Legacy of the Saiph

by P P Corcoran

  LEGACY OF THE SAIPH

  Book 4 of The Saiph Series

  PP Corcoran

  The Legacy of The Saiph © 2019 by PP Corcoran. All Rights Reserved.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

  Cover designed by The Gilded Quill

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  PP Corcoran

  Visit my website at www.PPCorcoran.com

  Print Edition:

  Printed in the United Kingdom

  First Printing: August 2019

  Castrum Press

  ISBN-13 978-1-9123273-1-7

  In Memory of Stuart Murray

  6 May 1974 to 27 August 2018

  A friend and colleague taken too soon.

  Table of Contents

  TITLE

  COPYRIGHT

  DEDICATION CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  EPILOGUE

  ABOUT PP CORCORAN

  OTHER BOOKS

  AUDIOBOOKS

  GET NOTIFIED OF FUTURE BOOKS

  CHAPTER ONE

  FOR THE GOOD OF THE EMPIRE

  FORAM SYSTEM | THIRTY-SIX LIGHT-YEARS FROM ALONA

  “Have we re-established contact yet?” Demanded General Lura in a low, grumbling voice for perhaps the tenth time in ten minutes.

  Fresh beads of sweat formed on the communications technician’s forehead as she steadfastly refused to meet the general’s eyes and, instead, waited for her senior colleague to offer the commander, of all Alonan Imperial forces in the Foram System, an explanation as to why he could not speak to Captain Calan. The Captain Calan who, voluntarily, had entered the alien ship hovering serenely in the main holo display and filled the center of the cargo bay converted by General Lura into his command post for this operation.

  “This was to be expected, General.” Chief Scientist Kilor reassured the military man while running a hand across his brown, lightly furred head.

  Though perhaps not friends, Kilor and Lura had come to understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses, during their long months together, sequestered in the Foram System. They had overseen the construction of the industrial base, which built the shipyards, which in turn were to build the warships the Empire so desperately needed, if they were to reach parity with the Humans and their Commonwealth Union of Planets’ allies. Then, a new and more deadly enemy revealed themselves, coined the Black Ships by the Commonwealth, these ships were crewed by ghosts, at least all believed their race to be dead, at the hands of the Others.

  The Commonwealth had gotten one step ahead of the Empire and identified this new enemy as the Saiph, the race, if you believed the geneticists, that had tampered with the DNA of races throughout the galaxy, his Alonan forebearers included, to ensure their progeny became the predominant lifeform on their native worlds.

  Lura mumbled something under his breath, which Kilor chose to ignore and he quashed any sign of his own irritation reaching his outward features.

  Lura had every right to be worried. Ever since the discovery of the alien vessel the entire system had been on high alert.

  Foram was the biggest military secret the Alonan Empire had and to find this ship, whoever it belonged to, slap bang in the middle of it had the general, and his bosses, on edge. It was all very well Kilor insisting that the vessel was not of Commonwealth, Turak or any other known races design, but that only raised the military’s fears that it belonged to another potential enemy.

  The fact that the rock had entombed the vessel for the better part of a thousand years, according to Kilor’s best estimate, did not lessen the general’s concern, hence five of the empire’s most advanced cruisers hovered within weapons range.

  “Alert Commodore Valak he is to lock weapons on the alien ship and -.” Ordered General Lura.

  “I do not recommend that, General.” Interrupted Kilor.

  Lura snapped his head around to face the scientist, eyes narrowed, his rising anger at the civilian contradicting him became obvious.

  Kilor rushed to explain himself. “As you see, General.” Kilor used one hand to indicate the holographic representation of the vessel, as he spoke more sections of the ship changed from gray to yellow, depicting the vessel’s power emissions as detected by an array of Alonan sensors. “The entry of Captain Calan appears to have tripped some form of failsafe system aboard the vessel. If, and I hasten to say it is speculation on my part, if one of those newly activated systems detects Commodore Valak’s weapon lock, then the vessel may have an automated defense system which -.”

  “May perceive Valak’s actions as a threat and open fire.” Lura finished Kilor’s sentence. “Very well, Kilor.” Lura turned to face a waiting communications technician. “Inform Commodore Valak he is to maintain a passive, and emphasize passive, weapon lock on the alien vessel.”

  As the technician rushed to obey the generals order, Lura leaned in close to his civilian counterpart, keeping his voice low. “If that ship so much as twitches, I will have it reduced to atoms.”

  Kilor simply nodded his head, not trusting his voice not to betray his own fears as to what might be aboard the alien vessel.

  ✽✽✽

  “You’re a Saiph!” Calan blurted out.

  The Saiph standing before him in his blue, one piece, uniform seemed startled by Calan’s recognition of his species. Taking a step backwards its hand dropped warily to what Calan was sure was a weapon, holstered on a silver belt encircling the Saiph’s waist.

  Calan froze. Standing in an airlock, dressed only in a thin thermal inner suit, he really did not want to antagonize the one person who could, with a simple motion, slam the inner door of the airlock closed and open the outer one sending the unfortunate captain out into the freezing depths of space.

  The Alonan slowly, in his most nonthreatening voice, repeated himself while pointing a finger at his uniformed host. “Saiph.”

  The Saiph cocked its head to one side for a moment, as if listening to an unseen entity, all the time keeping its eyes locked on Calan. Suddenly a hidden speaker by the airlock door boomed out. “Saippphhh.”

  Calan’s mind whirled. By the Gods this is happening! I am standing here talking to a real live Saiph and he hasn’t killed me yet? That thought brought Calan up short. Now there’s a question. Why hasn’t he killed me? Everything we know about the Black Ships says the Saiph crew are genocidal maniacs. Calan looked again at the Saiph stood not more than two meters from him trying frantically trying to work out what was going on in its head.

  Is he as confused as me? We know this rock had buried this ship inside it for a millennium. Could the crewmembers have no idea what was going on in the wider galaxy? That the Empire is at war with the Saiph?

  Well, I’m not going to find out, if I can only speak to him one word at a time, am I. Calan admonished himself. Now, tha
t I can do something about. Keeping his hands in plain sight he bent slowly at the waist, reaching for the left arm of his limp pressure suit lying on the airlock floor.

  “I’m just going to get my comms pack.” Calan said slowly and calmly. The Saiph did not appear to object, well, at least their hand did not move any closer to their weapon, Calan noted encouragingly. Calan’s fingers touched the still-cold plastic casing of the compact comms pack attached to the sleeve of his suit and deftly released it, holding it out in front of him so the Saiph could see the blinking lights on its control surface.

  Moving the comms pack to the front of his face so he could see the control surface, Calan called the main menu. Designed for use in space by an armored gauntlet wearer, the small device required him to use an unexpected amount of pressure and he ended up pressing on the control surface hard.

  Eventually, Calan found the sub menu he was searching for. The translation protocols. A thought occurred to him. The comms pack used software that the Empire had - procured - from the Commonwealth. Its database incorporated each individual language encountered by the Commonwealth and hundreds of sub dialects. What if the designers hadn’t included Saiph in the database? Why would they? Everyone thought they were extinct, until the Black Ships debacle.

  He need not have worried, Calan sighed in relief as the software highlighted the word ‘Saiph’ on the screen. Tapping the accept icon the screen blinked on and off two times before displaying the word ‘Ready.’

  Well, here goes, thought Calan, clearing his throat.

  “Hello.” He said as clearly as possible ensuring the comms pack’s translator software did not inadvertently mix the greeting with another word, like, say bomb.

  The comms pack obediently translated the greeting into Saiph and produced the appropriate sound from its compact speaker.

  Confounded by the little speaker addressing him in his own language the Saiph’s jaw dropped open, wide enough to drive a starship into it and his eyes went wide as plates. Recovering quickly, the Saiph’s lips moved and a chattering noise, came out. The translation software paused momentarily, for a second Calan thought the device was malfunctioning, before he remembered that no one had heard a live Saiph speak in its native tongue in a thousand years. Satisfied it had the translation correct the device activated its external speaker.

  “Greetings.”

  Calan let out a breath. Either this Saiph is the politest killer the galaxy has ever known, or he isn’t going to kill me...

  “My name is Captain Calan of the Alonan Imperial Navy and I mean you no harm.”

  Dutifully the translator conducted its task and produced a series of chattering noises to which the Saiph replied.

  “I am unfamiliar with this Alonan Imperial Navy that you are part of. I am Commander Okal of the progenitor ship Savior. I take your word that you harbor no hostile intent though -” The Saiph paused ensuring that he had Calan’s full attention. “Actions speak louder than words. Perhaps, you could inform the warships surrounding my vessel to withdraw to twice their current distance.”

  “Commander,” Said Calan delicately. “Perhaps you are - ah - unaware of current events -.”

  A high-pitched laugh escaped Okal which took him a couple of seconds to contain before he spoke. “Captain Calan, my crew and I have been in suspended animation for longer than your entire civilization’s existence. So, forgive my ignorance. I assure you, however, that this ship is fully capable of defending itself against any aggressor.”

  Despite himself, anger flooded Calan’s body. “Aggressor? It is you Saiph who are the aggressors. Only weeks ago you murdered the entire colony on Balat. You and your Black Ships!” Calan stepped forward closing the distance between himself and Okal, the Alonan’s anger poured forth unchecked. “You are responsible for waging a war of genocide across the galaxy, wiping entire races from existence -” Calan leaned forward and ignored Okal’s instinctive reaction to reach for his weapon at his waist. “You are the aggressor here, Commander Okal.” Calan was now close enough that the spittle from his mouth landed on the Saiph’s face.

  The airlock descended into silence.

  Calan fought to control his anger when an awful thought entered his head. By the Gods, I’ve signed my own death warrant!

  But, when Calan looked upon the face of Okal he saw the unmistakable look of horror plastered the Saiph commander’s face. Okal staggered backwards and bumped into the frame of the airlock, which opened at his touch to reveal two more, identically dressed, Saiph standing in the corridor beyond. Their faces reflected the horror of their commander.

  Okal spoke in a low, barely perceptible voice which Calan strained to hear. “What has the Leader done?” Calan’s anger now dissipated, he sensed the despair in the Saiph’s voice, as Okal repeated himself. “What has that mad man done?”

  Calan stared at Okal, unsure of what to say and, when their eyes met, Calan found despair and - shame - laid bare in Okal’s.

  “If what you say is true then the - the -.” Okal struggled for the correct word. “The criminal who calls himself the Leader, a piece of filth responsible for the destruction of my home world, is still alive after all these years.” Before Calan’s eyes, Okal’s face became hard as stone. “He and his followers must be stopped.” The Saiph commander stated resolutely. “Your technology is not on a par with ours and therefore neither is his.” Okal’s spine stiffened as he came to a decision. “We will help you with that.” The two Saiph standing silently in the corridor beyond the airlock flicked their heads to one side in unison. A move that Calan interpreted as agreement with their commander.

  “I must speak with your superiors, Captain Calan, as soon as possible.” Rushed Okal. “We’ve been asleep for an age with no contact with the outside world. By now the Seed Worlds should have come to fruition and, if your – sorry, what is your species’ name?”

  “Alonan.” Calan said helpfully.

  “Yes, yes. If you Alonan have attained this level of technology, then you have discovered the Library my crew and I established, in this sector, before entering hibernation.” Okal paused expectantly.

  “Eh - we have discovered no such library, Commander.” Calan replied after a moment’s hesitation, wondering how much of the current situation he should tell Okal.

  The Seed Worlds that Okal mentioned must be planets like Alona, Earth, Garunda and Pars where the Saiph had altered the DNA of specific genetic lines. And, the library must be the underground knowledge repositories, like the Rubicon Cave the Humans discovered, which gave them a step up to their technology base.

  Calan had eluded to a war raging among the stars with his angry outburst moments earlier. Now, though, with a calmer head, perhaps it was prudent to leave further discussions about the war to individuals well above his pay grade. He noticed that Okal watched him inquisitively.

  “Yes, Commander?”

  “If you have not discovered the Library in this sector, then why are your warships, according to our sensor readings, equipped with a version of a Saiph-designed gravity drive?”

  Forced to think fast, Calan searched for the correct words. “We - ah - recovered an abandoned alien ship from the fringes of our system and luckily our scientists were able to reverse engineer the technology.” The lie left a bad taste in his mouth and Calan realized it may be the first of many untruths.

  Okal fixed him with unblinking eyes and Calan prayed that the Saiph commander did not notice the small beads of perspiration forming on his forehead.

  After what seemed like forever, Okal gave that funny little twitch of the head that the other two Saiph crew members had done before and Calan allowed himself to breathe again.

  “Very enterprising of your engineers, Captain Calan. If they are capable of reverse engineering an entire star ship then, with our help, I expect them to achieve remarkable things in a truly short space of time.”

  “Indeed!” Changing the subject quickly, Calan said, “Talking of my people, my lack of contact with them
will be causing alarm and you said you wanted to speak with my superiors.”

  “Of course, of course.” Said Okal as if only now remembering that he had made the request. Speaking aloud to an unseen individual who was, obviously, listening in Okal said. “Chera, disable the Interference Field and allow Captain Calan to use his communication device.”

  Almost immediately the small translation device burst forth with the urgent voice of the comms tech in General Lura’s command post.

  “...Calan. Captain Calan. Are you receiving me? Please respond.”

  “Command, this is Calan. I am safe and well and have made friendly contact with the crew of this ship.”

  A short series of muffled voices emanated from the speaker, before the commanding voice of General Lura emerged from the device. “Captain Calan, what is your situation?”

  Calan flashed a look at Okal and carefully considered his next words. “Sir, I am standing with Commander Okal, the commander of this ship. He assures me he intends us no harm. In fact, he has made it clear that he wishes to aid us in our conflict with the Saiph.”

  There was a distinct pause before General Lura came back onto the radio. “Does he now?” The wariness in the general’s voice hung in the air. “Then his species are familiar with the Saiph?”

  Calan shared a wry smile with Okal who, in return, let out a small chattering sound that Calan assumed was a laugh. “Uh, yes, sir, you could say that. It would be wiser if I brief you in person, before you meet with Commander Okal. It would help - eh - prevent any misunderstandings.”

  In the command post, General Lura exchanged a confused look with Chief Scientist Kilor who responded to the general with the Alonan equivalent of a shrug.

  “Very well, Captain.” Said Lura. “I await your return before deciding on our next course of action.” The general cut the connection before Calan replied.

  Only then did Calan realize he had arranged to leave the ship without Okal’s permission. Just because the Saiph commander indicated his intention to assist the Alonans, it did not mean that Calan was free to leave.