A Greater Duty (Galaxy Ascendant Book 1)

by Yakov Merkin

  Maybe Darkclaw should have kept his translator on during the ceremony after the battle at Darvia. It was still something he could not completely grasp, believing so strongly in an invisible deity, but he was not about to criticize when he himself was no longer sure what he believed at all. Though it was good to know that not all Felinaris reacted as emotionally as some.

  “Here we are,” the lieutenant said a few silent minutes later, and stopped outside a simple door, likely Felivas’s living quarters. “The admiral is waiting for you. Oh, and before you go,” she added as Darkclaw turned toward the door, “would you mind if I took a picture of the two of us? It would mean a lot to me.”

  Darkclaw shrugged. It was a strange request, but there was no reason to refuse. “Very well,” he replied.

  “Great!” the lieutenant said. She stood next to Darkclaw and entered a series of commands to the control unit on her left arm and held it at a specific angle. She smiled, and an audible click told Darkclaw that it was done. The lieutenant then held out her hand. “I’m Lisar, by the way. Lieutenant Lisar Elkevel. And again, it’s been a real honor to meet you in person.”

  Darkclaw hesitated, then shook the lieutenant’s hand. She was entitled to still idealize him. Once that was done, the lieutenant and the two soldiers departed, leaving Darkclaw alone in the hallway.

  He pressed a button on the outside of the door, and was rewarded with the door sliding open.

  “Come in,” he heard Felivas say from within the room.

  Darkclaw entered, the door closing behind him, and soon spotted Felivas, who was sitting at a small, collapsible desk, writing something by hand. Darkclaw remained standing for almost two minutes before Felivas finished what he was doing and spun his chair around. “Please, have a seat,” Felivas said, gesturing toward another wheeled chair sitting in a corner of the fairly crowded room.

  “I have noticed that there is not very much free space on your ship,” Darkclaw said as he sat down.

  “The Swift Strike is a frigate, and an older one at that. Less space to work with, and there are things that are bulkier than the newer versions. Computer consoles, for instance,” Felivas replied, pointing at the room’s computer console, which was almost twice as large as most of the ones Darkclaw had seen, with the comm terminal link resting on top of it. “I could have taken command of another ship when I became admiral, but the Swift Strike has been my ship since before I was its captain, and I intend to stay with it.

  “But now, the reason why we’re both here.” Felivas moved over to the computer console and took it out of power-saving mode. An image of some sort of electronic chip appeared on the screen.

  “This is our solution,” Felivas said. “It’s often called the innocence chip, but it’s really just a highly advanced information storage device. It is capable of storing not just information, but also thoughts and memories. It was originally developed to aid those with diseases that impaired memory, but as the galaxy works, various militaries quickly found other applications. It’s generally used with operatives sent on infiltration missions. Before they go, they have the chip implanted, and then they’re connected to a computer which transfers information from wherever it’s stored in their brain into the chip. While it’s in them, there is no difference, but if the chip is removed, or turned off, the person will have no memory of what is stored on it. So the operatives would be sent with their only knowledge being what they were meant to do, so that if they were captured, there would be no risk of information falling into enemy hands. Once they returned, the operative would have the chip reinserted, and they would regain their memories.”

  “This could work,” Darkclaw said. Finally, something positive.

  “The only catch with this,” Felivas continued, “is the necessity of a computer to transfer thoughts to the chip, which will make it a less secure solution. But it’s the only viable option I could find.”

  “It will not be a problem,” Darkclaw stated. “I will not need any assistance in transferring thoughts to the device. Part of the mental conditioning the High Lord had me learn was how to precisely organize my thoughts and memories, and I do so regularly. I am confident that I can routinely transfer anything incriminating onto the device. The only challenge would be creating false memories to replace those I hide.”

  Felivas’s eyes widened slightly, as if it was something completely surprising, but he made no mention of any such feeling as he replied. “Another technical issue we will have to address is how to ensure deactivation or removal of the chip when needed, while assuring that the chip is reinserted or reactivated once the High Lord’s presence is gone.”

  “Disabling the chip would be easy enough,” Darkclaw said. “I can attach a control to my armor that will deactivate it. Reactivating will be more problematic. We cannot rely on my noticing and reactivating the device. I will not be aware of the device’s existence while it is removed or offline, correct?”

  “Fortunately, I have a solution,” Felivas said with a slight grin, which made Darkclaw wonder if it would be something he did not approve of. “We will assign one of our own to be your personal bodyguard. The guard will of course be filled in on everything, and it will be their job to remove the chip when necessary, and to reinsert or reactivate it when it is safe.”

  “I do not believe I would permit a Felinaris to lay hands on me while I have no memory of my choosing to side with you. I could kill or apprehend the bodyguard, and we would be back where things began, perhaps in a worse situation. Furthermore, my sudden decision to acquire a Felinaris bodyguard would be suspicious, at best, and impossible to safely hide from the High Lord.”

  “As to the first,” Felivas said, the slight smile still present, “I’ll be sure to select someone good enough to do what needs to be done without problems arising. As to the second, we can create a reason. Again, this is most definitely not a perfect solution.”

  After a moment’s silence, Darkclaw knew what they could do. It would further complicate things, but it would solve a greater problem. “No, Felivas, it is a perfect solution, or as close to one as possible. We will fabricate a story that both the Felinaris and Snevan leadership demanded the honor of assigning one of their own to my protection, as a sign of your loyalty. Of course this will raise the problems of the second guard. He will have to be made fully aware, of course, but I am concerned that a Snevan could not hold his tongue. And the Snevan leadership must not know.”

  “And is that because you’re concerned the Snevans will not keep the secret, or because you’re worried about how they’ll react?” Felivas asked.

  Darkclaw stared at him. “It does not matter. It is just what must be.”

  “I’ll take care of it,” Felivas said, though he had a look like he had accomplished something more.

  “When can I begin the procedure for the implantation of the chip?” Darkclaw asked.

  “I have begun making the arrangements for the procedure,” Felivas said, reaching back and holding up the papers that he had been writing on. “I assumed you’d prefer there not be an electronic trail that could possibly be discovered. Everything we need should be prepared once we are done here.” He did not mention what was going to happen before the fleet departed. “Also, you should be aware that you will require some recovery time after the procedure. It won’t be very long; a few days at most, but you should be aware.”

  Darkclaw nodded. More false memories to fabricate. From one set of lies to another. But it was different now. “Thank you,” he said to Felivas. “Truly.”

  Felivas nodded. “We do what we must,” he said. Darkclaw wasn’t quite sure what exactly he meant by it, but it was time to leave now.

  “I will be on the Hudecar. If you so desire, your fleet is free to depart the system, if you do not want to be here when…”

  When Felivas did not immediately respond, Darkclaw decided that it was as good a time as any to leave.

  * * *

  A few minutes later, the Felinaris and Snevan fleets
were in the process of leaving the system for a neutral rendezvous point to prepare for the next step, and Darkclaw was back on the Hudecar’s command deck, watching on the primary display screen as the Tyrannodon fleet finished moving into position around Venariss II.

  Darkclaw closed his eyes for a moment, contemplating what he was about to do. According to their information, Venariss II had over two billion residents, comprised of many of the Alliance species, though it was considered a Tehlman world. How many millions of those would be dead in the next few minutes? It was highly possible that there would be no chance for peace with the Alliance after what would happen this day.

  It had, after all, been a similar action, on a far smaller scale, that had led to the burning desire for revenge among the Felinaris. How much damage would he do to the future of his own kind this day? Would he be forced to continue the war to the end because of this?

  But there was truly no alternative. If he refused, he would be killed and replaced. The High Lord would still have the planet razed, and crush the faint chance the galaxy still had of surviving. But to give the galaxy a chance, Darkclaw would have to take all of the responsibility. When this was over, this would all be on his head. “War is hell,” Lieutenant Elkevel had said. True words. The many took precedence over the few in this case, even when the “few” was millions.

  “The fleet is in position?” Darkclaw asked slowly, deliberately, keeping his voice steady.

  “The fleet is in position, and prepared to record the action,” confirmed Ship Commander Gadelius. The High Lord wanted footage of the destruction transmitted to all Alliance worlds, in the hope that many would surrender to avoid sharing Venariss II’s fate. Of course, it could well have other effects as well, but Darkclaw was to obey orders, not wonder about their consequences.

  “Begin bombardment,” he ordered, barely able to force the words out. “Leave no building more than two stories tall standing.” It was a reasonable interpretation of the High Lord’s order, and would hopefully somewhat lower the death toll.

  “Understood, Executor,” the officer replied completely emotionlessly. But Darkclaw knew that the other Tyrannodons did feel. Were they horrified at what they were about to do? Did they too think it was wrong, only complying because they were programmed to follow orders, or scared to disobey them? And what did the ship commander, a non-clone, think? Did he regret his actions?

  If any of the command crew had objections, they did not show it. “Firing in five, four, three, two, one, firing,” Gadelius counted down, his voice steady. At the conclusion of the countdown, fire began to rain from their nearly two thousand ships. Laser, plasma, and high velocity missiles arced through Venariss II’s atmosphere. Moments later, where there had been cities large enough to see from space, there were only red and orange blotches.

  Darkclaw watched silently for a few seconds, then realized that he had to leave the command deck. He turned away and headed toward the lift. “Inform me when…” he glanced back at the display screen for a moment. “Inform me when we are done here,” he forced out.

  “Of course, Executor,” Gadelius affirmed. “If I may ask, where we will be able to reach you?”

  Darkclaw didn’t reply as he quickly made his way to the lift. Thank the Omnipresent Tyrannodons didn’t have tear ducts.

  CHAPTER 17

  Nayasar stalked through the Felinar’s corridors in full combat gear, on the way to a meeting that could end her military career. She was angry, and was purposefully keeping herself so in order to prevent other, less desirable emotions from asserting themselves. She had considered Darkclaw a friend! He was plainly aware of that, and yet he only now revealed that he had been playing her for a fool the whole time. Sure, he’d changed his mind, chosen her and Felivas over his High Lord, but nothing excused the lies. And on top of that, he wanted to break the only other promise he’d made to her: That the Alliance would be brought down.

  Felivas had cornered her a short time after the revelations to talk, and he explained in great detail everything that Darkclaw had said, and what it meant. It eased the pain of betrayal somewhat, knowing that Darkclaw was only trying to help them, to do the right thing. For that she would not abandon him, and she would still work with him, for the sake of her people, and all existence, as Felivas had put it. But she could not forgive Darkclaw, not for that nor for his expressed desire to end the war peacefully. There was a price that had to be paid; justice had to be done, for the sake of the screaming souls in Nayasar’s mind, whose cries had returned in force. If Darkclaw was unwilling to do what she needed, Nayasar would do it herself.

  Nayasar soon arrived at her destination, the emergency command center deep within the Felinar. It was designed to be a secure, secondary command deck should the primary command deck become compromised. From there the ship could be controlled as normal, no matter what was happening. But that was not why she had chosen this spot. It was because it was so isolated, so far removed from the ship’s day-to-day functions that few people had ever been there, and it was designed to not show up in most ship schematics or scans, for security purposes. The perfect place to formulate a highly illegal course of action.

  The reinforced door slid open, and Nayasar saw that everyone was present. There were ten other Felinaris in the room, each wearing their uniforms but not their full equipment loads. Each of them was a highly decorated soldier, noted for their combat prowess and specialized skills. Eight of them led special operations units. She had met each of them at least once before, but Nayasar only had close relationships with two of the soldiers: Commander Flis Mehlar and Lieutenant Commander Tzia Fien, both of whom had been roommates with Nayasar during the early days of her military training. They’d remained close even when they parted ways, Nayasar going to officer’s training and the two of them to combat units. They both served in the elite First Infiltration Battalion, a special forces unit that went ahead of the army into hostile territory to pave the way for the army’s advance. Flis was also a certified combat medic.

  The other Felinaris in the room were elite soldiers from different specialized units. There was High Captain Bohdan Vitrek, the commander of the legendary Marai Vas amphibious operations unit, Captain Davir Carahe, who commanded a squad in the Histal search and rescue unit in addition to his duties as a chaplain, both talking animatedly while leaning against a wall.

  Seated at the command center’s small conference table were Tresken Narrak of the Kival Gizal sabotage unit, Commander Nirra Roah of the Felishua first shock troop battalion, Lieutenant Commander Tzalaf Garen, the best sniper in the military, and First Lieutenant Kanaah Carmi, a squad leader in the renowned Khielvas naval commando unit, all clustered around a portable gaming device Tresken was playing with.

  Finally, there was Lieutenant Commander Mir Armeyan, an ace pilot, and former member of the Kival Gizal unit, sitting perhaps too comfortably in the room’s command chair, and Kiari Kitzor, the only invitee not currently in the military, who was nosing around at one of the computer consoles. She was a former member of the top secret kill squad called the Hermav unit, which participated in many operations during the last Darvian conflict, though their exploits had never been recognized, due to the potential political fallout. Had Darkclaw and the Tyrannodons not arrived when they did, Nayasar might have dispatched a Hermav team to do just what she had gathered this group to do now: Find and kill the planners of the Selban Massacre. She could have used such a unit now as well, but the state of the war necessitated a larger, more versatile team. Also, this was personal now, and Nayasar would be damned if she would let anyone else do what she had to do, whatever the consequences. Kiari also happened to be one of Nayasar’s closest friends.

  “Nayasar!” Kiari called as Nayasar entered the room, then dashed across the room and embraced her. “It’s been too long.”

  Nayasar smiled and returned the hug. “It’s good to see you. And it’s… fortunate you happened to be with the fleet even though you’ve retired. Thanks for coming.”
>
  “War against the Alliance?” Kiari replied as they ended the hug, “you’d have to kill me to keep me out of the fight. So, what did you call us here for? It’s kind of a strange group, and you seemed intent on keeping this secret.”

  Nayasar smiled. Despite the circumstances, it was good to see old friends. “You’ll find out soon enough, and we’ll need to find time to catch up; I have to know what you’ve been up to.”

  “I’ll fill you in eventually; it’ll take a while,” Kiari replied.

  “I’m sure.” Nayasar rested a hand on her friend’s shoulder for a moment, then walked over to Lieutenant Commander Armeyan, still in the command chair.

  “Don’t get ahead of yourself,” Nayasar said to the pilot, who smiled as he vacated the seat.

  “Just keeping it warm for the grand admiral.”

  Nayasar pointedly ignored him and took the seat, rested one leg on her opposite knee, then spun the chair to face the others, who had all quieted down.

  “I’m sure you’re all wondering why I called you here,” she began. “Unfortunately, everything I have to tell you must not leave this room. So to preface: what I plan to do, and what I will ask you all to do, is technically illegal. It will require all of us to abandon our current obligations for possibly extended amounts of time. This is potentially career-ending, for all of us. If any of you does not wish to be a part of this, leave now, no harm done. For our sakes, and for all of our peoples’ sakes, this must be secret.”

  No one moved.

  Nayasar smiled. “Now, if things don’t go well, and it comes to court-martials, I intend to take the fall completely. This is my operation, I called you here; this is not on you. If need be, I will testify that I directly ordered each and every one of you to participate. In all likelihood, you will not be punished.