Chapter 4

Frell Council Chambers - Falvin

Council member Jerthax Len Kolvah began the meeting. "The report from Chief Scout Olefren Sa Klen indicates Kurtherian involvement on our very planet. However, it states it is a member of the Five, not of the Seven. Given this information, is it wise for us to interfere? Perhaps we should find a way to support their efforts?"

Council member Orfram clicked his fingers together in shock. "How can you say such a thing? We have always avoided interference in Kurtherian concerns. We must not begin doing so now! To do so is to invite their wrath!"

Council member Darzim Len Flaan spoke up. "Orfram, you are a fool. A member of the Five is here, now. It is but a matter of time before one or more of the Seven show up, and they will likely bring an armada of ships filled with enhanced aliens with them. That is the way of the Seven, and we all know it. That a member of the Five is here means one of the Seven clans is likely in our galaxy as well. We should send out more scouts immediately, to seek out their influence in known systems."

Orfram was livid. "You cannot be serious! We will have any Kurtherian in our galaxy moving to attack us within years. We do not have the military strength to withstand a concerted attack from a Kurtherian enhanced army!"

Council member Kraal Len Faalov joined the discussion. "Orfram, sit down and remain silent. You are acting like a juvenile. The Kurtherian are here. For us to ignore that fact will surely spell our doom. As Council member Darzim has suggested, our best course of action is likely to provide assistance to the Drithen, as they would provide a much heartier military force than we Frell. We have relied on the Drithen for so many centuries, why should we stop doing so now?"

Council member Darzim clicked once. "Thank you Council member Kraal. Let us vote by raising of the arm, who is in favor of assistance?" Darzim raised his arm, and noted five other arms around the chamber. "It is decided. We shall offer assistance. We will need an ambassador with the free Drithen, and perhaps we may offer some of our people to train them in fighting and the use of military tactics."

Council member Alvare clicked for attention. "Send a message to Chief Scout Olefren Sa Klen, inform him he is promoted to Ambassador to the Free Drithen, as well as Scout, and Chief Trainer. If the Free Drithen wish our assistance, we will send any trainers or warriors they request, without hesitation. I believe we should also offer any materials and technicians they might need to support their efforts. Send a shipment of supplies immediately. Food, clothing, medical supplies, military holo terminals, fighter craft, anything a forward military unit could make use of. We know they are currently more than 2200 strong. Send enough supplies for 3000. Are there objections?"

One arm rose into the air defiantly, and was promptly ignored. "Very well," Alvare continued. "Council member Darzim, please ensure everything is taken care of before the day is out. Our best defense against the Kurtherians is a member of the Five, and our beloved Drithen. With luck, we will receive some enhanced technologies as well."

Chief Scout Orfram - Near Trekklen Base

Upon receiving the reply from the council, Chief Scout Orfram sighed heavily. He was almost certain the council would sanction military action, and he was beyond pleased they had not. However, he was far less than pleased with his new titles. Ambassador to the Free Drithen was a prestigious post in his mind, but the others were a headache, and he was weary of the weight they would place upon his frame.

Placing this aside, he headed back to the base to speak again with Suzaan Den Ott, and perhaps the pilot, or Glaskar. He landed outside the building he had met Suzaan at the previous day, and exited his ship, taking a seat within a few steps of the door.

Soon, Suzaan arrived and sat across from him, much closer than the previous day.

"I bring news, Suzaan Den Ott. The Council has decided favorably, and they have made me Ambassador to the Free Drithen. They wish me to convey to you their desire to assist in any way you may need. There will be a shipment of food, clothing, medical supplies, and basic military hardware for you and your people here before the day is over. Along with this, I have been given the dubious title of Chief Trainer to your people, and the task of Scout along with it. The council has pledged to provide any assistance you wish with training in any area. They are also sending military equipment soon. Fighters, space ships, weapons, armor, vehicles. All will be provided, and any technicians you request to assist you. How do you take this news?"

Suzaan had kept her face as calm as possible. "Very well, and you may call me Suzee if you desire. I am pleased the council has acknowledged us, and pledged support. I will accept any training they are willing to provide, especially combat and technological training. My people are all self-taught, and would benefit much from Frell training. We may be able to offer some technological advancements to the Frell as well. Also, if there are any who wish to join us in our fight against the Seven, we would gladly accept them, and augment them with nanocytes from the Kurtherians in order to provide them much needed genetic improvements. All possible advantages must be taken in the fight against the Seven. I am given to understand they are hearty and devious, as well as very ruthless and merciless."

Olefren bobbed his head. "The council will be overjoyed. Will it be acceptable for me to remain here to serve as ambassador?"

Suzaan nodded. "Yes, there is plenty of room here. Find somewhere you are comfortable and settle in. Will there be more scouts joining you?"

Olefren waved it's arms in a non-committal gesture. "That is not known at present. I would not see why they would send more scouts, since you will have so many Frell here training and assisting that it will be of little use. The council also voted to send scouts to all habitable worlds to determine if there are any of the Seven working in our galaxy at present."

Suzaan smiled finally. "That would be wise, though I am not sure the Seven are here yet. I believe they're busy elsewhere, and will have few resources to devote to us for some time to come, which will give us the time needed to train, and build a strong defense force, as well as a strong offensive force to go find them. Let's go inside, and I'll introduce you to the others, and spread the news. Glaskar will be available shortly as well, he is undergoing a last minute change to his genetic code, and should be out of the pod in less than an hour."

Standing, she led the ambassador into the building and introduced him, announcing the support of the Frell council in all aspects of their preparations. "Ambassador Olefren will remain with us, and later we'll receive a shipment of military hardware and supplies. When Glaskar awakes, we'll discuss which trainers and technicians would best suit us at this time, and send a request to the council. It's likely we'll have many Frell here very soon."

There were cheers to the announcements, even the installment of the Ambassador. Everyone made their way over and greeted him personally, before going back to their assigned tasks.

Suzaan headed over to the ship to speak to Saavid and Kelid. "Saavid," she began as soon as the ship was secured. "We need to get the first four volunteers ready for the pods. They're almost complete now, and Glaskar will be coming out soon. If all goes well, you'll enter the pod he's in now. Kelid, can you send a message to the security terminal with a list of the best Frell technicians we might put to use in building pods and changing ships over to your drive systems please?"

Saavid nodded once, smiling hugely. "We'll be ready in half an hour," she said on the way out of the ship.

I will place a list on the terminal for you, though it will only be the best fields to use, as I do not know all of the best Frellian technicians in the various fields. However, I would think any trained technician in the fields we require would be better than none at all.

"Very good, and thank you. How long until Glaskar awakens?"

Only a few more minutes. The readings are promising, though nothing is certain until he awakens from the pod.

"Excellent. Let's go get him out of that pod, and see what we have now that he's been slightly more enhanced. With a little luck, we'll have both your pilot and my Glaskar."

Glaskar woke slowly, and his eyes fluttered open. Suzaan was there, and he smiled. "Hello my love. I must apologize for my actions. It would seem I wasn't myself." He paused a moment. "Something is different."

"You've been in a Pod Doc, you've been enhanced a bit, primarily bone, muscle, and intellectual."

He sat up, and made to stand, then paused again. "No, this is something different. There is a voice in my head. Somewhat incessant. It's rattling off something I can't understand, saying it needs to speak to something else that makes no sense."

Suzaan sighed. "That would be the pilot. Kelid was supposed to add a neural link so you'd be able to communicate with it. Does the pilot not have access? Maybe you have to allow him more freedom?"

Glaskar nodded and closed his eyes briefly. His eyes flew open again, and suddenly he was saying crazy things nobody could understand. He paused, looked around, then began again. "I have made a grievous miscalculation. My body was damaged beyond repair after I exited my craft, and this body was the first I found. Unfortunately, it nearly killed me. Thank you for placing us into the pod. Had you waited much longer, we would both have been damaged beyond repair." He paused again, and his voice changed. "I will release this body again, now that I may communicate with my ship. Thank you again for saving us."

Glaskar shook his head once. "Well, that was different. At least it's quiet in my head for now. Any chance there are some clothes around that'll fit me? I seem to be a bit larger than before."

Suzaan chuckled and produced a uniform for him. While he dressed, she informed him of the recent events.

Glaskar thought about everything for a minute. "So, we have the support of the Frell because of some kind of Kurtherian alien menace, but we're being augmented by a Kurtherian. Now we must choose if we'll fight against this menace or not. It's a fairly simple choice to me. We stop the Seven, no matter what it takes. They're infinitely worse than the Frell, since the Frell don't force anyone to do anything."

Suzaan nodded. "My thoughts exactly. Now, I need to get back into a pod and finish my augmentation. It's going to take a bit, but it should be worth it. After I'm done, we can get you back in, but we need someone to lead our people, and work with the pilot to change others the way he changed us initially."

"Thanks for taking over while I was having difficulties. I don't know what happened, but it was like I couldn't control myself at all. Go ahead and jump in a pod. I'll get the Frell on track, and we can get more pods built, then get as many of our people changed as possible. At least we can be of more use to the planet with the higher intelligence."

"Great, just make sure you don't let that pilot foul up your head again. Saavid and I will both be in pods, so we won't be able to stop you again. Maybe you should talk to Raanee or Stoven to keep an eye on you, just in-case."

"I doubt that'll be a problem now. It seems I can control how much access the pilot has to my body or mind, to a certain extent. He has the exclusive use of a portion of my brain, but I can keep him from messing things up too much. Get in those pods so we can get this show started. The pilot informs me the deliveries from the council will be here in a few minutes, and the technicians and trainers are being rounded up. So, get in there and get finished so I can get things going on my end. I'll take care of things."

Suzaan kissed Glaskar and headed into the ship. It took her a bit longer than before to fold herself into the pod, and it was considerably more cramped. When she was finally settled, she closed the pod, and was asleep before she knew it.