Exploration (Galactic Neighborhood Book 3)

by Alexander Elliott

  She rushed forward to attack him, only to smash into an invisible barrier which tingled when she came in contact with it. Hissing and spitting curses, she retreated from the intruder and called for her guards. When no one responded to her calls, she and her advisers attempted to flee the room, but there was no escape. The dark haired human watched her with a gimlet eye and then finally spoke. Somehow, his words were rendered in the Silestri tongue.

  “I am Admiral Perry, leader of the Alliance forces who now have control of this system. Your entire fleet has been destroyed, along with all groundside offensive weapons and installations. Your palace is surrounded and sealed, making escape impossible. It is time for you to answer for your crimes, Prime Yarmew.”

  Instead of cowering, Yarmew approached him, chin high, claws extended, and met his steely gaze with one of her own.

  “Filthy human! You have no right to invade my world and kill my people. The Silestri will never bow to you or any other. Remove yourselves from Bastet immediately, or your kind will feel my wrath once more!”

  Perry remained cool and distant, though one eyebrow rose slightly in response.

  “You say I have no right, yet you are responsible for the deaths of billions of my people, along with the destruction of my home planet. You are greatly mistaken if you think I will allow you to threaten even one more human life. Perhaps you refer to the humans you abandoned on Hathor, or the slaves you keep in this palace. Or would it be the women who have been forced to sexually service your Sub’ords with your full knowledge. Yes, we know all about them, Prime Yarmew, and except for your house slaves, they have already been taken to safety on one of our worlds. Watch your viewscreen if you doubt my word.”

  Images from Hathor and the sex slave’s quarters appeared, showing their rescue. Lastly, the house slaves could be seen waiting in their underground chamber one moment, and gone the next in a brilliant flash of golden light. Yarmew and her advisers growled and hissed as they saw the hostages disappear. Without pause, the image on the screen changed once again to show the exterior of the building which housed the cradle. Perry spoke once more.

  “Apparently, you were not content to murder and enslave my people, as though it were not enough. We have put an end to the monstrous manipulation of our genetic heritage to enhance your dinner plates. Your evil and self-serving machinations have come to a long overdue end.”

  The viewscreen showed two Sentinels piercing the building with powerful tractor beams. The structure crumbled as the cradle burst through the roof and continued a slow rise into the sky before it disappeared. The site was then completely cleared, leaving nothing but an enormous hole in the ground.

  Yarmew spewed venomous curses and whirled to face him once more.

  “Who are you to decide what is best and who should rule? You have no voice or standing on Bastet. Everything I have done has been for the betterment and safety of my people. No one would deny this!”

  Perry’s features turned to ice, reflected in his voice when he responded.

  “I happen to know a great number who would disagree with you.”

  A moment later, the huge hall filled with nearly three hundred angry and confused Sub’ords and crew who had been snatched from their exploding ships. Perry’s voice carried over the din.

  “Perhaps we should ask them if they believe you had their well-being in mind when you ordered them to die for no reason.”

  Though they were unaccustomed to challenging Prime Yarmew, many of the Sub’ords began to growl and hiss in anger. Yarmew shouted above the din.

  “This human has no say here! He does not understand the Tok Choh as we do. You have been robbed of glorious deaths for your people!”

  Instead of responding verbally, Perry began to play snippets of recorded conversations on the viewscreen. In them, Yarmew revealed her true feelings for her people, her motivations for the destruction of the Earth, and the futile effort to attack the humans once more. Finally, they were able to see her as the spoiled, selfish, ruthless ruler she truly was. The one who managed to bring their entire world to the edge of destruction, while covering up her true motivations and goals at the expense of her own kind. The Silestri were stunned at what they heard and saw, unsure of what came next. Turning to address the Sub’ords, Perry broke the silence.

  “It has been suggested we repay Bastet in kind, and send enough asteroids to decimate this planet, just as you did to Earth. Clearly, we have the ability to do so, yet I would be willing to consider sparing Bastet on one condition: Yarmew will no longer rule here. What is your decision?”

  It was difficult to determine exactly where the noise and motion began, but the audience chamber filled with angry roars and a rush of Sub’ords in Yarmew’s direction. It didn’t take long for her and her advisers to be ripped to shreds in a frenzy of claws and teeth. In other parts of the room, some of the more unpopular Sub’ords, including Dromew, met a similar fate. Blood pooled and splashed everywhere, staining the sleek coats of those were not even fighting. When the tumult was finally over, the milling Silestri turned to Perry once again, expecting something more from the inordinately calm human.

  “I will return to this chamber at midday tomorrow to discuss terms with your new leadership. Meanwhile, we will be watching.”

  Perry vanished, leaving the surviving Sub’ords to choose their next Prime and ponder an uncertain future.

  ####

  Perry returned to Expedition with a heavy heart, and was mildly surprised Captain Arlington was waiting for him. He gave her a brisk nod and turned towards his quarters. Arlington said nothing, but walked beside him as they had so many times before through the years. As always, he found her presence comforting, and deeply appreciated the silence. She knew what he was thinking, even if he refused to speak of it openly. This was not the first time he played the part of the heavy, nor she assumed, would it be the last. Today’s events reminded her of what happened with the Lydokk many years ago. Perry took on the interplanetary policeman role in that situation also, but it deeply troubled him afterwards.

  As the senior officer present, both then and now, his was the face their enemies would long remember. Arlington came to the conclusion Perry cared too much, if possible, but his integrity and sense of duty compelled him to bring both unpleasant confrontations to a suitable conclusion. There were some who questioned his methods, even disagreed with him completely, but they would have been hard pressed to match his careful balance of justice and restraint. Theresa Arlington respected and admired Perry because she knew, in her own heart and mind, she herself would not have measured up.

  They reached his quarters and Perry turned to face his old friend, unsure what, if anything, he should say. Arlington saved him the trouble with a quick shake of her head.

  “Don’t beat yourself up, Chris. You did your job, better than most in my opinion, and for what it’s worth you have my full support. I will make sure you remain undisturbed, though you are invited to dinner with General Moreland and myself, if you would care to join us.”

  Perry lifted an eyebrow in response and a small smile gentled his features.

  “Thank you, Theresa. I believe I will.”

  Arlington smiled in return and left to resume her duties on the bridge.

  ####

  The fleet was kept busy the next morning, as there were several loose ends to tie up before Perry’s meeting with the new Prime. During their dinner the previous evening, Arlington made an interesting suggestion which required one of his battleships and three Sentinels to make a hurried trip back to Sol.

  Meanwhile, another important mission was undertaken by the Vingah. Thataar was quietly working on a way to safely close down the corridors, and so took their ship, accompanied by a wealth of firepower, to each of the affected systems. Using specially modified missiles, each of the spatial scars was destabilized and then sealed by a massive energy inversion, thus closing all the corridors simultaneously. Attempts to reopen the scars proved impossible, and the Vingah de
clared the process a success. Scientifically, it was an unfortunate end to a natural phenomenon, yet it was deemed necessary. Leaving the corridors open was an obvious security risk for the Sol system, but also an invitation for the Silestri, or someone else, to abuse them again in the future.

  Another housekeeping task involved locating the wreckage from Exploration. There was nothing of value left, of course, but the surviving crew requested the remains of the ship be removed from the Vibrissa system. Perry understood their reluctance to leave anything behind, no matter how insignificant, and sent a handful of small craft to take care of it. The last remaining job was being handled by the buoys and Sentinels in Bastet orbit. They were working non-stop, scanning the surface for any remaining information stolen from the colony ship. Data was being deleted, research destroyed, and technology confiscated, making a clean sweep of the planet before the fleet returned home.

  Constant surveillance revealed the Silestri took Perry’s ‘advice’ seriously, selecting a new Prime and assembling a fresh group of governmental advisers. It was obvious they were unhappy being dictated to by a mere human, and were still smarting from their overwhelming defeat, but the new voices were taking a pragmatic approach to restoring desperately needed order.

  Though none were eager to face Perry again, they hoped it would mark a final parting of ways with their enemy and enable them to move forward. At the appointed hour, Perry appeared in their midst as promised. Though he was safely shielded, several buoys were also present as a protective measure, and as a reminder of the superior technology humans controlled.

  Perry looked over the audience chamber, noting the evidence of yesterday’s carnage was now scrubbed from the walls and floor. On the dais sat a new padded bench, replacing the old reclining couch, and on it rested the new Prime – Talmew. Perry was somewhat surprised the old Sub’ord was in such good favor with his people after heading up the effort to prepare the now-lost fleet for battle. It was also significant their new leader was male, since generations of Primes past were all female. Whatever their reasoning, Perry was satisfied his conditions were met, and Yarmew removed from her position of power and influence. As he climbed the dais steps, the crowd of new advisers gathered closer to hear what he had to say.

  “I would congratulate you, Talmew, on your elevation to Prime, but I do not envy the heavy burdens you face. Our time here is almost at an end. We have removed all traces of our people and technology from Bastet. We have destroyed all your military and research facilities, databases, and production lines. We have removed the cradle you stole from the colony vessel Exploration. We have freed every human being you have enslaved or abandoned, both here and on Hathor. We have eliminated every ship, orbital platform, and weapons array in the Vibrissa system.”

  “Finally, we have permanently sealed the corridors leading to other regions of the galaxy. Your people will remain bound to Bastet for some time to come, though I expect you will someday regain a presence in space. If you do, remember any future encounter with humanity will prove fatal, since we have already extended more mercy to you than you deserve.”

  “Before we depart, we wish to bestow a very special gift as a reminder to future generations of the events which transpired between our peoples.”

  The large wall viewscreen came to life with an aerial view of the city, specifically the now-empty land which used to house the space port and the stolen cradle. Without warning, the sky filled with an enormous asteroid, pitted, scarred and misshapen. Talmew and the others growled and hissed in fear, expecting it to be dropped on the city in retribution. Instead, it was held in place by a number of Sentinels and slowly lowered to the ground. When it finally touched down, the entire city, including the palace, trembled and swayed from the resulting shock. When the shaking stopped, Perry spoke once more.

  “This asteroid was taken from the Sol system, from the very place your people gathered others like it to destroy our home world. Just as we will never forget what you have done, neither will you be able to ignore this reminder of the grievous crimes you have committed. If you learn from this and change your behavior, so much the better. If you do not, be warned your next encounter may well be your last.”

  As quickly and silently as he arrived, Perry disappeared. Within moments, every buoy, Sentinel, and ship in the Vibrissa system entered fold space and returned home.

  Chapter 14

  Jack Lovett stood at the scenic overlook on Beta island and marveled at the beautiful view. Pacifica’s unique capital, Atlantis, was a wagon wheel shaped collection of six islands, connected by a series of bridges. He could see a least a portion of each of the islands from his vantage point, all surrounded by deep blue ocean waters.

  Small groups of strange gull-like birds flitted back and forth, calling to each other in a tinkling high pitched song which reminded him of a carillon. Lovett closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep cleansing breath of fresh air while the breeze played with his hair. The course of his life withstood a dramatic upheaval in the last few weeks, and he was still trying to process what it all meant.

  He and the rest of Exploration’s crew were given a temporary home on Pacifica while the details of their future were worked out. The men were given quarters on the PSF base on Beta island, sharing a large, comfortable barracks. They took their meals in a real mess hall, rubbing elbows with the men stationed there. It was nothing like the ‘caveman’s cafe’ he was used to, and he honestly missed it in a strange way.

  The food, of course, was far superior, proved by a significant increase in his weight, but what made him nostalgic was not the menu. The men shared a special bond during their years on Hathor, and he was having a hard time letting it go. It was reassuring many of the others felt the same way, but he knew it was time for him to set aside the past and start looking forward to the future – a future he never thought he would see.

  His counselor did not seem overly concerned, and told him his feelings were perfectly understandable. He reassured Lovett he would know when and how to turn the corner when the time came. This was something which could not be forced or rushed, and each of the men would deal with it in their own way. As part of their reintegration to normal life, personal counseling was required.

  Lovett was down to twice a week now, and was amazed by how much it was helping him adjust. The busy schedule they followed helped prevent maudlin thinking, and gave him something constructive to focus on. Daily classroom instruction was arranged, designed to bring them all up to speed on what happened in the last few decades. History, technology, medical advances, and the people and worlds of the Alliance were all part of the curriculum.

  Each of the other colonies, as well as their non-human treaty partners, all contributed something of value to the Alliance. Lovett was looking forward to the day when the same could be said of Exploration’s crew. An uncomfortable thought occurred to him. Perhaps they were too broken to actually succeed in establishing a new colony somewhere. After all, twenty percent of their crew was dead, and many of their number suffered significant damage at the hands of the Silestri.

  On the other hand, they would have the help and resources of the entire Alliance behind them; something the original plans never included. Lovett still had many questions and concerns regarding the future of his people, but he remained confident good things awaited them in the days ahead.

  His thoughts took a different turn as he considered what faced him, and the others, tomorrow. With his body now recovered from the deprivations of the last decade, he was scheduled to undergo some routine medical procedures. Alliance scientists developed healing and life extension therapies which were vastly superior to anything he experienced before. It would require several days in a modified stasis chamber, in a sleep so deep he would remember nothing of the process.

  It was hard to believe he would emerge looking like a twenty year old again, but he was assured it was true. One look around him at the rest of the Alliance humans confirmed the therapy worked, but a younger appe
arance was only a happy side affect. Old wounds would be healed, genetic abnormalities corrected, and his lifespan greatly extended. Establishing a thriving colony would certainly tax his new and improved body, so he was looking forward to the advantages the procedure would give him.

  Lovett smiled when his thoughts turned to a recent conversation with Birmew. The Silestri was adjusting far better than Lovett anticipated, soaking up the challenges of his new life like a dry sponge. When the subject of medical treatments came up, he did not hesitate to embrace them for himself. He was disappointed to discover the researchers would have to start from scratch where he was concerned, since no one yet developed the protocol for Silestri. Once he demonstrated interest, however, they brought him in for blood and tissue samples and detailed body scans.

  It might take months to work out the complicated procedure, but the medical specialists were confident they could do it. There were a couple of other things they believed they would be also be able to do, if Birmew was interested. Lovett was called in to explain to his friend that, if desired, his testicles could be restored and the barbs on his penis removed. Once Birmew stopped growling at the very personal nature of the discussion, he agreed with Lovett it would be wise to take them up on the offer when the time came.