Ivan Kal - What War Had Wrought

“Greetings, Son of Carnage,”Valanaru sent, calling him by his earned name. Very few beings ever gained such a name, as it could only be bestowed by a telepath of great power, and it was given to those that had attained great power. It was more than a simple name, it was more like a title, one that reflected who you truly were, defining something about you that only a telepath could see. A name that told the world what you truly were.

Hearing Valanaru’s voice in his head made Garash suppress the instinct to block his mind. He knew that simple communication wasn’t enough to allow a mindbender power over you, but just knowing that the person in front of him could kill beings with her mind made him edgy. Of course, her ability to kill him before he could squash her telekinetically or shoot her with a weapon depended on how fast she could break through his defenses, but he didn’t really want to test himself against her.

“Weaver,”Garash greeted her, calling her by her earned name. Valanaru was the Weaver of the Erasi, the first one, the one who had created the organization, the greatest manipulator of them all. “The council agreed to allow me control over this endeavor. Don’t tell me that you managed to ‘change’ their minds,”he sent pointedly.

“No, the council did not change its mind. But recent events have made them more cautious of the future,”Valanaru sent.

“What events are you referring to?”

“The new Empire that has apparently allied itself with the Shara Daim,”Valanaru sent.

“They are a minor empire. They have some impressive technology, I will admit that, but technology ultimately finds a way. Our people now know that in-system FTL is possible; it is only a matter of time before we discover it. In the larger scheme of things, they are insignificant. They will not have enough time for their alliance to bear fruit. I will crush the Shara Daim before they can make a difference,”Garash sent.

“The council is worried that you are underestimating this Empire. We know little of them, and they have shown technological superiority in several fields. Coupled with the psionic abilities that match those of the Shara Daim, the council believes that we need to proceed with a greater degree of caution. The true extent of Shara Daim psionic power was never documented; we only assume. And we cannot allow this endeavor to continue for too long. You drew forces from the rimward front, and I don’t need to tell you that we cannot afford to have it weakened, Krashin will notice.”

“Better that we weaken the front now and take care of the Shara Daim while they are still not our equal than to wait for them to attack us when they are ready. We would be in a worse position fighting two equal opponents on different sides of our territory,”Garash argued. “The council’s thoughts are noted, but there is no need for them. I have already sent Weaver Hanaru on a mission that will make this small empire’s further involvement moot. They will not be able to help the Shara Daim for long. Trust that I will conclude this offensive in a reasonable time period,”Garash sent dismissively.

“The companies from this sector are putting pressure on the council; they do not want hostilities with the Empire,”Valanaru sent.

“What they want is not important, dealing with the threats to the Erasi is. This empire is not a threat now, but it could become one if left alone for too long. My plan will deal with them.”

“Of course, Garash, security of the Erasi comes above all other agendas. I am not here to stop your offensive, the council sent me only as an observer. They want this dealt with cleanly and efficiently. The blunder of Weaver Hanaru has already complicated things. I will stay on the sidelines and provide assistance only if it is needed,”Valanaru sent.

Garash’s upper eyes twitched in annoyance. He would need to put up with the Weaver for the duration of the war on Shara Daim, but that was a small price to pay for the council not interfering.

“Of course, Valanaru, you are welcome to join my fleet.”

Shara Radum

Adrian walked into a meeting room that was already full, followed closely behind by Sora. He had been on Lurker of the Depths’ ship, overseeing the assembly of the command modules on the moon given to the Empire when Anessa had called him urgently to Shara Radum. Once he entered, Akash lifted his head from behind Anessa to look at him and then put it back down. The rest of the people present had varying reactions to his presence. Two of the three Dai Sha stiffened and refused to acknowledge him, but Adrian could understand that; he had killed their friend, after all. The third Dai Sha—Karoom of the Twenty Second Legion—greeted him with a professional nod of the head. The four Do Sun followed his lead and nodded as well. Anessa, on the other hand, greeted him with a short, warm smile, before it disappeared behind her professional Kar Daim face.

“There has been a development on the front,” Anessa said, and gestured to the table in the middle of the room as Adrian came to stand next to her. “We have received a message from Dai Sha Garaam. One of your Empire’s scout ships has made contact with her fleets, and delivered a frightening piece of information.” Adrian felt Anessa reach out with her mind to the table’s telepathic interface, and a moment later, a hologram came to life above it.

Adrian watched the recording of ships arriving in system—Erasi ships. The record was obviously sped up, and still there seemed to be no end to the Erasi ships. Eventually they stopped dropping out of hyperspace and made their way to a planet, where they took orbit. Over one hundred Erasi fleets were assembled, and among them one warship that was far larger than anything they’d thought the Erasi had.

“Where is this?” Adrian asked.

“On the Erasi side of the border, or where the border used to be. Here,” Do Sun Arisak said, and the holo changed to show the map and exact location of the system.

“This is a problem, Adrian. We fought the Erasi to a standstill, and we have a good chance of routing the forces they have in our space. But not this—we can’t stop this, not without help,” Anessa said. Adrian could immediately feel the mood in the room turn sour. The two Dai Sha that disliked Adrian obviously did not like their ruler admitting that they needed help.

“The Empire can give you defensive platforms and scouts. But the Empire and the Erasi are still in talks; if we give you direct military aid right now, there will be no hope of resolving this peacefully.”

“Peacefully?” Dai Sha Horaas asked. “The Erasi need to pay for the lives they took, and for daring to attack the Shara Daim!”

“You think that your Legions can do that, against those numbers?” Adrian asked calmly.

“He won’t like that,” Iris chimed in in his head.

Dai Sha Horaas took a step towards Adrian, towering over him, but before he could do anything, Sora and Akash both growled.

“Told you.”

“Enough!” Anessa said, glaring at Horaas, who after a moment bowed his head and took a step back. “We can’t defeat those numbers,” Anessa continued. “Not without losing a lot of territory and people.” She then turned to Adrian. “The Erasi have already attacked your Empire; you must realize that they are stalling your talks to get that force ready to attack. They don’t plan on accepting your Emperor’s demands.”

“I know, but in stalling us they are giving us time. If my people attacked with yours now, they would send those fleets whether they are ready or not. Time they take to dissuade the Empire from providing you with military aid is time that we can use to build more fleets that can help you against them,” Adrian said.