by Marcus Sloss
“Excuse my daughter, she is young and new to politicking. Let me ask first, are you open to trading information?” Larvou asked with a side eye.
Just Daxstar’s head populated on the command hologram suddenly. A mounamine shrieked, not sure which one, but I found the concept of a giant owl causing a mouseman to squeak hilarious. To be fair the head was huge and menacing in its image.
“We will offer you everything about current events soon, as in less than a season’s amount of time. On my honor as an owlvini,” Daxstar said and vanished.
“Umm… So yeah, we are open to information sharing, trading, and general comradery. We have some things in motion that require time before we disclose them,” I said with a shrug.
Larvou clapped his hands together and said, “Let me give you some back story on our family. We come from Porin, a world much larger than this one with far more Xgates. When the motherships showed up to Porin we didn’t fight back, we knew early on we would not win a war against the advanced technology. Our planet was already overcrowded as it was our capital home world, and I don’t mean with alien constructs. We had built a planet that was all city before entering containment. There was, and is no free space on Porin. Xgate ranges are the only spaces where there are not massive structures. Every Xgate is boxed in with solid defense. Can they be broken? Yes. Are they? Almost never.”
Brillian interrupted with a scoot forward. “That is a common tactic and works well if you do not anger a goliath species. They can stay on your home world and destroy it piece by piece over the ages. Unless you can defeat them. Is Porin new to the containment?”
“A few hundred years, and we adjusted rapidly to alien technology. Even with that we still have lost a few cities and needed to rebuild them. Our militaries are able to flex fairly quickly meaning we… I am getting off topic,” Larvou said. “Porin was extremely overpopulated. When you produce young quickly, run out of room, and do not die easily, you tend to run into problems. So Porin has an initiative. They call it the family expansion. A powerful lord like myself asks for support to expand. Only one per season is chosen and after many rejections, I was accepted. We arrived on Earth with supplies, personnel, and a small army. Happened to be by that gate right over there.” He pointed to the east. “Not far from Calgary.”
Yovani patted her husband’s shoulder to talk next. “We are remarkably close to humans genetically. Frighteningly so. This is our dream of dreams for a new land to settle into. A species we can co-habitat with. A land with ample room for expansion. But… being new to the containment is painful and yet a blessing. We approached Calgary with weapons sheathed. When the pathetic projectile rounds stopped when we requested a parlay.
“After negotiations, demonstrations, and eventually an agreement we settled into Calgary as our home. The changes were rapid and the compromise beneficial to both sides. Because we arrived on the very first season of Earth having portals the number of refugees we accepted was staggering. Still, humans are tough when you give them options that lead to survival. We expanded and grew into what you see today. During a council meeting with human and varmprinian leaders about how to deal with horenix we were synced into your communications network. Willis said you might be able to solve our dilemma.”
I knew what it was but asked anyway. “And that is?”
“We promised to never intentionally kill humans besides for self-defense. We sustain on any blood, and yes blood tastes different. We actually prefer animal blood over sapient blood. Others buy from humans. This was part of our compromise to get inside with open arms. To treat humans as equals and not as food. We were arguing the merits of Kelowna being self-defense when Willis interrupted and said you could fix the problem. We would have won the debate with enough time. With you…” Larvou said, pausing.
“No debate needed with us. We arrived at the same conclusion that the horenix problem is spreading and we will eliminate the growing threat. Do you want to join the mission or would you rather return home?” I noticed that AC66 was en-route for Kelowna.
“We do not have the ability to leave with our synthetics. I appreciate the offer and eagerly await the results. I will be sending a trade delegation soon if that is okay with you?” Larvou said. “Maybe let Wilma visit this Bastion we keep hearing about.”
“That would be lovely,” Willow said. “We have a lot to do even if Bastion is new. I happen to know we have a great zoo. Let me escort you out.”
We said brisk goodbyes and Willow led them out of the dropship. I watched Willow’s figure sway on the way out.
“Not interested in the daughter?” Nancy asked, noticing I had not really ogled her.
I avoided her question and kneeled in front of Rexona. She grew concerned when I reached for her cybernetic hand.
“You should not have this,” I said, recognizing the construct. “So that is why I was not afforded a cybernetic.”
My former hand was extended. Rexona had been silent up to this point. The demonix studied me intently and said, “Sally said it was too short to reattach to you. You shot my hand off, I got a replacement from some fool who kept losing his arm. I didn’t know that fool -”
“Rexona, I find this hilarious but be careful,” Nancy said in a stern tone.
“Losing my arm to save my wife’s life is not foolish. I am glad my hand went to good use. Why are you here?” I asked with a stern tone.
“When General Brillian takes the field I am to assist with operations,” Rexona said and I pointed for the command station.
“Then go populate Kelowna. Longoria, prepare us for departure,” I ordered.
When I walked to the holographic table the image of Calgary faded and was replaced by Kelowna. The exterior of the city was firing automated turrets at our drones. A camera view would short out only to be replaced a second later.
“So they know we’re coming,” I said to Brillian.
“That is my plan, your grace,” she replied. “We’ve already established a release. Four lucky souls are being released.”
“Denied,” I replied. “Now tell me why Brillian.”
“I’d rather not fight with the portals on,” Brillian said in a sour tone. “I agree, we could free more if the portals fail to flare blue. If they do though that will make our chance of a third opponent infinitely greater. The guaranteed four is better than hundreds dead from a bad fight. There are two Xgates near Kelowna and infinite possibilities I can’t plan for. If we fight now I got one foe and a great plan.”
“Okay, glad you understand. I’m ordering you to take the risk. As your king, I have information you do not. Siege Kelowna from a distance. Let nothing in or out,” I said, drawing a large circle around the city. “Their offer will change in twenty four hours.”
“Twenty four hours?” Brillian tilted her head. “Oh, oh!”
“Yup, not for certain. But do you agree with my plan now?”
“I guess I need to visit the VirtaBox. May I before we entrench the enemy. A general and a duchess needs the proper details,” Brillian asked politely.
Omonair who was a blunt instrument of death said the obvious thing, “The portals are not coming online are they?”
“Probably not, and that extends the amount of knowledge you would glean. I promise after the battle you can visit,” I said to them both.
“Very well. Parker, order AC66 to invade Vancouver full assault. Kill any horenix they can and contain all survivors. Push the surviving horenix north east back to Kelowna. No sense in having to set two sieges. We start there where the infection is at its smallest,” Brillian said in a grim tone.
“Yes, General,” Parker replied before disseminating information.
“We will contain their main source of new bodies for their young. That will halt the spread the fastest. Hopefully, Vancouver is going to be an easy win,” Brillian said and I scoffed. “What?”
We had an incredible force. I was sure she would carry us to victory. However, I populated Vancouver on the map and there were t
he waterways, the bridges, and the congested housing. My time in Vancouver had been tagging along with my dad on a business trip to Whistler. We drove down the mountain, over a tone of bridges, and eventually into the city. The place was great if you wanted to get around by boat or air. On the ground, well that was a different story.
“Good, time for you to witness what the new forces of Bastion can do,” Brillian said and I grumbled.
“Come to me my love, let her work the field of battle. Let me tell you about the children's names I was thinking about,” Nancy said, popping a champagne bottle. “You want a drink or you want to work Willow?”
“I’d love to have a drink. Can we get drunk in these bodies?” Willow asked and Longoria chuckled. “Well, out with it fellow fairy!”
“No, you cannot, and save a glass for me, we will enter a hover soon enough. Brillian is going to wait for the Xgates to flare before assaulting Vancouver,” Longoria said and Brillian shrugged.
“Wouldn’t you?” the general asked and I nodded.
There was no doubt in my mind that is what I would do. Wait to know what is happening first. Give your forces times to assemble, adjust, and plan. It was the right call.
“General Brillian, you have command,” I said.
“I have command. For the community.”
“For the community.” The room echoed.
I left the war-gaming table and went to Nancy.
“I’d love a glass. How about you tell me all about the names you like?” I said plopping into the spot beside her on the couch.
The next wee bit of time went by in a hurry. When we posted over a place called Richmond we found a little slice of eastern Asia in western Canada. We invited a diplomat up to discuss Bastion while we waited for the Xgates to lift up and shine blue. When the timer hit zero I anxiously watched a parked Xgate with our guest and my lovely ladies.
What I saw was a mix of sadness and joy.
CHAPTER 16
The mid afternoon sun blasted down onto the alien constructs. Five minutes turned into ten and that transitioned into an hour. When nothing happened we sent the delegation from Richmond home to start packing their things. A few thousand souls were eager to join our metropolis. Open sleds and non-combat crews were already on the way.
A full hour and a half beyond when the Xgates should have gone blue the constructs were patiently waiting inert in their towering ways.
So I had mixed feelings and was predicting at any moment they could flare up late. And why not, they had done so before. That is until the unthinkable happened.
Nancy spat her bubbly, my jaw dropped, and Willow said, “Fuck me.”
We watched the wall broadcasting our drone footage. In unison, the Xgates of Vancouver fell over. As in crashed into the ground with an earth shaking crash. I was so stunned I sat there silent. My taps on my Gpad flung Xgate 232 and 201 onto the screen. Knocked over also. I was sorting through every Xgate trying to find one upright when there was an irritated voice in my ear.
“Eric, you hearing me?” Daxstar said with a snap of his beak that caused me to wince.
“Yeah, I am here, so that just happened,” I said to the owl.
“This will not fix itself overnight. They have unchained the main black hole from the network. This means the divines want time to properly prepare for this war, which is horrible news. We have armadas, legions, and devoted warriors waiting to fight across the universe. They did the best thing they could, buy themselves time,” Daxstar said in defeat. I think the ancient owl called me to vent.
“So… the mothership?” I asked.
“Is a fraction clone. A mind that is supposed to be devoid of most thought. Capable of basic commands. This will trigger a new set of reactions assuming it wasn’t tampered with. Which we’re thinking it was. The mothership will go aggressive if approached. Unfortunately, that means we can’t deceive it with the containment down. There will be a nasty fight in space to eliminate it,” Daxstar said with a sigh that was long and sad.
“And the pink gates?” I asked.
“Your assault was not the only plan. Arixon is not far from where the orbital was. In a few years, the fleet that defeated the orbital will be rotated to Arixon and smash the planet from space. The sad part is those we killed on the orbital will be reborn in time. They will escape, and build a new secure base elsewhere. While we did not lose, we certainly did not win. I can’t express how aggravated I am that eons of planning just went into chaos,” Daxstar said with despair.
I knew better than to chuckle or antagonize. I used a softer voice and said, “Daxstar, we both know the enemy never lays down and dies. They will react. So my question to you is, what do we do to react to this?”
“Oh, for here on Earth? Because that is all we can affect for a while. We’ve two options. As an advisor to the king let me give you them both. Option A is to build a space fleet and use starbusters to generate black holes for distance jumping. Time to complete would be about a hundred years. Option B is preparing for eventual space travel but focusing on defenses. I expect the enemy to eventually get the Xgates working when they are ready, and that amount of time is unknown. I recommend Option B with some of Option A.”
“Can we melt sections of the arctic?” I asked.
“Oh, we can move the Xgates since they are powered off. Wherever we move them to, the Xgates will roam and if they are too close together they will naturally spread. Even the divines can’t change that without physically returning the Xgates,” Daxstar said with a pause. “Give me a moment. I will call you back. I need to put myself in Seetheus’s shoes and talk with Ovinious.”
“Who is Ovinious?” I asked but Daxstar had already closed the connection.
All eyes were on me. This didn’t change a whole lot for the short term. We still had an army to defeat and then a spaceship to contend with. My hard gaze at Brillian was more than enough to spur her into action. I walked behind her wings to watch her command the battlefield.
“All forces this is General Brillian. Execute cleanse Northern Vancouver,” Brillian said.
The map showed a battle line of fighters staged at the ready. Suddenly the aircraft leaped into action. My initial thought as blue orbs slammed into fancy houses in North Vancouver was all the loot we were incinerating. Then I remember that it didn’t count anymore. There was a corner tear in my eye for all the ruined lazy boys and I fully intended to do some furniture looting later.
The horenix had apparently infiltrated up to Vancouver Harbour and not crossed it. Eh, those darn Canadians spelled harbor wrong. I let it stay that way on the map. The fact the horenix isolated themselves to upper Vancouver would make salvaging in this destroyed city easier. The northern part of Vancouver proceeded to be pummeled without a defense. The horenix here were acquiring bodies and starting to create a base.
I reflected on how the city fared since the fall of the Xgates while the city was obliterated.
The first threat Vancouver had fought was a shark army and up until this last blue cycle as they had maintained a presence in the local waters. This was a first for me to see. A universal nomadic pod, or was it tribe. Eh, pod worked. Where they went I had no idea. The video footage of them revealed the shark people had arms but a shark body. They could talk, but not walk, and when they used a sled on land they were horrid at fighting. There was a video of literal homeless people pushing a shark off its sled and stealing its ride while the others gutted it.
While they dominated the seas there were a few raiders hitting the city. The problem was the Vancouver greater area was expansive, and a pain to get around. Not that this stopped the invaders, in all honestly Vancouver was lucky. They were raided by a long-necked humanoid with spots. They probably captured most of the passive population. The reality is Vancouverites sheltered in place. They hid in closets, under beds, and in trees sometimes. It paid off because after a month of surviving we arrived.
Well, not the northern ones. They became trapped zombies in internal torture. So,
a small loss, but the big victory was that there was a large number of people alive. And I saw them scurrying around to watch our alien designed ships obliterate their neighbor’s homes. I was wondering if we would get a call of surrender or something.
A white flag would work. These were aliens with no defenses. Not like they sent their little hatchlings with a care package of armor and weapons to attach to their new human body.
After twenty minutes of the cleanse there were still additional residences, warehouses, and businesses left to destroy. General Brillian paused to let the nitrogen flames cool. The new generators sure did pack a punch.
“Thoughts,” Willow asked me.
“I was hoping Daxstar would have called me back by now. Vancouver is miraculous. I mean of the megacities on the coast they were spared the most. I figure it was only time before a horenix or Jarod destroyed their old lives. I do wonder what happened to those sirens who fled north,” I said folding my arms watching the video.
A heat scan pinged out. The destruction was still too hot to get a good reading. A few minutes and it should return a proper scan of what remained.
“Those sirens were not dumb. If the shark people were here maybe they fought. Their disappearance is around the same time as our fight. However, that could have been them fleeing to a new watery home before the golden portal. As for the sirens, what would you do, Eric?” Nancy said joining the conversation.
“I would go north. Loot a few things, hit the market, and then go west with better gear,” I said gaming it out. “Or try to find Jarod. The problem is the sharks are a great example. Our oceans are literally deserts of open space for aquatic species. The orca, arguably our greatest sea predator, would not stand a chance against an aqua suit. Maybe a giant squid. My point is we have zero ideas what new monsters lurk in the deep.”
“Not going to lie, sea monsters freak me out,” Willow said and we bobbed heads in agreement. “So what next?”
“What do you mean?” Nancy replied with a playfully snarky tone. “It is obvious. Slow push north, then negotiate -”