Veklocks

by S. H. Jucha

  “It’s said that you visited Hyronzy Station to present to the Tsargit,” Pantar said.

  “To present to the council and without invitation,” Mangoth announced proudly.

  Snouts swung Mangoth’s way and then Harbour’s.

  The explorers expressed laughter in their own unique ways.

  “If only I could have witnessed that clash of wills,” Pantar said. “What was the outcome of your visit?”

  “We secured the council’s word that the projects we negotiated with the Veklocks would be honored,” Jessie replied.

  “Over the objections of Councilor Ulgart,” Jaktook added.

  “Most interesting,” Gartora commented, and he eyed the other leaders.

  “And why would the council be so generous to you?” Mortara asked dubiously.

  “We learned the council is desperate to possess the knowledge of two Pyreans,” Jaktook replied.

  “Yes, Aurelia Garmenti of the Pyreans,” Pantar said. “Every alliance race knows of her prowess with the consoles. Has she learned more of the Messinants device?”

  “There are now two Pyreans who share the knowledge,” Harbour replied. “Aurelia’s partner is Devon Higgins. They’re uncovering secrets about what the Messinants have inscribed across the dome’s surfaces.”

  “Identifying the Colony’s spread was their work?” Pantar inquired.

  “It was,” Jaktook replied. “You witnessed the documentation of four occupied domes. Their queries identified fifteen total domes, including that of the Colony’s home world.”

  “So you possess console secrets the council covets, Envoy,” Pantar said. “Good for you. That knowledge is worth worlds. Guard it carefully, and exchange it for much.”

  “We do, and we have,” Harbour replied with a sly smile.

  “Now that we understand the past and the present problem,” Pantar declared, “why are you here, Envoy?”

  “I was recently asked the same question,” Harbour replied. “I don’t have a specific answer. What I know is that sentient worlds are in danger, and the alliance and Pyre must take action. We struggle with an uninhabitable home world and can only survive in domes or aboard our stations. We’ve the courage to act, but we’ve limited resources. Two members of other races explored with us both times, a Jatouche and a Crocian.

  “If I may, Envoy,” Jaktook interjected, and Harbour agreed to the interruption. “I’ve directives from Her Excellency Tacticnok. She asks me to inform the Norloth that the Jatouche stand ready to support the Pyreans in any undertaking to blunt the Colony’s expansion. She requests that I ask the Norloth if Crocia is willing to do the same.”

  “A bold statement, Jatouche,” Mortara said harshly. Immediately he witnessed the explorers fix on him with hostile stares and that number included his own citizen.

  It was Jessie who vocalized what the explorers were thinking. “We did not see you, Mortara of the Gortha, fighting beside us against the deadly reds and grays. It wasn’t you who freed us from an ambush, when the insectoids trapped us under a net. It was Jaktook, master advisor to Her Excellency Tacticnok of the Jatouche. We’ll thank you to remember that.”

  Mortara glanced at Pantar, and the message in the senior leader’s eyes was clear.

  “My apologies, Jaktook, I didn’t mean to impugn you or your ruler,” Mortara said.

  Jaktook grudgingly tipped a muzzle, but he was far from mollified.

  “Then you’re here seeking allies,” Gartora said, putting the discussion back on track.

  “Yes,” Harbour said, tearing her eyes away from Mortara.

  “Explain what you mean by allies,” Pantar requested.

  Harbour regarded Jessie. They’d argued over this very subject.

  “My advisor believes that the Tsargit must be forced to confront the Colony and blunt their expansion,” Harbour replied. “I think that’s an impossible task, and time is of the essence. I believe that a different organization needs to be formed to stop the Colony. The Pyreans, the Jatouche, and, hopefully, the Crocians could be the start of a formative alliance.”

  “Suppose Crocia was interested in this concept,” Gartora said. “What would be required of us?”

  Harbour indicated Mangoth, who replied, “In the fights with the Colony, each race had its value and weakness. My size was an asset in close encounters, but I was a large target for the reds’ tubes. We envision teams that mix the races.”

  “Also, we see a need for better weaponry that would be safe to use in a dome,” Jessie added.

  “The Tsargit forbids —” Mortara started to say.

  “Don’t,” Harbour stated flatly and held up a finger in warning. “Don’t quote the Tsargit’s rules to us. If you want to blindly follow codes that will see your dome and then your world consumed by a menace that’s the Colony, so be it. Tell us, and we’ll be on our way. But I want you to remember … three explorers died to bring you this warning.”

  “Continue with your thoughts,” Pantar requested, opening his arms to the explorers.

  “Defensively,” Jaktook said, “it would be helpful to use some sort of portable, strong shields that could interlock and deflect the reds’ weapons. This would be the advantage of having two or three Crocians on a team.”

  “In support of the envoy’s plan, I would recommend the formation of many teams,” Jessie said. “Devon and Aurelia could inform us of the other domes the Colony holds. Then we flood the first Colony dome, and eliminate any insectoids who would journey to that dome. We repeat our action one dome at a time. We work from the outer domes toward the Colony’s home world until we take alpha.”

  “What if the Colony has used shuttles to land on alpha’s planet?” Gartora asked.

  “Then eventually we’d need to follow,” Harbour replied.

  “A bold plan,” Pantar conceded. “It has potential. However, I see two problems. First, a permanent guard would need to protect alpha from future incursions by the Colony.”

  Jessie nodded in agreement with the idea.

  “Second,” Pantar continued, “no one has seen the Colony’s dome. How many gates does it possess?”

  “We don’t know the answer to your question, Pantar,” Harbour replied, “but it’s simple for Aurelia and Devon to query a console with the insectoids’ sounds and determine the notches on the ring surrounding their star. It would tell us the number of gates in their dome.”

  “Credible skills,” Gartora allowed, nodding his snout.

  “You’ll forgive us, Envoy, if we don’t have a reply for your proposal this cycle,” Pantar said. “This will take some time to consider. Rest assured, we don’t work in similar spans of time to the Tsargit,” he added and rumbled at his joke.

  “I’d like to make a request, Envoy,” Gartora said quickly. “We’ve heard a great deal about the powers of Pyrean empaths. Would a demonstration be possible?”

  “I would consent,” Pantar said.

  “I would not,” Mortara stated, stood, and moved to the side.

  Harbour didn’t ask for their choice of emotion. She spun up her power, fueled it with a sense of peace and tranquility, which she borrowed from her time with Jessie, and sent the wave through the two Crocians.

  Pantar and Gartora closed their eyes. Their snouts tilted toward their chests, and they rumbled in contentment.

  A few minutes later, Harbour eased off.

  “Wonderful,” Pantar commented.

  “Mortara, your fear allowed you to miss a unique opportunity,” Gartora admonished.

  “I don’t wish my mind to be controlled,” Mortara retorted.

  “Mortara, please know that empaths only use their power with consent from individuals and only for their welfare,” Harbour stated. “We’re healers, and it should be noted that all empaths are females.”

  “Ah, the nurturers of the races,” Gartora said. Then he quickly amended it by saying, “That is for the most part. Exceptions do exist.”

  “Empaths have never harmed another?” Pantar
asked, and his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

  “I know of two instances,” Harbour replied. “Both happened when an empath was defending herself or another person.” Harbour chose to discount the Tsargit council’s request to experience fear.

  Pantar nodded thoughtfully at the answer.

  “There remains a final question,” Mortara said to Harbour. “You carry the title of envoy. With whom would the Norloth make an agreement? Who is the Pyrean leader?”

  Harbour had dreaded this question, and she searched for a clever way to answer it.

  “Our political system is in transition,” Jessie replied smoothly. “Remember that we’re a young race. We’ve developed several distinct groups within our society and are in the process of forming a unified political system.”

  “We wish you success in your endeavor,” Pantar said. “Please, keep us informed.”

  Goodbyes were said, and Mangoth was asked to remain behind and speak in depth to the Norloth.

  To his team, Mangoth pronounced, “The most intrepid group of individuals I’ve known … magnificent.”

  The Pyreans and Jaktook were escorted to their room. They gathered their gear and were led to a shuttle.

  During the trip, Harbour spoke quietly to Jessie. “Time to push for that single political system you told the Norloth we were forming.”

  “Agreed,” Jessie replied. “And we’ve the perfect set of reasons why our citizens should listen.”

  “We do,” Harbour said with a grin. She held Jessie’s hand, as the shuttle accelerated, and sent her contentment his way.

  -23-

  Projects

  At Rissness, the remaining team members stepped off the platform and stared at the stream of aliens moving equipment onto gate two, which connected to Triton.

  While the Triton platform fired, another group arrived via a second gate with more material and in a workmanlike fashion transferred the gear to the Triton gate.

  Harbour, Jessie, and Jaktook watched a continuous procession of arrivals and departures. Each group journeyed from Rissness via the Triton gate.

  “Strange day when the Triton platform is the most active gate,” Harbour commented.

  “The council has assigned the projects. I didn’t think they would work this quickly,” Jaktook mused.

  “They must be pretty anxious to possess what we know,” Jessie surmised.

  Harbour and Jaktook knew what Jessie meant. The council wanted the console secrets.

  “I must leave you, Envoy,” Jaktook said. He received a hug from Harbour and clasped forearms with Jessie.

  The Jaktook regarded his Pyrean friends. “It’s been an honor and a pleasure journeying with you,” he said. “Regardless of what the future brings, I’ll forever hold close the memories.” Then he spun away, hurried across the deck, and disappeared down the ramp.

  “Home?” Harbour inquired.

  “Triton, at least,” Jessie replied. “I’m curious to see what’s being constructed.”

  The Pyreans approached the Triton gate, and the next group of engineers and techs halted and tipped their heads. The explorers mounted the platform and journeyed to Triton.

  Harbour and Jessie appeared on the platform and were enthralled by the level of activity. The deck was covered with equipment and supplies. Aliens of many races were at work.

  “Harbour,” Devon shouted, “clear the gate.”

  As soon as Harbour and Jessie jumped off the platform, the dome’s energy spiked and more aliens and material appeared.

  The couple made their way to the only available space on the deck, which was beside Devon and Aurelia at the console.

  “Only you two?” Aurelia asked.

  “We left Mangoth at Dantagar, the Crocian moon, and Jaktook at Rissness,” Jessie replied.

  “I’ve lived a lonely life on the JOS,” Devon said. “I had to leave the station to find good friends … a spacer, empaths, and aliens.” He’d shaken his head at the irony, but he wore a slight smile.

  Aurelia threw an arm around Devon’s shoulders and laid her forehead against his temple.

  Jessie swung an arm at the deck and eyed the young couple.

  “A day after we arrived, some engineers journeyed here, checked out the dome, and surveyed the plains beyond the airlock,” Devon explained.

  “They had a large consignment of cubes, and we sent a bunch of them,” Aurelia added.

  “The cubes glowed yellow,” Devon said. “We learned that’s the code for Tsargit priority. Two days after we started sending the cubes, parties of workers and material started arriving.”

  “And it has never stopped,” Aurelia said excitedly.

  “Are you learning anything about their construction techniques?” Jessie asked.

  “I’ve learned that we won’t have a clue,” Devon replied. “I watched them build a temporary shelter over the airlock’s outer hatch. Then they assembled a machine. Jessie, Harbour, you should have seen it. The machine began tunneling about two-thirds of its depth into the moon’s regolith. The surface material was thrown aside and simultaneously blades at the rear of the machine spun a tunnel.”

  “What do you mean spun a tunnel?” Jessie asked.

  “I saw small spiders in the governor’s house spin webs,” Aurelia said. “It was like that. As this tunneler advanced, gossamer threads spun out from the end of the spinning blades. The threads expanded and formed a partial wall.”

  “They’d move their machine forward, digging out a section, reverse it, and move forward again,” Devon continued. “That gave the walls two coats. Then they advance to dig out another section.”

  “The engineers are already a hundred meters out onto the plains,” Aurelia said. “You should go look.” She was handed a cube, and she motioned Devon to take Harbour and Jessie.

  The threesome walked around the dome’s periphery to look out on the plains. The telltale hump of the newly constructed tunnel was clearly visible above the surface.

  While they watched, the line of the tunnel slowly widened. It grew from a small circle to a larger one.

  “They’re at the juncture of the two shuttle runs,” Jessie commented. “I envisioned these projects taking years.”

  “This looks more like months,” Devon replied.

  “Have you been in the tunnel?” Jessie asked.

  “You said to stay out of their way,” Devon reminded Jessie. “That’s easy to do. These engineers and techs know what they’re doing. They’re experienced, and it shows in their fantastic coordination. There isn’t room to sneeze down there.”

  “How are they getting services out there?” Jessie asked, indicating the growing circle with a thumb.

  Devon’s grin was huge. “Here’s where we were taught a lesson about the domes. They tapped into a small containment area on the second floor. It’s right next to the inner airlock door.”

  “Don’t tell me?” Jessie said, asking a rhetorical question. He laughed, and Devon joined him.

  “What?” Harbour asked, smiling at the men.

  “Aurelia said she thought the Messinants had a perverted sense of humor,” Jessie explained, while still chuckling. “The little containment space that Devon mentions hides utilities for projects outside the dome, doesn’t it?” Jessie asked Devon.

  “It does,” Devon replied. “It’s something that had to be discovered by some alliance race. After that, the other races had power and air for their tunnels, but no water.”

  “I wonder if the glyphs around that access panel say power and air inside,” Harbour said, shaking her head in amazement.

  Devon started to speak, but Harbour held up a hand. “What’s the console broadcasting?”

  Devon’s grin was even wider. “That’s one of the reasons that one of us is always present at the console,” he replied. “Kractik taught us how to change the dome’s viewpoint via the console. We’ve been edifying the Belle’s bridge with different images of aliens and construction.”

  “Tell me the Belle is s
till relaying the imagery to the JOS channel,” Jessie queried.

  “Absolutely,” Devon replied, surprised that Jessie wouldn’t think they’d check on that. “We all understand how important it is to let Pyre know what we’ve achieved.”

  “Good man,” Jessie said. “Sorry for asking.”

  Harbour sent Devon her own brand of thanks. “To the console,” she said and led the way around the dome’s circumference.

  A Sylian waited for them at the console. “Envoy Harbour of the Pyreans, I bring personal messages to you,” the Sylian said. “Dome Administrator Shevena sends her congratulations on successfully concluding a critical part of your agreement.”

  “Word travels fast,” Jessie commented.

  The Sylian’s bright eyes focused on Jessie, and his ears tipped toward him. “Many younger races are paying close attention to the actions of Envoy Harbour and her Pyreans,” he said. “There’s much anticipation.”

  “You said you had messages,” Harbour interrupted.

  “Your pardon, Envoy,” the Sylian said gracefully. “The final message is from Committee Administrator Solseena. She hopes you’re pleased by the alacrity of the Tsargit’s response. She’s eager to witness your return visit to Hyronzy Station.”

  “Please thank Shevena and Solseena for their messages,” Harbour said.

  “It will be done as you request, Envoy,” the Sylian replied. “May I ask a question, Envoy?”

  “Yes,” Harbour replied.

  “Is it true that the explorers went to speak to the Tsargit without a summons?” the Sylian asked.

  “It’s true,” Harbour replied.

  The Sylian flashed his prominent canines. “It will be a tale to tell my mate and cubs,” he said. Then he made his way around the stack of crates to the platform, and Aurelia sent him on his way.

  “It appears we’re becoming the darlings of the younger races,” Jessie commented.

  “Aurelia, where’s the Belle?” Harbour asked.

  “On its way here,” Aurelia replied. “Dingles had her loading slush at Emperion. The twenty repaired are housed on the third level.”

  “How are they?” Harbour inquired.

  “In great spirits,” Devon replied, chuckling. “It’s like visiting a live performance. Everyone keeps displaying their repairs.”