by D. J. Holmes
“Do you think your people have sampled enough of our foods for now?” Habalan asked.
“I’m sure we have,” Emilie replied. “We are eager to discuss things with you in more detail.”
“Then if you would make yourself comfortable, we may begin,” Habalan said as he gestured towards the chair like shapes that several Folians began to push towards the table.
“Of course,” Emilie said as she moved towards them. Pausing, she let Alvarez be the first attempt to get comfortable. She couldn’t help but chuckle at his attempts to conform his body to the shape of the chairs.
After trying a couple of different positions, he finally settled on the one that was the least uncomfortable. Looking to Emilie he shrugged and patted the chair beside him. “No one trained us for this before we left,” he said with a smile.
“How would that have gone?” she asked as she mimicked his position. “Perhaps a gymnastics lesson?”
Alvarez chuckled and then looked over Emilie’s shoulder. Emilie turned to see that Shaw and Walker had moved to stand behind each of them. It was Spence who had caught Alvarez’s attention though, she had hunkered down to bring her face level with Emilie’s. “I think they are asexual,” she whispered. “Look at the patterns on their backs, they are all identical. They look like some kind of inbuilt camouflage. From everything we know of such creatures from Earth and on the other planets we have discovered these kinds of patterns always change. The only species that don’t are those that are asexual and reproduce by making exact genetic copies of themselves.” Before waiting for Emilie to apply, Spence backed off and moved to take a seat herself.
Mentally, Emilie nodded to herself. Herbivores and asexual, that meant the Folians were likely to have very different dispositions to Humanity. Spence had insisted that she and Alvarez discuss in great detail a number of different theories on the differences between intelligent species. Humanity only really knew the Vestarians, Kulreans, Crians, Flex-aor and Varanni well, but there was enough data to ensure that many theories abounded. We are going to put some of them to the test now, Emilie realized. It dawned on her that there would be hundreds of researchers pouring over the reports she, Alvarez and Spence wrote of this encounter. Let’s hope we will have something good to say.
“If we may begin with introductions Captain Kansas,” Habalan said. One of its mandibles twisted and pointed to its chest. “I have, of course, shared my name with you, but I have not yet shared my position. I am one of four Elders who oversee this colony. These three are my equals; Aralan, Ramaln and Kabalan,” Habalan explained, pointing at each. As their names were shared, the insect like creatures’ antennae twitched. “Together we speak for our colony. Though we cannot speak for our species. After our discussions today and in the days that follow, we will send a report back to our homeworld with our recommendations. The six Elders of our species will then decide on how our relationship with your species will progress.”
“It is a pleasure to meet each of you,” Emilie said as she nodded to each of the aliens. “This is Commander Alvarez, he is my second in command on this mission. To my right is Doctor Janine Spence. She is an expert on xenobiology and linguistics. Behind us is Lieutenant Shaw and specialist Walker. As I’ve explained, they are trained to protect us.”
Habalan lowered its two antennae. “You’re all welcome here on Betasaad. I hope each of you will bring home good memories and stories to your homeworld from your visit here.”
“I’m sure we will,” Emilie replied on behalf of her team. “Now, where would you like to begin?”
“It would be helpful if you could share more about your species with us. You know about the location of one of our colonies. We have colonies in five other systems beyond our homeworld. Whereabouts is your territory in relation to this system? And how many colonies does your species have? You must be a powerful race to have fought off the Karacknids.”
Having already decided she would be as truthful as she could with these aliens, Emilie answered honestly. “At the moment Habalan those are not questions I believe I am permitted to answer in detail. I mean no offence and I hope none is taken, but for the protection of my species I cannot reveal too much. I will say that my homeworld is approximately two months journey from here, though it involves traversing some difficult galactic terrain. As to the size of our territory, we have far fewer systems under our control in comparison to the Karacknids, but we do have a strong enough industrial base to stand up to them. However, I must tell you that the fleet of theirs we defeated was but a fraction of their strength.”
Not for the first time, Habalan stared at Emilie for several seconds before replying. “Your reluctance to speak openly is understandable. If our species was to come under the control of the Karacknid Empire, we could find ourselves facing one another as opponents. Given that, I hope you understand if there are certain things I have to hold back from you as well?”
“Of course I understand,” Emilie replied as she pictured the Folian warships she had seen in orbit launching an attack against a Human fleet. Perhaps that was how Habalan foresaw a partnership with the Karacknids going. Emilie rather doubted that would be how it was. Everything they knew about the Karacknids said that they permitted no equals. The Folian fleet wouldn’t be added to the Karacknid one, it would be cannibalized for parts and dismantled. The Folians wouldn’t go to war with the Karacknids, they would become slaves on their planets, building and producing only what the Karacknids permitted. That is a point to bring up, Emilie thought as she took a mental note of Habalan’s misconceptions.
“With that understanding then, let us continue,” Habalan said. “Exactly what is it that your species desires from a relationship with us?”
Emilie nodded, that was the key question. “Initially, the hopes of my exploration mission were to find new trading partners, and, in the long term, potential friends and allies. It is not just my species that is at war with the Karacknids. There are more than ten other species fighting alongside us. We have all shared our technology and military capabilities. However, fighting the Karacknids has already strained our resources to the limits. Opening up new trading possibilities may be vital if we are to win the war. We have many technologies and other things that we could trade with you and your neighbors for the resources we need to continue to fight. Beyond that, we would be interested in trading whatever other things you may have.
“That was the initial scope of my mission. However, I have been given significant leeway in discussing future possibilities. We did not know what we would find when we began exploring this sector of the galaxy. I am confident that my government would be willing to help you defend yourselves against the Karacknids. We could provide military ships and technologies that would allow you to fight for your freedom.”
Habalan looked at the other three Elders. “That is a generous offer. One we will pass on to our superiors on our homeworld. Just what kind of chance do you think your species has of defeating the Karacknids? You have defeated one of their fleets. But I detect in your descriptions the expectation that you will have to fight more. How do you expect us to fight such a powerful enemy?”
“We do expect to fight more fleets, perhaps many more,” Emilie admitted. “Yet our allies have powerful fleets as well. Of the other species I have already mentioned, several control empires and battle fleets many times larger than my own species. Together we believe we can stand up to the Karacknids. With more allies, that possibility becomes even more likely. Your neighbors, the owner of the damaged freighter we discovered. Perhaps you could tell us more about them. Who were they and how did their war with the Karacknids go?”
Habalan’s antennae twitched. “War may be too generous a description. A Karacknid battle fleet of eight hundred warships rapidly advanced on the Nanee’s home system. In three one-sided battles, the Nanee fleet was destroyed. Their homeworld then surrendered. All this was because they refused to allow their territory to be annexed by the Karacknids.”
“Do you know what kind
of losses the Karacknids took?” Emilie followed up.
“Perhaps one hundred ships were destroyed or damaged, maybe one hundred and fifty. The Nanee’s fleet numbered around two thousand ships,” Habalan answered.
“What about your other neighbors, if you banded together could you not stand against the Karacknids yourselves?”
“That is very unlikely,” Habalan said. “If we combine all our fleets we would perhaps stand a chance of repulsing a Karacknid fleet the size of the one that defeated the Nanee’s. But it would be impossible to gather our ships into one place. None of our neighbors would agree to leave their own territories defenseless. The Nanee were the most powerful species in this area of the Galaxy. If they could not resist the Karacknids, it is unlikely we can either.”
“So you just intend to surrender to them? To hand over everything your species has built?” Emilie couldn’t help but ask.
“That is a decision that has not yet been made. The Conclave of our neighbors will be held soon on our homeworld to make such a decision. It is not my position to predict the outcome of those deliberations.”
Emilie shook her head. “I cannot understand why any discussion would be necessary. You do realize what will happen if you give into the Karacknids’ demands? They will enslave your population. Your species will have no future beyond that which the Karacknids allow you.”
“That is not the offer the Karacknids have made to us,” Habalan responded. “They wish my species and those around us to become vassals of their empire. We will pay a yearly tribute and in return the Karacknid fleet will protect our borders and maintain the status quo between our neighbors.”
“They are lying to you,” Emilie snapped. “They do not wish to have you as their vassals. As soon as you let their fleets into your territory, they will take complete control. I have seen it with my own eyes. The Karacknids deem every other intelligent species as beneath them. You will become slaves.”
Habalan watched Emilie for what seemed like nearly thirty seconds before speaking. “You speak with passion, that is understandable given the situation your species finds itself in. However, your description of the Karacknids is what we would expect from someone who is at war with them. It is in your species’ interest to paint them as being as evil as possible. Our dealings with them have not led us to such a conclusion.”
“Not yet they haven’t, but they are deceiving you. Isn’t that what would be in their best interest? To trick you into peacefully giving up your freedom? You have seen what they have done to the Nanee. You know their thirst for conquest.”
“We have seen what the Karacknids will do to those who oppose their will, yes. My species is very familiar with the aggressive attitudes of carnivores when they do not get what they want. However, if we can appease them, then things may go far better for my species.”
Emilie closed her eyes as she thought. Habalan didn’t understand. Perhaps it was not possible for a member of the Folian species to do so. If there truly was a difference between carnivorous and herbivorous species, then Habalan may not be able to grasp just how duplicitous Karacknids were. How do I convince him? she asked herself. Nothing came to her.
“Perhaps this will be a good point to bring our initial discussions regarding the Karacknids to a close,” Aralan suggested. “I am sure there are many other points of interest where our two species may have much in common. It may be more beneficial to continue our conversations in those directions rather than focus on the one point where we may diverge.”
“A good suggestion,” Emilie replied as she nodded, thankful for the opportunity to take some time to think about how to proceed with the Karacknid issue. She needed to convince the Folians they should stand up to the Karacknids. For their sake of course, but also for Humanity’s. This was the reason she had been sent through the newly discovered wormhole. If she could convince them to fight, it could be the distraction Humanity and the Varanni Alliance needed to win their war. “Perhaps you could share more with us about your culture and history. We would be delighted to do the same,” she said, as she continued to think through the Karacknid situation.
“Both are worthy topics of discussion,” Ramaln said. “But what you have said already regarding the Karacknids and your offer of assistance should not be passed over lightly. I intend to ensure that it is communicated to our Elders on our homeworld. It is a topic we should return to in the coming days.”
Emilie blinked in surprise at Ramaln’s words. From the twitching of the antennae of the other three Elders, she suspected they were showing surprise as well. So not everyone in their species is willing to roll over so easily, she said to herself. That was a pleasant revelation. “I would be happy for our offer to be sent to your leaders,” she replied. “My ship can remain here and await a response if that is acceptable to you. Your colony is beautiful, along with continuing our discussions, I’m sure my crew would enjoy being able to visit such an interesting world.”
“It would be a pleasure for us to show your crew around,” Habalan said. “There are many more things for us to discuss. Please, let us leave the issue of the Karacknids to one side for now and speak of more pleasant things.”
For now, Emilie thought. Only for now. She was determined to do whatever it took to convince the Folians they needed to stand up to the Karacknids.
Chapter 17
There have been many famous Senators, Representatives and Servants down through the history of the Empire. Perhaps none more so than Senator Garm Rodriguez. Rarely have prominent naval commanders transitioned into politics. Certainly never one with such a checkered past. Of course, in the early years of the Empire that was not the case.
-Excerpt from Empire Rising, 3002 AD.
Betasaad, 3rd February 2482 AD (eleven days later).
Emilie bit her tongue to keep herself from snapping at Habalan. They were walking around their tenth, eleventh or possibly even twelfth set of gardens Habalan wanted to show them. Emilie had lost count. She had tried to bring up the message Ramaln had sent to the Folian homeworld. It had been eleven days since the first discussion. “Surely you have heard back from your Elders about us?” she had asked. Habalan had all but ignored her and expertly changed the topic of conversation like it was the most natural thing in the world to do.
“This flower is very important to me,” Habalan was saying. “It was actually created by one of my distant ancestors. They cross pollinated three different species to produce this specimen. Maintaining its genetic purity has been a prized accomplishment of my family ever since. Does your species like to dabble in the genetics of your homeworld’s plant life?”
In different circumstances, Emilie would have smiled at the question. She hadn’t met any in person, but she knew there were many horticulturalists on Earth as passionate about genetics as Habalan. Thinking of Earth, put away any possibility of amusement though. No doubt hundreds of those horticulturalists and their plant species were dead. In an effort to convince Habalan of the evils of the Karacknids she had shared in great detail what had happened to her homeworld. The alien had shared its condolences but nothing else had changed. “There were,” Emilie answered. “I expect many of them are dead now. And those who aren’t have far bigger concerns.”
Habalan stopped walking and turned to Emilie. “Quite,” was all the response her statement got. Then the alien turned and pointed to another flower and began to discuss it. Emilie rolled her eyes behind its back.
As Habalan continued with its tour, Emilie fell back slightly as she moved closer to Alverez. “We are wasting our time here. How are your efforts going?”
“Not well,” Alvarez grimaced. “My team has had several opportunities to interact with other Folians. None have shown any interest in aiding us. Of course, we had to be very circumspect, but even so, none of them seem willing to step outside their area of responsibility. They will speak to my team about supplies and food and whatever, but not about politics or other useful topics.”
“So Spence was rig
ht,” she responded. The xenobiologist had predicted the Folian species would be very homogenous and collective orientated. No Folian was willing to step outside their area of responsibility.
“It seems so,” Alvarez agreed. “Unless they have permission, no one will share anything with us.”
Emilie ground her teeth together. Habalan had refused to share any star maps with her without permission from the Elders on their homeworld. She had knowledge of four more systems beyond Betasaad from the data retrieved from the Nanee freighter. Beyond that, Emilie had gained no more knowledge of the space surrounding Betasaad. If she left without gaining any, she could quickly run out of places to go. And if we leave here without permission and end up in another Folian system, we could find ourselves designated persona non grata. The more she spoke to Habalan the clearer it became that the Folians didn’t want to do anything that might upset the Karacknids. At least, not until the Elders had made a final decision. A ship belonging to an unknown enemy of the Karacknid Empire freely travelling through Folian space would not please the Karacknids. Habalan had hinted as much on several occasions.
“Perhaps we are speaking to the wrong person,” Alvarez whispered, he nodded towards one of the Folians who was in the party Habalan was showing around. “Ramaln is the only one who has shown any real interest in considering the option of fighting the Karacknids.”