Chapter 72

Henry stood by the tank containing his wife Susan thinking of how much he loved the woman. She was healing according to schedule and he was wondering what he was going to do with her. She was not mentally balanced and it had nothing to do with hormones but rather with the horror of being captured by the Samutz. Love was still very strong and he looked on her as someone that was sick and in need of some guidance.

The way she endangered all the people she was to protect and even the very stellar system she was to keep out of Samutz hands was considered criminal under Tandra law. I knew if this happened when the empire was at its height Susan would be changed to a Mordis or cashiered on a backward planet to make her own way with whatever natives were present. Sometimes even death would occur. Susan had caused the death of some of the Humans and Tandra that had gone with her. They may have died in the Samutz attack anyway but this was more than enough reason to give her a summary judgement. Fixing a dormant empire never looked so difficult. Duty called for one punishment but compassion another.

There were many ways to handle the situation but the fact remained that Susan was my wife and I loved her even if she was causing me trouble. Any solution would take a week till Susan could emerge from the tank.

There were over a thousand major ships that I had acquired and some went off to defend major outposts. Some had battle damage to be repaired while all of them needed work be performed on them to bring them up to Tandra standards, not the Samutz ones. There were enough ships now to keep most of the bases reasonably safe. This would allow training and a chance for the formerly captive techs to recover.

The sleepers I kept with me on the New Hope to better understand how I had got the first group to interface with me. Eventually I hoped, they would be used to captain their own ships. Jamal loaded his boat bays with ships and crews. We were like the Tandra of old in this way. Full stores of virus and delivery systems were added. This time we would not have to wait to see what would happen.

A ship like this made me feel entirely different. The other ships in my navy were pitifully crewed and the ship's systems did not have the richness they now had. It was almost like having a ship function the way it should be. Weapons and navigation were even better for I knew that we were safer here than any place I could imagine.

Even as strong as this ship was I needed more allies for I could not be everywhere at the same time to fight any and all battles. I looked at the data from the captured Samutz ships and all the data on Tandra settled planets. Only some of the Samutz empire was displayed for no single ship had all the necessary data. On the outer periphery of one Samutz controlled area there were some systems that managed to remain free but Samutz data told of their probable collapse soon with the advent of the new screen. Perhaps here, some allies could be found along with a few innocent lives saved.

I concentrated on the flight path and got the ship moving faster than any other ever had. The engines remained in standby mode and the sleepers managed to look ahead to avoid obstacles. With four small corrections we were in the area of Betelgeuse. This particular star was not a giant like its neighbour but similar to Sol. The system had five planets and a ring of rock from a long ago sixth planet.

The fourth planet was larger than Earth but had a smaller gravitational constant thus telling me that it was composed of lighter material. Tsume was the Tandra name and I sent out the codes that would deactivate the mine field. The Samutz had the data all the time but did not know how to extract it to nullify each of the fields.

We went through the mines faster than they could react but did send the code anyway. Instead of the usual nine hour deceleration we were able to do it in twenty three minutes. The longer period was to avoid the ring of rocks that just happened to be on our flight path. During all this time Jamal had been sending our codes asking for confirmation and reciprocal codes from the planet. The AI took an inordinately long time to answer and I could only attributed it to biological interference.

Soon I had an excited voice asking more about us. They were sent a packet of data that only listed my name as Fleet Admiral Buchanan. They were asked in turn about all Samutz activity, their status and the number of Tandra in the system.

The first request was readily given but the latter two were not very informative. I could see their problem because anyone could come in and demand confidential data that could then be used against them. Even their screen was blank telling me that the young voice I heard was not what they wanted to put forth.

I had no intention of putting the New Hope in front of any ground based weapons and said, "Jamal you better give the imperial codes. I just feel odd now. It is not like a trap but something else is wrong."

"Yes Captain; it is done."

All the Tandra that were without duties were watching the screens to see what was going to happen. When I quizzed the AI on the planet below I was now called Emperor and got all the data I asked for. This colony I found had been floundering and had very few personnel to assist or to repopulate the planet. There was no other higher life form present and there was no reason for not expanding. Vats, like those on the moon were available and different egg and sperm was supplied to each base. Earth came to mind and I could see that at least here there was an indigenous population even if it was part Tandra.

Jamal talked to the computer found no subtle plans. I wondered why I had felt this odd twitching. The Samutz had regularly tried to get into the system. This had necessitated the continual production of missiles, mines and other passive weapons.

When I called for the screen to display the interior of the base I found Tandra running around putting clean clothing on and trying to make the place as presentable as possible. The AI gave data on all the presently awake Tandra and even the ones still in stasis. There was very little wrong but I knew that there was something but could not find it yet.

Another spokeswoman finally came on and tried to remember all the imperial protocol she had ever been taught.

I said, "Forget all the useless titles and just report as if to an admiral." This was not too much better but the woman did get out that they had been waiting for the last few million years to get in touch with the old empire. They were a little shocked at the way I looked and knew I was no Tandra.

It was easy to see how understaffed they were even if their base was still functional. There was some smaller ships that were used to supply their defences and some mining equipment. It looked like all their equipment was well worn and some was still usable. The AI even showed me the tracks worn in the almost impervious floor of the base. How untold feet had actually started to wear a shallow rut.

Jamal finally gave me one of the answers I was looking for. The data he acquired told of a deranged leader sabotaging all the sperm and attempting to do the same for the eggs. The stasis chambers and boxes were the only thing that kept the colony alive this long. This also gave me the uncomfortable feeling before for they wanted children desperately after hearing and seeing a male.

No questions came for me but Jamal got many concerning the empire. I had agreed to say that the empire was rising again and I was doing my best to see that it stayed strong and protected everybody from aggressors. The planet was beautiful and I knew that it could support many different races and perhaps Humans too if they were civilized enough first.

A cruiser left the New Hope with 2300 Tandra and supplies that were needed. The crew had orders to integrate the current population into a viable community and build more weapons with the most current technology. The most important commodity was already given and they could use it to build as they should. It was readily seen in all of their faces.

The next system was already taken by Samutz and after the override was given most of the enemy were killed. Some of the Mordis infantry went down and took care of the rest. They made it safe for a new garrison to start. The planet like Tsume had been recently overrun but not all the Tandra had been removed. Some were still in stasis waiting their fate.

The planet was liberally dusted and Jamal started the repair of the damaged portion of the minefield. We had gathered two cruisers a heavy destroyer and four troop transports that were used for taking the Tandra away. We stayed three days and captured two more troop transports and a light destroyer escort. These ships were to transmit the override to any and all ships coming into the system. This would hopefully be enough till they had rearmed the ships and the system defences.

Two other systems, many light years apart were visited and given assistance as had Tsume. None of the systems had a large matter transmitter. The system that did, had been overrun by Samutz hundreds of years ago. Now it was mostly dead husk. One of our ships a month ago had dusted it. There were some Samutz in warships salvaging what they could. I took the ships over after the Samutz were disposed of. I sent the ships to the other four worlds to reinforce their numbers. Another garrison of Mordis landed and took over from the Samutz. Other races were found and treated the same way as the Tandra were. It would be months before any of the newcomers would become capable of working for their own good.

On occasion I would see ships that had been captured long ago continue to lace an atmospheres of various planets with the viruses. They were given new orders with the override to assist in bring more converts to out side. It was calculated that the ships that had been given this code would in turn give it to others and eventually the entire galaxy would be covered. I did not have time to wait hundreds of thousands of years and jumped far ahead to start a new front.

Susan came out of the tank and I was there to greet her. I had taken the cowards way out with the woman I loved and got Jamal to remove or tone down her memories so that she was not so vindictive about the Samutz.

She kissed me tenderly and began wondering a bit about why she was in the tank this time. Her brain was a bit foggy. I just told her that I loved her and took her to the cleanser with me. Later I gave her the closest I could to a home cooked meal.

"Henry what happened to all my sunas? I mean my sisters." She was a bit embarrassed about the term because one term did not take into account me being here. I was still sure that she wanted the reinforcement of the family.

Susan just glared at me for a moment. Then I said, "I went to a planet called Defren after dropping you off at Guulas. The Tandra here were very advanced in many ways. They did practice a form slavery and even if I was not trying to form an alliance I would want to stop it. After a battle with some Samutz I demanded that the slavery cease immediately. There was a lot of animosity but the process did begin. We managed to recruit many Mordis like Chris from this planet and the other affiliated systems. Some of the older ones are in the tanks getting their bodies altered to what nature intended. I have been dropping groups off as we go. Some infantry and techs were left at the four systems I mentioned to strengthen their defences. We now have an agreement with their queen. That is where we are going now."

"Henry, I see something else when you spoke of this Queen... Bassinda. What is it?"

"I took her as my wife. She is very headstrong and her people are not likely to follow the old Tandra laws. It is a good place for you to help me."

Susan was now upset that I had unilaterally taken another wife. It was her candasu and she was metsu. I continued "The Tandra here are further advanced technologically than what we have seen. They actually built this ship as a way of appeasing the Samutz till they were strong enough to resist them. Their galvanized weapons are better in design than ours were. Our new enemy may mean that better computers will be our only edge. Biologicals can come under attack by the Thonas even from behind a shield. Their pain induced attack keeps us from functioning properly. The AI is the only thing that stands up to the attack and it must fight alone."

As Susan continued to fume, I formed in my mind the tube of energy and directed it to take us to Defren. Jamal started to send our identification so that when we got there we would not be shot at. I made a polite entrance to the system by slowing down enough to allow them to know who was knocking at their door.

Empress Bassinda greeted me almost immediately from her throne. "Henry, I am so glad you are back."

I could detect a lot of relief in her thoughts and figured she was pressed by the opposition. We shot in fast now and stopped just as quickly. Susan said, "Henry how can we do this? We were travelling much faster than before and I couldn't feel your link so that we or I could help you go faster."

The Tandra onboard were allowed to talk freely with any relatives or friends below but most had come from the other systems that used to belong to this empire. There was not as much animosity as I thought there would be because the sleepers knew that they had to help the Samutz or let their small empire suffer.

Susan and I left in a shuttle with some Mordis infantry. These were picked by Jamal because of their strength of mind and their distaste for the people that had forced this form on them. They left the shuttle and stood in ranks on both sides as I walked down the ramp with Susan.

Bassinda was at the bottom and eyed Susan as she walked down. I could see some animosity right away. Bassinda had accepted the others because they were not dominant but Susan fairly swaggered beside me to flaunt her status. After the two women were introduced we left for a meeting with all Bassinda's councillors.

It was easy to see how difficult a time it was to change the laws back to the way it had been for millions of years. The people did not grasp yet that they had done anything wrong and wanted to keep the status quo. In the large room I said, "I have found out an important fact. Millions of years ago your ancestors have been fighting the Thonas. The old enemy is now back as allies of the Samutz and you must fight them as your people once did."

This brought a lot of consternation because they knew how hard it was to defeat the Thonas. Every time the Thonas came out, they came out stronger than before and many millions of Tandra died to protect their race.

All through my discussion I showed data on the Thonas, their twelve sided bodies and almost incomprehensible ships. Susan and Bassinda studied the information intently but I could see that they were also eyeing each other for dominancy.

The data had been transferred to Defren for study by various groups. Now was the time for their thinkers to try to come up with a better way of dealing with them. I was asked how I had acquired the data and I said, "I formed a mental screen around the ship that was many seconds in the past. This was also used to cut through the Thonas hull. This I can do with my mind alone and it would be good for you to find alternative means for this to be accomplished."

There were gasps of incredulity but the data showed that I had told the truth. Travelling at thousands of light years without an engine had already been mentioned and this too was found hard to believe.

The AIs scientists and theorists now worked on the problem while I left with my wives to the Empress' quarters. Jamal went after the Parmain where I had been hurt. He was going to bring it back to be worked on and to investigate the current state of the computer. I had left it with instructions to continue replicating the matrix that I had already started.

The women walked on each side of me trying to get me to notice one more than the other. There were a few people in the halls and they reverently bowed to us as we went by. This was something that Bassinda encouraged and I thought it right if it helped her deal with her people. They were still angry at the attempted reintroduction of the old laws.

When we passed the living guards and into the sitting room I said to Bassinda, "How have you been feeling my wife? You seem to have a glow about you now. I can see that our child is doing very well."

She just smiled got close and licked the side of my face a few times. Instead of replying in kind I took her in my arms and kissed her with all the passion I had saved for her. When I stood her back up she caught her breath and said, "I have been waiting a long time for that. Will you give me something more to remind me why I love you?"

"I intend to do that. First I want to have a family discussion." I walked over to some chairs instead of calling on the computer to support us. "We seem to be having a few problems. Bassinda you need some additional help to convince your people to institute and then follow the old laws. Susan needs some time away from the Samutz and I feel she can help you."

Both women started to deny the idea. Susan said verbally to make a point, "I have no problem with the Samutz. I just want to kill each and every one of them. I will..."

Bassinda cut in "I can handle the problems here without a woman that seems so fixated. The councillors get perturbed when their friends have to go to court and found guilty of things under the current laws that were quite legal only a few months ago."

"Appoint Susan as your chief magistrate and let her take the heat. She fully knows Tandra law and this will allow you to knock the citizens back into line. This way you can use Susan as a stalking horse as you flank them."

Susan said with her voice again, "I will not administer law here. I don't know where you got that idea. I am your wife not a bureaucrat."

"Susan you are my wife and that is the reason you will be staying here to help your sister/wife do an important job. Defren is the most advanced of all the planets we have. The people have been building war ships for a long time and have come up with many advances. Bassinda is fighting almost alone now for us and she needs help, even if she says she doesn't want it."

Bassinda said, "Husband, I was speaking the truth. I do not want this woman's help."

"Wife," I said, "you will work with your sister to do this. I can see the situation better than most and I know that you will probably fail alone. This time you may be hurt in a contrived accident and I do not want you to be hurt or worse. Susan will stay and help, and that is final."

Bassinda was angry but since being bonded at our first meeting found that she had to go along with what I said even if it seemed objectionable. Susan said, "Henry I will not stay here."

"Susan, you will stay here. Your people need you and your active assistance. You also need a time to get over some of your hate and channel it into something constructive."

Susan just sat with her arms folded over her chest and looked away. I stood up and used the tractors to pick up Bassinda and strip her of her clothing one piece at a time. Bassinda just gave a small 'eeek' then quieted as she saw what was happening. When she was naked I had tractors remove my clothing too and then floated all three of us into her bedroom. Susan was very indignant that this was happening and just sat in a chair as Bassinda was placed in the centre of the bed.

Taking Bassinda's foot, I slowly kissed my way up the inside of her leg. She said, "Husband, oh Henry, just come to me and forget that." I ignored her and continued with my slow methodical approach. I worked on both women's minds to get them more excited. I could see Susan in my mind breathing faster but not wanting to have anything to do with a woman she saw as bossy. When I got to the juncture, her hand held my head in position as she let out a groan. I used more tractors to hold her legs then her hands too as she was pinned to the bed and could not move very much.

Ignoring her I continued to tease her unmercifully. I sucked her distended urethra only in short strokes because I knew she would orgasm otherwise. My hands stroked her torso and caressed her small breasts. When I found her nipples I gave them little pinches and her breathing came in gasps. She was not able now to even encourage me to mount her. All I could hear were mumbles in my mind as Bassinda became more disassociated with what we were doing.