Chapter 23

Home II

Reffet, Fleetlord of the Colony of Home II, arguably the most powerful member of the Race after the Emperor of Home stood frozen as he listened to the words of the Emperor being transmitted across the subspace band to Home II. The words weren't real, they couldn't be he thought. But the Emperor never lied, so the truth turned out to be more horrifying than any made up story anyone could have told him. He admitted that he was unprepared for the responsibilities that he could see coming. As Fleetlord of Home II, he was effectively second highest ranking power in the Empire. The fleetlords of Rabotev and Hallessi were inherited titles, administrators with no experience in the matters slapping the snouts of the Race on Home and Home II. No one was sure if they even lived as there was no FTL communication to those worlds.

Nothing was known of the situations there. Had they experience explosive metal bombs being detonated over or on their worlds? In his liver he feared the worst. Without the FLT transmitting equipment, it would take almost two decades before any information would be known. That meant that Fleetlord Atvar was the third most powerful male in the empire and if he understood the Emperor correctly, nearly equal to himself in terms of dictating policy and more than his equal when it came to military matters. The Emperor was hinting that the empire would change into a military power, something that had not happened since the empire was formalized. Everything was changing and he wasn't sure if he could keep up.

Atvar had berated him for not making a decision concerning the Terran Tosevites request for a treaty of agreement. He had chosen not to make any decision until the fate of the Emperor was known. It was the correct decision. It was also the wrong decision because the Emperor had rebuked him for his indecision in time of great difficulty for the species. What was he supposed to do, defy the emperor's authority and if he had then would he have been accused of being a usurper? Struggling over this, Reffet chose to do nothing and now the leadership of the Race had insulted him, and the Emperor saw him as being weak, all for doing the right thing! He was an administrator. That was what he trained all of his life for. What happened to his people and how he responded wasn't his fault but all eye turrets were turned against him. The shame was more than he could bear.

Emperor Runshan operated on what the Terrans called autopilot as he continued speaking to the males on Home II. The video conference was an interesting experience as he was able to observe all of the males' reactions as he spoke. Of most concern to him was Reffet and body language as he criticized the male for not making a decision when one needed to be made. The supreme ruler of Home was angry but he, in all good conscience, would not condemn him for doing what he was trained to do. Further, Runshan knew that he might well have done things exactly as Reffet had done if he were in such a position.

In Reffet's case, the male's actions were understandable and he would make sure that although responsible, Reffet's punishment would be non-existent. However as Emperor, his own actions were inexcusable. He had waited far too long in responding to the Terrans overtures. He had wasted far too much time debating the merits of coming to some type of agreement with the Terrans. Instead he had done what the Race had always done – take things very slowly, weighing all of the options before making a commitment. He was responsible for isolating Home and allowing things proceed through Home II. He was the one responsible for waiting too long when he saw that the galaxy was hatching in ways never before seen by the Race. He should have spoken to Daniel Jackson so much sooner. Reffet did what any normal member of the Race would have done. But it was Runshan, the Emperor of Home, who set the precedent and it was the Emperor would accept the responsibility and the blame.

Being on the run, seeing his people struggle against a power they could not fully comprehend let alone defeat almost pushed him over the edge of sanity. Constant hunger, and most of all, the ever-present fear of being caught and his inability to help his own desperate people had forced him to acknowledge certain new realities. He was as jubilant as any other male or female on Home when it was confirmed that the invaders had left in such a hurry. But jubilation turned into revulsion when he arrived at the palace. Hundreds of minor officials and police males were examining the Hall of Records and Administration. The huge room was wrecked, with furniture and equipment thrown all over the place. Only the lighting fixtures were still intact and functional. Power was restored in the governmental offices first, and males and females were busy setting thing back to the way they were.

Runshan was grateful for that as it gave those members things to do and again serve as the focal point for the administration for restoration of the Race. He felt a surge of gratitude when the three paint masters literally grabbed him, stripping off his old disguise and repainting him in the pattern of the Emperor. He no longer wore the paint status of a Maintenance Repair Supervisor and that was an immense relief. Ssumaz Yunnanz was quickly repainted to his former status and glorying in it. In all, it should have been a time of joy. However, he could sense the overall mood of males and females and, he could tell that they were uncomfortable in his presence. They were shielding their emperor from something. He insisted that he be told what was happening and why the senior officials hadn't returned to the palace; however, despite his demands only one male dared to answer.

"My emperor," the male hissed lowering his eye turrets as he spoke, not even wishing to look upon his leader. "Please follow me."

Moving quickly, the Emperor, Ssumaz Yunnanz and their personal guards entered the sacred Hall of Acknowledgement and started hissing. The smell that assaulted him was as unmistakable as it was overpowering. The pile of bodies placed in the center of the room were slowly, meticulously and reverently being removed from their places of rest by males of the Race. The bodies had been burned beyond recognition; only a few personal items were recognizable in the pile. It was this descrecration that pushed the Emperor into a fury. Males around him fell on their snouts as the Emperor raged until he could barely breathe. When he slowly rose he asked one question.

"Does Risson live?"

"Yes, the future Emperor of Home was not among the dead," a male, he didn't know who, had responded.

"Never again," Runshan hissed. "Never again."

Picon

"We can't do that! It'll negate everything we've done," Helena snapped. Her voice was chipped and harsh. "They are Colonials whether we like it or not. Once a Colonial, always a Colonial whether they're traitors or not."

Rather than arguing the point immediately, her father was quiet, reflecting on what was just said. "Helena, there's mounting evidence our belief that Earth isn't the Thirteenth Tribe as we've always assumed."

"What!?" Again both sisters glared at their father as though he was insane.

"The evidence isn't conclusive," he said slowly. "They may not be who we thought they were."

"That's nonsense," said Halima. "The quorum are a bunch of cowards, trying to pretend that the thirteenth is something else because we can't beat them? Or, are you inferring that they're like some branch of the Thirteenth? What are you saying, that a ship of colonists' fleet was lost, found a world and are calling themselves Earthers after their original destination?"

"Again, we're not sure but that is one possible answer," he admitted. "We are sure that they're connected to us in some way, but how, we don't know. We are going to finds out and soon. Just to let you know, a Terran ship…"

"That's what we're calling them now, is it?" growled Helena.

"We're calling them a lot of things," he smirked. "As I was saying before I was interrupted, Admiral, one of their ships will be entering Colonial territory to pick up and transport twelve missionaries hand-picked by the pontiffs to go to Earth to, and I quote Priestess Livia here, 'to save the masses of the Thirteenth colony and bring them back into the fold and knowledge of our most gracious gods whom they abandoned,' unquote. They'll be here in four days."

"Helena was incredulous. "And whose idiotically insane idea was this?"

"This is why I never go to church," grumbled Halima. "I need a drink." She stopped suddenly turned around and started glaring at her father. "Wait a moment. The Apellai actually said yes to this imbecilic idea?"

Home II

"Fleetlords, I will send Ssumaz Risson, future Emperor of Home, to Home II. You will train him in the new ways that will be needed if our people are to survive. I don't know when or if the Kobollian Tosevites will return. I believe that they know nothing of Home II, but I cannot be sure of such a thing. Home will continue to be restored but Home II will become our military outpost. Fleetlord Reffet, you will train him in the ways of administration and when he is ready he will ascend as The 37th Emperor to bear the name of Risson, First true Emperor of Home II. His name will become the 1st Emperor to bear the name Risson of Home II."

Those words shocked every single male and female listening. Such a decree would effectively split the Empire into two parts. Even Atvar was dumbstruck. The Race had been unified for a hundred thousand years. No one on Home II knew what to say (which was good) since the Emperor was still speaking.

"By my decree, the Race sought to conquer Tosev III and add it into the empire. Looking back into that past, I am relieved that we failed. If we had succeeded, the Home would now be forever servants of the Kobollian Tosevites when they found us. Because of Terran Tosevites being bad neighbors we were saved. I have no information on the status of our other two worlds but I will find out. Contact Ambassador Yeager and inform him that I want a meeting with Ambassador Roberts here on Home as soon as possible. Fleetlord Reffet, we will discuss the details of the agreement between the Terran Tosevites and the Race. I will prepare and sign a document as soon as possible. Since we cannot contain the Tosevites, I will use them to our advantage."

"My Emperor, how can you do such a thing?" Atvar heard Reffet asked. "There must be discussions before such a thing can be considered. What was discussed between the Fleetlords and Ambassador Yeager is different than what you now propose. The not-empire of the Terran Tosevites actions are still an unknown that we cannot predict with certainty. They are barbarous creatures."

"Fleetlord Reffet is correct in his analysis, but they are not fools," Atvar said, surprising his competitor by agreeing with him somewhat. He too wanted a closer relationship with the Tau'ri-Terran Tosevites but not one that resulted in the splitting of the empire. Associating with them was acceptable. Joining with them was another side of the mountain altogether. "From what little evidence that has been presented, I too believe that the Kobollian Tosevite faction were the ones that tried to conquer Home."

"They did not try Fleetlord, they succeeded!" rebuked the Emperor.

"Yes, my emperor," Atvar responded, duly chastened. "They are the ones that created the large explosive metal bomb of a size that we have not developed and detonated it on the surface of Home. But the Terran Tosevites are no less dangerous. It will be a very different turn of the egg when the Race begins to closely associate with them. They do not acknowledge the Emperor and will claim to be equal to the Race. Many of their not-empires rule by snout counting! Snout counting is a barbarous way of governing their not-empires but it does work for them. Why this works, that I cannot comprehend, but it does. Would this thing they call democracy work for us? Never! In this they are utterly insane. Would they force this insanity on us? I do not know. This is but one indicator of the differences we would have with them if an agreement such as you propose is signed. I can see the advantages of having a diplomatic agreement with them but we are not used to associating with another species that are true equals. Risson's continued presence among the Tosevites would change him and the Race more than it already has been changed. I acknowledge that the Terran Tosevites have been honorable, even giving us Home II, an almost perfect world for our people, but I fear for our people will not adjust well with creatures that do not acknowledge the Emperor."

Picon

"Yes, they did," her father answered a bit too quickly.

"Don't they know that probably half of them will be spies and the other half agents of some type?" ask Halima. "And they don't care and will let them come anyway?"

"That's what I've been told. High Priestess Livia asked the Terran ambassador and he got a confirmation within two days. Of course there was a deal made that the Earthers could send some missionaries here in return."

Helena's mind was already at work even as she blurted out, "don't understand why they would do this."

"Think about it," suggested her farther.

"It's as if they don't care if we spy on them or not and they know we will."

Her sister gave her a knowing look. "I don't know whether the Earthers are fools or if we should be really afraid right now."

"They wouldn't just come here to pick up missionaries. It's more to this than just that," said Helena.

"Again," he said, "yes."

"They're coming for someone else," suggested Halima. "Adar, maybe since he's rumored to be the new ambassador to the Tau'ri IOA? What about our other ambassador?"

"His position will change and he'll become the ambassador to the Americana States United and the Colonies. And yes, you're right. Adar will have a lot more authority given to him by Goesel. They've given us an open invitation to meet with them for the first time and we're taking it. If we go to war with them we will lose and," he added, "there are too many other, worse threats out there that will be gunning for us. We need to have details on what's out there. The Terrans may have threatened us but they have not declared war."

"This isn't appropriate," Helena all but screamed her anger slowly but steadily build with each passing moment. "The Tau'ri government was declared outlaw by the Quorum. They have violated at least five different writs of Colonization, they harbored Cylons for the gods' sake! Let's not even talk about their religious persecution against those who believe in the gods, on Earth. It doesn't mean a thing if they're the original thirteenth colony or some freakish offshoot from the gods' know where. They're still Kobollian and that means they are under the rightful auspices of the Colonial government. That was the mandate given to me when we tried to retrieve the Cylons."

Augustus's face was flushed now as his anger rose to meet his daughter's. "A few thousand years makes a lot of difference to a people who never knew of the Colonies, Helena. Your mandate, your pledge is to the Colonies. To serve and protect against the enemies of the Colonies, that is your responsibility. Capturing the Cylons was part of that mandate. It did not include trying to conquer an unknown world by firing nuclear weapons at it! Why do you think the Quorum exceeded their bounds?"

"It's obvious," Halima huffed, getting into it now. Both sisters almost instinctually teamed up against their father during arguments such as these. Military rank or not; when at home it was a free-for-all, rank notwithstanding. "Earth needed to be returned to the fold. Short-term conflict, when weighed against the long-term benefits undoubtedly gained on both sides was deemed well worth the risk. In a short time the people of Earth would have readily rejoined us."

"Halima, daughter: I'm surprised you swallowed that crap," Lead Admiral Cain sneered. "The truth is we saw the Prometheus when it visited us and we wanted the technologies. That little frigate kicked Colonial butt and got away. We never forgot that. But that's the reason we went after Earth, for the technology and new territories, thereby increasing our economy! The Cylons arriving at their system and being protected by Earth was the perfect excuse to subjugate one small world and return it to the fold and with all of their technology. Everything else was secondary. We thought we could beat them easily, but we were wrong in our assumptions and now…" he waved his hands. "Here we are with Adar and myself going to a meeting with Earth's colonies and allies."

"What!?"

Home II

"My decision will stand!" the emperor all but screamed, all of his anger and fear radiating in every word. "Your arguments are ones that I have had with my advisors since we discovered that the Terrans Tosevites were the not simple savages we assumed them to be. Now, there are few left to discuss this same argument with. The time we thought we had has been used up. My advisors are dead, undoubtedly murdered by the Kobollians. I have been forced to rely on my decisions and judgment on these matters. What I want is to ensure the continuation of the Race and the empire. Our people have always done things carefully and that caution has saved us well. But what we did not realize that when we encountered the Tosevites, a new age began. The empire was no more than an egg content being an egg. When the Tosevites appeared, our egg hatched to reveal to us a whole new world. We may want to return to the safety of the egg but there is no going back and we must move forward into the world. But I will not take us unprepared into a world of predators. We require allies, powerful ones if we are to survive. We are strong but I intend to make us stronger and we will all do what is necessary to make us power not to be trifled with. Most of all, we will make sure the Race survives. I have spoken it and it shall be done."

"It shall be done," both Atvar and Reffet answered.

"We have very little information here and the aliens were very thorough in removing anything that might be useful. I want to know everything about the Kobollian Tosevites. I want to know where their star system is. I want to know how many of them there are. I want to know what the Cylon Tosevite faction knows about the Kobollians."

"They do not consider themselves Tosevites," Atvar said. "They are genetically created organisms of Kobollian origin."

"So I have been made to understand. I am amazed that their cloning ability is far more advanced than ours. I want to speak to them and find out what they know. They hate the Kobollians as much as we do but I understand they have knowledge of the enemy. We cannot get to them, we cannot beat them with our present technology but we can find out as much as we can from the Terrans and the Cylons. For this endeavor to be successful we will need a full treaty acceptable to all sides. Then, when the time comes we will exact our revenge no matter how long it takes. This too, shall be done. Now prepare yourselves. We have much to speak about before this first of many sessions is over."

Picon

"Dad, you can't be serious," said a stunned Halima. "After what they did to us, you want to go to Earth and do what exactly?"

"Earth is having a conference with their allies," Cain announced. "They didn't give us details other to say that this meeting is about to take place and wanted to know if we wished to be present as non-participant representatives."

"That's very vague," noted Helena. "What about details, sir?" She had unconsciously slipped back into military mode as she addressed a senior officer.

"They were vague when they sent this to Corman," Augustus said. "And we know they did so purposely. But it's enough to get our attention. Something big is about to happen and it's big enough for them to want us present."

"That's not a good enough reason to request one of our most senior officers to come to Earth to attend a meeting they're not giving any details about. It smacks of treachery."

"It smack of treachery," echoed the Lead Admiral. "Oh, you sound so much like your mother when you said that. Listen both of you, this is the first opportunity we've had to find out what's going on and gather Intel on Earth an it's allied colonies. We know next to nothing about them. What we do know is there's a war coming and we think that this is their way of extending the hand of friendship to us."

"After what they've done," snarled Helena. "They're toaster lovers. They continually override our best security measures and have terrorized the Colonies for years."

"We attacked them first because we thought we could win. We didn't. Now we have to deal with the consequences. But this is an opportunity that we can't afford to ignore."

"Why you?" ask Halima. "Harrison could go, and with respect dad, do a better job."

"My eidetic memory, my dear," he said pointing to his head. I am about to retire and this mission will cap of my career. Plus your mother and I plan to travel a bit and relax, let the next generation take over." There was a collective groan from both women. "Goesel and the brass want someone high enough in the military to represent and I won't be a threat to our security. All of my codes and authorizations will be terminated and scrubbed the moment I leave. With my experience I'll be able to make solid analysis and a judgment on what happens from the moment I leave until I get back."

"CID could do that," Halima said. "That's their job."

"They could, I agree. But only the twelve missionaries, Adar, his wife, and I are going."

"But the escort ships…" Helena began. Frowning she didn't complete her thought. "We're not escorting you to the meeting place, are we?"

"No. as I said, an Earth ship is transporting us. The Earth ambassador told us that they will have assets in the area."

Helena snorted. "Like that space base they have hidden near our territory?"

This was a sore point among the Colonial military and government. Earth had to have a major outpost not far from the colonies, however it hadn't be found yet. Earth resources could easily spy on the Colonies as they'd proven time and time again and the Colonies couldn't return the favor. Every single probe sent to the Sol system somehow malfunction in one way or another and never worked the way they were intended to. It was a source of great embarrassment.

"Even if they told us where this meeting was to take place, it'd take us months at the very least to make it. If it were on Earth, this would be a two year round trip. This meeting will be in a few days. That alone gives us valuable information that the meeting will be located much closer to our territory than we thought. We calculate that Earth FTL is at least eight times faster than ours so we roughly calculate an approximate distance from the colonies, given time in transit.

"And, of course, we have no idea where this meeting will take place."

"No, but we may be able to estimate how far they are from the colonies and how far they are from the Earth."

"You think that the meeting will be held at the Tau'ri base with it being used as some sort of neutral territory?" asked Halima. "That would make sense since as we are out of the way. But that also means that they've been planning this for a long time and have wanted to include us for a while."

"Their colonies may be closer to us than we thought," said Helena. "We could talk to them without Earth peeping over our shoulders every second. It would just be a matter of finding them–and not to bomb them as some of the Quorum member have wished to do."

"Fools. We can't fight them on their terms yet."

"Maybe we won't have to fight them at all. That's why I am going to this meeting. I wouldn't trust CID to scratch my behind. They'd get us all killed."

"I really don't like this," Halima grumbled. "You won't even have a security escort. They could do anything they wanted to you."

"They guaranteed our safety, and they're as professional as we are and take their responsibilities seriously. Besides, when it comes down to it, I'm expendable."

"The hades you are!"

"As your father, I thank you for your concern, daughters," he said dryly. "I'm sure your mother echoes the same sentiment. But for what we'll gain–it's an acceptable, not it's a necessary risk. I'm leaving for the rendezvous point in three days."

"I wish the third fleet could escort you," Helena said.

"No, Corman and Goesel thought that we should extend a bit of trust to the Earthers and in this instance, I agree. Nagala was more vocal about me going without backup, but I'm hoping peace will break out instead of war between our two people. Somebody's got to take that first step. Besides I want to see firsthand who these people are." Smiling at both of his very unhappy daughters he clapped his hands together before he got up. He started for the kitchen. "Now, I'm starving and I haven't had you together like this for ages."

The women smiled as that was the way their father ended discussions and they did want to enjoy the time together as it could well be one of the last times they would be able to do so.

Note: Markaria is a Colonial space station some 30 light years from Earth.

CID- Colonial Intelligence Division