Chapter Six

Transport MT-118, Alpha Space Station

"Well boys, this is where we bid our tearful goodbyes," Charity informed Betra and Oses, who'd refused to give her any leeway the entire trip. Whenever she'd sauntered from her quarters when she wasn't supposed to leave her section of the ship, they or the lackeys under their command had been near at hand. They'd kept her corralled, except for twice. Even then, she hadn't gotten far before they'd retrieved her, the jerks.

"Yes, I hear how choked up you are," Betra deadpanned. In a more feeling tone, he said, "Please do be careful, Matara."

"She will be," Uncle George promised, his gaze on her narrow. Apparently, her hijinks had depleted even his copious patience, though his remonstrances had been mild.

Oses simply bowed and went wherever terrifying musclebound behemoths were stored when they weren't intimidating Earther women. His attitude couldn't have screamed louder that Charity was no longer his problem.

Betra also bowed, then swept his hand toward the open hatch for Charity, Uncle George, and Aunt Ruth to disembark. "Watch your step. Take care."

"Thank you for all you did for us, Liaison." Ruth smiled. She'd developed a bit of a crush on Betra, Charity had noted in amusement. His supplications to keep Charity in check had been the reason her usually sweet aunt had turned into such a nag during the trip.

It required every inch of her composure to not race from the shuttle as fast as she could run. She managed to walk past Betra at a dignified pace, ignoring the chuckle she thought she heard. A few steps, and she was out from under his smothering attention. Free at last.

Triumph gave way to wide-eyed surprise as she got her first look at Alpha Space Station's arrivals dock. She stared at the view of wall-to-wall Kalquorians, most hurrying to and fro on whatever business they were involved in.

A large number appeared to be slightly older than her. Kalquorians aged differently from Earthers, so the men in her view could have been in their forties.

Charity preferred her own peers. Youth called to youth, and the idea of romancing anyone beyond his twenties gave her the heebie-jeebies. Could she dare dream those of her own age might be present?

"Busy, isn't it?" Uncle George observed.

Charity felt none of the unease she heard in his tone. Maybe this unforeseen holiday from school wouldn't be so bad, if she were given the freedom she lusted for. It was a veritable horde of possibilities galloping past her vision in the guise of strapping black-haired men, some of whom noticed her too and slowed to take a better look.

Despite orbiting Earth II and being a source of support, Alpha was a Kalquorian station. Carefully vetted humans visited it, but they were far and few between on board, making the installation safe for Charity to hide on while she waited for the dust to settle. She, her aunt, and uncle would be the only Earthers living on board. If she were to have fun…and she was determined to do so…it would be in the company of Kalquorians.

Charity had exclusively dated human men, except for a couple of months when she'd given a set of silver-skinned Beonid twins a whirl. There had been Kalquorians, students and professors, at the university she'd attended in Galactic Council space, but she'd given such potential suitors a wide berth. It wasn't because she had anything against the species; quite the opposite. Clan Piras, before her sister had joined them, had dared their own lives to save her from being raped by Holy Leader Browning Copeland. She adored the Kalquorian race, particularly her heroic in-laws.

For all her brash behavior and recklessness, Charity was smart and brutally self-aware. Her issues stemmed from having been pawned off on Uncle George and Aunt Ruth, much as she loved them. She was hurt to have been left behind by her father and sister.

The loss of her mother Faith inhibited Charity from taking out her angst on Borey. Her father was in charge of keeping Copeland under lock and key so he couldn't rally Earthtiques to his sick cause. Her father was too precious after the death of her mother to vent feelings of betrayal upon. Hope, however…

Her older sister had gone off in the company of her new clan five years before. She'd found her destiny, and it wasn't to remain behind to babysit her younger sibling. Charity was aware Hope had her own life to lead, and the youngest Nath moving in with their aunt and uncle was a perfect solution until Charity reached adulthood. It made sense, and she hadn't really been abandoned. Borey and Hope had stayed in contact, though their visits were sporadic from necessity.

It didn't keep her from feeling she'd been abandoned, a nuisance to be kept distant. Charity knew the misplaced pain was why she acted out and why she resented Hope. She wallowed in it anyway. Part of that wallowing included rejecting Kalquorian love interests because Hope hadn't only joined a Kalquorian clan but also worked for the empire's fleet.

For the last five years, if it was good enough for Hope, it wasn't worth Charity's attention.

As she viewed the mob of men passing her and taking more and more notice of her, Charity thought perhaps it was time she got off her high horse. If she could find someone close to her own age, she might let him teach her the error of her bias.

Why not? It could be a long while before she left the station. She might as well make the best of the situation, which looked pretty hot and tasty from where she was standing.

* * * *

Open Arms Orphanage

Having been a nun in a convent that had included adolescent aspirants, then an administrator in charge of an orphanage, Cheryl had long ago perfected wearing a mask of equanimity when she was angriest. However, the sleazeball Encan representing the mixed-species force comprising the Galactic Council's battle fleet was challenging her ability to maintain control.

He spoke in a doubled voice, the hallmark of someone who'd been bent to the will of a Dark.

"You don't deny you contacted the Kalquorian Empire?" The Encan, identified as Admiral Ydru-Ganorbin-Filop, wrinkled black lips from a canine-like muzzle.

"Why would I? You said you detected the signal emitting from the orphanage to Kalquor, so obviously, a message was sent."

"For what purpose? Are we to assume the Kalquorians stationed on your facility refused to leave despite the Galactic Council's directive ordering their species to vacate our space? We issued the order, as well as the dire consequences if it should be ignored."

Cheryl's gaze narrowed on the vid's image. Kalquorians stationed on your facility made it sound as if the orphanage was a military or official installation, rather than a refuge the Galactic Council itself had set up. She wondered if the Encan was searching for grounds to attack. "Indeed, the council did so. Unfortunately, they failed to take into account how far in the GC's territory the orphanage is located. The short timeframe failed to allow for the number of days it would require for a transport to reach us. We're attempting to evaluate the need to evacuate those members of my staff it's so determined to evict."

"Evaluate?"

She ignored his outraged exclamation. "Members of my staff, whom according to the charter the Galactic Council drew up of its own accord, are permitted to remain at the orphanage to help the children of Armageddon until the last has reach adulthood."

"They're Kalquorians!"

"The charter specifically names Kalquorians as approved caregivers. It specifically addresses a number of regulations discussing the mandate of Kalquorian on-site security for the orphanage. Why shouldn't I believe those members of my staff to be exempt from your purge?"

When the orphanage had opened, the former nun Katherine Archer and her clanmates had been in charge of it, and Cheryl and Besral had been on the administration board. Kalquorians had been a foundation for the orphanage from the first day.

"The directive ejecting Kalquorians was clear," Ydru snarled. Yes, he did look very much like a dog at that instant. A vicious cur needing a chain. "All Kalquorians. The charter is null and void."

"You didn't communicate the alteration prior to this moment. You must grant us adequate time and resources to send them home."

"You waited until after the deadline had passed to send a message. Your Kalquorians never intended to leave," Ydru accused.

"Because of the charter stating they shouldn't have to." Cheryl took mean pleasure in talking circles around him. Her children had taught her well over the past few years. "You have to understand, the Kalquorians aren't merely staff. They're parent figures the children have grown up with. Caregivers the children depend upon. To tear them from our youth is akin to the travesty of Armageddon, when they were ripped from their biological parents. Do you understand the trauma these young innocents will endure if you persist in this madness?"

"It is of no concern to me. I have my orders."

"I insist the Galactic Council bring this to the Psychiatric Board before we agree to my Kalquorian aides' expulsion. For the children's sake, you dare not deny us a fair hearing."

"I dare. No Kalquorian vessels are to be admitted in Galactic Council space henceforth."

"Then you must allow another member of the collective to come. Regulation C-S-4, Section 12 states: should a species be ejected from inhabiting Galactic Council of Planets' space, they shall be given adequate means of departure and time to depart with their belongings and property once legal concerns and appeals have been resolved—"

"Enough!" Ydru showed his teeth, a rabid mongrel all but foaming at the mouth. "There are no hearings. No exceptions. I'm bringing a squadron to your facility to collect and detain the Kalquorians as prisoners of war. Any Earthers who defy us or aid them will also be arrested. End transmission!"

His image blinked out. Cheryl made sure the com had indeed been cut off. She was a great believer in leaving nothing to chance. Seeing it was inactive, she sighed and gazed at Besral.

The Nobek had been standing in the corner during the whole conversation, beyond Ydru's sight. His features were set in grim lines, his arms folded across his chest. It was impossible to tell from across the room, but Cheryl sensed he trembled in rage.

"I guess we should get ready to fight the Galactic Council's fleet," she said.

* * * *

"Let's see what you found," Cheryl said after they'd assembled the orphanage's head staff.

"Ydru's frequency originated here." Besral highlighted a portion of the star map hovering over the conference table. Flanked by Ocri and Norev, he tapped to enlarge the section and the moon on which the orphanage resided.

"They've already begun moving our way," grizzled Ocri noted in his rough voice. "Six vessels."

"Prime defenders," Norev noted the fighting class of the warships. "It's a ridiculous amount of firepower for an orphanage. I'm delighted they acknowledge our threat."

Cheryl was far from delighted. "You'd think they plan to wipe us out rather than take prisoners."

"They won't dare attack an unarmed orphanage," Darci said, but there was a thread of uncertainty in her tone.

"It's an insane show of force. Maybe they plan to make examples of us to serve as a warning to the empire." Besral tapped a keyboard. "They aren't wasting a second getting here. They'll reach orbit in five days."

"Are they the closest? Can we expect any other hostile ships to join them?" Cheryl asked.

"I think the six are all we have to worry about, though six is more than enough," Besral said. The star chart widened out, and a dozen areas lit up. "Here are the locations of the GC's fleet forces. You see most of them are lined up between Galactic Council space and the Kalquorian Empire's territory. Then we have these spots of activity where various planets and installations in the GC are rioting and protesting martial law crackdowns."

Cheryl eyed her husband and noted Marci doing the same. Neither asked Besral how he'd managed to gain intelligence as to where the GC fleet had been deployed, nor how he was tracking them in real time.

It seemed Ydru wasn't such a fool to have six warships on its way to pick up a mere dozen Nobeks after all. Particularly the one in charge.

"Does our plan change?" Norev asked, his gaze raking the map. A mix of excitement and worry colored his creased features. Cheryl surmised he was eager for the fight but concerned it would explode close to the children he and the rest were devoted to.

"Only that we drill until we can sleepwalk through it," Besral said. "Let's get to it, shall we?"

* * * *

Kila's spyship

"We just left two days ago. Did I forget my hairbrush?" Piras asked the com vid image of Admiral Tranis.

"I wish it were so trivial. We have a major problem, Admiral, Captain Kila."

Tranis' bearded visage was grim, snuffing Piras' rare urge to joke. He exchanged a glance with Kila. His Nobek stood at his side in the spyship captain's ready room, where they'd been reviewing their itinerary for searching Galactic Council space for the All. They were mere hours from gaining the enemy space under the cover of the ship's phase. Despite their proximity, they'd thus far gone unchallenged.

Tranis' priority com had halted their planning session. "I assume we have a change in mission?" Piras asked.

"I'm ordering you to immediately divert to Open Arms Orphanage on the moon Mymah at full speed."

"The Earther orphanage set up following Armageddon." Realization woke.

Kila's ever-present grin dimmed as his attention intensified on Tranis' com image. "It has Kalquorian personnel. They didn't evacuate when the GC put out the order?"

"They believed they were exempt, given the orphanage's charter. At least it's what their head of security Nobek Besral claims. I'm inclined to believe they were unwilling to leave the children."

"I take it the GC has reneged on the charter," Kila growled.

"They have a squad of six prime defender warships speeding to the orphanage now and are expected to arrive in five days. They've threatened to arrest anyone who dares to defend the Kalquorian staff, which are a dozen Nobeks over the age of one hundred sixty. Most are closer to the two-hundred-year mark."

"How brave of the Darks," Kila snorted. "Is the GC's squad headed by a ridden officer?"

"No surprise, right? The head of the orphanage, Matara Cheryl Taupin, heard the commanding officer's voice doubled."

"How many children and minders?" Piras asked, his tone quiet.

"Five hundred minors and twenty-two Earther administrators. The human caretakers are women."

"There's the second part of your answer as to why the Nobeks wouldn't leave," Kila said.

Piras snarled an oath under his breath. Twelve Nobeks nearing retirement age, nearly two dozen women, and hundreds of children. And no vessels to defend them from six heavily armed warships.

"The All has no honor," Kila observed, his trademark grin turning to a snarl. "We can get there first, as long as the Darks don't detect us as we cross the GC's border. What of reinforcements? An evacuation fleet?"

Spyships were among the smallest vessels of the Kalquorian fleet. They were faster than most, and thanks to them already having a head start in Mymah's general direction, Kila could reach the orphanage well ahead of the enemy. Unfortunately, there was no hope of loading five hundred children and the orphanage's staff on board. Even if he jettisoned the vessels in his craft's shuttle and fighter bays, he wouldn't have enough room for an evacuation.

"You'll arrive two days ahead of the group of marauders we're sending. We can't get a transport in because none of those ships have phase ability."

Kila checked his computer. His gaze flicked to Tranis. "At full speed, we'll be there less than a day before the GC squadron."

Piras' heart plunged to his stomach. A lone spyship, which carried a limited amount of weaponry, against six warships. The odds were abysmal.

Tranis' visage reflected the direness of the situation. "You'll have to fend them off on your own for at least thirty-nine hours. Maybe more if the marauders are detected by the Darks when they cross into GC space."

"No doubt the enemy will be watching for a rescue attempt," Piras noted.

"No doubt. If not for the women and children…" he spread his hands helplessly.

"But they're there, and it's up to us to keep them alive." In an instant, Piras' horror fled, replaced by ironclad duty. "Let them know we're on our way, Admiral Tranis."