by T. R. Harris
Was there a way to get back into the good graces of the Klin? He had no idea. And if so, how would he even contact them? He was locked away in a tower on the planet Juir, of all places.
Nigel McCarthy needed more time to work out a plan, a plan that would put him in the forefront of survival – and to hell with everyone else. Luckily, he had a couple of months to work something out….
Chapter 7
Hydon Ra Elys paced the floor of his personal residence, suffering the anguish of his thoughts. Over the past day he had experienced such a wide range of painful emotions that he was surprised he could still function.
Hydon was the Council Elder, the leader of the Expansion, and as such he was the being who carried the most responsibility for the events taking place – as well as those to come. Just the thought of having the sacred planet of Juir ransacked by either the Klin or the Humans was almost unimaginable, and one he would never have even considered only a few short months ago. But after the humiliating defeat at Falor-Kapel, and the revelation that the capital of the Expansion was now vulnerable to attack, this only meant that the decisions he would make from here on out would be the most important ever made by a Council Elder.
First the Humans – and now the Klin. How have we let ourselves become so exposed and ripe for defeat?
Hydon was taking an awful risk by trusting the Human Adam Cain. Every day they delayed evacuating the Cluster and saving Juirean lives only reduced his options – which he admitted were slim to none at this time. If the Human was lying about the second fleet – this Klin/Kracori fleet – that only meant more Juireans would be killed if and when the Humans attack. And if he is telling the truth, and the Juireans can repel the Klin invaders, then everything would be contingent on Cain convincing his forces to stop their attack. And if he can’t?
Hydon ran his hands through the long, white hair of his ranking-mane. After so many thousands of years, the survival of the galaxy-wide Juirean Expansion – at least in its present form – now rested on the words and actions of a single being, and not a Juirean, but that of a Human being.
The preparations for a defense of Juir would continue now with haste. Two months may be just about enough time to make that happen. After that, who knew…?
Chapter 8
Jonnif Vinn of the Kracori had assumed command of the Klin fleet off Falor-Kapel two months before. The soft-skinned Klin had proved to be no match for his warriors, and soon the Klin strongholds on Olypon and Glasien-4 were all under Kracori control.
Scouts had been dispatched to keep watch on the vastly larger Human fleet, and Jonnif was pleasantly surprised to see that they hesitated making their move on Juir, awaiting the arrival of their second fleet. This had allowed Jonnif time to call up an additional one-hundred fifty ships from Eilsion and elsewhere to strengthen his own forces. He now commanded four-hundred fifty ships with which to make the move on the Juirean capital.
He also enjoyed one other advantage which he was sure no one else was aware he had….
Following established gravity routes, the journey from Falor-Kapel to Juir normally took four months. The Humans had just now departed the F-K system, following the traditional routes. By now the Juireans would be aware of this and would be planning accordingly. But Jonnif knew of a different route, a quicker one, directly through the galactic center.
Long ago, in a desperate attempt to escape the growing Expansion, Klin navigators had discovered the obscure and dangerous transit. It was a narrow and convoluted path consisting of just the right combination of matter and emptiness, a rare mixture few would have even imagined existed this close to the Core and the voracious maw of the galaxy’s central supermassive black hole. The path was used sparingly these days – if at all – and all but forgotten by the Klin.
But not by the Kracori.
For hundreds of years Jonnif’s people had tolerated the condescending attitude the Klin exhibited toward them. It was true that their culture had benefited from the advances of science and technology provided by the aliens, yet the Kracori never got the sense that the Klin gave them credit for their abilities. The arrogance of the Klin was such that even when the plan for galactic domination had first been revealed, it was as if the Kracori were expected to go along without question, providing the strength and sheer numbers of bodies it would take to carry out such a feat. And being at the tip of the sword, it would be Kracori blood that was spilled, not Klin. The two-hundred thousand or so Klin who existed at the time could never hope to achieve their ambitious objectives by themselves. The Klin needed the Kracori, yet their actions never seemed to convey that reality.
Being the warriors as they were, the Kracori went along – yet all the while concealing an agenda of their own.
The revolt against the Klin had been inevitable and carried out in a matter of days. Now the Kracori were in a position to launch the most audacious part of their plan.
It would be two-fold. The first, of course, included the sacking of the planet Juir and the destruction of the Expansion infrastructure within the Alliance Cluster. The second part was even bolder.
The Kracori Ludif leaders – in their infinite wisdom – realized that even if their forces could lay waste to the Juirean Legend of invincibility, it would be quickly replaced by the Legend of Earth, once the vastly superior Human fleet arrived and drove the Kracori from the region, like scared little animals from a carcass. The Kracori would be forced to withdraw, making it evident to all who was the strongest animal of the two. This humiliating action would make the Kracori the laughing stock of the galaxy, and come only months after first exposing their existence to the Expansion. It would be difficult for their legend to ever recover.
So the Kracori needed a way to draw the Humans away from the area, and to give them a reason to abandon their campaign against the Juireans altogether. It was Jonnif you offered a solution.
An attack upon their homeworld of Earth.
Preparations were hastily begun on the planet Glasien-4 once the Kracori revolt was complete. Yet unlike the earlier Juirean attack on Earth, which only utilized energy bombs so as to preserve the viability of the planet for future use, the Kracori attack would be nuclear. As Jonnif and the Council reasoned, it would be one thing to draw the Human fleet away from Juir, only to have it return later with even more resources – and a meaner attitude. It was quite another to ravage the planet with an inferno of deadly radioactivity, rendering the Earth useless for decades to come. The Ludif leaders figured this was the only way of ensuring that the Humans would not be around to interfere with Kracori plans into the future.
Entering the Human stellar system undetected could be a challenge, but the Kracori planners reasoned that the Humans wouldn’t be expecting such an attack, and the strike force would be arriving in Klin-built ships, the same as all the others flitting around the planet at the time. The plan would have a high probability of success, after which the Humans would have no choice but to withdraw their fleet in order to assist in the defense and recovery efforts.
As far as the first part of the plan went, Jonnif was confident in its execution and success. The Juireans would be expecting the Human fleet to arrive in the Cluster in four months-standard, and would be making plans based on that timetable.
Yet with a two month head start – and by utilizing the secret path through the galactic core – the Kracori were already there….
Chapter 9
Two days later Council Elder Hydon entered the darkened confines of the Juirean Strategic Command Center for a meeting with Fleet Marshal Relion. The Juirean military higher commander had sent out every scout and called on every sensor available to try and locate any mass-gravity signatures approaching ahead of the invading Human fleet.
“We’ve been unable to detect anything out of the ordinary, my Lord,” Relion said, frustration thick in his voice. “There does seem to be a major exodus from the gravity lanes by just the normal traffic, all trying to avoid the Humans, yet nothing that would ind
icate a concentrated force of three hundred ships or more.”
“You’ve scanned all along the lanes, even the most obscure?”
“Yes, my Lord. The gravity routes to Juir are the most-traveled and monitored in the galaxy, even coming from that side of the Core. If there was a fleet in deep-well transit it would have been detected.”
“Then the Human has lied to us,” Hydon stated, pursing his thin lips together in anger.
“It appears so – but to what end? He had to surely know we would attempt to verify his claims, and if no traces were found, then our evacuation efforts would have been delayed only temporarily. Are the Humans so anxious to kill Juireans that even a few days’ delay in evacuating the population would mean a few more of us left behind to kill?”
“They are a deceptive and diabolical race. They appear to thrive on subterfuge and underhandedness, so their motives are always in question. I will be in my personal office in an hour. Have Adam Cain delivered to me at that time.”
“Yes, my Lord. And what of the evacuation?”
“Hold off until I have another chance to speak with the Human. He may reveal more in this second meeting.”
Hydon’s personal office was located three stories below the Pinnacle conference room. It was a large room, yet not as large as Adam would have expected for the leader of the galaxy. It was dimly lit, except for the area around the large wooden desk where Hydon sat. There were the ubiquitous computer monitors placed to his right and behind him on a matching wooden credenza, and on a secondary table set off to the left was a pile of datapads all stacked helter-skelter on its top. The entire scene reminded Adam of what an aged college professor’s office might look like, albeit without any disheveled library lining a wall-length bookcase.
The overall impression of the office was eventually brought full circle when Adam was directed to take a seat opposite the Elder, and noticed that Hydon was even wearing what appeared to be a thin pair of eyeglasses. Adam had to suppress a chuckle as he took the seat. Aliens wearing glasses – what next?
Hydon looked at Adam over the thin glasses. “I have security measures in place, but I’m hoping we will not have to deal with any such nonsense, Mister Cain – I believe that is the traditional prefix for a male of your race?
“That’s correct, Lord Hydon; I was told that is your preferred title. And you won’t have to worry about me doing something stupid. I don’t have a death wish.”
Hydon simply snorted. “That is precisely the reason for this meeting.” Hydon slipped off the glasses and set them on the desk. He continued to stare at Adam with an intense look of exasperation. “We have been unable to detect any trace of this Klin/Kracori fleet that you say is headed for Juir. You must realize what will happen to you and your companions if you are found to be lying to us? If anything, your wild tale has only delayed the inevitable by just a few days. So why would you lie?”
When Adam had been summoned to Hydon’s office, this was the last thing he expected to be confronted with. He knew there was a Klin/Kracori fleet – he had been present when the Klin Pleabaen had been in communication with it. What he wasn’t so sure about was where they were at the present time.
“I assure you, there is a fleet, and I’m ninety-percent positive that they would be looking to attack Juir before we do. It just makes sense.”
“So now you’re saying they may not have designs on attacking Juir after all?” Adam could hear the tone of Hydon’s voice raise an octave. But he was so sure….
“The Klin could move on Juir at its weakest moment, ransacking the planet like you did to their homeworld thousands of years ago. It’s what I would have done.”
Hydon snorted again. “I have only recently had direct contact with your kind, yet all I have learned of Humans is that you are a savage and heartless race. Of course you would seek to take millions of innocent lives to satisfy an ancient vendetta. That is your way, but that is not saying the Klin would. The story you told me about our attack on your Earth was logical and sensible, and I believe there is indeed another fleet – a Klin fleet – out there somewhere. That is why I gave you this reprieve. But the Klin have been running from us for thousands of years. They may have simply decided that now is not the time to strike against Juir. And if that is the case, then it is only your Human fleet that we must fear.”
Hydon paused and leaned forward in his chair. “Mr. Cain, are you still willing to contact your fleet and attempt to have them call off their attack?”
“Yes, of course! I honestly believe that the Humans and Juireans would not have gone to war against each other if it hadn’t been for the Klin.”
“Can you do it?”
It was Adam’s turn to hesitate, an event which caused the Elder to slam both his hands down on the desktop and push back in his chair.
“Why have you built up my hopes just to have them crushed? Is that the answer – to play games with my emotions? What kind of creatures are you?”
“I’m not playing games with you. I can try to convince them to call off the attack, but I can’t guarantee they will,” Adam pleaded. “I realize this will probably mean all of our deaths, but all I can do is try.”
“Then try you will!” Hydon yelled. “And there is no reason to delay. I will begin immediately to locate the communication frequencies associated with your fleet – and then you will try—”
A large monitor to Hydon’s right suddenly burst into life; on the screen was the face of Fleet Marshal Relion. “Pardon my intrusion, my Lord,” he said, his eyes darting between Hydon and Adam.
“What is it, Relion?”
“A curious development, my Lord.” He looked directly at Adam.
“Speak freely, Fleet Marshal,” Hydon commanded. “The Human is either on our side – or he will die.”
“Yes, my Lord. We have detected curious ship activity originating from Sector Three.”
“Sector Three? What kind of activity?” Hydon’s voice deepened and he looked at Adam.
“Larger than normal ship traffic, and it appears to be broken into clusters of ten to fifteen ships each.”
“Have the signatures been analyzed?”
“It is difficult, my Lord. The signatures are overlapping – and there appears to be some sort of wave disruptor causing interference.”
Hydon’s eyes grew wide. “Where are these ships headed?”
“Various locations within the Clusters. Many are now well within the outer boundary.”
“You’ve tried to communicate with them?” It was more of a statement than a question.”
“Of course, but the wave disruptor is making it difficult. Garbled replies are all we have received. They appear to be trying to communicate with us, but can’t.”
“How convenient,” Adam said. He could see the veins on Hydon’s neck dancing to the beat of his heart.
“I take it we have no adequate defense in place at this time, Fleet Marshal.”
“It is well sooner than two months’ time, my Lord, so no. We have nothing to counter an attack, if this is indeed an attack.” Relion’s voice had grown more panicked by the moment. He appeared to be anxious to get off the screen, as others around him were trying to get his attention. “Lord Hydon, even if this is not an invasion, it would be wise to have you and the other council members evacuated immediately. The closest unidentified ships could be at Juir in less than an hour.”
Hydon looked down at the top of his desk for a moment, gathering his thoughts. Then he looked back at Relion. “No. I will stay here and take refuge in the bunker vault beneath Malor Tower. But do have all the other council members evacuated. Use my authority to make them comply. And Relion, no exceptions, is that understood?”
“They will protest.”
“Let them, but get them away as quickly as possible. Now tend to your duties.”
The screen went blank immediately and Hydon turned back to Adam, appearing to have aged ten years in the past two minutes. “You may have been right about the Klin f
leet, Mr. Cain, if not about the timetable.”
“How could they have gotten here so fast?” Adam asked, not knowing now what he should do. Without a defense, the Cluster would be decimated and the planet Juir excoriated.
“They must have traversed the Core region. It is the only way they could have journeyed from Falor-Kapel to here in such a time.” He hesitated again before continuing. “In a few moments we will have confirmation as to whether or not this is an invasion,” Hydon said to Adam. “If it is, then I will ask that you do something for me, personally.”
Adam jerked his head back slightly in an involuntary display of shock. At a loss for words, Adam simply stammered, “Sure, what?”
“Don’t call off your fleet. If you are right, and the Klin are approaching, then please have your forces continue to sweep through the area and vanquish the coming scourge. The Juirean people and your Human race may one day make peace, but we will never make peace with the Klin. I trust you feel the same.”
“Billions of people have died – and are about to die – because of the Klin. I don’t think peace will be on our minds if we ever encounter the Klin fleet head-to-head. And as far as me calling off our attack, it looks like I’m in the same boat – situation – as you’re in. Neither one of us may live out the day.”
Chapter 10
Even Jonnif of the Kracori was surprised at how easily his forces had infiltrated the Juirean Alliance Cluster. Before even the first alarm was raised, units from Ludif-Five were already strafing the breeding facilities on Salin, killing thousands – if not millions – of young Juireans, their birth mothers and the females nursing them to maturity. This one action would set the Juireans back a hundred years, depleting their future numbers to a level where hunting down the survivors would be a more manageable task for the Kracori.