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  “Two hundred to two hundred fifty troops, with their shadows, for each world,” Jess replied. “Anything less and they’d be wasting their time.”

  “You’d maintain a ten-to-one ratio in shadows?” Tatia asked.

  “Yes, it’s a necessary number to deliver an effective grid search,” Jess replied.

  “A minimum of two hundred troops and two thousand shadows for a location,” Tatia remarked. “It would take an entire command to move that number, which means you would need our entire combined fleet to move your troops and shadows.”

  “Precisely,” Alex said. “We’ve one significant transport, the Freedom, when it comes to moving this number of troops and shadows. The Rêveur will function as the liner it was always intended to be.”

  “Then what’s the function of our commands?” Reiko asked.

  “For the near future, an unorthodox one,” Alex replied. “A station needs to be built at Pyre. Aboard our Omnian Tridents are skilled engineers and techs, and the officers will make fine administrators. We’ll keep the Earther commands with the Freedom. Until the carriers arrive from Sol, we’ve only the city-ship to support combating the Colony.”

  “And the freighters?” a captain asked.

  “Our freighters can transport more material faster in system than any alliance vessel,” Alex replied. “Many offers of assistance include finished metals and purified gases. The freighters will be directed to visit those systems and collect the contributions.” He turned to Tatia and added, “Any noncombatant ship leaving the Pyrean system is to be accompanied.”

  Tatia got the message, and she nodded.

  “Is the station’s plan ready?” Franz asked.

  “Yes,” Mickey replied. “Most of my engineering teams, including Miriam, Luther, Edmas, and Jodlyne, will be joining me aboard the Rêveur and making for Pyre.”

  “What about Pim robotics?” Renée inquired.

  “Those Omnians remaining on Pimbor will support the Crocians in setting up the production lines and fulfilling the contracts,” Mickey replied. “In time, the Pims will be able to continue without support from Omnians. Oforum has already received offers from skilled alliance members who are seeking to work with the Pims and the Crocians. Many are offering to work for the first annual for free.”

  “Well, our travelers can be put to good use,” Franz suggested. “They can serve as passenger shuttles and material transport from the Pyrean dome to the orbital station.”

  “Those are our first steps,” Mickey said. “We need to build out bays in two locations. The first one will be on Triton, and it will connect to the blast door of a launch tube or a dome tunnel.”

  “That first choice could cut down access to the Jatouche medical station,” Aputi interrupted. “Our dome only has two shuttle tubes.” When he saw Franz’s grin, he said, “Oh, I get it, the travelers can deliver passengers anywhere ... stations or planet.”

  Mickey smiled at Aputi’s widening eyes. The Pyrean had just caught on to the concept that every alliance race would probably follow the example of Triton to reengineer their shuttle tubes or tunnels to connect to bays housing travelers. Just as important, they’d probably use grav technology to lift passengers and goods between the surface and the lower levels.

  “The other bay location will be at the site of the station,” Mickey continued. “The first ring will be nothing but landing bays.”

  “What happens when the shell carriers arrive?” Tatia asked.

  “By then, the station should be well underway,” Alex replied. “We’ve commitments for personnel and supplies from many worlds. With the Sol carriers and this ship, we’ll have five troop-shadow transports. Trident squadrons will provide overwatch and clear any surprises the Colony devises.”

  “How long do you expect our action in alliance space to take?” Deirdre asked.

  “To be blunt, we’re starting this project, but we won’t be finishing it,” Alex replied.

  “The alliance races, with the help of Earth, will be responsible for seeing an end to the Colony,” Jess said with determination.

  16: Barks and Yips

  Queen Homsaff and her warriors finished another long day of hunting. They trudged down the center of the empty roadway, crossing the western bridge that led to the Quall urban center.

  The river flowed sluggishly on either side of the center before it merged. The rains had ceased soon after the Dischnya arrived, and the area entered a dry period. Behind the center rose the steep escarpment.

  Jess had chosen this site for the Packeoes because of its natural barriers, making it easily defensible.

  Homsaff regarded her squads. They surrounded a large group of Packeoes, who daily accompanied them on the hunt.

  What had begun as an opportunity for the Dischnya warriors to fight and prove their skills had turned into an exhausting war. Worse, they weren’t winning the fight.

  The realization struck Homsaff long ago that it had never been about fighting for its sake. It was always about being part of Omnia Ships that the warriors and she had enjoyed.

  Homsaff contented herself that one day Omnian ships would arrive overhead, and they’d join forces again.

  As the group reached the bridge, the Norsitchian brassards could be seen crossing the eastern bridge over the second tributary. Each brassard hunted separately with their Packeoes.

  It was often the case that the Dischnya and the Norsitchians returned to the urban center at the same time of day. The lengthening shadows were their cue to end the hunt, which they’d learned from Jess.

  Gregich eyed the queen. He knew his citizens were a disappointment to her. They’d been trained as battleship crews, and they were unsuited to become face-to-face hunters of the aggressive and deadly insectoids.

  The only individuals even partially adopting the warriors’ methods of fighting were the fleet’s close-in gunners. They possessed the right mentality and better utilized the Loopah weapons.

  Then there was Stasnich.

  Gregich hadn’t found it within himself to heed Commander Daminich’s final instructions to throw Leader Stasnich out an airlock if the commander didn’t return.

  During the demonstration of the Packeo energy weapon, Stasnich had aptly demonstrated his cowardice.

  Gregich thought Stasnich’s unwillingness to defend his own citizens would be the end of the ex-leader’s domination. He was wrong about that. Despite Stasnich’s lack of moral fitness to lead, there were individuals willing to support him.

  The ex-leader’s support began with two fleet captains, who’d been his closest allies. In turn, the captains encouraged a few junior officers and some crew members to join them. Stasnich’s loyalists were only a small portion of the fleet’s stranded numbers, but they were a hindrance to the unity Gregich envisioned for their new world.

  Without knowing it, Gregich was thinking the same thought as Homsaff. He yearned for the Omnians’ return.

  As each group crossed their bridge, the temporary barriers were set in place to prevent the adult reds and grays from crossing.

  After hearty meals provided by the Omnian food dispensers, Homsaff and her squad leaders joined Commander Menous and his brassard leaders. It had become their habit to meet and discuss the day’s encounters and strategize.

  Unfortunately, the sessions had turned into opportunities to complain about the general lack of success, which stemmed from the need of the veterans to protect the Packeoes, who lacked the necessary proficiencies.

  At one time, Simlan nicely summed up the Dischnya attitude. The aging warrior said, “To the Packeoes’ credit, they’ve severely wounded a good many boulders and trees.”

  The following morning, Dischnya, Norsitchians, and Packeoes woke to find travelers lining the roadways that approached their urban center.

  Sylian troops waited beside their shadows, while Jess, Tacnock, and Aputi headed for the Dischnya quarters.

  Homsaff sent via the traveler on overwatch when she’d identi
fied who had landed.

  Jess took Homsaff’s eager preference to meet him as an indication of the situation. An hour’s consultation between the Dischnya and the veterans confirmed the worst of it. The progress on Quall had been dismal.

  “Is it even worth it to involve the Packeoes in the hunt?” Tacnock asked.

  “Some of them, yes; most of them, no,” Hessan opined.

  “If they don’t participate in taking Quall away from the Colony, how will they ever form a cohesive society?” Simlan inquired.

  “Maybe our mistake has been in overprotecting the Packeoes,” Homsaff offered, which brought the conversation up short.

  “What are you suggesting, Homsaff?” Jess asked.

  “How many troops did you bring?” the queen asked.

  “Nine hundred Sylian, but about seventy are still on the injured list,” Jess replied. “They’re field-trained, capable with their implants, and hunt as individuals with ten shadows.”

  “So, Alex relents,” Hessan chortled.

  “More likely, Renée and Tatia prevailed,” Simlan retorted.

  “My thought was this, Captain,” Homsaff said. “When the Sylians hunt, three Packeoes should accompany each trooper. Then the Packeoes will either learn to fight for their planet or they won’t. Those who do survive will have pride in their efforts.”

  “I need to think about this,” Jess replied.

  Homsaff understood that remark to be code for Jess’s desire to speak with Alex and Renée.

  “There’s one more problem,” Homsaff said. “Stasnich has formed a small nest. He seeks to undermine Gregich’s order.”

  “How is it Stasnich hasn’t gotten himself killed by a red or gray by now?” Aputi asked incredulously. “He was as likely to blunder into a pair of pincers as break his neck running away.”

  “Simple,” Simlan replied. “Stasnich and those who follow him don’t join the hunt.”

  “That’s going to stop,” Jess said with determination. “Is it worthwhile reviewing your progress?”

  “No,” Homsaff lamented. “The insectoids have inundated any area that we managed to clear.”

  “I think it might be a matter of food, Captain,” Simlan commented. “The Colony population is so great that the adults and the juveniles compete with each other for prey. If this planet isn’t saved soon, its fauna might be devastated beyond a point of restoration.”

  “Understood,” Jess said. “Queen Homsaff, I advise you to rest your warriors. I’ll inform Gregich that, until further notice, there won’t be any more hunts.”

  “Tacnock, Aputi, draw up a grid system with Lane,” Jess directed. “Focus your efforts on the western side of the river and put the Sylians to work.”

  “What will you be doing?” Tacnock asked.

  “Finding Gregich,” Jess replied. “He and I need to talk.”

  Jess located Gregich and informed him the hunt was called off for the day. In turn, Gregich passed the word to the captains. Then Jess and Gregich boarded a traveler, and they lifted for the Freedom.

  The pair held an impromptu conference with Alex, Renée, and Julien.

  “Two problems,” Jess said, after everyone was seated. “The smaller issue I can handle. Stasnich has formed a cabal, and his group is refusing to join the hunt.”

  “And the other,” Alex prompted.

  “A significant one,” Jess replied.

  “The captain is being kind,” Gregich interrupted. “In general, my citizens make miserable hunters. We’ve never faced anything like these deadly insectoids on our planet. When we encountered other races, we did so behind the thick hulls of powerful battleships. As a result, my crews lack the proper attitude and skills. The Dischnya warriors and the Norsitchians troops waste precious time protecting us and preventing our deaths.”

  “What are your options, Gregich?” Alex asked.

  “Homsaff and Menous have been accommodating,” Gregich replied. “They have tried many configurations to induce my crew members to forcefully engage the enemy, but the failure to succeed is ours and not theirs.”

  “That’s not offering us options?” Alex pointed out.

  “Queen Homsaff has one, Alex, but it’s severe,” Jess said. “She suggested we deploy the Sylian and Dischnya teams with shadows, adding about three Packeoes to each team.”

  “How does that fix the problem?” Renée asked.

  “Unless the shadows are programmed to protect the Packeoes, which I don’t think is part of the queen’s thoughts, a single Sylian or Dischnya won’t be able to manage the hunt and protect their Packeoes,” Julien replied. “It will be inevitable that Packeoes who are ineffective in the field will pay the ultimate price.”

  “A fatal injury,” Renée said, seeking clarity.

  “Yes,” Jess replied. “That’s the queen’s proposal.”

  “The alternative would be to clear Quall without the Packeoes’ help, which would be more efficient, and then we hand the planet over to them,” Julien offered.

  “Simlan thought that if the Packeoes didn’t participate in the hunt, they wouldn’t value their world,” Jess pointed out. “In which case, we might be setting them up for failure, and they’d never be considered worthy of joining the alliance.”

  Gregich had ducked his head, silently sucking his teeth, when he heard the queen’s proposal. Now, he quietly said, “I think Queen Homsaff is right. Unless my crew members are placed in a position where they must participate, they’ll be content to rely on the protective natures of the veterans.”

  “We can’t force them to hunt with the veterans,” Renée objected.

  “What’s the alternative? Abandon them?” Jess asked, raising his hands in resignation. “That would mean simply exiting the planet or working from a different city center. In either case, the Packeoes would be left to defend themselves.”

  “Harsh choices,” Alex commented.

  “Gregich, do you have a solution to this dilemma?” Alex asked.

  “No, I don’t, Alex. This is the quandary presented by the nature of my race,” Gregich replied. “Your question presumes I can decide the issue. I can’t. We no longer practice a chain of command. My role and that of most of the captains are to operate as conduits for announcements.”

  “In other words, it’s every Packeo for himself or herself?” Renée asked.

  “Except for Stasnich’s group, that’s correct,” Gregich replied.

  “Might I propose we combine the suggestions that have been discussed,” Julien said. “Captain, can you locate another defensible urban center?”

  “That won’t be necessary, Julien,” Jess replied. “We’ve the forces to protect any Quall city.”

  “To put my idea into practice, Captain, you would locate another site and clear it,” Julien continued. “Then Gregich announces to his fleet’s members that all hunting activities will be directed from this second center.”

  “That will force my crews to make choices,” Gregich said thoughtfully. “Either they want to participate in the hunt, or they wish to remain where they live now. I would add to that concept, Julien. Captain Cinders should remove protection from the first site.”

  “Would you suggest, Gregich, that we incorporate Queen Homsaff’s suggestion of three Packeoes per hunting team?” Jess asked.

  “Yes, it would be a condition of choosing to move to the new site,” Gregich replied. “My citizens must know the risks inherent in their relocation.”

  “Does it matter how many choose to move versus stay?” Renée asked. She watched the males regard one another, searching for answers. “I guess not,” she said.

  “I do have one important concern,” Gregich said. “Our gene pool is small, and we already have pregnancies among the crews.”

  “One moment, Gregich,” Jess said. “Julien, would you link us to Tacnock?”

  Tacnock enthused.

  gene pool,> Jess sent.

  Tacnock sent.

  Jess supplied.

  Alex sent.

  Tacnock sent quickly.

  Alex sent and ended the conference link.

  “We’ll see about getting help for your young, Gregich,” Alex said.

  “Once again, I thank all of you,” Gregich said humbly. “It’s embarrassing to always be requesting favors.”

  “Well, Sers, I wish you good fortune planetside,” Alex said, rising. “You’ve got your work cut out for you. We’re here if you need us.”

  “It’ll take a few days to make the arrangements at the new site and initiate the move,” Jess said. “Then it’ll be another five or six days to put the new teams to work. After that, I’ll be ready to survey lost dome number five.”

  “Understood, Jess,” Alex said, clasping a strong hand on the Pyrean’s shoulder.

  Gregich regarded the others. “Who knows?” he said. “Maybe you’ll return Quall to the alliance when we fail to measure up to the task.”

  * * * * *

  Despite a thorough search of the planet’s surface, the veterans didn’t locate an alternate site as defensible as the first location.

  Jess settled for an urban center that backed against a lake. He liked the location for the wide-open approach that was marked by three broad roadways. The spaces between the lines of transports were covered with low grass.

  In short, the shadows on sentry duty after the star set could easily detect the approach of insectoids.

  The veterans believed that, at one time, it must have been an important Quall city. Certainly, the tremendous number of vehicles choking the thoroughfares and the amount of Quall bones spoke to its activity level.