Chapter 194: 195

Sworn to intense hatred of all those opposing them and unwilling to acknowledge fealty to their lord and god, Nija, the thick, invading hordes of Ajellorians quickly and horrendously swarmed like a gray net of locusts across the bleeding darkness of the universe. The unsuspecting Valtorians maintained the normalcy of their lives until Kenra, the smallest jewel in their galaxy, was jolted from its nestled security by an evil unlike anything it had ever before encountered.

The destruction occurring on Kenra was catastrophic. It was so swift and so unexpected that even the military appeared to be unaware or unprepared for what was happening.

Cambra Jeiel Vernier, Chief Commander of the Imperial Forces of the Galaxy of Valtor, lifted his dark head at sound of the numerous anxious footsteps heading in his direction. Settling back in his wide chair, he set aside his writing instrument and folded his brawny arms, bracing himself for whatever urgent matter was about to befall him.

"Cambra Vernier!" came the expected greeting from his most trusted aide, startling him with its heightened anxiety. "My-My Lord, I apologize for the intrusion. I-I don"t know how we missed the signs. I am so sorry! I can"t tell you how sorry I am. I take full responsibility— full responsibility!"

Jeiel Vernier remained silent as the man went on and on.

"Acco," he said at last, his expression stoic. "What is it that you are telling me exactly?"

The man lapsed into silence and gave his master a sheepish look.

"I am sorry," he repeated, bowing respectfully. "We did not know. We did not see the signs. We were not as prepared as we should have been." "Acco!" Jeiel said quietly, rising.

"We are being attacked…by the Ajellorians. We are officially…at war."

The soft ticking of the enormous Kathian timepiece resting against the boardroom wall was the only thing maintaining anyone"s interest, at the most boring meeting of the century.

Casina Donaldson Altair, Kaaniga of Valtor, casually rested her fingertips atop the shining marble of the immense Rhenian table and, not really intending to, began clicking her fine nails against the top, with mindless indifference. Glancing up, she caught her husband"s frown of disapproval, so she immediately ceased her annoying activity, to the relief of the other fifteen people, an expert sampling of Valtorian field representatives, two from each of the seven planets in the solar system, as well as one adjunct from the Imperial Army.

One of the field representatives, an elder from the council of Ulstra, was slowly, as was his way, giving a long-winded oratory about the devastation of his drilling areas, due to winds and heavy soil erosion, and poisonous minerals contaminating the mines through ground water seepage, a result of last season's torrential rains. The terrestrial problems were weather-related and beyond the Altair"s ability to control at present, but it was definitely something he needed to take immediate action on. The valuable pontarial compounds extracted from the mines at each drilling were now being tainted with unusual amounts of sand and other contaminants, which would reduce the efficiency of the laser weapons for which the compound was mainly used.

Normally, the Altair, supreme ruler of the galaxy, would pass the problems of each territory on to the governor - the ter"n - of each province, who had designations for each planet in Valtor. Not this time, however. The problem at hand was of monumental importance for it involved the source of major weaponry used throughout the galaxy. Every warrior in the Imperial Army utilized such defense weaponry, and much of the pontarial compound was used on an even grander scale for the broader defense, employed along the farthest outreaches of the galaxy itself. Without such weaponry, the Imperial Army would be weakened, and the security of the empire could be at risk.

Kaanig Altair knew he had to act soon in order to remedy the problem but, at the moment, even he was finding it difficult to focus on the lengthy, dry oratory of the elder from Ulstra. Although attempting to concentrate on the importance of what the man was saying, he was continually being distracted by his mischievous life mate who was sitting opposite him, at the other end of the long table.

Although she had stifled her hands from revealing her disinterest and boredom, Casina"s thoughts instead had become centered on him, and he was beginning to tremble with the effort it took him to maintain control. Her thoughts were of such intimate content that it shocked him, and when he glanced at Casina, she pretended ignorance of the matter in an effort to amuse herself. Faith, he thought to himself, shifting uncomfortably in his seat, she could at least make an effort to pretend she was listening and maintain some interest and maturity in the role she had to play there.

He straightened in his chair, resting his hand against his chin as he made another valiant effort to support the Ulstran council leader until, moments later and without warning, he suddenly thrust back his chair and stood up. The elder stopped in mid-sentence and looked about, his expression one of surprise and dismay. Everyone else in the room was as taken aback as he was, including Casina, because Kaanig Altair was not prone to such interruptions during a meeting of such grave importance.

"Ziros?" the elder began, with uncertainty.

"I am sorry. We will recess for ten micron."

With that, Dammen moved to usher them out. Then just as the door had begun to close behind the puzzled group, he moved past his confused Kaaniga and into an adjoining office chamber, one more commonly used for dealing with galactic affairs of highest security.

Casina and the group had risen as one, so she merely followed her husband, with some apprehension, into his office. As soon as she entered, Dammen immediately and firmly closed the door behind her. At the click, Casina turned in surprise to find her husband frowning down at her with disapproval, with feet planted firmly and arms crossed.

"Wh-What"s wrong?" she stammered.

"Never do that again," he growled in a low voice.

"What?"

"You know what I"m talking about," he scolded. As he spoke, he moved closer, staring down at her from his great height.

"No!" Casina squealed, scampering around his huge, boomerang-shaped desk. "I don"t! I mean, I"m…not sure." She straightened, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Are you mad about my finger tapping during the meeting?"

"Well, that, too," Dammen said, following her around his desk, although she made no effort to move away. He shoved the large wheeled desk chair aside, pinning her against the curving slope of the desk, blocking any escape attempt.

Casina gaped up at him curiously until it suddenly occurred to her what he was upset about and why he had adjourned the meeting so suddenly.

"Well, the, uh, meeting was so dull and boring. I…I just couldn"t stand it anymore. And there you were just sitting there, pretending to be interested. And looking too darned sexy for your own good." Casina ducked her head and giggled. She made a quick move to get past him.

"Oh, no, you don"t," Dammen chided, easily drawing her back. "You started this. Now I"m going to finish it."

"Uri!" she protested, only to be silenced by his lips crashing down onto hers. Crushing her to him, he waited until she had stopped squirming before setting her away from him, albeit with some difficulty.

"Casina," he began, with a sigh of resignation, "if you do not learn to control your thoughts around me, especially during the course of important business, I"m not going to get much accomplished. And as dull as that meeting was, it was a very important meeting which affects all of Valtor." His lips curled into a warm smile as he gazed down at her, loving her a great deal. Leaning closer, he whispered against her throat, "That was wonderful, by the way. Much better than being in a stuffy old meeting."

"Yes," she agreed, giggling. "It was indeed."

"If I had more time, I"d make love to you right here. But that will have to wait until later."

Again he kissed her, much more gently than before. Then, taking her hand, he led her back to the conference room to again attend to matters there.

"You do not have to sit in for the remainder of this meeting, Casina, if you wish to do something else."

"But don"t you want me to—"

Dammen took her shoulders firmly in hand.

"Casina," he said with veritable firmness. "You are excused this one time, all right?" A bright smile erupted as she looked up at him.

"All right," she answered, with obvious relief, "but I"d rather stay with you."

"I know," he said, "but I want you to take the afternoon off. I think you really do need a break. I"ve been trying to cram too much into your brain. Why don"t you take Arian with you and go visit Jenny. It"s been a while since you"ve seen her, hasn"t it?" Nodding, Casina ducked her head and listened to her husband"s advice, wanting yet not wanting to take him up on his suggestion. She so enjoyed being near him as much as possible.

"Okay," she said at last. She peered up at him respectfully before daring to slide a gentle hand along his large bicep. "But I"m sorry I disappointed you. It"s just trying sometimes. I don"t know how you stand it."

His lip curled. "You get used to it over time. It also takes discipline and much of the Source"s grace to deal with such matters. And besides," he reminded her. "I am Kaanig, remember?"

"Yes," she grinned, "yes, you are." She continued to gaze up at him, running her awed hand up and down his arm just as the door to the conference room burst open and Iddo Aemons, the Altair"s chief advisor, viceroy, father figure, and confidante - his ba"astran - marched in unannounced. Instantly withdrawing her hand, Casina joined her husband in looking over at him with some surprise, both glad he hadn"t arrived any sooner.

"Ziros!" Iddo greeted his master, somewhat out of breath. "We have a problem." He stopped whoever was starting to follow him into the room, then hastily and purposely closed the door in their faces. Turning back to the Altairs, he told them in a voice close to a whisper, "We are under attack!"