Thuel looked at the personnel picked by Elisabeth and got up from behind his desk. He gave himself a few heartbeats and spoke to them.
"We have so much to do here I'm sure you will have too much work and can't complain about boredom. Once we get all this up and running, I can promise you vacation passes to home star systems."
All gathered smiled at this perspective. Thuel continued:
"We have a few quite urgent projects to start optimally yesterday. You will be responding directly to me and only a red alert will make you all return to normal posts."
They all nodded. Good sign this assignment is a full-time job and not the most favourite "easy additional job" that's always hard and requires full-time focus. Elisabeth looked at the gathered officers with a little grin but said nothing. Thuel shook his hand with every officer and pointed them big easily 20 people big conference table. He sat at top of it and Elisabeth sat at his right side. All officers sat in their designated seats.
Thuel started his speech.
"Tiamant system was once a Fa'enni colony that was home to a bit over one million people. During the War of Salvation, the 121st fleet liberated this system from under Xhrestla's occupation however not a single Fa'enni survived. Today Tiamant and Tua'va become my personal responsibility. They are my fiefdoms. It's not only my duty as Terran Commonwealth Admiral to protect the borders of our great nation here at this border system behind which only uncharted stars lay. It is my duty as Crown Prince of Fa'enni Kingdom to protect these lands and the void that was given under my care. And this is and will be our main concern. Just 210 light years away we clashed with a significant potato fleet, yes we won but we still know nothing about our enemy. They are hostile without a doubt and pose highly advanced stealth capabilities. Their ships and weapons we saw so far are laughing stock for our Navy and all FTL capable Commonwealth ships. But not a single Federation craft or system is safe. For now, it's not our problem, Federation discarded our offer for providing neutral law enforcement on their territories upon learning we have exterminated Huluk."
All gathered nodded their head. Not all things Prince was talking about was well-known fact. And if they are told such things, he must have meant their job will be very important. Thuel continued after giving them a brief moment for the information to sink in.
"So far we as Commonwealth do not have any diplomatic relationships between us and the Federation. What's more Commonwealth for all Galaxians is nothing more than unimaginable power lurking somewhere in space. No one ever saw our ships. Not because we hide that well but because their sensors are shit. If that's the case they have no chance to detect any meet so far potato ship and this is concerning in its own right. We keep Fa'enni ambassador at Unity Station- that's Federation Senat Headquarters, who is always pure blood Fa'enni. So basically only Human ever seen by Galaxians is my Grandfather, former Ambassador of Commonwealth for Federation, but you know how that goes, Lord Richard Raven."
Everyone except Thuel laughed he only grinned at his own joke.
"So fortunately for us even if Potatoes infiltrate any Galaxian Network they will not find anything useful about us. And honestly, I like it this way. Trust me. I studied all Galaxians Affair for half a year and no one is going to refund my wasted time. It's wasted because of how petty their little schemes or plans are. They are as politically mature as humanity was somewhere in the middle ages. Merchant rights disputes, petty border wars, power struggles over stupid overmined asteroid belts and so on. If any single Terren senator shows up there he would singlehandedly break them. So concluding this part- we don't want to have anything in common with them and they are happy as long as Commonwealth don't care about the Federation. Why do I speak about Galaxians now? It's quite simple. They may ask us for protection against potatoes. If that happens there is no say how Terran Senat will respond."
Li Yu Tian signalled she wanted to ask something and Thuel nodded her in allowance.
"Do you expect this will happen sooner or later, my Lord?"
"Good question but I would say we have maybe a year until they realise something is off. After we contained Xhrestla at their homeworld Galaxians become basically defenceless but now almost 25 years later they invested in something that from afar looks like the Navy. Some more militaristic species namely Writh, Hudnar, Avrian and Iotians created a more connected nation that maybe in the next 150-200 years will evolve into something similar to Commonwealth. So far they are very good partners and managed to build multi-species Navy. Their ships are the most advanced in the entire Federation so that means we will need at least two frigates to destroy them all."
Everyone was laughing nervously. The sad truth of the technological gap between the Terran Commonwealth and the Galaxy Federation was unfortunately not a cause for excessive joy in the current situation. Li Yu Tian nodded and Thuel continued.
"When finally Galaxians come to our doors knocking we will probably respond somehow. By that time I want Tiamant fortified. And now Cions enter the picture. Technologically they are way below Federation average, they lost most of their race, knowledge not overall but even they don't know where their homeworld is."
Everyone shortly nodded. Prince carefully and slowly spoke his next sentence.
"I plan to uplift them."
Thuel was expecting shock or even uproar but nothing happened. His officers just sat there and smiled at him waiting for something more.
He tried once again:
"I'm planning to as fast as possible use as my troops and allow them to rebuild on Tua'va."
Elisabeth finally gave up:
"Lord we understood what you meant, it's just a thing where we simply agree with you. We already tested Cions and their loyalty index towards Commonwealth is a stalwart 82%. As race and towards you, Sir their loyalty index is 95%. They are your subjects and that's not a joke. Their social structures are much more feudal than Fa'enni and in their eyes, you are their King. No matter what we will do and say for most of them you are God. Ensign Kwiatkowski?"
Dark hazel eyes were hidden under longer than usually hair focused on her with the speed of autocannon. He scratched his perfectly maintained van dyke beard and responded after a second.
"Ma'am. My Lord. I used all time during transit to make extensive testing of Cions. Due to their highly feudal traditions and religion, they are basically your devotees, even zealots Lord Thuel. Chances to change this even using implant education are close to zero. It's because they understood that we are impossibly advanced compared to them. Your denial of the title of God likewise grants you their respect. You are a warrior and leader who defeated their enemy and when all was lost you accepted their pleas. You not only have their unshaken loyalty but also have all their respect. To make things more interesting They identify you with Commonwealth. In their eyes and reasoning, without Commonwealth you, my Lord will not exist, so it is their duty to preserve Commonwealth at all costs and this demeanour is connected directly to their religion and governing system. They believe the system is very similar to some old pre-reformations Zionist religions as well as some straightaway Buddhist elements. If we look at their governing methods we will just have to take the ancient Roman Empire from the time of Julius Ceaser and the China Empire from the Qin dynasty era. If I didn't know better I would say Cions were highly influenced and even contaminated by Terran's early cultures. However, this theory was rejected due to its low probability."
Thuel was thinking very, very fast. He searched for the Overlord Medical Team report about Cion DNA.
"I think we just found something very important. Thank you Ensign Kwiatkowski for your report. However, right now I'm suddenly less concerned with how or if we should uplift Cions but about the second part of Ensign's report. Please Lieutenant Powells look at it."
Twins started reading it and suddenly they made big eyes almost at the same time. All other officers also found the same concerning part.
Patricia started slowly:
"I will start medical tests immediately. These markers shouldn't be present in their DNA. And I really doubt such excellent specialists as Captains serving on Overlord would make a such stupid mistake and contaminate samples. But when you confront these two reports it's starting being..."
She lost words. Implications would create outrage in Commonwealth. Captain Campbell responded for her with a way too calm voice.
"Ugly. Things will be ugly."
Thuel nodded his head.
"Keep this all for ourselves. Ra'volta this entire thing is kept as a top-secret case and only personnel gathered here with my personal certificates, Grand Admiral Denis Makosso, senior Admiral Robert MacArthur, vice Admiral Johan MacArthur and Fa'enni Royal Family can have access to it. Lieutenants you are allowed to build planet side laboratory class 1 or possess Einstein class research ship. I don't care what you do, do it quickly."
They nodded. Patricia responded:
"I promise my Lord we will find every single connection if there is any."
"We need to uplift them anyway. Captain prepares tests and drills and contacts Academy at Ra-Nael that we want to open a branch here. I authorise you at that matter." Thuel sighed.
"Sir, yes Sir!"
"Elisabeth you and the rest will start organising orbital industries and defences. Any questions? No? Very good. Dismissed."
With serious expressions, all of them saluted to Prince. They didn't expect such a thing at the first meeting.
"How do you feel Niora?" some voice asked her from beyond the darkness. She lay on some cold, hard bed or piece of metal. She must lay in the engine room of Cion Fang breathing air from an emergency oxygen bottle, for sure she fainted again. She was so hungry and felt so weak. So that everything was just a dream. She doesn't want to open her eyes and felt tears on her face. A strong hand stroked her forehead and she smelled her Lord's scent.
She immediately opened her eyes and bright light so vivid and sharp hit her. When she finally regain her senses she saw him with two identically looking Human women who were checking on her. She didn't recognise this place but that didn't matter as her Lord was here. She tried to stand up but barely was able to rise her arms or legs. She felt how Lord Thuel catches her and was speaking to her softly.
"Don't make any sudden movements. Slowly. You're in the hospital for now, so let go of all official behaviour. Take it easy until we finish everything. That's an order!"
"Yes my Lord" she barely whispered. One of the women accompanying her Lord informed her.
"Procedure was successful. We will slowly start to boot you up. But first, tell us what you feel."
"Im cold from the place I'm currently laying on." A red curly hair woman rolled her eyes.
"Except that? You are currently laying on a direct induction terminal that's why you feel a cold sensation."
"I'm very weak to the point I can't move. Also, my ears don't work properly. I hear everything like from underwater. My sense of smell is also not working properly - I can barely feel anything."
Doctor nodded.
"Ra'volta you will need to support her. She might start panicking so slowly. Niora listen carefully. In a few moments, you will sense a very powerful and at first very disturbing presence in your head but don't worry. This is Ra'volta, and you will gradually get used to it. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, Doctor. I... I think I am ready."
Patricia nodded and activated Niora's neural link. Niora felt very strange like something heavy was pushing her head. Then she heard Ra'volta speaking directly in her mind.
"Everything looks nominal Lieutenant Patricia. I think we will be able to boot her systems in one or two hours."
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Thuel smiled contently.
"Niora we will now leave you here under the care of Ra'volta. Listen to him and do what he says."
"Yes, my Lord."
She was left alone in the room. She heard Ra'volta's voice inside her head once again.
"Miss Niora I will now turn off the lights."
She nodded uncertainly why. In the absolute darkness and silence of the room she was in, she could hear her own heartbeat.
"We are communicating now through your neural link implant. Before we start I will tell you how much you have changed. Everything you know about yourself is no longer true. Right now you are the strongest, fastest and most intelligent Cion that has ever existed."
"That can't be true Lord Ra'volta, I'm just... Ooohhhh! What is it?"
Before her eyes, she saw an image of herself full of layers that started being transparent until she could see everything. Her skeleton, nerve system, respiratory system, all blood vessels and all muscles and tendons. But that was not a 3d projection Humans often used in her presence. She was sure it was displayed inside her field of view only.
"It's your personal status indicator integrated into the combat head-up display system. We will refer to it as hud from now on."
She saw how some parts of her image delicately were highlighted. When Ra'volta was speaking about how her nerves or circulatory system was reinforced anything he was talking about was highlighted. Very convenient but she was sure she will forget anything he say. She tried to remember what Ra'volta was talking about at the beginning and she discovered with shock she remember everything perfectly. What's more, she even focused on her memories and was fully aware of what Ra'volta is speaking now.
"Lord Ra'volta, my memory and concentration is greatly improved. How is that possible?"
Parts of her brain, spine and the small patch of her left thigh glowed.
"Data processing implant is responsible for aiding your natural brain information storage capabilities as well as helping you with storing all data in form of logs. The very compressed sensual-exclusive form that greatly impacts your memories. Most logs can be converted to text, pictures or video and sent to anyone you wish. Brain storage is also expanded to a data storage implant hidden in your left thigh. Data crystal is a half-centimetre-long cube and is able to save petabytes of data. Its main function is enhancing your brain's long and short time memory storage."
"I think I understood"
"Don't worry. You will."
That sounded a little menacing...
"Your bones, muscles and tendons were strengthened. You are now three times stronger than the rest of your kin. It's a similar factor achieved by baseline Fa'enni but far, far worse than ten times factor achieved by baseline humans and Faé."
It was the first time she heard about Fa'enni and Faé she wondered who they are. Her neural link obediently linked her into Commonwealth Network and displayed all data she had clearance to see. She gasped in shock, all information were already 'her'. Data blinked before her eyes, read with impossible speed and being remembered by her. She knew everything about Fa'enni and Faé- children of Humans and Fa'enni that was available for her standard clearance. She was speechless.
Ra'volta gave her a few moments for her new knowledge to set in and told her:
"That was your neural and communication implants working with data storage implant. Very good Miss Niora. That process was additionally enhanced by learning programs instaled directly into your temporal implant instaled in your brain."
She nodded but...
"I would rather want to be called Commander Niora. That was my rank on Cion Fang, if I may ask Lord Ra'volta."
A few heartbeats later voice responded.
"I'm afraid that's no longer possible Miss Niora. When your Father pleaded to Lord Thuel for protection and your entire kind becomes his subjects your Military, Navy and all government structures cease to exist. Every single Cion is right now a civilian and subject of Fa'enni Crown Prince and as such you are recognized as Commonwealth citizens. But don't worry. Captain Alex Campbell was authorized by Lord Thuel to open Army and Navy school branches here at Tua'va. You will very soon start training since Lord Thuel wants to fortify this system as fast as possible."
She nodded. She must look very stupid nodding in the dark room but she couldn't help it. Suddenly the room was engulfed in a delicate green hue and she could see much better.
"What you did do?"
"Nothing. It's your work. You just activated night vision mode in your retina implants. That's a microscopic membrane implanted in your retina that allows you to see in low-light environments as well as in the thermal vision. However, your Cat-like eyes allowed for some interesting results like noctovision in a basically lightless environment. Your eyes in passive mode- without active usage of your implant will be four times better than you remember. Be it in full light or in low light."
She slowly adapted to all knowledge he was pouring straight into her brain. Slowly she was learning once again how to walk, catch objects and adjust her own strength- she understood how strong she is now when she bent in her own small arms a 2cm in diameter 1m long steel bar.
After that, she learned again how to run and jump. Then she gets used to sense smells in absolutely new ways. After two hours Ra'volta told her she is ready to start slowly her return to normal daily life.
Doors opened and she saw Lady Elisabeth waiting for her. She heard her directly in her mind. That was still strange.
"How do you feel?"
"Horrible but fantastic if that makes any sense to you." she replayed in the same manner. Elisabeth laughed and spoke to her normally.
"You will get used to it very soon."
"Where is my Father?" she asked but immediately received the answer from medbay systems. He was still 'booting up' with help of Ra'volta and need one or two hours more.
"That's incredible... So this is Commonwealth technology? It's absolutely amazing."
"Indeed it is. Let's go eat something. I will brief you on your new position and your new duties."
Niora suddenly felt hungry again and vigorously accepted Elisabeth's invitation.
Thuel was content with the report he just received. Niora accepted all her implants and very swiftly adapted. On the other hand, Murrnal had more problems with adaptaion but he started to get it. In two days his parents will return to the system and he hoped they will tell him what was going on.
Liss is currently tormenting Niora with entire advanced Navy training. After that, she will land under the loving care of Captain Alex Campbell and receive basic Marine Corps training. She'll probably regret ever wanting to become a soldier, but that's her problem. He focused on his Fleet, Wrath was temporarily given under his command with all his Fleet compliments.
Over than that he had three Ra'volta class dreadnoughts, two Retribution class Dreadnoughts, ten Dashu'uns, twenty Agile class frigates, forty Wasp class destroyers and fifty Aria class corvettes as well as twelve static system defence stations positioned in points Epsilon, Theta and Omicron of this system- points where all hyperspace calculations will lead any ship without AI capable of much more precise calculations.
That three points are also the most convenient for tunnel drive calculations. Over 20 years of observation it was proved all Federation races also end their jumps at this points. What was also apparent their hyperdrives were much less sophisticated than Commonwealth's. However, they couldn't jump from inside star systems. 95% of known races can jump only from outer system borders where points Epsilon, Theta and Omicron lays as well but when jumping in the system 100% of Galaxians will end their jump in one of this three points.
And for millennia they still didn't noticed that as well as never even tried to improve on gravity well dependency.
Commonwealth Navy ships could enter hyperspace as close as one light minute away from the G2 star and that distance increased gradually with heavier stars. Thuel watched log from his recent confrontation with potatoes. It looked like they couldn't use their jump drives back then.
He didn't have any hyperspace denial systems as they are only installed on combat planetoids. That system is basically additional functionality of tunnel drive- it locally extended gravity well by creating constant waves of high gravity, harmless for celestial bodies in systems but trapping any hyperspace-capable ship in its area of effect. If potatoes have some better ships capable of jumping from inside the star system they will be surprised.
He received reports from Vrita drones deployed one light week away from the Tiamant system that the sensor net is finally online. He check the time and yawned, it was 01:30 local time so time to go to sleep.
He woke up at 08:00, no one was waking him up earlier so everything should be fine.
He looked out from the window of his bedroom and saw Murrnal Bram in the garden running at 90km/h. He blinked when saw him jumping on top of a 20m tall tree and extended his ceramite reinforced claws capable of shredding steel plates like paper and caught one of its branches. No single leaf felt from it. Amazing. After he dressed up he entered his office and opened the window.
He breathed fresh wet air after the night storm when he felt how Niora tried to sneak to him from behind.
"Hello, Niora. How do you feel?"
He turned to her and felt a soft almost plushy bullet hitting his chest. Niora was hugging him and was audibly purring like a kitten. She began to bury her head into his chest and thank him profusely.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, my Lord! With all these gifts I can be of much more help and use to you!"
He smiled and patted her head. She suddenly stiffened and after a brief moment, she slowly let him go while looking miserable like a child awaiting scolding. She was wagging her tail gently and had her ears flattened.
"I'm terribly sorry for my misbehaviour my Lord! I wasn't thinking because I was overwhelmed by happiness."
"Nothing bad happened so there is nothing to be sorry about. Besides it was you and your Father who insisted you belong to me so I guess this form of hugging is allowed." Stated Thuel mockingly reminding her what happened a few days ago and she felt how her face become crimson red. She slowly started hiding it in her hands but after a second she gathered all her courage and asked him.
"So what do you think about taking me as yours?" She was embarrassed to the core but for better or worse she had to know the answer.
"We will see what will future brings. For sure I can be your friend. I already took responsibility to protect your people as your Prince."
She calmed and smiled.
"I think I can live with that answer, my Lord."
He nodded, but the whole point of her question had completely missed him. They heard laughter from the door and Niora felt how she once again burn on the face.
"Oh? I'm also hugging you then my Lord."
"And why exactly?" Thuel asked surprised.
"Sometimes I don't know if you are pretending or not."
Elisabeth shook her head in disbelief. She made a few steps stopping just in front of him and looked up. He was much taller than she was. However, she smirked and hugged him anyway.
"You have saved me from my quite grim fate and I never truly thanked you Thuel. I never take off the bracelet you gave me in fear it could just disappear and I'll be dragged back to Avalon. Thank you, my Lord."
He felt her warmth and patted her head the same way he patted Nior's before.
"No big deal. We are friends, right? Besides, I will find a use for both of you. And you Liss already have more than enough work helping me here."
Elisabeth and Niora giggled and responded in unison:
"We can't wait my Lord."
Thuel had no idea what he had unwittingly allowed to and what plans were born to live at that time. But he already was reviewing his plans for today when the doors to his office burst open once again this time far from the stealthy way and Johan enters nonchalantly.
"Morning my friend!"
"Whatever brings you here im not hugging you." Thuel calmly informed his closest friend.
Johan dully looked around the office and saw Elisabeth and Niora standing side by side, going through some data. He bared his teeth in a smile and replied.
"Naaahhh. Im fine bro. I came here 'cause I finally found out what my Mom is building on orbit in such secret."
"Shoot it. I thought that's orbit control station."
"So do i. But nah. She is finishing building the Va'núir pattern shipyard. Surprised?"
Thuel made big eyes.
"Va'núir? Thats great! And hell yeah I'm surprised. But why do I have a feeling like we stepped in enormous shit and we don't know how fucked we are?"
Both women looked at him surprised but Johan only giggled.
"You too? Hahaha. I already ordered possessing large quantities of ore and raw materials that float near system entrance points. Since we had to clear it anyway and I don't want to send mining operations into uncharted stars until we receive orders from an uncle I mean King and Queen."
They both were risen basically like siblings from the time they were born. For so long time ago they addressed each other parents like family and Johan was the only living being who could call Fa'enni Queen aunt and no one would bat an eye.
"Good call. And what exactly we are gonna build with that?"
"Kill me. I don't know. I received a resource requisition order from Dad and just assumed they are needed for some big project. The amount they requested will fill Wrath's cargo bays to the brim."
"Hmmm... They sent us 120 battleships. So I'm rather concerned about how long it will take to replenish their forces."
Elisabeth checked something in her notes.
"These ships were sent from Terra. Grand Admiral relocated them here to reinforce the border. I thought you received their operational orders."
Thuel read it quickly attachment sent by Elisabeth.
"Yehhh... No. You see according to the papers you gave me I'm not their superior officer so they didn't have to send me these orders. However, if that's how it is then I guess I'll need to just wait for reorganisation orders from Neptune. Skippers of all new ships know that as well that's why they respect orders from my command centre. Simply put they were sent to protect the border but in the meantime, I was promoted and recived this quadrant under my care."
Niora was absolutely shocked. They acted so casually with her Lord and didn't care at all she hears everything. Elisabeth spotted her sad face and whispered so only Niora could hear her.
"Why sad face Niora?"
She replayed in the same whispery manner.
"Lady Elisabeth I envy you and Lord Johan your relationship with Lord Thuel. I will never be able to act like this."
"Oh, but of course, you can. Even you should. Get familiar with this Niora."
Niora blinked when she received quite a big data file from Elisabeth, it was called "Deployment Protocol of Terran Navy and Army". She started reading it slowly while Thuel and Johan were arguing about something called relax centre. Johan was very vouching for that thing. She had read the Deployment Protocol of the Terran Navy and Army twice so far and it started making sense, she was sure if she read it two or three more times she will finally understand. That was the most bizarre, complicated and seemingly illogical manual ever created by Humans see saw so far.
Most of their instructions were simple, clear and coherent. As Humans themselves call them 'idiotproof'. For example "Instructions for adjutant and secretary military personnel" is very educative work that described all work aspects and duties in less than fifty standard A4 pages. Or how Captain Alex Campbell called it the "Marines Bible" extensive document containing doctrines, survival guide, code and tactics manual that was written masterfully and divided into coherent sections. It was over 500 pages long but so easy to navigate that you never noticed how extensive it was.
But this...
That monstrosity was over 5000 pages long and was almost monolith text. But after the third reading, it was finally clear. She was thankful for her implants since she would spend a few years to understood and remember everything she have learnt in past two days.