“Second Officer, are you ready to take off? It seems we are having some difficulty,” Zora asked over the com.
“We are too, but I am about to rectify the situation. Which one should we kill?” Tazleaha asked making sure the pilot heard her. “Yours or mine?”
“We can kill ours,” Dela’maah answered. “Zora is a capable pilot. She is looking over the controls as we speak.”
“Capable?” Zora stated. She was ignored.
“Good. Then drag him off the shuttle and shoot him,” Tazleaha ordered.
She could hear the pilot on Dela’maah’s shuttle through the com. “Wait!”
Easing her pistol out, she pointed it at the pilot in front of her. “You may not be needed, either; I am a fair pilot myself. Had you both cooperated I might have released you when you were no longer needed.”
“I will do anything you want. Don’t shoot me,” he pleaded. His opinion of his captors was rapidly changing.
“You’re not convincing me,” Tazleaha said, her anger increasing. “Many beg when they are about to die.”
“I will follow your orders, I swear,” the pilot said with conviction.
“I can read and speak Khalnalax, if you haven’t already figured that out. Not perfectly but quite well. It is close to our Cjittan in so many ways. You will get no further warning. If you try any subversion, or disobey me in any way, I will leave your body behind for the scavengers.” She let her words sink in. “Dela’maah, let’s go!”
“We are ready,” Dela’maah answered. “It seems our pilot understands cooperation is crucial for his survival.”
“Pilot, take us to the northern settlement. Avoid any other shuttles or ships. Your message center indicates there are messages that need attention. Open it so I may read them while we fly.” He entered a code. She scanned the messages and reports. There was a ton of excitement in the first few. Then she found out why.
“Dela’maah, Emperor Khalnalax is going to rain fire down on Idaline with his battleship. We must hurry,” she screamed into her com. “Pilot, full speed, shields, and fly evasively. Everyone, hold on to something.” She grabbed the harness for the seat next to the pilot and held on.
The change in thrust threw passengers to the floor or onto the person beside them. Overloaded as the shuttle was, it was not straining to make speed. Designed for much more weighty equipment and few people, it was well under its max payload. It seemed the pilot had no problem believing the report. He knew the rumor that the emperor had destroyed one of their own ships and all its crew, expecting they would all be forgotten.
“It’s started,” the pilot said. “The firing is random; I see no specific targets.”
“It’s only wanton destruction. The child is bored and no one is willing to put a stop to his tantrum. I hope someone values the lives of your people more than your Emperor,” Tazleaha said with no kindness. “Are we getting farther from the area receiving his attention?”
“Yes. I know the captain and former admiral. We can hope they were able to mark our camps friendly on the target board when the weapons all went live.”
“You can hope. I will lose no sleep over it either way. It would be a boon if he could do my work for me. I only hope for my planet’s sake our navy engages them and puts an end to this. Mayor, come here, give the pilot some exact coordinates.”
“Your planet?” Pilot asked.
“I’m an officer of the Cjittan Empire. We are sworn to protect, so I think of them all as mine.”
“It would be dangerous to speak that way anywhere near the emperor or his government officials.”
“Not sure our queen would like it either, Second Officer,” Mayor said.
“Maybe, but she is not here right now and neither of you will tell her,” Tazleaha said. Benjamin loved his ruses, but Tazleaha was not used to hers.
She watched the pilot input their destination. It would take them to more of her people and they would begin again, organizing and preparing for the next confrontation. Tazleaha hoped the fates provided them with some citizens who had a background in the military or civil defense. She had been ill-prepared and so had her Empire. Peace had lulled them into a lethargic slumber; they dreamed and slept and never moved forward.
The shuttles landed in a clearing a short time later. The jungle again; the others would be thrilled, Tazleaha thought. They would bathe and clean themselves after they greeted the newcomers.
“Second Officer, this group of refugees already has leaders. If you and your companions try to take over, it may go bad for you,” Mayor advised.
“The people on these shuttles will follow us. We will not be alone. Mayor, you will follow us also and will act as our intermediary and explain to them who we are. We are going to unite as one group if it kills them and you. Do you understand?” Tazleaha asked.
“Then you are no better than Khalnalax killing his own,” Mayor responded.
“You might think that, but I don’t want to kill you. I will, if you stand in the way of my goals, but I don’t want to. Do your part for your queen and her representatives, and you will have no worry.”
The pilot opened the doors and Tazleaha stayed behind watching him, planning to be the last to exit. If the people were smart, they would be hiding after seeing two Khalnalax shuttles land. It was her hope the mayor would not take long in reassuring them they were their allies.
“Dela’maah, get everyone out of the clearing and into the jungle. I will join you momentarily. Pilot, wait with me,” Tazleaha said, running her fingers over the controls. They didn’t respond. She wasn’t surprised.
“Are you going to shoot me now that I have got you here safely?” he asked.
“No. I need you to unlock the console so I can read the messages. Then you may join the others and stay close to the officers,” she said, her eyes on the screen. “One more thing. Never lock this again.”
He nodded his assent and left the ship. The messages may help or not; their ability to act on the information was still lacking. Tazleaha had little time to herself before Zora found her.
“The refugees we seek have arrived,” Zora said. “The mayor is speaking with them now. Dela’maah is monitoring the conversation. Their leader is suspicious, angry, almost hostile, and they are partially armed, so we are equally matched.”
“Do you think we will have any trouble assuming command?”
“No. If we wait and let the tensions fade, then I believe it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“And if I don’t feel like waiting just to soothe their emotional distress?”
“Then it should be no problem if you have no qualms about getting your hands bloody, and I know you don’t.”
“I will give you until I finish reading these messages to handle it however you see fit. You’re a better diplomat right now than I am. When I join you, if it’s not yet resolved it will be.”
“Seems reasonable, depending on how long you spend reading messages.”
“Time is an ally if we are moving and united. We have done well so far. If we stop for a long session of bickering, then we begin to lose any momentum we have achieved.”
“I will join them and see if I can provide some motivation.”
“Zora, do you think about Genius?”
“Every day…every day I wish I had had more time to spend with him. They will come, Tazleaha. That is one thing in all of this that we can count on.”
Tazleaha watched Zora walk out, then faced the screen, getting back to her reading. Most of the communications were just drop off and pick up instructions. There were no real nuggets of information worth the risk of trying to contact the fleet. Only the warning that went out about the battleship firing on Idaline had any value.
Leaning back in the chair, she wondered how much time she should give Zora, Dela’maah and the mayor to get everything in order. She decided it would not be long and stood up. Time to build her forces and plan an attack on the main Khalnalax encampment.
****
&
nbsp; Kimit sat alone in her quarters reviewing ship operation reports. She had done it many times, but this time she was distracted and there was nothing in the reports she didn’t already know. The Privateers would be leaving soon to go to Idaline and her ship would remain to guard the border as an early warning system for Allond and Cjittan. The two hulking monster ships would be departing for Dratma 6; the Privateers were hedging the Khalnalax wouldn’t come that close to the Allond border on their next incursion into Cjittan. She didn’t care about those two ships; she wanted to be in the thick of it at Idaline.
Her request to travel with the Privateers and have her post filled with another ship was rejected. It was Dakkon; he was going to keep her there for the rest of the war as punishment for not following orders during the attack on the Khalnalax ships. While the punishment was lenient, and it was possible they would see some action, it wasn’t the same. There was no doubt her ship and crew would see action at Idaline. For all these reasons, she kept away from Benjamin and the others. She didn’t want to hear their plans any more than she already had. If Dakkon or the others wanted to know what they were planning, they could ask them.
Not quite the attitude an officer of Allond should have, but after they departed she wouldn’t be privy to anything else they planned and, with the human they all loved so much in charge, it was all subject to change anyway. Usually followed by an explosion and death. Not that it was wrong or bad; she felt a little jealous that he would at it again shortly and she would be stargazing.
She had passed on the arrival of the Akelorians and the clone. There was some excitement over the aliens, but not the clone. Dakkon knew it was a reminder, and that Benjamin put too much faith in the fact that it hadn’t tried to kill him in a long time. The consensus was it would eventually, and if he wasn’t prepared it might succeed. It was female but Dakkon and the emperor never would acknowledge it. Their species had never desired to create or manipulate life through science in that way.
Dakkon explained to Kimit why it was alive in the first place. They couldn’t see why Benjamin hadn’t put it down, and assumed his emotional state clouded his judgement. Kimit would try to contact Dakkon again soon, ask him again. What was the worst he would do? Send her home a disgrace. She couldn’t let that happen to her crew. Their predicament was all her fault. Maybe Dakkon would change his mind. Maybe.
****
I stood outside the cage, staring at the beast within; it stared back. Time passed. I felt the silence, then smelled the reason. Imelda stood behind me. After Dog had a cleaning, I needed to see if I could talk her into one. I could hose Dog down inside its cage with little difficulty, but her? I had no idea how she would react.
I would not advise it unless I am asked, no, begged on bended knee.
I don’t remember inviting you in my head.
I don’t remember needing an invitation. Are you truly going to replace me?
No. What gave you that idea?
I overheard some of the others on this ship talking about it.
Well, I can safely say only you and Deireadh and I know my thoughts. Do not believe any rumors.
But it will accompany you.
It will accompany us. I am thinking of adding another and forming a team with me in the lead.
Why would you do this?
Because, my dear queen, I hope to preserve the lives of my human friends. Keep them safe. We are specks of space dust surrounded by empires of aliens. There are no guarantees, and they know it. This life will continue to be dangerous no matter what I do. But I will do something.
Your friends know nothing of this, do they?
No. It will not happen immediately I will assign them over time to safer duties. Ronnie, Snake and Shawna will be first.
They will resist. They are not here for Cjittan or Allond or even themselves. They are here for you. As am I.
Speaking of, while you’re here, are you reading it? It just lies there watching me.
I sense emotions from it. I feel it is content; having been fed, it is now mostly curious. Your presence angers it.
I need it to follow my orders. Do what I command.
If you asked, not commanded?
Actions, Imelda, are my only source of info with it. You and I could barely communicate, but we could. You didn’t eat me. Thank you. We formed an understanding, then a bond. It attacks every time with intent to kill. Its actions don’t convey peaceful discourse and understanding.
What does the king’s armor say?
It only speaks if spoken to. It follows orders. It was built to serve the king, not kill the king. You see where I’m going. All three of you are vastly different. Deireadh is more than it has let on. But it is working with me; I will discover its secrets in time. You are no pet or tool, but comrade and friend. Dog is dangerous to the others, to our friends and people.
I had been watching its ears flick. They moved independently of each other, following all the sounds. One or the other had been on us the whole time. I was trying to reconcile what Genius had said with Imelda’s comments.
Keep an eye or eight on it for me. Watch for any change in emotion. Things that would give us a clue to what it’s thinking.
I walked away.
Benjamin, it is female.
Just my luck.
Where are you going?
Over to the Warhammer. I want to check up on their training.
****
Natalia returned with the child and had her sit out the rest of training. She would have her participate in tomorrow’s workout. It wasn’t like she would be slotted for duty. Sashet had paired the others up and paired herself with the tallest, who would have partnered the one sitting out. With all of them busy, Natalia watched the adults. Harry and Nedra were forces to be reckoned with. They flung marines and Privateers alike in all directions. Her eyes wandered over the combatants and found Doon staring at her. He wasn’t the only one; the young Cjittan that Snake had dubbed Warlock was watching her, too. Neither knew the other was giving her the eye.
Unsure how she felt about it, she began devising a plan. If they kept on staring she would teach them a lesson. Maybe pair them up with Jewels and Broken. They were her faithful puppies after the beating she gave them when she first arrived on Sashet’s ship. They were in the next class. Doon and Warlock could stay for that class, too; they had no duties to get to. Footsteps distracted her as a black silhouette sat down.
“Daughter.”
“Father.”
“You’re not instructing.”
“I gave three people individual instruction earlier today. It disturbed some of their classmates, so I am just observing right now.”
“I imagine I will hear about it later.”
“Your two favorite privateer captains and a privateer who was abusing my little friend here. I sat her out after we ate lunch, but she will begin again tomorrow.”
“What was he doing to her?” he asked in a menacing tone.
“Taking her ration of food. Said she was his property with her parents dead.”
“Anything else?”
“Not that she is telling. I broke his jaw and teeth. Told them to wire his jaw shut. He won’t need his ration for a while so I’m going to donate it to her and the other children.”
“If you find out he has done anything…else—to her or any of the others—I want to know immediately. There is no room in our organization for it.”
“I know, Father,” Natalia answered. “The marines also offered to help if it came to a situation.”
“That was good of them, but we will handle this our way. Besides, Aisling wouldn’t let them do what they would want to do.”
“How are the two of you doing?”
“How do you imagine we are doing?”
“That good?”
“Yes. She isn’t entirely wrong. Don’t tell her I said that. It’s just not the time and place for those ideals. Besides, you know it’s always been rocky between us. You kicking her ass didn’t help mat
ters either.”
“Are you going to participate?”
“I don’t think so. That’s why I have you and the marines doing the training. I have other ongoing projects, which reminds me. Can you go to engineering and check on some armor Genius has them making?”
“Sure. Who is it for?”
“Harry and Dog for sure. Maybe others.”
“Are you going to give it a proper name?”
“Aisling is. I gave her the job. We’ll see what happens.”
“I’ll be back,” Natalia said and headed for the main corridor.
****
I scooted over next to the whisper of a girl. She was visibly shaken by my proximity. I lowered my helmet and watched her eyes as she followed its movements. I watched the crewmen practice for a minute before turning to her.
“Do you like my daughter, Natalia?” She nodded. “You can speak to me any time. You have nothing to fear, ok?”
“Yes,” she squeaked.
“I used to have long hair like yours but had to cut off. It will grow back though,” I said, my tone soft.
“Your eyes are really blue. You shouldn’t wear that helmet so much.”
“I’ll take that into consideration. Do you mind if I ask you something important?”
“Ok.”
“Is that man who took your food or any other person living with the families hurting or stealing from anyone? I don’t like people like that, so if you tell me I will make it stop.”
“No, I don’t think so. Most of them are already scared of you and the others. I don’t think they would. You gave everyone plenty of food and water and we have our own places to sleep. He couldn’t change even though some of the others told him to.”
“If he causes problems, you get word to me. I will have him dealt with.” Her eyes widened at the realization. I reached over and tussled her hair. “You’ll be flying starships and fighting the bad guys someday out there in the black. But remember, sometimes the bad guys live right next to you. Those, you have to watch out for. Don’t forget, ok? See you later.”
I looked around to see Sashet, along with twenty-five others from both groups, watching me. I needed to talk to Snake so I got up and walked out into the adult practice session.
The Chronicles of Benjamin Jaminson: Empires At War (Book 5 Part Two) Page 18