by Dean Sault
Simon disconnected from his command center and approached the hologram. He feared he was about to hear some very bad news.
Dr. Boroski waved off the space images and faded out background sounds to eliminate distractions. Then, he revealed the seriousness of their situation.
“When we entered this mountain three hundred years ago, it took enormous amounts of energy to penetrate through solid rock. You would be amazed how much power is required to create a magma tube extending this deep into a mountain. Today, we have just enough energy stored to escape from this mountain. That’s it.”
The hologram directed Simon’s attention to a set of instruments near the command chair. Three bars lit up on a graph. The vertical columns had a tall green section above a short yellow strip and a thin red section at the bottom. They were labeled “Total Fuel”, “Internal Operation Reserves” and “Escape Fuel”.
The first two gauges had a black line crossing well up into the green part of the bar. The yellow section of the last indicator flashed and displayed a black line almost touching the red.
“These are our present energy reserves. The first two gauges show that we have plenty of energy for continued operations for many years to come. The third shows a different story. When the yellow stops flashing in the Escape Fuel indicator, we will no longer have sufficient energy to produce a magma column all the way to the surface. That crossover point is in three days.”
Dr. Boroski raised both arms, gesturing to everything around him.
“If we do not leave this mountain within the next three days,” he said, “then, this ship will never leave this cave. If the Heptari Empire wins this war, the human race is doomed.”
Simon took a deep breath and asked his next question tentatively.
“We still have three days, don’t we?”
“No. I’m afraid not. We need to leave while we still have surplus to compensate for unexpected energy drains. If we are to find a new planet for our people, our last safe opportunity to leave is now.”
Simon set his jaw. A steely resolve came over him. Now that he understood the seriousness of the situation, he thanked Dr. Boroski for the explanation and returned to his command chair to begin integrating with ship technology. He tested every system from life support to engine sequencing. Monitors and gauges jumped to life with images or graphs as he ran through his checklist with single-minded concentration.
Kelly stepped out of the tunnel of The Wall. Last time she saw the big cave, it was bustling with people and hicays. Now, it was eerily quiet. Vast dark areas extended where once many lights shone from dozens of homes. Even the ever present kips seemed to have vacated. The entrance to the big cave remained the only source of residual light.
As she walked up the incline toward the opening, she experienced an overwhelming sense of danger accompanied by severe vertigo. Dropping her to her knees, a vision filled her mind. It was Shilgar sleeping on a large flat rock in the dim light of early morning’s first sun.
Vertigo passed quickly, and Kelly got back to her feet. In a few more strides, she stepped into the full warmth of a summer morning on Tanarac.
Resting on a rock at the entrance to the cave lay Shilgar, exactly as she envisioned him during her dizzy spell. A slight motion to her right caught her attention. Kerl-Ga stepped out from concealment where she guarded her friend.
At first, Kelly ignored the hicay, but then she looked back in astonishment. Once again, she realized she had seen through the animal’s eyes and sensed the beast’s alarm at her approach.
“Shilgar, wake up!” she called out.”
The old guide woke instantly and jumped to his feet.
“Didn’t you get Simon’s signal?”
“No. My Skyguard monitor stopped working during the night. What about the DNA from Dr. Hadje?”
“Something’s happened. They aren’t coming. Simon said he’d explain when we get back.”
“You need water.” Shilgar saw the perspiration on her forehead and handed her his water bag. “Scouts can’t keep up a high pace without water.”
The scout-teacher made sure she drank in small sips as they walked back into the cave. He slowed their pace, explaining how she needed to regulate her breathing better. When they stepped into the ship’s entrance, he turned to face the darkness in the tunnel behind them. Kelly asked what he was doing.
“I must say goodbye to my old friend. She has been following us.”
He made a series of quiet grunts from deep in his throat. A dark shadow across the cave moved silently. Kerl-Ga entered the last light of a dying torch and slowly crossed the cave floor, holding her head unusually low. He met her at the center of the empty cavern and put his arms completely around her thick golden neck. Neither man nor beast moved from this embrace for some time. All the while, deep guttural sounds exchanged between them.
The old scout was first to break the union. Stepping back, he dropped to his knees and made slow hand gestures directly in front of her face. Kerl-Ga watched but did not react.
He returned to the entrance of the spaceship and turned to face the big hicay, one last time. To his consternation, she approached the ship. He repeated a series of hand gestures.
“What’s wrong with you, old girl? I told you to go.”
He sounded half-annoyed, half-honored that she did not want to leave him.
Kelly stood inside the ship talking with Simon.
“Be patient! They’re old friends.”
Shilgar turned to Kelly. “She wants to know if we can take her with us.”
Kelly looked past him at the big animal.
“That’s impossible. There’s no way to feed her. We’re going into space. What about her family? How do you know that, anyway?”
“I’ve known Kerl-Ga my entire life. I told her to go to her family. She said I am her family. I told her we do not know what the future will bring. She wants to go anyway. Ask Simon if she can accompany us.”
Kelly hesitated.
“Do it. Now,” he demanded.
Startled by his authority, she passed on his request to Simon and was surprised by the reply.
“Okay. He said she can come with us, but only if she agrees to go into stasis after we get into deep space. Can she understand that?”
“Just a moment.”
Shilgar turned to the hicay and began an amazingly fast series of hand gestures, sometimes adding a grunt or deep-throated rumble to the mix. She surged forward, her massive body shoving both humans aside as she forcefully entered the ship.
Kelly spoke into the communicator. “I guess she agreed. We’re all inside now.”
Chapter 39
“General Tragge, Hep light ships are entering the last asteroid field.”
“Get me the Admiral.”
“What’s up, Byn?”
“Heps are on the move. They’re only committing light ships this time.”
“Good. I was hoping Rotaga would make that adjustment.”
“How are shield upgrades coming?”
“Almost done. Those mods are impressive. Whose idea was it? I’ll buy him a big zhungo steak after this is over.”
“Your friend, Admiral Lu, at Wallow Minor provided the original idea. Ludic, my technical genius, refined it, and our logistics guys made it happen. It’s going to cost you a lot to feed all these guys.”
General Tragge and the admiral found a moment for laughter as the fleet commander joked about being happy to spend his entire pension to feed them all, if these things worked as hoped. Then, he turned his attention to the final defense of Tanarac.
“Do you want us to make a stand at the asteroid belt?”
“Negative. Let’s not test those enhanced shields unless there is no other choice. Position your ships around Tanarac, staying inside our planetary shields. This will improve survivability until the 10th and 11th arrive.”
“Okay, but I’m gonna leave my mediums at the belt to take out their light stuff when they pop out. I’ll pull them back as
soon as the heavies show. Let’s hope my surprise in the asteroid field thins out a few more heavies.”
General Tragge wondered when his missing battle groups would arrive.
#
“Prime Skah, Rotaga. You asked me a question. What would I do if I was in the Tanarac commander’s position? I have thought about it, and I have a different answer.”
“Speak.”
“I would mine the asteroid belt.”
“You would do this in defiance of Galactic Law?” Rotaga’s eyes opened wide as he challenged his apprentice’s conclusion.
“Yes, sir. They are desperate. They believe we would not expect such behavior from Tanaracs. Their ethics prevent them from defying rules, so if I was in their position, I would deviate from my normal behavior and attempt to surprise my enemy.”
“Very good. That is why I sent my expendable ships in first. If our small ships encounter mines, their loss will accomplish two things. First, it will confirm what our enemy is thinking. Second, the destruction of our light ships will neutralize mines for our deep-space warships.”
The younger officer was pleased to have arrived at the same conclusion as his leader.
“What is the status of our repairs?” Rotaga turned to another subordinate.
“Sir, we have complete communications with our fleet using old-style subspace digital links. Higher communication functions will require more time to repair.”
“Do we have a way to communicate with our ships inside the asteroid belt?”
“We are working on that, sir. Scout ships are setting up a relay system, using stationary picket drones in strategic places along the rock field. They report no encounters with mines.”
“Good. Order the rest of our fleet to advance. Have my personal Ground Assault Teams begin loading in the launch bay.”
“Ground assault, sir?”
“Do not question my orders.”
Rotaga spent his entire life preparing for this one chance to elevate to the Royal house. Most military leaders lived an entire lifetime without such an opportunity. Capture of the Tanarac Empire would cede him rule over an entire galactic Sector. Every royal family in history came into wealth through conquest. This was his time.
#
General Tragge continued watching monitor six along with most of the occupants in the War Room. One of his men stated the obvious.
“Heavies are moving, sir.”
One big Heptari capital ship after another faded into the silent chaos of the final asteroid belt. Rotaga’s giant command ship entered last.
Staff in the War Room watched nervously in anticipation of the admiral’s plan. For a while, the asteroid belt looked normal. Without warning, the entire field lit up in a brilliant flash of light diffused by countless space rocks. Another massive explosion followed somewhere deep within. Seconds later, a third flash silhouetted rocks along the edge of the asteroid field. More flashes followed in rapid succession. The usually dark asteroid belt glowed like a young nebula.
As War Room personnel watched the activity, a small Heptari drone came into view. It paused and rotated on its axis until it faced directly into the camera. A single bright orange flash brought the monitor to black.
#
“Prime Skah! Mines destroyed four Rahl-class starships and seven Cosh cruisers. Do you wish to continue?”
Pull back our capital ships.” Rotaga immediately assessed his tactical situation. “We still outnumber Tanarac in heavy ships. Have you determined why these mines failed to show on sensors?”
“Yes, sir. Tanarac positioned small ships within each minefield. Their mines are inert until spotters visually identify one of our heavies. They’ve been allowing small ships to pass safely. Once they activate the mines, it’s too late for our star-class ships to counter. Enemy scout ships were destroyed as they tried to escape.”
“Run a scan ahead of the fleet and—”
“But sir, inert mines do not show on scans.”
Interrupting a Prime Skah could be a lethal mistake. The young officer quickly apologized, took a step back, and bowed his head. Rotaga continued.
“As I was saying, scan for Tanarac life signs. They can turn off their ships, and they can turn off their mines, but they cannot turn off bio signs. Find those Tanarac scouts. Destroy them. Our heavy ships will continue after the path is cleared.”
Rotaga looked out his command window. “Very good move, Admiral. You are a worthy adversary. I will treasure your head on my trophy wall.”
Chapter 40
“Dr. Hadje, our humans are getting upset.” The Head Tasker looked to his boss for direction. “Should we sedate them?”
The doctor thought for a moment.
“Benjamin, perhaps it’s time for us to introduce our human wards to their future. What do you think?”
“I’m willing. Adam, you are friends with many of the people in this compound. Perhaps you can help us gain their trust.”
“Sure, I’m not going anywhere.”
Dr. Hadje led a small procession into the human quarters. The Tanarac door-guard jumped to attention. He did not seem surprised to see his boss, but was perplexed by the two humans in strange clothes who followed.
“Call human workers into the cafeteria,” the doctor ordered.
Soon, several hundred people sat quietly in the big hall while Taskers took their usual overseer positions at strategic points in the room. Dr. Hadje and the Head Tasker entered and the doctor stopped at the Head Tasker’s podium to address the gathering.
“Hello. My name is Dr. Hadje. I am in charge of all human affairs on Tanarac. Thank you for coming to this meeting.” His comment caused confusion. No Tasker had ever thanked them for anything, much less for simply following orders.
He looked around the room. These humans lacked the vitality he had seen in the free human colony. They merely waited in subservience.
“You are probably wondering why your routine has been changed during the past week.”
The doctor considered how much information he should release. How much knowledge was enough, and how much might be unsettling? He decided to focus on their upcoming freedom rather than current military hostilities. A slightly modified truth could be forgiven, under the present circumstances.
“Several days ago, Tanarac’s shields malfunctioned and several of our spaceships were damaged. For that reason, we kept you inside your quarters where you would be safe from falling debris. Repairs are being completed, and you will soon be able to leave your quarters.”
The humans relaxed noticeably, now that they had a plausible reason for the restriction they experienced during the past few days.
“Something else has happened too, something quite exciting,” he continued.
People in the hall had never heard emotion from a Tanarac before. The doctor’s enthusiasm came clearly through his dactah.
“I brought you an old friend,” he said, “and a new one.”
Dr. Hadje motioned to the door. Adam stepped into view. Everyone knew him, and they had heard the rumor that he was killed in a hicay attack. A mix of surprise and relief rose from the crowd. Several of his closest friends ignored rules and ran up to embrace him.
The doctor smiled at the display of affection and beckoned Adam to join him up front.
“As most of you heard, your friend was hurt badly by a hicay. Fortunately, our medical team was able to save him. We are happy to return him to you. Adam, would you like to speak to your friends?”
“Hi, everybody. Sure is good to be back. I missed you guys. What’cha think of my new clothes?” Adam followed his script perfectly. “Wait’ll you guys hear where I got this stuff. You aren’t gonna believe it. Hey, I got a new friend I want you to meet. Benjamin, c’mon out here.”
The free human leader stepped into view and joined Adam. A murmur rose from the crowd. This extremely tall stranger wore odd clothes too. His face was covered in hair.
“I want you to meet some of my friends,” Adam said and loo
ked around the room for certain people. He pointed to one older man. “John . . . John, c’mere.”
The man at the back of the room looked to his nearby Tasker for consent. The supervisor took his cue, in turn, from Dr. Hadje who nodded approval.
John worked his way around tables to the podium where he was introduced to Benjamin.
Adam repeated this process until half a dozen audience members stood with him and the free human leader. After completing his last introduction, he turned back to the crowd.
“Everyone knows these guys. As senior operators in the quarry, they’re so old they get ten deck credits just for waking up in the morning.” Adam laughed at his own joke.
“We’re gonna have a meeting, and when we’re done, these guys will brief everyone about what’s going on.” He knew he was forgetting something and hesitated for a moment before. “Oh yeah, I wanna thank Dr. Hadje and his Taskers for saving my life. You can all go back to your quarters now.”
Nobody moved. Humans do not give orders.
Dr. Hadje took the microphone from Adam.
“It’s okay, he’s right. You can go back to your quarters now. Your senior members will be in touch with you shortly.”
Taskers opened several exit doors and people began filing out in traditional order. When the last of the workers were gone, Benjamin took charge.
“Please join me at this table,” he instructed older humans.
They hesitated, looking at nearby Taskers for permission.
Dr. Hadje recognized an opportunity to begin the change from captivity to freedom. He turned off his translator and squeaked a few commands in the high-pitched Tanarac tongue. All Taskers left the room, leaving Dr. Hadje as the only Tanarac remaining. Benjamin appreciated the doctor’s initiative.
The doctor turned his translator back on and spoke to the group. “Your Taskers are gone. Please join Benjamin and Adam at the table.”
The free human leader sat down and waited as the others slowly followed. He began the meeting with the least threatening discussion possible.
“Tell me about yourselves. What do you do in the quarry? How long have you been here? Have you chosen a life mate?”