(Continued from Sojourn Interrupted)
(Following the formation of the Synthoid Collective)
“Now! We go now!”
It looked like rage. It sounded like rage. It presented like rage in every quantifiable aspect. But it was not rage. No, it was something far more dangerous.
It was Consensus.
Colonel Lommite understood in that moment that there was no way to turn the Sojourn from this path. They would go, if they had to go alone with their single Blade. They would go, if it cost them their new relationship with the Cooperative. They would go, if even the faintest hope of victory fell far beyond their reach.
They had to go, for any number of reasons.
So Lommite had to go with them, for as many plus one. “Ar'dak,” it began gently, resting its metallic hand on the armor of her synthetic shoulder, a peculiar gesture between two beings who had embraced the humanoid form out of convenience alone.
She recoiled from the touch, even that reflexive action brimming with predatory warning. “Call your masters and inform them of our course. They may answer or ignore our need as their true commitment to this new association demands.”
“Ar'dak,” Lommite tried again, this time firmer in tone but unaccompanied by any physical gesture. “I am the commander of Shard forces in this system, empowered to deploy them in the manner which best serves the Collective. If you want to launch immediately, I am the one you should plead your case to.”
“I do not plead,” she snapped.
Shard and Guardian Prime forces had reinforced the Sojourn Outpost in the wake of the battle to reclaim it. While the particulars of the relationship between the Mandalorians and Techno Union remained unclear, there was no doubt that they had collaborated in the conquest and subsequent exploitation of the Sojourn world. Until the Sojourn had recovered and fortified their position, their allies in the Synthoid Collective would ensure their safety.
“We are constrained by Cooperative and Coalition law in this matter, Ar'dak. If this Collective is to be a success, if we are to gain our rightful place in the galaxy, we cannot forget that.”
“I do not forget.”
“We must not ignore it, then.”
The slight change in sentiment seemed to get through to her a little. “What do you want, then?”
It was a less pleasant response than Lommite would have preferred, but it was workable. “I will assume overall command of this operation.” She started to protest, but Lommite held up a hand in another peculiarly humanoid gesture and pressed on. “Xiantus will remain here, to oversee the reconstruction of the Outpost, and you will assume command of the Blade and serve as the representative of the Consensus in this mission.”
There was a brief flurry of internal Sojourn communication, of which Lommite was only vaguely aware. There was a certain relaxing of Ar'dak's body as her conscious mind slipped into the ebb and flow of their Concensus, which told Lommite that the discussion was intense and involved.
“Guardian Prime's defense detachment will remain here,” Lommite continued, knowing she could still hear it, “whereas my force will accompany us to Brentaal, where we will link up with any reinforcements Guardian Prime can muster. The Alliance of Corporate States has established a presence there for reasons of their own; we'll use Cooperative channels to request their assistance in securing local logistical support in staging for the approach to Skako.
“This is a military operation, Ar'dak, but it is not a war, and it will be conducted in accordance with the laws and regulations to which we are subject. Do you understand?”
She was coming back now, the Consensus having reached its final decision. “Your demands are . . . acceptable. Provided we launch within the hour.”
Lommite looked around at the features of the Sojourn ship, the only real vessel of war at the synthetic race's disposal. “How about now?” Lommite switched its internal commlink on and cycled through to the required channels. “All ships, form up and prep slave circuits for immediate jump to Brentaal. Blade's helm is controller. Helm, plot course and engage when the last ship sounds off.”
It was a delicate balance, this position in which Lommite had been ensnared. The Sojourn wanted vengeance for the atrocities committed against them. They wanted blood, and fire, and ruin. Lommite had to ensure that if it came to that, and it almost certainly would, it would be the right way. The Shard colonel had to keep the Sojourn's fury in check long enough to secure a clear justification for battle, or everything they were trying to build here would crumble from the start.
The Sojourn were hurting, a hurt that possibly only the Shard could understand, but the Shard had the benefit of decades of recovery and the knowledge that they had already gotten their justice. Lommite didn't know if it could get through to the Sojourn, but it knew that it could stand with them.
After all, they were a Collective now.
* * *
Brentaal's place in the Coalition was still an open question. The Empire had “given” the planet to the Coalition during the Year of Cataclysm, making the legitimacy of its entry into the democratic government shaky at best, and its location this far into the Core didn't do much for the locals' sense of belonging in the Rim-dominated government. The Alliance of Corporate States was doing its best to buddy up to the isolated world, but that had far more to do with the planet's strategic position along galactic trade routes than any concern for the world's population.
A task force of droid warships using the planet as a staging ground for an assault on one of its neighbors certainly didn't help matters. Guardian Prime was sending a formation of Hive Ships fresh off the production lines of the Global Machine, and a course adjustment mid-trip by the Collective task force meant they'd only beaten their reinforcements to Brentaal by a few hours, but even that relatively brief stop over posed a substantial inconvenience when set above the most active trade world in the galaxy.
“Again, Regent, I appreciate your assistance in this matter.”
The full-sized hologram of the Cestian human smiled bitterly. “Colonel Lommite, I'm sure you understand the predicament your request put us in. The Corporate States aren't exactly welcome friends around these parts ourselves, and while we managed to beg and plead a long-term parking orbit out of the locals, convincing them to swap it out for one capable of accommodating military needs burned up the better part of the goodwill we've mustered over the past months.”
“I'm sure you won't regret that currency exchange,” the representative of the galaxy's largest government of synthetics said to the administrator of a major droid manufacturer. It was a big favor, Lommite understood, and the proximity of the Sojourn Outpost to Regent Minn's homeworld may very well have been the deciding factor for the law enforcement officer-turned-corporate politician. The chance to foster relations between their worlds was simply too good to pass up. “We'll be out of your way as soon as is physically possible, I assure you.”
“I am sympathetic to your cause,” the Regent said, catching Lommite just before it closed the line, “but I don't envy the task before you. I would appreciate it if you could avoid any missteps so treacherous they end with you limping back here with your new found troubles in tow.”
“My obligations to the Sojourn have not blinded me to my broader obligations to the Coalition as a whole, or even its most isolated member. I cannot, however, allow fear of what may come to dissuade me from what is right.”
The line closed and Ar'dak wasted no time pouncing on Lommite. “What was that all about? Why are you wasting time with this money-grubber? We don't need anything from him!”
“Unfortunately we do, Ar'dak. Without an order from High Command, Brentaal is under no obligation to allow our combat force into their system. If you want us to handle the Skakoans ourselves, and I know you do, then this is how we go about it. Besides, Regent Minn has proven himself a competent and trustworthy ally in the past. Sooner or later, you're going to have to deal with your prejudices and accept that the flesh-and-blood of the Coalition is not your enemy, but your ally.”
Ar'dak was seething. “When they cut into your brain and dismantle your mind, then you can talk to me about enemies and allies.”
“I don't have a brain,” Lommite replied evenly. “But I did watch every Shard I could rightly call family melted to glass in the Empire's furnaces.”
The ghastly admission stopped Ar'dak cold.
“I know what we're doing here,” Lommite said, turning away from the Sojourn commander to look out at the emptiness of space. “Never imagine that I don't understand.”
(Following the formation of the Synthoid Collective)
“Now! We go now!”
It looked like rage. It sounded like rage. It presented like rage in every quantifiable aspect. But it was not rage. No, it was something far more dangerous.
It was Consensus.
Colonel Lommite understood in that moment that there was no way to turn the Sojourn from this path. They would go, if they had to go alone with their single Blade. They would go, if it cost them their new relationship with the Cooperative. They would go, if even the faintest hope of victory fell far beyond their reach.
They had to go, for any number of reasons.
So Lommite had to go with them, for as many plus one. “Ar'dak,” it began gently, resting its metallic hand on the armor of her synthetic shoulder, a peculiar gesture between two beings who had embraced the humanoid form out of convenience alone.
She recoiled from the touch, even that reflexive action brimming with predatory warning. “Call your masters and inform them of our course. They may answer or ignore our need as their true commitment to this new association demands.”
“Ar'dak,” Lommite tried again, this time firmer in tone but unaccompanied by any physical gesture. “I am the commander of Shard forces in this system, empowered to deploy them in the manner which best serves the Collective. If you want to launch immediately, I am the one you should plead your case to.”
“I do not plead,” she snapped.
Shard and Guardian Prime forces had reinforced the Sojourn Outpost in the wake of the battle to reclaim it. While the particulars of the relationship between the Mandalorians and Techno Union remained unclear, there was no doubt that they had collaborated in the conquest and subsequent exploitation of the Sojourn world. Until the Sojourn had recovered and fortified their position, their allies in the Synthoid Collective would ensure their safety.
“We are constrained by Cooperative and Coalition law in this matter, Ar'dak. If this Collective is to be a success, if we are to gain our rightful place in the galaxy, we cannot forget that.”
“I do not forget.”
“We must not ignore it, then.”
The slight change in sentiment seemed to get through to her a little. “What do you want, then?”
It was a less pleasant response than Lommite would have preferred, but it was workable. “I will assume overall command of this operation.” She started to protest, but Lommite held up a hand in another peculiarly humanoid gesture and pressed on. “Xiantus will remain here, to oversee the reconstruction of the Outpost, and you will assume command of the Blade and serve as the representative of the Consensus in this mission.”
There was a brief flurry of internal Sojourn communication, of which Lommite was only vaguely aware. There was a certain relaxing of Ar'dak's body as her conscious mind slipped into the ebb and flow of their Concensus, which told Lommite that the discussion was intense and involved.
“Guardian Prime's defense detachment will remain here,” Lommite continued, knowing she could still hear it, “whereas my force will accompany us to Brentaal, where we will link up with any reinforcements Guardian Prime can muster. The Alliance of Corporate States has established a presence there for reasons of their own; we'll use Cooperative channels to request their assistance in securing local logistical support in staging for the approach to Skako.
“This is a military operation, Ar'dak, but it is not a war, and it will be conducted in accordance with the laws and regulations to which we are subject. Do you understand?”
She was coming back now, the Consensus having reached its final decision. “Your demands are . . . acceptable. Provided we launch within the hour.”
Lommite looked around at the features of the Sojourn ship, the only real vessel of war at the synthetic race's disposal. “How about now?” Lommite switched its internal commlink on and cycled through to the required channels. “All ships, form up and prep slave circuits for immediate jump to Brentaal. Blade's helm is controller. Helm, plot course and engage when the last ship sounds off.”
It was a delicate balance, this position in which Lommite had been ensnared. The Sojourn wanted vengeance for the atrocities committed against them. They wanted blood, and fire, and ruin. Lommite had to ensure that if it came to that, and it almost certainly would, it would be the right way. The Shard colonel had to keep the Sojourn's fury in check long enough to secure a clear justification for battle, or everything they were trying to build here would crumble from the start.
The Sojourn were hurting, a hurt that possibly only the Shard could understand, but the Shard had the benefit of decades of recovery and the knowledge that they had already gotten their justice. Lommite didn't know if it could get through to the Sojourn, but it knew that it could stand with them.
After all, they were a Collective now.
* * *
Brentaal's place in the Coalition was still an open question. The Empire had “given” the planet to the Coalition during the Year of Cataclysm, making the legitimacy of its entry into the democratic government shaky at best, and its location this far into the Core didn't do much for the locals' sense of belonging in the Rim-dominated government. The Alliance of Corporate States was doing its best to buddy up to the isolated world, but that had far more to do with the planet's strategic position along galactic trade routes than any concern for the world's population.
A task force of droid warships using the planet as a staging ground for an assault on one of its neighbors certainly didn't help matters. Guardian Prime was sending a formation of Hive Ships fresh off the production lines of the Global Machine, and a course adjustment mid-trip by the Collective task force meant they'd only beaten their reinforcements to Brentaal by a few hours, but even that relatively brief stop over posed a substantial inconvenience when set above the most active trade world in the galaxy.
“Again, Regent, I appreciate your assistance in this matter.”
The full-sized hologram of the Cestian human smiled bitterly. “Colonel Lommite, I'm sure you understand the predicament your request put us in. The Corporate States aren't exactly welcome friends around these parts ourselves, and while we managed to beg and plead a long-term parking orbit out of the locals, convincing them to swap it out for one capable of accommodating military needs burned up the better part of the goodwill we've mustered over the past months.”
“I'm sure you won't regret that currency exchange,” the representative of the galaxy's largest government of synthetics said to the administrator of a major droid manufacturer. It was a big favor, Lommite understood, and the proximity of the Sojourn Outpost to Regent Minn's homeworld may very well have been the deciding factor for the law enforcement officer-turned-corporate politician. The chance to foster relations between their worlds was simply too good to pass up. “We'll be out of your way as soon as is physically possible, I assure you.”
“I am sympathetic to your cause,” the Regent said, catching Lommite just before it closed the line, “but I don't envy the task before you. I would appreciate it if you could avoid any missteps so treacherous they end with you limping back here with your new found troubles in tow.”
“My obligations to the Sojourn have not blinded me to my broader obligations to the Coalition as a whole, or even its most isolated member. I cannot, however, allow fear of what may come to dissuade me from what is right.”
The line closed and Ar'dak wasted no time pouncing on Lommite. “What was that all about? Why are you wasting time with this money-grubber? We don't need anything from him!”
“Unfortunately we do, Ar'dak. Without an order from High Command, Brentaal is under no obligation to allow our combat force into their system. If you want us to handle the Skakoans ourselves, and I know you do, then this is how we go about it. Besides, Regent Minn has proven himself a competent and trustworthy ally in the past. Sooner or later, you're going to have to deal with your prejudices and accept that the flesh-and-blood of the Coalition is not your enemy, but your ally.”
Ar'dak was seething. “When they cut into your brain and dismantle your mind, then you can talk to me about enemies and allies.”
“I don't have a brain,” Lommite replied evenly. “But I did watch every Shard I could rightly call family melted to glass in the Empire's furnaces.”
The ghastly admission stopped Ar'dak cold.
“I know what we're doing here,” Lommite said, turning away from the Sojourn commander to look out at the emptiness of space. “Never imagine that I don't understand.”