The Pygmalion touched down at Vorsha Alpha Starport just after the Sea of Icouse, and Rixie stepped off the ship, trying very hard not to be angry. Anger wasn’t helpful here. And she was old enough to know that. She nodded to Vanser as she approached the military shuttlecab, and slid in next to him. She wasn’t managing to go zen like she wanted.

Oh well. It certainly had to be okay for her to be annoyed.

“Any luck?” Vanser asked as the shuttlecab lifted off.

“Some. The datastream terminates in the president’s office.”

Vanser laughed. “That’s obviously wrong.”

“Well, not necessarily. Not that I think the president sent it.”

“She didn’t leave her terminal open, Rix. You know her better than I do, and Pryvani trusts her completely.”

“She wouldn’t betray humanity, that’s certain,” Rixie said. “But making a mistake that would let someone? She could be that sloppy.”

“Maybe. But if she was…she’d know who to point the finger at.”

The shuttlecab landed at the entrance to Vorsha Lumodynamics, and was joined by two more, fore and aft. A half-dozen Imperators joined them at the entrance; Rixie nodded, and opened the door for them.

“I’m sorry,” the receptionist stammered, as he saw seven Imperators and the head of security for the parent company walk in. “What…what is…what?”

“We need the president. Now,” Rixie said.

“She’s in a meeting, but….”

Rixie walked up to the young man, smiled sweetly, and said, “You know who I am, you know who I work for. There is literally nothing that your boss could be doing that is more important than this. Get her.”

The receptionist nodded numbly, hit a button, and said, “Ma’am? Yes…I…I’m sorry to interrupt, but Rixie Carey is here…along with a bunch of Imperators…okay…okay. All right. Yes ma’am.”

He terminated the call, looked up, and said, “She’s on her way down. Is this…are we….”

“This is a matter of Imperial Security,” Vanser said. “Cooperate, and you’ll be fine. Don’t cooperate, well….”

“I’m a loyal citizen, sir,” the man said.

“Then you’ve nothing to worry about.”

The lift chimed, and the door opened. The President of Vorsha Lumodynamics stepped out, shaking her head.

“Do you know how busy we are, Rixie? Pryvani has us trying to figure out whether we can build a stable holoemitter on Herakleos Three that will give Tayas Mons-level resolution in Avalon. Five days a month it will! But that’s never gonna be good enough. Shaar’s going crazy up there, and Dr Dantas isn’t much better…hey, you’re Vanser Nix! I met you once, a few years ago, at the thing.”

“Hello, Ms Barreda,” Vanser said, putting out a hand. “I remember. Believe me, we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t important. Can we talk to you in private?”

A few minutes later, in a small office off the reception area, Myona’s usual cheerful demeanor had evaporated.

“They used this company,” she said, angrily.

“Yes,” Rixie said.

“They used my office.”

“Yes,” Vanser said.

“Motherfrakker!” Myona shouted, throwing a pad against the wall.

Rixie looked on in shock at the furious woman at the head of the table; she knew Myona quite well. They weren’t buddy-buddy, but she was the president of one of Pryvani’s most profitable companies, and she’d done a ton of work on Avalon. Rixie had never before seen Myona angry. Serious? Sure. Scattered? Almost always. But angry?

“Ms Barreda,” Vanser said, “I do have to ask…you were born in the Federation.”

“And left it in my teens,” Myona said. “And I am horrified by what’s going on there now. I hope Jota Cesil dies a slow, painful death.”

“It’s not just that you were born there,” Vanser said, flipping to his pad. “It’s….”

“My mother was in the Block. Yes, she was, and is. Her sister and brother-in-law were too, and my frakking cousin is the frakking ward boss in Krogh Fazala, and my other frakking cousin is the one who sent Yamma to the HOS before…before…..”

Myona covered her face with her hands. “It was my suggestion, that they go to a T’Haba Speltay there. Yamma wanted suggestions for people who would overreact, and my frakking cousins were at the top of the list. It’s my gorram fault, and now….”

Rixie was quiet a good long moment, letting Myona cry it out. When she settled, Rixie touched her shoulder gently, “My boss, and your boss too…her mom was a traitor. That’s not her fault. For all I know, my mom was a traitor too…and that’s not my fault. I know you wouldn’t betray humans, Myona. I know you wouldn’t. But someone here did. And I know you will help us find them, and bring them to justice.”

Myona sighed, and nodded. “All right. I’m going to need help,” she said, leaning forward. “You say they routed it through my office?”

“Yes,” Rixie said, handing Myona a pad.

For a while, Myona just stared, as if looking beyond the data on the screen. She brought a finger up, and ran it along the code…and she nodded.

“Gotcha. I think,” she said, “that the senior vice president for research and development will make short work of this problem.”

****

Navarchos Bass strode on to the bridge of the Gyfjon. He looked around, it still felt so familiar. The layout had changed a little after a refit but it still had that same feeling, the same smell, the same air and the same hum of the engines about it. No matter what anybody said or what new class of ships were commissioned no one would ever convince him that there was a better class than the Kuklopes and there was no better ship than the Gyjfon.

“Navarchos on deck!” A nervous junior crewmate shouted.

Bass resisted the urge to roll his eyes and instead smiled congenially and waved his palm.

“At ease, at ease.” The Navarchos said. “Where’s my fleet Captain?” He asked.

“Gama fleet completed loading the Titan Station combat craft yesterday. They’re waiting at the edge of the Sol heliosphere.” Commander Tam responded looking as imposing as ever.

“Inform Seminavarchos Tam that we’re heading for Tau Ceti and prepare for departure.” Bass ordered.

“Aye sir.” Captain Gwenn responded and nodded to her comms officer. “When would you like to depart?”

“Whenever you’re ready. The delegation from Earth will be visiting the Tau Ceti colony so at your convenience.” Bass said and sat down in the observation seat to the side of the Captain’s chair. It still didn’t feel right but at least he had a chair for now. When they offered him Navarchos-Imperii he would not even have that.

“Aye sir,” Gwenn said. “Commander Tam, have all departments report in and confirm departure status. Helmsman, prep a course for Tau Ceti at cruising speed.”

“Captain, I have Seminavarchos Tam requesting to speak to Navarchos Bass.” The comm officer spoke.

Aerti sighed and nodded to Lauryna.

“Put her on the main screen.” Captain Gwenn said.

A moment later the stern face of Lemm Tam appeared on screen.

“Lemmer, I wish could say it was a surprise to hear from you just minutes after sending you an update.” Navarchos Bass said.

“Just informing you that Gama fleet is preparing to get underway. We’ll be leaving for Tau Ceti within the next few minutes.” She said.

“No need for that.” Bass replied. “We only need the Gyfjon. You should proceed to drop off the civilians from Titan Station.”

“Negative sir, transports have left the system and are under escort of the Shine of Wedney. It has been recalled to join the Federation Taskforce.” Seminavarchos Tam responded.

Bass smiled. “Just can’t stand being away from me, can you Lemmer? Should my wife be jealous?”

Lemm Tam raised a single brow.

“Alright, alright.” Aerti chuckled. “Captain, please coordinate rendezvous with Seminavarchos Tam.”

“Yes Navarchos.” Gwenn said.

“Thank you sir.” Lemm said. “Xifos out.”

Aerti sighed and shook his head. “I’m going to find my wife and try to enjoy some peace and quiet before I likely get recalled and posted to the Federation Taskforce as well. Pass our ETA to Commander Ibanez and keep me posted on our progress.”

Bass stood and was greeted by several stiff salutes from junior crewmates.

“At ease…” he said wearily and shook his head. “Seriously Lauryna, you really have to talk with these kids.”

“Will do sir.” Gwenn replied.

“That’s not how we do things on the Gyfjon.” He called as he walked out the door.

Lauryna rolled her eyes. “She’s my ship!”

****

“Any luck?” Myona called.

“Not yet.”

“How about now?”

Shaar sighed loudly, in no small part for effect. She was glad, though, that Myona couldn’t see her smile of relief. Shaar had known Myona a very long time; she probably knew her better than anyone alive.

The Myona who had described the problem was nothing like her normal self, but as Shaar had descended into the mass of wires in the walls of Myona’s office, and as she’d seen the cable she expected to see, and begun to follow it…every step Shaar took brought this closer to a solution, and Myona closer to relief.

So while Myona was starting to get fidgety, that was a welcome sign. Shaar had always acted annoyed by her friend’s effervescent personality, and always would. But if it had truly annoyed her, then Myona would not be her closest friend, and the closest thing to a sister she’d ever known.

“There you are,” Shaar said, as she turned a corner. The wire terminated, as she’d expected, in a reciprocating TPS reciprocator, which was itself connected to a tritonic subfield broadcaster. It was low-powered; it had to connect to another one onsite. A simple data pull should do it.

“Okay, Gustavo, data is coming through.”

“Crânio! You, my dear, are brilliant as always. I say as always, I am still looking for my third wife.”

“I thought you proposed to Myona?”

“Ah, but she has not said yes. And you are easier to handle. And not just because we’re the same size,” said the human, as he poked at a pad while standing atop Myona’s desk.

“Dr Dantas has proposed to pretty much every woman here,” Myona sighed.

“Now that is just wrong! I have also proposed to several of the men. They all turn me down. You, Rixie…if your husband ever annoys you, remember, I am fabulously wealthy.”

Rixie laughed. “So’s Alex. But it is nice to have options. I thought you were going back to Earth after your visit to Avalon, Dr Dantas?”

“Yes, well, blame this one here,” he said, gesturing to Myona. “I had solved all the problems I expected to come across, and was going to enjoy my retirement, when this ruivo here showed me all the things one can do with holograms, and the next thing I know, I’m going over code like I’m a 22-year-old with my first AI. I make a suggestion to Shaar, Shaar makes a suggestion to Myona, soon I’m here as a special advisor, which means I have no actual power, but I get to play with things I’d never expected…oho! We’ve got it!”

“You’ve found the output?” Myona said, as Shaar reappeared from a small hole in the wall.

“Yes, yes. Terminal 74-223.”

Shaar was looking at her own pad. “Okay. I’m cross-referencing the DNA I pulled off the reciprocator.”

“We can’t use the DNA without a court order,” Vanser said.

“You can’t,” Rixie replied. “All employees of sensitive Tarsuss operations give DNA samples on hire. Their contracts allow us to use it to seek out certain classes of misconduct. Not, you know, ‘takes too long at lunch.’ But ‘puts splicer on their boss’s network’ definitely falls under that header.”

“I knew I was glad I called you,” Vanser said, grinning.

“Here we go. We have a match,” Shaar said. “Ysabra Ylym. He’s one floor down; punchcard shows he’s in and at his desk.”

Vanser nodded to the Imperator on his left elbow. “Go get him. Bring him in carefully. Do you have a room on site we can use to interrogate him? The sooner we move, the better.”

“Do we have a room…Rixie Carey’s the chief of security,” Myona said. “Of course we have a secure room! Floor 8, room 818.”

“You want to come along?” Rixie asked, getting up.

“No,” Myona said. “I’ll watch from here. I’m not violent, Rixie.”

“You wouldn’t have to be.”

“No,” Myona said with a weak smile, “but I might want to be. This company…it’s about letting us work together. See beyond the obvious. When I was young…the thing that taught me that we Titans weren’t special or better was an online game. One of my friends in it turned out to be Avartle. I ever tell you this story?”

“I don’t think so.”

“I know I’ve told others. Anyhow, that’s what’s amazing about holos. Anyone can look like anything. Size, shape, color – doesn’t matter. You can’t see it. You just see the person behind it. That’s why I’ve always loved them, you know.”

“And that’s why you’re so angry that someone used this company to push hate,” Rixie said.

Myona nodded. “Two smartest people here are human.”

“Not true at all,” Gustavo said. “Your work is brilliant, my dear, and while Shaar’s mechanical ability may make her my equal, I’m not sure it makes her yours.”

“All right, two of the three smartest people here are human,” Myona said. “And the other is probably Kragghng, who is an amazing material scientist.”

“That may be,” Shaar said. “He’s brilliant.”

“Point is,” Rixie said with a grin, “humans are in the mix. Don’t worry, Dr Barreda, Dr Dantas, Dr Felidae. We’re gonna make the bastard sweat.”

****

“Admiral to the command centre, Admiral to the command centre.” A computerised voice said over the tannoy.

Ted sighed, setting the one hundred fifty pound weight he was bench pressing back onto the rack and sat up. Well it was one hundred fifty for Earth. Here it was one hundred and fifty six. He mopped his brow with his towel, his muscles briefly confused from moving from lifting something very heavy to lifting something very light. Ideally Ted would have liked to have showered and changed into a fresh uniform but it wasn’t often he was summoned by the duty officer so he figured it was best to make a quick appearance.

Marching through the corridor, still in his gym gear and with a towel over his shoulder, Ted got more than a few startled and bewildered looks from junior officers on their first rotations. Did you still have to perfectly salute the base’s commanding officer when he was only half dressed? The answer was, of course, yes. But that wasn’t Ted’s way. You didn’t get the best out of people by making them follow every rule to the letter. It was far better to have them think for themselves to a certain extent. A good commander gives the orders. And a good officer figures out how to best get it done.

Ted strolled into the command centre to find most of the shift gathered around one console scratching their heads or beards.

“Report.” He said.

“It’s an odd one sir.” Lokagos Maralkos said standing to attention and straightening her uniform. “The navigational sensors seem to be malfunctioning but all the diagnostics come up clean…”

“That’s because they’re functioning correctly.” CMLT Ibori said walking in. “They’re working perfectly. Whatever that thing is they’re seeing. It’s real.”

“What thing?” Ted said and approached the screen to look for himself.

Whatever the object was it was only in range of the navigational sensors. They monitored the location of the main astronomical bodies in the system so the flight paths of incoming ships could be tracked. Ted could immediately see that something was very wrong. Just outside the orbit of Eebee appeared to be a moon the size of Vesta.

“Correct me if I’m wrong but moons don’t just appear right?” Ted said just as puzzled as all the other officers.

“No…they don’t” Yemi said.

“It’s damned off.” Ted said and pushed a button on the console. “Ryan, come down here to command. I want you to take a look at something.”

“On my way.” Ryan replied.

“Sir…” A young Palemst said. “I think…I think it’s moving.”

CMLT McIntosh jabbed the Palemst in his side until he got up and started to tap on the screen, checking and rechecking the results. “Aye, the welps right. It’s moving.” She tapped the screen a few more times and a projection appeared on the main command centre screen. “And it looks like it’s heading our way.”

“Well that makes me nervous…” Ted said. “Put the base on alert. Get acolytes one and two prepped for launch. It may be best to go take a look ourselves.”

“A look at what?” Ryan asked walking in.

“Whatever in the hell that is.” Ted said and nodded to the data readout on the main screen.

Ryan’s brow furrowed as he studied the screen. “I’ve seen this before…”

“Where?” Ted asked.

“I can’t remember…give me a minute.” Ryan said and sat down at a console.

“Did it crop up on a flight on the Zeno’s Paradox?” Ted asked.

“No…no…something in…” Ryan continued to tap on his console.

“Astronomical database seems to think it’s a moon.” McIntosh said.

Ryan’s eyes bulged as he hit upon what he’d been looking for. “That’s no moon.” He said. “I know where I’ve seen this before.”

“Where?” Ted asked growing concerned at just how rattled Ryan looked.

“Tol Bot! The 2102 Iron Maiden vs Puppetmaster final. I must have watched it a hundred times. It’s the same readings the hive ship put out.” Ryan tapped some more and the article he had on his console appeared beside the navigational readouts. “And they were duplicates of the Hive ship that attacked Sperikos.”

“Sperikos?” Ted asked.

“An old Titan colony. Now dead.” Ryan said. “That ship. It’s an Insectoid Hive ship. One so big that the Titans couldn’t face it. They burned an entire world, people and all rather than fall to it.”

There was silence in command centre. A cold sweat formed on Ted’s brow. It took a moment to suppress the feeling of wanting to throw up and get a plan of action together.

“Hail it.” Ted ordered.

“No response.” The reply came back after a few seconds.

“Again!”

“…nothing sir.”

“Archon Carey,” He said. “Call the colony and inform them of the incoming attack. Tell them to evacuate the city.”

“Sir!” Ryan said and started to tap on his console and started talking.

“Maralkos, start broadcasting a priority one distress signal to Titan Station and Gama Fleet. Tell them we need them here an hour ago.” Ted continued.

“I’m already trying to raise Titan Station sir,” The Lokagos replied “I can’t get a response. I think we’re being jammed.”

“Keep trying. I don’t care if you have to use the AM band, you get through.” Ted ordered. He approached the main command console and pressed a button. A chime rang through the entire base.

“All hands, this the Admiral. We have detected what we believe to be an incoming Insectoid invasion force. Our attempts to communicate have been ignored and our transmissions out of this system are being blocked. This is not a test, or a joke or a drill. This is the real deal.”

“On this planet are two million defenceless people who have no idea what is coming their way. And we’re not going to leave them out to dry. All Acolyte crews get to your ships. I want all personnel with Jacks training to form up in the main hangar and be ready to roll out in half an hour. The rest of you will suit up and deploy in an hour to assist in the evacuation of the city.”

“We’ve spent the last year here testing the pinnacle of humankind’s technological achievement. We’ve done things we didn’t dare dream were possible only a few years ago. Those Insectoids are coming here looking for some low hanging fruit. The last thing they expect to find is us. Let’s show them that this world is our world! A Human world! And we know how to defend it.”

Ted briefly interrupted the channel, sighed and looked around the room at his scared looking young crew. He clicked the comm back on. “All hands, battlestations.”

The klaxons sounded and the base jumped to life.

****************************************************************

Author’s note: thanks to D.X for his contribution.