All That Glitters Ch. 33

The man in charge of the vid systems indicated that he had successfully images all but two of the locations on this continent, which were shrouded in clouds.

When the transfer of goods was completed, the captain requested permission of Planetary Control to move to the Gordon Orbital Station to conduct a further transfer of goods. Conveniently, the Gordon Station was sitting over the other great continent, Guerille Continent, allowing the captain to potentially image most of his targets on a single run.

He was listed to return three more times in the next month. That should allow him to get multiple images of the targets and take into account weather patterns that were currently obscuring some of his targets.

While nobody had told him what he was imaging, first review told him everything he needed to know.

"These are industrial dormitories," the captain said to his subordinate.

"Yes, sir. And considering the planet we are sitting over, they are likely slave dormitories," his subordinate replied.

"Can you estimate how many would be in these dorms?" the captain asked.

"Likely several hundred per building, sir," his tech replied. "From the images we have taken, I estimate that we are looking at concentrations that add up to eleven or twelve thousand people in this one location alone."

"Some of them Union citizens," the captain mused.

He got a nod of the head from his tech. "Of all the espionage missions that I have been on, this one is one that I can be proud of, sir," the tech said.

The captain smiled. Yes indeed, they could be proud of this mission, even if they could never tell anyone.

The ship would be moving to some of the other Alliance planets before returning to Neues Deutschland. There was a list of targets on those worlds too.

Pallanders-4, Punarjanm System

Commodore Dostier, David Sprawl, Capt. Davis, Cdr. Schell, and Lt. Nyalla, were in a borrowed conference room, looking at imagery sent by a remote probe. It clearly showed what appeared to be a Fairling Class vessel, though it was not in the best of condition.

"Not one of ours by the looks of it," Dostier stated.

"No, ma'am," Cdr. Schell agreed. "It is in a reduced state of repair. It would never be allowed to get into this state by the Navy."

"So, likely a pirate vessel then," Sprawl said.

"Have you and Joyce war-gamed your potential actions, Beverley?" Dostier demanded.

"Yes, ma'am," Beverly replied. "We have looked at a dozen different scenarios to take out one of these vessels. All we need is your permission ma'am."

The Probe zoomed in on the bow of the ship, where the ship's name was evident.

"Maderan's Reach," Dostier read. She typed the name into her new military issue comp, perks of being a Commodore, requesting I.D. on the vessel. She got a hit almost immediately.

"Pirate vessel known to be associated with the Alnitah Pirate Syndicate," she read from the comp.

"Get ready to jump on that vessel. Both of your ships will be in action. Capture if possible, destroy if not," Dostier gave her orders. Davis and Nyalla snapped a salute and left the conference room immediately. It would be twenty minutes until they jumped.

The Embassy, Liramor-23, Piscium System

The House of Ur had worked hard to create a small temple in a public space near the embassy on Hotel Deck. The temple was simple, delicate, and beautiful in the eyes of both the Pod-Drran and the human onlookers.

The small shrine to the Goddess depicted a full-sized image of the Goddess in her fertile state, and with the images of many of the icons that were associated with her. Including her Dulortell, the sword and shield, the library of books in the background and other images.

One of the differences from other more modern images of the Goddess, was the inclusion of the Chlaerge riding on her shoulder, the Chlaerge not having survived the destruction of the original Home World, were often excluded in more modern images of the Goddess. The Chlaerge looked surprisingly like the Cats though somewhat larger.

Raymond had made a request of the Jurte Pair for the assistance of a Priestess from the Fleet Shem to dedicate the temple on Liramor-23. This had, unfortunately, lead to a rather formal dedication ceremony that could not be avoided.

Junelliya had been asked to find a song or songs among the musical scripts she had been given that would be appropriate for a dedication. Surprisingly, she found three.

Now, she sat in the open area to the right of the shrine as she played the appropriate song at the appropriate point in the elaborate ceremony.

In the front row, were the House of Ur, those who had created the temple. They were given the distinction of being those who had provided for the temple and having a place in the dedication as the temple's sponsor. A singular honour.

The Jurte Pair were there, their brood in tow with the Jurte-Rai/Ro, The Speaker that Raymond was familiar with, and Kome-Nar Ro, with his new mate Nar-Tre Rai. Kome-Nar and Nar-Tre had been assigned to the Embassy as the Pod-Drran ambassadors and would take up residence in the not too distant future, once diplomatic protocols had been established.

Also in attendance was Fiona Marsh, Cdr. Malteyea her aide-de-camp, Raymond, Liea, their PA's Lynne and Lissette, all four of the human ambassadors assigned to Piscium system, Capt. Damyanti Balakrishnan the Civilian Liaison Officer for the platform, Annette Liramor representing Liramor Holdings, Kim, Gillaya, Capt. Noor, Ayesha Seito, her husband Sean Murphy, Ululla Mbibo (to help with the brood), Heyya, Vangeliya, Fayad, Hanalei, and the Cats.

Behind were the senior members of the civilian and Naval commands of Liramor-23 not on duty, the many friends of those in the ceremony, the curious of Liramor-23, and some bored miners who were watching something unusual, despite not truly understanding what was going on but noting the presence of Annette Liramor and Fiona Marsh together.

The dedication ceremony was in three acts. The first acknowledged the work and support by the House of Ur for creating this, by Pod-Drran and human standards, beautiful shrine.

The second, was the acknowledgement that the small shrine was a religious site and free for use to all who would worship there, acknowledgement that came from Director Fiona Marsh on behalf of Liramor-23, from Annette Liramor on behalf of Liramor Holdings the owners of Liramor-23, and from Ambs. Michelle Halten, senior ambassador at the embassy, on behalf of the Terran Union.

The third act was the actual religious dedication of the shrine, conferring on it the benediction of the Goddess. Of the three phases, it was actually the shortest.

At the end, the Priestess made a short prayer and gave the benediction of the Goddess to all present.

The Speaker had stamped his Staff of Office to open the proceedings, giving the Priestess charge to conduct it. He stamped his staff once again at the end of the ceremonies and declared the shrine to be open for worship.

The Speaker and the Priestess both acknowledged the beautiful music provided by Junelliya Atohan Herlan. As one, the Pod-Drran gave Junelliya a long, low bow, similar to that which they would have given the Kumaraie.

The group of dignitaries moved into the embassy and food and drink were brought in, including items from The BBQ Shack, much to the delight of the Pod-Drran. Junelliya cornered the Priestess.

"What was that name you gave me?" Junelliya asked her.

"Atohan? It means the Carrier of Souls or perhaps better to translate as the Vessel of Souls," the Priestess explained. "When you were holding the power of the Goddess, she referred to you as 'her vessel'. The Kumaraie has dictated that this is now your Pod-Drran name. All will call you this whenever you are in the presence of the Pod-Drran," the Priestess finished, with a low bow.

"Please, do not bow to me," Junelliya asked. "I may have been the vessel of the Goddess for a short time, but I am still my own person."

"As you wish, Atohan," the Priestess replied.

"Junelliya, my name is Junelliya. We are not in Pod-Drran space," she told the Priestess with a Pod-Drran smile.

The Priestess returned the smile and gave the Pod-Drran small head circle that indicated yes.

"I have a question to ask of you," Junelliya told the Priestess. "I received a box of musical manuscripts from an elderly Tae while I was at the Imperial Palace. In it was an image of the Goddess but not one that I have ever seen before."

Junelliya opened the box she had placed in the embassy, showing the Priestess the multiple musical manuscripts in the old style. She took out the item she wanted the Priestess to see and placed it flat on a table.

"This is a copy of a very old painting," the Priestess said immediately.

"How do you know it is old?" Junelliya asked.

"The five supporters to the Goddess, are in the image behind her," the Priestess told her. "Normally, modern images of the Goddess will only show one or two supporters if any at all. There is a Chlaerge, the messenger of the Goddess, sitting on her shoulder. No modern version shows a Chlaerge except for the image in the new temple on this platform and only because the Chlaerge live on this platform.

"Also, the Kaldar and shield are of the old style and all names on the books on the walls behind the Goddess are in the old script. The image of the Dulortell is more true to the actual copies of the instrument that I have seen in the museums. This artwork has been accurately copied from something very old."

"Yes, I had noted the old style script myself but I did not know of the other items," Junelliya confirmed. "However, there is something odd in the lower right corner. Another figure, this one does not seem to be a Pod-Drran. The hair is different and darker, and the skin tones are not Pod-Drran skin tones."

The Priestess looked at the image and then glanced at Junelliya in shock.

"The Goddess was supposed to have made several predictions of things that were to come," Junelliya stated. "Many of them have already been shown to have come to pass, such as the Great Destruction. However, there are other predictions that are still waiting.

"I think one, or more, of those predictions may be about the figure in the corner. The figure is female. The figure has only two breasts. The figure is with impending brood. The figure's hair is not Pod-Drran hair. The figure has the colour of my skin as seen by Pod-Drran eyes.

"I think the figure, may be me," Junelliya stated quietly.

The Priestess gave a kind of squeak and dropped to one knee, head bowed, hand over her heart. Junelliya reached down and pulled her to her feet.

"None of that," she snapped. "Tell me what I want to know."

"I do not know if I would be permitted to tell you, Atohan," the Priestess stated.

"Tell her," snapped a new voice, the commanding voice of Jurte Sha-Ret Sai-Rai.

The Speaker stamped his Staff of Office and nodded his head. None could interfere now with what was about to take place until the Priestess had finished her part.

The Priestess looked around, seeing that all eyes were on her and the Atohan. She bowed her head to the Jurte Sha-Ret and The Speaker and pulled to her the Great Tome of the Goddess.

Practiced fingers flipped the book open to its middle. She swiftly found what she was looking for and opened the front portion of the Tome. Junelliya noted that the rear of the book was well used, while the front portion had not nearly as much use.

The Priestess found what she was looking for, and painfully began to read the words.

"Forgive me, I am not as well versed in reading the old script as I would like to be," she told the group.

"I can read it," Junelliya told her, getting a shocked look from all of the Pod-Drran.

"You can?" Kome-Nar Ro asked.

"A 'gift' left to me while I acted as a vessel," Junelliya lied to them. She had actually learned the old script in order to read the musical manuscripts she had been gifted, but a little white lie would keep the mystique of the Atohan alive. She suspected she would need all the influence she could get for future dealings with the Pod-Drran.

She began to read the old script in her voice. The old script was in a sing-song dialect that suited her voice's tones. She would voice a phrase, then translate it into the newer tongue of the Pod-Drran.

"The People had not followed the old ways, the old laws, and had turned on one another for many centuries. The Warrior Class will turn on the People, no longer its sword and shield. The wars they create will devastate the People, bringing the People to the brink of extinction.

"One will come with the wisdom and strength to provide a new way for the Warriors to deal with each other and allow the People once again to thrive," Junelliya read.

"I believe that this is in reference to Kur-Tar and the Kur-Tar Shem. It stopped the incessant wars the people were suffering from, saving the Pod-Drran from potential extinction," she interpreted.

She continued reading.

"After much time, the Warrior Class would begin to change, their sense of rule becoming a service of personal pride instead of a pride of service to the Pod-Drran. One who rules will come, who will want to change the way the People live, who will want to overturn the order of life.

"The Vessel will come to the New World at a time when the Pod-Drran would be in dire need of her service. She will deal with the one and lead the People back to the true path, a path toward the future."

"I think this is about the Kumaroe Se-Lam Pod-Roe who was deposed. I believe I am the Vessel," Junelliya told the silent crowd. "There are two more passages about the Vessel."

"The forces raised against the Kumaraie, wishing to change the way of life of the People, will attempt to change the inevitable. The people will range against them, forcing them into the darkness. But from the shadows they will plot, seeking to change the will of the People, and the Kumaraie.

"A new foe will emerge, a darkness seeking to destroy the Light. The Vessel will make her mark, showing the People the way, the darkness will plot and seek to stop the Vessel and the Light. The Chlaerge will find the darkness and give warning to its presence. They will protect the Vessel and the Light," Junelliya finished.

"I'm not sure, but I think that means those who supported the old Kumaroe have gone underground but they still want to bring about the change that he started. They will only be found by chance, by the Chlaerge," Junelliya said. "I think the Light means the Kumaraie, but that is speculation on my part. It could be someone else."

Junelliya continued to read.

"The darkness will hide for a time, making its plans and seeking to destroy the Light. The darkness will spread, bringing about fear in the People. Return to the way of war is possible.

"The Vessel will lead three generations to stand against the darkness. If they fail, the next Great Disaster is at hand," Junelliya was looking very disturbed as she read the final passage.

"I'm not sure who the 'Three Generations' are, there is no clue, the Priestess will have to search for that," Junelliya stated. "But, failure will mean that the darkness will prevail and the people will turn back to the way of war.

"The next Great Disaster is pretty evident though. The Great Disaster destroyed the Home World and almost destroyed the People. If the next Great Disaster comes to pass, the People will be destroyed...that is self evident, it predicts the destruction of the Pod-Drran, likely by humans if the Pod-Drran turn away from the path forward, the path they are currently walking, the path to the future.

"It frightens me that all other predictions are firm, stating that this will come to pass. But the last prediction is not firm, it may or may not happen. If we succeed and turn back the darkness, the Pod-Drran will move into the future, into the light.

"If we fail, and the darkness prevails, the Pod-Drran will be destroyed."

Junelliya turned and buried her head into the chest of Fayad, who was suddenly there for her, Hanalei also coming to hold her mates, the Cats riding their shoulders making disturbed sounds.

The people in the room knew that Junelliya was right. If the darkness won, and changed the way forward, turning it to the way of the past, the way of war, the Pod-Drran would be destroyed.

"We cannot let that happen," a lone Pod-Drran voice spoke despite the constraints of The Speaker. All turned to Mind-Ur, standing resolute in the middle of the House of Ur. She moved forward to place herself amongst the House of Piscium, her House following in her wake.

Then the brood was there, holding hands with the adults in the circle, a circle that continued to grow as more and more people swore to protect the Vessel and the Light.

The Pirate Frigate Maderan's Reach, Edge of HD-115153 (Punarjanm) System

Capt. Carlos Maderan was bored. He had been here in this cursed system for two weeks now, gathering information on the two stations in the system.

They were ten minutes light away from the stations, the ship's systems just able to make out and gather information as they watched.

The ship was in an 'alleyway' between a pair of binary planets with high magnetic fields. This, Maderan knew, would help disguise its presence from the stations.

Maderan knew the leaders of the Alnitah Syndicate would be unhappy to see the work being done in the system, a system they had once owned.

The two stations they were monitoring were being repaired and put to work building and doing refit on Navy vessels. That worried Maderan. His ship was uncomfortably close to the stations even if it was hidden in a magnetic field. Worse, the same magnetic field that protected him could prevent him from detecting other ships until it was too late.

His orders stated that he had to stay three more days. He would leave the system as soon as he could but, for now, he and the ship, had a job to do.

The Maderan's Reach, was one of the earlier Fairling Class that had been retired from the Navy and surreptitiously purchased by the Alnitah Pirate Syndicate. It had seen better days but was still in much better condition than the older Confederation of Planet's warships that most of the pirate syndicates used. It had been due for refit, in fact, at the very shipyard that they were investigating, the shipyard that now had been confiscated by the Union.

Nonetheless, he was proud of the ship and it's crew, who were as skilled as any Navy ratings.

"Sir! Comms O. I am receiving a message directed to us from a Union Navy vessel!" the Comms O spoke.

"My station, now!" Maderan ordered.

"Maderan's Reach, this is NS Pegasus, Capt. Beverly Davis commanding. You are a known pirate vessel of the Alnitah Pirate Syndicate and have entered HD-115153 in a clandestine manner. You will surrender your ship and prepare for boarding immediately. Any attempt to escape will be seen as an attempt to flee lawful custody and will result in your ship being attacked and destroyed. You have thirty seconds to comply, over," Maderan heard at his station.

"Spin up the FTL drive, Now!" Maderan shouted to his bridge crew. "Jump us to the emergency escape point."

He watched as his bridge crew started the procedures. Even on their best days, it would take two minutes to prepare for a jump from a cold start.

"Engage the sub-light engines, move us away from here and get us up to speed for jump," he ordered.

The Pilot started the sub-light engines, a process that took over a minute. He was also working to short circuit the FTL procedure by opening the FTL vanes in advance of jump protocols.

"FTL event to our rear," Science yelled out, the image popping up on the main monitor. Maderan saw what looked like a Princess Class fast ship appear not too far to the rear of his ship.