E:A Vol 1 Ch 19—November 5, 2117

Victoria collapsed on the pillow-soft bed that consumed most of the circular second floor of their island home. The first month as a mother of twins had wiped her out. “And to think I thought I’d be able to work at least part-time,” she said as Zy’nayth sat beside her.

“I thought we came here so you could work part-time?”

She smiled, “I meant working in the infirmary. Research is different. I can work from here and nap when I need to. I think Ky and Kenna will prefer it here. More peaceful. And they can see the stars.”

“I think that’s what you prefer.”

“So do you,” she grinned at him, “this was your home long before I came here.”

He finally rested back, arms behind his head and gazed up into the night sky. “So it was.” After a few minutes of silence, he spoke again, “Victoria, I believe I have become too soft.”

She rolled onto her side and poked his bicep. “Nope.”

He sighed. “My men…they do not fear me as they used to.”

“To be fair,” she said, “your role is different. You’re not commanding the fleet…at least not as directly as you used to. You’re a political leader, a peacemaker.”

He let out a frustrated groan. “There are many who followed me because my strength was never questioned. I believe they trusted in my ability to subdue uprisings more than in me. If I appear soft, I will lose my authority.”

“Has something happened that you haven’t told me about?”

“No. But I can sense it. Something is going to happen.”

Victoria sat up and stretched, “Maybe you should spend more time with the fleet. Put your Supreme Commander hat back on.”

“And what? Invade Terra 2?”

“No, silly. Whatever you did before you became High Chancellor. What about the Gyhan? Your other commanders haven’t come up with anything to help find their base of operations, and quite frankly, if they were doing their jobs, Earth wouldn’t have had to send in 500 more troops to help. Granted, that’s nothing compared to what you command, but…if you were still at the helm, I don’t think things would have progressed this far. Your role as High Chancellor is far too political.”

“Technically, I am still Supreme Commander. It is apparent that I was not fulfilling my duties to the best of my ability.”

She looked down into his silver eyes, still focused on the stars that shone down on them through the ceiling iris. “One,” she said, “you were still settling into your role as High Chancellor, you still are. Two, those under your command aren’t doing their best or simply aren’t up to the task. Three…” she paused, “I haven’t figured out three yet, but regardless, you gave your orders, your men should have carried them out.”

“They have, but they have not found the Gyhan base.”

“Your orders were for them to find it.”

“It is a large galaxy.”

“You also gave orders for them to find out how the Gyhan have made such a leap in their technology.”

“Which cannot be done until we find the base.”

“Do you realize you’re making excuses for the very men who, when we first met, would have been held accountable, in no uncertain terms, for failing a mission assignment?”

He snarled and sat up. “I have grown weak.”

“No. You’ve been preoccupied by your new job and with the unexpected news of becoming a father again. Shake things up. Change the commands around. Whatever you would normally do as Supreme Commander.” She reached out and caressed his neck, “Listen, I don’t want you to be away from me, but I really think you need to get back on your flagship and do your thing.”

“If I go, you will accompany me.”

He thought about the idea as Victoria moved to massage his shoulders and neck.

“Part of this is my fault,” she said. “I have not exactly followed protocol for a human in a Rayth environment.”

“And I have allowed it.”

“But you shouldn’t,” she said. “Zy, when I first joined your ship, you made it implicitly clear that I would not be allowed to step out of line, I couldn’t even screw up something as simple as keeping my eyes diverted. You told me time and again how important it was for me to stick to the rules so that your authority wouldn’t be undermined. I know you’re trying to implement changes now that you’re High Chancellor, and you’re trying to lead by example, but you’ve said that most Rayth don’t accept humans as equals. Most. There are only a few hundred, maybe a thousand, out of a few billion that think otherwise. So, High Chancellor, perhaps both of us need to go back to that policy, at least for a while.”

“I do not wish for you to. Though my people do not recognize you as queen, I do.”

“But…for now,” she said, “your people need to accept you as High Chancellor, as king. I need that. I don’t want to be queen. I’m a doctor. I’m a mother. I’m a wife. I don’t want anything else. I’m not Rayth, don’t try to make me a queen of them. That will be for our daughter,” she smiled. “I’ll follow the rules, and be more attentive to doing so, but you have to warn me when I step out of line.”

“Victoria,” he let out a long sigh, “thank you for doing this.”

She kissed his shoulder, “I need you to be in control,” she said, “because I don’t want to have to worry about ‘something’ happening.”

“I will speak with the Vice Chancellor in the morning. I will plan to rejoin the fleet. And you will as well.”

“You’ll have to expand your quarters,” she said, “to make room for the two smallest crew members.”

For the first time that evening, he smiled. “That can be arranged.”

November 18, 2117

Zy’nayth didn’t want the fleet, the army, to know he was going back into the field. But when his private quarters on the flagship started to be expanded to add a small nursery, questions were raised. The Vice Chancellor reminded the crew that the High Chancellor often used the flagship to visit outposts, and there needed to be room for his children should he decide to take them with him. It was not unusual for leaders to show off their progeny. So a small room was added off to the side of the kitchen, the only place available for it.

The High Chancellor made a few trips, not on the flagship but by bridge, to check in on outposts which he generally did every few weeks, but hadn’t during the last two months of Victoria’s pregnancy nor during the first month following the birth of his children. But in the two weeks since, he began to visit some of the smaller outposts.

“There are murmurings,” the Vice Chancellor said one evening as he sat with Zy’nayth and Victoria in their island home, “So, yes, I think that having Victoria act as the submissive human is stirring up…questions.”

“I’ve noticed the staff at the High Chancellor’s Estate are a little more tense,” Victoria said as she ate her dinner.

“You should not be looking at them,” Zy’nayth said.

“I haven’t been. But I can sense it when we walk through.”

“I have also let it slip,” the Vice Chancellor smiled, “that you are refusing to let Victoria return to Terra 2 without you and that you are ‘considering’ not allowing her to return at all.”

Victoria looked at her husband, “Wait, what? When was this decided?”

“It is a ruse,” the Vice Chancellor said. “If the High Council senses he is tightening his grip on you they may look at your marriage differently.”

“Differently?”

“That perhaps the High Chancellor only chose you as a mate to bear him more children.”

“But he didn’t think he could have more children,” Victoria frowned.

“That is beside the point. You must remember, he is a fullblood, and none of us know the extent to which that makes him different from the rest of the Rayth. They may assume he knew he could have more children. They may also assume he chose a human mate instead of a Rayth simply to make it appear as if wanted to be on friendly terms with Terra 2. After all, until this Gyhan rebellion began ramping up in the last several months, your expedition team was our only real threat, however limited.”

“And now that he has his children, he doesn’t have to feign a fondness for Terra 2,” Victoria said as she took another bite of her sandwich.

“Yes, and he can start his takeover of Terra 2,” the Vice Chancellor said, “then move on to Earth where the feeding grounds are more plentiful and all on one planet. All of which he was able to achieve by taking you as his mate.”

“You’re scaring me now, Vice Chancellor,” Victoria said, only half-joking.

“As I said, it’s only a ruse. It’s how we hope the High Council and other Rayth will think.”

“I hope it’s only a ruse,” she replied with a little shudder, “I don’t want fight with my husband.”

“He would win,” Zy’nayth said dryly.

Victoria smiled, leaned over and kissed his cheek, “You’re very sure of yourself.”

“As we need him to be,” the Vice Chancellor said. “Now, I think with all of the planting I’ve been doing, things should be quite tense in a week or so.”

“Then in a little over a week,” Zy’nayth said, “the Supreme Commander will return to his post. Be ready, Victoria.”

“Can I warn Vince that I’ll be out of touch for a bit?”

“I will let the First Science Commander handle that. He will suddenly be recalled from Terra 2.”

“What about Lutia?” Victoria asked.

“She can join him on the ship but she will have to become his wife to do so. I would rather he waited. It could complicate matters. And it would be difficult for her to adjust to life on the flagship just as it was for you, and she will not have any advanced warning of the difficulty.”

“She’s going to be heartbroken. I think she’s really in love with him.”

“Perhaps, sir,” the Vice Chancellor said, “leaving Ja’val on Terra 2 would be advantageous. Though it would appear to the Rayth that you may be planning a takeover, it would make sense that your best scientist be there to say…take down their computer systems, defenses…and at the very least, to keep up appearances that you are still on friendly terms with Terra 2. And since we know he is loyal to you, it might be a good idea to bring another Science Commander on board your ship to test him, as Victoria has said, ‘to stir things up.’”

She grinned, “I’m sure Lutia will appreciate it.”

“I would prefer to have someone I trust in that position,” Zy’nayth said as he ran his long fingers through his scraggly white hair, “however, I do need to test these other commanders. Ny’van, see that he starts to prepare Lutia in case I do need to pull him from Terra 2.”

“I shall.”

Victoria stood, taking the last bite of her sandwich as she did so. “If you’ll excuse me,” she said, wiping away the crumbs, “I think the little warriors are wanting their dinner.”

The two most politically powerful men among the Rayth continued their discussion while Victoria tended to her babies. She took her time, allowing the men some privacy. Ky’nayth was taken care of first since he was raising the biggest fuss. Then she fed her daughter. “Little Miss Mik’kenna, you are making quite a mess of things. If you burped up all over your daddy like this…” she paused and chuckled, “he probably wouldn’t notice. You have that big, tall, powerful man wrapped around your little finger, don’t you? Don’t you? Yes you do!”

“Indeed,” came the voice from the door.

Zy’nayth walked over, kissed his daughter then his son. “We need to take care of something. I will try to return before you put them down for the night.”

“Anything I should be worried about?”

“No.” He kissed the top of her head. “I love you, Victoria.”

She smiled, “I love you too, Commander.”

He gave her a wink and left with the Vice Chancellor and bridged off the planet. Their trip didn’t take long and Zy’nayth returned to the island home in under an hour. When Victoria didn’t greet him at the door, which she usually did, he checked the garden, but she wasn’t there. So he went to the nursery, snatched his babies up into his arms and carried them up to the second floor where his wife was napping.

He lowered Mik’kenna, settling her next to her mother then he sat and fussed over Ky’nayth until Victoria heard his little gurgles as he enjoyed his father’s affection.

“He was sleeping,” she said softly, “like his mommy.”

“He was quite awake when I went into their room.”

Victoria looked over at Mik’kenna and smiled, “At least she’s still asleep.”

“Victoria,” he said in his serious tone, “I need you to be prepared for returning to the ship.”

“Already have most of the stuff packed.”

“No. I mean emotionally. I fully intend on being the Supreme Commander I once was and I know you do not approve of my disciplinary actions.”

Victoria sat up, rubbing her cheeks to wake herself up, “Must it always have to be so brutal or result in someone’s death?”

“It is our way. I do not enjoy it.”

“I know. But there has to be another…” she let out a sigh knowing it would be a useless argument, “okay… I won’t like it, I don’t approve of it, but I’ll deal with it. Let’s leave it at that.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek, “And I will still love you.” Then she reached up and gave the tiny little braid over his left ear a tug, “Are you going to keep this? The Supreme Commander didn’t have one, just the High Chancellor.”

“It seems to have become my trademark,” he said, “it remains.”

“Good,” she smiled.

“There will be many new crew members on the ship,” he said, “and Ja’val will not be there in the Science Lab. You must follow…”

“Tradition, protocol, yes, I know. That’s the whole point of this.”

“I will not go easy on you should you err.”

“I know.”

“Victoria, this will be much like your first time on the ship.”

“I know.”

“You said that on your first trip.”

She bowed her head and let out a sigh before looking back up into his silver eyes. “I’m a bit nervous. I’ve been practicing Raythian language. I’ve been going back over all of the little rules and protocols. I know it’ll be hard for me to switch off the last year and go back to being just a…human, but I’m preparing myself for this as best as I can. And I know if I mess up you can’t afford to show any weakness.”

Zy’nayth set Ky’nayth next to his sister then drew his wife into a kiss. “This is going to be difficult for the both of us, my beloved.”

“I know that too,” she replied, “and I need you to know that, no matter what happens, I love you. No matter how hard this gets, I know you love me and you need to know that I love you.”

November 29, 2117

“High Chancellor,” said the First Commander, “I was not informed you were coming on board.”

“I did not realize that I had to inform you of my boarding my own flagship, First Commander,” Zy’nayth said after docking his personal cruiser in the bay and noting the surprised look on several faces.

“Forgive me,” the First Commander said with a bow.

“Escort my mate and children to my quarters; have guards posted, she is not to leave until I have made arrangements with the Third Science Commander. Have their items also moved; I want the status of every ship in the fleet on my desk in thirty minutes; I want all of the ship commanders to conference in at 10:00, you will need to be in my conference room ten minutes prior. Have the ship ready to leave orbit, though I must tend to a few matters first.”

“Time of departure and heading, sir?”

“Jarstal, and whenever I give the command.”

“Yes, sir. May I ask how long you will be staying, sir, so that I may inform the crew?”

Zy’nayth’s long strides came to an abrupt stop. He turned and faced the First Commander. “I will stay as long as I need to. That is all.” He turned and headed for the bridge of his flagship.

Victoria and the babies, as well as the supplies they brought, were moved to the High Chancellor’s private quarters. She set about putting the food away and unpacking their items. There was enough for her to do to keep her busy well into the late afternoon. After that, she settled into the oversized leather chair in the main room and did some reading in between feedings, diaper changes, and doting on her children. Zy’nayth did not join them until 11:00 that evening. The babies were asleep on the bed, and she was still in the big chair when he entered the quarters. She looked up and gave him a wide smile. The door slid shut and exhaustion filled his face. Victoria set her tablet on the nightstand and ran up to him to help him out of his floor-length, white leather jacket.

“Give them kisses,” she said quietly, “then I’ll put them in their cribs. You go right to bed. We can talk tomorrow…unless you need to talk tonight.”

“I will be fine,” he said and gave her a tender kiss, “you are free to go to the Science Lab as you wish, but nowhere else without an escort. For now. I told the Third Science Commander that I expected you to do most of your work here in my quarters so that you could tend to my children. I will introduce you to him first thing in the morning.”

She nodded and took his jacket while he crawled onto the bed and kissed each of his babies, trying not to wake them but thrilled when they opened their little eyes and cooed at him. Victoria smiled and crawled up opposite him. “Now you’ve done it. They’ll be up all night.”

The door chime sounded and Zy’nayth let out a groan and was about to shout, but stopped when little Ky’nayth’s hand touched his cheek. Instead, he kissed his son then went to the door.

“Sorry, I had hoped to catch you before you left the bridge,” the First Commander said. “May I enter?”

The High Chancellor let out a frustrated sigh. “Victoria, robe.”

She had already grabbed it and had it on. “I’m presentable, sir.”

He stepped aside and allowed his First Commander to enter. “What do you need?” Zy’nayth asked.

“I’m here to apologize,” he replied. “I have not held the reins tightly on the crew. This ship is not up to the standard that you set. I would ask for another chance, sir. I…”

“In my walk to the bridge from the jet bay, I saw my warriors sitting idle in the sparring arena, half of my crew’s uniforms were unkempt—if they were wearing uniforms at all. I saw the engineering room in complete disarray, quarters in deplorable conditions, humans on board that do not show up on the roster as mates; I saw various ship parts strewn in every corridor, water leaks, mold, dust…there was dust on my desk in my office.”

“I have no excuse, High Chancellor.”

“This is the flagship of the Raythian Fleet. It must be in perfect condition at all times. You have worked with me long enough to know that I do not tolerate anything less than perfection on this ship. It has only been two and a half months since my last visit and this is the mess I find when I make an unscheduled trip up?”

“I’m sorry, sir. I…” though similar to Zy’nayth’s frustrated growling groan, the First Commander’s wasn’t nearly as intimidating, “I allowed the crew some shore leave. And when they returned…sir, I do not command the respect from them that you do. I failed at trying to get them back in line.”

“Did you try everything?” Zy’nayth asked.

“No, sir. I…” another frustrated groan, “I should have clarified how much authority I had regarding disciplinary matters…and I did not think you would approve of me killing members of your crew in order to make a point.”

“It is not my first choice. And I have been, perhaps, a bit vague on such matters since assuming the High Chancellorship. I will set some guidelines. Meanwhile, First Commander, I want this ship in order. I will overlook matters this time since I am partly at fault and did not fully prepare you to run this ship in my absence. You must earn the respect of the crew, First Commander, and if that does not work,” Zy’nayth led him to the door, “then make them fear you.”

“Thank you, High Chancellor,” the First Commander said with a bow then quickly left.

“I didn’t see much wrong on my way up here,” Victoria said after the door closed, “is it really that bad?”

“Yes.”

“You let him off pretty easily.”

“Did I?”

“What did I miss?”

“Discipline is not always about killing,” he said. “By morning, he will be ready to collapse, but I guarantee you, those who have been insubordinate will be in line and this ship will be close to the standard I expect it to be at.”

November 30, 2117

Zy’nayth was right. When he walked into his command office the following morning, it was spotless. The bridge had also been given a good cleaning and every single crew member’s black or brown leather uniform would have passed the toughest inspection. Corridors were free of clutter, the various working areas had been tidied up, and the humans who were not registered as mates were now in pods in the food supply storage area. Zy’nayth would not inform Victoria of that last item. He would have preferred if the First Commander had released them on the next planet they came to, but ten years ago, he himself would have probably thrown them in pods.

“I have seen that your cruiser has been cleaned, and checked for any damage or needed repairs,” the First Commander said as he reported for his morning briefing. “I have not, however, informed the Jarstal outpost of your arrival. I was unsure if you wished me to.”

“It will be a surprise visit,” Zy’nayth said. “You will accompany me down along with ten of our best warriors. We leave in thirty.”

“Yes, sir.”

***

“High Chancellor,” the Outpost-Jarstal Commander greeted him with a bow. “It is an honor.”

Flanked by the First Commander and ten of his warriors, the High Chancellor made his way through the village towards the command post. “It seems rather quiet,” he said to the outpost commander.

“There hasn’t been an attack in some time.”

Zy’nayth stopped and turned, “Then should you not be preparing for one? I supply this outpost with jets, firepower of all kinds, and yet I do not see any training going on. Not even hand to hand combat exercises. The Gyhan would easily overrun this pathetic excuse for a Raythian army.”

“With all due respect, sir, I and my men are quite prepared to take on anyone…”

With one solid, swift move, the High Chancellor’s arm had grabbed the outpost commander’s chest and shoved him to the ground. With one powerful hand on the chest of his opponent holding him down as he knelt, the High Chancellor leaned over and glared into his eyes, “You are not prepared at all, Commander.”

The other men of the outpost watched their commander shrivel up into an old man and die as the High Chancellor took his life. When he stood, his silver eyes scanned those around him, “Who is next in command?” he growled.

“I am, sir.”

“You will not make the same mistake as your predecessor.”

“No, sir.”

“I wish to look at your files, I do not believe the former Commander’s reports were as detailed as they could have been.”

“Of course, sir, this way.”

“I would also like to have a demonstration this afternoon. Your best one hundred warriors against myself and my ten men. And my First Commander if he chooses.”

“I so choose,” the First Commander said without hesitation.

“Using life force extraction will not be permitted by either side. I want to see their combat skills.”

“Of course, sir. However, in the interest of your safety, perhaps you should omit yourself from…”

“My safety is my concern, not yours, Commander, just make the arrangements.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Dismissed.”

There were 5,000 men stationed at Jarstal. It had, at one time, been the foremost among all of the Raythian outposts and military training grounds. Zy’nayth had trained there early in his career. It was an honor to be posted there or be accepted to train there. So when he began studying the outpost reports in detail before resuming command of the fleet, and saw how far Jarstal had fallen in just the last year, it was a matter of pride that he personally see it brought back to its former glory.

It was also a matter of strategic importance. It was the closest major outpost to the Raythian home world. It needed to be built back up and once the current 5,000 were in top form, he’d start adding more men until it was at capacity. It was something the Outpost Commander should have tended to as the Gyhan attacks grew in number. It was common sense, at least for Zy’nayth. But then he also blamed himself for not keeping closer tabs on all of the outposts. In the past, he didn’t have to. The Commanders knew their jobs. Perhaps it was because they knew the consequences of not keep things up to par when Zy’nayth was Supreme Commander. Even so, he had not relinquished his Command. They should have kept their posts ready for anything, with or without him on the flagship commanding the army and fleet. It was also something he’d have to turn over to his First Commander, at least in part.

The new Outpost Commander returned several minutes later and informed the High Chancellor and his entourage that the demonstration would take place in thirty minutes. The High Chancellor acknowledged him with a nod.

“Sir,” the First Commander said after the Outpost Commander left, “is this what I should expect for each of our visits?”

“Depends on whether or not the outpost has been performing as it should. Is there a problem?”

“No sir.”

Zy’nayth gave him a nod. “We will have much to discuss once we are back on the flagship. Learn from me all you can. You are a good Commander. I need you to be better. I will rely heavily on you.”

“Yes, sir.”

***

Though the warriors from the flagship were successful in being the last ones standing, the High Chancellor thought that they were sloppy and inefficient in their execution of maneuvers. He was, however, impressed that his First Commander was much more skilled than he expected. After pointing out the flaws of the 100 outpost warriors laying beaten on the field, he also addressed the shortcomings of his own men. To drive his point home, he systematically took each one to the ground quickly without even giving them a chance to provide a united front against him. Then he looked over at his First Commander, “I am going to copy the rest of their reports onto my tablet then I will take my cruiser back to the ship. When they manage to get back on their feet, have them teleported up. Continue the rest of the inspection and report to me when you return to the ship.” Then he turned to the outpost commander. “I will return in one month for a rematch. I expect better results. My First Commander will send you a detailed list of improvements that need to be made throughout the outpost.”

“Yes, sir.”

The High Chancellor returned to the command office, finished gathering the files then took his cruiser back up to the flagship. He sent for the First Warrior Commander and informed him that the men needed to improve their combat skills and told him that training should begin immediately. Then he went to his quarters.

“Victoria?” he called for her when she wasn’t in the main room.

“Babies’ room,” she called back.

He walked in and scooped up Ky’nayth into his arms. “You, my dear son, are stronger than they were.”

“Oh no,” Victoria said, “that bad?”

“Yes. Even my elite warriors have grown slow and soft. They won, but they were… inefficient.”

“Won what?”

“I wanted to test their top one hundred warriors. We fought them and won. Sloppy victory.”

“Your ten against one hundred?”

“Twelve of us actually. The First Commander did quite well. I was surprised.”

“Zy, you could have gotten hurt.”

“I doubt it. Even when I fought my own ten…actually I did not fight them because they did not have time to fight back, in either case, I am fine and I proved my point.”

“Don’t you think it’s a little counterproductive to show others how weak your own men are?”

“No. My men will work harder so that they do not make the same mistakes and so that they are not again humiliated. It also ensures that they know I am still the Supreme Commander and I can still take them down if I want to.”

“Any fatalities in this little demonstration of yours?”

“In the demonstration, no.”

Victoria sighed, noting his qualifier of “demonstration.” She looked at him, “Okay, who died and why?”

“The Outpost Commander. Arrogant. Thought he was prepared to take on the Gyhan. He was not.”

“And he had to die for that?”

“I made a point.”

“You could have…” she caught herself. “Your kingdom, your rules. I don’t like it.”

“Nor do I, but word will spread quickly to the other outposts and it will be highly unlikely that this point will have to be made again.”

“The ends justify the means,” she said with a frown as she finished changing Mik’kenna’s diaper. “They need their nap, they’ve been up all morning and they’re really cranky. Spend a few minutes with them and put them down, please. I’m going to fix myself some lunch.”

“They are cranky because I have not been around much this last day and a half. They are perfectly peaceful now.”

“They still need their nap,” she kissed his cheek, “perhaps you need one as well.”

“I have reports to go over. Go fix your lunch. Do you have any of those berries I like?”

“Strawberries. Yes. Hungry?”

“They do not provide nourishment nor satisfy my hunger. I simply like the taste. Once you have had your lunch, you could take some time and go to the Science Lab if you wish. I will be here to watch over the children and I can go over the reports just as easily here as in my office.”

“I may stop in and grab a few files, but I won’t stay there. It’s a little tense without Ja’val running the place.”

“I run the place.”

“You know what I mean. Don’t keep them awake much longer, I really don’t want to spend the afternoon listening to them fussing and crying.”

“Perhaps I should take a trip to Terra 2 and have Dr. McKenna look them over. I do not remember Gal’nayth being so fussy.”

“I’m a doctor, Zy, there’s nothing wrong with them, they’re babies, they get cranky and fuss. It happens.”

“I worry too much about them. I am sorry.”

She smiled, “It’s okay, just try to remember that I am a doctor, and I’m keeping a very close eye on them. I’m not going to let anything happen to our precious little babies. Okay, I’m headed to the lab, I shouldn’t be more than ten or fifteen minutes.”

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