“We do not know,” the ambassador replied. “Certainly, their home world is not on that planet in this universe, or we would have known about it much sooner. We mapped the system a long time ago, hundreds of years ago, in fact, but it wasn’t on our list for colonization. Although life might be possible on the planet, there isn’t enough ‘normal’ light for anyone to want to go and settle there. Even at noon, the planet would never be brighter than what you would have at late-twilight here.”
“Although the planet wasn’t marked for colonization,” the sub-ambassador added, “the system has a second stargate, so we had a small observation post there, in order to watch for alien invasion. The outpost was unprepared for having the enemy appear alongside it, and the station was destroyed. A ship underway at the time made it out of the system and brought back word of the attack. Since then, the enemy has appeared more and more frequently, and in greater numbers. It is like trying to hold back the water from a dam that has burst.”
“So…if the Dark Planet is the home of the Shaitans, it is in the other universe, not ours,” Calvin said.
“That is correct,” the ambassador agreed. “We can’t confirm their home world is the Dark Planet; it may be somewhere else, but that is where the enemy appeared. We know the Shaitans didn’t arrive through one of the stargates; they just appeared there.”
“So that is where we must go,” Captain Sheppard said.
“It seems so,” Calvin said. “Another desperate mission against incredible odds. At least we have an advantage in that we’re already familiar with their technology.”
“Unless they’ve changed it,” Night said.
“Yes,” Calvin agreed, “unless they’ve changed it.”
“I only have one more question,” Captain Sheppard said. “How do you intend to reimburse us for our efforts?”
The ambassador hissed in dismay. “You would charge us in our hour of need?”
“Your civilization still owes us for damage you did to our ships in the Tau Ceti system. There is also the matter of the war with the Mrowry that the emperor asked me to remind you of. How is it that you expect us to risk our lives and equipment for you, on a task you cannot do yourself, without expecting to reimburse us for our efforts? I’m afraid that just doesn’t seem very equitable, especially since it is quite likely we will be killed in the attempt.”
“We will cease all offensive operations against the Mrowry, as soon as I can get the word to my commanders,” replied the ambassador. “Unfortunately, we have no money to repay either you or the Mrowry; the war has bled us dry.”
“We would accept a battleship-sized replicator or better as repayment,” Captain Sheppard said, “especially if it came complete with all of the latest technology.”
“I would like to do that, but I can’t promise it without speaking to my superiors,” the ambassador said.
“What can you promise without speaking to your superiors?” Captain Sheppard asked.
“Not much, unfortunately,” replied the ambassador. “At the moment, we have very little we could give you. We are almost to the point of eating our young or conducting an all-out final attack on the Mrowry. If you will attempt this mission for us, I will promise not to attack the Mrowry. If we are forced to attack them, it is likely our civilization will be destroyed, and theirs will be unprepared for the Shaitans when they shortly arrive.” He paused, then added, “It is the best I can do. Even then, we will still probably be forced to eat our young.”
“I understand,” Captain Sheppard said, “and I hope it will not come to that for you. I will take your offer back to Emperor Yazhak and see what he has to say while you discuss our requests with your superiors.”
“We have one final request then, if you are to leave,” the ambassador said.
“What is that?” Captain Sheppard asked.
“While you are gone, we would like to have the services of your hero.”
“What? You want us to just leave him here with you? Why? As some sort of hostage?”
“You can view him as a hossstage if you would like,” the ambassador hissed, “but you have seen our defenses, and I’m sure you realize we could not stop a determined assault by the Mrowry if it should occur. I would prefer you not urge them to make that assault, and I would like to keep your hero as insurance you won’t. From a more practical perspective, our admiral would like to have him inspect our defenses. Perhaps he will identify something we missed. Our situation is so grim we are willing to try anything, even listening to a Terran’s advice.”
Officers’ Mess, TSS Vella Gulf, Kepler 62 System, December 2, 2021
“What did they offer in return for helping them?” Lieutenant Rrower asked.
“We got a whole lot of ‘Would like to’ and ‘We can’t promise that,” Calvin said. “They were very evasive about what they would do for us if we helped them. They told us the war was going poorly for them, but they may not have told us how badly. I wonder if it’s even worse than they indicated.”
“It is possible,” Lieutenant Rrower said. “I don’t think they would have come asking for assistance if there had been any way for them to do it themselves. They may no longer be in control of the replicators or technology you asked them for. What information did they have for you on the Shaitans?”
“The only thing they gave us for now, until we agreed to help them, was this chart.” Calvin unrolled the chart on a table. “There isn’t a lot of information; it’s just a chart showing a chain of 10 star systems. It goes from where we are now,” he pointed at one end, “to where they say they first discovered the Shaitan.” He pointed to the other end. “They also said they only hold the end system, plus the next two in line.”
Lieutenant Rrower looked at the chart. “I see why they are negotiating with you,” he said. “To use one of your sayings, ‘they’re fucked.’”
“Why?” Calvin asked. “What do you mean?”
“You said they only hold the three systems closest to the end?”
“Yeah,” Calvin said with the nod.
“I’ve heard of the fourth system. I haven’t been there, but I know its name. It’s the Ssselipsssiss home world. The negotiators here? They’re fucked. They’ve lost their capital. They may not even be in contact with any of their leaders any more…if they even exist.” Lieutenant Rrower shook his head. “The reason they can’t promise you anything for helping? They’ve just about lost it all…and if we don’t help them, the Shaitans will be into our systems next.”
Epilogue
Keppler 62 ‘e’ (Previously “Typhon”), Kepler 62 System, December 14, 2021
The shuttle touched down gently, and the ramp started down. With a sigh, Calvin picked up his sea bag and smaller duffle bag.
“You don’t have to go,” Captain Sheppard said. “Say the word, and we’ll go back to the ship. I doubt they can jump to the other universe so we could probably make it out of here with only minimal damage.”
“No sir, it’s okay,” Calvin replied. “I’ll be fine. Just…um…don’t take too long getting back, okay?”
“Hee, hee, we’re going to have lots of fun with the, what did you call them? Lizzies?” asked Farhome. “We’re going to have lots of fun with the lizzies. I can just tell!”
“You don’t have to come,” Calvin said; “they only asked for me.”
“If you think you’re going without me, you’re crazier than I am,” Farhome said. “I thought you’d be safe on your own home planet, and look at all the trouble you got into. Here? The universe is the limit! You’d probably fall into a super nova or something. At least I’ll be here to see it! I’ve never been close to a super nova, so that will at least be a new experience for me, hee, hee. No. If you’re going, I’m going with you.” He picked up a bag smaller than Calvin’s duffle bag. “I’m ready.”
“That’s all you’ve got?” Calvin asked. “We may be there for a while.”
“It’s all I ever need.” Farhome smiled.
“I’ve got my
bags, too,” Night said. “I really think you ought to reconsider and let me come. You know they’re just using you. When it goes bad, which it will, you’d be able to kill a lot more of them with me there than if I’m with the Gulf.”
“I know,” Calvin said, “and while I’d love to have you, I need you to reconstitute the platoon. We took a lot of casualties, and we’re going to need reinforcements. I need you to get them up to speed and ready for combat because I know there’s going to be more. A lot more. We have to be ready, and I know you’re the man to prepare the unit.”
“If you say so, sir,” Night said. “I still think you’re making a mistake not taking me along.”
“I may be,” Calvin said. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”
“Just don’t get dead, okay?”
“I promise,” Calvin replied. He turned to Farhome. “All right, let’s go.”
Calvin and Farhome walked out of the shuttle and over to where the ambassador stood. Calvin turned and watched as the ramp went up and the shuttle lifted off. Within seconds, it disappeared into the turquoise sky. There was no way home until the Terrans came back. If they ever made it back. And if he was still alive to greet them. Calvin turned to the ambassador.
“So? What’s next?”
# # # # #
1st Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion of the 1st Regiment
Terran Space Force (Prior to Anti-Domus Operations)
Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander Shawn ‘Calvin’ Hobbs
Executive Officer Captain Paul ‘Night’ Train
Space Force
Space Force Leader Sergeant Major ‘Master Chief’ Ryan O’Leary
Squad ‘A’ Leader Gunnery Sergeant Patrick ‘The Wall’ Dantone, Cyborg
Fire Team ‘1’ Leader Staff Sergeant Park ‘Wraith’ Ji-woo
Laserman Sergeant Marcus ‘Spud’ Murphy
Laserman Sergeant Margaret ‘Witch’ Andrews
Laserman Sergeant Dan ‘Giseman’ Geisenhof
Laserman Corporal Calvin ‘Bossman’ Davis
Fire Team ‘2’ Leader Staff Sergeant John ‘Mr.’ Jones
Laserman Sergeant Jamal ‘Bad Twin’ Gordon
Laserman Sergeant Austin ‘Good Twin’ Gordon
Laserman Corporal Irina ‘Spook’ Rozhkov
Laserman Sergeant Anne ‘Fox’ Stasik
Fire Team ‘3’ Leader Staff Sergeant Eric “Willie” Williamson
Laserman Sergeant Ismail “Mailman” Al-Sabani
Laserman Sergeant Jacob ‘Chaos’ Braig, Cyborg
Laserman Corporal Dan ‘Danny Boy’ Anderson
Medic Corporal Shaun ‘Lucky’ Evertson
Ground Force
Ground Force Leader Master Gunnery Sergeant Bill Hendrick
Squad ‘B’ Leader Gunnery Sergeant Jerry ‘Wolf’ Stasik
Fire Team ‘1’ Leader Staff Sergeant Alka ‘Z-Man’ Zoromski
Laserman Sergeant Richard ‘Shipwreck’ Shipley
Laserman Corporal Robert ‘Fury’ Scott, Cyborg
Laserman Corporal Donald ‘Triple D’ Drake
Laserman Corporal Rus ‘Overkill’ Rogers
Fire Team ‘2’ Leader Staff Sergeant David ‘Market’ Hirt
Laserman Sergeant Rajesh ‘Mouse’ Patel
Laserman Corporal ‘Bob’ Bobellisssissolliss
Laserman Corporal ‘Doug’ Dugelllisssollisssesss
Laserman Corporal Brenton ‘Butcher’ Davis
Fire Team ‘3’ Leader Staff Sergeant Ryan “The Big Gurn” Gurney
Laserman Sergeant Milan ‘Gunner’ Vranjesevic
Laserman Sergeant Pierce ‘Big Sky’ Tomas, Cyborg
Ninja Sergeant Hattori ‘Yokaze’ Hanzo
Medic Sergeant John ‘Gags’ Russert
1st Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion of the 1st Regiment
Terran Space Force (Anti-Domus Operations and Beyond)
Commanding Officer First Lieutenant Ryan O’Leary
Executive Officer Second Lieutenant Cristobal Contreras
Space Force
Space Force Leader Gunnery Sergeant Patrick ‘The Wall’ Dantone, Cyborg
Squad ‘A’ Leader Staff Sergeant Park ‘Wraith’ Ji-woo
Fire Team ‘1’ Leader Sergeant Marcus ‘Spud’ Murphy
Laserman Sergeant Margaret ‘Witch’ Andrews
Laserman Sergeant Dan ‘Giseman’ Geisenhof
Laserman Corporal Calvin ‘Bossman’ Davis
Laserman Corporal Jonny ‘Dark’ Minion
Fire Team ‘2’ Leader Staff Sergeant John ‘Mr.’ Jones
Laserman Sergeant Jamal ‘Bad Twin’ Gordon
Laserman Sergeant Austin ‘Good Twin’ Gordon
Laserman Corporal Irina ‘Spook’ Rozhkov
Laserman Sergeant Anne ‘Fox’ Stasik
Fire Team ‘3’ Leader Staff Sergeant Eric “Willie” Williamson
Laserman Sergeant Jacob ‘Chaos’ Braig, Cyborg
Laserman Corporal ‘Bill’ Obillossilllolis
Laserman Corporal ‘Skank’ Misssollossissos
Medic Corporal Shaun ‘Lucky’ Evertson
Ground Force
Ground Force Leader Gunnery Sergeant Jerry ‘Wolf’ Stasik
Squad ‘B’ Leader Staff Sergeant Alka ‘Z-Man’ Zoromski
Fire Team ‘1’ Leader Sergeant Richard ‘Shipwreck’ Shipley
Laserman Corporal Sam ‘Mental’ Ward
Laserman Corporal Joshua ‘Prince’ King
Laserman Corporal ‘Sal’ Sallissollosiss
Laserman Corporal ‘Phil’ Fillississolliss
Fire Team ‘2’ Leader Staff Sergeant David ‘Market’ Hirt
Laserman Sergeant Rajesh ‘Mouse’ Patel
Laserman Corporal ‘Bob’ Bobellisssissolliss
Laserman Corporal ‘Doug’ Dugelllisssollisssesss
Laserman Sergeant Declan ‘Ducky’ Jones, Cyborg
Fire Team ‘3’ Leader Staff Sergeant Ryan ‘The Big Gurn’ Gurney
Laserman Sergeant Milan ‘Gunner’ Vranjesevic
Laserman Sergeant Pierce ‘Big Sky’ Tomas, Cyborg
Ninja Sergeant Hattori ‘Yokaze’ Hanzo
Medic Sergeant Simon ‘Dougie’ Douglas
Space Fighter Squadron-1
CO Lieutenant Commander Shawn ‘Calvin’ Hobbs
XO Lieutenant Commander Sarah ‘Lights’ Brighton
Pilot Lieutenant Carl ‘Guns’ Simpson
Pilot Lieutenant Kenyon ‘Bucket’ Salo
Pilot Lieutenant Samuel ‘Sammy’ Jakande
Pilot Lieutenant Hans ‘Schnitzel’ Hohenstaufen
Pilot Lieutenant ‘Tex’ Teksssellisssiniss
Pilot Lieutenant Jim ‘Sweets’ Sweeny
Pilot Lieutenant Jerry ‘Brick’ Johnson
Pilot Lieutenant Jiang ‘Tooth’ Fang
Pilot Lieutenant Simon ‘Straw’ Berry
Pilot Lieutenant Pablo ‘Bob’ Acosta
Pilot Lieutenant Jeff ‘Canuck’ Canada
Pilot Lieutenant Tatyana ‘Khan’ Khanilov
Pilot Lieutenant James ‘Speedy’ Swift
Pilot Lieutenant Denise ‘Frenchie’ Michel
Pilot Lieutenant Miguel ‘Ghost’ Carvalho
Pilot Lieutenant Steve ‘Heartbreak’ Ehrhardt
Pilot Lieutenant Phil ‘Oscar’ Meyer
NFO Lieutenant Tobias ‘Toby’ Eppler
NFO Lieutenant Neil ‘Trouble’ Watson
NFO Lieutenant James Alfred ‘Jamming’ Miles
NFO Lieutenant Dan ‘K-Mart’ Knaus
NFO Lieutenant ‘Olly’ Ollisssellissess
NFO Lieutenant Faith ‘Bore’ Ibori
NFO Lieutenant Erika ‘Jones’ Smith
NFO Lieutenant Jim “Ozzy” Osbourne
NFO Lieutenant Sasaki ‘Supidi’ Akio
NFO Lieutenant Gwon ‘Happy’ Min-jun
NFO Lieutenant Brian ‘Sherri’ Bouchez
NFO Lieutenant John ‘Trudy’ Douglass
NFO Lieutenant Thomas ‘Mays’ Yilm
az
NFO Lieutenant Poon ‘Harpoon’ Yee
NFO Lieutenant Ali Ahmed ‘Sandy’ Al-Amri
NFO Lieutenant Reyne ‘Rafe’ Rafaeli
NFO Lieutenant Aharsi ‘Swammi’ Goswami
The following is an
Excerpt from Book 3 of the Codex Regius:
The Dark Star War
___________________
Chris Kennedy
Available from Chris Kennedy Publishing
Winter 2016
eBook, Paperback and Audio
Excerpt from “The Dark Star War:”
Sssellississ System, November 9, 2021
“The enemy approaches,” Sal said, pushing himself back from the lip.
Calvin let the lizard slide past him and took his place in the narrow opening of the cave mouth. He slid forward until he could look down on the procession below. The creatures looked like the centaur-like beings you’d get if you crossed a longhorn steer with a four-armed man and then added on an extra pair of eyes on antennas. They were creatures out of his nightmares.
Shaitans.
They herded along three of Sal’s Ssselipsssiss countrymen with some sort of electric prod, laughing to themselves as they used it on the helpless lizards.
He pushed himself backward before one of the Shaitans could look up and see him.
“Yeah, that’s our enemy too,” he whispered. “Those are Shaitans, and it looks like they have captured three of your people. We’ve got to find a way to free them.”
“They are as good as dead,” Sal said, “just like the rest of this planet. It is more important to find a way off this planet and take word back to my people.”
“What are they going to do with the information?” Calvin asked. “Just knowing the name of the race fighting you isn’t going to help defeat them.”
Sal hissed, his annoyance evident.
“It doesn’t matter whether you like it or not,” Calvin said; “it’s the truth. We have the same problem. We know who we’re fighting, but we don’t know where their home planet is, or anything else about them. All we know is they have at least a limited mastery over time because they use it as a weapon. If they can do other things with it…more powerful things…then we are well and truly screwed.”
Beyond the Shroud of the Universe Page 31