Yaal: A Science Fiction Romance

Chapter 1 

Leyla

Yesterday, the entire northern hemisphere of Titanus Vox turned their eyes to the sky, bearing witness to a magnificent pyrotechnic display as a Triden Alliance battle cruiser, bearing the scars of battle, tore through the atmosphere like a shooting star.

I was among the multitude who stood, transfixed, watching as the fiery streak resolved itself into the shape of a space craft. It even settled here, in the capital, and my father was among those who met the alien commander.

Aliens. It’s still hard to believe that they really exist, that humanity isn’t alone in this massive sea of stars. Like many other people, I wish that it wasn’t a war that had brought them into our lives.

I’ve been quite interested in the aliens—my father would say ‘obsessed’ but that’s so not true—and have done some of my own amateur anthropology on them. The Vakutan, with their fierce looking ridges and powerful builds, frightened me at first, but they don’t seem malignant like the Coalition forces.

I find the Pi’rell quite intriguing, and not just because I also have pale skin that needs to be protected from the sun. Their heightened sense of hearing and retractable claws make me think of them as kind of cat-people, even though I know that’s inaccurate.

But most of all, I have studied the Alzhon. Their culture is intriguing, to say the least. They tend to keep their women in domestic roles, while the men enter the military or sciences. However, they don’t restrict their females from seeking out different professions, particularly if they are competent. Then you factor in their strange practice of cloning and cybernetic enhancement, and you have something that could have been in an early 20th century Earth sci fi novel.

As exciting as it had been when the ship landed, hoping for assistance with much needed repairs, the following day has not been as interesting. In fact, I’m bored out of my skull.

My father is one of the leaders of the IHC stronghold on this planet. While this should open up a lot of doors for me in terms of finding interesting work to do, it hasn’t really borne any fruit. Every time I ask my father for more responsibilities he finds a way to blow me off.

Well, not today. Today I’m going to march right up to him and demand to be given something important to do. And if not important, it should at least be interesting.

I stroll through the IHC fortress/headquarters, well known to the security forces because of my father. Everyone is talking about the Trident ship which came in for a rough landing the other day. From what I can glean from the brief conversations I interject myself into, no one is quite sure what the Trident Alliance battle cruiser’s next move will be.

A few idiots are going on about how this is all a ruse, and an attempt at the Trident Alliance to breach the main human stronghold this side of Syfer. I can’t help but roll my eyes at such drivel. The Trident Alliance are in a pitched war with the Ataxia Coalition for control of the galaxy. With their resources already stretched thin, they wouldn’t dream of starting another conflict with humanity. There’s just too many of us spread out along the stellar courses from Earth.

The sun shines in through the thick faux glass windows, each strong enough to repel artillery fire. I walk through alternating shafts of warmth and shadow on my way to my father’s office.

When I arrive, my father’s receptionist frowns at me. Then again, he’s always frowning so it’s hard to tell if I’m the cause of just his general life.

“Can I help you, Miss Coleson?”

I smile, lean over and put my hands on his desk.

“I’m just here to speak with my dad. Can you tell him I’m here?”

He purses his lips, and casts a wary eye on the closed door behind his desk.

“I’m afraid that will be quite impossible, Miss Coleson. Your father is in an important meeting with his senior staff and visiting dignitaries from the IHC.”

The receptionist gestures toward a row of comfortable if Spartan padded benches.

“Perhaps you could take a seat until he is finished?”

“Fine.” I sigh and settle in on one of the cushions. Once again, I’m being treated like a child, when I could do so much more. Maybe I don’t have cybernetics or enhanced hearing like our alien would be allies, and maybe I’m not as experienced as many of the crew here on Titanus, but I still feel like I’m being smothered with dismissal. When people look at me, they see my father first, and how I relate to him, rather than me as an individual.

From what my father  had said the previous evening, the primary purpose of his meeting today would be to discuss what the Ataxia Coalition’s next likely move would be. They were the bad guys, as far as I was concerned, so it followed they would be doing bad things.

Of course, what nature those bad things would take on was what the meeting was really about. I’ve studied military history as much as any Earth brat, and I know that the main thing an army on the move needs is sustenance. An army marches on its stomach, so the saying goes. I suppose the same is true of armies in space. 

Other than food, the Coalition will probably need raw materials to build and re supply their ships, weapons batteries, and soldiers. There are a number of worlds in this star system alone that could suit their purposes in this regard, so my father and his peers have a tough task ahead of them.

Oh, if only they would let me help. I’m more than just a pretty face, more than just the Governor’s daughter. If they would give me a chance, just one chance, to prove myself they wouldn’t be disappointed.

Being the daughter of a powerful man can be tough. It’s hard to find your own identity. Living in the shadow of a parent can make you feel like you don’t really exist except as an extension of that powerful person. Indeed, when I walk through the city proper a lot of folk refer to me as the governor’s daughter. It’s a distinction I used to relish, but now I really wish I could stand out on my own.

After cooling my heels in the reception area for what seems like hours, but is probably closer to twenty minutes, I sigh in exasperation and try my luck with the receptionist again.

“Are they going to be finished soon?”

He glances up from a data pad and sets it down. I can read upside down fairly well, and the words ‘alien’ and “Tri Alliance” pop up multiple times, but I don’t know if it’s a private missive or something government related.

“I’m sorry, Miss Coleson, but your father gave clear and direct orders that the council was not to be disturbed. Perhaps, if you are bored, you could leave and return in an hour or two?”

“An hour or two?” I scoff and glare at the closed door. “Oh, screw this.”

“Hey.” The receptionist’s voice is laced with panic as I stroll past his desk and head toward the door. “What are you doing?”

“I’m just going to pop in for a second and talk to my dad.”

“Wait, you can’t do that.” By the time he stands up and holds out an outstretched arm as if to stop me, I’ve already opened the door. It shuts off both the reception area and his voice as I stroll right into the meeting room.

Dozens of faces look up at me, not all of them surprised. More than a few of the officials wear knowing smirks. Okay, so maybe I’m a little bit spoiled by my father, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have something to offer.

I expect my father to be at least a little cross that I’ve interrupted their meeting, but instead his smile widens and he stands up from his seat, gesturing grandly toward me.

“Ah, speak of the Devil.” He turns his gaze on the men  and women sitting around the table. “For those of you who haven’t already met here, this is my daughter Layla.”

Murmurs go around the room. I arch my eyebrows incredulously at this, because that’s not any sort of the reaction I’d been expecting.

“Nice to meet you.” I wave at the meeting and then turn a serious gaze on my father. He’s of middle  years, and has the same blonde hair and blue eyes as I do, but he’s a little bit taller and more slender. His wizened just beams patience and love even as I rip into him. “Father, I really need to talk to you about my role here.”

I expect him to put me off, or argue, but instead he nods.

“Of course, my dear. What can I help you with?”

“Look, I know I’m an untested commodity here, but I can do a lot to help. If you’ll just give me a chance to prove myself, I promise you won’t be disappointed.”

“So, you’re looking to help out?” My father shares a knowing grin with many of the people in the council chamber, and I grow even more suspicious. “Is that what you’re saying?”

“Yes. The Coalition offers new dangers, and everyone is going to have to do their best to meet this challenge. I’m here, and I’m ready, and I’m willing to do whatever you need me to do to help.”

“Oh?” My father chuckles softly, seeming quite amused with himself. “So you’ll do anything to help the effort?”

“Anything.” I cross my arms over my chest and glare in defiance. I expect he might want me to muck out engine grease traps or something that will sully my hands, but I don’t care.

“Good. That’s very, very good, because I have a special assignment uniquely suited to your abilities.”

“Really?” I clear my throat, embarrassed by the incredulity in my tone. “I mean, of course, I’ll do whatever you need me to.”

“Excellent.” My father puts his hands behind his back, a stance I recognize as parade rest. “Layla, the Trident Alliance commander has requested a human liaison who can teach him about human culture, habits, and society. I believe you are the perfect choice to be his companion.”

My face falls.

“Companion?”

Suddenly, I’m not certain that barging in on the meeting was such a good idea after all.