we?” Kivi said.
“If
you view it that way, then yes,” Myden answered.
“This
is too subjective,” Celi said. “I can tell he’s changing by the data, that’s
all I need.”
“What
changed about you?” Mira asked.
“Physically,
my people don’t change much at all,” Myden said. “But it differs from species
to species. The Daemos and Mylor undergo some extreme changes, whereas others
don’t.”
“Will
he live?” Seles asked.
“If
he’s made it this far without dying I’d say yes,” Myden said.
“How
long will this take?” Valis asked.
Myden
laughed. “I can’t say. For my people we stay like this for six months to a
year. For the Mylor it takes almost a hundred years.”
The
five women looked at the Grey with blank stares in their eyes.
“So
he could be stuck like this for a hundred years?” Seles asked.
“Or
a thousand,” Kivi said.
“In
other words, prepare to do things without him for a while,” Valis said.
“How
long does it take for a Daemos to change?” Mira asked.
“About
ten minutes,” Myden answered.
“That
makes no sense,” Celi said. “There should be some reason why it takes different
times for different species.”
“I’ve
lived a long time,” Myden said. “And in that time I’ve learned much, but as to
the answer to this, I haven’t.”
Mira
laughed. “Basically, we need to observe several species over thousands or
millions of years to know the rate?”
“Exactly,”
Myden said. “Let’s leave him alone for now. When he’s finished he’ll stand up
and tell us what happened.”
“Hopefully
without becoming a ball of light,” Seles said.
Chapter 15 - Civil War
A
few days later the Columbia base appeared on the edge of Viken territory. As
they approached the second planet they saw the devastation wrought upon the
orbiting colonies. Wreckage filled the space around the moons of the gas giant.
Veda and Reban watched from the command center. When they got close enough an
encoded com line activated. From behind one of the larger moons a fleet of a
hundred heavy class Viken ships approached. Their design was a mix of long and
narrow with sharp, triangular edges. Each of the ketre long ships
sported two engine towers jutting from their sides. Around each of them a
hundred triangular fighters flew. The screen flashed and showed a tall male
Viken with black scales. He wore a tight fitting black and green uniform with a
star at the center to show his rank as general. Behind him, officers wearing
the same uniform with different symbols manned the stations. The Viken man
moved his hand over his heart to salute.
“I
am General Yardek, leader of the freedom fighters of the Viken Republic,” the
man said.
Veda
saluted using the Kalaidian form.
“I’m
Veda Kein, leader of Heaven’s Light,” she said. “This is the first time we’ve
met, but I’ve heard much of your exploits.”
“We’ve
been fighting for eight months now,” Yardek said. “Though our spirits are high
our bodies have grown weary. I’m glad you answered our call for help.”
“That’s
what Heaven’s Light was created for,” Veda said. “Is this area secure?”
“As
secure as we can make it,” Yardek said. “They don’t send large numbers of ships
out here to attack very often. What we’d like from you now is aid for our
civilian supporters in this system.”
“We’ll
do as you request,” Veda said. “How goes the war?”
“We’ve
secured over half the territories of our people,” Yardek said. “But the
loyalists have the financial backing of the regime. A few months ago I thought
we could handle this without asking for you organization’s aid, but now things
are stalemated.”
“We’ll
help you liberate your people,” Veda said.
“Thank
you Lady Kein,” Yardek said.
“Our
leaders would like to meet with you in person in the next few days,” Veda said.
“I’m
happy to accommodate that,” Yardek said. “For now I’ll send you the
“If
you view it that way, then yes,” Myden answered.
“This
is too subjective,” Celi said. “I can tell he’s changing by the data, that’s
all I need.”
“What
changed about you?” Mira asked.
“Physically,
my people don’t change much at all,” Myden said. “But it differs from species
to species. The Daemos and Mylor undergo some extreme changes, whereas others
don’t.”
“Will
he live?” Seles asked.
“If
he’s made it this far without dying I’d say yes,” Myden said.
“How
long will this take?” Valis asked.
Myden
laughed. “I can’t say. For my people we stay like this for six months to a
year. For the Mylor it takes almost a hundred years.”
The
five women looked at the Grey with blank stares in their eyes.
“So
he could be stuck like this for a hundred years?” Seles asked.
“Or
a thousand,” Kivi said.
“In
other words, prepare to do things without him for a while,” Valis said.
“How
long does it take for a Daemos to change?” Mira asked.
“About
ten minutes,” Myden answered.
“That
makes no sense,” Celi said. “There should be some reason why it takes different
times for different species.”
“I’ve
lived a long time,” Myden said. “And in that time I’ve learned much, but as to
the answer to this, I haven’t.”
Mira
laughed. “Basically, we need to observe several species over thousands or
millions of years to know the rate?”
“Exactly,”
Myden said. “Let’s leave him alone for now. When he’s finished he’ll stand up
and tell us what happened.”
“Hopefully
without becoming a ball of light,” Seles said.
Chapter 15 - Civil War
A
few days later the Columbia base appeared on the edge of Viken territory. As
they approached the second planet they saw the devastation wrought upon the
orbiting colonies. Wreckage filled the space around the moons of the gas giant.
Veda and Reban watched from the command center. When they got close enough an
encoded com line activated. From behind one of the larger moons a fleet of a
hundred heavy class Viken ships approached. Their design was a mix of long and
narrow with sharp, triangular edges. Each of the ketre long ships
sported two engine towers jutting from their sides. Around each of them a
hundred triangular fighters flew. The screen flashed and showed a tall male
Viken with black scales. He wore a tight fitting black and green uniform with a
star at the center to show his rank as general. Behind him, officers wearing
the same uniform with different symbols manned the stations. The Viken man
moved his hand over his heart to salute.
“I
am General Yardek, leader of the freedom fighters of the Viken Republic,” the
man said.
Veda
saluted using the Kalaidian form.
“I’m
Veda Kein, leader of Heaven’s Light,” she said. “This is the first time we’ve
met, but I’ve heard much of your exploits.”
“We’ve
been fighting for eight months now,” Yardek said. “Though our spirits are high
our bodies have grown weary. I’m glad you answered our call for help.”
“That’s
what Heaven’s Light was created for,” Veda said. “Is this area secure?”
“As
secure as we can make it,” Yardek said. “They don’t send large numbers of ships
out here to attack very often. What we’d like from you now is aid for our
civilian supporters in this system.”
“We’ll
do as you request,” Veda said. “How goes the war?”
“We’ve
secured over half the territories of our people,” Yardek said. “But the
loyalists have the financial backing of the regime. A few months ago I thought
we could handle this without asking for you organization’s aid, but now things
are stalemated.”
“We’ll
help you liberate your people,” Veda said.
“Thank
you Lady Kein,” Yardek said.
“Our
leaders would like to meet with you in person in the next few days,” Veda said.
“I’m
happy to accommodate that,” Yardek said. “For now I’ll send you the
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