Empire Turmoil (Gate Ghosts Book 10), page 14
“The protectors and those with them will have dealt with the Darmian chiefs, commanders, and warriors,” Jogthurt said urgently to Klathfeng.
“That’s not good,” Klathfeng returned. “The protectors probably won’t accept that we’re thinking differently.”
“Janus, please prepare the shipwide announcement,” Jogthurt said.
“Attention, everyone. This is Commander Jogthurt. We’re about to have visitors from Darmian. These will be various conclave entities. We’ve one opportunity to make a good impression. If you ever want to see your home world again, I want you to visualize diminutive, defenseless Krackus when you see these conclave entities. Treat them as you did those on Sathus, which led to our successful rescue.”
While the travelers closed on the peacekeepers, the commanders repeated Jogthurt’s message to their teams. They checked every warrior for weapons. Not a single one was found. They counseled the warriors not to surround a conclave individual, which might give the appearance of aggression.
Janus kept the commanders apprised of the travelers’ movements.
As Jogthurt and Klathfeng hurried below, she sent over the shipwide comm,
The moment the bay equalized, the commanders hurried in but stood to the side of the airlock hatch.
The ship’s rear ramp dropped, and a group of entities descended it.
To the commanders’ minds, there was no mistaking the protectors. They were surrounded on three sides by a race who appeared similar to them and a group of slight conclave females.
“Commanders Jogthurt and Klathfeng,” the Radag leader said.
Z handled the introductions for Miranda, Nebulon, the two wasats, and himself.
“Could I ask which of you are digital entities, besides Miranda and Z?” Klathfeng inquired. Then Jogthurt and he learned about the sisters. Suddenly, the concept of slight females no longer applied.
“What race are you?” Jogthurt asked of a wasat.
“We’re Dischnya, and one of the oldest allies of humans who created the conclave,” a wasat replied.
While the commanders heard the translation via Nebulon, there was no mistaking the pride in the wasat’s voice and the way the other Dischnya straightened on hearing the pronouncement.
“At this time, we’d like to visit the bridge,” Z said.
“Certainly,” Jogthurt returned. He expected to lead the guests, but he often found one of the protectors was a half-step ahead of him. A quick exchange of glances told Jogthurt that Klathfeng had also noted the protectors’ familiarity with the interior of a peacekeeper.
On the bridge, Janus sent,
The responding blasts of noise from the digital entities and howls from the Dischnya gave Janus a few ticks of concern. Then she luxuriated in having found a common opinion about the Krackus.
Janus replied.
The commanders observed the entire group of conclave members turn as one to regard them. It gave them an eerie feeling of vulnerability.
“So, let’s discuss your situation,” Z said. “You and your warriors can’t be allowed to return to Darmian’s general population.”
“Why are you planetside?” Klathfeng inquired. “Why not blockade the planet from orbit?”
The protectors, Nebulon, and the wasats related the history of the conclave’s time on Darmian.
Questions flowed from the commanders at every turn, as they tried to comprehend what the conclave was attempting to do and the resistance that they had encountered.
Klathfeng had several more questions to ask when the history lesson concluded. When he received his final answer, he regarded Jogthurt. The acknowledged Radag leader was deep in thought.
Finally, Jogthurt addressed the protectors. “I think I understand the problem. Initially, you experienced two portions of our society ... the warriors, who have been molded under the Krackus, and the negotiator families, who were kept isolated from the population. Afterward, you’ve fought off attacks designed to decimate you, and you’ve rescued matriarchs and younglings. Now we’re here trying to convince you that our incarceration has opened our eyes to the futility of pursuing the warrior mentality. But how are you to believe us?”
“Well framed,” Miranda replied.
“Also, your convictions might not apply to every one of your commanders and warriors,” Nebulon pointed out.
“There is complexity among our ranks,” Klathfeng admitted. “Commanders and veteran warriors wish to return to their mates and young. Young warriors have expressed a strong desire to follow Commander Jogthurt.”
“You might be surprised to learn that our new city’s initial population has grown by more than six hundred percent,” Nebulon said. To the commanders’ perplexed expressions, she replied, “After every attack on the city, there was usually a lull. That’s when matriarchs ushered their young to the city and requested asylum.”
The wasats and their warriors chortled softly.
One of wasats sent his thoughts to Nebulon, who translated for the commanders. He’d shared,
“How many cities do you intend to build?” Jogthurt asked, as an idea formed.
“How many cities will it take to transform the nature of Radag society?” Z proposed.
“Then you might be ready to start a new one?” Jogthurt offered hopefully. “Maybe a small one?”
“To house your warriors and their families?” Z queried.
Before Jogthurt could reply, Miranda advanced toward the commanders. They were shocked at how quickly and quietly she could manage that. “Be aware that we won’t enter into an agreement casually,” she said. “You’d live by our rules, and you’d pay harsh penalties for disobedience.”
“In addition, sisters and Dischnya would live and work among you,” Nebulon added. “We’d quickly learn of any infractions.”
“Perhaps, you aren’t ready to live as a peaceful race,” a sister proposed.
“Why couldn’t we do that?” Jogthurt asked.
“Do you think every commander and warrior in your group could permanently refrain from using claws on any family member?” the sister asked.
“It would be a challenge,” Klathfeng admitted. “But this contingent has already learned a harsh lesson from Jogthurt. Warriors broke his edict, and they were allowed to fight to receive a warrior’s ending. While they fought, the bay was opened.”
The conclave members could see the pain in Jogthurt’s eyes.
“I’m convinced of your determination, Commander Jogthurt,” Z said. “Let’s see if your commanders and warriors are prepared to make the same sacrifice.”
With that, the conclave contingent turned as one and marched off the bridge.
Klathfeng stared at the receding backs. Then he glanced toward Jogthurt. “Perhaps, we should follow?”
Janus sent.
Jogthurt shrugged. At this time, he considered that whatever the conclave members discovered was out of his hands.
As it happened, Miranda chose a level that was occupied by the food manufacturing space. The numerous comings and goings through the wide double doors attracted her attention.
When the conclave contingent walked through the doors, the youthful commander, who had been instrumental in installing the machinery, hurried forward. “Hello,” he said eagerly.
“What do you do here?” Miranda asked.
“My team and I keep the equipment running smoothly to produce our fermented foods,” the commander replied proudly.
“Who assembled this for you?” Nebulon asked.
“We did. While outside our warren, we worked with a Krackus supervisor to learn the process and how to disassemble and assemble the equipment,” the commander replied.
“You don’t find the work tedious versus leading your security team?” Z inquired.
“Most of my team works here,” the commander said, sweeping his arm across the vast space. “We find this work fulfilling. It keeps us busy, and there’s much to learn. At the moment, we’re attempting to create new recipes. Although, we haven’t been too fortunate.”
A sister accompanied each Dischnya, who wandered through the space, asking questions and getting a sense of the Radags’ moods.
“Keep at it,” Miranda encouraged the commander. “Success comes with perseverance.”
When the conclave members exited the space, the sisters and Dischnya pairs formed groups of three to work their way through the peacekeeper.
After two hours of wandering through the peacekeeper and speaking with mostly warriors, Miranda, Z, and Nebulon had collected a trove of conversations from the sisters, as well as their own engagements.
Unfortunately, the majority of warriors hoped to return to their family within the general population.
As the protectors considered the Radags weren’t a security issue, the Dischnya and the sisters returned to the traveler, leaving Miranda, Z, and Nebulon to speak to Janus and the commanders.
“There’s a disconnect between what you envision, Commander Jogthurt, and most of what your warriors want,” Miranda said.
“Without knowing how or what we’d encounter on Darmian, I didn’t offer the teams options that they could discuss with me,” Jogthurt replied.
“If we could reach a compromise, Jogthurt and I could talk to the teams about it,” Klathfeng offered. “If they refused it, then we would admit defeat and seek an alternate solution somewhere else.”
“Your reasoning is limited, Janus,” Z responded orally. “There are a variety of solutions that could accommodate all parties. More time is necessary to solve the dilemma that you’ve just brought us.”
Janus wanted to point out that, as a digital entity, she was entitled to be considered equal to the protectors. Then the lack of data about the protectors halted her expressing that thought.
“I would suggest Commander Jogthurt accompany us planetside. It would be helpful to him to view Darmian’s present circumstances,” Nebulon offered.
Jogthurt turned to Klathfeng. “Would you be comfortable with that?” he asked.
“As long as I had the protectors’ word that you’d be returned,” Klathfeng replied.
‘You have it,” Miranda replied promptly. “This contingent will be kept together until choices can be made that a compromise might allow.”
11: An Eye-Opener
As usual for a first-time passenger, Jogthurt was flabbergasted by the traveler’s technology. His initial hint came from Miranda and Z, who remained standing at the ship’s aft end. The second indication came from the wasats who leaned over seats to talk to their warriors.
The casualness disconcerted Jogthurt. It further confused him that the ramp dropped and blue sky was visible. “That’s it?” he queried of Miranda.
“My partner has a delicate constitution. We try to provide him with the utmost comfort,” Miranda responded dryly.
The sisters’ blasts and the Dischnya’s howling told Jogthurt of Miranda’s tease.
“Rest easy, Commander,” Miranda said. “Our endeavor has experienced many losses, which have only recently been greatly reduced. That’s lightened our moods.”
Gurderg and her two constant companions hurried to meet Miranda.
“Commander Jogthurt, I’d like to present Gurderg and her friends,” Miranda said. “I’ve asked them to host you. I want them to tour you through the city and speak with many of the residents. There’s much for you to learn.”
“Your assistance is appreciated,” Jogthurt said.
“You have our help, as long as you mind your manners,” Gurderg replied, which took Jogthurt aback.
“A lot to learn,” Miranda interjected, chortling as did the Dischnya. Then she walked away.
“You recently arrived aboard the peacekeeper, didn’t you?” Isghert inquired.
“Yes,” Jogthurt replied.
“You were under contract with teams on distant worlds, weren’t you?” Pratherg pressed.
“That’s true too,” Jogthurt replied.
“Now you and many teams want to come home,” Gurderg concluded.
Jogthurt believed he was being interrogated. That a protector had recruited these matrons to tour him seemed to mean there was more going on than a simple walk around the new city. “Why you three?” he asked.
The matrons chortled.
“Now the commander is awake,” Gurderg said, continuing to laugh.
“You’ve been walking with us,” Pratherg said. “What have you observed?”
“The few warriors I’ve seen aren’t carrying weapons,” Jogthurt replied.
“Is that it?” Pratherg challenged. When Jogthurt couldn’t think of anything else, she scoffed, “How did you make commander?”
Jogthurt believed he’d been challenged. He turned and growled at Pratherg. To his surprise, the three women regarded him with stony expressions. They were utterly unafraid of him.
“Pratherg is right,” Gurderg said. “You don’t understand where you are and what you represent.”
“You’re a member of the Radag society that we wish to leave behind,” Isghert said. “Look at the matrons and the young passing you by, Commander. Do you see any scars on them?”
Now that Jogthurt had been told, he was surprised that he hadn’t noticed that. With his eyes having been opened, he noted something else. Three matrons walked past. They smiled and nodded, but he couldn’t hear them speak.
“Many here have conclave tech by which they share communications,” Jogthurt said.
“Implants in our brains,” Gurderg explained. “But put aside the tech. Look at these Radags. Really look at them.”
The commander and the three matrons stood still and watched the city’s dwellers flow around them.
Suddenly, Jogthurt felt obsolete. None of the males saluted him. In fact, they hardly paid him any attention. There was none of the tension that would have been in a market, with matrons and young walking carefully around warriors and commanders.
Gurderg watched Jogthurt’s eyes widen and then display sadness. “Ah, now you see,” she said. “We no longer have need of the warrior mentality. There’s a better world waiting for those of us in this city. We don’t know how long it will take to envelop Darmian, but this city is a start.”
As the foursome walked, Jogthurt began to see many things that he would have missed if the matrons hadn’t accosted him with their verbal challenges. He envisioned trying to tell those aboard Janus’s peacekeepers of what he’d seen. He knew he wouldn’t be successful. The Radags in this new city were too far removed from the social norms that they would expect.
At one point, Jogthurt sat on a bench in the shade of a recently planted tree. He was crestfallen, and he didn’t care that it showed.
“Commander, understand us,” Pratherg said. “Our intention wasn’t to hurt you, but we knew you wouldn’t comprehend the differences between the world you left and this city.”
“You probably thought you had two options,” Isghert said. “Perhaps, you and the others thought you could rejoin your families. The protectors won’t allow that.”
“I’ve heard that,” Jogthurt objected, “but Darmian is a robust planet. There’s room for all of us.” The matron’s harsh, chortling laughter burned his ears.
“Apparently, you’re woefully ignorant of what’s transpired,” Gurderg lamented. “Thousands of warriors and their commanders have lost their lives trying to evict us from this city. The chiefs led the last attack. They’re dead too. Many defenders, including the Dischnya you saw, have been hunting for the energy weapons’ manufacturing sites.”
