Human Chronicles Part 2 Book 2: The Apex Predator

by T. R. Harris

  “You are the ones who have been following us.” It was a statement not a question. “We, too, have advanced tracking technology; you were detected over a thousand light-years ago by trailing drones.” He activated the pilot’s console and watched as the systems flashed online. “By the rate of pursuit and the size of your ship’s signature, we debated whether or not you were Human. I have to admit, most did not believe it to be so.” He spun the chair around and looked up at Adam. “And yet here you are. We knew there was a possibility our passage might be detected by your kind; we were actually surprised when we were not. So your presence here is not that unexpected. Yet it is this ship that has me the most intrigued. It does raise all manner of questions and concerns.”

  The Kracori commander keyed his comm link. “Ludif Oninn, I will be taking this ship to the fleet for examination. Accompany us in defense. We will depart in fifteen minutes.”

  “Yes, my Lord. We are prepared.”

  The Kracori addressed one of the other two aliens in the room. “Get all the O’mly off the ship and have Limous clear us for departure.”

  “What about the docking fees?” Adam said with a grin. “Aren’t you going to pay him for services rendered?”

  The Kracori returned the smile. “The O’mly are mere bugs as they relate to galactic affairs; Limous will not stand in the way of our departure. Now, I trust you will not cause any trouble as you pilot your ship to the fleet. I’m sure this has been your goal all along – to learn of our strength and intent. For what good it will do you, all is about to be revealed.”

  ********

  Two hours later, the Pegasus was closing in on a massive Class-5 battlecruiser of familiar circular design. Even though Adam was sure there were dozens, if not hundreds, of other ships in the vicinity, he could only see eight on his monitors. They were all Class-5’s.

  The Pegasus easily fit into one of the two massive landing bays of the Kracori ship, which Adam assumed was the flagship for the fleet. Once inside, hatches were sealed and atmosphere was pumped into the cavernous chamber. When Adam shut down the Pegasus, including the internal gravity wells, both he and Sherri noticed the tiny weight differential between their Earth-normal gravity and that of the Kracori ship. Both races came from worlds with almost identical surface gravity. Here, Adam and Sherri would have no strength or quickness advantage. The Klin had selected the Kracori to be their partners in galactic domination because of their strength, toughness and coordination, the same reasons they had selected the Human race to go up against the Juireans. In many regards, Human and Kracori were brother races, nearly identical in every aspect except appearance. So there would be no superman antics for Sherri and Adam aboard the alien spacecraft. Adam would have to rely on his ATD to save their hides.

  It had been years since Adam and Sherri were in the company of so many Kracori – not since the battle for Juir. Unlike the ancient Juireans, the Kracori chose to crew all their ships exclusively with their own kind. For the Juireans, it was unusual to find more than a handful of Juireans aboard their warships, content to use a number of other races to serve as crew and technical support.

  As the two Humans left the Pegasus, they were passed by a dozen anxious Kracori entering the ship, armed with monitoring and testing equipment, as well as two Kracori carrying recording devices. Adam’s ship was about to get the equivalent of an anal probe by the aliens. He hoped they didn’t tear things apart in their quest for knowledge concerning the ship’s operation. After all, in just a while Adam and Sherri would have to use the Pegasus to make their escape.

  Yet for the moment, they were content to serve as prisoners aboard the Kracori warship. Every minute that went by provided them with more information they could take back to Earth, as the ATD was cataloguing the data and charting all the electronics aboard the ship. There were dozens of systems that would have to be taken over if Adam was to gain control of the ship. It would be possible, yet it would be a test of his current level of expertise with the ATD. A disruption of the ship’s systems might be all he could really expect, yet something major enough to allow for their escape. But only if the Pegasus could survive the examination she was about to undergo….

  The Kracori didn’t bother placing restraints on the Humans; they were displaying their over-confidence, a product of the arrogance of the warrior class, and a secure feeling being aboard their powerful starship surrounded by their comrades.

  Adam and Sherri were taken to officer-country and led to the fleet admiral’s suite. Adam knew the Kracori didn’t use rank like captains and admirals, yet the hierarchy was the same no matter the nomenclature. The ranking Kracori wore a yellow sash across his chest, and a number of tech-types in green uniforms were also in the room.

  “Be seated,” the commander ordered; he was a barrel-chested, older-looking Kracori with exceptionally-wrinkled gray skin. What hair he had atop his head was now white rather than the traditional gray. He was fit and trim, even in his later years; a common trait of senior military no matter the race. “My name is Runor Cresst, senior officer of the Kracori Fleet in this sector,” he stated. “This is a unique opportunity for me and my staff to experience our enemy first-hand … and to look directly into the eyes of our tormentors.”

  The Humans sat on a wide sofa, their feet barely reaching the edge of the cushions. They looked like Hobbits in the land of giants. The fleet commander sat in a large chair opposite the two and sent a scathing glare at each of them. “Your race has brought such anguish to my people that I need extreme restraint not to summarily execute the two of you out of pure hatred and relieve you of your Legends. Yet I will control my emotions … at least for the moment.

  “As we have traveled farther into Human territory, we knew it would harder to keep our presence a secret,” Runor explained. “So we have been on the alert for any ships appearing along our route. When yours appeared, we were quite curious of its origin, plus the uniqueness of its energy signature was a concern. The advanced nature of the ship is giving us pause with our current operation, at least until we assess its pervasiveness throughout your military forces. It has not taken long to determine that your vessel could easily outpace even our fastest warships, as well as transit areas which larger ships cannot normally access.”

  As he spoke, the techs in the room were busy at datapad stations, analyzing the data being sent from the Pegasus in real time. This information was being fed to the large pad sitting on the lap of the commander. He would glance down at it occasionally and scan the latest findings.

  “As you have probably already deduced, this fleet is being assembled for an assault upon your homeworld. My technicians inform me that the CW-array on your ship has been damaged beyond repair and that you do not possess more primitive interstellar comm equipment that was once the standard throughout the Expansion. So I am to believe that you have not warned your world of our presence in the Far Arm. Is this correct?”

  “You expect us to answer your question just like that!” Sherri blurted out. “Whether or not the Earth has been warned will have to remain a mystery. Apparently you’ll find out soon enough.”

  “What is your name, female?” Runor asked, an annoyed expression now crossing his face.

  Sherri hesitated.

  “Come now, what is a name among the countless members of your race? What great secret could disclosing your name reveal?”

  “Just call me Cinderella, dickhead.”

  Just then Runor glanced down at his pad. When he looked up again, his expression had changed to one of almost unbridled excitement. “We Kracori are not some backward race devoid of high technology and advanced data-processing. We have run your images through our system and your true identities have now been exposed. I am near a loss to believe this, but you are the famous Sherri Valentine—” then turning his attention to Adam, “—along with the notorious Adam Cain. How is it that the universe can be so large yet I have in my possession two of the most-infamous Humans to ever exist?”

  Runor
turned to another Kracori officer who was sitting toward the back of the room. “Samen, I believe our Klin partners would welcome this information. Please inform them.”

  The officer stood and left the room.

  “Yes, it is true; the Kracori and Klin are allies once again in the struggle against your kind. And since you evoked the name of the Jusepi, then it is obvious you know of the new skirmish that has erupted between them and your kind. You now have three enemies all conspiring to put an end to your race. And yet it is this fleet that will bring about the ultimate demise of Human-kind.”

  “You’ve tried this before,” Adam said, speaking for the first time. “What makes you think you’ll have better luck this time around?”

  “A fair question, Adam Cain. We know of the strength of your military, and how even if we were to send all our military might against you, it would still not be enough, not when considering the vast distances our fleet would have to travel and the prolonged engagement such an attack would require.” The Kracori officer paused, leaving Adam to fill in the silence.

  “So why do it? You know you can’t win. Earth is too closely guarded, thanks in part to the last time the Kracori tried to strike the planet.”

  “Agreed! And that is where the wonder of this plan is to be admired. You must understand that the Jusepi war is simply a diversion. Even as we speak, the defenders of Earth are speeding away toward Jusepi space in an effort to make quick work of the uprising. According to our Klin allies, the debate on your planet was lively, as each side argued for either a more-modest response to the revolt or for an all-out assault using all the forces available. One argument would involve a longer, more drawn-out campaign; the other would get the conflict over quickly. And even though this would leave Earth temporarily unprotected, it was an acceptable risk for a quick resolution to the crisis. In the end, the remaining Klin surrogates on your world were able to influence the final decision.”

  “So you’ll be free to strike a near-defenseless world….”

  “Correct, Adam Cain, it will be the ultimate solution to the death-veil your people have imposed on the Kracori. We also know the Humans are aware of the location of Elision, so I’m sure you will appreciate the urgency – as well as the necessity – of our actions. You have left us no choice.”

  “I was told on Aslon that the last of your fleet has arrived. So is that to mean the attack will commence soon?”

  Runor frowned. “You were told this by the O’mly? I find this very disturbing, yet one of the unfortunate circumstances of having to rely on others to provide our staging area.” He entered something into his datapad. “The O’mly are such an insignificant race, with nothing to offer the Kracori in the long-term. You, Adam Cain, have helped me reach a decision to a dilemma I have been struggling with for a while. Now when we depart this system for Earth, the fleet will conduct practice fire upon Aslon. It will be a fitting rehearsal to the destruction of Earth.”

  “You’ll destroy an entire civilization just for target practice?” Sherri shouted. “When Humans do wipe your miserable world out of existence, the galaxy will be much better off. Your kind doesn’t deserve to live.”

  ‘Do not be so melodramatic, Sherri Valentine. Your people are about to do the same to the Jusepi.”

  “We won’t indiscriminately attack civilian populations, only those fighting against us.”

  “Do you honestly believe that? Humans and Kracori are one and the same; it was the reason the Klin chose our two races to serve our particular functions in their ultimate plan. We are two savage races who were always destined to rule the galaxy. Humans had that opportunity, and yet you gave it up. Now it will be the Kracori’s turn.”

  He stopped abruptly and his tone turned deadly serious. He looked at Adam. “Now tell me, does your fleet also employ the advanced gravity-drive as does your ship? If so, then the transit time from Jusepi space back to Earth would be greatly reduced and my plans will have to be altered. I must know the extent of this technology within your fleet!”

  Adam simply smiled. He now possessed information the Kracori commander desperately needed. He wasn’t exactly sure how the alien would go about extracting it from them, but for now he was enjoying watching the gray creature squirm.

  Chapter 24

  The Klin…

  Anorn Elsinum was one of only four Klin on the planet Aslon, cloistered away in a special section of the Kracori base on one of the larger islands in the Southern Sea. The water world had a more comfortable gravity for the tall, silver-skinned being, much more tolerable than the oppressive gravity aboard the Kracori warships. It was much easier for the heavy-worlders to accommodate less gravity than it was for the opposite, so it was rare that a Klin would visit the fleet.

  Yet Anorn was the one to receive the call from the Kracori officer regarding the capture of the two Humans, an event for which his immediate presence aboard the flagship was requested. At first he was at a loss as to why he was being informed of the capture in the first place, let alone why his presence was required. Yet the Kracori officer on the link seemed to think the names of the two aliens relayed to him should hold some significance.

  Adam Cain and Sherri Valentine; Anorn shook his head after struggling to recall the names from his memory. Nothing … just two odd names of no importance to him.

  Eventually, he went to the Kracori data center and requested a terminal. As always happened when the Kracori had to deal with a Klin, the clerk in the center regarded him with unbridled contempt. Anorn was always confused at this reaction; it had been the Kracori who revolted against the Klin, killing over two thousand of his kind, so if anyone should show distain and contempt, it should be the Klin towards to Kracori. And yet the Klin did not react that way. Instead, they accepted the fact of the loss … and then immediately began to make plans for revenge against the Kracori.

  Yet the Klin revenge would be more subtle than visible contempt. It would be well-planned and could take place over generations. The Klin were patient. Only when the time was right would the Kracori experience the full wrath of the Klin.

  But first the Human situation had to be resolved, and that was the only reason the Klin and Kracori were now allies once again.

  The Kracori clerk reluctantly activated a terminal for Anorn, and then it was only seconds before the significance of the two Humans was revealed. As Anorn read the report, he kept thinking that he should have known this, since the events he read about had had such a major impact on the fate of the Klin. Adam Cain – and to a lesser degree, Sherri Valentine – had been a major thorn in the side of the Klin for going on fifteen years. In fact, it had been because of the Human male that the timetable for the start of the Juirean War had been accelerated. It could be argued that this single event was enough to cause the entire plan to fall apart, resulting in the Kracori sacking of Juir – not the Klin – and leading to the Humans assuming control of the Expansion – not the Klin. Even the Kracori revolt against the Klin could be traced back to Adam Cain and his escape from Marishal. Cain’s forewarning the Humans of the Klin plans had left the Kracori in a difficult position, with the Klin now useless to them. A revolt was inevitable, along with the deaths of all his Klin brothers and sisters.

  Even the death of the great Pleabaen Summlin was the result of Cain’s escape from the planet Marishal. Summlin had led the Klin for over a hundred years, bringing the race the closest they had ever come to getting the revenge they had sought against the Juireans for over four-thousand years. And it had been the Human Adam Cain who had ruined it all.

  And now the notorious Adam Cain was a prisoner aboard the Kracori flagship. Yes, Anorn would have to don a lightweight exo-suit and journey to the Kracori ship; Cain was too important a prisoner to be left in the custody of the Kracori. Besides, the more Anorn thought about it, he wondered who was in the most danger at the time, Adam Cain or the Kracori? Now fully-briefed on the background of the two Humans, he was pretty sure it was the Kracori.

  Chapter 25


  Adam Cain…

  Adam and Sherri were taken from the Fleet Commander’s quarters and placed in the brig. The Kracori had an actual jail aboard their ship, which made him wonder about relationships between Kracori, since the jail had not been built specifically to hold them. Maybe Humans and the Kracori were just two sides of the same coin….

  There were only two cells, and they were faced with a clear glass wall with a door set in it and secured by an electronic lock. Once they were inside and the Kracori guards had moved back to their stations, Sherri leaned in close to Adam and whispered, “How long are we going to stay here?” Her voice was low and muddied, just in case their conversations were monitored.

  Adam covered his mouth and cupped his hand, directing the sound towards Sherri. “A while longer; we still don’t know the strength of the fleet or the timetable for the attack.”

  Sherri hugged him, placing her mouth next to his ear. “You’re sure you can get us out of here?”

  “About eighty-two point six percent sure.”

  Sherri pulled away and looked at him with a puzzled look. “I thought the odds would be higher,” she whispered.

  Adam smiled. “There’s a whole shit-load of gadgets and gizmos operating here … and remember I’m still a rookie. It’s hard for me to keep everything straight.”

  Sherri’s expression changed to one of concern. “I hadn’t thought of that. And what about the Pegasus, what if they tear her apart before we leave?”

  “If that’s the case, then we’ll have to take over this whole damn ship.” His smile conveyed confidence, yet his eyes were clouded with doubt.

  Sherri took Adam by the arm and led him to the only cot in the cell. “Then you better lie down here and get to work.”