Carpathia IV: Episode 254 - Kitty Commands
Conference Room, NCCS Shadowdancer-A
First in the conference room, Aire, Zhang, and Ryuu, as the others hadn't yet disembarked the shuttle. Without sitting, Aire leaned over the table and unrolled the Blood Agony schematics, not only because this was the most important result of Aionaptara's visit, but he was dead curious to see what they looked like. After a brief explanation to Admiral Zhang what transpired, they flipped through the pages with great interest.
The schematics were indeed detailed, what appeared to be a deck by deck breakdown of the entire ship. Appeared to be, because none but Ryuu could read any of the words on the pages. As they flipped through the pages, Ryuu gave them the gist of what they were looking at. Technical details, of which there were many, saved for later.
Ryuu: Systems control... brig... engineering... food production...
Admiral Zhang: Ryuu, I would like for you to flip through these, commit them to memory, and then take them to Engineering to have them scanned and logged.
Ryuu: Sure thing. I'll do all of that in Engineering so the team down there can look while I'm checking them.
Aire rolled the papers back up and handed them to Ryuu.
Aire: Good idea. Take Phobos with you. I want backups on backups as quickly as possible. I admit to being a bit nervous for as long as there's only one copy of this.
Ryuu: No worries, Captain. We'll have this spread across the sector in no time.
Ryuu cheerfully took the schematic roll and headed for the door, which opened just before he got to it. In spilled the Aionaptara conversation team, Joust, Baal, and Kit. Ryuu gave them a quick greeting before slipping through the door and down the stairs.
Aire: Come in and have a seat. We want to hear all about it.
The team filed in and each took seats next to each other opposite of where Admiral Zhang and Aire stood. Once the others were comfortable in their chairs, Admiral Zhang and Aire too sat down.
Aire: Before we start, you should know that Aionaptara just paid us a visit and delivered schematics to the Blood Agony. He said it was a thank you for the star pillow you gave him.
Kit scrunched up his body and started fidgeting with his fingers.
Kit: After awhile, we realized that nobody had ever shown him a kindness before. Nobody had ever given him a present that was out of kindness. Only out of fear.
Aire: Your instinct was spot-on with that one. What else did you learn?
Joust: It seems he really did want to have a perfectly mundane conversation, especially once he was satisfied that we aptarans are treated as full and equal citizens.
Baal: He mellowed a lot after that. That's when we started talking about our personal lives, both his and ours. He was most interested in the basic stuff, like the kinds of foods we grew up eating.
Kit: And my family.
Joust: He did take a particular interest in Kit's journey. You are a good storyteller, Kit.
Aire: He did mention that he appreciated that when he came to the bridge. Evidently, your description of Amenaru was quite vivid.
Kit blushed again, his ears turning fiery red.
Baal: We tried to get information about the Vashta out of him, but he always turned the conversation back to regular life stuff.
Joust: We did get some data, though. Voxx told us ages ago that the Vashta have 24 ships like the ones we have encountered, two each for the favored families. The truth is that they have 48. A replacement for each if one gets lost, destroyed, or decommissioned.
Kit: The Blood Agony can fit 30 in its docking bay. That's what we'll be up against.
Up to this point, Admiral Zhang had been taking the occasional note here and there, even though the table itself would be capturing a transcript, but now, she furiously scribbled on her console screen not just this information, but things she might tell the Admiralty as well.
Admiral Zhang: And how fast do they build replacements? We've already destroyed or taken three of them. That would put them down to 45.
Joust: He didn't say, but unless something has changed in 50 years, 48 ships is the maximum at any time. She believes that numbers higher than that could possibly be a threat to her and her ship.
Admiral Zhang continued making notes for herself and, without looking up, asked her next question.
Admiral Zhang: Any other tactical information?
Baal: Very little. He really did want to have a relaxing chat just sitting around a campfire, except the campfire was made of lava. He started to get grumpy if we asked too many questions about Lazmaedia or the Vashta, so we let it be.
With a heavy sigh, Admiral Zhang leaned back in her chair. There was nothing left for her to write.
Admiral Zhang: Disappointing, but you did the right thing. I suppose, deep down, I was hoping he'd give us some sort of superweapon that would end this all with one shot, but if he had that, he'd have used it. Overall, this is definitely a win in my book. Anything else to tell us?
Kit: He likes cute things. There aren't many living creatures on that island, but he was very kind to all of them, like the birds and the butterflies.
Baal: Something about that island, though... The longer we stayed, the more pleasant it became. The breeze became cooler. The sand, softer. It's as though everything around us reacted to Aionaptara's mood.
Joust: I'm not even sure if he was aware of it, but there was definitely a change.
After giving a quick nod, Admiral Zhang stood, prompting the others to do the same.
Admiral Zhang: Aire, you'll put a commendation in your log for all three. I will do the same. I want to thank all three of you for volunteering for this. I look forward to reading your reports.
Joust: Thank you very much, Admiral!
Admiral Zhang: I'll be in my quarters.
The rest watched while Admiral Zhang left. Aire, however, did not follow and remained where he was while she walked out the door.
Aire: Right, I'll let you guys get yourselves cleaned up and rested in a minute. Like Admiral Zhang, I thank you for volunteering. We will set course for home shortly. Commander Joust, I think you would agree that the crew could use some recreation?
Joust: Unquestionably, Captain. It wasn't a physically demanding mission, but it certainly was a tense one.
Aire: And those are often the most difficult kind. It will take a week to get back to Polaris Deep. Please arrange some recreational activities, either yourself or you can delegate. I understand if you need more time than normal to decompress.
Joust: I'll get right on that, Captain. After a night's rest, of course.
Aire: Very good. Dismissed.
The crew filed out of the room, leaving Aire by himself. Normally, he would simply cross straight across to his ready room, but there was something he had to see on the bridge first. After he was sure that the others were at least down the stairs, he went through the door and headed down himself. There, the bridge crew were performing their duties as usual, with Amenaru sitting nice and pretty in the command chair, surveying his domain, as cats are wont to do.
Aire: How goes it, Lieutenant?
Amenaru: Very good, Captain! It's not so bad like this, you know. Did you learn anything good?
Aire: We did, yes. Hopefully more after the team has had a nice rest. It is time to go back to Polaris Deep. Give the order. I'll be in my ready room.
Amenaru stretched his front legs to full, putting him to his full seated height as he called to the helm.
Amenaru: Teek, set course for Polaris Deep and engage at Q8!
Teek: Yes, Lieutenant. Setting course at Q8.
Amenaru: Phobos, keep a watch on the gravity eddies. Things are a lot different now than when we went in.
Phobos: Easier than before, Lieutenant, but definitely different. I'll make sure we have no surprises.
Amenaru: Keep us informed!
Aire gave a little nod and ascended the stairs with a smile on his face, knowing the sight of fluffy Amenaru giving orders would live in his brain for quite some time.
Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Less_End
Thatwildmary
Colourbrand
Falke2009
