Among Bright Stars... (4 page)

“
Maybe so...” Turhan ruminated. “But I
think Morningstars are intended to be fruitful and
multiply...”

“
You don't like talking about it. Do
you?”

Turhan brooded. “What? That a voice from on
high directed me toward invention of Raidun90.” And then in a
booming baritone he quoted.” ‘I give you power to create life out
of lifelessness. From the Earth’s clay, forge a woman, she who
shall be Eve to a New humanity, and become mother of Stormangels!'.
Scientists aren't supposed to listen to Heavenly agencies, yet here
I am sent on my great journey, because voices in my head told me to
leave my home. Good to, otherwise I would have been caught up in
the revolution which exiled the Shah...”

“Maa!” Ariel prompted. “Where did you
go?”

Nadia gazed out her window. Over the city of
Tehran, capital of the Caliphate of Aslan. Winged warriors,
Falcanian soldiers brandished vajra and new double barreled rumbler
pistols. At guard, on the Lalah Hotel's roof which afforded an
unobstructed view of the bustling city. Patrols of Drakorian, and
the Queen's Valküri swooped across Iran's sky, which gained
interest from both locals, as well as tourists as great alated
shadows glided overhead, to blot out sunlight with each graceful
pass. “Just thinking.” She smiled. “This is where it all
began.”

Ariel took a bite from a confection, among
many offerings which the 12
^th
Imam, Lion ruler of the
Caliphate, Darius Noorani ordered be brought to the Falcanian queen
and her very lovely daughter's hotel suite following their early
morning meeting. No doubts, the Lion Caliph must be very taken with
Princess Ariel Drakonis.

“Sitara would be proud at how you’ve
ensnared Darius.”

“It’s mutual,” Ariel smiled as she glanced
out over the century old city. She watched with interest gaping
expressions of those Iranians who gazed skyward at the heavens, now
overrun by Falcanian hunters. Not a subtle display of strength to
be sure, and impressive to behold the orchestrated aeronautics.
“Besides, we need him.”

Nadia nodded. “Yes we do.” She licked her
maroon lips, a thoughtful light entered her brilliant blue eyes.
“Darius built his Caliphate of Aslan in such a short period. A
great orator, he thinks himself Alexander reborn.” The thought held
a kind of truth. After all, GenKon had wanted a world of
Alexander’s and Napoleons to rule the planet. “Perhaps rightfully
so, few men could conquer with hardly spilling blood. He rules from
Iran to Greece, absolute and unchallenged.” She chuckled. “They
think of him simply as being genetically enhanced. Were his Muslim
supporters to ever truly understand exactly what Darius Noorani
actually is, they'd chop off his head and burn him as an
abomination against Allah.”

“A Morningstar is good as any to have put an
end to the Islamist reign of terror.” Ariel's tremendous admiration
for the Morningstar Imam shined in her gorgeous smile. “Brute power
is respected in this hemisphere.” She blushed at the mere thought
of her beloved Adonis. “Darius have proven more than capable.”

“Brute power child is often an effective
solution.” The Queen reasoned. “We though should cautiously apply
it to our own ends.” These past three years Nadia sought to collect
the children of her parent’s Morningstar project, and turn them
toward the Falcanian cause. Noorani had proven to be one of the
most powerful and influential of the known embryos her parents
developed. There yet remained many unborn, and yet not accounted
for Morningstars.

“That's why we recruited Temujin Sardur and
his marauders. Retrained him to be a Drakorian, armored him, and
gave him inexhaustible wealth.” Ariel pointed out, rather glad that
her mother hadn't pushed a romance between she and the Mongolian
Morningstar. His methods were brutal and a bit tactless, at least
Darius refined himself.

“Temujin serves us well.” Nadia assured. “He
has little choice. As it was either that, or find himself hung from
a rope before Narshin Thryak's gates.” Of course, Nadia knew, a
mere noose wouldn't have done the trick. As she remarked, chop off
the head, and destroy the body. The only positive manner to kill a
Morningstar.

“You miss Father don’t you?” Ariel could see
it in her mother's eyes.

“He'll return soon enough.” Yet Nadia
sighed.

Ariel wasn’t going to allow her Mother to
brush her off so easily. “You wish he had taken you with him
instead of her.” Ack! Ariel hated that clone. Wished she would just
vanish into oblivion and let her father be.

Nadia nodded, but said. “What I want is not
important. What we gain for our people is.”

“I understand that, I’ve spent a good part
of my life in the Valküri Temple studying duty to clan and people,
learning all the primal drives, and all the ways to manipulate
others. Valküri truths are simple: Sex, DNA, and striking terror
into our enemies!”

That caused T'Kara to grin. Ariel indeed had
learned her lessons well. Both Sitara, and Ariel would, in their
own rights make excellent rulers. Had Shikar not been born, the
crown would have, as first hatched child been Sitara's, but that
was not to be. Instead both young women served in other ways.
Thoughts of Shikar made Nadia sad. How she would have liked to have
brought him on this tour. But it was not safe. Better for him to
remain at Vorkrür, with Talik... Not that she really trusted
Sharr's half-brother. Yet the Shotar did, and that's what mattered.
T'Kara knew she would see her son soon enough. “Believe it or not,”
Nadia finally wistfully said. “There is one female more angered
than me where Aria DeFalco's concerned.”

At that Ariel soured, what a sore subject,
one that she had no wish to dig up. To think of it caused her to
become melancholy, and had in part kept her in Kuras. Too much
tension arose from out of Krada’s unexpected death. She imagined
that the 'other woman' which her Mother spoke of spent a great deal
of time from her estate in Japan fuming over Aria DeFalco as
well.

“My Ladies.” Priyanka Surai-Trakan
announced. “It is nearly time for the press conference.”

“The media should be hearing about our
strike against the Imperium by now.” Nadia realized.

“Ah well, I’ll leave you to deal with that.”
Ariel moved toward the balcony.

“Where are you off to?”

“I’ve got a meeting.” Ariel said, a twinkle
in her violet eyes She turned and then from off the terrace
propelled herself into the sky, Drakorian Guards trailed in her
wake.

“Her Imperial Highness, Maharani T’Kara
Korelia-Drakonis, of the Falcanian Khanate.”

On this particular occasion Queen T’Kara
chose a business like, black midriff halter with a matched skirt
that slit to reveal a stocking sheathed leg. No harm using sex
appeal to influence those around her. As for jewelry, Nadia wore
only a golden Narshin emblem which invitingly dangled between
bountiful cinnamon color breasts. On her right arm, a few bangles
jangled. “Good afternoon,” she pleasantly greeted which opened the
floor to a clamor of questions. Nadia pointed toward a reporter, a
pretty dark skinned woman, who held an efficient, yet antiquated
notepad on which she jotted down observations.

“Queen T’Kara, Lark Douglas, South African
Daily News.” The reporter identified herself. “Does your government
intend to share its genetic technology with the Caliph?”

“The point of an alliance is to bring
benefits to all parties.”

Douglas wrote down Nadia’s evasive
response.

“You’re Highness,” a grizzled old reporter
briskly interjected himself. “Thomas Andrews, BBC.” He happily
pounced at the open. “We hear reports an attack by your nation has
been made on the Imperium. A joint Falcanian, and Japanese force
sits off the coast of Alaska. Is this true?” He wanted a scoop, be
the first to get a quote about the apparent now open warfare
between the two empires.

“My husband,” Nadia carefully spoke. “The
Shotar, shall make an announcement regarding our actions against
the Imperium very soon.” That had been all the Queen intended to
say on the matter until after her husband made his official
declaration.

“Is that an admission? We’ve known for
awhile there have been skirmishes, guerrilla raids.” Andrews
demanded and thought he’d cornered her. “And where’s the Shotar?
Rumor has it he’s off-planet. Chancellor Trakan’s isn’t taking
inquires. Your Island, hours ago went to a full alert.” Thom
Andrews pushed further. “Do your people intend an outright war
against the Imperium? What about the price to Earth?”

“Be assured Thom,” Nadia affected a pleasant
smile which brightened her simulated Persian-European features.
Turhan Korelia and Ambika Sen created their Morningstar daughter to
resemble the phenotype of their somewhat unique heritage. “Our
actions, where it concerns the Imperium are fully justified.” She
succinctly told him.

“You can’t deny lately that your Khanate’s
taken a rather aggressive stance.” Accused another reporter. “Don’t
you put at risk the uneasy peace established after The
Singularity?”

“We ask only to be allowed to survive,”
Nadia plainly stated. Her demeanor became autocratic. “We are
masters of our own destiny, have done our best to stay out of world
affairs. The coming of the Iksar’rang unbalanced this planet’s
peace. Not Falcanians.” The Queen condemned the Imperium with her
very tone. “Iksar’rang ships routinely supply the American Imperium
sophisticated technology, they also tell us the only reason up
until now Earth has not been contacted before by other space faring
species, is an alien race placed our planet under quarantine. We
are also informed humanity is the result of a genetic experiment
gone wrong,” She let that linger a moment. “An issue which has
caused much political and religious strife among global
populations.” Emphatic. “Do not blame us for JR Giovanni's reckless
choices.”

The press conference continued on for about
an hour more. Questions of the Khanate’s aggressive actions came up
once again. Not unexpectedly, Nadia sidestepped the issue to the
frustrations of the gathered journalists.

At long last the Q & A session reached
an end, and very soon Queen T’Kara made her way from the podium.
Honestly, she hated these things and would rather be back in her
lab working on some of her projects rather than act as the measured
diplomat. Nadia though knew very well such affairs weren’t her
husband’s forte, Sharr actually despised the press.

Nadia waved her attendants’ aside. “May I
help you Miss Douglas?”

“You’re Highness, I wonder if I might be
able to get a one on one interview with you?” She eagerly asked.
“You’re a fascinating figure; surely you’re aware of your
historical status?” Lark Douglas unabashedly flattered her idle.
“I’d like a more personal take on the woman who is Nadia Korelia,
‘Maharani T’Kara’.”

The Queen considered, while she gave the
lovely young reporter an assessment. Sharr, she knew would have
liked this exotic girl. Those big onyx eyes surely would’ve caught
his fancy. The idea of an interview also aroused Nadia’s curiosity.
To learn just how much this South African reporter had dug into her
past and what else she might have unearthed about her actual
creation would make the inconvenience worth it. Nadia smiled. “I
think that would be wonderful. I’ll have my assistant arrange the
meeting.” With that the Queen and her bodyguards left the delighted
journalist to bask in her victory.

“Can I sit in?” Thomas Andrews asked from
behind Lark.

“That’s not happening.” Lark grinned, and
played with her pen. “This is my exclusive!”

“Lark, they’re not the most open people, you
scored a big hit.”

“What’s your interest with them Thom?”

The BBC reporter shrugged. “Let’s see, the
Falcanian Khanate seemed to benefit from the chaos that arouse
during the last World War. Sharr’s linked in some way to the
Budjah. Not that he will admit it.” Thom added with scorn being
ever the rationalist. “And are those scarlet clad monks ever a
pain. The Falcanians been developing an army which they are now
using it to impose their will. Why wouldn’t I be interested?”

“So, you think they’re as bad as the
Imperium?”

“In a word, yes.” Thom Andrews thought
perhaps that Lark might be too enthralled by these Falcanians. This
didn’t shock him, he knew Douglas had grown up in a Post-Burn
world.
Oh well
, she was young and very new to the grind,
soon enough he thought her cynicism would harden and the South
African girl would become as jaded as the rest of her colleagues,
get on board where it came to matters of politics.

A shadow passed slowly over her head, the
silhouette of a hunting bird, wings arched for an impending strike,
and its talons extended, prepared to rip its prey from the earth.
In the shadow, Arshira, stood, glanced up at the bird of prey.
Overhead, Temujin's command FS-9 Raptor hung on its VTOL engines,
and dropped Nemesis-class assault aircraft into the battle as a
counterpoint against the Imperium’s own jets that had only seconds
earlier arrived on the scene to reinforce the outpost’s failing
defenses. Cargo drop complete, the FS-9 Raptor lifted higher
upward.

In the sky above the Falcanian Forward
Command, Arshira watched, picking out details of the battle above,
and marveled as two fighter aircraft exchanged salvos of artillery.
She remained captivated by the acrobatics of the aircraft, their
rolls, and dodges. The Imperium jet fired a missile at the Nemesis.
The Falcanian pilot however proved to be too quick. In the end, the
smart-missile looped around, and took out the Nemesis’s rear
thrusters, which forced the Skatha pilot to evacuate from his
plane.

Which did not stop the Skatha pilot, who
flew ahead, toward the Imperium jet under power of his own wings,
where he landed on its fuselage, gripped to it by means of his
tri-claws, and tore into the metal. Translucent glassy green wings
shimmered in the sunlight. A pulse-cannon mounted on the right arm
of the Skatha hummed, ready to fire into the Imperium jet’s canopy.
Armored in organic plated armor, black, almost like it were
fashioned from crude oil, its darkness consumed all ambient light.
The Skatha stood stark against a blue sky. Conduits in the armor
glowed, as if they were red molten metal, and pulsed inside the
carapace, met at junction points along the arms. One handed, the
Skatha ripped the human from his cockpit, and dangled the man by
his broken neck. Had Arshira been closer, she could have made out a
deep satisfied laugh from the Skatha after he casually let the
human go, to flail away dead.