The Khruellian Encounter Page 16

  Mark’s gear was sent over from his ship, and while he was getting settled, Jon and Penny went over what needed to get done before liftoff. When they were reviewing the lists, he called the sections heads together and briefed them on the upcoming mission and introduced them to Talor.

  The section leaders were more than pleased to have their own sentient android aboard. If half the stories surrounding Talo’s exploits in the Muhyba war were true, then their survivability chances had just risen considerably.

  Later that evening Jon called Annika and asked how it was going on the CSF Enderson. “Hectic, but fortunately my section heads are an experienced group. They’re doing a great job of covering for my lack of experience with CSF procedures.”

  Jon chuckled and said, “That may be true, but you have the experience where it counts.” They settled into an awkward silence, not sure what to say next. Finally, Jon said, “This has been a pretty hectic engagement so far. Are you sure you don’t want to change your mind?”

  Her immediate reaction was to give Jon a flippant answer, but she realized he was just looking for reassurance. They hadn’t been together long enough to really know each other. They both believed they were right for each other and getting married was the right thing to do, but they hadn’t yet learned all the reasons why. She said, “I know being married to another Spacer, especially one with the McKinnah name is going to be tough, but I’m sure this is what I want.”

  A sense of relief flushed through Jon. “I’ll see you at the staff meeting tomorrow morning. Maybe will get a moment to talk.”

  The following morning the sun was up far enough to make the field lighting unnecessary when Jon, Mark, Penny, and Talor took the personnel tram to the CSF Enderson. Named after one of the heroes of the Muhyba Wars, the Enderson was a grade 2 cruiser, and at one hundred and forty meters in length, she was forty percent longer than Islandia II, but not as sleek looking. The Islandia II had been constructed for the possibility of atmospheric combat as well as engagements in space. The Enderson had been constructed primarily for fleet encounters in space like the ones that had occurred in the Muhyba Wars. At 135,000 cubic meters, she had twice the mass of the Islandia. She bristled with pulse cannon pods and particle beam guns. Jon noted several new PBW pods that had been installed on her last trip to Gruenwald. All this armament gave him a sense of comfort for Annika’s safety, but he knew the Enderson was a warship and warships were built to engage the enemy.

  Vice Admiral Estes greeted them cordially and didn’t raise an eyebrow when Jon gave Annika quick hug, but he didn’t smile either. The pair separated quickly and sat across the table from each other while Estes laid out what he expected to happen. He finished his opening remarks by saying, “A lot of our decisions will depend on what Talor discovers when we visit the Alphans. Are they telling us everything? Are these potential allies of theirs going to be able to help us or will they just need protection?” Vice Admiral Estes looked at the android and said, “Talor, report anything you see or hear that just doesn’t look right.”

  “Certainly, Sir,” Talor said. To Jon, he mentaled, “I have another globe for Annika.”

  The unexpected news pleased Jon. He wasn’t sure how Talor had been able to get another globe so quickly. Perhaps the androids kept a reserve of the tiny scouts here on Newhope. With Annika having her own globe it would be possible for them to spend some private time together before their ships lifted off. He was not sure what the range was, but it should be enough to cover them while they were still in port.

  After the meeting, Jon got to spend a few moments with Annika in the officer’s mess. When he handed her the silver globe her eyes lit up in delight. She put the pendant around her neck and immediately mentaled, “I love you.”

  “It’s the uniform,” he mentaled back in jest, but quickly added, “I love you.” They looked at each other for a few seconds then mentaled, “Be safe,” at the same time. Aloud, Jon said, “Wow, now we’re turning into mind readers. I think I understand my grandparents much better now.

  Checking to see that they were alone, Annika kissed Jon and said, “I have to go.”

  “Me too,” he answered and let go of her hands. “I’ll call you later.”

  The ride back to Islandia was conducted in silence until Mark said, “You’ll get used to it.”

  Jon nodded his head and said, “But do you ever learn to like it?”

  Both Penny and Mark said, “Never.”

  Later that day, satisfied that all the necessary preparation were completed on both ships, Vice Admiral Estes gave the order to lift off. Islandia followed the Enderson into space, and when Vice Admiral Estes gave the order, the two ships made the jump to the Alpha Tau Alpha system.

  Chapter 26

  Aboard the Khruellian flagship

  High Commander Hydrol looked at the Negotiator with all the disdain he felt for such creatures. The Negotiator was used to it, but he still feared for his life every time he gave his report to the High Commander of the expansion fleets. The Negotiator was certain that one of these times Hydrol would ignore the edict issued by The Absolute to give the subject worlds an opportunity to surrender and vent his dislike of Negotiators in general in the form of a swift beheading.

  In the eyes of High Commander Hydrol, a far more effective strategy was to first destroy the target world’s war-making capacity, publicly execute their leaders and then negotiate. He found the conquered worlds were far more receptive to the terms of surrender when he used this method of introducing them to the Hegemony. This time, however, Hydrol’s dislike for Negotiators was sated by the news the target world had refused to accept his surrender terms. He was free to act. He signaled for his fleet captains to open their links and join him in a final review of the imminent attack.

  When the six flock captains were linked up, Hydrol opened the meeting by reviewing the targets. The subject empire contained five star systems with eight planets and six moons. The High Commander knew this region of the Spiral Arm was evenly populated with star systems, many of them occupied by sentient species. The Legend commanded them to rule all they saw, and thousands of generations of Absolutes had been doing just that; conquering everything in their path. Eventually, they would rule everything around the galactic rim and, by default rule the uninhabited interior of the galaxy. This targeted empire was next in line. Their foolish resistance would only serve to entertain the High Commander and provide his ships with an opportunity to sharpen their combat skills.

  Captain Wemish, the captain of Hydrol’s flagship and leader of the Red Flock, started the meeting by reviewing what was known about the targeted species. “Their spaceships are equipped with fusion-driven jump-drives similar to ours, but not as efficient. They require a significant renewal time between jumps. That’s when they are most vulnerable.” Wemish paused long enough to allow for questions. When there were none, he continued, “Their weapons are particle-beam-based and lethal at close range. As long as your ships stand well off, you should have no difficulties.”

  Captain Dulak-Mokrien, the Commander of the Black Flock assigned to destroy the capital city of the subject empire, asked a question. “You have not spoken of the sentients who occupy these worlds. What can we expect?” Even though the holographic connection, his raptor heritage was evident, a carnivore-shaped beak with deepest eyes.

  Commander Wemish had expected Dulak to be the first to speak. It was no secret the young captain coveted the flagship captaincy, and he used every staff meeting as an occasion to impress the watching High Commander. Wemish shrugged it off. He had never given the High Commander a reason to replace him and saw no reason to be defensive because of the ambitious captain’s question. None the less, the fine covering of feathers on his head ruffled slightly at the captain’s implied suggestion he had omitted information. “Thank you, Captain Dulak, you anticipated my next statement.” Wemish paused long enough to draw the attention away from the upstart captain. “They are a bipedal species with a pair of articulated, m
anipulative limbs. They are approximately half our size and very aggressive.”

  This last statement interested Hydrol. He rarely spoke at these staff meetings, preferring to watch his subordinates jockey for supremacy. One of them would replace him at the end of his tour. The quality of his nomination would have a significant impact on his future chances of rising in the rank of a minister in the capital world, Khruel. The possibility of a spirited combat engagement stirred him. If none of the captains followed up on the flagship captain’s statement, he would break tradition and ask the question himself, but Captain Dulak did not disappoint him.

  “Is it possible we might expect a decent battle?” he asked. Before Wemish could respond, the ambitious captain went on, “They were very quick to refuse the Negotiator’s offer. Is there something we are not aware of? Some weapon system?”

  Captain Wemish rechecked the intelligence report before answering. He was acutely aware of the High Commander’s sudden interest, and he wanted to be careful with his answer. He knew the High Commander would relish a good fight, but he did not want the fight to include a surprise because of incomplete intelligence. That would spell disaster for the flagship captain.

  “The only uncertainty appears to be a weapon they call ‘The Dissembler.’ We are unable to gather any significant information about its design or function.”

  Captain Dulak sensed an opportunity. He quickly asked the flagship commander, “Based on the data you have, what is your best estimate of the threat this ‘Dissembler weapon’ represents?”

  Wemish was not going to be pulled into making that kind of prediction. He looked at the holographic image of the ambitious captain with a sense of satisfaction. “The weapon discussed is located on their homeworld in your sector, Captain Dulak and the intelligence gathered was from your own scout squadron. I suspect you are better able to tell us the nature of this weapon than I am.”

  He pupils of Captain Mokrien-Dulak’s eyes rapidly constricted to pinpoints. With some difficulty, he said, “It is nothing we can’t handle.”

  High Commander Hydrol observed the exchange between the rival officers with interest and decided his flagship Captain had won this round, but he would keep an eye on the young captain. He had interesting possibilities. After an exchange of codes and schedules, the link was broken, and Hydrol retired to his quarters. One of his harem mates was coming into season and needed to be attended to.

  Chapter 27

  Alpha Tau Alpha

  As before, when the two CSF spaceships appeared at the last known coordinates in Alphan space, an alien spaceship came alongside within minutes.

  Vice Admiral Estes declined the Alphan’s offer of transportation and insisted they be allowed to travel to the Alphan home planet in their own ships. After a brief consultation with a holographic image, the Alphan in charge of the spaceship bowed and gave them the coordinates they needed for a stationary parking orbit above Alpha. Once in orbit, Vice Admiral Estes transferred to Jon’s ship for the trip to the surface. Jon, Mark Hopewell, Talor, and several technical ensigns were selected by Vice Admiral Estes to accompany him to the surface to meet the Alphans.

  Ruuhr received them graciously, bowing deeply to Vice Admiral Estes and his party. The tall, thin alien bowed deepest to Talor when introduced as a former Ankh Ares. In a deep, resonating voice, surprising for one so thin, Ruuhr said to Talor, “The history of our peoples was forever changed by your masters’ visits.”

  Talor bowed in return, but not as deeply and said, “I now serve at the pleasure of the humans, specifically Captain Jonathon McKinnah.”

  Everyone in the Alphan reception committee and in the human group took note of Talor’s statement. As in the first visit, all the aliens’ eyes seem to move in unison to look at Jon when Talor spoke. It suggested a unified mind or at least a cooperative union of minds. He mentaled Talo, “Are the Alphans able to mentally communicate with each other?”

  Talor responded, “Yes, but only at an emotional level. They cannot carry on a conversation.”

  The Alphans had organized a more extensive briefing on the extent of the Khruellian expansion and a concise inventory of their potential allies’ capabilities. When the briefing was completed, Vice Admiral Estes asked the first of many questions.

  “These potential allies you speak of, have you had contact with them or are they only aware of you as we humans were through your occasional visits to Earth as observers?”

  Ruuhr answered the captain’s question with an explanation, “Our species long ago made the decision to isolate ourselves and only observe other species’ progress. It would still be thus if the Khruellians would not soon deprive us of that option. It is as you suggested, these potential allies are aware of our occasional visits, but do not know us directly.”

  Vice Admiral Estes looked at the prepared list of potential military assets the Alphans had prepared and asked the question that had bothered Jon since his first visit, “Are these species going to shoot first and ask questions later when we show up looking for support?”

  Ruuhr answered honestly as far as the humans could tell. “Some will be as suspicious as you humans have been of our visits but will listen to an honest appeal for help. Others will be more suspicious and will require proof that they are in imminent danger from the Khruellian Hegemony. One species we call ‘The Bulls’ in your language will be openly hostile.”

  Vice Admiral Estes asked, “Is this hostility a result of what you Alphans have done in the past, or because that’s the nature of their species?”

  Something akin to a shudder passed through the Alphans. Ruuhr answered, “It’s their nature, Vice Admiral Estes. In the future, if left unchecked they could become as big a threat as the Khruellians.”

  Jon mentaled Talor, “Can you determine if they’re telling the truth?”

  Talor’s answer reassured Jon, “Emotionally they appear to be genuinely concerned about their credibility.”

  When Vice Admiral Estes asked Jon and Mark if they had any questions, Jon asked Ruuhr, “Your spaceship captain gave us coordinates to your planet that corresponds to the Ankh system of coordinates. Do you have the coordinates for the Khruellian Hegemony?”

  Ruuhr turned to Mrall who explained, “We obtained that coordinate system from the Ankh many thousands of years ago. We have mapped most of the Khruellian Hegemony using that system. Since our FTL drives are superior to theirs, we have been able to travel throughout the Hegemony without danger to ourselves.”

  The idea Jon had suggested to Admiral Dexter came back to him. He wanted to discuss it with Talor before discussing it with Vice Admiral Estes. It was becoming clear that the Hegemony would react with force to any resistance by any allied force the humans and Alphans could put together, and, based on what he had heard so far, Jon doubted any such allied force could long resist a space force as large as the Khruellians. The idea of redirecting the Hegemony’s reaction away from the CSF, the Alphans and their potential allies began to appear to be their only option.

  Jon asked another question, “What manner of defense systems do the Khruellians have around their own worlds?”

  Mrall turned the meeting back over to Ruuhr, who answered, “The central Khruellian Empire consists of twelve stars with thirteen planets and twenty moons. These are lightly defended since they have not experienced an attack in more than twenty-thousands of your Earth years. Any attacks on their occupation forces in the conquered systems are met with immediate retaliation by their massive fleets. None of the conquered worlds have rebelled in several thousand years. Their offense is their defense.”

  Vice Admiral Estes listened to Jon’s his young captain’s questions with interest. “What do you have in mind, Captain McKinnah?”

  This was sooner than Jon wanted to broach his idea, but Talor urged him to do so with a mental encouragement. “Your idea is a good one, Jon. I’m sure the Captain will see its benefits.”

  Jon said, “What if we were to conduct a raid on their homeworld and make
them think the attack had come from someplace other than the Orion cluster, someplace like the inner galaxy, which, from what the Alphan tell us the Khruellians believe to be uninhabited?”

  Jon’s suggestion caused a stir among the Alphans. Kreeg, the Leader of the Social Disciplines, who had asked Jon if he could teach them how to fight stood up and said, “Our ships could act as decoys, giving the Khruellians the impression you are part of a much larger force.”

  Kreeg’s suggestion caused a bigger stir among the Alphans. Talor told Jon, “They are divided among themselves. Some, like Kreeg, want to do something to help in their own defense. Others believe they cannot defeat the Khruellian Hegemony and argue to do nothing and to accept their fate.”

  Which side is Ruuhr on?” Jon asked, curious to know where the Alphan leadership stood.

  “He is as neutral as any Alphans can be, which is why he was elected the leader, but privately he favors Kreeg’s position,” Talor answered.

  Jon was beginning to get a clearer picture of the dynamics between the Alphans. One piece was missing. He asked Talor, “Who is the leader of the ‘do-nothing’ crowd?”

  Jon thought he detected a trace of humor in Talor’s response, “The shorter Alphan to the rear and right of Ruuhr. His name is Kloeum, and he is the Leader of the Chemistry Discipline.”

  Jon focused his attention on the Alphan who became aware of his inspection and returned Jon’s gaze. After a moment Jon said, “Kloeum, you do not agree with Kreeg. Can you tell us why?”

  The Alphan reacted visibly to having been addressed directly by Jon. To his knowledge, No Alphan had pointed him out as the leader of the non-action group, nor had he been introduced to the humans, yet here was this human captain calling on him by name to explain his position. He was further flustered by the direct stare from the android, who he knew to be a direct descendant from the almighty Ankh.