“I am the Most High Deklin, Amblin Moss,” he began in a placid tone. “In your vernacular, I would be called the high celebrant of my people.” He raised his hand and indicated the Jidoan she hadn’t realized was now standing behind her. “This is Ah’J Maboda. He is the captain of the Sanissaric.”
Angelika turned to Maboda, who was staring at her intently. He gave her a slow nod, which she returned in kind. “We’ve met.”
“Please, do not hold him accountable for his actions in the passageway, Agent Angelika Jordan,” Amblin Moss replied, then waited for Angelika to shift her gaze back to him before continuing to speak. “It is his duty as Ah’J to protect me at all times.”
“To protect you from what?”
Amblin Moss’s dark, copper lips turned upward into a gentle smile. “From you, of course. Or, to put it more generally, from people like yourself.”
“And how is it you know who I am?”
Without answering, Moss turned to an ornate cabinet on the opposite side of the desk. Opening it, he removed two glasses of a glowing blue liquid. He held one out to Angelika, who regarded the offering dubiously.
“Do not be concerned with it, Angelika Jordan. It’s merely a form of spring water recovered from deep within these sacred caverns. It’s quite refreshing. I can promise that nothing adverse will come of it.”
In truth, the dryness of the caves had given her a great deal of thirst. Besides, for the time being, Amblin Moss wanted her alive. She knew that all it would take from Moss was a casual glance and she and Maboda would be back at each other’s throats. Taking the glowing liquid, she sipped at it gingerly, and was surprised by its instantaneous refreshment.
Moss smiled, but it was not one of overt malice; Angelika had seen her share of those in the past. This one seemed to stem from kindness, yet also from extreme confidence.
“I know who you are, Agent Angelika Jordan, because you told me who you were.”
“I’ve never met you before in my life.”
Moss sipped at his own beverage. “Your mind told me.”
Angelika hid her surprise well. “You’re a telepath.”
Amblin Moss smiled, as a father might at his small child. “A very basic term to ascribe to our abilities.”
“Our?” she repeated.
Moss slowly sipped at his glowing drink. “A small percentage of our race is endowed with such gifts, Angelika Jordan.”
“And how would those gifts be defined?”
Moss carefully set his drink onto the desktop beside him. “Always probing for weaknesses, Agent Angelika?”
She smirked. “I just like to know what I’m up against, Decklin Moss.”
Moss chuckled. “Well, not us…and certainly not me. I’m afraid these old bones have no more fight left in them.”
“Ah’J Maboda seemed to indicate something of the opposite in the corridor,” she said, inclining her head back in the direction of the Sanissaric guard.
“He was acting on my orders. And, truth be told, the Ah’J was merely making sure, Agent Angelika.”
“Making sure of what?”
Amblin Moss smirked as if he’d just gotten away with a devious prank. “That you were who you thought you were. I must say, your confidence in your own abilities has proved accurate.”
“I’m glad you approve,” she replied flatly.
“As am I,” Moss acknowledged. “Had your own thoughts deceived you, you would very likely be dead, and my servants would be clearing your remains from my corridor as we speak.”
She smirked at Moss’s insinuation. “You seem to be probing for weaknesses yourself, Most High Decklin.”
Moss let out a jovial laugh. “Well said, Agent Angelika Jordan. Well said. Indeed, not only did you not disappoint, but you have restored my faith in our cause.”
“And what ‘cause’ would that be, Decklin?”
With more agility than she expected, Amblin Moss hopped back and sat himself on the desktop. He leaned his face toward her, then beckoned her to come closer with a wave of his long, clawed fingertip. “Nothing less than the complete restoration of my people’s legacy,” he said in a hushed tone, “and the salvation of your own.”
“What do you care of my people?” Angelika replied in the same muted tone. “The Jidoans are known Kafaran compatriots. If that is the legacy you speak of, then I’m afraid it makes no sense to offer humanity or any other Unified Collaboration member that kind of salvation.”
Moss leaned back from her, then dismissed her words with an exaggerated wave of his hand. “The Kafarans,” he all but spat. “Their legacy will be written in their own blood.”
“But you have a known treaty with them,” she replied as she folded her arms in defiance. “In my book, that makes you as guilty of genocide as they are.”
Amblin Moss rubbed a hand across his face. Angelika wasn’t sure if he was about to change tactics or if she’d actually caught him off guard.
“Let me tell you a story, Agent Angelika Jordan,” he began, getting up from the desktop and stepping toward one of the many embellished figurines on the wall. “A dozen cycles ago…about ten years ago by your standards, well before the Great War started…we were actively trading with the Kafarans. It seemed that a small plant native to this world had healing properties favorable to your current enemy. These agreements for commerce were signed and ratified by both of our governments, and at no time were we ever dedicated to producing war-fighting equipment for the Kafarans. The liquid extract of the helianthus plant was our only contribution to them.” He ran a finger over the body of the statue, as if looking for signs of dust he knew would not be there, then turned back to Angelika. “In human terms, you would say that was ‘the status quo’ up until a year ago.”
“Krador?”
Amblin Moss smiled, then moved to inspect a statue on the opposite wall. “No, not at first. While there were rumors amongst some Jidoan dissidents about our people becoming more key figures in the newly formed Kafaran Alliance, the real instigator was Vannik.”
“Vannik?”
“A former member of the Hall of Echoes,” Moss scoffed. “A rather minor figure in our religious circles. But, unbeknownst to many, an extremely powerful Kinetic. So powerful that he was able to not only instantly read the exact thoughts of others, but was also able to block others from reading his own. That fact alone made him a heretic in this covenant. When he was discovered, he was ostracized…banished from the Hall of Echoes.”
Angelika nodded, then moved to inspect one of the status on the opposite side of the room from Moss. “But you also spoke of dissidents.”
Moss nodded somberly. “Vannik’s followers, as it was also later revealed. Several dozen of them. Far from this place, they formed their own following.” Moss’s eyes looked away from her, and he appeared to distance himself from their conversation. “Sacrilegious...misguided fools.” Shaking his head to clear the thoughts of those frustrating times, he looked back to her. “It was highly speculated that Vannik himself was able to gain control of several key members of our ruling government. He was able to plant several of his own people into influential positions.”
“And then Krador showed up.”
The Most High Decklin nodded again. “With Vannik now lurking in the shadows and in partial control of the government, he was able to persuade Admiral Krador that an alliance would be best for both parties. In exchange for Krador’s assurance that Vannik’s rivals would be vanquished, he would give Krador access to the many raw materials on Jido. Vannik would ensure that Krador’s shipyards were packed with Jidoan workers, eager to build his war machines.”
“Slaves?”
Moss’s head bobbed slowly. “Many of my people consider those in Vannik’s employment to be subjects, but I choose not to glorify their position as anything other than what it is.”
“I’m sure the Kafarans weren’t at all upset with the Jidoans supporting Krador, a known Sector Command defector and known murderer.”
�
�Actually, it was quite the opposite. At first, anyway. When the majority of the Jidoan workers shifted from an agricultural base to an industrial one, the Kafarans sent a small squadron of warships to discover why their shipments of helianthus extract were waning. Apparently, they were in desperate need for it.” He then smiled to himself. “It seems your Sector Command forces are quite effective at waging war themselves.”
“We can hold our own.”
Moss acknowledged her remark with a respectful bow of his head. “In any case, both Vannik and Krador were able to convince the Kafaran envoys that a new fleet, built around combined Unified and Jidoan technology, would be a great asset to the Kafaran Alliance. When Krador gave the Kafarans unhindered access to his stolen Unified databases, a planet was quickly found that produced a similar extract to that of the helianthus plant. Their original source for the medicine supplanted, and with Krador’s shipyards now fully operational, the Kafarans saw the advantage presented to them. A treaty between Krador, Vannik, and the Kafarans was instantly ratified in the Jidoan council.”
Angelika took another small sip of the glowing blue liquid as she processed Decklin Moss’s words.
“We are not a warlike race, Agent Angelika Jordan. A great many of us wish to extricate ourselves from the outside influences that have caused such a radical shift in our way of life. The damage done by Vannik and Krador will take dozens, perhaps hundreds of cycles to repair. We…I…am anxious to get all this behind us.”
“How many is ‘us’?” she asked. “Because Krador has thousands at his command, and I’m not talking about Jidoan converts. He has whole legions of well-trained mercenaries under his direct control. There’s an entire fleet of warships in tight orbit, which is more than enough to obliterate whole cities in a single engagement. Anything you do to upset the balance that he and Vannik have established would be squashed before the first dozen of his troops hit the floor.”
Moss nodded. “I will attempt to address your concerns in order. Our movement here on Jido is small, but I believe we have adequate resources to satisfy the needs of a successful revolution. There are several hundred of us here in Eridu, scattered throughout the city.”
“As well as inside Krador’s military compound?”
“The admiral, under advisement from Vannik, is cautious of the Jidoan people as a collective. We are allowed into the compound in small numbers, but are not tolerated near any vital systems. The same can be said for the shipyards in orbit.”
“How many of your revolutionaries are stationed in each?” she asked.
“At any given time, we have no more than ten in the compound, and no more than a hundred in orbit.”
“Those are fairly paltry numbers, Decklin.”
Amblin Moss smiled. “Do not underestimate our abilities, Agent Angelika Jordan. You recall I spoke earlier about the Kinetics?”
“Yes?”
“As I said, it is more than just simple telepathy. The most skilled of our people can not only read minds; they can also implant suggestions into those standing nearby.”
“What kind of suggestions?”
Moss’s left eyebrow rose. “The kinds that make men press the wrong buttons, although they are convinced of the exact opposite. You were the target of such a deception by Ah’J Maboda in the corridor.”
Angelika thought back to the fight. “When I thought I saw something in my periphery?”
“And you did. At least, your mind did. That was how Maboda was able to launch his initial attack.”
Angelika couldn’t help but shake her head at the ploy, thinking how something like that would come in handy in her own occupation. “And are all your insurgents as well trained in this art?”
Moss shook his head. “Regrettably, no. But, I do believe we have enough Kinetics at various pivotal points to employ them effectively. And then there are the Sanissaric.”
“I thought they were just another part of the sermon you gave earlier. A myth.”
Moss chuckled. “To Krador, and most Jidoan, we try to keep it that way. Even Vannik wasn’t privy to their existence. He knew of Maboda and the religious guards, but he never deduced that they were a viable threat.”
“How sizeable a force are they?” she asked with renewed interest.
Ah’J Maboda, who up to this point had been silent, spoke up in a commanding voice from behind them. “I have a silthus of warriors at my command.”
Angelika looked to Moss, who nodded at her lack of understanding the term. “A silthus is analogous to a human legion—about four thousand Jidoans. Keep in mind, that figure is planetwide, and are not all centered here in Eridu.”
Angelika turned to face the Ah’J. “How many can you muster on short notice here in the capital?”
“There are three dothus here in Eridu.”
“Nine hundred warriors in total,” Moss said, before the thought even crossed Angelika’s mind.
“And are all of them Kinetics?”
Maboda shook his head. “My division commanders are as well trained as I, and their subordinates are also quite adept, but that is all.”
“Twenty men,” Moss said.
“What about Vannik’s followers?” Angelika asked of the Ah’J.
“It is difficult to say exact numbers with any certainty.”
Moss then took his turn at speaking. “What is for certain was that it was Vannik’s people who discovered the last Unified covert team to attempt to depose Krador.”
This got Angelika’s undivided attention. “He found them using telepathy. That explains a lot,” she said. “That means there is a very dangerous, unknown variable in your enemies’ numbers, High Decklin.”
Moss nodded. “Which is why, Agent Angelika Jordan, we need your help.”
“Please explain.”
“My people—the rebels, as you would call them—are not as adept at dealing with offworlders as you are. We do not understand their way of thinking, of planning, and we are all but ignorant of the ways in which they can wage wars with one another. We recognize the need to remove Krador from power, but will be helpless if he decides to retaliate.”
“You mean by orbital assault?”
“Precisely. These caves are the only underground structure known on this planet. While they will hold the entirety of Eridu, the other cities would be all but helpless. Regardless, these sacred grounds are not deep enough to withstand a prolonged campaign against us.”
“What can one agent do against an entire fleet?”
“There is a long-range communications center in the heart of Krador’s compound. The Sanissaric and the Kinetics should be able to distract Krador and Vannik’s forces long enough for you to get a message to the nearest Sector Command fleet to call for reinforcements. Based on information we have recently received, the nearest flotilla of your ships is currently only twenty-four hours distant.”
“And you know this how, exactly?” she asked, wondering if Moss or his followers had any spies in the Unified Collaboration of Systems.
Amblin Moss bobbed his head. “No, Agent Angelika Jordan. Our ‘spies,’ as your mind calls them, are limited to monitoring Krador, Vannik, and their combined forces.”
Inwardly, she kicked herself for having the thought, knowing there was no way she could hide them from Moss.
“Do not worry, Agent Angelika Jordan. We are trained to direct our mind probing to specific areas. Above all else, we respect the privacy of the individual. In your terms, your ‘secrets are safe,’ unless we determine there is a need for them. But, to answer your question, within the walls of Krador’s compound is a large, underground penal installation. Not only are our political leaders imprisoned there, but also several hundred Sector Command personnel taken from a recent battle with Krador’s forces. A Kinetic who is posing as a sustenance deliver was able to glean this information from the prisoners’ minds.”
The crew of the Tripoli?
Moss shook his head. “I cannot say for certain, but that word has been spoken in th
eir minds.”
Angelika smiled, knowing Moss had once again read her thoughts. If any of the command crew from the Tripoli or the other ships had survived, they would certainly be a huge asset. “Well, you can tell that waiter he’s going to get a hefty gratuity for delivering that news.”
Moss looked at her in confusion, the first time he had done so. “I do not understand your reference.”
“It means that your sustenance deliverer should be rewarded for providing some very helpful information.”
The Most High Decklin nodded his head deeply. “She will be honored by your words, Agent Angelika Jordan. Such rewards are looked on with great pride by my people.”
Angelika turned to Maboda. “Ah’J,” she said, trying to pronounce the title just as Decklin Moss had. When the captain of the guard gave a sharp nod, she knew she had done it right. “I’m going to need a layout of Krador’s installation, as well as guard rotations, personnel numbers at all locations, and anything you can get me on the orbital operations.”
Ah’J Maboda nodded again.
“And if you can manage it, as many weapons as you and your people can get your hands on. I think it’s time to start planning that revolution.”
For the first time, the Ah’J smiled broadly. “It will be as you request.”
Chapter 15
In a side chamber not far from the High Decklin’s office, Ah’J Maboda and Angelika leaned over a three-dimensional projection of Krador’s military base. The compound was a small city unto itself, surrounded by a fifty-foot-high wall, seventeen hundred feet by fourteen hundred feet long, that encompassed the entire complex. Atop the wall, twelve defensive stations were spaced equidistant from one another, each manned by two guards with a tripod-mounted rapid-laser cannon. The ground surrounding the complex was cleared and flattened out to a distance of a thousand feet on each side. Maboda had just finished detailing the contents of the “killing field,” as he had called it: mines, tripwires, stun grenade launchers, and more motion sensors than Angelika had ever seen in such a large area. The only cleared path was the one leading to the imposing metal doors that opened to the compound’s inner courtyard—a path that was guarded by two pilfered hover tanks and ten heavily armed soldiers.
Traitor Winds - Kestrel Saga: Vol. 0 (Kestrel Saga - Origins) Page 15