Asylum
Copyright© 2026 by Tedbiker
Chapter 14
Charles Brewster:
The resolution to deploy a powerful fleet to Streelth space passed with a 60% majority of the Council. Happily, the delegates who voted in favour were also the ones with significant naval forces. Earth, of course, Tau Ceti, Alpha Centauri, with small numbers from other colonies, a pair of cruisers here, a flotilla of destroyers from several colonies which had cooperated in the past, a carrier from Electra with a full complement of fighters on board. They’d left a corvette and three pinnaces to police their system. Commander Zdreeth and her astrogator returned to Andromeda to collect their scout and crew. The fleet would assemble in the system and take her scout on board the carrier. I did wonder about how the fleet of Fold Space ships would get coordinates for the Streelth capital from a hyper-space crew.
But Ree, and Zar, were packed and ready to return to Andromeda. Katy wasn’t going to let Ree go without her, and Anya, of course, was missing her husband. We calculated that if they left about eight in the morning, they would arrive on Andromeda in the afternoon their time. The differences between Andromedan time and Earth time, about four hours each day, makes for some calculations if it matters what time you want to arrive.
Naomi and I waved them off, and the Embassy suddenly felt quiet.
Hector Finch:
Ree, with Anya, Katy and Zar, appeared on the grid a few minutes before four in the afternoon. Romy and I met them, having been warned by Andromeda that they were coming. I was glad to see them. I’d missed Anya and, yes, my daughter. I cannot claim to be deprived, having Romy and Syretia, but there’s no substitute for a person you love, is there?
Anyway, we had supper together. The time change messed up their rhythms, but Katy went to bed with Ree, later than her usual time, while the adults took a hypnotic to help them reset. Anya didn’t need that. An extended session making love during which we brought her to several orgasms and finally caused her to faint was enough.
The problem I’d foreseen over the coordinates for a fold-space transit were solved by Andromeda in consultation with Zar and Ree. I half expected Andromeda to come up with some warship that she’d ‘forgotten’ to mention, but unfortunately not.
The fleet made transit the next day and Ree departed with her crew to be taken on board the carrier, which was acting as flagship. I made a point of telling each of the crew that they would be welcome to return if they wished, and if it became necessary.
Life returned to something like normal with their departure. We maintained the picket and Jason continued regular patrols. However, a day after the departure, in the evening, Katy came and climbed into my lap. That wasn’t unusual. What was unusual was that she didn’t speak; normally she’d be full of the day’s experiences and her thoughts and hopes. She just sat, curled in my arms, quiet.
“You okay, Sweetie?”
Long pause. Very quiet voice. “Ree’s gone. My friend’s gone.”
“She’s a military officer, Katy. She has to do her duty.”
“You’re a military officer, Daddy, aren’t you? Does that mean you’ll have to go away?”
I’ve tried not to make a big deal of my status with anyone, let alone my kids. “Baby, my job is such that I’m not allowed to go away. I might, possibly, have to go somewhere for a State visit. That’d be a big deal, but it’d be for a specific time and specific period and destination.”
“Oh.” Long pause, thoughtful expression. “Does that mean you’re important?”
“In a way,” I admitted, “but really I’m just an ordinary man who’s found himself in a very odd situation. I’m actually not allowed to do some things I’d like to do, just because of my job. It doesn’t mean I’m special. But, baby, I love you, and I love your brothers and sisters, and I love your mother and Romy and Syretia.”
“Okay.” She relaxed. “Will Ree come back?”
“I hope so. It will depend on how the war goes, and whether she’s needed back home.”
I think that satisfied my daughter. I’ll admit I was worried about the whole thing. Ree wasn’t the only one who might die before the incursion was stopped, but she was someone we knew and cared about.
I suppose it was inevitable that the invaders became known as the ‘Crocs’. We got intermittent reports through the Embassy on Earth. They were not, of course, related to crocodiles or alligators in any way. If anything, they were closer to dinosaurs, and hence birds, but the nickname stuck. The Crocs depended on numbers and technology. I don’t know if we ever established whether individual Crocs were actually sentient, or if they were some sort of hive mind. We did know that the Streelth were fighting gamely, a rearguard action, but still, they were costing the invaders a high price.
The UPF fleet emerged from f-space outside the limit of the Streelth Imperium capital. Ree took her scout, with the fleet admiral on board, down to the Imperial city to meet the Empress. Subsequently to get a briefing on the current situation.
Commander Zdreeth:
It was a relief, of course, to return to my home, to my family. I was not sure how I, and Admiral Curtis, would be received. I was sure of welcome, at least, but we entered the Hall of Audience and approached the first limit line. I stopped there, and bent my knee formally. Admiral Curtis followed suit.
“Approach,” my aunt ordered.
As we stepped over the line to the bottom of the steps below the throne, my aunt shocked me. She stood, and descended the steps, disregarding all protocol, all her regal finery. At the bottom, she – completely ignoring every formality – wrapped her arms around me. For just a moment, I felt her tremble against me.
“You returned,” she said, her voice rigidly controlled. “And you bring a friend?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Ree, let’s ignore the protocols. You have come home, against all our fears. But who is this?”
“Auntie, this is Fleet Admiral Curtis from Earth, commanding the battle fleet sent by the United Planets Federation. The humans have refined warfare to an art form, but are usually peaceful. I believe they can help us.”
“Can he understand us?”
“The humans have a device which translates as we speak. I have the specifications. If you speak to him, he will understand and reply in Human, which the device will translate into Streelth.”
She released me and turned to my human companion. “You are very welcome, Fleet Admiral. I hope we can work together to defeat the threat – not just to my people, but to the galaxy.”
It took a few moments before he responded. “Thank you, Your Majesty. I am hoping this is the beginning of a lasting friendship between our peoples. Commander Zdreeth has convinced us that it is in our interests as well as yours that we tackle this threat together.”
“That is my wish, too, Admiral. However, the diplomacy should probably be deferred in favour of stopping the threat.”
“Absolutely, Your Majesty. I will need to confer with your military leadership, if I may?”
She glanced round and indicated another officer I recognised. He approached. “Admiral Tzark. It is my wish that you liaise with Admiral Curtis in regard of the Bringers of Darkness. Please act as if there is a mutual defence treaty. I am trusting the humans to respect that and ratify it in due course.”
He saluted in our way, the extension of his claws actually audible. “Of course, Your Majesty. By your leave?”
“Certainly. Gods go with you.” She turned to me, “There will time, my niece, for you to tell me about your adventure. For now, I believe you are needed. Go with our prayers.”
“Yes, Auntie.”
The conference room was crowded with senior officers and their aides. Admiral Curtis was, very properly, treated with respect. I was surprised that they deferred to me, too. I could only suppose it was due to my relationship with the Empress and my designation as liaison. We considered a holo of the Imperial space, affected systems shown in red, amber, yellow, or blue depending upon status. Those in red were considered beyond retrieval for the moment. Amber systems were fighting still, but the encroachment was serious, while yellow systems had just met the enemy. All in all, they formed a growing arc at the edge of the Imperial space. When the briefing concluded, there was an expectant hush.
Something passed between the Streelth Chief of Operations and Admiral Curtis and the latter stood.
“Your people are fighting effectively,” he began via the translator, “there’s just too few of you. I suggest, with your agreement, to leave the centre to you, while my deputy, Commodore York, and I, each take half our forces and make a pincer attack on the wings of their advance. That way, we’ll pinch them and hopefully reduce their depredations and in time tackle their reinforcements.”