certain, Cortland. And I am ready.”
“We do this my way, then.” Cort touched the comm in his ear. “Ares to Jaif.”
After a moment, “Jaif, please bring Dalek to the starboard viewing station.”
When they arrived, Dalek ran to his father, hugged Cort’s legs, and grabbed onto a fold in the man’s tunic, trying to pull himself up.
“Poppa! Help me!”
Cort picked up his son and turned to Siella. “Ship Primary Siella, I’m promoting you to Military Governor of this system. You will need to determine your replacement and transfer command of your ship immediately.”
Siella’s antennae stood erect as she looked between H’uum and Cort. “I… I don’t understand.”
H’uum said, “Siella, you have earned it.”
“Now Poppa? Now?”
“Yes, Dalek. Now.”
Dalek put his hand in his pocket and took out two epaulette-like films. He held them out to Siella, who kneeled and reached slightly up to take them from the boy.
“Thank you, my Prince. And thank you, Pledge Father. Your trust will bed rewarded with my unending loyalty to the Ares Federation,” Turning to H’uum, she added, “And to our people, Supreme.”
Cort said, “Congratulations, Governor.”
Laypa helped Siella remove her rank films from her carapace, then lined the new ones up on the governor’s upper shoulders.
After the women were finished, H’uum turned to face Jaif. “Jaif, you have served our Prince well. The Pledge Parents have praised you. Your primary has praised you. I now praise you.”
Jaif bowed formally from his thorax. “Thank you, Supreme.”
H’uum held up two arms and clicked, “You are released from your current duties. I am stepping down as Species Supreme and I have selected you to take my place as Supreme of the species. Please follow Laypa. She will take you to our quarters so that you may assert yourself as our new leader.”
Jaif was stunned. His limbs hung limply at his side, and all four of his antennae stood fully erect.
Laypa took one of his middle arms and softly clicked, “Swear your allegiance to Dalek and the Ares Federation, Jaif.”
Laypa’s touch helped Jaif to regain some composure. He turned to Dalek and lowered himself to the boy’s level. “Dalek, you are my friend and liege. I will bend the will of the Jaifan empire to do your bidding.”
Jaif stood and faced Cort. “I don’t know what to say to you, Pledge Father. My oath to Dalek was taught to me when I was young. My oath to the federation hardly seems enough for what has been thrust upon me. I will always honor our bonds, and Heroc’s Law will guide me in all that I do.”
Cort smiled and clapped Jaif on the back. “Your First Queen is waiting, Jaif. Congratulations.”
“What did that mean, Poppa?” Dalek asked as Jaif and Laypa left the room.
“It means that Jaif has a new job. He’s going to do what H’uum does. Don’t worry, little man. I’m sure you will still see him a lot.”
“What’s H’uum going to do then?”
Cort was still smiling as he looked between the two. “He’s going with me to help some people from Earth.”
--
His family and the new ruler of the Jaifan empire had returned to Ares space, where H’uum was working with the Jaifan Marines to learn their weapons on Heroc’s World. Cort was still in the new system. In his quarters aboard the Kalashnikov, he was talking with Siella . “Governor Siella,” Cort said, “I don’t envy your task. We would normally not occupy a planet that is already in use, but we have no choice this time. Our space stations aren’t advanced enough to support this kind of operation. We need to occupy the planet, at least temporarily. I want you to set up your base on the outskirts of one of the agricultural areas. Do not move into those areas unless it is absolutely necessary. I also want you to keep your impact on the planet to a minimum. If you
“We do this my way, then.” Cort touched the comm in his ear. “Ares to Jaif.”
After a moment, “Jaif, please bring Dalek to the starboard viewing station.”
When they arrived, Dalek ran to his father, hugged Cort’s legs, and grabbed onto a fold in the man’s tunic, trying to pull himself up.
“Poppa! Help me!”
Cort picked up his son and turned to Siella. “Ship Primary Siella, I’m promoting you to Military Governor of this system. You will need to determine your replacement and transfer command of your ship immediately.”
Siella’s antennae stood erect as she looked between H’uum and Cort. “I… I don’t understand.”
H’uum said, “Siella, you have earned it.”
“Now Poppa? Now?”
“Yes, Dalek. Now.”
Dalek put his hand in his pocket and took out two epaulette-like films. He held them out to Siella, who kneeled and reached slightly up to take them from the boy.
“Thank you, my Prince. And thank you, Pledge Father. Your trust will bed rewarded with my unending loyalty to the Ares Federation,” Turning to H’uum, she added, “And to our people, Supreme.”
Cort said, “Congratulations, Governor.”
Laypa helped Siella remove her rank films from her carapace, then lined the new ones up on the governor’s upper shoulders.
After the women were finished, H’uum turned to face Jaif. “Jaif, you have served our Prince well. The Pledge Parents have praised you. Your primary has praised you. I now praise you.”
Jaif bowed formally from his thorax. “Thank you, Supreme.”
H’uum held up two arms and clicked, “You are released from your current duties. I am stepping down as Species Supreme and I have selected you to take my place as Supreme of the species. Please follow Laypa. She will take you to our quarters so that you may assert yourself as our new leader.”
Jaif was stunned. His limbs hung limply at his side, and all four of his antennae stood fully erect.
Laypa took one of his middle arms and softly clicked, “Swear your allegiance to Dalek and the Ares Federation, Jaif.”
Laypa’s touch helped Jaif to regain some composure. He turned to Dalek and lowered himself to the boy’s level. “Dalek, you are my friend and liege. I will bend the will of the Jaifan empire to do your bidding.”
Jaif stood and faced Cort. “I don’t know what to say to you, Pledge Father. My oath to Dalek was taught to me when I was young. My oath to the federation hardly seems enough for what has been thrust upon me. I will always honor our bonds, and Heroc’s Law will guide me in all that I do.”
Cort smiled and clapped Jaif on the back. “Your First Queen is waiting, Jaif. Congratulations.”
“What did that mean, Poppa?” Dalek asked as Jaif and Laypa left the room.
“It means that Jaif has a new job. He’s going to do what H’uum does. Don’t worry, little man. I’m sure you will still see him a lot.”
“What’s H’uum going to do then?”
Cort was still smiling as he looked between the two. “He’s going with me to help some people from Earth.”
--
His family and the new ruler of the Jaifan empire had returned to Ares space, where H’uum was working with the Jaifan Marines to learn their weapons on Heroc’s World. Cort was still in the new system. In his quarters aboard the Kalashnikov, he was talking with Siella . “Governor Siella,” Cort said, “I don’t envy your task. We would normally not occupy a planet that is already in use, but we have no choice this time. Our space stations aren’t advanced enough to support this kind of operation. We need to occupy the planet, at least temporarily. I want you to set up your base on the outskirts of one of the agricultural areas. Do not move into those areas unless it is absolutely necessary. I also want you to keep your impact on the planet to a minimum. If you
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