The Khruellian Encounter Page 5

  The admiral said, “Your mission is to visit the planet Vajrashila, a newly discovered world three hundred and fifty light-years away along the fringe of the Orion-Cygnus belt. It is believed to be the homeworld of the colonists who were originally supposed to land on Newhope.”

  “A human world?” Annika asked in surprise.

  “All evidence would suggest so, Commander Masterson. They speak the ancient Earth language, Latin,” the admiral said.

  Jon was no stranger to Earth’s ancient cultures. As a schoolboy, he had discovered that Talo was a bottomless source of information and Earth was an irresistible subject. The patient android had sat for hours telling him about the history of the Roman, Greek, Egyptians and the many different empires that led to the development of modern civilization on Earth.

  “Latin,” Jon said, equally surprised. Latin was a Mediterranean language, but Vajrashila was the name for the tree the ancient Buddha had sat under, which was located in Earth’s Indian subcontinent, not the Mediterranean area. “Why the Buddhist’s name for their planet?” he asked in wonder.

  Admiral Manda smiled in appreciation of her young captain’s sharp intelligence. It was one of the reasons he had been selected for this mission; he was an acknowledged whiz on early Earth culture. “That’s only one of the mysteries we want you to unravel for us, Captain McKinnah.” The other mystery about this planet is the reason Talo is going with you.” She gestured to the android to explain.

  Talo spoke in the clear, deep resonating voice that Jon associated with the android’s patient answers to his many childhood questions. “Vajrashila is not unknown to me,” he said, getting, Annika’s full attention. She had been impressed that Captain McKinnah knew more about her planet’s ancient history than she did and now Talo was telling them he was already aware of the planet before they got there. She had a lot to learn about these people and their abilities.

  Talo continued, “The planet has very diverse life forms with a unique survival system. Instead of fangs and claws, or thorns and poisons to defend themselves, each species employs a form of physiological, mental warfare to acquire food or to defend itself from being eaten. I am greatly surprised that the original colonist survived on this particular world.”

  Jon knew that Talo was seldom surprised, so his interest in this unknown world was intensified. He was anxious to get going, but he had a question to ask first.

  “Admiral, I can understand the reasons for Commander Masterson accompanying us on this mission, but why Talo. Don’t misunderstand me, Ma’am, I love the fact that he’s going, but the reason he’s going must be important to its success, and I would like to know why.”

  Admiral Manda nodded her head in agreement. “Excellent question, Captain, you are correct, there is a good reason for Talo’s presence on your mission. It is to protect you and your crew from the mental assault by every living thing you will come in contact with.”

  “Including the humans?” Jon asked getting an idea of the danger they were facing.

  “Especially the humans,” she answered without explanation.

  Jon was satisfied. “When do we start?” he asked, anxious to get into action.

  “Tomorrow at first bell,” she answered, wishing she could trade places with the young captain.

  “We’ll be ready, Ma’am,” Jon said.

  Chapter 9

  The planet Vajrashila

  Cleric-General William Bradley-Kinsley read the radio dispatch. The CSF had received and accepted the terms of visitation he had sent after the recent conclave. For better or worse, the two cultures would meet. He wondered if the humans from the CSF would survive the mental assault they would encounter. There had been an extensive discussion among the cleric at the conclave about warning the humans in advance of their visit. In the end, they had voted for the simple warning “Sit visitator admonendi,” let the visitor be warned. It would be interesting to see if they understood the full implications of the message. He signaled his aide to join him. It was time to talk to the Yogamundi.

  At the center o,f the government complex, an enormous tree-like structure occupied a circular mound bordered by a low stone wall. The three-meter wide path around the mound was covered in carefully cut, white paving stones. The path was surrounded by a series of low stone steps that served as seats. The seats rose to a height of three meters, creating a stadium complex capable of seating up to five thousand people. Approximately a quarter of the seats were occupied when William and his aide, Punjaba entered the arena. They proceeded to a seat up front reserved for the Cleric-General.

  The Yogamundi was the oldest living creature on the planet. Some of the scholars at the adjacent center estimated its age at five million years. It had survived and prospered because it had learned at a very early age how to defeat every enemy bent on destroying it. In the course of those five million years, it had developed a survival skill far greater than any other plant or animal on the planet. It had an intellect of sorts, but not one that could be measured in the linear sense that humans measured intelligence; it was far more complex than that. The Yogamundi survived because of its ability to defend itself down to the molecular level. It could defeat any type of attack by any one of the dangerous plants and animals on Vajrashila. It was this ability that had saved the young human colony.

  After the colony ship had arrived from earth, every effort to settle on the only habitable planet in their new solar system had been met with disaster. Each attempt to settle on the planet had failed, the colonists overwhelmed by the indigenous plants and animals’ relentless mental attacks. In desperation, a group of Christian and Buddhists colonists selected a site near a large tree that reminded the Buddhists of Vajrashila, the legendary tree the Buddha had sat under in his quest for Nirvana. The colonists discovered that those who slept under the tree were spared from attack. The Yogamundi responded to the groups’ united prayers for protection and over the months following the landing taught them how to defend themselves from other life forms. Over the years this small band had successfully established the only permanent colony on the planet. In time, the colonists named their new home in honor of the legendary tree on Earth. In deference to the Christians, Latin became the official language of the government. During the following centuries, the two religions morphed into a single belief system.

  There was one thing the people of Vajrashila could count on; the Yogamundi would listen to their supplication. The tree of wisdom never gave them an answer in the traditional sense. It just provided them with the mental tools to defend themselves against the ever-evolving weapons the rest of the fauna and flora continued to develop against the human invaders. During the past six hundred years, the Yogamundi had accepted the humans as allies, not enemies. As long as it believed that, the humans were safe. The greatest change the Yogamundi had engendered in the humans was to transform them into a symbiotic mind, capable of acting in unison to combat their rivals for space on the planet. As a result of this transformation, the colonists were able to subdue the land and grow the crops they needed to survive and prosper. Some farm groups were better than others, which explained why so many were here at the Yogamundi tree seeking to improve their ability to tame the wilderness. The Cleric-General was here to ask the Yogamundi for help to protect the small human community from the much larger, and more powerful human organization coming to visit them. He was absolutely confident his supplication would be answered. The Yogamundi had never failed them in six hundred years.

  Chapter 10

  Newhope

  Commander Annika Masterson entered the officers club with some reservations. Captain McKinnah had invited her to join him for dinner with his parents and grandparents. She was still dazed from her meeting with Talo and was a little awed by the prospect of meeting the entire legendary McKinnah family. She reminded herself she had an assignment to complete and meeting the people who were responsible for developing the FTL drive could be a critical step in the right direction. She realized how much she had un
derestimated the power and sophistication of the CSF and the McKinnahs in particular. Suddenly unsure of herself, Annika was not sure she would be able to keep her composure tonight in the presence of the legendary founder of the CSF. She was about to turn around and return to the BOQ when Jonathon came out of the club dining room and saw her. “There you are, Commander Masterson. I was about to come to get you.”

  “Captain McKinnah, I’m not sure I should be here with your family when it’s your last night in port,” she offered as a lame excuse to leave.

  “Nonsense, Commander, my parents, and grandparents are anxious to meet you,” Jon said, putting his hand on her elbow. “I’m sure you are aware of how hard they have worked to get Earth to join the Confederation. They’re anxious to meet the first Terran officer who will serve on a CSF ship.”

  Left with little choice, she graciously allowed Jonathon to escort her into the dining room. Every head in the room turned to watch the handsom couple walk toward the McKinnah table. Jon grinned and leaned close to Annika, “You do realize of course our picture is going to be on every gossip vid in the Confederation tomorrow.”

  For the second time that day, her face reddened. Usually a fast wit, she was at a loss for a smart retort. Before she knew it, she was standing in front of Jonathon, Senior and Marcia McKinnah, and Jon’s parents, James and Janie McKinnah who had risen from their chairs to greet her. The introductions were a blur to her. Individually, a McKinnah was someone to be reckoned with; as a group, they were a formidable force. It took her fifteen minutes to calm her nerves enough to become involved in the rapid-fire conversation going around the table. Before long she was trading quips with the best of them.

  When the women took a powder break, Jon’s father leaned over and said, “I like her. Be nice to her.”

  “Dad,” Jon said in an exasperated tone to the retired admiral. “She’ll be back on Earth in a month. Until then she’s a junior officer on my ship.”

  “Then why did you bring her, Jon?” the admiral asked with a grin. “Besides, she’s a guest officer, not a junior officer,” he reminded his son.

  The women returned and the evening wore on. The band started, and soon the Space Force’s traditional waltz began, and the older McKinnahs immediately got up to dance with their wives. Jon hesitated just a second and then extended his hand to Annika in an invitation to dance. He barely beat four or five other bachelor officers who were bearing down on their table like a frigate closing in on a pirate ship.

  They danced in silence for a moment until she said, “Will this cause more vids?”

  “An entire issue I dare say,” Jon answered with an equally straight face.

  She moved in closer and said, “Let’s give them something to talk about.” She moved her hand to the back of his neck and ran her fingers lightly through his hair.

  An electric shock ran up and down Jon’s spine and settled in his groin area. He was going to be in physical trouble soon if she didn’t stop. “That was naughty,” he said, not really wanting her to stop, but knowing she had to, soon.

  “It was, wasn’t it,” she answered and moved her hand away. Fortunately for Jon, the music stopped. She smiled impishly and turned to walk back to the table. Jon followed, being careful to keep his eyes on the Commander’s head, not other, more mobile parts of her anatomy.

  When she was seated, and all the other McKinnahs had returned from the dance floor, Jon announced, “Mon, Dad, Grandma, and Grandpa, thank you so much for being here. It made a special occasion very special. Unfortunately, lift-off comes early tomorrow morning, and I have to get some sleep.”

  Marcia had watched the dynamics between her grandson and the beautiful commander from Earth and knew the issue was deeper than it appeared. She thought they would make a handsome pair, but she also knew the Space Force was hard on relationships. “Are you spending the night aboard ship, Jon?”

  “It’s customary, Granny, but I would anyway because I feel the crew expects me to be there when they’re getting the ship ready for a mission.”

  Annika said, “I’ll check out of the BOQ and join you, if I may, Captain.”

  Jon said, “That’s an excellent idea, Commander Masterson. It will give the crew a chance to become comfortable with you.”

  He said his goodbyes to his family and waited as Jonathon Senior passed a small package to Talo who had been standing in his usual guard position all evening. The android bowed slightly and joined the two captains. After a stop at the Bachelor Officer’s Quarters to get Commander Masterson’s duffle, the trio took a tram to Islandia II. She was awash in lights as the ground crews loaded last minute provisions. To Jonathon, the scene was reminiscent of a painting he had seen of an eighteenth-century American sailing frigate getting ready to leave port.

  When Jon started up the boarding ramp, a midshipman announced, “The Captain is aboard ship.” He saluted and dutifully scanned Jon’s ID implant and took the necessary biodata from Commander Masterson to enter her in his security system. She was now on record and allowed to pass. The midshipman was at a loss on what to do with Talo, but the android extended his arm, and the young man scanned it for a trace of an implant. The light flashed green, and Talo entered the orlop deck. Jon gave the young man an informal thumbs-up of approval and the midshipman beamed with pride.

  Annika was impressed with everything she saw. The CSF’s advancements in ship construction were significant compared to Earth’s space fleet. The impact of the Muhyba war was evident in the preparedness exhibited by the men and women she had met so far. She felt an unexpected sense of security now that Earth would be joining such an organization. She wanted very much to be a part of it.

  Jon introduced Annika to Lieutenant Burns and said he would explain her presence on the mission after they got settled. Her features did not react to the unexpected guests on board. Unruffled by the presence of a three-meter tall android, she asked Talo, “Do you have any special needs I should provide for, Sir?”

  “I’ll be fine, Lieutenant. Thank you for asking,” Talo answered with a trace of humor that only Jon could detect.

  Jon told them to reassembly in his wardroom in half an hour. An ensign showed Annika to her small room and explained how to get around the ship by following the lights recessed in the floor. Talo remained with Jon until Commander Masterson, and Lieutenant Burns left. He handed Jon the package Jonathon had given him at the officer’s dining room.

  Jon had an inkling of what it was but was still pleased to see the small silver globe in a pouch hanging from a gold chain. His childhood memories of Talo magically talking to him about the wonders of science, math and space flight came rushing back. He took the chain, put it around his neck and said with more emotion than he thought he would feel in such a moment, “I’ve missed you, Talo.”

  “And I have missed you, young Jon,” the android said. “You have done exceedingly well since we spent time together.”

  “Thanks to your efforts to make learning seem so exciting to me,” Jon said getting his emotions under control. “Now we have a problem to take care of, don’t we?”

  “Yes, we do Captain McKinnah. I’m assuming you want to take care of it immediately,” Talo said returning to a more formal relationship with the ship’s commander.

  “Immediately,” Jon answered.

  Thirty minutes later they were assembled in the Captain’s wardroom. It was small and private, the place where Jon conducted strategy meetings or discussed any disciplinary issues with individual crewmen. Lieutenant Burns had made arrangements for a fortified bench to be brought in to accommodate Talo. The ceilings throughout the ship were tall enough to allow him to walk without slouching, but chairs were another matter. The only time he sat down was to keep the humans from suffering neck cramps from looking up.

  The admiral’s sealed orders detailing their mission lay unopened on the table. Jon took the official-looking envelope and tapped it on the table. He looked at Annika and said, “Commander Masterson, before I open this, we
need to discuss a problem.”

  “A problem, Captain McKinnah?” Anita experienced a sinking feeling she couldn’t explain. She glanced at the android, but he was unreadable.

  “Your orders from Secretary Gavito might be in conflict with the orders inside this envelope,” Jon said, his calm demeanor hiding his true feelings. He wasn’t angry at Annika; she was a soldier like he was with orders to follow. He was, however, disappointed with Earth’s attitude about the significance of the union of two great human cultures.

  Annika froze in shock. How could Jon McKinnah know about her assignment? “I’m not sure what you mean, Captain,” she said and immediately regretted saying it. She felt her neck grow warm above her collar. For the third time in twenty-four hours, Captain Jonathon McKinnah had managed to make her feel embarrassed. No man had ever done that to her.

  Before she had a chance to retract her ridiculous denial, Talo spoke up.

  “Commander Masterson, we are not accusing you of espionage. The Captain is just pointing out that your orders to learn the secret of the IS–Drive might come in conflict with the orders he has received from Admiral Manda.”

  It was Jon’s turn to strip away her cover. “Commander, you are a loyal daughter of Earth, I understand that. We are loyal sons and daughters of the Confederation, but beyond that, all of us belong to the community of human beings. Earth’s admission to the CSF is a monumental step on our part to reunite humans to a common cause. We in the CSF believe this with our heart and soul. All we ask is that Earth believes in that same cause with the same passion.”

  Jon’s intensity burned through Annika’s natural reaction to hide her true assignment. For the first time, she began to sense the larger picture he was referring to, not the myopic view her service was focused upon. Deep inside her, she felt a stirring, a sense of discomfort for operating undercover and for deceiving these decent people. In a moment of clarity, she came to a decision. “My name is Commander Annika Masterson, and I am a member of the Terran Space Force. Recently I was assigned to the Department of Future Human Welfare, headed by the man you referred to, Secretary Hector Gavito. His department’s primary function is to find ways to reduce Earth’s population as humanely as possible. When I was selected to be among the first Terran officers to be integrated into the CSF, he gave me the assignment of finding out the secret of your IS-Drive, and the location of any possible habitable planets the CSF has discovered, so that Earth could begin the process of colonizing these worlds with our excess population.” She felt an intense sense of relief for having the truth out in the open.