Page 52 of Radakk's Mate
I’m eager to make the fleet-wide announcement and return to my mate for the evening. Thalia. She’s all I can think about. Being away from her for too long causes my chest to ache and agitation to ripple through me.
Drawing in a deep breath, I summon patience and remind myself of how important the announcement I’m about to make is. How important I remain calm and confident while I address my people.
Earlier today, I’d met with the admiral and my advisors to discuss the possibility of the Darrvason Empire settling on Planet 58-Z alongside the humans, a meeting that had become heated during several points. While a few of my advisors were against the idea of settling on 58-Z, particularly Advisor Bemment, I was pleased to find the majority of them were in favor of the action.
But even before the meeting, I’d already made up my mind. I’d already decided 58-Zallnanis would be perfect for my people. Longing fills me as I imagine constructing a grand palace, one large enough to house my advisors, distant Sha’zan’tal Clan relations, and others whose service has proven invaluable to the Darrvason Empire during our journey through the stars. I glance at Admiral Tornn, wondering if he’ll wish to live in the palace or build a house of his own.
The technical officer clears his throat, and I notice the green light atop the fleet comm is finally blinking. I stand taller and stare into the camera.
“Greetings fellow citizens of the Darrvason Empire. As you already know, we recently altered course for a planet known as 58-Zallnanis, a lush green-blue planet that our probes indicate will be perfect for humankind. We’ll reach 58-Z in approximately five and a half moon cycles, and upon reaching the planet, we’ll receive our final payment of human females.”
A security officer standing nearby makes an eager growling sound deep in his throat, and I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling when I notice another officer making frantic hand movements to silence his comrade. In all my years as emperor, I don’t believe I’ve ever smiled during a fleet-wide announcement. I’ve never had the urge.
But for the first time in years, my people finally have reason to hope. We’ll soon receive the next wave of females—one hundred—followed by the final wave of two thousand.
Though a smile tugs at my lips, I’m quick to summon my usual serious expression. The hard, chiseled face of an emperor who will lead his people into a new age.
“Planet 58-Z contains six large, fertile continents, several massive oceans, ranges of majestic snow-capped mountains, sparkling lakes, and more.” I nod at the technical officer, and he sends a series of images from the planet flashing across the screen. Thirty pictures in total that I personally selected from the images transmitted by the probe. The significance of the number thirty isn’t lost on me.
Thirty. The number of females in the first wave we received. I hadn’t meant to select that exact number of images, but it now seems fitting.
Once the images finish flashing on the screen, I peer at the comm and make a sweeping gesture to the males standing around me. “I am pleased to announce that our twenty-five-year journey through the stars is almost at an end. After careful consideration, we have decided that Planet 58-Z isn’t just perfect for humankind, but it’s also perfect for the Darrvason Empire, and we will settle on the planet as well.”
I pause, allowing the entire fleet a moment to absorb the important, life-altering news I’d just imparted, knowing ten thousand souls are watching intently.
“We will build a settlement on the most northern continent, as the landscape there is most similar to that of the Darrvason homeworld. The humans will be free to settle on any other continent they wish, or even to spread out if it suits them. We’ll strive to maintain a cordial relationship with humankind as we share the planet.” I place a hand on my chest, and all the males on the bridge do the same. “To the glory of the Darrvason Empire,” we say in unison.
The technical officer turns the fleet comm off, and I turn to thank the admiral, the captain, and my advisors for joining me.
Admiral Tornn draws me aside to further discuss the personal video comms we plan to install for our females, comms that will allow our mates to contact their friends and relatives on theJansonna. Thalia recently mentioned that she would like to speak with the friends she left behind, and I’m pleased by Admiral Tornn’s views on the matter. He’s eager to get the video comms installed as soon as possible so his own mate might benefit from their use, and he promises our team of engineers who are already aboard theJansonnamaking repairs will be quick to install the devices.
I gesture for the admiral to follow me off the bridge, and we head for the royal corridors, where we’ll be afforded more privacy. The royal corridors were once intended only for my use, but I’ve since allowed the admiral and several trusted advisors to move into quarters located in this wing.
“Is it true that you’ve been taking your mate on walks through these corridors?” I ask, shocked that Admiral Tornn would allow his female out of his quarters so soon.
He nods. “Yes, it is true, though the walks are short, and I keep her close. We also never venture outside the royal corridors. To my knowledge, no other males have taken their females out in public yet. If I could’ve kept Ellie sequestered in my quarters for several moon cycles, I would have, but she is struggling with her solitude. It’s my hope that the video comms will help her better cope with her new role as my mate. If she’s able to speak with her mother and sister, both of whom live on theJansonna, I believe it’ll lift her spirits.”
I’m stunned that the admiral is being so forthcoming. He shoots me an inquisitive look, and I sense his curiosity about how I’m handling my mate. “Thalia wishes to explore theHaxxal, but I have informed her that she will remain in my quarters for several moon cycles. If another male attempted to steal her, the repercussions would be brutal.” I say no more, but I hope he heeds my unspoken concern—just as my leadership would be challenged if another male stole away with my female, so would Admiral Tornn’s. He would be stripped of his rank and likely reduced to a security officer.
I decide that while I will allow Thalia to speak with her friends aboard theJansonna, I don’t want her interacting with the females aboard theHaxxaljust yet, particularly the admiral’s mate. If she learns other females are being given more freedoms than she is, I suspect it’ll upset her. Possibly cause her to become rebellious.
“Have you spoken with Officer Brute lately?” I ask, suddenly keen to change the subject. Admiral Tornn recently installed his trusted cousin, Officer Brute, on theJansonnato watch over Captain Warren’s activities. Officially, Officer Brute is a decorated security officer, but unofficially he’s a skilled spymaster. Not only is he shadowing Captain Warren and reporting on his activities, but he’s attempting to learn about the various rebel groups on the worldship.
“Yes, but he doesn’t have any new information,” Admiral Tornn replies with a deep frown. “He continues to report discontent among the command team and occasional protests in the corridors, but he hasn’t learned who Sheila might be working for.”
We reach my quarters, and I turn to face the admiral. “The captain hasn’t casually inquired about recent happenings on theHaxxal? He hasn’t asked about the well-being of our people?” If Captain Warren had something to do with the hypospray and the fast-acting virus it contained, it would reason he might be anxiously watching theHaxxalfor signs of distress. Had the virus spread, the results would’ve been catastrophic.
The admiral shakes his head. “No. We still believe the captain and his command team are oblivious to Sheila’s attack on Paddax. I don’t think they had any involvement. We could so easily steal all their females and blast theJansonnainto countless pieces. They know how powerful we are.”
He sighs and peers toward his own quarters, no doubt eager to return to his own mate. I step closer to my door, anxious to walk inside and claim Thalia, to pound into her in the middle of the day rather than wait until the evening.
“Captain Warren is an egotisticalreffrexsia,” Admiral Tornn finally continues, “and he is desperate to remain the leader of his people. He also wants to be remembered as the captain who led humankind to a habitable planet. He wants the glory so badly he’ll do whatever we ask. He’ll even agree to share Planet 58-Z with us.”
“Since he’s so easy to control, so easy to intimidate, it’s probably best we allow Captain Warren to remain in control of theJansonna. However, if we learn he has anything to do with Sheila’s attack on Paddax, I would like him disposed of.”
The admiral chuckles. “I’m sure it would be Officer Brute’s pleasure.”
We speak for a while longer, discussing the endgame of whoever put Sheila up to attacking her mate, then say our farewells and return to our respective quarters.
