The images continued for hours as more entire worlds were razed and destroyed. It was like a dream-a recurring nightmare-as the populations of the Hrono and Kraaqi watched mesmerized, their normal transmissions interrupted.
At first the Hrono leaders and their Kraaqi counterparts tried to jam the unwelcome transmissions. But the populations replied to these attempts, they called in and demanded that this viewing be allowed. Even where some channels were blocked by the government, individuals and groups found ways around the jamming and received the images anyway-so they would know the truth.
The frightened masses watched as Armageddon played out-time after time, planet after planet, image after image.
They watched in horrified fascination as the human race was crushed. The T’kaan left no survivors and they took no prisoners.
The riots began on world after world-Hrono and Kraaqi worlds. The masses had seen and now wanted action. They wanted protection. They wanted answers.
In the end, as the last world was shown dying in flames, Jysar sat numb and stupefied, staring at the viewscreen before him. “Incredible. How can a race be so...so malicious? So heartless?”
Jysar turned to Guardian.
“They eat their dead enemies?” Jysar asked in disbelief.
“Yes, a particularly gruesome habit,” Mother said.
“And this race, humans, they were the ones who created you?”
“Yes. They were a noble race.”
“They are no more?” Jysar asked, sadness in his voice.
“There are three yet left alive. They are with the Kraaqi, trying to negotiate with their leaders. I hope their endeavors are more fruitful than mine.”
“Three?” Jysar asked. “Then the race will surely die.”
“I was hoping your Technologists might have developed advanced methods in the discipline of genetic engineering. That you could take a very limited pool of DNA material and recreate a race...” Mother’s visuals focused upon the Jysar’s face.
“Three sets of DNA would not be enough. I’m not trained in that field, but I have a good friend whose specialty it is. In fact, it’s her entire life.” Jysar paused, a forlorn expression flashing momentarily across his face. He cleared his throat and continued. “Did no other genetic material make it out of the destruction?”
“Two of my creators, Ron and Rita, had formulated a plan near the end of the human genocide. She filled my memory with a vast knowledgebase, one that contained all the collected memories of the human race. This was easy to do, as most of it was easily accessible via the network’s public domain. She also had access to many high security networks as well.” Mother paused. “But genetic material was another matter.”
“She was not able to procure it?”
“No, on two occasions she did obtain it. The number who could escape inside me would of course be limited, so one of Rita’s recruits was a scientist who had access to large quantities of genetic material-to complement the knowledgebase she had stored within me.”
Jysar’s eyes widened as the pause grew longer.
“The first procurement was destroyed in my sister ship, my predecessor. In the battle of the planet, Eden. As were most of Rita’s recruits. And her husband.”
“The second procurement?”
“Rita and the last humans had retreated to Earth. There she had been compelled to help with the last defense. She also knew that if this desperate plan succeeded, a vast part of the T’kaan fleet would be destroyed, thus helping their chances of survival. But Rita and the others never made it off the human home world, they died with the planet. As did most of the T’kaan fleet.”
“And with it the genetic material.” Jysar shook his head. “Only the experts could give you the final verdict. I know we could clone them, but that alone would not create an entire race.”
Jysar walked up to a console and began typing. “It is most strange, even ironic, that I was given the project to study you.”
“Please elaborate,” Mother said.
Jysar looked on nervously as the other Hrono slowly roused themselves from their stunned unconsciousness. He typed quickly.
“I am inputting data directly into your systems from this console-data that has been known for many years in the inner circles of the Hrono scientific community. Knowledge the government has kept hushed, thinking the common people were not yet ready-not for its full implications.” Jysar’s face was now fixed and serious as his fingers revealed the Hrono’s most hidden secret.
Mother analyzed the information as Jysar keyed it directly into her near-term memories. She realized immediately that it indeed would play a key role in bringing the Three Kingdoms together. Even before Jysar finished, Mother had confirmed his data with Mewiis data she had previously uploaded from the scientific knowledgebase Saris had provided from her colony ship. The information was there, plain and corroborated by Mewiis scientists in the genetic field.
It had been conveniently concealed out of the public light as if the leaders of the Three Kingdoms could deny Truth itself.
Mother realized that the members of the Three Kingdoms were blinded by their hatred and their prejudice, even as humans had been at one time in their distant past.
“I am getting a communication from Hronosium.” Mother said to Jysar as he stepped back from the console.
Jysar’s eyes turned to the viewscreen as the Hrono leader appeared.
“Our people have seen your recordings. In fact, it has created an out-of-control situation across many of our cities on every Hrono planet. There is rioting for the first time in memory,” Jasus said solemnly. “I have been forced to call a State of Emergency.”
“I did not want to communicate in this way, but it was necessary. Time is fast running out for you and the Three Kingdoms.” Mother paused for a few hundred milliseconds, to allow her words to sink in. “My long-term memories revealed this possible line of action and its likely consequences upon an unsuspecting population. Consequences that would demand immediate attention by the leadership.”
“Explain,” Jasus said.
“A few centuries ago, when the human race used the radio wavelength as their primary transmission, there was a broadcast entitled War of the Worlds . It was meant only as simple entertainment.” Mother paused for the benefit of the Hrono. “But it was played in such a realistic manner that the listeners imagined their world was actually being invaded, invaded without warning or mercy. The reaction was widespread and instantaneous. I was hoping that my broadcasting the real images of such a series of events to all of your populations would elicit a similar reaction.”
Jasus’ eyes narrowed. “It has frightened my people more than any transmission in history.”
“If you and the Kraaqi leadership had acted, it would not have been necessary.”
“I understand now.” The Hrono leader shook his head. “My nightmares will never be the same after those images. I have convened an emergency session of the Senate, and I have included the Mewiis leaders as well by Video transmission. I would ask that you, the sentient machine, also participate.”
“What about the Kraaqi?” Mother asked.
Jasus looked down, his brow furrowed in thought. With a sudden conviction, he slammed his fist against the desktop. “I will contact the High Chieftains myself!” He leaned forward. “I assume they were given the same recordings? To all their peoples?”
“Yes. In fact, I have just received a short communication from them, even as you were speaking. I believe your headquarters has also just received their own copy.”
On the viewscreen, Jasus began tapping at his control panel. “Indeed we have.” He began reading intently on the small screen before him as Mother spoke again.
“It seems the First Leaders of all the Bands had already been gathered to discuss the T’kaan threat. In the middle of their fiery debates, my transmissions have shocked them into action.” Mother’s voice grew silent. She continued. “They have asked the Mewiis leaders and the Hrono leaders t
o meet with them on a neutral planet.” Mother paused as the Hrono leader read the message for himself.
“Astounding.” He looked up. “Even Rawlon has added his name to the transmission. Perhaps there is hope.”
“If you and the Kraaqi want to survive,” Mother added. “I am now heading for their coordinates. My ETA is twenty-three hours.”
“But how can we fight together?” Jasus asked. “Before this, our military leaders had opted to allow the Mewiis to first fight the T’kaan. We calculated that after they were destroyed the T’kaan would war with the Kraaqi. We had hoped the T’kaan would be so battered by the time they invaded our worlds that our fleets could destroy them once and for all.”
“You would sacrifice entire races?” Mother asked. “So your race alone would live?”
Jasus looked down, his face full of shame. “We could fight as allies of the Mewiis. But the Kraaqi are hated by our people. Their hatred for us is just as deep. How can we fight together? We are so different.”
“The three races must cooperate. I have computed millions of possible scenarios. The only ones in which the T’kaan are defeated are the ones with a combined force attacking them before they realize you have allied your fleets.”
“But how can our warships fight side by side? How can our squadrons, with so little time to train, fight in tandem with the Kraaqi?”
“It is a difficult problem. But you and the Kraaqi leaders will formulate the answer. You have to.”
Jasus nodded agreement. “I will board a ship within the hour and meet you at this world. The Hrono will be there and we will cooperate.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
“Three is One, and One is Three. T’kaan massed invincibly. All the universe fear and see.”
Inside the Great Horned ships, the walls began to glow and hum. Throughout the quadrant, across the vastness of this section of space, the walls of the T’kaan capital ships bled once again. The T’kaan shuddered with ecstasy and licked and bathed as they climbed over each other inside the frigates, cruisers and battleships.
Between the countless ships, the T’kaan experienced their mutually shared treat for a second time in less than two weeks. Their heightened emotions and thoughts turned once again to another Cycle as the Word for War came from the Great Ones.
This would be the greatest victory the T’kaan had ever experienced-the greatest battle of all Cycles ever known.
The Great Ones surmised that maybe even the Iron Huntress herself would lead the Three Kingdoms to them. She, their greatest enemy in all history. But little did the Huntress know, the Great Ones, too, would all be there, to guide all the T’kaan and finish the job left undone.
There would be a decisive victory, in a single great battle. The thing was determined.
Over the ships, a chant began to twine around the mental imprint of the coming battle. It echoed from the hulls and the from dark flowing, curtains. The curtains danced again among all the horned ships.
“Slip and slide, sweet, oh sweet. Lick and lick the purple treat! Make us one and make us strong. Make our victory complete!”
The three Fleet Commanders wrapped their tentacles around each other in a blind embrace, their bodies covered by the purple fluid. Sliding their multiple appendages over each other’s bodies, they rubbed the slimy purple deeper and deeper into their rubbery skin.
Through all of this fantastic embrace, even from inside the Great Horned ships, the three Great Ones reached out to each other for the first time in millennia through the black folds. From deep inside they touched each other, channeling their renewed strength throughout their living force.
In wave after wave they sent their shared ecstasy back to the rest of the T’kaan located inside the warships-back through the bond that entwined them all as one. The millions of T’kaan felt this energy dripping through the purple as they licked and bathed. The flowing black folds moved as if the strong winds of a storm swept through the dark interiors of every warship.
They chanted their one thought.
“Destroy the Kingdoms Three. Hammer them, kill them, make them no more. Great Ones and T’kaan Fleets soon shall be Four!”
The battle plan was finished and the combined T’kaan fleets turned as one. In approximately two months, they would arrive en masse and join with the lead squadrons who had been sent ahead on feeler assaults against the Mewiis worlds. Together, they would attack the combined fleets of the Three Kingdoms, as the Great Ones prophesied. The only question now was the exact location of the coming battle. The rest had been decided.
The T’kaan smelled victory once again.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Kyle looked over the desert plain of this empty world, shielding his eyes from the stinging wind and sand. But he smiled through it all as his eyes fell upon the familiar shape sitting on the desert sand ahead. He didn’t realize how much he had missed Mother until her manta ray silhouette appeared on the horizon.
He couldn’t keep the smile off his face as he continued walking.
Rok had landed the Kraaqi shuttle from the Thunderer as Kyle navigated them to Mother’s position which she had communicated to all parties en route. Now Kyle led Rok, Rawlon, Curja and the other great Kraaqi Captains toward her and the pre-assigned meeting. Kyle glanced back. The seven High Chieftains were also there; they were the only ones still wearing their royal robes, now draped tightly around their bodies and faces in an effort to protect themselves from the stinging wind of this desert planet. Their golden rings of office were wrapped around the base of each horn, and just behind their necks, the robes billowed from the wind as it howled in sudden bursts.
Kyle looked further back and found Jaric and Becky near the rear of their entourage. But they were oblivious to everything except each other. Kyle looked away before that feeling of bitterness returned. He looked back at Mother, and felt a growing pleasure inside his soul that he had not known for many days.
“What do you think of that warship?” Kyle said to Rok as he pointed at Mother’s sleek profile.
Rok looked at the fearsome shape ahead, the subtle curves and angles of her hull and wings. The dark hull that now gleamed with purple highlights in the bright desert sun.
“This warship looks dangerous,” Rok commented.
“She is,” Kyle agreed. “That is the most powerful and dangerous warship in the universe.”
Rok glanced at him and growled approval.
A few moments later and they were under the shadow of Mother’s left wing.
Kyle smiled up at the visual sensor that had popped out and was now gazing at them. Kyle raised a finger to Mother for silence. Inside, he knew Mother was scanning them, especially the Kraaqi.
Walking up to her hull, Kyle rapped on the armored hull with his knuckles. Turning around, he leaned back until his shoulder rested against her comforting bulk while he smiled confidently at the Kraaqi warriors. Leaning there casually against the ship, he spoke with pride to all the Kraaqi. “She’s a cool ship, eh, fellas?”
Rawlon and the others looked around and admired her sleek lines and curves. They tapped on the curved wing directly above their heads, the echoes from the steel resounding strength.
Rawlon smiled at Kyle. “It is a.... cool ship.”
“She’s my mother,” Kyle added.
The Kraaqi warriors froze, staring at him with puzzlement etched on their faces. Laughter broke out among some at the rear. Even Rok and Rawlon stared at their newfound friend as if he had just lost his mind.
Jaric and Becky, hand in hand, came up and stood beside Kyle. They smiled at the ship around them.
“It’s true,” Jaric added. “This warship is our mother.”
A door opened and Guardian stepped down onto the still descending ramp. A strong, female voice emanated from multiple points on the hull where the external speakers were located.
“Welcome.”
Several of the Kraaqi looked around furtively, searching for the source of the bodiless voice.
/> “Welcome, leaders of Kraaqi.” Mother repeated.
Rok’s eyes widened as he looked quickly around the warship, and then back at Kyle. “The warship speaks?”
“The warship is alive,” Becky answered.
“How?” Rawlon asked, still puzzled.
“Artificial Intelligence.” Kyle said matter-of-factly.
Curja stood close beside the First Captain. “Technology that is...alive? Can this be good?”
“You were born of this warship?” Rawlon asked incredulously .
“Well, we were borne by her,” Jaric chuckled at his play on words.
“She is not our biological parent,” Becky added, ignoring Jaric’s stab of humor. “But she raised us from children. She protected us; she taught us. She nurtured us to adulthood.”
“And she loved us,” Kyle added.
Rok gently caressed the armored hull.
The other Kraaqi whispered to each other excitedly as they began walking around Mother’s hull, touching her armored steel with awe mixed with fear.
“My visuals are pleased to focus on you again, Kyle.” The words emanated from Guardian’s speaker. Even though they were Mother’s thoughts and words, she knew she spoke for Guardian as well.
“We’re glad to see you, too.” Kyle patted the giant robot on his metal shoulder.
“Yes, your images were many times called back into our near-term memories. We were perplexed at first. We had not called the images-consciously.” Guardian’s head lowered as Mother’s voice spoke for both of them. “Guardian has communicated to me that he would like to interact with you. He wants to become self-aware.”
Kyle stared up at the frozen face.
“Wow, Guardian. That’d be great,” Jaric said.
“Thank you. Mother is going to upgrade my programming soon.” Again, Mother spoke the words that she knew Guardian wanted to say. But without a direct connection into her systems, Guardian could not form his own thoughts.
“Great news,” Becky said with joy. “We’ll help.”
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