In addition to hand signals, the Terrans and Great Cats developed a fairly refined vocabulary of simple commands. At Josh’s urging, Otis agreed to equip everyone with miniature earpieces, thereby bringing the Terrans’ hearing abilities to a level with the cats. Whispered commands, even in the dark, previously only heard by the cats, kept the whole team in the loop. The Terrans’ night vision advantage, coupled with the cats’ hearing and daytime vision advantages, produced great respect among the instructors, something Otis himself had not foreseen. The mixed teams truly offered advantages, even without the likes of the Chessori to stir up the pot.
The final week of the first month was spent entirely in the field. Individual teams spread out over many square miles planning, executing, and defending against attack.
They moved to different quarters for the second and final month of their training. The new quarters were a partial replica of the Palace on Triton, with vast rooms, smaller personal chambers, and many, many corridors. The training was intense as they focused on learning skills they would need among the civilized worlds, some simple, some highly complex. By the time Otis was done with them, they knew how to operate doors and food dispensers, how to fly and fight from air cars, and they practiced clearing corridors, stairways, and rooms one by one, all the things necessary to find, protect, and remove the Queen from danger.
A full, heavy squadron of Chandrajuski’s ships arrived as their training ended. The ships were staffed with a number of Trexler’s Terran pilots and gunners still learning to work the ships. If the Chessori attacked again, these ships would do their best to hold off the enemy until help arrived.
Mike, tanned, fit, and much more confident of his own personal abilities, followed his men as they boarded another of Serge’s cargo ships for his return to Shipyard and Ellie. His vacation was over; it was time to start looking at the big picture again. He didn’t know what had transpired in the seven months since he’d left Shipyard, but he knew that things never stood still around Ellie. He fully expected to be thrust right back into crisis after crisis. That was okay, provided Ellie was by his side. A long and dangerous road lay ahead, yet a grin of satisfaction found its way to his face as he stepped over the threshold into the ship.
K rys
Chapter Fifteen
The arrival of Buskin’s squadron at Shipyard brought instant attention from ground controllers. As soon as they emerged from hyperspace, they were challenged. Otis had not given Buskin a password, but it turned out that he didn’t need one. The Great Cat Borg came on the communications link, and his loyalty was not questioned. He was told that they needed to go to Parsons’ World instead. That added another few days through hyperspace. When they completed the last jump to Parsons’ World, they were astounded. Many, many Empire ships were spread throughout the system, and they were acting oddly, as if they were in training. Some looked like they were fighting, but no shots were being fired.
Borg came on the communicator again and they were cleared in, but they picked up an escort of two squadrons during the final week.
Buskin’s squadron was not permitted to land. An inspection team came aboard, then Rappor was permitted to land while the rest of the ships remained in orbit. Rappor left her berth on the cruiser with only Buskin and Krys’ crew aboard.
Six Great Cats, three from Rappor and three of the Queen’s Protectors, met at the bottom of the ramp, then Ellie approached the ship escorted by Admiral Jons. Krys, very uncertain of herself, walked down the ramp by herself to welcome the Queen. The moment Ellie saw her, she screamed and ran to the ramp with her arms open wide. Krys, too, opened her arms, and the two embraced.
Ellie stood back from her. “You’re older. I knew you would be, but it’s still a surprise. You look well, my daughter.”
“You haven’t changed at all,” Krys blurted out. “Still as beautiful as always. I feel like I’m home again, Mother.”
“You are home, Krys. Val and Mike will be back soon. I can’t wait for you to see them.”
“Who’s Mike?”
“The man of dirt from your vision, my First Knight, and the knight in shining armor you promised me. I should warn you,” she added with a smile, “he’s uncomfortable with the whole idea of your visions.”
“Well, so am I, my Queen.”
“Can we forget about all that for a while and just enjoy a reunion?”
“We can, but I might have a mutiny on my hands if we do. My crew has waited a long time for this moment. They’re nervous as can be, and I’m not sure they really believe they’re about to meet the Queen.”
Ellie turned to the small group standing at the top of the ramp, then turned back to Krys. “You’re right. I’d prefer a little time alone with you, but it’s not just the two of us any longer. Our responsibilities have grown.” She turned Krys toward the ship. “Come on. I’ll be gentle on them.”
They walked arm in arm up the ramp and stopped. “Stand, all of you,” Ellie commanded. She approached M’Sada. “Lieutenant Commander M’Sada. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
M’Sada, momentarily forgetting himself, blurted out, “You’ve heard of me, Your Majesty?”
“I’ve heard of all of you.” She turned to Tarn. “Lieutenant Lukes, I presume?” Tarn bowed, speechless, and she turned to Gortlan. “Senior Chief Gortlan?”
“At your service, Your Majesty,” he said, going to one knee again.
She turned to Buskin. “You must be Admiral Buskin.”
“At your service, Your Majesty,” he said with a deep bow.
“I only recently learned of your activities,” she said softly. “It is my great pleasure to meet you, Admiral. Has your recruiting been successful?”
“Since each recruit represents a fallen sector or district, I must tell you that I have not been entirely successful. I had 24 squadrons as of three months ago, and that number is increasing almost daily. My preference is for them to hold, not to join me.”
She stepped back from him, but she did not let her gaze leave his eyes. “You speak with wisdom, Admiral Buskin. In you, I believe Chandrajuski chose well. Your present rank is temporary, is it not?”
“It is, your Highness.”
“Your promotion to Fleet Admiral is hereby made permanent. We’ll have a small ceremony aboard your cruiser later. I am in your debt.”
“My men and I do nothing more or less than stand by our oaths, Your Majesty. They would be honored by a visit.”
“It is I who is honored by their efforts. I’ll let them know.” She turned to Krys. “Three of your crew are missing.”
“Not missing, just working, Your Majesty. Captain Stven has learned the hard way to never let his guard down. He’s in the net monitoring activities outside the ship, and his two gunners are at their stations.”
She took a step back. “Otis would be proud of him. I’m proud of him. I, too, endured months of fear, of constant alertness, and I applaud your watchfulness, but you can relax now. You’ve reached a safe haven, all of you,” she said, turning to take in everyone in the group. She turned back to Krys. “Will you take me to the bridge? I’m not certain where it is.”
When they reached the bridge, Stven’s body was resting on the floor, his four legs splayed out and his damaged wing extended slightly from his body. Gordi’i and Kali’i lounged in their seats. All wore the helmets necessary to enter the net. Ellie turned to M’Sada, asking quietly, “May I join them on your net?”