by T. R. Harris
The day after Adam’s encounter with his old SEAL buddies, the three businesses run by the Humans became a beehive of activity. Sherri had to evict all the guests from the hotel, some of which had to be carried out unconscious by their companions. For all she knew, some of them may have been dead. It didn’t matter. That was why she always insisted on payment in advance.
For his part, Riyad was as giddy as a school-boy readying Hannon’s ship for the expedition. The ship was a small Donovan-Class vessel called the Charlie H. after a favorite uncle of his and built as a mid-range space transport. Hannon was vague about where he got the ship, but he wasn’t shy about telling everyone about the upgrades. As a former Delta Special Forces, he never went anywhere without being properly armed. And although the D-Class ship had basic defensive capabilities, Hannon had several upgrades made to his vessel, making it more a predator cat than a passive kitty.
Even so, the vessel wasn’t that long, measuring in at one-hundred-twenty feet in length with a beam of only twenty. It was long and boxy, and with only a small cargo hold at the rear. With their intended bounty, that would be enough to carry millions of credits.
On the day before the expedition left, Sherri made a point of seeking out Peanut. He was a good ol’ boy from Georgia, while Sherri was a country girl from western Kentucky, and in the old days, they’d developed a pretty close friendship, although nothing sexual ever developed. Then Peanut and the other SEALs returned to Earth and that was the last they ever saw of one another.
Adam got a kick out of the reaction the other three men in Peanut’s party had to Sherri. Although she was in her early forties, she still retained a raw sexual energy most men found irresistible, including the delectable southern accent, which she would bring out when it suited her needs. It had been a while since she’d been around new Human men, but she slipped right back into flirt-mode without skipping a beat. The guys ate it up.
The one person her antics had the most effect on was Mike Hannon, the Delta. He was younger and more virile than the older SEALs, and it was obvious from the beginning that the attraction was mutual; however, nothing progressed much beyond a few sly winks before Riyad and the others departed on their salvage mission. Adam wondered what would happen when they returned, although he already knew the answer. Sherri usually got what she wanted, and it was apparent what she wanted was Mike Hannon.
6
Two days after Riyad left—and while the team was still in transit to the first planet they would checkout—the advanced delegations arrived at Cain’s to scope out the location. The teams were led in by both Dal Divisen, as well as the consummate fixer and slimeball of Liave-3, a rotund, purple-skinned alien named Lion/El. Although the advanced team for the Humans didn’t come with the head negotiator, the Juirean delegation did—Councilmember Quanin Fe Doren.
Adam was anxious to meet him since the Juirean was supposedly a friend.
Quanin was a member of the Council Elite, the ruling body of the Juirean Authority, the rulers of the Expansion. The Juireans created the Expansion a thousand years before from the remnants of their prior Empire, and—except for a brief seven-year-period when Humans ran the Expansion—the Juireans had ruled their galaxy-spanning empire for four thousand years. During that time, the Juireans acquired the default identity as rulers of the galaxy, and from that came their attitude of superiority. No one challenged the Juireans. No one questioned their authority or their right to rule. Not until the Humans came on the scene and kicked their butts. However, the Human race discovered early on that a galaxy was too large to be ruled by a single race of beings, not unless one employed breeding planets and pre-determined roles for every individual in the ruling species, as did the Juireans. Humanity wasn’t willing to devote such loyalty to the Expansion, and after only a brief time in control, they abdicated it back to the Juireans, in exchange for a much more manageable empire in the Far Arm—what became known as the Orion-Cygnus Union.
Throughout the years, Adam Cain and his friends played integral parts in most of the events that took place between the dueling empires. That was why he knew the Juireans so well, and why all Juireans—save one—wanted to see him dead. However, Quanin had given Dal Divisen the impression they were friends. Adam couldn’t see how that was possible.
As with all Juireans, Quanin stood around seven feet tall before his magnificent mane of white hair added another foot to his statue. The color of his mane signified his rank within the Authority: White for Counselors and Elites, blue for Overlords, green for Guards and yellow for Techs. The Juireans used their natural height, imposing manes and broad shoulders to exude strength and power. However, what Adam knew was that Juireans were like most aliens in the galaxy that had evolved on lighter gravity planets than did Humans. Although Humans were much smaller and less-imposing, they several degrees stronger, more durable and better coordinated than even the Juireans. One-on-one, a fight between the two species wasn’t a contest, with the Humans doing what they did best in most contests of physical strength. They won.
Now flanked by a pair of dark-blue haired Overlords, Quanin approached Adam with an amused look in his yellow eyes. Juireans—like most aliens—seldom smiled. To bare their teeth at another was often construed as a death-challenge, so, it was not in their nature to smile much. That left their eyes to convey most of their emotions.
“Adam Cain, it has been a very long time. I am pleased to see you again.”
The Juirean was familiar with Human traditions and extended his hand to Adam. He took it and they had a cordial greeting. The two nearby Overlords appeared concerned by the physical contact between Juirean and Human. Adam couldn’t blame them. He was concerned as well.
“Councilmember Quanin,” Adam began, “I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage. I’m sorry to say, but I don’t recall ever meeting you.”
“That is quite understandable.” Quanin dismissed his attendants with a glance so he and Adam could speak in private. “It was only briefly on Juir. I served with Counselor Wydor at the time, as his adjutant. I was present when you suggested he leave Juir before the Kracori attack, many years ago. If you recall, Elder Hydon insisted that we leave, knowing that if he did not survive, Wydor would become Elder. As you know, that happened, and I have served at Wydor’s side since then. In a way, you saved my life, as well as that of the current Elder. Without you pressing Hydon to send us away, we would have stayed on Juir and shared his fate.”
“Now it makes sense. Sorry I don’t remember you.”
“I was but a shadow figure at the time. You have no reason to remember me. But throughout the years, I have heard Elder Wydor speak of you often and in very pleasing tones. Yet now, as Wydor grows older, I am destined to become the next Elder, what is known as the Quid-Elder, although the timing for such advancement is still in question, depending on Wydor’s health.”
“Congratulations are in order,” Adam said, truly impressed. Humans were superpowers in the galaxy, yet their tiny Union was a tenth the size of the Expansion and with only twenty years of history. Quanin was soon to become Elder of the Juirean people, the default emperor of the Expansion, and therefore the most powerful being in the galaxy. That was to be admired.
“In light of what you just said, I’m surprised you’re here for the conference,” Adam said. “It seems to be below your status.”
“In normal situations, you would be correct. Yet I insisted. The Dead Zone is of crucial importance to the Expansion. Unfortunately, it is also important to the Union. And since it has never been in our self-interests to share, one empire or the other will eventually control the region. We both have semi-legitimate claims; the Humans because of the region’s proximity to your Union and the Juireans because the Kidis Frontier was once part of the Expansion.”
Adam smiled wickedly. “That was for a very brief time and was more of a political maneuver on your part rather than a full-fledged annexation.”
Quanin grinned—not smiled—but grinned. “And as I recall, i
t was through your rather brash efforts that the Expansion lost control of the Kidis, returning it to its independent status.”
Alien and Human had wandered to the rear of the bar and were now outside on the sand. Customers were still allowed in Cain’s at the time, and a few at the tables sat gawking at the impressive Juirean. Adam knew he looked like a child next to the tall alien. Fortunately, by now, most species in the galaxy knew size didn’t matter, at least not in this regard.
“All that we speak of was long ago,” Quanin continued. “Now our two empires have maintained a delicate balance of late, a situation fomented by the disruption caused by the Mad Aris Kracion. Although the Dead Zone is the primary focus, the Expansion—and to a lesser degree, the Union—is still suffering from the consequences of the mass migration from the region, although the refugees have been more problematic for the Expansion than for the Union, simply because more made their way to us.”
“Problematic?”
“Yes,” Quanin said. “Those who managed to escape Kracion’s wrath brought with them wealth and power that has had an impact on the worlds on which they settled, disrupting the traditional power structure of our member planets. Outside influences have caused rebellions and hard feelings. It is in our opinion that it be best for the refugees to return to the Kidis and their homeworlds, if possible.”
“Maris-Kliss might help with that,” Adam stated.
“Yes, and no,” said Quanin. “As you are aware, they have the technology to dissipate most of the residual radiation on the Dead Worlds. Yet that will not solve the problem of soil pollution, crop destruction and oxygen degradation in the atmosphere for the returning refugees. And that is if MK allows the natives to return. Two hundred thousand surviving natives for a particular planet will have very little power to go up against MK. That is where our empires come into play. We have the power to enforce our laws in the region. However, with authority over the Dead Zone comes power, and even more power than from traditional control of an area. A hundred virgin worlds are waiting for us, and each with resident technology and infrastructure. The resources of these worlds would be open to the empire—whichever one prevails—no matter the status of the relatively few refugees. That is why I am here. The Zone is too important to the welfare of the Expansion to be left in lesser hands. I have come to impress upon your delegation the seriousness with which we take this matter. We do not want war with the Union; however, this most recent provocation is very disturbing. It appears as though the Union is provoking a war, as a way to settle the ownership of the Zone once and for all. I hope for your sake that adequate explanations will be provided at the conference; otherwise a state of war will exist between our two empires. The Expansion cannot allow our ships to be destroyed. So, as you see, unless an accommodation can be found, I see no other resolution for the question of the Dead Zone than an escalation of hostilities. That is why I am here, to make that determination. ”
Adam pursed his lips. Besides the possibility of all-out galactic war, Adam was now a resident of Liave-3, one of only two habitable oasis worlds left in the Dead Zone. This made the planet not only the center of the Zone, but also of the Kidis Frontier, and now the galaxy. As such, Adam knew what was riding on the outcome of the conference. He also knew what war would mean, not only to Liave-3 but to, well, everything. Because of that, he had to believe that what happened in the Annadin system was some kind of tragic misunderstanding, and once the facts were known, the situation would calm down. But Quanin was speaking the truth about what the Juireans had riding on this conference. It was the same for the Humans. Just as with the Expansion, the Union saw potential in the Zone, and the last thing they wanted was to surrender control of the Dead Worlds—or the entire Frontier—to the Juireans. Not this close to the border.
The Kidis Frontier—and the Dead Zone—was located on a small spur of the galaxy next to the arm with Earth and her fledgling empire. Call it manifest destiny, but Earth always considered the Kidis a satellite of their Union, although unofficially. The easiest way for the Union to grow—until Kracion made his attack in the Frontier—was to simply annex the Kidis and double the size of their empire overnight. At one time, they could have done just that, and without any resistance from the Juireans. Several years ago, after regaining control of the Expansion, the Juireans suffered through a period where keeping their core member planets in line was their priority. They had no interest in the distant Kidis Frontier. For the Humans, that was a missed opportunity.
And now the Dead Zone brought all that tension and ambition back to the fore. Neither empire would back down, and it was Adam’s solemn opinion that war was coming. How soon, and to what degree, was anyone’s guess. He just hoped it could be delayed long enough for his friends and him to be forgiven for their non-crimes and allowed to return to Earth. If a new galactic war was to break out, he didn’t want to be living at ground zero, as he was now.
For his part, Adam Cain was sick and tired of all the conflict. He just wanted to go home and forget that the galaxy ever existed. Unfortunately, he’d been thinking the same thing for the past twenty-five years, and to no avail. For some strange reason, the damn galaxy kept hanging around and screwing with his life every chance it got.
“So, my friend Adam Cain, I see you have met your Juirean friend.”
Adam didn’t have to turn around to recognize the baritone voice of Dal Divisen. The alien gangster had been watching Quanin and Adam have their private conversation before approaching after the Juirean left. Lion/El was at Dal’s side, as he was wont to do.
Adam turned and smiled at the pair of aliens, unabashedly displaying his pearly white teeth. He didn’t care if they considered it a death-challenge, which, in a way, it was.
“Yes, Dal, I do have friends in high places, and Quanin says he’s to be the next Elder. So, you might be careful what you say to me. The Juirean and I are tight.” Adam was sure the two aliens didn’t understand when he crossed his index and middle finger together and held up his hand for them to see.
Dal dismissed the gesture and changed the subject. “I hear you have visitors, more Humans from your homeworld. Have they come for salvage or to assist in your various business ventures?”
“A little of both. They’re some of my old military buddies, trained Human killers, just like me.”
Adam was glad to see a look of terror come across Lion/El’s face. The rotund alien was a shyster and master manipulator. He was also Adam’s Realtor, or what passed as a Realtor on Liave-3. But what he wasn’t was a fighter. It was good to see he appreciated the havoc a group of trained Human soldiers and sailors could bring if provoked. Dal wasn’t so easily intimidated.
“In all honesty,” the alien began, “it will be good to have a stronger local force available as a deterrent. As you know, all of our enterprises are in jeopardy if a war breaks out between the empires. We have no legal status, and our world is the only logical location for a military base. At one time, I had hoped to have garrisons from both parties on L-3, as a counterbalance to the other. In addition, we would all benefit from such an arrangement concerning our businesses. Unfortunately, that possibility is quickly fading. I hope you will not do anything impulsive to upset the parties even more than they currently are.”
“Why do you say that? That’s the last thing I would want to do.”
“That may be so,” Dal said. “But a study of your past interactions with—well, everyone—shows that your best intentions often lead to the most tragic turn of events. Let us hope your past does not become a prelude to the future of Liave-3.”
7
Riyad was at the controls of Hannon’s ship, being a much better pilot than any of the SEALs. It took them two days to reach Annadin, a place he knew well, but recently was in the news as the site of the inciting incident between the Human and Juirean forces. Riyad had been to the planet a few times before when he was more involved in salvage operations. Back then, he would take an active part in an operation for a share of the
profits. It seemed like a good idea at the time and satisfied Riyad’s need for adventure. But it also ended up costing the Big Three Partnership a lot of money in the long run. Seldom did the salvages pay off; some even resulted in a loss of life and equipment. That was the reason Adam and Sherri forbade him from actively participating in any future salvages after the debacle with the superweapons and Jay Williford. However, the deal with Gill Norris was different. He was a friend of Adam and Sherri’s, although Riyad also knew Peanut from the past. However, at the time of their prior association, Riyad had yet to ingratiate himself with the others as he had since then. Back then, he was still the former terrorist from Earth and ex-leader of the notorious Fringe Pirates. He had yet to make the full transition from bad guy to good guy. That came with time, but back then, his status was still in limbo.
Even so, Peanut and the others treated Riyad with respect, making him feel at home on the team. They’d been hearing of his exploits with Adam and Sherri for a couple of decades and felt he deserved a second chance. He’d proven his loyalty and friendship on countless occasions, making it easy for the SEALs to consider him a friend rather than an enemy.
Besides, Riyad knew how to pilot a starship, as well as the way to their first destination.
“Annadin once had a population of three billion,” Riyad was explaining. “It also has more landmass than Earth, meaning those people had more room to spread out. According to the Library, there are over three hundred thousand of the small towns you’re looking for, Peanut. And only five years of salvage operations in the Zone means most of them should be untouched. I have to compliment you again, my friend, on the genius of your idea.”