Fall and Rise of the Macas E-Book

Mari Collier

• Herausgeber: Next Chapter
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

After the destruction of a Golden One spaceship, the Maca of Ayran is hunting down the one responsible.

Having ignored the orders of his superiors, he has formed an alliance with Lillie, daughter of the Guardian of Flight.

After an unknown alien vessel attacks them near a De'Chin mining outpost, they come across a female prisoner with shocking news about their common enemy: the Draygons. Unable to penetrate the Draygon mind with their telepathic powers, they summon help from the Justine Refuge.

But what they find out will bring their part of the galaxy to the brink of war... and beyond.

Leseprobe

Fall and Rise of the Macas

Chronicles of the Maca VI

Mari Collier

Copyright (C) 2016 Mari Collier

Layout design and Copyright (C) 2021 by Next Chapter

Published 2021 by Next Chapter

Cover art by http://www.thecovercollection.com/

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author's permission.

Chapter 1: Contact

Jarvis, Maca of Ayran, Captain of Flight, stirred at the sound of Captain Tamar's words coming into his quarters. “We are closing in on the attackers,” brought him to his feet. He finished dressing and ran through the short corridor into the Command Center.

He clenched and unclench his huge hands, easing the tenseness of all those years of searching for an enemy that they knew were out there. His dark eyes swept over his staff as he ran in and slammed his bulk into the commander's chair. His straight, dark hair was swept back and heavy, black eyebrows softened the wide angled face cut by a huge wedge of a nose. His thick, sensuous lips curled in a triumphant smile. His facial features were supported by a wide, corded neck blending into the slope of his shoulders. His whole body gave promise of vicious fighting, but now he was stilled as he focused on the screen showing the approaching craft.

Jarvis never cared if his crew hated his decision to remain these extra five years in space searching for Draygons. They had known this would be a long mission in a Thalian spaceship designed to find and close with an attacking ship. Over the ten years of this mission their enthusiasm for a fight had dimmed, but Jarvis persisted.

At five minutes before twelve hundred hours the message had come through the Communication's audio. The De'Chin's language was auto-translated into Thalian. “Urgent! We are under attack by unknown beings. Respond. This is our exploratory outpost at system Twenty-five on the Quadrant charts. Respond. This is urgent!”

He had squelched any reply the staff person at the communications station was ready to send. Lasa, a Tri from Don protested.

“They need assistance.”

“Aye, and they shall have it, but whoever the attackers are, they shall nay ken we are coming.”

Now Jarvis turned to Captain Tamar, Lad of Don, and snapped out his orders. “Take us in.”

Lillie, Lady of Don and Betron, his Communications and Recording Director, sat to his right, her dark head bowed over the screen. He heard her mutter, “Here it comes.”

All were staring at the screen. Jarvis looked at the shape and the numbers running at the top of the screen and worked his portion of the panel to settle his ship slightly lower and to the left. The alien's craft was round, unlike the oval shaped spaceships in the Justine League.

“Steady, Warriors. Nay misses.”

“They will try to fire first.” Lillie was muttering.

“Aye, when we close.” Jarvis's response was clipped as his attention was on the screen and the number coordinates massing in his mind. He sensed, rather saw the ship shift to his left and he redirected the first blast.

The alien returned fire and both ships wobbled as they moved closer. Again and again his wide fingers struck the blast panel, their bodies rocking with the ship's sway. The alien ship tilted and shifted downward toward the planet and Jarvis followed.

“Back off,” Lillie pointed at the screen. “They have a craft below us and are firing upward.”

Jarvis saw the alien ship turning and moving toward them.

Tamar's frantic voice advised, “We must go up.”

“'That tis what they want,” and Jarvis swept his ship lower and to the left. His eyes danced as the beam from Dragon's grounded fighter caught its own ship. He swung his craft around and Tamar had to grasp at the arms of his chair to keep from tumbling out. Jarvis leveled the craft and fired again. Elation surged through him as the alien vessel spiraled downward and once more his fingers worked the panel blasting the ship into debris that turned into burning bands as they entered the atmosphere of the asteroid. He swooped down and blasted the fighter that was beginning to rise.

“Lillie, run the scanners. We need to determine where the rest of their fighters are.”

“Ye pilot recklessly.” She smiled at him, her brown eyes gleaming and then bent over the screen.

Jarvis leaned backward and swiveled the chair. “Damage?” He noticed Tamar helping Lasa up.

Lasa gave both a sickly smile and scanned her section. “Nay damage here, but the Supply Sector took a hit. All systems are operational.”

Jarvis nodded and connected to Engineering. “Are we battle ready? We need to take out any low flight fighters and ground installations.”

“Aye, Captain, Nay damage here except minor shaking of our teeth. All shields are intact again.”

He swung back to the screen. Lillie had the locations of grounded fighters and their coordinates in batches of numbers. The crew could hear his words on the Command channel.

“Three fighters coming upward,” Lillie could not help adding unnecessary words. “Mayhap they think we are damaged to send such insects after us.”

“Do ye wish to capture them?” Tamar asked.

“Nay, I wish to check their abilities.” Jarvis eyes were lit with hard beams of light. The fighters were swift, but lacked the fire power of the mother ship and one by one the bolts from the Thalians' ship made them disintegrate.

“Shall I take it down for ye?” asked Tamar.

“And be blown into the Darkness?” Contempt was beginning to build in Jarvis. He swallowed and turned to Lillie.

“Lillie, keep the scans going. We'll cruise for a closer look. Tamar, when anything shows, I want degrees for blasting.”

“Captain, there could be De'Chins alive,” protested Tamar. “Ye canna destroy the base without cause. The Justine League has certain standards.”

“The League can discuss standards for centuries,” he snapped as he completed the maneuver to orbit.

Lasa's next words stopped any fight. “Captain, the Director of Supplies reports a disaster area.”

Jarvis punched the communicator. “Kahli, what tis wrong?”

“The shaking and turning has tumbled some of our tanks. Sodium and hydro trays were dumped. There tis metal in the walls. Mayhap the shields shifted. The engineering crew tis on their way to do the repair if possible. We may go on short rations ere we return to Thalia if we canna pick up supplies and bios off the asteroid below.”

Jarvis suppressed a grin. Kahli, Lad of Don, did nay believe in failure. He simply totaled the obstacles and calculated ways to circumvent them.

“If ye were thinking of blowing up this place, dinna.” Kahli's sharp voice continued. “Besides the bios, I will need fresh water. We have been away too long.”

“Aye.” Jarvis conceded. He needed his crew intact when they returned and he needed to ken more about the enemy. It had been the excitement of battle. The space attack forty years ago when on a probe had been a blow to his pride. He was nay sure whether it was his fighting skills, the technology, or Daniel's starpath skills that had mapped the way home that enabled him to make it to Brendon and then back to Thalia. Some had speculated the attack had been lost beings from another part of the universe. Now he could prove them wrong. The Justines had not approved the building of space fighters, but since Thalia controlled the Justine League, it mattered nay.

Lillie nudged him. She had everything displayed on screen: ship locations, hot spots, and where all the beings were.

“Good,” he grunted not bothering with thanks.

“There are still three fighters grounded,” she said. “A ground cruiser tis there, but I canna determine whether they belong to the De'Chins or the attackers.”

He took the ship in on her coordinates and blasted. In battle, he expected no favors and granted nay. Thrice he held the key down and then looked at his Recording Director.

“All tis logged.”

Jarvis could almost hear the crew relax.

“Do we land now?” asked Tamar.

“Nay in this ship. I'll take warriors in fighters and the cruiser. Ye are to remain in orbit. There may be more fighters stalking for an intruder. Ye are to head for Thalia if things go wrong. If ye are swarmed, send messages to the closest planet or mining exploration colony.”

“Lillie, ye continue to look for ground cruisers or hidden mining camps. I dinna like surprises.”

“Jarvis, ye need me there to record the events, and I am a Warrior.” Her voice was as direct as her eyes.

Jarvis studied her six-foot five frame, the same as his though not as wide or muscular. She was, however, the Guardian of Flight's lassie, a descendent of the Great LouElla.

“Besides, Rade can scan as well as I can. He tis awake and chomping for something to do.”

“Aye,” he conceded. “Ye will attend.”

Chapter 2: The Enemy

The asteroid was a cold and dreary; a barren rocky outpost of sand dunes shifted by fierce winds that screamed through the rock canyons. From high above, scanty moisture dripped to feed what few life forms existed before evaporating away in the open. Any falling water that might hit the sand disappeared. Any warmth at midday vanished within two hours. The De'Chins had claimed this desolate place to mine for the depleted mineral and ore supplies on their home planet. There were two known inhabited outposts.

A quick survey of the landscape turned up the aliens' fighters and the De'Chins' outposts. The De'Chin vessels and one of the outposts were melted into lumps of odd angles and twisted metal. Jarvis remained wary. He set his fighter down and walked with Lillie and Pillar, Captain of Troopers.

“There should be ground cruisers, De'Chin, or the attackers. Where are they?”

Jarvis answered Pillar's question. “They are waiting to draw us into a trap.” he turned towards Pillar. “Would the De'Chins have started another outpost and nay had time to install the power source?”

“Aye, there could be another either for a new mining shaft or for defense.” Their voices buzzed in their ears through the protective helmets. “I would have another fighter underground. It would be essential for survival. It could even be used for a retreat to their home planet with the right two people and a starpath finder.”

“Aye, have your troopers shield for battle. Ye will take a quick turn in the fighter, but nay hover if ye find them. Ye can order those above to fire.”

“Captain, if ye stay afoot, request to do the same. All Captains are trained to observe from a fighter.”

Jarvis grinned at the man. Pillar was a true Thalian Warrior. The arena would seem tame after today. “Where would ye say the probable location tis?”

“They would situate it like the other outposts for mining. That means set into a canyon with protecting ledges and/or walls as a buffer against the winds.”

Jarvis nodded and contacted the waiting troopers. “All advance, except the five chosen to remain in our ships. Captain Beni, take one of the fighters and locate any life forms and relay the coordinates. They should be within a five mile radius. We'll check the other outposts till ye tell us different. Just execute a fly over and dinna hover; nay do ye attack. Keep an eye out for any hidden fighter.”

“Aye, Captain,” said Beni and she ran toward her fighter.

They waited in the cold sand swirling up to their knees as they watched the fighter move along the base of the foothills, then move higher until it was a spec sweeping under the clouds. They were fifteen men and women waiting for a battle they had trained and trained for but didn't expect in their four hundred year life span since the peace imposed by Thalia was now almost one hundred years in effect. The winds swirled the sand upward, then shifted the grit and dust downward. Over the howling wind, someone could be heard muttering on the com line, “I wonder if they breathe this piss naturally.”

Their weapons were ready, set to drop any known being, but not kill. The Guardian of Flight had given orders that prisoners be taken if contact made. The Justine League would need a live De'Chin to prove Thalia was nay the attacker. Ten minutes later, Captain Beni's scouting message sounded in their ears.

“Captain Jarvis, life forms three miles to your right. A deliberate cloaking cover has been designed over the area. There are two types of beings: four are De'Chins, the other ten are nay recorded. One fighter tis under rock cover and two ground cruisers are there. One of the cruisers tis the De'Chins'. Ye could drop a party just above them.”

“They would use the fighter if we dropped too low. Will they be able to see us as we approach?”

“Aye, Captain. If ye try to go straight at them, the wind twill sweep the sand in a different direction and give a clear view for a while.”

Jarvis looked at Pillar. “Any suggestions?”

Pillar, once a Tri from Don, had worked his way through the Army ranks after it opened for men. In truth, most of his crew were of Tri origin, nay House. Thalia's Houses had been depleted during the Justine Wars, and the imposed Sisterhood rule had completed the decimation.

Pillar pointed upward, his dark eyes shaded by a helmet. “We move into the foothills here, work up and around, and then down.”

“They will be expecting us.”

“Aye, but once we're out of sight, we break into two parties. One group will take a twenty minute lead, climb higher and then descend.”

“They could be using field scanners.”

Pillar shrugged his broad shoulders and grinned. “Tis a chance we will have to risk.”

Jarvis nodded and was disappointed when Lillie was drawn to proceed with the first group. He did nay wish to explain to his Guardian of Flight how his darling lassie was killed. Ye worry too much, he reminded himself. Lillie tis a Don Warrior.

Pillar left with his six people and the rest marked time. Silence was maintained. After twenty minutes Jarvis signaled with his fist to proceed.

They were sweltering in the protective suits by the time they reached their objective. Rivulets of water ran down their chests, backs, and legs, and was flicked up and recycled through the condenser and dripped into an expandable pouch. Jarvis led them down to an outcropping that protected the canyon outpost to wait for Pillar to start the attack.

Every head jerked when the roar of a fighter echoed against the sides of the stone outcroppings. Jarvis set his weapon to full fire and stood as the fighter started to rise upward and raked its side. The fighter wobbled as fire from the Thalian fighter raked downward.

I need to commend Beni, thought Jarvis as the fighter flopped over and burst into flame. A tall, brown clad being jumped out of the fighter's door and onto the sand. It didn't look like the being had on protective suiting. There was a clear helmet, or at least a plas-like helmet, but it was split. No sound reached them and the being rolled over and over, and then lay still, twitching a brown clad, muscular leg.

“Move out!” Jarvis reset his weapon to stun, and they descended to the last of the boulders to rejoin Pillar or for a retaliating volley from inside the outpost. An uneasy quiet descended over the group and the fire still consuming what was left of the fighter spread a blue-gray sheen through the dust laden air.

Jarvis studied the being on the ground. What skin showed through the torn material seemed to be brown. The face covered by the transparent plas-like helmet had an elongated jaw, a less imposing nose than his, and the eyeteeth seemed fang like. Inch long, honed nails protruded from the one extended hand. There was a backpack with tubing running to the helmet. This group of beings needed their air supply. He couldn't tell what color the eyes were, a condition he didn't deem important. Nay but the beings on Brendon, the slavies of Ayana, or the Laird's Earth had any eye coloring other than brown.

Pillar's voice boomed over the com and down to the outpost. “We dinna wish to destroy. We will take prisoners and arrange for an eventual return to your home base. It tis your choosing.” Whether the new beings could ken Thalian was nay important. The De'Chins would ken.

It was a De'Chin's voice that answered in a high, rapid yapping sound to their ears. “We thought you were more of them. We held this outpost. You are welcome to enter.”

Pillar did the expected. Weapons went to full fire and flames hit the outpost and surrounding fortifications. The rock ledge above the opening came crashing down.

“I'm afraid it's a swabbing operation now.” Jarvis's voice on the com was slightly apologetic. “Advance with caution. It tis possible for them to survive if they are deep enough inside.” He nodded at his group and the formed into a unit of twos. They bent low and used the fallen rock for cover and stopped at the last line of stones.

Jarvis noted that Pillar had similarly divided his group for moving downward. Corded muscles bunched and tightened as they waited for a response from the jumbled opening. Pillar's group was almost even with them when a blond haired De'Chin female crawled out of the rubble. Her face was cut and bleeding. Blond fuzz covered her gashed arms where dark red was oozing out. She was naked, no protective clothing or plas helm. Her teats on her four mammary glands were torn and she was so dazed she did nay call out. She simply crawled towards them on all fours, gasping and struggling for breath.

“Shall we call in another fighter?” asked Lillie while recording everything on her crystals.

“Nay yet, as this could be but a ruse.”

Once he had answered, Jarvis continued to watch the De'Chin. The wind was lifting the woman's hair. He realized everyone was as fascinated by her struggle as he was and not watching the opening, and he shifted his view to the outpost. The De'Chin had emerged from the side where a portion of the roof was supported by a half-melted beam.

“She will make it,” someone grunted over the line.

Jura, a trooper from Ayran reached out and dragged the De'Chin behind the protective rocks.

A brown, plas helmeted being leaped from the opening, his weapon trained on them as Jarvis and Pillar let loose their stun bolts. The alien's yell stopped at mid-crescendo and he crashed onto the rocks as flames spurted from someone's weapon. Pillar could attend to the trooper who had nay reset the fire power. It was a beautiful strike, except this one was useless as a hostage or prisoner. The full beam had sheared off the being's arm holding the weapon and part of his head. What was left of the being was stretched out on the rocks, an odd caricature of a muscular being.

Pillar's voice was in his ear and he caught the motion of someone ducking down inside the outpost. “Captain Jarvis, there are more inside. Do we fire or attack?”

“What information from the lass?”

“There tis nay but babble. We are sharing our air, but she keeps begging us nay to hurt her or bed her.”

“Fire, your weapons at full force.”

The flames shot out and stones and wood melted together to form an impassable barrier. They could see the rock vibrating as though those caught inside were firing their own weapons.

Jarvis eyed the stunned being lying by the fighter and exposed to fire and considered the possibility that it still lived. He gauged the distance. It was worth the risk. He motioned the others to remain hidden and swung over the rocks. Twenty strides brought him alongside the being and he bent, hefted the being over his shoulder, and charged back to the others through the shifting sands. The weight was like two hundred and forty pounds or a bit more.

“Move out,” commanded Jarvis and they filed out away from the fighter. Then he punched the com for Beni in the fighter.

“Take out the rest of the outpost.” They felt, rather than heard the vibrations from their fighter's blast completely destroying the outpost.

“We can slow down now,” said Pillar.

It was Jarvis's turn to share his air with the De'Chin female and the group stopped.

“Pick up now.” Jarvis gave the command after retrieving his air. He kept the other being on his shoulder afraid that the sand would cover the being's nose or mouth in this open area and having his one prisoner dead was nay to his liking.

* * *

Jarvis and Kahli sat hunkered down beside the runnel. “The water tis metallic,” was Kahli's comment and he pushed the small analyzer back in his carrying bag. “The bios here are ill and nay worth the bother. They all contain lead and Gar kens how many other metals. We have nay the water to spare for cleansing.”

Beneath his helmet, Kahli's ruddy face was twisted in disapproval. His slim hand reached down and savagely crumpled the sand clod. Always slender in youth, he had remained so at coming of age.

“Will we make it back to Thalia?”

Kahli looked at Jarvis and nodded. “Aye, we will, but it will be rationing and somewhere we must find a place to stop and replenish our bios. Do we head for the De'Chin's planet first?”

“Nay, tis out of the way and would add two months' time to our return.”

Kahli rocked back and forth on his heels. He turned back toward Jarvis. “Our first stop tis where? The Justine Refuge?”

Jarvis grimaced. “Nay, they would insist on keeping the prisoner for questioning. It tis for Thalia to decide his fate.”

Kahli nodded and used his fingers to trace a pattern in the sand. “That means our first stop tis Brendon.”

“Aye, how does the Supply Director feel about that?”

Kahli grunted and stood, then flung his arms wide. “I dinna care. We two at least ken going hungry. The rest may nay.”

“Ye would mention that.” Jarvis stood. “Kahli, how bad?”

Kahli shrugged. “The temperature may nay be comfortable in all areas. Once ye make your announcement for our return and first destination, I'll distribute the last of the brew. There tis nay water enough to continue making more.

“Thalians without their brew? Man, ye are cruel.”

“There tis more,” Kahli's grim voice continued. “There will be but a shower every other day, mayhap we will need to cut that to once a week.”

Jarvis heard the blasphemy with wide eyes. “Their tempers will shorten.”

“Mine tis already short. Do ye ken how long it has been since I've bedded Lania?”

Jarvis had no answer. Of course he knew. Lania was Kahli's counselor to be. They had announced their intent to Walk the Circle at the earliest possible age. She was a Director's lassie from the Laird of Don's home. They had met when the Laird took Kahli off the Ab list to anger the old Martin. Lania had been his true love then and remained so in his heart. Jarvis brushed such matters aside. “For Gar's sake Kahli, ye have been bedding.”

Kahli turned to him, fury lashing the brown-red skin of an Ab born even redder.

“Aye, I bed because I am Thalian. Do ye ken the guilt that gnaws at me when the vows are broken; the anger that rises when I ken that Lania tis driven to act the same?” He clenched his fists and drew in a deep breath.

“Jarvis,” and he forced his voice lower, “do ye nay ken? This tis the last space journey I make. I am nay a Warrior.” He nodded at Jarvis and moved away.

Slender he may be, thought Jarvis, but even under the protection clothing Kahli's corded muscles rippled. For Kahli was never truly at rest, energy surging through him like volts in a storm laden cloud. If Kahli were motionless, it was as though the lightning was ready to strike. When they were young, Kahli was one of the few to stand against him by using rapid blocking moves and then move in closer to land a blow. Kahli was Ab born, but he had won the respect of the others at the Academy.

Jarvis grinned and hurried after him, his powerful legs pumping to match the long strides of Kahli. When he caught up, he threw his arm around Kahli's shoulder and cursed at the suits that kept them from touching. “Old friend, it tis nay the time to quarrel.”

Kahli stopped. “Jarvis, it was nay a quarrel. I said what was in my heart.”

“Aye, and ye have a temper as bad as your brither's. Now about that flight home, tis there anything else I need to ken?”

“Nay, not till something else goes wrong.”

They walked back, arms thrown around each other's shoulder, at a comfortable matched stride.

Chapter 3: Journey To Brendon

Once they were on board, Jarvis delegated Tamar to set their course for Brendon. The prisoner he sent to Medical and ordered him restrained. He then informed the crew via the communicator as to their destination and the problems.

“There will be nay brew till we are sure there are nay other predators in this quadrant. All the Captains and Directors will join me in conference. While the supply system tis being repaired, everyone tis restricted to showers every third day. We'll rotate through the ranks and the schedule will be posted. Thalians, ye have done well.”

Kahli's white teeth flashed as he entered. “And do ye think they'll thank ye when ye change the showers to every second day?”

“'It tis an edge in case something else goes wrong.”

The seats were filling by the different Captains, and Directors. Lillie, as Recording Director sat beside Jarvis.

Malta, Captain of Medicine, from the House of Medicine entered. Her black hair was pulled back and in a clasp before cascading down to her backside. While she was shorter than most of the Houses, standing barely six-foot tall, she had the supple grace of Ishner. A purple sash representing the House of Medicine circled her waist. She had the darkest eyes in Thalia and was much sought after as a win in the Arena. She bowed formally and handed her crystal to Lillie and sat down next to Kahli.

“Malta, give your report.”

“Aye, Captain. The prisoner has been sedated, but he tis also electrically bound for safety's sake, and a trooper has been assigned to stand guard. We request that the duty be changed every four or five hours.”

“Agreed. Pillar, ye attend.

“Lillie, your report.”

Lillie had consulted the various crystals. “We have sent space messages to the Justine League and to the De'Chins advising them of the outposts' destruction and suggest they set out patrols. They may nay receive it any sooner than our arrival in Brendon.”

“Engineering reports that the Supply Sector tis under control, but some of the hydros are nay repairable without more water.” She frowned as she scanned Kahli's crystal and looked at her brither with a frown. Kahli kept his face bland.

Jarvis broke in. “Ye have all heard my announcement about the showers. As soon as we determine that we are not pursued in any manner, I twill issue the last of the brew. There will nay be any more till we arrive at Brendon.” He ignored the stunned faces.

“Lillie, I want ye to make extra crystals of all our reports and seal them in a space container. If anything happens to us, they must reach Thalia. The alien nay suited up when he burst out of the compound. I dinna think they expected us. Mayhap someone notified them of the false going home message we sent off six months ago.”

“Kreppies!” Lillie spat out the word.

“Aye, mayhap, but we have nay proof. All are to remain battle ready and rations will be lean. Any problems will be routed to me immediately. All routine reports are expected every four hours. Any questions?”

Malta spoke first. “The alien's blood shedding was a large amount, but his blood type does nay match ours. It tis more like that of a Kreppie, but we dinna have any in supply. If Kahli (and her saying the name was like a caress) could devise a filtering system for ours, we could make him more comfortable.”

Kahli scowled at the thought of wasting water on an enemy. “Can ye keep him alive without it?”

“I canna say. He tis an alien and nay cooperates. He may decide to expire and it will be necessary to use liquids to keep him alive.”

The scowl spread across Kahli's face and Jarvis hurriedly asked, “What about the De'Chin? How tis she?”

“She was badly abused, but she should heal without any problems. She tis tranquil now and will remain so for six hours.”

“Did ye get any information?”

“'It tis on the crystal, but it tis nay much. According to her, the beings came in to steal the minerals and ore already extracted. She was the only one kept alive for beddings, so whoever we killed in the outpost was nay De'Chins. She, like all De'Chins, tends to be hysterical about such things.” Malta shrugged, dismissing the De'Chins as nay Warriors.

“The attack was to rob and destroy. They were nay interested in prisoners or what could be learned about the De'Chin planet. I think they already ken. Thalia must have this news.”

Kahli spoke next. “Since we will need extra water for both the alien and the De'Chin, showers remain at every three days till we need to go to a full week.”

Jarvis nodded. “Our course tis toward Brendon. We'll arrive a bit weary, but nay too famished or athirst. Mayhap we will offend from nay showers, but the Brendons are the politest of beings. By then we will have transmitted our news to the Justine League and Thalia. The first scheduling for showers will be out this evening, and all those who participated in today's foray will be listed. All may return to your duties.”

* * *

Freshly showered, Jarvis was not weary enough for bed. Today had been what any Warrior craved, and he believed more campaigns would follow. His body surged with energy. Nay bed, but a bedding was his need. He donned the black loin thong and headed for Lillie's quarters. The temperature was nearing eighty-four instead of seventy-two, and clothes were too hot for comfort. It was one formality he had eased for all off duty.

Jarvis touched the DIP (door imprint) that admitted him. As Captain of Flight, he could open any door within the ship, but he and Lillie had reached an agreement and he was welcomed at all times. All kenned when he was on or off duty and where he would be.

Lillie's wide face beamed with pleasure. “Jarvis, tis welcome ye are.” Her magnificent broad shoulders, wide torso, and heavy legs rippled as she strode toward him as unencumbered of clothing as he. Her dark eyes bubbled with anticipation. “Ye are a Director who kens the needs of your Captain.”

Later, hours after Jarvis had gone, Lillie scanned her crystals with satisfaction. “Jarvis, darling, someday ye may find these fascinating. What a magnificent body ye have.” Quiet descended over all but the piloting section of the ship.

Kahli had made his bed in the Supply sector nearest the hydro beds that had been repaired. To the crew it appeared he wished to be near if the repairs should fail, but they were homeward bound and it was his way of signaling the end of beddings. That Malta might fume did not bother him. And Malta had her own worries in Medicine.

* * *

Tabor carefully breathed the air around him. It was a thin mixture approximating his needs. He realized he was laying on cloth with arms and legs attached to glowing posts. He peered with half-lidded eyes to determine his location, ignoring the throbs in his head and left leg. He was drowsy, too drowsy. He had been drugged. Anger began to boil inside of him. Who had dared to do this? It could not be the insignificant creatures they had bested on that sand, blasted asteroid; nor could it be the sniveling creatures that called themselves Krepyons. He noted with interest the tubes running into his left arm, then realized another was threaded through his nose and into his throat. He was puzzled. For what purpose? And the thought that it was probably for drugs and nourishment. The fools! No Draygon would submit to capture.

He let the anger course through him, building his strength, pushing back the edges of darkness still clinging in the recesses of his brain. He forced his body to lie still while searching the room for any sign of movement. The clear, tent shroud over his body prevented his nostrils from identifying the source of the creature he knew must be somewhere in this room. Someone had to be here, waiting, watching for some movement from him.

Then across the room, someone moved into view. He sensed that this one was female, although the figure was wide and muscular, like most species there seemed to be a hint of mammary glands in the upper portion of the torso. He began the breathing exercises, gradually expanding his lung capacity. Where, he wondered, were his mates? Their scent wasn't mingled with the other alien, gagging odors. Had they all died while he lived? He would take his revenge through death. His mind told him she must be one the Thalians the Krepyons had warned them would be the dangerous ones. They might fight, but they would not win. He filled his lungs again and arched his back against the force, howling his rage.

Trooper Tene was atop him immediately, holding the lunging body with her weight. Median tried to inject a stronger drug directly, but she had to move the sheeting out of the way. She was too late with the drug. Trooper Tene's face was gashed and bleeding from the creature's fangs. Worse, the struggle had upended the water sitting on the built out tray and the sheeting torn. Any bacteria the alien breathed or carried could be harmful. The whole room would need cleansing. The mapping of all the tissues and bacteria found wouldn't be completed until morning. She cursed inwardly as she shouted for her assistant. “We need vacs.”

Meler was prepared and at her elbow with the equipment.

“Do the suctioning now. There are red welts growing on Tene's face from the bites.” Median gave her orders and set about re-sheathing the alien. She'd worry about Malta's and the Captain of Flight's wrath after things were cleansed.

It took an hour to cleanse Tene and the room. Then she put Mali in charge while she went and made her report directly to Jarvis.

Jarvis asked a few quick questions.

“Did the alien break the force?”

“Nay, he was nay strong enough.”

“Thank ye, Median, make sure that Lillie tis forwarded all medical crystals.”

Once she left his room, he summoned Kahli and Lillie to the Control Room and explained the extra water usage. “Malta tis running a program to determine if the bacteria are harmful. We'll know by tomorrow if more cleansing tis necessary. If it tis, we'll need to cleanse anyone near him when it becomes necessary to remove the sheathing. We have him so heavily sedated, nay questioning tis possible till we reach Brendon. Can we spare the extra water?”

Kahli's face had whitened. “I dinna. We had some leeway, mayhap more than enough. We could let the brute starve.”

“Aye, and then what? Search empty space for their planet?”

“They canna be too far. Their ship was comparable to ours.”

“Aye,” he answered “and Thalia has been looking for them for almost sixty years. They ken where to attack us.”

“That means they have the help of the Kreppies.” Kahli spat out the hated word.

“But we have nay proof, Kahli. It tis ye who must decide the division of sustenance and the clime for the ship.” Jarvis nodded at them both. “Thalia's Council will decide on the captive. When ye have your data, let me ken. The crew will abide by our orders and we'll endure till we reach Brendon.”

Kahli's face was back to its normal reddish hue. “By Gar, Jarvis, have ye anything else to throw at me?”

Chapter 4: Brendon

Three months later they hovered over Brendon and waited for official landing coordinates. They had explained their situation and the alien being in the Medical section. The Brendons sent the coordinates, but asked that the alien remained sealed in the ship's Medical while repairs were completed in the Bio area and water transferred aboard.

Crew members that weren't chosen to be among the first to bathe in Brendon's cool, green waters were promised the Brendon brew that was on its way to the ship. They hadn't fared too badly, although all had lost weight and slept ill in the warm cabins. The grumblings against Kahli's parsimonious ways turned to cheers when the Brendon ship dock with a new supply of food and brew.

Jarvis detested the polite diplomatic maneuverings of landing on another planet, but the process went smoothly. There were times he regretted not having his Mither Jolene's or Elder JayEll's devious tongues and their ability to move among the different political groups. The Brendons remained the same staunch allies they had been during the Justine War. They had suffered much from the Kreppies during the Justine rule. The ambassadors from Thalia were from the House of Rurhran and had taken care of all the rituals. As Maca, he outranked them, but he was grateful for their skills and laid his head on both their shoulders, lingering a bit mayhap, on the soft expanse of Rollan's milky opulence.

“What ails ye, man?” laughed Rollan as she pushed him back.

“It tis thanks I owe ye for the ear blustering ye have saved me.” He grinned at them. “I believe the Brendon's speeded up the ceremony to speed me on the way to a proper cleansing.”

Rollan crinkled her nose. “It would be a relief for all,” she agreed and gestured toward the back of their home that was built in the rounded Thalian manner.

“Your room tis the first to the right, complete with the shower and a robe. The crew has been given accommodations at Complex Two in the Visitors section. The Brendon's are quite picky about who may step foot on their soil.”

“Aye, and as Captain of Flight, I thank ye again.” He nodded and hurried down the hall. He liked Rollan and her counselor, Rhode, as he had kenned them nearly all of his life. Like most from the House of Rurhran, they were tall and heavy though without the heavy, corded muscular physique of Ayran, Don, Breton, or Troy. Few of the House of Rurhran went into Flight. The exception was Rollan's brither, Ribdan. Nay did Rurhran produce many Warriors, but perhaps that was the way of farmers everywhere.

The water, wonderful cool water, splashing over his body was savored and almost as refreshing as a bedding. Gar, how he had missed both. Lillie had become snappish with the heat and the stench from bodies and refused to let anyone near her. In truth, there was more pleasure when circumstances were normal. He pulled on his dress uniform. The officials of Brendon would expect it. He added a brilliant, red sash denoting the color of Ayran and headed for the front room.

“Are ye ready for a brew, Jarvis?” Rhode was handing him a mug twice the normal size. “We heard about your deprivation.”

Jarvis tipped his head and swallowed long and well. “It was worse than being on Krepyon,” he admitted.

“Rollan's changing for dinner. Lillie and Malta will be joining us. Kahli was asked, but he has excused himself claiming he has an old friend here to consider.”

“Aye, I saw him slapping some poor, green and tipped with orange-haired Brendon on the back and dragging him into the ship when I left. I think they roomed together when they studied at the Justine Refuge.”

Rhode considered. “Ye are probably right. There tis someone at their University who went to Justine and attended the school set up by the Laird of Don's Earth laddie. He would be entering the half-way point of a Brendon's life span.”

“How long do we remain in the clutches of Brendon officialdom this evening?”

“Just for the evening banquet. We scheduled the official visit for tomorrow afternoon.”

Jarvis finished his brew and waggled the mug for a refill as Rhode continued. “Nay only ye, but all the officers from the ship if they can be spared. The Brendons wish to honor ye.”

“I'd meant to leave nay later than tomorrow afternoon. All we need are supplies and fresh water. The rest of the repairs can be done at Thalia.” His jaw tightened. “Those beings are still out there and they may ken that we have caught one of them. Mayhap they are ready to attack the De'Chins' home planet.”

Rhode nodded. “Jarvis, I ken, but we may need Brendon's support at the Justine League meeting. We canna go it alone. The Guardian of Flight has pushed through a new ship in your absence. If it becomes a true emergency, even the Justines will use their Golden One. Ye and the rest must attend. It would be offensive to these gentle, wee ones.”

Jarvis's elation was rapidly changing to frustration. It seemed society demanded a certain level of political relations and keeping some powerful individual soothed.

Rollan appeared in the classic white tunic of the diplomatic corps over the gold, form-fitting leggings, her dark hair descending in loops over her chest and back, and the gold sash of Rurhran draped over the left breast, tied around the middle and floating halfway to the floor.

“If Pillar attends, ye will instruct him nay to give a graphic account of the battle while we dine. Ye might also try to restrict the brew he gulps into his gullet.”

Jarvis raised his eyebrows. “Since when have ye kenned Pillar's ways so well?”

“Since his brawling days at the Flight Academy ere he was tossed out on his backside. That cooled his temper enough that they let him join the Army.”

Chapter 5: The Interrogation

Jolene, Guardian of the Realm and Lass of Ayran, called for the prisoner to be brought out to stand before the Council and the Justine. Jarvis's message to the Justine Refuge had brought their representative, Adair.

He sat in the Honor Chair in front of the seating section for the visitors, lesser House members, Tris, and the few Abs that attended. The Krepyon envoys Fribay and Efrom had come with the Justine and sat on the right side of Adair. Trigrow, the Brendon Envoy assigned to Thalia was in the chair to the left of Adair.

Tabor was chained, but standing on a medhover when brought into the chamber. Two Thalian Army Warriors marched on either side of him and two of Medicine's House walked behind the medhover. Tabor had refused to walk and Jolene had issued orders. She looked down at the prisoner.

“Ye can step down or be dumped.” She saw no reason for politeness.

Tabor looked at her and realized that she was as hard as anyone from Draygon. Her softer body did not fool him and he stepped down. With his fanged teeth, he looked like he was snarling at them all.

“Ye can either tell us the coordinates to your planet or the Justine will enter your mind and tell us.” Jolene words were as forceful as her looks.

Tabor spat.