The Ascendant Stars - Michael Cobley [92]
‘Presignifier Remosca,’ he said amiably. ‘I’m very glad to see that ye made it through that wee skirmish.’
The humanoid’s smart white garments were now smudged and streaked with grime and blood. The skin spot-clusters pulsed between dull amber and pale green.
‘Captain Cameron – it is most acceptable to re-establish our acquaintance. I had not realised that you were so daring as to capture a Hegemony warship – this will not endear you to them.’
‘Well, if they insist on leaving their property lying around unattended … ’
‘I note and share your levity,’ Remosca said. ‘More seriously, did you observe the ship which destroyed the Hegemony carrier group?’
Greg nodded. ‘It was quite a show. No one here has ever seen anything like it.’
‘We knew of such vessels only as dark legends from the distant past,’ Remosca said. ‘That ship belongs to a race called the Vor. It was a force of their ships that attacked the Imisil fleet – our co-signifiers managed to fight off the ambush but at considerable cost.’
‘You must have impressive weapons,’ Greg said. ‘Don’t know what was protecting that ship but nothing the Hegemony had could touch it.’
‘The Vor have only a few of those render-ships – they are shielded by a bubble of subspace which here in normal space makes them almost invulnerable. In hyperspace, less so. That vessel I am sure was hunting for us.’
‘And instead it ran into the Hegemony carrier and gave it a serious amount of grief.’ Greg chuckled. ‘Shame we couldn’t persuade them to stick around and help us out.’
‘The Vor are a vile species, Captain Cameron,’ said Presignifier Remosca. ‘They are biological parasites that ride around in the bodies of captured enemies; all brain tissue involved in higher functions is removed, reducing all cerebral activity to basic, primitive functions, then the Vor climbs in and interfaces its mind with what remains. Our legends tell of the millions who were abducted to serve as hosts for these creatures. They cannot be compromised or negotiated with, much less considered possible allies.’
Well, that’s me told, Greg thought.
‘And now it’s vanished back into hyperspace,’ he said. ‘It could have gone after us or destroyed the Darien colony, or both, yet here we are.’
‘I have no answer for you,’ said Remosca. ‘Except to say that whatever the strategy the Vor are following, it will not be to our benefit.
‘However, now you must listen carefully. The Imisil fleet, despite its losses, is back on course and will be here in less than two hours, by your reckoning. We have been in touch with the edge commanders and they have informed me that the Hegemony armada will be supported by a combat fleet from their Yamanon partners, the Earthsphere. But be aware – the Hegemony will not be permitted to establish overwhelming military supremacy here.’
Despite these stirring words, Greg still felt the optimism drain out of him. For a moment he was directionless, then a spark of anger flickered inside him.
‘After all that’s happened here – to us – they still let themselves be used!’ The anger was hot now. ‘The Hegemony snaps its fingers and Earthsphere hurries along to their master’s bidding, grovelling puppets, the lot o’ them! While Darien is a piece to be fought and wrangled over!’ He paused to rein in his rage. ‘Just as a matter of interest, how might the combined Hegemony and Earthsphere forces compare to the Imisil fleet?’
‘Conservative estimates suggest that we could be outnumbered by seven to one,’ said Remosca.
Eyes widening, Greg uttered a low whistle. He glanced over at Ash, who was watching the screen with a thoughtful smile on his face. Then for some reason Greg’s mood changed and he found himself striving not to laugh out loud.
‘We shall send to you the latest reports on the likely composition of the Hegemony and Earthsphere fleets,’ said the Imisil commander. ‘When our fleet arrives, the Predominant Commander will wish to meet with us all,