Wizard Defender (Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles Book 8)

by Rodney Hartman

  “Are you sure?” asked Liz once Trinity finished speaking.

  “Oh, I’m sure, Sir,” replied Trinity. “I saw troopships landing on Estos with additional prisoners. I also monitored several of their supply drops. The Crosioians are bringing in more of our POWs, and deliberately keeping them alive, at least for the short term. My battle computer calculates an eighty-seven percent probability the Crosioians are consolidating all two hundred million POWs on Estos. Jerad and the other wizard scouts you sent to Estos concur. So do their battle computers.”

  Tia watched her father’s face as she tried to gauge his reaction to the news. The information in Trinity’s report wasn’t unexpected, but earlier reports they’d received had been mostly conjecture. Now they were faced with cold hard facts.

  War-King Bistoria drummed the fingers of his right hand on the table, then stopped and placed his hand on his lap as if suddenly realizing what he was doing. “You were there, Trinity. Admiral Bistos tells me that you’re a no nonsense soldier. Give it to me straight.”

  Trinity glanced at Liz before looking back at the War-king and nodding. “All right, Sir. If that’s what you want, then I’ll tell you what I think. It has all the makings of a trap to me. I think the Crosioians are trying to use the POWs to lure us into a battle we can’t hope to win. The Crosioians are relying on our concern for our captured soldiers and sailors to force us into an all or nothing battle. They’re also trying to force us to fight at the time of their choosing. Even with the medical supplies, the first of our POWs will begin dying in less than six weeks. They’ll all be dead within a month after that. The Crosioians want us to know that. I have reason to believe they purposely allowed me to get off Estos alive. They want us to know the situation with our troops, and they don’t care if we know it’s a trap. They’re just gambling we’re foolish enough to try a rescue anyway. They want us to go to Estos in force, and they want us to do it in the next six weeks before we can consolidate forces and rally more allies.”

  War-King Bistoria turned in his seat to stare out the windows that composed one wall of the Destiny’s conference room. He stared into space for several seconds. Finally, he turned back around and looked at the image of Trinity. “What would you suggest, Wizard Scout Trinity?”

  Trinity bent her head and gazed at the floor before looking back up. “It’s not for me to say, Sir.”

  “Say it anyway,” said War-King Bistoria. “That’s an order.”

  Trinity’s eyes sparkled, and she smiled. “Since you put it that way, Sir, I’d say to hell with the Crosioians and their plans. I’d gather every ship we can get our hands on and hit the bats with everything we’ve got.” The image of Trinity looked in the direction of Liz and winked. “That’s what I’d do. Others may have a different opinion.”

  Tia thought she detected the beginnings of a smile on her sister’s face before it was replaced by a stern expression more suitable for an admiral of the combined fleets.

  “Well, Admiral Bistos,” said War-King Bistoria. “What’s it going to be?”

  Liz caught Tia’s eye before looking back at her father. “Lieutenant Bistoria, my staff and I have come up with a plan of operation. As Trinity so aptly put it, we’ll hit them with everything we’ve got. My staff is working on the details now. It will take a month to gather our forces.” Liz looked at the holographic image of Matthew. “Can we or can we not count on the Conglomerate?”

  Tia sensed an emotion come from her ring that was a mixture of excitement, fear, determination, and hope. She saw Matthew glance at Felix Deloris and the older man with them before turning to stare at Liz. “We’ll be wherever you need us in a month, Admiral. I give you my word.”

  Felix and the other man nodded their heads.

  “Fine,” said Liz. “Lieutenant Bistoria will be contacting you with the details. She’ll be your point of contact. In the meantime, we’ve got a lot of work to do. The lives of two hundred million of our people are depending on us.”

  Matthew nodded his head. A second later, his holographic image disappeared.

  Tia reached across the table and turned the halo-pad off. She also switched off the halo-pad for Trinity before reaching in the direction of the pad containing the images of the members of the Defiant.

  “Leave that one on, please,” said her father.

  Tia pulled her hand back.

  War-King Bistoria stared at Richard and his friends. Her father gave a deep sigh before speaking. “What you’re planning is a fool’s errand. I don’t suppose you’d consider returning to Trecorian space and putting your ship at our disposal. We’re going to need everything we can get our hands on for our rescue to have any hope of success.”

  Tia noticed Richard glance at Sergeant Ron before looking back at her father and shaking his head. “One recon ship won’t make much of a difference in a fleet-wide battle. The Defiant can make a real difference if we’re able to convince the Crosioians to stop this war and fight our common foe, and by that I mean the demons.”

  Liz cleared her throat, turning Richard’s gaze in her direction. “I’ve bent enough to mend fences with the Conglomerate. For the most part, none of them directly killed any of our troops. Most of them didn’t even know what was happening when Governor Jenkins pulled them out of the battle. I can forgive and work with them. I’m not sure I or any of our soldiers or sailors can put aside their differences with the Crosioians. Too many of us have been killed by those bats. You’re throwing away your life for nothing.”

  Tia didn’t often agree with her sister. This time she did. She hated the bats. The casualty lists were still coming in, but she’d already seen far too many names of her friends on the lists. Trying to lock eyes with Richard, she spoke before she knew what she was doing. “My sis…err, the admiral’s right. We need to kill every one of the Crosioians. That’s the only way our galaxy can ever know true peace.” She had a thought. “The bats probably feel the same way. You took out their master computer at a key point in time during the battle on Estos. Losses on their side are estimated at two billion. Our intelligence sources indicate they’ve got a reward on your head. At best they’ll kill you on sight. At worst, you and the rest of the Defiant’s crew will be tortured and turned into a public spectacle before they finally kill you. Is that what you want to happen to Jeehana and your friends?”

  The muscles on Richard’s face tightened.

  Tia noticed his eyes drill into hers. She held her gaze. He’s my friend, she thought, but he needs a good dose of reality. She half expected him to start arguing. She’d seen his temper take control on more than one occasion. This time he surprised her.

  After a dozen heartbeats, the muscles on the wizard scout’s face relaxed. “This is the way it’s got to be, Tia,” said Richard. He turned his attention to Liz. “Hold off on any major attacks against the Crosioians until you hear back from me.”

  Liz snorted. “We’re not the ones attacking at the moment. We’re hard pressed to defend ourselves on every front.”

  “Understood,” said Richard. “I know you’ve got to defend yourselves, but at least give my plan a chance to work. Hold off the rescue mission as long as possible. Let me try to convince the bats’ tribal council to end this war. Every ship and every soldier killed on either side is one less resource we’ll have to fight the demons.”

  Liz leaned over and whispered in her father’s ear.

  War-King Bistoria nodded.

  Liz looked back at Richard. “It will take us a month to gather our forces. It will take another week and a half to get them in position for the rescue. You’ve got that long to convince the Crosioians to surrender. Once our forces are in position, we’re attacking whether we hear from you or not.”

  Richard sighed. “Understood. Just so you both know, I’m not trying to convince them to surrender. I’m planning on stopping this senseless war once and for all. That means stopping it on both sides. I know who our real enemies are, and it’s not the Crosioians.”

  The holog
ram blinked out.

  Tia looked at her father and sister. “The Crosioians are our enemies, and I plan on killing as many of them as I can get in my gunsights. They need to die. All of them.”

  Neither Admiral of the Combined Fleets Bistos nor War-King Bistoria disagreed.

  Chapter 16 – Supreme Leader

  _____________________________________

  The vast cavern surrounding the arena on Astaris had been painstakingly carved out of the hard granite rock over a hundred thousand years by Crosioian stonecutters. First working by paw and later by more advanced technology, the skilled artisans had created a thing of beauty that reflected sound in ways that awed even the most hardened of Crosioian hearts. The arena floor itself was composed of granite ground so fine it felt like the softest sand as it caressed the footpads of anyone walking on the arena’s surface. Soft light illuminated the cavern for those races that depended on visual input. Only Crosioians were present at the moment.

  The oldest representative of the Long Wing tribe sat next to the supreme leader on a perch built into the walls of the arena. Sending out a sonic wave, Charge-In-The-Face-Of-Great-Odds swiveled her ears to catch every nuance of returned sound. She noted the twenty-five thousand perches built into the arena’s rocky walls. Nearly all were empty, but she knew that in a few weeks’ time, bats of every age and from every tribe would fill the perches. She had no doubt an overflow crowd would be hanging from the lofty ceiling to listen and see the spectacle that would be the test of those vying for the honor of descending into the Hole and making a recon of the rift.

  Today, ninety-four Crosioian scouts stood wingtip to wingtip on the arena floor. At a signal from the supreme leader’s master of ceremony, each of the bats sent out a sonic wave denoting their name, tribe, age, and eternal loyalty for the Crosioian Empire. The supreme leader acknowledged each applicant in turn before turning to whisper a hiss in the Long Wing rep’s ear.

  “They look so young, old friend. It is hard to believe that only two hundred years ago we were standing on the same arena floor, asking our supreme leader for the privilege of being a member of the recon team into the rift.”

  “Yes, our time was then,” agreed the Long Wing rep, angling her sonic wave so only the supreme leader could hear. “Their time is now. I pray at least one of the scouts below has the mettle to do what must be done.”

  “As do I,” hissed the supreme leader in return. She sent a sonic wave at the applicants, determined to pick up every aspect of their abilities. “Are these our best scouts? The big one with the broken wing tip is impressive, but the others are mediocre at best.”

  Charge-In-The-Face-Of-Great-Odds flapped her wings slightly. “The big one is from the Bent Wing tribe. She was on a scouting mission in the Andromeda galaxy. She is the Bent Wing tribe’s best. I had her recalled from her mission and brought back to the outer realms on your royal yacht. She caught our fastest destroyer from there. The best of our other scouts are currently on missions to ascertain the movements of the Empire and Trecorian fleets. We will do what we can to have as many of them assembled here as possible in two weeks. That will leave plenty of time for the tournament and the mission to the rift.”

  The supreme leader sent another sonic wave at the supplicants. “I do not detect any scouts from the Blood Claw tribe. Astaris is their home world. Surely some of their scouts remain alive.”

  The Long Wing rep nodded. “Yes, a dozen of their scouts remain on active duty. I talked to the Blood Claw rep earlier tonight. She told me their tribal leaders have assembled their scouts in a secret location for a special initiation ceremony. She assured me they would be joining the other applicants in time for the tournament.”

  The supreme leader snorted. “The Blood Claw tribe has always been a thorn in our side. Their tribal leaders will probably hold their scouts back until the last moment so they can make some grand entrance to score political points. They are jealous that my tribe was selected to appoint the supreme leader and not theirs.”

  Nodding her head, Charge-In-The-Face-Of-Great-Odds did not naysay her friend. The Blood Claw tribe is too ambitious for their own good, she thought. I must keep my ears on them. Any ceremony their tribal leaders have that requires the attendance of all their scouts during wartime conditions is bound to be contrived. I wonder what they’ve got hidden up their fur this time?

  The supreme leader swiveled her ears to point at the Long Wing rep. “Tell me, old friend, what are the humans up to? Are they taking the bait?”

  “It would seem so,” said Charge-In-The-Face-Of-Great-Odds casting aside thoughts of the Blood Claws. “The Empire’s forces have ceased all offensive maneuvers and been stripping their defenses. Our scouts tell us that the Empire and the Conglomerate forces have ceased hostilities. The Conglomerate’s fleets have begun to assemble with those of the Empire and Trecorians.”

  The supreme leader hissed a sound so low it was barely audible to the Long Wing rep.

  Charge-In-The-Face-Of-Great-Odds smiled at the sound from her friend. She is singing, she thought. I doubt she even knows she is doing it. She has ever done so since we were young scouts, whenever she is troubled and deep in thought.

  The low hissing stopped. “It is as I feared,” said the supreme leader. “The Conglomerate has rejoined the Empire. Still, it is not unexpected. We will deal with the Conglomerate forces when we destroy those of the Empire and the Trecorians. We will sweep the galaxy free of the human filth and their allies. This galaxy will be made safe for our younglings before I die. I swear it.”

  “As do I,” said Charge-In-The-Face-Of-Great-Odds. She turned her ears to note the erratic vibrations of the supreme leader’s chest. “You are tired, my friend. The tribes need you now more than ever. You must get your rest.”

  The supreme leader hissed a laugh. “Ah, rest. If only I could, old friend.” She hissed another laugh. “Sometimes it seems my only hope for rest will be in the eternal darkness of death.” She flapped her wings slightly. “Be that as it may, I must go to Andromeda to rally our forces there. We must assemble the fleets from both galaxies to defeat the humans once and for all.”

  “Andromeda?” said the Long Wing rep. “You will miss the start of the tournament.”

  “Nay,” said the supreme leader. “Having the royal yacht bring the Bent Wing’s applicant from Andromeda has worked to my advantage. I sent orders for the yacht’s captain to come to Astaris. I will use it to travel to Andromeda and return in the same fashion.”

  Charge-In-The-Face-Of-Great-Odds swiveled her ears to make sure she had heard correctly.

  The supreme leader hissed a laugh. “I know what you are thinking, old friend. No inter-galaxy ships are allowed to enter the galaxy itself in order to prevent the capture of one of our intergalactic-drives. I know the risk, but it would take far too long for one of our hyper-drive ships to rendezvous with an inter-galaxy ship outside the outer realms of this galaxy. I must go to Andromeda, and I must be back here in time for the tournament. Only my royal yacht is fast enough to make the trek in the allotted time, and only if it comes all the way to Astaris.”

  Charge-In-The-Face-Of-Great-Odds flapped her wings more than a little. “I do not like it. What if a group of the Empire’s wizard scouts intercepts you. They would capture one of our intergalactic-drives and you in one fell swoop.”

  The chest of the supreme leader turned a dark gray. “This is not up for discussion. I have weighed the risks. It must be done.” Her chest turned to a more normal gray. “Besides, I have given orders for squadrons of our warships to be spaced out along my flightpath all the way to the outer realms. I will never be more than a few hours from help. We are deep within the Crosioian Empire. Not even the best of the Empire’s ships could make the flight without needing an engine overhaul. Our distance from their border, plus the speed of the yacht’s intergalactic-drive, provides all the defenses I could possibly need.”

  Charge-In-The-Face-Of-Great-Odds was not convinced, but she held her peace. The supr
eme leader was her friend, but she was still her leader. Even so, she couldn’t help but be concerned. Our space station Last Hope was stationed far from the Empire’s border, she thought. Someone found a way to get there and take the DNA gas before destroying the station.

  The supreme leader swiveled both ears toward her friend and placed a paw on Charge-In-The-Face-Of-Great-Odds’s wing. “You sound troubled. Tell me, what are you thinking?”

  The Long Wing rep snorted, spraying mucus out of her nostrils in a sign of concern for her leader. “I was thinking that perhaps someone in the Empire might be foolish enough to make the attempt to capture your yacht.”

  The supreme leader hissed a laugh. “Then let us hope the fool is only a fool and not lucky as well.” She laughed again. “It has been my experience that one of the most dangerous weapons in the galaxy is a lucky fool.”

  Chapter 17 – Lucky Fool

  ____________________

  The point on the bat’s wing tip passed within millimeters of Richard’s throat.

  He countered with a backflip, kicking out with both feet and catching the Crosioian scout in the chest.

  She took a step back before starting a slow circle around Richard.

  “You are the luckiest fool I have ever met,” said Red Wing. “If you had not tripped on that cactus, I would have had you that time.”

  Richard laughed. “Don’t kid yourself. Luck’s as good as skill in my book any day. Besides, your mother made the same attack on me when we fought on Veturna, so I was expecting it. Unlike you, her attack was successful. She nearly tore my throat out.”