All That Glitters Ch. 40

In the vernacular of the Church of Andanii, the Profit stood behind those being judged. Those who were truly good, however, were said to stand on the right of Andanii when they were judged.

The Apostate of the church of Andanii were declared to stand to the left of Andanii. Andjuran had broken every law and tenant of the Book of Andanii. He had been declared Apostate for his actions by the new Elders, declaring to the Church that he stood to the left of Andanii by his actions.

They would not be informed of the date of his execution if there were not to be witnesses. They all looked forward to hearing of it after the fact, in the news.

Aurelia's Apartments, Adenomere Main Estate, Planet Adenomere, The Adenomere System

Aurelia was watching the stock markets and making shrewd moves that were advancing the small fortune she had placed in the Bank of Adenomere in Adenomere City when she first arrived on planet.

She knew that her activities were being monitored. Anything that left the house under the house comms grid was monitored by Jaar and Korman. She could have made these plays via her personal comp but she wanted Jaar to see what she was doing and to ask why, especially when her hunches came to fruition so quickly. Jaar took the bait and asked her to attend him in his office.

"Good-morning Father-in-Law," Aurelia greeted.

Jaar smiled briefly. "Not quite yet, Aurelia, but soon," Jaar replied. "I apologize that your marriage has been postponed by events. It could not be helped.

"I have noted that you are doing some extensive work on the stock markets. More importantly, you are doing rather well in comparison to most," Jaar noted.

"They are looking at the stock market with the same eyes as they had before the raids, sir. One needs to look with fresh eyes now to see where the action is flowing," Aurelia commented.

"How so?" Jaar asked.

"You may have noted that I bought into Harmans Holdings a few days ago," Aurelia pointed out the stock flow to Harmans Holdings, showing it going up quite remarkably.

"Harmans is the only company on this planet that makes large scale farm equipment. With the loss of slaves we have just suffered, there are not enough slaves to complete the required manual tasks on many farms. The only solution to this is to adopt large scale mechanized farming techniques. Harmans is suddenly finding itself selling all of its products, something it has never done before. As well, Harmans has opened up another production line for its products. They will be in the black for a few years to come, which makes them a prime target for speculation on the stock market," Aurelia explained.

"You saw this before the others did and bought into the company while the stock was low," Jaar stated.

"Low is subjective. The stock is still low in comparison to where it will go, however, it has already tripled where it was only two days ago," Aurelia replied.

"And you have seen other items of this nature as well," Jaar noted.

"Of course, I have been watching the stock markets since the Union fleet left our space. There have been a number of interesting items that have occurred and I have made my purchases based on what I have been taught," Aurelia conceded.

"Explain to me what you have done. To me, it makes no sense, however, your explanation of Harman stock now does make sense," Jaar instructed.

Aurelia spent more than an hour working through her list of choices and actions during the last three days. Jaar made some changes to his own portfolio based on Aurelia's explanations. Once again, he wondered at the stupidity of Armstrong Gordon for letting this one go. He should have kept this daughter to advise him.

The Wanderer, Planet Varus, Clément System,

The members of the Trine were on The Wanderer, along with their children, the Nanny, Takebayashi Urano, Hanalei's bodyguard, Violletiya, and Hanalei's new PA, Sylvie Kinlo, a willowy brunette from Liramor Prime with a penchant for languages.

Junelliya noted the distinct lack of morale on the big ship. The crew was upset with the loss of Raymond and the five Marines and even more upset that the Union was doing nothing to get them back.

Capt. Degault had called a crew meeting in the main theater on deck one, which had space for more than 500, more than the current crew of the Wanderer. She opened a link to all those who were on duty so they could follow the procedures.

"I know that you are upset at what you see as the inactivity of the Union politicians in this issue," the Captain began. "Please keep your peace for now. We all knew going in that those left behind would be gotten out through diplomacy. That has yet to start. The UDC is preparing a campaign against the Alliance, demanding the release of all living citizens of the Union, and the whereabouts of those who are deceased as well as the circumstance of their deaths.

"In that accounting, we will also be demanding the release of our missing team and the return of the bodies of the crew who died in orbit. This will start soon. While many of you are demanding action now, we must remember that we are talking about governments in action, which tends to be ponderously slow. We do not have permission to go to Adenomere to retrieve our personnel, a situation that would be difficult considering that our personnel are on the planet in an unknown location.

"Yes it is upsetting. Yes, it is frustrating. I am, however, demanding that you remember that we are members of the Union Navy, even if we are pretending to be otherwise, and that we are bound by our oaths and our laws," Degault finished. She opened the floor for questions, many of which she had to admit she had no answers for. After twenty minutes of questions, she finally called a halt to everything.

"We will remain here until Madame Samson decides we will leave. We are still linked to The Dewfall and Commodore Dostier. If anything comes up that she needs ships and support, this ship must be ready to give that support. We do intend to get our people out. For now, I ask for your restraint, your perseverance, and your readiness to act when the time comes. Thank-you," she ended.

The room was called to attention and the senior personnel left, leaving the crew to talk amongst themselves, the Boatswain stayed with the crew to speak with them and help settle them down. She too was upset by the ongoing situation but she was willing to give the politicians time to work. That was her message to the crew.

************

"Not a good situation," Fayad began once the senior officers were in the VIP conference room.

"No," Liea admitted. "I am not pleased at the pace of action from the Union and the UDC but I am willing to give them some time. There is little that we can do. There is no option for the Wanderer to act alone this time."

"Agreed," Fayad responded. "She would not do as well against Adenomere as she did against New Hadria. We no longer have surprise on her side. What is Dostier saying about this situation?"

"She is trying to determine what the situation is in the Senate and the UDC," Capt. Degault informed them. "The President and the Navy brass are pushing the Senate, however, that body rarely does anything with speed."

"What are our options?" Hanalei asked.

"I really have no idea," Degault replied honestly. "The Task Forces are currently divesting themselves of the rescued, who are making waves because of the media blitz surrounding this. The ships in the Task Force will have to be returned to their respective commands soon, though I know that there is an option to keep some in order to set up an embargo of the Alliance Planets."

"Why don't we call her?" Junelliya asked.

"Commodore Dostier? I do not have the authority to do that, Junelliya," Degault informed her.

"I do," Junelliya stated with a smile. She opened her comp and sent a message requesting an internet call to Dostier. A moment later, she had the link and flicked it to the room's large monitor.

"Good morning Liana," Junelliya greeted her.

"Hello, Junelliya, I see that we are in the middle of something more than just a simple call," Dostier said with a grin, noting that they were on the Wanderer, the ship's logo on the wall behind the Trine and familiar faces around them.

"Sorry. The crew is upset by what they see as the lack of progress from the Senate and the UDC. We have just headed off some serious anger issues here," Junelliya told her.

"I understand. I too am a little angry over the pace. The Navy made things happen much faster and the Senate was not prepared to act, mostly because we had to keep them in the dark due to security reasons. Now, we have to wait for the Senate to catch up. I'm not sure what I can tell you," Dostier finished.

"I've heard that we are starting to split up the ships, sending them back to their respective commands. Is this not a little too soon?" Fayad asked.

"For whom, Fayad? These ships have been in our control now for almost six weeks. That is a lot of time for so many ships to be out of the loop as far as their respective commands are concerned," Dostier confided.

"I understand," Fayad replied. "However, I think that there will be a show trial of our people, probably fairly quickly. That could give us the break we need to do things."

"Sorry? A show trial?" Dostier looked at Fayad with perplexion.

"The Landstradt must act to counter the Union's actions," Fayad explained. "They need to convince their people of the Alliance's right to do what they do, to hold slaves.

"In order to do that, they must prove their stance. That means someone has to go on trial so that they can in fact prove that they have the power and authority to act in opposition to the Union. They have five Union Marines and one Union Navy Captain that they can put on trial. They will.

"Of course, they will be preaching to the choir. The citizens of the Alliance all believe they have the right to hold slaves. We need to be ready to act once this trial starts. We need to prove to the people of the Alliance that while they can hold slaves, they cannot seize free people as slaves.

"We need to prove to them that taking free people is kidnapping, a crime that is recognized everywhere," Fayad stated.

That got Dostier's attention, who suddenly sat upright, a look of surprise on her face. "How soon do you think this will occur?" she asked.

"Probably by weeks end, in three days time. I would need to know what is going on in the Landstradt to confirm that," Fayad informed her.

"I will send you the intelligence we have." Dostier pressed a button on her desk and her Aide-de-Camp, Cdr. Schell entered. "Send our intelligence on the Landstradt's recent activities to Fayad on the Wanderer," she ordered, looking out to Fayad.

"Thank-you, I will let you know what I figure out as soon as I do," Fayad said with a small bow.

Junelliya's comp signalled and she saw that she was receiving a request for internet image chat from Petronellaya. That was a surprise.

"We have to go for the moment, Liana, I have a request for an interview from the head of the Council of Empaths. I wonder what I have done now?" Junelliya mused, getting a laugh from Dostier.

"I look forward to hearing how naughty you have been," she said, grinning, before cutting the link.

Junelliya accepted the request and flicked the image to the same screen that Dostier had just vacated.

"Good-day, Petronellaya," Junelliya began. "It is somewhat unusual for you to be sending me a request for a chat."

"You have an admirer," Petronellaya stated with a smile.

"Oh? I assume it is someone nearby?" Junelliya asked.

"Dr. Maya, GME, Doctor of Psychology. She is currently on the SSP Marin Green, which is being used as a psychological hospital ship. I want her to go to Liramor-23 and work in the hospital there. Her main reason for being at Liramor-23 will be to figure out how to implement your little idea of teaching other GMEs your capabilities.

"However, it will be some time before she can go to Liramor-23 because of the condition of her patients. They will begin sending them down to the planet soon but she and her team will have to go down with them. It will take time before they can give up their roles and pass their patients to other psychologists," Petronellaya told her.

"Why don't we ask for some assistance?" Junelliya pondered.

"What assistance?"

"The Toolend. They are very good at looking into the minds of people. Maybe they can help in this situation. For those who are significantly affected psychologically by their trauma, it could be years before they can become independent. They Toolend might be able to help shorten that time somewhat.

"I will contact Maya and ask her opinion. Thank-you, Petronellaya," Junelliya ended the call and then opened her emphatic abilities, seeking out Maya. She made contact almost immediately and opened a connection to the Marin Green.

"SSP Marin Green, how can I help you?" the Comms O of the Green requested.

"This is Junelliya Herlan. I need to speak with Dr. Maya, please. She is expecting my call, however, I do not have her comp link."

"Thank-you ma'am. Am I speaking to you on your comp link?" the Comms O asked.

"Yes," Junelliya confirmed.

"I shall contact Dr. Maya and pass this information to her as soon as she is available. She will contact you," the Comms O stated, cutting the link.

Less than a minute later, Junelliya's comp signalled a call.

"Hello, Dr. Maya," Junelliya opened the link.

"Just Maya, please, Junelliya. I am surprised but pleased to hear from you," Maya responded.

"Petronellaya called and informed me that I had an admirer here in the fleet," Junelliya smiled.

"Admirer?" Maya mused. "Oh, the report I sent her about your power."

"That would be it. Has she sent you anything in return?" Junelliya asked.

"Not yet. Should I be expecting something?"

"Petronellaya wants you to join the hospital at Liramor-23 in order to work with me on implementing new techniques to teach GMEs how to learn new powers, specifically telepathy. However, she is concerned by the amount of time it could take before you could be available.

"Might I make a suggestion? Why don't we ask the Toolend for assistance?" Junelliya asked.

"The Toolend?" Maya inquired.

Junelliya sent the Interspecies Fact Sheet to Maya who opened it on the Toolend.

"Telepathic?" she queried.

"Yes. They have instigated an organization similar to the Council of Empaths. Any Toolend who leaves Toolend space must be a member of this new organization. I have contact with several senior members of the Toolend. I can ask them if they could assist us in this situation. Do you want to be part of that conversation?" Junelliya asked.

"Oh, yes, please," Maya responded immediately.

Junelliya sent a request for contact to Tougrate and waited patiently, it wasn't long before erht responded. She split the screen with Maya on the right and Tougrate on the left.

"Junelliya, to what do I owe this pleasure?" erht demanded.

"Tougrate, have you seen the news about the raid the Union committed against the Alliance of planets?" Junelliya asked of erht.

"We have; however, it was our impression that this is an internal Human affair?" Tougrate responded.

"Quite correct, however, we have a number of human patients who have experienced severe mental trauma for many years and will be unable to help themselves or to be independent without a lot of help. Dr. Maya, a psychiatrist and a GME, and I, are wondering if the Toolend could help us with some of these cases?" Junelliya asked.

"Good day, Dr. Maya. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I would have to see the patients myself to determine if we Toolend can help them. That would mean that I would need transportation from here to there in order to do this. I would also like to bring my assistant, Nurse Malnad, with me," erht stated.

"We can use The Trine for transport. It would only take one jump to get to the platform and one jump to return," Junelliya informed them.

"We will pick up Dr. Maya and jump directly to the platform, I will see you within the hour," Junelliya stated.

VIP Shuttle Deck One, Liramor-23, 109 Piscium Star System, 106 Light Years from Terra

It took a little over two hours to get to Liramor-23 as they had to pick up those who wanted to return to the platform. Heyya and her nurses were pleased to meet another GME who would eventually be working from the platform. Dr. Gault was pleased to meet another psychiatrist who would be working with her.

Hanalei opted to return to their home with the children and her team, leaving Fayad and Junelliya to wander about. With the capabilities of their new ship, they could easily be home every evening.

Fayad went to pass on a report to Fiona, telling Junelliya to go wherever she needed to go and that he would catch up with her when she returned home later in the day.

Dr. Maya was introduced to Tougrate and Malnad, who were eager to see their new patients and see if they could help or not.

Augraf and Mayute were at VIP reception to see them off. They spoke via mind-link to their compatriots, while Junelliya tried to listen in. Junelliya touched Maya, hoping that she could also listen in.

"The human's minds are more fragile than ours," Augraf reminded them. "You will have to work carefully while you are with them. It is important though that you put yourselves forward as part of our Assembly of Telepaths. They must understand that the Assembly works in the same manner as the Council of Empaths, regulating how our telepaths work in the greater community."

"We understand, Augraf. Malnad and I have our symbols," Tougrate said, indicating the green armbands with the Assembly's symbol the two wore. The symbol was two bisected circles with a wavy line between them Ɵ~Ɵ.

"Junelliya, were you able to follow this?" Augraf asked of her, still in the mind-link.

"Yes, Augraf, though it still brings some discomfort," she admitted, referring to the headaches she got after the fact and sometimes during.

"That will pass with more practice," Augraf informed her. "Our people suffer in the same manner when we first begin to learn about their telepathic skills."

"It is good to know that it will get better," Junelliya agreed.

"Augraf, I must let you know that Dr. Maya has been sent by Petronellaya to learn my new techniques. It will be my responsibility to help her to learn these new techniques and she in turn will help other GMEs to learn," Junelliya told erht. "She is an experienced Crush Instructor whom I think will greatly benefit us."

"Is she able to hear our conversation?" Mayute asked, getting a nod from Maya. While she could hear the conversation with Junelliya's help, she could not, at the moment, respond in kind and verbally told the Toolend so.

"Not to fear," Tougrate assured her. "If you can hear the conversation, you will be able to respond in time."

Maya smiled at that thought, then brought her hands up to her temples, breaking away from contact with Junelliya. Junelliya smiled at her and gave her some of the analgesics that Heyya had pressed on her knowing that she would be working with the Toolend. Maya grimaced and broke open the fast acting pills.

A few minutes later, the four said their goodbyes and were back on The Trine. Ten minutes later, they jumped from Piscium space directly to the space around Planet Varus. The ship was down on the planet at the Naval base's shuttle port some fifteen minutes later.

Advised that they were on their way, President Serment and FAdm. Robert were waiting for the Toolend when they emerged from The Trine.

"Good afternoon, and welcome to Marlin Naval Base and Planet Varus," the President said, with a small bow.