The Kryl Queen

by Chris Burton

  Returning to the Accura meant Hoskins saw Obeya again. She was still confined to a private room within the medical facility, but looked to be well on the mend. They already decided when she left the medical center at the end of the week, she would move into his state rooms officially. It was time for their relationship to be brought into the public domain. Yes, he was still married, but his relationship with Sarah was well and truly over. He still had his son which meant he needed to make arrangements for Oliver to spend time with him during leave periods. Right now, Earth, Sarah and even Oliver seemed a long way away. Geographically they were getting closer, but a huge battle stood in the way of freedom and a return home.

  * * * *

  “We have just entered the Nebula, sir.”

  “Thanks, Tim. Maintain our status and keep a close eye on those scans. The Kryl are close now. I can feel it.”

  Hoskins headed straight to the command bridge after the Eagle landed on the Accura. Commander Tim Montgomery was the Accura CO. He was good and reliable and in recent months had become one his closest allies. Together with Jean-Luc Jacques, they became his unofficial confidantes. He needed them too, because of late there were several differences of opinion between the two senior commanders. Admiral Martin was a close friend himself, but his position as overall commander of the fleet, placed him at odds with Hoskins on several key strategic issues.

  “I will take an hour. I’ll be with Obeya. I think the Kryl are in here with us, so be wary.”

  Montgomery acknowledged him. Hoskins left the command deck and headed to the medical center.

  On such a large ship, even short walks across the ship were time consuming, but Hoskins was grateful for the opportunity to take stock of their situation. Even the fleets advanced scanners will have difficulty detecting anything of substance in this soup. I still think they are in here. He tried to think what his enemy would do…but concluded only that the fastest route was through the nebula. As he approached the medical center he turned his attention back to Obeya. She was very lucky. All had not gone to plan, during the wake up process, with all else failing the medic resorted to manual CPR, before Obeya eventually recovered. Then during the operation itself her heart had stopped twice, with the second time two out of three surgeons having monitored zero brain activity suggested they should stop. Fortunately for Obeya the lead surgeon insisted they should continue and three hours later, she was returned through recovery with the operation a success. Even then, she remained in a medically induced coma for three weeks before, she was finally brought round. Now though she was awake and eating normally and this was how he found her when he entered the small private room towards the rear of the medical center.

  “How are you sweetheart?”

  “Ravenous and ready to get out of this Goddamn bed. Can’t your speak to the medical chief and get them to move my release forward. I am ready, Jonathan.”

  “I spoke to him yesterday and he said no. You have to stay put for a few more days. The surgery demands that of you. Brain trauma wounds need to heal completely during bed rest. If you leave this facility, you will not stay in bed.”

  “I will miss all the action.”

  “You will miss it all anyway, Obeya. You are signed off for the next two months. In any case, you don’t actually have a berth. They have a replacement CAG aboard the Halo 7.”

  “According to Jake Carter, Mister Rogers is not very popular and not very good. I am sure Jean-Luc would like me back.”

  “I thought we agreed you were moving into my state rooms.”

  “I don’t want to be a kept woman Jonathan!”

  “I know and I am sorry. Look, let’s just get you fit and healthy and then we can sort that out later. I am afraid this may be a brief visit.”

  “They are not going to attack us in the nebula, are they?”

  “Very possibly…I know it’s not a tantalizing prospect, but we have to get through this and protect our radiation shells. We are so close now…”

  He was just about to continue, when his comm.link alarm sounded.

  “Hoskins.”

  “Sir, a message from the Viceroy. Their scans picked up a large body of Kryl vessels…inside the nebula.”

  * * * *

  Hoskins left Obeya straight away and headed back to the Command Deck. An order has just been made by Admiral Martin. They were turning about, so that the battle would take place outside the nebula. As he entered the bridge area, he shouted out his orders.

  “Reverse the last order. Turn us about. Take us through the nebula.”

  As Strategic Fleet Commander, Jonathan Hoskins could override the orders of anyone, including Admiral Martin on tactical and strategic issues in the battlefield. This approach was agreed by both Hoskins and Martin at the outset because Hoskins’s superior battle experience was why he was here. Martin had agreed to defer to the sub-ordinate Admirals greater technical expertise. This was one of those occasions.

  Hoskins opened a direct comm.link to Admiral Martin. “Jonathan, why did you reverse my order?”

  “Because, the nullifying effects of the nebula are worse for them, than they are us. Yes, we lose most of our high powered weaponry, but they lose virtually all of theirs. They will not want to face us in here.”

  “Are you bargaining on them trying to avoid us until we are outside this cloud?”

  “In a nutshell, yes.”

  “Okay, Jonathan. You are the man on the ground. Let’s see how it pans out.”

  * * * *

  Thirty-six hours later, five Rapiers headed out of the nebula. Their pilots hoped and prayed they would not exit the cloud to be confronted with a huge Kryl Armada. As they cleared the space anomaly, they were relieved to see no one there to greet them, with short and long range scans both clear.

  So, the Kryl were behind them. Had they continued on, believing that Alpha were still the other side? Perhaps the Kryl fleet was behind them, undetectable, but getting closer and ready to strike.

  * * * *

  Safrec knew the answer to that question. They began tracking Alpha shortly after their temporary subterfuge tried to unhinge them. He was in no hurry—an attack within the gas cloud would be to Alpha’s advantage. He sought clear space to commence his attack. Within minutes, the Kryl fleet would be clear and then, battle would commence.

  * * * *

  As Alpha’s contingency fleet exited the nebula, it was confirmed that the Kryl were behind them and the plan had worked. The Admiral wasted no time in bringing the fleet back to a cohesive shape and ordering an increase to maximum cruising velocity. They were underway again and just a few weeks from Earth. The battle would happen soon, but every second that passed made the likelihood of a successful deployment that much nearer.

  Chapter Fifty-Nine

  Diplomatic Efforts

  President Thomas Roslyn knew the agreement was dead and their only hope now was Alpha’s contingency fleet, which he prayed would soon be with them. In the mean time as the leader of Earth’s Central Government, he must maintain diplomatic efforts in the hope that if Alpha was defeated, something could still come from this. He had spoken to Carla Stevenson at length this morning and she had left for her first meeting with the Queen in three weeks.

  The battle on Earth had rumbled on for nearly four weeks, before the official SED effort began to peter out. The Kryl now had control of all major cities, with even London eventually falling once the significant resistance metered out by the combat droids had finally dissipated. There was still unorganized resistance in pockets throughout the world, but the Kryl were gradually reducing those involved with brutal determination and ruthless battle tactics. The Kryl had collected nearly three hundred million people; almost double the number required before the agreement collapsed. There was no distinguishing of age…even small children were collected. The fate for all would be
the same.

  Roslyn knew his every move was being closely monitored. There were even Kryl clones within the Presidential grounds. One foot wrong and he and his staff would all be dead. Yet it still served the Kryl well for the puppet government to remain in place. They were seeking a new agreement now. But they would want greater control and there was nothing democratic about the so called government he was running. He sat in quite contemplation waiting for events to unfold.

  * * * *

  Carla Stevenson had just boarded the Queen’s ship and was being lead towards the Queen’s Sanctuary. This was a journey she had become quite familiar with, albeit one she frequently dreaded. She reached the entrance to the Sanctuary and the drones stood to one side as she entered.

  Trieste was waiting for her on her throne, when she reached the center of the room.

  “Carla…you have not come for so long. Why?”

  “I think you know the answer to that.”

  “Explain…tell me why?”

  “Is this strictly necessary?”

  “We are friends, Carla…and then, suddenly, I don’t see you for a long time.”

  Carla was trying to avoid discussing this, but it was inevitable

  “President Roslyn asked me to stop coming to see you. He told me there was a time for diplomacy and at the time it was not right.”

  “But it is now?”

  “Yes.”

  “That wasn’t so hard was it, Carla? Unfortunately, I do not agree. Now is not the time for diplomacy. There can be no new agreement. Now you’re incoming fleet threatens our existence.”

  Carla was taken aback by Trieste’s harsh response. She rarely encountered coldness from the Queen. Suddenly she felt scared. The Queen was quick to pick up on this.

  “I do not blame you. You are still my friend and if you were compelled not to attend me, then you had no choice. Still, it’s clear that any agreement now would be stained by your people’s ultimate intentions—which are to harm us.”

  “And yours is not to harm us?”

  “Of course not…I have always told you, I considered the relationship between humans and the Kryl to be symbiotic. Yes, we need you, but we will protect you and encourage your growth.”

  “There has been precious little evidence of protection and growth Trieste. You have slaughtered millions and collected almost a third of a billion people in the last month.”

  “Because the agreement has failed…and because your intentions are confrontational. As we speak, our two peoples are about to do battle once again.”

  Again Carla was taken aback but elected not to respond. She reverted to her original stance.

  “Trieste. You now have a large supply of humans for your relief and you have established control over the majority of skirmishes which have occurred here on Earth…and other colonies,” she added as if to mitigate.

  “Your intent is to carry out a mass execution of the Kryl by subjecting us to radiation—which you know will kill us.”

  Carla was again surprised how much the Queen knew. She elected to change tack.

  “Why don’t you leave? If you feel threatened, and there is a chance you could lose millions of your kind, why don’t you just move on?”

  The Queen laughed. “Then everyone would be happy. No! My people are threatened by yours. This is an act of aggression and the Kryl will never allow such acts to go unchallenged. We will defeat your insignificant fleet and crush them and Alpha into oblivion. Then, when we have complete control once again, we will start a new agreement.”

  During this outburst, the Queen moved from laughter to blind rage within a few moments. Carla had never seen her like this before. She realized she had to calm the situation.

  “So, what do we have to do to bring a new agreement into place without further bloodshed?”

  The Queen looked up having spent the last few moments with her face to the floor. “You must ask President Roslyn to persuade your fleet to back down…to surrender and safely destroy the weapons which might harm us.”

  “But then, we would be back where we started.”

  “Yes, but with a new accord. One balanced towards both sides.”

  “With fewer humans collected for your relief.”

  “No. We collect what we need to collect Carla…let us move on. You will be aware that Jake Carter is within Alpha’s fleet. He is on his way back to you…and of course his rendezvous with me, as I had foretold.”

  Carla felt a rush of emotion. She knew Jake was probably somewhere within the fleet; but to have the Queen confirm it. Yet a few moments before, she had talked about annihilating the entire fleet. Suddenly he felt so much nearer.

  “How can you guarantee he will survive the battle?”

  “My vision is lucid Carla. I will see him here and it will be soon. Aspects are becoming clearer which happens when something is drawing near. There is further clarity…you will be here with me when Jake comes.”

  Carla gasped, suddenly struggling to hold her emotions. “Can you tell what will happen to him?”

  “No…although it will become clearer still as the moment draws near. There will be others in attendance, but I cannot be certain who they are.”

  Carla suddenly realized why the Queen considered Carla so important. She was part of her visions too. She could sense the Queen had penetrated her mind. She pulled herself back and concentrated forcing the Queen to retreat.

  “You have grown stronger. The disease…are you beating it?”

  “No…I have received relief…human relief. A gift from my chosen one. A commander from one of Alpha’s ships.”

  “Who is it?” Carla was surprised to here the Queen had resorted to taking human lives herself. The Queen responded clearly still able to read her mind.

  “Oh, he is not dead. I have been absorbing him slowly. His name is Commander Wesley Smith. He commanded the Pantheon, before Sorgan destroyed it. I have to survive, Carla. I hope you don’t feel ill of me.”

  It was Carla’s turn to laugh now,—albeit rather nervously.”The fact you are taking a human life is supposed to be acceptable to me? I thought you would not lower yourself to such things.”

  “I have no choice with Sorgan and Safrec both away from me. I think we should close now, Carla. You have what you came for. A deal to be struck with your President to initiate a new agreement. Alpha’s fleet must stand down and destroy its weapons. We will speak again soon?”

  It had been a revealing conversation, but she doubted whether the Queen’s offer would carry much weight when she advised the President.

  “I will speak to him and return forthwith. If there is anything to be gained from this; we will move quickly.”

  The Queen turned away and walked towards the far side of the Sanctuary and Carla knew their meeting had drawn to a close. She walked slowly and purposefully towards the Sanctuary exit. Jake was alive and they would soon be together. The fact this would be in the company of the Queen filled her with dread, but at least Jake and her would be together again.

  Chapter Sixty

  Inside the Nebula

  Just inside the nebula and one hundred thousand kilometers distant, the Radiation Fleet silently headed for their own exit from the gas cloud. Admiral Jonathan Hoskins had led his seventy-five strong task force away from the main fleet, just two hours after they had turned back to travel through the cloud. They had no way of knowing whether this deception would work; but if it did, they could clear the nebula and head for Earth undetected; leaving Admiral Martin and the main body of the contingency fleet to do battle with the Kryl.

  The forty-eight cruisers armed with radiation shells were surrounded by a body of battle cruisers headed by the Halo 7, which was back to full SD capability. The Accura sat just behind the Halo 7. Hoskins was on the command bridge.

  “S
canners?”

  “Still clear, Admiral. We are picking up activity one hundred and ten thousand kilometers to starboard. It would appear Admiral Martin just engaged the Kryl.”

  Hoskins thanked the Accura CO. The plan had worked. The main Alpha fleet would be substantially reduced in size, but bunched tightly together to make it look as if was composed of a greater number of vessels. This was Admiral Martin’s idea. He had made it clear if necessary, they would hold the Kryl fleet in battle for several days. If the diversion worked, the radiation fleet could be clear of any major threat until they reached the solar system.

  He knew his fellow Admiral was prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the radiation shells reached their target. He could not help but think this would be Martin’s last stand.

  * * * *

  The lead ships of the Kryl armada had cleared the gas cloud and Safrec had instructed his crew to carry out a full scan. They had detected Alpha’s fleet almost immediately, just three hundred thousand kilometers ahead. A gap which could be closed virtually instantly, but Safrec chose to close in on his enemy more slowly.

  He wanted to let them know he was coming. They would have no choice to face him and could do nothing when they eventually did battle. There was no chance he would fail and there was no chance that the radiation would reach its intended destination.

  * * * *

  Jake Carter just finished a very long shift and was given leave to take a few hours rest, before he was once again required on the bridge. While the Halo was no longer the Flag Ship, she did still lead the defending battle cruisers and sat proudly at the front of the fleet which had assumed its standard “V” formation. He headed for the top deck fore viewing platform, which at high velocity, gave the viewing personnel the perfect view of the post light speed tunneling effect—an optical illusion which suggested that the stars and their systems were passing by so quickly, all you saw of them was one constant band of light, cascading around the ship. The reality was different, at speeds in excess of SD6, star systems did go by quickly, but not flashing by.