Maria misses Whadgaf’s ship. She, Whadgaf, and Sevi had made the ship their home when they first left the Regions for Wiis. It was large enough that they had a designated bedroom where they slept when they weren’t talking like old friends who had known each other for a long time; Sevi and Whadgaf have known one another for a while now, but they had known Maria for less than a year RET. Maria also knew how to copilot Whadgaf’s ship, she got plenty of practice sitting next to Whadgaf who was a very patient teacher.
Kal’s ship is larger than Whadgaf’s, and there are features that give Maria the impression that it was made on Hafjeran, like the high doorways and ceilings to accommodate the wings of the Hafjeris. The technology of Kal’s ship is much newer than Whadgaf’s, and even though it is technically much easier to copilot his ship, she misses things as she recently learned them. And even though the ship is larger, there seems to be less space inside where whole rooms are filled with storage containers filled with various things that Maria doesn’t bother to rummage through. It’s as though the ship is normally used for storage, and Kal confirmed as much when Maria asked about it.
She enjoys getting to know Kal better and the Queen Ravileth is always a welcome friend to have in any scenario. They hope to be at the Fhetat in five cycles, and if things go as they hoped, reinforcements from the Regions could arrive at least five cycles before the expected arrival of the IP Security Forces. But things going as they hoped were contingent on them sitting with the Kings of the Fhetat and convincing them to accept the help that they offered, which they all thought was improbable, if not impossible.
“I knew some people from the Fhetat,” Kal says, frowning as the Queen finds footage of the Kings to put on the large display of the cockpit for the three to become familiar with the men they hoped to speak to.
“I know the few Fhetatians that I met aren’t a real representation of everyone that lives on the Fhetat. I get that, but sneaking onto the Fhetat won’t be like sneaking onto Wiis, or onto the IP headquarters ship. Getting caught will have very painful consequences.”
“Why would we sneak onto the Fhetat?” the Queen asks. “You have spent time with Maria, you know what she does.”
Kal pauses like he is thinking, and then he laughs.
“I’m sorry, I forget that I am the least capable thing on this ship.”
“Aww,” Maria says and pinches his cheek. “You’re so cute. You’re very capable Kal Qor. But you took us to Wiis and kept us safe, I got this one.”
The Queen starts a video of a recent address given by King Sao-Reyne of the Fhetat Section 1.
“As the official leader of the Fhetat as named by my mighty peers, I am here now to rebuke the actions of the Interstellar Panel. The mighty Fhetatian civilization has long been disrespected and ignored by this Panel, and now it makes moves to force it’s laws on our sovereign space. This is an insult that cannot, and will not, go unanswered. Representative Nuren sent a most insulting missive in which she accused our civilization of barbarism and neglect of our young, a truly ignorant assessment based on a complete lack of knowledge of the Fhetatian people and our societies. In her missive, she gives the Fhetat fourteen cycles to demonstrate compliance or be occupied by forces intent on forcing compliance. These are the words of a mad woman. How can this Panel even pretend to know the conditions of our home if they have never even visited it? It is clear what this is, and every civilization that contributes to or enables this effort is an eternal enemy of the Fhetat. If you stand with the Panel, then you condone unprovoked hostility and lawlessness. And I am well aware of my people’s history, which means that I have wisdom on this subject. This is naked hostility based on a complicated history, and the Representative from Wiis is jumping through hoops to justify it morally. Do not fall for it. Today, she comes for the Fhetat, tomorrow she may be on your doorstep, telling you how to live. Do not allow the IP to do this. Stand against them, as we will. We will die before we kneel to Pen Nuren, and we will take everyone who stands with her, with us. The Fhetat stands against injustice. Do you?”
The Queen is smiling when his speech is done.
“I am eager to speak with this King. And we should tell Whadgaf to prepare whatever volunteers she can find to head this way. King Sao-Reyne just called for recruits. And he declared war against the IP and their current direction. I’m sure he’ll accept our help, and they’ll probably even allow Eakran to come as a symbol of their opposition. This just got very interesting. These Kings are smarter than I thought.”
Maria makes the call to Whadgaf as the Queen figures out how to send a message to Sao-Reyne.
“I saw that video,” Whadgaf says on the screen in front of Maria’s copilot’s chair. “I was waiting for a chance to get in touch with you all. Giovanni and Sevi are speaking with the Scholars gang that does hacking jobs from the Regions. They have a lot of resources here and can get us significant upgrades to our weapons, maybe even access to Representative Nuren’s plans. Giovanni is very effective at Bromeris debates so Sevi is there for support. I got a call from a ghost I have to deal with.”
“What does that mean?” Kal, who has been listening in, asks.
“Agent Red just called looking for me. I’ll explain later, I just hope it’s not a stupid distraction. The Druintes are discussing how much support they can commit. They are very eager to see the IP reigned in, as are the Bromeris. We could do a million easy, with whatever advantage the Scholars can give us, plus the intelligence of the MDDS on Druont and the Ultimate Library on Bromeran. I think the Kings will be happy with that support.”
“We’ll be at the Fhetat soon,” Maria says. “And the Queen is talking to Sao-Reyne now I think.”
The Fhetat had answered her general message to the area very quickly. She had entitled it, “Support from the Resistance in the Banned Regions”, and she started by introducing herself as a former member of the IP Security Force that saved Representative Eakran from the persecution of his rogue peers who had taken control of the IP.
“The solution to this is more diplomacy, all mighty, not less,” Maria hears the Queen say. Kal and Whadgaf on the screen are listening too. “We win this war, we show the IP that we disagree, and then the Fhetat joins the IP and names a Representative. That is the real solution. The only reason this is happening is because there are more wrong-thinking Representatives than not, and with more representation, those bad impulses can be neutralized.”
“In theory, yes,” Sao-Reyne says. “And it is something to consider after this effort is successful. You have a very astute mind, Queen, I am eager to continue this conversation in person. We will rendezvous soon. I will bring other Kings with me and we can discuss the terms of your cooperation.”
“I guess I don’t get to do anything either,” Maria says, playfully pouting.
“Now you know how I feel,” Kal says and they laugh as they say goodbye to Whadgaf.
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