Before the Storm - Michael P. Kube-McDowell [111]
The occupation by the Empire had been an education for the Yevetha, in more ways than one.
When the Empire came to Koornacht, it belonged to the Yevetha alone. Traveling through realspace in their immaculate spherical thrustships, they had spread from the spawnworld of N’zoth to eleven daughter worlds.
In all the recorded history of the galaxy, no species had established more interstellar colonies without the benefit of hyperdrive technology. To the Yevetha, the stars of N’zoth’s bright night sky seemed to hover just above their heads, beckoning. Their will was strong enough to leap the distances between the stars.
After the Empire retreated from Koornacht, that will was wedded to a technology that could leap the distances between the stars. Vastly faster ships made the other Yevethan worlds seem no farther away from N’zoth than the other side of the globe, and Imperial comm units could carry the viceroy’s voice throughout the Cluster in a matter of minutes.
N’zoth and its daughter worlds were bound together as one in a way never before possible, and the Second Birth began. The Yevetha scouted and settled a dozen more prime worlds in a spasm of expansion that satisfied the frustrated ambition of the occupation years.
But the greater vision guiding the Yevetha required a longer period of preparation and consideration. In that time, Yevethan engineers worked to adapt thrustship designs to Imperial technologies, while the metal artisans labored to complete and repair the captured warships.
Claiming and protecting all of the Yevethan birthright would require that and more, an unparalleled marshaling of effort—not only ships and crews, but whole communities, an entire generation ready to leave their birthworld for a home in the sky of stars.
And it would also require that someone go before and prepare the way.
For during its time as trustee of Koornacht Cluster, the Empire had allowed some immigrant colonies, encouraged others, and created still others for its own purposes. When the Empire left Koornacht, the Yevetha were no longer alone.
The transfer between Aramadia and the eight-kilometer-long Star Destroyer Pride of Yevetha took place at a rendezvous point deep in the heart of the Koornacht Cluster, far from any prying eyes.
Three trips by the thrustship’s ferry were required to complete the transfer of the viceroy. In the first trip his darna and breeding mates came across. The second brought his personal staff, including first attaché Eri Palle. The final run delivered the honor guard, Nil Spaar himself, and Vor Duull, Aramadia’s proctor of information science. Vor Duull’s inclusion was a reward for his work during the successful Coruscant mission.
They were met by Dar Bille, who had been Nil Spaar’s loyal second since long before the day of retribution. Now primate of Pride of Yevetha, he had directed the training of the other primates as each former Imperial warship had joined the growing Black Fleet.
“Etaias,” Dar Bille said, adding the salute of obeisance to the honorific. It was more than was called for by the difference in their standing, and drove the lower-ranking officers behind him to a similar excess; each dropped to one knee and bowed his head.
“Noreti,” Nil Spaar said warmly. “This was unnecessary, but it pleases me. Eri, see that everyone finds his quarters. Dar, lead me to the bridge. Is the fleet ready?”
“This way, Viceroy. The fleet is well ready. But Glory could not be launched in time to join us,” Dar Bille said, knowing that Nil Spaar would not be surprised by that news. Glory was the vessel the Imperials had called EX-F, and its curious propulsion system, unlike that in any other starship, had been an ongoing vexation.
As he followed Dar Bille into the corridor, Nil Spaar let his fingertips graze across the bare necks of the kneeling officers as he passed them. The touch symbolized his acceptance of the offer of their lives, and freed them to rise. “And the others?” he asked.
“After the last combat trial, I made the decision that the crew of Blessings was not ready. But that