“At least you can build shuttles really fast,” he said.
Adrian turned to glare at his expressionless Nel face. He knew Nel well enough to know that that was a jab.
“Funny. If we could make it work, we could build an entirely finished battleship in days compared to months,” Adrian said.
“We’ll figure it out, we always do,” Isani said. “I saw that Veritas is scheduled to depart as soon as the work on it is done. You going back to Sol?”
“Yes, Gotu might have everything under control, but I think that it is time that I start expanding the Sentinel facilities beyond Mars.”
“There has been an increase in people testing to become Sentinels.”
“Yes, the only way to get the Sha early is if you are a part of the army, Fleet, the Hand, or a Sentinel. Well, for most people.”
“We aren’t going to be able to build ships for all of them,” Isani said.
“I know. Jupiter shipyards are building them as fast as they can, but without the Forge, we won’t meet the demand. But thankfully I have a system to build up. I’ll keep them occupied.”
They lapsed into silence, watching the movements from beyond the window for a few minutes before Isani spoke.
“Tomas wants a vote to bring the Sowir fully into the Empire,” he said.
“I know, I recommended it,” Adrian said.
“Gotu has urged me to vote yes. Apparently the Nel and Sowir in Sol have found common ground.”
“They’ve been forced to work together; their crimes aren’t forgotten or forgiven, but Gotu understands their right for a chance to make amends,” Adrian said. He then turned to face Isani. “You understand why he wants a vote, don’t you? He doesn’t need to have a vote; it is his decision.”
“I do. He wants us all to agree, to test if his Empire is as united as we like to believe… I will think on it. Until we see each other again, Lord Sentinel,” Isani said, and gave Adrian a very human-like smile as he walked away.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Tarabat
Aileen entered the small building that served as the human base/embassy to the Erasi on Tarabat. After she got through the security check, she made her way to the meeting room where Björn was already waiting for her.
“Sentinel,” Björn Borg said when she entered the room.
“What do we have?” Aileen asked.
“A few traders from the Erasi core systems arrived two days ago. According to our Jugat informants, the rumor is that the Erasi have been moving a massive force towards the edge of their territory, and not just any force—it’s their ships-of-the-line. A lot of them. None of these traders have ever seen or heard of a force so large. This was almost a year ago; by now, those forces have probably already arrived at their destination.”
“Do we know where they were headed?” Aileen asked.
“The word is that they were headed coreward with an spinward tilt,” Björn said.
That meant that they were moving in the opposite direction of the Empire, which was coreward and anti-spinward of the Erasi territory. But the only thing in the direction they were supposedly going were the Shara Daim.
“So the Shara Daim, most likely. I doubt that the Shara Daim would try and attack two opponents of comparable strength at the same time,” Aileen commented.
“Probably not, and they had peace with the Erasi for a long time. The only thing that makes sense is that the Erasi took advantage of the Shara Daim preparations for an attack on us.”
Aileen nodded. “Yes, they mobilized their Legions. The Erasi could’ve attacked as soon as they saw an opportunity. We need to find out more. I’ll send a message to Adrian. He is still receiving reports from our stealth ships in Shara Daim territory; he will know more about their status.”
“If the Erasi attacked them, then their actions with us make more sense,” Björn said.
“How so?”
“They offered us defense platforms that could arguably stand up to Shara Daim ships. If they have attacked, it is in their best interest to keep us and the Shara Daim at war.”
“Makes sense, only we kept things close and they didn’t know what we had. They still don’t, not now when we’ve forced them to remove their stealth ships from our territory,” Aileen said.
“If they knew the truth, they wouldn’t be so scared of us now,” Björn said with a chuckle.
Aileen smiled too. The Erasi were treading very carefully around the Empire these days. And if they were at war with the Shara Daim, it explained why they couldn’t afford humanity taking to the offense.
“And there haven’t been any movements against us from the Shara Daim, at least none that reports from Sol mentioned. If the Erasi attacked them, it would explain why there have been no follow-up attacks; they are too busy defending,” Björn said.
“This gives us an opportunity to take risks, get a network up in their space,” Aileen said.
“Speaking of networks, how did your meeting go?”
Aileen grimaced as she remembered her meeting with the Uraasat called Jurr, the large, snake-like alien that had given her the information about the Erasi Weavers and their stealth ships in return for her trying to find a cure for his people’s infertility.
“Sanctuary discovered the cure, so he is happy. And he wants us to take in a large number of his people, help them set up a colony in the Empire’s territory.”
“In return for?”
“Intel. The Uraasat have a vast network of spies across the Erasi territory,” Aileen answered.
“We don’t have any assets in the Erasi core systems; our relationship with the Jugat only covers systems they are allowed in, which are frankly only unimportant systems at the edge of the Erasi territory,” Björn said.
“I know. I will probably agree. But Jurr is a vengeful being; he wants revenge against the Erasi.”
“Do you blame him?”
“No, but we can’t afford being connected with a faction of Erasi that is opposed to their rulers. From what I learned, Uraasat have connections with many races that live in the Erasi. And Jurr’s ‘organization’ has members in almost every race in the Erasi. If they do something and the Erasi find out that we have been helping them, it would go badly,” Aileen said.
“Then make sure to have a very precise deal in place, what we will do and what we won’t. If they break it, the deal is off,” Björn said.
“If we take their people in, we won’t ever really be able to break off relations.”
“Ask yourself if that is a risk worth taking to get intel on the Erasi. You are the Sentinel on site; these are the decisions that you are supposed to make.”
“I know,” Aileen said, releasing a long breath. “I’ll think it over.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Two months later — September; Year 56 of the Empire — Shara Radum
Anessa was one hundred and thirty-nine years old. She and Garaam had been enjoying themselves on a resort planet in Shara Daim territory. And while Garaam would rather bathe in the warm ponds, Anessa would much rather read about the history of the Shara Daim.
She had always been interested in the ancient history of her people. A time before they had gone to space and before the Sha, when the creeds of blood and death had originated. To fight and become stronger was the greatest honor. To be a warrior was a holy calling. The old Shara Daim had followed only the strongest; it made them ever-changing, since every leader ruled only for as long as he was the strongest. Rulers would fight off challengers for their rule constantly, but eventually every ruler lost, and a new stronger and younger one took his or her place, molding the Shara Daim into something new.