***
The Empyream Leader Lord Marone did not want to part with any bounty whatsoever. That was never his intention. Now that Manutaai had confirmed that Sataal was on board Talokta’s ship, he did not have any need for the naïve, double crossing spy. He was excess baggage and scum. He initially planned that once Manutaai boarded his ship, he would kill him and imprison Sataal. Now, the pendulum had swung a different direction. Marone was curious about the possibility of leverage against the other Trimadians leaders; but what was that? His quick analytical mind reasoned it could be one of those legendary magic stones he had heard so much about. Trimadian soldiers among the fleets talk, especially on shore leave. The talk was Graffa humans using the Door of Endless Light on Ahmadeus and Lord Talokta himself heading for the planet.
This situation was risky, and he hoped for Manutaai’s sake he was not playing games.
Marone would not hesitate to destroy Talokta along with Manutaai and Sataal, for that was a risk worth taking. The single thought of no more Talokta excited him to no end.
Both Fleet masters had known each other for a very long time, and it was well known they were not fond of one another. Trimadians were by nature, untrustworthy. However, in times of any outside enemy attacking, all Trimadians always put any differences aside and fought side by side. When the foe was exterminated, the alliance was dissolved, and they were back to their petty, sometimes serious bickering. Kalvich was aware of this and was of the mind set that the fleet leaders should solve their own problems, and any challenges would keep them razor edged; worthy of their role as master. “The strongest, always survives,” he would state.
Marone, like every other Trimadian, knew Talokta was not just second in command to Kalvich or the Verone Supreme Commander. He was in high standing personally with the Supreme Ruler.
Nevertheless, nothing can change the rule that no matter how much a Trimadian Leader was favored by the Supreme Ruler, if another Trimadian Leader challenged and defeated them; the winner took over his opponent’s fleet, including his ranking and all the prestige that went with the position. Marone knew this would be no walk in the park. Talokta was a powerful individual and had well paid connections in high and low places. He knew never to underestimate him.
Despite the rules of the Trimadian warrior, he would need to tread carefully. Kalvich and Talokta had reigned as Number One and Two for a long time. But perhaps, just perhaps it was his time to show Kalvich just who had the real talent. A warrior’s code was his ability to survive from any threat whatsoever. The reward of more power at any cost was the ultimate sweetener.
Talokta, now in his ship’s control room had deliberately kept Marone waiting for a good half hour. He signaled his communications officer to open a video link with Marone.
Marone, true to prediction, forwent small talk and demanded he hand Sataal over if he did not want a battle on his hands. “My source has informed me you have him on board, a prisoner that belongs to me! I am in my rights that you hand him over to me instantly.”
Talokta did not flinch and stated smoothly, “I know he turned on your fleet with his scientific blasphemies. Sataal is a traitor to all Trimadians. That is why we are going to Heliostronus. Did your source also tell you that I am under our Supreme Ruler’s orders?”
“Kalvich is not here, you and I are. I will attack you, Talokta, if you do not hand him over.”
Talokta nodded. “Ahh, I see. Hmm. I wonder, maybe for you it is more, personal. Could it be that Sataal is just an excuse for you to finally have a go at me? Otherwise, tell me Marone, why you would go to all this trouble, for one traitor and risk the wrath of our leader. Has Sataal hurt your pride, and now he is with me you think you can kill two birds with one stone. Do you want to prove something to me and further inflate your almighty ego?”
“He has shamed me, and I demand retribution.”
“Yes, and you will make him further his experiments to not just attack Locum but other Trimadian fleets with those expunging tests.”
“Enough!” shouted Marone. “I will give you thirty minutes to prepare Sataal for delivery to my ship or you will taste my wrath.”
Marone’s image disappeared off the video screen. It would seem neither Leader would succumb to the other.
Talokta decided he would let Manutaai take Sataal to Marone’s ship. He knew Marone’s security sensors would sweep anything entering the ship; however, Talokta had a little “gift” on hand that would be masked by the elixir still remaining in Manutaai’s body.
And Sataal, well, of course he was not yet ready to get rid of the rebel leader just yet—for two reasons. He did not want to create a martyr to spark life and sympathy to any nuisance rebel factions, and mainly, he was too important to the Supreme Ruler for his scientific experiments, for now.
Every Trimadian ship had a Transfer room. This was where warriors, supplies, weaponry, and anything portable could be transferred to another place quickly and efficiently.
There was a triangular space highlighted in the center of the room where objects or people were placed ready for Transfer. It was very similar technology to the BSP but on a smaller scale, i.e. the distance can only be a maximum of one hundred thousand kilometers.
Any enemy, be it a feuding Trimadian or anything unknown, could not just transfer themselves, weapon or bomb, etc. onto another vessel as the force fields protecting this triangle would vaporize anything incoming without the proper security clearance. Talokta typically had gone a step further on his ship and made sure that anything scanned as a destructive weapon would be instantly sent back to where it came from, with his own brand of destruction!
During the Transfer process, like the BSP, molecules are transformed into pure energy and within a second, appear at their pre chosen destination. During reintegration, matter is scanned in order to read and match what is expected to appear. If the computer affirms, the matter is transformed back to its original state and rescanned. If not, the matter is dissolved and sent out into space, or in Talokta’s case, back to its point of origin.