She looked intensely at me. “I took the 10,000 credits start capital and went straight to Arsenal. I had only one wish and that was to serve the Union and repay them for that kindness. My son and I took this assignment gladly, as Laurin could easily mix and mingle with Drak.”
Her son added. “Now you know how two ugly Laurin Oghr became NAVINT officers and Union citizens. Mother and I have been here for over 15 years now and I steadily worked my way up and became the chauffeur pilot of the ruling elite. Two years ago I was picked to be the Chauffeur of the first Magistrate and he trusts me as much as a Drak can. I have no vices, no friends and no contact to the Ithe. The only thing I do is visit my old mother.
Not much has happened in those years. I collect information and mother prepares the weekly reports. A lot has changed in the past days however. The successful uprising of the Instigators and them defeating even the Kartanian War machines made the Drak very nervous. They fear that this might be the end of their reign. They fear the rebels to an extent, but they really fear the Karthanian and what the Bonefaces might do to express their disappointment and to insure their influence.” He waved at the Tele-entertainment device, the images changed and we could see the First Magistrate sitting in the back of a luxury flyer. The angle of the visual was strangely off and appeared as if the visual sensor was mounted to the flyers ceiling. We could see the Laurin Chauffeur and a second gray coated Draak sitting next to the Magistrate. The Drak had no rank insignia at all. I recognized the first magistrate by the big single medal he wore.
Cracktik said. “This is the most feared of all Drak; he stays in the shadows and leads the Secret Police.”
The visuals also had acoustics. The secret police chief said to the first magistrate. “Your Excellency, I am sure the Instigators around that cursed Togar have outside help. There is no other explanation as to how they managed to disable Karthanian Sky Eyes and defeat the Ognyx at the battle in Craha. We have very conflicting reports and none are too credible. Some reports claim the Ognyx started fighting each other. Others swear they saw one lifted into the sky only to drop onto another. No one can explain why nine of them flipped and marched against our forces. The reports are formthe most part utter nonsense of course, but the fact remains they have been destroyed.”
The Magistrate pulled on his gloves and asked. “Who do you think is helping the rebel scum? There aren’t that many civilizations out there that could defeat Ognyx walkers. The Shiss and the Nul, then there are the always meddling Kermac. Of course the Union could defeat a planet full of Ognyx and there are the Togar.” The secret police man opened a brief case and pulled a plastic sheet. “We are too far from Shiss territory and if we can believe this Intel report I received from Karthania then they have other problems than a little planet like us. According to this rumor the Nul have come to an agreement with the Union and some say they have become allies and even join the Union.”
The Magistrate took the film sheet and glanced at it. “What utter nonsense. I am truly not an expert in those things but everyone knows the Nul and the Union will eventually go to war against each other. The Nul trust no one, ever since the Shiss have betrayed them and the war mongering Union is only waiting for an excuse to go to war. “
“Your Excellency, I know it sounds very unlikely but I would not dismiss these reports. I have independent reports overhearing Union freighter captains in the foreigner district bars at the space port that collaborate this report. Even if the Nul and the Union simply sign some non-aggression pact then this is very bad news for the Shiss. I must remind you, we also believed the report that the Golden are Union now was pure nonsense and yet the Golden Outpost here is now officially a Union trading center complete with one of their fabulous GalNet terminals.”
The secret police man was unfazed and pulled another sheet. “As much as our Masters in the Sky are big and mighty to us, the Kartanian are but a speck to both the Galactic Council and the Union. There are no indications of Kermac or Galactic Union activity in this region. Their spheres of influence are far away from this sector of space. The Kermac are way too busy dealing with a Union that is growing in leaps and bounds. I am sure they would be interested if our Bone Faced friends finally get to blows with the Togar. But it is more likely that they interfere on behalf of the Karthanian as the Togar hate the Kermac as much as the Union does. What we do with the Ithe is what the Kermac do for millennia with their thrall species; I doubt they would interfere on a world as unimportant as Itheamh.”
Again the Magistrate took the page, this time he did not crush it and glance on it. He then said. “That leaves us with what?”
The Secret Police Chief said. “It leaves us with the Union and the Togar. Neither the Oghr nor the Dai who are also powerful forces in this region have ever interfered in such a way. The Dai so rumors exist are firmly allied with our Masters and the Oghr don’t do anything unless they get paid for it and then they do it directly and with open force.” The Magistrate kept looking at the plastic sheet. “The Union was here on official business four years ago. They could have interfered back then, but they left. Their own laws prevented them from taking the plea of the Rebels back then. The Union considers us the Drak the legitimate official voice of Itheamh and unless we go to them, this world is as unimportant to them as a speck of dust. Their Corporations do good business with our Karthanian Overlords and losing Itheamh as trade port would cut in their profits.”
The Police chief agreed. “Of all the Union is the least likely source for the help. They consider themselves the good ones and are strict sticklers to their own laws. I too think it is the Togar, and this Ninety is not a slave but a Togar Agent. Those Cats itch for a fight against Karthania and the sooner the better as the Togar fear that the Karthanian will eventually outrun them in terms of Technology.”
The Magistrate rubbed his stalk eyes and said. “That leaves us in between; our Overlords will not permit this world to fall under Togar control.”
With measured moves, the Police chief pulled a third plastic sheet from his brief case. “This is my greatest concern, Your Excellency. I have direct word from the Guild assembly at Karthania.
The Guild Masters want to send Oghr troops to pacify the entire planet and restore order. This time enslaving all Ithe and all Drak and put an Oghr military tribunal in charge as they have done on Moghd, a world quite similar to our planet and also one of their outlet and contact worlds.”
Har-Hi and I watched silently as the leader of this world asked his police chief. “How long do we have until the Oghr troops arrive?”
The police chief said. “I am not sure, but when they arrive. You and I are no longer needed. The Ithe and the Drak that survive will all become little more than slaves.”
The Magistrate put on his hat and said. “The last word has not been spoken. The puppet is about to cut the strings and we will show the Instigators and the Kartanians that we Drak are the masters of this world after all.” The recording stopped.
The Oghr woman added saying. “We don’t have very reliable intelligence assets inside Karthania but my Oghr sources say the Karthanians have secured the services of King Fithark of the Orkh-Oghr. King Fithark rules over the largest and most advanced Oghr Kingdom outside of those that are Union now. They are most closely related to your Oromals, the big ones.”
Har-Hi said to me. ” Seven to eight feet tall, almost as strong as our Pertharians, tough enough to go toe to toe with a Nul if necessary, very well trained mercenaries who take their reputation and soldiering very seriously. Their training is second only to Union Marines. Mercy and restrain are unknown to them and they approach Tech level 7 in many areas, especially weapons.”
The old woman continued saying. “Rumors have it, the Karthanians paid for five regiments, that’s one thousand Orkhs each; in full battle gear. We are almost certain five regiment ships left Ooh Planet yesterday. So we estimate them to arrive in ten or twelve days. Depending how active the Togar are, forcing them to take a longer route.”
While I was listening and processing the information with all the attention I could muster, I wanted to scratch an itch on my nose so bad and silently cursed the mass of Bioflex syntho flesh before my face and said barely able to keep myself from sneezing. “Hmmm five troop ships you say. Filled with vicious warriors, maybe we can intercept them before they become a problem here.”
The Chauffeur said. “This is not all the news I have for you, Captain, as this is what the Karthanian plan to do; the Drak also have plans of their own, they do not want to go without a fight. They see their star fading fast.” He gestured towards the Tele-Entertainment device and a new recording was shown. We could see the two Daak from before enter the flyer limousine.
The Magistrate leaned forward. “Cracktik take us to the Peoples Palace and take the scenic route.”
We could hear Cracktik respond and the flyer taking off. The Police man gestured towards the driver. “Over two years I am trying to find anything on this ugly Oghr and yet all my efforts show him to be utmost loyal and most of all silent. He does not talk to anyone, doesn’t go to bars and does not socialize much with others. I wish I had a man so trustworthy in my employment, but I still think we should close the screen.”
A transparent divider slid into place, but the audio visual bug was still in the same compartment with the two Drak.
The Secret Police chief shifted his position and looked at the Magistrate. “I know we are in a serious situation, but do you really think we should consider?”
The Magistrate also shifted his position and said. “What else is there? The Ancient Terror will cost our lives and our souls, it might cost the lives of millions but it will confirm Drak rule that is the agreement.”
“You know me as the most ardent defender of our ways and yet even I shiver and fear the consequences. We do not know what it will really do, what it really is. We could simply leave, you know. I have a ship load of Polo coinsand several thousand tons of Crystal. A fortune in any place, and I know you have a treasure more than equal.”
“And where would you go? Karthania does not allow strangers, not even us their puppets. The Togar will have a feast on our flesh and take our Polos.”
“The Union, we could go there.”
“Crystal has not much value there and I know there are Ithe who live free in the Union. They hunt us for what we have done. No old friend. I am the Magistrate and this is my world. I am the law and I tell who dies and who lives here! We have a Terror, a weapon at our disposal that will consume all that stands against us and I will use it!”
Again the recording stopped and the NAVINT spy said.
“The Magistrate has spoken about an ancient terror before, something he believes, will secure their victory, but at the cost of thousand souls including his.”
The Oghr Commander spread his hands. “Captain I am a trained Union Intelligence officer and I do not believe in the supernatural, but the way he speaks about it, makes it sound like a demon or something like that.”
Har-Hi glanced at me from the side. “We Dai are more superstitious and I am not so easily dismissing the supernatural. I have seen strange and weird things, but I too am a Union officer and I am certain it can all be rationally explained and always has a scientific base.”
I leaned forward. “We still need to know what it is. I remember the bugs and those face hugging bat worms and I fought something called a Shogotrz. I don’t think whatever it is he is talking about will stop the changes that will happen.”
Har-Hi asked. “Do you know what weapons were used to make the first planet inhospitable? The Drak destroyed their world. Could he not talk about a cache of whatever it was they used then?”
The old female Oghr rubbed her lantern jar. “No one really knows. Some say it was dirty atomic weapons. You know the old kind that leaves a lot of radiation for a very long time. Other sources say it was a biological weapon, a virus or a bacteria and some claim it was a combination of both. We do know it was the Karthanians who gave them whatever it was, out of two reasons, to force the Drak of their home world so they could mine it and to create the horrible conditions on Ithe so their help would be accepted.”
I said. “Whatever it is we better find out, neither biological weapons nor radiation could hurt us, but to an unshielded population…”
The Chauffeur said. “I am taking the magistrate there tomorrow. Wherever that is, as I never get the travel plans prior to departure.”
This time I cursed loudly and said. “I want to be on my way to the Smelter Moons by tomorrow.”
Har-Hi said. “Well that means you can’t be everywhere and have to trust your crew. Why don’t you and Narth tackle the Moons and have me, Shea and the others take on whatever the Magistrate is hiding. Whatever it is I doubt there is anything your crew can’t handle.”
An electronic sound came from the Chauffeurs body and he pulled a boxy looking device and said into it. “Cracktik here.”
A voice said. “His excellency will not need you today anymore and said you may stay with your mother if you wish. We will pick you up in the morning.” He acknowledged and pocketed the device again. Then he said. “It seems I have a little more time. So I can show you our actual Intel HQ.”
I said. “But we don’t have all that much time. I still need to reconnoiter the space port and find out where the prisoners are kept that are to be shipped to the Smelter moons. I have a lot of things to organize and finally, I want to get out of this get up. I don’t mind costumes, but I really need to blow my nose!”
They both laughed and he said. “Just follow me and you can do just that. We can check out the space port much easier from here.”
He then gestured us to follow him. He walked outside on the small balcony and the rusty railing tilted away. He stepped onto thin air and vanished as he walked right into the brick wall on the other side.
Even though I was certain there was an invisible force field bridge and the brick wall had to be a hologram of sorts. I had to convince my feet it was so. I had flown and climbed, walked on greasy rafters under the high ceiling of the Halls of Hasvik, but walking over apparently nothing and a deep chasm took all my courage.
The brick wall did not feel insubstantial like a hologram. It was more like diving into a vertical surface of honey or water. The sensation was over before I really registered it and we found ourselves in a small but modern looking Command and Control room. With large field screens and several control stations. A human male and a purple throat Shiss manned two of the stations. They wore Union fleet uniforms with NAVINT patches on their sleeves. For a moment I lost my communications link with Shea and the ship. My PDD whispered through my ear piece. “Current location Trans Dim shielded, direct ComLink to ship lost. Rerouting through local authorized NAVINT system.”
The Oghr NAVINT commander pointed at the wall we just walked through and said. ”Molecular Phasing as theEggheads at Terra call it. It is one of the latest developments Mothermachine came up with the concept.”
He sounded very proud and enthusiastic as he added. “It feels as if Union technology is developing even faster than usual.”
I agreed with him by nodding.
The old woman stepped through an auto dresser nearby and emerged still looking ugly, but her smudgy clothing was gone. She wore a crisp Fleet uniform with the stylized Eye symbol of the Intel branch on her left sleeve and she straightened her stance and looked several inches taller.
She said. “I have so little chance of wearing the uniform and it is the first time we are going to meet the Immortals.”
She tugged at her uniform blouse and said. “You might think of me as silly, but to me it is a very pleasurable experience, as it reminds me why I am doing all this and what we stand for.”
The old Oghr woman brushed her hand with a caressing gesture over the United Stars of the Galaxies flag patch on her right sleeve.
I said to her. “I know exactly how you feel Commander. We are undercover and for the most part wear costum
es and disguises”
She gestured to the Auto Dresser and said. “Feel free to use it. It is Saresii technology.”
Har-Hi and I did.
I was sure I felt just like the Oghr woman as I stepped back out seeing myself in Union black, with the diagonal buttoned uniform blouse, actually called a bib shirt in the regulations hand book. It was worn correctly with the lower half buttoned down showing the white inner lining like a large triangle across my chest. I could not deny myself feeling pride, because my sleeve cuffs displayed captain’s gold. I was a little surprised to see Har-Hi not in Dai red but also in Union uniform and I had to admit, he looked very handsome indeed.
He said looking down on himself. “Who would have thought we’d end up in Uniform today?” He jerked at his sleeves and added. “It does feel good remembering that we are indeed Union officers, the Oghr woman is right, it makes you aware that you are part of something bigger.”
We followed them into a separate small conference room with a kidney shaped table and a dozen chairs. After the door closed three Avatar projections established and to us it appeared as if Stahl, McElligott andCherubim were right here with us. The male Oghr called us to attention and we saluted them.
The eternal soldier looked as always, tall, imposing and even the avatar projection radiated his invisible aura of confident authority.
He looked at me and said. “What’s with the Uniforms and the parade ground antics?”
The Oghr woman said with sheer awe vibrating her voice. “We are in the presence of the highest ranking officers. The Admiral of the Fleet, General Cherubim and you Sir! We wanted to honor you by wearing Uniform and adhering to protocol, Sir.” Cherubim elbowed the Eternal Warrior. “That your protégé isn’t much impressed by us is one thing, but you do have that special presence Old Man. Even I still feel it after all that time.”
McElligott waved his hand. “He is way too overrated, besides they are right. A little proper spit and polish and protocol is just fine with me.”
Stahl’s expression was stern and his face as if chiseled in granite as always, but he was one of those people who could smile with his eyes only.
Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 6 (The Galactic Chronicles Series) Page 151