She put her hand to her mouth so the security camera couldn’t record what she was about to say. “One of them is a Centorian, and I’m proud of that.”
Erg Balor smiled. This receptionist represented the real future of the Korganraim Giants. “How long might this take,” asked Erg.
“Oh, these friends of mine are bloody brilliant. We should crack all his devices and… that didn’t take long.” She motioned for him to come around the desk and check out her monitor. “I can send this agenda to you in a secure message,” she offered. “It won’t take but a second.”
“That would be good. And send it to Chairman Tohl also.”
“There’s a lot of military brass on that list. Does that mean what I think it means?” asked Margo.
“It means Guldr is working on more than one script. Consider who we are dealing with and let that guide your conclusions.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“You’re already doing it. Be alert, be suspect and if you feel the need to contact me do it securely. If anything happens, I’ll be in touch. Thanks Margo.”
Erg left the building and contacted Chairman Tohl. The rest of his day was spent in consultation with Tohl and a group of his trusted advisors. Among them were businessmen, government officials and quite a few high ranking military personnel.
Early the next morning Erg went back to the War Council offices. Guldr was in the strategy room barking orders to the staff and demanding they meet unreasonable schedules for deploying new mining ships. Out of nowhere a nicely attired giant approached Erg and asked if he could have a word with him in his office.
“Who are you and why are you here?” asked Erg.
“My name is Korm Vot. I am a private employee under contract to Chairman Kor Tohl.
“And what kind of contractor are you?” asked Erg impatiently.
“My specialty is in intelligence and espionage. Chairman Tohl requested I report findings to you in the event I find something you might consider actionable.”
“And did you find something actionable?” asked Erg, who was suspicious of the uninvited visitor.
“I did.” Sensing Erg’s suspicion, he added, “You may call him and verify our relationship if you like, but the strategy room is not the place to have this discussion.”
“Follow me,” said Erg, and he led him to his private office. “Give your report, I’ll contact Chairman Tohl later.”
“Through much investigation, and some bribery, I discovered Lor Guldr planned and approved the mining mission to the eastern slopes of Umbreathe on Centoria.”
“Why would he plan and approve that mining venture? Its failure was no surprise to anyone, least of which Lor Guldr, who would have been certain of its failure?
“From the beginning he intended it to fail. He was sure he could use it to his advantage; to bolster his reputation.”
“If he’s concerned about his legacy, why do that?” asked Erg.
“Guldr planned to attend the National Assembly where he was sure he could gain the floor, and he hoped to use the deaths of our miners and loss of equipment to fan the Assembly’s emotions. Lor Guldr wants a war. He has been a successful officer in the military. But his success came with a steep price; the loss of so many giants colored his reputation.”
“It is no secret his greatest desire has always been to be regarded as the greatest Korganraim Military Officer of his time. But by his own admission, to do that he needs one last successful campaign,” offered Kohrm Vot.
“There is no adequate condemnation for such treachery if what you say is true.”
“I’m afraid there is more,” replied Kohrm Vot. “I am certain of this information as it came to me at a dear price. You will find it revolting, and if you decide to act on it, then I stand by your side as a Korganraim Giant, not as Chairman Tohl’s employee.”
“Tell me the rest Korhm.”
“Lor Guldr was paid by the Shumbrans, to incite our National Assembly to war. The debacle at Umbreathe was used as his platform for revenge. The Shumbrans have recently been dealt severe losses at the hands of the Centorians, but they knew they couldn’t confront them alone. The Shumbrans are Lor Guldr’s insurance policy. Our fleet was intended to rendezvous with them above Centoria and join the assault.”
“That is madness,” cried Erg. “The Centorians will not be defeated. And when have we ever joined with the Shumbrans. They are vile and contemptuous beings who can never be trusted.”
“Guldr is not without military experience, he knows we have no chance against the Centorians if we attack alone. But he believes he can defeat them with help,” explained Korhm Vol, “and be paid for his trouble.”
“I am all too familiar with the Shumbrans,” countered Erg. “We became intimately familiar with one another when a platoon of Giants under my command withstood them on Delcor-Enri. They have no new technology; only lots of old ships that will be cannon fodder for Lor Guldr’s vain grasp at victory and fame.”
“Ah, but you see, Lor Guldr was conned.” Korhm Vol waited for his comment to sink in.
“Conned in what way?”
“The Shumbrans never intended to join the battle. They believed the Centorians would prevail over us at their home planet, and would then bring the battle to Korganra for vengeance. They were betting Guldr would recall our entire mining fleet to aid in our own planet’s defense, and the Centorians would destroy every vessel they encountered.”
“With the destruction of our mining fleets and much of our planet, the Shumbrans intended to expand their own fledgling mining operations to fill in the void left by us, their biggest competitor.”
Erg Balor’s body language betrayed his feelings as much as his words. He looked like he could snap a steel beam in half. “The arrogant fool. While Guldr hoped to disembowel the Centorians, he was being gutted by the Shumbrans.”
Erg reached for his communicator to call Chairman Tohl when civil defense alarms sounded throughout the city. He raced to the strategy room and asked a junior officer what was happening as the head of communications yelled across the room.
“Lor Guldr, an entire fleet of Centorian gunships have dropped out of translocation above Korganra. They are hailing all frequencies.”
“Notify our defenses,” shouted Guldr. “Tell the South Mor-Da missile silos to fire on the Centorians, and recall our mining fleets at once.”
“Cancel those orders,” shouted Erg. “They’re hailing every one of our frequencies. Let’s give them a chance to explain why they’re here before you start a war on our own planet.”
“You have done this,” screamed Guldr at Erg Balor. “You leaked our plans to the Centorians, and now they have come here to destroy us. Listen to me, all of you in this room, this is our opportunity for vengeance on our greatest enemy.”
While Guldr raved nonsensically at everyone in the room, Erg’s communicator buzzed. It was a message from Chairman Tohl. It read - I sent Korhm Vot. The claims he made about Lor Guldr have been verified – everything he told you is true.
“Instead of living and dying as mere miners” Guldr continued, “those Giants who lost their lives on Centoria will be remembered forever as the Giants who ignited our vengeance on the Centorians.”
“Tell that to the wives and children of those men you sent there to die,” shouted Erg.
Guldr stopped his ranting and whirled to stare at Erg.
“That’s right. Lor Guldr knowingly sent them to their death.” Erg spoke loudly, so everyone in the room could hear. “And, you were paid to do it by your business partners, the Shumbrans,” he continued, staring at Guldr. “You’re an arrogant fool, the Shumbrans had no intention of joining you in a battle over Centoria. And after dispatching our woefully inadequate attack fleet, the Centorians would have come here, to destroy our home planet and all our ships. The Shumbrans had you suckered into handing them the envy of the Sote-kiliet – the largest mining potential in the galaxy.”
Erg looked around the room and n
oticed a security officer he had served with in the military, and pointing at Lor Guldr said, “Bor Con, arrest this despicable man on suspicion of high treason.”
Before Con could intervene, Lor Guldr retrieved a thin stiletto knife from inside his coat. “You are the criminal, and you will not stop me,” he said as he rushed forward.
The sound of a weapon discharging filled the room. Bor Con had drawn his laser gun and shot Guldr as he attempted to stab Erg.
Guldr fell to the floor, clutching his chest and screaming in pain. The Council’s Health and Safety officer and a nurse rushed to his side, to render first aid.
“Vice Chairman Erg, we are being hailed on every available frequency. The Centorians want to talk.”
“He’s alive,” shouted the nurse, “Guldr is still alive.”
“Bor Con, cuff him, then get him out of here. Take him to jail.” Then he turned to the nurse, “Go with him. See to it he gets all the medical attention he needs.”
Erg glanced over at the communications desk, “Put me through to the Centorians on all channels and put them onscreen.”
“This is Erg Balor, Acting Chairman of the Korganraim War Council. Who am I speaking with.”
“This is Centorian Alpha Gunship Fleet Commander Bert Warrington. I thought I would be speaking to Chairman Lor Guldr.”
“Lor Guldr has been arrested on suspicion of treason. His actions are the reason you have a gunship phalanx in my territorial jurisdiction. As you are uninvited, how do we interpret your actions as anything other than an act of war. State your intentions Commander Warrington.”
“We are not here to attack Korganra. Have your staff scan our ships. You will find our missile silos remain closed. However, they may not remain so, if the missile command in your South Mor-Da field do not close their silos and deactivate their pre-firing protocols.”
“This man has done his homework,” said Erg to his second in-command. Then, talking loud enough for everyone to hear, he said, “Contact the South Mor-Da field and tell them to stand down, or I will authorize the Centorians to destroy the silo complex. Commander Warrington, that should solve our immediate issue.”
“You were in Umbreathe, on the mining ship at the Eastern Slopes. I was there. You saved that crew.”
“Yes, I was there,” said Erg.
“Good, I think I can be honest with you. Our original mission was to destroy your military capacity. That is no longer our mission. At this moment you are under imminent danger of attack and complete annihilation. Not by Centorians, but by the World Eaters, the Illis autem Odiem – also known as the Harvesters.”
“They’re the ones who put the tear mark above your planet, and soon they will use that mark to open a rift and begin processing Korganra. Your entire planet, and everyone left on it will be destroyed. The reason we are here now is to help. Centorians don’t condone genocide, surely you are aware this is true, Erg Balor.”
“Commander Warrington you have my attention and my interest. Continue please.”
“Our Centorian Chairman has approved a change in our mission objectives. We have only just received his communique. I haven’t had time to alert my ship’s staff or my fleet to the changes. With the exception of the officers on this command deck, my staff and the rest of the Alpha fleet on this mission have no idea what we are about to do. We are here to help relocate the Giants on Korganra before the planet is destroyed.”
“Commander Warrington, how is that possible if, as you say, we have only a short amount of time.”
“You will have to recall all your mining ships. We will use them and the Alphas as transports. The Desredeedese Shades have consented to move the loaded ships to a new planet. Because of their ability to shift time and space, they will be able to move Giants far more quickly than our translocation drives.”
“The Shades have consented to this?” asked Erg.
“They did, after we applied some pressure.”
“What kind of pressure Commander Warrington. I am aware how forced agreements can dissolve at the worst time possible.”
“My original mission to the Sote-kiliet was to discover what was causing planets to disappear and stop it. We found the World Eater’s mother ship, but before we engaged them, the Shades moved us, and them to new locations. After being moved I received new orders for the preemptive attack on Korganra. We know all about Guldr’s plan’s. On or about that same time, we became aware Korganra was being targeted by the World Eaters. We convinced the Shades to help with our relocation plan or they would live with the responsibility of allowing heavy casualties.”
“Then why don’t we join forces and stop these Harvesters,” asked Erg.
“They cannot be stopped. If they don’t restore the balance of mass between our dimensions, both dimensions, ours and theirs, will be destroyed. Our collective survival depends on them. Our next move is to send one of your representatives to two planets the Shades selected as your potential new home. I must tell you honestly, it will change your society forever. It is up to you to decide if that is good or bad. But if you consent to take a look, it must be done immediately.”
One of Erg’s officers was skeptical and asked him if this was a ploy, a means of tricking them and destroying the Giants.
“It seems like they are proposing to do a lot of work on our behalf. If their real intention was to destroy us, they could do that right now with their Alpha fleet, and be done with it.”
“Commander Warrington, in my position as acting Chairman of the Korganraim War Council, my authority is limited to decisions regarding military actions. If your presence here is a military action, I have the authority act accordingly. If yours is not a military action, then any decisions regarding your intent will have to go before the fully convened legislature.” Erg stopped briefly to allow Captain Warrington to evaluate what he said, and to consider what he was about to say. It seemed to him it was the only way to save the Giants.
“Chairman Balor, I believe I understand your intent perfectly. You should consider our presence here to be a fully authorized Centorian military action.”
“In that case,” replied Erg immediately, “the Korganraim giants surrender and ask for terms.”
“Splendid, how would you like to proceed. If you like, we can show you, or one of your representatives, the two planets chosen by the Shades for your consideration.”
Bert and Erg hashed out the details of who would take part in the reconnaissance, and when. Bert decided he would like to personally see the planets Enoi had selected. Not that he didn’t trust the Desredeedese Shade, but he wanted to avoid any future conspiratorial conjecture that one planetary alternative was promoted over another. And, as much as possible, he wanted to avoid any future second-guessing at all costs, because however this went down, the names Sly DeLorum and Bert Warrington would be forever associated with what was decided today; for good or bad.
Before they left that afternoon, Chairman Tohl issued an emergency directive that all the fleets of all mining operations, cargo ship companies, and all business transports, be recalled to Korganra without exception. His only explanation to the companies involved was they would be needed to accomplish the largest planetary evacuation to ever occur in Sote-kiliet.
Then, he boarded a small Korganraim sport pod with Erg Balor, Bert Warrington and Ellen Chanan. The small pod’s propulsion system was designed for short flights, and not interstellar travel, but it was structurally sound, lightweight, and perfect for their purposes. They needed something big enough for two giants and two Centorians, and it had to be small enough that one Shade could move it easily through multiple time and space shifts.
As soon as they had boarded, and the hatch door was secured, Enoi began the first shift. There was no time to spare, the Harvesters had warned them processing of Korganra was imminent. The shifts were punctuated with a constant barrage of scenes; flashes of planets, views of deep space, and a tiny spiral nebula.
Once they reached the first planet, Enoi used a s
eries of tiny twitches to take them on a quick tour. Then, without hesitating or asking, he instructed them to re-board the pod, and moved them toward the next planet. Enroute, they encountered a black hole so gigantic its gravitational field bent one of Enoi’s twitches, sending them slightly off course and dangerously close to an enormous sun.
Through a series of corrections to his next time and space shifts, Enoi successfully altered their course and deposited the pod on the second planet. Soon they had completed the second tour and were headed home. Bert intended to discuss the planet options on their way, but the time space shifts were so mesmerizing they spoke hardly a word as snippets of space scenes flashed before them.
When they had safely returned to Korganra, Erg and Chairman Tohl invited Bert and Ellen inside for a discussion of the options. Neither planet was anything like Korganra. Both of them had mountains and lowlands, plains and lakes. The idea of living someplace with that much water was almost overwhelming to Erg and Kor Tohl. After a brief discussion, they all agreed the first planet, the one Enoi had selected as the best option, was their first choice.
“We’ll call it New Korganra,” stated Chairman Tohl. “But if our citizens want a say in the name, we can have a referendum later. Thank you Enoi, for finding this planet for us.”
Enoi was hovering in the corner of the room where he listened to their brief discussions and was pleased with the outcome. But they needed to be told something else about the planet they would soon call home.
“You selected a planet that has much more than what you’ve seen with your eyes. It is rich in natural resources,” he communicated to them. “Every metal and precious metal, gemstones and more are located in its complex geologic formations. For you, who have a culture so tightly bound to the art of mining, there is no better plant for your home in the entire galaxy. The Giants will no longer have to raid other planets for resources. Your new home will have everything you need.”
As if on cue, as soon as Enoi finished communicating, Bert’s mobile com began buzzing. He turned off the buzzer so their meeting wouldn’t be disturbed, but it started buzzing again. That’s odd, thought Bert. He stood and stepped away from the table as the others continued to discuss New Korganra.
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