Asylum
Copyright© 2026 by Tedbiker
Chapter 13
Commander Zdreeth:
I slept very well. Better than any time since the threat from the ‘Φέροντες του σκότους’, that is ‘Bringers of Darkness’, that being the best translation from Streelth I could find with Andromeda’s help. King Hex took one look at the video, and said “They look like Velociraptors.”
I suppose I must have had a questioning look, because he chuckled. “Early in Earth’s history there was a family of animals we call dinosaurs, which have fascinated generations of youngsters. They included predatory species, one of which was called ‘velociraptor’. Most scientists don’t believe they were particularly intelligent. Their descendents are our bird species.”
Anyway, I woke with Katy still snuggled up to me, someone tapping on the door.
“Come!” I called.
Anya entered. “It’s time for you to get ready for the Council, Ree. I’ll take Katy. I hope she hasn’t bothered you too much?”
I laughed – I couldn’t help it. “Bother? Hardly. I couldn’t get to sleep until she climbed into bed with me. As soon as she snuggled up and went to sleep, I was out too. I’ve slept better than any time since the invasion.” I gently shook Katy’s shoulder. “Wake up, little one. You need to go with your mother for breakfast.”
She stretched and yawned. “Wanna stay with you.”
“And you shall. But you need to have breakfast and dress if you’re coming with me today.”
“Okay...” Yawn. “You comin’ too?”
“I’m coming as soon as I’ve had a shower and dressed.”
“Okay.”
Human food takes some getting used to. My people evolved from a carnivore species, and we are used to raw meat, or very lightly cooked meat, and not much vegetable matter. Human breakfast, though, crisp bacon and sausages, both of which are derived from an animal I’m told whose meat does not keep well and needs to be well cooked. ‘Hash browns’, fried potatoes, apparently, and ‘baked beans’. Katy tucked into her breakfast with enthusiasm. As for me, I’m still adjusting, but I’ve got to admit the flavours are interesting.
Our transport arrived at ten-thirty. Large, black vehicles. We apparently needed an escort. Why don’t they use antigrav? I know they have it. Or even air cushions? Why roll them on those rubber rings? I mean, primitive or what? It wasn’t a long ride. We could have walked as quickly as ride in those things. Oh, and we didn’t stop in front and walk in the main entrance. The driver of our vehicle used a back entrance and took us – vehicle and all – inside a garage. There, a human stood waiting, and guided us through endless passageways to a small room with seating and a small desk. A counter on one side of the room held an assortment of drinks, bottled water, coloured liquids, a water heater and, I recognised, a device for making ‘coffee’, which apparently is essential to human life.
Charles looked at the time-piece on his wrist. “Katy, would you like some orange juice? Ree, a drink? Water, fruit juice, tea, coffee? Anya, anything?”
“I would like some juice, please,” Katy spoke clearly, politely, somehow aware of the weight of formality in that place. Charles poured juice into a tall glass and looked at me. I smiled.
“Coffee,” I said, “I need to get used to it. Thank you.”
I think we were there almost thirty minutes. Charles finished his coffee. Katy finished her juice. Anya finished her coffee. A tap at the door, and a face looked in. Our guide. “The Council is assembling, Ambassador. Would your guests accompany me? You need to take your place.” I put my cup, just less than half left, down. I reached out a hand to Katy who took it. Anya, smiling, followed us out. We followed the guide to a ring of seats for observers at the back of the auditorium.
Charles left the room and headed for the Andromedan section. His secretary stood and bowed. I smiled, shaking my head. Protocol. They sat.
Delegates were still filing in when the Speaker stood at the podium and picked up his gavel. He tapped. “Ladies, gentlemen,” he paused before adding, “honoured beings. This assembly has been requested by the Andromedan representative. Ambassador Charles?”
He stood, and made his way to the podium next to the Speaker. “Thank you for your attention,” he began. “I bring a warning of an existential threat to the Federation. It is something I believe we can handle, provided we prepare now. Three weeks ago, the Andromedan outer system picket detected a hyper-space translation just outside the hyper limit of our system. It was a small scout vessel, with a crew of six, from a polity called the Streelth Imperium. They are not human, and they are not Promethean. Their Commander was sent by their Empress, who happens to be her aunt. One other thing. I’m sure we’re aware of how children sometimes take to a person. I believe that a child knows if someone is trustworthy. As it happens, the daughter of our King, Katya, has taken to the Commander, and will accompany her as she addresses us all. Commander Zdreeth, if you could join me?”
He saw me stand and step out into the aisle with Katy, then walk with her holding my hand down the aisle, neither rushing nor delaying. We watched the expressions of the delegates as they got a good look. my uniform could not conceal my feline form, particularly the tail which stood out stiffly behind me. The chamber was very still as Katy and I approached and mounted the platform, holding Katy’s hand, to stand beside him. He stepped aside from the podium and gestured to it. I nodded and stepped forward.
“Good morning,” I began, “I must apologise that my command of English is very limited, but Andromeda has produced a universal translator, which I will use. And, yes, details of the construction are available on request.” I went on, using the translator: “I was sent by my Empress to bring a warning, and to request help. The Imperium is under attack by an implacable race. I have visual record of them and their actions. I first approached Andromeda, of course, as that was the nearest point of contact. Andromeda has the ability to defend itself, as I understand you know, but not the capacity to project power. I believe it is in your interest to tackle the ... encroachment ... away from your own borders. But enough from me. I will show the ... video ... and answer what questions I can after.”
I turned and nodded to Charles, and he inserted the memory chip and pressed play. I’d seen some of it before, but the whole thing ... let’s just say, the hall was silent as the delegates watched. I do not intend to go into details. I’ll just say that the creatures were not actually cruel, I suppose, just completely uninterested in any feelings the victims might have experienced. It was an all-consuming, single-minded, flood.
In space, we Streelth appeared to be comparable in capabilities, but not in numbers.
At length, the recordings ended. “So,” I said, then went on with the translator, “I have delivered the warning. My people are resisting, but our enemy has the numbers to overwhelm us. I truly believe that with help we could stop them before my people are eliminated. Thank you for your attention. I should leave you to your deliberations” I bowed to the assembly, and stepped back.
Katy, still there, took my hand once more and tugged. Apparently she thought we should return to our seats right at the back of the auditorium. I agreed, and allowed myself to be led off the stage and back up the aisle. Eyes followed us until we took our seats again.
The ... debate ... went much as I might have expected. Perhaps a quarter of the delegates were opposed to any sort of military engagement. Another quarter were ‘straining at the leash’ as the saying is. The rest, maybe a half, were undecided, perhaps reluctant to become involved in a war, but willing to listen. After an hour of to and fro argument, I noticed a staff member speaking to Anya, who led the three of us out of the chamber.
Charles:
After adjourning for lunch, and further discussion, it was decided that senior military should interview Ree, and the Speaker closed the session. I returned to the Embassy, where Anya was playing the piano in the ballroom. Ree was there, playing a card game with Katy.
I went to them and, very quietly, told Ree that there would be some officers visiting to get a thorough briefing on the situation.
“I don’t know how things will pan out,” I confessed, “but I believe there will be a majority in favour of taking action.”
She nodded. “Thank you, so much, for your efforts. I cannot express...”
“No need,” I interrupted. “I seriously think your warning might save the Federation...”
The group of senior military officers, six of them, were drawn from different areas of Earth and only two from the oldest Terran colonies, Alpha Centauri and Tau Ceti; most colonies being like Andromeda, having very limited local naval elements. The four Terrans were all senior flag officers from the USA, UK, Russia and China. Of course the distinctions were not as stark as they might have been as all fleets included at least crew from all technological societal groupings. They watched the video files again before questioning Ree for details.
“We Streelth have, up to now, concentrated on beam energy weapons. Unfortunately they have limited effect on the enemy ships. When I left work was in progress developing projectile weapons and missiles. Old projectile weapons, kept as heritage items, have been found to be effective against the ... beings. You may have noticed. Unfortunately, numbers of such, and the ammunition for them, have been very limited. We were working on changing that. It’s my understanding that most of your fleets are equipped with ‘rail guns’ firing heavy slugs, using U238, as well as missiles and particle beams.”