Betrayal

by E. Wayne Stucki

  “Two hundred fifty,” announced Lieutenant D’Pan from the scanning suite. S’Cinf looked up from his perch where he waited to do his part. He worked hard to keep his face composed but his tail betrayed the anxiety he felt. It wouldn’t stop twitching. “The range to target formation is two hundred,” continued the countdown. “We are now within short range scanning and communications.”

  “Have the natives made any attempt at communications?” asked Admiral P’Mar.

  “None at present, Admiral,” reported Lieutenant L’Art from the communications console.

  The Run Point continued to listen, content to let his subjects do the work they were trained to do.

  “I’m picking up targeting scans. They’re ranging on our capital ships. That includes the colony ships,” announced Commander R’Gon, the Battle Officer. “Shall I have our weapons range as well?”

  “No!” replied P’Mar immediately, “I will not respond with anything that may be construed as hostile.”

  “But admiral,” protested R’Gon, “if they open fire we won’t be able to reply.”

  P’Mar swiveled his head around to glare at the Kthpok. “Commander, if this was different circumstances I’d have you ejected from an airlock without a suit for questioning my orders,” he growled. His tone was as frigid as space. “You will carry out my orders without argument or comment. If you question my orders again you will be thrown out an air lock even now. Is that clear?”

  “Yes, admiral,” replied the officer and dipped his head in submission. “Our targeting scans will remain at standby.”

  “Good. Now power up the defensive lasers and keep the Damage Suppression Packs ready.” Once again the orders were acknowledged.

  “One hundred fifty,” called Lieutenant D’Pan.

  “We are now receiving communications,” announced the communications officer. “They’re sending visual.”

  The admiral turned to face S’Cinf. “Run Point, are you ready?” he asked. The Kthpok leader stood to take his place in front of the monitor. It took a few swallows to moisten his dry mouth enough so he could speak then he bobbed his head, affirming his readiness to begin.

  “Very well Lieutenant, open communications with visual,” P’Mar ordered.

  In response to the communications officer working his console, the main viewer flickered to life. When the image steadied a creature with a smooth triangular head, compound eyes, and antennae was shown. The head was attached to a thorax, which connected to an abdomen. Four legs, two on each side of the abdomen, supported the creature while two more limbs projected from the thorax. The whole creature was an unsightly shade of green.

  S’Cinf struggled to keep his face composed. It wouldn’t be diplomatic for him to reveal his disgust in the first exchange. This creature reminded him of a strain of pests from the densest jungles of Fairen and was revolting. He pushed the thought from his mind as he waited.

  At a gesture from an officer standing out of range of the camera the Run Point began his speech. He spoke as he’d rehearsed. “I am S’Cinf, the Run Point for all that remains of the Kthpok race. The Kthpok have been attacked and driven from their home system. We come with no hostile intentions towards your people but are asking for sanctuary and assistance.”

  A moment after it became apparent the Kthpok Point was finished the native shown on the screen replied. Its speech came across the speakers as chirps, squeals, creaks and squawks. How the creature made any sound at all was a mystery to Run Point but the speech continued for a short time.

  “It is apparent we cannot understand each other’s language right now,” said S’Cinf when the native commander stopped speaking. “I hope that will be solved in the future as our two peoples work together.” Although he knew the native couldn’t understand a word he was saying the Kthpok Run Point kept his tone as diplomatic as possible. His diction was slow and precise. He assumed the creatures were recording everything he was saying for study by their linguists. The Kthpok were.

  S’Cinf continued, “although you cannot understand our language we have prepared a presentation to explain why the Kthpok people are in your system and what our request is.” At a gesture from the Run Point the communications officer activated the first prepared recording.

  The main screen showing the native commander split and added the file being transmitted. Everyone in the Center Room kept a careful watch on their equipment as the tale of their misfortune unfolded. They were searching for any sign the natives were going to launch an attack. As soon as Intro One ended Intro Two was sent in a seamless operation.

  At the end of the second file S’Cinf resumed his dialogue. “You have seen why we are here and that we need your assistance. We await your decision.” At that the Run Point bowed his head and the transmission ended.

  “That part’s completed,” said Admiral P’Mar leaving his perch and walking over to join the Run Point after it was confirmed the link had been cut. “Now all we have to do is wait and hope they’ll believe our message.”

  S’Cinf bobbed his head in agreement. “Was the ending too abrupt?” he asked. “Will they consider that inappropriate?”

  The admiral gave a shrug of his tail. “Battle!” he called. “What’s happening?”

  “The enemy is holding position,” replied Commander R’Gon. “The targeting continues, concentrating on our capital ships but no other sign of aggression.”

  The admiral turned back to S’Cinf. “It appears the natives haven’t been offended, your Eminence. We’ll maintain our watch but all we can do right now is wait for their response.”

  At first the wait wasn’t difficult. Reports continued to come in from all parts of the ship and fleet. P’Mar took the opportunity to have the ships of the native task force examined with telescopes and passive scans.

  As he studied the images shown on the screen the Run Point contacted the admiral. “Now that you’ve had the chance to see the enemy what’s your assessment of their strength?” asked S’Cinf.

  P’Mar gave a shake from his tail. “Without a detailed scan or seeing a live-fire exercise there’s no way to tell if they’ve developed weapons or defenses we don’t have. And I don’t want to risk raising their suspicions or scaring the natives into an action we’d regret so I’m not going to order a scan. But from what we can see on the screen,” he tipped his tail at the ships showing on the monitor. “There are missile tubes and laser turrets spread all over those dreadnoughts. They appear to be as powerful as ours.” He gave a shrug of his tail. “The strength of their weapons and armor can only be assessed under fire.”

  “That’s one assessment we can’t make right now,” said S’Cinf. “At least not until we’re stronger, have our missile inventories replenished and our plans prepared.”

  Admiral P’Mar bared his teeth and snarled in agreement. Then both Kthpok turned their attention back to the enemy formation. Seconds became minutes and there was still no response. The Run Point left his perch to begin pacing a circular path around the room.

  When it was coming to an hour since the initial exchange S’Cinf walked over to the admiral’s station. “Perhaps they’re not as intelligent as we thought,” he observed. “Even humans would’ve been able to work out what the message meant.” He paused as a new thought came. “Perhaps they don’t have the capability to receive a visual transmission,” he suggested.

  Before P’Mar could remind the Run Point that the natives had broadcast a visual image Lieutenant D’Pan swiveled on his perch. “Fleet Admiral,” he called, “I’ve detected additional scans coming from an enemy dreadnought.”

  The two Kthpok hurried over to the scanning suite. “Which ship?” asked P’Mar.

  “This one,” said D’Pan indicating the immense vessel.

  “Designate dreadnought two as the enemy flagship,” called Admiral P’Mar to his Battle officer. “That’s our primary target if the shooting starts.” Then turning back to Lieutenant D’Pan he asked, “can you determine the purpose for the scans?”r />
  “From their strength and direction it appears the enemy’s testing the integrity of our vessels.”

  P’Mar tapped the officer on a shoulder, “keep watch. If they intensify their targeting scans I want to know.” After receiving an acknowledgement from the Lieutenant he turned to the Run Point. “It appears they’ve finally interpreted our messages. The type of scans involved indicates they’re attempting to check the damage our ships have sustained and confirm our story.”

  “But we made repairs!” exclaimed the Run Point.

  The admiral shook his head. “Wouldn’t make any difference,” he replied. “The patches weren’t made in a ship yard and will be apparent visually. There’ll be burn marks and melts.” He paused to shrug.

  “The scans?” prompted S’Cinf.

  “Yes, the scans,” confirmed P’Mar. “The carbon scoring and melting could be faked. Those scans probe deeper and can determine which portions of the hull have been replaced. There’ll be differences in the surfaces.”

  The Run Point gave a silent oh of understanding. A few moments later the scans cut off. Then the communications officer called for attention. “I’m picking up a transmission from the enemy flagship,” Lieutenant L’Art reported.

  S’Cinf hurried back to his station and prepared to face the native commander once again.

  “Send it to the main screen,” ordered P’Mar. “The Run Point will take the communications there.”

  “I can’t sir,” said the Kthpok. “The transmission isn’t being sent to us. It’s being directed in system.”

  “I see,” said the admiral as he nodded he came to a realization of what was happening. “That’s it! They’ve verified that our damage matches with our explanation. Now, they’re relaying our request for assistance to their superiors.”

  “Time lag between our current position and the fourth planet?” S’Cinf asked.

  L’Art consulted his equipment before answering. “Twenty-five minutes.”

  A hunters grin crossed P’Mar’s face as he faced S’Cinf. “We have a little more than fifty minutes to wait.”

  “That’s assuming their government can act swiftly,” commented the Run Point.

  “Yes,” said admiral, “there is that.”

  S’Cinf sat on his perch at the head of the Conference table and stared at the magnified image of a ship shown on the room’s wall screen. No sound was heard beyond his breathing and the air rushing through air ducts. The Run Point made a few entries on a computer terminal. “Number of missile tubes,” he muttered, “spread of laser mounts. Now let’s see what the computer thinks.” A final entry was made with a flourish and he settled back to wait for the results.

  A moment later data began appearing on a sidebar and S’Cinf dipped his head to read. “Projected destroyer equivalent,” he said. “The size matches our Slasher class…almost.” He continued reading, noting how deadly the vessel was.

  “So that’s a small ship,” muttered S’Cinf. “Let’s see about their next size up.”

  The Run Point had Lieutenant D’Pan in Scanning adjust a telescope to focus on another enemy ship. In response, the wall screen flickered for a moment then stabilized.

  “Now,” said the Run Point, “let’s see what this particular animal has.” Using a talon he began touching a screen, indicating the placement of missile tubes or laser mounts.

  S’Cinf was still marking weapons emplacements when the door to the conference room slid open. The Run Point looked up from his task to see the Fleet Admiral walk through the door and strike a respectful pose.

  P’Mar glanced at the wall screen and nodded his head. Before S’Cinf could speak the admiral asked, “doing a little study, your Eminence? That’s a cruiser analog. It’s a little misleading to assign it to that category though. Our enemies have packed an amazing amount of firepower into smaller hulls.”

  The Run Points tail drooped in surprise. “How do you know that?” he asked. Then his tone became accusing. “Have you ordered scans without my approval?”

  P’Mar’s pose became even more respectful if it were possible. “No, Run Point,” he answered. “As per your orders we have not conducted any active scans. Nor has targeting been used.”

  “Then how can you make any kind of assessment about the enemy’s capabilities?”

  “Although we haven’t been able to utilize active scanning for obvious reasons,” replied P’Mar, “our officers in scanning are trying to get all the data they can from passives. It’s amazing what a skillful Kthpok can find without asking.”

  “Have we been able to gauge the capabilities of each class of vessels?” The Fleet Admiral gave an answering twitch of his tail. “Very well. Have a summary sent to me for my review,” S’Cinf ordered.

  The Run Point paused for a moment as he looked at the enemy ship. Then he turned back. “I assume your interruption had more to do with wanting to pass on information than in saving me unnecessary work. So what’s your news?”

  “You left orders to be notified of any communications by the enemy,” reported P’Mar and the Kthpok leader gave an acknowledging bob of his head. “Communications reports a message came in from the inner planets. A short time later we monitored a transmission again directed at the inner planets which seems to be a reply to the first message.”

  “Content of the message?” asked the Run Point.

  The admiral shrugged his tail in ignorance. “I would guess that the first message was a question from command and our natives replied. There’s no way of knowing what was asked and what the reply was.”

  Two hours after the admiral had been dismissed from the conference room S’Cinf was called to the Center Room. Since the Run Point had just started his rest period he wasn’t in the best of moods. He stalked into the Colony ship’s Center Room, looked around to find where P’Mar was then stomped over to the admiral’s post. “Has the enemy moved?” he asked.

  “Not yet, Run Point,” replied P’Mar. “There’s been no change in the status of the enemy.”

  “Then why am I here when I should be sleeping?”

  “I had you summoned because another message just came in from the inner systems. A moment later a message was directed to us.”

  “Very well,” said the Kthpok leader. “What do they want?”

  In response, the admiral entered a few commands on a keyboard then gestured at a nearby screen. The Run Point craned his long neck to get a better view. First, he saw an image of an enemy dreadnought circled in green. Then came a picture of a Kthpok colony ship circled in yellow. Next came a schematic that both of the Kthpok leaders recognized as the system they were in. In addition to the planets and their orbits, were two dots. One dot was yellow and the other green. A dotted line led from the two colored dots to intersect the orbit of the fourth planet.

  P’Mar looked over at S’Cinf. “If I’m interpreting this message correctly we have just been invited home for a visit. Should we accept?”

  “The first step in the plan for the conquest of our new home appears to have been achieved,” said the Run Point. “Inform our hosts we’ll be glad to follow them to the fourth planet as indicated. Once confirmation has been received make preparations to proceed.”

  The admiral gestured and Lieutenant L’Art pushed a button. “The response has been sent,” he announced.

  Chapter 3

  Zelof, Swarm Master for the Greater Hive, watched the record of the transmission from the Outsiders for what must have been the eighth time. When it ended he swiveled his head around so both compound eyes could look at his Second. Sesum, who was sitting on the other side of the Swarm Master’s desk, had also been watching the record. “I know what I’ve seen,” Zelof said, “and what I think it means.” He gestured at the screen with his right true-hand. “What’s Intel’s interpretation of that?”

  The two creatures in the room couldn’t have been more different from the beings that’d sent the transmission. Both were Iidx. They had six limbs, the upper two of which ended in
six tentacles that were used to write and manipulate. Their compound eyes and antennae provided perceptions the Kthpok couldn’t begin to imagine. And their exoskeletons gave protection from all but the most serious injuries.

  Sesum reached out with his true-hands and made an entry on a nearby console. An instant later the main screen in the room showed a creature that seemed to be all neck and tail which were attached to a small body. Zelof noted once again the fact the creature had no antennae and no outer shell. How could something like that exist?

  The Swarm Second nodded at the screen and said, “I will begin by saying that what I’m about to present is conjecture and dependant upon the truthfulness of the Outsiders.” Zelof inclined an understanding antenna for his aide to continue.

  “They call themselves Kthpok,” Sesum’s mouth parts had to work hard to pronounce the strange word. “The lower decks already know about these people and ‘affectionately’ call them Tails.”

  The Swarm Leader gave an amused wave of his antennae. “That’s an appropriate description,” he said. “It’s catchy enough that it’ll probably stick.”

  The screen split. On the left side of the screen was a schematic of a solar system while the picture of the Kthpok remained on the right. “This is where they say they came from,” the Second added.

  “We have no way at present of knowing how far away the Kthpok home system is. An indicator may be the closest star to us. That would be the Sheth system which is six light years away. So it’s at least that far.”

  The Second made another adjustment to his console and the schematic of the system filled the screen. “Now, the Kthpok system,” he announced. “According to the transmission we’ve viewed, their system has nine planets, one of which is within the zone we consider would sustain life.” He indicated the planet using a light wand. “That would be the third planet. The fourth planet is on the extreme outer fringe of the zone and is too cold to support life as we know it. This planet,” a blue-green orb broken by the white of clouds was displayed, “the third planet in the system, as I said, is the home for the Kthpok.”