before reaching the land bridge, our group sat and ate rations.
“Just so we’re clear,” Joan said, uncharacteristically interrupting the silence and leaning forward. “If I know CeCe, she’s planning on offering herself up as a sacrifice in exchange for IGMC leaving this star system alone. I’d like to have a vote right now that we’ll allow her to do no such thing.”
A chorus of “iks” and “yeses” met my ears, and I smiled wide, fangs clipping my lip when I saw CeCe’s shocked expression.
CeCe’s nostrils flared as she closed her eyes, and then she opened them again, the liquid coal catching firelight when she met my gaze.
“My intention is—and always has been—saving the greatest number of lives,” she said, her tone serious. “Please share any and all ideas that will accomplish this.”
Her fierce voice sent shafts straight into my heart. She was a warrior, and I wanted her with me always.
“I’ve been thinking about this ever since CeCe pointed out the FQB radiation trails,” Pattee said. “The solution I keep coming back to is simple guerrilla warfare. We play to Ikthe’s strengths.” She met our eyes. “I believe one of you hunters said it before: Ikthe will protect herself. And we know that’s true.”
Everyone nodded but Esra spoke next. “As to communications, I say we keep the status quo. CeCe, when you pushed the Ikma away from Raxthezana after she hit him, was your armor in stealth mode?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, unless BoKama told the Ikma everything, which I doubt, then the Queen doesn’t know much about us, right?” Esra continued. “She knows CeCe escaped but doesn’t know who pushed her. She saw the sight-capture of Joan saving Raxkarax from BoKama. She knows Raxthezana is missing, and possibly suspects Raxkarax is alive, but again, she doesn’t have irrefutable evidence suggesting anything else. She probably doesn’t know about the three extra humans and would be in the dark as to who of the Lottery Five is still alive. Furthermore, she doesn’t know where anyone is. Of course, she’ll suspect Ikthe, but she has no proof.”
“You’re saying if we break radio silence then she’ll have no doubt and can advance her own agenda,” Joan said.
“Exactly,” Esra said. “Of course, this only works if BoKama hasn’t revealed what she knows.”
“But she told VELMA she needed to side with the Queen,” CeCe said. “Doesn’t that suggest she will tell the Ikma everything if she hasn’t already?”
“Maybe not,” Naraxthel said. “Her motives for bowing out of CeCe’s rescue were in self-preservation. She formed a bond with us and our heart mates; I doubt she would reveal anything regarding us. One hopes she will return to our aid as soon as she is able.”
CeCe grunted but didn’t reply, and I smirked at her lively spirit.
“What of IGMC’s impending arrival?” Natheka said. “My people should be warned.”
Esra bit her lip and nodded; I saw the other humans nod as well.
“We will task BoKama with informing the Queen of IGMC’s approach,” Naraxthel said. “Perhaps she detects them via our long-range space scanners or tells the Queen that her actions have incited CeCe’s people to war and that they should anticipate an invasion.”
“So, we could maintain radio silence,” Esra said with a raised brow.
“Yes,” Naraxthel confirmed.
“That warns your people,” Pattee said. “If IGMC takes that route. It’s still possible they could send a landing party in secret, hoping to escape notice by the inhabited planet.”
“I think the Co-Directors will choose stealth,” CeCe said. “The fleet is populated enough that breaking IUR protocol outright would be a huge risk. At least a handful of people could be counted on to report them.”
“Other than the fact that they may be too far from the last DSN tower,” Amity said with a frown. “Unless they left a trail of communication breadcrumbs, they’ll be just as isolated from IUR channels as we are.”
Joan leaned back and huffed in frustration.
“We’re talking in circles,” she groused.
“Not necessarily,” CeCe said and patted Joan’s thigh. “This is a classic brainstorm session. We’ll get it all worked out this way.”
Joan sighed and leaned into CeCe who put her arm around her shoulders.
“If IGMC acts on its own cognizance,” Pattee said. “Are they still likely to use stealth, do you think?”
CeCe tucked her bottom lip under her teeth for a jotik before speaking. “I think so. The Co-Directors are ambitious and greedy, but at the end of the day, they’re also cowards. While they’ll stoop to all sorts of unethical things to get VELMA-X back, I don’t think they’re brave enough or stupid enough to take on an entire alien race, especially one with interplanetary travel capability.”
“It sounds like we will be best served to prepare for a second alien invasion,” Hivelt said. “We vanquished the first wave of aliens. I foresee no issues in conquering the next.”
Pattee smiled at her heart mate, and the other humans laughed.
CeCe met my gaze with a twinkle in her eye, and I folded my arms, granting her a big smile.
“I will tell BoKama of the impending threat, as well as the possible iterations of IGMC’s arrival,” Naraxthel said.
“I will begin sketching traps,” I said.
“Oooh, I’ll help,” Pattee said, an unholy gleam in her eye.
“I’ll update VELMA and have her run simulations,” Esra said. “CeCe?”
“I’ll see if she needs her code tweaked, but I don’t anticipate any issues,” she said.
“Our weapons are still sharp,” Hivelt said.
“We have but to reach my ship,” I said. “Let us away.”