A hologram of a person in blood red robes appeared on the bridge of every vessel simultaneously. The hood was pulled over its head so it covered the person's face. Several of the guards reacted and brought weapons to bear on the figure. Jon raised his hand and motioned them to lower their weapons.
"At ease, it's a hologram," Jon said. He walked up to the figure so he was standing directly in front of it.
Deatra and Sa'oliq stepped on to the bridge as the hologram start to speak.
"By order of the Ga'sahde, all hostilities are to cease," a woman's voice said. "This area of space is neutral and always has been declared a safe zone. Failure to comply will force a swift reaction that no one will like. The Atlantis and her crew are under the protection of the Ga'sahde and Captain Hunter has been declared the High Councilor and attack on his vessel is an attack on the Ga'sahde."
"Who do you think you are," Prasuh's voice said. "The Ga'sahde has been extinct for hundreds of years. How do I know this isn't some kind of trick?"
A second hologram of Prasuh faded into view next to the cloaked figure as it spoke, "I assure you Captain Prasuh this is no trick. We have been waiting for the time to come forward and the time is now."
"Terri?" Jon said.
The cloaked figure's head turned to look directly at Jon as she spoke, "I'm sorry Councilor. I'm Arianna, Captain of the Desmodi, a battleship of the Ga'sahde fleet."
"Too bad," Jon said. "Tactical lock the Ga'sahde vessel and prepare to fire."
"Captain Hunter," Prasuh said. "You can't be serious, if they are who they say they are..."
"I don't give a damn about you or your quest," Jon said. "These people have killed my sister and I will have my revenge."
"That is your right," Arianna said. "We will do nothing to stop you. Whatever you feel you need to do the Ga'sahde will follow. If you must destroy this vessel to have peace in your heart, then do so." Arianna pulled her hood back as she spoke. Golden hair mixed with hints of red hair fell to her shoulders. A tattoo of red and gold marked her face in a strange symbol. It began at her chin and ended just above her right eye, it covered most of her face on left side. Her exposed ears had two slight points and her left ear had a small cuff attached to it. Her pale blue eyes showed no hint of fear or sorrow as she stared in Jon's direction.
When she revealed her face the reaction was immediate. People on all ships bowed and knelt on one knee. The fighting immediately stopped and gasps and murmurs filled all ships. Even Prasuh was silent as he knelt, his head bowed.
Jon looked around his bridge; over half his crew was doing the same, including Deatra and Sa'oliq. Jon looked back up at Arianna trying to figure out what to do as she knelt and bowed her head. "Please forgive us Councilor," Arianna said. "All isn't as it seems to you right now."
"Three more fold events," Tactical said. "One of the events is very ... Oh, my god I have never seen anything like that."
"On screen," Jon said.
The main viewer changed from the battlefield to the area of the incoming fold events. A ship twice the size of a Super Carrier suddenly appeared. Two beams reached out and grabbed the two disabled ADF vessels and began pulling them towards the larger ship.
"What the hell is that and what is it doing?" Jon said.
"Councilor," Arianna said. "That is our flagship the Odarius. She is towing the disabled vessels in to start rescue and repair operations. The two other ships are her escorts."
"A ship that size needs escorts?" Jon said.
"The Odarius is well protected," Arianna said. "However, even a well protected ship needs some additional protection. Her normal fleet is about sixty ships, from the transport ships all the way up to carriers."
Jon looked back at Arianna as he thought for a second. She was still knelling as she spoke to him. "Arianna," Jon said. "I want you here right now. I have some questions and how I react will be determined by your answers."
"The captain of the Odarius is my superior," Arianna said. "He would know more than I."
"Fine contact him and you both will report to me immediately," Jon said.
"Transmissions coming in from the Earth's Revenge and Titan," the Com officer said. "They're reporting repairs underway with partial power restored. The Titan is reporting heavy casualties and the Earth's Revenge is reporting light casualties."
"I've shifted extra repair bots to the two ships to assist in their repairs," Atlantis said.
"Good keep me informed," Jon said. "I'll be in the briefing room. Have our guests shown the way when they arrive. Deatra and Sa'oliq care to join me?"
"Wouldn't miss it," Deatra said as she walked past Jon.
"Me either," Sa'oliq said. "This is going to be interesting."
"That's not the word I would use," Jon murmured as he followed them into the briefing room.
Ten minutes later Jon received a call announcing that the two Ga'sahde had landed and was on their way to him. Jon looked up at Deatra as a thousand things went through his mind. Sa'oliq had been silent and pacing slightly ever since they'd entered the briefing room.
Jon eyed her for a second before he spoke, "Sa'oliq why are you on edge?"
Sa'oliq stopped and looked at Jon for second before she spoke, "You really have no idea who they are do you? You have no idea of the power you have now that you speak for them."
"I don't speak for them," Jon said, his tone was flat with a hint of anger. "I don't want anything to do with these people. Don't you both understand that?"
"In a way you do," Deatra said. She stepped forward to stand next to him. "You have already acknowledged your status over them."
Jon shook his head as he spoke, "No I haven't. I never will."
Deatra glanced at Sa'oliq and then returned her attention back on Jon. "You ordered them here. That alone tells them you recognize your authority over them."
"When you did that, you accepted the position," Sa'oliq said.
"That can be cleared up," Jon said. He narrowed his eyes as he thought about what was being said.
"No it can't," Deatra said. "There is no clearing it up. When you gave your first order you accepted the position as their leader and spokes person."
"This is true," Sa'oliq said. She nodded her head as she agreed. "The laws clearly state once the first order is given the leader's position is sealed, even Invaru law states it."
"Old laws," Jon said.
"You can't keep the ones you want and throw the rest out," Deatra said. "It doesn't work that way."
"That's how it worked for my people," Sa'oliq said. "I offered and you accepted and gave us our first command. From that point on you are the ruling figure, I'm nothing more than your voice."
Jon sighed and slumped in his chair a bit as he stared at both women. "You're right, I don't like it, but you're right. So, what am I going to do about my vengeance problem and then my quitting the ADF in the process?"
Deatra bent down and brushed Jon's bangs back and she ran a hand down the side of his face. She felt a shiver of pleasure through their bond as she did so. She smiled as she spoke, "My beautiful lover, the object of all my desire and love. When are you going to learn?"
Jon arched an eyebrow as he felt his temperature jump from Deatra's touch. "Learn what?" Jon stammered as he worked to control the reaction from her touch.
"You can't quit," Deatra said. "The ADF or as leader of any of the people you bring into the ADF. Everyone is still waiting on you to come back at the station. I've been in contact the whole time and have been issuing orders in your stead."
"Finally used some of the power I let you have?" Jon said as he shivered again.
"You have been training me in case choices need to be made and you can't be contacted have you not?" Deatra said. "What better time than now?"
"Sneaky, yet thoughtful," Jon said. It was Deatra's turn to shiver as Jon reached up and cupped her chin. He pulled her face close and kissed her, she melted as passion flowed through her body.
Sa'oliq cleared her throat. "You two need me to step outside and lock the door for a bit?"
"No," Jon said as he regained his composure.
"Then please stop as you two are working me up and if you keep going I might have to excuse myself!" Sa'oliq said.
Deatra giggled as Jon smiled. "Sorry."
"Deatra is correct," Sa'oliq said. She sat down and folded her arms on the table. "Even if you quit and walked away. Everyone would follow you, even if we had to shadow you."
"So, I'm stuck," Jon said.
Deatra and Sa'oliq nodded in unison.
"Then what do I do about the Ga'sahde?" Jon said.
Deatra sat back down and grabbed Jon's hand. "You let it go and move on. Though I have a feeling Terri's not dead."
"I can't feel her through the bond," Jon said. "I have always been able to lightly feel her through the bond."
"Neither can I," Deatra said. "But, that doesn't mean she is dead. I just have a feeling by some of the things Arianna has said."
"Yes," Sa'oliq said. "The, 'All is not as it seems.', told me something was up."
Jon leaned back as he released Deatra's hand. "Yeah, I caught that too. I just didn't make any type of connection."
The com beeped ending their conversation.
"Yes," Jon said.
"Sir," a female voice said. "We have an unarmed shuttle from the Marudas asking for clearance to land."
Jon wrinkled his brow and looked at Deatra who shrugged her shoulders, followed by a similar response from Sa'oliq. "Did they give a reason?" Jon said.
"They say they have Captain Prasuh on board and he is here for your meeting with the Ga'sahde," the female voice said. "According to scans there are only two people on the shuttle."
"I didn't invite them, turn them away," Jon said.
"We did," Arianna said as she stepped through the door. "They have a right to join if they so wish. Captain Prasuh expressed that wish and we're obligated to accept that request."
"You might be, I'm not," Jon said as he stood up. "That Invaru will not step foot on this ship."
A slightly taller figure dressed in silver robed lined in red stepped around Arianna and spoke, "Are you casting out the Invaru my lord?" a deep male voice said.
Jon caught the expressions of concern cross the faces of Sa'oliq and Deatra. "Please drop your hoods, I like to see who I'm talking to. What do you mean by casting out?"
The man's face was etched with silver and red runes from his chin and up along his nose. Where the runes contacted his forehead they spread out to the left and right respectively. Close cropped silver hair covered his head as steel grey eyes took in everything around him. "Sorry my lord, I'm Gabriel."
"Jon, casting out is..." Sa'oliq stopped mid sentence as Gabriel looked in her direction. "I'm sorry for speaking out of turn." Sa'oliq knelt and bowed to Gabriel.
"Excuse me?" Jon said. "You can finish Sa'oliq."
Gabriel's gaze switched to Jon.
"What?" Jon said. He stood up as if challenging Gabriel.
Gabriel's eyes didn't waver as he stared Jon down.
"This is my ship and I'll say who can or can't speak. Sa'oliq is one of my councilors and as such has the right to speak in my presence at anytime. Deatra is my fiancé and as such has the right to give orders in my stead. If you have a problem with this you can leave and return to the planet," Jon said.
Gabriel glanced at Arianna, who had taken a knee, and then back at Jon, "You mean my ship, don't you?"
"No, I mean the planet," Jon said. "I'm in command here and you'll either learn that or I'll replace you with someone who does."
Gabriel's eye twitched for a second as he thought about what Jon had said.
Arianna glanced up at Gabriel and slightly shook her head.
"Do I make myself clear?" Jon said.
"Of course my lord," Gabriel said. He knelt on one knee and bowed his head. "My apologies, it has been a long time since we've had a leader."
Jon sat back down as he spoke, "I understand this is awkward for both of us. You're used to commanding the Ga'sahde."
Gabriel looked up at Jon, started to speak and then stopped himself.
"Say what is on your mind," Jon said. "It's one thing I promote on my ships. I don't profess to know everything and people speaking is how I learn."
"My Lord," Gabriel said. "Different leaders lead differently. Some are strict and allow only certain people to speak, some are not. It's just a matter of learning how the current leader handles things. The last leader only allowed certain people to speak in her presence."
"Can the 'My Lord', my name is Jon you can address me as such," Jon said. "I'm not very formal as far as titles go." Gabriel nodded as a small smile crossed his face. "Com, give the Invaru shuttle permission to land. Have a squad of Marines meet them in the hanger and detain them there until I get this figured out."
"Yes Sir," a female voice said.
"I have other questions, but it's obvious I must once again put my wants behind me. Sa'oliq you were saying?" Jon said.
Sa'oliq nodded, but she glanced nervously at Gabriel who nodded his head slightly.
Jon caught the brief look and nod. A loud bang echoed in the room as Jon's hand slammed into the table. Everyone in to room jumped at the sudden noise.
"That's it," Jon said as he stood up. "Both of you wait outside." Jon motioned to Gabriel and Arianna.
"My Lord?" Gabriel said. Arianna and Gabriel had both stood up. Arianna was already making her way to the door. Gabriel was staring at Jon in disbelief.
"What is so hard to understand?" Jon said. "Let's try this one, return to your ship. You're confined to quarters until I speak to you again."
Arianna stopped in her tracks and turned to look at Jon as she gasped.
"Have I done something to displease you?" Gabriel said.
Jon's eyes narrowed as he stood up. "Your presence here is a disruption. Your lack of following my orders, when I give them, makes me uneasy. Even though I understand I'm newly appointed and that alone will take time to get used to. I want you off my ship; I want to finish what brought you here in the first place."
Gabriel turned and left the room without another word.
"Good," Jon said. "Maybe he's starting to understand. Com, get me the current commanding officer of the Odarius. Arianna sit, please." Jon said as he motioned to a chair.
"Sir, I have Lieutenant Tasnie from the Odarius," a female voice said.
"Put them through please," Jon said.
A man a bit younger that Gabriel appeared on the screen in the briefing room. Jon stood up and stepped in from of the screen. "You know who I am?" Jon said.
The man knelt as he said, "Yes my Lord."
"Good," Jon said. "Captain Gabriel is on his way back. He is to remain in his quarters until I contact him."
The man's eyes widened slightly. "My Lord," the man said. "If you'll excuse me but it's Admiral Gabriel."
"I'm sorry," Jon said. "Admiral Gabriel is to remain is his quarters until I contact him."
"Yes, my Lord," the man bowed slightly.
"Are you sure you don't have a problem with this?" Jon said. "If you do I'll find someone else to command the Odarius in the mean time."
A slight smile crept into the man face as he spoke, "No my Lord, it will be as you wish."
Jon nodded and cut the connection. "Nice to see that even the Ga'sahde has flaws," Jon said as he retook his seat. "Now about this 'casting out' business, what is it?"
Arianna spoke up this time, "If you, and by you I mean the leader, exclude a race from formal talks in a neutral area of space you cast them out of the Unified Ga'sahde Treaty. They will have all their rights and privileges revoked and no longer are able to call for our services or help from other Treaty members. It is something done only as a last resort and has never been invoked before. The Treaty allows all members to be present at all formal meetings, they can't be turned away."
"The Invaru don't follow this treaty anyway," Jon said. "What difference does it make if I choose to cast them out? I mean they have been nothing but trouble and the Ga'sahde have been inactive for a long time."
"Jon," Deatra said. She stepped up next to him and laid a hand on his arm. "You don't understand it completely. I you do this you mark them all for death. They will be attacked on sight and not allowed to enter any space controlled by a member of the treaty."
Jon looked at Deatra with a blank expression as he spoke, "So?"
"All of them Jon," Deatra said. "Even the people, who have done nothing wrong, like innocent women and children living on their home planet."
Jon blinked for a second then looked at Arianna who nodded in reply to his unspoken question. "Com, have the Invaru escorted to the briefing room and double the Marines on the bridge."
Minutes later Prasuh stepped into the briefing room. He bowed slightly to Arianna and Deatra, and then scowled at Sa'oliq. "Your people are going to pay for what you have done," Prasuh said. "No one breaks from the Empire, no one."
Sa'oliq stared back at Prasuh as if she didn't hear what he had just said.
"Captain Prasuh," Jon said. "You can either join this meeting or you can be escorted back to your shuttle. Either way the threats will stop and you will conduct yourself in a dignified fashion, am I understood?"
"Of course Captain hunter," Prasuh said. He took a seat at the far end of the table. "Please forgive my outburst."
"Back to business," Jon said. He sat down and looked at Arianna as he spoke. "You're here for one reason. I want to know what happened to my sister."
Arianna opened her mouth to speak, but Jon held his hand up and stopped her.
"Remember one thing," Jon said. "How you answer is how I'll react. I came here to wipe the Ga'sahde out for the death of my sister. Now, I have reason to believe she might still be alive. I want the truth or there will be problems."
Prasuh sat watching Jon speak, a small smile crossed his face when he heard that Terri might be dead. It was just a bonus that the Ga'sahde had done the deed. Maybe this whole thing will be solved here and the thorns pressing into the Empire's side will remove each other.
"Jon?" Deatra said.
Jon tapped the side of his head to answer her.
Deatra closed her eyes and let her mind expand as she searched. Seconds later she found what she was looking for; it was there although it was very dim. A smile crossed Deatra's face as she opened her eyes and grasped Jon's hand and squeezed it.
"She is alive," Arianna said.
Jon stood up as he spoke, "Take me to her right now."
"I can't," Arianna said.
"Can't or won't?" Jon said. He leaned down and planted two fists on the table as he stared at Arianna.
"No one sees her unless she requests it," Arianna said. "I can send a formal request on your behalf if you'd like."
"Interesting times," Prasuh said. He stood up and walked towards the door. "In house problems, missing sisters and conflicts everywhere, this is going to be good and I wouldn't miss it for the world. However, I think I'll watch from the side lines if you don't mind."
"Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out," Jon said.
Prasuh stopped in mid stride and looked back at Jon an eye brow arched in question.
"Sorry," Jon said. He grinned at Prasuh. "Old human saying."
"Meaning?" Prasuh said.
"See you later and don't bother hurrying back," Jon said. "At least that's how I always took it."
"You know, one of these days these human sayings will all be extinct and you with them," Prasuh said. He stepped through the doorway and was gone.
"Com to Captain Hunter," a female voice said. "Transmission from the planet, they're requesting to speak to you."
Jon looked up at Arianna an unspoken question on his face. She reached up and tapped the side or her head were what looked like a piece of jewelry hung.
"Put them through please," Jon said. He turned and looked at the viewer in the room waiting for the transmission to be put through. His heart pounded loudly in his chest as he was almost certain who would be popping up on the screen.
"Jon," Terri's voice said. The screen remained blank and that puzzled Jon a bit.
"Terri," Jon said. His voice was almost frantic with relief. "Why can't I see you?"
"You don't want to see me right now," Terri said. "I'm still healing and having work done to repair the damages from the fight."
"I don't care, I want to see you," Jon said. "I'll come down right now."
"Jon," Terri said. "I'm fine and even if you came down you wouldn't be allowed to see me right now. It's part of the ritual for me ascending and taking the leadership of the Ga'sahde."
"This is a trick isn't it?" Jon said. Something was wrong and he felt it deep down. Jon spun in Arianna's direction ready to spring at her. "I don't like people playing games with me, not in this fashion."
"No, it's not a trick Slinky," Terri's voice said. It was term never used in the presence of others, a pet name she had for him and only Terri would know it. "There's more going on here than you know. I'll brief you at Eutharan when we meet there. I've ordered the Odarius to escort the Earth's Revenge and Titan back to Ghost Station. I've also had a very long talk with Gabriel and he now understands his place. I'm sorry about his reception to you."
"Eutharan?" Jon said.
"Yes, there's some matters of importance that we both need to address there," Terri said. "As soon as I'm well enough to travel I'll be following you."
"I don't," Jon said.
"You do know what you need to do there," Terri said. "You might not know right now but you will after you arrive. The Desmodi will accompany you there as your escort vessel."
"I thought I was the one in command," Jon said. He was smiling as he said it.
"You are," Terri said. "You have command of the ADF and Ga'sahde, which I'm entering into the ADF as of now. You just need a little push in the right direction. I have a bit more information than you do on current situations. Before you ask, no I can't give just give it to you. That is something prohibited by the treaty, that I'm now bound too."
"I understand," Jon said.
"No you don't. You think you do, but really you don't," Terri said. "Now, I need to get some rest. I'll talk to you at Eutharan and Jon."
"Yes?" Jon said.
"I love you with all my heart," Terri said.
"I love you too," Jon said.
"Take care," Terri said.
"You too," Jon said. The transmission ended and Jon turned back to Arianna. "Get your vessel ready to depart."
"My Lord," Arianna said as she bowed, then turned and left to room.
"Well ladies," Jon said. "It looks like we're going to Eutharan."
"I'm going home," Deatra said.
Jon smiled at Deatra as he spoke, "Told you I'd get you back there."
"Yes, that way you two can be married," Sa'oliq said.
"A proper state ceremony," Deatra said. She was practically glowing in excitement.
Jon moaned.
Ten minutes later The Atlantis and Desmodi folded
out
of the system to begin their journey to Eutharan. Unseen to them half
the Invaru fleet still in orbit followed as the other half returned
back to their home.