All That Glitters Ch. 45

Main Conference Room, The Interspecies Embassy, Liramor-23, The Piscium System

The President of the Union was meeting with the representatives of the Alliance of Planets, the Chair and the six members of the Landstradt who had been chosen as witnesses for this special occasion on the last full day of the summit.

He noted the press up against the wall recording this momentous event, including Cynthia Stewart, her light active to indicate she was recorded.

"Chair Martin Grovern, it is a pleasure to see you under the current circumstances," the President began. He greeted the representatives of the Landstradt who were there to witness this special event. On a monitor, the Landstradt was watching via the ICS.

"Mr. President, it is an immense pleasure to be here, though the circumstances of our arrival here have not been pleasant for either of our peoples," the Chair replied, getting a nod of agreement from the President.

"Mr. President, you have had a chance to read the agreement?" the Chair asked.

"I have, and my Senators have asked for some changes to be made," the President frowned.

"No, Mr. President. All of this was set up and agreed to prior to our arrival. If we return without this agreement, then my people will have only one answer to the double-handed workings of the Senate," the Chair replied with conviction.

The President actually smiled to the Chair. "Agreed, Chair, these last minute changes being requested are not official and will not be included in the agreement."

That got a sigh of relief from the seven Alliance members in the room. They knew that the President had just set himself against the Senate, something that none of them wanted to be involved with.

The Asoc stepped forward. "Is everyone in agreement with the document then?" she asked. She was officiating the meeting between the rivals as a neutral ruler.

"We, the Union are, Asoc," the President answered formally.

"As are we, the Alliance of Planets, Asoc," the Chair answered just as formally.

The Asoc sat back on her tail between two seats that had been set up for the two senior representatives of their respective peoples. The President sat on her right, while the Chair sat on her left. A document was placed in front of her. She scanned it with her comp and was immediately shown a translation of the document which she quickly read. She saw nothing untoward in the document and nodded in agreement. She signed the document while her Seneschal moved it first to the right, then to the left of her for the signatures of the other leaders. She repeated this twice more, one copy for each of the President, the Chair, and for herself, which she would donate here at the main conference room of the embassy for posterity.

The two leaders stood up while the Asoc backed away, they reached over and shook hands while those around the room applauded and the members of the Landstradt watching, all cheered.

"Ard Mheydeh has proved its worth by becoming the neutral ground it needs to be in order to facilitate actions such as we have seen this day and in fact, all this week," the Asoc stated as she bowed to the two senior spokespersons of the human populations.

The Chair and the Alliance representatives would be busy for the remainder of the day, speaking with the members of the different races on how they might be able to help the Alliance move forward. Much was discussed but it would take time to make the necessary agreements that could be completed. It was, however, the beginning that the Alliance needed and was looking forward to.

The Shrine of Poda-La, Lima Deck, In Front of The Interspecies Embassy, Liramor-23, The Piscium System

Yesterday had been a sad day for the Kumaraie and her people. Today would help wash some of that sadness away. The surviving children were to be dedicated to the Goddess, the Kumaraie and Kumaroe came forward in their official robes of office, their children in their arms. The Kumaraie held the remaining female infant, while the Kumaroe clutched tightly to the two males, tucked securely into his arms.

Many people were standing outside of the entrance to the Interspecies Embassy were there where several small shrines to the various deities of the Greater Community, including a Shrine to the Prophet Andanii, which the Kumar-Pair remembered fondly from another dedication/naming ceremony.

The Kumaraie looked over to where her God-daughters were in the arms of Hanalei and Fayad, Junelliya was seated behind her Dulortell, already playing a Pod-Drran song for this occasion, segueing from one song to another, ending with the traditional Pod-Drran Song of Life. The Kumaraie gave her Goddaughters a smile that reached her eyes, to which the children happily responded, waving to their God-mother, the Chlaerge riding the shoulders of the adults.

Amongst the people in attendance were the President of the Union with many of his ministers, the Chair of the Alliance and his representatives, the Asoc and Asost of the Asocan peoples and their senior ministers, the senior ministers of many of the other races, Fiona Marsh and her senior staff, and some curious workers from Liramor-23. None of them wanted to miss this special event.

The Kumar-Pair stood before a very nervous Priestess of the Goddess Poda-La, who was all too aware that this was her first time in such august company, knowing that this event was being broadcast live to Pod-Saar, and likely to many of the other home worlds for those who were present. She waited patiently for the Atohan to finish her song and then began the dedication.

"Who brings this brood before the Goddess?" she asked formally.

"I, the Kumaraie Na-Maj Se-Lam Pod-Raie, the Phrat-Mahi of my House, and my mate, the Kumaroe Jarl Se-Lam Pod-Sai-Roe, bring this brood before the Goddess and her representative," the Kumaraie answered just as formally.

"By what right do you bring these infants before the Goddess?" the Priestess demanded.

"I am a daughter of the Goddess, Poda-La. I bring these infants before the Goddess as is my right and my duty," the Kumaraie replied.

"Bring the brood forward," the Priestess spoke as the Kumar-Pair took two steps forward in front of the Priestess.

"Who stands with this family?" asked the Priestess, expecting to see several of the Kumir-Rai/Ro answer her questions. She was surprised when another voice answered her.

"We the Asoc >Catal Mutt Herrtt, and my mate, the Asost <Korme Mutt Goult stand with this family," the Asoc answered, surprising all those in attendance.

A surprised Priestess looked to the Kumaraie for confirmation, getting a nod and a smile from her ruler.

"Stand with this family," the Priestess ordered. The Asoc and the Asost stood proudly behind the Kumar-Pair, each reaching out to place a hand on either of their friends' shoulders. "Are there other members of your family here?" the Priestess asked.

"My God-daughters are here," the Kumaraie responded. Junelliya and Hanalei, holding their respective daughters, along with Fayad, came to stand to the left of the Kumar-Pair, Fayad furthest from the Kumar-Pair.

"By dedicating these children to the Goddess, you promise to fulfill your oath to the Goddess, to bring your infants before her and teach them the meanings and wisdom of her words. Do you agree to this?" the Priestess demanded.

"WE DO," all of the adults before the Priestess answered as one.

"By what names do you dedicate these infants?" the Priestess asked, opening the book of the Pod-Drran deity on a stand before her. She picked up a pen and waited patiently.

"By proclamation of Prophecy, the female is to be named Prakesh Se-Lam-Raie," the Kumaraie answered, sending a frisson of excitement up the spine of the Priestess.

"The first male is to be named, Nal-Jarl Se-Lam-Roe," the Kumaroe replied in turn.

"The second male is to be named, Sun-Jarl Se-Lam-Roe," the Kumaraie stated.

The Priestess dutifully recorded the names in the book of the Pod-Drran, the first Pod-Drran children recorded in the book but not the first children. That honour went to Ikekia and Zarrenia under their Pod-Drran names of Ikekia Se-Lam Poda-Raie-Dosri and Zarrenia Se-Lam Poda-Raie-Latti, respectively.

The Seneschal came forward and handed the Priestess the seals of the infants, which the Priestess blessed and handed to Fayad, Ikekia, and Zarrenia to pass to the mothers.

The small family moved to stand in front of the Kumar-Pair and the children. The children followed their father's lead as he handed the seal of Sun-Jarl to the Kumaroe, while Ikekia handed him the seal of Nal-Jarl, and Zarrenia handed the seal for Prakesh to the Kumaraie.

Prakesh reached out to touch Zarrenia when she passed the seal to her mother, so Zarrenia clutched the child's hand. Zarrenia turned and touched her sister.

Then something remarkable happened. In front of all the Pod-Drran, and the Asocans, who had vision similar to the Pod-Drran, the three linked children and the Atohan began to glow.

Responding to the presence of power, the Cats, suddenly riding the heads of the adults, all raised up in their dominance pose, heads held high and capes spread wide as they voiced their call to all of dominance who could hear it.

The witnessing Pod-Drran and Asocans, all gasped at what they saw, knowing instinctively that prophecy had come to pass and the Goddess was once more amongst her people. All the Pod-Drran in attendance knelt before the sight they beheld.

On two worlds many light years apart, the people of the Pod-Drran and the members of the ruling counsel of the Maha-Rrin witnessed the glow from the children and the call of the Chlaerge and were shocked. They understood the significance of the prophecy and the fact that it was now openly manifest before them. The universe had just changed...

Fiona's Office, Central Command, Delta Deck, Liramor-23, The Piscium System

An urgent call had sent Fiona back to her office, with Nar-Tre, Mind-Ur, and Caye-Ur in tow. She opened the link and waited.

A much contrite Pemipinae was bowing her head to Fiona and the trio of Pod-Drran.

"Please, can you tell us, were these Chlaerge we saw?" the Pemipinae asked, her ministers all eagerly awaiting the answer.

"Yes, Pemipinae, they are the Chlaerge. It is one of the ways that we knew Junelliya was the Atohan," Nar-Tre answered. "The Chlaerge are her friends and protect her family and now The Prakesh."

Here, Nar-Tre was deliberately using the name of the child as a title as Prakesh could be interpreted to mean 'The Shining One' or 'The Light' dependent on how it was spoken, the name manifest by the display of light created by her power, Junelliya's, and the children.

"Our history tells us the Chlaerge did not survive the move to Maha-Oran," the Maha-Rrin Chief Priestess responded.

"It is true of Pod-Saar as well," Nar-Tre confirmed. "We were shocked when they first appeared to us, riding on the shoulders of the Atohan and her mate."

"Shocked is not the word I have for having witnessed this," the Pemipinae replied.

"We will debate this for some time, I am sure," the Pemipinae said with a smile. "However, there is no denying prophecy. The prophecy of the reunion of our people tells us that the Chlaerge would presage this reunion."

The four in Fiona's office each responded in surprise.

"This is not a prophecy we have, Pemipinae. Your words come as a surprise to us," Nar-Tre informed them.

"I see that prophecy can surprise us even into this age," the Maha-Rrin Chief Priestess said, smiling.

They spoke of insignificant things for a little longer before the Pemipinae nodded and cut the link.

The four looked at each other and smiled. Perhaps a breakthrough had just been made, with Junelliya, the children, and the Cats, being the unwitting inspiration for it.

Conference Room One, Command Center, Delta Deck, Liramor-23, The Piscium System

The Chair and Aurelia, came into Conference Room One later that day, and gave bright smiles to all those who were in the room, Fiona, her senior staff, the Asoc and Asost and their retainers, the Kumar-Pair along with their retainers and guards, and the President, his daughter, and his staff.

Included in the group were: Ambs. Harold Flynet of the Union, Ambs. Hollard Clend of the Harradi, Capt. Raymond Clark, Sgt. Jacintha Aurans, Sgt. William Brogues, Tech. Sgt. Brian Donnes, Sgt. Melinda Tanten, and Sgt. Brianna Wilder, Fayad, Hanalei, Junelliya, their children, Takebayashi Urano, Violletiya, and Sylvie Kinlo.

On the large monitor, the members of the Landstradt could be seen watching. The event itself, was being recorded by the ever present Presidential Press Corps, including Cynthia Stewart, and was being sent live by her throughout the Union.

"Good morning to all of you," the Chair began. "It has been more than a month since you have left Planet Adenomere. In that time much has happened.

"First, you should all be aware that the trial of the 'Patriots' has been completed. They have all been condemned to death for Great Treason against the Alliance for attempting to seize control of the Landstradt.

"The House of Worsley is no more. We could not convince Lady Jane Worsley to rescind her pronouncement of support for her husband, a member of the Patriots. As such, she will perish with her husband, as is her wish.

"What this means is that the assets of House Worsley will be sold off. The 4,683 slaves of the estate will become part of the Flying Labour Unit. However, 162 of those slaves are Union citizens. They will be the first of the Union citizens who the Alliance will repatriate to the Union. There are also some fifty children whom we must ascertain their status. Those who were born of a Union mother will be returned to the Union.

"The terms 'Master' and 'Mistress', as used in conjunction with the control of slaves, are abolished. From now on, Mister and Missus or Miss will be used. The terms Patriarch and Matriarch are retained for the heads of Houses.

"The word slave will be abolished. We will again use the term, 'Indentured Servant' as a title. All Houses must conform with new guidelines for the treatment of such Servants, this commitment is already moving forward. Eventually, the term 'Indentured Servant', will also be abolished and those people will become paid employees. This has already started in some houses," and here the Chair gave a pointed look to Aurelia Adenomere.

"Explosive collars are now outlawed. All Houses have six months to replace them with approved collars. Those who have control over the collars, will no longer be able to enact a death sentence against a servant without judicial authority.

"We are currently determining the whereabouts of all Union citizens who were taken as slaves. They will eventually be returned to the Union. That process of returning them has already started but will take some time.

"The Harradi specialists have made thousands of recommendations that are already creating a marked improvement in our agricultural industry. Without them, I believe that the Alliance and the Union would have gone to war. Such a war would have resulted in the destruction of the Alliance, as the Landstradt is now shockingly aware of the disparity in military capability between the Union and the Alliance.

"Erden's World has become the exception to the 'Most Favoured Trading Partner' of the Union because it alone has accepted the presence of the former pirates, those pirates that did not wish to accept Union Justice. Until those pirates eventually die, perhaps in a century, Erden's World will trade exclusively with the Alliance.

"Not all of the pirates have returned to the Alliance. To date, we are unable to account for seventy-eight pirate vessels, sixty-six of which are warships. That makes sense, actually, as supply vessels will soon become very useful to the Alliance and the Great Houses. What information we have on the last known whereabouts and the names and capabilities of these vessels, we shall pass to the Union before we leave Liramor-23." The Chair looked around before he continued.

"The Alliance has invested in two new awards, which is the reason I and Lady Aurelia are here today.

"The first of these awards is 'Friend of the Alliance'. This award is presented to a member of the Alliance, or of a foreign government, who have invested their time and effort to improve the Alliance and its standing in the Greater Community.

"There are three levels to this aware: Bronze, Silver, and Gold, indicating the level of effort and/or results that the recipient has provided to the Alliance.

"The first of these awards will go to Sgt. Jacintha Aurans, please step forward." Sgt. Aurans stepped forward and Aurelia pulled a medal on a bronze chain from a nearby table. The medal was the six-pointed star of the Alliance in the colours of the Aura Borealis of the six planets. In the center of the medal was a small bronze circle with two clasped hands.

"Sgt. Jacintha Aurans, as you were in the service of your government, the Terran Union, you cannot receive other awards meant for Alliance citizens. As such, you are invested as a 'Bronze Member of Friend of the Alliance' for your actions in the Landstradt. Those actions contributed to the changes that the Landstradt and the Alliance have just made. Thank-you, Sergeant, for all that you have done for the Alliance," the Chair stated as Aurelia placed the chain around the neck of Sgt. Aurans and clipped it together behind her, leaving the gleaming medal laying just below her neck.

Sgt. William Brogues, Tech. Sgt. Brian Donnes, Sgt. Melinda Tanten, and Sgt. Brianna Wilder, all received the same medal from Aurelia.

"Capt. Raymond Clark. Your actions, sir, in the Landstradt showed us what being a true leader was all about. You held a mirror up to us which made us all look at ourselves and find ourselves wanting. Some of us decided that we wanted to be more like you, others, the Patriots, decided that they wanted to kill you in order to break that mirror. They failed.

"Because of your selfless actions, you are invested as a Silver Member of Friend of the Alliance. Thank-you sir, for all that you have done for the Alliance," the Chair bowed to Raymond.

Aurelia took the silver chain and medal, which was slightly larger than the bronze version, and placed it around his neck. The center rondel was a silver circle with clasped hands.

"Thank-you, Raymond, for all that you have done for the Alliance, and for House Adenomere," She said, giving him a brilliant smile.

"Ambassador Harold Flynet. Sir, your selfless actions have directly lead to the enactment of the new policies for the former slaves in the Alliance. It has also led to an agreement between the Alliance and the Union that will make the lives of the people of the Alliance much better. For this, you are to be invested as a Gold Member of Friend of the Alliance. The Alliance thanks you, sir," the Chair said, bowing to Flynet.

Aurelia pulled a much larger version of the medal on a gold chain and with a gold inner circle and placed it around the ambassador's neck. She thanked him for his service to both the Alliance and the Union.

"Finally, but no less important, Ambassador Harrold Clend of the Harradi. Sir, your efforts to support the Harla Salum Fannett, the Harla and the Harge that followed her, and to provide us with a working agreement that allowed us to move forward in our agricultural methods, may well have saved the Alliance from the need to go to war against the Union.

"As such, there is no level of thanks that we can extend to you. We therefore invest you as a Gold Member of Friend of the Alliance," the Chair bowed to Ambassador Clend as Aurelia placed the medal around his neck.

There was much cheering from the monitor. While the Landstradt had cheered each presentation, the acclaim they provided for Ambs. Clend was much louder.