MILDRATAWA

by Nigel Clayton

  “You are quite right, my lady,” Tara agreed. “It is certainly a long time coming.”

  “And I’m sure rewarding,” edged in Tam-Bie. “I take that my government’s apologies have been accepted without further punishing remarks such as calling us Cowards of the Quadrant?”

  “I find it amazing that this should be one of the first things you bring up Tam-Bie. I called this meeting in the hope of talking in ways of founding a new way of life, not bringing up unimportant matters such as whom violated whom, or for what moneys one received. I suggest very strongly that we forget our past transgressions and concentrate on the future; for it was so long ago that such disagreements swayed our judgements.”

  “You are right, my lady,” Tam-Bie added. “We’ve never forgotten the ways of the Monarchy and look forward to such standards again. But it’s the macebearers way to search for a better lifestyle. His diamonds and pearls are his only keep. You certainly understand that.”

  “Maybe we can put all of this to an end Tam-Bie. I have prepared a paper on the first steps towards a united quadrant and suggest we adhere to it. Tara, maybe you should divulge to the others what you have already divulged to me.”

  “Certainly, my lady.” He addressed all. “We refer to the stone which was dug from the grounds where the prison for the Vertons was built. It is a stone that can be employed in lieu of most other fuels – no need for cumbersome reactors that provide the power for a ship to go into parsec. It’s very stable and easy to mine. We’ve been testing it already with great results being obtained. It can also provide sufficient ground power to an entire continent. All in the quadrant will share the wealth of such a stone, so long as we can be united. No member of any of the planets within the quadrant will have the need to take part in their mercenary actions ever again. It was a long time ago that we turned to such actions due to the unstableness of communities and for lack of resource materials and the equipment to mine such. The stone will give us the power to travel at a parsec never dreamed of before and give us all the money for materials for the construction of transporters; we call these Trucks, but the manufacture of such a ship is a long way off yet.”

  Ku-Otor spoke: “But an agreement for peace must be agreed upon?”

  “If we cannot maintain coexistence within our planets, we’ll never be a rich and powering quadrant,” said the Queen. “We will agree upon peace; and if any one planet turns against another, two things will occur. Firstly, the other planets to the quadrant will act as one to bring them to their senses; and secondly, the Mildratawa may be forced to intervene, much like the knives-edge that they hold at the throat of Verton. They have one chance remaining, if you recall. One slip up from them and devastating circumstances could arise. We don’t need to end up like Verton or either of the other planets to Quadrant Two; not like Basbi Triad or Irshstup; they all squander in a certain amount of filth.”

  “You’re quite right of course,” agreed Tam-Bie. “I’ll do my best, but it’ll not be easy. I believe I can get my battalions of mercenary to call upon this agreement as worthy. If it does give us the freedom and wealth that you suggest, then they’ll have no need to kill for a living. Comfort in life and prosperity is all they seek.”

  “Time is of the essence,” said Ku-Otor.

  The Queen had one more thing she needed to add before any other negotiations could be agreed upon. “I also suggest that we form a guard for the quadrant. Let’s say 10,000 in strength combined equally from all planets and supplied for by the stones which we mine. The first move towards unity. We will call them— Protectors of the— of— of the Federate.”

  “The Protectors of the Federate. A very good idea, my lady.”

  “Here, here.” All agreed and the meeting continued for a further two hours before coming to a close. The force of 10,000 would be gathered and transported to Equatia before the end of another seven days.

  QUADRANT TWO.

  THE DEAD ZONE.

  Life on planet Verton had been made to look the disgrace by the officials of the Mildratawa since the signing of the treaty. Robots galore paved the community of Verton like a plague of locusts. Curfew restriction was violated time and time again, and this was always met with its authoritative measure of laser fire. The Legion Millennium hid well amongst the mass of civilians without a stare of knowing being cast upon them, no hint given to whom was legion, warlord, or general, of the forces that once belonged to the Empress Dimala, though controlled by Vetty. They moved amongst the throngs of citizens unnoticed and undistinguished by the enforcers of law and order, the always searching bounty hunters, the hard shell police and guards to the galaxy, the upholder to the laws of the Mildratawa. To these police robots it was a summarising force of logic to suggest that those executed on the spot for breaking the incurred curfew were legion themselves and not black marketeers whom drowned the streets and alleys by night in the search for making living more comfortable.

  Many factory products, simple things such as food, had dissipated slightly due to the Mildratawa laws, and underground biologically grown vegetables and fruits were brought to maturity as fast as gamma buds and seedlings could be multiplied to a form of life giving sustenance. But this was still little compensation for the lack of rations.

  But most of the planet’s food was imported in exchange for Verton’s diamonds and pearls by the Mildratawa, and these were maintained control of, as agreed upon, by Quadrant Four, under the agreements of Alliance. A control on the riches by a given community guaranteed the control of the macebearers as their greed could be monitored and controlled. Like the Fort Knox of America hundreds of years before, the Mildratawa controlled a well-guarded vault on Glaucuna. This was guarded by different beings from varying planets under a rotation basis. The inventory was concurred with from one week to the next. The market place for such riches would now be regulated.

  The unfairly run society of Verton was not meant to be hurtful and degrading but simply a measure towards security that would never cease.

  Warlord Newtwon glanced down at his atomic watch and realised that it was time for the mission to be put into action. He’d been in hiding for many months now; he and his cruisers of death, along with many smaller ships of varying size, all locked away in their bellies. Hidden in the Dead Zone near Quadrant Two they’d waited, just one of the three Dead Zones of the galaxy which was completely deficient of any form of colonised life. All over the planet Verton, Legion Millennium awaited for the right moment to strike, the signal being simple and controlled from space. Up from the dark depths, 400 man transporters and ellat fighters of all descriptions came out of parsec from the hidden depths of the Dead Zone, locking onto targets, and began their bombardment.

  Spaceports throughout the Verton Lands were hit with streaks of ion cannon as police robot headquarters and space-shipping lane bays were targeted. The strike had been well planned and the targets fired upon systematically, allowing the robots only split seconds to react to the space boundary intrusion.

  Many space robots made it to their three man fighters intact and a melee of assaulting ships, escaping legion, Verton mercenary, and police robot, was conjunction within minutes in the dark skies above Verton air space.

  The Vertons soon won the fight, but had no time to rest now; retreat from victory they must.

  The large scale escape had been conjured up over a period of six slow passing months, mainly as a means for the legion to escape their home planet as execution was no way for a Verton to die. Although they were a tough breed, they were also lovers of life; so long as they could live to kill, they loved it. But as time rode its course, so did the minds of the warlords and generals of the Millennium, in particular those whom had escaped from Irshstup with the only four battle cruisers left in existence.

  They were now about to return to their hiding place that had given them sanctuary for so long.

  These four vessels of death now made for the far corner of Quadrant Two, behind the planet Verton itself, out of sight fr
om any likely probing Mildratawa deep space reconnaissance satellite. Once here a plan to re-enter the Dead Zone on Quadrant Two would be instigated. They would enter and travel for a period of two hours parsec, a most favourable distance to save from being devoured by the unknown, and at the same time, escape from the clutches of spy vessels. This was their administration hide in the depths of unfolded space. It had appeared to work, another lucky break as it were.

  Vessel after vessel entered the zone with the complaint and argument of the Millennium and Verton mercenary being swayed by the possibility that robot police may be following in close pursuit. The robots however, wouldn’t dream of entering the unknown, the performance of such an act went against all that they stood for, but it would be reported on; that was for sure. A quick and unseen escape was essential for the Vertons, and this they’d secured quite easily.

  Work on board the four battle cruisers was maintained at a hectic pace as the hours steadily passed. All of the deep space vessels had received many direct hits during the conflict and all of the bays had to be fitted to suit the spaceships that they now harboured. Food was stored into its containers and loaded onto ships. Weapons were connected to their different power sources and recharged by the assorted jewels, stones, and nuclear batteries; and for the first time ever, Verton mercenary were issued with mind scans. The entire force of the Verton amalgamation was renamed. They were no longer Legion Millennium or Verton mercenary; they would now be known as the Partisan Austere.

  A new ranking system was also put into immediate effect, in particular to allow for little cause for a violent outbreak between the slightly two sided force. It would be several days before they would become accustomed to the fact that they now fought under the same name, banners, and colours. Newtwon was still known as warlord after the amalgamation, and working directly under him was his subordinates. He had four commanders of which would command one battle cruiser each. Each of these commanders was known as empyrean and would answer to no one except Newtwon.

  Empyrean Muetvit moved with fixed pace towards Newtwon from the main control console of his bridge. “Lord, a message from one of your scouting ellat’s. They intend to inform you of an intervened security coded message, seemingly delivered alone all possible QEM-gates to the adjoining Quadrants, from somewhere in Quadrant One. It’s a message from Muriphure Vetty. The message was picked up just outside the port to the Quadrant and then passed on here.” The empyrean dare not refer to him as Warlord Vetty, not in the company he was at present addressing. Vetty was no more than an empyrean himself; if he so desired to live, he would abide by the Klive – a written command. If not, he would die by the mind scan. He could never be felled by the balai timit as he knew how not to show consciousness, unless an artificial eye was implanted in his eye socket. “He says that he’ll meet with any remaining Verton forces on Planet Siest. He’s not yet breached its borders for fear of tripping an alert. He says it’s abandoned and that no one exists within its covering of cloud. The message has been cleared as original and no other Quadrant possess the capability to mimic the signal sent by him, nor does anyone have the capacity to decipher such.”

  Newtwon listened with interest to the message. ‘Planet Siest, the only planet not colonised by Earth; abandoned.’ “Inform all empyrean to meet with me tonight for the main meal. We’ll discuss our plans.”

  “Yes, my lord.” He turned to pass the message on to the others.

  Time would pass slowly now, as the workload was overwhelmingly large. With the escape came many supplies. Only 3,000 odd Partisan Austere manned each of the battle cruisers, a minute speck in comparison to the metal hulls of ships that dwarfed even the largest of cities. These objects of destruction were in a way just large bulky transporters, for they transported men to war, delivering them and their ellats, chariots within which they rode. These monstrous vessels were an ominous sight when first viewed in space. Approaching to dock in one of its many bays gave a certain feeling of power to any pilot. He knew that the permission he had been given to enter such a fortress could be so easily denied. The mass of firepower which existed was a phenomenon to any eye which viewed it, like a peasant many years ago looking up to the Colossus. Only one other vessel came close to its power and size, the portenium cruiser; and of course the star destroyer – which was ominous but bleak in its proportion regards size and armament.

  But time had come to pass and the meal soon arrived. As with many formal engagements, the meal was enjoyed prior to any plans, of any description, being spoken. Most of the conversation that did take place evolved that of administration, and a bicker on the combined inventories from all battle cruisers arose. After a prolonged and careful assessment it was soon realised that supplies in the form of food and water were extremely low. They had ample weapons, and the power sources to maintain such an arsenal, but little food was available. Although food pills were plentiful in their quantity, they didn’t maintain the high level of moral, nor the energy levels for self-control; a clear mind was required at all times if the Partisan Austere were going to prove themselves as a mighty fighting force.

  “The message itself may not be what it seems. We’ve no real proof that the security code hasn’t been breached and that this may just be a means to try and pry us from our hide; Vetty’s password could have been delivered to the Mildratawa by foul means or other,” pointed out Empyrean Bouham.

  “You are quite right of course,” agreed Daisilani. “I couldn’t agree more. But we must surely do something; for sitting here won’t help, not in any way.”

  Newtwon looked the four empyreans in the eye, one after the other. “You are all correct. Such information can’t be acted upon as true. They’re wise to the way in which we monitor all wavelengths from our ellats. To cast a net over our small force would be the Mildratawa’s final victory and would put an end to all hostilities against them. We must learn from our previous mistakes. We’ll never again move with such a large force restricted to the same folds of space. From now on we’ll maintain a distance to meet out threat, to operate as individually as possible whilst still maintaining the same laws and orders. I have already drawn up our plans, and whilst we are safe in the Dead Zone, I would suggest, very strongly, that we work out our tactics to the point where there is only one plan; no alternate method of operation considered, just the one; simple; plan.”

  “You intend to divulge these plans for our consideration?”

  Newtwon shot a glance at Natuipha’s comment. “You undermine my authority, thoughts, ideas, or ever speak that way to me again, and I’ll have your damn tongue cut out and fed to yourself. Do you understand me?”

  He sat erect. So quick was the jerk back to reality that his spine was heard to crack with the reaction. “Yes, my lord, my apologies. I was only suggesting that we also be heard.”

  “You have always been given that privilege. Although we’ve only been together for a short time, I assure you; my ways will not change, ever. I wouldn’t have called you here if I didn’t intend to speak with you all on my ideas for the future of all Verton and the rise of the Partisan Austere. Our numbers at present reflect some degree of weakness – a little less than 12,000 men I believe.” He looked at Bouham for confirmation, to show that he did indeed confide in his empyreans, to prove that he didn’t know everything, no matter how sure he was.

  “That is correct, my lord.”

  “Well; I tell you good, sirs. Our numbers will soon be riding high. Natuipha.”

  “Yes, my lord?”

  “You will be held responsible for the escape of over 90,000 legion from the satellite of Earth. As they’re transported to your battle cruiser they will swear allegiance to the Partisan Austere or be executed on the spot— though out of view of others. For those that appear weak minded; well, you’ll brainwash these. I want no human infiltrators, so check for the chips they carry in their heads – and no Basbi Darkside warriors; you understand?”

  “Yes, my lord.”

  “Daisilani. Y
ou’ll deploy to the space limits of Nougstia and aid in the escape of the legion that have been imprisoned by Queen Asti; and mercenary to Quadrant Three imprisoned may be taken to side with us. I know I can buy their loyalty easily enough, with a few diamonds and plenty of threat. Bouham will take to Earth, the side furthest from its moon, in the search for food in the form of transplantable crops. Muetvit and I will descend upon Siest to meet with Vetty, to see what he has for us. No one will descend upon their targets until all has been readied and all are in position. We’ll remain here for a few days before all is decided upon; as I say; there’ll be only one plan. If there is anything you disagree with, please feel free, but keep in mind your objectives and work your thoughts around these. If all goes well we’ll be a large number in no time at all.”

  “Will you permit us time to ponder this plan?” asked Natuipha.

  “I thought I already gave it. You’ll be permitted to add anything you wish. As I have said, only one plan will be pursued. If you cannot handle the task, or you continually fail to listen Natuipha, I’ll have to look at your authority and position more closely.”

  “Understood, my lord. My thoughts were— no matter.” His embarrassment was felt by all and he knew that he’d be watched more closely from now on.

  “You’ve been given my thoughts. I wish that you should now go to your quarters and plan your strategies as though you were in command of the entire operation. A good simple plan is what we need.” Newtwon felt as though he had given them what they desired, the opportunity to prove their worth; it would also give him the opportunity to see whether or not they were also worthy of being in the position to which each of them held.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  PLANET GLAUCUNA.

  COMPOS MENTIS.

  It took little time for the robot police of Verton to report the on goings to the Mildratawa at Glaucuna, and the officials of Glaucuna in turn organised a meeting that was taken into effect immediately. As the meeting was held so promptly, it was understandable that little representation would be available. Those systems close by were more than intrigued by the immediate call to Glaucuna.