Betrayal

by E. Wayne Stucki

  After enduring several minutes of seeing Iidx come and go, the Queen decided she’d had enough. She was a Queen, after all, and shouldn’t have to wait! Two or three (she wasn’t sure which) of those officers had already looked in her direction so she knew they knew she was waiting. In fact, she had the feeling Sesum was ignoring her and that couldn’t be allowed to stand.

  Krissen walked over and joined the circle. “Why are we stopping here?” she asked interrupting Sesum’s conference. The Queen ignored the respectful poses of the other Iidx but pointed up the canyon. “Surely you know that a small population center called Soa is just a short distance away; on the other side of this range in fact.” She gestured with a false-hand. “We should go back to the main road and continue on. Once at Soa, we can requisition fuel and supplies and rest in comfort.”

  Sesum kept a respectful silence as the Queen spoke. When she finished he nodded as he replied. “Yes, your Majesty, we do know of Soa. However, our instructions from Swarm Master Zelof are to avoid cities.” His antennae waved with amusement. “As you’re aware the success of our mission depends on our ability to stay unnoticed by the Kthpok.”

  Queen Krissen struck a regal pose. “I understand those instructions very well Swarm Master but as your Queen I am countermanding them,” she announced. “We will not stop here for the night but continue on until we reach Soa. Once there we will find appropriate accommodations for the night. Tomorrow we can refuel and obtain more supplies. The day after that we can resume our journey for the new hive.” Her tone and set of antennae indicated that she didn’t expect to continue on but would remain there.

  Sesum gave an acknowledging bob of his head and turned from the Queen to address the officers who’d stayed silent during the exchange. “Let’s get camp set up,” he ordered, “and remind everyone we’re still on a black out regime.”

  After the officers saluted and left to follow his instructions the Swarm Master turned back to Krissen. “I apologize for the interruption, your Highness,” he said. “We do have to get our camp in order before it gets too dark to see and there’s a lot of work to be done. As I’m sure you’re aware night comes fast at this latitude. Now, how may I help you?”

  The Queen glared at Sesum, her antennae quivering. “How dare you!” She cried. Her voice shook from barely suppressed anger. “How dare you ignore my instructions! I ordered this convoy to continue to Soa!”

  Several soldiers who were walking nearby paused to look at the Queen when they heard her shout. Noticing their interest Sesum gestured for them to go about their business. By this time the sun had set and the sky was turning dark blue shading to purple shading to black. Stars were beginning to appear in the east. A silver sliver of one of the moons was just appearing over the eastern hills.

  “Would you walk with me, your Highness, while I explain?” he asked. Without waiting for a reply he grasped one of the Queen’s arms and started to walk.

  Becoming even more furious at this males impudence, she wrenched her arm out of his grasp and swung around to confront him. “I don’t know if you corrupted the Swarm Master or he you,” she said. “But when we make contact with Refuge and Queen Dahoni learns of the indignities you have subjected me to…” She paused long enough to take a breath so she could continue. “Your limbs will be removed one after another and your shell cracked. Your actions and demise will be recorded to provide future generations with an example of how not to treat a Queen!

  “Now I have given you an order. Will you pass the order to the Swarm to continue on to Soa or must I?” She struck an adamant pose with true-arms folded and fluffy antennae stiff, waiting to see the Swarm Master’s response. When Sesum motioned to two soldiers who were walking nearby she bobbed her head as if to say, ‘it’s about time!” Responding to the summons both Iidx hurried over, came to attention and saluted. By this time darkness had fallen but there were no lights shown by the busy Iidx. The only light came from the stars and rising moon.

  Sesum returned the salute then gestured at Krissen. “I’m pulling you from your current duties to escort Queen Krissen back to her vehicle,” he announced. “You are to keep her inside that vehicle until I come to escort her to her quarters and evening meal.” The Swarm Master glanced down at his watch before continuing. “That'll probably take an hour maybe two.”

  He turned back to Krissen and gave a slight bow. “Now, your Highness, with your permission, I must go and make sure our camp is ready for the evening.”

  “What?” exclaimed Krissen. “We’re not…”

  “You may order and threaten as much as you desire, your Highness,” Sesum interrupted. He straightened and gestured at the shapes of soldiers moving around them. “But all these Iidx know their duty is to preserve our species, not indulge the whims of a pampered female.”

  Krissen reared back on her four legs in a mixture of surprise, rage and indignation all directed at the Swarm Master. “How dare you!”

  “For our people to survive I dare much, your Highness,” replied Sesum. “My orders stand.” Without giving her a chance to respond he whirled around and walked away. “Carry out my orders!” he called back to the two soldiers.

  Queen Krissen glared at the form of the departing Swarm Master shown by the light of the rising moon as he walked away. Then she turned on one of her escorts. “I want the camp moved,” she ordered. “We will continue on to Soa.” The two Iidx stared at her without saying a word. “I am your Queen!” she shouted. “I must be obeyed!”

  The soldier Krissen addressed gestured at the royal vehicle which was outlined by a slivery sheen of moonlight. “This way your Highness,” he said. “You heard the Swarm Master. You are to return to your vehicle.” He paused for a moment to see if the Queen would cooperate. When Krissen just looked at him for several seconds he said, “We can do this the fun way or the easy way, your Highness. It’s up to you.” The Queen didn’t move or speak. It appeared she was stunned with the idea that males weren’t instantly obeying a Queen. At last, the soldier gave a decisive bob of his head which was answered by his companion. “The fun way,” he decided.

  With Krissen sputtering in rage and disbelief the two Iidx slung their weapons over their abdomen, carefully picked up the Queen, carried her to the vehicle then stuffed her inside. They shut and locked the door then took up guard position on either side of the door, weapons held at the ready.

  Hidden by shadows a short distance away Sesum watched Krissen’s failed attempt to sway her guards. Without turning he spoke to Captain Sinemata, his Second, who was standing nearby. “I envy those two,” he said waving his antennae in the direction of the Queen’s vehicle. The gesture was lost in the darkness but Sesum continued. “I’ve always wanted to do something like that but never had the nerve to try or thought I’d get away with it. Now those two get to disobey a Queen and claim they’re simply following my orders.”

  He gave a soft chittering laugh then gestured at the Iidx moving around in the moonlight. “We’d better make sure everything’s ready soon or she’ll really get angry.”

  By the time the camp set up was complete it was two hours after sunset and the smaller moon had fully risen to bathe the countryside in a silvery glow. The two Swarm leaders had finished their final inspection of the campsite and paused to look around. Sinemata gestured at the ethereal countryside. The moonlight glinted off the spray from the water fall. “You picked a beautiful place to camp, Swarm Master,” he said.

  Sesum looked up at the sky and nodded. Above them a myriad of stars in the cloudless night added to the beauty of the landscape. Creatures in nearby bushes continued their calls. Without city lights masking them the stars were brilliant. “That was one of the reasons why I stopped here,” he replied then nodded at his Second. “Since camp’s up we’d better see to Queen Krissen. By this time she’s probably ready to chew her way out of her vehicle.”

  Using the moons light the two Iidx moved back through the camp. No lights were seen which could expose their position to the
Kthpok. Strains of music or snatches of talking could be heard coming from the tents where Iidx were settling in for the night after having completed their assignments. The Swarm Master didn’t have to ask to know his people were listening to broadcasts from Soa.

  After sending Sinemata off to get his own meal Sesum arrived at the Queen’s vehicle. He returned the two guards salute then rapped on the door and keyed it open. “Your Highness,” he called into the dark interior. “Your accommodations are ready.”

  The outline of the Queen appeared in the doorway. Without saying a word Krissen stepped down out of the vehicle and followed the Swarm Master as he led the way through the camp. Her two guards trailed several feet behind, weapons held at the ready. Their destination was the Royal Tent placed in the center of the camp where the Queen would have the most protection. Several times as they walked through the jumble of tents Sesum tried to begin a conversation with the Queen but she remained silent, her anger at her mistreatment unabated. Greetings were called out of the darkness by other Iidx moving about. Sesum always responded but the Queen kept her silence.

  The small party was just reaching the royal tent when a brilliant flash lit the sky from behind the hills to the east. Sesum raised his arms to shield his eyes until they could adjust. Krissen and her guards did likewise. Two more flashes followed within seconds. The tents and vehicles stood out in stark relief as the night was driven away. Then the glow began to fade letting the darkness return and the camp fell into silence.

  “What was that?” asked Krissen staring in the direction of the fading light.

  Still looking at the horizon Sesum could see three balls of roiling, dying flame just appearing above the hills. Moments later, as darkness completely reclaimed the night, the Swarm Master replied. His voice was barely above a whisper and full of anguish. “That was the Kthpok, your Highness. They just obliterated Soa. The place you wanted to spend the night.”

  Swarm Master Zelof moved onto the mat and assumed the beginning stance. He took a deep breath then began to move. His steps, jumps swoops and dips took him through an exercise routine that was designed clear his mind as well as work his body. He concentrated on what he was doing and ignored what was happening nearby. Two Iidx were sparing with cushioned poles on the next mat. Beyond that were several more Iidx practicing hand-to-hand combat techniques. He’d known the entertainment area of Refuge would be crowded at this time of day but came anyway. He needed the respite.

  Without warning the attention tone sounded over the room’s intercom system. Everyone in the room paused what they were doing and turned to look at the speakers. Then the message began. “Swarm Master to the Command Deck. Swarm Master to the Command Deck.”

  Groaning, Zelof left the mat where he’d been standing and headed for a wall communications unit, skirting the Iidx with the poles. It seemed that every time he tried to get some rest or entertainment an emergency of some kind was declared. Rather than scuttle through the base only to find that whatever the emergency was it wasn’t life threatening, the Swarm Master reached the nearest wall set and called the Command Deck. “Swarm Master here,” he announced. “What’s happening?”

  “Lieutenant Chattan here Swarm Master,” the officer-on-duty announced. “Scanning has observed the Kthpok Space Swarm moving, sir.”

  “Moving?” the Swarm Master asked. “Where are they going? Are they leaving orbit, heading out system?” Zelof didn’t think the Kthpok’d quit the system now that the Iidx Space Swarm had been obliterated and they had the orbitals but he had this sudden stroke of irrational optimism.

  “No Sir,” replied the officer. “The Kthpok are not leaving orbit they’re dispersing, spreading out over the planet.”

  “I’m on my way,” said Zelof and cut the link before Chattan could respond.

  Moments later the hatch to the Command Deck slid open and the Swarm Master walked in. Lieutenant Chattan, the OOD, had been watching for Zelof and moved out of the command position, came to attention then saluted. “Status of the Kthpok?” Zelof asked as he returned the salute.

  “Most of the Kthpok Swarm has changed position, sir,” reported Chattan. “The three colony ships with a couple of screening destroyers remain in stationary orbit over their island. The rest of their Swarm has taken up orbits over the eastern portion of the main continent.” The Swarm Master nodded his thanks then motioned his dismissal of the Lieutenant. Chattan saluted again before moving to find his own duty station.

  After the Lieutenant had left for his post at Communications Zelof turned to stare at the Plot. “Why would the Kthpok move now?” he wondered as he looked at the lights representing the Kthpok Swarm in the Battle Plot. “Is this an escalation, an invasion?”

  He shook his head. That didn’t make sense. They’d be overwhelmed. The Tails hadn’t reduced the Iidx population nearly enough to mount a successful invasion. Zelof bent over the Plot controls, his fingers keyed in the sequence to call up a map overlay of the main continent. The light dots of the Kthpok ships marked their positions over the continent. He examined the display for a moment then turned towards communications. “Get the commanding officer of the Cotec garrison on the link now!” he called.

  After acknowledging to order, Ensign Chattan worked his equipment for a moment then turned back to face Zelof. “Contact with Cotec established, Swarm Master,” he reported. “They’ve sent for Colonel Parrax. He’s out inspecting the base Power Center.”

  “I want to speak with him. Put him on as soon as he arrives,” instructed Zelof and resumed his comparison of the tactical plot with a surface map. It appeared the Kthpok ships had shifted positions to threaten cities and bases.

  A few minutes later Chattan announced, “Cotec Garrison Commander, Colonel Parrax is on the link, Swarm Master.”

  “Thank you, Ensign. Put it to my screen here,” replied Zelof.

  The Ensign acknowledged and made more adjustments to his console. “It’s on your screen now, sir.”

  Zelof swung around to see an Iidx framed in a screen on his console. “Colonel,” the Swarm Master acknowledged.

  “Swarm Master,” replied Parrax, “what can I do for you?”

  “The Kthpok have shifted the orbits of most of their ships, Colonel,” Zelof announced. “One of which is positioned directly over your facility. We don’t know why.”

  Parrax waved his antennae in understanding. “We may not know the exact reason why, Swarm Master,” he said, “but we can guess the Kthpok aren’t doing it for our continuing good health.”

  Zelof nodded his agreement and continued. “The bases they attacked earlier were hit with fighters that came from orbit,” he said. “That’s in the reports we sent out earlier. From the position they’re in the Kthpok ships can attack with missiles or those fighters. So you have to be ready for anything. The craft we’ve seen appear to be drones or are computer controlled. That gives them the ability to perform extreme maneuvers. They’re very difficult targets to hit.”

  “Understood,” said Parrax, nodding his head. “I’ll have…” The Iidx disappeared in a glare of light and the screen blanked.

  “What was that?” barked Zelof looking towards the communications suite. “What happened? Get the Colonel back!”

  Lieutenant Chattan’s fingers flashed over his equipment trying to re-establish the connection. After a few moments of trying several ways to restore communications he turned back to the Swarm Master. “I’m sorry, sir,” the Ensign said. “I cannot make the connection to Cotec. All systems here are functioning within specifications.” As proof of his statement a tone sounded. Someone else was trying to reach them. Ignoring the incoming call Chattan continued. “The disruption has to be at Cotec, not here.”

  After sending the Ensign back to his equipment and the incoming call the Swarm Master turned to glare at the Plot. “What happened to Cotec?” he muttered.

  Just as the latest call had been answered stopping the irritating noise another call came in. The Ensign completed the first call and t
ied in the next. But this time the alert tone didn’t cut off. It seemed to grow more insistent.

  The ongoing noise brought Zelof from his pondering and he turned to look at Chattan. Other Iidx in the room also noticed the unusual activity at Communications. They stopped what they were doing to watch the Ensign’s frantic efforts to answer the calls. Although the Swarm Master for the entire Iidx Swarm was posted at Refuge it was odd for more than one oncoming transmission to be directed to this remote base at a time. Now, communications was being inundated. Before Zelof could issue an order his new Swarm Second, Rayel, called in Chattan’s relief to help.

  Almost ten minutes later the chiming became intermittent enough for Chattan to let his companion to take the load. After setting his equipment to standby he turned to face Zelof. “Swarm Master, Swarm Master Sesum has broken radio silence,” the comm tech announced. “He reports that his convoy is camped in the hills outside Soa and witnessed the city being destroyed by not less than three nuclear explosions. He suspects the missiles were fired from orbit.

  “A similar report came in from a patrol near Stor.”

  Zelof nodded as he recalled that Stor was a minor base on the main continents north eastern coast. It was a punishment posting just like Wartten was originally intended to be for him so it wasn’t very important. The Swarm Master gave a soft snort. It was important enough for the Kthpok to destroy. He brought himself back as the report from the communications officer was continuing.

  “The patrol said their base was hit by nuclear weapons and destroyed. They are requesting orders.”

  Ensign Chattan continued to detail the bases and cities which had been vaporized. The reports he’d received indicated that all that remained of any of those locations was blackened, fused soil. But the Kthpok weren’t hitting every city. The larger cities with manufacturing centers remained untouched - for now.