Lokhars roared with outage.
“Shi-Feng,” I said.
The rest of the Lokhars stood to their feet.
“Listen to me!” I shouted, with smoke trickling from the gun barrel. “Listen, you of Purple, Orange, Yellow, Green and Crimson Tamika. I just shot a Shi-Feng assassin. I knew they would attempt this. What you don’t know is that Holgotha has told me to tell you to outlaw the ancient house of killers. Their days are over.”
The old Purple Tamika acolyte pointed a trembling finger at me. “How did you know he was…?”
“Shi-Feng?” I asked.
“Do not say that name,” Divine Griffin told me.
Of course, Holgotha hadn’t said any such thing to me. I’d known because I’d seen the tiger begin the Shi-Feng blink. Since Sanakaht, I recognized the maneuver. I didn’t tell the assembled crowd any of that, though.
“I know because I have been given knowledge,” I said. “I saw into his heart and knew him as part of the outlawed assassin band.”
The Lokhars stared at each other in wonder and disbelief. I could see the question in their eyes. Did the human speak the truth?
“Would you hear the rest of my words?” I asked. “If so, then sit down.”
Diana and Murad Bey led the humans in sitting. The Starkiens followed their example. Finally, one by one, Lokhars began to sit.
“No!” a tiger howled. “He lies. We will never disband.”
I shot him next, another Shi-Feng assassin. I suppose anything could have happened then. The meeting could have turned into pandemonium. Instead, I saw new expressions come over the tigers. They saw me in a different light. The Shi-Feng were supposed to be invincible. They always killed those they targeted. Yet, before everyone, I’d just slain two half-mythical assassins. In that moment, I think most of the tigers believed I was indeed the speaker for the Forerunner object.
Something troubled me then. The Shi-Feng attacked in triads. There should be another assassin lurking in the crowd. Yet…could Felix Rex Logos have lied to me? He said he was his own triad. These two assassins had been highly ranked Lokhars. I wondered if they completed the Emperor’s triad.
Inspiration struck, but not about the Shi-Feng. It’s weird how things work like that. In that moment, I knew how to cement the enemy Lokhar to me, how to win the diehards to my cause.
“Because of Holgotha’s words,” I said. “I am formally returning the articles of honor to Purple Tamika.”
Many in the audience stirred, both enemy and friendly Lokhars. Clearly, my words shocked them.
“What do you demand as payment?” Admiral Saris called out.
Clutching both sides of the podium, I stared at her. “Not a thing,” I said.
“Nothing?” Divine Griffin asked in bewilderment.
“That’s right,” I said.
Lokhars exchanged startled glances with each other.
“But…” Divine Griffin said. “This is not the way. Because you have the articles, you should extract grim oaths from us.”
“That is the old way,” I said. “That way died with the Emperor. I have returned with the new way. In order to defeat Abaddon, we must practice these methods.” I paused for effect. Then, I leaned toward the crowd, lowering my voice. “Let me tell you a truth you might not know. You are Lokhars of honor. Instead of merely having your word, I want your hearts. You will fight the harder because of it.”
“Meaning what?” Divine Griffin asked.
“Meaning that we must wage the greatest crusade of the age,” I said. “Listen. The Emperor slew billions of humans when he ordered my world attacked and poisoned. Before he died, Felix Rex Logos repented of his heinous act. He asked me to ask you to atone for the deed.”
“How can we atone?” the old acolyte asked.
“By beginning a holy crusade against the Saurian border star systems,” I said. “First, everyone will help cleanse the Earth of poison. Then you must help me free the captured humans among the Jelk Corporation. They will come to Earth to live, incorporated among the free people. For centuries, the Jelk have stolen Earthers. Their children were born into slavery. Together we will free them and train them in the arts of war for the coming grand crusade.”
“One against Abaddon and the Kargs?” Divine Griffin asked.
“You have spoken truth,” I said. “We must all join together to defeat the evil one loose in the Orion Arm.”
Those in the crowded hall thought about that. Finally, Admiral Saris stood to her feet.
There was something about her that compelled me to say: “Speak. Let us hear your words.”
“Who will rule the Empire of the Lokhars? You, a…human?”
“No,” I said. “Here’s what Holgotha has to say on the matter. Purple Tamika has held the throne for many centuries. Now is the new era of Orange Tamika. They sent their best warriors to the portal planet and saved our space-time continuum. One particular Lokhar of great nobility returned from that grueling battle in hyperspace.”
“Do you mean Doctor Sant?” Saris asked.
“Yes!” I shouted. “You have named the new Emperor of the Lokhars. Three cheers for the Emperor,” I said, pumping a fist into the air. Noticing that that didn’t get them excited enough, I drew the .44 and fired slugs into the ceiling.
As the smoke cleared from the barrel, one Lokhar after another stood to his or her feet. They began to roar and rave with approval.
In such a way Doctor Sant, Seer Sant, became the next tiger emperor, ending the civil war and bringing the Lokhars back together.
-35-
One year and twenty-one days after Seer Sant became Emperor Sant, the Patrol Boat Achilles led seven attack cruisers and three giant freighters through the Alpha Centauri AB system.
We were returning from an extended raid into the frontier region of the Jelk Corporation. The attack cruisers shepherded the freighters. They held the first human immigrants from formerly guarded Saurian worlds. Several million sons and daughters from kidnapped Earthers were coming home.
I stood on the patrol boat’s bridge with Zoe Artemis, holding her hand.
“There’s an incoming message for you, sir,” the comm officer said.
“Put Baba Gobo on the main screen,” I said.
A moment later, the ugly baboon peered at me. “Greetings, Commander Creed,” the Starkien said.
I disengaged my hand from Zoe’s and took several steps closer to the screen. “Greetings Baba Gobo,” I said. “Have your people settled in?”
The Starkien frowned. “It is strange, Commander. We have wandered the star lanes for so long that none of us knows what it means to call a system home. The techs are finally dismantling our factory ships and bringing the machines onto selected asteroids. I already feel differently about Alpha Centauri.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” I said.
As per my secret bargain with Baba Gobo, I let the Starkiens settle star systems one jump from Holgotha. From a distance, they guarded the great artifact. It brought peace to their hearts, a serenity they had long been lacking. On behalf of all Starkiens, Baba Gobo had agreed to the Jade League’s terms. No Starkien could enter a star system with a Forerunner artifact in residence. It would mean death to that Starkien. In return, the baboons became full-fledged members of the league. They also gained a new league title, the First Defenders.
From scavengers and pirate contractors, the Starkiens had gained honor, respect and recognition in the main league religion.
I’d pushed for that for several reasons. The greatest in my mind was that, because of the Starkiens, no one could just dash to Earth and strike fledgling humanity. They would have to wade through the First Defenders of Holgotha. The artifact still resided in the solar system. It meant the Starkiens guarded the various routes to Earth.
In time, the close Starkien presence might cause population problems. But that was something the future generations could worry about. For now, I was trying to insure humanity’s survival and then our prosperi
ty.
“How long until the Grand Fleet launches its main assault against the corporation?” Baba Gobo asked.
“Another year, at least,” I said.
“The Starkiens will send warships.”
“I’m counting on it,” I said.
“Good voyaging, Commander,” Baba Gobo said. “I have duties I must attend to.”
“Of course,” I said. “Good talking to you, old son.”
The connection ended, and our small flotilla headed for the jump gate.
The Jelk still fought Abaddon, waging desperate war. Emperor Sant had sent scouts to the other end of corporation territory, to the core worlds. They were supposed to assess the situation. So far, none of the Jade League members had attempted to contact the Jelk. None of us trusted them. So, we had agreed to let the Jelk absorb Abaddon’s hatred while we built up for the great contest.
That meant the Star Vikings raided Saurian-held worlds. We did so for several reasons. The most important was to gather humans for Old Earth. The second was to grab loot to pay for all the items our planet and people needed.
Some argued it weakened the Jelk against Abaddon. I said we had to strike while we could. Humanity had come perilously near extinction. Now, I wanted to pump us up and train the new people in the art of being free. That meant learning to run one’s own life and learning how to defend what belonged to you.
The Achilles led the way through the jump gate. After shaking off the bad effects of jump, the comm officer turned to me.
“The jump gate guardians are demanding to speak with the captain,” she said.
“Put the commodore on the screen,” I said.
A moment later, I stared at Dmitri Rostov’s Cossack features. My good friend had taken up guardian duties.
“Commander Creed,” Dmitri said. “How did it go?”
“A few diehard Saurians refused to surrender,” I said.
“They must be dead then,” Dmitri said.
“That’s right.”
“Do you have time to board my flagship?” Dmitri asked. “Maybe we could play a game of pool before you head to Earth.”
“Not today, I’m afraid. Maybe some other time.”
“When?” Dmitri asked.
I grinned at him, shrugging.
He laughed and saluted. Then, his comm officer cut the connection.
The last leg of the journey to Earth proved uneventful. Together with Ceres, Holgotha happened to be on the other side of the Sun. That was fine with me. I knew now that the Forerunner artifact watched us. The other relics in the Orion Arm watched other races. I’d never forgotten Felix’s question. “What is the true purpose of the Forerunner artifacts?”
These days, I believed that the old Emperor had come to distrust the ancient relics. He wanted to believe they helped us, but who really knew the answer. The artifacts said they awaited the Creator’s reappearance. Was that just a saying? Maybe it meant until everything ended. Maybe they had their own nefarious game plan. I mean, why else had Holgotha gone to the portal planet? The artifact was the one who had first let Abaddon escape the collapsing universe.
The point was I didn’t trust the giant machines. I didn’t trust the First Ones, either.
What is the true purpose of the Forerunner artifacts?
If I could kill Abaddon and free Jennifer, and destroy Shah Claath while I was at it, I might make the goal of my life to know the purpose of the ancient machines. Today, and for a great many more tomorrows, I had a different task.
Soon enough, our flotilla began to brake. In the viewing port before me, I saw the beautiful blue-green planet of my birth.
“Sir,” the comm officer said. “Council member Diana would like a word with you.”
“I’d be delighted.”
“She would like to speak to you privately.”
“Nope,” I said. “Put her up on the main screen.”
The Amazon Queen appeared. She frowned at me. It seemed like a lifetime ago when I’d first met her on a Jelk freighter parked on Earth. She wore fancy clothes and looked better than ever. Alien tech allowed awesome facelifts.
“Commander Creed,” Diana said. “I’m sorry to inform you that we aren’t ready to receive the new immigrants yet.”
I didn’t want to hear that. “What’s the problem?” I asked.
She licked her lips. “This is a delicate topic. If I could speak to you alone…”
“No, Diana. Tell it to me straight.”
The scowl put lines in her forehead. “Creed, you never have understood politics. You like to point and snap your fingers, telling people to do this or do that. I have to persuade others, to cajole and prod.”
“I understand politics just fine,” I said.
“Power politics,” she said.
Arguing with Diana made no sense. So, I waited for her to get to the point.
She pouted. She tried to outwait me, and finally she threw up her hands. “Why do you have to be so stubborn?”
“If he wasn’t,” Zoe said, “would any of us still be alive?”
Diana glanced at Zoe and then back at me. “Very well,” she said. “It has to do with placement. Murad Bey demands the immigrants land in old Turkey. He hasn’t ensured full sterilization of the ground yet. He also insists that at least half of the immigrants take his reeducation courses.”
“The first group will land near Laramie, Wyoming,” I said. “It’s the cleanest part of the planet. Besides, that’s where the new homes and industrial sites are waiting.”
“I know all that,” Diana said. “Murad Bey is claiming American chauvinism on your part. He could get ugly about this.”
“Murad wants to start up the old problems?” I asked. “Is he serious?”
“Very serious, Creed,” Diana said. “Everyone wants to make sure he gets his part of the pie. Murad Bey thinks we’re colluding.”
I closed my eyes and rubbed my forehead. The problems never ended. If it wasn’t one thing, it was something else.
“I’ll talk to him,” I said. “Maybe if I promise to set the third group in his area of Earth that will help. He has to clean it up first. That will give us another six months before we have to worry about him.”
“Talking to Murad would be a good idea,” Diana said. “Remember, though, we want Murad Bey onboard with us. We want his heart in this.”
“Got it,” I said. “And Diana…”
“Yes?”
“Thanks for all your hard work. I don’t know if I’ve told you how much I appreciate what you’ve done.”
The Amazon Queen smiled. She knew how to look fantastic. “That’s the right technique to use on Murad Bey. And thank you, Commander. It’s good to hear some appreciation.”
We ended the conversation shortly thereafter.
A half hour later, Luna Command called. Zoe spoke to them and gained clearance for our vessels.
At the same time, a lone ship rose from the cratered surface. The craft entered a docking bay in our patrol boat. The vessel’s single occupant soon spoke to me alone in my quarters.
Looking grave, N7 sat in a chair.
“You have the secret report?” I asked.
“I do, Commander,” N7 said.
As I said earlier, Sant had sent fast scouts to the Jelk core worlds. We wanted to know what was happening one thousand light years away. According to N7, one scout had returned with highly interesting news.
The android now told me the message, gained by capturing Saurians and convincing them to speak.
The Kargs had indeed come out of hyperspace. During our voyage to the portal planet, they had captured a Lokhar dreadnought as suspected. Somehow, the Jelk had learned of this. The corporation leaders didn’t wait, but struck hard and fast once the Kargs appeared in our universe.
I suspect Shah Claath had doubled-crossed Abaddon. That would be just like the little Rumpelstiltskin. He would have told his brother Jelk the truth and they’d moved ruthlessly to destroy Abaddon’s hyperspace-moving abiliti
es.
In any case, the Jelk had lost most of their attacking battlejumpers during that first assault. They also managed to destroy the hyperspace craft, stranding the Kargs on this side. Afterward, Abaddon waged merciless war against the corporation. So far, the two sides decimated each other.
According to the secret report, it would be years before either side conquered the other. The Jelk knew their danger, and Abaddon understood he had to kill the red devils before he could consolidate.
Our task at present would be to let the Jelk and Kargs fight it out one thousand light-years away in the core worlds. As they did, we would build up. According to the report, it sounded like we still had time.
After shaking N7’s hand, I returned to the bridge. From it, I led the way in the Achilles. Low Earth Orbit held hundreds of spaceships with half again as many defensive satellites. With the layers beginning in the other star systems, it would be almost impossible for an alien to do what the original Rhode Island-sized dreadnought had done those many years ago to Earth.
I had a nightmare, though. What if the Forerunner artifacts declared war against humanity? Sure, it might never happen. I didn’t see any reason why it would. But if it did, how could we defend our planet against transfer technology? I’d raided Sanakaht. I knew the power of a transfer. I wanted to make Earth a fortress so no one could do that to us.
“Take us down,” I told Zoe.
She instructed the pilot. He began entry procedures. Soon, the patrol boat left low orbit and entered the blue atmosphere.
I remembered the last time I’d touched down. Winds had howled, tossing the craft this way and that.
A lot had changed since Emperor Felix Rex Logos’ passing. Nearly one hundred automated factories chugged on Earth, cleaning the planet. Twenty giant scrubbers cruised back and forth in the air, destroying toxins. The winds no longer howled. The purple, red and other crazy colors no longer made the sky look insane. The old blue had returned.
The patrol boat landed in Wyoming, five kilometers from the automated factory where the first Shi-Feng assassin had tried to kill me.
“I’m going to go outside,” I said.
Extinction Wars 3: Star Viking Page 34