Warrior One - Fleet Action Pt. 06

"They are speaking K'lar. We have no translation buttons... " Milford said to Ezra.

"No need we have learned your language also," one of them said.

"Then sirs, I am Fleet Admiral Milford Cook and this is Admiral Ezra Nichols," Admiral Cook told them. "And you are?"

"I am... Fleet Admiral Janab Belkas," Admiral Belkas had a hard time enunciating his name. He was the reptilian one.

"I assume in your language your name isn't pronounced that way?" Milford asked.

"No... your language is difficult... yes difficult to... talk."

"Who is this with you?"

"Admiral of all fleets... Kararkis Mhindus."

"It is very nice to meet you both."

"You are most gracious... our... I am... wondering, yes wondering how you can be so... gracious... yes... after our... combat... " Admiral Belkas said.

"I beg your pardon for interrupting you. But I propose we move to a more comfortable place to discuss...," Milford said.

"You are most hospitable... "

"You are our guests. I have promised you safe passage. You may leave at any time."

"Most gracious." Both Gar bowed to Admiral Cook.

"If you would walk with us to a conference room not far from here."

"Of course."

"Major, you and your top kick, with us," Admiral Cook said loudly.

"Aye, aye sir," Major Conlan said. "Tompkins, with me. The rest of you here. Macklin, you're in charge."

"Sir," Both the top kick and Macklin replied at the same time.

The conference room was just a short way down the passageway from the shuttle bay. Ezra hurried ahead and held the door open for their visitors.

"Major, you're in with us. Your sergeant will guard the door."

"Yes, sir. Tompkins."

"Aye, aye, sir."

"If you will please have a seat... I should have asked, do you require any special seating?"

"No. Your furniture will do nicely," Admiral Belkas said with what sounded like a chuckle.

"Well, then, please have a seat. There is water in the pitcher," Admiral Cook said taking a glass and the pitcher and pouring himself a glass. He then drank deeply.

"Thank you, Admiral," Admiral Mhindus replied, taking a glass and pouring. He brought the glass to his lips and his tongue came out to lap at the water. "Very good."

"Now, down to business... " There was a knock at the door. Quinlan's head poked in.

"Sir, I have a set of buttons for you... "

"English to what?"

"Gar, of course. Or the standardized Gar we hear on the comms."

"Thank you, put them on the table. Standard nomenclature?"

"Yes sir," Quinlan said putting four buttons on the table in front of Admiral Cook.

"Admirals, if you would place one of these buttons on your collar, like this," Admiral Cook said showing them where to place it on their clothing. "This button will translate your words into my language and my words into your language."

"Fascinating... " Admiral Belkas said, attaching the button to his collar.

"Now you can speak your language. I will hear my language as the button translates. If for some reason the button cannot translate any word or phrase, a hologram will appear with the written words of your language that you can choose to represent the spoken one."

"Ingenious... " Admiral Belkas spoke Gar that time, Milford and Ezra heard English.

Chapter 114

Once the novelty of the translation buttons wore off, the four admirals got down to business. For four hours they discussed reparations. At the start, Milford thought that they meant for Earth to pay them. But it soon became clear that the Gar were trying to minimize what they would pay Earth. The number settled on was beyond Milford's or Ezra's comprehension. The two sides settled on gold as the payment medium. It was to be paid over a six-month period. One shipment a month.

After that, they retired for dinner. Both Gar returned to their shuttle to eat. Dinner was brought to the conference room for both Milford and Ezra.

"Did I read that number right?" Ezra asked between mouthfuls.

"You did. It will be more than enough to replace any ships we lost along with any the K'lar and Saxons lost, with a large chunk left over for our trouble."

"I can only guess."

"I wonder how they will feel about the borders we layout?"

"That will be interesting."

An hour later the four Admirals were back discussing the ceasefire.

"There is a star some twenty-five thousand light years down the spiral arm... "

"There is a line of systems some sixty-five thousand light years down this spiral arm where we will not pass unless permission is granted by you, the K'lar or Sinn Fein... "

"Who?" Admiral Nichols asked.

The two Gar put their heads together talking in hushed tones. Nodding, they both sat back.

"I believe you call them... Saxons?"

"But the word you used was translated to Sinn Fein."

"Yes, that's what they call themselves... "

Admiral Cook and Nichols looked at each other, a look of incredulous disbelief washing across their faces.

"But the Sinn Fein died out centuries ago... "

"No wonder they all but ignored the K'lar... "

"What do we do now?" Admiral Cook asked the room.

"Let's finish here first. We'll discuss this afterward."

"Good. Good idea," Milford said, turning back to the Gar.

"That border is satisfactory," Ezra said.

"Then I think our business is finished. We would now like to talk to the K'lar representatives. If you would be kind enough to mediate. What we know of the K'lar they are fierce fighters who hold a grudge. Yes, grudge is the word."

"Of course," Milford answered looking at Ezra.

The meeting with M'lat and M'mal was tinged with acrimony, but they eventually came around to the Gar's proposal. The settlement amount was even larger than that received by the Terran's.

"As we subjugated your original homeworld and it will still sit inside our borders, we will pay an additional amount of @$#%%^@... "

The translation buttons couldn't interpret the monetary nomenclature.

"Really? What about our people you still have as slaves?"

"In addition, those that want to join you, from whatever planet they reside inside our borders. We will grant your ships access to their worlds for transport."

"We will need assurances too... "

"We understand and will place one of our ships at your disposal."

"And if anything should happen to our friends... " Admiral Nichols started to say.

"We understand. We are an honorable race, races, we will not go back on our word once it has been accepted... "

"I realize that, but just so you know... "

"Of course. If you would like to accompany us with one of your fleets?"

"That will be acceptable," Ezra said quickly before Milford could intervene.

"Then it's settled?" Admiral Belkas asked.

M'lat and M'mal looked at each other, nodded, then replied. "It is. It will take us time to gather a group to accompany you... "

"We too will need time to make repairs and resupply," Ezra said.

"Of course. Three of your months, would that be sufficient?"

"Yes," Ezra said quickly.

"It will," said M'mal.

"Then our business is concluded for the time being. We will see the... Saxons, then."

"Would you like to take a break for refreshments?" Milford asked.

"Not necessary, thank you."

Fleet Captain Barclay was the only Saxon to sit at the negotiating table. He spoke Gar, not realizing that Ezra and Milford had translation buttons on.

"The Sinn Fein do not negotiate with the Gar, but I will listen to what you have to say."

"Very well. As your people inhabit a different spiral arm we will guarantee to never cross a line thirty thousand light years north of your home planet."

"You know very well that we have settled planets much farther north than that... "

"Your settlements will be given time to remove themselves, one standard year should do."

"Very well, that with the monetary amount stipulated will be fine. Just to let you know, any of your ships stray south of that line and a state of war will exist between us."

"We understand and except you restrictions."

"Then our business is concluded," Barclay said stiffly.

"Captain Barclay, if you would stay for a minute. Admiral Belkas, Admiral Mhindus, a steward will show you to your ship."

"Thank you, Admiral Nichols." They both rose as the door opened and Poll Steel stood waiting for the two Gar admirals. When the door was shut once more, Ezra turned to Captain Barclay.

"Why didn't you tell us the actual name of your... "

"Which one are you referring to?"

"Sinn Fein," Ezra said flatly.

"I see. We thought it best if you didn't know. I apologize for the deception, except almost half of our people do derive their genes from the Saxons."

"Are the practices of the Sinn Fein... "

"I assure you they are not. We are a total democracy. Leaders are elected by the people. We have laws, lots, and lots of laws."

"Just so you know, we will be watching."

"I expect no less from our new comrades in arms," Barclay said with all sincerity.

"Good."

"Then we are free to go?"

"There was never any question about that," Milford said.

"Thank you, Admiral. Then I shall go, we have a lot to do and not very long to do it."

"You are welcome and thank you for your help here."

"Our pleasure. And now that it looks like the war is over... might we send some of our trading vessels to call on you?"

"If we can do the same," Ezra said.

"Done."

Chapter 115

Ezra sat in his chair, ready to give the order. It had been a long month to get his fleet ready for the extended trip into the heart of the galaxy. Even though the fleet had all been outfitted with the improved hyperdrive, they planned on taking a leisurely two weeks to get back to Rigel. Once there, the fleet would load supplies for the K'lar ships traveling with them. Extra cold sleep pods had been loaded aboard several of the ships in the fleet.

"Admiral Cook has landed in the upper bay and is on his way to the bridge, sir," Candle told Ezra.

"Why weren't we informed?"

"Admirals orders, sir."

"I'll be in my ready room. Phinn you have the conn."

"Aye, aye, sir," answered Commander Beckett.

The Admiral entered Ezra's ready room just as Ezra was sitting down. No knock just opened the door, entered, closed the door and sat in the chair in front of Ezra's desk.

"Ezra... " The Admiral started but stopped looking into Ezra's eyes. You could feel the excitement in the air.

"What is it Mil?"

"It could be something momentous or it could be nothing."

"What?" Ezra asked a little bewildered by the Admiral's excitement.

The Admiral squared his shoulders and shook his head.

"Two scout ships have detected a ship," he said.

"A ship. Which one?"

"The scouts have estimated that the ship is about sixty thousand light years from their position. That's about sixty thousand light years from Earth."

"Where?" Ezra asked.

"Between galactic arms along a line from Earth to the other arm."

"Holy... "

"My thoughts exactly," Admiral Cook said.

"So, what's this to me, sir?"

"There are whispers... never mind. You, me and the Tór are going there. But first you have to offload your cargo to Warrior Four, then we have to stop at Mars and pick up some supplies and cargo. Tór will offload her cargo to Crón. Both Crón and Warrior Four will be here in a day... "

"A day? When did they leave, Rigel?"

"This morning. Both had just got there from Mars where they had new hyperdrives installed."

"Wow. A day from Rigel to here. When does Warrior One get the new drive?"

"On the way to where the scouts will be waiting for us," Milford told him.

"On the way? While in hyperspace?"

"Yes, they will be installed in parallel with your existing drive. Once you drop out of hyperspace the old drive will be disconnected and the new drive will take over."

"Who will be leading the mission into Gar Space?"

"Kaylee Lowery and Éilís Grady."

"Good. Both of them are excellent Admirals. Now if you will excuse me, I have to notify my Fleet of the change in command, sir."

"Of course Admiral," Milford said teasing Ezra.

It took a day to offload their cargo, then another day to Mars. Their cargo was waiting for them in orbit, so loading went quickly. Both ships jumped. They were on their way to investigate what ship was out that far from the stars.

To be continued...