"Not a diplomat for sure," he chuckled, "While you have been attempting to hide your thoughts you have become transparent to me, Master Maulik, I sympathise with you, this was a task that you did not want, you are out of your depth and filled with confusion. It is too late to hide those thoughts now... tell Chancellor Go'an that we will be prepared to meet him, his proposal will be given fair consideration, I speak for the Senate." he added almost as an after thought.
"And who should I say has authorised this meeting," replied Maulik feeling weak minded and slightly violated.
Again the old Senator chuckled, "Tell him that Emperor Tanik extends a personal invitation."
"Emperor!" gasped Maulik.
"I believe that your work here is done, your full message is revealed at last, and you have my reply, Master Maulik, you are free to rejoin your very interesting ship and leave at your convenience. But you are free to return at any time you wish, I understand that your genetic data has now been stored and you can consider yourself a welcome guest."
"Thank you Emperor." he bowed low provoking another chuckle.
"You have been spending too much time with the Watu," he laughed, "That action fell out of use in our society many centuries ago, but I accept your mark of respect."
***
"So very true, I really wouldn't make a very good diplomat." stated Maulik as he was led back to the transport.
"You should relax," replied Ka'lan, "You ended up in a difficult spot and handled yourself well, not many can resist the mind of the Emperor, he is on a level far above the likes of us, but if I might ask, what does he find so interesting about your ship, our scans have revealed nothing exceptional?"
"Then I think you must wait until the Watu have arranged an official demonstration," he chuckled, "But I promise you, you will be in for a very big surprise."
***
"Well, we survived." joked Maulik as the landing computer released it's hold on Kressa.
"I am not so sure," she growled catching him by surprise, "I won't relax until we are out of Diurian space."
"You sensed some hostility?"
"Not hostile intent, or any real threat... but my instincts tell me that we should be very careful, I can't explain my feelings, but I really don't think we can trust them."
"For the first time I really think that you are over reacting." he replied.
"Maybe." she conceded, but couldn't dispel her growing unease, and with a sudden surge of power Kressa left their escort standing in her wake and burst out into open space.
"Now we are finished with the Chancellors mission, would you like to exercise your duty as a Scout," she teased, "While I was sat on the landing pad, and very bored, I accessed the Diurian central archives and borrowed their star charts."
"Borrowed?" questioned Maulik.
"I didn't steal anything classified," she giggled, "And if they want to leave their charts in open files for anyone to read, well that's their own problem, I was curious and decided to take a little peek."
"And?"
"Well it just so happens that not so very far from here is a developing planet that doesn't appear on any Watumian or Terrillian chart, according to the archives it is in a sector that is surrounded by asteroid fields and other such obstacles, but not too difficult for us to explore, just imagine Maulik, your first trip as a scout, an adventure, unknown space!"
"Then I will plot a course" she purred as his thoughts were revealed.
"And signal 7, tell Relik we will be delayed."
"I already did." she purred and with the famed agility of her breed she instantly altered course and accelerated into uncharted space.
***
"Are the results for his sample back?" asked Emperor Tanik.
"They are Sir," replied Ka'lan, "It is confirmed, his people would appear to be clear of the virus."
Tanik sighed, "Then it would appear there is only one option open to us."
"Agreed Sir." replied Ka'lan as he placed the results on the Emperors wide desk.
"Keep this quiet, we cannot act until after the Shadow threat has been eliminated, we can wait a little longer."
"Understood Sir," Ka'lan replied as he saluted smartly, "Eighteen months is not so long."
Tanik rubbed his decaying legs through the exoskeleton, of course he couldn't feel the massaging through the dense yet light alloy, but the movement was somehow comforting.
The virus had emerged many years before, carried by an off-world freighter, within days the entire population had been infected, the weak it had killed within hours, the strong lingered on the edge of death before slowly making a full recovery. Bio filters had successfully scoured the atmosphere until every last trace of the alien virus had been eradicated, but the action was too little, and far too late.
Scientists had attempted to arrest the damage caused, the virus may have been removed but it had sparked a genetic breakdown, the signs were slow to appear but once established the gland that controlled cell regeneration rapidly began to fail, in effect the Diurians began to gradually diminish as dead cells were not replaced. Drugs were created and tested, the results showed a slowing of degradation but not a cure, as the population weakened the alloy exoskeletons were developed, this gave back mobility, together, enhanced drugs and the light alloy suits had returned the Diurians back to an acceptable standard of existence, but the Emperor was aware that acceptable was not what his people wanted, they wanted health, full health without prosthetics, they wanted a cure.
It had been a military scientist who had first proposed transplantation, all eyes in the Senate had turned upon the radical, their minds screaming No, but their hearts yearning for release from the steady cycle of decay, his idea was shelved but the dream had lived on, reluctantly Tanik had given secret orders that research should proceed, but that no transplant would be attempted until much deeper study had taken place.
The scientist had ignored the order and with the assistance of mercenaries had obtained a hatchling from distant Terrillia. His procedure had been a complete success and presenting data disguised as computer projections rather than a live case study he offered the Senate a viable cure.
"I wish it could be different," he sighed as he dropped Maulik's results back onto the desk, they had tried replication and cloning, but the results always came back negative, their genetic make-up was too flawed for the procedures to be a success, it was transplants, or death.
"Such a pity the donor has to die." he thought as his heart ached over the decision he would shortly be forced to make. "For the benefit of all Diurians." he sighed before locking the information away in the most secure sector of his mind.
***
"How long now?" asked Maulik as he lounged in the relaxation area attempting to sleep, they had been travelling for six hours.
"Another four hours at least," Kressa replied, "I am having to slow down a little now, this space is littered and unpredictable." suddenly she rocked slightly, Maulik instantly recognised the discharge of her main energy weapons.
"Are we under attack?"
Kressa chuckled, "It was an asteroid drifting into our flight path, it uses less energy to destroy such objects than to plot a course around them, moments later Maulik saw a bright flash as the debris from Kressa's latest kill burned out on her raised shields as she tore ever forward through the dust cloud, all that was now left of the small planetoid.
"I hope you scan for life before you fire," he chuckled, "I'm joking." he added quickly as he felt the concern welling in her thoughts.
"Good, I'm relieved it was only a joke," she replied, "I only kill when we are threatened, it may look like I kill for fun, and I admit when I am aroused it is fun, but when I am relaxed and secure I respect all life, no matter how insignificant."
Once again Maulik remembered the old natural history documentary he had watched so many years before, the sleek blue feline had been lying relaxed in the vegetation as a herd of prey animals had milled around almost close enough to touch,
the cat had just fed and the urge to hunt had been low, the herd had sensed the reduced threat and grazed unconcerned. His Kressa displayed all of those signs, aroused and filled with the hunting urge she was vicious and uncontrollable, yet when calm and at rest she was docile and sensitive... of course she wouldn't kill for the enjoyment without stimulation.
"Did your "borrowed" data indicate the level classification of the life forms on our destination planet?"
"That data didn't exist," she confirmed, "The Diurians don't use the same classifications, all the data available indicates a developing world with low levels of colonisation evident, I would suspect L5 at the most advanced, but the chart was a little outdated, we will approach slowly with minimal shields."
"I'm going to attempt a short sleep, try not to get us into too much trouble," he laughed, "And wake me before we arrive."
***
Maulik wasn't sure how long he had slept before he was woken by Kressa's urgent calls.
"We have arrived," she called as he cleared the drowsiness and confusion from his mind, "But the Diurian data is not very accurate, come and look." quickly he hurried forward and dropped into his seat, the forward view port revealed an unexpected sight.
"It looks like a space station, so much for L5 life down there." Maulik stared in wonder at the slowly rotating hub, a vast central unit sprouted radial arms that stretched out into open space like the spokes of a primitive wheel, and to the outer end of each spoke was attached a smaller module with docking ports.
"A space station or a space port." replied Kressa, "It could even be a trading post, those ports are adjustable, my scans show that they can adapt for different classes of ship."
Maulik began to wonder just what type of explorer he was as an irrational fear entered his mind. "I don't have a good feeling about this place" he confided.
"I sense no hostility," came back the reply, "My stealth shields are fully functional, there is no known technology that can detect us, we are invisible and perfectly safe."
"So you think we should take a closer look?" Maulik drew comfort from Kressa's confidence and felt his flagging courage fortified, Kressa's response was a deep purring, he felt her anticipation and desire.
"You are the scout," she teased gently, "We can investigate if you wish."
"Take us lower... a low orbit of the planet, lets run some scans, get a feel for the place before we dive in feet first." the low hum of her reactor increased slightly as Kressa slid gently into the upper atmosphere and took up her station.
"Scanning," she announced, "Atmosphere: high levels of sulphur, carbon and nitrogen, low levels of oxygen and methane, you wouldn't want to breathe this," she joked, "There are strong thermal signatures coming from the surface."
"If you think it's safe, take us lower, let’s have a look." Maulik was beginning to feel the true spirit of exploration stir in his heart.
"Strong gravitational pull," replied Kressa as they descended through the lower atmosphere and emerged into a zone obscured, "This is smoke," she clarified, "I will try to filter it out of the view screen."
"What emerged from the gloom as Kressa made allowances for the pollution almost stopped Maulik's heart.
"Are those factories?"
"I believe so," she replied and edged closer, "Although nothing in my database comes close to the scale."
Below them as far as the eye could see were industrial areas belching out thick acrid smoke, Kressa ran her scans again and paused before relaying the data.
"That explains the gravity," she announced, "This planet has a very iron rich core, many of these units are smelting and processing the raw metal... the remainder, well Maulik, this planet is one vast shipyard."
"Can you get us closer undetected?" Kressa didn't reply, she simply slipped lower until they were hovering above a mighty battle cruiser under construction,""That is one big ship," he exclaimed in wonder, "It makes 7 look like a toy."
A light flashed on the console to his left.
"That's not good," exclaimed Kressa, there was an urgency in her voice that startled Maulik, she appeared worried, it was a sensation he had never experienced from her before, "I think we may have tripped some kind of security sensor grid, hang on Maulik... incoming!"
Kressa jinked sideways as a missile roared past, its exhaust port flashing as it began to circle searching for another lock.
"I thought we were invisible?" he cried as Kressa fired a pulse detonating the sleek projectile as it began its wide turn.
"We are," she growled, "But they can obviously see us... multiple incoming, time to get us out of here." Maulik glanced out of the side view port just in time to see dozens of missiles streaking towards them before Kressa shot out into open space, "We appear to have stirred up trouble for ourselves," she chuckled, now she was out in the open again the doubt had left her mind and her natural instincts were wake and aware, "The missiles are simple heat seeking," she announced, "No other guidance or intelligence."
"OK," replied Maulik, "But what about those, those aren't heat seekers, those are star-fighters."
A steady stream of small dart-like ships were pouring out of the space port and vectoring towards their position.
"How are they detecting us?" the question was not directed at Maulik, Kressa was exercising her growing feelings of independence and speaking to herself.
"Kressa, why are we still here?" Maulik cried in alarm as multiple weapons locks registered.
"You are safe," she growled, "I need a few moments more." Maulik's anxiety rose as he counted at least thirty darts streaking towards them with a steady stream still leaving the port, the small siren screamed as more and more locks were established.
"In your own time," he added nervously, "Any time you’re ready," his thoughts becoming shrill, "Kressa?" he cried as missiles fired their thrusters as they broke away from the lead fighters, an impact countdown began, not Kressa's voice, a computer, cold and dispassionate... "3... 2...," before the countdown could complete Kressa leapt away crushing Maulik back into his seat as the missiles streaked through her ion wake.
"Kressa, that was too close."
"We were in no danger," she purred, "But the delay was worth it, I managed to access and download their central computer."
"I hope it was worth it, my nerves are tattered." gasped Maulik as he attempted to control his racing heart.
"It certainly was," she replied, "I know everything about them now, and this information is going to turn a few heads when we get back home."
Maulik was about to reply but found himself stunned into silence as Kressa jolted as if she had been shunted from behind, seconds later a bright flash erupted by the left view port and he felt her shudder.
"Three of them, directly behind," Maulik didn't need her mental warning, he gripped his seat tightly and held his breath, on pure instinct Kressa banked hard before slotting in behind the far less manoeuvrable lead ship.
"That's for firing a missile up my rear," she growled as a high energy pulse sent the sleek dart and its pilot to oblivion in a vivid flash of blue flame, another missile exploded just in front of her nose but her shields absorbed the energy and heat as she flashed through. The pilots were experienced and battle hardened.
"This is more of a challenge," she cried as she tore after the ship that had fired on her last, it went through a series of complicated evasive manoeuvres but Kressa's instincts and reactions were too fast for the more clumsy star-fighter.
"He's quite good," she purred as she released another pulse that disabled the smaller crafts reactors. Leaving her foe floating helpless she turned on the surviving craft expecting to give chase... except he wasn't running.
The remaining ship hung in the blackness of deep space and waited, her sensors told her his weapons were hot but not locked, for a second she paused.
"What's he waiting for?" she questioned, before suddenly Maulik had a flash of inspiration.
"Kressa... get us out of here, he's stalling, he's sacrificing h
imself to hold us here just a few moments longer." instantly she ran a long range scan but detected nothing.
"I don't understand, why, there are no reinforcements close?"
"Trust me Kressa... run." he begged, but too late.
Cloaking shields shimmered in a ring as heavy battle cruisers materialised and Kressa's console screamed with multiple weapons locks.
"I should have listened to you," she whispered, "I'm sorry Maulik."
"Be quiet," he laughed, no mirth, but a small sound of resignation, "It's my fault for wanting to get closer, I should have just filed a report and not let my curiosity get us into this mess."
"Incoming communication," she declared just as Maulik felt his translation implant begin to hum softly.
"You are charged with espionage, how do you plead?" the voice was distorted and strangely mechanical.
"I'm not a spy," replied Maulik quickly, "I'm an explorer, I stumbled upon your planet by accident."
"Then why did you violate our central archives?"
"Oops," whispered Kressa.
"I am sorry, I was just running a routine scan" Maulik lied, "I meant no harm."
"They are charging weapons," declared Kressa, "If this doesn't work, them I'm sorry, and it has been a pleasure to know you Master Maulik." before he could even process her heartfelt apology Maulik was crushed by inertia as Kressa pushed her systems and reactor past critical and jumped into FTL, the shock wave created by the volley of pulse cannons that had simultaneously fired was drawn behind them buffeting Kressa causing her to roar under the strain, gradually the energy dissipated and she eased down until her internal sensors dropped back below critical.
"Maulik." she cried in alarm as she read his neural output, the massive force of the jump had rendered him unconscious instantly, quickly she scanned again for damage, he was intact, with a sigh of relief she increased the methane density, feeding his brain and extended her scans.
"No sign of pursuit." she reassured herself and returned her thoughts to her friend. "He is my friend," she assured herself, "He doesn't treat me like a machine like the Watu, he cares about me." she sensed him stir as the pure methane seeped through his skin and fed his starved brain.
"Are we alive?" he asked as his confusion began to clear.
"Yes, we are alive." she replied, he sensed a hint of concern in her voice.