rocking. “Ten percent.”
“Firing on the UEA ship,” said Gray, deciding he had no other option.
The battle cruiser’s impressive weapons power made short work of the UEA vessel. One quick burst from the laser array and the human ship disintegrated in a brief flash of white light and sparks.
Spreck looked over at Gray, who now shared the ignominy of having killed one of his own, all in the name of forging peace. Spreck chose to say nothing, keying in the coordinates for the q’Chek immigration convoy and engaging the gluon drive.
As ship’s night approached, Spreck and Gray sat down for a meal, as had become customary during the previous several weeks of journeying together. Gray pulled some field rations out of a tote bag he’d brought aboard, and Spreck ate from some of the q’Chek food stores already aboard the vessel.
Gray finally spoke, for the first time since clearing the solar system. “I hope this is all worth it.”
“You did the right thing back there, Gray,” said Spreck.
“Right?” Gray said, raising his voice a little. “There was nothing right about shooting at my own side. It was just the lesser of two wrongs. I’m sure Major Largo had a family – and I doubt they’d agree with our conclusion of what’s ‘right.’ But, the fact is, if we’d been killed or captured, there’d be no chance for us to make peace. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.”
“And you are correct,” said Spreck. “I only hope I can convince the king. I have known him for a very long time. Our families have been acquainted for generations. I believe he will listen.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“Then you will be executed, and I along with you as a collaborator with the enemy.”
The q’Chek ship eventually came within range of the population transport ships, an enormous convoy of huge ships that carried the entire q’Chek civilization. Shortly after coming within scanning range, a small detachment of escort fighters broke formation and guided the q’Chek battle cruiser back to the convoy, where it docked with the lead transport ship.
“This is Master General Jgdssolkr,” said Spreck via the comm system. “I wish to be brought before King Fshododv’l. I wish to bring the human as well.”
“You will be brought before the king,” said the voice on the comm. “Your prisoner may accompany you.”
“Prisoner?” said Gray to Spreck.
“They are assuming,” said Spreck. “It will all be made clear by and by.”
Spreck and Gray stepped through the airlock between the battle cruiser and the transport ship, and were led through a long series of corridors. Some q’Chek along the way stared – both at the first human they’d seen and the famous q’Chek military leader they’d presumed dead.
They finally arrived in the antechamber to the king’s meeting room, and waited for nearly a half hour to see the leader of the q’Chek.
Eventually, the back door opened and a q’Chek stepped through, wearing a small crown atop his wavy, bright blue hair. Spreck and Gray both rose to their feet out of respect.
“Master General, you may be seated,” said the king. “We thought you were dead.”
“Where is King Fshododv’l?” asked Spreck, confused.
“Fshododv’l was replaced – by me,” said this new king.
“I don’t understand,” said Spreck.
“When news came of the destruction of the entire King’s Army, a few small remnants of the fleet returned here and – assisted in my installation as new monarch.”
“A coup?” said Spreck, incredulous.
“The loss of the King’s Army was a devastating blow to our people. It became clear that new leadership was necessary to bring us a decisive victory and ensure our right of return to the solar system – to guarantee Earth will be ours.”
“From what House do you hail, your majesty?” asked Spreck, trying to get a handle on this turn of events.
The king uttered a name that Gray’s autotran could barely distinguish from a quiet snort.
“I see,” said Spreck. “Your family has grown strong over the last few years.” He knew his old friend, the former king, was surely dead by now, since these kinds of changes in leadership were never bloodless.
“I would love to sit around and reminisce, Master General, but I am a busy man. We welcome your return, and it is pleasing that you still live. I would like to hear the story of your survival some time. For now, I’d like to know why you bring me this human prisoner. Is it a gift?”
“No. Captain Joshua Gray is a – a scientist, from Earth. We have some important things to discuss with you, Your Majesty.”
“Then discuss we will,” said the king. “I am a reasonable man. Speak freely.”
“Captain Gray has spoken to his military and government superiors on Earth,” said Spreck. “The humans are determined to hold Earth at all costs.”
“I am aware of their recalcitrance. Go on.”
“Captain Gray has a proposal. I’ll let him explain.”
Gray addressed the king. “The fourth planet, Mars, would be very suitable for q’Chek colonization. With your help, we can terraform Mars, making it a pristine new world for the q’Chek to inhabit. Of course, it is smaller than Earth, but it can be customized to have whatever land-to-ocean ratio you desire, and -”
“You insult me, Master General,” said the king, not even bothering to speak directly to Gray. “You dare bring me this human, offering a consolation prize? As we speak, the King’s Army is being rebuilt – our new battle ships much more powerful than the ones destroyed under your command.” The reminder of his failure and loss stung Spreck. The king continued. “By the time we arrive at Earth, we will be strong enough to defeat the humans quickly. Our biomorphic weapons will eradicate human life and leave everything else intact. I should have you stripped of rank for your insolence.”
“Your Majesty,” Spreck said, “much has been sacrificed. Captain Gray and I have had to kill our own people in order to come here and present this option to you. Gray is a man of good faith. He -”
“Silence!” bellowed the king. “The human will be executed, and you, Master General, will be the one to do it. After that, I will deal with you myself.”
Gray jumped in before Spreck could respond, speaking quickly. “Your Majesty, if I may. There’s more you should know. My superiors not only intend to hold Earth at all costs, they are mounting an attack on this convoy as we speak. They know it will take you time to rebuild your defenses, and they plan to strike while you are weak. A fleet will be on its way here shortly, and they plan to take no prisoners. A compromise – Mars – may be the q’Chek’s only chance for survival.”
“It is in our best interests to negotiate,” said Spreck. “It is either that, or turn around and go back to r’Lach. But continuing with your current agenda will lead only to death, and the utter destruction of our people.”
The king sat with a stern look on his face, saying nothing. Looking defeated and angry, he said quietly, “Tell me more about – terraforming.”
“With q’Chek energy technology, we can transform Mars into a virtual paradise, to your specifications, in as quick as twelve Earth months,” said Gray. “If you send some of your engineers ahead, they can have the work done before these transport ships arrive.”
“But timing is critical,” said Spreck. “You must send a communiqué to the humans now, explaining that you do not intend to attack Earth – offer a truce immediately, before it is too late.”
“I can tell you exactly who to speak to,” said Gray. “A man named Douglass. He has the authority to call off the attack on this convoy.”
The king fingered his blue locks with a deep frown. “Very well,” he finally said.
۞
The ribbon-cutting ceremony on New Mars was a grand event, complete with fireworks and joint q’Chek-UEA scrambler fly-bys. Admiral Joshua Gray was joined on the stage by Spreck, McKay and other d
ignitaries. McKay, who’d been named Director of the q’Chek Mars Terraforming Department at Earth’s Science Directorate, was joined by his family.
At last, the q’Chek had made it home.
After the ribbon was cut, the q’Chek king stood at the podium and addressed the throng. His words were the usual pomp-and-ceremony boilerplate at first, but then things got strange. His face turned dark, and the crowd hushed to complete silence as his speech took an evil turn.
“So,” said the king, “we hope the humans will enjoy their new home here on Mars. I am about to order our biomorphic weapons to be brought online, and unless things transpire according to my exact instructions, Earth’s population will be eliminated.”
“He can’t be serious!” said Gray. “He thinks he’s going to move all of Earth’s population to New Mars at gunpoint?”
“Earth will be ours!” cried the king, laughing maniacally as a riot erupted in the crowd.
Gray ducked behind some chairs and activated his personal comm.
“UEA Scrambler fly-by team leader – this is Admiral Gray. Are you fully armed?”
The response in his intra-ear device was almost instantaneous. “Roger, Admiral, we are packin’ heat. Over.”
“Fire on the grandstand, now! That’s an order!”
“Um, confirm order, Sir?”
“Take out this stage, now!”
The tight UEA formation looped around and bore down on the crowded area below. Before anyone could react, a shower of plasma rockets rained down from the sky, obliterating the
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