accomplish their mission. ^How reliable are they?^ she asked Eusis.
^The clones? I wish I could say one-hundred percent. But as you saw, strong emotions can break the hold of a controller.^
^Could they ever remember their past lives?^
^Our clones, and the TELREC clones, are a synthesis of several great soldiers, a merging of the genetic code of up to ten men and women. It is highly unlikely they could remember the experiences of any one of them. If they were source-clones, or sclones, made from only one set of donor genetic material, the chances would be much greater.^
^What about common experiences?^ asked Theia, feeling she was onto something. ^They all fought, all killed. I assume they all came from the Rell-Novan wars?^
^Yes . . . your point?^
^I think we should look into exploiting this vulnerable aspect. If we could disable the TELREC clones, it would greatly add to our chances for success.^
The controller thought for a moment. ^I agree.^
The Nemosini was suddenly rocked by explosions on its lower decks, Theia knocked onto the floor.
^Status!^ she cried, clambering back into her chair.
^The fighters are taking more chances,^ replied Oroklos, ^as they have identified this ship as the clone controller’s.^
^Damn! Where are those fighters from Hildnic?^
16
The Envoy starships that left Novan three millennia ago were thanks to the planning of one woman: Mechle Dils. A visionary, she was consumed with thoughts of the Ascension, and the inevitability of TELREC control. She wanted to show that ingenuity and daring were not dead within the Novan people, that the creation of a Cuhli-pra was not necessary for the survival of the species. She ordered the construction of three shipbuilding facilities, laid out the long-term groundwork for their completion. She recruited scientists from anywhere she could find them—revolutionaries, cast-net addicts, even a few Rell. More than conceiving of the idea to build the ships, she set up the principles by which all Mechle of OLMAC were to follow.
All Mechle must be from the same bloodline.
All Mechle must have a minimum of six children.
Those children are to follow established guidelines regarding their education.
From those children a new Mechle will be chosen, when the time is right.
Those guidelines ensured her vision of the Envoy ships would be realized. Though there was much debate about the establishment of a monarchy to govern OLMAC, as time went by, her conception proved strong and true.
Uonil was barely in her clothes as she rushed out the door of her suite. She moved her small legs quickly, almost running down the hall to the conference room in Rellcine. Prudence was secondary, as major developments were occurring.
OLMAC battling the TELREC?
It was in all their projections—a sixty-five percent chance of the occurrence—but it had never occurred in any of the other timelines, and none thought it would occur this time as well. It was one of the rare times she agreed with the council of the Alçons, and disagreed with Arciss.
Somehow, he knew. He merely smiled at all of us, and said ‘it will come to pass.’
The same placid smile greeted her as she hurried into the conference room, and sat down. It was not lost on her that more and more she was the latecomer, and Arciss was the settled one. She was spending more time focusing on her personal life, trying to see if she could build a relationship with someone, reading, re-discovering her people as Graid was doing on Rell. The first time she was late, Arciss showed her such kindness and grace, she almost broke down in front of him.
“You have given so much of yourself, feel free to take what time you need.”
She sat there now, the Mentra of Rell, acting without the Kal-Alçon, reviewing the battle so far between the TELREC and OLMAC.
“Three capital ships?”
“Yes,” said Arciss, mentally cuing up their specifications. “Large ones. Construction would have had to have begun at least four hundred cas ago. Either they have an entire shipyard out of our view, or something disturbing has happened.”
Uonil settled herself, taking a deep breath, summoning her advisors to her. “Feels tight being back here, on Rellcine, doesn’t it?”
Arciss nodded in agreement. “I’d grown accustomed to the open, warm spaces of Averil—you have such a beautiful village!”
“Being back on this artificial world, surrounded by mostly synthetic creations makes you cherish memories like those of Averil.” She got a cast from her advisors, that they were almost there. “Have you communicated with Solti?”
“A couple of times,” replied Arciss, becoming nostalgic. “The memory of our time in the caves waiting out the circulle, gives me fuel to do whatever is necessary to protect our world. And to see the joy being spread from the Trint-Averil! They shared with me many of their experiences, after Martel’s incorporation. They have touched so many souls, done so much good. They have covered so much of Rell, and from their thoughts I culled images of places I had never seen. Our world is so beautiful, so pristine, I wonder what the Novans would do if they ever were to venture to it.”
“Probably spoil it and desecrate it.”
Arciss flashed her a disapproving smirk.
“I’m sorry, just the old prejudices surfacing again.” She grasped Arciss’ hand, and squeezed it gently. “I am so proud of what you have started, I can’t say it enough! To have formed such a large community, all of kindred souls. You must miss being with them.”
“Well, it’s just you and me now, Uonil, and I couldn’t be happier.”
He laid his hand on hers and she was buoyed by his warmth and tenderness.
“Yes, well, at least for a moment. My advisors are almost here, and I’ve also summoned Odre and Unti here as well, to discuss some issues while we’re all present.”
“What’s on your mind?” he asked, growing concerned.
“Graid.”
“It’s no wonder he can be so self-centered. We always think about him.”
“Truer words were never spoken. Ever since I became Mentra, no other issue has so dominated my thoughts.”
“I would think Brugert has provided some distraction?” he ventured cautiously.
Uonil started seeing a man named Brugert recently, and despite all her efforts to keep it quiet, Arciss knew of most things that transpired on Rellcine.
“Damn you, Arciss!” she cried, laughing. “Whatever happened to privacy?”
“It seems as though he makes you happy?”
“Yes, he does,” she finally admitted. “You know, it’s hard to get focused again on Graid, and the Kolob problem, but I feel we must make concrete decisions regarding the future, for it looms large ahead. As you say, seeing our precious world, living life with our people, only makes me want to work all the harder to safeguard them.”
Her advisors walked in, and seated themselves around the conference table.
“Everyone prepare yourselves,” she spoke aloud, “we will be conferring with the council of Alçons.”
“Watch your temper, Uonil . . .”
Uonil shook her head and smiled at Arciss as the council of Alçons resolved into their mental conference. Devring was the first to cast.
^What is your assessment, Mentra?^ he demanded, without courtesy or pleasantry.
Uonil quickly sifted through the battle as she knew it, noting key developments, downloading content to the council. ^Too much is happening outside of our temporal experience,^ she cast to them all once she had finished. ^The retrofitted oreships Suld possesses were unseen in prior timelines. The capital ships are unseen before. The antagonism between the TELREC and OLMAC also is unseen. We may be facing an exponentially growing problem.^
^What is that?^
^Our journeys through time may have juxtaposed branes. Events unique to an alternate dimension are now being incorporated into ours.^
^And it’s a problem that cannot be corrected,^ cast Arciss. ^It will continue to grow and exp
and.^
^Until what?^ asked Devring.
^Until there is one universe, one dimensional brane.^
The council cast among itself. Arciss had noticed an increasing animosity towards him since his Trint-Averil gained more and more strength, and prepared himself for the worst. Devring cast again.
^Where has all the energy gone? If I remember my scientific history, the only reason Rell exists is because we predicted a collision event, exactly when the brane for our universe would collide with another. All the energy was channeled into shifting Enq into the place it occupies now. If you are saying the branes are becoming meshed together, where is the resultant energy going?^
^We do not know,^ replied Uonil. ^We have not had the time to explore the mathematical consequences.^
^What does the Kal-Alçon think?^
^As you know, Graid is not here. He is on Rell.^
^Why?^ demanded Devring in stronger cast.
Uonil paused, restraining her anger. ^Who are you to ask that question?^
^I am Devring, lead of the council of Alçons. We demand accountability!^
^You may demand nothing,^ she venomously replied, ^for there is no ‘lead,’ for I am Mentra, and I approved Graid’s absence!^
^To the doom of us all,^ cast Rilltin, another Alçon.
^Or to our salvation,^ Arciss cast gently. ^Each of you have complained Graid was not in touch with his faith, that he was enamored with the Novan culture. Well, now he has decided to connect with ours. To go out among our people, and rediscover his heritage.^
^Or to corrupt them!^ slammed Devring. ^To join your heretics and pollute our planet with Novan blasphemy!^
The other Alçons cast