Conclave (The Silver Ships Book 20) Read online

  CONCLAVE

  A Silver Ships Novel

  S. H. JUCHA

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2021 by S. H. Jucha

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  Published by Hannon Books, Inc.

  www.scottjucha.com

  ISBN: 978-1-7344707-6-5 (e-book)

  ISBN: 978-1-7344707-7-2 (softcover)

  First Edition: April 2021

  Cover Design: Damon Za

  Acknowledgments

  Conclave is the twenty-fourth novel and the final installment in the interwoven series of The Silver Ships and Pyreans, which tell the stories of Earth colonists and the spread of humankind throughout a galaxy filled with alien races.

  I wish to extend a special thanks to my independent editor, Joni Wilson, whose efforts enabled the finished product. To my proofreaders, Abiola Streete, David Melvin, Ron Critchfield, Pat Bailey, Tiffany Crutchfield, and Gerry Hartman, I offer my sincere thanks for their support.

  Despite the assistance I’ve received from others, all errors are mine.

  Glossary

  A glossary is located at the end of the book.

  Contents

  1: Potential Heir

  2: Hosting Opportunity

  3: Xenophobia

  4: Talus Envoy

  5: Mickey On-Site

  6: Miner’s Pit

  7: Maria and Oliver

  8: The Survey

  9: Re-Gen

  10: Loopah

  11: Tsargit Division

  12: Resistance Tactics

  13: Pia’s Discovery

  14: Omnia

  15: Talus

  16: Cut It Up?

  17: Envoys

  18: Haraken

  19: Who Will Attend?

  20: Queen Homsaff

  21: Crew Rotation

  22: Méridien

  23: Assassins

  24: Attack

  25: Restoration

  26: Rafe and Bryce

  27: Exposed

  28: Winston’s Guests

  29: Alain’s Challenge

  30: Rep Selection

  31: Too Long Aboard

  32: Media Frenzy

  33: Little Time

  34: The Rotunda

  35: What Do We Want?

  36: Kasie’s Faux Pas

  37: Conclave Finale

  38: Proof of Concept

  39: Epilogue

  Glossary

  My Books

  The Author

  1: Potential Heir

  Lenson, the Triton console operator, was in a melancholy mood. The exciting movement of unique journeyers through Pyre’s dome had been replaced by the usual traffic. Gone were the sudden appearances of alien world leaders, triumphant dome investigators, and Usaanan prisoners. Soon, Alex Racine’s fleet would sail for Sol, and even the Omnian use of the dome would stop.

  New hope for better days had been offered Lenson. For the first time, he stood duty at the Triton console with two other operators.

  Pyre’s dome now numbered three gates. In addition to the original connection to Na-Tikkook, the Jatouche home world, the new gates connected to Norsitchia and Sylia.

  Lenson’s platform lit with its customary blue light of high-energy photons that merged with the dome’s hemisphere, and he shelved his musings to pay attention to the next arrivals from Rissness, Na-Tikkook’s moon. His pulse quickened with the appearance of three prestigious figures, who stood in front of four Jatouche with baggage.

  Jastitock, the mate of the female ruler, Tockitak, sent via his implant.

  Lenson, an Earther, was overwhelmed by Jastitock choosing to make personal contact. He wasn’t aware that the dignitary knew his name. He’d never communicated by implant with the royal couple, which would have allowed them to obtain his bio ID.

  Lenson sent, while the individuals stepped off the platform. His focus was on the third dignitary, a maturing Jatouche female, who wore royal garb and walked between the monarch and her mate.

  Jastitock sent.

  Lenson replied, while he called dome security to escort the Jatouche to the city-ship, Our People.

  Julien warned Alex and Renée.

  It was the evening before the fleet was scheduled to sail the following morning, and the co-leaders had a flurry of meetings to accomplish in the short time remaining.

  Rather than bother with an explanation, Julien sent an image of the Jatouche.

  Renée sent to Julien.

  Julien replied.

  Alex sent.

  Renée inquired.

  Alex replied.

  When the Jatouche made the city-ship, a dome security lieutenant, with his two escorts, led the monarch and her entourage to the owner’s suite.

  In the corridor, the group approached a collection of four individuals in military uniform, who were chatting amiably.

  Jastitock sent to Tockitak.

  Tockitak retorted. She’d tried to make light of the situation, but she was nervous about the coming discussion.

  The Earther lieutenant saluted Admiral Tatia Tachenko, as he passed between Admiral Ellie Thompson, Commodore Descartes, Senior Captain Étienne de Long, and Tatia.

  Jastitock sent to the Omnians. It was a message that he knew Tockitak would have preferred to send, but it was general protocol that a monarch didn’t make simple apologies. That function was reserved for politically critical moments.

  The Jatouche monarch and her mate received nods of greeting from the Omnians, whose eyes tracked the young royal and whose thoughts exchanged conjectures about her possible identity.

  The SADE, Descartes, was tempted to ping the young female to see if she had an implant and obtain her bio ID, but the unannounced, last-minute visit and the baggage carriers warned him to wait.

  Tockitak paused in front of Tatia, and Jastitock signaled the baggage handlers to rest.

  The four Jatouche piled their bundles against a corridor bulkhead and stood silently beside them.

  “Admiral, we’d be pleased if you would do us a kindness,” Tockitak said.

  “Please ask,” Tatia replied courteously.

  “This is my second offspring, Tanistok,” Tockitak announced, presenting the young female who stood beside her. “I would place her in your care, while my mate and I speak with Alex and Renée. Will you
assist us?”

  “With pleasure,” Tatia replied. The request seemed odd to her, as if the young Jatouche would be in danger aboard the city-ship and would need the protection of a fleet admiral.

  “Your generosity is appreciated,” Tockitak said. Then she and her mate entered the salon, Julien having triggered the door as the guests approached.

  “Greetings, Your Highness Tanistok,” Tatia said to the young royal offspring. She made to introduce the other commanders, but Tanistok pinged the Omnians to obtain IDs.

  Tanistok focused on Descartes. she sent in the open.

  Descartes replied drily. His response caused Tanistok to chitter.

  Tanistok replied. Then she gazed across the midnight blue uniforms with their minimal gold adornments and patches.

  Ellie sent facetiously to the other Omnians.

  Étienne commented.

  Tanistok sent, when she’d finished studying the Omnians.

  Rather than respond to the imperial and slightly condescending comment from the young royal, Tatia sent,

  Tanistok returned.

  Tanistok saw two human Omnians hide smiles behind their hands. It annoyed her.

  Tatia replied.

  Tanistok inquired.

  Tatia noticed the regal façade had dropped. She simply faced a curious young female Jatouche.

  Tatia replied.

  Tanistok acknowledged.

  Tanistok’s last remark put the four Omnians on alert.

  In the salon, Renée served the royal couple fruit juices, which pleased them.

  “Our apologies for disturbing your evening,” Jastitock said, as the couple sat on a settee that Alex lowered for their shorter stature.

  “Unnecessary, Your Excellency,” Alex replied, waving away the apology. “How can we help?”

  “With your technology, we imagine that you’ve seen our entourage,” Tockitak replied.

  “We were curious about the young female and the baggage carriers,” Alex said. To his partner, he sent,

  Renée intuited the problem, and she said gently, “Your Excellency, family matters are often the most difficult to discuss, but if we can help, we’ll do our best to try.”

  The tense slender shoulders of the Jatouche ruler and her mate relaxed. “Intuitive of you, Renée de Guirnon,” Tockitak said gratefully. She took a sip of her fruit juice and handed it to Jastitock.

  Clasping her slender furred hands together, Tockitak began. “We’ve three offspring ... three females,” she said. “It was supposed that the eldest would inherit the monarchy, but that doesn’t seem to be likely.”

  “Is the eldest unwell?” Renée asked with concern.

  Jastitock quickly waved away Renée’s anxiousness. “She’s well,” he said. “All of them are healthy.”

  “This is a matter of personalities,” Alex said, leaning comfortably into the couch.

  Julien monitored the conversation in the corridor, courtesy of Descartes, and shared it with Alex, which allowed him to comprehend the nature of the royal couple’s issue.

  “Yes,” Tockitak said. “Tanistok, who waits outside, is our second offspring. Her siblings already defer to her more aggressive personality. It’s obvious to us that Tanistok will be the next monarch.”

  “But there’s a problem,” Renée suggested, catching up with the conversation that Julien was sharing.

  “We’re loath to admit this,” Jastitock said, “but Tanistok’s headstrong ways represent a challenge to her maturation. Worse, she makes decisions in information vacuums.”

  “Her tendency is to be the dominant voice in any room she inhabits,” Tockitak explained. “If individuals have the wherewithal to argue with her and share data, she’ll tend to absorb it.”

  “I take it she doesn’t apologize for her actions,” Alex said.

  “Never,” Jastitock returned.

  “And you want us to take Tanistok with us in hopes that being in the company of Omnian humans and SADEs will balance her personality,” Alex suggested.

  Renée saw pleading in the royal couple’s eyes. For this moment, they were parents who were concerned for their daughter’s development. That she might become the Jatouche monarch made it all the more imperative that Tanistok’s maturation be carefully managed.

  “I think it’s a wonderful idea,” Renée said, clapping her hands lightly.

  Tockitak and her mate looked relieved at Renée’s acceptance of their request. However, they turned wary eyes to Alex.

  Alex had carefully schooled his face. He wouldn’t contradict his partner, but he didn’t necessarily think it was a good idea. Unfortunately, the decision wasn’t to be a simple one.

  Tockitak and her mate led the new consortium, a recent offshoot of the powerful Tsargit, the organization that represented the advanced alliance races. The consortium had recently been the first worlds to receive new dome gates, courtesy of discoveries made by an amalgam of outpost and Omnian individuals.

  To complicate matters, the consortium members were the greatest supporters of Outpost One: Resistance. The outpost was crucial in the fight against the Colony, the insectoid race who threatened to overtake alliance space.

  Alex’s desire was to see peaceful races unite in common goals to maintain security and prosperity for their citizens. To do that, he needed their cooperation, and his vision of the future conclave would be the start of territorial cooperation.

  To be successful, Alex needed the alliance races to be represented. That would mean members from both the consortium and others of the Tsargit.

  “I’ve one question,” Alex said.

  “Only one?” Jastitock inquired, baring his sharp teeth.

  Alex chuckled and replied, “One important question. Does Tanistok want to go? It’ll be a long journey with multiple stops.”

  “It’s her idea, Alex,” Tockitak explained. “She’s adamant that she be exposed to human ways. She says that humans are the drivers of change, and she wishes to be knowledgeable in the manner in which you think and act.”

  “There is no greater agent of change than Alex,” Renée replied proudly, placing a hand on Alex’s arm.

  “Will you school her directly, Alex?” Jastitock asked.

  “I believe it would be important to expose Tanistok to many sources of opinions,” Alex replied. “A well-rounded education is best, don’t you think?”

  Alex was happy to see that he received affirmative nods. He couldn’t imagine having a young royal following him around every moment of every day. He received a short vid from Julien. Alex was chained at the ankle to Tanistok. Worse, everywhere the royal offspring wanted to go, Alex was forced to follow.

  Julien received Alex’s reply. In the new vid, the frame widened to include Julien. He walked on the opposite side
of Alex, chained to his friend’s other leg. Julien had to admit that perhaps Alex had a good point. Tanistok should receive an education from myriad individuals.

  “Is it agreed?” Jastitock inquired.

  “First, I would like to speak with Tanistok,” Alex replied.

  “Most appropriate,” Tockitak said, and she sent a message to Tanistok.

  Julien signaled the door for the royal offspring.

  “The great Alex Racine and his consort,” Tanistok declared as she entered, holding out her small hand in the tradition of Omnians.

  Reluctantly, Alex gently shook Tanistok’s hand.

  Then, without invitation, Tanistok sat next to Julien, eyeing him before she added, “Another worthy individual to meet.”

  Renée sent to her companions. Her mirth bubbled around her thought.

  Alex resumed his seat and ordered his thoughts. The coming annual represented the opportunity for many political challenges. The last thing he needed was a royal offspring irritating the world leaders the city-ship might be carrying. He regarded the royal couple and said, “I think it best to speak to Tanistok alone.”

  Tockitak’s hesitation was evident to everyone.

  Jastitock sent privately.

  Resuming the aura of the Jatouche monarch, Tockitak rose, nodded to the three Omnians, and left the suite. Jastitock and she suddenly found themselves in the company of the four military-uniformed officers they’d passed earlier.

  “How did you find your discussion with Tanistok?” Jastitock inquired of the Omnians.

  “We discovered she reminded us of someone,” Ellie replied.

  Tockitak perked up. “Who, Admiral?” she asked.

  “A pilot in my command, Lieutenant Nata,” Ellie offered with a smile.

  The royal couple appeared stricken.

  “Isn’t the lieutenant one of the clones?” Jastitock inquired.

  “Yes,” Ellie confirmed.

  “Aren’t the clones the ones they refer to as the wild ones?” Tockitak asked.