Carinae Sector: 02 - Admiral's Fury - Part 3 - Fleet Action by David Buck

minutes another Altoran handed Bel’khai an ornate staff and the counsel leader straightened to his full height before he spoke loudly.
    ‘My ruling is final and absolute; we await the arrival of the Traders with anticipation for it has been too long. We approve your request to transit our systems using your own methods, as it will involve less disruption to us in any case due to the timescales involved. Four of our scout ships are to guide your own ships, for you will journey to visit a race of legend, the Dradfer.’
    Bel’khai struck his staff of office four times and the two advisors on either side quietly intoned a ritual confirmation.
    ‘So it is discussed, so it is agreed to by wise counsel, so it becomes law.’
    Grant again forced himself to appear calm as he took in this new information. He was already wishing for the wise presence of Captain Narindestat even before they landed on this star base. He politely thanked the counsel leader and his meeting with the Altoran only lasted another half an hour before he was excused to leave.
    Grant flew the shuttle slowly back to the awaiting Emerald Sky and noted that the Altoran cruisers had now withdrawn. He then noted that the Maveen probe was alongside his shuttle again and he sent a terse message.
    ‘This communications line between us needs to be fully encrypted for what I have to say next.’
    The sector delegate complied with his request by stating this was already the case and Grant spoke cryptically after taking a nervous breath.
    ‘Those who are hidden nearby need to be moved and moved quickly a safe distance. Do not even think of arguing with me for we have a big potential problem here and it will be fixed inside of one human year. I suggest the other side of the sector not far from the Barede colony itself. Send a message to update those that need to know at a later stage. Also the journey which is far way will now be done quickly to allow for the needs of organic life forms and the presence of legends.’
    Grant noted with satisfaction that the Maveen probe kept silent as he now broke the communications line and prepared to land the shuttle inside his ship. He had given the Maveen a deadline, as he knew that otherwise the machine race would have dithered backwards and forwards for aeons trying to get all the parameters perfect.
    Bel’khai had watched the human shuttle leave and he was impressed with what he saw in the alien. The human was brave, truthful and funny and these qualities were highly esteemed amongst the Altoran. The lead counsel was advised that encrypted communications was being passed between the Maveen and the human, but he was not too worried as he listened to one of his advisors, who were both studying intently the first holographic encyclopaedia.
    ‘The human home world is as described in prehistory and the importance of the crucible cannot be understated. There is nothing weak or prey-like in the nature of this race and they are adaptable and warlike. I suggest we treat these humans with a great deal of caution.’
    Yet another Altoran, a senior cruiser commander who had not been given leave to speak in the earlier meeting had hold of the second holographic encyclopaedia. The lead counsel glanced over at the cruiser commander and gave him the hand gesture he needed for permission to speak.
    ‘Lead counsel, the device advises that Barede humans are colonists on several outer worlds terraformed long ago by the Maveen. They are allied to the Traders and already they both would be a good match for our own military forces. The initial assessment is before we add in the god-like strength of their Maveen allies and the existence of a very distant home world of sacred importance, possibly with their own colonies. I would recommend either alliance or at a minimum détente, and we must avoid a full scale war at all costs.’
    The two advisors croaked a ritual agreement with this candid assessment and Bel’khai was thankful he had well