem?”

Arivan shook her head slowly. “No, that should be fine, as long as we don't split up any families.”

“I agree, I would never allow that to happen anyway. The apartments in the pods are modular so we can adjust them to the size needed for the intended family. Now, there is one other thing we would like to offer you, but I don't want you to be afraid of it,” Deirdre said.

“What is it?” Arivan asked just as Jorga announced dinner.

“We have a way of teaching people built into the hypersleep modules that we used to get here. The hypersleep function no longer works, but the sleep teaching does. You can check with Addson Dee if you have questions; she has gone through them. We can offer all of you at the very least our language, but we can also give you all the history we have as well,”” Deirdre explained as she guided her new friend to a chair.

“That is something I will have to discuss with Elrond. However, I think it might be something that will be accepted on an individual basis; at least at first,” Arivan replied. “Uh, I am unfamiliar with this food; it all smells wonderful.”

Jorga 'overheard' Arivan's last statement to Deirdre, so she stood. “I know our four new friends are unfamiliar with our food. However, I did check with Doctor Lyam as well as Alice, the emergency medical AI from Addson's skipper. All of you can tolerate these foods and nothing should make you sick. Since we all wanted this style of food tonight, I thought I would simply create a buffet and let you all try some of it and see what you like.

“I should warn you that some of it is spicy and some of it has a very subtle, delicate flavor. You are welcome to try it all. Please enjoy your meal,” she said as she sat down. Beside her was a pitcher of milk, and a couple of glasses to help cool down the over-heated mouth.

As the group ate, even the other two people from Elrond's group began to relax. By and large, the new people avoided the spicy stuff, although Arivan thought it was by far the best and enjoyed the more subtle foods.

Jentse, the other lady that had been taken with Elrond, loved the milk, but had to be excused to use the restroom as she discovered she was lactose intolerant. While she was gone, Deirdre had the replicator replace Jentse's glass with a drink that tasted just like milk and had the same vitamins in it, but was lactose free.

Conversation was a little slow because of the translators, but all the questions asked managed to get answered. Ben had to call a halt to the meal as he only had thirty minutes before he had to be back in the Council chamber.

As Jorga and Deirdre cleaned up the table, Ben pulled Gail aside. “Now, about that special mission I had for you; there is a person on the surface of the planet we need to keep track of. I believe Mother would be your best bet for now, but I'd like you to be ready to invite her to visit us here.”

“Sir?” Gail asked raising an eyebrow.

“I actually mean invite, Gail. I think she would put up a hell of a fight if we tried to abduct her. She's the leader of the Ranger team that's here investigating the Great Falls incident,” Ben said.

“Sir, I will, of course, do as you order, but I'm afraid I can't follow your logic on this one. Isn't she the last person we want to know of us?” Gail asked.

“Maybe, but there have been a few new developments that you might be unaware of. Mother has discovered proof that the Duke is the one that has been issuing the orders to Elrond and his people. She is eighty percent sure that this whole mess is all part of a plan the Duke has to attack and over-throw the Empire,” Ben explained.

Gail whistled. “Wow, you've been busy! Now your other orders make sense, but I'm still not following you on inviting the Ranger Commander down here for tea.”