Jon looked stood on the observation deck looking out on Euthara. The planet looked much like Earth from space, white clouds, blue oceans and land masses covered in forests and deserts. Four main cities, one on each continent could be seen from space. From what he understood this is where the bulk of the Eutharan people lived. Smaller settlements were scattered about, but none of them numbered over five thousand people.
No industries were allowed planet side and all manufacturing was done on space platforms in orbit of the three moons or on the surface of the moons themselves. This practice actually led to the rapid development of their technology and preserved their environment for future generations.
Mining was strictly forbidden planet side or on the moons in orbit and was punishable by banishment from the solar system or worse. Two planets over was a gas giant that had several gas mining stations in orbit and just beyond that was two planet with major mining installations with the moons in between having small mining corporations scatted about.
Despite all the precautions for the preservation of Euthara's eco system the Eutharan people were dying out slowly. Birth had declined by fifty percent in the last ten years and deaths from natural causes have risen by sixty percent. Even the animal and plant life was suffering from the effect. Total population of Eutharan was just under one billion and declining.
"Something just isn't right with this picture," Jon said as he lean heavily on the rail in front of him.
"What do you mean?" Deatra said. She stepped up behind him as he gave a sight jump in surprise.
"Jesus, you scared me," Jon said as he turned to hug her. "I didn't know you were here. I thought you were taking care of Sam."
"Oojoung has her," Deatra said. She was staring out the window towards her home planet. "They're playing hide and seek. Now what did you mean by something being wrong?"
"I just think there's something going on here that just doesn't add up," Jon said. "Euthara has an almost perfectly balanced eco system. There's no reason for the rise in deaths or the low birth rates."
Deatra nodded as she spoke, "Some of our finest scientists have worked to find a solution or a cause to the problem."
"And?" Jon said.
"Nothing has been found that could cause it," Deatra said. "The whole thing has been written off as natural and they expect births and deaths to start balancing out eventually."
"Another thing I don't understand is the lack of a defense fleet," Jon said. "We showed up here and no one has done anything to question us or attempt to stop us." Jon's com beep as the last words left his mouth.
'Captain, ' a female voice said.
"This is Hunter go ahead," Jon said. Then to Deatra he said, "Maybe I spoke too soon."
'Sir, a Eutharan vessel is approaching us on an intercept course and demanding to speak to you, ' a female voice said.
"Yep, too soon," Jon said. "Patch them through down here."
'Patching them through, ' the female voice said.
Jon turned to face the only screen in the room as it came to life. Displayed on the screen was an older Eutharan dress in a fleet issue uniform that displayed his rank as an admiral.
"Admiral Mequa," Deatra said. "Tough as nails and a by the book man."
"Good to know," Jon said. "Admiral, how can I help you?"
"Captain Hunter I'm guessing," Mequa said.
"That is correct," Jon said. "What can I do for you Admiral?"
"To the point I like that," Mequa said. "What you can do for me is power down your engines and prepare for my arrival for inspection. No vessels are allowed to approach Euthara without permission or invitation by the King or Queen."
"I don't remember inviting you aboard my ship, Admiral," Jon said. "We're flying royal colors of the House of C'loth, I'm bond mate to Princess Deatra C'loth and we're returning for the formal wedding."
Deatra's eyes widened in joy, this was the first she had heard of this. Suddenly she was very excited to be going home. Finally she would be married and be able to take her rightful place as next in line for the throne.
"If you'll excuse me Captain Hunter," Mequa said as he stood up from his chair. "I don't know you and those colors you're flying mean nothing if I don't know you. For all I know it could be a ruse for you to gain entry into our port for some unknown reason."
"Oh come now, I know you have heard of the human bonding with the Princess. It has been the talk for some time between every Eutharan I know. Even other races have heard of the bonding. You can't tell me you don't know, a man in your position would make it his job to know everything going on that affect Euthara," Jon said. He was watching for a reaction from Mequa as he spoke. Nothing of what he said got the reaction he wanted; Mequa was good at hiding his emotions. "Don't tell me you haven't heard that I control Ghost Station either." Mequa glanced off to the side of the screen and then quickly shifted his eyes back to Jon. That told Jon all he needed to know, everyone slips up it's just a matter of finding what makes them do it.
"Sorry, Ghost Station?" Mequa said in a strained voice as if he was trying to hide something. "Never heard of it."
"You have never heard of Ghost Station?" Jon said as he raised an eyebrow. "A station that was once garrisoned by the Eutharan people and their allies. The central point for their operations as well as the main source of their ships."
"Well," Mequa said.
"Look, don't lie to me," Jon said. "I know you know that I know that you know about Ghost Station. Lying gets people nothing but distrust. It makes me think you have other reason for wanting to come on board my vessel. Which we both know is Atlantis and she holds the keys to the station. Your people have already sent someone to try to take the station by force and in the process almost got my sister killed. I'm not too happy about that and will be speaking to someone about that little incident. You also know I'm who I say I am and you know I have the right to approach Euthara. If by some wild chance you really don't know let me show you my proof." Jon reached out and took Deatra's hand and moved her into the picture.
"Admiral Mequa," Deatra said. "How is your mother?"
"Princess," Mequa said. "I ... um, my mother is fine. I didn't know you were a board."
"Really, you didn't have any clue?" Deatra said. "Maybe I should speak to the Fleet Admiral about how your memory is slipping. It might be time for you to retire if you're forgetting your training and losing control or your crew. I'm pretty sure according to custom I did send a transmission of my coming visit."
"I didn't receive it," Mequa said. "And I haven't seen any such transmissions."
"Doesn't all transmission pass through your ship as it is the flag ship?" Deatra said.
Jon was taking mental notes on how Deatra was laying the trap for Mequa. He smiled slightly inside as he watched her careful manipulation.
"Yes, they do and I'm saying I've seen no such transmission," Mequa said. He was fidgeting slightly now as he worked to get himself out of the spot he was in.
"So, what you're telling me is you are losing control of your ship and what happens on it?" Deatra said as she crossed her arms and fixing him a hard stare.
"I ... uh," Mequa said.
"Perhaps you should look those records back over Admiral," Deatra said as she raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, certainly as soon as I get a chance I'll..." Mequa said.
"No, you'll do it now so we can resolve our current situation," Deatra said as she pointed at the screen. "You'll also give my bondmate, soon to be heir for the throne, proper recognition. As long as I'm around I'll not let him be stepped on by anyone. Do I make myself clear?"
Mequa bowed as he spoke, "Yes, your highness."
Jon finally spoke up, "I have a question for you Admiral."
"Yes?" Mequa said as he locked Jon with a stare.
Deatra glared daggers at Mequa as she frowned at him.
"Excuse me?" Jon said. "How did you just address me?"
Mequa lost color in his face as he realized his mistake.
Deatra raised her hand and pointed at the screen as she spoke, "You guards confine Admiral Mequa to his quarters until he learns some manners. When you do that Admiral you may contact me and then we can talk about you being reinstated. Until then you will sit and think about how you act around my bond mate."
Two guards dressed in combat armor escorted a protesting Mequa from the bridge as a younger Eutharan wearing commander insignias stepped into view. "I'm second in command of the Ha'ith, Captain Aneoi. Maybe I can answer your question your Highness."
"Thank you, I just wanted to know what took you so long to respond to our presence in system?" Jon said. "Had we been an attacking fleet it would have been over before you got here."
"The fleet is spread thin," Aneoi said. "I believe you have the Titan at Ghost Station, if the reports are correct. We have two carriers in the next system over and two battleship class vessels out on a ranged patrol."
Jon raised an eyebrow in question as he spoke, "That's it? That's your fleet?"
"Yes M'lord," Aneoi said.
Jon glanced at Deatra who nodded in response and then turned his eyes back to Aneoi as he spoke, "Why so small?"
"Actually, the fleet is very large," Aneoi said.
"How so? I wouldn't call six ships very large," Jon said.
"We have over two hundred vessels in our fleet," Aneoi said. "These are just the remaining ships that are functioning."
"I'm confused," Jon said as he reached up and rubbed his forehead. "You have over two hundred vessels but you only have six operational? How is that possible?"
"That is correct, the rest are in dry dock needing repairs or have been salvaged to make the ones we have functional," Aneoi said. "We also lack the crew for the other ships, the ones we might be able to get back up and running that is."
"Why are you not training crews from your population to crew these ships?" Jon said. "At the very least the one you can put into service right away?"
"Uh, well that is a complicated issue," Aneoi said.
Jon shook his head in disbelief at what he was hearing. "Atlantis."
Atlantis appeared beside Jon and Aneoi let out a small gasp as he muttered, "A functioning AI." A look of amazement crossed his face as he stared at Atlantis.
"Yes, among other things," Jon said as he turned to Atlantis and was about to speak when his Tactical officer contacted him. "Hunter here report."
'Sir, the Desmodi has dropped out of fold and is approaching our location, ' a male voice said.
"Hail them and have them take up station next to us as escort," Jon said.
On the screen Aneoi was talking to someone off screen, "What just dropped out of fold? Impossible they haven't been seen in hundreds of years."
'Sir, I ran a database check and that is a Ga'sahde Battleship, ' a voice off screen said.
Aneoi looked at Jon his eyes widening as another voice spoke up off screen, 'Sir, we're being hailed by the new vessel.'
"On speakers," Aneoi said.
'Eutharan vessel, this is the Terri Hunter-C'loth, Patriarch of the Ga'sahde. The Atlantis and her crew are under the protection of the Ga'sahde and any acts of aggression against them or their vessel will not be tolerated. Let it be known Jonathan Hunter-C'loth is the House Primus and shall be afforded those rights by that rank in the Ga'sahde, ' Terri's voice said.
Jon's head pulsed in pain as the nanites received a transmission, 'Brother, I'm well and I'll be coming to the Atlantis as soon as we're alongside you.'
Jon reached up and pressed the palms of his hands against his temples. An effort that didn't dull the pain, in all this time it was still something that caused him pain. Very few people in the ADF could use the nanites this way without getting a headache. 'I'll talk to you when you get here, we're in the observation room, ' Jon sent back. He stumbled a bit as the connection was broken and the room swam.
Deatra reached out and grabbed his arm to help steady him as she spoke, "Terri?"
Jon nodded at Deatra as he opened a channel to the bridge, "Terri's coming allow her to dock." Deatra's face glowed from learning that Terri truly was alive and well.
You could almost hear the excited chatter break out on the bridge as the response came back, 'Yes Sir!'
Jon turned his attention back to the screen that now showed a kneeling Aneoi who spoke with his head bowed, "My apologies, I had no idea you carried that rank."
"I try not to force titles down people's throats," Jon said. "To be honest it's a recent development and for the love of all that holy stand up. I'm not that formal. Now where were we? Ah, yes, I remember now. Atlantis, I want scans of those ships and reports on their conditions. I would assume Aneoi wouldn't mind sending their location."
"No need Captain," Atlantis said. "They're in storage around the space dock on the second moon in orbit of Euthara. I'll dispatch some of my whiskers to do the scan. However, I can tell you the space dock is powered down along with almost every mining operation and or industrial complex in scan range. Most of the have been offline for a very long time."
"Strange," Jon said as he looked back towards Aneoi. "Why would all of these be shutdown?"
"My Prince," Aneoi said as he tried to hedge around the issue. "That is part of the complex problem I mentioned."
"Atlantis, have Mike and Brad go over and take a look at the dock. See if they can get it up and running again," Jon said.
"Sir," Aneoi said. "I can't allow that. That station as well as all other outposts and complexes are off limits by order of the King."
"You can't stop me," Jon said.
"I'm duty bound to the King and I would have to try," Aneoi said. His tone left no room for doubt or in his conviction to what he said. "Even if it meant the death of myself and everyone aboard this vessel."
Jon glanced at Deatra who gave him a slight nod.
"Well, I wouldn't want that," Jon said. "I'll settle for the scan for now and I'll talk to the King about gaining access."
Atlantis nodded as she disappeared just as Terri appeared next to Jon in a shimmer of multi-hued light.
She was very different from the last time he had seen her. She was dressed from head to toe in red and gold etched battle armor. Her hair was pulled back into a tight braid and wrapped around her neck, secured there from moving with a thin golden hair pin. Streaks of gold and platinum ran through her hair from the scalp to the end of the braid. Her face was no longer spotless and unblemished as he remembered. A red band outlined in gold covered most of her forehead and dipped slightly in the center as though pointing to her nose. Both of her eyes were framed in a deep blood red that looked like it had been allowed to run down her face. Her lips were the color of copper and shimmered in the light. Her emerald green eyes now had silver and golden flecks in them. Her hand rested on the hilt of a sword that hung at her waist.
It took a second for Jon to react. This wasn't the way he expected Terri to arrive, "Terri!" He squeezed her in a hug that made her armor creak. She rested her head on his shoulder as she returned the hug.
"I'm sorry for your pain, it was the only way the trial could end," Terri said in a soft voice.
Jon pulled back and stared into her eyes as he grinned, "I don't care about all that, I'm just happy you're alive!"
"It was the nanites that saved me," Terri said as she reached up and wiped a tear from Jon's cheek. "I was supposed to die, but somehow the dampening field failed and allowed the nanites to reactivate. With no rules on that they just pushed forward with the ceremony of ascension." Terri released Jon as she turned to Deatra. "Sister, I hope you fair well." Deatra and Terri both rested their hands on each other's shoulders and touched foreheads in greeting.
"I'm fine and happy now that you're back with us," Deatra said as she pulled back then wiped the tears from her face.
"Always," Terri said. "I've made the Atlantis my seat of power for Ga'sahde operations while I'm out and about. That is, if it's ok with her Captain." Terri grinned at Jon.
"I'm sure her Captain has no problem with that," Jon said as he winked at Terri. "I know him personally and we see eye to eye on a lot of things."
Aneoi cleared his throat on screen to get Jon's attention.
Jon looked up at the screen and scowled for a second before he spoke, "Yes?"
"Once we get you settled in Sire," Aneoi said. "I'll look into the matter of allowing you access to the space dock and the ships stored there. However, I don't know how we will crew them. I already have an audience with the King set up for you about this matter. He's most anxious to see you and his daughter."
Terri turned to the screen and looked the Eutharan over as she spoke, "That won't be necessary, I've already dispatched people to the space dock to bring it back on line. That includes Mike and Brad." The last part she said as she looked at Jon. "Hope you don't mind that I've made that call."
"Not at all," Jon said. "Your position in the ADF is still in force and I would say you even have a bit more clout."
"Um, Mistress Hunter," Aneoi said as he gulped hard. "I can't allow that..."
Terri cut him off in a harsh voice that left no room for argument, "Can't allow that? You will allow that and you will do nothing to stop the shuttles going there. You had better contact the rest of your inbound ships and pass the word along. Any act of aggression will be met with equal or greater aggression. Is that understood?"
"Excuse me? This is Eutharan space and you have no authority here to give..." Aneoi said. A look of anger filled his face as if Terri had just slapped him.
"That is true, this is Eutharan space," Terri said as she interrupted him again.
"Orders here." Aneoi said finishing the sentence. He crossed his arms in triumph at Terri's words.
"However, as per the Treaty that was signed by your people," Terri said. A grin split her face as she continued. "The Ga'sahde is to have all right to all Space Docks without questions or hindrance. We're also allowed to post guards throughout any dock we're connected too. I'll be making sure we have guards posted in every area once we get it back online."
A stunned look crossed Aneoi's face as he spoke, "That treaty is very old and..."
"Hasn't been over turned by the Eutharan King or his council," Terri finished for him. "Therefore, it is valid and can't be argued with. My one question is, why are you fighting so hard to keep us away from the dock? Is there something there we're not supposed to see? Something the public isn't supposed to know about that has been locked away?"
"I ... no, not that I'm aware of," Aneoi said. He stumbled on his words because of the pressure from Terri.
"One thing you might want to convey to your council and ruling members," Terri said. He eyes flashed as she pressed home her advantage. "I'm not here to play games or to coddle people. I'm here to restore order and find out why this world and its people are in the state it is in. If I find anything amiss, and I'm sure I will, there will be repercussions to those involved. The Eutharan people of today aren't the people spoken about in the ancient Ga'sahde texts I've studied and I plan on finding out why."
"Yes Mistress," Aneoi said as he knelt and bowed his head. "Please forgive me. I'm only trying to do my duty."
"Rise, there is no need to knell before me," Terri said. "I understand what you're trying to do. No matter how misled you have been from the fact surrounding you. I'm here to correct this over sight and to bring back balance and prosperity to the Eutharan people. My ship will be approaching the dock and then docking once it is brought back on line. Don't hinder her in anyway, is this understood?"
Aneoi didn't speak he just nodded his head in agreement.
"Good, I'm going to speak to my leader," Terri said as she indicated Jon. "If he agrees we will be send out scouts to take a look at the operations that are shut down. I'll also be speaking to him about setting up patrols for system security while we're here."
"I've already done that," Aneoi said. "I have several squads on patrol as we speak and have recalled two of our battleships to provide additional support."
"Yes, I know this," Terri said. "That is why I told you to make sure they don't interfere with what is going on at the station. However, I want my own people on patrol and I would like to have patrols from the Atlantis involved too."
Jon spoke up, he was a bit in awe of what had just happened, "I've recalled the Titan to come help here as well as the Earth's Revenge for additional support and I have no problem with the patrol thing. I'll leave that to you to set up as you're the CAG on the Atlantis."
Terri nodded her accent.
"I think you can help their cause out Commander," Deatra said as she spoke up for the first time during the exchange. "As you can see my bond mate and I support the Patriarch of the Ga'sahde. I want you, by my order, to get me a list of all retired navy personnel still living, anyone with experience. Once we're settled planet side I'll need you to recall them so we can meet with them. I also want a list of all living owners of the industrial complexes in system and set up another meeting with them, once we're settled of course."
"As you wish Princess," Aneoi said as he bowed his head. "I of course will pass this request through your father."
"Who is next in command?" Deatra said in a calm tone.
Aneoi almost stumbled in fright as he spoke in a stutter, "Uh, t-that w-w-would be Lieutenant N-N-Nafiea."
"Is she present?" Deatra said.
"Yes Princess," Aneoi said.
"Maybe I should place her in command while you talk to my father about my requests," Deatra said.
"My Princess that won't be necessary I can handle it while I place the requests," Aneoi said. "The information is available to all in the national database anyway and can be easily retrieved."
"Good, since it's so simple I expect it transmitted to my on board the Atlantis in a couple hours," Deatra said. "Unless you have a problem with that."
"I can do that Princess," Aneoi said.
"Good, send your requests and get me the information within the hour," Deatra said. "We'll contact you if we need anything else, you can remain on station as an escort."
"Yes Princess," Aneoi said as he bowed.
The screen went dark as Jon disconnected the channel.
"That poor man," Deatra said. "He might have been able to handle one or two of us. But, he wasn't prepared to handle all three. His head is spinning right now trying to figure out what to do."
"I think there's more going on here than meets the eye," Jon said as he turned to look back out towards Euthara. "I don't think Aneoi is involved, but he knows something is wrong. He just doesn't know what to do about it. I feel sorry for him. He's in a bad position right now."
"Jon," Terri said. "You have to make sure you protect him as best as you can. His crew too, he can be a valuable ally once he wakes up to what is going on around him."
"I'm not going to use him," Jon said. "We did just that right now and the poor man is confused. But, I'll protect him as best as I can. I'm not going to let him take the fall for something we did and besides that he has access to information we might need."
"There's no information I can't get access too," Deatra said.
"I'm sorry," Terri said. "If you think that my sister, then you're a bit on the naive side. All governments have secret they don't share but with top officials. While you might be a Princess, it doesn't make you a top official. I mean the Top Secret: King's Eyes Only type of information."
"I never thought of it that way," Deatra said. "I guess you're right, but how would he help in gaining access to that type of information."
"All officers have connections," Jon said. "They spend time around each other and information tends to slip, especially when drinking. That's how I know he knows more than he is letting on. His hesitation on some of the questions just confirmed it. He might not know what it means on a bigger scale, but he knows he holds secrets."
Deatra was about to say something when Jon's com beeped.
"Hunter here," Jon said.
'Tactical Sir, I have eight ships dropping out of hyperspace on the edge of the system, ' a male voice said.
"Any ID on them," Jon said.
'No Sir, I'm dispatching two patrol ships to get a closer look. It looks like they're masking their signatures by dipping into one of the gas giants, ' the male voice said. 'The electrical storms are interfering would our sensors.'
"I'm on my way to the bridge," Jon said. "Keep me informed, Hunter out. Ladies if you would care to join me on the bridge as it seems the fun never ends."
Deatra and Terri each took an opposite arm of Jon's and they all made small talk as they left the observation room.