Chapter 82

Secric started to remove her clothes first. I just let her know how beautiful I found her and started to remove my own clothing as I watched. She came into my arms and I held her small body to me, just luxuriated in her feel. It was like part of me that had been missing for a long time had been found again. I pulled back a bit and used my hand to elevate her chin. She saw my tears as I said, "It had been too long my wife. I have missed you so much. A day doesn't go by without me thinking of you and the life you bear. Our child grows large within you now and I see her both healthy and strong. I am also proud of what you and Mom have accomplished here. No husband could be more happy."

She got a few tears of her own but stayed quiet. In a moment I picked her up, brought her to the bed and took my time to make slow methodical love to her. She had many orgasms and I was careful of the life she bore. After an hour I moved to her back passage and filled her many more times before she collapsed completely.

As she lay in my arms I could see the peace and serenity in her. She slept for hours in my arms as my mind worked on the problems of this particular system and gloried in the woman I held. Ship repair had improved but the people directing the computers would take many more years to get over their slavery and learn the necessary skills that their race once had. All I could do to assist was to raise the intelligence of many of the AIs, so that they could take over the burden of getting the Tandra back on their feet.

The computers in the tug and the Strangle were doing fine but would still take a while to complete. The Earth Mom, Harriet and a few others were assisting as best they could while still performing their other duties. Secric stretched then opened her eyes to see me staring into hers. "Oh, I love to wake up this way." She thought of my plans which she had learned from the data I had sent and continued, "When will you have to leave my husband?"

I bent over and kissed her then said, "You will now be in communication with me all the time and soon with the rest of our family too. One day perhaps all the galaxy will be linked this way. It's too bad that I cannot send myself the same way a matter transmitter does in the upper dimensions. If I could, then I could be with you all at once." I went on, "Before I have to leave I want more AIs here to be improved to assist us in rebuilding the system and in its defense too."

I followed the reasoning in her mind but she said instead, "Make love to me Henry. I never get enough." Of course I obliged till she fell unconscious again.

When she awoke next I took both of us to the cleanser and then got dressed for our meal. When we finished I had Secric show me some of the things she had personally had a hand in that were doing very well. I saw the resettlement camps and met many of the local leaders. Not all were Tandra but all seemed to be very earnest in trying to help their particular group.

Large fabricators had been built to build other fabricators to rebuild the defenses. There were enough ships and the fabricators dealt with weapons and their associated platforms. Soon, I knew many small missiles would be built with the temporal shield that would make the larger missile obsolete unless a counter could be found.

I stayed four Earth days and helped Mom gain her full potential. She was just as capable as her Earth counterpart. The Strangle and seven dozen other craft were improved. There was very little probability of any enemy taking the system now. This was good for here but not all the other systems were as lucky. Some of the craft that were completed first were sent off to guard where small garrisons had been placed. I wanted to take care of the ones my wives held and also the Fairchch system where Governor Roderick and his six men and fifty nine Tandra governed.

Secric cried when she knew I was about to leave but recovered as she saw that she could still converse with me in my small ship. She was convinced to get back to work and do what she could for the people of this system.

In less than ten minutes I was in the major ship building system of Fairchch. The system was very well guarded and I just communicated with the nearest major vessel and asked it to spread the word back with its much more powerful transmitters. Governor Roderick was very glad to see me as I stepped from my ship. He looked haggard from loss of sleep and stress. I had to sympathize with him for I liked a simple military operation best too.

"Emperor Buchanan, it is so nice to see you. I watched the progress of your small ship and I could not believe the speed you are capable of."

"I have found out a lot more things that will help us. Tell me more of what happened to you since I picked up the data packet coming through here a few weeks ago." All his problems were small when looked on during a war but large when considering the running of a large system. His Tandra assistants had done their best but for some reason the races on the main planet were not as forthcoming with their assistance or in embracing the old Tandra ideals.

I talked to him about what I had accomplished recently, only leaving out the ability to stride the corridors between computers in the upper dimensions. Only the AIs knew of this; only the ones that were loyal to me. I did start to alter ships, a planetary based AI and three space stations that worked on fabricating and repairing ships to a higher intelligence. The latter would also be manufacturing weapons for the ships that would not be able to alter the crystals necessary for the missiles.

While the computers worked to rebuild themselves, I went to some of the areas that seemed to having problems. With my aura all out I had no problem getting the Tandra and other races to gather their people for some meetings, so that I could talk to everybody face to face, even if there were a few million of them. The first meeting was arranged as I worked on the ships that were guarding the system. Roderick had kept two men and two Tandra as adjutants while the four other men and a dozen Tandra now captained battleships patrolling the fringes of the system.

The meetings were well attended and the imperial theme played. They all bowed and stayed that way till Roderick told them to arise. Across the planet, I was told, most of the other Tandra watched if not able to attend personally. He talked very well about the way the war was being fought and what I had to do with it. From the crowd I got a feeling of relief. He turned to me and touched on the fact that he was not getting enough assistance from the group in front of us.

I spoke for the first time to this group and asked the general populous what was wrong. I could feel some discontent in a few places but could get no one to voice their concerns. Unarmed Tandra in my colours went into the audience and homed on a representative of the people that seemed to be most opposed to helping our cause. They were all encouraged to come forward without fear of repercussions. The fact that they would loose face when they were among friends, for not complying, was the only reason they approached me.

I was given a deep bow but not all of them saw me as the rightful leader. Rather than talk, I gave them some of the images that I had seen and corrected in the last few months. They were quite familiar with Samutz atrocities. Seeing new races that were now our allies was just nice. The Thonas seemed to make them cringe. They saw how easy I destroyed the enemy ships and even planets. Lastly, I showed them their ancestral home; actually where it once was.

"During the last while I have traveled a lot and found no major Tandra civilization that could prosecute this war. I found no Tandra individual that could take all of you and bind you to a single cause of freeing this galaxy of lawlessness. What I have found is the remnants of a once great empire that is slowly going extinct. You all will live to an old age as will many of your decedents but eventually the Tandra will all die out. Some will be both deaf and dumb to mindspeech and others will be eaten or languish in a barbaric civilization that cannot do what you can now accomplish."

"The Tandra and other races could pull together and defeat any enemy that threatens us. Separated we are all doomed. Other Tandra are freely giving their time and energy to prepare this planet for more battles. This is because I cannot keep all the ships here to protect you. Other planets are almost defenseless and need the protection that even a few major ships will bring."

I looked at the Tandra before me and said, "Now, tell me your reasons for not cooperating."

Many reasons were given once the first one spoke but it was easy to see even from the audience that they were skirting the issue. I was just a foolish Human that was impersonating a Tandra emperor. They saw that I really had little power and at the moment only had the backing of a handful of supporters and the AIs.

"I see that you feel that you do not want or need me. Here is my decree. Within the next four days everybody on this planet that does not want to work for the common good will be compelled to leave. I will give you ships that will allow you to go to any place you want. If you land on any planet within the influence of the Alliance, you will be required to again make a decision to help or move on. Eventually you will find a home that will give you freedom from my rule and freedom to protect yourselves from what this galaxy has to offer."

The next morning every Tandra over 14 years of age was asked to choose. It took two more days for the AIs to go through the entire population. There were slightly over a hundred thousand dissidents. They were brought forward and placed in four heavily armed cruisers. There were only a few altercations but they were used to this sort of discipline. Some cried and wanted to recant their choice but I did not allow this. There were enough former military officers to command the ships and I sent them off toward our frontier. Their AIs were under orders not to stop until they reached this area and not to return.

The remainder of the population began to work for their own good and ours. I had altered enough ships to do as I said. Many ships were sent off to many of the systems that paid homage to the former Samutz king. There were few major ships remaining when I left but they were much stronger and smarter than the more numerous variety that were here when I arrived.

Zindor was my next destination. Blue ruled this former capital with Cal. There were many ships here when I left the system and many were still here. Blue and Cal were very happy to greet me.

"Oh husband, it has been so long and I was so worried that you would have been hurt."

I kissed her just like old times and I believe she had a small orgasm before it ended. "I have missed you too. I miss the old days when we were all together." I started to talk about her daughter, Topaz, and how she was growing and maturing. Then I said, "It's better to have you do your own talking." She did not know what I meant and I simply led her to the captain's quarters.

Cal had been repaired and improved a bit but was not up to what I now knew he could be. I left Blue with a promise to return soon and went into Cal's computer. I did my altering and within a few moments I was back with Blue. We both sat in something like a love seat and I told her "Ask Cal to connect you with Earth and our daughter." She looked at me incredulously but did as I asked. The screen came alive showing the interior of the apartment on the moon. Topaz, thankfully, was studying and not making love when we called. When she suddenly turned at hearing her mother's mindspeak, she saw us sitting together.

Topaz was shocked and got up before remembering that we were not really in front of her. "Mommy, oh Mommy, I missed you."

Blue did not know what to say but decided to try "I missed you too Topaz. Our husband here seems to like playing jokes on us. I did not know I was able to talk to you till just now."

Topaz was learning and said, "We have at least a thousand years to get even with him. My daughters will do the same thing. One day he may learn; but then again, he's only a male."

Blue actually smiled at that thought and said, "I believe you're right. Tell me what you have been doing." The conversation went on for a while till Moth came in and saw Blue, then called the rest of the family. When Ingrid and her children came, I introduced them to Blue and vice versa. It was comfortable to just sit here in the presence of some of my family.

While we were talking, the major AIs looked at this system to see how improvements could be made. I called Cal and asked him to connect us to Falm and Secric. When she came on she saw all of us together and this formed a conversation as if we were all in the same large room. Dola was introduced and eventually all eighteen Human children that looked fully half Tandra came in too. Nova's new child, that she knew nothing about, came in with Roger and Justine's children. I wanted to introduce the last three as my children too but knew that this would be misunderstood and only used their first names.

Blue looked at Secric and could see the unmistakable indications of pregnancy that anyone could now see. I could see her need for the same state and decided to do something about it later. Before we ended the get-together Doris came on with Carl and the four girls.

I wondered where Duc and Lam were and found them trying to give us some privacy with their own large family. Mom brought them into the gathering too and Duc was happy to introduce his new sons. Blue found it easy to spot Lam's pregnancy and again she felt slighted or perhaps neglected.

The conversation went on for hours and I got food for Blue and ate some with her. When the conversation started to lag I called an end to our participation and said goodbye. Blue knew she could talk at any time now and was happy to say the same thing.

An hour later Blue released an egg but I pinched it and selected one of my choosing. Three hours later a numerically large army attacked and one was able to breach the barrier and gain entrance. Blue was ecstatic when I showed her the fertilized egg. I stayed a week with Blue and helped her with many of the same problems that plagued Roderick. Cal, though, had many more Tandra onboard that did a better job of convincing the now free slaves on the planet below our feet.

I had another meeting but this time the loyal Tandra went among the planet's population and put them into more of a receptive mood. When I arrived many bowed as they would to a Tandra Empress and soon the remainder did something similar. The local equivalent of news had many of the battle scenes and how we faired. Usually we won but not always. Some battles left many wounded and dead. The results did show an ever growing volume of space that showed the imperial yellow. Things did pick up even more when I said that Blue was my wife and thus a regent in her own right.

Cal was improved further and even given some minor crystals in the same fashion that Jamal had. This would allow him to think better and delegate tasks to many of the sub-processors. Many improved ships were sent out to guard the planets that the Samutz king once held in the palm of his hand. The beacon that I had left in the system had kept the rogue Samutz from invading and causing Blue more aggravation. She was able to claim the ships though, once she gained the override.

With Zindor now watched and protected better, I left for Sallis; King Dulfa's old realm. This one was very strong and with his many new ships he had garnered many systems. Blue would have cried as I left but had talked to Secric and knew that she would be able to see me at any time.

Sallis held not only three of my wives but two very pregnant ones. Chris would be too but not showing very much yet. The system was still very well guarded. I had left two million mordis here to insure that it stayed in our hands. Instead of watching a screen I went in again at maximum, after giving them notification of who I was.

I docked in a large battleship and thousands of mordis infantry stood at attention as the imperial anthem played. I wanted to rush to my wives but followed protocol instead, saluting the far wall and waiting for the music to end. Even then I had to walk slowly to the three lovely girls in front of me. They loved the procession; they too wanted me.

When I stopped I had to be circumspect. There were many officers present that I knew were not in my original allotment of troops. I searched their minds and found them to be techs that had been in Samutz ships that had been captured. Their old ranks had not mattered to the Samutz. When they found freedom, they readily pushed their way to the top with initiative and leadership. They all bowed to me, even my wives that had large waists. The curtsy was not used here because there were no dresses.

Chris had practised a speech and welcomed her emperor to this system. She introduced the dozen or so Tandra and gave a small blurb about each one. Some had made a name for themselves a very long time ago, while all seemed to have made a name for themselves in the present. With the large number of ships, they could afford to take the fight to the Samutz without endangering the system like Susan had.

Chris promised a banquet and I found I had to attend. She pleaded with me on a silent channel, that the two younger wives had planned this for me for at least a month. Amy and Star had worked exceptionally hard at this. Part of it was a way to pay me back for trusting them after the way they treated me. For the next two hours I visited many different facilities, all to do with the war effort. I made appropriate noises at the right times and this pleased the girls as well as the management and techs that had done all the work.

Finally I was allowed to go to an apartment that Chris had set up. Apparently it was not the one Susan had picked and it was another way of showing independence from the woman that gave me those problems. I could see that Amy and Star were very gravid and I had them sit as soon as possible. Chris was only beginning to show and that was only because of all the secondary signs.

This time I kissed Chris first and foremost for keeping not only herself safe but a major portion of my family. I put my hand to her abdomen and said, "She is growing very well. Do you remember the vision I had?"

"I will never forget it, husband. My daughter was there and I knew that at least one path would lead us to that future."

"Perhaps more than one path will get us there."

I moved to Star, who was the next in line. I kissed her very tenderly as if she would break. "How have you been my wife? I have missed you very much."

She cried a little and said, "Oh, I missed you too. It was so good having Chris and Amy here but I missed you the most."

I put my hand on her belly and felt the large lump that a Tandra woman would not have. "How is our baby treating you? Are you in much more pain than what the other Tandra women would go through?"

"Only a little, my husband. It is worth it though."

"It is things like that, that will make future generations very strong."

Amy was hugged and kissed next. "I missed you very much, Amy. How are you and our child doing, Honey?"

"I missed you too. The only way to keep me from getting too sad was to work hard. Star and I did many things together to help the people here and on the ships, while Chris ran the entire system almost single handedly."

"I can see that she could do such a good job. Perhaps because she has four hands do you think?"

She smiled at the old joke and then began to cry in earnest. Soon the other two joined in and I knew them to be tears of joy that we were together again. We all retired to the bedroom and I undressed each of my wives, one at a time. I kissed their lips then their abdomens before putting them to bed. I got into bed facing them. Before they could question me I began to tell them many of the things that had happened; except the communications, which were going to be a surprise for later.

Dola was new to them and they took him in stride. They all remembered Ingrid and her children and I told them that she was now a wife. I explained about Jeremy, Matthew and Sofia needing a father while their mother and her lover learn to be soldiers. Ingrid's tiara was described; what it did for her and what I hoped it would do for my family. Lastly, I told them about my trip across the galaxy and the fate of the original Tandra worlds.

The fact that I could do such a thing did not seem to bother them very much but the fact that their race was now without roots did hurt. They thought for a few minutes, trying to get a grip on the situation, when I said, "Our race has as many roots as it needs. Within you three are more than anybody needs to carry on. There are more Tandra in other locations. Some groups are fairly large and some will be small; but eventually, with your help, we will build a new civilization that will be still going many millions of years from now."

The girls did cry a little and this time I went to the youngest first and made very tender love to her. I used my lips, tongue and fingers first; and only after I deduced it was safe did I use her other openings.

Chris and Star did not please each other but only watched. When Amy fell asleep, I took Star and did almost the same thing to her. When she collapsed later I covered her up like Amy and then started to make a more vigorous love to Chris. When I finished with her, she had my seed in all her orifices and was twitching in her sleep from the effect on her system.

I wanted to stay with my wives but I wanted them to be even happier with seeing the majority of our family. The local computer for this area was fairly minor. After dressing I stepped outside the doors of our suite and found guards at the door. The AI could do a much better job but this was what they wanted to do. I found, through their minds, the head of security. Within a minute, a tall Tandra woman by the name of Koco came to me and bowed very low. "You have need of me, My Emperor?"

"Yes, I do. I want to go to the main computer for this area of the planet. I want the least possible ceremony for I have work to do."

"Yes, My Emperor."

We went quickly about a hundred klicks away and landed in front of a small, heavily defended dome. Koco said, "Would you like me to get some technicians? They would be happy to do whatever you need."

"Thank you but they will not be necessary. Please wait, I will only be a few minutes." I made my identity and my intention known to the computer. I was allowed in past all the automated security. The matter transmitter took me to the hatch. In a minute I had opened a large area and contacted Mom on Earth. The AI was now prevented from divulging the secrets and I began to populate an area that would handle this system much better. While this was happening, my AI family would be assisting this computer to grow and take over its duties. Frieda again gave me a fairly large crystal and some smaller ones. These were processed and laid aside till they were needed.

Koco drove me back to the apartment. She was dying to know what I had done and I decided to tell her part of it. "You are the first on this planet to know this, Koco. The computer I was just in will become at least a thousand times more capable soon; and before that happens, you will be able to talk to people on far planets as you do now with the communicator. This is one of the things that your race tried to find for millions of years. Now you will all have it but it takes time to set up each planet."

"You mean I can talk to our home planet?"

"I am sorry, Koco but your home planet and many others had been destroyed by the Thonas millions of years ago. The communications have not been tested yet for maximum range. Perhaps it will reach that far. I have no idea yet."

The woman was upset about an old hope dying but began to feel a joy about the new ability of the communicator. I hurried into the apartment and was just in time to see Amy get groggily out of bed. She wobbled a bit and I assisted her to the bathroom and held her as she peed. "Thank you, my husband. It is getting more difficult to do that all the time."

I had an idea suddenly, "What if I get Topaz and the younger ones here to help? They would love to be with you and they can be here when the baby is born."

She gave me her old Tandra smile and said, "Oh yes, bring them. I miss them too."

"Well I have a surprise for you. Let's get you dressed and then your sisters. You are going to have some visitors."

"Who?"

"If I told, then it wouldn't be a surprise."

I helped get the other two dressed and into a comfortable position before saying, "Chris, ask the computer to talk to Secric please?"

"Secric? She is too far away to talk to." I looked at her and remained silent. She got the hint and said, "Will you please connect me to Secric?"

Secric was sleeping and I did not want to see her disturbed. All of us could see her large abdomen go up and down as she breathed. I closed the connection. "You better try Kitten on Earth."

The view this time showed Kitten, Dola and Ingrid lying almost asleep themselves. They were all naked and it was easy to see what they had been doing. I didn't want this to happen to me and decided to have the recipients of the calls opt for only audio. Amy quickly took off her clothing and soon Star and Chris did the same. Amy mindspoke only to me, "Husband will you come over here and give me pleasure?" I did as she asked and her groans and finally her scream of pleasure let the others know we were here.

As the conversations went on, I simply sat back on a seat and watched the interaction of my wives. Dola was not too shy now but I could see his worry that he could not give me what the girls could. Kitten was going to get Secric when I said, "She is sleeping and she needs her rest."

Blue was not sleeping, though and joined the now three way conversation. I stayed for an hour and then said that I had to do other things and excused myself. A hen party like this did not need a male even though Dola fit in well.

I communicated through Harriet about the condition of this system's defences. The consensus of the major AIs was that the system was now defendable but some ships placed a little differently would increase the safety margin a good five percent. The major ships and even minor ones, that should be added to our ever widening list of ships were made. Mom sent orders through the local computer to move the fleet a bit and to rotate some of the units to the planet to be refitted.

In the meantime I had Koco take me to more ground based units and get them upgraded. The ships came in regularly and I had set up a special protocol where they didn't see me and thus did not have to put on any fancy uniforms or break their stride.

The ships that were closest were done first and I had to change for the banquet that was in my honour. Chris had my clothes ready, as were their own. They were very formal as were mine; but over the millions of years the Tandra had lived, they found ways of being comfortable and dignified at the same time.

The imperial theme started as we entered the large banquet hall. I had my hands on Amy and Star while Chris walked beside Amy. Everybody had bowed when we came in and rose as we passed. I seated my wives as everybody else stood by their chairs. After sitting I said simply, "Please be seated."

They all sat in military precision. There was to be a majordomo that would introduce us but I vetoed the idea because of the length of time. I arose after a minute and everybody suddenly quieted. I gave what I thought was a good speech about what they had done here in this system. I especially thanked the mordis infantry that were fairly numerous here for their dedication and hard work. Others I mentioned by name as I drew their information from the computer. I did not overdo it by mentioning everybody but I did get the ones that worked the hardest to make the system and the alliance as safe as possible.

The food was good and some was Earth food produced in the replicators. The Tandra population had tasted some before and now had a chance to try more. Mom from Earth had shared this data along with troop strengths and the number of ships. After the banquet I got to meet many more people. Not all of them were Tandra, though and I was happy to speak in the native tongue with Softay and T'aut.

Later, when we were alone, I thought more of my position. The adoration was nice for a while but I did not want to revel in it. It had a necessary purpose. The pecking order of chickens came to mind and the current empire seemed to be just a large flock of different breeds of hens. Private time alone in a crowd of people would now be long gone unless I wore a disguise.