Chapter 4

4

T raax's boots rang out against the polished floor as he strode into the meeting room on the command level of the station, the sound reverberating off the intricately carved walls. The grandeur of this room never failed to strike him every time he walked in here. It was like a showcase of the power of the Latharian Empire in one room. From the art on the walls depicting famous scenes from the ages to the sculptures dotted around the room and the replica of the emperor's throne at the head of the table… a person could find out all they needed to know about the Lathar from this room alone.

Since the room was empty, he took the opportunity to walk around, finding himself beneath a portrait of Kayan Vorr, the first emperor. Hands clasped behind his back, he rocked his weight between his heels and the balls of his feet. He'd never understood why Daaynal insisted on Vorr's portrait when otherwise he had been all but stricken from their history.

He sighed… who knew what went through the emperor's head. He certainly didn't, even though they'd been brought up together. The only person he could recall who had ever been able to predict Daaynal had been his sister, Miisan. Then his brows snapped together as memory hit, perhaps because his gaze fell on the insignia of the emperor's bodyguard right beneath Kayan Vorr's portrait. There had been that pretty guard he'd been enamored with when they were younglings…

Shaking the thought off, he turned and walked toward the massive table in the center of the room. It was ancient, made of rare wood and adorned with the symbols of the noble houses. He walked around it, his fingertips trailing across the wood. How many generations had sat at this table? How much of their history had it been a part of?

He paused at the seat next to the emperor's, tracing the insignia of his own rank on the back, the lord starfighter, carved into the dark wood. It was a seat of power, second in rank only to the emperor himself.

He slid a sideways glance to the emperor's throne. It was empty. Daaynal was late. Again.

Traax's jaw clenched as a familiar frustration rose in his chest. He understood all about the demands of the empire and the weight of the crown that his cousin wore. But understanding that didn't take the sting out of being kept waiting every time. He was an important male as well, and people waited on him.

He blew out a breath and, shoving his hair back from his face, dropped into his chair. This had happened all through their lives, right the way back to when they were children. Daaynal had always been pulled away from their games. While Traax and the other royal children played, Daaynal had been schooled endlessly in duty and responsibility. As if that wasn't enough, there were also the assassins.

Latharian society was brutal. Their tenets were duty and honor, but assassination was commonplace… as long as you didn't dishonor your family by getting caught. Traax himself had been in his twenties before anyone had considered him important enough to send an assassin. Daaynal meanwhile had killed his first before the age of ten .

The doors swung open, snapping Traax from his thoughts. He shot to his feet as the emperor strode in. "Traax. My apologies for keeping you waiting, cousin-mine."

Traax bowed his head as Daaynal reached him. "Of course, Your Majesty. I understand completely. Matters of state."

" Trall ," Daaynal chuckled as he clapped Traax on the shoulder. "It pisses you off as much as it would me. Come, sit. We have much to discuss."

As they took their seats, the emperor leaned back in his throne, the leather of the padding creaking softly. "Tell me, cousin, how fares the fighter wings?"

Pride swelled in Traax's chest. "The wings are strong, Your Majesty and, as always, await your command. The upgrades to the V'Pirus are more than I expected. They handle like a dream and pack a punch that would make any enemy think twice."

"Excellent! Especially since they were your development." Daaynal smiled broadly, like a flash of sunlight in the dawn. "I should have expected nothing less from the lord starfighter himself."

Traax inclined his head, the praise sending warmth through his chest. "I serve at the pleasure of the emperor and the glory of the Latharian Empire."

Daaynal's expression turned serious, his green eyes as hard as emeralds. "Now, to the matter at hand. We need to discuss the human engineers assigned to the main fighter bay."

Traax's heartbeat quickened, anticipation thrumming through his veins. "Your Majesty?"

"I have decided to reassign them, effective immediately."

"That is excellent news." Finally, the humans would be removed from his fighter bay and not a moment too soon. "I assume they will be returning to Earth?" A grin split his face. "I must admit, I was on the fence about the humans, but once I met some, I couldn't believe how irritating they are. Like little ants underfoot."

Amusement danced in Daaynal's eyes, his lips quirking. "And how do you feel about the females? Surely even you can see how beautiful they are."

Traax snorted, the sound harsh in the stillness of the room. "Of course I can. I've met some of the mate-candidates, and yes, they're beautiful. But they're also too skittish and scared of warriors to be of much interest beyond the bedchamber. And even then, we'd have to be careful with them. I certainly don't believe I can have an intelligent conversation with one."

Daaynal rubbed the stubble on his chin with long fingers, his piercing gaze fixed on Traax. It was like being stared down by a liiraas snake. "But you are signed up with the mate program. Aren't you?"

"Indeed." Traax's expression hardened, his tone clipped. "You insisted on it, Your Majesty. Do you not recall?"

Daaynal waved his question away. Of course he would recall. The order had been very specific and backed up with threats of what would happen if Traax didn't comply. Immediately.

"So what are you going to do if you are matched?" he asked.

Traax shrugged. He had done as he was ordered and gotten tested, but that was as much as he'd thought about it. He hadn't considered what would happen if the worst happened and he was matched to a human female.

"I will do my duty, of course. I will get my mate with child." As quickly as he could. "And then send her back to Lathar Prime to be cared for until my young is born."

Daaynal raised an eyebrow, the gesture speaking volumes. "So you would not interact with your human female?"

Traax shook his head, his braids whispering over the leather shoulders of his uniform jacket. "I see no reason for interaction other than for the purpose of procuring my heirs. Once she has fulfilled that duty, I would have her moved to my estates for her to live out her life in comfort. Or have her returned to Earth should she wish to go home."

"You are aware of how fiercely maternal human females are?" Daaynal's expression was unreadable, even for Traax who had known him since they were children. "I doubt any of them would willingly leave their children behind."

Traax's fingers curled into fists, his nails biting into his palms. "They will be my heirs. Any female would just be a gestational host for them. If she wishes not to be parted from them, she will remain on my estates, and I will say when she can see the young. Now, are we here to discuss matters of state or human females?"

Daaynal smiled, a slow, calculated thing that sent the hairs on the back of Traax's neck standing to attention. The emperor was up to something… which, of course he was. He was breathing. And if Daaynal K'Saan was awake, he was up to something.

"Of course, let us carry on," Daaynal said. "The human engineers will be leaving the main fighter bay?—"

"And returning to Earth," Traax interrupted, the words sharp on his tongue. He needed to hear the words so Daaynal couldn't draanthing backtrack. "And not a moment too soon."

"Oh, the main fighter bay will be returned to your command. But the engineers will not be returning to Earth. Now that they have received training in our systems, they will be relocating to fighter bay two, to ready it for a wing of human fighters to arrive."

Traax blinked. "What?"

Daaynal leaned forward, his eyes steely and his expression focused. "The human fighters will be arriving within the next cycle. They will train alongside your warriors, learning our tactics and strategies. In return, we will gain insight into their methods and capabilities."

Traax just stared at him and then remembered to close his mouth. "Your Majesty, this is... this is… You want human fighter pilots to train with our wings? It's… have you seen their technology? It would be like throwing children into battle. It's not just unthinkable… it's laughable!"

"Yet it is my command," Daaynal replied as he leaned back in his chair, watching Traax with an unwavering gaze.

"But…" Traax shook his head, the beads at the ends of his braids tapping against his uniform jacket. "Think of the risk, Your Majesty! These humans, they know nothing of our ways or our customs! We have set ways of doing things, commands, battle strategies that they would not understand."

Daaynal raised an eyebrow. "Are you questioning my judgment, cousin?"

"No, of course not," Traax backpedaled quickly, all the hairs on the back of his neck rising at Daaynal's quiet question. He knew his cousin of old, and this was Daaynal at his most dangerous. The quiet calm before the storm.

He tried a different tactic. "I am just trying to counsel some sense. Surely you must see the danger? To the alliance with the humans, if nothing else. If any of them get hurt—" Through their own stupidity, obviously. But he wasn't foolish enough to say that out loud to the emperor. "It could ruin everything you've built here."

"I asked Murphy to send his best pilots." Daaynal shrugged. "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. Isn't that what humans say?"

Traax shook his head, his hands clenched into fists and his nails biting into his palms. "They are not our friends, Your Majesty. They are barely even allies. They are certainly nowhere near our level of technology and capability. To trust the?—"

"I am not asking you to trust them, Traax," Daaynal cut him off, his voice sharp. "I am asking you to obey. This is my command, and you will see it done."

Traax's jaw worked, the muscles jumping beneath his skin. He wanted to argue, to make Daaynal see reason. But he knew it was futile. The emperor's word was law.

At least the human pilots would be male, though. No female could operate a starfighter effectively. He'd seen them in the mate program sector. They were tiny. He doubted they could even reach the controls.

"As you command, Your Majesty," he ground out, the words feeling like broken glass in his throat.

"Excellent. I knew I could count on you, Traax." Daaynal nodded in satisfaction.

Traax bowed his head, the gesture stiff and formal. "I live to serve, Your Majesty."

Daaynal, damn him, seemed amused by his reaction. As if this was all some grand game, and Traax's discomfort was just another piece on the board.

"I understand your reservations, Traax," he said, sitting forward, his forearms resting on the table in front of them. "But I have the utmost faith in your ability to handle the situation. You are the lord starfighter, after all. If anyone can ensure the success of this endeavor, it is you. And... Don't discount the humans. They've survived and flourished on a harsh world that we would not have considered for settlement. Also…" He grinned quickly. "Remember that they are us. Smaller, but they have more Latharian DNA than you'd think."

He highly doubted that, but, again, he wasn't stupid enough to air his opinion when the emperor had so clearly made his mind up. Instead, he inclined his head. "As you command, Your Imperial Majesty. I will do my best to ensure the success of this... collaboration."

The emperor's lips quirked. "You know I know that when you say that ‘Your Imperial Majesty' I know you're telling me to draanth off in your head. Don't you?"

He kept his expression level. Innocent. "I have no idea what you mean, cousin."

Daaynal snorted. "I'll let you off… for now."

"You are a most gracious and benevolent leader."

"Don't push it."

Since the meeting was obviously at an end, Traax rose from his seat. He bowed deeply. "By your leave, Your Majesty."

Daaynal waved a hand, the dismissal casual. "Go, cousin. You have a lot to prepare for."

Traax turned on his heel and strode from the room. His mind whirled as the implications of this new and very much unwanted development hit him. He would, of course, do his duty as the emperor commanded. He always had, and he always would.

But… this left a sour taste in his mouth.

Being forced to work with humans, being forced to share Latharian tactics and methodologies with them… being forced to train them? He ground his teeth so much they creaked. It was a bitter pill to swallow.

But he was Traax K'Saan, a prince and a duke of the Latharian Empire, and he was lord starfighter.

This would not break him. He would not let it. This was just a minor inconvenience. He stalked back through the corridors toward the flight decks. For now, he would just have to swallow his pride and work with the very beings he despised. At least until they proved themselves incapable and he could petition for their removal on safety grounds.

And that moment couldn't come soon enough.

An hour later, Traax stood on the station's secondary flight deck, his arms crossed over his broad chest as frustration rolled through him. The air was thick with the acrid scent of fuel and the faint ozone tang of the force fields that held the vacuum of space at bay. The thrum of the station's orbital engines vibrated through the soles of his boots, barely there but a constant, low-frequency vibration that resonated in his bones.

Zhain and Kaaz stood next to him. Their stances might be relaxed, and the expressions on their faces impassive, neutral, but he knew they were on edge. Tension hung in the air between their little group like a gathering storm. For most people he was a closed book, but they both knew him well enough to recognize the signs of his anger.

"So…" Zhain was the first to break the silence. "It'll be nice to have more humans aboard. Won't it?"

Traax shot him a sideways look, trying to work out if he was serious or just being a draanthic. It could go either way. Zhain caught his look and grinned. "More humans who aren't females for the mate program, I mean. They're lovely, but a little skittish for my tastes." He thumped his chest with a fist. "I want a female with fire… one who will test me. Perhaps one of these human pilots will have a sister. Someone he can introduce me to."

Kaaz was less willing to go out on a limb, shooting Zhain a warning look as his eyes darted to Traax's face.

"The human engineers aren't so bad," he said carefully. "They're quick learners, and they work hard. I can't see human pilots being that much different."

Traax grunted in the back of his throat. He didn't want to hear about the virtues of the human engineers. The fact that they were here at all was down to his cousin's meddling in matters that didn't concern him… like Traax's command.

Zhain snorted.

"Quick learners, eh?" he said, a sly grin spreading across his face as he leaned around Traax to look at Kaaz. "Is that why you keep making eyes at that little female engineer? What's her name again?"

Kaaz flushed, red creeping up his neck. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, I think you do. Lisa… that's it!"

"It's Liza ," Kaaz snapped.

Traax clenched his jaw, his teeth grinding together. He didn't have time for this, for the humans or this juvenile teasing. They had more important matters at hand, like the growing purist threat, or the fact that the Vorrtan, rather than having died out to be consigned to history like they should have been, were in fact thriving in secret on several planets. And they even had an ambassador. Here… well, on Earth. An actual draanthing live Vorrtan.

And here he was, dealing with this trall. He could be, should be, doing far more important things, rather than waiting around for the impending arrival of the human pilots.

"I don't want them here," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "I don't want them on this station, and I certainly don't want them training with my wings."

Zhain and Kaaz exchanged glances. He ignored it. Daaynal might be the emperor, but down here his word was law.

"It's going to be like training younglings," he muttered in disgust. "There's no way they'll be on the same level as the rest of the wings. We'll have to assign a wing to babysit them, or they'll just get in the way of real training. And then that's a wing constantly out of rotation. That's if they even get here and land successfully and we don't have to bring them in on autopilot."

As if on cue, the proximity alarms blared. His head snapped up, his eyes narrowing as he watched the sleek, unfamiliar shapes of the human fighters glide into the bay.

"Doesn't look like they need the autopilot," Zhain murmured. Traax ignored him. He'd obviously chosen to flirt with death today. But Traax had to admit, albeit grudgingly, that the humans didn't crash their fighters into the deck as he had expected.

Instead, they maneuvered with a grace and fluidity of movement that spoke of skill and training. But still, they were human. That was enough to set his teeth on edge.

The fighters settled onto the deck with barely audible clunks as their landing gears touched down. He cast an experienced eye over them. He'd expected something archaic and barely space-worthy, something laughable compared to the sleek Latharian V'Pirus fighters… but if he gave them just a quick look, he might not have known the difference.

Of course, that was just design. Humans weren't entirely dumb; they would have figured out aerodynamics. That didn't mean their technology would be worth draanth though.

With a soft hiss of hydraulics, the canopies slid back to allow the pilots within to climb out.

Traax's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat.

They were female. They were all female.

Zhain let out a low whistle, his eyebrows shooting up.

"Well, would you look at that," he murmured. "Wrapped up and sent to us by the human president himself. Wasn't that nice of him?"

Traax shot him a glare, his jaw tightening again. At this rate, he'd shatter it. This was all he needed. Human pilots were bad enough, but this… this was beyond the pale. He didn't know what game Daaynal and the human president were playing with him, but he couldn't have his warriors distracted by a bunch of human females playing at being pilots.

No. He would put a stop to this right here and now.

He strode toward the females gathering in a group in front of their fighters. Zhain and Kaaz fell into step behind him.

Before they got near enough to be heard, Kaaz leaned in. "Their commanding officer is a Major Reid," he said in a low voice, looking at the group of females. "I believe she's the one walking toward us."

Traax followed his gaze, his eyes locking on the female striding across the deck. She was taller than the other human females he'd seen with a slender build beneath the bulky flight suit. Her hair was pulled back harshly from her face into the nape of her neck. The color was one he'd never seen before, but her eyes caught his attention… a deep, vivid violet filled with determination.

She stopped in front of them, her chin lifted and her shoulders squared. Traax felt the weight of her gaze, and watched her as she assessed them, taking in every detail.

"Lord Starfighter," she said, her voice clear and strong with a faint accent that he couldn't quite place. "I'm Major Reid, commanding officer of the Earth Alliance One-Ten Fighter Squadron."

A flicker of surprise rolled through Traax as she correctly identified him. But that was quickly washed away as irritation threatened to boil over.

"Why are you all female?" he demanded, his voice harsh and abrupt as he glared past her at the females in a group behind her. They looked back, not dropping their gazes as demurely brought up females should.

The human major didn't so much as blink. Instead, she met his gaze squarely.

"The emperor requested the best pilots Earth Alliance had to offer," she replied, her tone even and measured. He was sure he heard an edge of "draanth you" in there as well, but nothing of that sentiment showed on her face. "Gender was not a factor in the selection process."

Traax's lip curled. "Were all the male pilots busy? Is that why they sent females instead? Hoping to distract us enough to forgive a lack of training?"

Her eyes narrowed, anger flashing in their depths. But she held her ground, her voice remaining calm and controlled.

"I can assure you, Lord Starfighter, that every pilot in my squadron has earned their place through skill and dedication. We are here to train with you and offer you the benefit of our experience. Which…" She offered a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Is surely the very spirit of ‘alliance'?"

A hot, prickling sensation washed up the back of his neck, and he clenched his fists at his side. Who did this female think she was, standing there and lecturing him about alliance? He was lord starfighter, the commander of the most elite fighting force in the galaxy. He didn't need some upstart human telling him how to run a cross-training program.

"I don't accept female pilots," he said, his voice cold and flat. "They are too distracting and don't have the skills for the level of flying required of my wings. And I don't have time to waste training a bunch of females who have no business being in a cockpit."

Major Reid's eyes flashed, her jaw tightening. For a moment, he thought she might argue and try to convince him of her squadron's worth. But she surprised him by inclining her head, her expression shuttered and closed.

"Of course, Lord Starfighter," she said, her tone neutral. "But the president's orders stand. We were sent here to train with your pilots and run patrols through the system. If training is out of the question, we will fall back onto our secondary mission objective. It was nice meeting you."

Traax's nails bit into his palms as the impertinent female effectively dismissed him. Him… and on his own flight deck. He wanted to argue, to grab her and haul her up against his larger, harder body and rage at her. See submission in those pretty violet eyes?—

With a snarl, he turned on his heel, stomping across the deck as he headed toward the lift. He could feel Major Reid's eyes boring into his back like laser sights but he refused to look back. He refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing the anger and frustration that roiled through him.

Oh no, the pretty little human would not win this. He would stop this nonsense right now.

His cousin might be emperor, but right now? Daaynal had some explaining to do.