Merkiaari Wars Series: Books 1-3

by Mark E. Cooper

  Tei’Kerttu’s ears twitched. “Be at ease. I have heard the Alliance will help us in many ways if we join.”

  “That’s true,” James said as the inner door opened and they progressed further into the Keep. “You have done wonders here, but with the help of the Alliance I believe you will create many more.”

  Brenda smiled at James’ eloquence. He had come a long way from the shy professor of history she had known back in Oxford. Somehow, James had become the unofficial leader of their group and he was good at the job.

  Kerttu escorted them through each of the blast doors and vacuum chambers and into an elevator that went down deep below the mountain. Brenda stepped out of the elevator and into the Keep proper. It was truly huge just as she had guessed. Sub-level one was the equivalent of twenty stories below the main entrance, a very long way, but there were ten more levels containing living areas, workshops, hydroponics, schools, weapon storage, life support, kitchens… everything needed for the Shan to live separated from the surface for years.

  “Each level is hardened against penetration by the Murderers and can survive independently of the others for as many as four cycles.”

  “Only four days?” Sheryl said in disapproval.

  Kerttu’s ears flattened to her skull at Sheryl’s tone. “That is the maximum time we estimate it would take the Murderers to find and kill everyone on a single level. If we cannot retake the infested level in four days, my people would be dead and more life support capacity would be pointless.”

  Brenda moved to the safety railing that edged the walkway and looked over into the abyss. The floor was so far down it was almost out of sight. She thought she could see water shimmering down there, but could not be sure. She counted the levels down and came up with all ten, but the visible sections were as nothing compared with the areas hidden in the depths of the mountain.

  In the roof of the cavern were huge lights, but most were unlit, the orange glow coming from those that were powered was just enough to see the details. In the centre was a huge round pillar gleaming metallically; it reached from the roof all the way down into the depths.

  “What is that?” Brenda said pointing.

  Kerttu joined her at the rail. “The core; power generation, water recycling, and primary life support. My control room is there and of course the security centre including barracks and weapons storage.”

  James moved to the railing beside her and leaned over the edge. “I assume you have enough weapons for all your people Tei.”

  “There are weapons caches on each level, but all my people carry their own. Everyone knows they are to bring their beamers with them when the time comes.”

  “So it is true,” Bernard said. “You do train all your people to fight.”

  “It’s true. Only cubs below the age of five orbits and those too old do not fight.”

  “The central area is too open,” Sheryl said. “A bad weakness in the Keep’s design. It provides a possible access for Merki wishing to move from one level to another.”

  Kerttu dropped her jaw in a grin. “Any Merki showing itself would die instantly. The core is the most heavily guarded section. Do not be fooled by what you see here. The Keep is on power down. When fully activated these walkways can be sealed off—see the shutters?”

  Brenda looked up at the overhead. Along the edge of the walkways were heavy looking blast shields that could drop down just beyond the railing she was leaning against. The effect would be like adding a steel wall along the walkway to create a corridor with no other exit from the level but the elevator.

  “If the shutters are breached the Merki will find themselves under fire from every quarter by automatic weaponry controlled by security.”

  Brenda squinted at the walls trying to make out details. They were too far away to be sure, but she could see dozens of hatches that she assumed housed beamers and other weapons designed to protect the Shan. Brenda nudged James when she noticed the others drifting away to follow Kerttu, and he left the rail to join them.

  Brenda took one last look at the cavern before trotting to catch up.

  * * *

  18 ~ Doomsday

  Fortress Command, Kachina Twelve, Child of Harmony

  It was a small thing at first; a barely detectable blip on a display in the heart of a heavy fang that had alarms wailing. Moments later, the alarm was silenced when the ship was blown to pieces by capital ship missiles.

  The destruction of Vasuk was noticed, and the Shan fleet turned to investigate. It took the destruction of another heavy fang for the horrible truth to dawn.

  The Murderers had returned.

  Tei’Kerttu hurried into command central, and stopped to stare up at the huge screen displaying a system wide scan. Glaring red icons winked at her as they advanced in system, while a pitifully small number of cool blue ones, heavy fangs of the Fleet, moved to intercept them. She shivered in dread. There were so few. Even counting the light fangs and the Human ship, the Murderers outnumbered them.

  The elders had yet to contact her, but already it was obvious what must be done. The Murderer’s ships outnumbered the Fleet. She must proceed with the assumption that landings would take place. Her hackles rose and her tail lashed in agitation. She hoped to be proven wrong, but it was safer to err on the side of caution. She dragged her eyes away from the screen, and looked over the railing at the floor below the command platform she stood upon. There was no overt panic among her staff, but she could feel it all the same. Everyone was tense. She heard it in their whispered announcements and reports, saw it in the cant of their ears, and scented it upon the air.

  “Bring us to alert status one,” she announced.

  For just a moment, all eyes were focused upon her, and silence greeted the announcement. The order was hardly unexpected under the circumstances, but to actually hear those words was something everyone had hoped never to hear. An almost audible sigh swept command central, punctuated by her staff turning back to their consols.

  “I hear,” Kon’Tirun said from behind her, and keyed a security sequence into a terminal. Tei’Kerttu moved to join her.

  Throughout the keep, alarms sounded and personnel ran through corridors to arm themselves. Thousands of warriors threw on their harnesses and checked their beamers, while technicians closed circuits long dormant. Lights throughout the facility came up full, punctuated by the still strobing emergency beacons that had been designed to lead people deeper into the keep’s protected environment. Pumps began pumping, air filters long unused within the deepest levels of the keep, began filtering out non-existent radiation and poisons. Nonexistent, but perhaps not for long—the Murderers of Harmony were coming. Blast doors rumbled open throughout the keep ready to accept the millions of frightened people destined for Kachina Twelve, while above ground, hidden within the surrounding forests and hills, missile silos powered up awaiting the launch command.

  Tei’Kerttu watched in silence as her command centre came to life around her. Lighting remained subdued, but the view-screens provided more than ample with which to see. One section remained dark—fortress control. Its operators watched their comrades working from a sea of darkened screens. Their section was by far the largest. It commanded awesome firepower, yet they remained inert.

  She flexed her claws and made a decision. “Power up orbital defence net.”

  “I hear,” came the quiet response from Kon’Danu at fortress control, and the lonely island of darkness was gone, replaced with busy paws and flashing symbols upon computer screens.

  Another huge view-screen burst into light overhead. This one was a diagrammatic representation of Child of Harmony. In orbit of the planet, huge fortresses were even now powering up—their computers and weapons running complex self tests. Fire control computers reached out to their brothers in the neighbouring fortresses until, with their defences now linked, Child of Harmony was ringed with targeting sensors reaching into the depths of space looking for something to kill.

  Tei’Kerttu watc
hed as one after another, the fortresses populated the view-screen, but suddenly her attention was taken by another screen showing a situation map of the Kachina Mountain range and its hidden keeps. Kachina Eight was fully online according to the information displayed. One through six were at alert status two, well on their way to full activation that was alert status one. Blinking icons, representing still more keeps, informed her of facilities still at power down.

  “This is not happening fast enough,” she growled. “Any word from the elders?”

  “No, Tei,” Kon’Tirun said. “Should I try to contact them again?”

  Tei’Kerttu tapped a claw in irritation upon her panel. “Why are so many keeps still at alert three?”

  “It takes time, Tei. We were already at alert two because of the Humans.”

  “Too long… it’s taking too long! Contact Kajetan. Insist that I speak with her if you must, but hurry.”

  “Yes Tei,” Kon’Tirun said and her paws flashed over her panel.

  * * *

  Aboard Naktlon in orbit of Harmony

  Tei’Varyk crawled through the opening followed by Tei’Colgan. “…and from here back to ammunition storage bays. Should it happen that this area is breached, the transfer system is fully automated.”

  “Very impressive, Tei. I’m thinking our R&D people could learn a few things here.”

  That pleased him greatly. Tei’Varyk was proud of his new ship and was glad to hear others found merit in Naktlon’s innovations. Naktlon was the newest and most powerful heavy fang ever to leave the shipyards. He was just about ready for testing. Kajika had howled in pleasure when he saw the size of his ammunition storage. He had three times Chakra’s torpedo capacity, and twice his energy range. Naktlon was the most combat capable heavy fang yet built. Even so, Tei’Varyk secretly missed Chakra. Many of the crew had stayed with Tei’Unwin, and he missed them. He was thankful the command crew had come with him in its entirety.

  “When do you plan on taking her out?” Colgan said.

  “He is ready now,” Tei’Varyk corrected. “Kajetan has ordered a patrol of the outer asteroids.”

  “Good choice. You can test his guns out there.”

  He flicked his ears in agreement. That was the main reason for choosing the asteroids. They were a perfect testing ground for this kind of thing.

  Tei’Varyk led the way through the ship towards the command deck. “Let us see what James is doing.”

  “You know, when my people arrive to talk with the elders, I’ll most likely be ordered outsystem.”

  “Where will you go next?”

  Colgan shrugged. “We had just jumped into an unexplored system when we received your transmissions. We’ll go back to finish our survey. It’s roughly thirty light years from here. Canada’s mission is exploring new systems, cataloguing what we find and sending the data back to the Alliance.”

  “It must be an amazing experience. I would give anything to be there with you.”

  “Perhaps one day you will be.”

  Tei’Varyk grinned. “I look forward to that day. What is the name of the system?”

  “The one I was exploring?” Colgan said and Tei’Varyk flicked his ears in agreement. “It doesn’t have a name. We use catalogue numbers. There are billions of suns, and perhaps seventy percent have planets; too many to name my friend. Even our capital system has a number, though it has a name as well of course.”

  “Ah?”

  “Earth is the capital world of the Alliance as well as homeworld to the Human race.”

  “And the system?”

  “We call it Sol, named for its sun.”

  “Sol?” Tei’Varyk sounded the name experimentally. “A good name.”

  Colgan smiled. “We like it. I’ve not heard the name of your sun.”

  “It is simply The Sun. What need for another name when it’s the only one?”

  “When your fleet journeys beyond Shan space, your people will find new homes and will name them as we have done.”

  “And the Great Harmony will be reborn,” Tei’Varyk said almost seeing that day. “Not in my lifetime, Tei’Colgan, but perhaps my cubs will see it.”

  “Perhaps it will be sooner.”

  “Let us hope.” They entered the command deck. Jozka was at his station talking quietly with the maintenance crews. “Jozka?”

  “Tei?”

  “Where is James and his people?”

  “They have just landed, Tei.”

  “Landed? Landed where?” Tei’Varyk said looking back at Colgan who shook his head. “Why was I not informed?”

  “I did not know you wished to be,” Jozka said. “Have I failed you?”

  “No. I should have asked you to inform me. Where have they gone?”

  “Zuleika… should I contact them?”

  Zuleika was a city on Child of Harmony. The main port was located nearby on the coast. The city was a very fine place to visit and he was glad James would see it.

  “No. Continue your duties.”

  “I hear,” Jozka said and turned back to what he had been doing.

  “It seems we have missed them.”

  Colgan shrugged, and then grinned. “Not to worry. Ships are my passion, not cities.”

  “I hear,” Tei’Varyk said with a jaw-dropping grin of his own. “Perhaps you would like to go outside?”

  “Love to. It just so happens that I have my helmet with me.”

  Tei’Varyk twitched his ears in amusement. He liked these Humans, more and more. “Let us go now…”

  Jozka yelped in surprise. “Tei!”

  Tei’Varyk spun away from the hatch, and was back at Jozka’s side in three strides. His heart sped when he saw the shock on Jozka’s face. “What is it?”

  “The Fleet just went to alert one,” Jozka gasped quivering in shock at the news.

  “What does that mean?” Colgan said to Tei’Varyk’s back as he hurried toward his station.

  “Sound alert,” Tei’Varyk snapped as he sat in his chair and brought his station’s screens to life. “Alert one is war, Tei’Colgan.”

  A siren growled throughout the ship making hackles rise. The crew stared at each other in disbelief. The ship was at power down and still docked. Moments later their training took over, and they scrambled to get to their stations.

  “But who are you fighting? Not… not my people,” Colgan said in a shaken voice.

  “I don’t know yet.”

  “Tei’Colgan?” Jozka said sounding more composed now. “A message from your ship: We are coming.”

  Colgan blinked. “Is that all?”

  Jozka flicked his ears. “That was all.”

  “Contact them and ask for clarification, please.”

  “Tei?”

  “Do it,” Tei’Varyk said and turned to Tarjei. “Give me a full power scan. Jakinda, go to internal power and disconnect all umbilicals.”

  “I hear,” Tarjei said and quickly bent to the task. “Scanning at full power and resolution.”

  “I hear, Tei,” Jakinda said. “Umbilical disconnect in progress. Main power online. The station grapples are not under my control, Tei.”

  Tei’Varyk chewed his whiskers in agitation. He pointed a claw at Jozka. “Fix that.”

  “I hear,” Jozka said and tried to contact the stationmaster just as Kajika ran onto the command deck and took his place.

  “Bring all weapons online.”

  “I hear, Tei,” Kajika said panting from his run. “Primary and secondary weapons at standby,” he said and then snarled a curse under his breath. “Feed jam on magazine-two!”

  “Unjam it,” Tei’Varyk hissed. “Tei’Colgan?”

  “What the hell is happening?” Colgan said. “Where’s my ship?”

  Tei’Varyk pointed a claw at one of his screens. “There is Canada, but look here.”

  Colgan bent to look. Canada was manoeuvring, obviously intent on making rendezvous with Naktlon to pick him up, but it was the host of glaring red icons on the edge of
the system that claimed his attention.

  “Jesus…” Colgan hissed. “We’re outnumbered.”

  Tei’Varyk agreed. “Could they be your people?”

  “Have they tried to establish contact?”

  Tei’Varyk looked the question at Jozka.

  “Nothing yet, Tei, but I have more bad news. Two heavy fangs are reported missing. Atarah and Vasuk.”

  “Not my people’s doing, Tei. Absolutely not my people,” Colgan said anxiously.

  “Jakinda, status?”

  “Thrusters at station keeping, Tei. Ramp and grapples retracted.”

  “Break dock!”

  “I hear. Manoeuvring thrusters engaged. Port ten…” Jakinda said as his claws danced over his controls, and Naktlon smoothly eased away from the station. “Thrusters ahead one third… we have cleared the station.”

  Colgan leaned down again. “I need to be on my ship, Tei.”

  Tei’Varyk knew how Colgan felt, but he had other priorities right now. “Set a course to join the Fleet. Jozka, any word from the Human ship?”

  “They say they will match our course and speed. They ask permission to send a cub lander for Tei’Colgan.”

  A Human lander would not be able to dock with Naktlon, but it could come alongside and pick Colgan up if he was willing to chance a spacewalk. Knowing Colgan, Tei’Varyk was sure he would be.

  “Tell them to hurry.”

  “I hear.”

  * * *

  Zuleika, Child of Harmony

  For Shima, that orbit had already been the most memorable of her short life. She had moved her entire world to Child of Harmony—her research, her home, Chailen. Everything was here. Her father was the only thing missing, but even he was just a short flight away. He had taken up his duties on Hool Station now. It was ironic really. Tahar had told everyone that he worked aboard Hool Station, and for orbits he had lived the lie. In reality, he had been working on an ultra secret project. The FTL project was no longer a secret. It had failed, and the research teams were disbanded. Now he really did work on Hool.

  Her move to Child of Harmony was important enough, but it was nothing compared to the momentous news of first contact with another alien race. She had watched the broadcast announcing contact with the Humans. Everyone had of course. Every Shan in the Twin Worlds had watched spellbound as Kajetan explained in detail just who these strange creatures were, and why they had come. Her calm tones were at odds with the historic news. Shima had been fascinated by it all, but others were afraid. There had been disturbances. Frightened people had run in every direction expecting alien landings at any moment. Thousands had fled into the mountains. Every keep was inundated by frightened people seeking sanctuary. It had taken a string of broadcasts by the Council of Elders to calm the situation. Every warrior and every ship was on alert, they said. Be not afraid, they said. Humans are our friends, and they will speak to you soon.