ACT 1 – DISCOVERY
Chapter 13 – The Gathering
Despite knowing that there were three Hive ships within a week's flight away, worryingly close to the local Alliance border, Halling had slept surprisingly well. No emergency alarm had woken him, so he'd felt well rested as he'd dressed and had a quick First Meal before heading up to Central Station.
Once here though, Teyla had reported the less-than-positive news that a further two Hives had arrived overnight to join the first three.
Standing at the tactical display table, Halling found himself simply watching the five dots that represented the Hives detected by the Sensor Platform Ship's advanced gravitational sensors. Unfortunately, all those sensors could do was report that there were five Hives there, nothing more. It was possible, even highly likely, that smaller ships were moving between the Hives, but at this range they were too small to detect.
As was any indication of the damaging Skerti tech radiation.
If all five Hives were controlled by Skerti, they were dangerously close to the border.
Or, if they simply held usual Wraith, then that too was still concerning. Five Queens gathering so soon after the Nest Battle was unusual and spoke of something significant.
Finding out what significant fact that was, and ensuring the Hives never saw through their plans, would usually be the Sythus' mission upon finding a gathering of Hives. After all, Elite hunted and destroyed Hives, but here Halling was, just watching them from a distance.
It created a subtle frustration in him that he worked to calm as he switched his attention back to another screen which held the final summary analysis of all the derelicts so far investigated. Teyla and Isen had worked hard through the night, liaising with the experts on all the Fleet Ships that had analysed all the samples, images, and sensor readings from the derelicts. It was a thorough and detailed report, but it held nothing new.
As did the separate little dot on sensors on another display screen; the next derelict waiting for investigation in the continuing line ahead of the two halves of the Hunt Fleet. A line that ran almost directly away from the distant unmoving Hives.
The Hunt Fleet could not risk continuing on to investigate the next derelict though, not when they had no idea what was happening on those Hives and how powerful Skerti tech sensor capabilities might be. For all they knew, the five Hives were already aware of the Hunt Fleet and were preparing to use the dangerous Skerti Drive tech to jump here at any moment...
Halling looked back to the five unmoving dots.
To his left, Teyla shifted her position. Despite it being well past the end of her long nightshift, she hadn't retired to her bed yet. He glanced at her profile, clearly seeing the signs of fatigue in the paleness of her complexion and the weary darkness under her eyes. She clearly needed to go sleep, as Isen had done, but she had always been stubborn.
Though he could understand the compulsion to stay and the strangely hypnotic silence of watching the five Hive dots…waiting for something to happen.
"Sythus, Sensor Platform," Commander Teije's voice cut sharply through the formally silent audio link and Halling snapped his attention up towards the disembodied voice. "Another Hive has just jumped out of hyperspace."
"Where?" Si was the one to ask.
"Again close to the existing five," Teije replied, his voice hurried and Halling could hear rapid voices behind him through the open link. "Updated readings should be coming through now, Honoured Elite."
And indeed, a sixth dot appeared on the delayed sensor readings at the centre of the display table.
Halling found himself leaning forward, eyes fixed on the new dot as it moved a fraction towards the other dots.
"It is reading as a smaller Hive than the others," Teije added. "Moving towards the other five."
Halling watched as the other dots begin to move as well, shifting positions enough to accommodate the newly arrived Hive until all six settled into a ring formation.
"It is a gathering," Teyla decided.
"Holding in standard Wraith broadsides formation," Si nodded. It did indeed appear to be the usual way Wraith Hives gathered, their side hulls facing their 'visitors' to ensure a rapid deployment of fighters and weapons-fire should the gathering turn aggressive. With six Hives now gathered, they had formed a circle, all of them watching each other very closely.
"Though Skerti could use similar methods," Jobrill pointed out.
"Or they're like the Rogue Hive," Halling voiced, "the Hives fully staffed by Wraith but Skerti secretly in place as their Queens."
"We have no way of knowing without being closer," Teyla sighed heavily. He wondered if it was frustrating for Seekers like her and Si to be able to see Wraith on sensors but not be able to detect them through their Gift by being so far away.
Halling glanced sideways at her again, seeing her brush her fingertips across her brow in a gesture that seemed painfully tired. However, he knew any further comments on the matter would make no difference. Teyla would retire to her bed when she decided it was time.
Though time seemed all that they had currently, all of the Hunt Fleet's attention focused on the six little dots.
Waiting for something to happen.
0000
The atmosphere in the Transport Pod was one of tense focus, most especially from New Breath.
She had spent the last day of hyperspace travel shut away in her chamber as she had worked to bring her unfocused mind and emotions under tighter control.
Mind Song slid his attention briefly away from the holographic display of the view outside the Transport Pod to the Young Queen. She had done well restraining her formally wild mind; though, like any untamed and inexperienced creature, the control felt tenuous, but he was impressed nonetheless.
She would need that control for the meeting ahead. When any Queen met another it was a dangerous moment, both vying for information, control, and dominance both physically and psychically. But New Breath was about to meet with five, at least one of which was an Elder Queen, so this would be a considerable challenge for a Young Queen, especially one who had missed out on the direct education of her Mother Queen.
Still, New Breath had seemed to have prepared herself well, though Mind Song could see the tension in her upper body through her new black battle dress.
She had said little so far in the trip from her Hive out into the open space within the ring of five other Hives, all holding a standard defensive formation from each other. However impressive a gathering of six Hives should be, it was their Pod's destination that drew all focus.
Mind Song slid his attention away from New Breath's tight control to the view of their destination. He watched as the Pod's Pilot slid the craft closer across the defensive circle towards the hulking Hive that sat centrally within the formation.
It was old to Mind Song's eye, with a heavy and thick hull, and it dwarfed the other five Hives, most especially New Breath's far smaller ship.
And the closer the Transport Pod moved towards the large Hive, the more massive and impressive it became.
Stood to Mind Song's right, Long Sleep shifted in his silent stance, his mind turning with the brightness of his intelligent curiosity.
"One of the earliest Hive-seed lines," Long Sleep uttered. Ming Song did not have his Brother's expert eye on such things, but if Long Sleep said it was, then there was no doubt it was true.
And the fact added greater weight to the chance that this truly was going to be an Elder Queen they were soon to meet.
A Queen to whom they could be introduced, and who would hopefully have the experience and leadership to confront the Skerti threat.
As long as she allowed them an audience with her and believed them long enough for Long Sleep to share his experiences on his former doomed Hive.
New Breath glanced faintly over her right shoulder towards Long Sleep. "An ancient Hive?" She asked, one of her first comments since she had ordered them to accompany her for the gathering ahead.
"Yes, Great Queen," Long Sleep replied. "I would estimate it was one of the first of the flight-capable generations."
"How can you tell from here?" She asked, curious to learn. "Simply from its size?"
Long Sleep shifted forward half a pace and pointed past her towards the display of the massive Hive. "Yes, but see how the under-hull is smaller, then widens to the side flanks with reinforced supports around the engine pods? The Hive was grown and remained rooted on a planet well past its maturity, the upper-hull spreading wider over the terrain. Then, when it uprooted for flight, the large supporting struts were grown to reinforce the larger upper-hull to withstand the pressures of hyperspace travel. The supporting struts are a reinforced skeletal bone that takes a long time to grow to this size."
New Breath nodded, but Mind Song felt the faintest shift in her, as if Long Sleep's lesson had confirmed something for her. Perhaps about the hostess Queen they were soon to meet?
"Do you know if this Hive was always owned by this Queen?" Mind Song asked New Breath, carefully controlling his tone to be sure he did not sound interrogative.
"I believe so," New Breath answered. "She met with my Mother Queen on occasion."
Mind Song nodded, even though New Breath's back was turned to him as they watched the approach into the deepening shadow of the ancient Hive. 'Meeting' with another Queen could mean anything from a brief alliance to battle another Hive to an all out bitter war between the two Queens.
That this Queen had invited New Breath to this gathering then could be a mark of respect or an opportunity for revenge in regards to her former Mother Queen. The two options presented very different potential outcomes for New Breath, as well as for him and Long Sleep.
An opportunity or a trap?
It was important to know, but Mind Song wasn't sure if New Breath had considered it, and whether he should push the point.
"Do you know if she was on agreeable terms with your Great Mother Queen?" He asked, again ensuring his tone sounded simply curious and calm.
New Breath looked round at him over her left shoulder, her bright yellow left eye meeting his. "Agreeable," she confirmed, her tone showing she had understood the point behind his question.
He nodded respectfully to her.
New Breath watched him for a second more and then looked back to the display, which now showed only the massive side flank of the host Queen's Hive.
"But she is not one to cross," New Breath added. "You will see why soon enough."
Mind Song frowned at that cryptic comment.
He glanced out the corner of his eyes to Long Sleep, but his Brother was carefully watching the display outside. Something in particular about the Hive had caught Long Sleep's attention, something that made him frown. Mind Song kept his gaze on his Brother and Long Sleep felt his attention, glancing round.
"The Hive is surprisingly unmarked," Long Sleep stated. "Given its age."
New Breath glanced over her shoulder at Long Sleep and Mind Song felt a shift in her mind, but her control was working well so he couldn't tell what had caused that reaction in her. If he'd had to guess, he would have thought that she was surprised at the news.
Mind Song looked out at the Hive himself. Though Hives had considerable ability to heal themselves, the inevitable damage acquired in battles usually required alterations to strengthen weakened areas. Even extensive periods in hyperspace with too infrequent stops had been known to weaken even the strongest Hives, and the violence of the Armoured Herd's attacks had caused many surviving Hives extensive damage that required patching and reinforcing regrowth. But the Hive outside looked pristine, as if it were as young and newly matured as New Breath's new Hive. Of course it could not be, so its lack of scars was a curious point indeed.
The Transport Pod shifted its approach, now turning in towards the wide dark opening of the Hive's waiting Fighter Bay.
Mind Song felt Long Sleep's surprise again, but he shared it this time. The Fighter Bay was abnormally big and entirely filled with Fighters, every position, platform, and niche filled with ships.
Far ahead, lights glowed to life around one distant waiting empty platform.
It was positioned directly in the middle of the deepest point of the bay, surrounded on all sides by the Hive's own Fighters. Any fast escape would be near impossible, and the point was clearly made.
As the Transport Pod began its approach, New Breath turned away from the display, her caped back and ends of her battle dress swishing through the moist mist that hung in the ship around them. Mind Song stepped to one side as she passed between him and Long Sleep, heading towards the back of the Transport Pod out of which they would depart onto the host Hive. The two Drones that she had also brought stood in silent, unthinking attention as she paused in front of them.
Mind Song felt her mind shifting again as she worked to further control and restrain herself. It was only in the time that took, and the tension he could still see in her shoulders, that showed him her nervousness.
It was wisely felt, in his opinion, but he felt a compulsion to help her, though he needed to be careful. Implying a Queen was weak or in need of help was a quick way to be killed.
And he and Long Sleep needed her to fulfil her role of introducing them to the Elder Queen.
He felt the Transport Pod shifting, turning around above the platform as it prepared to land.
"Great Queen," he asked calmly, "do you know the other four visiting Queens?"
"I have spoken with them," she replied, most of her attention still focused on fortifying her mind, but her answer was clear: she didn't know any of them.
Mind Song glanced at Long Sleep, seeing his Brother was still distracted by what he was seeing outside. Mind Song left him to focus on that.
"It may be that my Brother and I might recognise some of them," Mind Song suggested carefully, reminding her anew of his and Long Sleep's experience and that they had encountered many Queens in their long lives; both agreeable and otherwise.
New Breath looked round again, both her yellow eyes meeting his this time. He kept his head slightly bowed, but held her gaze.
She seemed to consider something. "It is unlikely you will, but inform me immediately if you do."
Mind Song bowed his head as the Transport Pod settled with a gentle shift of the floor under their feet.
"You will keep behind me at all times," New Breath ordered.
Mind Song bowed his head again at the unnecessary order; where else would two Warriors walk when with a Queen?
"You will only speak on my command," she continued. "And guard yourselves closely."
Ah, a warning.
When she had first spoken of the hostess of this gathering, New Breath had implied the Elder Queen might not take kindly to his and Long Sleep's mutations. He had been unsure at the time if that had simply been an insulting threat from New Breath, but now he suspected it had been a true warning. Interesting.
He bowed his head to her again.
She turned away and, with a touch of her mind, the webbing and back section of the hull of the Transport Pod slid open. The two Drones turned and walked out first onto the Platform outside, but New Breath held her ground for a moment.
Mind Song watched her gather herself, physically and mentally, before she strode forward out of the Pod.
He followed her, Long Sleep at his side.
The Hive's waiting two Warriors and four Drones were stood at the end of the platform, and, upon seeing New Breath appear, turned and started away. It was a subtle but notable insult to New Breath, but she strode forward after them. Mind Song kept his pace fast to stay close behind New Breath's left shoulder, Long Sleep doing the same behind her right, her two Drones behind them as they followed the escort down one long wide corridor.
The maturity of the Hive was even more apparent inside, the walls large, the webbing densely thick, and the atmosphere held the scent of age in the warm moist air.
And, in the distance, Mind Sleep could feel at least two other Queens' minds, pulsing with unrestrained power.
More Young Queens perhaps?
The escort turned a corner through a wide junction to enter into the level's spinal corridor, the walls of which were dotted with the entrances into smaller chambers. At the entrance to each chamber stood at least one Warrior, creating two long lines down the length of the walls of the long spinal corridor. The lines of Warriors kept their eyes up and forward, controlled and seemingly disinterested, but the show of power and threat was obvious.
New Breath did not break her pace though, striding forward at a well judged fast but unhurried pace, ignoring all the watching Warriors lining both sides of the corridor around her.
Mind Song looked at the Warriors though, how could he not?
Every single one of them stood at the same height, had the same mottled skin tone, and all of them had their long white hair cut to the exact same length. Were it not for the subtle variations of their bone structure and muscle definition, Mind Song would have thought them to be clones from the days of the Old Lantean final battles.
But no, they were individuals, but all the same lineage. The exact same look in almost every single way.
And not a single marking on any of their faces.
It was not entirely rare to see a Warrior without an inked marking, but never so many.
As the procession moved down the spinal corridor, Mind Song kept studying the passing Hive's Warriors, waiting to see if a marking might appear, a piece of hair slightly out of place, or even a scratch on their clothing. But there was nothing, they could easily have been one warrior copied multiple times down the length of the corridor.
Were all the Warriors on this Hive the same or had this host Queen simply put this large unusual group on display?
Most Hives naturally assimilated other lineage Warriors and Drones as they won other feeding grounds and Hives, especially after the rise of the Armoured Herd's destructive behaviour. And it was natural that, over the many years, for different age Warriors and Drones to be created and added to a Hive, but these… They all looked as if they had come from one single batch birth, but, as that was impossible outside of cloning, it spoke of a Queen who worked hard to keep the purity of her lineage.
Which spoke of an extreme dominance that worried Mind Song.
It also put New Breath's warning into a far more relevant light.
He and Long Sleep were considered displeasing mutations among the standard mix of Wraith kin, but here…
The escort finally arrived at a wide opening into a round chamber, inside of which Mind Song could already feel the restless Queens' minds. He had to wonder how long they had been waiting for New Breath to arrive.
As they entered the chamber, Mind Song swept his gaze immediately around the four other Queens all waiting inside. The chamber had been grown with bone protrusions jutting out from the walls creating five facets of space, inside of which each Queen and her accompanying protectors stood, all facing into the centre of the chamber.
The one empty facet space was clearly for New Breath, and she headed immediately towards it without instruction.
As he followed her, Mind Song considered the Queens in more detail. None of them were familiar, but he could see why New Breath had thought as much. Of the four, three were young. Two of comparable ages to New Breath, and one was not even close to maturity, the top of the Child Queen's head barely reaching the shoulders of her Warriors.
But the fourth Queen was far more mature. Like New Breath, she was of a more petite build lineage, her dark hair swept up into a high long tail down her back. Her deep black dress hung down from her hips, her legs entirely concealed.
As she reached the waiting facet space, New Breath turned and faced her Sister Queens, sending each of them an individual nod. Mind Song moved in behind her left shoulder again and considered the other watching Warriors behind each Queen.
Wisely, none of them were Hive Primaries, the biggest controlling Warriors left behind to oversee the Hives while their Queens were off the ship. New Breath's Primary had not been pleased to see Mind Song and Long Sleep leave with her, the big male having given them a heavily threatening stare as they'd boarded the Transport Pod.
Behind the more mature Queen directly across the chamber, one of the Warriors met Mind Song's gaze, his face and marking somewhat familiar. The male inclined his head the barest fraction and then repeated it to Long Sleep. Mind Song nodded his head the same amount back. As Mind Song did not recognise the Warrior's Queen, the male must have been acquired into her Hive from a battle. That was far more standard than the strange uniformity out in the corridor.
New Breath's head turned a fraction towards Mind Song, barely a movement, but he felt the question. He shook his head faintly, letting her know he didn't recognise the Queens. She looked forward again with the barest of nods, either having seen the shake of his head in her peripheral vision or felt the response on the edges of his mind.
She was doing well, holding herself calm and contained, unlike the other younger Queens whose minds' were loud across the chamber.
Movement at the chamber's entrance was the arrival of four of the identical Warriors and then, behind them, strode in the host Queen.
Mind Song only just controlled his surprise.
She was definitely a Queen of good maturity, but it was difficult to tell exactly how long she had lived. She was very tall and slick with lean muscle, her mottled skin holding faint tinges of green and blue, and her dark hair was pulled back, fully restrained under a large skullcap. All of those immediate facts alone identified her lineage, but the rest of her only confirmed it.
She wore barely anything across her shoulders and arms except a fabric guard around one forearm and straps leading down from a tall isolated collar around her neck to a tight battle corset. The corset was restrained in design, but not in the pieces of glinting bladed weapons attached to it. From her narrow waist she wore long panels of a battle dress that only just reached her knees and under which she wore trousers and boots. Everything about her was utilitarian and functional, and designed to help her in battle.
For she was of the Warrior Lineage.
As far as Mind Song had been aware, all of her lineage had been killed.
Other than the especially psychically gifted red-haired Mind Lineage, no other lineage had been as infamous.
Unlike all other lineage Queens, the Warrior Queens had involved themselves directly in battle, preferring face-to-face brutality alongside their Warriors and Drones. Always the first to start battles over feeding grounds, they had been quick to destroy other Queens and so had ended up commanding massive fleets of subjugated Hives. But that furiousness to fight had resulted in them battling each other as much as other lineage Queens, with assassinations and all out cullings having led them into destructive civil wars within their own lineage.
Until the Old Lanteans had brought a far more interesting war for them to wage. The Warrior Lineage had been the first to lead the charge against the Old Lanteans' growing attempts to stop cullings of Prey. Mind Song and Long Sleep's own first Queen had been one of many Queens who had answered the Warrior Lineage's call to battle, and, under the Warrior Queens' leadership and literal spearheading of the war, the Old Lanteans had been forced back to Atlantis and defeated.
However, the long siege had resulted in the loss of a good section of the Warrior Lineage, but that had not mattered to its survivors, as the aftermath had provided a galaxy-wide free territory for all the Hives to start staking their claims for new feeding grounds. And the Warrior Lineage had battled over the best.
Until the Armoured Herd had risen in power. Again, it had been the Warrior Lineage who had raced into those first battles only to have found themselves increasingly outclassed. The Armoured Herd lost a great number of their earliest forces to the Warrior and Mind Lineages, but the prey had forged a new deadly weapon in response: the Queen Killers. The specialised hunters had started targeting both the dominating Lineages, and, in shocking short time, all of them had been removed. Stories were told of Queen Killers sneaking onto Hives and directly challenging Warrior Queens in their Throne Rooms. Always eager to fight, the Queens had foolishly engaged and had been slaughtered. Never before had Wraith kin had to contend with such weapons as the Queen Killers, and the shocking loss of the Warrior and Mind Lineages had been part of the reason for the careful retreat from the Armoured Herd's new territory.
But here stood a Warrior Lineage Queen in all her clear powerful glory as she strode to the centre of the chamber. She stopped within a pool of light glowing down from the ceiling and set her hands on her hips. Her body posture and theatrical entrance into the literal spotlight were so very typical dominance displays of her lineage.
Silence held in the chamber as the Warrior Queen considered each Queen in turn. As her attention arrived last on New Breath, New Breath bowed her head with more respect than Mind Song would have expected from one Queen to another. The Warrior Queen's small satisfied smile showed the tips of her teeth against her lower lip before she looked away.
"Greetings, my Sisters," the Warrior Queen stated, her voice strong and loud, again another all too memorable feature of her lineage. "Welcome to my gathering." The possessive ownership of the gathering was another clear show of dominance, and Mind Song switched his gaze briefly to the more mature Queen across the chamber.
She hadn't reacted though, which was telling. A mature Queen would have taken exception to that, but the petite Queen simply stood with her face unmoving.
He wondered if the two of them had their own small coalition already in place.
"I am Lost Lineage," the Warrior Queen introduced herself as she lifted her dark-clawed hands from her hips with a theatrical gesture.
It was an interesting name, and clearly one she had given herself in more recent years. It was highly unusual for a Queen to acknowledge anything approaching the loss of power, including that of her lineage line, so for this Queen to so openly refer to herself in those terms was very strange.
However, it did shine a greater insight onto the uniformity of the Warriors outside; one who had lost all of her lineage might be very keen to preserve and display her lineage's genetics.
He had to imagine though that she would have birthed at least one daughter to ensure the lineage continued should she fall. Of course, such daughters would be hidden carefully away, most likely separately from each other so as prevent their Warrior nature from murdering each other. Which would mean that the Warrior Lineage was not actually 'lost'.
"I gathered you here on the solemn news of the fall of our Great Sister, Sharp Claw," Lost Lineage continued. "We grieve her loss," she added, her tone not even approaching sorrowful, and the same was echoed in one Queen's loud uncontrolled mind. Instead of grief, eager excited greed filled the chamber; after all, nothing else motivated a Queen so powerfully as a newly available feeding ground to claim.
Mind Song shifted his gaze to the Queen with the particularly uncontrolled mind. She was perhaps a little older than New Breath, but not by much. She was tall, her complexion almost as pale as the long white battle dress she wore, though her long black hair broke up the whiteness where it hung unconstrained around her shoulders. Her light yellow eyes were fixed on Lost Lineage, a barely restrained sneer obvious on her upper lip.
"Sharp Claw's feeding ground was vast," Lost Lineage continued, now moving out of the pool of light as she began to walk a casual circle around the centre of the chamber, her gaze moving over each Queen in turn again as she spoke. "Which means that it is now available for occupation. So, I have brought you all here so that we can discuss our combined response."
"Combined response?" The uncontrolled Queen blurted out doubtfully. "Response to what? Your having killed Sharp Claw and laying claim to her feeding ground?"
As combative a question as it was, it was still very valid in Mind Song's opinion. If Lost Lineage had simply called this gathering to lay claim to Sharp Claw's feeding ground, what was the point? And to call together barely matured Queens…? Something did not make sense here.
"I did not kill our Great Sister," Lost Lineage replied as she paused in her circle of the Chamber, not yet having moved level with New Breath. For now, Lost Lineage's attention shifted round to the uncontrolled Queen. "She and I maintained an amicable border between our vast feeding grounds."
Mind Song controlled his suspicious doubt at such a comment. He had indeed been away from the politics of the Hives for years due to his imprisonment, but Long Sleep had been very current in his knowledge and had said nothing about a Warrior Queen. After all, the other lineages had always kept close awareness of the Warrior Queens' activities so to be always ready for an attack from the brutal bloodlust of the Warrior Lineage.
And it was certainly well known that no Warrior Queen had ever held her feeding ground borders with anything even approaching 'amicability'. A Queen lying about her power was far from unusual, but given her lineage, it raised a lot of questions in Mind Song's thoughts. Thoughts he worked to keep well hidden within his control.
Unlike the uncontrolled Queen, who openly sneered her doubt across the chamber at Lost Lineage.
The back of Lost Lineage's shoulder faced Mind Song, but he heard what sounded like an amused chuckling hiss from her as she restarted her circling of the centre of the chamber.
"As you all know," Lost Lineage continued, "Sharp Claw held her vast feeding grounds securely for a millennia." She gestured upwards and a large holographic display abruptly filled the pool of light she had formally occupied.
The hologram turned, its display indeed highlighting Sharp Claw's former territory. Territory that had been slightly larger than when Mind Song had last seen its boundaries displayed.
"As one end of her feeding ground grew increasing closer to the growing threat of the Armoured Herd," Lost Lineage explained as she circled the hologram, her attention on it now rather than her audience, "she utilised unusual technology to watch over her territory." Little dots glowed to life along the border lines of the displayed feeding ground. "Sharp Claw developed satellite watching posts to sit along her border to watch for Armoured Herd infiltration."
A wise move in Mind Song's opinion, and clearly one Sharp Claw had taken from the Armoured Herd's own territory border defences.
"The Armoured Herd killed her?" The uncontrolled Queen demanded.
"When my scouts detected that Sharp Claw was engaged in a massive battle," Lost Lineage ignored the question, the hologram now showing a bright red area on the edge of the star chart, "I sent one of my captured Hives to investigate."
The hologram shifted, the chart disappearing and an image replaced it of a large debris-field floating in the pale light of a nearby star.
"This is the destruction that my Warriors found," Lost Lineage stopped her circling and faced the hologram as another image replaced the first, this one focusing on dead Wraith floating among the debris. "The entirety of Sharp Claw's forces - Hives, Cruisers and an immeasurable number of Fighters - all destroyed. All within the time it takes to cull a Human Prey settlement." Another image glowed to life as it turned, the image zooming into one lone drifting body among the debris…Sharp Claw's blood-coated pale battle dress floating around her corpse.
One of the Queens across the chamber hissed in shock.
"This is how Sharp Claw met her end," Lost Lineage stated, her face glowing through the slightly transparent hologram. "I collected up her body and on it I found a small interface upon which she had left the access frequencies of her satellite network and a message."
The holographic picture left the gruesome sight of Sharp Claw's drifting body to an abrupt moving image. The scene was full of motion with several Cruisers, multiple Fighters and one Hive in view, energy weapons-fire blasting back and forth. A fierce and rapid battle raging across the display.
"These are the images captured by Sharp Claw's closest satellite to the battle," Lost Lineage explained as she started walking around the running battle footage, her eyes fixed on it intently with clear eagerness at the sight of war.
The angle of the battle shifted, bringing more of the Hive into view, and Mind Song frowned at the bright flashes of light that spoke of massive internal explosions within the former Hive. Then, across the footage, two small ships crossed, energy weapons firing towards Fighters.
Human ships.
Not Armoured Herd though, but still obviously of Human prey style construction with their artificial rectangular shapes and fully metallic hulls.
The image shifted further round, bringing more Human ships into view. They were small ships, but manoeuvring at great speed, one seeming to smash directly through a Fighter without pause. Thick hulls then, powerful engine pods driving them, but still surely too small and ineffectual to wreck such massive damage to Hives and Cruisers.
The view kept moving to the left, bringing another Hive into view and this one was on fire in space, its underside gaping with flames of explosions within and what seemed to be collapsing parts of the under-hull falling away, among them spinning tiny shapes that could have been Wraith kin thrown out into the vacuum.
More of the small thick Human vessels rushed through the footage, briefly cutting off the image of the gutted Hive, and the view kept panning to the left. Simple blasts of energy fire and trails of projectile weapons crisscrossed the battle, not seeming anywhere destructive enough to do such extensive damage to two Hives. Unless, like the Queen Killers, the enemy had boarded the Hives, attacking from within as well?
Like insects, the small Human ships now buzzed en mass through the image, dancing around a Cruiser that was physically breaking apart, and, among the chaos of the battle, a much larger Human vessel slid into view.
Mind Song caught himself leaning forward, seeking out what details he could of the large ship from this distance, but he was too far away from the hologram to see any useful details. No doubt as Lost Lineage intended.
Long Sleep had told him that Sheppard's kin had at least two large space-worthy ships of their own, but Mind Song had no idea what they looked like. Could it be that Sheppard's kind had done this?
"And finally," Lost Lineage stated as the view flared out in bright light, the gutted Hive's engine pods exploding, the massive Hive lost in an instant. "In turn each Hive and Cruiser destroyed. Sharp Claw's entire contingent obliterated."
The hologram snapped away from the images and returned to the simple chart of Sharp Claw's former territory with the small satellites marked out with glowing dots.
"Human Prey," a Young Queen uttered with disgust. "They will pay for this."
Lost Lineage emerged from behind the hologram, her eyes on the Queen. "It was not Human Prey that killed Sharp Claw."
Mind Song fixed his attention on Lost Lineage.
"But another threat," she continued, turning on the spot to look around the chamber. "One returned from ancient past."
Mind Song realised he was holding his breath.
"The Skerti," Lost Lineage stated with a long loud hiss.
She already knew!
"Skerti?!" The uncontrolled young Queen scoffed loudly from across the chamber. "Mythical creatures used to scare infant Sisters? Those were clearly Human vessels. My Mother Queen used to hunt those particular prey where they flittered around outside the Armoured Herd's feeding ground, scraping pebbles out of asteroids. They have always been easy pickings for our lineage."
Ah, it hadn't been Sheppard's kin then.
Lost Lineage didn't respond to the Young Queen's insult as her gaze had become intensely fixed on New Breath. Mind Song quickly strengthened his already controlled mental defences further, aware that Long Sleep was doing the same next to him, but perhaps New Breath had given something away; possibly it had been her reaction to hearing of the Skerti. And, as the predator she was, Lost Lineage had not missed it.
But Lost Lineage abruptly turned away, starting to circle the holographic display once again, which brought her round to face the uncontrolled Queen. "The Skerti are no myth," she stated. "Sharp Claw too was tricked by their subterfuge in using Human Prey vessels, but, at her end, she left the truth of that which killed her so that she would be avenged."
Ah, the truth of this gathering finally revealed.
"Currently, the fleet of Skerti-held Prey vessels," Lost Lineage lifted a hand and the hologram altered to another image that showed the former Human ships now in formation around their larger ship, all progressing unobstructed through the view, "are making their way at subspace through Sharp Claw's former territory, taking out the border satellites as they progress."
The image briefly filled with the flash of weapons fire and then went dark, only for another image to play, this one showing the same fleet from another angle as they slowly approached.
"As you can see from these satellite captures," Lost Lineage began circling another recording as it played, showing the enemy again from another angle, "the Skerti' battle with Sharp Claw caused them some damage. I estimate they have lost one quarter of their initial attack force and they are currently repairing their hyperspace engine pods."
Mind Song frowned at the images. Given what Long Sleep had seen, the Skerti technology was capable to travelling massive distances without hyperspace or Portal, so why the need to repair hyperspace engines? Unless the Drive technology Long Sleep had seen was not widely utilised by the Skerti? Or perhaps not compatible with Human technology? But then surely the Skerti should have captured some of Sharp Claw's defeated ships, not destroyed them all. Unless they had done just that? Sharp Claw had had a massive fleet of controlled ships, had all of them truly engaged in that fateful battle against the Skerti?
Lost Lineage moved out from behind the latest images of the Fleet, her attention back on New Breath. "But, I see that not all are so shocked at the news of this returned mythical enemy."
New Breath's shoulders tightened a fraction as Lost Lineage approached her. "Indeed," New Breath replied, her voice steady and strong. "It is that very purpose that brought me to seek out Sharp Claw, seeking a fellow Sister to inform of this new ancient threat and with whom to formulate a reprisal."
Lost Lineage stopped barely a foot away from New Breath, her lineage's height making her tower over the younger Queen. Lost Lineage's sharp eyes held intently on New Breath and Mind Song could feel her mind seeking around New Breath's mental defences. Against such a naturally violent and more experienced Queen, New Breath's defences would likely not hold all that well, but, for now, Lost Lineage seemed more curious than aggressive.
"You have faced the Skerti directly?" Lost Lineage asked.
"Not I," New Breath replied and Mind Song swore he saw a flicker of relief briefly flash across Lost Lineage's mottled face. "But one of my Hive has done so," New Breath lifted one hand, idly indicating Long Sleep stood behind her right shoulder.
Lost Lineage's amber eyes moved instantly to Long Sleep, and Mind Song watched her eyes narrow as she studied him. Then he saw the all-too-familiar frown and sneer as she detected the differences to Long Sleep's mind provided by his mutation.
"Speak," Lost Lineage commanded Long Sleep.
"He is my property," New Breath interjected quickly. "He will share his experience on my order only."
Mind Song was impressed with how confident she had sounded.
Lost Lineage bared her teeth a fraction as she glared down at New Breath. "You would keep such valuable information from your Sisters?"
"Sharing this information is the very reason why I am here," New Breath responded.
Lost Lineage's glare turned into a sharp smile. "No, the reason why you are here," she began to turn away, only to pause, "your primary reason at least," she amended in a strangely agreeable modification, "is that there is a feeding ground available to claim."
The hologram had been playing through more images of the enemy Fleet, but now shifted back to the chart of Sharp Claw's territory as Lost Lineage approached it once again.
"This area I have already claimed as my own," Lost Lineage pointed to the display and a large scoop of the central space of the feeding ground changed to red. "The rest however, will be divided up between the five of you once you have assisted me in destroying the Skerti Fleet."
Even with Lost Lineage's claimed ground removed, it was still a massive area. Some of it was along the outskirts of this side of the galaxy, so likely held few actual prey worlds, but even one fifth of Sharp Claw's available space would provide New Breath with an impressively large first feeding ground.
However, Lost Lineage's promise to share such newly available territory was a strangely restrained and considered approach for a Warrior Queen. One of her lineage would normally be already locked in battle with the Skerti Fleet, hammering away in vicious violence to subdue her enemy, even if it only resulted in the complete destruction of her Hive and kin.
But here was Lost Lineage, at a gathering with mostly Young Queens, looking for assistance.
Though, Mind Song considered, she was the last mature Queen of her lineage for a reason; perhaps she had always been this restrained and that was why she was still alive, unlike her Blood Sisters.
"The Skerti Fleet is currently partway through Sharp Claw's former territory," Lost Lineage began circling the hologram again as a silver line appeared through the width of the feeding ground ending in a glowing dot. "And this provides us with the opportunity to-"
"Are you to have us truly believe that you only want that small part of Sharp Claw's former feeding ground?" The uncontrolled Queen interrupted. "We have no way to know that footage you showed is even recent, or that it was not your Warriors hiding in those Human prey vessels. Instead you speak of old infant stories of Skerti with no evidence to prove your lies and-"
Lost Lineage moved so swiftly that Mind Song barely had time to register the glint of light as a blade left the Warrior Queen's battle corset and flew from her hand towards the speaking uncontrolled Queen.
The knife hit the Queen in her middle, cutting her words sharply short, but Lost Lineage was not done. Fast on the heels of her throw, she was already on the uncontrolled Queen, her feeding hand latching onto the Young Queen's upper chest with a roar of bloodthirsty rage.
The dying Queen's Warriors and Drone had barely had time to react and now it was clearly too late to do so, all eyes watching as Lost Lineage took her fill.
The former Young Queen dropped shrivelled in death to the floor at Lost Lineage's feet, her white battle-dress as blood-stained as Sharp Claw's had been on the hologram.
The Warrior Queen hissed out a long delighted sigh as she looked at the blood coating her feeding palm. "So good," she whispered loud enough for all to hear before she lowered her hand, her attention focusing on the former Queen's Warriors and Drones. "Your Hive and all other vessels now belong to me," she informed them threateningly.
All four of the newly claimed kin bowed deeply to their new Queen.
Perhaps Lost Lineage was not quite as restrained as Mind Song had thought, but the other watching Queens had remained surprisingly calm. The Child Queen even appeared fascinated in what she had seen, peering out eagerly around the front of one of her Warriors.
Lost Lineage turned to face the rest of the chamber again and smiled. "Now there are only four of you to divide up Sharp Claw's remaining feeding ground." She strode back towards the hologram. "As I was saying, the Skerti' slow subspace progress through the territory provides us with an opportunity, and with access to Sharp Claw's satellite network, we can track exactly where best to attack them."
Mind Song shifted his attention to New Breath's back, aware that she hadn't moved during the attack, but he could see the extra tension in her posture. He wondered if it was the first time she had seen a Wraith kin killed, let alone a Queen.
"So, my Sisters, will you join me in seeking vengeance for our fallen Sister, Sharp Claw?" Lost Lineage asked the chamber.
Mind Song controlled his reaction at the irony of such a statement, given the murdered Queen lying on the chamber floor.
He had to wonder if that had always been Lost Lineage's intention for this gathering: to remove at least one Young Queen as a sign of her dominance. The culling a far more impactful encouragement to join her than all the footage and words Lost Lineage had shared.
Either way, it had clearly worked as he saw each Queen around the chamber nod their head as Lost Lineage looked to them each in turn.
Her gaze fell on New Breath last.
New Breath nodded her head in agreement.
Lost Lineage's sharp gaze shifted off the Young Queen and suddenly was on Mind Song. As if only noticing him for the first time, her eyes narrowed a fraction and he felt her mind against the outer fortifications of his own.
He saw curiosity in her face at first, possibly in recognising his age, but then the expected frown and sneer played faintly across her expression as she detected his mutation. Her gaze moved to Long Sleep again and then back to him.
His entire plan had been based on this very opportunity, to bring word of the Skerti to an Elder Queen, for him and Long Sleep to find a powerful Queen to ally themselves with…and yet this was not what he had hoped. Lost Lineage was clearly a powerful Queen, but she was not the kind of Queen he knew he would willingly follow.
And, given her perfectly controlled duplicates of Warriors around her, he suspected his and Long Sleep's mutations would not be welcome here.
Lost Lineage's penetrating gaze moved away, returning to the other Queens. "Good," she concluded to their silent agreement. "Once you return to your Hives, you will instruct your other available forces to join us on the hunt. My Primary will provide you with the secondary gathering point where all our forces will combine to form our final culling fleet. Then, we will cut across my feeding ground to ambush the Skerti."
"How long will this take, given the enemy's progress?" The more mature Queen asked, her first comment of the gathering.
"Two day cycles to the secondary gathering point," Lost Lineage replied. "Then, if the enemy continue on their current line, perhaps another two or three to intercept, but it will depend on where we will flank them, approaching from several directions to pincher them into our ambush."
However, that many days lead would surely give the Skerti forces time to repair their battle damage or to employ the more advanced drive technology if they had it.
"Which leaves only one matter," Lost Lineage stated as she turned towards New Breath. "For you, Sister, to share what information you have of the Skerti."
New Breath noticeably lengthened her spine further than before, all eyes on her. "These two Warriors," she began, her hands lifting to indicate him and Long Sleep, "are survivors who joined my Hive to warn me of the threat of the Skerti."
Lost Lineage began to move back towards New Breath.
Despite the fact that New Breath was not technically his agreed Queen, Mind Song shifted a little closer towards the back of her shoulder, sensing the danger from Lost Lineage. To his right, he felt Long Sleep do the same.
"These two?" Lost Lineage asked as she stopped a far more respectful distance away this time, though her tone was less respectful towards him and Long Sleep.
New Breath nodded. "And not just survivors," she continued. "This one," she indicated Long Sleep, "encountered the powerful mind of a Skerti Queen."
Lost Lineage's eyes widened with clear delight. "Really?" Her attention slid to Long Sleep.
"He has experience in facing her mind and knowledge of what she did to his former Hive," New Breath barely paused before she continued, "which I am willing to allow you access in return for a larger share of Sharp Claw's territory."
Another Queen hissed from across the chamber.
Lost Lineage gave New Breath a predatory smile. "Ah, but we have to be fair, Sister. Equal part for our role in this reprisal against the enemy for what they have done. However," she lifted her high chin, "perhaps your new territory could extend into a small part of mine that I have claimed from Sharp Claw."
Mind Song frowned at the offer, seemingly far too generous.
Lost Lineage's eyes snapped to him, and he guessed his had let some of his reactions show, either physically or at the edges of his mind. She narrowed her eyes at him.
"If," she continued to New Breath, "you also give these two Warriors to me," she finalised her offer.
"They are part of my Hive," New Breath immediately disagreed to the terms. "You may have access to their experience and advice on the Skerti, in my presence, but they belong to me."
A thick tension held in the moist air, Lost Lineage's mind clearly advancing on and around New Breath's.
Mind Song braced himself, ready to defend New Breath, aware of Long Sleep and the Drones behind them doing the same.
Lost Lineage only needed to kill New Breath to claim his and Long Sleep's knowledge, which clearly the Elder Queen could do very efficiently…
But Lost Lineage didn't move, instead he could feel her and New Breath's minds meeting, the controlled clash of psychic power and the testing of defences unseen yet filling the air.
Lost Lineage smiled, seeming impressed as she chuckled deeply at New Breath, her mind withdrawing. "You have great tenacity, Sister. I value that in our Sister kin. I will agree to your extended territory in return that these two Warriors will remain on my Hive during the hunt for the enemy."
"That is acceptable only if I remain on this Hive with them," New Breath negotiated instantly, and it was a wise move on her part. She understood that if she just left them on this Hive, she would hand over her only bargaining tool.
Lost Lineage nodded. "Very well," she agreed.
Mind Song frowned at the Warrior Queen, confused anew at her negotiating and restraint.
Clearly she really did need New Breath, and the other Queens, to help her face the Skerti Fleet. Why else would she not simply have taken what she wanted as was the way of her lineage?
"And," Lost Lineage continued as she started turning away from New Breath, "I think it will suit you well to observe how a Warrior Queen leads her Hive. Good experience for you."
New Breath wisely didn't respond to the insulting reference on her lack of experience, but it had also been a strangely offered tantalising suggestion of her taking the role of Minor Queen to Lost Lineage, even if it was just for the length of the trip to the battle with the Skerti Fleet.
New Breath bowed her head with commendable control, and Lost Lineage moved away, heading back towards the centre of the chamber.
Mind Song kept his eyes on Lost Lineage though, watching her hands in case another knife was released. As he did, he forced his body to relax a little, though it was very clear to him that being able to relax his guard was not going to happen any time soon while on this Hive.
"Sisters," Lost Lineage lifted her voice to the chamber, "it is time to begin. Return to your Hives, or," she glanced to New Breath, "communicate with them, and we shall begin our hunt to bring down vengeance upon those who killed our Great Sister, Sharp Claw."
This was exactly what he had hoped for: a coalition to face the Skerti, to rise up against the new returned threat.
Yet, this gathering was young and strangely chosen, and Lost Lineage far too unpredictable and violent to trust.
Still, if the battle against the Skerti did go well, then he could not complain. Perhaps a Warrior Queen was just what the situation required for all he knew, and perhaps she even held more detailed information about the Skerti. A resource that would be useful.
He and Long Sleep were just going to have to be very careful in the days to come.
As was New Breath on this dangerous pristine Hive.
00000
TBC