Chapter 5
Xivthar Rasveen, Supreme Regent of Zanthar, didn't bother to signal politely at his brother's door. Instead he raked his finger down the opaque surface and it opened immediately for him. His brother was staring at a display of the inner workings of their planet's defense shielding, a scowl painting his features.
"You've gone maroon, brother. The underlings will see it."
"There are bigger problems than that," his brother responded. "You'd be maroon too if you knew what we were potentially facing."
"Then tell me," Xivthar said, joining him in front of the display. "Stop trying to hide things from me like some mimicfish and tell me what in Noruma's name is going on."
Drak'Karren Rasveen, his brother and appointed Minister of Defense, gave a loud sigh. "The defense shield is down."
Xivthar frowned. "I'd gathered as much from the talk in the halls. And an Earthling has something to do with it."
"You know of the Earthling?" Drake scowled. "Accursed gossip."
"It wasn't gossip. She ran into me while trying to escape."
Drake slammed a fist into the coral desk, making the display flicker. "She's the reason I've kept quiet. I know your fascination with Earth culture. Especially Earthling females. I didn't think you could be even-minded about the issue."
"Even-minded?" His skin began to flush yellow as he didn't bother to hide his anger from his brother. "I'm your Regent, your Supreme One. Howdareyou presume to hide something like this from me?"
His brother didn't back down. "Because we can't afford you being distracted right now."
"I don't understand. The Earthling's craft hit the shield and disabled it somehow, but she's not a threat. Earth doesn't have a space armada. This is one of only a half dozen faster-than-light ships they have. What's got you so afraid?"
"We can't discount the Earthlings as a threat. They could be working with our enemies."
Xivthar frowned. "That makes no sense. I doubt the Hareema even know about Earth."
The Hareema were much too self-sufficient to bring Earth into their plans. They were a planet of leeches, sucking the life out of each and every galaxy that they moved through. Zanthar had pushed back against them for as long as Xivthar could remember, but the Hareema were resilient if nothing else.
Drake shook his head. "Not so. The latest intelligence reports I received indicated that their agents may have infiltrated that backwards planet. They could be working together with the Earthlings, knowing that we'd never see Earth as a threat before it was too late."
Xivthar now realized the source of his brother's maroon color. If the Hareema had infiltrated Earth, there was a real chance that the loss of their shield was deliberate. Even now, a Hareema attack force could be on their way.
"I want all our forces watching for any sign of invasion. And I want that shield repaired immediately."
His brother nodded. "The entire military is on standby and the Ministry of Science is working on the Earthling ship." Drake gave his brother a charged look. "And the female."
Xivthar reined in his temper and his skin bled back to green. "I will question the female myself, determine if she knows anything."
"That isn't a good idea."
Once again he didn't bother to keep his anger from showing. His arms and chest glowed yellow as small flashes of electricity raced up and down his skin. "Keep your opinions to yourself. I'm the Supreme Regent. I think I can handle a puny Earthling female."
His brother shrugged. "Suit yourself, oh Supreme One, but if your urge to mate gets in the way of our survival, I'll be the first one calling for your blood."
Xivthar nodded. "I'd expect nothing less."
