Chapter 41

Besides the Sussmann, which was more or less a light cruiser, our fleet consisted of the only battleship we had (Berserker), along with three cruisers (Wildcat, Tiger, and Lion), five destroyers (Griffin, Dragon, Wyvern, Basilisk, and Chimera) and two carriers (Avenger, and Dauntless). There was also a transport filled with enough personnel to pilot the Borealan fleet back to Vanir. We would escort the transport. if the Kraal weren't encountered, we would have accomplished something anyway.

Angel was on the Avenger, along with Jim, Jan, and Faith. The rest of our family was on the flagship with me, those that were making the journey, anyway. We weren't exactly hunting trouble. If it showed up, we would at least be better prepared.

We passed by the area where the last encounter had taken place, but it was deserted. Nothing at all was seen on the entire trip, until we neared Anaboreal. The sensors went nuts, and navagation reported "There's multiple ships on scan! Not sure how many, but there's a lot of the fuckers.

I called out "Set battle status one!" and heard the reply of "Fuckin' aye, sir!" immediately.

My eyes were focussed on the main viewing screen. Coming into range was a fleet roughly twice the size of ours.

The Kraal must be creatures of habit. The same message was recieved of "Surrender or die!"

To break the monotony, a reply of "Bite me" was sent. The fighters were then launched.

The Kraal response has immediate, and if we had been equipped with the earlier shield design, it may have been overwhelming. With the new shields, the smaller fleet shrugged it off with no problem.

The order of "Fire at will!" was sent to all ships. As soon as the acknowledgement of the order was heard, the destruction began.

An idea of Jim's began to pay dividends quickly. The shields on the fighters extended only two meters from the hull, due to power restrictions. There was a three meter extension on the nose containing an anti-matter cannon. It played havoc with the Kraal ships that were destroyer sized or smaller.

We saw the first enemy fighters, then. We figured they had believed they weren't neccessary before this. All of Angel's work with the fighter jocks, along with the design of the little craft, proved to be effective against them.

The Kraal attack hadn't lessened any, and the Eridani ships began to take some damage. I heard the reports, but forced myself to ignore them. There were people whose job it was to deal with it. Mine lay in front of me. "Execute 'Sucker punch'!" I called.

Wildcat, Tiger, and Wyvern, withdrew. The combatants were roughly even in number at this point.

The majority of the Kraal fleet was destroyed before they attempted to flee. The three ships that had been sent away ambushed the remnants of the Kraal, destroying all but a couple of stragglers.

"Battle status four! Damage report!" I ordered.

The reply to the order was drowned out by the cheering. I wasn't one of the celebrants.

"This ain't no fuckin' party, people!" I screamed.

The cheering cut off. "I want damage and casualty reports, yesterday!"

The mood quickly grew somber at the report.

"Dauntless reports major structural damage and many casualties, sir. She's lost power. Avenger reports some damage with unknown casualties, she's still able to fight. Berserker is reporting no damage. Sir... Griffin is gone. All hands."

"Transfer personnel from Dauntless, space available. Search and rescue, launch. If we have any disabled fighters, I want the pilots back ASAP. What about us?" There was no yelling this time. I had said it all in a monotone.

"Hull breach in compartment three, sealed. Sick bay reports three dead, five injured.

It got worse. Jim had taken a direct hit from a Krall battleship. There was nothing left. Angel had a broken collarbone, but was still in command of Dauntless and the fighter wing. Tina had been in Engineering. That was compartment three.

As soon as I recieved the report, I rushed to her side. Angeni had beaten me to it. Her injuries were severe, but thanks to the quick actions of their mate, she would survive. I hadn't known it, but Jackie had been there, too. She wasn't as lucky.

As didn't get any better. Avenger had taken a severe hit directly on sick bay. Faith had been the chief medical officer on her. She was gone. Jan had been with her, and was also dead.

The fleet remained stationary for three days, as those who were able healed the most severely injured casualties. The autodocs took care of the minor ones. The transport rejoined us. It had been sent out of harm's way before the battle. I went through the motions require of me in a fog. Over two hundred people had been lost. The fact that the Kraal had lost thousands did little to alleviate the pain.

I supposed that I should feel ashamed of myself, but even the loss of Jim and Jan was meaningless compared to losing Jackie and Faith. My mates were in just as bad a shape. Angel was, perhaps (if possible), even worse. She had lost both a mate, and a mother. It was surprising that she managed to perform her duties at all.

After the memorial ceremony, the Gallians informed us that they would be joining our alliance. They would also send a report of the action to other races. No one had ever defeated the Krall in battle. I didn't feel as if we'd won.

All of us were an emotional wreck. When there was nothing left to do, the grief hit like a ton of bricks. If not for my surviving mates, I have no idea what I would have done. As it was, they needed me. That need was the only thing that kept me from going completely insane.

We held each other tightly all night. Angel would not let me out of her sight, or her grasp. We took what comfort we could in each other. With all of us in the same shape, that was little enough.

Basilisk was left at Boreal for protection of the detatchment there, while the people sent began the grisly cleanup effort. The dead don't bury themselves. Though it was difficult, everyone in our group, except Angel, resumed our duties. She refused to leave the flagship. Command was turned over to her executive officer.

Upon arrival at Vanir, mom and dad, along with Dee, Jane, and Lucy (Connie's mother) were waiting. So was a very large crowd. The crowd was there to celebrate. The parents were there to grieve with us. We made our escape as quickly as possible, retreating to the palace.

I could tell that mom was really worried about me. I must have looked like shit. The Gods know I certainly felt like it. After getting no response from several attempts to speak to me that evening, She dragged me to a room away from the others.

"I know you're hurting, Matt" she began. "I'd like to tell you that it will get better. I'm not going to lie and do that, because it won't. You should know that. You lived through both a close friend, and your father's deaths before. Perhaps it's time you looked at the differences between now and then."

At least she got a response. "That was tough, there's no denying it. When Bryan was killed, it was the first time I had lost a friend. I didn't know how to deal with grief of any kind. Dad was much, much worse. I felt that I had let him down most of my life. I'd been nothing but a huge dissapointment to him. What really hurt, was that I tried to remember the last time I'd told him that I loved him. I couldn't do it. I don't know that I ever did tell him."

And now," mom asked? "When was the last time you told Jackie, Faith, Jan, and Jim how you felt about them? I'm betting that it was the day they died. Am I right?"

I couldn'r speak, but mannaged a nod.

"Matt, they were right where they wanted to be, and doing what they loved to do. You all knew that it was very possible that some of you wouldn't be returning to Vanir. You knew that war is never choosy about whose life it claims. There is one important thing I think you're forgetting, though."

After my strained reply of "What?", she went on.

You're a firm believer in your religion, and for good reason. After the Gods appeared, I tought it would a good idea to study a religion known to be based in fact. I read about the Norns. It was surprising to me that even the Gods have a thread that may be cut. Each being has a life span that is pre-determined. If it is our time, we will die. There seems to be a plan in everything that happens. You have used your beliefs for strength all your life. Perhaps it is time you used them for comfort, as well."

As usual, my mother was correct. She also was far from finished.

"You may not like it, or want it, but everyone who has come here looks to you for leadership. If you collapse under adversity, so will they. You will lose this fight before it has even begun. I'm not asking you to forget those who have been lost, or those that will be in the future. What I am asking, is for you to love and remember them. Act as they would have wished you would, and perhaps still do. I have only known you as a fighter and as a leader. You have to keep doing both, if this Federation is to survive. If you or any of your mates give up, all of the people here will, most likely, die.

I managed a smile, though sad and small. "Maybe they chose the wrong person for the job," I said. "You might be able to do it a lot better."

She hugged me and replied "Being a mother is the only job I want, or need.

"And you do it very well," I told her. I know I'll see them again when my time is done, mom. I'll miss them terribly, but you're right. We have to go on without them. I just hope that when I go, it is in battle. They're all in Valhalla, now. I don't want to have to wait for Ragnarok to see them again. Thank you for the wake-up call, and though I haven't said it for at least ten minutes, I love you."

She gave me a last kiss on the cheek, along with a swat on the butt. "I know," she said. I love you, too." She added, "I'll miss Jackie and Faith the most, I think. Those two were just so caring and loving. I suppose it was partly because of their lives before they met you. They seemed determined that no child they met would be lacking for love. There are probably hundreds who will miss them almost as much as we do. I didn't get to know Jan and Jim very well, but they seemed much the same. Take the rest of the week to talk with those you love. After that, you need to get busy."

"I have no idea where to start, mom," I admitted. "I'm told that the fleet we faced was only a small portion of what the Krall can mount. All but three of our ships were with us. We lost one of those, and others will take a month to get back in shape. The Borealan ships will take just as long to be re-fitted. If they find us and attack in force, we're pretty well screwed."

Aptly put, I'm sure" she smiled. "Again, you're forgetting things. That's not like you. I spoke to the Gallian envoy who remained here at length about just that. They have a huge fleet. What they didn't have, were weapons effective enough to go against the Krall. As soon as they agreed to join, plans were sent to their home world. They're being refitted as we speak. The Alarans were also convinced by the reports sent to them by the Gallians. They are waiting only to be accepted before refitting their own ships. If you admit them, you'll have ten times the fleet that you began with, and twice what the Krall have."

This was good news, especially when mom told me that the Alaran diplomatic party would be arriving within the week. Other than messages transmitted between us, we knew little of them. The Borealans and the Gallians seemed to think the Alarans were 'able warriors'. I suppose that spoke well of them.

I related my conversation with mom to my mates. I could see the determination return to their faces as I spoke. Rhonda and Connie had seemed unnafected. Not because they didn't have the fire, though. Dee, Jane, and Lucy were parents, too. They had also been busy.

Tina was almost enthusiastic. She was fully recovered now. The pain must have been almost unbearable for her. She had been burned over eighty percent of her body and suffered multiple broken bones. She was the first to speak.

"I'm getting my team together by the end of the week" she said. "The weapons we have now are good. I think we can do better. Shields are the main concern, especially on the carriers. As soon as those bastards realized how effective our fighters were, they concentrated on them. I think they sent more towards them than they did Basilisk! Those fucking assholes have got some severe payback for taking our mates away from us."

Rhonda had a plan, also. "We need to be more blatant in our recruiting. I say we should open offices on Earth. We should be very upfront that everyone who meets our requirements and wants to immigrate will be expected to serve in the navy or the komandos. Sooner or later, we're going to have to put people on the ground. We're even shorter there than we are in the navy. The Gallians are useless as ground forces, from what I've learned. I have no idea what the Alarans are like."

"Rhonda is right" Beth said. "In order to recruit, you're going to have to make an apperance on Earth, though. It should be soon, before Sally leaves office. Make it a fucking 'state visit', with all the trappings and shit. Honesty should be the key, too. We should all go, and leave no fucking doubt in any of their minds that we are all your mates. The time for hiding in the shadows is over. Sooner or later, the Krall will find Earth. Their asses are on the line as much as ours are."

That met with unanimous approval, and Sally would be contacted with the details. We planned to leave after dealing with the Alarans.

The days spent before the Alaran's arrival were spent in jump-starting our people. We capitalized on the "victory" to drum up their spirit. The shipyards were humming, and the training went on non-stop.

The Alarans were a huge surprise, in many ways. First of all, they were... huge. Compared to most humans, anyway. The average seemed to be roughly seven feet tall. They were also very muscular and well built. I add the last because they were also all women. I couldn't help but wonder if the Amazons from Earth legends had invented space travel and migrated.

They must have taken the proposed alliance very seriously. The leader of their people led the delegation. She was very cordial, if a bit stiff and formal. She first requested a tour of the main planet (Vanir) and as many facilities as she could squeeze into the schedule. I accompanied her on all of her explorations, as a guide. She seemed to expect this as a courtesy of one head of state to another.

Delia was a strikingly lovely woman. She was a bit taller than me, but had seemed shocked at the height and physique of myself and most of the other men. I was asked if she might speak to some of my "subjects" in private, and agreed. I thought it odd that all of the ones she talked to were women and girls, but supposed it had something to do with her culture. She though it was amazing that I greeted the majority of people by first name, and more so that I was usually addressed by mine.

Delia and her companions were very intense as they studied our weapons and training. I saw my first smile from her then. I don't know if you'd call it attractive. Predatory would be more accurate, I think.

We spent four days on the tour, before she announced "We have seen enough, President Sussmann. My representatives and yours will meet at sunrise tomorrow to discuss terms of our alliance, if that is acceptable to you."

I agreed, and they left for the quarters they had been assigned. My mates and I could only shake our heads and wonder.

Kathy was waiting to report when we got to our apartments. "I managed to get one of the 'ice maidens' to loosen up and talk, Matt. You better be very careful with this bunch. She gave me a really strong impression that these chicks hate all men with a passion. The only one of them that spoke to a man at all was Delia, and then only to you. Egar, the one I spoke to, seemed to feel sorry for her queen. It seems that speaking to a male is usually only done when issuing commands. I don't think they keep men as slaves, but it sounds like they're more like 'pets' than anything else. Tread carefully here, boss."

We thanked Kathy for the information, and promised to abide by her wishes. We discussed what she had learned, but it shed little light on what we knew, other than to explain the behavior of Delia towards me. We learned much more in the morning.

Delia and two others met with us in the conference room. She wasted no time. "I would speak'" she announced as soon as we had taken seats.

As anxious as my mates and I were for information, that wasn't a problem with us.

"I was wary of the Gallian's report to us," she began "mainly because your society was reported to us as being dominated by males. These were the words passed to us. This had very bad meaning to us, and I will explain. Perhaps you will understand our coldness."

After taking a deep breath, which did amazing things to the tight tunic she was wearing, she continued. "I will relate a bit of our history to you. We were also once a 'male dominated' culture. Our own experience seems to be different than yours, however. The males in our culture were dominant simply by keeping the women as little better than slaves. We were expected to remain in the home and do little more than care for children and spread our legs when required. We were what you would term 'chattel'."

The predatory look returned. "This had the result of causing us to unite and revolt. We are in charge, now. The roles were reversed." Her look changed to one of sadness. "I have wished for some time that my ancestors had not been quite so vindictive. A report by my aide assigned to study your history has re-inforced this belief. She has told me that your culture evolved along similar lines, but that the women did not take up arms."

Looking over our heads, she continued. "What I have observed here is what I wish for us to become. Your women tell me that all people in this place are equal. None are above another. I believe that this is what a civilized culture should be. It will take time, but I would attempt this. It will not be easy for us, nor for you. For us, the change may require generations. Our men are weak and frail. I regret this, for it is us who have caused this. It has been bred into them."

She paused for a moment, before looking at me. Now, I regret that I must tell you of the part that will be difficult for you. I have learned that you recently lost mates in battle. I honor them. This is the ultimate price that may be paid for freedom. It makes what I must tell you even more complicated. An alliance such as this can only be entered by us in one way. There is no alternative that would be accepted by my people. In order for them to believe you are acceptable allies, and considered our equals, you and I must mate for life."

A gasp went up from our side of the table, with mine perhaps being the loudest.

I stood. "You say that an arranged marriage is necessary for this alliance, and I can accept this in principal. You might even say that three of my mates came to me in this way. Angeni, of the Sioux Nation, was such a marriage. Keeli and Aleea, of the Borealan world, could be considered the same. I love all three of these women every bit as much as my other mates. They also feel the loss of our partners every bit as much as I do. You must understand our situation fully. They are not just mated to me, they are mated to each other the same way. We are a family, in all ways."

We saw her first "real" smile then, and it was devilish. "I understand more than you think. I have observed the interaction between your group quite closely. I find it both refreshing, and appealing. I also understand that this is not a decision that is yours alone to make. If it was, I would never have proposed it. Let me outline what we will bring to the partnership, and then you may discuss the arrangement among yourselves to come to a decision on the matter."

Delia described their forces to us, and they were impressive indeed. Over a million ground troops, supported by a navy that dwarfed the Gallian forces. Like our other ally, what they lacked was suitable weapons. Even more intriguing than our ship-based weaponry to them was the armor, weapons, and vehicles for the ground troops. The only down side, from what I could see, was that orders would have to be passed through Delia if we expected them to be obeyed. A man, at least at this point, would be ignored completely. Their history was full of what resulted from being subservient to men.

We retired to our quarters to consult. At first, I was totally against it.

"Look, ladies," I argued "I don't want to seem like this decision is only mine, but I just don't know if I can do this. The loss is just too fresh. Hel, I don't know if I will ever be ready to consider another mate. Somehow, it just feels too fucking disrespectful to the memories of those that died. I'm not collecting knick-knacks, here. What good would a marriage be without love, anyway. The fighting would destroy the alliance!"

Some of the others felt the same, until Angeni spoke. "My mate, you say that you love me as much as the others. You say the same of our 'little blue lovers'. Were we not part of an arranged mating, as well?"

"That's different," I argued. "I was attracted to the three of you as soon as we met. Delia seems so cold and unfeeling that I doubt she is capable of love, at least with a man. It seems as if she considers it a duty to her people, and a distasteful one, at that!"

The appearance of our visitors shut me up fast.

I almost fainted when I saw them. Jackie and Faith stood before us!

We were trated to Jackie's familiar crooked smile and Faith's tinkling laughter. "Oh my husband!" Jackie began "you will never grow up, I suppose. Can't you see that Delia has to act like that to keep up appearances?"

"Yeah, stud!" Faith added, "What did you expect her to do, drop trou and bend over the table while begging you to pork her there in front of her aides? Trust us, that chick has the hots for you, and bad! Couldn't you smell her steamy little snatch in there? You must be getting old!"