“I hear,” Kon’Tirun said from behind her, and keyed a security sequence into a terminal. Tei’Kerttu moved to join her.

  Throughout the keep, alarms sounded and personnel ran through corridors to arm themselves. Thousands of warriors threw on their harnesses and checked their beamers, while technicians closed circuits long dormant. Lights throughout the facility came up full, punctuated by the still strobing emergency beacons that had been designed to lead people deeper into the keep’s protected environment.

  Pumps began pumping, air filters long unused within the deepest levels of the keep, began filtering out non-existent radiation and poisons. Non-existent, but perhaps not for long—the Murderers of Harmony were coming. Blast doors rumbled open throughout the keep ready to accept the millions of frightened people destined for Kachina Twelve, while above ground, hidden within the surrounding forests and hills, missile silos powered up awaiting the launch command.

  Tei’Kerttu watched in silence as her command centre came to life around her. Lighting remained subdued, but the view-screens provided more than ample with which to see. One section remained dark—fortress control. Its operators watched their comrades working from a sea of darkened screens. Their section was by far the largest. It commanded awesome firepower, yet they remained inert.

  She flexed her claws and made a decision. “Power up orbital defence net.”

  “I hear,” came the quiet response from Kon’Danu at fortress control, and the lonely island of darkness was gone, replaced with busy paws and flashing symbols upon computer screens.

  Another huge view-screen burst into light overhead. This one was a diagrammatic representation of Child of Harmony. In orbit of the planet, huge fortresses were even now powering up—their computers and weapons running complex self-tests. Fire control computers reached out to their brothers in the neighbouring fortresses until, with their defences now linked, Child of Harmony was ringed with targeting sensors reaching into the depths of space looking for something to kill.

  Tei’Kerttu watched as one after another, the fortresses populated the view-screen, but suddenly her attention was taken by another screen showing a situation map of the Kachina Mountain range and its hidden keeps. Kachina Eight was fully online according to the information displayed. One through six were at alert status two, well on their way to full activation that was alert status one. Blinking icons, representing still more keeps, informed her of facilities still at power down.

  “This is not happening fast enough,” she growled. “Any word from the elders?”

  “No, Tei,” Kon’Tirun said. “Should I try to contact them again?”

  Tei’Kerttu tapped a claw in irritation upon her panel. “Why are so many keeps still at alert three?”

  “It takes time, Tei. We were already at alert two because of the Humans.”

  “Too long… it’s taking too long! Contact Kajetan. Insist that I speak with her if you must, but hurry.”

  “Yes Tei,” Kon’Tirun said and her paws flashed over her panel.

  * * *

  Aboard Naktlon in orbit of Harmony

  Tei’Varyk crawled through the opening followed by Tei’Colgan. “…and from here back to ammunition storage bays. Should it happen that this area is breached, the transfer system is fully automated.”

  “Very impressive, Tei. I’m thinking our R&D people could learn a few things here.”

  That pleased him greatly. Tei’Varyk was proud of his new ship and was glad to hear others found merit in Naktlon’s innovations. Naktlon was the newest and most powerful heavy fang ever to leave the shipyards. He was just about ready for testing.

  Kajika had howled in pleasure when he saw the size of his ammunition storage. He had three times Chakra’s torpedo capacity, and twice his energy range. Naktlon was the most combat capable heavy fang yet built. Even so, Tei’Varyk secretly missed Chakra. Many of the crew had stayed with Tei’Unwin, and he missed them. He was thankful the command crew had come with him in its entirety.

  “When do you plan on taking her out?” Colgan said.

  “He is ready now,” Tei’Varyk corrected. “Kajetan has ordered a patrol of the outer asteroids.”

  “Good choice. You can test his guns out there.”

  He flicked his ears in agreement. That was the main reason for choosing the asteroids. They were a perfect testing ground for this kind of thing.

  Tei’Varyk led the way through the ship towards the command deck. “Let us see what James is doing.”

  “You know, when my people arrive to talk with the elders, I’ll most likely be ordered outsystem.”

  “Where will you go next?”

  Colgan shrugged. “We had just jumped into an unexplored system when we received your transmissions. We’ll go back to finish our survey. It’s roughly thirty light years from here. Canada’s mission is exploring new systems, cataloguing what we find and sending the data back to the Alliance.”

  “It must be an amazing experience. I would give anything to be there with you.”

  “Perhaps one day you will be.”

  Tei’Varyk grinned. “I look forward to that day. What is the name of the system?”

  “The one I was exploring?” Colgan said and Tei’Varyk flicked his ears in agreement. “It doesn’t have a name. We use catalogue numbers. There are billions of suns, and perhaps seventy percent have planets; too many to name my friend. Even our capital system has a number, though it has a name as well of course.”

  “Ah?”

  “Earth is the capital world of the Alliance as well as homeworld to the Human race.”

  “And the system?”

  “We call it Sol, named for its sun.”

  “Sol?” Tei’Varyk sounded the name experimentally. “A good name.”

  Colgan smiled. “We like it. I’ve not heard the name of your sun.”

  “It is simply The Sun. What need for another name when it’s the only one?”

  “When your fleet journeys beyond Shan space, your people will find new homes and will name them as we have done.”

  “And the Great Harmony will be reborn,” Tei’Varyk said almost seeing that day. “Not in my lifetime, Tei’Colgan, but perhaps my cubs will see it.”

  “Perhaps it will be sooner.”

  “Let us hope.” They entered the command deck. Jozka was at his station talking quietly with the maintenance crews. “Jozka?”

  “Tei?”

  “Where is James and his people?”

  “They have just landed, Tei.”

  “Landed? Landed where?” Tei’Varyk said looking back at Colgan who shook his head. “Why was I not informed?”

  “I did not know you wished to be,” Jozka said. “Have I failed you?”

  “No. I should have asked you to inform me. Where have they gone?”

  “Zuleika… should I contact them?”

  Zuleika was a city on Child of Harmony. The main port was located nearby on the coast. The city was a very fine place to visit and he was glad James would see it.

  “No. Continue your duties.”

  “I hear,” Jozka said and turned back to what he had been doing.

  “It seems we have missed them.”

  Colgan shrugged, and then grinned. “Not to worry. Ships are my passion, not cities.”

  “I hear,” Tei’Varyk said with a jaw-dropping grin of his own. “Perhaps you would like to go outside?”

  “Love to. It just so happens that I have my helmet with me.”

  Tei’Varyk twitched his ears in amusement. He liked these Humans, more and more. “Let us go now…”

  Jozka yelped in surprise. “Tei!”

  Tei’Varyk spun away from the hatch, and was back at Jozka’s side in three strides. His heart sped when he saw the shock on Jozka’s face. “What is it?”

  “The Fleet just went to alert one,” Jozka gasped quivering in shock at the news.

  “What does that mean?” Colgan said to Tei’Varyk’s back as he hurried toward his station.

  “Sound alert,” Tei’Varyk snapped as he sat in his chair and brought his station’s screens to life. “Alert one is war, Tei’Colgan.”

  A siren growled throughout the ship making hackles rise. The crew stared at each other in disbelief. The ship was at power down and still docked. Moments later their training took over, and they scrambled to get to their stations.

  “But who are you fighting? Not… not my people,” Colgan said in a shaken voice.

  “I don’t know yet.”

  “Tei’Colgan?” Jozka said sounding more composed now. “A message from your ship: We are coming.”

  Colgan blinked. “Is that all?”

  Jozka flicked his ears. “That was all.”

  “Contact them and ask for clarification, please.”

  “Tei?”

  “Do it,” Tei’Varyk said and turned to Tarjei. “Give me a full power scan. Jakinda, go to internal power and disconnect all umbilicals.”

  “I hear,” Tarjei said and quickly bent to the task. “Scanning at full power and resolution.”

  “I hear, Tei,” Jakinda said. “Umbilical disconnect in progress. Main power online. The station grapples are not under my control, Tei.”

  Tei’Varyk chewed his whiskers in agitation. He pointed a claw at Jozka. “Fix that.”

  “I hear,” Jozka said and tried to contact the stationmaster just as Kajika ran onto the command deck and took his place.

  “Bring all weapons online.”

  “I hear, Tei,” Kajika said panting from his run. “Primary and secondary weapons at standby,” he said and then snarled a curse under his breath. “Feed jam on magazine two!”

  “Unjam it,” Tei’Varyk hissed. “Tei’Colgan?”

  “What the hell is happening?” Colgan said. “Where’s my ship?”

  Tei’Varyk pointed a claw at one of his screens. “There is Canada, but look here.”

  Colgan bent to look. Canada was manoeuvring, obviously intent on making rendezvous with Naktlon to pick him up, but it was the host of glaring red icons on the edge of the system that claimed his attention.

  “Jesus…” Colgan hissed. “We’re outnumbered.”

  Tei’Varyk agreed. “Could they be your people?”

  “Have they tried to establish contact?”

  Tei’Varyk looked the question at Jozka.

  “Nothing yet, Tei, but I have more bad news. Two heavy fangs are reported missing. Atarah and Vasuk.”

  “Not my people’s doing, Tei. Absolutely not my people,” Colgan said anxiously.

  “Jakinda, status?”

  “Thrusters at station keeping, Tei. Ramp and grapples retracted.”

  “Break dock!”

  “I hear. Manoeuvring thrusters engaged. Port ten…” Jakinda said as his claws danced over his controls, and Naktlon smoothly eased away from the station. “Thrusters ahead one third… we have cleared the station.”

  Colgan leaned down again. “I need to be on my ship, Tei.”

  Tei’Varyk knew how Colgan felt, but he had other priorities right now. “Set a course to join the Fleet. Jozka, any word from the Human ship?”

  “They say they will match our course and speed. They ask permission to send a cub lander for Tei’Colgan.”

  A Human lander would not be able to dock with Naktlon, but it could come alongside and pick Colgan up if he was willing to chance a spacewalk. Knowing Colgan, Tei’Varyk was sure he would be.

  “Tell them to hurry.”

  “I hear.”

  * * *

  Zuleika, Child of Harmony

  For Shima, that orbit had already been the most memorable of her short life. She had moved her entire world to Child of Harmony—her research, her home, Chailen. Everything was here.

  Her father was the only thing missing, but even he was just a short flight away. He had taken up his duties on Hool Station now. It was ironic really. Tahar had told everyone that he worked aboard Hool Station, and for orbits he had lived the lie. In reality, he had been working on an ultra-secret project. The FTL project was no longer a secret. It had failed, and the research teams were disbanded. Now he really did work on Hool.

  Her move to Child of Harmony was important enough, but it was nothing compared to the momentous news of first contact with another alien race. She had watched the broadcast announcing contact with the Humans. Everyone had of course. Every Shan in the Twin Worlds had watched spellbound as Kajetan explained in detail just who these strange creatures were, and why they had come. Her calm tones were at odds with the historic news.

  Shima had been fascinated by it all, but others were afraid. There had been disturbances. Frightened people had run in every direction expecting alien landings at any moment. Thousands had fled into the mountains. Every keep was inundated by frightened people seeking sanctuary. It had taken a string of broadcasts by the Council of Elders to calm the situation. Every warrior and every ship was on alert, they said. Be not afraid, they said. Humans are our friends, and they will speak to you soon.

  And they had spoken.

  Shima had lived through those days hardly able to work for fear she might miss the next broadcast. Kajetan said the Humans had been studying them so that they might speak well enough to make themselves understood, but for now they must use devices they had brought with them. The translators were not perfect, she warned, but with time and patience on both sides, understanding could be achieved.

  A Human male with two names had spoken first—two names! Jeff Colgan was his name he said, and he was Tei for his ship. Canada was his ship’s name, and it was built for exploration among the stars. He went on to introduce some of his crew, and it was a female named Janice Bristow (two names again!) who had explained about the Alliance.

  Broadcast followed broadcast, as each day led to greater understanding between Shan and Human. Alien names and faces were memorised by cubs, just in case the chance to meet one occurred. Everyone knew at least one Human name, and many knew them all. Some even had their favourite Human. Shima liked James Wilder for the way his name sounded, and for his deep voice—so alien it was. Then came the day that everyone had waited for. A message was sent to the Alliance inviting another ship to come.

  No doubt it was important, but by that time she had been hearing the call of her work again. She could not stay away any longer. Her life, and the lives of her co-workers settled back into normality and harmony. The Humans were relegated to an interesting topic to discuss in their spare time.

  Shima was hard at work writing her report on variant three-one-five on that fateful day. It had proven itself the most promising variant of grain she had yet worked with. Genetics was still in its infancy, but already the benefits of hardier grain with higher yields was eagerly anticipated. Weather patterns differed greatly, and mean temperatures were higher on Child of Harmony. Food crops from Harmony did not prosper so well here, but if variant three-one-five was any indication, that would not always be so.

  —successful. I therefore recommend assigning Area Six to variant three-one-five. If, as seems likely from available data, variant three-one-five prospers in the unprotected environment of Area Six, I can foresee farm trials beginning with next orbit’s growing season—

  “We must get to the keep!” a voice screamed followed by crashes as something smashed. “Quickly, take this and this. Where’s Shima? Has anyone seen Shima?”

  Shima looked up in irritation at the noise. She rose to see what had caused it, but just then her terminal chimed announcing an incoming call. She hesitated a moment, but decided to take the call first. She would see what the fuss was about later.

  She pressed the ‘accept call’ button on her computer. Her work was automatically saved, and then replaced by the image of her father. His ears were flat and his eyes were… she had never seen fear on her father’s face, but she knew it all the same. When she heard the booming voice in the background of the transmission, her heart sped as her own fear leapt to match his.

  “…levels Six through Eight. Levels Nine through Twelve will evacuate via Red Sector…”

  “Thank the Harmonies!” Tahar yelled over the frantic announcement. “You have to get out of Zuleika!”

  “What? I don’t understand,” Shima cried. Behind her father, she saw people running by. “Are you all right? Is the station in danger?”

  “Listen to me,” Tahar said in a hard voice. “Forget about me. This place is finished. All that matters is you and Chailen. She is with you, yes?”

  “No. She’s visiting friends. What do you mean forget about you? What has happened—” the door behind her slid aside. She spun in a defensive crouch with her lips rippling back in a warning snarl.

  “Shima,” Adonia gasped from the open door. “For Harmony’s sake what are you doing? We have to get to a keep!”

  Shima’s ears were plastered tight against her head, making her almost deaf, and her vision was tunnelling. She desperately fought the hunt/kill reflex of her people, and tried to stop the rumbling growl that was forcing its way up from her chest.

  “Shima!” Tahar cried as he was buffeted by running people. “The cities near the ports will be hit first. You have to get as far away from Zuleika as you can. The Fleet is fighting to give us time to evacuate the—”

  The screen cleared and the calm face of Kajetan appeared.

  “My people,” she said solemnly. “I have just been informed that the Fleet is under attack, and that our brave warriors are fighting for their lives.

  “From the descriptions received, we believe the Murderers have returned. Our allies, the Humans, have vowed to stand with us and fight. Tei’Colgan informs me that a drone to the Alliance will be dispatched at once, but the Human fleet will take time to reach us. I am therefore ordering a system wide evacuation.

  “Please assemble at your evacuation zones for immediate transport to your assigned keep. I say this to the warriors among you: Protect our young ones, and may the Harmonies be with you all.”

  The screen cleared, but Tahar did not reappear. The report Shima had been working on suddenly blinked back to life on the screen awaiting her input. She turned away, and forced herself to walk calmly out of the room, when all she wanted to do was run.