Project - Prometheus Ch. 13

"That will do. Sentries, begin setup under High Chieftaness Valessa's direction. High Chieftaness, they await your orders," Alex told her. Shocked that she was being given command of the Sentries, Valessa just went with it and directed them towards the center of the village, leading the way. Once the site was identified, the Sentries got right to work, with Valessa telling them where they could put everything.

The Assembly of Chefs watched, dumbfounded at how quickly and efficiently the Sentries got everything done. Some were in awe, while others, particularly Vahltiem, were envious of the power that Valessa wielded with these alien beings. Some were of the belief that things should be run their way, where men were in charge, but none had the heart or the balls to decry her. Not only was she the highest ranking chief among them, she was a better leader than any of them could hope to be.

Maybe ten minutes later, the whole area was set up, with a large table occupying the center of the hill. There was plenty of seating around the table for everyone, along with standing heat lamps that surrounded that impromptu pavilion. Commodore Tomisic and his crew bade everyone else seat themselves according to rank. He and his crew seated themselves on one end of the table, before he gave out another order.

"Sentries, bring the selected crates of food here to the table. When that is done, disperse the rest of what is on the Hermes to the village. Once the crates have been distributed, return to your posts," Alex stated.

The machines saluted and without another word; they marched off to the Hermes, carrying out their orders. Maybe a few minutes later, the Sentries came marching back with metallic crates in their arms. Several of the crates were brought up to the Gaze of the Goddess and placed around the table, for easy access. Once the crates were in place, the Sentries then began bringing crates to the gathered crowds.

Alex ambled over to the crate that was deposited nearest to him and opened it up, revealing mandarins, limes and pomegranates inside of it. He scooped up several fruits and placed them on the table, drawing the attention of both the chiefs and some of the honor guard surrounding them. Some Artucian there were curious, while others seemed hungry.

"Luminia, which one do you think your people would like best?" Alex asked, gesturing to the fruit in front of him.

"The small oranges. You called them... mandarins?" she replied.

Nodding, Alex fished out a few more mandarins and had the chiefs pass them along the table, so everyone had one. They all looked at the fruit with puzzled looks, not knowing what to do with it. After Alex demonstrated how to peel one and eat it, the rest of the chiefs followed suit and began to eat. The looks of delight told the Commodore all he needed to know about how they liked it.

"Feel free to open the other crates nearest you if you wish. There is more raw fruit and vegetables for everyone to eat and enjoy," Alex told them as he cracked into another mandarin.

Not needing to be told twice, the chiefs and the honor guard went to each crate and peeked inside. Some crates contained more fruit of various varieties, while others held fresh vegetables. Eagerly, the table was piled with the produce and everyone began to dig into it.

The Artucian, though primarily carnivores, knew of the importance of fresh vegetables and fruit. Though vegetables and greens weren't common, they were common enough that everyone usually got a little in their diet. But fruit was a true rarity, with very little in the manner of sweet things growing on Talemkha. Even in the domes, many of the bushes and trees that produced fruit had died off a generation ago, only the very old remembering anything like it.

The Artucian availed themselves, thanking the crew profusely for the gift. Many people in the settlement were also enjoying the same flavors that the chiefs were at that moment. As there was more than enough food to go around, some crates were resealed, so that the produce wouldn't spoil in the cold. It wasn't long before everyone had eaten their share and their fill, many of them grateful for the food.

"Thank you for these delicious gifts, Commodore!" Valessa enthused, "We have never tasted anything so exquisite!"

"You are most welcome High Chieftaness! That was but a small sampling of the amount of food available aboard the Perseus. As we speak, more is being tended to and grown aboard the ship, so there will be more to be had," Alex informed her. "But if we may now turn to the matter at hand?"

"Of course, Commodore! You wished to enter into an alliance with the Artucian?" Valessa asked.

"No, High Chieftaness. What I am offering to the Artucian is a place in the Unified Systems Alliance, as a member species of this new initiative."

With that, Alex stood and pressed his palm to the table. Almost instantly, a holographic interface sprang up in front of him, surprising the chiefs and some honor guard. He entered a few sequences and established a direct link with the ship.

"Jaesa, are you linked in?" he asked.

"Yes sir! I have been linked in and have begun recording, so that the whole meeting will be recognized by any and all future members of the Alliance," the AI stated as she materialized out of thin air on the table surface. Some chiefs and guards shouted in alarm but were calmed by Valessa and Luminia's high-pitched chatter. Moments later, everyone lost the looks of consternation and they were replaced with looks of awe.

Once they realized what Jaesa was, Alex then brought up the projection of the agreement that had been drafted. The Assembly was impressed with the agreement being written in Artucian, but spotted a few discrepancies, which were translation blunders. Some chiefs, including Valessa, were kind enough to tell Jaesa where she had made mistakes to correct the translations. Once those were cleared, they read the agreement over several times more, each chief taking their time to look it through.

"So, you are looking to remove the crashed ships from the Dead Snows, to repair your ship?" a brawny chief asked.

"That is correct, but we will not be removing all of them. Just what needs to taken to bring the Perseus back to full functionality and replenishing our material stockpiles," Alex explained.

"Yet you are taking more than half of what lies there! Why should we let you have them, when they are ours, since they have crashed here, on our world?" Vahltiem sneered.

"Because he is offering something that would benefit all Artucian here. Even you, Chief Vahltiem," Luminia stated. Before he could form a retort, Lumi fiddled with the holographic controls, banishing the agreement. In its place was a holographic replica of the dome beneath their feet.

"This is the dome that our ancestors built and as some know, it is slowly being claimed by the ice," Lumi stated, surprising more than one chief with this statement.

"But, with the Commodore's generous offer, that will no longer be a truth, but a memory. Here is another part of the offer," Lumi said, inputting a few more commands. The holo then grew and the dome structure changed, to be stronger, solidified and with much more room.

"The Unified Systems Alliance has offered to stay here with us and help us rebuild the dome. They have also offered to not only rebuild the dwellings of our ancestors, but they will give us seedlings and trees, so we may grow our own food, like we had before!" Luminia enthused.

"And not only that, but I will teach all who are willing to learn, the advanced ways of healing those who have been hurt," Korsa interjected.

Every head nodded at this information, as the ability to help those who had hurt themselves was limited. Very few knew how to help anyone who had taken wounds either internally or extrernally, so this knowledge was a welcome bonus. The chiefs were all impressed by the design and some were salivating at the mention of having fresh fruit and vegetables of their own once again.

Even Vahltiem had no rebuttal for such a generous offer, seeing how it could benefit himself. The sheer possibilities of what the reconstruction represented entranced everyone. Hope, and a chance for their people to thrive, instead of declining.

"And there are two more things that have been discovered since formulating this agreement. Firstly, are the locations of each and every other dome that was built and how to find them!" Luminia said, changing the hologram yet again, to show a topographical map of Talemkha, with the location of each dome clearly marked.

"There is one on our clan's lands! Up near the Sahr'tahn Pass!" one chief breathed.

"I knew one was close to my village! We lost exactly where it was! Now we can find it again!" another chieftaness said excitedly.

"You said there was a second matter, my daughter?" Valessa asked, cutting through everyone's chatter and commanding their attention.

"Yes. We have found the Ark!"

A collective gasp went through the Assembly as Lumi brought up another hologram, marking its location. Everyone was astounded at where it was, sitting at the very bottom of the Dead Snows. For the first time since the meeting started, everyone was speechless. That a vaunted relic and piece of their past had been found was staggering! Now that they knew where it was, they could go looking for it!

"This is another reason why we are looking to clear out the ship from the Dead Snows. So that access to the Ark of your people can be made reality. As it states in the agreement, the Ark is the property of the Artucian people and will remain as such. But a sharing of information and study of the ship is requested, so we may learn more of the galaxy and the people that inhabit it," Alex stated.

"A sharing of all information? Why?" Valessa asked, curious.

"So we may learn more about why the Xuul'khan came to your original home and drove you from it," Alex said. Seeing looks of confusion, he clarified.

"The people you call Light Eaters are in truth, called the Xuul'khan," Shazza told them, surprising everyone with her voice. Looks of understanding swept through them as they realized what she meant and thanked her for clarifying.

"Why do you wish to know about them?" the chieftaness from before asked.

"Because, chieftaness... Khaltani?" Alex hesitated before she nodded, confirming her name, "Your people aren't the only ones to have suffered under their dark crusade. My own people, along with Korsa's people, have fought them and lost much trying to drive them back," Alex told them.

"So, you wish for the materials you need to repair your ship, learning about everything we know and knew, as well as studying the Ark?" Valessa asked.

"That is correct High Chieftaness. In return, we will help the Artucian people rebuild several of the domes that were lost and give you the knowledge needed to cultivate and grow the food you need to not only survive but thrive as a people," Alex stated. "What is the decision of the Assembly of Chiefs?"

"I vote yes to joining the Alliance," Khaltani stated.

"As do I," the brawny chief stated, Alex thought his name was Hahrdok. Other chiefs voiced their assent to joining the Alliance, even the sneery Vahltiem. The vote was nearly unanimous, with only Valessa left to speak her piece. Everyone waited, wondering why she was taking so long to reach her decision.

"My heart tells me that this is the best choice and the way forward for our people. I will vote yes, but only if something is added to this agreement," Valessa stated.

"Speak your mind, High Chieftaness."

"When your ship is fully ready and you are ready to leave Talemkha on whatever missions you would undertake, I would ask that some of our people go with you. I would have our people go out into the galaxy, so we may learn about it. Most importantly, so we may one day find the world in which we came from and take it back for our people," Valessa stated. A flurry of nods and vocal agreements from the Assembly, everyone wanting that very thing met in this request.

"That is a request that is both admirable and acceptable. Jaesa, add the High Chieftaness' request to the treaty," Alex called out.

"Done sir! Is the agreement then ready for final signatories?" the AI wondered.

"Ladies, anything to add?" Alex asked his crew. They shook their heads, every one of them happy with how the agreement was structured. The Assembly of chiefs looked at Alex expectantly, each one of them ready to sign it.

"If you are all ready, please pick up the stylus in front of you," Alex picked up his own to show them what it was, "press it gently to the pad in front of you and write out your name."

Each chief did as they were asked, each one of them signing the agreement in Artucian. Alex signed it, as did the rest of the crew as both members of the Alliance and witnesses to the event. Once the last signature was transcribed, Jaesa reappeared to ensure nothing was missed. It took her all of ten seconds to go over the treaty several times, before she turned back to Alex, saluting.

"The treaty is complete sir," the AI stated, before vanishing into thin air. Standing, Alex walked over to where the chiefs were and Valessa stood, meeting him halfway. He offered his hand, and she took it, shaking it.

"On behalf of all of us here, I hereby welcome the Artucian people into the Unified Systems Alliance," Alex intoned solemnly.

"On behalf of the Artucian people, thank you for accepting us into your Alliance," Valessa replied. It was then that they noted the crowds were still milling around, eager for news of the meeting. No one could hear anything as the honor guards had been instructed to keep everyone away so the chiefs could convene without interruption. Valessa smiled as she stepped forward, more than ready to deliver the good news.

"Clans of the Artucian, the Assembly of Chiefs has met with the delegation from the Unified Systems Alliance and we have unanimously agreed to accept their offer of membership in it. We no longer stand alone as a people, but with strong allies by our side!" Valessa exulted.

"Indeed! We stand together with these Allied races, ready to help them, as they will help us! The safety and security that our ancestors enjoyed when they found Talemkha, will once again be ours!" Hahrdok proclaimed, next to Valessa.

"Not only will we have that but also food, as has been promised by the Alliance! When the domes of our ancestors are found and rebuilt, they will give us seedlings and teach us how to grow them! No one will ever go hungry again!" chieftaness Khaltani stated as she stood amongst the chiefs.

"Though we offer you much, reaching these goals will not be easy! Everyone will have to pull their weight and work hard, if we are to achieve this. You were once a great people and with our help, you will be so again! Will the Artucian people stand to and reclaim what they once lost?" Alex asked, his voice commanding an answer.

A tumultuous cheer rose to greet him, washing over every chief and crew member. Alex raised his fist in the air and everyone else followed suit, the cheering going on for a while longer. Alex then raised his other arm, the gesture calling for quiet among them, which was received, before he spoke once again.

"Then tomorrow, let us begin. But for tonight, everyone; eat, drink and be merry! Celebrate the great things to come for all!" Alex stated.

A final cheer went up as the Artucian were ecstatic that their people would see better times soon. If that meant that they had to work hard to achieve it, then it was a tradeoff they were willing to accept. Talemkha was a hard world and only the hard and the strong survived on such worlds. To be soft was to invite death and extinction to your door.

Finally, the crowds dispersed, and everyone went back to their daily business, but the day was nearly over. It had been several hours since the Perseus crew had arrived and started negotiations. Twilight was already upon them and everyone was getting things ready and secured for the night. For the crew of the Perseus, this meant heading back to the Hermes and heading back up to the ship.

"So ladies," Alex said as he put his arms around Natalya and Kasumi. "Who punishes who first?"

Both women giggled as they exchanged a look between each other, knowing full well what they would put their Commodore through.

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Sohlkris was eating a final snack with Tahreena in the lodge they had been gifted. Human food was truly as amazing as it was flavourful! It was hard to believe that such sweet and delectable things grew on their homeworld! Sohlkris wondered what the Artucian had brought from their home, all those centuries ago and what it would have tasted like, had they survived in the domes like they were supposed to.

"Papa?"

"Yes, Tahreena?" Sohlkris replied, snapped out of his thoughts.

"Why haven't you found another woman? To be my mom?" she asked. Sohlkris stuttered at the brazen questions, at a loss for words. He was trying to stop himself from choking and form a reply when Tahreena kept going.

"I know that you miss Mama and I miss her too. But I know that you are lonely and need someone to be around you and with you. Why haven't you found anyone yet?"

"We have only recently been freed Reena and I haven't really had much time to look," Sohlkris responded, hoping that it would satisfy her questioning.

"What about High Chieftaness Valessa? I see her looking at you sometimes and she is both strong and kind. She reminds me a lot of Mama. I think she would be good for you Papa," Tahreena said without missing a beat.

Sohlkris had to fight himself to keep his jaw dropping open, as that would have given everything away. How had Reena seen things so clearly?? Was this an astute observation or was she just speaking her mind?? Sohlkris could only shake his head and think to himself 'Out of the mouths of younglings'.

"I'll think about it Reena. But when approaching a woman as important as the High Chieftaness, you must tread lightly," Sohlkris told his daughter.

"Well... whoever you choose... I hope she chooses you too. I just want to see you happy Papa," Tahreena told her father as she got ready for bed. Sohlkris almost cried right there until he heard her other comment.

"And, I want a little sister."

Hearing that, Sohlkris attacked his daughter, tickling her until she cried out for mercy, laughing all the while. Calming down, Tahreena climbed into bed and Sohlkris tucked her in. He kissed her forehead and left, heading out to take his post as an honor guard at Valessa's lodge for the next few hours.

He traipsed on through the snow, finishing another fruit that was called an 'apple.' Of all the fruits that the Alliance had brought down to them, he enjoyed these most. He held onto the core as he finished it, dropping it one of the empty crates as he marched on. Once the seeds of each fruit had been identified, the Artucian were all about collecting and saving each one, so they could start growing their own seedlings.

Sure it would take some time before they could start growing anything of their own, but still collecting every seed seemed the prudent thing to do. He moved along, not wanting to be late for his turn at his post. Sohlkris arrived just as Drahktam, the man he was relieving, looked to be getting restless.

"I'm here Drahk. Go on and get yourself something to eat and some rest," Sohlkris told him.

"That I will, but before you take up your post, head on inside. The High Chieftaness wishes to see you about something," the man told him.

Sohlkris frowned as the man walked back to the settlement, wondering what this could be about. He looked back and saw the man shaking as he was departing, almost like he was laughing. He looked quickly to any nearby honor guards and noted conspiratorial smirks on their faces. He scoffed as it was obvious that they knew about the nights he and Valessa shared with one another. Sohlkris supposed it was better than disdain, as the looks were not only knowing ones but also looks of approval.