A SPARTAN'S WAR

AUSTROVA

COREN RE MYDALA'S OFFICE

Coren lowered the pad he was reading and looked at Dutkne. "You are certain about these individuals?" He asked.

Dutkne nodded his head. "I'm certain." He answered. "Drey and I haven't been able to ascertain just how they are involved, but they are."

"Two of these men are part of your government Dutkne." Coren stated.

Dutkne nodded. "Yes they are." He replied. "And I will make examples of them all."

Coren got to his feet and moved to the counter pouring himself a glass of wine. "Wine?" He asked Dutkne.

Dutkne shook his head. "No. Thank you though."

Coren turned and looked at him once more, sipping the wine before speaking. "As much as I struggle with everything I have thought and felt for your people Dutkne… I can't help but see just how wrong I may have been all these years. I watched every single bit of the interview Androcles did you know. He is a supremely complex young man."

Dutkne nodded. "That he is."

"Why would he do such a thing? Over three hours they took questions." Coren asked. "It was obvious to me that this Icho character was attempting to impugn that somehow Sadi Leonidas was not what she truly is. Revealing what was involved in her past was not something they needed to do."

"He knows there are people within the Union government who do not like his father and mothers or they change they have brought." Dutkne spoke. "Better to face the problem head on and make it something they can't use. Icho was trying to inject suspicion about Sadi. He may have succeeded in some fashion, but addressing it as they did eliminates all those who are not fanatics." Dutkne looked at him. "We have not been on the best of terms Regent Re Mydala… I will be the first to admit that… but my people as a whole are not enemies of the Vanari. It may seem that Androcles is harsh and cruel… but you must remember what the Lycavorians of the Union endured for so many years. In many ways it is similar to what the Vanari have endured over the decades and centuries. Slavery is abhorrent to my people, more so to those within the Union. This mentality has carried over to the vast majority of the species within the Union, many of whom have been with them since the very beginning. The Spartan way of life was embraced by many more who are not Lycavorian."

Coren looked at him. "His father is the same way?" Coren asked.

Dutkne nodded. "If what my grandfather has told me is true, very much so." Dutkne got up and moved across the room to stand in front of Coren. "Coren… you will not lose your children. The virus within our blood that changes a person can not be transferred to a Vanari. That is a medical fact and you know that. Our ability to Mindvoice can be passed to a Vanari if they are touched by a Lycavorian strong enough within Mindvoice to make a connection. You've seen that already with Caliria. We treasure our wives and mates Coren. They are the future. Do you honestly think Andro cares that any child he and Caliria may have will look like her and not him?"

"What?" Coren asked.

Dutkne nodded. "I had a long talk with Eliani after we rescued Caliria. The virus in our blood can't change a Vanari, and any child born of a Lycavorian and Vanari union would carry the Vanari pigmentation in their skin. They may be half Lycavorian, have our added strength and endurance and skills, but they will look like a Vanari."

"And this… this would not bother you?" Coren asked.

Dutkne laughed softly. "Our children are sacred to us as well… second only to those who give us those children. It would not make a lick of difference. Caliria, Arduri, even Naesta… they are still your daughters and will always remain so. Meaning no disrespect sir… perhaps now is the time to fully let go of what you have believed up until now and start being more open minded. Let our actions and beliefs show you that everything you have believed is false. At least for the vast majority of our people."

Coren looked at him. "That you admit there are those among your people who act as I have always believed tells me that you are sincere Dutkne."

"I hope that is a good thing sir." Dutkne spoke. "We would be far better friends and allies than enemies."

Coren nodded. "Yes… I'm seeing that. However… it appears that there are others within the Board of Regents who have latched onto my way of thinking and pushed it even further to advance their own goals."

"Have you identified anyone suspect?" Dutkne threw the question out there not really expecting Coren Re Mydala to answer him. Coren's answer surprised him to say the least.

"Seven that I am certain are involved." Coren answered returning to his chair now. "Two of them on the SBR… including Ardan."

Dutkne was silent knowing the relationship between the two men and how far it went back. After a moment he met Coren's eyes. "You are sure?"

Coren nodded. "Yes. As much as it pains me to say that." He answered. "Caliria also contacted me and told me the Eridiani human male she was seeing before she was taken has magically reappeared. He said he was forced to return to the Eridiani homeworld when his father realized that he was seeing Caliria. He swears he had nothing to do with her being taken by the OSG. She met him for lunch and he gave her a pad with several Lycavorian names." He lifted the pad and handed it to him.

Dutkne took the pad. "I take it you don't trust him from the tone of your voice."

Coren snorted. "I trust the Eridiani even less than I did the Lycavorians before all of this happened." He spoke.

Dutkne looked at the pad. "Did she reveal anything to him?" Dutkne asked. "About what we are doing?"

Coren shook his head quickly. "She may have had feelings for him before, but she is very wary of him now. I don't think she trusts him in the least. That is the sense I got from her anyway. She is head strong and will do things her way, but earning her trust now would be an infinitely hard thing to do." He answered. "And surprisingly… he didn't ask."

"He didn't ask?" Dutkne said moving back to his own chair. "Why does that not bestow a whole lot of trust in me?"

Coren smiled. "Yes… I said the same thing." He told him.

"This is a lot deeper than we first realized Coren… you do see that?" Dutkne asked.

Coren nodded. "Very much so." He answered him. "I suppose it should not surprise me considering how long it has been going on. The SBR keeps coming up with excuses to not meet with Denali as well. They are stalling for time."

Dutkne nodded his head. "They realize that Androcles will do exactly as he says he will by severing all ties to the Vanari."

Coren looked at him. "The loss of our many trading contracts with the Protectorate would cost us billions in annual revenue." He said. "We would not be able to make that up in other ways without a retooling of many of our industries. That would take years and force us to open talks with several species that we do not usually associate with. It frightens them. Androcles frightens them."

"Yeah… he does that to a lot of people." Dutkne said with a smile. "It can be a hindrance at times.

"Interacting with these other species would not benefit our people. We would have to open up Vanari space to their use, allow them to land on our planets and colonies. That is not something that the SBR wants to do." Coren said. "All of them at one point or another have tried to take what they want by force or coercion. They failed."

Dutkne nodded. "Because most of them consider the Alkay the Vanari secrete a valuable tool of espionage and they want it for their own purposes. Or they don't trust your people because of it."

Coren nodded slightly surprised as he looked at Dutkne. "Yes." He said.

Dutkne saw the look on his face and smiled. "I may have hated my duties as Director General… but that doesn't mean I didn't know them to the best of my abilities sir."

Coren nodded with a small smile. "Of course."

"We need to catch them red handed sir." Dutkne spoke. "Your people won't believe it otherwise."

"I agree." Coren said. "The question remains… how do we do that?"

"Ardan has told no one that the Union developed a counteragent to the OSG chemical?" Dutkne asked.

Coren nodded. "Which to me is the biggest sign of his involvement."

"Has he approached you about it?" Dutkne asked.

Coren shook his head. "No. And I doubt he will. I believe he is waiting for Denali or Lisisa to reveal this publicly, and then he will have all the ammunition he needs to prove that the Lycavorians are guilty of conspiring to enslave us. He would turn the entire board against you, all the while protecting himself and those others who are selling our people."

"Could he be doing that right now… behind closed doors?" Dutkne asked.

Coren shook his head. "No. I would hear about it. I have built relationships with these men and women while I neglected my family and pushed my daughter away because of the color of her hair. They know me… they trust me. Any one of them would come to me before giving their support to Ardan in dismissing the Protectorate and now the Union. I know it."

"I will trust you in that regard sir… all I ask is that you take precautions." Dutkne spoke. "Ardan, if he is involved as deeply as both of us believe, he would not hesitate to have the OSG or the Lycavorians working with him to stage some sort of attack against you to show we can not be trusted."

Coren nodded. "I have thought of that as well. I know Denali has some of your people watching me from the shadows. I have not seen them as I move about so I can only assume those who are watching me are some of the vampires within your ranks that are so adept at using the shadows and moving abut unseen."

"They are there to protect you Coren." Dutkne said. "That was Andro's order."

Coren met his eyes. "He ordered me protected? Even after what he believes I feel about him and his people?"

Dutkne nodded. "That ought to tell you what kind of man he is."

Coren nodded. "Indeed it does." He said. "If Ardan moves against me he will employ Lycavorians, of that I am sure." He said. "It would be another example of why we can not trust your people."

"Why not the OSG?" Dutkne asked.

"The Eridiani here on Austrova are constantly watched by Vanari Intelligence." Coren answered. "Anything out of the ordinary that they do immediately gets sent up the chain. That goes directly to the VI Director. A man who I happen to be excellent friends with."

"And you trust him?" Dutkne asked.

"I should… he is my brother's oldest son." Coren answered. "No… Ardan would not use OSG people for this. He is trying to insure the selling of my people continues. He will use your people. In this way he can put forth to the board that we need to reach out to others to…" Coren stopped talking. "That's it." He said coming to his feet.

Dutkne looked at him. "Sir."

"If Ardan can prove to the SBR and the entire Vanari Board of Regents that Lycavorians are the enemy he can get them to void our trade contracts with the Protectorate himself!" Coren gasped.

"Wait! You just said that would be a bad thing." Dutkne said. "Why would he want to do that?"

Coren looked at him. "Then it forces us to do exactly what we don't want to do! It forces us to open our borders to species we don't want to deal with because of their past transgressions towards our females." Coren answered. "And it gives him an avenue to further his wealth by having other buyers for our females." Coren's eyes grew wider. "And it puts him in a position to dispose Alrerin Sha Harael as First Regent! Ardan is next in line!"

Dutkne's eyes grew a little wider as well now. "He wants to take over the government?" He gasped.

"It has to be!" Coren hissed. "Why else go through all of this and take such a long time developing it all? He must have been planning this for years!"

"This… Coren if what you say is true… this changes things a great deal." Dutkne spoke.

"Indeed it does." Coren spoke looking at him. "I must speak with Denali Leonidas. As soon as possible Dutkne."

Dutkne got to his feet. "Let's go."

DEIA'S OFFICE

SPARTA

"… Bold move Andro." Deia told him as she finished pouring him a mug of his mother's coffee. Her temporary office was crowded with six people in addition to her and Androcles, two of whom were not human. Avi and 341 stood to one side of the room, while Shiria and Resumar occupied the two chairs closest to them. It seemed that wherever Resumar went now, one of the hulking avatars was beside him. Thr'won sat on the small couch with Panos.

Andro accepted the mug from his aunt and nodded. "He's a nubous traitor Tenna." He told her. "This way I have put him on the defensive. I don't know how long he has been helping the Kavalians and Laustinos, but long enough to influence many others and turn them to his way of thinking. Since I can not move against him without direct proof, I used the provisions of Spartan Law to dictate military logistics. It was a sound move all around to be honest."

Deia looked at him. "Ulana?"

Andro shrugged his broad shoulders and they all could see he was truly at a loss when it came to discussing her. "I don't know Tenna. I think Ulana is motivated by something else. She truly believes herself superior to Sadi. She's acting stupid and I need to avoid her as best I am able."

"There is an old saying from here on earth." Thr'won spoke softly smiling at Andro's obvious ignorance of what was motivating Ulana. "There is nothing more dangerous than a woman scorned."

Andro looked at her. "I acted honorably with her Val'istar." He spoke softly. "I never disrespected her in any way."

Thr'won shook her head. She had never been able to break him of the habit of referring to her as Val'istar. He had always held her in great regard and this was his way of showing her just how important she was to the overall scheme of things. While Thr'won was not as powerful as say Helen or himself, her Mindvoice abilities were quite superior to most others. She had spent nearly a decade learning all she could from Helen, and now she was the second most influential graduate of the School of the Mages behind only Helen herself. When Thr'won spoke, men and women listened. Her mate of nearly a thousand years had turned her long ago and she had fallen hopelessly in love with the much older Spartan. Now after six hundred years together and three children, Thr'won was the Senior Mage of Sparta, a feat that was a first of its kind in Sparta's long history.

Deia looked at Panos and a flicker of understanding passed between them. [He has no idea does he?] She reached out to Panos.

Panos shook his head minutely. [I don't believe he does.] He answered. [Even I do not understand the nuances of the females of our species Deia. As my mate tells me so often.]

[She's obsessed with him.] Deia spoke. [He doesn't know what kind of draw he has over women but he is just like his father. Women would slaughter and maim over them. I once heard Anja threaten to sew a female's opening shut with fifty year old leather dipped in feces if she kept pursuing Martin. I don't know what it is that makes their women so devoted but it is far more than normal. It will come to blows Panos.]

[Then so be it Deia.] Panos answered.

[Sadi will kill her you know.] Deia spoke. [I've seen the way she looks at Andro. They way they all look at him. If Ulana steps across that line she is towing right now, Sadi will end her in a very vicious fashion.]

[There is nothing we can do there.] Panos spoke. [The instincts of our people are strong Deia and there are times when we need to let them out. If Ulana pushes Sadi too far, then we just need to step back and let nature take its course.]

Deia nodded. [You are right.] She said softly. [I just hope it's not too bloody.]

"I understand that Andro." Thr'won answered bringing them back into the main part of the conversation. "No one believes otherwise no matter what Ulana says. I'm just telling you how Ulana is thinking. You left her for another woman. For Sadi. Ulana is arrogant to the extreme. She is wealthy, beautiful and she believes she is better than everyone else. She truly can not understand what you see in Sadi that makes her better."

"That's an understatement." Resumar snorted. "She's a real uppity upaee."

Thr'won chuckled and nodded her head. She had been part of the birth of every Leonidas child up until Dorian, and she knew each of them well. "That is a most accurate description Res." She told him. "That is also what makes her dangerous. She will not let this go. She has it in her mind that you belong to her Andro. She will not let this go until it comes to blows with Sadi I'm afraid."

Andro sipped his coffee and looked at her. "That would be a singularly stupid thing for her to do." He said. "I only found this out a few days ago, Sadi and Ne'Veha both felt they wanted to know more after seeing what happen with my mother. Lu'ria and Carisia have been instructing them in the finer points of hand to hand combat. They are working out nearly every day."

Panos laughed now and shook his head. "Then they will be just as deadly as they are beautiful." He stated. "Oh… I wish to be there for that confrontation."

Deia sat down. "They didn't tell you?" She asked.

Andro shook his head. "No."

"Drow trained Princesses?" Thr'won spoke softly. "A lethal mix if I do say so myself. And one that I would not want to be on the receiving end of."

"Better check under your pillow every night fervon." Resumar told him with a laugh. "And be very careful you don't piss them off."

Andro smiled. "Tell me about it." He said. He turned back to Deia now. "What is it you wanted to see us all for Tenna?"

"Shiria and I have put together a plan." Deia said as she too sat back down gingerly in her chair. She still used her hover chair for long periods of time but she was getting stronger by the day and moving around more and more under her own power.

Shiria leaned forward now and spoke for the first time. "We believe that we have found a suitable way to detect anyone who may carry the Paladin gene whether it be active or dormant. It is a medical gene and therefore we can scan for it from orbit of a planet with one of the Pralor long range corvettes that SPARTA'S WRATH carries. I spoke with Eliani and she has localized and centered the systems on two corvettes with Avi and 341's help to detect and focus on this particular gene."

Androcles nodded. "Ok… why did you need to see me?"

"I want to begin recruiting them Androcles." Shiria said.

"You?" Andro gasped. "No way! Absolutely not!" His voice carried considerable heat in it and this surprised Shiria and she sat back.

"And why not may I ask?" Shiria spoke finally.

"Who you are is beginning to spread Val'istar! It may be of my doing but it would have begun sooner or later!" Andro told her. "Hell… you can't miss that SPARTA'S WRATH is in orbit! How can anyone miss a ship that is seven kilometers long and unlike anything we have ever built! That we did not build that ship is obvious, and sooner or later they will put two and two together! They will know you are from the species that built that ship! Who you are is beginning to spread Shiria and I will not risk you for some silly undertaking!"

"I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself Androcles Leonidas." Shiria spoke very defensively. "And this is not a silly undertaking!"

Andro shook his head. "That is not what I meant and you know it!" He snapped. "Once Keleru discovers who you are and that you are the one who encouraged Athani to defect, that it was you all of these years, that you were hiding SPARTA'S WRATH from him, he will make capturing you a priority! He will want the secrets you have in your head and he will come after them!" Andro told her. "It's what I would do! We do not know the full extent of those who sympathized with Icho and his ilk. We…" Andro stopped talking for a moment as if something had just occurred to him and got to his feet. He set his coffee on the table and moved to the window that provided a beautiful background of the Evrotas River as it wound its way through Sparta.

Shiria was about to open her mouth and respond but felt Resumar and Thr'won both rested their hands on her arms. Thr'won shook her head quickly indicating that she should say nothing. Andro looked at his hands as he held them up in front of him. He could feel the Etheric power surging through him. He had felt it for years now, just as his father had and like his father he had tried to pass it off as advanced Mindvoice abilities. It filled him with strength and confidence and purpose. It was a power that he did not truly understand until he began reading the Tomes of his Pralor grandfather. A power gifted to him and his father and now he knew so few others. A power that could help him protect and serve those who looked to him. Those that looked to his father and their family. He had only caught a few fleeting images and sounds from his grandfather Sumar's memories that he gotten from his father's own memories, but he knew that his father could see more. What he had seen, it had frightened Androcles. It frightened him right down to his core because it made Alba Tau look like a picnic in comparison. Andro turned back and looked not at Shiria but Avi and 341.

"Avi… can you and 341 integrate Shroud Mark Nine Shields into the Pralor Corvettes?" Andro asked.

-Easily Androcles Leonidas-

"The ships are armed as well?" Andro asked.

It was 341 who answered. –They carry a standard complement of weapons for a Pralor Corvette. Ten batteries and four torpedo bays-

"What is the crew complement?" Andro asked.

-Eighty-three standard- 341 answered.

"How many does SPARTA'S WRATH carry?" Andro asked.

-Seven that are fully functional. Two that had their power cores removed to enhance the PILLAR OF FAITH- Avi answered.

Andro nodded. "Avi… I want two of them configured with Mark Nine Shrouds and any additional weapons you and 341 think could supplement what they have. Scan the service records of the Durcunusaan and the Drow. Assigned an additional twenty to each ship. Small unit operations experience a must. Preferably those who have seen combat. I already know who will command them and I will give you their names."

Avi nodded his head. –I will see to the modifications-

"341… you will be accompanying SPARTA'S WRATH to Dreamland. My Uncle Ben is looking forward to meeting and working with you." Andro said.

-I am to be removed from combat- 341 asked surprising everyone with the tone of his voice. It almost sounded as if he was hurt.

Andro shook his head. "Only for the short term." He answered. "You are more familiar with SPARTA'S WRATH and her systems. I need you to help Uncle Ben disseminate what you learned in the Farnuri Expanse, and then I want you to help him in finding ways to augment our normal systems with Pralor technology that can be done quickly. Or something to that effect. During the same time you will be picking and training members to bring SPARTA'S WRATH to a full crew complement. You will have access to the entire Union database of personnel. I will leave it up to you to choose who you think best suits the tasks in running her. The next time you go into battle I want you worrying about the weapons systems and leaving the rest to others. It's your ship."

341 blinked several times as he processed what Andro said. –Forgive me if my inquiry is incorrect Androcles Leonidas… but it processes within my neural systems that you are placing me in command of SPARTA'S WRATH-

Andro nodded. "I suppose I am in a way. Can you think of someone better for the job at this time?"

-Processing- 341 spoke. –Analysis complete. You are correct-

Andro smiled. "I do get some thing rights once in a while." He said looking at Shiria. "You will have your ships Val'istar. Anything you need you will have. Tenna Deia will be here on Earth coordinating your efforts. You are too important for us to risk Val'istar. Understand I will give you free reign until you act recklessly. Then I will order you back here."

Shiria came to her feet. "I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself!" She snapped.

"I don't question that." Andro said. "What you need to understand is that you are the only pure Pralor left alive. I will not put you in harm's way for any reason. My father would not allow this, and neither will I. You will not fight me on this or I will lock you within a villa in Gytheio under guard."

"You wouldn't dare!" Shiria snapped as she came to her feet. "I am not helpless young man! I am…"

Andro lifted his hand and suddenly Shiria was lifted into the air, encased in a light blue aura. Her eyes grew wide at this and she realized that she couldn't move. She glared daggers at Androcles which bounced harmlessly off him, but that glare contained a fair amount of respect as well now. Andro stepped closer to her, looking at her as he held her within the Etheric field. "You are not helpless Val'istar… no. But you are also not a warrior. You are a scientist and we need you. Now more than ever with what is coming. What those of us in this room know is coming. You have a reckless streak within you Val'istar, so please do not fight me on this. You will not win no matter what you do."

Shiria glared at him knowing he spoke the truth. He could easily overpower her no matter what she did simply by the dominance of the blood of Sumar in his veins. "I… I need to do this Androcles." She managed to finally stammer. "I sat back… I was sent away while my people died! I need to do this!"

Androcles nodded and released her, gently lowering her back to the floor. "I know. That is why I'm going to give you the means to be reckless Val'istar. Only it won't be you actually doing it."

Shiria looked at him puzzled. "I don't understand."

"You will." He said. "You will. Those who you find are not to be told why they are being selected. At least not yet. When you find them, have they assigned to your command. A Secret training mission. They will be sent to the Dragon Brigade facility to wait. When you have all of them then my father or I will talk with them. They must know what it is they are being chosen for and given the option to accept it or not." He turned to Resumar. "Once Avi and 341 have done the refits… you and Athani are to take one of the corvettes and return Mican, Pian and Jalersi to the Val'istar's fortress. From there you and Pian will coordinate the rebels with Mican. Uncle Isra will remain with you to command the section of the Dragon Brigade but Tenna Tarifa needs to remain here and begin acting in her role as Governor of Sparta or the Kavalians will begin to wonder. As will others. Her absence will be a liability we can not afford."

Resumar nodded. "I understand." He said. "The PILLAR OF FAITH'S Strike Group?"

"It is your Strike Group fervon. They go where you go. I'm also assigning two OMEN ships to your command. Keep them apart from the Kavalian forces but give Pian full access to their abilities." Andro said. "Establish a supply list that has whatever you can use before you depart."

"Uncle Vonis?" Resumar asked.

"I have plans for Uncle Vonis." Andro spoke. "At the moment I do not want to reveal too much for they are not fully formulated."

Resumar nodded. "Works for me." He said.

"Avi… you will go to Dreamland as well for the time being." Andro said.

-My mission?-

Andro looked at him a moment. "Our shipbuilding capabilities are no where near what the Kavalians have because of their clones. I want you to find a way to create more of the Worker Drones to help us in building our own ships and merging the Pralor technology into them. Is that possible?"

Avi nodded his head, his red eyes blinking several times. He looked at Andro. –It would require access to the power core of SPARTA'S WRATH for a short time, but yes I believe it can be done-

"Then do it." Andro said.

-This will not take much time Androcles- Avi said. –The Worker Drones are fairly easy to replicate. What am I to do after?-

Andro looked at him. "Five city ships crashed with yours Avi." Andro said. "We know the fate of four of them. I need you to find the fifth. I need you to find that fifth ship and then we will pray it is reasonably intact."