Omoikane 26 - Back to Rotol
We got a message from Galran High Command. “The Conquest is on an independent mission. Do not interfere in internal Galran matters.”
As near as I could figure, that was Galran High Command doing a soft disclaimer of Rotol and the Conquest. Great.
If he won, he was a hero and they knew it all along. If he lost, then he was a rogue noble acting without official sanction. Heads we win, tails you lose.
I dislike that sort of politics intensely.
-*-
We matched speeds with the Conquest and hailed them. The boundary of the Altean system was two and a half days in front of them.
Their support fleet was three days behind
It took a while for the Galran dreadnought to Answer. It was the blue Galran woman. Azcxa. “You bring word of the Altean capitulation, I assume.”
“You’re not fighting the Alteans, directly. You’re fighting the Lions and they outgun you, General.”
She scowled at me “When men speak to me in this manner, they are almost always in their last day of life. Whether they know it or not.”
“Very intimidating. But it’s not me you have to intimidate. It’s five color-coded demi-gods you need to buffalo.”
“Your translators need work. I will do nothing with divine cattle.”
“The ships that defend Altea. The small colorful fighters? They’re not technology. They’re living… demi-gods of some kind. The Conquest cannot defeat them.”
“What are you babbling about?” Azcxa snarled.
The screen whirled to show Rotol, “You’ve met the Lions?”
I blinked. He knew? “Yes. We’ve made contact with them.”
“I demand that you tell me everything.”
“They exist partly in higher dimensions. They have an interesting psychology, focused on protecting Altea. They’ve adopted the humans there. Protecting the humans of Altea gives the Lions a purpose that they enjoy.”
“Technical details! I want technical details about those demon ships!”
“I can’t really oblige. We don’t understand how they do what they’re doing. I know a conventional view of their shields and weapons is doomed to failure - they’re not operating along conventional lines.”
“Propaganda and lies! You’ve become agents of King Alfor!”
“Actually, he just realized that he’s the assistant manager for the Lions.”
That got Rotol “What? What?”
“The only reason the Lions aren’t ruling Altea directly is that they can’t be bothered to. You’re not fighting King Alfor. You’re fighting the Lions. It’s their world. The Lions don’t care who comes and goes as long as they’re friendly.”
Rotol’s face screwed up. He knew we were right and he didn’t want to admit it.
The channel cut. The Conquest dropped out of warp.
We followed them and stood off a respectful distance.
Galaglan and Tippalan came to the bridge. Lotara was there. I mentally started sketching out how to make an observation tank so people could look over our shoulders without getting in the way if things started happening quickly.
An hour later Rotol called us. He looked… dishelved. His face was more purple. Where a human's eyes would be red, his were reddish purple. I could see broken and smashed-up decor behind him.
“I request that you introduce me to these Lions.”
“Let me see what I can do. I’ll get back to you, shortly.”
I called Captain Yittam. “The Crown Prince would like to meet the Lions.”
She looked troubled “There’s been a lot of bad blood. I’ll talk to the foreign minister.”
More waiting.
King Alfor himself was with Yittam when she called back “Do you think this sort of thing could help us make peace?” He asked
“Yes, Sir. I think if Rotol understands just what he’s up against, he may reconsider his stance.”
“Then I authorize you to transport a small party including Prince Rotol to Altea to meet The Lions. They will have free passage and diplomatic status for this purpose.”
I called the Conquest. General Azcxa answered. “The King of Altea has authorized Prince Rotol and a small party to approach and meet the Lions. The Omoikane is authorized to transport your party. Free passage and diplomatic status.”
She glared at me “You think your ship worthy of the Crown Prince?”
“Circumstances being what they are, He’ll have to make do for a short period of time.”
Azcxa said, “I’ll inform His Highness.”
Shortly we got a message “Make way for the Royal Shuttle.”
It was a nice shuttle. About the size of a runabout. Luxuriously appointed.
It slid into our shuttle bay and took up almost every available cubic centimeter.
“Set course for Altea and engage.”
“Aye, sir.”
The Omoikane turned and moved towards Altea.
“Li’ira, you’re with me. Stephanie, have some covert security on standby.”
We got in the turbolift.
-*-
Rotol was a tall man. Taller than me. Thinner, too. His patrician features were made for looking haughty and cruel.
He had four women with him.
“Welcome aboard the Federation Starship USS Omoikane, Your Highness. I’m Captain Hailey, This is my Executive Officer, Li’ira O’Keefe, and our Counsellor, Tippalan.”
He looked like he smelled something bad, “Thank you.” He turned to introduce his companions “This is General Azcxa, my Adjutant, and my advisors, Roxze,” The woman who looked almost orange, with a purple undertone. “Dirthez,” Thig big Purple woman with visible scars, “And Iltran,” The exotic looking reptilian person.
All of them had bladed weapons. I was strongly reminded of the Klingons.
“It’ll take us about three and a half hours to get to Altea. Would you like to tour the ship?”
They looked at each other. “That’s… very quick.” Azcxa said.
“Yes, General. We have access to slightly different drive technology than you do.”
“The Orions have told us that you’re their enemy and you seek to oppress them. And yet you have one of their slaves as your executive officer?” Roxze asked.
“The Federation does not believe in slavery. This is one of our major disagreements. The Orions of Bot’chok hold all sorts of people in slavery. However, there are a number of Orion worlds that are friendly to the Federation. Slavery is not practiced there. Commander O’Keefe was born a Federation Citizen and has been a free and contributing to the Federation her whole life. You will want to double-check everything the Orions tell you. They have issues with credibility.”
Rotol nodded “Roxze apologizes. We meant no offense.”
“Please, come this way, We’ll show you how we do things on a Federation ship.”
-*-
“How about this one?” Tillean asked.
We’d taken over a lounge with huge windows. I’d typed our location to Varupuchu, so he could arrange our arrival at Altea with the best aesthetic effect.
Dirthez took a small bite of oom fruit, as if she were facing down a Qzin warrior.
She chewed slowly, considering the experience.
Tillean scanned her, watching the Galran woman’s biochemistry greet each new item.
After a few moments, Dirthez nodded. “It’s good.”
She was acting as a science experiment and as a food taster for her prince.
Outside the stars smeared, and Altea appeared out our window. Varupuchu did it well. The world was half in daylight and half in night, and sparkled prettily with the lights of civilization.
Rotol looked at the planet Altea with warring emotions on his face. He was eager to go there. But he was angry that it wasn’t as conqueror.
“Let’s head to the transporter room,” I said. “By the time we’re ready to beam down, we’ll be in range.”
We got to the transporter room. Lotara and Galaglan met us. Galaglan pulled me aside and whispered “Not you, Captain. You’re still injured.”
I was irritated. I’d forgotten I was wearing the psi shield. I’d forgotten I’d been psionically injured.
Tippalan looked at me and nodded slowly. She couldn’t whisper in my ear with the psi shield on.
“Alright. I’m sorry, I have to stay here with the ship. Commander O’Keefe will conduct you from here.”
Li’ira and Tillean looked at me. I pointed to the psi shield and made a grim face. They continued to gather and arrange away team equipment.
So with Galaglan and Lotara but without me, the Party beamed down.
Omoikane - Altea
-
jayphailey
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Re: Omoikane - Altea
Omoikane 27 - Rotol and The Lions
I got back to the bridge and we tuned our sensors to watch what happened inside the hangar. I was glad the lions and the palace let us.
-*-
Li’ira, Tillean, Lotara, and Galaglan beamed down with Dirthez and Itran.
Then Rotol, Roxze, Azcxa, and Tippalan beamed down.
Meeting them in the Hangar were King Alfor, and a small party of advisors, as well as the pilots of the five lion ships.
“Welcome to Altea, Prince Rotol. I hope this is the start of a new page in our story.”
Rotol barely acknowledged the King. “I’m sure you do. I’m told the real power here is the Lions.”
“I see your grasp of diplomacy rivals your grasp of tactics. Please, suit yourself.”
Rotol stepped up to the ships sitting in their cradles. “Lions! I am Rotol! I am your greatest opponent! Come speak with me!”
Nothing happened.
The Alteans looked at Rotol, amused
“SPEAK! MAKE YOURSELVES KNOWN TO ME!”
Galaglan caught the eye of Kalotta and made a head gesture towards the green lion ship.
Kalotta shrugged and made a “Go ahead” motion.
Galaglan walked over and laid her hand on the surface of the green lion ship.
“What’s she doing?” Rotol asked
Li’ira said, “She’s communicating with the lion ship.”
“How? Is there even anyone here, or am I the subject of a poor joke?”
Galaglan grinned and beckoned Rotol over **They will speak with you.**
Rotol stepped forward with his hand out. Roxze gently blocked him. “It’s dangerous, Highness.”
He brushed her aside. “I will speak with the lions.”
He approached the lion ship with his hand out. Galaglan grabbed his hand with her other hand on the green lion ship
-*-
Rotol found himself standing in a sort of gray limbo-like space. “What’s this?”
Galaglan was there. **Greetings. This is a representation of the world of the mind. It’s a mix of what we’re sending you and what your own mind interprets.**
“Where are the ‘Lions’?”
**Here.**
As if stepping through mist, the five Lions appeared. They were the size of frigates. They seemed 150 meters long.
The Green one leaned down and sniffed Rotol with a nose bigger than his head.
“This is the one?”
Rotol tried to rally “I am Rotol of the Galra! I am your greatest enemy!”
The Green Lion lilted its head at him in disbelief. The other four chuffed in lionish laughter.
“You? Little one, you’re target practice.” The Green Lion laughed at him.
“Who is your greatest enemy? I will bring you his head!” Rotol challenged
The Lions pictured it. Long ago, others made weapons. Insane monsters, battleships half the size of a planet, taps into deep layers of subatomic space.
All their rivals were gone now, done in by their own fighting, insanity, or time.
“How do you mean to bring us time’s head on a plate, little one? We wait and we guard against a battle that’s never coming. We bond with our people and enjoy their lives vicariously. We fight their little play fights and guard their mothers, sisters, and children against playground rivals like you. We bide our time and we wait.”
“How can you defeat my enemy, Little one?”
Rotol gawped and tried to grasp what he was seeing
“How many of your people have you brought to their deaths on our blades? How much of the wealth of your little play empire have you spent giving us an afternoon’s enjoyment? My impression was that functional people value the lives and wealth of their people and do not seek to waste them.”
“Prince Rotol,” The Green Lion’s use of the title was jarring “What do our little games together benefit you?”
“I’m going to make you eat those words!” Rotol shouted, “I’ll make you suffer!”
“I’ve seen this before,” The Black Lion said “He is immature. As the humans say spoiled.”
The Blue Lion yawned and stretched “He never hears the word no, and cannot process the concept rationally.”
The Red Lion was confused “Their own social hierarchies damage them?”
“Don’t speak over me like I’m not here! I’m not a child! I am Crown Prince Rotol of the Galra Empire! I am the most powerful warlord in this end of the Galaxy!”
The Green Lion seemed to smile. Then he put a massive paw down on Rotol. Rotol tried to leap out of the way but the Green Lion simply altered his aim slightly.
Crushed under a huge paw, Rotol wriggled and struggled “Let me up! Let me up, damn you!”
“Little one. We’ve been enjoying the maneuvering and target practice you lend us. But your attitude is tiring. The waste is depressing.”
“It’s time for you to grow up. It’s time for your little games to end. If you come back to our system, we will end you. You in particular. You specifically. Don’t think our noses can’t sniff you out. Don’t think our eyes won’t see you. Don’t think our ears won’t hear your little plans. Your amusement value has ended.”
The Green Lion carefully picked up Rotol in a mouth the size of a small shuttle bay, and tossed him in the air, Rotol flew in a dizzying, spinning arc. Then the huge paw came out of nowhere and slapped him.
-*-
From the bridge, what we saw was Rotol standing twitching for a couple of seconds before he hurled himself back onto the floor.
-*-
Rotols people ran to him. “What did they do?” Azcxa asked him.
Galaglan gracefully dropped and rolled back under the green fighter plane to put it between herself and Rotol's party.
Roxze picked him up “We’ve got to get him out here.”
Dirthez stood between Rotol and the green fighter and tried to angle herself to catch anyone from the Altean party.
The Alteans and Captain Yittam were taken by surprise, looking with big eyes.
Itran stood two meters away from Rotol with her hands buried in her cloak, looking around very carefully.
Azcxa glared at King Alfor “You will pay for this.”
Rotol grabbed her shoulder. “We must go.”
Azcxa looked at him “What did they do to you?”
His face screwed up “I don’t wish to discuss it. We must leave.”
Azcxa turned to Li’ira “Beam us up! We’re under attack!”
Li’ira took a deep breath “Okay. Let’s calm down. We’re beaming you out now.”
Li’ira called the Omoikane “Beam the Prince and his party up now.”
-*-
I got to sick bay with Stephanie and a bunch of her security people Dr. Hobolisk and a med team were already there.
The Galrans were holding them at blade point.
“Hey,” I said
Azcxa glared at Hobolisk.
Hobolisk said, “Apparently I’m not high enough status in Galra Society to treat the Prince.”
“You’re alien scum,” Azcxa informed him “unworthy to breathe the same air as his Highness.”
“Ah, So you have a doctor in your party? Or is it politically beneficial to you for his brain to bleed inside his skull?” Hobolisk asked.
“General please stand down and let Hobolisk work. You won’t find a better doctor in this sector.”
“You people are stupidly ignorant of how to treat a truly important man, and my patience is wearing thin,” Azcxa snarled.
“Back to the shuttle,” Rotol said.
Rotols party started to move.
I shrugged and said, “Clear these folks a path to the shuttle bay.”
Rotol looked at me, oddly. “You won’t fight us. You don’t want to use up your people.”
I sighed “If we have to in order to defend people, we will. But that’s never the first choice.”
“His affection for his people is a weakness,” Azxca said. “Let’s get to safety.”
Rotol got his feet under him and walked the rest of the way back to his shuttlecraft.
“Make yourself useful, you disgusting hairy pink mutant, and get us back to our ship,” Azcxa said as she and Roxze Half dragged their prince back to his shuttle.
I got back to the bridge and we tuned our sensors to watch what happened inside the hangar. I was glad the lions and the palace let us.
-*-
Li’ira, Tillean, Lotara, and Galaglan beamed down with Dirthez and Itran.
Then Rotol, Roxze, Azcxa, and Tippalan beamed down.
Meeting them in the Hangar were King Alfor, and a small party of advisors, as well as the pilots of the five lion ships.
“Welcome to Altea, Prince Rotol. I hope this is the start of a new page in our story.”
Rotol barely acknowledged the King. “I’m sure you do. I’m told the real power here is the Lions.”
“I see your grasp of diplomacy rivals your grasp of tactics. Please, suit yourself.”
Rotol stepped up to the ships sitting in their cradles. “Lions! I am Rotol! I am your greatest opponent! Come speak with me!”
Nothing happened.
The Alteans looked at Rotol, amused
“SPEAK! MAKE YOURSELVES KNOWN TO ME!”
Galaglan caught the eye of Kalotta and made a head gesture towards the green lion ship.
Kalotta shrugged and made a “Go ahead” motion.
Galaglan walked over and laid her hand on the surface of the green lion ship.
“What’s she doing?” Rotol asked
Li’ira said, “She’s communicating with the lion ship.”
“How? Is there even anyone here, or am I the subject of a poor joke?”
Galaglan grinned and beckoned Rotol over **They will speak with you.**
Rotol stepped forward with his hand out. Roxze gently blocked him. “It’s dangerous, Highness.”
He brushed her aside. “I will speak with the lions.”
He approached the lion ship with his hand out. Galaglan grabbed his hand with her other hand on the green lion ship
-*-
Rotol found himself standing in a sort of gray limbo-like space. “What’s this?”
Galaglan was there. **Greetings. This is a representation of the world of the mind. It’s a mix of what we’re sending you and what your own mind interprets.**
“Where are the ‘Lions’?”
**Here.**
As if stepping through mist, the five Lions appeared. They were the size of frigates. They seemed 150 meters long.
The Green one leaned down and sniffed Rotol with a nose bigger than his head.
“This is the one?”
Rotol tried to rally “I am Rotol of the Galra! I am your greatest enemy!”
The Green Lion lilted its head at him in disbelief. The other four chuffed in lionish laughter.
“You? Little one, you’re target practice.” The Green Lion laughed at him.
“Who is your greatest enemy? I will bring you his head!” Rotol challenged
The Lions pictured it. Long ago, others made weapons. Insane monsters, battleships half the size of a planet, taps into deep layers of subatomic space.
All their rivals were gone now, done in by their own fighting, insanity, or time.
“How do you mean to bring us time’s head on a plate, little one? We wait and we guard against a battle that’s never coming. We bond with our people and enjoy their lives vicariously. We fight their little play fights and guard their mothers, sisters, and children against playground rivals like you. We bide our time and we wait.”
“How can you defeat my enemy, Little one?”
Rotol gawped and tried to grasp what he was seeing
“How many of your people have you brought to their deaths on our blades? How much of the wealth of your little play empire have you spent giving us an afternoon’s enjoyment? My impression was that functional people value the lives and wealth of their people and do not seek to waste them.”
“Prince Rotol,” The Green Lion’s use of the title was jarring “What do our little games together benefit you?”
“I’m going to make you eat those words!” Rotol shouted, “I’ll make you suffer!”
“I’ve seen this before,” The Black Lion said “He is immature. As the humans say spoiled.”
The Blue Lion yawned and stretched “He never hears the word no, and cannot process the concept rationally.”
The Red Lion was confused “Their own social hierarchies damage them?”
“Don’t speak over me like I’m not here! I’m not a child! I am Crown Prince Rotol of the Galra Empire! I am the most powerful warlord in this end of the Galaxy!”
The Green Lion seemed to smile. Then he put a massive paw down on Rotol. Rotol tried to leap out of the way but the Green Lion simply altered his aim slightly.
Crushed under a huge paw, Rotol wriggled and struggled “Let me up! Let me up, damn you!”
“Little one. We’ve been enjoying the maneuvering and target practice you lend us. But your attitude is tiring. The waste is depressing.”
“It’s time for you to grow up. It’s time for your little games to end. If you come back to our system, we will end you. You in particular. You specifically. Don’t think our noses can’t sniff you out. Don’t think our eyes won’t see you. Don’t think our ears won’t hear your little plans. Your amusement value has ended.”
The Green Lion carefully picked up Rotol in a mouth the size of a small shuttle bay, and tossed him in the air, Rotol flew in a dizzying, spinning arc. Then the huge paw came out of nowhere and slapped him.
-*-
From the bridge, what we saw was Rotol standing twitching for a couple of seconds before he hurled himself back onto the floor.
-*-
Rotols people ran to him. “What did they do?” Azcxa asked him.
Galaglan gracefully dropped and rolled back under the green fighter plane to put it between herself and Rotol's party.
Roxze picked him up “We’ve got to get him out here.”
Dirthez stood between Rotol and the green fighter and tried to angle herself to catch anyone from the Altean party.
The Alteans and Captain Yittam were taken by surprise, looking with big eyes.
Itran stood two meters away from Rotol with her hands buried in her cloak, looking around very carefully.
Azcxa glared at King Alfor “You will pay for this.”
Rotol grabbed her shoulder. “We must go.”
Azcxa looked at him “What did they do to you?”
His face screwed up “I don’t wish to discuss it. We must leave.”
Azcxa turned to Li’ira “Beam us up! We’re under attack!”
Li’ira took a deep breath “Okay. Let’s calm down. We’re beaming you out now.”
Li’ira called the Omoikane “Beam the Prince and his party up now.”
-*-
I got to sick bay with Stephanie and a bunch of her security people Dr. Hobolisk and a med team were already there.
The Galrans were holding them at blade point.
“Hey,” I said
Azcxa glared at Hobolisk.
Hobolisk said, “Apparently I’m not high enough status in Galra Society to treat the Prince.”
“You’re alien scum,” Azcxa informed him “unworthy to breathe the same air as his Highness.”
“Ah, So you have a doctor in your party? Or is it politically beneficial to you for his brain to bleed inside his skull?” Hobolisk asked.
“General please stand down and let Hobolisk work. You won’t find a better doctor in this sector.”
“You people are stupidly ignorant of how to treat a truly important man, and my patience is wearing thin,” Azcxa snarled.
“Back to the shuttle,” Rotol said.
Rotols party started to move.
I shrugged and said, “Clear these folks a path to the shuttle bay.”
Rotol looked at me, oddly. “You won’t fight us. You don’t want to use up your people.”
I sighed “If we have to in order to defend people, we will. But that’s never the first choice.”
“His affection for his people is a weakness,” Azxca said. “Let’s get to safety.”
Rotol got his feet under him and walked the rest of the way back to his shuttlecraft.
“Make yourself useful, you disgusting hairy pink mutant, and get us back to our ship,” Azcxa said as she and Roxze Half dragged their prince back to his shuttle.
-
jayphailey
- Posts: 1579
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Re: Omoikane - Altea
Omoikane 28 - Ane Diplomacy
Li’ira sighed “That’s on me. Ane Diplomacy is notorious.”
King Alfor looked at her “What happened?”
Tippalan was miffed **That wasn’t us. Rotol braced the Lions and they spoke frankly to him about his relative status in the universe.**
“The Lions. It’s not just a metaphor?” Alfor asked
**No, Sir. They’re alive. They like your people. They guard this world. They’re much bigger than their physical sizes would suggest.**
“May I speak with them?” King Alfor asked.
**Why?**
“Rotol spoke as if my administration isn’t the true power here. If the Lions wish to take over, I’d like to hear it from them directly.”
Elab, the squadron leader of the Lion Ship pilots said “I don’t think it works that way, Your Majesty.”
The King cocked an eye at Elab “Oh?”
“No, Sir. That doesn’t … feel right for them. It’s not in character.”
**The Pilots are chosen by the Lions. They have a connection, even if they can’t vocalize it directly.** Tippalan said.
“How do you know this?” Alfor asked
**The Lions said so when they were talking with Rotol.**
Alfor was gently implacable. “Please ask them if they’ll speak to me.”
Tippalan went to the green fighter and put her nose on it.
**They will speak. Pilots touch your fighters. Your Majesty, come make physical contact with me.**
“Is this dangerous?” One of the Advisors asked.
**Probably not as much as for Rotol,** Tippalan said **Besides, he asked.**
“It almost makes me wish I could experience telepathy,” Lotara said
“With the Ane, it’s weird,” Li’ira said.
King Alfor touched Tippalan, noting how soft she was.
**Thank you, Your Majesty.** Tippalan said
-*-
Alfor and the Lion Pilots found themselves in the metal space with the five huge lions.
“Oh, Goodness,” Graff, the Yellow Lion Pilot said. His lion craned forward for a sniff and a lick.
“You come to experience us with faces and voices,” The Blue Lion said.
“I also wanted to get a feel for you, and to ask you some questions,” Alfor said.
The lions looked at the King with interest “And what is your feeling of us?”
“I’m not sure. You feel… not bad.”
“Interesting,” the Red Lion said “I suspect his social instincts may be hyper-developed.”
The Black Lion said, “You wish to assure yourself that we will not disrupt your kingdom in a squabble over power.”
The Green Lion sighed “It never changes. They haven’t changed for forty thousand years.”
The Black Lion said “You may rest assured. We do not seek your throne. Your administration is perfectly adequate and you make our pilots and their people happy. We are satisfied. If this changes, we will inform our pilots, and they can inform you.”
The Blue lion sniffed the king daintly, carefully. “An interesting mix of the pragmatic and the empathic.”
The Green Lion turned towards Kalotta, smiling. He was happy to see her. “You see it don’t you? Tell me you see it.”
Kalotta stared at him for a moment and then reached out, “This isn’t them, I mean it is, but it isn’t.”
The Green Lion chuffed and rolled on the floor “Yes, little one! You see!”
The Black Lion told the King “What you’re experiencing now is us, filtered through our new friends, the Ane. I’m not actually a lion. All I know of lions is what the Ane know. But they know quite a bit. Filtered through them, we become cartoons. Holograms of magical space lions.”
“How do the Ane know about Lions?” King Alfor asked.
“We will leave these questions for the Ane, later. The Ane have constructed faces for us to speak with you through. It's interesting. Fun. Not terribly accurate.
“King Alfor,” The Red Lion said “We charge you to keep the people of Altea as happy and as healthy as possible. We will always defend this world that you call Altea. Go forth, play with your new friends.”
“We will be waiting patiently here. Bring us back good stories about traveling and exploring.”
“We will experience them through the technologies the Ane lend us, and through your enjoyable brains and experiences.”
“Ummm. Alright,” King Alfor said.
“This method of communication, there the Ane build us these lion faces is amusing, but let’s not overdo it. We are different from you in fundamental ways. We enjoy you. But our lives are different from yours. Our experiences are different. Don’t try to map what you think you know onto us. It will not satisfy you.”
The Blue Lion said “This is a suggestion, not a command. Go ahead and misunderstand us all you want, if it makes you happy. We won’t stop you.”
The Green Lion said “Remember. When you see us as fighters in the hangar, we are just as happy to see you and enjoy your presence, as you see now. We just don’t naturally express that in ways you can grasp easily.”
“Do you have any further questions?”
“I have millions,” King Alfor said.
“In time we will have a more comfortable interface. Then we can communicate fully. “
“Anything immediate?”
“Do you see any further dangers to us?”
“Not in the immediate sense. There is a Galran fleet in a position to advance towards us If Rotol is stupid enough to do that, we will destroy them.”
“Alright, Then thank you for this audience. I will bid you good day.”
“Thank you King Alfor, it’s a pleasure working with you and your people.”
-*-
They found themselves back in the hangar.
The aides were grateful that King Alfor didn’t flop onto the ground like Prince Rotol.
“You say Ane Diplomacy is notorious, hmm?” Alfor said to Li’ira
“Yes, Sir.”
“Well, I’d love to have Ane around for all my diplomacy.”
**Well, Your Majesty, now that you mention it…** Tippalan said.
-*-
We dropped one of our runabouts for Li’ira and company to use, and headed back to the Conquest.
The Ane are pretty good at making friends in unusual places.
Li’ira sighed “That’s on me. Ane Diplomacy is notorious.”
King Alfor looked at her “What happened?”
Tippalan was miffed **That wasn’t us. Rotol braced the Lions and they spoke frankly to him about his relative status in the universe.**
“The Lions. It’s not just a metaphor?” Alfor asked
**No, Sir. They’re alive. They like your people. They guard this world. They’re much bigger than their physical sizes would suggest.**
“May I speak with them?” King Alfor asked.
**Why?**
“Rotol spoke as if my administration isn’t the true power here. If the Lions wish to take over, I’d like to hear it from them directly.”
Elab, the squadron leader of the Lion Ship pilots said “I don’t think it works that way, Your Majesty.”
The King cocked an eye at Elab “Oh?”
“No, Sir. That doesn’t … feel right for them. It’s not in character.”
**The Pilots are chosen by the Lions. They have a connection, even if they can’t vocalize it directly.** Tippalan said.
“How do you know this?” Alfor asked
**The Lions said so when they were talking with Rotol.**
Alfor was gently implacable. “Please ask them if they’ll speak to me.”
Tippalan went to the green fighter and put her nose on it.
**They will speak. Pilots touch your fighters. Your Majesty, come make physical contact with me.**
“Is this dangerous?” One of the Advisors asked.
**Probably not as much as for Rotol,** Tippalan said **Besides, he asked.**
“It almost makes me wish I could experience telepathy,” Lotara said
“With the Ane, it’s weird,” Li’ira said.
King Alfor touched Tippalan, noting how soft she was.
**Thank you, Your Majesty.** Tippalan said
-*-
Alfor and the Lion Pilots found themselves in the metal space with the five huge lions.
“Oh, Goodness,” Graff, the Yellow Lion Pilot said. His lion craned forward for a sniff and a lick.
“You come to experience us with faces and voices,” The Blue Lion said.
“I also wanted to get a feel for you, and to ask you some questions,” Alfor said.
The lions looked at the King with interest “And what is your feeling of us?”
“I’m not sure. You feel… not bad.”
“Interesting,” the Red Lion said “I suspect his social instincts may be hyper-developed.”
The Black Lion said, “You wish to assure yourself that we will not disrupt your kingdom in a squabble over power.”
The Green Lion sighed “It never changes. They haven’t changed for forty thousand years.”
The Black Lion said “You may rest assured. We do not seek your throne. Your administration is perfectly adequate and you make our pilots and their people happy. We are satisfied. If this changes, we will inform our pilots, and they can inform you.”
The Blue lion sniffed the king daintly, carefully. “An interesting mix of the pragmatic and the empathic.”
The Green Lion turned towards Kalotta, smiling. He was happy to see her. “You see it don’t you? Tell me you see it.”
Kalotta stared at him for a moment and then reached out, “This isn’t them, I mean it is, but it isn’t.”
The Green Lion chuffed and rolled on the floor “Yes, little one! You see!”
The Black Lion told the King “What you’re experiencing now is us, filtered through our new friends, the Ane. I’m not actually a lion. All I know of lions is what the Ane know. But they know quite a bit. Filtered through them, we become cartoons. Holograms of magical space lions.”
“How do the Ane know about Lions?” King Alfor asked.
“We will leave these questions for the Ane, later. The Ane have constructed faces for us to speak with you through. It's interesting. Fun. Not terribly accurate.
“King Alfor,” The Red Lion said “We charge you to keep the people of Altea as happy and as healthy as possible. We will always defend this world that you call Altea. Go forth, play with your new friends.”
“We will be waiting patiently here. Bring us back good stories about traveling and exploring.”
“We will experience them through the technologies the Ane lend us, and through your enjoyable brains and experiences.”
“Ummm. Alright,” King Alfor said.
“This method of communication, there the Ane build us these lion faces is amusing, but let’s not overdo it. We are different from you in fundamental ways. We enjoy you. But our lives are different from yours. Our experiences are different. Don’t try to map what you think you know onto us. It will not satisfy you.”
The Blue Lion said “This is a suggestion, not a command. Go ahead and misunderstand us all you want, if it makes you happy. We won’t stop you.”
The Green Lion said “Remember. When you see us as fighters in the hangar, we are just as happy to see you and enjoy your presence, as you see now. We just don’t naturally express that in ways you can grasp easily.”
“Do you have any further questions?”
“I have millions,” King Alfor said.
“In time we will have a more comfortable interface. Then we can communicate fully. “
“Anything immediate?”
“Do you see any further dangers to us?”
“Not in the immediate sense. There is a Galran fleet in a position to advance towards us If Rotol is stupid enough to do that, we will destroy them.”
“Alright, Then thank you for this audience. I will bid you good day.”
“Thank you King Alfor, it’s a pleasure working with you and your people.”
-*-
They found themselves back in the hangar.
The aides were grateful that King Alfor didn’t flop onto the ground like Prince Rotol.
“You say Ane Diplomacy is notorious, hmm?” Alfor said to Li’ira
“Yes, Sir.”
“Well, I’d love to have Ane around for all my diplomacy.”
**Well, Your Majesty, now that you mention it…** Tippalan said.
-*-
We dropped one of our runabouts for Li’ira and company to use, and headed back to the Conquest.
The Ane are pretty good at making friends in unusual places.