Primary Collison 3rd Fleet Story in the Outfitters Universe

By A.A. Forringer

The Alarian Empire continues to expand its borders but with the destruction of the Emperor's Anger by the Arrogant Lion it has taken notice of the humans.

As the modern Earthers mobilize and relearn the art of war in order to defend Earth, the Callahnity, the covert scientific organization of the Alarian Empire moves the Imperial Fleet to find out all it can about these humans and the promising tech they use.

The crew of the Arrogant Lion and Captain Shelby Pickett of Fleet Intelligence are tasked with stopping a breakthrough of Defensive Line Wolf and keeping the location of Earth from being known to the Alarians.

• Language: English
• Publisher: A.A. Forringer
• Release date: Apr 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005014407

A.A. Forringer

Retired Law Enforcement, country boy who has been around the world, here, there, everywhere.Favorite Quote: All America lies at the end of the wilderness road, and our past is not a dead past, but still lives in us. Our forefathers had civilization inside themselves, the wild outside. We live in the civilization they created, but within us the wilderness still lingers. What they dreamed, we live, and what they lived, we dream.”― T.K. Whipple

Book preview

About A.A. Forringer

Other Books by A.A. Forringer

Connect with A.A. Forringer

Chapter 1

Alarian Empire, Alar System

Earth Calendar March 2151

Detris looked over the railing at the new recruits lined up in formation, recruits might have been an overly positive term, but that is what he had been two short cycles ago and this new group would be referred to in the same way.  He noticed the masks they were wearing were slightly different now, but they were the same red color of all first years.

How he had hated those red masks, they made him a mark for every higher rank in the organization, every beating, and every slur he had to endure were due to those damn red masks.  They were bonded to their faces now, the only time they would come off in the next year would be if they were dumped down a disposal chute.

'Attention' he heard the Attendant's aide call out.  Detris and the others on the rail straightened themselves up, no longer leaning on the rail or talking among themselves.  He watched the Attendant walk slowly from the far side of the room.  He walked through the ranks of the new recruits slowly eyeing each of them individually, the same way he had done last cycle and the cycle before that when Detris had been on the floor, finally the old man got up on the podium and stood behind the lectern, his steel blue mask reflecting the lights almost matching his exact skin tone on his neck and hands.

You have no name; you have no family and most importantly you have no clan.  He paused for effect, that was the hardest thing to learn for first years, it had been for him. For you there is only the Empire, you were worthless to your family, so they sent you’re here as tribute to the Emperor, you have been selected by the Callahnity because of all the dregs sent to the Imperial Fleet you show a very small amount of promise.  The Attendant looked up to the lights. The Emperor would rather have Tregas but someone in your family thought they would be getting off easier if they sent you instead and kept their Tregas at home.  This got a chuckle from the gallery looking down on the recruits and the Attendant continued.  You will have one thing to learn this year and one thing only.  Obedience, obedience to the Callahnity.  Obedience to the Callahnity in all things great and small.  Obedience to the Callahnity is obedience to the Empire.   The Attendant looked down at his lectern and it appeared he looked at something on the screen. Recruit seventy-three step forward."

There was the briefest pause then a recruit step forward.  Recruit number seventy-three what is your clan and family?  Again, a brief pause, then the young Alarian in the red mask responded.  I am a member of the Areaks Clan my family name is Stu-gart.

Detris shook his head slightly as did a few other members in the gallery, a blaster bolt came from the rafters and struck the recruit squarely on the top of his head killing him instantly.

There was not an audible gasp from the recruits, death was a common enough thing in their society, maybe a few intakes of breath, a strictly involuntary reflex to a situation that would prepare their bodies to fight at any second.  The aide to the Attendant walked thru the ranks and turned the body over with his foot, then he took the mask off recruit seventy-three which released its grip when the body heat cooled and the person wearing its heart stopped.

Yes, Recruit Seventy-three has now returned to the Areaks Clan.   The Attendant said with no emotion, he looked down on the lectern again.  Recruit Four step forward.  The red masked recruit step forward.  Recruit Four, what clan and family do you belong to?

Detris looked at the individual as did every other eye in the gallery. There was an exceedingly long pause from the individual.  I am a member of the Montaques Clan, my family name is Cusslian.

Again, the sniper in the rafter was quick, taking the same head shot as before. Detris did not shake his head this time, he had conditioned himself that when he heard his clan's name it elicited no reaction.  The aide walked thru the ranks again and again removed the mask.

Yes, Recruit Four was a member of the Montaques Clan.

Detris heard a few Tregas changing hands.  The bet could either be what Clan would lose people or if the second recruit called would meet the same fate as the first.  In his class only two had been lost the first day, the last cycles class had gone as far as losing three on the first day.  He had heard of a class that seven recruits had been lost the first day, but it was only a story of a story, so he did not put much stock in it, no one he ever talked to ever witnessed more than three making the same mistake.

The Attendant spoke again.  Recruit Thirty-Seven step forward.  The process repeated itself and the same question was asked but this time the pause was longer and everyone in the galley leaned forward ever so slightly.  Come on Recruit Thirty-Seven, surely you know what Clan and Family you belong?  The recruit stood their frozen.  Surely you are not a Laglie, but even Laglies have a family they belong to, Recruit Thirty-Seven what is your Family name.

There was an even longer pause, then the voice came from behind the mask.  I have no Clan, or Family I only have the Empire.

Detris heard Tregas changing hands again.  Return to your spot Recruit Thirty-Seven.  The Attendant looked around the room.  Obedience to the Callahnity will mean you live, we do not have Clan or Family, we only have the Empire.  The Attendant nodded slightly then came off the podium and walked out of the large room followed closely by his aide, not a word of his speech had changed in three cycles he wondered if it ever would.  The light went out on the floor and the new recruits stood there at attention.  Detris heard the others near the railing start to leave and after looking at the rows of recruits one last time still standing at attention.

His class had stood in the room for close to a third of an arn before they were given their next order; in that time two more had died when they broke ranks and the unseen sniper in the rafters repeated the punishment for disobedience.

Chapter 2

Alarian Empire, Alar System

Earth Calendar April 2152

Recruit Seventy-Three why are you standing there?

The Alarian in the red mask answered.  I was ordered to stand here by Recruit Instructor Fifteen.

Detris shook his head.  Recruit Instructors corrected their charges or just abused them and were almost as annoying as the Recruits themselves.  Most of them where only two-year recruits and simply switched over from being abused to abusers. It made little to no sense, but it was the way it had been done for centuries.  Detris had avoided the 'honor' of being a Recruit Instructor by showing some useful skill and being recruited into the Scrutiny and Evaluation Division of the Callahnity, not the most prestigious division but particularly useful skills were learned there that could be parlayed into something for your clan once you left the Callahnity if you made it out.  Recruit Thirty-Seven when were you re-numbered last?  Detris asked to keep the Recruit engaged until he thought of something to do with him.

The class was renumbered just last night sir.

What is the purpose of the Scrutiny and Evaluation Division?

The purpose of the Scrutiny and Evaluation Division is the conduct Intelligence gathering for the Empire particularly relating to technology.

The textbook answer and he did not stumble while answering, perhaps this one had potential. When was the last time the Empire had direct need of the services of the Scrutiny and Evaluation Division?

He could see Recruit Thirty-Seven ponder his answer.  I am not sure sir; I have not been briefed on that information.

Detris nodded, this one was intelligent enough not to try and lie, although being unsure about something was dangerous for a Recruit, as the information that was available to them was vast and if they had access to the information, they were expected to know it.  Detris nodded again, then he took out his link device and pressed it to the man's data port on his face and turned it to the right.  This gave the recruit a spark of pain, and they were expected to stand there and take it, but it also recorded on his permanent file that he had gotten a favorable notice by a senior Callahnity member.  If he had turned it to the left, it would have been a more substantial spark and a black mark on his record for the week.  The Alarian with the largest accumulation of black marks on his record for a week was subject to further punishment, and if you were in that position two weeks in a row, then metaphorically the sniper in the rafters was still active.

Classt was already at the table and had watched the exchange.  Give out too many of those positive marks and you will get a mark in your file.

Detris waved off his friend.  Friend might be too strong a term, he had just known Classt since they were recruits and now, they were both in the Scrutiny and Evaluation Division together even though Classt had just joined whereas Detris was selected for it as soon as their Recruit cycle was over.  What do we have to examine today?

Classt activated the display on the table.  A strange wound, energy type unknown and does not meet any known or similar signature.

Detris looked over the information.  The wound on the body was low, a gut shot, but the death blow came from what appeared to be a knife or spear through this individual's throat.

Classt spoke up now and waved his hand dismissively.  Someone probably changed a power coupling or an engine component and made a one-shot weapon.

Detris studied the readout closer.  Why such an extensive scan of this body?  Who was this person and where was he when this happened that we got notified of this?

Classt opened another folder pertaining to the Alarian's identification, then he let out a low whistle. Former Callahnity, then after a few more commands were entered he whistled again. A Scrutiny and Evaluation Division Operative.

Detris looked at the face and tried to imagine it with a mask on, he thought he might have looked familiar.  When did he leave the Callahnity?

Classt looked in the file.  It says his contract was bought out by his family last year.

Detris said nothing, then pulled up the information on his own.  The body had been found in a broken disposal chute on Custanock, the biggest open trading station on the Farnat frontier of the Empire.  He looked for the disposition of the body to see if could have be scanned again, then he noted the date of death, the report was months old, the body would either be gone by now or so degraded it would be useless.

Well, what do you want to do, you are the senior person on this?

Detris pondered his next words while looking over the wound scan, the energy residue was something he had never seen before and it bothered him.  Formal categorization if this is some new tech, we need to be on the lookout for it.

Classt was not happy about that, a formal categorization took time and having to make a report to their superiors but Detris was the senior operative so there was no questioning, just a nod of obedience.

Chapter 3

Alarian Empire, Alar system

Earth Calendar November 2152

Turning the ship around on the three-dimensional display he pulled part of the ship apart then reached into the virtual display and selected a set of external fuel tanks and placed them on the ship.  Does that match a previous scan now?

Recruit Fifty-Five nodded.

So, you were about to label this as a new ship design and now that I demonstrate it is clearly not would you like to rescind your previous pronouncement?

Yes sir.

How long did you have these schematics?

Since last night sir.

You must have been sleeping instead of completing your tasks assigned.

No answer.  Detris nodded slowly.  You say there is another unknown ship in this stack of scans.

Yes sir.

Detris shook his head, this one was not going to make it if he was wrong.  He pulled up the file and at first glance he believed the recruit might be right, he looked it over, turning it around, then digging further into the file judging the distance the scan was taken and other considerations.  He then looked at the planet where this came from, Beiste, the Translator home world, he noticed a prior entry by this same clan.  Detris pulled it up the other report submitted to the Empire, it was a strange energy charge on an Alarian weapon, the energy signature tickled a memory in his head, he relaxed trying to recall where he had seen that before.

Sir was I correct, was that a new ship?

Detris glanced at him from the corner of his eye and back fisted him.  The Recruit landed on the floor and Detris relaxed again trying to recall, those few seconds of unfocused thought while hitting the man had jarred his memory, the body from Custanock, the former Callahnity member.  He pulled up the information and laid the two scans side by side, a perfect match.  Detris looked at the scan of the ship again, definitely something new, a new ship with a new energy signature.

The Recruit was standing again, in the exact same spot as before when Detris looked up, he had been lost in thought for a long time, long enough that the black blood that was coming from under the mask had stopped flowing and was dried on his neck.

He let the Recruit stand there as he wrote a report and sent it off to his superiors for their review.

Chapter 4

Alarian Empire, Alar system

Earth Calendar February 2153

Detris looked out at the five Recruits standing at attention, then he looked back at his boards.  Their physical rates were almost back too normal almost time for another test.  Only one more week till this class could trade their red masks for the much-coveted green masks, in which time they could begin to be tested and evaluated for what branch of the Callahnity they would fit into the best, but until then they were only so much meat to be probed and poked and made use of.  Protocol says to move the level up ten percent, but those last readings were greater than I thought they would be, move the energy level up two-point five percent.

The technicians in the green masks did not question him, they just made the necessary adjustments on the weapon. He watched the adjustments then double checked the readouts and just before he was about to fire the weapon his communicator chimed.  He glanced at the screen noted it was the Attendant's office calling.  He held up his hand to pause the experiment activated the communicator, a simple message 'report immediately."  Without explanation he walked out of the firing range and walked to the inner offices of the Attendant.

A few minutes later he arrived and was told to sit by the Attendant's aide, he sat quietly his mind turning over possibilities in his head; new assignment, results of one of his outside testing requests returning, the rare chance his Clan had bought up his contract and wanted him back.  This last one was a remote possibility; from general knowledge his clan had been doing well with its very public acquisition of a new system and the materials it was able to export.  But unless there was a lack of family members to do jobs he would be left here to learn for a few more cycles.

The door opened and his comrade Classt entered, the aide motioned for them both to go to the Attendant's office.  The walked in and came to the position of attention in front of the Attendant.  The Attendant finished something on his monitor and looked at the two of them.

Detris and Classt.

Both men simply nodded, almost in unison.  Their Recruit time together still the benefit of some synchronicity remaining.

An assignment has come up, not a good one, but it will allow you to leave here for a while, he said motioning around the room which was the geographic center of the base."

The two Alarians stood there, there had not been a question asked yet and the Attendant did not converse with underlings.

Anyone owe any debts to the other or want to owe the other a favor by taking this assignment with the Imperial Fleet, probably less then then a quarter of cycle assignment.  The favors system was a very subtle but very necessary thing in the Callahnity, with no family connections and little money changing hands or promise of brides or payoffs the rank and file had come up with the favor system to balance the scales with each other.

Detris and Classt caught each other’s glance on their peripheral vision, then Classt spoke. I owe a favor to Detris and I will take the assignment if it clears that favor?

Detris who did not want to spend even half a phase on an Imperial Fleet Ship and was glad Classt decided to pay back with the favor at this time.  Detris spoke up.  That would satisfy the debt.  Detris now owed a small favor to Classt because he had offered to pay back the debt without it being called in.  The favor system was a bit complicated, but it worked.

The Attendant looked at them and nodded.  Classt report to Imperial Fleet Headquarters and secure passage to the Emperor's Anger and report to Admiral Farack, son of Bostick.  The Attendant paused.  If our reports on the Imperial Fleet is correct Farack is a hack and rarely sober but this is a simple mission, some sort of new race has appeared and wants to have a treaty and the Emperor wants to set the correct tone.

Classt simply nodded.  Farack is properly indoctrinated into our mission and your mission is to only observe and report, do not interrupt his command structure, use our typical communications protocols.

Classt simply nodded, and the Attendant raised his hands and gave the signal for dismissal, both turned and left the room.  Once outside the walked a short way together.  Detris spoke first.  I think I may owe you a small favor after this, a quarter of cycle with the Imperial Fleet, isn't the Emperor's Anger one of those old Stellar Rend class ships.

Well, the last time I was with the Imperial Fleet was when my clan gave me as tribute to the Emperor, I was a lowly slug, but now I return to them as a Callahnity member it should be better this time around.  Then Classt answered the question. Yeah, Steller Rend class is big, but slow but if word about Admiral Farack is correct then it should be able to get some decent Zansu.

Detris laughed.  You would not know decent Zansu if you fell into a vat of it.

Classt laughed now. But what a way to go.

Chapter 5

Alarian Empire, Alar system

Earth Calendar June 2153

‘Two days early for the beginning of the next Recruit cycle,’ Detris thought and looked on his comm device, ‘strange.’  He observed.  Normally between Recruit classes there was exactly half a cycle between the end of one and the beginning of another.  Detris had to read it twice, all members report to the main floor.  No full member was ever called to the floor unless that individual was in trouble and there had never been a full recall to the floor in spoken history.

Detris and the others quietly made their way to doors leading to the main floor, they walked like soldiers but in each of their minds they dreaded it.  During their Recruit Year this had been their home, no rooms, no bunks, no privacy, all members of the class were locked in here each night, until the Recruit class came together, getting rid of their typical Alarian emotional pride it was a constant fight for space, food, and any scrap of comfort. Then one day, an almost mystical thing happened, they came together as a group, no more fighting, no more hoarding, just teamwork.   He had watched it happen to the two classes that came after him.  One at fifteen phases, the most recent at almost a half a cycle.

He passed through the doorway onto the floor he looked how the room was filing up, the most senior members were in the front row, their blue masks marking them as almost true Alarians, the next row was almost twice the size of the first rank, their masks the color of Alarian blood shiny black.  Then came Detris’ contemporaries their faces covered with flat black masks, they were the workers, also the most commonly known color to the Alarian population as a whole, they were the ones that went out and did the work of the Callahnity for the Empire.

The last group was the newly prompted Recruits and those who had not been placed yet, they wore the green masks, more or less servants at this point, running errands, taking care of equipment and when the new class of recruits came in the green mask would be their trainers.

The aide to the Attendant stood on the permanent platform and motioned for the rank and file to come to attention, the room became deathly silent.

A single set of footsteps crossed the floor, the Attendant, he mounted the platform his dark green uniform immaculate his shiny blue mask almost seeming silver with all the reflections coming off it, he looked around the room.  The Callahnity now has a target.

There was a low murmuring around the room.  The Attendant tapped on the podium; the room became silent again.  The Emperor's Anger was destroyed.  The room erupted again, Detris was shocked, the Anger was a huge ship, he had looked up its stats when he had gotten out of the mission just to see what Classt might have been up to.  The Attendant spoke again after a letting the voices in the room fade a bit.  The Anger was on a mission to destroy a diplomatic ship from a place called Earth was who was so presumptuous to ask for peace and trade status.

The Attendant held up his hand and the room returned to complete silence, he had allowed the loose discipline up until now, no he wanted no more interruptions and then he continued with his briefing. The Emperor's Anger did destroy the other ship and some of the Stentorian fighters captured some of their more tenacious fighters but as the Anger was returning to the Imperial Fleet headquarters it was attacked by a series of smaller ships, reports of the attack are still being deciphered but it seems there were numerous ships that arrived from hyperspace jump points deeper in the system than our technology would allow, then after its engines were destroyed the Anger was towed to the gravity well of a star and destroyed.

The room stayed silent.  Section Heads you will be given new tasks, but the overriding questions are, who is this new species, where are they from and what can we gain from them technologically to increase Alarian supremacy?

Detris was very curious and knew he would be one of the first Alarians to learn some of the answers to these questions.

Chapter 6

Alarian Empire, Vebantin system

Earth Calendar July 2153

The Callahnity were moving like they had never moved before on this ship alone there were five other operatives.  Detris had never seen more than two members leave the Callahnity compound assignment at a time.  Now there were three Imperial Fleet ships in the Verbatim system practically under the command by Callahnity members.

I want the shuttles to deploy crew members in suits in Sectors Four and Five and I do not want any tractor beams used on the pieces they recover; I want it done by hand.  Detris stated to the Imperial Fleet Cartan.

But sir, that will take a hundred intervals.

The Callahnity had been on board the ship a phase now and some of the Fleet members seemed to be losing their fear of them.  Detris took out his pistol and shot the man.  In normal Alarian society the questioning of orders might have merited a strike or possibly a stabbing but Detris was a member of the Callahnity and if they lost even a modicum of the fear from anyone, well that was not acceptable, besides, he had smelled Zansu on the man one too many times in the last interval.  The man's underlings looked at Detris with new fear. Who is next in line in the chain of command?

That would be me sir.  A shorter but more intelligent looking enlisted man said stepping forward.

Did you hear my instructions?

Yes sir, no tractor beams to be used on any of the pieces brought on board.

That is correct. Detris thought about it for a second.  Any larger pieces that cannot be shuttled back on board I want you personally to run a level ten scan on them, then I want them tagged with a beacon and numbered and tracked, can you arrange for that or should I give those instructions to the bridge crew.

I can do it sir.

If you can follow these instructions, you might make a decent Cartan.

Detris went back to reviewing the scans and barely noticed the crewmembers who dragged the body away.  The earlier scans that had been done before they reached the debris field were imprecise and the results were not promising, the only thing they had learned was that somehow these ships were able to enter and leave hyperspace much closer to gravity wells then even the most current hyperspace drives the Alarians had.  He leaned back and took a deep breath.  He looked at the clock, he had been working for the past interval, time for sleep, he forwarded his progress report to his supervisor.  That was also unheard of before this mission, the shiny blue masks of the supervisory level were never seen in public, typically if they left the base, they would don the flat black mask of a typical operative, but the Attendant had changed that rule as well.  Detris yawned behind his mask, looked around the hangar bay and saw that work was progressing as he had ordered, without a word he got up and walked to the cabin he was assigned.  If he were needed the only people that would disturb him would be another Callahnity member.

Chapter 7

Alarian Empire, Vebantin system

Earth Calendar August 2153

Are we secure?

We are sir, all power has been turned off on this level and the level above.  The crew is confined to the hangar deck, except for those on the bridge and Walwil is monitoring their movements, we have swept the decks for listening devices and found nothing.

A simple nod from the Callahnity member in charge noting it was acceptable.

The room was crowded with all the Callahnity members on the investigation team looking into the destruction of the Emperor's Anger.  Detris was senior enough that he merited a seat at the table while the few that were remaining were standing but ready to respond, everyone's input was valued in this type of meeting.

"What do we know for sure, not conjecture, no supposition, just things we can say with certainty, theories will be discussed at a later time.

Trail team, what do we know?

Detris enjoyed the terminology, the Callahnity considered itself at its core a hunting party.  Hunting for things for the Empire, hunting for enemies, hunting for new technology to make the Empire stronger.

The leader of the team spoke up.  First indications are correct who ever hit the Anger their hyperspace drives can come out much closer into a gravity well then our current drives by at least one astrometric unit possibly more.

You know this how?  The controller asked.

Multiple wake points near the initial attack site, all deep within the Vebantin system, then one major wake point indicating most ships left the system from a point also deeper into the system then any of our drives could use.

You say multiple points of entry into the system, not a single point.

Yes sir, as if the ships were coming from different points of origin and at different times, it seems they arrived over a half an interval, but they all left within a quarter cycle.

The Controller steepled his fingers now. Interesting, but the important question is where did these ships go?

That is another issue, we have determined that their exit points give a general indication as to their origin; but entry points do not lend themselves to determination as to exit point.  There is also something missing that should be at every hyperspace entry point, but we have not been able to find any trace of.

The Controller nodded for the operative to continue.

There was no trash, waste or cast-off material.

None? Came the slightly shocked question of the Controller.  Detris and everyone else around the table was surprised by this as well, typically right before a hyperspace jump there was an expulsion of biological waste material, if for the simple reason there was no reason to carry it around on your ship.  It was such a common practice that in systems with heavy traffic there were rules and policies detailing what to do with your waste.

The Controller spoke. Further analysis needed as to why no trash at exit point.  He noted for the record then a pause and he turned towards Detris' end of the table.  Teeth and Claws.

Detris' supervisor spoke now. The energy residue has been seen before in two separate locations, both personal weapons but the signature was a complete match.

How long have these weapons been around the Alarian Empire.

Detris spoke up when his supervisor started looking for the information.  The first time was on Alarian date 67234 on Custanock.

And the second?

The Translator home world on 67238.  Detris added.

Are the weapons better or worse than our current best level?

Unknown at this time.  Detris' supervisor answered.

The meeting proceeded going into data points and Detris started to pull up the records of his original reports on the formally unknown weapons and updating the file showing the weapons origin point as Earth.

Chapter 8

Alarian Empire, Alar, Emperor’s Compound

Earth Calendar July 2153

Detris was nervous and he checked himself to ensure that it was not showing, pulse normal, perspiration normal.  Luckily, the mask covered his face so tightness around his eyes and other facial tics would be mostly concealed.  He followed his Controller into the black meeting room.  They had been preparing for this meeting for three days, he was the backup memory for his Controller if the older man faltered, he was there answer with him in the most exacting detail possible.

My Callahnity thank you for coming.  The Emperor said smoothly.

Detris knew the man was just being formal, the Callahnity were sworn to obedience and if the Emperor gave even a slight hint that he wanted a mountain moved, the Callahnity would have a plan ready to get it done. The Attendant spoke. Thank you for sir for entrusting us with this task we are ready to report our findings to you.

Very well begin.  He said offhandedly and steepled his hands in front of him on the table.

The Attendant began. The Callahnity believe there is a new threat on our frontiers specifically in the Ergothan Sector. A large star map displayed the current Alarian Empire in space then the Ergothan Sector was highlighted, and the map zoomed in on it.  We have found incursions in Alarian space besides the destruction of the Emperor's Anger.  The map showed a scattering of red dots where the new technology had been used or possible sites of the new technology were green.  As you can see these humans seem to be coming from somewhere out here.  An area past the Ergothan Sector lite up with a nebulous yellow cloud.

The Emperor spoke now.  Their weapons and ships, how many?

Unknown at this time sir.  The Attendant said, not happy that he had to say it, but that was the whole point of this meeting.

Of course, you don't know how many cubs a Ursant has until you clean out its den.

Exactly sir.

Weapons and Technology?

The Attendant paused for just a slight second, no one but a trained operative would notice but all the operatives did. In all respects their ships and weapons appear to have an edge on our current level.

Explain.  The Emperor said leaning forward.

Their hyperspace drives seem to be able to penetrate further into and leave a star system at greater depth than ours.  The projections displayed throughout the room but were geared to be seen by an audience of one, the Emperor as his was the only opinion that mattered at this point.

The Emperor nodded and the Attendant took this as a signal to continue.  Their weapons seem to have about ten percent more power than ours, granted that is an early projection, it could be as high as twenty percent.  Again, more numbers and charts were displayed.

The Emperor looked at these numbers even longer then waved his hand.

We have further information, but I am loath to give it to you at this time as it is far from even a good guess, just speculation at this point.

And you come asking for what Attendant?  The Emperor asked turning and facing the Attendant.

Ships, an order placing a portion of the Imperial Fleet under the command of the Callahnity, an Imperial Order giving us authority to negotiate with Clans in the Ergothan Sector in your name, to offer bounties and other incentives to find more of these humans and determine more about them.

The Emperor steepled his hands, then turned towards the Attendant.  You are asking a lot Attendant.

Yes, sir I am.

The Callahnity have never abused the favors given to them by the Emperors in the past.

What you say is true sir, we have no family, no clan, only the Empire, that is our only duty, our only cause is expansion of the whole Empire and safeguarding it.

Of course.  The hands had stayed steepled. Begin planning, I will consider granting this request, I will recall you in one interval with an answer, there will be questions from my council, particularly the ones who have interests in the Ergothan Sector.

Yes sir.  The Attendant said.

The Emperor stood and the Callahnity