“I'm very glad you are the true leader here and will follow you willingly.” He raised his lip and laughed.
“You engaged a ship,” Rigaar sat down next to where Styllia was still standing as if nothing had happened, “tell me about it.”
“We really didn't engage it.” Raoulf walked over to the table and sat down.
Styllia sat too, confused. She had never seen a duel before. She had studied them, but to understand the quickness within which they passed, and the ability to react as if they hadn't passed at all, was too much for her to understand.
“We were going to,” Raoulf continued, “but I thought better. Their ships are slow, and they use missiles as weapons.
“What type of propulsion did they have,” Styllia asked.
“Warp, their missiles didn't, though.”
“It was an older ship that they couldn't refit.” She said, turning to Rigaar.
“They couldn't refit?” Rigaar asked, and motioned Riaaur over to the table, “You need to hear this too.”
“They've most likely been gaining technological advances too fast for every one of their ships to gain benefit.”
“They've some good ships and some bad ships?” Raoulf laughed.
“Could you have taken that ship if you wanted?” Rigaar looked at Raoulf.
“I think my mines might have gotten them. But, if not, I might have been able to. The only thing is to get past their missiles. They move faster than our ships.”
“They must have used our propulsion technology to build their missiles,” Styllia explained.
“So,” Raoulf said, “the missiles go as fast as your ships?”
“No, faster. They took out a part of the Teckton invasion fleet while their plasma beams did the rest.”
“Plasma is slow. We can beat that.” Riaaur said, avoiding Raoulf’s eyes.
“We can't beat their missiles,” Raoulf said, shaking his head. “At close ranges they're as good as our particle beams, maybe better with that speed.”
“Were you able to shoot them?” Rigaar asked.
“No problem with shooting them. But, if we're too close we get caught in their electromagnetic burst.”
“Styllia,” Rigaar said, “can your technicians make some missile for us using your propulsion system?”
“I'm sure that they can, why?”
“I think we need to test their missile defenses with some of their own weapons.”
“What type of warhead do you want to use,” Riaaur asked.
“Why do we need a warhead,” Rigaar smiled with his eyes, “they're going to get shot anyway.”
Raoulf raised a lip and laughed.
Laitru sat with Kitean to his left side and the communicationsman of the Kata to his right. Behind his massive chair the large window showed the steel city built into the dead planet. A city larger than any on the homeworld. Laitru felt more powerful than any of the Elders of old. There four led the empire. He, not even an Elder ruled an entire system along with the most powerful fleet in the universe. His elder was more powerful than even the ancient gods the fossil katsurani worshipped. He felt the floating of wills, his mind soared with his position.
The main doors opened and Brontinea entered, wearing his sash of ship command. He knelt before Laitru, extended his neck and said, “Leader, my blood is yours.”
“You give good words, Brontinea.” Laitru's spirit flew with the sign of respect given to him. Here, his power was recognized. “Do your actions follow them?”
“Always, Leader.”
Laitru grinned and waved the communicationsman foreword with a swish of his tail. “I have a report based of your actions. Do you wish to hear?”
“No, Leader, I know the thought that this new male holds of me. I know what his report states.”
“It concurs with the statements from your entire bridge crew. You failed to uphold the Triconitae. Because of your actions you lost an enemy ship, allowing it to take information back to an invasion fleet and your ship damaged.” Laitru stood, “Do you still hold to your blood oath?”
“Always, Leader.”
Laitru drew the slug thrower that he kept slung under his arm and shot Brontinea in one of the air slits. The older katsurani fell to the ground and slowly drowned in his own blood while the others watched.
“Kitean,” Laitru sat back down, his eye slits narrowed in satisfaction.
“Leader!” Kitean ran and knelt before his Leader, extending his neck. His breath came a little heavy.
“Take your squadron and patrol outer orbit. We must prepare for an invasion. Also, send a courier to report to the Elder.”
“Yes, Leader!” Kitean forced himself to stride from the room with the air of authority, instead of fleeing with the fear that rampaged through him. Never had he heard of even an Elder acting as his Leader had. Even the Elders of the Ancients followed the Codes.
“You have earned you name.” Laitru spoke to the communicationsman of the Kata, “Have you thought of one?”
“Yes, Leader, it is Bronshnee.”
“Bronshnee, you will follow Kitean and be my personal courier. Do you oppose the position?”
“No, Leader, I am honored!” He turned and left.
Krishnae sat before the massive window that showed the billowing sand. Bronshnee stood transfixed, unable to do much else but look. Krishnae re-read the report that he brought. Printed information hand delivered. Laitru was being careful not to have a ship's computer do the work. He was prepared for a full scale war. Krishnae felt confident that his second fit well into the role.
The doors opened and Soltyn entered escorted by a guard. She was tiny next to the massive katsurani dressed in battle armor. He pretended not to notice that she was there. The fear that they used to hold of the Pyrinni had vanished. They felt complacent in the spartzitz that ran around them and worked with them. The understanding had still not come, but the comfort had.
Before the sitting Krishnae Soltyn saw another, younger, katsurani. This one stood taller than the Elder, and was dressed in garb she had never seen before. She smiled knowing that the Pyrinni had given them the custom of clothing instead of the sash and harnesses that they used to wear.
“Come and sit, Soultinn.” Krishnae motioned to a seat that had been built for her, a gift from him to his spartzitz confidant.
“What is it you wish, Elder?” She stood, still defiant, but knowing that she would tell him everything he wanted to know. She always had.
“A new enemy has been discovered. One you had not told me of.” He pointed to the chair. She knew it as an order then and sat. The younger katsurani still stood, ignoring her. She could see the indignation in the squint of his eyes that she was allowed to sit in his presence. She smiled at the thought, her status higher than his in the Elder's eyes.
“Leave and return in one quarter of a rotation.” Krishnae spoke to the younger one without looking at him.
“Yes, Elder,” Bronshnee said, knelt and extended his neck before leaving.
“Tell me of this new race, Soultinn.” Krishnae leaned back on his tail, a habit he had adopted as an emulation of Soltyn's slouch.
“I've no knowledge of a race that could meet your ships in combat besides those I've already disclosed.”
“I believe you,” he smiled with his eyes, “but you may not believe a race capable battling us that actually is.” He pressed some buttons on his desk and a star map hologram started floating between them. This was new, he must have had it recently installed. She smiled that he always liked to show off his new gadgets to her. But the thought came that he was only entertaining a pet and the smile faded.
“These are the systems that are closest to Corbis,” he continued. “Tell me about those that rule these stars.”
“I'm not very familiar with those systems. I'm not sure that anyone there rules them.” There was a race there, wild and with self-developed spaceflight. How had they gotten it? She remembered reading it some time ago.
“Coul
d the Pirennie be giving them armaments?” He turned and started gazing out of the window. She hated it when he did that. He always seemed to know what she was thinking then. What was it with the sand? All of them seemed transfixed by it. Some of her people thought it stimulated their minds in some way, seeing as how that they usually came up with rather insightful ideas after a long stare. Maybe it was meditation. She remembered the Tecktons falling into a group stupor when they turned their minds inward.
She remembered the race that owned the stars. The name just seemed to escape her. If she told him he would be quick in his attacks, if she withheld he would be brutal, not knowing who or what. Why did she pretend that she fought him? What difference was there here with him than with the Council? They both worked toward maximum expansion. The major difference was the speed that the katsurani seemed to grow. They had accomplished so much and in such an amazingly short amount of time. Why did she hesitate? Here, with Krishnae, there was a chance for her. She already knew of some of her people that had attained partial citizenship.
“When will you stop?” she asked, staring into his dark, empty eyes.
Krishnae narrowed his eye slits in what she knew to be his smile and raised his hand to the transparent ceiling. Through the billowing sand glimpses of stars shown. “When all those belong to the katsurani.”
“Not all of those have planets around them.”
“That does not matter. They will shine for us.”
“What about when you have them all?”
“I've read of other galaxies in your library. They, too, should fall under the fingers of the katsurani.”
“So you won't stop until you've taken the entire universe?”
“That sounds like a good end point.” He leaned back on his tail and stared at her.
“That's a million lifetimes worth of work. You could never live to see it finished.”
“My successors shall carry on.”
“How can you guarantee that they will follow what you want?”
Krishnae stood and walked over to a black cabinet. He opened the heavy metal doors and took out a large ancient book. “This is a compilation of the Triconitu that has been carried in my clan for more generations than I can tell. They tell of the Triconitae. It is the Triconitae that rule all our lives. It is not normal for spartzitz to read the Triconitu, as it does not apply to them. But, you and your people have a special status and I give it to you to read. Then maybe you will understand.” He put the large book onto the desk before her. Its length was as large as her chest.
“You wish me to read this here?” She opened the book.
“It cannot leave my presence.” He stood before the window, staring into the sand.
Space wrinkled and a small ship appeared in real time. It floated, seemingly dead, in the blackness. The red cabin lights gave an eerie glow to Rigaar’s visage. He breathed easy, floating in the bridge of his ship, Skyla.
“Nothing, Commander,” Rarroulf said, his sensor screen casting a blue light that pushed back the dark red and created an odd coloration of his face.
“We weren't detected?” Rigaar asked.
“No.”
“Cha.” Rigaar shook his head. “How far is the nearest ship?”
“About three million lengths, heading to out-system. It's not using warp like the one Raoulf fought.”
“Its speed relativistic?” Rigaar raised his lips.
“Yes.”
“Raluuf,” Rigaar floated to the pilot’s seat and made sure of the shift coordinates, “lock a beam on it.”
“Yes, Commander.” He worked the controls, gaining the target. “It's too far out of range to hit.”
“I know.”
“They're turning, Commander, course for our position,” Rarroulf yelled, strapping his seat belts in.
“Good.” Rigaar strapped himself into the pilot's seat and engaged the gravity wells.
“They're sending communications.”
“How far is their nearest backup?” Rigaar turned to Raluuf, “Power up all missiles and keep on the particle beam to shoot theirs.”
Raluuf nodded.
“Commander,” Rarroulf said, “Their communications are microwaves.”
“Really?” Rigaar smiled. “Their speed would seem to show them as being up to date. Interesting.”
“Maybe they don't have tachyon communications,” Raluuf said.
“They've launched missiles,” Rarroulf interrupted, “They have lock on and are tracking us.”
Rigaar engaged the engines and hit maximum thrust. “Give me a plot, Raluuf.”
“They're faster than us, Rigaar.” Raluuf gave the information on the small data screen set next to Rigaar's controls, his voice quavering.
“I'm going six two slash oh three, lock our missiles on and fire on my word.”
“Yes, Commander.” Raluuf's voice settled some, but the nervousness was still there. He wasn't used to playing tag with warships of this size.
“Energy beams,” Rarroulf screamed, straining against his straps. Raluuf engaged the deflectors without thinking, his reactions automatic. Rigaar angled the ship. They all heard the high pitched wine of the hull and felt the shudder throughout the ship.
“Screen's down, Rigaar.” Raluuf looked to his commander. “They weren't supposed to have beams that powerful.”
“Shut up and shoot the missiles.” Rigaar plotted a new course and headed for the enemy vessel. “Can we blind them, Rarroulf?”
“Maybe, depends on what they scan for. If its gravity, no, energy, easily.”
“Missiles aren't in range yet.” Raluuf's voice was becoming strained. He never felt the fear like now. They usually ran.
“Try to jam them.”
“Yes, Commander.” Rarroulf answered without looking from his board.
“Raluuf, relax, I'm coming to nine three slash four-four. Compensate.”
“Yes, Commander.”
“More energy beams!” Rarroulf's voice raised, but not panicked.
“I see them.” Rigaar pushed the stick and pulled to this left, watching the screen under his eyes. The heavy plasma beams passed by, scarring the skin of the small ship.
“Lock on lost. They're flying blind now.” Rarroulf raised his lips and pricked his ears foreword, smiling excitedly. “They're coming onto our nose.”
“We're in range to shoot them now, Commander.”
“Lock on our missiles, destroy theirs, and fire ours. In that order.”
“Yes, Commander.”
Blue streaks flashed from the small ship and sped across the blackness striking the long, thin tubes. Intensely bright light filled the area for an instant. Torpedoes were fired, and streaked toward the Jetvu at speeds faster than the new torpedoes could match.
“Fire defenses.” Leader Kronttonn swished his tail in agitation. The enemy sent a small ship for combat. Had they a wish to reach Ugbtuean so quickly?
“Unable to see them, the explosions blinded us, Leader.” The sensorman reported.
“Fire point defense plasmas and long range.”
“No, lock on, Leader,” the weaponsman, Kasha, a named bridge leader, reported. He took too much for granted because Laitru named him.
“Did I ask for one?” Kronttonn narrowed his eyes in a threat. He held the power of position. He could use it.
Red beams of light pushed forth, slow and faster ones. The beams were easy for the small ship to evade, its size no more than a torpedo. Kronttonn looked through the bay window at the glowing stars unable to see anything except space. He narrowed his eyes in a smile. The little commander was smart. His torpedoes ran in before him, he following behind them, using the faster ones as a shield.
“Finally, a commander worthy to battle Reltinae himself!” Kronttonn stood, such courage! He underestimated the little ship. Only a true hero would attack a cruiser with a ship no more than the size of a torpedo and still get this close. He must see the face of this commander. He wished for the clashing of ehcidrabs with thi
s commander, to face this Leader in blood combat. The bridge crew looked to their Leader, waiting for his commands.
“Bring our broadside to bear and fire all torpedo defense missiles.” In his heart Kronttonn hoped this would not work. He wanted blood for blood.
“Rarroulf, do you have their engines?” Rigaar watched the blips that represented his missiles speed away as he tried to stay behind them.
“Yes, it's pretty easy to spot.”
“Give Raluuf the target info.” Rigaar leaned to Raluuf, “I need steady shooting. Can you give it to me?”
“Yes, Leader.” Raluuf pricked his ears foreword and smiled with his eyebrows.
“We're going through, like we did in Ganze to the Protector ship.” Rigaar felt like he was flying.
“We almost died then, Rig.” Rarroulf turned from his station.
“We might die now. Get back to work.”
“They're changing course, coming to one eight-oh slash nine-oh, and slowing to our speed.”
“What is he doing?” Rigaar spoke absently.
“Cha,” Rarroulf yelled, “over two hundred small missiles swarming our area!”
Raluuf fired the particle beams, drawing a line across the hull of the ship down to its engines. Small explosions erupted along the aft end of the large ship. Rigaar slammed the gravity wells into reverse, turning them both, the fore and aft well, so that they pushed outward.
The two-hundred-fifty one meter long missiles traveled at such speed that they needed no warhead; the kinetic force alone would destroy their target. As the smaller missiles struck the larger ones every one of them disintegrated. Those that hit the gravity wells broke up or bounced back, their velocity so reduced that their lethality was gone.
“Defense plasmas!” Kronttonn yelled raising his fist in the air as if to strike the blow himself.
“They're too close to lock, Leader!” Kasha turned his head to the Leader's chair.
“They are in a blind zone, Leader,” the sensorman reported, his eyes belied a slight glee.
“Come about.” Kronttonn turned to his helm station, then looked to the sciences station, “Assume the weapons station. Kasha,” he stood from his chair, “leave the bridge.”
Saurians Page 7