by Isaac Hooke
“Unfortunately, we turned this world into a bioweapon breeding ground many centuries ago, to please the empire,” Risilan said. “So of course these bioweapons of yours can breathe here if they were sent by the Banthar, who are also empire members.”
“You terraformed your entire planet to please an empire?” Jason said.
“They are a powerful empire,” Risilan said. “Turning them down wouldn’t have been a wise move. We had to clear the plains of natural life, move to the cities, and envelop them all in protective domes. In exchange, we had the favor of the empire. The prime space lanes. Authorization to build a complete space navy. Plus, the production of bioweapons for the empire provided a much needed boost to our staggering world economy, and attracted several new trade outposts, as well as investments from other member species of the empire.”
“That’s what you told the common people when you sold them on the deal, I bet,” Jason said. “And sure, it sounds great on digital paper, until you realize you’ve ruined your world in the process.”
“Yes,” Risilan said. “And unfortunately, because my family was involved in the decision, it ignited the spark that eventually led to our downfall.”
“This is the future Bokerov would have forced upon humanity,” Jason commented on a private line. “By allowing our planet to be terraformed, and driving us into domes merely to survive.”
“A future we haven’t avoided yet,” Tara said.
Jason switched to the band the alien was using. “Why are you telling me all of this?”
“I have a proposition to make,” Risilan replied.
“I’m listening,” Jason said.
“I want you to help me sack the Imperial city,” Risilan said.
“Uh, I’m guessing this is a big city,” Jason said. “It’s well defended. With a substantial army.”
“Good guess,” Risilan said.
“Why would you need our help?” Jason said. “I’m sure you have technology vastly superior to our own?”
“Some,” Risilan said. “But we’ve seen some of the weaponry you humans have stolen from the Banthar. Some of those weapons we ourselves don’t have.”
“Yeah, we didn’t exactly reverse engineer the tech,” Jason said. “You see, the Banthar were a little careless. They employed neural interfaces with some of their weapons, embedding them in organics. To use the weapons, all we had to do was cut out part of the brain stems, and stimulate them with our own primitive technology.”
“Spies tell me you employed energy weapons stolen from the Tyrnari as well,” Risilan said. “At least, your specific group. Your War Forgers, as you call them.”
“Oh yeah,” Jason said. “Those. Yes. Again, the interface was mostly already there, and just required a few electrical impulses to get going. I’m guessing the empire supplied you with these weapons, and you don’t really know how they work yourselves.”
“Some of them are black boxes to us, yes,” Risilan said. “With a standard interface that can be linked to a bioweapon.”
“There you go,” Jason said. “So you didn’t exactly answer my question. Unless you’re trying to tell me that you want us to fight for you because we have some weapons we borrowed from the Banthar.”
“No,” Risilan said. “Mostly, I request your assistance because of the size of your army.”
“It isn’t exactly all that large,” Jason said. “I’m sure you have a bigger army protecting this city itself.”
“Actually, we don’t,” Risilan said. “My army has slowly been ravaged over the years. The defenses you saw outside the dome hold up well when the Imperials send a few skirmishers, as they did with you, but—”
“That was more than a few,” Jason interrupted.
“Yes, but when they dispatch their actual army, that’s when the trouble comes. Fortunately for us, they’ve sent most of their army to your planet at the moment,” Risilan said.
“Wait, you’re trying to tell me the Imperials don’t have another army here to protect themselves?” Jason said. “That they’ve left themselves open to attack? Why would they do that? Unless they were idiots…”
“Not idiots,” Risilan said. “The Empire has strict quotas on how big of a local army each member system is allowed. Colonies are even more restricted. We’ve negotiated a bigger space navy than normal, thanks to our willingness to terraform our planet for the empire, but local troop numbers are restricted. The Imperials are compelled to obey the quotas. Since we’re not officially associated with the empire, we don’t necessarily have to obey that particular edict.”
“But you’re part of the same planet,” Jason said. “I doubt this empire would recognize multiple factions. What if they found out what you are doing? Wouldn’t they attack?”
“They’d certainly quell our numbers, and the Imperials would lose power in the process,” Risilan said. “Which is why the Imperials would never tell them. And also why they stage routine attacks to keep our troop numbers in check.”
“What about all these bioweapons you claim are produced here?” Jason said. “Why wouldn’t the Imperials just gather them all up and use them to defend their city if they needed to?”
“Using the bioweapons for anything other than officially designated empire purposes, such as local skirmishes, is strictly prohibited, and punishable by death to the involved parties,” Risilan said.
“This empire doesn’t sound like a very friendly organization,” Jason said.
“Try to avoid joining, if you can,” Risilan said. “Perhaps you will get lucky. Perhaps they will overlook your technology, considering it a backwater world, and you will surprise them, developing weapons technology surpassing their own, so that when you finally attract their attention, you will be ready. But most likely, not.”
“So these bioweapons are allowed to roam the plains, attacking whatever they want, until the Imperials capture them?” Jason asked.
“That’s right,” Risilan said. “The bulls are rounded up, packaged, and shipped out in quarterly culls.”
“Nice,” Jason said. “So since using the bioweapons is prohibited… these Imperials have committed most of their army to Earth, leaving them open to an attack here…”
“Correct,” Risilan said. “But their numbers are still formidable, at least without you to help me, given the current state of my army. Also, now that the main Imperial army is on Earth, they have no limits to the number of units they can produce, since your homeworld is outside empire rule. Which is why they took the Creation Structures with them, and will run them at all hours to produce more troops, especially if there are raw materials available. In a few days, they will very likely send back these newly produced reinforcements. Our window of opportunity is short.”
“So do you have a specific plan?” Jason asked.
“You will be part of the initial strike force,” Risilan said.
“So cannon fodder, basically…” Jason said.
“Not at all,” Risilan said. “Assuming I’m understanding the idiom correctly. Our own troops will also be among you. You will attack the city from the west. The Imperials will commit roughly half of their troops to stave off the attack. When they do, a second Modlenth strike force will attack from the east. The Imperials will send the remainder of their forces to engage them. Meanwhile, while the two of you keep the defenders occupied, a smaller, third group, led by myself, will make a headlong rush into the city from the north, directly to the Imperial palace. I will kill the royal family and all the heirs, assume my rightful place, and then call off the forces attacking you.”
“Sounds bloody,” Jason said.
“Uprisings usually are,” Risilan said.
“You’re sure you have a way to defeat the defenses of the Imperial palace once you’re in the city?” Jason pressed. “I doubt they’ll be light.”
“I have friends in the Imperial palace,” Risilan said. “They will help me when my precision strike force is in place.”
“Does the success of the ope
ration depend on these ‘friends’ of yours?” Jason said.
“No,” Risilan said. “If they don’t help, we’ll break through the defenses ourselves. It will simply take longer.”
“I’m not sure I like the part about killing the royal family and all the heirs,” Jason said.
“Neither do I!” Lori said on a private channel.
“Maybe you can kill the emperor alone,” Jason said. “And leave the heirs alone?”
“Unacceptable,” Risilan said. “There must be no one left alive who could ever attempt to resume power. If I spared anyone of royal blood, I would merely be planting the seeds for the next coup. That would be irresponsible, not to mention immoral, for all of the citizenry who would die in the coming wars.”
Jason didn’t know what to say.
“So you will not help, given these conditions?” Risilan said.
“Depends,” Jason said. “What do we get in return?”
“What do you want?” Risilan said.
“Will you promise to return us to Earth?” Jason asked.
“I can certainly do that, once we are successful,” Risilan said. “Because I will have control of the rift generators.”
“How about lending me some of your army as well,” Jason said. “So I can defeat the Tyrnari waiting on the other side? I don’t really want them to terraform our planet…”
“We won’t need to lend you any troops,” Risilan said. “If we’re successful, the Imperials will recall their entire army, returning them here in an attempt to deal with me. Your homeworld will be free of their influence.”
“Aren’t you worried that they’ll have more troops than they left with?” Jason said. “Thanks to those, what did you call them… Creation Structures?”
“This is true,” Risilan said. “At least, assuming the native defense forces of your planet fail to make any difference in their numbers. But I’ll have control of our space navy by then. I’ll recall the warships, and they will help me destroy the army with attacks from orbit.”
“I won’t be staying around for that,” Jason said.
“It’s not one of the requirements,” Risilan said. “I only need your army for the initial strike against the Imperial city.”
“Good,” Jason said. “Then I think we have a deal. When do we leave?”
“I will gather my army,” Risilan said. “And join you outside the dome in two hours.”
11
Jason and his War Forgers followed Jhagan’s mech out of the city.
“How far is it to the Imperial city?” Jason asked the alien along the way.
“Not long,” Jhagan said. “A day’s march, if that. We can only move as fast as our slowest units, of course. And that would be you. Or more specifically, those vehicles you call tanks.”
“Yeah, nothing we can do about that,” Jason said.
“Some upgrades might be in order at a future date,” Jhagan said. “But for now, yes, there is nothing you can do.”
When Jason was back in comm range with the rest of the army, he informed them of the new agreement.
“Well, I don’t really care how we get home,” Tara 5 said. “Even if we have to destroy a royal family to do it.”
“I hope I get to kill some alien royals!” Bokerov said.
“Actually, you won’t,” Jason said. “We’re part of the diversionary force.”
“Damn it,” Bokerov said. “I never get to have any fun. What’s the point of obeying you if I can’t do what I want once in a while?”
“Because you’re compelled to,” Jason said.
He reached the exit to the dome, and traveled through the airlock membrane and into the rectangular compartment beyond. The Rex Wolves yipped excitedly when they saw him and the others.
Shaggy leaped on his chest, and licked his face.
“Hey Shag,” Jason said. “Nice to see you, too.” He glanced at the overhead map and confirmed that Julian and his clones were near the exit on the far side of the compartment. “Julian, lead the way out.”
“But the doors—” Julian began.
They irised open as he spoke, and Julian directed his War Forger clones outside. Jason waited for the others to exit, and then he followed with his Originals. He exited, passing between the dual ranks of Modlenth mechs, and took up a position next to the waiting tanks and Cataphracts.
Two hours later, Risilan’s army joined them. It was composed of a thousand elliptical ships, five hundred mechs, and a hundred airships. Most of the latter seemed big enough to be cargo ships.
Jason had a direct line to Jhagan, who would be his battle leader during the fight. Jhagan would also relay any orders to him from Risilan.
“Jhagan, what kind of cargo are those airships carrying?” Jason asked. “Or are they simply troop carriers?”
“Just a few bioweapons our scientists have cooked up,” Jhagan replied. “A little something to surprise the Imperials with.”
“I’m looking forward to that!” Bokerov said.
“So Risilan is really breaking all the empire’s rules,” Jason said. “Creating a personal army that puts her entire planet over the limit allowed by the empire. Deploying bioweapons, when the creatures are only allowed to fight for the empire.”
“When she assumes control, one day the empire will attack,” Jhagan said. “It will be many years from now, however. Perhaps decades.”
“Why so long?” Jason asked.
“Haven’t you guessed?” Jhagan said. “Why do you think the empire needs bioweapons so badly from its member species? They are engaged in a war. One that has lasted almost two centuries. They don’t have the resources to commit to quelling every little uprising that comes along, at least not immediately. They will deal with us when there is a respite in the war.”
“I’d hate to meet whatever enemy the empire is fighting,” Jason said.
“So would we,” Jhagan said.
“Have you ever seen this enemy?” Jason asked.
“Not directly,” Jhagan replied.
Jason waited for him to tell him more, but he had a feeling Jhagan wasn’t going to be all that forthcoming on the subject.
It’s just going to have to be another one of those mysteries of the universe.
As the army set out, Jason scanned the alien ranks, trying to guess where Risilan was cloistered. In the mech regiment, he spotted a Modlenth with a white topknot protruding from the metal head area, one that matched the topknot Risilan herself wore.
He was about to ask Jhagan about it, but decided the alien probably wouldn’t tell him. Instead, he went with: “You know, it’s interesting how your mech design diverges so drastically from your actual bodies.”
“We design for utility, rather than beauty,” Jhagan said.
And that was the end of their conversation.
Jason’s army followed behind the main group of Modlenth. The War Forgers went first, forming five columns organized by clone, followed by the tanks, with the Cataphracts at the rear. Those Cataphracts reached as high as the airships Risilan possessed.
The terrain was relatively flat for the first hour, then became slightly hilly in the second. A new type of tree began to dominate the surroundings, this one more like a sprawling oak. It had a long, bare trunk that reached well above Jason’s mech, with branches at the top expanding outward in an umbrella-like pattern; those branches were covered in the same silky, web-like leaves of the previous pines.
“Furry Umbrellas!” Lori said. “That’s what I’m calling them.”
“You would,” Sophie said.
Soon the army was treading though a forest of those trees, which heights concealed even the Cataphracts, not to mention the airships.
“This forest will take us right to the city,” Jhagan said. “We’ve sent scouts ahead to hack into the surveillance units the Imperials have scattered throughout the trees. They will replace the camera feeds with video loops, allowing us to approach undetected. At least, that’s the plan.”
“Than
ks for the update,” Jason said.
A few minutes later Jhagan told him: “We’ll be passing close to a bioweapon breeding facility in a few minutes. Don’t be alarmed by what you see. A containment field keeps the bioweapons penned in.”
Sure enough, after five minutes, the trees to the right fell away. Jason saw a group of Dragon Cheetahs inside an energy dome, separated from a herd of Girahips in another. There was also another kind of bioweapon he’d never seen before in a different dome: basically it looked like a bunch of elephant trunks attached to a crab-like body. Those trunks moved randomly, feeling out the air above them; when they actually brushed against the swaying trunk of a nearby bioweapon, both trunks tightened, and pulled toward each other, so that the two entities soon became intertwined, with all of their trunks gripping their twins. One of the two inevitably stood on the ground, while the other had its six legs crimped skyward. And then, after a few moments, the trunks would slowly release when the bioweapons realized they were contacting a friendly, and the trunks unzipped, and they were back on their feet, trunks swaying in the air once more.
It was all rather disgusting, really.
Jason’s gaze was drawn to the Dragon Cheetah pen: those particular bioweapons were leaping toward the passing mechs en masse, but were inevitably stopped by the containment field, which flashed brighter where contact was made. It didn’t matter that hundreds of troops had passed by before Jason and the others: the Dragon Cheetahs just kept relentlessly throwing themselves at the field, like they couldn’t help themselves.
“Obviously they’re programmed to strike at anything that moves,” Tara said.
“Which explains why they were so eager to divert from their regular prey back in the pine forest,” Aria said. “When we passed a few that were on the loose.”
“That was more than a few,” Sophie said.
“You think the Modlenth replaced any camera feeds inside there?” Lori asked.
“They must have,” Xin replied. “Otherwise the Imperials would be dispatching a team to find out what was exciting their bioweapons.”