Damia's Children Part 10

Thian 'ported all captains aboard the flagship and attended the meeting as recording interpreter. He was proud of his 'students': even after only four months intensive study they were able to discuss much in 'Dini, a fact which certainly pleased the 'Dini captains. Nothing could be done until identification was made, of course, but several courses of action were discussed.

The 'Dini reluctantly allowed the possibility that the object might be a wandering planet, blown out of its native solar system by a nova - several had been noted in this quadrant. Such phenomena had been noted by both human and 'Dini in the course of s.p.a.ce explorations: the planets or asteroid fragments sterile and lifeless but occasionally worth prospecting. Thian knew by their language that the 'Dini captains were convinced beyond doubt that this was more likely another Hive ship. It was travelling from the general spatial direction of the ion trail they had been following, hoping it would lead them, at last, to the Hive Home System. The ion trail had been getting weaker as its traces dissipated during the months of the search but was still discernible on the highly sensitive equipment the 'Dinis had developed.

s.p.a.ce being the immensity it was, even a general direction for search was a plus.

The 'Dinis wanted to go on yellow alert and to implement intensive drill in the strategy of penetrating and destroying a Hive ship. As these tactics were of a suicidal nature, the humans, understandably, temporized, suggesting careful surveillance and reconnaissance in order to make the most effective use of the new weaponry with which the squadron was equipped. Untried against a Hive ship, to be sure, but theoretically more sophisticated than known Hive ordnance, delivering a paralytic shock of purportedly lethal proportions. Even glancing touches could inhibit movement for hours.

This was where the 'Dinis and humans diverged in their mutual war against the Hive World. Technically speaking, the squadron's orders were to seek and identify the Hive World, and return for further orders. A single fast scout might have accomplished the same mission but a single fast scout could neither carry the armament needed in case it encountered Hive ships - which was a distinct possibility given the unusual Hive activity that had created this emergency - nor the supplies to last an indefinite search period. So a squadron was committed to the task, with orders that one ship must survive to report.

In the 'Dini view, coming across a Hive vessel meant it must be destroyed. It could not be permitted to exist, no matter what cost the destruction. It could be heading for their homeworld and must not be allowed to proceed once intercepted. whereas 'Dini soldiery was quite willing to die to achieve that end, humans, not having had wars in several centuries, were not disposed to commit themselves with such fervent dedication. To be sure, naval units met with disasters of all kinds, causing the death of many or all those aboard the stricken vessel. But no human warship sought deliberate attack, nor considered it the logical conclusion of sighting an alien vessel. Cowardice had nothing to do with this: common sense did.

'He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day,' might be a human sentiment but it was, unfortunately, an intolerable concept to the 'Dinis.

As translator - and someone more familiar with the nuances of 'Dini speech than any of the others at the conference - Thian was doing his best to tone down the challenging language from the 'Dini while injecting vehemence into the almost diffident human responses. To the 'Dini warrior ethos, this was put up or shut up time, while the humans seemed more interested in discussing alternatives that did not, in 'Dini terms, exist. The oncoming object must be destroyed.

when Ashiant, for one, realized that 'destruction' was the preferred 'Dini tactic, he cast a meaningful glance at Thian. Thian gave his head a quick shake, wishing the captain hadn't such a tight natural shield so he could immediately explain that there was no way he, with twelve minor Talents - even augmented by the generators of six big warships - could do what, two and a half decades ago, had required several hundred Talents in the Denebian Penetration.

The human captains vigorously insisted on discussing alternative ident.i.ties for the wayfarer, the favoured one - which the 'Dinis repudiated as soon as it was mentioned - was the possibility of meeting yet another sentient species in s.p.a.ce. Thian privately agreed with the 'Dinis on that score. 'Dinis had explored enough over the centuries of their s.p.a.ce travel capability to be cynical about that prospect: especially in view of the fact that they had already found humans.

Politely, Captains Spktm and PIr listened to the humans but Thian could see that they were convinced this was Hive and it couldn't be anything else.

In the face of that unalterable opinion, Ashiant and the other human captains wisely initiated intensive drill procedures but an actual discharge of the new weapons system, of course, was out of the question. The surprise of such new weapons might even have an effect on the implacable Hivers.

The Hive was also known to have acutely sensitive scanning devices - as some unfortunate 'Dini scouts had discovered. Biologists had suggested that the live members probably had more acute hearing than vision. what few fragments of Hive ships were left after a 'Dini suicide penetration gave little evidence of internal lighting systems.

Fortunately, none of the humans even mentioned evasion tactics though it was no secret to Thian that each human captain was reviewing how to preserve ship and crew even if the 'Dinis were quite willing to spend lives and ships to destroy a Hiver.

Privately, Thian wondered how many escape pods he could fling to safety with or without the impetus of generators in the event the Vadim was badly struck. There was also the ethical and moral problem of should he also contrive to save himself, the Prime, if it was at the expense of fellow shipmates? He decided that avenue of thought was depressing and self-defeating.

This squadron had six of the newest, best equipped and best-armoured vessels of their respective navies, and powerful new weapons. Contemplation of defeat and/or suicide was self-destructive.

Even thoughts of evasion could be defeatist. He started emanating stern resolve and optimism.

Somewhat to his astonishment, his efforts began to produce results in the discussions as humans and 'Dinis both began to talk themselves into more positive thinking.

HIVE SHIPS FOLLOW TRADITIONAL PATTERN NO MATTER WHAT SIZE AND NEVER DEVIATE, Captain Spktm said, slipping a pencil file into the ready room reader and bringing up the enhanced image on the main screen. WEAKNESS REMAINS WEAKNESS, STRENGTh STRENGTh WITh THE QUEENS ALWAYS IN ThE MOST PROTECTED SPOT, EGGS NEXT AND ExPENDABLE WORKERS DRONES AUXILIARIES IN OUTER Sh.e.l.l. The spherical shape of the Hive had been opened in one arc to show the levels. Much was extrapolation since Hive ships had to be blown apart to be stopped, fragmenting both attacker and attacked. The 'Dinis had gathered their information painfully - over the centuries. SCOUTS ARE ALWAYS IN EXTERIOR BAYS.

WEAPON SYSTEMS CONTROLLED FROM QUEENS' LEVELS BY SPECIAL DRONES.

BELIEF IS HELD ThAT ThERE ARE SPECIAL REINFORCEMENTS TO PERMIT QUEENS AND MOST VALUABLE EGGS TO SURVIVE EVEN THE TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF ThE SHIP. 'DINI ATTACK GROUPS HAVE LEARNED TO RESERVE AT LEAST ONE SHIP TO CHASE AND DESTROY THESE SPECIAL INTERIOR CONTAINERS WHICH HAVE ON OCCASION CONTAINED SMALLER UNITS LIKE HUMAN ESCAPE PODS. (Mrdini ships had no comparable unit.) ThE SURVIVAL OF AT LEAST ONE QUEEN ONE ATTENDANT DRONE MEANS THE HIVE SURVIVES. SUCH SURVIVAL UNITS HAVE ACHIEVED ESCAPE VELOCITIES THAT, UNTIL RECENTLY, EXCEEDED THE BEST SPEED OF CHASE VESSELS. QUEENS AND EGGS SURVIVE IN CONDITIONS FATAL TO MRDINI AND HUMAN.

Then the 'Dini captain activated an animated reconstruction of the phases of attack and dissolution of a Hive ship. As often as Thian had seen this vid, it never failed to give him nightmares. The average Hive ship had between twelve to thirty Queens. Tear-drop-shaped vessels spurted from the exploding wreckage of the demonstration Hive ship.

They travelled at incredible speeds, disappearing so rapidly in all directions from sensor range that a fix could not be taken, making pursuit difficult - especially if only one 'Dini ship remained operational at the conclusion of the battle.

For just this Hive manoeuvre, every ship in the squadron had been provided with eight high-speed pursuit craft cradled in the shuttle bays.

Optimism spread and defeatism dissolved as the humans began to psych themselves up for their encounter with this implacable enemy and destroyer.

The fatalism which always motivated a 'Dini soldier began to seep into their human allies as Spktm pointed out primary targets for the initial a.s.sault.

Then the human captains began to embrace the actual, not the theoretical, aspects of the possibility of their first s.p.a.ce battle in generations.

Finally, Thian was asked to inform both homeworlds of the discovery of an as yet unidentified object. Thian decided he'd tell Jeff Raven, as Earth Prime, first.

Shouldn't we wait to find out if the thing's really dangerous?

Jeff asked.

I'm following orders, sir.

As indeed you should, even with news as momentous as this, Jeff replied equably. It does add a little spice to an otherwise dull day.

I'm pa.s.sing the word to the High Council so you can expect to be on call now for messages. Are you a hard sleeper?

No, sir.

Well, get what you can when you can. That's the downside of this job. Ah, yes, High Council is calling an emergency session. Have you apprised the Mrdinis yet? Do so immediately. It is only proper you would inform your own species first.

when Thian 'pathed Laria, she erupted with what he felt was unprofessional excitement; more nearly exultation of a bloodthirsty variety.

I'm not blood-l.u.s.ting, Laria replied with some indignation, I'm practising 'Dini hurrahs. They've waited so long for a breakthrough like this.

We don't know if it is a breakthrough, sis.

Go find out! Like Mother did! The suspense would kill me.

Mother didn't know what was out there, then, or I'll bet she wouldn't have gone.

But how long before we know? Laria demanded, her mind sparkling with excitement. She was positively bloodthirsty, Thian thought.

Even at the speeds we're travelling, it'll take several days to close the distance between us.

What about probes?

We're not even close enough for a probe, even those new hypersensitive ones.

But Laria had planted the notion in his head of a 'portational reconnaissance and he couldn't shake it out. It might redress the impression the 'Dinis had that humans were unnecessarily cautious.

Even among his own kind, he'd accrue considerable prestige from such a daring action. And, speaking of suspense, establishing a definite ID would improve morale considerably. Waiting was always the worst part of any ordeal. Also, if Thian could prove himself, he might even get rid of Malice. Most of that person's dislike centred around him being a civilian on a naval mission, a weasel-lover on a human crewed ship, a snot-nosed kid who'd been pampered all his life because of a lucky genetic break.

when they got somewhat closer - for even his mother had not risked going too far from her power base - he might just mention it to Captain Ashiant.

Thian knew his strengths but he also knew his own limitations.

Lucky he knew himself to be: but not snot-nosed.

Busy as he became, hauling in more supplies, retrieving crewmates from their home planets, for all sh.o.r.e leave was cancelled, Thian also quickly found a way to answer the pressing need of his 'Dinis.

Hibernation was not considered a dereliction of duty for usually only immature or postmature 'Dinis went on long-distance duty. As it happened, several 'Dini observers from the High Council on Clarf required transport to the KLTL and KLTS so Thian arranged that Mur and Dip would have s.p.a.ce on the return trip. Mur and Dip had the dubious pleasure of accompanying four of the largest 'Dinis Thian had ever seen.

He missed his life-long friends almost as soon as he lost their 'touch' as Laria took control of their capsule at the change-over point. This was not like their yearly retreat on Iota Aurigae: they weren't a matter of kilometres away in a hillside he could see from his bedroom window. Their companionship had also afforded him relief from his anomalous position on the Vadim. He missed them more as his workload increased and tensions rose, in him and throughout the ship and squadron.

Two days after the sighting, he had an unusual interview with Captain Ashiant.

'You've handled yourself extremely well, young Lyon,' Ashiant began, steepling his fingers and staring so hard at him that Thian began to worry about what the man was leading up to. 'I gather that our 'Dini allies find our att.i.tudes towards a possible engagement at odds with theirs.' 'They've fought the Hivers for centuries, with considerably more direct experience than humans have had.' 'They also consider there's only one way to promulgate this war.' 'They've only found one that's successful in destroying the enemy. Any other outcome is unacceptable considering what this enemy does unchecked.' 'Well, at the risk of appearing cowardly, humans have usually,' and Ashiant stressed the adverb, 'found that retreat can often result in significant victory.' 'Humans have only been up against a Hive ship once,' Thian was obliged to remind him. 'The scout ships don't, apparently, count.

'That's not what I wish to discuss with you. If we come up against a viable Hive ship this time, young Lyon, you will act upon these special orders should the special circ.u.mstances arise,' and Ashiant handed over a transparent pencil file. 'You have an eidetic memory. This destructs after one reading and leaves no trace in your terminal.' Carefully Thian inserted the file in his breast pocket.

'You will memorize the contents, and then forget them until you are required to implement the orders.' Ashiant rose to pace the long side of his ready room. 'I intend to commit the Vadim as thoroughly as our Mrdini allies will commit their ships.

In the event the Vadim is committed past the point of return and orders are given to abandon ship...' Thian held his breath, fear trickling down his arms and legs at such a contingency, '. you will ensure that the nine people on that pencil file are 'ported to safety.

And that you,' Ashiant swung about to point his forefinger at Thian, 'leave with them. Are you clear on that point?' 'Yes, sir.' 'How many of the Talents on board have you contacted?' 'Only six so far.

'Well, do what is necessary so that, in the event the generators can't a.s.sist you, you can effect the removal of the persons in your orders. They do not have the option of remaining. Are you clear on that?' 'Yes, sir.' 'Are nine too many for you to cope with?' 'No, sir.' 'We'll be holding pod drills frequently over the next few days so you're to familiarize yourself with the equipment and those in your pod. Each lifeboat has an engine as well as the initial break-away thruster. I'm not certain how much power that will give you, which is why you must use the other Talents as boosters. If the order to abandon ship is given, you are first-' and again the index finger jabbed in his direction, '-to get in your own escape pod, then make sure that the others get in, too. If the worst possible circ.u.mstances ensue, and you are the only survivor, you leave! You cannot be jeopardized.' 'Because I'm a civilian?' Thian asked, indignant with hurt pride even as he recognized that to be an immature reaction.

'No, sorry sir, because you're a Prime . . . and because you'll have had access to most of the information other captains and experts would need to combat the next Hive ship we encounter.' Ashiant waited a full beat and then added with a rueful smile, 'You're much more valuable alive, young Lyon. Before that blip appeared on our screens, this was not a dangerous a.s.signment. It is now and you are not to be endangered. Do I make myself clear?' 'Crystal clear, sir' 'Good lad,' and the captain gave Thian an approving thump on his shoulder. That comradely gesture reduced the resentment he'd been feeling.

'Now, implement your orders, Lyon.' The orders were signed by the High Council Coordinator and, although several of the names surprised Thian, he had them memorized long before the pencil file disintegrated.

As he made necessary, but discreet, contact with the other Talents, he also began to meet some odd resistance and reactions from crew members, men and women who had been at least polite to him. He found the answer to that hostility from Gravy. They'd met from time to time in the officers' mess and in the corridors, but he hadn't been able to find a time when they were both off-shift and he could outline what might be expected of her as a Talent. But it had become necessary for him to seek her out and he found her alone in the gym, working out on the rowing apparatus.

'I'm glad to see you, too, Thian,' she said, mopping her brow and resting her arms on the oars.

'I've heard some s.p.a.ceflot that I don't really want to report to the captain. ' She c.o.c.ked her head 15z at him and he sensed her hesitation. 'You know I've got a little Talent?' 'Yes,' he said, sliding on to the apparatus next to her, 'in fact, I'm glad I've a chance to talk to you because I'm sup, posed to touch bases with all Talents on the ship.

'Hmmm, in case of emergency, yes, I sort of figured you'd get around to me on that score,' she said equably. 'I'm not sure what good I'll be. I'm only an empath...

Thian grinned at her. 'Don't knock it, Gravy.

Only an em pa th is much more helpful than only a receiving or sending 'path.' 'But what good would I be?' 'It's like this, Gravy,' and he found himself more easy with her than with anyone else on the Vadim, the very reason why her empathy was so valuable, especially as a nurse. 'Should an emergency arise when I'd have to tap into all the Talent on board, your empathic strength is added to the pool. You're down as a T-5 which is the highest, bar me, on the Vadim. You'd be more help than you might realize. Now, what's this s.p.a.ceflot?' She frowned. 'It's talk but it's nothing.. . good.' Thian wondered if Malice was showing his hand.

'Don't worry about my feelings, Gravy.' She gave him a very direct look. 'You may think you're fooling others, and you are, actually, since you're so good at what you do, but I happen to know you're not as old, despite that s.e.xy silver streak of yours, as you'd want others to think you are.

Especially when you're teaching,' and she grinned at him, to take the sting from her message, 'you sound exactly like our Professional Ethics prof, so stuffy and precise... Of course, speaking 'Dini makes you be precise or you garble everything...' 'Gravy, you're hedging, he said, not prying but recognizing a delaying tactic.

'Partly because I think the rumour's so stupid,' she said with some heat, and then rushed on to say, 'but there's some think you're a glory-grabber.' 'what?' Thian laughed in surprise, more relieved than he could ever let Gravy realize. He couldn't imagine how anyone could have overheard his interview with the captain, or known of the special preservation list, but if that was what Gravy had heard, such orders were already compromised.

'They seem to think that you'll reach out with your Talent and somehow do what the Fleet ought to be doing.' Thian laughed more heartily then. 'Gravy, that's not very likely. Not to mention impossible.' 'But you Talents did that at Deneb. Twice!' 'Talents, plural, Gravy. In fact every Talent available down to kids of ten and twelve. Not singular, me, with a dozen minor Talents to a.s.sist.

There's no way I could or would grab any glory. 'Sides which, I do know my limitations. Heroism is not indicated.' She gave a sniff.

'Heroes happen. Generally,' and now she grinned rakishly at him, 'when it's not indicated.' Then her expression altered to earnestness.

'However wrong the thinking is, it's there and it's not good.

Folks are odd. I mean, here you got a lot of 'em home for sh.o.r.e leave - even if it got cancelled - and you'd think they'd be at least grateful. But no, they're out to find something ... something...' 'negative?' Thian suggested, knowing exactly what people could find to disparage the Talented.

'That'll do,' she said. Then, in a rush of empathy, she put her hand on his arm. 'You're a nice guy, Thian, and I'll do what I can to offset the flat. D'you want me to report it to Ashiant?' 'Only if you have something specific that has an adverse effect on morale as a whole,' he managed to say, more distracted by the warm hand on his arm, and her very feminine presence, the delicate floral taste of her, than he thought possible.

She caught his response, though, because he was lax in reining in his thoughts, because he hadn't felt the need to shield in Gravy's company, and because he was missing the company of Mur and Dip.

'Sometimes it's better to squash a rumour as flat as possible especially right now when we might be heading into action,' she said, keeping her hand on his arm so that he couldn't help but 'read' her which, he also realized, was exactly her intention.

Her very expressive eyes confirmed it.

'I thought,' he began in a sort of daze, 'that's when rumours would multiply, a sort of combat-readiness reaction.' 'Hmmm,' she said, leaning into him, clearly no longer interested in the previous subject of conversation. 'D'you know where I got my nickname?' she asked.

Thian rather thought he did but he hedged in a sudden fit of shyness. He had had that dream involving her, and he'd dreamed long enough with 'Dinis to know that there were true ones.

'Can we get to your cabin without being seen?' she asked him, her eyes sparkling with antic.i.p.ation. He was suddenly deluged by intense sensuality which he was unable, and unwilling, to deflect. Her smile challenged him to seize the moment.

'Yes, ma'am.' And grasping her in his arms, he 'ported them neatly on to the floor s.p.a.ce beside his bunk. But he had slightly misjudged their ma.s.s and, off balance, they tilted on to his bunk. That took care of his residual reserve.

Thian had never truly appreciated the company of an empath such as Alison-Anne Greevy and he didn't care where she acquired her nickname.

He hadn't had so much experience that he was confident of his ability to perform but Gravy made it all easy, natural and rather special.

'How long are your friends away?' she asked at one point.

'Two months.' He suppressed a speculative spurt as to where he'd be in two months' time.

'what did they have to go for?' she asked and he realized that she honestly didn't know. 'I mean, all crew have been recalled, haven't they?' "Dinis in need of hibernation would be no good in an attack. No blame is attached to their absence . . . at least from 'Dinis.' 'I'd heard about this hibernation business. what exactly happens?' Thian chuckled, stroking her fine blonde hair. It was softer and silkier than a 'Dini pelt. 'Something like this.' 'You don't know?' She was surprised.

'There are some things species should do for themselves to themselves in absolute privacy.' 'I couldn't agree more,' she sighed with a mischievous glint in her eyes as she pulled his head down to her again.

The intercom buzz roused them and, for a split second, Thian was disoriented by the feel of a body against his.

'Mr Lyon?' wa the query 'Here,' Thian said quickly.

'Captain's compliments and can you come to the ready room?' was the voice message.

'whoops!' Gravy murmured into her hand, instantly awake and rather charmingly rumpled by sleep, her fair hair standing out in wisps from her head while one errant curl pressed into her cheek.

He smoothed it back, not quite wishing to relinquish their physical contact. 'And look at the time!' She drew her breath in a hiss, at the same time smoothing her hair back.

'You don't share a cabin do you?' 'Thank the G.o.ds, no,' she said.

'I'll just put you back unseen then,' he said.

'Hey, that'd be tops!' she said, hurriedly pulling on her exercise gear and swinging her legs off the bunk to stand up. 'This right?' 'Thanks, Alison,' he said.

'Catch me any al' time, Thian love, she said, her grin mischievous, her eyes dancing, and her mind exuding the genuine pleasure she had received and given. And the position of her cabin, two decks below.

Thian 'ported her there and then took time to use the dry shower and dress appropriately for the day.

* * * 'We've more information on that object, Mr Lyon,' Captain Ashiant said. Tikele, the security chief and the com duty officer, this time, Steena Blaz, were also present.