The Human Chronicles Saga : Boxset #2 (The Human Chronicles Saga Boxsets)

by T. R. Harris

  If the Humans only knew that the giant metal hangars housing these new weapons of war were sunk far into the depths of his own dung-pits, he would have received immense joy simply from the observation of their expressions. It would be priceless to behold.

  “Merchant Furkril, was the time of the meeting misunderstood? I thought it was to be surument-nine … I mean earlier?”

  Even with the translators the Humans had brought, Furkril was amazed how often the Humans could butcher his beautiful language. Time on his planet was measured in sirumons, not suruments, whatever that was? It was just one more of the mounting frustrations he had with the Human invaders.

  “Forgive me, Mr. Gordon, but my duties are great and my attention important. We can begin the discussion now,” Furkril said, his ears flicking in staged-enjoyment at his interaction with the scrawny aliens.

  “Very good, but can we please go inside?” the Human asked, while looking back out at the gigantic dung-pit, stretching all the way to the horizon and beyond. “It’s a little too warm for us out here. I hope you understand.”

  “More than you realize, Mr. Gordon,” said Furkril, his ears now moving back somewhat and beginning to undulate. “Follow me.”

  I will tolerate these creatures only so much longer, Furkril declared to himself. These other aliens – these beings called the Klin – appear to stepping up their arming of the Jusepi. They say they know the intentions of the Humans. I truly hope so, and that their increased activity is because the time is drawing near for revolt.

  For Furkril, revolt could not come soon enough.

  Langril Nomar Polimic was embarrassed, and as such, it also made him angry. He looked at the emotionless expression of Pleabaen Velsum on the CW screen before him and cursed the silent thoughts he knew the Klin was thinking.

  They had failed to kill Nigel McCarthy, and not only that, but the small Kracori fleet of eight ships had been utterly destroyed. Now McCarthy would seek revenge for the attempt on his life. Now he would surely reveal the location of Elision to the Humans and the rest of the galaxy.

  “Have you any indication that the Humans know, Velsum?” Polimic asked. The Klin still had spies on the Human homeworld of Earth. They would know the moment anything was learned.

  “Nothing yet,” the Klin leader replied, “which is strange. We do know that Nigel McCarthy survived unscathed and has only now departed Uniss-3. We have no information regarding his destination.”

  “We must try again, while also accelerating your timetable with the Jusepi. We have begun to move a small advance force into the region of the Arm outside the Human system, but we cannot risk going further. As you have indicated, the Humans are quite well-established now in their own neighborhood. Detection would be catastrophic and alert the Humans as to our intentions.”

  “I understand the seriousness of the situation, Langril Polimic, but you have to realize the Jusepi have had little time to prepare for a war with the Humans. It would not serve our combined purpose if the war turned out to be a mere skirmish for the Human beasts.”

  Polimic knew the Pleabaen was correct. Even though the Jusepi represented the only viable counterforce to the Humans in the Far Arm, they had only recently been introduced to the galaxy at large.

  Technologically, the Jusepi had actually been ahead of the Humans for most of their history. Approximately seventy years ago, they had discovered the secret of the gravity drive, even though on a more primitive scale than the Expansion. As a result, their starships ended up being gigantic vessels many miles long, necessary to accommodate the massive generators required to create even modest singularities. Within these behemoth interstellar transport stations, the Jusepi had placed dozens of smaller, traditionally-powered shuttles. The Jusepi had expanded out to the nearby star systems using these gigantic transports, but once within a system, the colonists would shuttle to the various new worlds by chemical drives.

  Even now, the Jusepi did not possess very many interstellar warcraft capable of military maneuvers, at least none of their own manufacture. Over the past five years, they had managed to secure nearly one hundred aging warships from the Humans and others on the fringe of the Expansion, even if they were of inferior design. If left to their own means, the Humans would make short work of the Jusepi in an actual conflict.

  The Humans had discovered the planet Duelux five years earlier by following the colonization routes to the Jusepi’s homeworld. Showing little regard for the cultural and social impact of their arrival, the Humans had simply landed on the planet and announced their existence. The tribes recoiled slightly from the tiny creatures, even though the Jusepi themselves had already colonized eight other worlds and were therefore very familiar with the concept of alien life.

  Of these colony worlds, only three had intelligent life, yet none that would qualify as advanced. Two of these races now served as very efficient laborers in the Jusepi mines on their homeworlds. The third was reserved as food, with the rarity of such commanding very high prices in the restaurants and dwellings frequented and owned by the wealthiest of the Jusepi tribes.

  In their fervent rush to establish their own Expansion within the Far Arm, the Humans considered little about the civilizations they contacted. Polimic had learned that a number of their new colonies had consisted of basic stone-age cultures that were suddenly thrust into a modern, spacefaring community, ill-prepared for what they found.

  Once discovered, the Humans were relentless in their exploitation of these more-primitive cultures. The demand for colonies and for commerce was so great on the Earth that entire worlds were converted to gigantic resource centers, stripped of precious minerals, lumber and even physical labor. Although the Humans refused to use the term, the wages paid, and the conditions under which the natives toiled, would hardly rise above the level of ‘slave.’ Granted, each individual being was free to come and go as they pleased, but the dramatic changes in their societies had forced many to follow precisely all Human dictates.

  Yes, the Human Empire was growing, and so far no race that had been contacted could withstand their expansion – at least none on their own.

  The Klin had been studying the Jusepi since before the Humans had been selected as their surrogates for the coming Juirean war. They were large beings, coming from a world with gravity only about ten-percent less than Earth’s. They were covered in soft fur and walked upright, even though they still maintained a longish tail for balance, as well as essentially a third arm. The Jusepi were also coordinated and quick-reflexed, adept at the use of weapons and physical combat.

  Although not a true match to the fighting skills or strength of the much-shorter Humans, the Jusepi did rate as a Prime-D on the Klin scale, along with the Humans and Kracori. With just a little help, they would provide the Kracori with just the distraction they needed against the Humans.

  What happened to the Jusepi after that was none of their concern.

  “Langril Polimic,” Velsum was saying, “we have been developing an event that should help prompt the Jusepi masses to rise up against the Humans. It will be spectacular and tragic event that should cause the death of thousands of tribe members. The Humans will claim innocence, yet the evidence will be overwhelming.

  “Once the uprising begins, we’ve made arrangements for the Jusepi to have access to over one hundred warships at the local Human military base. With some luck, they should be able to commandeer these vessels, forming the core of their rebellion fleet. When added to the older ships they have been able to acquire to date, the Jusepi should have over two hundred ships to send against the Humans.

  “On Earth, there will be a segment of the Human society who will side with the Jusepi, fully convinced that it was indeed the Humans who caused the tragedy. Again with luck, this movement will delay the Human’s response to the revolt until confusion ensues. Once the Klin-supplied ships appear within the Jusepi fleet, we want the Humans to believe they are of Jusepi origin, and not Klin. The Human fleets will be required to leave t
he region of Earth and proceed to Duelux. This will free up the space around the Human world for your attack.”

  “The plan sounds reasonable, Pleabaen,” Polimic stated. “But will two hundred ships be adequate to initially counter the Human response?”

  “Not in straight combat. But these ships will be used to raid Human settlements within the region, causing civilian casualties. The damage will be widespread, requiring an inordinate number of Human ships to respond.” And then the Klin actually smiled. “It will be chaotic for many months within the tiny Human Empire. If there is one thing we have recently learned regarding the Humans, it is that they will either wait too long before acting, or else they will overreact to a situation. Seldom is the Human response equal to the situation. They are extremely emotional and impulsive beings.”

  Polimic knew that the Klin classified the Humans and the Kracori as equals in ability and in traits, so what Velsum was saying about the Humans was also directed at the Kracori. But he would let this go. The Klin were very good at manipulation. Their plan with the Jusepi would take place basically as designed, with enough latitude figured in for the unexpected.

  So even if McCarthy was to reveal the location of the Kracori homeworld to the Humans, the tiny pink beings would be so involved in quelling the Jusepi uprising that they would have little time nor resources to send against Elision.

  And then the Kracori would strike, ending the Human problem once and for all. After that, all the Kracori would be concerned with would be the Klin….

  16

  Over the next six days, Adam and his stolen ship were able to evade most of the other traffic saturating the space leading to Formil. This task became much harder the closer they got to Arieel’s homeworld, as the hunters began to congregate nearby in a last-ditch attempt to collect the bounty.

  Adam’s plan to plot a less-direct route to Formil had paid off. They had only been challenged twice, and both times the military transponder aboard the ship gave them clearance.

  They were fortunate that the transponder code had not been reported as stolen. By this time, he was sure the theft had been discovered, but fortunately communications between the more backwards Siyvelan system and the rest of the Coalition was not that sophisticated.

  But now the situation would get dicey. Adam was now steering a direct course for Formil, requiring him to enter the mass of ships now filling the system. The Formilians would be checking all ships, looking for assassins or others with evil intent. This was their Speaker who all these beings had come hunting. They were out to kill the Supreme Celebrant of their religion, their embodiment of the living-god.

  To that end, the Formilians were taking the situation very seriously.

  In most cases, this would be welcome news for Adam and Arieel however the temptation of thirty-million credits was complicating the matter. Adam had thought about contacting Convor as they neared the planet, seeking a safe zone to bring her in, yet he decided he couldn’t trust anyone beyond the High Celebrant himself. Others may be listening.

  The bounty McCarthy was offering could also be earned not with the killing of Arieel, but simply by preventing her from reaching the Temple by the time of the Rites Ceremony. She wouldn’t even have to die for the conspirator to earn a planetary fortune. This made Adam’s task grow in difficulty the closer the time came for the ceremony, an event now only eight hours away.

  It would take all of Adam’s ingenuity, as well as Arieel powers to pull this off – even if her powers were artificially created.

  The planet Formil was now solidly in view of Adam’s stolen spaceship. The Formilians had restricted the landing of all craft for the next twelve hours without special clearance from the Order.

  Adam broadcast the landing request using the Armplanese military code.

  “What is your business upon Formil?” the dispatcher asked. Adam had painted his skin black using grease from the landing bay and dressed in an Armplanese military uniform. He didn’t know of the Armplanese came in black, but he was also hoping the dispatcher didn’t know either.

  “The Order has requested all the assistance in guarding the Temple that members of the Coalition can provide. We are a detachment of security personnel sent to assist.”

  “I am not aware of any such request. You are the only vessel claiming this request.”

  “It has been relatively recent that the request was made, since the efforts to prevent The Speaker from returning to Formil appear to have failed. The High Celebrant himself has determined that all efforts must now be placed in guarding the Temple at this time.”

  “But we have sufficient personnel within the Formilian population to guard the Temple.”

  The dispatcher was being exceptionally cautious. Adam would have to get a little more forceful. “I am an official representative of the Armplanese people. I have come at the request of your High Celebrant to assist in a mission of paramount importance to our sacred religion. Without clearance, we will not be able to perform our mission, and my government, as well as your own, will be very upset. Is it your wish to cause an inter-Coalition incident, when all we are attempting to do is help?”

  The dispatcher began to look uncertain. “I will have to contact my superiors within the Order—”

  “There is no time for that! The Rites Ceremony is only hours away, and my forces need to be in place well before that time. We are already behind schedule due to the traffic surrounding your world. Every moment lost in this meaningless banter will only cause further damage to Armplanese and Formilian relations. Your name will read prominently within my report should this come to pass!”

  This seemed to push the dispatcher over the edge. He typed something on the keyboard in front of him and looked up at Adam once again. His face was full of contempt. “I have transmitted your landing code. You are cleared to the Order landing field just outside the compound walls. I have requested transports to be at your disposal for the movement of your troops to the Temple. Is there anything else you require?” The question came off dripping of sarcasm and disgust.

  “No, that will suffice. I regret the confusion, but the situation we are facing is grave. I do appreciate your cautious approach. That, too, will be noted in my end-of-mission report.”

  The dispatcher seemed to perk-up, just a little, but then he simply nodded and cut the link.

  Adam leaned back in the pilot’s seat and looked over at Arieel, who had been sitting off screen, listening to the conversation. He let out a deep sigh.

  “We’ll at least be able to get to the surface,” he said to her, “and maybe all the way to the Temple doors. How do we get in from there, and what happens once the ceremony starts?”

  “The Temple is a large building with many chambers. The Rites Ceremony is conducted in the Throne Room. I sit upon the throne and recite the Sacrament. It only takes a couple of minutes.”

  “How many others are present?”

  “Several dozen, mainly those of the High Order, along with a few visiting dignitaries who have made the pilgrimage. The event happens every twenty-eight days, so it is not that important among my other duties.” She suddenly took a deep breath, the seriousness of all the prior ceremonies now hitting her all at once. “At least I had never considered it to be very important. Now I know better.”

  “We’re almost there, Arieel. Once the deadline for the bounty has passed, then you’ll be safe. And I’m sure the Order will now institute new security procedures around you to prevent another event like from ever happening again.”

  Arieel’s expression suddenly grew very hard. “I am especially distressed that members of my own Order may be conspiring to kill me. There will be a purging, Adam Cain. Only those truly loyal to the Order will remain when I am done. Those who would kill their Speaker simply for credits will be no more.”

  Adam had no doubt she was serious. Head would roll for this, especially since Adam was fully convinced that her kidnapping had been an inside job. McCarthy had almost admitted as much when h
e spoke of the inside information he had about Arieel, even knowing about the explosive within her body when even she was unaware of its existence.

  In a way, Adam felt sorry for her. She had always lived her life behind a veil of protocol and ceremony, unable to experience life beyond the walls of the Temple Complex. And yet she was a lively and curious personality. It was a waste the way she was living, and yet it was what she had always known. It was simply another example of a person’s predetermined place in life confining them to a living prison.

  Having experienced a brief, yet tumultuous, look at life outside the Temple walls, Adam wondered if Arieel would ever be content with her regimented existence ever again. He looked over at her, only to find her arranging her hair in the reflection of the nav monitor, completely lost in the primping. Hell, she may welcome the return of the old routine. At least that way she could always look her best – which appeared to be her main priority at the moment.

  “This is getting critical Major,” Carter Thomas said. He was looking at a clock on the wall of the common room aboard their spaceship, now located somewhere between Uniss-3 and their secret base. “Three fucking hours left and still no word if they’ve been found or not.”

  For his part, Nigel McCarthy was also very concerned. The bounty offer had started off with such high promise. Cain had been located within hours of its disclosure and a short chase ensued. But then he simply disappeared, having not been seen nor heard from again in over six days. It was virtually impossible for this to have happened. At one count, there were over two thousand spaceships looking for him. How the hell did he slip through?

  “I assume all the steps have been taken on Formil?” Nigel asked. “As the hours go by their path will become narrower and narrower. I simply refuse to believe that they’ll be able to get inside the Temple. How could they?”

  “How could they evade two thousand ships, too, but they did? At this point, I’m tempted to put my money on Cain.”