Stand or Fall (The Omega War Book 4)

by Kevin Ikenberry

  The Mercenary Guild was far better organized, manned, and equipped for open warfare than the Peacemaker Guild. Aside from weaponry and capabilities, though, Peacemakers remained strewn across the galaxy in their myriad of barracks and assignments. Consolidating them to mount an offensive action, even something as simple as aiding the Four Horsemen, would prove difficult. In the eyes of the Mercenary Guild, it was impossible—far beyond what the Peacemaker Guild was capable of—and that was exactly what Rsach wanted. Like the guild masters before him, Rsach understood the galaxy’s tenuous grasp on peace was likely to fail in spectacular fashion.

  How ironic it was that a Veetanho would once again go after a species she believed could be subverted. Yet, while the TriRusk ran and hid for several hundred years, Rsach knew the Humans were not about to flee. They would make their stand, not only on Earth but throughout the galaxy, in places Peepo and her council might not expect, with more ferocity than the Mercenary Guild believed possible. He didn’t know if Peepo was a student of history, but the Veetanho race’s approach to the Flesset War had been much different and far quicker than their seeming blockade and menacing tactics displayed on Earth. Things might have been different if humanity’s reaction to Peepo’s initial strikes hadn’t been to withdraw to unknown destinations, of course, but time was skewed in favor of the Humans. Rsach expected the Four Horsemen—and several other capable companies—to join the fray in the very near future. Their initial attacks would be critical, and when they succeeded, as Rsach and his advisors expected, they would need a calculated, timely response from a powerful, committed ally.

  We will give them what they need.

  Rsach waited until the Quiet Storm’s engine spooled down before unbuckling the harness securing him to the couch in his quarters. As gravity settled over him, the Jeha relaxed his limbs and let the full weight of his body sink down for a moment. Eyes closed, the guild master dwelled not on his mission nor the collected Peacemakers and other species waiting for him beyond the dropship’s main hatch, but on a mission in progress far away. The search for James Edward Francis caused the bulk of his anxiety. Next to finding and assisting the Four Horsemen in any way the Peacemaker Guild could, finding Snowman was one of the greatest concerns in the galaxy.

  The fewer beings who know that, though, the better.

  Rsach snorted and opened his eyes. He knew others in the galaxy did not share his concerns, but the Intergalactic Haulers were much more than a long-haul transportation company or the mercenary company they appeared to be. Snowman had scoured the galaxy for the better part of twenty-five years, building a reputation as a competent commander and shrewd businessman, but Rsach suspected the Human commander’s disappearance had much more to do with Peepo’s push for war than the sabotage of his equipment and dissolution of his company. Snowman was out there, and while Rsach tried to believe the man was simply hiding and waiting for things to blow over, there was a very real possibility he was in danger. Or worse, Snowman was up to something.

  Aren’t we all?

  A chime sounded, and the internal communications system came to life. “Guild Master, we have arrived. There is a party waiting for you at the main hatch. Shall we deploy the guards?”

  “No more than is necessary for etiquette, please.” Rsach rose from the couch and moved across the floor. Eschewing the official drape and chiton of his office, Rsach simply adjusted the guild master’s sash he regularly wore and moved quickly through his personal ship.

  Not one to keep his official greeting party waiting, Rsach reached the main hatch at the same time as his personal guards. The two HecSha guards smirked at each other, accepting their defeat, yet again. The unspoken challenge of anticipating the guild master’s movements was something like a game to both him and his guards.

  “Nice try,” said Rsach, laughing. “How long is my current winning streak?”

  “123, Guild Master.” The one named Gorem shook his long-snouted head, grunting in deep laughter. “I do not know how you do it.”

  “Nor will I give up my secrets,” Rsach said. As the guards opened the door and conducted their official duties, Rsach breathed in the rich, moist air from outside. The heat and humidity felt heavy and oppressive compared to the dry, recycled air aboard the Quiet Storm. He paused in the door, carefully avoiding the eyes of those waiting, and stared into the sea of foliage and ethereal, low clouds in the distance.

  My secrets are many. Gods help me never give them up.

  Rsach looked down at the TriRusk and MinSha waiting for him and bowed his head in the proper diplomatic manner. When only the TriRusk leader, Nurr, returned the gesture, Rsach covered his surprise with a ripple of his many arms. He’d expected the MinSha to maintain a dual-leadership role on the planet, but it was clear the TriRusk led the small, valuable world. That was positive. A few weeks earlier, the TriRusk were content to live in hiding. Rsach made his way down the ramp and approached the TriRusk leader.

  Nurr stepped forward and held out a massive forepaw. “Guild Master Rsach, we welcome you back to Weqq.”

  Rsach carefully laid a few left limbs over the top of Nurr’s outstretched paw. “Your welcome to my Guild is most appreciated, Honored Nurr. I regret our circumstances for coming are not better, but your offer was one we did not want to refuse.”

  Nurr snorted gently. “Our offer was necessary. This planet has far too many assets to be protected by one species.”

  “You are the leader of this planet, though, are you not?”

  Nurr nodded. “I am, Guild Master. The MinSha remaining here chose to stay at the risk of being excommunicated and shunned by their species. As the seeds of discontent with leadership take root in their society, the seeds of trust in others, including humanity, will be sowed. Your Peacemaker saw to that. We were most impressed by her.”

  Rsach nodded and glanced to Nurr’s right. Kurrang stood there staring impassively at him. He turned his eyes back to Nurr. “She has done much for the Guild in a very short time.”

  “I like to think she’s representative of the best of humanity.”

  “So, do I,” Rsach said. “There are plenty of other good people outside the Peacemaker Guild, too.”

  “You speak of the Horsemen?”

  “And others.” Rsach made eye contact with Kurrang. “Even some in your tribe.”

  Kurrang coughed and slung his head from side to side in exaggerated dissent. “There are rumors of tragedy, Guild Master. Planets razed. Terror in the outer rim worlds. Humans collected and incarcerated at Karma and other points in the galaxy. And the situation with the Depik.”

  Rsach nodded. “We are trying to locate the remaining planets. They are too valuable to the Union to lose, as are you.”

  “I do not want our tribe participating in this conflict,” Nurr said. “We can support your operations and offer a place for your forces to consolidate and plan, but we must retain our protected status.”

  “Your tribe will be protected, Honored Nurr. You have my word.” Rsach met her gaze, and the TriRusk leaded nodded. “Your planet is a great resource, but what you bring to us matters more.”

  “Thank you, Guild Master.” Nurr said. “I am not prepared, however, to deploy TriRusk to your guild. Our numbers are relatively few, and I cannot spare my warriors to serve at your side.”

  Rsach took a long breath. He’d expected hesitation, but Nurr’s declaration surprised him. “The tactical ability of your species is legendary, and a vast majority of our adversaries do not understand it.”

  “The Veetanho do, and that’s all that matters. They will come for us, and it will take more than your guild to prevent our destruction.”

  “I am aware of this, Nurr,” Rsach said. The breach of protocol was both deliberate and poignant. He hoped she would understand he saw her as an equal, of sorts, and it would get her attention. Though the Tri Rusk had been removed from Union politics and etiquette for a few hundred years, Nurr would understand the exchange perfectly. “There are operations running n
ow to ensure you are protected and allowed to flourish. Again, you have my word that my protection and our cooperation will extend beyond this operation. All I ask is that, in the future, you allow your warriors to return to the Peacemaker Guild.”

  “What are you doing about the Depik, Guild Master?” Kurrang asked. He leaned forward and nearly whispered the question.

  “We will help them, not unlike what we are prepared to do for you. Naturally, they are hesitant, but I believe we can help them.” Rsach paused. “As for other details about the Depik, you must understand the need to securely maintain that information.”

  Nurr nodded, looking thoughtful. Kurrang’s face morphed from a careful blank slate to an irritated scowl. Rsach knew the look well. He stepped forward, catching Nurr’s attention.

  “What is it, Kurrang?”

  Kurrang sat back on his rear legs and raised his arms. “All of this is not enough.”

  “I do not understand,” Nurr said.

  “We ran, Nurr. At the end of the Flesset War, our entire culture fled to the stars. We are the only ones left. What we have in our people and on this planet is not enough. The Veetanho will come for us, given time. An alliance with the Peacemaker Guild is a good first step. But another civilization’s existence hangs in the balance. The Humans show great promise, Nurr. Jessica Francis represents, I believe, most of them. Those...assholes who came to wipe out the MinSha and our people do not represent the whole. We must help the Humans now or they, too, will run to the stars. I have had enough running.”

  Nurr stared at him for a long moment. Rsach watched unspoken emotions ripple across her eyes. “What would you have me do, Kurrang? We supported Jessica when you asked. We’ve given our planet and our alliance to the Peacemakers. What more would you have us do?”

  “It’s not what you have to do, but what I have to do.” Kurrang turned to Rsach. “Old friend, is your offer still valid?”

  Rsach felt a ripple of excitement shoot down his limbs. “You would return?”

  “If you will have me, Guild Master. I am prepared to retake my vows.”

  “That won’t be necessary, Captain.” Rsach let his antennae and limbs vibrate in amusement. “When your kind fled, you did not resign. I’m afraid I cannot pay you for your absence, but in a manner of speaking, Peacemaker Kurrang, you never stopped being one of us.”

  Nurr put a hand on Kurrang’s massive shoulder. “I wish you well, Peacemaker. I knew this day would come.”

  Kurrang’s mouth moved from side to side before he finally spoke. “I blame Jessica for this. But she is right. We cannot let humanity fall.”

  * * *

  Besquith Thrust Core

  Victoria Emergence Point

  Jessica waited for the emergence from hyperspace transit, holding her breath against the familiar, falling feeling. When nothing happened, she wondered if the vessel had somehow detonated, and she was dead. Her stomach finally lurched, though much less than she’d experienced in her previous years of travel. From her chair on the bridge, Jessica looked over her shoulder at the Pendal flight crew.

  “Emergence,” the command pilot noted.

  Jessica focused on her Tri-V. In the station across from her, Tirr pored over the external displays. “Jessica? I see two contacts out there. They’re small, but likely armed.”

  Not the Titans? Interesting.

  <> Lucille reported in her ear as the bridge sensors chimed with a warning of inbound contacts. <>

  Wonderful.

  Jessica adjusted the shoulder straps securing her to the chair. “Don’t arm weapons.”

  “Understood, Peacemaker,” the command pilot replied. “Opening communications. I would expect they’ll contact—”

  MISSILE WARNING! MISSILE WARNING! The ship’s warning and caution system announced shrilly.

  “Track them, Tirr.” Jessica ordered.

  The command pilot’s voice was urgent but calm. “Prepare for evasive action!”

  <>

  “I think it’s a warning shot, Jessica,” Tirr reported. “Or they can’t shoot worth...”

  “A shit?” Jessica replied with a smile. The escort patrol’s actions meant they would be talking with someone soon. The temptation to relax her guard rose, but she squashed it down. They would certainly talk, but things could still get hostile in a matter of seconds. “Agreed. Captain? Hold your present course.”

  “Understood, Peacemaker.”

  She turned to look at him. “We don’t have to be formal anymore, okay? If we’re going to survive beyond the next couple of days, we can take that kind of liberty, don’t you think?”

  “Agreed. My apologies.” The command pilot said. “Flying Captain Dreel, we do not have such luxuries or opportunities. But I believe you are right, Peacemaker Francis.”

  “Good,” Jessica said as she turned back to her console. Tirr’s eyes were on her. “Monitor the comms, Tirr. Make sure we’re recording everything they do and say.”

  “Are you expecting trouble, Jessica?”

  She grinned. “Of course I am.”

  The speakers crackled with a radio signal. A nasal, accented voice filled the bridge, and the tone almost made Jessica cringe. “Unknown Besquith vessel, this is Lieutenant Eldridge of the Victoria Defense Forces ship off your bow at one thousand kilometers and closing. Transit directly to the stargate for immediate jump from this system. You have thirty seconds to comply, or we will fire on you. You will acknowledge this message.”

  Jessica turned to the command pilot. “Are our transponders are working?”

  “Perfectly, Peacemaker.”

  She glanced at Tirr. “They know damned well who we are, because we were just here. If those assholes fire again, Captain, destroy them.”

  “Affirmative, Peacemaker.”

  Jessica pushed the transmit button on her Tri-V, took a deep breath, and smiled. She’d learned the lesson from her mother talking on the telephone with one of Jessica’s aunts or uncles. The conversation wasn’t a pretty one—something about money and despair as it often was with her mother’s family in the years after her father disappeared. Her mother, though, had a smile on her face the whole time, and she’d kept her voice light and airy despite having to repeatedly tell the other party no. When she finished, and sat slumped across the kitchen table, Jessica had approached and put a hand on her mother’s arm.

  “Are you okay? I thought you were happy talking to them?”

  Her mother looked up with red-ringed and tear-filled eyes. “Jess, honey. When you put a smile on your face, you can’t talk angry even if you want to. Sometimes, that’s the right way to handle things.”

  She blinked twice and focused on the microphone. “Lieutenant Eldridge? This is Peacemaker Lieutenant Jessica Francis aboard the Besquith Thrust Core at your twelve o’clock. Our transponders are working perfectly, so you know exactly who we are, how we’re registered, and we were just in your system not long ago. Isn’t that correct? Or did Znevski not tell you about us?”

  There was a full five seconds of silence on the channel. “We can see who you are, ma’am.”

  “Good,” Jessica kept smiling. “Now that we’ve settled the matter of who we are, let’s talk about your open threat against the Peacemaker Guild. You are aware, I’m certain, a Peacemaker Lieutenant carries diplomatic protection under the auspices of the Galactic Union?”

  She left the question hanging in space for the hapless pilot to answer. “Yes, ma’am. I am aware.”

  “Good. Now, I expect your hostility exists because this vessel carries a MinSha officer acting as a deputized member of my team. Am I correct?”

  A harsh voice took over. “Enough! This is Commander Chris Watson, commanding the Victoria Defense Forces. We want nothing to do with you, your deputized alien officer, or your guild. We are prepa
red to defend Victoria against all threats, both alien and from...um...our own species.”

  Jessica shook her head, but kept the smile on her strained face. “Commander Watson? You are mistaken. I haven’t made a single threat against you, your diligent but unthinking security escorts, or your planet.”

  “That thing on your team is enough of a threat to my planet for me to act within reason.”

  Her smile faltered. “Negative, Commander Watson. Lieutenant Colonel Tirr has been fully deputized by my guild to assist in the conduct of this mission.”

  “He’s a MinSha, Francis! His kind wants to eliminate Humans. Because you can’t see that, you are not welcome here. Get out of my system.”

  Jessica took a breath. “By our calculations, you have less than forty-one hours until a fleet of MinSha vessels, backed by a Flatar cruiser, arrives in your system, intending to lay waste to your planet. They’re on their way from Danube, where they just killed more than two million different beings, both Human and other species. They have far more firepower, ammunition, and troops than you. That we arrived here before them is lucky for you and exactly what I wanted to do. You think you’re prepared to defend yourselves, but you’re not. We’re here to help you understand the MinSha equipment and tactics. We’re here to help defend your people from attack. You’d be wise to accept our offer.”

  “How dare you tell me how to do my job?” Watson yelled. “We do not need your help, Peacemaker. You’ve done nothing but fight when you’re supposed to provide peace. You want to fight them, go somewhere else.”