Out of the Ashes (Rise of the Empire Book 3) by Ivan Kal Page A

sending information as they acquired it, which meant that Vit’r’an would be learning about events after they occurred.
    “The ships have been identified, fifteen cargo ships and three clan warships. The Jaws of Ooruvan and the Tide of Sakar escorting the Law of Ooruvan.” The subordinate said.
    “Law of Ooruvan? Has that been confirmed?” Vit’r’an asked, shocked. The Law of Ooruvan was one of the strongest ships in the Ooruvan clan, not only that, but the flagship of Elder Tig’r’an, Vit’r’an’s sire. The Elders were there to guide and advise the leader of the clan, the Rakar. They each held enormous influence and power. And among them Elder Tig’r’an was the most powerful. The Ra’a’zani society didn’t put much stock into family bonds, the next generation was raised by caretakers. But every hatchling knew who it was that sired them, but none were acknowledged by their sire unless they did something that their sire considered worthy. Vit’r’an’s conquest of Sol system gave him that right. And since then Tig’r’an had taken upon himself to push his progeny slowly forward, grooming him for the role of Rakar in the future. But in truth, they had never met in person, only via comms. Which, coupled with the fact that there were no scheduled convoys in the near future, made this unannounced visit all the more surprising.
    “It is confirmed Dakar, we have received a message for you from the Law of Ooruvan.”
    Vit’r’an walked up to one of the terminals and engaged the privacy screen around it. Then he accessed the message, “Greetings Vit’r’an, from your sire Tig’r’an.” The dark gray Ra’a’zani said. As soon as Tig’r’an acknowledged the connection between them Vit’r’an relaxed. That meant that the visit wasn’t because he did something to displease Tig’r’an. Calming himself, he focused on the rest of the message, “I am afraid that there had been a development on the other side of Ra’a’zani space. But we shall speak about that in a greater detail once I arrive to the planet two days from now. For now I need you to prepare the manifest of all the materials you have stored, and are available on hand, including anything that is a part of the orders for the other clans. As well as the exact number of slaves you have in the breeding camps.”
    Stunned Vit’r’an watched as Tig’r’an signed off and the message ended. He stood there frozen for a few moments, staring at the blank screen. Then he turned and walked back towards his position in the center of the room. The others watched him, but none dared ask him what the message was about.
    A few seconds later, Vit’r’an turned towards one of his subordinates, “Get me the manifests on all the materials we currently have in storage including those on mining spots. And an exact number of humans in the breeding camps.”
    ***
    Olympus Explorer Ship Star Gazer
     
    “Mathias.” A voice made Mathias snap his eyes open from his nap on the bridge of the Olympus ship.
    “What is it Asumy?” Mathias asked the Olympus Ai.
    “Eighteen Ra’a’zani ships have entered the system.” Asumy answered.
    Mathias frowned. “There isn’t a convoy scheduled for at least another two years.” Asumy remained silent. Sighing Mathias switched to the sensor station, he was the only one on the bridge as it was the middle of the night.
    “Can you identify them?” Mathias asked as he looked over the data on the screens.
    “Fifteen ships have been identified as cargo ships. The other three are unknown.” Asumy said.
    “Their convoys usually travel with at least two warships, perhaps those three are the escorts?”
    “There is a great possibility that is true.” Asumy responded.
    Mathias looked over the data still coming in from Asumy’s long range passive sensors, when something caught his eye.
    “Wait, this can’t be right. Asumy is this correct?” Mathias asked.
    “What are you referring to?”
    “Their