Sentience 1: Storm Clouds Gathering (11 page)

The answer came to him in the night.

Although still somewhat drowsy, Tzal couldn’t help staring at himself in the mirror of his new quarters within the station proper. OverFleet-Master Maaz had shown up personally at the foot of the
Akudavex’
boarding ramp with six female Dolrak in tow. Tzal had never heard of mass promotions given to an entire ship’s crew before, but that’s exactly what happened. One-by-one, each crew member was summoned to an isolated area of the ship and ascension rites performed. After the hypnotics were administered and their new rank-stones installed, imperial marines bodily carried each semiconscious crewmember back to their sleeping berths to recover.

Tzal went last. After seeing his deputy’s new amethyst ship-master’s stone shining from between and above Unak’s closed eyes, it gave him an odd feeling to know that he was losing
Akudavex
. But he knew it was doubly necessary, not only to allow him to assume his new duties, but to also give Unak the space to assimilate into his, without a senior master looking over his shoulder.

Tzal had been surprised when first awakening to find he was no longer aboard
Akudavex
, but was in station quarters uncomfortably similar to those he’d been imprisoned in — with imperial marine guards stationed at his door during the time he’d been quarantined prior to the inquest. When he managed to stagger to the mirror in the bathing area, he’d been absolutely shocked. His new rank-stone wasn’t the right color. It was a dark-blue sapphire… the stone of a squadron-master.

Tzal was astounded to find that he’d been selected to assume Drik’s old position as squadron-master of the 14 surviving ships of his Region-3 squadron, and was temporarily assigned to Maaz’ personal staff until the remainder of his squadron returned from their individual missions. It was reasonably assumed that Drik would either be promoted, or killed for his audacity in reprogramming his squadron’s computers. Only the supreme-master knew which, but either way, Drik would definitely not be returning to assume his old position as squadron-master, so the open position had fallen to Tzal.

Tzal’s lips pulled upwards in the Rak expression of mild pleasure every time he envisioned his old nemesis, Group-Master Skor being introduced to his new superior. All four group-masters would be stunned and resentful at Tzal’s double-promotion, in that they had all been bypassed for the position while they were away on exploration missions. Tzal felt that the awkwardness of the situation would be a major test of his leadership abilities, but he also thought that most would eventually accept OverFleet-Master Maaz’ decision. Group-Master Skor and master of his flagship, Ship-Master Klag would never accept it though... as they had never fully accepted it when Region-Master Glan had placed Drik in command of the squadron, just before they were assigned to imperial fleet duties.

The
Akudavex’
logs had been downloaded and wiped, with all of the information on the aliens firmly locked away under Maaz’ personal security seal. Maaz then ordered new Ship-Master Unak to take
Akudavex
out on an extended exploration mission in the opposite direction from the aliens they had discovered.

Tzal didn’t know that he was the only one from his entire crew who still remembered their last mission in its entirety. For the rest of
Akudavex’
crew, additional hypnotic commands inserted during their ascension ceremonies had buried all memories of those aliens firmly away, into now inaccessible areas of their minds.

Troxia Station, in orbit around the Rak Planet Troxia

Seven additional Raknii warfleets were assembled at Troxia during the past several subcycles on Quadrant-Master Raan’s defensive order after the earlier Trakaan debacle, prior to his departure to Raku. OverFleet-Master Maaz realized he was in over his head, and his best course of action was to wait for directions from higher authority before using these fleets to conduct any further offensive operations against the Trakaan, or in moving against the newly discovered aliens. Just as Drik had predicted, the docile Trakaan had not followed up on their earlier victory with offensive operations of their own, but seemed satisfied to enjoy the relative peace in the manner of herd beasts.

Initially these assembled Rak fleets availed themselves of the opportunity to conduce necessary heavy maintenance requiring extended periods in the shipyard, rotating with other fleets on routine guard patrols about Troxia, just like the thousands of other fleets throughout the five other regions of the Rak Empire. Although chaffing at the enforced idleness, the warriors enjoyed the time off with extended leave and liberty down on the former Trakaan world of Troxia.

Once conquered, the Trakaan reverted to their docile natures and made better than average servants, treating Rak warriors with utmost respect. Many were taught to understand the Rak language and could therefore obey commands, although their vocal apparatus was totally incompatible with speaking it. Still, in spite of all the recreational time off, things were at a near boil by the time Raan finally returned.

Maaz had Tzal accompany him to meet Raan’s ship as it docked. Both stiffly gave Raan the Rak cross-chest salute, as he descended the gangway. Neither missed noticing that his rank-stone was now a ruby sunburst, instead of the emerald sunburst he had left with.

“Brother,” said Raan, as he grasped Maaz’ forearm in the Rak version of a warm greeting. “It’s good to see you again.”

“And you… Region-Master.” responded Maaz.

“Yes, that came as a bit of a surprise to me, as well,” replied Raan. Noticing Tzal standing silently off to the side, Raan said, “I seem to remember this warrior, but not as a squadron-master. A new addition to your staff, Maaz?”

“Only temporarily, until we can regroup his squadron that has been out on solo exploration missions since your departure. Master, this is former ship-master Tzal of the
Akudavex
, one of the ships of Drik’s squadron that survived the Trakaan catastrophe.”

“You promoted a ship-master to take over the squadron over the group-masters, Maaz? Rather irregular, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, Master. It was both necessary and well deserved. Tzal showed remarkable clarity of thought concerning an exciting, yet disturbing discovery his ship made during their initial exploration deep into Region-12. A discovery best discussed in a secure area.”

Raan’s left eyebrow rose at that, but dropped the matter until it could be addressed in a more appropriate place. As they walked towards Raan’s office, Maaz updated him on the gathered fleets, maintenance performed and the growing restlessness amongst the crews. With so many Rak warriors of different regions confined in close quarters with little to occupy them, several small incidents of violence had broken out between rival groups down on the planet’s surface, where oversight by superiors was minimal. Maaz had given Raan a lot to think about, but not as much as he soon would… not nearly as much.

When you're testing to see how deep water is, never use both feet.
-- Benjamin Franklin

Troxia Station, in orbit around the Rak Planet Troxia

Aliens.
Raan had virtually no time at all to relax after finally getting off of the small scout-ship he’d been on for so many subcycles on the long trip back from Raku, before Maaz began an in-depth briefing on the new star-faring alien species, which Tzal had discovered. Not that Raan blamed him. No doubt his littermate was incredibly relieved to finally be able to turn over responsibility for dealing with this discovery to superior authority. Raan could empathize. He almost wished he could kick this one upstairs himself, but since his recent ascension to region-master, only the Supreme-Master now outranked him and Xior was just too far away to consult, so the problem was Raan’s to deal with.

Maaz well understood that he owed his own meteoric rise to the top of the fleet ranks to his talented littermate Raan. There was no sibling rivalry here. Maaz understood his own limitations, and accepted that he had risen as high as he ever would. But instead of constantly wanting something more, he was grateful and content to be exactly where he was. Maaz was totally loyal to his littermate.

Raan sometimes wondered if he hadn’t made an error in helping Maaz get promoted beyond his talents, but Maaz had shown excellent judgment and done a remarkable job at keeping the lid on such a momentous discovery, so perhaps that familial weakness wouldn’t come back to bite him on the tail after all. Maaz had also judged Tzal correctly. Tzal had indeed showed incredible forethought and amazing discipline of mind in his handling of the situation, as well. Raan was impressed with both of them.

“Squadron-Master Tzal,” Raan inquired, “do you foresee any problems with any of the group-masters within your squadron due to resentments arising from their having been passed over and your double-promotion suddenly vaulting you from beneath them to above them?”

“None that I cannot handle, Region-Master,” Tzal replied. “I expect only similar reactions to those Drik experienced when Region-Master Glan first placed him in command of the squadron, just prior to our assignment to the imperial fleet. Many thought his affiliation with Glan’s pride to be favoritism and his only qualification for the position. I have Drik’s excellent example to follow.”

“What was it specifically that Drik did to alleviate the grumbling when he first assumed command, then?” asked Raan.

“He offered stoneless personal combat to any group or ship-master in the squadron who thought him unfit to command them.”

Another of the ancient customs… interesting.
“Did any of them challenge him then?”

“All of them… except me,” replied Tzal.

“All of them? Drik defeated his entire senior master corps in single combat?”

“Yes, Master... all except me,” responded Tzal.

“Why was it that you didn’t challenge him as well?” asked Raan.

Tzal gave the region-master an enigmatic smile as he answered, “I became Drik’s primary sparring partner when he first entered
Fang & Claw
training.” Tzal smile widened at the memory. “I was two cycles ahead and nearest in age. I was his teacher for just over a cycle, but after that, he became mine. Drik was amazing. It was almost as if he had a completely different
Fang & Claw
teacher, besides the one we shared.”

Raan snickered inside.
If only he knew about Varq!

“We were both awarded our combat-mastery the same turn, so I knew all too well what Drik can do in unarmed combat,” continued Tzal.

“Ah, so you have no fear of any similar challenges, then?”

“No more than being challenged to single combat by a herd beast, Master.”

“It has been a very long time since I have met another
Master of Fang & Claw
. Perhaps you would do me the honor of sparring some time, keeping in mind, however, that I no longer have the advantages of youth on my side,” said Raan.

“I would be very honored, Master.”

Like Drik, Tzal had no difficulty in quieting the grumbling of group and ship masters of his squadron, as they arrived back at Troxia from their explorations to discover they had a new and undesirable squadron-master. Unlike Drik, he dealt with the ultra-orthodox and vindictive Skor and Klag on a rather more permanent basis. At the first sign they were truly intent on killing him, Tzal unleashed the most deadly attacks in a combat-master’s arsenal. Tzal was nothing if not practical at dealing with reoccurring problems. He had neither Drik’s patience, nor his compassion.

Tzal sparred with Region-Master Raan, as requested, and he had been quite surprised at how dexterous the old Rak master remained. While not quite as taxing or challenging as sparring against Drik, Raan was still a very dangerous and deadly opponent. Tzal enjoyed their sessions together immensely. Raan evidently enjoyed the exercise too, as he always scheduled another session at the close of each they had together.

Raan often engaged in small talk during their match. Sparring matches between two
Masters of Fang & Claw
mostly bypassed actual thought processes. It was ingrained move-countermove on an instinctual level, so small talk was no problem, as Tzal wasn’t using his conscious mind anyway. The first really poignant question Raan asked had startled Tzal enough, that the old master almost managed to gut him with a deadly claw rake. Tzal recovered quickly enough to avoid a deep wound, but he noticed Raan’s satisfied smile when Tzal’s middle began seeping blood openly from multiple claw marks. What the old master might have lost in speed, he more than made up for in cunning.

That first question that resulted in Tzal’s near-death experience had been about his opinion of the changes that had occurred within Rak society since interstellar travel had been discovered in general, and their hunt of the Trakaan began in particular. Tzal loved the old tales of life on Raku before space flight. It was a simpler time, when one
knew
one’s place within his pride. The pride was family, a tribe that represented security and gave one a sense of identity and belonging. There had been far less compulsion to increase one’s rank and standing at the expense of another, whom one had known all their life.

Today, the entire concept of one’s pride was much weaker. Society was now more concerned with the “greater pride” (whatever
that
really meant) and one never quite knew his place within this
greater pride
. One left the family pride to travel amongst the greater pride. One rarely knew the members of this greater pride as intimately as one had during the old days. This led to competition for rank and status reaching truly cutthroat proportions. Who one knew... whose favor had been gained, was now what led to advancement, while actual accomplishment and mastery of one’s vocation faded in comparative importance.
Politics
had become the paramount attribute necessary to success in modern Rak society. Unfortunately, it was almost impossible to master one’s occupation and become a master politician in the same lifetime, so vocation mastery usually suffered greatly.