Quellis stepped into the large audience chamber. The black crystal walls reflected the light from several sources illuminating the chamber. Quellis approached the center of the room, stopping when he entered the small white crystal circle on the floor. To go past this point would mean immediate death, no one was allowed to approach the council members with out expressed consent and he didn't have it.
"Fleet Adjuct Quellis, welcome to the council chambers," a deep rough voice echoed through the room.
Quellis dropped to one knee, "Thank you Lord."
"Don't thank me yet. We have much to go over and your answers will decide your fate Fleet Adjuct," the voice responded.
Quellis inclined his head slightly as he peered into the darkness. He tried to make out the speaker but it was useless. The darkness at the end of the chamber seemed to absorb light. Quellis shivered slightly as he spoke, "My Lord?"
"Your failures in your assignment have been noted. We require an explanation as to why our expansion in this area has been halted," the voice said.
Quellis' mind spun as he tried to figure out how bad reports have gotten dispatched to the Throne World. He had been very careful to keep his reports vague and incomplete, hoping the by the time they had figured out what was going on that he would have that sector secured and it wouldn't matter.
"Well, do you care to explain why a flagship of this Empire was destroyed at the engagement in ED80-01 system?" the voice said.
"This ADF has a new weapon that rips our ships apart. I have yet to find a defense to this weapon," Quellis replied.
"Rips our ship apart? How so?" the voice said.
Quellis took a deep breath, "As far as we have been able to tell it creates vibrations in the crystalline structure of our ships. The vibration cause micro fragmentation and structural failure in most cases."
Some slight whispering came from the dark before the voice continued, "What about our allies? Do their cloaked ships not provide an edge?"
"Sometimes, they do. However, once again the ADF has found away to spot their ships even if they're cloaked," Quellis explained.
Again whispering came from the dark before the voice spoke, "Do we know how they are doing that? Is there away to combat this?"
"Our allies are working on that. We can't help them, their cloaking technology doesn't work on our ships and as such we don't have anyone proficient in the field," Quellis said.
"Well, get someone proficient in the field. Solve these problems and get us results. You have six months from this time to get these problems corrected and to capture Ghost Station. Do you understand?" the voice said.
Quellis bowed as he spoke, "Yes Lord."
Whispering came from the pitch black and the voice spoke once more, "We're assigning you the Kifaj Fleet to this end. You have full authority over the Invaru Home World to get these tasks done. Use their scientists and people however you please. Do not fail us Fleet Adjuct Quellis," the voice said.
Quellis bowed a bit deeper, "Yes Lord."
"We will speak of you're other failures based on your performance in the next six months," the voice said. "You're dismissed, take control of the fleet and leave at once, they have just entered orbit and are awaiting your arrival."
"Yes Lord," Quellis said as he turned to leave the chambers. A small smile crossed his face. He couldn't believe his luck he had expected to be executed and instead he was given a world and one of the best fleets in the Empire.
"One more thing," the voice said.
The smile on Quellis' face disappeared as he stopped in his tracks, "Yes Lord?"
"One of the High Inquisitors will be accompanying you he too awaits your arrival," the voice said.
Quellis frowned as the voice finished. An Inquisitor was not something he needed a High Inquisitor was even worse. Now he knew his every move would be monitored and there would be no escaping if he made a mistake. "Yes Lord," Quellis said as he walked from the chamber. Quellis was already thinking of ways the Inquisitor might meet his end if things went bad.
The small fleet dropped out of hyperspace at the outer markers on Ghost Station. Atlantis stood at a console in Engineering typing, rewriting large chunks of code. She had discovered the problem; Atlanta had replaced the code that controlled the nanites so that they couldn't communicate with the main computer core. She had also found several traps in the code, one of which they had tripped earlier. Now she was removing those traps and restoring the communication routines needed to make the nanites active again.
Ghost was standing beside her working on a different part of the broken code as the Vejaas technicians watched them work. Atlantis finished up the last of the repairs to the code as Ghost had completed her work.
"Let's hope this works," Atlantis said. She reached up and initialized the section of code they had just finished rewriting.
Ghost nodded as she monitored the subroutines come on line and begin to communicate with the nanites of everyone on board, "Routines online and communicating, everything seems to be with in working parameters."
Atlantis smiled as she said, "Transmitting repairs to Ghost Station to be broadcast to all vessels. Atlantis to Medical, I need a situation report on Terri's condition."
"On second Atlantis and I'll check on her. I take it you have solved the nanite problem," Kayla said.
"We think so, the real test is her current status," Atlantis responded.
"Well, I think you did it. Computers show the nanites are active and she has stabilized and her life signs are improving," Kayla's voice said. You could almost hear the relief as she spoke.
Jon's voice broke in, "I've been monitoring. All I can say it thank you from the bottom of my heart. Atlantis, you and Ghost go over every inch of code and see if you can find anything else."
"Yes Admiral," Atlantis said.
"Again my deepest thanks, Jon out," Jon said.
Atlantis smiled at Ghost as they both shared the moment.
Jon stood at the railing on the bridge of the Atlantis as he grinned and then visibly relaxed. Now he could concentrate on these new people and figure out what is up with them.
Rick came up and patted Jon on the back, "Great news."
Jon looked at his friend and smiled, "Yes it is, I was really worried I would lose her."
Rick nodded, "Ok, we're ready to bring our engines online when you give the word."
Jon ran his hand through his hair, "Time to get back to work huh? All right, contact Ghost Station and High Admiral Nataleo. Ask her to release the Atlantis and let Ghost Station know we have important visitors and to allow them passage."
Nataleo's face appeared on the main holo screen, "My lord, we're disengaging the tractor now. We will escort you to your berth before proceeding to ours."
Jon looked over at Rick and mouthed the words 'My Lord'.
Rick shrugged, indicating he had no idea.
"Thanks Admiral, I'll meet you in person on Ghost Station. I understand you need to speak to me," Jon said.
"When you wish My Lord," Nataleo said as she bowed. "I'll await your summons."
The holo screen went blank as the connection terminated. Jon turned and leaned against the rail as he looked at Rick. Just as he was about to speak Deatra and Opellissa stepped through the main doors and approached him.
Deatra leaned up against one side of him as Opellissa copied her on the opposite side. Deatra spoke once she was settled, "Terri has stabilized and has actually woke briefly. Kayla said she wasn't out of the woods yet, whatever that means. She said you would know what she meant."
Jon put an arm around each of the women as he smiled.
"Comfy," Rick asked as a huge grin spread across his face.
Jon winked, "Quite, thanks."
Rick laughed as a few other chuckles came from various bridge crew.
"What?" Jon asked as Deatra and Opellissa settled in a bit more.
Rick shook his head, "Nothing, just you seem to be accepting the situation pretty well."
"It's the bond, it helps adjust people to each other," Deatra said. "Our people have no such thing as divorce. The bond doesn't allow that, once bonded you become almost one with your significant other; or in this case others."
Jon groaned, "You mean I'm stuck with you two forever? What if I run across a sexy little woman that sparks my interest and wants to marry m..."
Both the women punched Jon hard enough to cut him off.
Jon threw his hands up, "Ok, I know when I've been beaten I'll just have to plow through and deal with it no matter how bad it g..."
Again the punched him this time give him a menacing look.
Once Jon recovered his breath he started again, "I know it's only going to get better. I mean I'm the luckiest man here. Your younger sister is going to bond to me and I'll have all the sisters under one room and be in complete command on the Royal Line." Jon said all this as he pulled them in tight so they couldn't punch him as easy again.
Rick's jaw dropped open.
Jon looked up at Rick with a gleam in his eye, "Oh, you didn't know they had another sister?"
"No, I had no idea," Rick said.
Jon was on to the two's little trickery and had figured it out about five minutes after he had left medical. Now it was his turn for revenge and he planned on doing just that.
"Yup, I'm going to be a busy man. I have to get all three pregnant and that will be a full time job in itself. I won't have time to breath let alone run the Empire. I think I'll start with the youngest and work my way up. That way I can have Deatra cooking and cleaning for the house. Opellissa can pick up around the house and keep the floors clean. I mean we're all going to be very busy. Once my sister recovers we will go back to Eutharan and I'll retire from leading the ADF," Jon said in a serious tone. Both women were now trying to break out of Jon's grip.
Deatra was the first to speak, "Start with the youngest? Cooking and cleaning? Let go of me so I can kick your ass."
Opellissa Settled down and fluttered her eyes at Jon, "Whatever you say master."
Deatra stopped struggling and stared at her sister.
Jon busted up laughing as he let them both go, "That was a dirty trick to play on me. You both almost gave me a heart attack. So, I paid you back. Opellissa I'm guessing caught on."
"Yeah, the grin on your face gave you away," Opellissa said.
Deatra finally recovered, "Ok, I guess we deserve that." Then she started laughing.
Jon raised an eyebrow.
Through her laugh, she said, "But, there really is another sister."
Jon's eyes got wide as he looked over at Opellissa who just nodded slightly with a small grin on her face. Jon groaned as he ran his hand down his face.
"And dear," Deatra said.
"Yeah?" Jon said in a mutter.
"She is coming to the station to meet you," Deatra said. "It's protocol and since we had to leave Eutharan she decided to come here."
Jon groaned again as his mind spun out of control thinking about having another wife.
"Anyway, we have to get back do to the kids," Deatra said.
Once both women were gone, Jon sat down in the command chair and thought about crying. Rick just stood with his back to him a huge grin on his face chuckling to himself.
Jon glared over at Rick, "All right Chuckles, bring us into our berth. I want Atlantis bumped to the top of the list for completion. I want her code gone over with a fine tooth comb and I want all medical system online and running per your wife."
Rick turned around a big grin on his face as gave Jon a salute, "Yes My Lord!"
Jon groaned again as he shook his head, "There's just one too many comedians on this vessel. You have the Bridge, I'll be in Medical with my sister and then I'll be greeting our new guests."
Rick nodded as he turned back and started issuing orders to the crew.
"You're sure of this information?" Quellis asked the figure kneeling at his feet.
"Yes," the figure said.
Quellis stood up, "How sure? On your life sure or just sure?"
"As I have told you. I personally know the Atlantis returned to Ghost Station. Jonathan Hunter has taken the mantle of King and now controls the Eutharan home world. Deatra is by his side and he has a new wife Opellissa. His wive's sister in route to Ghost Station as we speak. There are several ships at half strength protecting Eutharan and some of them have the new technology you want to examine," the kneeling figure said.
A human hand slid out from under the cloak and offered a device to Quellis. A small holo map sprung up from it displaying the universe. A hyperspace route was clearly visible on the map, "This is the sister's route to Ghost Station. You can intercept her and then proceed to Eutharan to capture whatever ships you need."
Quellis' cloak rustled as he stepped down from the command platform, "You have done a good job, return to Ghost Station and gather whatever other information you can."
The cloaked figure nodded at is rose from the floor, "Oh, by the way. The Atlantis will be in dry dock for the next three weeks."
Quellis' stopped in mid stride, "It is? How sure are you?"
"Yes, one hundred percent on it remaining in dry dock. I'm one of the main technicians on her and I can make sure she stays docked," the figure said.
"Do so," Quellis said as he stepped up on the command platform. "You're dismissed."
The figure nodded and left.
Quellis' second in command finally spoke, "Do you think it's a trap?"
"No, I have used this informant before and they have always been reliable," Quellis said. "Now all we need to do is form a plan quickly and strike while we have the upper hand."
"And the prophecies?" Quellis' second asked.
"Prophecies be damned, I don't believe in them anyway," Quellis said.
"Yes I know, but even you can't say they're not coming true," Quellis' second said.
Quellis nodded, "Yes, I know. But, I will not fall into thinking this is all destined to happen. Besides that they're not ours, they're from the races of this quadrant."
Quellis' second nodded, "True, however, they come from them all and they're all the same."
Quellis slammed his hand down, "Enough, you know I dislike speaking of such things. I have read them and reread them. Yes, they all say the same thing. But, that doesn't mean this is the man to do what they say."
Quellis' second kneeled, "I'm sorry to anger you."
"No need to apologize. The reason I made you my second is so I have another voice to give me another option besides my own," Quellis said. "Now, go plan how we're going to take advantage of this situation."
"Yes sir," Quellis' second got up and left the bridge.
Quellis rotated the small device in his hand before he set it down and look up at the screen before him that showed a small ADF shuttle entering hyperspace. He tossed the small device to the officer the Con, "Plot an intercept course to that hyperspace route. When it's plotted have the fleet enter hyperspace."
Thanks to my editor BoB_McC