'Twas in another lifetime, one of toil and blood

When blackness was a virtue, the road was full of mud

I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form

“Come in,'' she said, “I'll give ya”

“Shelter from the storm.”

I was burned out from exhaustion, buried in the hail

Poisoned in the bushes, an' blown out on the trail

Hunted like a crocodile, ravaged in the corn

“Come in,'' she said, “I'll give ya”

“Shelter from the storm.”

Bob Dylan - “Shelter From the Storm”

“...and that’s everything we know,” Leandra finished. “Assuming ΑΩ is telling the truth...and personally, I believe him...then what we’ve seen thus far is just the tip of the iceberg.”

Admiral Matevosian nodded, taking that in. “Any sign of Triton or Phoenix?” he asked.

“Not yet...but if what our Ronin friend is telling us is true, it’s only a matter of time.” The Prime Minister shook her head. “The latest news from the Khonhim only reinforces that. Jiyazh’s fleet was mauled at Gzuj. We don’t know how much he salvaged, but we suspect it’s only a fraction of what he went in with. And...they’ve confirmed High Commander Azhum Ganakh didn’t make it out.”

“Damn,” he said softly. “I never cared for that old bastard...but he deserved better.”

“He did,” she agreed, “though for a Khonhim, dying in battle is what they all aspire to, so perhaps it’s what he would have chosen.”

“Maybe,” the Admiral allowed, “but it still leaves us with the same problem.”

“It does,” Leandra nodded. “I need you in Tetrarchy space as soon as you can get here. We’re stretched thin with the Blockade, and those numbers aren’t getting any better. If the infected Ronin land on just one of our worlds…”

“...I know,” he grimaced, “and we’re pulling out all the stops to get there...but that still leaves us with an exposed flank. If the Khonhim fall…”

“The Field Marshal has already made that point very clear, I’m afraid,” she replied, “and if we shore them up, there’s only one place we can scrounge up the ships we’ll need...and it meant calling in every marker I had to sell it.”

Matevosian digested that for a moment. “Think we can pull it off?” he asked.

“...I don’t know,” she said at last, “but we’ll damn well try.”

Viện Szabolcsi, Governor-General of Earth, was not a happy man.

His position was unique in the Tetrarchy, an elected official charged with leading a single species. The old Triumvirate races had been thoroughly integrated for millennia, and while each race had a Minister of their own to represent their interests...until Humanity came along and upset the applecart, that is...the old government had been a single body.

Humanity, the Johnny-come-latelies, were the oddballs. While in theory, he performed the same function as a minister, in reality, Prime Minister Singh handled that herself. She had a staff to deal with the issues that came up, freeing her to direct Tetrarchy policy, while leaving him to govern the human worlds...as long as his policies didn’t conflict with those of the Tetrarchy. It was a ramshackle setup, and eventually, they needed to address the problem, but in the thirty years since mankind had joined the ranks of the Elder races they’d had their hands full with more pressing matters.

The last war had hit humanity hard. They’d lost a third of their colonies, seen Earth itself ravaged...in fact, the reason his office was in Stockholm instead of Geneva was that Geneva no longer existed, not since the Khonhim attack. Just one of sixteen major cities lost...and Earth had not forgotten that fact. Not at all.

And now...he was being ordered to help the Khonhim.

He’d toyed with the idea of throwing down the gauntlet and refusing the Prime Minister’s directive, but as romantic as it might have sounded to someone else, Viện knew Leandra Singh far too well to have tried it for real...because she would have had him removed without batting an eye. Oh, she wouldn’t have been so crude as to have him arrested, or anything so gauche...no, she’d simply have Security clean out his desk and dump him on the street. Unjust imprisonment he could bounce back from, but being tossed out like yesterday’s trash? Forget it.

The Ronin Masters were a dangerous threat, there was no arguing that point, and they’d need all the help they could get to beat them back...but would it be so terrible to let them deal with the Khonhim problem first?

Leandra thought so, and the woman was not exactly known for taking ‘No’ for an answer. So unless he was prepared to die on this particular hill...which might or might not be a euphemism, depending on how things played out...all he could do is grit his teeth and try not resenting being treated like an errand boy.

While smiling and making nice with the same people who had murdered a billion human beings. So he smiled his best diplomatic smile at the Khonhim deputy...while praying their help would be too little, and too late.

“I have spoken to Prime Minister Singh at length,” he informed her, “and she has directed me to inform you we’ll send every ship we can spare, including the bulk of our reserves. As our worlds are the furthest from the threat, she’s decided a token force will suffice to protect Earth and her colonies for now.”

Chikkij Kowzhach, the Deputy Dhyaksh stared at him with those huge black eyes of theirs...and then bowed her head. “The Khonhim people owe you a debt we may never be able to repay,” she said softly. “For those I am sworn to protect...I give you my thanks.” She lifted her head and gave a very human-like shrug. “As valueless as that may be to you.”

The remark caught him off guard, though he recovered quickly. He was a politician, after all, and thinking on his feet was part of the job description. “On the contrary, I am honored by your words,” Viện replied, with a slight bow of his own.

“Forgive my boldness, Governor...but when can we hope to see the human fleet arrive in our space?” she asked.

“I have spoken with Admiral Otxoa, and she assures me she can have the Task Force underway in five days,” he informed her. “It is my understanding it will take several weeks travel before they'll arrive, once she departs.”

She nodded, taking that in. “Then we will simply have to hold on until then, Governor,” she said at last.

Despite his personal feelings, he could appreciate the strain she must be under. He knew how well he would handle the pressure, were their roles reversed. “And the Dhyaksh?” he inquired. “Have you heard from him, and the fleet?”

“...not since the battle,” she answered, in obvious discomfort. “We believe…”

Her voice faltered, as the mask cracked. “...we hope...” she tried again, “that the fleet is operating in silence, so as not to alert the enemy to their location.”

“Of course,” he murmured, allowing her to save what face she could. It cost him nothing...and might even be the truth.

Not that he’d take that bet. Not in a million years.

Chikkij took a deep breath. “Governor, I know how difficult this must be for you. I am certain there are many humans who would gladly see my race fall at the hands of the invaders.” She let her gaze linger on him just a bit too long to be anything other than a recognition of his true feelings. “The fleet you send to our aid is a treasure without equal...and yet, there is something else I must ask of you, despite the difficult position it will place you in. I beg your forgiveness...but honor demands I make the request.”

The sincerity of her words left him curious. “Go ahead, Deputy Kowzhach.”

“We have ships unsuited for combat,” she informed him, “aged freighters, and the like. I wish to request we be allowed to send them to you.”

Viện stared at her in confusion. “...I’m afraid I do not understand,” he said.

The professional mask she had been so desperately trying to keep in place crumbled to dust. “...our children,” she whispered, “as many as we can send. Governor Szabolcsi...will you grant them safe harbor?”

The request, so heartfelt in its eloquence, left him stunned. “...of course,” he nodded, as he found himself at a loss for words.

He had no love or sympathy for the Khonhim, not after starting two separate wars. They’d murdered billions, and he wouldn’t lose a moment’s sleep if this new enemy hammered them into oblivion...

...but only a fucking monster turns away kids.