by T. R. Harris
And that problem was that his fleet—the Blood Fleet—was about to be completely destroyed. That depressing thought was not mitigated by the fact that Wydor would soon be placed aboard a starship and escorted out of the Void. The rest of his fleet, along with the tens of thousands of his fellow Juireans, would not be so spared. In truth, there no guarantee that Wydor would himself survive. However, the Juireans had already lost one Elder to the Kracori—the first Elder to ever be killed by an enemy—that they were not about to lose another to the same evil race without an attempt to save his life.
Wydor knew all the arguments, pro and con, for the decision to sacrifice the fleet. In the end, it made sense, and would guarantee the annihilation of the Kracori race. The Juireans would not accomplish that feat by themselves, yet their actions would allow others to complete it for them. Still, it was a terrible price to pay, especially in light of the fact that this fleet was crewed exclusively by Juireans. In another time, where the majority of the fleet was comprised of aliens, Wydor would not have given the strategy a second thought. Yet this was different; only the repatriation of Juir was giving him any reason to celebrate.
The swish of a door opening jolted him out of his conflicted reverie. He remained seated at the overly large and ornately carved crystal desk, adorned with depictions of gruesome battle scenes from the early years of Juirean conquest of the galaxy. His guests would also be required to pass larger-than-life statues of noble warriors, along with tapestries lining the walls detailing even more victories from a glorious Juirean past. Eventually, they would be led to the desk and the waiting Elder of the Juirean Council Elite, at one time—and soon to be again—the supreme being of the entire galaxy.
This meeting between Juirean and Kracori would the first, and Wydor watched as the two huge, gray creatures approached the desk, escorted by Command-Overlord Enulic and four armed Guard Elites.
Wydor knew his enemy, and as a result was aware that these creatures were every bit a match for the physically-superior Human race. And yet this fact only added to his confusion as he watched the Kracori approach his desk. Compared to the eight-foot-tall Juireans, the slightly shorter Kracori appeared a more physical match to the Juireans rather than to the much smaller—and frankly—weaker-looking Humans. Yet differences in height did not translate into physical prowess or species toughness. Of the three races in comparison, the Juireans were the tallest and largest built, yet the weakest of the three. And the smallest, most-fragile looking Humans were, by a few degrees, the strongest, quickest and most-agile. Such were the verities of evolution.
Wydor had personal experience with the Humans. He had met and interacted with them on Juir, just as the Kracori were laying siege to the planet. At that time, the two races were allied against the Kracori; it was unfortunate that they were not at this time....
The younger of the two Kracori took an extra step forward to the desk and cast a questioning look at Lord Enulic. The Command-Overlord understood the Kracori’s confusion and offered a slight grin.
“Even though you have requested a meeting with the Fleet Commander—myself—I would like to present to you Elder of the Juirean Council Elite, Wydor bin Sulic.”
There was genuine surprise on the gray faces of both the Kracori. Wydor savored the moment by not rising from his seat or offering a greeting of his own.
“I was not aware the Council Elder was aboard the fleet,” said the Langril of the Kracori race. “I welcome the opportunity to negotiate with the leader of the Juirean people directly.”
“I was not aware this was a negotiation?” Wydor said in a firm voice. Wydor nodded to the Guard Elite, and they backed away, closer to the main door and out of earshot of the discussion to take place.
Lord Enulic—fully aware of the physical superiority of the Kracori—stepped up to the Langril. “This room is monitored, although the audio feed has been muted. The Guards will remain, yet they, too, will not be privy to the conversation. There are remotely-controlled flash weapons, set on enhanced level-one, which are presently locked and programmed to follow your every move. As a gesture of goodwill, it has been decided that at the conclusion of this meeting—if no hostile acts have been made by you and your second—you will be returned to your ship for safe passage back to Elision.”
“Your graciousness is unexpected, yet welcome, Lord Enulic.”
“Now what is it you wish to speak of, Langril Nomar Polimic?” Wydor asked, while offering the Kracori neither refreshments nor seats before the desk. He would make them stand before him for the duration of the meeting.
“Elder Wydor,” Nomar began, “we are all intelligent beings in this room, so the proposal I bring to you is not designed to deceive or condescend in any regard. Our analysts have determined that based upon the strength of opposing fleets, the Juireans will suffer a catastrophic defeat in the coming engagement. Do your analysts so concur?”
Wydor looked to Enulic. “It has been determined that the Kracori will also suffer comparable damage,” Lord Enulic replied.
“Although to a slightly lesser degree.”
Wydor saw Enulic’s jaw tighten. “Yes, to a slightly lesser degree.”
“So in this engagement, the Kracori will emerge victorious.”
“In this engagement.”
Nomar turned his attention back to Wydor. “In light of the pending defeat of your fleet, Lord Wydor, I offer you this compromise. I will order a stand down of Kracori forces, as well as ordering the Nebula defensive units to withdraw. And then I will allow your entire fleet to leave the Dysion Void unmolested.”
“And why would you do that?” Wydor had to ask, even though he knew the reason.
“It is to preserve both our forces. This senseless loss of life, for simply a near-stalemate in outcome, goes against all logic. We do not wish to suffer the losses we will suffer, and I believe you do not wish it as well.”
“Langril Nomar, our forces entered the Dysion Void knowing full-well the consequences of our actions. We are prepared to make this sacrifice knowing that our efforts will lead to the ultimate destruction of the Kracori race.”
“By the Humans,” Nomar said quickly. “Yes, we have also projected forward from this encounter. And yet by retreating, you will allow the Kracori to be able to mount an effective defense against the Humans when they arrive.”
Wydor shook his head. “I am confused; you wish us to assist you in defeating the Humans? To assist the Kracori, who while aligned with the Klin, wreaked havoc on our homeworld, killed billions of our kind—including our breeding farms, along with most of our females? And you did all this with no provocation on the part of the Juireans, but simply because you wished to replace us as head of the Expansion? And you request this so that your race may survive. Is this my understanding?”
“I understand this is a strange offer, yet I wish you to weigh it against the incredible loss of life you will suffer with the defeat of your fleet.”
“We are quite willing to trade our lives for that of the Kracori. The Juireans are much more than just this one fleet. Even now, we are reclaiming the planet Juir, and soon will begin to move our billions back to our homeworld. We will regain the leadership of the Expansion, and in a few short years, the galaxy will be back to the way it was before it had ever heard of the Kracori or the Humans. This attack upon Elision is simply to prove to the Expansion that the Juireans will suffer any loss to defeat our enemies. The destruction of my fleet will serve a much greater purpose than would its retreat from the battlefield—far greater. In truth, we cannot retreat. Retreat would be worse than a defeat and would tarnish the reputation of the Juireans beyond repair. No, Langril Nomar, I do not accept your offer.”
Nomar looked to the former Langril. Daninf, the evil former leader of the Kracori had been in power at the time of the destruction of Juir. It had been under his orders that the billions had died, and who Wydor’s friend and mentor had been paraded before. Daninf had killed Haydon, if not by his own hand then by his actions.
Now he was standing before Wydor....
“I have another offer, Lord Wydor,” Nomar said as he turned his gaze from the former Langril and back to Wydor.
“I feel there is very little left for us to talk about, Nomar,” Wydor said. “You are only delaying the inevitable.”
“This new offer is one extremely hard for me to utter, and yet I do it for the good of the Kracori race—”
“We do not care about the good of the Kracori race,” Command-Overlord Enulic said.
Nomar seemed unfazed by the interruption. “Elder Wydor, as the Langril of the Kracori race, I hereby and humbly offer you the surrender of the Kracori forces to you and the Juirean fleet.”
Wydor couldn’t hide his shock. This was the last thing he had expected to hear from the mouth of the Kracori. He looked to Enulic, who was equally stunned.
“I must ask that you to repeat your last statement,” Wydor commanded.
“I offer the surrender of the Kracori to the Juireans.”
“Is this some kind of delaying tactic, one to throw us off guard while allowing additional forces to be called up for a more effective defense against the Humans?”
“I admit that this action is designed primarily as a deterrent to the Human invasion, yet I also do it to preserve the Kracori race. I feel it better to live as slaves under Juirean rule than to suffer a complete annihilation of my race.”
“And what if I accept your surrender, and then destroy Elision anyway? It would only be an equitable trade for what you—and Langril Daninf—did to Juir.” Wydor pushed back his chair and smiled at his Command-Overlord. “Yes, I like that idea best. The Blood Fleet will survive, and the Kracori will not. We can accomplish our mission, and without the help of the Humans. Yes, Langril Nomar, I accept your surrender!”
“Lord Wydor, I do not offer our surrender just so you can destroy us. I offer it as a form of annexation. The Kracori are superior warriors and can serve the Expansion well. We could help supplement your forces as you go about reclaiming the mantel of the Expansion.”
“Calm yourself, Nomar,” Wydor said with humor in his voice. “If I intended to destroy Elision after your surrender, I would not reveal such to you in advance. Your only warning would come when Juirean warcraft block out your sun and rain fire down upon the surface.”
The humor had faded from his tone, and he looked steely-eyed at the Kracori. “This is a serious proposal you bring to me. How will your forces react to such once they learn of it?”
“They will resist—at first. Yet we are all aware of the nearing Human fleet. The population can be shown that it has no choice if the Kracori are to survive.”
“So you would be willing to submit to the complete abdication of your planet and race to Juirean will? And what if Juirean will is that the Kracori are to be exterminated?”
“We will offer reparations—onerous and generous—all we can offer to make amends for what we did to the Juirean people, as we participated in the manipulations of the Klin against Juir—”
“Yes, the Klin!” Wydor interrupted. “You have allied with the Klin, both against us and against the Humans, and as recently as only a few months ago.” Wydor looked to Enulic again. “I will accept your offer ... on one condition.”
“And what is that, Lord Wydor?”
“That you surrender the Klin to us. Although the Kracori hold a special place in the hearts of all Juireans, it is the Klin who keep our offspring awake at night with terrible nightmares. Give us the Klin and I will spare your world.”
Wydor saw the tension on the face of the Kracori. That did not bode well for the growing excitement in Wydor’s gut. Destroying the Klin, after four thousand years of trying, would be even a greater accomplishment than destroying the Kracori.
“Is there a problem with my counteroffer? The Klin have done nothing but cause problems for the Kracori. You owe them no allegiance.”
“I realize that, Lord Wydor, however I must be honest with you. The Kracori and Klin do not share good relations at this time, not after the failed attack upon Earth.”
“Then allowing us to destroy them should be without question.”
“That is not the issue. We do not know where they are.”
“How can that be? You are allies—have been allies—for hundreds of years.”
“At one time the Klin resided on our sister world, yet no longer. However, Lord Wydor, if you accept our annexation—”
“—Surrender.”
“Yes, surrender, then the Kracori will do all we can to help you in your quest for the Klin. With our intimate knowledge of their past movements and involvements, we could be a valuable asset in your search. The Kracori now consider the Klin our enemy, just as you do.”
“This is a very interesting proposal, Langril Nomar.”
“And what of the Humans?” Command-Overlord Enulic interjected, interrupting his Elder.
‘Yes, what about the Humans, Nomar?” Wydor echoed, the humor returning to his voice.
“It is the belief of our analysts that the Humans are fully expecting to find both our fleets greatly damaged upon their arrival. They will see us as easy targets, both the Kracori and the Juireans. With our alliance—call it as you will—they will arrive to face a combined force of Kracori, Juirean and Nebula defenders. They will be crushed.”
“I do like the sound of that,” Wydor said. He knew if the Human fleet was destroyed, then the path to Earth would be clear. And with a fully-intact Blood Fleet, his dream of razing Earth would become a reality.
The Juirean Council Elder remained quiet for several moments as he ran the various scenarios through his mind. In one fell swoop, he could conquer the Kracori, making them subjects—no servants—of the Juirean Expansion. And yet it went deeper still. His people could receive needed reparations, along with a supplemental military force comprised of beings physically-superior to all other races in the galaxy—except for the Humans. And yet this offer would also allow Wydor the opportunity to turn the Humans into a non-factor in galactic affairs.
When this meeting began Wydor could not have imagined a more advantageous outcome for Juir or himself. And all the while he was accepting the unconditional surrender of the race of beings that had so viciously ravaged the planet Juir, his beloved homeworld was in the process of being repatriated. In a few short weeks, Wydor bin Sulic, Elder of the Juirean race, could be standing on the surface of Juir once again, victorious in all arenas.
“Langril Nomar Polimic, you have just saved your race from extinction.”
Wydor saw the immense relief flow through both Kracori. Now it was time for him to voice his final condition.
“However, there is one more thing I must ask of you before final acceptance.”
“Anything Lord Wydor,” Nomar announced before hearing the new terms.
Wydor turned his intense glare on Daninf. “The former-Langril will be turned over to me, to pay for the war crimes committed under his reign. It was by his order that Juir was ransacked. And it was also by his order that former Elder Hydon Ra Un was murdered. Accept this final condition ... or else we meet on the battlefield and the process that will lead to the extinction of the Kracori will be put in motion.”
Wydor reveled in the shock and distress now painted on Daninf’s face. He looked panicked. He turned to Nomar Polimic. “Nomar, is there another way?”
“When we embarked for the Juirean fleet, we both accepted the possibility that we may not live beyond this meeting. You must realize that I have no option but to accept Lord Wydor’s terms. I am sorry.”
The shoulders of the old Kracori slumped and his eyes turned blank and emotionless.
“Be comforted, Langril Daninf,” Wydor began, “that your sacrifice will save your race. Most creatures would be proud of this opportunity and accept it without reservation.”
“I agree, Lord Wydor. Even then, the reality is not easy to accept.”
“I am sparing your entire race; however someone must be held accountable for
the atrocities the Kracori have committed against the Juireans. Your death will represent the symbolic death of billions.”
“I accept,” Nomar Polimic said softly.
“Good!” Wydor now stood, a new vitality flowing within his body. “Lord Enulic will return the current Langril to his ship, and then he will move the fleet to an obscure region of the Dysion Void to await the arrival of the Humans. I would suggest, Nomar, that you use the Nebula defenders to help stage a convincing display for them. They will come expecting to see a shattered fleet. They must enter the trap unsuspecting, and then we will strike—the combined forces of the Juireans and the Kracori will strike. The Humans will not stand a chance.”
113
“Welcome aboard, Admiral,” Jacob Nash said warmly, grasping the outstretched hand of Andy Tobias.
“Glad to be here. The quarters on the Pegasus were getting kinda crowded, and alien body odor was reaching critical mass.”
“I can imagine. So your alien friends will be okay with hanging out aboard her by themselves? I understand there’s a little tension between a couple of them?”
“They’ll be fine. The gravity is too strong for them here, and the tension is mainly between the Formilian and the Tel’oran.”
“The Formilian is that good-looking dude, right?”
“There’s a whole goddamn planet of them, Jake. And the women—holy crap! But enough of that; did you get the package?”
Nash broke away from the greeting and moved to the beverage processing center in the Fleet Commander’s away cabin. “Sure did. It’s amazing, but that’s the first Kracori prisoner we’ve ever had.” And then he chuckled. “That Sherri Valentine is one tough cookie; she really messed up that dude.”
“We owe our lives to her. But she did what she had to do.”
“Don’t get me wrong, Andy. I think she’d make one heluva good SEAL–tenacious, courageous and fearless to a fault.”
“Just be glad she’s on our side.” Tobias took the offered drink and downed half of it in one gulp. “Oh, how I have missed you, my little friend,” he said to the half-empty glass.