Chapter 4

He was dead tired, but he was just too nervous, too worried to sleep.

Jason paced in the room where Cybi's mainframe was located. This was the most hardened, most heavily defended building on all of Karis, and this was where Jason would be stationed during the battle. From here, through communion with Cybi, Jason would observe the battle, able to see everything via the innumerable cameras and sensors scattered around the planet and in various orbits. If anything looked out of place, which he could identify thanks to the tactical naval combat knowledge imparted to him by the Kimdori, he'd warn the general staff. He would also play his own part in the battle, for he had unique abilities that would allow him to directly contribute in a way the Urumi could not defend against.

The KMS was on standby right now, with only about 25% of the personnel on active duty. Everyone else was off duty but still on alert, letting everyone get some sleep and some rest before the battle. The hyperspace beacons close to Karis had detected the incoming fleet, and now that they were closer, they had a more precise timeline for their arrival. They'd exit hyperspace in–Jason looked at his watch for the third time in ten minutes–exactly 17 hours and 37 minutes, if they exited where Navii predicted they would. If they entered normal space further out, then it would be shorter, but Navii had predicted that they would come out of hyperspace as absolutely close to Karis as was possible to minimize any attempt to intercept them on the way to the planet, and that was the reference point that Myleena used to calculate how much time they had.

But, since they didn't know exactly where that was, what Juma had done was deploy the fleet in an arc along that line facing the physical direction of Urumi territory, with just a few ships stationed at the far side of the planet in relation to the Urumi's course. It was certainly possible for them to jump in on the far side of the planet from Urumi territory, but Kosigi would be on that side of the planet along its orbital track. That would take Kosigi and its armory of weapons out of the battle, but what it did do was put Kosigi in a position to cover the far side of the planet should they do that. Kosigi's weapons could bombard the surface of the planet from its orbital track if it was necessary, so no matter where the Urumi appeared behind the planet, if they did do that, they would be in range of the surface-mounted weapons on the artificial moon. Kosigi would give the Urumi one hell of a surprise, and make them scramble around in confusion until the fleet could get there.

That was the shock they'd get after the mines hit them. The arc of closest entry into normal space from the planet was seeded with mines, as was the approach to the planet. They only had about two thousand of them, but those mines were actually more like missles, and they would lock on to any hostile ship, then explode just outside their shields. The mines weren't conventional explosives, they were torsion mines, and those explosions would create a spatial shockwave that shields and armor could not stop, which would deal spatial damage to the ships.

Cybi had an image manifested, and it floated alongside him as he paced back and forth. The last five days had been busy, on more than one front. The first matter that had taken up his time had been the virus they'd put in Rahne. It had taken Grevix a while to manage to make it activate, longer than he thought, and what they discovered from that didn't surprise Jason too much. Rahne was definitely meant to be an assassin, but it wasn't the Empress she was sent to kill.

Her target was Kellin.

That made just about everyone's eyebrow raise. It would be much more useful to the Urumi to kill the Empress… and if she could get close enough to kill Kellin, then she was close enough to kill Dahnai. Killing Kellin might unhinge Dahnai, but it wouldn't do much else, and upsetting the Empress wouldn't really do much from a military point of view, since the Empress didn't command the military. That's what her command staff did. It really just didn't make much sense. The only reason Jason could think of was that it was personal somehow, but that wasn't Maeri's style. Maeri was a cold, unemotional woman that didn't let her grudges get in the way of her ambition. She wouldn't throw away a perfect opportunity to kill Dahnai just to kill her husband.

The means by which Rahne was to kill Kellin was also surprising. The Urumi had trained Rahne, not the Trillanes, and that training revolved around her telekinetic powers. Rahne was trained to kill with her telekinesis, stopping the heart. That training had been excised out of her by Cybi when she came across it during the girl's education, but in something of a grim twist, Cybi taught him how to do it, so he had a powerful defense if he ever came under personal attack. It wasn't easy, that was for sure. Telekinesis was very visually keyed. If he couldn't see what he was trying to move, it was much harder to move it. So, trying to affect someone's heart was extremely difficult. The trick of it, he'd learned from Cybi, was knowing it was there. That was a very critical distinction, one that required him to memorize detailed anatomical holograms to come to intimately know the layout of a human or Faey's upper body. Using that memorized knowledge of the layout of the internal structure of a human or Faey, Jason could attack the organs within without being able to actively see them.

It was a use of telekinesis that Jason had never considered, but it was utterly undetectable. To kill with telepathy left telltale traces in the mind of the victim, damage to the brain. Even taking control of someone and making them jump off something or drown themselves and such also left a trace behind that could be detected in medical scans. But to kill with telekinetic power left no trace behind. Rahne had been trained to be the ultimate assassin.

His people. That was one of the conditions demanded by Dahnai when she met with Maeri. All his people Trillane abducted were on Arctus now, all of them, and one of the conditions by which Maeri could return to the Imperium without losing her house was she had to give them back. When this was over, he'd recover all the people they'd taken. It was going to take a long time to remove the Trillane conditioning from that many, but it would be worth it. Those humans would help Trillane defend Arctus in the coming battle, what they were trained to do, but after that they would go home.

That was just one of the conditions. Maeri would be recovering from this for years, because Dahnai was pissed at her, and Maeri really had no choice. She had thrown her lot in with the Urumi, but their duplicity gave her nowhere to go but crawl back to Dahnai and beg to be let back into the Imperium. If the Trillanes were thrown out, they'd be conquered by some other government… maybe even the Urumi themselves, since the Urumi had done nothing but try to use them to conquer the entire Imperium. It was no stretch to think that the Urumi would backstab the Trillanes and attack them after they had control of Faey planets, or perhaps use political pressure and threats to force them to join the Collective once the Imperium was conquered. Maeri would be paying some pretty hefty fines, and had probably lost any allies she had in the Siann, which basically sealed Trillane's fate in a political sense. Trillane was scorned and despised now, without allies, without friends, and their political clout in the Imperium was dead. They were a Highborn house, but if Trillane ever sat on the Imperial throne, it would be a miracle.

It wasn't about breaking away, oh no. The other Highborns could admire Maeri for her boldness to try to forge her own empire. It was about allying with the Urumi and then putting the Imperium in this mess, where they now faced a fleet with superior weapons that, if the Imperium defeated them, would severely cripple the Imperial fleet. The Faey had a five to one advantage over the Urumi, but the Urumi had weapons that would make that basically an even fight. When planetary defenses were added in, the Faey had an advantage, but the battles would weaken the Faey navy.

The fucking Alliance and Skaa. They refused to help. They'd done the math too, they realized the Imperium could beat back the Urumi, but at a cost of most of their fleet, which would leave the Imperium in a vulnerable position… which might very well be what this entire attack was about, as far as he was concerned. The Urumi had to know they were at a disadvantage as well, but they were coming anyway, and that led Jason to believe that there were more dealings going on than they could see, or the Kimdori had discovered.

But the battle wasn't fought yet. The Urumi, like every other race around, were vulnerable to talent. The Imperium and the Karinnes both utilized a rather effective tactic when fighting non-telepathic races, and that was to put highly trained telepaths in fighters. Naval ships didn't get close enough for the Faey to attack with talent, but fighters could. Those mindstrikers, escorted by other fighters, would try to get close enough to enemy ships to attack the crew with talent. Given the right combination of tactics and luck, a single telepath could cripple enemy battle plans by disrupting ship operations of the right ship at the right time. It was a battle-tested tactic that was very effective, and that was the main reason why most other governments maintained large fighter complements and anti-fighter weaponry, to prevent a telapath from getting close enough to disrupt things.

That was also why the Faey always had the most cutting-edge fighters, in an era of massive ships and large-scale naval combat. It was also why the the Trillanes hadn't used fighters against Jason when they attacked Terra… because it would have been a moot point. The only reason other governments employed fighters was because of the Faey, to try to destroy telepaths before they could get close enough to do any major damage. A Faey telepath could attack a single pilot in a fighter and not do much in terms of the overall battle, but that same telepath attacking the captain, helmsman, or gunners of an enemy battleship could. Fighters weren't very effective against naval vessels except in the Imperium, because of the plasma weaponry they employed. So other governments had a vested interest in stopping Faey fighters, both because of the telepaths and because the weapons on the fighters were shield-piercing and could do damage to naval vessels.

Armed combat with the Faey was much more than just shooting at each other, for the greatest weapon the Faey possessed wasn't technology, it was telepathy.

He too was going to use that tactic, but Jason himself was a weapon, and he would be used as one. When in communion with Cybi, he had the ability to use the biogenic relays all around the planet, and that gave his telepathy a massive range. When the time came, if the Urumi broke the planned line of defense and approached the planet itself, Jason would be striking at the Urumi with his own talent, and doing it from behind the safety of a planetary shield. It wouldn't be quite the same, since he could only really use communion effectively through the relays, but if he really focused, he could do what Yana did when they rescued the Legion, blast noise through the Urumi that would make it hard for them to think, like bullhorns going off inside their heads. Now that would be within his capability, since it was a very simple trick. The main difference is that Jason would have his power boosted by Cybi, so that would let him reach far out from the planet to do it.

Jason paced in circle around the primary core of the round chamber, his earth shoes making very little sound, hands behind his back as he worried, and worried, and worried some more. The lives of his people were at risk, and some of them were going to die tomorrow. That pained him. He was personally involved in the lives of many of his military people. He attended every graduation ceremony. He attended every promotion ceremony. He had attended every christening and flag transfer ceremony of his ships except for one, and that was the Steadfast, and only because he was on Draconis at the time because of the Urumi mess. He attended marriages, childbirths, and the initiation ceremonies of Trelle for every child. He knew most of the officers in the KMS personally. He was intimately involved with his people, and knowing that some of them were going to die for him was both very humbling and very painful.

No. He couldn't let that lie.

He stopped. "Cybi," he said aloud.

[Yes, Jason?]

"Have them ready my dropship. I'm going out."

[Where are you going?]

[I'm going to the Steadfast. I didn't attend its christening. I need to talk to Jeya.]

[I will make arrangements.]

Twenty minutes later, a quiet, grim Jason Karinne was on a dropship with his four guards, escorted by four Raptors, en route to the newest destroyer. The ship, being the newest destroyer off the line, was attached to the Aegis escort task force, one of the skirmish ships that both supported and protected the behemoth. Jason was quiet, and his guards were also silent, in full armor, helmets on, and their pulse weapons armed and ready. Aya was unhappy that he wasn't in armor, but he didn't want to waste the time to put it on. As usual when it was Jason, he flew the dropship himself, with Aya in the copilot's chair and Shen, Suri, and Ryn in passenger seats behind. Because of the upcoming battle, fighters were thick in space around the ships, flying patrols, and they would come up along and escort his flight of ships through their patrol areas and then hand him off to the next patrol.

He arrived in the landing bay some ten minutes after taking off, landing lightly near a throng of about fifty uniformed crewmen. Unlike any other Faey military, both men and women served on naval vessels in combat roles, and there were more than just Faey. Nearly 35% of the KMS was human, both male and female, and his military had integrated with their non-telepathic elements very well. So when he opened the hatch of his dropship and stepped down to their coordinated salute, he saw Faey women and both male and female humans staring back at him, saluting him. Jeya and her command staff of nine officers, one of them a human male, stepped up and saluted him sharply.

"Permission to come aboard?" Jason asked in the ages-old naval ritual.

"Granted, your Grace," Jeya smiled. She was a Lieutenant Commander now, promoted when she was given command, and she looked quite smashing in her Captain's uniform and her shocking pink hair. Nobody in that landing bay was wearing a Class A; Jason's visit was too abrupt. They were wearing their daily duty uniforms, which was Crusader armor for all humans–whose armor helped cover for their lack of ability to use an interface–and anyone in any job that might expose them to danger, and duty uniforms for bridge crew and support personnel, like cooks and such. When the time came for battle, though, every single member of his military would be in a Crusader armor system, even him. That gave every one of his people a personal suit of armor that might help them survive if their ship was damaged in combat. If you don't mind my asking, why the sudden visit?

I didn't get to attend your promotion ceremony and the christening, he sent apologetically. I didn't want to jinx your ship.

She gave him a light smile. "Well, would you like a tour, your Grace? I know this is the first time you've been aboard."

"Among other things," he told her.

Jeya took him on a tour of the ship, showing him every major section, from engineering to the galley, from the bridge to the entertainment center. He shook hands with the crew, received some kisses from both Faey and human women, and was even given a few cards, presents, and little trinkets, including a little stuffed bear to give to Rann. His guards carried the gifts, for he kept things like that out of respect for the givers, but he decided to keep the teddy bear himself, carrying it like a child in the crook of his arm. He was introduced to Jeya's command staff in a private briefing after the tour was over, then he went back to the bridge with Jeya and addressed the ship via intercom.

"This is Grand Duke Karinne," he began. "First off, I'd like to apologize for not being there for the ship's christening and the flag ceremony. I was on Draconis at the time, and things were rather messy and it was impossible for me to get away. Now, that being said, I'm here to make up for that. No ship in the KMS serves that I haven't personally toured, and now I've taken care of that little oversight. I'm sorry it took so long for me to get here, but I've been a little busy, and worried the last few days.

"I know you've been briefed on what's coming. The Urumi have weapons and shields that's going to turn this into a real battle, not the usual trouncing the KMS expects to dish out on everyone else because of our advantages. But, we still have an advantage, and we have a good command staff. I have every faith in my people to serve the house faithfully and well, and I believe that we'll prevail. All I can say to you is that I'm sorry it's come to this. I promised you when you signed on that I'd do everything I could to keep you from ever having to fight. I tried to prevent this and failed, and I can only hope you'll forgive me for it. But since we do have to fight, all I can ask is that you do your best, watch out for your shipmates, and let's all pray that we get through this together.

"Now, since I wasn't here for the christening ceremony, I'd like to kinda have a second one. It just doesn't feel right to not christen a ship, so let's kinda wing it here. First off, as you know, the first captain of a KMS ship is given the right to name that ship. This ship was designated Steadfast in drydock as its interim name, and since I wasn't here for the christening, for some reason Captain Jeya didn't exercise that option. But, I'm here now, so let's go ahead and get that done. After the battle, we'll give the captain the privilege I kinda robbed her of," he said with an apologetic smile at her. "So, Captain Jeya, what will it be?"

"It's bad luck to rename a ship after he's been christened," Jeya told him with a wink. "I think Steadfast is an excellent name. I'd rather not change it."

"Alright then. I officially declare that the KMS Steadfast is commissioned for active service, with Captain Jeya Denalle commanding. May he serve long and well," he said, patting the captain's chair.

The bridge crew applauded, and Jeya took his hands and kissed him on each cheek. "What are your orders, Captain?" Jason asked her with a smile.

"Let's see. Why don't we beat the shit out of the Urumi tomorrow, then have a party to celebrate our victory?"

Jason laughed. "Those sound like my kind of orders," he told her. "I knew we put a good captain in this chair."

"You're not done yet, your Grace," she teased. "Sit."

He did so, sitting in the captain's chair, then he stood up and offered it to her. She sat down in it, leaned back, and crossed her legs. "Alright, now that the Grand Duke's ass has warmed this chair, it feels right," she said as she wiggled her bottom in the chair, which made Jason laugh delightedly.

"I'm not sure how warm it got since I wasn't in it very long, Jeya," he teased.

"It's the principle of the matter, your Grace," she said primly, which made him laugh again.

Aya gave him a stern look. She did not like him out of a hardened facility, and she was making it clear she wanted him back at Kosiningi, where he was well protected and heavily guarded.

"Yes, mommy," he sighed as he looked at her. "My nursemaid wants me to go back to Kosiningi now," he told Jeya.

"She's right," Jeya said simply. "This isn't the time for you to be roaming around, your Grace. I do truly appreciate your thoughtfulness in coming to see us, but now that you've unjinxed my ship, it's time for you to get back to where you're safe," she said with a smile. "We all love you, and we'd be devastated if you got attacked, or hurt, just because you came to see us."

"That's nice to say, Jeya," he said as she stood up.

"It's the truth," she shrugged. "You're much more than a Grand Duke to us, your Grace. You care about us, and we care about you. That's why we're willing to fight for you. We believe in you."

Jason put a hand on Jeya's shoulder, leaned down, and kissed her fully on the lips. Jeya squeaked in surprise, then kissed him back, and not very chastely. "I believe in you too," he told her, though everyone on the whole ship heard him, because the intercom is still on. "You are what makes Karinne great. Not me, not our technology, not our history. If not for you, the wonderful people of this house, this house would be no better than any other. It's more of an honor than you'll ever know that you allow me to serve you by being your Grand Duke."

"We would follow you into hell, Jason Karinne," Jeya breathed, looking up into his eyes.

"Well, let's hope we don't really have to go there," he said with a grin, which made Jeya blink and recover herself. It seemed to him Jeya had something of a crush on him, going by that kiss.

Aya herded him back to the dropship, and he put them on a course back to the island. Aya was staring at him the whole time, and he kept glancing at her. "What?" he asked irritably.

That one would do more for you than follow you into hell, Aya sent naughtily.

I noticed, he sent dryly.

You've been tense for days now, Jason, she sent more familiarly. I think it's about time for you to go home and rest, she told him. There's nothing more you can do, and if you keep stewing on it, it's going to wear you down before we even start the battle. So when we get back, you're going to go home, get something to eat, and spend some time with your family.

I'll be alright, Aya.

I wasn't making a suggestion, your Grace, she sent formally. I was telling you what's going to happen. You can fight with us about it all you want, that's fine. But in the end, you will do as we say, because you know we're right, and we're only looking out for you.

Don't start pulling rank on me, Aya, Jason sent with a little amusement.

We were charged with the defense and well being of the entire family of a future husband of an Imperial Princess, Aya told him flatly. That includes your health, your Grace, and you're not doing your health any good by brooding and not getting any sleep. They're going to need you at your best tomorrow. Don't let the house down, Jason.

Jason knew a dirty blow when he saw it, and that was dirty, he trying to attack him through his loyalty to the house. I take it you're going to insist?

Yes.

And here I thought I was the Grand Duke around here, he sent ruefully.

Sometimes even the Grand Duke needs people to tell him he's pushing himself too hard, Ryn sent seriously. That is one of the reasons we're here.

You guys are as bad as Meya and Myra, he sent sourly.

We'll be sure to tell them you said that when they get back from the nebula, Shen teased lightly.

The nebula. Meya, Myra, and 14 others were at Nebula GF1848, aboard the Scimitar, which had been restored to being a true scout ship and was now trying to retrace its course, to try to find out what happened to the Karinnes who had been aboard it. Nobody really held any hope that they'd find any descendents, but they certainly had to try, they had to look for them. They'd only been gone for two weeks, and were due back in another two. They'd wanted to return after Cybi told them what was going on, but they were busy, and 16 more Karinnes and an unarmed scout ship weren't going to make much of a difference, so Jason told them to continue with their mission.

I miss those two, Jason sighed.

I'm sure they miss you too, Aya sent. But I'm sure Jyslin doesn't miss them.

Jason laughed. Jyslin didn't mind them. She knew they were just playing.

Jason, if you were my husband, I would have been angry.

You're possessive, Aya, Jason told her. Jyslin isn't. The games between the twins and Kumi go way back to when they were her bodyguards. I was just helping them score another point.

I certainly wish I could have gotten a copy of that viddy, Suri sent impishly.

The recorder wasn't actually recording, Jason told her. And Jyslin knew what we were doing. They asked her for permission before they set it up.

You mean there's no viddy? Suri sent in surprise, then she gave one of those silent laughs, a laugh with no voice, a wheezing sound. Kumi tore Karsa apart looking for something that didn't exist? Oh Trelle's garland, that's classic!

That was the idea, Jason sent lightly. The twins wanted to record it, but I didn't want a viddy of the Grand Duke Karinne having sex with a set of twins floating around on CivNet.

So, was it any good? Shen asked mischievously. Men have these fantasies about twins, you know.

We didn't actually have sex, Shen. It was fake. Kumi couldn't tell from the angle she could see when she walked in the room. All she could see was me on top of Myra. She couldn't tell we were faking it.

I'm very disappointed in those girls, Shen sent seriously. They get you naked and between their legs, and they didn't even try to get you inside them?

Meya and Myra have great discipline, Jason sent dryly. Besides, they've never asked, I've never asked. The three of us just don't seem inclined to take it there. They have their boyfriends, and I have my wife and Symone.

And Dahnai, Suri added.

And Dahnai, Jason agreed.

How long did it take Kumi to get over that? Ryn asked.

About six days. She didn't talk to the twins for almost a month. She accused them of stealing her idea, that was what she wanted to do as revenge for what I did to her.

Oh, I've never heard about that. What did you initially do?

It was long ago, when I first fled from New Orleans and into the nature preserve back on Earth, he related as they entered the atmosphere. Kumi demanded a nude picture of me as part of the payment for delivering some stuff to me, back when she was in Trillane. Well, I found out she showed it around to her friends, and that got me a little ticked. So, when Symone came to join us, we did basically what me and the twins did to her. When she delivered the stuff to us, we pretended to have sex right in front of her to get her horny, then we just stopped. At that time she didn't know I was a telepath, so what I was doing while me and Symone was pretending was leaving my thoughts unguarded, and thinking of the nastiest, kinkiest, dirtiest things I could think of. So, I get off Symone and I come up to her, like I was gonna have sex with her, then I just stop. Then we left. It was like a hammer on her.

All four of them erupted into silent laughter. Oh Trelle, you got her horny, then you just stop?

We just stopped dead, he nodded. She realized we were pretending, and she had a meltdown while we were leaving.

So that's what the whole business with you rebuffing her for those months after we first got here were about?

Yeah, he affirmed. I was still punishing her for showing that picture of me around. I did that to her for like two years, then I finally showed mercy on her. But after I gave in, she lost interest. After all, for her it was always about what me and Symone did to her, and she wanted to have sex with me just to make me carry through with all those things I was thinking at her when we did it to her. So, when the twins were getting her back for whatever it was Kumi did to them, it was like the sequel of what me and Symone did to her, but this time with the video equipment she always wanted to have when she finally got revenge on me. That was her thing, you see. She didn't just want sex, she wanted to record it. Well, she never got that recording, so it was like a tweak of her nose to see me and the twins and that viddy camera. She screamed for two days, Jason sent with a fond memory of that prank.

Oh Trelle, we never saw this side of you before! Aya sent with great enthusiasm, and a newfound respect.

Well, I try to act more, you know, Dukish, he told them. But every once in a while I have to let the inner spoiled brat out. The twins and Kumi let me act like a teenage asshole from time to time, and it keeps me happy. They keep me young. We're all good friends who are more than willing to do all sorts of things with each other, and to each other, to keep the jokes going.

This is a new side of you, your Grace, Aya sent with amusement.

Well, I have all these responsibilities now, he sent soberly. I love to play, but you know, sometimes I just don't have the time.

Well, if you ever need any partners in crime, just let us know, Shen told him. The Imperial Guards adore games like that. And I for one would be more than willing to lay naked under you so you can play a joke on someone.

Shen, that's not professional! Aya chided. Well, I wouldn't either, but still, remember who you are!

You are such a fraud, Jason sent to Aya with vast amusement.

Jason, you have no idea what goes on behind closed doors at the palace, Aya winked. The Imperial Guards are very formal, very disciplined, and very professional, but we need release too, and practical jokes are one way we keep our perspective. We love jokes, just like any Faey.

Faey, as a race, were very… jokish. They didn't mind jokes, even when they were the butt of them. Jason remembered his battle with Jyslin's Marine squad so long ago, where they seemed to enjoy his tricks, even when he did it to them.

Aya leaned over and put her gauntleted hand on his shoulder. There, now, do you feel better now that you haven't been obsessing over things?

Actually, I do, he admitted freely. Thank you girls, you did make me feel a little better.

That's why we're here, your Grace, Shen sent seriously.

They returned to Kosiningi, and with the four of them basically pushing him from behind, he returned home. He decided that they were right, he needed a little calm before the coming storm, so he sat in the living room and read Rann a story, then played a game of Candy Land with Kyri, Aram, and Zach, then just sat in front of the viddy for about an hour watching Terra TV, which was showing an episode of Bounty Hunter, an action series about a Faey bounty hunter and her human partner who was a computer genius, who hunted down bounties across the galaxy… proof that Earth really had fully integrated into the Imperium. The star of Bounty Hunter was a Faey actress who was pretty famous in the Imperium, Zayn Mahdane, who got wooed into contract with 20^th Century Fox to produce two movies and a TV series. Both the movies, Fatal and The Chronicle were blockbusters, and Zayn Mahdane was the hottest star in Hollywood right now because Bounty Hunter was the biggest show on TV on Earth and one of the most popular shows in the Imperium, so big that Terra TV bought rights to simulcast the show Imperium-wide.

Of course, that was the family friendly Zayn Mahdane. Zayn, like many Faey actresses, also did porn, but unlike the Terran movie industry, the Faey movie industry didn't differentiate between porn and non-porn, because of the peculiarities of the Faey culture and its very open and permissive views on sex. A Faey actor did "dramatic" roles and sex roles, which were the classifications in the Faey system. Not every Faey actor did work on the porn side, but many of them did, and if you wanted to be a full-out Faey movie star, you had to work on both sides. True, there were successful actors who dedicated themselves to one side or the other, but they were a small minority compared to the biggest names in Faey acting, who all did work on both sides of the line. Zayn Mahdane was no exception, but she was much better known for her porn work than she was her dramatic work. Her breakout in Terran entertainment had catapulted her to the level of blockbuster star, proving she was just as good a dramatic actress as she was having sex on camera.

The reason why a star had to do both sides was because of the popularity of porn in the Imperium. The Faey treated it just like regular entertainment, and it was a huge industry. For an actor to get maximum exposure–sometimes literally–he or she had to be well known, and one of the ways an actor gets that kind of exposure was by doing what was currently popular. And in the Imperium, porn was just as popular as dramatic acting. Porn stars were treated like humans would a Hollywood movie star in the Imperium. Not every porn star had the acting skills to be dramatic, but the vast majority of dramatic actors were good enough actors to be successful porn stars. And the large numbers of dramatic actors that did porn gave Faey porn actual plots and good acting, which was a major difference from human porn.

Zayn Mahdane was Symone's favorite porn actress, but that was her flavor of the month. And to Jason, it was weird seeing her with her clothes on, because Symone, like a vast majority of Faey women, enjoyed watching porn, especially before sex. It got her really going, and made her a wildcat in bed. The Chronincle was the first work Zayn starred in he'd seen that wasn't porn.

That was one thing that made Faey different, he supposed. In Faey culture, porn wasn't taboo. It was wildly popular and watched by both men and women, with a porn industry that had a yearly profit margin that would make a Highborn house jealous; hell, some noble houses, like the Trefanis, were heavily invested in the porn industry. Symone was a porn junkie, and she was proud of it. She owned a huge library of porn of every legal type (and a few illegal ones), but her library was nothing compared to Kumi's. Kumi collected porn as seriously as a human might collect coins or stamps, with some of her collection being very rare or hundreds of years old, as well as every kind of porn one could imagine, from the most erotic you'd ever seen to things so disgusting they'd make you puke. Pictures, holograms, videos, viddys, paintings, sculptures, you name it, Kumi had it. Walking into her house was like walking into the history of sex. And it was all carefully catalogued, with some of her rarer and most valuable pieces even insured against damage like a work of art.

And Jason's picture was in that collection. She kept it in a frame on the wall facing her bed, enlarged to the size of a movie poster, and she always loved to joke that it was always right there and ready for her when she wanted to masturbate, so she had something to look at that would get her horny.

And that picture was why he still pranked her from time to time. So long as she wouldn't let it go, he was going to continue to get her.

Jyslin, Tim, and Symone came in and flopped down on the couch with him, and saw he was watching TV. I'm glad you're taking it easy, Tim sent seriously. You've been so tense the last couple of days. Not that I can really blame you, that is. I've been pretty worried too.

I know, but Aya basically forced me at gunpoint to relax a little.

Well, she was doing the right thing, Symone agreed. Is that Zayn Mahdane?

Yeah. I'm watching Bounty Hunter.

She looks better naked, Symone scoffed.

You know, Symone, what's with this thing lately about women? Jason asked.

I've been curious, she answered honestly. Curious enough. Last night, I tried it with Jyslin.

Jason looked at Jyslin with some surprise, but she just smiled and nodded. I've been a little curious too, she admitted. I mean, she's right there when we group with them. I finally decided to see what it was like to touch her on purpose.

Well, don't expect me to get curious about Jason, Tim announced adamantly.

The women laughed. No, human men aren't like that, Symone agreed.

So, was it good? Tim asked curiously

Good enough to try it again, Symone answered, and Jyslin nodded.

At least after we got over being nervous and having no idea what we were doing, she added.

Shit, ain't that the truth. We weren't very good at it, she admitted with a laugh. I swear, I felt like a titless virgin. I was kneeling there, staring at Jys' pussy, and saying to myself, "okay, I know I need to lick her the way the boys lick me, but I never really watched when they go down on Jys… so how do I do this and not look like an idiot?" I look up at her, she looks at me, and says "Shit, Symone, I don't have any idea how to do it either. Just wing it." Jason had to blurt out in laughter at the image of that, and Symone smacked him on the shoulder. Why don't you try kneeling in front of Tim and wonder how you suck a cock, Jayce? she demanded archly.

No thanks.

Coward. Anyway, I floundered around a while, then we calmed down and took a break, then tried again. It went better. Jys actually got me to come, she sent with a little pride. Now that we won't bite each other's clits off by accident, we want try some threesomes.

We've done threesomes before, Jason stated. We did one just last week with Jys, and me and Tim did a threesome with you just a few days ago, Symone.

Not when me and Jys would do it with each other, she amended.

Oh. I wouldn't mind that.

Me either, Tim agreed. A lot of human men have fantasies about doing it with two women that way.

Yeah, I've heard about that, Jyslin sent with a smile at Tim. It wasn't bad though, she added, leaning over Jason and touching Symone on the waist fondly. You're going to have to teach us to do it the right way, boys. We need some practical training. It took me like nearly half an hour to make Symone come.

Well, I sure as hell didn't mind her trying, Symone sent with an audible laugh. I got to lay there and get licked, and it felt good while she was learning.

That sounds like it was terribly one-sided, Tim sent blandly.

No, it wasn't. Symone went first. While she was down there trying to figure out what to do, I was laying there with my legs spread, and all I could think was "holy Trelle, right now there's a girl down there licking my twat, and when she's done I'm gonna do the same thing to her," she sent ruefully. I was really nervous, but I was enjoying it towards the end, once Symone figured out what she was doing. We stopped to drink more wine, and when we started again, it was my turn. I was calmer by then, and the wine was getting to me a little, she admitted, and I was able to perform. For the strangest reason, I found doing it much less nervewracking than having it done to me. Isn't that odd?

It was probably the wine, Tim teased.

Possibly. Now that that awkward first time is out of the way, though, I have to admit. I don't feel too nervous at the idea of a second try.

Me either. So… talking about it has me up for another try, Symone sent, her sending saturated with sexual innuendo, as she reached over and slid her hand up and down Jyslin's leg. Want to watch us, boys?

Actually, want to show us what the hell to do? Jyslin asked. You can teach us how to do it the right way, then we can thank you properly, Jyslin sent with a dirty image under her thought.

As fun as it sounds, I think I'm going to have to take a pass, Tim sent. You mind flying solo, Jayce? I'm still working through those reports Miaari sent me. I'm just taking a break.

Well, Aya wanted me to relax, Jason sent wryly. And I could never say no to my two favorite ladies.

Good, you can show me how to make Jys come, Symone sent brightly.

That's easy, Symone. You just take your dick out, get it up, stick it in her, slide it out, then repeat as necessary.

Symone and Jyslin exploded into laughter.

---

That. Was. Unbelieveable.

Jason drifted awake some hours before dawn, and saw that it was still eight hours and some change before the Urumi arrived. Jylin and Symone were sprawled on top of him, tangled together, and all he could do was dreamily reminisce about a very sexually charged, very erotic, very intense evening.

One thing was for sure, and that was those two were not nervous about their second time. It was an intensely erotic thing, he admitted, basically teaching his wife how to perform oral sex on another woman, then watching her perform oral sex on his amu dorai. Then teaching his amu dorai and watching her perform oral sex on his wife, basically watching the two women in his life go down on each other.

God, that was erotic. He never thought he'd get so excited, so aroused. He'd seen lesbian sex acts on porn tapes before, but he'd never been that excited by watching it as he had last night. He'd had sex with both of them at the same time before, but it was nowhere near the same. Before, they wouldn't touch each other, and he had intercourse with them by turns, but that time they were touching him and each other with equal fervor, performing sex acts on each other in addition to him, and it was one of the most erotic experiences of his life.

He blew out his breath when he felt his penis twinge at just the memory of it, and forcefully pushed it out of his mind. There was no reason to get himself hot and bothered when there was nothing he could do about it. They were asleep, and he wasn't going to bother them. Besides, he'd been out of communication for nearly eight hours, and he needed to talk to some people and find out what was going on. The fun–God was it fun–distraction was over, and now it was time to get back to reality.

He moved carefully to extricate himself from the girls without waking them, and he just had to look down at them and marvel at their beauty and the memory of what they'd done last night. Jyslin murmured and reached out, found Symone, then pulled her close and snuggled up against her back, an arm draped over her. Symone sighed and rolled over on her back towards Jyslin, who threw a leg over hers and gripped her shoulder with the hand already across her body.

God, they were beautiful.

But it was time for the unpleasantness. He grabbed a robe and pulled it on but didn't belt it as he used his interface to call Myri. He didn't get Myri, though, he got Admiral Shey Zibanne, who was Myri's primary aide. Shey was like Navii, a retired Imperial Navy officer who specialized in tactical naval combat, and she assisted Myri in that regard on top of being a fantastic administrator. Shey ran Myri's office, and that office ran with perfect efficiency.

"Where is Myri, Shey?" he asked in a low voice, belting his robe.

"Asleep, your Grace," she answered, and Jason quickly turned the volume down. "It's three in the morning."

"Heh, and I looked at the clock," he grunted. "I guess I'm too worried to go back to bed. What's our status?"

Our status is the same as it was when you retired with your wife, your Grace," she told him with a gentle smile. "The fleet is deployed and at the ready. All planetary defenses are online and ready. Hyperpace beacons are tracking the Urumi, and thus far they are exactly where we expect them to be, and they'll be here in eight hours and seventeen minutes. The planet is under martial law, but no instances of unrest or disturbances have been reported. Everything is quiet, your Grace, as it should be. As far as the KMS goes, the personnel are on standby right now so they can get some sleep and be ready for tomorrow, though I doubt that everyone is sleeping. I would hazard to guess that quite a few are working off some nervous energy right now," she said with a quirky smile.

"So I'm a bad boy, I admit it. You caught me sleeping with my wife," Jason shrugged, which made her laugh.

"I must confess, I'm also a bad girl. I finished doing that with my husband some hour or so ago," she said freely. "Faey women are, anxious you might say, before combat, and we always seek out our men when we feel that way. They calm us down, burn out the nervous energy, and help us focus on the battle to come so we may do our best. A night with your husband before a battle reminds you just what you are fighting for," she said pointedly. "And it bolsters you to be the best soldier you can be."

"I can't argue with that," he said, glancing behind him. He'd fight tooth and nail against a giruzi for those two women laying in his bed. "So, is that about it?"

She nodded. "I suggest you go back to bed, your Grace. Rest if you can, and we'll brief you fully in the morning, when the General Staff is back on duty. But I'll be sure to call you if there's any change."

"I appreciate that, Shey."

"I know you worry for us, and that makes us feel very pleased with you as our Grand Duke, your Grace," she told him simply. "I am sure that Maeri Trillane or Semoya Dorrane wouldn't bat an eye over the well being of their troops."

"May God strike me dead if I ever do that," Jason said with total conviction.

"And that is exactly why we follow you, your Grace," she said to him seriously. "You worry for us, so now let us worry for you. Go back to bed. Rest. If you can't, wake up her Grace and have her put you to sleep in the ways only a woman can."

"I think I kinda wore her out," Jason said with a slight smile.

"Wake her up and find out how wrong that statement is," Shey challenged with that same quirky smile. "Now go to bed, your Grace. We'll still be here in the morning."

"Alright, Shey," he sighed. "I'll check in later."

"I will be here." Her image vanished as she cut the transmission from her side, quite pointedly.

He went over and sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the clock. Eight hours and fourteen minutes until the Urumi arrived. Eight hours, fourteen minutes, and sixteen seconds.

Fifteen. Fourteen. Thirteen.

He blinked and scrubbed his face with his hands. If he was going to sit there and count every second, he'd drive himself crazy before he got to six hours. He looked back at the girls, and realized there was no way he was going to be able to go back to sleep.

Take off that robe and get back in bed, Symone sent softly, to avoid waking up Jyslin.

I can't sleep, he answered. And you should go back home. Tim's probably lonely.

Tim's still in his office working, she answered, opening her eyes and looking at him. You know something?

What?

I'm totally spoiled now. I just hope it's just as intense with Tim as it was with you.

Tim's braver than I am, I'm sure he'll live up to your expectations, Jason admitted, since it was the truth. Tim was much braver when it came to their sex lives, more curious, more willing to try new things. And I'm the one that's spoiled, honey. That was–just wow.

I'm so glad you liked it, love, Jyslin sent gently, as she stirred and raised up a little, looking up at him. We did it for you.

Pardon me?

We knew you were tense, nervous, and upset, Symone told him. We know how hard this is on you. We wanted to give you something very special, something to completely take your mind off today. We knew you had a secret fantasy about us like that, so we decided to give you that fantasy, give you something really special. So, did you like our little present?

That's a stupid question, Symone. And how did you find out?

Tim told us. He was in on it with us, Jyslin confessed. That's why he backed out last night.

Why that dirty bastard, he promised never to say anything, Jason growled, then he laughed audibly. I don't know if I want to punch him in the nose or give him a hug for being so thoughtful and understanding.

Well, it may have been done for you, but I really enjoyed it, Jyslin sent honestly. After we got over being nervous, that was fun.

I'm, well, girls… I don't know what to say. You did that just for me?

Just for you, love, Jyslin told him.

Just for you. I hope you don't mind that I started really getting into it, though, Symone sent, which made Jason laugh.

That just made it better.

Oh, that's nice, then. We need to work on a few things, though, she sent, giving him a critical look. Really, hon. You've had sex with us for years, and you pop seconds after burying the bone in me? I was totally floored. I think I bit Jys somewhere girls really don't like to be bitten, I was so surprised.

You did, she sent with an accusatory undertone.

He blushed a little. I was looking at the most erotic thing I'd ever seen in my life, Symone. I'm sorry. I made up for it, though, didn't I?

I'll have to think about that, I'm not sure I'm ready to forgive you yet, she sent with an outrageous grin.

He just needs more practice, that's all Jyslin sent with a wink.

I think we can give him some more, Symone sent, reaching down and carassing Jyslin's butt, then sliding her fingers down out of sight, which made Jyslin's breath catch a little. And if he's too tired, well, he can always watch.

No, he's not too tired, Jyslin sent with a giggle as the front of his robe rose noticably. Symone and Jyslin both reached over and untied his robe and pulled it open. Now get over here, she commanded huskily.

---

He had to admit it.

He loved those two women.

It said a lot about them, really. That they would be willing to do something like that just so he could fulfill a secret fantasy, something he'd never bring up, well, he wasn't sure that was something he could have done.

Tim, though… first Jason was going to punch him, then he was going to shake his hand.

He was sitting on the edge of the bed, elbows on his knees, staring at the clock. 6:23:47am. They'd managed to keep his mind off today for another three hours and two minutes, so he was looking at 5 hours, 9 minutes, 37 seconds until the shit hit the fan. Symone was in the shower, and Jyslin stirred, sat up, and then wrapped her arms around him from behind, kissing his neck lovingly. Good morning, she sent with a playful tilt. Happy birthday.

Jason had to laugh. I think I've burned up every birthday, Christmas, and New Year present I was due for the next ten years, he told her. Jyslin, I love you.

It was nothing, hon.

Yes, it was. You've never had a single homosexual thought in the entire five years we've been married, and you go and do something like that just for me. I can't tell you how honored I am..

Well, I've had a couple, she admitted, when we threesome with Symone. I've caught myself wondering what it would be like to be with her while watching you make love to her. You know, touch her and be touched by her. So I wasn't entirely repulsed by the idea when she brought it up. She didn't have any problems at all, Jyslin sent, a bit jealously. All the problems we were having at first were because of me. She was very patient and very gentle.

Symone is Symone, love. She's hard to shock, harder to control, and you don't really want to do that anyway.

Demir's sword, no, Jyslin agreed impishly. She's been having those kinds of thoughts for a while now, and she's been acting on them the last couple of months.

Yeah, Jason realized. Now that I think of it, she's been awfully… grabby with you lately. Grabbing your butt, squeezing your tits, and I saw her stick her hand in your panties last week. There was something different about it. I've seen her grab all kinds of things on you during threesomes in play, but it never seemed, well, sexual, even when she'd grab your pussy. She was just playing, being herself. But when she stuck her hand in your panties, it was like she was being sexual.

That was both teasing and her acting on some impulses she's had lately, Jyslin corrected. I noticed it and was just laughing it off, but I think that's when I started thinking about it. So, when all this Urumi shit started and you got so tense, she came to me and told me about your fantasy, and I agreed to do it. I'm not unhappy about it. I did really enjoy it, and I'd like to explore this and see where it goes.

Well, be careful, he told her. If you and Symone have some kind of lover's spat, it's gonna disrupt things.

Oh, Jason, don't be silly, she sent with an audible laugh. If you didn't know, this is kinda normal. Me and Symone have had intimate contact for years, sharing our men, doing threesomes, so on and so on. We've reached a point where we're getting sexually attracted to each other, because of your attraction to us. This kind of thing happens among telepathic women, because of all the sending we do. I've gotten to where your attraction to Symone has imprinted on me, and I'm developing attraction to her too. It's not too much of a shock to me. Like I said, this does tend to happen between couples who have been together a long time.

I didn't know that.

It happens often enough for it not to be a big deal, she told him. And it's not entirely permanent. If your desire for her changed or faded, it would change in me as well. My attraction to her is actually based on your attraction to her. And it might just fade on its own, you never know.

Why doesn't that happen to me and Tim?

Because you're men, she answered. Men are wired much differently than we are. This kind of thing is very rare in men. Anyway, if this fades on its own and I decide I'm finished with girls, we'd never punish you two for what's between us. We'd just go back to the way things were… though I think Symone would keep at me in her own way. She's much more interested in me than I am in her. For one, she's not as straight as I am, and she never has been. For the other, she's a much weaker telepath than we are, and the attraction you and Tim have for me has really embedded itself in her.

What would happen? She'd still be trying to have sex with you? He looked back at her, and she nodded. What would you do?.

I'd let her, she sent with a shrug, which slid her breasts against his back sensually. I'd be done with sex with her, but it doesn't cost me anything to lay there and let her do whatever she wants.

And if she wants to sit on your face?

We'd have to negotiate over that part, she sent primly. But I don't think it's going to be an issue. The idea of Symone sitting on my face gets me excited right now. As long as it gets me excited, I don't see a problem with it. Symone will just have to keep me interested in her… and if you didn't notice, she's very good at that kind of thing.

Too true, he agreed. Symone could make a rock horny.

Symone sauntered into the bedroom, with a towel wrapped around her wet hair, but not wearing much of anything but a grin. Morning, lovers, she sent with utter contentment. So, how do you feel?

Worn out, Jason answered, which made her laugh. But, besides that, thank you, Symone. I really, really appreciated it.

No prob, baby, she grinned.

Jason stood up. Well, ladies, as much fun as this has been, I'm afraid this is pretty important day. Let me get a shower, and then we need to get moving.

Move over, Symone sent, sliding into bed with Jyslin, sitting on the edge. Now what was this I heard about you letting me do whatever I want?

We were talking about what might happen if I wasn't interested in you anymore, Jyslin told her. I was explaining what happens when two women have been sharing husbands as long as we have.

Yeah, I figured. I'm just glad it happened to you too. I was really nervous, cause I wanted to have a go at you, and I wasn't sure if you'd slap me.

I almost did a couple of times, Jyslin admitted. When you stuck your hand in my panties and tried to finger me, I almost slugged you.

I couldn't help it, she sent honestly. The last month or so, it's been all I could manage to keep my hands off you. That's why I kept wanting threesomes. I wanted you naked in bed with me, so I could steal feels while you were busy with one of the boys.

Why didn't you say something?

I didn't want to risk changing things between us, she admitted. It's not just us, Jys. If I pissed you off, well, you might stop letting me see Jason. I was afraid if I admitted I was having lesbo thoughts about you, you'd back away from me. It took Tim telling me about Jason's fantasy for me to work up the nerve to break the idea with you.

Well, you don't have to hold back now. And you've got your work cut out for you to keep me interested enough in you to fuck you, Jyslin challenged.

It's going to be such a chore keeping you horny, Symone sent wickedly as Jason picked up a towel, then she leaned back and laid back across Jyslin's legs. Care to help me armor up?

Sure, honey, Jyslin agreed. You can help me when I get out of the shower,think I'll go jump in with Jayce. Where's your armor?

Tim brought it last night. It's downstairs. I'll go get it. She got up and went out the door without bothering to put anything on, but that wasn't anything new or different in this house. Jason's house was a Faey house, and public nudity was perfectly acceptable within his home. Symone and Jyslin weren't the only ones that tended to wander the halls naked. Jason had caught Ayuma more times than he could count as she raided the fridge in the dead of night, naked as a jaybird, and Surin had a habit of going down to the laundry room naked so he could wear what was in the dryer. Then there was the fact that back home in Karsa, Sheleese tended to go everywhere naked… that girl was a born nudist. The truth was, Jason was the only one that really didn't wander the house naked at some time or another during the day. He was so conditioned to put on a robe or some shorts or something before going out, it was automatic.

Jyslin joined him in the shower, so they scrubbed themselves clean, he helped her wash her thick auburn hair, and they took turns drying each other off when they were done. Symone had her armor scattered all over the bed when they came out, and Jyslin helped her sort through it. I should have paid more attention when they gave us this armor, Symone admitted. I haven't practiced with it as much as I should. I'm sorry for being a pain.

No problem, hon. You're not really a soldier anymore, you know.

I'm not anything anymore, Symone admitted. I'm a housewife. Tim's on Miaari's staff doing whatever he does.

He's an analyst, Jason told her as he pulled his armor out. He goes through the information that Miaari brings him and tries to puzzle out the truth. He's very good at it. Miaari tells me she'd be lost without him.

You spend all your time studying engineering with Myleena and Jason, Symone sent, looking at Jyslin, but I kinda don't do anything.

Well, pick something you want to do, tell me about it, and I'll set it up, Jason told her cheekily as he stepped into the codpiece of his armor.

I'll have to think about it. Okay, so we start with the bottoms. Which part's next?

The door opened, and Rann, Kyri, Aran, Zach, and Sora ran in, all of them naked. Ayuma was behind them, wearing a frilly see-through robe that really didn't hide anything at all, and behind her was Ilia, Sheleese, Min, Yana, and Zora. All of them were already armored up. "Daddy, mommy said you have armor just for us!" Sora said breathlessly. "Where is it? I wanna try it on!"

"Woah there, pumpkin," Jason laughed. "It's over in Cybi's bunker. You're going to put it on there. So go get dressed, all of you."

"Aww, I wanted to wear it now," Rann sulked.

"I can see that," Jason told him, eying his naked little body critically. "Now go put on your jumpsuit. Ayuma, can you make us some breakfast?"

"I already have it in the oven, your Grace," she told him calmly, picking up Kyri. "I'm making breakfast burritos."

"Oooh, I love burritos!" Kyri squealed.

"Then come with me, kitlings," Ayuma called. "Let's get you in your jumpsuits and get some breakfast, then we'll go once your father's ready."

Ayuma herded the children out, and the ex-Marines came in. Yana started helping Jason with his armor, while the others started helping Jyslin and Symone. So, you manage to get any sleep last night? Zora asked.

Some, after I wore them out, Symone sent with a dirty tilt to her thoughts. Then again, that's why I was here. I didn't want Jason to have a nervous breakdown, so we were keeping him busy by giving him something new. He said it was the hottest night of his life, she sent smugly.

She's good at distracting me, Jason agreed blandly.

It sounds like I'm gonna be dredging for gossip, Sheleese grinned as she held up the backplate of Symone's armor and helped her lock it to the breastplate, then she put it over her head and settled it on her shoulders.

Wasn't much to it, hon. He had a secret fantasy about two women who'd touch each other, so me and Jys gave it to him.

Oh, that's all? That's not so big a deal, Sheleese sent, a little disappointed.

This from the squad's bi, Zora taunted. It's a big deal to us straight girls. It would take something pretty big to make me stick my face between another woman's legs.

Jason was worth it, Symone declared.

Was it any good? Sheleese asked, giving Jyslin a sidelong glance.

That's not your business, Jyslin sent primly.

Cheater.

I need to call in to Shey and see what's going on, Jason sent as he looked at his panel's monitor as Yana helped him lock his breastplate and backplate together around him. She didn't send me a single status report.

Myri gave orders for no one to bother you unless it's an emergency, Min explained. We all saw how stressed out you were yesterday, so Myri didn't want anyone disturbing you. You needed some rest.

I swear, this is starting to sound like a conspiracy.

When your sanity's at stake, yeah, we'll plot against you, Symone told him.

Alright, alright, I get it, he acquiesced. I love you guys too.

After the girls helped them get into armor, they went downstairs. Nine kids were around the kitchen table, his five and four from the squad. Lyn and Bryn's girls, Meza and Zin, stood next to burly Yon, who was the son of Myri, and beside them was Sheleese's daughter, the mischievous Irri. Jason greeted them all when he came in, both his kids and the children of the other Marines, and took the plate Ayuma offered him while she took his gauntlets. There were no chairs in the kitchen, so they all stood and gathered around the serving table. The kids were all chattering excitedly, because to them this was not something to be afraid of. It was almost a game to them, something new and different.

If only he could feel that way about it.

"What's the plan, Jayce?" Sheleese asked.

"Not much of one. Everyone stays in the bunker until it's over. Did they stock it?" he asked Ayuma.

She nodded. "Everything on the list, your Grace. I doublechecked this morning before the kids were up."

"Good."

Jason hurried everyone along and into the bunker. The Kimdori had heavily reinforced the control building holding Cybi, and done some extensive remodelling and construction around the underground compound beneath it. The bunker was now a shelter for the children and the important people in Jason's life, as well as the emergency command center. Myri and her command staff were already inside, and had been since they had confirmation of the Urumi attack.

The bunker was separated into four sections. The first section was the command section, where Myri commanded the KMS from within a heavily armored facility to protect the chain of command. The second section was the hardened storage facility, where the most important objects and computers were held that contained items and data that they absolutely could not afford to lose. The third section was the living area built for the Grand Duke and his extended family, and that was the mothers and the children, Symone, Ayuma, and his guards went once they finished the five minute elevator ride down into the bunker. Jason didn't go with them, though. He went to the fouth section, the core holding Cybi's mainframe. He entered the circular room and found a single chair sitting by the biogenic core, a chair for him, waiting for him. He sat down in it as Cybi manifested her hologram, and she floated around the chair and in front of him. [Is all ready, Jason?] she asked.

[We're ready. Let's do it.]

[Very well. Commencing core evacuation.]

And so, Jason Karinne rode with Cybi as the CBIM executed its most serious task, and that was to evacuate the core that was Cybi into the upper mantle of the planet itself. He felt it in his stomach as the room began to descend after several heavy clangs that heralded the shaft below opening and the clamps releasing. The room descended for nearly fifteen minutes, for it descended rather slowly compared to an elevator, and then the whole room shook as they hit the bottom, and the fifteen separate sets of heavily reinforced blast doors and ten independent teryon shield pods in the shaft above activated, placing a powerul barrier between the core room and any possible attack coming down the shaft from above. Cybi put a ghostly hand on his shoulder, and three separate holograms appeared before him, three windows into the activity above. The left window held Myri's face. The center window was a three dimensional representation of Karis and all Karinne military assets, represented by dots, triangles, squares, and flashing stars. The right window currently showed the living room of the bunker holding his family, where his wife, Ayuma and Surin, Symone, and the ex-Marines were helping the children dress in the armor he had made for them, an additional layer of protection to keep them safe. They couldn't see him, but that window wasn't for them. It was for him, so he could see his wife, see his children, see his amu dorai, and know they were safe.

"I'm in position, Myri," Jason said as he gripped the arms of the chair in his gauntleted hands. "Time?"

"A little over two and a half hours," she answered. "The Urumi are right where they should be. The fleet is going through drills right now and making sure everything is operational. We had a breakdown on one of the defense satellites on the expected combat side of the planet, but the techs are on the job right now and they estimate it'll be back in operation in thirty minutes. The mines are all in place and are waiting to be activated. There's not much to do now but wait," she admitted.

"God, I hate waiting," he sighed.

"That's life. Are you ready?"

"All biogenic relays are operational," Cybi said aloud. "I have full coverage. When the time comes, his Grace will be able to use my network to attack the Urumi with his talent. But the range of the attack will be fairly limited. The Urumi will need to be within the second perimeter for him to affect them."

"Good. We're counting on that, if they break the outer defense," Myri nodded.

"Cybi, bring up Dahnai," he asked.

After a moment, a fourth window appeared in front of the other three, and Dahnai's face appeared. She was wearing armor, for some strange reason, and in what looked like a command center. "Dahnai, how are things on your side?"

"Right now on schedule," she answered. "We have our forces deployed and ready. The Urumi are gonna be in for a shock when they drop out of hyperspace," she grinned. "There's a little news for you."

"Oh? What?"

"Well, it seems that after you warned the other governments, the Urumi ambassador was sending some pretty desperate messages back to the Collective. From what Denmother told me, after the news that we knew they were coming got there, that energy thing that was representing the Consortium left."

"Left?"

She nodded. "Packed up its office, fired its staff, got on its ship, and left. And the Urumi did not want it to go. Zaa managed to get her hands on a secret communication between the Hive Elders and the Queen. It looks like the Consortium is abandoning the Urumi. They're not coming back, so no more arms. They have to build them if they want more, and that takes time."

"Well, that's good news, I suppose," Jason grunted.

"It'll be better news when I get my hands on those weapons," she said hungrily. "I have troop pods set up and ready. When they get here, I'm going to try to board and capture as many Urumi ships as I can."

"Dahnai, don't get people killed over something that trivial," he protested.

"It's only trivial for you, babes," she snorted. "Those weapons are a cut above our MPAC technology. And if this Consortium ever shows up with its own fleet looking for a fight, I want to be ready for them."

Jason had honestly never considered that possibility before. If the Consortium sold them, and sold them to a government that was trying to conquer the Imperium, then he guessed it was a logical conclusion to think that the Consortium might try to attack the Faey themselves using ships that were at least similarly armed and armored to the technology Miaari had uncovered. In fact, it made a kind of sense, now that he thought about it. Send the Urumi in so the Consortium could get an idea of Faey tactical ability, weaken them in a fight with the Urumi, then march in and attack themselves once the Urumi were beat back.

He'd considered that the Alliance and the Skaa might be doing that very same thing… letting the Imperium and the Collective fight it out, then swoop in and attack them when they were weakened.

"Alright, I'll concede that one," Jason deferred.

"You know, none of this would be necessary if you'd have helped us," she told him with a stern look.

"Are you ever gonna give up on that, Dahnai? No. You know damn well why I won't share Karinne technology, we'd had enough fights about it in the past. I will help you as much as I can, but I will not give you our secrets."

"Once we get the Urumi tech, it won't matter."

"It will matter to me," he said adamantly.

"Alright, alright, don't get your shorts bunched," she said in a mollifying tone. "My command staff predicts a victory with roughly 47% loss on our side. The Urumi shields won't stand up to plasma weapons for long, and they don't advanced armor. Once we bring down their shields, we can take them out. The only issue is their weapons will be able to go through our armor, so we expect some significant damage."

"Well, be careful, and be safe."

"We will be. Anything to report on your side?"

He shook his head. "We're basically on schedule."

"Care to introduce me to that hologram there beside you?" she asked with a wink.

Jason silently swore. He didn't realize Dahnai had a camera angle wide enough to see her. "It's called Cybi," he said. "A hologram our computer uses as a user interface."

"My designation is Cybi, an interactive interface of the tactical command computer," Cybi stated in a surprising monotone.

"Ah, we have some mainframes that use that too," Dahnai said with a nod.

[Nice cover.]

[Thank you,] Cybi communed, maybe just a little proud of herself.

"Well, I think we're both busy. I'll call you if anything major comes up. Contact us when it's over, I might need you to back us up."

"I'm already planning on deploying my ships to you if you need them," he assured her.

"Then I'll make sure to call you. Keep a line open."

"They should have one down in the command center."

Her face vanished from the screen, and Jason had nothing to do but wait.

But his time was kept busy. Myri and Miaari gave him constant status reports, and he decided to contact each and every ship captain and wish them luck, thank them for their service, and remind them that he was thinking about them. Then he just made a general transmission to the entire house, thanking them for their hard work and wishing them luck in the coming conflict. Then he talked a while with his wife and children, then he was interrupted by Myri as she reported another problem with a defense satellite. They ran a repair team out there quickly, and the problem was fixed in twenty minutes.

He was so busy, he was honestly surprised when Miaari's face appeared on his right window, replacing his family. "Jason," she said. "The Urumi have arrived."

"But it's another thirty minutes til they get here," he said in surprise, checking the timer under his tactical display.

"They exited hyperspace prematurely, just inside the orbital track of Karis II. They are now moving under standard engines. It will take them eighteen minutes to get here."

"But that's faster than hyperspace!"

"Do not forget, Jason, they were jumping hyperspace with the relativity delay," she reminded him. "When they exited early, they broke the delay. They can get here faster under standard engines from where they are than it would have taken for them to get here if they remained in hyperspace."

"Yeah, you're right. Why did they come out so far out?"

"They are sweeping with sensors, determining our disposition and state of battle readiness. They will not jump in and get surprised, but given they are so far out, we can begin defensive measures. They jumped out so far that they are inside the range of the hyperspace missles based on Kosigi."

Damn right they were. Those missles were actually for the defense of the system's perimeter, the missles they fired to destroy probes that appeared on the edge of the system. They were missles with a hyperspace jump engine on them, but that kind of engine wasn't very precise and could only be used once. It had a minimum range, since the engine couldn't drop out of hyperspace immediately upon entering, so the missles had a minimum and maximum operational range. They would have been useless against the fleet if it jumped in as they thought it would, but since they jumped in far out, inside the orbital track of the next furthest planet from Karis–which was really officially called Karis Prime, they just didn't bother–that put the Urumi inside the operational range of the missles.

Myri appeared on the left window. "Jason, they've dropped out of hyperspace just inside Karis II," she told him quickly.

"Miaari just told me," he said to her. "If they're going to give us that much space, then we have to make them pay for it."

"You bet your ass we will," she said with an evil grin. "They're in the strike range of the hyperspace missles, so let's send them a little greeting. Juma, let's start pissing them off! Launch the Kosigi missles!"

"Aye, Myri!" Juma said with a nasty tilt to her voice. "I'll send down the order!"

Jason saw it on his tactical. Kosigi, which was behind the planet in relation to the incoming fleet, had a swarm of white dots appear around it. Those were the missles, armed with a teryon warhead and a shield puncher, a nasty little device on its tip that disrupted coherent energy patterns it struck for that split second necessary for the missle to penetrate. His tactical display zoomed out, and his right window picked up a visual image from a hyperspace beacon nearby, as it looked into normal space. It showed a huge fleet of Urumi ships of every class, including three massive behemoths that had to be command ships, all of them moving visibly.

Then the missles appeared.

They jumped out of hyperspace in a sudden swarm, hundreds of them, and they immediately locked on to the Urumi ships and dove on them. Urumi guns opened up in every direction, firing on the missles, who actively tried to evade that fire. Explosions erupted all around the fleet as missles were destroyed, but they were coming too fast and there were too many for them to get them all. Shields bloomed to visibility as the missles struck then drove through, and violent gouts of flame and flashes of light erupted on many ships as the missles struck and damaged Urumi vessels.

The Urumi fleet pulled in, began to tighten, just as the next wave of missles appeared. Another salvo of fire and blossoms of light, and then another round of fiery detonations as a good quarter of the missles got through and struck Urumi ships. Jason watched as a destroyer suddenly detonated in a savage fireball, spraying debris against the shields of nearby ships, and two other ships fell out of formation, one sagging into the formation, forcing ships to scramble out of its way, as the other began to slow, falling behind as the ships around it began to increase speed.

Then came the third and final wave. Again the Urumi tried to shoot down the missles, but they were unable to get them all. Their formation was rocked as more ships were hammered by explosions, and much to Jason's delight, he saw one of their battleships have its entire aft quarter explode, as a missle must have hit something rather important, and the remaining ship was driven forward by the force of the blast, ramming into the smaller cruiser that was leading it, shredding its aft quarter and twisting it sideways, then grinding it amidships. The cruiser drifted away from the battleship as the other ships evaded it, fires erupting from hull breaches and white streaks from other breaches. That cruiser was basically dead.

After the smoke cleared, Jason took a tally. He saw 14 Urumi ships that had either been made dead in space or were out of formation with major damage; the battleship, a heavy cruiser, 2 cruisers, and 10 destroyers. That whittled it down to 170 ships they had to face, and nearly a quarter of the ships that he could see had damage of some kind. Fires, pitted, burned holes in their hulls, and one destroyer's bow had been blown off, but it was still operational.

Then, to his shock, he saw the Aegis jump in behind the fleet!

Before he could even scream at Myri about what the hell was going on, he saw the Aegis open fire, unleashing an onslaught of missles. There was a virtual cloud of them, and behind that camoflauge of death, Jason saw that the Aegis had jumped right back out, before the Urumi could even bring their weapons to bear against it. That was brilliant! It had jumped in outside of the range of its beam weapons, fired missles, then jumped back out before the Urumi could bring their weapons to bear against it! The Urumi opened up against this new barrage of missles, but these missles were much smaller, much faster, and they were much less able to destroy them. There was a savage wave of explosions that went across the entire Urumi fleet, but those explosions were against the shields of the Urumi ships; these missles weren't equipped with a shield-piercing device. But Jason realized that that was the point, those missles were equipped with plasma warheads, and those shields were suddenly assaulted by the same metaphased plasma fired from MPACs and used in plasma torpedos, a type of plasma energy that overloaded shields.

Jason saw ship after ship lose its shields, as shield generators were overloaded. He even saw a couple of sudden puffs of red on some Urumi ships as those shield generators exploded from the shock.

Damn clever, ladies! By blowing shield generators, they were forcing some of the ships to engage without shields, because he'd bet money that some of those ships would not get their shields back up in the sixteen minutes it was going to take them to get to Karis!

But those were the only tricks that Myri threw at them. The Urumi fleet put on even more speed, and to his delight he saw three more ships fall out of formation. Then he saw on his tactical display the sudden appearance of a friendly blip behind the Urumi. He quickly changed views, and saw a single destroyer back where they had first appeared, where the damaged Urumi ships sat, obviously trying to get repairs done and get moving.

It was the Steadfast!

It turned and opened fire on the crippled Urumi ships, shearing through one of the crippled cruisers with its particle beam. One of the destroyers fired back at it, a beam of glowing blackness, but it struck the Steadfast's shields and was repelled. The destroyer swung about quickly and hammered the destroyer that fired on it with white blasts from its pulse weapons, blasting massive holes in it, then the ship exploded just aft of amidships, its two pieces spiralling away from each other. The Steadfast drove right through more fire from the cruiser, its shields still strong, and unleashed its particle beam against the cruiser. The Urumi cruiser's hull melted away under the devastating assault, as the beam cut into the bow and halfway up the keel before it winked out. Fires and explosions fountained out of that lethal cut through its hull, atmosphere venting into space. The other two destroyers turned and tried to flee, firing strange reddish blasts at the Karinne destroyer that went right through its shields and struck the destroyer on its port wing, but the Steadfast cut the further ship in half with its particle beam, then closed and devastated the nearer ship with a barrage of pulse weapons fire, causing nearly a quarter of the destroyer's starbord side to blow out into space. The lights on the vessel shimmered, and then went out, leaving the vessel dead in space. The Steadfast then closed on the battleship, turned, and drove a lance of particle beam into it like a fisherman throwing a spear, hitting it expertly and precisely. The emergency lights on the battleship went out instantly, leaving it dead in space. That done, the destroyer jumped out, returning home.

[The Steadfast is uploading logs to me, technical data about those torsion weapons. Jeya reports moderate damage to Steadfast's port wing, loss of primary power, and the port wing pulse batteries are down. No fatalities reported, but 16 casualties are in the infirmary. As we feared, our shields and armor cannot stop the torsion guns, but it seems they have a limited range, shorter than the range of our particle beams. Relaying that to Myri.]

[Well, thank the Lord for small favors,] Jason sighed.

The Karinne fleet massed in the path of the Urumi, and they approached at full speed. Jason watched the progress as they closed on Karis, as the KMS shifted the mines so that they had to go through them to get to the fleet behind, and he could only watch with his heart in his throat as the Urumi fleet became visible to planet-based cameras. It was a huge, formidable fleet, three times the size of the Karinne fleet, but the Karinne fleet hugged the planet, daring the Urumi to approach, forcing them to come within reach of the planetary defense grid in order to engage the defending fleet.

Then the pulled up and stopped.

Jason wasn't the only one that was a bit surprised by that. Myri looked confused, and Cybi had a blank look on her face. "What the hell are they doing?" Jason asked. "They have no reason to wait, unless they're tyring to get their shields repaired."

"Maybe that's what they're doing," Myri grunted. "No biggie, the Aegis has enough missles to bring them back down," she chuckled.

Cybi looked back and to her right reflexively, then she swung around and got in front of him. [Jason, hyperspace beacons are picking up ships moving through hyperspace in real time,] she stressed. [They are moving this way.]

"Real time?" Jason asked quickly. "What ships do we have out? Is it the Scimitar?"

Jason didn't hear Cybi answer. His left window replaced its image of Myri with a view of the planet, Kosigi taking up the left side of the image. Beyond the moon, a series of flashes heralded the appearance of ships dropping out of hyperspace.

They were of no design Jason had ever seen before. They were black, with a crescent-shaped bow facing outward, like bull's horns, a log neck, and a heavy, blocky aft section, with thick spine-like wings protruding from the aft sections. They all had the same basic design, and all of them were the size of a Karinne heavy cruiser.

Cybi put a count up on the screen. There were 317 of them.

"Jason," Miaari said, appearing on the center screen. "Jason!"

Miaari was afraid.

He didn't have to hear from her, he already knew the truth. There was only one way those ships could have moved in real time through hyperspace.

They were from the Consortium.

Now it was clear. The Urumi had come out of hyperspace far away and drew the Karinne fleet to one side of the planet, and then the Consortium, who could move in real time through hyperspace, jumped in once the Karinne forces were deployed to stop the Urumi and had a clear path straight to the planet.

It was a trap.

Jason summoned up exactly the look on Miaari's face with two words.

Chapter 5