weakened as the warmth of Astra’s breath against her neck overwhelmed her senses. She closed her eyes. All she could think of was the night before.
“Do we?” she whispered.
“Of course not,” replied Rebecca as she tilted her head to her side and took a small step back. She was ruined, but at that moment she didn’t give a damn. “We have made the necessary preparations to complete all construction and initial testing within ten years,” conceded Rebecca.
“Excellent,” added Astra as Rebecca felt Astra’s hand gently caress her arm. Looking into Astra’s eyes again, she saw the ProConsul give her a telling smile of satisfaction. Not only did Rebecca know that Astra had her, Astra knew it as well.
“That will be enough for the full complement of a hundred ships, seven thousand fighters and attack craft, and three thousand transports. All off the reports to the Advisors.” added Julius.
“The ten-year completion will also allow two years for our strike forces to train with the equipment,” continued Marcus.
“And how are our strike battalions coming along?” asked Astra.
“Somewhat slow, but progressing, ProConsul,” answered Marcus. “We have about 50,000 slaves and converts from the Saint currently training, receiving inoculations against the Dominotra virus, and undergoing modification for the Xen virus in the training facilities under construction in the water layer underneath the gas planet Dolus near Capro. The facility will expand at a rate to support an additional 80,000 per year throughout the project. This will mean we will need to take 4 million captives, villagers, and POWs each year to be able to meet our goal of compatible subjects and provide the Xen annually with the 120,000 alterable slaves as well.”
“That should allow for attrition and still provide over 700,000 to man the strike fleet by the time the Xen realize what has happened,” said Julius.
“And the Dominotra virus?”
Rebecca felt Astra’s gaze once again as she answered. “The Association scientists are confident both the virus and the inoculations are effective. The slaves you provide to the Xen will contain enough carriers so that when they mate with another carrier, 25 percent of their children will become contagious when the chemical changes with puberty take place.”
Marcus laughed. “The Xen will never expect it.”
“It should be quite effective,” continued Rebecca. “The virus will be airborne with a 75 percent infection rate for the Xen and 50–60 percent for Doran and humans. The mortality rate of the infected will be approximately 60 percent for the Xen and 50 percent for the Doran and Humans.”
“The Xen social and political structure will collapse,” added Julius. “And then we will strike.”
“Oh, Envoy Sterling,” interjected Astra.
“Yes, ProConsul.”
“I must apologize,” Astra smiled. “Here we have entered into formal diplomatic negotiations and I have not given you time to prepare yourself. Please excuse my slight.” Rebecca again felt the wonderfully distracting sensation of Astra’s breath on her cheek as the ProConsul leaned in closely. “You seem to have made me absent-minded with your beauty…and the memory of last night,” she whispered.
Even though she knew it was a calculated move on the part of Astra, Rebecca soaked in the compliment.
“Me as well,” she replied quietly. “An apology from yourself, while completely unnecessary, is gladly accepted, ProConsul.”
“Very well,” stated Astra. “Let us give you some time to prepare yourself and discuss these issues in more detail.”
“Of course, ProConsul,” she replied with a slight bow.
“I shall have my servants assist you with any preparations you desire,” Astra said as she stepped over to the communications console. “Praetorians,” she ordered, “the senators and I will be leaving shortly. One of you will remain outside this chamber for Envoy Sterling to
“Do we?” she whispered.
“Of course not,” replied Rebecca as she tilted her head to her side and took a small step back. She was ruined, but at that moment she didn’t give a damn. “We have made the necessary preparations to complete all construction and initial testing within ten years,” conceded Rebecca.
“Excellent,” added Astra as Rebecca felt Astra’s hand gently caress her arm. Looking into Astra’s eyes again, she saw the ProConsul give her a telling smile of satisfaction. Not only did Rebecca know that Astra had her, Astra knew it as well.
“That will be enough for the full complement of a hundred ships, seven thousand fighters and attack craft, and three thousand transports. All off the reports to the Advisors.” added Julius.
“The ten-year completion will also allow two years for our strike forces to train with the equipment,” continued Marcus.
“And how are our strike battalions coming along?” asked Astra.
“Somewhat slow, but progressing, ProConsul,” answered Marcus. “We have about 50,000 slaves and converts from the Saint currently training, receiving inoculations against the Dominotra virus, and undergoing modification for the Xen virus in the training facilities under construction in the water layer underneath the gas planet Dolus near Capro. The facility will expand at a rate to support an additional 80,000 per year throughout the project. This will mean we will need to take 4 million captives, villagers, and POWs each year to be able to meet our goal of compatible subjects and provide the Xen annually with the 120,000 alterable slaves as well.”
“That should allow for attrition and still provide over 700,000 to man the strike fleet by the time the Xen realize what has happened,” said Julius.
“And the Dominotra virus?”
Rebecca felt Astra’s gaze once again as she answered. “The Association scientists are confident both the virus and the inoculations are effective. The slaves you provide to the Xen will contain enough carriers so that when they mate with another carrier, 25 percent of their children will become contagious when the chemical changes with puberty take place.”
Marcus laughed. “The Xen will never expect it.”
“It should be quite effective,” continued Rebecca. “The virus will be airborne with a 75 percent infection rate for the Xen and 50–60 percent for Doran and humans. The mortality rate of the infected will be approximately 60 percent for the Xen and 50 percent for the Doran and Humans.”
“The Xen social and political structure will collapse,” added Julius. “And then we will strike.”
“Oh, Envoy Sterling,” interjected Astra.
“Yes, ProConsul.”
“I must apologize,” Astra smiled. “Here we have entered into formal diplomatic negotiations and I have not given you time to prepare yourself. Please excuse my slight.” Rebecca again felt the wonderfully distracting sensation of Astra’s breath on her cheek as the ProConsul leaned in closely. “You seem to have made me absent-minded with your beauty…and the memory of last night,” she whispered.
Even though she knew it was a calculated move on the part of Astra, Rebecca soaked in the compliment.
“Me as well,” she replied quietly. “An apology from yourself, while completely unnecessary, is gladly accepted, ProConsul.”
“Very well,” stated Astra. “Let us give you some time to prepare yourself and discuss these issues in more detail.”
“Of course, ProConsul,” she replied with a slight bow.
“I shall have my servants assist you with any preparations you desire,” Astra said as she stepped over to the communications console. “Praetorians,” she ordered, “the senators and I will be leaving shortly. One of you will remain outside this chamber for Envoy Sterling to
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