in both palms. “While feigning minimal interest,
our warliners imaged every moment of the planetary collapse. Then, as Oncier was engulfed in stellar flames, we saw
this.”
Emerging from the deep cloud decks and racing away from the newborn sun, strange spherical objects glittered as if their skins
were made of diamond. The transparent globes streaked away from the flaming clouds, moving faster than even an Ildiran stardrive
could propel them.
The Mage-Imperator recoiled, his face expressing astonishment, even a glint of fear. “Show it to me again.” His dark eyes
were intent, hungry.
“These objects came from
within
the gas planet, Liege. They are unlike any phenomenon ever encountered in my experience, certainly not any sort of spacecraft.
I have read pertinent sections of the
Saga of Seven Suns
and scoured through other relevant records, but I have learned nothing. Do you know what this could mean, Liege?”
“I know nothing whatsoever about it.” The Mage-Imperator seemed angry, on the verge of an explosion, but he said nothing more.
Kori’nh had seen shock and recognition on the Mage-Imperator’s face, and he wondered why the great leader would hide such
information. But he also knew with utter certainty that no Mage-Imperator would ever lie to his subjects, so he dismissed
his doubts as a simple misinterpretation.
He bowed. “That is my full report, Liege. Shall I distribute images of these strange objects to my other officers, so that
we may better keep watch?”
“No. There is no need.” The Mage-Imperator’s voice left no room for discussion. “We must not overreact to a minor mystery.”
The leader stroked his long, twitching braid where it lay across his belly. He propped himself up so that he could look directly
into Kori’nh’s face, as if he had suddenly come to a decision. His tone became less intense, more conversational as he changed
the subject. “For now, I have another important mission for you—one that cannot wait.”
Kori’nh clasped his hands in front of his chest again. “As you command, Liege.”
“You and the Solar Navy must rescue our splinter colony on Crenna. Bring them home to Ildira.”
Surprised, Kori’nh straightened again. “What has happened?” He could not keep the hopeful sound out of his voice. “Is this
to be a military operation?” He had read many stories in the
Saga
and wanted to have his own part, however small, in an epic conflict.
“Crenna was barely large enough to be a true splinter, and now they are suffering from a terrible plague, which has already
killed a substantial portion of the colonists, including my Crenna Designate. Through the
thism
, I have felt their suffering—the sickness first blinds its victims, then kills them.”
“K’llar bekh!”
Adar Kori’nh felt cold. “That is terrible, Liege.”
The braid twitched again. “Since the colony has dropped below the critical population density for
thism
to function, I have decided to abandon it. Rather than assigning more and more colonists to this hazardous place, we will
remove our people.”
“It shall be done, Liege,” Kori’nh said. “Rapidly and efficiently. I hope we can act quickly enough to prevent further loss
of life. Are we to recover our equipment and buildings?”
“No, they are tainted with the disease. Also, the Terran Hanseatic League has bargained hard and negotiated well, and they
have… acquired Crenna and all its resources from us. Their preliminary tests have made them confident they are not susceptible
to this plague. Humans will move into the empty settlement as soon as our people have been evacuated.”
Kori’nh was aghast, especially after having seen the outrageous experiment at Oncier that would provide them with four new
moons to inhabit. “What could the humans possibly need with a new planet? They have already spread like a disease across so
many worlds.”
“It is all part of my plan, Adar.
our warliners imaged every moment of the planetary collapse. Then, as Oncier was engulfed in stellar flames, we saw
this.”
Emerging from the deep cloud decks and racing away from the newborn sun, strange spherical objects glittered as if their skins
were made of diamond. The transparent globes streaked away from the flaming clouds, moving faster than even an Ildiran stardrive
could propel them.
The Mage-Imperator recoiled, his face expressing astonishment, even a glint of fear. “Show it to me again.” His dark eyes
were intent, hungry.
“These objects came from
within
the gas planet, Liege. They are unlike any phenomenon ever encountered in my experience, certainly not any sort of spacecraft.
I have read pertinent sections of the
Saga of Seven Suns
and scoured through other relevant records, but I have learned nothing. Do you know what this could mean, Liege?”
“I know nothing whatsoever about it.” The Mage-Imperator seemed angry, on the verge of an explosion, but he said nothing more.
Kori’nh had seen shock and recognition on the Mage-Imperator’s face, and he wondered why the great leader would hide such
information. But he also knew with utter certainty that no Mage-Imperator would ever lie to his subjects, so he dismissed
his doubts as a simple misinterpretation.
He bowed. “That is my full report, Liege. Shall I distribute images of these strange objects to my other officers, so that
we may better keep watch?”
“No. There is no need.” The Mage-Imperator’s voice left no room for discussion. “We must not overreact to a minor mystery.”
The leader stroked his long, twitching braid where it lay across his belly. He propped himself up so that he could look directly
into Kori’nh’s face, as if he had suddenly come to a decision. His tone became less intense, more conversational as he changed
the subject. “For now, I have another important mission for you—one that cannot wait.”
Kori’nh clasped his hands in front of his chest again. “As you command, Liege.”
“You and the Solar Navy must rescue our splinter colony on Crenna. Bring them home to Ildira.”
Surprised, Kori’nh straightened again. “What has happened?” He could not keep the hopeful sound out of his voice. “Is this
to be a military operation?” He had read many stories in the
Saga
and wanted to have his own part, however small, in an epic conflict.
“Crenna was barely large enough to be a true splinter, and now they are suffering from a terrible plague, which has already
killed a substantial portion of the colonists, including my Crenna Designate. Through the
thism
, I have felt their suffering—the sickness first blinds its victims, then kills them.”
“K’llar bekh!”
Adar Kori’nh felt cold. “That is terrible, Liege.”
The braid twitched again. “Since the colony has dropped below the critical population density for
thism
to function, I have decided to abandon it. Rather than assigning more and more colonists to this hazardous place, we will
remove our people.”
“It shall be done, Liege,” Kori’nh said. “Rapidly and efficiently. I hope we can act quickly enough to prevent further loss
of life. Are we to recover our equipment and buildings?”
“No, they are tainted with the disease. Also, the Terran Hanseatic League has bargained hard and negotiated well, and they
have… acquired Crenna and all its resources from us. Their preliminary tests have made them confident they are not susceptible
to this plague. Humans will move into the empty settlement as soon as our people have been evacuated.”
Kori’nh was aghast, especially after having seen the outrageous experiment at Oncier that would provide them with four new
moons to inhabit. “What could the humans possibly need with a new planet? They have already spread like a disease across so
many worlds.”
“It is all part of my plan, Adar.
Similar Books
