Free Carinae Sector: 02 - Admiral's Fury - Part 1 - Purple Blood by David Buck Page A

Cephrit.
    ‘Well now onto more civil matters. You must understand that our previous efforts at ending the war when it started were unsuccessful and I was long ago ordered to desist. However that is all now in the past and we will see an end of the matter finally.’
    The two Cephrit gave several clicks of both consternation and anger, as they realised that the disarming comment from the second envoy had revealed that the Tilmud had been sanctioned in the war by the Zronte overlords themselves. The second envoy decided to ignore the rasping sounds coming from the two Cephrit, who had the good sense to quickly fall silent and both bow respectfully. Baredio considered that he would soon have a good conversation with the Fleet master later even if he was a member of the most junior vassal race present.
    The second envoy knocked her staff once on the floor, and looked around at the assembled junior vassals before she continued to speak.
    ‘Now the Cephrit fleets are to return to guarding their own core systems as we now go about stopping hostilities. You are not to resume your attacks on the Tilmud core worlds under any circumstances.’
    The two senior Cephrit males gave soft chirrs of acknowledgement, but otherwise remained silent as the second envoy now addressed Baredio.
    ‘Admiral Baredio, you are under my authority to contact the Tilmud and get them to disengage. You will use the edicts not your discretion, in how you deal with any breaches of ceasefire that the Tilmud commit.’
    Admiral Baredio remained silent as the Vorinne second envoy spoke again to the Cephrit.
    ‘Once the hostilities are over you will patrol all your own sectors of influence thoroughly, as we have concerns about the actions of independent races over the last one hundred or so years.’
    The Cephrit Fleet master now spoke in his soft chirring voice and gave a respectful nod as he did so. The Cephrit might be one of the senior vassal races also, but the Vorinne were considered first amongst equals for very powerful reasons embodied by the second envoy’s staff and the patrolling Vorinne cruisers nearby.
    ‘Your Grace, it will be as you command, we are honoured to serve.’
    Baredio thought that both Vorinne gave a small start of annoyance that no reference to obey Zronte edicts was included by the Cephrit. However the second envoy immediately spoke to him again instead.
    ‘Admiral Baredio, afterwards your cruisers will patrol the outer areas of Tilmud space near the former Dradfer colonies, for we are also concerned about recent Jerecab activity in this area. Once again you are not to attack the Jerecab unless they are breaking the edicts in a serious manner.’
    Thatak’siema paused for a moment and Admiral Baredio took the opportunity to respectfully reply to the second envoy, though he was careful to avoid posing her a question.
    ‘If it pleases your Grace, we have also reports that the Jerecab have been building their forces up heavily over the last one hundred years of so.’
    The second envoy fixed Baredio with a glare of annoyance that he deflected by bowing low and averting his gaze. Thatak’siema found what she wanted in her data tablet and continued to speak again.
    ‘Admiral, I will deal with the Jerecab at a later stage. Now I also understand you complied with my order five years ago reactivating your research fleet under the command of Gindane and they are resuming research at the Dradfer colonies. You will continue to remind Professor Gindane of her obligations to the planet of Earth. Indeed I will be seeking a meeting with Gindane and for that matter Omerio at a later stage.’
    After two more hours had passed during which further reports were discussed. The two Vorinne then unsuccessfully quizzed him about specific Barus naval intelligence matters. Baredio had politely answered her by emphasizing how his race was more concerned about the recent supernova. The second envoy ended the meeting and left with her liege dutifully