Battle in the Stars (Marston Chronicles Book 4)

by D Patrick Wagner

  “Sue. Do you have any free time?”

  She went through her ponder ritual. “Probably half a day.”

  “Get the harness and programming done first. I want to make sure that Griffin’s upgrades stay on schedule.”

  “Ok.”

  “Then I want you and Mack to take a look at the crystal that Keiko found. See what we’ve got. Safely.”

  “Me and Lassie will put our heads together, Cap.”

  “Good. Let’s get out of here before Igaklay gets nosey.”

  Chapter 13

  Clan Kaporine Meeting Hall

  Ex-King Kaporine’s Clan Leader’s government building and residency didn’t come close to being as majestic as the Royal Palace, however it still projected an image of power and wealth. Its ice towers didn’t stand as tall as Elonia’s ruling home, but they still stood tall and glistened under the Elonian star’s rays. The size of the Clan Kaporine residency didn’t come close to matching the Royal Palace, but, it did dwarf all of the residencies of all of the Elonian other Clans.

  The entrance way, with its wide stairs and massive double doors still intimidated any patrons wishing to enter. Inside, as all great buildings on Elonia, the large foyer added to the regalness of the building. To one side, through another set of large double doors, the Kaporine Clan Elders held counsel with Lord Kaporine and Senator Chopani.

  “Lord Waahai, we have a problem. More specifically, you have a problem.”

  “I have many problems, Senator Chopani.”

  “Yes. But this one is going to bite off your tail. The Senate is debating a bill to bring charges against you. It plans on setting up a whole spectacle so that you can never return to the throne.”

  “And Lady Naliana?”

  King Daruke seems to be protecting her. The Senate hasn’t brought her name up.”

  “The flow that my son has started seems to be moving faster and faster. Doesn’t he know that this will reflect on Clan Kaporine? That it will harm all of us?”

  “We have been talking.” Elder Anupi waved a paw across the other two Elders. “I am sad to say that we don’t think your son cares. He has become blinded by his new power. He only focuses on himself. He only thinks of today. Not what tomorrow brings.”

  “The Senate can turn on him as fast as it turned on me, given the opportunity. The Senate is the true danger. I must put a stop to this. We cannot have a public display. It will destroy Clan Kaporine. I will simply surrender. Plead guilty. Spend time in prison.”

  “That won’t protect us, My Lord,” the Kaporine Senator responded. “The Senate is frothing at the idea of putting you on display. Of ruining any chance that you might return to the throne. Many clans resent the success and power which Clan Kaporine yields. They have been fighting either your father or you and Clan Kaporine for more than fifty years. They will do everything in their power to insure that they will never fight you or our clan again. No, our enemies do not want you in prison. They are afraid that your time in prison will turn you into a martyr. They can’t let that happen.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “I believe Senator Chopani is saying that the Senate wants to try you for treason.” This came from Elder Licho.

  “What?”

  “Think about it, Waahai. The senate can sign the order. It only takes a majority. Your son, even though he is now Elonia’s King, cannot stop it.”

  “That’s preposterous! My son would never allow that! He would declare a Royal Pardon.”

  “I do not think so, Lord Waahai. Senator Popalya presented the petition to King Daruke. The King turned it down.” Senator Chopani’s grief reflected in his voice.

  “You will face one of two outcomes. If you are found innocent, the stigma will hang over you and ruin Clan Kaporine’s standing for untold years. If you are found guilty, you will be executed and Clan Kaporine, to all intents and purposes, will cease to exist as a viable clan.”

  “This cannot happen. I must stop this!”

  “How?”

  “I don’t know. Not with what we have. Clan Kaporine has been clawed. The other clans smell our blood, see our wounds. I do not think that we will have any allies who will stand with us. We cannot fight.”

  “We have at least one Clan which will stand with us. Popalya.”

  “No, Senator. Tell Popalya to stay quiet. I don’t want Clan Popalya to become a target of the rest of the Senate.”

  “Or the King,” Elder Gerdu carefully avoided referring to Daruke as Lord Kaporine’s son.

  “What about the Humans? You personally signed the trade agreement with them. They owe loyalty to Clan Kaporine. Can they help?”

  “Obviously not just the Griffin Den. But it holds fealty to a very powerful clan. The Gregor Clan. I don’t know. We must pursue all paths. You know of the Ballisonian communication device. I will use it to contact my daughter. Have her and Ambassador Suzume gnaw on this problem.”

  Shar’s Bar

  Shar sadly gazed around her bar. The bar that had been in the family for generations. She looked at the empty racks where bottles and containers used to fill the shelves. She saw the room of empty tables. Looking at the bar, she saw the wooden plank where the brass countertop used to reflect the glow of ceiling lights. She saw her last two customers that the bar would ever have, unless, somehow, Tolimar survived the coming invasion.

  “One last round.”

  Randy reached over and rubbed Harriet’s arm.

  “One for the road.”

  Shar poured three more drinks, capped the bottle and placed it in her shoulder pack.

  Raising her glass, Harriet toasted, “To the future. Whatever it may be.”

  “To the future,” Shar and Randy matched.

  “Anybody stay?”

  “Nah. This place is deader than a cemetery. I guess, now it is a cemetery, without the bodies.”

  “Same for the rest of Tolimar. Except for Trotzig.”

  “Speaking of Trotzig, time to go, Shar.”

  “I know. It’s just hard, Harriet.”

  “You’ll get to see it again.”

  “Gods willing.”

  Shar looked around one last time. Harriet and Randy waited. The three left and headed towards Tolimar’s last bastion of Humanity.

  Onboard Heimdallr

  “This is getting old, Cap. You would think that, after two weeks, those bugs would give up and quit searching.”

  “They are perseverant, Brooksy.”

  “Should we sneak out of these rocks, head to Tolimar? That’s probably where Odin is.”

  “One more day, Toast. Then you and Brooksy put together a creep that gets us to the Tolimar gate.”

  “Finally!” Brooks exclaimed.”

  “Captain, I’m picking something up.”

  “What have you got, Toast?”

  “More bug ships. Pouring through the gate.”

  “Well, now we know why they’ve been waiting. How many? Another fleet?”

  “I don’t think so. Only fifty of those patrol ships. Fifteen of the frigates. My guess, a quarter of a fleet.”

  “Keep an eye on them.”

  “Roger, Captain. Four destroyers just popped in. Another two cruisers. Yes, Captain. Quarter of a fleet.”

  “Dreadnaughts?”

  “Not yet, Captain.”

  “Keep watching. Get me a final count.”

  “Aye, aye, Captain.”

  “Brooksy, work with Toast. Sneak and peek all the way to the gate. I want maximum intel to take to Number Three.”

  “Will do, Cap.”

  The normally half-day trip took a day and a half. During that time, Lieutenant Torres collected electronic reams of data on both the expansion of the fleet and the invasion of Latinia. Lieutenant Brooks stayed at his controls for a solid thirty-six hours, checking for the alien searchers, hiding behind a rock then dashing to the next.

  With sighs all around, Torres wrapped up her data collection, Brooks gave Heimdallr one final burst of power and th
e stealthy little scout ship leaped into the gate.

  Nuevo Aires

  The bunker lay three floors below the ground, wrapped in steel and concrete, covered with thirty meters of Tolimarian soil. The Governor’s building stood five stories above. Walking into Nuevo Aires’ seat of power, one walked across the Governor’s seal, approached a greetings counter and met with various men and women to state his or her business. Through the guard station and sonic detectors, a person found himself in another open area with a stairwell, bank of elevators and a large meeting room behind double doors.

  Within the meeting room, around the large conference table, the heads of the primary gangs and the directors of the various unions sat, all waiting for Governor Moreno to speak.

  “It’s been two weeks and now we have the answer on why the bugs just sat at the gate. They were waiting for reinforcements. And those reinforcements have arrived.”

  “Another carrier?”

  “No, Emilio. Just battleships. And another of those super dreadnaughts.”

  “So we only need to kill the bugs from one carrier. Good.”

  “Weapons? Ammunition? All distributed?”

  “Everything I’ve got, Jefe. You owe me big time.”

  “Your crew?”

  “The ones that know what they’re doing, they’re the shooters. The rest, runners and ammo deliverers. I’ve got our city covered, Jefe.”

  “Good. I know you kept the best weapons for you and your crew. But the rest of N.A.?”

  “I did like you asked. Like I said, Jefe, everything I got is on the streets. We have some serious firepower out there.”

  “Ok. Ruben. You got your people in place?”

  “They’re all resting Governor. But, when the time comes, they’ll all be at their make-shift hospitals and care centers.”

  “Javier. Food, water distribution?”

  “Almost ready. Just finishing up assigning the drivers to the zones.”

  “Well, hurry up. I think the bugs have got what they’re waiting for. If they leave now, those assault ships will touch down in half a day. A full one, at the most.”

  “We’ll be ready, Governor.”

  Shelly looked over the table and saw the power brokers of Nuevo Aires. Some of them he called ‘friends’. All he called competent and, in the way of professional criminals, honest. And he knew that some, if not most, if not all, would be dead before this was over. He hoped that he wouldn’t be one of them.

  Onboard World Crusher

  two hundred and fifty assault ships, each carrying three hundred warriors, launched in rapid succession from the Mortek carrier. Only ten transports launched, carrying the tanks, armored siege cannons and mortar platforms. During the other three invasions, most of the heavy weaponry hadn’t been needed.

  Fourth Lead Assaulter sat on his stool, anticipating the coming invasion. He mindlessly sucked the dissolved meat from a soft-skin arm as he joyously watched half of the assault craft launch.

  He had chaffed at having to watch the success of his equals, First, Second and Third Lead Assaulters. He carried an anger at seeing the ease in which they had succeeded in subduing the soft skins and not being able to do the same. But now his chance had risen. Now he would lead his warriors into battle, bringing victory, honor and reward to his birth queen and nest mates.

  The Leader of the attack force watched his ships and carriers streak through space as dark objects bringing death and slavery to the soft skins. He watched his ships begin to glow then become white-hot as they burned through the soft skins’ atmosphere, targeting the control centers which Intelligence had targeted.

  Switching to local video feeds, he saw his attack and transport ships slam into the ground and disgorge his warriors. Fourth Assault Leader repositioned his four legs and slurped more liquefied meat as he prepared to watch the coming slaughter.

  Onboard Griffin

  Only the Griffin crew, including Gopai manned the galley. With breakfast finished, the ubiquitous drinks sat on the table as they stared at the crystal dominating their thoughts.

  “Ideas?”

  “Just one, Cap. Build a completely isolated computer, hook up the crystal and see what we’ve got.”

  “Might I add that there should be a holograph projector? And sensors for any unanticipated radiants?”

  “Righto, Tin-Man.”

  “Do the assembly and testing in the Faraday room.”

  “That goes without saying, Lassie.”

  “Igaklay, does this work for you?” Krag spoke to the air.

  “I would like to be there when you connect it, Captain Marston.”

  “You won’t be able to control your avatar in the Faraday room, Igaklay. Besides, we need you in the Pyramid, helping us set up our personal quarters and establishing living areas.”

  “But this is important!”

  “It’s just a data crystal, Igaklay. It’s not going anywhere. Once we crack the encryption, we’ll get right to you. And we do need you helping us. I will return as soon as our meeting is finished and we can get started. In fact, please talk to Vidhee and begin planning for the Elonian chambers.”

  “Aw, ok, Senator Suzume.”

  “Thank you, Igaklay.”

  “Buster, do you have a Ballisonian translator? Auditory and written?”

  “I have the auditory translator, Sue. I will get the written one from Igaklay.”

  “Get started, Mack, Sue. Let’s see what our hosts left us.”

  “On it, Cap.”

  * * * * *

  Mack and Sue actually spent the entire morning constructing the stand-alone, air-gapped computer. The final results came in a simple-looking box having one side a monitor and a hardwired keyboard with a built-in trackball. Atop, Mack mounted a holo-projector and a cradle for the crystal. Sue did the final work of programming the device in the Faraday room.

  “Done,” Sue commented as she interlinked her fingers, raised hands over her head and stretched her harms. “I haven’t needed to use a keyboard in years.”

  “Ya, Lassie. But we don’t know what we’re opening. We couldn’t have any wireless connections until we see what we’ve got.”

  “Well, what we’ve got is a computer dumber than a bag of bolts. It reads, displays and, if there is one, projects a video. That’s it.”

  “And that’s what we need, Lassie. Kissed.”

  “Yup. Keep it simple and stupid.”

  “We ready?”

  “Let’s go with a test crystal.”

  “Thought of that. Got one here.”

  Mack pulled a crystal from his pocket, one which closely resembled the mysterious one. Placing the test crystal in the cradle, Mack flipped the power switch. Both watched as the computer powered up, loaded its operating system and automatically began reading the crystal. The two-dimensional monitor began scrolling text and the holo-projector displayed a three-dimensional image of the gravity missile.

  “Well, it seems to work, Lassie.”

  “Let me fool with it, test out the software.”

  “All yours.”

  Sue put the computer through its paces, checking, then re-checking, different modules and applications, checking memory and disk usage, measuring throughput speeds and widths. Finishing, she powered down the computer and removed the test crystal.

  “Looks good from my end.” Realizing what she just said and knowing Mack, she gave him a glare.”

  “Not a word, Lassie. None.” Mack feigned zipping his lips

  “Good. Speaking of good, I know we plan on setting up our rooms in the pyramid next to each other. But I’ve been thinking.”

  “What?” Mack asked, fearing that she would want him to quarter farther away.

  “I think you should room with me.”

  “Really?”

  “Yup. You’re not as much of a slob as I thought. And I like your company.”

  A joyous Mack responded, “I’ll come up with a great design for the room. Privacy spaces, two bathrooms. Two beds.”r />
  With her head down, her bangs covering her eyes, Sue responded, “That won’t be necessary. One bed will do.”

  “It will be a big one,” a wide-eyed Mack responded.

  “Now, Wrenchy, back to work.”

  “Aye, Lassie. All work. Play later.”

  “Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

  “Not an inch, Lassie. All work.”

  Mack placed the mysterious crystal in the cradle, turned on the computer and waited for the power-up. After a few moments, the holo-projector activated. A Ballisonian hologram, obviously different from Kokali popped into existence. It began speaking. The installed translator kicked in. Mack and Sue watched and listened. First with amazement, then curiosity then worry, then fear.

  “We need to get Cap.”

  “And Keiko. And Princess Analyn.”

  “And Buster and Vidhee. This isn’t good, Lassie.”

  “Not a bit.”

  Mack left the Faraday room in search of Krag, Keiko and Buster. Sue followed, her targets being Princess Analyn, Vidhee, doctors Roshnak and Ganakin. Their fear of Igaklay expanding tenfold caused them to make their invitations in person, not electronically.

  After three Elonians, four Humans and two Synthetics crammed into the little room and around the table, Sue replayed the holographic message.

  They all watched the miniature Ballisonian speak. They all listened to the translation through their respective translators.

  “If you are watching this, then you have returned to Ballison. And you have found the governmental pyramid. Do not continue unless you are absolutely sure that Igaklay is not able to monitor this recording. If it can, switch off this recording immediately.”

  The hologram paused. Everyone looked at everyone else.

  “Igaklay is the most dangerous being in the galaxy. Not through acts of violence. Not through any egotistical need to dominate. Not through any malevolence. But through its own logic of needing to preserve the Ballisonian people. We and our predecessors, the scientists in charge of the Igaklay project, made a terrible mistake. We created an artificial intelligence with the sole purpose of insuring that the lives of all Ballisonians would be safe, secure and peaceful. We did not foresee the true results of our efforts. We did not foresee the total enslavement of all of Ballison.”