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  Vik said, “I agree, but it isn’t that simple, because we don’t know their intentions, not for sure. Going to war on a hunch, isn’t a good way to run an empire.”

  I couldn’t argue with that, and he was looking for a reason to help, I just couldn’t seem to think of one that would fit with empire policy and politics.

  I missed Solyra, and wondered when she’d be back. She often had insights Vik didn’t, and I liked her. I missed Cyntariel too, for completely different reasons. Dessia… I didn’t miss at all.

  “How about because it’s our fault?”

  Vik cleared his throat, “Excuse me?”

  I said, “Fifty ships should’ve been enough for Earth to protect themselves, the Stolavii have never needed slaves on such a grand scale before. There are three hundred ships going at one time, because of Denik’s actions and their need to rebuild a whole fleet. Without that, this wouldn’t have happened. It isn’t our fault specifically, but doesn’t the responsibility to repair Denik’s actions fall on us? Unintended consequences.”

  Vik shook his head, “You’re trying to pull the guilt card?”

  I shrugged, “It’s hard, I don’t think we’ll find a definitive reason, not a single driving force, but there are a lot of little reasons that logically add up. That’s just one more. Not enough by itself, but together…” I trailed off with another shrug. Maybe I was reaching for shit at this point.

  I blushed as he studied me. Well, I did say I was crappy at politics, I was much better at killing things.

  Vik sighed, “Let’s call Janson, and hope he has a better argument. Jill?”

  Jillintara said, “Connecting.”

  Janson answered after a few moments, “This is Admiral Hiller.”

  Vik said, “Admiral. This is Vik, I have Lori, Jill, and Tel with me.”

  Janson replied, “I’d like to say it’s good to hear from you, but I have a bad feeling that you don’t have good news for me.”

  There was a slight pause. My mind was still going in circles.

  Vik said, “A fleet of three hundred Stolavii destroyers are headed your way. They should arrive at your system in just over twenty-seven hours. It will take them another thirteen to reach Earth, but I’m sure you’ll be intercepting them within that time frame somewhere. Their intentions are to take enough slaves to man a fleet of over six hundred ships, which means many thousands of your citizens will be abducted. This call has two purposes, the first to warn you of the danger, and the second to try and find a way for us to cooperate in dealing with them. Unfortunately, it won’t be easy for me to justify sending a fleet to protect an independent planet. My own personal wants aside, I have a duty to do what’s right and best for the races and planets in the empire.”

  Janson grunted, “I don’t like it, but I understand the position. A treaty has value, what if we formalize being allies. That way you can call on us in the future if needed as well. Think of it as a long-term investment.”

  Long term, and very short term. Humans would eventually catch up, I had no doubt of that. As I’d demonstrated, humans were good at weapons development and getting the most out of things. Very short term, because once our new fleet was up we wouldn’t really need those fifty ships. But… we’d have to survive the Stolavii and Suaterans first.

  Vik said, “I think my people would accept it, on one condition.”

  Janson asked, “What condition?”

  “Offer the Stolavii a way out, if we can get them to stand down, we should.”

  Janson replied, “That’s acceptable, we have rules of war, and we don’t shoot people that surrender. Well, most of us don’t. We also won’t fire the first shot.”

  “Will your leaders agree to a mutual support treaty?”

  Janson said, “I believe so, or I wouldn’t have suggested it. The president wanted one in the first place, the last time you were here. At that time though, we had nothing to offer except warm bodies. If that’s it, I need to get the ball rolling here. I need to contact the president, and whip the fleet into shape.”

  That didn’t sound good.

  “Into shape?” I asked.

  Janson chuckled, “The fleet is only staffed by a couple of soldiers on each ship right now. The rest are scientists from around the world trying to understand the technology, and toadies with political power that wanted health nanites to save or extend their lives. We have trained people, we just need to do some shuffling. As last time, there isn’t nearly enough time to get it done via normal government work. Fortunately, I have measures in place just in case the bastards came back, we’ll get it done. I need to light some fires.”

  Vik said, “Alright, I’ll start things here as well, otherwise we won’t be there in time to make a difference. Once the decision is made by your leaders, we can discuss and plan how to deal with it. Good luck Janson.”

  He laughed, and hung up on us.

  “That seemed almost too easy?”

  Vik grunted, “I didn’t consider they might do that. There is value to a treaty, and it’s a good first step if we expect that they’ll join the empire at some point in the future. Mutual support also means we won’t join them if they start trouble, but helping them against an invading force that won’t relent perfectly fits the definition.”

  I had my doubts on that second part, humans were too independent, but I didn’t doubt that Earth could make a good ally.

  They’d also make a terrible enemy.

  Telidur asked, “Orders?”

  Vik couldn’t have come up with a statement that would surprise us more.

  “We’re going to send two hundred ships via wormhole to Earth, before the Stolavii fleet is within the five-light year detection threshold, and cloak. If Earth agrees to the treaty officially, we’ll follow the Stolavii in system, and hit them hard from the rear right before they enter weapons range with the human fleet. We’ll be the hammer, and the Earth ships will be the anvil, unless Janson or one of you have a better plan. Oh, and I’m going to be in charge of the fleet.”

  We all stared at him in disbelief, and immediately started to object.

  Chapter Three

  Telidur shook his head, “Even what we just did to lure Tek in was iffy, we could have pretended you were on that fleet and went to a safe location.”

  I said, “There’s no way, you’re not going.”

  There was no point in citing all the reasons why, he knew them. He was the emperor, not a captain or even an admiral.

  Vik smiled at me, like he knew something I didn’t, and I wanted to punch him.

  “Jill, turn off all recording devices please.”

  Jillintara nodded, “Done.”

  Vik said, “I’m a terrible emperor. No, not terrible, but I’ve made mistakes. Mistakes that in hindsight were stupid and obvious, avoidable. I’m not cut out for the give and take of politics, I’m a warrior who commands. If I’d been better at my job Tek may have still rebelled, but we wouldn’t have had such a large problem with Jervistad, or with both planets.

  “You all know I spoke in private with my mother and sister the other day, and now I’m going to tell you what it was about. I’m stepping down as emperor, in favor of my sister. We decided me doing that during the internal issues would make the problems even worse, and destabilize the empire further. It will still cause a few waves, but now that Tek’s gone it won’t be anything too damaging, and in the long run things will improve quickly.

  “Solyra is young, but much more qualified, and much better suited for the give and take of politics and guiding the empire with a softer approach, but still with a firm hand. She’ll do better than I am, or ever could, and I’ll be her weapon when all else fails, uncompromising and in command of our fleets. I’ll be a lot happier, and in my element, as admiral and the head of our military.”

  Telidur asked, “She agreed with this?”

  He smirked, “It took a lot of fast talking, but in the end, I didn’t really give her a choice. Which… just proves that I’m not righ
t to be emperor. Yes, if I had no choice I could learn, adjust, but I’d have never been happy.”

  I was thunderstruck, we’d be back on a ship full time. Although, once things slowed down and settled, we’d probably be visiting and staying at the palace more than in the past. My first thought was that I’d have all my lovers to myself again, and each other of course, since I was now sharing Vik and Telidur with Jillintara. My second thought was that I’d miss Cyntariel, I almost laughed at that thought, a month ago I wouldn’t have given her a second thought, and would’ve been glad to get rid of the competition.

  Right then, I couldn’t really imagine my life without her, even if I didn’t love her yet.

  “When is that happening?” I asked, my mind still trying to catch up.

  He said, “Sometime today, as soon as she arrives back to the palace. She has a recording of my statement that I made that night, and will make her statement live right after she releases it, as she takes power.”

  “What about the treaty with Earth?”

  Vik shrugged, “She won’t object. Or at least, she would have by now if she did. She, my mother, and Cyntariel have been monitoring our meeting and conversation with Janson. Or at least, she was, up until I stopped all recording devices. Sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, we decided to keep it to the immediate family until the empire’s internal issues resolved themselves.”

  He looked around at all of us, “Any other questions, we need to get moving if we’re to be in place before the Stolavii ships get within five light years. Don’t talk about it after we leave this room, at least not until my sister releases it.”

  I shook my head, and no one had anything else either. I was still a little shocked that he’d given up being emperor. I could see the reasons he did so, but it was a lot of power to just discard. But then, I wouldn’t want it either…

  We didn’t waste any time, and I found myself switching out again and putting on a ship suit as opposed to the dress. We went back out to the shuttle field and back up to another destroyer. I felt a little guilty displacing a crew, but pushed that down as ridiculous. Still, I’d know I’d be disappointed. But the new ships would be ready in a few weeks.

  Hmm, I knew we’d be getting another scout-destroyer soon, but I wondered if four weeks after that we’d be getting one of the new cruisers, or perhaps a battleship? He was going to lead the military after all.

  Well, most of the crew was displaced.

  When we boarded the ship, a soft female voice said, “Welcome aboard, I’m Lyra.”

  Jillintara said, “Hi Lyra. I’ll be taking the engineering console on the bridge, otherwise the ship is still yours.”

  We stopped by our quarters first, not that we carried a lot around with us, but there were a few weapons to be put up. I’d had a few knickknacks as well, but they were destroyed when our old ship went up. I’d have to reproduce them. By the time I got onto the bridge, we were already moving out system at two hundred gravities.

  I checked the status on the secure network, and a lot of the two hundred ships assigned were already on the outskirts of Earth’s system and cloaked, many of the two hundred assigned had already been out system, so were able to wormhole there. There was also no indication that Vik was on this mission, I imagined his sister would release the information about the switch sometime before we got out of system, and then he’d officially take command of the mission. In the next seven hours or so.

  Vik asked, “Status?”

  Lyra replied, “All systems are optimal highness, our shielded missile complement is at eighty seven percent.”

  Vik ordered, “Call me captain please, Lyra. Or sir.”

  Lyra replied, “Understood, captain.”

  Vik nodded, “Fleet status?

  Jillintara said, “After the last engagement we have four hundred and sixty-two active ships remaining. Ten ships are around each empire planet or at the extra build system, two hundred ships are at or on route to Earth, and the two hundred two remaining are lurking outside several systems for quick responses.”

  “The Suaterans?”

  Jillintara said, “No change.”

  Vik grunted, “We haven’t gotten any rest since before the battle with Tek. Lyra, let us know when were far enough out for wormhole transition, I’ll be in my quarters. We can develop a tactical plan later, with Janson, once he comes through on his end.”

  We all followed suite, and retired to our quarters. I wasn’t really tired, but I wasn’t sure how much opportunity for sleep we’d have later. Surely there’d be some, we’d get to Earth almost twenty-four hours before the Stolavii did. Of course, there was a lot to do once we got there, planning and working out a treaty for instance, and there was the small matter of planning and coordinating battle tactics with the Earth fleet.

  Hmm, I wondered if we should sell them my new reactor core design. Their ships were still using the heavy element, and were only decently efficient because of turning off the gravity around the reactor. They were probably running in the high sixties, instead of the low seventies like we were.

  It probably didn’t matter, a lot of the destroyer fleet had that issue still, we’d only upgraded halfway through the year of that fleet build process. The important thing was that they had shielded missiles, shields almost as strong as a dreadnought, and I hoped Vik and Janson planned their battle around them.

  I laid down, closed my eyes, and tried to get my mind to turn off. A lot had happened since the last time I rested, and I was still a little in shock finding out Vik was stepping down as emperor. It was good for me, I liked being in space, on a ship, with my lovers. Still, what about Cyntariel?

  I missed her, and I doubted she’d be joining the military anytime soon. Well, as head of the fleet maybe he’d be on the ground more often, except when needed for fleet action? I shook my head, and pushed it all down…

  Chapter Four

  I was a little confused as I woke up and looked around, until I remembered the scout-destroyer had been blown up. I guessed I also got to sleep at some point. The door beeped, and I wondered if that’s what woke me up. I checked the net connection, I’d only been asleep three hours.

  “Come in.”

  The door slid open and Jillintara walked in with a subdued smile.

  “Hey, what’s up?” I asked as I returned her smile.

  Jillintara said, “Move over.”

  I scooted a bit as she disrobed, slid into bed next to me, and gave me a soft kiss. I slept in the nude too, so it felt really good as she snuggled against me.

  “This is nice, everything alright?”

  She nodded slightly, our noses brushed, and then she kissed me again. Then her hands wandered to very interesting places under the sheets.

  I blushed, “Our daughter is watching.”

  Jillintara giggled, which turned into full blown laughter and dragged me into some of my own.

  “Lyra, please disable all monitoring devices in this crew quarters.”

  I giggled, which quickly turned into a gasp as she pinched a nipple and nibbled on my bottom lip.

  “Hi,” I said breathily. I was totally under her spell, and very much awake.

  She said, “I hope you don’t mind, I was feeling lonely, and missed you.”

  I smirked, “My bed is your bed, my love, always.”

  She asked, “Cuddle and sleep?”

  I snorted, my smile turning into a wide naughty grin, “Oh, hell no, you need to finish what you started,” and it was my turn to pinch her flesh. I was her fault. Her kisses and touch had set my body on fire with need. She was so beautiful, loving, and just a little bit wicked. My breathing and heart beat picked up, and my nerves were alight with pleasurable anticipation of her touch.

  She gasped, slightly parted her lips, and my tongue took that as an invitation and slipped into her mouth, as our lips danced together in a soft but passionate kiss.

  Her hands left a trail of euphoric fire along my skin, and my hands wandered her supple curvaceous body try
ing to touch her everywhere at once with soft caresses.

  “I love you Lori,” she murmured into my mouth.

  I lost myself in her touch, as I said it in return, and rekindled our languorously decadent kiss with a teasing nip on her bottom lip. I was filled with passion, but at the same time I was in no rush for completion. The slowly building euphoria and ecstasy was mind blowing, sweet, and satisfying, more so because of how much I loved, adored, and cared for the woman in my arms.

  We teased each other toward completion slowly, with our wandering hands, soft touches, and kisses. Eventually, when it felt right, I moved my hand between her legs, and kissed down her neck, my fingers played in her tight moist heat. My lips teasingly soft on her neck and earlobes, a soft counterpoint to what my fingers were doing down below.

  I smiled against her warm tasty blue skin as her body arched and she cried out in passionate release, and her core locked around my fingers as her whole body trembled in ecstasy. I just held her as she slowly came down from that height.

  I squeaked as she pushed me on my back, and started to kiss her way down my body. My whole body practically vibrated in anticipation of what came next, and a gasp escaped my lips as she latched her mouth on my breast. I caressed her face, and played with her hair as she suckled me and teasingly ran her tongue around my nipple, her other hand softly cupping and caressing my soaked labia.

  I gasped, bit my lip, and shook with pleasure as a mini-orgasm rocked my body with bliss. It felt incredible, but I knew it was just a pale echo of the future, my body was already moving toward another, higher, and stronger.

  I knew she was just getting started, we were just getting started, and I sighed softly as she continued to kiss her way down my body. All I knew was, we had at least three more hours of rest time…